Wednesday, December 17, 2008

merry christmas!

it's a week before christmas and i feel like i'm already over it. we finished our Christmas shopping as early as first week of this month, gave them away last weekend and sent out the last of the gifts by mail this morning. done!

so what are we left to do? a lot more...! we will be away for a while to escape the winter chill. yes, the temperature here in the Bay Area has started to drop (in the 40s) and while it may not be that low compared to other States, it's still a dramatic change when you're so used to the sun. also, it's the wind here that chills you to the bone. brrrr!

but like i said, we're ready for our escape. it's winter...time to hit the beach yey! i may not be able to blog for a few weeks so let me wish you all now a very Merry Christmas. if you are still thinking of what gifts to give, here are my suggestions:

To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, good service.
To a stranger, a smile.
To people you're meeting for the first time, an open mind.
To the needy, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To your family, love and understanding.
To yourself, respect.


and as we all welcome the new year, may we try to let go of our excess baggage and travel light. no one should go through life carrying the burden of an impossibly unhappy situation.

more photos and stories next year.

Friday, December 12, 2008

how to pass the DMV written test in california

perhaps the first written test you have to take as a new resident in the US is the traffic laws and sign test - at least if you want to be able to drive around on your own or if you're planning to get a job. i don't know about other states but here in California, you have to get at least 30 correct answers out of 36 multiple-choice questions before they issue you a learner's permit. you need to have this permit with you every time you practice driving either with a professional instructor or a friend/family member with a valid driver's license. you can never practice alone. you have to be accompanied at all times.

i took my written test last Thursday at the DMV office here in Fremont. i passed it, one mistake. but just because i almost perfected it doesn't mean it's a walk in the park. definitely not! you have to take the test seriously and prepare for it. here are some tips:

1. read the DMV manual at least 3 times. my friend candy kept telling me this especially during the many times i complained to her that it's so nakakatamad to read the manual. i swear, it's guaranteed to make you fall asleep after the first 10 pages, if you're able to get that far. also, it took me so long to finish 80+ pages because Racrac was so demanding of my time. excuses! excuses! hehehe.. anyway, i didn't follow candy's advice. i only read it twice and it took me 5 months. I think it was in July when i decided to read beyond the cover.

2. take the online tests available at the DMV official website. here's the link: Samples of Driver Tests

3. take the online tests available at this site http://www.esampletest.com/. here, you can do practice test all you want for free or you may choose to buy a premium code to unlock the premium questions. i personally know the owners of this site so they gave me a premium code for free, yehey!!! thanks noel & jane! the night before i headed to the DMV office, i logged in to this site and took the sample test at least 5 times and got a perfect score each time. that's when i knew i was ready.

4. relax. read the questions carefully. don't panic if you don't know the answer right away. answer first the questions you are sure of then go back to those you skipped.

that's it. there are some websites that offer online tests for a fee but i personally think they're unnecessary. remember, all the answers are in the manual so if you just follow what i told you, then you'll be fine. if you fail the first time, don't fret. you still have 2 more chances to pass. and hey, when you pass, do come back and let me know if i have been of any help. good luck!

___
Update 6.27.09 - Read my behind-the-wheel driving test experience

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

my baby can walk at 9 months

he took his first steps when he was 8 months, can do 10 steps at 8 1/2 and on the week of his 9th month birthday, he started doing the real thing! anybody who sees him was like "how old is he? 9 months and he's walking fast already? amazing...!" one mother even approached us and said her son is also of the same age but hasn't shown interest in walking yet. but Racrac? he couldn't wait! and when he finally mastered it, he became a show-off! everywhere we go he would walk around and surprise everyone who sees him. his added attraction other than his toothless smile which he would generously flash in front of strangers probably is his being petite that's why some people were surprised to see something so tiny already walking so fast hehehe...

he'll be 10 months next week and walking is by now second nature to him. i look at him and i ask myself "has it been 10 months already?..." yesterday he was just an unresponsive newborn sleeping in my arms, today he's a happy active baby always driving me crazy with his curiosity and energy. shucks, baka bigla na lang magising ako isang araw binata na siya at ayaw na magpahalik! hay....

Sunday, December 7, 2008

PACMAN rules!

Did Manny Pacquiao bring his punching bag to the ring in Las Vegas last Saturday? Huh?! OMG! Was it the Golden Boy?!! Oh yeah, Pacman hammered Oscar dela Hoya for 8 rounds in their much-awaited fight and reduced the boxing Hall of Famer into nothing but a static fighter. Who would have thought...? Long before Manny became the champion that he is now, Oscar was already the Golden Boy. Oscar had a very successful career and with his charm and good looks, he is definitely one of the reasons why many people love boxing. Any average Jane like me who watches boxing knows him. I used to have this crush on DLH and never did i imagine that the day would come when i would be cheering against him. Of course, i rooted for Manny not only because I'm a Filipino but also because i spent three years of my life in GenSan. I'm so proud!

We watched the fight with dabarkads at Needoh & Lyn's place in Milpitas who generously hosted the PPV party. We were all shouting, jumping and cheering everytime Manny punches DLH's pretty face (ouch!) Racrac got hyper he also started bellowing "woooooohh!" and stood in front of all of us, his back to the TV, and yelled like a cheerleader. so cute!

I was confident Manny would win but still I couldn't get myself to watch the game without covering my face for fear that Manny might be hit or knocked down. But after 5 rounds, i started to relax and enjoy the game. There was no doubt Manny came prepared to beat his 'idol.' And he didn't just beat him, he beat him down. DLH got the kind of beating that screams: "time for you to retire!"

I love boxing. It's exciting and heart-stopping, like riding a roller-coaster of emotions when you're watching it. I remember my father brought me once when i was 10 or 11 (or maybe younger) to a live boxing match held at a gymnasium in our small town. I can still recall watching the two fighters dancing inside the ring but the scene playing in my mind now is the vision of the colorful tassels that adorn their boxing shoes...the bunch of cords swaying with the boxer's every move. The place was noisy, filled mostly with males. Back then i found it unusual for a father to bring his young girl to such a crowded noisy unruly place but now i look back with fondness for papa who was protective of me yet didn't spare me the thrill of watching a sport.

Anyway, back to Manny. Fil and i bumped into him at a hotel in GenSan when we went there to attend a wedding 2 years ago and i have evidence to prove that:
See that smile on his face? He was happy to see me! hehehe...As for my friends Beverly, Anne & Ching, they were so excited that not one of them bothered to take a picture of me & Fil & Manny together. haynaku!

To you Manny, congratulations bay! Your success did not only make us Filipinos swell with pride but you also accomplished what we thought was impossible: a crime-free metro manila and a united people even for just a few hours.

____
Dela Hoya-Pacquiao fight photo above downloaded from this news article: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/boxing/article5304214.ece

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

thanksgiving holiday

We spent our thanksgiving holiday (Nov 26-30) at Chino Hills, CA located northwest of LA where most of Fil's relatives - Bendijo clan, mother side - are settled. We left Fremont Wednesday afternoon with Auntie Bella, Auntie Norma and Junel (Fil's cousin) and arrived at Auntie Nellie's house 7 1/2 hours later. Poor Racrac was strapped to his carseat the whole time 'coz we forgot to take him out and change his diaper when we quickly stopped for gas and coffee (uh-oh!). But always a good boy, he slept most of the time and woke up to have his dinner and milk and play peek-a-boo with me and Auntie bella.

