Yayie Covers and Vlogs

Bye 2020, Hello 2021!

2020-12-30T23:43:00.008-08:00

The year 2021 is a few hours away. Before this year ends, let me take this opportunity to tell you that i would like to help take away some of the burdens you’ve been carrying on your shoulder. The hatred, bitterness, anger and jealousy you’re feeling right now are just some of the things that you should not be carrying along with you as you move on to the next chapter of your life.

With the pandemic still on-going, we don’t need any more dramas from the outside, because wether you admit it or not, you already got so much drama going on inside of you. Here’s a helpful piece of advice from me to you:

Small number you say, but it might get smaller in 2021 😊

If you feel some type of way towards me, please do me a favor. Will you delete me from your facebook list? I have nothing but pure happiness, love and good wishes towards everybody. Although i offer you nothing but good friendship and positive thoughts and wishes, i still feel that for some reason, seeing me and knowing what i do raises your eyebrows maybe out of insensitivity or just pure hatred. If you are still here just lurking around and every time you see me hurts your eyes that you feel the need to talk about me to other people in a negative way? Please do yourself a favor. Stop hurting yourself. The last thing i would do is to become a burden and be the cause of your heart attack. I couldn’t find a valid reason for me to delete you for i know deep in my heart that i did nothing wrong to you. If i ever offended you and you think nothing will ever fix it, cut me loose.

Nobody told you that life is easy but let’s make it simpler. I am battling my own war and nothing that i post, say or do is about you until this one. Joy and depression cannot reside on the same space. Laugh every chance you get. Let’s all restart with a clean slate, Ok? You may not love me but I, I love you with the love of the Lord. Y’all be safe and stay healthy Happy New Year!!! 2021 is gonna be a great year for all of us!💜💜💜

-MAMA BEAR

I originally wrote this last year. It took me a year to post it hoping that things will change, that we will all be cordial with each other. It’s all good now, so here it is 🥰

Prayer for 2021

God, You know me. Before I was even born, You loved me and knew every detail of my life.

So as I enter 2021, please fill me with Your peace that passes understanding and keep my eyes fixed on You.

No matter what I face this year, give me strength and hope, and help me to dream with You. Even when it may feel like dreaming isn’t possible, show me that nothing is impossible for You.

In 2021, please bless me and protect me. Let Your face shine upon me and be gracious to me. Please give me Your peace and make this a year of breakthrough.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

40 Elf on the Shelf Simple Ideas For Busy "Santas"

2020-12-18T19:02:00.006-08:00

The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition is a 2005 children's picture book, written by Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell, and illustrated by Coë Steinwart. The book tells a Christmas-themed story, written in rhyme, that explains how Santa Claus knows who is naughty and nice. It describes elves visiting children from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve, after which they return to the North Pole until the next holiday season. The Elf on the Shelf comes in a keepsake box that features a hardbound picture book and a small scout elf. The authors say the story is from a family tradition started by Carol Aebersold for her twin daughters, Chanda Bell and Christa Pitts in Georgia, USA.

Our family started this Christmas tradition back in 2017. We first get the female one and we named her Mangle. The following year, 2018 we got the male elf and we named him Frost. This year we got another female and we named her Caramel. It is an exciting and fun activity to do that everybody in the family gets seriously involved. I would ask my husband or my eldest daughter to reposition the elves before going to bed whenever i forget or become lazy to do it. Whenever somebody accidentally touches the elves, my daughter will tearfully tell me to help her sprinkle some cinnamon on them to preserve the magic. Until now, she is still enthusiastic and a a great believer of the magic of christmas brought about by these elves.

Here are some simple Elf on the Shelf ideas that we did over the years.

Enjoy the holidays and may you all have a wonderful, magical Christmas!

"A Penny saved is a penny earned"

Catching goldfish in the sink

Frost on the tambourine, Mangle on guitar, and Caramel on Ukelele in our music rooom.

Playing Tic tac toe

They must be telling Jamesya to read books more often or to increase her vocabulary or trying to tell me to lose weight or whatever, idk

So you're cold, why are you in the fridge?

My daughter's face when she saw them drew a mustache and beard on her picture.😅

My daughter loves to play and eat some ice and leaves them on the floor to melt

Mangle with her homegirl, Barbie

She came in like a wrecking-ball 🎵

They took a selfie with her while she was sleeping

ziplining!!!

She's back in a paper plane

Yep! Tell her!!!

Feeling toasty

Giant elves on our Christmas village

Mangle, girls don't shave facial hair because they don't have them lol

Santa was taking them back with him to North Pole

Merry Christmas!!!

