Like father, like son?

Advance happy father’s day, Joel! And happy birthday, too!

Of all the things you’ve given me, the best one yet is the little boy who looks so much like you.

Thank you!!

Pet peeve

Ok, before anything else, I am all for blogging. I understand and fully support the idea that it represents freedom of speech -- that anyone can write about anything under the sun without any inhibitions or fear of being gagged. Yes, I welcome the idea that we can read about other people's opinions and might, in the end, get some useful information.

But what I do find quite abominable is when people can't follow even the most basic rules of grammar when writing on their respective blogs. For someone who makes a living out of writing, I do make a fuss everytime i come across a blog that is written soooo poorly in English that I honestly want to sit down with the author and spend a few hours teaching him how to observe basic grammar rules. It is just plain sacrilege when someone can't differentiate the proper use of "he is - he's" to "his".

Example: "...like his happy to see me after all these years."

If you can't spot the mistake in that sentence fragment, then you certainly don't deserve that degree you earned in college. Seriously.

Another sacrilege is when these so-called writers (read: bloggers) can't even start reconciling their tenses. I remember a friend of mine based in Singapore who brought to her boss' attention a colleague who kept answering the company phone with this greeting: "Good morning. How may i helped you?"

Well, can you blame my friend for telling on her colleague? I sure as hell can't.

And please! Whatever happened to the most fundamental of grammar rules? That a singular subject requires a singular verb. A plural noun requires a plural verb.

Look, I am not trying to sound holier than thou here. I understand that there will be lapses and that nothing and no one is really perfect. But if your blog entry harps on how you want to be a writer, you better be darned sure about your sentences. At the very least, you ought to turn on the spelling and grammar check function in MS Word to be sure. But if you really are a good writer as you think, you will learn to rely on your knowledge of grammar rules and not just the MS word function.

That's all.

A family affair

Oh what a week it has been! Almost every balikbayan in our family travelled half way around the world to attend my cousin Gab's wedding last Satruday. And what a reunion it has been! Actually, it was anti-climactic for me since I got to see most of them too while I was in the US. I spent some serious bonding time with Patrick (now officially one of my favorite cousins!) while I was in Chicago as well as with Nicole and Celine (have always been my ALL-TIME favorite cousins) while I was in LA. But I dunno, having them here in Manila (Arlo, Jonathan, Celine, Nic and Patrick) is an all-together different treat for me.
They arrived (with the exception of Nic, who arrived on the day itself) a few days before the wedding but I didn't get a chance to hang out with them until the wedding day itself. As expected, kulitan amid super sarap food and wine. We also had some nice pics taken (which I hope Nic or Celine would send me a copy of) with the newly weds. By the way, I must say that all of us just loves Mitz, our newest cousin-in-law. Aside from being real pretty, she is also very friendly and kalog -- like all of us. Sayang talaga that I didn't get to take some days off from work to spend time with them. Oh well...

The day after the wedding, we all trooped to Laurel, Batangas for a "picnic". It was such a long, long ride that when Tita Ella quipped, "piso na lang ata nasa langit na tayo", I could not help but agree. But the food was great and the company, even greater! The only sad thing about that trip was that Anton tripped (yet again) and cut his lower lip. Poor Baby!!! For the first time, nag bleed ang baby ko!! Argh!! It was horrible. Buti na lang, Tito Bibok's wife is a nurse and she immediately assisted us para mag stop yung bleeding. Anton is ok now, though. The doctor just prescribed an ointment for the singaw.

Tuesday, my titas, uncles and cousins had dinner at our house in Cavite on the way back from Tagaytay. It wasn't such a long visit but at least they got to see our humble abode and play with my pride and joy. Mom served them a mean menu consisting of Pata tim, pinaputok na tilapia, lechon kawali, sinigang na bangus belly and nilagang bulalo. O di ba?!? Pinoy na pinoy ang menu. For dessert: my mom's famous matamis na saging! Panalo!

Wednesday, our team at the office treated Patrick, Nic and our newest addition to the Writing Desk, Marc to lunch over at Abe in Serendra. Sarap ulit ng pagkain. We had Lechon Cubano, Plapla, kare-kare, pinakbet, and crispy adobo!! My cousins loved it!!

