Filipino: Wika ng Pagkakaisa

Hello, hello! How’s everyone? There are rains everywhere, again. Dito sa Baguio, we had five nice, warm, beautiful days with Mr. Sun. Pero starting yesterday, ay, rain rain again not going away. Other than that, keri naman ang mga bagay-bagay.

Oh-em-gee! It’s August 18 na today. Tomorrow, August 19. And the day after tomorrow, August 20. And the day after the day after tomorrow, August 21. Holiday ‘yown! Long weekend ang mga kids! Well, maybe not all kids, pero my kids, sure na ‘yun. Nakalagay na sa school calendar nila. Masaya ‘yun…sana if long weekend din ako, ‘di ba? Oh, well, asa na lang ako.

And another thing, hambilis talaga ng panahon. Imagine, in less than two weeks, September na! Ber months na naman. I love the thought that it’s almost Christmas season again. I love the weather here in Baguio (and everywhere here in the Philippines) ’pag Ber months, medyo malamig. Yay, excited na ako!

But bago tayo mag-fast forward sa Pasko, I want to share with you ang mga happenings sa mga kids ko ngayon August. Op kors, Buwan ng Wika ngayon, so, ‘yun.

Two Saturdays ago (sorry, super late post), their school celebrated Buwan ng Wika. This year’s theme is Filipino: Wika ng Pagkakaisa.

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There were presentations from different grade levels – song presentation for pre-school and dance presentation for grade school. All of the kids were wearing Filipiniana costume, like baro’t saya, ganun.

Calli's Kinder 2 class sang Bayan Ko by Freddie Aguilar. I never thought Calli could memorize the lyrics of the song. She amazes me at times. She was right at the center and the front most row. Feeling ko siya ang bidang bida dun. #stagemom

To English or Not To English

I work in a call center. I have been around for about 10 years now. Oh yeah! Whoever says no one that works in a call center speaks in the vernacular while at work either 1. Has not worked in a call center ever, or 2. Is lying.

Strict EOP? Uh-uh, not so strict at all. Even managers don't strictly follow kaya. I'm telling the truth. So, sue me. That's At Work. Nabanggit ko lang naman. Plus, I'm really that not good with intros. Haha!

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At Home. Elmer and I bring up our kids using Filipino language as their main language. I know, super cute pakinggan ang li'l Filipino toddlers na umi-English. I don't have anything against parents who prefer their kids to use the English language as their main language. And there's nothing wrong with that. Different strokes for different folks ika nga. For Elmer and me, hindi namin kayang panindigan, especially Elmer, na umi-straight English sa harap ng mga bata all the freakin' time. Also, we're 100% sure na hindi lahat ng tao na makaka-interact nila at bagay na mae-encounter nila as they grow up ay umi-English all the time, like jeepney drivers, yaya, sari-sari store owner, Pinoy teleseryes, Pinoy TV shows etc. Elmer and I love Pinoy movies kaya especially the old ones from the 90's. We're 80's babies, 90's kids kasi, that's why. Anlakas maka-nostalgia ng mga ganung movies.Mas grabe si Elmer kasi aliw na aliw din siya sa mga movies na almost black and white na at parang umuulan palagi sa screen. You know what I'm saying. Ako, 'di ko na bet 'yung mga ganun.

Going back. 

We just don't want any confusion sa words, grammar, diction and all. After all, my siblings and I, as well as Elmer and Ate Pla, grew up na Filipino naman ang gamit namin sa bahay but we learned English just totally fine. Practice and loads of American movies, TV series and TV shows make perfect, I guess.

At School. Nikki and Calli's school promotes the learning of communication through English language by speaking only English language every Wednesday. Everyone (and the school head means EVERYONE from the guard, canteen staff, nannies, parents, everyone) inside the school campus, has to use the English language when talking to anyone. When the memo got out,

Calli's #GlycoCake By Glyco Sweetshop

Calli's only request for her birthday was a cake with Queen Elsa, Princess Anna and Olaf on it. You know naman how little girls (and some little boys) are addicted to Frozen these days. I got a little worried kasi 'kala ko walang gumagawa ng fondant cakes dito sa Baguio. My family never had a fondant cake ever before. It's a good thing that my officemate knew someone who knewa bakeshop that specializes in fondant cakes - Glyco Sweetshop.

