A Day in the Life

Room renovations are done!! woohoo!!!

April 26, 2009 - After about a month of buying, delivery, construction and finishing both the bathroom and the bedroom are done!!! YEAH BABY!!!

Just to give you a recap, it all started when we decided to replace the old and install the new windows in the bedroom. This bedroom used to be a space for all our junk but we had to fix everything up when the nanny arrived. Fast forward, the nanny left, we had new windows but my cabinet broke and we wanted customized cabinets, hence the construction of the bathroom (which has lain dormant for all the time that the house was constructed. It was never completed) and the renovation of the existing & adjoining bedroom. We tapped my cousin who has his own construction firm (Ramil Roque Construction) to do the job. He designed the layout, we discussed the materials and finally construction started. As a little promotion, you may want to email me here if you want to contact him if you're in the market for some repairs, renovation, construction and all that :)

So, you want to see pictures, who am I to disappoint you hahahaha

Before pictures:

After pictures:

Having fun

It took a little over a month for the project to be completed. It was stressful but worth it. It was expensive but worth it. The workers really did a great job, they were worth it! We Love It!!

I'm sure my Mom would love it too.

Dana Aces her Entrance Exam!!

Over the course of the previous days, we have spent them preoccupied with the room renovations - buying the materials, watching them lay the fixtures and tiles, painting the room and cabinets - that sometimes our heads are spinning with all that's happening.

But the good news is that Dana aced her entrance exam! I have posted a while back about the search for a school. Patrick and I have decided that our priority is somewhere close so that the kids won't be tired from the travel as early as this. So, we thought that maybe Sta. Catalina College may be a good choice because that's where I'm from and so with all my siblings and cousins. Even Den graduated from there. There's also the added plus that they still know me and my family so that's something good going for Dana (we think). In terms of standards, they're still pretty high because if not, then Den wouldn't have been able to pass her entrance exam to UST before.

Anyway, Dana went with her Ate Den to the school because it was raining and I didn't want to bring Dylan out too. So, they were just supposed to submit the requirements to the school so that they'll be able to schedule her for an entrance exam. But to my surprise, Den sent me a text message saying that Dana was already taking her exam!!! I was so nervous for her but at the same time I was confident too, pretty confusing, huh? ahhahaha An hour passed and I called Den, asking why there's no update yet. It turned out that while they were checking Dana's paper, she remained inside the room playing with the other teachers there and she was talking to them too hahaha

When they finished checking, she got 92/100!!! and they were all surprised because she was one of the highest and she was more advanced than those who have had previous schooling experience. They'll place her in Kinder 2 (which is still Prep), but she skipped Kinder 1 already. When Den started out, she had to pass Kinder 1 because of age requirements.

Anyway, just wanted to share this milestone in Dana's life.. Now, it's just a matter of paying the tuition and buying the school stuff :)

Swimming in Marikina, April 9, 2009

Okay, it's probably not what you were thinking but it still speaks of what happened hahahha

We went to Stevie's house in Marikina last Holy Thursday to bring their share of the balikbayan box that Tita Flor brought with her when she came to Manila last March 5. Yes, it took a month for the goodies to reach Stevie and Dimples but it's only because we can't find matching schedules to see each other's families. Since it's Holy Thursday, most offices are on holiday which was the perfect time to go for a visit. Unfortunately, since Dimples works in a call center, she didn't have any vacation time on this day.

It turned out that Stevie and Toni bought a huge inflatable pool for the summer and we were told to bring the kids' suits so that they can have fun in the pool. So that's what the kids did.. they had fun! Dylan was tired and bored faster than Dana because he was preoccupied with the bike and wanted to ride that more than he wanted to swim LOL

Dana had a boo-boo because she accidentally swallowed the water and she ended throwing up in the pool! LOL

The kids stopped playing and swimming when it was snack time ;) wchich gave the adults enough time to catch up on each other's news as well.

2009 Manila International Auto Show

Ever since Patrick took up that writer's position for Top Gear Online Digital Magazine, our weekends have often been spent at car shows. Last April 2-5, the 2009 Manila International Auto Show was held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City and we spent both Saturday and Sunday there LOL

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. :)

Dana's 5th Birthday

Happy 5th Birthday to our cute and lovely daughter Dana!! hahaha

I knew Dana was very excited about her birthday, though we didn't really promise her anything. She just knew that she was going to have a cake (hehe because she was the one who picked it out!) and some ice cream and that I was going to cook some pasta :)

She wanted to play in the playroom in Megamall too but we told her that that will have to wait until we can go with Tita Flor so she can also share in the celebration. Dana was fine with that.

So, on the morning of her birthday, I heard her coming down the stairs, I immediately waited for her at the bottom and started singing "Happy Birthday" to her while doing a silly dance ! LOL she was laughing so much she had to sit on the step hahahaha

Then, Dylan gave her a hug and a kiss and even managed to say "Birthday" in his own special way ;) We then went to Goldilocks to pick up her Wall-e cake and Ate Den met us there. We had some snacks too.

As soon as we arrived, we ate pasta, sang Happy Birthday again and just had fun being together.

