Pursue your passion

Over lunch a month ago, one of my officemates confessed to me that he had just tendered his resignation as section editor of our online publication. I was dumbfounded. I didn't see that coming, so I asked, “But why?????”

He said he wants to rest and pursue higher studies, and look for a job more allied to his college degree in the sciences. Four years in media was fun but stressful, and he wants to do something else now. I nodded in reply. I know the feeling.

Rewind to 22 years ago. I was a certified public accountant who finally realized writing was what I really wanted to do. Life is short, I thought, why be miserable?

Yesterday, my mom and I went to her friend’s house to check out a cute female shih tzu puppy for sale. On our way out, my mom’s friend told me that her son, who has been breeding shih tzus and chihuahuas, is really a nurse who even passed the Board exams. “But he likes taking care of dogs. That’s his business,” she said.

I believe we have all been gifted by God with passion for something for a purpose. When I hear Lea Salonga sing, for instance, I see the passion burning in her heart, and I feel moved by her singing. Similarly, when I see Lisa Macuja Elizalde dancing ballet with such emotion, I feel moved as well, and awed by such a gift which could have only come from God. When I heard former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and former US Vice President Al Gore give talks in Manila, I immediately saw their passion for good governance and environment protection, respectively, and I was encouraged.

“The greatest things in life are not things. Meaning is far more important than money,” wrote Rick Warren in The Purpose Driven Life.

What’s your passion? Pursue it and have a meaningful life.

Click here to read this article on the Smart Super Women blog.

Gym day

So there I was at midday today, doing brisk walking on the treadmill. Before I knew it, the 15 minutes warm-up walk was done and it was time to lift some weights. No, not the heavy kind, but more like 5-pound dumbbells for arm curls and 15 pounds on the lat machine. After that, 2 sets at the total abdominal machine to hopefully tone those abs. Then some time on the leg press, and maybe 10 minutes at the stationary bike.

It's Monday, and it's gym day, and again I am paying for the privilege of sweating in an air-conditioned gym. I marvel at how time flies—it's been more than a year now? Wow!

I've been a gym dropout for a couple of times over the past 16 years (or since my son was born). I'd go for a few months, then drop out, thinking I can do it on my own and exercise at the UP Diliman Oval, but always, always, there's something more urgent to do. So I've had a pretty much sedentary life for most of the time.

More than a year ago, I went to Baguio with my good friend Jing Lejano, and walking uphill on the street got me panting in like, 5 minutes. She said, “Kung ‘di ako fit, mas hindi ka fit.” [“If I’m not fit, then you’re so not fit!”] Don’t I know it!

When my son got interested in enrolling in a gym last year, I enrolled myself too. On the first day of my training, my trainer put me on the treadmill. The 15-minute time limit seemed like forever that he brought it down to 10. He also moved back my speed from 5.0 km/hr to 3.0 km/hr. I was exhausted. He said, “Buti na lang naisipan niyong mag-gym. Ang hina niyo pala.” [“It’s a good thing you decided to go to the gym. You’re weak already.”] OK, I know, I know.

Fast-forward to a year after, and today, I do 5.3 km/hr on the treadmill for 15 minutes if I don’t feel like pushing myself. I can lift light weights and walk faster than I used to. I also feel stronger, and walk with a spring in my step, I believe. The muscles? Hmm, getting firmer, although the abs may take another year to be flat (haha!).

I read somewhere that just 30 minutes of exercise a day can do wonders to one’s health. Thirty minutes! Surely you can spare 30 minutes a day, right? Or, OK, 30 minutes every other day at the minimum. Go flex those muscles, girl, and do it for a healthier you.

Click here to read this article on the Smart Super Women blog.

On parenting, career, and womanhood

Sharing here snippets of my past blog posts in Smart Super Women:

Loving reading
http://www.smartsuperwomen.com/loving-reading/

Easy summers
http://www.smartsuperwomen.com/easy-summers/

Me, Super Mom
http://www.smartsuperwomen.com/me-super-mom/

Summer class
http://www.smartsuperwomen.com/summer-class/

Choosing a college course
http://www.smartsuperwomen.com/choosing-a-college-course/

So different yet so alike
http://www.smartsuperwomen.com/so-different-yet-so-alike/

The transporters
http://www.smartsuperwomen.com/the-transporter/


Busting stress
http://www.smartsuperwomen.com/592/

Will post more original content and links to future posts in smartsuperwomen.com soon!

Book sale! Time to do some early Christmas shopping

While others get super excited about mall sales and brand-name sales, I get thrilled at the thought of a book sale.

The experience is like that of a child entering a huge candy store and all the candies are on sale.

Yeah, yeah, I'm a nerd, and really, it's cool to be one. I love reading, and learning, and going places through the books I read.

On vacation in the US four years ago, we went a couple of times to the library sale, and the challenge was really how to limit my purchases to meet my baggage limit for the trip back home. I came back to Manila then with gems such as "Footprints of a Pilgrim" by Ruth Bell Graham and a biography of Billy Graham, among others, for a little over a dollar or two each.

In a little corner of a bookstore in Dagupan 2 years ago, I found "God's Smuggler" by Brother Andrew for an unforgettable price: P15!

In bookstores in Manila, I always check out the bargain bins and once found "Becoming a Vessel God Can Use" by Donna Partow, "Prayer Changes Teens" by Janet Holm McHenry, and "Mere Christianity" by C. S. Lewis at slashed prices.

