Cutty

I must hear "Mama" about a hundred times a day.  Come to think of it, that is a conservative estimate.  I have four kids, so that would give them a daily average of 25 per day.  They could easily hit their daily quota in the morning.  But, kidding aside, sometimes, I forget how lucky I am to be called "Mama".  When all four kids want to tell you about their day, at the same time, I forget. When they all want a snack, at the same time, I forget. When I am busy doing something, trying to be invisible, I forget. When all four kids are sick, I forget. When I am busy trying to measure my baking ingredients, I forget. When I see a messy house, school supplies strewn all over the floor, unfinished meals and non-stop bickering, oh,  I REALLY forget. However, when I see an ungroomed child entering the classroom, I am grateful that I am capable of caring for my children. When I get my daily supply of hugs, I am grateful. When I hear an occasional "Thank ...

You know I meant Ukay Ukay shopping.  But, I feel so "alta," because I scored several nice pieces. On our first free day, I went to this ukay ukay joint in Baguio with my mother.  I really had no intention of getting anything. In fact, I told my husband that I was just going to accompany Mama. I only had P2000 with me. Deep inside, I was dragging myself to go ukay ukay shopping.  I can score brand new cheap items from H&M and Uniqlo.  So, why bother? That mindset changed when I saw authentic Jimmy Choos, Louboutins and Dior shoes.  Unfortunately, they weren't my size.  They didn't carry those interesting brands in my size.  But with that fire of interest in me, I went to the other stalls seeing if there is anything worth buying. There definitely is.  Presenting to you my ukay haul.... After careful examination, I therefore conclude that this Phantom is the real thing.  It feels genuine and it looks like one too. I ...

We finally got back from our last family trip this summer.  We don't usually take summer trips.  Our summers are usually spent shuttling between home and summer classes.  We find it cheaper to just stay in the city.  We usually take trips during off-peak season. This time it's quite different.  It has been a whirlwind experience since mid-May.  There was a trip to the province for a family reunion.  A weekend visit to Taipei for Vic and me and some in-laws.  You know, the vacation after the vacation.  It was then followed by my father's retirement party, which I semi-organized. Finally, a trip to Baguio before the kids go back to school. All these trips are partially subsidized.  I don't know how we were able to wing it, but we just did. No, this is not a humble brag post.  I just realized that we had help. ============ Last February, I lost one of my sisters-in-law due to uncontrolled diabetes and its complications. ...

Lately, I've been feeling more tired, more impatient, and more irritable than usual.  I haven't had a decent restful weekend since July.  It seems like it's going to be that way till early January.  Oh dear, I really need a break. Historically, I've been feeling burned out by the time August hits.  I remember that I usually hint of a getaway this time of year.  Exams, Asthma attacks, frequent trips to the hospital, rains and flood adding to the usual daily stresses, take a toll on me. I realize that I still need to teach my children how to be more responsible.  Little steps such as preparing what they need for the next day and determining lunch food will minimize my daily stress. At this time, I just want to stay away from everyone, read a book and not worry about a thing. I am turning into a Mama Monster.  Thank God, my children still remain sweet and affectionate despite the attitude.

It was a sad week for friends and relatives.  A friend's father passed on and a 6 year old distant relative didn't recover from heart surgery. T lost her mom to pancreatic cancer not more than 4 months ago.  I was just telling her how impressed I was about her strength.  Then, the news about her father's passing on just surprised us. Someone remarked that, maybe, he just wants to be with his wife. At first, I couldn't believe that someone can die from loneliness or heart-break.  But, I must have known four cases wherein the spouses pass on soon after their loved ones go.  Sinundan talaga, hanggang kamatayan. I am in awe of their bond.  But, love, as strong as theirs, transcends death. ----------------- The news about a 6-year-old niece passing on is devastating. I did not know her personally but I was in tears the moment I heard about it. She underwent surgery to correct a congenital heart problem. She survived the surgery but didn't recover from...

July must have been the month I have traveled most in the past decade.  Next would be May.  It is both an exhilarating and agonizing experience going through the photos in my Facebook Memories. So, while the memories are still fresh, I decided to unbox my scratch map to document the places I've visited in the past.  As you can see, it is still a work in progress. Asia is still the most visited region because of its proximity. Europe comes in next.  Slovenia and Slovakia are too small to be noticeable here. The markings on the United States map are confined to tourist spots and a few states where I spent time during business trips. I do not plan on setting foot in all continents, but I still want to scratch off a few more cities in my bucket list.  I am still hoping to experience food-tripping in Montreal, chasing the Aurora Borealis in Scandinavia, being in awe of the Hagia Sophia in Turkey, watching the sunset in Santorini, bein...

Vic's birthday and mine are a month apart. We rarely hold parties for ourselves. It's usually a special dinner with the kids and a big meal shared with our extended families.  However, I plan to make it a tradition to travel to celebrate our birthdays. Last year was Tokyo. This year, we decided to go to Hong Kong. We missed the place.  This year we decided to go about it differently. We didn't stay in our usual Marco Polo hotel. We explored parts of the city that aren't  familiar to us.  Hotel Pravo I like this hotel because it is in the center of TST. It is 2 blocks away from Harbour City  and 2 blocks away from Nathan Rd. It is surrounded by small restaurants that locals frequent. It is also quite accessible by MTR. TST and East TST MTR lines are just a block away.  The interiors are very modern. You'll be greeted by a dark reception area and hallways. However, the rooms are well-lighted despite the black and white  ...