Memoirs of a Domesticated MD

If I Could Just Fly Away...

2012-03-03T10:23:00.000+08:00

There are days when I wish I had the power to be in a place that I want to be in just a blink of an eye. To disappear and just be by myself when everything else around me seems crazy.

To be able to fly to places that only existed in my dreams, a place that knows no worries, no deadlines, no stress. A place where I can be as free as the wind... even for just a while.

If I could just fly away to my own happy place where I could clear my head and think about what matters the most, then I would have the courage to face my battles ahead,

and the strength to go on each day, because I know that no matter how difficult life may seem, in time everything's going to be OK.

Make Everyday Your "Favorite Day"

2012-02-27T13:37:00.002+08:00

It's Monday, the first day of the week  I am not really fond of Mondays, it's my least favorite day for as long as I could remember.  Monday means getting up early, having to go to work, and having to wait for a few more days before the weekend.  I must admit that I'm unusually lazy on Mondays, and I'm not really proud of it.  So I decided to change my attitude towards this particular day.  

There's probably more reasons to be grateful for, one thing is that it's the start of a brand new week.  A chance to redeem yourself if you have been through a rough week, better opportunities that might come up, adventures waiting to be experienced, places to be discovered, people you have yet to meet and I guess what's most important is that being able to spend another day with the people you love most.

So starting today,  whether it's rainy days or Mondays, I therefore commit myself to make "everyday" as my favorite day,

Of Babies and Being a Mom...

2012-02-24T12:03:00.000+08:00

There must be a baby boom this year. I have an unusual number of friends who are either pregnant or has just given birth. My sister in law is pregnant, and surprise, even my kids "yaya" is 4 months on the family way!

Friends often ask me if I have plans of having another baby, and my answer as of the moment is a big NO. Don't get me wrong, I totally adore babies, and honestly I miss having a baby in the house, but my 2 kids take up most of my time right now. I think they are at a stage when they need me the most, and I just want to be there for them. I am sure the time would come when they would spread their wings and explore the world on their own and won't be needing me that much. Maybe then, if God permits I would love to have another baby...

Being a mother has been my greatest blessing. It has made me a better person. Motherhood has changed me in so many ways. When you are a mom, your mind always drifts to your kids when you're not with them. No matter how you want to enjoy when you're out with friends, you can never take your minds away from them. I learned that as a mom, there are times when I need to say NO and really mean it, and not be swayed by pouting faces and pretty please.

Once you're a mom, there is this bond between you and your child that one can never explain. It's the feeling of always wanting to protect them and keep them safe. To be a mom is to love unconditionally, even during those times when your kids may seem to hate you for being strict. To be a mom, is to know that it's OK to fail sometimes, and that it's OK to not be perfect. Motherhood is tough, but the rewards of being loved by your kids is something that can never be compensated by any high paying job in the world.

Being More Organized

2012-02-22T08:50:00.001+08:00

This year, I promised myself that I would be more organized when it comes to handling our monthly expenses, and that would include our groceries, the kids allowance, bills to pay, personal expenses, and other areas where it entails shelling out money from our pockets.

Aside from carrying my planner with me where I am able to make notes and write down my daily expenses, I came across websites that provide "free printable planners", which includes grocery list, meal planners, to-do-lists, monthly and weekly calendars.

It has been just a week since I started on my "being more organized" self, and it does have its advantage. Before going to the grocery I check whatever it is we need at home and by doing so, I am able to control myself from throwing in unnecessary items in my shopping cart, thus sticking to my budget. I have also started out a meal plan for our meals, mostly focused on lunch and dinner. I was not used to eating breakfasts, which I know is a bad habit. My husband too seldom eats breakfast, he only needs his coffee to jump start his day. The kids prefer their milk and cereal for breakfast, and I make pan cakes during weekends. But we always have bread or "pan de sal" in the morning.

For now, I am actually making it a habit to always write down our daily expenses, bring my checklist with me whenever I go to the grocery, and planning out our meals so I would always know what it is I need to prepare for lunch or dinner and not just rely on canned goods and take outs. I believe it pays to be more organized because you would be able to budget your money properly, that way there would be some extra money you can set aside for the rainy days.

These are the free printables I am using as of now. You can click here to get your own printable and it's absolutely free.

Crying Can be Healthy

2012-02-14T17:31:00.001+08:00

"Cry Baby". That was my nickname when I was in kindergarten. As the name implied, I tend to cry easily. Over the years I remember that I would silently cry when I was teased, or when I was scolded. I would cry over teleseryes or drama movies, I'd cry when I am hurt or when I'm really angry.

But over the past couple of years, I promised myself that I won't cry when I'm hurt, but I find myself breaking that promise over and over again. Overtime, I realized that crying can be healthy for a person, it is a form of release. Personally, I feel much better after crying. So when you feel like crying, I would advice you to cry your heart out, but as they say, make sure you won't cry for the same reasons next time. Others may think that crying is a form of weakness, but I don't see it that way, I guess crying is just part of who we are, it's what makes us human.

"Wear Red Day"

2012-02-08T18:14:00.001+08:00

Last February 3, 2012, we were asked to come to work wearing something "red". At first I honestly had no idea what it was for. Then I read the memo that was sent and learned that it was in support of the American Heart Association's campaign to increase awareness of heart disease in women.

Go Red For Women is a health campaign that aims to raise awareness of heart disease as the leading cause of mortality of women in the US. The goal is to empower women to take charge of their lives, fight the causes of heart disease and promote a healthy lifestyle.

IMS Cardiology®, Meditab is joining efforts with the American Heart Association in supporting programs that benefit women in our goal to end heart disease.

Our company supports the American Heart Association as they celebrate National Wear Red Day to raise awareness of the health complications that heart disease can bring to women. Hopefully our government and the health sector can do the same here in our country. I wish that enough budget can be given to the health sector to come up with programs that would aim to improve the lives of our people. It is just sad that the health sector is the least prioritized department in our country. The budget for free medications and free health services are heading in someone else's pockets rather than being given to those less fortunate.

On a happier note, this is me with my good friends from work. Being one of the most senior members, I consider most of my workmates like my siblings, and it is always fun being around them.

2012: Be my Awesome Year

2012-02-02T18:54:00.000+08:00

I promised myself that 2012 would be an awesome year for me. So despite of the recent turn of events that came as a big shock to me, I want to remain optimistic that great and wonderful things are yet to come. So, after crying my eyes out I then focused on the things that I was looking forward to for 2012.

The very first thing on my list would be to WELCOME CHANGE. I have to keep my end of the bargain and really work on planning out my plans for residency training. This would be a huge change on my part since I have been out of the hospital scene for almost 4 years? I guess it's about time for me to practice my profession, because if I keep putting it off, I know I'll never be able to go back.

It's just the 2nd month of 2012, I still have 10 months ahead of me and I know that whatever life throws my way, I will have a great year ahead. I believe that it will happen.

New Experiment: Flower Arrangement

2012-01-16T22:16:00.000+08:00

This started out when I was scouting for a centerpiece for our table. I was looking for ready made flower arrangements and I thought that it would probably be cheaper if I just made it myself. I already had an idea of what I wanted, so I bought the vase and the flowers and just started putting them all together and came up with something nice. I actually enjoyed making it and I'm already planning of doing my next flower arrangement project. A friend told me I can start a business out of it, but I know that flower arrangement is not just putting the flowers together in a vase, there are different techniques and styles that one needs to learn in order to be professional in that field. But for now, I'm just enjoying this new found interest, if I intend to make a career or a business out of it, we'll never know.

The Sadness Spell

2012-01-11T03:55:00.001+08:00

For some unknown reason, I have been feeling melancholic the past couple of days. I could not exactly point out the reason why I have been feeling so "down and out". It felt like a sadness spell was cast on me, or it must be the weather or my hormones, lol!! So when my cousin sent me a text message inviting me to the birthday dinner of her sister, I instantly said yes. I missed the family get together last December, and I needed to make up for not being there the last time.

Seeing my cousins and relatives was a breath of fresh air. It feels good to be around family. We were all exchanging stories and anecdotes over dinner, laughing over funny stories of our childhood. There was a point when I missed being at home with my family, because dinner time was always a time for us to talk about things and share what's happening with our lives.

I really think that going out and being with other people did me good. I felt recharged somehow and a little less lonely. It was an awesome way to start my week. So far things are running pretty well, hopefully I could say the same thing by the end of this week. So sadness please go away, I don't want you in my life, not this year, not ever.

2011 - The year that was...

2012-01-07T05:56:00.001+08:00

2011 was a year full of realizations. I discovered things about myself that I never imagined I could do. I realized that I can be tough when I need to be. I realized that if people can change, then feelings can too. As much as I believe that people should always get what they deserve, it's just unfair that in reality it does not happen all the time. I realized that there are people in this world who are born to make your life miserable, and that it's really up to you if you allow them to get in your nerves.

In 2011, the kids each had their share of ER visits, where nebulization became a routine, it was also this year where I experienced being really sick that I literally was in bed the whole day, only getting up for a bathroom break. I also finally got to use my health insurance to have some tests done. But so far, we are still blessed to be 100% healthy, except for some minor asthma attacks and migraine headaches once in a while.

2011 was a year where I found friends from the past, as well as met new ones. It was also a year where I had to pass up on some opportunities that came along because I felt that it was not intended for me. 2011 was a year that left me still with so many questions, but nevertheless I could say that it was a good year for us. A year where all the happy memories will always outweigh the bad ones. A year where I will always be thankful that I have my family and friends who has always been there for me.

Good bye 2011, it was nice having you around, but I have to move ahead and as I welcome 2012, I hope and pray that it will be a much better year for all of us.

Let us Help the Victims of Typhoon Sendong

2011-12-21T21:30:00.000+08:00

It's really sad that this tragedy had to happen just a few days before Christmas. My heart aches every time I see photographs of the victims, especially the children. I can't imagine how terrifying it might have been to suddenly wake up in the middle of the night and be washed away in muddy flood waters and to be separated from the people you love. I can't imagine how painful it must have been for parents to loose their children, to feel so helpless against the power of nature. The victims did not just drown, their bodies were slammed by debris of floating logs, appliances, cars. They struggled to be alive, and there were a few lucky ones who did, but the memory of that fateful would forever haunt them. Hopefully in time they would learn to move on from this painful memory.

The flood has subsided, but the effect of the tragedy is evident and words cannot describe the destruction that typhoon Sendong has caused in Iligan City, CDO and other areas affected in Mindanao. The victims need all the help we could give, water, food, clothing and other basic necessities. So I would like to applea to everyone who could read this blog to please extend any help you could give. Let us share our blessings to those affected by this tragedy and let's help them feel that it is still Christmas, that despite what happened there is still a reason to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Any donation you could give whether cash or kind will go a long way. So please let us do our share...

***DONATIONS (MONEY)***

SMART

Smart Money: Donors to Typhoon #Sendong may help through Smart Money acct. no. 5577-5130-6822-1104 at any BDO, Hapinoy or Cebuana Lhuillier outlets.

Text: Smart subscribers may donate to #Sendong victims via text. Send RED to 4143. Valid donation amounts 10, 25, 50, 100

GLOBE

Gcash: For GCASH, donate through Red Cross by texting DONATE MPIN REDCROSS and send to 2882.

Text: Text RED and send it to 2899. You may donate in these denominations: 5, 25, 50, 100, 300, 500 and 1000.

