Hong Kong - Day 1 (Novotel Citygate)

Toilet & Bath for Matt & Kyle, originally uploaded by gratitude.

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Label Reader, I'm Starting To Become

I just received an email a few minutes ago which prompted me to blog. It mentioned about "made in China" stuff and how some products, though made in China, are not labeled as such (yikes!). Part of the email mentioned about checking the barcodes in order to tell where a product was manufactured. I'm no authority on this and it would be best if somebody out there could validate if true. Still, I'm listing it here for everybody's benefit:

The 1st 3-digits of a barcode:
00 - 09 >>> USA & CANADA
30 - 37 >>> FRANCE
40 - 44 >>> GERMANY
49 - >>> JAPAN
50 - >>> UK
690 - 692 >>> China

By the way, it's not just melamine that we're supposed to be looking out for. Other food additives found in processed foods we consume everyday are equally dangerous, if taken excessively: artificial coloring, high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, MSG, sodium benzoate, sodium nitrite, and trans fat. Hmm, that was a mouthful (pun intended)! Click here to find out the truth about 7 common food additives and why these shouldn't be part of our diet at all.

Saturday in Makati

I used to work in SGV Consulting in Makati in late 1989 up to 1992. Spending most of my waking hours in that area from Monday to Friday familiarized me with the ins and outs of "old Makati". Why do I say old? Since moving to Cebu 16 years ago right after getting married, a lot in the place have changed. Every year that I got to visit Makati, a structure got renovated or torn down and replaced by another. It's sad that I didn't have photos of how the Makati I knew looked like.

Last Saturday, Jerry and I strolled down memory lane as we tried to recall the old places. I couldn't help looking for Gibson's where I usually took colorum mini-bus or jeepney rides to Las Pinas back in those days. Now, Jerry tells me it's already part of Park Square. I asked him where the Tia Maria Mexican bar/resto we used to frequent is located, and he tells me it's actually Max Brenner now. Larry's Bar, San Mig Pub, and Max's Fried Chicken, the resto where my parents and siblings once ate to celebrate a grade school graduation is now GB5! I couldn't help but shake my head... Haha! Ganun??? I'm feeling lost...and old! :D

Even the SGV Development Center along Perea and Dela Rosa Streets, where Jerry and I worked and met in 1989 is no longer there. In it's place is a high-rise condominium.

Change happens so fast it's dizzying...


With Pa, Ma, sis May, niece Zia (Pics taken at GB5 and Glorietta)

Cebu Pacific and NAIA 3

On my recent trip to Manila last 080808 to 081008, I flew via Cebu Pacific with a P3800 roundtrip ticket (heh, budget traveler, I am). Thus, I had the chance to be in NAIA 3.

I was expecting delayed trips and / or long queues at the terminal after hearing horror stories quite recently. However, none of these happened to me (must be the 080808 phenomena, hehehe). In fact, my flight from Cebu departed 15 minutes and landed in Manila 30 minutes ahead of schedule! Same thing happened on our flight back (Jerry flew with me from Manila to Cebu). No delays = pleasant surprise!

And at the NAIA 3, the directional signs were enough to guide you where to check-in and board at. Without these, one would easily get lost in that monstrosity. So how did the NAIA 3 look? Here, see for yourself.

Now if only the airline ground personnel would call the attention of those sleeping passengers who are lying down and occupying 3 seats while waiting for their flight/s....

Planning for College

My eldest son is in 3rd year high school now and soon will be off to college. As my brother and I were chatting earlier today, he suggested for Matt to consider going to NY, Boston or Toronto for a degree. Our conversation went this way:

Me: How much ang tuition sa NY, Boston or Toronto? Baka makuba kami ni Jerry.

Junnie: 45,000 per year

Me: *Gulp* Wala bang scholarship?

Junnie: ...but the student can loan that and pay when able

Stop, you had me at "pay when able", I told mysef. Hahaha....

Me: Matt! Tito Junnie said you should prepare for college as early as now. Where would you prefer? NY, Boston or Toronto? (Naks, as if I could really afford)...

Matt: (Voice coming from the 2nd floor) Ok Ma. How about NY? (Sakay naman sya. This guy is playing along.)

Me: And you Kyle, where would you want to go?

Kyle: *Shrugs his shoulders and smiles* (Perhaps he thought I wasn't being serious. Hmm.)

Jake the 4yo: Ma, I want to go to Boston! Now...

Me: Ooh-kay... :D



Jake and Kyle

The Walk

The Walk, originally uploaded by gratitude.

