Magic Lamp of Luck

Got this tag from Jenny :). Thanks so much sis!

"The mighty Genie King and the beautiful Genie Princess from the magical Land of Faraway are back! Upon escaping the clutches of their Evil Master after being held captive for 1000 years, the magical genies have been busy flying on their Magical Flying Carpet, granting wishes and spreading love throughout the blogosphere.

"And now, the genies are back with a special gift for everyone! Behold the sacred, Magic Lamp of Luck! With this magic lamp, your blog will enjoy much good luck and fortune, warding off all things evil lurking around in the blogosphere. We would like to share this magic lamp with you so please pass on the Magic Lamp of Luck to those in need of some good luck. Remember, do not be greedy or unkind, evil or vengeful and good luck & fortune will always be with you! Join us on another exciting magical adventure as we spread goodwill and good luck to one and all!"

I've been visited by the Genies for a stroke of luck, which I really need it! Thanks a bunch, Genies! :)

Start Copy Here*

1. Add your site(s) to the list once you have received the Magic Lamp of Luck.

2. Pass on the Magic Lamp of Luck to as many people as you like. After all, everyone needs some good luck!

3. Leave a comment HERE once you’ve passed on the Magic Lamp of Luck. Once the Genie King and Genie Princess have visited your site to make sure your links are complete and proper, you will then be added to the Master List.

4. To ensure everyone receives equal link benefit, please UPDATE your list regularly!

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*End Copy Here*

I've posted this already in my other blog, so anybody who wants to can just grab this!

Sad State

It is a very sad situation we are in right now, given the present economic problem.

It is getting more and more difficult to attain the rank of Nouveau Riche these days. Even if you've finished an impressive sounding college course and used up most of your parent's savings in the process, you'll find that jobs are not as easy to come by as they once were. A lot of bright, young people who had dreams of being Nouveau Riche now find themselves settling for jobs beneath their qualifications, because they just need a job, any job.

My grandfather was a poor Chinese immigrant who came to the Philippine shores shortly before the Japanese occupation. He was one of those who actually succeeded in his business after the war. I do not know if he is among the rank of the Nouveau Riche Chinese, as he is not as well known as the Gokongweis, the Tans, and the Sys of SM. Nevertheless, he was able to fulfill his mission and reason for crossing the seas to the Philippines -- to find a better life for his family.

One of the reasons why I'm taking up Hospital Administration is because I'm trying to study the real workings behind the organization. Medicine is very idealistic and scientific, and it doesn't teach you things like return of interest, balance sheets, etc., which is actually very important so that your enterprise would not be a losing proposition. It's sad but it's only after I've finished Medicine that I realize that the reason why a doctor charges quite a steep sum is because he pays quite a high overhead on rental and his secretary's wages, not to mention the money he (or his parents) already spent for his education. I wish we had a subject that teaches us how to manage our practice.

Ok, break time is up. I'm back to my homework.

Baby Girl

I am currently in the midst of baby envy.

A good friend has just given birth to a beautiful baby girl. Because I am swamped with assignments though, I still cannot go see her. Sigh!

But, I really, really would love to have me my own little daughter. I have a son who's my life's greatest joy, and I would like him to have a sibling too.

I, however, would bow to God's wisdom whether I be gifted with a daughter. Or another son. Lord, just make them "normal" so they would not have too much difficulty in this world.

Master's Assignments

If I've been remiss lately in my bloghops, please do forgive me. I've had a very busy month lately, what with my brother's wedding last weekend, my job obligations and also my assignments which I submit for my Master's. I'm actually still working on my assignment and just taking a small break. Anyway, part of it is already done and just needs printing, which I still cannot due because I'm working beside my sleeping toddler. While at it, I'll am going to shop online for Brother printers, ink cartridges and laser toner because for some reason, I don't find many of these around and if I do, they are quite expensive. Same goes with Lexmark printer inks. My sister-in-law can't seem to find any replacement inks and she's tempted to buy another printer so that her ink costs would not be so big. No, she does not have any problem with the printer itself, just with the availability of the ink locally, and since she's also taking up classes towards her Master's Degree, she has lots of assignments to make, print, and pass, hence she prefers lower cost for her inks.

Well, back to my assignment. Since I'm a doctor taking up Hospital Administration, instead of the medical terms I am used to, I now have subjects like Accounting, Architecture, Financial Management, Human Resources and the like. I'm enjoying learning although I do agree that it's another added burden to my already packed schedule. But they do say that time flies when you're having fun, don't they?

I'll be back to my regular schedule once all this is done. Promise!

How Bad A Proscratinator Am I?

You are most like: Selective Procrastinator
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Cord Blood Banking

Over the past decades, there is a phenomenal rise in advances in the field of medicine. The discovery that stem cells in the umbilical cord has a great potential in managing a wide range of otherwise difficult to treat diseases is one of the most promising. Cord blood banking now offers an insurance against potentially fatal diseases, since the blood from the umbilical cord is a rich source of undifferentiated and "privileged", meaning it has not been exposed to most diseases. Cord blood is collected from the umbilical cord just after giving birth with a special collection kit. Lots of parents have already opted to have this done because they are assured that their children will have access to their own stem cells for possible future use.

The 5th Edition of the Pinoy Parenting Blog Carnival is Up!

Check out the roundup at Daddy Guardian Angel's blog! Here's the link.

Enjoy!

Keeping Babies Safe

One of considerations of having a very young child in the house is baby-proofing the house. I still believe that the best way to prevent accidents is to always keep an eye on the baby, but sometimes that just doesn't happen. Mommy has to do other things aside from watching the baby.

Fortunately, there are already a lot of products out there that help in making your home safer for babies. I have a few of those. My absolute favorite is the baby gate by Safety First. I've been using it for about 2 years already, ever since my son learned to walk. The version we bought can be moved, so we just put it between the door jamb of whichever room he happens to be in. Our room's door is beside the stairs, so we are extra careful in ensuring that the gate is always in place, because we do not want our son to take a nasty spill down the long flight of stairs.

My mother is very amazed that there are now so many products geared towards child safety. She noted that these were not available when we were kids.

The Big Read

The Big Read - books you've read.

Tagged by Pat!

