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Rest in peace, Bonid. [caption id="attachment_1127" align="alignleft" width="432" caption="Rest in peace, Nid. "][/caption] This afternoon, I finally paid for the flu vaccines the family and Anne will have. But with a heavy...

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Not-so-Fair-Use of our family photo I first posted the above photo in my then Wordpress-hosted blogsite before I migrated to this self-hosted site. I posted this photo taken by our friends because I found this and the others too nice not...

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Please allow me to continue where I left off in yesterday's post. This time though, it will just be a narrative report  (heheh) of what happened after my dearest hubby surprised me and made me cry a river...

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Seven years into our marriage, eight years of togetherness, really, if you will count the one year we were a couple, or even fifteen years if we will consider the time we were introduced to each other,...

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What is more fun in the Philippines? At dahil uso na rin lang naman ang gumawa ng mga kung anik-anik tungkol sa hashtag na ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines, I made some myself. Dami pa kong gustong gawin pero ito lang muna:     ...

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I need a staycation!

16

Category : family, life outside work, Motherhood and parenting, musings

(I wrote this blogpost last Monday, November 21, and because I’m busy as he**, I was able to post this just now. I also thought I’d be able to accompany this post with photos taken during our EK trip, but I am not sure if ate Kara has already downloaded the photos from the digicam, so I am posting this even with the absence of the said photos.)

 

Today, Monday, I feel like holing up inside the bedroom and just resting and sleeping, and maybe playing Unblock Me in my phone for hours on end. The weekend had just ended, I know, but it was a tiring, albeit fun weekend for us as we were out of the house most of the time. Still, it was tiring, hence, the wish to just stay in bed (oh, I also got the idea from US Sec. of State Hillary Clinton. When she was asked what her dream 3-day vacation would be, she said she’d pack her bags, head home, and just stay in bed for three straight days. Now, that’s what I feel like doing!)

Anyway, I guess I don’t have a reason to complain because as I said, the weekend may have passed too quickly but we enjoyed it nevertheless. Saturday, after lunch, we headed to Enchanted Kingdom, which is, well, just a few minutes drive from our place in Sta. Rosa. When we got there, the place was teeming with kids. And teachers. And I mean, kids, because apparently, DepEd scheduled an excursion to EK. There was a group that came from Pampanga, another from Cavite, and I don’t know where else. But since that was sort of our birthday gift to our Ate Kim who takes care of Jeremy, and who is going to celebrate her 18th birthday on November 26, Bong and I decided to take care of the two kids and allowed our Ate Kim, Ate Melody and Ate Kara to queue up for the different rides. We also wanted them to enjoy their first time in EK, so just like what happened when we went to EK last year, Bong and I were suuuper duper tired at the end of the day. But this time, to ensure that the kids won’t be too tired walking, we rented a stroller for each, and that actually speeded up things. We were able to ride Up, Up and Away, the Grand Carousel, the Boulderville Express, the mini egg ferris wheel called Stone Eggs, and the kids rode the Air Pterodactyl, and the Dinosaurus. We also watched the 4D movie (where we had to pay a separate fee of P60 each). Jem also rode the bump car (called Dodgem) with dadddy.  According to Bong, Jem was telling off all the kids who bumped them. Ang sungit ng little boy ko. Haha!

For their part, the three Ates rode Anchors Away, space shuttle, Rialto, and the Flying Fiesta, aside from watching the 4D movie with us. It would have been an ultimately fun experience if the queuing time were shortened, but owing to the fact that it’s peak season, and there were a lot of guests, one had to wait for at least 30 minutes to an hour in order to ride most of the more exciting park rides like Space Shuttle, Jungle Log Jam, and Rio Grande.

Later at 7pm, we went to the Food court and settled near the stage to eat and wait for the Pupil’s show to start. We bought our food from Karate Kid, and at about 8:00 pm, the show, featuring Pupil, started. Ely Buendia, was, of course, the main attraction. The band sang about 8 songs and after that, Ely quickly left. How I wished it were Parokya on stage instead. Parokya is a friendlier band, methinks. Suplado si Ely. Hehe. Shortly after, the fireworks started. We just stayed until after the three ates could finish their Rialto ride, and then after that, we headed home.