We had a quiet thanksgiving day. After our thanksgiving lunch (couldn't wait for dinner hehe), the lolas got busy with the preparation for the big party the next day. Racrac was busy too walking around the house, climbing the stairs and exploring the unfamiliar place. I was there watching his every move.

Friday was the time to meet the relatives and family friends . I got dizzy meeting everyone and trying to remember the names and their placement in the family tree. We had an almost perfect attendance. The table was overflowing with food, the kids converted the TV room into a game room and everybody was smiling and talking and eating and laughing. You can see how happy they are to be reunited and exchange updates.

Saturday was another busy day: visit to the memorial park then christening party. Same people we met the previous day and more.

We left early Sunday morning and took highway 101 to grab some cheese rolls at Porto's bakery in Glendale. It was still closed when we got there so we decided to go to the newly-opened bakery in Burbank but the GPS messed up and instead made us drive around the Walt Disney Studio compound and the LA Equestrian Center then directed us back to Glendale. Tsk, tsk. Lesson learned: don't always rely on technology.

By 9am we entered Santa Barbara and visited Auntie Susan - Fil's cousin, Vargas clan, mother side - who prepared a delicious breakfast. Hmmm...i've gotta have the recipe of that baked omelet. So yummy!

Our trip back took almost 9 hours but we didn't notice. Our thoughts were filled with memories of the days that went by so fast. Now i love thanksgiving. Why because it's only about food, family and friends. No gift-giving, no decorating required yet you still end up having a great time.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

my new 3-column layout

those of you who have been following this blog must have noticed that i have adapted a 3-column layout. last weekend i finally had the time to sit down and work on the codes with a little help from how-to and blogger-buster sites i stumbled upon and relying on my limited understanding of CSS and html codes...thanks to that short course on web design for beginners i took from the University of the Philippines-College of Engineering eons ago when the word 'blog' wasn't invented yet.

anyway, it was pretty simple but required a lot of patience. Playing with the Minima template i already have, i added the codes for the new left sidebar, increased the margins of the outer wrapper to give room to the additional column and made a few tweaks here and there until my site looked like this: i was happy. the main post column was at the center and i have 2 sidebars (left and right) to organize my nonsense. i was so proud of myself.

until....

yesterday i opened the desktop in our bedroom and eeeekkkkkk...!...horror of all horrors...! this was how my page appeared: as you can see, the left sidebar was centered and occupied the entire top portion of the screen and i had to scroll down to find the main post and the other sidebar. i thought it was just some temporary glitch so i refreshed the page but nothing changed. the problem? the first image with the correct layout was generated from Mozilla Firefox (my laptop's default browser) while the last two images with the misaligned columns were generated from Internet Explorer which is the desktop-in-our-bedroom's default browser. all these images by the way are cached versions of my site 'coz i was so freaked out with the misaligned columns in IE that i forgot to print the screen before i improved the layout to what it is now. Thank God Google took a snapshot of my old layout.

let me invite you again to the above images. notice how the first image (from Firefox) was properly centered on the screen after i zoomed it out? the last two images from IE, however, magnetized to the left of the screen when i zoomed them out. IE really sucks!

there was no question i had to correct the layout 'coz i know that majority of the surfing population, especially those accessing the internet from public facilities, still use IE. Hey, if you're one of them, make the move, download Firefox now! Anyway, I tried adjusting the margins and paddings but didn't succeed, each failed attempt making me hate IE even more. What's wrong with Internet Explorer? or shall i say what's wrong with these 2 browsers? can't they just agree on the script and make my life easier?

so going back to my problem. by some honest mistake and maybe out of frustration, i mindlessly floated the new 'left-sidebar-wrapper' to the right (think about it: why would you float a LEFT sidebar to the right?) and to my surprise the left sidebar migrated to the extreme right of the page pushing the main column to the left and the other sidebar to the center. hmmm...not bad. i was not sure if that was an acceptable move in the book of codes but who cares, i was happy with how it turned out and with just a few changes in the margins, i came up with a neat layout like this from Firefox:and then i checked IE and got this:nice...isn't it? now all the columns are there except that if you look closely or if you're as OC as me, you would notice that in IE, the columns are not neatly justified, the gaps between the columns are bigger, the search box is wider than the width of the texts below it and the right-most sidebar containing the Feeds widget is positioned a little bit higher than the other columns. oh well, good enough for me. i can live with that.

at least now i can breathe knowing that all my readers can view my site with the new 3-column layout correctly whether they're using Firefox or IE. i suggest that if you also have a blog and you plan to modify your template, it would be worth checking how your new template would appear in both Firefox and IE. but let me insist: download Firefox now. it's safer and works better. i should know. and they're not paying me for it. I was tempted to join their affiliates program to spread the word but all they are offering is a 'chance' to win an exclusive T-shirt and be featured in their website. ugh! thanks but no thanks, i'm spreading the word anyway! :-)

Sunday, November 2, 2008

trick or treat....?!

It was Racrac's first Halloween and we dressed him as Little Frankenstein. We got his costume from BabiesRUs at the last minute 'coz the Little Darth Vader we bought a month ago was too big for him. That's so sad, it totally spoiled our plan for him to match Fil's Darth Vader ensemble. Maybe next year...

As for me, i was dressed as myself which was scary enough hahaha. I wore a black trick-or-treat shirt i grabbed from Target and twisted my hair ala-Wednesday of Adams Family.

It rained most of the day but the temperature was surprisingly high (in the 70s) on our way to the Tolibas' residence in Santa Clara for the party. Sheezz, it wasn't a chilly Halloween night after all. Despite that, everybody gamely donned his/her costume and we went trick or treating around the neighborhood. It started drizzling around 9pm so we had to go back (thank Gahd 'coz my arms and back hurt from carrying racrac!) and spent the rest of the night eating, chatting, "swimming," and playing with the kids. Now i love Halloween! I used to think that it's corny but now i realized it is that one night of the year when you can step away from your usual self and be somebody else imaginable without having to explain.

I remember last year i was 5 months pregnant and Fil and i were at Great Mall in Milpitas watching the kids and couples and families in their halloween costumes. As cute costumed babies and their proud happy parents paraded before us, Fil told me "next halloween, kasama na natin si baby...." My, how time flies!

Cannery Row, 17-mile drive

After spending our anniversary morning at Carmel-by-the-Sea last October 26, we headed to nearby Cannery Row in Monterey for lunch. Once an industrial street famous for canning sardines, Cannery Row is now considered Monterey's "hot spot" because of its shops and restaurants. We had lunch at Amarin Thai Cuisine located in the vicinity of the Bay Aquarium which we plan to visit next year when Racrac can already walk.

After lunch we bought some souvenir ref magnets at Mackerel Jack's and wandered around the Steinbeck plaza which offers a good view of the beach and houses several shops and restaurants and the famous John Steinbeck Spirit of Monterey's Wax Museum. Tired but happy, we proceeded to our next destination: the 17-mile drive.
17-mile drive is a scenic road through Pacific Grove & Pebble Beach famous for its view of the Pacific coastline, golf courses and mansions. We entered through the Pacific Grove gate and paid $9.25. We were given a map which lists 21 points of interests and drove by most of them but could not resist stopping at some: The Restless Sea, The Lone Cypress, The Pescadero Point and The Lodge at Pebble Beach which is home to the world-famous Pebble Beach Golf Links and offers a variety of dining and shopping options. I was particularly awed by the sight of the Lone Cypress perched on a rock facing the sea. The overcast, the wind and the restless sea joined up to make its "loneliness" even more dramatic.

