things i discovered i love doing

Alright, getting selected to be the Vice President in the running ticket and making speeches is the top thing that any woman could be doing, but for the past two months, I have discovered other interesting things that are also important little gems by themselves.

10. mixing together 1 part of milk powder and 1 part of white sugar and then eating it by scoops and in little servings

9. putting on working gloves and trimming grown plants.. just pruning and clipping away those branches..

8. stepping on the gas and rolling smoothly in that curve.. handling the brake with exact precision..

7. fluffing the pillows and folding the blankets.. aligning the bed covers that they will fall equally in both sides

6. serving vanilla ice cream ala Mom.. in a tall glass with strawberry syrup, marshmallow bits and cookies

5. taking a sip of hot Twinings' Passion Fruit, Mango & Orange Flavoured Black Tea before going to bed

4. visiting the Xavier University Museum.. reading their old books and smelling the patina of their old walls

3. starting to study photography.. wooing the elusive factors to make that magnificent shot worthy of display

2. waking up at least thrice a night to check on and apply baby powder on Gela, Nika, and of course, Mike

1. procrastinating those stuff that I really must be doing.. jogging and losing the flab, writing, and bringing in the bucks

But how much would I pay for the time my daughters would help me clean the car? It's a priceless noisy wet party I wouldn't miss!

corporate secretary

Photo by Mike Mendoza

forward to the past

When I was planning to organize local tour packages, I visited a resort that features rich ethno-Filipino heritage by showcasing artifacts, with tribe members demonstrating their customs and traditions. But it was a silent village – left not fully appreciated.

So I listed down an inventory of local heritage sites and I turned to reading materials, discovering that the first inhabitants in Cagayan de Oro City settled here as early as 377 AD, as a female cranium of that date was found with related artifacts in Huluga, a promontory overlooking Cagayan River.

My study led me to Museo de Oro of Xavier University which displays the relics and also houses the story behind the seeming conflict in heritage tourism and modernization development targets of the city. With the Heritage Conservation Advocates, I have learned that the museum fought against the demolition of Huluga for a bridge and road project.

Today the bridge and road project stands.

And I just got invited to attend the International Symposium on the Challenges in Heritage Tourism in the Bangkok National Museum in Thailand and to share what happened.

I think it shall also be the chance for me to learn what could have been done: the arguments of experts – financial support from private sector - integration of heritage appreciation in schools – a keener policy in heritage preservation – and not only for tourism show, but to rightfully claim a people’s own inheritance.

it's a beautiful life!

Photo by Mike Mendoza

oh my schoolgirls

Schoolbag in hand, she leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile
I watch her go with a surge of that well-known sadness
And I have to sit down for a while
The feeling that I'm losing her forever
And without really entering her world
I'm glad whenever I can share her laughter
That funny little girl

Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see what's in her mind
Each time I think I'm close to knowing
She keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time

Sleep in our eyes, her and me at the breakfast table
Barely awake, I let precious time go by
Then when she's gone there's that odd melancholy feeling
And a sense of guilt I can't deny
What happened to the wonderful adventures
The places I had planned for us to go..
Well, some of that we did but most we didn't
And why I just don't know

Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see what's in her mind
Each time I think I'm close to knowing
She keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time

Sometimes I wish that I could freeze the picture
And save it from the funny tricks of time
Slipping through my fingers..
Slipping through my fingers all the time

Schoolbag in hand she leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile..

- Slipping Through My Fingers by ABBA

when you're not looking

Photo by Mike Mendoza

thoughts upon a treadmill

Why was my dream last night like that? So I could really do that huh. Like know in my dream when I would need to wake up. But why does that kind of dream come back regularly?

I wonder if SEC will finally approve the latest name I've reserved for the corporation.

I need pink socks.

The artwork for Josh Groban in the iPod must be changed soon.

That softball bat in Toby's is reasonably-priced, though that Prince badminton racquet is a beauty.

Come on and we'll sing, like we were free. Push the pedal down, watch the world around fly by us. Come on and we'll try, one last time. I'm off the floor one more time to find you and here we go there's nothing left to choose. And here we go there's nothing left to lose. *

I wish I'd join that photography seminar along with Mike.

Oh that Historial Fiction Writing Workshop is interesting. But I don't have a manuscript on Mindanao folklore. Sweet niblets.

Should I reserve a court for Sunday's badminton game? Nah no need.

Finish this, shower, then drive the girls to Marco Hotel for breakfast and swimming.

With the rhythm of those shoes on the machine belt, as if on cadence these come across my mind.

* Nothing Left to Lose by Mat Kearney

who is john galt?

So "Atlas Shrugged" began that way in the 1,084 pages of my 15-year old copy which I have kept together with scotch tape so it could stand the dust and age and I could reread it every time I needed some push or reminder. I salute Ayn Rand.

Then a celebrity scan in the web gave me this clip: "Angelina Jolie is planning to shoot the drama Atlas Shrugged, based on the popular Ayn Rand novel", it added almost as an afterthought to a story I was reading.

Astounding news for me! Jolie to play Dagny Taggart, the woman I keep on looking for inside me!

