Mommy Chee

Soya Queen's Lunch Treats! (Part 1)

2012-09-06T19:13:00.003-07:00

Yay! It's Tofu Teriyaki day today and I couldn't wait to take my lunch break as soon as I learned that my order has already been delivered even before I reached the office! (I come in before lunch at 10 or 11 am)

Sorry, I got carried away and took my first bite on the soft, chewy tofu
before I remembered I promised that I'd make a review on this dish. (^,^)

After much contemplation on that euphoric and gastronomically satisfying experience, inspiring thoughts started popping into my head on how to go about this review. Remember Remy of Ratatouille? Imagine the fireworks and swirling lights while he describes the sensation on what he was eating. (Pardon the exaggeration... It's just one of those very rare moments where I can't help contain my emotions whenever I had something great for lunch in the office! Did I say rare?)

Fireworks and swirling lights aside, I'll just be focusing on the three (3) important factors that we usually consider sans the nutritional value because we already know the great benefits of soya to our body:

Presentation (Does it look and smell appetizing? Was it packed neatly and safely to avoid getting contaminated?)
Taste (...I know we'll most likely vary on our preferences since I'm known to appreciate any food that I ingest. However, the question is: am I ordering this dish again?)
Price (Swak ba sa budget at pwedeng araw-arawin?)

Presentation: Um, it looked a lot better before the "evidence" of my first bite in the picture... (My sincere apology, really, as I didn't even have that thought of making it look "untouched." As soon as I got to take the pic, I immediately went back to eating the rest of it!) Yes, you'll be drawn in both by the aroma as soon as you open the tightly-sealed bowl, and the colorful tofu and veggies on top of the rice. I didn't have to reheat it in the microwave because even at below room temperature, the rice was still very soft, the veggies still very crunchy, and the tofu - crunchy on the outside and soft and chewy inside.

Taste: I love the contrasting sweetness and barbeque-like essence of the teriyaki sauce. (I think I had fireworks and swirling lights with disco music while eating!) Yes, I really seem easy to please when it comes to food, but with this one, I'm more than happy to order again. (Wag lang sana akong mag-manas!)

Price: Not bad for P60. Busog ka na. It's much cheaper (and a lot healthier) compared to ordering from Jollibee, di ba?

Conclusion: Overall, I'm very satisfied with this very simple meal. Halata naman siguro. I also appreciate the fact that it didn't have excessive oil or flavoring in it. Tamang-tama lang. I would confidently recommend this to friends and family too.

...However, it's only about the packaging that's made of Styrofoam that I am not complimenting. I hope they find a more environment-friendly alternative, although I know it would be more expensive at this time since the only readily-available food containers are either plastics or Styrofoams. I've seen some food containers made from organic materials in the shelves of some big groceries, but they're quite pricey.

...But then, again, I don't mind paying the extra amount on my next order of Tofu Teriyaki. (Sulit naman kasi) -- as long as it would mean that I have helped spare my dear Mother Earth from the dangers of disposing another non-biodegradable material. :)

I'm giving Soya Queen's Tofu Teriyaki 4 stars for this round.

Have you tried this dish too?

Did we share the same opinion on this?

Anyway... I can't wait for the next dish...

Ano kayang susunod?

Sisig Tofu? Sweet and Sour Tofu? Bicol Express Tofu?...

...Have you also tried any of these dishes from Soya Queen?

Oh, you must try their Cold Taho!

Check out their other tofu specialties at Soya Queen's facebook page!

-------------------

"If you are what you eat, then I only want to eat the good stuff."

—Remy, Ratatouille

Project: Invisible Tarpauline

2012-07-18T11:05:00.000-07:00

It's still too early for campaign period, yet almost every corner (even transportation i.e. tricycles) are already decorated with politicians' tarpaulines, trying to get recognition and have people become familiar to their names.

Picture I took last 07/04/12, submitted to #epalwatch (awaiting their approval for posting, as of typing).
("Just one of the many tarps scattered around the City of San Fernando, Pampanga...")

There are even those who list their accomplishments in very small font size contrasting their very-much-enlarged-font names. This is one reason why a blog site -- the epalwatch -- was set up in support to the Anti-Epal Bill. Spearheaded by @momblogger and @philippinebeat whom I both follow on Twitter, epalwatch aims to expose those whatever-you'd-like-to-call-them politicians who uses taxpayers' money to advertise their names with the projects claimed to be "through their initiative," where, in fact, they could have just simply used this advertising tool to guide people on how they could benefit from these projects/facilities that they've "initiated."

What's worse, there are even those who have their full names/initials incorporated into permanent structures so that even after their term, people who pass by that area would recall that it was during this politician's term that it was built.

But do they really have to do that?

