Wish No.3

And the third wish! It was lunch at The Farm.

I've been reading about this place and seeing its pictures so I was really dying to go there. And there we went indeed! Yey!

It was a quiet noon feeling the Christmas spirit in the well-decorated restaurant. We were alone(except for the waiter who was always refilling our glasses with water. Hehe.. ) And there was a wedding held in the convention area which was a little bit far from us so it was still almost serene. And because we were alone, Drew had all the freedom to consume everything. :)



We noticed several sinks all over the place and indulged ourselves on washing our hands in each one. :P



There were ponds, function rooms, gardens, playgrounds, a Japanese gazeebo, etc. They have everything!



In the garden: Drew insisted to be a flower! How odd! :P I enjoyed my being a butterfly, however. Fly fly fly like a butterfly! Ahhhh...



Another great, happy moment!

Just One Of Those Good Times

It was the day before Christmas last year when my younger brother was busy taking pictures of my mothers' green thumb's wonderful fruits.

The flowers...







The leaves...






And God's beautiful creation.. The skies...



And then I woke up from a very restful sleep. And well.. you know, when I had good sleep, I felt extra beautiful upon waking up. And wanting to feel even better, I decided to go outside and meet the sun, have a feel of some of its gentle morning rays.

Ahhhh... What a wonderful day... The skies were so blue. The clouds seemed so friendly. I felt the most beautiful creature in the world. And I wanted that the peace and the joy that I felt that moment be captured on cam.

So I asked my brother to take a picture of me. I gave it my sweetest smile and my most gentle pose.

And taddddaaaaah!!!



OMG! What happened?!? He didn't tell me I forgot to comb my hair. :P Nevertheless, this picture still said about the peace and the joy in my heart, right? Look at my eyes. They're sparkling. It showed the joy. Look at how I hold the twigs. It showed the peace.

Ok ok! It's still my hair that destroyed it all. :P

Wish No.1 and Wish No.2 Checked

Drew and I listed the things we wished to do before the year ends. Actually, it's more of a to-do list.:)

Wish No.1 - Lunch in Sarangani Highlands



This place, in my opinion, is the best place in General Santos City. Considering the nature-lover that I am, this has the best views Gensan has to offer. It's so refreshing to be eating with the blue waters and the skies surrounding us. Plus the excellent landscapes and the perfect food and service. :)




I truly recommend Sarangani Highlands for any occassion even little ones. In fact, we went there on a Sunday and I saw many family get togethers. I love SH! We swore to be back there. :)

For the budget conscious:
Jeepney ride from the city - P 25
Habal ride to Sarangani Highlands - P10
Good meal for two - P300 - P500

It's open at lunch to dinner.





Wish No.2 - Veggie Pizza

I love pizza and Drew does, too but only veggie pizza. And so, I set aside my meat cravings to be on the same wavelength with what he liked this time. (Because actually, it has always been what I like and what I want. so, ok. His like for now. Just this once. Well, uhhmmm.. Up until I'll be convinced to give way again. Hehe.)

So there we went to Giacomino's. I love Giaco but only next to Greenwich. Because Greenwich has the pearl coolers but Giaco has none. And the lasagna! Oh my lasagna. When I saw the lasagna on the menu, I almost forgot we were there for the pizza. But I coudn't resist it. I'm a pasta girl. But it's still more delicious in Greenwich.


Going back... These little things are ways to snap out from the usual. Weekends are more exciting because we have things to look forward to. :)

Failed to full charge my cam-bat though so we had limited pictures. So glad there was still left for a pizza souvenir. :)



Thank you for the great things Drew. So with the little things which I won't ever consider simple because everything seems to be grand when I'm with you :)

More wishes coming true. Aja!!!

General Santos City's Lifestyle Magazine

Magandang Gensan! :)

I was at Coffee Dream in KCC waiting for someone. Got some magazines to kill the time and I was in complete awe when I got hold of GENSAN GAZER.

It said on the cover, Gensan's First Lifestyle, Trades, and Travel Magazine. And I got so excited! It was just recently when I wished that there would be something which talks about Gensan. And I never thought that this kind is already existing for quite sometime. Yey!

I'm so glad that Gensan Gazer is now available for the Generals and people at nearby provinces. Gensan's tourism must be improved and having this kind of publication will be a sure help.