The directions are simple:1) Look at the list and bold those you have read.2) Italicize those you intend to read.3) Underline the books you LOVE.4) Reprint this list in your own blog so we can try and track down these people who've read 6 and force books upon them ;)

1. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

2. The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien

3. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte

4. Harry Potter - JK Rowling

5. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

6. The Bible

7. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte

8. Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell

9. His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman

10. Great Expectations - Charles Dickens

11. Little Women - Louisa M Alcott

12. Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy

13. Catch-22 - Joseph Heller

14. Complete Works of Shakespeare

15. Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier

16. The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien

17. Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks

18. Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger

19. The Time Traveller's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

20. Middlemarch - George Eliot

21. Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell

22. The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald

23. Bleak House - Charles Dickens

24. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy

25. The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams

26. Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh

27. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

28. Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck

29. Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll

30. The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame

31. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy

32. David Copperfield - Charles Dickens

33. Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis

34. Emma - Jane Austen

35. Persuasion - Jane Austen

36. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis

37. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

38. Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres

39. Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden

40. Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne

41. Animal Farm - George Orwell

42. The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

43. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

44. A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving

45. The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins

46. Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery

47. Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy

48. The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood

49. Lord of the Flies - William Golding

50. Atonement - Ian McEwan

51. Life of Pi - Yann Martel

52. Dune - Frank Herbert

53. Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons

54. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen

55. A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth

56. The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon

57. A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens

58. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

59. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon

60. Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

61. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck

62. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov

63. The Secret History - Donna Tartt

64. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold

65. Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas - love, love the movie. but haven't read the book

66. On The Road - Jack Kerouac

67. Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy

68. Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding

69. Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie

70. Moby Dick - Herman Melville

71. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens

72. Dracula - Bram Stoker

73. The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett

74. Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson

75. Ulysses - James

76. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath

77. Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome

78. Germinal - Emile Zola

79. Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray

80. Possession - AS Byatt

81. A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens

82. Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell

83. The Color Purple - Alice Walker

84. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro

85. Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert

86. A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry

87. Charlotte's Web - E.B. White - have the book for tina

88. The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom

89. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

90. The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton

91. Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad

92. The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery

93. The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks

94. Watership Down - Richard Adams

95. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole

96. A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute

97. The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas

98. Hamlet - William Shakespeare

99. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl

100. Les Miserables - Victor H

I have to confess, though, that some of the books I read are short versions. Or I skip some parts :P

Passing this tag to my fellow PPBC bloggers!

Still Looking

We're still looking for that perfect home for us. "Perfect" also includes "something that we can afford", and at the moment we are having problems reconciling what we can afford with what we want -- ideal location (near where we are right now--we don't want to move too far away), big enough to raise a growing family, secure, safe place -- with what we can afford. There are some condos near us which offer Lease to Own options, but they are surprisingly too expensive. Besides, we do not really like condos that much. We'd rather have a house or a townhouse.

Some of my friends have homes of their home and I am, admittedly, a little jealous of that. I realize, though, that many of them just had their places because their parents gave them an interest free home lone -- much better than those offered by any banks or financial institutions like Idaho Mortgage Loans -- because it's interest free! Not to mention pay when able! And, you do not get driven off the property if you didn't pay because, hey, they're your parents! So, in actuality, these are not really loans but "gifts" masked as loans.

My mother-in-law has a lot which she says is for her children (including my husband). We could build on that, but still we need money to build the house itself, that's why I'm still looking for the right financial institution, something like Refinance Idaho, which could give us reasonable loans for building our home.

Coffee Break ver. 1.27

This week's coffee break question by Jan:

What baduy love song do you like listening to?

Naku, I am a very mushy person and I do listen to A LOT of songs which some people consider baduy (cheesy). But I think, a lot of times, the beauty (or kabaduyan) really depends on the listener. Basta ako enjoy ako dito! Hehehe

Here they are, in no particular order:

• Mula sa Puso
• I'm All Out of Love and other Air Supply Songs
  
• I Will Always Love You
• Hoplessly Devoted To You
• can this be love
• kailan
• Ikaw Pa Rin
• You
• It Might Be You
• Miss na Miss Kita
• Against All Odds

I love a lot of long songs. But some of them I really do not consider baduy at all so I didn't include them here.

School For Realtors

I have a cousin who's now based in the United States and is currently a realtor. I wonder if she has taken any courses in Nouveau Riche University because she seems to be very successful in her new venture. She used to dabble in real estate when she was here in Manila but I believe it was not really what her main career, so to speak, because she was also involved with other things at that time. I haven't seen her for quite a while but I've heard some relatives say that she found more success there. The reason why I am wondering if she ever took up courses in Nouveau Riche University is because I was told that they specialize in real estate and they have produced several successful graduates.

Since I am, literally, many many miles away from where they are, I wonder if I could enroll in Noveau Riche University's Distance Learning Program. I wonder if the principles taught there will be applicable for real estate agents here in the Philippines, given that we have different laws over here. I am pretty sure that the taxes are different too. I have no plans yet of leaving, but I do need a backup career path if I do decide to make the move and maybe the Distance Learning is the answer.

Do You Have Healthy Relationships?

You Have Fairly Healthy Relationships

You try your best in relationships, and you do a pretty good job. You're as considerate, honest, and giving as you can be. There's always more that you can do, and sometimes you do leave people feeling a bit neglected. Great relationships don't happen overnight. As long as you keep making improvements, your relationships will get better!

Do You Have Healthy Relationships?

Longest Married Couple -- The "Game"

My brother really wanted a variation of the bouquet and garter throw in his wedding. I know for a fact that unlike Westerners who will definitely participate in such games and even jostle for the bouquet, Pinoys and Chinese are more unwilling to join this type of game. It's usually a dreaded part for singles. I know I'm one of those who tried not be noticed whenever this came up (before I got married, that is). My husband was even more extreme and took to hiding in the washroom whenever he anticipates that the "singles" games are next. That's why I did not do any "singles games" and just dedicated my bouquet to my mother, my mother-in-law and my grandmother.

That is why I suggested the "Longest Married Couple" game. I hoped that this will be more acceptable to a more conservative set of guests like we are bound to have. It's pretty simple and painless, actually, all married people stand up, they then get eliminated by number of years of marriage. For example, those who are married for less than a year are first asked to sit down. Then those who are married for 1 year. Then 5 years. This goes on until there is one couple left standing. I've seen this in other weddings and people are generally more "game" in this type of setup. My brother thought that it is a good idea too.