The following morning, Ate Kara and I woke up early to attend the Parent-Child activity in her school, aptly titled “Ganito kami noon, Bakit ganito na kayo ngayon…Anak, add mo ko, chat tayo” Cheesy title, really, but the talk, which Salesian priest Fr. GC Carandang facilitated, was really worth waking up early in the morning for. He gave insights as to how the young think nowadays, and what parents can do in order to catch up. Gone are the days when parents could impose their rules and the kids won’t be able to do anything but abide by them. Kids nowadays need to be nurtured and understood, because of the many things they could turn to, if not given proper care. I am pretty confident of my relationship with Ate Kara because, well, I’d say we are good friends and she knows she can talk with me about anything, tho she also knows that I have to mother her when needed. I also don’t have qualms about kissing and hugging her, or telling her I love her even when there are other people around. Yup, I am makulit like that. And I think she knows that no matter how old she gets, I will still give those kisses and hugs spontaneously, and I will always tell her I love her til she gets tired of me. J We were done at 1pm, which meant I had to go to mass with her at 4:30 pm. Bong, the kids, and our two ates already heard mass earlier at 12 noon.

After hearing the 4:30 mass, Bong fetched me and Kara, and we headed to do some grocery shopping. I realized that the kids’ baon stash had already been depleted earlier. Panong di mauubos, e nireraid nila yung pantry and cupboards, not to mention the fridge, every now and then? We were done grocery shopping at about 8pm and we headed home after that. But my day hadn’t ended yet because I proceeded to cook giniling (menudo style) when we got home so they’d have food today.

It was already about 11pm when I finally had the chance to sit on the bed and play Unblock me on my phone as my way of relaxing. Haha! I know I was still frying my brain cells, but what the hey, that game relaxes me, really. Ate Kara thinks so, too.

 

So yeah, give me those three days and I will surely use them wisely. Sleeping, and eating, and playing games on my phone, that is. Wink

 

HK family vacay

54

Category : family, life outside work, Motherhood and parenting, musings

It was barely two months ago when my mom told me she and Papa talked about going to Hong Kong. I  thought at first she was just joking since we had just come home from our Cebu-Bohol Trip (which I was not able to blog about here). So when I saw the Cebu Pacific seat sale announcement, I immediately sent her a text message to let her know about it. She said yes, and she instructed me to book for a round trip flight for her…and 10 more! That meant she, my papa, my sister Anne, me, Daddy Bong, Ate Kara, Jeremy, Cassie, my sister Iyoy, her husband and my niece Freya would all go. Yes, you heard it right, all eleven of us were going to HK.

I was able to find a flight that would accommodate all 11 of us, and it was on October 6′s first flight out of Manila to HK (at 5:40 am!) that we left for HK. It took 2 hours to reach the HK International Airport, and another hour or so for the immigration check, and to get our bags. After that, we bought Octopus cards to be used for our trips within HK, aboard buses, MTRs, and even Star Ferry!

Before 9am, we were on our way to Tsim Sha Tsui’s Taisan Guesthouse, which is managed by Ate Yolly, a very nice Filipina who has been working in HK for the past 21 years. Where we stayed, the MTR station was a few steps away, and outside the building was the bus stop. It was also very near shopping places, (found a Bossini outlet and sports house outlet within the vicinity), and other tourist spots like the museums and the Avenue of Stars/Star Ferry station.

Although Daddy Bong and I had a hard time taking care of two overly active kids who wanted to be carried when they got tired walking (In HK, you will do a looooooooot of walking, which I didn’t mind, actually, if not for carrying Cassie), I still wanna go back to HK. Soon, I hope.

Anyway, I am posting photos, actually, which is the very reason for this so I won’t bore you with the other details of the trip. I hope the photos would do justice to the fun we had during our 4-day, 3-night stay in HK. Oh, we went home on the morning of Sunday, October 9.

As promised, here are the photos…

 

Arriving in HKIA.

Jeremy riding on the top floor of the double decker airport bus going to TST.

On our first night in HK, after a bit of rest, we went to the Victoria Harbour/Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront/clock Tower to watch A symphony of Lights, it’s a light and sound show participated in by about 40 buildings on both sides of the Harbour. It’s on every 8pm, and it’s really a sight to watch. Many tourists flock to the place.

 

Biggie Me and Mini Me hamming it up for the camera in the Avenue of the Stars.

On day 2, we started it by going to Tung Chung to board the cable car that would take us to Ngong Ping. Ngong Ping 360 as it’s called, is a 5.7 km cable car ride which gives you panoramic views of the HK International Airport, the South China Sea, and the Tian Tian Buddha. I am not particularly fond of heights so it took time getting used to it. What was nice about the experience was the cool breeze as we traversed the whole thing. It was also amazing to see other cable cars making their way to Ngong Ping. The experience was nice, tho to me, it was a bit too long. Parang saken, 2km, ok na. I’m not fond of heights, remember?

On the way to Tung Chung via the MTR.  Nakatayo lang lagi si Ate Kara. pose naman nang pose.

 

 

Jeremy and Cassie fascinated by the Citygate Musical fountain
My sister Anne and Ate Kara aboard the cable car from Tung Chung going to Ngong Ping. If I know, takot na yang dalawang yan. LOL!
Look, ma! cable car!