Gensan Gazer magazine is published monthly. It's not for sale. It said on the magazine that it's only distributed at affiliate establishments and organizations. I don't know if schools are also given this. I haven't gone to MSU library but I hope that sooner, it would be readily available for all the Generals and for others who would want to visit our city. :)

I've learned so much about Gensan as I was reading through it. And I couldn't help but be excited to visit the places which were highlighted there.

Hey all Generals! Let's salute all the people behind this endeavor!

We can also check out all the issues at www.gensangazer.com.

Enjoy reading! And feel the pride of being a General!

P.S. I've also been following Bariles' gensantos.com. :)

Go For Raisins!

I've only known raisins in my macaroni salad, in my buko salad, maja blanca, valenciana, in a some sort pork or chicken dish. It's considered to be a special ingredient so it was as if a sin at home to eat it as it was. When my mother prepared her dessert, the last to be put were the raisins. My brothers and I would sometimes act like crying, begging our mother to give us some before she'd allow the raisins to dive down to the sea of other fruits.



With my eyes in a slow-mo mode, I would watch the raisins fell down from the plastic container to the bowl of already white-covered fruits and watch them giving beauty to the whole dessert. My mother would then stir up everything and the black raisins would gradually be unseen. It had become white. Ahhh... No excitement anymore but then, when I started to eat the salad, I would search through the fruits in my mouth and when I tasted the raisins, I would shout. "I'm eating raisins! Yey! I have raisins!" Hehe... That's how it was when we were young.

Recently, I started shifting to raisins as a snack. I always craved for it. It's so delicious that I could't get enough of it. It's like Pringles ( a potato chip snack) "Once you pop, you can't stop." :) I heard that it was healthy. So before I got worried of having too much sweets, I searched for the benefits of eating raisins. And voila!!! I'm so glad I was addicted to it. :) Here's an excerpt from an article:

Antioxidants: Raisins are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants protect our bodies against free radical damage.

Energy: Raisins contain many B vitamins known for boasting energy. I personally eat raisins for this very reason. Raisins are also high in calories, which is important for athletes.

Fiber: Raisins are a good source of fiber, which is important for your body to stay regular.

Healthy teeth: Don't let the sticky and sweetness of the raisin fool you. Raisins do not cause cavities and gum disease, and rather promote oral health because of the oleanolic acid found within them. This acid is very effective in killing the bacteria that cause cavities and periodontal dental disease.

Eyesight: Raisins are also a preventative measure for Macular Degeneration, which is the health of your eyesight.

Bone Health: Raisins contain Calcium which in known for causing bone health.

On top of all the other wonderful health benefits raisins are fat free, cholesterol free, and low in sodium.


How can something be so delicious and so healthy at the same time! Ohhh... I so love raisins! Go raisins! Go raisins! :)

Teaching Is Not Checking

Yeah! Definitely not! I do not become a teacher just to check! I dont want to spend my nights and my weekends bringing all my students' papers and checking them all at home. I dont want to watch my favorite tv shows with bunch of papers by my side and some on my lap using the commercial breaks to attend to the papers. I dont want to skip from my girlfriends' dates just to check papers. No! I dont ever want to make checking an excuse to attend to more important things. No!!!!! (Omg! Excuse me.I was sleep talking! I had this dream when I was still a thread away of being a teacher.)

That was such a nightmare! But hey, that's part of my life as a teacher. A Math teacher! And sad to say, my biggest nightmare is happening. Checking! Checking! Checking! When will I ever be spared of checking? I only wanted to teach! I never wanted to check! Huhu!

But that was when I haven't figured out the beauty in checking. Ahuh! It does have a beauty. ( Just agree with me, ok. I'm also trying to convince myself here. :P) Seriously, as years went by, I had learned to appreciate checking. It's just a matter of acceptance. It's part of the profession that I'd chosen and so I had learned to embrace checking whole-heartedly. Hmmmmmmmm... Ahhhh.... Checking! I love checking! More papers there? Let me have them. :P

I have learned some strategies to lighten up things for me. And I'm so loving every bit of learning I gain.

