mamas' day

Mother's day is coming in a little over a month. I've always tried observing this day by making it extra special for my mama. Recognizing the most important women in everyone's lives has never been overrated. It's pretty common to see a slew of flowers and other Mother's Day Mother Daughter Gifts whenever this day approaches. Mother's day this year falls on May 13. I, myself, have been thinking as early as now about gifts that would be worth giving to my mama this year. I'm tired of giving her the usual flowers and cakes. It might be nice to give her some kind of musical box that has a mother-daughter sentimental message on it. I've been checking out a mother's day gifts site and it has given me a few ideas. My mama would surely appreciate some kind of a jewelry, maybe a necklace with a nice pendant or a ring. There are also several cute-looking figurines that could find its place on top of one of our many cabinets, my mama has always been one to appreciate decorative things.

Now that I am a mother also, this year's mother's day is even more special for me. Although Mateo is too young to give the day any significance, the message of the whole thing will not be lost on me. It's also because of this why the day will be more special for me. Being a mama myself has made me appreciate my own mama more. I've never fully comprehended the difficulties and sacrifices that go with being a mother. The gifts part is just the topping on it, gifts or not, the day will always be special. When Mateo gets a bit older, flowers, cakes, jewelries, or figurines will not be necessary. A kiss and a hug is enough.

another blog

We've been spending the past few days at my parents' house. My papa left yesterday and we wanted Mateo to be able to spend some time with his lolo. Since they only have dial-up I wasn't able to able to have a lot of online time. I get sooo frustrated with the sooo slow internet connection. Aside from this, something else has been taking up my time. I'm working on another blog, this time on my own domain! The posts I have there right now are just migrated posts from here minus all the paid posts I've been writing. It is still very much a work in progress, I still have a lot of tinkering to do with it. Not to mention that I am still familiarizing myself with the Wordpress software (very similar to the free Wordpress blogs). To my few readers, please fell free to add my new blog to your links ;)

pregnancy care

It would be an advantage to look into maternity health insurance. Some of the things that are lacking here in the Philippines are good health programs. A doctor-friend once told me that some women don't get any kind of pre-natal care during the whole duration of their pregnancy. I was dumbfounded! They would go to the hospital just to give birth. I wish we have something like Reproductive Access Solutions (RAS) here in the Philippines. The company is all about educating women about reproductive health issues, maternity, fertility and gives financial help to women. An organization with such a good cause would certainly be beneficial to a lot of Filipino women out there.

back to weddings...

I remember being so psyched when Ramil and I were planning our wedding. It was a great experience for us - the planning, decision-making, etc. It was like nine months of a trial married life. It helped us explore how we would be like discussing and deciding over things that concerns us as a couple. Of course, there were a lot of times when we found the whole thing difficult and stressful. We were able to go through the whole thing successfully (obviously!) and our wedding day was exactly how we wanted it to be. We were not able to do it on our own, however. With our busy lives as teachers, we found ourselves needing a third person in the whole planning process. We found a coordinator in Jeng, her being our bestfriend was a bonus. Another friend, Faye, who was also one of my secondary sponsors is getting married this December and decided to get Jeng as her coordinator as well. So Jeng has finally decided to go into the wedding business full speed ahead through the coordination business she recently put up, The Wedding Haven. All I have are praises for my bestfriend so for those planning to get married, I highly recommend her. Below are her rates and services:

Full Coordination (Php 25,000)
This service includes complete wedding coordination. We’ll assist you from conceptualization until completion of your dream wedding.
Includes assistance in:
* Conceptualization
* Budget management
* Scheduling
* Ocular inspection of church and reception venue
* Supplier canvassing and selection
* Church and legal documents requirements

*Unlimited consultation for all aspects of the wedding
*Services under On the Day Coordination are all included

Partial Coordination (Php 18,000)
Majority of the suppliers have been booked. The couple is halfway through the wedding preparations and would like to seek the help of a wedding coordinator for the rest of the preparations.
Includes assistance in:
* Conceptualization
* Budget management
* Scheduling
* Supplier Canvassing and Selection

*Unlimited consultation for all aspects of the wedding
*Services under On the Day Coordination are all included

On the Day Coordination (Php 13,000)
The couple has booked all the suppliers and would like to seek the help of a wedding coordinator for the execution of plans for the wedding day.
Includes:
* Finalization of wedding day plans and reception program
* Supplier follow-ups for final details
* Wedding day task scheduling (as well as the day before and after the wedding)
* Distribution of misalletes, souvenirs, guestbook, and other items as requested
by the clients
* Briefing of Lector, Readers, Offerors, and Emcee
* Guest Management, floor plan layout & seating arrangement
* Overall coordination of wedding day from start to finish (Bride’s preparation,
Ceremony and Reception)

*Unlimited consultation for the flow of the wedding day

You may also email theweddinghaven@yahoo.com or text 0920-2874829 for inquiries.

this is a recorded call...

