I Miss The Rain

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I dunno know about you, but I love rainy days more than sunny days. Maybe it has something to do with where I work. The sun is shining there 312 days a year and 78% more than in any part of Gensan. Haha! I just made those numbers up just to give a rough estimate of the weather here. But the rain really seldom visits Gensan. Not that I am complaining. I actually feel blessed that this city is kept safe even with the storm forecasts few times the past months.

Summer is just around the corner. While everybody is taking their floral dresses, sunnies, and shorts out of their closets, here I am missing my beloved rainy days. Those few days when I get the excuse to put on some layers, to have some extra lazy minutes on bed before dragging myself to get up, to sip from a bowl of my mom's oh so delicious macaroni soup, and to sit by the doorstep to admire the beauty of the raindrops. 

Watching the rain is one of my favorite things to do. I am completely amazed of its wonder. Though I am well aware of my science book on the rain formation and water cycle parts, I still cannot help but be in awe.

I discovered that little Caela is fond of the rain, too. One rainy morning, upon waking up, she sat by the doorstep and was quietly watching the rain. After a while, she was extending her arm and sometimes a foot waiting for the rain to "touch" her. 

Love Love Love! Heart Heart Heart!

The love month ain't over yet! We had a small post v-day party at home. Thanks to the four-hour brownout which started at 6pm, the candlelight dinner buffet appeared to be extra romantic. Haha! And thanks to the camera flash, the photos turned out to be well-lighted.

I made this crepe paper curtain with heart cut outs. My sister pumped up the balloons. My brother played his instrumental love songs. And good we had a red sofa for that perfect feel of love in the air :)

It felt like a prom night only that we were not in long gowns or suits and our living room was so small to be a dance floor. So we just settled on good laughs over baked mac and tinolang manok. And instead of having prom king and queen, it was a unanimous vote for the star of the night, our little darling Caela who maybe got an extra hour of sleep that afternoon because she was at her boiling point. She enthusiastically entertained her house guests.

Then we played my super favorite game of all time - Pinoy Henyo! It doesn't require anything but a brain, man! Not the physical skills which I am so lame at. Thank goodness I have a brain! I was feeling confident at the start of the game. "I will crash every inch of intelligence left in you," was everyone's silent battle cry.  But it seemed my brain cells went to bed earlier than usual that night. Haha!

Little Caela was clapping and teasing the whole time as if she understood what was going on. She sometimes surprises me with her adultlike ways. Don't grow up too fast baby girl :)

Have a love-filled day ahead, fabulous you! :)

Paint Me A Picture

We did a little home improvement by repainting the living room walls. My family conspired to produce a beautiful mess. Hehe.. The walls are all white so I suggested for a wall art to be placed on a strategic corner. After minutes of debate between the groups of conservative and imaginative, the conservatives eventually gave in to giving the wall a character. So here is the inspiration...

from Google images

And here is the final product made by my sister's husband. With me is the proudest daughter, wowed by her father's art.

My conversation with my 1 year and 7 months old niece:

Me: What's this Caela?

Caela: Twee (Translation: Tree)

Me: What are these baby?

Caela: Leebs (Translation: Leaves)

When you're an aunt of a learning-to-talk child, you become an instant interpreter. Once, Caela was trying to say a word I could not really understand. The word sounded like that of an alien's and she talked like one. I was having a hard time figuring the word out but was enumerating words which sounded like the one she was trying to say. After five words, she screamed for frustration. Haha! I wish I could learn her baby talks to understand her better. But lately, more often than not, I can get what she's saying because her speaking skills are improving as well as my understanding. :)

Are you also an aunt of an adorable child?

DIY Project: Photo Op Corner

I am a big fan of Do-It-Yourself projects. I make my own bead bracelets and necklaces. I design my own paper stationery. I make cakes and pastries. At some random times, I even sew my curtains and blouses and skirts. I am not yet a master of my sewing skill but I am working my way to that. :) In the mean time, I also do little DIY's in between like this photo op corner which I made for my brother's birthday.

Materials: crepe paper, scotch tape, foil paper, scissors, bamboo stick (optional)

I cut the crepe papers as shown below, asked my sister to letter cut the foil paper because she does that better than I do, placed the papers on the wall using the tape or you can hang them on a stick and put the stick on a wall, and I placed the letters on the crepe papers using the tape. Voila!!! It's done! I used the color silver because it's his 25th birthday. 

Can you guess his birth month? Oh yes! It's January! How could you guess that out of 12 choices? You have a gift. Maybe you could read palms and be a fortune teller. Haha!

Happy birthday to my brother who may be few years younger than me but is ten years wiser. I'm proud of you!

