My Angel Baby

I still remember you everyday, every night, each time I look up in the sky, when I look at the stars, when I hear a song, when I see a new place, certain smell… when I look at your brothers… You’re always remembered. 🥹

You will never leave my heart. Held you for only a few moments but I will love you for a lifetime, JT👼❤️ #babyangel

A woman’s loyalty is tested when her man has nothing. A man’s loyalty is tested when he has everything. 👍 Go where you’re loved. Don’t stay where you’re just needed.🫰

2022 Year End Musings

January

Started the year with an amazing surprise. This plant accidentally grew in my backyard which costs around 300-500. Didn’t even sweat! I’d like to believe it’s a blessing of something new and beginnings. Our thoughts and beliefs shape our reality, and by choosing positive perspectives, we create a foundation for success and happiness.

Kiddos were really having fun watching their favorite movies and series with the new television gifted by the husband last Christmas. As always, we had an intimate birthday celebration for the husband at home.

February

Started the week with a devastating news. I didn’t know how I was able to keep it all inside. My mind was furiously screaming. It was a test of patience and endurance.

Setting aside my personal issues, I was very blessed with sales in my online shop. I never knew I could hit twice to thrice my markup. Thank God, my personal hobby turn to biz was a success.

Welcome aboard to our new Honda Airblade. It's the husband’s 2nd motorcycle. Gifted him him with the downpayment, then he paid the rest for 3 months.

Birthdays are not merely about the number of candles on a cake but a celebration of life's magnificent gift. Yup! Another year of life. Celebrated another year of existence with the people who matter to me the most.  Despite numerous challenges, my heart is always grateful for all the blessings. My birthday always serves as a reminder of all the blessings and opportunities to spread kindness and joy to others.

March

It was time for our Fortune and Echo for pms. It was great to have it at home. I thought it would be expensive, yet the price is affordable.

The kids got their first shot of covid vaccine. So proud of my kiddos. I was expecting tantrums and all, but they were really brave. 🥰🙏

April

Despite the husband’s rants to me NOT to drive our car/s due to previous ‘minor scratches’ from my driving, I enrolled at SmartDriving to gain my confidence back. I already have a non-pro, but I tend to get distracted with trucks and buses on the road. But, all’s well. I passed with flying colors.

May

Steering wheel and life both carry significant symbolic meaning of the power we hold to direct our own paths, adapt, find balance, and grow. 

And finally, had the courage to drive alone. It was sooooooo relaxing… I have always wanted to take control of the stirring wheel and discover unexplored destinations. I am strong willed individual but there were some people who influenced me in the past NOT to take charge, which subconsciously took away that confidence and belief in me. 

Fortune’s maintenance and upgrades. Considered keeping it because of many shared memories with the family. But yeah, Money burns. 😅

First family lunch out at Leslie’s Tagaytay. The husband really insisted to dine there. Just a throwback, we went there when we were just starting our family. Little did we know it would cost us to eat there, and he really wanted their famous specialty bulalo. We didn’t have enough. So to cut it short, it was more of a ‘we’re back with the vengeance’ thing for the husband. But all worth it. 

Funny how the lockdown lifted few months before the elections. Maybe it did good not only to the economy, but also to our mental health.

Majority decided - BBM won the Presidency. I just don't understand why friends and families turn to enemies because they were fighting for different candidates. ☺️  Yes, we are free to make a stand. But let's not forget at the end of the day, we all need Peace. Love. Respect.

June

Time and good friends are two things that become more valuable the older you get.  Good Times + Good (Crazy) Friends + Good Laughs + Good Place + Good Food = Good Amazing Memories. TLS Batch 13 Homecoming is definitely one for the books. 🥰☺️

Multiple road trips celebrations with the family. Harry Potter birthday party theme for my youngest kid and Superhero theme coupled with pool party for the older brother. They were really happy and contented. 

July

My cousins from Italy came home for a month long vacation. Had several meetups and catch ups with our high school classmates and friends, samgyup eat outs, shopping, coffee dates and road trips with the cousins. We really maximize their stay.

August

As the world gradually returns to a sense of normalcy, the reopening of schools for face-to-face classes marks a significant change for both children and parents.  

It's time to dust off trolleys, backpacks, sharpen those pencils, and get ready to dive back into face-to-face classes after the lockdown! 

Preparations for the kiddos' back to school face to face classes gave me so much anxieties. Just the thought of them staying at school from morning to afternoon. There's still an unknown threat of covid 19 out there. But the school gave us parents assurance that they are covid 19 ready with the safety precautions.

September

Spent quality time with the husband at ATC. We have not been going out as a couple for months. When we do, it's always with the family. It's kind of refreshing to have our own time away from the kids sometimes.

Finally, got a hand of our passports. Started planning of the country trips which was delayed due to pandemic.

October

Blended learning for the kids. At first, I had separation anxiety especially on their first day of going back to school. It was really mixed emotions. It was like sending them to school for the first time during their kinder years. For the past 24 months or more, I've been used to seeing them attending online classes at home. The adjustment wasn't that simple, yet I embraced the changes. The kiddos to go out frequently.

November

After enduring a prolonged period of separation due to the global lockdown, we've finally getting the opportunity to come together and create lasting memories once again. We're gradually getting our lives back after pandemic.

Spent more quality time with the family over roadtrips, shopping, dine in at restaurants/samgyup. Every week we opted to go the supermarket for our a week's groceries or sometimes for 2 weeks. 

