Hami Redeems Ninong Max’s Birthday Gift

Even before my middle child’s christening at Max’s restaurant in 2015, I already have high regard for their excellent service because a cousin’s wedding reception a couple of years back was done at their Roxas Boulevard branch; and I was quite impressed with the way they have swiftly delivered a solemn wedding program, not to mention their food which is timelessly, unarguably palatable.

This year, for the first time, Hami was able to redeem her free gift from her “Ninong Max.” Unfortunately, we were unable to get her free chickens previously, for her birth month and Christmas, because I lost the temporary card necessary for redeeming the Ninong Max goodies.

I thought I had to go through the hassle of securing an affidavit of loss before I could do the free chicken redemptions for my kid. I was mistaken.  One random day I visited the place to probe about the procedures to reactivate my child’s account to claim the food gifts, I was surprised to find out that Hami’s permanent Ninong Max ID was just sitting there for several months waiting to be picked-up.

So we redeemed her first gift from Ninong Max.

Here are the perks for a Ninong Max ID holder:

Promo details according to their Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/maxsrestaurant/photos/a.104349093070.91742.42321613070/10150274868013071/?type=3&fref=mentions

While waiting for Hami’s treat from Ninong Max, I indulged my daughter’s sweet tooth.

Thanks to the very long APEC break here in Metro Manila, I was able to do lots of mommy duties for my children – I was able to pay attention to Deirdre’s christening requirements, I had the chance to sit and play pogs with Vladimir, and for the first time, Hami and I were able to redeem her free crispy and tasty chicken from Max’s Restaurant!

Nanay Muring: An Epitome of Volunteerism in Valenzuela

Today I’m sharing a story of an unsung hero whom I had the chance to interview during a recent assignment. She is Nanay Murita “Muring” Paulino, a 65-year old senior citizen who is both a Bantay Estudyante volunteer and a Central Kitchen volunteer.

Nanay Muring in Bantay Estudyante Suit

In Valenzuela, citizens are encouraged to engage in volunteer works to help contribute in making our home city a better place to live in. When I asked Nanay Muring of her timeframe until when does she see herself serving our city, I was moved by her response, “hangga't kaya ko po dahil wala naman po akong sakit” (as long as I can because I am not ill yet).

I could not help myself from gazing at her using a xennial’s lens. Despite her wrinkled skin, hers are magnetic eyes that showed me her big heart. I saw in her a contented woman who has won and lost battles through the years, yet who remained steadfast in nurturing her pure motherly soul. Her voice was filled with love and sincerity as she described her joy in serving the Valenzuelano children. In my mind, I couldn't help myself from thinking that her sun-kissed skin is her natural badge for her unrelenting selfless service. My heart shivered.

If you’re wondering where my admiration is coming from, let me talk briefly about her two volunteer works – Bantay Estudyante and Central Kitchen.

“Bantay Estudyante” is the brainchild of our handsome mayor, Rex Gatchalian [writer swoons]. In Valenzuela, senior citizens are welcomed for employment by the local government despite their age. During school days, volunteers are posted on visible sites during the ‘alpha and omega’ of classes only. They are deployed near the streets of public elementary schools to oversee the safety of the kids from vehicular accidents. They also prevent youngsters from brawling nonsensically over petty things.  

The Central Kitchen is a different activity. Here, volunteer-mothers help in preparing meals for thousands of identified malnourished and undernourished children enrolled in public schools, from kinder to sixth grade.

I have conducted interviews with other kitchen volunteers in the past so I know how tough their sacrifices are. They have to wake up at least 3:00 o’clock in the morning, leave their abode before dawn, start chopping veggies once they arrive at the kitchen, and twerk until all packed lunches are delivered in schools. These, ladies and gentlemen, are the efforts exerted by our mother-volunteers at the kitchen. So kids, I hope you’d really study well and pay it forward someday.

Nanay Muring communicated with me the essence of satisfaction and love – these are two things that many of us fail to achieve despite the credentials we brag on social media, despite the hollow praises we get from people who don’t really care about us.

Nanay, how to be you po? I salute you.

Make Gift Giving Hassle-Free with GC Regalo!

As I prepare for the upcoming christening of my baby daughter Deirdre in November, the nostalgia of my being a god mother to my nephew to Pocoh rushed through my mind as if it was just yesterday.

