LIFE (Fill in the blank) at 40

Last year, I wrote about the 40 things I want to do before I turn 40....yes, that was one year already...and today is the day...of reckoning!..

So what have I done/accomplished in that one year, let's see...

1.Take the car for dent repairs and a full-body repainting job..and soon!

FAILED..That was my top priority and I failed on this one..I failed big time...like its the most difficult thing to do..how could that be? to make things worst, a few days before the year ends, my car engine broke down, a major one...maybe this is what I get for taking my car maintenance for granted...

2. Finish paying for my car..

DONE! as of July 2011..

3.Go up Kuwait’s Liberation Tower.

FAILED...but wait, I am not even sure if anyone's ever been there anyway!

4. Cross a sea, or even just a river, by boat or ship..

FAILED...

5.Drive a car in the Philippines……with Manual Transmission.
FAILED!

6.Renew my Philippine driving license...
FAILED! That was the least of my concern when I went on vacation...tsk tsk.

7.Visit a country other than the usual stop-overs to and from Kuwait.
FAILED...We'll have our chance, Mommy.

8.Visit at least one tourist destination in the Philippines…outside Luzon
FAILED...Maybe this year..or the next..(cue in: Choose Philippines campaign jingle)

9.Go home to my birthplace, my hometown- Infanta, Quezon…
DONE...it was both a sad and a happy homecoming last Nov.2,2011...sad because I went there primarily to attend the funeral of my mother's aunt..happy because even if it was a short visit, I still got the chance to stay in our old house, and to see my friends and relatives I haven't seen in a long time.

10.Try at least one water activity…Jet Ski perhaps!
FAILED...Thanks for the offer though, Kyle..too bad I never got the chance.

11.Try one extreme outdoor activity—Rock or wall climbing? Bungee jumping? Whatever..
FAILED...I almost got to try the zipline during our Subic trip but it was mid-day already and my children and companions were tired and hungry..so I had to skip the chance.

12.Try one extreme ride at the amusement park—Tornado? Cyclone?..let’s do it.
FAILED...

13.Eat an exotic food..something so exotic that I can’t even think of one right now.
FAILED...or did I ate something I wasn't aware of? :))

14.Get a tattoo…even a small one.
DID NOT...Though I really wanted to..I almost did, I just had reservations because I learned one (unverified) info that anyone with tats can't be a blood donor?

15.Hold a kitten for 5 minutes!
FAILED..Maybe not in this lifetime.

16.Dye my hair..
DID NOT..WAIT, I still have time...Mommmyyy!!!

17.Finish building our dream house.
Maybe I did..i wrote here "finish building"..and the building (construction) is actually finished :)..But finishing wise, it is still a work In progress..

18.Finish repairs on my parents’ house.
Repairs were done..I think.

19.Have a house blessing.
DID NOT...

20.Paid off all of my debts…or at least more than half of it :D
More than half, yes.

21.Donate for a charity of my choice..
If donating for the Fund raising campaign project of our alumni association to repair/restore our church bells can be considered...then I did..also, just this December, I gave a small donation to  the Philippine Red Cross for the victims of typhoon Sendong.

22.Meet someone famous.
DONE...Rocky Gathercole, Chocoleit?

23.Have a General Medical check-up.
FAILED.

24.Hit the gym…or at least do some physical activities..jogging, brisk-walking..go go!..
SLIGHTLY DONE?...I tried jogging and brisk-walking last summer for a few weeks...I had to stop when the weather became hotter..instead, we bought a stationary bike so we can do some physical activity at home........it remained stationary up to this day.

25. Be 10 kgs. lighter than my current weight...
I was 87 kgs. when I wrote this...I am 84 as of this writing..tsk tsk..FAILED!

26.Buy something expensive for my wife….ssshh!
Hmmm...I got her a Washer/Dryer on her birthday..was it that expensive?

27. Pay for my children’s education for one year.
I paid last December so I guess I am done for the year..this year is another story.

28.Hire someone to finally do that extra wardrobe/storage we badly need in our bedroom.
Consider it done last July 2011..We have a spare room we used as storage space instead, now our bedroom is more organized...

29.Upgrade my home computer..
Consider it done..I got myself a new HP Laptop.instead.

30. Buy a Wii….or PS3 with all accessories? …Which one’s better, I am still debating..
Done!

31.Learn to play at least one musical instrument.
FAILED..

32. Read a book..and actually finish it.
FAILED..I can't even finish a chapter without falling asleep!

33.Spend one weekend for a Harry Potter movie marathon.
FAILED..

