Trip to Go Soc and Wilcon Builders Depot

One of the best parts about renovating or reconstructing a house is buying the materials.. Since we're fixing our bathroom and the connecting bedroom, it's been very exciting to see it all come together. So last April 2nd, Lolo Ben, Den, the kids and I went to Balintawak to browse the numerous shops there for ceramic tiles, sanitary wares, plumbing fixtures etc.

Since I didn't have any idea what color the bathroom would be, I decided going to a shop with a showroom may be a good idea. At least they have all the fixtures laid out and it's simply a matter of replicating them in your own bathroom. So that's what we did. I asked my Dad to drive us around since he had a bigger car hehe

We finally saw what we liked at GO SOC & SONS SY GUI HUAT, INC. . The big plus was that they were on sale too! Who could pass up a deal like that?! hahaha So we simply went around the huge warehouse until we were directed to the showroom in the next building. Here we went crazy looking at the different designs. You can even feel free to grave the tiles off the shelves and mix and match your own. The staff was pretty helpful and tolerant (whew! they were really nice to speak with!) and the service was pretty fast. We bought all of the tiles we needed from here because they were

Next, we went to Wilcon Builders Depot for our sanitary wares. It was also nearby, just a few minutes away. I was floored when I saw how big it was!! Man, I was in heaven hahahaha The first building we went to was their showroom and it was so fun and exciting to be roaming it LOL When I asked about a particular package they directed us to their "warehouse" type of building where all the other products were located. It was awesome and immense!!


I've always had my eye on a dual-flush toilet. First, it's economical and second it looks cool hahaha but given my budget I wasn't too sure I could afford it. But when I got there, the first thing I asked our salesclerk was to show me the low-cost packages of dual flush toilets. Well, fortuntely for me, they were on sale! woohoo!! From the original price of P8790, it was down to P7,032. I was staggered because usually dual flush toilets were in the range of P10K and above. I settled for the Royal Tern brand because we had the same brand in our house and it never broke down. Patronize Filipino products I say LOL Plus, the toilet bowl was bigger compared to some and that was a consideration Patrick raised before when we were looking at toilets LOL His big butt needed to fit in it LOL Together with this, we also bought a telephone shower, a bathroom mirror, a handheld bidet, a towel rack, a glass shelf and floor drains :)

The drive home was funny.. We were moving so slow because my Dad's van was a little lowered at the back from the weight of all those tiles and sanitary wares LOL I did give him some money for the day for the wear and tear and for the service LOL

It was a fun and exciting day! Good day of bonding for Lolo Ben and the kids :)

In search of a school

April 1st - Happy April Fool's Day!

What a great day to look for a school or so I thought. School has been on my mind since my daughter, Dana, turned 3. I knew kids as young as 1 were already put in preschool/day care/nursery or whatever you call it. Though I didn't put her in school, I did teach her at home and by 2 she already knew her alphabet, her numbers, her colors and shapes. She can even express herself in clear, concise sentences. Though that's probably normal for other kids :)

Well, now that she's 5, I thought that's the right time to put a child in school. So we, my aunt and I and the 2 kids, went to nearby schools to check for their admission requirements and to check whether Dana liked the school.

The first school we went to don't admit kids her age if they haven't been to a preschool. They preferred that the children who are enrolling in their school are already adjusted to the school scenario.. well hooray for them (and I mean this sarcastically) Just because a kid didn't go to school yet doesn't mean he can't adjust to school life.. and if he can't yet, then shouldn't the school do everything in its power to help him adjust???!!!

And the funny thing was when they said that if Dana hasn't been to school maybe she'll have a hard time with the mode of instruction, which was English! Well helloooo.. news flash!! my kid speaks English because it's her first language!!! To cut may rant short.. that school was out!!

Next school. They accepted kids without having previous school experience. Great!! but there was a catch. She'll be demoted !!! I was like, you're not even going to test her? No. They said. They placed kids based on age and not intelligence.. well, needless to say, that school was out...

Talk about frustration!!Where have all the good schools gone? I remember it was just Kinder and then Grade 1 when I was young. When Den went to school, she had to go through Kinder 1 and Kinder 2 before Grade 1. Now, it's becoming a requirement to go through all 3 stages - Nursery, Kinder, Preparatory, before you reach Grade 1. Imagine the cost of education for parents!! We're talking P15K at the least and some even go as high as P60K for these preschool years. Won't kids get tired of all this schooling??? I wonder..

Now, I'm looking at schools that will test your child and then make the determination for which grade level she should be in. They may cost a little more than other schools but it's better to start right, right?

Happy Birthday Dylan!!

