Today...

The car and the passenger jeepney were blocking half of the street where I pass by everyday.

closer view of the damage

Good thing I left home early for work. ;)

- - -

Anyway, I'm going back to my aerobics-taebo session today at 8am. I'm looking forward to losing a little of these flabs in my body. I know it would take a great amount of time and effort, considering the extent to which my once not-so-hot-but-looking-okay body became im-so-not-fit-and-not-okay frame. But more than my wish for a leaner body, doing this exercise jumpstarts my working day and gives me another reason to be happy. (Exercise releases happy hormones)

But then i guess, being happy doesn't necessarily need a reason. Or does it?

Nah, just stay happy folks! And have a great day ahead.

MAMA MIA!!!

She got married at age 18; gave birth to her eldest daughter at 19. Before she reached 21 years old, she's already a mom of 2 daughters. The following years saw her juggling the roles of a wife, a mother, and a student trying to finish her college degree. By age 28 a baby boy came as an addition to the family. The dream of getting her college diploma had to be set aside to take better care of the children.

Her husband worked for a steel fabricator. She augmented the family income by being a direct seller of cosmetics and a seamstress at home. Life gave her neither riches nor great opportunities. But she tried her best to give her children the important things they need. Her creative ways and ideas made sure that the family would not go hungry. Together with her husband, she never made the children feel that they were poor. But she neither gave them the idea that they were well-off. They just lived within their means.

Years later, the steel fabricator closed down and left her husband jobless. I guess there was not much choice for her back then but to go abroad and work as a domestic helper/caregiver in HK to send her eldest daughter to college.

Up to now, even if her eldest daughter is already working, she opted to stay and work there until her youngest son graduates from college.

- - - -

The woman is my mother.

Whenever I feel like life is being unfair to me and i wanna whine about it, I think about the things she have gone and had to go through raising me and my siblings. Wala pa sa kalingkingan ang mga pinagdaanan ko kumpara sa mga pinagdaanan niya. At 27, I'm still a whiny baby. My mom was pregnant with her third child (my brother) when she was my age.

- - -

I gave her a call yesterday just to greet her a happy birthday. Nevermind that the long distance call would cost me mucho dinero. I used to send her pesonalized greetings but i got busy with work, so I hope that simple phonecall will do the trick, if not equate to the more dramatic effect of my personalized greeting cards.

Happy Birthday, Ma! I love you.

To Err Is Human...

To forgive is divine.

I went through Valentine's Day as normal as I could, even if everywhere I turned it was like a "for-couples-only" day and those without a partner is an outsider. One colleague quipped "ang mga walang papa, i-firing squad sa Luneta."

Yup, once again I am a member of SMV (Samahang Malamig ang Valentine's)

But why should I sulk? I should get out there, there's work to do. Why wear black on V-day? It's so cliche. I should wear something bright and happy, put on makeup and NEVER. GET. CRANKY.

At this point in my existence I have resolved to face my demons one by one, tie up the loose ends dangling in my head and reconnect heartstrings that got cut for some reasons. Last quarter of last year I started with a friend of mine from highschool.

And once again this year, on Valentine's day, I filled my heart with peace as I chatted with a gradeschool classmate whom I was once close with, but eventually we drifted apart more than a decade ago.

I poured my heart out and asked forgiveness for whatever hurt I might have caused her. She said there was nothing to ask forgiveness for, and if there was, she has long forgiven me. She also apologized if ever there were times she'd been mean. Know what? I've forgiven you a long time ago.

It was truly a liberating experience. Though we're miles apart and just communicating through computer, it was as if she was beside me again, still her bubbly self and recalling the things we did together in gradeschool.

I only wished we had that chance to sort things out nuon pa. But as they say, better late than never.

- - - -

A while ago in an orientation we were conducting, a colleague put me on the spot by announcing that I am currently single and available. One participant said "eh di malungkot ang Valentine's day mo kahapon?"

