FOR THEIR INFORMATION

Allow me to rant and be out of my self, just this time. I'm fully aware that it should not be written here and its wrong for me to 'yakatak'. Heck, there is no need to explain but I'm doing it anyway. Say, I'm drugged. Indeed I am! I just had my second dose of Ibuprofen today(lol).

I've got nothing against those who post their pictures or videos on their facebook account - how they went to help the victims of typhoon Pepeng. How they distribute donations or relief goods to evacuees. In fact, I do encourage it for "transparency" reasons specially if these donations were in-trusted to them.

Like our former forum mate Byd Bawayan who had been updating us for the small help we shared. We saw through facebook how he and his co volunteers work hard to sort and bring goods to evacuation sites. He asked me twice for the 2 times we sent him, "Manang, anya ngay ti isurat ko nga nagan?(what name will I write). For transparency reason gamin". I emailed him back and said, "Anonymous lattan ading".

Thanks to Marco, the 24 year old son of my late employer, he gave me 150 euros minus the 8 euro surcharge. He was suppose to spare 300 but said he paid a bunch of bills. He told me to give his money to those who need it in the Philippines. This was after watching the video I sent him showing the victims of the said typhoon.

I collected from my three sisters, Ica, Jhe and Matsay here to add the small euros from my part time job and Marco's money, so we could send some to Byd and some would be for the evacuees and those who lost their houses in our own hometown Tublay.

I phoned up my Dad and told him to use the amount we will send to buy blankets or food for our affected town-mates. But Dad advised us that they better distribute it in cash as our place is lucky because relief goods are coming in abundance.

After My family back home gave a thousand pesos each to those who lost their houses, 500 and 300 to some who still have their house but had to evacuate for safety purposes, I emailed Marco how the money was given. I included that we gave 8,000 pesos to Byd and his organization. I added that the receivers were probably more than happy to get the small amount rather than rice and sardines or noodles which by the way made Marco laugh.

Here is what is wrong with this post. I should have not written we donated this and that because if you give, its a "real or true help" if you be silent with it. I'm always a believer to this not until one of my city cousin who keeps on phoning up my Dad asking him about the compensation of his piece of land that some portion was washed out by the typhoon.

My city cousin said that the government will pay or had paid for it and with a threatening tone said he will inform. Dad told him to go to the Barangay Office and ask about any compensation and you know what he said? "Where is the the Barangay Office?", when its near our church and the school that bare his and our grandfather's name. Hayyy!!!! Apo aya ti city kids!

Again, I don't need to explain(but again, I'm doing it anyway) that the small amount my Dad and my sisters had been distributing was from Italy and not from "ghostly" stolen compensation for damaged private land. GEEEZZ WIZZ!!! Do I need to upload pictures at facebook the faces of Ica, Jhe, Matsy and Marco? Sisters, give me your photos but wait, you should be handing me those 'soldi'(money) first lols....

IMAGE CREDIT: SCRUTINY HOOLIGANS

HALLOWEEN 2009

CIAO everyone! Yeah, I'm still here and I know, I've got so many catching up to do(hehehe kasla met kano adda mailiw ti isursurat ko a). Let me just post here randomly while my pain reliever is still in effect. Yes, influenza again after having it two weeks ago...

As for "starters", here are my boys during the "retrieving" of sweets from our neighbors (lols). Dylan was our 'picolo diavolo' (little devil) and Lukie was our "not so scary" 'fantasma'(ghost).

YES TO CHANGE (The 'Kariton' Version)

As always, while the blogsphere had moved on and are done writing about the latest buzz, I'm still picking up on the topic 3 weeks ago. Maybe you've already voted or watched the inspiring story of Efren Peñaflorida » . The founder of the Dynamic Team Company, a group of youngsters using a pushcart stuffed with books, a built in blackboard and other educational materials to teach street children or the underprevilaged who can't go to school.

Click the link below and lets give him the recognition he deserves. He said he is not after the merits but for the hope that other people will do it too.

CNN Heroes - Ordinary People Extraordinary Impact - Special ...

"Voting continues until Thursday, November 19, 2009 (6 a.m. ET). There is no limit on the number of times you may vote for the Hero of the Year", according to CNN.

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THANK YOU CAFE BY THE RUINS

It hurts and we feel helpless as we watch all the videos and pictures of the devastating and tragic aftermath of the recent typhoon that struck the Cordilleras, our home in the Philippines. Aside from this flu, maybe thinking of my hometown, is one of the things that is not making me sleep.

I wanted to write a long entry for this but my eyes are burning and I can feel the fever taking effect. For now, I'll leave you with the videos taken by the Cafe By The Ruins, a cafe and restaurant in Baguio who had been updating us at Facebook. Our forever gratitude to their heroic help to our place in Tublay Benguet. They even reached as far as Labey, the boundry between Bokod and Tublay, by foot.

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WHEN SHE'S NOT WELL

The very last time I had a high fever was when Boogs and I are starting as married couples. That was 12 years ago to be exact. We went home to Tublay and Jenelyn, our boss, had to open her shop for the days that we were not able to tend it.

Aside from the body pain, head ache and all, the realization that its no longer my Dad taking care of me when I am sick, made me cry more that time. I'm an adult, already married and the responsibility of taking care of the "unwell me" is now given to my husband Boogie. Don't get me wrong, I was in tears because of the big change and not because I prefer my Dad from Boogs hehehe...

