Health gets compromised when a person is busy. You might be busy at home, school or work. The amount of tasks that cloud our day primarily affects how we watch our health. I am guilty of this especially when I have a lot of things to do. When I was still studying, I often skip meals when I need to finish a project or assignment. Time constraint and deadlines make it impossible for me to eat in between tasks. So much focus on finishing the job is my priority.

By nature, I don't like to eat too much. I seldom enjoy a sumptuous meal. I easily feel full and contented by just eating a semi-full cup of rice and a bowl of viand. I prefer little meals rather than heavy ones.

But as I grow older, I noticed that my eating habits are not good for me. Though I didn't get fat like some of my friends, they always tell me that I look sick because of my built. I'm very thin and small. I must admit, my habits are giving me a few health problems. I often feel nausea-tic, Headaches make me unproductive. I am prone to colds, heartburn and skin eruptions.

Having said that, I resorted to having a physical exam. To be sure, aside from blood sugar and cholesterol check, I even requested Creatinine test and ECG.Good thing, I got negative results for  diseases that I might have.

Aside from eating habits, I made sure that an everyday exercise be performed. I do walk either in the morning or afternoon. Drinking fluids and avoiding soda and concentrated juice drinks are one of the basic prevention against diseases prescribed by many health and medical practitioners. Another routine is making sure to have at least 8 hours of sleep in a day.

I'm trying my  best to do all these so I don't have to take medicines and get hospitalized. My health is far more important so I can spend more time with my family and friends.

I seldom get excited about a political event, an election to be exact. But there is something very interesting about the national election that will happen this year 2016. This particular election makes me do a lot of thinking. Weighing every bit of statements, platforms, campaign styles, and most especially, accomplishments. I can't remember how many times I voted. When I was younger, my choices were either based on my parents take on who to vote or what I often saw on ads and campaign jingles. It is hard to decide because I don't know the candidates much. Simply because they are just visible when election time is near. I see posters of some only before election period when a project is on going and purposely tell the public that the mentioned politician is involved with it and takes credit.

I silently watch how campaigns go along thru television, radio, newspapers and even social media. Funny and entertaining it might be to some but the drama and intense involvement of every person I know and those I don't know changed the way I see everything. Before, I only practice my right to vote by having a simple list of who I like then after getting the indelible ink on my finger and making sure that my ballot was received, I go home and just let time pass until I hear the names of the victorious candidates. No major involvement or concern. I'm uninterested because most of the time, those people I voted for local and national posts don't win. They are not popular though very qualified. Dignified yet thrown with unfair and negative publicity. The ones who victoriously get the most votes are those that distributed envelopes with a hundred, two hundred or five hundred peso bill. The first time I received such 'envelopes' was when I'm still in college. I felt very awkward and uneasy. Why do I have to get money in exchange for my vote? It really puzzled me. That first time, my family just signed a list of registered voters presented to us which looks exactly what the COMELEC has when you sign at voting precincts. On the next election period, same envelopes gone loose in our area but required people to go to the headquarters after validating that you are in the list. That second time, I refused to get the envelope and didn't bother to go to the specified place. I just don't feel it was right to be involved in such dirty tactics to get my vote. Then on the succeeding elections, my name cannot be found on their master list, same as other members of our family. Actually, I felt very relieved to be not part of their scheme. At least I can be proud of my vote to people who did and didn't win but played fair and square. I'm sad because until now, the same practice happens. Coordinators still asks about the names and numbers of voters in a household and once verified in the master list, they will soon receive the cash equivalent when you agreed to vote the particular candidate.

Today, something changed. Aside from the fact of the emergence of social media as a platform to generate votes, the atmosphere felt different. I see people now not going gaga over the envelopes release and that almost everyone is vocal of whom they are rooting for. As far as I can remember, this was not the setting a few years back. The preferred candidate is not vocally announced and the inclination of a person to a specific candidate is not very obvious. Though wearing shirts campaigning a certain candidate can be obtained because their public relations and campaign managers distribute funded paraphernalia. Now, people use their own money to produce campaign shirts, stickers, etc. Join political rallies and meetings from their own pockets. I feel that voters fight or argue with opposing friends and even family members to stress their reason for voting their preferred candidates. Disturbing it may seem but I see some light on how things are changing the attitude of everyone towards this election. I now feel a sense of patriotism besides the negative impact of idolatry. The expressed emotion roots from the longing to have a better government and improved lives. The low income and average income voters finally have something to say. Hope, Choice, Unity and Change are now a few days away.