Surprise, surprise! Nobody wants to stand up when the married people are called! Arrgh! I did stand up, but hey, I know I would get eliminated soon because I am not married so long as to called the longest married couple. It was quite painless actually. Unless the married couples are not happy and proud that they are -- in that case, maybe a visit to the Marriage Family Counselor may be in order. The hosts had to resort to calling some of the more senior married couples. The "longest married couple" were together for 31 years. I'm sure there are probably others who are married longer but just didn't want to stand. Anyway, they did give their advise and their secrets for their long marriage. :)

My advice:
Marriage is a big, big change in both your lives. You have to love and trust your partner. That's because you now have to share everything. Everything you own is now communal property. You will have children. You must learn to think like a couple. You can no longer make major decisions without first consulting your mate. That goes for both of you.

That is why it is very important for you to have constant communication. About everything. And never think of giving up your marriage for any trivial matter. It must be foremost in your mind that "To Save my Marriage is important". Don't let small things destroy something beautiful.

Do not expect perfection. Nobody is perfect -- not you, not your mate. Accept that the things that you do not like about your mate is a part of his/her whole personality. There will be quarrels once in a while. There will be times when you feel that you have made the wrong decision, just because you are feeling down or angry. Don't let those things get to you. Remember why you got married in the first place, why you chose this particular person. As mentioned above, communicate. And if communication fails, don't share your problems with your family of origin. They will naturally side with you. Go to a Marriage Retreat or pray for guidance.

Have fun! Go on dates, enjoy movies together. Don't forget that married couples can still have fun with each other!

I congratulate you and I wish you happiness in your married life!

Isn't It Strange?

Got this from one of my mailing lists:

1. Isn't it strange how a 100-peso bill
seems like such a large
amount when
you donate it to church, but
such a small amount
when you go shopping?

2. Isn't it strange how 2 hours seem so long when
you're at church, and how
short they seem when you're
watching a good movie?

3. Isn't it strange that you can't
find a word to say when
you're praying,
but you have no trouble
thinking what to talk about
with a friend?

4. Isn't it strange how difficult
and boring it is to read
one chapter
of the Bible, but how easy
it is to read 100 pages of
a popular novel or ZANE GREY book?

5. Isn't it strange how everyone
wants front-row-tickets
to concerts or
games, but they do whatever
is possible to sit at the last
row in Church?

6. Isn't it strange how we need to
know about an event for Church 2-3
weeks before the day so we can
include it in our agenda, but we can
adjust it for other events at
the last minute?

7. Isn't it strange how difficult it
is to learn a fact about God to share it
with others, but how easy
it is to learn, understand,
extend and repeat gossip?

8. Isn't it strange how we
believe everything
that magazines and newspapers
say, but we question the words in the
Bible?

9. Isn't it strange how everyone
wants a place in
heaven, but they don't want
to believe, do, or say anything
to get there?

10. Isn't it strange how we send
jokes in e-mails and they
are forwarded right away,
but when we are going to send
messages about God, we think
about it twice before we share
it with others?



IT'S STRANGE ISN'T IT?

Now that you've read this message,
forward it to anybody that you consider a friend, family member or foe(enemy).
If you don't do it, not only will you deprive
yourself from being blessed, but you will also do that to others who may need
God in their life.

After Getting Hitched

Yes, my brother is finally married! Will post more on it later.

No, my brother and my new sister-in-law have not left for their honeymoon yet. There are still some traditions to be fulfilled. Today, my sister-in-law is supposed to visit the family of her origin.

I believe they want a trip out of the country. It's weird that travel outside the country is sometimes cheaper than local travel here in the Philippines. Of course, it also depends on the place. Anyway, there are now so many travel deals that sometimes aside from having no time, there's practically no excuse not to travel since it has become so affordable! In case they go to a place where they would need a car, they could actually avail of an ongoing promotion for 10% off online booking for car rentals.

For now, they have been unwrapping the wedding gifts that they received. They received a few electronic appliances in the many gifts that they received, but being both Chinese, most of their gifts came in the form of cash. This is good because they don't have their own place yet, so the other gifts would go into storage for now. But they would definitely come in handy once they have their own place.

I'm happy for the new couple. I hope they will stay in love for the rest of their lives.

Lessons For The Day

1. You really can't please everybody.
   
2. Too many cooks may not necessarily spoil the broth, but the broth definitely changes in flavor.
3. It's easier to put a barong on a small boy when daddy wears his barong first.
4. Even the best laid plans go awry because of factors beyond your control. But the change may actually be for the better.
5. People are very curious about unusual stuff. They would watch something that is out of the ordinary.
6. Count your blessings. Sometimes we focus too much on negative details that we forget all the good things that happened.

My Brother's Getting Married

My brother is getting married tomorrow! This culminates several months of wedding preparations. During the course of their wedding preparations, they turned to me for advice regarding where to go for affordable Wedding Dresses. I referred them to my dressmaker, who makes affordable but well made Bridal Dresses comparable to those of the top designers but without the sky high prices. Since the prices are so reasonable, they decided to shoulder the costs of the Bridesmaid Dresses, Flower Girl Dresses and Mother's Gowns which they got from her as well. I also went to her to have my own gown made since the price of a made-to-order gown from her is even cheaper than off-the-rack gowns found in the major department stores. She even included matching bags for all of us, which means more savings for us as we no longer have to buy them.

As for the men, they are going to wear the traditional Filipino Barong Tagalog. That includes my son, who will act as ring bearer.

My brother and his bride are going to have a modified Buddhist ceremony by the hotel pool. I am pretty excited about since I have never witnessed a Buddhist ceremony before. Of course I am also excited about my son's first time to be part of the wedding entourage.

Congratulations and best wishes to my brother and his bride!

Bug in Microsoft Update?

If you noticed that I rarely update my blogs during the past few days, that's because my internet connection has been very bad the past couple of days. For some reason, my laptop just would not load pages even if my connection to the modem was OK. All the other computers here could access the internet well enough. It was just mine which had this particular problem.

My husband did a system restore, which seemed to work. But later, when I shut down my laptop, I was surprised to see the same problem again when I turned on the laptop the next day. I thought back to the day when the problem occurred, and remembered that Windows XP updated itself after I shut down. So I went back and removed the latest update. I also changed my system update settings to "no updates".

Lo and behold, this morning, the problem was there again! I looked at the control panel, and the last update was no longer there. So what was the problem?

