Hello 2012

If 2010 has been a not-so-good year for me because of so many things and the misfortunes it has brought me (we lost the car, I resigned from work, too many pressures and stress from old work and more...), this 2011 has brought me so much good fortunes and there's one that will never leave me floating till the next 40 or so years, my employment. Passing the CS exams, getting the regular job in DOLE and bagging the Best Personal Blog for the Philippine Blog Awards (Mindanao) are just three of the few reasons why I and my family love 2011. It is a pity that it has to go in a matter of 18 hours as I write my year-end post. But all things have endings, and we have no choice but to look forward to a new beginning. 2011 has been very good to us, maybe because we have been working so hard too, I have become a better wife this 2011 and we have less fights as a couple. The kids are doing great and healthy, my kids have been having good grades despite my usual absence during their times of review, but still, they continue to excel in their school.

2011 has brought me a lot of gifts, if I should say it, and I feel that the Lord is telling me to take care of the gifts that 2011 has given me. This 2012, I should be more productive with work, more obedient and caring as a wife and more patient as a mother. I should be enjoying and loving work, and less the complaints even there is a reason to complain.

Though we have received far less materials gifts than 2010 did, the bountiful blessings like physical and emotional health, and many others are far better than the tangible ones. I have gained a lot of friends in 2011, and aside from the day job, my online employer continues to hire me in writing more articles and is very patient with me even if I cannot regularly submit write-ups, meaning, my Paypal is still very active.

What I miss with what 2011 brought though, is the opportunity to travel. I haven't done much travels in 2011, maybe a few like the trip to Samal with the kids, and the visit to see the Cotabato Floods. So this 2012, I hope for a year with travels, hopefully not only for me but my entire family as well.

But more than all these, I wish for a safe Philippines this 2012. No more floods, no more wars, less political tension, healthy citizenry, more employment for those who need it, peace and order in different places, and abundance everywhere. I know all these may not be very possible, but I will be praying for these things to be poured upon all of us.

I do not have much material things to ask for, I think I'm good and contented with what I have, but a new car before 2012 bids goodbye is in my bucket list.

Goodbye 2011!

Happy 2012 to everyone!

Best Gift I Got for Christmas

One of the best things I got this Christmas is a stamp album I have been longing to have since I started collecting them. I started collecting way back in high school and I have been wanting a good stamp album other than old photo albums cum stamp album I made.

Stamp albums are expensive, seriously, and I don't think my parents would have approved of buying one for me. And so this, with 16 leaves and 8 lines for the stamps, this one will be good. But then, I definitely will need more as my collection is already a large one.

Thanks to my best friend for bringing this home to me. What a Merry Christmas!

Any traders out there?

2012 Regular and Special Non-Working Holidays

the year 2011 is still here but i bet you are all excited to know what holidays and free days await for us this 2012 so you could book trips to anywhere you want to, right? me? i may be excited with the coming holidays to be with my family, but i do not think i can book a trip to somewhere really far. although my kids have been longing to visit manila just so they could visit manila ocean park, i am not sure about booking a trip there because of so many reasons, and one of them is my plan of enrolling in a masteral education which for me, will cost time and some hard-earned moolah.

but of course, now that i have here in my hands the most awaited part of next year's schedule, i want to share it with you all so you could at least plan ahead on which dates in the calendar are free for travel and vacation.

the following regular holidays and special days for the year 2012 are as follows:

A. Regular Holidays:

New Year's Day - January 1 (Sunday)
Maundy Thursday - April 5
Good Friday - April 6
Araw ng Kagitingan - April 9 (Monday)
Labor Day - May 1 (Tuesday)
Independence Day - June 12 (Tuesday)
National Heroes Day - August 27 (last Monday of August)
Bonifacio Day - November 30 (Friday)
Christmas Day - December 25 (Tuesday)
Rizal Day - December 30 (Sunday)

B. Special (Non-Working) Holidays

Chinese New Year - January 23 (Monday)
Ninoy Aquino Day - August 21 (Tuesday)
All saints Day - November 1 (Thursday)
Additional special (non-working) day - November 2 (Friday)
Last day of the Year - December 31 - Monday

C. Special Holiday for all Schools EDSA Revolution Anniversary - February 25 (Saturday)

The proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of Eid'l Fitr and Eid'l Adha shall be hereafter issued after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar (Hijra) or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations, whichever is possible or convenient. to this end, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) shall inform the Office of the President on which day the holiday shall fall.

With this schedule, the DOLE is hereby tasked to promulgate the implementing guidelines for this proclamation.

this declared schedule of 2012 holidays is signed by His Excellency, Benigno S. Aquino III and Paquito N. Ochoa Jr., Executive Secretary.

you see, unlike 2011, we have more holidays slated on a weekdaY, so rejoice one and all!

Merry Christmas!

