Have a Meaningful Holy Week

It's a long weekend for many of us. I hope that you'll have a meaningful Holy Week. For those you are going out of town, have fun but try to find some time to reflect as well. Take care.

Tagged :: Hershey's Easter Basket Blog Hop

Willa tagged me with Hershey’s Better Basket Blog Hop. I'm doing this for a good cause.

Here’s what to do:

* Copy and paste these rules to your blog post.
* Create a blog post giving a virtual Easter Basket to another blogger – you can give as many Virtual Baskets as you want.
* Link back to person who gave you an Easter Basket.
* Let each person you are giving a Virtual Easter Basket know you have given them a Basket.
* Leave your link at BetterBasket.info/BlogHop comment section. You can also find the official rules of this Better Basket Blog Hop, and more information about Better Basket with Hershey’s there.

* Hershey’s is donating $10 per each blog participating to the Better Basket Blog Hop to Children’s Miracle Network (up to total of $5,000 by blog posts written by April 4th, 2010).

* Please note that only one blog post by each blog url will count towards the donation.

I'm tagging Alice, Sheng, Kay, Louann and Jo. If you were not tagged, you are still welcome to join this worthy cause.

POC Expat Files: Isang Kakaibang Biyahero

I would like to share a very short story close to my heart. It's my own little way of honoring hardworking overseas Filipino workers.  I hope you can find time to read it.  You may find the story here.  (It is written in Filipino language.)

POC Buhay Pinoy: The Gypsy Life of a Magtia-tiangge

I met Mang Ver, a hardworking entrepreneur who makes a living by putting up a tiangge (bazaar) from town to town.  His gypsy way of life is very interesting. Please come and read his story here.

Tagged :: 7 Red Things At Home

I love red! I was tagged by Dexie to do this meme. This is long overdue. Sorry Dexie.

Here are 7 red things I have at home:

1. Planner - It's where I keep contact info of family and friends (including birthdays).
2. Shoulder bag - My mom gave this to me a few years ago as a birthday present.
3. Shoes - I love this pair. It's very comfortable and ideal for walking.
4. Babushka dolls - I saw this at the mall and made a hint to hubby that I like it. He didn't mind buying it for me.
5. Christmas stockings - I hang our personalized Christmas stockings every Christmas and Santa fills them to the brim. :)
6. Vanity kit - Perfect container for my face powder, lipstick, lip gloss, comb, small cologne and hand sanitizer.
7. Baby spoon - This is very special to me because it was my son's spoon when he was a baby. It brings back happy memories.

This tag is open to everyone. Please let me know if you decide to join the hunt for red things at home. :)

Top in Class and a Valedictorian

His family’s love for good food and his mom’s delicious home cooked meals helped fuel his passion for cooking at a young age. He was inspired to do his own cooking and he learned to experiment with his own dishes through the years.

He has always wanted to take up Culinary Arts but he was sidetracked to another field. When a culinary school opened nearby, he took it as his cue to pursue his interest in Culinary Arts. He's grateful that he was given a chance to learn new things and hone his skills in cooking.

I'm very proud of my husband for completing his 6-month course in Culinary Arts at MOST Institute. He graduated top of his class and best of all, the Valedictorian of the graduating batch.

Congratulations Jules! I'm happy that you are following your dreams.

POC Health Article: Rabies: the deadly bite

March is Rabies Awareness Month. I would like to share my health feature on Philippine Online Chronicles about rabies. Please do your share to fight this deadly disease. Be a responsible pet owner. You may click here to read the full length feature.

Yohan's First Camping

At first, I was not keen on the idea of my son going on an overnight camping. I felt he was too young for such an activity. I was reluctant to let him join the Prep camping. We had a family talk about it and ...

I was outvoted by the boys. Jules had no problem with it. He said it will be great experience for our son. Yohan was thrilled about the thought of camping with his classmates and teachers. He told me he would be sad if I didn't let him join the group. It was two against one so I conceded. Hubby and I also went to school to talk to our son's adviser. She reassured us that the camping activity would be safe and fun for the kids. It was a good way to teach the kids a little independence.

(Night Before) I felt a little sad as I prepared Yohan's things for camping. I packed his clothes and labeled them accordingly. I guess you can tell that I love zip bags. :) I made sure Yohan had enough drinks and snacks.

(At Bluroze Farms, Lipa) Jules and I brought Yohan directly to the camp site. I felt better knowing that the kids would be sleeping in a house rather than tents. Yohan was welcomed by his teachers and classmates. Yohan asked where his bed was and I saw his face light up with excitement.  Hubby and I kissed Yohan good bye. With a reluctant heart, I walked away from the house. As I followed the path leading to the parking area, I couldn't help but look back every now and then. On the road, I silently prayed for my boy's safety.

(Camp, Day 1)  Yohan told me that he had a great time on the first day of camp. They had a nature walk around Bluroze Farm. All the Prep students were given small bags so they could collect little treasures along the way to remind them of their camping experience. Yohan's treasures were feathers, plants and flowers.

Using leaves they found in the nature park, the kids did their own t-shirt painting.

Laughter filled the campsite during the evening. There were fun games, camp fire and hotdog grilling.  Meanwhile, at home, Jules and I couldn't sleep. It was not easy being away from our son for the first time.  We had a DVD marathon and slept early in the morning.  

I asked Yohan if he slept well that evening and he said "I cried silently that night because I missed you and Dad very much." His teacher told me that Yohan had a hard time sleeping at first because the lights were on. His classmates, on the other hand, couldn't sleep with the lights turned off. Dilemma! The teacher turned off the lights when most of the kids were already asleep and Yohan finally dozed off.

(Camp, Day 2)  The kids enjoyed singing, story telling and making arts and crafts. They also made pizza and dessert.

(Reunited again) Yohan gave me a very tight hug when we picked him up the following day.  I noticed he was teary eyed. I felt a tug in my heart. Awww ... my little boy missed me as much as I missed him. Before going home, Yohan showed us inside the house. His face was beaming with pride.

I'm glad we let Yohan join the camp. It was a fun and enriching activity after all.

Majority of the photos courtesty of Yohan's teachers.
Camp site: Bluroze Farm, Lipa
Camping period: Jan. 26-27, 2010

POC Health Article: Colorectal Cancer

I'm happy and proud to be part of the weekly online publication Philippine Online Chronicles (www.thepoc.net). My first health feature about Colorectal Cancer is now up on the site. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. Remember, awareness is the key. You may click here to read the full length feature.

Inspiring Health and Wellness Site

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of wellnessdaily.com. All opinions are 100% mine.

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Yohanism #34

I have neglected my blog for so long. I miss blogging and I miss my blog friends. I was inspired this morning to blog because of a conversation I had with my son.



Yohan: " Mom, spider love is tough."

Me: "What do you mean?"

Yohan: "After the spiders marry, the female eats the male. Now that's what I call tough love."

Ha! Ha! I don't know where he got the marrying part but he probably watched a spider feature on Animal Planet.