I tried doing another system restore. I noted that during the past 3 days that I have been having problems with the internet, there was a program called "Software Distribution 3.0" which kept installing even if I turned off the automatic install.

Apparently this is a problem with one of the previous updates of Microsoft Windows. I have deleted 2 previous updates which was noted to be a cause of the problem in a forum I searched.

So far, so good. I hope this is it and I would no longer encounter such a problem! Let's see in the next few days.

Floor Dress Ups

I am not a fan of "permanent" carpet. We used to have those in my parents' old place. They are so hard to clean! I would much prefer the usual tiled or wooden floors. However, I do admit that such floor coverings do have their uses. They could mute noises especially on wooden floors. And of course, they add character to the place. I think a good compromise would be Area Rugs. My mother has a number of these rugs at home and I really think they look great. And, if it gets dirty, my mother can bring them out to clean. We have a few rugs at home. Some are Contemporary Rugs, but others have a more antique design.

This is definitely something I am going to emulate my mother with in terms of home decorating. Several pieces of Rugs placed in strategic places around the house would definitely make the house look warm and inviting. It also adds a quiet elegance to the room's decor. And, if you're residing in a cold country, these carpets are actually insulated and would keep your feet warm while you are indoors. This is another one of those "functional art" -- artworks that serve a real purpose rather than just look great.

Home Improvement for the Homeless?

Although we haven't moved to our own place yet and are just shacking up with my mother in the meantime, I'm already thinking of some home improvement projects, both for mom's place but more so for my future dream place. It may seem silly, but then there's actually a big advantage to not having your own place at the beginning, and that is you can see what works and what doesn't work in the household. Then when I have my own place, I can put whatever I want and implement whatever policies I want in my own household, with my husband's consent, that is.

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Copper Sinks

Still on "house-dreaming", I'd like to have lovely Copper Kitchen Sinks in my future home. I know most kitchen sinks are made of aluminum or stainless steel, but I believe these would add a touch of class to either the kitchen or the bathroom.

The very elegant looking Copper Sink is a great alternative to the usual ceramic bathroom sinks too. Unlike ceramic, it does not stain and look dirty over a period of time. Copper ages well and still look very nice even when used for a long time. It's also lends both an "antique" but timeless air to the whole place. It truly is a piece of functional art, which is my favorite form. I much prefer this type of art over those that are purely decorative and serve no practical function at all.

A matter of great interest is that Copper Sinks actually have some form of antibacterial property. Science shows us bacteria can live for days on a stainless steel surface, but for only a matter of hours on copper. If that were true, that's another point for copper sinks! But even if that were not true, I would still consider these because they are truly beautiful works of art.

Offline!

I was offline the whole day! I didn't know what happened by my computer just wouldn't connect to the internet. Initially I thought there was a problem with the ISP, but my brothers didn't have any problem connecting. Later, we thought that maybe the problem lies with my computer. But if that were the case, I might have to postpone any internet work until next week because I do not have any time the remainder of the week. This week is pretty busy as I have an assignment to complete and submit. The more important thing is that my brother is getting married this Sunday!

My brother asked me if there's anything I installed between last night (when I last accessed the internet) and this morning, and I said "no". I then recalled that my Windows XP had an update which started when I shut down the computer.

I'm no techie so I'm not sure what that's called, but my husband decided to reset the system to an earlier time, which was the day before yesterday. Lo and behold! I was able to access the internet after that. Thank goodness!

Was the security update the culprit? I certainly hope not because I'd be wary of such updates in the future.

Gifts Of The Chinese Mother-In-Law

My brother is getting married this coming Sunday. I do not know if this is also a tradition among other cultures, but Chinese tradition dictates that the bride's soon-to-be mother-in-law gives jewelry to her prospective daughter-in-law. These are usually complete sets of necklace, earrings, ring and bracelet, sometimes with a brooch. What my mother did is to pass on the jewelry that she received from my grandparents (her in-laws). I believe this is a charming tradition as I believe it symbolizes continuity of the generations. I do hope my future sister-in-law continues this tradition.

Since I do not have a lot of jewelry of my own, it might be a little difficult for me to do exactly the same thing my mother did when the time comes when Ethan grows up and gets engaged to be married. I hope that jewelry prices would not be too high by then because I may have to buy jewelry for my future daughter-in-law. Maybe I should start buying some pieces whenever I have some extra money. I've seen some nice pieces at Apples of Gold Jewelry. Some styles are classic and timeless, which I really want. I do not want to buy the pieces that are too fashionable because these designs come and go. I think it would be a good investment anyway as jewelry prices do appreciate in the long run.

I could also use them in the meantime, come to think of it. Practical idea, don't you think? Hmm, since I'll be buying them, I'll just get the pieces that I want and use them now. I've been to a few occasions when the attire is formal and a little bling is in order. I have always contented myself with costume jewelry, but for really formal occasions, I have often resorted to borrowing from my mother. So, if I do decide to buy, I'll have something classy to use on such occasions. Then, when Ethan brings home a bride, I can still pass them to the future wife of my son.

Sweet Home Blogger Awards

I got these sweet awards from Sheng. Thank you so much! I am very flattered to be chosen as one of your recipients.

I am passing these awards to my fellow pinay bloggers :)

Baby Shopping Tip -- Compare Online!

The difficult thing about shopping for baby is trying to compare the different features of the many baby stuff that we have (or just simply want to buy). Since a lot of these stuff are to be used for our little precious kids, we really do not want to take any chances with an inferior product. However, we also do not want to be stuck with expensive stuff that we will eventually just add to our already growing pile of household clutter.

So a great baby shopping gift is to do comparisons of the different available products before you actually buy. But it's difficult to go around stores looking at the different products. :(

I've found a great way to do some canvassing and price comparison from the comforts of your home. Shopwiki actually has buying guides for the most common baby and toddler gears and needs, such as strollers, playpens, car seats, feeding, clothing, books, beddings, etc...it covers almost anything that you may need for your baby! This is a really good resource especially for a first time mother like me. I wish I had found this site much earlier. Comparisons of products would have been much easier! Being a breastfeeding mom (until my son turned 22 months, that is), I appreciate the guide on the different breast pumps and other breastfeeding needs.

Since my son will be turning three in two months, I have most of the items already. But I really, really NEED to toilet train him. I'm glad I did find a section on toilet training, which may prove a big help to me right now!

