Mama Bear’s Adventures

Jean, one of my best(est) friends got married last Sunday. It was such an honor that she picked Ami to be one of her flower girls which was the usual task given to close relatives. That is why I made sure that Ami would be in her best mood during the ceremony. Her first time being a flower girl, I was anxious if she could do the flower girl duty. Fortunately, instead of a flower basket where the flower girl needs to spread flowers on the path where the bride will walk on, they were provided with flowers arranged like a topiary and carried like a bag.

Days before the wedding, I told Ami that she needs to throw flowers while she walks, she cried, she said she doesn’t want to throw the flowers. I showed her how, I took some silk flowers, put it in a basket, and threw it while I was walking, still, a violent rection. So I did it again but this time I put a bit too much energy and excitement, I shouted weee while I was throwing the
flowers. I got Ami excited too, so she took the basket and threw the flowers, but she also shouted weee everytime she would throw flowers. And on top of that, she still doesn’t want to let go of the flowers, so everytime she would throw flowers, she would pick it up again hehe. What a show it would have been.

Anyway, Ami did a good job,  she would have walked alone but she was stumbling because the gown was too long. We were not having problems with the gown before, but I forgot something, the gown was touching the floor, it was gliding when she walked on a smooth surface. but of course there was a red carpet on wedding marches. The carpet grabs on to the fabric that touches it, and Ami would step on it and then she would stumble.

The day before the wedding, I was not feeling well. I wasn’t sure if it was tonsilitis, sinusitis or flu, I just felt terrible. I got a little better the morning of the wedding day. But during the ceremony, I was shivering already. During the reception I got worse, the airconditioning was not helping either. Chuch was so kind to lend me her shawl. I already have one but it was not enough. I can only immagine how delicious the food was, because I cannot eat. I forced myself to eat so I can drink medicine but  my stomach was acting up too, I feel queasy with every bite. For the first time, I let the crabs pass. Crabs!?!? I love crabs! Haay.

But it was Jean’s wedding, in sickness or in health, I will be there. And although I admit that I was uncomfortable, I still enjoyed her big event. I am so happy for my friend.

Congratulations Sammie and Jean!

Karl is now 5 years old, just the right age to start schooling. So we are now on the hunt for a good but affordable school.

These are our candidates so far.

UPIS - kinder is the only entry point, no transferees. Tutition fee 6K. They will accept 100 students only, and only 40 slots are reserved for kids whose parents are not UP employees.

Angelicum College- tuition fee is 26K++

Siena College- tuition fee is 29K++

St. Paul University- tuition fee 40K not yet inclusive of books and uniforms! OH MY GOD!

Haay… If we only have better public schools.

Some people are unfortunate to fall inlove with the wrong person, some are unfortunate not to fall inlove with the person they have to be with for the rest of their lives. I’m not one of those people thank God.

I am blessed with a husband I love and who loves me back. Is he the right person for me? Lets see…

• I wished for a good looking man … check
• someone more intelligent than me … check
• someone with good values (everything else follows, eg honest, God fearing, hardworker, not a wife beater, good provider etc.)… check
• someone who loves me as much if not more than I love him … mala Alice Dixon… I can feel it check hehe

So there… I’m so blessed with a good husband, and now I’m blessed with two good looking, intelligent children and hopefully we can raise them to have good values too.

Happy anniversary to us papa.

Beautiful
Christina Aguilera

Every day is so wonderful

And suddenly, i saw debris

Now and then, I get insecure

From all the pain, I’m so ashamed

I am beautiful no matter what they say

Words can’t bring me down

I am beautiful in every single way

Yes, words can’t bring me down

So don’t you bring me down today

To all your friends, you’re delirious

So consumed in all your doom

Trying hard to fill the emptiness

The piece is gone left the puzzle undone

That’s the way it is

You are beautiful no matter what they say

Words can’t bring you down

You are beautiful in every single way

Yes, words can’t bring you down

Don’t you bring me down today…

No matter what we do

(no matter what we do)

No matter what they say

(no matter what they say)

When the sun is shining through

Then the clouds won’t stay

And everywhere we go

(everywhere we go)

The sun won’t always shine

(sun won’t always shine)

But tomorrow will find a way

All the other times

’cause we are beautiful no matter what they say

Yes, words won’t bring us down, oh no

We are beautiful in every single way

Yes, words can’t bring us down

Don’t you bring me down today

Don’t you bring me down today
Don’t you bring me down today

People always compare me to my sisters, they would say that I am the least beautiful sister. When I was younger, I got so affected that I over compensated, I would answer back and say something like, ok lang, ako naman pinaka matalino. But then I realised, it was a trap, they would not say it but they might be thinking, pangit ka na nga mayabang ka pa. So after sometime, I just got used to it, I just let them say whatever, in one ear- out the other.

There are billions of people on this planet, everyone has his/ her own idea of beauty. If some people find you unpretty, some will surely find you to be the complete opposite.

