G.A.N.D.A.

my two bundles of joy

2009-04-05T10:16:00.004+09:00

Look how fast they've grown. They used to be my cute little babies. Now, they are still cute (that's for sure!), but they have become mature individuals, if you know what I mean.

Luke is now a preschooler who has I think asked ALL of the "whys" and "whats" of the world. Oh, he has calmed down a bit recently.

Lois, on the other hand, has a stronger personality and possesses very good motor skills (both fine and gross). And when she says "no", she shakes her head vigorously -- simply telling us that she means it.

A few years later, they would be both mature individuals busy with their own things. But they will remain my babies in my heart forever. ;)

our first and last family pic

2008-08-05T15:47:00.004+09:00

yes, this is our first family picture since Lois came into our life.

and yes, this is also our last family picture. Dadi left us so soon, and this picture is one proof how happy we were when we were still complete.

dadi, we will miss you so much. in fact, we already miss you so much since the day you left us. the terrible pain is still here, but i know it will soon fade away. but the happy memories we shared together will always be in our hearts.

we love you so much, dadi.

together in dreamland

2008-05-25T21:21:00.005+09:00

sleep, my dears
enjoy your time in dreamland
you need it for your much needed growth
and while you are there
mami will stay beside you
watching over you
while blogging and surfing and chatting
and e-everything e-else. ;)

------------
if you were to describe this picture, how would it be?

four months after...

2008-05-11T00:34:00.004+09:00

here she is now ...

super friendly, smiles at every smiling face she sees, eager to talk, attracted at any bright red-colored thing that catches her big bright eyes, and as ever, a couch potato.

stay tuned for more pics ...

PS: oh, this post only reminds me that I haven't blogged for four months. well, the reason is clear ;)

my queen has arrived...

2007-12-29T15:05:00.000+09:00

Ladies and gentlemen of the blogworld, I am very much pleased to introduce to you my precious queen, Lois Abigayle.

Lois was born on December 20, 2007 at 8:26am (Phil time) via CS (she's a breech baby, that's why) and weighs 3 kilos. Almost everybody says she gets most of her physical features from me. ;-)

She's over a week old now, and has been a good girl so far. She's such a couch potato (good for me I have time to sleep, and work, and blog) and the only time she lets out her crying spell is when she can't find the right way to latch on during breastfeeding (and yup, I am 100% breastfeeding, mainly due to financial reasons hahaha!).

I'll post more pics in a couple of days.

is it a girl this time?

2007-07-12T16:38:00.000+09:00

well, i hope so.

once, i had this weird dream that i'd already given birth to a healthy baby girl. my dream is quite strange coz i didn't even get to see her face when she was born or a even a baby. in my dream, she was already a youngster -- smart and beautiful -- and showing her wits to the family by explaining (i couldn't remember what exactly it was).

could this be a sign? or just a mythical force that drives me into thinking that i'd really have a baby girl come this December?

well, let's wait and see. ;)

preggy update

2007-06-20T14:50:00.000+09:00

How's my pregnancy going on so far?

I am on my second trimester already, and my tummy is starting to get noticed. At this stage, I only have a few clothes/pants to wear ... :( It is still too early to wear maternity dresses, ya know.

Sometimes, I get impatient that I always utter, "sana December na ... para makita ko na ang baby ko." Or, maybe, excited is more appropriate word for that. ;) I am excited to know if I'm gonna have a baby girl this time. Most of our friends, including my obgyne, wish us a baby girl. Oh, I fervently hope so...

As I go through my pregnancy, I slowly realize that it is rather difficult to have my second baby when my firstborn is still young. Luke, now at 2yrs and 3mos, wants to be carried most of the time, and I find it hard to play with him all day long, especially at times when I want to take a nap, or I don't feel so good. I wonder how those moms with sunud-sunod na tsikiting cope with all these? Any hints? ;)

alive and kicking, still...

2007-05-26T15:24:00.000+09:00

hi folks!

(oh, boy! dunno where to start...)

ahh, anyway, just wanna let ya all know that I'm still breathing ...yeah, breathing the summer heat here in the Philippines. We're quite adjusted already since we've been here for more than a month now.

just a few updates ...

* i've got a broadband internet connection at home FINALLY (after years of waiting), so expect that i'll have my posts ready every now and then.

* of course, ya all know about our new baby ;)

* and, another baby coming up. yup, you read it right! ;) I am nine weeks preggy now, and I am due to give birth to my 2nd baby around the Christmas holidays. Isn't that great? ;)

that's all for now! ;)

Meet our new baby!

2007-04-27T13:28:00.000+09:00

Need a ride? ;)

P.S. If you want to know more about this car, you can check out Toyota website.

Blogging break

2007-04-05T19:36:00.000+09:00

Can't get enough of my break, eh! This time, my reason is (more) acceptable and valid. ;)

Any day from now, our phone line and internet connection will be both terminated, thus, rendering us incommunicado for at least almost two weeks while still here in Japan.

In the meantime, feel free to view older posts, and I'll get back to blogging as soon as I can.

Till then! ;)

Graduate na po! ;)

2007-03-23T15:57:00.000+09:00

Proud to tell everyone that my dear hubby has finished his PhD course at The University of Tokyo. And please don't ask me about his field of specialization, it's too technical for me. ;) All I can say it's in the field of biological and environmental information engineering. Whatever that is, go ask him ... ;)

Anyway, now that he has graduated and earned his degree, what's next? Well, for sure, we're going back to our dearly beloved homeland, and to the University. Other plans? Nadah!

For now, join me in congratulating Dr. AMDA. ;)

Omedetou gozaimasu!

Bear with me, folks!

2007-03-16T12:04:00.000+09:00

Yeah, that's what I appeal to you, my friends.

GANDA is quite busy these days, and my hands (and feet) are beyond full capacity as I huggle and haggle with all the things I have to do. That includes a minimal work on the side, packing our stuffs, arranging and confirming our flight, talking to a lot of people for the things we will leave behind, replying/declining/accepting invitations here and there, and our unending desire to go visit some places around Tokyo and nearby cities before we finally say SAYONARA to this place we have to come to love.

In the meantime, go pay a visit to Filipina Soul, and entertain yourself with all things Filipina and Pinas. My GAIJIN BLOG was once featured there (thanks to Grace) and gives me a lot of inbound clicks. However, I haven't updated it too, and I take all the blame. Not updating doesn't mean I have nothing to write about. In fact, I have lots, but they are all still in my mind. Rest assured that I will soon find time to blog, and when I do, I promise to bombard you with lots of stories.

So, till then... ;)

Extended ... till April

2007-02-27T22:28:00.000+09:00

Thank God for granting the desire of our heart! I'm soooo happy that our stay here in Japan has been extended for one more month.

This means many things ...
... have the chance to experience spring and all the beauty goes with it.
... visit nice places (within Kanto area only) notably wide and glamorous parks here and there
... Jap dishes to munch -- the likes of sushi, tempura and many others
... and of course, cook yakisoba almost every day. ;)

More than all these, we have lots of time to see friends, especially those we haven't seen for quite a long time.

And a little time for a meager work on the side. ;)

Got to squeeze all these in one whole month. Ahh, I must schedule things wisely. ;)

New mothers

2007-02-16T14:46:00.000+09:00

Two of my close friends have recently entered motherhood. And I'm pretty sure they are both ecstatic with this new experience in life. The feeling of happiness and joy could not be measured, and, despite the physical pain of giving birth and those sleepless nights that follow, the experience is simply beyond fathom. As Tippi puts it, "Ang sarap palang maging mommy." Indeed, it is. I can assure you that.

To Tippi and Pilar, welcome to the most wonderful world of mothers and of motherhood. Being a mother is a special gift from God, and we are blessed to be chosen as such. There are hardships along the way, but those are just lesser part of life that I'm sure you have the courage and strength to endure.

Congratulations also to their respective hubbies who are equally proud as first-time fathers. I hope you do your part, i.e. those "dirty" jobs of changing diapers and washing poop-stained baby clothes -- I'm telling you, it's a surefire fun for you; aside of course from having to do the groceries, and sometimes cooking. ;)

Most of all, to Lance and Yana, welcome to this wonderful world, and enjoy every moment of your growing up with your most loving parents who treasure every second of life with you.

Again, congrats!

Chicken-and-Rice Recipe

2007-01-30T23:35:00.000+09:00

Sometimes, I get tired of the usual dish I serve on the dining table. So, for a change, I tried this chicken-and-rice dinner recipe from Campbell's Kitchen. It is easy to prepare and cook; all you need is 15 minutes and presto, you already have your sumptuous dinner.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp. vegetable oil
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 can (10 3/4 oz.) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup OR 98% Fat Free Cream of Chicken Soup
1 1/2 cups water
1/4 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
2 cups uncooked instant white rice*
2 cups fresh OR frozen broccoli flowerets

Directions:

1. HEAT oil in skillet. Cook chicken 10 min. or until browned. Remove chicken.
2. ADD soup, water, paprika and pepper. Heat to a boil.
3. STIR in rice and broccoli. Return chicken to pan. Sprinkle additional paprika and pepper over chicken. Cover and cook on low heat 5 min. or until chicken is done.

TIP: *For creamier dish, use 1 1/2 cups rice.

I modified this recipe, though. Here's my version:

1. I first boiled the chicken (pre-cut into bite sizes) to ensure they are well-cooked. I've also added a teaspoon of Japanese sake to make the chicken flavorful.
2. I used the chicken stock (from boiling) instead of plain water.
3. I didn't put in paprika (because I don't have one in my cupboard).
4. Instead of instant rice, I used steamed rice left over from today's lunch.
5. I used pumpkin instead of broccoli. The latter doesn't appeal to my son's palate. I put the bite-sized pumpkin slices in the pan first before the rice. (tip: intermittently peel the pumpkin and bevel its edges so as to avoid scorching)
6. And oh, I used butter in place of vegetable oil.

That's it. Easy ... and heavy! ;)

Chow!

The Golden Temple in Kyoto, Japan

2007-01-24T23:27:00.000+09:00

click on the image for a larger view

It's really made of gold. Too bad, can't get close enough to scrape some and bring home. ;) This is the closest we could get, amidst a downpour of not only rain but also of tourists, gaijins and natives alike, wanting to see this historic place, which dates back in 1397.

More stories here.

Hokkaido foodie photos

2007-01-12T10:25:00.000+09:00

As promised, here are some photos of our Hokkaido galore. Enjoy! ;)

Okunomiyaki and takoyaki are both trademarks of Kansai region, but we had the chance to munch them all in Hokkaido as our friend is of Kansai origin.

Check out sites about Genghis Khan and Hokkaido.

Note: Cross-posted in MY-GAIJIN-LIFE blogsite.

A glimpse of me in Hokkaido

2007-01-08T23:14:00.000+09:00

Yeah, that's me in red hood and red jacket, happily waving my hands to catch some snow falling in front of me! (or for foto-ops)

And what is that place, you may ask? Well, that's the wonderful place where we take a good sooooooothing bath every night. They call it onsen in Japanese, or hot spring. It was my first to go to an onsen after an almost three years of stay in Japan.

Oh, did I say I was going to post my pictures inside the onsen? Ha,ha! You must be dreaming! ;) As an excuse, I couldn't get a nice shot because the steam from the 41-degree water was blocking the digicam from having a clear view of the site. ;)

They say that onsen has a therapeutic effect, and I find this very true. My back ache was gone (at least while we were there), and sleeping after a one-hour bath is nearly irristible.

Now that we are back in Tokyo, I oh-so long to have a hot bath. :-/

Belated...

2007-01-05T10:15:00.000+09:00

I know, I know. I am four days late, but as they always say, better late than never. So, here's greeting you a prosperous 2007 and may all our wishes come true. ;)

Personally, I feel very optimistic for this year despite some uncertainties that await us in the coming months. With God's help and providence, I trust that circumstances will favor us in all our undertakings, be it here in Japan or back home.

And, may we all see and feel the peace that the world needs.

(Belated) Happy New Year to everyone! ;)

Am back!

2007-01-04T13:30:00.000+09:00

Yup, that's right! And I'm alive, proudly proclaiming I survived the -10 or -11 degrees of brrrrrrrrr-y cold weather and snowstorm in Hokkaido as well as our (mis)adventures in the Kansai region enjoying local dishes and native delicacies.

But ...

I'll tell you more about our grand escapade (grand = expensive)later. We have just arrived a few hours ago and still needs to organize not just our stuff but most of all, our pictures which I'm pretty sure you all have been waiting for. And how'd you like the idea of me seeing bathing in the onsen (hot spring)? I mean that in a wholesome-nothing-fishy-just-for-the-sake-of-picture-taking way. ;)

So, please wait. Chotto matte kudasai.

Are your photos stolen?

2006-12-18T00:15:00.000+09:00

My friend, Pasion, is ranting furiously soon as she found out that one of her blog photos is being used by another site without her permission, nor citing the source. Well, who wouldn't be mad at this? I would feel the same, had it happened to me.

Ah, I hope it wouldn't happen to me, or to you. I know I haven't posted so much photos here (and are not so good, for I am not a pro at taking photos), but I am not discounting the possibility that my work may be stolen by others. This makes me re-think of my creative commons license, which is by the way, sitting permanently down at my sidebar since I started this blog, should you not notice it.

Just to over-emphasize it, all images in this blog (or the entire blog itself) are protected by a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License. This simply means:

Attribution. You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor.
Noncommercial. You may not use this work for commercial purposes.
No Derivative Works. You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work.

I, too, have used images from other sources and surely, they have been cited properly. So, I hope others would do the same. It's alright to share and use other's work so long as you give credit where it is due.

The colors of autumn

2006-12-11T01:53:00.000+09:00

I was almost getting desperate and frustrated that it's already December and most leaves have fallen rendering the tree dead-like, yet I haven't even seen the wonderful colors of autumn leaves!

Well, that was only almost. Before all leaves get to fall, I got MY chance to see and experience the vast colors of autumn -- where else but in our favorite koen, Shinjuku Gyoen National Park! (We visit this park once a month, I guess)

This is my first autumn in Japan, and firsts have to be good and beautiful. It is, indeed! ;)

More photos below:

Blaming the typhoon

2006-12-10T23:15:00.000+09:00

Was it really because of "Seniang" (International Name: Utor) that President Arroyo cancelled the twin summits in Cebu at the last minute? Or were there other reasons -- valid and realistic reasons?

Just can't help to side with the speculations that our dear madame president was actually SCARED -- not of the typhoon -- but of the rumored terrorist attacks as well as the street protests, which are believed to be more prepared than the summit itself.