Now, enough with the soap drama... Switching on the lighter side of things--

...It's exactly 1 o'clock in the morning, and I've just had this "aha" moment that I couldn't rest my fingers until I send this one out. Very much inspired by the epalwatch site, how about also gathering materials (names and pictures, probably?) of THE APPOINTED/ELECTED ONES WHO ARE WORTHY OF COMMENDATION? One requirement, though, is that they should NOT have any tarpauline or have their name engraved/welded on any permanent structure. No ceramic bricks with their initials, too.

Let's call this our Project: Invisible Tarpo, aka Project: I.T.

So where do we start then? Hmm. Maybe your local Barangay Captain, or Mayor, or Councilor is a silent-worker type who simply wants to get things done because he knows it's his responsibility. Period.

I'm very much positive that we still have statesmen amongst us.

Maybe it's time we also acknowledge those leaders who have made their sincere dedication to their job become their own advertisement. No fancy tarpaulines needed.

As I conclude this entry here at almost-2-o'clock in the morning, I'm honestly not sure where this would lead... but I'm certainly excited to start hunting for those "silent workers" in the 'hood... Let me know when you've finally found one, and maybe we could cook something up to have these people get the recognition they truly deserve.

----------------------------
Let's start gathering more good news!

The banana heart burger. i heart!

2011-06-27T11:49:00.000-07:00

Click here to read more about the benefits of eating a banana.

I was looking for alternative ways to serve my currently favorite ingredient, the puso ng saging (banana heart), because I've read it's a good substitute for meat. Being the health-buff I'm struggling to be right now, I've also learned that more than the high potassium that helps lowers blood pressure and reduce our chances of having heart diseases, a banana heart also contains: probiotic bacteria that help our bones to better absorb calcium, carbohydrates to sustain the energy level we need, fiber to regulate bowel functions, tryptophan to reduce depression and improve our mood, and even vitamin B6 to help reduce menstrual cramps. (i heart it talaga!)

Thanks to myfilipinokitchen.com, the recipe I got from his site was certainly the one I was googling for. The recipe was simple to follow and experiment with. I first tried the original recipe...

Freshly fried banana heart patties.

...and it was a huge hit -- not only to my kids, but also to my husband who's a certified carnivore! He was actually surprised to find out there wasn't any meat in it.

Another feat I would not forget was when I cooked another batch of these patties for lunch when friends came over. I served it the way an okoy is typically served -- dipped in vinegar with garlic and a lot of pepper. They definitely loved it and asked for the recipe. Of course, I couldn't take all the credit, I simply referred the original link where I go it.

Right now, I'm off to exploring other possibilities on how to serve the patty. I can't wait to start off my next recipe adventure!

What a Wonderful World

2011-06-17T07:18:00.000-07:00

Fort Stotsenberg's jogging path @ Clark Special Economic Zone (formerly Clark Air Base), Pampanga

This is just among the scenic views I see every day as I commute to work. I could just imagine how lovely the rest of the world looks like. It may not be as green as it is out here, but I bet it's definitely as breathtaking as it is.

I just pray it stays this way. Fresh air. Green grass. Comforting shade. Wonderful.

My next love after my family...

2010-12-10T22:44:00.000-08:00

The artsy bug just bit me again... and I'm now unstoppable from making these charm bracelets. I hope I do not run out of ideas and time, though. Oh, well, let me worry about them later. For now, let me share with you what I've been busy with, so far.

This is the first one I made. I enjoyed linking the ceramics and the stones and charms to each other!

Now this one took the most time to make. It has a number of charms, with 12 cat's eyes and 3 shades of pearls with 12 pieces each. :) It actually took me 2 days to finish this chunky piece.

I love the strength of the red in this bracelet. One of the charms is a picture locket. Very romantic!

Puppy love... ^_^ The boy and girl charms actually have magnets to hold hands! Cute!

A very colorful stony piece deserved to be worn by an adventurous but feminine spirit.

Sugar-and-spice-and-everything-nice!

Simple. Dainty. (uhm... not really me, but I love the shimmer they bring together!)

This cuff's got a rather strong personality. I loved trying it on. The coldness of the stones seem to transfer to me. Very relaxing. Really cool, I'd say.

It's Time to Twist Again!!!

2010-10-18T03:45:00.000-07:00

Yay! The Twister Fries from McDonald's is back!

My kids and I love eating Twister Fries together as part of our mother-daughters-food-trip-bonding sessions. My eldest loves to dip her Twister Fries in gravy, while my bunso dunks hers in ketchup. I do have a weakness for sweets that's why I prefer mine covered with hotcake syrup. (Yup, I often request for it if I don't find one on the condiments section.)

It's just sad that Twister Fries will be here for a limited time only, that's why we immediately dialed their McDelivery number (961-MCDO/ 961-6236) here in Pampanga last weekend when I received an email from Nuffnang, and started seeing the ads on the TV! What's more convenient is that they have no minimum orders! (Just a fixed delivery charge of P40) For online orders, they have www.mcdelivery.com.ph. which you can check out anytime.