The only problem is if you yourself think that you are hopelessly unpretty. It is a downward spiral, you would get depressed because you think you are so ugly, then depression will affect how you eat and/or sleep, it will make you fat or so skinny or acne might break out then you would think that you got uglier then be depressed again and the cylce continues…

You are beautiful, you don’t have to convince everybody that you are beautiful, you just have to know that you are.

Different hair color, hair style or eye color.

600,000 households hit by water cutoff

Maynilad Water Services scored a "unilateral" decision by another
state-owned utility National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) to cut water
supply from Angat Dam resulting in water shortage in some areas west of
Metro Manila, ANC reported Saturday.

"Wala po kaming natanggap na abiso. Akala namin sa December pa po
babawasan ang raw water supply from Angat Dam (We have not received any
notice. We thought raw water supply from Angat Dam will be cut by
December)," Jess Matubis, Maynilad’s vice-president for corporate
communications said.

Matubis said that about 600,000 households or six million residents in
Quezon City, Makati, Valenzuela, Parañaque and Manila were affected by
the water shortage.

He said NAPOCOR made a sudden move to cut water supply from 41 cubic
meter per second to only 39 pending a decision on the matter by the
National Water Resources Board and water regulator Metropolitan
Waterworks and Sewerage System.

MWSS, however, denied Matubis’s claims noting that it has been a week
since it notified the east and west zones concessionaires on the
cutback in water supply.

NAPOCOR generates its water supply from Angat Dam. Earlier reports said
that Angat Dam’s water level almost reached its critical mark of 180
meters.

On November 11, however, the dam’s water level reached 201 meters from
its 194-meter mark due to the downpour of rain brought about by typhoon
Queenie.

MWSS said the cut in water supply was a preparation for El Niño, a
crisis the country is expected to experience starting March next year.

******************==================*******************===================

We didn’t receive any warnings either, after lunch last Friday, our water supply was stopped. We still don’t have water, not even to just replenish our reserves.

Last night we totally ran out of water, our reserve of I don’t know how many liters was all used up. Firetrucks visit the neghborhood to give water, but some people hog tbe supply, leaving the rest of us wandering around looking for water supply. It was kind of amusing to watch though, people wandering around carrying buckets, lots of them, and you would wonder how they would carry them back. Some used tricycles, but it became too heavy for the motor to run up-slope, the people needed to push the tricycle. Other with carts… Chaos….

Fortunately, those households who are supplied by Manila Waters, have a strong water supply, and fortunately, I found one who is supplied by them. So as they say "kapalan na ng mukha", we went there to get water, just enough to get by today syempre hiya pa rin. We are hoping that the supply will resume even for just a couple of hours, enough to refill every available container.

Takes over my computer that is. I have been spending less and less time on the computer eversince Ami learned how to use the mouse (last week of September). Before, she used to just sit on my lap and point to wherever she wants to go, but eventually she figured out how to work the mouse, and … mama say goodbye to the computer.

Ok. she’s awake now. Byebye time.

Hindi ko na iinglisin itong blog ko, nakakahiya kasi baka matyempuhan pang mabasa ng iba. Nabubuwisit lang ako kasi nag shortcut na naman ang gobyerno natin. Kapalit ng pag tanggap ng Japan ng mga nurses at caregivers natin, sumangayon ang pamahalaan na itapon dito ng Japan ang mga basura nila.

Napanood ko sa isang dokyumentaryo kung gaano kaganda ang recycling at biodegradable waste management ng Japan, kaya siguradon ang mga itatapon nila dito ay yung talagang hindi na magagamit, biohazard, at toxic. Ipinakita nga sa balita na may nasabat nang kung ilang container vans ng basura galing sa Japan, mga iniksyon na gamit na, mga lampin at kung anu-ano pa.

Malamang marami nang nakalulusot na mga ganitong basura noon pa man, pero ibang usapan na kapag legal na ito, siguradong dagsa iyon dito. Nako naman!

My birthday… was just another ordinary day, if not for the calls, SMS and e-mails from friends and relatives who greet me that day. Thank you all so much, I love you too. And of course the greeting from Glenn and the kids.

The kids will sing the birthday song for me every now and then, Ami sang one while hugging me, so sweet. But the funny part is, every time they greet me, they will ask where my cake is. Karl even asked, mama birthday mo ba talaga? Bakit hindi ka nagpapaganda? Bakit wala kang cake?

Haay…. kids…

One night at a department store, we had to split up, I was with Karl, Glenn was with Ami. When we grouped back, Glenn showed me pictures of ami. Our cinversation, as close as I can remember it:

me: Ano iniisip mo at kinunan mo ng picture si Ami sa manequins na naka lingerie?
Glenn: Siya nag aya nun no.
me: As in papa picture-an mo ako?
Glenn: Yup. Siya pumili kung saan at sariling pose din. Picture tapos patingin, tapos isa pa daw… Siya pa ang nagsasabi kung saan ako tatayo. Hindi pa yun, dumating pa tita niya at dalawa pa kaming photographers niya. Siya ang nag di direct kung saan kami kukuha ng picture.

The pictures: