my world revolves around my kids, husband and our home

family time

2011-11-15T13:20:00.003+08:00

I am obsessed with family time. seriously, I just want my kids and ren all day and all night, 24/7. am I crazy?

5 ways to raise a happy child

2011-11-08T13:13:00.001+08:00

Make time for free play

You've heard it before: Free play – that is, unstructured time for a child to use his imagination without a coach or teacher breathing down his neck – is integral to development. But what you might not know is that it also helps children lay a foundation for future happiness.

Through free play, your child can discover what brings him joy – whether it's building a city of blocks, creating a family of stuffed animals, or designing a mural. In other words, he can connect with his true self. This ability to know what he likes (rather than what he should like) will serve him well when it's time to choose hobbies – or even a career.

Remember the mind-body connection

Turns out your mother was right when she said you needed your sleep, exercise, and healthful food. In fact, these are directly tied to mood. So make sure your child's bedtime is early enough so that she can get adequate rest, give her plenty of opportunity for exercise (outside play rather than a regimen of child aerobics classes), and go easy on the junk food and sugar.

Don't steal their problems

Your child struggles to reach the light switch, jumping up and down repeatedly. You may feel the impulse to just reach over and turn the light on for him. Instead, let him try to work it out.

The same goes for social problems. This doesn't mean you can't offer support and suggestions, but as hard as it is, resist the urge to solve all of your child's problems. Rather, look at challenges as gifts that can help him learn new skills. As child psychologist Carrie Masia-Warner puts it, "Children need to learn to tolerate some distress. Let them figure things out on their own, because it allows them to learn how to cope."

Check in

Wondering if your child is okay? Ask! This doesn't have to be complicated. It can be as simple as saying, "You seem a little down. Is there something you'd like to talk about?" And then listen, listen, listen. But – and this is important – if your child brushes you off, give her some space, and gently try again another time.

Allow feelingshttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Not only do we want our kids to be happy, we want them to act happy. It can be embarrassing when your child sobs on the playground while everyone else is having fun. But if you tell him to put on a happy face, he may feel invalidated.

Instead, teach him to identify his feelings and express them with words (for example, "I'm angry because I didn't get a turn on the swings"). And let him know that it's okay to be unhappy sometimes. Ironically, being able to deal with hard feelings will lead to more genuine happiness down the road.\

Source: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/5-ways-to-raise-a-happy-child-2608917

Daddy

2011-09-05T15:51:00.003+08:00

So many things i want to tell Daddy now. I feel so helpless cos when he was alive, I would always avoid any serious conversation with him. It's just me - I was never confrontational nor close to my parents - especially my dad.

But I feel the need to 'say' it. Maybe soon...in this blog - maybe this will somehow reach him. I am still hoping it's never too late.

First off - I love you, Daddy.

I think the last I told him that was when he was still abroad - via airmail.

Daddy

2011-09-05T15:47:00.002+08:00

hmm

2011-06-24T09:28:00.002+08:00

she was gorgeous during the royal wedding, but that's it. i don't understand what's the fuss about.

being honest lang pow.

yagit sa Lucky Plaza

2011-06-02T09:14:00.000+08:00

shake your boooohhhhttteeee

2011-05-27T08:59:00.002+08:00

the kiddos and i were shakin' our booties last night while watching this

it has been more than a decade

2011-05-24T10:34:00.000+08:00

thoughts

2011-05-24T10:29:00.003+08:00

"no matter what life throws at you, be strong"

sometimes you expect more from someone cause you know you'd do more for them

thankful everyday

2011-05-10T11:00:00.001+08:00

life

2011-05-09T13:36:00.003+08:00

i've never been a deep thinker. i often brush off things that really don't matter, or i feel shallow. but lately, everything that has been happening seems to have special meaning. i am such a late bloomer. because a lot are at stake - the most important are my kids. every action and decision i make - affects them, their future.

and the little girl is one tough cookie to handle. she just picks up everything i say and do. everything. i have to be careful not to make promises just to hush her or her kuya - cos she remembers everything. i am consciously picking the kind of words i use so that her vocabulary will be good, even consulting Miriam-Webster for correct pronunciation.

(this shows how my world really revolves around my kids - nawawala ako sa topic).

i have to admit, some decisions i made in the past were rush, anger-based, pride-based. but motherhood has taught me to be patient and humble - among other things, of course. matters that are waiting for my decisions should always be well-thought of, planned, analyzed.

is it obvious that i am uncertain? i honestly believe that i am blessed. with so much. but i can not wait for the day when all are in place.

so where am i going with this blah blah? just reminding myself to focus. with all the new things that has come our way, i should not loose focus of "that day when all are in place."

thank you

2011-04-27T09:51:00.004+08:00

for the good times, for the comfortable, effortless conversations, for listening, for just being you to me and my family. can i cry?

collaboration

2011-04-26T14:47:00.002+08:00

i used to work for a team who specializes on tools to help people collaborate.

i admit, most of the time, i'd rather email/IM if i need to ask something or get information - even if the person is just sitting next to me.

pero naman, if a person is in front of you and has initiate conversation, pwede ba kausapin mo na ako?

what's wrong?

2011-04-26T08:57:00.002+08:00

it's almost a month since I started on my new work, however, assessing my own performance, I have not accomplish a single task assigned to me. Not that there are a lot, in fact, just a few. Pero, wala. ZERO. I know I should get my ass work hard.