Working online never crossed my mind while I was in college. After graduation I enrolled in a Postgraduate School far from home. My mindset is to establish a teaching career for the rest of my life. But, that was then. I was able to teach high school and college students. I also managed to handle one-on-one tutorials for aspiring honor students of elementary schools near our place. But at some point, I started thinking of trying out different fields. I practiced my finished course in college. As a business management graduate, I handled bookkeeping, accounting, marketing and management tasks and jobs. I found myself applying for customer service positions in big BPO companies in Manila. My struggles to fit in made me stronger to adjust in all types of working environment or setting. But time and health issues made me quit though those jobs gave me better living capacity. I have to leave two of the best companies I worked for and gave me an opportunity to learn new skills and compensated all my efforts.

After more than 4 years of being unemployed and taking care of my only child, I decided to try freelancing. Though I heard a lot of negative feedback, I still pursued the track of becoming an online entrepreneur. I tried my best to learn new skills and tricks of the trade. I joined groups who continuously encourages and assists fellow budding and veteran freelancers. I attend seminar and workshops to hone my skills even more. I asked questions and tried to fill in my hungry soul for knowledge.

There is no definite formula in making it big in this business as I go through everything. I just follow some tips given by my fellow virtual entrepreneurs. Focus, eagerness and risk management are some of the key things I learned to develop over time. I’m glad that after all this years, I was able to master the art of getting the positive side of everything that happens, especially the failures that keep crossing my path. I fully understand now that more pitfalls are available than glory. It may not be pleasant at first because of the frustrations but as I go along, I feel the wonder of a single triumph over thousands of obstacles.

I invited my nephew Marwell to write an article for me. He is a grade 7 student who really surprises me with his ideas. At a very young age, he often contemplates and asks about things I never thought he will be interested in.

I encouraged him to have his own blog so he could write and express himself more. Without further ado, I would like to share his piece. Read on.

A True Leader

by: Marwell July Moreno

The people of the Republic of the Philippines have been waiting for too long for a leader to achieve our expectations. We need a leader who has the characteristics that our future leaders should have. But what are those characteristics that a leader should have to be considered as a ‘True Leader’? Those are for you to choose.

May 9, 2016 is the date when the election will start. It’s when we will judge and choose which of the candidates we will elect to their rightful position. But are they rightful for being the president? Do they have what it takes to be a leader? Can they be A ‘True Leader’? Can they make a solution for the problems of The Philippines? You see politics isn’t just about your wealth, your dynasty, and other things. it is also about how you handle things and how you make solutions without affecting anyone negatively. We need a rightful Leader to of course lead us to a better life. As a blogger I am not allowed to say names of the aspirants of being the president of the Philippines. There is a Vice president; there is a son of an action star, a senator, a secretary, and a mayor. Many memes has appeared in every corner of social media. Some makes fun of it and some appeals against it and say that it is an example of bullying which is true. There are already two debates launched by the two of the biggest networks in Philippine television. They launched their debates. One for each of them. Many people enjoyed watching it, liked how they discoursed the problems of the Philippines, and how some of them almost fought with each other. What I want for a Leader is wise, trustworthy and of course honest. A leader who can easily make solutions, a leader we can trust, and a leader who will not steal from the funds of our country. A leader with an iron fist isn’t that bad. I would really like to see the Philippines without criminals and other problems. And speaking of problems I would also like to see the Philippines without traffic. Traffic is not really a big problem if there is no corrupt in the government, if the money is used only for the good of the public. I believe that the problems of the Philippines can be resolved in a month or so if we only have a good leader. We can rise through the help of a ‘True Leader’.

This coming election be sure to choose only the best of the candidates for the future of the Philippines. Let us prove that the economy of our home country can rise up to its highest. We shall choose the president who can achieve our expectations. Let us choose a leader who can do more things than our previous leaders. A leader who has the characteristics we want. A ‘True Leader’ for me to be short. This is me signing out.

I used to be a teacher. Enjoyed the fulfillment of imparting knowledge to my students. Been able to handle high school and college classes. Diverse subjects like Physical Education, English, Mathematics, Management, and Accounting were handled by yours truly.

