when i was in japan, sam showed us videos of japanese traditions. the videos are funny. now, 6251 kilometers away from manila, i am watching videos of filipino traditions.
the day before we left for sydney, ate belle delivered the dvds she promised as going away gifts. the dvds contain glimpses of how filipinos live everyday. it is a flemish production, a funny take on philippine culture, which makes my heart burst --- i am proud to be pinoy! we can converse in english very well, have superb and distinctly pinoy humor, and ah courageously face each difficult situation with happiness. and oh, i personally saw the candyman featured in the production! [i was starstruck!]
you should watch "Radio Filipinas". it is distributed by 11.11.11 - Pilipinas. [22 Matiyaga St., Brgy. Central, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines with numbers (02)4344931 and (02)4261579]. if you have family or friends abroad, this DVD pair would make a great gift.
"Filipinos love noise... a sign of dynamism, of fiesta, of movement, of lives being lived."
smooth sailing
having arrived in sydney 3 days ago, i am sitting in chris hia's sala.
it is sunny and very windy. cold cold cold winter. minus the snow.
i thank God for:
1. the safe flight; no excess baggage; no quarantine issues.
2. free board, lodging and internet by chris hia and family.
3. medicare, bank account and mobile numbers were applied for, stress-free.
4. own place is waiting tomorrow.
5. applied for our own electricity account with energy australia through phone.
6. lots of sleep!
7. your prayers.
"so you think you can dance?"
in a new place? i say, why not?
it is sunny and very windy. cold cold cold winter. minus the snow.
i thank God for:
1. the safe flight; no excess baggage; no quarantine issues.
2. free board, lodging and internet by chris hia and family.
3. medicare, bank account and mobile numbers were applied for, stress-free.
4. own place is waiting tomorrow.
5. applied for our own electricity account with energy australia through phone.
6. lots of sleep!
7. your prayers.
"so you think you can dance?"
in a new place? i say, why not?
rush hour
i thank you, friends, for making us feel special. and i apologize for sometimes rushing through our times together lately.
emotions rushing. hours ticking by.
and we are still packing.
emotions rushing. hours ticking by.
and we are still packing.
skilled services
today was dentist [dr. jaime sangalan jr.] and endocrinologist [dr. sjoberg ang kho] day for me. i am blessed with two very kind and highly skilled doctors.
i used to endure the bi-annual teeth cleaning, now i actually enjoy it. i don't bleed much and my teeth are so squeaky clean afterwards i hesitate to use my teeth for a time. dr. jaime made sure i take care of my teeth while away:
dr. j: "the dental services abroad may be a lot pricier compared here, so take preventive measures, brush your teeth and rinse with mouthwash."
me: "mouthwash won't make my teeth brittle and weak?"
dr. j: "try the alcohol-free ones. the acid in the mouthwash prevents plaque buildup."
waiting for my turn to see dr. sjoberg makes me officially a patient. loooong queue. but the wait is worth it:
dr. s: "you've lost some weight, otherwise you're all good. stressed?"
me: "a bit. we are leaving next week, that's why i had to see you."
dr. s: "what you have is surgical hypothyroidism. just so you'd know. and remember you are not to stop taking the thyroid hormone meds. bring enough meds with you because being in a another country, i don't think you'd have medical insurance immediately. may take at least six months after getting yourself employed. and see and endocrinologist there, specially once you're pregnant."
me: "we plan to come home once a year."
dr. s: "pay me a visit then."
i'll definitely miss them. such passion for their work is to be aspired for.
i used to endure the bi-annual teeth cleaning, now i actually enjoy it. i don't bleed much and my teeth are so squeaky clean afterwards i hesitate to use my teeth for a time. dr. jaime made sure i take care of my teeth while away:
dr. j: "the dental services abroad may be a lot pricier compared here, so take preventive measures, brush your teeth and rinse with mouthwash."
me: "mouthwash won't make my teeth brittle and weak?"
dr. j: "try the alcohol-free ones. the acid in the mouthwash prevents plaque buildup."
waiting for my turn to see dr. sjoberg makes me officially a patient. loooong queue. but the wait is worth it:
dr. s: "you've lost some weight, otherwise you're all good. stressed?"
me: "a bit. we are leaving next week, that's why i had to see you."
dr. s: "what you have is surgical hypothyroidism. just so you'd know. and remember you are not to stop taking the thyroid hormone meds. bring enough meds with you because being in a another country, i don't think you'd have medical insurance immediately. may take at least six months after getting yourself employed. and see and endocrinologist there, specially once you're pregnant."
me: "we plan to come home once a year."
dr. s: "pay me a visit then."
i'll definitely miss them. such passion for their work is to be aspired for.
tale-ble
ivy and i went to japan surplus for a dining table to replace our 7-year-old one. we found a very nice one and 2 chairs to go with it. a treasure-hunting place. thankful too that we got all of those plus a wooden beach chair for 4300 which included delivery to our place.
later in the afternoon, a saw a babaeng mambubuko. first time. natuwa ako. of course i bought from her.
later in the afternoon, a saw a babaeng mambubuko. first time. natuwa ako. of course i bought from her.
stretching
finally moved ivy to the unit 2 floors below. thankful for the help ahia allen lent us. got her new curtains too, cozy room, had my afternoon nap there earlier.
after transferring most of the stuff last night, i sat down and watched the dogs breathe while sleeping. what joy - watching them stretch contently. i watched them again when i woke up this morning.
packed 2.5 baggages out of 4. i guess i would still need to repack as there seems to be more stuff we want to bring than what we are allowed. think think think some more.
after transferring most of the stuff last night, i sat down and watched the dogs breathe while sleeping. what joy - watching them stretch contently. i watched them again when i woke up this morning.
