Bagong DADDY Series - GOLDILOCKS Moment

Ambilis ng panahon.  Isang taon na pala ang nakalipas.   Parang panaginip lang.  Gusto ko tuloy magbalik-tanaw.  Magreminisce.  Mag-emo.

Cue MMK theme song. 

Isang gabi, napansin na lang naming may kakatwang kaganapan sa belly ni Aimee.  Parang ‘di na yata maganda sa paningin.  Parang parak lang sa kantang Laklak.  Naisip ko tuloy, pumupuslit kaya si Aimee gabi-gabi para mag-1 bottle?  Hindi naman siguro.

Health buff naman kami noon.  Nagwo-walking.  Nagdya-jogging.  Kumakandirit.  Nagka-cart-wheel.  Pero parang wa epek yata lately.  Sabagay, minsan kasi, more kanin-more fun ang trip namin.  Mabe-burn din naman.   ‘Yon ang akala namin.

Dahil sa hinihingi ng panahon, inenrol ko si Aimee sa gym.  Pinakarir ang cardio.  Pinababad sa treadmill.  Pinag-crunches.  Pinag-sit-up.  Pinag-push-up.  Dagdagan pa natin ng stationary bike para mas effective.  At habang nagpapahinga, mag-jumping jack muna!  Pero wa epek pa rin. 

‘Yun pala, nandito na ang aming BIDA!

Naku Caleb, andaya mo.  Wala ako nung pinanganak ka.  Ngayon naman, wala kami sa una mong kaarawan.  Puro na lang kami happy thoughts; para makabalik sa Never Neverland.  Lagi na lang kaming nagwi-withdraw sa ating Memory Bank; buti na lang nakapagdeposit kami last July. 

Gustong-gusto sana naming makikanta ng Happy Birthday; one octave higher.  Tignan ka habang bino-blow mo ang iyong 1^st ever candle.  Makitikim sa iyong 1^st ever birthday cake.  Magbukas ng regalo galing sa sa mga nagmamahal sa’yo.  Tingnan lang ang reaksyon mo. 

Anak pasensya ka na, I can no longer prolong the agony.  At ayoko na magsenti.  Kaya naman tatapusin ko na agad ito. 

Basta tandaan mo, CALEB RICH:

MASAYA ang aming MUNDO, ngayong IKAW ay NARITO.

We WISH you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Thanks Nina.  Thanks Goldilocks.   

Bagong DADDY Series - BUNDLE of JOY (Part 1)

Eto lang katapusan ng June, nabiyayaan kami ng short vacation to Pinas.  Pero ang na-approve lang, sampung araw.  Hindi 11, hindi 12 o 23.  Sampung araw lang.

Kaya umisip kami ng paraan.  Baka sakaling mapahaba. 

Binuo namin ang plano:

Magkisaykisayan sa harap ni Boss habang bumubula ang bibig; pasakan ng kutsara ang bibig para hindi maputol ang dila; lumuha ng hindi bababa sa dalawang balde for added effects; at para 100% ang audience impact, biglang hihimatayin, at habang bumabagsak, kailangang ipihit ang katawan sa puwesto kung saan sumisikat ang araw. 

Ang resulta:

Wala.  Kasi hindi naman namin ginawa yon.  Hindi rin naman kami miyembro ng Cirque du Soleil.  At hindi kami si Jose Rizal.  Basta kinausap lang namin si Boss.  Hindi pumayag.  E di okay fine.  Salamat Boss.

Paglapag ng eroplano.  Pagtapos tangkain ng isang airport employee na huthutan kami dahil sa dala naming flat-screen TV (na pinakidala ng isang butihing katrabaho).  Dali-dali naming binuksan ang oto para isakay ang aming mga bagahe.  Nagulat kami.  Kala namin wala sya.  Pero ayun ang Bida… ang aming Bundle of Joy!

Dati hindi ko talaga maintindihan kung bakit ganon ang tawag.  Bakit hindi na lang Load of Surprises?  O kaya, Source of Happiness?  Bundle of Joy.  Parang nanalo lang ng isang bugkos ng panlinis ng plato.  Tapos si Michael V ang mag-aabot sa’yo.    

Then it dawned on me (Teka.  Bawal nga pala umingles.  Baka mabasa ng mga katrabaho kong ibang lahi.  Naks sikat.  Asa.  Haha).

Kaya pala Bundle of Joy. 

Kalipunan pala ito ng kuntil-butil na mga aktibidades ng isang bagets na kung gagawin ng isang matanda ay OA.  Mga simpleng bagay na magpapangiti sa’yo ng walang halong effort o kaplastikan.  Tapos, mapupunta ka na lang sa isang mundo na kayong dalawa lang ang nagkakaintindihan.  Mundong masaya.  Makulay.  At kumukutikutitap.

1. PagCHURVA – Di ba kung matanda ang gagawa nito at ikaw mismo ang makakasaksi, ewan ko na lang kung ano ang gagawin mo.  Pero sa isang bagets, mabuting tignan ang bawat churvang mangagaling sa kanya.  Bakit?  Para malaman mo kung natunaw nya bang mabuti ang kinain nya. 