Note from their McDelivery website, though: McDonald's Delivery Online initially services customers in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Davao, Laguna (San Pedro and Sta Rosa), Lipa, Antipolo, and Tarlac.

Well, if your area's not mentioned (like mine), don't lose hope, they always have their delivery hotlines. Here in Pampanga, it's 961-6236 or simply 961-MCDO.

Luv ko to!

Transforming Furnitures!

2010-10-14T22:16:00.000-07:00

I was scouting online for a double-decked bed and found this really interesting piece:

The Doc sofa bunk bed via WebUrbanist.

And this one, I think my husband's going to love this treat:

The Work and Play Combo by Gruber + Schlager via Gizmodo.

These are just among the not-just-stylish-but-highly-functional collection in this post titled: Get Your Own Transforming Furniture Set by author, Sarah/Sarj Malanyaon.

They're all so inspiring, I'm thinking of designing my own piece... now let me start with something that would help me organize my beads!

Online Paintbrush Application!

2010-10-04T21:47:00.000-07:00

I was searching for an online paintbrush application, and Google returned this Sumo Paint link, which was just what I needed! Click here to check it out!

It had features almost same as those of Adobe Photoshop, but the best part of it was that it was free, and no download was necessary! It was so easy to navigate and use, I enjoyed practicing making these stars--

I had fun making the new header of my Mommy Chee blog, especially when I tried to draw myself. I even had to ask my sister if it looked like me already :)

Oh, well, the chubby cheeks resembles mine, all right... but at least I've found something new and very useful from the net today!

Drug Testing

2010-09-30T01:47:00.000-07:00

Earlier, before going to work, I dropped by the satellite outlet of the LTO (Land Transportation Office) in SM Clark, Pampanga to have the remaining pre-employment requirement I needed to accomplish: Drug Test.

I was hesitant at first to approach the LTO Driver's License Renewal stall because there was (as usual) a heavy queue of people waiting for their names to be called for the next step, but I had no choice when the reception guy caught my eye and asked me what I needed. I inquired if they conduct drug testing even if it's not for license renewal. I felt relieved when he said, "Yes," with a warm smile, and instructed me to enter through the door that read: MEDICAL/DRUG TESTING LAB.

So here's a step-by-step guide on how to take a drug test at LTO, so you'll know what to expect when it's time to get yours:

STEP 1: RECEIVING AREA
This is where the receptionist gives a form for you to fill up after you present any valid ID.

STEP 2: CASHIER
Drug Testing costs P350.00 as of date.

STEP 3: BIOMETRICS
Here, your image as well as your fingerprints will be captured.

STEP 4: SPECIMEN COLLECTION
You'll be handed an empty plastic container (around 30-45mL) which you have to fill up, as instructed by the lab technician. Good thing I had a big cup of GULP from 7-11 on my way here. ^_^

STEP 5: RELEASING
You'll just have to sit back and wait for the receptionist to hand you the test results in 15-20 minutes.

The whole process actually just took around 30-45 minutes (depends on how fast you write, and how soon you could "complete" your specimen requirement).

Lastly, the only thing I could say, overall, is that I'm content with the services I received today, and to top it all, I liked my picture here ^_^ (compared to my NBI and Police clearance pics)

View Baby on 3D!

2010-09-26T21:21:00.000-07:00

We missed our monthly check last week with our obstetrician. We were supposed to have an ultrasound for this checkup, unfortunately, it rained so hard and commuting to the clinic became such an inconvenient task. So I decided to cancel it until next weekend.

However, I was looking forward to viewing my baby so I tried to search online for videos and found this really neat site www.babycenter.com where you could see how little baby's doing inside the womb from conception until delivery! They've also got slides to show the baby's weekly development, as below. By this time, our little angel's most likely on his 16th week.


16 weeks. Your baby's heart is pumping at a rate of about 50 pints a day.

I forwarded the link to my husband and he found it very informative... he kept on asking me if we could possibly view OUR baby that way. Right now, I'm still googling it out if we've got such facility here in Pampanga. :)

“Clearance Day”

2010-09-16T01:00:00.000-07:00

My current employer allowed me to take the whole day off yesterday just to accomplish all the pending pre-employment papers I have with the HR. (I have been working for a month already and I couldn't find any other time to do so.) So far, I'm only missing three government clearances: Barangay, Police, and NBI. No sweat. (or so, I thought).

First stop: Barangay Clearance

Where to get it: Barangay Hall (I'm from Bgy. San Agustin, Pampanga. If you are, too, just take a jeepney ride and alight in front of San Agustin Catholic Church and ride the trike – aka “3-wheeled bike”)

Time it took me to accomplish: Less than 15 minutes

How much it cost me: None for the clearance. Only my trike fair of P10/trip going to and from the Barangay Hall.