How many times have you had your phone calls recorded? The other day, I called the hotline of one of my credit cards because I haven't received the bill yet. I've never really paid much attention to them recording the conversations of their operators with the callers but it made me wonder, are they legally allowed to record phone calls? Has anyone questioned this practice of card companies and banks? They usually tell the caller that the recording is for their own protection. I wonder though whether they would really dig up a recorded conversation if a caller complains on how a call was handled. I think though that the recorded conversations are mostly for their own use, for evaluation of their operators. With the enormous number of agents they hire, this is probably the most efficient way of monitoring and evaluating them.

There are times when I wish I could record a conversation I'm having. Most cellphones have the capability to record phone calls and I remember reading a paragraph in my cellphone's manual that you must inform the other person that you are recording the call. Who could forget the famous "Hello Garci" issues? With the ease of recording phone calls, one can never be too cautious especially if you are discussing sensitive matters. One can easily get gadgets that allows phone-tapping.

BrickHouse Security is a leader in the phone recorder market and although they make it easy for anyone to record a phone call, they also offer privacy products that can detect and defeat call recording devices. It's worth checking out for both 'tappers' and 'tappees'. The next time you have a conversation over the phone, remember... you just might be recorded.

Mateo's 2-month check-up

Mateo had his scheduled 2-month check-up. He is now borderline overweight. Wah! He now weighs 6.6 kgs and according to his pedia this is very big for a 2-month old baby. He was given the 6-in-1 shot and we realized that the vaccinations don't come cheap. It seems that we need to save more since his next vaccinations will be more expensive.

Our baby is very 'talkative' now. He likes having people talk to him and he readily gives baby sounds and coos to make it a 2-way conversation. He can also push half of his body up now when he is on his tummy and can support his head quite well already. I sometimes let him sit while holding him under the arms only and he loves being in that position. I was very surprised today when he supported his own weight for several seconds while on a standing position. He has also discovered thumbsucking though it's more like fistsucking right now, LOL. He's still finding it hard to deliberately separate his thumb and put it in his mouth. I was strongly tempted the other day to help him when he cried out in frustation the other night. Good thing I was able to resist the temptation. I've decided not to do anything about this new preoccupation of his, whether to encourage or discourage it. I'll just let him do his thing. I'm waiting for him to roll-over any day soon also which, unfortunately, might have to end our co-sleeping days. Our baby is growing up so fast! I plan to enjoy our mama-son moments more this summer especially since there's a big possibility that I will be doing part-time work this coming schoolyear (O ayan ha, Blessing!)

second-hand help

The school's network has been giving the teachers problems for a long time now. Of course it doesn't help that it gives us headaches whenever the network is loaded, most often during times when we have deadlines to beat. I guess it would help if we upgrade our computers. Another would be to replace the routers and switches. We could check out the Used Cisco Guide. It might be a good idea to look at refurbished Cisco routers and switches. The guide is really helpful and very informative. It's a bible for those looking at the used Cisco market as a place to buy network equipments.

teacher mama

"You don't have kids yet, right? That's why you cannot understand what we're feeling."

This is what a parent said to me when they went to school to talk to me. Their grade four son had a broken right arm and I asked him try writing his answers to an exercise using his left hand. He didn't complain but his parents did. Looking back, I still don't regret what I did. Even now that I have a kid already.

This incident has made me wandered then about the kind of parent I would be. As teachers, we've come across different kinds of parents. Some have gained my admiration more than others. Others, sadly, simply view the teachers not as partners in their child's education but as an adversary. I've never really treated my students as if they are my own children. Simply because I haven't had one, the parent is right - I didn't know what it feels like to have a kid. But they were mine, my responsibilities. I related to them by thinking how it was for me when I was their age. I tried getting their confidences by being one of them. If I indeed do part-time teaching this coming schoolyear, it makes me wonder whether my new status as a mother would change my teaching style. I guess the only way to find out is to try it out.

i need space

Ramil and I have had our share of saying this line to each, back when we were in college and with our young hearts and minds, didn't really know much less understand what we want from each other. But this is not the kind of space I am talking about. Our laptop hard drive currently has a capacity of 60 GB but it's not enough for our combined disk space needs. Ramil has a lot of powerpoint presentations that are loaded with image files hence the ppt files also consume so much space. Add the lot of music files and games, the only solution I can see is for us to get an external drive. I was so delighted to discover these portable drives that could fit in pockets. It comes in different colors and offers free custom laser engraving. The 100 GB is priced at $99. Not bad. I think I see that much needed space coming.

the joy of breastfeeding

Mateo has been 80% breastfed since three weeks ago when I stopped pumping. Since I wasn't feeding him breastmilk from the bottle anymore, I was forced to feed him directly more often. It turned out to be the best thing that happened to our breastfeeding situation.

