Comfort ... out of my comfort zone ...

"We Will Rock You" Musical ... Mig Ayesa Rocks

2008-04-21T11:52:00.009+05:30

Helyeah!!!!!! "We Will Rock You" Musical surely rocked my world!!!! My blood was pumping to each lyrical beat ... my fist was high up in the air waving like a crazy groupie .. and could you believe??!! my head was banging like a rock star fanatic!!! I tell you, didnt see all these coming ... not even in my wildest dreams ... hahahhaha!

I am a no fan of rock music ... my family and my close friends know it ... I'm more of the blues, jazzy and pop kind of a girl .. but when Thomas invited me for a "date night" to share with the Queen i really didn't mind coz to me it was a "date night" pure and simple ... a gimmick with my dear husband sans the kids.

When I asked him who was in the musical, he couldn't really tell me ... he said the only thing he knew was that the music of Queen was playing and to him that's all that mattered. Fair enough I said, knowing that Thomas was a lover of the band's music. When I searched in the web, i found out that my half Ausi half Pinoy Mig Ayesa was playing the lead role of a Dreamer set in the year 2304 when creating (rock) music was banned. And that he had to find the last guitar treasure hidden in the rock world. That's when I really got interested knowing that Mig Ayesa was there. I've seen him belt it out during his try out as the lead singer of INXS and I must say I was really impressed. And of course the mere fact that he's a pinoy made me even more want to see how he'd do on stage.

Date night came, with my heels and girlie attire, off we went to Esplanade Concert Hall. In my head I was already planning what the after musical gimmick would be since I expected that the show would leave me wanting more for the night. Then the show started ... one beat, one loud magical beat ... I was lost! From the moment the lights went on and the first few notes came I was in a different world ... a world unknown to me and yet I was excited to see what was in store for me.

The bass was booming, the band was playing extremely loud (which in normal circumstance would give me a reason to b**ch around) and yet I was in a happy place ... grinning from ear to ear. The humor of the show made it even more dynamic to watch as the story developed. The cheorography was well defined. The actors were prima. And Mig Ayesa ... oh Mig Ayesa! was truly divine! He was belting it out but not to the point of excruciatingly shouting and was acting but not overly acting! This guy is a work of art! He can sing let alone act! From hereon I pledge my alliance to the Mig Ayesa rock n roll club!

During the intermission, Thomas and I shared our satisfying insights on the show over glasses of wine. We both agreed that it was one of the best musicals we've ever seeen. Glad I said yes when he asked me out!

After 20 minutes, we were back on our seats. Honestly I found the first 5 minutes of the 2nd part quite dragging ... not much was happening ... I thought my excitement was coming to an end ... and then the song "We Will Rock You" came! That was it! We were back in the Rock N Roll world again! Then came "We Are The Champions" ... before coming to the show I dreaded to hear this song coz I've always thought that it has become super commercialized esp when they play it in football stadia and in all kinds of ligas. But lo and behold I loved the song! Maybe because it was used not to celebrate a sporting victory but to celebrate music itself! (That's just me and my profound thinking ... asus!) . I just wish that the next time I accidentally (coz i will try hard to evade it from happening) hear We Are The Champions in a sports event I hope to go back to that happy place when I heard Mig Ayesa and the crew do their take of the song. Thanks to Freddie Mercury for creating such wonderful music!

If you ask me what was the highlight of the show? I would tell you right off that it was when they did the Bohemian Rhapsody - considered to be the Queen's magnum opus. As the curtains go down the audience as expected howled and screamed for more. Just then the screen electronically asked whether we still wanted more ... and to grant our wishes ... Mig Ayesa came into full view with a spotlight and started to sing "Mama (i) just killed a man ... " and the rest as they say is history. A history marked in my musical book.

Cable Car and Casino

2008-03-20T07:03:00.005+05:30

Here in Singapore there are so many things to do to get entertained. You can spend a whole day just exploring the islang of Sentosa ... you can also make a trip to Orchard and go shopping ... you can also find amusement places offering water sports and activities in the East Coast or you can simply experience the Cable Car.

After 11 months of staying here in SG I've mustered the courage to get on the Cable Car and explore the city from the top. It was not as bad as I thought it would be ... considering I'm utterly scared of heights and can readily get nauseated in high altitudes. I took the trip with Thomas and Bianca. And Bianca even promised to hold my hand when we get in the car. And true enough she not only held my hand but she also cheered words of comfort and encouragement ... now that's what I call raising your parents! hahahahahhahaha!

When we were up there, we got to see how huge the Casino project is in Sentosa. Locals here are half half on the idea of introducing gambling in this magnitude. Yes they have been very much exposed to betting ... with horses, with the lotto ... but they say the Casino is for sure in a different level ... the stakes are higher. Apart from giving jobs to locals and to other nationalities from neighboring countries as well as fostering growth in tourism, the skeptics are still not convinced that this enterprise is good for the country. But it is happening ... so let's just see how all these effects unfold to the society and to the international scene.

Bianca's going on 4!