RED CROSS

Details in their website

SAGIP KAPAMILYA

1. BDO Peso Account

Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya
Account Number: 39301-14199
Swift Code: BNORPHMM

2. BDO Dollar Account

Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya
Account Number: 39300-81622
Swift Code: BNORPHMM

3. PNB Peso Account

Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya
Account Number: 419-539-5000-13
Swift Code: PNBMPHMM

4. BPI Peso Account

Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya
Account Number: 3051-1127-75
Branch: West Triangle, Quezon City
Swift Code: BOPIPHMM

5. BPI Dollar Account

Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya
Account Number: 3054-0270-35
Branch: West Triangle, Quezon City
Swift Code: BOPIPHMM

GMA KAPUSO FOUNDATION

1) METROBANK

Peso Savings

Account Name: GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.
Account Number: 3-098-51034-7

Dollar Savings

Account Name:GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.
Account Number:2-098-00244-2
Code: MBTC PH MM

2) UNITED COCONUT PLANTERS BANK (UCPB)

Peso Savings

Account Name: GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.
Account Number:115-184777-2 or 160-111277-7

Dollar Savings

Account Name: GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.
Account Number: 01-115-301177-9 or 01-160-300427-6

3) CEBUANA LHUILLIER

GAWAD KALINGA

1) Through Bank Deposit

Gawad Kalinga Philippine Peso Current Account
# 3101 0977 56 BPI EDSA Greenhills

Gawad Kalinga US$ Savings Account
# 3104 0162 34 BPI EDSA Greenhills
Swift code: BOPIPHMM

2) Donate online: http://gk1world.com/DonationPage.aspx?page=form&section=sendong

Before you go to bed tonight, please offer a prayer for those killed in the flash flood that hit Northern Mindanao, and to their families as well... many of our brothers and sisters are left homeless and worse have lost their loved ones. Let us try to help out in any way that we can.

Health is Wealth

2011-12-08T17:46:00.000+08:00

Being a doctor, it's pretty ironic that I sometimes tend to disregard any aches or discomfort I feel in my body. I would often ignore it, or just pop a pill and when the pain is gone, I'm pretty much OK. But lately, I have been very sickly, I guess my body was not able to cope with my sudden weight loss and so my immune system lowered and I easily get sick.

I always knew it all along, but I chose to ignore the fact that when we feel anything abnormal, that's our body sending us a message that something is wrong, or better yet that we are taking our health for granted. I learned my lesson the hard way. I needed to have blood tests, an ultrasound and a visit to the doctor who never failed to remind me that I am a doctor myself and that I should know better. Worse, my constant sick leaves cost me more than half of my paycheck.

Now I am slowly adapting to a healthy lifestyle, and that includes taking care of my body, getting enough sleep, eating the right food at the right time, drinking lots of water and instead of munching on junk food, I'm switching to fruits or salads. Hopefully I could maintain it, I admit it's hard but I know I'll get used to it. I do cheat once in a while, and give in to my cravings... but in time I would learn to control it. I'm slowly getting there. :)

What I Learned from Maya Angelou...

2011-12-01T21:14:00.000+08:00

While browsing for quotes, I came across this excerpt from Maya Angelou. It is beautifully written and it expresses exactly what she wants to convey to anyone who reads it. Each line tells of a different lesson, but when summed up, it basically teaches us how to have a positive outlook in life, how to deal with people we meet each day, how to value the people in our life, especially our family. It tells us that no matter how difficult things get, we don't have to be a pain to others... and that we can actually make a difference by reaching out with kindness to others. It mirrors the same things I have learned in life all these years, thanks to Maya Angelou, she was able to express it perfectly and came up with something inspiring.

“I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life."

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

"It's Almost Christmas"

2011-11-28T18:10:00.000+08:00

As early as October, I've been playing Christmas songs at home, I usually do it on a Sunday morning while mopping our floor, kind of weird but true. Anyway, I love Christmas, I think we all do... it kind of makes me feel like a kid again.

This year, I decided to put up our Christmas tree during the first week of November. I stuck to my red and gold motif and added ribbons for a change. I also bought some cute Santa decors which I placed above our shoe cabinet. For the center table, I am planning to make a center piece I saw in one of the department stores, I just need to buy the materials because it's much cheaper than having to buy the decor itself.

Last year, decorating the Christmas tree was a family affair with the kids helping out, we all had fun, but I had to re-do the placing of the Christmas balls because the kids just placed them in one location. I decided to set up the tree myself as a surprise for the kids, but spared a few Christmas decors for them to hang in the tree when they woke up. Just as expected, they were both excited when they saw the tree, and first thing they asked me was, "Mommy, where are the presents?", I told them Santa still needs to deliver them on Christmas eve, lol!!

Anyway, I just wanted to share a photo of our Christmas tree and the Santa decors. Merry Christmas everyone!!

The cute Santa decors I bought at a reasonable price, :)

Our 3 year old Christmas tree.

A Letter to my Son on his 7th Birthday

2011-11-25T02:00:00.000+08:00

My dearest Andre,

I always thank God everyday that He has

blessed me with you and Micah, who brings so

much love and joy into my life. You both remind

me that no matter how difficult things may be, I

can get through it... that despite the tears I

always have a reason to smile, that despite

being hurt, I could always choose to be happy.

Thank You Andre for always making me feel that

I am loved, you never fail to tell me you love

me, and at a young age you know when to say

you're sorry and actually mean it. Today as you

turn 7, I wish that you would always be in the best of health, and that you

continue to be as loving and as sweet as always. I want you to know that I

will be here as long as you need me. Happy Birthday Andre!

Love,

Mommy

What Every Woman Should Have

2011-11-20T03:15:00.001+08:00

Every Woman Should Have:

One old love she can imagine going back to, and one who reminds her how far she has come...

Enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own if ever she wants to or needs to.

Something perfect to wear if the employer or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour.

A youth she's contented to leave behind.

A past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age.

The realization that she is actually going to have an old age and some money set aside to fund it.

A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra.

One friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry.

A good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family.

Eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems and a recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored.

A resume that is not even the slightest bit padded.

A feeling of control over her destiny.

- This article is a continuation of the "What Every Woman Should Know" blog that I shared 2 weeks back, which is from an article that I read when I was still in college. I hope that you ladies would really read it by heart, it might be of help to you in the future. Stay happy!

What Every Woman Should Know

2011-11-05T05:49:00.004+08:00

- Every Woman Should know:

How to fall in love without losing herself.

How to quit a job, break up with a lover and confront a friend without ruining the friendship.

When to try harder... and when to walk away.

How to have a good time at a party she'd never choose to attend.

How to ask for what she wants in a way that makes it most likely she'll get it.

That she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents.

That her childhood may not have been perfect, but it's over.

What she would and wouldn't do for love or more.

How to live alone, even if she doesn't like it.

Whom she can trust,

Whom she can't and why she shouldn't take it personally.

Where to go,be it to her best friend's kitchen table, or a charming inn in the woods when her soul needs soothing. (I don't know any "inn in the woods" here, so in my case I'd go to a bookstore, or to the beach probably)

What she can and can't accomplish in a day, a month, and a year.

I hope you liked this article, as much as I enjoyed sharing it here. Happy Weekend!

Be a Dreamer

2011-10-28T15:34:00.000+08:00

Imagine yourself as you would like to be...

doing what you want to do.

And each day, take one step towards your dream.

And though at times it may seem too difficult to continue,

hold on to your dream...

In Another Lifetime

2011-10-28T01:51:00.004+08:00

I was searching for a video on YouTube when I came across this song by Gary Valenciano. The title sparked my interest so I decided to watch it, and I instantly fell in love with it. This song sends out a message of hope for those "star-crossed lovers" out there that they can still be together, if not now then in another lifetime...

In another lifetime, It would be foreverIn another world where you and I could be togetherIn another set of chances, I’d take the one’s I’d missedAnd make you mine, If only for a timeMy life would matter, In another life.

More of These Please...

2011-10-22T17:49:00.001+08:00

- "More Sleep". Good thing it's the first one on the list because I definitely need to be getting more ZzzzZ.. They say lack of sleep dries up your brain, I hope that's just a myth because I don't want my brain to start shrinking, that would just be awful. I can't imagine not being able to remember all the happy memories I have stored in my head.

- "More Music". No question about it, I'm a music lover. Music is therapy for me. There are songs that explain exactly how one is feeling, and it's good if you could just sing it out right? That's me, I sing in the shower, I sing in karaoke bars, I sing when I'm walking, I sing my heart out. Thank you Lord for Music!

- "More Tea". OK, I'm not really a tea person, I'm more of a coffee addict so I'd probably pass on this one. But I love Iced tea though, if that counts...

- "More Books". The E-books don't count in this category. I love to read, and I collect novels as well. More books means time to relax, reading allows your imagination take you to far away places where no one else has gone.

- "More Sunsets". I love sunsets, they're beautiful. It's God's way of reminding you that another day has passed, and tomorrow is a new beginning, a chance for you to start fresh...

- "More Creating". I don't exactly know what this means, but I guess probably it has something to do about being artistic, or about sharing your talents or skills... creating something is a sign of self expression.

- "More Long Walks". When I have so many things in my head, I take long walks. It allows me to think more clearly. When I need to get away from everything and want to be by myself, I take long walks. It's therapeutic for me.

- "More Laughter". I need to explain, I guess everyone needs laughter, as they say it's the best medicine. I love the feeling after friends and I have a good laugh, I feel light and bubbly. Good thing I get my daily dose of laughter at work with my team and other friends there, I wouldn't want to miss it...

- "More Hugs". Hugs are ways of showing you care for someone without having to say anything. I think we all need to be hugged once in a while.

- "More Dreaming". I guess for this one, it's best to have an equal portion of dreaming, and also doing something to make that dream come true.

- "More Road trips". Unplanned road trips, hitting the beach, island hopping... I miss my youth! But age won't stop me from taking road trips with my family... one of these days I'll definitely go on a vacation.

- "More Fun". Have fun. Enjoy life, you only get to live once. If you want something go for it... follow your happiness, follow your heart... do not hold back on things that would make you happy, you don't ever want to look back and say "What if".

- "More Love". I guess I have more than enough of this 4 letter word... I have my family, my friends and most especially my kids... but honestly sometimes I feel somethings missing from my life, I just can't point out what it is yet. But I believe in Love, and I believe in loving with all your heart and with all your mind. So as they say, "Love More, and all the good things will be yours."

Happy Weekend!

Micah's 4th Birthday

2011-10-17T14:17:00.001+08:00

Last October 13, 2011, my daughter Micah Ella turned 4. We had a simple celebration at home with the kids from our apartment complex. I also prepared snacks and party bags for her classmates at school.

Weeks before her birthday, I was asking her if she wanted to have a party at Jollibee or McDonald's, but she just said "No mommy, I want to have a party at school. I want balloons and a Barbie cake." And that's exactly what I did. And she was very,very happy that day. As a bonus I bought her a new red dress to wear for her birthday, and the look on her face when she saw the house all set up with the balloons and her Barbie cake waiting for her at the table was priceless.

Thank you Mama for the Barbie cake!

The birthday girl.

With the kids from our apartment.

Happy Birthday my dearest Micah, thank you for bringing so much love and happiness into our lives. May you be as kikay and as sweet as you are, and I hope you grow up to be a beautiful person inside and out. Mommy loves you so much.

"The Other One"

2011-10-09T22:35:00.002+08:00

When a friend first asked me if I was able to watch the movie No Other Woman, I was thinking it must be a new Hollywood chick-flick. But when they started talking about how sexy Derek Ramsey was or how they compared the acting of Anne Curtis and Cristine Reyes, I realized it was another local movie with the same theme as that of the first one that came out which was My Neighbor's Wife. But even if I find Jake Cuenca really good looking, I never had any interest in watching that movie.

