promdilayf in twentyten and beyond...

Day 163: Corned Burger Surprise

2011-06-12T06:00:00.000+08:00

Leafing through the pages of a six-year old "Smart Parenting" magazine yielded a great result for my "pambaon" blues with the kids. It was a Back-to-School and Father's Day issue and one of the features was a set of easy-to-follow recipes for children's snack or lunch in school.

For a budget-conscious Mom like me, this is a perfect treat to make as it veers away from the more expensive ground beef since it makes use of corned beef instead and has shredded potatoes as extender.

CORNED BURGER SURPRISE

Patty Mixture:

500 grams corned beef (I used the "por kilo" kind instead of canned)

600 grams potatoes (peeled, shredded and drained of excess liquid)

5 tbsp. onions, minced

5 tbsp. flour

2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. sugar

1-2 eggs (try one egg first as it might get too wet/soggy if too much egg is used)

cream cheese or ordinary processed cheese, sliced

for Sandwich assembly:

1-2 tbsp. canola oil for frying

burger buns

lettuce

tomatoes

mayonnaise or your choice of dressing

Mix together all patty ingredients until well incorporated. If mixture turns out too soggy, drain excess liquid on strainer before forming into patties.

Get a spoonful of mixture on the palm of your hand. Place a small piece of cheese in the center then add another spoonful of the mixture to hide the cheese and form into a patty.

Fry patties in hot oil. Drain on paper towels. Assemble on buns and serve.

Day 157: New Kids on the Block

2011-06-06T23:35:00.001+08:00

New city...new school...

School year 2011-2012 has brought in some firsts and some new things...after spending the first three years of school life in Butuan Faith Christian School, Jarred is now facing the challenge of being the new kid on the block. Entering the Grade II level at his Dad's elementary alma mater - St. Francis of Assisi School, he may have some bumps here and there before he gets the hang of things in this new school. Joining him is newbie student, Caitlin, who's beginning formal school for the first time as a Kinder pupil at the same school.

God has directed our path ever since we knew about our inevitable move to Cebu. The school is strategically located as it is less than 2 km away from home and is also on the way to their Lola's place of work. They may be newbies but I know they can manage and will enjoy their time at SFAS.

Many thanks to Tito Ninong Alfred and Tita Ninang Phebz for making the nearly impossible possible .

Day 144: Local Razor Clams / "Tudlo Dato" (Rich Man's Fingers)

2011-05-24T22:00:00.002+08:00

I was doing the rounds of the Banawa market this morning when I spotted a tray full of local razor clams ("Tudlo Dato" in Visayan lingo). At P100/kilo, I thought it was already a steal. And so with a kilo of these fresh live shellfish at hand, I started to salivate about what's for lunch today.

Just a simple stir fry of these babies turned out to be a sweet and succulent dish that's both hearty and exotic.

Razor Clam Stir Fry

1 kg razor clams / "tudlo dato", rinsed well

5 cloves of garlic, crushed

1 medium onion, sliced

2 pcs. thumb-sized ginger, sliced

5-6 pcs. medium-sized tomatoes, sliced in wedges

2 tbsp. canola oil

salt and pepper to taste

In a stir fry pan, heat up some oil and fry the aromatics. Once the onions turn translucent, stir in the clams. Season with salt and pepper. Adjust heat to medium and cover the pan. Turn off the heat after 10 minutes. Serve piping hot with rice.

Day 128: Being a Mother

2011-05-08T23:45:00.004+08:00

Right after my class last night, my son asked to use the computer. I thought he was just going to play his fave computer game or what.

After about half an hour I saw this photo posted on my Facebook wall...it had the caption "Happy Mother's Day to my best Mom ever - (tagging my name)" It was a post from my son, Jarred.

This is why I love being a Mom...why I'll do it over and over again despite the challenges, sacrifices and hardships...because little things like this make everything else so worth it.

It was truly a wonderful Mother's Day for me.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all mothers, mommies, mamas, nanays and inays!

Day 115: I'm Two Today!!!

2011-04-25T21:34:00.001+08:00

Time really flies so fast...wasn't it only yesterday when our cutie-pie CeeJae made her grand entrance into the world? Well, it's already two years since then and she's grown into a very witty and a parrot-like chatterbox. When you hear her talking you wouldn't believe that she's only two...she talks wise beyond her years.

A week before her special day, whenever Mama Lola would ask her what she'd like for her birthday, she'd reply with a list of specific requests - chocolate cake, spaghetti, balloon and ice cream.

And so with the support of her Ninongs (godfathers) JunJun and Jeffrey, Mama Lola Alice, Papa Lolo Fred, she got her wishes today. With family around her, she blew the number 2 candle on her Orange Brutus Chocolate Monster cake and had a feast of Spaghetti, Roast Chicken Rosemary and Baked Pork Liempo.

It was a simple celebration and yet to her it meant the world.

Thank you so much Lord for all the blessings you've bestowed upon our little angel throughout the past year.

Day 114:"Dirt Bike" Fun

2011-04-24T21:11:00.004+08:00

Eyes widened in awe and excitement when my two older kids saw a bunch of other children going around a makeshift track using battery-operated kiddie dirt bikes. Back in Butuan, they usually spent whole-day weekend playdates at Jarred's best buddy Francis' home to experience such a ride.

Well, it's a lot different here in the city...first, the ride doesn't come free - it's P35 per child and second, it's not ride-all-you-can - your money can only get you as far as 5 minutes on the bike.

Since it was their first time and it wasn't something they would be allowed to do frequently, I thought it wouldn't hurt to let them experience it even just for once. Those precious five minutes seemed to last a lifetime as I watched them do the rounds on the track. The joy and the thrill that was evident on their faces was worth more than the seventy pesos paid for the ride.

Day 113: A Birthday Prelude

2011-04-23T20:05:00.004+08:00

Our bunsoy will be turning two years old in a couple of days. Since this is her first time to celebrate in Cebu, the family thought of giving her an advanced "day out" treat at SM Cebu.

We entered through the Northwing entrance and it was clear that little CeeJae was overwhelmed by the sheer size of the mall. Her eyes widened and she seemed a bit afraid to explore. When asked, "Do you like it here?" she moved her head side to side in negation while she would nod in the affirmative when asked, "Do you want to go to Gaisano-Butuan?" Hay, my little promdi-girl!!!

We thought she'd be interested in the SM Storyland Train ride but she got kind of scared when it passed by. What caught her attention were the little tikes cars for rent going around the mall.

She got very excited getting into the driver seat of her very own "pick-up truck". Atchie Caitlin had to content herself at the backseat while Kuya Jarred was tasked to push them around the mall.

A couple of hours making rounds in the mall capped with a simple snack at McDonald's made her day. When we passed by the entryway of Northwing, she suddenly pointed to it and said, "Go home, Mom...tired, miss Lola". When asked if she enjoyed her day, she gave a resounding, "Yes!!!"

It was just a simple day out with the whole family and yet through the eyes of a toddler, it was a magical and amazing day. This is one of the reasons why I love promdi life and exposing my kids to it. A trip to SM is already something very special when it's just an ordinary thing to most city-bred children.

Day 111: Reflecting on God's Amazing Love

2011-04-21T22:32:00.006+08:00

Today is Maundy Thursday and it's an opportune time to ponder on God's immense love for us. He sent His only son Jesus Christ to redeem us from sin. From the very beginning, Jesus knew that He was going to give up His life for us - for our redemption.

God has given us the chance to spend eternal life with Him. The only thing He's asking from us is repentance and belief in His word.

We only need to think about Jesus' passion and pain to realize how much God loves us.

May the spirit of the Lenten Season fill our lives with the true meaning of love and sacrifice.

Have a blessed Holy Week!

Day 106: Entrance Exam

2011-04-16T21:53:00.002+08:00

I'm so sure hubby and I were the more anxious ones today during our children's entrance exam at BCS. We might as well be the ones taking the exam as evidenced by clammy hands and sweaty foreheads. Our daughter, Caitlin breezed through her preschool test by confidently following the teacher's instructions and answering the paper test in front of her.

This was so unlike my very own experience 33 years ago when my parents took me to Maryknoll CSC for the entrance test. They brought me to the school a total of three times - the first two were unsuccessful attempts to let me take the exam as I would be kicking and screaming upon being ushered into the room. During the third and final attempt (which turned out to be the last chance to take the test), my Mom gave the ultimatum - if I didn't willingly go with the teacher to take the exam, I won't be able to go to school. Well, I went in, took the test and came out grinning from ear-to-ear half an hour later. I remember my parents telling the story of what I said upon emerging from the examination room, "Hay, ganun lang pala yun exam, may mga tanong lang...akala ko naman parang injection sa doktor yun..." - classic epic fail of my preschool life.

As incoming Grade Two, I'm sure nothing prepared our son, Jarred, for the two-hour, more than 10-page test he encountered this morning. If he was nervous or afraid, you wouldn't see it...he faced the challenge head on and didn't give up until he finished all pages (despite feeling some pangs of hunger midway through the exam).

My hats off to the resilience and tenacity of children today...they're growing up more confident and ready for the world compared to how we were when we were their age.

The exam results won't be in until after Holy Week...until then, we will just keep praying that God's will be done. Everything is in God's hands now...

Day 97: Movie Date

2011-04-07T23:23:00.001+08:00

Thanks to a couple of movie passes courtesy of my brother-in-law Jeff, my son and I were able to have a movie date at the SM Cinemas.

Having lived in the more laid-back places in the Philippines for the past 9 years, I was in shock to discover that cinema prices in the city are now at a minimum of P170/head. It would even go up to twice that if the movie were 3D or ultra special. Wow!!!

Well, unless we'll be gifted with complimentary theater tickets, regular movie dates will certainly not be in our family's list of bonding activities. It is simply much too expensive for us.

For today, it was an entirely new experience for Jarred as it was his first time to watch in a topnotch theater. He was in awe of the size of the movie house, plush seats and clean smell. He was excited to see the animated film "Rio", a feature about a domesticated blue macaw from mid-west United States who gets the adventure of a lifetime when he travels to Rio de Janeiro to reunite with the only other survivor of his species, the feisty and independent Jewel. It was a great blend of comedy, drama, romance and music - all working together to impart an important message about preserving the environment, reaching for your dreams, never giving up and love in the family.

Jarred couldn't stop laughing during the hilarious parts and would freely tap his feet and snap his fingers during song numbers. At times, I would see him shy away during tender and romantic parts (wow, they understand about that already?). Before the movie ended, he told me that his two sisters would certainly enjoy the movie but he knew it was far too expensive for our family. He just said that they should just all wait for it to show on HBO or Star Movies.