E ano namang masaya don?  Syempre masaya kang malaman na maganda ang panunaw ng anak mo. 

E bakit makulay?  Dahil makikita mo ang carrots, spinach, kamote, etc. after full digestion.  Di ba, colorful?

Kumukutikutitap?  Depende yan sa churva ni baby.  Kung mamasa-masa o matigas.  Kung buo o durog.  Depende rin yan sa tangent of X and the angle of reflection of light multiplied by pi (3.1416), all over the variable, Y raised to the 3^rd power.  Haha.  Wala lang,  Paki mo ba.  Blog ko to!  

  

      

2. PagWEEWEE – Sa isa sa aming mga lakwatsa, and it was Mommy Aimee’s turn to drive.  Ako ang naatasan kay Caleb.  Hindi kasi namin pinapamihasang magdiaper si Caleb kaya as much as possible e nakalampin lang sya. 

Weewee No. 1.  Dahil nga sa kababanggit na dahilan at dahil mahirap magpalit ng lampin sa oto, hinayaan na lang naming nakabuyangyang ang My Precious ni Caleb.  Para mahanginan din, at hindi makulob, ang mga itlog pati ang tuka nya. 

Tapos, Weewee No.2.  Weewee No.3.  Weewee No. 4.  Walang katapusang Weewee.  Okay, exag.  Ano yon, amniotic fluid?  Ang totoo hanggang Weewee No.5 lang sya.  Pero imagine basang-basa ako sa loob ng 2 and ½ hours?  Noon ko na naalala si Rosanna Roces sa pelikulang Basa sa Dagat!  Napakanta rin ako ng Aegis.  Di pala maganda ang feeling ng basa.  Kahit sa dagat o sa ulan man. 

O bakit na naman masaya?  Dahil masayang malaman na nagpa-function ng mabuti ang excretory system ng anak mo. 

E bakit kumukutikutitap?  Pwede sauluhin na lang ang formula don sa No.1?  Paulit-ulit.         

3. Pag-UTOT – Alam nyo bang isa sa mga dahilan ng sudden death ng mga sanggol e dahil sa kabag?  Kaya importanteng umuutot ng maayos si baby.  In fact, pag umuutot si Caleb namin, sinasabihan pa namin sya ng VERY GOOD with matching palakpak.  Naisip nga namin na kung next time at mas magiging mabaho o malakas ang utot nya, dapat na sigurong bigyan sya ng EXCELLENT o OUTSTANDING marks.

E pano naman kung matanda ang umutot?  Di ba tataas na lang ang presyon natin at pilit tutuklasin kung kanino ba nanggaling ang impit but deadly utot?  Tapos pag nahuli na, at may proof of purchase pa (dahil hindi lang ito basta utot, kundi isang UST case --- Utot Sabay Tsurva), deny to death pa rin ang suspect.  Dahil magkamatayan na, siguradong walang aamin.  Hindi sya, hindi ako.  Dahil isang malaking eiwww ang mahuling umutot! 

Bagong DADDY Series - Ang PAGTATAGPO

Tagal ko nang gustong magblog.  Simula pa nung nasa Pinas hanggang sa pagbalik dito.  Parang wala lang time.  Dami kong naiisip.  Hindi ko lang ma-organize. 

Dami pa rin kasing ginagawang pending jobs.  Mga utos na dapat i-prioritize.  Nag-aaclimatize.  Adjust sa lahat ng gawaing pang-OFW.  Pati na sa oras ng tulog.  Upload ng photos nung bakasyon na hanggang ngayon, di pa tapos.  Sumasakit pa ngipin ko.  Hindi kasi nakapagpa-dentist before kami bumalik.  Inuubo kasi ko.  Tuloy, lalong sumakit ang ngipin ko nung malaman ko kung magkano ang pasta dito --- tumataginting na P4,000, wapak!

Eto na nga nung huling bakasyon namin, first time nga kasi naming magkikita ni Caleb:

Sa eroplano pa lang iniisip ko na, ano kaya ang feeling?  Maiiyak kaya ako?  Sasama kaya sya sa akin?  Kailangan ko pa kayang magShowtime para lang magpapansin sa kanya?  Sya ang judge, ako ang contestant.  Havey ba ako, or Waley?  Kailangan ko pa kayang magbigay ng SAMPLE, SAMPLE? 

Pero lahat ng agam-agam ay nabigyan ng linaw.  Eto na talaga ang moment of truth.  Eto na yung judge's decision.  Bakasyon ba itong luhaan o uwing puno ng ligaya? 

Salamat sa Diyos. Hindi ko na kinailangang tumambling para lang mapansin.  O magcostume ng ala-Boyoyong.  Konting ngiti, onteng pungay ng mga mata, sandaling tawag sa pangalan nya, sumama na agad sya.  Walang fanfare or arte or iyak or pagdadalawang-isip.  Basta sumama sya sa akin.  Ganon lang kasimple.  Hindi tulad ng sa pelikula.  Walang sappy music.  Walang zoom-in ng camera.  Alam nya siguro --- AKO ang kanyang AMA, SIYA ang aking ANAK.  Period.