Then on a first visit to OMF Lit Bookshop at Il Terrazzo along Tomas Morato Avenue in QC, I found "Walking from East to West" by Ravi Zacharias in the bargain bin. Of course I  bought it right away.

Well I heard that OMF Lit is holding a book sale now until May 31 called "R.O.B. Us (Raid Our Bookshop: Ultimate Sale)" and discounts of 40% off over 200 titles, and 30% off other OMF Lit titles can be had. It does seem too good to be true, but it turns out to be really true-- see this link.

I plan to buy the book I've been itching to buy for sometime--"The Twelfth Imam" by Joel Rosenberg as I've read all his previous books ("The Last Jihad", The Last Days", "Dead Heat", "The Copper Scroll", "The Ezekiel Option" and "Epicenter") except one, "Inside the Revolution" which I should get too at this sale.

Last Christmas, I bought a lot of books as gifts. And I'm planning to do the same this year, and do some early Christmas shopping at the OMF Lit sale.

These books would make great gifts: "Refreshing Words for Busy Women" by Darlene Sala, for career women friends; "Ang Pera na Di Bitin" by Ardy Roberto, useful to anyone who would like to handle finances better; and Grace Chong's books about personal stories of blessings. Luis Gatmaitan's "Tito Dok" books for kids are also perfect gifts for kids.

My little Bible is also falling apart now, so I plan to buy one for me and my son as well.

A book that encourages and uplifts can make a difference in someone's life and in your own life as well. Let's check out the sale then, shall we?

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "The earth is filled with your love, LORD; teach me your decrees. Psalm 119:64

Doctors like 'Show and Tell'

At the risk of sounding gross and morbid, I'll tell you what I did today.
I brought my mom to her foot doctor since her left big toenail became ingrown, and her toe became swollen.

Looking at my mom's toe, the doctor said there was pus, and he needed to do minor surgery and cut part of the nail.

He said it was just going to take 10-15 minutes, and since we were there already, my mom agreed to have it done right there in his little clinic.

I backed away, but my mom called me and asked me to hold her hand. I saw the doctor preparing to administer anesthesia by injection, and when he put it in--can't tell if through the nail or the skin--my mom yelped in pain and squeezed my hand tightly.

Then the doctor proceeded to operate. He told me, "Look, there's the pus. Do you see it?"

I looked at the toe from where I was as I held my mom's hand and for once I am thankful I am nearsighted as I cannot see what got him excited.

"There, do you see it?" he asked again.

I looked at the toe again and can only see a blurred bloody mess, and told the doctor, "Eww. That's why I am not a doctor. I can't stand the sight of blood." He smiled.

The operation over, we sat on chairs while he wrote the name of an antibiotic on a prescription pad. "Oh, I forgot to show you the nail!" he told me.

"Please, doc, don't bother," I said, and he grinned.

What is it with doctors and their love for "show and tell?" :)

When I had my appendectomy in 1998, the surgeon called for my mom to go the operating room. My mom, very nervous then, thought I had a heart attack while on the operating table or something. It turned out the surgeon just wanted to show her my severed appendix.

Then when my mom had gall bladder surgery a few years ago, the surgeon called for me to go to the operating room. And there, the surgeon, still in scrubs, showed me a pink/purple (can't remember the exact color now) gall bladder in a little kidney-shaped basin, pinching it this way and that, saying, "See? This is what we took out of your mom." I was speechless. And horrified.

My mom was wheeled into her room a few hours after that along with a little "souvenir" from the surgeon: a 'stone' the size of a one peso coin placed in a little bottle -- the gallstone that caused my mom much pain.
It must be their love for science that makes doctors want to show off unhealthy body parts, severed or not.
As for me, the non-scientist, I'll take the doctor's word when he says what needs to be taken out has been taken out. No need for proof, doc.

BOOK OF THE WEEK: Since February, our church has been discussing love--what it means to love like Jesus did. The campaign was called 40 Days of Love, and the principles were based on the Bible and the book The Relationship Principles of Jesus by Tom Holladay. Don't let the book title intimidate you; the book is very practical, and a worthy read. It encourages readers to place the highest value on relationships, to communicate from the heart, and to treat others the way you want them to treat you.

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." -- Isaiah 55:8-9

S, the blog for smart women and super women

I just joined a blog network for moms and women called Smart Super Women.

Here are the first 3 entries I have posted there:

Multitasking a Must


For the nth time, I ate at my desk at work today. Some days are hectic, some aren’t, and today is just one of the hectic ones at the newsroom.

In between writing and editing news about OFWs arriving from Libya, Fil-Ams observing Lent in America, and a 5-star chef whipping up gourmet dishes in Baguio City, I would grab a bite of my rice meal picked up from the food court, and think about what to write in this blog.

Sometimes I feel I am doing so many things—multitasking—but I just cannot NOT multitask. I am a mother after all, and a daughter, and a sister, and a working journalist, and a friend too.

And so I try to do what I can on most days, armed with a little prayer to God up there, and with a smile to greet the people around me. Better to brighten up the world, right? There are just so many weird and bad things happening in the world around us.

If you’re a mom, you’d know what I’m talking about—multitasking—and probably can recall having to make a grocery shopping list while waiting for a meeting to start, or dropping by a bookstore on the way home from work to buy a cartolina or some oslo paper your child absolutely needs the next day.

