Winner!

I just want to share with you my JOY because of my blogging. Thank you to everyone for all their prayers and well wishes!

This blog was awarded BEST PERSONAL BLOG of the Philippine Blog Awards for Mindanao!

Maraming Salamat, Shoukran, Terimah Kasih, Gracias, Thank You!

To GOD be the glory!

Blogfest Soccsksargen 2.0 / Philippine Blog Awards - Mindanao

Another blessing comes!

No, it's not another batch of Christmas bonus, but things have been really good to me these days, minus the tiring days of work. This Saturday, I will be joining the 2nd Blogfest Soccsksargen. Because of blogging, I have made a lot of friends, local and even from distant countries. I am very blessed because of these friendships, some of them giving me pieces of their minds, and some of them laughing with me and ranting with me in my posts.

I am just very happy that because of blogging, I have opened my world to a new level of awareness, a different level of thinking, a different level of concern for the world, and much better than all these, a different and higher level of becoming a person.

Life has been good, in fact, because of blogging, I have overcome my weaknesses, and became more open to positivity. My blogging friends have given me much inspiration because of their comments, and because of their posts, I have become more educated, even learned.


This is the official poster of Blogfest Soccsksargen 2.0, and these are the people who will be sharing their knowledge and pieces of their creative minds to the participants this coming Saturday. I am so excited to meet these wonderful minds.

And what's even better is that, this blog, yes, this one, is a nominee to the Philippine Blog Awards for Mindanao. I do not know how or why but maybe because I have been a good person, so Santa gave me this chance to share my personal experiences, feelings and opinions thru this blog. Here's the link to the complete list of nominees to the Philippine Blog Awards in Mindanao.


I am humbled by this nomination, although I am not expecting anything. I just want people to learn from my blog, like what I have also learned by reading other people's minds thru their blogs.

Thank you for whoever nominated me, I am happy that you trusted me this much to be a part of the list of nominees. My gratefulness to everyone...

Parental Guidance (PG Ratings) : Ignored

Two weeks ago, I was enticed by friends to watch Praybeyt Benjamin although I never really am an avid fan of Filipino films because of their tendency to have predictable endings. My kids who have asked me if they could join me in watching the film were of course rejected for the reason that I saw a PG 13 rating on the poster of Praybeyt Benjamin. But there were lots of kids inside the movie house. And parents tagging small kids along were also a lot.

Last Friday, I had a date with my husband because I was too excited about Breaking Dawn. I decided to watch it on the 8pm schedule. Again, the film has a PG 13 rating, and again, there were so many kids inside the theater house ranging from teens to even toddlers, and it's night time.

Not that I am a strict mom, but as a parent, sometimes we have bad words coming out of our mouths that naturally come out so we have to be careful with everything we say. And they hear that, and even use the same words in their classrooms and who knows who they are facing or conversing with. The same goes to the films they watch. this being said, I do not allow my kids to watch a movie with a rating not suitable for their age. And that is being strictly imposed in my family.

How can these parents be irresponsible with just a simple rule as this one? I mean, there must be a reason why the MTRCB or other screening boards do not encourage the entrance of 12 and younger generation, right? I do not bring any of my kids in a movie which I think will have a different effect on them. True, it may just be a simple movie, but kids are not supposed to view a film with a sexual scene on it or one that's too bloody as hell for them to even watch. They could be viewing a very violent-filled film and the parent who will not educate their children about why the story has come about that scene will for sure create an impression on their children that it is but okey.

I do not know if I am making any sense here but I sure would like to emphasize that PG ratings are parental guidance ratings. They must be followed. Correct me if I am wrong about what I say, but these films with ratings may contain obscene, explicit, or high-profanity words which are being used in them and it is inappropriate for younger children to watch. Besides, why bring your 4 year old toddler in a movie that can barely be understood by even a 10 year old? Makes sense?

I feel bad about parents bringing their toddlers inside the cinema with PG 13 films. I am sure that even if they watch with their children, their eyes will be glued to the screen forgetting about their children and never explaining why it has come to that situation. If that is the case, why bring your young kids? Better leave them at home. Or if you watch in your respective homes, please make sure your kids will hear a good explanation.

Ignored Parental Guidance Ratings, they abound everywhere. Even with our mouths, we sometimes speak profanity, and yet, we forget to teach the kids the reason why we have expressed such.

I pity these children, they must understand what they watch, but the parents are enjoying what they watch at the expense of their kids' character being shaped even in the movies they watch and in the actions of the elders.

Sigh.

Did you even understand what I just ranted?

Carpe Diem!

You know you're busy when things just pop in your head like crazy and you suddenly remember you have to do this and that.

I just looked at my computer today and I remembered, yeah, I have to write some updates on my blog but the question as to what to write remains a mystery.

Anyhoo, I am fine, but things are crazy now. My nose is bleeding with the new things I am slowly learning each day in my job. Everything started as a blur, but now, things are becoming clearer. It pains me to lose time with my family but in time, everything will be just fine.

I don't even know if I am even making sense here, but it's been a busy week, Attagirl!

When one thing ends, another one begins! Carpe diem, everyone!

Bawal na ang Epal

Bawal ang epal. For sure you have already heard of this bill being passed as a law and is being the talk of the TV news shows, tabloids and other media, also being a hot issue in the senate for a time already. But then, if you haven't yet, this bill is sponsored by the lady senator who not only provides me good political comedy but also knocks some sense into me and and all the public through her witty remarks and wisdom on public governance - Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago.

Senate bill No. 1967 is An Act Prohibiting Public Officers from Claiming Credit Through Signage Announcing a Public Work Project - something I actually adored from the genius of the lady senator and one that I would love to be passed into law.