Just so you know, I think of you this Christmas!

To one and all who read my blog, we wish you all a blissful Christmas filled with loved and peace to share to everyone.

From my family to yours,
Happy Happy Christmas!

So You Think You Can Dance?

Good for you, because I can’t!

I have two left feet, and I am wanting for a partner with two right feet so we could become a pair and we can dance good. Luckily, I have a husband who dances; he was once a member of Kahayag Dance Group of his university way back in college. What he can do, I cannot do when it comes to shaking the groovy. I can dance, but watch me dance and I can give you a laugh trip. I can shake my booty but I tell you, I am as stiff as a stick when it comes to dancing.

Will you believe me when I tell you I danced when I was in grade school? Oh yes, I did, and way back, I had a good graceful dancing talent which I do not know where it has flown now.

I am so envious of those people who can actually dance gracefully, shake their bodies to different tunes whether it be a folk or a classic dance or even ballroom or jazz. I hate to see them dancing so gracefully while I cannot even step a foot to the right tune. Ugh.

Those with dancing talents are gifted. They can perform whatever moves they could include in a presentation. I really think this makes me less of a person, haha, but I urge you to at least dance your time away. Why?

Well, aside from the moves that will burn off your extra lipids, dancing, even if you’re doing it so awkwardly, will de-stress you. The sweat you produce is a good proof for that. Even if you are not too graceful with the dancing, I urge you to move your body, and while away time by shaking those muscles and be fit just by shaking your body.

I cannot dance good, but for sure, I will still dance, even with my two left feet. And hopefully soon, I could be proud and tell you guys: I have the moves like Jagger.

A Healthier 2012 for Moi

These arrived in the office yesterday, and there are actually two more equipment I do not know what they are called but all of them for office use, err, for employees' use. Haha. Of course I am excited to use them. For once, I have never been to a gym, second, I want to slash off these belly fats, and hopefully get a slimmer figure.

A slim figure or a sexy body is what most of us want, especially for married women. Admit it or not, we married women get insecure when we see young ladies with their perfect Coca-Cola bodies, and we do not want to look like we are vying for the Biggest Loser in the World, right?

This Christmas, the department has been gifted with gym equipment for our physical fitness use, this means free gym workouts, and hopefully a productive and healthy physical state for all of us in 2012.

I will have to spend some time on these machines too, why not. I have to shed off, and be healthy. So for 2012, I promise to use these gym equipment as regularly as possible!

Probably a sexier ME when you come and visit Gensan and decide to meet up! Teehee!

One Heck of a Crazy Week that Was

Ok, let me tell you just what happened the past week. It was crazy, really crazy. It was a good thing I was so up and sound and thinking and I did not panic, and I was strong. It was a good thing I have faith in the greater forces that was helping me out all through it.

Thursday, Dec. 1 - MIL called to tell me Tatay Pete, husband's uncle was hospitalized for fits of cough. Diagnosis: PTB. Out: Dec. 3

Monday, Dec. 4 - I went to Koronadal City on Monday and we had to practice for the cheering contest which I and an officemate was assigned to lead, Tuesday was the day of the contest and the opening of the 78th Anniversary of DOLE of which all of us were enjoined.

So Tuesday came, and we had to perform. The cheering went well, but of course, with only a day of practice and no costume to set us good for the competition, we only got the 2nd place. But all things went well, still. We were cheering for our players until at 2pm, I was able to have a chance to get the ATM pin from Landbank which I immediately withdrew a larger cash because I wanted to transfer to another bank we personally maintained in Gensan.

I was already back in the office being busy with my other tasks when at 4pm, the MIL called telling me she rushed the husband to the hospital for he can no longer breathe. I immediately grabbed my ready bags and rushed to see our HR to seek permission if I could take a leaver the following day.

That trip back to Gensan was the longest trip I ever had, I was praying that the driver would rush so I could see my husband. And soon enough, I was able to arrive at the hospital, shaking, I saw him hooked to an oxygen tube and with an IV and a nebulizer on the side. It was the worst case of asthma for him. Ric has never had a bad case other than fits of cough and measured breathing but one which can always be relieved by medication and Vicks. This was his first time to be confined for medical attention.

I was so scared for him, it hurt me seeing him with measured breathing, it pained me to see him hooked to so much tubes and so pale and so weak. but I braved everything, I braved even the sleep in the hospital, or the lack of it. I chose to be with him even when I wanted to go home and be with the kids because we lack some time together. And after two visits from the doctor, we were discharged last Thursday, Dec. 8. And remember that cash I withdrew prior to this incident? It went directly to payment for the hospital bill. It was a good thing we were ready with the cash. We did not have to look for the source, it was God-given. It seemed everything was in a designed plan, and we took its design, unknowingly preparing for it.