34.Attempt another year-long photography project, maybe a 52 (a photo a week) and complete it.
I DID IT..I ACTUALLY FINISHED MY 52 WEEK PROJECT.

35.Have my first real photo shoot.
Done!

36.Attend a photography workshop.
Done! I attended the Strobist Workshop at the FPPF Intramuros last Nov. 18-19,2011. It was a rewarding experience.

37.Take some Advance Computer Lessons- PC Assembly, Troubleshooting, Networking…for future business plans.
FAILED.

38.Spend my 40th birthday in the Philippines..in a nice beach resort…with the family…for 3 days and 2 nights..
Its my 40th Birthday and I am in Kuwait right now..so I guess I FAILED..but its okay..I still have a lifetime to do this.

39.Learn to accept the fact that I am 40 years old already.
CHECK!...Reality check..I am 40 years old. I accept it. But it will take another 40 years for me to live a full life :)

40. STILL OPEN.

So there they are, my 40 things to do..to accomplish..to achieve..How did I fare?

I failed to do things 22 out of 40..(in red)
I was able to half-accomplish 4 others. (in yellow)
I was able to do 13, with one slot still open for anything...still not bad huh?

40...22..hmmm....

30 Things I Love

Here are the people and things I love...( I will be adding some more stuffs every now and then)

1. I love my wife,Princie
2. I love our precious kids, Klydine (15), Anagaile (13), Bon (12),Cianna (5) and Zoe (2).
3. I love my parents and brothers.
4. I love myself, of course hehehe
5. I love my friends and I love meeting people.
6. I love my work…and the income I generate from it hehehe…
7. I love going home to the Philippines
8. I love graphic arts, architecture and photography
9. I love my SUV
10. I love computers and working with it
11. I love the internet and its unlimited capabilities..I enjoy discovering new things through it.
12. I love my music…I listen to anything…alternative rock, pop, rap, R&B, hip-hop, jazz even new age music and chants.
13. I love bumming around the house and watching TV with my wife.
14. I love playing NBA Live in my PC.
15. I love car racing in PS2….
16. I love movies…but since I have no time to watch now in movie houses, I settle for home movies..I go for epic movies like Gladiator, Braveheart, The Patriot and the likes.
17. I love comedy films and gag shows..I enjoy having a good laugh
18. I love Thursdays and Fridays..my days-off from work…not to mention official and religious holidays here.
19. I love to sleep..long sleep…
20. I love my wife’s day off…don’t ask why.
21. I love to cook…..kare-kare, kaldereta, afritada are my specialties..thanks to Mama Sita’s hehehe.
22. I love eating out...tapsilog and other heavy meals..not to mention having Eat-All-You can in our favorite restaurants.
23. I love fastfood…Pizza, Burgers, Chicken and Donuts..plus the local grilled food here like kebab and chicken tikka
24. I love anything with chocolate…bars, ice cream, cakes…
25. I love cola drinks…diet and regular doesn’t matter
26. I love swimming pool…spring…
27. I love to dance…
28. I love wearing denim jeans, cargo pants and shirts.
29. I love the colors black, gray, red, orange and blue.
30. I love to shop for footwear…..boots,sandals, sneakers

An open letter of a father to his son..(pulot lang)

Anak,

Sa maniwala ka o sa hindi, ikaw ang pinakamagandang nangyari sa buhay ko. Kahit hindi na kami mag-asawa ng mommy mo, sana huwag kang magtatampo kung ikasal kami sa iba at magkaroon ka ng mga bagong kapatid. Magmahalan kayo bilang magkakapatid, at huwag ninyong gawing telenobela ang buhay ninyo dahil sa walang kakwenta-kwentang bagay.

Mahalin mo ang mommy mo. Wala siyang ibang inisip kundi kapakanan mo. Kung paluin ka man niya o sigawan, ito ay dahil may nagawa kang hindi sang-ayon sa mga prinsipyo niya. Itanong mo kung bakit ka niya pinapagalitan. Kung mali naman talaga, huwag mo nang ulitin.

Piliin mong mabuti ang mga kaibigan mo. Huwag sumali sa barkada na may iisang stereotype. Huwag sumali sa barkada na puro jologs, puro conio, puro bakla, puro nerd, puro manginginom, o puro manyak. Siguraduhin mong nakikita mo ang lahat ng klase ng tao sa barkada mo. Mas marami kang matututunan sa kanila kesa sa TV o sa bahay mo. Marami silang maituturo sa yo na hindi namin kaya, o hindi appropriate na kami ang magturo.