I heard that even the venue -- a supposedly landmark facility in Cebu -- was still in its finishing touches up to the time of the postponed summit. So, just imagine that foreign and local delegations alike swarming the Cebu International Convention Center while workers are equally busy decorating and painting the walls? ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES!

The typhoon has passed and did not even leave any single damage in the central Cebu region. (It's not that I want damages, though.) What now?

So what Mrs. Arroyo gets is another heavy dose of criticisms for having a weak government, at the height of her efforts at rebuilding or patching up her ill-reputed administration.

Maybe next time, when big events such as these summits are planned, Mrs. Arroyo should work closely with the meteorogical agency to keep herself updated on where and when an upcoming typhoon will likely hit hard. :-/

Hooey!

2006-12-08T17:28:00.000+09:00

There's no point thinking
About the things that should have been in place
About the situations that should have happened
About your life that should have been...what?

There's no point living in a dream
For it will only break your heart
Each time you come back to your own self
To your real world full of wishes.

There's no point wishing
Because it will never come true
You wish and then you wait, and wait
But frustration is only what you get in the end.

There's no point arguing
That some things can be changed
Because they have grown so much roots
So deep and strong that no one or nothing could displace
Not even your faith, perhaps.

There's no point writing this piece
And going all the way to completing it
Because this is just pure nonsense
Gibberish, if I may call it.

And there's no point asking me
Why on earth have I thought of posting it here
Because there's no point answering such queries
For I might just utter out-of-this-world things.

Ahh, what a pointless piece of crap!
Sorry for your time
Hope you come back again
I promise to give you something worth your click! ;)

The joys of teaching

2006-11-25T18:22:00.000+09:00

What else could be better than hearing your students say these things ...

"I enjoyed your lesson."
"I had fun today."
"I've learned so many things today."
And nothing could even beat my happiness to hear them utter these little compliments without having to ask them the question, "How was your class?" (note: another person usually asks the question, not me).

Sometimes, I also receive heartwarming salutations from my students like,

"I've been looking forward to this lesson."
"I always look forward to your lessons."
Isn't that great? Hearing such lovely expressions from those who depend on you for their language learning makes me feel warm and comfy inside, despite the brrrr-y cold weather.

It's true. There is joy in teaching, and this is something that I will treasure as part of my (rather short) life in Japan. ;)

A bit of frustration

2006-11-16T23:26:00.000+09:00

I've just spent more than what I've earned for the day. Isn't that frustrating? :(

And isn't it more frustrating to realise that the more we try to cut back, it seems that the more we spend. Why is that so? Cutting back is our only way to save a few bucks so that we'll have enough bread for our Hokkaido escapade. Our monthly budget is already tight that sometimes I really feel frustrated because I can't buy the thing/s I wanted to have. :(

I've used the word "frustrating" in every paragraph in this post. I guess, that's how I really feel today. Hope you don't feel that way after reading my post.

Better days, where are you?

A worried mom I am

2006-11-16T17:29:00.000+09:00

Oh boy, I've never been worried like this before. Worried and nervous.

My son is sick. What seems to be like an ordinary cough-and-colds tandem isn't ordinary at all. He had this before but it normally lasted for 2-3 days, sometimes even without perfecting his medicines. This time is a little different. He has been sick since Sunday, and worse, has on-and-off fever, reaching as high as 39.9C. Everytime I take his temp, I couple it with my fervent prayer not to exceed 40, for if that happens, I would surely scream in panic and anxiety. Just like any other sick kid, he's cranky and hard to please. He wants me to hold him while he's asleep, and so I did -- every night. I wrap him with layers of fleece blanket to avoid chilling (I could feel his legs shaking) and let him perspire so the heat would come out and eventually reduce his fever. In the morning till mid-afternoon, he seems okay, then his temp would go up again at night.

Today, the doctor took a blood sample for some tests. The process itself was short, but seemed like another ordeal to my son. He cried and screamed. And he showed me his arm where the blood sample was taken.

As of this writing, we don't know the results yet. We're still waiting for the doc's fax and call. I hope nothing serious appears in the test. And I do hope and pray that he gets well soon, so that I won't worry anymore -- and get to sleep well, too.

Remembering my ex-profs

2006-11-15T14:56:00.000+09:00

Sometimes, I remember how my life was back home. Particularly, how was my grad-student life in UP Los Banos like when I was still taking up Research and Development Management. I remember my professors who were both my mentors and tormentors as I hurdled to finish my graduate studies. (Oh, not to mention squeezing my studies into my already super-duper busy work schedule.)

I had one professor who fondly calls me "lola" (grandma in Tagalog), simply because after tracing our family history, we learned that he is my not-so-distant grandson. Imagine that!

I also had one prof -- and adviser too -- and we both worked in the same office, traveled to research institutes to conduct trainings and workshops. He was famous for his unparalleled humor, both in class and in workshops. It was from him that I have come to master a very important project planning approach. Sad to say, he'd gone ahead of us but those who love him will surely remember his jokes that made us smile in a rather boring day.

My other profs are equally worth remembering, for their own unique wits and ways of terrorism. ;) Ah, I can still vividly remember my accounting professor. Oh, boy, did I say accounting??? You see, I am not really good at numbers, and I have long admitted that. Accounting thus became my waterloo, but with my prof's diligence(read: terror ways) of teaching us how to make and interpret a balance sheet, I've eventually come to love the subject.

What more, I've learned recently (via Filipina Soul) that this same prof is a genius! He was in the news recently for developing a budget PC. Yes, a $100-worth computer set with size of a folder, as thin as a pocketbook and weighs as light as a ream of bondpaper. Well, he admitted that he is not competing with the computer giants, but his PC will cater to those who can not afford the expensive ones, and whose need for computer softwares are minimal. Let's say, his PC can be used by starters or for educating schoolchildren on the computer world. Now, this is something to be truly proud of. And, what I am more proud of is that he is my ex-prof. ;)

Hate to admit it but I am 3-unit short of my graduate requirements. In the middle of my final semester, I've decided to quit -- in the name of love. ;)

You are how you sleep

2006-11-01T15:59:00.000+09:00

All of us do sleep, that's a fact. But many of us are unaware of how we sleep, maybe because we simply ignore it. Does it matter? Yeah, I guess so, because according to a research, how a person sleeps reveals his/her personality.

The study, led by Professor Chris Idzikowski, director of the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service, has analysed six common sleeping positions, and concluded that each of these positions is linked to a particular personality type.

As I analyse my own, I guess I can be grouped with the Foetus and/or Yearner types, which the research described as:

The Foetus [fetus]: Those who curl up in the foetus position are described as tough on the outside but sensitive at heart. They may be shy when they first meet somebody, but soon relax. This is the most common sleeping position, adopted by 41% of the 1,000 people who took part in the survey. More than twice as many women as men tend to adopt this position.

The yearner (13%): People who sleep on their side with both arms out in front are said to have an open nature, but can be suspicious, cynical. They are slow to make up their minds, but once they have taken a decision, they are unlikely ever to change it.

The same study also reveals that sleeping positions have health effects. The "freefall position was good for digestion, while the starfish and soldier positions were more likely to lead to snoring and a bad night's sleep." Moreover, Professor Idzikowski said that "lying down flat means that stomach contents can more readily be worked back up into the mouth, while those who lie on their back may end up snoring and breathing less well during the night. He added that "both these postures may not necessarily awaken the sleeper but could cause a less refreshing night's sleep."

Now, it's high time for me to change my sleeping position to freefall. Don't ask why, it's pretty obvious. ;)

How about you?

Source: BBC News

5 sweet things to eat before you die

2006-10-26T20:43:00.000+09:00

I am no foodie blogger, but I do love to eat, that's for sure. In fact, I have lots of favorites, and I am just as enticed as my good friend Pasion to make a v-e-r-y short list of foods that are truly worth trying. This is actually part of Melissa's project to create a list of "top picks for things you've eaten and think that everyone should eat at least once before they die." It started last August, and I'm doing mine only now...hope not too late!

So, since I am a sweet person (wink) and definitely have a sweet tooth, I am posting here five SWEET things which I recommend for you to try munching on while you can.

Here's my list.

Haagen-dazs ice cream MACADAMIA NUT flavor -- I'm really crazy over this sweet thing, it doesn't matter if it's pricey here in Tokyo, and it doesn't matter too whatever the season is (I crave for it even during winter), I have it at least twice a week. I also don't care how much calories it contains, we only live once, and I make sure I get lots of this precious ice cream. Maybe, when I go back to Pinas, it will be cheaper there. nyahaha!

Philippines' sweet banana -- back home, we have a constant supply of banana of almost all varieties, most of the time FREE. But here in Japan, we have to buy it. Banana is a constant sight on our dining table, it is as if the meal is not complete without it. You may want to add to this other sweet tropical fruits that my country boasts of: sweet pineapple, papaya, to name a few.

Sweet spaghetti, Filipino style -- the one from Jollibee is already okay for me, but it's even yummier when home-cooked, especially so when UFC banana catsup is used for the sauce. If I get tired of the red sauce, though, I alternate on CARBONARA. I especially like its white creamy sauce with lots of flavorful bacon slices.

Tamago (egg) sushi -- I like sushi (and sashimi) a lot, and Japan's sweet tamago is best for my rumbling tummy.

chocolate -- I particularly like Meiji's macadamia nut and almond chocolate. Really good while watching a horror movie. ;)

Try any or all of these, and I'm pretty sure you'll wear a sweet smile on your face.

Happy eating!

And the decision is...

2006-10-10T13:15:00.000+09:00

After a sleepless night of thinking and re-thinking, we have finally made a decision. Yep, it's a GO! WE ARE GOING TO HOKKAIDO and KANSAI for our holiday galore.

The decision came a bit hard moneywise, coz you know, we had just recently bought a camera, and that already ate up much of our "savings." But, who cares, this is our ONLY chance to go see some of Japan's beautiful places, aside from Tokyo where we are right now.

Oh, I could not contain my excitement. Oops, I think I hear myself singing ....

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas.
Just like the one I long to have ...

To go or not to go...

2006-10-09T23:26:00.000+09:00

It's hard to decide, especially so when it concerns much dough in exchange for a little pleasure of visiting a place entirely new to you, and experiencing the thing you have long longed for. Typical Filipino attitude.

To go or not to go. Yeah, that's where we are now. We have to make a choice, and we are only given one day (and that's only a few hours away at the time of this writing) to think it over and decide. And once we have made our choice, there's no turning back...and no refund!

The offer is extremely good and superbly enticing (redundances are for emphasis), almost saying YES right away. But on the second thought (and third, fourth...nth), my whole self is somehow split and want to both say yes and no.

Okay, I'll make it clearer to you. And, maybe you could help us decide (if it's not yet too late). We are offered to spend a week during the holidays in Hokkaido, and then in Kansai area. Heaven knows how I've been wanting to go and see these places. PLUS, the fact that I'm gonna FINALLY ride the shinkansen. Another PLUS, we have a friend who is willing to accommodate us in his house during our stay in Hokkaido -- and be our tour guide, too! Strolling and going to places would not be a problem at all in the company of our good friend.

Now, here lies the little problem. Money. Dough. Hard-earned bread. For typical Japanese, this would not be a hard decision at all, for they love traveling, AND they really spend for it. But ours is a different case. We love to go, that's for sure, but the expected expenses are way beyond our budget. I am already computing for my earnings from now till December, and won't be enough still. How I wish heaven will open its door for me to have more job opportunities so it can add up to my earnings till December. ;)

So, the decision .... I'd really, really want to go, but...

I'll let you know tomorrow!

Something to ponder on

2006-09-20T09:05:00.000+09:00

Hear ye, oh dear parents out there! Here's a little note for you to reflect on what kind of behavioral environment your children (you want them to) live with.

Children Learn What They Live
by Dorothy L. Nolte

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, thely learn to be shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn what envy is.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.

If children live with tolerance, they learn to be patient.
If children live with encouragement, they learn to be confident.
If children live with praise, they learn to appreciate.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to find love in the world.
If children live with recognition, they learn to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn to be generous.

If children live with honesty and fairness,
they learn what truth and justice are.
If children live with security,
they learn to have faith in themselves and in those around them.
If children live with friendliness,
they learn that the world is a nice place in which to live.
If children live with serenity,
they learn to have peace of mind.

With what are your children living?

Again, let's ask ourselves, "with what are our children living?"

What we teach them will largely shape their thinking and attitude. If all children live with good environment, then, we'll surely have peace that we all aim for our society. When will that be? Only heaven knows. But as parents, we can start in our home, can't we?

Peace and happiness to all!

Source: Chicken Soup for the Soul (yep, we bought a copy, pikit-mata)

Pinoy nurses and caregivers bound for Japan

2006-09-14T00:54:00.000+09:00

And so the reports say so. Starting next April, Japan will accept 400 nurses and 600 caregivers from the Philippines under the bilateral free-trade agreement, which was signed over the weekend.

The offer seems luxurious, but the entry level is tight. Japan requires that

Nurses and caregivers will have to pass exams in Japanese to be certified to work here.

According to the (Japanese health) ministry, Filipinos who want to work in these professions will be required to take Japanese-language lessons for six months when they arrive. They will then undergo specialized training to work at Japanese hospitals and facilities for the elderly.

After arriving, nurses will have three years to pass the licensing exam and people who want certification to work as caregivers will be required to pass the exam within four years. People who pass the exams will be allowed to work in Japan indefinitely.

I like the phrase "work in Japan indefinitely." And I want to be optimistic that, someday, Pinoy health care professionals will fluck the land of the rising sun. But before we dream of that "someday", I'd like us to consider first the current situation. First, Japan's entry level is quite tough and strict. One can not learn the language overnight, and the time when these Filipinos "attain the same level of linguistic capability as their Jap counterparts" is largely dependent on the individual. I must say that learning Nihonggo is REALLY difficult. Believe me! I've been here for two years now and I could not even complete a sentence. My husband has been studying for three years now, almost finishing in fact, and yet his Nihonggo is still barok. Hmmm, Japan might have to think twice with its requirements. Because I am almost sure that, with the language barrier in mind, my fellow Pinoys and Pinays would really think twice in coming here and working for the Japan's largest population group -- the elderly.

Secondly, think of the competition. Japan is in need of help, no doubt about that. But it has to compete (elbow to elbow, perhaps) with other wealthy nations that can afford to offer higher salary to and eventually attain better living conditions for these Filipinos -- without any trouble in communication/language. Countries such as the US, Great Britain are a favorite, and most Filipinos can earn from these countries about US$4,000 per month. Can Japan beat that?

As I said, I want to be optimistic. Someday, Filipinos in Japan will not only be known as either Japayukis or language teachers, but also one who gives care to those who need them.

