blog break

i am not taking an off from blogging but i am taking a break from all the busy-ness that's been keeping me from updating my page.  well as expected, being on (sick) leave for a week left me a pile of work and until this day before our cut-off day i will still be busy working on the 'numbers' for our distributors.  i feel like a lot has happened already considering that it is only the first month of the year. but hey don't look now but days are again flying.  just a few days left and we're already on our 2nd month of 2010.  i learned that the Chinese New Year this year coincides with valentines day;. good thing its a Sunday so lesser(?) traffic. but expect friday prior to that to be a busy day and it might also be the payday for most employees.

wifey & ayapot both have cough so we brought the little one to her pedia early Monday.  since we have a history of asthma in the family, we want to prevent Aya Jr. from catching it.  so any signs of respiratory 'abnormalities' are right away consulted with medical experts.  on another development, my 'computer' room has been transformed into Ayapot's playroom.  that reminds me to have the carpet replaced with a more-friendly flooring.  anyway, she's been very active lately and you can not leave her too long anymore whenever she's awake.  she can easily roll-over, sit, and crawl. a few more practice and she can already self-support in making her knees firm to be able to stand on her own. wow. it seems just like it was yesterday when wifey was taken to the hospital to give birth and now we have a very active baby girl! most couples say we have to cherish these moments with our child because when she grows up, we will surely miss the bond we now have with each other.  the feeling is great having two girls at home always ready to cheer you up after a long day's work. they simply bring inspiration for me to move on each day and look forward to another sunrise. we're noy abundant in terms of material gain but we survive everyday. and we thank God for that! ;)

on an entirely different subject and for the lighter side of life, i saw a link from plurk directing me to an online contest. it seeks for the top 100 most handsome pinoy bloggers for 2010. initially i was like, "hahaha, what will they think of next?" but then after a few hours of seeing again the link, i saw some familiar names in the nominees. then in my mind popped out a question: "what will be the grand prize for the top winner? how about the runner-ups?"  then i thought if its monetary, hey, who wouldn't want winning it? then an online friend by the name of the Gasoline Dude has entered my name in the nominees! FTW! LOL!!!.. ok. let me see if i'll take this as a serious opportunity to *ehem* online stardom. hahaha! in the meantime, i have to wake up to reality and face the pile of work that's waiting on my office table. got to prepare for work!

:P

buhay sa persworld (unang bahagi)

matagal-tagal ko ring pinigil ang pagkukuwento ng aking naging karanasan sa isang first world country sa may North America. at dahil wala na akong nakabinbing papel sa embahada ng tinutukoy na bansa, minabuti kong magbalik-tanaw sa magandang pagkakataon na naibigay sa akin ng tadhana--- ang makapanirahan at maranasan ang buhay sa persworld.

taong 2002 nang una akong makatapak sa lupain ng Canada. ito ay upang ihatid ang dalawa kong pamangkin sa piling ng kanilang magulang na noon ay mga bagong immigrants sa nasabing bansa. hindi iyon ang una kong labas ng bansang Pilipinas pero mas iba ito sa unang bansa na napuntahan ko. "ganito pala rito..." ang mga unang salita na nasabi ng isip ko samantalang inihahatid kami ng sasakyan ng bayaw ko papunta sa bahay na tinutuluyan nila mula sa toronto pearson international airport. mga ilang araw lang, HOMESICK agad ako. may ibang plano para sa akin ang mga magulang ko nang panahong iyon: ang maayos ang papel ko para maging independent immigrant doon. sa maraming 'debate' na nagdaan, nakumbinsi ko silang bumalik muna ako sa Pinas pagkatapos ng 'misyon' namin doon. pumayag naman sila kaya noon ko lang na-enjoy ang mga nalalabing araw ko ng paglagi roon. pumasyal kami sa prestihiyosong Niagara Falls at humanga sa napakagandang talon na pumapagitna sa Toronto at New York. madali nang natapos ang maliligayang araw ko sa Canada pero bago kami tuluyang bumalik ng Manila, nilibot muna namin (tatay ko, nanay ko at ako) ang ilan sa mga sikat na pasyalan sa estados unidos. ito marahil ang pinakamasasayang sandali ko noong taong 2002! ang mga napapanood ko lang sa telebisyon o palabas sa sinehan ay narating ko nang personal. pinakagusto ko sa mga napuntahan namin ay ang Alcatraz Island, dating maximum penitentiary ng US at ngayo'y ginawa na lamang tourist attraction na bahagi ng Golden Gate National Recreation Area. pagkatapos ng tour doon ay hinanap ko talaga sa DVD ang palabas na "Escape From Alcatraz" para mabuo ko ang tunay na kahulugan ng salitang "asteeg!"