Maging fluent ka sa written and spoken English. Pag-aralan mong mabuti ang subject-verb agreement. Huwag kang matakot mag-consult sa dictionary o thesaurus kapag may hindi ka naiintindihan. Kasi anak, darating ang araw, makakaapak ka sa ibang bansa, at sigurado akong marami kang makakausap na hindi makakaintindi ng Tagalog. Kahit saang sulok sa mundo, makakahanap ka ng magsasalita ng English.

Gawin mo ang lahat para matuto kang mag-gitara. Pag-aralan mo ding kumanta ng nasa tono. Kahit saan mo kasi dalhin ang gitara, maaaliw ka e. Isipin mo yung mga bulag. Hindi sila nakakapag-Playstation. Hindi sila nakakapag-Internet. Hindi sila nanonood ng TV, at hindi sila nakakapag-enjoy sa mall. Pero bigyan mo sila ng gitara at pakantahin mo, matutuwa sila. May kuryente man o wala, mapapasaya ka ng gitara. Makinig ka sa mga kanta ng Beatles. Kapag naging aware ka na sa pag-develop ng musical style ng Beatles, kahit anong genre kaya mong i-appreciate. Sa kanila ka matututong magsulat ng poetry, at sa kanila mo rin matututunan kung paano lagyan ng music ang poetry na ito. Saan ka nakakita ng banda na lampas 30 years nang naghiwalay, patay na ang ilan sa mga miyembro, pero sikat at ginagaya pa rin? Beatles lang ang makakagawa nun, anak.

Pagdating mo ng college, huwag mong kakalimutang subukan lahat ng kalokohan sa mundo. Bakit college? Kasi kung high school ka magiging sira ulo, mawawalan ka ng options sa college. Baka sa walang kwentang money-centric computer institute ka bumagsak. Mag-aral ka ng mabuti sa elementary at high school. Dapat makapasok ka sa UP, Ateneo, La Salle, o UST. Dapat maganda yung course mo. Sa college, balansehin mo yung academics mo tsaka kalokohan. Gumimik ka pero pasukan mo lahat ng klase mo kinabukasan. Huwag magpakalasing kung wala kang siguradong uuwian at kung walang aalalay sa yo pag sumusuka ka na. Wag maadik sa droga. Sumubok kang mag-marijuana pero subok lang. Kung dadating yung panahong hindi mo na mapigilang makipag-sex, siguraduhin mo lang na gaganda ang lahi natin kung sakaling mabuntis mo yung makaka-sex mo.

Practice safe sex. Wag mong kakalimutang mag-survey ng lugar kung may camera o wala. Kawawa naman ang nanay mo kung malalaman niyang may scandal ka.

Huwag mong gawing trial and error ang pagkakaroon ng girlfriend. Alamin mo muna kung ano ang kaya mong ibigay sa isang relationship, at kapag nalaman mo na, doon ka maghanap ng isang babaeng magiging masaya sa mga maibibigay mo. Pakinggan mong mabuti ang mga kuwento ng girlfriend mo. Alamin mo kung ano ang mga gusto niya at mga ayaw niya.Huwag mong sisigawan. Dahil ang babae, kapag pinakinggan mo siya at alam niyang nirerespeto mo siya, mamahalin ka nun habambuhay.

Pagka-graduate mo, iwanan mo na ang mga araw na umaasa ka pa sa ibang tao para mabuhay. Matuto kang mag-ipon. Alamin mo kung tama yung kinakaltas sa sweldo mo. Pinaghirapan mo yang pera na yan. Huwag mong hayaang kunin na lang ng kung sinu-sino. Bago ka gumastos, lagi mong itanong sa sarili mo kung ang bibilhin mo ay isang NEED o isa lamang WANT. Sana maging accountable sa lahat ng ginagawa mo. Oo, hindi maganda ang sitwasyon nung dumating ka sa mundo. Pero sana sa paglaki mo, huwag mong sisisihin ang mga pangyayaring ito kaya ka nagrerebelde o nalulugar sa masamang landas. Ang buhay mo ngayon ay dahil sa desisyon namin na mabuhay ka. Pero tandaan mo to: lahat ng mangyayari sa buhay mo e dahil sa mga desisyon mo.

Anak, marami pa akong gustong sabihin sa iyo. Buti na lang naitanong ko sa isang kaibigan ko kung ano ang kaisa-isang advice na maibibigay niya sa anak nya, at eto yung nasabi niya sa kin.

