Christmas, 2005

It was our first Christmas without my father. We decided to celebrate it in our parents' house in Bulacan. Everybody was trying to put on a happy face so that our mother wouldn't feel very sad. We said that we are not going to be weepy this Christmas. Mother kept on saying though that if father were still alive, he would be very happy because we are almost complete. (Only Ditse wasn't able to go home)

My mother's bravado crumpled when it was time to eat the Noche Buena. She suddenly burst into tears which prompted me to embrace her and say that we are always there to support her.

Last Christmas, both my parents were in our house in Cavite. But now only my mother is with us.........

Lunch with the IAs

Right after the exit meeting, our group treated the IAs to lunch at Tagaytay. They enjoyed the food as well as the scenery. Sonia was touched by the rendition of a Chinese love song. Too bad, the singers do not know any Indian song for Mustafa....

Tried by fire

You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. – Psalm 66:10

"The main end of life is not to do but to become," F. B. Meyer said. And for this we are being prepared every day. As silver is refined by fire, the heart is often refined in the furnace of sadness. The Psalmist said in his sorrow, "We went through fire" (Psalm 66:12).

The refining process may be very painful, but it will not destroy us, for the Refiner sits by the furnace tending the flame. He will not allow us to be tried beyond our endurance; it is for our good.

We may not understand why we have to endure such misery year after year. The ordeal seems endless and pointless. Our days are wasted. or so it appears. We feel as if we are doing nothing of lasting significance.

But God is doing what matters – we are being refined. He is placing us into a crucible in which we acquire patience, meekness, humility, compassion, and the other "quiet" virtues our souls naturally lack.
So don’t be afraid and don’t fret. Your present trial, as painful as it may be, has been screened through God’s wisdom and love. The Refiner sits beside the crucible tempering the flame, monitoring the process, waiting patiently until His face is mirrored in the surface. – David Roper

"As thy day thy strength shall be!"

This should be enough for thee;

He who knows thy frame will spare

Burdens more than thou canst bear. – Havergal

Fill The Glass

Do all the good you can, to all the people you can,
in all ways you can, as often as you can,
for as long as you can.

- Charles Haddon Spurgeon

It does not matter
whether the glass is half empty or half full.
Our challenge is to fill the glass.

The glasses of our lives
comes in different forms and
they need to be filled in different ways.


Some of us
need to be connected, to be heard, and to be understood.
Some of us
need to be acknowledged, to be appreciated, and to be wrapped in a warm hug,
Some of us
need laughter, companionship, and camaraderie.

Christmas is not
about holidays, shopping, and exchanging expensive gifts.
Christmas is
about filling the glasses
within the home and around the world.

I wish
your love ones and you
a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2006.
Find your voice, serve your world.
Do it now.

Starbucks-Tagaytay

Dennis is going back to the US. We had dinner at Leslie's where we had the usual...kare-kare..sinigang na hipon..pinakbet...etc...

Afterwards, we moved to the nearby Starbucks where we enjoyed the cold Tagaytay winds while sipping our coffee...

We were already in the carpark when Leah said we haven't had our usual picture taking. We requested the guard to take our picture and we were laughing hard because it took the man so long before he was able to do so.

Penang, Malaysia - Dec 4-10, 2005

It was only during the stop over in Singapore that I found out that I had some officemates in the same flight from Manila. Some of them were heading to Penang and some are heading to India. We ate lunch together at Changi Airport. Then, we girls decided to have some pictures taken at the Sunflower Garden while the guys opted to puff some cigarettes.





Below picture was taken during the CS Asia Capital teambuilding dinner that we had at the Equatorial Hotel, Penang, Malaysia.
(I am the only Filipino in the picture)

My Grown Up Christmas List

Do you remember me
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you
With childhood fantasies

Well, I'm all grown up now
And still need help somehow
I'm not a child
But my heart still can dream

So here's my lifelong wish
My grown up christmas list
Not for myself
But for a world in need

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
and wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown up christmas list

As children we believed
The grandest sight to see
Was something lovely
Wrapped beneath our tree

Well heaven surely knows
That packages and bows
Can never heal
A hurting human soul

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown up christmas list

What is this illusion called the innocence of youth
Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth
(there'd be)

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end, oh
This is my grown up christmas list

This is my grown up christmas list

Reunion

The event was held last November 13, 2005. It was 25 years since we graduated from high school. I was not there for personal reasons but I got these photos from Ever and Gani. Looking at the pictures...seeing dear old faces after more than 2 decades gives me mixed emotions.....How I wish I was there, too. Nice to know that most of them are now successful in their own right. They are planning to have a Christmas reunion..Hope I can join you guys, this time.