On My 26th :)

Yey! I'm so done with being 25 :) Oh no no.. Don't get me wrong. It isn't that I didn't enjoy my being 25. It's just that I'm more excited to be 26. :)

I told myself 2 years ago that on my 26th, I would want to get married. So now you think I'm getting married this year huh?! No, not that again. I actually set aside that idea and postponed my marrying age until I'm 28. Haha! I don't feel like marrying just yet. My plans have changed. My pursuits have gone to a detour. :)

Let me first say that I had a blast when I was 25. I always say that I just had the best year of my life and the coming year will even be better. So, 26 here I am!!! Embrace me with all the courage and happiness and love in the world.

This is my first birthday that I did not go out. I usually take a moment of solitude the whole day and celebrate with family during the night. But today, I only stayed home for reflection. I let my brothers buy the things needed for dinner. I love giving birthday treats for family but I want mine to be the simplest. I haven't thrown out a party. I only want solemn moments with family.

This year is extra special because our family has gone bigger because my sister got married. My once little brothers have grown into responsible and wonderful men. It's my mother's joy to see the ladies in my brothers' lives joining us on special occasions. :) It is a happy "extended" family. Minus papa because he was at work.

Oh Goldilocks! You forgot to give a candle for my cake.



But I didn't feel like having a birthday without blowing my candle. So my mother got me a candlestick instead just so I could make a wish. Yey! I made a wish. And I know it's coming true soon. After long years! Excited much!



Mama got a surprise for me! Tadahh!



Yey! Purple slippers. Love it! Well, I have few things of my own at home. Most of my things were left in BQ. And so I had to borrow almost everything from anybody. Thus, it was really a surprise when Mama gave me the slippers. And oh! Another thing! It didn't' please her when I painted my room purple. She doesn't like the color. But I think I'm beginning to make her love it :) I got purple placemats for the dining table from the mint green that she had. But hey she smiled pleasingly when she saw them.



"Haha! I'm slowly transforming the whole house into an Ube!" --Purple Monster. The purple slippers are the proof that she's beginning to forgive me for the purple painted room :)

Aunt Daisy gave me a handy travel bag. How I love bags. And how I love travels. It seems that I'm ready for another adventure. Hmmmm...



Thank you everyone for making my birthday a special one! I actually thanked everyone who greeted me on Facebook. Why not! I love the thought of being thought of :)

Thank you to my family for still loving me even if I'm soooo me!

Thank You Lord for my year that was. And I pray for an even bountiful year in all aspects of my life! :)

Babies Naming A Baby

Our little angel is due in 3 months. My sister will give birth to a baby girl. Everyone is excited even our little cousins. I don't know if they fully understand what's going on but they are told that "Ate Lenlen has a baby inside her tummy."

Revson and Heart are the youngest people who visit our home. They have been the apples of our eyes ever since they were born. We've witnessed their growth. I became a some sort of a nursery-rhyme-teacher, playmate, story teller, nanny on some days. I love the thought of being part of their growth. Now, they're big boy and girl already. They are already going to school. It's seldom that we see them and so we're so excited for another baby to come.


They are excited to be kuya and ate. They actually thought of what names to give the baby. Everytime they visit, they have something new to suggest. Revson said that when it's a boy, Carlo would be the name. If girl, Carla. And we asked if he had anything else in mind. And he said, "Uhmmm.. Myrna!" Haha! How I burst into laughters. I didn't know where he got that Myrna.

Heart, on the other hand, hugged me from behind when she saw me in church and whispered to me that she came up with a better idea. If boy, Michael. If girl, Mikaella. Well, not bad. She had a better choice than Revson.

I find it sweet that they think about the baby. That they somehow have a concept of being kuya and ate. How I wish they'd just remain cute little angels so we could play and sing forever but they're not babies anymore. They have grown into wonderful kiddos. :)

Wedding Bells Again

Am I hearing wedding bells?!? I'm such a big fan of weddings!!!!!! Are the exclamation points making it obvious? It was just a month ago when I became a bridesmaid for the first time. And soon, I would be a maid of honor for the first time at my sister's wedding! Yahooooo!!!! :)

Me and and my girlfriends often talk about weddings. Even years ago, we have made our pledges for each other's weddings.

I pledged to give wedding shoes for Nenskie.

Shoes also for Norline.

Video coverage and photography for Ate My. And I'll be her maid of honor.


And Laiza will be my maid of honor. Laiz, was it also a pair of shoes? Or was it lechon? Or was it a honeymoon package? Hehe...

We were planning our wedding years before it would actually happen. We even had partial list of ninongs and ninangs. Not kidding! Few of our officemates already volunteered themselves. :) Insane? Nope... We just wanted everything to be so organized by that time. Ok... Insane as it may seem but there's no harm in wishful thinking. :)

It almost slipped my mind that I had an elder sister. Actually sisters but I wasn't able to attend my eldest sister's wedding. (Ne and Kuya Rey, please get married again :P ) So this is a big thing for me. I offered to make the invitations and the bouquets. I didn't want to give this task to just anybody. I wanted the flowers and the invitations to have a touch of a sister's love.

It would be a white wedding with a touch of violet. Ahh... One of my favorite colors. Here are a few of what I found...