 

Ngong Ping babies
Mommy, Ate Kara and Freya in Ngong Ping, after the 5.7 km cable car ride

 

Cutie Cassie
copying the Tian Tian Buddha. Smile
Family photo op with the Tian Tian Buddha in the background
Forgive a nanay’s point of view, but I am pretty proud of my daughter here. Ang ganda kaya niya. hihi!
Hindi nagpatalo ang mga kulets
Bubble Fun. There were bubble machines everywhere!

 

Daddy Bong, anyare?

After Ngong Ping, we headed to Disneyland. It was pretty late already but since Disneyland closes at 11pm on weekends, we decided to proceed to Disneyland. As expected there were practically no more characters except for a few which had really long lines. But what was important was we had our photo op with Tinkerbelle who is the kids’ most fave character. To get to Disneyland from Tung Chung, we took the MTR to Sunny Bay, where we alighted for the connecting trip via MTR to Disneyland. You’d know you’re riding the Disneyland MTR because there were Disney characters everywhere inside it. It was also Haunted Halloween time so when the darkness sets in, the scary characters come out of hiding. We also witnessed the Glow-in-the-dark parade.

Finally, Disneyland! Pasensya na po sa mga cute piglets, they have a wonderful sense of humour which includes pretending to sleep during important photo ops. Wink

 

Ang konti namin, no? Wink
The kids were elated to see Tinkerbelle and immediately asked if she isn’t flying soon. Yep, they really thought this Tinkerbelle flies. Wink
Guess who got scared!
Daddy getting driving lessons from Jeremy

The following day, we brought the kids to the HK Science Museum which was a really smart move because they enjoyed themselves so much. The Museum is just a short walking distance from where we were staying in TST. The Museum is soooo big. The third floor houses the Children’s Gallery where the kids played with the bubble hoops, the slow bubble machine, and had fun at the kiddie play area.

Day 3: Ate Kara and the slow bubble exhibit at the HK Science Museum
Hindi nagpatalo si Mama and Cassie hihi!
Cassie having fun with the big bubbles
The little boy enjoying the play area with other kids

It was fun watching Jeremy and Cassie interacting with the other kids. One insight I got was that language was not a barrier for them. It didn’t matter that mine are Filipinos, and the others, Chinese, some Americans/caucasians. All it took were innocence and the ability to have pure fun. Some kids accidentally hit others but I noticed they didn’t mind. In fact, they even became instant friends, laughing and playing after being hit by the other. I wish it were the same for us, adults.

After the HK Science Museum, we went to the Victoria Peak. First, we boarded the Star Ferry at the Victoria Harbour on Tsim Sha Tsui, which took us to the Central Pier. From there, we rode the open top Bus 15C which took us to the lower terminus of The Peak Tram. There we rode the Peak Tram to the Peak Tower, then we went Madame Tussauds to see the wax figures on display.

 

Jeremy and Daddy Bong riding the Star Ferry
Riding the Peak Tram. Too bad, we don’t have a shot of the Tram. When we arrived, there were long lines to the ticket counter. Good thing we purchased ours at a discounted rate from Ate Yolly beforehand. Smile

 

With Brangelina at Madam Tussauds. Notice how my little girl embraced Angelina? Anak, I haven’t given you up for adoption, so please don’t think Angelina is your adoptive mom. LOL!
Is that you, Bella?
Einstein: weh?
Now we know why Marilyn Monroe laughed so hard.
First, a vampire, now, a pirate! Ate Kara’s choices are rather uhmmm…scary. LOL!
Jeremy finding a new mommy? oh no.
With Paul, John, Ringo and George
Caddie Daddy
Pablo Picasso and moi
Michael Jackson when he still looked like Michael Jackson. RIP, MJ!
Obama didn’t mind that I occupied his seat with Jeremy. LOL!
Hello, Astrodaddy!
People couldn’t take their eyes off Cassie who also couldn’t stop from dancing with Madonna. All throughout, the music was Lady Gaga’s Pokerface. Lady Gaga’s wax figure was just beside Madonna’s.
Couldn’t resist this one-time opportunity to have my photo taken with The Gaga. LOL!

The following day, October 9, we took the first flight via Cebu Pac out of Hong Kong at 8:25 am. From the guesthouse, we took a van to the HKIA. We were just in time for our flight!

 

Back in Manila. Wonder what’s going on in Cassie’s mind whose sleep was abruptly cut as we had to get out of the plane, retrieve our baggage, and go through immigration once again.

As I have said, the trip to HK was too short, but it was still enjoyable. Since Daddy Bong and I weren’t able to really really enjoy it, we’re hoping to go back soon, without the kids this time. We need a break, after all. When it would be, let’s just wait and see. Smile

 

————————————————————————————————————————-

Thanks to the thread Hong Kong for Dummies found in the Pinoy Exchange Forum, arranging our trip to HK was a breeze. Read everything to get acquainted with HK. The people who made that thread are geniuses, and much of the credit for arranging our itinerary goes to them. Maraming salamat po sa inyo!