San Agustin's Barangay Secretary Jun Peh, greeted me from his desk with a very warm smile, and asked what I came for. I said I needed a copy of Barangay Clearance and asked how much it costs. He said it's free, and started asking me how many among my household are going to vote this coming election. I started counting and said only 3, then he asked me to remember his name – even asked me, “Ano sa Kapampangan ang tinapay?” (What is “bread” in the Kapampangan dialect?) Then I answered back, “Tínape?” That's correct, he said, and asked me to remember “Tínape” which sounds so much alike his name, Jun Peh.

Second stop: Police Clearance

Where to get it: Police Department, Municipal Hall, City of San Fernando, Pampanga (The Municipal Hall's right in front of the big cathedral in the poblacion area of San Fernando; and you'll find the Police Dept right through the main entrance of the building)

Time it took me to accomplish: Around 30 minutes

How much it cost me: P60 for my Cedula; P50 for the Police Clearance (local); P40 computer fee (?)

I first had to secure a Cedula (usually ranges from P10-20 if you're going to indicate you're unemployed) from the cashier's window. Then I had to line up to another payment window which collects for Police Clearance applications and paid P50. The cashier then instructed me to go to the opposite door for the clearance. As I went inside, I had to pay another P40 which I didn't get any receipt for (I was so preoccupied that time with something else I forgot to ask what it was for) and so I assumed that it was for the printing fee later on. Then my picture was taken. In less than 10 minutes, she handed to me a copy of the clearance and asked me to check the details first before signing it and having my thumb marked on it. I saw no discrepancies anywhere, so I immediately signed and marked it, then finally left the Municipal Hall.

It was almost lunch time, so I opted to take a heavy, fully loaded meal at K's Diner (above GeeCee bakeshop, in front of Jollibee/McDonald's San Fernando). I ordered for a Sizzling Korean Beef dish, and true enough, I was able to finish the whole plate which I thought I won't be able to. After resting for a while and engulfing almost 4 glasses of water to keep me hydrated, I left for my last clearance from the NBI office.

Third stop: NBI Clearance

Where to get it: NBI Compound, Capitolyo Ning San Fernando, Pampanga (Jeepney ride from the market terminal costs P7; trike ride costs P20 when you're alone. For a more adventurous feel, you could take a kalesa (carriage drawn by a horse) ride for P20 when you're alone)

Time it took me to accomplish: 5 hours

How much it cost me: P115.00 for the clearance and P20 for the mineral water I bought

As I stepped foot on the NBI Compound, I immediately asked where to proceed for the Renewal of the clearances, and they pointed a group of seated people –queued for the cashier's window (Step 1 would be to pay P115.00 before proceeding to the next step). I arrived before 1pm, but they only opened the Cashier's window around past 3 in the afternoon, explaining that most of their employees have been deployed temporarily to SM Pampanga because they set up a booth there, and so they're undermanned –which explained why the queue for the releasing section was indeed very long. However, once we were done with the payments, we were directed to the next step (image capturing), and then was asked to wait for our names to be called. I must've waited for almost 2 hours before my name got called, and luckily for me, I was able to get my clearance that same day.

As for those who have very common names similar with others' who have “hits” or records in the registries of NBI, they would have to return after almost 15 days before they could get their own clearance. This is why sometimes, naming our kids differently makes sense. --by differently, I meant: spelled differently, came from a different origin/or with weird combinations, et al.

Anyway, despite the exhaustion, I'm glad I got to accomplish everything I had to. I just didn't expect that what I expected would happen (that it would take the whole day for me to finish it all – I was hoping I'd be able to go home before sunset).

Should you be on your way to secure any of these clearances, make sure that you:

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes.
Bring 2 pens, and make sure that you legibly write only the CORRECT information being asked. Otherwise, errors could cause further delay in the processing of your clearance.
Bring an umbrella and and a fan (you know how unpredictable the weather is these days).
Bring bottled water, tissue paper/wipes, and a hand towel.
Always keep small changes (barya).
Bring a thick, but handy book to read (special thanks to author Robert Kiyosaki for keeping me company while in line at the NBI office!)
Bring a small comb or brush (for those pictorials, of course!).

Also, it would be very wise avoid going to these offices during Mondays where you'll really have to expect hordes of people lining up for their clearances, as well, especially if a long weekend just passed. Try going there any time within the week from Tuesday to Thursday. However, keep in mind that no matter what day you decide to go there, you'll still have to line up (unless you want to deal with “fixers”)... so just be patient, and don't worry, your name's going to be called soon :)

Reviving Mommy Chee

2010-09-13T22:40:00.000-07:00

Another baby's on the way!

Yup, Mommy Chee (that's me!), is on her 4th preggy month now.

Baby bump's a little bigger this time, compared to my previous pregnancies, my belly has shown a bit earlier... and so are my stretch marks (ugh!). Thank goodness I've discovered this eRAse Solution (see picture) just last year and I've seen that my old stretch marks from my two previous pregnancies have significantly lightened (I have already accepted the fact that stretchmarks cannot be erased unless you opt for surgical intervention).