2008-03-17T11:16:00.005+05:30

Time is fleeting! Seems like yesterday that I was holding Bianca for the first time in my arms. After 14 hours of labor, this precious girl has come to our lives full of vibrancy and life. Now she's turning four and the enormous happiness and contentment that she has given us is truly priceless.

My husband and I decided to have a low key yet fun birthday celebration for her 4th. Got the green light from her school director this morning that we can have the party in school. Now I just have to think what to bring for snacks.

Unlike the years before, she's very vocal on her opinion on what she'd like for her birthday. She readily expressed that she wanted to have the party with her friends in school ... now that's reading my mind right?! heheheeh ... Then my husband asked her what kind of cake she wanted. We both thought she'd request for a princess kinda cake since she has all these collections of girly girly stuff ... but no, she wanted a long neck dinasour cake! She also said that if she could not get the long neck then she'd settle for a rocket ship - the one that the Little Einstein kids ride on! We know that she has this facination with dinos and love the show from Playhouse Disney Little Einstein but we didnt expect that she'd be very passionate about having either a long lost animal or a zooming aircraft for a cake!

So with that I think we are bound to see more of the unexpected from Bianca with the years to come!

Happy Birthday Mausi! :)

2 Kids

2008-03-13T10:15:00.013+05:30

I feel very blessed for the opportunity of having 2 kids ... some people resort to scientific means just to conceive ... some even go to the lengths of praying to all fertility idols in order to have that "bundle of joy" ....

There are so many things i wanted to say ... but right now i dont have time to put them all in writing ... so allow me to let our photos show you how much life and happiness our latest addition has given us :)

The Second Time Around! Yahoo!!!

2007-09-08T15:31:00.001+05:30

I'm 6 and 1/2 months pregnant for the second time around and I'm loving it!!!

Before even deciding on having another baby I was thinking whether it is really possible to love another child ... I mean I've been used to having just Bianca with me all the time and having another one vying for my attention is something that is just challenging. Still I followed my instincts and plunged on being a mother for the 2nd time!

When I learned that we were pregnant again, my family and I were vacationing with my in-laws in Austria. It was after the Easter holidays that we shared with our families and friends the good news. As expected, everybody was just as excited as us. And of course speculations on whether the next one is an heir or another princess were inevitable.

During my first trimester we did a lot of moving. As in physically moving our residential address from India to Singapore. Apart from having to find our own home in Singapore when we arrived here, I also had to deal with finding a reliable and trusted Obgyn, school for Bianca, finding household help and what have yous. If those were not enough, as it turned out my first trimester was more difficult than when I was carrying my first one. The pressure was on!!!

Nonetheless I was very keen on enjoying every bit of what was coming my way. Thank goodness that here in Singapore everything seems to be systematic and well organized which definitely helped me in adjusting to our new life.

After finding my trusted doctor, settling Bianca in the school that she loves and with the arrival of our ever reliable Yaya Jackie on my side, things look pretty much stable. I definitely have more time enjoying the remaining months of my growing belly :)

*photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/suzyhomemaker/

Jaipur, India

2007-01-08T22:02:00.000+05:30

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Last weekend we decided to get on the car and hit the road going to Jaipur, India's "Pink City", the capital of Rajasthan. We wanted to finally discover for ourselves what the buzz our friends are talking about. It was a five to six hours drive from Delhi. On the way we were accompanied by big trucks, which made it more challenging for our driver to manuever since most of the drivers here in India are known not to have road ethics.

We reached Sugan Niwas Palace, a heritage boutique hotel and our home for the night, just in time for lunch. After settling in, we had a taste of Rajasthani cuisine with lamb stew, vegetable biryani, dal makhni and chicken in sambal sauce. Surprisingly the food was not as spicy as I would have imagined, which was so much better for me and my tummy ... hehehehehe

We could only choose a couple of places to go for the afternoon due to limited time since tourist spots normally close at 5pm. We decided to visit Hawa Mahal and City Palace. These are two fascinating historical landmarks located at the center of the city.

Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Wind was built for the wives, courtesans and attendants of poet-maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in the 18th Century. Its purpose was to enable these women to observe city life and processions while remaining unseen. The edifice of the building is only room deep and has no solid back wall.

The City Palace on the other hand was home to the Royal Family of Jaipur. The palace features textile artifacts displaying the finest royal outfits in silk, muslin and cotton embroidered intricately. There are also collections of daggers, swords and body armours in ivory, jade, silver and gold. All collections are dated as early as the 17th Century. We were also introduced to the biggest single silver piece ever made in the whole world - and it came as a big silver vessel.

That night we headed off to Chokni Dhani - the Indians night carnival. What I liked in this trip was that we were dancing our booties with the Rajasthanis to the tune of traditional drums and flutes. The kids who were performing were really captivating. You feel their energy while twirling and turning to the rythm. There were also elephant, cow, and camel rides but opted not to take them since Bianca wasnt up for it. For dinner we went to Rambagh Palace, a heritage hotel that was owned by the Royal Family and is now owned by the Taj Hotel Group of companies. Food was also good ... Thomas stuck with his Indian food adventure: dal makhni and biryani, while I stuffed myself with the safest choice of spotted grouper and steamed vegetables.

