I feel dignified for being bestowed upon this Interesting Blog Award by my most admired online writer, Femmepower. Thank you for continuously giving me a boost. =)

Manic Wednesday Afternoon at the Park

It was Bea’s second time to go to People’s Park. She doesn’t have much memory during her first visit because she was just eleven months old then. I almost burst into laughter when I saw her reaction the moment she entered the park. She gave out a deep breath saying “wow!” with all her might. She ran as fast as she could, without deliberately thinking where to go. She didn’t know where to start her adventure. So I led her to the children’s playground where there are lots of swings, slides, seesaw, and a manual carousel (where I had to push it now and then to keep it spinning). Unfortunately, it was the ride that she enjoyed the most. I felt like I lost a pail of sweat. After a while, we roamed around looking at the fountains, wherein Bea was too elated to see the fish and the ducks swimming and wandering about. She also played with the enormous sculptures, which one of those she called ‘lola’ (grandma) sweeping the ground. One of her highlights that afternoon was the small wishing well, where she excitedly threw her 25 cents after I dictated to her our wish. Obviously, she found it peculiar but fantastic seeing countless coins in that basin-like spot because it was the first thing that she boasted when her daddy got there.

At long last, Bea was in low battery. She had a cone of chocolate ice cream to resume her animation. She even had a glass of cola to quench her thirst! After we had our dinner, luckily, she was completely knocked off. Now, it’s my pleasure to redeem my vigor. =)

A Great Day Ahead

Whew! Finally, I’m back in my shell again, eating my favorite food in my favorite restaurant with my bestfriend. What a tough day! I started my day rushing myself to our office for an unexpected task, where I was supposed to be traveling to Tagum for some lecture in one of our review center’s tie-up school. Our lecturer who was scheduled for review here in Davao wasn’t able to make it, that’s why we had to give the students a 100-item exam to make up for the missed lecture, which I had to rationalize (explain to them the answers of each item) after the students had taken the said exam. I got done with my rationalization at around 12 noon, and my lecture in Tagum will start at 1 P.M., which means I had to travel in a flash, as if I’m one of the characters of the movie The Incredibles. I scuttled my way there, and fortunately I was just thirty minutes late. I didn’t even have the luxury of time to loosen up a bit because I had to start the lecture without more ado. I stood up in front, talking nonstop for three hours. At past 4 P.M., at last I’m done with my hectic day.
To pay off with such a stressful day, I eased up by dropping by my aunt’s house. We spent time just having a light talk. I compensated my exhaustion by “binge-eating.” Hahaha, don’t get me wrong, I’m not a bulimic person. It was just my way of rewarding myself. And I really had a great time.
Now I came to believe what a friend of mine used to tell me. She said that don’t say you’re happy because everything’s fine. It is better to think that we are happy because even if everything sucks, we are doing just fine!

Is it the Person or the Habit?

Oftentimes, when we get separated with the person that we used to spend time with, we find it difficult to move on. We yearn for the things that we usually do together. We find it unusual to go to places alone…feels weird when there’s nobody to share your stories with…or it seems strange when you feel like grabbing your mobile phone and text somebody, but you’ve got no one to send it to. But hey, come to think of it. Is it really the person that you are longing for? Or you just miss doing the things that you habitually do.
Truth is, it is only US, deep within us, who knows the truth. Nobody can say it for us. It could be the person because of how we feel for that the person, or it could be the habit of being with that person that had developed in us, and we just got used in doing it. How bizarre.

My Angels

Eight years ago, our family was blessed with a cute, pretty little angel named Charlize Bianca. She’s the daughter of my elder brother. Everybody just loved her deep, tantalizing eyes, especially everytime they go big whenever we are talking and playing with her. As she grew up, we became fonder of her because of how witty and smart she is. She would make funny remarks like an old person, and she loves acting like she’s a TV personality. She was always the light of the family. Whenever I got home and saw a cute, small pair of slippers, I automatically become elated because I know that our angel is home. We would read stories, eat together and sleep together. I really treated and loved her like my own daughter. Time came when I finally got pregnant. Bianca was so excited with the baby inside my womb. I told her that my baby would be named Beatriz, derived from the word ‘beatitude’ which means happiness. She would always talk to Beatriz and say “I love you Bea”, and I would also tell her that Beatriz answered back and said “I love you too Ate Bianca.” I can really see the delight in her face and asks me why I know what Bea is telling her. I used to answer Bianca that I know what’s inside Bea’s mind and heart because I am her mother, just like how her mom feels about her, and she would accept it, pleased and gratified. On the day that I was about to deliver Beatriz, I remember that we were reading stories while I was waiting for my sister to get done in the bathroom. When it was my turn, I saw signs that it was already time for Beatriz to come out. I hurriedly told my sister about it, and my sister told Bianca that she must behave because Beatriz is gonna come out soon. To our surprise, she jumped and jumped on the bed shouting, “Beatriz is coming out! Beatriz is coming out!”, excited and overjoyed.

