Daily Booger

Got this some sort of a chain letter. I’m not a registered voter, but I am concerned on what’s happening.. I also sometimes think of leaving my beloved country to have a more “convenient” life and a more “reliable”, “trusted” government.

From: xxxx
Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 15:58
To: xxxx
Subject: What will make me leave the Philippines. ..

Hi Everyone…. source is UNKNOWN but worth your time
to read - and think about. And disseminate.

Dear Fellow Filipino,

Good day to all of you! Before I begin my letter…just a disclaimer, for
people who know me they know that I love the Philippines very much and I am
not really one who rants and complaints to high heavens about what is
happening to our country and does nothing about it, in fact, I feel that at
my relatively young age of 27, I have done much service to the Philippines
by setting up Pathways to Higher Education which has sent more than 500 poor
but deserving students to college and AHON Foundation which has
already built two public elementary school libraries that have benefitted
more than 3,500 students. Yet, after seeing how events in our nation have
transpired the past few weeks and talking with some friends, I feel the urge
to share with you my own thoughts and feelings.

Over the weekend, we saw the completion of two major political alliances for
this coming Senate Elections that has just begun here in the Philippines .
Now we have two political forces with familiar faces nonetheless on opposite
sides of the fence. On one end, you have Tito Sotto and Tessie Aquino-Oreta
who were two major stalwarts of the opposition and the FPJ Campaign in 2004
hobnobbing
with the woman (Pres. GMA) whom they claimed to have cheated FPJ in the last
Presidential Elections.On the other side of the fence, you see Manny Villar,
the former house speaker who was actually responsible for impeaching Erap
now part of the United Opposition who is led by no less than…
Erap himself. Now if you don’t see anything wrong with this picture then you
must be one of the many Filipinos who have accepted this very sad reality
that there is indeed no permanent ideals that our government leaders stand
up for but rather they just go where there self-interests can best be
served. It is (because of) this kind of politics (that) I no longer wonder
why good people like Ramon Magsaysay
Awardee Mayor Jesse Robredo of Naga City or outstanding Bulacan Governor
Josie Dela Cruz will find it hard or worse, never be elected to national
positions.

It is with these in mind that I’d like to share with you what are events
this coming May elections that will make me consider leaving the Philippines
:

1.) If former COMELEC Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano of Hello Garci fame
wins in his bid to become Congressman of Bukidnon…seeking to replace a
good man no less in incumbent Cong. Neric Acosta… We
would really be the laughing stock of the whole world if we allow a man with
the reputation of Garci to be one of our so called “Honorable Gentlemen”.

2.) If Dancing Queen Tessie Aquino Oreta reclaims her seat at the Senate…I
hope that all of us would still remember that dance that she did during the
2001 impeachment hearings after they voted to overrule the decision ofthen
Chief Justice Davide… let us make sure that people like her never make it
to the Senate again.

3.) If Richard Gomez becomes a senator… what does he know about making
laws? We already have the likes of Bong Revilla and Lito Lapid in the Senate
and their performance or lack of it would be reason enough not to elect
another actor who has no prior experience in government to the distinguished
halls of the Senate.

4.) If Gringo Honasan wins again…. have we not learned our lesson? I
cannot believe that just because someone is charismatic then we will just
elect him to become one of our senators despite the fact that he has time
and again caused so much instability in our country… if we want a military
junta similar to that of Thailand … then lets all vote for this guy….

5.) If Manny Pacquiao becomes Congressman of General Santos City…everybody
loves Manny the Boxing Champ but Manny the Lawmaker? Lets be realistic here,
Manny is our Hero alright but I think it takes more than just great boxing
skills and a desire to serve to be able to make appropriate laws that would
help uplift the lives of the many Filipinos who live in Poverty.

6.) If Lito Lapid wins for Mayor of Makati City… I don’t like Jojo Binay
as well but Lito Lapid as city mayor of the country’s finance and business
center?!?! And do you really think he is from Makati and has good plans for
the city? The Arroyos asking someone like him to run just goes to show you
how much love and concern this government has for our country.

7.) If Chavit Singson becomes a Senator, Illegal Gambling = Chavit…enough
said.

