Happy Mother's Day!

Proverbs 31:10-12 and 25-31

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm all the days of her life.
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

I love you ma!

Reminiscing Rasta

Potipot Island is a white sand beach resort. Six-hours road trip from Manila to Candelaria. We spent two nights in a rental house in Candelaria. A distance of five-minutes boat ride to Potipot. We stayed the rest of the day in the island which only took us thirty-minutes to roam around the whole place.

It was summer of 2009 when I first went out of town with Rasta. They knew that I can’t go  with them without my kids. I can’t fully enjoy my vacation, thinking that I left my kids at home for three days. So they allowed me to take along my kids. Then they became a part of the team.

Everyone has our own assigned chores to do. We felt disappointed, when we dropped by to Iba market to buy meat for barbeque. We didn’t see any store selling fresh meat. We agreed to buy canned goods, instant noodles, veggies and fish. Our team leader is innovative to prepare us good food. There were only three groups of people when we first came to island. It’s nice to see underwater creature when we went snorkeling. Endless picture taking everywhere we go. Watching the boys playing Frisbee is so much fun! Everyone managed to unwind, relax and have fun!

2009 in Potipot, Zambales with Rasta

Black Chrono

3rd entry to Chic in Black:

I bought it as a birthday gift to myself in July of 2009. It’s a Swatch Chrono Black for men. I like big watches, I don't mind if it's for men. I wear it almost everyday. Honestly, I do not know the purpose of chronograph when I bought it, looks nice on big watches though. The features I like on my watch are; it has a silicone bracelet, black dial with luminous hands, date at the 6 o’clock position, quatz movement, water resistant and it is Swiss made. I seldom buy something for myself, that’s why I would prefer a long-lasting item.

Swatch Black Chrono

2nd Weekend Blog Follower Caravan:

I enjoyed blog hopping from the 1^st WBFC. I have seen kikay themes from other entries. I noticed that most of us are newbie. Nearly everyone are member of PMC. I gained virtual friends through blogging. I am hesitant when my friend encouraged me to blog. As you could see, I don’t have the skill in writing and I have poor grammar. But now, it is becoming my everyday routine. If I cannot gather my thoughts, it’s better for me to just read other blogs and learn through reading. I admire tenured blogger, they have been doing it for years now. They already established an online career. I wish I could reach that point. 

News Blackout

It is commonly practice in media. Whenever there is a sensitive topic or controversial issue. News blackout is usually implemented to facilitate a careful investigation. Nobody should know about the matter. There is a restriction to those who doesn’t have a part to resolve the issue.

Can we also practice it in facebook? Since almost everyone is into fb, posting a wall status, could lead into a gossip. Your emotion became a feast to those who enjoy to talk about other people’s lives. I guess it depends on someone’s current situation. It happened to me once, when I witnessed a heartbreaking incident. I immediately posted a silly status on my wall. I was surprised, there were twenty plus comments on my post in just an hour. I felt stupid, I should have kept it to myself. I deleted my post because I am reluctant to let other people know my present situation.  I am grateful though, as I could see that there are people who displayed their sympathy. If group application on fb is accessible at that time, I should have selected my friends who could know my sentiments. friends who can understand, who doesn’t need an explanation, who will not add to pressure.

Do you enjoy being talked about? As a bystander, do you really care? Or you just want to dip in?

@The Nothebook: Life is too short to think about what others say or think about you. Have fun and give them something to think about.

Weekend Blog Follower Caravan

It is my first time to join WBFC. Reading the invite in OnlineBiz and Resources. It shows how bloggers come up together to help each other. These are people who enjoy what they are doing. Seeing a comment in a post makes a blogger joyful, knowing that someone dropped by to read and leave a comment. Blogging is like our public diary. People who take time to open our site, gets to know the person behind the blog. In blogging, we can't set bounderies between rich and poor, men and women, young and old a like. As a newbie, I need to read more to learn more. I looked through an article states that, we can  consider blogging as internet revolution. 

Ipad

4th entry to Girl Talk:

I’m not into latest gadgets. Again, I can’t spend beyond my limit. I am using a regular mobile phone, I had it for three years now. I won a bid on ebay for my digicam, I got it almost half the price. If given a chance, I would love to have an Ipad. Because it’s slim and light weight, I can bring it in any wi-fi zone area.