As with most good things, this week has come to an end. In a few hours, Nic and her family will be flying back to LA. Patrick left yesterday for Chicago while Tita Laluy is set to fly tomorrow for Conneticut. Hay..nakakalungkot talaga. But then again, the world is a lot smaller now and with a multiple entry visa, seeing them might be a bit more feasible.

Times like these, I really am glad I belong to a close-knit family. I actually feel very proud of the bond we have as a family. True,We don't see each other often (swerte na if we see each other every 2 years).True, we are separated by land masses called continents -- most of us are in the Western Hemisphere while a few of us are in the Eastern Hemisphere. And there's even a few of us Down Under. Still, we are never really quite apart as some people think we are. In times of immense grief, we are able to console each other, no matter how far apart we all are. In times of great joy, we find ways to celebrate triumphs, milestones and simple achievements together. And when we need help, we know we can reach out for help. And we know too that help will come. Sabi nga ni Tita Nora, daig pa ng mga Tenorios ang network ng CNN!! Hehehe.

If there is one thing my dad has taught me well, it is this: family is always important. It doesn't matter whether you are rich or poor. If you have family, you are already very blessed. And that's true. I just need to look at our family pics --both old and new-- and I know how right my dad is. My family is not perfect and like everyone else, we have our quirks and petty tampuhans. But we always rise above it. More importantly, we take care of each other. Come what may. And that, I learned, is what family is all about.

Wicked!

I can't believe I passed up the chance to watch this musical! And to think I was given two chances to see it --once in Chicago and one while I was in the City of Angels. Argh! Talk about missed opportunities.
Thankfully, Carrie had some songs from the original soundtrack uploaded into my shuffle. I don't know if listening to it everyday is helpful. The songs are beautifully and wonderfully worded and the music is just phenomenal! Work of a genius, indeed! the more i listen to it, the more I regret not being able to watch it.

The story is also very interesting -- about two witches living in Oz during the pre-Dorothy days. How their lives have become intertwined. How they have risen about their differences and became good friends in the end. How both have dedicated their lives to eliminate corruption in Oz (pati pala sa land of the witches, mala Pilipinas ang problema)!

One of the songs I especially like it is "Defying Gravity". Part of the song goes:

Something has changed within me

Something is not the same I'm through with playing by the rules

Of someone else's game

Too late for second-guessing

Too late to go back to sleep

It's time to trust my instincts

Close my eyes and leap
It's time to try Defying gravity

I think I'll try Defying gravity

And you can't pull me down...

How many times in our lives have we been told that we can't do it? That we are not cut out for the job? That we don't have what it takes?

I hope that when Anton grows up, he will learn to trust in his own judgment of himself. I hope that he will, as the song goes, learn to trust his instincts, close his eyes and leap..to try and defy gravity..and that no one can pull him down...

New 7 wonders of nature

The voting is on and several of our country's wonders have been nominated! Chocolate Hills in Bohol, the Subterranean River National Park in Puerto Prinsesa and ofcourse, the Tubbataha Reef.

Pic from: http://www.pahof.de/mediac/400_0/media/DIR_7154/Bohol~1.jpg

Pic from: www.malapascua-diving.com/.../Tubbataha.html

Pic from: http://www.bsactravelclub.co.uk/reports/pics/philippines/yllighthouse.jpg

Each is allowed to vote for 7 sites so please, please, please support all three of our natural wonders. With the exception of Tubbataha reef, I have had the privilege of visiting two of these wonders. And really, they are beautiful!

Last I heard, the Tubbataha is on 8th place now so please cast in your votes so that at least one of our country's sites will win. Just log in to:http://www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/nominees/asia/c/TubbatahaReefReef/
and list down all other choices. There's a lot to choose from but I hope you will include one or two of the Philippine's best in your list.

Come on, one vote and with a click of a mouse, we just might help make history.

Mother's Day postmortem

Before I was a Mom,

I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.

I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,

I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.

I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.

I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,

I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin .

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache,

the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,

I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,I had never been puked on.

Pooped on.

Chewed on.

Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.I slept all night.

"Of all the rights of a woman,

the greatest is to be a mother."