By 4:30pm we hit the road back to home. Racrac and i dozed off as Fil drove us back. How i love trips like these - we ate, explored, shopped, relaxed, enjoyed. And it's our anniversary! What a short and sweet way to keep the love alive.

Friday, October 31, 2008

Carmel-by-the-Sea

a place so charming, so inspiring and so welcoming...
a city in the forest by the beach...
a mecca for artists, poets, musicians, photographers, writers, actors and art enthusiasts...a destination for diners and shoppers... ideal for girlfriend getaways, family bondings, romantic escapes...
a pet's paradise...
a village found only in fairy tales...

where sophistication and glamour meet...
quaint yet cosmopolitan...
We went there last Sunday to celebrate our first year wedding anniversary. We left Fremont at 7:00am and entered the quiet city an hour and a half later. Traffic was smooth, not too many tourists, lots of parking space. It was a foggy Sunday morning but the overcast did not succeed in dimming our high spirits.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is the Conde Nast Traveler Magazine's 2008 Readers' Choice Awards' No. 6 City Destination and No. 1 Best Ambiance in the US. I first heard about this from the Today show about a month ago and that sparked my interest to visit this place. Why not? It's so close to home which means no need to fritter our money away for an overnight stay.

The city offers a variety of things to do depending on your mood, purpose, interests and preference. Whatever it is, you are sure to find it there. We started our day with breakfast at a coffee shop and strolled up and down Ocean Avenue. We checked out some stores, peeked through the window of some art galleries, passed by charming houses and inns and spent the rest of the morning at the beach. We were a bit slow and did not quite make a dent in the shops and other must-see spots but anybody who has traveled with a baby in a stroller would know that just being able to travel is already something to be happy about. So even if we missed the Basilica and failed to have a picture in front of the city hall like i would always do or didn't have the time to take more artistic photos, i am happy. We can always come back anyway.

Thank God i left my high heels at home 'coz it saved us from going to the city hall to get a license to wear them. Yes, you read it right: one of Carmel's unusual by-laws is for tourists to get a license to wear high heels to free the city of any liability if you happen to injure yourself from the uneven pavement and cobblestone streets and sidewalks. By the way, Clint Eastwood used to be the mayor of this pretty town.

The best thing i love about this place is the fact that my name's written all over it: Carmel Plaza, Carmel Coffee Shop, Carmel Antiques, Carmel Company...Carmel, Carmel everywhere!!!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

calling me mama

yesterday morning i was stirred out of my sleep by a soft voice...

"ma....ma....mmmmama...ma-ma-ma...maaaa-maaa...ma..mam..."


OMG! could it be racrac talking and calling me? "maaaa-ma...mmmma-mam...ma..." yes it was him! i opened one eye and caught a glimpse of Fil changing his diaper while racrac continued on with his babbling..."ma-ma...mamama...ma, ma.."

my first thought was to get out of bed, hug and kiss him but i was afraid to interrupt his "talking" so i decided to just close my eyes, listen and savor the feeling. "mmmma--ma...mama-ma...ma, ma"

thank God he's babbling again! i remember he started saying ma-ma at 4 1/2 months but when he got that ultrasaucer activity center a week before he turned 5 months, he stopped "talking" and instead focused on his motor skills: jumping, sitting, crawling, standing, cruising, playing...

and now that he is 8 months old and has already mastered those skills (he can also stand momentarily and take 2 or 3 steps!), he's saying ma-ma again, yey! i was so worried he's got a speech problem or something 'coz the only sounds we heard from him during the past 4 months were squeals, laughs, coos, cries and screams...

anyway, being the OC stay-at-home mom always armed with a digicam to document my baby's firsts, here is a compilation of racrac's videos saying "ma-ma" taken June 24 (the first time he said it), July 4 (2 days before he got the ultrasaucer activity center) and yesterday and today's videos. i know it's too early yet for him to associate that word with me but still, masarap pa rin pakinggan...

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Misty

i love Johnny Mathis. there is something distinct about his voice that truly sets him apart from the other artists in ANY generation. how do i describe it - magical? mystical? smooth? haunting? mesmerizing? dreamy? timeless?

this is my favorite. shucks, i miss playing this in my organ. i always get carried away by the words and melody of this song...



Look at me,
I'm as helpless as a kitten up a tree
And I feel like I'm clinging to a cloud
I can't understand,
I get misty, just holding your hand.

Walk my way,
And a thousand violins begin to play
Or it might be the sound of your hello
That music I hear,
I get misty the moment you're near

You can say that you're leading me on
But it's just what I want you to do
Don't you notice how hopelessly I'm lost
That's why I'm following you.

On my own,
Would I wander through this wonderland alone
Never knowing my right foot from my left,
My hat from my glove,
I get misty, and too much in love.

I'm too misty, and too much in love.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

testimonials

when Friendster started plaguing the Philippines in 2003, i was one of those who got infected. i could still remember back then, my friend Dolly kept pestering me to accept her invitation and write her a testimonial. it took me a couple of months, i think, to give in to her pangungulit and that basically was how i got myself into this popular free social networking site.

anyway, if you're one of those who started Friendster 5 years ago, i'm sure you remember that the now comments section used to be the testimonials section. there, your friends can write what they think about you, your character, your hobbies, interests, antics, secrets...sort of a eulogy except that you are still alive to listen to it hihihi. as always, i took this task of writing testimonials for my friends seriously the same way that i expected them to be honest and witty and wacky when they write their "testi" for me.

too bad Friendster does not allow us to arrange these testimonials/comments according to our preferred hierarchy 'coz it automatically lists the most recent. right now, the comments in my main profile page are mostly birthday greetings and hi's/hello's from friends. the most interesting ones are buried down there...waiting to be unearthed and discovered by maybe somebody either doing a background check on me for lack of better things to do, an ex who wants to find out how my life went after i dumped him (nyahahaha! kapal ko talaga!) or most probably the current girlfriend/wife of an ex who wants to satisfy her curiosity about me LOLz

before these testimonials become totally forgotten and left to virtually disappear in the dust bins of cyber history, let me retrieve and immortalize them in this blog. let me remind you though that my friends wrote them voluntarily and willingly. They were not at all coerced, held at gunpoint, blackmailed or sedated and none of them owed me money or anything at the time of writing. Here goes...

Grace wrote on October 27, 2003: I've known Cay, (as we call her) since our highschool days. a funloving sweet girl who's a great guitar player. Small yet remarkable, she's sincere and true to the friendship we have. Though we have gone through life's up and downs, she was always there as a friend. She's a friend worth keeping for life. :)

Apple wrote on December 11, 2003:
I will never forget the time we spent in Bicol. Grabe ang adventure naten dun ha. Dayuhin ba uli ang sili shed para lang magpictorial?? Well that only proves that we are a bunch of picture addicts!! hehehe....The first time i met carmel, i had no doubt she's someone i can get along with..Kaya nga di ako shy magsleepover sa house nya eh..Super linis ng bahay nyan..pwede kang magsalamin sa sahig!Pero hate ko na sya ngayon kasi super sexy na sya...ako tabachingching pa rin!!! God can be so unfair sometimes, hindi lang beauty at brains ang binigay sayo,ginawa ka pang sexy!!hehehe...Carmel, always take care..I wish you and your honey a more colorful lovelife..I will forever be grateful to dols for making our paths cross. Miss yah!!