Nothing Compares To You (by SInead O' Connor) Cover by Yayie

2020-12-04T21:24:00.001-08:00

This is my cover of the song Nothing Compares To You popularized by Sinead O'Connor. Sadly, Youtube removed it as soon as I uploaded it back in November 3, 2012 due to Copyright Issue.

Hopefully it will stay here so I can watch this over and over.

Exactly 7 days from now, i will be leaving the country that once i called my temporary home, Germany (Deutschland).  I am so excited that i will be goin back to South Korea but felt a lil bit of sadness knowing that I have not explored this country/ continent  so well and i will miss the snow that we had here :). In my fondness, i included a few video clips where i was enjoying my first experience of snow  here in Germany.  Oh well, this song by Sinead O'Connor has nothing to do with what i'm feeling right now LOL....I'm just feeling like doin a Sinead cover on this gloomy day :)..PLease enjoy watching. Share it, love it, like it...everything counts!

I do not own this song.
No copyright infringement intended.  All rights belong to their respective owners.

Crispy Lechon Kawali (Air Fryer)

2020-11-29T19:18:00.002-08:00

Easy to follow recipe

Lechon kawali, also known as lechon carajay,[1] is crispy pork belly deep-fried in a pan or wok (kawali). It is seasoned beforehand, cooked then served chopped into pieces. It is usually accompanied with a dipping sauce, such as "lechon sauce" traditionally made with pork liver, or toyomansi (soy sauce with calamansi).
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lecho...

Ingredients 3 lbs Pork Belly
3 pcs Bay Leaves
1/2 Garlic
2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Pepper
[sauce] 1/2 cup Vinegar
1/3 cup Soy Sauce
3 tbsp Red Onion
3 tbsp Jalapeno Pepperpreferences)
Pepper to taste
Sugar

Steps: Boil water
Add bay leaves, garlic, salt and pepper
Add pork
Boil it for 15-20 minutes or until meat is tender
Remove the meat from the pot
Pat dry with a paper towel
Poke the meat
Cool it down (you can keep in the fridge for few hours to overnight or so)
Bring to room temperature and season with salt
Prepare Philips Air Fryer
Set the temperature to 350F and set a timer for 30 minutes
Check the meat half of the timer. (Press the middle button on Philips Air Fryer to pause the cooking)
Resume the cooking by pressing the middle button
After 30 minutes of the timer, check if the skin is crunchy enough. If not, set another 20 minutes or so and continue cooking for extra crunchiness.
Once you achieve the crunchiness you want, serve it!

September 1st of 2013, Happiness!

2013-09-01T07:39:00.000-07:00

Exactly three years ago, I wrote about how i spent my 1st of September in 2010 alone in Germany. No family, no friends and nobody with me to welcome the "Bermonths". Now I'm back and I'm writing again on how I spent my day today, the 1st of September year 2013.

Yes, in the morning i did the usual. I played christmas carols at 8AM to welcome the "Bermonths". But this time i played the ones that my little princess will appreciate, Nursery Rhymes Christmas Songs on Youtube. My pretty Shasha, dancing while singing the songs, started my day perfectly.

In the afternoon, we took a cab to Lotte Mart. Before we went inside, I made a deal with Shasha. I told her that if she behaves and not act up like she always does everytime we go places (ALWAYS as in ALL THE TIME) , I will buy her a toy and lots of stickers. She quickly replied "Otei" (OK) as soon as i finished my statement. We entered the mall in peace, walked around until she found a toy that she likes, a Pororo toy car. I never realized that ₩15,000 worth of a toy and some stickers will tame the tigress in her.

She was happily playing with her new toy while eating Chajangmeon, Sweet and Sour Pork with rice . I know she's been wanting to play at the little play area right next to Lotteria booth but i told her to help mommy finish eating the food so we can both play together. She again gave me the word "Otei" and stayed sitted at the table until we finished our food. Then i followed her as she took off to play.

While we were walking back to our apartment, we passed by Ccokio store so i decided to stop by and see what they have. They changed the store's arrangement from my last visit. They have more live and fake plants displayed on the left side. I'm tempted to buy the heart-shaped flowering vine plant but i don't have a car to bring it home so we walked around and found, at the kitchen department, a sizzling plate that i've been looking for. I immediately grabbed that one last sizzling plate on the shelf and went to the cashier.

