Wowa has been staying at our house while Alvin’s on his business trip in Singapore. It’s fun because parang may all girls sleep over kami everyday.

On her first day at home, Wowa and Anika made banana muffins.

Anika woke me up from my nap just to tell me that the Banana muffins that they made were the best banana muffins she has ever tasted. Anika got her exaggerations from me. I guest it was true talaga because her friends came over and loved the banana muffins too!

The next day, they had a swimming session in our inflatable pool, had lunch at Mary Grace, played in that hourly playground in the mall and watched the Baby Boss movie afterwards. When I got home, Anika was sprawled on our bed. She was tired daw but was extremely happy.

Yesterday, they went to the mall again to have siopao and halo-halo in Chowking.

Wowa texted me:

“Nandito kami sa SM BF. Ayaw ni Anika sa Hypermart. Wala raw makainan. Lakas kumain ni Anika halos naubos yung jumbo siopao. Nag halo halo kami sa Chowking. Naging “masa” siya ngayon.”

I texted Wowa back that it was Anika’s first time kasi to eat siopao. Maybe that’s why parang sabik na sabik siya. Ang kamote because after 7 years of living pa lang siya naka-kain ng siopao. Lol.

When I got home last night, Wowa was busy in the kitchen. She was going to cook Sukiyaki daw.

OMG mga bakla. It was so good!

I should start posting Wowa’s recipes here ano? I have na her recipe for the dips she made during the Mommy Fleur Day so I’ll be posting that soon. I will ask her later when she gets home ano yung recipe ng Sukiyaki niya. Wala pa si Wowa tonight eh. Gagabihin daw. Gumimik.

Apparently, may dalaga kami dito sa bahay.

Hahahaha!

I missed living with Wowa. Unlike my brothers, I lived with Wowa all my life. When Wowa and Lolo Papa separated, my brothers stayed at our family house while Wowa got me to live with her. She got me because she thought there were bad boys na nanliligaw sa akin. Gusto niya ako ma-bantayan. Hindi niya alam si Alvin yun and napa-away lang talaga sila in front of our house.

But that’s another story. Back to Wowa.

Wowa is still the same. She still puts a lot of stuff on her face at night. She still insists that I use her magic creams. I woke up one night kasi parang may dumudutdot sa face and arm ko. Anak ng teteng yan, si Wowa pala! She was putting liquid eklaver on the eczema on my arms while I was sleeping! Partida, tulog na talaga ako niyan ha?

In fairness, her creams and potions are effective. She applied this cream on my pimple the other night. May matching, “Effective talaga ito anak. Napaka-mahal ng bili ko dito. Magaling yung derma na gumawa nito. Tinitipid ko ito kasi ayoko na bumalik sa kanya. Ang layo, grabe! St. Lukes sa Quezon City!”. The pimple dried up and was gone the next day. I don’t know what she applied naman in my eczema pero nawala talaga. My exzema was acting up three days ago but after she put that toner-like liquid on it, nawala.

Majikera sa kutis siguro talaga etong si Wowa ano?

I’ll ask her what her beauty regimen is because a lot of you are asking. I-blog ko agad promise.

Anyway, I found out that Wowa is hooked with the sunod sunod na telenovelas on TV. She starts watching them after the news and I do not know what time they finish. Tulog na kasi kami ni Anika after she watches her telenovela. Meron pa yang, “Ano ba naman etong Probinsyano! Ang tagal tagal na, hindi pa din tinatapos!”

Reklamo ng reklamo pero ayaw naman tigilan.

Lelz.

Kanina, Anika and Wowa were supposed to go to Rexcie in Makati to have their haircuts. When I called, day off pala ni Rexcie today so they stay at home lang the whole day.

I’m gonna miss Wowa when she goes back to her condo. There are a lot of fruits at home when she’s here. It’s something that I don’t have to stress about buying. I feel that Anika isn’t eating enough fruits. I do not have time naman kasi to always buy after office hours.

Also, there’s really something comforting when your mom’s at home with you, ano? There’s a sense of security that everything’s fine and you are all well taken cared of. Masarap lagi yung food. You should have tasted the salad she prepared for me kanina. So yummy. Also, there’s a grown up in the house who’s better in adulting than you. Masarap ang feeling. Except with regard to my and Anika’s skin, Wowa doesn’t make pakialam with us sa house. Todo support pa nga eh.

ANIKA: Nanay, I want to buy these.

WOWA whispering to me: May pera ka anak?

Or…

ME: Bayaran na naman ng tuition ni Anika next week!

WOWA whispering to me: May pera ka anak?

Or…

ME: Anika, half na lang tayo sa pasta kasi sayang you don’t finish it.

WOWA: It’s okay. Ako magbabayad.

ME: No na noh. I will pay.

WOWA whispering to me: May pera ka anak?

Nakakaloka ang Nanay ko! But I guess being a mom myself, malamang I will be like that also to Anika. Being a mother is a forever job/title/state of being, regardless tumanda na lahat yang mga anak niyo.

Apir! =)

Let’s start the week with this beautiful photo with my kumares during Aki’s baptism.

L to R: Bing, B her daughter, Pineda, Vivian, Omar, me and Peachy

I have beautiful friends. I’m happy because hindi sila basta basta friends. They’ve been my friends since Grade School days while I’ve been friends with Peachy since 2003.

I know I said I’ll be blogging our Misibis Bay trip but our flight got really, really delayed yesterday. We got home around 4pm. At 5pm, tulog na kami ni Alvin. Kinabukasan na ang gising namin. Talk about plakda.

Anyway, it’s Monday and I hope you all had a great day. I know for most of the working girls out there, ang toxic ng Mondays sa inyo. I can so relate. Monday is my busiest day.

I wake up before 5am so I can be at the gym by 530am. By 7:30am, I’m eating na my breakfast and by 8am, I’m already doing my reports for the day.

To give you a picture, we have our weekly Operations Meeting every Monday afternoons. It usually starts at 1pm and ends at 5pm. Basically there are 10 reports that I present to all the attendees of the meeting. That’s every freaking Monday ha? Three of those reports I make every Monday mornings. I coordinate the data and information from the different projects-in-charge in all our projects. Hindi madali ang reports because may analysis and konting pwersahan on the deadlines and justifications on the delays. It’s not easy because frankly, I do not understand immediately all the things that I need to get from these engineers. I just learn it along the way. Not everything is taught in school #AlamNaNatinYan. The other 7 reports are distributed among my staff. They submit it all to me just before I leave the office to go to wherever project site where we’ll have the meeting. Iba iba ang project sites. I have to review all the reports. Alam ko dapat ang lahat ng reasons bakit ganun ang data. Otherwise, magmumukha akong tanga dun. Take note, 10 reports. We have 25 different projects.

Nakakaloka.

Our meeting averages around 4 hours. Have you guys been to a Construction Operations Meeting? Intense, mga bakla. It’s so intense that one time, I cried in front of everybody. Well, technically not in front of them because I face the projector screen every time I report. I was hiccuping like there was no tomorrow. I was willing my mind to stop it already but may sariling isip yung shoulders ko. My shoulders kept on jerking up and down. Bwiset. Don’t judge me. Hindi ako balat sibuyas. I trained under Coach Vita for 5 years. Ewan ko na lang kung hindi tumibay etong loob ko sa dinanas namin kay Coach. Pero like I said, intense. In fairness to me then, I tried my best not to cry because hello, nobody cries in a meeting. Pero you know, I’m just a girl, standing in front of 30 men and nagkakamali din.

Hahahaha!

After the meeting, I drive through the rush hour traffic going home. I will pass by the grocery pagwala nang ulam. I pass by the fruit stand to get fruits for Anika.

During school days, I follow up Anika’s school work. After that, I take photos of what I need for the blog. I blog if busy si Alvin and si Anika. After that, I take a bath with Anika. After that, magpapamasahe pa ang bagets pagnag-lambing. Just before everybody sleeps, I go around the house to see if everything is still in order. I am blessed with two wonderful kasambahays so I don’t have to stress the house work that much anymore.

And then I fall asleep thinking about the things I need to do the next day.

It may sound not that toxic to you but you have to be in my shoes to understand. While doing the reports, meron pa diyang instructions from my boss on the other things that I have to do. There are other concerns of my group that I have to address. And there are various people I have to talk to. Buzzer beater talaga ang pagtapos ng reports.

That’s my Monday.

Tama si Anne Curtis with her Instagram post kanina.

source: Anne Curtis IG

Very, very true.

Good thing that I love my job. I love what I do and I love how I am able to contribute to the company.

It’s also a plus that I want to continuously improve. Hindi okay sa akin ang okay na. Gusto ko lagi I learn something.

Osha, tama na muna daldal. Naghaharutan mag-ama ko sa room. Na-iinggit ako.

Have a great evening guys. I hope you all had a productive Monday!

Cheers!

Last weekend, Alvin’s mom treated us to a Misibis Bay weekend. Misibis Bay prides itself to be a “luxury resort” in a private island where one can relax, “have adventures” and use their “world-class facilities”.

In short, soshal daw sa Misibis Bay. The room rates range from Php 8,000 a night to Php 25,000 a night depending on the room.

I was very excited to go because (1) it’s not very often I get to visit the province where Lolo Papa and Wowa grew up and (2) I badly needed a vacation.

I postponed writing this post kasi ayokong magsulat ng high blood ako. I want this post to be as objective as possible. So, I shall write only about the facts and how I felt that time. Fair, right?

Game. Umpisahan na ang kwentuhan.

Our Philippine Airlines flight was at 9:30 am. Kasabay namin ang Talk ‘N Text basketball team. They were hard to ignore kasi they were all really very tall and people kept having their photos taken with them.

I almost cartwheeled with joy when I saw that there was a Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory store in Terminal 3. Napaka-mahal pala nito mga bakla! Bakit sa Japan PHp 300+ lang ang box of 10 pcs pero here it’s Php 600 per box?! But since Anika loves it, I got two boxes so that my SIL and BIL can taste it too.

The flight was on time and we landed 50 minutes after we took off. Hindi na nga natapos ng mga airline crew yung pagdistribute ng snacks and drinks. I’m never taking a roadtrip to Bicol anymore. Airplane is the way.

The Mayon volcano was in its majestic self that day. Pak na pak talaga because there were almost no clouds surrounding it. Seeing the Mayon volcano always makes me feel nostalgic. I remember my childhood days. We often go to Bicol during summer breaks. I had to have a photo taken with Anika and the Mayon.

The day before our scheduled flight, I was feeling agitated. Parang something wasn’t right so I called Misibis Bay to confirm if naka-book nga kami that weekend. I called their hotline (02) 661-8888. The girl on the other end of the line confirmed that we were booked. I asked them how will we know who will pick us up. Na-confuse si Ate.

The package my Mother-in-Law got was three Standard Garden View rooms for three days and two nights. The package includes breakfasts (for adults), airport transfers (for adults) and free non-motorized water sports activities.

Yes. We had to pay for the breakfast and round trip transfer of Anika and Gabo. They are not free.

Anyway, Ate from Misibis Bay (I also do not know why they talk that way. You have to experience it to understand what I mean. Halos hindi ko sila maintindihan because it seems that they have to talk to sound like they have an accent or something. Sorry.) got confused because our round trip transfer was not reflected in their system. Wala naman kasing kumukuha ng flight details namin.

Buti kamo tumawag pala ako otherwise they will not be expecting us then next day. How will we go to Misibis Bay eh 1 hour and a half pa talaga yun from the airport? Besides, airport transfers was included in our package. I found it weird because it should be automatic for them to contact their clients for their clients’ flight details. Nobody told us to call them for it.

When we arrived at the airport, Lola Lydia and Lolo Pete were already waiting for us there. They arrived two days before us kasi and went to Sorsogon muna. We were ushered to a nice white van with a nice and very accommodating driver.