But I was actually curious about No Other Woman, so I invited our helper to watch the movie with me. After dropping the kids to school last Monday, we hurriedly rushed to catch the 1:30 pm screening in a mall nearby. Well, the story line was what I expected, love, betrayal, infidelity. It showed how each characters cope with the situation they are in. Lucky for this one, the husband returned to the wife. But in reality, it does not always happen that way. Sometime it's the wife that gets left behind, or it's the husband who gets cheated on, or maybe the right one came at the wrong time so they ended up being the third party.

Sadly, in almost every story the third party or "the other one" always ends up being the bad person, or worse they end up being alone. Somehow, I pity Anne's character in the movie, because she knew getting into a relationship with a married man was wrong, but she did it anyway. At first she was doing it out of fun, but eventually she fell in love with the guy Some people get into this type of relationship for money, power, self satisfaction or ego boost... but I think that some allow themselves to be caught up in this kind of relationship because they actually love the person, and it's really sad. We will never really understand why these things happen, or why people allow it to happen. We can only hope that it never happens to the people we love or better yet to us.

"Do Less and Gain More"

2011-10-01T14:48:00.000+08:00

It's the first day of October. How time flies... before we know it, we'll be saying goodbye to 2011 and welcome another year. But before that, I'd want to take things one step at a time. I recently came up with an equation that would probably be a good thing to remember as we go through life. Simply stated, by doing less, we could gain more. But this equation has limitations and would not apply if taken in a negative way I suppose.

Now, I am constantly reminding myself to be less pessimistic, less passive, and focus on being more proactive, and more optimistic. I have to learn to not expect too much so I won't get hurt when things don't go as expected. Basically live each day as it comes and stop worrying about the future, for now I guess.

"Tired"

2011-09-23T10:30:00.001+08:00

TIRED.. The one word that would perfectly describe how I feel right now in general.

I'm tired of people pretending to be better than the rest, when in reality they still have so much to learn.

I'm tired of inconsiderate and insensitive individuals who find fault in others without even bothering to ask why.

I'm tired of people who acts nice when you're around, but goes behind your back trying to find loop holes to drag you down.

I'm sick and tired of power trippers, who's best asset is ordering people around just because they're "boss", without realizing that at the end of the day we are all equals.

To all those who fall in "the people I'm tired of dealing with" category above, can you honestly be proud of yourselves knowing that to get to the top you step on other's in the process, that you can totally forget who you are and be someone else just to stay in your throne??

I doubt it...

Life can be a bitch, but you don't have to be one!

What's new at KFC?

2011-09-20T17:23:00.000+08:00

Last week, we were at the newly renovated KFC restaurant at SM, and I really liked the new look of the place. I guess they also replaced their air conditioning system because the place was much more cooler than usual, which was a good thing. We ordered the usual bucket meal, with all original chicken and mashed potato for the side dish.

When the lady taking our orders asked if we wanted to try out their new set of desserts, she pointed me towards the poster for their Streetwise Spoonful Desserts featuring 4 new additions to their menu namely Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Tiramisu, Choco-Banana pie and Mango cheesecake. The good thing is that it's reasonably priced at 29 pesos each, so it won't be heavy on your pockets. I tried out the Mango Cheesecake, and it did have that mango flavor, although the cheesecake part was a bit soft, and the crust wasn't that thick. You can't really compare it with the desserts you find in hotels or fancy restaurants but hey for 29 pesos, it's not that bad. I'm planning on trying out Choco-Banana pie next.

Aside from the desserts, the new attraction at KFC was their photo booth. You get to have your picture taken for free and post it on social networking sites or send it to your e-mail. My kids and I tried it of course, I was asking my husband to join in as well, but I think he was embarrassed so it was just the three of us doing wacky poses and we did have fun. Well, that's what's new at KFC so far. I am looking forward to try out the rest of the desserts and you guys try it out too. For only 29 pesos you get to satisfy your craving, indulge yourself :)

PS: Don't forget to have your pictures taken at the photo booth, say cheese!!

Mother's and Daughter's

2011-09-12T15:57:00.000+08:00

"Mothers of daughters are daughters of mothers and have remained so, in circles joined to circles, since time began."

Being a mother myself, I have come to appreciate more everything my mother has done for us when we were growing up. She has always been able to provide our needs. Now I understand that as mothers we scold our kids because we love them and we want them to realize their mistakes and correct them.

My relationship with mama is special. There are things that we enjoy doing together, like shopping for clothes or going to the salon together. We also both enjoy reading, cross stitching and cooking. The one thing that I never got from Mama which I see in my daughter is her strong personality and her "kikay" side. I guess that is proof, there is indeed a special bond shared between mothers and daughters.

I also want my daughter and I to have the same relationship I had with Mama. I want her to be able to share everything with me, her happiness, her thoughts, her worries and fears or her problems, the way I did with my mother. I want us to do things together, laugh over silly things, and cry over heartbreaks (which I hope won't come until she's 20?). I want my daughter to see me also as her friend, like I did with Mama.

The relationship between a mother and daughter is indeed special. There is a bond that binds them together, and the love between a mother and daughter can never be broken.

Dreaming of a "Dream Wedding".

2011-08-24T14:27:00.000+08:00

When I was a kid, I remember our "yaya" taking us to the church just across our house whenever there was a wedding. I would look in awe as the bride walks down the aisle looking pristine in her white wedding gown. Since then, I developed a fancy for weddings and always dreamed about "my own wedding".

Back then, I would look forward to the Sunday edition of the newspaper because it would always have features of weddings in the lifestyle section. It became a hobby of mine collecting pictures of gowns, and cake designs, and any article related to weddings. I would picture myslef in every wedding gown design I would see, I even have a couple of designs I wanted to copy for my own wedding.

But sometimes, dreams were just meant to be dreams. I did'nt get to have my dream wedding. I'm not blaming anyone because it was a personal choice, at that time I felt it was not right for me to demand from my parents and my husbands family to spend on "my wedding". I mean I just finished med school and then got pregnant, husband was still reviewing for the board exams. It just did not feel right during that time. I was thinking to just save the money for the baby that was coming.

My grandmother was the one who encouraged me to have a church wedding. She said it doesn't have to be grand, what's important is that we receive God's blessing and be united not just in the eyes of man but also in God's eyes.

And so I had my church wedding last August 24, 2005. It was a simple ceremony with just a few family members and I did not even get to tell my friends about it. Wedding attire was casual, jeans and a white top, The priest even joked that we were under dressed for our own wedding. I had my son as soloist performing during the entire ceremony, as he was crying the enitre time. A simple lunch followed, no throwing of bouguets, no cake slicing not even gifts, hahaha!!

Looking back, I knew it was the right choice during that time. Ross and I have been married for 6 years and blessed with 2 kids. Married life is not an easy path, you come across bumps and fall down once in a while, but what matters is that you help each other rise up and go on.

Do I still dream of my dream wedding? Of course I still do, I think it is every girls dream. I guess if I ever have one regret, was that I did'nt give papa a chance to walk me down the aisle, and it hurts me even until now.

I may not have experienced my dream wedding, at least I still get to spend ever after with the person I love. I think that's what matters in the end.

A Series of Unfortunate Events

2011-08-23T20:19:00.000+08:00

I could not wait for the month of July to be over. It just wasn't a good month for me. It reminded me of the movie A Series of Unfortunate Events which was released way back 2004. The movie was based on the first three books of a series from Lemony Snicket.

The first book "The Bad Beginning" tells about how the 3 children were orphaned because of a fire that killed their parents. Coincidentally, my series of unfortunate events started with a fire that broke out a block away from our apartment on a Monday morning. The good thing was that no one got hurt and the fire was immediately put off. But the smoke that reached our apartment triggered both my kids allergies and eventually lead to triggering their asthma, which I count as the second in a series of unfortunate events.

The fire that broke out during that Monday scared me a bit, and the previous week around 2-3 fires broke out in different areas in Cebu. So I told my helpers in the event that the same incident happens, and we are not in the house just grab a few clothes for themselves, the bag which has our important documents and our emergency kit which has a few clothes for the kids and some essentials and run for safety.

On a Wednesday afternoon, I went to the hospital to get Micah's urinalysis result and decided to go to the grocery. I heard sirens from a distance and my instinct told me to call home and check on the kids. My helper told me that they could see the fire from a distance, and the kids were starting to get scared because people from our apartment complex were starting to pack their things. I rushed home but was caught in traffic because I think they blocked some roads, and I started to get really worried for my kids. I decided to just run for the remaining two blocks and I saw people frantically carrying their belongings. When I reached our apartment, I was told that our next door neighbor took the kids and one of my helpers somewhere safe, and I felt really grateful. I could really see the blaze and the thick smoke, I was so scared and I was just praying for the fire to be controlled. Then it started raining, a drizzle at first then heavy rainfall, it was as if God poured down water from the heavens.

But the "unfortunate events" didn't stop just yet, both my kids ran a fever for two consecutive days, not to mention the already existing cough and colds. The following week, when my kids were better I was the one who got really sick, I had pneumonia. My helpers also caught the flu. I

Things were not really that good at work. It started with a member of the team handing me a resignation letter even before I could settle in my desk, and the next thing I know he went AWOL. My direct supervisor suddenly resigned, then 2 of my workmates and closest friends also decided to tender their resignation. How worse could it get?! I felt emotionally, physically and not to mention financially drained, It felt like a years worth of bad luck all dumped in a month.

Imagine how relieved I was when August came. I want to start on a clean slate and forget all the not so good things that happened last month. It took a while for me to share this, I never imagined myself being a victim of " a series of unfortunate events". Nevertheless, I still am grateful and blessed because things turned out well in the end. I know that there are others who have experienced far more worse things than I did.

"How I got my Curls"

2011-08-11T16:05:00.000+08:00

This started my fancy for curls!!

After 2 days of waiting, the package finally arrived. I was like a kid opening a present on Christmas morning. I was so excited to try out this product I bought on-line. I have always wondered how those movie stars and models get their big curly locks. And ever since I made this fancy photo of Edward Cullen and me together, I've been thinking of getting my hair permed. I used to don curly hair back in high school, I remember I had the zig-zag hair look and the telephone wire curls. But since I found out that having your hair permed was much more expensive than getting a rebond, I ditched the idea of getting the curls I wanted. But thanks to "Magic Leverage Curlformers", I think I may have found the solution to how I'd get the curls I've always wanted.

This is the packaging of the curlformers. It comes with 18 pieces of this curly things where you insert your hair and 1 hook. It's actually easy to use and you could find video tutorials on how to use this. I think this is not the same one they sell in the US and Europe, because I noticed that the "leverage" is spelled without an "e". From what I read on-line this is being manufactured in China, which is not unusual. Anyway, I tried using it on my daughter, and eventually after a couple of minutes she took them off saying it was hurting her head.

I tried putting it on Micah but she eventually took them off after a few minutes.

I initially had a hard time putting them on, and it did hurt a bit especially when you pull the hook inside the curlformers. Putting on setting lotion or mousse helps define the curls. The video said you can get curls in 15 minutes, but actually I had to leave them on for 5 hours to get really nice curls. But when I finally took them off, it was worth the wait. The curls are really loose, exactly the way I imagined them to be. I've been going to work with my curly look for 2 straight days and my friends and workmates find it cute. Unfortunately, I could not make it my daily routine because even if it's easy to put on, getting the curls takes a lot of time. Nevertheless, I 'm glad I saw this product on-line and decided to buy it. Now I can get my curls anytime I feel like having one. :)

That's me and my curls!!

Praying for a Sign

2011-07-16T05:50:00.001+08:00

I had to temporarily put my plans of residency training aside and chose a different career path. During that time, I felt it was the right thing for me to do. I landed a job as an EMR physician, a totally new experience for me. I must admit, I enjoyed my work, not to mention that the compensation was much better. But I felt incomplete knowing that it was not what I envisioned myself to be. My current job may be financially rewarding, but I also missed my life working as a doctor. I was torn whether to continue being an EMR physician, or to start being a "real physician".

