whew

Pretending to be Artsy

2011-11-29T03:01:00.002+08:00

So I can't decide if the daughter and I should watch a ballet ("Sleeping Beauty"), or a musical play ("Sound of Music"). Both of these she wants to watch. I guess she'll watch anything we take her to. We watched Don Quixote before, and she only got bored after the second intermission (in the third act). Since she's a bit used to the structure of the musical play where there are only 2 acts and 1

Rant: Credit Card Rewards

2011-11-09T02:13:00.003+08:00

Patawa naman si HSBC Rewards minsan.Was browsing through their rewards brochures, and found the points and "fast track" options utterly ridiculous.For example:An ultimate feet pampering treatment at Neo Spa normally costs PHP 1050: Source: http://neo.ph/ebrochures/Ki%20Day%20Spa%20eBrochure%202011.pdfAnd how many HSBC rewards points does it take to have this PHP 1050 reward?61,200 points. That's

Adele Rolling in the Deep

2011-06-28T01:49:00.002+08:00

Amazing voice.

Emo Mode

2011-06-28T01:33:00.002+08:00

I need to take a step back.And for some reason, today this is the song that is playing in my head.There's always some reasonTo not feel good enoughAnd it's hard at the end of the dayI need some distraction...

Nursery Song 3

2011-06-27T23:41:00.002+08:00

Since I'm going to spend an inordinate amount of time googling how to pronounce these, I might as well note these down for posterity. These are Chinese children's songs being taught in my kid's nursery class. The only problem is, we don't know much Chinese. So here goes, maybe this would help some other person in the future: Song 3:Chinese:好宝宝, 有礼貌, 回家会把手儿招老师再见, 朋友再见Pin yin:Hǎo bǎobǎo, yǒu lǐmào,

Thoughts On a Saturday Eve

2011-03-05T02:45:00.004+08:00

Two events that made me real proud today it almost scares me:1) my kid singing along to Nirvana's "Man Who Sold the World" the first time she heard it2) my kid reciting the "Angel of God" prayer in the children's thanksgiving mass at her preschool. and she was the only one! she raised her hand without shyness or care, kept on raising it even if she wans't noticed at first, and when she was called

It Pays Not to Pay Attention

2011-02-20T00:09:00.003+08:00

Took the time to actually read an EULA (End User License Agreement)...you know, the part where you usually just say "yes" to without reading when you're downloading or installing something. I'm not too sure, maybe I'm just a bit slow today...but somehow I can't understand what the hell this means:We are responsible for loss suffered by you as a result of our breach of this contract if the loss

Can't Decide

2011-01-22T02:23:00.004+08:00

Can't decide. Isis Bungalow or Golden Palm at Alona Beach in Panglao Island, Bohol?Map based from http://jimspears.net/alona/map.htmBoth Isis and Golden Palm quoted me the same price, except that Golden Palm included airport transfers and breakfast, while Isis did not. Cheapskate Chinese would opt for Golden Palm, especially since it has good reviews. But it's not that beach front, unlike Isis

Wednesday comes after Tuesday...and now it's Thursday again

2010-07-22T02:57:00.005+08:00

Tuesday, I left the office early, managed to ride the MRT at around 5:30pm, just before the great rush hour rush. I couldn't resist though, and treated myself to a Greenwich Pizza, Lasagna and Pizza Fries meal before heading home. Yes, takaw ako. This was just before dinner. Hmmm. Grateful for: a speedy and convenient commute, to and from the office.Wednesday, I am thankful for:- managing to ride

Monday

2010-07-20T01:59:00.001+08:00

It's a Monday.Thankful for:Zoe's first day at school after a week's absenceWatching The Sorcerer's ApprenticeChancesA Singapore Vacation and Birthday party

Midnight Snack

2010-07-15T02:03:00.003+08:00

Donuts and coffee, c/o B. I really like the honey glazed donut, served warm and toasty (not pictured here, nakain ko na eh, hehe). Thanks B.