H U G

It’s wondrous what a hug can do
A hug can cheer you when you’re blue
A hug can say “I love you so”
Or “I hate to see you go,”

A hug is welcome back again;
And great to see you “how you been?”
A hug can soothe a small child’s pain.
And bring a rainbow after rain.

A hug, there’s just no doubt about it –
We scarcely would survive without it!
A hug delights and warms and charms,
It must be why God gave us arms,

Hugs are great for mothers and fathers,
A hug can break the language barrier,
And make travel so much merrier.

No need to fret about your problem,
The more you give the more there’s more of them.
So stretch those arms without delay
And give someone a hug today!

My niece Joem today....

It has been four months....after so many cans of baby formula...Joem gained weight so fast.......baby dresses hardly fitting nowadays....she is turning into a fat, cooing, cuddly baby girl...effortlessly weaving her way to the hearts of the people around her.....in the midst of her smiles and shrieks and loud cries.....

For you alone

You are the peace that guards my heart
My help in times of need
You are the hope that leads me on
And brings me to my knees
For there I find you waiting
And there I find release
So with all my heart I worship
And unto you I sing

For you alone deserve all glory
For you alone deserve all praise
Father we love you and adore you
Father we long to see your face

For you alone deserve all glory
For you alone deserve all praise
Father we love you and we worship you this day......

Importance of having breakfast....

Breakfast can help prevent strokes, heart attack and sudden death.

Advice on not to skip breakfast!

Tips for healthy living...

For those who always skip breakfast, you should start kicking that habit now!!

You've heard many times that "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day." Now, recent research confirms that one of the worst practices you can develop may be avoiding breakfast.

Why?

Because the frequency of heart attack, sudden death, and stroke peaks between 6:00a.m. and noon, with the highest incidence being between 8: 00a.m. and 10:00a.m.What mechanism within the body could account for this significant jump in sudden death in the early morning hours? :-(



We may have an answer .

Platelet, tiny elements in the blood that keep us from bleeding to Death if we get a cut, can clump together inside our arteries due to cholesterol or laque buildup in the artery lining. It is in the morning hours that platelets become the most activated and tend to form these internal blood clots at the greatest frequency.

However, eating even a very light breakfast prevents the morning platelet activation that is associated with heart attacks and strokes . :-)

Studies found that eating a light, very low-fat breakfast was critical in modifying the morning platelet activation. Subjects in the study consumed either low-fat or fat-free yogurt, orange juice, fruit, and a source of protein coming from yogurt or fat-free milk.

S o if you skip breakfast, it's important that you change this practice immediately in light of this research.Develop a simple plan to eat cereal, such as oatmeal or Bran Flakes ,along with six ounces of grape juice or orange juice , and perhaps a piece of fruit .

This simple plan will keep your platelets from sticking together, keep blood clots from forming, and perhaps head off a potential heart attack or stroke.

So never ever skip breakfast :-)

Another Year Older, a year wiser.....

Another year has passed...It is the 6th of October once again....

Last year was a trying one...So many things which happened shaped me to what I am now. A stronger person.. closer to God....I learned to really appreciate the people around me. Events like the passing away of my father and brother made me realize how short life is and that we should really take time to show our love to those we love while they are still with us.....

I praise God for all the blessings and for all the trials that came my way.

I thank God for giving me the family that I was born into...and for the family that my husband and my daughter are blessed to have...for the friends I gained along the way....

I appreciate all the talents He has accorded me... the job that He gave me as well as the chance to travel....

I thank God for using my Pastor to guide me......for churchmates' prayers during the saddest point in my life.....

I stand in awe of God for lending to us my father's and my brother Jun's lives.... no matter how short the time they were with us ...I cherish the years we were together.......the Lord could not have sent a better father and brother ....I wouldn't exchange them for anyone else...

Lastly, I believe in God's promise of salvation and I am looking forward to seeing Zion where no one will ever be sad....

Second Term SY 2005-2006 starts.....

Heavy raindrops against the roof.....that was the first thing I heard when I woke up. It feels so good to stay in bed! But today is the first day of school...Gosh..I need to stand up now and take my morning coffee... take a quick shower or else I will be late... Good thing my husband will bring me to school today and will fetch me also later. It is so hard to take jeepney when it is raining hard.....

