Celebrations of God, Happiness and Life

Lorraine's Vacation in Europe

2011-09-30T07:25:00.000-07:00

Nature is Good for The Baby

2011-09-13T01:45:00.000-07:00

Unless it is about my grand daughter or healthy eating, healthy living or taking much better of the environment, it will not interest me. So this will be about my grand daughter who just turned 8 months last September 9. She's been through a bout with near-pneumonia, but thank God she was able to hurdle it safely. Thank you to the able handling of her pediatrician. As my partner and I have been saying all along, nature has a way of taking back. My grand daughter as we learned later; and as I have always hinted was affected by too much allergen floating within her immediate environment. Playing with hairy and dusty stuffed toys, then spraying the room where she stays with toxic insect sprays led to that condition we now choose to forget. Lesson learned - we really need to get back to the basics.

For one, it puzzles me why today's babies are made to wear manufactured diapers 24x7.. why babies play with plastic toys whose toxicity sometimes prove questionable add to that dilemma. Back in the old days, natural products were preferred. Old school mothers like many us prefer organic and natural baby wear, baby blankets and other baby paraphernalia. We also preferred feeding bottles made of glass unlike what they use now - plastic feeding bottles, plastic sterilizer, plastic everything. Yikes!

Convenience seems to be the ready excuse. Where have all the old values gone? Values that almost always proved to be earth friendly are almost gone. The value of breastfeeding is almost unheard of because the pressure of infant formula marketing is too much to resist. The bounty that Nature offers through mother's milk takes the back seat because the mother is in a hurry to get back to the "normalcy" of her life. Since when did having a baby become an "abnormal" situation?

I say, ON with propagating the idea of back to Nature as the best weapon against further environment degradation. And on with continuing to educate those who still care to listen.. never mind if most of the them think you are kind of weird when talking about loving the environment.. there are still some you know.

Let's get ethics back into the groove of our ordinary lives one day at a time. Whether it is in choosing the kind of car we drive, the gadgets we use or the clothes we wear.. the eco shopping tools we choose to use and include the food we eat or just about anything we have in our lives, we need to get on the side of Nature

The Love of My Life - Aya my Grand Daughter

2011-06-02T01:09:00.000-07:00

When her parents went for a vacation three weeks ago, Aya was left in our care; mine and her Lolo. She stayed with us almost 9 days and during those nine days, despite her irregular sleeping hours, I didn't feel tired at all. Wonder of wonder! Maybe, because the love we feel for her is so over flowing that rest wasn't that of a big deal.

I took all these pictures while there were just two of us in the house. Lolo went to office that day and there were plenty of time to shoot these photos. Isn't she adorable? Sorry for being biased, but in my eyes, she's the most beautiful baby ever.

I love you Aya!

The camera's flash was scaring her in the beginning

Warming Up

Looks like she was excited too with the photo session.

I hate Junk

2011-06-01T08:16:00.000-07:00

.. mail, that is.

Despite the pervasiveness of communications through the web, I still get a lot of pesky materials from my snail mailbox - not mails from friends, or the usual utility bill mails, but those ubiquitous unwanted mails from credit card, health, or insurance companies. These companies offer pre-approved plastic cards and pre-approved health insurance plans without you asking them to do so. I am sure most of us experience the same.

Think about those annoying bulky mails which could be raffle sweepstakes or real estate open house invitations. Others, sell stuff like magazine and newspaper, cable or internet connection subscriptions, etc.

In the first place, where did they get my name? Receiving unsolicited mail can be truly irksome. For one, junk mail is definitely not environment friendly. How many trees need to be cut to be able to send those voluminous and sometimes glossy flyer advertisements to my mailbox. I say stop. This time, I mean it. No Junk Mail no more.

But how do we do that? Well for starters, Why not try asking the companies sending junk mail to please just stop the practice. Inform them that it's bothersome. Tell them to just remove your name from their mailing list period.

Maybe some of you out there can send me suggestions on how to stop the junk from getting into my brick and mortar mailbox? Or perhaps, I will do a little research and tell you about it later. Why not?

