For The Sugod-City Hall Folks

     I appreciate Facebook posts that remind the netizens that the birth of Jesus Christ is the reason why we celebrate Christmas. While it’s perfectly okay to plague the social media with pictures of parties attended, gifts received, foodies prepared, movie festival entries, and the likes, I think each Filipino Christian should focus more on the family unity part as symbolized by the Holy Family, rather than the fun worldly activities associated to Christmas.

       Yes, I have heard it several times that it is the capitalists’ fault why we view the Christmas season in a different light. While it is not entirely a bad thing to spend a lot during the holidays because workers receive 13^th month and nth pays plus bonuses and gifts anyway, I’m just a little sad that not all adults seem to understand WHY we have Christmas.

       My motivation for writing this blog entry is my consistent Christmas experience at the city hall for four years. I have noticed that every year, strangers would just barge inside our office to ask for gifts or money from the employees, and that they would roam around like supervisors going from one table to the next. While it should be nice to give and share blessings, if almost every day of the Christmas week you will be approached by people you don’t know, it somehow feels disturbing for some reasons:

1.       Not all government employees receive high salaries and a lot of them are even broke. Whenever I see people approach an officemate who I know is struggling financially, I itch to tell the stranger “spare him/her.” But of course it’s impolite to utter that so I just keep quiet.  

2.       Government employees are not politicians. They do public service but they are not privileged to have access to funds just like the elected officials. Not because the politicians’ offices have readily available gifts to share to the voters, other offices are prepared too. The extra pay we receive is sometimes used to pay off debts or is already earmarked for family expenses.

3.       It’s unpleasant to feel that you’re being outsmarted. Perhaps since it is not my nature to ask money from people I don’t know, I find their gesture too bold and uncivilized. Imagine a stranger approaching you with palms wide open to ask for gifts or money, wouldn’t you feel awkward? I’m quite certain that some of you would have this little voice inside your heads saying, “Why ask money from people around when you seem to be fit to work?”  

4.       It’s painful if you’re unable to give. Who doesn’t want to share your blessings most especially if you have more than enough? But if you’re the type of person who always worries about fund shortage for the bills that constantly come in, who wouldn’t be annoyed of the financial liability right in front of your face?

       This sentiment may elicit negative feedbacks because there are really kind-hearted people who are able to share even if they’re financially unstable. Kudos to them! In one way or another, perhaps they are surviving just fine. But for those who really have to keep their cash flow under careful watch, they must agree with my sentiment, hoping that the sugod-city hall folks every Christmas would not office-hop, because they’re breaking our hearts (and our pockets) big time.

Have a Break, Enjoy the Sembreak

Going back to school made me realize that I have deteriorated in speed in terms of producing a paperwork output. When I was still in college, I would finish a paper in 30 minutes and would still get graded with flying colors. Now, considering that I am a professional writer in our humble locality, I couldn’t seem to match the pace of my other classmates in masters. I came to realize this when my professor asked us to conduct a qualitative research. I noticed that despite that my classmates were loaded with more M.A. subjects than I do, and they’re employed too, they were still able to submit their works on time and they could present really nice reports. I’m left wondering why they can do everything required and I cannot. I guess I need to revamp my time management strategies, if I actually have that at all. Haha!

I entered graduate school with the confidence that I can get through it with ease. I was wrong. I realized that what I got into is not a simple battlefield. This endeavour requires full attention, focus, and a lot of budget. Since I’m pregnant right now and I don’t want to sacrifice my unborn baby’s safety, I would always ride on a taxi for transport just to get to school, which here in the Philippines is too costly.

I’m still sleepy as I’m writing this blog because for the past two weeks, I have been spending sleepless nights completing my research at my makeshift study room. I have asked my mom to sleep beside my daughter during night time because I needed to do my paper. Even if it breaks my heart to not sleep beside my child, I suppressed my wanting to be with her because my professor would only grade the finished product, not the ordeals that a mother-student would have to go through just to come up with something.

So finally, I can breathe, thank God. Today officially marks my sembreak in graduate school.

At this point, even if I feel messed up, part of me is hoping to improve myself better. I feel like I’m reverting back to my childhood days when I used to daydream of the things that I wanted to do. I’m torn between pondering if I am really at the advantaged end since I am now making money for myself; or I am far behind because until now, I am still dissatisfied with what I have.  

Shrug off the bad vibes. Ugh. I’m really sleepy.