She suggested that I immediately checked their Facebook page. So I did. Agad-agad! #excited

In fairness, I was impressed and delighted with their works. Honggaganda mga 'teh! Amazing talaga!

That very afternoon, sugod agad ako sa shop nila sa DPS Compound (near Victory Liner Terminal in PNR). I brought with me the design that Calli chose among the designs I showed her that I got off of the Internet.  

I just thought of it now, I should have taken at least a photo of the shop or maybe the cupcakes displayed. Maliit lang 'yung shop nila to dine in. There were only three, small two-seater tables inside the shop na 'pag nagkasabay-sabay ang mga tao sa loob e super crowded na.

Going back.

Calli Turns 5!

Whenever I look at my kids, I can't help to think where have all the years gone. Parang kelan lang talaga, si Nikki pa lang ang anak namin ni Elmer. Then Calli came...unplanned. Then Trace came not too long after...also unplanned. Haha! Then there are three li'l terrorists in this family.

Actually, unplanned naman silang lahat. But I don't regret having them at an early age. I'm only 30 (Okay fine, 31. Sabi ko kasi 'di ba I'd stop at 30. Just for this one time) and I'm already a mom of three and my eldest is 10 years old. Five, six, seven years from now, Nikki will already be dalaga. I'm pretty sure she will already be taller with fuller body than I will be by that time. Nasa lahi niya ang matangkad e.

Calli, on the other hand, is payatsy ever. But she used to be super tabatsy naman when she was a baby.

Maybe just her cheeks. 

It was Calli's birthday on July 27. She's 5 years old now. Before her birthday, Elmer and I asked her what she'd like to have on her birthday. Walang kagatol-gatol, ang sagot, "Frozen cake!". And then I started to get worried. I didn't have any idea where to have a character cake ordered. She didn't care what else she would have on her birthday basta may cake ni Elsa, Ana, and Olaf, 'yun na! 

And then the search began. 

I mentioned Calli's special request for her birthday to an office mate. I got lucky, may alam siyang bakeshop here in Baguio that specializes in making character cakes - Glyco Sweetshop! (Thanks, Ana!) I will make another post about that.

Elmer and I never really planned on having a birthday party for Calli. She might have another party soon. Details later. So we just had a lunch together at home - no guests. We had spaghetti, macaroni salad, a bucket of chicken joy, the Frozen cake and iced tea. Solb! 

Medyo nalungkot lang ako when Calli said to me, "Mommy, bakit walang mga iba-ibang tao tulad nung birthday ni Trace?" Aaaw! She wanted guests to share with the celebration. I hope matuloy the other party for her in August. Balitaan ko kayo. 

Here are some more of her arte photos. 

She's grown up na talaga, 'no? 

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.

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'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.

Eleven

I am feeling so good today. Thank God it's Wednesday. My Wednesday is like your Friday, you know, last shift for the week. Ulan na naman nang ulan mga friends, kasi may bagyo na naman. Kalurks! Ang ginaw ginaw ginaw ginaw na naman tuloy dito sa Baguio. Ang sarap tuloy matulog. Sa day-off, #alamna.

Also, today, August 28, 2013, Elmer and I celebrate our 11th year of togetherness. Naks! Being together for that long is such an achievement, I tell you. Lalo na ngayong mga panahong 'to, madalang na talaga. It's hard work. I feel so proud! 

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There've been times when I stopped and thought what kept Elmer and I together for this long. After eleven years and three kids, it always boiled down to this - I have a firm belief in the saying "It takes two to tango". Whenever we hit a rough patch, I don't put all the blame on him (sa umpisa, oo. Hehe!). We are a team, so I am partly to be blamed. Kaya 'pag may drama kaming dalawa, eto ginagawa ko.

Ten Is Tin

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I've mentioned that it was Elmer and my tenth anniversary on August 28, and that I would tell you more about it. Well, that's it. There's nothing more about it, seriously. Null. Zero. Nada. Zilch. There was no celebration at all. Not even greeting each other "Happy anniversary, Mahal." Kasi nga 'di ba I've also mentioned na may pinagdadaanan ako.

Ganito kasi 'yun.

Months ago, my friends at work found a super cheap fare to Palawan. That was in March. Travel period was, from that time, in a couple of months for a couple of months. They invited me to go with them and asked me to bring Elmer with me. They were two pairs of couple, so Elmer and I would make the group three pairs of couple heading to Palawan in September. To cut the story short, Elmer and I agreed. We booked for a flight to Palawan. That was in March. Yes, we are heading to Palawan on September 3 and staying there until September 7.