Pocoh and Mirmir (2013)

Born Again Christians call their baptism as “dedication.” Pocoh was dedicated when he was one year old and the ceremony was held at Max’s restaurant in Caloocan City.

That time, I was still a Citigroup employee. I was a determined sales person. Part of Citigroup’s motivation strategy was to give away gift certificates, such as the Sodexo Premium Pass, to encourage their Citiphone officers to sell more and to hit their quotas.

MY FIRST TEAM AT CITI
Vince, the guy at the back wearing a cap, was the one who explained to me
the convenience of using Sodexo Premium Pass.

Shop Sodexo here: https://www.gcregalo.com/products/2-sodexo-premium-pass-gift-certificate-1.html

The very young, yet extremely talented Jordan Ga was our sales coach that time. He taught us how to sell credit card insurance because nobody in my new team could sell that product. He told us that he was going to give us ten GCs (gift certificates) of Sodexo Premium Pass pegged at Php100 each. So that’s a total of Php1,000 worth of GCs.

I knew that I will be a god mother to Pocoh. As a typical employee who lives from pay check to pay check, I was a bit concerned that my budget will be a little tighter if I will allot a portion of that for “pakimkim.” Haha! Yes, I was that poorita (until now, actually).

And so I prayed. And studied the sales spiel intently so that I could bag the award. Voila! I was able to hit the nail. As an added feather on my hat, my Credit Protector sale was also compliant.

Jordan was elated that time. I think he was happy not only for me but also for himself because he was able to prove to the management team that he was a coach that CAN deliver results, and a hardworking one I must say.

My name was bannered in a send-to-all email for everybody on the floor to read. It was an unforgettable experience. Nobody knew that my motivation to hit the target was my desire to give my nephew a rather decent gift for his dedication.

That was just one of the many happy experiences I had using GCs.

AS FOR MY CHILDREN:

Check GC Regalo here: https://www.gcregalo.com/

I appreciate the Gift Idea of my friends, who are my kids’ god parents, whenever they hand SM Gift Certificates to my little ones during Christmas. Receiving an SM Gift Certificate looks more personalized rather than receiving cash in an “ang pao.” The gesture also feels like, my friends warning me softly, “Hey Liz, the GC belongs to the kids; bring them to the mall where they could enjoy.” Pretty clever, aye? They’re making sure that the valuable gift idea will not go inside mommy’s pockets. Spell F-O-R-T-H-E-K-I-D-S-O-N-L-Y. Haha! Kidding aside, of course bonding moments with my kids, such as malling at SM North, is priceless.

When Yayabels Takes a Surprise Day-off

I have been absent from work for two days now because my daughter’s nanny had a very important matter to attend to. She had her medical examination at her agency because she plans to leave the country for Saudi to be an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker).

(Sigh.)

If you’re a working mom who is not accustomed to doing household chores, staying at home could be stressful, rather than peaceful. In my case, I am used to working at my station the whole day with occasional meetings and other professional transactions. So when my nanny left for an urgent concern, I felt like my routine was somehow disrupted. I couldn’t focus. Or perhaps I’m a certified workaholic now that I can’t help thinking of my current projects. 

But you know what, moms? There is one beneficial thing about working moms’ nannies’ unplanned days off – mothers get to bond with their children longer; so, they get to discover their children’s milestones which they often miss out. Like today, I have seen my baby Deirdre lie down on her stomach. It was a delightful sight!

Long weekend starts tomorrow. It’s going to be a long working weekend.

I wonder if “grace under pressure” will be applicable to me.

Make brushing more fun with Minions!

Let me start with a little whine.

The saddest part of being a single mom in a modern family is the very scarce time that a mother could afford for her children due to financial concerns. Like in my case, instead of me spending time to bond with my kids, I engage in other endeavors that would help me augment my income. It’s only in the evenings that I get to bond shortly with my kids. Most of the time, I get home a little past dinner time.

My Modern Family

The moment I arrive home, the first thing I do is to kiss my kids to let them know that mum is home. After a short while, I would ask them if they have already brushed their teeth which most of the time, the answer would be “No.”

My two-year old daughter, Hami, is the clingiest among my children. Since she always wants to follow me wherever I go, I also find her easier to prod to do tooth brushing compared to her big brother, Vladimir. Hami doesn’t speak straight yet. When it is already time for me to clean her up, I would just repeatedly ask her a one-word inquiry, “Brush? Brush?” Hami would then smilingly follow me to the rest room and we’d brush our teeth together while facing each other. This is our kind of "mother and daughter bonding" every night, and my way of making tooth brushing more fun!