Picked up classcard from GSB office. Whoa! Got a good grade despite the deep sorrow I am feeling for months now...

Proceeded to Accounting office to get clearance, then to Registrar's for the print out of registration form, on to cashier's office to pay and back to Registrar's office to get classcards.

There is a covered place allotted for the students in front of the accounting office. And it was there that I decided to spend my time while waiting for my first subject to start. I took out the pocketbook which I brought and was so engrossed with what I was reading when suddenly...somebody said, "Hello Ate Beng"...It was Arni..a former office mate who is now with an oil company. Last year, she finished her MBA and she is now working on her papers. We had a nice time catching up with each other's escapades..Good thing she brought her digicam so we took time out from chatting and posed with gusto.



Then She, an officemate and also a classmate in one subject this term came and joined us.....

I miss having Arni around...such a jolly person...I just wish that a knight in shining armor will come along and snatch her soon.....Men sometimes are just blind...right Arni?

DARE TO WONDER

Red Bougainvillea Shrub against Blue Skies
(picture courtesy of Manny Cruz - former officemate)


Creativity begins with wondering, with a question. Why is this so, or why can't that work, or what if it were done a little
differently?

Real, original value is created by those who dare to wonder. Progress is made by those who dare to ask the obvious, and
by those who think to ask the questions that are not so obvious.

When you come across something that can't be done, make the effort to understand why not. For in that understanding
you're likely to find a way to make it work.

When you come across something that works very well, seek to understand why. In that understanding you'll find strategies
for improving many other things.

As a child, you were endlessly curious. And somewhere within you, every bit of that curiosity is still there.

Combine that curiosity and wonder of a child with the discipline and focus of an adult. You'll find the result to be pure genius.

T H E G A R D E N

Come to the garden alone,
while the dew is still on the roses....
FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING,
PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS:
1. Peace of mind
2. Peace of heart
3. Peace of soul
PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:
1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness
PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:
1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another
NO GARDEN IS WITHOUT TURNIPS:
1. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3. Turnip to help one another
TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME:
1. Thyme for each other
2. Thyme for family
3. Thyme for friends

WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE. THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.

A life that matters

Ready or not, someday it will come to an end.
There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days.
All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else.
Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance
It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear.
So, too your hopes, ambitions, plans and to-do lists will expire.
The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.
It won’t matter where you came from, or on what side of the tracks you lived, at the end.
It won’t matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant.
Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant
So what matters? How will the value of your days be measured?
What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built, not what you got, but what you gave.
What will matter is not your success but your significance
What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.
What will matter is not your competence, but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many people will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone.
What will matter is not your memories, but the memories that live in those who loved you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.
Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident.
It’s not a matter of circumstance but of choice

Choose to love a life that matters.

Here comes the rain again.....

....Falling on my head like a memory
Falling on my head like a new emotion
I want to walk in the open wind ...

.....Here comes the rain again
Raining in my head like a tragedy
Tearing me apart like a new emotion...


As a child, I have always loved the rainfall. My chin would be touching the window pane as I watched its circular impact on the muddy ground. Little holes created by the steady fall of raindrops from above. Funny that when the rainfall stops the holes wouldn't be there at all.

I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.


There were times when my mother would allow me to join my sisters, brothers, cousins and friends in the neighborhood to go out and enjoy the downpour. Sometimes, I would just sneak out... We would run around and play and laugh all the while...bickering or just horsing around. We would only stop when our skins were already crinkled and our teeth would be clicking together rapidly because of the movement of our jaws...

Most of the time, when my father was around and it was raining, he would take that time to attend to his plants, put the drainage in order and make sure that the water is flowing where it should be....He said it is easier to do things under the rain...when the soil is so much softer and easier to cultivate and there is no heat coming from the sun to wear him out...he would always whistle or hum his favorite tune or just put all his concentration on whatever he is working on.... The thought that my father was just around and working on something made frolicking during downpour more fun.....It's hard to imagine a rainy season without father doing his usual rounds....

Father must have cherished the rains so much because he carried out this practice until the last rainy season in his life ..

I believe that God loved my father so much ...that is why God took him during the dry season....

I still go out during downpours but this time with my daughter and some other mothers and kids in our subdivision. Funny to meet some people like me who would rather go out when it is raining rather than stay indoor.