1. If possible, give short quizzes and assignments - just enough to evaluate the learning.
2. Seatworks can be done in pairs or small groups. This also promotes cooperative learning. (This was what I discovered in my classes - When students do things in group, they learn more because they discuss answers and solicit ideas. Sometimes, when they do things alone, it's either they depend solely on themselves or on others if they don't know the answers.) Cooperative learning works!
3. Give other forms of evaluation instead of just in writing. Try individual recitation or group reporting. It not only makes them express everything they know, it also develops their confidence.
4. Give multiple choice questions during exams. It can serve as a training ground. Board exams are given in multiple choice. Train them early.

The above not only makes things easier for me, it also improves students' learning and classroom experience is more enjoyable.

And another tip, by the way... Check with a group of checkers. I mean, group of teachers. :) That's what we do in the office every after final exam. We stay in the office for a day to check! It may be impossible to finish everything but as the day ends, we'll be more than half way of all the papers. Because, we motivate each other. We laugh together, we eat together, we tease each other, we compete playfully. And everything would just seem to be a play!

I never imagined checking could be so fun after all. Thank God! I would have quitted teaching. Hehe..

Final exams for this semester were done. Here's a view of a busy checking office :)

MSU Intrams 2010

It was my most loved intramurals ever! :)

When I was in college, which was not really that long ago, I never enjoyed intrams. It was a vacation week for me. After the parade, I kept myself at home watching so much TV, eating a lot, and sleeping a lot. When everyone else was having a good time, doing what they do best (sports), I was also doing what I do best (studying). Ahuh! The nerdy-geeky that I was. Even during intrams, I read my notes and prepare for exams which were usually given after the intrams week.

When I got to work in MSU, I had the same attitude towards the "sports week". I took a leave from the dust and heat of our beloved university and dug myself into the ocean of my paperworks. I only attended the parade and the Faculty and Staff Night which, if not required, I never would have involved myself with. When I got back to work, my students were exhausted from all the showcasing of their talents while I was so refreshed and renewed from a week long vacation.

But this year was different. I had the time of my life! :) Even before the grand week came, I really felt the excitement of being involved this time. One significant reason which gave me an excuse to be always in school was that I was a member of the tabulation committee in which Laiza was the chairperson. I gladly volunteered for the service. The first days were kinda boring because final results were still few so we had to entertain ourselves with lots of movies and ZAGU!!!

Laiza stayed in BQ for a week so it gave us a chance to get to know each other better. :) (Missing Ate My during girl bonding moments.)


I also got to know Kuya Ipe from the College of Engineering and his so adorable son Angelo.
This is the tabulation committee with Kuya Ipe at the leftmost and Julius at the rightmost. Good job guys! It was a success!

The Faculty and Staff Palaro was the best ever also! (I had lots of bests this year! Yey!)





Playing, dancing, laughing, mingling with the other hard-workeks of the university.

The Faculty and Staff Night was extra special. Ma'am Nimfa, our beloved Nanay-nanayan in the office was given a special award for a dedicated 25 years of service.


Ever since I became a teacher, I had a better view of all the activities especially during the opening ceremonies compared to the half-eyed views when I was still a student. Imagine being on a bench in the middle of five thousand people in an over-crowded gymnasium. (Calling all alumni of MSU-Gensan. Please help build us a wider and better gym .. :) There really is a need to extend or rebuild with our growing population every year.)

Going back to my better view. :) I'll beg again some other time. :P I was cheering for our cheerdancers the whole time they were performing. The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Cheerdancers have been undefeated for 3 straight years. Yeah! Go Wizards! The first day has always been for the wizards. The next days, let other colleges rejoice! We come back on the last day for the dancesports competition. And there was a new event this year. The field demonstration. Whew! A lot of other things to mention but I would be biased for the wizards! :)


But as much as I desired, I simply couldn't exclusively clap for the wizards. Teacher as I was and with a proud heart like a mother to my students, I found myself clapping for my every student whom I saw performing. This was the greatest gift that the intramurals had brought me - to be able to witness the talents of my beloved students. I realized that some of my students may not excel in Mathematics but they could be excellent in a number of ways.

I was proud like a momma, like I was the one who carried them in my womb and brought them into the world. I was really that proud. I had students in the chorale, in the university cheerdancers, many joined the musical and dance contest. As they were dancing and singing, my heart was bragging. "These are my students." It was so surprising to see them so alive on stage and being at their best. Ahhh... Those were beautiful moments.