We had lunch at Colonial. Apparently, sikat yata ito sa Legaspi. Food was good but I was full from eating all those Tokyo Milk Cheese biscuits so hindi ako masyadong kumain. I tried their Sili ice cream and sumisipa talaga guys. It’s unique so I have to tell you to try it.

Don’t order their kalamansi shake. It has milk so it tastes like a liquid lemon cake. Hindi masyado cool.

The driver took us around before going to Misibis Bay. He took us to Daraga Church where I told Anika to make three wishes.

Nagdrama ang bagets before she went out of the van. Ang lakas ng iyak with matching fat tears!

“I don’t want to wish to God anymore! I keep on wishing for a baby brother since I was a baby pero wala naman!”

Kung hindi lang ako manhid na halos sa topic na yan, dinamayan ko pa siguro sa iyak si Anika.

Everybody consoled her and ayan, parang wala naman nangyaring drama.

Mayon volcano was so beautiful that day.

After Daraga church, we went to Cagsawa Ruins.

ME: Ma, ano kasi yun? Casagwa ruins?

KA LYDIA: Cagsawa, anak.

PAUL: Ate, Cagsawa. Casagwa, mukha yun eh.

Hahahahahaha! Ang taba ng utak!

After I posted the photos, I received comments that tip of the Mayon volcano was usually covered by clouds. Ang swerte daw namin that day at nagpakita ang Mayon.

We went to Misibis Bay na after that. The trip took around one and a half hours. No more riding ro-ro because they built a bridge to connect the mainland to the Misibis Bay island.

When we arrived, we were given free bracelets. Here’s Anika with the bracelet and her outfit of the day.

Top and shorts: ZARA KIDS; Sandals: PAYLESS; Sunglasses: SM KIDS

We proceeded to the lobby to check-in.

I dunno if pangitain ba yun or what but there were two separate clients there who were complaining (loudly mind you). Galit na galit sila. It had something to do with them waiting for hours already.

How was check-in?

Ang masasabi ko lang is if you are managing a “luxury” resort, you have to train your front liners to give customer service equivalent sa projection on resort. Their receptionists need more training in handling complaints. They need training how to welcome clients and make them feel at home.

Hindi namin na-feel yun when we were there. They need to freaking smile and not act as if pinagpapa-sensyahan lang nila yung mga clients.

I was watching them as they talk to the other guests. Napapa-iling na lang ako. Sayang the reputation of the resort. I can compare because malayo sila from the receptionists of say, Pearl Farm in Davao. Dun talaga, feel na feel mo ang warm welcome. Wag na tayo lumayo. Remember the Virgin Beach Resort that we frequent in Batangas? Hindi ganun ka-kamahalan dun pero naman all smiles sila sa front desk. They are very accommodating too.

When we were checking in, I was asking about how we can schedule the Eco-tour. Dial 0 na lang daw kami when we go to the room. I asked if hindi ba pwede i-book na kami right then and there because we have a specific day and time na when to go. Sige daw pero subject to availability dahil fully booked.

Lekat na yan. Ayaw niyo eh di wag.

But I still gave them the schedule that we wanted. I really wanted to go to that Eco tour. I told them paki sabihan naman kami if pwede or not. Sa awa ng Diyos, naka-balik na kami ulit sa Manila and all but nobody even bothered to call or tell us that we can’t be accommodated. That’s not something you expect from a “luxury” resort.

We requested for a room at the lower floor because senior citizens yung dalawang kasama namin. I am thankful they gave in to our request and gave Ka Lydia and Ka Pete a room at the second floor.

I checked the room photos in the website and I am not sure if they really gave us a Garden view room. Our room looks like a Standard Pacific View room.  I am not complaining because I found our room beautiful.

I raved and raved about our room in social media. I was really happy with our room. The ocean view was fantastic. They all changed into their swimming attire and lumusob kami sa pool.

Misibis Bay has three pools. One pool for kids. One infinity pool overlooking the beach and one lagoon pool where we stayed.

Anika’s swimsuit was from H&M kids. Okay yan mga muthers because kahit malayo si Anika, kita ko siya. I wore a top from Una Rosa and shorts from Uniqlo. Wowa lent me her Gucci shades for this trip without me asking for it. Alam na alam ng nanay ko na maarte ako and sa maarteng lugar ako pupunta, ano? Hehehe.

We tried the buffet dinner. It costs Php 750 per plate. The kids’ rate was half the adult rate.

Let’s go to the food. Each putahe tastes good. Masarap ang pagkain sa Misibis Bay, in fairness to them. However, for Php 750 per head, kulang na kulang ako sa food in the buffet. They only had 5 kinds of ulam, rice, cheese, bread, soup (nilaga), a few cold cuts, salad, three kinds of cakes and two kinds of fruits. Nothing fantastic. I was kinda expecting kasi nga “luxury” resort.

You can order ala cart. Mahal ang food. Ganun din halos lalabas, Php 750 per person. I asked about the special dinner that they can arrange by the beach. They do that pero at Php 2,500+ for the set up per couple. Set up pa lang yan. You have to add like around Php 2,000+ more for the food. At least that was how they explained it to me.

Together with Gabo and Anika, I went to the reception to make sure someone will make sundo Alvin the next day. I also went to follow up the complaints I had with our room.

1. Our room’s airconditioning system conked out. As in walang aircon sa kwarto namin ni Anika.
2. The hallway light in our room’s hallway keeps on flickering like those in the horror movies.
3. The room door knob/lock is malfunctioning. The door doesn’t open agad even with the key.
4. Sira ang volume ng TV. Walang sounds na lumalabas sa TV namin.

I’ve been complaining since before we went down for dinner. Anika called them twice. Gabo called them thrice. I called them twice. Wala.

Before we entered the reception lobby, Anika and Gabo had to do their dab pose. So adorable.

I like the high ceiling and interiors and the big sofas of the Misibis Bay Lobby.

What I don’t like about it is the second hand tarpaulins that they used to cover the sun roof. Ang lakas maka-jologs eh. Hopefully they will remove that and replace it with just a plain mat or something.

The lady in the reception told us that nandun na daw yung mga gumagawa sa room namin.

This is where our rooms were located. Ganda ng lighting nila sa gabi.

When we arrived in our room, hindi pa din gawa yung complaints ko. Pawis na pawis na ang Anika. Until finally they gave up. Itatransfer na lang daw nila kami ng room. I looked around our room. I wanted to cry. Sabog sabog na our things. Anika’s toys were everywhere! I had to pack everything up again.

I told Anika to stay in Gabo’s room first so I can pack everything. Awang awa ako sa sarili ko, hindot na yan. I didn’t have anybody with me.

The room where they transferred us in was smaller. Hindi na ako nagreklamo. Bahala na sila sa buhay nila. All I wanted was to be able to rest already. Besides, pagod na pagod na din si Anika. Naka-pajamas na nga eh. The manager was inside our new room when I arrived. He was apologetic, yes. Pero wala naman siya magawa. Sira daw yung previous room namin. Babalik na naman tayo dun sa “luxury” resort. I just thanked them so I can unpack again ang get Anika na so we could sleep.

The next day, Anika and I woke up early to go to the gym. Matawa tawa ako because the aircon in the gym wasn’t working and the TV was also not working. Kalokang bakasyon ito. The kind man outside opened the giant fan na lang so that we can be comfortable.

After that, Anika and I walked sa beach.

We had breakfast at the Spice Market restaurant. Breakfast was a lot better than dinner. They had Filipino and American dishes. The fried rice was good with corned beef and 3 more ulam. There was lugaw. I love the daing and the small fishes na maalat. There were pancakes and waffles. There were different toppings that you can choose from like blueberries, chocolate chips etc. There was an egg omelette area where you can have your omelettes customized. Coffee was good. There was one kind of juice (pineapple). There were still only two fruits and three kinds of cakes.

Come to think of it, pineapple and watermelon lang talaga yung sinerve nila na fruits sa buffet the whole time we were there. Bakit kaya? There were no mangoes or other kinds of fruits. Naalala ko tuloy sa Pearl Farm. Naka-half balat na talaga yung mga Rambutan eh!

Anyway, we went swimming again after breakfast. First we went to the beach and Paul went Kayaking with the kids. We transferred back to the pool kasi sobrang init na.

I wore a swimsuit from Soak Swimwear. I wore their Butterfly Monokini. Hindi ko na mga bakla i-post dito yung back view that I posted in Instagram. Nakalusot kasi kay Sombrero. Baka if I post here, hindi na makalusot. Hehe.

Alvin plane was delayed. From 530am, he was able to fly around 9am na. He arrived at Misibis Bay around 11am. We had lunch, ala cart. Like I said, food was good but expensive.

We went back to our room to have a nap. I couldn’t resist snapping this photo. Ang ganda eh.

We woke up around 430 pm and went to the beach again afterwards. Hindi na talaga tumawag yung front desk regarding our scheduled 3pm Eco tour. Wapakels sila. Sad.

Good thing I am with family. Wapakels na din kami sa kanila. As long as the kids are enjoying, keribelles na.

I wore a swimsuit from Coral Swimwear that afternoon. I didn’t go swimming. Um-aura na lang ako ng um-aura dun. Lelz!

Alvin tried to go kayaking however until 5pm lang daw ang non-motorized sports (free). Pero yung jet ski (na may bayad), pwede pa daw. It doesn’t make sense. Same area, same water ang paggagawan. Yung free, bawal na pero yung may bayad, pwede pa. Ang sakit sa bangs.

We just hung out by the shore na lang then went to the swimming pool afterwards.

For someone na nagpicture lang ng nagpicture, ang itim itim ko. I got so tanned but not as tan as Anika. I am praying her color goes back to normal.

We had dinner buffet that night. It costs Php 850 per head this time. May ihaw all you can. You can have them barbecue chicken, squid and pork.

I asked the front desk what time we are leaving the next day. Sabi daw 8am for our 11 am flight. Nagmadali-madali pa kami. The van was late. We were on time but we left Misibis Bay at 9am already. You know how I hate late people di ba? Paalis na lang kami, grabe pa talaga ang inis ko.

Maybe I expected too much? Kaso I’m thinking naman that I’ve been to other resorts in Manila and in the other countries as well so I have places I can compare them to. Medyo hindi bagay ang service nila for a “luxury” resort. Hindi naman like the worst service ever because like some of the waiters were really commendable. The people who tried to fix our previous room were very apologetic. The waiter by the pool was very diligent. More customer relations training lang talaga for the people in the front desk. Also, better after sales service for the sales agents where we coursed through our booking.

While waiting for the van, nagpictorial na lang kami again.

Our flight going back to Manila was delayed for four hours. Okay lang yata for Alvin because the Alaska and Talk N Text basketball team were in our flight again.

I don’t know these guys but nakaka-aliw because nagfa-fan mode din pala si Sombrero. Hehehe.

There you go. Albeit the hiccups during this weekend getaway, we had fun because we were together as a family. Like I said, we made the most out of it. Masaya, magulo, kwela and ang daming kwentuhan.

Thank you so much Lola Lydia and Lolo Pete for this vacation =)

I have succeeded in not minding and talking to Alvin for three days.

We had an argument kasi last Tuesday evening. I got fed up. This is one of those fights na over talaga ang pinaglalaban mong point but para sa kanila, umaarte ka lang. I told myself, if he will not take me seriously with what I’m feeling now (feelings are never wrong, remember that), then I will not speak to him ever until umayos siya.

Note: This is again all about giving more attention and affection. Same old issue.

I think Alvin didn’t take my threat seriously because he knows hindi ko kaya na hindi siya kausapin. That is actually true. I hate silent treatment. For me, it’s just a waste of time and energy eh pwede namang mag-sit down, talk about the problem and get over it. Apart from ang daldal ko kasi and I will have no one to talk to at home, ayoko nasasayang ang oras ko. Plus, hindi maganda ang effect psychologically sa bata if they see that their parents are fighting. Alam ko yan.

