Happy 43rd Bday Singapore!

Today marks the 43rd National day of Singapore. I have been living here for the last 7 years and today, I could not help from thinking what do I love about Singapore? First of all, I have great respect to the government of Singapore for their good governance and vision for growth. From my experience living here, Singapore is a source of envy versus my country in terms of its strong, transparent, and holistic government policies. Second, Singapore is a very peaceful country despite the many cultural differences among the people living here. You walk in any street and you will see the Chinese, Indian, Malay, Filipinos, Australians, Americans, Europeans all coming together and blending homogeneously like they are all coming from the same race. Singapore is truly embracing globalization which keeps the country attractive despite being a small sovereignty. Third, Singapore is a very vibrant and pleasant country! I really love the different tastes of food here, you don't need to travel many countries because you can find them here (and they are not as expensive too if you know where to find). The shopping scene here is superb, all year round there's always a good sale! The arts scene here is also blooming which makes your social calendar much more interesting. I also love the fact that despite being a modern metropolis, Singapore did not forget about balancing modernity with clean environment. I think the urban and city planners of Singapore are really doing a great job. Despite being small a country, there's always space for good parks and great spaces for amusement, truly a great place to start a young family.

I guess overall, I do love it here and I have no reason yet to move out. I just hope that I can bring some of the good experience here back home and learn from the Singapore transformation.

Happy Birthday again Singapore!

Heritage Village, New Delhi

I just had a business trip to New Delhi to visit one of our manufacturing plants in India. I am enchanted by this boutique hotel where I stayed. It is nestled away from the city (almost in the middle of nowhere really) and you feel like living in some royalty kingdom.


This is the facade entrance to my hotel room...
Here enjoying the colorful company of the Rajasthani entertainers...

Bloody Encounter with My Dentist

The official receipt says "corticotomy" ; yes, i survived 1.5 hours of surgery in a small operating chair in my dentist's clinic last Sat,Nov 18. In ordinary language, what the operation means is, the dentist need to cut a portion of my lower gum and move my lower teeth inside. I have a case of what my playmates bully me in the past as, "half-moon". My lower jaw is wider and is blessed with more teeth than an average person. I had my braces on 3 years back (initially due to vanity because "braces" are the latest "in" thing in the Phils back then) and the dentist already gave me a vision of what is yet to happen last Saturday in his office. I am calm when i stepped into the clinic 8:30am in the morning. The dentist called on his asisstants (there are all Pinoys btw, and they are all so "USI" since most have not seen "corticotomy" before -- i guess, i'm one of a kind), prepared all the tools and gadgets ( i almost changed my mind when i saw the chisel and the hammer laid in front of me), and finally he gave me a local anesthesia. My mouth was so numb, so no matter how much cutting and hammering (yes hammering because the dentist need to cut through the bone), i just laid back on the dentist chair and counting time when this will be over. After so many hands touching my mouth and a bucketful of blood, one hour has gone and the dentist is already doing the stitches. Suddenly with one big pull, he pushed the brackets from my front teeth and connected it to my right molars, whaahh! very very painful...i am in tears waving my hands for the dentist to stop! He gave me another shot of anesthesia and whaaah! i can feel the needle piercing through my sensitive gums, all the more painful...i am panting this time,panicking and grasping for air,if i had hypertension, i think this would have been a major attack. The nurses were trying to calm me down, i could not get hold of myself, i am really in pain, BIGTIME! After the long shot of anesthesia, the dentist is attempting to connect my teeth again and push inside, 1..2..3.. done! My body is shaking , i feel like all my nerves has been disturbed and i cannot control the shivers. The dentist said, i have been good (really?), that the operation is done, and i need to take one more X-ray before I leave. When i stood up, i feel like the world has turned upside down, i badly want to go home,lie down in bed, and recuperate from my agonising surgery.

Long minutes has passed, the X-ray machine is not yet up and running, the nurse already called the technician to quickly come over and fix the problem but, no technician has arrived yet. The anesthesia is slowly fading and again, i'm in tremendous pain. I feel so much pressure from my lower jaw , it almost feels like my mouth is breaking into pieces, i am having a massive headache! Where is the technician?, i am strongly complaining now to my husband. Of course, not to embarass us from the long que of patients waiting outside, my husband just re-assured me we will go home soon, be patient, and forget the pain. How can I disregard this pain???