As we were leaving the theater hall, he noticed a big billboard featuring Disney's "Cars 2" in 3D. He knew 3D would be much more pricey than the regular P180 ticket. He said, "I wonder when Cars 2 would come out. Mom, when it does, can we watch? I'll save up for it so that we can all watch. I can keep my allowance and maybe by then, I'll have enough for the movie." All I could do was say, "We'll see son...that's still too far away to think about..."

Day 92: Freshly Boiled

2011-04-02T17:46:00.002+08:00

After many months of culinary hiatus, I found myself spending more time in the kitchen in just a span of 3 days. I realized that cooking is certainly just like riding a bike, once you learn how to do it, you have it for life.

I was like a kid let loose in a candy store when I discovered a nearby weekend market along an alley. Fresh produce - fruits and vegetables, live native chicken and eggs, and a whole lot of other good stuff were so enticing to see (watch out for my blog entry on this weekend market).

I only had a few pesos stashed in my pocket, thinking that I was only planning to buy ingredients for a couple of vegetable dishes - Squash and String Beans in Coconut Milk (Guinataang Kalabasa at Sitaw) and Chop Suey. Those farm fresh native eggs were so tempting that I couldn't help but want to buy a couple or so. However, my daughter spotted a vendor selling freshly harvested peanuts and dragged me to the stall and insisted I buy some. And so, the moolah I was supposedly saving to buy the eggs went to the peanuts...

My little girl was a happy camper on the way home...

Day 91: Weekend Market

2011-04-01T17:19:00.003+08:00

The weekend market along the corner of Ramos Extension and Escario Streets.
It begins every Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon.

Barely on my second day after our move from BXU, I started to miss home terribly...the familiar places, the traffic-free roads, the corner stores and outlets where I buy our needs, and all the other stuff I'm used to there. Well, my spirits got an uplift when I was told of this weekend market nearby (across the road from where we live actually) that's teeming with fresh produce - fruits, vegetables, live chicken, farm fresh eggs.

After learning about it, I couldn't contain my excitement and actually rushed to the location with my two girls in tow. It was indeed a sight to behold! Just looking at the cornucopia of goodies made my fingers itch to once again experiment in the kitchen.

The only downside to this neighborly trip is the price...I was taken aback at how expensive it is here. Well, if I got the stuff in the supermarket, surely it'll be more pricey so this was the best alternative. Gosh!!! I so miss the "bagsak-presyo" produce of Butuan!!! Imagine, here, the bananas are priced per piece and not per kilo. There goes my kids' favorite fruit...we'd probably consume dramatically less here than we did back home...

With my small eco bag filled with as much as my budget would allow, I set for home, quickly planning in my head the cooking trip I'll have this weekend...dum dee dum...

Day 89: From Moving In to Moving On...

2011-03-30T21:26:00.005+08:00

The week passed by like a blur...it was hustling and bustling here and there desperately trying to beat time and yet yearning deep inside that time stand still even for just one week...one day...one hour...one minute.

As the last pieces of furniture and boxes got fitted into our 10-footer container, the closing of the van door shook me to the reality that we were finally closing the door to this chapter in our lives. Four years of memories are now contained in that small 10-foot space.

I clutched the bunch of house keys tightly right before turning them over to our landlord. Tears were blurring my eyes as I took a final glance at the home we've known for the past four years...the only one that became a true home for us.

It was a wonderful time that will now be forever etched in our hearts.

Here's a trip down memory lane to that time in March 2007 when we first moved in...we've come a long way since those initial home design ideas and weekend projects...

Day 88: Lolo Joe and Lola Cora

2011-03-29T19:57:00.004+08:00

During our last three days in Butuan, we were "adopted" by our very generous and hospitable BCBP brother and sister, spouses Joe and Cora. Those last few days with them allowed us to have a haven and respite while we were moving out and packing up our things from our home.

No words of gratitude would ever measure up in response to the generosity of this couple. They made sure the kids and I were provided for in terms of comfort, safety and sustenance. They even went the extra mile to lend a hand in the packing and stuffing of our boxes and furniture.

The children would surely miss their Lolo Joe and Lola Cora...

On a personal note, I do praise God that He allowed us to be a part of a wonderful community that is the BCBP. A month or two before our scheduled move to Cebu, it was simply difficult to comprehend how possible it was for us to afford the expenses of such a move, not to mention that I was left alone with the kids to make it work. Through the kind and generous hearts of our many BCBP brothers and sisters, everything was made possible. God worked His miracle through them. What was impossible became a reality...

Many thanks to our BCBP-Butuan family!!!

Bro. Jensen and Sis. Grace - for the wonderful assistance, support and mileage you extended to us...we will forever be grateful

Bro. Mark and Sis. Joy - for being great sounding boards to me during my "anxiety attack" periods, for always being there ready to assist us in whatever we needed...many thanks

Bro. Francis and Sis. Marilou - for just being there as our constant Sunday "churchmates" at Miraculous Medal Chapel...your presence every Sunday helped keep me grounded...

Bro. Jeffrey and Sis. Manette - for the opportunities given to the kids to have some fun just before our move...those events gave some semblance of "family" during our 6-month separation from Jerome

Sis. Ched - for the boxes and always being ready to lend us a hand whenever we needed one...

Bro. Val and Sis. Langga - for the quiet nurturing and spiritual guidance you've given us over the past year...we take the learnings and insights with us wherever we go

Bro. Ben and Sis. Eden - for your inspiring messages and words of encouragement...

to our BCLP-12 family:

Bro. Nonoy and Sis. Belen - though we don't see each other often, the strong bond of friendship can be felt every time...thank you for the prayers and advice

Sis. Lotlot, Sis. Fe and Sis. Delia - your strength as women continue to inspire me to continue to evolve into a much stronger woman...your points of view were indeed something I needed to view things from a different perspective

Bro. Nilo - your cheerful disposition and constant presence has made every breakfast and AGM alive and interesting...

Bro. Cris - your steadfast faith despite the tremendous trials that have come your way continue to be our living example of how we should live our Christ-centered lives...

and to the entire BCBP-Butuan community...thank you for always being there, constantly living your Christian lives so that we can derive inspiration and lessons from them...we will miss all of you!

...until we meet again...God bless you all!

Day 77: After-School Fun

2011-03-18T19:33:00.001+08:00

After the week-long fourth quarter exams, the kids let off some steam, kick back their heels and enjoy a brief afternoon playing tag. Hearing the loud shrieks and screams of my two daughters made my heart leap for joy knowing that they feel so at home surrounded by their Kuya's classmates and friends.

Day 75: A Decade of LOVE

2011-03-16T00:42:00.001+08:00

TEN YEARS

...of love

...of passion

...of respect

...of understanding

...of continuous learning and re-learning

It sure seems only yesterday when I vowed to love, cherish and respect that one person I chose to spend the rest of my life with. Then, ten years seemed light years away...

...and yet, here we are a decade later

...in love

...bumped and bruised

...bitten without being shy

...a hundredfold blessed

...modeled and shaped

...to continue living and loving

...to share God's love

...and inspire others to do the same

Time flew so fast and I enjoyed the wild ride immensely...

I can't wait to spend countless decades more with you...my only ONE...Jerome.

Happy Anniversary!!!

Our Ten Years of being TWOgether

Day 73: My Last Hurrah as a Thirtysomething

2011-03-14T18:00:00.007+08:00

Just looking at the pictures highlighting the past year of my life made me realize how time truly flies so fast. It seemed only yesterday when I celebrated my 38th birthday and now here comes another natal day, making me one year older. This is going to be my last year in the thirties and it seems that everything else in my life seem to be at the end of a chapter or ending (more on that in later posts, don't worry).

I've had a tremendous outpouring of blessings all throughout this year and the biggest one of them all was finally realizing what being a Christian truly means and having a personal relationship with the Lord God. He has opened the floodgates of my mind and heart to His word and promise of eternal life. And it is now that I realize how difficult it is to live life once you get closer to Him. He will test and challenge you all the time to know whether you're His true disciple or not. It might be weird to understand how this can be considered as my greatest blessing this year but it truly is...As I continue to be tested, rocked and shaken, I get molded and reshaped in the process. I am now a work in progress...having a lot of downs than ups but still trying to get up each time I fall.

Lately, I've allowed myself to be troubled and afraid of these things that signal the end of certain parts of my life. God knows I've wallowed in so much fear, anxiety, grief and self-pity already. Known to be a natural pessimist, I can't seem to get my thoughts to be positive about what's in store in the future. While things seem to be going on south, I have the tendency to think that it's all downhill from here...

Now that I'm facing the big 40 just around the corner there, my biggest wish and fervent prayer is that God helps create in me a more positive outlook, one that is bold enough to look at the future and say "I'm ready, bring it on!!!". I hope that He continues to allay all my fears and allows me to believe that indeed when He closes a door, He opens a window.

The greatest sign that He is just around, ready to take me under His care was already manifested early today, when my Facebook wall and mobile phone filled up with a barrage of greetings and well wishes. Knowing that I am loved by family, relatives, friends and loved ones boosts my confidence to face another year of my life. Your overwhelming show of love, support and care will keep me going. My heartfelt gratitude to all of you for remembering and keeping me in your hearts and minds.

Finally, to know how deeply I am loved by those closest to my heart makes everything worthwhile and meaningful. With them by my side, I know I can overcome anything...

This is hubby's birthday gift to me...I was in tears from start to finish...such a precious gift of love...

This time from my two girls...what a great birthday gift!

Day 71: Zoomin' at LTO

2011-03-12T16:07:00.000+08:00

I was able to take a quick glance at my driver's license about two weeks ago and was shocked to see that it was going to be expiring this year. Time sure flies so fast...it seems only a year ago when I renewed it and now I have to go through that LTO process once again. My experiences in the past have already given me the impression that renewing one's driver's license would normally take a whole day to process plus a waiting period of no less than three months for the card-type license to be released.

Imagine my surprise when I breezed through LTO-Butuan from 10:45-11:20 am only. Well, if you include the medical check up and drug test, it took a total of one hour and fifteen minutes. I've never experienced a process as organized and smooth-flowing as this in the many years I've been renewing my license.

Having a color-coded number also made it easier for the public to know who's next in line at what station. Another thing that was quite remarkable was how friendly all the staff were...definitely no grumpy Manangs or Manongs here.

I can say that technology has indeed made things so much easier and more convenient at the LTO...I'm one happy customer!