Now if all of these 7 things happen during this coming elections then don’t
be surprised if I decide to leave this country that I love dearly. Like I
said during the first part of my letter, I feel that I have done much for
this country but I think its time that Filipinos become more vigilant and
critical in selecting our leaders for the sake of our future and the
generations that will go beyond us. So I appeal to every Filipino who asks
what can I actually do for my country… Choose and vote for the right
people this coming elections, huwag na tayong magpaloko sa mga kandidatong
maganda lang ang jingle o gwapo lang sa mga poster. Let us choose leaders
who have a good track record for service and who are genuinely committed
towards serving our country.

Manindigan naman tayong lahat para sa ating Kinabukasan at para sa Kapakanan
ng ating Bayan!

Pag-isipan po ninyo…….

KAILANGANG MABASA ITO NG 80 MILYONG PILIPINO!!! IPASA
NYO NG IPASA !!!

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

It’s been weeks since my last post, I plan to update at least every weekend but sometimes I get too tired babysitting and can’t leave her. Since I’m still breastfeeding her (baby Aeia) I tend to be with her all the time. She sleeps well at night, atleast 10 hours but wakes every two to three hours to feed and during the day she likes to play and just take 30minute naps.

It is scheduled to do the laundry every wednesday but last time my mom nags that she’s tired of doing the laundry, alone. In my condition I couldn’t help. Later that day my husband went to bank to withdraw some cash and we thought that a fully automatic washing machine would solve my mom’s burden.

We bought this machine from LG and it features:
- Fuzzy Logic System
- Turbo Drum EcoSave
- Punch + 3 Pulsator
- Stainless Steel Tub
- 6 Wash Programs
- 7 Water Levels
- Delay Start
- Child Lock
- LED Screen
With just one touch all our laundry will be clean in minutes! Stress free and time saving. Now I wouldn’t feel guilty every time Mom will nag about our dirty (stingky) clothes.

October 22, Sunday… Baby Aeia’s first party attended, Jo-Em’s (family friend) first birthday. The night before I thought I’ll just wake up early in the morning to prepare her things… besides I’m still breastfeeding her, so no need to bring feeding bottles and milk. Time really runs fast! We woke at 5AM then went to my father’s grave, home at 8AM. I prepared the things first then bathe baby Aeia, at 10AM we’re all ready for the trip. It was a long trip! The party is located at Morong, Rizal… a 2hour ride from our location (San Mateo, Rizal).

Travelling with Baby makes me nervous… worried… what if baby cry so much while travelling? Sometimes baby Aeia gets very colicky and we cannot do anything unless bring her on a comfy place… somewhere quite and cool. She gets colic when lots of adult people surround her, but she’s fond of children… she laughs very hard when she sees children playing… That’s why I thought that attending a kiddie party will be fine for her.

It was an overwhelming party!! Several kids from the neighbor and families attended… their garage was filled with kids. We went with Aunt Nene, Sister Joy and Joenel (my husband)… Baby Aeia didn’t get fussy unless she’s hungry. Baby Aeia was excited at first, but it went very hot and noisy as other parents and kids arrive good thing that they have an air conditioned room where Baby Aeia can stay and take an afternoon nap. Baby Aeia didn’t appreciate the mascots, games… the party itself.

Baby Aeia is 5months old now; I think I should plan something for her birthday too. Got some list from my friend, Liz

+ 6 months before +
- Decide the party theme

+ 5 months before +
- Guest list (excel format)
- Set the Date and Time
- Location
- Check the weather

+ 4 months before +
- Decide on the food (fast food or cater etc)
- Finalize Guest list
- Finalize budget and Theme party

+ 3 months before +
- Other entertainments and activities (such as Clowns, Magician, hosts)
- cake
- Photo and Video coverage

+ 2 months before +
- Graphic Design/designer for the customized tarp
- Goodie bags, loot bags, Souvenir and give-away

+ 1 month before +
- The outfit

+ 2 weeks before +
- Send out invitations!
- Tarp should be ready
- check souvenir, prizes and give-away
- Finalize program

+ 1 day before +
- Relax!

+ 3 hours before +
- Dress up!