Ganon pala yon.  Masayang hindi mo maipaliwanag.  Isang milagrong nabigyan ng patotoo.  Ayan na sya.  Hindi na 'to picture o video sa FB or Multiply.  Lahat na, totoo.  Walang delayed reactions.  Walang buffering.  Walang take-two or three or four.  Lahat animated.  Lahat makulay.  Ang sarap nyang panoorin.  Walang inhibitions.  Just pure soul.

Ngayon, hindi ko alam kung paano ko ba tatapusin itong blog ko.  Marami pa kasing emotions ang gusto kong i-share.  Gusto ko sanang maging mas explicit pa sa pagke-kwento.  Kaso indescribable nga.  Mahirap ma-explain.  Basta ang alam ko lang, sobrang saya.  Saya'ng di talaga maipaliwanag.  MASAYA na finally nakaharap, nakalaro, naalagaan namin SIYA --- kahit mahigit-kumulang isang buwan lang.  At MASAYA, na lahat ng pagtitiis namin sa ngayon, e para sa magandang kinabukasan NIYA.

Ang saya, saya! 

Bagong DADDY Series - PUBLIC or PRIVATE? (Part 1)

From Google

Isa pa sa mga iniisip ko sa ngayon:

Saan ba dapat pag-aralin ang aming bagets --- sa Public School ba or sa Private School?

Nung kinder ako hanggang elementary, pinag-aral ako ng magulang ko sa Hen. Pio del Pilar Elementary School sa Makati. 

Isang public school. 

Hindi ko alam kung nagtitipid lang ba sila o dahil malapit lang ang school na yon sa amin.  Walking distance lang kasi.  Yung tipong ilang tumbling lang e andon na ko sa iskul at pwede na kong magtaas ng kamay sabay sabing "Ma'am, present!"

Maganda ang iskul namin.  Modern, kahit circa 80s pa yon.  Kumpleto sa facilities dahil alaga ng Makati government. 

Meron pa nga kaming canteen na pwedeng sumayd-line ng paghuhugas ng plato para sa extra money (Ngayon nga e napapangiti ako dahil sa mura ko palang edad e rumaraket na ko para may extra baon.  E anong edad ko lang nyon, 8 or 9, di ko na matandaan).

May napakahabang library, complete with auditorium.  Magandang stage para sa flag ceremony at kalisteniks.  Garden para sa tanim-tanim lessons, shop para sa wood-working.  Clinic at guidance office.  Meron pa nga kaming music and arts room na kumpleto ng mga etnik instruments.  Tapos, we had the whole ground floor for PE.  (Ngayon I heard e meron na ring gym.  Built on top of the library.)

Tapos nung Grade 4 ako, nagtransfer naman kami sa Iloilo kaya lumipat din ako ng iskul.  As usual, mga sampung kandirit lang e andon na ko sa Balasan Elementary School. 

At as usual, sa public school ulit ako nag-aral.  (Mukha ngang nagtipid ang mga magulang ko haha). 
Pero hindi rin kami nagtagal don kaya after 6 months e balik Makati kami.

Maganda ang turo sa amin.  Kaya nga nung magha-hiskul ako e umepal ako sa magulang ko at sinabing mag-aaral ako sa Pamantasan ng Makati. 

Isa namang public high school.

At dahil umepal ako e ako na lahat nag-ayos ng mga requirements:  Brgy. Certificates, GMC certificate, Form 138 (Report Card) at Form 137 (Transcript of Records).  Hindi naman naging mahirap ayusin lahat ng mga requirements kasi kasabay ko naman ang iba kong classmates and friends. 

Nung kumpleto na kami sa requirements, punta na agad kami sa PnM para naman makapagpa-sched ng exams.

Eto pa ang siste:  lahat naman ng makakapasa sa entrance exam will be admitted.  Pero para sa Top 100 examinees, may chance na mapabilang ka either sa Pilot Class (Section A) or Section B.  Pero dadaan muna kayo sa next stage!

Ang next stage:  interview with matching talent portion! 

Di ko na maalala kung ano ang mga tinanong sa akin.  Basta ang naaalala ko, umawit ako sa talent portion habang yung isang ini-interview e sumasayaw naman.  Tapos yung isa, nagdo-drawing naman ng puno.  
At muli, kung isa ka sa mga mapalad na pumasa sa interview portion, duguan ka naman sa pinakahuling stage --- ang Final Exam!

To cut the mahabang story short, pumasa naman ako sa lahat ng pagsubok at nakapasok ako sa Pilot Class.
At opo, pumasa din ang mananayaw pati ang drawer :)

Bagong DADDY Series - To ENGLISH or NOT to ENGLISH

Tanong ko lang naman: 

"Dapat ba o hindi dapat gamitin ang English bilang mode of communication sa pagpapalaki ng bagets?"

Sa Pinas, at lalo na dito sa UAE, halos lahat ng mga bagets na nakakasalamuha ko e puro ume-English.  Minsan nga nagugulat na lang ako dahil duguan na pala ako nang hindi ko nalalaman.  Minsan naman, bigla na lang akong maduduwal 'pag pinilit kong makipag-usap sa kanila.  O kaya, sasakit na lang ang ulo ko tapos hihimatayin na lang ako bigla.