The first day (Wednesday), he called me.

ALVIN: Babe! (akala mo long lost friend eh) Bakit ka sa baba natulog kagabi?

ME: Gusto ko. Ayoko na pagusapan.

ALVIN: Ah ganun ba? Papunta na ako office.

ME: Mmm.

ALVIN: Sige. Napatawag lang.

I put down the phone.

I made sure Anika and I were already asleep by that time he went home that night.

Day 1 without talking to him, done.

The next day, Alvin called me again.

ALVIN: Babe! Bati na tayo!

ME: No.

ALVIN: Sige na! Papunta na akong office.

ME: Mmm.

ALVIN: Sige, bye.

I put down the phone. Anika and I were already asleep again by the time he went home. I didn’t answer his text messages those two days.

Day 2 without talking to him, done.

Yesterday, hindi na tumawag ang lolo niyo nung umaga. No texts din. Kapal!

And then when I was browsing my Facebook page, I saw that he pressed the angry icon in my bathing suit photo. Nainis ako so I called him.

ALVIN: Beh! (parang long lost friend ulit)

ME: Why did you put angry face dun sa naka-swimsuit ako na photo?!

ALVIN: Gusto ko.

ME: 195 thumbs up and hearts yun tapos ikaw lang ang nagiisang angry face.

ALVIN: Ayoko nga nakikita yung pwet mo ng madaming tao!

ME: Hindi kita ang pwet ko. Part ng pwet lang ang kita kasi swimsuit talaga ang suot ko eh. Si Mama nga ni-like eh!

ALVIN: Natural mama mo yun eh. Pagiisipan ko.

Unfortunately for me and my quest not to talk to him, I had to go to SM BF to look at the pick up truck that Alvin wants to buy. Ayoko man pumunta so I will not have to talk to him, I had to kasi baka kung ano ano na lang ang bilhin na naman niya.

ALVIN: Ano sasama ka ba sa SM BF or hindi?

ME: Sige. Pero hindi pa tayo bati ha! Wag kang assuming na bati na tayo ngayon.

ALVIN: Bahala ka.

When we got to the mall, he kept on talking to me in front of Anika so I had no choice but to answer him (ng matipid. Hey. May pinaglalaban ako dito.).

After everything, we asked Anika where she wants to ride home with, sa Tatay ba niya or sa akin.

She said she wanted to ride in my car.

ALVIN: O sige ba-bye na. Kiss na.

ME: Anong kiss kiss?! Hindi pa tayo bati!

And then we went to our separate cars. Okay naman everything except that I noticed Anika was getting upset.

ME: Sweetheart, is there something wrong?

ANIKA: I’m upset! Why do you not like to make bati Tatay?!

ME: He’s not minding me kasi eh.

ANIKA (in an exasperated tone and totally giving me that look you give sa mga nagpapasaway na bata): Sus! Yun lang? Wala yun Nanay!

How old is she na ba talaga?

ME: Anong wala yun? What if I do it to you? You call and call me or you keep to telling me something tapos I don’t mind you? Di ba you get angry too?

I think she realized what I mean because she looked upset again. I didn’t want her to feel that way so I said na lang, “I’ll tell you a secret okay? I’m not really mad at your Tatay. I’m just giving him a hard time. I just want him to say sorry.”.

ANIKA: Ohhhhh. Yeah. Sige. Tatay needs to say sorry.

When we got home, Anika and I got ready for bed. Anika and Alvin watched TV on our bed while I read a book on the airbed on the floor. Biglang bumaba si Alvin sa airbed then nahiga sa lap ko. Nanood ng TV.

Feeling bati na amp.

I looked at him and frowned.

Anika must have seen my reaction.

ANIKA: O, di ba yan naman ang gusto mo?! Gusto mo lagi ka nilalambing? Di ba?!

I rolled my eyes at her. Then turning to her Tatay naman she said, “Just say sorry already!!!”

The difference now is that we have a mini mediator who is wise beyond her years. Nakiki-alam talaga siya with Alvin and me. I am not sure if matutuwa ba ako or not.

Anyway, about dun sa pinaglalaban ko, I hope and pray to God that Alvin took it seriously. Silent war is difficult for me. It annoys the hell out of me. In fairness, after that, he became naman a little more affectionate. On until when lang siya maging ganyan, we’ll see. Abangan natin ang susunod na kabanata.

Anika’s so into Jojo Siwa nowadays. Do you guys know her? I just learned about her the other day and wala pang 24 hours, I’ve memorized her song Boomerang.

How can I not memorize it eh paulit ulit pinapatugtog ni Anika?! As in non stop, I swear.

When we were getting ready for church yesterday morning, she asked me to do her hair like that of Jojo Siwa. This is how Jojo Siwa looks like. Ganyan ang hair niya forever.

This is how Anika looks like the whole day yesterday and today.

She loved her hair. I forgot na that she had that big bow. Good thing she found it. She wants more big bows. Can someone please make giant bows for her like the ones Jojo Siwa has? Willing to pay mother here!

Dress: H&M KIDS; Sandals: PAYLESS; Bag: FROM LOLO PAPA

She even vibered me today:

“Nanay, call me Jojo Siwa please!”

Matagal tagal siguro itong phase na ito.

Anyway, have you guys started your back-to-school shopping yet? Nakaka-wasak ng wallet ano?

We bought Anika’s school bag last weekend. I almost fainted when I saw the price of the roller bag was Php 4,800!

Tutulong bang sumagot ng mga test papers etong mga bag na ito kaya mahal?! Jeskelerd.

I picked these bags because Anika has a lot of books, notebooks and folders. They’re really heavy. This kind of bag has six wheels (Pineda said that some has eight wheels pa nga eh). The wheels rotate 360 degrees so it easier for the small students to push it around school. Based on experience also, they’re sturdy. I hope Anika can still use this bag up to next school year.

Yun lang. They’re fracking expensive.

Apart from the books, notebooks, folders and school uniform (which are all bought in Anika’s school), the bag is the major, major gastos for the back-to-school expenses.

ME: Sige, bilhin na yan. Mag-aral kang mabuti Anika ha! Naku! Napaka-mahal ng mga gamit mo!

I seriously sounded like a Tita.

If you have a daughter, you know that hair clips and hair accessories are very well part of the things that you have to buy. Hindi ko nga alam bakit parang nauubos ang mga ipit ni Anika eh hindi naman naka-kain ang mga ito. Apart from all these hair accessories, of course I shall order more from M + K = a. Matapos lang ang ngarag ko this week, I shall send my orders na. You should send yours too because for sure, ang daming magoorder na niyan kay Em.

I was surprised that I paid Php 2,000 plus for all of that given na buy 1 take 1 yung mga hair accessories sa SM. When I checked, nahilo ako because Php 275 na pala a pack of 3 socks!

LT: Php 150 lang yan dati ah.

Mga kopong kopong years ago pa siguro.

When Anika was younger, Alvin and I used to buy her expensive school shoes. As years go by, I realized, mahal man or mura, napupudpod talaga in the weirdest places. We still buy her a new pair in the middle of the school year. Since it’s like that na nga, I bought her a lang a Php 750 black shoes in Payless. Let’s see until when ito magtatagal. If it lasts until the middle of the school year, I won’t have hard feelings buying her a new one because this pair is not that expensive.

Haha! I remember my Grade School days. The game 10-20 and Chinese garter were so in that time. Magaling ako dun. I was always a mother and I can do the step in stage 4. Maybe that’s why I made varsity. Ang taas ko tumalon. Anyway, so that there will be no sabit, I remove my shoes every time I play 10-20. Takang taka si Wowa bakit butas butas ang socks ko at the bottom. Hindi niya alam, nakakaskas sa 10-20. Hihihi.

So there. I also bought Anika her white sando. I have to get her handkerchiefs and white T-shirts. I already got her pencils, pencil cases, crayons, scissors and other small stuff. Though, these are included in the things that I got in school, I still bought her extra. I also got her a new digital watch at Php 5oo. Did I miss anything?

Anika needs to have her hair cut before school starts. I will take her to have her 1×1 and 2×2 I.D. photos taken. I shall print out family photos in various sizes. This is so hindi na ako magahol during school days. I need to buy printer ink refills and bond papers.

There are two weeks left in their summer break. I want to have a last minute hirit sa summer sana. As if we are all not tanned enough ano? Hehe.

How are you guys spending your last 2017 summer days? =)

I think a lot of kids started their first day of this school year today.

As much as I wanted to postpone thinking about the start of classes, I couldn’t because my Instagram feed was full of mommies posting their back to school activities! The winner with the most posts was that of them labeling and covering the books and notebooks with plastic wrapper.

I don’t stress with the covering with the plastic wrapper. Inuutos ko lang yan sa mga house angels ko. They do it on the floor while watching their favorite telenovelas. I think nag-eenjoy naman sila doing it. What I’m dreading is the labeling of all books, notebooks and folders. CSA has this format kasi eh. Yung format hindi basta bastang name and section lang. May kasamang analysis on your part because the name of the teachers are also included in the labeling with matching abbreviation eklaver. Kaloka.

Anyway, I spent the last day of the long weekend cramming for preps for Anika’s first day in school. More kwento about that later. While going around, I saw this portable labeling machine by Brother at Octagon.

It was priced at around Php 2,500. Pwede siyang de-batteries or de-saksak. The refill tape costs Php 800. Shetpaks, ang mahal! I posted it in Instagram and went home to think about it. Ganyan na tayo ngayon eh. Isip isip muna before buying. Well, except when it comes to clothes… and shoes.. okay, and bags too! Lelz.

I was surprised because a lot of my Instagram friends told me to buy it.

So that afternoon, I went to SM BF to buy it in Octagon. However, wala daw silang stock!

Tae. Yan na nga ba sinasabi ko if you don’t buy agad something you like eh. Masakit sa loob.

I was mentally banging my head on the wall going inside National Bookstore para magbakasakali they have. Though out of stock also (They only had the Hello Kitty version which was priced around Php 3,200 with a more expensive refill, hindi na uy!), I found this DYMO.

It’s more compact. It costs around Php 2,300 and the 4 meter refill costs Php 400.

Mas mura, it does its purpose and the functions are similar to that of Brother so I bought it na.

You should see Anika’s things now! Lahat may label! I had so much fun labeling everything! It’s so addicting, grabe. Lahat ng pencils ni Anika, may name niya. Her sharpener, eraser, bag, pencil case, ruler and lunch box are all labeled with her name and section. I wanted to label each color sa Crayola box niya but baka over acting na yun. Besides, Php 400 talaga ang refill nung tape eh so I just put Anika’s name on the Crayola box.

Another thing I got for this school year was this self-adhesive book cover that I saw from one of my IG friends IG feed.

That costs around Php 350 for a 10 meter roll. I have yet to use it so babalikan ko kayo for that.

Last night, I tucked Anika to bed. Hindi makatulog ang bagets because of her first day anxiety. Ganyan na ganyan kako ako nung bata. I don’t know why but pati ako

I woke up at 4:45am today. That is something that I didn’t miss during summer break.

I got up and did Anika’s baon for today.

For a while muthers, nakatulala lang ako. Humuhugot ako ng creative juices from God knows where. I was close to panicking when I saw the Teddy sandwich mold. I started from there then everything went smoothly na.

We are still using Anika’s Yumbox from last year. I love it talaga. I love that Anika doesn’t need to bring a lot of lalagyan with her to school. One Yumbox fits her Merienda and Lunch food.

One mommy asked me how I plan Anika’s daily baon.