Mommy And Hami

I’ve read in a parenting magazine before that “playing” is educational for toddlers. If you want to teach your child something, you have to be creative in coming up with some sort of a play to keep your child’s interest or attention. Teaching Hami how to brush her teeth had been such a breeze for me because of Colgate’s Minions toothbrush and Minions toothpaste. Both of these oral hygiene products are indeed perfect for little ones who are still learning proper oral care. Hami loves the Minion design and the soft bristles of her new toothbrush, as well as the sweet taste of her toothpaste.

I have been an avid Colgate user even before I was a mother. Now that I have three growing kids, of course I only make them use the brand that I trust. 

Are you also a parent who leaves early and arrives home late? Lessen that guilty feeling by not skipping your enjoyable tooth brushing fellowship session with your kids.

Go grab Colgate’s Minions toothbrush and Minions toothpaste through these channels:

Colgate Minions Kids 2-5 Years Old (Junior) Oral Care Pack:

http://www.lazada.com.ph/colgate-minions-kids-2-5-years-old-oral-care-pack-4804587.html?spm=a2o4l.sis-363.0.0.1sWUa5&ff=1

Colgate Minions Kids 5-9 Years Old (Youth) Oral Care Pack:

http://www.lazada.com.ph/colgate-minions-kids-5-9-years-old-oral-care-pack-4804586.html?spm=a2o4l.sis-363.0.0.1sWUa5&ff=1

The Astoria Stigma

Our good friend Joyce, who was among the Latin honor graduates of our batch, came to visit the Philippines recently. She is now based in Australia, and currently has a quite established career in hotel management. She invited us over for dinner at Astoria Hotel in Pasig City. She wanted to see us, her college friends, before flying back to Down Under.

My kids’ godparents were present in our group date – Ken, Golda, Elmi, and Jeifan. Soon, my book worm friend, Julie, shall also become a godmother to my youngest girl, Deirdre. I’m happy to somehow realize that our affinity as friends has become deeper because they are godparents to my kids.

UP Gang

Joyce. She’s among the kindest persons I know who never had an air in her head. Sometimes I ask myself, why is it that most of the time, those people who have the bragging rights are the ones who are humble? In terms of personality, Joyce is definitely my girl crush.

Now here goes my Astoria story. They have this popular marketing strategy that seems to work (?)

When Golda, Elmi and I arrived at Astoria, we have seen Julie and Ken waiting for us at the lobby. We wondered ‘why’ because they could simply proceed to the dining hall and enjoy the buffet. Apparently, they were apprehensive to get in, for they were asked if they are aware of the 90 minute presentation that they needed to attend to once they finished eating. THEY WERE AWARE.

Like them, I have also experienced that irking sales technique by Astoria.

Few years back when my kids’ grandfather was still alive, we dined in a fancy buffet somewhere in Quezon City. We were requested to fill out raffle stubs that asked for our contact details. A few weeks later, I was texted by a marketing representative of Astoria that I won a free buffet treat at Plaza Ibarra. There was a condition though: I need to listen to a 90-minute presentation, to which I have naively agreed. I informed my partner then to save the date.

My most awaited day came. I was a little dissatisfied that we were only served a platter of food. The experience was like ordering a fancy meal in a fast food because I expected buffet. After filling our tummies, an Astoria’s sales rep invited us over to start the “presentation.” The experience was traumatic. The sales rep had been forcing us to buy a hotel membership card that he said would be billed in my credit card every month. I said no because hotel membership is not a necessity but rather, a luxury that we could forego. The sales rep was prepared with a lot of rebuttals.

Because of our adamant “no,” we were able to elude the seller. In fairness with the salesman, he was well-versed and well-trained. Good thing I have sales background too that’s why I have successfully avoided the unnecessary purchase that he was forcing me to get into. I hated his “insult tactic” by the way – he seemed to be very pleased at first to know about our “progressive career” but when we started refusing his offer, he started saying, “Oh I thought you were like this, and like that.” Sick man.

That was my distressing Astoria experience. And I bet my friends had somewhat the same, hence, the stigma. 

Humility

Your parameter is not my parameter. Yes you’re driving your own car, you have traveled quite a lot, and you seem to be on top of your game. Believe it or not, I am happy for you. But if you will compare my life with yours and you treat me as if I’m just on the backseat, hey wait, that’s quite improper, bordering to being rude.

