As I write this, I've had enough time to break away from my daily routine to be able to take care of my mom in the hospital when she was still with us, to take care of her funeral, to mourn for mommy's loss and to pray with the family for the eternal repose of her soul and for the family's fast healing and acceptance of mom's passing.

I am thankful for the chance to be given three weeks to do all those.  Those weeks were the most painful weeks of my life, but were also the most important for it gave me a clearer perspective of our life here on earth, of death, and of aiming for eternal happiness and peace with the Creator after death.

I salute my mom, for her preparedness, not of death because no one could prepare you for that, but for her spirituality and her communion with the Lord.  She left us with a ready mind, heart and soul.  I salute her for devoting her time in serving the Lord for the last 20 years of her life for her eternal salvation.  It's true that from ash we came and to ash we return.  I realized that our earthly life could end in a flash if God wills it or if your mission here is done.  My mom's mission was accomplished and as she accepted her fate, so should we and with an open heart.

I cannot express how sad and empty I feel for the passing of my mother Elizabeth.  Everyone was shocked at how soon it all happened.  I think even I, who was with her during her last hours, minutes, seconds, am still in disbelief that she's no longer with us.

Mommy was diagnosed with Stage 4 Gallbladder Cancer last April 30.  Less than two months after it was discovered, she rested peacefully.  She fought a good fight.  Mommy is known as a strong woman, a fighter in every sense.  If there's any consolation, the Lord God didn't let her endure too much pain and He didn't allow her to be agonized for a long time.  Although for us whom she left, it was all too soon.

I was always asked this question: What were the symptoms?  Why was it discovered too late?  Couldn't surgery be done? Chemo? Sadly, when it was detected, the doctors couldn't do anything anymore.  What we could offer her was just comfort that she's taken care of round the clock in the hospital and is under pain management.

MOM's LIFE
Mommy was active she was with her aerobics, church activities, barangay lupon duties and senior citizen organization.  She led a healthy and active lifestyle, she was always happy, she always accomplishes amazing things at home and in our community.  She's well-loved and had left a mark in the hearts of many and in the organizations she's part of.

DOING MORE FOR MOM
People she was close with tell me now how much my mommy loves me and how proud she was of me in everything I do for my family, at work and my other activities.  That my mom tells them a lot about me, that I am her "bukam-bibig."  Each time I hear them tell me those things, I feel sad that I couldn't do anything anymore for her.  I feel that KULANG PA ang mga nagagawa ko para ibalik ang lahat ng pagmamahal at nasakripisyo niya for us.  For everything she has done for me and my children, what I've done and returned to her will always be NOT ENOUGH.

I don't really regret not being able to show her how much I love her nor not being able to take care of her nor do lovingly service to her.  I just wanted to DO MORE for her.  My relatives and her friends say, not to feel sad anymore because my mom knows how much I love her.  They said, mommy surely felt that more especially when she was in the hospital.

Still, I want to do MORE Mommy... for you.  I will forever be in debt for my life and what I've accomplished while living it.  How can I repay you some more Mommy?  I guess I'll know the answers in the coming days, weeks, months and even years.

For now, I pray for MORE acceptance and for strength.  She has served our parish church for 20 years and as the priest said in the mass yesterday, Mommy is now directly serving God in heaven together with the angels.  Her work here on earth is done.  The Lord has called her to fulfill a different role in heaven, to be our dear ANGEL.

Thank you Mommy for everything.  I will forever and ever miss you.  I love you very much Mommy.  I know you're in a better place now.  Rest In Peace.

If it's only for practicality's sake, I would have continued dreaming of working and living in any part of the world like in the US, Singapore or Indonesia.  Aside from dreaming that I was a Princess in long, flamboyant, pink gown, it was a childhood dream of mine to be able to go to different countries or work abroad and get rich faster.

In 2006, I had a chance to be assigned in Jakarta.  I felt privileged among my peers to be able to do that.  But if there's one thing that most Filipinos in other countries do, it's finding a community and getting together during off-work to feel closer to home and temporarily forget about homesickness and look for something familiar, the genuine Filipino smile and a ready helping hand.