FOCUS. FOCUS. FOCUS.

hello blog

2011-04-19T14:38:00.002+08:00

you want a flat tops?

day 9

2010-11-03T03:04:00.003+08:00

nakakaloka. i never thought it would be this difficult.

there are times i just want to break down, however, i know i can't, cos i am my family's strength.

thank you

2010-09-21T21:55:00.003+08:00

my bestfriend always says prayers you say for others are more powerful than prayers you say for yourself.

i thank all those who pray for me and my family. you are also in my prayers all the time :)

Rina's first song

2010-09-19T21:04:00.003+08:00

i love you forever,
i love you for always,
as long as i'm living,
my baby you'll be

butterflies and horses

2010-09-13T01:00:00.004+08:00

my tummy is seriously full of butterflies as of late. so many things are happening. so many things to do. so many things to plan.

we were in Tagaytay late this afternoon for a quick last minute-let's-enjoy-the weekend-spur-of-the-moment. Tagaytay is less than 45 minutes away so we were able to enjoy the fresh air just before dark.

while the kids ride their mini version of padicab at the make shift horse/bike park beside taal vista hotel, a horse ran amok! as in it was running crazy and almost run over my kids. Ren was over my kids (literally) as the horse came speeding their direction. buti na lang naka ilag si ren, kung hindi patay sa akin ang bumbay na nakasakay sa horse before it ran wild! Yung bumbay kasi was showing off, hiting the horse really hard so it will ran faster, maybe the horses there are not used to running fast anymore and that kinds of harsh hiting, kaya ayun.

i was shaking as i watch everything from about few yards away. at one point after the incident, this bumbay still rode a horse and was at the bike track, so i told him to get out of the bike track, ganito: "can you please get off this track!", ang sabi, "i'm sorry, why?" me: "because as you can see there are children here, and this is not the track for horses and animals!" sabay irap. che!

lalo tuloy i feel i should never be apart from my kids. what if ren was not there? Rina was so scared she did not let go off me until we were already having dinner (read: pag kainan, nalilimutan nya lahat). I had to explain to Martin what happened. See he does not accept "nothing" for an answer anymore like he used to. He have a lot of whys and hows and more whys.

It's hard explaining things to kids. Lalo na mean things because its hard to explain why people become bad. however, his questions need answers and that he should also learn that this is not a perfect world.

here we go...

2010-09-09T13:32:00.000+08:00

my heart overflowing with happines.

i feel the Lord's embrace thru all the people are helping and are truly happy for us.

now, let's do it!

kain tayo!

2010-09-03T23:42:00.001+08:00

i am the luckiest mommy

2010-09-03T23:03:00.004+08:00

one night when i got home really late from the office, the kids already asleep, i saw this on our white board.

Martin is a very sweet boy. and i love him so very much.

just another point of view

2010-08-25T23:04:00.001+08:00

honestly, i am disgusted.

ano pa ba gagawin namin dito?

all the stars are saying that its a go.

christmas is for kids

2010-08-24T01:04:00.003+08:00

Martin likes an octo-battle toy. Rina likes a puppy.

stronger

2010-08-24T01:02:00.001+08:00

so you think you can put me down?

try me. see you when i am up looking down at ya.

life rule #3

2010-08-23T14:56:00.000+08:00

"Always be kind, for everyone is fighting a hard battle" - Plato

weather-weather

2010-08-08T22:44:00.001+08:00

tsk. buti na lang brave kids ko.

ah ha

2010-08-05T01:51:00.003+08:00

funny, just like Liz, out of nowhere, i realized something.

something is missing. in my life. something is missing.

i do not know who or what.

maybe a new house, or a brand new car, or whatever.

i do not know.

maybe my childhood?

maybe a relationship with whoever.

my piece of heaven

2010-07-22T09:05:00.000+08:00

my goal

2010-07-01T09:06:00.002+08:00

no not to make it to hollywood (i gave up on that years ago! hahaha), but to be this thin again. this was taken 5 years ago, almost a year after i gave birth to Martin. hay. i can do this!

too much honesty

2010-06-28T23:29:00.003+08:00

hehehe the last post was composed just before i sleep last night. sobrang drama ano? but as you know, when i am around my kids, i just give in to my feelings.

my kids. martin and rina.

martin is almost 6. 6. wow. i can still remember how he smells as baby. my baby. 6 years old. he asks a lot of questions. the most recent one (that i am not able to answer) is, what happen to the mummies? how come they have too much tissue. he loves cars. lamborgini is his favorite. he knows all the car model. all.

my baby girl is almost 2. this little one is the life of this house. she talks. a lot. she loves to eat. anything. just few hours ago, i was in a meeting and his dad was trying to put her to sleep, she said, "mom come here nga. put rina to sleep."

what i love the most is how they love each other. if rina cries, kuya will cry too. if kuya cries, rina runs to his side. kanina, we bought martin DYI balloons, and on our way home he said "rina will love this!"

they are just inspiring.

all out

2010-06-28T01:45:00.001+08:00

i am selfish, i know. What is mine is mine. I usually don't want to share. That is why sometimes, i feel i am not blessed because i do not share much. But still i appreciate all the blessings. Kay martin at rina na lang, jackpot na.

Have i also mentioned how jelous i am? Must be all the insecurities growing up. Yes, i get jelous sometimes with other people's good life. However, MOST of the time, i am grateful for what i have, specially my family. I may not have the good fortune others have, but i have a very loving husband and the most wonderfull son and daughter. We may not have the latest car model, but our old, trusty accord is one happy place when we ride it. Our house might not be on a gated, exclusive subdivison but is a place of comfort and joy to me, my husband and kids. We may not get to travel to places i want to take the kids to but nonetheless, airplane ride or trike ride, my kids enjoy the experience we give them.

