Jolo at 14th, 14 about Jolo

My first son have way passed the kid-teen barrier… I was not worried last year on his 13th because nothing seemed much change… but then suddenly I thought i was prepared for this, him going through much adolescent changes, but I am not, between last year and now… the “transformation” seems abrupt too (or its just my imagination)… but then again, it amaze me how he handles and enjoys his changes….

This blog is intended to “freeze” this moment in this jolo’s stage. Eventually in the future, I will read this and smile… I just wish he will grow up more to be a fine gentleman. For now, these is Jolo at this stage…
1. He amazes me with his musical instincts, he can play guitar and piano without training or even a songbook/musical note.
2. He is now a choreographer to his dance group and being considered as fine leader.
3. He is now an avid book reader (ouch on my pocket)… but he have already read many great series, and is now seeking for my old classic serious books like “The Shack” and “Sophies World” (to think he got hooked to books only a year before in their school book fair)
4. He is still in rubic cubes, puzzles and magic. Mind you his rubic cube is now that pentagon shape, with 24 pcs per color.
5. Shoes and caps are his favorite collection now.
6. He is a food-picker, with only few favorites, nothing much change on this area, so I have to put him on correct diet.
7. Weights- he is now conscious about his body… well he is getting taller but not yet too lean.
8. Religion – he got so excited with the youth religious service he attended and begging to join again.
9. He is a fine artist, I suppose, he can draw and create characters. (he even “sells” his works in drafting -uhuh)
10. He can learn so many things easily by observing and watching, like pen spinning and that difficult dance steps, and that electric guitar piece.
11. He is a little “obsessed” with his hair… had to spend more time in the morning fixing it.
12. He is fun to be with, he shares funny stuff and laughs in small stuff.
13. He is not sporty… but as he claim, he is “artisty”
14. He is my fine, good, loving, funny, curious, compassionate boy who I believe will turn up to be a fine gentleman.

Letter to Baby in Tummy

Letter to Aliya when she was 7 months old… in my tummy…
Written in Boracay, April 2, 2008…

Baby,
Hi, we are here right now in Boracay. Capturing every moment of this day with you. I am so happy you’ve arrived in our life. I am grateful for your coming…. I love you… and may you become a great inspiration of love and hope and joy in our home. I am happy… but I am “dreadful” for the fear that I might fail you in the future. But know, my baby, that mommy will always try… always dream… always be strong for you and your brothers. I will do whatever I can do that i know is best. I love you and welcome soon…. Mommy.

Lean at 10, 10 about Lean

It was Lean’s Bday last March 10, and he just turned 10… We went Splash Island in Sta Rosa Laguna and had a fun-filled water-activities with cousins and family.

SO much about the fun-blog about this (I havent saved the pics yet), I just want to talk about this amazing kid Lean who happened to be our 2nd precious kid. 10 things about Lean:

1. Lean is a bubbly, funny, cute, chubby boy.
2. Lean likes food. He likes any food, and likes to explore new food (like his mom)!
3. Lean is an early-riser, even on week-ends.
4. Lean is a “heavy” sleeper, meaning, he can “drown” or “smother” you with his legs and arms while sleeping.
5. Lean likes Lego (and look-alike Lego) and has a plenty of it. He can build even while watching TV.
6. Lean dreams of being a chef, a robotic engineer, or an inventor.
7. Lean is a Big Brother to Aliya, he reads her stories and teaches her iPad games techniques, and arts.
8. Lean has a plentiful of drawings of castles and kingdom. He is fascinated on stories about knights and dragons.
9. Lean loves world history book, he has a thick book about that, and reads it when he’s bored with techi games
10.Lean is so gentle and obedient, one you can rely upon when you need a hug, a massage or even just a reassuring smile, with pat on a leg/shoulder, when mom needs one.

Today…. The Only Day…

Today….

I will treasure this day, for it is all I have.
I know that its rushing hours cannot be accumulated or stored,
like precious grain, for future use.

Aliya, Sept 7 2011, having fun dressing up princess…

Today, while I plan for and do everyday “livelihood” chores, I should not also forget to seize every moment with delight and pleasure… no matter how toxic and busy life is, there is always simple things lurking around (unnoticed) that can make us smile and feel warm… like a kid’s smile, her bouncing around, or kid’s effort to offer you slippers (and foot massage), their singing while playing in shower. Those are the moments that cannot be stored in a box, nor completely captured in a photo. Life is now. Appreciation should not be delayed! Maybe, this imight be really the only day I have….

Today Series 4/22

Pic Note: Noun or Verb?