For the specs, 16GB memory is enough, 10hrs of battery usage, free download of its own Mac OS v10.5. It is also compatible with the latest windows operating system, it has a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, front and back camera and free music and video downloads in iTunes.

Jeans and Shirt

3^rd Entry to Girl Talk

In clothing, I prefer a simple jeans and shirt.  Given that we have a tropical weather here in the Philippines, I can wear them all year round. I’m not a brand conscious, nah… it’s just an excuse. The truth is, I can’t afford to buy clothing beyond my limited budget. During our dress-up days in the office, they can only see me wearing slacks and collared tops. I wear Capri pants and simple blouse in special occasions. I don’t feel comfortable wearing dress or skirt nor a girly tops. Or maybe I just don’t take time to look for a dress that look good on me.  I always go for a classic comfy clothing. 

Like mother, like daughter

2nd Entry to Chic in Black:

Having Lois Lei as my only daughter fulfilled my dream as a mom. I've always wanted to have a daughter since I was young. When she was a little girl, I enjoyed combing and setting colorful pins on her hair and dressed her like a doll. I also bought her sassy shoes.

Time flies so fast, she's now eleven years old. She starts to set her own choice. I have mix emotion of fear and happiness whenever I watch her as she sleeps. I know there will come a time, when I need to let her go. Seeing her grow as a tough and smart girl, appease a mom's heart.

My daughter Lois Lei

Channing Tatum

2nd entry to Girl Talk:

He captured my heart in the movie Dear John. I've seen him in Fighting, G. I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and Step Up. I like his built, his height, his manly look, the way he smiles, his voice…  hay…  lucky you Jenna Dewan.

Blueberry Cheese Cake

1st entry to Girls Talk:

Who would not like a Blueberry cheese cake?
I am craving for it whenever I’m not feeling well or stressed. In just a slice, it satisfies my craving.

Black

1st entry to Chic In Black:

When I read Kat’s post in PMC about launching a Black Meme, it immediately caught my attention. I love black. My family and close friends can attest to that. Because I do not give them a hard time buying a gift. Whenever I go along with friends for shopping, they knew that I will be looking for black. It may be something for myself, appliances, or basically anything. I could easily settle on things I want.

Things inside my bag.

Crown of Glory

I received a message on facebook from a friend, asking me a favor to design a portion of their church. To my willingness to do something good, which I seldom do. Hehe. I set up a meeting with Ptra. Tess, she is  the church leader in The Crown of Glory in Mount Zion. I took photos and discussed about what concept she has in mind. The portion where I’m assigned to design is at the upper right side of the platform. There’s a water tank which serve as an eyesore to the congregation according to Ptra. They were thinking of a low cost budget and yet nice-looking design. I thought of plants, bamboo and whatever is available in their church. But I cannot execute them into drawing. I googled and searched for DIY designs in youtube. I presented photos and videos. They just spent minimal amount for the bamboo and pin lights. The plants and stones were available in their backyard.

Before

After

Pinay Mommies Community

PMC is a group of international Pinay bloggers. The administrator of our group is Ruby Ricafrente a.k.a. Yukishiro Tomoe (fb code name). Most of our members are pioneers and influencial personalities in blogging. They are of big help to aspiring bloggers like me. Blogging was introduced to me by Iris Mejia Acosta. Together with the mommies in PMC, they are generous to share their knowledge on how to earn money online and to enhance our skills in blogging. We can also tackle personal matters. If you were to group Filipinas, what can you expect? Everyone from our group is free to share our thoughts, advices, tips, almost everything. Of course, it should be in a friendly manner. I’m still shy to share mine. I have been a member of this group since January of this year. I am blessed and thankful to be part the group.

PMC Grand Eyeball was held last April 3, 2011 at Kamayan Restaurant. I finally met some of PMC members where I only get to see them on facebook. I’m looking forward for the next Grand EB on November. Pictures below will describe what took place in our meet up.

Tokens I received as remembrance. It feels like Christmas! Thanks everyone!

PRAY LOVE SEX

Why can't we just have sex!? This could be a shallow thinking of an OFW wife like me. I feel sorry for my husband, coz I can’t do it in a webcam. I tried, but I really can’t. I’m being joked around for not having it for a looonnnnggg time. I just smiled at them and in my mind I should be thinking, “I can easily be like you. But you can’t be like me”.