When I was younger, I felt the calling to this field. I enjoyed playing as a teacher. Instructing and giving assignments to my playmates are my favorites. Though I am a shy person, when I play the role, it boosts my confidence and set aside my inferiority.

While in college, some of my professors often asked me to conduct special classes or you can call it tutorials. I just obeyed and taught my classmates who are interested to learn more. At first, I was unsure to accept the task because I felt inadequate and inferior. Plus the fact that I am scared to be looked down and scorned by fellow students. But as days passed by, my audience grew bigger and my classmates were thankful enough to appreciate my effort and told me that they learned thru my instruction and approach. I was happy to know that I didn't taught in vain and reaped positive results. My classmates said that they were able to understand the lessons (especially in Accounting).

After graduation, my brother enrolled me in a graduate school in Rizal province. I took a few units for Masters in Public Administration. I met different people with different occupations and college degrees. My journey to become a teacher continued and even planned to take up additional units in Education but didn't materialize. But even if I lacked formal education requirements, I was given a chance to become a reliever of a vacationing professor in the same school in Rizal after 3 years. With no expertise or specialization, I was assigned to facilitate all year levels with different subject matters. I even tagged myself as "international" because I taught first year English, first year Mathematics, second year English, second year Social Studies, third year Management, and fourth year Accounting.

I survived college instruction and then was called to become a Physical education teacher from first year to fourth year class. The job was hard and became my last teaching stint in a formal school setting. My throat is not suited to talk for hours in a large room with bountiful students.

To continue my craft, I accepted one-on-one tutorials to elementary students. Until I found myself deviating from the profession to different career paths like marketing, inventory, customer service, etc.

Recently, I bumped to a former classmate of mine in college who happened to finish education units that entitled her to take and pass the Licensure Examination for Teachers. In her quest to land a teaching job, she applied to different schools (private and government). She waited to be called for demonstration and interviews and asked for my help in creating presentations and technical teaching strategies based on my experience because she lacked the actual training and just attended school to complete her 18 Education units. I helped her with the PowerPoint presentations and gave her tips to have her students' attention and involvement. We meet every now and then after she consults some teacher friends and former professors to make her future demonstration more effective.

Even if I didn't pursue the teaching path I tracked before, I am happy to share my experiences and talents to a budding and very eager mentor-to-be. I am still willing to impart knowledge to those who wanted to learn, though it will not be in a classroom setup, but in other forms.

We seldom go out and bond as a group. My siblings and I live in different locations. Having our own families and priorities made it difficult to schedule meet ups. Fortunately last Friday, our kids got a chance to go out, dine together and celebrate my nephew's birthday. It was so fun because their lolo and lola joined their grandchildren. Since it was Jaja's birthday, he requested to dine at Jollibee (a local fast food chain popular to kids here in the Philippines). The usual kiddie meal was ordered for the 3 young ones, chicken bucket meal and burger steak for the older ones.

While eating, we talk about adventures and escapades that we just had. My nieces, nephews and son seemed to enjoy the moment and requested another stop to a coffe shop near the area. My father and mother agreed to go to "The Beanery" and have coffee (with snacks of course).

A one-hour dinner plan turned out to be a four-hour eating spree. Before going home, we set to repeat the bond next month for my mother's birthday in a different restaurant. Happiness filled our hearts as we went home. We even enjoyed the walk from the town plaza to our house which took us 10 minutes. It was almost midnight and we are the only ones crossing the road. The air was cold and breezy, our laughter blended with the atmosphere. Never felt good for a long time and been very thankful that I spent time with my family even for a few hours.

After that, went back to reality and rushed to my laptop, logged in and worked to complete my tasks for the week. Time well-spent indeed.

While browsing the internet two weeks ago, I thought of finding a 2016 calendar that I can print. Having a calendar allows me to schedule activities for myself. I have read and believed that writing down the things to do and setting the lists according to importance makes your day fully productive. Aside from doing my usual routine, I try to do at least two or more tasks that I can in my to-do-list calendar. I know this is something a lot of people struggle to put into action. I had a hard time doing this but starting little by little will show progress and allows us to get the hang of it.