Some days you field a call from the office while stirring that spaghetti sauce in the kitchen at home. At other times, you just drop everything and care for your child who is nursing a high-grade fever.

Motherhood—it’s tough, and more so if you’re a working mom at that. But no other calling is closest to my heart than being a mom to my son, now a teenager.

Along the way, I’ve learned many things about mothers, kids, teaching, learning, bonding, living life, celebrating each moment. I won’t pretend to know it all, but will share here what I know works. After all, we’re all in this—motherhood—together.

So smile, mom, no matter how busy you are.

 [Click this to read this article on the blog.]

Where Were You?


Over lunch today, at the despedida for my uncle set to leave for the US for good, my aunt told me stories about her grandchildren. One is already in college, and will be in his junior year in his IT course this June.

“What? He’s in college already?!” I exclaimed. The last time I saw him, he was maybe in grade 1, having so much fun at a swimming party.

Well, what should I expect? My son was only 4 or 5 when we went to that same swimming party. And he will be 16 next month.

Time flies, you’ve heard that before, but I say time flies faster, it seems, when kids are involved. The little kid you used to bring to prep class may have just attended prom last month, or is excited now to embark on college life in June.

My brother used to tell me to enjoy every bit of my son’s growing up years because kids don’t remain kids long.

A few years ago, when I taught a writing course at a college nearby, I gave my students, mostly college seniors, a finals exam I deemed would be easy for them: Write an essay about the life lesssons you learned using the writing techniques you learned in class. “Write from the heart,” I told them.

Soon, someone was sniffling. Someone was crying. As they poured out their thoughts on paper, it was as if a wealth of emotions bottled up inside got freed.

Most of my students then were children of overseas Filipino workers, and many of them had one question it seems, for their parents: “Where were you… when someone made fun of me in grade school? … when the dentist pulled my tooth? … when I got sick of dengue and needed to be hospitalized? … when I had graduated with honors and needed you to pin a medal on me? … when I first became a teen? … when I had my circumcision? …when I needed a hug?” One asked, “Why didn’t you say goodbye when you left when I was 4? Why have you not come back at all?”

Tough questions.

Kids don’t stay kids long. Love them, enjoy them, hug them, be with them.

 [Click this to read this article on the blog.]

The Saving Habit

The security guard peeked into my little red checkered tote bag before allowing me entry into the bank early Wednesday morning last week. He must have been amused because he said, “Thank you, ma’m” in a cheerful tone.

Inside my bag, you see, was a Zip Loc plastic bag full of P5 and P10 coins. Total weight: maybe 5 pounds. Total count: over P1,000.

It was my mom’s gift to my son. For quite some time, my mom would drop P5 and P10 in two piggybanks. They became full recently, and so she gave them to my son. It was my son who decided to deposit all of the coins in his account at the bank, which was what he did too when he got some cash as gift last Christmas.

I can’t remember how old he was when I first opened a bank account for him. Definitely it was before he started grade school, though. And so over the years, whenever he would receive cash from godparents and family members, these would go straight to the bank.

When my two friends got married more than a decade ago, I was floored when I learned they bought a house using their own money as downpayment. They were just in their 20s then. It turns out both of them grew up with their parents saving for them in the bank all the money gifts they received since they were small. So in some 20 years, compound interest has made their savings grow so much that these were enough to help them start on their own two feet when they got married.

The habit of saving can be instilled in a child early. Aside from opening a bank account for him, let him see you and the people around you practice saving as well. Start today and keep at it until it becomes second nature to your child.

 [Click this to read this article on the blog.]

The other moms have great stories and lessons to share based on their own personal experiences as well. Check regularly for fresh practical content. :)

BOOK OF THE WEEK: I finally picked up my copy of The Fourth Estate by Jeffrey Archer, which, I realized was sitting in my bookshelf for something like 10 years. This fiction book is about the business of publishing, including the deal-making behind it. I'm still in the early pages, but it does seem interesting.

VERSE OF THE WEEK: Commit to the LORD whatever you do and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3

Japan on my mind

We all gasped in horror in the newsroom last Friday (March 11) as the first videos were aired on CNN showing huge waves racing toward ricefields, the runways at Sendai airport, and homes. Cars were swept away, and bobbed up and down, the same way they did during Typhoon Ondoy.
I remember my Japanese sister-in-law Tomie saying that almost every building in Japan is earthquake-proof. This is the reason why there was no extensive structural damage in Tokyo and other areas.

But the tsunami was something else. What happened in Sendai just goes to show man is powerless against a tsunami.

Since that Friday over a week ago (March 11), I have been thinking of Japan. It's such a beautiful country with wonderful people.

May God help the people of Japan rise over this tragedy. And may the people of Japan acknowledge that though it may be hard to understand, God is in control and Lord over the whole earth.

BOOK OF THE WEEK: For my birthday last January, my mom gave me a paperback copy of Julie & Julia by Julie Powell. I missed seeing the movie version of this in cinemas, so I looked forward to reading the book. I still have 100 pages to go to finish the book, though. The concept is good: a young woman embarks on a yearlong project to cook her way through Julia Child's cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Somehow though, Julie & Julia the book hasn't intrigued me enough to the point that I want to finish the book in 3 days. It's been weeks and I'm still reading it, a few pages a day. Verdict so far: The movie (which I caught on HBO recently) is more interesting.