You must know by now that Elmer is now with a new company that also works for Texas Instruments. He switched companies in July. You know what that means. New company. Tenure back to zero. No leave credits. Heavy workload. Limited number of people. So again, to cut the story short, his boss didn't let him go on this trip. He couldn't join us.

Muder's Big Five-0

Fifty years ago, on August 26, 1962 was when the most consistent woman in my life was born. Hallelujah that day came. If not then you know what would have happened.

Last year I promised her an extraordinary celebration on her 50th birthday. She dissented, or maybe that's what I thought. She mentioned that she would just like to keep it simple and that she didn't want any party, just an intimate lunch or dinner with her family. All the while that was the plan. But at the last minute, she changed her mind. There would again be a party. Although still simple, just merienda with family and few friends.

Be ready. Photo bomb's coming up.

3 F's of Birthdays: Family, Food, Fun

How are you my dearies? I hope everybody's fine after all the heavy rains and strong winds brought about by Gener. Gener has left the Philippine area and yet it's still raining. It's been raining for weeks now here in Baguio. And. I. Hate. It. Dirty clothes already piled up. Ga-bundok na siya. Still, I'm not letting Pinky (the new house help/nanny) wash all the dirty clothes at once because 1.) We do not have a very long indoor clothes line to hang them on, 2.) There are still a few pieces on our line waiting to dry, and 3.) There's another typhoon coming.

The continuous raining didn't stop us from going out on Sunday. I mentioned here that we had an invitation for a dinner on that day. It was Aunt Erma's son Christian's birthday. We headed to Army Navy in Camp John Hay like we were instructed. So it was not really "dinner" after all. But that was free meal for us so I have no complaint. ^_^

Two Times At Three

Hola mis amigas! 

Okay, that's how Calli's almost non-stop, daily rendezvous with Dora these days has affected me. Apparently, she's tired herself of Barney. That's understandable. She's three years old now, you know. She's spent almost two good years of fun singing and dancing with the big ol' purple dino. 

You must know by now that it was Calli's birthday on July 27. Like I said in my previous post, I never planned of having a party because Elmer and I had already planned of us just dining out with his Mama Shirley, Aunt Sol and her daughters, Aunt Erma and her sons and a couple of others today. But it occured to me, Calli's birthday was July 27 and not July 29. Heck, I gotta have something that day, I thought. At the last minute, I planned of holding a simple dinner just for friends and kids. 

On the day itself, I already had a list of all the things I need to accomplish before dinner. With that, I realized that I was not really good under pressure (or maybe this is what almost eight years of call center environment did to me). Something very sad happened to me. Very, very sad. I don't know what you would like to call it. I call it huge S.T.U.P.I.D.I.T.Y. Who would withdraw money from an ATM, take the card and leave the money and receipt behind? I know! Stupid, right? Good thing it was just P1,000. But hey, that's a good amount of money to lose and could make me go home to Elmer and cry like a baby when lost. 

Okay, tanggap ko na...na natanga ako nung araw na 'yun. Kaya naman, I got over that na. 

Going back to Calli's birthday bago pa lumayo nang lumayo ang usapang 'to. I marinated two kilos of pork belly, bought one bilao of pancit bihon and a small birthday cake for dinner.

I didn't have the chance to take any photo that day so I'm still waiting for some photos from Carl which I will add here soon. 

It was a simple dinner but I could tell Calli enjoyed so much - the kids playing around the house, the pancit, especially the candle-blowing. I'm happy when my daughters are happy. A mother's total bliss!

From Terrible To Terrific

Let me just put this out of the way before I continue. I'm not apologizing for my last post. That was the b*tch, err, loser, in me talking.

Okay, moving on. Yes, I've moved on, so let's!

I'm pretty sure most of you have heard of the infamous child's development stage called Terrible Twos. As the name suggests, it starts when a toddler is about two years old. And I googled around what age it ends. I didn't find an answer. Although my googling on this wasn't as thorough as when I was guessing a blind item in Fashion Pulis, I think there's no definite age when Terrible Twos would actually end. I definitely like to believe that it ends as the toddler turns exactly three. If that's true then my house could get a little more peaceful starting today as Calli turns three.

The day she was born

Happy Birthday

...to me!

I am now,

*drum rolls*


29 years old today! Yay!!!

