On Moving On

After a near-fatal fit of the giggles, I finally got my groove back. First on the agenda: Put up the tree.

Normally, I do this soon after my birthday. Yup! I did have [a birthday] but it took longer than usual to recover. The hangover lasted more than two weeks. What can I say? I do know how to party!

As only I know how, I lost my Christmas tree on December 2003. Don't ask... Gone were the lights, my wooden ornaments, garlands, wreaths and angels I had collected over the years.

I took a Christmas off to grieve. I planted mango seedlings in my farm instead. (They generate a better ROI). For my grandson's sake, I replaced my lost tree the following year.  That's his Patrick Star which we use as a tree topper.  Now on its fourth appearance, our tree looks battle-scarred but happy. Gabriel loves the idea of a "big" tree. My kids eagerly await what comes next: the food!

There are a lot of ornaments left over. I reached my "anal" quota in July and want things more organic. Luckily, even plastic trees are the trend. With the environmentalists breathing down our necks, it was only a matter of time till the demise of the au naturel tree.

I just noticed that most of the ornaments are hand-made.  Pretty things!  Next year when I can afford it, I should get those LED Christmas lights.

True to tradition, I'm late getting presents. What I already have is on a table somewhere.  Dogs and brights wrappers are a common foe.

The first thing I bought is this rubber chicken.  It shrieks.  For 70 pesos at a bazaar, it has made all of us here laugh.  I should've gotten more! Now we're arguing who gets to keep it.  It will probably go to my year-old niece who has everything (except a rubber chicken that shrieks).

Click here to hear a shrieking chicken!

On Being "Accounts Payable"

During a recent launch, a friend remarked that I was "accounts payable."  I laughed in her face. Oh sure, who doesn't need the moolah?  But really, I wanted to know what it meant.  NOW!

Did it mean I was owed money?  Money's easy:  You earn it. You spend it. No biggie. What's with the labels anyway? Of course people owe me money and I, in return, owe others. So goes the circle of friendship, family, forfeiture and finance.

But really, what mattered? It got me to thinking about my own list of "Accounts Receivable." For my services rendered, what could I reasonably demand in return? How high a premium could I place on my skills and emotion?  After much soul-searching, I think I have it:

MY CHILDREN.  In 2006, Al Neuharth, founder of USA Today, wrote a Mother's Day column. In it he wrote, consulting  job analysts at Salary.com, that a stay-at-home Mom's salary would be $143,121 annually.  (Multiply for numbers of years on duty and adjust numbers for inflation!)

I'd love to be able to say that I'll take the cash, thank you:)  In the real world though, you just keep your fingers crossed and hope that these kids make the same effort with THEIR kids someday.

What I do expect from them really, is for them to be independent. They should apply critical thinking in all aspects of their lives, act responsibly and be of value to society and country.

MY (FUTURE) SIGNIFICANT OTHER.  If this person does exist, I demand total honesty.  You shouldn't tell me it's okay when it isn't, goddamit!  I'm a big girl and can take care of myself. There may be better-off, cuter or smarter men, but real men of integrity are hard to find.

FRIENDS (WOO-HOOT!).  You owe me your loyalty.  The form of extreme loyalty that I'm able to give.  The kind where you just know that I'll pull through for you during the toughest times.

MY "PEOPLE."  More than servitude, I expect them to trust me.  It's important that they know I value their efforts and do not take them for granted.  They should be aware that I never make a decision that is not to our mutual benefit.

MY GRANDSON, GABRIEL.  Love forever:)

On Reading

My dentist once told me that I was his only patient who never had to read their magazines. I brought my own books. I was always a voracious reader. I even slip a small volume or a Reader's Digest into a purse. At the rare times that I forget, I will read anything: menus, condiment ingredients (read: catsup bottles), brochures or posted company memos.

I got a set of books from Grollier in the hope of teaching my little kids to read. I liked the illustrations and was encouraged by the Parent's Guide. We read night after night. Then once when my eldest child was three, she started reading along. I thought it was a fluke. I got another book and she did the same thing. She was reading on her own!

When Gabriel was born, I took it upon myself to teach him to read. Call it serendipity but I got a copy of the same set of books at a local ukay. He is now reading proficiently at age three! I wouldn't know at what level he's reading, I'm just happy to get him going.