While walking on our way home i asked Shasha, who was quietly sipping on her strawberry juice, if she was happy. "Sha-sha, are you happy?". I was expecting her to answer, "Otei". Amazingly my 2 -1/2 year old daughter anwered, "I'm happy, mommy".

I almost cry with what i heard. I never hear her clearly utter a 3-word phrase. Well I guess this year's 1st of September is another memorable one. No amount of money can beat the time spent being alone with my daughter. She showed a little bit of maturity by the way she behaved and talked this afternoon. My heart is overwhelming with gladness as I am writing this blog knowing that a little walk around, a ₩9,000 Pororo toy car, a time well-spent with Shasha will make our day perfectly and amazingly happy even though Daddy is not with us once again on the 1st of September.

"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions."

Dalai Lama

Sa Araw ng Mga Dakilang Ina

2013-05-09T23:15:00.001-07:00

Ina, Nanay, Mommy, Mama, Madir o Mudra? Sa paanong paraan mo man tawagin ang iyong ina, iisa parin ang kahulugan nito. Ang tao na walang takot nagbuwis ng buhay maisilang kalang sa mundong ito. Sabi nga ng Mama ko nung dalaga pa ko, kapag ang babae ay nanganganak, ang isang paa daw natin ay nasa hukay. Nakakatakot naman po! Nakakatakot naman talaga kaya nga dalawa lang kinaya ko eh. At ang takot na to ay magiging parte na ng buhay natin bilang ina. Takot na hindi mapalaki ang mya anak ng maayos. Takot na di natin sila mapakain ng tama. Takot na baka magkasakit tayo, hindi natin sila maaalagaan ng maayos at hindi tayo makakapasok sa trabaho at wala tayong kikitain para ipambili ng pagkain nila, ng damit, pambayad sa matrikula, pambaon sa eskwela, pambili ng pangangailangan nila. Takot na baka di sila mag-aral ng mabuti. Takot na baka makapag asawa sila ng wala sa tamang panahon. Takot na baka may manakit sa kanila. Takot na magkasakit sila. At napakarami pang takot na hinaharap at haharapin natin. Ang hirap ano po? Nabubuhay ka araw araw, bilang isang ina. Isang ina na ayaw magutom ang pamilya kaya ka nagtatrabaho, kaya ka nagluluto ng makakain sa araw araw. Isang ina na ayaw malait ang mga anak kaya panay ang laba ng damit tapos plancha para paglabas nila maayos sila tingnan. Isang Ina na ayaw magkakasakit ang pamilya kaya araw araw kung maglinis ng bahay, kuskos dito, kuskos doon hanggang sa gumaspang ang mga kamay hanggang sa makalimutan na ang sarili rin ay dapat alagaan. Sa araw-araw yan ang paulit- ulit mong ginagawa. Nakakasawa ba? Minsan pa gusto mo na mapagod di ba? Gusto mo ng sumuko? Nagagalit ka kapag di ka makatapos ng gawain sa bahay kase ang kukulit ng mga anak mo. Pero ano mang galit ang dumapo sayo, sapian ka man ng masamang elemento sa init ng ulo mo sa kunsumisyon, lalapitan mo pa rin ang anak mo na napalo at nasigawan mo. Ikaw pa magsosorry dahil sa totoo lang ikaw ang totoong nasaktan sa ginawa mo at hindi sila. Ikaw ang nasaktan kase mahal mo sila. Takot ka nga masaktan sila di ba? Kaya ang pagiging ina, kung di mo sasamahan ng panalangin sa Dyos na bigyan ka pa ng lakas at mahabang pasensya, kung walang katatagan ng loob, kung walang pagmamahal, ay isang malaking napakabigat na katungkulan . Pero sa tulad nating mga dakilang Ina, pagmamahal ang syang nagpapagaan ng lahat. Kaya para sa katulad kong Ina, na walang sawa mag mahal at mag aruga sa pamilya, saludo po ako sa inyo. Happy Mother's Day, beautiful mommas!!!