Before, I would feel miserable about the fact that I was already almost 30. My friend Golden would tell me that age was just a number. I contemplated on that...seriously. Then I thought, I don't feel like I'm 29. (I feel like I'm 30! Kidding!) I realized she was right. Age really is nothing but a number. One is only as old as he feels. I feel young, therefore, I am young. ^_^

The truth now is, I look forward to my turning 30 next year. I wonder how it's like to be one. Again Golden told me that an average person's life daw is at its happiest at 33. Yay!!! I'm 4 years away from the happiest year of my life. But that thought makes me wonder, will my life eventually start to become less happy or unhappy when I turn 34? Whatcha think guys? Me thinks not so.

How did I spend my birthday? I'm so sorry to disappoint you, my dearies, but it was just an ordinary day for me. I worked. I didn't file for a leave. I was not in the mood for a celebration. Ilang araw nang bumabagyo dito sa Baguio. And you see, I never had a yaya  since this past Sunday. I was feeling really tired - physically, mentally, emotionally. In fact, during those days when I couldn't go to work because I didn't have a yaya, I forgot that it was my birthday in a few days. Yesterday, Elmer said, "Ang init ng ulo mo Mahal. Birthday mo pa naman bukas." I was so stunned by what he said. I stopped for a quick moment and gathered myself. Hala, oo nga! June 19 nga pala ngayon! Ganun ako sobrang nawala sa tamang wisyo ng panahon na 'yun. Well, I survived those days. Having no yaya for a few days didn't kill me. ♫ What doesn't kill you makes you stronger! ♪ I love that song. ^_^

My Muder gave me the most wonderful gift - a new yaya! Yay!!! She arrived last night bitbit ang new yaya. Mothers really know best. Da best ka Muder! 

I started my day today very early (as usual) to work. It was raining really hard with strong winds all day dahil sa bagyo. After shift, I went to PRC to have my Sisterful's board exam result certificate authenticated. Whatever that means. 

We went straight to SM which is near PRC. Basa na ang mga shoes namin and since my friends Karen, Golden and Apol are so much into water shoes these days, opkors kasi nga tag-ulan na, I felt like I wanted to have a pair too. May inggit factor. ^_^ So I bought myself a pair of water shoes and my Muder pairs of slippers.

A Special Shout-out To Our Captain America

Elmer and I became parents to Nikki at a very young age. I have to admit, at that age, I doubted his ability to become a good father and provider for his family. Or even just for his daughter alone (We had only Nikki then.) 'Wag na ako, I knew I would be alright because I could take care of myself. As I look back to those years of our young lives, I can safely say now that his attitude before was relative to his age. I kept telling myself that his maturity level would surely develop eventually sooner or later. 

And I was damn right! Lumevel up na talaga his maturity, responsibility and accountability. Although it happened later than sooner. Whenever I look at him now - how he takes care of Nikki and Calli (and myself), and how he tries his best to provide for Nikki and Calli (and sometimes myself) - I cannot help that li'l smile from painting on my face. He's just the perfect imperfect partner for me and daddy for Nikki and Calli.

To Nikki and Calli, their daddy is simply their protector, their superhero, their Captain America.

Philippine Independence Day 2012

 

Today is the celebration of Kalayaan 2012 (Philippine Independence Day 2012).

Is the essence of our country's independence really present in each one of us Filipinos? I wonder if the youth today even know how this country had come to its independence. And if they do, do they even care? That made me think, do I care?

I know some who wish that this country had stayed under America's government. They think that our country would have been more progressive and "independent" that way than how we are today under our own government. I would like to think the same.

Today, some people greet some others, "Happy Independence Day!" Yes, this country may be independent in a sense but to me, it is a slave of most. So, just for the heck of it, "Happy Independence Day, People of the Philippines!" 

Okay, talk about patriotism and nationalism and all. Please do not judge me. Just saying.

Ciao! ♥

My Love-Hate For June

The very next day after I've written on the sixth paragraph here that although "summer has unofficially ended here in Baguio, we were already getting a lot of rains every afternoon", I heard Kuya Kim (Atienza) announced in TV Patrol that PAGASA already declared that summer has officially ended here in the Philippines. Sweet!