After 30 minutes, i could not bear any longer, and the dentist asked me to come back again to the "deadly" chair . I thought he will just check if something went wrong but again, another needle pierced into my aching gums , not only once but twice, thrice, and i stopped counting at four...I am crying like a child, cannot compose myself,trying to grasp air, all I want is just to go home,please... NOW! At last, the X-ray man arrived and I was given a scan.

If you think pain is over after the dentist's clinic , the thing is, i have to be high on drugs just to survive. Round the clock i have to take 500mg of pain killer and antibiotics. Not to mention, on the 2nd day, my mouth is swollen and my lower gum is still bleeding. What is happening to me? i'm not very sure at all if this was the right decision to make. My son (now,17months old), never knowing that I am in pain is also wanting to be carried always and would want me to play around with him. He is becoming naughty these days as well, he will never take "NO" for an answer.

As I write this, I'm already on day 5, i have finished all the meds and for the first time when i look at the mirror, I do appreciate what my dentist has done. Gone are the "half-moon" days, hopefully, the wound from the surgery will heal very soon, my lower teeth will align and tuck inside, and I can make a great big smile again! But still, it was a bloody hell of an experience (for keeps!) :-)

My Adventures in India

Remembering Bang

As I am writing this, i still can't believe that our good friend, Evan Ragandang has passed away last March 07. It was a sad week after hearing the news, and it was also an unexpected news to begin with. I was still on the phone with Bang when I visited Manila last Feb 13, and he was still in his good old jolly mood. Although i was concerned that he is back home in Cagayan de Oro,according to him,he is just resting for awhile after another visit to the hospital.

Bang has been confined for some time in the Lung Center in Manila last year because of his pneumonia/bronchitis/asthma/whatever not-so-clearly-diagnosed condition. We jokingly talked about it, and I teased him that he could be going out too much partying and he could have caught the "bird flu". Of course, conversations with Bang were never serious and comedian that he is, he will never talk to you seriously despite being in pain. I was always wondering, what Life could he have had if he didn't leave Singapore? It feels like that time was not so long ago, it was a point in time when most of my friends are already fed up of Singapore. In fact, that was the first disease he got -- the contagious "boredom". He was always talking about wanting change but i was never convinced that quitting work and packing your things abruptly is the solution. But, the wind of destiny is blowing him back to the Philippines and so, he went back and finally landed a new job, a new place, and new set of friends. I was content for him, the "change" that he was looking for has quickly materialised. But, I never thought it would come this far, not to the extent of not seeing him again.

Again, I have always wondered, could his Life be better if he did not leave Singapore? Even if he will be sick just the same, i somehow think that medical care in Singapore is better. Maybe he could have better treatment or maybe better, he could have stayed his same healthy self. I don't know what lies ahead, and I also don't own the future but sometimes, given the right conditions, maybe circumstances could have been different.

It is hard to ignore the loss of a friend specially if most of the pictures you have together are happy memories. I thought 10 or 15 years down the road I could compare notes with Bang and account for the individual lives we have journeyed. I guess that will not happen. I guess, for the mortal years Bang has enjoyed, that is the only history I could look back. But I guess, despite the short years, Bang will remain to bear a smiling face, he will always be remembered as the entertainer, the don't worry-be-happy guy, the urban chic, the adventurer, the aspiring tennis rookie (of thomson 800), the best in gossip, the most up-to-date when it comes to any 50-70% sale, the most neat and organised, the most talkative, the most ..the most.. the most... i can continue for a day but, i have to let go because he is only a memory now.

Bang, I have always thanked God for the gift of your friendship. For the life you have lost, I will all the more cherish the life I live. Life is short indeed, you remind me to slow down from my everyday "busyness", not forgetting what's essential to happy living that is, good health, loving relationships, and communion with the Lord.

So long my friend, you will always be remembered.