I prayed and asked for a sign from God. Then at last, after about a year since the first time I asked for a sign, God answered my prayers. Now the rest is up to me, I'm carefully planning out the next steps I would be taking. To be honest, I'm a bit scared, but I know this is what I'm supposed to be doing. The hardest part would be saying good bye to the people I have worked with, especially to my team who I've grown to love like my own family. For now, I would probably stay with the company for a few months, before I actually start preparing for the next challenge I would ba taking, which is my "residency training".

Happiness = Being Grateful + focusing on what's good

2011-06-28T14:37:00.000+08:00

I read an article from Bro. Bo Sanchez. An inspiring article which reminds us that the key to happiness is to always be thankful and focus on what is good. It seems very simple, yet so many of us tend to forget to appreciate the good within ourselves, the good in others and the goodness around us.

A portion of the article says: The key to happiness is gratitude. A grateful person is a happy person. And an ungrateful person is an unhappy person.

How does Bro. Bo define a grateful person? A grateful person focuses on what is good.

So if a grateful person is a happy person, and a grateful person focuses on what is good,I therefore conclude that a happy person is someone who sees the good in everything.

I was also told that if we want to be truly happy, then we should start counting our blessings that money cannot buy.

To read more of that article, please click here.

Why Staying is Still Worth It

2011-06-22T12:56:00.001+08:00

So many people have been asking me why I still am sticking with my current job. The level of stress that it has given me is pretty much obvious as evidenced by my persistent weight gain. Staring at the computer for almost 8 hours has also added to my ever worsening visual problems. I am also increasing my risk of developing certain conditions related to working during the night shifts. And according to an article I read, (click here) I may even be shortening my life!

I know I always have the option to leave if I want to, but then I would also start pointing out the reasons why I should stay. I have learned to love the job that I'm doing. I get to interact with different kinds of individuals. Being an EMR physician has boost my confidence level as it has exposed me to conducting trainings and meeting with doctors in the US. I enjoy working on the EMR templates, and actually implementing them for client use. I have met new friends and acquaintances. But the main reason why leaving is difficult, is because I have developed a special bond with my team. They make coming to work each night something to look forward to, despite knowing that there may be client concerns or some major issues. I am fortunate to be working with these unique individuals. Despite being younger by a few years, I have also come to learn from them as well. I know that no matter where life leads us in the future, we would always remain friends.

I know that the kind of work I am doing now is temporary. I know that sooner or later I would have to leave and pursue something greater. But for now, thanks to the these people, staying is still definitely worth it.

My Flower Garden-Project

2011-06-17T16:22:00.000+08:00

I have always wanted to have a flower garden. I used to imagine a backyard where I could just relax while being surrounded by flowers of different colors. But living in an apartment complex, I kind of had a hard time picturing how my garden would turn out because there was no space for me to grow a garden. So I had been putting off that plan for a while, until recently while I was scouting for my daughters fabric for her uniform. I happen to pass by Carbon market and saw all the plants for sale. I talked to the lady who was selling the plants and she actually had me convinced to finally start with my garden project. Since I could not actually make a garden in our compound, I chose the area in front of our unit as my starting point. I bought plastic flower pots and started with small flower plants (forget-me-not, a mini-rose and three other plants which names I could not remember). After putting the plants in their respective pots, I was pretty much excited with the thought of seeing them grow each day. Our house looked prettier with all the flowers aligned up front.

What to do if I had more time and money...

2011-05-26T14:10:00.000+08:00

If there are two things in the world that I would want to have more of, that would be Time and Money. I could just imagine the endless possibilities out there for me. Blessed are the few who gets to enjoy more time in this world and have more than enough money.

But I guess one can't really have both, right? It's either you have more time but not enough money, or you have all the money in the world, but so little time to enjoy it.

Anyway, a friend of mine posted a link on my Facebook wall which sparked my interest because the mission was to send in articles about the 10 things we would do if we had more time, and another 10 things if we had more money. So let me give it a shot, I'm sure this would be fun.

10 Things I would do if I had more time:

- Visit my family in Tacloban more often.

- Go on vacation with Ross and the kids every month to different tourist destinations here in the Philippines.

- Go on a Disney cruise with my kids, visit Disneyland and universal studios.

- Catch up on sleep. (Shallow but true, I think I'm sleep deprived, so I guess if I had more time I'd want to sleep in a few extra hours each day :).

- Finish reading the novels I bought neatly stacked on my desk collecting dusts, lol!! I have this habit of buying novels/books, yet I still have a couple unfinished ones. (Booksale is the culprit)

- Go on a get-together with my college best friends over the weekend.

- Enroll in culinary arts.

- Learn how to play any musical instrument.

- Start working on my porcelain clay project which I have been putting off since October of last year.

- Write in my journal more.

10 things I would do If I had more money:

- First on the list is of course to fund all activities in my "if I had more time" list which requires money, lol!!

- Buy a house and car for my family.

- Put up a grocery business. (I have been wanting to have a sari-sari store when I was a kid, I still dream about it, but now I have leveled-up and aimed for a grocery store!)

- Open a time deposit account for my kids.

- Help my father with his business by giving a new look to his Auto Shop, renovate the whole area, and adding an internet/coffee shop to attract more customers.

- An all-expense paid trip around the world for my parents, and even my brothers if they want to tag along. :)

- Fund a charitable institution which would aim to support every indigent patient to ensure that they would be receiving the best medical or surgical treatment they need.

- Extend financial assistance to relatives who are in need.

- Send my husband to the best Endoscopic and Laparoscopic center there is the world for his training.

- Put up an Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Center for my husband after he finishes with his training.

My list could go on forever. I must admit I had fun imagining things I would be doing If I had more time and money. I guess it's good to dream and imagine what you would want your life to be. Imagine what your future would be like everyday. As they say, "there's no limit to what you can dream".

Don't stop dreaming, even if you fail. Never give up until you find a way to fulfill them.

Remember Only the Happy Moments

2011-05-16T13:16:00.000+08:00

One thing on my wish list is to go on a "real vacation". Because from what I could remember, vacation with my family is heading to the beach house of my in-laws. For once I would want to go someplace where I could enjoy a few days off, just relax and not having to worry about anything else.

I don't really want to elaborate on what happened during that vacation, but I guess what matters most to me is that I was with Ross and the kids, I saw my sister in law and my cute nephew, Ross was able to spend time with his brothers, and I got to spend a few days with my side of the family. I guess that's worth it!!

And as what I have been telling myself, I just want to remember only the happy moments of that vacation, and I guess these photos would say it all....

It was around 7 in the morning, we all decided to head out for a walk. The main beach house was located about a few hundred meters from the main road.

I had to carry Micah because the sand gets in between her toes and she would start screaming that her feet were dirty.

We didn't actually go that far because Andre also wanted me to carry him because as I would quote what he said, "Mommy, Andre's feet is tired".

A visibly tired and grumpy Andre. Walking is definitely not one of his favorite activities..

After playing and running around, it's time to cool down.. so my kids decided to use the garden hose as shower and had another 30 minutes of goofing around.

We skipped going to the beach that day because of the big waves and we spotted a couple of jellyfish swimming around.

That same afternoon, the water was calm and we decided to head out and watch the sunset...

We were able to see the sun go down... such a beautiful sight. And this made me realize that what matters most is that at the end of each day, is to be with the ones you love dearly, and forget those who don't. Life is too short to waste it on people who are so bitter that they do not learn to appreciate the good things around them.

"The happiest memories are those spent with family."

Jar of Hearts

2011-04-18T11:00:00.004+08:00

The lyrics are beautiful... and the song speaks for itself...

I know I can't take one more step towards you
Cause all that's waiting is regret
And don't you know I'm not your ghost anymore?
You lost the love
I loved the most

And I learned to live, half-alive

And now you want me one more time

Who do you think you are?

Runnin' round leaving scars

Collecting your jar of hearts

And tearing love apart

You're gonna catch a cold

From the ice inside your soul

So don't come back for me

Who do you think you are?

I hear you're asking all around
If I am anywhere to be found
But I have grown too strong
To ever fall back in your arms

And I learned to live, half-alive
And now you want me one more time

Who do you think you are?
Runnin round leaving scars
Collecting your jar of hearts
And tearing love apart
You're gonna catch a cold
From the ice inside your soul
So don't come back for me
Who do you think you are?

Dear, it took so long just to feel alright
Remember how to put back the light in my eyes
I wish I had missed the first time that we kissed
Cause you broke all your promises
And now you're back
You don't get to get me back

Who do you think you are?
Runnin' round leaving scars
Collecting your jar of hearts
And tearing love apart
You're gonna catch a cold
From the ice inside your soul
So don't come back for me
Don't come back at all

Who do you think you are?

Watch the official video here.

What Life is About

2011-04-13T19:25:00.000+08:00

But life is about who you love

and who you hurt.

It's about how you feel about yourself.

It's about trust, happiness and compassion.

It's about sticking up for your friends and replacing inner hate with love.

Life is about avoiding jealousy, overcoming ignorance, and building confidence.

It's about what you say and what you mean.

It's about seeing people for who they are

and not what they have.

Most of all,

it is about choosing to use your life.

to touch someone else's

in a way that could never have been achieved otherwise.

These choices are what life is about.

I Choose To be Happy

2011-04-11T14:38:00.000+08:00

Today I have decided that I want to be happy,

I want to feel good about myself.

I choose not to think about things that would irritate me.

I need to stop worrying about tomorrow,

but rather focus on what I can do for today.

I want to be a better version of myself each and every day.

If some people may not approve of me,

or thinks differently about me, that is not my problem.

I can't change myself according to what others want me to be.

I have my family and my friends who love me for ME

and I am blessed to have them in my life.

As long as I know that I am not stepping on anyone's toes,

I will continue to live my life according to how I know God wants me to live it.

Happiness is a CHOICE

and today I am making that choice for myself.

Emotionless

2011-04-08T12:36:00.000+08:00

How does it feel to be emotionless?

To not feel any thing at all...

to detach one's self from feeling anything.

There are instances where I want to be in that state,

of not being able to feel anything.

No hurt, no anger, no sadness. Just nothing.

I guess that would make me indifferent, but I would rather be indifferent than pretend to be OK when I know that I am not. So I am starting to filter my emotions, knowing that this is for the best.

The words that were said, can never be taken back. There is no remedy, there is no cure. What has been broken can never be fixed.

I have to start healing, I have to erase all the memories, let go of all the feelings and just move on.

Irrational Fear

2011-04-01T09:08:00.000+08:00

I secretly have an irrational fear, and that usually comes up when I am faced in a situation wherein I am reminded that it does exist. That fear is towards "someone", but out of respect I want the person to remain anonymous. I have recently been reminded of that person, and all of a sudden all the emotions and memories came rushing back. It has been my source of stress for the past couple of days, and I can't believe that after all these years, it could still hurt so much. The painful words that were thrown at me, I could still hear them at the back of my head. I don't know why I can't seem to forget. Maybe because deep inside I have so many questions. I want to understand why I had to endure all the hardships I have been through during those times. I guess the reason why I can't seem to get over it is because I have not had the opportunity to confront and ask all the questions that has been bugging me. I can't even start to talk about it because it would suddenly bring tears to my eyes, and I would feel the anger, the hurt and the resentment all over again.

I guess for now I have to live with that fear, and learn to accept that it would always be part of my life. I can't pretend that it does not exist, because it does!! I just hope that one day, I would learn to overcome it. Talk about the past without a hint of regret, think about the past without ever having to feel any pain.