Adobo with white chocolate

2006-09-12T11:44:00.000+09:00

Adobo is no doubt the national dish of the Philippines. And there are many different ways of cooking it, and side ingredients to go with it for added flavor, aroma or look. Either you're using chicken, pork or any vegetable, you're sure to have a boost in your appetite.

Mine is just about the ordinary way of doing it, thus, the picture doesn't look extra-ordinary. The only extra in my version is the Hokkaido white chocolate bars on top, slowly melting its sweety-and-sweaty way through the meat. It's even sweetier and sweatier as it melts into your mouth. The chocolate's sweetness adds to the already flavorful pork adobo. The picture may not look so appealing (I'm still using my old digicam), but I sure feel each slow bite to the max! ;)

Happy eating! ;)

My cornflake chicken

2006-09-11T15:55:00.000+09:00

Here's my take of the crispy and tasty cornflake chicken, an idea I got from Keeping the Castle, a homemaking and housekeeping blog authored by my good friend Maricar. ;)

I plan to try other recipes, too, as I get bored sometimes with the usual dish I serve in the dining table. I am not a good cook, only a good eater. ;) But I'm on my (rather late) journey of experimenting new ways of cooking with a dream of turning an ordinary dish into a one-of-a-kind stuff that would make my family munch with great satisfaction.

Good luck to me! ;)

It's a boy!

2006-09-07T15:09:00.000+09:00

U-oh, not me. ;)

Japan's Princess Kiko gave birth to a 2558-gram healthy baby boy, Wednesday morning via a C-section in one of Tokyo's finest hospitals. Princess Kiko is the wife of Prince Akishino, younger son of Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. They have two daughters, Princess Mako and Princess Kako.

And so, the long wait is over. Or is it?

The birth of their third child has been on the spotlight since Princess Kiko's pregnancy was announced last February. It was at this time that the Japanese legislators were considering revising the Imperial House Law to allow an Imperial female member to reign. The baby is the first male heir born to the Imperial family after 41 years, the time when his own father was born. He will be the third in line to reign the Chrysanthemum throne, next to Crown Prince Naruhito (eldest son of the Emperor), and his own father.

More than the joy and delight felt by many after the great news of the birth, issues concerning the Imperial family (and Japan, in general) still linger around. Here are a few, if not all.

1. The birth of the Imperial baby boy does NOT guarantee assured succession in the (not-so-far) future. It is possible that he may be the last in line.

2. With that in mind, some believe that the succession law must be revised to allow female heirs to the throne. Currently, the 1947 law posits that only males with an emperor on their father side can ascend to the throne. If the law is revised, then Princess Aiko, only daughter of Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako, will have her chance to reign as an empress.

3. Another greater part of the Japanese population, on the other hand, wants to preserve the traditional succession as it is today. It has been a major part of the Japanese culture that largely shape what Japan is now. Preserving such customs is like paying respect to where we (the Japanese) have come from.

4. On the othe side of Japan is the more modern one, and those who belong to this kind if thinking frown with the thought that Japan is still backwards when it comes to gender equality. Is it, really? The succession law is one concrete example. Another is in the male-dominated business world, where female workers rarely assume managerial/higher positions.

As a non-Japanese, I am just trying to take in all the points raised. Neither do I agree nor disagree. Each side has its own pros and cons, and largely debatable.

This country is faced with several challenges at this time; the succession law is just one of those. But whichever way it goes, it will certainly do some sacrificial moves. Whether left or right, whether here or there, whether change or not, there will be some things that must (need to) be left behind. But I sincerely believe in Japan's innate capability to intelligently decide and take on the path it rightly wants to go.

Gambarimasu!

Click, click!

2006-09-04T15:57:00.000+09:00

Smile! You're on camera. ;)

Yesterday, we went to Akihabara after church, and here's what we brought home. ;)

The latest model of Sony digital camera, fixed-lens type but works like most SLRs, and in a high-powered resolution of 10.3megapixels. Here's the latest review from DCRP:

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1 ($999) is arguably one of the biggest revolutions in consumer digital photography in recent years. While most companies continue to pile more and more pixels into small sensors (Sony has been guilty of this too), the DSC-R1 uses a new CMOS sensor that is dramatically larger than what most cameras offer. How much larger? Find out here...

According to Sony, the DSC-R1 camera "changes your view, and your mind." Hmm, how's that possible? Stand by for the next posts...;) In the meantime, read more here.

Oh, can't wait to press the shutter and make those clicks here and there. Say cheeze! :)

Strange ...

2006-08-27T22:37:00.000+09:00

I don't know if some things happen by coincidence, or is there some kinda unforeseen but felt energy that lingers in the air, which makes near-impossible things completely possible.

Did it ever happen to you? Did you happen to be thinking of something, and then suddenly, that something happened right before your very eyes -- at the very moment you were thinking about it?. Well, it happened to me. And it was scary, because I was thinking of something not good.

I was going out of the train station one day. I wasn't rushing, and most people were on their normal pace too. Nobody's running. So, while I was enjoying my time (this happens very rarely), I had the chance to observe the place that I frequent. I was looking at a banner ad in front of me while walking down the stairs. Then, suddenly I thought to myself, "What if I tripped off the stairs just because I wasn't paying particular attention to where I was walking at?" Then, at that very moment, a woman a few feet to my left, suddenly fell off the stairs and rolled down until she got to the first landing. Her son came rushing to her shouting, "Okasan, dijoubu desu ka?" (Mother, are you okay?) After a few seconds, I managed to get near her and asked the same question if she's all right. She said yes while gaining her composure back, and shaking some dirt off her pants. As they sailed away, I could hear her telling her son how scared she was while at that scariest trip down the stairs.

Little did the woman know that I was more than scared with what I had just witnessed. She had not the slightest idea about my dirty little secret. And it led me to think that it was my fault. It was I to blame, I guess. Had I not thought of that silly idea, she wouldn't have that fast trip down the stairs.

After that, I got scared of thinking anything out-of-this-world. My mind could go a long, long way, but I am just as frightened as the woman where my thinking would lead me. Either for better or worse.

Right now, I am not thinking of anything. ;)

A visit to Yokohama

2006-08-15T15:14:00.000+09:00

We've always wanted to visit Yokohama, a city outside of, but almost equally glamorous and promising as Tokyo. Last Friday was our chance. ;) It's not that far from our place, although one has to be prepared to spend for train fare.

We got to Minato Mirai 21 at around 2pm, and right after getting off the train, and out of the station, we were welcomed by a fresh scenery and cool sights that made us more excited. From the veranda of the Queen's Square, the giant Ferris Wheel first caught our hungry eyes. We took a momentary halt at the bench while planning on how to go about our unplanned yet most awaited visit to Yokohama. At first, the ambience seems to look like a replica of Odaiba, with all the fantasy rides decorating the area, and the vast and uniquely-designed skyscrapers that seem intertwined and filling our eyes with awe. But there is more to discover, and be delighted of.

Unique to this place is the most notable FASTEST ELEVATOR IN THE WHOLE WORLD. Yeah, I got to ride in this egg-shaped hi-tech elevator journeying up the 69th floor for only 40 SECONDS. I could not say I enjoyed the ride, for it was almost like a wink of an eye. But what lured our eyes most is the beautiful sight that welcomed us when the elevator opened at the Sky Garden of the Landmark Tower. Viewing Yokohama and Tokyo (and other places) from the tallest building of Japan (296m) was a real experience. I must admit, though, that it was a bit wozzy to look down, but I still found the courage to look at those seemingly toy cars and buildings despite my fear of heights. From the Observatory, we had a spectacle 360 degree panoramic view of up to 80 km away. Sad to say, we weren't able to see Mt. Fuji because it was a bit cloudy when we got there. Nightviewing is an equally eye-enticing, but we already went down before sunset. Those who have a very good camera would surely enjoy pressing the shutter at every angle.

We spent the rest of the day walking here and there, with our heads almost twisted from trying to catch a glimpse of everything that this unique place offers to its visitors. We finally got to the Cosmo World, and enjoyed the sight of riders shouting on top of their lungs as the roller coaster makes it signature round-up. Riding the Ferris Wheel seems romantic for couples as it moves very slowly. Loud, noisy and exciting this place is. And we just listened to those sounds on one side, and the calm and peaceful dance of the waters by the bay on the other.

Enjoy the slideshow!

Tropical fruits from Pinas

2006-07-31T15:04:00.000+09:00

Yup, these are authentic Filipino fruits, with all their authentic sweetness too. Imported here in Japan. And since they travel from island to island, prices naturally go up. What else is new with that in Tokyo eh? But I don't mind the price. (ows? really?) Philippine fruits have superior taste over other countries'. Take the case of the banana, ours is definitely more oishii than those coming from Taiwan. Also, I think Philippines is the only source of sweet pineapple that are sold here.

We have brands like Dole, Del Monte (not in the photo though), Uni Frutti, and some (ironically) not known in Pinas like the Heart of the Philippines (is this a brand name or a slogan?) and Edano (also not in photo).

So, here in Tokyo, Firippin, as Japanese call it, is not only known for japayukis and english teachers, but also of sweet tropical fruits. ;)

Goin' nuts with HD mac nut

2006-07-26T17:01:00.000+09:00

Yep, the title says it all!

I've been crazy over this specially made ice cream for some time now. Soooo yummy!!! It's simply irresistible! Everytime I go to the grocery store, I'd sneak in the ice cream section, and try to scramble at the ice cream line trying to look for the macadamia nut flavor. Normally, this particular flavor is placed at the back line as if trying to hide from me. If I find one, I (silently) scream in delight.

Guess what Haagen Dazs has to say aboout this flavorful ice cream of theirs:

Macadamia nuts are one of the richest, most flavorful nuts in the world. Häagen-Dazs selects a sweet buttery brittle made with these precious, tropical nuts and combines it with the purest vanilla ice cream.

The first time I've tasted it, I knew that I would go for more. I was craving for it even at wintertime. Now that it's excruciatingly hot here in Japan, I crave for more. The thing is -- not only the taste is heavenly, but the price is, too! I'm on a tight budget so I can only afford to have it, say, twice or thrice a week? Hmm, not bad. ;)

Have pity on the child

2006-07-21T16:15:00.000+09:00

Luke and I were strolling inside Ario one nothing-to-do-but-while-away-time afternoon. All things seemed to be in their usual course, except that I noticed a small domestic event while we were passing thru a jewelry shop.

A group of mothers were having their luxurious chit-chat time in one corner while their kids were having their own time too. Then, one mother suddenly grabbed her son shunning him away from the baby cart's Poohbear toy design he was trying to eat. This may seem normal -- I mean refraining your child to have a bite of something obviously not to be eaten. But what I couldn't really accept is the fact that the mother spanked her 3-year-old son and shouted at him furiously as she gave lectures on what not to eat (or something). The red-cheeked boy screamed loud enough to catch the attention of many.

Obviously, the boy did that thing simply out of curiousity. Yeah, it was really a wrong act to try to eat the toy, which is I think made of a hard plastic material. But this doesn't mean -- at least in my own opinion and thinking -- that the mother needed to do an award-winning act of punishing her child. The child doesn't deserve such painful reprimand. For me, it was partly the mother's fault of not fully attending to her child's activities and just enjoying her time chatting with her mother-friends.

I couldn't help but stare at the crying boy and have an unending pity on him. I still picture him in my mind even as I write this piece. My son, who is much younger than him, is like a rat trying to taste everything that he sees or grabs. And yeah, I sometimes get pissed off because of this let-me-have-a-taste-of-this attitude of young children. BUT I don't hurt him -- especially physically. I just can't.

I am not a perfect mother, and I get angry at my son too. But I couldn't do such thing for that such petty reason. I know that mothers, or parents in general, have their own way of disciplining their children. For others, what the mother did may seem right. But for me, it is the exact opposite.

I pity the child, and feel sorry for the mother. :/

Just wanna show you...

2006-07-20T01:09:00.000+09:00

So, this is my li'l darling happily sitting in his cabinet while striking a pose for the camera. The mess is not seen in this picture, coz I have already cleaned it up before pressing the shutter. ;)

If you want to know more about my toddler, visit his blogsite. ;)

Thoughts of the future

2006-07-19T13:15:00.000+09:00

Have you ever wondered how would you be like, say, 20 or 30 years from now? Apart from, of course, trying to achieve (if not yet) your goal in life.

Recently, my mind is going hizzy-dizzy about the incontestable fact that time flies sooooooooo fast, and that I'm not getting any younger. And so do you, I bet!

Whenever we talk of the future, we always talk about dreams or goals in life. Let's do away with that for a moment. Modesty aside, I have so far achieved whatever I wanted to have in life. Despite life's hardships and limited opportunities to gain material wealth, I somehow managed to feel satisfied with that I have right now. Of course, I could have wanted more, why not? But the good side of me tells me that what I have right now is just enough. Hence, my description of being "satisfied at life's abundances." While the term abundance is somewhat relative, I have always believed that whatever comes along the way, it is part of that so-called abundance in life.

Did I just say let's not talk about these things, at least for now? Anyway, so much so for those wallows of abstractions. Let's face reality, and go back to what I am trying to say here.

I am in my early 30s now and my son is still very young. By the time he gets into college, hubby and I are almost retirables. Should he pursue a medical career (which I have proudly envisioned for him to be), that would mean many more years before he could be officially called a doctor and start his bustling career. And what if he doesn't marry right away? If ever he does, by the time we'll have our first grandchild, we would be old (and hopefully not sickly) enough to take care of his little fellow. And who knows, I may not be able to make it that far. This is not being pessimistic and all that, but let's face it that it is a possibility.

This is, of course, fast-forwarding time. And as my mind goes back to the present time, I then ask myself, "What am I thinking? My son is not even able to confidently
walk by himself." I laughed at myself after a while. What an insane thought!

After this, I resolved not to think of those things anymore but try to fully enjoy the present time. Yeah, I guess that's the right attitude. My son won't be a baby forever, so I (must) treasure every moment with him while he is still as cute, lovable and huggable tiny fellow as he is now. ;) And worry not about the future, for the future can take care of itself.

Whew! Here goes another episode of my, ahh... thinking beyond? :D

Losing interest in blogging?

2006-07-13T22:29:00.000+09:00

I've been asking myself for many times why I haven't blogged for quite some time now. I still don't have definite answers as of now.

Things are piling up in my mind -- things that I wanna share with you all. But sometimes, time escapes me and could not find a good time to sit and blog. Or this is just an excuse? Probably.

I have realised that blogging is not merely writing or wanting to write about something you like to write about. It goes with it a responsibility for the readers to somehow pour out good feelings or exude positive outlook in life, especially those that are close to the blogger. With this note, I tried to be very careful (and selective) in making my posts, which, most of the time, leaves me almost nothing to write about.

I am not making any sense, anyway, so I'd better stop from here.

