I woke up with my mom telling me she has a very bad tummy ache. I had to assist her to the comfort room coz she was quite dizzy. I had to wake up too because Andie needed to take her medicine. (She is under medication for 6 months– explanations later!)

That was 5AM. I thought it was odd, the electric fan is turned off. I cannot remember turning it off during the night. I do not turn it off because my daughter sweats a lot. And we do not have air-conditioner. So I thought electricity must be out. No problem, it rained almost the whole night so it was quite cold. Did all what I had to do… help my mother with her tummy ache and let Andie drink her medicines. Then I got ready to go to the Market (I had to since mama cannot).

When I went out I saw a lot of the Electric Company’s Trucks doing something to a lot of the old posts (old– as in really old!). Good they’re doing something to upgrade it.

After doing all the market stuff, went back home around 8am to find out that electricity was still out. :( Now I was getting worried. It was getting a bit hot and the baby is getting all cranky.

When I called the call center (ha! improvement) I found out that since it was an upgrade of the electrical wires, electricity was due around 5PM yet. OMG! What are we gonna do? I actually had an invitation to my daughter’s father’s house but I was not really up to going there (daughter’s father is somewhere over the rainbow).

So whole day was really… ugh! I took a bath 2x. Andie did too! And my mama did too just to beat the heat.

Last night was supposed to be Earth Hour and I was not able to participate because the baby is afraid of the dark. Today was a reminder that I should have! hahaha.

Everyone in the Philippines, or at least those who took as well as their families are eagerly awaiting the Supreme Court's release of the 2007 Bar Exams.

I read somewhere (a blog from a friend) that she too is waiting for the results. I know how it is to be waiting. I had my share of waiting you know. My prayers are all with you guys! Good luck and Kudos!

I was reading Yahoo just now when I noticed a very interesting article about recycling.
Why the interest you might ask, well, knowing that Philippines is the texting (sms) capital of the world and changing cellular phones (here) is actually faster than change of seasons in other parts of the world, I wonder how many people have old cellphones are lying in their drawers, closet or any "safe" places in their houses. Even I have about three or four (not working) cellphones at home. An old printer and maybe other gadgets that I may Have forgotten just lying accumulating dust in the house.

I hope we will have a similar project here in the Philippines.

Calling all environmentalists!

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Got an old camera, cell phone, or MP3 player that you want to toss? Under a new pilot program offered by the U.S. Postal Service, recycling your dead gadgets is as easy as dropping them in the mail. Computerworld reports that the Post Office's new "Mail Back" program is getting a trial run in 10 U.S. markets, including Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Washington, D.C. If the pilot program takes off, a nationwide rollout will follow.

So here's the deal: Just bring your old gadgets (handhelds, cell phones, MP3 players, and even inkjet cartridges - no 20" CRTs or dead dot-matrix printers, unfortunately) to one of 1,500 participating post offices, seal them in preprinted, postage-paid envelopes (you can take as many envelopes as you want), and drop them in the mail.

The package goes to Clover Technologies Group, which is partnering with the Post Office in the new recycling program. In a press release, the Post Office promises that Clover will refurbish, resell, or break down the discarded gadgets for recycling, and that nothing will end up in a landfill.

It's a clever idea for those of us with old electronics too outdated to sell on eBay. Indeed, I have an old, 2001-era iPod that's essentially worthless (I priced it over at SecondRotation and got an estimate of exactly $0), and I'd rather drop it in the mail than pay to have it recycled.

A friend and I went to one of the malls today. She said we will go IF it wouldn't rain. When we were walking to the jeepney stop it wasn't but en route to the mall it began to drizzle. And I got a text message that it was already raining on the other side of the area where we were heading. I thought what the heck.

Friend invited me to join her to get a lotto ticket. Why not. I decided to get one too. My first I think. If it wasn't maybe the second. ;)

While choosing my number I began to think, what are significant numbers in my life. Maybe my birthday, Andie's... And then? Hmmm... I should begin collecting good numbers. Get people to share my life with and remember dates and numbers. And then use it as my combination for the lottery. But what is a good number? Lottery is a chance right? I hope that chance will favor us.

I got a text message that Andie has already started holding her milk bottle, at last!But alas, just as I thought, she wouldn't show me her newfound skill. She'd only act like my baby... always! :D

Isla Reta

Looking at Samal Island

The boat

I went to one of the big malls last night to grab the usual puppy food for Mico the dog– my daughter’s yellow lab. One of my officemates has a ride so I casually asked if I can hitch a ride going to the mall ( he goes there to pick up his gf). Of course, being the good friend that he is, he said yes! When we were about to go lo and behold, the car wouldn’t start. oops!

Good thing one friend who’s machine-savvy was still around and helped us check the car. One look and he knew what was wrong. Honest! These people are so cool! They are not even the owners of the car. Amazing.

After trying and trying and some knob turning inside the car’s machine, it started and we went off. The city has a lot of traffic lights installed and working (hallelujah!) so we passed by several… Everytime we get stopped, we keep on talking and laughing, please go , please go… please don’t make us stop in the middle of the road! hahah…

We arrived at the mall a bit later than usual but got there none the less.

By popular demand:

Boat Fare: P50 (about US$1.25) one way (times two, so you can go back to the City)

Entrance Fee: P50 for day tour and P120 for overnight stay

Cottages: P500-800 depending on the type of room you get. Don’t get me wrong this is not a 5-star hotel. And 500- 800 is just that.