During that week, Mateo would consume 12 ounces of formula in a 24-hour period and the rest would be from me. Whenever he is hungry I would try breastfeeding him first. There were times when he would refuse my breast and would eagerly accept the bottle. I never thought the feeling of 'rejection' would be real for me. I came close to crying a lot of times. I know it was stupid but I took it personally, I couldn't help it. Sometimes there would be a battle of wills: me trying desperately to breastfeed Mateo, Mateo absolutely refusing my breast, me letting him cry it out, and finally after a few minutes of wailing, he would grudgingly feed from me. Most of the time though, he wins. I could only take so much of my baby's cries.

We have successfully decreased Mateo's intake of formula since then. What used to be 12 ounces has been brought down to 8 ounces, sometimes less. Hurray to us! It is only now that I get to appreciate the whole experience of breastfeeding. I could almost preen and gloat whenever Mateo would fall asleep while feeding from me, so peaceful and content. The silent gloating would continue for as long as he's asleep. The longer he sleeps, the more silent gloating I do. Hehe! If some mothers experience some kind of 'battle' for the babies affection with the yaya, I imagine myself having my own battle with the can of formula milk. I am ecstatic to report that I am winning. And I am getting more than what I expected. I find myself drawn more and more to Mateo. I now firmly believe in the mother-child 'bond' that breastfeeding helps form. I feel an overflowing feeling of happiness whenever I bring Mateo to my breast. I love gazing at him while he feeds. Now I am even grateful I was stupid enough to lose my breastpump's white valve.

During Mateo's first few weeks of life, I was depressed that I seem to be failing at something I was intent on doing. I settled for whatever breastmilk I could give him. I told myself just a few weeks is better than nothing. Well, the weeks turned to a month, a month turned to two, and now, I am gearing for at least 6 months of breastfeeding. Better if we could drag it out until Mateo turns one. I'm sure our baby's up for it because I definitely am.

dating again

A friend recently ended a long-term relationship. She is hesitant to jump into another serious relationship but wants to go out and meet other people. Although actual dating is what she prefers, she has also looked into a free dating site. According to her, even if it's a long shot that she would meet her Mr.Right online, it can be a good way to meet other people. It provides her with somebody to talk to if she is feeling lonely, and could give her a rush that usually comes when you get to converse with somebody that jives with you. Well, who am I to prevent her from it? It seems harmless enough.

a woman behind every man...

Ramil and I have ended our movie hiatus last Saturday. After two years of not having stepped a foot inside a movie theater, we decided to celebrate our 15 months of married life by watching 300. I must say that we chose a worthy movie to watch.

I've heard and read a lot of raves about the movie, from the amazing Spartan soldiers to the fabulous digital effects. I agree with all of them. Beyond the gory and yet ballet-like fight scenes, I find it amusing that one of the strongest character in a movie raining with sculptured men in all their hard rock glory is a woman.

"Because only Spartan women gives birth to strong Spartan men". This was the response of the Spartan queen when the Persian messenger became so indignant with her joining the conversation. Before Leonidas pushed the messenger over the big 'pit', he looked at his wife and silently asked for her agreement. At the end of the movie, although was not present in the battlefield, the queen accomplished one of the biggest victories in the story - killing and exposing the traitor.

I am not a feminist but while the movie reeks of testosterone power, it presented women as having a strong place in a society such as those of the Spartans. Although the women were left at home to tend to housework and the children, their men acknowledge that their women are definitely not wimps. It's a wonderful kind of equality that does not require women to be as callous as men (hehe). It allows women to be strong and yet retain the natural tendency of most to be soft and gentle. A movie like this makes me feel great. Let's celebrate being strong women! ;)

daddy-o

My husband's daddy instinct kicked in.

I have often wondered how Ramil would be as a daddy. Within a week of being one, he has already exceeded my expectations. Having grown up with very little presence of my papa, my idea of being a father is very limited. Time with my papa being lacking during my growing up years, it was what I required of Ramil. So far, he has given more than what I have asked for.

