Den's Graduation Day

March 28, 2008 - This day is Den's High School graduation day. After 4 years at the University of Santo Tomas High School, she is now finished and free!!! It's also quite nostalgic for me to be attending it seeing as how it was 19 years ago that I stood on that same stage to get my own diploma :)

We all woke up very early because we had to be at the venue (PICC Plenary Hall) by 7am.. Den and her classmates had to be in school by 6am (they'll all be transported by bus to the venue)!!

Anyway, Dana was so excited she even woke up by herself. She was going to wear her new dress and that in itself is a big thing!! Dylan took a longer time to get up (which was understandable) but when we told him he'd get to wear his new Elmo shirt, well he was up and at 'em LOL

Too bad that when we got to the venue, we were told that Dana and Dylan will not be allowed to enter because of the rule that children 7 years old and below are not permitted.. which should not be the case because graduations are family events, aren't they and kids should be allowed to witness it... I can understand the need for order and such but parents will surely keep their kids in line, won't they? at least I would and my kids are well-behaved in public anyway.. but I guess there are some who aren't..

Anyway, Patrick and the kids ended up going to the local fastfood store while waiting for Den and me, so that the kids can while the time away in the playroom. But they also went home earlier because they were getting cranky, and the event still wasn't finished.

I felt sad while the ceremonies were on-going. First because I felt that my mom should have been here to witness it with me. She sure would have loved to see her favorite grandchild graduate. :) Second, I was the only one who was there for Den, although Patrick and the kids were physically there earlier. Her other classmates had as much as 5 people with them, more were even waiting outside. Third, we didn't even have a celebratory lunch for Den because of financial strappings. I did promise her that we will go for whatever she wants when some money comes in :)

After the ceremonies were over, naturally, the picture taking started :) it was chaos there! LOL there was a lot of crying, hugging, meeting parents, meeting boyfriends/girlfriends (surprise, surprise!).. it was a mixture of elation and sadness.. but sure worth remembering :)

For pictures: http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u270/rachel01013/Den%20Graduation/100_1351.jpg

Happy Easter everyone!

Happy Easter to Everyone!!

To Catholics, Easter is a special time because it commemorates Jesus Christ's rebirth. In the same manner, it also symbolizes a change in people.. a rebirth from the old ways.. a chance to start anew..

I look at it as a chance to accept my mom's death, to forgive the driver who killed her, and to let go of any hate.. it's not easy... because I want justice for my mom's death.. I still can't believe that she (it was a 23-year old Caucasian) was let go without even a slap on the wrist even though she killed my mother.. does it not matter that she took a life? Thinking about forgiveness is easier than actually doing it..

We just spent the day at home, going to Church in the afternoon.. we were content eating corn and left-over Chicken Tinola for dinner :) I feasted on Indian mangoes :)

Spirits and Dragonflies

I don't know if you're familiar with the Philippine superstition or saying that when someone close to you dies and then you see a dragonfly or butterfly in your house or in your vicinity, then that person's spirit is visiting you..

Well, this happened to me.. First, when my grandfather died last January.. Then when my mom died last February..

It happened again last March 17, on the eve of my mom's 40th day. It was a surprise to find a dragonfly in the living room. But when I saw it, I immediately thought of my mom and it seemed to me that she was saying goodbye.. I felt so sad and so hurt...

The dragonfly even went so far as to flit beside me, my daughter Dana and my niece Den, who at that time were also in the living room watching TV with me..

It didn't leave the house until the next morning, which coincidentally was also Dylan's 2nd birthday..

Goodbye Mom...

Dylan's 2nd Birthday

Yes.. My baby boy is now 2 years old!! hahahaha

His long-awaited gifts have finally been opened.. voila!! they are Mr. Potato Head and Darth Tater!! woohoo!!!

It's a bit sad though that his birthday coincided with my mom's 40 days.. so we can't really celebrate as much as we want..