Like a true disciple, I searched some more. After a few clicks, I read in Best Syndication that even Brad Pitt is rumored to play a role. Do not tell me Pitt is to play Hank Rearden, or that would be too much for me to handle!

Ayn Rand had achieved spectacular success even from her very first novel, "We the Living", which I equally love. Her unique philosophy, Objectivism, had gained a following all over the world that I was even smiling to see this concept poster prepared just for "Atlas Shrugged".

Bring it to the big screen! I shall be waiting. But for the time being, I shall be happy to flip on the delicate pages and stop where the dainty dog ears are:

"Dagny, we can never lose the things we live for. We may have to change their form at times, if we've made an error, but the purpose remains the same and the forms are ours to make."

if i were in beijing

It's the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Wouldn't it be lovely to be there? If I were, I'd be getting signatures of players, sitting it out during the sweltering opening ceremonies, and most of all, taking pictures. I just can't stop staring at this one:

It's Great Britain's Adam Brown competing in the men's 200m breaststroke swimming heat at the National Aquatics Center on August 12, 2008. The photo is by Timothy Clary for AFP/Getty Images.

I have never seen water so magical and definite and frozen and captured and white. Oh, to be able to seize the moment, to have the right camera, and first and foremost, to be there.

a conversation, if it is

me: u know it's august 8 here now
me: and supposedly a lot of things happen on august 8
me: i mean a lot of people want to do a lot on august 8
me: firstly it's the opening of the beijing olympics
me: and some girlfriends all born in august are holding a joint party
me: and another girl is getting married today because it's august 8
me: eighth day of the eighth month of the eighth year of 2000
me: and yeah, i got this meeting tonight with school parents
me: i just finished watching this old movie
me: it's something i picked from the hundreds of dvds in the shelves
me: it's about this prince from denmark
me: does denmark have a prince?
me: he goes to wisconsin and falls in love with this girl
me: are you still there?
robert: yup. reading your messages
robert: just go on.
me: oh

ein zu vieles plus drei

This has got a lot of 4's in it. Hey Girard - thanks for this tag, it was fun, love! Guess I'm doing this too!

Instructions:
Copy and paste the requirements. Type in your answers thus change old answers with those your own. Do not spoil the fun so tag four other people and spread the chance of pondering.

Four places I go over and over: *
4 that corner where I was looking up and smiling into a beloved face
3 that table where someone seated across me is listening intently
2 that building roof I have to jump down straight into strong arms
1 that shore with sleepy waves kissing the sand

Four people who e-mail me regularly:
4 the business consultancy group for new seminars
3 the canadian pharmacy for a viagra pitch
2 the unbusy bunch inviting me to their social network accounts
1 the travel agency making me hunger for europe

Four of my favorite places to eat:
4 where they serve creamy buttery mashed potatoes
3 where they serve live crabs and prawns that you picked
2 where they serve angry-with-the-world chili tacos
1 where they serve live romantic piano music

Four places I would rather be:
4 Paradise Island, Bahamas
3 Barcelona, Spain
2 Tuscany, Italy
1 Prince Edward Island, Canada

Four TV shows I could watch over and over:
4 the one with David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston
3 the one with Matthew Perry and Courteney Cox-Arquette
2 the one with Lisa Kudrow and Matt LeBlanc
1 the one with the orange couch in Central Perk

Four people I think will respond:
4 what if they've been tagged already
3 what if they wanna know the prize for doing this
2 what if all they want is world domination
1 what if they'd get four years of bad luck if they don't answer?

I'm tagging Gwacie, Milai, Sandy, and Elaine. Hey gurlz - just for posting in your what have you's. Don't worry as you can be flexible. You're not even getting the real deal in this tag as I've turned some things around.

* places I go over and over in my mind!

I found that photo here.

totally on the wheel

For all my toughy-tough talk I know I am a clingy wife. Oh I know.

But today, with Mike in Manila, I faced the gigantic challenge of driving alone my girls into that swimming party. On the wing of a prayer, and on my strict instructions that talking and most of all, petty arguing is not allowed in the car, I assigned the girls to sit in the back seat, positioned the big swimming bag on the front seat, and drove like someone with a resolute mission. And got a good parking place too. Four hours into the party and it drizzled and it started to get dark. Good thing the girls have finished their meal. So with a flourishing one-time wiper (as I don't know how to keep it moving!), I drove back home. Parking the Sorento into the garage, I screamed.

For all my clingy-clingy, I know I am a toughy too! I KNOW!

rishi, the eaten sun

A bird flies in the sky as a solar eclipse is seen in Xiangfan in central China's Hubei province Friday Aug. 1, 2008. Millions of Chinese along the ancient Silk Road gathered Friday to gaze at a total solar eclipse, an event traditionally fraught with superstitious meaning coming one week before the start of the Beijing Olympics.

The event was seen as a total eclipse in Arctic Canada, then passed through Greenland, western Siberia, Mongolia and China. People have been recording solar eclipses for perhaps 4,000 years, and they typically inspire a combination of dread, fascination and awe.

- Releases from Associated Press

Rishi - meaning the 'eaten sun', Chinese word for eclipse