You are seeing me through a sphere that you have mastered and that space isn’t my league. There is no point in comparing how we faired in our careers because in the end, we’ll all realize that life is not a competition; although of course we could always offer one another a little bit of inspiration.

You’ve got your drama, I got mine too. And I believe, as human beings, we are all trying hard to be the better versions of our selves each time we are caught in an inopportune situation.

Thanks still for the happy times we’ve shared. I respect you for your far better career, but please, spare me your arrogance. You are not getting anything cuter by your self-importance. 

Recycling Unused Facial Creams

It is not uncommon for women to indulge beauty in regimens. By so doing, this entails buying beauty products and creams… sometimes, only to shelf them later.

I have creams at home that I can no longer use on my face or body due to certain reasons. Some caused me allergies; some were already expired because they were shelved for a long time; and some were imported freebies with foreign labels I couldn’t read and understand (What if I used a product on my face when it’s supposed to be a shampoo or a vaginal wash? Eeww!).

To ditch or not to ditch – this is my question. Of course I don’t want to clutter my cabinet with stuff that are no longer useful to me. But if you think of saving mother earth from the forever accumulating human garbage, you’d consider recycling.

So how do you recycle your unwanted beauty products? Simple. Use them on your FEET.

Sometimes, people tend to neglect washing their feet well when taking a bath or taking the shower because they are in a hurry. In the long run, having dirty and calloused feet would definitely call for pampering. This is something that you can now immediately address by simply applying your barely used creams on your feet before sleeping, and then covering it with socks.

I learned this tip from an old friend who loves to hoard lotions and beauty products. She keeps these in the fridge and totally forgets about them eventually. When she remembers to check her collection, she would see her branded stuff expired. Too upset to throw away her expensive creams to the bin, I’d see her applying the products on her feet instead. According to her, the foot t is the safest body part to apply expired facial creams on.

Do you also have expired or unused vanity products at home that are just accumulating dusts on your beauty table? Use them on your feet tonight.

Saving Money For The Kids

Joni, my good friend and wave mate in Citigroup, shared with me a valuable idea on how to save money for kids, which I now practice for my own children.

In one of our chit chats when we were still officemates in Makati, she shared with me that she keeps a savings account for her daughter. What is interesting in this particular account is that, what she deposits there is not her personal money but her daughter’s. At the time of our conversation nearly 10 years back, she said that her daughter’s savings was roughly at around Php20,000.00, which her unica hija received from christening and from Christmas presents year after year.

I was still childless at that time, but her idea lingered in my mind and has influenced me, now that I am a mother too. I thought, since I am not born rich, it would be nice to leave my children with some funds that rightfully belongs to them. All I need to do is to safe keep every single peso that they receive from other people.

It is part of our Filipino culture to give money to young children in different occasions. During christenings or dedications, godparents and guests offer “pakimkim” for the baby. During Christmas, godparents, relatives, or family friends may also give cash “aguinaldo” to children in lieu of toys. There are also certain old beliefs that if it is your first time to meet a child, giving cash present to the little one may bring good luck.

I first opened a kiddie savers account at the HCCSCO cooperative for my son Vladimir a few days after his christening. I also opened another one for my daughter Hillary when she was born. Soon, my youngest child Deirdre will also have her own.

I must admit that at times when I’m broke, I’m compelled to touch their accounts to make ends meet. So I list their supposed total amount of savings at the back portion of their passbooks, for me to not forget how much I owe them. Of course I am determined to replenish what I borrow from them because at this point, I can’t say yet that I have wealth to leave them with when I’m gone.

My kids’ savings accounts are my constant reminder and inspiration that I should not leave them empty handed. This is a must, for this is biblical.

My Modern Family

I first learned of the term “co-parent” when I was doing my qualitative research for my master’s class. It is a term associated to parents of a “broken family,” which euphemists have termed as a “modern family.”

I wouldn’t say that I didn’t see my situation coming. In fact, I have seen and felt a lot of signs that my relationship with my ex-partner is bound to end. I just chose to ignore those signs because I believed in my sole capacity to keep my family intact against all odds. I learned the hard way that I thought wrong.