Anne wrote on january 24, 2004: Ang KULIT! Ang layo ko na nga sa kanya, nakukulit nya pa rin ako. The power of technology huh!?!?! Khay and I are just so different (maingay cya, tahimik ako, and blah blah blah) pero I guess that's why we get along so well din. Also, pareho kaming mahilig sa music and books. Bruha, kung marunong kang mag-guitar, ako rin marunong na (slight!) he he he. But what really impresses me about her (and I've always been proud of) is that she is a very artistic person. She draws well, and my, the poems and the essays she write. Di ko na idadagdag ang iba pa nyang "attributes". Am sure my makukulit pa cyang magsulat ng testimonial nya har har har. To Khay, thank you for being the friend that you are to me. Our friendship has withstood time and distance and am very proud of what we have. Sana, one of these days makumpleto ulit tayo (GRAB'C). We have one lost sheep (whereabouts unknown!)he he he... and hey, thanks for the books! Love you and miss you ... :-)

Omar wrote on February 1, 2004: How do you even begin to describe such a complex creature as Carms? We'll, I'll take off from whence it all started, that is, from the time I first saw her. It was sometime in the middle of 1998 when somebody from our office introduced Carms to me. Immediately, I was charmed. She was like a warm ray of light in a cold, dark place. The months that followed, thus, were as wacky as one could imagine. As I got to know her, I liked her even more even as she was as talkative as the worse mother-in-law in the world. Yes, we talked a lot and like me, she has plenty of things to say about any topic. Although she had one advantage: she was more up-to-date on the latest showbiz tsismis, local or foreign. Not only that, she was particularly abreast with the latest "in terms or gayspeak, like, as what are popular nowadays, "papa," "papable," "faffy," "charing," etc. We also talked about our favorite TV show then which was the X-Files. We were fascinated and intrigued with the show so much so that we called ourselves after its main characters, Agents Mulder and Scully. I took delight in referring to Carms as Scully --- played by actress Gillian Anderson --- because like Scully, Carms is petite, pretty and intelligent (Sobra na to Carms, you really owe me for this!). As for Mulder, who was played by David Duchovny, I'm not sure what similarities, if any, the character had with me. All I know is that Mulder and Scully are good partners, both sexy, and good-looking. They also cared for each other deeply and could have ended up in each other's arms. (Hmm..what am I saying here?)

I resigned from our office in December of 1998. But since then, Carms and I never lost touch. She was busy (allegedly) with her work and busier still with her boyfriend. I was happy for her, of course, but there was no denying that a part of Mulder was jealous. I guess that's normal when friends no longer spend time together as much as they should, when all your friend's attention is devoted to another person.

Time, of course, has its own way of testing friendships. I can say with certainty that my friendship with Carms has stood the test of time. After all, here we are, still texting, seeing one another on rare occasions, spending a few minutes on the phone every now and then to say hello and "kumusta ba tayo dyan." Carms is still being makulit to me. She even prevailed upon me, against my better judgment, to write this testimonial. I grudgingly agreed after she promised to treat me to a sumptuous meal at my favorite restaurant (he he).

A person is truly blessed to have Carms as a friend. She is who she says she is, plus more. She's "makulit" but knows when to leave you alone; she talks a lot but listens sincerely when it matters most, she can discuss a lot of nonsense but will not back down from a serious or intellectual discourse, she speaks her mind and makes known her dislikes yet never judges another person, she is free as a bird but guards fervently her values, she's funny, wacky and hilarious but "malalim" at the same time, and most of all, she's so lovable and loves deeply in return. That's Carms. And she'll always have a special place in my heart.

Gracie wrote on February 4, 2004: Passionate. This word best describes my friend Carmel. From her relationships with friends, families, significant other, to pursuing her interests and hobbies, dreams and in almost everything.... She would travel far and wide just to see her boyfriend who is based in Cebu. And once she started a project, say cross stitching or puzzle, she would spend hours just to finish it immediately. I also remember one time she told me about her experience with SMART Communications. She did not let it pass, she wrote a letter to smart expressing her disappointment and even forwarded the letter to her friends.

Loving. This is another word that best describe Carmel. When we are together she would tell me stories about her family and other friends. She makes it a point to be with her family even if she is living independently now. Also whenever she visits her relatives in La Union she makes it a point to bring gifts for everyone. She is also very concerned with her cousins, all she wants is the best for them.

Love for cats. One thing we have in common is our love for cats. Super love nya mga cats nya. She buys groceries just for them. I remember one time when she went to Bicol for a three day vacation, she asked me to sleep over her place so that Yna, her cat, won't starve. The funny thing is that I have not seen Yna, so I thought the first cat I saw in front of her house is Yna. Yun pala ay isang impostor. Its good that I have not given her food yet but in the end, I shared some of the food also. There are more to Carmel than what i related. You should meet her...my super friend!

Rowena wrote on February 16, 2004: I call her ate khay. For me she is the best cousin in the whole wide world...she is always there for me whenever and wherever I need someone to talk to. She makes my life meaningful.. You know how? She is always there to preach me of what is good and what is bad. Wherever she is, she makes it a point that no one is worrying about her. She is very responsible and organized (ayaw nya ng masyadong makalat).. I remember the times I was in her house, ang linis ng bahay nya kahit na she's only home at night because she spends most of her time at work, although sometimes gumigimik. And I like her a lot because even if she has her own house, she makes sure that she visits her parents on weekends.

Pero di naman sa lahat ng oras eh mabait yan. Napupuno din yan, siyempre makulit din yan at masungit kung minsan, ika nga nila "Mabait na kaibigan, mapagmahal, pero pag nagalit..hmmm simulan mo ng magtago..Hehehe! one thing more as far as I know, pihikan yan pagdating sa boys, that's why I'm very happy for her now that she finally found the man who made her fall in love again..(I wonder what did her boyfriend do?) siguro talaga lang nainluv.. as of now i'm running out of words na, kasi naman she is everything na yata, ah basta no one would ever replace her in my heart as the best cousin in the world and I treasure every moment I had with her. ILOVEYOU COUZ!!!!!

Candy wrote on March 20, 2004: There are people from your past that you miss and even though it has been years since you've last seen each other you wish that they are somehow part of your life once again. Kahit lulubog-lilitaw basta you feel good knowing that they are there somewhere. For me, Carmel is one of those friends. We were roommates in College - very good times indeed! Feeling rockstars talaga kami. Ang galing ni Carmel mag-guitar and I was a very eager student. We played while others studied ;) hanggang may magpatahimik sa aming galing sa ibang kwarto. Siguro kung hindi political science si Carmel e shrink ang galing kasi rin nyang mag-advice. I text mo lang sya, kausapin o tawagan may maipapayo yan - wala pang hourly fee. I trust Carmel a lot kasi she can really keep a secret - o ayan wag mong ipagsasabi yung mga sinabi ko sa yo ha. Carmel is fun to be with and always stimulating ang conversation pag nandyan sya. I'm very lucky to be her friend at sa mga iba pang kaibigan nya - agree kayo di ba?'