Day 70: The Earth Gets Shaken

2011-03-11T22:24:00.010+08:00

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

- Isaiah 54:10

Photo courtesy of The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Google Maps

I was in shock when I got wind of the breaking news at CNN about a strong earthquake near the coast of Honshu in Japan today at about half past one in the afternoon (PHL time). Since then, my eyes and ears were glued on the tube wanting to know what's been happening in that part of the world.

Since most of my students now are based in Japan, I couldn't help but get worried for them and say a silent prayer for their safety. I kept on wondering how scary it must be for them going through the ordeal of such a great earthquake. Being right smack in the Pacific Ring of Fire, Japan is on top in terms of preparedness for these kinds of situations but I don't think anyone is really prepared for such an eventuality. Fear, shock and panic would always be there and my heart goes out to everyone suffering this unexpected tragedy.

This event truly brought me to my senses when only a couple of days ago, I was feeling a bit low when I saw pictures of a childhood friend's housewarming. I felt a twinge of pain at the contrast in our lives - my friend, accomplished both professionally and financially whereas I, almost slumped on the ground in debt and nothing materially substantial to show for. Then this calamity hit...and seeing houses, cars, boats, huge properties and mass farmlands being eaten up by waters caused by the tsunamis made me realize how everything can disappear in an instant. And hubby's words shook me to the core - "He who has less, worries less." I was so ashamed of myself for falling prey to the weakness of materialism and envy.

For all those affected by this unbelievable tragedy, it must be heart-wrenching to see the huge damage to their property but truly, nothing is more devastating than seeing lives lost amid this calamity. After all, it is not the material things in our lives that really matter but our lives and how we live them.

Let us continue to pray that God envelops us in His mighty protective love and spare us from imminent dangers looming in the future. And though there may be madness, chaos and fear, we have to trust that our Lord God is in control...He will never forsake us.

Day 64: Burger Madness

2011-03-05T10:49:00.000+08:00

The photos say it all!!! My litle CeeJae loves her burger...and she doesn't care much for the brand...be it Jollibee, McDonald's or the neighborhood "buy 1 take 1" deal (as shown here). Give her a burger and she'll devour it...

Day 63: Techy Demise

2011-03-04T22:06:00.001+08:00

I brought out my Motorola V3X today to charge it. After the usual 1.5 hours of charging, I turned it on but was surprised to find out that it powers off before fully initializing. I tried to turn the switch on and off a few times and the result was the same. After some time, I had to accept that maybe my old buddy has reached the end of its journey.

This gadget of mine is pretty memorable and and sentimental. I bought it from the money I saved from my very first online teaching stint back in 2006. Back then it cost about P11,000. I purposely chose this model (after being a loyal Nokia user for many years) because I was so much into the series "24" back then and it was one of the popular mobile phone models I would see on the show.

I'm not sure if I'd try another Motorola model in the future but memories of my V3X would stay with me for a long time...

Day 62: All About BXU - Orange as Orange Gets (3rd of a series)

2011-03-03T15:56:00.001+08:00

Once you enter the city boundary of Butuan, you will know that you've arrived once you spot these bright orange-colored motorized tricycles on the road. These heavy-bodied trikes are the primary means of transport around the city. I believe they're even more popular than the multicabs that ply the city's specific routes. These orange things will get you almost anywhere within the city limit and even right to your doorstep. The only place these are prohibited to pass by is along J.C. Aquino Avenue. For P6/ride it is quite a cheap way to go around...that is if you don't mind smelling like exhaust at the end of your ride.

Day 61: All About BXU - Malling Promdi-style (2nd of a series)

2011-03-02T21:51:00.001+08:00

Mall of Asia it is definitely NOT!!! However, it is the only mall-type store that can be found in Butuan. Having grown up in Quezon City, I'm used to seeing big malls all over the city...from SM to Robinson's to Ayala...and the malls get bigger and bigger every year.

The Gaisano Mall of Butuan is a pretty small shopping center that surprisingly served its purpose for my family for the past four years. Despite its size, it had mostly all the basic foodstuff that we would need on a monthly basis. Of course, it didn't have specialty stuff like fresh herbs, imported flavorings (if you wanted authentic Italian meals) and a lot of choices for meats, fruits and vegetables but the basic stuff were there. Overall, it was good enough.

Because it didn't have that many stalls and features, we rarely spend long periods of time here...it's more of "grab and go home" for us. When the kids want to have their arcade fix, there's a small one at the top floor offering rides and games for only P5 a pop. Comparing with the more popular Timezone, this was a steal. Well, the rides and games are old...what do you expect for the price, eh? But they make the kids happy and that's what's important.

This is really a stark comparison to what happens on a weekend in NCR and in the provinces...most families would be seen malling and spending countless hours at MOA, Boni High Street, Megamall, Shangri-la Mall or Robinson's whereas here in the province, the mall serves as just a place where we source out our foodstuff/clothing needs. Most families still spend a large part of the weekend either at home or in the outdoors (beach, mountains and the like).

Day 60: All About BXU - The City (first of a series)

2011-03-01T21:29:00.008+08:00

BUTUAN CITY Map (courtesy of Google Maps)

It was in March of 2007 when I first set foot in Butuan City. It is located in the province of Agusan del Norte, in the CARAGA region. I wasn't too keen about this place when I initially found out that we were going to be assigned here after living in General Santos City for 5 years. I've heard a lot of feedback about Butuan and most of the information I gathered centered on the fact that it was not as urban as GenSan. I, of course, dreaded the fact that we were probably be moving to such a laid-back and "barriotic" place.

Well, I soon discovered that it is all that...and more.

Butuan City has a total land area of roughly 817 sq. km. and a population of 307,942. Due to its proximity to Cebu, the widely-spoken dialect is Cebuano while Butuanon and Tagalog are also popular dialects.

At first I was surprised to see that there were only quite a handful of famous fast food places here...with Jollibee and McDonald's topbilling the very short list. What became more appealing to me as time passed by were the presence of local eating places that are considered to be pillars in the city. I shall try to introduce these places one at a time, later on in this series.

What Butuan lacked in terms of "pop culture", it more than made up for in terms of the rustic, laid-back and relaxed way of life it offered. Staying in this place made me appreciate being at home more and actually cut back on my "lakwatsa" tendencies.

As I go along this series, you will learn more about Butuan...the place I call home.

Day 56: EDSA Boy to Freedom Man

2011-02-25T22:33:00.001+08:00

Even before February 25 became a memorable date to millions of Filipinos, it was already a special one in our family. Thirty years ago, on February 25, 1981, my parents' unico hijo and my only brother, was born. He was a "pahabol" baby, surprising both Mommy and Daddy, since they never expected to still conceive six years after my younger sister was born. In many ways, he was the miracle that Daddy was hoping and praying for...a boy to carry on his name.

Christened PAULO REY NIÑO, his name was carefully chosen and had a lot of meaning. PAULO - to commemorate the visit of the late Pope John Paul II to the Philippines just a few days prior to his birth; REY - obviously named after Dad without having to add a "Junior" to his name and NIÑO - as a reminder of Mom and Dad's devotion to the Sto. Niño.

Onin (family nickname), was fortunate to be born at a time when the family's finances were at a boom. "Lavished upon" would probably be an understatement to the kind of lifestyle that he grew up in. Whatever he wanted or needed, he got. He was doted upon by everyone. Despite all the attention and material things bestowed upon him, he grew up relatively well-mannered and quite innocent. He may have been spoiled but he didn't grow up to be a brat. I might have a reservation or two about his being brought up too sheltered and protected but all in all, my parents did the best they could.

He was my sidekick during my college days, oftentimes hanging out with me at the Buklod-Isip tambayan whenever I pick him up from the Ateneo Grade School. I have plenty of memories from that time in our lives and I choose to dwell on them rather than get distracted by the harsh realities of now.

In the past 8 years or so, Onin has undergone two tremendous heartbreaks, both incidences having endings that are much too alike. It is the kindhearted part of him that gets broken and it continues to pain me knowing this. Despite his shortcomings and weaknesses, he certainly didn't deserve to be treated the way he did. Most would probably give up after suffering such powerful blows in life, but Onin remains strong, steadfast and upright.

It is this strength in him that I see which makes me believe he is definitely capable of doing great things in his life - if only he believes it and acts with bold faith in God and himself. At this important milestone in his life - the big 30, may it signify his transformation from being identified as EDSA Boy to Freedom Man. As I've mentioned to him many times before, he needs to spread his wings and just fly.

To dearest Onin - Happy 30th Birthday!!! May God continue to work His miracles in your life and give you the true desires of your heart...Ate loves you very much!

Day 51: Spaghetti Sunday

2011-02-20T23:47:00.049+08:00

My three kids are typical youngsters who love Pinoy-style spaghetti. It's no wonder that it's on top of their minds whenever we pass by the towering signages of either Jollibee or McDonald's. However, ever since discovering that a typical meal at any of these two outlets would cost our brood of five at least P350, we've tried to lessen, if not eliminate, going there for meals.

The last time the kids were treated to their fave spaghetti was over the Christmas holidays in Cebu. I knew they'd love a spaghetti weekend so I tried to fit the meal budget so that I can prepare their favorite. Looking for frugal means to still enjoy a childhood favorite, I discovered that using certain ingredients could still make a mean spaghetti without being too expensive. Instead of ground beef, I use CDO corned beef that's being sold per kg at the grocery. By substituting such, I can still afford to add mushrooms and hotdogs to the recipe. As for the hotdogs, I use the secondary hotdog line of a famous brand - in this instance, instead of the CDO premium Bibbo brand, I use their Idol brand. The kids would barely notice the difference since it's mixed in the sauce anyway. With a budget of P260.00, I was able to make enough spaghetti that stretched to three meals. The first two meals were with pasta and the third one was with rice already as the pasta ran out. Not bad eh?

As you can see, the kids had bulging bellies after eating and it was "clean plate" all the way!

Day 46: Love Overflows

2011-02-15T10:00:00.000+08:00

As the two girls and I picked up Kuya from school yesterday, he proudly presented us with a Valentine craft he did during English class. Two hearts mounted on a popsicle stick, it was such a beautiful Valentine's gift knowing that he poured out his heart and love into it.

Before I could take a photo of all of us with it, little CeeJae already took the liberty of "tasting" the heart by biting off a teeny weeny piece off one heart. Maybe she thought it was a chocolate heart or something eh?

Day 45: I Carry Your Heart

2011-02-14T13:28:00.003+08:00

Today is Valentine's Day and since hubby and I won't be able to spend it together, I'll venture out of the obvious romanticism associated with this day and instead focus on the other meaning of Valentine's for me and my family.