Bagyo Bagyo

2010-07-14T18:29:00.004+08:00

Typhoon “Basyang” (international codename: Conson) came barging into Metro Manila last night. A little past midnight, the power went out in our area. It was restored roughly 12 hours later. We were lucky though -- other areas still have no power up to now.I am thankful for:Being able to give Zoe her anti-fever medicine around 11:30pm. She was so sweet, wala yung usual na angal nya. Siguro sobrang

Don't Blame This Sleeping Satellite

2010-07-12T23:22:00.003+08:00

"I blame you for the moonlit skyand the dream that diedwith the eagles' flightI blame you for the moonlit nightswhen I wonder whyare the seas still dry?Don't blame this sleeping satellite..."- Tasmin Archer, Sleeping SatelliteThankful Notes:Friday -- Thankful for my Mom, her birthday, and her birthday treat. But most especially, thankful for my mom.The weekend -- Saturday and Sunday were a blur.

Cliches and other musings

2010-07-09T02:08:00.002+08:00

Warning: long post delving into motherhood and domestic matters. Read at your own risk. Don't complain if bored."It's 3 AM I must be lonely..."- Matchbox 20It's actually 2 AM here. I am hungry, thirsty and feeling so flabby. Everything's yin and yang, this and that, push and pull, surprises and blessings. They say to whom much is given, much is expected. I am in a funk, and I know I can get out

Always Zoku - San Chome Me No Yuhi

2010-07-07T23:46:00.000+08:00

ALWAYS 続・三丁目の夕日Watched "Always -- Sunset on Third Street 2", with good friends from college. The movie is part of Eiga Sai 2010, Japanese films screened at Shangrila Mall for free. It was great, and I liked it. Great CGI effects too -- I mean, to show old 1950's Tokyo and integrate it seamlessly into a fun and also dramatic storyline -- that takes talent and passion. And we always appreciate that

The Thankful Wave

2010-07-06T01:07:00.001+08:00

"Think about what's right, what's good, what's valuable & fulfilling. The more you focus on the good things, the more abundant they become."- Ralph MarstonA lot of people are on a "thankful" spree nowadays. And for that, we are thankful. Life is indeed happier when we are thankful for something.

Waiting, after school

2010-06-29T20:17:00.002+08:00

"Waiting for Wednesday..."My imaginary friend asks me, why wait for Zoe after her preschool class? You could always delegate this, ask the yaya to go to her preschool and do the waiting and the fetching, just like the other mommies out there.I wait. Because I still could. I still have the flexible hours to back this up. And I wait. Because I like the way she smiles when she comes out of the class

The Comfy Cab and the Power Lightning

2010-06-28T23:00:00.002+08:00

It was a cloudy afternoon when I rode the taxi cab from McKinley Hills to Ortigas. First of all, I was lucky, I got to ride a cab at once. Secondly, the cab was really nice, not dilapidated, and looked really new. Thirdly, the taxi driver took a shortcut, so we got to circumvent C5 and Edsa traffic. It started to rain really hard when we were near Sheridan, normally just around 5 minutes from my

Redux Baguio

2010-06-24T23:04:00.001+08:00

Nippy weather, a warm fireplace, and SMART GPRS connectivity FTW! Thank you for a safe trip.

Bon Appetit!

2010-06-23T23:30:00.001+08:00

Today, it is food. A good lunch with DH at the McKinley Hill Piazza. And a great buffet dinner at Makati Shangrila's Circles Buffet, for free!Thank you for food.And thank you, to the persons who treat us to good food, and for the opportunities that enable us to have this little luxury. Bon Appetit!

Happiness Whirls

2010-06-22T18:26:00.000+08:00

DD and DH at SM Mall of Asia's Merry-Go-Round. Happiness whirls. DD had to pay full price though, because she was more than 3 feet already. She's less than 3 years old though, so of course we wouldn't be comfortable having just her sitting on the horse (plus she wouldn't be able to get on top of the horse on her own). So it's weird that the adult has to pay also to just stand beside her. Hehe, I

Thank You Bro

2010-06-21T16:16:00.005+08:00

While urging DD to take her afternoon nap, she, out of her own volition and with no prompting from me, started praying: in the name of the fatherand of the sonand of the holy spirit thank you bropunta kami school (we did go to her preschool earlier in the day)punta kami mcdo (and we ate chicken nuggets at mcdo, as she requested)punta kami...ay wala na. (natawa ako dito, umuwi nga naman kami after