The next morning we bid goodbye to our new friends in Sugan Niwas and started our way back to Delhi. Side trips on our way back were Amber Fort Palace and the Neemrana Fort Hotel. In Amber Fort, which is considered one of the most majestic hilltop forts in Rajasthan, we took an elephant ride going up. It was more of an ordeal for me since I am super scared of heights. I wasnt able to back out with this one since I told Bianca a big story about how we'll take the elephant ride going to the castle and how much fun it'll be ... yeah, me and my big mouth! hahahahhaha. When we reached the top we were catered to the view of the old town sorrounding the fort. It was such a treat since the town below was not as commercialized as the cities in the state. Here we also saw how luxurious the walls were designed to the effect that they were made from pure silver.

Half way to Delhi, we stopped in Neemrana Fort Hotel. It is located in a small hillock in the Delhi-Jaipur highway. This fort is the oldest heritage hotel in India. Nothing to say much, just that we took lots of souvenier photos ... hehehehehe ...

So, those are most of the highlights of our trip ... and hopefully we get to see another state again :)

Dentist and John Legend

2007-01-04T10:35:00.000+05:30

So this is the truth: I'm freakishly terrified of the dentist!

I dont know why! I keep on rattling my brain whether i had a traumatic experience with the dentist when i was a kid ... but nada! Cant think of anything that would relate to my fear. Anyways, i guess that's just the way it is for now, until i unearth any reason from my box of memories ...

Last August, i went to the dentist to have my routine cleaning. Aside from that, i have finally decided, after so much pleading from my husband, to get that "attractive" metal thing that you attach to your teeth so they wont divorce and go in all directions of your mouth ... The Braces. Have to wear them for one to one and a half years! So much for those Kodak moments ...

Wednesday, Jan 3: Went to the clinic to have a composite filling done. On the way to the dentist, i was psyching myself for the procedure. Had to call Thomas on the mobile for 3 times just to hear that reassurance that everything will turn out fine. As soon as i was in the clinic, i was ushered straight out to the patient's seat. There was not any second to back out let alone scream for help. The doctor asked me if i wanted anesthesia. I readily said yes! As doctor was doing the procedure, i felt the pain with the insertion of the needle in my gums. I was just about to jerk when i shifted my concentration to the voice that was whispering in my ear - Mr. John Legend.

All the while i had my ipod on and it was John who was with me during that trying time. When the medicine was slowly injected in my gums I could only think of how soothing John sounded. When the doctor was grinding my teeth it did not bother me, as I would have anticipated, since John took me in the heavens So High ... when the doctor was putting the filling, John was saying Dont You Worry 'Bout A Thing ... and when it was time for the doctor to polish those fillings, John was cheering me up with Each Day Gets Better.

Thank heavens for John ... now I see my dentist saga a little bit better.

It's SeptemBER - Merry Christmas!!!

2006-09-01T23:10:00.000+05:30

In the Philippines the Christmas spirit starts to reign as soon as the BER month kicks in, September that is. During this month you'd DEFINITELY hear Christmas songs in the radio, malls, coffee places etc. As early as this month TV programs are starting to do their countdowns, hotels are doing their Xmas promos and shops sell out Xmas gift ideas to all the retail addicts in the country.

In my Pinas family, we would normally put out our Christmas tree on the day of my birthday ... November 25, just a month before the Big Day! I actually like this idea coz whenever I have guests coming over at our place for my birthday I dont really have to worry about the ambiance or the look of the house since the Christmas feel is in the air with all the trinkets and deco. Our Christmas decos last until January 6 when we would put down the tree and pack it neatly for the next Christmas. When you talk about shopping for Christmas presents, let's just say that I'm your typical cramming shopper. Though I must say that I organize a list of what to buy for whom way way before, still i find myself doing the buying at the last minute.

When I married Thomas I discovered that in Austria they do not put their Christmas tree not until its the 24th of December. Unlike the plastic Christmas tree we have in Pinas, theirs is always from the forest of Carinthia ... real and freshly scented. The dad of my husband personally searches every year for THAT tree which gains the honor of being in their living room for a couple of days. Normally they would have the tree for only over a week ... this has been the tradition ... and practically speaking, the leaves of the tree actually wilt by this time. They do have stockings hanging in their fire place and would celebrate gift giving on Christmas Day. Thomas' parents have always wanted us to be in Austria every Christmas but due to work, we have yet to experience first hand how traditional Christmas is in Austria. Who knows, maybe this year? Let's see ...

Let me be the first to greet everybody a "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

photo credit: Malene Thyssen, www.mtfoto.dk/malene/

Muscat

2006-08-15T18:23:00.000+05:30

Before completely bidding goodbye to summer 2006, we decided to get on a plane and head off to the Middle East for a weeklong vacation to make our last hoorah for the season. True enough when we got there the sun was shinning at +40C temperature.

Aug 06, departure day: we started the day pretty early at 3am. Surprisingly Bianca was up and about considering we had to wake her up from her slumber. When we got to the check-in counter we were informed that our seats have been upgraded to the Business Class. The plane apparently is not full and our booking agent requested that we get the best seats. I was more surprised with how the Indira Gandhi airport was at this time. There were no long lines in the security check, checking-in was a breeze and the immigration was quicker than what we were used to. This made me decide to take more trips during this time of the day to cut my chances of waiting in line.

