May Happenings

It's been a looong month for me and it seemed that I didn’t have interest to post a blog no more. The truth is I still really do. It is just that I had so many concerns after I got back from the Philippines.

May is a significant month for me for so many reasons.

It was May last year when I started to post a blog in this site and that first post was entitled “French Toast”. I am very proud to say that I’ve made MORE than 70 posts since then.

It was May when hubby and I got married. Last year on our 1st year anniversary, we didn’t celebrate it because we were too busy moving our things, in fact, on that very night, we only slept in the floor because all our stuff was already hauled to Winnemucca and we needed to stay in Round Mountain for that night. It was not good, huh? But I didn't hear complaints from my kids and from my stepson who helped us in moving so I guessed that was alright though. This year, we celebrated it. Hubby gave me a nice warm bubble bath with candle light, a box of chocolate and a huge anniversary card with matching heartwarming messages. It was Sunday, supposedly my Monday at work but I was lucky that my reliever ask for a swap of days off so hubby and I went to Reno and stayed in a fancy hotel. Sounds great, isn't it?

I always have nice time with hubby but since I got back here my mind is not really appeased in the sense that I missed my kids back home. I am still adjusting a new life without them and adjusting a new life alone with hubby. I sooo missed them allot and many times I really cried especially during the days when hubby and I were like strangers. Sometime he joked on me and says “Hello Stranger” when I call him on the phone early in the morning during his first days off while I was in the hotel working. There are days that when he comes home I was already in bed and he doesn’t want to wake me up because I needed to get sleep and when I woke up he was beside me sleeping and snoring but I didn’t want to wake him up because he is very tired and he needs to work in the day and has to leave at 3:30 in the morning.

There are also times that I am alone during the night on my days-off and he's working night-shift in the middle of nowhere. When he is working night-shift, I would ride a cab going to work and he'll pick me up in the morning. When he is working day-shift, I have to ride a cab to and fro.When the kids were still here, I didn’t have trouble to get a ride because Jen and Jun are very much available to take me anywhere, anytime. I can drive now but I still need more practice and I should have somebody with driver's license with me while driving. I am crossing my fingers to take the Driving Test before my Instruction Permit expires next month.

I also have another issues. I am having trouble with my close friends like Vanessa, Annie, Meding, to name a few, whom I promised that I am going to see them when I get to the Philippines. Vanessa sent me hurting emails though I didn’t finish reading them because it really hurt me so bad. She was so upset. The hurting part was when she said goodbye and that she won't bother me anymore. We were friends since high school and it’s too sad that we ended our friendship this way.

I am also having trouble with my family. I failed to see my former sister-in-law who is Davao based and for that my teenagers are ashamed to get in touch with her now. I failed to contact my former parents-in-law as well. I was a failure. And until now I haven’t contacted in any one of them. The stuff that I bought for them were still in my kid's luggages. And I felt like I was the worst person in the entire planet. I know for sure that they were kind of upset too. I couldn’t blame them but I wished they could understand my situation. I haven't changed. I am still the “Nanibeth” that Vanessa had known as a friend. I am still the “Bobong” that my former sister- in- law and my former parents-in -law had known who brought Jen and Jun in this world. I hope they would forgive me.

So help me God.

Biyaheng Balik-Pinas

(This post is taken from my Friendster's  Blog)

My time was very limited. I only had few days, including travel time from April 17- April 28, 2009

Before my kids and I left, I had so many things in mind to do when I get to the Philippines. I planned to see all my family members especially my grandpa Tatay Bering and my former officemates and my classmates in high school and of course my close friends. I planned to see a Dermatologist and a Dentist. I was really hoping to make these plans realized. These plans are excluded in my main purpose of coming back home: to enroll my kids in college and find a good place for them to stay in Davao City.

I had this very frightening experience in Las Vegas Airport when we entered the Security gate. The first man who check the plane tickets of each passenger told me that I have SSSS on my ticket, meaning, Secondary Security Screening Selection, a code used by airlines on boarding cards of passengers selected for secondary security screening. I felt like I was treated like I was a bomber or a drug dealer! After putting all my things in a plastic tray and passing thru an X-ray Machine like other passengers did, I was being scrutinized again with another lady and my heart was pounding fast when she put bright orange tag on my hand bag and on my arm. Waaah! Then I heard someone called for a VIP, something like that. One of the Security Officers asked me if I speak Spanish. I said, “No, I am a Filipino”. Then a lady came and said, “Do not touch your purse”. I was told to take a seat in a corner while watching the two ladies inspecting everything in my bag. I asked them, “What happened? I am scared.” The other lady said, “You will be fine, just relax”. Then I saw my stuff taken by the lady one by one using a tool which I couldn’t recall until now what it was. I felt safe when I heard of them said, “The purse is clear.. The shoes are clear.. Everything is clear. You may now take off that orange tag on the purse and on her arm”. I really wanted to scream “Thank you Lord!” afterwards. I saw hubby from afar looked too anxious. He waited there until we passed the Security gate. I gestured at him that everything went okay.