 

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I am Barbie.

42

Category : family, life outside work, Motherhood and parenting, musings

One night, as we were about to sleep, Cassie just blurted out that her name was Princess. Jeremy, like a lightning, said, “I am McQueen.” Yep, that’s Lightning McQueen, the main character in the Disney movie “Cars.” Cassie, then, proceeded to tell me that her Dad is “Nater.” (Actually, Tow Mater, Lightning McQueen’s bestfriend).

I asked her who Mama was. Yup, that’s me. Dear old mama. To my utter wonderment, she blurted out  “Jollibee.” (I can actually sense you sniggering.)

Jollibee. Yeah, tell me again that Jollibee is well-loved by kids. Yadah. Yadah. Or that I should be happy I am now Jollibee, instead of a train, which was what she answered me with when asked the same question about a year or so ago. You see, my kids have this habit of either subbing your name with somebody else’s, or assigning you a different name entirely.

But let me go to back to Jollibee. How in the world she decided I was Jollibee, I don’t know. (Hoy!!! I am not as big as Jollibee, no?)

So there I was trying to get settled with the idea that I am no longer a train, but wonder of wonders, Jollibee, when Cassie suddenly decided it was time to articulate who everybody was, again.

Cassie was Princess. Jeremy, Lightning McQueen. Daddy, Nater (sic), Ate Kara, Hello Kitty. Kuya Anne, a butterfly. Tito Onid, Batman. And Mama. What about Mama? “You are Barbie, Mama.” Yes. That was Cassie’s pronouncement.

I am Barbie. I don’t care if she’s old, or if she has a neck and a pair of legs that are unusually, abnormally long. I don’t give a damn. I am Barbie. No longer a train, no longer Jollibee. I am Barbie.

 

I should buy more pasalubongs for her. *wink*

 

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Asthma’s a b*tch

28

Category : family, life outside work, Motherhood and parenting, musings

I shouldn’t be here working today.  I should be in the hospital taking care of my little boy. He’s in the hospital because of another asthma attack. Have I told you that asthma’s a b*tch? Yeah, it is, especially for my family. All my three children have it, and the mere change of weather brings a new attack. It doesn’t matter how much you illness-proof your home, how carefully you take precautionary measures,  how thoroughly you clean your house. With the proliferation of all things harmful, you’re left to wonder where else you could turn to.

Ok na nga sana kung maggagamutan na lang. Kung bibili ng gamot na iinumin, ngunguyain, inenebulize, kahit pa nga ipaligo. Ok na lang din, kasi kahit papano, we can afford to buy those sh*tty medicines. But what I really really hate is when the kids have to be hospitalized and they have to be pricked, inserted a needle, hurt… and they cry calling my name, nanginginig ang buong katawan sa takot while clinging to me thinking I would be able to protect them from those hands that are hurting them. How do you explain to them that they need those in order to get well? They’re still babies, for crying out loud! Wala naman akong magawa kundi umiyak na lang din and wish I were the one being pricked instead of them. But it doesn’t work that way. It doesn’t work that way, so when illness strikes, and the doctor tells us we have to have them confined, wala nang choice kundi magpaospital. I guess the good thing in that is I don’t have to make a choice whether to have them admitted to the hospital, or not, for lack of resources. It’s a good thing that my company has group hospitalization coverage for its employees, and their dependents, the cost of which, we, employees pay for. Mura lang din naman. But really, I don’t mind paying my monthly fees for as long as any member of the family does not get hospitalized, and we don’t have to avail of the benefits I paid for. I am hopeful, though, that tomorrow, Jeremy will finally be out of the hospital.

I am crossing my fingers. And praying. Yes, praying.

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I know I just ranted. But really, what I meant to do was ask you, who are reading this, to please pray for the kids. Our little girl Cassie, was actually just sent home with meds because even though she also has asthma, she is better and doesn’t need to stay in the hospital like Jeremy. And yes, even Ate Kara has cough and colds. Still, I ask you to pray for the three kids, that they may be healthy again. Thank you!

 

1 person likes this post.

Lost Prestige

34

Category : life outside work, musings

I was reading a blogpost by a doctor who happens to be a friend of my cousin who’s also a doctor. In it, she was reminiscing about that time when she was still filling out an application for UPCAT (University of the Philippines College Application Test) and she needed to fill in that part that asks what her first and second choice courses were.

She thought about Business Ad as her first choice course, which is a quota course, and Journalism as her second choice course, a non-quota course, and a fall back just in case she doesn’t get accepted in her first choice course.

