Femme Power

Archive for the ‘Personal’ Category

I found this short quiz while I was doing my usual “rounds” on the Internet.   In my curiosity, I snooped in to check what animal I was in my past life (if ever reincarnation is indeed true).  No big deal, just for fun.  Surprisingly, the result says a lot about me:

You Were a Wolf

You have an instinctual intelligence that guides your life. Your family and “pack” is of primary importance, and you protect them.

Bianca (3rd from left) and her groupmates strumming their guitars on stage together with their trainor.

These kids are not pros but they certainly played the hits “Can’t help Falling In Love” and “Sway” like experienced musicians.   Yes, this group of elementary students surpassed our expectations during their recital yesterday and I’m proud to say that my daughter Bianca was part of this performing group.   Much to the delight of the audience in IVC Elementary School, the group also played the Filipino folk song “Bahay Kubo” and the Christmas carol “Jingle Bells” among others.

Bianca has developed the love for guitar music since we enlisted her to her school’s Rondalla class a few months ago.   Now she can read notes and even teaches me how to strum.  So instead of sitting in front of the TV for long hours when there are no classes, Bianca now plays her guitar and forces makes me her avid fan.  It’s an easy thing to do for a stage mom like me, lol!

Bianca and the rest of her groupmates have one thing in common - a pair of supportive parents.   It may take a few bucks off our family budget and it may steal a few hours of our time each week to get our kids involved in a music class…but the fruit of all this is priceless.  Our kids not only learn to play and love music but they also get to meet more friends.

At home, my daughter and I would go online together and scour for video tutorials on guitar playing.  It helps that I love music too and I get to influence Bianca in appreciating any genre.   For an 8-year old like her, it’s quite unusual that she likes the music of Elvis Presley, Steely Dan, Randy Newman, Robbie Dupree, and Corey Hart.  In turn, she’s my major influence in appreciating Lady Gaga and Katy Perry.

By the way, Bianca and her classmates also made a group presentation about the story of Christmas wherein each of them had a few lines to say in the middle of the stage.  Though well-rehearsed, two of her classmates forgot their lines, perhaps due to stage fright.  If we adults get the fear of public speaking sometimes, what more the little kids?  It was a good thing though that nobody laughed.  Clearly, the schoolkids’ discipline and respect for fellow students prevailed.

And lastly, since it’s only eight days to go before Christmas, my daughter’s school had its simultaneous Christmas parties this morning.  Let me share with you some photos below.

This is Kitty.   I’ve written about her a couple of times before.   She was a stray cat that we took in for several months and became part of our family.  Until she became a cause of dispute between us and some cat-haters in the neighborhood.  We didn’t see her since.

I don’t know if she survived the big flood that submerged most parts of Metro Manila (our place being the worst hit).  I can only hope she did.  Often, my daughter and I would scour the neighborhood in search of Kitty but to no avail.    My daughter even suggested that we print Kitty’s pictures and post a reward to whoever returns her.  But we can only do so much.  The owner of the apartment we’re renting has imposed a no-pets-policy on her property.  For us in the family, it’s such a bitter pill to swallow.  I can’t wait to get our own home at last so we could have the freedom to adopt an animal without someone else’s nose on us.  We desperately want to see Kitty again even if it pains us not to be able to take her in anymore.   I hope somebody else has given her a new home and that she’s safe and happy…somewhere.

What’s with weddings that they make you cry however hard you try to fight back the tears?

I’m finally back from Mindanao after attending my big brother’s wedding.   Unlike my own wedding nine years ago which was full of bloopers, my kuya’s wedding was awesome, well-budgeted, well-planned, and well-prepared.  I and my cousin Rouan had our hands full in hosting the program at the wedding reception so we barely enjoyed the food.

The event was instrumental in gathering our immediate family and relatives after a long time.  We had the chance to catch up with each other even as we lost our way to a resort in Bukidnon and blew up our planned adventure after the wedding.  I had a serious talk with my younger brothers and my daughter had a short but quality bonding time with her cousins.

But looking back at kuya’s wedding, I failed to stop myself from weeping while looking at him who was then waiting for the ceremonies to start.  He was finally having a family of his own.  I felt like I was being dethroned as his little princess, me being his only sister.  Even during the reception, I failed to hold back my tears in front of the guests when I gave the acceptance speech on behalf of my parents.  My kuya… Did I just lose my kuya?  Did the marriage mean that he abandoned me and our family for his new family?   No, of course not.  I should know better, I married nine years ahead of him.  But why was I crying?  I was happy to see him happy.  I was happy that he finally met his woman, and a woman of good character at that.  But still, I was crying. Maybe for the possibility that he wouldn’t have as much time and attention for me anymore like when he was single.  If that’s so, then it’s so selfish of me.

Like I said in my acceptance speech, I wouldn’t be like Kris Aquino to her brother Noynoy when it comes to this.  I wouldn’t rob my brother of his happiness.  I’m still my kuya’s princess.  Only now, he has a queen.

All my bags are packed, I’m ready to go.  My daughter and I are flying to Cagayan de Oro City, one of the must-visit cities in the island of Mindanao, tomorrow for my big brother’s much-awaited wedding.  And I can’t contain my excitement to finally see my entire family again after one year.  After the wedding, we intend to quench our wanderlust by visiting picturesque waterfalls and beach resorts nearby or anything we’d agree on.  I hope it’ll be a great family adventure for all of us seven siblings, our partners and little ones, and our beloved parents.

