Christmas is the time

I miss going home to Mama on a Christmas break; where I do nothing but sit down, sleep, prepare the table, eat and kwento kwento.

I miss opening surprise gifts from Mama and in return, Mama waiting for her gift from "Santa".

I miss the mornings of December 25 where Papa would always wake me up with his stories of how I was born, and him fixing the windows.

I miss Lolo Kito peeping on the door, checking whether the "kids" are already awake.

I miss eating at home without me having to wash the dishes but Lola Febe doing it instead.

I miss my childhood. I miss my family. I miss them so much.

I miss being embraced and hugged by Papa. I miss having late night chit chats with Mama. I miss cleaning Lolo Kito's nails. I miss Lola Febe's pride everytime she comes to know of the little things we do.

As I build my own family, I hope to build good and lasting memories for my children too.

My Rhyss, the doting kuya

Rhyss, you told auntie Rianne, you're going to sleep alone in the room when she gets married in December?

Yes, ma

Why, don't you like to go back to our room? You won't sleep with Mama and Papa anymore?

Yes, but it's okay with me. I want ading to experience what I experienced. Sleep with you also.

Oh, like sleeping with mama and papa for 8 years?

Yes.

The contraption called ankle support

I got a bad case of sprain yesterday, where I literally heard the krek krek krek on my left foot.

I woke up this morning with a swollen left ankle that made it hard for me to wake up.

Carlo brought me to the doctor...ortho.

The doctor then held my left foot, stretch, twist, stretch, twist. Showed us a big book with ligaments and tendons and bones and explained it so well why I twisted my ankle.

Then he brought out what he called ankle support.

So I said, ok ok ok. I like it. hmmm...looks like it will cost me only less than a thousand.

Ok, so next...

I showed him my right foot. I complained about the pain in my "dapan" (whatever you call it)

Then he said, it is most painful in the morning. Yes, yes, yes

He knocked it. Ouch, ouch, ouch

You know iha, this blah (I can't pronounce it, can't even memorize it) is most common to middle aged people and number 2, overweights.

Yeah right! I'm not middle aged...am I overweight? blah! Whatever!!!

I can't give you medicine. You said you're breastfeeding. Yes doctor. So how about it?

I can inject something. How much? How much Deb (referring to his secretary)

P1800 for the medicine, and P400 for the professional fee. Ok, I will come back on Saturday.

For the left foot, P2,900 all in all.

What a price for calling me overweight, eh?

Now I feel better. I have to. This contraption on my left foot has to work. Otherwise...

Otherwise I will just go back to the gym.

teacher, teacher, teacher

di pa ko nakacheck

di pa ko nakapagrecord

di pa ko nakagawa ng exam

cramming, cramming, cramming

di ko na naman nagawa ang paper ko

sa september 21 na last day ng admission

pati letter wala pa din ako

cramming, cramming, cramming

sarap kasing makipagkwentuhan lang kay rhyss

kargahin si bordabee

kumain, matulog

sana, sana, sana

kasana, dito na lang ako sa bahay

bukas tatanungin na naman ako

ano na ang level ng accomplishment?

ung board, gawa na ba? di ko na mamonitor ang massive training kit

ung liquidation natin for the iec ok na ba, nasubmit na ba sa neda?

nakapagsubmit na ba lahat ng reports? sa 5 na ang deadline, huli na naman tayo

wala! wala! wala!

I miss my Mom!

These are one of those days when I wish Mama were still here. One cough she hears on the phone and she would give you a list of do's and dont's, medicines that you can take, and her all time favorite - water therapy! Then the following day, she's already knocking at the door, literally dragging you to go to the doctor.

Yes, that's how mama was. I've been nursing my cough for almost a month now. I went to the doctor this morning (for the 2nd time, now a Pulmonologist) and was given a mask at P5 and gave me medicines not advisable for breastfeeding mothers. He told me - 7 days ka lang namang titigil magbreastfeed. Iniisip ko kasi ikaw. Tingnan mo ang itsura mo o para ka kasing kawawa. Hmmmmpppphhhhh! Tama ba un? Pero naman, in fairness, I really had fever this morning, can't talk properly, can't taste my food, throbbing headache, chest pains. If ony Mama were with me, we would be laughing our heart out after the visit.

Oh well, yes, I'm 31 years old. And I sincerely wish somebody were with me during my check up this morning...and I really trully miss my Mom....

Rianne is making up to it. She's always texting and reminding me how stubborn I am not to go to the doctor immediately.

I hope to rest this weekend. Sana...

Remembering Mama on her birthday

Carlo and I went to the cemetery yesterday. I was so touched to see the following:

So characteristically mama. Notice the cup of coffee? The numbers written there? We really had a good laugh!