Sushi Katsu

2010-06-20T01:56:00.000+08:00

My dad wanted us to have Sunday night dinner, and he mentioned a resto he read somewhere in the Inquirer. "Sushi Katsu" he said, somewhere in Tomas Morato. Since it was Father's Day weekend, I decided to google the resto and try to reserve a table for us.Sushi Katsu opens during lunch and dinner only. Dinner hours start at 6pm. At 6pm, I decide to call their listed number.The line rings. The

The Hunt for Z's Preschool

2010-06-08T04:57:00.004+08:00

Ok, maybe writing it down can clarify things. Choices narrowed down to 3 (or maybe 4. Ok, 3).Preschool 1: Preschool/playschool walking distance from our home. But DH doesn't like it because he once saw a cockroach zoom past in the playroom, indicating that it's not that clean. The yaya also mentioned that sometimes the teacher is a bit lazy in teaching, especially if there aren't that many

License to Drive

2010-06-08T03:52:00.006+08:00

Though I'm a generally happy person, I'm also cynical by nature, and putting up a Thankful 365 entry that's entirely cheerful is kinda difficult. I doubt anyone is really interested in all of these Thankful 365 entries anyway, so I interrupt regular programming to give you a feature on some useful stuff that you'll hopefully need. Today's topic: How to renew your Philippine Driver's license. Why

Let Me Dream

2010-06-08T03:48:00.003+08:00

My body clock is broken/misaligned/confused.I'm still awake at 4AM! It's been this way for weeks already. I am thankful though, that DD has not inherited this craziness. Yet. I find it funny that when she tries to sleep, she closes her eyes tightly, kitang kita mo yung effort to close her eyes. When her face is all relaxed, ayun tulog na.

Coffee Dreams

2010-06-07T23:37:00.003+08:00

Today, B. said, let's claim our free Starbuck's drink from HSBC. Then, I can stay awake tonight so we can watch a DVD movie. Okay, I said. And we walked and walked to the mall to claim our free drinks. Then we walked back home, and put the daughter to bed. Immediately after lying down, B fell asleep. Even before the kid. Oh well. At least the intention was there, right?Thanking:free Starbuck's

Bringing on the Revolution

2010-06-05T00:11:00.008+08:00

Here's Sir Ken Robinson's follow-up to his 2006 talk "Schools kill Creativity". Uploaded in TED just a few weeks ago, this is "Bring on the Learning Revolution"Since I was contemplating preschool for my preschooler, I kinda really took what he said to heart. Some highlights for me:Education needs to be transformed into something else. Challenge what we take for grantedThe

God Knows Hudas Not Pay

2010-06-04T12:49:00.000+08:00

Look what I found while taking a walk down a QC street. A poster for Termicon! The termite specialist that did not honor their commitment to us. "Free inspection" my ass. It's not our (the customer's) fault that one of their employees became "rogue" and allegedly sprayed our house on his own, pocketed the money, and refused to do the follow-up services. We (the customer) contacted them through

Kids and Schools

2010-06-03T19:02:00.004+08:00

Zoe's last day at the playschool near our house. "All kids have tremendous talent, and we squander them. Ruthlessly." - Sir Ken Robinson, in a TED talk given in 2006 wherein he says "schools kill creativity".Next parental dilemma: to enroll or not to enroll for this school year. If yes, where to enroll? Funds are tight, so I don't really want to be too OA regarding the preschool. After all, the

Princess Fiona

2010-06-02T15:38:00.002+08:00

A kind security guard gave us a Princess Fiona head cap while Zoe and I were eating ice cream at a fastfood place in Cubao. Super happy ang bata, Shrek is her current favorite!

Kiddie Bravery

2010-06-01T18:44:00.003+08:00

A great swimming lesson for the kid today! It's her last day of swimming lessons. She was able to do bubbles, hold her breath under water for 10 seconds, swim underwater towards me, and she wasn't afraid or crying before she did it! Yehey!

Free Food!

2010-05-31T22:26:00.002+08:00

A Pizza Hut Pan Pizza, free with BPI Credit Card's current promotion. Our grocery bill never looked this good!