Things That I Decided Not To Post in FB

2013-04-15T18:48:00.008-07:00

The best feeling in the world is when ur living a life that is drama-free, stress-free and annoyance-free. Sometimes, only one person is keeping u from living it. And when u find who it is, immediately kick him/ her out of ur circle. Don't feel sorry that u let them invade ur privacy. Just be thankful that they're finally dead in ur book :) - Mama Bear

I think it's funny when someone feels bad when nobody "Likes" and writes comments on what she's posting in FB. I mean, seriously? Girl, stop expecting too much from people. Get a life! Ur just setting urself to failure and disappointments. She thinks she's popular that she deserves Ks of "likes" and "comments"...Lol i know one, she's just a big joke to the society lol - Mama Bear

I'm just surprised that some people know better than i know this person for years, in just a short period of time and still manage to put up with her BS. Wow! That's one helluva talent to fake the funk ! Some people just amaze me in their own stupid way. -Mama Bear

Will you still say thank you to a person who talks hate behind your back and play nice when your're around? She's not named after a flower for no reason. Don't let yourself fall for her trap. Im telling you right now, you just made me LOL - Mama Bear

I didn't get mad and dump a relationship just because. My experience being in it is reasonable enough. Feel free to experience it yourself - Mama Bear

Tagalog naman para mas masaya :-)

Nakakaloka ka teh! Dati sabi mo ayaw mo sila invite at masyado makulet mga junakis nya, eh baket ngayon BFF na sa pagka-closeness kayong dalawa. You're such a butterfly lol - Mama Bear

Walang basagan ng trip. Gusto mo kaw lang magpopost ng picture sa FB? Eh ano kung di sya kagandahan, kasalanan nya ba un? Tapos mananakot ka pang mang di-delete ka? LOL... Magbayad ka nalang ng sangkatutak mong utang ha teh bago ka manita ng walang ka wenta wenta. Teng eneng te!!!

Ramdam kita. Kunyari ka pang bait baitan sakin pero noon mo pa ko nilalaglag. Ang laki ng inggit mo dapat itigil mo na yan. Alam mong di ako tanga, kaya sasabayan kita. Kung ako sayo magsimba ka, ihingi mo ng tawad mga paninira at tsismis na pinagkakalat mo. I'm not perfect but u wont get nothin from me anymore. Pinakagat lang kita, kala mo naman magsasabi pa ko sayo ng alam ko? Asikasuhin mo kaya buhay mo, alisin mo kadramahan mo! Ok?

If u have written something in that box that says "what's on your mind" then just deleted it for a reason, feel free to write it down here in the comment box. 😆

Isusulat Ko Na Lang sa Tagalog Para Maintindihan Mo!

2013-02-26T08:46:00.009-08:00

Minsan ba gusto mo nang pumatol sa ka - cheapan ng isang tao at sabihin ang mga ito? :

Ang pagtulong sa kapwa ng taos sa puso ay walang hinihintay na ano mang kapalit na pasasalamat, pabor o kabayaran. Hindi rin ito dapat ipinagmamalaki o ipinagyayabang. Wag ka na lang tumulong kung ang dahilan mo ay magka bonus points ka kay Lord. Kilabutan ka naman sa mga sinasabi mo!

Hintayin mong ang tao ang pumuri sayo, at kung hindi ka nila pansinin wag mong ikasama ng loob. Kung di pag usapan ang picture mo sa FaceBook aba'y dapat magpasalamat ka. Hindi mo gugustuhin makabasa ng di magandang puna kung hindi naman talaga nila gusto ang nababasa at nakikita nila. Mabuti nang wag ka nilang pansinin, korek?

Sa isang grupo o lugar may isang nakakaalam ng buhay ng lahat ng tao. Kung pano mo kinwento ang buhay mo sa kanya, ay ganun din nya kadaling maikukwento ito sa iba. Alam mo na ba kung sino sya?
Kilala mo na no? Yun lang naman yung walang kapaguran makipag chikahan sa lahat. Magaling sya mag multi-tasking, telepono sabay alaga ng bata habang subo ng subo ng pagkain. Di man lang lunukin muna ang nasa bibig. Sobrang dami ng sinasabi pati bunganga namumulti-tasking, nguya sabay daldal kahit punong puno ang bunganga. Yuuukkk where are your table manners?

Oo marami kang kaibigan, lahat ba sila totoo sayo? Weh di nga? Baket sabi ni ano, ano ka daw. Wag na nga lang, wag ko daw sabihin sayo eh .

Wag ka masyado feelingera , sabi nga ng kakilala ko, di daw bagay sayo. Lol

Makapintas ka sa katawan ko na unproportioned, pag naghubad tayong dalawa sino ba ang katawa tawa at nakakasulasok? Syempre ang tulad mong.... Di ko nalang i dedescribe kase di lahat ng kapareho mong katawan ay kasing baboy ng ugali mo.

Sige pag patuloy mo yang ka cheapan mong kaka kwento sa lahat tungkol sa akin dahil pag nahuli kita, tutuhugin kita ng kawayan para pag piyestahan ka ng mga tulad mong mal-edukada.