We also took her Lightning bike to the vulcanizing shop to have it fixed and they didn't charge us anything! LOL we just gave the mechanic some pasta too hahahaa

Next, the kids played in the garage since there were no cars so they had the place to themselves. They also played with their bubbles and basically just tired themselves out :)

In the evening, when Patrick arrived, he brought the gifts for the two kids. A remote control car for Dana and a big car for Dylan. You can't give one and not give the other hehehe They were so excited about their new toys.. so were Ate Den and I hahahaha

Because of all the energy they didn't settle down until midnight LOL

Oh and Congratulations to Patrick because he got his driver's license today !

Homeworld Sale at the SM Megamall

What's a great excuse to get out of the house?? a SALE that's what!! hahaha and that's why we went to SM Megamall today to see what's in store for us at their Homeworld Sale!

We first had lunch at Sbarro - love their pasta!! and so do the kids..

Then we went around the mall first because we were waiting for Den who was coming from school. We finally went up to the 5th floor where the Megatrade Hall was. We were just going to meet Den there.

Man, it was like a box office movie was going on with all those people and their carts overflowing with comforters, plastic containers and even cookware!! It was like a feeding frenzy LOL

You can instantly sense the excitement and the "panic" at having all those goods on 50% off! hahaha We weren't really looking for anything in particular but there were a lot of good deals, especially if you're looking for mattresses and cabinets etc.

At a corner booth, we spied a rubber/plastic picnic table with 2 benches that was on sale for P3199. Patrick and I locked eyes and we immediately knew that was going to be our new dining table. hahahaha.. of course, some of you will probably say that's a design no-no to put a picnic table in the house.. but we don't really care.. It works for us because it's easy to clean, it's portable, it's space saving and it's easy to clean (I have to emphasize that!) haha

So here are some pictures of the New Table hahaha

In search of a bookcase

Even though we were kinda exhausted from all the activities yesterday, we still managed to go to Cubao in the afternoon to look for my bookcase replacement. We went directly to the Sogo Home and Office store in Ali Mall because they have a good selection of furniture. Ali Mall was undergoing renovations which was good. :) It was part of the redevelopment of the Araneta Center. It will even be connected to SM Cubao via a bridge walkway, aint that cool!

We also found out that the former Rustan's right across it is now a Blims Superstore. It's a huge 2-storey building full of furniture for both home and office so that's where we went next. It was so much fun browsing through those lovely (expensive!) furniture LOL Dana even saw a Lightning McQueen bed!! Too bad it costs P10K hahahha

From there, we went to Shopwise which we know has a number of bargains every week. We didn't find a bookcase on sale so we decided to return to Sogo because they had a bookcase on sale for P2000. We just had it delivered so that a guy can come and assemble it right in the house. We didn't want to try it ourselves because there were some glass parts. We also bought a new electric fan.

We had dinner at the Old Spaghetti House. It was our first time to eat there and we weren't sorry :) Dana even liked the ambience hahaha because it was quaint and cozy :) They both ate their pasta meals.. Dana had lasagna, Patrick had the spaghetti and meatballs and I had the baked zitti.. It was pretty good and really affordable. We just brought some home for Den.

Tadeo Triple Birthday Celebration

So Saturday finally came. The kids were both excited because they knew that they'll get to play with their cousins Lance and Rhys and Baby Hannah when we go to Marikina for a Tadeo Triple Birthday Celebration!!

Since Dimples, Patrick and their mom shared February as their birth month, we thought it would be best if we just celebrated it together. The plan was to go directly to Loyola Memorial Park to visit their Mom and then on to Stevie's house for food and fun :)

Everything became hectic because Patrick also attended a Press Event for Top Gear Philippines (Digital) in UP. When we were getting ready to leave, the balikbayan boxes that Tita Flor sent arrived LOL Then we called Dimples if she can just come by and pick up some of the stuff that she likes so that we won't have to ask her to come back, saves her on a trip :) Since most of the stuff were their Dad's, it was a poignant feeling to go through them. Especially when we came across the shirt that he wore when he went to the airport. It was the last time they saw him, alive and well.

Then we decided that it would also be best if we took some of the stuff to Stevie's house so that he can go through them and maybe find something for himself as well. There were some shoes that haven't been worn so he might want some of them. Good thing that Jericho was driving the Innova van so we can fit in it LOL

On the way, we also decided to pass by Stevie's house first so that we can drop the stuff there and then pick them up in the process so we can go to Loyola together. Good idea right? LOL On the way, we stopped at a 7-11 because none of us has had a bite to eat and we were getting famished because it was already 3pm LOL

Finally, got to Stevie's house, then on to Loyola.. The kids immediately ran around the place.. It was so much fun to watch :) The fun went on when we arrived at Stevie's house. Patrick and I left the kids in their care so that we can buy some more food from the mall across their place. When we got there, we all ate together :) It was a happy time..