Monthly Pain

I know somebody who doubles up in pain whenever she has dysmenorrhea but refuses to take medications for it because she believes that she will develop "immunity" to the medication. I have told her that it's best to take pain relievers if she's suffering because she won't be productive at all when she's in pain. Another long held belief is that taking medications would lessen the flow of the menses. This is thought to be bad as the "dirty blood" is not passed out.

I'm in a field where women who have dysmenorrhea and can't work because of the pain would be accused as trying to get out of doing her job and thus uses her monthly visitor as an excuse. This is especially coming from the males who would never experience how painful it is to have such a condition. Since the solution is relatively simple, I'd rather swallow a pill so that I could go on with my usual duties rather than have those unsavory comments hurled at me.

The pain during dysmenorrhea is caused by the production of prostaglandins. Most pain relievers are designed to block prostaglandin. No more prostaglandin -- No more pain. But the endometrial lining continues to shed, hence the menstruation itself is not hampered.

I tried looking for evidence against "immunity" to medications. This is what I found.

So, ladies, no need to be afraid of taking a pain reliever pill if you're really suffering every month. :)

What People Do To Cut Costs (And What Businesses Will Thrive)

Things people will buy even if they are tight on cash and the ways they try to cut costs (hence are "recession proof" businesses, if you play your cards right):

1. Food. People will still buy the staples. That's why the rice problem is such a big issue here in the Philippines. People will actually line up to buy rice. Of course, now that there is less buying power, it's the cheaper rice that people want. Fancy restaurants, however, may suffer because less people will be eating out if they are almost broke.
   
2. Clothing. I'm not talking designer clothing that would run up into the five figures. Second hand clothing shops enjoy better business nowadays because their wares are cheap. So do clothing wholesalers.
   
3. Shelter. People still have to have a roof over their heads. Small condos and apartments will still have some business because people will still have to rent the place and would forego large houses with large rentals.
   
4. Utilities. Electricity, water and communication tools (telephone, cellphones, internet) are considered essential nowadays. People will still use them, but will just think of ways to try to save on these.
5. Toiletries. Soap, tissue paper, napkins, baby diapers. People will still have to buy these. They will, however, look for cheaper deals from wholesalers or look for alternative brands.
   
6. Appearance. People still want to look presentable even if they are a little short on cash. Women will try to look for cheaper makeup or wholesale cosmetics, so that they will still look good with a lower cash out.
   
7. Health care. People will have no choice but to seek health care services if they get sick. However, they will try to cut costs by going to public health care facilities rather than to private practitioners and see doctors only when sick and not for a wellness check up.
   

So, if you're looking to earn a little bit more in this time of economic downturn, do take these into consideration. If you can find something that people need, or perceive to need, even in hard times, offer a cheaper but quality alternative and you can find plenty of customers.

Pinoy Parenting Blog Carnival 5th Edition

If you haven't noticed yet, the Pinoy Parenting Blog Carnival (PPBC)has a new host for the month of July! that is Guardian Angel. He's a dad, so I believe the way he will handle his hosting duties will be interesting, fresher and probably a little different from mine. :) He will handle the fifth and sixth edition of the PPBC.

Do check out the call for articles over at his blog.

Topic: What would you like your children to be when they grow up, and why?

He just extended the deadline for post submission to July 12, 2008.

The Man Of The House

Do you know what your husband's hobbies really are?

I know my husband as a homebody who enjoys watching DVD movies or just lazing around the house. But sometimes, I wonder if that's really more because of circumstance.

You see, his clinic hours are from Mondays to Saturdays. Sundays are reserved for visits to his folks. He's also a very involved father who makes it a point to spend time with our son whenever he's home. So I guess that really does not leave much time for outdoor activities.

Why this sudden musing? You see, I came across some clearance sale deals from the best fishing, hunting and camping catalog store and I thought that if hubby were inclined to any of these activities, I would probably choose something related to these. I wonder if he would have those father-son bonding activities with my son that would involve camping or fishing? That would certainly be nice!

Until that day comes, however, I think a laptop , or a new camcorder would be better for him at the moment. He is so much into these tech things nowadays, and among the two of us, he is the one who is better at recording memories. He is also quite the handyman and actually enjoys it, so a power tool would be something he would love too.

Cyber Relationship

If they make you happy without transgressing on other people's feelings, then they should be good, right?



I've known a lot of friends from the internet. I believe I would not have known them if the internet were not available already. I met them online, eventually met them, and up to now they are still very good friends.

However, friends are one thing, relationships are another. I believe its riskier to have a relationship online. It's so easier to fabricate lies, and for all you know, you are falling in love with a lie.

But I've known a few couples who've started their relationships online and made it work offline. So I guess it does work, as long as both parties have been honest with each other and have actually fallen in love with the "real" person and not a fantasy.

Christmas Wedding In The Philippines

Christmas is the most awaited holiday here in the Philippines. Filipinos love to deck their houses and with mini lights. Some houses even become sort of landmarks during the Christmas season, as people go there especially to look at the brightly decorated house. Truly, Christmas is truly unique here. We do not have a white Christmas since we do not have snow here. But there's a festive spirit here that I have not felt anywhere else. It's a season of parties, family reunions and weddings!

Yes, the wedding month here is December and not June, like in other countries. And why not? Churches and hotels are decorated with Christmas decors as early as November. It simply makes everything so much brighter and happier! What a way to start married life!

I got married towards the end of November. It was such a joy to start my wedding march on the aisle with beautifully decorated floral stands, with rose petals on the floor and walk towards my smiling groom, then walking together towards the altar decorated with foliage and clear mini lights. It so added to the overwhelming feeling of happiness and excitement I had on that day. I guess that's why December is so popular for Filipinos. Super saya eh! (Super happy!)

25 Cheap Ways To Keep Your House Cooler

Although the recent hot weather is interspersed with occasional rain showers, it cannot be denied that it truly is hot here in Manila. Airconditioning helps, but with the high energy costs today, that is truly NOT economical.

I found an interesting site with tips to keep your house cooler. I think this will be truly useful for us in Manila.

Here is the article.

Baby Stuff Shopping

Shopping for baby is a really fun experience! Fun but confusing, that is. There are simply so many choices. Take prams for example. There are so many designs and colors. There are even pushchairs for twins, and even one for three kids! There are three wheelers, and there are also the so-called travel systems which have both a car seat and a stroller in one.