Eder wrote on May 31, 2004:
I love my Yaya, otherwise, no amount of pleading/persuasion/threats will induce me to write this. I met Maricar when we were both freshmen at UP. She was different then.Simple & natural (in short, fresh from the boondocks). As early as then,she can't be parted from her face powder.

Carmel is a real trooper. She never ceases to astound me with the extent of her craziness & wacky ideas.During a vacation out of town,she managed to make me follow her around like a nanny & photographer rolled in one.It amuses me how devoted she can be to her loved ones (2's; 3's and 4's).Blessed with a big heart (small boobs however), her capacity to care is boundless.

A friend you can depend on (lagi siyang may pagkain sa bag),Maricar is a great fellow to be with & a nice person to call friend. Did I say that she is a great yet tiresome model?With her scintillating presence (bola na to!) she can make a plain scenery radiate with great
effervescence.

Dolly wrote on June 16, 2004: To all weight-conscious people out there, Carmel's the girl to talk to: she's living proof that it's possible to drastically lose weight in a span of only a month without sacrificing beauty, taking any diet pills or slaving yourself to a treadmill. How she found the discipline to resist high-in-carbohydrates food or the lure of Coke is beyond me. All I know is that she's good in persuading other people to join her in fun activities like traveling, badminton, videoke and swimming. She endures my company in games of SCRABBLE and patiently jots down our scores. Even in games, she's highly organized, systematic and disciplined. In other words, she's so OC-OC like Kristine Hermosa in her latest movie with Aga Muhlach. And when you think you've known her well enough, she'll surprise you by doing the unexpected such as designing shirts, taking care of our house cat (and her kittens), bead crafts, or even assembling jigsaw puzzles.

Laya wrote on July 22, 2004: Carmel was my blockmate at UP.She struck me as someone who's madaldal & malakas mang-asar kung minsan...i guess little has changed then he
he.But it's always great to have her around...when she expresses her excitement about doing some fun activity,somehow you start feeling excited as well,& even if you're already excited to begin with,you'll still feel even more excited!I guess what's changed over the years is that she's become more fashionable, more maarte & more malandi he he.Although she's maarte,she remains a down-to-earth person who isn't hard to please.She has a strong mind...& I don't mean only in terms of her intelligence but also in terms of her determination.She's also organized & she amazed me when she told me that she gets high when she sees a pile of mess,in anticipation of cleaning it.Her strength of character is a beacon to all (medyo bola na to he he).Keep it up Carmel! :)

Helen Sophia wrote on November 27, 2004: Most attractive about this girl is her sunny personality. One look at her and you'll know she is someone open, and warm. But you should try talking to her, cause she makes sense. A testimony that beauty and brains women really exist! One thing though, beware guys, cause she may break your heart! haha...

Lia wrote on January 8, 2005: it was 1993 when i first met this girl who had an unwavering sunny disposition and a shrill voice. for the entire SY 1993-1994 she was a fixture in room 111 in kamia because her friend happened to be my roommate. i was certainly amused by her ability to talk relentlessly about anything under the sun. there was never a dull moment with her back then, one day she'd be playing the guitar the next she'd be dancing the lambada. other days she'd rant about school and teachers and the next she'd bet her friend that she could kiss longer than her.she'd sleep with a big mirror beside her.she talked me into getting a short haircut, to tack my shirt in and to learn to play the guitar. it has been almost twelve years since that fateful school year and we still are very good friends. i say we had grown so much from the time i got free lumpias from her and noel. i have seen her through her roller coaster rides (or relationships). i have seen how well she handled everything with so much poise...

Marinette wrote on October 3, 2005: Energy, enthusiasm, adventure -- these are the stuff that Carmel is made of. You can't help but be affected by her charm and love for life when you're with her, even the National Artist for Sculpture was enamored with her!!!! But what I cannot forget about Carmel is our trip to the Rice Terraces. I was tired, grumpy and dying of thirst during our 3 hour hike along the cliffs from Batad to Bangaan. I ran out of drinking water, but the wonderful friend that she is, she offered me her last drop (I didn't take it of course, but the thought counts).
Happy Birthday Girl! I wish you all the happiness in the world and most of all, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you find the perfectly crazy loving delectable guy you've always dreamed of, and hopefully you don't get bored with him in a snap ;)

Angie wrote on February 4, 2007: Carmel is always a revelation! There's always something new about her, never a dull moment when you are with her. We both worked at the Commission on Appointments for sometime, and now, looking back, I must say we indeed have shared a lot of good life experiences. She was the one who baptized my email monicker angelwolf54. You see I am already in my 50s, Carmel is only a couple of years older than my eldest daughter. Now even if we are distant in miles, she still manages to surprise me with her talent and intelligence. I love reading her blog and looking at her pictures! Galeeeeng Carmel! Hopes to be near you again soon!!!

Sheryl wrote on April 2, 2007: perfectionist and OC...she wants evrything planned kaya ayun, pagdating ng big event, isa na siyang malaking pimple na tinubuan ng tao sa kapupuyat at kawoworry! ha!ha!ha! even sa prospective hubby, won't settle for anything less than a nice-sounding surname. ang arte di ba! buti na lng pasado si Fil. Carmel Figueroa, how about dat?!

carmel is adventurous, forever reinventing herself, sneaky, deceptive, won't stop 'til u are trapped! but she gets bored easily so after she has demystified u, make sure u have other talents (e.g. bumuga ng apoy, kumain ng buhay na manok) to keep her awake...'coz when she says "ho-humm," it's time to pack ur things. kaloka...! but that's not all she is. in her normal sedated state, carmel is sweet, generous, defenseless, go-with-the-flow, down-to-earth, walang arte, willing to be tamed.

she can be as meek as a lamb or as fierce as a tiger, depends on her mood. when she flashes that enigmatic smile, u will be left guessing what she's up to. go figure!

Amy wrote on May 9, 2007: NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC: Don't ever permit the "happy-go-lucky image of Carmel fool you. Believe me, she is the detail-oriented, organized, strong-willed and thoughtful one among the members of our short-lived post-college sleepover gang (Remember Ivy, Allan, Reypots & Dante? hehehe). As a strong advocate for women's rights, she shows this through her independent lifestyle, education, work experiences and even in her literary outputs.

As a friend though, I can't help but be amazed by Carmel's vibrant character. Her positive and spirited nature is contagious! There's no dull moment if you're with her. Plus, her standard greeting ("Hoy, Oclarit!) just never ceases to make me chuckle this be thru SMS, email, etc.!!! When I saw her again last December 2006, I was completely delighted that she never changed a bit. She's still the typical Libran I know: CREATIVE as a writer, PASSIONATE in her relationships, SMART as me (hehehe) and of course, BEAUTIFUL inside/out!