Here is a 5-year old blog entry on my old blog which paid tribute to my sister on her birthday. So on her Valentine birthday today, I re-publish it to let her know that I continue to carry her heart with me...I carry it in my heart, always.

Day 43: Her Father's Daughter

2011-02-12T16:47:00.001+08:00

For the past several weeks, I would let my youngest daughter tag along whenever I attended the BCBP Joint Breakfast. I noticed that she has already learned the usual mechanics upon entering the breakfast venue. She'll be the one to hold on to the meal ticket and would also get her Dad's name tag for her to wear. CeeJae likes to be the one to choose which meal to eat too and gladly hands over the ticket to the server after making her choice.

The BCBP breakfast is one she eats with gusto, especially when there's an egg cooked sunny-side-up and ripe banana for dessert.

Here you will see how proudly she wears her Dad's name tag...and with that look on her face, she's truly her father's daughter.

Day 42: It's A Small World (shìjiè zhēn xiǎo)

2011-02-11T22:34:00.001+08:00

After a week's delay due to the massive flooding in Butuan, the Chinese New Year's presentation of the students of Butuan Faith Christian School finally pushed through today. Nothing prepared me for the amazingly majestic showcase of dances and song that the entire student body spent weeks and weeks of practice on while under the able tutelage of their teachers and advisers. From the way the audience reacted after every number, it was obvious that they were blown away. Well, you be the judge...here are the different performances of the talented students of BFCS...

Day 34: Under the Covers

2011-02-03T23:30:00.001+08:00

Kuya Jarred decides to just chill surrounded by pillows

You really have to hand it to children's imaginations whenever they are left to have fun using the simplest things.

Right before bedtime, my three rugrats seize the opportunity to horse around for a while using pillows and bedcovers. So, take a sneak peek at what happens in our room at night...

Cutesy CeeJae plays hide-n-seek

Sweet Caitlin is on hyperdrive

Day 32: Juana Change - A CHANGE OF HEART

2011-02-01T22:16:00.001+08:00

Juana Change is at it again!

This time the tables are turned...she's doing the satire on the very person she chose to support during last year's elections.

By the looks of things, she fully regrets that decision...

Day 30: So you wanna be a chef eh?

2011-01-30T21:42:00.002+08:00

"I want to do that, Mom" were the six words I heard my only son speak when he saw the very first episode of Junior MasterChef Australia. Then he kept repeating, "I want to be a junior MasterChef too, Mom."

So how does a Mom react to that? Well, my son has always been fascinated with food, at least eating it. I never considered him being interested in cooking although I've noticed he'd always ask things whenever he finds me doing something in the kitchen.

I thought it was wonderful that he's beginning to take interest in cooking so I told him that if he really wanted to be MasterChef, he needed to learn one of the most basic cooking skills - boiling rice. He pretty much did a great job the first time that he's gotten used to cooking the rice for dinner and weekends now.

A few days ago, I found out that there's actually auditions going around for the Pinoy edition of Junior MasterChef and I thought that maybe under my tutelage, I can get Jarred ready to actually join the contest in the next year or so. Who knows? Maybe my son is destined to be a chef...not bad eh?

Day 8: BCBP Thanksgiving Day

2011-01-08T22:43:00.001+08:00

To herald the new year, BCBP-Butuan held a thanksgiving day today at Embassy Hotel. It began with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist and ended with a simple dinner. The event also coincided with the installation of the Governance members of the chapter. It was a great time to give thanks for the wonderful blessings God has bestowed upon the brotherhood and its members and also the opportunity to hope and pray that the coming year will be fruitful in the quest of bringing Christ back into the marketplace.

Day 7: Sunshine

2011-01-07T19:00:00.001+08:00

After a week-long battle with heavy rains and cool weather, the sun decided to finally peek out and give us some glorious rays of shine.

It's truly a welcome treat as I've been feeling drab already with such gloomy weather. Besides, we'll soon be running out of clothes to wear as we can't do the laundry for fear that they won't dry properly.

Hello sunshine! It's great to see you again!

Day 6: Fairy Godmother

2011-01-06T22:28:00.001+08:00

Little CeeJae got a little surprise in the mail today. Her Ninang Farah sent her a lovely burgundy dress with matching white tights.

It was indeed such a Christmasy gift...CeeJae said "Wow!" upon seeing the package...

Thank you Ninang!!!

Day 5: I Love Papaya!!!

2011-01-05T23:25:00.003+08:00

Due to the incessant rains today, afternoon classes were suspended so I had to fetch Jarred from school at midday.

Upon arriving home, he checked out the fridge for something he could snack on and he discovered the papaya slices that were chilling inside. He quickly took a spoon and started to munch on this pretty healthy snack.

I told him that papaya is a rich source of Vitamin A which is good for the eyes and that made him even more excited to finish the plateful of fruit in front of him.

Day 4: A Reunion of Sorts

2011-01-04T21:53:00.001+08:00

When hubby and I were still dating, there was a hole-in-the-wall batchoy place that we would frequent in the Capitol area in Cebu. It was called Carlo's Batchoy. It was just an open-air outlet where people from all walks of life would frequent to get their fix of hot, steaming batchoy.

Shortly after arriving in Cebu for the holidays, I wandered off to the place where I knew Carlo's was located and was surprised to find out it wasn't there anymore. It took two more days of leisurely walking along the Capitol-Fuente area to discover where this batchoyan eventually moved to. Well, it underwent a face-lift and is now an air-conditioned place located at the row of stalls called "Boulevard". The price of a bowl of special batchoy with egg didn't change from years ago...what changed though is the serving size and the amount of "goodies" in every bowl.

This short rendezvous at an old familiar place also gave us the opportunity to bond as a family even for just a brief moment. There was laughter, loud exchanges of everyday experiences - from the funny issues at work to mundane ones like taxi escapades. On our way home, we couldn't pass up not having some shots of the Cebu Capitol building at night. Passersby and motorists probably thought we were some crazy bunch roaming the streets but they didn't know we were a family finally having a long-awaited reunion.

Day 3: My Little Troopers

2011-01-03T21:40:00.003+08:00

The end of vacation is never something anyone looks forward to...in fact, it is dreaded by all! In the Philippines, where Christmas and New Year are the longest holidays of the year, Filipinos always wish the vacation was one day longer.

Well, school resumes today, hence the rush to go back home. I was still contemplating on extending our Cebu vacation 2-3 days longer and am I glad I didn't succumb to the temptation or else we would've been stuck or stranded somewhere due to the nonstop rains and flooding all the way home to Butuan.

My troop of 3 young ones proved themselves brave and ready for anything. The actual boat ride from Cebu to Surigao was actually a breeze, with all three of them on their best behavior. I'm glad it was a day trip which took only about 6 hours compared to the usual 10-12. It was already raining very hard when we docked at Surigao and we had no choice but to don our hooded jackets and disembark. Only our jackets were soaked when we finally made it on the bus bound for Butuan. The kids were mostly asleep throughout the 2.5 hour bus ride. Heavy rains greeted us at the terminal and we were fortunate to get a tricycle to bring us all the way home. Soaked and hungry, we finally arrived home safe and sound early last night. A quick bath, change of clothes and some leftover "baon" as dinner, we snuggled together in bed basking in the cool, rainy weather. Thank you God for keeping us safe!

Day 2: Mommy Dearest

2011-01-02T20:44:00.002+08:00

Today is Mommy's 65th birthday. She's going on her 4th straight year in Canada so we'll be missing her so much on her special day. The last time Mommy went home was when I gave birth to my first daughter, Caitlin which was in 2006. Since then, Skype and Google Talk has been our main means of communicating with each other.

As I journey in my life as a homemaker, I begin to realize how difficult it was for Mom then...raising three children while juggling her very busy life as a pediatrician. She has made so many sacrifices for her family and I wish she could spend more time here in the Philippines and with my kids.

Words can never be enough to express the gratitude I feel for all the love, care and sacrifice Mom has showered on me...ours may not have been a smooth-sailing mother-daughter relationship but I'm glad I was able to realize how greatly misunderstood Mommy was all these years. I wish I could make it up to her by spending more time being with her.

I love you MOMMY!!! Happy Birthday! May the Lord continue to bless you with good health, joy and peace!

Day 1: Looking Forward in 2011

2011-01-01T16:33:00.002+08:00

The year 2010 marked my first time to embark on a 365 project and although I was unable to complete all 365 entries for the year, I still had a pretty good compilation of life events from last year. It was challenging but quite fulfilling. Doing project365 became a second wind of sorts - I was able to get my groove back in terms of writing, my photography skill was definitely improved and I have so many images and memories captured in daily doses of my life story.

On the family front, the past year was all about bonding and being together. It also marked the deepening of our faith and trust in the Lord. Somehow, 2010 was in preparation for greater challenges ahead.

Twenty-eleven will bring many changes, most would probably test me personally but I know that these are all part of God's plan for the family. I haven't fully accepted what will happen in the future but I know I need to eventually and when that time comes, I will be ready.

"Dear Lord,

Thank You for strengthening our family ties the past year. We give You glory and honor for all the blessings You have bestowed upon us every single day. May we continue to serve You the best we can this coming year. We offer You all that we have and all that we are...And everything we do, we do for Your glory. Amen."

Day 361: A Reunion with Friends

2010-12-27T23:54:00.001+08:00

I always look forward to reuniting with my ex-Aboitiz 'family' in Cebu. In my 3-year stint in the Queen City, these ladies became my family. Living away from home was indeed difficult but being with my gal pals made it easier and quite fun. We've been through a lot, our friendships tested and we've all passed with flying colors!

Having our own families and other interests have made meeting up far less in between and so whenever there is an opportunity, we grab it and make sure we make time for each other. Due to some scheduling conflicts, our ISM Queen and her brood couldn't make it and we surely missed her this time around.

The night was filled with good food, great talk, much laughter, amazing issues and Guinness records of sorts (all revolving around degrees and women's handbags). Even the kids had a blast getting to know each other and bonding. By the end of the night, my kids refused to go home and were asking if they could still play with pals, Elle and Jaz.

As with our usual get togethers, time is always too short, where stories were abundant and lengthy...it was a wonderful night filled with so much fun, camaraderie and love. There's so much to look forward to this coming new year...I'm sure we'll be given more opportunities to meet and catch up stories.