I thought that weird since I knew Journalism to be a quota course during my time. And then it hit me. During MY time (yes, that was eons ago, unfortunately), it was not yet  BA Journalism as it’s now known. It used to be BA Communication and yes, it used to be a quota course. Then when you get into the program, and after spending a semester in the college, all you first year students line up outside the College Secretary’s office for THE Interview where you would be asked where you wanted to major in. There were four departments: Broadcast Communication, Journalism, Communication Research, and Film and Audio Visual Communication.

Heck. Thing is, I remember, during my time, people killed in order to get into the Program because well, it was a quota course and there was just too much satisfaction knowing you got into a quota course. However, I don’t know what happened because the following year, the BA Comm Program suddenly became BA (insert name of department here) effectively breaking into four courses what used to just be one. That said, the once quota course became a non-quota course. Hence, another fall-back option just in case an applicant doesn’t make the cut in her first choice course.

I was suddenly saddened. Maybe because I was once again reminded of the lost prestige. But well…who am I kidding? What prestige is there to talk about, anyway?

 

1 person likes this post.

Same Shit, Different Day

34

Category : family, life outside work, Motherhood and parenting, musings

“Ma, pagod na pagod na ko.”

Ito ang mga salitang bumungad sa akin, pagtawag ko kay Ate Kara, ang aking panganay nung isang hapon nang Huwebes. Kasalukuyang nasa opisina ako noon at nagtatrabaho, pero itinigil ko ang trabaho ko para tawagan siya dahil naramdaman kong kailangan niya nang makakausap.

Naalarma ako nang sabihin niya ito, habang umiiyak. Tinanong ko kung bakit. Binato daw siya ng chalk ng kaklase niyang lalaki habang may isinusulat siya sa pisara, bilang bahagi ng kanyang pagiging pinuno ng kanilang grupo sa sabayang pagbigkas. Third year high school si Ate Kara at bukod sa pagiging pinuno ng grupo nila, ay pangulo din siya nang kanilang klase.

Tinanong ko kung anong nangyari matapos siyang tamaan nang chalk. Umiyak daw siya dahil sa pagod at pagkapahiya, pero pinagalitan naman daw ng kanilang adviser ang buong klase. Nagsorry na rin ang kaklaseng nambato ng chalk, na nagsabi ring hindi niya sinasadyang gawin yun. Ok na rin, sa isip ko. Pero patuloy ang pagiyak niya, at naramdaman kong hindi lang siya pagod physically. Pagod na rin siya emotionally. Napipikon sa mga makukulit na kaklase, nasasaktan sa hindi pagsunod sa kanya…naiinis sa pressure na ramdam niya, at pagod na sa araw-araw na pageensayo.

Bilang nanay, I wanted to give that prick a piece of my mind. After all, nobody hurts my dearest daughter, right? Pero alam ko ring bilang nanay ay may responsibilidad akong turuan siyang rumesponde nang tama.

Sinabi ko sa kanyang ipagpalagay na lamang na ang mga kaklase niyang lalaki ay talagang kulang pa sa pang-unawa o maturity. Higit sa lahat, sinabi ko sa kanyang isipin niya ang kanyang kapatid na lalaki, si Jeremy, apat na taong gulang. Sa ngayon, napakakulit, napakalikot, napakahirap pagsabihan kung minsan ni Jeremy. Takbo dito, takbo doon, likot dito, likot doon.

Lilipas ang panahon, tatanda si Jeremy, pero halos nakasisiguro na akong isa siya sa mga magiging concern ng kanyang mga guro sa kakulitan. Sampung taon mula ngayon, maaaring mangyaring may kaklase siyang pagud na pagod bilang lider ng kanilang sabayang pagbigkas, who also happens to be the president of the class. Nagsusulat ang kaklase niyang iyon sa pisara hanggang maisipan niya, out of the blue na batuhin ito ng chalk. Iiyak ang kaklase niyang iyon, at mapapagalitan silang lahat ng kanilang guro.

Sabi ko kay Ate Kara, “Anak, isipin mo na lang na para kang naglalagay sa alkansya para sa mas maliliit mong kapatid. Sa pagpapatawad mo sa kaklase mo ngayon na nanakit sayo, we can hope that in the future, if your brother does the same to a classmate and he apologises for it, his classmate will also accept it and forgive him, and they can move on after that.” Napatawa siya, sabay sabi’ng “oo nga ano, ngayon pa lang, ang dami na niyang kalokohan.”

Matapos ito ay nakapagkwentuhan na kami nang maluwag tungkol sa maghapon niya sa klase. Hindi rin ako nagtagal sa opisina, dahil gusto kong mabuo ang kasiyahan niya. Bumili ako nang pagkaing paborito niya at umuwi na. Pagdating sa bahay, niyakap ko agad siya at hinalikan, at niyaya nang kumain. Nakangiti na siya, halatang maganda na ang mood. Sa katunaya’y naubos ang pagkaing dala ko para sa kanya.