The plane took-off past 7pm, April 17 and it had lay-over in Vancouver, Canada for an hour. Transit passengers like us disembarked from the plane and stayed in a designated area in the airport.We were not allowed to wander around the entire airport, and we just sit there until its time for us to embark in the plane. The foods are great and the flight attendants were nice. I noticed that when we were back in the plane, new group of crew greeted us. I bet the plane will change crew in every destination. We arrived in Manila very early in the morning, April 19. When we got-off the plane, whew! The air that embraced us is warm enough for us to take off our jackets or sweaters.

We arrived in Davao International Airport at 8:30am, April 19 and we waited for 2 hours before my family members came to fetch us. Yep, we waited for 2 long hours. We were too tired of the long flight and of waiting. Anyways, we were happy to see all of them smiling wide when they saw us J. That made my anger cooled down. I was so happy to see my mom, all my nieces and nephews and my 4 beautiful sisters. My one and only brother and my youngest sister were the only ones missing.

Afterwards, we went to Times Beach Seafood Restaurant and had our sumptuous lunch there then we went to a nearby SM Shopping Mall afterwards to treat my nieces and nephews. They were all having great time at World of Fun. We stayed in a family friend’s house in Davao then we headed to Agusan. We got there at dawn then we took for a few hours rest then my Mom and my youngest sister headed to Agusan del Norte to visit my Lolo. We had lechon baboy but I enjoyed eating “igi”, a fresh water shell from Lake Mainit. We didn't stay there for the night and we left at dawn. Imagine how tired I was that time. From 18 hours of plane ride and 5 hours bus ride from davao to agusan then another 3 hours going to my lolo's place. That time I started to sneeze and I had already a runny nose. My head was so heavy and I felt I was having a fever inside my body. The next day we went to the cemetry to visit my dad's tomb. God, I really miss him a lot.

We needed to go back to Davao because my kids had to take Entrance Exams in their chosen field and school. I still had many things in mind.I wanted to invite Pastor Ricardo Solomon and family for a dinner but I just had no time. I really wanted to see my friends but I have very limited time and I was not feeling well. And I wanted to see my cousins too. When the entire family had dinner at one of my sister’s house, my brother came up with an idea to have an overnight stay in Dap-dap Beach. So I invited my cousins to come. We stayed in the beach overnight and we had great time there.

I started coughing a lot. Geez. I had fever and colds. In short, I had a flu. I exhaled hot air and I just wanted to lie down and sleep. Saturday night, we headed back to Davao. I was dead tired and sick. But I managed myself to go to SM to buy some stuff for pasalubong. My cousin Carol saw the Oro Derm Spa and she suggested getting facial spa and I did. I did enjoy the time lying down while the attendant from Diatagon was cleaning my face. I fell asleep but I emerged from sleep when I heard her voice, “Ma’am? Is this genuine?” And I asked with my eyes closed, “What is that?” She answered, “your nose… because I am afraid to touch it”. I giggled when I heard it, silly girl hehehe! Well, I can’t blame her because my nose is kinda wide and big hehehe! I don’t really like it but it’s my nose and its real, genuine, original, etc. Well, that somehow made me laughed out loud when I went out from the spa. My best friend’s sister Neneng went all the way to Davao from New Bataan to see me. I was too happy to see her and her gorgeous daughter. We went to David’s Salon for my new hairstyle. Jen had hers too.

The following day, Monday, I wanted to see my beautiful friend Vanessa to give her the flipflops I promised and to see my sister-in-law but I was not really feeling well. I just wanted to stay in bed to get allot of sleep and to get some rest.

The next day, Tuesday, around 9am I was on my way to the airport and my cousin Carol, my teeners and family friends were with me. My flight was 1:20pm. One of the PAL employees noticed that I was not feeling well. He asked me if I was alright. He said I don’t look okey. I said I was okay even if I was not. I was just afraid that he might think that I had swine flu and forbid me to get in the plane.

