I only use Facebook for reacting to friends’ posts and
reaching out to friends and family members. I do not share anything in
there except that because:
1. my personal details are used as advertising numbers for Facebook
2. I prefer sincere connections and effort-ful relationships in this cheap world
3. reverse stalking scares me
4. I define BORING’s complete six letters
5. Facebook distracts me 10,000% of the time when I should be busy doing other things
I use Twitter to get updated. It has replaced newspapers and magazines in my life. What I like best about it is the wit and humor of people who share the same interest (and has mastery) as I do in 140 characters. Twitter has never failed in being my source of entertainment, education and inspiration. But there would be times when I don't tweet much because of my busy schedule.
I use Instagram before SnapChat, when it wasn't bought by Facebook yet. I liked looking at the great photos snapped by common users. I don't use it anymore because it gives me the same vibe as Facebook.
Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines awardee and Ateneo de Manila University’s first visually-impaired Filipina summa cum laude Roselle Ambubuyog summarized her life story in colors. Green for her childhood days, red when she became blind, white for that time when she has accepted her disability, yellow for those years that despite her blindness there are supportive people around her who helped her accomplish her dreams, and so on. For me, my high school years were gray. Gray because I have never been as unsure of my life as I was then.
I was clueless as to what to do with my life. I didn’t know what course to take because I didn’t know what career I would enjoy best. While my friends and classmates were sure as to the steps they want to take after high school, I was drifting along. I was copying whatever sounded great. I guess I was most hesitant to make the first mature decision of my life: to choose a college degree.
I was also most disinterested about life when I was in high school. Perhaps it was due to hormonal changes, but I was most sluggish then. Nothing appeared interesting to me. My days would be the same day in and day out. School was fun and I have numerous fun friends, but life was monotonous. Everything was boring, everything was gray.
Lastly, I remember that back in high school, during my third year, my father died. It was one of the saddest days of my life. My father, whom I love and respect very much got sick of emphysema and was in pain for quite some months. Several weeks before Christmas, my brother fetched us from the province with the bad news that our dad passed away. I was crying all throught our trip home.
It was amazing that high school life consisted only of four years, but led to more colorful and difficult yet rewarding life ahead. I am most thankful of God’s mercies on my life because looking back, it is clear to me that by His loving kindness I came out fine and triumphant after high school.
“People plan their path, but the Lord secures their steps.” Proverbs 16:9
I first knew about Elisabeth Elliot from the movie Through Gates of Splendor. It documented their missionary days in a remote jungle in Ecuador and how their husbands were killed by the Auca people whom they have been praying for to share the gospel with - their husbands of barely five years.
Their story convinced me more to seek God's kingdom and live my life for Him.
Keep a Quiet Heart
Then I came across my sister's book written by Elisabeth, Keep a Quiet Heart. It is a compilation of writings on various topics like family, faith, even social issue commentaries. I read it three times from cover to cover and has been greatly blessed with her views and messages. Googled her and found out about her website which featured daily devotionals - http://www.elisabethelliot.org/.
The purpose of life is to know God Photo credit:PraisePhotography.com
The purpose of life is to know God - we do this on our own. Others may point us closer to Him, yet the experience is all unique for every individual, personal.
When God made man, He made him in His own image. When He made the animals, His imagination roamed wide and free - The Adventures of Toby is an animation series that is not only top quality but parent approved.
If we give out love, there is ultimately no way on heaven or earth to avoid receiving and receiving far more than we could possibly give.
Life is full of things we can't do anything about, but which we are supposed to do so mething with. - My take on this, my son's special needs in class is NOT a problem but a purpose - to improve myself, that I may be able to love them more, and learn to trust God more.
Prayer is like incense. It costs a great deal. It doesn't seem to accomplish much (as we mortals assess things). It soon dissipates but God likes the smell.
Famed author Anna Quindlen, in an interview shared her parenting insight:
Kids should have enough freedom on their own - once they know the rules.
I agree very much.
Kids are smart. You don't need to tell them often what to do. Plus, they pick up what you do. More is caught than taught. If there's one thing that should be stressed out to them again and again, like a broken recorder (this little kids won't have any clue what cassette tape recorders are!) are the rules, the virtues you hold dear.