Good News and Bad News

So now that we no longer have a nanny, I am forced to bring the kids with me to do the errands :) Mind you, it's not so bad.. I love it in fact and they love getting out of the house too :) I'm just glad that they're really well-behaved kids who don't throw temper tantrums when they don't get what they want :)

Anyway, Monday (16th) Den and I got our eyes checked at the mall optical shop. We've been meaning to get eyeglasses for a long time but have never really gotten to it. So here she is with her new eyeglasses :) The deal was she'll take care of it and wear it constantly. We had her fitted with eyeglasses before because she was suffering from astigmatism (which I think runs in the family as I have it too) and she only wore the darned things for a week.. and then she couldn't remember where she put them LOL

On the 17th, my dad, the kids and I went to GSIS to ask about the processing of my mom's pension. We still needed additional documents before they can act on it. The kids enjoyed that day with Lolo Ben :)

Wednesday was a good day. Patrick went to pick up my payment from the Big C Magazine (yes, I published another article!). They were great because they also included a 2009 planner as a Christmas giveaway so Thanks Big C :)

We also visited the mall again and enjoyed our day out as you can see from the pictures :)

Oh and finally while I was cleaning the house, my 10+ year old bookcase finally gave way. It couldn't handle the tons of books I have on it LOL Now I can't wait to find a new bookcase to replace it hahahaha

Bing has left the building!

Wow.. this week has been tough. I've been battling the cold and cough yet again and it sucks! It's like Murphy's law that when something can go wrong, it will. Not only was I sick but Bing, the nanny, was also sick. So who's left to take care of the kids, me of course! Imagine having to take care of the kids, plus the nanny and yourself. Man, that was tough!

On the 12th, Bing left for her aunt's house. She wanted me to take her to them the night before but how could I? I have the kids to take care of and I was also sick, so I told her to just call her aunts and have them take her if they can. Unfortunately, they couldn't. I did give her medicine for her fever because that's all she had. Anyway, the next day, she communicated with her aunts (through my phone no less) until later in the afternoon, they made her take a cab to them. And that was the last I saw of her. She didn't even have the courtesy to answer my calls and text messages. In the end, I spoke with the aunt that I knew she was staying with. Turns out she wasn't there but with another aunt somewhere in Rizal. To cut the drama short, now, no more nanny.

We never even got to celebrate Patrick's birthday that Friday. I was in too bad a mood. We even had to postpone his and Dimples' celebration of their birthdays which was supposed to happen that Saturday.

That was a bad week..

A Day of Remembering

Honestly, I don't really have any real experience with death. And what I mean is, I rarely attend funerals and wakes, much less have an idea what goes on after the body is buried. Yes, I knew some people who died but not enough for me to really pay attention to what's going on.

My mom was my first. Talk about irony, huh? And even more of an irony, since she didn't die here, I didn't have anything to do with all the preparations as well. Those responsibilities fell on my brother Allan's shoulders. He thought of it as his rite of passage into adulthood.

Now, I sometimes hear of 9-days and 40 days in connection with some ritual after death. Honestly, I have no idea what to do during those days. I don't even know the significance of those numbers. The "40" I think is in relation to the number of days it took for Christ's resurrection. The "9" I'm not sure.. so if you have any idea, please enlighten me.

Now, it's my mom's 1st year death anniversary. And people have told me there should be a "padasal" or some prayer ritual for her and I have to cook or at least prepare food to be shared with others.

That got me thinking. Originally, I was planning on dedicating a mass for her and that was it. I didn't want to prepare food because to me, it seemed like a celebration of my mom's death so that was weird. And besides, I didn't want to feed people that have no remorse over my mom's death. If ever I would serve anything it would be to those whose Mom's death mattered greatly. And who have shown me that Mom's death has struck a chord in their hearts.

Anyway, my sister said that she's going to have a "padasal" at their house since she knew people who performed that kind of service. So I said, okay, we'll just visit you and hold it there. If you're going to serve food (at least for those who prayed) I'll contribute.

The deal was, my father will fetch us from the house and together we'll go to my sister's house. It didn't push through. In the end, my sister's husband had to fetch us. It was already late. Along the way, we stopped to buy flowers for my mom to put near her picture. (Allan, please send me Mom's picture - the one at the funeral, ok?) After that, we were really moving along until we got to a busy intersection. That's where a taxi accidentally bumped us while trying to maneuver itself. And about the same time when the car we were riding started smelling like burned rubber. At first Jowell didn't want to take notice of it, but really it was hard to ignore as smoke was coming out of the hood! That got me and the kids scared. And then there was a pop and the engine died and we had to push the car to the side. Turned out we busted the radiator and the clutch or something!!

We then called my dad who wanted us to take a cab to where he was. It was a miracle when we did find a cab and he allowed us to ride him. Imagine at the back, there we were: Patrick, me, Den, Bing and the 2 kids and in front were Jowell and his cousin Michael. We then decided to just go straight to the house because it was closer. Going around the street we ended up the same place where our car died and guess what?! The taxi's engine died too at the same exact spot!! Was Mom trying to tell us something ?? Jowell and Michael had to get out and push the taxi until the engine started again and we were able to get to my sister's house without another hitch.

When we got there though, we found out that the food she prepared was not enough. She thought that when she asked someone to buy food, the money she gave was supposed to feed 10-15 people. Well, what happened was it was only good for 5-7!! But no matter, the important thing was that we were there to pray for Mom and that was all. Dad came by too.

It was a good family moment and I think if Mom could see us she would be surprised.