Natalo tuloy ang flowers ni Aromin's. For those who remembered, thank you! You really know how to touch a daughter's heart.

At Gecko Cafe

Scene 1: mam, para sa spaghetti meatballs lang po ang apple juice

pero sabi naman dito, all kids meals

ok mam

Scene 2: grilled whole lapu-lapu in mango sauce

ano po ang drinks nyo mam?

coke

coke sero po ba?

ung regular lang

wet lang mam

Scene 3: mam, wala na daw pong lapu-lapu

grilled lemon chicken na lang ading

ok mam, grelled lemon checken

My teaching encounter

At last, I'm done checking! I promptly returned the papers today for my TThS class and yesterday for my MWF class.

I discussed the answers after I gave the papers and told them to approach me if there is/are error/s and/or they feel or think that they deserve a higher score for their essay/s.

One student approached me in my TThS class. "Ma'am, pakicheck naman po ung number two. Parang ung sagot ko, andun po lahat ung diniscuss ninyo kanina." So I read his paper again. True enough, instead of writing 8, I wrote 3. So I said, I'm sorry, then recorded his score. I explained that I could not give him a 10 because he was not able to really relate his answer with opportunity cost. Then again, he asked me to look at number three. Another essay.

For question number three, I gave a table on the population of the Cordillera Administrative Region for the years 1970, 1980, 1990 and 2000, and asked them to relate it to scarcity, economic activity and decision making.

So I read again. Then I told him, "you really got 4." "Ma'am, can't you reconsider? I was in a hurry and I was thinking about the space I will need so I wrote there ...allocate population." So I patiently told him, "we don't allocate population but we allocate resources!" This time, he was more insistent. "Nagkamali lang po kasi ako ng naisulat ma'am. Alam ko pong mali. Pero tingnan naman po ninyo ang discussion ko, I talked about goods." Then I told him, "yes, that's why you got four. And you did not only mention it once but twice." Then he won't stop insisting he knows and that he just made a mistake. In my mind I really wanted to tell him, "what part of no, can't you understand?!?!?!" So I just told him, I really can't consider it because I check based on what he wrote, not on what he thinks. So he stopped.

Then the bell rang, all students went out already. The boy stayed. "Ma'am, sayang naman, sana pwedeng maconsider na." Hay! Ok fine, I told them, they should exert some effort, but not this kind, ok? So I just smiled and told him, "Kaya nga e, sayang. So you'd better be careful next time."

Teaching is difficult but very rewarding. It is a very fulfilling profession. Much more than research. Much more than marketing and advocacy. It is something I enjoy doing no matter how many encounters I have with the "boisterous generation".

The greatest enemy of wisdom is the voice of discontent...

Rhyss, exams will be on the 22nd already. I still have plenty of papers to check!

See mama, being a teacher is not so easy right? It's also hard, you have plenty of things to do.

If you want the rainbow, you must put up with the rain

It's been five days since I started teaching in my old University. Boy, I am really having a blast! Carlo said I look more contented, happier and blooming every time I go home; in contrast to looking harassed and haggard every time I come home from regular work. My ever observant Rhyss said, "Ma, you're coming home earlier when you had two jobs!"

Yes, teaching gives me a sense of high. It's different. A very good and fulfilling respite from my 8-5 job that ends until almost 9 in the evening.

It's so refreshing to be surrounded by students who listen to you and students who look forward to what you will say even if they are not studying. But having 50 students in my class also scares me....am I imparting the right things? do they understand? are they learning from me? Is there one hour with me worthwhile?

Becoming a teacher is really one thing that I never expect to be so fulfilling despite the odds.

Tired

Rhyss: Mama, why do they have to ask you a lot of things to do even if you're work is already done in the office? Don't go there na. Let's go home.

Me: Anak but I have to go see him because we asked him to travel. I need to give him this so he can go also.

Rhyss: Why don't they ask somebody else to do it? You tell them, you have two sons waiting for you.

Rhyss: That's what I don't like in your office. You resign their now. You be teacher y lang.

Training at Seminar

Hindi naman porke nagtraining ka o nagseminar ka, alam mo na lahat di ba? Not everything is discussed there naman di ba? Bakit kaya pag nag attend ka ng training or seminar, feeling nila alam mo dapat lahat...

Or, are they just inggit, hindi sila ang recipient? 

Career Change

It's not all about the money...it's about satisfaction, peace and happiness

Career Change

It's not all about the money...it's about satisfaction, peace and happiness

"The saddest kind of sad is the sad that tries not to be sad. You know, when Sad tries to bite its lip...

Smile!

Mam gud pm.  Mam 2mawag UP Baguio. Pls claim Transcript of Records of Ms. Rianne Picar on Thursday.  FYI po.  