Sa totoo lang guys, walang planning ang nagaganap. I just make sure that I have ulam to be cooked in the fridge: hotdogs, ham, lumpia shanghai, adobo, chicken, etc and I have a stock of her biscuits like Oreos, Dewberry, Chips Ahoy!, and her other favorite snacks like Ritz and Bread Pan.

Basta may mga ganyan ako, bahala na si Batman every morning. I just do it as I go along.

So there. She got hair up like Jojo Siwa’s again, put on one of the big bows LT and Faye made her and strutted to the car.

We arrived at school a little past 6am. Ang dami nang tao! I saw some policemen from Makati Rescue with their bomb sniffing dogs were there. Security was tight. I like it.

As usual, we passed by the chapel to pray. I love that even during the times Alvin brings her to school, Anika asks her Tatay to go to the chapel.

After praying, nag-umpisa na ang daramarama ni Anika.

ANIKA: Nanay, I don’t feel well. I’m feeling queezy and I feel like throwing up.

ME: Anak, ang tawag diyan combination of excitement and nervousness dahil first day mo. Uminom ka na lang ng tubig.

True enough, upon seeing all her old classmates, energetic na energetic na ang bagets. I went with her to her classroom. I stayed for a bit until I really had to go because I’ll be late na for work. She hugged me really tight. Dradrama sana ulit pero buti hindi natuloy.

I left after blowing her kisses.

You know, I’m surprised because there were a lot of parents there in school kanina. A lot were taking photos of their kids in and out of the classrooms. I don’t remember it being like that when I was younger. I just remembered Papa bringing me to the classroom when I was in Grade 1. Nung Grade 2 onwards, parang hindi na yata or I don’t remember lang. Parents nowadays are different from parents from our generation, don’t you think? I’m sure the love is totally the same pero the parenting styles are different. Because of social media siguro ano? Mas madaming sharing of helpful parenting articles.

Anyway, that’s how Anika’s first day in Second grade went.

ME (while walking her to her classroom): Ang daming parents here ano?

ANIKA: Yeah. I will ask you to bring me to school on the first day until I’m in High School.

ME: I’m sure you will not want me to go with you when you’re in High School.

She clutched my arm and said, “I swear I’m going to make you go with me until High School. I will still be scared even if I’m in High School.”

Nothing to be scared about, sweetheart, because I know you will always do great. But I will bring you to your first day of school as long as you want me to. =)

Alvin and I got quite a scare the other day.

Before ang kwento, here’s an outfit I wore a couple of days ago.

Sandals: RENEGADE FOLK; Sunglasses: FROM JAPAN

I’ve had that dress for the longest time. Dalaga pa yata ako niyan. I can’t bear to part with it because of the flowy fabric and heller, ang daming roses sa strap. Ang KSP ng dress and it’s so me.

Anyway, back to my scary kwento.

Last Thursday, I was at Enderun Colleges to attend an event. I cannot even remember when was the last time I attended an event so I was quite excited. I was already at the place a little past 5pm even though the event was still at 6pm. I came from work so I put on my “event make-up”. Around 6pm, just before I was about to meet Cai, Anika called me.

ANIKA (crying): Nanay I fell and I have a big bukol! It’s so big! And I am so scared that you will get mad at me!

After telling her that I’m not mad, I asked her what happened. I couldn’t understand what she was saying so I talked to the yaya. Anika was making ice popsicles daw in our kitchen. Natapon. The yaya told her not to move because she will get a mop to wipe the floor. Eh makulit. She went to the sink, slipped and banged the back of her head on the floor. Ang laki daw ng bukol.

I asked the three important questions. Did she lose consciousness? No daw. Did she throw up? No daw. Nahihilo ba siya? No daw.

Okay. I can calm down a little. I told her to put ice on it and call me if she feels dizzy.

I called Alvin and then left the event that was just about to start.

I arrived home and found Alvin and Anika sitting in our living room. Anika had an ice pack on her head. Kinapa ko the back of her head and felt the largest bukol I’ve ever felt in my entire life! Pinandilatan ko si Alvin and said, “Let’s go.”. We took her to Asian Hospital to have her checked. I’m not taking any chances. Nakakatakot pag-back of the head yung bumagok. I remember the two times we were in the hospital because Anika bumped her head, the doctors said na mas scary pag sa likod ang tama kasi mas malambot na part of the head yun.

When the doctor saw her, she did some tests. She asked her questions about what happened before she fell. She made Anika follow her fingers. She made her squeeze her fingers. She made her raise her hands. She made her stand up on one foot. She used a flashlight and checked something sa eyes. Okay naman lahat. The doctors did not recommend for a CT scan anymore kasi they limit the CT scans on kids. Pagneccessary na necessary lang daw. Xray na lang ang gagawin to check if there are fractures in the head.

Thank God wala.

We went home after that with instructions and bilins from the doctor. I had to wake up Anika every three hours to check na hindi siya magconcussion.

She’s doing fine now. Magulo na ulit. When Faye messaged me how Anika was, I told her naku, these are the times na dapat paghandaan niya. Kahit anong ingat natin sa kids natin, shit happens. So talagang dadaanin mo din sa everyday prayer.

Alam niyo ba, earlier that day, I was so agitated. I didn’t know why. Hindi lang ako mapakali. And then ayun nga, that happened.

I have not told you about this yet yata but remember when Anika fell from the soccer goal post? An hour before she fell, I was thinking na sunduin siya. Sabi ko bakit ba hindi ko na sunduin eh pauwi na naman ako? I said to myself wag na lang. Antayin ko na lang siya sa house. Minutes after, she called that they were taking her to the clinic na.

Grabe.

Eto pa.

Si Anika kasi madalas magnose bleed. Do you know that when we wakes up in the middle of the night, bago pa niya ako gisingin to tell me that her nose is bleeding, automatic nagigising na ako? It’s as if I know that something’s wrong with her even before she tells me about it.

I seriously believe in mother’s instincts talaga.

Do you have the same kinds of experiences?

These past few weeks, because of recent events, Alvin and I have often heard from different people na buti daw at napalaki namin si Anika ng maayos.

Wait.

Though I pray for that every day, we can’t conclude it yet at this point. She’s only seven years old.

Dugay pa, as Wowa would always say.

It’s too early to tell if we have brought up Anika well. She has yet to encounter so many things to test her principles and values. She is still very much confined and hindi pa siya nabibigyan ng sapat na freedom to decide for herself.

But so far, so good. I am quite satisfied on how were are raising her. Na-“test” siya ng slight when her classmate slapped her. Kita niyo naman, hindi talaga gumanti. When we told her to fight back, she cried. She couldn’t bring herself to hurt others. We needed to explain to her that in one time or another, she would have to learn to fight back and take care of yourself. Tama yun, wag manakit. Pero hindi naman tama ang mag-pa-api.

My fear of her growing up to be a spoiled brat ay dahan dahan naman nawawala as she grows older. She is very determined to get what she wants but not to a point where may masasaktan ang feelings. May kunsensya yung bata and dun pa lang, happy na ako.

I have often quoted that a child’s formative years is zero to 7 years old.

“The first seven years are important because they are the foundation upon which the rest of our lives are build. A small child’s ability to learn and take in new information is greater than in any other point in its life.” –Anna Brix Thomsen, MA in Educational Sociology

I am grateful I knew about this right after Anika turned a year old. It pays talaga to read a lot of books and informative articles. Kahit papaano, we were very conscious about this.

We made sure we were present, physically and emotionally, in those first seven years. Sometimes, nasasabihan na kami na OA because they felt that we concentrated too much on Anika. Wala akong pakialam. You can’t bring back time after it has passed.

We were very patient in talking to her when she did something wrong. Tiyagaan talaga yan guys. Imagine yourself super tired from work tapos nag-sasalbahe ang anak niyo. It was very easy to just give in so they’ll shut up and you’ll have your peace. Kami hindi ganyan. No matter what time of the day it was, dadalhin ko yang si Anika sa room and I would talk to her pag may ginawang mali. Dumating na nga sa point na (she was three years old then) when she did something wrong, kusa na yang papasok sa bedroom and sit on the bed. Alam na niya that we will talk. Wala ako pinalagpas na mali niyan. Sinigawan yung maid? Pasok sa room. Hindi nagshare ng toys sa kalaro? Pasok sa room. Nagdabog palayo sa akin? Pasok sa room. Tiyagaan nga talaga on my part.

I listened to her. Isa pang tiyagaan yan. Whatever it was that she needed to tell me, I listened. Whenever. Wherever. If she was upset, I would encourage her to tell me why. Bawal magpadyak padyak. Bawal ang magbato ng toys. I understand that kids get upset easily so I tell Anika to air out her feelings. I remember, when she was upset or mad, meron pa kami niyang STOP, TAKE A DEEP BREATH then TELL ME ABOUT IT eklaver. I think she was two to three years old then.

I did corporal punishment. Ako lang ito ha, hindi si Alvin. Alvin grew up in a family na hindi namamalo so never din niya pinalo si Anika. I know some of you would not agree to this parenting method but like I said, to each his own. The difference lang siguro from my parents is that every after I spank Anika’s butt, I talk to her after why I had to do that. Hindi pasigaw. Hindi pagalit. Pero hindi naman ako masaya. Ano ako, loka loka? Nakikinig naman. Tapos eto, okay naman siya. The only corporal punishment that I did was palo sa pwet.

Did I feel guilty afterwards? Fuck, yes. Every single time after I had to make her palo, I felt like shit. Iniisip ko na lang, if hayaan ko lang ng hayaan si Anika, she will eventually grow up to be a spoiled brat who nobody wants to be friends or connected with paghindi inayos yung attitude niya na yun.

We didn’t let anybody interfere with how we disciplined our child. Ang laki ng probability na maspoil si Anika. That time, she was the only grand child in my side of the family while she was the only granddaughter in Alvin’s side of the family. Bibong bibo pa and super cute so lahat talaga natutuwa sa kanya. Pero nobody got to spoiled her. Not Wowa or Lolo Papa, not my in-laws, not our siblings and not LT. Wala. Whenever they attempt to pacify her whenever nag-iinarte, I call them out agad. Hindi pwede sa akin yan. Bitchy na kung bitchy but no. Isip ko, i-spoil nila eh hindi naman sila yung mahihirapan sa bata eventually eh. Anika knows about this too. Most of the time, she doesn’t take advantage. For example, when I say no ice cream and someone still offers her some, she will look at me and give that sobrang paawang face. She will not get the ice cream from that person because I already said no, pero ialalabas niya talaga yung paawa powers niya ng 100%. Bata eh.

It may sound na lagi namin pinapagalitan si Anika pero hindi naman po. Don’t get me wrong. Anika is a happy child. It’s very evident when you meet her and get to interact with her. She’s not spoiled but she’s happy. She still gets what she wants in the right time. She still makes simangot if she doesn’t get what she wants. I allow that kasi bata. I am just particular dun sa pagdadabog. Ayaw ko nun kasi that’s a sign of disrespect. Pwede siyang sumimangot pero hindi pwede magdabog. Keri naman. Her drama is very short lived. Saglit lang, okay na siya ulit.

I saw this article from Elizabeth Pantley about tips how to raise a happy child.

1. Listen when they talk.
2. Let them express their feelings and validate them.
3. Point out their strengths with compliments.
4. Avoid excess screen-time (TV/gadgets).
5. Teach them to pay attention to other’s feelings.
6. Encourage their friendships with other great kids.
7. Let htem have some ‘do-nothing playtime’ everyday.
8. Eat dinner as a family. If you can’t then do breakfast.
9. Let your happiness show.
10. Tell them you love them often!

And of  course, samahan lagi ng maraming dasal. That is a staple in my daily prayers. “Sana po lumaking mabuting tao si Anika.”. That is all we want for her. That and for her to be happy in whatever she will do.

How about you mommies? May advice kayo? =)

Anika has been taking Street Dance lessons at STEPS Dance School.

