harrowing experience

mrt commuters would know the rush hour experience, i.e., 6-8am and 5-7pm. they would also know that segregation has been in practice since a few years back (not sure of the exact dates though), meaning the first coach is reserved for females, and males who are senior citizens, physically disabled, accompanying children or pregnant women.

since i moved to tandang sora last month, i have become one of the mrt statistics. and im loving every day i ride the train. i always enter through the 2nd door from the front. my station in quezon avenue is just second from the 1st stop, so most of the time, i get to sit (and even safely sleep!) throughout my entire ride to magallanes.

last week, though, i was forced to do the unthinkable. as i was getting past the turnstile, a vacant train was coming in. if i wanted to secure a seat, i had to run all the way to the 2nd door before the warning buzzers go off. but i didnt feel like running, so i just walked my normal pace. i was already near the 1st coach, but i hadnt heard the buzzer yet. a split-second decision made me jump into the 1st door of the 2nd coach (read: males'). i hit the door just as it was closing, and it almost closed in on my arm (or was it hand?).

it was a vacant train, so there were only a handful of males seated. then somebody motioned to me, and i was so relieved to see a female passenger! when we reached the 3rd station, more male passengers came in, but it was in cubao station when it was really the mob! i moved closer to the female passenger as if in helplessness. i even overheard one guy say, "mga lalaki naman lahat eh... pasok!" apparently he was still at the door and wanted to push everybody inside so he can get in. they had probably been waiting at the station for some time.

i just bowed my head and closed my eyes. it was then that i felt a little scared. these were all guys! the only other female there was seated beside me, and i was secretly praying that she doesnt get off before i do! the guy standing in front of me was polite enough to keep his personal space from me, but at times, i felt his knees brushed against mine. it felt really uncomfortable!

super lucky for me, my seatmate was also to get off at magallanes, so she even served as my 'shield' against the male passengers who were still standing. in fact, the train was still almost full, unlike in the female section. i didnt want to be pushing or brushing against them. when i finally got out of the train, i vowed to myself never to take the males' coach again... for all intents and purposes, when an empty train comes into the station while you are still at the turnstile, run!! or walk leisurely and simply wait for the next train to arrive.

live forever in our hearts

I still think I see him around, not really as a ghostly apparition or something, but in the features of people I see in the bus, on the street, in school sometimes…

I have sudden urges of approaching the person, half expecting to still see the big smile in the face of the big, gentle guy…

I still half expect to see him around school with his camera, or just him in his black brother’s outfit, walking…
Somehow, maybe I haven’t fully accepted it, because it doesn’t seem real to me…It seems to me that he is the kind of person who will be around me forever…

It didn’t seem real that he was… is… gone.

I promised to myself that I would write a very lengthy and heartfelt tribute on your 40th day…

But it seems like I’m at a loss for words…

I decided to wait a little longer so I can compose my essay…

Your 66th birthday passed…

but still to no avail…

It is because I still find it hard to believe that I will no longer see you ever…

And now it has been a year since…

It was fitting but ironic that you passed away on Father’s Day last year.

Thanks Bro., for being an icon of inspiration…

For being hands on, in watching over us, taking care of us…

I will miss your stories in every homily, your laugh, your accent, your mere presence…

…I didn’t have the chance to even show off my son to you… I remember very clearly when I texted you that I had already given birth last year… you replied with one of the most inspiring messages of all…

“Alleluia! Extremely proud and happy for you! Remember, every child born is a message na, May pag-asa pa!”

How very optimistic! Thank you Bro.! Now everytime I look at my baby boy, I see him as a symbol of hope, and love.

Thank you, Brother Ceci…

It might still take a long time for me to fully realize that you’re truly forever gone, partly because I would like to remember you as alive as you can be, as lively as you always are…

Rest now Bro., thank you for always watching over us…

No one can ever ever replace you in our hearts.

my baby has taken after me!

like mommy, like baby! :)

ba!

it's funny how a single syllable can be used many different ways by a 16-month-old baby...

-Simba, his favorite stuffed toy

-peek-ba!, our modified version of the game peek-a-boo, where we cover his eyes and say "peek" and when we remove our hands, he will say "ba!"