Luke's ordeal

2006-06-22T17:58:00.000+09:00

Yesterday, we went to the hospital for Luke's routine derma check up for his eczema. But aside from this, we also went there to see an opthalmologist and find out if there is really something wrong with his eyes.

Ever since he was small, we already noticed that his eyes' reference position is not the same, though they move in equal pace and in the same direction. By reference position, I mean that when one eye is in the middle, the other is more on the side (not far side though). You'll notice this unusual thing with his eyes only if you take a closer and winkless stare at him.

When we consulted our pedia many months ago, he told us not to worry at that time because Luke was still very small, and his eyes will probably be "normal" when he grows a little more, say, when he turns a year old.

He's more than one year old now, and his eyes are still the same as before. We went to another pedia and he said that probably, his eyes reflex against light could have been causing this unusual position of his eyes. So, to the opthal we went.

Yesterday's test was quick and easy. That is, according to the doctor. It took only about five minutes. But hearing my son's screaming and crying on top of his lungs made that five minutes like five hours to me. My heart was beating fast in the fear of not knowing what they were doing to him, coz we were made to stay outside. I almost cried with him. As a mother, I figured that Luke's screaming was due to three reasons: first, he had just fallen asleep, and doing the test to him cut short his much-needed sleep; second, when he opened his eyes, he did not see me but the doctors and assistants who are all strangers to him; and last, he doesn't want any of those things that those strangers were doing to him. It seemed like an ordeal to him. Yeah, it was. The instance he saw me (when the staff gave him back to me), he stopped yelling, but still whimpering, with face red and glistening with tears. He's all sweat too and really looked tired from crying.

Good thing is that the test showed no abnormal thing with his eyes, although there will be more tests to be done (next month). This means more crying and screaming! And sobbing and sweating hard, too! Oh, what shall I do? Shall I still subject my son to this kind of ordeal? Will he survive the tests which are all aliens to him.

Ahh, my heart breaks as I think of it. :((

Yup, I got my b-day wish!

2006-06-02T21:03:00.000+09:00

This post is especially made for those who are eager to know ... ;)

Yep, I had a very wonderful birthday last week. A million thanks to my lubby dubby who couldn't resist granting my wish. And I've proven that wishes do come true. ;) What more, I've got equally wonderful gifts too from my friends, aside from the numerous greetings from family and friends. Thanks a bunch everyone!

It was bright and sunny on my big day so Luke and I went on with our usual routine of pasyal here and there. Together with some of our mom and kid friends, Luke enjoyed playing and exercising at the Iijudokan (Children's Play Center) near our place. And oh my, he probably got tired of our "walking" that he slept for three straight hours after lunch.

Then the family had a simple yet lovely dinner at Denny's family restaurant. I was so happy that my son had much better appetite at that time grabbing the rice and macaroni-shrimp gratin, and some fries too.

My birthday wish

2006-05-26T12:11:00.000+09:00

Do wishes come true? If they do, then, I'll make a wish for myself on my coming birthday, which is a few days from now. I know, I know, I'm old enough for this wish thingie. But who knows, heaven might be good to me, eh.

I am a simple person with simple wants. So, on my birthday, I wish to have this simple thing that I could wear on my left wrist. A thing which I could hardly live without at this time. Have you made a guess?

Yep, I WANT TO HAVE A WRIST WATCH! Not just a commoner, but a Baby-G from Casio! Proudly MADE IN JAPAN. Whew! Yep,I know this is a bit pricey, but this is what I long to have for my birthday. Will someone be kind enough to make my wish come true? Calling my dear hubby .... hahaha!

Hubby already got me one before when he first came to Japan; four years ago, I think. But soon as I gave birth to my son, it got lost in some mysterious ways. I tried to look for it but my efforts were futile until I finally gave up and consoled myself that probably, "it is in good hands." (huh?)

Now that I am back in the teaching limelight, keeping track of time is very vital. Without a watch, it gives me a hard time trying to look for a clock just so I would know if I could still catch the train or the bus. And, I don't like to ALWAYS bother someone in asking, "Sumimasen. Ima, nan ji desu ka?" (What time is it now?)

Oh, can't wait for my birthday! But if no one will buy that watch for me, then I'll buy it myself. That's how I'm dead set to have it. Nyayayayay! ;)

Still silent?

2006-05-25T22:38:00.000+09:00

Almost two weeks had passed since I last posted something here. Hmmm, you might be wondering what I am up to lately that I somehow tend to forget blogging.

Honestly, my days are as usual as before, except for some hours of paid work (now that's something to blog about, but I'll tell you more about that in another entry). So, what's keeping me then? If can blog before, why can't I now? I am actually in search for a definite answer to this.

Is it because I have nothing to blog about? No. In fact, there are so many things I wanna share -- things that provide an update about us to those who wanna know how we are doing in this part of the world, and things that seem negligible and unimportant but somehow bring the much-needed laughter in our busy life or something to that effect.

Is it because of some technical problems or internet connection? Not either. I am still connected 24/7, and I still devote a huge amount of time in front of the computer, while taking care of my hyperactive little boy and at the same time trying to finish my rarely-done chores.

As I compose this, I am also trying to compose my answer. And this is my interim answer: I guess I have become a passive blogger, and a plain reader of other bloggers. Yeah, I guess that's what I am busy at -- updating myself about my blogger-friends. And I am kinda frustrated if they don't post new ones. Do they feel the same way too when they try to visit my blog and find nothing new at all? (I wonder...) Then, I randomly hop to some unknown blogsites, which I found some of them interesting and worth coming back. You see, bloghopping is not totally a waste of time because it gives me some ideas on how to improve mine content- and appearance-wise.

Yawn here and there ... I'll try to post a more interesting one next time. So, please hold on there and probably in your next visit here, you'll have a good laugh (at me!).

Silent on Mom's day?

2006-05-15T21:35:00.000+09:00

Yep, I didn't post anything here about the mom's big day on earth. I am a mother myself so I could have easily composed a post about this. But you see, words fail me this time. Few days before Mother's Day, I was already thinking of something to write about this occasion. Thoughts propped up like how is it like to be mom, profile of some sort of well known moms, or even talk about my own experience as a first time mom. I also thought of writing another letter to my mom, thinking that my first letter reached her. BUT, noticeably, I wasn't able to make up my mind...or, didn't really have that precious time to write.

"Better late than never," so goes the famous adage, so I want to make up for it.

There is one story that I have heard long ago about a mother's love and sacrifice for her son that she'd do anything just so for her infant son to live. Taken from 1 Kings 3:16-28 of the Holy Bible, the story started with two women who came before King Solomon both adamantly claiming as the mother of an infant. Each gave birth to a son but the other's baby died afterwards, and thought of a clever plan to switch her dead baby to the living one. But instinct tells the real mother that the living baby is hers.

King Solomon, wisely knowing maternal instincts, ordered that the living child be cut into two so that both could have the baby. The real mother pleaded not to kill the baby and conceded to give the baby to the other woman. But the pretending woman was firm in saying, "Neither of us will have the baby, so him cut into two." Right away, the king ordered to give the living baby to the first woman for "she is the rightful mother."

Great story, isn't it? A mother will not hesitate nor think twice to do anything for her child/children. A mother's love can not be equalled. A person may be outcasted by the society because of his wrongdoings, but his mom will still be there to love and protect him.

That is a mom.

Just a simple day for us

2006-05-12T19:19:00.000+09:00

How do you celebrate a special day in your life? Party all night? Lots of guests to share your happiness with? Lots of gifts, too? Or, treat yourself to a grandeous world tour?

For us, on our wedding anniversary, we celebrated it frugally and in simple tunes. Well, no doubt that there really is so much to be joyful about as we face our 8th year of togetherness and oneness. But not celebrating it grandeously doesn't mean we're setting it aside. We are just simple people with simple wants in life and thus have also simple ways to be happy.

So, what happened on our special day? Nothing unusual. We just fed our rumbling tummy with some Jap dishes -- where else but in our fave hangout, Ario. Hubby, once again, had Omurice, but tried the curry demiglace this time, which according to him, was really good. I had a medium size of a looks-like-chicken-barbecue-but-doesn't-taste-like-chicken-barbecue dish. I won't recommend it anyway, so I didn't bother finding out the resto's name. Guess what Luke had? French fries from McDonalds. ;) After eating, we stroll around the three floors of the shopping mall just to while away our time. Afterwards, just before dark, we headed home after stopping by in the market to buy some fruits.

Simple, isn't it? No grand celebration, no candlelit dinner, no flowers nor expensive gifts, no whatsoever to call it a celebration. But I don't complain, coz I don't fancy any of these anyway. The day went by so simple, natural and ordinary. But, deep in my heart, I was so happy and contented because I spent that day with the two persons I love so dearly. And that's what matters to me most. ;)

Reasons to celebrate

2006-05-08T16:02:00.000+09:00

I have two big reasons to celebrate this cheerful month of May. First, we're turning eight years, and I'm thankful to God for having gone this far. I could not think of anything in the past seven years that I would not be thankful for. Blessings and providence come at the right time, and in the right quantity. Of all the countless blessings that we received in our marriage, the biggest and greatest one is having our firstborn, who is the joy of our life and the ultimate reason for all our hardwork.

Our marriage is not all about happy days, though. There have been many rainy days too. Ours is not spared from the tough challenges that come along the way. But I am proud to say that when the going gets tough, our love for each other gets us going -- and winning in the end. Of course, we could not have made it through those years had it not been for the continuous guidance and leading of the One who "made us one".

Secondly, I am getting a year older this month. Asking about my age is totally banned here. ;) Now, what's in store for me this year? I am not sure. One thing I am certain, though, is that I will keep of having grey hairs, and probably will start to have those unwanted lines on the forehead. Oh, no! Shall I consider doing/having those cosmetic-tsu-tsu to make me look younger? No. Definitely not. No matter how will I look in the coming days, months and years, I would be glad to accept it coz that's a piece of evidence that I am still alive! ;)

Hmm, I wonder what's hubby gonna get me on these two important days of my life? ;)

Odaiba galore

2006-05-05T16:22:00.000+09:00

Getting to Odaiba is easy by taking the Yurikamome monorail from
Shimbashi station of the JR Yamanote Line. While on board, you'll be welcomed
by the scenic beauty of this once-reclaimed area.

Picture taking just after getting off from the monorail
at the Odaiba-kaihin-koen (Odaiba Seaside Park) station.

Picnic by the beach and under the tree overlooking
the Rainbow Bridge and all other nice spots.

Hmmm, a piece of evidence of how happy we are to see this great
place with the famous Rainbow Bridge in our background.

Ever wonder what could this piece of material possibly be?
Well, Toyota says this is the CAR OF THE FUTURE.
Would you like to ride in, or probably own one?

Explore Tokyo by the sea through Tokyo Cruise Suijobus. From
here, we took the 20-minute searide to Hinode Pier.

Get charmed with the beautiful sunset...
what a nice solace to end the equally beautiful day.

Check out my gaijin blog for more stories...

Pooh from London

2006-04-23T14:11:00.000+09:00

I almost forgot to tell you about the latest addition to my collection of Pooh stuffs. Hubby got this Pooh teapot for Luke and me as a souvenir from his recent trip to the UK, more specifically to London and Canterbury.

Guess everyone knows that London is as pricey as in Tokyo. So you can just imagine how much this teapot cost that hubby bought it with eyes closed ... and thus left the teacups behind. ;)

Nevertheless, the teapot alone is already a one-of-a-kind possession for a commoner like me. In my own creative imagination, with Pooh bear, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet happily joining us in our tea time, nothing beats the soothing feeling as we sip our brisk London tea. ;)

It's Dadi's b-day today!

2006-04-21T08:53:00.000+09:00

Happy birthday, Dadi! Well, you're not getting any younger. ;) But the good side of adding one year to your age is that you're getting wiser each time. ;) Count your grey hairs, and you'll know how much wisdom you've got. ;)

Why is it that as we grow older, celebrating birthdays is no longer a thing to look forward to? I mean, no more grand celebrations, no more parties, no more crowded guests, no more big and alluring gifts. Hmm, I wonder what it would be like come my birthday next month? ;)

Dadi's spending his big day just like any normal days we have. He's not going to the lab today, and he's not working from home either. He just said that we'll spend the day at our favorite hangout, and have a sumptuous lunch together. Well, as normal as it seems, the most important thing is that we are happy on this day, together, thanking our Creator for giving him another year of blissful life.

P.S. Hey, click here for pictures and find out how Dadi's bday went.

New stuff

2006-04-20T15:49:00.000+09:00

Yesterday, before going home, Luke and I stopped by Ito Yokado (our favorite hangout). And I got him a new brown kiddy casual cap, which he likes it very much. He's all smiles when I tried it on him. I have been eyeing to buy that cap for him (a birthday present, in fact) but is a bit pricey (well, I am buying it in a shopping mall). I got it this time at my son's delight -- and mine, too, coz it's 30% off. ;)

On our way, we passed by a bag bazaar where I got myself a light grey hand bag for only 150yen. Simple and light, and the size is neither big nor small. Just right for me, and for the season. ;)

Luke and I are both happy with our new stuff. I am even happier coz we got them at a lower price. Hope there are more "best buys" around.

Strolling at Ario

2006-04-15T18:00:00.000+09:00

Ario is a newly-opened mom-and-baby-friendly shopping mall located just 5 minutes on foot from Kameari Station. Unlike in other chains of Ito Yokado (the 16th largest retail conglomerate in the world), this 3-storey shopping center is sooo Western-y. Almost all signages are in Romaji (Japanese roman script) and you can see mostly Western shops.

Except that it is more classy, Ario's overall ambience can be fairly compared to the Philippines' SM Megamall in terms of its sweet appeal to the masses. Since its opening last March, Ario is always crowded with families, mostly moms and babies/kids on weekdays, and with daddys on weekends. Once you get inside, you'll probably think that this place is a home away from home. There is really no need for the mothers to bring strollers as the mall provides cozy character-based kiddy cars. Here, Luke is proudly sitting on a Pooh bear-designed car (Ario is proud to have about 100pcs. of these in various characters). He enjoys it, as most kids do, but then later on, he got sleepy so we have to use the usual baby cart.

And oh, before I forget, Ario has an equally big foodcourt in the ground floor, and a 10 widescreen all-surround MOVIX (cinema/movie theater) at the 3rd floor. As for me, I'd rather venture on tasting what the foodcourt has to offer me than watch a 1.5-hour movie for about 2,000yen. ;)

Separation anxiety

2006-04-06T20:41:00.000+09:00

I have read for so many times about separation anxiety. I thought it was easy to handle. Coz everytime I leave my son to Dadi, he would just cry for a moment and then indulge in playing.

