artsy

I always encourage my son to do whatever I think will help him choose whatever path he chooses once he reaches that stage. When he was just a toddler, I encouraged him to watch kiddie shows, clapping and laughing with him to make him more curious of the show on TV. I believe that kids watching kiddie shows like Sesame Street, will think and act smarter. I believe that these shows stimulate the kids to think and learn to analyze. Some may have different opinions. But hey, that's my opinion, and I believe that in my son it paid off.

He likes to draw and his drawing surprises us sometimes. You would think that somebody at least five years older than him may have done the drawings. In fact he won in the art contest during Nutrition Month at his school. His drawing of a family living a healthy life won him the first prize! His price? I asked him what was his prize and he said ,"...an apple." So I asked where was it, he calmly told me that he ate it right away 'coz he was hungry!

He is also into molding different clay figures. He molds figures modeled after Pokemon characters and other cartoon characters, and whatever catches his imagination. Here are some of the clay figures he did on a lazy Saturday afternoon.

I can't figure out this one, I guess he just molded whatever idea came up

This too, I am not sure if this is a bug or something

Yep! A donut...

A clay replica of his pet goldfish

passing by -- Asia World City!

When I passed by the Pacific Avenue on to Macapagal boulevard near Mall of Asia – one of Asia’s biggest malls, I noticed that on weekends (it was a Saturday when I passed) the vehicular traffic is moderate at around 1-2 in the afternoon. A lot of empty large lots are still up for sale in that commercial zone.

Buildings and businesses are popping out like mushrooms.

But there is one area that sticks out like a splinter – the Muslim area—I call it that way because of the mosque erected as a last ditch effort (some people think) of former squatters to keep their stake on the land (prime property at that and may cost millions. Something that none of them would even think of buying at the current market price.)

oops! sorry I was riding on a bus on my way home when this was taken

Baclaran is just across the (National Highway) road. The land’s location is proximal to Baclaran and may have played a big role in the fomer squatter’s decisions to stake their claim on the land.

The government is spending lots of tax money in improving the reclaimed area (the bay once hurls its waves at the sea wall now canal wall that skirts the Asia World City.

first pizza!

My son just turned a year older last August. He requested for pizza, but my schedule did not permit us to go to his favorite pizza place. So I decided to buy some pizza crust and some toppings on the weekend after his birth day. I bought two kinds of cheese, some pineapple tidbits, a can of sliced mushrooms, a pouch of tomato sauce, and sliced ham. My son is not that hard to please, and he likes lots of mushrooms and cheese on his pizza.

He woke up early that Saturday and he kept on asking if we can start preparing the pizza “now.” I have to tell him to wait until after lunch so he and his sister can eat their lunch. I don’t want them eating too much snack food. To some pizza is a nice and fast meal, well I do too, sometimes. But I just have to let my kids know what a good meal is, no matter how humble it may be. After countless queries as to when “the pizza preparation and cooking” should start, I finally relented two hours after lunch. I feel so happy watching my kids specially my son happily helping me prepare his pizza. I even let him prepare one whole pizza, with some coaching.

sorry bout this photo, it's too dark. that's my son preparing the first pizza that he (his hands actually, hehee) baked

2 slices left!

The pizza was a bit hard at the outer edges (a bit toasty!?) but all in all the pizza was ok. It was a special pizza ‘coz my son prepared it on his own. His smile made the activity worthwhile. Their father ate two slices and asked for another but when he saw that my son wants more he backed off! Hehehee. Our son finished four slices of it!

twin egg yolks!

Every weekend, I always try to rise early to cook breakfast for the family. The help can do it. But I want my kids to feel more special, I want them to know that I like to serve them whenever I can 'coz I want them to feel how much I care for them. I want them to feel that they are special to us.

Sometimes I feel sorry whenever my kids ask if I have to go to work the next day or can I bring or fetch them to school. I get sad whenever I hear them say that, more so when I see sadness that they try to mask whenever I tell them that I have to go.

The kids wake up early on weekends, maybe our presence makes them more charged up. So last week I tried to make an omellete for breakfast. And after breaking the shell of the first egg I was surprised when I saw two egg yolks!

Wow! Two egg yolks in one shell! Look at that!

My son was extra curious. He asked me more than twice if the egg yolks really came from one shell! He said those yolks are kambal (twins). Even my youngest was extra curious she kept on repeating the thing along with her brother for at least two days.

lustrous...pearl bracelet

After such a long time (can’t recall when was the last) I was able to make another bead jewelry. Well, actually to be more accurate, the pearl and wire strap bracelet of my watch. I like the pearls I used.

sorry but the resolution is not that good, but the pearls REALLY are lustrous! :)

So lustrous (at least tome! hehee), so shiny! Most of the pearls have a pinkish tint, but the pearls look more white than pink. The photos does not give the pearls justice.

i really like those pearls...

Maybe it’s the light or the camera’s resolution. Whichever, I still feel happy whenever I gaze at the pearls. I really like them I may make a necklace with pearls like those…

bothered

We always try to maintain proper hygiene whenever and wherever we go. The same is true with me. Whenever I go to work I always take early morning baths, do the usual brushing of teeth, some mouth wash, then off to work I go.