Although of course, my quickly acquired skills at baby duties are no match to his, he has shown more than an acceptable level at them. As early as now, Mateo knows and recognizes not only the mama but also the papa. If Mateo would sometimes make a smacking sound with his mouth whenever he sees me, as if saying milk, he would sometimes wave his arms wildly whenever he sees Ramil, as if saying carry me and rock me. Ramil has done his share of diaper changing, feeding, and trying to put Mateo to sleep. During our first few days of parenthood, when things were more than challenging because of all the adjustment and hormones, I've told him more than once that I am very happy and grateful to be doing this with him.

As early as now, I can see a father I would have loved to have and I know Mateo agrees with me.

exposed

Ever wondered how David Blaine performs his so-called 'magic' tricks? Or how any other magician performs theirs? Or maybe you want to be one of those magicians and knowing their secrets could easily make you one? Having these magic exposed is just what you need. I've always been the skeptic when it comes to magic tricks and for a small donation, it would be easy to find out the secrets behind these tricks. I could learn a few simple but very effective magic tricks I could use to impress my students. This just might make me a success at children's parties ;)

a wife and a mother

Right now, I am simply two things: a wife and a mother. I cannot even call myself a teacher because I am currently on maternity leave. My days these past few months has been all about struggling to be a decent mother to Mateo and a still-fumbling wife to Ramil.

A lot has changed ever since I left the world of singlehood. I have to admit that the changes in my life these past two years has made it difficult for me to relate to my life as a free person. My preoccupation before with the new restaurants to try out and new gadgets or clothes to buy, were replaced with musings on what to make for dinner and when to schedule the bathroom-cleaning, which were further replaced with anticipation for Mateo's smiles and antics. When Ramil and I were still single, mall sales would have us trooping to the clothing shops, shoes shops, sports apparel shops, etc. When we got married, we started visiting appliance and furniture shops during these mall sales. Finally, the weekend sale at SM Fairview last weekend had us visiting the baby shops and baby section of the department store.

Although I still find talking to single people, including young people like my students, very engaging, I now find myself having a lot to talk about with the older group of people. I am welcomed warmly by the 'motherhood' club - women who are only too happy to share their stories and tips on motherhood.

It has been a roller-coaster ride for me somehow. Different worlds are being opened up to me. Right now, I may not have anything to myself except being a wife and a mother but that's all I want to be at the moment. Until the next challenge life has to offer.

real estate software

One of the things that can be very difficult to do is to get organized. What I usually do to get organized is to create and maintain a lot of Excel files. I had a file when we were preparing for the wedding and it made things more manageable for us. I keep files on almost anything, our expenses, my students, my work as a teacher, and so much more. Real estate agents can now go beyond keeping just the usual files or maintaining the usual organizer. Real Estate Software - AgentOrganizer is a software made especially for real estate agents. It helps to easily organize an agent's contacts, listings, buyers, finances, appointments, and tasks. They offer a free 15-day trial download for those willing to try the product.

who looks like who?

Some babies immediately look like one parent right after delivery. With Mateo, we've been getting mixed opinions on who he looks like. Almost equal numbers of people say that he looks like Ramil or he looks like me or he looks like both of us. We decided to take pictures and see for ourselves.

Now, who do you think Mateo looks like? :)

saving on mortgage

There's this new way of paying off mortgage. Usually, when dealing with mortgages, any unpaid balances is accumulating interest until you are able to pay it off. You are paying interest on a mortgage with decreasing balance since you are supposedly paying it off every month. The One Account mortgage offers a different take on paying off your mortgage. What it does is use your savings account and current account balance (assuming you have money in them) to offset your mortgage balance. Interest is charge only on the remaining balance if you deduct the money in your savings and current accounts. You could still get your money from your accounts anytime but your mortgage balance will go back up if you do. What's good is the balance you are paying interest on is smaller without having to actually pay for it. Paying off mortgage wouldn't be too hard on the pockets with this scheme. I'm not sure if banks here in the Philippines have thought of this but I'm pretty sure there's nothing like this here yet. I hope when the time comes when Ramil and I would be able to afford paying off a housing loan something like this would be available.

first malling

crying while mama & papa are having coffee

We took Mateo malling for the first time last Saturday night. We needed to pay some bills on our way to my parents' house so we decided to bring Mateo along. We used his new stroller and didn't give us too much problems, hehe! We pushed him around in the 3rd floor of the main building of SM North since there are usually fewer people walking in that area. He was very attracted to the lights and everything else he could set his eyes on. I think we're going to have more malling experience with him ;)

savings account

Putting money in a savings account nowadays would be almost like keeping your money at home. With banks paying only around 1% on savings accounts, you would barely see any income from your money. I found a new site, SavingsAccount.com, focused on the direct to consumer online banking industry, which gives a high interest rates. I'm not sure how secure the whole thing is but with almost 0% interest rate I would be getting in local banks, it might worth a look. So for those looking for higher interest in their savings account, go ahead, compare online banking, find a savings account or checking account and earn more interest today with SavingsAccounts.com.