Last Tuesday was a different scenario. I left my son to a friend so I can go to Hello Work. I was away only for about an hour. My friend says that Luke cried for about 80% of the time I was away. She could not pacify him, no matter what she and her son did to stop him from crying. And he was crying hard, mimicking "mama, mama." The moment he saw me when I came back, he beckoned for my embrace. His face was red, eyes weary, and was sobbing, a clear indication that he really cried so hard. His embrace was so tight as if saying NEVER let me go away again. From then on, he didn't want to let go of me. He was so afraid that I might leave him again. I could not even get him to sit in the stroller anymore.

He was so tired when we arrived home, and went to sleep right away. At 3am the next morning, he woke up crying. I thought he was just hungry, but then I realised he had colds and caugh. He didn't want to eat nor drink his milk. What more for the meds?

Could it be that his sickness was triggered by his separation anxiety (aside from getting tired from roaming around the whole day)? I know it was a bit traumatic for him, and it will take some time to forget it.

That was just one hour, and it already caused him so much distress. What more if I start working, and be away the whole day? What more if he starts schooling? Will he survive the first few days of adjustment? I know he will. He is a strong boy, and he'll overcome this undesirable experience in due time. If other kids can, why can't he?

To those moms having similar problems on their kid's separation anxiety, check out a few suggestions from Baby Center. I, myself, will try to do some of those which will hopefully work for my toddler.

Where's Dadi?

2006-04-03T08:04:00.000+09:00

Last night was our first of ten nights without hubby by our side. He flew to UK for a conference. He may have arrived there by this time, after a 12-hour plane ride. We're still waiting for his call. ;)

It's not our first time to be alone, though. Hubby had a few out-of-towns before, but those were only short. But this one is a bit longer, and we miss him already. ;)

I wonder what's it like to be on the plane for half a day? It must be boring just sitting in there (occasionally standing to pee probably). Philippine-Japan plane ride is just about 4 hours, and it already is a very long journey for me. What more for the 12-hour Japan-UK ride? Ahh, I'll just wait for hubby's stories. ;)

In the meantime, Luke and I went out yesterday but it was rather a gloomy day do we didn't enjoy much. In trying to explore this place, we took a a different route, and I'm glad we didn't get lost. ;) Today, we'll probably go out for some strolling (again) and hope to explore new places/shops.

So, here it is!

2006-03-31T00:11:00.000+09:00

Yep, my new blog is up! And many of my friends have already visited it even before I could announce it to the world. Well, glad to know that ...

I know I've said before that I'm gonna have the new blog in a new home. I tried to search for other blog hosts, and tried this one, thinking that it could help me materialize what I have in mind. Sad to say, I couldn't figure out some things that I wanted to do. Oh, well, too late to find out that it's not user-friendly for a blog newbie like me.

So, back to my the old house. Blogger may not have all the features I wanted, but still, it is friendliest host I've ever known. Wow! Blogger should reward me for this! hehehe In the meantime, side by side with my Jap learning, I'll try to figure out some things that I'd like to include in my blog.

Now, you have three sites to visit everyday. ;)

GANDAs

2006-03-24T16:16:00.000+09:00

One time, out of curiousity, I made an internet search about my blogname GANDA, and try to see if it will appear in the list (if not on the top). To my surprise, it didn't, despite the more than a hundred thousand sites found by Google Search.

What is more surprising, though, is that the word GANDA has other meanings. Here are some important things I've discovered:

1. GANDA is a computer virus discovered sometime in 2003. Technically called W32.Ganda.A@mm, it is a mass-mailing worm which is believed to have originated in Sweden. The threat is low, so don't worry if you'll ever come across this virus. Read here for more info.

2. GANDA is the largest among the 43 majority ethnic groups in the country of Uganda. Ganda is interchangeably referred to the society and its language. The society is characterized by having a distinc kingdom called Buganda, the people living there are called Baganda (Muganda, singular), and their language is officially Luganda. Everything is ganda, isn't it? What more, this place is mainly agricultural where banana is the staple food, and owning a cattle is a sign of wealth. Click here and here, if you're interested to know more about this society. And oh, if you think you have a ganda ancestry, and want to know your ancestors, or even build your ganda family tree, this site will help you go through it.

3. Ganda Consultants, Ltd. is composed of consultants from New Zealand who boast of 35 years of experience in IT and investment property management More details about the company and the services offered here.

4. This is what I like most -- a Ganda Ham from Belgium. This salted ham is stored for 9 months starting on the winter season, and ripened at spring time. It is proud to contain only pork and sea salt, prepared without any artificial flavorings or colorings. It is ripened in the most natural and traditional process, thus making it not only tasty, but healthy as well. Visit Ganda Ham for some yummy recipes, too!

5. Lastly, I learned from an Indonesian guy (who is now in Japan) that ganda is a Bahasa word for "double." Coincidentally, my sign is gemini, which depicts duality. And I am known to be mabait yet mataray, malambing yet masungit, magastos yet kuripot. ;)

What else would surprise me? ;)

Happy me! ;)

2006-03-23T19:37:00.000+09:00

Just wanna say, "Hey, my sitemeter strikes at 1,111!" Wow! it's too big to believe. It's even too great to be real. But, it's real, so I have to believe! ;)

THANKS to all of you -- to my regular visitors who patiently wait for a new post each day; to my friends who visit here once in a while, whenever their time permits it; and to some unknown readers who have come across this page either by mistakenly clicking the mouse or thru bloghopping.

MORE THANKS to those who are generous to leave a commment or two, or even a tag. Ya know, I always feel excited to have new posts. But, what makes me more excited is to see what my friends/readers/visitors have to say about my posts. I always feel delighted to read those ideas in response to what I have posted.

To those who are still hesitant, I urge you to take away your shyness...speak up, and let me know if my posts have ever made you happy, angry, doubtful, sad, irritated, or whatever. It matters to me ... coz this blog is both for me and you, my dear readers. ;)

Here's hoping to hear from you soon...

New blog?

2006-03-22T19:06:00.000+09:00

Hmm, I am contemplating on opening up a new blog account which will feature mostly about Japan -- the place where we are now -- based on my personal experiences, with an added general info and helpful links on the topic/subject at hand. Who knows, one might begin to get interested in this place they call the land of the rising sun; or be moved to push through with his/her initial plans of coming over and have a taste of a delightful life here. Well, that's really my purpose -- to see Japan as a peaceful, unique and lovable place to stay (temporarily) or live in (for life) ... as I experience it myself.

You might be thinking that I love Japan more than my own country. On the contrary, no big, greener, modern, techie place will ever replace my country I call HOME. No matter where I go, I shall always go back to where my heart (and roots) is. (super drama!)

So, what's keeping me from getting started? Ahh, I'm actually more than excited to have my first post BUT I'm still in the process of locating where to host my blog. Oops, sorry for Blogger! I need a fresh template where I can work on, and have features (that B doesn't offer at the moment) that I'd like to include in my page. Besides, I already have three B accounts (though one is inactive).

So, watch out for the red-carpet opening of the JAPAN: A TASTE OF LIFE! ;)

A letter for Mama

2006-03-17T16:13:00.000+09:00

Dear Mama,

I could not sleep last night. Maybe an insomiac effect of a cup of coffee I drank for my midnight snack. Or, maybe, because I was thinking of you. You see, although you left this world to join your Creator, you still are very much with me. I see you in many of my dreams, and you are very much alive in those dreams.

As I tried to close my eyes, my mind wandered in the past. I remembered how you took care of me especially when I was sick. Yeah, I was sickly when I was in my primary school days. I was in and out of the hospital, not knowing exactly what could've caused my stomach pain. You took me to several faith healers too, hoping I get well. One time, you were feeding me rice porridge while lying on the bed. I was too weak to eat. Then suddenly, I closed my eyes making you jump in panic, carrying me outside while shouting for help. You thought I was already leaving you then. Ater a few minutes, I opened my eyes and I saw you crying, some of your tears falling on my face. You embraced me assuring yourself that I am still alive. Felt relieved, you told me, "wag mo ng gagawin yun ah!" As a mother, I know how you felt, as I am, too, a mother now having similar worries when my son is a bit sick.

Mama, do you still remember when I helped you sell bangus in the wet market? It was my first job, and I think I did well. People cramped in front of me and joyfully bought my bangus. Selling bangus was your way to get us through our daily needs. You woke up early in the morning and traveled to the next city to get the freshiest bangus, scooping bunches of cold ice with your bare hands. You would arrive home in the evening, wet and dirty, and tired but still needed to count your day's earnings. We usually say, "wow, dami pera ni mama." You would reply outright, "pera ito ng bangus." Then we'd sweepingly utter, "buti pa ang bangus, dami pera pero kami wala." You did this each day, rain or shine. Your only day off, I think, was when you get to watch an FPJ movie.

Then, my reminisce took me to a more difficult time, in my teenage days. It is still vivid in my mind how your right hand traversed in the air sending a hard lap on me rendering my cheek red from the pain, and wet from the bunch of tears that kept on falling from my weary eyes. You burst in anger, because of something I uttered in anger about your own mom. You did what a loving daughter should do. You defended your mom, even against your own daughter. A relative nearby watched me crying hard while washing my school uniform.

I also remembered how you and papa tried your very best to raise us up in good way and give us the precious education we need to have a good future. You have always told us to study hard, for in your time, education was a no-no because of the petty world war. And you were right. Education has brought us where and how we are now. I'm pretty sure you are very proud of all your four children.

I woke up this morning, my mind still set in the past. I can't take it off my mind, even if I got busy with my daily chores. So, I guess I'll write you a letter to tell you how much I miss you, without even knowing how will this get to you. Maybe, the Lord will do some magic, as the post office here could not do this for me.

Did you know that it was you who taught me to be prayerful, to lean on God for help and guidance? I could still remember when I was a bit better from my illness that we went to Manaoag church to pray to God and ask Him to take away my illness. You told me every word I needed to tell God. The Lord indeed heard my prayer coz I got well after a couple of weeks.

Then I went to college, and so my siblings, leaving you and papa alone in the house. I remember how homesickness was killing me on my first few months away from home. I think I would go home once a month till I got adjusted to my independent life. Years had passed and you asked me, "kelan ka gaga-graduate?" I graduated, and started working. After a few years of working, you asked me, "kelan ka mag-aasawa?" Then, I settled down, and after a few years, you asked me, "kelan ka magkakaanak?"

Mama, I already have a baby now and he turned one year a few weeks ago. How I'd wish you see him grow, and also the rest of your grandchildren. You may not know it, but you already have eight apos -- two from ate, four from kuya, one each from me and bunso.

I am sorry that I wasn't at your side at the time of your leaving. I was at the church then, crying the whole time, earnestly praying to God to take away your pain. I prayed the way you taught me to pray when I wanted to get rid of my illness.
I also prayed for the whole family to be strong in that trying time of our life. Little did I know that, at that time, you were already leaving, that the Lord was already answering my prayer.

I rushed home to see you for the last time. Things looked the same way when I left a few days before that. Only one thing had changed. You were already breathless. I was afraid to touch you. I was afraid to look at you. I didn't say a word. I didn't even cry at that moment. I just kept silent while seating beside your bed.

That was almost four years ago. We've moved on, Mama. In doing so, we keep with us those memories of you... memories that remind us that once in our life, we had a loving, patient and wonderful mother. And I want to have all your motherly traits so that I'd be able to raise my son in the good way you did to us.

I miss you and I love you, Mama. See you in the next life.

I miss my mom

2006-03-17T00:17:00.000+09:00

It's mama's birthday today. If she's still here with us, she'd probaby enjoy this day with her favorite spaghetti and coke. But she had already left us almost fours years ago. I am pretty sure that wherever she is right now, she's enjoying her unending days with her Creator.

Mama did not see me advance into motherhood. How I wish she did. She'd probably feel happy and proud for us at how our family has grown. She now has eight grandchildren, but she was able to hug only three of them. She also didn't get to see our new house. She had always dreamed before of making rounds of vacation among us her children. I also intended to ask her (and papa) to stay with us then, but our house was built too late for that.

I miss Mama so much. At times when I'm faced with so many problems and don't know what to do anymore, how I'd wish I could count on her advice. When taking care of my little boy becomes difficult, how I'd wish she'd tell me what to do best. I also miss her stories. Everytime I go home to visit them in the province, she'd tell me some tsismis.

Funny side of her was everytime I asked her if she had some money, she always answered "no" so I would give her some. Mama (and papa too) brought us up with the attitude to save for the future. And I imbibe that to the fullest. Any extras go directly to the savings account. I (together with my husband) intend to pass on this good attitude to my son. In fact, we have already gotten him a savings account of his own. All monetary gifts are kept safe in that account.

Mama, wherever you are now, I know you are happy for all of us. Time will come when we will see each other again. See you then...

Nothing much

2006-03-16T23:45:00.000+09:00

Hmm, guess I run out of things to say so I just tried to do something on my page's layout and background. I want it to look lively and colorful so your eyes won't get tired from reading my posts.

Do you like it? I hope you do. I could have done something more beautiful and unique than this, but my knowledge of this e-thing limits me to actualise what I have in mind. Nevertheless, I am happy with it -- at least for now.

My mind is not really in the mood for working. GTG.

Blah, blah, blah!

2006-03-14T21:41:00.000+09:00

The snow, as forecasted the other day, did not show up in this part of Japan. I was a bit frustrated to wake up yesterday morning seeing only a cloudy sky with no falling white objects from above. It was very cold though, and I had to breeze through this, armed with only my 3-layer clothing, when I went out.

******************
I was running late for my 10am appointment yesterday, so I took the bus to get me to the train station faster. Contrary to what I had expected, the bus arrived late. No matter how fast I ran (from the bus terminal to the train station), I didn't make it to the 8:58am train. To make the long story short, I arrived at the job counselling office 10:06. Add to this my lack of sense of direction for inadvertently getting on the wrong train, taking me to the opposite direction I was supposed to go. *sigh*

It wasn't the first time anyway. I mean, taking the wrong train. It happened to me many times before. Countless times, I guess. And nothing I could do but bear the consequences.

******************
I never imagined how painful it is to take care of my toddler. Yes, painful is the right word, coz I'm referring to his bites and pulling of my hair. He furiously bites me with his seven white teeth, anytime, anywhere, anyhow. His fave spot is my entire face, especially my lips. He lovingly kisses me only to give me a painful bite in the end. He does this with giggle, giving me that witty-spunky look whenever I scream in pain. Sometimes, he bites like a hungry lion, and I'm telling you, this is more tormenting than giving birth.