I remember someone suggested to use a personalized calendar. A design that catches your attention and stimulates your mind to follow what is written on it. This is very helpful especially for children if we want to train them on being organized and having focus. But this is not only effective to children and is also viable to adults like me. I love looking at my calendar with images and colors that invites me to be productive. Post-it’s are good, but if you want to personalize and add a twist on your to-do-list, try the personalized calendar. It’s worth it.

My search for the best calendar started with a few planners that I received as souvenirs from different establishments. I even tried the usual calendar given out by banks, drugstores and stores but defeated the purpose of customization (not to mention, boring). Another option is creating my own calendar since I have a software for making calendars, posters, cards and stickers.  I tried making my own but it seems that every day, I have different designs in my mind. Putting a lot of pressure just to come up with the perfect one.

Until the day that I came across a blog telling about the Disney Calendar. I’m a big fan of Disney; be it cartoons, movies and items. It showed the link where I can download the calendar. It jolted me much when I saw that the download is free. I was so happy that I clicked the link and searched for the calendar download. The design was appealing to me and I printed out my own and used it right away. My niece even requested her own copy using colored papers.

I hope Year 2016, is not just having a colorful calendar but a productive year for me.

P.S. You can download the calendar here - Disney Calendar 2016

January 30, 2016 8:30 AM – It is my usual duty of looking after my store in the morning. One of our neighbors bought 6 pieces of chocolates for her son. She told me that her child still insisted on buying something from our store even though they already came from the public market. Out of curiosity, I asked how old her son is. She replied, “He is three years old”. “Isn’t your son will be in Kindergarten this coming school year?” she asked. I said yes.  And then she said that I must register him now at school. I was surprised because every day that I passed the elementary school near us, I haven’t seen any posts about the early registration. I was even told by the teachers that there are no announcement yet and just look at the billboards for schedules.

Just to make sure of the news, I asked my mother to confirm it before going to market that same time. She came back and told me that it is true after all. She was even told by a Grade 1 teacher that I just need to bring a copy of my son’s birth certificate and no fees will be collected.

Me and my son got ourselves ready and brought the requirements. When we got there, 3 sets of lists are on the table. One for Kindergarten and two for Grade 1 students. I talked to one of the teachers in charge and asked her where I should pass the requirements. She instructed me to give it to the person seated on the left. There are 2 parents talking to the teacher so I waited for my turn. After they left, I approached her and said that I would like to enroll my son for Kindergarten. Without looking at me, she took my son’s birth certificate (original and a photocopy) in my hand and asked me (still no intention of looking at me and sounding uninterested) “SPED or not”. I was unsure of what to say because I know that before a child joins the SPED class, he/she must take the assessment. I asked my son if he wants to be in SPED, since I already briefed him about what he could expect and should do if he becomes part of that class. He hesitated but after a while, he said yes. Then the lady asked for another requirement (still did not bother to look at us). I need to pass a picture of my son. Good thing I keep pictures of my son and my husband in my wallet. I gave it to her and she stapled the picture on the photocopy of the birth certificate. I saw her copying some details from the birth certificate on a yellow paper which I presumed is the list that they will pass to the Department of Education. I asked if we are done with the registration. She just told me that we can leave. I can’t help but notice that she wrote something wrong on the list, so before we go, I told her about the mistake I saw. She insisted that she only copied what is written on the birth certificate and there is nothing wrong. Even if I am already disgusted about how she entertained us, I still told her in a polite manner that she wrote it wrong. To prove that I’m right. I showed her what is written on the certificate and she just changed what is on the list and didn’t even bother to apologize or admit her mistake.

I am not used to complaining about things around me and let negative things pass my way instantly but this experience made me think twice about enrolling my son in that school. All my siblings and I went to the same school so it would be nice if my child will study there. But considering what happened yesterday, I have second thoughts. I’ve been an educator before, for secondary and college that’s why I know how a teacher or a school staff should behave towards people. I guess, Good Manners and Right Conduct is not just removed as a subject and also not practiced by some teachers as well. Plus the fact that the registration is not properly communicated to parents or in the community. We came to school before 10 AM but the list of children did not come close to 10 and we did not see any parents coming to register after we left. The registration is until 11 AM.

I’m happy to see old faces, friends and classmates. Every five years, my Alma Mater in High School conducts a Grand Alumni Homecoming. This activity and effort allows us former students of St. Catherine of Siena Academy to be together again and remember the years that we had fun, learned, loved, gave our teachers headaches and pride, and prepared us to become what we are right now.