Naiisip ko lang naman. 

Paano kung dumating ang pagkakataong kailangan kong turuan ng leksyon ang anak ko?  Parang ang hirap naman magsermon sa English!  Tapos iisipin ko pa kung tama ba ang grammar ko.  O dapat bang may accent o twang ang sermon ko? 

Tapos syempre sasagutin nya ko in English, e sa sobrang silakbo ng aking damdamin, maaring hindi ko na ma-explain ang point ko, baka mabulol-bulol  pa ko ngayon.  So ano ang gagawin ko?  Siguro ang sasabihin ko na lang, "GO TO YOUR ROOM."  Pero ang 'di alam ng anak ko, matagal ko nang inaral ang ganitong sitwasyon, hehe.

Tapos sa Pinas pa, 'pag spokening English ang anak mo, ang connotation agad --- wow batang bibo, wow anak-mayaman, wow laking-abroad!  Parang may 100% audience impact agad ang anak mo 'pag natsa-challenge silang kausapin sya. 

E syempre ang kinakausap naman ng anak mo, hindi papatalo.  Gagamit pa sila ng mga malalalim na salita tulad ng actually, basically, o sa matindihang usapan, gagamit sila ng pamatay na -- consequently (na may kasamang raised eyebrows for added effect). 

Eto ba ang gusto ko?

Sa palagay ko, hindi naman masamang turuan ang bagets ng English o maging magaling s'ya sa English.  O kahit very deep English pa.

Ang sisiguraduhin ko lang siguro e maging bihasa din s'ya sa Tagalog (at konteng French, aba naman).  Ang pangit naman kasi na Pinoy s'ya tapos puro twang lang ang alam.  

Sa palagay ko rin, wala sa English ang success ng isang bagets.  Ang mahalaga lang siguro ay marunong s'yang makipagcommunicate at kakayanin nyang makipagsabayan ma-Tagalog man or English.

Ewan ko sa inyo pero si Caleb namin, tuturuan ko ng English, Tagalog at French hehe :)

Huling tanong --- magagaling bang mag-English ang mga superpowers sa Asia tulad ng China, Japan at Korea?

A Night of Testimonies

**  A transcript of Aimee's first ever testimony last December 4 held at The Evangelical Church.  I was so blessed to see my wife summoning up all her courage just to share God's goodness in our family infront of everybody.  Love you Be and I am so proud of you! **

Last night when Ate Grace Bondoc asked me if I could deliver a testimony, I was at first hesitant.  It's because I have always thought that testimonies should be something grand.  You know, the usual testimonies where you prayed so hard that a miraculous intervention and an answered prayer happened afterwards.  Or a testimony about a problem so big that you thought you can never get through...  But out of His goodness, it all amazingly disappeared!

I never had those (and I sure hope that I'll never will).  What I want to share with you tonight are the simple wonders that I am experiencing right now as a maturing christian, a new mother and a wife. 

As you see, if God is able to answer mountain-like problems or solve mission impossible circumstances, how much more will He respond to simple day-to-day prayers?  Let me share with you one by one.

PRAYING FOR OUR SON, CALEB RICH - If you happened to be my husband's Facebook friend, you might have noticed a short declaration of faith on the sidebar.  To non-believers it may appear as arrogance; or to some a mere stint of positive thinking.  But no, it is not.  It is believing that prior to our son's emergence in this world, everything has been pre-planned for him.  That even at the time when he was still inside my womb, the Lord had already blessed him!  It is not arrogance or positive thinking --- it is making sure that our confessions and our desires are in line with God's promises in us.  It is believing that God is more capable of raising up our kid according to His will.  So thank you Lord for our kid --- at 3 months old, he is now able to navigate and walk around through his walker!

PRAYING FOR OUR OWN HOME - It is our desire to be back in the Philippines as soon as possible.  That is why it is our constant prayer that the Lord will grant us our own home.  We thought it was impossible to have a home within Metro Manila --- where asset prices are all shooting up.  We thought we would be like other newly-weds --- where buying a condo unit is the best and only option.  But no, God had not wanted us to live in a 'box.'  God wanted us to have a home with a clean title, strategically-located & on a prime location, with an abundance of sun, wind & water, and will be fully paid by this month!  We thought it was impossible, but to God, everything is possible!

I also would like to thank the Lord for our familes --- who had always been supportive.  I thank the Lord for our CG, EN, JCHGM and friends --- who always lift us up in trying times through their encouragement.  And I thank you Lord for I have a job --- because having one makes me bless others as well.

And last but not the least, I thank the Lord for my husband --- for his loving leadership taught me to constantly walk with the Lord.  He is an extraordinary husband whom I can share any physical, emotional, financial or spiritual matters and would always open my mind and inspire me to new and exciting options.  

To everybody tonight, let me share with you a Proverb:  'Death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat its fruit."