My husband is opted to work abroad. Most Filipinos want to go abroad for greener pasture. Some of the reasons are for personal achievement, provision for their family and lack of bigger opportunities in our country. Some may succeed, some may not. For other OFWs, one to two contract renewal is not sufficient to attain their goal. A lot of sacrifices took place. My husband and I have gone thru a lot of tests. There were instances when I almost give up. I thank God for renewing my mind to the beauty of marriage. Until when can I survive? I don’t know, That’s why I keep on praying.

The statement “why can’t we just have sex” is from the movie “No Strings Attached”. This post is inspired by our church’s February Love, Marriage, Sex series.

Father and Daughter

Papa & me

Papa & my sister Sarah

I hope you’ll enjoy reading a not so ordinary father and daughter camaraderie.

I grew up listening to Beatles music. It was my lullabye , papa plays it on a turntable. I’m not used to playing dolls. But instead, papa would buy us boys stuffs. He’s not a typical father. I remember, I used to help him packed and rolled grass. I’m good at it at the age of 6. I consider it as a bonding time with my papa then. I enjoyed doing it though. Haha!

He usually received 2 to 3 sacks of grass every delivery. Big time P! We used to dry the blocks of grass in a willowing basket in our roof deck. We weighed 10grams of grass in a small weighing scale and packed in a 2x3 inches plastic bag. Then burn the edge of the plastic bag using a candle to enclose it. We separate the seeds from the grass and then roll some of it in a cigar paper for his personal use.

I might be suggesting negative thoughts about my father. But no, he never taught nor even offered me to smoke grass. Except when I was rushed to the hospital after I accidentally ate a slice of grass cake when I was 4. According to papa, he baked 2 pans of chocolate cakes. One for his friends which has grass sprinkled on top and the safe choco cake is for us kids.

My papa’s name is Levi Araullo Espiritu. Born January 2, 1946. He died at the age of 53 last November 15, 1999. He suffered from a stroke and slipped into coma without regaining consciousness. He’s a genuine hippy. He has a BMW motorbike. Imagine him wearing a black-leather jacket, colorful beads necklace which he needed to touch to come back to reality, circular light-blue eyeglasses like the one wore by John Lennon and he has long hair down to his waist. That's how he looked in 60’s fad. Groovy!

I admire my mama for not giving up on him. I’m very thankful for my late grandmother who used to include my papa’s whole name in her prayer. God changed his life without any hassle. Papa just made a covenant with the Lord that he can’t stop smoking grass on his own. Then miraculously one day he  realized to let things happen as they may, to let go and let God. A dose that made him fly back to God. 

Papa & Aimee

Acquiring Tourist Visa in Australia

Parramatta Melbourne

Opera House Sydney

Ballarat

Ballarat Begonia Festival

Harbour Town Shopping Centre Melbourne

I was able to acquire a Tourist Visa in Australia last February of 2010 and stayed there for almost a month. I visited this website http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/48r.pdf and found out that I am  short of Evidence of Funds. Due to being persistent to witness my childhood friend’s wedding. I researched and called the Australian Embassy’s customer service http://www.immi.gov.au/contacts/overseas/p/philippines/ for inquiries. I compiled all documents in a legal sized brown envelope. I called the embassy’s affiliated AIR21 courier hotline to pick up the documents and they returned back the result after 7 working days.

Here are the list of documents I submitted:

Passport

Manager’s check for processing fee

Completed 48R form

Wedding invitation and Letter of Invitation

Photocopies of letters and greeting cards I collected from my friend since 2001

Scanned pictures as proofs of our friendship since pre-school

PROOF OF EMPLOYMENT:

Cerfiticate of Employment

Income Tax Return

Pay Slips

Approved Leave from my Senior Manager

EVIDENCE OF FUNDS:

Letter of Assurance from my aunt who will give me financial support in case of need during my stay.

My aunt’s Identification Cards

Bank Certificate of my aunt’s dollar and peso account

Photocopies of my credit card and cirrus ATM card

My eldest son’s school documents as a proof that he’s a fourth-year high-school student. This served as confirmation that I will return back to the Philippines for my son’s graduation day.