Inaasar ako ni Alvin. The reason daw why I want Anika to take up dance lessons is because I’ve always wanted to go to one pero hindi ko daw nagawa nung bata ako.

Hehe. Slightly true. Pero slightly lang.

Anika loves performing. She loves to sing and dance. I asked her to choose what she wants to do between the two, sabi niya dance daw.

And so I googled dance classes in the metro.

The first two  schools I went to was in BF Homes Paranaque. The first one was affordable pero yung waiting area naman is not airconditioned. Jabar levels ka talaga while waiting because 12 noon ang lessons. One hour yun. One hour ka din outside without airconditioning ng tanghaling tapat! The second one was more expensive. Nice yung waiting area kaso kamote yung nasa desk when I inquired. Parang ayaw niya magpa-enroll when I was inquiring so never mind.

While I was googling, STEPS Dance Studio kept on popping up so I checked it out. They have a school in Makati near Rockwell. I inquire over the phone. They encouraged me to have Anika attend a trial class muna a.k.a. auditions and their dance coach will assess her.

I liked them immediately. I like the thought that they want to see first if may future nga sa dancing ang bata. Baka naman wala or ayaw but they just go because their parents are forcing them. The trial dance class was Php 1,300. Fuzz ang mahal pero sige go.

We arrived at the school quite early kasi excited kaming mag-ina. There was a Mary Grace Cafe at the ground floor of the dance school building so I took it as a good sign. I didn’t tell Anika that she had to audition kasi baka kabahan. I just told her to have fun. The dance school was nice. It was a two floor building. Sa ground floor yung airconditioned lobby with lots of sofas where you can wait comfortably for your kids. They have a lot of dance studio rooms. Okay kako. Mukha din mahal pero mukha din super professional yung school.

Nervous na nervous ang bagets while we were waiting for the class to start. Baka daw hindi siya makasabay sa steps or baka mapahiya daw siya kasi lahat may alam na. She pleaded that I go with her upstairs. It wasn’t allowed normally but napakiusapan ko if I can watch. Parents can only watch from the outside of the studio. At first, Anika was super shy. And then everybody started saying hi to her, ayun Ms. Friendship na siya. There were around 20 kids and the studio was huge with large mirrors on all walls. Bigay todo ang Anika.

After an hour, the dance coach came up to me. This was his exact words.

DANCE COACH: Anika is really good! How old is she? She’s seven? Yeah. She’s really good! I mean she can really dance. Did she have dance lessons already before? No? Magaling siya. She can follow the steps. She just needs some refining in her moves but all in all, she’s really great!

I was soooooo proud!

And so we were in. The tuition is Php 4,200 for a one hour, once a week lesson for a month. No make up class unless you’re really sick and have this doctor’s certificate. Kaya masakit talaga sa bulsa if you skip class. There’s also a one time registration fee of Php 2000 for new students.

Butas nga talaga ang bulsa.

But then again, I asked Anika if she had fun, a big YES ang sagot. She loves daw the dance lessons. You can really see in her face that she loves it. Dun na nasulit yung six thousand na nilabas ko that day. She looks forward to her dance classes every week and I like that in her. Gusto ko passionate siya about something.

I like STEPS Dance Studio. They also have scholars from less privileged schools. Ang gagaling talaga nila. Some are Anika’s classmates and they really look cute dancing. Iba ang talent ng mga batang yun. Well deserved ang pagiging scholars nila. That is one more reason why I chose STEPS. They have a reputation of being a good school plus they take in scholars. Magaling.

So there. Anika’s also taking up gymnastics classes during the week. Once a week also. Gusto daw niya eh so I let her. Support lang ng support hanggang kaya. Wasakan na ang wallet pero at least I can see may napupuntahan the money that I work for. Anything for Anika’s education and enhancement of skills. Tipid na lang muna ako. I will not enter Starbucks muna for the meantime. 7-11 has 30 peso coffee that tastes as good. Dun na muna ako magkakape. Hehe.

Anika’s first term report card arrived last week.

To guide you with the CSA eagle giving system:

A Gold Eagle is given to students with at least a 92% general average.
A Red Eagle is given if they have at least 90% average.
A Blue Eagle is given if they have at least 89% average.

But wait, that is not that easy too. May mga kundisyones pa yan.

You can only get that freaking eagle if you do not have any subject grade less than 85, no more than one C letter grade in the deportment and no grade lower than B in conduct.

Meaning, regardless if you have a 98 average pero 84 ka in one of the subjects, no eagle for you.

In short, mahirap magka-Eagle sa CSA so even though we did not get gold this term, okay na.

So weird in because I noticed they do not post anymore the list of Top 10 students per class. Nung araw ko, inaabangan ko yan eh. I felt I needed to be in the Top 10 all the time because I was scared that Wowa might get mad. Ang daldal ko kasi sa class di ba? Plus I was really competitive in school.

Anyway, I wanted to ask why wala nang Top 10. I was answered when I overheard the Assistant Principal talking to one of the parents a few weeks back. The parent was complaining bakit daw no medals are given to the students who are excelling academically. Parang kami lang daw yung school na ganun. The Assistant Principal explained na yung mga eagles sa report cards na yun. No medals talaga anymore except during graduation. She also told the parent that CSA do not even have Top 10 in class because CSA does not want the students to compare themselves against each other. CSA wants the student to challenge his or herself.

Galing di ba?

Anyway, at the end of each term, the student gets to go up the stage to get their academic excellence award with their parents if they have (1) an average of 95 and above or (2) if they have a major subject with a 95 and above grade or (3) if they have straight As in their conduct.

This year, Maeko (Pineda’s daughter) went up the stage to get her academic excellence award. 95 ang general average ng batang yun. Dalawa ang 99 na subjects sa report card! Amazed na amazed kami ni Pineda! Never in our lives did we get a 99 grade! Well, I got that grade before pero in Physical Education. Hello, varsity kasi ako so medyo given and not counted for bragging hahaha! Pero si Maeko, wild. I was kidding Pineda kanino ba nagmana yung bata. Inangkin ko na. Sabi ko sa akin nagmana. Sige daw sabi ni Pineda. For sure daw kasi talaga, hindi sa kanya nagmana! Hahahahaha!

So proud of Maeko!

Anyway, back to Anika. The day the report cards were sent, Anika called me up.

ANIKA: Hay naku Nanay! Red lang talaga ako! Oh my God. Red lang talaga! Ano ba ito?!

She sounded so mad, I comforted her. Sabi ko okay na at least may eagle siya. The important thing is that she worked hard for it.

When I got home, I took a good look at her grades.

ME: Bakit ganito Math mo? I thought you were good at Math?

ANIKA: What?! Oh my God! Ang baba ng grade ko sa Math? Nakaka-inis yan ha! It’s so low!

ME: Okay lang yan anak. Try harder na lang.

When we were in bed, while she was already sleeping, dun ko lang na-realize.

Nauto ako ni Anika.

Hindot na bata ito!

I was supposed to get “mad” kasi hindi siya gold. TV kasi ng TV. Laro ng laro. Pagmag-aaral, lagi na lang may reasons. Iyak ng iyak if mahirap. I was supposed to tell her all these pero naunahan ako ng “drama”!

Matalino. Matalinong bata. Lech.

———————————————————————

The other day, Anika had a homework in Filipino. She needed to compare her Tatay and I using opposite Tagalog words. Alvin was not yet home so kami pa lang nina Anika ang naguusap usap.

ME: Paano? How do you do this?

YAYA: At katulad ng “Si Nanay maganda, si Tatay pangit.”

Hahahaha! We laughed and laughed.

ANIKA: It’s like this Nanay. Si Nanay, mataba. Si Tatay, payat.

ME: Uy. Grabe ka!!!

ANIKA: Eto naman. No offense!

Whut?! Hahahahahaha!

ME: O sige, magisip ka na ng pwede mong isulat.

YAYA: Si Tatay, matipid. Si Nanay hindi!

ME: Grabeeeeeeh!

ANIKA (waving a palm on my face): No offense, ha? Totoo naman kasi.

How old is she again?!?!?!

Here’s what she came up with:

Sige, tawa kayo diyan!

Minsan feeling ko din wala akong kakampi sa bahay ko eh. Hahahahahaha!

Have a great day everyone!

People often tell me na mahirap daw ako isipan ng gifts.

I find it weird. Napaka-babaw kong tao. Stationery lang, masaya na ako.

Not true daw sabi ni Alvin.

Not true talaga if si Alvin kako ang maggigift. Subukan lang niya ako bigyan ng stationery sa pasko.

Lelz.

Kidding aside, Alvin has taught me to see beyond the gifts. The mere fact daw kasi na naalala ako, malaking bagay na yun.

At first, it was hard accepting that way of thinking. I love giving gifts kasi. I make sure I give everyone na karapat dapat na may gifts. For those special to me, pinagiisipan ko talaga my what I give to them. Like, I take time to go to the mall and look for something. Siyempre gusto ko din, mukhang pinagisipan yung gift for me. I told Alvin dati that my expectation to what I will receive from you will depend kung gaano tayo ka-close.

And how I know you.

For example, I see you na maluho ka sa katawan. Madami kang nice things. Alam ko na may pera ka. Hindi tayo acquaintance lang. Aba eh, sasama loob ko if you gift me with a bimpo.

Sasama din daw loob ko if hindi ako binigyan ng kahit ano.

True. Though yung hindi ako binigyan ng gift, I don’t really mind.

Nakatatak lang sa isip ko na hindi mo ako binigyan ng Christmas gift ngayong pasko.

But I don’t really mind. I will mind the rich person giving me a bimpo more than that.

Mga ganung hanash ba.

Alvin taught me na may mga taong ganun. Wag ko daw sirain yung mood ko with those kinds of people. What is important is that what we give them daw. Wag na daw ako mageexpect. Matuwa na daw ako that they remembered me.

Ganun ako dati.

Ngayon, motherhood has made me less materialistic. Mas madami na important to me now than receiving presents. Mas important na sakin ang spending time together. Mas important na sa akin yung health and wellness of the people I love. Mas important na sa akin na masaya sila and walang problema.

Nevertheless, sa haba ng intro ko, I still want to show you my Christmas wishlist. Hahahaha!

#YouCannotTeachOldDogsNewTricksCompletely.

My therapist prohibited me to drink coffee while I was in treatment. Ngayon, pwede na daw. I was so happy. I missed coffee so much. I can drink daw basta decaf. Walang problema. Better decaf than none. The first item on my wish list is a nice coffee cup.

I got this 12 oz Keep Cup Brew yesterday.

KeepCup started in a Melbourne cafe in 2008 with a simple idea of keep it and use it again. They designed it to make a barista standard reusable cup so people can better enjoy to-go coffee.

It helps to know that there is enough plastic in 20 disposable cups and lids to make just ONE KeepCup. It’s very environment friendly.

This one okay siya for one short drink at the coffee shop. Nakakatuwa. It’s non-toxic and BPA/BPS free. It’s a fully tempered soda lime glass with a hard splash-proof lid for ease of use and drinking. The lid has a plug that covers the mouthpiece when not in use. Perfect for me!

You can buy this at @cuppinginitiative over at Instagram =)

The next item in my wishlist is the Kiehl’s Powerful Line Reducing Concentrate. I didn’t know Kiehl’s has the Vitamin C serum. I only saw this from my friend, Vic’s IG page.

Need na natin yan kasi ageing na tayo ng slight. Vitamin C is very good for the skin.

Third, I am obsessed now with swimsuits. Feel na feel ko kasi ang thinner body ko kaya todo ask ako kay Alvin if we can go to the beach more often.

If only I can wear swimsuits all the time, push ko yan. I don’t know kasi until when I can keep up this fitter body. Hahaha!