packed 2.5 baggages out of 4. i guess i would still need to repack as there seems to be more stuff we want to bring than what we are allowed. think think think some more.
teething
it's a sony ericsson k530i. soft keys. warm silver. happy. :)
thankful too for bluetooth, was able to transfer my address book smoothly.
i woke up and watch our doggies stretch. [they wake up when we do.]
it is a good way to start the day. i have yet a lot to learn from them.
thankful too for bluetooth, was able to transfer my address book smoothly.
i woke up and watch our doggies stretch. [they wake up when we do.]
it is a good way to start the day. i have yet a lot to learn from them.
birth days
yesterday was ta's birthday. and we celebrated it by going shopping with him.
it was a nice time at trinoma. we had dinner at suking mann hann afterwards.
cindy's a mother! can't wait to see anton isaac. thankful for the safe delivery.
celebrating life with them.
it was a nice time at trinoma. we had dinner at suking mann hann afterwards.
cindy's a mother! can't wait to see anton isaac. thankful for the safe delivery.
celebrating life with them.
mundaneness
visited quiapo to buy beads for the barefoot sandals i am making for kate.
was wandering it's streets and knew i would be missing the place big time.
i also cut our dogs' nails [and some hair too]. glad i can do those.
thankful for the commonplace that keeps me sane during these times.
was wandering it's streets and knew i would be missing the place big time.
i also cut our dogs' nails [and some hair too]. glad i can do those.
thankful for the commonplace that keeps me sane during these times.
lonely planet
it has been raining four days in a row. manila is somehow cooled and cleaned.
and i have been inside the UP campus most of the time. i likey.
i thank those who supported our garage sale.
it's for a new phone initially. [i might get a SEK770i]
then for helping the earth by recycling.
then there's cleaning the house.
realized it is also community service - 2 feeding bottles for a new mom for 5 pesos and she got a free disposable diaper.
had dinner with isawmates last night. "what's a chook?". went home with a book.
bliss to have friends celebrate changes. thank you.
and i have been inside the UP campus most of the time. i likey.
i thank those who supported our garage sale.
it's for a new phone initially. [i might get a SEK770i]
then for helping the earth by recycling.
then there's cleaning the house.
realized it is also community service - 2 feeding bottles for a new mom for 5 pesos and she got a free disposable diaper.
had dinner with isawmates last night. "what's a chook?". went home with a book.
bliss to have friends celebrate changes. thank you.
tasty goodbye
whoever thought of pinoy-style despedida, i thank you.
late this afternoon, the whole astra company gathered to celebrate july birthday-ees and to bid us farewell.
15 months:
lem and i experienced japan - what it's like to live alone, to work together.
[a prelude to the australia trip we are taking next month.]
i got to experience working inside the up campus - snails, trees, a breath of fresh air.
at a very emotional time, we got to share a meal of pancit malabon, pork barbecue and chocolate cake.
overflowing drinks and laughter. thank you all for wishing us well.
late this afternoon, the whole astra company gathered to celebrate july birthday-ees and to bid us farewell.
15 months:
lem and i experienced japan - what it's like to live alone, to work together.
[a prelude to the australia trip we are taking next month.]
i got to experience working inside the up campus - snails, trees, a breath of fresh air.
at a very emotional time, we got to share a meal of pancit malabon, pork barbecue and chocolate cake.
overflowing drinks and laughter. thank you all for wishing us well.
adrenaline rush
on the eve of my last day of work, i am short of emote time.
[bugs are still waiting to be fixed.]
i am grateful for this job. reminded me there are still a lot to learn.
[was able to take a nap too :)]
[bugs are still waiting to be fixed.]
i am grateful for this job. reminded me there are still a lot to learn.
[was able to take a nap too :)]
breathless
i experience palpitations every once in a while. [ever since i got this thyroid thingy]
i have always wondered if my heart could take the speed of the wayward beating.
so far, so good. amazing machine. thankful to the Creator.
i have always wondered if my heart could take the speed of the wayward beating.
so far, so good. amazing machine. thankful to the Creator.
do not delay
growing up in a culture where business is personal and personal life is serious business,
it is refreshing to have discussed a prospective project objectively and quickly --- no drama.
laid our cards on the table:
he wants a developer based in manila.
i am leaving manila next month.
he would have wanted to work with me.
i would have wanted to give his project a shot.
he bid me to take care, "sorry didn't get to work with you earlier.."
i wished his project well, "i should have advertised earlier :D"
that's it. a good morning.
it is refreshing to have discussed a prospective project objectively and quickly --- no drama.
laid our cards on the table:
he wants a developer based in manila.
i am leaving manila next month.
he would have wanted to work with me.
i would have wanted to give his project a shot.
he bid me to take care, "sorry didn't get to work with you earlier.."
i wished his project well, "i should have advertised earlier :D"
that's it. a good morning.
bouillabaisse
[i bet you also don't know how pronounce the title. :p]
had dinner with 25by8 pips at crustasia rockwell powerplant last night.
reminiscing brought so much laughter: we were young, clueless, financially tight,
and we used to order half chili garlic calamari at Q's for 50 pesos (whole was for 85 pesos).
thankful we are still young, and can order new things (no half orders this time) on the menu.
[and i still don't know how to pronounce the title.]
had dinner with 25by8 pips at crustasia rockwell powerplant last night.
reminiscing brought so much laughter: we were young, clueless, financially tight,
and we used to order half chili garlic calamari at Q's for 50 pesos (whole was for 85 pesos).
thankful we are still young, and can order new things (no half orders this time) on the menu.
[and i still don't know how to pronounce the title.]
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