ang mga tinuluyan naming bahay habang kami ay naroon ay una, sa kaibigan ng tatay ko sa Los Angeles, CA, pangalawa sa panganay na kapatid ng tatay ko sa San Bruno, CA, at panghuli bago kami bumalik sa Manila ay sa mas batang kapatid ng tatay ko sa may Sta. Rosa, CA. doon ko unang napasok ang WALMART. "asteeg!"

pagbalik sa Manila, ang inakala kong hindi na muling pagbabalik sa buhay persworld ay pinasubalian ng paglipas ng panahon. bumalik muli ako sa Toronto pagkalipas ng isang taon...

baldado na buhay-hari

medyo kakaiba ang pamagat ng blog post ko ngayon. ito kase ang naramdaman ko nitong mga nagdaang araw na kung saan ako ay na-confine sa ospital nang may tatlong gabi at tatlong araw. sa mga nagtatanong kung ano ang naging karamdaman ko, ayon sa pagsusuri ng mgadoktor na tumingin sa akin, cellulitis ang dahilan ng pagkaka-confine ko. namaga kase ang (kanang) paa ko at hirap nang makalakad kahit walang sapin sa paa. hindi nga naging epektibo ang oral antibiotic na nireseta sa akin sa isang pagamutan kaya nang muling kumunsulta kami noong Miyerkules ay sinabing makabubuti na idaan na sa suero ang antibiotic. dahil doon ay kinailangan akong i-admit. sa una'y medyo asiwa ako dahil maliban noong bata ako ay matagal-tagal na rin naman akong hindi naa-admit sa ospital. pero paglipas ng unang gabi ay tila nawili naman ako sa pamamalagi doon. maya't-maya ang pasok ng pagkain sa kwarto, hindi ako gaano pinapakilos sa loob ng silid, anumang oras ay maaari akong tumawag ng nars para gawin ang mga bagay na (ang iba'y) kaya ko namang gawin. ang aking mahal na asawa ay naging superwoman: siya lahat nag-asikaso sa akin at sa anak namin na sinabayan pa ang pagkaka-ospital ko ng sarili naman niyang sipon at ubo.