(I wish I had a better camera. :P)

I never appreciated students being indulged with non-academic activities before. I was only focused on their academic achievements because all I knew was the importance of the grades for an impressive record. That when you enter the real world, one of the passports would be an excellent performance in school. I almost forgot about the total development. I forgot about the multiple intelligences. Maybe I haven't understand because I never experienced the same joy. And at some points, I refused to understand. The intramurals reminded me of the other aspects of life which make a happy and fulfilled individual.

I have always known that success doesn't only mean being good in the classroom but it's just now that I've truly believed it :)

My Door Was Locked

It's Friday and I was supposed to attend a Seminar on Social Graces and Pedagogy for Young Workers of Mindanao State University. It's the first ever in this university and thus, I was so looking forward to it. I even had to cancel my classes so I could participate.

After breakfast, I went back to my room to get my bath towel. And there it went! Taddah!!! My door was locked. I couldn't get any help. My housemates had all gone to work. Help! I needed to get in!

Strategies:
1. I looked for an old ID so I could swipe through the door but found none.
2. I used the knife to swipe but failed.
3. I thought of calling someone from the office. Oh great! My phone was left in my room.
4. I would ask help from the boy's quarter just beside ours but oh oh.. They too had all gone to work.
5. I wanted to scream for a life-and-death emergency! But it would just be so OA of me. :)
6. I wanted to go out and wave to whoever would come along but I was not so decently dressed. It would just be so improper.
7. Oh yeah! My last option was the internet. I again wanted to ask help from the office. I was so glad I took my laptop to the kitchen first thing in the morning but omg! What happened? I couldn't connect! Why now?

All the above ways failed. The only solution was to wait for someone from the boy's quarter to lend me an old ID. *Sigh...

Ok then. I was left with nothing but a computer with no internet connection and no paper works to finish. Oh.. What a day! But instead of viewing it as an unfortunate moment, I took my time watching lots of movies! Yeah! And lots of sleeping time, too.
:)

After 7 hours, someone truly had an old ID. Yey! I missed my room so much :)

Lesson learned: Leave a key duplicate outside the room, just in case. And oh don't be absent-minded. :P

Why I Love Marriages

Let me first talk about how it all started and the exciting things in between :)

It was one of those surprising nights. We were from the Faculty and Staff night and about to go home at midnight with my BQ buddies, Ate Zita and Ate Caring. But Ate Zita's friend, Ma'am Alma wanted to go out for a drink and a dance. I had no choice but to go even if it meant going home at dawn. I had a bad headache before that so I thought it was a wrong decision to go with the group :( .

We went to Mismo Bar - their second home. We were with Ma'am Alma's husband, Sir Mayong and their other friend, Ma'am Pilar. They go to Mismo regularly for years! It was a bar for the Oldies as we, the youngs, described it. We've been there once with the young people. Laiza got bored and sleepy. :) But I honestly enjoyed their music. Maybe I really have the heart for old songs. Well, it was not really everything old. But generally old. I maybe a little harsh with the word I'm using but I just refer to people 20 years ahead of me. And I love the oldies! Mostly are in their glorious years.

Anyway, they started conversing about anything, greeting the people who came. They knew almost everyone around there. And I was just smiling and nodding everytime I was introduced. But my head was crying loudly. I wanted to go home!

This impatience continued up until I was forced to dance. Yah! I was forced to dance Cha-cha! Oh my gosh! I couldn't believe it! After a short convincing moment, I was seeing myself on the dance floor actually grooving to the songs I called old and dancing with the people I've never imagined myself dancing with!

What more was, I didn't know how to dance Cha-cha! My feet only knew the basic. Forward left. Back close. Backward right. Such a disaster! For the next 2 songs, I only had the basics! It was embarrassing because I was with "The Dancers". I just couldn't excuse myself. They were sooooooo into grooving! So I decided to enjoy the dance instead. I slowly swayed my hands. Moved my hips even more. Put a smile on my face and danced my heart out! :)

I was studying the people on the dancefloor. I was the youngest in the crowd. But their energy was amazing! Every face had a smile. I saw fun. Fulfillment. Freedom.
It was so nice seeing people living and loving life. My body was giving up but my spirit was so glad I went out with those people.


And now here's why I love marriages.

