Of Achievements and Resolutions

Summing up 2008, I'd say it was a BUSY year for us. Busy because we had so much to do, to take care of. But of all the things we did, the best that came to us and what we are most thankful for is the purchase of our DSLR Camera. It dawned on us to buy one because business is good and we need to compete with the growing industry we are circulating in. The DSLR has accompanied us to places we have been to and of course, the most exciting travel we did was the Cebu-Boracay-Iloilo. The travel was well worth it, precious moments with the family and valuable joys with Nature. Family and all that it has achieved has made me strong and hoping for more. All glory to God for this achievements.

For the coming 2009, one of my resolutions is the longest resolution I have kept, longest because I always fail in doing this. There's more to the resolution list so I want to share it with you, the longest I have kept still tops it, of course.

5. lessen my unsolicited commenting to people around me
(not that I comment bad, I just have to lessen!)
4. more time with kids and hubby
3. lessen shopping and saving more
2. getting a breather for 2009

and of course!

1. lessen my Coke intake.

Let me also share to you the things I and hubby plans to achieve within 2009. And please help me pray to achieve them.

5. Buy a laptop.
4. Buy our LCD TV.
3. Buy new cabinets for our own house.
2. Buy a car.

All these things are actually things we need before we can achieve the first on the list.

1. Move into our own house!

So please God, give me strength to endure things and achieve all these in 2009.

Happy New Year Guys! I love you all!

Busy Christmas

I would love to snuggle in bed for the rest of the holidays! yes, people. I am lazy this Christmas.

Forgive me if I cannot post something worthwhile, it's just that, what with the reunions and Christmas parties and Christmas shopping and other stuffs (I got bring home work to do!).

Please enjoy Santa's little alalays. Hubby had a shot of them while we were visiting my parent's place in Koronadal City, South Cotabato for the Christmas Eve.

Happy New Year! May 2009 bring fruitful days ahead to all of you!

Cheers for the New Year Guys!

Love Always,

sHenG

Bloglove No. 5 - Christmas Love

If there's anything I would like to really thank for because it made me a better person, that is to blogging. I once kept a diary to keep up with my feelings and with all the things my whirlwind life includes.

Now, I no longer use a diary because I felt that it was too "teen-agerish" for me to do so. I did not keep journal or so, I just don't feel like it.

But thanks to blogging. It has opened me up a wee bit more to the world. I write what is in my heart and what is in my mind. I haven't really thought of keeping my identity, because I feel that when I do so, it's just not opening up.

Blogging is one of my outlets. A mixture of my emotions. What I feel, what I hear, what I want.

And through blogging, I have made friends who has showered me with love, with ears to listen to, with eyes to read about my rants and raves, with comments to keep me sane. And with very special love to cheer me up, especially during this special time of the year.

I just want to let you know that I love you guys, you who know me inside and out through my posts. I just want to let you know that I wish you all the best for 2009.

These are just some of the love my blogger friends sent me. The thought is very heart-warming guys. I love you, you sending me this love made me smile so wide.

the Christmas card stamped from UAE from Jo of WitsandNuts

Jo, thanks so much!

these lovely loots from BlueRose

from KG, I haven't opened it up yet, will do on Christmas Day, promise!

from dearest Jeanny

a necklace

cum bracelet.

Thanks so much guys! It was indeed a pleasure meeting you in blogosphere!

Here's a poem I would like to dedicate to everyone in my blogroll.

A Christmas Poem
by: Helen Steiner Rice

I have a list of folks I know, all written in a book
And every year when Christmas comes, I go and take a look,
And that is when I realize that these names are a part
Not of the book they are written in, but really of my heart

For each name stands for someone who has crossed my path sometime,
And in the meeting they've become the rhythm in each rhyme
And while it sounds fantastic for me to make this claim,
I really feel that I'm composed of each remembered name

And while you may not be aware of any special link
Just meeting you has changed my life a lot more than you think
For once I've met somebody, the years cannot erase
The memory of a pleasant word or of a friendly face

So never think my Christmas cards are just a mere routine
Of names upon a Christmas list, forgotten in between,
For when I send a Christmas card that is addressed to you,
It is because you're on the list that I'm indebted to

For I am but a total of the many folks I've met,
And you happen to be one of those I prefer not to forget
And whether I have known you for many years or few,
In some ways you have a part in shaping things I do

And every year when Christmas comes, I realize anew,
The best gifts life can offer is meeting folks like you.
And may the spirit of Christmas that forever endures
Leave its richest blessings in the hearts of you and yours.

from my family to yours!