What about beddings? Ok, there's cribs and bassinets and cots. If you're getting wooden, metal or a portable pack and play type. And of course, the accessories that go with them. That's not even including the option of co-sleeping.

Cutie clothes are also a joy to shop for. Blue or pink? I actually prefer white, yellow or green because they can be used for either a baby boy or a baby girl. Long sleeved, short sleeved or sleeveless clothes? A little of each, I guess. How many of each depends on how often you do your laundry, and the weather at the time the baby uses them.

Are you breastfeeding? If so, you would probably still need a breast pump for those times that you need to get away, as well as a few bottles. Of course, if your decision is to go bottle feeding, you would need even more bottles. You would also need a sterilizer for all those bottles.

There are so many choices out there that it's quite easy to blow a lot of money on baby stuff. Just be patient, compare prices and features, and get the best ones that suit your situation and your budget.

What My Face Says About Me

What Your Face Says

At first glance, people see you as strong willed and stubborn. Overall, your true self is reserved and logical. With friends, you seem dramatic, lively, and quick to react. In love, you seem mysterious and interesting. In stressful situations, you seem selfish and moody.

What Do People Think Of Your Face?

Dream Bedroom

The good thing about not buying or building our own place immediately is that we get to put down a few mental notes about what we want for our home. I believe the bedroom should also get a lot of attention, since we spend at least a third of our lives in bed, sleeping.

Realistically, the average size of homes is getting smaller and smaller, whether it's a condo or an actual house. Adjustable Beds for our bedroom would be ideal, as that would lessen the need for more furniture and we can actually watch television or do some reading in bed.

Of course, it would be best with a Memory Foam Mattress, since it would conform to our unique body shape. This early, I am starting to scout around for Tempurpedic mattresses and seeing how it compares with other brands as far as comfort, recommendations, prices and warranty.

Another must for me would be an air conditioner, especially if the ventilation in the place we eventually get proves to be inadequate. The heat here in the Philippines makes it so hard to sleep without turning on the aircon!

An ensuite bathroom would be nice, as well as a large walk-in closet. These, however, are not musts, so if there are space constraints, not having these would still be okay for me. A widescreen television would also be nice, since we enjoy watching DVDs.

He Gave Birth!

Remember Thomas Beatie, the man reported to be pregnant several months? He used to be a she before changing his gender 10 years ago, both surgically and legally, but retained his female reproductive organs. Conception was via artificial insemination with donor sperms and Beatie's own eggs.

He has given birth to a daughter.

Full news article here.

Medical Assistant

Here in the Philippines, doctors like us are always looking for people who are qualified to serve as medical assistants. Unfortunately, in most cases, we have to train our own assistants since there are no medical assistant schools here in Manila or anywhere in the Philippines. I mean, there are secretarial and paramedical courses, but no specific school for medical assistants. Fortunately, I've found a promising looking medical assistant school online, in which a full course can be completed in only 6-8 weeks. And the tuition is not so bad either. Not exactly cheap, but reasonable. Once I find the right candidate for medical assistant , I'll sponsor her tuition.

Pull The Trigger -- A Survey

The U.S. Supreme Court's historic ruling on June 25th for individual gun rights is expected to trigger a spray of new legal challenges to the stiffest gun control laws across the country.



I was a bit iffy about some of my answers, actually. While I felt that, yes, we do have a right to defend ourselves and our families, I am really wary of guns because of recent tragedies involving guns and the people wielding them. Handling a gun requires a lot of maturity and calmness, which unfortunately most people don't have. However, if you do not have a gun and your attacker does, you are at a distinct disadvantage. So, my answer would have been "it depends".

House Plans

We're currently still dreaming of our future home, but we are already looking at some House Plans so that we will have an idea of what elements we would want incorporated into our future home. There are actually Home Plans available online, as it's so convenient because you can actually input your criteria like the size, the number of bathrooms, the width and the depth. You can also enter your zip code so that they could give you an estimate.

They even have nice Log home plans which would be perfect for a quiet vacation house somewhere in a cool place with lots of pines. Wow! I could just imagine myself in such a place, sitting on a daybed and reading my favorite book. I am really quite a laid back person and I have never been too used to the fast paced life in the city, although I do have to live it right now. However, if and when I retire, the slower pace of life would suit me just fine.

Another Hammeruler Survey

Random Qs

Got this from Toni :). Thanks, sis!The rules are simple. At the end of the post, the player tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

~ 1998.. I was doing my residency training in Ophthalmology.

2. What are the 5 things on my to-do list today?

~ bring E to school
~ bring family picture to E's school
~ update my blogs
~ work :)
~ bring some semblance of order to my desk! (this has ALWAYS been on my to-do list)

3. Snacks I enjoy:

~ healthy: yoghurt, wheat bread sandwich with tuna bread; not so healthy: chips

4. Place where I lived:

~ Quezon City, San Juan & Marikina

5. Things I’d do if I were a billionaire:

~ Pay off debts. Buy a house. Buy a car. Buy a Jollibee franchise :). Travel. Help others.

6. People I want to know more about:

Rocks, Jacque, Jenny, Jammy, Pat.

The Old Ice Cream House

One of my favorite childhood memories is going to Magnolia Ice Cream House with the whole family. I always go sit on the counter stools instead of sitting on the table and chair sets. There's just something unique and nice about sitting there. You can see the the different ice cream concoctions being made before your very eyes. It also seems that service was faster when you sat on that high stool since the lady who made your ice cream dish simply has to hand it over to you. No need to wait for the waiters to bring it to your table.

When Magnolia Ice Cream House eventually became under the brand of Nestle, they changed the layout of the place. Although you can see that they still had those elevated tables and kitchen bar stools, it no longer the same. You don't see the ice cream being made in front of you. They now have a back kitchen where the ice cream concoctions are made. Oh, and it has evolved to a fast food type of service, wherein you line up, place and pay for your order, get a number, pick your seat, and wait for your order. I haven't been there for years, simply because I didn't feel the same way about the place again.

When I finally get to have my own home, I'll put in a small kitchen bar with discount bar stools. Not only does it bring back a lot of pleasant childhood memories, it also looks very nice and expands the eating area of my kitchen cum dining room, especially since homes are getting smaller and smaller in size. It could serve as an impromptu snack bar or breakfast nook, especially when we're in a hurry and do not want to mess up the dining room and the dining table. A tiled counter is also much easier to clean.

