Phantom of the Opera

My daughter and I had the pleasure of watching one of the most celebrated musicals of all time, Phantom of the Opera, last Saturday at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.  It was a feast to my senses.  The colors and sounds are beyond belief! The lavish stage production and the superb voices and performance of the characters were extraordinary.

It is especially endearing to hear "All I Ask of You", which is honestly, the most familiar of all songs to me.  The character of Christine did not only do justice in the acting department , but had a voice of an angel as well.  To top it all, she's delicately beautiful.

people are like pencils

Father Darwin, the officiating priest during one Sunday mass in our church shared a very enlightening homily.

He said that people are like pencils.

Pencils leave a mark

If we use the pencil to write on something, it will obviously leave a mark.

Just like people, we leave a mark in the lives that we touch and in the situations we get ourselves into.

Pencils have an eraser at the tip

Pencil marks, if not to the liking of who made the mark, can be erased by the eraser at the tip.

Just like us, we have a choice to change the marks that we have made.

We may not literally erase these but we can do something to change those marks.

Make use of it as a learning tool that we may not repeat making these undesirable marks again.

There are so many pencil designs to choose from

If we go to a bookstore to buy a pencil, we are presented with many choices.

So many designs, colors and shapes.

But what's really important is not the physical design of the pencil but rather what is inside the pencil -- the lead that will dictate the kind of mark it will make.

Just like people, it is not important that you are physically pretty, that you have diamonds and other material things. What is important is what you are inside.

The kind of person you are dictates the kind of mark you will leave in all that you touch and encounter.

Life is what we make it to be. Challenges and problems are a constant part of our lives.  It is up to us how we will deal with these and how we will make the best of what we have.  Our actions are our own doings. We will definitely make mistakes. But it is up to us to learn from and correct these mistakes if we still have a chance.  Like a pencil, it is not how we look like or what we have, it is how we are inside that matters.

People are like pencils.

Terrarium

Long time wish to be able to create my own terrarium.  Promised myself I would research and study how this is done.  Would give these as gifts to my family and friends and will put one in every corner of my house....as soon as I get around to actually doing this.

the road to 40

Cliche as it may sound, i feel that really life begins at 40.  It's only a matter of several weeks till I turn 40 and already i feel that may life will be beginning anew!

The past 39 years have been a blast. I am thankful for the opportunities that have been presented my way. For the people that have played a major role in what I am today. The hardships that if I have not undergone,  would not have made me stronger, mature and open-minded as, I would like to believe, I am now. The happiness that have made my heart swell with joy and fulfillment.

I have a family who supports me. Two wonderful, kind and loving children whom I adore and would do anything for.  My husband who loves and supports me all the way. I am thankful.

I only have a handful of friends. But this handfuls are true to the truest sense of the word.  These are friends that I may not see everyday, we are even continents apart but I know in my heart that they will come to my aide when I'm in dire need. I am thankful.

I have experienced hardship, happiness, pain, frustration, betrayal, sadness, fulfillment, love, jealousy, anger, fear.  And for these, I am thankful.

On the 2nd day of June 2012, I am officially 40.

And I am looking forward to, hopefully, 40 more.

I have so many things to still accomplish.  For me, for my kids, for my family.  Those are my immediate and primary concerns. But with these primary things I have to fulfill and accomplish, I am also hoping that along the way of accomplishing these, I will also be of help to my community and my country.

I want to still learn and better my craft. To share my talents and knowledge to the young ones in the industry.  To impart the values I believe in when it comes to my work and profession.

Above all, I want my kids to grow up as responsible, loving and God-fearing individuals. Who values honesty, integrity and equality.

At 40, may I be the person that I have always dreamt of -- cool, calm, collected; experienced and mature; just and fair; loving and understanding.  Someone who accepts her mistakes and uses it to better herself; someone who accepts criticism with an open mind. Someone who not just hears but listens; someone who not just gives but shares willingly; someone who not just likes but loves.

For all that has come my way, I am thankful.

note to myself

I love...I Hate

I love the sound of the rain, dripping onto the windowsill.

I hate the sound of the faucet with water trickling down the drain.

I love the sound of my children’s breathing, sleeping just next to me.

I hate the sound of my snore, wakes me up, and sleep is hard to come by nowadays.

I love the morning sunshine, the chirping birds on the tree.

I love the morning dew, little droplets of water on my feet as I cross the grass-covered lawn.

I hate the mid afternoon humidity, thick and heavy air, sticky skin and saggy hair.

I love the cool breeze from an early evening stroll, arm in arm with someone close. 


I love...I hate. But mostly I love :)

Politics

Me and my husband may disagree on some matters but often, we do tend to look at some matters the same way. Especially in politics.

We love our country.  We do what little we can as ordinary citizens to contribute to the welfare of our nation.  I bring my own re-usable grocery bag when I do my grocery, I save the plastic spoon and forks from McDo and Jollibee, I teach my kids to use the aircon as little as possible (tipid din sa kuryente!), I am buying two garbage cans for our "dirty" kitchen at the back of the house to help teach my mom and dad to segregate -- which by the way is an aggressive drive right now by the local government of Pasig headed by Mayor Eusebio (must applaud him because of this) calling the program BAZERO for zero basura.

We obey traffic rules even if we see incompetent MMDAs sprawled in the streets of Metro Manila.  We pay our taxes correctly and on time.