Day 359: A Roden Family Christmas

2010-12-25T21:40:00.001+08:00

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year to remember the birth of a very special baby...the Messiah, our Savior Jesus Christ, who was sent by our heavenly Father to redeem us from our sins. In years past, I've been engulfed by the commercial value of the season, only looking at the lovely decors, lights and presents and never truly understanding the real reason for celebration.

In recent years, I've been gradually stripping off the material girl in me and trying to live sufficiently on the most basic of necessities. I find that I can be happy as long as I can make my family happy - by simply being wifey and Mommy. I find joy in preparing gastronomic delights for them, seriously looking forward to their verdict ala "Iron Chef". "You're a good 'cooker', Mom!" is always music to my ears.

This year, there is no tree, no decorations, lanterns nor garlands...in fact, you won't find wrapped presents anywhere. Even the kids were conscious about prevailing economics and did not ask what they were going to receive but focused on what they could give. On Christmas day, the most they got were loot bags of candies and small party favors. Their Titos gifted them with shirts that they were obviously very thankful for. And yet, their joy was not any less compared to Christmases past. If, at all, they seem to have more fun this year, being surrounded by family.

It is all about family...love and togetherness...the very reason of Christ's humble birth. May your own Christmas holidays be filled with Christ's love, joy and peace.

From our family to yours....MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Day 357: Cousin Bonding

2010-12-23T11:50:00.003+08:00

As predicted, it was indeed utter riot and chaos once the kids met up with their cousin Eejah. Loud shrieks, laughter and pitter-patter of feet permeated throughout the house as the children made up for lost time and played as if there was no tomorrow.

It was really unfortunate for those in the graveyard shift since they couldn't catch up on needed zzzzz's during daytime as the children would keep on shouting, laughing and running around. Well, I'm sure they'll manage eventually...LOL!

Day 355: Best buddies invade Cebu!

2010-12-21T20:19:00.000+08:00

When we found out that Jarred's best buddy, Francis would be passing by Cebu en route to SG, we couldn't pass up the opportunity for them to meet up and enjoy some time together before the mad rush of the holiday season.

For a few hours they were able to spend some time playing at Timezone (which I discovered could really burn a hole in your pocket if you weren't too conscious of the card swiping thing) and the Playroom. Even youngsters Caitlin, CeeJae and their cousin Eejah had a swell time with Kuya's BFF.

Day 353: Bonding with Mama Lola

2010-12-19T20:10:00.001+08:00

Upon our arrival in Cebu, little CeeJae quickly took to her Mama Lola. I guess she shares a special closeness and bond with Mama since she was there during her birth almost two years ago. I believe this is the same bond my two older children have with their Mommy Lola who was present during their respective births.

Seeing CeeJae safely tucked near Mama's side was such a poignant sight that I couldn't help but click the shutter on my camera to preserve the memory.

I'm glad that CeeJae, along with her older siblings will soon have many more bonding moments with their Mama Lola.

Day 352: An Overnight Boat Ride

2010-12-18T11:04:00.001+08:00

For the first time in many years, the family will be spending Christmas and New Year holidays in Cebu. The excitement about the trip has been teeming for the past couple of weeks. The kids would always ask how many more days to go 'til our trip. We took the Cebu Ferry 2 overnight trip from Nasipit to Cebu shortly after attending the Christmas Party festivities in Jarred's school. The kids were filled with so much joy and anticipation for what lay ahead for the rest of the holidays. I'm so glad they were all well-behaved during the trip and didn't give Mommy a hard time. I was able to spend some quiet time too when they dozed off early, safely tucked in their bunks.

Day 349: All our bags are packed...

2010-12-15T14:58:00.012+08:00

As you can see, we are ready to go on our long Christmas holiday in Cebu. Since I'll be traveling alone with the kids, I had to send our bags ahead through an earlier voyage of Cebu Ferry 2 courtesy of BCBP Bro. Jensen. In two days, we'll be in Cebu, spending the holidays with hubby and his family.

Day 345: Yikes!!!

2010-12-11T12:45:00.037+08:00

After last night's heavy rainfall, this was the sight that appeared right outside our front door...can you guess what it is? This piece of snake skin was left on our front porch terrace and the minute I saw it, I couldn't bear stepping a foot out our door. If there's any creature I'm really wary of, it's any kind of reptile. The mere sight of them makes the hairs on my skin stand up.

I had to call our handy man over this morning just to check around the terrace just in case, the snake was still lurking or hiding in our stuff. Fortunately, the skin was the only sign of its presence. Our handy man said that it was the remnant of a Philippine cobra and upon checking at Wikipedia, Naja philippinensis is a highly venomous snake native to the Philippines. A bite victim usually has only about an hour to get anti-venom treatment before death occurs.

Just by merely looking at the photo above sends chills down my spine...scary!!!

Day 343: Serene

2010-12-09T17:53:00.028+08:00

Caitlin's very long hair has allowed me to explore the many ways I can fix it. Pigtails, ponytails, clips, hair bands, braids...you name it, I've done it. However on most days, I prefer to braid her hair since it's the one that looks neatest on her. Whenever I unravel her braids the next day in time for a bath, her hair comes off in a glorious tumble of curls and waves. And it was one of these moments when I took advantage of preserving such a look of serenity on my young daughter's face.

Day 342: Immaculate Conception

2010-12-08T17:33:00.003+08:00

And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. - LUKE 1:30-31

Today we lovingly remember the obedience of a young woman who was to become the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ. In all humility, she accepted God's will despite the risk of destroying her reputation during times when pregnancy without the benefit of marriage was considered taboo.

In many occasions, the Lord would throw challenges along my way and more often, I would doubt and question whatever is happening in my life. It is never easy to say "Yes, Lord, Your will be done." It is the human frailty in me that makes it very difficult to submit to God's will. Every single day is a struggle and yet also becomes an opportunity to continue trying to be open to God's plan in my life. My prayer is that I continue to transform my life and be able to live as an obedient Christian every day.

Day 341: A Pizza Party

2010-12-07T23:36:00.004+08:00

As in previous years, Jarred Andrei celebrated his 8th birthday with a party in school together with his classmates, teachers, friends and sisters.

This year was like an extension of last year's pizza extravaganza. An xtra super Cappricciosa pizza from Calda Pizza was the highlight of the afternoon recess time. It was a huge 36" concoction of thin crust, tomato sauce, mozarella cheese, salami and mushrooms. I knew that I made a good flavor choice when the kids kept on coming back for seconds and even thirds.

It was a simple and yet memorable event for my son who was just so glad to have been able to celebrate his special day with friends.

Day 340: IN and OUT - The Birthday Surprise

2010-12-06T08:33:00.001+08:00

It wasn't to be...or so I thought.

Hubby's trip back home had already been booked several weeks ago...the plan was to spend a brief weekend home for our son's 8th birthday. However, in the middle of last week, his work schedule changed and it would be impossible to come back home. Although the kids had no idea about the homecoming, I did and it certainly dampened my spirits.

Not wanting the fare ticket go to waste, hubby already planned to have it refunded over lunch break last Friday. Lo and behold, a couple of hours before their break, the trainer announced that a business meeting would require her to go to work the next Monday and so their days off had to remain in status quo. Hubby's teammates who knew of his homecoming plan couldn't help but cheer him on and be happy that his plan could push through.

A prankster by nature, he thought that it would be wonderful if he would just surprise everyone without letting anyone know about this great turnaround of events. I was attending the FREE TO FOLLOW Weekend the whole day that day (which hubby was supposed to attend with me originally before the change in his work schedule - apparently, a delay in the flight home and a turtle-speed of a bus caused him to arrive a couple of hours after noon which made him miss the scheduled formation talks that day)...so guess who got the biggest surprise upon arriving home that evening? I felt as if I too was celebrating my birthday with my son that day.

Knowing that the trip home was very brief - barely 24 hours, the entire family made those few hours count. It was a day full of love, hugs, kisses, and needed heart-to-heart talks. Time flew very fast and before we knew it, it was time for him to leave once more...the goodbye at the terminal was bittersweet...with the baby bawling her eyes out the minute her Dad left the car...

...I reassured the kids that they only had to count 12 days to our own trip - this time spending the Christmas and New Year holidays with their Dad and family.

Day 339: Free to Follow the Lord

2010-12-05T17:00:00.005+08:00

Almost five months after our graduation from BCLP-12, we gather once more for the first of our formation talks in our journey to becoming faithful servants of Christ in the BCBP community.

For half a weekend, six out of the ten BCLP-12 graduates, joined by other brothers and sisters who haven't completed their FTFTL, came together at Embassy Hotel to listen to a series of talks for continued discernment about God's plan in our lives.

*** credits to Bro. Jeff Dellosa for most of the photos that appear on this post...thank you Bro!!!

I shall not delve into the details of the talks as I may preempt the expectations of those brothers and sisters who haven't undergone the course. On a personal note however, I would have to say that God has shown His mighty presence and power once more as most of the topics discussed were direct answers to my existing predicaments in life. The Lord has answered my numerous questions, calmed my troubled heart and enlightened my confused mind. The highlight of the day was being able to invite back the Holy Spirit in my life which humbled the heart of this lowly sinner.

To our brothers and sisters in BCBP-Butuan who made this great day of learning, discernment and empowerment possible, my deepest gratitude goes to you all! I know that everything was made possible by our ever-merciful and loving God. To Him be all the glory!!!

Day 338: Jarred Andrei turns 8!

2010-12-04T00:01:00.006+08:00

The month of December is always extra special because aside from celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, our family also celebrates the natal day of JARRED ANDREI, the firstborn son. Eight years ago today, I gave birth to a 7.3 lb healthy baby boy at the General Santos Doctors' Hospital. It was a challenging delivery since I had to succumb to a caesarian operation after a gruelling 12-hour labor that didn't progress beyond 3 cm. As a first time Mom, many things were so new, unfamiliar and downright scary. It didn't help that I had the worst possible recovery period from my operation. I just thank God that hubby and my Mom were at my side to give me loving support.

Since birth, Jawed / "Mokong" / Red / Redboy has always been a dark-skinned baby and he revels in this "kayumanggi" complexion even now as a young man. Being the first grandchild on both sides of the family, Jarred was doted upon by his grandparents, aunts and uncles. He was showered with not just love and care but also with lots of tangible goods. During his early years, Kuya Jawed enjoyed all the pampering and spoiling as an only child. Suffice to say, he developed a less-desirable temperament as a young toddler.

Fortunately, things turned around soon after the arrival of a new baby. At age 4, Jarred was at the ripe age to become a Kuya. And boy, how he doted on his baby sister!!! He became a protective and caring older sibling to baby Caitlin. Kuya made sure he was always around to assist Mom and Dad with caring for the new baby.