 

Yun lang naman ang kelangan…marami pang mga ganitong tagpo ang mangyayari…same shit, different day, ika nga, pero alam kong hanggang kaya kong maging nanay sa kanilang tatlo, walang luhang hindi mapapalis, walang sugat na hindi magagamot, at walang suliraning di mapaparam.

 

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Ang sulating ito ay tanda ng aking pagsuporta sa ikatlong kaarawan ng datnet ng isa sa mga matatawag kong tunay na blogger sa mundong ito, si Lio. Kampai, Lio!

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Ika-labing tatlo

29

Category : family, musings

Lulan ng service van na magdadala sa amin pauwi ni Bong kagabi, naisipan kong buksan ang aking Facebook account gamit ang aking telepono. Ganun lang naman ang ginagawa ko para malaman kahit papaano ang nangyayari sa labas ng mundong nagkukulong sa akin sa mahigit na walong oras araw-araw mula Lunes hanggang Biyernes.

Tiningnan ko ang mga status updates ng mga kaibigan sa FB hanggang makita ko ang status update ng kapatid kong si Anne. Sinabi lang niya, “I miss you Lon, I really really miss my kuya Big Frown

 

Yun lang, hindi ko na napigilang tumulo ang luha ko. At hindi lang kaunting luha, talagang naiyak na ako. Magla-labing-tatlong taon na, Lon, nung umalis ka. Kung bakit hanggang ngayon kapag mababanggit ka o magsusulat ako tungkol sayo, hindi ko mapigilang umiyak pa rin. Sa tinagal tagal nang pagkakaiwan mo sa amin, kung bakit gustuhin ko mang hindi na malungkot, ganun pa rin, parang kahapon lang nung nangyari yun. parang nung isang gabi lang nandun ka pa sa kwarto naming mga babae. Parang nung isang araw lang, nilalaro mo pa ang isang taong gulang na si Kara. Parang nung makalawa lang, sumasakay ka ng bus para pumasok na sa paaralan bilang first year college student ng La Salle. Parang kelan lang yun, hindi tulad ng katotohanang labing-tatlong taon na pala mula nang mangyari iyon.

Sa Sabado, August 20, bibisitahin ka muli namin sa iyong kinahihimlayan. Hindi ko alam kung makikita mo kami, panonoorin kung paano ka namin ipagdasal, kung paano kaming magsasalu-salo matapos magdasal, at kung paano magkakagulo ang mga maliliit mong mga pamangkin habang kami namang mga matatanda ay nagkukuwentuhan. Sabi nga ni Anne bilang sagot sa mga nagkomento sa status update niyang iyon, ang daya lang kasi e Big Frown pagka bigay ng medal umalis na FrownPati tuloy ako nagtatampo na. Pano kasi, feeling ko, nagpakita ka sa kanya sa panaginip, samantalang sa akin, hindi. May favoritism ka ‘no? Pero siguro, yun ang paraan mo nang pagsasabing nandiyan ka pa rin at hindi magpapalimot.

Wag kang mag-alala, kahit siguro ilang taon ang magdaan, hinding hindi ka namin malilimot. Pero kasabay ng hindi paglimot, ay ang patuloy na pagkalungkot kapag nasasagi ka sa aking isip.

 

Sisinghot singhot ako. Madilim sa van habang nakatutok pa rin ang tingin ko sa cellphone na kaharap ko. Naramdaman ni Bong na sinisipon ako. Tinanong niya ako kung bakit, sinumpong raw ba ako ng allergy? Sabi ko, oo, sabay hilig ng ulo ko sa balikat niya. Binigyan niya ako ng tissue para sana maagapan ko yung sipon ko. Pero ang di niya alam, pinahid ko muna ang luha ko na parang ayaw tumigil sa pagpatak.

Oo nga, sana nga, allergy na lang iyon. Mas madali sanang gamutin, di tulad ng kirot sa puso ko habang isinusulat ko ito.

 

Ode to a friend

29

Category : musings

Nothing really prepares one for the eventuality of death…not even the years of working for an industry such as ours where the words preparedness, uncertainty, and yes, even death, are almost daily fare. Because when it hits you, you are suddenly left groping in the darkness…

Yesterday morning, at about 8:15, a friend and colleague passed away. He was brought to the hospital only last Monday, and diagnosed with Stage 4 Leukemia two days after, on Wednesday. I found out about this on Wednesday, and since then, I had been praying for a miracle because it seemed at the time, that that was our last hope since he went on coma the day before, on Tuesday. I had been praying for a miracle…after all, when almost everything seemed to have been exhausted, miracles are what you hope for…and hope is what you cling to.

