111th

2 weeks ago we celebrated the 111th Philippine Independence day. Growing up, the only participation I have had in the past with regards to commemorating this day would be school related activities. I find politics a challenge specially during election time and reading about the presidential rumpus and senate squabbles are just too much for comprehending.

My 10 year old Basti volunteered (yes, he is oozing with over confidence, this kid) to sing the boy’s part of the song ‘Kaming mga Kabataan’. He reasoned that his Bisaya is better than the already Kiwi speaking kids that also joined the group singing presentation being here for less than a year.

I joined the 20 member group who danced the Paradista (the bisaya version of the Kutsero song). Other than my commitment to support the Bisaya group in Auckland, I also wanted my sons to not forget.  They are brown.

The presentations brought me back to the Linggo Ng wika days where different groups presented songs from their respective provinces. There was the tinikling of course, the kundimans, kids playing Sarangola ni Pepe…

Maybe I just missed cebu or maybe I am just too melodramatic. But when everyone was asked to sing ‘Ang Bayan Kong Pilipinas’ with the lyrics projected. Tears just started to drop in trickles up to the part…

Pilipinas kong minumutyâ, Pugad ng luhà ko’t dálitâ, Aking adhikâ, Makita kang sakdál layaaaaa!

Being in another country, made me realize how much I truly am Filipino. Apil ang pagka-Over Acting. Even news of Michael Jackson’s death tore right up the heart. A different kind of pain though. (or maybe the same)

One that reminds us to live life to the fullest and make a difference and never forget our true color. 

Just like the death of Francis M, it takes time for me to recover.  Over acting lagi ko. It must be the rain. Winter just brings so much drama.

Vanilla June

We celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary on the 4th of June. Nothing grand, just us two sharing fries and soda at a mall’s Burger King joint before taking the bus home.

Funny how there are days I wish I could drown him with his pillow when he starts to snore crazy, while there are nights I worry that he will expire on his own wheezing and make me a widow before our 20th. This is how my man makes me cockoo.

The hub was never perfect to start with. He over promises and lean towards always pleasing everyone (specially people who don’t deserve it). He spoils not only his family but his friends too.
He has weird temper tantrums. (matingala nalang ko why siya gi sapot all of a sudden – artist moods kuno).
He dyes his hair and leaves black spots at our bathroom that is so hard to remove.
He can’t remember names (never). He forgets occassions (always). He is obsessed with bikes (na-’possessed’ is a better word).

He can’t finish a movie without sleeping and snoring (turn off). He carries his mobile user manual just so. (btw, it takes forever for him to know how to operate his phone). He can’t even remember his own phone number. He forgets where he places his things and makes so much fuss over it. (ma-Ukay mi tanan). He invites friends to come over. He loves being around people (it’s the cleaning after that I detest). He gets lost (often). He shops more than me. He stores a lot of rubbish (useless ones at that). He farts and tell. He can be tactless at times you don’t want him to be. He keeps on repeating the same mistakes. I never win debates over him.

He needs a lot a lot a lot of pushing and reminding (read as nagging) to get his life in order, the car fixed, to pick up something from the store, yaddah yaddah

He never goes to see a doctor. I have given up on changing him and dread the thought that old age will even worsen what I hate most about him.

BUT, he is my number one cheer leader (and the kid’s too). He is a neat freak when it comes to his cabinet. He wakes up at 5:00 am to cook breakfast for all of us and prepare our lunch boxes. He iron his clothes. He fixes things around the house. He makes sure dinner is ready by 7:00 pm. We always laugh at his jokes and he makes a litany of “I love you’s” sumpay sa “Be good always” each day. He prays. He forgives even if I don’t. He cries with us too. He holds my hand while driving. (so wreckless). He remember faces. He can carry a tune and dances just because…

 
and that is enough for me      to bear years of being his Queen!

Rain visits Auckland

Rain and me (basti in the background )

I will not allow her to leave Auckland without us meeting.  I had been stalking her site ever since Aileen wrote about it.  We had dinner at Nando’s and I am still in awe at how super this “dalaga” is.  She is so full of talent and I wish her all the best for Graphic Star NZ. Mag “eye-ball” na pud unya mi together with Normita the next time she visits.  She not only bewilder men but bewilders women as well. Attractive gyud siya in person. (very charming). Sa sunod Rain, I will be driving and will know where to go. =)

May Colors

May passed us by so quickly, it would seem that the days are in a mad rush to 2010.