While we as simple and ordinary citizens do this and obey, it is disheartening to see public officials, who are supposed to lead by example, violate and squander!  What's more disheartening and actually makes me "irita" are personalities who was able to hold a public office (na mataas na position pa!) and was not able to  perform his duties and roles as a public servant, talk now as if he was able to eradicate graft and corruption, uplift the lives of the poor. When in fact they only used their time in power enriching themselves and the people with close connections to them. Hayy, these people.

Sometimes I feel that our country is hopeless. Seeing and experiencing first hand what it's like to have dealings with government people.  Those in the highest of positions are the ones using their powers to make those under them adhere corruption, dishonesty, cheating and deceit for personal gain.

But I am still hopeful. It should start from me and my husband, teach our children what is wrong and was is right; what is just and what is unfair.

Little things, everyday things that we do and think can be a contribution.  I am still hopeful.

my 2012

According to....

horchow.com

Came across Horchow.com and immediately I'm hooked!

Horchow.com is an online luxury mail-order catalog which features unique decorative items from around the world.

Here are some of my favorites.

Next time, I'm ordering :)

heart and soul

I am aware that it is not just the physical body one should take care of. What's more important, for the physical to be healed, is for the heart and soul to be healthy, happy, content.  I learned it the hard way because as much as I am aware of this, I was just looking out for the physical. 

But now, it's time for me to take care of my heart and my soul.  What my heart longs, i will provide. What my soul need, I will seek out.

Soon, I know, I will be free.  Free from unnecessary worries. Free from people who do not contribute to my well-being. Free from people who practices values that are against mine.

Soon I will be with people who are completely on the same page as me.  We will pray and work hard so that our goals will materialize for our own and for our family's sake. We will share knowledge. We will not be greedy. We will enjoy life and practice the true meaning of work-life balance. We will take care of our heart and soul as much as we are taking care of our physical needs.

My heart and my soul, soon will be much more happier.

cross road

Happiness is relative. So is sadness.

Often times we create our own happiness and our own sadness.

But there are also times, when we are happy or sad because of a person, situation or event.

I worry a lot. A lot that it gets me sick and makes me very sad. This is something that I need to control...for myself and especially for the people that gets affected because I'm a worrier. My family for one. My kids who I know, even if they do not say anything, can feel that their mom is bothered by something. And I don't want that.  I don't want them thinking that and I don't want them to worry about me.

I am at a cross-road right now.

One day I will be feeling confident and knows exactly what my next steps are.

The next day, I'm completely unsure and puzzled and afraid.

I pray to God that he gives me wisdom and strength to decide and plan for the things I need to decide on.

I pray that He continue to shower me with His light and love and that I may use these to understand and give compassion. I pray. I pray. I pray.

happiness foodies

Walang diet diet!

Cj my daughter :)

I am very thankful that I have my children. They are my joy, my fulfillment and the reason I wake up every morning striving to be a good person. They make me stay grounded and real. They are my pride., my being.

Cj, my daughter, is growing up to be a lovely girl.  But her loveliness is just not physical, she has a good heart. She's very simple. Loving and caring to us, her mom and dad. She would have the usual squabble with her younger brother once in a while, but would defend Basti to whoever will take advantage of him anytime, anywhere.

CJ when she was less than a year old.

And 13 years after.

I always pray for God to guide me and make me a good role model for my children, for them to grow up as God-fearing, loving, healthy individuals. For Cj to make the choices that will lead her to a better and happy life, to a career that will make her feel fulfilled and accomplished.  For her to always think of not only herself but of others as well.  For her to be the same Cj as she is now :)

dentist day...a couple of years back

I clearly remember this day, I was so proud of Basti for being so brave in the dentist's clinic. He had several pasta and the regular cleaning.  He keeps looking for me, giving me thumbs up to let me know that he is okay and that I should not worry.

it's been a while

Been sometime since i had my last entry.
Just gathering my thoughts with so many things happening at the same time.

Will write soon.....

my intermission

Life is not perfect.
Some things we can control and we make it the way we want it to be.
Some things we can't.
And these things I accept.
These things, i see, happens because they happen.
I face it with the best way I can.
Solve it as much as possible, the fastest way I can.

These things come my way because paths cross, stars align and planets line up.
They are part of life....part of my life.
Can make me a better person, a stronger one perhaps.
Leaves a mark, a dent or a memory.

Some things are part of our lives.
Call it destiny, path or your road.
I choose to call it, an intermission.

saturday foodies

Saturday has been a busy day for our tummies :)

First stop was at Powerplant to watch X-Men: First Class -- which the four of us enjoyed. We had popcorn, takoyaki and jamaican patty. Basti had Lay's and hotdog on a stick, while Cj had Starbucks caramel frapuccino and grilled ham and 3 cheese sandwich.

Then we were off to The Podium for some Xiao Long Bao at Shi Lin.

The entrance greets you with a clear glass showing how they prepare the dimsum.

Xiao Long Bao with the instructions on how to eat it.

Shrimp & Pork Siomai

Rice Shrimp

Stir Fried Spinach

Noodles with peanut sauce

Chicken Soup

Picture taking!

Afterwhich, it was time for dessert at our favorite Fro Yo ever -- Golden Spoon!

The many choices of toppings (mini marshmallow is the featured free topping for that day)

The orders:

Strawberry for Basti

Belgian Chocolate for AJ

Cakebatter with mini gummy bears and mini marshmallows for Cj

Yummy foodies! Happy tummies! :)

Shi Lin

3rd Floor

The Podium

Golden Spoon

Ground Floor

The Podium

inspiration: nature

Cool and practical stuff inspired by nature.

LED Mushroom Lamps

Umbrella Stand

Bike Lock

Business Card