He pulls my hair too, with all his might, until he's able to uproot a few strands. Ouch! That's really unbearable! If I have a very good camera, I would take a shot at those hair strands struggling to get loose from his tight grip. Just this morning, while I was still sleeping, he pulled my hair again, after watching me sleep for a few minutes (according to hubby). That's his way of waking me up. Probably, that's also his way of saying, "hey, mami, I think it's time you need a good hair cut." Oh, what a painful reminder.

******************
Ok, that's all for now. Till next time. ;)

Wazz up?

2006-03-12T23:39:00.000+09:00

Hi there! Did you miss me? Rather my posts? Sorry for being silent for a week. Got busy with so many things, aside of course from my usual job of taking care of my little boy, who is now sooooooooo kulit and likot. Anyway, here are a few things I wanna share with you.

*************
Bazaar mania

Last Saturday, I went to a bazaar in Bunkyu-ku, and mind you, I looked like a "tindera sa palengke" when I got out, with a couple of bulging chintzy plastic bags on both hands. I planned to buy only small toys for my little boy, but, as it turned out, I bought not only toys, but some kitchen gadgets/accessories that I plan to collect as souvenirs (weird??).

Unlike me, who is still an amateur in this department, my friends who were pretty ready for this event brought along a really huge classy bag it could contain thrice what I had bought. Others, we saw in the area, brought a traveling bag as if going somewhere or just came out of the airport. Hmm, that gave me a good idea next time I go bazaar shopping, huh. ;)

*************
Job hunting continues

Just a few minutes ago, I emailed my application to a prospective employer, and I already received a reply. Whew! That was fast huh! I hope to have good results too!

So, my job hunting has intensified, eh. More emails, more interviews, hope to have more choices too!

*************
Snow tomorrow?

Weather forecast today says that it will snow in most parts of Japan. I thought it will never snow again, after that one-day snow delight we had before. Oh, can't wait for tomorrow!

On the rough side of it, I have an appointment tomorrow so I have to go out and oddly fight the cold weather with sniffing nostrils. Oops, no slipping, eh!

Ey, why don't I take a peek at the window to see if there are already white balls falling from the sky. I'll get back to you then ...

Me, forgetful???

2006-03-03T12:46:00.000+09:00

Oh my, oh my! Here I am again making fun of my already funny mistakes...

I think it's my "signature" to have some bloopers in any big event in my life. On my wedding day, for instance, I had lots of 'em. My favorite story is when I almost forgot to wear my wedding shoes, wearing my house slippers instead ;) I got sidetracked with the pictorials (before leaving the house) that I was already in the car when I realised that, hey, I was still wearing my slippers!

That was almost 8 years ago. Fast forward to my son's first birthday party. During the Saturday party, I forgot to serve our guests with my proudly home-made gelatin which I especially prepared for our Jap friends. Hubby reminded me about this shortly after the last batch of guests left our house. *sigh*

Before this, I also forgot to offer drinks to our guests. Imagine just eating solids without the padulas. Hay... why do I keep on forgetting some things? I was busy thinking of ways how to finish all the foods in the table.

At the Sunday party, I made sure to serve the gelatin. All foods were almost finished. I was calmly smiling when suddenly I remembered that I forgot to do two things: to have our guests sign in our guestposter, and give Luke's thank-you gift to his kid-guests. *sigh* *sigh*

Is this a sign of *** ***?

Party pics

2006-03-02T11:41:00.000+09:00

Hey guys! Glad to announce that I have already posted a bunch of pictures of the weekend party for Luke's first birthday at his blogsite. Just click on any image (below the header) and it will redirect you to Luke's flickr account where you will see all the photos there. For optimized and easy viewing, click on the link "view as slideshow" found at the right side of the page.

I am also emailing the same set of photos (organized as a powerpoint show) to some of our friends . So, if you would like to see this, please feel free to email me, and I'll gladly give in to your request.

Enjoy!

♥ post-party syndrome

2006-02-28T18:20:00.000+09:00

Bear with me, folks. I got exhausted with all the preparations for the party last weekend. I know many of you have been anxiously waiting for some kwento and pics about the party. Hay... sorry to say that until now, I haven't organized the pics yet. I had a terrible headache after the Sunday party (actually, I didn't feel good when I woke up that Sunday, but had to be strong; it's my son's big day, eh!). The party ended a little early than I expected. I should be happy to have more time cleaning up all the mess, but my headache was making me weak that I had to rest leaving the "dirty works" half-finished. There is still tomorrow, anyway.

"Tomorrow" came, and I was still feeling weak. Despite this, I tried to play with my little boy the whole day he's awake. He took a nap only in the afternoon, and that was my only time to finish all the chores left undone.

Today was an equally busy day for us. We went to the doctor for Luke's follow up consultation. Well, his rash condition is I think 10% better now. Hope to get rid all of those itchy red creatures in his body sooooooon.

So hold on there, my dear friends. Maybe in the next few days, I'll be able to gather my senses and organize my thoughts again, and then probably make a more decent post -- and with sense (unlike this one).

Promise. ;)

I am Luke's mom

2006-02-26T01:11:00.000+09:00

On this day a year ago, at 9:26 in the morning (Philippine time), I gave birth to a 3240-gram cute little boy after an about 8 hours of labor. The very moment I saw him with my own eyes, when the doctor flopped him on top of my tummy, I know that my life has changed. I'm glad my life has changed. I'm thankful my life has changed.

From that moment, I became a mother -- a dignified and perpetual role I have always been dreaming of. With Luke, that dream was realised. My journey to motherhood was almost cut short before, but with the magical hands of our Creator, everything went on smoothly after a worrisome threat to my pregnancy. My unending gratitude to the Almighty who made all things possible, even to the most impossible in man's eyes.

There is a little glitch to my motherhood though. As with other first times in life, I was not sure if I could, or would, be a good mother to him. I hope I am. I try to be a good mom. I believe that God will not give me this role if I can't be a good mom. You see, things don't come so easy and fast, and I have to learn some of these the not-so-easy way. Each day is a challenge to take and win over. Sometimes, I win, at other times, I get tired. In between these times, my patience bag gets drained, but right away refilled when my son clings on to me for love and embrace. Oh, the joys and pains of being a mother. I will not trade this for anything. It's an enchanting experience not all woman in this world will have.

I know there will be more surprises as my active toddler continues to explore life. One thing is sure. Our mom and son tandem is and will always be a celebration of God's miraculous work in my life. I am proud to have my firstborn. And I am proud that I am his mom.

Hay...

2006-02-24T09:25:00.000+09:00

Only two nights to go, and it's my son's birthday. But the Big Day starts tomorrow, and will end on Sunday. And it's only I, me and myself to do all the preparations. Whew!!! I never imagined this would be a tough job eh.

I slept at 4am this morning, and woke up 8am. I could be thankful if I had that precious 4 hours straight. But, it wasn't, unlucky me (sigh). I had a shallow sleep, I would say, for I had to check on Luke from time to time (he scratches his face everytime he moves).

So, here I am, half-awake, yawning every now and then, moving lazily, blogging on the side while taking care of my little boy. And it's so cold today huh! A very inviting atmosphere to curl up on the fleece blanket, and dream of the big party. ;)

So many things to do with so little time. Oh, how I wish this day would be longer by 24 hours so I'd be able to finish everything, and get a good sleep.

Till then! Dozing off ...

B-day wish for my son

2006-02-20T12:26:00.000+09:00

Luke's turning ONE this coming Sunday. As he ventures towards his toddlerhood, many things will definitely change. He'll leave baby-like things behind as he starts to show and imbibe qualities of a learning-to-be-independent little boy. He'll be wearing new and different behavioral clothings, which will largely influence how good man he will be like in the future.

One of the many things I hope he'll wear off as he starts his toddler journey is his itchy-bitsy rashes. He was only about 3 months old when these unsightly tiny creatures popped up on his face, and got worse (spread to his whole body) when we arrived in Tokyo. These tiny red bums keep on coming back and continuously irritating him, for reasons uncertain till now. Maybe he's allergic to some foods, maybe to house mites and dust. Maybe the general environment here. For fear that his rashes might get worse, we tried to avoid giving him those widely-known allergens. Sad to say, these allergens are those rich in much needed nutrients for his proper and fast growth. And since he is limited to what he can eat, aside from the fact that he is so picky with foods that he eats, he hasn't gained much weight since we came back here last month. No need to worry at this time, says his pedia, coz he's still within the normal weight range. Just the other night, I was scanning through his earlier pics, and I noticed that he changed a lot, physically. He got taller but a bit slimmer now. His double chin is nowhere to be found now. And, sad to say, his rashes grew bigger too, appearing in almost all large parts of his body (sigh).

That's my birthday wish for my firstborn -- to permanently get rid of those itchy, irritatingly cumbersome rashes on his face and body.

post-valentine

2006-02-16T22:27:00.000+09:00

I know, I know. It seems too late to talk about feb 14 at this time. but please... allow me to share with you what i had on that day.

It wasn't that big or grand or fabulous, but it was a very thoughtful surprise from my hubby to give me two red tulips when he arrived home that night. I felt good with that cause I didn't expect it. I was already contented to let that day pass just like any regular day.

Thanks, tart.

Anyway, hope you all had a love-ly feb 14!

L-O-V-E

2006-02-14T00:11:00.000+09:00

There are a gazillion ways to define LOVE. I have a few favorites, and I want to share with you two of these on this very lovely day.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. (1 Cor. 13:4-5 New Testament of the Holy Bible)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
(John 3:16 New Testament of the Holy Bible)

happy valentine's day!!!

A friend in Him

2006-02-13T12:54:00.000+09:00

In one of my bloghoppings, I came across this blog containing poems written by his mom. It struck me deep, and I want to share it with you.

True Friend
Alice M. Scott (August 13, 1988)
Though you search the whole world over,
Truer friend you’ll never find
Than the one whose name is Jesus,
Who is loving, who is kind.

He will never ever leave you
Or forsake you, as He said.
He will wash you white as snow
Though your sins are scarlet, red.

He will shelter and protect you
From the pain of Satan’s dart.
He will give you strength and courage
When he comes into your heart.

What you need to do is trust Him.
When he knocks, let Him come in.
By His death for you He offers
Full forgiveness for your sin.

With your eyes you will not see Him
While on earth you daily roam,
But you’ll go one day to heaven
And you'll see Him there, at Home.

I truly find solace with the thought that we have Someone who loves us so much despite our sinful behaviors, always there by our side, the truest among our true friends, gave up His own life for our sake. Most of all, the assurance that one day, we will be with Him eternally.

What a perfect example of love.

Job h[a]unting

2006-02-12T23:16:00.000+09:00

I've always thought that there are a myriad of jobs here in Japan. And yes, I believe it's true. Even for gaijins from all over the world. Yet, how come I haven't had a job since I came back here?

When I first came here in Tokyo, I landed in a good job right away. So fast as if the job had been waiting for my arrival. I did not even have a time to leisurely explore this new place before I got extremely busy with my 5-day-per-week teaching job. Busy yet enjoying it.

Now that I am back, I also intend to go back to the English language teaching limelight. But things seem to be a little different now. Prospective students remain to be just prospects. Language schools demand so many things from an interested applicant, things that mostly I don't possess right now. Other kinds of jobs, even the mundane ones, seem to be on ice.

I go to Hello Work (a government-run employment office) twice a month to search for possible jobs. This office maintains a database of companies with vacancies, and endorse you if you are interested to apply in those. Every time I go there, luck doesn't go along with me. And my bye-bye phrase is usually "Maybe I'll have luck next time." Yeah, maybe.

Hate to admit it but the problem lies with me. First, my Japanese language ability is very poor. So poor that I can't even complete a sentence! Second, my availability is only limited to weekends only, for reasons I'm sure most of you are aware of. Third, I am picky with the kind of job I want to have. I am scared to take baby sitting or house cleaning jobs. I also shun from simpler jobs like washing dishes in restos. I like jobs that require lots of brain exercises and indulging in my craft, like those in language schools, and publishing house. Given these limitations, it is quite difficult to find an employer who is willing to take me in. Though there are some job offers, but the pay is not so enticing, and workplace is quite far from my place. Really so picky, eh. I have all the rights to choose which jobs I want, anyway.

Well, my job hunting will continue to haunt me, till I get the right one for me ... in due time.

The last 20 minutes

2006-02-08T19:44:00.000+09:00

My son is now asleep. In my arms. Allowing me to compose this post with only one hand. He finally fell asleep after a tiring wrestling duo. Yes, that's right. I wrestled with my son, only to get him to sleep.

He should have been sleeping a few hours ago. Warned by his yawning, I danced him to sleep humming his favorite lullaby. But he was still fully up and wanted to play. So, I let him play with his toys scattered around the room, crawling here and there, and messing with the keyboard and mouse. After 40 minutes or so, I again soothed him to sleep, but still failed. Later, I figured that giving him milk will draw him to sleep. I patted him while drinking his milk, but after finishing only about 3/4 of it, he got up and there he went playing again. He yawned and yawned while playing. Tried to carry him again but he just resisted my swaying. Then he started rubbing his eyes, guess it was time to really put him to sleep. I tried the sway-and-hum-lullaby method again but he was irritated and continuously scratched his face. Tried my best to refrain him from doing so but holding him with a stronger grip might hurt him. So, I switched ways of holding him thinking that he would stop from further hurting his skin. But I think his desire to scratch himself was stronger than my will to restrain him, as I my patience was already getting short. Crying, eyes half closed, and scratching still, I lay him on the bed and tried to calm him down. But he cried further, scratched harder, rubbed his arms against the pillow. I picked him up again, but it didn't do any good. Put him down again, and patted while humming, and frantically giving him milk or pacifier, which he both resisted. On the verge of losing my temper, I got up and watched him ruin his face, neck and head. At this time, his face was already very red from scratching and crying. I went to the dining area, and waited what he would do after leaving him alone. After a few minutes, still crying hard, he got up, crawled down the bed, onto the floor, towards me. When he was near me, he motioned his hand asking for my embrace. What a mother like me would do but give him the embrace he needed. So, I picked him up, and he stopped crying, but sobbing. He really wanted to sleep but the itch was irritating him badly. I held his hand so as not to rub his arms against my shirt. I then thought of distracting him from that annoying itch by giving him a toy. Luckily, he held the toy and then lean his head on my shoulder. He fell asleep shortly after that, sobbing a little till faded, pacifier on his mouth and the rattle toy in his hand. Ahh, the agony was finally over.

All these happened for about 20 minutes or so. And this wrestling episode usually happens when he sleeps or wakes up at the WRONG TIME. Oh, how I wish it will always be right for his sleeping and waking times. I still need to find the right cue for this right one. Sometimes, getting him to sleep is just as easy as giving him the bottle and finishes it just in time to shut his eyes off and on the dreamland. Or, in a few cases, dance-and-pat method works better. I have yet to decifer which method is best for which situation.