My favorite swimsuits are from Georgina Sasha…

I love Koi Swim…

and Soak Swim Wear Ph =)

I wanna buy more swimsuits!

Fourth, I like this bow sandals from Renegadefolk.

I’m into flats nowadays, di niyo napansin. Maybe it’s because I’m getting old na and my knees are getting rupok-er every year.

Rupok-er!

Hahahaha!

Fifth, I’ve mentioned it already that I like collecting coffee cups. Gusto ko yung mga unique and maarteng designs like this one from Paper Straw Love.

Sixth, eto matagal ko na talaga gusto, nangunguripot lang ako. I want these two New Balance sneakers! Ang tagal ko na pinagnanasaan these shoes! I find them expensive now knowing how much they are lang when I saw them at the NB store in Canada. I should have bought them when I saw them na! Grrrrrrr!

Seventh, I want a necklace made from Bubbadoodles. Ang taba ng utak ng naka-isip nito.

You can give them your kid’s drawing then they will turn it into pendants. I’m thinking, maybe you can even have your special someone write your name or the words “i love you” and have it turned into pendants too. Astig di ba? They’re very special and personal.

Eighth, I want a Hanogram case. My friend ordered one and it was delivered daw agad. Simple but elegant ang peg. Totally not me, pero pwede naman ako magpanggap =p

To tell you the truth, I do not like a stationery from Alvin because itong dalawa ang gusto kong Christmas gift.

I want this dresser from Furniture Source Phils!!!!

I also want this center table from Upcycle Manila!

So yun lang naman. Charot.

The other items in my wishlist that are not there are (1) batteries for my watches because I have a lot of watches na hindi na gumagana =/ (2) to have my Pandora bracelet cleaned at their store and (3) I want nice sleepwear. Ito yung super lambot na tela and super comfy that you’ll want to wear them all day!

Kayo, pwera piece of mind (hahahaha!), ano nasa wishlist niyo? =)

Yesterday, we accomplished so much. Iba talaga if we go to mass early, mas madaming nagagawa.

We heard mass at 9am. After that, we went to our new house to check the progress. Nabwisit ako ng wagas. Kwento ko later para may matching photos. After the site visit, we had lunch at my in-laws place. I stress ate and I am blaming the contractors. Grrrrr. After that, we went to SM BF kasi we promised Anika she can go ice skating. I’ll do some shopping na lang kako while she’s in there with Alvin. Kaso lang, Anika wasn’t allowed to skate because of the minimum height requirement. She cried. I wanted to cry too kasi hindi ako makapagshopping.

We watched Star Wars instead.

Hindi ko gusto, mga bakla. The plot was very predictable and there was nothing fantastic there. Pang DVD lang ang movie. Sana Sharon Cuneta / Robin Padilla movie na lang pinanood namin. I cannot believe I missed that movie! Die hard Sharonian pa naman ako and Robin Padilla ang peg ng mister ko.

After the movie, we were supposed to do the groceries but we went to Wilcon Depot instead to buy paint for the cabinets. We got home around 8pm just in time for my 8:30 massage.

Despite the haggardness of the holiday season (at sinabay pa talaga namin ang renovations of our new house), we try our best to spend time with each other. Kahit anong gagawin, basta magkakasama kaming 3.

During mass yesterday, Anika asked if we can go to the toilet. On our way, while holding my hand, she stopped and looked at me.

ANIKA: Nanay, I really want a baby brother. Can’t I have a baby brother?

She looked so sad that it really broke my heart.

ME: We’re trying our best, sweetheart. I’m not sure if God will give us a baby brother but if He will, antay lang tayo okay?

She nodded her head.

When we went back to where Alvin was sitting, Anika leaned her body towards her tatay and said,

ANIKA: Tatay, can I please have a baby brother na? I really want to have a baby brother please.

ME: Pray ka kasi, anak.

ANIKA: But I have been praying since I was 2 years old! I’ve been praying and praying. Hindi naman yata naririnig ni God.

Uh oh.

Alvin looked at me.

ALVIN: Hindi ganun yun. It’s up to God if He will give you a baby brother. You just have to wait. Don’t think that about God. He is very good. Mabait si God, ha?

I thought finish na ang drama. When we were at my in-laws’ house, Anika went to her Lola Lydia.

ANIKA: Lola, can you please help me pray for a baby brother?

Emergerd.

ME (to Alvin): Intay ka lang. Maya maya, magpapasama na yang anak mo sa Manaoag, tingnan mo.

I have conceded na actually in having another child. I am turning 38 in a few days and to tell you the truth, ayoko na magka-anak. I am old. But when I see Anika like this parang sige, kahit 70 years old na siguro ako, pipilitin ko pa din manganak for her to have somebody aside from me and her Tatay.

Lalo pa now, we will be transferring houses in a few days. She will be away na from her two best friends in our village.

Maghahanap yan ng kalaro after we transfer.

ALVIN: Sabihin mo kasi kay Anika dun sa room niya matulog para magkaron siya ng kapatid.

ME: At ano naman sasabihin kong reason pagnagtanong siya ano connection ng pagtulog niya sa room niya at sa pagkakaron ng baby brother?!

Aber?!

Naloka ako ng slight with what Alvin said to Anika kasi mangiyak ngiyak na yung bata sa kagustuhan magka-baby brother.

ALVIN: Wag ka mag-alala. Bukas na bukas, bibili tayo ng baby brother. San ba nakakabili niyan?! Ilan ba gusto mo? Tara bibili kita!

Building houses is no joke. Sasakit ang batok niyo sa stress. I should know because I am in the construction field.

Pero when you are building your OWN house, hindi lang batok niyo ang sasakit. Your wallets, head and whole being will hurt because no matter how ready you are or how knowledgeable you are in that work, there will always be something that will not go right.

In our case, done na all the ceiling: installation and painting works. They said done na daw all the electrical works so we did the Megger test. For additional knowledge sa mga hindi technical, Megger test is done to ensure that there is no electrical leakage in the wires. I do not know how to explain it more in layman’s term except that if the Megger test fails, that means mali ang pagka-gawa ng electrical ng bahay niyo. This is dangerous as it can cause fire.

Ang sensitive pa naman ni Alvin Sombrero sa ganyan.

And ayun na nga. When we had it tested, it failed. Kamote. We consulted a different batch of electricians to check the work of the original electrician why the Megger test failed. Grabe. Na-high blood si Alvin. Labo labo yung gawa and talagang mali. That and imagine having no ground in the sockets? Galit talaga ang jowa ko because he specifically instructed the electrician to put grounding para safer.

The new batch of electricians corrected the works. They went inside the ceiling again.

Butas butas tuloy yung supposedly finished ceilings namin.

There are more holes like that in the other parts of the house. There are a lot of ceiling paint that cracked too.

Bwisit na bwisit ako nung Sunday. Sayang all the man-hours and materials spent just because hindi lang inayos yung work.

In fairness to our contractor, they’re okay naman in majority of the other works. Dito lang talaga sila pumalya sa electrical.

And here’s how my kitchen cabinets turned out.

Gusto ko maglupasay.

From the swatches of the kitchen cabinet contractor, I chose a white matte finished laminate.

When it was installed, ganyan na siya.

In person, it’s has a bluish gray color. Halos malapit na siya sa light lavender.

I couldn’t understand.

Tama naman the code of the swatch that I gave with what they fabricated. Hindi ko alam na bluish. My coordinator with the kitchen cabinets insisted that yan daw yung pinili ko na swatch and that was what they gave to the warehouse. I told her, “Yes, I know. Wala kang mali. You gave them the code of the skin that I chose. Pero iba talaga ang color ng swatch sa actual! The swatch was white!”

I even showed her my kitchen pegs from Pinterest.

White and black di ba?!

She knew I was right. I do not know bakit white yung swatch then yung actual is light lavender or bluish gray.

I told them sorry but they have to change it. Misrepresentation talaga kasi eh. I know that that was the color that I picked but everybody in the world knows that I will never pick a halos light lavender colored kitchen cabinets. Simula’t sapul, black and white na talaga ng theme ng kitchen ko eh,

Ang sakit ng bangs ko.

Buti na lang maganda kinalabasan ng mini library ko.

That is probably going to be my favorite part of the house.

Yan ang ang kinakatuwa ko ngayon sa bahay. The rest, kamote.

Konting tiis na lang though. I know hindi aabot everything by our target move in date pero wapakels na. I’m not pressured naman to leave our current house because, heller, amin na man yung bahay. It’s not like it’s rented and kailangan namin lumayas on a specific date.

Piliin lang ang ikaka-stress, ika nga.

Osha. Balitaan ko kayo again soon!

Our house renovation is almost 90% done.

To update you about my recent hanash, I retained the kitchen cabinets. Acceptance is the key, mga bakla. When the Granite subcontractor installed the countertop, parang gumanda yung effect of my cabinets. Lumitaw yung pagka-grayish blue niya. Nagka-buhay, ganun, kaya keribelles.

I really want to transfer na kasi talaga before the new year comes.

New year, new house.

Maganda pakinggan di ba?

So the remaining ongoing works now are the fabrication and painting of the bedroom closets. Tragis, ang mahal pala ng Marine Plywood! We spent 33,000 for just the wood materials! Iniisip ko, baka better if I ordered na lang modular. Wala pang hirap.

But then again, mas matibay di hamak yung gawa ng Marine Plywood.

The only thing that I wasn’t able to anticipate was 3 weeks pala ginagawa yung Duco painting! Kamote.

Duco painting is a kind of painting for your furniture. Mas soshal ang finish na ito compared to the normal pahid pahid lang. If you do kasi a duco finish, it hides the grains of the wood. Super smooth and polished ang magiging finish.

But I never knew masalimuot pala yung process of the duco finish. Magkaka-muscles ka kaka-kaskas ng surface to make it smooth. Paulit ulit ang liha and spray paint until you achieve that beautiful polished look surface. Not all painters can do this. Specialty itey kaya expensive and it requires more paint too.

And so, I didn’t have the closets painted in duco finish anymore. Hindi kasi aabot matapos before the new year. I just had it painted in semi-duco finish.

Semi-duco naman is parang mama-silyahan nila yung buong surface. And then lilihain. And then saka ipe-paint in a normal way (using a roller or a paint brush). The finish is between a normal painted surface and a duco finished surface. Keribelles na din.

The painters said that they will be able to finish all the three closets and the two sets of the low seats with cabinets underneath.

Yahoo. Kung alam niyo lang paano ako nagkumahog maghanap ng pintor for these.

Have you seen the closets I designed? =)

Here’s Anika’s closet.

It has space for her hung dresses and tops. It also has shelves for her pambahay. I will just buy cute containers where she can put her undies and socks.

This is the closets in the Master’s Bedroom. Hulaan niyo ano yung sa akin diyan.

Hahahahahaha!

It’s dead obvious, I know!

But before you say na bakit parang inapi ang closet space ng jowa ko, it was Alvin who requested that closet size. He doesn’t need daw that much space. I swear, Anika has more clothes than him. Kaya I was surprised when he said he needs to give away na daw some of his clothes. Masyadong madami na daw.

Aneh?!

Peg yata ni Alvin yung one outfit in 7 ways. Hayaan natin siya. More closet space for meeeeeee!

And this one naman is the closet at the kasambahay’s room.

The shelves on your left is for the blankets, towels and pillow cases. The shelves on your right is for me. Hahahaha! Ang dupang sa closet space! =))

Guys, I know you understand that we need all the closet space we can get. Kung pwede lang lagyang ng aparador between the roof and ceiling, malamang meron din akong closet dun!

All these closets have sliding doors. I wanted closet sliding doors with mirror kaso for some reasons, biglang nagGoogle si Alvin ng Feng Shui and mirrors.

We browsed through the different articles and found out that ang dami pa lang bawal!