The Rabbit Hole - Movie

2011-03-26T03:45:00.000+08:00

The Rabbit Hole is a film about a married couple who lost their 4 year old son when he was hit by a car just outside their house. I was expecting it to be a tear jerker, but surprisingly the movie didn't make me cry. It was actually a sad movie if I may say. This was originally a play which was adapted into a film. The movie takes you into the life of the characters and the different ways they cope up with grief, and how they found comfort at the end.

Losing a child is unimaginable, that is every parents worst nightmare. In this movie instead of the couple finding comfort in each other because they lost a son, they were sadly drifting apart. While the father was trying to re-live the memories of his son, the mother was slowly erasing the memory of the little boy from their home, by removing things that would remind her of him. She was starting to be cold and distant towards his husband, which I know in reality happens to some couple dealing with the same tragedy. But at the end they both realized that they have to move on with their lives, and although things were not the same, they had to try and act normal for the sake of their friends and family, and find comfort in each other.

Each person has a unique way of coping with grief. I guess you are entitled to grieve on your own for some time. But I think that there comes a point where acceptance should come in, and that life has to go on for everyone. Find comfort in the thought that whatever it is in life you are going through, you are never alone.

The Choices I had to Make

2011-03-22T12:34:00.001+08:00

When it comes to topics related to "residency training", I tend to be sensitive and emotional. Call me onion-skinned or whatever, but maybe some people don't realize that not having to push through with my residency was not just a matter of choice, but of circumstances. I had to prioritize my kids over career. I have no regrets about what happened, but sometimes I think that it was a decision I never would have to make if I'd chosen a residency program in our place.

But being a wife, I had an obligation to be where my husband was. Since he decided to apply for a residency training in Cebu, I guess it was just natural that I apply for a Cebu-based hospital as well. It sounded easy, but was actually a difficult decision to make because I had to leave both my kids with my parents. I was accepted for pre-residency training in Internal Medicine at the Visayas Community Medical Center. I kept convincing myself this was the right thing to do, but I was having a hard time believing it. I was losing my focus on what I was supposed to do at work because my mind would drift away. I missed my kids terribly and I felt miserable.

There was only one thing in my mind and in my heart. I wanted to be with my kids. So I left residency training, looked for another job, and after a month Ross and I left the room that we were renting and moved to a new apartment. Shortly after that, I fetched my kids and brought them to Cebu.

But the decision I made would be the start of a never ending argument between me and my hubby. He would always nag me when I would go back into residency, or compare me to my friends who are already into training. I tried to explain that it was a sacrifice I had to make because I wanted us to be together as a family, I wanted to focus my time on taking care of him and the kids. Maybe he does not realize how painful it is for me to be constantly reminded of how well my batch mates are doing in their chosen specializations. If he only knew that I miss being in the hospital and that I've been longing to wear my scrubs and smock gown again. It was not an easy decision for me to make, I worked hard to be a doctor, and I was turning my back on something that I have always dreamed of. It hurts to realize that the person I was hoping would understand me was being stubborn and idealistic about the whole situation.

It has been 2 years since I made that decision, and never for a moment do I regret ever making that choice. I know Ross still feels disappointed whenever that topic would come up, but unlike before he has not been pressuring me that much, (except when he has consumed a few drinks). I hope he sees how happy I am, and even if he may not fully understand it, I pray that he loves me enough to respect the decision I made.

Being Mean with Good Intentions

2011-03-14T16:29:00.000+08:00

My husband is on his last year as a surgical resident. He is also the Chief Resident in their department which is in my opinion both an honor and a curse. Why do I say that? Because residency training takes up most of his time, and now that he is the "chief", he is "on call" everyday, goes home for dinner once in a while and only sleeps over during the weekends. I don't really complain about it because I know that is what we signed up for when we became doctors, I guess that is the reason why I had to put my residency training on hold, I can't bear the thought of being away from the kids for a long time.

Going back to my husband, being the chief resident was a big adjustment on his part. He was used to taking orders, but now he is the one giving orders, following up on his juniors, making sure that things are running smoothly in their department. A few weeks into the role of being chief, I could tell that he was having a hard time because some of his juniors were missing out on what they were supposed to do. Routine tasks like following up on patients, proper referrals to consultants, and other basic things were being disregarded. No matter how many times he would reprimand them about those things, they seem to make the same mistakes over and over again. Absences and tardiness were also a problem.

He would tell me about these concerns almost everyday, and he said he was tired of not being taken seriously. I guess people were used to the "happy go lucky" side of him, and that reprimanding was not enough. And so he decided to be tougher and stricter, he created policies for their department, and that whoever violated those policies would have corresponding sanctions. He told me giving punishments was hard on his part, but he needed to do it to help his co-residents be more responsible towards their patients, and mindful of their actions in the hospital. Sometimes I would ask him if maybe he was being too hard on his co-residents, and he said that he won't be punishing them for no reason at all, and I trust his judgment. Maybe Ross is right, sometimes you need to be firm to bring out the best in people. In the eyes of others, he may come out as the "mean or bad guy", but I know that he only has good intentions at heart.

That Special "Someone"

2011-03-10T03:27:00.000+08:00

It's always good to know that no matter what life has in store for us,

there's always that "someone" we could share it with,

the happy moments and the sad

during good times and even the bad,

through laughter and tears...

You won't ever have to feel you're alone.

Message to Myself...

2011-03-04T06:58:00.000+08:00

Au revoir à bientôt

2011-03-03T07:11:00.000+08:00

I hope to visit you someday...

Dear Paris,

I have been reading about you for as long as I could remember. In novels, I would picture all those beautiful places the author would describe, but I most enjoy seeing you in books or on television. I would imagine myself having my picture taken in front of the Eiffel tower or at the Arc de Triomphe de Carrousel. I enjoyed reading about the Louvre Museum in The Da Vinci Code. But it would be awesome if I was actually there having a tour and seeing all those great works of art. I know that there are so many things to do in Paris, eat at a fancy French restaurant,take a cruise at the River Seine, visit the Notre Dame Cathedral or picnik at the Eiffel tower. My list of "to do things" could go on forever. Anyway, I just wanted you to know that you are on top of my "dream destination" list, and I'm really hoping to visit you someday. So I'll end this with "au revoir à bientôt", and that is I'll see you soon in French.

My First Visit to the "Mooon"

2011-02-27T09:39:00.000+08:00

At last, after almost 3 years of residing in Cebu, I finally got to experience dining at Mooon Cafe. Ross took me out to dinner a few days after Valentines, and since I also haven't been to IT park yet, (poor me!) he decided we eat there instead of the one at Ayala. I was so excited and thrilled, because it has been a while since Ross and I went out on a date, just the two of us. We usually go out on Sundays with the kids in tow. I have been wanting to set a "date day" for us, but since his schedule won't allow him, any free time my husband has I want him to spend with the kids. I bring his dinner to the hospital every weekdays before I go to work, and we get to spend time to talk and catch up on things, and that's quality time for us already.

Going back to our date, we ordered Tostaditas, Mexican baby back and Lechon kawali. The serving was good enough. I especially enjoyed our drinks because it had slices of oranges in them, I believe it was called cupid coolers, not sure though.

We had a good time. I enjoyed the food, and Ross promised we'd go back and taste their Burritos and the pasta. Yipee, I'm already looking forward to it.

I had a contented smile on my face. I was actually so full, I think what I ate would last me until lunch the next day. The prize I guess was reasonable enough, I was just laughing when I saw the bill because my husband cracked his ancient joke telling me he'd run off first and then I follow afterwards. He always does that whenever we dine out, or either he'd tell the waiter he forgot his wallet and we would be willing to wash the plates to pay off our dinner. We get different reactions whenever he cracks his "i forgot my wallet" joke, and whenever I start laughing, the waiters would know my husband was just fooling around.

Mooon cafe is definitely on my favorite dining places list. I would be going back for sure. Just a thought, why is Mooon spelled with 3 "O's"?

Thoughts on Mitch Albom's Book

2011-02-22T08:43:00.000+08:00

A friend of mine sent me an e-book of The 5 people You Meet in Heaven, by Mitch Albom. I finished reading the book early last year, and I remember writing down the lines from the book which was worth reading over and over. Somehow I forgot where I placed that notepad, until recently when I was cleaning up my desk, I found a piece of paper tucked into one of my folders. I could barely understand some of the words as my handwriting resembled that of an ECG tracing.

Anyway in the story, when Eddie died he was brought back to Ruby pier where he spent his childhood. I liked the idea that when we eventually die we get to go back to certain significant aspects in our life. I have always loved my childhood, and I think it would really be a good way to start a journey to the afterlife. Anyway, I think in the story Eddie had some regrets in his life and some he still had to confront when he met the other people on his way to heaven. That's one thing I hope I don't have when my time comes. I hope that I could do what I am supposed to do while I am still here... no unfinished business as what they usually say.

So here are some of my favorite lines from the book.

The first lesson: There are no random acts. That we are all connected. That you can no more separate one life from another, than you can separate a breeze from the wind.

The second lesson: Sacrifice is a part of life. It's supposed to be. It's not something to regret. It's something to aspire to.

Holding anger is a poison. It eats you from inside. We think that hating is a weapon that attacks the person who harmed us. But hatred is a curved blade, and the harm we do, we do to ourselves.

Lost love is still love. It takes different form, that's all. You can't see their smile or bring them food or tousle their hair or move them around a dance floor. But when those senses weaken, another heightens. Memory. memory becomes your partner. You nurture it. You hold it. You dance with it. Life has to end. Love doesn't.

I chose them because somehow I could relate to it. There are no random acts. TRUE. Things happen sometimes, even if you don't plan it they fall into place, and sometimes even if you do plan things, they don't happen the way you want them to.

I don't need to elaborate on sacrificing being a part of life because we all know it is, and I am sure we have had our own share of sacrifices in the past..

Anger is a poison. There was a point in my life that I was harboring some negative feelings towards a person, and somehow it's like there was always a dark cloud above me. I realized that I had to let go of the anger because it was not allowing me to move forward. It was not easy but eventually I did it, but to be honest even if you forgive sometimes it's just hard to forget, but I have learned to live with the pain.

My mind and my heart is where I keep beautiful memories of my life, what I have been through, things I learned, people I love and those who matters to me the most. The author was right in saying Memory becomes your partner, because when all seems lost, you only have your memory to remind you of what has been, When I like to reminisce
a certain memory, I close my eyes and pretend to hit a play button and it would all come back playing in my mind. There are certain memories though, no matter how hard you try to remember, it just doesn't come back to you anymore. I guess like any device, our minds has a certain limit to what it can store, so might as well keep beautiful memories alive and delete the not so good ones.

Dare to Dream

2011-02-16T12:15:00.000+08:00

I consider myself a dreamer. But I guess everybody loves to dream right? Even those who stopped believing in dreams at one point dreamed of something. My dreams have evolved from simple to complex ones, and I find myself laughing at some silly dreams of mine. Some dreams do come true, if you want it to. It requires hard work, patience, dedication and courage. But there are dreams that are simply meant to be dreams.

But no matter what the circumstances you are in, "Don't stop dreaming, and don't stop believing that dreams do come true". Dare to dream, and you'll never know where it may take you.

What I've Learned - Part 3

2011-02-15T09:46:00.001+08:00

And here's the last part.. Hope you "learned" from this article, the way I found it very helpful. I hope to make my own "what I've learned" list in the future...

I've learned that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I've learned that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.

I've learned that it's not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.

I've learned that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.

I've learned that there are many ways of falling and staying in love.

I've learned that no matter the consequences, those who are honest with themselves, get farther in life.

I've learned that no matter how many friends you have, if you are their pillar, you will feel lonely and lost at the times you need them most.

I've learned that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

I've learned that writing, as well as talking, can ease emotional pains.