Every five years that we are able to meet each other in one single event, allows us to see the changes in our lives. Those who are single five years ago are now having their own families. Some who struggled during school days with studies are now the achievers on their career. Some honor students were not able to finish college and tried hard to make both ends meet. The rich kids when we are younger are the ones who struggle with their finances. And a lot more scenario to mention.

The status and achievement of each one of us is not a hindrance to enjoy the moment. Our batch seems to break the barriers of section and the feeling of indifference. I’m really happy that we are able to mingle without getting intimidated by social and personal projection. I may not know the names of every batch mates but at least am able to recognize their faces. Greet everyone with a genuine smile and take some time to ask how they are doing.

Talking to each other and starting to reminisce our past made everyone giggle and laugh about our silly stories. It just only shows how childish a matured person can be when we get to talk about things that we did (be it good or bad).

Another cherished moment for this day is when we get to see our past teachers whom we considered either as mentors or dementors (sorry for the word). The last word came to mind because as some of our teachers were roaming around and joins every batch for a photo op, one of my former classmates exclaimed that he does not approve of a group photo with a particular teacher. When we asked him why before that teacher approached us, he firmly stated that he does not like him simply for the reason that he never learned anything from that teacher and asked us if we feel the same. Almost everyone answered “yes”, including me. Then I laughed, saying to myself that after all these years, I didn’t think of having the same thought for that teacher’s contribution in molding our young lives. Anyway, that was in the past and we are able to live our lives until now carrying those memories.

One by one, we left, bid goodbyes and said to each other our sincere thanks of making ourselves available and joining the activity. A few hours shared story-telling, eating, drinking (for some), and laughing is one of the best days we will cherish for the rest of our lives.

The next homecoming is set after five years and will be more exciting for our batch because it is our Silver Year and the task of hosting the event is on our shoulders. I hope more batch mates will join us and be able to make it another milestone to remember.

See you on the year 2020 Batch 1995 of St. Catherine of Siena Academy!!!

Want to make egg pies? No oven, no baking pans.

We don’t have an oven. This is the reason why I always look for alternative ways to bake and experiment on baked goodies. My first recipe attempt was Lasagna. I will tackle the recipe in a different article soon.

I want to share my recent discovery on how to make egg pies even if you only have an oven toaster and leche flan pans (llanera).

The following are the ingredients:

Crust:

4 cups all-purpose flour

6 Tbsp sugar

1 tsp fine salt

1 ½ cup butter, cut into cubes and softened (I used Selecta butterfresh because it is not salty unlike other brands, and cheaper too.)

½ cup cold water

Filling:

1 cup evaporated milk

5 medium eggs and another 2 medium eggs with white and yolk separated

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp fresh kalamansi or lemon juice

1 can condensed milk 380g

How to Cook:

For the crust:

1. Combine flour, sugar and salt in a mixing bowl. Mix well. Add the butter and thoroughly mix with other ingredients. You can use a pastry mixer or a big spoon.

2. Gradually add the cold water to the mixture and continue mixing until every ingredients are well combined.

3. Shape the dough into a large ball and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

4. Sprinkle flour on a clean surface to flatten the dough using a rolling pin for about ½ centimeter thick and wide enough to cover 3 llaneras or a 9” pie pan if you have one.

5. Press the flattened dough on the pan and trim the dough using kitchen sears at about half an inch overhang. Save the scraps to bulk up thin areas later on.

6. The edges can be crimped by fork or pinch the edges with your fingers. Set aside the dough inside the fridge while making the filling

For the filling:

1. Heat the evaporated milk in a pan for a minute or two. No need to boil.

2. Combine and whisk the 5 medium eggs and the separated 2 egg yolks.

3. Gradually add the condensed milk while whisking. Add the vanilla extract and kalamansi juice, continue mixing until well blended.

4. Add the evaporated milk and mix well.

5. Beat the separated egg whites using an electric mixer to form soft peaks. This makes the upper part of the pie brown in color.

Baking the Pie:

1. Preheat the oven toaster for 10 minutes. Pour the filling on the refrigerated pie crust. Top with the beaten egg whites. Cover with aluminum foil* and cook for 20 to 25 minutes. (If you have a wider oven toaster, you can cook the pies all at once). You can check if the pie is completely cooked by inserting a toothpick in the filling and it comes out clean.