All You Need is Patience...and Donuts

2010-05-30T23:00:00.002+08:00

Thank you for donuts!After today's Santacruzan experience, I think: It's criminal to let small children wear high heelsChildren should not wear make up, especially thick foundation/face powder that makes the color of your face so different from the color of your neck.Santacruzans with children should be outlawed!Of course, this might just be the ranting of a first-time parent, whose kid

Thank You for Usability

2010-05-29T23:59:00.001+08:00

Windows Vista Ease of Access Center's On-Screen Keyboard was a lifesaver today! Was fixing up my dad's unused HP Mini, so that he could use it. Upon boot-up, uh-oh. The keyboard was totally unresponsive. No reaction whatsoever, no matter what was pressed. The mouse pad was also unresponsive. Dilemma! Good thing the laptop still responded to an attached USB Mouse, but I still had to type the

Date Night!

2010-05-28T23:59:00.002+08:00

Movie night with lots of Buy-the-Buckets, nuts, drinks, quesadillas and popcorn!

For the People Who Take Care of Us

2010-05-27T22:20:00.004+08:00

Po Po - Cantonese for Maternal GrandmotherMy grandmother died 17 years ago today.Who's Popo To Me?My parents were both working, so my grandmother was the one who took care of me. She was my dad's mother, but like my cousins, I called her "Popo". Popo was strict, and I still remember when she used to chase me with a feather duster, so she can spank my behind to discipline me. Like most

Things That Make You Go Oomph

2010-05-26T04:40:00.000+08:00

I'm thankful for passion and hope, for the emotions and motivations that enable anyone to go beyond the normal effort.We last longer because of our passion. Long hours and late nights are nothing, if we're totally engrossed in what we're doing.And Hope. We stay and trudge on, because of the hope that things will be better. Always.

Big Daddy and Swimming

2010-05-25T18:15:00.003+08:00

Picture taken on a SaturdayThankful for my co-parent and partner, who accompanied the kid to today's (a weekday!) swimming lesson while I attended a work meeting. I heard the session went great!

WFH

2010-05-24T23:01:00.000+08:00

Work from Home days

Happiness is an Amusement Park Ride

2010-05-23T22:34:00.002+08:00

Ride like the wind...and never fear anything. Fun ride at Powerplant Mall's kiddie area. There are some overpriced kiddie rides there (come on, PHP50 for something that costs PHP20 at other malls?), but hey, kids will be kids. Plus, I can't complain, since we went malling with the doting grandparents, who keep showering the happy kid with marshmallows and gummy bears. And, there are PHP12 rides

Flores de Mayo Para Los Niños

2010-05-22T21:41:00.003+08:00

Things you learn when you're older: The Flores de Mayo is different from a "Sagala" or "Santacruzan". All along I thought they were one and the same. In Catholic Philippines, it's a tradition to dress little boys and little girls (and even teen girls and boys) in formal attires and gowns, and parade them around the barangay during May. It's a festival to commemorate the finding of the Holy Cross

A Cool Coffee Drink in a Hot Summer Town

2010-05-21T21:26:00.004+08:00

Had lunch with B, and he treated me to free coffee. Wee! (Yes, Manila still has the old Seattle's Best Coffee logo. If you want to see the new logo, check this out.)

Swim, Eat, and Be Merry

2010-05-20T22:21:00.004+08:00

Today, the kid and I had lunch together, at one of the fast food chains on Tomas Morato. We just had her swimming lessons, and were on our way to "investigate" one of the preschools near E.Rodriguez Ave.The SwimmingThe swimming lesson was eventful since: 1) we were late, and 2) the kid developed the fear of submerging her head under water, going to ridiculous lengths and overacting poses to make

Thank You for the Music

2010-05-19T23:29:00.000+08:00

Funny. I have a lot of things to be thankful for, I don't even know where to start. Photo by Michael Yarish/FOXToday, among other things, I am grateful to Neil Patrick Harris and Glee. It's Episode 19 of the 1st season of Glee, with the episode titled "Dream On". Let me just say, I have never watched Glee on actual TV. I usually come home late from work, and if I am at home, the TV is owned by

Thankful 365 - The Start

2010-05-19T23:18:00.006+08:00

All of us are thankful for something. Sometimes, anger, negative emotions and difficult experiences just make us forget it. But it's there. For the thanking. This is my Project 365*. To write about the things I am thankful for. Happy thoughts, every day of the year. *Originally, I wanted to call it Project 52 -- so I can do a post just once a week. Hehe. But what the heck. Go for broke. Project

Being Healthy for the Kids

2010-03-30T23:31:00.001+08:00

Ewan McGregor on giving up alcohol years ago:"What kind of regret would I have had to tell my children or my wife that I was dying because of something I could have done something about? I didn't want to be that kind of man."From http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/03/30/10/ewan-mcgregors-alcohol-alarm

Crouching Father, Hidden Toddler

2010-03-30T22:37:00.003+08:00

While "rushing" home today, I thought I wanted to buy a good book for myself. As I entered the mall (to go to the MRT station), a Booksale branch caught my eye. "Maybe I could buy a book I could read during the Holy Week," I thought.Well, I didn't buy anything for me. But I did spend precious minutes contemplating whether or not to buy Zoe another book (I didn't). And I did end up buying B his

Terminate the Exterminator!