It made me think, why would I desire to be in another country, when other nationalities would like to stay and live here?  Let's take for example Ms. Anna Rabtsun-Baylosis.
She is a Russian married to a Filipino who was swoon by the thoughtfulness and sweetness of her husband while he was still courting her.  Now, they have two children and has been living in the country for two years. She’s proudly embraced the Filipino culture so much that she not only speaks and understands Tagalog quite fluently, she also sings in Tagalog.  An inspiring love story and something na truly nakaka-proud as a Filipino.
Clearly, not only she fell in love with her husband, but also with the Filipino traditions such as having close family ties and pagmamano.
Now, if you would ask me Bakit ang #SarapMagingPilipino?  There are so many reasons I could think of but I'll tell you one important trait I am most proud of!  For me:

Ang #SarapMagingPilipino dahil ang Pilipino ay hinding hindi mo matitinag kahit siya ay may pinagdadaanan o may mabigat na suliranin sa buhay.  Ang problema para sa isang Pilipino ay BOOM PANES!  

Like Anna, other Foreignoys (Foreigner na Pinoys) have something to say about what they truly love about being a Filipino and why ang #SarapMagingPilipino. Let me share this video by Jollibee which would also make you proud to be a FILIPINO:

Hello Loves!   No matter how life is throwing me a lot right now, of course life should go on.  There are a lot other aspects in our lives that we should not give attention to.  One of which is our back-to-school shopping.  While most of the students had started classes last Monday, my elder son will start his next week.

But before anything else, let me just say this ha: WAAAH, ang LAKI ng TAAS ng tuition fee this year!!!  Okay na.  But seriously, 10% increase is a BIG increase.  That's why I kind of enrolled him a little late because I had to pull more powers (Spell M-O-N-E-Y), not to mention the cost of books and other school supplies.

To prepare him for school, we had a back-to-school shopping last week.  But unlike our shopping last year, we bought lesser NEW stuff for him.  This is good news to me as a budget-conscious and practical momma.  Don't get me wrong loves, it's not that I'm being too frugal about my children's expenses to the point of having incomplete materials for school, but it's just that we bought quality materials for him last year that he still can use them this year.  For me, that is the real sense of practicality.

Just look at this bag:

Back-To-School Tip: Buy a brand of school bag that is made of quality materials and one that's durable.  This bag may be a little expensive to some, but you're assured of its quality.  Heavy books/notebooks?  No problem.

You may think, that's an expensive bag.  But loves, I divided the cost of the bag by two years (because he is using it again this year).  That's the thing about quality materials, it's really durable.

Next, I swear by this brand of shoes for kids: HARDY TOGS (available at any SM Department Store).  My son has been using the same brand and even the same shoe style since he was in Grade One (1).  Unfortunately, the style that he wanted is no longer available to bigger sizes, which made him chose a different style, but the same brand.  All his Hardy Togs shoes lasted the whole year and mind you, he ran the school field with it, he kicked ball with it, he sometimes folded the back part to make it like slippers (I know, I know it's not good, but boys will be boys) and he sometimes played basketball with it!  Still his school shoes last year is still intact!  He has developed brand loyalty since he was six years old.  We love Hardy Togs!

Back-To-School Tip:  Choose a brand of leather shoes that has double sole stitch to last it the whole year!  Perfect for very active boys such as mine!

The other back-to-school essentials we bought were his undies, micro-fiber towel (because he sweats a lot!) and his socks.

Back-To-School Shopping Tip: Microfiber towels are good for absorbing sweat! For socks, you could buy 3-in-1 socks, they are more practical than buying solo socks.

Last year, we bought the brand Nelson for his school uniform both polo shirt and long pants.  It's more expensive than other school uniforms, but then again, we swear by it.  He could still use all of them this year.  No loose stitches, no missing buttons and no tears in his pants.

Back-To-School Shopping Tip:  Buy a quality-made uniform like Nelson!  It's value for money!

Back-To-School shopping is always a therapeutic activity for me and a great bonding time too with the kids.  As always, to make shopping a practical and pleasurable one here are some quick tips.