It took more than a year, if I remember right, for this small patch of food / entertainment space to open its doors to the public. Now it's a new destination for food-lovers who want a change of scenery. There's Figaro, Mooon, Pier One, Shakey's, McDonald's, La Marea, Casa Verde which are sure to satisfy anybody's craving.

During Junnie's short visit, we included it in his itinerary. Pics were taken after a filling fusion lunch at Mooon, one bright day in June...

Driving the Boys... Away!

Going out of the bathroom, I ran to the room to avoid getting the laminated floor wet. The sons were there perched on the foot of my bed while watching MTV. Kyle and Jake were in an argument about why Jake changed Kyle's cellphone ringtone.

"Ah-erm... I'm going to change." I said, clutching my towel, water from my hair now dripping on the floor. "Hel-lo? Did you boys hear me?"..."I'm in a hurry!"... Nothing. "Excuse meeee"

No reaction whatsoever.

I rummaged my wardrobe cabinet to get some clothes and muttered under my breath "Fine, stay here and see me naked!"

I heard footsteps and saw them gone in a flash.

Hmm... always worked like a charm!

Couch Hogs

After having lunch at home, I decided to watch tv while Jake was all busy running in and out of the toy room (it's supposed to be a stockroom that got invaded by toys hence the name) bringing with him all the stuffed toys he and his two elder brothers accumulated over the yearssss.

I couldn't watch tv in peace as he kept showing me one furry animal after another. "Oh how cute!...", and some variations of it which I managed to say each and everytime he showed me one (yeah) just to get him off my back. Then he placed it next to me on the couch.

Anyway, that went on for quite a while that I found it pointless trying to see Oprah in between Pokemons and farm animals so I decided to just head back to the office. Jake and I hugged and kissed.

As I was about to get in the car, I managed to glance back at the living room. The whole couch was invaded by the furries! And Jake was sitting on the arm chair and appeared to be reading a book to his animal minions. And within earshot -

"Bye Ma! Yaya, please change the channel to Cartoon Network".

Ah, I get it... the conspiracy to drive me out so they could watch cartoons instead of Oprah. :P

Powered by L-Carnitine

One time while reading about the benefits of L-Carnitine, a natural compound produced by the body...

ME: One of its benefits is to boost one's energy

HUBS: Really?

ME: You know, even if I don't lose weight by taking my L-Carnitine (diet pill) supplement, the energy boost it gives me is enough reason I should keep taking it. It gives me the same energy as what caffeine does. Good huh? (That's me, rationalizing again.)


(Jake barged into the room. He was running and shouting, jumping and then running again and seemed hyper-active over something)

HUBS: There should be a way to harness Jake's L-Carnitine. He seems to have an excessive amount of it! :P

I chuckled and nodded in agreement as Jake zipped out of the room as fast and as boisterous as he came in.

Her Excellency in Attendance

Last Monday (May 19th) was my maternal aunt & uncle's ruby (40th) anniversary. It was a well-attended affair that started in Sacred Heart Church and culminated in a Moroccan-themed reception at the Grand Ballroom of the Waterfront Hotel.

Security was tight as we noticed that the PSG (Presidential Security Group) was there. The "who's who" of Philippine politics were there too. And one of the distinguished guests was...


GMA - taken by a 2MP Blackberry phone and enhanced by Picnik

I'm not much of a fan but what do I do when I'm face to face with a famous person (Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, no less) and I have a cam with me? I snap a pic and blog away. Bow!

Tubig

Sa init ng panahon ngayon, dala na rin siguro ng "global warming", mapapaisip ka ng paraan para guminhawa ang pakiramdam. Pinakamadalas na gawi ang magpunta sa "beach" (O sige, puede na rin ang mag-"malling", hehehe. Pero ibang usapan yon.).

Maliban sa "teambuilding" ng aming opisina sa Alegre Beach noong January, di pa ako nakakapag-beach ulit na kasama ang aking mga bugoy. Nakakahiya mang aminin, dala ito ng sobrang ka-"busy"-han ng mga "schedules" naming mag-asawa. Dagdag pa ang pagbyahe ng aming panganay sa Xiamen kasama ng kanyang mga kamag-aral sa "high school". Anyway...

Sa aking paghahalukay ng aking "archive" para sa tema ng Litratong Pinoy ngayong Huwebes, nakita ko ang 2 larawan na ito na kuha pa noong isang taon. Huuu... Pag tinitingnan ko, parang gusto ko na talagang mapasyal sa tabing-dagat. Di bale... Pagbalik ng panganay, sisiguraduhin kong makakapag-beach kami ulit.