2010-03-24T14:04:00.006+08:00

Termicon Pest Control Services, located at Lot 2 Blk 14 Augsburg St, Mercedes Village, Cainta Rizal -- you suck! Honor your committment. Be a responsible company. Right now, you're acting like a fly-by-night operator.Is there any recourse for decent and honest Filipinos who wish to report such fly-by-night companies? I've checked the site of the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, but I'm not

Mix Mix, Same Same

2010-03-02T22:07:00.006+08:00

While snuggling to go to sleep:Zoe: Mommy, bakit punta kayo office?Mommy: Kailangan kasi mag work ni Mommy and Daddy eh.Zoe: Bakit, para meron bili dede?Mommy: Ahh, opo.Zoe: Thank you! (sabay kiss)On one hand, I'm surprised that she understands we work for the money, and that money buys the milk. I'm doubly happy she even said thank you. On the other hand...shouldn't we be working because we're

Diving into June

2010-02-22T20:25:00.002+08:00

Buddy Jao took the plunge and booked us tickets to Dumaguete so we can go diving! It's still way off in June, but I'm still excited. Hopefully I still fit into the wetsuit. Haha.

Things Only Kids Get Away With

2010-01-23T00:47:00.002+08:00

Zoe eating in a traditional Chinese banquet restaurant. The walls are lined with aquariums teeming with live fish. Mommy points out the fishes to Zoe."Zoe, look fish!"Zoe looks at them gleefully."Wow! Swim swim sila!" says Zoe. Mommy is so proud that Zoe appreciates fishes.Then Zoe says, "Mamaya kain Zoe kayo!" (Later I'll eat all of you!)Toink!------------------Mommy and Zoe walking to the

With Kids? Here's Uncommon Advice

2009-10-14T00:04:00.007+08:00

Travelling with a toddler, they say, is a nightmare.Well I've travelled with Zoe, rode cars, jeepneys, tricycles, buses, planes, boats, and so far, so good. Zoe has a relatively happy disposition. Give her enough food, enough sleep, and she'll be relatively patient with all the things one goes through while travelling. She's a happy camper, and you just have to really tire her out so she'll be a

Used To Be

2009-10-13T23:51:00.003+08:00

I used to row almost every morning. Woke up around 5-ish to go to Manila Bay and row. Manila Bay isn't that smelly, you know. It is calm and serene when it wants to be so, and the rhythmic slicing of oars into the water is a beautiful experience shared amongst those willing to wake up early enough to try it.I used to climb mountains. Spent weekends hiking. My backpack was my friend, and nights

Walking - the pre-rituals

2009-09-24T22:19:00.007+08:00

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to arrive at City Garden Hotel North Point from Hong Kong International Airport. Since I was trying to save some money, instead of taking the Airport Shuttle from HK Airport to City Garden Hotel North Point, I wanted to take the Airport Express instead. The Airport Bus shuttle would cost $140 one way, a total of $280 roundtrip. The Airport Express,

Avilon Zoo 2009

2009-02-18T01:44:00.003+08:00

The road to Montalban via the Commonwealth Ave QC route is scenic. You wind through a zig-zaggy mountainside that reminds you of Antipolo with the view. You'll pass through part of the walls of La Mesa Dam, though part of the way, you'll get to smell the Payatas dumpsite as well. Nevertheless, I always thought the views here were underrated.On the first day of the Chinese New Year, we decided to

Things I learned today:

2009-01-29T15:18:00.003+08:00

1. 200 people in front of you in the line is 200 people in front of you in the line. If you haven't got 2 hours to wait in line, forget about it. 2. PAL processes refunds much much faster than Cebu Pacific. PAL already gave me a refund a month after I asked for it. Cebu Pacific -- 6 months later, they're still processing the darn thing. 3. Don't believe it when a computer application says "Time