I was kinda hatin' the summer heat and now that summer's over, I'm feeling sad. Just a li'l bit of feeling of sadness. Spell arte. First, my family hasn't set foot to the beach yet and it's already over? Sad. Golden told me I shouldn't be sad. "Hindi naman aalis ang beach Miss Mina." May point siya. At hindi naman uulan everyday for the entire duration of the rainy season. My family can always visit a nearby beach resort whenever there's a chance (and budget for it).

Second, I hate rains. So. Much. I don't like bringing umbrella to work or whenever I go out, and at the same time, I don't like getting wet. I don't seem to have a very strong immune system. I don't like the feeling of too much moisture all over the house - the walls, the floor, almost everything. I don't like the washed clothes taking a long time, like two days or more, to dry. I'm not a rain-lover at all. This is one of the few things that Elmer and I are so much opposite in. I don't understand his love for rains. There was even a time when a storm was hitting us, he asked that we go out. "Mag-lakad lakad" lang daw kami sa Session Road. 'Musta naman ang trip niya? Stroll lang sa bagyo?

That's why I don't like the coming of June. June always marks the start of the rainy season. If we could only skip the rainy months. Who's with me on that?

On the contrary, I also like June. It is my birth month. Yipee! Every year, I get excited for my birthday (but not the increment to my age). Although, not as much as when I was still younger.

I hope you lovelies had a great kick-off for June. So far, I'm good.

Ciao! ♥

An Open Letter To Muder, A Mother's Day Greeting

Uno Has Turned Dos

Uno is my friend Apol's son. It's his 2nd birthday today. Calli and I were so happy to have been part of his birthday celebration. 

Calli while en route to the party

I went to the party with Joy and...

From A Mother To Another

To all my Titas, my mommy friends, my mommy workmates, my illegitimate MIL and all mommies out there especially to *drum rolls* my one and only Muder, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! This world will never be the same without all the selfless, caring, compassionate, considerate, dependable, loving, smart and beautiful mommies in it. Mabuhay ang mga ina sa buong mundo!

Ciao! ♥  

 

Motherhood Is A Blessing

Mother's Day is a day to honor mothers, celebrate motherhood and maternal bonds, and acknowledge the influence and role of mothers in society. Mother's Day here in the Philippines is celebrated every second Sunday of May. (That's this coming Sunday. Yay!!!) Filipinos consider mothers as the Light of the Household (Ilaw ng Tahanan). Traditional Filipino families usually celebrate Mother's Day by treating mothers to lunch or dinner out, letting mothers go on a shopping spree, seeing a movie with mothers, giving mothers some time for self-pampering, creating handcrafted tokens such as greeting cards or just simply letting mothers take a day off of household chores that they routinely do.

Today, I mailed a Mother's Day greeting card addressed to my Muder in Nueva Ecija. With the trend these days and all the ease and convenience of communication through texts and emails, I see mails sent through post as extra special. They are like a true and unconditional love, because they're rare. 

Like a mother's love for her children. Nothing compares to that. Everyone agrees with me on that, yes? A mother can give up and at the same time, do everything for her children. A woman who has children and cannot do that for them is not a mother. What's she called? I don't know. Because motherhood is not a stage, not a phase. It is lifetime responsibility and opportunity. And for that I feel pride in being a mother. I feel blessed to have been given this chance to celebrate motherhood.

A Happy Artster Sunday

It felt like it was just an ordinary day for our family yesterday. Elmer and I had work. But I tried to make it a li'l special for Calli. In the morning, Elmer did some quick grocery shopping. I specifically instructed him to buy eggs and water color. Calli and I were making Easter eggs! He bought a dozen eggs and water color. Even if he still had to work in the afternoon, he still went on a quick grocery shopping in the morning because I said I needed those. I told him that I was gonna blog about the Easter eggs that Calli and I were gonna make. Before, he would give me a face whenever I talked about my blog, this blog. I thanked him for being obedient. I think he's now getting my blogging. Okay, that's another story.

On a different note, I have always wondered why eggs are so famous during Easter? They even have to be hunted, yes? And there's the bunny and the painting of the eggs to name a few more. I didn't bother finding out until last week.

According to my source, Easter is a Christian festival. For Christians the custom of giving eggs at Easter celebrates new life. And legend has it that the Saxon goddess Eostre found a wounded bird and transformed it into a hare, so that it could survive the Winter. The hare found it could lay eggs, so it decorated these each Spring and left them as offering to the goddess. Howkei.

Going back. We used water color because it was cheaper than any of our other options. Check out how it went and Calli's mess-terpiece!