-Buzz (Lightyear), his foot-tall talking toy from tatay

-baba, or go down from the bedroom

-bath (he says "ba" when he sees anyone holding a towel, or hears the words towel, bathroom, or take a bath)

-bus (any big vehicle he sees on the street is a "ba", even if it's a truck, container van, or a firetruck)

amusing... makes me smile everytime. slowly but surely, he is adding more words to his vocabulary, and we are continuously teaching him everyday. at his age, he doesn't speak clear words yet, but i will take "ba" and its hundred different meanings anyday.

aren with mommy's R2D2 collectible lunchkit "this is so nice, clap clap, i think i'll wear this today!"

mommy's rare day out (off?)

since aren was born, i had practically zero social life, meaning i hardly met my old friends, or went out to movies or dinner with my officemates, or even attend to my personal needs (i.e., haircut, foot spa, shopping for clothes). i'm not complaining at all; i love every minute i spend with aren, especially now that he's growing more conversant and smarter by the day.

thing is, i cannot afford to be gone for more than 24 hours... i have been away for overnight school activities only thrice yet --for the department teambuilding and institutional retreat-outing last year, and the 3rd time was the department teambuilding for the 2nd year in a row.

it was held at balay indang in cavite from april 14 to 15. it was a quaint house with a pool and huge garden, among other amenities. what i like most about it are the interesting figurines and items inside and around the house.

view from the entrance of the house

view of the living room area from the top of the stairs

getting comfy in the couch with canopy

wait! where's the horse??


afternoon rest in the pavilion (at the background is a pond covered with small leaves!)


dark wood furniture and different pieces of china add to the country atmosphere

yum yum dinner!

in one of the sitting rooms in the balay

swimming at six the following morning

looking for flaglets in the amazing race activity of the teambuilding

group happy!

own version of jump

posing in front of one of the mirrors in the dining area

kahit salamin sa kisame hindi pinatawad!

thanks again girls, for making another adventure a memorable one!

happy bath time!

i love this photo because it shows that in spite of all the stress for parents in giving their kids a bath, a smile like this can make it all go away. :)

happy bath time everybody!

32

As they say when one reaches this age, "wala ka na sa kalendaryo!" Literally.

Fears, anxieties, and insecurities also start creeping in.... health, future finances, grad school, career, motherhood concerns.... all these things seem to be directly proportional to age!

At a time when I see the crow's feet, dark undereye circles, crazy facial skin texture, varicose veins, imminent osteoporosis, wrinkly hands, and dry body skin, among others (yes I never thought I am this vain!), I cannot help but be afraid of growing... eherm... old. And these are just the aesthetic reasons!!

However, a few days back, something happened that made me smile big time, and yes, flattered...

I was on my way home from the office, riding the usual bus line that i rode everyday twice a day for the past at least five years. The conductors sometimes ask the destination, some simply issue the ticket especially if they recognize regular patrons. Personally, though, it is not my habit to look at the drivers and conductors to memorize their faces.

I was sitting in my solitude, recalling the events of the day, when this particular conductor passed by my seat, did not ask where I was to get off, and simply keyed in into his handheld ticketing device, and handed this to me:


I took a look at the amount due, I was about to complain that he made a mistake, but then I realized... it was a pleasant mistake! Instead of the usual "Passenger - Ticket" printed at the top, the conductor issued a "Student - Ticket" to me! It was one of the biggest compliments anyone has ever made to me! It was too good a moment to spoil!

So I prepared my fare, and when he came back to collect it, he really handed me back a change of P24 for my P50! He really honestly thought I was a student! (At this point, I didn't know why he didn't notice it, but I thought I was already grinning in excitement.) Then I realized that it was a Friday, and I wasn't wearing my usual office uniform. But then I wasn't even wearing jeans and shirt... it was a casual top for Friday dress code. Hmmm...

If manong was just suffering from poor eyesight, then it was his fault really, that he assumed that I was a student passenger *wink*. It was a high form of flattery, and even if for just a 30-minute trip, I felt that I was years younger than my approaching birthday. Thanks manong; sorry for the undercharge ;)

Thanks to my IPA family for the super daming food last Thursday! You really know how to make me feel special. Yesterday at home, we also had some spaghetti and cake with my eldest sister's family, and last I heard, we'll have another one next weekend with my other sister's family! Rands even promised his own in May *wink* Now, how's that for celebrating my big 32!

aren turns one

aren's birthday: january 15, 2009

aren's 1st birthday party: january 17, 2010

details: kenny rogers roasters, quezon avenue, quezon city; 2-4pm

we chose the animal theme of kenny because we thought of merging it with our very own lion king theme...

...because aren loves his simba!

cake from gashville,

surrounded by kirigami jungle animals by tita meang (guests were asked to identify the kirigami animals and those with the most number of correct answers won a prize)

lootbags from kenny, mostly catering to school-age guests

prizes (all the animal themed items were from us, the rest were from kenny).

we provided special lootbags for guests below school age (in brown bags)

guests decorated their own cookies, special prizes were given out at the end of the party

guests were given cut out kirigami animals with instructions

overwhelmed by a lot of guests, aren finds comfort in simba

games for kids...

...and adults!

cassey engaged in puzzle activity

simple buffet for adults


the bright-eyed birthday boy



cookie decorating entries


guests were not told that a "best in costume" prize will be given, but ninong bruno and ninang len were chosen, because they were dressed as the theme...