Bianca at the Cinema, Mall of Asia

By the way, have you guys watched the blockbuster movie, New Moon?  Okay, so what if movie critics say it’s boring?  To the New Moon die-hard fans, it’s still hot.   Though I’m not that impressed with the movie either, it surely made me giggle like a high school girl especially when Edward first came out on screen with that killer smile and alluring eyes.   Bella Swan is still as monotone as ever, like she hardly has any other facial expression and tone of speech.  I really wonder why both Jacob and Edward are so smitten by her, lol!  Anyway, Jacob’s transformation is interesting at least and his abs! Yes, his abs, and the rest of his pack (wolf-friends) are a feast to watch.

We surely had a great time watching the film at the Mall of Asia where we got in FREE courtesy of Modess feminine pads. My hubby got lucky to win a limited edition New Moon T-Shirt and because the organizers made us wait for almost an hour outside the theater, they gave us complimentary passes (me, hubby, and Bianca) as bonus. Yay!

Our patience in waiting for the T-Shirt paid off pretty well.  And the new Moon T-Shirt (with Jacob’s face at the back), since it’s tiny for my big hubby, goes to me. Lol!

Charity continues to spread in our community as more charitable institutions and individuals work hand in hand to rehabilitate the nearby public school two months after the big flood.

Two days ago, the family of Senator Aquilino Pimentel (who are also residents of Marikina) and a family from Belgium went to distribute school bags and other school supplies to the pupils of Industrial Valley Elementary School where my daughter is studying.   They also provided cleaning materials for the school and teaching materials for the educators.  It was part of the school rehabilitation project that the two families initiated to help Marikina schools be conducive to learning again after the disaster brought by Typhoon Ondoy last Sept. 26.

Bianca (left) with classmate Rhian

Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando was also present during the turnover of donations.  More than 1,000 students were benefited.

During the program, my daughter and some of her female classmates did a dance presentation which the guests appreciated.  Unfortunately, I’m from the Jurassic Era so I couldn’t even upload the video clip to my computer nor to this blog directly from my USB.  My PC, despite being new, also functions like its Jurassic master and won’t read the video file.  After several attempts, I finally accepted the hard truth that I’m a cave man mom so let me just post a picture of my daughter before her group went center-stage for the dance.  * hugs *

This is my Fun Friday post for our Blogging For Fun group.   Today’s theme is centered on the letter G.  I chose the word “GIVING” to represent this letter and here’s why:

I’ve written a few posts about the devastation of Marikina due to Typhoon Ondoy but I haven’t given a worthy blogspace for the generosity of those who sent help to our community.  Friends and strangers alike from local and international communities poured in relief goods and other services to the typhoon victims.

The United States has reportedly donated $100,000 to the Philippines, plus they deployed a military helicopter and five rubber boats manned by about 20 American soldiers who were pulled out from their troops in Mindanao where they have been providing counter-terrorism training.   They also had soldier-doctors who gave immediate medical assistance to the typhoon victims during their rescue operations.  I chanced upon this US Marine who had fun playing with our neighbors’ kids after surveying the area.

The United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Food Program have also donated food and other aid, according to media reports.  Local organizations and individuals also poured in help like canned goods, rice, bread, bottled water, and used clothing.  Among those who gave donations were Knights of Columbus, the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (to which I belong), and GMA Kapuso Foundation.

I wish I was able to identify the organization behind the relief goods distribution in the photos I’ve taken right within our neighborhood.   They deserve some humble credit for their good hearts.

Bianca (holding a pink bag) and her classmate, Princess.

Since the typhoon brought a month’s amount of rain in only 12 hours, it caused tremendous flooding and a lot of my daughter’s classmates failed to save their schoolbags, shoes and uniforms.   I specially took pity on Princess whose shoes drifted to nowhere during the flood, hence for many days she was only wearing slippers to school.  So I bought her a new pair of shoes and she’s wearing them since.

Weird but whenever I give, I get to receive something back too (material or not).   See, my father-in-law survived a crucial brain operation just recently.  Plus, this Nov. 21 my daughter will be one of the recipients of a gift bag package from a Canadian charity institution called Sleeping Child Around The World (SCAW) Foundation. That’s more than enough good karma, don’t you think?

Giving does not necessarily involve material things.   Emotional and spiritual support sometimes weigh more than any material thing on earth.  Even just your physical presence lightens a loved one’s emotional burden.  You give quality time to your family and you make them happy.  Give love to a street kid and he’s happy.   Give honor to your parents and they’re happy.  Give respect to your workmates, laughter to your friends, moral support to your partner and they’re happy.   When my family and friends in the province as well as my Blogging For Fun friends and other friendly visitors of this blog gave their thoughts and prayers during and after the flood, my heart was filled with glee.  When my friend, Carol, gave us temporary shelter, we were more than thankful.

Giving is indeed one big source of happiness.  It rewards not only the recipients but also (and I think more intensely) the giver.   He who gives is rewarded with a joyful heart, a peaceful mind, good karma, and lots of good friends.   May we all have the heart to give.