From Dawn Till Dusk

While every Filipino homes are busy watching the Manny Pacquiao-David Diaz fight at one of the most famous hotels in las vegas — Maladay Events Center, me and side of the family went to visit Dad’s resting place at the Memorial Park.  It was Dad’s 2nd death anniversary last Wednesday, and looking back, I’m glad everyone in the family has moved on.

Family affairs such as anniversaries, holidays, and milestones in life will never be the same without a loving Dad to share it with. But then again, I choose to believe that he continuously guides us—his family, wherever he may be.

We love you so much Dad and we miss you much. Continue Reading »

Next week will be Nico’s third week in the new school and so far, so good.  He’s adjusting to the new school time (1:30-4:00 PM and he’s so sleepy the first few days), the new environment, new classmates, and more so with the classroom activities which he didn’t experienced much in the former school.  Like for today where the kids had a time allotted for dramatic/pretend play, Teacher Joy told me Nico didn’t actively participate.  It’s whole new world for him, really. But Teacher Joy reassured me it’s no cause for worry.  They’re still starting, and I’m pretty sure, Nico will get the hang of it in a few week’s time.

Before the kids went home today, Teacher Joy and Teacher Chie handed the parents and guardians the Lesson Plan for next week, which I really found commendable. By knowing the Lesson Plan in advance for the upcoming week, at least parents are properly guided on what activities the kids will have and at the same time it allows them to plan as well on ways how they can complement at home the learnings taught in school.

The Lesson Plan (haha! the words Lesson Plan may sound so serious, but promise, no stressful and complex concepts there for kids such as mesothelioma) for each week revolved around a Theme. For next week (June 30-July 04), the learning theme is “Me Going Back to School”. “The best way to get young children comfortable at school is to talk about something they know and love — themselves. So many basic preschool concepts like numbers (my age), colors (my eyes) and letters (my name) flow easily from there. And, of course, that most crucial goal of the preschool years — fostering self-confidence in our littlest learners”, the Lesson Plan’s aims and objective stated. Continue Reading »

I used to have this notion that meeting people online makes one more vulnerable to security issues and threats of invasion of privacy. And if an expert on Internet security issues is to be ask about safety guides for meeting friends over the Internet, the number one rule would be: be very careful, never give very personal details that could put you at risk, such as your address and phone number etc.

But as they always say, to which I so believe, there’s always an exception to the rule. When you take a great effort to know more the person, exchange thoughts with her, reciprocate the advices and kind words she had for you—you began to be at ease, you build trust, you feel secured.

The other day (24 April 2008), I received a sweet snail mail from a dear Mommy Blogger friend from Austin. It was a mail anticipated because she asked for my postal address a few weeks back, to which I didn’t have any hesitations not giving. She’s a trusted and treasured friend and even we haven’t met personally, I just know she’s one great person who keeps a positive and happy attitude even at times of adversaries. She may not consciously know it, but the optimistic thoughts in her diary never fail to uplift my spirits. All the more, they keep me so secured. Continue Reading »

The rains has stopped and the sun’s brightly shinning on my side of the world. As per latest news updates, typhoon Frank is already heading towards North and storm signals were already lowered in most areas of Luzon including Metro Manila. Good thing it was announced last night that there’s no classes today, at least we need not rush doing early morning routines.

Now, the next thing to do is to clean up the mess that Frank did. On our part, thank goodness nothing untoward happened. There was no electricity for about 12 hours but at least water supply was not interrupted which is a very good thing.  We can survive without electricity but without water, that’s another story.

This is the Philippines.  Third World, you see. Lucky if we were blessed to have something like a disaster cleanup company that they have in the US where the right company with just a phone call away, acts fast and make the water nothing more than a memory with 24 hour, 7 day emergency service. “We can be on the scene in 30 minutes in most areas within the continental United States,” its website says.

Good thing, on our part, only an Ipil tree needs to be cut down in our backyard.  Strong winds blew down the thin young tree. Continue Reading »

One of the highlight activities of Nico in school this year will be a two-day outdoor camping somewhere in Antipolo. “The activity will imbue children with self-reliance and love of nature that will pay them dividends for a lifetime,” the copy of the Kindergarten’s curriculum stated and which I so agree.