Happy Holidays to Everyone!

Love Always,

sHenG

You can teach an old dog new tricks, monkeys too!

This is my 1o1st post ladies and gentlemen! Hurrah to blogging!

Last Saturday evening, my kids and I, together with our photo master, my hubby, went to a gym nearby. Biboy wanted to watch Saver the Wonder Dog together with his trainor, Jun Lazarte. It was Biboy's second time to watch Saver, he went to watch this performance before together with his dad, I was preggy then with Tabebs. So for the second time that Saver visited Gensan, we all watched the show, and it was a bonding day with the kids.

Jun Lazarte is a very cool dude, I dunno why, but he has this passion for teaching animals some tricks, and they get to perform it very well. I am not so fond of pets but I just know that when you have pets, you just have to be a responsible pet owner.

So here's some pics of the show.

A guinea pig, a rodent who pulls strings to raise the Phipilline Flag, very cool noh?
See the flag being raised up?

The monkey standing with his hands, feet up.

A kiss from the monkey!

Jun brought a crow, and it sure is a cool crow, he plays basketball!
Athletic minded huh!

The crow shooting the ball to the ring.

A chicken dancing Tinikling!

The chicken trying to turn on the lampshade.

And Saver, the star of the show! Dancing PinoyBig Brother's Pinoy Ako!

In this pic, Saver is crying, trying hard to imitate Judy Ann's sobs?

And wiping tears of course...

Saver, drinking water from a jug, the coolness is,
it was he who closed and opened the jug faucet!

Jun Lazarte and pet star, Saver Lazarte.

And us! Of course, we don't want to go home without having our
pics taken with the Wonder Dog. You ask, where's the hubby?
Hehe, as always, he's never in the pic, he's the photographer!

R, and what it is to me...

I commented on one of Blue Rose's posts and she gave me the letter R. I have to think of the Rs of my life and share them with you.

Okey, here are the Rs of my life...

Ric - my hubby's name
Ric Christian - my son's name
Raine Cassandra - my daughter's name
Reading - my job, and my very special hobby
Red Roses - my favorite flowers
Road-trip - one thing I love to do with my kids and hubby
Roller coaster ride - one thing I haven't done yet in my entire life
Rice - what I don't forget to have every meal, except snacks
Red - One of my favorite colors
Rest - one I really need to get during the holidays
Riyadh - uhmmm, one thing I am praying for.

I gave you 11, you have to give me ten only. You want a letter?

Of Kids and Christmas

When I was a kid, I do not remember my Mom and Dad bringing us kids to places that is worthy of a kid's heart. Not that they don't love me or whatever you think, but we just don't have nice places to go to during Christmas. We only enjoy the holidays because we are together, and yes, this brings simple joy to us kids, the gift-giving and the Noche Buena.

It is nice to know that these days, we have made use of our creativity and many municipalities and cities have made their city parks a nice getaway place for kids especially during Christmas time.

Last week, we brought the kids to the City Oval Plaza to witness what we call "Pasko sa Gensan" and they were so amazed at the lights that twinkle and the designs that made the plaza become "Enchanted" as it was also themed as "Enchanted Gensan".

These are some of the things that captured my kids' hearts, and what we have captured with our camera. I would like to share this to you too, I am sharing our "Enchanted Gensan" with you.

the Oval Plaza Stage

A nice tower covered with sparkling lights

this is the highlight of the place,
Gensan's Christmas tree, for all to see

The Ferris Wheel,
my kids wanted a ride in this thing, but a few minutes after we talked about it,
lightning and rain came attacking, and I have to postpone the ride.