When we were waiting at the gate, I noticed that 95% of our co-passengers were Indians, who if I can accurately say are going to Muscat in search for greener pastures. I had this impression that most of them had never even been on a plane since you could sense how anxious they were. I just hope that they do find what they are looking for in Muscat.

The Seeb International Airport in Muscat is very well maintained and is comparatively smaller than HK or Bangkok airports. It was quite nice that at 7am most of the Immigration counters were opened. Waiting for us at the exit gate was Shangri-La’s Al Barr Jissad Resort and Spa representative who would then later take us to the resort. It was a 40-minute ride from the airport to the hotel. On the road you could see white and beige structures, which are either government or private offices, residences or commercial places.

Since we arrived early, we were not surprised to hear that our room was still not ready. That’s why we opted to first take our breakfast in Samba, the Al Waha coffee shop. By the way, this resort has three hotels in its complex: Al Husn, Al Bandar and the Al Waha. Al Waha is more of the family weekend place as the two others are more business like.

After breakfast and after putting our luggage in the room, we didn’t waste any moment and headed straight to the pool. It was a warm morning that’s why the water was very pleasant. As expected Bianca dashed off and jumped to the pool as soon as her floaters were on.

50 meters from the pool was the beach so we had the choice of where to go. But for this trip we have discovered that the beach was overwhelming for Bianca. The waves and I think the grandiosity of the beach overtook her excitement of being in the water. The sand in her feet just didn’t seem well for her since she kept on bugging us to shower off the sand. That’s why most of the time we enjoyably spent it in the pool and the lazy river.

Food: The food in the resort was absolutely good. This was a resort that boasts of its 15 outlets so you really don’t run out of options. Aside from Samba, some of the restos we tried included the Surf Café. It’s theme is a casual resto with internet access and a billiard table. Another restaurant was the Bait Al Bahr which features fresh seafood. This is where I had my sumptuous foie gras and lobsters … yum! yum! yum! Al Tanoor is an outlet that’s located in Al Bandar. It has Western, Indian, and local stations that give you a wide variety of choices.

People: Most of the people working in the resort were expatriates. And majority of those are Filipinos, saw familiar faces who I have had worked with in Makati Shangri-La. It was actually nice for me since I was in the care of my kababayans. They always gave me special treatments when it came to my requests. One time I requested for a DVD player to be set up in the room and was informed that they were all out. But when they knew I was Pinoy they kind of went the extra mile to search for one. Another pinoy insisted on setting up our Room Service dinner in the balcony of our room so we could enjoy the warm night with the sound of the waves gushing in the shore while munching on our sushi and grilled seafood. I must say, that was really nice.

Overall, the vacation was wonderful! We had so much fun as a family and enjoyed every minute of our holiday … Thomas as usual was 100% hands-on in taking care of Bianca, that’s why she super adores him and I love him more for that.

So that was our summer getaway … next up a visit back home in October :)

Goodbye Summer ... Hallo Monsoon!

2006-07-25T15:55:00.000+05:30

Now that summer is bidding goodbye ... monsoon is definitely here to stay. For all of you who have stayed here in India during this time of the year, you'd know that monsoon defines humidity with wetness all over ... ooopps ... this is not to implicate any sexual notion! What i meant is that there are rainshowers while you're soaking wet due to unbearble humidity!

And as expected i'm again feeling the change of weather ... getting this irritating flu and equally annoying sore throat! Cant wait to get on the plane and have a break from this climate even for just a week ... cant wait for August 6 :)

Our Father's Day Celebration

2006-06-23T00:32:00.000+05:30

Here in India the celebration for Father's Day is not as grandiose as how it is during Mother's Day. In fact hotels don't have special offerings for Dads compared with how all out they got for Moms. I believe this is an injustice to the fathers who have been working as hard as any other moms in raising their kids.

That's why to bring forth the spirit of the day, I made sure I was well prepared in showering our Papa with surprises. Thanks to Bianca, it turned out to be a swell celebration for the Figovc familie :)

The day started off with our Sunday breakfast. Since we already decided that we would be dining at this certain Korean resto and intently pigging out on the food, we ordered for a basic bfast meal. Cornflakes, warm milk and bread for Bianca and coffee for both me and Papa.

While having the first meal of the day, Bianca and I started our program by giving one by one our numerous surprises. First off was a collection of PC games: this featured games from sports to playing casino to being a tycoon. Attached to the present was lovely card signed by Bianca.

Next up was a framed photo of Papa and Bianca overlooking the area of Carinthia, Austria. I especially picked this photo since this was one of Thomas' favorite pictures with Bianca.

After that, we gave him another gift that was simply wrapped in an ordinary plastic bag. Since what was inside was ultra special I decided to go low key on the wrapping. The gift was a painting made personally by Bianca. This would now be the latest addition to Papa's collection of Bianca's painting. (Last year, Bianca also gave Papa her first crayon painting which has been a fixture in Thomas' office).