Yes, i dream we have a brand new house, a model car, martin enrolled to 'the' exclusive school, and we get to travel whenever, however, what i have now IS a blessing. At the end of the day. Its the smiles and the hugs and the i love yous that matter. All the rests are temporary happiness.

my baby girl

2010-06-27T11:15:00.002+08:00

oh no

2010-05-18T02:30:00.004+08:00

oh no. am i having an early mid-life crisis?

i was alone the other day, the kids asleep, hubby in the office, i was cleaning the play and study area when it hit me.

i feel like i do not have the wisdom i think i should already have. :(

i adore my sister so much and thinkng about it, when she was at my age, parang all the decisions she made were correct, appropriate and were best for everybody.

bakit ako, parang lahat ng decisions ko mali? parang laging sablay.

pray, pray, pray.

focus, focus, focus.

pure bliss

2010-04-30T02:31:00.002+08:00

why i am alive.

twitterlandia

2010-04-30T02:18:00.006+08:00

i've been spending a lot of time on twitter. in fact, i am thinking of ditching facebook.

i like how twitter is "not too personal".

sometimes, friends' update on facebook is just TMI.

in twitter, i do not mind if nobody follows me, i just want to say my piece - no strings attached. its nice if you get to have 'small talk' with somebody who has the same interest as yours...

i can follow and un-follow somebody without too much fuss - unlike facebook, broadcast if you and somebody become 'friends'

i follow celebrities, yes, but i also follow news organizations - which keeps me updated of what's happening all the time. i also follow support groups whom i share the same passion.

some celebrities talk non-sense, but others are very good, actually. kita mo kung sino may personality.

so do you tweet?

circles

2010-04-30T01:46:00.002+08:00

have you noticed? we're just going around the circle.

so many things on my mind, i can't seem to put it here.

i don't even know where to start.

so many things.

all boils down to the desire to give my kids a happy childhood, a secure life.

here we go again

2010-03-29T02:40:00.004+08:00

it's plain and simple.

have you ever felt your heart is really, really heavy?

argh!

old friend

2010-03-02T22:44:00.006+08:00

it's always nice catching up with friends. Jason is our closest boy-friend from high school. awww bhebe and i just missed him so much. we know he's still our old friend. good times!
and this is the censored picture we can not post on Facebook, kasi might wreck havoc!
PS, sobrang best friends lang sila! sweet lang talaga.

damn it, no brownout please

2010-03-02T22:36:00.002+08:00

my kids are sweaty-ish. even with A/C on, they still sweat, ano pa kung walang kahit electic fan. not to mention that it is already freakin hot.

i hope it will not come to Laguna

Chilean Quake Likely Shifted Earth’s Axis, NASA Scientist Says

2010-03-02T22:28:00.002+08:00

yaiks!

March 1 (Bloomberg) -- The earthquake that killed more than 700 people in Chile on Feb. 27 probably shifted the Earth’s axis and shortened the day, a National Aeronautics and Space Administration scientist said.

“What definitely the earthquake has done is made the Earth ring like a bell,” Rietbrock said.

more here

Gleek here

2010-03-02T22:25:00.001+08:00

Glee Wiki! nice!

who is favorite Glee character?

2010-03-02T22:16:00.002+08:00

I like Puck (reminds me of somebody from high school, lol)

raise your hand if you love GLEE!

2010-03-02T22:06:00.004+08:00

i hope i live in the states so i can watch! inggit.

2010 GLEE LIVE! IN CONCERT! DATES:

May 18 | Phoenix, AZ | Dodge Theatre
May 20 | Los Angeles, CA | Gibson Amphitheatre
May 21 | Los Angeles, CA | Gibson Amphitheatre
May 25 | Chicago, IL | Rosemont Theatre
May 26 | Chicago, IL | Rosemont Theatre
May 28 | New York City, NY | Radio City Music Hall
May 29 | New York City, NY | Radio City Music Hall

CAST

Lea Michele (Rachel)
Cory Monteith (Finn)
Amber Riley (Mercedes)
Chris Colfer (Kurt)
Mark Salling (Puck)
Dianna Agron (Quinn)
Kevin McHale (Artie)
Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina)
Naya Rivera (Santana)
Heather Morris (Brittany)
Dijon Talton (Matt)
Harry Shum, Jr (Mike)

more here and here

i am fan

2010-03-02T21:59:00.003+08:00

simply because she cracks me up with her outrageous outfits and the songs she writes are poetic.

gaga

2010-02-12T08:45:00.003+08:00

kaloka. i so love pearl! i love gaga!
she actually glued pearls on her face. she looks pretty in here. her face is not too long here.

Holidays 2009

2010-01-14T00:35:00.008+08:00

the loot

2010-01-14T00:31:00.000+08:00

hello 2010

2010-01-14T00:19:00.002+08:00

i can still remember the Y2K project i assisted 10 years ago. 2010 na. ang bilis naman.

10 years from now, Martin will be 15 and Rina 11. Yaiks. Why am I afraid? I suddenly want to hug and kiss them and spend quality time with them. Ren and I should give in to Martin's suggestion to go to the beach this weekend.

As you might have heard, the events after Christmas was just heart-breaking.

Daddy Erning was just 62. He stayed with us since early December. We lost him on December 31st. We are still somewhat glad because he did not suffer a long time.

Ren and I were only a year and a half married when he lost his mom. Now his dad.

I am just so glad I am with him at those very terrible times.

And then there was the yayas trouble. I don't even want to remember.

We have a brand new yayas. So far so good.

I am blabbering here.

I can't wait for the HAPPY surprises 2010 will bring us.

Happy New Year everyone!

waiting in vain

2009-12-19T02:08:00.001+08:00

who ever wants the exciting game of waiting?

run

2009-12-08T21:31:00.000+08:00

i want to run away. far, far away.

marriage

2009-12-03T02:11:00.001+08:00

marriage is about partnership. i do this because i love my husband. if he's happy, then i am happier. his sorrow is my sorrow.