March 18 - It's our son, Dylan's 3rd birthday! :) woohoo unfortunately, we hadn't planned on any celebration or any kind of party for him. We were thinking of just having a summer outing for the family and that's the kind of birthday celebration for them hahahhaa at least it's cheaper that way and we'll have more fun! :)




We did buy a yummy "moist chocolate cake" from Conti's in Greenhills. We first tasted the cake when Toni served it for Lance's birthday. :) We couldn't resist and honestly.. it took so long for us to finish Dana's cake that we were kind of tired of the taste hahhaha


But as you can see from Dylan's face, he's really enjoying the singing (of course you can't hear it, but trust me it was loud and hearty and funny!)


Of course, a birthday won't be complete without the customary candle blowing but we had to make do with toothpicks for candles (MacGyver will be horrified!) Oh and we also enjoyed the pasta that I cooked for the occasion.

Our boy is growing up so fast!! :)

2009 Hot Rod Exposition and Car Show

March 15, 2009 - After doing the laundry in the morning, Patrick, Den, the kids and I trooped to Fort Bonifacio to attend the 2009 Hot Rod Exposition and Car Show event. It was really for Patrick's job but we felt that it's a unique place to enjoy the day so we went with him :) Of course, the kids have some fascination with cars too especially from watching movies like "Cars", "Transformers", "The Italian Job" etc. and since they also play Gran Turismo we knew that they'll find it fun! :)

There were a ton of cars that it's hard to know where to start looking hahaha but when we spotted the food stands there's no question which our first stop is hahahaha After filling ourselves with yummy food, Patrick went ahead to cover the event. The kids played in the inflatable slide thingy that was erected to keep the kids occupied.

After maybe an hour, I figured the kids needed a rest from playing so we walked around the exhibit site. We saw Mini Coopers, Corvettes and really cool, very old cars!! Seeing as I'm no car buff, I can't tell you which models they are, but if you have an old car and you're not really taking good care of it, you should be ashamed hahaha

The kids became excited when they saw a replica of Herbie and Mr. Bean's car! Naturally, Dana gravitated towards all the red cars and she even saw a Volkswagen Combi wagon that looks similar to her Dora Van hahahah Dylan became scared of the really huge Monster Truck!!

It was such a good day.. a different but fun way to spend the day with the family! :)

Book Review: "What's Age Got To Do With It"

I recently read a book entitled, "What's Age Got To Do With It?" by Robin McGraw. When I first got it, I didn't realize that the author, Robin, was married to the infamous Dr. Phil until I started reading the book. Though it didn't really matter in any way, it was just interesting to get a peek at the way how they are as a couple and as a family through the book. Here's what I thought about it.

I was looking forward to reading this book because when I first read the excerpt on the jacket, it was like the book was echoing my thoughts. I felt that maybe I can find some of the answers to my mid-life crisis questions and point me in the right direction. As I was reading it, I felt that I identified with Robin’s feelings especially since my questions were also prompted by the recent sudden death of my mother. Other than that, I knew that her lifestyle, her work environment were so different from mine that I realized I should just take what she’s saying at face value and take whatever I can from reading the book.

It’s nice that the book has lists, highlights and opinions from experts just to give you a general idea on what to do and she even often mentions that though she consulted these people, it’s not necessary that you find the same people too. You simply need to find someone in your area or at least in your budget range that will be best for your situation.

I appreciated the fact that she delved into most of the problems that people, specifically females, are often plagued with when they reach a certain age like hormones and fashion. You’ll also find great tips to follow (if you’re so inclined) with respect to skin care, hair care, make-up and general nutrition especially if you want to lose weight and keep the weight off.

I like the book. I found it helpful and easy to read. I liked the way she used many of her personal stories as examples to illustrate a point. You just need to take whatever it is that she’s provided and apply it to your life. Though you may get the sense that she has the resources to achieve her goals, it may be true, but still you know from reading the book that she also has worked hard and has put time and effort into achieving them. So should you and so will I.

If you want to know more about the book, check out this link.

First Car trip to the mall!

Okay so we were all very excited to go to Mall of Asia today because it's the first time we're taking out the car, which Dana has named "Stanley" for Stanley Ipkiss of the Mask (because the car's green!).

I wasn't nervous with Patrick's driving as before and he even managed to get out of the garage without a hitch :) He also installed valve caps too. So anyway, we arrived in MoA safe and sound and managed to find ourselves a parking space without a problem.

Our first stop was the car accessories shop there where we were able to buy a car alarm on sale and with free installation too! While the guy who was going to install took a break for lunch, we went around the mall ourselves and waited for their text message after which we met him back at the store so that we can accompany him to the parking lot.