To My Dear Mama on Mother's Day

2011-05-07T08:21:00.000-07:00

A poem from someone Unknown

" I said a Mother's Day prayer for you to thank the Lord above
for blessing me with a lifetime of your tenderhearted love.

I thanked God for the caring you've shown me through the years,
for the closeness we've enjoyed in time of laughter and of tears.

And so, I thank you from the heart for all you've done for me
and I bless the Lord for giving me the best mother there could be!"

I LOVE YOU MA!

Remembering my Father Today

2011-04-27T07:14:00.000-07:00

Today is my Father's 15th Death Anniversary. He died from a cataract operation because, as we suspected he had overdosed on anesthesia. Cataract is supposed to be a simple, uncomplicated operation. In fact earlier that month, his right eye was operated first. Able to regain his sight on his right eye, he was too excited to get the left eye immediately operated on. He was too happy, he said the first one was a breeze.

No one saw it coming. I was too shocked when I got that late morning call from my cousin who was with him at the hospital. They were buddies, this cousin and , my father, so it was very okey that he was the one who accompanied him during the operation. Early that day, I was expecting an important call from my Singaporean principal. My plan was right after that call, I would immediately proceed to the hospital.

But it became too late.. he was in comma right after he got out of the operating room. The doctors were unable to give us an acceptable answer. It was clear, early on that there was negligence somewhere.

Guilt overtook me. How could I not have accompanied him to the hospital. What kind of a daughter was I? I cried and cried and cried until tears dried out.

Those were painful memories. My father never woke up from that comma. He stayed in the recovery room while I watched his half naked body convulse.. almost every hour.. he was having those asthma seizures while he remained sedated.. To much anesthesia prevented him from responding and defending himself from those attacks.

My father died after 11 days.

One of the doctors unceremoniously announced that even if my father lived, he would have been a vegetable. "At this point", the FB said, "he is brain dead. The seizures caused his brain to actually die."

What an ass!!!

Why are all these negative memories suddenly coming back?

I am not sure why. All I know is, he is with the Lord, smiling over us; joyful, that he now has a great grand daughter.

I love you Papa! Godspeed!

The Happy Wall

2011-04-15T22:44:00.000-07:00

This is what I call our picture wall. The wall bears most of my families memories in photos saved from Ondoy.

After that devastation I just refused to cower and accept that the things I love most will be gone forever.. and so began the process of recovering the photos.. it took almost six months to completely dry them.. bringing them out when there was some sun and bringing them in when there were rainshowers.

And so here on this wall you can find my childrens pictures when they were truly very young.. and today, when I am lonely, I just look at these wall and recall those wonderful times of my children's wonder years.

Cory Mera

2010-11-20T19:59:00.000-08:00

Now based in the USA after having had an experience of Russian life. Cory used to be a very good friend I met while we were staying in Quezon City. We were concessionaire neighbors. Her children were friends with mine. Her partner is our Concessionaire Association President while I served as Secretary. Until the turbulent days came in. We left Q.C and there was a lull. We lost touch.

But now that we have found each other again, we both promise to keep in touch as soon as she comes back from the US. Looking forward to that.

Mildred N. in Venice

2010-11-20T19:39:00.000-08:00

Celebrating her birthday. Cheers!

She was a classmate in intermediate grades. Bold even during those early times.. speaks her mind and a real go getter. We used to go Girl Scouting and were together in one big international camping activity in Camp Gonzales, Quezon City.

She used to lend me her Girl Scout uniform before I had my own. I think she owned 2, that's why. Mildred has been based in Venice, Italy for the longest time. She speaks Italian very fluently and remains one hell of an adorable woman.

From her fb profile I grabbed this piece of info:

Either youll love or hate me, coz i prefer to tell an unpleasant truth than a sweet lie.
luv innovation, eccentric, non-conformist, art, books, fine-dining,sports,comfort,design,essentialism,travel

She ascribes to Desiderata and St Francis of Assisi teachings.

In a very recent balikbayan trip to the Philippines

Kaye Anne Cureg

2010-11-14T20:02:00.000-08:00

Melody and son Evo's dedication

2010-11-14T19:45:00.000-08:00

She would have been a daughter-in-law. But God had other plans for her and for me. I am so glad that she is well with her family. Another phase in her mothering life -- dedicating Evo's future to the Lord. How great is the Lord for Mom's like Melody. I am very sure she will be a very good mother.