bestsellers

Check out smartphones at Wirefly. They've recently announced their sharp growth in smartphones sales. According to wirefly, in the first quarter of 2007 sales of smartphones grew 70% from the third quarter of 2006. It seems that more and more people are opting to buy more than your usual phones. The days when smartphones were considered bulky inconveniences reserved for top executives are over. It helps that smartphones are becoming more cheaper and that newer designs are slimmer and more stylish. The top-selling smartphone based on Wirefly's sales is Samsung's Blackjack followed by the BlackBerry Pearl and the BlackBerry 8700 series. Even before the hype surrounding smartphones, back when 02 was a brand unknown to many, I've always wanted one. Now it seems everyone has catched up while I'm left with my trusty, old Nokia 6600. Time to jump on the bandwagon?

the teacher in me

I miss my kids. I never thought I would put something like this on my blog but now I feel the urge to. After almost three months of not being able to teach and go to school, I find myself missing my life as a teacher.

There were times during my short stint as a teacher when I would fervently wish that I don't have to see them everyday. Hehe! Now, I realize that the decision to stay home is not going to be that easy. For one thing, I miss the work. Even though I had constant complains about it when I was still teaching, staying home is an altogether different story. I enjoyed it at first when I was waiting to give birth. Waking up late, watching TV anytime I want, being able to go online anytime I want, having the time to do chores (yes, given ample time I find them enjoyable), being able to relax and think. Nowadays though, I sometimes feel cooped up inside the house. Although I don't miss having to make activity sheets, lesson plans, and grades, I miss going to my classes.

For me, fulfillment in teaching is in the kids. Going inside a classroom and be greeted by boisterous chorus of 'Teacher Andrea' and knowing from their smiles that you're welcome, is enough boost to teach them for an hour and fifteen minutes. I almost regret being too preoccupied with my pregnancy that I wasn't able to savor my last few months of teaching. I'm still thinking of going back, it might not be so bad if I only do part-time and we get somebody to look after Mateo. Right now though, all I need to focus on is our baby. All the teaching I'm going to be doing in the next few months will be with Mateo. I miss my kids but I know teaching and being with Mateo will be more fun, enjoyable, and fulfilling.

golden gold

When Ramil and I were planning our wedding, we originally wanted to get platinum wedding rings. However, platinum rings are usually more expensive and difficult to resize so we opted to get rings in gold instead. We didn't want yellow gold so we were initially looking at white gold rings. A look in one of the jewelry stores in SM North showed us another kind of gold, rose gold. Hence, we got a pair of rose gold wedding rings with 3 small diamonds on each of them. We love them.

Gold has always been more than just jewelry. It is a currency in itself, recognized for centuries as one of the best ways to preserve one's wealth. Whenever I think filthy rich, my mind doesn't just envision wads of bills, pictures of gold bars also enters my mind. It might actually be a good idea to invest in gold. Monex Deposit Company have been America's gold and precious metals investment leader for over 30 years. Even just one gold bar would solve our money problems. I gotta go get ourselves some.

losing hair

One of the things I am really scared of right now would be losing my hair in the next few months. This is one of the ugly drawbacks after giving birth which, I believe, could be worse than usual if breastfeeding. I have really thin hair as it is and the thought of maybe losing a lot of hair is not something I am looking forward to. Although baldness in women doesn't run in my family (as far as I know), there's still this small fear in me that by some funny twist of fate I would have to resort to wearing wigs or scarves on my head.

Baldness, though, is more common in men. I have jokingly told Ramil more than once that he might go bald when he is older, LOL. I don't know what the deal is with men and their hair, they suddenly get all vain whenever it concerns their hair. That's why it surprises me no less that baldness is one of the aesthetic problems that men worry themselves with. No wonder there are a lot of hair loss solutions out there. Among them is Procerin, a convenient tablet and topical solution that can be used daily for the treatment of male hair loss. The good thing about it is, it is an all-natural supplement and requires no prescription. Some prescription medicine like this reacts with testosterone thus having some sexual side effects. Procerin, on the otherhand, has no such side effects. Whatever his age is and whatever kind of hair loss he is experiencing, a man can definitely benefit from Procerin. It inhibits hair loss and even improves hair growth. All its active ingredients are all-natural and contains no harsh chemicals. Now, I sure hope a remedy for hair loss is this easy for post-pregnancy kinds of hair loss. But I guess I just have to stick it out for the next few months until my hair returns to normal.

deal or no deal?