In Memoriam - Carmen Paypon, 02/07/2008

I just decided to post my mom's eulogy which I wrote when she died a year ago. My best friend Kat read it at the funeral service but I wondered if people listened. So for you guys who weren't able to attend the service before, I give you this:

When my Mom died, it was a shock and that’s an understatement if I ever heard one. It’s not even something that you’d wish on your worst enemy. But it happened and it’s REAL. It’s even more devastating for Sharon and I because we’re in Manila, so far away from her and we can’t even comfort our own brother. But we know what Mom wanted and it was to be buried beside Lolo. Who are we to ignore her last request when all her life she has done everything to give us what we wanted?

We tried our best to be with her but it wasn’t meant to be. Now, I thought, “Is this it? Is this all that I can do?” It only occurred to me to write this when Ate Marivic broached the subject of a eulogy in an email. And I thought who better to talk about my Mom than her very own children. I’m sure you all have stories to share and tales to tell about her - as a daughter, a sister, a relative, a friend and a co-worker. But for most of her life, she was a Mother. MY Mother, and I owe it to her to tell you how I’m proud of her, of how strong she was especially considering all the adversities in life that she’s been through.

I’m the eldest child, and as such, have the privilege of experiencing the happier moments in her marriage to Ben, my Dad. I know we took regular trips to the zoo and the parks. I remember the pictures and always marvel at how my Mom can wear such short skirts! My gosh!

But as you all know, their marriage was not the happily-ever-after kind. She suffered through it for a long time until the day my brother was born. I think it was the last straw when my dad wanted to name my brother after himself. So, Allan, be thankful Mom stood her ground otherwise you’d have been Ben Jr.

We all felt the aftermath of the separation but Mom bore the brunt of it. The period after the separation was the darkest years of her life. She’s separated from her parents, she’s out of touch with her brothers, and she’s alienated from her relatives who believe they’ve lost their “padrino” in government agencies. On top of that, she’s dealing with a son who was born with a weak heart and a middle child whose rebellious streak has reared its ugly head. Her battles with Sharon resulted in heart attacks on a daily basis it’s a miracle she didn’t die from those. Her health also became compromised – she was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and underwent radiation therapy. Not many people know about this because she refused to be pitied. If any other person had to deal with all this, they’d probably break from the stress and pressure.

But not my Mom. She persevered, as was her nature. She believed that God did not give you trials you’re not capable of overcoming. By her strong will, she put us through school, at the cost of bringing Allan to school because there’s no money left for a babysitter. By her indomitable spirit, she couldn’t be dragged down by people who didn’t believe in her. And by her love for her children, she ENDURED. She SURVIVED. She LIVED.

She even took in Sharon’s daughter to raise. Can you imagine my Mom teaching in class with a baby sleeping on the teacher’s desk? She brought Den to school with her everyday. Den was the one that brought life back into her. She was happy.

She even continued with her studies and was two units shy of completing her Master’s degree. That’s how intelligent she was. Sometimes, I guess this is what scares people off because on first impression, she can be aloof and may come off as uptight or a snob.

But really, Mom is a very simple person. Mababaw ang kaligayahan niyan. I remember when Patrick did an imitation of the Power Rangers in the living room at home, he ended up tumbling across the floor and bumping into the cabinet. Mom was crying so hard from laughing that she couldn’t even breathe. When a cockroach dares invade her personal space, she’ll scream her head off, run the other way and beg us to kill it. She liked the color lavender. She once joked about wanting to paint the exterior of the house violet and the interior lavender and pink. She loved to read! She inspired her students to read as well. One time, she even brought our own VCR to school so that her students can watch The Lord of the Rings. She’s very thoughtful – she always remembered to buy Patrick anything Star Wars-related when at the mall. She’s a handyman at home, a trait she probably inherited from Lolo. She loved pizza from Sbarro and Pizza Hut. She loved Tony Hadley from Spandau Ballet and would often tell Allan that that’s where he got his cleft chin from. She always received the most number of bouquets during Teachers’ Day. She loved Chuck Norris, Charles Bronson and Steven Seagal. She loved Tiger Prawns.

But she also didn’t like a lot of things. First, she hated James Taylor! When she was pregnant with me, hearing James Taylor’s songs incited bouts of nausea in her. That feeling never passed. She didn’t like incompetent people. She hated having to repeat tasks that should have been idiot-proof. But above all, she didn’t like having to ask people for help – her independent streak at work. She hated to inconvenience others. She didn’t want to be a burden to others.

But basically, what stands out is that the innate goodness in her radiates within and among her family and friends. That is why she found love again in Bruce. That is why she has gone to the States even though she didn’t want to, if only because she wanted us to have a good life. That is why she didn’t want to spend any of her money on herself, she’d rather use it on us, her grandkids and her extended family in Manila. That is why a lot of people feel great sadness in her passing.

In accepting her death, I keep this in mind. My Mom will forever live in me and in my kids. Her heart will be mine. Her smile will shine through my kids. She brought me up to be independent and strong and that’s how my kids will be. I regret that she wasn’t able to see them, to hold them, to hug them. But I knew she loved them. It is some relief that she passed knowing that we are all doing a little better – Allan with his work, school and the car he’s so proud of, Sharon getting married to Jowell, their kids and their Internet business, and myself with my beautiful kids and Patrick who works and still manages to help with the chores. It will be a tribute to my Mom to keep her alive in our memories and in the way we live our lives.