2. Remove the foil covering of the pie and spread the egg white on top and put the pie inside the oven and cook again for five minutes or until you achieve the golden brown top.

3. Allow the pie to cool down before serving. If you like, the taste is much better if you eat the egg pie after refrigeration.

*The use of aluminum foil gives the trick of cooking the filling without burning the top part of the pie.

There you have it. Enjoy!

I am overwhelmed by my everyday encounters with fellow virtual entrepreneurs. I am learning the tricks, ups and downs of becoming one with just joining every group that I see on different social media platforms.

As of this time, I struggle a lot because I know that my skills are not enough to become established in this field. There are moments that I doubted myself if I can continue searching for the right formula to become a good Virtual Assistant/SEO Expert/Web Designer/Web Developer/Online Entrepreneur.

I give special thanks to Sir Jay Pasana of Web Internship Program who is my mentor in Web Design, Social Media Management and future lessons that we will tackle under this program. A few years ago, I considered working online after I gave birth to my son but was not able to push thru with my plan because I thought that I need to give my 100% time in taking care of him. Now that he is 5 years old and will be a pre-elementary student next school year, I made my way to study Web Design under his coaching. If I didn’t try enrolling, I will not be able to see the benefits of knowing not just a thing or two about the Web and how I can earn using the Internet.

Another group that deserves a thank you from me is the Team SuperKaizen SEO Webinar. I attended the seminar last Saturday, November 28, 2015. The event was quick but I gained a lot from it. The never heard tools in determining the performance of a site are all new to me. It is really good to be taught by some of the bests namely Mr. Floyd Gonda, Roel Manarang, Fervil Von Tripoli and Nimrod Flores.

And lastly, thank you to Ms. Rochefel Rivera, the woman behind Professional VA Facebook Page. I recently found her group and been watching the tutorials on her YouTube channel. I get to learn a lot with regard to tasks of a Virtual Assistant. I think it is a relaxed and a natural approach of teaching especially to aspiring and first timers like me.

I look forward to having my own clients and be like all of the above mentioned personalities who motivate me every day to focus and reach my online career goals.

I often feel this way whenever I have interviews. Especially an hour or two before the actual time. Why? Is it because I am not prepared or I am not comfortable with my conversational skills? Maybe or maybe not.

I know that it is not just me who goes through the same situation. I think it is normal for a person to be nervous at some point. Even if you are the best applicant and have numerous accomplishments under your sleeves. A few hours before and until the moment you face an interviewer, that electrifying feeling is present. It seems like your last day on earth is now. Hands are shaking like there’s an earthquake. Suddenly forgot your name and where you live. Can’t speak straight, a lot of uhm’s and huh. The things you hold suddenly slip down. Everything is out of control.

Cold palms, palpitations, frequent urination, slurred speech or dysarthria (thanks Google for the extra knowledge) and disorientation are some of the manifestations of my interview jitters. It is too much to handle. I was told to breathe in and breathe out to release the tension. Can’t argue with that. I find it effective.

As explained in Science, “the primary role of breathing is to absorb oxygen and to expel carbon dioxidethrough the movement of the lungs. Muscles that control the movement of the lungs are the diaphragm (a sheet of muscle underneath the lungs) and the muscles between the ribs”. But make sure you do not overdo it. “Shallow over-breathing, orhyperventilation, can prolong feelings of anxiety by making the physical symptoms of stress worse. Controlling your breathing can help to improve some of these symptoms”.

I try to overcome this feeling every time. I have to, or else, I’m screwed and never get the job that I wanted.

If there is one kakanin or dessert that I like the most, it is Espasol. It is a cylindrical-shaped rice cake which originated from the province of Laguna. It is made of toasted glutinous rice flour, coconut milk and sweetened coconut strips, dusted with toasted rice flour.

I used to ask friends and colleagues to buy me some when they go to Laguna. Nowadays, I order from a local delicacy store here in our province when I feel like eating. The taste is similar with the ones bought from Laguna so it is much better if I have the craving attack.

I have no idea how to cook this favorite food of mine. Until I stumble upon a recipe of espasol on the net. I thought, why not try cooking it myself since the ingredients are easy to find and the process is simple as described in the recipe. I even watched different tutorials on YouTube to familiarize myself.