My son lives with his dad, while my daughters are with me. Our only communication channel is the messenger chatbox that my son has created, which he renamed as “mom, dad, and lola button.” I have left the chatbox a few times before but my son would always add me there again. He pleaded that nobody should leave it. In as much as I wanted to cut all communications with the father of my children, I couldn’t.

I asked my priest-friend if there will ever be a way that I could stop communicating with my ex because I am no longer interested in doing anything with him. I think I’m good to go even if we have uneven share of responsibilities for our three children. My friend’s response was, "It is impossible because you two have kids."

“Uh, alright. I’m stuck.” This is what I thought then.

Acceptance. Time heals all wounds.

It’s been over two years now since I asked my ex-partner to leave our abode upon finding out that he was cheating on me. He never returned although our communication had been on and off. Now that a lot of things have already happened and interfered with our lives, we are now two different (hopefully improved) persons.

Enlightened by the drama series, “Ika-6 Na Utos,” starred by Sunshine Dizon and Gabby Concepcion, below sums up my view on our set-up:

To my dear kids, even if mom and dad can no longer be together because we chose to live apart, I would like to assure you that you are not without a family. The three of you have a biological mother, a biological father, and of course you have your siblings! Even if we don’t live under one roof anymore, we are a family and we will always be… Cheer up, mommy loves you all.

Devastated because your family got problems too? Worry not. Things will get better.

Real Talk: Beauty Is Power

I love what Christine Jacob said once in CNN’s “Real Talk.” She told her mommy-viewers, “You have to take care of yourself from Day One because no one’s going to do that for you.” Since hearing this, I have been retelling the same thing to mommies I know, who I notice are no longer paying attention on how they look.

More than the purpose of keeping your man smitten on you, the benefit of taking care of oneself is to have power from the inside. Moms are often too busy taking care of others’ needs that they neglect to take care of their own. One day they’d wake up, they would look closely at their reflection on the mirror and would ask themselves, where did their youth go? Well, it went to housekeeping and other modern day mommy duties.

When Nanay Mareng was still alive, she told me over one breakfast that even if ladies are already married, they should make an effort to keep themselves lovely. Perhaps she noticed that I have ceased being conscious about how I appear.  I didn’t contradict her remark although deep in my heart I wanted to ask, “Why do old women have to tolerate and even encourage a sexist culture?” Sadly, I also used to naively grip on the “you’ve got to love me for what I am” motto. Her ‘wisdom’ made sense after I faced some ‘inconvenient’ situations.

Looking back, after I gave birth to my son, my young family became my utmost priority. I stopped buying clothes, bags, and shoes for myself. I skipped facials and salon visits. Instead, I spent the little money I have to expose my son to various social interactions and experiences – play pens, Jollibee kiddie activities, trick or treat events, etc. I wanted him to be competitive. While me, I have neglected myself even if I have an image to “protect” being a former local beauty queen. My fashion sense became dull.

TODAY, my hair is dyed. I watch my diet. I now wear the clothes that I deem okay (for I no longer needed the approval of this fashion guru who ruined my sense of style). I know how to apply make-up. I exercise. I am loving myself more. And it feels good.

I DOLL UP NOT BECAUSE I wanted to seek attention from the opposite sex.

I consciously make an effort to look good and feel good because whenever I feel beautiful, I gain positive outlook in life and everything appears brighter to me. The positive energy from within me radiates and it simultaneously passes good vibes to the people I encounter. The happy experiences I earn, in effect, make me feel more empowered.

Trust me, beauty is power.

Mommies, do you pay yourself a “me-time?” If no, you better start now. This is a healthy and a practical advice. (Wink!)

A Generous Baguio Treat for Mama, Papa, and Hami

Generous people know contentment even if they don’t possess everything, and they don’t mind if their “blessings” decrease every time they share. Perhaps their drive to give is anchored on their love of God. Or maybe they also believe in positive karma – what goes around comes around, and even better. It is also possible that the simply want to share because helping makes them feel good about themselves. Whatever their motivations are for giving a piece of themselves to others, bottom line is, they are wonderful people worth emulating to make the world a better place.

This March, my daughter and my parents had the chance to tour Baguio City, all expenses shouldered by a blessed woman that is family to us. I was unable to join them because I was about to give birth. In my mind, I am really thankful to their “travel sponsor” because, number one, my parents were able to get some time off from their monotonous routine; and number two, my daughter surely experienced something new that I equate with learning.

