Yolanda

Yolanda - next to Janet Napoles - must be the most hated name in the Philippines today.

I spoke with Muder yesterday para makibalita because there was no power here in Baguio the whole day. I was complaining about the power interruption. She told me I wouldn't be complaining about the power interruption if I was seeing the news on TV about the damage in Visayas caused by Yolanda. The damage was incomparable to a simple power interruption. As I type this, I'm watching Rated K Special on typhoon Yolanda. My muder was right. My whole day suffering yesterday because of the power loss was nothing.

It breaks my heart to see on TV dead bodies just lying on the ground covered with newspaper or anything there is. Somewhere, there's a family member surely sick worried about them, waiting to hear from them, never knowing that they're already dead.

I could not imagine that same thing happening to my family here in Baguio or to my family in Nueva Ecija. I wouldn't know what to do. I know it's impossible for that not to happen anywhere in the Philippines.

On a brighter note, it feels great to see people who are very much willing to donate cash or goods, volunteer services and help in their little ways. Nakakasarap ng feeling maging Pinoy. Nakakaengganyo to join. Tara, donate tayo?!

When I woke up this morning, I knew today was gonna be a better day than yesterday. I was just so thankful that, relatively, there was no damage at all here in Baguio and in Nueva Ecija. It sure was one fine day today. The sun was out the whole day. I knew it would already be today. That's why I initially planned for my family to eat out today. But then I remembered, nagtitipid pala kami. Also, it didn't feel right - us celebrating one fine day after a day of not-so heavy rain - while many are suffering, grieving.

So we stayed here in the house, watched Miss Universe 2013 where Ms. Philippines Ariella Arida won as 3rd Runner-up, after tiring ourselves watching the news on Yolanda's aftermath.

We got bored in the afternoon, took a walk in the neighborhood.

See how the weather was here in Baguio today? See how my kids were? I really cannot complain. In fact, I'm thankful. 

My prayers to our kababayans in Visayas. May God be with you always. Take care!

Ciao! ♥

Age Is Just A Number

Hello friends! Isn't today a great day or what? Hongganda lang ng weather! What a perfect day to do the laundry.

Elmer and I finally saw the last full show of The Conjuring two days ago. Gabi na kasi kami nakalabas kasi he and I slept almost the whole afternoon. Kami na ang puyat. May gulat factor ang movie! 'Yung first scene dun na nakakagulat, napasigaw ako talaga kaya nagulat din si Elmer. Ayun, nagalit siya sa akin. Nakaka-praning kasi 6 lang yata kami sa buong sinehan nun. Kaya walang masyadong sigawan galore.'Yun pa naman ang exciting.

Image Source

'Yung lang. Ganun lang lumipas ang 11th anniversary namin. Saya 'no? ^_^

Yesterday, it was my day-off, I went to Benguet Lab to have my Annual Physical Exam. 'Kala ko naman ay nakaligtas na ako sa APE na 'yan. Anyways, tapos na.

Imbey lang because I was there so early dahil gusto kong matapos agad. I finished the blood extraction, urine sample collection, vision test, x-ray test in just 15 minutes. Ang mga doctors lang ang palaging late dumating. At nang dumating na si Doc, 15 minutes din lang e tapos na ang physical exam na wala namang physical exam na naganap, which was favorable to me. Wa ko bet the hubad-hubad, kapa-kapa at tuwad-tuwad thingy. Question and answer portion na lang ang naganap.

The doctor made my day. Sa APE form ko kasi, there was an erasure sa age ko. Gawa ng nurse 'yun.

Back From A Short Hiatus

Ahaym sorry.

My last post was just something that was sitting in my Drafts for months, that I had to do a little editing for before publishing it online. I lost my "gana" to write for a bit there. You see, even My Project 365+1 needs updating. I assure you, the project's still on. I just couldn't find time to stitch the photos together. I promised myself that I'd finish that before Friday. That's why after a little while on hiatus,  I feel like I owe you some updating and my blog(s) an apology. 'Sensya na, may pinagdadaanan lang. Fret not because I'm so back!