Thank you for reading.

Mom's 1st death anniversary

It's hard to believe but it's already been one year since my mother's accident, since she died. I can't believe that time went by so fast. For every day that passed over this year, I never failed to talk to her in my head. There are a lot of moments when I remember her and I just end up weeping and crying like silly. Honestly, as I write this, tears are already pooling in my eyes.

I try and keep her memory alive. It's unfortunate that she left this plane without ever having hugged or kissed Dana and Dylan. That's what I regret the most. That my kids didn't have enough time to bond with her. That's why I keep telling stories about her to my kids so that they'll know her even though she's gone.

I miss having her around to chat with about everything under the sun. She's such an intelligent person but she's also very silly. Now that some parts of the house are being renovated, I talk to her like she's here watching everything that's happening :) This was one of her dreams - to have the house renovated, to correct for past mistakes. It's ironic that the money being used for the renovations came from her death.

When I asked God for money for these renovations, I didn't ask that He take my mother's life in exchange. If I knew that this was how my prayers will be answered, then I wouldn't have asked for it. I'd have preferred to have my mother alive and us penniless. It's not worth it.

Moving on, I just live by what she taught me from her speech to her actions and hope that when we meet someday she'll be proud of me.

Replacing our Windows - The Epic Story

In my last post, I wrote about moving furniture about in the house on account of our new nanny. It didn't stop there. I was on a roll! hahahaha I think it's better to make this post into a daily update form so it's easier to read

Jan 21, Wednesday
We bought mattresses for the kids' beds at SM Mall of Asia. We asked my dad to pick us up from there because he's the one with the van hahaha the kids were so excited to see him again :) Oh and I started with the kids' educational plans. I consider it my mom's legacy for my kids.

Jan 22, Thursday
Finally had time to install the curtain rod in the girls' room on the 3rd floor. The sun can get pretty intense in the afternoon so it's really great to have a curtain to give some shade as well as to catch all the dust in the air coming from the street.

I also got an estimate for the windows. We were thinking of upgrading from steel to aluminum since most of the windows were stuck anyway and can't be opened.

Jan 23, Friday
I got another estimate from Sharon and Jowell who used aluminum doors and windows for their internet shop. Their estimate was lower than what I got and can be discounted even further because they already had a working relationship with the owner. So, on the same day, they trooped to the house and started dismantling the windows. They started with the 3rd floor windows of our room. There were two of them in the room. They finished dismantling one and started on the second. At the same time, they were also finishing with the first one, to match the specifications of the window size. At the end of the day, we had one finished window, ready for its replacement and one window that needs to be cemented and fixed, ready for the next day's work.

Jan. 24, Saturday
They came early and started dismantling the second, much like what they did with the first. Finished with cement and they started dismantling the third set of windows on the 2nd floor. I was told that they will be installing the new windows the next day so Patrick and I didn't waste any time. I went to the store to buy paint and Patrick and I started painting after the kids went to sleep. That was around 10PM and we finished painting the room by 3am hahahaha

Jan. 25, Sunday
I was expecting that the replacement windows will be installed for the third floor set of windows but it didn't happen. We waited the whole day. In the end, since I was psyched anyway, I put a 2nd coating of paint on the room. But my clothes cabinet completely and totally broke down! I am finally living off luggage bags for the meantime! LOL

Jan. 26, Monday
I was told that this time the windows will be finished that they'll be able to deliver them and install them. We waited the whole day. I was getting antsy because I could sense that the windows were not finished being assembled for God knows what reason. I felt I was getting the round about. Jowell did bring one set of windows early in the evening but those couldn't be assembled yet. He was supposed to come back with the others but I told him to just bring them over tomorrow so that there'll be more time install.

Jan. 27, Tuesday
I was hoping that early morning they'll be here to finish the job. After all, more than enough time has passed. I was told that the truck that they were going to use broke down (yeah right) I couldn't believe it. I felt like all the excuses that they could come up with, they're bringing them all out. At this point, I was really pissed off. They finally came at 2pm (but I believe they used Jowell's car to bring the windows). They worked on installing them and by 6pm they were done. At last! When they left, we set to work on cleaning up and fixing the remaining furniture.

Jan. 28, Wednesday
Patrick and I were so excited with the new windows, we went to Divisoria to buy roller blinds. Unfortunately, they were still too expensive at P140/sq. ft. - the windows were going to cost us P2300+ each (and we needed three!) So, we settled with buying curtain rods and curtains instead. The curtain rods cost us P235 each, the curtains at P100 each hahaha

It was a good trip to Divisoria, it was the first time that Patrick and I went out together without the kids hahahaha So many clothes (I bought a few), was able to buy Den her Chuck Taylor's (which she had been angling to get since Christmas), Dana new jeans and watches for the kids (including Den) :)

Up to now, we haven't had a chance to put these curtains yet LOL So stay tuned for more updates :)

Job interview update

After that tiring day yesterday, Patrick woke up at 7am coz we needed to get ready for the day. He for his new job offer and me for the interview in the same company.