+ 1 hour before +
- Be at the Venue

Almost in every Filipino family there’s one member working abroad… it could be the father, mother or one of the children. In my case I have my mother-in-law, 2 of my Aunt and their families (both my father and mother side) and a cousin. My mother-in-law has been there since my hubby was a kid, at least 6 years old (he’s 27 now). It’s a good paying job and she already made a reputation there. We call them OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker).

Last week she sent “padala” for our baby (Aeia), I was overwhelmed, overjoyed… very happy!! The dress, shirts, linens and toys were beautiful. “Padala” is what we call for the things given or sent by our OFW family. Most of these padala are things (gift) for every member of the family (first degree); some include the family friends and up to the second degree. Back to my story… when I get the chance to thank Mama Nel (my mom-in-law) over the phone, she told me the story of each item… on where and when she buy it. I was overwhelmed!! It means that she always thinks and missed baby Aeia even she haven’t seen her personally (yet). My baby as of this writing is the first born “apo” (grandchild) on both sides and they’re very excited buying things for the baby. Some of the receipts are still attached on the item, I saw where and when she buys it. And of course each member have one; Mama have colognes and liquid bath soap, Mommy Nene (Papa’s sister) have blouse, my sister have cute bag, T-shirt for my brother, shoes for hubby and nice slippers for me.. well, not that expensive but cute.

We did some pictorials with baby Aeia, testing if she could be a model.
Knitted Jacket by Disney bought from Paris and Pink Shirt with metal beads bought from Las Vegas.

Thankful to have a mom-in-law like her (Mama Nel), not all married woman is lucky to have a mother-in-law as good as her…

There are lot of things to consider while breastfeeding… don’t believe that some mom’s doesn’t produce milk or have enough milk for their babies. Healthy diet and right supplement will help us (mommies) to have a healthy breastfed baby. Been breastfeeding Aeia (my baby) for about three months now and still my breasts produce enough milk for her, 24/7. There are foods and drugs we have to avoid to help our body to produce breastmilk.

“Whether you’re suffering from congestion brought on by allergies or pain associated with a more serious health problem, you’re probably ready to head to the medicine cabinet for some relief. Although many medications are safe to use while breastfeeding, almost any drug will get into your milk to some degree and can occasionally affect your milk supply. To be safe, you should always check with your child’s doctor before taking any kind of medication, even over-the-counter drugs.”

She’s a happy baby.. she coo’s, kick’s actively, talk, giggles and sometimes she will just stare at me (or my husband) like she never seen us before. We talk to her a lot and seems like she listens attentively recognizing what you are saying and sometimes will try to talk back or mimic us. Showing colorful and noisy objects like baby rattles and pictures or things of different shapes interest her too. We use fruits or any colorful object, moving it up and down, right to left. She now enjoys playing the toys while taking a bath with matching singing nursery rhymes i.e. ten little indians, mary had a little lamb, itsy bitsy spider and old macDonald had a farm. She also takes multivitamins and Iron. While she’s asleep, looking at her.. a small, cute, tiny human being.. there’s a feeling of warmth, contentment and happiness.. complete, hey! she came from me.. I’ve been part of her creation and am very proud of it.

(whew!)
“What should I do?” asked myself when I saw her.. I don’t know what to do when she cry or poop. Our baby is now 2months and 8 day old. She’s more awake now especially in the morning.. talking (seems like), smiling and kicking. She’s very cute, a very small human.. still helpless.

Our first month was okay, she’s always asleep.. she seldom cries, wakes up only when hungry. I’m breastfeeding her as much as possible, sometimes I think that she’s not getting enough milk or nutrients than formula but the oldies says that it is much better, healthier and cheaper and I should be proud of it. In terms of weight.. she’s gaining weight like normal babies do.. she’s more than five kilos (10.56lbs) now. She’s not fat or chubby but I think she’s fine. She seems contented everytime she feeds. I just always make sure I have a healthy diet, atleast one fruit a day and drink plenty of water.

One month’s over, turning to her second month of life… she’s very fuzzy sometimes she cry while feeding for more than 30minutes. She wet as normal as before but there are days that she wont sleep, she just cry… then feed and cry again till sh’es tired then went off to sleep.

Bathing is one tough task for babies.. she cries very loud and mostly her face turns red. We bathed her atleast two to 3minutes.. as fast as we could . I haven’t tried to dip her into the tub yet. After bath, putting on clothes and diaper too was very hard.. it seems there’s war going on between us.