Another angel is now in the family, another light. There’s somebody again who brings joy to us, whom we look forward to when we go home.

Now that Beatriz is already two years old, and Bianca is going eight years old, they may not have the luxury of time to play and grow up together (since Bianca is already in Manila and Bea is in Davao), but everytime they see each other, they are still the loving cousins who treat each other like sisters and play together without the boundary of time and distance. These two little girls will always be my angels. And more to come…

Bonding Moments

A lot of people would say that the best thing we could give to our children aside from material things is quality time. This is one great way where we can show our love and care for them. And there are many different ways to spend our time with them. Some would prefer to go to shopping malls, eat ice cream at kiddie restaurants, go swimming, watch a movie, or go to parks. But for me, the best place that I can spend quality time with my daughter is inside the room, on our bed. No amount of food, shopping, or swimming can replace the feeling of being able to huddle and cuddle, kiss and embrace, play and tickle, and hear my little angel laugh and shout of excitement. She can even have her carousel ride, I being her human carousel. It’s also a place where I can tell her stories and teach her ABCs and 123s. And on that bed, we create memories, happy and meaningful memories. And come to think of it, what an inexpensive way to share bonding moments with my angel!
We may have distinct and unique ideas on how to have quality time with our kids. It doesn’t matter how or where. What’s important is we are able to impart to them how much we care.

True Savior

It feels great whenever we are blessed with people whom we thought would be our savior -- savior from painful experiences, savior from life's chaos. But it hurts more when you find out that this so-called savior would be that very person who would make you drown all the more, the one who would pull you down instead of lifting you up.

I, for one, is a person who had been through a lot of turbulence. We seek comfort from material things, or from people who give us false hopes and promises and make us believe that life is much better with them. But what we always miss out is seeking solace from the real Savior, our God. There's no much better life than living a life with a God, a life with faith and humility. We must let go of these false beliefs, that we can find peace and happiness with material things, as well as people who would only lead us to a more troublesome life and bring us all the way down. It is much more consoling to believe that our God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, for nothing is impossible to them that believe in Him.

The Ultimate Goal

Does a long distance relationship really do not work out, or does it depend on the couple how they want their relationship to end?
It is but true that you give a lot of time, effort, and emotional investment to attain and maintain a strong and healthy relationship. We do everything not to break it apart because we dream to have a successful and happy family. We believe that there is more security and assurance if, as a couple, we stay together, close and intact.
However, there are some couple who choose to be a thousand miles away from each other, to be able to provide the needs of their future family. They believe that it is one way of uplifting their financial status, which is also an important aspect in building their would-be family and raising their kids. But is it really worth the sacrifice? Does it really do good for the couple and for the family they are trying to establish? Or will it only lead the relationship to end up a broken one? Indeed, it would either make or break the relationship. Many would say that it would only bring the couple to look for somebody else because of that longing for love and affection. They say that communication alone is not enough because the physicality of a love one is also an important factor to be considered.
But I strongly believe that a genuine and steadfast relationship entails an enormous sacrifice. It doesn't only revolve in togetherness, physical affection, and feelings of love, but most importantly,it should rely on faith...faith on God and faith on each other. We have a goal -- to build a successful and happy family. Why don't we stick to that goal instead of allowing our fears to get in the way. It may seem unbearable at first, but as we get to realize what that big sacrifice is all for, the more it should draw us closer to our goal. Just like a puzzle, or a rubik's cube, you may have already built eighty percent of it, but sometimes there is a need to rearrange it and sacrifice a portion of that eighty percent to be able to fix the unresolved portion and make it to one hundred percent. I remember what a friend of mine used to tell me, 'we cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are.'