I've learned that the people you care most about in life are taken from you too soon.

I've learned that it's hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people's feelings and standing up for what you believe

What I've Learned - Part 2

2011-02-15T09:36:00.000+08:00

And here's the second half .....

I've learned that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I've learned that true friendship continues to grow even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back.

I've learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I've learned that your family won't always be there for you. It may seem funny, but people you aren't related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again. Families aren't biological.

I've learned that no matter how good a friend someone is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I've learned that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.

I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.

What I've Learned - Part 1

2011-02-15T09:29:00.000+08:00

I stumbled upon this article on the web, and I enjoyed reading it because most if not everything the author is saying is actually true. So I decided to re-post and share it to everyone. ♥

I've learned that you can do something in an instant that will give you a heartache for life.

I've learned that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I've learned that it's a lot easier to react than it is to think.

I've learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I've learned that you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I've learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I've learned that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.

I've learned that learning to forgive takes practice.

I've learned that there are people who love you dearly, but just don't know how to show it.

I've learned that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I've learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down will be the ones to help you get back up.

The Lost Valentine - Movie

2011-02-14T12:13:00.001+08:00

Recently watched The Lost Valentine on dvd. The movie was based on a novel by James Michael Pratt. First 5 minutes into the movie, I was already crying. It was a scene where Caroline was saying goodbye to her husband and how I hate goodbyes.

The story centered on Caroline Thomas, who on February 14, 1944 said goodbye to her husband as he was sent off to war. And on every Valentine's Day for the next 66 years she went to that train station waiting for her beloved husband to come back.

Then came Jennifer Love Hewitt, a reporter who was looking for a story about true love, but doubts at first if it does exist, was assigned to do the story of Caroline Thomas and her husband. Now, as Caroline was reliving the memory of her husband by telling their love story, Susan (the reporter) was having issues with her own love life as well. Her photographer boyfriend proposed to her, bur she declined saying she was not yet ready to commit into something serious. And in the picture was Caroline's grandson Lucas, who at first got annoyed at Susan but as they started spending time together started to have feelings for her.

So the story continued with the quest of looking for her husband who they learned was rescued by "tribeman" in an island somewhere in the Pacific. And this island just happened to be the Philippines, and there was even a scene where there were Filipino actors and you could hear them speaking in Tagalog. Anyway, they found out that Neil Thomas, (the husband) later died in action. They asked the help of a Filipino guerrilla who fought with the American during the war to locate the remains of Neil and bring it back to the US. The ending brought them back to the train station where finally Caroline's long wait for her husband came to an end as he eventually was brought home, a hero.

This is a real tear jerker. The plot was simple yet love stories always brings out good feelings after you watch them. It proves that love does really stand the test of time, and it shows how a person can stay committed and true to the person she loves. It's a beautiful reminder that True Love does exist. Happy Hearts Day everyone!!

PS: Did I mention that the grandson, Lucas (Sean Faris) is a total hunk? LOL...

I wish I were like Mama...

2011-02-09T06:41:00.000+08:00

If there's one thing I don't like about myself, it's probably the fact that I try to control my emotions as much as I possibly can. When in an argument, I try to maintain my cool, keep myself from answering back even when I know I'm right, and worse even if I try to hold back my tears they seem to have a mind of its own, and fall like rain drops.

Sometimes I wish I was more like my mother. Mama is a tough cookie. She's not afraid to speak her mind, and would fight for what she thinks is right. If she knew what I'm going through right now, I am sure she would fight back for me. She would never allow any one to hurt or offend us.

I may be a crybaby, but I know for a fact that I would never let anyone hurt my kids or the people I love. I can be a tough one like Mama if I need to be.

My Not-So Golden "surprise" Birthday Bash

2011-02-04T10:19:00.003+08:00

Life is indeed full of surprises. Just when you feel that you are at your lowest, good things happen.

A week before my birthday, "a series of unfortunate events" took place, and so I was not really in the mood for celebrating because I had so many things going through my head. I was initially planning to treat my friends from work, but because I had to prioritize our household expenses, I had to set that thought aside and told them the pizza would have to wait until the next payday. I was also worrying because Andre was having a really bad case of allergic rhinitis, which eventually lead to asthma, so hearing him wheezing so badly was terrifying for me.

That Monday, I was not really planning to report to work because I was hesitant to leave Andre, but Ariane sent me a message saying our manager was looking for me. I had to get the kids to sleep first before I leave. Good thing the nebulization worked magic and my son was sleeping soundly without the wheeze.

I was not my usual self that day. I had so many things in my head, I did not even notice that I was the only one left in our work station, until Ariane approached me saying she wanted to talk to me about something. The first thing that came through my head was "Oh no, please don't tell me you're resigning!". So we walked towards our conference room, and I noticed a shadow of one of my workmates inside, and when I opened the door, I froze and could not believe what I saw. All my team members, well most of them were there greeting me a "happy birthday", while I was stuck in the corner crying, and then they were all telling me to blow the candle before the smoke alarm goes off. The next shock came when I saw the candles on my birthday cake, 50!! I just turned 33 and suddenly I'm blowing a birthday cake with the number 50 on it. So I was crying and laughing at the same time.

It was really crazy, and I know I looked really funny, but I was surprised. I did not expect them to throw me a birthday bash. I thought it only happened in the movies, but it happened to me, and I felt so blessed to be surrounded with these dynamic and wonderful individuals. I feel honored that they decided to plan a surprise for me. I always am hesitant being called a team leader or manager because I'm not really sure If I am able to do what I am supposed to do for them or if I fit the description of what a manager should be. But all I know is that I am always willing to help them out in any way I can, and always ready to look after them. I think I am more of like a protective mother, an older sister, and friend rolled into one. They make my job of being TL easier because they are all easy to work with, no attitude problems whatsoever, and it's fun being around them. We are basically like family, so even if there are work related issues, knowing that they are around makes things better,

I would never forget that day. What they did was special and something I would always cherish. I may not have looked my best during that day, but I was definitely at my HAPPIEST! Thank you to my EMR/Implementation family. You guys will always hold a special place in my ♥.

The people behind the surprise. Sadly we were not complete that night since Gail and Geraldine were absent and Joseph came in late. From the top there's Teody, Ariane and Limpz. Rejoice is on the second photo. Then Limpz again with Brian, Ed, and Divya, then there's Jayson on the last photo. I think the common denominator for all these pics is Limpz, lol!

The food was great. I enjoyed the fish fillet. And again my birthday cake with the number 50 on it.

Thanks Ariane for staying late that day, I know you were supposed to leave early for your duty but I'm glad you were the bearer of good news. You actually scared me when you said you wanted to talk to me, you looked really serious, and your hands were cold :). Thanks Sir Adrian for allowing us to use the conference room, at least the smoke alarm did not go off. PS: The middle photo I am with the Employee of the Year 2009 and 2010. For two consecutive years the EOY came from our team, yipee!!

A Birthday Thought

2011-01-25T09:48:00.000+08:00

Today is my birthday. Another year older, and hopefully wiser. Today I look back on what my life has been for the past years. I had my share of disappointments, and triumphs, laughters and tears, sadness and happiness... but whatever I have been through I could say that I love my life and I have enjoyed each and every passing moment. I may have my share of regrets, but I chose to focus on what lies ahead.

I thank God for His blessings. I always tell myself that even if I do not have all that I want, God has blessed me with everything that I need. I have a loving and supportive family, a good husband, adorable kids, and friends both old and new. They are the treasures I hold close to my heart.

On my birthday, there is nothing I could ever ask for, except for God to bless my family, my loved ones, and my friends. I also hope and pray for guidance and wisdom as I live yet another year. Happy Birthday to me!

"A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip"

Sinulog 2011

2011-01-17T19:37:00.000+08:00

I was hoping that the weather would be sunny on the day of the Sinulog itself, but as expected it rained as it always does for the past 3 Sinulog festival that I was here. But this year was probably when it rained the most, maybe it just means more blessings from Sr. Sto. Niño.

I went to church by myself on that Sunday because Andre was still having cough and colds, and I did not want to bring Micah because of the weather, and I know that I would be doing a lot of walking so it would be wiser not to bring the kids. I went to see Ross at the hospital and he asked me to stay for a while because they had a small "salo-salo" at their quarters. One of their interns prepared Indian food, so I had a taste of that as well. I was thinking my friend Ariane would have enjoyed it, because the menu consisted of vegetable curry, Russian salad and "Roti", an Indian bread. Luckily, Doc Dulce also prepared spaghetti and they also had chicken, because I was preparing myself for a "walkathon", knowing for a fact that their were few PUJ and taxi cabs due to the mardi gras parade.

The surgical residents wanted to have henna tattoos and so they invited an artist over to do the deed. Ross wanted me to have one as well, and I was hesitant getting one because I recall a cousin developing allergic reactions to the henna ink used. But since no one was complaining about burning sensations or itching I decided that it was pretty safe and I went ahead and agreed to get my very first henna tattoo. As expected I chose a floral design for myself, and the result was pretty nice. Before heading home, I decided to buy tattoos for my kids because I was sure they were gonna ask once they see us both with henna tattoos.

And as expected, they were excited when they saw the sticker tattoos. So I took this picture of them with daddy showing off their tattooed arms, except that all eyes are on the TV.

We were not able to go out for Sinulog, I also missed the procession because of the heavy rain, (next year I am hoping to join the procession), but it was fun nevertheless, and despite the sound of the Sinulog beat coming from the mobile disco outside our apartment, I got to sleep well that weekend. Hope you guys enjoyed Sinulog, and most importantly thanked Sto. Niño for the blessings we have received for the past years. Until next year... Pit Senyor!!

What my kids got for Christmas...

2011-01-08T10:54:00.001+08:00

The Christmas season has passed, and I can't wait for next December for my 13th month pay, LOL!! Well sadly, I was not able to set aside much from my bonus, had so many bills and debts to pay, but with fingers crossed, I hope this year would be a better one for me in the financial aspect of things. Anyway, I just wanted to backtrack a bit and go back to what we gave the kids for Christmas. Hubby and I wanted to give them something that they wanted and would really enjoy. So we decided to give Andre a Lego castle and a Baby Alive doll for Micah. It was fun watching them eagerly opening their gifts, and the squeals of delight as they started playing with their new toys.

Since my kids spent Christmas with my parents, we had a web conference on Christmas eve, and I watched them opening up their gifts and showing me every present they got. A Hotwheels and Barbie from mama and papa, a Ben 10 cap, Bakugan toy and Dora bag from Uncle Cocoy, a beautiful dress, toy cars, towel and spy gadget from Ninang Sandee, Apple and Rizza. They also got art materials from tatay and nanay and some stuff toys. It was a memorable Christmas for every one. My first Christmas spent away from the kids, but thanks to technology I was able to spend it with them via web-cam :) Part of my New Year's resolution is to do early Christmas shopping and watch out for sales this year, so that by next Christmas I would be able to give gifts to my inaanak on time, hahaha!! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and may this New Year ahead be a blast!!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-04T07:54:00.000+08:00

Happy New Year Everyone! This is my first blog for the year 2011. I am excited and hopeful that this year would be a promising year for everyone. It is time to leave behind the year that was, time to let go of all the bad memories, heartaches and pain (if there were any). Forget the mistakes of the past and move on to the New Year with only good things in mind. May this year bring us greater opportunities, treasure old friendships and meet new ones, keep us strong to face challenges ahead, strengthen the love between family and friends, and meet the coming year with hope, love and optimism.

I would like to share this quote from Neil Gaiman, from his blog dated 2001. And I end by thanking everyone who has been a part of my life for the past year, you have made 2010 bearable for me, :)

Starbucks Planner Mission: Complete!