Sa lahat ng maibibigay kong advice, eto ang pinakamahalaga: LEARN.

Huwag kang matakot matuto. Matuto ka sa Discovery at National Geographic channels. Matuto ka sa library. Matuto ka sa Internet.
Matuto ka sa news. Matuto ka sa Bible, Koran, at teachings ni Buddha. Matuto ka sa mga pagkakamali namin ng nanay mo. Matuto ka sa mga kaibigan mo. Matuto ka sa mga pagkakamali mo..


Love,

Daddy

I got a ticket..damn!!

I got a ticket driving on a ONE-WAY STREET!..damn...for as long as I can remember, I've been driving on the same street everyday..just a small portion of a street leading to the Expressway.. It used to be a two-way street, but thanks ( or no thanks) to a newly constructed street, they decided to make this one way..



I've been aware of the signs ( NO ENTRY) posted at the beginning of the street but nobody seems to care about that anyway. I am not the only one using that short way out...I used to think the No Entry signs is in effect only during School Days (this is a common practice here) because there's a lot of schools around the area..

But luck is not on my side today..tsk tsk..I was happily driving down the street to the tune of BREATHLESS and lo and behold..as I turn the corner, there it was, a police mobile parked right there, waiting for unsuspecting and clueless drivers like me..I can only shake my head...phew!

Now I have to wait for a week or 10 days to go to the Traffic Dept and pay my penalties, which I just learned, was now raised to a whooping KD 250..Thats around 40 thousand pesos Ladies and Gentlemen...waaaaaaaaaah..............#%%^(^(&()*)(

I am BAd father..I mean, really BAD!

Me sakit si Cianna for the past 2 days na..una sipon lang then naging ubo na nauwi sa lagnat pero nawawala din naman pag nag-take ng gamot..pero siempre just to be sure, nag decide kami pa -check up kahapon just in case kelangan ng antibiotic.

So maaga akong nag-out from work at sinundo ko yung mag-ina ko sa bahay..Pumunta kami sa hospital na pinagtatrabahuhan ng kumander ko.

Pagdating dun sa pediatric clinic, siempre dahil staff naman si misis kaya kakilala na ang mga doctors..in other words, makikisingit lang kami sa mga pasyente, di na kami magpa-file at magbabayad ng consultation etc hehehe..

so habang naghihintay kami matapos yung isang pasyente, naengganyo maglaro si Cianna sa play area next to the clinic..si misis naman nakikipag-tsika muna sa mga nakapuwesto sa nurse station..so ako ang nakatutok kay Cianna..

nung time na yun, me 2 batang tingin ko e magkapatid..Egyptian sila, 4 years old siguro yung panganay at mga 3 din siguro yung kapatid..pareho silang babae..sa play area, siempre may slide, rocking horsey-horsey, ball house..si Cianna siempre nakakita ng bata, tendency dun agad lumapit para maglaro sa slide..kaso ayaw sya pasakayin sa slide nung mas panganay na bata, tinutulak tulak, hinaharang...

First action ko, sinutsutan ko muna si Cianna, calling her attention para lumayo na lang..kaso siempre bata, nagpilit pa rin umakyat..ayun, bigla na lang syang sinundot sa pisngi nung isang bata..sundot na parang patulak sa pisngi..parang sampal na daliri ang ginamit..si misis ko nag react din agad kahit nasa me nurse station, sinita nya yung bata sa arabic...pero dedma..yung bata pa ang matapang sabay lapit sa nanay nya.

ako naman tumayo agad ako para kargahin si Cianna at ilayo..gusto kong sitahin yung batang babae pero ang kunsitidorang nanay nakatingin lang at hindi man lang natinag sa nakita...mahirap lang kasi sitahin, mapapaaway ka na nga..talo ka pa sa lakas ng boses at bunganga...ganyan ang mga lahing nila, walang katwiran.

maya-maya, bumalik sa paglalaro si Cianna...yung lokang bata gusto pa atangng balikan ang anak ko e sa me tapat ko dadaan..tiempo, nakita ko yung nanay nakatalikod ..HINARANG KO YUNG LEG KO sa dadaanan nung bata..sakto!!! NAPATID sya, daplag sa rubber mat...hindi nakaimik kahit nung tumayo, parang takot na nakatingin lang sa akin tapos bumalik na sa upuan nila...sinundan ko ng masamang tingin..si misis ko kita rin pala ginawa ko, nakangiti lang pero tinitignan din ng masama yung bata..ayun hindi naman na nagsumbong sa nanay nya..