I took the challenge of cooking it today. Since I would like to rest from staring at the computer and do my assignments, I bought coconut milk from the market. I already have glutinous rice flour, sugar and other ingredients available in the pantry ‘cause I try to cook different delicacies and desserts when I have time. I’m not a seasoned cook but was able to achieve the taste of any dish I tried and this is the perfect time to test my skill.

First, I toasted 3 ½ cups of glutinous rice flour, set aside ½ cup of it for dusting the dough later. In a pan, I put 2 cups of coconut milk and let it simmer for a few minutes; put 1 cup of sugar while stirring constantly; after dissolving the sugar, I slowly put the toasted glutinous rice flour; added a teaspoon of vanilla extract and a squeeze of lime to add flavor. I also have the option in putting toasted shredded coconut but skipped this step as requested by my mother. I made sure that the fire is in low setting to avoid burning the mixture. Mixing the dough is a challenge because it is so sticky. I continued mixing for about 15 minutes and stopped when the natural oil of the coconut milk is evident and the dough is not loose anymore. While letting the dough cool down a bit, I prepared the banana leaves where I sprinkled the toasted flour. This is where I’m going to lay the dough flat and cut into strips. I rolled the strips to the flour one by one and the final product is arranged in a platter.

The taste test finally came. I’m not sure if I did the right thing. I’m worried about the result. It looked like the usual espasol I buy but the taste is still a mystery. My nieces, mother and son, took a bite. They looked at each other and said “SARAP”. It’s delicious in Filipino and that really made my day. I will never be afraid of trying a new recipe again because my family appreciates it and that makes me really happy.

In my quest for an investment and savings plan that can help me properly manage my finances now and in the future, I joined a local multi-purpose cooperative. This is not my first time to be involved in such a group. I totally removed the negative connotation of cooperatives in my system as “magulo” (riotous) and only involves “utang” (credit or loan). I treat it now as a way of saving money. My investment or share is what they call “untouchable money”. This is because, you cannot use your money anytime you want like deposits in bank where you just present a withdrawal slip or use an ATM card. If ever you have to, the only way to get your money is withdrawing completely including your membership and requires ample time to process. The share is designed to increase, not to decrease as time goes by.

Three years ago, I was persuaded by a former collector of a lending institution to try it. He quit his job from the lending company and was offered a job in a Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Bulacan and happened to have two branches here in Bataan. At first, I was hesitant. But when I thought about the benefits that I may reap from joining, I attended the pre-membership seminar. It did not last for more than an hour but gave me a brief and good impression of how cooperatives work for itself and the members. Cooperatives manifests the true sense of Bayanihan which was described during elementary days as the collective help of neighbors in carrying a house from one place to another. Members pool their resources into a common fund that is used to create different services and products that members can avail and derive income from. I agreed in joining and invested a few thousands as share capital. Like most cooperatives, loan service is the primary income generating product of the group. It is up to the member if he or she wants to avail it. Members derive multiple benefits from getting credit. The income generated from such loan will be added to the total income of the cooperative and will be declared as dividends and will be distributed annually to each member depending upon their share or Capital Build-Up (CBU). Another income is what they call Patronage Refund. A portion of the income derived from availing the service or product is computed and returned to the member. The more services and products I avail, the more patronage refund I get. Aside from the two, the third benefit is what I like the most. I’m proud to say that in almost 3 years, I didn’t just doubled or tripled my investment but is already 5 times my initial share. I achieved it through the capital build-up system. Every time I availed of any service or product, part of the interest I pay is directly added to my share, thus increasing it. The only way that a ladder goes is up, there is no down.

There are other benefits such as Insurance, Health Cards/Medical Assistance, Livelihood Training/Seminars and Continuous Education that a member can enjoy. I am making the most out of it and I am trying to look for other cooperatives with the same standing and performance. Like any other business or investment, we need to assess the feasibility of earning or saving since it involves money and time.

Joining cooperatives made me realize one thing. There is no small investment, only small knowledge. People has to learn how to make money work for them.

Who remembers Piko, Tumbang Preso, Harangan Tubig and Luksong Tinik? I bet those born in the 70's or 80's will say yes. I really miss playing those games and I wish I could still at my age. The energy and excitement makes me want to turn back the time. Laughter and sweat are the results of doing those kinds of activities plus the chance to mingle with friends and siblings. Interaction allows every child to develop their social skills and physical health benefits from those games.