My greatest inspiring moment was seeing such a lovely couple. Ma'am Alma and Sir Mayong was a picture of a happy marriage. They have 3 children but still manage to have fun all by themselves. I saw them dancing and laughing and hugging. I love couples! :) They made fun of each other's weaknesses and hailed each other as well. They are few of the couples who keep inspiring me that marriage is such a wonderful part of life's journey.


Ma'am Alma kept emphasizing that being married was hard. But I seemed not to care. At that moment, all I felt was the excitement of getting married :)

Another picture of seems like a perfect marriage is that of my mentor Sir Rene and his wife, Ma'am Teray.



I see them often and everytime, they're happy :) Again, I don't care how married people describe their relationships as such a roller coaster. Now, I'm just into all the goodness it brings. :) Of course, every relationship has benefits and it's SO delightful to imagine myself being with a partner who's born to take this journey with me :)

Do Talk To Strangers

When we were little, we were told not to talk to strangers. And now, books for grown ups tell otherwise. It is said that it boosts confidence. It develops our personality when we learn how to start conversations with strangers. And I add, it gives new appreciation of life.

While commuting on my way home, I was seated beside the driver of a public vehicle. It was kinda late at night. All I really wanted that time was to close my eyes, keep my mind at rest and was hoping to take a short nap during the ride. I've just closed my eyes when the driver started talking.

He was asking where my place was. But instead of being pissed off, I acknowledged his question and answered him back politely. You know why? Because he was so polite, too. Then the conversation continued. He started talking about his family. He was married with four children but his wife was in Japan working. She had not come home for 3 years. Their 4th grade child chose to study there to be with his/her mother. (I failed to ask if it was a daughter or a son.) Just like any other OFW, the wife sacrificed the joy of being with her family just to give them comfortable lives. The husband was left to take of their children. In the morning, he was a "house-band" and at night, he drove. According to him, it wasn't about money that he worked for. His wife provided more than enough. It was some kind of a diversion from his everyday role as a "house-band". He needed to do something for himself also.

I felt his longing. Three years! Omg! Even with Skype, the loneliness still seemed to be so unbearable. I suggested that maybe they could just start a business. (*Sigh*.. As if they hadn't thought of that. Well, I was just offering a thought. Maybe. Just maybe that one in a trillion chance they might have not thought about it. Hehe..) But he said that if they only knew how. (At these times, I wished that everyone had a rich knowledge on business so they'd not leave home to earn a living.) My heart was as if crumpled and my throat was tight. I felt for him. He seemed to be contented. At least that was how he projected. But I knew there were silent prayers that someday, their family would be completely together again. And I said the same silent prayer.

It was a whole different experience for me as I had everytime with a complete stranger. I love hearing other people's stories. It makes me admire the wisdom of people, get inspired by their stories, and at the same time it makes me grateful for the simple things that I sometimes neglect.

We'll never know who these strangers will be in our lives and what lessons they can contribute to our appreciation of human experience. :)

Who Would You Stop Loving?

"If you could stop loving someone, who would it be?"

Such a strange question. I came across this while I was searching for a reflective question. Something that would help me evaluate my life, my heart. And this one struck me.

How could one want to stop loving someone? That is just so strange for me. And then a name of a friend came in to me. And I thought yeah! It was a valid question after all.

She's been loving this person for so long and thinks it's unhealthy for her already. She tried several times to let go of the love. Tried different strategies. But it just didn't work.

And as I type now, I can point out more situations where one should really stop loving someone. And the common reason, that love has turned out to be harmful for the heart already. At these times where the hearts prove to be more powerful than the minds, the mind SAYS.... (Oh! This is an understatement.) The mind SHOUTS no!!! But the heart pretends to be deaf.

Who would you stop loving? And if a person comes to your mind, would you really WANT to stop loving? Or do you NEED to stop loving him/her?

I Miss Cooking

I was a self-acclaimed chef. That was when my hands and my heart were so fired up for cooking. Hehe... And that acclamation happened only once in my life at about a month or so. After that, it seemed that I had a low heart to cook so "bongga" again. :(

My family loves cooking - Ilonggo dishes at that. My father's specialties are the "pang-fiesta" dishes. My mother enjoys preparing desserts. My sister and brothers love innovating my parents' dishes. They put a modern touch. (With modern, I mean the styles of slices of the ingredients, the presentation, etc.) Their creativity comes out with every dish.