A friend in her senior years sagely advised me, "Just remind them again and again."
Then I remembered. The stories my mother told me, told others, were repeated numerous times to drive her deepest values. And yes, I absorbed them. It worked! I got pissed hearing the story again and again. But looking back, my life echoed those wishes she repeated again, and again.
Anna Quindlen's Books
Got another parenting strategy now!
Patient love for my daughter
I love my kids, yet I don't know how to show it. I'm so interested with my work that I don't get to play with them often, not unlike when they were still toddlers.
Their maturing minds allow them to reason. They argue with me. I like it that I lose most of the times. My reasoning is often confusing - to the dismay of my husband.
One big challenge I face is overcoming myself when it comes with my daughter.
She's my Mini-Me alright. And we clash personalities.
Because of this, she gets grumpier. I see myself in her more. I fight back with anger, it doesn't work. The two persons I see are both unpleasant in my eyes. Got to draw back and reflect.
Got to be patient with my daughter. Bite my tongue when I don't have something good to say. Never let myself snap in front of her.
Yes, God has been teaching me patience all throughout these years. I don't want to fail at the cost of my daughter.
Playful love for my son
Thinking about my 4-year old son, I would suggest having kids when you're older. The older you can, the better. Why? Three things:
Kids' inherent playfulness - foolishness at times, is refreshing for my age.
Rough play is a free workout session. Or better yet, a kid serves as a giant plush toy that's so fun to hug tightly. There's a Filipino term that loses its meaning when translated - gigil!
Their ideas are colorful!
Trouble remembering your passwords - Get 1Password
Most used iTunes App for Work from Home Moms
Email - Okay, this comes installed. I LOVE how Apple's Gmail and Yahoo may get instantly pushed notifications on my phone. Saves me a lot of in-front-of-the-computer time! Too bad Google Hosted App Emails for businesses have trimmed to five (5) free accounts maximum. I still know of an account with 200+ allowed users.
1Password - Computer and 1Password on my phone work together. I don't let my PC remember my passwords for security reasons.
Kindle - Got Kindle, I'm solved! There are lots of classic books that are free, and bestsellers are cheaper in Kindle than the actual book. Choose your device and download one now!
TuneIn Radio - My kids don't know radio as an individual device. For them, radio is car radio or music playing. Why not, we listen through the Internet. Local stations are there, along with all the world's radio stations. Talk about choices!
If you are walking along God's chosen path for you, and you are trusting Him to order each step, you will be successful. ~ Charles Stanley
Getting a license at LTO's Main QC office
I have applied for a student's permit license twice yet never managed to graduate to the non-professional license. First time, I applied at Marikina LTO. Second was in Mandaluyong.
Third, and hopefully the last is at LTO's main office in Quezon City along East Avenue.
Duration: Give or take 60 minutes
Requirements:
Make sure you have these documents ready for faster application.
1. Photocopy of any government issued ID that shows date of birth/age (E.g. Passport, SSS ID, etc). Bring the original too, for validation purposes. If none,
2. Birth certificate
4. TIN number
5. Money
6. Ballpen
Note:
1. No drug/medical test required.
Procedure:
1. Line up to the single-manned front desk for the form. Accomplish all the fields properly.
2. Turn right to proceed to the QCLC - Quezon City Licensing Center Window 1 Evaluation of Student to submit the accomplished form. You will need to submit photocopied ID here.
3. Wait for name to be called at Window 6 for picture and digital signature taking.
Some driving schools offer assistance for securing student permit for a fee. However, you need to be physically there at the government office for the signature and photo taking.
4. Once name is called, line up at the specifiec window to have your phto and signature taken.
5. Then wait for your name to be called for the payment of the permit. Student permit costs P317.63.
6. Finally, wait one last time for your name to be called. This is when they will hand you your student's permit with the OR. Check all the details before leaving.
Overall, applying for a student's permit at the QC Main Office was better compared to my previous experiences.