The last of the gifts came in a very distinguished size. Dont know exactly what the measurements were but i know it was huge. This one was made by me ... it was a random collection of Thomas' and Bianca's pictures together. Thomas has been the stronghold of the family and has proven his unwavering love and esteem for his daughter. It was just fitting that I gave him something that hopefully would stand the test of time which i compare to how his adoration is for his Bianca. It is currently hanged on our bedroom and is the last thing we see before we sleep.

So that was it for presents. After finishing up our bfast and an hour later in the TV watching our favorite Sunday cartoon shows, we went to Vasant Vihar to this Korean resto (I totally forgot the name of the place!). In our Father's Day menu we had the following: Bulgogi (boiled beef meat), Pajeon (Korean Pancake), pork with sweet sauce, and Octopus with Vegetables (cooked in our table with Kimchi savors). The food was yummy, yummy, yummy ... considering of course that the Kimchi was ultra spicy.

After lunch we then went to GK1 and scouted for shoes for Thomas. Luckily we were able to find 2 pairs of shoes that actually fit him. This was after an hour and a half of going around the area looking for that shoe size!

We then went back to the hotel since the scorching heat was too much for us. As soon as we hit the bed, the family was knocked out for an afternoon nap. As for dinner, since we were still full from lunch we opted to take sandwiches.

It was truly a well spent day honoring The Father in our family.

Dear Papa,

Thank you for being the stronghold of the family ... thank you for being such an optimistic person for which we see hope for the future ... thank you for loving us so much that we have continued and will continue to stay together as a family full of respect and esteem for each other. We're already looking forward to the next Father's Day!

With all our love,
Bianca + Mama

Keys Me

2006-06-23T00:10:00.000+05:30

I really dont know how you'd all react to this ... but i'll let you be the judge to this ...

Apparently, Alyssa (the singer) was interviewed in 24 Oras regarding her unique rendition of the song and she looked pleased about how she performance ... aside from that, she was also featured in the 2BU section of the Inquirer (dont have any clue what was said there). One commenter actually asked: So yesterday was an interview in 24 Oras, today is a print publicity in Inquirer, what about tomorrow, Senate Inquiry?!

My take on this: it kinda reminds me on how we make up our own lyrics to certain songs that we know the tune/melody but dont have any clue on the words! I applaud her for the fighting spirit that she has and staying true to the saying that the show must go on even if ...

Kids will be Kids

2006-06-09T22:35:00.000+05:30

So this is one funny picture! Everytime I see this photo I'm reminded that all of us will remain kids in the eyes of our parents ... especially moms!

And yes, my dear Thomas still gets it from Mama ... that's why when the going gets tough I just dial home and call Mama ... hehehehehe :)

Simple Pleasures

2006-05-22T21:47:00.000+05:30

Will do this for the love of K! bwehehehehehehe!

Instructions: Name ten (10) of life’s simple pleasures that you like the most, then pick ten (10) people to do the same.

Here's my list:
1) Swimming
2) Bringing Bianca to school
3) Meal time with the family
4) Waking up late
5) Taking Pictures
6) Bianca's laughter
7) Calling everybody in Pinas
8) Calling everybody in Austria
9) Emails/calls from friends
10) Kisses from Thomas and Bianca

Now it's time to tag somebody else :)
Betchay, Bethski, RAven, Mr Pogi, Mr Myepinoy, Analyse, Patrice, PhamzZz, Litarista ... sorry short of one person ,,, hehehehehe

Performance Monitor - Excellent!

2006-05-14T11:28:00.000+05:30

Everybody meet my mom ... yes, yes, i know she looks more like my sister! Looks could really be deceiving ... can you believe that she's already in her mid-50s! And mind you, she's proud of it!

I really never understood my mom until the time that i became a mom myself. I didnt fully grasp what it was like to have sleepless nights feeding a baby, nursing a sick baby, juggling a career at the same time attending to family affairs until I too was in the situation. I remember very well how her day would start ... she'd wake up at 6am to cook breakfast, wake up the kids at 630 for school, kiss the kids goodbye at 715 and make herself ready to leave the house at 815 for work. We were lucky to have a maid that can help in managing the household. But most of the time she would prepare before leaving the house our meal for lunch. And in the evening she tries to come home before 7pm so she can prepare dinner for her family. Oh yeah, i forgot to mention, she never failed on calling the house during lunchtime to ask whether we were eating properly and how our day was so far. This routine went on until we were in college. That's why we all call her "supermom".

My relationship with my mom was not always smooth sailing ... I guess since I was one of those kids with raging teenage hormones. Still she managed to have kept a calming environment for everybody. She's not your typical nagging mother nor is she your mom who goes to your room and asks you intently what's going on ... she's more like a person who you know is there and would support you and give you all the love not by a multitude of words but more of the actions that you see.

In the course of adulthood and maturity I made some bad decisions. But my mom never judged me. Instead she always say "everything will always turn out for the best". And in many ways this principle has helped me managed my way in getting out of messy situations.