Valerie Concepcion modeling the said product. It had effectively lightened my lines, however, some moms say it had some adverse effects on them. Better test it first on a small part of your skin before applying a generous amount.

Oh, well, these lines would be the least of my worries for now, because as of this moment, my greatest concern is how to nourish this cute being inside my tummy who makes me run to the canteen almost every 2 hours, and to the restroom every 20 minutes. Thank goodness, I'm done with my morning sickness...

RECOMMENDED FOR VIEWING: DOQMENTARY ON QTV

2009-05-28T03:04:00.000-07:00

DOQMENTARIES presents

SLEEPLESS IN THE CITY

June 7, 2009

Night is day. Day is night.

While the rest of the world is in slumber and regaining their strength for a new day, many workers, particularly women, are now becoming night owls for the sake of earning a decent living. They put their health and safety on the line and sacrifice valuable family time to work as call center agents, nurses, coffee baristas or journalists.

Host Connie Sison spends a “night-in-a-life” of these women whose days have turned into nights. She finds out what keeps them going and going and going.

As a coffee barista, Connie learns the secret to making a good brew while getting to know how Joy, her case study, has learned to adjust her work-life balance, despite her topsy-turvy schedule.

Connie also gets really serious as she shadows an ICU nurse. No sleeping on the job for this one, as patients’ lives are on the line. But what about their own health? What types of sicknesses and stresses do night workers often suffer from? How can they adjust?

Along more familiar territory, Connie joins a fellow journalist, Bernadette Reyes, as she covers the night-time beat. As the only female on the GMA News’ graveyard shift, Badette gives Connie a taste of what it’s like to gather news at a time when the crime rates are highest and road accidents are most common. Connie finds out if there are advantages or disadvantages to being a female reporter in these types of situations.

Connie also rides with a female bus conductor, jams with a female singer, and taps into her creative juices as she tries to design a cake at a local bakery. After all this work, Connie also searches for places that hard-working women can go to to relax, unwind and get themselves ready to work another night shift.

DoQmentaries presents SLEEPLESS IN THE CITY on June 7, 9:10pm on QTV-11.

(Synopsis feed c/o Ms. Karen C. Lumbo of GMANetwork.com)

my ebay.ph encounter

2009-04-02T10:41:00.000-07:00

this morning, i called my buyer, ms ellen of cebu, to apologize to her that i was unable to ship the item she bought from me (a big brown woven bag which we bought in davao around 8 years ago).

she won in the ending bid of P30, together with the initial quote for the shipping to their place in the visayas region, her total bill amounted to P120. after confirming her payment, i went to the courier early the next day to have it sent.

to my surprise, i was being charged P300+ for the shipping of the item. they explained to me that they were charging the amount for the volume of the item, and not for its actual weight, which was even less than half of a kilogram.

so i went out and tried to look for another courier who would ship the item at a lesser price. i was so disappointed to find out that they were all telling me the same thing...

all these, i told ms ellen, and volunteered to pay her back with an amount at least slightly higher than the payment she sent me, to cover for the trouble she went through to comply with my instructions. she was very nice to accept that i just return the payment she sent, but decline my offer to add any more amount to it... i asked for her GCash account, and there i sent back P150.00. 'hoping that the extra P30 would make up for all the hassles i've brought her. i even joked to her that should i have the chance to travel to their place this summer, i'll keep in touch with her to meet her and just give her the bag. i know it was a ridiculous idea, but actually, i was just trying to break the ice, because i could feel her disappointment when i told her the whole truth.

this day, i learned three things.

one. honesty IS indeed a key to build trust and relationship when you're running a business. i first thought of hiding the truth from ms ellen and intending to just tell her that the item was damaged or something that's why i couldn't ship the item. it was my pride asking me to keep the truth. but with all humility, i've admitted my mistake of not clarifying with the courier personnel regarding the final shipping rate. i should have asked further to confirm, and not just assume...

two. communication is a very important tool. talking personally to your clients, rather than just texting them is a more effective approach, especially if there is a very urgent concern at hand. i really wanted to call ms ellen, but she wasn't responding when i asked her if it was okay for me to call. good thing i waited and asked her again what time would be convenient for her to answer my call. i was actually planning to just text her the details, but... i would still like her to listen to the sincerity in my voice that i was telling her the truth.

three. keep on asking questions until you totally understand what you're supposed to understand. i have this attitude of assuming things. remember "don't count your chicks before the eggs hatch"? i learned it's not really a good idea. humility is still a very important virtue, and we should not be ashamed to ask. i'm done pretending to know things i really don't. it will only make things worse. to ask is to be humble enough to admit that you don't know something, which is perfectly normal.

thank you, ms ellen! God put you into my life to realize i should stay humble and be more careful with my dealings in the business.