Zoe at Manila Ocean Park

2009-01-28T19:51:00.002+08:00

Dear Diary, Today I went to Manila Ocean Park with my parents, my cousins Reign and Raver, their parents, and my Tita Rhea. At first they tried to insist I can get in for free, since anyone below 2 feet can get in for free. But really now, I'm already a big girl! I stood waay above the height limit! So, my Tita Rhea paid 350 bucks for me to get into the Ocean Park. My cousin Reign is 2 years old,

Batanes

2009-01-07T00:18:00.000+08:00

Sabtang, Batanes

Punta Fuego Beach Ultimate Fair

2008-11-12T02:07:00.003+08:00

Team Toda and the Philippine Ultimate Organization presents:http://sites.google.com/site/fuegobeachultimate/

Zoe-lander

2008-11-11T19:24:00.002+08:00

Zoe Making Faces...Classic Bad Smell FaceNew Expression -- the Huh ExpressionBulaga!Daddy's Favorite Expression

Rower's Den Grand Opening

2008-10-28T01:18:00.002+08:00

Looking for something to do this Wednesday, October 29? Drop by the Grand Opening of Rower's Den, the newest bar in Harbour Square!Free drinks from 9-11PM, plus music from The Dawn!Sana meron na rin silang Beer Below Zero!***Rower's Den is located at the 2nd floor of Harbour Square (CCP area), above Dencio's & Grappa's.***** Venue also available for private events and private parties. **

Telling The Story

2008-10-28T01:09:00.001+08:00

The story never changes, it's just how you tell it.And today...the narration is happy.

Monday Rants

2008-10-23T19:47:00.005+08:00

Well, somewhere along the web I found this job skill requirement:Demonstrable leadership skills, consulting, communication, teamwork, ability to work autonomously, tolerance of ambiguity, analytical, influence and persuasion, decision making/problem solving, flexibility, creativity, initiative, interpersonal, presentation and sales skills. Wow, sounds a lot like what I'm doing. Except I don't

Multitasking

2008-10-23T01:31:00.002+08:00

Somewhere, someone said that multitasking is death by installment. Which made me laugh. Not the funny, rolling-on-the-floor, this-is-so-happy laughter. Ok, so I sniggered. Cynically. Because if that's the case, I should be dead already, several times over.But, guess what. I'm still alive, still surviving, despite daily aches and pains and complaints. The whole is better than the parts. Or maybe

Um...Uh-Oh

2008-10-20T11:22:00.000+08:00

Zoe at the Malakas & Maganda League Finals Game, Alabang Country Club

The Concepcion Family Weekend

2008-10-09T23:46:00.007+08:00

While I was with UTREK climbing the Philippine's highest peak -- Mt. Apo, Zoe was busy stacking water bottles on the fields of Alabang Country Club during PUA's Malakas & Maganda games.Saya diba. One whole family spending the day outdoors. Di nga lang magkakasama...Bok and his disc: Malakas & Maganda Tourney, Alabang Country ClubZoe and her toys: Playing with the water bottles With a disc, and

Yes, I can Jump

2008-10-09T23:36:00.003+08:00

Picture taken at Eden Nature Park, Davao CityProof that I can jump...haha.Other pictures from TODA's Davao Trip at Multiply: Isla Reta Trip, Davao Whitewater Rafting, and Eden Nature Park Trip.

Somewhere Down The Road

2008-09-18T00:56:00.004+08:00

Somewhere down the road...I got lost. I'm still lost. I guess it comes with putting someone else as a priority. I need...to make time for me.

Working on a Saturday

2008-09-13T05:51:00.001+08:00

Hmm...let's see...Click here...Click there...Enter...Is this what you do in the office, mommy?This is so easy! I can do your work! =)

Makulay Ang Buhay (Life is Colorful)

2008-09-04T02:41:00.003+08:00

For a while now, this TV commercial has been one of Zoe's favorite. Everytime it goes on air, Zoe pauses, looks at the TV, and dances! No fail. :)Lately, they haven't been airing the full commercial (it's been several months already after all). So whenever Zoe starts to dance, the commercial has ended already...bitin. So, I just wanted to immortalize somewhat the link to the commercial. Enjoy!