Each day continues to be a blessing for us despite not having much and I am not only thankful but wishful that family and friends around the world, draw closer to their destiny.

 * For Ayen who graduated top of her class. Valedictorian does not only stand for the best in class but for a supergirl, supermom, superwife and superfriend who I will always be proud of. Nurse Ayen, may your new wings take you higher.

* For Malou (the amazona) who will be facing up to a new challenge this weekend, my prayers are with you and I believe that someone up there is watching over you, as always. Sending you angels that will sooth your emotions.

* For Ananda Celine who has turned into a beautiful 1 year old, I continue to wish I could hold you one day. For now, your photos and stories give comfort in the knowing that you are well.

* For Micmic who is married to the academe, I will always be here to support you and love you — bad hair days or not.

* and for Mom, who I feel so much for. No day passes by without me knocking and pleading on heaven’s door that your troubles will soon be over. You will always have Auckland. We await.

FB-ing

As soon as I get home, I check my emails and visit my apartment at Yoville. I log into my so called Cyberlife. I go to work at the Widget Factory. I log in at least twice a day to work so I can buy furniture to decorate my one bedroom apartment. Then, I do a virtual dance with friends, send them hotdogs or flowers for gifts and share jokes with one click of the mouse button. (at FaceBook).

My family is hooked on FB too. Me, mom and Micmic are members of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Farm Town. We send each other trees (banana, apple, orange…) and farm animals (rabbits, horses, cows and pigs). On some lucky moments, our avatars get to chat online. Funny but our avatars looks so much alike too. Family of farmers? (ingon pa)

My sons are into farming too. (as well as into Yoville, Mafia Wars, and Restaurant City).

Advantage: My kids prefer to stay home over the weekends and spend time updating their farms and apartments and they ask me for virtual gifts (which does not cost me moolah, just one convenient finger tap and I make them smile)

Disadvantage: ADDICTING!

Yes, Facebook has consumed my nights with crazy diversions.  I keep a list of the seeds that returns more earnings for my farm. I get excited to see new items sold at the Home Depot (i gotta have those). I enjoy giving gifts and receiving them. I do jobs for the Godfather (feeling Mafia Princess).  And opened Maria’s at Restaurant City.

I have not stopped harvesting and planting, nor have I stopped re-decorating my little apartment at Yoville. (I have a routine to make sure I don’t miss my factory and farm work) I want to have the blue curtains. I want to own a mansion for Lupang Hinirang (my farm) . I want to grow my Mafia…always this constant wanting for more…

It never stops. The quench to outdo another farm, to out decorate another apartment, to outfight another mafia. It is diversion for me. It keeps me awake while watching or is it listening to TV. and I enjoy teasing the kids with my acquisitions. (bad lagi ko)

Chelo is right, she warned me about FB taking me away… I got reunited with people of my past and we have been reunited at a ‘friend list’ level. As my friends list grew, I found I spend more and more time getting updated with their life. (Catching up! Exchanging hellos) and visiting them on this virtual farms and communities.

What next? This has got to stop I realize. Sleeping past midnight to beat my 10 year old son’s score at Bejewelled is insane I know. (Fa-et)

Me thinking…what to do?

On the upside, however – I am happy that my family is into FB. I know where to find the kids. I know where to find mom and Micmic. and my former boss is now my neighbor sa Yoville.  Oh yeah, I now keep a very busy Cyberlife but a “so so” real life. Pathetic me. =(  Realizing I am off balance. (better late than never)

My Hair Affair

I grew up believing that girls with straight shiny hair had every right (and the only ones allowed) to grow their hairs long.  So having been born with wavy naturals limited me to only have short hair. It was only last year when I succumbed to the other side.(when I met Allan (a hairstylist) who introduced me to hair rebonding).

I had my hair at its longest beyond shoulder length, spending heaps for chemical treatments to keep it straight – plus products to repair the damage. And regular visits to Allan’s parlor who turned me into a believer and suki. (He knows how to make me feel beautiful).

When I came to Auckland, I couldn’t keep up with the upkeep. It was expensive to use treatments and being mayor doma of a household nga gubot,  did not allow me to spend time in front of the mirror and take long hair pampering showers.