I could go on and on and on and on about the wonderful and amazing things she had and has done for us. But that'll take a lifetime if i do enumerate them all :) So let me just say to my mom: Congratulations for your recent promotion as Asst General Manager and the whole family is super dooper proud of you Ma! We love you and the family would not be where it is today if not for you! Cheers!

Me oh My!

2006-05-08T15:38:00.000+05:30

Vacation in Germany: water adventure

The first time I heard my sister-in-law say that we were going for a swim, I didn’t think she was actually serious. Outside it was pouring snow and couldn’t figure out how in the world swimming could ever be possible. Then I was informed that there’s this Spa Center in Kempten, an hour from their place, called Combo Mare, which features nice warm swimming pools. That’s when I got all excited!

I was thinking to myself “this is such a treat!” First of all my trip in Germany introduced me to SNOW … yeah I’ve seen snow in the past when we went to Schloss Neuschwanstein two years ago but that was different since I only saw remnants of winter. This time it was like “white Christmas” … winter wonderland! Aside from being amazed with the white thingy coming from the heavens, we were just about to go swim in winter?! How cool is that?!

So off we went to Combo Mare. Upon entering the Spa I noticed the change in temperature. It was a nice 24-28 C compared to the negative temp outside. The areas was very spacious, locker rooms very well kept and didn’t have that stinky pool smell of chlorine.

After changing, we then hit the pool area. If memory serves me right, they had three big swimming pools featuring a fountain in the middle, a massage area, and a big slide! I was very impressed that they had an outside pool, still with warm water, but you can definitely swim where you have snow just inches from you!

I also discovered how much Bianca loves water. The first sight of water makes her all thrilled and excited and she just can’t wait to make that splash. When Thomas told me that he’s taking Bianca to the big slide I was frantic! I couldn’t imagine myself taking the slide and let alone my daughter take it … since she was with Thomas then I got a little pacified and just trusted his guts.

I don’t have to tell you what happened with that slide trip … you can see for yourself in the pictures I’ve attached. And by the way, they didn’t just go once … they took on the slide for more than I could keep track off.

Rumors are true ... Bianca just turned 2!

2006-03-30T17:28:00.000+05:30

Last March 24,2006 Bianca had set foot to yet another year in her life ... she's now 2 years old!

It was the following day, March 25, that we celebrated with friends her birthday here in Shangri-La New Delhi ... as always i would like to give my sincerest gratitude and love to my husband, who has arranged the ballroom beyond my expectations.

There were a total of 30 adults and 30 kids who attended the party ... we had sooo much fun having to be entertained with an "Indian Puppet Show", painted our faces in the mugs by an "artist", treat for kids with four kinds of rides, and bounce till you drop in a huge inflatable bouncey! Gourmet afficionados also treated themselves to a live station for cooking making!

Even if Bianca was a little bit under the weather she was able to cut her Barney cake and hit her Dora pinyata!

Attendees of the party thanked us (the hosts) for a lovely party ... but as I always say, if it's not for those who came the party wont be as wonderful as how it turned out to be ...

Thanks everybody for making Bianca's 2nd birthday truly memorable!

A letter for Bianca

2006-03-30T16:50:00.000+05:30

Bianca at 4 mos
Bianca at 4 mos
Bianca at 21 mos

To my dearest Bianca,

Happy 2nd Birthday to you ...

Thank you for coming into our lives ... your Papa and I could not have asked for a better gift than you ... Thank you for giving us so much joy that you and you alone can bring ... We have been so much blessed that such a lovely angel has come upon this earth and has settled in with us for years and years to come ...

A mother could only hope for the best for her child ... and that is exactly what i wish for you on your birthday. I wish that you grow up to be respectful of every men belonging to whatever race, for this value could only bring you in goodness's side rather than the opposite. I hope that you learn to love sincerely, even if that means you might get hurt in the process. I pray that someday you may reach your fullest potential, even if there might be turbulence to overcome. Believe in yourself and what you are capable of achieving ... for if you have this everything's possible.

Never forget that I'm always here for you ... in good times and in bad ... i will try to be your friend as much as your mother ... your Papa and I love you very very much!

Love,
Mama

a different kind of Valentine

2006-02-16T21:29:00.000+05:30

Since I have now come to terms with my being a 100% certified mother ... considering I don’t have a nanny (by choice) and I’m taking care of my Bianca 24/7 ... it was aptly for me to pay tribute to the women of my league … now that I know how much work one puts on being a mother!
Last Feb 13, I invited a handful of mom friends with their adorable babies to celebrate Valentines in a lunch party held in my room in the hotel. Thanks to my every reliable husband, he made sure everything was near perfection. With his husbandry power (and ok I'll give him credit being the Chef of the hotel) he set up our place suitable for a comfortable and relaxed luncheon. Menu include: Assorted sushi platter, assorted dim sum - vegetarian and non-veg, chicken in oyster sauce, stir-fried vegetables and hakka noodles - for moms. As for kids, they were served chicken nuggets, fried rice with corn and carrots and french fries. Also, the pastry chef made a two-heart shape cake with chocolate and pistachio flavors.