But my colleague quipped "hindi po. Ginawa niyang masaya."

Indeed, even without a significant other, I was happy on Valentine's Day.

I hope y'all had a happy one, too!

And to you, Mae. Salamat.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Hey everyone!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

the extroverted introvert posing with the delicious Dennis Trillo

CHINESE HOROSCOPE

Chinese New Year is just around the corner, and people at my office are somewhat excited about it. We've been talking about tips from feng shui experts on what colors are auspicious for this year, what kinds of fruits and how many of them should we place at the dining table, lucky charms we should give to each other, etc.

For us Filipinos, it has somewhat weaved its way in our culture. Perhaps because most of us have somewhat a bit of Chinese lineage in us. I for one am always faced with answering the question: "Chinese ka ba?" or "May lahi kang Chinese?" (Are you Chinese? Do you have Chinese ancestry?)

Up to now, I still haven't figured it out. I still have to ask my mom. Up to now, I still get surprised whenever asked those questions. I just usually reply: "Bakit? Mukha ba akong Chinese?" (Why? Do I look like Chinese?)

You be the judge. ;)

left pic: with mom and grand aunts

right pic: my maternal grandparents

Well anyway, since we were a bit crazy, er, excited about Chinese New Year, we've been looking up our horoscopes and here is what mine says:

EARTH LAMB Horoscope

Feb 1, 1919 to Feb 19, 1920

Jan 28, 1979 to Feb 15, 1980

Lamb people have good taste and are quite charming and elegant … and rich. You may find them the center of attention at a stylish dinner party, ravishing all with incomparable wit and bon mots. The opposite is also true: they are often quite shy and sometimes prefer complete anonymity, the quiet life at home with a good book, a roaring fire, and the joys of the palate. A creative flame burns in their lives and you may find them before a canvas experimenting with bright bold genius strokes of paint. Sometimes, they tend to be pessimistic and question the meaning of life, wondering "why they dwell among green mountains." They are quite often deeply religious or spiritual and quite passionate about their work and their belief.

Sweet Potato Soup and Cellophane Noodles are among keys to good health.

Earth Lambs are like dancing daffodils, moving with kinetic exuberance and joy. Like all Lambs, these creatures are wonderful to socialize with, you just can't help loving their friendly ways and enthusiasm for living. They make lemonade out of lemons, velvet out of porcupines, and find serendipity everywhere. All their friends and colleagues get caught up with this passion. As you can imagine, they make the best of traveling companions. Earth Lambs are honorable in all their dealings; they roll up their sleeves and do whatever it is that must be done. They know true contentment because they can think of yesterday without regret and tomorrow without fear. Earth Lambs love good books and spend many happy hours seeking treasures in used bookstores. This serious nature also applies to their college years and careers, which they pursue with utmost dedication, hard work, and diligence. At some point in later life, they are rewarded with unexpected financial fortune. What a cozy twosome the Earth Lamb makes with a love partner. Relationships are filled with exquisite warmth, gentleness, and tenderness, with magical threads of sensuality taking them on beautiful carpet rides.

Famous Lamb People: Sir Laurence Olivier, Josephine Bonaparte, Margot Fonteyn, Mikhail Gorbachev, Toni Morrison, Leonard Nimoy, Pierre Trudeau, Katharine Hepburn, Boris Yeltsin

You may also check out your horoscope here.

Another Day....

Wednesday

Had dinner with the St. Lazarus Choir at Aristocrat. I didn't intend to stuff myself that night because I was once again subjecting myself to diet+workout to lose the flabs I have acquired over a couple of months. But our former chaplain, who is now based in the US, was in town so I figured: what's wrong with a night of kwentuhan over dinner with good friends?

I gave in. I just told myself, "well Tsiki, Thursday naman bukas. You'll be burning those calories at aerobics class tomorrow."