bagama't nasa isipan ko ang maraming trabahong naiwan sa opisina, wala naman akong magawa. kailangan kong magpahinga at magbuhay-hari. natuwa rin ako dahil sa loob ng matagal na panahon, ngayon lang ulit ako nagsawa sa cable tv. nakapanood ako ng maraming episodes ng most daring videos, auditions sa Atlanta at Chicago ng american idol at maraming episodes ng simpsons. habang maya't-maya nga ang pasok ng almusal, meryenda, tanghalian, meryenda at hapunan. maya't-maya rin ang pagkuha ng presyon ko, temperatura ng katawan at pagkumusta sa paa ko. dinalaw ako ng ilang kaibigan at mga tao na nagmamalasakit sa akin *sniff* at nagpapasalamat ako (kahit ayoko sanang tumanggap ng bisita) at kahit paano ay may mga nagmamahal pa sa akin *sniff ulit*. lahat ng iyon ay sa pakikipag-ugnayan ng aking pinakamamahal na super wifey. [caption id="attachment_1222" align="alignright" width="150" caption="sa pagbabantay sa akin ay pinagmasdan ko sa pagkakatulog ang pagod na si wifey. isa siyang biyaya sa akin at sa aking anak."][/caption]isa sa mga ipinagpapasalamat ko rin sa pangyayaring iyon ay ang pagkakaroon ko ng health benefit mula sa isang health insurance ng aming kumpanya. dahil doon, ninamnam ko ang pagiging "buhay-hari" ko sa ospital. hindi ako nangamba sa magiging bayarin dahil bawat araw ay ina-update ako ng kawani ng health insurance company na iyon at itinatanong ko rin sa kanya kung meron nang mga bagay na labas sa sasagutin nila. so far, so good. paglabas ko ng ospital ay tumatginting na 38 ang bill ko! nakatulong din ang Philhealth para mabawasan ang babayaran ko. wow. nasa Pilipinas pa ako! ang health benefit sa Ontario na madalas kong maikwento sa mga kababayan ko ay naranasan ko rin sa pamamagitan ng health insurance company at ng Philhealth! sana ganito lahat ang benepisyo sa kalusugan para sa bawat Pilipino. hindi ba karapatan naman nating mabuhay lahat at maging ligtas sa anumang mabigat na karamdaman? at dahil busy sa pangangampanya ang mga tatakbo sa eleksyon ngayong taon na ito, isa ito sa hamon ko sa kanila: ang magkaroon ng maganda at kapaki-pakinabang na health benefits ang bawat Pilipino! samantala, nais kong magpasalamat sa pamilya ko, pamilya ng asawa ko, sa anak ko (na nasambit na ang katagang "daddy" habang ako ay nasa ospital), at sa lahat ng kamag-anak at kaibigan ko na dumalaw sa akin, gayundin sa mga nagpahayag (thru short messaging system) ng pagnanais na makadalaw ngunit hindi na nakapunta. ayos lang po at salamat din. :)

dalawang araw na rin mula ng makalabas ako sa ospital. at aaminin ko, na-miss ko ang buhay-hari doon. bukod sa napahinga ako ng may ilang araw, alagang-alaga ako ng mga tao sa paligid ko. malaya kong napapanood ang mga programa sa telebisyon na maibigan ko. na-miss ko ang ospital, pero hindi ang sakit.

ang lungkot naman ng buhay

...ko ngayon. pakiramdam ko wala akong silbi. ni hindi ako makapagmaneho. hirap akong maglakad. namamaga pa rin kase ang kanang paa ko. hula ng mga kaopisina ko, mataas ang uric acid ko. kumbakit kase nung nagpacheck-up ako sa ospital noong gabi ng Lunes eh hindi pa ako kinuhanan ng dugo para matignan ang sanhi nito. [caption id="attachment_1216" align="alignright" width="150" caption="bopis - masarap na ulam pero hindi makabubuti sa taong may mataas na uric acid"][/caption] niresetahan lang ako ng antibiotic na kailangan kong inumin sa loob ng pitong araw at kapag tatlong araw na ay wala pa ring nagbabago sa kundisyon ko, balik na lang daw kami sa ospital. hayss... andami pa namang trabaho sa opisina ngayon. pinilit kong pumasok nung lunes at kahapon kahit iika-ika akong maglakad pero ngayon ay talagang ipinagpaalam ko na magpapahinga ako. bukas ay KAILANGAN ko na namang pumasok. at baka sa biyernes ay magpaalam muna ulit ako na magpahinga. bahala na. mamaya ay dadalhin ako ni wifey sa malapit na ospital sa amin para pakuhanan ng dugo. si super wifey ang aking tagapagligtas! siya lahat ang kumikilos ngayon sa bahay. at pati ang aming maliit na boneneng ay sinasabayan ako ng pagkakasakit. inuubo sya at hindi mapakali. kaya minabuti ni super wifey na dalhin sya sa health center para mapa-tignan. salamat din kay bayaw at sya muna ang tagamaneho ng service namin hangga't hindi ko pa kaya. hayy... talaga naman! ayoko ng ganito. andami kong dapat gawin pero ano pa nga bang magagawa ko kundi magpagaling kaagad? kaya sa ngayon, bawal muna ang masasarap na pagkain. pano na ang paborito kong mani? :(

Dr. Phil's Test

(after doing the test, kindly post your results in the comments section. i got 40) ;)

Dr. Phil's test.
(Dr. Phil scored 55, he did this test on Oprah
and she got a 38.) Some folks pay a lot of
money to find this stuff out!