During my flight from Manila to Vancouver to Las Vegas, there were lots of Pinoys who were on the same flight. I heard they were coming to watch Pacquiao-Hatton fight. And I overheard that Pacquaio gave them free ticket, something like that. Lucky for them!

Anyways, the flight to and fro went smoothly. Mexican couple Adan and Josefina was with hubby in the airport to welcome me home. We stayed in Excalibur Hotel and headed back home the next day. While on our way home, hubby asked me, "Did you see Vanessa mahal?" I answered, "nope". Did you see Ate Inday? I answered the same. "Did you see Nathalie's mom?" Did you see Ronald and Leodilla?" "Did you see your former sister in law? Nope. Nope. Nope. Geez. I really wanted to see them but I just did not have time. Until now, I haven't communicated to any of them yet. I just don't know what to say especially to Vanessa. I hope they will forgive me.

April 17-April 28, whew! That was real quick! I swear, the next time I go back to my homeland, I would stay at least 3 weeks otherwise I won’t go at all.

My Little Girl Turned 19!

Time flies really fast.

It was like only last year when I brought her in this world thru my belly, hehehe, I mean, thru Caesarian Section. She got many firsts and "onlies". She is my first child. She is my parents’ first grandkid. She is my parents-in-law’s first legitimate grand daughter. She is her biological father’s only legitimate daughter. She got an older half sister and got 2 younger half sisters. She is Jun's only ligitimate sister. And she is her daddy’s first and only daughter.

It was like only last month when I sent her and her brother to school every weekday morning. Gone were the days when I took them across the highway to wait for a tricycle to get a ride. Gone were the days when I competed with other parents during the entrance tests for SPED Class during her elementary years. Gone were the days when I went to school sometimes to bring her food for lunch and literally feed her . She was and until now a slow eater.

It was like only last week when she went to high school. She belonged to a Special Science Class section. One thing that I couldn’t forget during her high school days is when she shared about the “cheating scandal” inside their classroom during Periodical Exams in Filipino Subject. It was the first time that she shared something that kind of “bad’ and I really sensed that she was really affected about it. I thought she was really involved in the truest sense of the word but I was happy that she was able to get herself out of the trouble. She said she felt guilty so she didn’t continue to cheat even if 98% of her classmates was doing the same. And she was able to justify it to her teacher and her teacher believed her, I guess, based on her score. I was too proud of her for doing it. She’s my girl!

It was like only the other day when she went to college in Bohol. She played basketball during the school’s Foundation Day and she was proud to tell me that she was able to get scores. During the Sinulog Festival in Cebu, she asked permission to go there. Of course I said NO for safety reason. I guess she hated me that time. I knew it. But my decision was final. When I say NO, that means NEVER. And she knew that.

It was like only yesterday when we celebrated her 18th birthday together with her high school friends and classmates in the Philippines. I wanted to hold a debut party for her because I believed that it is usually every girl’s dream but she declined. She just wanted a simple celebration. I guess she just didn’t want to wear gown, that’s all. She invited all her classmates and friends and we held it in the neighboring resort. There were many guests came and that made her special day, indeed, very special.

On her 19th birthday, it was a real different from last year‘s celebration. Daddy just bought a triple chocolate mousse birthday cake. Nathalie and Jaka came over. She got a cp with walkman, Twilight DVD and a box of Hot Cars. We watched WATCHMEN movie together as mom and daughter bonding. And it was a funny experience because when we got inside the movie house, there were only 3 people in there. And the movie took so long, like 2 and a half hours but there were only seven of us all in all. When we left the movie house, I was laughing out loud! I remember hubby shared his experience in that movie house. He said that he was alone. As in alone. No one was there except him. He said its okey if they wont play it for him but the movie house staff was persistent, they said they will play it for him because he paid for it. Geez!

Anyway, inside the movie house, there was a daring scene and as usual, I told Jen to close her eyes, and I even blocked her sight with my right hand. She said, “I am not a girl anymore Ma”. Hahaha! I forgot that she is already more than 18! But I still want her to be my little girl!

When we got home, hubby told something to Jen but I didn’t really hear the detail but I heard her said “ I am already 19 years old dad, and I can marry without your permission” then she hugged him and grinned. Her dad just reacted funny. Waaah! I am already an old gal!