I tested different kinds of shampoos and conditioners only to find out that I damaged my frizzies even more. (for vanity’s sake lagi) My tresses was all over our place. It was dry and brittle and dead. And so, as a new year’s resolution for 2009, I decided to give my hair the attention it needed.

A chinese lady plus cheap cut plus a less than 3 minute trim equals DISASTER. (I did not mean to be racist here but she must have had training with a mower before she held scissors)  Our current budget did not allow me to spend much for vanity, so I curl my lips as my heart weeps seeing my hair worsen day by day. I did not want to have my pictures taken, and passing by a mirror only hurt my sensibilities. Yes, talk about my hair and I will pounce on you ala Manny Pacquiao. It grew side ways despite the falling hairs plus I see silver streaks when I flip it to the sides. When it comes to hair, I don’t have the patience. And I feel ugly and unkept and stressed over it.

I did not want to go back to my short hair days. I felt so OA being on a crossroad as to going back to short short dodong cut or letting it grow back to its Allan days. I have gone to long and don’t want to return and start all over. My boylets swear I look better with long hair. I believe them… but the ordeal of getting it to grow back is killing me each day. If only I had the patience to save enough & just get it chemically treated here. nah! I only have myself to blame for seeing Ambrosia Lee, the chinese grass cutter kay new year lagi, new look, new hair. Dah GABA! Big Time.

SO, 3 hair trims after and savings enough for a hair treatment, I found Danny who gave me a short bob cut and shiny flattened strands. I found a new Allan.

I am uber happy! This is a good start. It will grow back but I have time. I will have to take care of my crowning glory because I made a decision not to return to short boy cuts. This will definitely be a long hair affair. I am loving the bounce and flipping it back when I walk to the bus stop does not enduce migraine. When the winds blow, it returns to its shape and it does not tangle. I don’t ever want to wet my hair for fear it will start curling up again. (OA lagi ba). Only Danny can touch my hair from now on. (and he is Korean)

Manang Therese, your wish is my command. Dili na ko delinquinte. =) I finally found a topic to blog about. And I’m brushing my hair while I’m checking for typos here, feeling girly girl, feeling igat. It has been a long time since I felt this way. So pasencya sa akong indulgence everyone.

April Blooms

April starts the 4 days work week for me (due to cost cutting at our company), yet April still has given me so much to be thankful for

* my one year anniversary at work was last April 1 (April Fool’s day, how can I not forget) – yoohoo!

* the beautiful people born on April. Popoy, Karen, Therese (of Kusina Habana fame), Abet Yap-Lam, Walter Ng, Merlo E., Tata Bengua-Silva, Grace Yap, Tonette Pasay, Uncle Boy Labitan, Meream (Ms Bored and Crafty), Rose Suarez-Leano. I wish them heaps of blessings.

* my article comes out of the Maya Newsletter in May (hookay, can’t wait for May to announce it). Unfortunately I can’t put the link here as it is not yet ready as well.

* a short bob cut despite the boys disapproval. the more they ask me not to cut my hair, the more I itch to get it done soon. sometimes I feel they know me too well to even suggest anything.  i don’t know if i am feeling gaga over the way my hair looks now or because i defied them. (feeling rebelious and naughty). 

* birthday surprise from AYEN (i will never stop thanking her for the surprises she sends my way, she has the gift of making people crazy happy). I thank the Heavens for her.

* farm animals and trees sent by farm town neighbors as gifts over at facebook! yes, this makes me happy. (i am cheap and totally addicted to farming now) . Mango trees, cows, apple trees, keep them coming neighbors.

* comments left on my blog despite me not updating it from people who I have not been in touch for quite a while comes as a super wonderful surprise. BEM, i hope i will give you enough reason to stalk this site.

* the quick baranggay chat at yahoo that was organized by Zarlynn. i hope we could do it more often. it is good to chat with old friends and picked up on where we left off. Thank you, Zar, Lloyd, Mar, Sallie and Indo. Hope Roland, Bata and Vanessa could join us next time. (a violet party is now a constant in my dreams)

* pregnancies, births, new blogs, weddings, beautiful photographs, family reunions that happens for the people i stalk and pray for. May it always be that way forever…

* and for Therese who keeps this blog alive. =) Thank you, Manang. I will always be grateful for this and many more of the surprises you help me pull off for my family in Cebu.