It seems that father had passed on to me his love for the rainfall...I really enjoy feeling the raindrops touching my face........I will continue to sing in the rain and pretend that my father is just around and fixing something somewhere....and that we will both go back to the house when the rain is over....


Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories...So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.
I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.

How to stay young

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay them. 2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. (keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches;) 3. Keep learning: Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop."And the devil's name is Alzheimer's!4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and Lots of time with HIM/HER.6. The tears happen: Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourself. LIVE while you are alive.7. Surround yourself with what you love: Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health:If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

Come to the water........

Hi Beng,
Here’s the picture of the Jordan River.
Marsha

This picture was taken by Marsha when she went to Israel last June, 2005. It is one of my dreams to be able to visit this biblical country..Jordan river was where our Lord Jesus Christ was baptized by St. John the Baptist.... I would really feel fulfilled if I could see this place and be able to walk as well on the same grounds that Jesus had walked on....

Always in You

You cannot hold on to any moment, for as soon as you know it is here it will be gone. What you can do, though, is to live each moment fully so its value will always be with you.

You cannot bring back the fondly remembered circumstances of the past. Yet what you can do is take the joy from those times still living in your heart and express it again and again in new and creative ways.

Though life is constantly and relentlessly changing, the true goodness you experience is never left behind. The more fully and authentically you live each moment, the more your life will be filled with value that you cannot lose.

The joys you have gathered were not the result of any particular circumstance. They came to you because you opened yourself up to life's goodness, and they are still with you even though many things may have changed.

Though you cannot hold on to this beautiful moment, there really is no reason to do so. For when you see, appreciate and fully experience its beauty, that beauty, that joy will always be in you.

Let go of the need to cling to any fleeting thing or circumstance. And make room for joy to grow in your life with each passing moment.

Tagaytay ...once again.....

Lunch at Tagaytay..once again..This time with Marsha, another Versapro Systems Trainer....Marsha is Donita Rose's look alike. It's funny how she asked about the chocolate soup (dinuguan) that she saw in one of the restaurants:-)

She is willing to taste everything except Balut....

Also with us was Gopi from India who was craving for real spicy food.

Another Tagaytay Visit

It was a perfect day to go out from the office for a while. We had lunch at Leslie's in Tagaytay and enjoyed a sumptuous lunch. With us is Dennis from Versapro Team. Half Filipino and half Korean. He is teaching us the new system that will track our projects' performances and eliminate offline reports.

The Divers

These are Boyet and Leah..my officemates who are already certified divers. One good thing came out from having so much pressures in the office, they turned to something else to achieve balance:-)


Consider yourselves blessed! Not everyone will have a chance to see God's perfect creations down there.

Kanlungan

pana-panahon ang pagkakataon
maibabalik ba ang kahapon?

natatandaan mo pa ba,
nang tayong dalwa'y ang unang nagkita?
panahon ng kamusmusan
sa piling ng mga bulaklak at halaman
doon tayong nagsimulang
mangarap at tumula

natatandaan mo pa ba,
inukit kong puso sa punong mangga
at ang inalay kong gumamela
magkahawak-kamay sa dalampasigan
malayang tulad ng mga ibon
ang gunita ng ating kahapon

ang mga puno't halaman
ay kabiyak ng ating gunita
sa paglipas ng panahon bakit kailangan ding lumisan?

pana-panahon ang pagkakatao
maibabalik ba ang kahapon?

ngayon ikaw ay nagbalik
at tulad ko rin ang iyong pananabik
makita ang dating kanlungan
tahanan ng ating tula at pangarap
ngayon ay naglaho na
saan hahanapin pa?

lumilipas ang panahon
kabiyak ng ating gunita
ang mga puno't halaman
bakit kailangan lumisan?

pana-panahon ang pagkakataon
maibabalik ba ang kahapon?
lumilipas ang panahon
kabiyak ng ating gunita
ang mga puno't halaman
bakit kailangan lumisan?

pana-panahon ang pagkakataon
maibabalik ba ang kahapon?


THIS SONG REMINDS ME THAT EVERYTHING ON THIS EARTH IS TEMPORAL.

Newest addition to the Family

This is Joem my third niece. So far, she is the youngest out of the ten grandchildren of my Nanay & Tatay. Born June 24, 2005 at San Juan, MM.

Joem got her eyes from her father, my brother Joey and the shape of the face from her mother, Emma. (thus the name, Joem)

She is almost 2 months now and according to her father, she is starting to utter her first words like, yahung yahoo!!, ago ayo... (ate Pam says, she doesn't believe and would wait until she hears Joem says so to her).... while sucking her whole fist and part of her arms....much to the delight of her parents.