Lockdown taught us not to take our loved ones for granted. Every moment spent with family now feels like a precious gift. Whether it's engaging in meaningful conversations over a leisurely meal or embarking on adventures together, we are learning to cherish and express gratitude for the time we have with each other.

December

First holy communion of the kiddos. Due to the lockdown during pandemic, they missed out having it. Of course, when they grow older, they will have the freedom to choose what they believe in. But as a Catholic Christian, it is very important for them to receive for the first the body and blood of Christ. 

The kiddos surely remember the special day for the rest of their life. As parents, we couldn't be more proud and happy. 

December is a month full of celebrations. Not only the kiddos had the chance to spend Christmas Party with the classmates and teachers again after 2 years of lockdown, I also had the opportunity to share dinner and exchange gifts with my colleagues at work.

During the lockdown, many of us found solace in the digital world. It's a milestone how we emerged from isolation. We detached from our screens and focused on being fully present with our family. Bonds are strengthened that may have been temporarily strained. 

The pandemic may have dimmed the holiday spirit, but as families come together after the lockdown, we had our ways to reignite the magic of Christmas. The joy and laughter we shared during these moments filled our hearts with warmth and reminded us of the resilience of the human spirit.

As the new year approaches, we stand at the threshold of limitless possibilities. Let us step into 2023 with open hearts, embracing the opportunities that lie before us and forging a path of growth, fulfillment, and purpose. 

 

Here’s to a new chapter. 
I hope this new year brings you… 
Courage to try again. 
Passion for doing what you love. 
Ambition to aim higher. 
Resilience in overcoming obstacles. 
Humility to learn from others. 
Kindness for yourself and others.
Welcome 2023!

Mutual Gain is Self Respect

About 6 months ago, my neighbor asked me for the Wi-Fi password. I gave it to him because it didn't cost me anything and because I got along with him. Yesterday I was walking home and he was at the door. I stopped to talk a bit as usual, and he happily told me he now has Netflix. At that, I jokingly said: ′′ I work hard, barely have time to watch TV, but it's great, if you could lend me your password to watch some shows I'd appreciate it ". A voice was heard in the distance, it was his wife, sitting in the car: ′′ We can't give it to him, because I'm the one who pays and I can't share it."

The most total silence reigned!

The man apologized subheading, I said there was no problem. We kept talking about other things, as they went in, he stayed out doing his stuff. Shortly thereafter, his wife came out to call him, she seemed very nervous, said the television wasn't working. My neighbor came into the house, I looked out the window. After a few minutes, he and his wife came to call me and told me the Wi-Fi wasn't working, that the password wasn't going in. I looked at them and said, ′′ I changed my password, because it's me paying and I can't share it ". The wife turned red and tried to say something, but I said, ′′ Ma'am, I have my network and you have your Netflix, everything is fine and everyone is happy ". They turned around and left closing the door. They never spoke to me again.

This story isn't mine, but here's the lesson I learned from it:

- Friendship must be mutual.

- Love must be mutual.

- Affection must be mutual.

In 2022 I intend to return 𝗦𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘;

𝗔𝗕𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗕𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦;

𝗔𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡;

𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣;

and 𝗟𝗢𝗬𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗬 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗢𝗬𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗬.

No more unidirectional feelings. Feelings must be mutual.

PS. If you're only good for taking, take it a little bit in ...!!!! 

Copied and Shared ❤️❤️❤️

SIMPLE. If your kid/s call someone twice older by first name, and as a parent you allowed it - YOU are enabler. As part of our culture, Filipinos call older 'non-relatives' grandfather, grandmother, uncle or aunt, etc even when they are NOT actually related in this way. It is an acknowledgement of their age and respect. 

With that been said, I don’t think there’s justification that today’s generation can call people twice their age by their first name especially if they are your parents NOT by blood, but by choice. Imagine calling your Aunt/Tita or Uncle/Tito by their first name. That to me - is being ungrateful and disrespectful. 

Be a parent. Call out the bad behavior of your kid/s right away. There should be no next time. Excusing the negative choices and attitude of your kid/s, or dismissing that there is actually a problem - is not going to help them. Infact, you are enabling.

BE BRAVER EVERYDAY, fighter! You’re allowed to scream. You’re allowed to cry. You’re allowed to be silent. Go take a break! But never give up…

Much more… You are tougher than your demons. You are greater than the pains and worries. Always look for stars. Soon things will be brighter…

- Your family doesn't know how much difficulties and pressure you go through in your daily life or in your job.

- And your work doesn't know the circumstances of your life and your home.

- Your colleagues, your friends and loved ones will not understand the size of the new and old responsibilities that are above you.

- And your partner is always expecting unconditional love and support from you, he won't understand the amount of pressure you go through no matter how much you talk and explain to him.

Bottom line nobody feels for you but yourself. No one will understand what you're really going through and they most likely don't appreciate efforts.

Just keep on keeping on... Fight... take care of yourself. ctto

I hope you end up with someone who plants calm love

Everyone deserves a love that is meant to be calm. 🙏 To sit with themselves, calm their storms, and heal all of their issues without trying to bring anyone else into that chaos.

I hope you end up with someone who plants calm love. 

Someone who acknowledges your feelings, listens to your explanations, and stays kind even after a misunderstanding.

Someone who is safe to be told about your shortcomings and disappointments because you know that they always put themselves in the position to understand you.

Someone who does not resort into fights for petty reasons. Someone who makes you forget that you're carrying too much weight of the world. And someone who always speaks out of pure intentions.

I hope you end up with that someone. Because, if there's anything you deserve, it is someone who learns how to love you in the the most gentle way. Someone who will remind you that love is always meant to be calm. 

ccto