Raising Insoy

I told Therese I wished Insoy did not grow up to be a teenager. As soon as he turned 13, he turned temperamental on me. He listens to migraine – inducing music -  the likes of Escape the Faith and other screaming songs. He certainly beats my brother in the weird music selection department.  Even with the headphones on, I could still hear them yelling the lyrics. And it does not help that he sings it when he takes his shower loud enough to make me think he was in a fight with Basti. (all this screaming does makes me praning). And so to put a stop to it, a new rule was created. No more singing in the shower, and no more listening to this band. He made a big fuss over this rule. He said we were unfair. I could hear myself 20 years ago (or was it 30)?

His room is in constant disarray. Socks, shirts, shoes and pants are all under his bed. We told him we would throw it away if he did not keep it inside his cabinet.  Now his cabinet is so messed up, I don’t know how he could find his school uniform under all the pile of clothes. There is not a single day that I dread entering his room.

He picked up skateboards from the streets. Fixed it up with sandpaper and painted it. I kept on telling him to stay away from our porch because there was a glass divider that could easily break if he hits it with his board but alas the inevitable happened. Mothers intuition worked. We woke up early one day to hear him crying like a carabao and saying his ‘i am sorry’ so many times it went from empathy to annoying. Now it was time for us to cry ‘unfair’.

He quickly put up a ‘for sale’ sign on our mail box selling all his boards for 10$. This was his own version of penitence I suppose and a way of paying for the glass. Boys from across our street came to view the boards that will be forever banned in our house.

1 month ago, he asked us to allow him to do paper runs so he could earn money. The idea was so he could buy his own mobile phone and prepaid load or an electric guitar for the school band.  We agreed so long as it did not interfere with his studies. And we thought, all will be fine and he will learn responsibility. Again, another disappointment. Papers are dropped in the house on Monday afternoon for Tuesday and Wednesday delivery. Friday papers are delivered for Saturday and Sunday delivery. Papers need to be sorted out and folded which needs to be done on the night of Monday and Friday.

I am the type of person who wants things done as soon as possibly can. He on the other hand procastinates and does his chores at the last minute. Just like how he studies for exams. (always cramming). And thus, it has been 1 month that we are in constant squabbles with each other. Me pounding on him the need to organize and him insisting that he has it all sorted out and I should just let him be. That I just trust him. woookay whatever!

And because I am as stubborn as him, I fold the papers and don’t wait for him to do it and I yap about it big time. He then tells me, he can do it by himself (and that I should not interfere) and so I allowed him to. It is the school holiday week. Monday night came, only 50 bundles done by himself, then Tuesday morning comes – nothing was done because he was biking all day. Tuesday evening, he does another 50 bundles which is only half of the 200 needed. Wednesday is the last day of delivery. He wakes up at 10 am and starts folding at 1:00 pm. He finished a 100 to complete the set around 4:30 pm and I was so close to jumping up on him. I had to restrain myself from ranting. He started delivery at 5:00 pm and finished around 6:30 pm. It was getting dark and I was scared. This cramming, this last minute tricks, it drives the hell out of me. I can feel my blood rising up to boiling point. Every hour that he is wasting his time, I feel I will go to a breakdown one day. And so, I fold the paper to keep my sanity in tact. I just cannot stop meddling. I need a major pray over. Everyone tells me to leave him alone. As long as I see him moving so slowly, I get palpitations. Waaahhh.

The only thing we would agree on is an ear piercing or a tattoo. But unfortunately, his Dad won’t allow it until he turns 18 and pays for it.

I am sure he would say it is difficult to raise a mom too. Roland has been the official referee around the house. When the going gets tough, I even get my mom to be my legal counsel and spokesperson just so he listens. He thinks I am so unfair. And I think he is so irresponsible and disorganized. But the problem is, he thinks he is responsible and can take care of himself using his own ways while I think I have always been fair. We both need happy pills around each other.

If I cannot stop him from growing up, can he just fast forward to the age of 20? I can’t wait for him to have a daughter as stubborn as he is. Oh, payback must be sweet. My son drives me crazy but I have never stopped loving him.

What do I do?