Read on, this is very interesting!

Don't be overly sensitive!

The following is pretty accurate and it
only takes a few minutes.

This is a real test given by the Human Relations Dept.
at many of the major corporations today. It helps them get better insight concerning their employees and in their prospective employees.

It's only 10 Simple questions, so grab a pencil and paper, keeping track of your letter answers to each question.

Ready?


Begin.


1. When do you feel your best..

A) in the morning
B) during the afternoon and early evening
C) late at night!


2. You usually walk...

A) fairly fast, with long steps
B) fairly fast, with little steps
C) less fast head up, looking the world in the face
D) less fast, head down
E) very slowly


3. When talking to people you.....

A) stand with your arms folded
B) have your hands clasped
C) have one or both your hands on your hips
D) touch or push the person to whom you are talking
E) play with your ear, touch your chin, or smooth your hair


4. When relaxing, you sit with...

A) your knees bent with your legs neatly side by side
B) your legs crossed
C) your legs stretched out or straight
D) one leg curled under you

5. When something really amuses you, you react with...

A) big appreciated laugh
B) a laugh, but not a loud one
C) a quiet chuckle
D) a sheepish smile

6. When you go to a party or social gathering you...

A) make a loud entrance so everyone notices you
B) make a quiet entrance, looking around for someone you know
C) make the quietest entrance, trying to stay unnoticed


7. You're working very hard, concentrating hard, and you're interrupted...

A) welcome the break
B) feel extremely irritated
C) vary between these two extremes


8. Which of the following colors do you like most...
A) Red or orange
B) black
C) yellow or light blue
D) green
E) dark blue or purple
F) white
G) brown or gray

9. When you are in bed at night, in those last few moments before going to sleep you are...

A) ! stretched out on your back
B) stretched out face down on your stomach
C) on your side, slightly curled
D) with your head on one arm
E) with your head under the covers

10. You often dream that you are...

A) falling
B) fighting or struggling
C) searching for something or somebody
D) flying or floating
E) you usually have dreamless sleep
F) your dreams are always pleasant







POINTS:

1. (a) 2 (b) 4 (c) 6
2. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 7 (d) 2 (e) 1
3. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 5 (d) 7 (e) 6
4. (a) 4 (b) 6 (c) 2 (d) 1
5. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 2
6. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 2
7. (a) 6 (b) 2 (c) 4
8. (a) 6 (b) 7 (c) 5 (d) 4 (e) 3 (f) 2 (g) 1
9. (a) 7 (b) 6 (c) 4 (d) 2 (e ) 1
10 (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 6 (f) 1

Now add up the total number of points.

OVER 60 POINT: Others see you as someone they should 'handle with care'.. You're seen as vain, self-centered, and who is extremely dominant. Others may admire you, wishing they could be more like you, but don't always trust you, hesitating to become too deeply involved with you.

51 TO 60 POINTS: Others see you as an exciting, highly volatile, rather impulsive personality, a natural leader, who's quick to make decisions, though not always the right ones. They see you as bold and adventuresome, someone who will try anything once, someone who takes chances and enjoys an adventure. They enjoy being in your company because of the excitement you radiate....

41 ! TO 50 POINTS: Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, practical, and always interesting, someone who's constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well balanced not to let it go to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding, someone who'll always cheer them up and help them out.

31 TO 40 POINTS: Others see you as sensible, cautious, careful & ; practical. They see you as clever, gifted, or talented, but modest. Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone who's extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expects the same loyalty in return. Those who really get to know you, realize it takes a lot to shake your trust in your friends, but equally that it takes you a long time to get over if that trust is ever broken.