The privilege of becoming Carmel's friend entitles you to the following: a free paperback copy of Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets; supplies of Bears and Hugs cologne; meeting her anti-virus (hehehe); and glimpses of Asia through her travelogues.
Lastly, here's what an 'ex' wrote in March 2004: She came into my life like a sweet surprise. Even until now, during quiet moments at my desk, I can't help but wonder and smile when I think about how lucky I am to have found her. In the year that has passed since we met, I have come to know Carmel very well. Her personality compliments mine perfectly. I am somewhat introverted and shy, she is friendly and easy to talk to. She makes friends easily. She can go hours and hours talking while I can go hours and hours listening. My opinion about a topic can be very objective while hers would be highly emotional. She loves to read while I settle for the movie version. She is more generous than I am. She is thoughtful, caring and very affectionate. Not to say that I am not but she is better than me in many ways. I am amazed by how much her friends love her...I too love her. I love the way she laughs. I don't know anyone who has a laugh like hers. I love the way her hands fit in mine...the way it feels when she cuddles up to me. I love the way she tells me she loves me out of the blue. I love the way she makes faces at me when we look at each other sometimes. There is so much more but most of all, I just love the way she loves me. It's a feeling like nothing else when you realize you've received the greatest gift of all. So honey, this is my tribute to you. I hope that with this, the world can get to know you for the wonderful person that you are.
hmmm...interesting, poignant, enlightening, heartwarming testimonials. FACT or FICTION? well, you heard them from my friends not from me so i guess that would be enough premise to consider the high probability that they're true. hahaha.

Monday, October 13, 2008

welcome AJ!

finally i have a nephew i can call my own. my brother's wife Babylyn gave birth to a healthy baby boy last October 12. They named him Adrian James, AJ for short, which still sounds close to my brother's nickname Jay.

so i'm now a certified tita and my parents, after waiting 34 long years, are now certified lolo and lola to baby racrac and AJ.

welcome to our family AJ!

Friday, October 10, 2008

birthday post

days before my 6th birthday, my parents invited all my kindergarten classmates to my party. i was excited but had one request: no birthday cake. yeah, i told papa not to buy me a cake 'coz i didn't want to blow the candle. i am not sure what i was thinking that time but maybe, being a shy girl (yes, shy ako noon...shock kayo noh?! LOLz), i must have been scared of standing in the middle of a party crowd in front of a cake with all eyes focused on me while i blow that damn candle. stage fright? maybe.

but what's a party without a cake? and what kind of parents would throw a party for their princess but not buy a cake? on my big day, when everyone has gathered around me to sing happy birthday, papa surprised me with a hello kitty cake. and so i cried. really hard. shamelessly. in front of my classmates and family friends. i was like "waaaaahhhh!...sinabi ko na ayaw ko ng cake eh!"
see this photo? that's me in the middle (crying), my brother in blue shirt beside me, mama wearing brown blouse behind me and papa (smiling) who was signaling the photographer to take another shot. papa blew the candle for me.

the years that followed were not as memorable. my birthday usually fell on the week of school's third-grading period exams. in college, october was the busiest month. either i was preparing for the final exams or working on a paper or project.

debut party? cotillon? i never had those. i wouldn't enjoy them anyway. gastos lang...and again that would mean being the center of everyone's attention which i hate. for my 18th birthday, my parents gave me a gold necklace with a heart pendant. they also gave me a gold ring...i think that was for another birthday.

after college, birthdays were spent partying and eating out with friends. but they had to wait after october 3. on the exact date of my birthday, i had to be with my family.

my most memorable birthdays? dinner at Jollibee SM North Edsa with college friend Ivy for my 17th birthday, in 1997 when i lost my wallet and birthday cash to a pickpocket on the way to my boyfriend's house whose family i planned to treat for dinner (they threw a surprise party for me instead), that trip to singapore in 2005, introducing a boyfriend to my family in 2003 to silence all relatives who've been asking me the big question: "when will i ever get married?!" and of course, introducing Fil to my family in 2006. He nailed it! everyone loved him...day after that we escaped to puerto galera to celebrate.

last year we had a birthday cum despedida party. this year, mama and papa sent me a card and i have the two "men" in my life to celebrate it with.
they say that 34 is the new 24. what's the point of saying this? will it make me feel better or younger? ahhhh 24! of course i know how it feels to be 24. i had my time. been there, done that. such a dangerous age...trial-and-error stage, experimentation, taking everything that comes. life was an adventure then. i made some mistakes. i learned a lot. i remember when i was 24, i had so many dreams, plans, questions. it was a time of uncertainties, i didn't know then what was going to happen or would become of me: will i ever find the 'right' man? get married? have a stable career? travel? have kids?

so if you ask me, i'd rather be 34. at this age i have already reached some of my dreams, put to action most of my plans and found answers to many of my questions. while i still keep on dreaming, planning and questioning, the difference is that at 34, most of my major life issues have already been resolved and i am only left to deal with the minor day-to-day ones. i now live a more peaceful and purposeful life.

when i was 24 i asked God for one thing and i have been bugging Him about it, to the point of being makulit, every single night of the past 10 years. I got His answer recently and that, for me, is the best gift for my 34th birthday!

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Eagle Eye

was in San Francisco yesterday for a regular visit and while racrac was busy entertaining the lolas with his new skills, Fil and i managed to escape for a couple of hours to checkout this movie at Century 20 in Daly City.

non-stop action from start to finish! it kept my attention all the way through, even as the plot got increasingly preposterous. i guess it was intentionally designed to be fast-paced and exciting so you wouldn't notice or care whether it makes sense or not.

but shia is cute and it's the first movie we've seen in 9 months! for that i give it 3 stars.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Welcome to the Christian world Racrac!

Our baby received the Sacrament of Baptism last Sunday at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Fremont officiated by Fr. Mathew Vellankal. Racrac's godparents present during the ceremony were Ilene Brofar, Juan Abulencia, Frendale Figueroa, Polly Platzbecker, Rob Perez and Al Bayucan.


The ceremony was short, orderly and "intimate" as it was held at the new side of the church which seats just enough people to witness the baptism of 5 babies. Racrac didn't cry when Fr. Mat poured water on his forehead, closed his eyes when he was anointed with the sacred oil and didn't move when his ears and mouth were blessed to be open to God's word. He became fuzzy after the symbolic white garment was placed on him and during the lighting of the candle. He was totally uncooperative when it was time to take pictures. The heat and his thick outfit must have made him uncomfortable.



We had a party in the afternoon at the Los Cerritos Community Center where Racrac had so much fun meeting all his guests. He is a very sociable baby and likes being around people especially if they will carry him around hahaha. He wore a white barong with light blue embroidery and light blue shorts for the party which he got as a padala from his lolo and lola in Davao when auntie norma and bella went home last May. We decorated the hall with blue-and-white balloons and gave away personalized chocolates as favors.


Not to be missed is the food prepared by Leo, Ilene and Lenlen. Great food, great company...it was a beautiful day shared with family and friends as we celebrate Racrac's initiation into the church's family.