That’s what babies do all day.. sleeping, feed, bath and cry… but still our baby is an individual… she has her own personality but still she knows nothing. She depends on us (parents) what will happen to her, if she will grow healthy emotionally and physically.

After giving birth, being a first time parent is not an easy task! We have to learn everything for the first time.. good thing that we are living with my parents. They taught us the basics in everything. There are still traditions or superstitions on what or what’s not to do after giving birth and for the newborn baby. There are nights that I cannot sleep because the baby is awake, need milk, diaper needs to be changed, poo-pooed or just need someone to look at.. though at 3weeks she seldom sees us, barely shadows. Having not enough sleep will make you feel easily irritated, these one may help…

1. Relax. Take a deep breath… count to three or ten
2. Smile.
3. Say a prayer.

Works well when baby is irritated too… does not stop crying even there is nothing wrong with her.

NOTE: if the baby is crying for almost three hours (non-stop) bring her/him to your doctor.

here’s one prayer (I like) from my mother-in-law’s prayer book..

O God, help me always to remember that you have given to me the most important task in the world, the task of making a home.

Help me to remember this when I am tired of making beds, and washing clothes, and cooking meals, and cleaning floors, and mending clothes, and standing in shops.

Help me to remember it when I am physically tired in body and when I am weary in mind with the same things which have to be done again and again, day in and out.

Help me never to be irritable, never to be impatient, never to be cross. Keep me always sweet. Help me to remember how much my husband and my children need me, and help me not to get annoyed when they take me for granted, and when they never seem to think of extra work them sometimes cause me.

Help me to make this home such that the family will always be eager to come back to it, and such that, when the children grow up and go out their own homes, they will have nothing but happy memories of the home from which they have come.

page88
My Travel Companion
“A Prayer Book For All”

date of birth:May 20 @ 12:17am
baby’s name: AEIA (a-ee-ya)
7.7lbs and 54cm
c-section

Induced Labor

5 days past my due date and still the baby is active, not as active compared last week. I was told last week that I can be induced for convenience (for me and the baby) but it’s still my option if I want to get induced or will wait for the natural labor… else I do not have other option, but getting induced to avoid risk on the baby’s health and status at birth. My OB-Gyne told me to monitor fetal movements since my third trimester especially now that it’s past my due date. I seldom feel pain but have discharge or mucus plug since first week of this month. Worried that the umbilical cord wrap the baby’s neck or the baby might swallow her own dirt or will have low amniotic fluid. As much as possible I do not want to undergo C-section too.

Most of mommies I asked and based on some forums said that getting induced (after 38 to 40weeks) is safer for both the baby and mommy. Quite afraid of what will happen and what pain I will undergo if I choose to get induced, they say that it’s painful if you are not ready.

My pregnant batchmates (Cousin and Auntie’s in-laws) delivered their babies as earlier as last week.. Even the Award Winning star of Miss Saigon - Ms. Lea Salonga.

We’re terribly nervous now and maybe later this afternoon we’re planning that I will be induced, or next week. I’ve calculated the expenses.. depending on which class of hospital it ranges from $275 to $1000 for a normal delivery and upto $2000 for a c-section.

Filipino natives eat using hands. We learned to eat with spoon and fork through our conquerors.. maybe the Spaniards. When I was a kid our elders call it “kubyertos” (pair of spoon and fork). This is how Filipinos eat because we do not eat mashed potato or steak alone. Unlike americans or canadians, they eat steak and veggies using only fork and knife, unless they ordered mashed potato or soup then they’ll need to use spoon. Fork to hold the meat and get the veggies then the knife to cut the meat. Filipino dishes usually composed of rice (main course), ulam (side dish), sawsawan (apetizer) and panghimagas (dessert). Filipinos eat rice, ulam and sawsawan all at the same time so we cannot just use spoon, unless we’re using a bowl (not plate) which will still be inconvenient. Filipinos use fork to help push some of the food (rice and ulam, sometimes with sawsawan) on spoon then put it in our mouth (eat).

This is the canadian way (now I know) it might be a discourtesy to their tradition to eat using spoon and fork at the same time. I think we just have to adjust since we are living on their country, using their resources and earn income (sacrifice?!).