Whilst our country has been a country of laws, yet, we remain fortunate that we have hardworking lawmakers who continuously create more laws, be it intellectual laws and stupid ones like the Anti-Planking Bill. This new bill is an inclusion on the long list of our bills but one that I would fully support.

For me, this bill will reflect how humble our politicians are. For one, they will no longer be able to flaunt their names on signages which bears the title of the project, and what politician initiated it. For me, these politicians are public servants and it is their duty to conceptualize projects for the public in order to better the lives of the people. Be the project a road construction, a trash can or something of little value, IT still came from the taxes of the people, which means they have no right to place their names on those projects as if they are gods who must be worshipped because they have thought of that project.

Second, I think it unfair that these politicians have the chance to campaign too early as compared to those who silently do their work, yet bear more productive and tangible projects. Although this bill seems to constitute the local level, yet, it is a good thing if we do not see their names splattered on signages of these projects.

Violation of this, results to an imprisonment of 6 months to a year. I'd say this bill is good, because as members of the smallest unit of politics here in the country, in our barangays alone, we already see these situation. Some of our politicians are pachyderm enough, in other words, makapal ang mukha, to place their names on projects when even themselves do not pay their own taxes. This happens, right?

Makapal ang mukha is actually an understatement when we tackle the issue of politics, let alone our politicians. I admire Sen.Miriam Santiago for this, I just hope she will not be the first violator of this bill she has sponsored. A learning lesson to all of us, wag umepal dahil bawal na ang epal.

And while we are in this issue, let us understand why people are being called epal. Epal, mapapel, pumapapel, nagpapalapad ng papel, nangingialam, nakikialam, nakikisali, join-er, feeling kasama. We can prevent being "epal" in our offices, groups, classrooms, organization. Let us learn to be humble enough to just work our way, even silently, but producing good results.

Not all of our politicians are epal, but MOST of them are. I hope this bill humbles them.

My Childhood Christmas Experiences

Christmas is NEAR!

I can’t wait. As of today, it’s just a few days before Christmas, and it’s actually beginning to look a lot like Christmas. We already decorated our new Christmas tree, and the kids are very happy. This is the first time we have our Christmas tree in our very own home, as we only had a Christmas wreath on our door in the past Christmases. But now that it’s so soon, we had to feel it, because we are very blessed this year, and feeling more Christmas-y is just one way of giving thanks for our family.

Here are some Christmas experiences I had when I was a kid, one thing I’d like to introduce to my kids too.

• Aguinaldo - is not only Emilio, it’s also the presents one gives or receives during Christmas. During Christmas, Chinese people give ampao with money inside it as “Aguinaldo” for their loved ones. I remember my lola giving me Aguinaldo once, she has to fake being Santa Claus. I caught her putting chips on the socks we hung.

• Bibingka – Filipino cake made of rice flour and coconut milk which is very popular most especially during simbang gabi or early morning mass during the Christmas season. I love bibingka, one with cheese or salted egg on top.

• Caroling – one thing we did when we were kids. We had to go from the nearest neighbor to the end of the street singing Christmas songs until they give us a few pesos for the talent we shared. The thing is, my kids have never experienced this yet, and if my kids will experience this, that I do not know.

• Parol – I used to make my very own parol. Once, I had a teacher who required us to make a parol and as much as I complained, I still had to make one. So, I asked my lolo to create one for me, I got 100% for that job I didn’t do. Aminin ninyo, may mga secrets din kayong tulad nito di ba?

• Noche Buena – Seriously, our Decembers and New Year are magastos. 1: It’s hubby’s birthday month and it happens just a week before the Christmas Eve. 2: It’s my Dad’s birthday on the 23^rd. So, sometimes, we no longer celebrate the birthday but enjoin the three celebrations as one, just during the Christmas Eve. After the New Year, we are celebrating my daughter’s birthday on the 3^rd. Whew! What perfect timing, haha.

• Santa Claus – Last year, I already told my son the truth about Santa Claus. Because he has already reached ten Christmases, I already told him that we, his parents were actually the ones giving him gifts. I hope he understood that, because this year, we are of course giving him gifts, but not because we are still Santa Claus. That secret still remains for the daughter, though.

• Keso de Bola - A ball of cheese. I am so glad that this is still around. I love keso de bola and I also love ham. These are my favorite treats during Christmas. My kids love keso de bola, so, for sure, there will be another ball this year.

Care to share your Christmas experiences? I’m sure you also have lots. Remember them now so you can share them with us.

Shake it Up!

We have been frequenting our far far away home because of the long weekends. Truth is, we seldom visit this far away home because time won't allow us to do it as often as we could, so, during long weekends, we make it a point to go home and enjoy the weekend there.

Armed with chips, and the fridge filled with food, I am making sure that the kids eat good food, from veggies to their favorite snacks, and almost always bottles of liters of Coke. Everytime we go home, we are actually consuming 2-3 liters of Coke for just a day, and it's making me a very irresponsible mom for giving unhealthy food to my children.

To correct this problem, as my kids' favorite drinks whenever we go to restaurants for our meals are fruit shakes, preferably mango shake, I decided to buy a fruit blender from out of my measly 1k bonus.

So starting yesterday, we have been consuming mango shakes in our every meal, kids forgetting about Coke already. I wonder how long this will last but I am pretty happy that I am introducing healthy eating to my children. This morning, we once again had mango shakes after breakfast and I hope to introduce more fruit shakes to them very soon. I wonder where I can get fresh strawberries so I could make strawberry shakes for them. Hmmm...

Shakes, anyone?

Tell me, what fruit shakes do you love?