My Kids Smiling at Every Tower and Vistas they go to

My Kids sure enjoyed the Trip to The Enchanted Gensan

So there, I will be making sure they have a good Christmas this year, as it has been a good year, this 2008 is. This will be a special Christmas because we will be spending it together, with smiles in our hearts, even if our pockets are light. Christmas means togetherness and love in each of us. Christmas is for kids, and I am making sure they get it.

What makes your Christmas Special? Care to share?

Nota Bene: To all of you who joined me in greeting my hubby on his birthday, thanks very much for the well-wishes. Merry Christmas to all of you.

To My Knight in Shining Armor

No words are enough to let you know how happy I am having you in my life. No words can express how much you mean to me. No smile can make me grin so wide than meeting your smile. No hug is as tight as the ones you give me. No joy is better than the effect of the love we share.

If for reasons undefined I have been unfair, forgive me. If for schedules undesired, we miss out on each other, let's make up. If for the quest of looking good, I look awkward to you, let me share to you the secret of my beauty. If for doing nothing, I make you a slave, now let me serve you as my king.

Because it's your birthday, I just wanna let you know how happy I am because of having you.
I may not give you material things that cost much, because I am not rich, but I can give you my world, because you know, I only evolve because of you.

Happy Birthday to the Creator of my Kids,
my Knight in Shining Armor
Love you so much Dad!

I'll live my life for you.

The Day the Earth Stood Still

If the earth die, you die.
If you die, the Earth survives.

Which would you choose?

Alarming, right? But so true. Time has placed us to a transformation that we cannot control. It's not the Technology that destroyed the Earth, it's US.

The Day the Earth Stood Still tells of an alien who visited our planet and tried to save the Earth. Save the Earth from what, you will ask. From the human race. Yes, the alien wanted to save the Earth from us, human beings.

As my eyes wandered from the actions I have seen on the screen, my mind wanders and wonders as to what extent we have damaged our planet. The effect of the damage is already alarming: the hole in the ozone layer, floods everywhere, storms in the Philippines, landslides in Malaysia, hurricanes in the Western part of the world, earthquakes and tsunamis in Indonesia.

The story speaks so true to what is really happening in our planet now. It is truly our attitude towards the Earth that damaged the environment. We have become so selfish that we only thought of what we can benefit from what we do. We never thought of what our actions can do to the environment, and to Mother Nature, for that matter. We become so engrossed with what we do that we forget the burning of fossil fuels every time we turn on our electric-powered gadgets and appliances. We fill our stomachs with food, and throw away the styrofoam or plastic that wraps our food, as though they don't affect the environment. We write on paper but forget that paper comes from trees being cut in order for paper to be made. We turn on our airconditioning units to cool ourselves and forget that this entails the burning of fossil fuels which is actually the main reason why the ozone layer that covers the Earth has holes and which makes the planet warm, read: HOT.

I watched this movie and what I got was a warning: Change before it is too late.

We need to change our lifestyles and try to think of our dear Mother Earth before we indulge ourselves into our own comforts. I have long been an advocate of saving the Mother Earth. The things we must basically do in order to practice such CHANGE: Reuse, reduce, recycle. This is one way to help Mother Earth get well from the infection we have affected her with our actions.

For all my friends reading this post, I'd like to ask a minute of your time to close your eyes, reflect, and ask yourself what you can do to help save the Earth. If you have your answers, please include them in your 2009 NewYear's Resolution. I believe with trying to cling on to that resolution, we will be reminded to practice a CHANGE that will help save our Mother Earth.

Let's change for Mother Earth. Let us start to think Green!

Blog Love No. 4

Our internet failed to cooperate with me for the past two days, that's the reason why I haven't posted anything. The weekend was long here in our side of the Philippines, we usually support our Muslim brethren in their holidays and it was a Muslim holiday last Monday, so we had a long rest. Tuesday came and our internet was having problems connecting us to the world. But thanks to good hands, it's back, just now.

Last week, I had a number of blog love that came in the mails. Ohhhhhhhhlala, it was such a surprise, everything made me happy. It's just so good when friends think of you and send you something.

First off, this "I Think Green" shirt came to my doorstep. The kids were literally excited to open the package but waited until I came home. She also included a journal for me. Just timely for the New year coming, I needed one that I can write my schedules on. It was the thing I just want, slim and simple, one I can carry around with no hassle. Thanks to "ILuvGreen" for this. I am glad I had you buy this shirt for me.