Wish me luck!

My true color

2006-02-07T12:09:00.000+09:00

I took this silly test from WebTickle.com, and it says that my color is orange.

O-orange?!? Of all the colors in the world, why orange? It could have given me a little happiness if it were peach, red or brown.

But, on the second thought, the test did not say that orange is (or should be) my favorite color. It says that orange best describes my PERSONALITY. And here’s how the test describes me as an orange person:

You're a bold, confident orange. A warm, powerful color that indicates a strong, welcoming personality, orange is the mark of people who are social and extroverted by nature. Vibrant, with an upbeat attitude, you have a bright, inviting demeanor. Energetic and fun-loving, you're a real friend-magnet. Your easy charm and unassuming manner make you the sort of person people want to meet and get to know better. Well-rounded and fun to be around, you enjoy helping others, so it's no surprise that orange also symbolizes attraction. Orange is an extraordinary color — for an extraordinary person.

Wow! It took me a while to read that over and over again. In my entire life, no one (or nothing) has ever described me as such. Is this true and correct? Well, I’ll give those people who know me better a chance to speak up, either affirm (I hope) or deny (no, please!) this statement.

Whatever it is, at least this test gives me something to ponder [read: brag about]. Now, I am no longer furious about orange. In fact, I have started to like it.

My kid's party idea

2006-02-06T18:09:00.000+09:00

Guess it's hard to believe it's been a year! Well, almost. A few more days to count, and he's officially ONE YEAR OLD.

I'm talking about my firstborn, and so much has changed. Really. His enthralling and mystifying infant look at day one is now transformed into one who is so full of personality. Along with his fast development is his growing independence as he learns to crawl, sit, walk and stand (holding on to something) ... and talk. His babbling is now -- somehow -- making sense (or should I say, we, his parents, are the ones making sense). He also has learned to show emotions such as getting mad when you take something he likes. His all-time favorite is to cling onto my pajama and waggle, cry, beg till I pick him up. He wants to be where I am and do what I am doing. If I'm doing something on the computer, he'll take the keyboard and mouse. If I'm washing the dishes, he wants me to hold him with my one hand while I do the dishes with the other. Same goes when I'm cooking. He'd even attempt to turn on/off the stove ... and oh, pull the plug! Not to mention the mess in all parts of the house as he bangs, throws, clutters everything his tiny-yet-mighty hands could reach.

So, what's gonna be like on his first birthday bash? Well, I actually haven't figured out the details yet. Vaguely, I have pictured it in my mind that we're gonna have some fun and enjoyment with some friends as we nibble on some simple Pinoy dishes. And it'll be here in our super tiny house, which I hope to accommodate less than 20 guests (that's including kids, huh!).

Hey, wait! It just dawned on me that if I'm really throwing a party for my baby, then I should be moving fast ... really act fast. So, I'm off for now, coz I have to start doing the invitations.

My frustrations in life

2006-01-28T23:19:00.000+09:00

Yep, I admit I have a fair share of frustrations in life. Wanna know what are these? Here's my list.

1. I am a frustrated ballroom dancer. I could only sway a few steps of swing, cha-cha or LA walk. I had a few chances of doing some ballroom dancing back in my LB days, but I'm not contended with that. I want to learn a few more steps to last me a whole round of dance song. I used to watch (on CATV) this ballroom dance competition, and I am just amazed at how those people make their woozy moves without getting dizzy.

2. I am a frustrated concert queen. I think only a few of my friends know that I can sing. And I sing well, modesty aside. But (there is a big BUT there), I also think that my talent has already gone with the wind. I still remember the usual joke we had with my friends before that if we don't use the talent given to us, it will be taken from us. I'm afraid this is 50% true.

I had a few singing stints (naks!) back in my college days, but that's just chicken for me. I want to perform on stage with a larger audience. Ya know, I am more inspired to sing when there's a group listening to (and appreciating) my performance. Everytime I see a good singer performing, I always feel a little pain in my heart because of this frustration. I would tell myself that someday, somehow, somewhere, I'd be given a chance to do the same.

3. I am a frustrated musician. I mean, playing some musical instruments. I learned how to tap the guitar but I could hardly play a song from a songbook. Ahh, it's still very vivid in my mind how I started playing the guitar. It takes me a minute or so before I could "orchestrate" my fingers for the next note. Funny coz my housemates singing with me felt hanging in the air until I got to the next one. These same housemates saw how I improved with my guitar lessons. Then, I graduated from college, and so my guitar lessons.

I also wanted to play the piano/keyboard. I have always envied those who can run their fingers through the keyboard, and make really good music. As of now, I could only play the "happy birthday" song. No chance for a lesson, and no keyboard to play on too. There are many good brands here in Japan, but for now, don't have enough beans to buy one for myself.

Keeping my fingers crossed, I do hope -- earnestly -- that one or two of these (if not all, which is too assuming) will soon be out of this list, hence, happy ending. ;)

Just a piece of joke

2006-01-25T16:30:00.000+09:00

Oh, it's sad to belong to someone else
when the right one comes along ...

I was doing the laundry the other day when I heard this old song being played on our pc. In an instant, I remembered a friend of mine back in the Philippines who, once in her life, felt that this song was written for her.

Oh, it's sad to belong to someone else
when the right one comes along ...

Need not say the details here. Let's do away with those unwanted fishy intrigues, eh! One thing's for sure: my friend is very much happy now and enjoying every minute of her life with her beloved(s).

So, what's the joke here? Nothing if you take this seriously. But looking back, it was really some kinda joke for my friend to have thought that ...

Oh, it's sad to belong to someone else
when the right one comes along ...

Ahh, never mind this blog. Guess my insanity is up again ... nyayayay!!!

(Only) One Friend

2006-01-24T10:49:00.000+09:00

Allow me this once to post this senti yet heart-warming song, which I know all of you out there can very well relate. I believe that in this world, there is someone destined for each of us whom we call a friend. So here it goes...

One Friend
© Dan Seal

I always thought you were the best
I guess I always will
I always felt that we were blessed
And I feel that way still

Sometimes we took the hard road
But we always saw it through
If I had only one friend left
I'd want it to be you

Sometimes the world was on our side
Sometimes it wasn't fair
Sometimes it gave a helping hand
Sometimes we didn't care

'Cause when we were together
It made the dream come true
If I had only one friend left
I'd want it to be you

(Chorus)
Someone who understands me
And knows me inside out
Helps keep me together
And believes without a doubt

That I could move a mountain
With someone to tell it to
If I had only one friend left
I'd want it to be you

So, who's your friend? Go ahead, tell him/her he/she is dear to you. ;)

Ang ganda...

2006-01-23T23:55:00.000+09:00

ng background :)

Ok, enough of the snowy feeling. Back in Pinas, I almost forgot to tell you about this place where hundreds (and thousands i guess) flock to "purify" themselves and get healed.

Taken in Lucban, Quezon, in the newest tourist spot tagged as the Kamay ni Hesus Healing Church and the Grotto of Healing. It has an awesome colorful landscape, and from the top (which, by the way, I didn't make it due to downpour), you'll see the more awesome and beautiful vast creation of the Almighty. I made it only half the near-300 steps, but the sight from there was already ahh, gloriously wonderful. The truth is, I was hesitant to go up further coz it was raining then, and if caught anywhere in the middle, you'd surely be wet when you reached the ground. And it did rain -- hard. Fortunately, I was already down when it rained. Anyway, I had fun even from halfway.

Bbrrrrrrr.......

2006-01-21T21:31:00.000+09:00

Gosh, it's snow time! yipeey!!!

We woke up this morning amazed by the sight of snowfall in our window. Taking a peek at the veranda, oh my, everything is wrapped in white. The all-brown, no-leaf-at-all, seemingly dead tree near our apartment now turned into an incredibly plain white christmas tree (too late for that, though). From what used to be a bland sight outside of our sliding window, all we see is in white motif, from the roof to the road.

Finally, I get to experience what is like to be surrounded with tiny white balls falling from above. Everything is white ... and lovely. Everything seems calm and still. I just wonder -- and ponder -- at the amazing scenery.

I set foot on the snow-filled road. This is my Exhibit A for my first snow experience.

Nice one!

2006-01-12T14:58:00.000+09:00

Great smiles ... perfect match ... good color blend, comfy seating in the van on our way to the airport. Could not say more. This is one of only two nice pictures I've got with my son. And, if you haven't noticed it yet, this is my only post with a pic. :)

thanks 2005, hi 2006

2006-01-07T18:03:00.000+09:00

what's there to thank 2005 for?
so many reasons, for me
big or otherwise, yet all are great
for these are blessings from above

happy life, despite difficulties
trials were never a hindrance
but a challenge to overcome
with good heaven's constant guidance

healthy life, even as we grow older each year
illnesses shun away from us, i always pray
shelter us with Thy comforting hands
keeping us safe all year through

good providence, from the Great Provider
not so much, not lacking either
just enough for us to sustain our daily needs
and save a few silver coins for tomorrow

great new friends, Pinoys and Japs alike
helping us out despite their busy scheds
praying for us, and going out of their way
to make our Jap life a little easier

above all, a new career -- MOTHERHOOD
this is lifetime, and it's just awesome
to realise that this happens at a perfect time
long wait is over, praises to the Almighty!

for this year and beyond, i hope and pray
that blessings may pour all the more
that those who have some may share
to those who have not tasted any.

from this year on, i hope and pray
for all people in this world to unite
no more fighting, no more ill motives
let's make earth a wondrous place for us all!

Kaya mo ba 'to?

2006-01-03T11:06:00.000+09:00

Andaming tao sa NAIA nung Jan. 1. Andaming paalis na ng Pinas. As usual, mahaba ang pila, tambak ang mga bagahe, puno ang parking area, at nagkalat ang mga bata.

Nakapila kami sa may departure area para magtsek in na. Sa unahan namin ay meron isang ina, kasama ang dalawang anak nya at sandamakmak na bagahe. Yung bunso nya, siguro 2 years old pa lang, ay tahimik lang na nakaupo sa ibabaw ng mga maletang nakalagay sa pushcart. Ang nakatawag-pansin sa akin ay ang walang patid ang iyak na batang lalaki, siguro 4 o 5 years old. Hindi sya mapatahan ng kanyang ina. Nagpupumiglas nung kargahin sya. Malapit ng mapuno ang ina, ibinaba sya sa isang tabi, at daglian naman syang tumakbo papalayo, at parang humahabol sa isang taong mahal nya, na ayaw nyang iwan sa Pinas. Sa tingin ko ay sa Japan din ang punta ng mag-ina kase nagsasalita sila ng Nihonggo. May tinatawg ang bata na Tata (kung tama ang pandinig ko ha), ito siguro yung taong ayaw nyang mapawalay sa kanya, kaya't nag-iiyak ng todo. Nangingilid na ang aking mga luha sa awa ko sa bata. Ako din ay nalulungkot sa pag-alis naming ito, ngunit kelangang tibayan ang loob dahil kinakailangang gawin namin ito. Pero mas lalo akong naawa sa bata nung habulin sya ng kanyang ina, at nung inabutan ay sabay sampal sa nakakaawang pisngi ng bata. Aray ko! Parang gusto ko ding sampalin ang ina nito.

Kaya nyo bang gawin yun sa inyong anak? Ako, hindi. Ganu man ang aking lungkot, pagod, hirap at inis na nararamdaman, hinding-hindi ko magagawa yun. Hinding-hindi ko gagawin yun.

Patuloy sa pag-iyak ang bata hanggang sa makapasok sila sa loob. Hindi ko na alam ang nangyari pagkatapos nun dahil di ko na sila nakita pa sa loob.

Tadaima!

2006-01-03T10:56:00.000+09:00

We're back here in the famous land of the rising sun! Ironically, we saw the sun's glowing rays only today. It's winter time ... and I look forward to experiencing -- touching, feeling, seeing, playing with -- snow. ;)

Nakakapanibago... maraming pagbabago...pero kakayanin natin ito. Tahimik, kami-kami lang, walang inaasahang iba, walang ibang kalaro... pero masaya pa rin.

Malungkot ang Pasko?

2005-12-28T13:20:00.000+09:00

Bakit ganun?

We went home to the Philippines to celebrate Christmas with the family whom we haven't seen for quite a while -- and will NOT be seeing for the next couple of years. So, I thought, this will be a good time for more bonding and catching up. Christmas, for me, is the most important event of the year, and I always look forward to celebrating it with our families -- just like before.

But this year was a little different. On Christmas eve, we just ate some simple foods I prepared for noche buena, and then slept. My brod-in-law was with us that time just because we don't have company.

Come to think of it, this is my son's First Christmas, and he just slept all along.

Days had to pass before I could come to accept that Christmas 2005 went by just like that. Deep inside, I was telling myself, "Sana di na lang kami umuwi dito." Pangpalubag-loob ko na lang is that yes, we were alone last Christmas, but not sad -- coz at least, my hubby, son and I were together.

Next Christmas will be spent in Japan, away from our families. How will it be? Let's just wait and see.

Answered prayers

2005-12-21T16:34:00.000+09:00

Remember this? Well, I am happy now coz we finally got our booking for January. Take note, we are flying back to Tokyo on the first day of the year. Isn't that great? ;) I just hope that, this time, the flight will not be delayed or cancelled, coz it would mean a lot of yen spent on something not in our favor or delight.

Another answered prayer is that hubby finally submitted his paper for possible publication to the number 1 journal in remote sensing. It is now under review, and we hope and pray that it will be accepted. His graduation largely depends on this paper.

My son is no longer sick, thank God! He still has some rashes, though, but we manage to take care of it.

There are many small things in our daily lives that we have to thank God for. I am just blessed to think that despite life's difficulties, we are still here enjoying His abundance.

Kakaba-kaba

2005-12-07T13:55:00.000+09:00

My heart beats fast as I take on the driver's seat and hold on the steering wheel. It feels like first time. Yeah, it's my first time after so many months of not driving.

At first, I was hesitant to go out but I had to do my errands. So there I was getting out of the garage and off to the road. I was driving so carefully that it took me around 45 minutes to get to College, 20 minutes longer than my usual running time when I was still brave on the road. By brave, I mean overtaking on a (slight) blind curve, running on 30kph (3rd gear) on humps, and always (want to be) first at the intersection. I am NOT boasting about this, for this is not a very good attitude anyway. Kaskasera nga daw ako eh!

I am quite nervous to drive -- not because of my lack of driving skills, or the fact that I am driving like the first time -- but because I am driving WITHOUT LICENSE. Nyay!!! Why did I tell everyone about this? This is supposed to be secret! I hope I could count on you, my dear friends, to keep this as a secret. ;)

Ok, till here muna. Still have to drive home. :)

I want to spend NY in Pinas...