This is why I am so incensed when some people aren’t bothered with their personal hygiene. They can afford to ride on air conditioned buses and seem to be regularly employed so I just can’t understand sometimes why they aren’t wearing well laundered, sun dried or (machine dried) pleasantly smelling clothes. Why they stink is beyond me.

Ok! I’m sorry, If some of you are offended.

I just can’t help it! I don’t know why but these past few days I’ve been having that fate—an olfactory challenged passenger chooses to seat beside me! Sometimes their smell sticks to your clothes or on you (cigarette smoke! Yipes!). I am piqued whenever a stinking yawn is let out. That is when I feel as if Manila’s sewers just opened beside me…*@#

good news!

A Saudi prince from the House of Saud in partnership with Ayala Land purportedly will erect three hotels in Ayala’s commercial center. The hotels will rise from the former site of Park Square that fronts Landmark Department Store.

the hole is surrounded by green fence (at the center of the photo)

It has been months now since workers started digging/preparing the site and from the looks of it they are not yet through with the digging. The depth of the hole somehow can give onlookers the idea of how tall will the buildings there be. I am quite excited about it, ‘coz I was still in high school when my attention was caught by magazine tidbits about this business force ( a real prince too!). I read that he rose and got to where he is through hardwork and persistence.

the prince, surrounded by bodyguards, in a photo taken when he participated in a traditional festival in Saudi Arabia

Prince Al-Walid bin Talal is a big influence not only in the Gulf but to businesses around the Globe. I am hoping that his decision to invest here in the country will help boost our economy and encourage other investors to set up here.

a mom's soft side

 

my joy with her classmates

My youngest child is somehow a bit more sensitive than my eldest. So her preferences are always considered. She’s very assertive at home, to us, and even around the neighborhood but she is quite the opposite at her school. Meldy told me that she still talks a lot with her classmates but is shy when asked to answer in front of the class or during school presentations. Like when her class was tasked to present something about nutritious vegetables and fruits during their Nutrition Month program. She was on the second line, sniff* She’s kind of tall for her age. She’s taller than most of her classmates in nursery so maybe that’s how she got to be in second line (sniff* sniff* –– stage mother here!).

 

with Alexa her close friend in school, during their Nutrition Month program

Anyho! I get mushy everytime I come home these days ‘coz she’s been telling me that she misses me whenever she wakes up and can’t find me beside her. That she sometimes cries ‘coz she wants me beside her and misses me a lot when I’m at work. Then she proudly tells me that she doesn’t cry at class anymore! She says these everytime I get home from work. And her lines makes me feel guilty each time I hear them. But times are hard, some moms just have to work.

 

friends

winding road

Whenever I am running late I always take the shuttle that passes through Daang-Hari. The shuttles winds along middle-income to upper middle income Cavite subdivisions,

one of the upper middle class subs, that the shuttle passes by

these upper middle income subs have high voltage electric wires on top of their fences

posh Alabang subdivisions, the ritzy Ayala-Alabang village itself, Ayala-Alabang Commerce Avenue, past the Fil-Invest Mall, then on to the South Super Highway, then the Skyway, and the shuttle may then enter Makati at various entry points.

One of the main entrances to the ritziest ville in Ayala-Alabang (AA)

some of the mansions at AA can be seen from the fence fronting Commerce Avenue

the high fence is the outer fence of the ritziest ville in AA, the high rises are of the Ayala Alabang business center

Here are some of the potshots I took while riding the shuttle this morning. Bikers ride along Daang-Hari ‘coz the wide open road is not yet traffic clogged.

one of the bikers at Daang-Hari, a lot of fenced wide tracts of land are being readied for real state projects

I noticed though that vehicular density is increasing each month, more so when the Pasong Buaya portion of the Daang-Hari road was finished. I was not able to take a shot of the Bureau of Corrections gate. It would have amused some to know that it is only a couple of kilometers away from the big subs! And not that far from the ritziest ville of Alabang! Lolz!

inverted tomato planter

I've had my share of gardening and I do love to tinker in our pocket garden. I've planted roses, eggplants, chilis, tomatoes, even eggplants. I am even a bit familiar with hydrophonics - where plants are grown with water mixed with the necessary nutrients for growth. So, I'm a bit surprised when I chanced upon this inverted tomato planter.

In this planter the plants grow downward. The hanging stems or vines need almost no attention as fruits ripen in the air (not on the ground) where they wont rot. Plants like basil, parsley, rosemary, and peppers can be planted on top. The top part can hold up to 80 lbs. of topsoil. The compact planter can fit in any space with ample sunlight, even narrow balconies. A hollow base filled with sand (not included) keeps it stable and upright. The plastic planting bed, supported by PVC pipes, has openings for four tomato plants (or any recommended plant recommended by the manufacturer) underneath, with pop-out perforations for four additional openings. The planter is worth $79.95 and can be ordered online at hammacher.