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm." ~ Psalm 75:3

Grateful

I am grateful to God for all His blessings in 2010...Even if my left side mirror was stolen last night on New Year's eve, nothing else was stolen...Even if my right rear tire got punctured last week, it wasn't deep...Even if I'm stuck home today and can't go out of town, I have my family with me...Even if I can't afford some wants, I have what I need...Even if I wasn't able to see all my close friends over the holidays, they're still there as our friendships run deep...Even if I feel tired, I am happy. Thank you, Lord for the gift of life. I'm looking forward to what You have in store for me this 2011. :)

BOOK OF THE WEEK: When I read my friend Mae's review of "Ang Pera na Hindi Bitin" by Eduardo "Ardy" Roberto, I got intrigued and looked out for it. I found it in PowerBooks and snapped up copies for me and my friends. This little book gives practical wise advice on handling money wisely and stretching it so it goes farther -- Hindi bitin. A great investment!

VERSE OF THE WEEK: Teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

A mother's oatmeal

Seems I spoke too soon.

Just a few days after I wrote my previous blog post on how to survive Christmas, I find myself violating one of them: get plenty of rest.

So here I am with a giant ball of some sort stuck in my throat, it seems, and swallowing food or drink has been difficult for the 3rd day in a row ('di ba halata sa NCAD party? hahaha).

And because symptoms come in groups (they don't like solo flights), I also had fever last night, body aches up to now, and sticky phlegm. Sorry for the TMI.

But this post isn't really about that. It's to say how loved I feel whenever I am sick.

My mom checked on me throughout the night, and this morning made me some oatmeal.

Yup, at my age, I still yearn for some motherly care, and I feel so blessed to have my 79-year-old mom still strong enough to cook some oatmeal for me.

My son, aged 15, on the other hand, brought me a glass of water, which he doesn't usually do.

I am in bed right now, nursing whatever thing this is (my niece, a doctor, texted to say it must be upper respiratory infection), and hoping it would last a little bit more so I can have a taste of my mom's home-cooked oatmeal again tomorrow.

KSP? Yeah, guilty.

BOOK OF THE WEEK: I've had the book Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges for quite some time now, and I've gone through most of the chapters with my Bible study group. We may be so conscious of avoiding the big sins (murder, adultery, etc.) that we may have become so short-sighted as to not have the same vigilance over "small" or "respectable" sins such as pride, envy, ungodliness, and so forth. Worth reading.

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!" Isaiah 49:15

Surviving Christmas

Is it really true? Did that Countdown to Christmas counter I see whenever I go to the food court 5 times a week at the office turn 24 today? Wasn't that just 80 or 79 when they first put it up?

That means there are just 24 days left until Christmas.

And that means there are just 3 weeks left to do all the shopping and partying and the working in between before that happy day.

That means I better be on survival mode already.

I remember past Christmas seasons when things were just a tad too hectic.

I got sick one time with colds for 3 weeks and my ears were so clogged I couldn't hear in one ear. I finally went to see a doctor on the morning of December 24, finally convinced I needed some serious help.

Then there was a Christmas season full of deadlines that I was interviewing someone on the morning of December 26. My desperate tone convinced my interviewee to meet me the day after Christmas.

There was just no time to shop one holiday season that I ended up at the mall--and braving the crowd--on the morning of December 24 to finish shopping for my loved ones.

And then I remember a time I felt like Elastigirl being pulled this way and that to drive, pick up, deliver, fetch someone or something, and watch a program and attend a party in between.

Well. Never again.

I've since wisened up, I'd like to believe.

And so here are some strategies I have employed since then to help me survive the Christmas season sans stress and sickness:

1. Calendar everything, be it deadline, press con, interview, meeting, program, party, lunch date, Bible study meeting, family affair, and so on.

Putting everything down in a month-in-a-glance calendar will help you see if you're committing yourself to too many things.

So far, my December calendar is pretty much OK, with just one party a week scheduled.

2. Don't say yes to every invitation. Yes it's nice and fun to attend every party you're invited to, but with city traffic at its worst at this time of the year, it makes sense to be more choosy. Don't worry. You can meet other friends next year.

Just this morning, for instance, my friend Meg said that with her schedule, it looks like we won't be able to see each other until next year. But she assured me that I won't miss her as she will be sending me some food when I go to work on Christmas Day (yes, I think I have work at the newsroom then).

3. Shop a little at a time as often as you can. Some years back, I did all my Christmas shopping in 1-2 days at the mall. While that would be ideal so one can save on transpo cost, it may not be practical if you don't have much time.

So last year I started shopping early (as early as September) a little at a time. Every time I was at the mall for something, I picked up one or 2 gifts for the holidays. It was also more relaxing as I had the luxury of choosing something that would suit the recipient more.

With that strategy, I was done with shopping by the 2nd week of December.

4. Try shopping online. I like checking out online stores since you're more likely to find unique items you can't find in big stores at the malls. I also like to support budding entrepreneurs (there are many of them on Multiply) so I buy online. Payment is via bank deposit, G-cash, or meet up and they deliver the goods to your house via courier if you aren't meeting up.

A word of caution though: Buy only from established online sellers or those with good feedback.

5. Get plenty of rest. If you do number 2 above, you'll have enough time for rest. Sleep on time, get enough sleep, and make room for some "me" time to recharge.

6. Take your vitamins and eat and drink healthy. Boost your immune system by treating your body well. And while we're at it, make sure you exercise regularly, even if it's just for 30 minutes.