He got a call from Summit Media about a possible opening as a Staff Writer for Top Gear Philippines (Digital edition). He has submitted and published articles for Top Gear both for F1 primers previously but he really wanted a more permanent position. When this opening came up, he went ahead and applied without even telling the EIC that he applied. He was surprised when he was supposed to interview Patrick because Patrick didn't tell him that he even applied to the magazine. Patrick wanted to get in on his own merit. But in the end, Patrick was still offered the job so that was good! Congrats!

While he was there, he was asked if he knew other writers who would be willing to apply because there were some openings for their other online magazine positions. He mentioned me and he was told to just ask me to forward my resume to them. Which I did because at least this was a job opportunity that's being handed to me on a silver platter :) And what timing because this happened at the same time that my Dad brought with him our new Nanny for the kids!

Anyway, to cut a long story short, we both got scheduled today, Monday and we went, but with me having a lot of reservations because this will be the first time we're both leaving the house together without the kids. And yeah, Dylan was crying his lungs out all morning. Den was telling me about it through phone. They went to SaveMore (the local supermarket) to stop Dylan from crying, which he did, but when he returned to the house, he kept asking for his "mama" LOL

He was so happy when he saw us arriving in the taxi cab after our time with Summit Media was done. Now, I just have to wait for the evaluation from the EIC regarding my resume. Keeping my fingers crossed :)

I wish I had my old body back! LOL

Moving furniture from the 2nd floor to the 3rd floor, doing the laundry and basically keeping the kids in line have really tired me out. Not just me but everyone in the household. You have to understand that we have to do these chores simultaneously, not to mention cooking lunch too ! :)

Because we have a new Nanny, she will be occupying Den's room on the 2nd floor while Den will move to the bigger room on the 3rd floor with the kids. Patrick and I will be moving from that big room to a room that used to serve as the storage (but was historically my room when my mom and brother still lived here). Can you imagine this daunting task? hahaha

First, we tried to sort out the junk from the stuff that we're keeping. There were boxes and boxes of old VHS tapes, cassette tapes, old school books, old bags and just a bunch of your regular "trash" LOL After sorting, we cleaned the room, moved our bed, my cabinet (which ended up getting broken too (oh man!) and some other stuff. Then we had to move Den's cabinet and bed (the other half of a bunk bed) from the 2nd floor to the 3rd floor. I almost fell down the stairs when I couldn't hold on to the weight of the cabinet and I could feel it falling on me. In the end, we had to call on Den's help, whew!

Next, we assembled Bing's cabinet/closet. At least that one was easy to do hahaha Finished that in no time!

There was still a lot of stuff left in the hallway, but we've managed to send a lot of it to the trash. Fortunately there were garbage trucks that pass by at night and we managed to bring those out immediately. We were so tired, we ended up just ordering for delivery from Jollibee one of the local fast food chains.

In the end, I couldn't sleep until 2:30AM!! And then, when I did manage to catch a few zzz's, Dana came into the room to wake me up because she wanted to stay in the room too. I just went back to her room and we shared her bed :)

Needed to sleep for the job interview the next day.

Going shopping in Cubao!

It's the first time that we're going out for the New Year. This time it's with Bing our Nanny. We're going to the Araneta Center in Cubao to look for a cabinet/closet for her room. Also, it was my intention to look for some office clothes for my job interview with Summit Media on Monday.

We first had lunch at the Gateway Food Express where Den and I ordered a big bowl of Mongolian barbecue while Patrick and the rest of the gang had steaks at House of Mini's. We then went to check out Shopwise first because they usually have a great selection of houseware and furniture at a very affordable price. Unfortunately, we didn't find what we needed this time. What we did find was a Body Slender exercise machine which I've been eyeing since I saw it on an infommercial LOL It was on sale for P2700 (which I bargained down to P2600 and that also included pink 0.5kg dumbells, a CD and a special floor mat). We then went to SM where we found a cabinet that's just the right size and the right price.

After buying that, we went around the ladies' section to look for clothes. Naturally, after giving birth I've gained some pounds (from 100 pounds to 130 pounds!) I went from size S to size XL!! I couldn't believe that the clothes they have available don't fit well on me. I needed to try on size XL!!! I refuse to believe that I'm an XL!!! boohoohoo I was getting teary-eyed in the fitting room because it's frustrating looking for clothes that look good on you. I think that they're either cost cutting and scrimping on the cloth or the sizes are really small!!! I ended buying a black, silk blouse which Den assured me looked good enough and will look better if I lost a few more pounds. I wanted to buy a pair of decent pants but I can't even bring them up over my hips hahahhaha Time to really lose weight! LOL

From SM, we went back to Shopwise for grocery shopping. There were some great bargains though.. Like a 6-seater dining table set for roughly P4,500. A computer table/desk for less than P1,000. I wanted to buy that desk for Dana but we still have to fix the house hahaha

All in all it was a good day despite that crying jag in the fitting room.. I'm such a drama queen ! LOL Tomorrow is going to be a tiring day because we're moving furniture about woohoo!!

We have a babysitter! :)

Ever since the kids were born, it's just us in the house - Patrick, myself, Den and the kids. We've managed fine enough and the kids are really brilliant (if I do say so myself hehe) and behaved. We've survived being able to handle them and learning how to be parents. We're still on that road seeing as you never stop learning how to manage your kids no matter how old they become hahahaha

The point is, we've always done it by ourselves. Our parents don't live with us. We can only call them for advice and Patrick's dad and my Dad were the only ones who were able to visit. It's tough raising kids on your own as so many stay-at-home moms can attest to. You really need to have all the energy to last you through the day. Add to it, the demand of also having to write so that there will be additional income for the family.

