On Trillanes et al episode...

Though Manila is thousands of miles away from Cebu, it is still an hour flight and that anything could happen. But I just felt numb and I couldn’t care less while the events unfold in yesterday’s Makati threat. I don’t really give a damn as it was sheer stupidity. The Trillanes et al misadventures was a proof of what the insatiable thirst for power can do to even the most well-respected and dignified of gentlemen. I hate to say that I really lost hope for this country and its leaders. I don’t know who to trust anymore not even the president. And I don’t know what the future holds for the next generation what with the increasing number of pigs lurking within our government system. It’s a vicious cycle and it takes magic to really bring forth the so called “change” we’ve been hoping to happen.

I just find it odd the way Trillanes and his comrades staged their fight in a posh hotel like the Manila Pen. And their walking out of an honorable judge’s court was a show of disrespect to the law of someone elected as senator of this country. Besides, these warriors are supposed to defend this country but they chose to be a threat to national security and peace instead. They may be fighting for a righteous cause but I don’t see the need to stage dramatic scenes like those in movies. We have enough actors in the government and if Trillanes wants to be one, he could certainly approach some of his co-senators who had been in show business prior to public office.

I don’t usually criticize the government as I am more concerned about problems of my own. But this time I just can’t help but comment about yesterday’s episode. I’m just glad that Cebu is such a peaceful place and the curfew is unlikely to happen here.

After the rain

I thought the storm Lando, Mina and Nonoy would leave a huge damage to the city yesterday but it didn't even wreck a tree branch the way Lando (yep, the same Lando) did weeks ago. But the heavy rain sure left me with fresh colds dripping off my nose. I thought I'm one tough person who never gets sick but here I am trying my best to be well as I don't have the guts to go on leave again. I just had my 5-day sabbatical last week. So,how did the season's virus finally hit me this time?

I was on my way to a meeting and just when I went out of our company shuttle, the rain poured heavily. And we're talking about not just drizzle but a heavy downpour. I'm a person who dislike bringing along an umbrella (ela, ela eh, eh) so I was all soak and wet while waiting for a cab going to the meeting venue. I kept on walking under the heavy rain with my purse and a paperbag in tow to look for a shelter. It took me a while to finally get a cab considering that it's the peak hours. When I reached the venue, the rain suddenly stopped. Just my luck, huh!

And today, after the rain, I'm glad the sun is up. I'm not really fond of the rain as it makes me feel gloomy and lazy at the same time. And did I say I hate to bring umbrella? And yes after the rain, I just felt sick and hope to be up and about when I face the most wonderful season of the year.

Thanksgiving

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

Here in the Philippines, we don't normally celebrate "thanksgiving". Since the company I'm with is an American firm, we were given a break or two during thanksgiving while our clients are also having their time off. I also took the opportunity to use my remaining leaves. I don't really have plans on how to spend it. I just want to catch up some sleep and just spend time with my daughter and hubby (of course). Though it's kinda' boring to be stuck in the house for a couple of days.

Back to thanksgiving, the break gave me the time to ponder on the things I have to be grateful about the year that was. And I must admit, I haven't had the chance to really thank Him for the blessings received.

Now, let me say THANK YOU...



























for a loving family, my support system, my comfort, my life.






















for the comfort and laughter of friends old and new, who has been a treasure through and through.








for the thriving career that makes the future seem bright and promising.


for the blessing of wealth and health.










for the strength to face head on the challenges of the year.








for the hope that there is still tomorrow to look forward to and a new journey to embark on.

THANK YOU!

I Signed Up for PPP

I got the idea from some mommies at PMN. I heard that they've been paid a great deal of moolah from payperpost. They just simply blogged about certain products and services and they were paid $5 the least. Sounds easy so I gave it a shot. And besides, I need some extra cash to shop this Christmas.