I am missing Deal or No Deal. I used to watch the show regularly. Although it sometimes leaves a bad taste in my mouth whenever someone too greedy would keep on saying 'no deal' to high offers from the banker. How can you say 'no deal' to an offer of 500k, for example? It's actually like betting 500k. Ramil and I would love to be able to join Deal or No Deal. With our financial needs, it would be easy to shout Deal to any significant amount offerred by the banker. Hehe! During the first few weeks of its showing, I used to do my own approximation of the amount the banker would offer. Using probabilities and expectations, I usually got very accurate 'guesses'. I got tired of it eventually. I'm wondering when they will be able to put the show on air again?

Since I've had this dream of joining the show, it was great to find a free version online of Deal or No Deal. I tried playing it and it somehow made me feel how it would be like to play the real thing. My first game didn't win me any big money. Good thing the game is free. The site also gives you a chance to win real prizes by searching the web using Winzy. Maybe I'll get lucky one of these days...

here comes the sun

Summertime is here again! Time to go off to the beach and get some sun. I've always loved summer and everything associated with heat except for too much heat sometimes. It has always been the perfect excuse to wear sleeveless blouses, tank tops, and halters. Not to mention great looking sunglasses to protect my eyes from the sun. A summer look is not complete without these.

It's also the time when malls are having summer season sales and it's easy to get discount sunglasses. I love trying on different styles. Some great-looking ones, which usually come with a designer names, can be really expensive I wouldn't want to wear them on the beach, LOL. Some people are hardcore sunglasses-wearing people. Although I love trying them on, I'm not one of them. The beach is one of the few places where I would constantly wear sunglasses. Otherwise, I also love looking at the world with my bare eyes. So I guess summer is almost here and with it comes the sun at its hottest and me with my sunglasses ;)

priceless

Mateo has been getting more generous with his smiles. I love how he loves to be talked to and shows it with open-mouthed, eyes-crinkled smiles. One of the ways that Ramil and I use to make him smile is to laugh. Laughing has elicited some of the best smiles from Mateo. For two people who love a good laugh, it's not surprising that our baby would love it also. I can't wait for him to laugh himself :)

drugged

Working with teenagers has made me constantly remember my own teenage years. I must say that how things were before are definitely not how things are now. A student as young as 7 years old can have a cellphone now. Back when I was in high school, even a pager was considered a luxury.

Nowadays, I would even hear stories of how young kids are starting to go out or to drink. Some are getting pregnant at a much younger age than what I used to hear. Some like to do some partying even before getting out of grade school. I am more shocked to hear astounding stories of how kids are like in the States. It is for this reason that Ramil and I has changed our minds about moving abroad as teachers.

Drugs are also more common and accessible to these kids now. There are even what they call 'party' drugs. Young as these kids are, they easily get swayed to try out these things. It's no surprise that they're getting addicted early also. Thank goodness I haven't had the experience of having to deal with drug addiction with any of my students and I don't think I would be able to be an effective teacher if we go abroad, kids having this problem are more of a possibility there. I remember a neighbor, who's almost the same age as me, being admitted to a rehabilitation center by his parents. I guess his addiction got so worse, he was already uncontrollable. He's been in and out of rehab since and last I heard, he's doing well.

Drug treatment is a must for drug addicts. It becomes even more imperative for young people who are addicted. So much potential could be lost if they are left to continue their addiction, becoming burdens of society instead of contributors. One rehabilitation center/program I've heard of in the States is Stone Hawk. It is the most succesful drug treatment program there, claiming to have a 76%+ success rate. It is run by people who also used to be drug addicts and who have stayed clean since undergoing rehab of some kind, some of them under Stone Hawk also. The entire process seems ideal, they are promoting health and fitness as keys to getting clean and staying clean. Plus, they use a drug-free approach.

I am not very familiar with the state of drug rehabilitation here in the Philippines but I hope we have center almost as good as this one. Drug addiction is a big problem anywhere and definitely needs attention.

death of a loved one

Whenever someone you know died or someone you know lost a loved one, it usually makes you reflective of how you are showing your appreciation for the people around you. We've had several deaths in the family but the only death that made me really grieve for months was the death of our then 4-month-old golden retriever Eddy. I've lost my grandfather on my mother's side and my grandmother on my father's side but I was never really that close to them to feel that kind of grief that makes you cry uncontrollably. It's funny that my first real experience of grieving was over a puppy.