7. Remember what it's all about. We have Christmas because it's Jesus' birthday. And how can one attend a birthday celebration without greeting the celebrant? So make time to pray.

Besides, taking the time to pray can help you put everything in the proper perspective, letting you see what really matters in life.

So there you have it, my 7 survival tactics for the hectic holiday season. Merry Christmas!

BOOK OF THE WEEK: It's not at all Christmas-y, but the book I've been lugging around lately is Beyond Belief: Islamic Excursions Among the Converted Peoples by V.S. Naipul. What made me pick up the book at a secondhand book store recently is Naipul's name and the "Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature" text on the front cover. In this book, Naipul revisits the places he has visited before for his book Among the Believers: Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, and Malaysia. Through his profiles of real people, readers get to see what life is like for Muslims in those areas.

VERSE OF THE WEEK: ...He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

On poverty and the Filipino

A couple of days ago, I got to talk with someone running for kagawad in a barangay in Quezon City. I asked him how the campaign was going.

"There's this place I went to where the alley was just as wide as your body. On your left and right are squatters' houses. At the end of the long alley, you meet a dead end, then you turn left. Then it's more of the same thing," he said.

"It was depressing. There are still too many people who are so poor," he added.

I asked him if the people talked to him about their concerns and whether he gave anything to help -- money perhaps?

He said there was no time to do so. But he knew that if he stayed 10 more minutes there, it would take a while before he can get out and he would have to shell out money.

"It was morning, and men were already gathered together, drinking. If I lingered some more, they'd offer me a drink ("tagay") and it would be impolite to leave," he said.

Though I didn't see the place he talked about, I just nodded. Haven't I seen such a scene in some Lino Brocka movie back in the 80s? Or passing by Agham Road or Araneta Avenue just the other day? Twenty years have passed, and there are people who are still poor, maybe even poorer than before.

After Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao won one of his fights before, I figured that if he would just use his earnings from the pay-per-view deal with HBO to give money to the poor in the country, many would probably be living better lives now.

But then again, there would still be people who would just use the money to drink ("happy-happy" as my mom would say) -- those with the "eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die" mindset.

I guess it's not enough that the poor are given livelihood opportunities. They also have to have in them that determination to get out of their situation, to strive to do their best, to be the best they can be. They also need to realize that God has a plan for them, and life is more than just living for the moment.

A change of mindset and a change of heart. That could be the answer.

VERSE OF THE WEEK: Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. Proverbs 10:4

BOOK OF THE WEEK: I just finished Fight for the Filipino by Tito Guingona. It's not exactly a book I would pick up at the bookstore, but since it was lying around at home, I read it. And I'm glad I did. It was interesting to know what life was like for the author when he was young with a world war going on, and how politics was like back in the 50s, 60s and 70s. As he talked about his political career from the 80s onward, the author gave readers a view of Philippine politics from a different angle. I'm glad he took time off to write this book.

Cheering with Chile

Like many people around the world, I couldn't take my eyes off the TV as CNN showed live footage of the rescue of the 33 trapped Chilean miners yesterday.

And today, I have been glued to CNN for almost 2 hours now since waking up, waiting with the rest of the world for miner number 30 to come up from the bowels of the earth.

What a great story of faith, perseverance, unity, selflessness! Anyone trapped for more than 60 days in a dark place would have gone nuts but these men have shown courage and unwavering faith in God that He will provide a way out.

"I will exalt you, O LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. O LORD, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit." Psalm 30:1-3

Seeing stars and the wanna-bes

It seemed straight out of a weird dream.

There I was walking along the corridor by the studios. Suddenly comedienne Pokwang, looking so glam in a black-and-white couture outfit and a pillbox hat with a half veil covering one eye, came running toward me. "Fun run tayo!" she egged on the two alalays following her as she made the dash to her dressing room. We made eye contact for a sec then I continued walking.

Nope, it wasn't a dream. This happened sometime last week or two weeks ago near the "Wowowee" studio at ABS-CBN.

That wasn't the end of it. A few paces later, I made way for Mariel Rodriguez who was calmly walking toward her dressing room telling someone, "Di ako puwede eh. May uber ako." I wonder what "uber" meant.

Since I started working for a TV network's news website a couple of months ago, star sightings have become a normal event of the day.

As I was making my way to the basement parking at ELJ Building last Wednesday, I did a double take when I saw Boy Abunda taping a show at the Loop studio. What made me stop and look through the glass windows was the realization that, hey, I just wrote about him. As in, just a couple of hours ago when Tourism Secretary Ace Durano gave a gracious answer when media pressed him for comment on the possibility of having Boy Abunda as Tourism Secretary if P. Noy could have his way.

Sometime this week, as part of my daily habit, I headed toward the cafeteria for a P10-cup of Nescafe with cream and sugar at the vendo machine. At the door, I overheard a director (he sounded like one as he mentioned something about "taping ko") talking to a smiling young man in slim jeans. Hey wasn't that... It was after I got my coffee that I realized it was Jovit Baldivino, the guy who just won the "Pilipinas Got Talent" grand finals.

But stars aren't all I see around. I got a jolt one time when I was walking toward the corner, and I saw red half-naked men headed toward me. They must have been done with their "Showtime" stint.

Then another time, I saw green. As in green half-naked men walking toward the cafeteria while I cradled my hot dog sandwich to go back to the newsroom. It did seem surreal seeing half-naked green men in line at the cafeteria, trays in hand.