Bawal to put mirror in the kitchen. Well, who puts mirrors in the kitchen naman di ba?

You CANNOT put mirrors facing the bed daw. It may bring sleeping problems and may invite a third party to the relationship. So mga mudra, if in case napagdaanan ninyo mag-asawa ang ganitong problema, check your mirror if it’s facing the bed. Lelz.

No mirrors behind the sofa because nawawala daw ang sense of security.

Bawal ang mirror facing the front door. This one I am aware. Tatalbog daw palabas ang swerte. Hindi makakapasok ng house. Same with no mirrors at the end of the hallway.

Best place to put a mirror is in the dining area. The dining room daw kasi represents the “vault of wealth” in the house. If you put a mirror there, dadami daw ang moolah.

Hindi naman nila sinabi agad. Sana pinuno ko ng mirror yung buong kainan namin.

So there, you can read more about where to put the house mirrors here and here.

Osha, three days to go till Christmas! How harassed are your from 1 to 10?! Hehehe! Gotta go mga bakla. I have to buy more balikbayan boxes for our lipat bahay ganap!

See you!

This year’s Christmas is probably my most unprepared one since I got married.

It may be my most unprepared one but this is the first Christmas na I got to spend a lot of time with my dad. Usually kasi, my dad stays in our family house in Paranaque whenever he goes home. We only see each other a couple of times lang kasi he spends time with his friends and in our province. Ang layo ng house ko sa family house namin. Eh since under renovation nga yung family house this December, he stayed with me in our house in Sucat. Though we were so busy packing, Papa stayed lang sa bahay and kwinentuhan lang kami ng kwinentuhan. Nakakatuwa din. This is my favorite uwi ni Papa. I got to spend a lot of time with him.

We all spent Christmas Eve at our old house.

Lolo Papa, Wowa, Toots, Russ (ayan may pangalan na ang pretty girl na kasama lagi ng brother ko hihihi), Faye, Fonz, LT and little Isabelle.

Speaking of Isabelle, she’s the star that night. How cute can a baby get talaga.

If you will notice, all my photos are blurred. Unprepared talaga lelz. Buti nga may nakuha kaming tiny space in the house where we can do the gift giving and the picture taking. All the rest of the space, puno na ng balikbayan boxes.

Here’s our Christmas family photo.

We had our Noche Buena outside. Buti na lang achieve yung lights ni Alvin sa trellis. As you can see, magaling sa ganyan ang asawa ko. He’s good at designing spaces with lights.

Simple lang ang Noche Buena namin. I ordered from Conti’s. Russ made pasta. Faye and Fonz brought chicken. We had red wine and Rose. I discovered the Frozen Mango Cheese cake of Conti’s by accident. Sawa na kasi ako sa Mango Bravo cake so I decided to buy a different one. Jackpot yung Mango cheese cake grabe guys. Worth the calories.

After the gift giving, diyosme ang dami ng regalo ni Anika! I felt a bit guilty already. She has too much. I made a mental note to manage the dami of her gifts next year.

I love this photo that I took of my dad and Isabelle.

Eto ang behind the scenes niyan.

And here’s our family photo. Blurred pa more ang peg, hahaha! Nevertheless, I love it.

When I posted that in my social media account, pumatok ang two things sa comments section of this photo:

One, ang tambalang Guy and Pip. Si Mama and Papa ko yan. Hahahaha! Dedz na naman ako when they get to read this. Yes guys, if you are decent human beings, professionals and mature people, you can be at least civil with your exes. They do that for the sake of peace in the family and for the kids. Naka-move on na yang pareho kaya wag na kayong kiligin ha? Umaabot dito sa Paranaque ang kilig niyo sa dalaga at binata namin sa family eh. Osige, due to insistent public demand, tawagin natin ang tambalan nila na #WowaLoPa. Ang pangit. Hahahaha!

Two, yung legs ni Wowa papansin. Peg talaga natin siya pag naging senior citizens tayo ha? Ngayon pa lang, uminom na tayo ng katakot takot na lotion and Glutathione.

Kidding aside, I hope your Christmas was as nice as ours. Merry christmas ulit, mga bakla.

I have to go wake up super early tomorrow. House blessing namin dito sa new house. The priest that my MIL got will arrive daw at 9am. Ang aga. Excited si Father magbless ng bahay namin.

I’ll try to blog about it tomorrow =) Good night guys!

Yesterday, we had our house blessed.

I insisted on having the house blessed before the New Year mainly because ang duwag ko to sleep in a house that is not blessed. We started sleeping here last December 27. From that day until yesterday, I couldn’t sleep well. I’m happy to report though that I slept like a baby last night =)

Lolo Papa said that it will be nice to have the house blessing on my birthday. We already have work on January 2 so cannot be. So it’s the 30th or nothing at all.

I was praying we find a priest that could bless the house on such a short notice. Thank God my Mother-in-Law was able to convice a priest to do it. Yun lang, 9am ang call time.

We only invited our immediate families plus Janis’ and Pineda’s family. Ayoko muna ng madaming tao. I cannot handle haha! We will have a house warming party on Alvin’s birthday na lang. Mas prepared ako niyan. Lilikom muna ako ng pera from now until then. Bwahahaha.

I was surprised when Janis and Mark arrived a little before 9am. Hindi morning people ang magasawang iyon. You must be very special for them to wake up before 10am. Janis said nakakahiya daw kasi if they will be late. They just live a couple of houses away, mga 3 minute walk. Ganyan.

And so we started at 9am sharp kasi may lakad pa yata si Father.

As usual, the star of the day was the cute na cute na Isabelle.

Practice practice pag may time =)

I’m so happy Lolo Papa was able to attend. He was so happy to see how our old family house turned out. He left that afternoon for Amsterdam. Tamang tama din ang timing na early yung blessing. He was able to mingle pa with everyone. We made him hatid at around 5pm.

Faye and Fonz brought a chocolate cake from Dimpy to celebrate my birthday in advance. Anika decorated it with her Shopkins. Sana hinugasan niya muna before ilagay. She also put a candle. Ito yung ginamit nung house blessing. Lelz.

I love the cake nonetheless.

The kids sang happy birthday before I blew the candle.

A lot of you are asking how we are able to finish everything so fast.

Even though we only did renovations, major renovations siya. Para ka na din nagtayo ng bagong bahay sa dami ng tinibag. Here are the things that we did:

• We moved the front wall.
• We re-did the whole roofing, plumbing and electrical works.
• We repainted the interior and exterior works.
• We made the kitchen bigger and renovated the interior.
• We put floor tiles.
• We made the Master’s bedroom and bathroom bigger.
• Nag bakod din kami sa isang side.

We finished everything in 3 months. We moved all the things from one house to another in a day. We unpacked, cleaned and fixed everything in 2 days.

Mga addict lang talaga.

Hahahaha!

It was a very stressful but productive week. Hindi ko man lang namalayan ang holidays. Ang dami naming away and bickering ni Sombrero. Tingnan niyo, New Years Eve na. Sa isang araw, birthday ko na.

Pero you are right. All the hard work and bickering were worth it.

I’ll show you the photos in a bit.

Happy New Year guys!

2017 was full of exaggeration. Yung highs ko, high na high talaga. Then yung lows ko, low na low din talaga. Addict lang ang peg.

2017 started with a high kasi birthday ko. My friends were there to welcome my natal day at 12 am. It was also in 2017 when Alvin, Anika and I were granted a 10 year US visa. Ang saya ko, si Alvin not too much. Female kasi siya sa US Visa niya. Nabwiset. Hahaha. But we already took care of it and maayos na siya now.

I went to visit Arnaiz in February. After 20 years, I went back to the land of the free.

It was one of my most special trips because Arnaiz, Pineda and I were able to get together and spend time in L.A.

Ang saya saya talaga.

It was also in 2017 when Anika celebrated her 7th birthday. We threw her a surprise party. I know she loved it kasi naiyak talaga ang lola niyo.

Instead of having a grand birthday party, nagShakey’s lang kami. Kasi Alvin took us to Malaysia and Singapore the week after that.

It was again a very memorable trip for me because after so many years, I saw my childhood bestfriend, Hannah again.

And then came the low.

Anika was hospitalized twice this year. The first one was so scary because the pedia cardiologist suspected that she had a hole in her heart. I do not know if over acting lang siya or he just wanted to teach his resident paano mag-2D echo but I am just grateful Anika’s heart is okay.

Lahat ng santo tinawag ko. I’ve never been so freaking scared in my entire life.

We are very thankful that, albeit the heart beat skipping, she is fine.

The next exaggerated low for last year is when I had this anxiety disorder that I am still under medication and therapy until now. I had so much learnings. Para siyang isang malaking dagok sa akin because I have been become super engrossed with all the things I had to do.

I have learned that I have pushed myself too far. I am over worked and over stressed, not only at work, but in life in general. I have become so uptight and I controlled everything so that they will be in order all the time. That is the alpha female in me kasi. I tired myself too much kaya when nagkasakit kaming 3 sabay sabay, bumigay ako.

During the first two weeks of therapy, the medicines helped me relax. While I was in that state, I was able to correct my feelings and attitude towards things. Pwede naman pa lang hindi perfection ang lahat lahat. I was able to stop and smell the roses. Hindi pala kailangan lagi kang may iniisip. We need to relax once in a while.

Because of what I went through, I prayed more. I prayed and prayed to a point na nahiya na ako kay God kasi parang dahil ang dami kong ginagawa everyday, nakalimot na ako magdasal. Kaya Niya ako siguro dinagukan. I believe na in the saying that God pushes you to your knees so you can pray.

Hindi ko naman sinasabing super nagbago but I have a better relationship with Alvin (I think ha). During that time, we were able to talk. Ang bait niya din sa akin nung time na yun kasi maybe because I was very needy. Wala yung high strung and stressed Fleur that was always there. I think our husbands like that. They like us talaga na submissive and tahimik lang. Hahahaha. I think Alvin likes it better na need na need ko siya compared dati na feeling niya I can live without him. Ang laki talaga ng binait niya sa akin eh. Tingnan niyo, now that I am kinda back to my normal self, bumalik din yung normal self niya na deadma. So that means, meron talagang effect when I change my attitude towards him. Learn from me, mga mare. If we want to change our husbands ng konti, we should start on ourselves first. Effective kasi eh.

Come last quarter of 2017, eto na ang all time high talaga.

We finished renovating our old family house and transferred there.

If you’re asking, kami lang nina Alvin ang nakatira diyan. Wowa and my brothers have their own condominiums (DMCI Homes, ofcourse) while Lolo Papa lives in Amsterdam. LT and Faye both live in their own homes too. House na namin yan and I love how it turned out. We achieved what we were targeting: maaliwalas, maganda ang lights and comfortable.

2017 was full of learnings especially for me.

I’ve realized that physical and mental health is more important than anything else. Hindi ka dapat nagpapakamatay sa trabaho kasi sisingilin ka din niyan in the future. Eventually, marami ka ngang pera pero ang sakitin mo naman. Remember, stress is the primary source of all illness. We need to learn to relax.

We should continuously pray.

Family is everything.

You do not need a lot of friends, only true ones. Kahit isa or lima lang yan, okay na lang basta totoo sila sayo.

Remove the toxic people in your life. If you cannot, just don’t mind them.

Help other people. Teach others. Hindi ka nila makakalimutan.

Ayan… That’s it guys. Finish na ang emote ko for the year that has been. Despite everything, I am thankful for 2017. I shall try to blog more often. Yan ang resolution ko. I want na ibalik yung everyday blogs ko. I stopped because nagrereklamo si Alvin na blog ako ng blog. Ngayon he wants me to blog kasi he realized na outlet ko talaga ito. Kita niyo nagka-anxiety disorder ako when I stopped blogging hahahaha. That’s my advice for 2018. Find your passion. Find what makes you happy and do it. Good luck guys and cheers to 2018!!!!