For three days now, I've been sick with flu and if I don't take my Advil, all my bones will scream in pain. This is the worst so far when child birthing is not included. I can't even sleep because my nose feels strangely dry when I breath and my throat hurts like I have tonsillitis when my tonsils are not really that swollen. Its like I'm always thirsty and my ears seemed to be stuffed with something. Arghhh, when I cough, I'd trade anything for a sleeping pill or pills to knock me down.

First it was Dylan 6 days ago. Then Lukie and I had it the same day. It was Boogs who took all the worries of taking care of us. Yesterday, he was suppose to sleep in the afternoon because he is working night shift. I was on bed with Dylan and my poor husband didn't have his long power nap as he keeps checking on Lukie who was sleeping in his room after taking his paracetamol.

We didn't only have a "Papa nurse" "doctoring" us, we also had a cleaning Papa dude. He cleaned the house, bathroom included hahaha... cup boards and dusted the divider that was long "abandoned"(lols). Dishes were readily washed too. The sweetest part was him shoving a cup of water to each of us specially to Dylan who drinks it in "burden", if he will not stick his whole hand into the cup and play with the water.

We hope Boogs will not catch it too but signs are showing that he will. The virus is just waiting for us to be a bit well for the next patient.

SAND ART

Such gifted hands...

ILANA YAHAV





AKO TSUBAKI





DAVID ALCALA

'SCOOOLL'

Click the previous post for this update:

1. Baby "D", The Explorer

2. THAT CHRISTMAS TREE

3. MIRROR,BOOKS AND STUFF

4. DYLAN'S SECOND SUMMER

5. ANYA UNO!

Our little Dylan had his very first day at school last Monday, 14th of September 2009. At two (2) years and nine (9) months old, he and his cousin Noemi are among the youngest to join the class of Materna(a three years preparation for elementary). Still not aware of what 'scoula' is, he was just so happy to be there. With so many kids and toys, we know he thinks its another play for him.

Slept early the night before, a fresh and enthusiastic boy he was the next day, even though he woke up 3 hours earlier than his usual time. Dylan was already in bliss when we first took Lukie to his first day in second grade. Another pretreat for our second baby - the sight of noisy and happy kids with his big brother.




While we were waiting for the gate to open, almost all his classmates were holding on to their moms. Scared of the newness of this adventure and unfamiliarity of the place. But not Dylan, he was there walking around and posing for his Papa's camera. Its not because he was a brave boy but we think he can't understand yet that 'scoooll'(as Dylan says it) will be long hours away from Mama and Papa.


We entered the building and the teacher put on his red name tag. He was a bit puzzled but when I showed him the letters of his name, he didn't mind the red fish tied around his neck anymore. Boogie and I, along with other parents stayed with our babies on their first day. An hour and a half to just play and explore the new place.

When Dylan got to the clays, he tried to eat it. A teacher gave him a handful of blue colored clay and he was about to bite it like a bread before I stopped him. Its good he knew how to use the paint and paint brush. My mistake, I forgot to let him play with clays. Unlike Lukie who had it when he was a year and a half.

There was this sort of Abacus with it's rod complicatedly twirled that you'll have to delicately follow before you can move the beads. It was Dylan's favorite toy, the very first thing he looks for every morning. The teacher said in Italian, "Look how precise and moves the beads perfectly considering his age", when she was observing our son for the first time.



When it was time to go, I took Dylan to his locker and again showed him his name. I told him we have to leave his red fish name tag there and his flag so that he could use it tomorrow. The next day, he first went to the locker and got his red fish and flag, what a clever boy! I think, if I were 2 and 9 months old, I will be confused with the many lockers looking all the same.

It was raining when we went home. Great! No umbrella. Then Papa, Mama and Dylan on the push chair run like mad. Dylan was still smiling while the rain is keeping his eyes close..... "It was sure a fun day!", Dylan would say out loud IF he only could already talk clearly.




THE FOLLOWING DAYS:

1. The whole week went well. Almost all of Dylan's classmate cried and would NOT like to stay.....

2. My sister said that Irven, her husband, saw Dylan going out of their room while the class is going on and a teacher was following him to get him back inside hahaha....

3. I was scared of Dylan wetting his pants. We just started to toilet train him 2 months ago. So far, its been 2 weeks now and he goes home with the same pants.

4. Friday night on his first week, he had a flu, had a fever on Sunday causing him to have a poor appetite until now. He stayed home till Wednesday and back to school Thursday. When I went to get him, he was crying and was relieved to see me. He has a small cut on his lips that had put him in a bad mood till we went home for lunch.

5. In the 3 classes of 'scoula materna'(red, blue and yellow), small kids are mixed up with the big ones. Ages 3 t0 6 with 2 teacher in every room. 26 or 27 children in each class.

6. Dylan's teacher was still in class with the bigger kids who will be dismissed 2 hours later so I wasn't able to ask what happened to Dylan's lips.

7. Friday morning, I was waking up Dylan and telling him he has to go to school. On the bed, still sleepy and eyes squinting, he said, "Ooooch"(meaning - OUCH) while pointing at his chin.

8. We decided that this year, Dylan will just stay at school for 3 hours and a half only. He will not take the school bus and the school lunch too. He still can't follow rules, understand danger and eat well on his own. Till then, we hope to enjoy more Dylan's remaining 'babyhood'. Something that will surely pass swiftly. Just like Lukie who is becoming a "bigger boy" everyday. Oh, you'll just miss their small hands and feet before you'll know it!

CLICK HERE: Mama's Famous Gate and Did I Get It Right This Time? for Lukie's 'scoooll'.