December

2009-12-01T09:51:00.000+08:00

Oh my God! December already? I have not even started my list. Cram time!

happiness

2009-12-01T09:47:00.004+08:00

November has been a roller coaster ride.

this one was a very happy day with my sister and her kids and mama bem

kuyukot

2009-12-01T03:45:00.003+08:00

ang kuyukot at pata ni Rina. ang sarap kagatin!

nobody said life would be easy

2009-12-01T02:47:00.003+08:00

i have accepted the fact that i never had a happy childhood. it is sad that i really can't remember one happy childhood memory. not one. how sad, right? i know. what i remember are the fighting, the moving, the chaos, the rejection, the sadness.

maybe that is why this is how i am. i know i am not a very like-able person. i have very few friends because i am hard to get along with. i consciously select the people i will like. to others, i am a very aloof person. maybe i am. because i am constantly avoiding rejection. it has always been, if you don't like, the more that i don't like you.

i never want my kids to be like me, to be very honest. if we have passed on our traits to them, i am really praying, they got their dad's.

if there's one constant prayer i have to Mama Mary it is that she heals me.

don't get me wrong. i am happy. i am happy cos i have my kids and ren. but i bet it would be better if i am healed.

if there's one thing i am learning, it is i should not be stuck in the past. past is irreversible. i can't do anything about it anymore, but to learn.

that is exactly what i am doing.

i feel like tomorrow is the new year of my life.

i want to make things right.

i want to clean my closet, my kitchen, my pantry, the kids toys.

i want to get things organized.

i want to start living.

she could have been our 4th child. Martin is our eldest, then a 2 month old angel, then Rina, then again, the little 2 1/2 old angel.

it's time to start living.

Dear Baby Girl

2009-10-22T01:14:00.002+08:00

my dear baby girl, Rina Angela,

Anak, the other day I fell hard. Literally. I was traying to chase you as you were about to put your tiny little finger in the electric fan in our living room. Awweeeee anak. sakit ng pwet ni mama sweetheart. but that's fine, mama will heal soon. what important is that your right pointer finger is safe. Mama asked dada to get rid of that low electric fan already. It will not harm you anymore.

I love you baby girl. I'm sorry i scare you when mama cried when she cannot get up when she fell.

love you pot.

anxious

2009-10-07T00:40:00.001+08:00

i have a strange, ugly feeling. feels like something bad will happen. ok, i need to pray.

when it rains it pours

2009-09-28T16:48:00.003+08:00

this line does not always reflects good things coming.

our humble home is currently a temporary shelter to my dad side relatives. my dad's two sisters, a cousin and a nephew are sardines-ed in the other room. their house near the laguna lake still have knee-deep flood.

the only living lola in the Malapitan side of the family has passed away this morning. lola carmen is a sweet lola and very pretty. mestiza. even with wrinkles, you can still see the beauty of her face. it does not help that my second cousin, giezel died only 2 months back after battling the same kind of lukemia Francis M had.

i want to stop crying. the news are still making me cry no matter how many times i have seen the videos and the images.

and rain, you are not helping at all. please stop na. you're making me nervous.

already gone

2009-09-28T16:09:00.003+08:00

no more reason to stay.

Papa Jesus, please help

2009-09-26T22:41:00.003+08:00

ren is home safe after braving waist-deep flood.

the kids are peacefully sleeping.

kanina when ren was stuck at the site, i feel i was going to break down. the kids are looking for their dad - whom i couldn't reach since damn Globe does not give signal and the water was slowly seeping our living room.

i am crying hard right now.

i am watching the news and saw the effect of the storm. grabe. it's just so overwhelming. kasi i saw how it happened. i experienced how the rain would not stop for almost 24 hours.

i am crying because i feel blessed. my living room and the kids' play area are a mess, but the other people, especially those in marikina, their house is literally under the water.

please say a prayer to all those affected by the storm and the flood.

be safe!

paano?

2009-09-24T21:24:00.003+08:00

i really neeed a good hug right now.

my ulcer is back. pain. but more than the pain, i hate being sick kasi i don't have enough energy for the kids, for the hubby for the house and for the work. i hate being sick kasi i am more grouchy and sungit.

i know the minute i came back, i need to move on. pero sandamakmak ang trabaho, kaya eto pa din ako. i need to find a day for that.

now more than ever, i am afraid of the future basically because i am not yet prepared for it. i need to focus on the things that needs to be done for the future than for today.

darn! darn! darn!

2009-09-22T23:21:00.000+08:00

arrrrrrgggggggggggghhhhhhhhhh

waaaaaaaaa

2009-08-27T00:04:00.001+08:00

i am so pissed (and crying) because i so wanted to get out, but was still trying to fit in. this is so over.

itsura pag hindi bitbit ang hermes!

2009-08-03T10:40:00.000+08:00

toddler

2009-08-03T10:35:00.001+08:00

Rina has been a busy, busy, toddler since 2 months ago!

lol at "no" as a favorite word...but so true!

life

2009-08-03T01:08:00.001+08:00

i never wanted the limelight. i would rather do the dirty works and stay at the background. but after spending the past weeks working my ass off, i am pissed. pero kanina pa yun. it has passed. ayos na. damn. sabi ko nga, i have other priorities. i'd rather see the smile on my kids' faces than on other people i hardly know, diba?

ok fine.

have you been crying? i am still crying. i bet tita cory is very happy where she is now. no cancer, with Ninoy.

i was very young when she became president.
kaya this image is the most that makes up of her in my memory. a mother's shoulder for her (luka-luka) daughter.

i've never seen any video or picture of her in distress. she has always been poised and proper. sabi nga nung isang facebook friend ko, she's a wife and mother that i wanted to be. a true icon to look up to.

rest in peace Cory. thank you.