**Inspired by Chie's blog in www.pinayinsg.blogspot.com

Mother's Day

Yesterday, an email from our company's events committee (yes, we have one at work) invited all mothers to submit a photo of them and their child/children in light of the mother's day celebration this weekend. I don't know if prizes will be given but I did submit a picture of mo cuishle and moi. This: Pic was taken when Anton was only about 2 months old. The caption I used for this picture in our photobucket album was something along the lines of "First Dance with Anton".

Looking at it now, I realize how much has changed since that photo was taken. Physically, anton is bigger. Taller. And can now walk and balance himself with ease. Mentally, he can mimick gestures and can identify body parts, animals and toys. Although not yet able to speak, he can communicate fairly well with those around him -- he can tell us when he wants to drink water, when he wants to play, where he wants to go and what he wants to eat. Emotionally, he is more malambing and expressive. Now 16 months old, he has found a way to melt mommy's heart (and stern look) by one smile and one real tight hug. Ate Roselyn recently bought him a shirt that says "Loved by All, Spoiled by Mom". With such a lambing son, who can blame me for spoiling him at all????

As for the changes in my life, I have definitely adjusted to the demands and rewards of being a mom. The past year has been a wake-up call for me -- I never realized how demanding being a mom can be. And i do not just mean financially or physically. That is already a given. But the emotional rollercoaster of motherhood is really something beyond what I expected. And I expected a lot.

Whenever Anton got sick (thank God we have only few experiences on this) or cranky or just plain uncomfortable, I worry. His pain has become my pain. His discomfort is my discomfort as well. His fears are mine too. My life has become so intertwined with his that I cannot imagine how it is without him.

So Anton, I celebrate motherhood because of you. And because of my experience with you, I learned how to better appreciate my mom and all that she has done, endured, and sacrificed for me.

Happy Mother's Day to the unsung heroes of our lives.

The Warrior is a child

My usual caveat: I am not a religious person but I am deeply spiritual. I sometimes miss Church service but I still manage to commune with my God.

Every once in a while, I come across a deeply moving song about faith and I just realized that most of songs I love come from one man: Gary V. I love his rendition of Christian songs more than pop ballads -- if that is even possible. I don't know how he does it but I guess his profound faith in The One enables him to capture all the emotions of such songs. Anyways, one of the most touching songs I have heard from him is called "The Warrior is A Child". Without fail, the lyrics of the song inspire, soothe and move me each time I hear it.

I am sharing the lyrics with you here:

Lately I've been winning battles left and right

But even winners can get wounded in the fight

People say that I'm amazing I'm strong beyond my years

But they don't see inside of me I'm hiding all the tears

They don't know that I come running home when I fall down

They don't know who picks me up when no one is around

I drop my sword and cry for just a while

(Look up for His smile)'Coz deep inside this armor

The warrior is a child

Unafraid because His arrow is the best

But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest

People say that I'm amazingbI never face retreat, oh no

But they don't see the enemies That lay me at His feet

Sweet reunion

I am finally home! Well, technically speaking, it has been 5 days since I arrived from the US but I am still reeling from jetlag. I didn’t realize it was going to be this bad! But then again, this jetlag is a small price to pay for my US experience. Despite my initial apprehensions about the trip, I did have fun.

I’ve always believed that the best part about traveling is coming home. And of all the travels I’ve made (mostly domestic but they are travels nonetheless), this one is especially poignant. After a two-week separation from my little boy, I finally got to hold him. But the reunion wasn’t instantaneous. For a good 5 minutes, he didn’t want to go to Mommy. He was eyeing me curiously. I could only guess what he was thinking but I am sure it was something along the lines of “What took you so long, Mommy?”

Thankfully, I had with me a little school bus that I bought from Chicago. I used that and a Mickey paper bag to entice the little one. The trick worked! He smiled at me and finally, finally allowed me to hold him. Ooohh! I can’t begin to describe how soothing this was to me. I absolutely craved for Anton and his little smile the whole time I was in the US.

With Anton in my arms, I can say that I am really home. And back to reality.

More chicago pics!

Thanks, Badjie Boy for these pics! As you can see, we did work while we were there.