Eddy died of a sickness, Leptospirosis. When I got news of his death, I was having dinner in Fazoli's with Ramil and Jeng. The vet was the one who called me, my mama couldn't bring herself to tell me that he's dead already. I still remember the feeling of pain upon being told that he's already gone. I cried really loudly, not minding that other customers in the restaurant could hear me. My mind kept saying 'no, no'. It felt like losing somebody really close to me. Even though we bought the puppy for my papa, he was mine and he knows it too. He would eagerly approach me and almost go crazy trying to put his legs around my legs whenever I'd go home. I have never cuddled and treated a dog with so much love as I have Eddy. I grieved over him for months. I'd cry upon seeing other goldens which are a lot in HEdcen (the school I work for). Ramil had a hard time consoling me everytime I'd cry.

I consider myself lucky to have undergone this grieving process only once, not to mention that it was just a dog I lost not a person. I know it's inevitable that there will come a time when I would experience again this kind of pain over losing someone. Because of Eddy, the fear that one of those days might come soon is lodged solidly in my mind and heart. Life is indeed too short. For now, all I can do is enjoy each day given to me and to appreciate the people in my lives right now.

free phones

Wirefly has a lot of great offers! If you want a free cell phone, this is the perfect time for it. The only catch is they're free with new accounts. This is very similar to what Globe and Smart usually offer to get new subscriptions. It has been pretty effective for this two local mobile phone companies so it's no surprise that other mobile companies abroad are doing it too. I guess people really get hooked easily with freebies even if they sometimes don't need it. I know of several people who have had several phone lines just to get the freebies that go with it. Another way of looking at it would be pretty much like buying the phone anyway and the subscription is the one that comes free with it.

They are offering really great phones. A new Cingular Wireless account comes with a Sony W300i, a Verizon wireless account with a Motorola RAZR V3m, and a T-Mobile account with a BlackBerry Pearl! They are offering really good phones to be able to attract new accounts. Unlike here, where you get a low-end phone with the lowest plan. To be able to get a good phone, you need to subscribe to a really expensive plan. The site even lets you return a wireless phone for a full refund if you are not satisfied with it for any reason. They are really out for customer satisfaction.

It might be a great idea for me to ask someone in the states to get a phone for me. It seems that the deals over there are so much more attractive than what we have here. The site gives you a choice of several carriers and each carrier has a lot of great deals to offer.

babymaker

I've been watching the TV version of Palimos ng Pag-ibig (yes, we are more of a Kapamilya household). I vaguely remember watching the movie version when I was little starring Vilma Santos and Dina Bonnevie. Even then, the whole plot of the movie was very disturbing to me.

In the sineserye, Ditas (Kristine Hermosa's character) chose to sell her baby. This she was able to do but she wasn't able to say yes to the offer of her employer to dance in the club she was working for. I find this really, really confusing. You find yourself strapped for money, you absolutely refused to stoop as low as dancing in a nightclub and yet you would be willing to sell your baby for 200,000 pesos! Even though Ramil and I have often joked about it, hell, I'd dance first before selling Mateo.

The plot gets thicker when she chose to be a babymaker for real. After delivering her first 'merchandise' she told her dancer friend that she plans to rest for one month and then they can look for another client. Hello? Haven't they heard of post-partum depression? or of the 6-week recovery period? She plans to get pregnant a month (or two?) after giving birth?!?! I know, I know, it's TV. It's not meant to be realistic. Now I know why I get so hooked with such teleseryes, my life would never be as interesting.

christian dating

Wanna spread some Christian Love? I have a lot of single, Christian friends. Most of them prefer to date Christians also. My sister just recently bolted the Catholic church and joined a Christian group. If I understand correctly, they have activities for single members of their church from time to time. It is a perfect venue for them to be able to meet single Christians like them. I guess they are using technology to their advantage also. Why not have a dating site for single Christians? This would be a perfect venue also to meet people who have the same beliefs as them. I guess it's just a matter of 'limiting' your search to find that Mr./Ms. Right ;)

circus

The circus is coming to town.

You just have to turn on your TV to be entertained by our respectable politicians doing some dance to a version of a popular song made by Lito Camo or doing some MTV-esque rock video. Very amusing indeed. The situation looks hopeless to me. I know there are some of them who could possibly do some good if they win. But really, who among them would be 100% clean during their whole stay in government? If they're willing to spend millions for some airtime for their campaign commercials, you can bet your a** their gonna look for some payback when they win. Or maybe those who made sizable donations wouldn't let them forget it.

Ramil asked me a few weeks ago if I'm voting. I almost hesitated before answering, 'of course!'. With the list of senatoriables including Richard Gomez, it's hard to take the whole thing seriously. Then I realized, all the more I should vote! My vote, even if it's just one in the millions they will be counting, is me saying I'm tired of every election period turning into a circus, that I am choosing for Mateo's future.