Let us all be careful on what we confess.  Allow God and always believe that God will fulfill His promises in us.  Also, please remember that the Lord has given all of us our own Garden of Eden.  So it is really up to us on how we will make our garden prosper and produce a good harvest.

PRAISE BE TO GOD!

Aimeeee, YEY!

7,776,000 seconds ---  that's how long I've been waiting (and still waiting) till my loving wife comes back from maternity leave! 

A painstaking 129,600 minutes of going through work and living in the absence of my wife.  Each minute ticking away like a snail pacing a large stadium.

2,160 hours of staying sane, unmindful of the fact that I am alone and oftentimes making my self numb to the point of ignoring my emotions.

3 months of easy-to-cook meals (fried, microwave, freebies, take-outs or eat-ins, init-init food).

A quarter of a year that felt like ETERNITY!

But hey, my time of agony is soon coming to a halt --- Aimee is coming, YEY :)  And this is actually the last week of waiting.  Come Thursday, at 1300H Abu Dhabi time, my wife is back again! 

Oh Be, I so terribly, overly, exaggeratingly miss you so, so, so much, hehe!

So in preparation, it also means that I still have time to do the following while I still have time to spare:

1.  Major, Major Clean-up - Don't get me wrong.  I do a weekly tidying up routine.  You know the usual basang-basahan, punas-punas-the-alikabok thing, walis-walis the alikabok after punas-punas, throwing away the garbage accumulated within the week, etc.  But of course this week will be a double, make it triple, clean up project! 

2.  A Full Fridge - Need to find time to buy food and stock up.  I miss my wife's cooking and I know she misses cooking for her hubby too!  I am so glad that I will get to savour different viands soon.  (A far cry from pritong itlog, pritong hotdog, pritong maling or tocino everyday!)

3.  Running shoes, you will be running again! - we were not able to even jog when she got pregnant (of course), so we plan to exercise again (and it is an approximately 9+3 months of just munching and loading up fats down our waist). 

4.  Clothes Inventory - need to fold-up and tuck-away (for now, **wink**) those maternity dresses that she left in our cabinet.  I also have this nasty habit of pulling clothes from beneath, leaving the ones on top dangling.  Kailangan ayusin baka mapalo hehe :D

5.  and a SURPRISE!

Aimee, my Be, I honor you for being so strong all throughout our journey.  Having us apart made me realize that --- I might have done something good, to deserve someone so great as YOU!

I love you Be :)

Dear CALEB

Hey it's Daddy --- and this is my first letter to my Son . 

How are you Caleb?  If you are reading this post, it means that you are a grown up now (and my Multiply site is still around  ) and I know that you are very happy while reading this. 

How is it going so far, Son?  How's your jorney?  Let me tell you Caleb, you are up for more --- a lot of learning experiences ahead, important decisions to make and a lifetime to enjoy!  Sounds fun Son?  We hope so.

Caleb, we really can't wait to witness the fulfillment of God's promises to you.  You are bound for greatness!  You are going to surpass whatever Mommy and Daddy had accomplished; but you will stay humble as you know that your strength is from the Lord.  Just continue to learn more about God for He is your refuge.   

Do not be afraid Son for we are with you every step of the way.  We will guide you and teach you like when you were still little.  And if you ever make mistakes, just stand up again.  Life is about making mistakes (that you don't really mean to commit -- hope we're clear!) and having to learn from it. 

Love your family.  You are so blessed to have one.  Be polite and courteous to Mommy and Daddy, Lolo and Lola, Aunts and Uncle.  They all have a story to tell.  Emulate their wisdom and understand their stories.  They are well experienced so remember all the lessons of their conquests.  Savour each moment with them.  There will come a time that you may need to leave us to be with your own family.  But I guess, discussing about having your own family is too premature, hehe  .  Just the same, I want you to know that.  And if Naomi Aim is finally with us, love your sister the way we loved you. 

If you are a student, be a student!  Learn.  Be the best student that you can be.  Never get tired of doing everything on your own (that includes the projects!).  And if you need help, Mommy and Daddy will hep you.  But you have to finish your project on your own .  Lessen your gimmicks (I know it is inevitable).  Know your limitations and never succumb to peer pressure.  You are unique and God gave you a free will.  Never do something because everybody does it.  Life is about knowing what you want and doing it without hurting people around you.  Never rush to have a girlfriend.  The Lord has provided one for you, your future wife, when you were still in Mommy's tummy.  So trust God the way we trusted Him.   

Lastly Son, I suggest that you enjoy your youth.  It only comes once in your life so don't waste it bumming around.  Travel a lot!  Learn how beautiful the earth is and enjoy God's creations.  Mingle with people and learn about  different cultures.  Capture all those great moments through photography.  Learn music and play all the musical instruments that you like.  Music is the food of the soul.  Along with singing, it is a great way to vent.  Learn how to swim.  Then after swimming, try surfing.  Be 'stoked.'  I only learned about it lately and until now, I still reminisce of how challenging it is to merely stand on the board.  Really a fun time.  Be sporty. 

So Caleb, just always remember that Mommy and Daddy loves you very much!  Just promise us that you will be a good boy --- for that is all we are after Son! 