We'll make it up to him next time.. besides, it's also Holy Week (Lenten season) here in the Philippines..

Anyway, we also opened the Shell Ferrari Cars but we're still planning on where to put it in the house.. it really should be displayed not played with hahahaha

Talked with Grandma

Yesterday, I decided to call my grandmother. I wasn't able to talk to her when my mom died because I figured it would too hard for the two of us to talk about. So I waited for a month and then I bought a prepaid call card (cozz it's cheaper for long distance calls!).

I tried calling her a weekend ago but nobody was answering the phone and all I got was the answering machine.

Well, I lucked out yesterday and I was finally able to talk to her. It's good to hear that she seems to be doing fine. There were moments in our conversation when we both got a little weepy which was understandable.. I for my mom and she for her daughter, whom she only had 6 years to get to know all over again... They've been separated when my grandmother and grandfather immigrated to the United States in 1978 (if I'm notmistaken). Since that time, my grandma only made one trip back, in 1993. They eventually saw each other in 2002, when my mom and brother made it to the US as well.

So, it's really hard for her to lose her eldest child in such a tragic accident. If I feel this much loss at losing my mother.. what can she be feeling at losing her child.. because no matter how old we are, we're still children to our parents.. and I can feel her loss and it breaks my heart.. First, my grandfather in 2005, now my mom in 2008. My mom's death was so unexpected that we're still reeling from it even after a month has passed....

It just felt good to be able to talk with my grandmother... and I think she felt a little relief too at talking with me.. I plan to talk with her regularly from now on..

Shell Ferrari Cars

Woohooo!!!

We won! We won!!!

Every month, there's a caption-this-photo contest in Top Gear (Philippines) Magazine. We decided to join the contest just for fun and also because they were giving away a complete set of the Shell Ferrari Cars Collection. These Shell Ferrari model cars are part of Shell's promotion to commemorate it's 60-year relationship with Ferrari. The set includes the Ferrari Enzo, the F430, the 575 Superamerica, the 360 Spider, the F50, and the Ferrari F1 racer.

Well, what do you know? We won! We won!! We were one of 5 winners picked!! And we went to Robinson's Galleria to pick it up!! woohoo!!

Dylan is sick =(

After several weeks of people in this house coughing and sniffing, it was Dylan's turn. I don't know what it is about this cough but it seems to be pretty persistent.. I think the new strains of virii are becoming too strong for the regular medicine.

Dylan wasn't able to sleep well last night because of the phlegm ... it was also funny because last night was Patrick's first day/night at the new office :)

Oh and Happy 13 years and 4 months to Patrick and me hahahhaa

Tried a New Dish

Well, today I experimented with a few ingredients that my Mom sent with her last balikbayan box. It's called Pad Thai and its similar to our local pancit bihon. My mom sent the Pad Thai paste/sauce and the rice sticks (noodles). I just added chicken, mushroom, tofu, garlic and broth to it.. It turned out okay - different but edible hahaha

Talk about Tired =)

Well, I had a burst of energy yesterday.. I woke up early, started rearranging stuff in the living room, started doing the laundry (thank God for washing machines LOL!), checked email, downloaded Naruto (dial-up takes soooo long!) did more Internet stuff... whew!!

If that wasn't enough, I started painting the railings of the stairs.. I started doing it about 2 weeks ako - sanded, cleaned them and primed them for paint but never got around to actually painting it until that day.. In my enthusiasm, I knocked over the can of paint and ended up painting 3 of the stairs hahahha they're black now.. fortunately, they're the stairs that lead out the door and the black paint suits them hahaha

It was so tiring!!

But when it was done, I felt extremely satisfied especially when Dana said, "Mama that looks nice!" :) what more can you ask for ? ;)

New Cars toy!!

Looks like gifts are still coming in for the kids :) Patrick just came from our ebayer friend with a new Cars plushie.. a bigger one! hahahaha

Dana and Dylan can't stop playing with it woohoo!!