My "I Think Green" shirt

My new Papelmeroti journal

I was also surprised seeing these mails on my table. The postcards came from abroad, one from Mimi, and another from a fellow postcrosser. Mimi, thanks so much for the thought of sending me a Malay stamp, I am so happy. The postcard is an inspiration for me to try reaching Malaysian lands soon.

Kids and I displaying our goodies

A package came along with my mails, and I was surprised to see this loot, it had a bunch of notepads, 2 large stamps attached to the bubble envelope and one unstamped stamp. The --------- sent me a note telling me she thought of me when she saw the nice stamps in the post office and so she got them for me. Thanks so much ----. (Sender does not want her name disclosed, but anyway, thanks a lot, You know who you are. =) It made my heart swell with pride knowing I have friends like you who think of me too.

I immediately took the stamps from the envelope and joined them in my stamp album. Stamp-crazy eh? Nice stamps right? They're actually the biggest out of all my collections.

Surely friends are important in our lives. We need them in order to enjoy life as we connect to the world. I have made good friends with blogging and they have inspired me with their thoughtfulness. You amaze me guys. Thanks so much. Rest assured I will be posting good stuffs that I may share to you what I will learn in my experiences, in my emotions and in the things I see. Cheers to blogging!

Creepy Art... or Not?

My family went to Davao early this year, just to enjoy bonding together as a family. We don't have any relatives in Davao City but a little adventure with the kids is what we really want to have, so off we went and toured Davao City's finest stops. Our feet were tired and sore from all the walking to and fro, we brought the kids to the Davao People's Park, to the Crocodile Park, Colasa's Barbeque Street, and some malls.

We searched for a hotel to sleep over and found Ponce Suites. The weary kids were no longer interested to tour the hotel as we went back past 11pm, until the following morning, and goodness gracious, the hotel alone, was a tourist spot. It was actually hubby's idea to visit this place because he has heard so much from this hotel.

Hence, I will show you what we have seen...

This is the aisle of the hotel. Up the ceiling were crawling ants.
If you take a close look at them, there are some pics of the sweets the ants were craving for and so answers why they are up there.

The walls of the hotel were decorated as well with different things, all recycled from trash. "Surely one man's trash is another man's gold."

Every door is decorated with different works of art, all faces. This one is our door.

No part of the wall is vacant, some with paintings, photographs, shells, even sands!

We have to go upstairs to enjoy and discover the fully art-covered hotel, you see, even the area near the stairs are fully covered with photographs, collections and takes of the artist himself, Kublai Millan. His works have already been featured in ABS-CBN's Rated K.

Up, up and there's a library with old books and paintings up the ceiling too.
See the cans of paints hanging there? The artist collected them and turned them
into a decorative design. Such artwork eh?

This is the stairs going up the coffee shop, the strong iron bars the artist used were scraps
and was made to be into this cool stairs resembling a lizard.

Outside the hotel, we can see this bronze sculptures, Kublai Millan sculpted them himself.

Davao City houses the Philippine Eagle. It even has the Philippine Eagle Center in Kalinan,
and so this explains the sculpture here, as tribute to the Philippine Eagle.

Another eagle artwork.

Whatever this is, it's a beauty! Story of evolution?

Of course, Davao is famous for it's durian, and Kublai Millan has featured this durian in this hotel so beautifully we cannot stop clicking our camera, the old point and shoot. Too bad we could have gotten nicer shots had the big cam arrived earlier, teehee.

Me and Tabebs having our pic taken behind this Waling-waling sculpture.
Waling-waling orchids are plenty in Davao.

Forgive me, I don't know if these are still sculptures or monuments as they are so big. You may want to ask me about the inside of the room, no, it was not full of artworks, it was cool, plain cream-colored room, a nice lampshade, beautiful flowery hand-paintings on frames. No ants up the ceiling! Visit Davao if you wanna see this for yourself. =)

Now, eerie or nice?

*PS.
Not an advertisement,merely a post of experiences and travels.