God bless everyone!

MOVIE FEATURE: KNOWING

2009-03-27T06:04:00.000-07:00

Fast Facts About Knowing:

"Knowing" (2009)

TEASER FROM ABOUT.COM

In 1958, as part of the dedication ceremony for a new elementary school, a group of students is asked to draw pictures to be stored in a time capsule. But one of the students, a mysterious girl who seems to hear whispered voices, fills her sheet of paper with rows of apparently random numbers instead. Fast forward 50 years to the present: A new generation of students examines the contents of the time capsule and the girl's cryptic message ends up in the hands of young Caleb. But it is Caleb's father, professor John Koestler*, who makes the startling discovery that the encoded message predicts with pinpoint accuracy the dates, death tolls and coordinates of every major disaster of the past 50 years. As John* further unravels the document's secrets, he realizes it foretells three additional events—the last of which hints at destruction on a global scale and seems to somehow involve John* and his son.

*(Corrected from "Ted Myles" of About.com)

MY VERDICT
Personally, I like Nicolas Cage, and have followed him through his previous movies like The Rock, to National Treasure and its sequel. I think he's a great actor, and frankly find him attractive, when he did the smart-guy role at The Rock, but most especially when he did the GhostRider movie! ...But in this one, I think he played a very serious person's role. Yup, still a smart guy (an astrophysicist, actually!), but also family guy who was very protective of his son (which may be the reason why he's such a serious person in this movie... I didn't get to hear much lines to really remember the movie with...)

Caleb Koestler, the astrophysicist's son, was played by Chandler Canterbury who, I believe, did a very promising job. This boy reminded me of my own daughter, Aya, who insistently asks me about things and would only stop if she runs out of questions to ask.

But anyway, the rest of the production was good. The plot was understandably very morbid (knowing about the end of the world is indeed morbid!), but very fascinating as well.

As I've made some fast research with the film makers' efforts to make the movie scientifically credible, I found it more amusing to read the comments of the different people who have also watched the movie, especially from those who posted their reviews on Popular Mechanics' website.

More than the scientific aspects of this film, I think it affected me more as a mother, as every tragedy was meticulously shown... it got me into thinking how frail our life is, that in a split second we could die even right in the comfort of our home. And how easily we could be separated from our loved ones. Maybe if I didn't have kids, dying wouldn't have mattered so much to me; but thinking that I have my two daughters to leave behind if I were to die right this moment? Geez.

Okay, I won't spill the rest of the movie's details, but I think the ending didn't really give much justice to the film's entire "thrill." Also, I felt quite dizzy after watching the film because it seemed like it was shot as a documentary film (the camera man literally running after the characters like in the Survivor series).

But anyway, maybe you could try to watch the film and see if you'll agree with me on my "ending" statement or not... but overall, since I love Nicolas Cage, I'd still give this film a 7 out of 10 stars. Maybe I'll try to watch it again on DVD at home with my family.

(BTW, I enjoyed browsing through Knowing's official website!)

God bless!

from my kerygma family

2009-03-26T19:15:00.000-07:00

I'd like to share some words that inspired me further to pursue my passion (next to my kids) -- teaching. I got this from my subscription to Kerygma Family's "God's Word For You Today." Happy reading! Be inspired like me! God bless!

WHEREvER THE WINd BlOWS

“… yet I did not come on my own...” – John 7:28

Friends tell me, “You’re so fickle-minded! You do a lot of things! You enroll in something, only to shift careers later.” Another friend adds, “You lose a lot of money in the process!”

Yes, if I were to use the world’s standards, I would also call myself aimless, restless, always searching for something more or something else that would give meaning to my life.

But God has a way of catching up with me. When I surrendered to Him the wheel of my life, He led me to some undiscovered avenues. He brought me profound happiness.

Now, I am not just what I have studied to become — an engineer — but I have become more in God’s hands. I am His pen. I am His voice to people who need to hear His comforting words. I am His arms to hug some of His special children. Pretty soon, I feel He’s going to use me to comfort and support cancer survivors in our community.

Oh, well, I follow wherever the wind blows, for there the Spirit of the Lord calls me. Life is more exciting that way! Tess Atienza

REFLECTION:

Do I allow the Lord to lead me?

Lord, lead me to the fulfillment of Your plans for my life.

congratulations, ate aya!

2009-03-21T21:03:00.000-07:00

Aya was among the most outstanding students in her class of almost 30, and, surely, I'm among the proud parents who escorted her daughter towards the stage to get their medal and put it on her. I'm so proud of my daughter's accomplishments in school. she hasn't just impressed her teacher and classmates, but the parents of her classmates as well, who commend on her achievements.