Slowly every year, new games were introduced. Game boards, Game and Watches, Atari, Family Computer, Brick Games and Tamagochi are some of those games that eventually replaced the Chinese Garter.

Now comes the digital age. The dawn of cellular phones triggered the influx of modern games tough computers were accessible but were mainly used for study and work. PlayStation, Xbox and Wii quickly evolved and made constant upgrades that left people wanting for more. The mobile technology adopted the features of computers and created tablets and phones with Android and Windows applications. The prices decreased as the number of gaming products multiplied, which allowed people from all walks of life; young or old, rich or poor, educated or not; gained access to these gadgets.

This just shows that playing is not restricted to a person’s status. It may have evolved from physical to mental and mental to eye-hand coordination challenges, same satisfaction is achieved.

Each person will remember the games depending on the generation they belong to. What matters is the experience and the skills developed through it. Always remember the main purpose and idea of the game. Be it a physical challenge, mental or I.Q. test, strategy building and tactics, response/reaction test and so on. Just play, enjoy and let us see what’s coming next.

In the Philippines, if you need to process papers regarding land titles, most likely you will hire someone to do it for you though it will cost you a lot of money compared to doing it on your own. The payment is not just for the expenses incurred like the transportation, fees and sad to say; bribe to make the process expedited but also the hassles you will encounter from going back and forth to the government agencies you need to transact with.

My first experience doing the task gave me a handful of frustrations and effort. The job was originally assigned to an agent but unfortunately, he was not able to do it though we already paid his service. Waiting for a long time, I was asked by my father to try it since the first tasks were accomplished by me. Hesitant and all, I followed. I know that it’s going to be hard but I need to do it because the documents at hand will be expired and will not be honored anymore. For more than 5 years, I’ve been able to do the same even for just a minimal fee. I try not to be like other document specialists or so called ‘agents’ who ask for a big price in exchange for their services. I fully understand the situation of clients like us who experienced paying an agent but unable to complete the job for a high price.

I would like to share the general steps for transferring a land title for reference.

·        -  Secure the documentary requirements at the Registry of Deeds and Municipal or Provincial Assessor’s Office.

·         - Secure assessment of transfer taxes at the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Municipal or City Treasurer’s Office.

·         - File documents at the BIR for the issuance of Certificate Authorizing Registration (CAR) or BIR Clearance.

·         - Pay the Transfer Taxes and secure the Tax Clearance.

·         - File documents at the Registry of Deeds for the issuance of new land title.

·         - File documents at the Municipal or Provincial Assessor’s Office for the issuance of new Tax Declaration.

Some steps may differ depending on the type of title you will transfer, e.g. CLOA or Certificate of Land Ownership Award which requires more documentation than regular land titles.

September 17, 2010

I consider it the hardest but the most rewarding experience of my life. Giving birth and caring for my own child.

I used to think that I will stay single forever and being a mom is the least that I can be. It’s not that I don’t like children. In fact, I used to take care of my nieces and nephews. I also went to Singapore to help my uncle and aunt take care of their daughter. I even thought looking after other people’s children (relatives or not) will be my fate.

Now I know that it is just a preparation for me as a mother. I married late. It took almost 2 years before I got pregnant. When the day I knew that I have a baby inside of me, there were mixed emotions that lingered in my heart. I don’t know if I’m happy or not; worried or excited; shocked or amazed.

After 8 months of nurturing a soul inside my body (my baby was premature and I suffered preeclampsia on the 7^th month of pregnancy), I finally saw my child. It was painful on the first strike of labor (which lasted for 2 days) but when he was finally out, I felt so much joy and gratitude that we both survived. 

My husband was not around when I gave birth. He needed to work overseas on the second month of conception in order to give us a better future. Though he is not with us physically, he always checked on us whenever he had the time. 

I wondered where I got my strength in taking care of my baby full time, without having a reliever or household help. Maybe mothers like me naturally have this skill in managing time and joggling duties without compromising the attention and care for her children. Thanks to the experiences I had in taking care of children at a young age.

second trimester

September 17, 2010

Mye Jerico 

4 Months Old 

Happy Baby