Checking on it, it was just one week lang naman since my last post. But it felt like forever. Geez! For now, I would like to update you with what I had been doing for the past week.

Some random photos lang after the break, a'right? ^_^

One Fine Day In Cudirao Hills

It was one fine day yesterday, my rest day. I let Nikki skip school because she was having fever due to her URTI. Because we're new to this part of Loakan, Calli and I decided that we have a little walk in the morning around Cudirao Hills. Nikki was feeling alright that time so she joined us. Girl power!

Plus, these two ticking bombs leaving the house would allow their daddy to have some quiet space to sleep even for a very short time. Kawawa naman kasi puyat-puyat the night before.

Her ready-for-a-walk pose

Mga naka-pambahay lang

36th National Milo Marathon: Baguio Leg

Today, Elmer came home late and with these. 

Two kits of the Milo Marathon 5K run

He was telling me about this Milo Marathon weeks ago and that he would definitely join this event. I never thought that he was serious. More than that, I never thought that he would like to run with me because he never asked me to join him. That's why I was surprised when he came home with two kits and one of them has my name on it.

One for him and one for me.

La Trinidad's Strawberry Farm...Again

Don't get me wrong peeps. I don't hate the strawberry farm in La Trinidad. It's just that I was only there in April  (Read story here) then again this June.

I mentioned in a previous post that I had some unexpected guests, or shall I say an unplanned visit from guests. My Muder and Fuder and sister brought here to Baguio my titas and tito and cousins who are having vacation here in the Philippines. The last time they were here in the Philippines, that was also during the rainy months in 2010, and got to visit Baguio, they never had the chance to visit the strawberry farm in La Trinidad.

I even discouraged them to go. Because, first, really, there's nothing to see there during these days. Strawberries are no longer in season. All of them have already been harvested and brought to the market. Second, it is raining a lot in the afternoon. E bet pa naman nila lumakad sa hapon. No amount of discouraging stopped them from going. Gow pa din daw kami. Mga turista kasi. E di gow!

So, there we went and visited the almost strawberry-less strawberry fields of La Trinidad. I consider ourselves lucky to still have spotted few strawberries. At least my tourists still experienced how it was to pick strawberries...for free. Kasi normally, may bayad ang stawberry-picking especially 'pag peak season. They were so nakakaaliw panoorin picking strawberries. Dahil nga very, very, very few strawberries na lang ang meron, para silang nakakita ng piece of gold whenever they found one, kahit super liit pa niyang strawberry.

Some photos up next.

Let's Get Lost: Summer Capital of the Philippines, Baguio City

So I've already mentioned here that I played as a tour guide to my sisterful Vian and her seaman boyfriend, Jerico, from Romblon who just got off a ship. I asked him if people from Romblon or from the south for that matter, really have that eagerness like he had to set foot here in Baguio City. He answered yes, in a way how people from the north would die to visit Boracay.

In the twelve years so far that I've stayed here in Baguio City, there are still places I've never been to, foods that I've never tasted and things that I've never tried here in Baguio City. That's why I was excited to be their tour guide, so I could revisit some tourist spots here. Another thing that made me want to do this was because Calli was going with us. The two years and nine months that Calli has been living here in Baguio City, she has never been to any of the places we visited that day. So that day turned out like another bonding day for Calli and me.

Warning: This is a picture-heavy post. Enjoy! ^_^

Burnham Park Is The Place To Be

When I was in college, I always found Burnham Park so sleazy, and the family picnics and the boating and the dating so cheesy. I really didn't get people who do that...in Burnham Park.

Just a li'l FYI thingy -- Burnham Park is centered around a man-made lake located at the heart of Baguio City. It was named after the city's planner, Daniel Burnham. The park is a favorite place of local residents and visitors alike. There are different facilities for recreation and relaxation that are available in the park. You can row a boat, have a picnic, attend an outdoor concert, watch a football game, go biking, or just take a leisurely stroll around the park.

When I became a mom of two, I started to look at things differently, in a positive way. I appreciate nature more - the pine trees, mountains, flowers, etc. - and a lot more other things that I look at differently now, plus, I now understand why families do such things in Burnham Park that I before thought as cheesy. Because Burnham Park is for everyone.