Change is INEVITABLE - The Follow Through

At long last, a new CRIB!

The last few days had been tiring but equally relaxing.  You know, the rigor of transferring stuff from point A to point B in the absence of your own car and painstakingly enduring to carry as much stuff as possible. Times when you defile your anatomy and dictated it to function from which it was not made to perform.  I could even recall when we were out there waiting for a cab in the blazing Ramadan sun while hanging on to our stuff; unmindful even if it is heavy as seeking for some brief comfort would mean disaster when the cab finally arives and you have to haul everything in the back compartment in a snap.  Then getting it all back from the cab and carrying it to the 14th floor.  

All hail Elisha Otis and his brilliant invention of the elevator!  

But somehow, the pain, all the body aches, the profusing sweat and perspiration would vanish as soon as we enter our crib.  There is a feeling of zen.  It is as if we are on an unimaginable place where we could be ourselves or just be sluggish or cut a lot of slack or just be in awe of how it was a total opposite of our former place.  The air seemed so clean, the airconditioning system is just right, no crawling insects, no frequenting humans (just our saloon co-occupants whom we merely interact with; they may also had been in hibernation, just enjoying the saloon as we are doing), the comfort room and the kitchen are well-maintained (though at night the kitchen gets crowded, still we find joy in our little space, just minding the taste of what we are cooking), and just enjoying our time together, cleaning, arranging our room, moving a handful of furniture, decorating our room, buying stuff for our room, eating inside our room --- on the table that we bought together.  It was just so amazing that something we have desired for so long was given to us in so many wonderful ways.  Thank you Lord as You have always been good to us!   

I know this is just the beginning of our renewed journey but I believe that we are destined to more days, weeks, months and years of blissful togetherness.  Me and my Be together :)

Rise of the TIGER

First Meeting of all Managers and Supervisors with the GM.  The PANAs --- on with their usual "pasiklaban" acts.  The NOYPIs --- listening intently, not mindful of them. 

Then came a comment from the GM in front of all the listening crowd.  "He is like a TIGER.  Doing his job, making follow-ups and he had just recenly made an excellent observation about our website.  My hat's off to you!" 

Countless remarks suddenly poured in --- very good observation, that was very good, congratulations! 

He even received an e-mail with this photo:

   "Well done Mr. Tiger.  Keep it up!" --- from the Production Manager

The gentleman that he is, he replied:  " Apparently, the Tiger has a very good trainer --- my boss."

He doesn't want to keep all the glory to himself.  Kahit na alam nyang walang pakialam ang boss nya sa kanya.  Ang mahalaga, alam na nang GM ang kapasidad nya at kung ano ang kaya nyang gawin!

Mabuhay ang mga NOYPIs sa UAE!

**** thank YOU for letting my light shine in my workplace :D   to YOU be the Glory!!!  ***

Day 20 - ASAN ka na??

300 USD --- not bad (as in NOT BAD!) for delaying your flight and have it re-scheduled the next day.  How did it happen this time?  And why does it always happen on you?  Almost 15000, you are truly blessed!

So pano, libre mo ko ha :D  Nagluto pa naman ako ng Lechon Paksiw at madaming kanin.  Akala ko kasi dating ka ngayon.  Ending, napanis ang kanin, haaay!

Hmmm, maya konti andito ka na.  Ang weird lang kasi hindi man lang kita masundo.  Hindi ko nga alam kung natuloy ba talaga flight mo this time or meron na namang irresistible offer :D

Marami tayong activities tomorrow but I'm not sure if you'd rather stay home and rest.    Birthday kasi ni aphz, mag-night-swimming daw mga Singles.  Pero dapat magsimba muna tayo before anything else ha.

Welcome BACK Aimee!

Day 15 - A LOVE Letter

AIMEE,

Nakita ko iyong mga litrato mo, ang saya-saya mo.  Ngayon lang kita nakitang ganyan kasaya!  Parang mas masaya ka pa nga dyan kaysa noong kasama mo ko dito, hehe :D 

Kunsabagay, iba naman kasi talaga kapag kasama ang pamilya.  Walang pagsidlan ang kaligayahan.  Nag-iiwan ito ng pitak sa ating alaala at habambuhay nang nakatimo sa ating puso at isipan.  (Parang ang korni ano, pagbigyan mo na lang ha at lulubusin ko pa.)  Ito rin ang nakakapagpaalala kung gaano tayo kamahal ng Diyos --- dahil biniyayaan Niya tayo ng pamilyang mapag-aruga at pamilyang laging nakasuporta sa ano mang desisyon natin sa buhay.  Hindi ba't sobra-sobrang biyaya na ito?

Ang ganda ng mga kuha nyo sa Sagada.  Kitang kita ko na talagang nag-enjoy kayo.  Na kahit pagod na sa kakalakad ay walang kapaguran pa rin sa pag-Jumpshot.  Kaka-adik tumalon ano?  Kasi kapag tumalon kayo, parang iyon na 'yong kabuuan ng iyong nadarama.  Maligaya, masaya, pagod, 'di mapakali.  Basta, hindi maipaliwanag.  Kaya nga't daanin na lang sa pagtalon.