Wayback April, 2005, when my father was seriously ill, he cried because he knew that he will be gone before Joem arrives.

You may not have experienced to live with your Lolo, Joem, but please be assured that he loved you and he waited for you. He would have done anything to see you before he goes but God had other plans.....


God bless baby, we love you and hope to see you soon.... (,")

My Ditse's Family

This collage shows some of the many activities that Kuya Nomer, Ditse and their three boys (Norman, Neil John, Norville) enjoy whenever my brother in law is in town. Family outings to make up for the time away from each other.

Most of the pictures here were taken when they went to Lagos Del Sol in Laguna. There is no better way to bond!

IT IS A SIN TO TELL A LIE

I love you, yes I do, I love you
If you break my heart I'll die
So be sure it's true
When you say I love you
It's a sin to tell a lie

Be sure it's true when you say I love you
It's a sin to tell a lie
Millions of hearts have been broken
Just because these words were spoken

I love you, yes I do, I love you
If you break my heart I'll die
So be sure it's true
When you say I love you
It's a sin to tell a lie




WHOAH! I found the lyrics of this song while browsing on the lyrics.com. Here is one song that I couldn't ignore. I grew up knowing that this is my parents' song....could be that this song was very popular during their time, huh!

Not sure how much this song has contributed to the exemplary life they led as husband and wife......they had something which doesn't happen always in a relationship....they have devotion and respect to each other......they had weathered everything together....theirs was not an easy life..but they succeeded in making sure that their children would achieve something that they both lacked....My husband and I don't have a song in particular..maybe we should have one...

SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME

There’s a saying old says that love is blind
Still we’re often told, seek and ye shall find
So I’m going to seek a certain lad I’ve had in mind
Looking everywhere, haven’t found him yet

He’s the big affair I cannot forget
Only man I ever think of with regret
I’d like to add his initial to my monogram
Tell me, where is the shepherd for this lost lamb?

There’s a somebody I’m longing to see
I hope that he turns out to be
Someone who’ll watch over me
I’m a little lamb who’s lost in the wood
I know I could always be good
Someone who’ll watch over me

Although he may not be the man some
Girls think of as handsome
To my heart he carries the key
Won’t you tell him please to put on some speed
Follow my lead, oh, how I need
Someone to watch over me


When I was a kid, the thought that my father would always be around was a great comfort for me. He was an embodiment of someone who would do anything for his children, be it hard work just to be able to support us.

When I got married, I thought that the responsibility to take care of me was transferred to my husband but I know that father will still always be there for me.

Now that father is gone, I believe that he still watches over me from afar, could be from a different dimension but he is still there watching and praying for me.

Free Dinner always taste best...

It was about 5 pm. We have just finished our staff meeting. Our manager, Boyet has just gotten his new silver Innova Toyota. Last month, he got his promo.... We were teasing him that he ought to give us joy ride and treat us to dinner afterwards. Being a true gentleman that he is (ehemmmmm) he gave in to our request....



















On our way to Tagaytay, we were enveloped with very thick fog...almost zero visibility....The wind was so strong..as if a typhoon was coming...hmmnn...cold...brrr...The low temperature in Tagaytay did something to our appetite. We relished our yellow cab pizza and some fried chicken wings. Yehey..we had a nice time... and hope we could have another one like this soon:-) thanks a lot, Boyet....may your tribe increase!

STANDING IN AWE OF OUR GOD

I STAND IN AWE OF YOU

You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvelous for words
Too wonderful for comprehension
Like nothing ever seen or heard

Who can grasp your infinite wisdom?
Who can fathom the depth of your love?
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty enthroned above.

CHORUS:

And I stand, I stand in awe of you
I stand, I stand in awe of you
Holy God to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of you.


In our life, there are so many things that are happening that we can't comprehend. It is so comforting to know though that Someone up there is in total control of everything.... We may not understand the reason why He allowed certain things to happen yet these things happen because of His great plans for all of us. Just like how my most favorite gospel song goes....

"Who can grasp your infinite wisdom?
Who can fathom the depth of your love?
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty enthroned above"

Giving importance to what really matters... right now...

I am confused.

The other day, I accompanied my mother to the hospital for the first of the 3 sessions of eye laser treatments. It was done to stop the bleeding of some veins at the back of her eyes. Mother is suffering from type 2 diabetes and it can cause blindness if not acted upon fast. She experienced on and off vision which the doctor termed as an eye attack.