When Calli and I had an accidental bonding moment last week in Burnham Park, I had the chance to observe people from different walks of life doing their own thing in the park.

Praktis kung praktis si kuya.

Taste Buds At Work: Jollibee's Chicken and Mushroom Pasta

We all know that kids are very fond of Jollibee, its mascot and its products. Jollibee and its products target mainly the younger population. Through the years, Jollibee tries to come up with products that are more pleasurable to adults.  This new Chicken and Mushroom Pasta is one of them. It's like Jolly Spaghetti for adults.

This is how it looks like in the ad.

This is how it does on the actual plate.

And The Countdown Begins. 85, 84, 83...

Today's October 1. Ambilis ng araw! 85 more days before Christmas. It's the waiting and preparing for Christmas that's really fun, and not Christmas at all, at least for me. For the past 6 Decembers, palagi na lang akong malungkot. Pag malapit na ang Pasko, I start to have this feeling again na gusto ko na talagang mag-resign. O kundi naman, winiwish ko na sana sa bangko na lang din ako nag-wo-work like my close friends Jona and Elley. O kahit anong trabaho na walang pasok pag legal at special holidays at pag sinabi ng presidente ng Filifins. Kasi every December 'di ba, there's this almost-a-week-long vacation from work dahil sa mga sunod-sunod na holidays. Kaya naman, pag December, uso ang lahat ng klase ng reunion (family, high school, atbp.), mga gatherings at of course, mga parteys! Most of the time, absent ako sa mga ganyan. Aheytchit!

Here in Baguio, I can already feel the Christmas vibe. Couple of times that I visited the mall this week that I heard Christmas songs playing. There are early Christmas promos in some stores, ads on TV and radio and Christmas decors in some places. Almost everywhere, I can see hints that Christmas is just around the corner. (Wag na magtanong kung saang corner ha?!)

And when we say Christmas, there also come the words family, togetherness, gifts, parties, and gifts, inaanaks, Aguinaldo, and gifts. Haist! I always want to be home every Christmas. My family has a home here in Baguio, that's for sho'. So I guess, I should say, I always want my family to be home every Christmas. And when I say home, I mean, Nueva Ecija or Pangasinan. Pero mas masaya sa Nueva Ecija kasi mas marami kami dun. At dun talaga ako. If I ask Elmer, for sho', Pangasinan pipiliin nun. Siya taga-dun e. Pero isa lang ng mama niya dun. Hindi masaya. But as he always says, "Yun na nga. Mag-isa lang niya dun, kaya mas dapat dun tayo mag-Pasko." Paano naman ang mga kamag-anak ko sa Nueva Ecija? Ma-mi-miss nila ako? (Siya kayang tunay?! Hmmm..)

Every year, I get to choose only one. Opo, isa lang sa dalawang mahalagang holidays ng taon. One holiday to be off work. Christmas or New Year. At di ko mapagtanto kung bakit ang mga kasama ko sa trabaho ay mga gaya-gaya! Gusto din nila ng New Year off. Parang nanalo sa lotto sa office pag natapat ka sa New Year off. Parang raffle draw kasi ang pag-decide. Hmp, kaloka!

I remember, nung 2010, Christmas off ako. As we all know, Christmas day and New Year's day always fall on the same day. Kung Thursday ang Pasko 2010, for sho', Thursday din ang New Year's Day 2011, yung ganun? So wala akong pasok ng December 24 at 25. The following week after that ginawa nilang December 31 AT January 2 ang off ko. Well, dahil tinamad ako at sa kagustuhan kong makasama ang pamilya ko, nagparamdam na ako sa boss na hindi na ako papasok ng January 1. Deadma siya at panay ang paalala na pasok sa banga ng suspension pag absent during critical work days. Pero mabait talaga si Lord at muli kong naramdaman, Ate Charo, na mahal Niya ako at ang aking pamilya. Ang pinakapuhunan ko sa industriya ng call center, ang aking malamig na boh-sehs, ang sumalba sa aking holidays. Minalat ako! Syempre secure agad ako ng aking medical certificate. Nakalimutan ko na ang tawag sa sakit. Basta may -itis sa dulo. Happy-happy ang Christmas 2010 at New Year 2011 ko.