All of the wonderful qualities that a young boy should have, started to unfold and develop rapidly soon after Jarred began preschool. His academic learning and personal development multiplied tenfold within his year at Kinder 1. He was growing up to be a charming and articulate little boy. Jarred also took pride in his studies, oftentimes placing in the class top 5.

He was almost 6 when another baby was welcomed by the family. Even though he was obviously dissed with the fact that the men in the family are now outnumbered, he continued to play his role as a loving Kuya to both girls. He could already do small tasks involving the care of his two younger sisters.

When Kuya graduated from preschool last year, he made the whole family so proud by finishing as Salutatorian of his graduating class. He certainly made such a stark turnaround from being a young "bugoy-bugoy" to a young man, teeming with intelligence, wit, charm and love.

Today, he continues to grow in the love and fear of the Lord, learning day by day about God's plan for him. He is growing up to be a very prayerful young lad, a responsible and dependable son, a loving and caring brother, and a reliable and affectionate friend.

At night, while asleep, I peek in on him and get amazed at the sight of this wonderful young man. I fight back the urge to wish that time freezes so that I could always keep him like this...but I know that time will pass and he will have to grow his wings and fly to fulfill his dreams.

But for now, he is my little man...the other important man in Mommy's life...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Son!!! I pray that you continue to soar in life and achieve everything you set your heart and mind into. Mommy and Daddy love you so much!

Day 323: Joyeux Anniversaire!

2010-11-19T07:00:00.002+08:00

Pere...Otosan...Vader...Yeye...Babu...Opa...Pop...Papa...DADDY

Grandpere...Ojisan...Abuelo...LOLO

There are as many different ways to call a father and a grandfather as there are languages in this world. To celebrate Daddy's 66th birth anniversary, I thought of highlighting some of those ways...

For the past 66 years, Daddy has been the silent rock of his family...first as the youngest in a brood of five, he became the steady support for his brothers and sister especially in their twilight years. Then, most of his adult life was focused on doing everything possible to be the best husband and father. It wasn't smooth sailing nor was life like a bed of roses but he did his best.

Daddy has been my hero for most of my life...well, until hubby took over the role, of course. Many of the things I know about life and love, I learned from him. He was a wonderful teacher. Growing up, I was a klutz who didn't quite have the right sense of style...well, Daddy became my fashion guru - for some reason, he knew the right colors and styles that would suit me and I always looked forward to our shopping escapades together. As a teenager, he was my protector and sometimes came across as too strict in his ways. In hindsight, this became a blessing as I believe I turned out to be a better person because of Daddy's special brand of discipline.

Now, Dad is doting Lolo to four grandchildren, three of which make up what I call "organized chaos" in my daily life. Whatever love and concern he had for us, his children, has been multiplied tenfold for his apos. There is nothing he wouldn't do for his children, in-laws and grandchildren.

DADDY LOLO is simply the best in the world! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! We love you!!!

Day 318: The Pinoy Priority

2010-11-14T17:03:00.005+08:00

This is the main road just outside St. Joseph's Cathedral, Butuan City.
On a normal Sunday, this road would be filled with cars, people and vendors.

We usually hear Sunday mass at St. Joseph's Cathedral at 11:00 am. It was a particularly peculiar scene outside the church today when I parked the car. I thought to myself maybe we're just a bit early than usual. Since we usually occupied the front pew, I didn't really notice that the attendance at the mass was abnormally less. It was only after mass when we were about to ride the car when I realized that there were so few people who attended mass this time. In fact, ours was the only car parked on the street that's usually filled up with vehicles. Even vendors numbered to less than five when there used to be a tiangge-style commotion right outside the church after mass.

Why the seemingly car-less and people-less Sunday? Today was Manny Pacquiao's big fight with Antonio Margarito. Most, if not all, Pinoys were at home or some place getting ready to watch the "Pambansang Kamao" show off the fruits of his long and arduous training. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Pacquiao fan and all but somehow I don't get the Filipino psyche when it comes to boxing of this magnitude or caliber...we literally drop everything we're doing to watch two men battle it out on the ring.

Seeing how nearly empty the church was this morning just proved where the Pinoy priority really lies...tsk! tsk! tsk!

Day 315: Surprise in the Mail

2010-11-11T19:56:00.002+08:00

This small packet of surprise came in the mail today. It's the 2010 W@W (WeddingsatWork) Wedding Primer. Skimming over the pages made me reminisce my wedding preparation days back in 2000-2001 (civil rites) and 2006 (church rites).

W@W became my best friend in all things bridal. I was able to scout many suppliers through the site and later on developed friendships with other would-be brides through the W@W e-group. To this day, these friendships have endured time and distance as most of us have graduated from being W@Wies to N@Wies, exchanging our wedding planners for marriage counseling, pregnancy tips and childcare concerns.

It's so wonderful to see how W@W has evolved over the years and continue to assist all would-be brides and grooms to prepare for their wedding and marriage. Thanks to Abet & Benz for making my day today. Cheers to W@W!!!

Day 314: In the morning...

2010-11-10T22:10:00.003+08:00

Take a peek at what my three children usually do in the morning before we troop off to school to drop off Kuya Jarred...they're tasked to do the bed and fold up blankets and other sleeping stuff from the night before. Even the bunso helps out by commanding her Kuya on what to do...LOL!

Day 313: Lushness

2010-11-09T22:16:00.002+08:00

It wasn't long ago when the green abundance you see here was just a single branch of beauty. Now it's teeming with rich, vibrant hues of green and yellow-green.

I don't know exactly what this plant's name is but I bought it because I thought it looked good and would fit well into the garden. Well, I guess I was right.

Day 311: Unico Hijo Gwapito

2010-11-07T21:09:00.000+08:00

Unlike CeeJae's hair which seems to take forever to grow, Kuya Jarred's grow long and thick quite fast that's why he needs regular appointments with the barber.

Today he had his haircut on the way home from church. It took less than 30 minutes for the barber to shave off that thick mane of hair and end up with a neater and more manageable look.

Day 309: Fruits of Labor

2010-11-05T21:00:00.003+08:00

After a long and arduous scholastic journey, Jarred Andrei was awarded the highest recognition in his English studies for the 2nd Quarter. I was literally in tears when his name was announced and my heart swelled with so much pride and gratitude. It was a double achievement as he was able to retain his 2nd Honors position in Chinese studies. It was truly a day of joy for the students, parents and teachers as the efforts of the young achievers were duly acknowledged and rewarded.

Day 307: Storybooks

2010-11-03T22:56:00.001+08:00

My children love to read and thanks to generous Lolos, Lolas, Ninongs, Ninangs, Titos and Titas, they are able to enjoy great quality storybooks.

Many of the books are interactive and can really engage the attention of even the most rambunctious toddler.

Aside from reading, my kids have other ideas in using these books - from props to dividers and what-have-you. It just goes to show how creative children's minds can be.

Day 305: What happens at midnight

2010-11-01T22:40:00.023+08:00

Knowing that my brood are nuttyholics (including hubby), I always keep a stash of cracker nuts for those weekend midnight snack bonding moments. Aside from nuts, the entire family also enjoys snacking on "cornicks". It's a good thing these stuff are cheap compared to the usual chichirya fare available in the market. Want some?

Day 304: Splash Slide

2010-10-31T23:39:00.013+08:00

Initially afraid of the water slide, Cailie musters enough courage to try upon the prodding of Kuya Jarred. Reassuring her that it's fun and that he'll be there to protect her throughout the ride, she agrees. This is the classic example of "once you start, you can't stop"...she's been unstoppable at the slide ever since that first try...

Day 303: A Faerie Princess Birthday

2010-10-30T21:00:00.005+08:00

Before celebrating Halloween, All Saints' and All Souls' Day, a very special day is remembered in the family. The big princess of the house, CAITLIN ALYSSA turned 4 years old today. To make her day truly memorable, I let her wear her fairy wings, wand and tiara during lunch. She sure looked so beautiful in her faerie costume.

The family enjoyed a buffet lunch at Mom's Finest Buffet where the fare included bam-i, crispy chicken, braised spareribs, four seasons vegetables, pork sarciado and fancy dessert choices. After a brief afternoon nap, the kids had fun swimming at Almont Inland Resort. Beaming with happiness, Cailie didn't expect to receive a gift upon arriving home and she was all smiles when she discovered her birthday loot - Dora belt, two Hello Kitty ponytail holders and a pair of Hello Kitty shoelaces. She was doubly happy to know that Kuya Jarred purchased part of her gift using his savings.

It was simple and yet for my Cailie it meant the world...Happy Birthday sweetie!!! We love you!

Day 302: Hide & Seek

2010-10-29T21:54:00.001+08:00

Little CeeJae loves to play hide and seek and she uses varied ways to enjoy the game. This time around, it was the sofa edge that served as her haven, showing off her head and face every time I would click the shutter. These are the simple joys of a young precocious toddler I call "my baby princess".

Day 301: One Cool Ride

2010-10-28T22:38:00.026+08:00

None of my daughters care to play with dolls but show them a cool toy car or ride and their eyes would light up like sunshine. This cool battery-operated car was something CeeJae couldn't let go of once she was neatly tucked in. She sure looks like she's ready to race on a Herbie-lookalike. Who knows? She may grow up to become a race car circuit driver in the future...hmmmm...

Day 300: Two of a kind

2010-10-27T21:37:00.016+08:00

CeeJae finds a new friend in TomTom, Siansi Jenny's youngest son. Older by about 6 months, TomTom plays "Kuya" as he shows CeeJae the ropes on how to play ball and ride the twirly-burly.

Day 299: A BFF Birthday

2010-10-26T23:47:00.002+08:00

FRANCIS RYAN, my son Jarred's best friend, turned 7 years old today. In celebration of this milestone in his life, his parents, Mamer and Alice, threw him a wonderful party at their place and everyone in school was invited.

Many days prior to this event, Jarred and his sisters were already getting very excited about this party and once school went out for semestral break, they started counting the days to Francis' birthday.

It was indeed an amazing gathering of family, friends, classmates, teachers and parents. All the kids had a grand time playing and running around - from the little tots to the older ones.

We were served with an array of gastronomic delights that filled our tummies quite heavily. At the end of the night, I brought home with me three half-asleep and ultra-tired kids and a bunch of memories to cherish forever.

Day 297: Going Chinese

2010-10-24T22:30:00.002+08:00

There aren't many dining places in Butuan so whenever a new one opens up, we make it a point to try it out to see if it's any good or not.