Monday, September 22, 2008

my new toy!


i was only wishing for a camera with an aperture setting which i couldn't do with my canon point-and-shoot but i didn't dream of something like this. This Nikon D90 has 12.3 megapixels, 3-inch high resolution LCD screen, 18-105mm VR Lens for superb image quality and a lot more. it's also the world's first D-SLR camera with a high-definition video recording function.

this guy became available in the market only 2 weeks ago and Fil's excuse for buying it is my birthday which is coming up in 2 weeks. advance birthday gift? i'm not complaining...hehehe

the challenge for me now is to learn how to operate this thing and resurrect my interest in photography which i haven't really given much time and attention lately. with this kind of camera, i have no excuse not to be inspired.

here are some interesting reviews on the new Nikon D90:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0808/08082702nikond90previewed.asp

http://gizmodo.com/5042209/nikon-d90-official-first-dslr-ever-with-hd-video-recording

Saturday, September 20, 2008

mommy-made baby food

i've been making racrac's food for about 2 weeks now. we started him with rice cereal when he was 5 1/2 months old and a couple of weeks later gave him commercially-prepared pureed vegetables and fruits. one time when i was about to give him his first serving of squash, i read the Gerber jar and the ingredients were simply squash and water so i thought "hmmm, that's easy...why can't i just cook it myself?"

since then we have been going to Sunday farmers' market to buy organic veggies and fruits and here's how i prepare them:

carrots - peel, cut into small chunks, steam until soft then place in blender to puree. i add a little water to smoothen the consistency.

green beans - snap the ends off the beans and wash them, steam until very tender, puree using blender and add any left over water for thinning out the beans.

butternut squash - cut the squash in half, scoop out seeds, place an inch of water in a baking pan then place squash halves "face" down, bake in a 400 degree oven for 40 minutes or until the skin puckers and halves feel soft then scoop squash “meat” out of the shell. Place squash "meat" in the blender for pureeing and add water as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin consistency.

sweet potatoes/white potatoes - wash and poke holes in sweet potato with fork, wash again 'coz the water that will go through the walls will help cook them, wrap sweet potatoes in tin foil, place in a 400 degree oven and bake for 30-60 minutes or until soft, place in blender and puree. add water to smoothen consistency.

banana - very easy! peel banana, throw into the blender and puree.

i put them in small containers, each container enough for one meal, and freeze. i usually serve them with rice cereal and milk. racrac loves it! sulit ang pagod ng mommy! :-)

i still give him some Gerber products, though, to expand his solid food repertoire. he just turned 7 months last week and i'm very careful about what i feed him 'coz i don't want him to choke or something. alam nyo naman, first time mom so medyo takot pa...

Saturday, September 6, 2008

papa's girl

papa celebrated his 64th birthday last september 2nd and it was the first time in 33 years that i wasn't there to celebrate with the family. i could imagine papa wearing one of the long-sleeved dress shirts i gave him underneath his "amerkana" while his guests would be in jeans and shirts. With friends alll gathered around him, he would be the life of the party....cracking jokes endlessly, his voice dominating, making fun of the guests who are so used to his sense of humor:
"Pinong, beer ka lang. hindi pwede sa yo 'tong blue label at pang-mayaman lang to. baka ma-allergic ka. hahahaha."

i could picture Pinong, his ever-loyal driver/errand boy who sidelines as a police officer (or vice-versa hihihi), smiling from ear to ear, far from embarrased, even more happy to be recognized by papa and be the subject of the joke. as always, it never fails...the rest of the boys would break down into uncontrollable laughter as papa continues with more punchlines.

as in any pinoy party, a videoke machine is invited. the boys would be showcasing their vocal skills to the delight of everybody (but not the neighbors!). in fairness, they really are good! you just have to forgive their pronounciation sometimes...bisaya man..."My Way" becomes "My We"... hihihi...

the house would be in chaos. mom would be taking care of the food. she prepares and cooks the main dishes while the rest of the food i.e. lechon usually comes from guests as gifts. mama would be entertaining the ladies too and sing her favorite song if she is lucky to grab the mic from the boys. in a separate table would be my brother and his friends. they don't like mingling with the oldies hehehe.

if i was there, i would be the official photographer gladly taking pictures of happy men holding to their beer bottles and my dad would be flashing his usual smile. i take a lot of pictures. papa loves pictures. i know how much he values being surrounded by friends and family on his special day. their presence is the best gift and my goal is to capture that.

the party would run from lunch to midnight...people come and go. masaya, magulo, maingay...

i could never remember a year when my papa didn't celebrate. every year, kahit hirap ang buhay or walang pera, he always finds a way to throw a party. sometimes i don't get it, oftentimes i don't understand. minsan nakakapagod magcelebrate especially if you think about the preparation and the actual day when you have to be on your toes flashing your best smile. but at the end of each celebration and i see papa's tired happy face while he recalls the highlights of the day, i know why he always insists on celebrating: it makes him happy.

but this year, i wasn't there. i tried calling but he didn't answer his phone. mama said he was busy checking out the venue. this time, they have moved out of our house which is the usual party venue to a bigger place that could accommodate more guests. wow, mas bongga pala this year! i tried to stay awake 'til 12 midnight (which is 3pm in Manila) to call him but no success. i woke up 7:30am (10:30pm manila time) and finally got hold of my dad. the party was still ongoing.

"happy birthday pang...kanina pa ko tumatawag pero di ka sumasagot sa phone."
"thank you...naku! busy ako sa kaka-entertain! sobra 400 ang bisita ko...!
"wow, ang dami naman. happy birthday ulit!"
"o kelan kayo uuwi? si racrac kumusta na?"
"ok naman...titingnan pa kung makakauwi kami, kelangan pa i-verify sa immigration kung pwede..:
"ok sige...o, eto ang mama mo, kausapin ka daw."
"ok..."

that was it. short and simple, like the way we are used to. with papa, it's always direct to the point. no drama, no out-of-topic discussion. hahaha. a lot of people are scared of him. with his sharp screaming voice and big eyes, it is sure to scare the hell out of any neophyte lawyer who faces him in court. he terrorizes his secretaries especially if they couldn't follow simple instructions. he is brutally frank, never thinking even for just a second if the words coming from his mouth would hurt the other person. and he doesn't care if you're the president or some kind of a VIP. pag galit siya sayo or may kasalanan ka, wala siyang pakialam kahit sino ka pa, humanda ka na!

but that's just half of the man he is. deep inside is a self-made man. my grandfather, a war veteran, left the family for another woman and papa, being the 7th of 8 children, struggled to earn his own money to send himself to school. he was an ice drop vendor, shoeshine boy, and even got paid by rich-but-not-so-bright kids by helping them with their assignments. Luckily he landed a college scholarship in Manila.

long story short, he became a lawyer. i was already 8 years old then. we relocated to his hometown in North Cotabato so he could serve his "kababayan." He ran for mayor...i was his "Kris Aquino." I delivered speech at the town plaza, distributed campaign leaflets at the remotest possible barangay. He lost. I am glad he lost. Politics is not only dirty but dangerous at that side of the country. Who knows what could have happened to us if he became mayor? After that disappointing episode in his life he went back to law practice and have dedicated his life to his profession since.

As a father he was very strict. He expected the best from me, i was pressured to excel in everything. While kids my age were playing in the streets, i was in his law office typing affidavits and chatting with his clients. He sent me to ballet classes, guitar lessons, quiz bees, oratorical/declamation contests. Weeks before my elementary graduation, all my after-school hours were spent practicing my valedictory speech which he himself composed. He wanted me to deliver an 8-page memorized speech. Bawal ang kodigo...for him there is no room for mediocrity.

He wanted me to be lawyer but i went only as far as finishing a Political Science degree. But i know he is still proud of my accomplishments. He was strict with me when i was in college. He didn't explain why, basta strict lang siya. There were times i felt he was being unreasonable but there's just nothing i could do. When i finished college, he gave me wings. He let me do what i want, never interfered with my affairs. Total 360degree turn. I was pleasantly surprised and it was only then that i understood the way he disciplined me.

With a father like that, you think it is easy to find a man who would measure up to his expectations? Definitely not! While papa never asked me about my lovelife or commented negatively on the boys i introduced to the family, i was able to figure out myself if these guys were good enough for me. He trusted my choice. When it was time for him to meet Fil, papa didn't ask him a question. He welcomed him with open arms...wala ng tanong-tanong...