Can you believe that last Tuesday was the first time that Patrick was able to go see a movie by himself?! Yes, the last he watched in the theater was The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King!! hahaha yes it's true!! Dana was not yet born at that time. We watched it together, wait, so technically all three of us went together hahahaha

Patrick and I haven't gone anywhere that's just the two of us. We always had the kids with us when we went out. Either I took Dana and Dylan was left with him or it's usually him who's going out for errands and I stayed home with the kids. If I do go out, it's usually with Den and we have to hurry back because Patrick's not used to dealing with the kids LOL

Anyway, we decided to get a babysitter because Dana will be starting school and I needed someone to help me around the house. It will also be the perfect time for me to go back to work (assuming I get hired LOL). Because you know, once the kids go to school, you need a never-ending supply of money to get you through all that ! LOL

So I asked my dad's help if he knew anyone willing to work with us. And two days ago I got a call from him that the babysitter has arrived from his hometown in Calayan. Imagine my shock! Where will we put her? hahaha She will be a live-in babysitter/helper around the house and we didn't have a place to put her in! The house was a mess hahaha but we figured it's just a small setback that we can easily overcome. Yesterday she arrived and the room was a bit prepared. We did need to buy her a new cabinet and it looks like the house will be having a few repairs coz Patrick and I are moving to our own room too. Den's room on the 2nd floor will be for the babysitter and she in turn will be moving in with the kids in what's our room now. whew! major renovations needed!

We're all still adjusting and it's fun :) Hope we're going to get along great! :) but it looks like the kids like her and they're bonding yesterday. I can't believe the kids weren't looking for me for a full 2 hours last night.. That was a surprise! LOL

Paypon Family Day Out

It's kinda refreshing to see "Paypon Family" on my blog. My Dad, sister and I live in very separate areas so it's not often that we get to spend a day together. I think I can consider this a milestone in our lives as this has indeed been a rare occurrence and there are a lot of firsts that you'll read about in this post. :)

It's a Friday and Den has no school on account of the Feast of the Black Nazarene that was participated in by probably thousands, even millions of people. Click on this link if you want to view a video of the procession. It's courtesy of GMANews.TV (thanks!)

Anyway, my dad, Den, Dylan, Dana and I went to the bank to get Dad's last share from my mom's insurance. He's going to use it to buy a car that Joel, Sharon's husband, was able to find. It was a second hand 1998 Toyota LiteAce and he bought it for P150K. Not bad, considering it's all powered and no major problems. Sharon, Joel and their baby Sofia fetched us from the bank and we all went straight to the car dealer. There, Daddy saw for the first time the car that will finally be his. It was only a few days after Sharon was able to buy her own car, a second hand Toyota Corona EX Saloon. Going to my dad's house from the dealer, Sharon, Den, Dana and Dylan went to ride in the new van. They were scared at first because it has been some time since my Dad last drove a car. He had a few misses, making Joel and me hiss in nervousness because we were following him, probably because he was still getting used to the bulk of a van. But, in fairness, he was still okay on the road :)

A milestone for me, is getting to meet our dad's mistress/now wife for the first time in my life. I think that it's about time, being the New Year and all, and since my mom has passed away. I didn't really know what to expect. I've met my half-brothers when we were in Calayan last summer. So, that wasn't so bad. But Ida treated us well enough and she and Dana were busy chatting like old friends. Dylan was afraid of their dog though :) She was surprised when she was told that Daddy brought home a new car. She couldn't believe it and I guess she didn't expect it. She served us lunch and it was a pretty okay meeting :)

After that, on to Sharon's house. It was only a short distance away from where my Dad lives and it was also the first time for me, Dana and Dylan to visit. Den already spent Christmas with them one time so she's already been there. It was a good day for us, catching up on what's happening with each other's families. Getting to see the new baby Sofia and seeing how my nephews have grown. Jianne just turned 12 and Justine will be 11 this year. The kids had a great time playing with each other. We also went to the market to buy tinapa (smoked fish) and it was so cheap it was unbelieveable! hahaha

We waited for the rush hour to be over before we headed home. Joel wants us to buy a car of our own so we can all travel out of town for the summer. I said we'll see :) He said, he'll look for a good high-end, but low-cost and low maintenance one for us :) I'm sure he will hahaha

I think it was a good start to the year. To be with family and to enjoy each other's company even for a day. These days are precious especially when you think about how fast someone can disappear from your lives and you not having a chance to show them or tell them how much you care about them.

Looking forward to summer, I think :)

A year in the life: 2008

I beg your indulgence as I would like to do a recap of my life in 2008. It’s a good way for me to look back and see what I’ve done, what I’ve accomplished (if any!) and maybe laugh on the few highlights along the way. I think it’s my way of assessing how 2009 should unfold, don’t you think??