Me? I'm the one who arranges the table. And just waits for everything to be served. That is when I'm in a good mood. But oftentimes, I just wait. :)

But with an eye-opening on how food is important for the family, the joy it brings to the people, I found myself wishing to be the "cooker".

And so, one summer I got so passionate about learning how to cook formally. I got into a cooking school for a month. And I found myself indulged in every step towards a great dish! Yey!

I learned how to market. I learned about the existence of strange names of vegetables, oils, wines, pastas, and sauces. Everyday I was looking forward to a new learning. It was a great achievement for me! :)

(My apron then.)

(Before I continue, I have a secret to share. There was a hidden agenda why I wanted to learn how to cook. Ready? This is something petty and maybe funny. Hehe.. But anyway... Here it goes. At that time, I felt I was preparing myself for an ideal marriage. And an ideal wife should know how to cook. And so I needed to know how. What's funny? I wasn't in a relationship that time... Well, for future purposes. Hehe..)

And after I graduated, I enjoyed cooking for my family. It takes me hours to finish one dish but everything's worth my every effort after. My mother got excited for everything that was new that I served. She was my greatest fan. (As always..Thanks Ma!) :) She would savor every taste and would ask several things which nurtured my desire even more.

My brothers, on the other hand, would eat everything on their plates, would have another served or two and then would complain about the taste after. They would comment on being overly salty, overly sweet, sometimes lack of whatever not so nice they could think about. *Sigh* Were brothers made to pull down spirits? So glad mothers exist.

(In one of my cooking classes)

But my glorious days of cooking were gone. I haven't cooked good and real food for quite a long time. :(

When I started living in BQ, I got used to preparing easy-to-prepare dishes and worse, the instant ones. And I have noone here to share my joy of cooking with. When I go home, I just rest and enjoy the luxury of my parents' cooking for me. Well, I sometimes cook but not at a bounty just like then.

I soooooo miss cooking. Not in a sad mode but with an excitement that if I'll cook again, it would be so much more special. :)

Smile Because It Happened

Don't cry because it is over !!! Smile because it happened...

I happened to have read this as I was checking a friend's wall on Facebook. And it was as if there was something in the statement that it left a magical mark in my heart. And it brought me to a reflection.

When something ends, more often than usual, the pain would just be so unbearable that we would think it's the end of the world. And we can't help but wallow over our sorrows. And we tend to forget the growth it would bring to our inner being. Everything would just be so dark, so hopeless. Feelings of unworthiness would creep in through every nerve. And we would cry so hard!

It's seldom that we remember to smile because it happened. Whatever that thing is, however painful, we soon should realize that it was a significant part of who we have become... :)

I hope that magical mark would always remind me to smile...

Just A Spontaneous Wednesday

It was a Wednesday and we didn't know what to do!

Here in Mindanao State University, Wednesday is an activity day for students. It's a free day for teachers (some of the teachers). Not for me. I have a 3-hour class on Wednesdays. My first time ever! I so love having Wednesday classes. It's a cure from having idle moments. After work, I usually just get back in my cave and study again for next Wednesday's lessons. But I felt so alone already! And so, with my eyes closed, I walked away from my planner and flew my way to the city to enjoy a free afternoon.

I was with Laiza. We ate our happy food. Jollibee! I soooooooo love you! You take my loneliness away. Hehe.. I know it's not good to indulge oneself on junkfoods. But I can't help it! It just makes me soooo happy! :)


We strolled and I had a facial. Another happy moment! :)

And we didn't know what to do after. It was so early to go home. And I wasn't ready to spend another lonely night in BQ. And so we decided to disturb Ate Doli's peaceful evening. (She's a co-worker.)

We bought Bounty Fresh Chooks To Go (another favorite) and hopped our way with joyful hearts at Ate Doli's.



The rain fell so hard while we were there. I had to borrow slippers to not ruin my mother's shoes :).

And we walked through the rain! Ohhh.. How I love the rain. It's just my all-time-favorite moment. Nothing beats the music that the raindrops make, the cold breeze that touches my skin, and the cleansing feeling that it gives.

(It was a chillin' cold ride. Eeeeee...)

Life's simple pleasures are truly what makes it more exciting! :)

Children Make Me Happy

Last Sunday was a surprise! :)

I go home only on weekends so I always see to it to spend quality time with family. I love Sundays most especially. It's when everyone's at home. Lunch time is the happiest. Talks and laughters would reign all over the house.