Good morning! I just finished replying to all birthday greetings in my personal FB account. Yung Mommy Fleur Blog Fb page naman then Instagram greetings later =) I like reading all the greetings. Nakakatuwa and nakaka-touch to see my old friends, blog readers, acquaintances and love ones remember my birthday.

Anyway, my birthday started with me waiting for 12 midnight to strike.

Alvin asked me why I never overcame yung pagbi-birthday salubong ko.

Wala lang. Wala naman talaga akong ibang gusto. I just want to be awake on the first hour of my birthday. I do not actually require everyone to be awake or to be with me at that moment. Ayoko ng ganung hassle. You see, that’s the beauty of waiting up for your birthday. Nakikita mo who’s up and waiting up with you. Yun lang naman inaabangan ko. And right after 12 midnight, I want to sleep na. Hahahaha! Sobrang tita na talaga. Nung dalaga ako, inuman galore pa. Ngayon, wala, borlogs.

Wowa greeted me at exactly 12 midnight. For the past few years, she’s been waiting for 12 midnight too and texts me her birthday greeting. Tapos matutulog na.

Janis and her family arrived at our house a few minutes before the clock struck 12. I was touched kasi they came from watching a movie tapos nagmadali daw sila para umabot sa birthday ko. A couple of minutes after they sang happy birthday to me (I didn’t buy myself a birthday cake so no candle blowing this year. I refused to blow a candle on a half eaten cake na that we had last New Year’s Eve. I am such an occasion and cake person, making me do that is a mortal sin! Heller.), I told them matutulog na ako. I drank my anti-anxiety meds already before they arrived so I was really groggy na. Binibilangan na ako ng minuto before ako ma-knock down ng tuluyan. I slept right after Janis left.

The next day, I went to the Magallanes church to offer prayers.

My office staff surprised me with a cake. Nagulat talaga ako! I was teary eyed kasi I thought wala akong cake for my birthday. I didn’t expect that kasi di ba, all of them gave me na a cake when we had our Christmas party last month. It was a really nice surprise. Ang sarap pa ng cake kasi Caramia =) Thank you girls!

Alvin and Anika picked me up at work.

The day before that, Anika talked to Alvin.

ANIKA: Tatay, tomorrow for Nanay’s birthday, can we pick her up at the office and treat her to dinner somewhere fancy?

Yuh. Fancy. Nakakatuwa her choice of words. And I love how she know what I like.

ALVIN: What fancy?

ANIKA: Duh. In a hotel! We’ll eat in a hotel!

ME: Thank you sweetheart. You really know what I want!

ANIKA: On Tatay’s birthday, we’ll just chillax naman. We will just stay home and watch TV.

Told you. Kilalang kilala kami ng anak namin. Hahahahaha!

Matuwa ka pa diyan because she’s planning a surprise party for me at Jollibee.

ANIKA: Nanay, can you invite your friends? I’ll give you a surprise party at Jollibee. Tell them to contact me.

Then last New Year’s Eve, while they were all at the table:

WOWA: Magpaparty ka daw sabi ni Anika sa birthday mo?

ANIKA: Shhhh! It’s a surprise!

ME: Oo surprise yun noh. Hindi ko yun alam. I will tell my friends to contact her.

I have the sweetest daughter talaga.

And so we had dinner at Makati Shangri La.

Dapat sa lobby lang kami kaso parang hindi sulit compared sa buffet.

Buti na lang nagbuffet kami at Circles kasi they have a promo. Php 1,250 na lang per head!

The promo will go until the end of February. Everyday for lunch and dinner, ganyan ang rate except on Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day.

Sarap din ng food.

After we asked for the bill, they gave me a cake =)

Wala na daw kasing table by the window when I was reserving. I told them it was my birthday baka pwede masingit. Nasingit nga nila =) May pa-cake pa!

We got home around 8pm. Tamang tama, not too late kasi Anika has class na the next day.

When we arrived, I filled up our tub with hot water. Lumublob ako dun. Si Anika best in attentiveness. Kinuha niya pa ako ng wine.

Ang sarap mga baks! Good decision talaga to have a tub at home. Ang lakas maka-relax eh. Anika and I played a spelling game while I was relaxing. Anika likes to send us messages kasi. Kaso wrong spelling wrong lagi. I practiced her so that she can spell the words correctly.

After 15 minutes, I rinsed na. Nakakahilo din pala ang lots of wine in the tub. Hahahaha!

We joined Alvin in our living room. He was watching a movie.

While we were there I took a deep breath. This is how I really do want to spend my birthday. I am with Anika and Alvin. Relaxed lang. No stress of making asikaso anything or anybody.

That concluded my birthday. I actually do not have anything to wish for anymore except to have one more child. Ito na ang last year ko talaga of hoping. I’m 38 years old na. Last na ito, if hindi ako mabuntis this year, ayoko na talaga.

ANIKA: Nanay, I will really try hard with God to have a baby brother this year.

ME: How will you do that, anak?

ANIKA: I will sleep in my room na. That’s what Gabo did so he had a baby sister.

Ah ganun ba? =) Sige, i-push natin yan!

Thank you for all your greetings, guys!

Maeko slept over last night here in our house. I didn’t know who was more excited, ako ba or si Anika. Hehe. Buti kasya pa ang mga bagets in one twin bed. They looked so adorable sleeping beside each other.

When I woke up the next morning, wala yung dalawa sa house. I panicked ng slight. And then ayun, pumasok yung dalawa each carrying a glass of taho. Ganda my morning seeing them laughing while sipping their taho.

We went to hear mass in our village church and since it the feast day of Sto. Nino, all the kids were asked to go to the front of the altar to be blessed.

After that, naki-fiesta kami sa Sto. Nino in Paranaque where almost all of Alvin’s relatives live. They ate and had games.

So how am I now.

I’m a bit better. I think my body is getting used to the dosage I am taking now (since the day I stupidly tampered with it). But I do not want to conclude yet until I see my therapist on Wednesday. The panic attacks still come, greater when I wake up and at night. They come at least 5 times during the day. I learned the art of deep breathing when I have these attacks. Five seconds breathing in, holding it for 2 seconds and exhaling for 5 seconds. Nawawala naman ng slight afterwards.

I know I have to stop reading (and believing) everything that is in google but I read about the difference between a panic disorder and an anxiety disorder. I shall ask my therapist about it though to confirm my understanding. Ang intindi ko kasi from what I’ve read is that an anxiety attack happens when may kinakabahan ka talaga na something. Pag panic attack, waley daw. Walang reason at all. That is why feeling ko, panic attacks itey and not anxiety attacks lang. But then again, I’m a licensed Civil Engineer and not a doctor so there is a huge probability that I am wrong.

Mag-antay na nga lang ako ng Wednesday.

Anyway, a lot of you are asking what I do when I have these attacks. Apart from deep breathing, I go straight to the adoration chapel.

I frequent the Adoration chapel in Magallanes. I go there in the morning before heading to the office. Like I said, the anxiety is so great in the morning that mapapaluhod ka talaga while begging God to take it away. Since madalas I’m the only one there, take it away cry talaga ang ginagawa ko. The works mga bakla: tears streaming down with crunched up face with my hands pressed together in prayer. It makes me feel a whole damn lot better afterwards. Ang gaan ng feeling.

It was only late last week when I noticed that there’s a CCTV camera installed in front of the adoration chapel.

Hala. Napapanood yung mga drama moments ko!

Inayos ko na yung iyak ko after nun. Nahiya ako. Lelz.

Anyway, Arnaiz told me to list down 5 things I am thankful for everyday so for today, here are the things I am thankful for.

1. Anika and Alvin have good health.
2. Alvin turning 40 years old and having his relatives and friends over last Saturday to celebrate it. Ang saya niyang tingnan nung Sabado eh. Enjoy talaga siya.
3. The gift of family and close friends, I am indeed lucky I have them in my life.
4. Buti na lang masarap yung food ng chosen caterer ko last Saturday.
5. My blog readers who actually do not know me or haven’t met me yet pero super support talaga with what I am going through now.

I’m planning a get together with my blog readers this quarter. Dun tayo ulit sa Bliss Bowls kasi super sarap and napaka-conducive sa chikahan. Depending on how many would want to join, we’ll do batches. 16 lang kasi ang kaya i-accommodate at a given time.

With that, please do comment below if you are interested to join, ayt? The first batch will most probably happen this February. I’ll make it on a Saturday para weekend =)

Osha, I shall finish na this episode of The Crown. It’s sooooo addicting!

Good night y’all!

For the past few weeks, Anika has been practicing at school because she was one of the chosen pupils to perform at their school’s variety show. Apart from that, all students are practicing also for the annual field demo performance. So yung schedule niya sa school including what they should do and wear daily are pa-iba iba. Pati dismissal time, pa-iba-iba.

Nakakalito ang mundo.

Before I continue, I want you guys to know na I personally check Anika’s school diary entries at home. Tapos ako ang taga mando what her yaya needs to prepare: ano susuotin, dadalhin and kung anong special that she needs to bring. In short, pinagtatanggol ko lang sarili ko na hindi ko naman pinapabayaan anak ko. Hahahahaha!

So anyway, this morning, I brought Anika to school. She was wearing her P.E. uniform, rubber shoes and a small bag that includes her lunch, water and snacks. Yun lang.

When we arrived at school, nagtaka ako kasi ang daming naka-big bag and normal uniform. Sa isip isip ko, “F*ck. Akala ko ba start na ng school fair today?!”.

I checked her diary.

Wednesday lang pala ngayon. Tomorrow pa start ng school fair. So yung outfit and things ni Anika, pambukas pa. Today is just an ordinary school day.

Hindot.

I told Anika this. I told her baka pwedeng her Tatay can bring na lang her uniform and things later.

Ayaw. Umiiyak. She doesn’t want to be different daw.

Osige.

I told her she can go na lang to my office with me and then her Tatay can bring her uniform and big bag to my office then bring her to school.

Ayaw pa din. She doesn’t want to be tardy.

Tardy. It’s been a while since I last heard that term.

I did everything I could to convince her to go to school. Anika said nahihiya daw siya to be different and tardy. I bribed her with more money fair money. Ayaw pa din.

Ang kinaka-stress ko is that they have a general rehearsals today for the variety show tomorrow. Hindi ko na lang sasabihin sa kaniya para ako na lang siguro ang stressed. Magwoworry pa yun.

So eto dinala ko sa office and asked Wowa if she can pick her up. I have an appointment with the psychiatrist later and I don’t want to bring her.

Annoyed ang Wowa. Sira plans niya for today. Hahahaha! Thank you Wowa for picking her up =D

Sabog lang talaga ang peg ko. But I know it’s okay. We are mothers and we are not perfect. That is one of the things I learned when I had these anxiety attacks. Hindi kailangan magpanic when things go wrong. Ano ngayon if hindi siya makapasok today or maka-practice? It’s not the end of the world. Okay lang din to commit mistakes. If one day, isumbat sa akin ni Anika ito, kukutusan ko siya. But I’m pretty sure hindi naman kami dadating sa ganun. Lelz.

Anyway for more positive vibes, I weighed myself last night.

Nagulat ako. Less than 110 lbs na weight ko! Wooohooo!

Maliit akong babae mga, teh. Maliit meaning pandak. My height is 4 feet 11 inches. Kaya pagumabot ako ng 110 lbs. malusog na ako tingnan.

However, hindi ko naman sinasadya magpapayat. I realized having a sound mind and healthy body is more important than being sexy. Eh kaso di ba I’m having a hard time eating last week. Ito na ang effect niyan.

Gusto ko tuloy magsit-ups and planking ngayon na. Nakaka-inspire to be more fit and stronger.

Mamaya magboxing ako. We need endorphins =)

Have a great day everyone!