TSP: Fun Session and Nighttime Stories with Aliya

Every night, Aliya will always have her books before sleeping. It’s what she call “istoyi-taym” She gets not just one book but several books for her to “read,” well, she just actually telling stories “bulol-bulol” from the pictures. When its time, she asks me to read for her. And that’s our finest moment! And mind you, it’s not “solemn” reading good for a sleepy child, but she likes it to be complete with all sounds and actions and mimic of voices. That’s why at the end of it (4 stories at the minimum), mommy was exhausted, and Aliya was “alive” again.

Come to think of it, i been doing it since Jolo was a kid, then with Lean, and now Aliya. It’s seems that while my kids can “graduate” from this ritual, their Mom cannot!

Well, I know, when I’ll look back at it, it’s our finest moment!

TSP: Hijaked Mama’s Attic and Found Old Toys

Aliya and I made a quest in my Mama’s attic, and looked for old toys… there are lots of them up there and my little princess just can’t contain herself, no matter how dusty and torn and old these toys are! I saw the delight in her face for every good find! It was my pleasure to introduce her to my old (few) dolls. But our great find was the old circus toy set still in a box, with only just few pieces missing. We took them down and played with it together with Kuya Lean… Ahhh… a great way to enjoy Sunday!

Do “First Time” More Often – Part 2

That was August 9, 2010 when I have finished my first list of “Do First Time More Often” and now its almost another year, and I have to update my list Part 2… I have to rake my memories, but I know there are more than enough to fill my next 101 “Firsts”. Pardon me if I start where I left-off last year….

1. Luge ride and Skyride (down the winding hill) – got a little scared, at Singapore!
2. Segway ride (I thought I can’t do it too)
3. The “Mummy” roller coaster ride at USS! weeee! really cant get enough of roller coasters
4. The CineBlast Log Ride at Sentosa Imbiah Lookout
5. Dinner at Kopitiam for 4 consecutive days, ohh Jolo, cant get enough of Tempura
6. Moment with the Merlion….
7. Quiet moment at the coach below the Singapore Flyer (while Jolo and Papi were sleeping – nice place to take a nap)
8. Walking round the Marina Bay (de-tour because of Olympic rehearsals)- that was about 2-3 kilometers! kakapagod.
9. Singapore night scene at the top of the Sky Park at Marina Bay Sands. Spectacular!
10. The China town and the Temple @ Singapore
11. Siloso beach at Sentosa island
12. Mass at Singapore Church (St Vincent de Paul)
13. Seen college friends at the airport- the only couple from college days (first time since about 15+ years)
14. New business line for Star City – Pillows! New designs, nice prospects.
15. Tried 2-day bazaar at the World Trade Center (WTC).
16. First to create business page in facebook “Pillow Me”
17. The SJS Reunion-Batch 87… many friends and classmate whom I last seen since HS graduation! Great time!
18. The Charity Marathon as celebration of my 40th birthday, 2 orphanages & 2 street-gift-giving
19. First time at Hospicio de San Jose with my auditors! Hello Liezl, Edward, Hannah, etc.
20. First time at Philippine Children’s Mission with family and auditors! They sang for us!
21. The “us” moment (with Papi) at Puerto Princesa. First time without the kids in tow.
22. Dinner at Kalui, a popular resto in Puerto Princesa
23. The unforgettable Underground River
24. The spectacular Snake Island and its beach. 1-km stretch walking with Papi.
25. Goofy photo-taking at the beach!
26. Special guest at new “Karaoke Republic” of sister Flor (seen Boots Anson Roa)
27. Experience “Karenderia Buffet” with Papi
28. The spa party experience with friends!
29. The new room, I mean, Office for Auditors!
30. A great family getaway at Amana Waterpark resorts at SJDM Bulacan (March)
31. Special guest at Summit RIdge, Seri ASia spa at Tagaytay.
32. New office for SVS… Major business decision for SVS (lots of first-time decisions here)
33. The 1st ever organized “cousinhood” adventure at Sagada, mountain province
34. Spelunking… the first time I heard the word was in February… and in April I’d already done it. It’s trekking inside the underground cave! (Sumaguing Cave)
35. Seen hanging coffins of Sagada
36. Mountain trekking at Echo Valley
37. Sunrise watching at Kilterpan Valley! Just WOW!
38. Two-hours trekking at rice terraces to see a waterfall
39. Cold swimming and underwater picture-taking at the Bomod-ok Falls
40. Night walking with Papi at the quiet small town of Sagada.
41. Surprise birthday party for DAD! 82nd! Motiff in Blue and Green!
42. Special guest at the new restaurant of sister Flor, “Mesa”
43. Beach time with Kahiwat family Phi-phi resort, Bataan (June)
44. Making sand-castle with Aliya and Lean
45. Paradise experience at Club Paradise with Papi!
46. First ever “swimming” in the beach without my feet touching the sand underneath the water. First ever in life-vest.
47. Stargazing by the beach with Papi…
48. Mountain trekking and meeting the bats! Lots of bats!
49. Snorkeling all day-long… yey! afraid to try in Puerto Princesa… now I succeed at Coron.
50. Swimming at Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoon
51. ALiya’s 3rd Birthday… first-time family bonding at MOA.
52. Joined bazaar at Robinsons
53. Divi moments with Mama and Jolo – shopping galore
54. Teambuilding for my Audit Team! (more firsts here)
More to come…. I just have to retrieve from my memory…