I guess that's one of the perks of working at a TV network. I get celebrity sightings and glimpses of wanna-be stars at all hours of the day.

The biggest frustration I have, though, is missing Robin Padilla. Twice. Jing wrote about him before, in a blog entry entitled "Hotness!" On the two occasions I missed him, Robin went to the newsroom. The first time, there was a commotion somewhere in the newsroom, and deadma-to-the-world me couldn't care less as I was typing something away. Reyma came back with news that she squeezed herself beside Robin for a photo. And shucks, what do I find on Facebook the day after but a photo of my editor with Robin!

The second time he came around was on my day off, a Monday. After guesting on "Headstart with Karen Davila," Robin found himself cornered by Reyma into an interview right in our neck of the woods. As in, if I wanted, and I was there, I could have thrown a paper plane over and it would have landed right smack on Robin's lap. So there, I missed a photo op with one of the hottest guys in town.

Reyma consoled me with a photo op with another newsmaker. He may not be some hot and young guy from showbiz, but oh well, at least he's famous.

 

BOOK OF THE WEEK: I'm almost halfway through  Sarena's Story, a tale about a life spent in the service of a royal family in Mindanao. Author Criselda Yabes weaves the story well that I wished my lunch breaks were longer so I can read more every day.

VERSE OF THE WEEK: He who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals his thoughts to man, he who turns dawn to darkness, and treads the high places of the earth--the LORD God Almighty is his name. Amos 4:13

Lovin' my Mondays

While my son is watching a motorcycle race on Star Sports, here I am typing away on the little Eee PC on a hot summer afternoon. Earlier this day, after dropping him off at the gym, I went window shopping at clothes and shoe stores, did a 30-minute grocery run, then sat down to read the day's paper.

After lunch of chicken teriyaki and shrimp katsu at Yoshinoya, we had coffee at Nero, and while he surfed the Net, I browsed the glossy mags. So many new magazines in the market now -- would they last?

Back at home by 2 p.m., we checked our Facebook and e-mail, and after I fired off 2 work-related e-mails, I stopped myself and logged out fast. It's Monday. And that just means one thing: it's my day off!

It takes some getting used to, but I know I should begin to equate Monday with relaxation. It's a time to chill, have coffee leisurely, watch the cats balance themselves on the neighbor's fence, curl up with a book, practice the art of doing nothing, and just hang out with my son.

Mondays. I'm lovin' my Mondays.

VERSE OF THE WEEK: The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8

BOOK OF THE WEEK: I'm halfway through Jeffrey Steingarten's It Must've Been Something I Ate, a gift from my foodie friend Erli. The author is Vogue's food critic and sits as judge on Iron Chef America. This is one guy who would go to great lengths to find the best bluefin tuna, the best Parisian baguette, the best pizza bianca in Italy, while figuring out the difference between salt in America and salt in France, and so on. This collection of published essays is worth reading and if you're up to it, you can even follow the recipes and cook to impress family and friends.

Bringing up teenagers

Just when you thought you have it down pat, your child's teen years arrive and suddenly, everything changes. What worked before won't work now as your child tries to assert his independence.

I'm glad there are resources out there for parents of teenagers today. One of them is the book Parenting Teens written by Evelyn Ramos Pajaron with her husband Teody (published by Church Strengthening Ministry, 2009, 267 pp.).

In it, Evelyn and Teody of Campus Crusade for Christ go personal and talk about how they raised their kids Charissa and Hesedel during the tumultuous teenage years. Both of them write from the heart as they share lessons learned in communicating with their teens, handling boyfriend/girlfriend issues, talking about sex, dealing with teens' need for gadgets (they're the I.T. generation after all), setting boundaries, disciplining, having debut parties and celebrating their teen's passage into manhood (turning 21) and the clincher--letting go. What I like about the book is that the authors don't "preach down" to their readers. They just tell it like it is, the way you would talk with your close friend over coffee. Another plus: it's written by Filipinos and they wrote it with the Filipino culture in mind.

Some gems from the book:

* "Mothers cannot and were never meant to do parenting all by themselves. And this is especially more important during the challenging teen years. Fathers play such an underrated but extremely crucial role in the home."

* "He (God) is our partner in rearing and dealing with our teenagers... He loves them with a passion more than we do, and the love that we feel for our children is nothing compared to His love and His wanting the best for them."

* "If we don't take the lead in teaching our children the right view of sex as God's gift to be enjoyed within the bounds of marriage, they will acquire our hang-ups and adopt the world's view of sex."

* "If we want our homes to be a place where our teens hang around, then we need to loosen up, relax, and see humor in our everyday lives."

* "[Make] them feel they are loved regardless of how they behave... Try to get into their world once in a while. Listen more and talk less."

VERSE OF THE WEEK: Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Proverbs 7:2

Cough remedies

It's been two weeks of flu season at home, and at last (hopefully), the coughing sounds will fade out in a day or two. My son and I have been taking turns coughing by the minute before, as Solmux (a mucolytic) worked overtime to help us expel sticky phlegm. "What such phlegmatic personalities we have," I thought in jest.