Ric's diagnosis was not PTB, thank goodness. I would be scared as hell if it were, not for me, not for him but for the kids. His was a bad case of asthma and what triggered it was their trip to Datal Salvan where he got some photo shots of the kids there.


Everything is better now, husband is better now. After we were sent home from the hospital, I brought my kids to their pediatrician for a preventive treatment/medication for TB. Ric's uncle is staying with us for the meantime that he is recuperating but he will soon be brought to Malungon where there are no children there to be contaminated by his illness. He is currently under 2 months medication program. Right now, we are being very careful, we are putting up a great borderline for our protection because PTB is not a joke, it is a serious case. I want the uncle to be transferred immediately to Malungon, but I cannot just instruct hubby's folks as they are already sensitive with their feelings, but I already talked with MIL about it, she is just waiting for the perfect timing. I just hope it is soon.

As for the husband, he is fine now with fits of cough still, but he can easily breathe now with his nebulizer on his pocket most of the time now.

Friday, Dec. 9 - I was surprised we were given additional bonus of 3k from PNoy. Since I am new to the department, I was given 30% of what PNoy gave the government employees. It was a good help already and I am very thankful for that. And I think I deserved a reward for myself, so yesterday, Saturday, I shopped. I bought a pink top and a new tinted lip balm, a pair of leather slippers and a new hair doctor comb. I called for the hubby to meet me in a mall. We went to have a good massage and it was awesome. With stress gone, everything seemed to be in perfect condition now.

I am thanking the Lord for preserving our lives, and thankful that He is always there for me.

The best thing I bought yesterday though was a book. It was so cheap for P175 but I couldn't let it down after I read the first page, I hope you buy yourself a copy. It is filled with laughter that you will forget about your present situation when you read it. if you haven't heard of the book yet, it just got circulated and the title is "The Best of Chico and Delamar's The Morning Rush Top 10". Go buy! Go laugh!

Take care, Everyone! Mahirap magkasakit, magastos!

In the Eyes of a Child

In the eyes of a child there is joy, there is laughter
There is hope, there is trust, a chance to shape the future
For the lessons of life, there is no better teacher
Than the look in the eyes of a child

Husband took this shot last week when he visited an upland area named Datal Salvan, found only here in General Santos City, and when he uploaded it in Facebook, he entitled the album, "In the Eyes of a Child". He told me they brought a pack of 10 Skyflakes biscuits which one teacher opened each pack and shared one biscuit for each child in order to feed everyone. And just when I rode the bus today, I heard this song by Air Supply and I was touched by the lyrics of the song.

This Christmas, I hope that your families are doing good, if not better or best. And I pray that even with the challenges that you are facing, you will remember to pray for children who are hungry, who do not have parents to care for them, who do not have love felt in their hearts. I hope you will find an opportunity to share with them a meal, or even give them something they could be happy about.

This Christmas, look in the eyes of a child, and there you will see joy, laughter, hope and trust.

What I Learned from Blogfest Soccsksargen 2.0

It seemed like only yesterday when a convergence of bloggers gathered in one of the grandest "eyeballs" in Mindanao, the Blogfest Soccsksargen 2.0 . It was well attended by bloggers from all over Mindanao, to mention Davao, Iligan, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato City, Koronadal City and many other places in the island. Speakers hailed from all over the Philippines too and they were very great in their talks, very inspiring bloggers and with very commendable advocacies.

I am so honored to have heard The Explainer himself, Manuel Luis Quezon III. I was deeply moved when he said that your blog must not be a monologue. It must be interactive that is why bloggers are supposed to acknowledge and answer the comments that are placed in their comments box. He said that we must be responsible with the blogs we post, there must be some responsibility within us, that every post we share must be thought of carefully. He also emphasized the need for these main points in a blogger's life:

1. Read - A Lot for you to be informed. This is what I liked the most, he repeatedly mentioned that as bloggers, we must read a lot. We must read newspapers, books, printed materials and even documentaries. This is for the blogger to grow and learn.

2. Discuss - Your points, your views, and discuss what needs to be questioned.

3. Write in White Heat - How many of us bloggers write just because we need to write? Hence, he said that a blogging hiatus is a welcome respite from the blogging if we do not feel like writing. It feels good for the blogger to write if he is inspired, and if he is in white heat, meaning, with careful thinking and with an objective to inform. He must be the source of an informed opinion when he blogs.

4. Edit in Cold Blood - Some bloggers may just hit the publish button because they feel what they write is enough and makes sense, but one must be careful. The blogger must edit in cold blood, give way for facts and wisdom to be put into words.

5. Fight for freedom - This fight for freedom is the freedom per se that we are blessed with, but with this freedom to write and express our views, we also have to...