After several tiresome projects and concerns, I think my body is just telling me to rest for now. There are more things to do… ZZZzzzzz… 

‘Tis the Season to be SEPHORA Glammin’

     If there’s one thing that I like best about being single again, I’d consider learning how to use make-up as the most beneficial to me. During mornings that I wake up feeling ugly, I simply turn to my make-up set and put a little color on and voila! My “feeling ugly” day is whipped away in seconds.

     This Christmas, I am not very excited at all to attend parties because I’m big (I’m six months pregnant to the same dad of my two kids, and soon they will be three). But then I recall that glam is not only for skinny girls. It is also for all the women out there who thinks and believes that they are gorgeous too. It’s a state of mind.

     It was announced earlier in the office that we will have a Christmas party soon. It’s going to be an overnight affair of merry-making in a private pool somewhere here in Valenzuela. One of my dear old friends joked that he couldn’t wait to have a glimpse of my flawless and varicose vein-free legs again. Haha! Funny guy. His comment lingered a bit and so I thought, yes I may be big but I still have that sex appeal even if I’m very, obviously, pregnant.

     I’m the kind of woman who’s into neither flirting around nor getting men’s attention but I suddenly felt excited that I can still catwalk and collect compliments from my admirer-friends. I didn’t get three crowns in beauty pageants some 12 years ago for nothing. Hahaha! And well, we just love giving compliments to one another to keep us happy and united at work.

     For our upcoming Christmas party, I checked the photographs of pretty and pregnant Filipina celebrities online for some inspiration. I got particularly interested in Andi Eigenmann’s look on a cover magazine in 2011. She looks dazzling, happy, and reserved on the photo – the kind of look that I would also like to have for myself.

Source: http://www.noypistuff.com/

     We have the same mestiza feature so I think her choice of make-up colors would also suit me well. Since I’ll be attending a night party, I might have to experiment a bit. I’m looking forward to use SEPHORA products to make sure that I will look radiant at our party.

     I’m on my early thirties and signs of ageing are inevitable. Again, good thing there’s make-up, and here are my simple make-up tricks:

     First, I simply conceal my facial skin imperfections. It would be nice if I could cover my entire face with BECCA Ultimate Cover Complexion Crème.

BECCA Ultimate Cover Complexion Crème

     I am also convinced of the power of HOOLA Bronzer to enliven my face even better.

HOOLA Bronzer

     This is my ultimate wish: to use the ZOEVA Rose Golden Luxury Set of make-up brush for my eye shadow and for my brows. Filling my brows with dark brownish color works for me.

ZOEVA Rose Golden Luxury Set

     I was taught by my old, self-acclaimed, make-up guru-friend to wear pinkish lip color to look younger. That's the same shade Andi was wearing on the magazine. For my lips, I prefer to use TOO FACED Melted Matte Liquefied Long Wear Matte Lipstick – Misso Pretty shade.

TOO FACED Melted Matte Liquified Long Wear Matte Lipstick

     I could go ahead and complete my desired Barbie-like face by applying TWO FACED Love Flush on the apples of my cheek. It worked for Andi. I'm quite sure it would work out fine with me as well.

TWO FACED Love Flush

      To finish off, I would simply apply put final touches of face powder to look fresh, softer, and ready for fun!

     Imagining all these stuff, I can't wait to to start collecting compliments again to feel better about myself.

     Do you also want to look good and fab on your upcoming Christmas party? Shop more make-up products on Sephora PH here!

My Daughter’s Second Birthday

I realized that it is true that the eldest children usually experience the best memories.

Unlike my daughter’s older brother who celebrated his birthday at Shakey’s restaurant when he turned two, my daughter simply had hers at the park. It was just a simple morning picnic. I was contemplating of making her birthday celebration as a post-zumba party but since it rained, we just had a simple breakfast together with my relatives. I ordered a Peppa Pig-themed chocolate birthday cake online at Kaykeshopper. It was a simple yet very picturesque event.

Kuya Vladimir & Nathalia having their morning jog here: 

Actually, ours was just the second leg of my daughter’s birthday celebration. The first part was held in Pampanga when my cousin, her “mimi,” took her to co-celebrate the event with my cousin Pearl Anne’s birthday on November 13. Hami had her own cake-blowing moment there, next to Pearl’s.

Apart from the two birthday celebrations my daughter had, I also bonded with my kids the following day at the mall. 

I shopped for their Christmas outfits while I still had the moolah from my 13^th month pay. This Christmas, the three of us – Hami, Vladimir, and me – will be in terno. We’ll wear white tops, maong shorts, and white sneakers. I can’t wait to see our cute photographs together soon!