Thursday

I did burn those calories through one hour of aerobics and tae-bo. You folks might say "good for you." I even skipped the usual office merienda of cholesterol-laden fishballs, squidballs, chicken balls (gosh, what other kinds of balls will they think of next?) and opted to snack on some pears. Healthy diba?

Ayos na sana but nagkayayaan ang Training Girls to have dinner at Lola Ely's. It's a homey and charming place where everyone can just go and enjoy the food without burning a hole in their pockets. I swear, their chicken barbecue is worth the almost 10-minute walk to their place (located at the corner of Bambang and Felix Huertas Streets in Sta. Cruz) from our office. At least I get to burn a little more calories before devouring Lola Ely's heavenly specialty.

Another 10-minute walk to reach my jeepney terminal to go home. But leisurely done this time while talking with my supervisor. Non-work stuff. We split up at the corner of Oroquieta & Malabon Streets and I proceeded to walk the remaining 3 minutes to my terminal. All the way home, I was thinking....

Twice a week of aerobics/tae-bo class; twice a week (average) of 15 to 20-minute run on the treadmill; a weekend of doing chores. Not bad.

In the span of three years, I have never maintained my ideal weight for more than a month. It takes a lot of work for me to take off a few pounds, but it takes just a couple of days of impulse snacking (plus occasional heavy dinners) to gain it back (minsan doble pa!).

Next week, there will be no time for all of my workout sessions as I will be doing fieldwork. Too bad.

But then, there's always another day!

ala McGyver

Last Saturday, my father ran out of ideas on what to cook for dinner. He thought that the porkchops he grilled for lunch would be enough for us until supper. I would have thought so, too, if not for my bro's bandmates who came to practice their songs for the school's Battle of the Bands. Syempre, we had to feed those kids, 'di ba?

So I shared with Papa's dilemma while rummaging the fridge for whatever foodstuff I could salvage -- eggs, hotdogs, green bell peppers, shallots, unopenned sachets of hot sauce from the othe night's pizza -- and then I thought, "this is a job for the stir-fry queen."

These days, you gotta make the most out of what is available and within reach. I can still hear my highschool economics teacher saying "dapat kayo maging MAPAMARAAN!" Resourcefulness is the key.

So without much resistance from dad (after a lot of convincing done), I donned my imaginary apron and proceeded to whip up another ulam my dad never thought I could possibly cook.

I'm still thinking of a name to call this dish. Any suggestions?

top it on a bowl of steamed rice.

As always, my family had no choice but to eat it. Papa showed his appreciation by heaping it up on top of his steamed rice. I even had to stop my brother from finishing it off because my sister who usually skips supper suddenly felt hungry and gobbled up what was left of the viand.

The ulam was good for six people. There were four of us. I only ate half a serving. You do the math.

See previous kitchen adventure here.

Finding One's Way Back...

The other day i was a mix of emotions. For some reasons i felt like i was lost, confused, and alone. And pretty much helpless like a little child.

"..do you know, where you're goin' to..."

Times like these i just needed someone to talk to (or chat with!); someone who really listens and doesn't try to answer my problems, but gives realistic suggestions. But then, i wasn't really having problems that time. I was just stressed out (and pretty much overwhelmed) with all the things goin' on around me (particularly work) and he was there to cheer me up. Dude, you know who you are. Salamat talaga.

He cleared up my "messy head" and got me on track by the three simple words he said-- move your butt. Yes, whenever i feel stressed, i sulk in my tiny little world, wallowing in my confusion and frustration. But somehow i managed to muster all my strength to get out of my shell and face whatever the day throws at me.

Back at the office the next day, people asked me jokingly "are you clear now?". Well, yeah i guess.

my friend's reaction to this pic made my day.

As always, he makes me feel like the prettiest girl in the world.

Yup, i'm back on track.

= = =

One of my friends is also back. Back to the office and to the welcoming arms of the Carmelites (foodtrip group). I hope he stays for the month so we could celebrate his upcoming birthday with the group.

Jhunted, another "Pfizer dude" in our office

and my adopted younger brother