All Roads Will Lead You Home

Today, almost every Filipino dreams of working overseas in the hope of a better Life. There is an exodus of Filipino migrants scattered around the world in search of greener pastures. Sadly enough, less Filipinos now care about building the nation, a massive "brain drain" that will hemorrhage the future generation.

I am myself one of the many who has left in search of a better Life outside of the country. My siblings have done the same. My family is one of the many fragmented long-distance relationships where only the internet and IDD calls are connecting our ties together.

Who can blame our plight? What nation is there to build if you cannot provide a decent meal for your family? What government is there to trust if all you witness is corruption,deceit, and malpractice? What life is left to enjoy if most of our resources are dying of neglect and abuse? Our inherent survival instinct would urge us to take care of our own backyard first before others. And so it goes, the common tao in the Philippines equates life outside the 7,100 islands a respite amidst all the financial,political, and social issues fledging the nation. But, is it really worth it?

The Joy of Being Lola

Mama Mima and EJ (4 months old)





My mom and EJ (6 months old)








What is it about "lolas" that makes them tickle when they see their grandchild (specially if it is the first one)?. I recall being a first time Mom is already overwhelming, I wonder how it feels to be a first time grandma??

My mother-in-law,Mama Mima, was with us shortly after I gave birth to EJ. I didn't really had the chance to spend a longer time with her before so, this is also our first "bonding" opportunity. The whole 5 months she was with us, all I can remember is this patient woman lovingly caring for EJ. She wakes up early each day looking forward to greeting EJ a good morning, bring him near the window and watch the morning bus that passes by. In a short while, she would carefully give him a bath and then change his nappies and put on fresh clothes. In between, there's a lot of babytalk,gigling, and laughing to entertain EJ. The whole routine is not complete without feeding him his first bottle of milk for the day and then, the finale would be a little rocking on EJ's baby swing coupled with some singging to put him to sleep. Without notice, time will quickly pass by and you will find my mother in law still patiently rocking EJ to sleep until he finally wriggles and shakes his legs wanting to get out. And then the whole routine starts again with a little entertainment, next batch of feeding, and then in a short while, sleeping.

Days ago, my mother was here in Singapore to visit us during the holidays. This is her first time to be out of the Philippines (along with my brother,Nicky) so the trip by itself is already overwhelming for her. The first time she saw EJ, I can see that different "spark" in her face, she suddenly smiled and hugged her grandson like it will be the last time. She was here for two weeks but, the shadow of that same patient woman suddenly came back to life. My mother would start the day looking forward to carrying EJ in her arms, play together, they would sit in the couch and watch the morning news, she would put him in his walker and watch him roam around messing up the living room. In a short while she would assist me giving EJ a bath, change nappies,then change clothes. She will then feed him with his milk, burp him and then, carry him in her shoulders with a little singging to put him to sleep. In a short while, EJ would be back on his toes again and so the whole routine comes back starting with a little play-play, and then eating, and then sleeping.

The two "lolas" had different encounters with their first "apo", yet both are the same in giving their 100% if not more, in taking care of EJ. That's what I can describe as deep love. Love that is inherent and will re-surface itself even if uncalled for. I'm sure both of them did not really think how much they have to give of one's self until they finally experience being with their grandson. I wonder how much fulfillment is there to have your first "apo"? Is there an emotional difference between your son and your grandson? I think it is needless to ask, because judging from the two lolas, I'm sure there is no comparison and it will be difficult to describe.

I'm here in Singapore but I continue to think about the two lolas who are now back in Davao. I wonder how they are feeling right now? I'm sure they miss EJ a lot, but beyond that, will the fondness last or will it fade as the little boy becomes naughtier? What is it about "lolas"? Or, should the question be, what is it about "mothers" that makes them a constant source of love and affection?

Little Santa

Ho!ho!ho!

Hi!Hi!Hi!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Confessions of a paranoid mother

EJ has just started to eat his first solid meal -- a bowl of brown rice diluted in fruit juice or milk. This wonder boy never fails to explore anything possible that his little hands can grab. He is at a stage where curiosity overpowers and everything goes to the mouth. And this is where my paranoia starts...