6. Care - You write because of money. Yes, and no. Some of us may write blogs because of the money that comes with it, but we need to care for others who are reading our blogs. The internet is a free enterprise. Anyone can visit your blogs even little ones, even those who are far, and even those who do not really know us. We may not necessarily know them, but we can hurt them with our views if we put them in writing, so we need to show some CARE to others even with the blogs we post. Our blogs are our personal advocacies, so we need to start Caring.

Manuel L. Quezon III, MLQ3, The Explainer

Abe Olandres of yugatech.com brought with him his many gadgets. I and my husband were drooling with every gadget he was showing the crowd, wowing us with all those devices and small computers from netbooks to smart phones and androids. I feel so poor as compared to what he has, haha. But seriously, I am actually enjoying my android now, more than ever. If I get an iPad soon or a Kindle, I admit, I'd be happier.

Mae Paner or Juana Change is a writer, video blogger, artist, and director rolled into one. She has very insightful views about change and beginning the change in yourself. Her satires are really funny which may hit a head point blank if one is affected. I love the way she told her story, the way she gives her talk, so funny yet inspiring. She instilled in me the love for being the change in the community. Others may be doing wrong, but you can change that, and not be involved, or not be a follower. She is a major laugh trip in the Blogfest, but she's one I love best. If you wanna know more about her, search for Juana Change via Youtube, she has lots of videos to share with you all.

Raffy Tima of GMA talked about GMA's advocacy: Think Before You Click. It's as simple as that, we must think before we click, from posting our personal status in the social medias we have like Facebook, Twitter, Plurk and many others including our blogs. Raffy left the following tips for us bloggers to remember,and this I share with you too:

1. Be fair and accurate.
2. Verify facts before posting, tweeting or re-tweeting.
3. Don't do or say anything in the social media will regret after.
4. Remember, anything you upload can be shared by others.
5. Try to ignore tweets and comments intended to provoke quarrels.
6. Acknowledge, delete and/or correct errors and apologize if necessary.
7. Don't do anything stupid.

Jack Madrid of Multiply Philippines was able to inspired me to do business online because, truth be told, this is the trend nowadays. You can shop as much as can with just the click of your mouse. You can even pay bills and do other financial transactions like banking and sending money. But what the physical shops can give you, online shopping can do too.


Aileen Apolo, spoke about Youtube and what we bloggers can learn from it. We can also use Youtube to earn now because Youtube Philippines has just launched a way where we bloggers can earn through the videos we post in Youtube. She also did not forget introducing Google +. How many of you have not used Google + yet? I do have an account with Google + and I think I have to utilize it more. Google Hangout for chatting, Google Circles for your different group of friends and other features of Google + is at your service if you have a Google+ account which is no longer by invitation, it's already out, and free, so go make your account.

Bob Martin spoke about the start of the Internet in Mindanao and what his experiences were many years back when the fastest internet speed was less than a gig. Blech.

Flow Galinez talked about his advocacy to feed the world. Advocacies are very good ways we can help our world become a better home. We can help feed the hungry, but we need to feel how it is to be hungry to be more effective. Otherwise, it will look as if we care just because we have an advocacy. I am just proud that, like what you read from this blog, I also help children in the mountains, sending them school supplies and other things they need, and I will continue doing so. This is my advocacy.

But what is Blogfest without friends? I am just very very fortunate that I have my Soccsksargen Bloggers Family whom I could count on to when it comes to a need for good company, good food, and even for a call for laugh trip. I am very honored to have met many new bloggers too, and I hope and pray you keep on blogging, and remember the points that our speakers have shared to us all.

Soccksksargen Bloggers with Yugatech, Juana Change, Jack Madrid, Flow Galindez (in orange) and the Manansala Sisters who were the minds behind this great convergence of Mindanaoan bloggers. Kudos to everyone for a job well done!

My bet for 2011 Philippine Blog Awards Bloggers' Choice

If you have noticed on the upper right corner of my template, I just got myself a badge as winner for the Philippine Blog Awards as "Best Personal Blog" and much thanks goes to my friend, Nanardz for nominating this simple blog of mine. I am grateful that this blog got noticed and even adjudged as one of the best from out of 15 which got filtered from out of the many nominations.

This time though the Philippine Blog Awards is giving out more awards and one of them is the 2011 Philippine Blog Awards Bloggers' Choice. And so this post is considered a vote for the best.

If there is one person I admire because of his many advocacies, from preserving Mother Nature to promoting tourism in his province and many other advocacies, that is Nanardz of South Cotabato Tambayan. I am also a member of the Tambayan which I enjoy being a member of because of the many things I learn about my hometown, Koronadal and the whole province.

Nanardz deserves to be noticed, and South Cotabato Tambayan deserves to win the 2011 Philippine Blog Awards Bloggers’ Choice. As such, my congratulations and kudo's to the mind behind this great tambayan of South Cotabateños all over the world.

Way to go, Nanardz!