Wow, I thought it will be really simple and easy but in the end, it took 3 hours!!! When the first hour passed, we bought some snacks from a nearby McDonald's and had an impromptu picnic right there! hahahaha It was great because the kids were still behaved and were just as happy to be sitting at the back :)

I didn't know until then that there were roving guards at that parking lot. Some of them stopped by to check up on the car because frankly, I'll be suspicious too if I saw someone "messing" with my car LOL I also didn't realize that Ford Everest models were popular in Manila LOL While waiting around, we noticed at least 4 of them parked right where we were. What's also funny, when one left, another one, same model and color parked in the vacated spot hahahaha

As you can see from the pictures, Patrick is just so excited LOL Dylan is having a grand time in his "car" too :) Dana and I were busy eating our snacks :) She even wanted to lie down in the cargo space like in her "Dora Van" hahaha This is the simple life hahahaha

As Patrick said, "A Bittersweet Day"

March 11, 2009 - Today is the day that Patrick's Dad, my 2nd dad, Tomas Antonio "Angel" Tadeo will be laid to rest beside Becky, his first wife. Though he was cremated in the States, Tita Flor brought back his ashes here to us as his children and grandchildren were here. Though he really bonded with Tita Flor's kids and grandkids too, it was good of her to let him be buried with Ms. Becky. It was heart-wrenching as all funerals go, but more so because this was someone you knew and loved and he shall be greatly missed.

It was unfortunate though that we were late getting there. We knew we were supposed to be early because Dad's ashes were with us but for some reason, Dylan was having a hard time pooping and he was taking so long in the bathroom. He doesn't want to poop in his diapers already and in the end it took us a long time to get a taxi as well. Going there, traffic was slightly bad because Francis Magalona's burial was also going to be in Loyola too and I think people were already flocking to it.

When we finally got to Loyola, there was a service and then he was laid down to rest. Tita Flor's 2 siblings were there as well as her mom who travelled all the way from Pura, Tarlac. Ferdie and Barbara were there too, of course. It was tough seeing him in the ground but it also served as closure for the siblings. After the service, we all trooped to Kamayan restaurant along EDSA for some lunch.

You know the problem about buffets is that I feel too full seeing all the food ! LOL I just ate all the sushi I could eat hahaha Dylan was also eating maki, while Dana ate chicken and rice LOL Patrick said, "I can't stop eating!" much like Fat Bastard in Austin Powers the movie. hahahaha

From the restaurant, we went our separate ways. The Tadeo siblings and their respective families went with Dimples (who had the van) and we just took a cab from their place to reach our next destination, THE CAR! There was another coincidence that Patrick noticed in relation to our car. First, the car that we bought was featured in a review in Top Gear magazine, the same issue where Patrick's contribution article was featured, and the same issue where Allan's Honda Accord was on the cover :) Funny, no? okay, back to the story hahaha

It was bit earlier than our original schedule so we just spent the time idling at the mall. hahaha We met Michael at the Shell station and together we went back to his house where we traded papers and stuff :) and then we went to the Shell station again to have the car washed :) After that off we went!

I was so nervous with Patrick driving as was he :) He hasn't driven in over 10 years but he did take a refresher course and has a new license :) He was nervous too and I could feel it LOL but after a while, it went better and the kids feel asleep :) I was just so relieved to reach the house in one piece :)

More stories later! :)

Two days out!!

After we went shopping for a car, we got a call from Ferdie that they'll be in Megamall the whole day so if we were going to be finished earlier than our schedule, we might want to drop by and meet up with them. Well, we did finish up early and we did meet them in Megamall in the afternoon! LOL Stevie, Toni, Lance and Hannah met them for lunch so they were already there too :)

Naturally, I had to change the kids' clothes and freshen up because we were all so sweaty! LOL After all that we went to meet them in Toy Kingdom where Tita Flor was kind enough to tell the kids to pick out whatever toy they wanted. We actually didn't want to anymore because she's given us and the kids so much. But, still we ended up with 2 Cars toys for the kids, they're really addicted to Lightning McQueen! LOL

After that, we all trooped to Shangri-La Mall to watch Charice Pempengco perform. Turned out that Ferdie and Barb were fans of hers and it was good timing that they'll get to see her for free :) We watched Jay Cayuca perform too as he was the opening act. Dylan loved it!! Dana was saying "Bravo" after every song !