Binabati ko nga pala kayo sa pagtapos nyo ng Cave Connection.  Alam ko namang kaya nyo 'yon.  Walang pagdududa.  Kaso nga lang, bakit parang wala kayong masyadong litrato sa loob.  Sayang naman kung ganoon, kasi maganda ang mga rock formations sa loob.  Maganda sanang alaala.  Na minsan, kinalimutan nyo ang lahat ng inhibisyon at kaartehan sa buhay, para lamang makalabas sa kabilang bunganga ng kuweba!

Nakita ko rin 'yung litrato mo sa bahay kubo natin sa Batangas.  Ang saya ninyo doon.  Parang bayanihan ang dating.  At ang sipag mo ha.  Kunsabagay, paborito mo talaga ang maglinis.  Sana ganoon rin tayo kapag tayong dalawa naman ang magtatayo ng sarili nating bahay.  Kaso paano iyon?  Hindi ba't condo ang gusto natin?  A, ako lang pala ang may gusto.  Basta, pag-usapan na lang natin ulit pagbalik mo. 

Nakipaglaro ka rin pala kay Chloei.  Mabait siya ano?  Kaso isa lang talaga ang alam niyang laro --- ngatngatan :D  Pero may mga bago syang tricks na alam hindi ba?  Hay, ang laki na niya.  Sana kilala niya pa rin ako pagbalik ko.

Sina Nanay at Tatay, kumusta pala?  Siguradong tuwang-tuwa sila na bumalik muli ang kanilang pinakamamahal na anak.  Sigurado ring babawi ka sa mga luto ni Tatay.  Kahit ako rin naaalala ko rin mga luto ni Tatay.  Masarap kasi talaga, na parang may ibang linamanam.  Sigurado ring andaming kwento ni Nanay sa iyo.  Atlis ngayon, pwede nya nang antayin ang sagot mo :D

Si Ataleng?  Ang galing! Tapos na kayong lahat.  Ang sarap nga pakiramdam ano.  Ganyan din ang nadama ko noong nakatapos si Giliw.  Ika nga, "Proud na Proud."  O, sabihin mo sa kanya na hinay-hinay lang ha.  Huwag magmadali.  Dahil mayroon talaga Siyang magandang plano para sa kanya.

Naku malapit ka na ulit bumalik dito.  Eksaktong isang linggo na lang.  Dapat ay baunin mo lahat ng magagandang alala ng iyong bakasyon dyan.  Halos isang taon ka muling lilisan para tuparin ang mga pangarap mo sa buhay.  Maghanda ka na ha.  Kasi pagbalik mo dito ay sasabak ka na naman sa walang humpay na trabaho.  Stress.  Mga ka-Pana-an.  Bawal magsick-leave.  Kailangan magstay-back.  Laba.  Luto.  Grocery.  Paulit-ulit.  Parang sirang plaka.

Pero huwag ka mag-alala, nandito naman ako.  Katulong mo ako sa kahit anong bagay na bumabagabag sa iyo.  Sabihin mo lang sa akin.  Basta't kaya ko ay gagawin ko.  Kung hindi ko naman kaya ay kakayanin pa rin.  Para sa iyo.  Para sa atin.

Salamat po.  Pakiramdam ko, mas lalo akong naging mabuting tao dahil sa iyo.  Wala nang iwanan ha.  At kahit pa sa susunod na bakasyon, kailangan, magkasama na tayo!

Lubos na nanabik sa iyo at hanap-hanap ka, McRICH

P.S. (Pahabol Sinta) ... pagkakataon ko nang bumawi, haha, huwag kalimutan ang aking mga padala pagbalik mo dito.  I-email ko na sina Ma para sa mga kailangan ko, hehe :D

  

Day 4 - Cravings

Sobrang nagcrave ako kanina sa Butterfly Prawn sandwich (see photo.  Di ba mukhang masarap talaga?) pagkatapos maggym.  Kaso wala akong dalang pera.  So ang ginawa ko, hindi na ko nahiya sa gym buddy kong mangutang.  E kaso ala rin pala syang dalang pera.  Kaya ayun, minabuti ko na lang umuwi.

Kailangan ko ng madaliang luto kaya nanghiram din ako ng 2 itlog sa ka-room ko.  Define katamaran??  haha :D  Kakatamad kasi na umalis ulit para lang sa itlog.  E gutom na gutom na talaga ko!

Since meron pa ring natirang Corned Beef (hephep, nakapagluto na ko ng nilaga kaya it doesn't mean na ulam ko yung Corned Beef hanggang kanina!), sinangag ko na lang ang tirang kanin at nagluto ng dalawang sunny side up na itlog with matching spicy bagoong bilang sawsawan.  Ayos naman at nabusog din. 

Pero pagkatapos e nagcrave naman ako sa Doritos!  Haaay, grabe na talaga 'tong cravings ko.  Marahil siguro sa pagbubuhat.  Pero ang galing! Kasi yung isang ka-flat namin e may Doritos pala :D  E nabanggit ko sa kanya.  Ayun, binigyan ako.  Ayos!