I remember one time when i cleaned my father's room, i was so engrossed in the task of putting his files in order when i was stopped by the sight of his old typewriter. Call it corny but if it's a scene in a Maalala Mo Kaya, it would be titled "typewriter." Papa loves his typewriter. He revels in the tic-tac sound of the keys...it inspires him to think. When i bought him a computer, he tried to operate the strange machine by following my instructions but after a few days, he gave up. There's nothing like the sound and feel of a manual typewriter, he said. I touched the keys...each key is smeared with his fingerprint. some keys are stained with ink, while the others have a drop of the correction liquid. the carriage release lever is loose. i stared at it, i don't know for how long. i touched the keys. this typewriter is the sole witness to papa's dedication to his profession. he has spent a lot of time with it, mostly late night or early morning...this is where he has let all his passion, intelligence, thoughts all go out.

when i was a baby he composed a song for me: si maricar kong pinalangga...he'd sing it not only to put me to sleep but also during those drinking sessions in the province when one would be playing the guitar and the rest would be singing one by one. all his friends know that song...si maricar kong pinalangga. the last time i heard it was when i was in 3rd year high school. that time, i felt embarrassed...and i never heard it since. i must have told him "ano ba yan pang, bakit mo kinanta? nakakahiya naman..."

now that i'm a mother, i also have a song for racrac. i sing it to him when he's sleepy, when he's drinking his milk and when he suddenly wakes up in the middle of the night. i remember papa. it must have been the same...him singing his song to comfort me, make me feel safe, put me to sleep. now i wonder, how can a song delivered not with much professionalism but with so much love be comforting to me when i was a baby but 'nakakahiya' now that i'm old?

When i was still his 'little girl', papa adored me like i adored my son now. Although we don't have the technology back then and we couldn't even afford to buy a camera, papa managed to have me and my brother's picture taken on special occasions. He'd hire a photographer before the event and made sure our pictures were taken according to his instructions. Those were few valuable pictures compared to Racrac's gazillion photos in my file but each and everyone of those precious printed photos have a story to tell, some of them leaving an imprint in my memory.

But here's my favorite: cassette tape recorder. Papa's ingenuity is amazing. when i was 2 years old or maybe younger, papa would set up a cassette tape recorder and record his conversations with me.

papa: "December 24, 1976. Bisperas ng Pasko. Nandito kami ngayon ni Maricar sa bahay namin dito sa Intramuros, Manila. Nasa labas kami ng bahay hinihintay ang mama niya na namalengke. Si Maricar ay dalawang taon at dalawang buwan... Nasan si mama mo khay?
me: "namayengke.. si mama punta payengke..."
papa: "maganda ba bahay natin khay?"
me: "oo, gusto ko bayay natin kasi mabigat"
papa: "mabigat? haha baka ibig mo sabihin malaki?"
me: "oo nga, malaki... kasi yong kina lolo maliit eh, eto bahay natin mabigat.."

and the conversation continues. i have i think 2 cassette tapes that survived 'til now. There was even one time in that conversation that papa would say "oh yes, baby!!!..." and i'd answer him back "oh yes, baby...!" probably it was one of those popular catch phrases during that time.

Blame papa why i'm not so adventurous when it comes to food. At the dinner table where mama would serve adobong pusit, crabs and stuff like that, papa made sure i have my fried chicken to enjoy haha...! I could eat chicken the whole day and not care about seafood ;)

When i was applying for a job, papa prepared all my documents. Made sure i have everything i needed inside the envelope. He wakes me up when i have an appointment, he hates being late. He gives me my medicine when i'm sick round the clock never missing a minute.

We don't always talk about personal things. He's not melodramatic. he avoids talking having serious father-daughter or father-son conversations, the same ones you see in the movies. He never gave me advice directly or inspired me with his words when i'm sad and despressed. He couldn't handle those kind of things. But we do talk about politics, news, other people and his legal cases.

At the end of the day you either love him or hate him but one thing is sure, those who hated him ended up loving him. His clients are proud of him, they always share funny and witty anecdotes that happen in the courtroom. His friends forget him when they're happy but they always come to him when they need help... and papa is always there to welcome them with open arms. He is generous to a fault, a one-day millionaire so to speak, he is old-school, never had a single pair of jeans in his possession. He dominates, seldom compromises... and his dedication to his profession is indefatigable.

He is my father, and i will always be his little girl. I may have my own family now away from him but we had our time together and i hope and pray that we still have more years to enjoy in the future.

Happy 64th Birthday Papa!!!

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

keroppi's secret

guess who i found today?! Kero Kero Keroppi! i was browsing through some old documents i brought from the Philippines and i was so surprised to find this folded piece of stationery hidden in the inside pocket of my old planner. i have no idea how he got there! this guy, if i may tell you, is my 2nd favorite sanrio character next to Hello Kitty but he is special because we share a secret. through the years, it's unbelievable how he managed to stick with me and he surfaces from time to time to remind me of the pact i made with myself 15 years ago.

dated september 27, 1993, it was in this small piece of cute scented paper that i wrote the "things i want to do before i die". hihihi. that time, i was in third year college sharing a room in a dormitory with Candy. both our birthdays were coming in a few days so, katuwaan lang, we made a list of what we wanted to accomplish not in the next 5 or 10 years but before we die...para mas dramatic ang dating hehehe! these were simple wishes and desires arising from our situation and priorities at that time as young women who will soon be out of college and excited about the future.

wanna know what's in my list? ask kero kero keroppi, how about flipping him over or look closely at the photo and decode the inverted text? :-p i can only go as far as saying that out of the 25 i listed, 3 are only 50% done and i have 8 things still waiting to happen.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

we saved our bath!

what started as a minor water leak turned into a major bathroom improvement project. we initially planned to fix the leak but, blame it on watching too much HGTV, we ended up with a long list of things that needed to be fixed and replaced in the bathroom: wall paint, lighting, exhaust fan, vanity countertop, sink, cabinet and mirror, bathtub, tub walls and floor tiles.

even the most enthusiastic do-it-yourself-ers like us couldn't handle such tough job. it was just too much for Fil's basic carpentry and painting know-how and my own handy(wo)man skills limited only to fixing cabinet hinges and loose toilet bowl water tanks, replacing bulbs and door knobs, sealing pipe threads with teflon tape and putting together furniture that requires a little bit of assembly and more of trying to understand the assembly guide. oh yeah, i can do these things. but remodeling an entire bathroom? nah. we need to put in somebody with a license.

we were lucky to find a contractor who worked within our budget and didn't charge us an arm and a leg for labor. we purchased the materials ourselves so weeks before the project started, Fil, racrac and i frequented the home depot, lowes, orchard supply hardware, Unitile in Hayward and also IKEA in east palo alto for some color and design inspiration.

we finally said goodbye to our old bathroom last august 18 and went home to a new one yesterday! yehey, i now have my green bathroom! hahaha...i chose BEHR water sprout color paint for the walls and it blended perfectly with the brown, white and satin nickel fixtures. here's the before-and-after shots:the best thing i love about it aside from the jacuzzi tub, marble tub walls, granite vanity top, and the calming green wall paint is the open spout faucet installed without the deck plate for a clean and built-in look. it keeps me entertained each time i use it.


but i'm not done yet. i still need to accessorize and get rid of the old stuff like the blue towels and rugs 'coz they now do not go well with the new color scheme.

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