Harinawa at wag sana kaming tamarin. :P



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Ang panganay at ang kasunod... Wala si bunsoy sa litrato...

Umaapoy

Nakatabingi ang baso ng Bailey's sa tabi ng kandilang umaapoy
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Literal na naman ang aking lahok para sa linggong ito sa Litratong Pinoy sa temang "Umaapoy".

Ayon sa aking Flickr archive, ang litratong ito ay kuha ko pa noong Feb 17, 2007 habang nagde-date kami ng ex-bf kong si Jerry sa Treff Bar sa Waterfront Hotel Lahug.

Eto pa ang aking 2 lahok na kuha ng 2 malalaking sunog na nangyari sa Cebu. Wala akong nakitang apoy dahil malayo ako sa pinangyarihan. Pero sa aking pagmamaneho, nakita ko ang malalaking "column" ng usok na ito.

Iba na ang may point-and-shoot na digicam palagi ano? Puedeng maging on-site reporter. Hehehe.



Sunog noong Nob. 21, 2005
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Sunog noong March 7, 2007
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PS: Sa dalawang sunog na ito, maraming mga pamilya ang nawalan ng bahay... Ating ipanalangin na sana maiwasan na ang ganitong mga insidente.

Mothers' (Day) Weekend

This was how my Mothers (Day) Weekend was spent...



Friday evening - An hour of foot pampering at my favorite (cheap) spa
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Saturday - outing with family and friends from work
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Sunday - 6pm mass at Sacred Heart Church (yay for aircon'ed places of worship), Kenny Rogers feast of slabs of ribs, roasted chicken, muffins, several sidings and roast chicken sandwich (this last item was my dinner) and... couch potato-ing for most of the day watching the Desperate Housewives marathon!

It was a simple celeb but a great one at that. On the whole, I had a lovely Mothers' Day weekend!



Kyle, Jake and Jerry... not in pic is Matt, who is presently in Xiamen, China until 3rd week of May

Mahal na Ina

Maniniwala ba kayong kami na yata ng aking Ma ang isa sa pinakamadalas magkaroon ng alitan sa pamilya? Well di ko na aalamin kung kami nga o silang dalawa ng aking Paparazzi. Hehehe... Alam ko lang na madalas kaming galit-bati na parang aso't-pusa. Palibhasa, pareho matitigas ang aming ulo at proud ika nga...walang gustong magpatalbog.

Dahil mabait naman akong anak (Ma, wag na pong kokontra, okay?), nais ko syang parangalan ngayong linggo sa Litratong Pinoy at sa darating pang mga panahon bilang pagtanaw ng malaking utang na loob. Kung hindi dahil sa kanyang pagmamahal at pangangalaga, di sana ako lalaking perpekto mabuting tao (base sa aking pagkakaalam :D).

Kamukha ko ba sya? Kayo na ang humusga!



Si madir, sa aking 1yo na bahay-kubo...


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Ang kasunod na pic ay di na kalahok sa LP dahil di naman ako ang kumuha nito kundi ang aking hubs. Noong isang taon pa ito kinuha sa company outing na ginawa sa La Luz Batangas. Gusto ko lang i-share. Patunay na ako rin ay isang mahal na ina. Akin ang 3 inakay na nasa tabi ko. Yung mga nasa likod ay di kasali. O di ba? Saan kayo nakakita ng "beach babe mom" na nakasuot ng salamin? Palibhasa malabo ang mga mata. Ehehehe....



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Advance Happy Mothers' Day sa lahat!

Happy Birthday Sistah!

Happy birthday, May!
(May, Junnie, moi)
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* This is a favorite pic which I keep recycling on this site...not because I'm 50 pounds lighter here. (Heheheh...This obsession about my weight is making me crazy now). I think I posted this one at least 2 or 3 times to date. It's just one of those moments you want to keep reliving in your mind. This was taken during our trip together in beautiful Switzerland. Ahh those were the days... Sana maulit! Tara, byahe ulit tayo kahit Siargao lang :P.

No Such Thing

I was channel surfing between the Buzz on ABS-CBN and Showbiz Central on GMA when I chanced upon the new Nescafe commercial...

Me: Hmm, where could I get that coffee that could make me look like that?
Hubs: Err... I think you got the message wrong.

Grr....

Buti na lang di ako pikon (masyado). Hahaha!