2010-12-27T09:51:00.000+08:00

I finally got my very own Starbucks planner!! Thanks to my ever supportive husband who would gladly offer to buy me coffee every time we go to SM and pass by Starbucks, for giving up his favorite Java Chip frappuccino just so I could complete the required number of stickers for the featured holiday beverages, and to that lady who gave me the one last sticker I needed to claim my planner. My quest for the Starbucks Planner 2011 is complete. I would probably take a breather from Starbucks for a month or so, simply because I think all the frappuccinos added to my weight gain this holiday season, hahaha :)

My Not So Lonely Christmas

2010-12-24T01:03:00.000+08:00

My kids are spending Christmas with my parents this year. That leaves me and hubby together for the holiday seasons. But we won't literally be spending time together because since he became Chief resident of their department, he has been so busy at the hospital, he never gets to sleep at home. But since I came back, I have been seeing more of him lately. I have been helping him with some of his errands and so we get to spend every afternoon together 3 days in a row. The day I arrived, we had dinner at Tokyo Joe's. I have been wanting to eat there for the longest time, but never get to do so since the kids food selection is limited to either Jollibee or McDonalds. The following day we had lunch at Sbarro since he was craving for a Chicago deep dish pizza. We went to Starbucks two days in a row. That's how desperate I am to get the planner, hahaha!! But I enjoy the time with hubby, we have been laughing more together these past few days. I guess even when the kids get back, I would always find time for the two of us to go out once in a while. That way he would get his mind off from work even for a bit. He tells me what's going on in the hospital and I pity him because I know how stressful it is to manage people, more so if there are people in the team who's always on the naughty list.

This is the first Christmas away from the kids. I miss them terribly but I know that they are happy to be in Tacloban with mama and papa. When I left for the airport, I expected Micah to cry and run after me, but surprisingly she just waved me goodbye, planted a kiss on my lips and said, "Ba-bye Mommy!". It's a day before Christmas, the house is empty, there are no gifts under the Christmas tree, but still I am happy because Christmas is a season of love and joy. I am happy knowing that my kids are happy and having a blast with all the gifts they would be receiving. I am looking forward to Christmas dinner with my hubby and after that we would be buying the gifts for the kids, so when they come home their presents would be waiting under the tree. Since Christmas is a time for giving, we are also planning to give gifts to the kids in our apartment, and randomly I have been giving food to street kids. I guess in my own little way I am able to share my blessings to others. Merry Christmas everyone, I hope that you enjoy this holiday season. Looking forward to a good year ahead!

Office Christmas Party

2010-12-17T07:10:00.000+08:00

We just had our office Christmas Party last December 12, 2010. The theme of the party was Cosplay, but our team decided to come in wearing Scrub Suits and lab coats. Why? Personally because I do not have the budget for a costume, I miss wearing my scrubs, and it was something we all agreed on for practical reasons. Anyway, the place was cozy, but a bit small for an office party with about 90 employees, the food was excellent, and the group presentations were awesome. Each team really prepared for the program. Our presentation was okay, we did not get to win any price but we had fun practicing our dance :) I also enjoyed looking at other employees who came in costumes, it was a fun, fun night. And for two consecutive years, I was able to receive the gift I wanted from my manita, thanks to the wish list. So, here are some photos from that night. Happy Holidays!!

This was before we left the office. All ready to do our rounds!

Aboard the Kashiong Bus to Lola Salings with my sister Ariane and our EOY.

Just getting settled, and ready to eat!

Divya, Teody, Limp, Gail and me.

Don't smile when your mouth is full!

The whole Implementation/EMR Team.

The Quest for The Starbucks Planner 2011

2010-12-11T10:21:00.000+08:00

Last year, I never got to complete the 17 stickers needed to get the limited edition Starbucks planner. But now I promised myself that before the year ends I would have my very own Starbucks planner for 2011. I'm down to 9 more stickers... luckily I was able to get 3 additional stickers care of hubby and friends. I know they sell the planner on ebay, but I would rather do it the usual way, at least I get to enjoy my favorite Java Chip frappuccino and get closer to my quest to collect all 17 stickers.

Now for the next 9 Starbucks coffee beverage, I would have to go for their Holiday featured beverages like Praline Mocha, Toffee Nut Latte and Peppermint Mocha. Come to think of it, I'd scratch the peppermint variety from the list as I can't imagine the taste of mint as a beverage. Hopefully, I'd still get stickers from friends, and I still have those gift certificates left to use, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed, and really, really hoping to get my Starbucks planner for 2011.

Relax, Enjoy, and Breathe a Little More

2010-12-10T09:11:00.000+08:00

Things have been a little bit hectic lately, and I often find myself out of breathe. I am always rushing because of the many things that I need to do and tend to forget about what is important in my life, When hubby arrived from a conference in Manila and bought me a pair of scrub suits and my favorite Krispy Kreme doughnuts, I forget to say "thank you". And he asked me like I would ask my kids after being given something, "What will you say?" Then it hit me, I have been acting exactly the way I was afraid I would turn out to be, someone uptight, always stressed and tensed. This is definitely not me! Am I a turning out to be a grinch? I hope not, I wouldn't be spoiling Christmas, it's my favorite time of the year!! So here I am, trying to loosen up, breathe more, relax and enjoying each moment that comes.

"A lifetime is not what is between

the moments of birth and death.

A lifetime is one moment
Between my two little breaths.
The present, the here, the now,
That's all the life I get.
I live each moment in full,
In kindness, in peace, without regret."

Chade Meng, Taoist poet

What I Learned...

2010-12-01T09:15:00.001+08:00

A few weeks back, I almost lost my wallet to a thief! Andre wanted a hamster for his birthday, so I decided to bring him to a pet store so he could personally choose his hamster. The store was crowded and we had to wiggle our way inside to get to the area where these cute rodents were displayed. I noticed a lady standing closely behind me. i didn't mind her at first, but I had this uneasy feeling about her. While my son was so busy deciding which hamster to pick, I suddenly felt nervous and my gut feeling was telling me to check on my bag. To my horror, I realized my wallet was missing, and I looked back and saw the lady making her way out of the store. I hurried after her and tried to get her attention, on instinct I grabbed her hair and she was a bit startled to see me. I wanted to ask if I could check on her bag because I was missing my wallet and she was the last person I saw standing behind me, but before I even finished what I was trying to say, she handed me my wallet, blurted an apology and walked away as if it was the most natural thing to do. I was shocked at first, so I was not able to react. But when I came to my senses, I realized that I left Andre in the store, and God knows if it was some kind of gang who did it to distract me and grab my son when I ran after the lady. I rushed back to the store, and a wave of relief washed over me when I saw my son at the exact spot where I left him, oblivious of what just happened. When he saw that I was back, he flashed me a wide smile and said "Mommy, hamster please?".

A small crowd already gathered and they were telling me I should have called out security, or chased the lady, one was even telling me that if it happened to her, she would surely slap the lady and insulted her. I thought to myself, if I was just a mere observer I would probably be saying the same things. But I learned that it's different when it actually happens to you. People have different ways of handling a situation, in my case I admit I lost my focus for a bit, and it was pretty foolish of me to run after the person and leave my son in the store. I know I should have reprimanded the lady, called security or whatever it was people thought was the right thing to do, but when she handed me my wallet I guess I was just relieved that I had it back and realizing that I left Andre at the pet store, I had to go back and make sure he was safe.

After paying for the hamster, we headed out and I was scanning the crowd for the lady. I still remembered her face, and what she was wearing. One would never think she was someone capable of stealing stuff from other people. But hey. looks are deceiving, right? I wondered how many wallets she stole that day, I could imagine how someone would feel if they found out they lost their belongings. I am blessed because i truly believe it was my guardian angel at work that day, and also equally gratefully that my son's guardian angel was with him as well.

Teenage Dream

2010-11-27T09:33:00.000+08:00

When I saw the Youtube video of a group of high school boys singing "Teenage Dream" on Glee, I was shocked! Their version was actually better than the original, well that's just my opinion though. I know the Katy Perry fans out there would say otherwise. And another surprising fact is that Darren Criss, the one doing the vocals is actually half-Filipino. He is now in Glee as well, and another Filipina is joining the cast. Wow, more reasons for me to watch Glee!

Here's the Glee version of the song. Makes me thing that it must be really exciting to live the "Teenage Dream', you know like taking chances... being carefree. My adolescent life was pretty much on the simple side, no running away, no getting drunk on the beach, and no skin-tight jeans either, but hey I loved my life and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Being Thankful

2010-11-26T08:10:00.000+08:00

Every 4th Thursday of November, people in the US celebrate Thanksgiving. According to history, it started as a feast to celebrate a bountiful harvest, and has been observed and now has become a US holiday. Working for a US based company catering to US based clients, I was hoping that we could also go on a holiday, considering we would not be having clients during that time. But since the office is here in the Philippines, we were asked to come to the office and "find something to do'.

I then found myself thinking, what is it that I am thankful for? I know that the list could go on and on... starting from being thankful for the people who are in my life, down to the most trivial things I could think of. But let me first start by listing the 10 reasons why I am thankful for:

1. I am thankful that my parents are always there to help me out whenever I have problems.

2. I am thankful because I had a happy childhood.

3. I am thankful that God has blessed me with 2 wonderful kids.

4. I am thankful for Ross, because in spite of everything, he would always be one of the reasons why I am happy. I loved the person he was then, and the person that he has become.

5. I am thankful for friends.. both the old and the new, because somehow life is easier with "friends" around.

6. I am thankful for my job. It may not be what I have imagined myself doing, but I find myself enjoying it, and most importantly, it helps provide us with our basic needs and more.

7. I am thankful that we have a house to live in, sleep comfortably, have a good water supply, and eat 3 or more meals in a day.

8. I am thankful that no one in the family has any serious illnesses.

9. I am thankful that contact lenses were invented, and that even if I do not have 20/20 vision, I am not totally blind and still able to see the beautiful things around me.

10. I am thankful for everything that I have been through, the triumphs, the disappointments, the mistakes, the opportunities... all these I consider blessings, because it has taught me to be stronger, wiser and appreciate my life more and the people in it.

Happy Birthday Andre!

2010-11-24T08:22:00.001+08:00

Today is my son's 6th birthday, How time flies, I still remember 6 years ago when I had my first signs of going into labor, I was excited and nervous at the same time. I was brought into the labor room, waiting for the big moment to arrive. But after almost 12 hours of waiting, my labor did not progress and I had to undergo a C-section. But the moment I saw my little boy, I knew that it was all worth it. I would often wonder why in the movies the moms would cry after seeing their child for the very first time, now I know why, because I've experienced it. It's a feeling of pure joy and unconditional love. At that exact moment, I felt protective of my son and only wanted to give him the best.

Andre is speech delayed. Unlike kids his age, he still struggles to speak and communicate, but he tries his best and he has improved a lot. I would remember the times when he would get frustrated because he wanted to tell me something, but can't seem to get the words out, he would either act it out or drag me to whatever it is he wanted me to see. But in-spite of that, he knew he was well loved, because we would verbally tell him we love him, and encourage him whenever he did something good. I'm proud to say that even until now, he would say "I love you, Mommy" and gives me bear hugs and wet kisses on the cheeks.

Thank you Andre for always making Mommy happy. You know how to get away with being naughty by flashing your cute smile and saying "I'm sorry". Thank you for wiping my tears and telling me "It's OK mommy, Andre's here" whenever I have my share of not-so-good days. Thank you for being the sweet kid that you are. Mommy is a better person because of you. I love you and Micah so much, and as long Mommy is here, things are going to be just fine.