Mother is having a hard time coping with father's sudden demise. On top of that, we can't find her a permanent helper in the house. All her children are married and working so she is alone in the house except for her sister who visits her now and then during the day. One niece stays with her at night time. Mother is very frail and she doesn't eat much these days because she said she doesn't feel like eating:-( She needs someone who truly loves her to take care of her at this point.

I am sure that she will love to have a son or daughter live with her for a while. Getting her out of her 'territory' is not an option. She just wouldn't budge. This is a problem, indeed.

The only days that I could offer are my weekends. However, I have my MBA classes on Saturdays until 5:30 in the afternoon. This is the reason why I can't visit her on weekends as much as I want. When I enrolled this term it was more because I wanted to keep myself busy so as not to give loneliness some space. I forgot that my mother needs somebody by her side especially now..... So... I am in a dilemma - Should I drop one subject to be able to visit her more often? Or should I just wait for the end of the term? My heart says that I should drop it now but I am also thinking of the money, time and effort I have invested so far...

My mother is already 67 years old..I am young and I can have the rest of my life to finish my MBA...My mother needs me now......I believe I should give her my time now...

Tomorrow, I will talk to the dean that I am going to drop my class in the afternoon. I need to give way to what is more important in my life....

HONGKONG SIDETRIP

it's always beautiful when mountains and ocean meet....


Central Hongkong


What would you do if you have 7 hrs in between flights? Of course, you have to maximize and try to visit the country you are in with those limited hours. That was what my friend Leah and I did. We decided to see Hongkong as much as we could .....with these limited hours.

First, we took the airway express train and got off at Hongkong Central.



Then, we tried the Peak Mountain View ride.



We also cruised the Hongkong bay....



.....and we enjoyed harbor walk in the Avenue of the Stars.

Hmmnn..it was a marathon visit and we ached all over..all those walking and running....while reading the map.. (poor Leah lost her balance and fell down in Central Hongkong) and with our heavy laptop backpacks all the time.... it was a very tiring sidetrip but we will surely do it again next time.....

My first trip to SHANGHAI, CHINA (July 10-16, 2005)

Yu Garden


"Work on your Chinese Visa for the CS Asia Capital Face to Face and CCF/FAA Roadshow Training" that was Chui Lin, my manager. "Be ready to be in Shanghai on WW29". Cool! I will be able to visit one of intriguing countries for me since I was child. I have always been fascinated by the traditional Chinese houses, dresses and foods (yummy!) Here's the chance to see what I have just heard or read in the past about China and Chinese people in general.

The Golden buddha in the restaurant where we had teambuilding dinner


July 10, I was prompted by my husband to wake up following the alarm from my cellphone. Hmm.. it was 3:30 in the morning. My flight was at 8:00am but I need to be in the airport at least 2 hrs before the flight and we also live about 1.5 hr drive to the airport.
My flight to Hongkong was okay but my connecting flight to China was delayed for 2 hrs. When I finally arrived in Shanghai, I was flashing the Chinese name of the hotel where I have made the reservation to the taxi driver when there was this man who got my suitcase and prompted me to follow him. I thought he was a good samaritan helping me with my heavy load. He was walking so fast and I had a hard time following him. He led me to a taxi at the carpark under a building just opposite the airport. He talked to the driver in Chinese after putting my suitcase at the back of the car and then he left. I was starting to feel nervous that time. The driver seemed friendly enough and kept on chatting with me with his limited English vocabulary. I asked him how much it would cost me to the hotel and he said we will use the meter. I thought it was okay.


China's unique architectures




We were already in the highway when suddenly the man who accompanied me to the taxi showed up and rode with us. I felt that something was wrong. He sat in front with the driver and used his handphone. I just prayed that everything will be okay. When I spotted the facade of my hotel, I wondered why they did not park in the hotel entrance and instead stopped in the next street.

I had this gutfeel that they are going to trick me. True enough, when I looked at the meter, it was showing RMB450.00. What!?X%&* Earlier on my manager briefed me that the normal rate is only RMB150.00. Indeed! crooked people are everywhere.

With my friend Chern chern from Malaysia


This made my first trip to China really unforgettable. It's a good thing that I never tend to generalize people. I have good Chinese friends who upon hearing my sad experience sort of made up for me. I had a pretty hectic night life for the whole week. Shopping, or eating or just looking around....