Papa, Hami, & Mama

The Gang with the Native Igorots

While some people would have to work their asses off to save a little to finance their travel, my parents were able to enjoy such benefit from sheer invitation. It must be God’s way of rewarding them for being good people.

I pray that the person who sponsored my family’s Baguio getaway would continuously reap more in life. THANK YOU.

Find Time to Play with Your Children

I find it impractical for parents to buy expensive toys for their children especially if one is a middle class earner who only lives from paycheck to paycheck. Since the kids’ attention span is short, they easily get bored with a toy. After five minutes or so, if they see another stuff that is interesting to them, they would not think twice to drop what they’re holding. So where does your expensive toy go? Around somewhere… ignored.

As a solution, parents may opt to be creative in crafting alternatives without putting a hole in their pockets. They just need to introduce their handmade toy to their kids, and act as if they were amazed with what it can do. The children will definitely match their parents’ “excitement.” After all, no costly toy can beat a parent-child interaction amidst quality time.

I used to bring my son at work whenever his nanny leaves. I have observed that even if I stuff my bag with some of his toy cars, these would not be enough. So what I do is to think of playful activities that he can do in the office to make him busy. This way, I could continue to work with my tasks while he plays on the side.

I used to create a bowling set out of my collected empty mineral water bottles which I asked from my office mates. There were several times as well that I created toy airplanes and boats out of scratch papers. As time passed, my son learned how to amuse himself alone by making toys on his own. He even created amateur video tutorials on how to play with his self-made toys.

Creating a Miniature House Out of a Used Carton Box

Playing is a brain stimulant. When your child plays, his or her senses work and creativity also develops. It is even one of my techniques when reviewing my son at home, especially whenever I notice that he is being lazy to study. It was through play that I was able to make him memorize his piece for their moving up stage presentation, his short story presentation for his English class, and his many other memorization activities for school.

The video below shows the flip chart I made for him even if it's not required by his teacher.

I cannot reiterate further how important it is for parents to be creative when teaching their kids. This entails that they really have to spare time for the children.

Having a first-hand experience on the benefits of playing virtually “no cost” toys with a child, my daughter now experiences the same.

Miss Universe in Manila 2016: The Dress Rehearsal

One of the perks of doing your job well is being given the opportunity to experience once-in-a-lifetime events that are just wished for by many. In my case, I had the chance to get three complimentary tickets to watch the dress rehearsal of the Miss Universe candidates just a few hours before the most awaited coronation day!

Upon receiving the tickets, I contacted a number of relatives and friends who I thought might be interested to go with me at the Mall of Asia Arena on a Sunday. Those who were almost instantaneously free to give in to my short notice invitation were my two single friends from U.P. – Tim and Cling. Tim is my daughter’s godmother, who’s an excellent photographer and a marketing strategist in a private firm. Cling on the other hand is a junior professor at U.P. DSCTA who used to help me sort my paper during my last attended M.A. class.

 

With Tim

With Cling

Not too many people watched the dress rehearsal. So even if our seats were located in a not so comfy side of the arena, we were able to move a bit to have a better view of the stage. Some of the audiences I noticed include model-like Caucasians, fabulous ladies in gown, tons of gays who were obviously pageant enthusiasts, Miss U fanatic teenagers with their families, women-government employees, and familiar faces from Valenzuela who perhaps were given free passes too.

I’d say Steve Harvey is really a seasoned show host. His voice inflection and intonation were very professional sounding, and I could see that he’s so much eager to correct his past mistake through this pageant. Pia’s scripted gesture in trying to help him become more careful in announcing the finalists worked so well at the rehearsal so I wasn’t surprised when their witty tactic really made some buzz on the news and the social media.

Unlike other beauty pageants that I have watched before on television, I noticed that this time, the stage design didn’t include a lot of steps for the candidates to catwalk on. The stage was almost bare of physical ornamental yet it remained posh and colourful because of the fabulous computer effects that play on the background. The lighting and the video coverage were impeccable as well.

The Candidates at the MOA Arena

Until the end of the dress rehearsal, I remained ecstatic for having seen all the beautiful candidates on the Miss Universe Pageant 2016 in person! My thrill was doubled for in one free show, I have also seen the live performances of Flo Rida and Boyz II Men.

Elan Hotel Experience

Quite frankly, I am overwhelmed with the tasks that I have been receiving lately at the office. It’s not that I am complaining but I think I need more time to stay in the office for me to be able to finish everything. This of course would entail having less time for my children again but since my work at the government is my bread and butter, I got to love my job. This is not difficult to do since writing is my passion anyway. It’s just that my pregnancy and other concerns somehow hamper my speed in delivering my outputs.