2005-12-07T13:26:00.000+09:00

I feel sad right now coz we might not be able to welcome the New Year here in Pinas.

We went to the travel agency a few days ago and all days for the first week of January are fully booked. The earliest open is on the 3rd week, which is too late for us to return to Japan. Worse scenario is that we fly back on the 30th and spend the NY in Tokyo, leaving our dear home lonely and alone on the first day of the year.

My sadness stems from the fact that I really don't know what to expect or what kind of NY celebration we shall have in a foreign place. A friend of mine once told me that NY in Tokyo is not that noisy and jubilee as compared to what we used to do here in Pinas. So, my NY's resolution then is to overcome this sadness or this pessimist attitude. I guess what is more important is not where you celebrate but with whom you celebrate this event of the year.

With that, I guess I am already 50% done with my resolution. :)

I tend to compare ...

2005-12-03T15:33:00.000+09:00

Ever since we arrived here in Pinas, a bigger part of me pushes me to compare our life here with that in Japan. Which one I like better? I don’t exactly know. Both have pros and cons. Here are some:

CAR. Here, car is a necessity as we are immobile without one; in Japan, car is a luxury for everything is reachable by train, bus or on foot. Here, walking is seen as an extreme sacrifice, but there, it is a good exercise.

Hey, good news came in just now: our good couple-friend is willing to lend us their car before they sell it. Isn’t that great? :)

READY HELP. Here, my hubby and I are not alone in taking care of the baby as well as doing house chores. Help is always abundant coming from family members who volunteer to stay here temporarily to help us. My mother-in-law, for instance, has been here days before we arrived just to make sure that our house is clean and in order. I don’t have this kind of comfort in Japan. There, no matter how hard it is, we have to make do of what we have and what we can do with so little time to do chores squeezing in between baby care routine. There are many times when I eat lunch at 4 or 5pm, or go out of the toilet half-way finished. Here, I even lavished on sleeping.

PAYING BILLS. In Japan, almost everything is automatic, including paying bills, which is mostly auto debit from your bank account. Here, you have to go to the bank or bills payment center to have your bills paid. There are a few that offer auto debit, but doing so poses more risks than goodness and comfort on your part. So, I’d rather do it manually notwithstanding the hassles that go with it.

EDUCATED OR NOT? In Japan, despite the fact that I have a university degree, I feel like I am a no-read-no-write person due to my lack of Japanese language skills. This is actually the biggest hindrance to living joyfully in Tokyo. I have to use trial and error method most of the time, be it in doing groceries, cooking Jap foods, buying other stuffs and other parts of my daily routine. Here, no one or nothing beats the easiness in shopping or going anywhere else because I know how to ask, and I could understand the probable answer.

BEST BUY. One big thing I like in Japan is that they sell only quality goods. It may be a little expensive compared to the price range here, but I am quite sure that my money is not wasted in buying something good. Here, no matter how rotten the onion is, it is still sold at the same price as when it is still fresh. Oh, and when it says SALE in Tokyo, it means SALE coz you really get discounts. Unlike here, SALE means just going back to the original price after marking up a few days before the SALE period.

JOB OPPORTUNITY. Everyone knows that seldom would you land in a good job here, no matter how many diplomas you’ve got. In Japan, as long as you have the qualifications that most Japs don’t have, you are in demand. English language skills, for instance, is a great plus. I, for one, landed easily as an English language teacher in an English conversation school, aside from doing private lessons with students who prefer to do direct transactions with the teachers. But that was last year. Now that I have a baby to take care of, I don’t have much time to work.

HOUSE. Our house here, modesty aside, is a little big – up and down, 4 rooms, family hall, 2 T&B, receiving and dining area, garage, dirty kitchen, and a surrounding garden – all fitted in a 200sq.m. lot. In Japan, we stay at a 2DK (2 rooms – one Jap and one Western style; dining and kitchen; and T&B) all squeezed into a 4x4 space. Imagine this: you open the door, and you’ll see the kitchen to your right and the T&B to the left. A few steps forward and you’ll be at one of the rooms, Jap style on the left, Western on the other side. You open the sliding door from the room, and you’ll see a very small veranda used only for hanging clothes that never see the sunlight. One advantage of small space is that it’s easy to clean; the disadvantage being less room to move around especially when you have visitors. Add to this the delight we get when that part of the world is shaken by the frightening movement down the earth.

INTERNET. Ahh, this is the thing I like best in Tokyo. There, we have 24/7 internet connection -- and it's fast! I maybe physically at home taking care of my baby, but I am also equally busy talking to family back home as well as friends around the world. Not to mention that I get to update my blogs most of the time. Unlike here that I have to go to a cafe to check my mails, just like today. And I have to hurry to go back home coz my baby might already be fuzzy at this time.

Whatever the case, I will always treasure the time we spent and will spend in these two areas. Who knows, there will be 3rd or 4th or nth ones. For now, we just have to make the best out of both worlds.

PS: Here refers to Pinas, as I am here now at the time of this post; There refers to Tokyo :)

We're here!

2005-12-02T17:36:00.000+09:00

Yes! We are now in our birthland – our dearly beloved Pinas.

We arrived in NAIA at the peak of an excruciating summer-like heat amidst a supposedly-cold Christmas season. The weather is just the extreme opposite in the land where we just came from. Early morning that day, we left Tokyo armed with layers of clothes and jackets, only to be carried around our arms or pulled along with our luggage. In fact, my son, who was wearing rather thick wool Pooh-inspired overall, could not wait till we get to the van, and aptly signaled us to change his clothes while queuing at the baggage claim counter. I, too, quickly removed my inner jacket in front of many people – an action rather unethical in Tokyo. Who cares? We are not in Tokyo, anyway! Besides, it’s so mainit noh!

Briefly... our plane travel this time is more relaxed and easier than when we flew to Tokyo last June. My son slept most of the time, and getting him to sleep was also surprisingly easy. There were intermittent turbulence along the way, but the pilot assured us that he can handle it very well, and that he told us that we are flying on a sophisticated airbus 303 plane. True enough, we landed very smoothly at the airport – and on time! Queuing was faster and few too. Hmm, I’m just glad to know that this queuing-for-life has gone better.

But what hasn’t changed a bit is the all-way-all-year-round traffic. It took us I think more than an hour to get to the expressway. Add to this the sari-saring usok that welcomed us on the road. There’s also the beggars hardly knocking the van’s window for you to notice them. Hay … I am really in Pinas!

Enough of that unwanted side of coming home. Our tummy grew hungry so off to our favorite Jollibee. As expected, we had the sweet-tasting spaghetti and cola-taste-like iced tea. Before going home, we passed by SM to buy some goodies and Luke’s stuff.

Our firsts

First time did my son get sick – and on our first night. Consequently, we didn’t have a good sleep. He was feverish and has a bad cold and cough. He already has a slight cough back in Japan, and it gets worse here probably due to the sudden change of weather/temperature from very cold to very hot. Imagine, my son hasn’t taken a bath since we arrived.

First food at home was tinolang manok. Oh, I love the sabaw with lots of green papaya slices. In Japan, we can’t afford to buy papaya for our tinola coz it is really expensive.

First time to watch telenovelas after so many months. I especially love to watch Encantadia but sad to know that it is about to end. I wanted to know how and why Perena transformed from the main antagonist to now a kind-hearted sangre longing for her daughter’s love.

Ok, that's all for now ... time for other things. :)

Ready or not?

2005-11-25T23:10:00.000+09:00

Four days to go, and we're flying home. But until now, I haven't done any preparations at all. Laundry is still piled up, have a class tomorrow, have to buy some pasalubongs, and in between these must-do-urgently things, need to start rambling our things back in the maleta. What things? That I still have to iron out in my mind.

So many things to do with so little time. I know I don't have the luxury of time, that's why I try to squeeze in a few minutes blogging, as this is equally important as finishing the laundry. :)

Anyway, just dropping by today for some checking.

To my dear Pinas, welcome us back with your warm embrace! (no bad news please)

Newfound friends

2005-11-22T23:16:00.000+09:00

I am just glad that things are slowly lighting up on us -- I mean, in terms of gaining friends around the vicinity. Remember my post about how nurses care for young children? Well, one time, Seki-san (the first nurse who came to our house) took us to the Nishi-Kameari Jidoukan (Children's Center), along with some new friends. The center itself poses a warm welcome for kids and there are lots of toys to play with. We arrived there just a few minutes before the exercises-cum-dancing-and-singing began. My son, though he is still very young to join the toddlers, enjoyed it as well. Just seeing other kids play and laugh makes my son smile, and enjoy every laughing moment with them. Just too bad that I am not "girlscout" enough to bring my camera.

Now, I'd like to talk about my newfound friends who live just a few blocks away from our apartment. Aside from Seki-san, who is a mother of 2, I met Noby (mom of 2, Pinay married to a Jap), and Yuki-san and her only daughter Erika-san.

Noby is somehow just like me when I first arrived here. She's hesitant to go out, partly because she knows only a little of Nihonggo, and partly also because it's difficult for her to tend 2 children outside of home -- always abonai (dangerous).

Yuki-san, I am surprised, knows a little Tagalog. From whom or where did she learn Tag? That, I have yet to find out. The mom and daughter are both friendly and easy to get along with. Erika-san had fun moving Luke's stroller while on our way to the children's center. Just this evening, Yuki-san came by to give me her contact numbers, just in case I need some help. And, I needed help, so I asked her to interpret a kind of mail for me. She did not only interpret it, she wrote the answers herself and volunteered to mail that piece of paper to the post office on her way home.

On the train this evening, on our way home, I also met a new friend. She offered me her seat coz she saw me standing carrying a heaveyweight baby in front and a backpack (at the back of course). She happens to live in Ayase, just one station away, and I'm just glad to know that. She gave me her contact number and she wants me to give her a call one time.

Another friend, though we haven't seen each other yet in person, was introduced to us by another friend (hubby's labmate). She lives a little far from here -- just like our other friends -- but she's willing to meet up with us sometime. She also offered help especially when it concerns our babies (she also has a son).

Hmmm... the number is increasing. Life now is not as hard and confusing as before. Having friends counts a lot in making things easier for us. :)

Pinoy culture

2005-11-17T18:31:00.000+09:00

Philippines is rather known as a worse place to live in. So much have been written, read or talked about the unending corruption and serious-about-politics-only government and the ever worsening economy, with oil price hiking every week. Many Juans and Juanas have gone out to seek for green (not greener, coz there is nothing green in Pinas anymore) pasture.

But for now, let's pause for a while. My head is aching on hearing nothing but bad-and-sad news. For life's sake, let's try to look at the brighter side. To start, here is a write up about what is truly and uniquely Pinoy -- from the eye of a foreign journalist who has immersed himself deeply into this where-else-but-in-Pinas culture. So, read on, and let's hope that this brightens up your day.

"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches" -- (Proverbs 22:1)

WHEN I arrived in the Philippines from the UK six years ago, one of the first cultural differences to strike me was names. The subject has provided a continuing source of amazement and amusement ever since.

The first unusual thing, from an English perspective, is that everyone here has a nickname. In the staid and boring United Kingdom, we have nicknames in kindergarten, but when we move into adulthood we tend, I am glad to say, to lose them.

The second thing that struck me is that Philippine names for both girls and boys tend to be what we in the UK would regard as overbearingly cutesy for anyone over about five. Fifty-five-year-olds colleague put it. Where I come from, a boy with a nickname like Boy Blue or Honey Boy would be beaten to death at school by pre-adolescent bullies, and never make it to adulthood. So, probably, would girls with names like Babes, Lovely, Precious, Peachy or Apples. Yuk, ech ech. Here, however, no one bats an eyelid. Then I noticed how many people have what I have come to call "door-bell names". These are nicknames that sound like -well, doorbells. There are millions of them. Bing, Bong, Ding, and Dong are some of the more common. They can be, and frequently are, used in even more door-bell-like combinations such as Bing-Bong, Ding-Dong, Ting-Ting, and so on. Even our newly appointed chief of police has a doorbell name Ping. None of these doorbell names exist where I come from, and hence sound unusually amusing to my untutored foreign ear. Someone once told me that one of the Bings, when asked why he was called Bing, replied, "because my brother is called Bong". Faultless logic. Dong, of course, is a particularly funny one for me, as where I come from "dong" is a slang word for well; perhaps "talong" is the best Tagalog equivalent.

Repeating names was another novelty to me, having never before encountered people with names like Len-Len, Let-Let, Mai-Mai, or Ning-Ning. The secretary I inherited on my arrival had an unusual one: Leck-Leck. Such names are then frequently further refined by using the "squared" symbol, as in Len2 or Mai2. This had me very confused for a while.

Then there is the trend for parents to stick to a theme when naming their children. This can be as simple as making them all begin with the same letter, as in Jun, Jimmy, Janice, and Joy. More imaginative parents shoot for more sophisticated forms of assonance or rhyme, as in Biboy, Boboy, Buboy, Baboy (notice the names get worse the more kids there are-best to be born early or you could end up being a Baboy). Even better, parents can create whole families of, say, desserts (Apple Pie, Cherry Pie, Honey Pie) or flowers (Rose, Daffodil, Tulip). The main advantage of such combinations is that they look great painted across your trunk if you're a cab driver. That's another thing I'd never seen before coming to Manila -- taxis with the driver's kids' names on the trunk.

Another whole eye-opening field for the foreign visitor is the phenomenon of the "composite" name. This includes names like Jejomar (for Jesus, Joseph and Mary), and the remarkable Luzviminda (for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, believe it or not). That's a bit like me being called something like "Engscowani" (for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). Between you and me, I'm glad I'm not. And how could I forget to mention the fabulous concept of the randomly inserted letter 'h'. Quite what this device is supposed to achieve, I have not yet figured out, but I think it is designed to give a touch of class to an otherwise only averagely weird name. It results in creations like Jhun, Lhenn, Ghemma, and Jhimmy. Or how about Jhun-Jhun (Jhun2)?

How boring to come from a country like the UK full of people with names like John Smith. How wonderful to come from a country where imagination and exoticism
rule the world of names. Even the towns here have weird names; my favorite is the unbelievably named town of Sexmoan (ironically close to Olongapo and Angeles). Where else in the world could that really be true? Where else in the world could the head of the Church really be called Cardinal Sin? Where else but the Philippines! Note: Philippines has a senator named Joker, and it is his legal name.

This is very true, isn't it? This explains partly why I nicknamed my firstborn "coy-coy." :)

_______
P.S. The article was passed on to me via chain email from a friend, so the source is undetermined, at least on my part. I hope I am not violating any copyright or publishing laws here.