Yet, even when you think the battle had been lost, there is that tiny ray of light that you keep searching for. Still, at the back of your mind, the debate goes on. Would it be easier to just accept the worst and prepare to accept defeat, or still be hopeful, searching your memory for stories of  the impossible defeating the naysayers of time. In the end, you realize it was never yours to contend with because it was not yours to decide on in the first place. After all, our lives were never ours to begin with.

Chris, my friend, might have felt what was coming…or not. He was in the prime of his life. Only 33, he had just begun his life. To many, it was a fairy tale gone awry. Promoted on the first day of July, and married on the next day to a beautiful bride, a colleague in the office. Yet before the month ended, he took a sudden turn for the worst, and in less than a week, death has claimed him.

My heart bleeds for the many things he will never get to see, or taste, or experience…like the joy of making up after a huge fight with his bride, or the happiness at knowing that their love has caused a new life to begin, or the pride at seeing his newborn…things that could have been if leukemia did not rob him of his life.

Yet, there is joy in knowing that pain no longer envelopes his being, and that he is finally free, where nothing can hurt him.

 

Still, nothing really prepares one for the eventuality of death…not even the years of working for an industry such as ours where the words preparedness, uncertainty, and yes, even death, are almost daily fare. Because when it hits you, you are suddenly left groping in the darkness…But I pray, Chris, that you are no longer in the dark…and that you will eternally be at peace where you are. In turn, I thank you for making me realise that life is such a precious commodity that no one should take for granted. Thank you, Chris, and may you rest in peace.

 

 

 

Ten Moves: sagot sa “Classroom, hindi lapis” ni Bob Ong

39

Category : musings, Work

Nabasa ko ang sinulat ni Bong Ong, isa sa mga paborito kong manunulat, kung saan sinabi niyang “Classroom, hindi lapis” ang kailangan. Nirepost kasi ito ng aking kaibigang si Lian dito.

Sinabi raw ni Bob Ong na imbes na magbigay ang mga malalaking kumpanya ng mga school supplies at kung anu anong maliliit na donasyon para masabi lang na may naibigay sila, bakit daw hindi paaralan, o kundi man, ay klasrum ang ipagawa. Kung di kaya ng isang kumpanya, maaaring magtulong ang mga kumpanya o iba pang institusyon para naman makapagpatayo ng maaayos na silid-aralan, o maipagawa ang mga nasira nang silid paaralan.

Sabi ko doon, bilang komento ko, sana marealize ni G. Ong na hindi lang klasrum ang problema ng sektor ng edukasyon. Marami sa mga bata lalo ang mga nasa urban areas na di nakapapasok ng paaralan hindi dahil walang klasrum, kundi dahil imbes na pumasok at mag-aral, napipilitan silang maghanapbuhay sa pamamagitan ng pangangalakal sa kalsada upang kahit papaano’y may makain ang kanilang pamilya kahit man lang isang beses sa isang araw. Oo, dito sa maynila, karaniwan pa rin ang mag-anak ng 10 o higit pa. Ang siste, kapag di nakapasok sa paaralan dahil walang pambaon at pamasahe, hindi na rin sila natututong bumasa at sumulat—ang dalawang pinaka mahalagang bagay upang matuto. At kapag di natutong bumasa at sumulat, bumabagsak sila. Swerte na kung sa susunod na taon ay makababalik pa sila sa pag-aaral.

Sinabi ko rin na sana mabatid ni G. Ong na marami na talagang mga kumpanya ang nagpapatayo ng hindi lang iisa kundi higit sa isa o dalawa lang na klasrum sa isang paaralan. Ang problema, hindi ito magamit dahil na rin sa lokal na pamahalaang mas piniling makialam sa funding kahit ni isang singkong duling ay wala naman silang naitulong sa pagpapatayo nito. Iyong foundation na partner namin sa pagpapatayo ng mga klasrum ay namomroblema pa rin hanggang ngayon. Tama siya, maraming pera ang mga kumpanya pero hindi sapat na may pera lang ang mga kumpanya. Para maging sustenable ang mga proyektong ito, kailangan ng shared ownership sa pagitan ng mga institusyong tumutulong, lokal na pamahalaan at ng mga komunidad kung saan ipinatayo ang mga paaralan. Dahil kung ang lokal na pamahalaan ay puro pansarling interes lamang ang aatupagin, palagay ko walang mangyayari kahit gaano pa karaming tulong ang dumating sa kanilang bayan.