I'd rank this specific LTO office together with DTI in Highway 54. Transactions are reasonably handled. The premises are clean. Waiting areas are well lighted and ventilated. Staff are professional and corteous.
Points for improvement
They may best use the flat screen TVs at the waiting area for advertorials, the same way Mercury Drugstores do it? Topics such as proper driving, driving rules or steps in applying/renewing for licenses.
Matt Damon pretends to be Santa to kids for Water.org
Carlos in 2011
I may be guilty of always treating him as a baby. Can't help it. Though 2011 showed a lot of maturing and improvements from Carlos, I fondly recall that moment when being so young as he was, he comforted me with his words, "Don't worry mom."
I need not worry because he would wash his hands which were all getting dirty with the ice cone he's eating.
I need not worry that his pants got pee on it because he missed the toilet. He will just change it.
Do you really care, Carlos? Or do you just prefer a cooler mom? :)
Difficulty to focus on a task - Whenever I would hold our home school sessions at home, Carlos would not participate. Instead, he would tell me what he wishes to do instead. At school, his teacher told me that during table top activities, Carlos would fail to finish his work.
Ability to hear, see or feel things otherwise common to all - Carlos gets annoyed with too loud objects. He doesn't like parades, much so things at home that make scary sounds. Their grandmother once gave them a musical candle that plays happy birthday song in a high-pitched manner. Carlos couldn't stand it. He sees specks of dirt on the rice, on the wall. He doesn't want to step on the floor if there are grains or dust.
Falls asleep easily when things are boring - While eating, if it's too quiet, we'd just see him asleep on his chair. Watching a movie they've seen several times, we'd just notice him asleep on his spot.
These symptoms are not telling. They are common to kids their age. Diagnosing his giftedness based on the above things are unfair, yet they have helped me accept him and treat him differently. It was me. I needed to change. After I did this, magically, things lightened up and I saw how he improved.
The death of Steve Jobs this month, October 2011 was mourned by the whole world. As an Apple fan, I bid farewell to his contributions and passions which have changed a whole generation's digital preference. I envy his desire for excellence in all things, and his laser-like focus in doing and finishing a job.
May this world see many other Steve Jobs-like minded people in terms of that.
My 3-year old boy couldn't keep his eyes off this cereal box. He even asked me to watch videos in YouTube of girls like this. Yes, I really got a boy, alright!
Value vs. price
I used to look at the price tag alone, but one big thing that Apple changed in me is to look at the value of products. It's customer service is impeccable, which makes the whole experience of owning an Apple device really worth every cent. This identifies the success of Apple too, since its customers have been turned into brand ambassadors.
Lately, I have crossed out Max's Restaurant off my list since I was served damaged vegetables, they were well cooked but the carrots and cabbage had bruises on them. I am not a cook, but I won't serve those kind to friends. As a restaurant, they should have been more quality-oriented. I ordered a 20 pax seating and yet a simple request of heating the soup was not accommodated.
LG was another disaster. The Android phone bought there, two weeks after it has been purchased does not automatically rotate. Went to the concept store where we bought and was told that we had to visit another LG branch since their computer used to diagnose problems has been down for a week already. In short, it took us two weeks to have the phone fixed. Turns out something's really wrong with the board of the phone.
A customer is the most important visitor on our premises, he is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our business. He is part of it. We are not doing him a favor by serving him. He is doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to do so. ~ Mahatma Gandhi
That same day too, eating in Tokyo Tokyo, I ordered for the fish donburi with egg giving the specific instruction for it to be well done. The order came and I got a half-done sunny side egg. I told the waitress of my earlier request and said that's really how they cook it. I tried to ask her if she can go back to the cook to request for it to be fixed. Some seconds later, she came back with the same egg and the reason that it can't be done. Why do I have to put up with this kind of treatment, I won't go to anymore Tokyo Tokyo.
Lastly, buying at a Baby Company Boutique, I had to wait for like 15 minutes in order for the previous transaction to end. The cash register was broken and they were doing it manually, with a trainee. Double whammy! I was already set to leave but husband said it's fine so we waited for our turn.
At this point I was already thinking if it's the Filipino mindset? But no, I get better service and customer relations in my local bread store.