Huh?!...akala nya papalagpasin ko ginawa nya ke Cianna ha...

If you can't laugh at yourself...

My visa is expiring in a few days kaya kinailangan ko mag-prepare ng ID pictures para sa mga renewal papers..Ok, nothing wrong with that..except natuwa/natawa lang ako sa hitsura ko sa ID picture ko..hahahaha..sige hindi ko naman sana papansinin..kaso siempre me mga malalakas mang-asar na anjan lang sa paligid (eherm)

kaya eto nagkaroon ako ng idea..halukayin ang baul..sige game..patigasan na ng mukha kahit laitin nyo na ako hahahahahah!..maski ako natatawa sa sarili ko lechugas!

humanda na kayo..kalimutan kahit saglit ang problema at makitawa..lapit-lapit..minsan-minsan lang to..

unahin natin ito..ang aking kasalukuyang hitsura..(2008)

Parang congressman na walang ginagawa sa kongreso kundi tumanggap ng lagay at magpataba sa kurakot at mga illegal dealings..

















now..lets go back 5 years earlier..(2003)







eto ang mukhang sanggano/ex-convict na kandidato..kahit nabihisan ng maayos, mukhang di pa rin pagkakatiwalaan..

















kaya pa ba? di pa tapos..lets go back further..10 years ago ( 1998)



















mukhang patay gutom na barangay tanod na gustong maging kapitan..







ayan tapos na..puede na kayong uminum ng tubig at mahismasan..

Itlog mo, Noy..orens!

di ko mapigilang matawa dito sa napulot ko sa Yahoo..(credits to the original source, if you wanna see the REAL article here's the link

At siempre dahil "marumi ang utak" ko ( ako pa?!) e double-meaning sa akin yang article na yan. Kaya eto ang aking edited version. I just thought I'd change some words and voila! (hahaha)..My edit and comments on italics...Warning: para lang sa may malawak ang kaisipan heheh..
Which eggs should you be eating?
( sa Tagalog, anong itlog ang masarap kainin?)

Brown or white?
In actuality, color is simply an indication of the breed of MEN. Find the freshest  EGG with the most flavor and let color be a secondary concern.

- brown ( pinoy?) or white (kano o puti?) nyahaha ano nga ba mas masarap na itlog..ah basta daw sariwa yun ang malasa, wala yan sa kulay heheheheh..

Extra Omega-3s?
Omega-3 eggs come from MEN whose diet has added flaxseed, which yields an egg containing an average of 225 mg of Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E. Let eggs be eggs.

- in short, may sustansya talagang nakukuha sa pagkain ng itlog.

Does your egg need exercise? ( Really now?! hahah!)
Cage-free and free-range eggs are from MEN raised without the confines of a cage, though they may or may not have spent much time outdoors. Organic eggs are from men that are raised with the most holistic approach: their feed must meet organic standards, they must be raised humanely and sustainably, and they must be given access to the outdoors.
Hey, happier MEN do have tastier eggs...

- Ano ba ang magandang exercise?..push and pull? shake, shake, shake?..o simpleng masahe lang...

Sumisigaw din pala ang mga itlog.."PALAYAIN!'.." MABUHAY ANG LABAN PARA SA KALAYAAN.."ang hirap nga naman ng lagi na lang nakakulong...pag malaya ang itlog, masaya..at pag masaya, malasang-malasa..nyahaha!

Does local make a difference?
Nothing is better than local eggs. ( korek ka jan)..They may have a feather or two ( ang mabalahibong itlog bow.) stuck to them or a slightly imperfect shape ( bakit nga ba ganun yun, hindi pantay hahaha) and they may or may not be certified organic; however, they have one quality I prize: I know exactly where my food came from and how it came to be!

- Aha! Sinasabi ko na nga ba..Iba pa rin ang lahing-lokal..nakakasigurado..hala sige! itaas ang bandila ng ITLOG NA PINOY...(penoyyyy, baluuutttt)

Is spending more really worth it?
I think so. Some parts of your diet are hard to manage on a budget. Eggs are less significant. Try making one evening a week where your organic eggs take center stage.

- Yung may mga regular ng supply ng itlog, nakakalibre na sila..pero kung handa ka namang magbayad para makatikim ng itlog at least once a week...sige lang, its worth it hahahah!

so now tapos na..ilang tanong na lang.

q: Ano bang masarap sa itlog?
a. Kamutin (nyahahah)

q: E paano ba gumawa ng itlog na maalat?
a. Simple lang, wag maligo ng 3 araw.

Ikaw..anong gusto mo sa itlog?