...it's just a pity that sometimes, these same parents compare their kids to her and i feel the pain their children experience whenever they do this right in front of their own child-- telling them how good Aya is and insinuating that their child surely could not do it. i saw this instance not just once, nor twice, but a lot of times at different occasions, especially during school programs. whenever there would be games, i would hear parents discouraging their children to join any of the games, saying, "you won't win, anyway." pity. i don't want to question their parenting style, but i could just imagine how their child would grow up--always letting opportunities pass by because they thought it would be pointless, they wouldn't win, anyway.

i hope these parents realize what they are trying to teach their kids... and i do hope, also, that i'm on the right path of rearing Aya. This is my usual line to her:

"Go ahead, and try to join the activity (may be a dance number or a contest, et al). it doesn't really matter if you win something or lose, as long as you know you did your best, and you get to enjoy and have fun with the activity, just pray to Papa Jesus to help you get through with it."

to rear a child is really a very big challenge. to do it by yourself is indeed a miracle. i consider myself very blessed, because every day, God never ceases to amaze me with His every day miracle in my life. i feel so lucky to be trusted with such a task, and i always pray that He continue to show me how much i need Him in my life.

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Lord, my God, i thank you for this wonderful day. please make me worthy of your blessings each day as i receive them with a clean heart. You are indeed a great God, and You are much much bigger than the problems that i face each day. Lord, please continue to bless me and the people around me whom You use to help me be a strong person, and also those whom you use to help me realize how weak i am to need You for my strength. as i retire for the day, i raise to you everything, from the gifts you have showered upon us, to the problems and smallest worries that entered my frail mind. Lord, i humbly place them upon your mighty feet, and ask for your protection as i take the rest that you offer for the day. i also ask for recovery of strength for tomorrow's challenges that you have in store for me and my loved ones, may i become a person who is better than who i am right now. All these i ask in Jesus' mighty Name, Amen.

facing the giants

2009-03-16T08:02:00.000-07:00

this afternoon i asked my students to watch the film, Facing the Giants. i'm glad they liked it, and most especially, i'm happy at how they've shown their appreciation of the movie by echoing some of the inspirational quotes from the movie:

"win or lose, we praise God."

"with God, nothing is impossible."

"prepare your field, prepare for the rain."

"if you accept defeat, then that's what you're going to get."

...and a lot more...

i have seen the movie more than a couple of times, but i don't seem to tire of it because it continues to inspire me in some ways, and i was praying it will do the same for my students.

i felt the need for them to watch this film because i see that they lack some direction or motivation. i thought that, maybe, if i tried to show them this film, they would somehow realize the essence and importance of having a goal in life, and trying to put God above their priorities so they'll realize that to please God and honor God in anything they do, no matter how small the deed, is what they should be striving for.

i've read some reviews about this film, and i came across this site saying some negative stuff about the movie... but however they try to express their dissatisfaction about the film, i would still continue to watch it and recommend it to others because i feel that God is continuously talking to me through the film. there are a lot of gems (good quotes) from the film that i really love to hear every now and then especially this one:

Mr. Bridges: "...unless the Lord moves you, you are to bloom right where you are planted."

i feel God was talking to me, telling me that i still do have a mission in here, where i have been planted even before, that's why He would always lead me back here in this location: in acsat.

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guys, i pray that the Lord sends you His Holy Spirit to give you a clear mind during your exam, that you recall everything you've reviewed for the final exams... may you continue to give glory to our God with your small acts of honesty and kindness. God bless you all!

some things to think about this afternoon....

2009-03-13T22:01:00.000-07:00

'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.'

When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better.

'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'

vegetable or fruit?

2009-03-12T04:21:00.000-07:00

tomato is a fruit

squash is a fruit (yes, it is!)

eggplants are fruits, too! (yup, yup!)

now, this one, celery, is a vegetable.

yes, and as we thought, cabbage, too, has always been a vegetable.

so how do you differentiate one from the other?

technically, a fruit is derived from a flowering plant which has developed into a fleshy receptacle with the seeds in it, and a vegetable is the edible part of a plant... to simply put it.

now, you may be wondering (just like i did!) ...weren't the plants mentioned in the folk song "Bahay Kubo" (Filipino for Nipa Hut) all vegetables?

Now let's recall the song and check which of them were really veggies:

Bahay kubo kahit munti
ang halaman doon ay sari-sari.
Singkamas (turnip) at talong (eggplant),
sigarilyas (winged beans)at mani (peanut)
sitaw (string beans), bataw (__ beans), patani (lima bean);
kundol (?), patola (?), upo't kalabasa (squash),
at saka meron pa
labanos (radish), mustasa (mustard),
sibuyas (onion), kamatis (tomato),
bawang (garlic) at luya (ginger).
sa paligid-ligid ay puro linga (?)*.

would you like to try and distinguish the fruits from the veggies in the song?
have fun!