But last Sunday was extra special. We were visited by tons of children. Hehe.. I just exaggerated that one. There were just actually four. But to us, that's a lot since we're all grown up and nieces are far. Thus, visits of children always excite us.


Revson and Heart are constant visitors. They are my most loved cousins. It's because of them that I discovered my love for children.


It was the first visit of Floy2x and Ella. They are not actually relatives. They are my cousins' cousins. The son and daughter of Shiela, my Aunt's sister-in-law.


I so love children. Their laughs and giggles are music to my ear. Even their cries, too. They are undeniably adorable. Children are like angels. They remind me that earth is still a wonderful place to live in. And that I believe, I'll be a wonderful mother :)

I'm Alive

I'm loving this song of Celine Dion at these moments. I love Celine Dion! :)

This is my latest song in my MP3 player. I needed some dance songs to get my cells moving after amazing mood swings. Happy moves create happy thoughts! I wanna move my feet and lift my hands, sway my hips and sing on top of my lungs. Whew! I really am so glad I'm alive :)

"I'm Alive"

Mmmm...
I get wings to fly
Oh, I'm alive

When you call on me
When I hear you breath
I get wings to fly
I feel that I'm alive

When you look at me
I can touch the sky
I know that I'm alive

When you bless the day
I just drift away
All my worries die
I'm glad that I'm alive

You've set my heart on fire
Filled me with love
Made me a woman on clouds above

I couldn't get much higher
My spirit takes flight
'Cause I'm alive

(When you call on me)
When you call on me
(When I hear you breath)
When I hear you breath
I get wings to fly
I feel that I'm alive
I am alive

(When you reach for me)
When you reach for me
Raising spirits high
God knows that

That I'll be the one
Standing by

Through good and through trying times

And it's only begun
I can't wait for the rest of my life

(When you call on me)
When you call on me
(When you reach for me)
When you reach for me
I get wings to fly
I feel that

(When you bless the day)
When you bless, you bless the day
I just drift away
All my worries die
I'm glad that I'm alive

When you bless the day
(I just drift away)
I just drift away
All my worries die
I know that I'm alive

I get wings to fly
God knows that I'm alive

This is my new happy song. Stay happy world! :)

Happy Birthday Ashly!

My second niece just turned two last Sunday! Happy Birthday Baby Ashly!

She's my eldest sister's 2nd child - the youngest for the next 5 months. She's again pregnant. Hopefully, it'll be a boy this time.

I've seen Ashly only once. That was during our vacation in Capiz the summer of 2009. She's now living in Tarlac (where my brother-in-law's family is) while her parents are working in Dubai.

When I saw her, she was just this cute little baby..



And look at her now....





I haven't recognized her at first look. I had to look for that signature look of her eyes and eyebrows. And not to mention her "triangle-holed" nose. Haha! We have something in common. :)

I just got these pictures from the facebook account of the wife of the brother of my brother-in-law (huh?! nosebleed. Hehe..) My sister is being tagged and she also tags me in all Ashly's pics. It was our only way to somehow witness her growth. It's like a fiesta at home when we have new pics of her, gathered around the computer adoring every part of her. It's so funny at times when there's just two or three pics and my mother would spend as if eternity in looking at the pictures all over again. And again. And again. Haaaayyy... Sometimes, a bulb would light up above my head. What if, I'll just give them another apo. Haha!

The family in Tarlac once in a while sends us CD of her videos. The usual cutie "firsts" of a child. Her first walk. First dance. First words. Just imagine the faces of my parents. The Lolo and Lola longing to embrace their little angel once again.

Last Sunday, we celebrated with her from afar. We had a super lunch, remembering her birthday. It was such a happy weekend since my sister from Davao also came home.

We called her and I was so amazed! She was already talking! My father's heart almost melted when she said, "I love u, Lolo." Ohhh... I was teary-eyed. It was so sweet of her. But I guess, my mother got a little jealous. Ashly has not mentioned Lola. :P And yes, I admit. I got a jealous, too. I wish she remembers our playtimes :(. But of course she doesn't. She was just a little less than a year that time.

I pray that you would grow into a wonderful child Ashly!

Love,

Tita Mai-mai