Malungkot

mga kandilang nakasindi sa puntod ng aming lola...
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Ano ba ang pinakamalungkot na pangyayari sa buhay ng kahit sino? Para sa akin, wala nang lulungkot pa sa pagpanaw ng isang mahal sa buhay. Kamakailan (Jan. 20, 2008) ay namayapa na ang aming lola (sa aking ina) sa edad na 94. Kahit alam namin na nasa mas mabuti na syang kalagayan, hindi pa rin maiaalis ang lungkot na nararamdaman ng aming pamilya dulot ng kanyang pagpanaw. Tanging alaala na lamang ng masasayang araw sa piling nya ang naiwan...

Ito ang aking lahok sa Litratong Pinoy sa tema para sa linggong ito...

Eto pa ang isang lahok na di naman kasing bigat kagaya ng nasa itaas... Pansinin na habang nakangiti ang 2 kong anak na lalaki sa gitna at kaliwa ay malungkot naman ang bunso. Dahil maraming manlalaro, hindi sya nakasali sa "badminton" nung araw na iyon. Bakas sa mukha nya na di sya nasiyahan gaya ng kanyang mga kuya.



"Di bale Jake, sa susunod, makakalaro ka na ulit."

Tatlo ang Sulok Ko

Mga tatsulok na disenyo ng bubong sa makukulay na bahay sa San Francisco
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Taong 2006 nang makatungtong sa unang pagkakataon ang mga paa ko sa Estayts. Kaya naman sinuyod naming mag-asawa ang paglilibot. Mula Los Angeles ay minaneho ni Jerry ang papuntang San Francisco (at pabalik ng LA). Pagkalayong byahe! Pero sa sobrang "excitement", di naging hadlang ang layo ng mga lugar na napuntahan namin: LA, SF, NY, NJ, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas at pati na rin ang Toronto sa loob lang ng 18 araw.

Hay... kung mura lang ang magbyahe, sarap sanang ulit-ulitin...

Ito ay entry sa Litratong Pinoy para sa temang: Tatlo ang Sulok Ko

Bilog

caviar cheesecake
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Nakatikim na ba kayo ng caviar cheesecake? Noong nakaraang Pasko, nakatanggap kami nito. Syempre pa, agad naming tinikman. Kakaiba ang lasa nya dahil likas na maalat ang "caviar" at maasim-asim naman yung "cheesecake". Sa kagaya ko na mahilig sa mga matatamis (hello diabetes!), akala ko hindi ko magugustuhan ang lasa nito. Pero sa totoo lang, ang sarap ha! Parang bigla akong nagkaroon ng "acquired taste" for caviar (pa-sosy epek). Sabagay, kahit anong "dessert" yata ay kakainin ko.... kaya di na kataka-taka.

Oo nga pala.... Bakit ako biglang nagsulat sa Tagalog? Di naman buwan ng wika ngayon. Ito kasi ang "requirement" sa Litratong Pinoy kung gusto mong sumali sa kanilang lingguhang palaro. Ang tema ay "Bilog" para sa linggong ito kaya ayan, ang "caviar" na itlog ng beluga whale ay bilog na maliliit. Yung cheesecake ay korteng bilog rin kaya lang may bawas na (hmmm sino kaya may kagagawan?).... :P Buti na lang napiktyuran ko pa ito bago tuluyang naubos.

Maximum Tolerance

One day after school, I saw Jake with scratch marks on his face.

JAKE: Ma, Carl fight me again.

ME: Did you tell Teacher Cai?

JAKE: Yes...

His nanny proceeds to say that the teacher always calls the attention of Carl because he always figures in petty tiffs with the other nursery kids... And she adds that the mom is always advised about her son's behaviour... Anyway...

ME: If Carl goes near you, just walk away

JAKE: But he will follow me man

ME: If Carl follows you, tell your teacher

JAKE: Teacher Cai will get mad but Carl will still follow me... I will sumbag (hit) him na lang

ME: No, a good boy doesn't hurt or hit another person

JAKE: But he will fight me

ME: Best to tell your teacher

JAKE: If he will fight me I will hit him and throw him in the trash can! (of course he couldn't be serious, but he kept mumbling about hitting or throwing him in the trash can)

JAKE: If he gets my toy again, I will throw him in the trash can! (trash can na naman)

ME: No... that's not the way to make him stop...

And this conversation would go on for a few minutes...

JAKE: ... I will throw him in the trash can...

Exasperated...
ME: Well if he goes near you the next time... (my voice trailing.... inaudibly....) give him a quick kick.

JAKE: Ok Ma!

Did I just say that?



Rocky Jake