You'd think by this time I knew what to do. Well in a way, yes (rest, drink lots of liquids, consult a doctor, take lozenges). But there are some other things I didn't know I could do, as my friends and family shared some interesting cough remedies you may want to consider the next time you have some serious lung-busting cough:

1. Bayabas gargle. Boil guava leaves and gargle the juice. (from Veron)
2. Garlic juice with honey. Pound garlic, pour water on it and some honey. (from Excel)
3. Oregano juice. Squeeze oregano leaves to get a teaspoon or two of liquid and drink it. (from Aileen)
4. Hot water. Just drink a cup of hot water to soothe sore throat. (from Weng)
5. Hot calamansi juice. (from our household helper who banned Coke at this time)
6. Bactidol gargle. (forgot who)
7. Hot apple cider vinegar (from my parents' book The Home Remedies Handbook)
8. Pei Pa Koa candies. (from my sister)
9. Ginger tea (salabat) (from my other sister)

Ginger tea or salabat

10. Lemongrass tea (from Leah)
11. And the clincher: Tequila. "Isang shot lang, tanggal lahat yan," said Paul.

We only tried numbers 4 and 5 due to supply problems (our guava tree was uprooted many years ago; no oregano, apple cider, Pei Pa Koa, Bactidol, tequila sighted at home, et cetera). I was supposed to meet up with Excel for a taste test of the garlic juice with honey, but didn't get around to doing it. It was mostly just Solmux and Tuseran for us, and when those didn't work, Robitussin DM and Amoxicillin. And lots of prayers and good wishes from wonderful friends.

But our cough's almost gone, our voices kinda back, and we're up and about. :-) At last. Thank God for His blessing.

BOOK OF THE WEEK: Do you dread going back to work on Mondays? Then maybe it's time you pick up the book Thank God It's Monday by Kim Hackney (Lighthouse Books, 2003). Geared for women, the book tackles your purpose at work, and how you can celebrate it. Many times, we are full of complaints ("If only they paid me more," "If only I had that position," et cetera) that we miss out on God's blessing of success. A chapter at the end gives tips on how to look for the right job and evaluate job offers.

VERSE OF THE WEEK: This is what the LORD says--your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea." Isaiah 48:17-18

6 life lessons from a woman with a planet named after her

If you had a planet named after you, and a stage on which you can stand on and share what you want new high school graduates (and their parents, guests, and ok, the whole wide planet Earth) to know, what would you say?

Dr. Josette Biyo, outstanding educator and first Asian recipient of the Intel Excellence in Teaching Award given at the 2002 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Kentucky, USA, took such an opportunity last Wednesday, March 31, 2010 when she addressed the pioneer graduates of Malayan High School of Science at their commencement ceremony at RCBC Plaza in Makati City. Dr. Biyo is now director of the Philippine High School of Science, Western Visayas campus.

Here are Dr. Biyo's advice and life lessons, things which she herself follows.

1. There is no shortcut to success. Don't cram. Submit your requirements on time.
2. Love what you're doing. When you love to learn, studying is easy.
3. Don't be afraid to commit mistakes. Committing mistakes is one of the best ways to learn.
4. Follow the golden rule.
5. Have a dream. "I dreamt of stars. I was given a planet," said Dr. Biyo. To honor her achievements, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology named a minor planet (12341) as Planet Biyo. She said, "I invite you all to visit the planet. No visa required."
6. Always pray. Pray when you can't understand your lessons, when you're confused, and to thank God for His blessings.

Dr. Biyo revealed that she lives by these truths too. She remembers teaching in a small rural school at one time and found herself handling not just science subjects, her forte (she was a BS Biology graduate of the University of the Philippines), but also physical education, and even Citizens Army Training (CAT). These instilled in her the values of service and compassion as she negotiated the long road to success.

Wise words, aren't they? Applicable to people of all ages, graduates or not.

BOOK OF THE WEEK: I've had the little book Train Up a Child by Harold Sala for several years now, and it's good to keep rereading it as one's child grows. As he wrote, "Realize that the training of a child begins at birth and never stops." The book talks about the importance of communicating with our children, disciplining them, how to convey values, among others.

VERSE OF THE WEEK: You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3

My top 10 places in the metro for some quiet time

I'm one of those people who can go out without lipstick, but not without a book in hand. It's for those times when I'm in between appointments, or when I just want to chillax in the middle of the day.

And since I go around a lot for my job, I have discovered some pretty quiet cozy places where I can just sit in a quiet corner and read while sipping a hot cup of coffee or tea. Check them out if you'd like to work alone or catch up on your reading in peace.

1. Soul Shop. It's a small cafe inside Crossroad 77, at the corner of Mother Ignacia Avenue and Scout Reyes in Quezon City. They have pasta, sandwiches, rice meals, and coffee and tea too (try chai!). One time I had to wait for the car coding scheme to be lifted at 7 pm and thoroughly enjoyed my three hours' waiting time here reading my books, organizing my schedule, and checking out their magazine rack. You can bring your laptop and use their electrical outlet for P20.

2. Wheatberry. Sometimes you can have the whole second floor to yourself on a quiet afternoon. Service is prompt and polite. Since Wheatberry is a bakeshop, their desserts are always worth tasting. You can't miss it: it's right beside Max's Scout Tuazon (the original Max's) near Roces Avenue in Quezon City.

3. Starbucks at Metrowalk, Meralco Ave. near cor. Ortigas Avenue, Pasig. What I like about this Starbucks are the big glass windows which let the sunlight in on an early morning or early afternoon. I can get lost in a book for two hours here in some quiet corner while having my mint tea with honey.