This made me Laugh

2010-11-20T08:03:00.001+08:00

I happen to see this photo over the internet and it really made me laugh. It's so funny, I could just imagine if I happen to actually see these giant sized underwear. Looks like old-style undies, probably 1960's style, not sure though. But anyway, this photo made my day so I decided to share it with you guys. I do hope I don't get to offend anyone, by doing so. Just found this so funny!

GodWhispers

2010-11-19T04:00:00.000+08:00

I have been subscribing to Bo Sanchez's GodWhispers for almost 2 months now, and twice a week, I receive an e-mail with personal messages that talk about kindness to others, forgiveness, love, and hope. The messages are just short ones, but I find myself looking forward to these messages because it gives me something to ponder on, it uplifts me and inspires me to become a better version of myself.

Today, I received a message that talked about failure. Having had my share of failures in the past, I know how hard it is to overcome them, but with God's grace I have come to accept my share of "downs". There was a time in my life when I have failed not just myself, but the people I love because of some bad choices. But I learned that to move forward, we should accept our failures and mistakes, and learn from them. I would like to share the message I received today, and if you want to have your share of messages from God, subscribe to godWhispers since it's totally free.

Dear ChinChin,

Embrace failure. Fail forward. Fail quickly. So that you can start again.

It's the only road to success.

To your great success,
God

P.S. ChinChin, you will succeed. I know.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Every Day a Friday

2010-11-18T02:58:00.000+08:00

I love Fridays, and I'm not alone. Most people associate the last day of the workweek with feelings of relief, relaxation, and anticipation of good times to come in the weekend ahead. You know there has to be something special about a day when the feeling of celebration that accompanies its arrival is even commemorated in the name of a restaurant chain!

And so I, too, celebrate Fridays. After dropping my son off at school I head to Starbucks, to pick up a coffee treat of one type or another. Then instead of driving straight home I generally take a long route through the most scenic roads I can find, which usually includes my favorite corner of the local state park. On and on throughout the day I find myself smiling and happy for no other reason than that the day's name starts with an "F" rather than a "M," "T," or "W."

When I pick my son up again hours into the afternoon we high-five physically and vocally, our chorus of "FRIDAY!" resonating at least as loudly as our hand slap. Then we point out to each other the signs of beginning celebration in the college town we drive through. We see footballs being passed on fraternity lawns, hamburgers being thrown on grills, people parked on front porch swings, and parties everywhere swinging into action. Sometimes it seems as if the whole world is celebrating Friday!

The other day I emerged from a doctor's office happy over a positive prognosis in a health situation I was concerned about. My good mood was amplified by the signs of spring that were bursting all around me -- flowers blossoming, birds singing, bright sunshine warm upon my back. I was suddenly ready to celebrate, and java-scented thoughts wafted through my brain. I whispered the word "Cappuccino!" and headed for the specialty coffee bar that was conveniently located just around the corner.

My mind rebelled. "What are you doing? It's Tuesday! Coffee treats are reserved for Fridays!" And suddenly I realized how ridiculous that line of thinking was! Why should Fridays be any more special than any other day of the week? Why waste six days while waiting to rejoice on the seventh? Minutes later I was walking back to my car with a big grin on my face and a raspberry mocha in my hand.

A small victory, to be sure, but it's also an accurate example of how many of us live our lives. We're waiting for conditions to be right before we allow ourselves to enjoy our time here on earth. Maybe when we finally graduate from college and get a job it will be time to celebrate, or perhaps when our toddlers are old enough to be in school all day. We'll rejoice when the car is paid off, or enjoy life when we're finally able to retire. And in that waiting we waste so much of the life that God has given us and the happiness that can be found in our todays. What if we moved a little of that "Friday feeling" into our rainy-day Mondays, our gloomy Tuesdays and our mid-week Wednesdays? Surely our lives would be much happier as a result.

It's interesting to note that T.G.I. Friday's isn't open for business on just the last day of the workweek! No, they celebrate all week long and into the weekend.

So should we.

Lutong Bahay: Mama's Home Cooked Meals

2010-11-08T16:36:00.001+08:00

One thing I miss the most from home is my Mama's cooking. I feel blessed to have grown up in a household where food was abundant. It's as if we're always dining in out, not to brag but you could compare her cooking to well known restaurants. Cooking is her passion, She did not have proper training, what she knew she learned from my lola, who was pure Chinese and was a good cook as well.

When we went home for her birthday, I was so excited because she was inviting a few friends and relatives over for a small salo-salo. I could almost imagine all my favorite dishes lined up, just thinking about them made me hungry.

Baked Macaroni with all the melted cheese on top. Mama's pasta dishes are heaven. Every Sunday was always Pasta day at home. She would cook different pasta dishes like spaghetti, carbonara, fettuccine and spaghetti with sardines and tomato pesto sauce. I also make it a habit to cook spaghetti for my kids on Sundays. By the way, I discovered that Spaghetti with Century Tuna chunks in Spanish style was also a yummy and healthy dish. It's also easy to make, just saute the tuna in onions and garlic, add in salt and pepper to taste, and toss in the pasta.

Mama's Dinuguan is the BEST! I would never eat dinuguan during parties or fiestas because I'm not really sure how they are prepared. The only dinuguan I eat aside from my Mama's cooking is the dinuguan they serve at Red Ribbon bakeshop.

One of her most requested dish is Paella. It's a Spanish rice dish that she cooks on special occasions. It's made up of sticky rice, with a variety of seafood's (crabs, shrimp, shells), chorizo bilbao and quail eggs.

Other favorites include embutido, sotanghon, and even the simple dishes she cooks for us during meal times are all yummy. I guess cooking is her innate gift. Her friends would encourage her to open up a canteen or go into catering, but she would always decline. She just enjoys cooking for family and friends, and I think it is enough for her knowing that every dish she prepares is able to satisfy a hungry stomach. She is happy whenever her cooking is appreciated.

I am not a good cook like Mama, but every time I prepare a meal for my family, I remember what she has taught me, and when I have doubts, she is just a phone call away. One important lesson I learned from her is cook with a happy heart and enjoy what you are doing. Cooking is always a trial and error thing. Don't expect your first dish to be perfect.

His Corny Side

2010-11-07T20:06:00.000+08:00

My phone inbox has almost a hundred messages, some were dated even from 2008. Most messages I kept were from hubby, others were forwarded messages from family and friends. There were messages that brought back painful memories and I finally had the courage to delete them because I have come to forgive the person who sent them to me. But there were also messages that made me smile just remembering the story behind it.

One of those was a message sent by Ross last September, I remember I was watching a Tagalog movie, while he was busy making his report. It was a romantic-comedy, and he was even making fun of me because I was enjoying it even if the lines were a bit corny. After the movie when we were about to go to sleep, I checked on my phone and was surprised to read the message he sent, it was a line from the movie I just watched. I found the gesture sweet, considering that my hubby is not really the romantic type of person. I guess that's his way of showing his corny side, by making it seem like a joke. Maybe he's not ready to admit that he has a sweet and corny side hiding behind the pa tough-guy persona.

My Favorite Hobby

2010-11-04T04:29:00.001+08:00

Reading is my favorite past time. It has always been a hobby of mine that started when I was a kid. From comic books, to Nancy Drews, Sweet Dreams and Sweet Valley High, and then I started to read from authors like Sidney Sheldon, Judith McNaught, Nora Roberts and Danielle Steel.

A second hobby developed out of my love for reading, I also started to collect books, magazines and novels. I remember having a book shelf at home with all my Sweet Dreams, Sweet Valley High and Danielle Steel novels alphabetically arranged according to title. I also had a collection of Seventeen and Cosmopolitan magazines. I would save up my allowance to buy myself a book or magazine at least once a week from the Booksale store that opened in Tacloban.

When I was about to transfer to Manila, I had to clean up my stuff and had to give some of them away, which included the novels and magazines I dearly treasured all these years. A friend suggested I sell them to a book rental store downtown, in that way instead of rotting away and being eaten by termites in our "bodega". it would still be a source of joy to book lovers like me. So some of my books went to that book rental store, some I gave away, but a few I kept with me, including my Danielle Steel novels which has traveled with me from Manila to Cebu where I am now currently based. I am still a D.S. novel collector, but I also have a couple of e-books from other authors I store in my PC. I don't think I would ever outgrow my love for reading, it's amazing how words can inspire you, take you to places you could only dream of going, it widens your imagination, make you laugh and cry at times. Reading feeds the mind and nourishes the soul.

2010-11-03T08:13:00.002+08:00

Two is Better than One

So maybe it's true
That I can't live without you
And maybe two is better than one
But there's so much time
To figure out the rest of my life
And you've already got me coming undone
And I'm thinking two is better than one

two is better than one mp3 | lyrics

free music downloads | music videos | pictures

Alone Time

2010-10-28T21:26:00.000+08:00

My kids and the yayas are with my parents for vacation, and suddenly I find myself alone in the house. It is unusually quiet, and suddenly I wished the kids were here. I did not even bother to cook since Ross is on duty, so I made myself a tuna sandwich instead. It's funny how I would often wish to be able to spend some quiet moments alone, and now that I have a few days all to myself, I find myself missing the kids... But since this is a rare occasion, I might as well make the most out of this "alone" time to catch up on sleep, sit down and finish the Dan Brown book that has been sitting on top of my side table, clean up my closet, and in a couple of days I would be going home to fetch my kids and life would be back to normal again...

Laguna Trip

2010-10-28T06:01:00.000+08:00

Last October 8, 2010, Ross, me and the kids traveled for the very first time as a family, minus the yayas. We were headed for San Pablo, Laguna to attend the baptism of my brother-in-laws first born son. It was vacation of sorts, we planned to visit Enchanted Kingdom and Manila Ocean Park, but we ended up visiting the latter as on the day we intended to go to EK, it was raining so hard.

I knew it was going to be a challenge for me because I was always used having an extra help when traveling with the kids, but I never expected the challenge to happen so soon. As soon as we landed at the NAIA terminal 3, Andre was all over the place, and I had a hard time keeping up with him because I was carrying Micah, and Ross was busy with the luggage. I guess he was just excited to be in a new place.

While waiting for our ride outside NAIA terminal 3. Andre was pretty much exhausted by this time, while Micah was still ready to smile for the camera.

Day 1: It was pretty much uneventful, this was the day we planned to go to Enchanted Kingdom but because of the heavy rains, we ended up in Jollibee in Los Baños, Laguna.

Day 2 was my nephew's baptism. As usual, I was busy looking after the kids that I ended up not eating during the reception as I had to make sure the kids were able to eat first. Ross was busy catching up with his old friends and that was fine since I know how much he wanted to spend time with them.

This was during the reception, Ross, Micah and me, Alex, Ria and Myke, Reden, Cathy and baby Reca.

The following day, we went to SM San Pablo. Micah wanted to have her picture taken with her large pink lollipop.

Andre looking at baby Reca sleeping soundly despite the loud music playing in the background.

Andre and Micah acting goofy in front of the camera. They really enjoyed those huge lollipops. Andre always wanted to buy those lollipops at Candy Corner but It costs 99.95 and I would tell him to just get those gummy candies that costs 55 per 100 grams instead. But since it was the opening day at this Candy Corner stall, they had everything on sale including the lollipops.

The smile of a happy and contented little boy!

Being the kikay that she is, Micah had to take her picture in front of this huge lipstick

With my nephew, Damian Reca... super cute!!

This is what kept my little angels behaved during our vacation.

It was a memorable vacation since it was the first time we all traveled together as a family. To be honest, it was pretty tiring at times, but seeing my kids enjoy and have fun was worth it.

2010-10-23T06:14:00.000+08:00

Be Soft.

Do not let the world make you hard.

Do not let the pain make you hate.

Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness.

Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree,

You still believe it to be a beautiful place.