I am really praying that everyone who will be voting this May will not only be thinking twice, but several times, before writing a name down on that ballot. I wouldn't want Mateo growing up in a country run by people who think they can buy its people's votes just because they've had more than 10 high grossing movies, or by gyrating on tv, or by having celebrities campaign for them. I know some of them may really be able to do some good in government. I just hope we base it beyond what we see on tv or in the movies.

recall

To everyone who wears contact lenses, you should be aware of the ReNu Contact Lens Solution Recall. Bausch & Lomb made a limited voluntary recall of ReNu MultiPlus lens care solution because they contain an elevated level of trace iron. Affected bottles may exhibit some discoloration and their shelf-life may be shortened. Although the company believes virtually all of the affected products, manufactured a year ago, has been used by consumers, they have not received any reports of adverse effects. Aside from being distributed in the United States, the affected products were also distributed in Canada, Latin America, Korea, and Taiwan. If you notice discoloration in your bottle and carry the expiration date "2008 - 03", it might be one of the affected bottles. You could arrange for a replacement by visiting the Company's website at ReNu MultiPlus Recall.

more Mateo pics

This is turning out to be a Mateo photo blog (aside from my paid posts), LOL. I can't help it though, Mateo has been (literally) my everyday life since he's been born. And it's so much fun taking pictures of a baby. Here's one of his nicest pictures, where his face looks so serene and good-looking (according to Ramil and me!).

gwapo!

ACDSee

I usually use the ACDSee to organize and sort my photos. I still have to try the Photo Editor counterpart though, I use Adobe Photoshop to edit and do lay-outs. Both softwares are made by ACD Systems Deutschland, a recognized world leader in the software industry. I find it easy to view and organize my photos using their software. The software can even upload photos from a camera to the computer really fast and you can sort them into groupings and folders quickly. I can also assign ratings to my photos! It's such a breeze maintaining my collection of photos using this software.

i want!

...this for Mateo.Mateo has been so alert already. I always find myself having to entertain him whenever he is awake. I would love for him to have a baby gym. I looked at different kinds of baby gyms and I loved this Baby Einstein baby gym. It's time for Mateo to exercise those muscles! :)

for single moms

I know some single moms (and Single Dads?) out there who are still very much hoping that they find somebody to end their singlehood. It's sometimes difficult to date when you're a single parent, you have the added 'baggage' of having a kid and you're actually bringing somebody else aside from yourself to the relationship. That's why most single parents I know are more picky and careful when dating. So a dating site might not be too popular to them. It might be something to consider if the site is specifically for single moms and dads looking to meet somebody. Still, whether you're a single parent or not, it pays to observe extra caution whenever you meet someone over the internet. Whoever it is just might be the man/woman of your dreams or your worst nightmare.

Mean Mums

Got this from a n@wie. I hope I get to be a mean mom to Mateo ;)

Someday when my children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates a parent, I will tell them, as my Mean Mum told me:

I loved you enough . . . To ask where you were going, with whom, and what time you would be home.

I loved you enough to be silent and let you discover that you're new best friend was a creep.

I loved you enough to stand over you for two hours while you cleaned your room, a job that should have taken 15 minutes.

I loved you enough to let you see anger, disappointment, and tears in my eyes. Children must learn that their parents aren't perfect.

I loved you enough to let you assume the responsibility for your actions even when the penalties were so harsh they almost broke my heart.

But most of all, I loved you enough. . To say NO when I knew you would hate me for it. Those were the most difficult battles of all.

I'm glad I won them, because in the end you won, too. And someday when your children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates parents, you will tell them.

Was your Mum mean? I know mine was.

We had the meanest mother in the whole world! While other kids ate candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal, eggs, and toast. When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat sandwiches.

And you can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was different from what other kids had, too.

My mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times. You'd think we were convicts in a prison. She had to know who our friends were, and what we were doing with them. She insisted that if we said we would be gone for an hour, we would be gone for an hour or less.

We were ashamed to admit it, but she had the nerve to break the Child Labour Laws by making us work. We had to wash the dishes, make the beds, and learn to cook, vacuum the floor, do laundry, and empty the trash and all sorts of cruel jobs. I think she would lie awake at night thinking of more things for us to do.

She always insisted on us telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. By the time we were teenagers, she could read our minds and had eyes in the back of her head. Then, life was really tough!

My mother wouldn't let our friend's just honk the horn when they drove up. They had to come up to the door so she could meet them.

While everyone else could date when they were 12 or 13, we had to wait until we were 18.

Because of our mother we missed out on lots of things other kids experienced. None of us have ever been caught shoplifting, vandalizing other's property or ever arrested for any crime. It was all her fault.

Now that we have left home, we are all educated honest adults.. We are doing our best to be mean parents just like Mum was.

I think that is what's wrong with the world today. It just doesn't have enough mean mums!