4. Coffee Bean on Tomas Morato, Quezon City. But only in the morning. The second floor is still quiet then. You can enjoy your eggs benedict in peace while going over the day's paper. Free wifi for those with Swirl cards.

5. Bo's Coffee at 4/f Atrium in Megamall. But never on a weekend. I've done some copyediting/proofreading here on weekdays while having a strong americano, all the time eyeing that blueberry cheesecake (maybe I'll finally try it next time). :-) I think wifi is free too.

6. That coffee shop at UP Jorge B. Vargas Museum, UP Diliman. It used to be called Cordillera Coffee, but someone told me they changed their name already. Coffee's really good, and when you're in between chapters, it's relaxing to look at the trees lining the UP Oval. It's outdoors, though, not air-conditioned, but it's breezy outside anyway.

7. Gloria Jean's, 2/f Megamall Bldg A. Most of the kids are at Starbucks, so expect some quiet in here.

8. Figaro on Banawe Street, Quezon City. Upstairs, it's quiet in the mornings.

9. Paseo Center on a weekend afternoon. Most of the restaurants are closed, and you can park yourself in front of Country Style with a cup of coffee the whole afternoon in peace. But you'd wish the air con's in full blast. Paseo Center is on Paseo de Roxas, Makati City.

10. Dome at Podium. It's one of the places open very early at Podium (7 a.m.). Take a corner seat and read or work until the mall comes to life at 11 a.m.

BOOK OF THE WEEK: I started reading Parenting Teens by Evelyn Ramos Pajaron, published by Church Strengthening Ministry and I'm lovin' it! More on this book in another post.

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. 1 Corinthians 2:9

Going gray

I have a photo shoot on Saturday and as always, I will make a beeline for the salon the day before or 2 days before the event. My gray hair needs to be covered yet again or else the image of me with salt-and-pepper hair at the (ahem) young age of 43 will be the one preserved for posterity.

Being a not so vain person, I have always entertained the idea of going gray totally. No more trips to the salon for a 2-hour hair dye job every 6 weeks, no more damaged hair. I love the idea so much I want to embrace it and just celebrate my going into middle age. But everyone in my family, from my father, mother, brother and sisters, wouldn't hear of it. My dad would go as far as to scold me for not having my hair colored. My brother and sister, whenever they would be in town from abroad, would bring me to a salon to let me have a hair coloring session—their treat. Only my son, who likes Taylor Hicks, wants me to go totally gray.

Even my friends have become concerned. Patsy, when she learned I was guesting on a TV show sometime ago, said to herself, “I hope Karen dyes her hair.” (I did.) Gaby, when I met her for breakfast last month with other friends, greeted us with, “So, did you girls have your hair colored already?”

Let me see. I think I was in 2nd year high school when I first noticed I had a strand or two of white hair. One of my nephews had his first white hair at grade 7. A niece in her late 20s has a lot of them too, but she has more black than white hair and she looks like a college student, so you wouldn't notice them. It's something we inherited from both of my parents, I guess. My son, meanwhile, is hoping he will have gray hair soon.

I think the gray hair started becoming more noticeable though, some 7 to 10 years ago. Sometimes it's relaxing to spend 2 hours at the salon for a hair coloring job, but at other times it's an added item on my to-do list on a busy week that it has become a chore. I tried a do-it-yourself hair color kit at home twice on the advice of my friends Jenny and Tina, but I get back pains after a session, what with all the bending I have to do to color, rinse, shampoo, rinse, condition, and final-rinse my hair.

“How come in the US, it's not a big deal to go gray?” I asked my sister one time. Just look at this photo below. She said it's because Caucasians' fairer skin doesn't make gray hair look that stark on a person.



Recently, I was in the restroom at church when a lady attendant said, “Miss, bata ka pa di ba? (Miss, you're still young, right?)” I smiled and said yes, thinking it was a compliment. Then she said, “Sabi na nga ba eh. Ang dami mo kasing puting buhok. (I knew it. But you have a lot of white hair.)”

Before another attendant engages me in a talk like that again, I've decided to go to the salon today. As in, now na. Before it's crunch time for deadlines, before I get hungry for lunch, before I want to crawl back to bed for a nap, before I watch the replay of last night's American Idol and Glee, before I change my mind. So let's go, sago.

BOOK OF THE WEEK: "Many of us don't know it is possible to go from romanticizing about rest to actually resting in today's world." This was what was written on the back cover of Rest Assured: Devotions for Souls in a Restless World by Nancy McGuirk (published locally by OMF Literature). Just a few minutes a day reading the Bible verses quoted in each chapter and the short write-up that follows can remind us that peace can be gained as we draw nearer to Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

VERSE OF THE WEEK: "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." Isaiah 46:4

Technorati Tags: womanhood,aging,beauty

Patrick Henry Hughes - Inspirational Story

Just how far can a father’s love go?

I was on Facebook early this morning as soon as my teenage son left for school, and saw this heartwarming video of Patrick Henry Hughes, a young man born blind who sees his disability as a possibility. Indeed, everything seems possible for Patrick, who can play the piano very well and is even in his university's marching band.

But what struck me most is the man behind him literally pushing him to be the best he can be. It's his dad, who marches with him (or rather pushes his wheelchair) at college games while Patrick plays his trombone.

To do this, dad works the graveyard shift at UPS (his shift starts at 11 p.m.), and joins Patrick in the daytime for his classes and band practice. What a dad!