Martin @ 5

2009-08-03T01:04:00.001+08:00

Rina @ 1

2009-08-03T01:02:00.001+08:00

play area

2009-07-09T08:03:00.002+08:00

i want my kids play area
to be like this

bless his kids

2009-07-08T09:01:00.001+08:00

my heart is crying

2009-07-08T07:50:00.000+08:00

nobody will know michael the way his family does, specially his kids.

our home

2009-07-04T11:07:00.003+08:00

this truly is a product of hardwork. our home.

my bestfriend and I

2009-07-04T10:34:00.004+08:00

we have been friends since 2nd/3rd year high school. we were part of these crazy group called fatal zyndicate (hahaha i know! we call ourselves that! LMAO!). big group - different types of personality, iba iabg trip. but for us girls - we were always the goodie-goodie girls. the boys is a different story. let me just say that they passed 'a stage' in their adolescent phase. but one thing we are proud of is that they never, never get us (girls) involved. we were clueless up until we were gone to college. it made us proud because we know the boys cared for us and they value us. they kept us pure! hahaha

so in college, bhebhe and i went to a different school. and i of course was busy with ren. lol. we would meet up on birthdays, weddings, etc. of course there was the eraserheads concert where she got crazy -ran after the band's van!

after college, kanya kanyang work. i was working at Makati, while she at laguna. ganun pa din, meet up during special occassions lang. sometimes we would go out as a group, but very seldom lang.

and then life became much serious. i got married, had Martin, shifted career. she had a major family issue. in short, we grew up.

she was there when ren and i had a major break up in 2002. she and tweet were my shoulders to cry on. i was a wreck, they both came as fast as they could to be with me. she's one of the first person to know that i was pregnant with martin. she was there at our civil wedding, when i gave birth to martin -she's one of the first person to see him, of course she's martin's ninang. she's part of our wedding entourage. in short, she has always been there.

i'd like to think i was always there for her. i will always be there for her. i've met all her exs, i've been with her through several break ups, i was there to listen whenever she needs to vent her frustrations and heartbreak over family issues.

strange as it may seem, but always, always, whenever one of us is going through something, one would always send a text message, a phone call or an IM or facebook - "hi how are you?" out of nowhere. it is as if we unconsiously feel if someone is in pain, sad, happy, etc. it's like we have an invisible connection.

i am lucky to her as my best friend. we can always talk about everything under the sun (of favorite topic of course is showbizzzz). family, love, money, hearthaches, you name it.

like i do with my sister, i miss her all the time.

so am i lucky to have her as my bestfriend or what?

me and the world

2009-07-04T10:23:00.004+08:00

i have installed a free software called Digsby. i have done so because yesterday, as i was doing my daily visit to my bookmarked sites, naisip ko, ang dami! facebook, twitter, gmail, yahoo mail, celebrity sites.

so far, digsby has been a great help. i can preview my gmails - yes, kahit ilang email accounts on yahoo, gmail, msn, etc. i get real-time updates from twitter and facebook.

i am following a lot of celebrities on twitter. hehehe. it's interesting to know what's their everyday life looks like.

and on facebook, of course there's a lot going on in there. photos, short kwentos via status, mafia wars and farm churva (which, i am thinking of trying, fine).

today, when i logged in to digsby, i thought to myself, i don't update much on twitter or facebook, basically, nanguusisa lang ako - one way info. so what is in the mind of these active facebook/twitter updater?

why do we publish ourselves over the internet? to most, its because we want to stay connected. oh well, yes, i want to stay connected - i want to know what's going on with my family and friends' life. but i think my life is just too boring and very ordinary to publish :) apart from this private blog, i don't say as much :)

thoughts?

Imelda + Bvlgari

2009-06-06T11:54:00.003+08:00

i saw this one late night over at CNN.

CHO: It is that rich history that Bulgari is hoping will help them through this recession. Like most luxury companies, Bulgari is hurting, too. Laying off workers, shutting stores and the CEO is even taking a 75 percent pay cut. But that same CEO tells me it's one thing to be hip and trendy in a span of 20 years, but it's hard to compete with a company that's been around for a century.

And guys, a luxury company really relies on its image more than anything else, and more than any other sector. And they're really hoping that rich family history, the family roots, will help sell jewels.

ROBERTS: Yes, great story about Elizabeth Taylor. But did he dish about any of the other famous folks who have worn his jewelry.

CHO: It's interesting. He said he doesn't like to kiss and tell, but one thing he did tell --

ROBERTS: But he did.

CHO: But he did. One thing he did tell was that Imelda Marcos, the woman who was famous for her shoe collection, loved jewelry. She loved Bulgari jewelry.

In fact, when she came to New York, she would often call Mr. Bulgari in the middle of the night, 2:00, 3:00 in the morning and say come to my hotel, bring the jewelry. And, of course, they obliged.

The Marcoses must have been living the life to the fullest during their time.

Kaloka!

addict

2009-06-03T23:33:00.006+08:00

care ko kay hayden at ang mga sex videos nya. ok, ok, there was one day i was interested...pero ka cheap-an e...so wag na. and i watched all the videos! lalong nakakawalang gana. all the people involved are grown-ups, pero mas masarap pang panoorin ang debate ni Mika and Martin about Spiderman.

care ko din (muna) sa GM filing for bankruptcy.

care ko din (muna) sa walang tigil na ulan.

care ko din (muna) sa one million items on my to do list.

i just can't concentrate on anything else!

i am an addict!

high school all over. gash. i finished all last 3 books of the Twilight series in a week. I am now reading the unfinished, unpublished Midnight Sun - which is Twilight - but Edward is narrating.