All Perry
My youngest has started loving his school and his classmates. He's now able to tell stories of what happened in class. He does not dish out all these excuses to not go to school anymore. And lastly, he shows interest in writing, a task he used to hate a LOT.
I can still remember his story last summer when he was attending preschool orientation classes. He told me that his classmate named Perry was painting and some spilt on his socks, then another classmate named Perry was dancing very funny. While another one named Perry built a train toy using blocks.
I investigated on the names of his classmates. There was only one boy with the name Perry. He thought all of his boy classmates then were named Perry?
I am a girl from the farm who moved to
the metro to get better education. After studying, worked in
multimedia, communications and IT companies. While working, met life
partner. Married at 25. Had first baby the following year and the
year after that.
From then, family life became second
phase of my life. Left corporate career to focus on child rearing.
Then found a new calling in the language of HTML and CSS. Started
working freelance while balancing home management and raising kids.
Learning a lot in all these three categories.
Now, in preparation for my next life
phase – social entrepreneurship, husband and I knowing all we can.
Perfect timing because kids have started school too and are getting
busy learning. Waiting for our cue. Claiming victory that is in
Christ Jesus. Trusting in His curriculum yet failing daily. Trying
again and again with His mercies.
Try writing about your life in 150 words too. It will simplify and focus your perspective. :)
After AIDA, the goal is advocacy
Learned that in doing business, maintaining a customer-client is as important as getting them. Turning them as brand ambassadors the way Apple does is the ultimate goal. How to achieve that? Here's Ritz-Carlton's approach:
Every employee can spend up to $2,000 on his/her own to help a customer. One story that stuck out in my mind was a guest who lost an engagement ring on the beach beside the hotel. When they mentioned it to a hotel employee, the employee went and purchased several metal detectors and, with the help of other employees, searched the beach and found the guest’s ring.
It’s safe to say that guest will be telling people about The Ritz-Carlton and the lost ring story for years to come. That kind of brand ambassador will bring in more new customers than any slogan or ad copy.
The most important and life-changing lesson God taught me and my husband last 2008 was the sureness of death. Having witnessed a friend passing away, God has made me understand how possessions do not matter. All these will be left behind. The gift of the present is to be cherished and lived to the fullest. Carpe diem, indeed.
To be able to live this life making a difference, to share God's love in a me-centered world. This is what we want the kids to learn this 2009. We are adopting a spartan mode of living. Only the essentials. We do not want to live in luxury, but to be able to pass on what has been blessed to us so that others may have another day to live. Bold and fearless Relating to this, Paul and I are all set putting up our own company. The first pursuit has been made last year, with music video website SlingandStoneMusic. Have I mentioned this project won 2nd prize in TopCoder's contest? God deserves all of it, and more.
Now, we're pushing it further with SlingandStoneWeb.com. Our very own Filipino IT company to offer web hosting, web design and other web related services. This is Paul's way of easing out of his daily office grind. This is my all, my one big journey with God.
Prayerfully, this will also be the channel God would bless to use us – all of us.
Lois and Carlos Brother and sister are doing well. I appreciate the good naturedness of the two especially last week when we were left by ourselves. They play together. They share food, not toys. They fight over them. But when they are both in good moods, they really are heaven sent.
Nanny Irish went to the province and was four days late. House chores and caring for the kids were left to me. Daddy Paul was around though he had to report for work January 6. It really felt draining seeing all the tasks I need to do but cannot because the kids are all over me. They love me so much, they want every piece of me. They say this phase doesn't last long. That keeps me going, and that convinced me to not go nanny-free not even for a day. Maybe not until Carlos is four-years old? Off-topic, but a good consumer news Sun 3G Broadband Plan 799 If you live in Antipolo City, along Sumulong Highway and are thinking of getting Sun 3G Broadband, you might want to entertain other options. The 3G signal connects 2 out of 10 times I use it. It operates on other signals, EDGE and HSDPA, but they are no good. It's like surfing dial up during early 2000.
It is the cheapest unlimited broadband offering in town, but if the connection is as poor as this, it's not worth the money.
