Hodgepodge

"In the first place..." It's an introspective push (i like making up terms like that). I like how it makes my stop and think amidst a complicated situation or task, a career dilemma, a crucial decision, a potentially hurtful consequence. Why am i doing/saying/acting/planning anything "in the first place"? Going back to the basic questions really keeps me grounded. Finding out the answer is like calibrating my life's compass. And boy, I need this. We all need this. It bares our direction, and most importantly, our values. It does not really suffice to just have an answer when we ask ourselves "why?", we have to really know why that is "in the first place". Loving life, hoping for it to love me back.

I am writing this as P-Noy is delivering his speech for the 2011 SONA. I did not vote for him last elections. In fact, I did not vote at all. I was rooting for Gordon, because I believed in his political will, and I think that's what our country need. I've had enough of lip service. I lost faith in government officials. I did not believe in P-noy. I felt he won because Cory died, and the Filipinos diverted their affection for the well-loved past president to her son, and his party saw the chance of winning by making him the standard bearer - and poor Mar Roxas had to give way for P-Noy. I doubted P-Noy's political will. I doubted that he has the ability to stand his ground. The government can be full of manipulative, money-hungry people, and it would not help having a weak President. Now, what do I think? P-Noy definitely stood by his word to attempt to clean the government. The DBM reported that we have saved billions over the last year, and I believe it. I do n...

Thank you for technology. I am not just saying thanks for myself, but for my mom as well. She is now facebook-literate and though she is not adding any more friends except for me and my sister and her sister, she gets to update herself with her friends and relatives. It has added a few hours of entertainment to her otherwise boring TV-baking-house chores routine. I am glad that mom got to learn how to use the internet. Facebook is one small step. I am planning to teach her about other social networks and blog sites and you never know, she can expand her baking business through the internet.

Thank you for Sunday Club! These are my best friends from my college dorm. It is amazing how five girls from five different places and from 5 different colleges were able to be friends for more than 10 years already and going strong. It is with these girls that I am able to share my most pathetic moments when it comes to matters of the heart and life issues without worrying that they will think differently of me. We have been setting goals every year and this has helped us try to be better every year. I just feel so blessed to be given friends like them.

July 21-22, 2011. This was my sister's treat to mommy for her 55th birthday, and her treat to me as a 'bakasyonista' from Manila. She originally planned a day trip tour, but because the price for the day tour changed to approximate the promo price of an overnight stay, she decided to just book us for an overnight stay in the beautiful resort. Her boyfriend, Joseph and her good friend, Nikki, came along with us. This was our second time to stay here, actually. We were able to tag along when my dad, who was working for Caltex then, had a department outing. Compared to what it was more than 5 years ago, there was no major changes, just some touch ups and the same refreshing ambiance. My sister booked us through the Pearl Farm Beach Resort office at Abreeza Mall. She just had to present the receipt to the Pearl Farm Marina at Lanang, Davao City where we boarded the boat that took us to the resort. It was hassle-free. They checked our bags to make sure we're not ...

Thank you for Skype and having access to it. I witness Andrei's best baby moments through the skype video call even when they're on the opposite side of the world. Those moments are priceless. I wish everyday to be able to witness him grow up, and somehow I manage to keep track because of technology. Glad I live in this era. *like*

Moist is always better. Aren't you just disappointed when your bola-bola turns out to be dry? The secret actually is in the extender. Thanks Tita Ging for the tip! Ingredients: 1/4 kilo of ground beef one head grated garlic one whole white onion 1/4 cup grated carrots 1/4 cup minced spring onions 4-5 slices of bread, sides removed 1-2 cups of milk, depending on the size of your bread. (note: you want your bread to be soaked in milk but not dripping) sugar salt pepper olive oil Procedure: Mix everything in a bowl and allow to sit in the ref for 20 minutes before molding. Fry in heated oil until both sides are golden brown.