This post was inspired by Ludette Luab’s blog entry. Just like her, I see question marks popping out when I tell people that I am a JDE Analyst Programmer Support person.

JDE is short for J.D. Edwards which is a software company that created the OneWorld business application. OneWorld is a database driven accounting software.

APN (NZ Herald) uses JDE OneWorld to track subscription payments, adverts billing, newstrade returns,  outdoor billboard rentals, payables, receivables, cash receipts, bank reconciliation and so much more. Our company publishes 10 regional daily newspapers and several weekly lifestyle and fashion magazines. We also have outdoor advertising. The JDE software tracks the sales of each publication daily. Let me cite one example – if someone advertises with NZ Herald, the information is fed to the system, which calculates the cost of the advert based on page size and colour as well as days of the week the advert will be for. The system will then bill the client based on the number of runs the advert will be published for. There are different sets of data coming from other software applications which needs to integrate to JDE. My job is to make sure that the data is validated – the advert is marked to the correct publication and the client is billed the precise amount.  Triggers to alert the ‘Top Wigs’ when data does not match certain parameters are expected to run smoothly.  Automated statement of accounts, invoices, buyer created invoices and reports that are used to verify data needs to give out accurate output at all times. Figuring out how to make a slow process run faster is also part of my job. Thus the ‘Analyst Programmer’ on the job title.

On a typical day, I would get calls from users requesting for new reports, pleas to fix data entry catastrophes that can only be caused by them, questions on why the GL is out of balance, how to record credit card dishonours, request for user access, password resetting and why their computer is ef’ing too slow (for real!). This is where the ‘Support’ role from the job title kicks in.

Our department is made up of several groups, each supporting different softwares. One group support Microsoft Exchange and networks. Another group handle the Database Administration. Everytime a user needs help, the Help Desk receives the call and matches each request to the correct department to which the call will be transferred to.

We get to support all kinds of users, the brilliant ones, bright ones, nag pa bright bright, dili kaayo bright ug worst – walay utok. =) Thus, it is up to us to distinguish which one to take seriously.  After one year on this job, I have matched the names to a category.

The last day of every month is the busiest. Labaw na gyud ang year end and audit season.

So this is what I do. Still scratching your head? Then, maybe I should just be a Pole Dancer, aye? =)

6 Unimportant Things that Makes Me Happy

How can I say ‘NO’ to Meream? It is she who named her sewing machine Lorelai Gilmore and her comrade Emma carries a needle. She sweet talked me into making this list. =)

So here is my list of 6 unimportant things that makes me go ‘OOOHLaLa’

1. My newest addiction is the PropertyPress magazine. http://www.propertypress.co.nz/ I never tire of going over them pages even if I have seen them before. That or the NZ Herald property listing.  Imagining of changing interiors, planting gardens, repainting the exteriors… Give me a property press any day, and I can waste a full day daydreaming.

2. Long drives alone. A ride on the bus already makes me happy. The change in scenery is a natural high for me. I enjoy riding  jeepneys from Echavez to Banilad or the bus from Makati to Katipunan. Everyday commute is my favorite thing to do. I am drawn to stories heard and types of people who rides the bus with me. Mogawas akong pagka – tsismosa.

3. Sardines and Rice, McDonald’s Chocolate Sundae and Apple Pie. Coke. Yeah baby. Food will always make me happy. Maski pa ug buwad.

4. Cleaning the toilet and bath. Making it spotless and smelling of Chlorox. I enjoy this chore. This is the only time I suppose I get to use my OC  genes.

5. On days when my hair decides to behave on me. My Ultimate Nirvana. I don’t have the patience to iron my hair, so nature just needs to do magic spells some days for me. They are sparse but when it does happen, expect a day filled with high spirits.

6. Birthday cards. Written notes. I treasure them all. They just makes me so happy, I cry. And I have to say, they add drama to my life. A few days ago, I received a birthday card from one beautiful soul I met at Multiply. The card would have been enough but she went an extra mile to grab a CD to hush the tears on days when the kids are just so difficult to deal with, bills that are piling up for payment, a husband who can’t understand hormones. She is one of my angels on earth. She knows exactly what I needed.  No matter how unimportant you think it is, your genuine kindness rocks. Thank you Ayen!

 

and to all, feel free to continue on with the tag. Anything that makes one happy will always be important.  Happy Easter!