Life in Los Angeles

2010-11-14T19:02:00.000-08:00

Zaldy is a nephew. He plus family have been based in West Covina in the U.S. since the '80's.

Most of these guys are my relatives, all based in the United States for the longest time.

My dear Aunt Noemi and Unc Lito

2010-11-14T18:51:00.000-08:00

Both teachers, my uncle and aunt are the epitome of giving parents. Always there to support and assist their children no matter what. To their credit, it didn't matter to them that people were criticizing how they have spoiled all their children - giving allowances to married children even, taking care of their apos despite the age, etc., etc., etc.

I say cheers to you Uncle and Auntie

Australian Vacation

Holiday in Melbourne

We meet again Ads and I

2010-11-06T01:17:00.000-07:00

Ads was a classmate in the elementary grades. I was totally blown away when I found her in one of the more popular social neworking sites. And I didn't realize she was a high school batchmate.

After 43 years, Ads and I found each other.

The latest on one of my sons and my daughter

2010-11-06T01:12:00.000-07:00

Great going for my children. Thank You Lord for these gifts.

My son surfing in La Union

My Daughter with her friends

On a mountineering trek in Malaysia

My daughter with her studes

Auntie Fely and husband Bob

2010-09-14T19:06:00.000-07:00

She is my Mom's half sister. I just found out lately. I used to know that she was an ordinary Aunt, a teacher and a dark beauty at that.

She met her husband when she went to New Zealand a long, long time ago for the proverbial greener pastures. She was about 35 years old at the time. Taught for awhile and found Bob. Although he was a divorcee, I heard he was the kindest person you can ever find. That's good.

Was that the reason why Aunt Fely had for the longest time been urging me to go to New Zealand and find me a new life, due to the life challenges I was facing during those crucial periods? I feel a tinge of loneliness as I write this.. at this point in my life, ifs are no longer relevant :-) because I am now operating my life by default.. despite the many kind acts being showered my way...

But this post is not about me but Auntie Fely.. she appears to have lived an extremely happy and comfortable life.. Bob made it possible for most if not all of Aunt Fely's relatives to improve their lives. What's joyful to know is Bob's fulfilled because he made Aunt Fely happy.

Eons ago this teacher aunt of mine migrated to New Zealand in search of better opportunities. Not long after I heard she got married. And the next thing I knew she was convincing me to go there too.

She said that for my kids sake and for their future I needed to get out of the country to find a new life that was more dignified, with peace and more comfortable. I had the "intelligence", she said.

The years passed so swiftly and then the contact was lost. I guess she just got tried of trying to make me "see the light".

I am sure she is happy with husband Bob, but I wonder if she misses having her own child.

Cheers!

My cousin Noel, wife Millet and their new baby

2010-08-27T19:47:00.000-07:00

Noel, Millet and Baby Gaele

It's been awhile since this cousin of mine and I heard from each other. There was a cloud of unwanted estrangement due to some "family issues" early on in our lives. Although we the younger ones at the time were not directly involved, it was normal that on family matters (father's side), everyone had the "obligation" to take sides.

But all of that's gone now. Perhaps, my father's death allowed the initial re-connection. I am sincerely happy that we are somehow linked again. Harmony is such an invigorating feeling.

Note: I am not very sure of the baby's name.

Cheers!

My Kumareng Bing and Family now based in Australia

2010-08-26T19:46:00.000-07:00

My Kumare Bing and Irish


My Godchild Irish Angela

Bing and I used to help run the Camp Aguinaldo Concessioanaires Association. As business concessionaires based in a military camp, we encountered problems that were peculiar to the area. Military protocols, as we know can sometimes and for a reason be very rigid. It was incumbent upon us to police our ranks in terms of security and other issues. Handling those problems required PR to maintain congenial among the members including the camp officials.

In attending to these duties, Bing and I grew close and became good friends. I was honored when she asked me to be the godmother of her child.