It was a special baby group session celebrating the unsurpassed love that a mother could give her baby. As a token, I gave each mother a red rose and for the kids a box of heart shaped white chocolate pralines. Due to the success of this lunch party, I've decided to do this yearly :)

****

My take on being a mom: Now that I'm with Bianca EVERYTIME and I SOLELY take care of her ... I feel more accomplished and happier than ever before. It’s tough at times and yet very rewarding indeed. Being with her has given me the opportunity to learn more about myself than I could ever imagine.

Life as a mother took me to the extreme: being the most worried when she's sick and the most proud when I see her sharing her toys with other kids; the most impatient when I tell her again and again not to play and disarray the picture frames in the buffet table and the most patient when I teach her numbers, colors and shapes.

I know that I have been through a transformation. This change does not only contain in the definition of my duties and obligations as a wife and as a mother but also the essence of the person that I am now and the person that I will become. There is an overwhelming passion inside me to be good and be the best I can for my daughter … for my husband … and more importantly for myself. Wouldn’t it be just swell to have your daughter come to you one day and say that you were instrumental in encouraging her to reach her fullest potential?! That would be THE DAY!

Christmas and New Year in India

2006-02-06T15:41:00.000+05:30

So this may come as a little bit overdue, still i want to share with you some pictures of our Christmas and New Year celebrations here in India ...
This time celebrating Xmas and NY were quite different to me. First of all, i was spending my holidays in a different country. Second, i dont have my extended family with me. Third, we had a brown Santa. Well i could go on and on with the things barely familiar to me but one thing i treasure most during Christmas and New Year was the fact that i felt COMPLETE. I had all the essentials i needed and most of all i have Bianca and Thomas with me.

For New Year we decided to give Bianca her second hair cut ...
Our New Year 2006 family picture ... i already accepted the apologies of the one who took this picture ... in all fairness, she really tried her best ... unfortunately this was the result :)
Papa and Bianca making cookies for the New Year!!! Horah! Horah!

I'm back!!!

2006-01-31T23:09:00.000+05:30

I'M BAAAAAAAAACK!!!!

Well it has been a while since my last post and i'm so glad to be back in circulation! I've really missed those i consider dear visitors of this blogsite :)

Hope to hear from you again friends :)

the five people you meet in heaven

2005-11-04T10:03:00.000+05:30

When reading a book, I normally would highlight passages that catch my attention. If I don’t have my handy pen with me, I resort to folding the tip of the page so I know which pages I can go back to. After reading a book, I have this habit of going back to those passages and reread them … these highlights either go in sync with my principles or better yet challenges the things that I believe in. I find adventure in this habit of mine since I’m able to reflect on who the person I am.

I’ve been here in Manila for almost 2 months now and I only have another month to go before I go back to India. Surprisingly, amidst the busy schedule that I have here, I still was able to finish 6 books in the span of 2 months. I guess you really find time to do what you have passion for.

If there is a book that can define the person I am now there’s no doubt in my mind that I’d choose the book by Mitch Albom, the five people you meet in heaven. Incidentally, he is also the brains behind Tuesdays with Morrie.

Almost all of the insights and reflections in this book go with the things that I believe in. I felt at home with the book. It's like the feeling you get when you just met someone and for some cosmic vibe you just click with that person? That’s exactly how I felt while reading it. It was as if my clothes were taken off me and I read all naked truths about myself. But what really elated me was the fact that the book collaborates with my main principle in life that is: Complexities in life are but simple equations that have uncomplicated answers.

Let me share with you my favorite assertions in the book … I hope some of the passages would inspire you … I could also only hope that I was at least instrumental in giving you inspiration :)

• All endings are also beginnings … we just don’t know them at that time.

• Had he known his death was imminent he would have gone somewhere else. Instead he did what he always does. He went about his dull routine as if all the days of the world were still to come.

• As far as he could tell when your time came, it came and that was that. You might say something smart on your way out, but you might just as easily say something stupid.

• “There are five people you meet in heaven” the Blue Man said suddenly. “Each of us was in your life for a reason. You may not know the reason at that time but that’s what heaven is for. For understanding your life on earth.”

• People think of heaven as paradise garden, a place where they can float in clouds and raze in rivers and mountains. But scenery without solace is meaningless.

• “There will be others for you too … some you know some you didn’t but they all crossed your path before they died. And they altered it forever.”

• Why people gather when others die? Why people feel they should? It is because the human spirit knows deep down that all lives intersect. That death doesn’t just take someone, it misses someone else, and in the small distance between being taken and being missed, lives are changed.

• Strangers are just family you have yet to come to know.

• Parents rarely let go of their children, so children let go of them. They move on. They move away. The moments that used to define them – a mother’s approval, a father’s nod – are covered by moments of their own accomplishments. It is not much later, as the skin sags and the heart weakens, that children understand; their stories, and all their accomplishments , sit atop the stories of their mothers and fathers, stones upon stones, beneath the waters of their lives.

• Holding anger is poison. It eats you from inside. We think that hating is a weapon that attacks the person who harmed us. But hatred is a curved blade. And the harm we do, we do to ourselves.

Why do we cry?