Pero palagay ko, isa si G. Ong sa matutuwa sa inilunsad na proyektong pinangalanang 10 piso sa 10 buwan para sa 10 libong silid paaralan, o Ten Moves sa Ingles. Ito ay proyektong pinangungunahan ng Ayala Foundation para sa 57-75 Movement (ang campaign na naglalayong maiangat ang antas ng edukasyon at maging 75% man lang mula sa kasalukuyang 57% ang passing grade sa National Achievement Test [NAT] ng mga estudyante sa mababang paaralan.) Ang Ten Moves ay inilunsad kamakailan lamang sa CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Expo na dinaluhan ko sa SMX Convention.

Ano ang Ten Moves? Ito ay proyektong naglalayong makapangalap ng 2 milyong katao na mangangakong magbigay ng P10 bawat araw sa sampung buwan upang sa huli ay makapagpatayo ng sampung libong paaralan. Kung tutuusin, kahit tayong mga indibidwal ay maaari palang maging bahagi ng pagpapatayo ng napakaraming silid paaralan sa sampung buwan lamang. At di kailangang malaki ang ibigay natin. Kung susumahin, sa sampung buwan, P3,000 lamang ang kailangan. Sa bawat buwan, kinakailangan lamang maglaan ng P300. Parang dalawang venti starbucks frap lang ang katumbas nito. O isang dinner lamang sa di gaanong mamahaling restawran…ang daming pwedeng ilista kung tutuusin…mga bagay na kayang kaya nating i-give up kung gusto natin.

 

Kung nais tumulong, ito ang mga maaaring gawin:

1. Bank Deposit (Proceed to any BPI, BDO and UnionBank branch)
a. BPI: Ayala Foundation, Inc. / 0011-1335-41 / Ref No. D101010 + (donor’s name)
b. BDO: Ayala Foundation, Inc. / 3600-1774-21
c. UnionBank : Ayala Foundation, Inc. / 0021-0101-3065
* Please make check payable to: Bayanihang Pampaaralan / Ayala Foundation, Inc.


2. Wire Transfer (Kindly include the swiftcode with the bank details)
a. BPI Swiftcode: BOPIPHMM
b. BDO Swiftcode: BNORPHMM
c. UnionBank Swiftcode: UBPHPHMM
* For Foreign Sources:
Use BPI: Ayala Foundation, Inc. / 0014-0463-48 / BOPIPHMM / 6768 BPI Bldg.
Ayala Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas, Makati City
3. Credit Card – Donate online.
a. Visit ushare.ayalafoundation.org
b. Visit www.ayalafoundation.org


4. Donate via Text
a. GCASH: Type DONATE<space>Amount<space>MPIN<space>TEN
Send to 2882

 

Ito ay para sa nation-building dahil alam nating hindi kaya ng gobyerno ang napakalaking suliranin, lalo sa edukasyon. Mahal ko ang usaping ito dahil nais kong mayroon tayong maiwang maganda para sa mga susunod pang henerasyon, at dahil alam kong hindi kailangang gumastos nang malaki upang makatulong. Sana lang, ang mga lokal na pamahalaan at komunidad na tatanggap ng benepisyo ng proyektong ito, ay magiging handa sa pakikipagtulungan upang sa huli, lahat tayo ay makinabang.

 

3 people like this post.

Usapan bago matulog

25

Category : family, life outside work, Motherhood and parenting, musings

Bago matulog kagabi, habang nakahiga sa kama katabi ang dalawang piglets na sina Jeremy at Cassie, tinanong ako ni Jeremy kung nasan daw si Daddy (Bong).

 

Jeremy: Mama, san si daddy?

Mama (ako):  Daddy left already because you are both makulit. (At the time, Bong was taking a bath.)

Jeremy: Bakit alis si Daddy?

Mama: Kasi makulit kayo ni Cassie, you don’t want to sleep yet. If you don’t sleep yet (and it was about past 11pm already), mama will leave also.

Jeremy: Si Daddy, alis. si Mama, alis. Si ate din, alis?

Mama: Yes. Daddy, mama, and even ate will leave.

Jeremy: E pupunta na lang ako kay mommy (mommy is my mom, their lola)

Mama: You can’t leave the house. You will be left here in the house.

Cassie (my ever precocious principal): Sige, ra-run ako!

 

Ayun, hindi ko na napigilang mapahagalpak ng tawa. Yung kagustuhan kong matakot sila para matulog na, e nagbackfire bigla sa akin. Hindi ko naman kasi naisip na ilang hakbang lang at bahay na ng mga magulang ko. Hindi ko rin naisip na pinagbawalan ko silang magtatakbo dahil pag napapagod e inaatake ng hika. At ang siste, mukhang ako pa ang natakot sa gagawin nila. Mahirap pag mas matalino pa sayo ang mga anak mo. Kainaman!

3 people like this post.

© 2005-2012 Keekaye's sketches All Rights Reserved Copy Protected by Chetans WP-Copyprotect.

© 2005-2012 Keekaye's sketches All Rights Reserved Copy Protected by Chetans WP-Copyprotect.