It always pays to smile a lot.  My papacute paid off.  My taxi fares for a week and my undertime for a week.  Smile, smile, smile!

So what's next?

Power hungry. Forcing commitments. Fund from government? 

Yoko na. 

Market encounter

I met Jamie (not her real name) yesterday.  She's 9 years old and will be Grade 3 in June.  I met her in the market.  She approached me and asked if she can help me carry my stuff in exchange for something. 

Ate, ako na lang po ang magdala ng pinamalengke nyo.

Kaya mo? Ako nga malaki na hirap na hirap pa ako.  Mabigat ito...

Kaya ko po yan ate. Sanay na po ako.  

So I obliged because it was really sooo heavy.

Dalawa tayo ha. Ikaw sa kabila.  

Opo ate. Thank you po. 

While we were walking from the meat stalls to the vegetable section, I probed.

Alam ba ng mga magulang mo na nandito ka? 

Opo. Hinihintay ko nga po ang mama ko kasi po namalengke siya. 

Aaaa...tas sabay na kayong uuwi? 

Hindi po.  Maiiwan po ako. Magbebenta pa po ako ng supot e. 

Saan nagwowork ang mama mo? 

Sa Bakakeng po. (I thought her mom worked in the market)

So, mag-isa ka lang na nagbebenta? 

Opo, kaya ko naman po. 

Anong oras ka pumunta dito? 

Alas sais p0, nasa palengke na po ako.

Hanggang anong oras ka? 

Hanggang gabi na po. 

Asan ang papa mo? 

Patay na po e. Three years na po. 

Ikaw ba ang panganay? 

Hindi po. Ako po ang bunso at mag-isang babae. 

Ilang taon na ang mga kuya mo? 

10 at 11 years old po. 

Pumapasok kayo lahat sa school? 

Opo. 

Tinutulungan ko lang po ang mama ko kasi alam ko pong nahihirapan siya. 

Kaya mo pa ba akong ihatid hanggang sa Sunshine? Di ka ba hahanapin ng mama mo? 

Opo. Kayang kaya ko po.  Di po niya ako hahanapin.  Alam naman po niya ang trabaho ko.

Kumain ka na ba? 

Opo, kumain po ako bago po ako lumabas ng bahay.  

Ate, lagi po ba kayong namamalengke? 

Oo. 

Anong araw po? Sabado po ba? 

Oo, kung minsan Sabado, kung minsan Linggo. 

Ate, doon lang po ako. Hanapin nyo lang po ako kung mamalengke kayo. 

Oo, sige. Thank you ha. 

Salamat din po ate. 

And she left with a smile that made me think about my son, 8 years old, Grade 3, and watching TV. 

 

 

 

A P25-million fund to end political killings has been ordered put up by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who also called on lawmakers to use part of their pork barrel to help raise the amount. - what if....?

I can go faster than the wind!!!

Summer with my Rhyss is...

vanilla ice cream with maraschino cherries and stik-o spruced up with Hershey's syrup

Ang bago kong kasangga...

Happy Anniversary Mama and Papa. Today's supposed to be your 32nd Wedding Anniversary!

I miss you so much. I love you.

Buti pa ang Ripley's madaling paniwalaan...

Capital D: Random lang

d as in daring
d as in delicadeza
d as in depressed
d as in dunggo
d as in daddy
d as in dumbo
d as in dinengdeng
d as in danggit
d as in darling
d as in drugs
d as in deklarasyon
d as in dependent
d as in durog
d as in dimples
d as in Capital V
d as in Capital C

Becoming a Kuya...

Indulgence is...

...eating two plates of pansit...
...eating ice cream...
...eating cheese burger meal from McDonalds...
...eating 15pcs pandesal with cheese...
...drinking a tall mug of hot Swiss Miss with mallows...
...eating 3 slices of pizza...
...eating half of Red Ribbon custard roll...

all in a day!

Bakit?

1. Bakit may mga taong mababagal? As in sobrang bagal, daig pa ang flower girl kung magmartsa.

2. Bakit may mahina ang processor? Paulit-ulit mong sasabihin kung paano dapat gawin ang isang bagay, pero uulit-ulitin pa ring gagawin ang gustong gawin.

3. Bakit may mga taong sobrang mataas ang pride? Ilang ulit nilang sasabihin na hindi ka nila kailangan pero ramdam na ramdam mo naman at kitang-kita mo ang pangangailangan nila sa iyo.

4. Bakit ako pikon na pikon? Dahil siguro ako ay pagod na pagod.

5. Bakit ako inis na inis? Ewan. Feel ko lang siguro. Choice ko naman kung maiinis ako o magiging masaya di ba?