We didn't get to watch Charice sing though because the kids were getting fussy and hungry so Tita Flor, Patrick, myself and the kids all went to California Pizza Kitchen to eat. It was just a few steps away so we can still hear her sing haha We went home around 11pM I think LOL

The next day, after doing the laundry and those mundane household chores, we still went to Cubao because Patrick needed to buy a coat for an event he had to attend the next day. We ended up buying one in SM, after much searching. We also bought white shirts for Patrick's dad's burial on Wednesday. Man, were we so tired LOL and I think the stress and the fatigue is catching up.. I think I have a cold ...

Shopping for a Car!

March 8, 2009 - This was the day that Patrick scheduled our car shopping trip :) Mind you, we're not going to dealers but to personal car owners who were selling their cars. In short, we're in the market for a 2nd hand car. We already did our research over the net. I think we even went overboard and had our short list in an excel file hahahaha but that's just the researcher in me LOL

Our personal favorite was the Subaru Legacy, between 1996-1999. 2nd choice would be a Big Body Toyota Corolla. Third choice would be a Honda Accord. All these cars have big cargo spaces and leg room in common hahaha and seatbelts in the back seat built-in LOL At first, I really didn't consider the green colored cars because I hate green! but then I figured if it's a Subaru and the engine is in good condition then the color would be secondary, especially if it's within our budget LOL

So, on that Saturday, Patrick had asked his friend Phil to drive us around and to help us look over the cars. Phil has an intimate knowledge of cars and we trust his choices :) Patrick was the one who handpicked and mapped out our destinations so the kids and I were just there for the trip hahaha It was just a little letdown that Phil's car was in the shop and he had to drive his older car which was in danger of overheating if the aircon was put on high. In the end, we just had to forego the aircon because the breeze outside was way cooler than inside :) We just bought plenty of water to hydrate us LOL

Okay so first stop, we saw a Mitsubishi Lancer. This was more for Patrick's satisfaction than mine and it was a relief to me that the car didn't pan out LOL 2nd choice was way in the boondocks and it was a Honda Accord. At first, it looked okay but upon much careful scrutiny, you'll see the flaws in the vehicle. The sound system was great though :)

We had to take a break for lunch and we ate at McDonald's in Ever Gotesco Commonwealth because that's where our next stop was. This time, it looked like we had a good one because we were in a good executive village where the cars are practically pristine quality so we were thinking that the car that was being sold was most likely to be in good condition as well. When we rang the bell, we were all surprised because the guy who came to the door was Michael Flores from TGIS (a teeny-bopper show on GMA-7 before). Talk about starstruck! LOL What's more, it turned out that Michael was a schoolmate to both Patrick and Phil in JASMS! Coincidence?!

We looked over the 1996 Subaru Legacy that he was selling and to me I was already sold on it. LOL The engine sounded good, the doors were aligned, the aircon was cool, there was only 90K kilometers on it, roughly (55K miles). It had an owner's and repair manual. The best part was he was giving it to us for P180K, with a great discount LOL exactly our budget LOL It even had comprehensive insurance which was a great plus and it was already registered for 2009. All we had to do was just ride in it :) Of course, even though we wanted to buy it already, we said that we still had one more Subaru to look into, which we did. But we told him, we'd get back to him as soon as possible too hahahha

So onto the last car of the day, a 1996 blue Subaru that was selling for P185K. It wasn't in very good condition compared to Michael's. There were a lot of cosmetic damages that would really take a lot of money to repair so it wasn't a good buy. At that point, we knew which car was THE car! It was so exciting! hahaha

Tita Flor arrives in Manila

March 5, 2009 - Tita Flor arrived in Manila together with her son, Ferdinand and his wife Barbara. Patrick was supposed to meet them at the airport but their flight was early and he ended up going to Barbara's relatives' residence in Green Meadows.

Patrick then called me up to ask if I wanted to tag along with the kids and just meet them at the Loyola Memorial Park where they're going to process papers for Patrick's dad's burial. Well, we did follow them hahaha I wanted the kids to meet their Lola Flor and I personally wanted to meet Ferdie and Barb :)

While at Loyola, Lola Flor gave the kids their birthday cards! Dana was so happy with her card because it contained a cut-out for a Princess crown! hahaha Dylan was also happy with his because it's got a dog on the front LOL It was a surprise when the kids opened their cards, some money fell off.. we weren't expecting that but it was nice :)

After Loyola, we all went to DFA because Barb needed to have her passport renewed. While waiting, we ate at a nearby Jollibee. Barb took 2 very short hours to process her papers and that was really fast by Philippines' standards hahahaha

They took us home after because Tita Flor brought hotdogs and chocolates and they were melting from the heat LOL They also needed to get home to get some rest from jetlag..

It was a good day. :)