Nakakapagod din padlang mag -type. Bigyan mo ko ng dahilan at sasabihin ko sayo ung ibang kinatamaran ko nang isulat. Lamunin mo lahat ng sasabihin ko sayo tutal di ka lang sa pagkain matakaw, pati sa atensyon at pera sugapa ka rin.

Eto bago! Lol - June 14, 2021

Tanda mo na puro inuman parin nasa utak mo! Di ka pa makuntento dadamay mo pa sa kalokohan mo ibang tao. Dalhin kamo ang apo ko sa inyo ng di ipapasabi sa anak ko? Para ano, makita ng apo ko na puro inuman at kadramahan ginagawa nyo? Baket may ganun ha? Turuan mo pa magsinungaling ung isa sa asawa nya? Tapos pag nag away ang mag asawa iiwas ka na naman para di ka madamay kuno? Tulad ng ginagawa mo noon sa iba. Umayos ka baka gusto mo na naman ng drama tapos change ka na naman ng group of friends mo. 😂Troublemaker! Pangalanan kita dito next time with proof of convo pa. Gawain mo talaga tigil tigilan mo na yan mag asikaso ka na lang pamilya mo para di nagchicheat asawa mo! 😂😂😂 Kami ng anak ko puro work and family inaatupag malaman ko lang na ng brainwash ka na naman, susungalngalin ko yang bunganga mo! God forgive me 🥰

Oo tagalog to at dinededicate ko specially for u. Wag mong hintaying gawan pa kita ng music video, sosyal ka! :D

Your Words Are Fatal, You Might Not Even Know It

2010-12-12T06:57:00.000-08:00

I feel so down and low since yesterday. Some people might be celebrating in victory right now, i know they'd been waiting for me to feel this way, waiting to see me fail. Some people may not care, "who am i to them anyway?" I thought everything will turn out just fine but I'm trapped after surviving from a major downfall. What's worse is that i have no voice at all, my opinions don't matter no more. It's like everytime i open my mouth I speak with no sense, making me feel like i have nothing right to say so I'd better shut up! It's like I'm in a war with no battle gears. You catched me from falling and you put me in a jar with no hole so i can breathe. Your words are fatal and you might not know it. It's like a knife stuck in my heart.

The only and last person that I'm expecting to help me pick up the pieces again took it from me and throw them outside the window. Blown by the wind, scattered everywhere and I don't know where to find the other pieces. I will never be whole ever again.

Crabmentality Is a Curable Disease.

2010-10-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

Every weekends specially on Sundays, i always make sure that i give my family back in the Philippines a call . We are lucky nowadays that there are many options and ways of communication to ease out the homesickness we are experiencing as OFWs. Ofcourse we would like to hear how they are doing back home and also to ensure that they are always safe and sound.

I considered my family in the Philippines to belong in the middle class until we lost our restaurant a year ago. The restaurant that puts me to school and helped me finish my Bachelor's degree. The restaurant that gave my mom and my dad several properties. The restaurant where most of my siblings depend on to provide for their own family's needs. Now that it's closed and gone after 3 decades of challenging operation to survive, it affects my mom's and some of my sibling's living conditions. I love my family and i want to help them in the most possible way i know.

Recently i provided my brother a capital to start his and his wife's fish and meat rolling store. It's a humble and simple sidecar (pedicab or whatever you wanna call it) that contains fresh fishes and meats that he and his wife, who currently has 3 small mouths to feed, are selling in the nearby subdivisions. My sister- in- law used to work for their neighbor's rolling store. Earning P100/ day driving the sidecar and selling different varieties of fish. I then ask my Mom how much will it cost to start their own rolling store business. It really didn't cost alot actually so i provided them the capital. They recently started selling and operating their own rolling store and earning enough to sustain their daily needs when i talked to my sister and found out that their female neighbor, to whom my sister-in-law used to work for, threatened to get somebody to beat up my brother if they will continue selling to her regular patrons. My brother and his wife are not stupid not to know that it's is not right to steal her regular buyers, if that's what she was trying to say.

Yayiemai's take :

Crabmentality is a metaphor referring to a pot of crabs in which one of them tries to escape and instead is pulled down by the rest of them. Sadly, Filipinos are known to have this characteristic. It's posessed by a person who is envious, jealoused, self centered, unhappy of ones success. Basically it entails to a person who doesn't want to see anybody else to succeed other than himself.