January – Aside from New Year celebrations, we’ve just been focusing on Den’s 3rd Quarterly exams and preparing for her class retreat that’s scheduled for this month. One of my grandfather’s brother, Lolo Boboy, the one I’m very close to, also died from a heart attack on Christmas day and then he ended up in a coma for about a week until the family decided to end his suffering.

February – is a BAD month for me and my family. My mother died on Feb. 7, 2008 after being hit by a Toyota Tacoma while crossing the street in San Diego, California. I got denied a US Visa at the Embassy which made me feel so bad and furious. She was buried on Feb. 25, the same day as my sister’s birthday.

March – Hectic Month because of Den’s graduation from High School (March 28) and the birthday of my two kids, Dana turning 4 and Dylan turning 2. My mom was supposed to come home for this but she didn’t make it. We just took the kids to the Mall and had some food prepared at the house.

April – Summer time. Relatives from the Paypon side had a reunion and we all went to visit the family’s hometown in Calayan Island, Cagayan at the northernmost tip of the Philippines and spent about 10 days there. It was an adventure, having to spend 12-14 hours on a bus and another 10 hours on a boat (going back was 6 hours only) to get there. It was the first time for my kids to be there. We had a blast!

May – It’s a poignant time because of my mom’s birthday. She would have been 61 years old. We were also busy with enrollment procedures for Den for her college education.

June – School season. We had our Internet connection upgraded to DSL. Even though it’s the slowest speed for DSL (it’s what we can afford), it was still a great leap from dial-up haha I’ve also started freelance writing to add to the family income.

July – I’ve been looking for ways to augment the family income and I found that blogging is one way to do that. I’ve just had my blog approved for a sponsorship website, where you write about products and they pay you for it. It’s something cool :) Oh! and I also got an article published in The BIG C magazine entitled, “Finding the right words to say to the cancer patient”.

August – I lost a tooth! In July, I was suffering horribly from such a painful tooth that my whole face was swollen from it. I finally got it removed!! Haha and I can’t tell you what a relief that was! Oh and it’s Den’s 17th birthday too.

September – There’s a new addition to the family, my niece Sofia Jasmine, born on the 4th. It was also Lance’s 2nd birthday and the Tadeos had a little get-together in Marikina. Chance for the kids to play together and the grown-ups to catch up on things :)

October – Stevie and Toni gave birth to their 2nd child, Hannah Sofia. It was my 36th Birthday (wow, time flies haha).

November – Patrick and I celebrated our 14 years of togetherness hahaha. Undas (Day of the Dead) was hard because now there’s someone I’m personally mourning. A visit to Patrick’s mom’s grave was like a substitute for visiting my mom and that’s where I ended up crying my heart out.

December – is a full month. We took the kids to see the Dinos Alive in Manila exhibit. We were able to buy a new TV, DVD Player and a 5.1 Theater system. We treated ourselves to TGIFriday’s, Hooters, and Don Henrico’s (on separate occasions, ok?). We thought it was a good end to the year. But alas, bad news came at its wake. Patrick’s Dad collapsed, had a heart attack and ended up in a coma on Christmas day, just like my Lolo Boboy a year earlier. He died on New Year’s eve. Things will never be the same way again.

Another Tragedy

Did you ever have that feeling that when something goes right, you think what's the catch? or if something is too good to be true, there's something bad that's going to happen to balance that effect? Well, I should have sensed it coming. We were just having too much fun last December that the bad thing should have been inevitable.

Christmas evening here in Manila, we received a call from Patrick's Dad and Tita Flor. We had a great time chatting and they were even able to talk with Dana and Dylan which was a great thing. Dana was telling them about the gifts she received and about seeing the Dinosaurs in Dinos Alive. It was a nice conversation.

The next day, Patrick received a call from a distraught Tita Flor that Dad collapsed and was taken to the hospital. It didn't look good. Later on, we found out that Dad flatlined and was revived a number of times until he lapsed into a coma. Further testing showed that he had kidney damage and a previous diagnosis of emphysema, which was probably what caused the heart attack when he was having trouble getting oxygen. The climate in Sacramento wasn't good too because it was too cold for him making it even more difficult to breathe.

The doctors said that they'll do further testing on the 3rd day because from their experience, comatose patients usually recover after three days. They'll have to see if there's still brain function and if he can survive without the life support machine. So, the waiting began.

It's tough being here in Manila, when all that is happening is a million miles away in another country. You wish to be there for your Dad but you can't. All you can do is hope and pray that he makes it.

On the third day, December 31, we found out that he no longer has any brain function and that his kidneys are damaged and may get worse if he survives. If he is taken off the life support machine, he won't survive. The family decided to end his suffering with much regret and loss. It's even more difficult for Patrick because his mom also suffered the same fate, having a stroke and ending up being in a coma. She did die on her own, sparing the family from ending her life.

The New Year doesn't look too good from this perspective. We need to find a way to bring him home. Finances are tight so cremation looks like a better alternative. It's just that they won't be able to see him for the last time. Hopefully, Stevie has better luck getting a US Visa so he can go there and personally bring their Dad home.

We're going to miss Dad. Dana and Dylan lost a loving grandfather. Patrick calls himself an orphan now. The only consolation I guess is that their mom and dad are now together. I can't even begin to imagine how Tita Flor must be feeling now. I pray that she has more strength to deal with what comes after.