A couple of years back, the owners of the CARAGA-original Rose Bakeshop tried their hand at fine dining with their duo-resto, Rosario's and Rosario's Grill. We were actually impressed the first time we dined at Rosario's since we were treated to authentic Hong Kong-style cooking. I remember ordering the Fish Lip Soup and Beef Brisket with Taro Hotpot and they were both marvelous and truly didn't disappoint.

The only drawback with their fine dining restaurant is the price...but what can you expect from a fine dining place, right? Well, maybe the owners got wind of this reaction from the market and tried to brew up something more affordable for the wider mid and low income brackets.

A couple of months back, they opened Dim Sum House, a lower-end version of their popular Rosario's sans the high-end price. It was definitely a good alternative to the more popular Chowking and give it a few years, I can see Dim Sum House giving it and other well-known Chinese fastfood chains a run for their money. This new place specializes on rice toppings and quick dimsum items. Surprisingly, it also has a decent smoothie and dessert spread. But what about price? Well, it was a wonderful surprise that their food items were very affordable...in fact, I thought they were on the cheap side when I saw the size of their servings. For taste and price, Dim Sum House is definitely two thumbs up!

Day 296: Couple Sharing

2010-10-23T23:10:00.025+08:00

This morning's joint breakfast was quite special since it heralded the "world-premiere" of our community's own couple sharer, Bro. Rudy and Sis. Linda Desoloc.

Every time there's a sharing, I get valuable insights and life lessons from the speakers' experiences. In many ways, when they share how the Lord has touched their lives, they somehow impart God's blessings to us, the listeners. It's also a wonderful way to learn more about God's word and teachings.

Day 295: A Camping We Will Go

2010-10-22T22:49:00.001+08:00

After a week-long stretch of quarter examinations, the graders of BFCS are so excited to have their yearly scouting day and overnight camping today. This is the first time that my son, Jarred will join such an activity. In fact, the event has a lot of firsts for the family. It is the first time that my son will be spending the night away from home and from us.

When I dropped him off at school this afternoon, I felt that tugging at my heartstrings once again...those warning bells that seem to scream that he's growing up way too fast for me to catch up. After dinner, I couldn't help but ask hubby for us to swing by school just to check how Jarred's doing. We were quite amazed to see a lot of cars parked in front of the school. Obviously, we weren't the only ones stressing over this "night-away-from-home" event. The kids just finished their evening activities and were about to have their snacks before preparing for bedtime. When it was finally time for bed, there was a mad scramble of parents and kids going here and there, lining up at the comfort rooms, going in and out of assigned bedrooms. Mommies were going after their kids, making sure they did their nightly rituals properly. I was not spared the same as I had to make sure Jarred knew how to keep his stuff away neatly. It was only when I felt satisfied enough to leave him on his own that I decided to finally ride the car and go home. I hope my son has a good night's sleep tonight...I don't think I'll be able to sleep soundly though as my thoughts will be drifting off to Jarred all night through.

Day 281: Nature's Bounty

2010-10-08T21:32:00.001+08:00

This was the very first time we joined an out-of-town field trip together with the entire elementary class and faculty of BFCS. For two years in preschool, our entourage only composed of the Nursery, Kinder 1 & 2 classes and itinerary was usually limited to within the city only.

Well, this school field trip turned out to be a family bonding time too as we all joined Kuya Jarred and his schoolmates. It began as an adventure ride since we decided to just wander off on our own and take the public bus from Butuan City to Balingoan, Misamis Oriental which took about 2.5 hours on the road.

We arrived at Mantangale Dive Resort an hour short of noontime and just in time for Jarred to join the group picture taking. Soon after, it was time to unpack our lunch/picnic kits and get ready for lunch. Everyone brought so much food that it turned out like one big picnic party and sharing with each other was one of the greatest highlights of the day.

After a short rest, the kids hit the pool, swam and played to their hearts' delight. A couple of hours before departing for Butuan, the kids were gathered by their teachers for some games and sports events.

It was already dusk when we finally arrived home and it was obvious that the kids had an amazing time as they were soon dozing off to dreamland after a full day of fun, friends and family bonding.

Day 271: Teachers' Day 2010

2010-09-28T22:02:00.002+08:00

In Chinese schools, Teachers' Day is celebrated on the birthday of the great Chinese thinker and philosopher, CONFUCIUS. This was a bit different from what I got used to as a young student since we usually paid tribute to our teachers on Valentine's Day.

This year, the elementary students of BFCS paid homage to their teachers by singing the song, "Wind Beneath My Wings". It was a surprise presentation that the children themselves put together and practiced on their own which made it such a poignant part of the day's program.

To all teachers, thank you for partnering with us parents in assuring a quality education for our children so that they may all grow up as God-loving Christians full of potential, talent and ability to carve a wonderful future for this world.

Day 259: God's Perfect Gift

2010-09-16T18:21:00.148+08:00

I was a young girl of 9 or 10 when I began scribbling the name Catherine Campos over and over on scratch pieces of paper. I thought that the name was regal-sounding enough...exuding of class and money. You see, growing up, I always had this notion or dream that by my mid-twenties I'd be married with 2.5 kids, living in my own dream house with a white picket fence, just a stone's throw away from my own folks. I had images of Sunday brunches with the family...my kids being doted upon by Lolo and Lola every weekend. This was what I thought life should be. Apparently, my ways are not God's ways...my thoughts are not His thoughts...I'd been planning my life dependent on what I thought was right...and God thought this shouldn't be.

Finding my life partner was a far cry from the "Mills & Boon"-ish love story I had always imagined it would be for me. Whereas most of the women I knew got wooed with flowers and chocolates, went steady and dating with their boyfriends and eventually marrying them in a grand fashion... I had none of those.

I found my other half in the most unlikely fashion that actually caused an uproar in both my personal and professional life. He was NOT what I dreamed of. I vowed never to date anyone a day younger than me - my requirement was he should be at least 3 years older. Well, God thought it would be funny to make him nearly 5 years younger. Mr. Right was supposed to be a smooth-talking, suave and confident young man...well, God gave me someone who had very little to say and yet when he does, he says the most amazing and smart things.

As a teenager, I spent many nights in dreamland, forming scenes of extravagant candle-lit dinners, beautiful flowers and amazing gifts...after all, I was supposed to match up with a rich guy, right? Well, God thought I should say goodbye to being a material girl and paired me with someone who was the breadwinner of his family - a hardworking young man tasked to send his brothers to school on the salary of an ordinary office worker.

I always thought I'd be raising my family close to my parents and Sunday family lunches were to be the order of the week. Well, God thought I'd be better off living independently from my folks, a good one-hour plane ride away and this is where he set me up to meet my match.

I planned my life in a straight line but the Lord made sure I experienced all the bumps and detours He made for me.

I wanted a life filled with material wealth, comfort and security but God thought I needed to let go and instead experience what was important.

I wanted a dream house with a white picket fence but God thought I'd appreciate life more living in a rented space with the bathroom mapped like an outhouse.

I wanted 2.5 kids living close to their grandparents but God thought touching reunions would teach me and my 3 kids to value and appreciate parents and grandparents more.

I wanted a rich man to provide my every whim and wish but God thought what I needed was a smart, responsible and loving man who will instead teach me the value of hard work, money and true happiness.

I wanted Mr. Right but God gave me someone who is far from perfect and yet in many ways is God's perfect gift to me...

To my dearest hubby...I thank God for His wisdom and for making it possible for me to meet you in this lifetime. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Day 258: Loo! Loo!

2010-09-15T22:36:00.003+08:00

If there's one thing that baby CeeJae goes gaga over, it would be balloons. These colorful orbs never fail to attract her eyes and she'd exclaim "Loo, loo...!" whenever she'd see any around her, even when it's more than ten feet away.

This is the reason why her attention holds up pretty well during birthday parties - she can't seem to take her eyes off the balloons. And she's one smart little girl, she knows when the party's over and she'd tug at me to pull off a balloon or too hanging on the wall for her to bring home.

Day 257: Girl Power

2010-09-14T21:58:00.021+08:00

Gal pals MARIELLA and CAITLIN take a brief break

from play to pose for the camera.

One of the many gifts that membership to the BCBP has given our family is extended family. Living away from our respective families for many years now, there are times we long for camaraderie and support only family members can give. We've found such in the community. Even our own children have found and made new friends.

God is truly good...all the time!

Day 256: Yummy Tater Treat

2010-09-13T20:54:00.001+08:00

We love potatoes - in whatever shape, form or style. French fried, mashed, cubed or diced in a dish or simply made into crispy chips. Little CeeJae attacked this heaping plate of thin and crisp taters with gusto, savoring each crunchy and delicious bite.

Day 255: Weird Stash

2010-09-12T19:45:00.001+08:00

There's a bunch of santan plants adorning the front facade of Kuya Jarred's school and it has become my eldest daughter's habit to pick a few santan flowers to bring home every time we drop off her kuya there every morning.

Well, I always thought she'd deconstruct each piece and try to taste the sweet nectar inside like I did when I was younger. However, I was surprised to find these drying up inside an old biscuit tin. So it seems my big princess Cailie has been keeping her stash of santan blooms to dry out. Well, I guess I need to teach her about that nectar thing one of these days.

Day 254: Flip-Flops

2010-09-11T21:27:00.009+08:00

My favorite pair of casual footwear...the popular flip-flops. I love wearing them everywhere...so you can say I flip over my flops.

Day 253: My Little Boy Scout

2010-09-10T22:31:00.002+08:00

Entering primary school has brought in many firsts for my little man:

spending whole day in school (when preschool used to be just half day)
wearing long trousers instead of shorts
fan-cooled room instead of an air-conditioned one
having more than 2 teachers (in preschool there was only 1 for English subjects and 1 for Chinese)
joining the out-of-town educational trip

and finally...

participating in scouting activities as a cub scout

Scouting is an alien topic for me as I grew up not knowing what it was all about. You see, scouting was not a compulsory subject during my elementary and high school days. In those days, scouting was considered as a club, where participation was voluntary. Well, here in Butuan, scouting is part of the curriculum. It was a sight to see my little man all dressed up in his Kab Scout uniform.