I can't wait for the New Moon movie!!!

jealous

2009-05-11T15:06:00.005+08:00

(i am listening to Nina's Jealous song... my iTunes' on shuffle mode..wala akong maisip na title ng entry na to :))

if there's one thing that scres the hell out of me, it's failing as a mother. doing things that will make my kids hate me. say and do bad stuff that will stuck in to the minds for the rest of their lives.

you see, my world revolves around my kids. they are my morning, noon, night. they are the reason i am alive and kicking...they are the reason i am loving my life. when i made the choice to be a mother, i promised myself to give my everything to my kids.

since i had Martin, i made the decision to put my career into a 'slow motion' because i didn't want to miss my kids' growing up years. i have very very little memory of my childhood (if none)...i want to see my kids grow up. i can make their childhood mine too (sounds weird i know). i want to have fun with them, learn with them. i want to witness every milestones. i want to be there for them.

Martin asks a hell lot of questions now. Rina on the other hand is on top of her game. She eats like a there's no tomorrow. She's very eager to try things on her own (which often times result to her being hurt). There's just so much going on with my kids. I always fail to notice how time goes by when i am with them. so much action.

and i am loving it.

Hello Blog!

2009-05-04T23:41:00.001+08:00

i missed you!

trying times.

2009-02-20T08:57:00.004+08:00

i am scared. i am worried. i think of my kids future. i think about my career. i think about my sister who is in the states where the economic crisis seems to be affecting everybody's job. i am afraid for my brothers and for their family.

i am worried about my friends and relatives who work abroad, where they say that they are not the primary concern of the local employers.

the other day, while i was waiting for a taxi (to take me to the bundok), a stranger carrying a small child came to the people in the line asking for alms. i know it's super impossible to happen and i am over acting, but i had a wild imagination that that could be me carrying Rina. i swear kung hindi lang madaming tao, ngumawa na ako.

5% is big deal in this trying times. it could pay off about half of our electricity bill, salary ng yaya or ulam for 2 weeks. these days, every peso counts. heck kahit nga yung mga 5 centavos tinatago ko na.

they said, this is just the beggining. i read somewhere that this could last for atleast 2 years.

i am worried for my kids, more than anything else. i wish i have super power to shelter them from any effect of this crisis.

loving my kids

2009-02-06T01:19:00.004+08:00

i'm in love. with my kids. and both are equally in love with me.

Rina will cry immediately (i swear!) when she sees me. she's been very possessive. would only stop crying if i carry her. will go to sleep if only mama watch her.

Kuya on the other hand, is with Daddy through out the day (you know, they fix the car, they walk to plaza, they buy all kind of pets, etc), but if it's sleeping time, he needs to be beside me. no daddy. :P

someday, when they get to read this, i want them to know how they complete me. just thinking about their smiles, their laughter, satisfy me. if i am lonely, or if something/someone is bringing me down, i just look into their face, their eyes...and i instantly remember who and what are important to me.

i have called them plenty of names. si kuya - bhebe, babe, sweetheart, bebeb, piglet, bhe, kuya. si rina - i call her potpot a lot recently, bru, bhebe, bebeb, honey.

i can stay at home all day with them doing nothing. i know i have so many things to do to give them the best life possible and i am ready to do it. whatever it takes. just for my kids.

family picture

2009-02-06T01:15:00.001+08:00

i've been obsessing with having lots and lots of our family photo! here's the latest taken during HP kids photo shoot.

miryenda

2009-01-20T17:19:00.005+08:00

i have two favorite pinoy miryenda: ginataang mais and binatog!

(photo grabbed from google search)

every now and then, i ask ren to buy me binatog in the market as the city hall is next to the country market i always ask him to pass by the palengke and find me a binatog. pero laging wala. today, in the office, may naglalako daw.

ang sarap! (*comfort food since i am depress for my bestfriend*)bukas naman ginataang mais ha dad? thanks!!!

my bestfriend's broken heart

2009-01-20T11:17:00.003+08:00

Bhebe arrived at 6:30PM yesterday, i dressed up really quickly then i told her we are going for a walk.

her boyfriend of 1.7 years broke up with her *huhuhuhu* it's a really complicated break up. they love each other but just can't stay together. for now.

i just want to be with her through this very tough time. i don't pretent to know eveything about relationships because i don't. i held her hands, hug her and pat her on the back...she poured all that she was feeling and thinking. i listened, i cried with her.

i am not sure what will happen next. basta gusto ko lang, is for her to be happy. i let her decide for herself because only she knows what is best for herself now.

love you bhe. kaya mo yan. i will always be here for you.

2009

2009-01-18T23:30:00.004+08:00

one liner from a co-worker's email signature:

"if you fail to plan, you plan to fail"

let me do this by month (a work in progress):

January. Uncle rely, Office Photo shoot, Anne, Joel, Martin's school field trip

February. Dad's birthday, Uncle Cesar,

March. Beach! Ate Shiela,

April. My 32rd birthday.

May. BIG! HUGE! Ate, Mom, Kuya Jay and Ate Cel's birthday.

June. Ren's 32nd birthday

July. Rina Angela's 1st birthday. Kuya's 5th birthday.

August.

September.

October.

November.

December. Christmas.

tired and tired

2009-01-16T23:26:00.006+08:00

this has been a long day. Uncle Rely, mommy's older brother from Canada arrived at 8AM. He is a handicapped after a stroke 2-3 years ago. I was so happy to seehim. I always remember him as my very calm Uncle (the other one is coming next month too...that one naman is the sutil uncle...but i love him too!). He's been living in Canada since the early 70's but 'go home' to the pinas every now and then. Too bad his speech was affected by the stroke, thus communicating with him is very 'challenging'. He can only say 'yes', 'no', 'sino ano', and count 1-10. So when he counts 1, 2, 3, 4 = he could mean my mom (being the 4th child among their sibs), or it could be brother, or my brother's kids, etc. hulaan to the max. hands down to my mom who seems to be an expert on uncle Rely's 'language.'