PRACTICAL SHOPPING TIPS:

1.  It's always best to come prepared with your shopping list and a pen to tick off those already in your basket.
2.  Set your budget and stay within it.
3.  Shop during the morning to avoid large crowds or few hours before closing.
4.  Don't bring big and heavy bags.
5.  Enjoy.

Happy Back-To-School Mommies!  :)

The long wait is finally over!  First of all, thank you to everyone who joined my post-Mother's Day Giveaway!  I had a hard time selecting the winners because your answers were all moving and deserving to win.

That's why I sought help from Daddy Practicality to select the bestest of the best answers.  From 15 selected, we shortlisted it to 10, then 5, then final 3.  We looked for answers which were heartfelt, sincere and those that moved us.

Without further adieu, we'd like to say CONGRATULATIONS TO:

Mga Mommies!  Summer may be coming to an end, but it ain't over until it's over!  With the kind of weather that we have everyday, we always look for something to keep us cool.  What better way to beat the heat than to consume an ice-cold drink right?  My kids and I discovered a refreshing drink perfect this Summer - BEAR BRAND Choco with ice!

We first saw it in their TVC which my child got hooked to.  He asked me to buy him a pack of Bear Brand Choco and prepare it with ice too!  Fortunately, we received one from Nestle Bear Brand Choco and he tried it at once!

Bear Brand Choco with FREE Choco Ice Shaker

Enjoying his glass of Bear Brand Choco with Ice

TV commercials and even YouTube videos has a surefire way to hit the spot for kids and adults alike, just how it has affected my little one.   Apart from the TVC, Bear Brand came up with a catchy jingle and dance video which features Bear Brand Choco with ice.

It starts like this:
Umpsia na ng Summer painit nang painit.
Pag di gumalaw at mag-shake shake shake!
Ilabas ang Bear Brand Choco na may ice and 123 tara na mag dance!

Then the lakas maka-LSS line goes:
"Choco na gatas na choco na may ice, Gatas na choco na gatas na may ice."  Watch this video to know what I'm actually talking about. :-D
Diba?  It has a cheerful beat that anyone can tap their feet to plus a familiar neighborhood setting which makes the video appealing.  Each time Bear Brand Choco comes up with a TVC or a video, it's always witty and charming.

I tried doing the dance craze with my kids, I may have not told you this, but we love dancing at home.   If you try it too, it could actually be a fun bonding moment with your kids.  Why not record that fun dancing activity and upload it too right?  Then make sure to cool down with Bear Brand Choco with ice.  Promise, masarap siya.  It's my kids' current favorite choco-na-gatas, gatas-na-choco drink!

Bear Brand Choco is available in major supermarkets nationwide.

Mother's Day passed and if you noticed, I haven't really written about my celebration.  But this, I will not let pass without telling you about it - our quick post-Mother's-Day-getaway at Taal Vista Hotel in Tagaytay City.  I've frequented the hotel as their corporate client and as part of work.  But this time, I was back, and with the whole family, for two days to relax and simply take a break from the hustles and bustles of our usual stressful city life.

From SM MOA (where we were picked up by Taal Vista Hotel's service van), travelling to the hotel only took us an hour and a half.  It was a perfect day to travel with the family.  We enjoyed the simple pleasure of having a safe drive to the hotel on a wonderfully sunny day.  Navigating your way to the hotel was easy.  Taal Vista Hotel is located at Kilometer 60, Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City.  It's right beside Sky Ranch, Tagaytay's newest theme park.
There is something reminiscent about Taal Vista Hotel whenever I step on it.  You know the feeling of familiarity and being very at-home?  That was my heart's state upon arriving the hotel.

A few weeks ago (I think it was actually Mother's Day), I received a Banana Peel Flip Flops package.  Hurray!  New flip flops for the whole family!  This gift came at a perfect timing for us because for summer, our favorite footwear is of course flip flops!

This summer, we enrolled our toddler to Pre-school summer classes to prepare him for Nursery and admittedly, we failed.