And though the much-awaited activity will still be in December but I can’t help but feel a wee bit excited and daydream about it this early simply because Mommies and Daddies will also come along with the kids in the camp. Heehee. The camping activity also serves as the school’s Family Day, that’s why. Just picture this: Me, Hubby and Nico—our tight little family unit trekking through the sun-dappled woods, spotting wildlife, enjoying spectacular natural scenery, learning about nature, building strength, and bonding. Haha! That’s how excited and imaginative I am for many days now since I knew of the camping activity.

But seriously, camping is one commendable activity that makes me want to heart Nico’s new school more, considering its many benefits: a fun and exciting way to bond as a family and connect with nature while at the same time, a great family together-time to really get to know and tell stories with the rest of the school’s co-parents and their kids.

And being the overly excited Mom that I am, I thought it would be good to prepare for the camping this early. Haha! Talk about being giddy more than my Little Boy huh? But of course, proper preparation is key to a successful outing like having everything we’d be needing for a safe yet fun and entertaining camping trip. Continue Reading »

Hubby and I attended the Parent’s Orientation at Nico’s new school last Friday afternoon.  It was so far the most enlightening school orientation we’ve ever attended. Haha, as if we’ve attended so many school orientations for me to say this, to think, we’ve only had Nico’s former school and this one to compare. 

No, but seriously, it was a very enlightening orientation that we’ve had.  Even Hubby whose most of the time the very hard-to-please type at school activities like this, was all nodding in agreement with everything that the Teachers discussed during the orientation, most especially during the time that the Teachers emphasized on the program they use in the school.

The school uses the DAP approach, short for developmentally-appropriate program, where classroom activities for each developmental stage are selected to encourage and challenge children, without rushing them to learn skills for which they are not yet ready. The school believes that “children are involved in learning experiences that are interesting. We give them daily opportunities to explore and discover the world through their senses”.

We really heart Nico’s new school.  There were around five preschools within/near our home that we visited (And there was even one school I won’t forget all my life, promise. They offer computer rentals from outsiders, imagine that!) yet, we chose Pathways though it’s a little bit father from our place mainly because of its teaching approach.  Our expectations are high and we hope that the school will hold true to its promise to endeavor to meet each child’s individual cognitive, emotional, social, physical and creative needs by providing them with many paths to travel.

It’s been raining hard the whole day on my side of the world, but my shoppaholic Mom managed to tag us (me and Nico and my sister and her daughter Chesca) along to Greenhills Shopping Center for some good old shopping.

The original plan was SM Megamall or Shangrila Plaza Mall EDSA because that’s where Mom is really accustomed. Heehee. No exaggerations, but my Mom goes there about two to three times a week on an average. Now that she’s a retiree, it’s a past time that she loves doing. To think that she travels from Rizal all the way to Ortigas, she doesn’t really mind. If my Brother were here, he would have commented again that Mom would be sick if she doesn’t step foot into those Malls.

But at times too, Mom does get bored with the two malls. And such was this Saturday when she tagged us along in Greenhills Shopping Center. Mom will be a Ninang for the nth time in wedding tomorrow, and will be needing jewelries for the nth time to complement her new Ninang dress for the nth time. Nth time-as if she doesn’t always buy a new one for a wedding sponsorship she attends. Heehee.

Anyway, we really aren’t bothered much about Mom’s being shoppaholic and where her money is spent. Foremost, it’s her money, and second, for as long as she treats us  when she tags us along, it’s a-okay. Heehee. See, that’s how easy to please we are.  Just a gastronomic treat and we’re satisfied, no matter how tiring it is to tag along with a shoppaholic. Haha! No wonder me and my sister are both so huge and rounded at these times. Brother sarcasticaly joked we badly need doses of lipovox. Haha!  And for today, my sister and I and our kiddos were so happy because Mom didn’t just treat us for lunch and merienda, she shopped something for us her dakilang alalays as well. Yipee!

Lola Mommy bought Nico and Chesca new pairs of slippers while me and my sister had a blouse each. Sweet, right? Ummm, at a point yes. But actually it’s more the feeling of contentment and excitement upon finding a good set of necklace and earrings she bought at a jewelry booth owned by a Muslim somewhere middle of those many confusing jewelry booths and stalls. The jewelries had Opal in them. Mom didn’t mind if its semi-precious stone, the design was really elegant-looking and would fit really well with the Ninang dress she bought.

Haha! Thank goodness for that good find, Mom was in the bestest of her mood to treat us. Hope this rare opportunity happens again next time. And when that happens, I don’t mind being her dakilang alalay all over again.