"Why on earth can't we all be happy for another person? Are you the only people who deserve to live? Serious or not about beating up my brother, a threat is a threat and I'm gonna find ways to sue you for grave threat and you will be sorry for uttering those words. I maybe far but I'm working to defend my family and their safety. May God still bless you and your family, eventhough your family stole my Father's Auto shop years ago. Inspite of all the help we offered you and your family in the past years, you repaid us with insult and ghetto style attacks that my family is not acustomed of. Thank you for that." - this is me talking to my brother's neighbor.

September 1st of 2010, My Saddest September 1 Ever?

2010-08-31T18:51:00.000-07:00

Exactly 116 days before Christmas. Today , the 1st of September, many people, most specially in the Philippines, are celebrating this day to welcome the Christmas season. I remember when I was still young, my Dad would play his favorite Christmas carol album as early as 7 o'clock in the morning, a tradition that my family has been doing up until now.

           I can't wait til everybody in this building is awake so I can play a Christmas carol . Some lively and happy Christmas songs to start my day. But all these happy and joyful thoughts came to a halt when i started watching a live streaming of a regular early morning TV program in the Philippines. They featured a children's choir caroling, people celebrating on the streets and the TV hosts are exchanging gifts. They look so happy. I then realized that every year, i celebrate Christmas in different ways since I left the Philippines in 2004. And as the years pass by, I'm getting closer and closer to spending this special day alone. Last year, 2009, I celebrated Christmas with my Bebee. Yes, just me and my Bebee. It was my 6th Christmas away from my family in the Philippines, 1st Christmas without friends to celebrate it with. But I was still happy last year, knowing that i celebrated it with my love one. But how about this year's Christmas? I know for a fact that my Bebee wouldn't be here to celebrate it with me. So I guess I have to deal with it. Sad but true, my friends, I'm spending this year's Christmas alone. Me, myself and I. This thought of being alone has somewhat changed the way i look at September 1. It used to be a happy day for me until this year. I asked myself, "what is His plan for me?" But if I really have to go through this loneliness to someday achieve the happiness that I've been longing for, "Lord, so be it."

If there's anybody here who's been spending their Christmas alone, please welcome me to the club (lol). And if there's anybody here who's about to spend the Chrismas alone, don't feel bad, you are not alone. Smile for we are not really alone. God lives within our hearts.

What's On Your Wish List?

2010-08-26T10:08:00.000-07:00

I was decluttering my closet again, the 2nd time this month, when i saw a note that i wrote on a blue "post it" note pad a year ago. I remember writing it while watching a white lion on TV. I laughed and said to myself, "after a year i only got one among the few things that i just randomly listed?". It lead me to writing this blog about the things that i really want to have, things that i can easily get and things that are impossible for me to possess.

                                             Pardon me for my very beautiful penmanship, lol

I'm an animal/ pet lover. So here is the list of animals/pets that i want to have in my house:
   1. a dog                                                         6. a polar bear
   2. a cat                                                          7. a black panther
   3. a white lion                                                 8. a yellow blowfish
   4. a deer
   5 a chameleon

Unfortunately, I cannot get any pet not even a dog or a cat with our current situation (frequent PCS-ing). It takes a lot of patience and responsibility to have one. Besides, somebody here doesn't want a pet at home...hhhmmmmppp. So everytime i go to a friend's house (who's in the US now) i always play with her pet cat, Samara.

                                                         I miss you pretty Samara!!!

Other things that i want to have and planning to buy in the future:
   1. a purple laptop                                          5. a purple or yellow mini coop
   2. an acoustic guitar                                      6. a wedding gown (church wedding of course!)
   3. an LV Rosewood (Amarante)                      7. my own photography/ video making studio
   4. a DSLR camera                                       8. my own house and lot

Whheeeww! The first four are just within my reach but the other four, oh well it's gonna take quite sometime before i can have them. :) ... Surprisingly, i got a package containing my black electric/acoustic guitar coming from my Bebee six months ago, thank you mwuah! My Sony VAIO laptop is still in good condition so the next time I'll buy another one to replace my baby, I'll make sure it's purple. LV and DSLR camera, I can see them coming in the near future.

I got more things on my wish list that i chose not to mention here. I don't want to sound so materialistic but, don't you think that sometimes writing down a couple of things that you have in mind can bring back the child in you? For me it does. How about you? What's on your wish list? Write it down! Who knows somebody might just have a heart to give you atleast one of those, *wink wink*. "Ber" is just around the corner!!!!