21 TO 30 POINTS: Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy. They see you as very cautious, extremely careful, a slow and steady plodder. It would really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively or on the spur of the moment, expecting you to examine everything carefully from every angle and then, usually decide against it. They think this reaction is caused partly by your careful nature.

UNDER 21 POINTS: People think you are shy, nervous, and indecisive, someone who needs looking after, who always wants someone else to make the decisions and who doesn't want to get involved with anyone or anything! They see you as a worrier who always sees problems that don't exist. Some people think you're boring. Only those who know you well, know that you aren't.

oh, it's almost work-week again!

the first (whole) work week of 2010 has passed and the next shall be starting a few hours from now. looking back at my last post, wow. it was dated january 2nd. i must had a busy work week. yep, indeed! well actually, the 'bosses' were out for two days for the annual strategic planning and i had those days to finish off my pending 2009 work. by wednesday, i needed to do a physical inventory of our stocks at the bicutan warehouse. arbee, our auditor, accompanied me and i was given transpo and food allowance by kapuso :) thursday i had to purchase the notes for the holy supper before reporting to work then friday i had to report to work after lunch (met jawee v. @ jollibee for lunch). i still have pending 2009 transactions that must be done this coming week and i need to work on the new files (and records) for 2010. wow. i haven't started my 2010 work yet. and next week i still have a scheduled seminar to attend to @ watsons! and before this month ends, we'll be having our distributors 2-day conference. that spells B-U-S-Y for the rest of this month. whew!

meanwhile, taking off my mind from work, this is how my "daily routine" goes as a daddy: wake up around 6am, prepare myself a cup of coffee, wait for our baby to wake up then play with her. when clock strikes 7 (am), i'll be watching Hi-5 with my little girl while she takes her dose of vitamin D (sun bathing) in bed. yep. early sun rays enter our little room in the morning. i've learned from my aunt & dad that bedrooms should always face the east ;) after watching hi-5, a few other shows are viewed while aya jr. prepares for her solid food - feeding. she will then sleep again by the time i prepare and leave for work. her mommy tells me that aya jr. takes a bath after she wakes up again in the morning (around 10am) then its mommy-daughter bonding moment again. daddy will enter the scenario again upon coming home from work so just imagine how i would love time to fly and wish it's always 6pm! LOL. here's a very short video of how our little baby likes to have her solid food:

solid food delight

ok. i just realized that the video is too short. sorry, digicam's memory card is already full. anyhoo, pictures of her solid food - feeding can be viewed here.

today is 01022010

first day of the year, wifey, aya jr. & i together with lalola susan drove to Pampanga to pay my grandmother a visit. it has also been a tradition to visit them on the first day of every year.  this is the first new year that our grandfather is not with us but as they say, life must go on. on the way to my hometown, wifey & i decided to drop by starbucks to complete the missing stickers so we could claim the 2010 planner already.  she's so happy to take it and give it to me. hehehe... now i have to bring it along with me all year round and not waste it. it's too costly. life in my hometown is still the same: eat, siesta, eat. then time for us to go. but yesterday, we decided to wait for the annual Aguman Sanduk and watch it's parade. more photos of the said event here. after watching the event, the folks offered us merienda while i finish the AVP i prepared for my year ender blog post. dad gave us the usual "relief goods" (indeed, they are big relief for our everyday needs, thanks dad!) then we drove back home. after setting everything for Camille's bedtime, wifey & i left her with lalola susan and off we went to have body massage. SPA!!! first stop at Corinthians. closed. inquired at The Spa - Acropolis. full. went to Suriya near tiendesitas and it's also closed. we took a bite for a while and we're still thinking of the body massage. we thought of Indulgence Spa in quezon city. we drove there to find out its also closed. before that we saw Spaholic nearby, inquired, and the guard on duty told us it's also closed. finally we ended up entering the premises of Nuat Thai, a franchise branch near the vicinity and we're lucky to experience a very good service. way to go on the first day of the year! body pampering at its best. ;) i wouldn't know when can we repeat this nice date but i'm pretty sure the next time wifey & i go out again, it's gonna be another great date! WELCOME 2010!