*sorry, i couldn't find the all the english translations of some of the plants mentioned here... i was actually amused to find out that a lot of people were also trying to ask around for the english translations of these plants.

the gift of life

2009-03-10T01:53:00.000-07:00

i'm so blessed indeed :)

this morning, our topic for zoology was the reproductive system. as always, it had been a very interesting discussion. the kids (a.k.a. my first year nursing students) had a lot of questions and i tried to answer each of them as mature and as open-minded as a parent/teacher could be.

the gift of life is indeed miraculous. who would imagine that each of us started out from a single insignificant egg cell waiting by the fallopian tube? ...yes, we could have been shed off with the rest of the uterine lining during one of our mother's menstrual cycles, but there was that point in time, when that insignificant egg cell would meet the sperm that would fertilize it, and 266 days later -- we would start making our own history.

i honestly appreciate the way my students handled and responded throughout the discussion. i know that their young and curious minds are exploring farther than the contents of my slide presentation. but i assured them that what i have taught them right now is enough to jumpstart their early course through their adult life. there still are a lot to be learned, but knowing the basic facts about the reproductive system, and how having a baby could change a lot of things... i am really praying that God used me at that instance as an instrument for them to realize what a gift it is to be able to have the ability to bring a new life into this world.

i didn't mean to scare them, but the main point i was trying to show them was that--it takes MORE than physical maturity to handle having a baby--there are also emotional maturity and, of course, financial maturity that need to go with it...

i may have learned mine the hard way, but i believe it's never too late to realize where i messed up, get things straightened up, and head back on to the right path.

for what it's worth, being a single mother isn't so bad at all. there may have been times i wished i had a partner, but since i have acknowledged how BIG and MIGHTY my God is, He has been very faithful in providing and sustaining our daily needs! i know that He means for me to be with lifetime partner, and i know that in His time, that person will come. but for now, He keeps me focused on my two daughters, aya and mica, who are the greatest blessings He has given me, and i am indeed very grateful that He trusted me to become their mother.

God, without a doubt, is really good. To Him be all glory!

ate aya, mama chee, and ading mica (march 10, 2009)

Ate Aya's birthday wish

2009-02-04T01:56:00.000-08:00

Last Feb. 2, Ate Aya celebrated her birthday. There wasn't a grand celebration, but at least, our family was there...

When it was time for her to blow the candle, I asked her to make a wish first, and she said for her wish:

"Wish ko, sana magsalita na po si Mica!" (I wish for Mica to start talking)

... I was honestly speechless for a moment there, because right at that moment, I felt how she loved her sister so much, that she didn't wish something for herself alone...

This is one of the reasons why I am so proud of Ate Aya.

I love you, Ate Aya! Happy Birthday!

FIRST BATCH OF BAGS FOR GARAGE SALE POSTED ON MULTIPLY!!!

2009-02-01T15:46:00.001-08:00

I've finally posted our first batch of preloved bags for our garage sale on my multiply account (click here to view them!!!). Actually, I thought these were the only bags left with us... but we've discovered, we've got another box filled with MORE BAGS! I'll be posting these soon as we've taken their pics, too :)

Also, watch out for some of our other stuff like:
> bed sheets
> crocheted table tops
> home and office appliances
> cabinets
> et cetera!
i've had this bag since i was in grade six, but still in very mint condition, the next person who'll own this will find this very useful for putting your cellphone and the trinkets you carry with you during your casual trips whether to the mall or to a party.

cleaning up for a garage sale

2009-02-01T06:49:00.000-08:00

Ugh! Bags, bags, more bags, and still... more bags!

I couldn't believe how many bags we have kept in stock for months in my sister's apartment! These bags, however, don't just belong to me and my sister; most of them belonged to our Mama (only now we understood it's really in the genes...)

Hopefully, by the 13th to the 15th of this month of February, we'd finally be able to set up our Garage Sale in Angeles. We've definitely got a lot of good stuff to share --from old-but-never-been-worn shirts (with tags), to imported bed sheets, crocheted table runners, to --what else-- bags! --and did I mention about bags?

I'll soon be posting some stuff here and to my multiply account so you could have an idea what we will have there on our Garage Sale on FEBRUARY 13, 14 AND 15.

life without a camera

2009-01-22T13:03:00.000-08:00

I'm really praying hard, i'd be able to save up enough money to buy myself a decent camera.

Since my SE-K610i phone broke down, i felt so helpless not being able to take any pictures of things that i wanted to capture... like i've lost something so important as a dear friend whom i could always trust to deliver...

i've been through a lot of interesting places which i could have at least "frozen" to remember more vividly, and be able to share it as with others exactly as it is...

i've had a lot of candid moments with my family, friends, and daughters especially, which i could have caught and preserved... (deep sigh...)

but anyway, looking on the bright side (as i always do), everytime thoughts of such memories cross my mind, i take comfort into not needing to go online and log on to any website anymore, and simply closing my eyes and trying to remember each experience as clearly as i could.

Praise God for giving us great minds!