"The Captain and the Major"

2010-08-24T14:05:00.000-07:00

So much has been said about the fateful incident that happened in Manila last Monday, August 23, 2010. It's all over the internet, the news worldwide and the newspaper headlines. I am not gonna write and tackle about it here for we have seen and heard enough of it. But on behalf of my country and my countrymen, i would like to express my deepest apology and sincerest sympathy to the family of the Hong Kong nationals who have lost their lives on the said incident. It's an isolated case that is handled "incompetently" that can possibly happen to anyone, anywhere.

On the lighter side, we Filipinos are somewhat been redeemed from the pit of shame after the toweresque beauty queen, Ms. Philippines 2010 Venus Raj gave a "Major, major" honor to our country by representing the Republic of the Philippines as a candidate for the Miss Universe 2010 and placed fourth runner-up to Ms. Mexico, Ximena Navarrete.

Venus Raj, born in Doha, Qatar and grew up and lived for more than 20 years in a nipa hut made of wood, bamboo and anahaw leaves with no electricity in the middle of a rice field in Bato, Camarines Sur, in Bicol Region, Philippines, was brought up by her mother, a former tenant farmer and a dressmaker. She obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Communication Arts, Major in Journalism at Bicol University in Albay with Latin honors (Cum Laude). Back in the Philippines, she works as an Information Assistant for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and works as a part- time fashion model.

Yayiemai's take:

In just two days, the whole world has seen the two faces of the Philippines. I called it "The Captain and the Major", (please don't ask me why). A downfall and an emanation. My country may have been drowning in the sea of problems, but im still proud to say that the Phililippines is still a beautiful country to go to. There are still more Filipinos who are friendly, hospitable and trust-worthy. Let not one bad apple spoil the whole bunch. Let the love flow within our hearts. Let's give the innocent people a chance to move on and let's all pray for the good and safety of everyone.

I Was Featured on charicemusic.ca!!!!

2010-08-17T11:05:00.000-07:00

Yes, you read it right. I "was" featured on charicemusic.ca "last year" as the Featured Filipino Artist of the Week (June 19-26, 2009). Many of my friends didn't know, some of them doesn't care, but being me, i bashfully celebrate every single compliment that i receive.

For those who didn't know yet, Charice or Charmaine Clarice Relucio Pempengco is a Filipina singer who rose to popularity through YouTube. Dubbed by Oprah Winfrey as the Most Talented Girl in the World, she is the first Asian artist in history to land in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 album chart. Her carrier single entitled Pyramid is included in her self-titled album, Charice.

I remember when i got a message coming from charicemusic.ca administrators telling me that they want to feature me on their website upon seeing my cover of Charice Pempengco's Note To God in Youtube (currently has 42,525 views, Yeeeeeeyyy!!! And a bunch of haters in the comment box, Booooo!!! And greatful and protective viewers as well, Mwuah mwuah mwuah!!!!). How can anyone say no to that? Ofcourse i was surprised and replied to their message right away. Besides, i was singing and making videos in Youtube as a hobby, just because i want to and i like doing it with no intentions of getting the public's attention (as what my video haters are claiming). So it really was a huge "WOW" for me.

You must be wondering by now, why after more than a year, i decided to write about it? Actually, i was editing my Youtube channel info and came accross the charicemusic.ca link that i posted last year, clicked on it and started reminiscing how happy and thankful i was being on Charice's website. Anywho... click here to go to charicemusic.ca . Who knows? You might get a chance to chat with Charice Pempengco LIVE like last year.

To end this blog, i just want to make a statement to those who are not quite happy to see Charice Pempengco living her own dream. Please stop the hating and for once please be happy that a humble and talented girl is paving the way for the future Filipino performing artists to make it big internationally. Let's keep the love flowing :)

After i got featured, i received a request from a Youtuber for me to sing Charice Pempengco's Always You.

How would you feel when.....

2010-08-14T11:45:00.000-07:00

How would you feel when from being a lively party animal, almost complete and productive, you voluntarily throw yourself away to a place 10300 kilometers or 6400 miles away from your family? A place where everything closes @ 5PM and on Sundays? A place where you don't have anybody to talk to but your love one but is always being sent away on a tour of duty for a month, 2months or even a year? A place where you cannot find your closest friends and only a neighbor's old Basset Hound dares to greet you? When the best time to stay out and walk around happens for only quite a few weeks and the rest of the year is chilly, then cold then months of freezy. When you are in a situation where you are temporarily unable to do the usual physical activities that you usually do to keep yourself busy? How would you feel?