One advantage though of being a tenured officer is to become part of subgroups in the government organization that have brought me to places where I had the opportunity to relax and breathe a little. My most recent break is an urban escapade at Elan Hotel in Greenhills, together with my co-GAD members.

The purpose of our three-day hotel work was the finalization of the GAD Code of Valenzuela City and some other minor documentation requirements. It was once again a fruitful experience for us because we were able to hit our objectives.

Elan Hotel was a convenient choice for our group since our seniors were able to nail discounted rates for our accommodation. The function room was also the most convenient one we had so far, compared to the other hotels we have tried – Lewis Grand Hotel and Stotsenberg Hotel in Clark, Pampanga – not to mention the food and the rooms.

Buffet Area

Food @ the Seminar Room #1

Food @ the Seminar Room #2

Food @ the Seminar Room #3

Food @ the Seminar Room #4

Food @ the Seminar Room #5

Lewis Grand Hotel blog: http://missvalenzuela.blogspot.com/2016/08/seminar-at-lewis-grand-hotel.html

Stotsenberg Hotel blog: http://missvalenzuela.blogspot.com/2016/10/hotel-stotsenberg.html

At Elan, apart from doing our assignments, we were also fortunate to have a simple bonding. We danced two-minuter exercises, we sang through our improvised karaoke, we had fun activities, and we had tons of groupies as well. We discovered that Maám Lorraine was an excellent activity moderator and Sir Nhonho was a fantastic OPM singer! Maám Dorothy, Maám Gina, and Sir Uly were all generous sponsors too! It was another memorable experience for all of us GADdesses.

Positive Descriptions

I was happy that at least a few weeks before I give birth to my third child, I had another worthwhile experience at the heart of NCR. And, I had my swift, most-awaited breather!

2016: My Turning Point

During our last Christmas party, our big boss said in his speech that 2016 had been a roller coaster ride for him. He faced several serious threats in his political life, and yet he remained composed and focused with his job. He thanked all of us for supporting him through. His speech also moved me personally because like him, I also had a multitude of battles last year which I was able to overcome.

In my September 2016 blog, I wrote about the value of posting your goals somewhere that you can often see. I checked my 2016 list again and I saw that out of my 11 targets, I was only able to hit 4 or 5. Some of my goals became immaterial to my evolving routine, while some were unachievable yet. I thought of creating another target for 2017 but I’m still observing the people around me.

(Also read "Jot Down and Post Your Dreams" here: http://missvalenzuela.blogspot.com/2016/09/jot-down-and-post-your-dreams.html)

I can say that my 2016 is better than my 2015. These are the reasons why:

1.       I have become a more active blogger this year.

2.       I have been in nice places – dining places, hotels, etc.

3.       I was able to sustain my son’s annual birthday celebration quite memorably and picturesquely.

4.       I have attended worthy seminars.

5.       I have taught in PLV and Valpoly.

6.       I have identified some people who I should mistrust in the office.

7.       I have revived my suppressed career.

8.       I finally enrolled in master’s class.

9.       I was able to complete a qualitative study.

10.   I was able to provide a decent birthday celebration to my daughter with the help of my parents.

11.   I gained new friends.

Simply put, I had fun in 2016.

In a few, I will be doing some errands. I hope that one of these days, before January ends, I could already formulate my 2017 goals for me to become guided again with my actions.

Thank you Lord for always being there. 

What I Realized After Judging the Mr. & Ms. PRSES School Pageant

Before, I thought that my flare of being a local beauty queen would last only until I have turned over my crown to the next winner. Unlike my co-candidates before in Binibining Valenzuela who pursued their career in pageants, I have stopped joining such kind of contests when my strict boyfriend then did not allow me to try Miss Earth. He said that beauty queens are high-class prostitutes.

And so I shifted focus.

My boyfriend and I dated and dined. I gained tummy fats. Then I had a child. And so my gorgeousness meter dropped by 60%. Mommy duties robbed me my “me-time” and I became a “Manang Losyang” constant contender on the succeeding years.