anyway, i can't wait to show him around. kanina, they went to their old house (which is now an apartment complex - still owned by the family), their old school, and the plaza. tomorrow, martin's big kuyas are coming over to spend time with him.

i hate that i set up a training today (i wanted to spend time with uncle). but no choice. i had to give this training to get help from my teammates on the efax tickets. i need to focus more on the upgrade. so imagine me talking non-stop for 4 hours. it was a good training kasi 2 new employee students ko. so mababait pa at talagang eager to learn.

ren offered to drive me to office since he also had makati errands and i wanted to go home right after the training. pero syempre, after the training, hindi din kami umuwi agad. chance namin mag-date! hahaha. so had dinner and just walked around boni high and talked about...what else, but the kids :) our walk was slow, the winding blowing softly on our faces, it was really nice. kuya always enjoy boni high for it's spacious, bermuda-ed grounds. i want to take rina there when she starts walking and if the weather is not this cold anymore.

so i was knocked out on the way home. i am hating my sleeping habit. i always stay up late, some times i work, other times i just watch tv, browse the net or just do nothing. last night i watched chainsaw massacre on HBO (such a lame moving starring the very young renee zalweger and very young matthew mcconaughey).

oh on our way to our car, we saw Mama Liza getting off her car. hahaha! ginulat ko sya at i wish i had my camera with me to capture her facial reaction! hahaha! she was on her way to a dinner with her high school friends.

when we got home, bru was already asleep, while kuya was at lola's room eating Pringles (my mom is martin's daily pringles supplier). Uncle was already on bed, but still awake. we spent a good long time looking at their high school's year book. i was fascinated at home teenagers look in the 50's, 60's and 70's. super aliw! i am amazed too at home many people my mom and uncle can recognize. hello black and white photos!

i will try to be good to my body tonight. after i write this post, i will go to bed and try to sleep. i am the weekend DM tomorrow, AND an upgrade that will start at 1AM, Sunday. i hope this project finishes soon! i want my weekends back!

goodnight beautiful people who read my blog. love you all!

books

2009-01-16T00:41:00.006+08:00

been meaning to drop by the bookstore to get me a good book i can read in times like this (not sleepy, everybody's asleep, read all my RSS feeds, does not want to work). but for some reasons, i never did. when i am out of the house, i am either on my way to the hill (read: office), i'm in the 'hill', drop off/pick up kuya to/from school, do the grocery, basically, all the time i go out, i have an agenda. and i am always rushing home to be with the kids.

and when i say bookstore, i mean a store that sells variety of books, not office supplies (read: National Bookstore hehehe, although i don't mind looking at all those supplies, i'm a sucker for little-useless things for my home office). i want to have the luxury of time to visit powerbooks and/or fully booked. i wanted to read atleast one book a month. i will try to get rid of the magazines (except YES! hahaha).

So, i am on amazon now, checking out The New York Times 10 Best Book of 2008. I will probably the first on the list, A Mercy, by Toni Morrison. I have not read any of her books though. I am fan of John Grisman, Patterson and the like. I like action, sometimes lovestories bore when i read them, i'd rather watch them. Only one cheesy novel i like is the Like Water for Chocolate. if you have seen that Keanu Reeves movie in the vineyard (darn! i forgot the title, do you remember?), this book is pretty much like that story.

parents

2009-01-15T23:29:00.004+08:00

do you think all parents feel the same way towards their own kid/s? this is a line i've been meaning to tell my kids whenever i look into their eyes.

"When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me-about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. - Barack Obama.

thoughts

2009-01-15T02:05:00.008+08:00

reading the blogs i religiously follow, almost all have listed their wish list for the new year. as much as i want to make a list of the things i want (material things) this year, i'd rather not. by doing so, i will stay focus on the things that the kids 'need'

yes, not obligatory, but maternal instinct, kids first all.the.time. i am not complaining or bitter about it. it's just the way i feel. i'm happy when i get to buy stuff the kids needs, and yes even 'wants'

i am so behind uploading pictures. see uploading our everyday-whatever pictures is also a way for me to back-up all our memories.

and i have to do that very soon, i have this feeling that this laptop will give up anytime soon. darn, i need a new one.

i am missing michael sooo much. michael scoefield. i hope i get copies of the latest episode of prison break on friday. btw, i heard they are ending the show after the current season. i think after they have 'killed' Sara, the interest of their loyal fans were killed too

it's cold! yes, it's been very cold lately here in the land of the pinoy. can you believe that for 3 nights now, not only we did not turn on the aircon during the kids night sleepy time - this is the time when kuya is really, really active, and the little girl is all fussy - we set the mood, give kuya a bath, clean up the bru, turn off the lights, turn-on the aircon, turn of the TV, read to them, hum to the baby, dance her, etc. ok, going back to the weather story, for the last 3 nights, no aircon! and no electric fan even! the windows are all closed because it is super windy outside! i've only had this weather when i was in hong kong on a december and at the sea world in san diego. i am loving it! i've never experience this kind of weather in the philippines, not in tagaytay in December. good thing the kids are not getting sick - i hope they don't. They say it will be like this until February. So friends visiting Manila soon, remember to bring your sweaters. :)

i want this kitchen!

and this bedroom!

14 years.

2009-01-08T01:18:00.003+08:00

no regrets. just pure bliss.

my baby girl

2009-01-08T01:02:00.004+08:00

this was taken today when Rina woke up after her afternoon nap. all smile. my happy baby girl. couldn't ask for more.

my bestfriend's wedding

2009-01-08T00:42:00.002+08:00

no, not bhebe, but james. james, tweet and i were classmates since pre-school. i am very glad he found a really nice girl, dana, to be his wife. i was almost in tears during their wedding. i am just so happy for my bestfriend.

martin was the bible bearer.

ren, me, martin, the newly weds, tweet and bhebe

LSS

2009-01-06T00:14:00.009+08:00

i remember a conversation i had with Joel about me not knowing any other song by Rihanna aside from the very popular Umbrella. Parang yung tingin nya sa akin noon, isa akong hampas lupa na gaga. and now i know why...