I'm still waiting for the approval from Customer Love. When I got their approval, I could start looking for opportunities --- products/services to blog about. I admit, I'm still oblivious of how it really works but let's just wait and see. At first I was hesitant to give it a try coz I don’t think that it’s really possible to monetize my blog. What started as a hobby has now become a "sideline" if ppp is true to their words. Been blogging for almost three years and it has been really fun.

I hope Customer Love would really approve my blog without hesitations...

Pizza Making 101

Today, my daughter attended a pizza making activity cooked up by their school at Pizza Hut. Pizza lover myself, I love the idea of my daughter learning how to cook pizza. I remember Athena (a colleague) also blogged about her daughter’s “Pizza-making Camp” which was held at Greenwich. It’s more or less the same but with different pizza parlor this time.

So off we went to Pizza Hut Mambaling branch with my camera in tow. I don’t want to miss this milestone (if you may call it a milestone) in my daughter’s life. She was quite excited herself and was already up as early as 7am. It’s difficult to wake her up on normal days.



The steps are pretty easy for a four-year old to do.

First. The manager gave them a tour of the kitchen and showed them the equipment and where they store their ingredients.



Second. They were then instructed to wash their hands and make sure that it’s clean.


Third. Since the dough with tomato sauce has been prepared by Pizza Hut, the children will just have to spread the rest of the ingredients on top of it. They’re making a “ham and cheese” pizza so its basic ingredients are ham and cheese.



Fourth. The pan is then ready to be sent to the oven where it will be baked for 10 minutes.

Fifth. The fun part is where the children get to eat the pizza they prepared. Alex only ate a slice as she was busy chatting with her friends.



At the end of the activity, there were given certificates and balloons for having accomplished the Pizza Making Excellence (or something like that). We only paid a hundred pesos for the activity. Alex had fun as she was all smiles and laughter the entire time maybe because she was doing it with her friends.



And I'm a bit pissed off because all the pictures I took have shades of blue in them. It's like it got some virus or what but I'm bringing this to the technician hopefully tomorrow.

Fired

I learned that one of my colleagues was fired yesterday. I was told that she didn't pass the 3rd month evaluation and thus her employment with X was cut short. I also learned that she's a mother of seven and that one of her children is autistic. I don't really know her personally but I remember exchanging smiles with her at the hallways.

I was seated right behind her last night on our way home inside the company's shuttle van. She just had a talk with one of our HR personnels. I can sense that she was crying and I feel for her. How will she tell her children or her husband? Will she find work immediately? I know that our company is no charitable institution and that we don't keep incompetent employees. But I know how it feels to be in her shoes. Like her, I am working to make both ends meet. I work to provide for my family's needs. I work to survive. And even having just 1 kid and a working husband at that, it still isn't enough. How much more this colleague of mine having 7 mouths to feed plus education and basic needs.

There is light at the end of the tunnel though and I'm sure there'll be opportunities for her outside this company. I just pray for her strength and that she will rise above the situation she's in right now.

ME time

I totally agree.

We carry out a deluge of things for other people --- our family, our friends, our colleagues, the boss, the company, the country or even the world perhaps and yet we often fail to do something for ourselves. Sometimes, I wish I could just hug myself or shout to world that I love myself not in a very egocentric way.

Nevertheless, there are things that I want to do for myself but have done it less or have never done before. These are just simple treats for me not necessarily in particular order…

* smile in front of the mirror
* taking a long shower
* massage
* Paolo Coelho
* our queen size bed all to myself
* peaceful sleep
* coloring my nails
* return to the gym
* one night alone staring at the stars
* time to meditate and pray
* shopping for new clothes, shoes, bags and accessories to match without worrying about time and money to spend (this is quite impossible)
* chocolates for myself
* watching chick flick and munching popcorn
* blogging
* travel to unknown places

These are stuff I do to show love for myself. As much as I want to spend “ME-time” more often, the demands of being a mum, wife, friend, employee are much more important. But it doesn’t mean that I love myself less.

Kalag-kalag

This was how we spent our "Kalag-kalag"...

Alex bonding with cousins










and me bonding with the kids






...wish this baby is mine. Sigh!