Updates!

Joey M.D. is finally back! I've worried about my site being down. 5 days IS a long time. But I'm glad it's back.

The roundup of the Pinoy Parenting Blog Carnival 4th edition is finally up! The entries sent by the mommies and the lone daddy are touching and really worth reading. I urge all of you to go through them. :)

Trying To Lose Weight?

There are many reasons why a lot of us have problems with our weight. This has a lot to do with our present lifestyle and food choices. There are very few of us who actually have the time to hit the gym. We've become couch potatoes, watching TV for hours at a time, with a bottle of high sugar drink and a bowl of junk food. Our office work rarely entails any standing up and moving around. We also do not eat the right food choices. A lot of supermarket choices are high sugar, high fat foods, which would add to the poundage. Women also gain weight during pregnancy, but oftentimes, the post baby flab is just too difficult to get rid of.

The difficult part is trying to lose the excess weight or flab. In addition to a good exercise program, we also need to go on a healthy diet. With the many weight loss diet systems out there, what exactly is the right one for us?

There's this special offer which you can try if you want to lose some weight and do not know where to start: 14 breakfasts, 14 lunches, 14 dinners and 14 desserts for free with Nutri System! Just click on the link and you may be on your way to losing weight.

Be Good To Your Wives

In a traditionally made dominated society like Japan, women are generally ignored when they become wives. Now the Japanese men must seek to change their views on this, especially as a new law now entitles the wife to 50% of the man's retirement pay in case of divorce. Here is the article.

Online Lawyers

More than a decade ago, my father was caught speeding on the freeway and was given a traffic citation. It was very well and good that it was quite a minor offense and quickly resolved by just paying the fine. We were tourists and we would not have known about where to look for a lawyer if we needed one. Now, you can actually look up California Criminal Defense Blog | Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorneys online! Great idea, because you never know when you need one.

Are You Like Your Mom?

I was curious if I am "becoming" my mother, so I took this quiz. I am not really surprised by the result. We may be similar in some ways, but not in everything. :)

You Are Somewhat Like Your Mom

Believe it or not, you and your mom are pretty darn similar. It may not seem like it at times, but you and your mom have a lot of common ground. Over time, you'll probably get closer ... especially if you emphasize the things you like about each other.

Are You Like Your Mom?

Are you like your mom? Paging Maver, Mec, Meng, Jenny and Haze :)

Rags To Riches

Unlike westerners where the Nouveau Riche or "newly rich" are looked down on, these people who have weathered poverty to climb up to their present lofty status are looked up on and emulated. The story of Li K Shing of Hong Kong is a modern tale of rags to riches. He is considered the richest person of Chinese descent in the world.

His father died when he was fifteen, forcing him to stop schooling and take on a job in a plastics factory to support his family. He worked long hours but also learned what he could. Later, his first business venture would be a plastics factory. He became a leading supplier of plastic flowers through which me made a fortune. He was later asked if he considered himself lucky. He said: "No, I wasn't lucky. I worked hard to achieve the goals I set for myself."

He later expanded his business to include real estate, when he was forced to buy property because he wasn't able to renew his lease for his company. He was able to buy parcels of land at low prices during the late sixties as the riots during the Cultural Revolution triggered plummeting property prices. This started his foothold in Real Estate, for which he is most known for.

He continued to expand by acquiring Hutchison Whampoa and Hongkong Electric Holdings Limited.

Through it all, he was also known as a philanthropist, pledging to donate one-third of his fortune to charity.

Guidelines For PPBC Hosts

The Pinoy Parenting Blog Carnival will be a "travelling" carnival, meaning it will be hosted on different blogs every month. Here are the guidelines for the host of the carnival.

1. The host for the month will be responsible for the 2 editions of the month.
   
2. He/she will think of the themes for the carnival.
3. He/she will write an entry on his/her blog for a "call for articles" which basically describes the theme, the guide questions, the manner of submission (through commenting or through email). Please provide a link to the guidelines and archives to the PPBC .
   
4. Deadline for submission for the first edition is generally on the 10th of the month, for the second, it's generally on the 24th of the month. However, the host/hostess may choose to still accept entries even after the said deadline if the roundup is not done yet.
5. Please inform me through ethanmama[at]gmail[dot]com if the call for articles is up, so that I can post it both on blogcarnival.com and on this blog.
   
6. The host/hostess will be responsible for inviting possible participants to the PPBC edition that he/she is hosting.
   
7. The roundup should be done on the 14th of the month (for the first edition) and the 28th of the month (for the second edition). Of course, we do understand that the hosts are busy parents and some roundups may not appear on time.
8. The host will have to screen the articles submitted to weed out off-topic or spam articles so that they would not be included in the roundup.
   
9. If there is already a call for the next round of PPBC, the host should put a link to the call for articles on the roundup blog article.
   
10. The host should inform all the participants that the roundup is already up, by commenting on their contributed posts. Be sure to send me the link to the roundup, so that I can include it in the PPBC archives.
11. I understand that parents are very busy people. If you had already committed to hosting but find that you cannot make it, please be sure to inform me before the 5th of the month (for the 1st edition of the month) or the 19th (for the 2nd edition of the month), so that I can have enough time to reassign the hosting duty or I could think of a topic myself.
    

Have fun hosting the Pinoy Parenting Blog Carnival!

Updated August 28, 2008.

We Should Really Backup Our Data

My husband and I have been encountering a lot of computer related woes lately. As I have stated in my previous entry, my other site is down. My husband, on the other hand, is experiencing some problems with our 6 year old laptop. I know we should probably just give up on the old laptop and buy a new one but there are a lot of data and files there that are quite important. Sure, we can probably externalize the hard drive, but my mother has done that before and it really didn't work as well as expected. There are some pretty affordable online storage at IBackup which might be able served both our purposes. The good thing about storing data online is that we can access needed data even if we use other computers.

Bummer!

My other site, Joey M.D. is down and I couldn't contact my webhost. I really do not know what happened. All I want is for my site to be there.

I hope it gets back soon.

Music -- High Definition, Now!