Wes is already three and a half years old and may already be accepted as Nursery in school.  I remember my older son Dandre, who started summer play school just right about Wes' age now.  We got him into the right school and it worked perfectly well for him.  We did the same for the little one expecting to have the same readiness and excitement for school as his kuya did.

WRONG.

I realized this when after a few days in summer school, he was already making up reasons not to go and  if he agrees to go to school, he's using all his delaying tactics.

But, he seemed to be having fun and cooperative with his summer class teacher in these photos, look oh:
He's quite impressive in Picture Recognition activities because we read a lot of books at home and he's just naturally curious about a lot of things.  He asks a lot of WHATs and WHYs and we answer him with much glee and excitement of his desire to learn.
Wes recognizes opposites too like the concept of long and short, big and small, smooth and rough, tall and short and even happy or sad.
He loves COLORS!  He loves drawing and coloring at home so he actually got excited at first when his crayons were brought out....
Until... the instructor started controlling his small hand to answer a number of activity sheets which I think Wes has no understanding of yet.
I think he wasn't enjoying here anymore.  Look at the smirk on his face.  The whole time I was just observing and letting the instructor do her job.  I just let Wes be.  I didn't tell him what to or what not to do.
He goes to school all dressed-up, carries his little McQueen school back pack and snack box filled with his favorite chocolate drink and cookie.  He was excited during his first three days.

As he went along, we observed that when he enters the classroom he heads straight to table activities and paper work.  I could imagine his heart screaming this, "Can I play first?!!!!"  In my older son's pre-school, play and socialization were priorities than academics.  But play wasn't part of his daily school experience.

According to psychoanalyst Gail Saltz, MD, an associate professor of psychiatry at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell School of Medicine in New York City,

"Preschool is really for socialization, to introduce the idea that learning can be fun, and to teach kids how to share, compromise, and get along as a group." 

As expected, on his seventh and eighth day, he started crying whenever we mention that it's time to go to school!  He would hurriedly go back to the room, pretend to sleep and refuse to take a bath or dress up.  He now dislikes the idea of school.  Honestly, I feel bad because I failed somewhere.

We were supposed to enroll him this school year as Nursery, but because of this, we are skipping this year and we decided to just allow him to play more, explore more, and have more fun at home.

Lessons Learned (Which I Want To Share To All Of You Moms of Incoming Pre-Schoolers):
RESEARCH.
It's important to make time out of your very busy schedule to research on schools offering programs that encourage the child to learn through play and socialization.  It's important as well to ensure that the curriculum the school offers is right for the age of the child.  We did our research and asked around.  The school where we enrolled him this summer was the most recommended.  Apparently, how they do it wasn't fit to what our child needs.

SIT-IN
Yes, we've done our research and according to it, this school offers this and that.  Although I personally came to the school to check its facilities, I failed at checking how they facilitate their methods of teaching during an actual class.  I paid right away (at least half of the summer class' fee) because I got excited for my son being in school already.  EEEP, too much excitement didn't work for us.

DON'T FORCE THE IDEA.
We want our son to be in school at the right age, not too early and not too late.  But if like what happened to us, our son doesn't want to go to school anymore, then we're giving him a break.  Consider all pros and cons, talk to your partner/husband/wife about it, decide and never force the idea of school to your child.  It may be counter-productive and may develop unlikeness to school in your child.  There's still Kinder and Preparatory anyway.

SPEND (MORE) TIME.
Now that we've decided not to put him to formal schooling this year, it's important for us to spend more time with him and find a way to home school him more.  This also means, spending time to research what lessons should we be teaching him as well.  Although we already taught him and he's knowledgeable about the alphabet, numbers, colors, shapes, opposites and he likes drawing and coloring.  I will make sure to instill in him that learning is fun and that it doesn't have to be too serious at all. Not this time.  After all, it's true that the best teachers for the child are his parents!

I'm a second time mom, and indeed, parenting and motherhood is a totally different experience altogether for every child.  It's like I'm starting all over again.  Hits and misses are part of it.  But I'm happy to be taking this journey the second time around (and third hopefully next year!!!).  I wouldn't have it any other way!  Happy parenting loves!