2005-10-18T09:07:00.000+05:30

Very recently i got an unexpected email from a long lost friend. With the things that happened between us in the past I did not help but journey down memory lane. Next thing i knew tears were rolling down my cheeks ... and then i got thinking, why do we cry?

A stream of questions followed:
- Why do we cry when we’re happy?
- Why do we cry when we’re sad?
- Why do we cry when we get hurt?
- Why do we cry when we feel pain?
- Why do we cry when we say goodbye?
- Why do we cry when we lose somebody?
- Why do we cry when we see a friend crying?
- Why do we cry when we watch emotional scenes in movies or soap operas?
- Why do we cry when we’re so pissed?
- Why do we cry when we feel trapped?
- Why do we cry? Why do we cry?

Whenever I cry I take it as a release from all the emotions boiling up inside me … it reminds that I am human, vulnerable to the things happening around me … makes me more in touch with the realities of life ...

PS: WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? WHY DID YOU CRY?

Lamesa Ni Grasya

2005-09-16T20:48:00.000+05:30

I'm back in my original "Comfort Zone"! Back in Manila ... Yahoo!!!

Months before i had this trip back to Manila i was in a trance ... couldn't console myself that it's ok that i had to leave my husband behind for this vacation. After doing the TALK with him and as expected being the positive thinker that he is, my husband urged me to push through with the trip and insisted that i focus on the good things on going back home ... in which he gladly enumerated: 1)that Lolo and Lola would see their "alaga" (apo) after 6 months, 2)that i'd be able to again touch base and go out with my friends, 3)that i'd again visit my favorite nail spa in gamboa and body spa in jupiter ... and 4)that i'd again have the taste of pinoy food ...

Ting! That last remark proved to be the clincher ... though i'm as thrilled as my parents to have them take care of my daughter and as excited to see my old pals again as well as enjoy the excellent pampering i get from my favorite spas, what i was really looking forward to was the chance to again dip my native tongue in the dishes that have been served to me since the time i could chew!

Arriving at home, we were welcomed with a delicious and sumptuous array of my mom's home grown cooking which included: Nilagang Baka (mind you with the marrow! this was a treat since in India you dont get to buy beef they only have buffalo!), Fried Lapu Lapu with green mango, bagoong, onion and tomato for side dish, Grilled Tilapia and Garlic Fried Rice! I tell you that was heaven for me! As far as i can remember i really didnt mind the conversations going on in the table, i was just so bent on stuffing myself with the food that has been unreachable to me for the past 6 months! As they say "galit galit muna tayo!"

So that was lunch ... so far so good ... and now for dinner ... since we opened last year our very own Filipino restaurant in Robinsons Pioneer in Edsa, where else do you think i'd go to?!!! of course no less than in Lamesa Ni Grasya!

So here comes dinner right ... as what you can now see in the photos that was my dinner! First up: Tortang Talong ... for sure i was able to do tortang talong in india, however, this one is stuffed with minced pork on it ... yes, you can get pork in India if you really dont care about "double dead!" Next: Sisig! how can i go wrong with this fatty dish ... hmmmmm ... until now i drool! Then came: Daing na Bangus ... i had tomato at the side and dipped it also with vinegar and chili ... yummy yummy! As for dessert: Saging at Sago ... the banana was so soft that i felt it circling my mouth! WOW! WOW! WOW!

Thomas thanks for being the nicest guy ever ... for keeping the faith that I'd enjoying going back to Manila! Mwah!

Qutub Minar

2005-09-03T21:57:00.000+05:30

Yesterday we set forth yet another exploration ... after seeing Taj Mahal, Humayun's Tomb, the Indian Gate and Chattarpur Temples we decided that it's time to come face to face with what has been labeled as India's Eiffel Tower - the Qutub Minar. With camera at hand we then again struted our way and discovered this almost a 1000 year-old monument ...

Here are some information on Qutub Minar ...
Location: 15-km South of New Delhi
Houses found in the compound: Quwwatu'l-Islam Mosque, The Iron Pillar, Alai Minar & Alai Darwaza
Architecture: Afghan Architecture
Built By: Qutub-Ud-Din-Aibak

One of the most visited tourist spot of Delhi, Qutub Minar was built in 1199 AD. Qutub-ud-Din Aibak laid the foundation of Qutab Minar for the use of Mu'azzin (crier) to give calls for prayer. However, only the first story was completed by Qutub-ud-din. The other stories were built by his successor and son-in-law, Shams -Ud -Din IItutmish (1211-36 AD). The two circular stories in white marble were built by Ferozshah Tughlaq in 1368, replacing the original fourth storey. This towering structure in red sandstone has a diameter of 14.32m at the base and about 2.75m on the top with a height of 72.5m.

Qutub Minar is still the highest stone tower as well as one of the finest Islamic structures ever raised in India. All the storeys are surrounded by a projected balcony encircling the Minar and are supported by exquisite stalactite designs. The tapering tower has pointed and circular flutings on the first story round and star-shaped on the second and third stories. The bands of calligraphic inscriptions are amazing in perfection. Numerous inscriptions in Arabic and Nagari characters in different places of the Minar reveal the history of Qutub.
- Excerpts from wwww.delhi-india.net -