Proud

Proud. That's how we all feel for you. And most especially me. I am so proud being your grandma. And I love you all!!!!

Happy First Birthday

Today is your first birthday. We are so proud and happy for you dearest Karllise. Since, The Corrs is our favourite band in the whole wide world, we are dedicating their song Little Wing to you.

LITTLE WING

Now she's walking thru the clouds

With a circus mind

That's running wild

Butterflies and zebras

And moonbeams and fairytales

All she ever thinks about is

riding with the wind.

When I'm sad she comes to me

With a thousand smiles

She gives to me free

It's alright it's alright she says

Take anything you want from me

Anything

Fly little wing...

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAREST KARLLISSE!!!!!!

WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!!!!

The Curious Incident

I just finished reading this book by Mark Haddon, The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night-Time. Obviously it is a book for children and about children. That is why it is a winner of the Whitbread Book of the Year.

The writer is a British author, illustrator and screen writer who has written fifteen books for children and won two BAFTAs. But his credentials were not the one that made me noticed the book. His writing style and presentation made me understand that children books like his should not only be read by children but mostly by adults so as to let them understand children the more.

And what more if the story is about a special need child? Well, we could not judge a mother, especially, on how she deals with her special need child. She may be lacking in patience or perseverance but then there would always be love she feels for her child. But then, if a mother leaves and abandon a special need child and left him to the care of a father realizing that the father alone could take care of the child, how could we judge her? And is it right for a father to make a lie and made it known to the child that the mother already passed away?

Well, there are many reactions to this. For me, whether both parents have their own issues in their own personal lives, I still believe that parenting is a responsibility. And that our own children are God’s gifts to us.

The story is heart warming, really. Christopher, the main protagonist in the story, the special child, made me understand that every child is really unique. His parting words are just fitting.

“And then I will get a First Class Honours Degree and I will become a scientist.

And I know I can do this because I went to London on my own, and because I solved the mystery of who killed Wellington? And I found my mother and I was brave and I wrote a book and that means I can do anything.”

And to Mr. Mark Haddon, many thanks for your nice book.

HAPPY!!!!

I decided there's no need for me to discuss what my family had gone through. The mental anguish and distress we experienced have no equivalent amount of money. There's no payment for that. But we are also practical people. We should just be cautious next time of this person.



And so I'm okay same with my whole family. Mostly we are happy having these three angels. With Karllisse's sexy pose who can beat the joy we are having now?

Personal Battle

I will not be able to blog for some time. My family is facing our own battle. We may win or lose. But for us what's important is we fight for what is right.
I know for a fact that there's no perfect place and no perfect people. I know that people are either driven by money and or principles. My family believes in principles and the human factor in every agreement or dispute.
May God guide us and bless us in our own battle. And whatever may happen, Singapore will always be the best country in the world for us.
So folks, whoever you may be, I want to say BYE! And thank you for visiting my site.

The Raindrop

I was thinking of my lesson plan for next week and I really could not think of on how I could explain the water cycle to my children in the centre. Of course I am very familiar of the concept, who’s not? But how to tell it to the children wherein they will be interested enough is the problem. Year and year, this concept is included in the pre school curriculum and I wrote almost the same lesson plan, and still I was not satisfied of my young children’s reactions to the lesson. And now in consideration and belief in the theory of Multiple Intelligences, I decided that I need to look for better if not the best, story, song, right wordings, perfect visuals and the right craft activity to cater to the children’s different types of intelligences.

Fortunately, thru Google I met Joel Kimball. Try to know more about him by visiting his site www.kimballmedia.com.

And his story Drippy the Raindrop is a great help for me.

I thank Mr. Kimball for his very nice children story about the water cycle. And for sure my lesson next week will be an interesting one, what with the story as one of the main points.

Condo Life

I’ve been busy for the past few days/ weeks. We shifted house from Woodlands to Yew Tee. With all the arrangements made, my days had been so occupied what with my full time job.

And so we decided to resume fine living in a condo. With all the amenities around, for sure, life will be easier, convenient and happier. I am not saying that HDB living is not easier and convenient. Of course there are so many plus points in living and integrating with the locals. But then with a resort living in a condo like this, you always feel you are in Pattaya. Oh, how I love life!!

But right now, I am still so tired with the packing and unpacking. I just hope my daily life/routine will be back soon. And for sure, I’ll be able to post photos again and be able to visit other blog sites.

Finally...

We finally met here in Singapore. My sister and husband visited their son who is working for Hewlett Packard. Though this is their second trip here, it is only last Sunday that we met. Blame it on busy schedules.

Fragrant Rice

I took this shot when we flew to the Philippines. And just looking at these farmers, you'll imagine how hard it is to be a farmer. Having met and seen farmers in real life as in my hometown, a lot of people are farmers, I am familiar with their stories, and yet very impressed with how happy and proud they are with their work.

When I was in my grade school, I learnt that Laguna was so famous of the rice it produced and if I am not mistaken, many researches were made about this plant called rice in Los Banos Laguna. That was why I see farmers as the most impressive people then.

And now having lived in other parts of the world, whenever we buy rice, I always look for one that comes from the Philippines. But to my dismay, I have never seen one. Most of the brands are from Australia and the fragrant ones are from Thailand. Where's the rice from Laguna that made me so proud when I was a child?

When I visited my mother in Laguna, I learnt why there's no brand of rice that came from the Philippines in stores and groceries here in Singapore or even in other countries. I know you know the reason why. It is a sad reality of life in the Philippines.

And yeah, I should stop dreaming. Fragrant rice will always come from Thailand and never in my own country. Who's to blame for this deterioration of the quality of rice in the Philippines?

On Being Filipino and a Gameshow

I lost my two posts. I just learnt that when you change settings, problems may occur. And though I really could not remember word for word what I wrote, I am still trying to write what is on my mind. I just hope nothing will happen and this post will be successfully published.

When we flew to the Philippines, we went to a mall in Taguig, Global City, the Metro Market Market and I took noticed of this poster. So I took a shot. Yeah, if well known people are proud to announce that they are Filipinos, how much more an ordinary person like me. I am from the Philippines and I am proud to say so.

Others had labeled me as unpatriotic for I am residing in another country. Am I really unpatriotic? We found Singapore the best country to raise a family, the country where my daughters will have the best education and the best opportunities to better their lives. We found our own "home" in Singapore. And all these don't mean that we are less Filipinos. We might be permanent residents or even citizens of other country but still we are all Filipinos by heart.

The shows of TFC as we watch on cable made us more proud of being Filipinos. As I mentioned before, the Wow Wow Wee show, a gameshow that awards cash prizes to contestants who are mostly from the poor population of the Philippines made my heart melt. I even labeled the people behind the show as angels.

Unfortunately, 75 people died from the stampede as people tried to enter the venue in ULTRA yesterday. It was so saddening to hear such a tragedy that could be avoided.

I don't want to join the blame game . I know that the concept of helping one's poor countrymen is a noble act. Others may see some negativity on this but all I see are the positive motives.

What's so prominent on my mind now is that my country is really poor. Not because my countrymen are a lazy lot but because there are no jobs for them. If only there are enough jobs.

My country is poor. People died on a stampede just to get a cash prize. Am I still proud to be Filipino? Yes I am. For the problem is not the Filipino people itself but the people who govern.

Sorry folks. It is time we accept the truth. Our poor economy kills more people and more hopes and dreams.