First, my concern on "germs". His hands are touching every single object that comes his way and unfortunately with no warning, it also goes to his mouth. Clean-freak as I was and still am, I am greatly concerned that he may just pick up all the "seen and unseen" germ colony in the house. This anxiety causes extra hours of cleaning,washing, dusting, and baby-proofing just to make sure that he will not catch any uncalled for disease. Even seeing ants cause me to panic these days..

Second, he never stops wanting for more, do i give in or is this his first lesson of control? EJ seems to have found a new awareness of himself. Basically, he gets what he wants, and i'm half-guilty of being easily manipulated by his cute pleadings. We started him with a teaspoon or two of solid food but now he's wanting the whole bowl to himself ! True enough, the story never ends without any repercussion. He just had a bad constipation (as in,really bad). He did not pass motion for the past 6 days and i am so worried that I have to bring him to the doctor. The doctor gave him a suppository and whah! after 6 hours, the whole 6 days of waste just came out in one poop, it was so bad...it smells like rotten meat :-(. There's a lot of "I should have done this", and "I should have done that" debating in my mind. Bottomline, I should have done a better job controlling him of what he wants because after all, it should be the adult who knows better,right?

Third, my mind is so excited to see him grow up. I am already one book ahead in planning his clothes,his meals,his first birthday and etc. Every night I sleep with a picture in my mind, wanting to provide him only the happiest memories, the best education, the safest environment, the most nutritious and delicious food i can think of (which is partly why i have another blog,My Kitchen). I am far too ahead in planning his future, I might be loosing ground of the present. But, i just can't help it, nothing like this happened to me before and there is an involuntary inertia coming out of me to just provide for him whatever is best.

Haay...everything now revolves around EJ. I wonder what he must be thinking about his Mommy. Am I doing a good job? Does he love me as much as I love him? I may not hear the answer too soon, but, it is enough consolation for me to see him smile each time I come home. I am beginning to like my new role as a mother and hopefully, being one is what I will be good at.

Christmas spirit in Singapore?

Christmas is only a few days away and I can't help but think about coming back home in the Philippines. No matter how financially-challenged, every Filipino home during this time of the year seems to be very alive and festive. Christmas lights decorate the streets, christmas carols are heard everywhere - from jeepneys to malls, to children singging carols. In everything, people seem to transform into some goodness e.g. gift-giving,visiting friends & relatives,cooking & sharing meals in the neighborhood. This is usually the time when enemies become friends, the one time event of the year where I find there's abundance of love and joy.

We strolled around Orchard road and it displays beautiful decors, bright lights, big Christmas trees, and etc.. The scene is feast to your eyes but it seems to lack the "Christmas spirit". Christmas in Singapore is so much more a merchandising event and I think people flock to shopping districts like Orchard road to avail of the Christmas sale or find good end-year bargain. When we go back to our apartment, the neighborhood is still that same old quiet environment, not even a christmas carol or a christmas lantern to greet you by.

Unfortunately, we will not be home for Christmas this year. For the record, this will be my first Christmas also away from home. The only difference, this time, i have a newfound family to begin celebrating Christmas every year. If you think of it, Christmas is really a celebration of having family -- Jesus being born into this world in the welcoming arms of Mary & Joseph. I'm glad that despite being away from home, I now have a new Home I can call my own. What matters most is not where you are at this time of the year, but how you spend time to make Christmas meaningful. For me, Christmas is a time for family and family is where we are in Singapore.

Emilio Joaquin

This is a cute photo of my little one, Emilio Joaquin.
We call him "EJ" for short. He's 5 months old now
and growing up very fast.

Boxing anyone?

First day

November 25,2005, today is my first day as a "blogger".

I've never really understood what "blogging" meant until I came across this food blog site,pinoycook.net. I thought, i can also do the same - express my thoughts and perhaps put anything to it e.g. photos, recipes i came across or experimented in our kitchen or perhaps, anything under the sun. I'm trying to recover what I once had as a talent, writing. Wish me good luck if that will re-surface or will remain to be hidden :-).