(Also read: http://missvalenzuela.blogspot.com/2016/12/matchy-matchy-fashion-in-budget.html)

Nothing beats the happiness I feel whenever I’m with my two beautiful kids. Soon, there will be three of them. I hope, Hami, my soon-to-be middle child will grow up adorable and upright. I love you, Hami! 

Single Moms Are Super Moms

What I like about my job being a writer for the government is that I get to have a glimpse of other people’s lives.

Yesterday, I interviewed a pretty single mom for my article to be published on our local magazine. I was able to talk with her mother first and I noticed that despite their economic hardship, their Filipino values of hospitality and respect were still conscientiously observed in their humble abode. Upon seeing my interviewee’s kids, the grandma urged the two little girls to come to me to pay the traditional “pagmamano” as a sign of courtesy.

I was moved by their very accommodating and transparent nature. Since I also sensed that my interviewee could be my potential informant for my academic paper, I invited them over to the People’s Park. I was contemplating of giving them a simple treat at Jollibee.

I maximized the opportunity that I had with them. I urged them to visit the social welfare office, which had been consistently providing them with financial assistance, and fortunately, she was able to stumble upon the good news that the single mom is recently accepted for the Cash-For-Work program. It’s a program wherein an indigent person will be given the chance for a 10-day employment and after rendering service, he or she will receive more or less Php 3,500. My lady-interviewee will be assigned to help in the repacking of Christmas baskets for the holidays.

She was also given food assistance during the time of our visit.

After the visit and photo opportunity we staged at the social welfare office, we proceeded to the park for a photo shoot. I can see from the faces of her daughters that they had fun playing at the park for a little while. Before sending them home, we ate at Jollibee.

It was a pleasant sight to witness the excitement of the children when they requested for french fries and chicken joy. (I suddenly missed my son.)

During our conversation, I realized again one bright side about being a single mom: it’s better to go solo that be with someone who will just always stress you out. And by the way, single moms tend to become more beautiful because they get to have more “me-time.”

Hoorah to all the single mothers out there!

Sudden Decrease in My Happy Hormones

I was happy last night because I was able to eat in a posh restaurant, Mary Grace, which was part of my bucket list. I dined out with a new priest friend who just finished his report that day in our masters’ class. It’s nice to have a breather from all the tiring and worrisome experiences I’ve had lately.

Today I’m a little overwhelmed with all my tasks at hand – I still need to write one more feature article for our Valenzuela Ngayon magazine, I have to do editing stuff for the same, I need to pay attention to my tedious qualitative research, I have to review for my upcoming exam, my daughter’s celebrating her second birthday on Monday (which is also my examination day for my MA) but I haven’t prepared anything for her because there are still bills to pay, etc.

I want to buy a humongous CHOCOLATE without hurting my tooth.

I’m trying to recall how to be a person of gratitude again so that I could concentrate on things that matter over little concerns that can be ignored anyway. I need peace of mind.

Perhaps my drained disposition today is because I lack sleep due to the loud snoring of my brother and my daughter’s repeated wailings last night.

Whew.

I’m wearing my bloody red lipstick now. I’m about to finish this blog in a few. I promise to reward myself with sweets after lunch. And I’m hoping that my good friend Tim will meet me later for some intellectual exchange of thoughts.

Dear Friday, I’m lazy today but please be good to me.

A Review: The Power of Positive Thinking

Today I have just completed reading my constant companion – a book entitled, “The Power of Positive Thinking” written by Norman Vincent Peale. This was lent to me by my cousin, Ate Bambi, who had been a sounding board at the time when I was still down.

This book helped me lot in my workplace and in my personal life in general. It is composed of 13 chapters and I think it is best read according to your choice topic, depending on your mood for the day.

Its 13 chapters are:

1.       Believe In Yourself

2.       A Peaceful Mind Generates Power

3.       How to Have Constant Energy

4.       Try Prayer Power

5.       How to Create Your Own Happiness

6.       Expect the Best and Get It

7.       I Don’t Believe in Defeat

8.       How to Break the Worry Habit

9.       Power to Solve Personal Problems

10.   When Vitality Sags, Try this Health Formula

11.   How to Get People to Like You

12.   Prescription for Heartache

13.   How to Draw Upon That Higher Power

To make sure I’m not missing out any chapters I attached a post-it on its inside cover to track the chapters that I have finished.

I don’t think it’s still out in the market but if you get the chance to get one, I guarantee you that it’s going to be a soul soothing read! It will help you break free from whatever emotional turmoil that you may have. Even if you read it over and over again, you will continue to feel enlightened.