The family is now based in Australia. After having lost contact for awhile, I found her through one of the most popular social networking sites. It's been a happy reunion, since then. And we hope to remain happily connected.

I noted how my inaanak has grown so pretty, and I understand very smart and intelligent.

Cheers!

Jesmin's Inspiring Path

2010-08-24T20:02:00.000-07:00

Jesmin

JesMin's name was derived from my uncle Jessie and my aunt Luming's names. Typical of folks based in the province. Simple but full of hope.

I saw this girl's rise from the "ashes" so to speak - from what could have been a difficult life with someone who was not in any position to make her happy. The path accompanying the letting go was painful. But in the end, she chose the righteous, less complicated but challenging embrace to a new beginning.

Congratulations Jes, you did it. Now a woman of fine substance, discovering the world through a well paying job with sights and travel perks. Wowee.

Cheers!

The Gogetter Sue

2010-08-19T20:54:00.000-07:00

Video cover of Sue Prado's film

Sue is the typical girl next door neighbor. Pretty lass. Everybody's crush. And because of this she was a real go getter.

I remember that my daughter very kindly got an application for her to be able to take the science school entrance exam. Same school my daughter was attending to. And true to form she was able to get in.. Lots of brain matter there, I thought.

Just like most of us, Sue faced many life issue challenges. After graduating from UPLB, she was gainfully employed. But I guess she wanted more.

Her theater links perhaps provided the venue to try film and television work. The transition appears to be succeeding.

From what I heard lately, she got an award for an indie film, I just can't recall the title, now.

I wish the best for her. Go SUE! Cheers.

Abadeha

Poster of Abadeha, a movie starring Sue Prado.

Manang Lilian

2010-08-07T04:04:00.000-07:00

Manang Lilian succeeding after many years of struggle in the Philippines. Fighter, survivor and a woman of substance. She and and my nephews and nieces now based in West Covina, California. One of her daughters became Ms Philippines some years back.

Cinderella Play and Ate

2010-08-03T00:50:00.000-07:00

Enjoying life at its best, watching plays to unwind..

She looks tired yet happy

Away from home but together with friends

2010-08-03T00:39:00.000-07:00

My daughter and son far away from home but with friends :-)

How to Teach Responsibility | eHow.com

2010-08-02T19:37:00.000-07:00

When children are young it is always easy to overlook teaching responsibility. Most parents feel that because the kids are still not quite ready, they must not be subjected to or bombarded with "too much responsibility and discipline". I have seen children grew-up lacking in responsibility . Unable to do things for themselves. Always waiting for someone to do even the simplest tasks for them instead. Children who have difficulty in making decisions, sometimes resulting to none. But good or bad, issues need to be resolved.

Growing up my parents made it a point to teach me how to handle responsibility. There were no chalk talk. It was required, demanded if not downright commanded. Learning the hard way. That is how I call it. I was often asked to do tasks too old for me. Aside from the weekend routine of housework, my mother mandated that I iron loads of my father's military uniforms. When I perform routine marketing errands, I was required to bring home the right goods as I was instructed to buy. Otherwise, I go back and return. Even at the peril of being berated, if not assailed by the vendors.

I have always felt that I was my family's beast of burden. I had two younger brothers -- only 3 and 4 years younger. But if there was something to accomplish, there was always me. I thought maybe, because I was the eldest. And the "smarter" one. I have been used to running errands from bringing my father to the army hospital every time he had an asthma attack, to talking with my brothers' teachers, when they missed school or if there were PTA meetings, and countless countless other tasks big and small. I did not enjoy most of them but the lessons learned will be with me until my dying days.

Now, why wasn't I able to do that very well with my children?

Perhaps, I lacked the will. Perhaps I had the wrong notion that making go through the same things as I have experienced would not be good for them. And that they deserved better than what I had?

Now I know, there's not much wisdom in that.

In the process of rearing small children read these tips.

How to Teach Responsibility | eHow.com

Stephanie Vergara

2010-07-30T00:43:00.000-07:00

Daughter of Cora and Arnel Vergara. Her Mama and Papa were neighbors back when she was in diapers. Concessionaire Area was demolished but the friendly relationships remained.

Stephanie is on your left