And another good thing about Christmas ay ang kabi-kabilang mga Christmas parties. Photos below were something that I took last year in one of the Crhistmas parties that I attended. This was with Team Espinueva that I was assisting before.

Who gave me those horns?! ^_^

With my friend and choco mousse master Renj

Below are some photos naman that I took on December 25, 2009. This was the actual evening of Christmas. Elmer and I had dinner with Nikki outside. Baby pa lang si Calli dito. Five months. Elmer is not a fan of going out with a baby with us. He claims he's protecting the baby from possible sakit na makukuha niya outside. If I know, ayaw niya lang magbuhat, 'no!

Nikki was only 5 years old here

Elegant place pero sa SM lang naman 'to.

Bigla kong naisip, bakit ba itong sinulat ko? Ooh, I remember, because I was going through my photos in Facebook and saw some of the photos taken these past 2 Christmases which reminded me na malapit na nga na naman ang Pasko. Haist! Ambilis talaga ng araw. Siyang tunay!

And out.

Ciao! ♥

 

Typhoon Pedring: The Aftermath

I think Typhoon Pedring has already moved away from Baguio, if not the Philippines. Yesterday, there were only little drizzles, not too strong winds, clear skies. Better than Tuesday's weather. When I left the house at 3:15 AM, everything was black. Brownout kasi. Andilim! But the sky was bright. Not bright na bright talaga ha kasi wala pa naman araw. Heller, 3:15 AM? Madaling araw? Okay, I confess. I have poor vocabulary. Pero try natin ito, auroral? Thanks to dictionary.com's thesaurus.
Going back. So I think today is gonna be a fine day. Maybe not too much sun yet but there will be sun. I hope. I can't describe how much I hate rains. Not really a fan. I also don't understand Elmer's love of rains. Most of the time, tinatamad siyang lumabas ng bahay pag okay ang panahon. At excited siyang, wait for it, maglakad-lakad (?!) sa Session kapag umuulan at lalo na pag bumabagyo. His reason: Konti lang ang tao sa Session pag umuulan. Pag okay ang panahon, lahat ng tao raw ay nakakalat sa Session. Okay, may point siya. Pero ang point ko naman, bakit kasi siya pupunta sa Session umuulan man o umaaraw e wala naman siya gagawin dun. Ano, rampa lang? Basta, yun ang trip niya.

Kahabaan ng Session Road taken last summer

But still, we still went out yesterday afternoon because we had to settle our water bill. Past due na yun. Kasi ang aming lovely landlady na si Mommy Espie, nawala pala ang aming water bill statement. Hindi niya sinabi agad at sinabi lang nung tapos na ang due date. Hello 10% surcharge! Bakit daw ako nagmamadali magbayad ng bill sabi ni Elmer, na para bang hindi niya ramdam ang sense of urgency. Our faucets ran dry on Tuesday but that was maybe because of the typhoon. Don't get the connection? Ako din! Hahaha! Then I thought, what do I know, this is Baguio. Feeling ko, hindi dumating ang tubig nung Tuesday kasi hindi pa kami nakabayad ng bill. Kaya I felt the need yesterday to pay the bill. At ang galing, dumating ang tubig kagabi. O di ba?! I always get worried when we do not have water supply in the house. Brownout na nga, wala pang tubig? I will always choose water over electricity if I really need to choose between the two. Pero syempre naman 'di ba, mas okay kung parehong meron sila.

And still, brownout pa din today when I left the house. Cellphones and laptop already ran low on battery. Buti na lang nakapag-charge ako ng cellphone dito sa office kahapon. Yes, dito ko sa office sinusulat ito ngayon. I am hoping, really badly, na sana magka-kuryente na today. Please Lord, have mercy on us! Gusto ko na makapanood ng TV. I don't know how much damage Typhoon Pedring has caused the country. For sure there's damage but I hope not too much. Thank you Lord, my family here in Baguio is safe and so is my family in Nueva Ecija.

I hope all of your families are okay too.

Ciao! ♥