Boat leaves at 9am from Sta Ana Wharf Davao City.

Boat departs the island at 3pm. Boat ride is about 1 hour depending on the weather.

Enjoy your Isla Reta stay!

It’s raining. Unusual for a holy thursday. For the past years it was always too hot, too sunny to go out. When I was younger it was taboo to go out. Elder people would scold us (kids) when we were noisy or having fun. Cool huh? That was the culture of the older Filipinos. Some still practice it.

The past years, especially when I began working I felt it was time to change it. When before, we kids would sulk at home and do nothing (literally!), not even watch TV– stations would sign off from Holy Thursday and would resume only on Easter Sunday! Now, people find the Holy week holidays a reprieve from the work rush.

About two holy weeks ago I went Mati. From Thursday till Saturday to get out of the city. Now however it’s stay at home mostly. Thank God for internet and TVs. I still do not have cable but free channels are showing some good movies for the next two days.

This is a personal opinion.

Philippines is a predominantly catholic country. I would have began this blog with Philippines is a predominantly Christian country but the Holy week thing is really mostly practiced by catholics. We, being Pentecostal Born Again Christians do not really celebrate or commemorate it the way the Catholic churches and faithfuls do.

While the catholics really practice a lot of stuff what we do is to just pray. And thank God for having done everything for us. Imho, Jesus Christ has already done all the things necessary for our salvation. It’s just that we need to have faith in His saving grace and believe that what He did is all we need. We do not need to add more. We need to believe in Jesus Christ and follow His commandments. No more, no less.

Faith without work is useless, true. But do we indeed believe in Him? Maybe this holy week we ought to ask ourselves that.

Have a meaningful days of retreat.

It started as a sunny sunny sunny beautiful day. Friends and I had planned this trip since last week. After hearing so much about this beautiful islet (its such a small island!) beyond Samal Island in the Islands of Mindanao, Philippines, I finally had a chance to see it’s wonder. (duh! over-hyping are you?)

I passed by the market en route to Sta Ana Wharf. My assignment was to bring Tilapia and mangoes. Other friends were assigned to bring other things and food. Then I was off to NCX-Ateneo to see RK. She was there well before I arrived, thanks to the very very active driver (read: picks up everyone we pass by!). Then we headed to the wharf. Dhes and Peter just arrived, we waited for cherry for a short while.

Boat ride was ahh! hahaha.. one hour from Davao City! Imagine! Thank God for the perfect weather. When we arrived there, the trip was so worth it! Perfect white sand… clear and oh so blue water! hmmm.. perfect for swimming. Remind me to buy a new set of snorkels the next time I will go there!

Food was sumptuous. We had grilled pork chops and tilapia. It was fun grilling with a cute guy who also were with his group! If only I was more up to flirting! hahaha!

Anyway, we had the best time taking pictures and swimming. I will post some photos after I edited (read: reduced the sizes) it.

Final verdict: Isla Reta is so fun. I will definitely go back there. Maybe try overnight.

Cost: Php 100 boat ride (to and from), Php5o day tour. some other food, maybe another Php100.

Memories: Priceless!

It's a loooong weekend. Today is the city's founding anniversary. The city mayor gave the people another day to celebrate it! (only in the Philippines!). Anyway, the past weekend I have been really busy with a lot of things online. I went from site to site trying to look for ways to earn more. (hehehe! make use of the DSL connection at home!)

One is investing so I can earn. It's supposed to be that way isn't it? You have to give some in order to gain some! So I was sitting down infront of my PC scouting for website domain vendors. I forwarded it to my friend already so she can review it for me. I am a very very trying hard to be tech person. I am not.

I just am lucky I'm quick at getting things. ;)

Sunday, and I am again blogging. I think this will go on for -- ever? :) my motivation? Andie's milk will increase (again) in a few days' time. I have to look for extra cash to buy it for her! For real. I am not kidding. Plus the DSL connection fee, which is about 1000 pesos a month!

Tomorrow, I will have reprieve from the computer, and Andie. ;) thank goodness for friends who will be with me to go to the beach!

I'll blog about it. It's gonna be a first time to be in Isla Reta, Samal Island, Philippines.
I should get some sleep now. :)

I have been writing for so long. I am not the best writer in town. In fact I am one of those few who try damn hard to put things in order. But when inspiration hits me, bang! Juice of information and words flow out of me like water from a spring! Geesh!

I was looking around on how to earn some extra cash while staying at home after I gave birth. That was some eight (8) months back. I did begin to write. I wrote down several in fact. But I guess I was so in love with my daughter that all I wrote were about her and us. My most recent experience, then, giving birth *you can get to read it if you want!*

However after going back to work after two months of hiatus, I never really had a chance to go back to it. I was so busy with things around the office. Then back home, I had to be a full time mom on weekends that I practically didn’t have enough energy to write.

Andie is a bit older now. At 8 months, she sleeps soundly throughout the night, (not that she didn’t when she was younger!) She seldom wakes in the middle to feed and well, that gives me some time to do other things. Such as blogging.

This day begins my baptism of fire. I am scouting for a domain name to get my blogging started. I want my own so that I can be more compelled to write in order to pay off the whole domain! Otherwise, I’d just be contented at a post once in a while. With having more accountability at things, you get to be more responsible.

Now, what am I gonna write about. Oh, the url. That is a good start. Everyone has his/her own first times in life. I had mine. I am sure you have yours. Blogging to earn, this will be my first! And I hope I will sustain this! Well, at least to help me buy my kid’s milk.