Bilog ang Mundo

took this sunrise photo while we had to
stop for a gas somewhere in North...

Bilog ang Mundo...It’s a favorite line that I always use whenever I talk to people.....about life and it's ups and downs... In this day and age where you can’t find hope from the hassles of everyday living… The only thing that keeps me sane is this phrase “ Bilog ang Mundo” And what does this mean?? Nope I’m not advertising a liquor commercial(with groovy Punjabi beat …Ginebra Ad) Even before that famous ad.. I have been using this phrase…. And for me it means HOPE!!!Yes..Hope.. that somehow things will be better...that somehow everything will change …that somehow I can say...this too shall pass…Uhhhmmmm…am I being too optimistic..Maybe!!! Maybe it’s this feeling of optimism that keeps me going… Maybe the everyday heroes I see lights up my life… like my mom… my sisters…a friend…our parish priest…an honest officer…my dear son…Filipinos abroad esp. my sister Mapi...the memory of my father Ben…etc.. I can’t change the fact that things are not going well… in our country…and sometimes in our life… But what we can change is how we try to see things in a different perspective… The Whys?? To WHY NOT??the SANA to DAPAT… the I can’t do it… to Just Do It!!! the Wala to Meron ...the Malas o Swerte..Really..!! It's how we want to see things talaga..Like the kid and the shoe... yun story na a certain kid is so pissed off without a new shoe...pero when he see's another crippled kid in a wheelchair he's perspective of life changed!!!Mga ganun' tipo ba.....Well hey… this is me ..I dunno about you…but again..I always say BILOG ANG MUNDO….there’s always a time to shine and while you're waiting ...SMILE (BE THANKFUL THAT YOU ARE ALIVE)

Our Baguio Trip

My mom invited us to go to Our lady of Manaoag Church in Pangasinan to attend mass with her...t'was a 5 hour trip because our driver was not that familiar with the location... after the mass the group decided to go to Baguio for lunch and a little tour... It was my moms first bday without my dad on her side....:( Miss you dad!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!!!!

Dare the risk

To Laugh is to risk appearing the fool...
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental
To reach for another is to risk involvement...
To expose your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss...
To love is to risk not to be loved in return...
To live is to risk dying.....
To believe is to risk failure....
Only a person who risks...IS FREE....

author unknown

A Decade and One

It's Rivers birthday!!!!
11 years ago.... I had the most wonderful experience of my life.... Giving birth to a 7.7 lbs. bouncing baby boy.... Yup he was our little prince.. Everyone in the family loved him from the moment he was born...Why the name...River Strauss? Well Mapi and I both loved River Phoenix that time :) and Strauss for Levi's Strauss our official maong :) His Nangnang Mapi gave him that nickname "ILOG" ...since he's real name is River and Ilog sounds like irog(term of endearment )thats why we still call him by that nickname up to now....River is a very precious child... He would always make us smile by his little antics...at aged 2 he learned to tinker with the computer(talino nyan grade 1 or 2 best in computer !!!)...memorized funny tv commercials:)..dances like nobody is watching:)(aserehe-ha!!!:),storytells like an old man :)Hay naku!!!I could go on and on (heheheh..obvious na stage mom!!)But I would like to stop muna and thank the people who showered my only son with love and affection.... to Nangnang Mapifor your unconditional love & concern (miss you so much)...for Tababa for your love and understanding(even if he's medyo alaskador!!)... to teacher Nev together with tito jay & kylie for all the thoughtful things you do(preparing meals & teaching stuffs:)... for Duydoy for always being his naynay and for the numeruous times you let him share your bed..:)to future tito hans for all the gifts and pag -aalaga!!! Mabalos dear tugangs!!!For my mom ...for being a great lola... thank you for all the love...you are the world's best lola... and pinaka-pretty pa !!!For Pids' mom..chelsean & christian thank you for your love:)to all my friends..esp.tito pogi(MARK)....tito paul... tita babziee...tita allin... tita weng...tita annie..ninang joy and ninang lourie I will never forget your kindness and affection for Ilog!!! Thanks:)And most of all ... Thank you to My DAD!!! My Ilog's look-a-like.. he's partner in crime... his kakampi...his walking buddy...his taga-suklay...and his no.1 fan!!! DAD thanks!!! Words will never be enough to show you how grateful I am to have you as my sons' dear LOLO BEN!!!He will forever treasure the first 10 years of his life... because those were the times spent with you!!!Dad it's Ilogs birthday and I know nag papa-inom ka na dyan sa heaven(heheheh)We miss you and we love you!!! And to Our Dear God... for giving us all this people ...who shared so many goodtimes with my son and will continue to enjoy great moments pa... Thanks po!!! At kay Pids...na napakabuting Dad ni Ilog ... Sobrang salamat sa pagiging napakabait mong daddy at ka buddy ng ating munting prinsipe!!!
We love you River..Happy birthday!!!