During the christmas break, i discovered that Kuya Martin knows that song! one day, narinig na lang namin sya nage ela-ela-ela-hey-hey! So buong bakasyon everyday, while he is taking a bath, i played Rihanna on my laptop. Si kuya naman sayaw ng sayaw habang naliligo. fun!

one night, i searched for Umbrella's video over at youtube (so i could see how the dance is choreographed - hahaha! para sasayaw kami ni kuya!) I found out that Rihanna has a couple of more good songs!

my current favorite: take a bow. LSS pare!

"and don't tell me you're sorry cos you're not
baby when i know you're only sorry you got caught!"

i hate that i love you so

i also like rehab and please don't stop the music.

i must say though...talo ang mga music videos nya...

privacy

2009-01-06T00:01:00.003+08:00

lately, tamad na tamad akong mag update ng profile ko sa friendster, facebook, or multiply. gusto na nga pumunta ni bhebe sa bahay para kunin ang copy ng pictures namin taken during our annual christmas party cos until now, di ko pa din napo post.

i don't know. tinamad na lang ako. before i follow a lot of blogs. as in religously visit the sites i like everyday and i even read comments.

lately, i'd rather be on wikipedia. just typing away whatever word i can think of. of simply just keep my laptop off.

one time nga i was on multiply, i was amazed kasi ang dami daming pictures namin ang naka post! even some photos of martin na i now find inappropirate. i suddenly felt violated.

siguro now that i am getting older (maturing?) i am finding meaning to the word "privacy" na. suddenly, my privacy, my family's privacy is a big deal for me.

blank

2009-01-05T23:42:00.005+08:00

the other night, while waiting for the bruha to fall asleep, i was thinking of so many things to blog about. too bad i did not have time then. pero now that i have the time na, bakit nawala lahat? bahket?

anyway, we were yaya-less for 5 days. 5 days! i am not complaining! not at all. i am in fact very happy and glad they were away. i got to spend quality time with the kids and ren. super bonding moment. the four of us were together the whole 5 days, as in every minute! just us. i did the dishes, the cooking - actually more of reheated the ulams (janet prepared 5 meals, para init na lang ng init!) and cooked rice via the rice cooker. i bathed the baby (which btw, i always do with or without the yaya), dress her up, i sterelized her bottles, i put her to sleep (about 4-5 times in a day). i did everything. and I LOVE IT.

i have been very vocal about wanting retiring early and just stay at home with the kids. i want that now more than ever, having spent a very fulfilling 5 long days. never mind if my hands are rough and smelled dishwash the whole day, or i slept 4-5 hours a day (putol-putol pa yun) or if i ate standing up...it was all worth it.

today, the yayas are back and i am also back at work. hay...

thanks to 2008, hello 2009!

2009-01-02T13:18:00.005+08:00

will write more posts later, na pressure ako sa mga accomplishment and goal posts ni Paul!

Maligayang Pasko!

2008-12-25T10:05:00.003+08:00

from my family to yours, a very Merry Christmas!

anuva

2008-12-12T22:39:00.006+08:00

anuva. bakit ngayon pa ako nagkasakit? it must be the cold weather yesterday and today, and all the stress for Rina Angela's Christening on Sunday.

caterer - check
bru's outfit - check
tables and chairs rental - check
balloons - check
table centerpiece - check
other decor, flowers - saturday
tarpaulin - check
invitations - check, all were sent out
souvenirs - check
cake - for pick up on sunday, 10Am
general house cleaning - deadline on sunday 4AM! (yes yan deadline ko sa mga angels)

so sige, magkasakit na today and tomorrow, besides konti na lang tasks ko. mawala na sana sa sunday. and wag sana mahawa ang mga bata.

we opt to do the reception at home instead. this way we can invite people we want to celebrate with us. restaurants are pricey, and ang tendency is to limit the people we invite. anyway, ok lang naman daw kay Rina. I promised her naman that it will be fun and i will make sure everything will covered :)

excited na ako. i've been wanting to have her baptised kaya lang may mga 'issues' kaya ngayon lang.

i feel so bad sometimes. i feel i do not give what my kids deserves. pero whenever i look into their eyes and see the delight on their faces because i am holding them or kiss them, or hugging them - it is as if they are saying i love you mom. kaya as much as possible, when i am with them, i give all my attention to them.

i am not sure if it is the meds i took to relieve me of sore throat and fever, or the hormones, but i feel like crying now just thinking how much i love them. just being with them doing nothing completes my day. when i go to office, kakadating ko pa lang, gusto ko ng umuwi because miss na miss ko na sila. i love listening to martin's stories and all the things he says. i love watching rina while she's sleeping. the feeling is indescribable when i see them 'talking' and laughing at each other.

ren has been very patient with me. if i want to go to the next town's market kasi mas madaming choices ng ribbons dun, he says yes and drives me there. if i want small balloons instead of the traditional balloon na may print na "welcome to the christian world" - sige daw kahit alam nyang it means he'll have to pump all 200 small balloons.

i'm blessed. knowing how much i already have, i can't even think of 'wishing' for something (material) this christmas. just my kids and my hubby within my reach.

us

2008-12-04T00:39:00.002+08:00

taken during Patrick and Mara's wedding

bite me!

2008-12-04T00:21:00.003+08:00

rob, bite me, please!
have you seen the movie? gosh. high school all over again. the movie is a bit sablay for me though. hello! ang tagal ng connection ni ed and bella. inip na inip akong mag yakapan at mag halikan sila no! pero, kinilig ako. lol.

and darn it! i love rob's english accent!