TSP: Missing Our Old Habit: Hilot-Paa for Jolo

He is now 13! He is now taller than me… he is so awkwardly odd and handsome… he talks slangishly weird… he laughs like his father… he is now into piano, guitar, rubix cubes and skateboard… he is into Harry Potter books doing marathon reading… he worries about his pimples…he just had his hair “relaxed”… he shuns me from his room…. he “forbids” me to look at his cellphone… but last night, he asked me to “hilot-paa”*; awesome !

*hilot-paa used to be our bedtime ritual since he was two, for him to sleep (plus his tini-smelly pillow)… massaging, (tickling actually) his foot one at a time till he gets asleep…. until we “agreed” (or rather “fought”) to halt it by his 10th birthday. it was getting difficult for me to reach his foot, and for him to do some body contortion…

Last night, I willingly (and longingly) obliged! It doesn’t matter now even I have a long queue of things to do with my tax clients, it doesn’t matter even if it will mean I will fall asleep too, it doesn’t matter even if we do major body contortion! i love it, I missed it! We both missed it!

Happy birthday! Love you, Jolo… anytime, anak…

Oh, by the way, he is still playing with his Lego… :>

Been Awhile….

It’s been awhile since I made a very personal entry in my blog… maybe because it’s been awhile since that I’m in a roller-coaster of happenings and feelings. And I really don’t know my “mood” whenever I face my blogsite, so I just refrain from it…

Well, anyway, NOW I am good! not great but good!… OR I mean I decided to be just that (anyway it’s always a decision to make)….

So, I need to be inspired and get excited and I need to count my blessings again NOW!
1. I got friends who unfailingly support and cheer me!
2. My kids are as bubbly and rewarding as ever (thanks for amusing mornings)
3. The chance to “touch” my staff’s life whom I know I can still inspire (pinaghuhugutan ko din sla ng lakas)
4. A chance to create arts and hatch ideas (gumagana pa)
5. Ice-Scramble while walking with a friend in an amusement park.
6. Fancy pizza with the same friend, talking about life, age and aging.
7. Chicharon once in a while.
8. Thriving business….
9. Bonding moment with parents and kuya
10. Good books (“uhh-ohh” by Robert Fulghum).

So… I have no reason to be forlorn or grumpy… Hello LIFE! I’m BACK!

Pic Note: Love

Everyday’s Simple Pleasure

I will be doing again this blog (part 2), for “today’s simple pleasure in six words”….
just really want to appreciate life EVERYDAY, no matter how simple, no matter how corny, no matter how trivial… Life is too short to be mindful of anything other the positive! So….

Sept 21 – Bonding with Aliya while downloading videos
Sept 22 – A good morning laugh with Papi! (RX Top 10)
Sept 23 – Good sales at starcity. Besteller pillows!
Sept 24 – Bedtime readings with Aliya and Pinggz
Sept 25 – Chicken Calzone bonding with Sis Kerol
Sept 26 – Surprise lunch-pot-luck for Pentz
Sept 27 – Sarap chicharon moment with Atty.
Sept 28 – Interacted and played with audit staff
…….

My Tribute to Mama @ YouTube

I almost forgot to post about the movie clips I made for Mama, a loving tribute to her. These were shown during our surprise party for her… and I have made these available in You Tube (click title to link)… I hope it summarizes our love and salute to her!

Mama Mia by Abba – a celebration of friendship and her adventures
She’s Always a Woman by Billy Joel – a celebration of love (Dad and Mama’s Moments)
She’s Somebody’s Hero by Jamie O’niel – our tribute to her motherhood
Because you Love Me by Celine Dionne – our loving song dedicated to her being a great person, mother, aunt, wife and grandmother.

Pasta Party! Success!

Great! it’s a success! can’t describe in words the overwhelming mixed feelings of what happened in the party…there are bloopers, there are tensed moments… but that’s just menial compared to the great moments that will stick in our being…. the memory will live on for everybody….