...of the "safari family!"

thanks to our families who helped us!

diaz family

lagahit family

1st haircut!

Before....

After!

Aren's first haircut! c/o Tito Peter! :)

aren’s 1st christmas

Holidays 2009 were special because Aren, tatay, and mommy were a complete family, and also because it was Aren’s first.

December 24 was Kuya Christian’s birthday. They came to our house and we celebrated it with lots of food. Tatay and Tito Egay were with us, even if Tita Ricci was not. In the afternoon, we had games, prizes, and exchange gifts for our annual Christmas family get together.

That night, we went to UP for noche buena. Aren still had to get used to lots of people, so he kept on crying. Besides, it was also his bedtime already. He eventually fell asleep in Ate Mikka’s room. We went home at around 1am.

December 25 morning, we spread his floor mats in front of the Christmas tree. Aren opened all his presents, of course with some help from tatay and Lola. He received lots of nice clothes and some toys and food.

"I wonder what this is..."

In the afternoon, we went back to UP. We had more games with his cousins there. We went to church at 6pm, and Aren had his first jeep ride! We brought his stroller in the Ikot jeep, but he did not have to use it in the UP chapel during the mass.

Beside Christmas tree in UP Chapel

In front of Oblation and Admin Building

December 27 was Ate Ria’s party at University Hotel in UP. First, we had Sunday mass at Lourdes, and took pictures at the belen. We picked up Ate Mikka and Tita Tess at UP. It was a nice ballerina party, and we got to see many of our relatives.

In front of belen at Lourdes Church

In Ikot jeep

In front of University Hotel with Ate Mikka

December 29 was Aren's 1st Eastwood trip. We met Ninang Christy, and balikbayans (and newlyweds) Ninang Nancy and Tito Sindre, for lunch. After that, we strolled around, checked out the new mall, and had dessert at Dulcinea. Aren sat on a high chair for a second time this day. He was so tired that he fell asleep in his stroller late that afternoon!

Strolling in Eastwood

December 31, we went to bed at 9pm, when the firecrackers were not yet that loud. Mommy covered Aren’s ears everytime there would be loud and continuous explosions. However, when it was 11:30pm, the noises became too loud that Aren woke up! It was also nice because it was like he wanted to be awake like the rest of us to welcome the new year. We went down in spite of the smoke. We tried to bring him out to see some of the fountains and fireworks, but he became so afraid. But he was brave enough not to cry; he was just holding on to mommy. At 12 midnight, mommy, tatay and Aren jumped!

"The firecrackers are too loud lola!"

We had a few things to eat afterwards. The noises had died down at 1am, and we went back to sleep.

Brave baby did not cry, he was just overwhelmed

January 1, we woke up at 8am. We had to get up to go to church to start the new year right. Aren’s cousins were also coming for lunch. We did not have games, but Tita Gigi brought their magic sing. Unfortunately, we had to leave at 4pm for UP because tatay’s balikbayan relatives sponsored the food for a get together there.

Happy New Year, Ate Ria!

Aren was not very fussy when we got there, maybe because it was held outside at the garage, where it was easy for us to push his stroller around, or for him to practice walking on the street. He was very friendly with his cousins, playing high five, shake hands, and peekaboo with them. But at around 7pm, he started crying, probably from exhaustion and sleepiness.

Aren played with Ate Icia and Kuya Mig

With other cousins from tatay's side

When the guests had left, we went inside Tita Meang’s house. Aren enjoyed it there because he got to practice his walking some more. He would take a few steps towards Kuya Mig, Lola Pining, or tatay, then back to mommy. We were also able to discuss some details about his invitation. As soon as we rode the taxi home, Aren was asleep in literally 10 counts! He was so tired!

January 3, Feast of the Epiphany, we had mass again at Lourdes. He was so active during the 1st part of the mass, only to fall asleep towards the end. It marked the last day of the advent season.

As of today, it is still a busy time for us, because we are starting the countdown to Aren’s first birthday. Preparations are underway, but it will not be a big and overly expensive event. It will simply be a celebration and thanksgiving of Aren’s life and his milestones. At 11 months and 4 weeks, his brain is very receptive to new things. His motor and language skills are developing probably twice by the day. It has become easy for us to teach him actions and new vocabulary. He is also growing physically at an astounding rate! Two new upper teeth (he has bitten mommy, tatay, and lola already!) , weight gain, and I can’t wait for his haircut on the day of his 1st birthday on January 15 courtesy of Tito Peter! All the walking and playing is getting him all sweaty especially at the nape! Tatay acknowledged that he is indeed no longer a “baby,” because his bodily “excretions” all smell like that of a big boy already! :)