I'm sure there's tons of literature out there extolling the virtue of reading. As far as I'm concerned, teaching kids to read is a step to giving them their independence. Next: fostering their passion for books. Unlike music, television and film, each book teaches us at least one thing. Alexander Pope writes, "A little learning is a dangerous thing; drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: there shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, and drinking largely sobers us again." This quote is mostly overused and misunderstood. Read an infamous example of this at Carlos Celdran's blog to understand this.

A few years ago when I turned 4-0, I started getting farsighted. It was disorienting. Only when everyone insisted I get my eyes checked did I find out what was wrong. It was called getting older. I started reading again until even glasses couldn't help. I started blogging. I could see only the letters and glare of the monitor. Turns out, I'm now twice as farsighted. I won't give up the reading habit but nowadays I do it mostly online.

This is one of the more touching articles from the Digest. It's on a father that had never learned to read. Strange that I never forgot the title of the article and easily found it online. Read "My Father's Hands."

On Super Mario

How my grandson considered car crashes and other forms of violence as online amusement is a mystery to me. As far as I knew, he never strayed from the Nickelodeon and Disney websites.

I finally introduced him to Super Mario, THE game of the 80's. Nothing is more heroic than trying to save the Princess:)

Gabriel was hooked! What with all the levels and the world needing to be saved, it was perfect...until he had to go Trick or Treating. He wanted to go as Mario amidst the ghouls, zombies and witches. As the quintessential doting grandmother, I did my best to give in. Here's Super Mario/Gab!

PS: Do you see Silly Dog? He's never far from his master. It would have been too nerve-wracking to dress him as Luigi.

On South Sea

Negros Oriental is home to many world-class resorts. Most of these are PADI-accredited, catering mostly to tourists and expats. Diving and snorkeling are main water activities as the beaches are typically rocky and the sand, wet and clumpy. It's impossible to swim without serious damage to your soles. So even the smallest resorts have a pool. It's a select clientele however, who can afford to pay the USD$ rates for accommodation.

One of Dumaguete's best-kept secrets is the South Sea Resort Hotel. It's a small, well-maintained spot in the middle of the city, where balikbayans usually visit or locals take their guests. Prices start at PhP500 or USD$11 for a 24-hour stay.

Of course one wouldn't expect room fittings to be at par with the high-end resorts. But rooms are spacious and clean, some with a screened-in porch. Most are equipped with airconditioning, cable TV and running hot water. They do have a restaurant, but let's just say I'd rather go home to eat. It's not inconvenient, really, as we live only 10 minutes away.

We go there mainly to swim. My whole family swims, including three-year old Gabriel who took lessons last summer. None of us is particularly athletic, and this is one of those times we play and bond. Their pool is made with even serious swimmers in mind (not one of those kidney-shaped recreation pools). At 25 meters long, it has 4 lanes so we actually race:) There's even a wading area for children.

So, how much do we love going there? Check out Gabriel's before and after pictures.

South Sea Resort Hotel is located at Bantayan, Dumaguete City. Call them at +(6335)225-0491 or +(6335)225-2409. Email southsearesort@yahoo.com. For more on Negros resorts, visit Negros Island Online.

On Boxes, Packages and Cages

My Mom sent Gabriel a package from Manila. It was addressed to him so he came with me to pick it up at the airport. We opened the box as soon as we got home.


It was a little red cage for our Silly Dog.


Silly Boy:)


So where's the puppy?

On Little Boys and Puppies

There's nothing more adorable than pictures of little boys and their puppies. Then again, maybe it's little girls and their dolls... NOT:)

These days I'm partial to little boys, particularly this one on the right, my grandson Gabriel. Throw in a puppy, and it makes for one unruly house!

While growing up, my kids always begged me to get them a puppy but I never gave in. There was asthma, additional housecleaning, the extra mouth to feed. I had all the excuses.

This boy broke my resolve in two weeks flat. A puppy came into our lives in the most extraordinary manner. As if a reward, we now see Gabriel play outdoors. We visit fields and parks so he can practice his banshee screams while running with the puppy at full speed. He's made a lot of new friends because everyone wants to meet the boy and his puppy. He watches TV and uses the computer less. He has a new best friend that he can count on to play when everyone else is too tired. Best of all, Gab has learned that life isn't all about him. It's all good!

We now have a devoted yaya, an indefatigable playmate and taga-kain ng leftovers in the form of a lovable canine of dubious pedigree.

Find out how Silly Dog came to be our master here.