Setyembre

2008-09-03T22:57:00.003+08:00

September na. Wala lang.Pagod na ako. Pagod. The past few days lang. Pagod. Kailangan lang ulit-ulitin. Baka pag inulit ko, ma-realize ko di pala totoo, at ilusyon lang ang pagiging pagod ko. Pati status ko sa Facebook. Pagod. Nag-umpisa ata ito nung nanggaling kami sa Palawan, matapos ang long weekend dalawang linggo na ang nakakaraan. Masaya naman yung bakasyon, syempre pa kasama ang pamilya at

Zoe's Birthday Week

2008-08-20T23:13:00.002+08:00

Posts and slideshow pictures at my Multiply. Thanks!

Anonymous Truth

2008-07-28T21:31:00.002+08:00

The world is full of assholes, and today I am too tired to be immune.PUKE.

Zoe's Zoobic Subic Trip

2008-06-11T02:40:00.014+08:00

Long weekend.We took the spanking new SCTEX (Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway) to Subic, and travel was a breeze! It took us around 3 hours to get to Subic from Cubao. We had stopovers to eat, pick up the folks, and look for some supplies, and Bok always drove within the speed limit! (100 kph). So...potentially travel from Manila to Subic could even be faster! :)The Return to Grande IslandBok and I

Everything is Still Relative....

2008-06-06T00:18:00.004+08:00

Well, I wanted to write a post about the inefficiencies at NSO. For the past few days/weeks/months, I've been a regular customer/victim of government agencies -- from renewing passports, getting National Statistic Office (NSO) certified documents, etc.To make a long story short, I just recently discovered I have an inconsistency with my birth certificate, and that I might probably have 2 copies

Requiem

2008-04-18T01:51:00.005+08:00

Admittedly, my normal day-to-day activities keep me busy and happy.And then suddenly the quietness hits me, and that heavy feeling comes. Sobs are contained. I am not too self-important to think that my feelings may matter, but if I do feel that sadness, that loss, then that means my mother feels it 10x more than I do. And of course, Mae's mother.Vague. Magulo na ba?Let me start again.One fine

My Wishlist

2008-04-03T02:08:00.003+08:00

I have a lot of wishes (one of them is to be able to update this blog with more travel info), but Material-Girl wise (of course, aside from loads of cash, hehe), this is it:Click on this link for more details...

Zoe with Tita Roxy

2008-02-11T21:22:00.000+08:00

Zoe with Tita Roxy at Alabang Country ClubMalakas & Maganda League, 2008

Here to Stay

2008-02-04T13:21:00.000+08:00

So the decision has been made, and the next step is to ensure that it will be the right decision.

A Conversation With Me

2008-01-18T20:55:00.000+08:00

Well it's time I had a heart to heart talk with myself.First of all, this blog needs a face lift. But that's okay...the more time I spend updating this blog means less time doing something else. Which means nothing really. Except the fact that I choose not to spend my time beautifying this blog at this time.Such a circuitous statement! See, this is how I talk to myself sometimes -- in circles.

A Foreign Affair

2008-01-16T13:43:00.001+08:00

I'm at the Department of Foreign Affairs having my passport renewed. And I cannot help but be frustrated.Is this the future I want for my kids? Really?I read somewhere that the DFA processes 7000 passports a day. And they're proud of that fact?Looking at it from another angle, I bet everyone's trying hard to make it work.But the question is, how can we fix ourselves? And do we even want to?

Happy 5th Month!

2008-01-11T17:30:00.001+08:00

It's Zoe's 5th month! Hehe. Happy 5th month Zoe!

Zoey sa Star City

2008-01-07T15:28:00.001+08:00

Ang laki ng dinosaur mommy!

Bagong Gising

2007-12-23T07:05:00.001+08:00

Umagang kayganda. Wala, naaaliw pa lng ako dito sa mobile blogging. Teka, magkano kaya singil nito? Hehe. Sana cost lang talaga ng mms message. Malalalaman natin pagdating ng bill! :-)

Zoe's crib

2007-12-18T07:28:00.001+08:00

Shot using SE K610i

2007-12-09T22:19:00.000+08:00

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Three Months

2007-11-27T22:33:00.001+08:00

Ang bilis...dati ang liit liit lang ni Zoe, ngayon, isa na syang dambuhalang 3 month old! And yet, everyday, mas nae-excite ako na lumaki sya. Nakakatuwa pag may bagong development.Ngayon, mas mabigat na sya, mas mabilog. Malakas sumipa. Parating hinihila pataas ang kanyang damit. Medyo nakakalbo kasi parating nakahiga sa unan, pero hopefully pag umuupo upo na sya, hindi na sya makakalbo. Malikot

B. and Me

2007-09-20T15:30:00.001+08:00

South Park-ish avatars courtesy of Papa Doie

We Live on Avenue Q...