At the time when I reverted back to working at the city hall, old acquaintances recognized me as the city’s former beauty queen. Some sheepishly commented that I have already neglected taking care of myself. I just laugh off at their comments while deep inside, I was a little ashamed that I have not sustained people’s expectations of an ambassadress. I am not remorseful though because I wouldn’t trade motherhood to glamor, of course. It is just that, my image at my home city is already connected to my past achievement that I could no longer erase in the memories of those whom I used to wow in the pageants I joined.

Now that I’m old, I have not expected that there will be a continuity of my life in local pageants – not as a candidate anymore, but as a judge!

I have been a pageant judge in countless occasions already. My latest was at PR San Diego Elementary School in Barangay Arkong Bato. I was invited by the PTA President to judge the Mr. and Ms. PRSES on December 16. The candidates were the cute and talented pupils of PR San Diego Elementary School.

Determining the candidates' fate.

It was a great experience. In fact, my student in one of my English classes was also there to be my co-judge. I was the oldest among the jurors who were all title holders in either local or school pageants. They were all slim. And I was so pregnant. Haha!

 Panel Of Judges

(I was their Mama Sang. Haha!)

I was very impressed to the organizers of the affair. It was so polished that it would definitely beat other like events – the over-all program, accommodation of guests and audience, trophy designs, prizes, and of course, the candidates, almost everything was impeccable! I even experienced what we call “LSS” or last song syndrome of Meghan Trainor’s single “Me Too” because it was repeatedly played in several production numbers.

Well Set!

Judging at that pageant made me realize that even if I am no longer young, the Miss Valenzuela image is already etched in my personality, hence the branding of this blog site. Whether I like it or not, prettifying my self has to be my thing even if this is laborious, costly, and tiring sometimes.

For Miss Valenzuela, will always be Binibining Valenzuela; and thank God, this is a cute additional income source for me to raise my kids. (Wink!)

Tita's Love Advice for Single Moms

Upon arriving at home from work, I headed to my daughter so we could stroll at the compound before we take our dinner. As we gazed at the night sky, I saw my aunt. She approached me and we had quite a long chat.

She asked me first how many months am I pregnant now. I said seven. She remarked that the reason why I rented a house last May was because I was still chasing the father of my children. That judgment irked me a little but I chose to understand that she has all the liberty in the world to have her opinion of me. I could only explain myself but whether people would believe or not, that’s beyond my control.

I told her that by the time my ex and I separated, it was barely a year when we called it quits. And even if we say that we’re better apart, it’s really difficult to forget the partner you loved for eight years. Eight long years with children. Eight long years that we were a family. When my aunt heard the word “love,” she nodded. Perhaps she understood that when you love someone, the sense of reason often disappears. She then shared that she had her own ordeals in her marital life and gave me some valuable advice.

1.       It’s more fun to be single. This is absolutely true. I have less stress now because I’m carefree with my actions. I can now decide on the clothes and make-up to wear. I can now socialize with my close friends more often. I can now handle my own money however I want, without being audited. I can now pursue my ambitions in life. And a lot of people also noticed that I look better nowadays.

2.       Separated women are prone to temptation. I hate this truth because I’m no flirt (my ex-boss who attempted to take advantage of my situation experienced my wrath). For me it’s fine to date nice people sometimes, only to gain friends; but beyond that, I’m not ready yet. I don’t even know if I’ll ever jump again into another relationship because with my children to mind, so far, I feel complete already. Right now, I receive 100% true, reciprocated, and appreciated love from my children and it feels wonderful!

3.       Cheaters are toxic partners. I was no longer surprised when my aunt told me that my cousin saw our former shop attendant at Valenzuela Medical Center holding a tiny baby a couple of months back. I already knew that my f*ckboy ex got our shop attendant pregnant and their child is just few months older than Hami. I used to ignore a lot of red flags before about his womanizing spree because he said those women were just making stories. Now, I’m just laughing at the news of his women left and right because I know that my children will always be the advantaged ones. Not only because I’m their mother but because they are the only family acknowledged by their grandmother in their father’s side.

4.       Be thankful to your parents. I’m lucky to have this bad experience at a young age while I can still recuperate from the damage brought about by my broken relationship. Both of my parents are still alive and strong to help me through financially and emotionally. I feel like I’m born again to correct my past mistakes, and to lead a better life with my beautiful children and my ageing parents – such a perfect picture of the modern family without a stressor.

5.       Always cling to God. Always the best advice. I could change my perspectives on how I view things, but it is only the Lord who could give me genuine joys in life that need no paradigm shifts.