Salamat Lord sa buong araw sa buhay ko! 

Bukas ulit :D

Time Check:  11:10pm

Day 2 - Corned Beef Sarap

Wala namang masyadong ginawa sa office.  Tinapos ko lang mga pending reports.  Nag-email-email.  Nag-follow-up ng mga pending concerns sa different departments.  Umikot sa planta.  Nakipagkwentuhan sa ibang mga pinoy (na minsan ay wala na talagang mapag-kwentuhan).  Nagpakitang-gilas sa pagpu-push up (Trivia:  Kahit pala malalaking tao ang mga Pakistani e hindi nila kayang magpush up!) dahil kala nila e di ako marunong magpush up tulad ng mga Pakistani.  Ayaw paawat ng isang Nepali at nagpakita pa ng ibang kahindik-hindik na moves.  Sabi ko nga sa kanya e baka nagtrabaho sya dati sa Circus.  Tawa naman sya.

Ikot ulit sa planta.  Biglang may isang Supervisor na nagsumbong na may isang sub-contractor na hindi sumusunod sa mga patakaran sa Health and Safety.  Syempre punta agad ako para mag-imbestiga.  Pinilit kong pigilan ang operasyon ngunit na-overrule naman ng Manager ko.  So pinabayaan ko na lang sya.  Dahil mukhang okay lang naman sa kanya ang mga pangyayari.  Anyway e malapit ng mag-uwian at andon naman sya kaya umalis na lang ako para magprepare sa pag-uwi.

Pagdating sa accommodation e pahinga lang sandali.  True to my calling ng pagiging Kuracho, e naligo ulit ako pagkatapos magpahinga para sa Prayer gathering namin by 8pm.  Kumain na lang ulit ako ng biscuit para pantawid gutom.

Bandang 9:30 e nakauwi na ulit.  Nagmadaling magluto ng aking pamatay na corned beef :D dahil hindi pa nga ako nagdi-dinner.  Linagyan ko lang ng patatas, aside from the usual panggisa ingredients, at ayos na!  Mabuti na itong dinner at pambaon the next day.

Time Check ngayon e 11:26pm.  Handa na akong matulog.  Ano na kayang ginagawa nina Aimee, Ataleng at Leng papuntang Sagada?  Malamang natutulog.  Mahaba kasi talaga ang biyahe papunta don bukod sa nakakapagod talaga.  Pero ang alam ko, kakayanin naman nila ang Cave Connection Adventure!

Hmmmm, antok na ko. Zzzzzzzzz....

Day 1 - Call me KURACHO

Woke up around 9am.  Prepared the washing machine.  Got all the the dirty clothes.  Spinned the first batch.  Then when I was about to go on with the next, the spin dial seemed to have lost contact within.  Darn.  I ended up manually washing my clothes!  And there were lots of it :(

I did my best to finish by 1pm.  Ate 2 M&S cookies and drank a glass of water just to suppress my hunger (as I no longer have time to cook).  I have to be in church by 2.  So after resting for about 30 minutes, I hurriedly took a bath and dressed up.  I don't want to miss the P&W!

Then came the message about PRAYER.  Simply put, prayer affirms what is written in His Word; so we have to believe and claim His promises in us.  The ABC's of prayer :D

After church, Jane and I went to Cebu Restaurant as she wanted to treat me out.  Talk about answered prayers :D She had just gotten back from Oman (from where she waited her employment visa) and she wanted us to eat as a welcome treat.  She was so happy and relieved that she's back.  We talked about stranded Filipinoes there.  The hopeless case of some.  The hopefuls who are still awaiting a spark of miracle so that they could come back here.  I know how she felt.  I experienced it too.

We departed around 5pm.  I went home to rest.  Ate 1 biscuit for some sugar-rush.  Had to prepare because I'm meeting up with my small group friends.  (Last small group session, we agreed to burn up some fats, sweat a bit and exercise!)  Jeff, Apz and Jim made it.  I did not know what happened with Arbee.  Before I left church, he told me he would come.  Same goes with Martin.  Anyway, I was so glad that I was able to pump up some muscles again after two weeks of no exercise at all!  I took time to teach Jeff some routines while Jim had Apz.  We finished around 9.

Right after gym, I headed straight to the supermarket.  I no longer have rice to cook.  I was so hungry I could eat an elephant!  (Now, I'm exaggerating :D)

Got home, rested again.  Went to the kitchen and cooked rice.  Good thing I still have some eggs for a quick meal.  Then my roomates gave me a pininyahan drumstick.  Maybe they took pity on me after seeing me eating omelet, haha.

Then around 11:10pm, I looked for my sling bag.  Wait.  I left it in the resto!  Huwaaah :(  Hope it is still there.  Good thing the resto was just like some 5 minutes walk from our villa. 

The wind was so chilly.  Freak weather it is.  Just some days ago, it was beginning to get hot.  Then now, my whole body was literally shaking as I walked.  As I approached the resto, I prayed a little to God.  Hope it's still there.  And then --- lo and behold, my precious sling bag!

Time Check:  11:55pm

Call me KURACHO...  Ang Lalaking Walang Pahinga!