2007-09-18T13:02:00.000+08:00

Once again, Atlantis Productions brings to Manila one of the best musicals to hit Broadway - 2004 Tony Award winner "Avenue Q".And the verdict is -- it's cute! With tunes that stick in your head -- among others: "The Internet is for Porn", "It Sucks to be Me", "For Now", and my personal favorite, "If You Were Gay". Of course there's also the senti song that goes "...there's a fine fine line

Monsoon Madness 2007

2007-09-18T12:32:00.000+08:00

And this is what B. will be doing for the next few Sundays. I miss running! But I guess at this moment, I miss my sleep more. :)

Davao Ultimate 2007

2007-09-17T20:38:00.000+08:00

More info here.

Zoe Ysabelle

2007-08-31T19:11:00.000+08:00

"Every parent thinks he has the most beautiful baby in the world. Evolution, it seems, has molded our brains so that if you stare at your own baby's face day after day after day, it starts to look beautiful. When other people's children have food clotted on their faces, it looks disgusting; with your own kid, it's somehow endearing."-- From "Freakonomics", by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J.

Tomorrow...

2007-08-07T21:46:00.002+08:00

"The sun will come out...tomorrow..."So now, it's tomorrow. Internet is still slow. We still have no DSL. I've postponed some scheduled tasks I wanted to finish, because we had to go to the doctor today. I have been informed that it's possible to have labor induced tomorrow...not really for any urgent medical condition, but mainly for the peace of mind of B. and perhaps everyone else. There were

Waiting Game

2007-08-06T13:43:00.001+08:00

We just moved house a week ago. Truth is, everything's expensive...and I haven't even given birth yet! Yeah yeah, I should quit complaining, we're getting by anyway. So let me shut my mouth and just list down the things I'm currently waiting for: waiting for baby waiting for PLDT to put up additional DSL ports in our area (sometimes I get the feeling PLDT does not really want additional

Under the Influence and Over the BS

2007-07-05T22:27:00.001+08:00

You can like the life you're livingYou can live the life you like...So goes a song used in one of the commercials repeatedly shown on the ETC Channel. Lately, the song has been running through my head. Maybe it's because I watch too much late night TV. Or maybe, because (gasp!) I've been really ruminating on something that's been bothering me -- what I really want. The main word for the past few

All Around Pinas

2007-06-20T20:00:00.000+08:00

Ok, got this from Monna and also Dennis. There's this site where you can check the places around the Philippines that you've been to, and it rates you as a traveller. How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!Created by Eugene Villar.My Lakbayan grade is B-!Well, there are a lot of places I haven't been to. But what's surprising is it seems I haven't even set foot on

Baby On The Way

2007-06-20T16:09:00.001+08:00

Well, this ultrasound pic was taken last April 14...pero excited na ata kami ngayon. Hehe. Two months to go!Roxy's birthday gift to us -- our first baby stuff!We still don't have much baby stuff, and I guess we're gearing ourselves up for a headache since we're also going to move house in the next two months. That means furniture and baby expenses all rolled into one big bang! Bok also has a new

Our Deepest Fear

2007-06-05T18:31:00.000+08:00

Well, I found this quote in, of all places, a baby magazine (that I got for free from this childbirth class. It turns out the teacher is also a columnist for this magazine).A quote by inspirational book author Marianne Williamson, from her 1992 book "A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of a Course in Miracle":Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we

Manila and the Days Gone By

2007-05-09T19:34:00.000+08:00

An article written last year for a travel writing workshop. Yes, I attended a travel writing workshop. Yes, it was fun. And yes, the title probably sucks. :) But anyway, I'm still sharing this article, which has been described at some point as a bit depressing. Read on. :)“Intramuros is the Philippine’s Angkor Wat,” declared Carlos Celdran, one of Manila’s celebrated walking tour guides.Wow, I