Day 252: Best Buddies

2010-09-09T20:50:00.001+08:00

Francis Ryan and Jarred Andrei first met as Kinder 1 classmates back in 2008. Ever since sharing a ride on a "trisikad" during BFCS' 20th Foundation Anniversary Parade (dressed as superheroes) and spending free time playing and running around, they've become inseparable friends. This school year, they've been spending more time hanging out even during weekends. Ryan would usually call at home and ask permission for Jarred to come over to his house for a playdate. On those days, I'd usually drop off my son in the morning and pick him up late in the evening. Somehow, that day together would sometimes seem to be not enough for these two young men as they'd ask for extension minutes of playtime. They'd usually go bike riding, swimming, play computer games and matchbox cars. It was at Ryan's massive backyard that Jarred first learned to ride a bike without the training wheels anymore. Recently, I heard my son mention the term "BFF" and for someone who's having difficulty with Pinoy terms, I was taken aback when he mentioned it. He said that's what his best friend Ryan told him they were...BFF - best friends forever...

Day 251: World-Famous Sponge

2010-09-08T16:18:00.002+08:00

This little guy was one of the first ever cartoon characters that my son fell in love with as a toddler (I think he's tied with Diego & Dora for first place).

Having spent mornings watching Mr. Squarepants, I would usually have LSS and catch myself singing the phrase, "Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?"...gosh, even Mom got hooked by this yellow creature.

Well, over the years, SpongeBob has become a regular "creature" around the house, with all three of my children now who can easily identify him and his signature theme song.

Day 250: Family Royalty

2010-09-07T18:59:00.000+08:00

...meet the family's tag team of mischief and street smart antics - Cailie & CeeJae, the two princesses who can wrap everyone around their little fingers. These two can be loud, boisterous and certainly attract attention wherever they go but both are also gifted with so much wit and charm, they never cease to amaze us. These two little girls love music, they adore singing and dancing, in whatever form and style. In our family, these two own the throne to royalty.

Day 249: Fancy Footwork

2010-09-06T22:55:00.001+08:00

Perfect coordination...super abdominal strength...pristine timing...and a prayer to not get wet...

These are the factors essential to successfully lift this container half-filled with water with just the use of feet and leg power. To sustain it in mid-air for a few seconds will really stretch your abdominal might to its limit.

Well, the SUN Team did exactly that...and won this game.

Day 248: Sour Face!

2010-09-05T22:17:00.003+08:00

Caitlin...still lovely and adorable even with such a sour face.

Remember the late comedians, Pugo and Tagak? Well, aside from being such great comic artists, they were both well-known for their award-winning "mukhasim" expressions for a popular vinegar commercial decades ago...

Well, my big princess makes her own sour face and I think she could give both comedians a run for their money...

Day 247: Worship Night

2010-09-04T22:17:00.002+08:00

Last night's experience during BCBP's Worship Night was something that truly renewed and strengthened my spiritual and prayer life. Understanding more about scripture and receiving God's word was an amazing experience.

Day 246: Pride and Joy

2010-09-03T20:33:00.003+08:00

One of the gazillion things I love about being a mom is watching my children absorb the things they encounter everyday like sponges. Their learning potential is truly at its peak right now that they're in preschool and primary ages.

Ever since starting formal school almost 3 years ago, Jarred Andrei, my firstborn, has developed in leaps and bounds from the very first time he held a pencil in his hand and attempted to write. Sure, he was an excellent verbal communicator but he was weak in reading and writing then.

My little man has grown a lot since then and has achieved far greater than I have ever imagined he would. It was a mother's pride that nearly made me shed tears when I got up on stage to pin his ribbons during the 1st Quarter Recognition Day today. He was 2nd Honors in both the Chinese and English Departments. I was overwhelmed with joy as I saw that sparkle in his eye. It certainly made me think that all those hours labored over exam reviewers were well worth it.

Day 245: Boogie Night

2010-09-02T21:59:00.002+08:00

Hubby and I are ballroom dancing freaks. Back in hubby's ex-company, we usually had our annual fix of dancing during the VisMin Christmas Party in Cebu. Oh my, we could go on dancing all night then. We didn't realize how much we missed dancing until the opportunity arose tonight during the 80th birthday celebration of our BCBP bro, Pediong Lumbres.

Our three children were a sight to see - they were clapping and cheering us on. The eldest, Jarred, had that twinkle of pride in his eye as he watched Mom and Dad take the dance floor ("...Son, remind Dad and I to teach you the tricks of the trade when you get older, ok?).

Day 244: Lanzones Season

2010-09-01T23:25:00.002+08:00

You will know once the "-ber" months have arrived when you suddenly see a proliferation of fruit vendors selling lanzones (lansium domesticum). These fruits are ovoid orbs covered in light yellow leathery skin and the sweet flesh are divided into 5-6 segments or wedges.

I remember childhood days in San Jose, Batangas enjoying these fleshy goodies as Lola Rosing would usually harvest them from her own trees during season.

It's funny that my own kids enjoy eating lanzones and would usually ask to stop by the sidewalk fruit vendor to buy some. Even the littlest one, CeeJae loves the succulent and sweet flesh of lanzones.

Day 243: Culinary Prize

2010-08-31T23:04:00.009+08:00

Guess what was delivered to my doorstep today? The cookbook from Unilever Foodsolutions which I won at an online contest finally arrived! A few weeks ago, I "liked" a fan page on FB and learned a lot more about cooking. At the time, there was an online contest regarding "Your Adobo Story". I decided to submit my entry on Adobong Pusit and a week later, I received a message announcing that I won a copy of "Around the World in 80 Plates". Thanks to my good friend, Caren for hooking me up to So Pinoy Dishes in Facebook. It has truly inspired me to keep on exploring and discovering the culinary artist in me.

Day 242: The CeeJae Strut

2010-08-30T22:54:00.005+08:00

Our little princess loves music so much...whether it's singing or dancing, she seems to always get into the groove whenever she hears music.

Here's CeeJae showing off her cool dance moves...

Day 241: BCBP-Butuan's 14th Anniversary

2010-08-29T21:42:00.001+08:00

Despite a hectic week, the Lord has blessed hubby and I with the time and opportunity to help out with the preparations for the 14th anniversary of our BCBP community in Butuan. It was an out-of-town celebration and details on food, the mass and program had to be planned and laid out well.

All in all, everyone had their spirits renewed with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, their tummies filled with scrumptious food and their bodies and minds juggled a bit during the fun games.

It was a wonderful event for brothers and sisters in the community to bond with each other and their families. We look forward to many more of these in the future.

Day 240: A Taste of Heaven

2010-08-28T19:43:00.001+08:00

The boxes of Oreo cookies and Pancake batter mix have been sitting on the pantry shelf for a couple of weeks now since I first planned to make a sweet surprise for the family. Knowing how my son, Jarred loves Oreo cookies, it took great effort on his part to resist popping open the box and devouring the goodies all at once. He and his siblings kept on asking when I'll finally make the "goodies". Well, after a tiring week of school activities, I finally had the time to make good my promise to the little ones and my big one.

This recipe has done its rounds over Facebook for sometime and I was curious to find out if it was really as good as people have been commenting about it...

OREO SURPRISE

1 box Oreo cookies (2 packets)

1 pack instant pancake mix

1/4 cup water or milk

1 1/2 cups canola oil (for deep frying)

Preheat pan then add oil for frying. Prepare pancake batter according to package instructions. For creamier batter, use milk instead of water. Dip each cookie in the batter and when fully coated, drop each one slowly onto the hot oil. Flip when lightly browned on one side and brown the other side. Lift from hot oil right away to prevent burning. Cool for a while. Enjoy while warm.

So, was it a taste of heaven? Well, hubby and I enjoyed it. The first bite was the best one...with the soft dough breaking to let the sweet richness of the melted Oreo explode inside the mouth. One or two morsels would be enough as it was too rich to enjoy too much of. Well, for the kids, I guess having their Oreos and pancakes separately was still a much better idea for them.

Day 239: Celebrating BFCS' 22 years

2010-08-27T22:42:00.001+08:00

By the end of a very long and tiring week, everyone was ready to take things slower. Today marked the awarding ceremonies of the SportsFest and Literary-Musical events held earlier in the week. By noon, parents and teachers also had an opportunity to bond over the Luncheon Fellowship. In the end, all kids went home winners, their hearts full of pride and joy.

Day 238: Treasure-Trove of Talent

2010-08-26T22:21:00.000+08:00

Every year during the school's Foundation Week celebration, the most awaited event has always been the "Lit-Mus" or Literary Musical Competition. This year was no exception. Everyone was revved up for the different categories. Hours before showtime, students, parents and teachers were scrambling about to prepare for the contest - make-up, costumes and props had their last minute touch-ups.

Right before curtain call, there was a bevy of amazing costumes, animated characters and attractive props. The different groups had to compete in three categories namely, Readers' Theater, Speech Choir and Song Interpretation.

Here is the SUN Team (which my son is a part of) with their Readers' Theater performance that earned them first place...

...and their poignant interpretation of the Newsboys' "Amazing Love" which garnered 2nd place...

Day 237: Sports Fun

2010-08-25T21:35:00.001+08:00

Day Two of the week-long Foundation Week festivities rallied the athletes of Butuan Faith Christian School. It was a fun-filled day of sports, games and a whole lot of bonding. The different teams first competed in a quiz followed by games and sports activities. The mommies and guardians weren't spared as they too joined in the fun.

Day 236: Grand Parade

2010-08-24T19:30:00.001+08:00

Students, Teachers, Admin and Parents unite to start the celebration with a big bang!

Princes and Princesses with their court

After nearly a month of preparations, the long-awaited school foundation week celebration has finally come. This year, BFCS certainly pulled all the stops - from the very successful fund raising activity (plastic recycling) to the announcement of this year's young Prince and Princesses.

For me personally, this event has given me the opportunity to help out and support the children and faculty in the different contests. It was also a wonderful venue to meet up and get to know the other parents in the community.

Take a peek at the grand opening salvo...

The fierce warriors - DACTYL Team

The bright and cheery SUN Team

The ever-sparkling STAR Team

The young scene-stealers - TITANS Team

Day 235: Hero

2010-08-23T21:52:00.021+08:00

Growing up, I always looked up to my Dad as my own personal hero. To me, he was invincible, there was nothing he couldn't do. I was always confident that he'll be around to save me from danger and pain. So it wasn't a surprise that from the time I was a teenager, I knew that the man I would eventually marry should be someone just like Daddy.

Well, that journey of looking for Mr. Right was such a long and arduous one...no one seemed to get past even first base of the requirements. It wasn't until I was well into my very late 20's that I met and eventually married my true hero. Although he wasn't exactly like Daddy, I'd like to believe that I chose someone who was a very close replica of Dad and at the same time, a very well-upgraded version of him.

Daddy will always be the hero of my childhood and teenage days but hubby is and forever will be my life hero.

Who's the hero in your life?