It is a tradition not law.

Here’s how the case goes..

Luc (right) eats in traditional Filipino fashion, with a spoon and fork, as his mother Maria Gallardo and sister Hannah look on. The seven-year-old says his school’s lunch monitor calls the habit ‘disgusting’ and has punished him for it.

Filipino table etiquette punished at local school

Lunch monitor tells student his eating habits are ‘disgusting’

BY ANDY BLATCHFORD

The Chronicle

A Roxboro woman has filed a formal complaint with a local school board after her son was disciplined by a lunch program monitor at Ecole Lalande for eating in what she says is a customary Filipino manner.

Luc Cagadoc’s table behaviour is traditionally Filipino; he fills his spoon by pushing the food on his plate with a fork, his mother, Maria Theresa Gallardo, says.

But after being punished by his school’s lunch program monitor more than 10 times this year for his mealtime conduct — including his technique — the seven-year-old told Gallardo said last week that he was too embarrassed to eat his dinner.

“Mommy, I don’t want to eat anymore,” Gallardo says Luc told her at the kitchen table April 11. “My teacher is telling me that eating with a spoon and fork is yucky and disgusting.”

When he eats with both a spoon and fork, instead of only one utensil, the Grade 2 student said the lunch monitor moves him to a table to sit by himself.

Upset over Luc’s story, Gallardo confronted the lunchtime caregiver the next day and on April 13, she telephoned the school’s principal, Normand Bergeron. His reaction brought her to tears, she says. “His response was shocking to me,” Gallardo, who moved to Montreal from the Philippines in 1999, told The Chronicle. “He said, ‘Madame, you are in Canada. Here in Canada you should eat the way Canadians eat.’

“I find it very prejudiced and it’s racist. He’s supposed to be acting like a professional. This is supposed to be a free country with free expressions of culture and religion. This is how we eat; we eat with a fork and spoon.”

Luc’s father, Aldrin Cagadoc, was also surprised by the comment. “I can’t believe even the principal would say that,” he said. “A person of that calibre, I wouldn’t expect him to say that.”

Gallardo, who operates a day care out of her Roxboro home and is close to completing her studies in early childhood education, wrote a letter last week and lodged a formal complaint to the Commission scolaire Marguerite Bourgeoys (CSMB) yesterday.

She disagrees with the lunch monitor’s approach to teaching children how to eat and says it is emotionally abusive to Luc. When she questioned Bergeron about punishing students for their table habits, she says he replied that, “If your son eats like a pig he has to go to another table because this is the way we do it and how we’re going to do it every time.”

But Bergeron says it was Luc’s eating technique combined with his behaviour at the table that was inappropriate that day, which is why he was moved. “Luc can be turbulent,” he said yesterday. “Like other children, he is frequently in situations where we have to intervene. It’s normal, he’s a child. He is in a period of learning.”

The principal of the 387-student Roxboro school said he explained his position on using two utensils to Gallardo during their telephone conversation. “I said, ‘Here, this is not the manner in which we eat.’

“I don’t necessarily want students to eat with one hand or with only one instrument, I want them to eat intelligently at the table,” he said. “I want them to eat correctly with respect for others who are eating with them. That’s all I ask. Personally, I don’t have any problems with it, but it is not the way you see people eat every day. I have never seen somebody eat with a spoon and a fork at the same time.”

CSMB spokesman Brigitte Gauvreau says the board will not comment — due to confidentiality procedures — until Gallardo’s complaint is filed and she makes a public statement.

The accident happened last March at Ayala Avenue, Makati City, Philippines. I’m not a relative or a friend, just got this from my email buddy. Imagine that one day your crossing the street (on pedestrian) on the busiest city, we should feel safe i.e. lots of people walking with you, there are traffic aide everywhere, business city then all of a sudden you were run over by a big wheel then you went blank… dead.

You wouldn’t want to see one like this on streets… gruesome!!

Life is too good to be wasted.

We should take care of ourselves like it is the only thing we have. From what we eat to what we do. If we usually eat junk foods then our brain will produce junk and think junk! and that is not good. Be happy and contented that we are still alive, we still have hope. Have faith!

Gruesome pic 01

Accident

Ohh my..

Yuxxx!

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