Happy Birthday MAMA!

So, here’s the pictures na lang….

See also: Pasta Party for Mader
Birthday Countdown
Pasta Panic

Photos of the Week: Cute!

Just want to share some nice photos picked from the net, courtesy of We Heart It site.

Five People You Meet in Heaven

Five People You Meet in Heaven, another touching, enlightening book by Mitch Albom, author of “Tuesdays with Morrie.” The story begins with the death of Eddie at age 83 at a freak accident in an amusement park on which he is the “maintenance man.” The death it seems is just a beginning. Eddie met 5 people and learned 5 lessons of “whys” about the life he lived. These “whys” I believe are our questions too. It echoes our thoughts and wondering. The story also makes us imagine heaven and realize how we can “create” our own heaven. There and here.

Lesson 1:
“Fairness does not govern life and death. If it did, no good person would ever die young.”
“The human spirit knows, deep down, that all lives intersects. That death doesn’t just take someone, it misses someone else, and in the small distance between being taken and being missed, lives changed.”
“What good came from your death?” Eddie asked the Blue Man. “You lived” he answered.
“Strangers are just family you have yet to come to know.”

Lesson 2
“Sacrifice. You made one. I made one.” said the Captain. “Sacrifice is a part of life. It’s supposed to be. It’s not something to regret. It’s something to aspire to…. A mother works so her son can go to school. A daughter who moves home to take care of her sick father…. A man goes to war…”
“Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious, you’re not really losing it. You’re just passing it on to someone else.”

Lesson 3
“Holding anger is a poison. It eats you from inside. We think that hating is a weapon that attacks the person who harmed us. But hated is a curved blade. And the hard we do, we do to ourselves.”
“Do you remember the lightness you felt when you arrived in heaven?” Ruby asked. “That’s because no one is born with anger. And when we die our soul is freed form it. Forgive.”

Lesson 4:
“Life has to end, Love doesn’t.” (Marguerite)
“Lost love is still love, Eddie. It just takes a different form, that’s all…Memory. Memory becomes your partner. You nurture it. You hold it. You dance with it.”

Lesson 5:
“Children, you keep them safe. You make good for me” (Tala)
“Is where you were supposed to be…”

In the end, it is all like “butterfly effect”… that we do and affect things and people…every minute of our life. So with that in mind, we must make everything and every moment worthwhile…

“Each affects the other and the other affects the next; and the world is full of stories, but the stories are all one.”

Aliya’s antics

Today, I am amazed how Aliya have grown! She can now totally comprehend and can understand simple instructions and can now command attention!

Her few gimik and antics are:
she picks up bag and says bye-bye and go to the door…
then come back to have everyone kiss her
she doesn’t know (or don’ want) to kiss, but she want to be kissed a lot
she loves to play mommy to her doll
she loves water and swimming
she loves microphone… she sings (or hum, actually) and pretend to sing
she keeps on saying,….love… love… while hugging
she calls on us to sit when she’s now on her high chair to eat
she can now eat by herself
she dance when she see somebody dance on the TV (we danced a lot yesterday)
she wants to pick-up the phone and “calls” Mama and Daddy
she once asked to be seated on the “throne” when she said wii-wii.
she can count, her favorite number is seven
she do “abs-rocket” hahaha

A free slideshow by Smilebox

Great Time During “Bad” Time!

How can one act if one is having a hard time at work but need to have to spend great time with family?! In the end, it is just a MATTER OF CHOICE! and a better choice is always the better (who in good mind choose the worst over better, anyway?)…. well, it’s elementary, feeling great is it!

It is my Aliya’s birthday and we had a family getaway in the afternoon (because I need to go to work in the morning, but it should not get in the way about my plan for this day)… We went to Quezon City’s Ace Water Spa and had a great, great time! Aliya enjoyed it a lot (ang mommy too!) We tried everything and had a great fun! It does’t matter if she had drunk a lot of chlorine (but I mind). Later on, Aliya could say, “iming” (swimming), “awer” (shower), “eyning” (raining), boat (right, boat), slide & bubbles! We had our lunch at Greenwich (Marilao) and had our photos taken! Wheee…Saya! what a great day!

Who said about having a bad time at work? Well, it even doesn’t worth mentioning here and gaining space in my valuable blog! So that’s it!

Happy Birthday Aliya!

Pic Note: Simple

Nails in the Fence

The next time you are tempted to say something hurtful to someone just because you’re angry, you might want to stop and remember this story: it’s a keeper. Read it here.

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.

The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, “You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there.” A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one..