mom & dad
Son Before you were conceived… We wanted you… Before you were born..We loved you… An hour before you came out.. I would die for you… HAPPY 11TH B-day River
Lovin'you
Mom

My Dads Sinangag:)

Today is Good Friday... in a few hours..The traditional re-enactments of Christs' last days will start... then the procession will follow...hhhhmmmmmmnnnn..I remember when I was still a kid..we would always join the procession...even if it means super long walks...with occassional spills of melted candle in our hand ...hehehhe (ouch!!)Yup!!!We're always there... and everytime we go back home...
a familiar smile greets us...Our Dads' :)...together with that delicious smell of a freshly cooked sinangag meal!!! Yup ..our official good friday meal !!! It's so delicious you don't need anything else to go with it:)hehehhe!!!This is our first Holy week without him..and I can't help but remember the usual preparations of our good ol'sinangag ala BEN:)and the little things like...he's gentle wave of good-bye when we're about to leave for the procession..he's smile when we get home ...his stories...his voice...his presence... Dad we miss you so much!!! Thank you for all the good memories... thank you for loving us...
thank you for preparing things for us...thank you for being a great dad!!! Didn't know you'd leave us so soon.... :( But I know that you're happy in heaven now... maybe preparing that delicious meal again...for lola..lolo and your kuyas up there...
WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU DAD !!!We love you so much!!!!

meet the real river....

This is River Strauss Alamo Jacob...my son :) a very charming little boy who always makes me feel special.... I am so blessed to have him...and in less than a week he's turnin' 11.....yup... a decade and one...so for you baby...ADVANCE HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
and I love you so much...

love..
Mom

one of my favorite songs.....

I AM WOMAN
Helen Reddy

I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again

CHORUS
Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

You can bend but never break me
'cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
'cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul

CHORUS

I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long long way to go
Until I make my brother understand

Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman
Oh, I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong

FADE
I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong
I am woman

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Missed opportunity:(

Was suppose to meet my sister in Cebu yesterday....
In my mind I was planning a vacation with my mom and my son...
probably another sister in tow..
a perfect opportunity to make my mom and my sister happy...
but it didn't happen... I felt bad:(
I was really hoping to spend some time with my sister... I missed her so much...
And being out there on her own.... struggling with the everyday hassles of life...I really wanted to see her smile..I really felt so down yesterday....If only
I had enough money to bring my mom and my son,,,I know that somehow I could make them all happy....(even for a few days) well... thats life!!!
It s#cks!!! and I have to do something about it.... I have to turn things around....I have to work hard .....Things like this makes me more inspired...???challenged..???hopeful..?? oh heck!!! whatever term that is...
What I truly want is to make my family smile again....
Without our dad I know things will always be difficult ....
But striving to make things work again....be complete... be hopeful of the future...
I know somehow I CAN MAKE IT.....
and these missed opportunities??!!!!
Ahhhhh.... it will never happen again....:)