It's like being boxed and stuck for an uncertain time. You're starting to think of getting an Optical examination because you feel the need to wear some sort of corrective lenses for those dilated eyes from staying too much in front of the computer. You'll find yourself talking to yourself most of the time, of course you don't want to see a $1,000.00 phone bill by the end of the month. Then you'll see a picture of a food, then you'll crave for it, but it's just so impossible to have it. Not here. Not in this place, you'll say to yourself.

Oh! You finally see a fellow Filipino, "but why is it when i smiled at her, she looked away? Yeah, I know her, she says hi and walks away. " You'll laugh at yourself and wonder, "does my face spell BORING?"

There are so much to do at home, redecorate the house, play video games, learn how to play a guitar, make a music video of your own, learn several languages. How about a home job like an affiliate marketing? Sounds like a good idea. By the end of the day, you'll retire to your bed with your laptop. Yes, your dear laptop keeps u company. "Oh what the...? What is wrong with the power going on and off?" " Oh crap! I forgot that my laptop battery needs a replacement." I won't mention that u forgot to recharge your iphone earlier too so it will die soon if u keep on Facebooking. You'll try to sleep but you're used to sleeping with the night lamps on.

How would you feel? I'd say "get it over with, silly. Tomorrow's another day"

Cologne, Germany : The Famous Cathedral and a long lost friend, Joe.

2010-08-05T09:28:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, August 1, 2010, we went to Cologne,
Germany, one of the short trips that we had been
planning on inspite of the hectic schedules at work. It could've been a 3 hour smooth drive until we got caught up in a slight traffic caused by a burning car on the right lane of the autobahn. We continued driving as the lady in the Navigon, annoying as she is, keeps on adding more and more kilometers to travel, one after the other, making me more excited to get to our destination.

Finally, we arrived at the Dom and parked at the underground parking area. Went up the stairs and there i saw one of the most beautiful structures i've ever seen in my entire life,The Cologne Cathedral. Dedicated to the saints Peter and Mary, Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) is the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Cologne. Cologne Cathedral is the greatest Gothic cathedral in Germany and has been Cologne's most famous landmark for centuries. Once the tallest building in the world, Cologne Cathedral still boasts the world's largest church façade.

Inside, the most celebrated work of art in the cathedral is the Sarcophagus of the Magi, a large gilded sarcophagus dating to around 1200. The largest reliquary in the western world, the exterior is seven feet of gilded silver and jewels. Images of Old Testament prophets line the bottom and the 12 apostles decorate the top. Inside, the reliquary holds three golden-crowned skulls believed to belong to the Three Magi. Actually there's a lot to see inside like The Gero Cross, The Presentation of Christ in the Elder Bible window and many more. But due to a very limited time we had, and still trying to go to the next spot which closes in the next 4 hours, i just decided to light two candles and prayed. I took a single picture and bounce off.

As we walk along the streets, busy lookin at the people playing different musical intruments, gazing at the pretty purses outside the Louis Vuitton window, taking some more pictures, buying some souvenirs, we passed by a weird looking statue with faces all over his body. I was staring at the statue when it suddenly moved and snatched my cap off my head. Though it scared me to encounter a moving statue for the first time, taking the opportunity to take a picture with this statue who called himself Joe never slipped off my mind. So my Bebee immediately took 2Euro from his pocket, put it in a jar in front of Joe and we posed like we've known each other for the longest.

We walked and reached the intriguing Padlocks of Love on the Hohenzollern Bridge. It's a scenery of thousands, maybe millions of padlocks with painted and engraved names on of the couples who visited Cologne. It's been a growing trend since late summer in 2008, when the first love locks started to appear. Deutche Bahn was apparently keen to have them removed but bowed down after a public out- cry, so the custom is currently allowed to continue. So when u decide to visit Cologne with your love one, remember to bring a padlock with your names engraved or picture printed on it because i was looking for a store or a kiosk that sells padlocks but i didn't find one. This is another reason for me to come back.

And for our last destination, The Chocolate Museum. Enjoy an expedition through 3,000 years of chocolate history. From cocoa cultivation to the finished chocolate, from its origin in America to its use in industrial products, you can experience all of these aspects of one of the world's most favorite food for only 7.50 euro entrance fee. And oh, we bought some chocolates too from the store located at the ground floor of the museum.

T'was a great day although the original plan of staying at the Hyatt Hotel to explore Cologne even more didn't happen. Honestly speaking, i haven't had enough of it. Besides, what is a 3-hour drive if your just sitting in the passenger's seat just like me? ...A thought came out of silence on our way home, " So, where are we goin next time, Bebee? Paris? " Then silence.