How do you like them?

So many choices! I can't make up my mind! Ahhh... Everyone's excited!

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

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. :)

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 :)

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

Alugbati is Malabar Spinach

Now I know!!! :)

Last night, I was cooking alugbati and kalabasa (squash) for dinner and I came to question myself about the English translation of my new favorite leafy vegetable. I immediately "googled" it and yes! It is Malabar Spinach. Sounds weird to me. :)



These leaves may not be even known in other parts of the Philippines. Or some would even think it's just one of those grasses. Haha.. I didn't like eating this before. It was so slimy for my taste. I even cursed it(literally) with the mongo. I always cry when I don't like the food on the table. I wasn't considerate of the feelings of my mother who prepares the food. Me and my "maarte" self. Sorry Ma. :P

But I started eating veggies after being fed up with so much fastfood. (Maybe that was 2 years ago). I also got conscious about my health. "We become what we eat." I remember reading that from a cookbook. And when I started living away from home, I missed the alugbati and the mongo and the squash and all others which I cursed before.

Now, I'm always excited for the weekend meals. And when I'm home, my mother and especially my father see to it that my new favorites are always served. :) Thank you soooo much for spoiling me! :)

Not Just Any Other Graduation

April 8, 2010 was Mindanao State University's Baccalaureate Services. Teachers are always enjoined to join these services and the graduation ceremonies the day after. We also prepare for these days just like the graduates. We buy our dresses, think about our hair do's. It's an every year affair in which We take extra effort to look good, eventhough we don't really have big participation.

But this year for me is not just any other graduaion. It was my brother Toto's graduation and he was a Cum Laude! :) I'm so proud of him. He's the only awardee in BS Biology. His efforts have finally been paid off. We did not expect it but he worked so hard and surprised us. :) I like it when my siblings achieve something great because it's a source of joy for my parents. I saw how my parents marched with great pride.



I remember how it was for me four years ago. I was emotional when I was heading to the stage, holding both my parents' hands because I was the first in the family who graduated in college with honors. It was a very fulfilling moment for me. It was my gift to my parents after long years of support and sacrifices. Going back to my brother. The night of graduation, we had grand celebration at home. I described it to be grand because it was the first ever "party" at home that we had pig lechon. We just usually had chicken lechon, just like on my college graduation.

I was very happy that night when my mother's co-teachers reminded us of how blessed we are to have been raised wonderfully by our parents. That night I realized how proud I am of how my siblings have become. Almost everyone in the party expected Toto to pursue his studies in a medical school. It became a pressure on him because he really wanted to get a masters in environmental science. He's giving himself a year to think about his career path. And I pray that he would choose the one which he sees himself living for the rest of his life.



It was also my sister Lenlen's 26th birthday on the 9th, which made it a 4-in-1 celebration. My 25th birthday was on the 2nd of April. My Aunt Bebing on the 7th and our youngest brother Bobet on the 16th. Truly God rewards hard works and surprises us with things we did not even ask for! :)

Farm Adventure on a Weekend

Last weekend, we went to my Uncle's wake at Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat. My father's brother was such a cheerful man. There were lots of laughters in his house last weekend because according to his wife and four daughters, he would talk about not having sad people on his wake. I personally felt a joyous atmosphere. And actually found some things to be grateful for and be amazed about.

On our way to Bagumbayan, we passed by beautiful places. God's creation is just splendid. Some of the pictures were accidentally deleted by my cousin but glad to still have kept a few.



The mountains seem so near. I've never been on a place where mountains are this close to me. One day, I will be on top of one of those..




So glad to see very green fields despite El Nino..




And this was my favorite view. Carabaos taking their bath. :) I remember that when I was still so much younger, the only way to get to my grandmother's house was on a Caro- a wooden cart pulled by a carabao. So glad that they now have concrete roads but i miss these carabaos. :)


We've also passed by the beautiful Capitol of Sultan Kudarat in Isulan.

My Source of Joy

My two little cousins, Revson (5) and Heart(4) are darlings in the family. They're children of my mother's first cousin Auntie Lanie which make them my second cousins. They live about 10-minute ride from our home and thus, often visit us. I got this adoration for children from my mother who loves being with children. She doesn't seem to get tired taking care of them. I have two nieces Chin-chin and Ashley, daughters of my eldest sister. But we seldom get to see them for one is in Capiz and the other one is in Tarlac.


I've started teaching Revson nursery rhymes when he was 3. And he was such a fast learner. He loves watching instructional materials too which makes me more inclined to him because apart from teaching math, i so love teaching ABC's and 123's. Sometimes, i would think of being a preschool teacher instead. :)

Later on Heart joined my little lessons/playtime to his brother at home. She wasn't as interested as Revson at first but as she started going to school, she became more attentive.

Heart is also my goddaughter. She was born on a Valentine's day so we call her Heart. The picture above was during her 4th birthday in Maharlika where I also spent my 2010 Valentine's day.