I'm really feeling old. Being born in the seventies and a teenager during the eighties exposed me to a lot of great music that gets a few remakes from the newer artists every few years or so. How do I know this? I sometimes hear what to me is a familiar song but just does not sound the artist I know. Yeah, nothing sounds as great as the original, but hey, today's high definition radio makes music crystal clear, unlike those of years past. Imagine, I was born during the time of vinyl records. CDs were a revolutionary invention during what? The nineties? Now the new radio stations all use terms I'm not that familiar with -- iTunes, mp3, to name a few.

Now there's even iTunes Tagging. I only learned about this new technology recently. To think that I had to use a radio and a cassette recorder to tape my favorite song. Now, it's so much easier, and without the unwanted "background noise" that I had with my old technique! And, the quality is so much better!

The Prayer Tag

Dear God, we pray for the quick recovery of all the sick and the dying especially those suffering from LUPUS and CANCER. And to those 700 plus lives who have lost during the Princess of the Star Voyage tragedy during the typhoon last week. I pray that their bodies will be found and if not they will rest in peace. My heart aches for them... Amen.

To those who will be all you have to do is keep this circulating. Even if it’s to only one person. In memory of anyone you know that has been struck down by a serious illness like Lupus or Cancer or is still living with it.

A Candle Loses Nothing by Lighting Another Candle.

Blogs who prayed: 1.) Eida’sCloset 2.) My Precious3.) Just Me.. Eds 4.)Me and Mine 5.) In This Game of Life 6.) Because Life is Fun 7.) Mommy Talks8.) Anorexic 9.) Me, Myself and I 10.) A Multiple's Choice
11.) Life. Love. Family. Work. Travel. 12. The Working Mom

Please Keep This Candle Going!There will be a cure soon. Continue to have hope and continue to pray.

Tagging all the medical bloggers in my list.

Who Is Paul McMann?

A person I would love to emulate is Paul McMann, not in the sense that I would want to do the things he did, but because he was ultimately able to follow his interests and dreams.

He is mostly known for being a prominent figure in Massachusetts real estate, focusing on focuses on real estate development in and around the MetroWest Massachusetts area. But that is not all.

He is also a financial adviser, more specifically a Blue Coast Affiliate. He helps companies recoup money lost through clerical errors and erroneous charges. As a Worker's Compensation Insurance Affiliate, he uses expert analysis to review your company’s policies for errors. If he determines that your company is owed money, his job will be to negotiate with your insurance provider(s) on your behalf and recover the settlement.

He is also an Electricity Deregulation Service Partner Affiliate. This means that he works on electricity deregulation with Blue Coast’s exclusive energy provider to find businesses a solution to their skyrocketing energy costs.

Unlike some other so-called financial experts, Paul McMann was actually a professor on the subject and even wrote articles on the topic. He has taught financial and management accounting at both the undergraduate and graduate level, most notably as a professor at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. He has led several performance measurement and management accounting methodology seminars and published a number of scholarly articles, including "You May Need New Performance Measures When...," an article he c0-wrote with Joseph M. Orlando. This article appeared in the Journal of Strategic Performance Measurement.

If you are a fan of basketball, more specifically College basketball, it may interest you to know that Paul McMann was actually the one who founded the Collegiate Professional Basketball League (CPBL). He served as both Founder and President of the now defunct league, using his financial sales experience to broker huge internet sponsorships that allow talented players to receive an education—and a paycheck. Basketball was his lifelong love and the CPBL channeled both his love for the sport and his financial know how to make people achieve their hoop dreams.

Teacher Mac's Excellerated Learning Center

I attended the Parent Orientation of Teacher Mac's Excellerated Learning Center yesterday. This was the school founded by Teacher Macrina Acuna which was formerly known as ICBB (Innovative Center for Beginning Beginners).

I brought my less than 3 year old child last summer in order how things go, and I was very happy with the results. My son not only learned to speak a little bit more (which was my aim at first), he also learned other things like lining up, waiting for his turn, sitting down properly for his snacks and interacting with other kids. He enjoyed his art and singing lessons too.

I loved the fact that the teachers all seemed very passionate about their vocation of teaching very young kids. The teacher:pupil ratio is low. They maintain it at 1 teacher:8 students, with 1 yaya aide. At the moment, there are only 5 student's in the aqua class (for 2.3 -3.3 years old), which is Ethan's class.

I also loved the fact that Ethan really enjoys going to school! It's easier to wake him up when you mention school!

Other pluses for the school is that it's located in a village (North Greenhills) and thus is relatively safe, as not everybody can just go in and out of the village. Also, since it's not located on a busy street like some other schools are, there is less danger of children running onto the streets and meeting an accident. Parking is also adequate. Oh, Chinese is included in the curriculum with no additional tuition, which is a plus for me since I plan on sending Ethan to a Chinese big school later on.

They have an open enrollment, which means they accept students all throughout the year. So if you have a young child between the ages of 2-3 to 5 years old, do consider sending them to Teacher Mac's Excellerated Learning Center. It's located at Johnson Street, Johnson Park, North Greenhills, San Juan City. Call them up at 723-4070 for more details.

Bounce, Bounce, Bounce

When we went to Playland near Pampanga a few month's ago for a first birthday party, what my son really enjoyed was the giant bounce, which he shared with a number of other kids of different ages. In fact, he practically ignored the entertainer. He was also too young to enjoy the games and the prizes which his older cousin thoroughly enjoyed. And to think that it was just one giant inflatable bounce. I'm sure he'll find more fun if there were more of them, with different designs, much like those offered by Inflatable Party Rentals Sacramento, Inflatable Party Rentals San Diego and Inflatable Party Rentals San Diego.

Flame Of Friendship

I got this Flame of Friendship from Pheng. Thank you so much, sis!

The Flame of Friendship. A symbol of spirit of unity.The burning icon of love.Undying picture of hope.The hot symbol of oneness.The Flame of Friendship.And now it's your turn to flame yourself!Meet new friends. Discover friendship. Make bonds.

Copy this post starting from the PICTURE ABOVE to the end and add your blog on the list below. Let's start FLAMING!

Tiklaton: We are the witness
Janeth's Vicy's Life Journey
My Precious
Pitstop
Thea is Blogger Happy
Thea is Berry Scrappy Too
Scribbles of My Life
In This Game of Life
Shimumsy's Republic of A
Princess Vien
Our Journey To Life
Life. Love. Family. Work. Travel.
Practical Tips and More
The Working Mom
Joey M.D.
Tsinay

END COPY HERE

I'm passing this Flame of Friendship to the following: Monet, Mari, Jown, Joanne.