Mom's Birthday (2008)

Originally, we were all craving for Tong Yang Pot Noodles food at Chimes Specialty Store. The shabu-shabu experience, the works, etc. Unfortunately when we got there tired and hungry, it was still CLOSED. We tried to ask the "bantay" to let us in but refused our request to wait there until they open again (it's just an hour wait but, there were a lot of reasons thrown so we declined). So, we ended up at

Cafe Mediterranean "Flavors of the Sun"

surprisingly was a good detour! The food prepared for us definitely flirted with our palettes! What an experience!

The food, service and ambiance were A-ok! Though the waitress who attended us first, let's call her "Cindy" was like in a hurry when taking our orders. She was like babbling more than 50 words in 10 secods that would totally make you pant with her too. To calculate 300 words a minute more or less. hehehe... Tell you, you'd be amazed like us! We were all trying to calm her down and laughing it all off rather than being annoyed. Imagine this, we were ordering our usual starter, main course and a cup of jasmine tea to be served after the meal. And then Cindy, a girl with a tiny frame and very innocent looking starts to open her mouth. Viola! She started yapping in a cute Visayan accent rendering English words and repeats your order and then suggests another one like a promotion or something and then reads your order again to confirm it...pakapin! also asked for our drinks! hehehe...what a multi-task, right? In less than a minute she got our stack of order.


Though it took like the usual 10-15 minutes of waiting... my sister and I went out and bought a cake from Red Ribbon (just 20 steps away) had it dedicated with "Happy Birthday Mom!" (with a big heart) and went back to Cafe Mediterranean. As soon as we got back, I automatically lit the candle and sang loudly the usual "Happy Birthday Song" while walking back to the table. I can see mum's big smile but was asking to keep the singing down coz there are like people over there too. But knowing me, I never cared and continued singing louder after the "sita" to keep it down. I saw the waitresses and the staff singing along with us in their counter and greeted mom after the song. What an add-on!

Once they started serving our food, we had fun enjoying their dishes. We had a lot of food like kebab meals and their all-time version of New York pizza on pita bread and I forgot the rest. I'm just happy with my mum being happy that afternoon. Everything was simple yet thought-off. To my mom, "Happy Birthday and we wish you only the BEST!" We love you! Cheers!

Natividad

We basically grew up with Lola Nating beside us. From Manila to Davao, she was surely there for us.

Though she's not our direct "lola", we basically grew up with her. She's the only "Tia" of our mom (whom our mom grew up with) and our own "Lola Nating". Since she had only 2 boys (Tio Sandrex & Tio Jessie), out of frustration I guess, she gracefully took care of our mom (the eldest daughter of her younger sister, Lourdes), "owning" herself with an instant daughter.

From then on, she devoted her time and effort with us. She witnessed 4 generations of our family and truly our one and only. My fondest memory with her growing up is her contaminating laugh and 'inato' recipes. She left us a legacy of being "light hearted" and "service" where no matter what, loyalty to FAMILY comes first.

As she kissed dear life farewell and embraced eternity, I will surely remember how she makes me smile with her gibberish English terms like "inggerdients" rather than "ingredients" and cook for me her very own "kalo kalo, palitaw, bico, bas-uy and inun-unan na matambaka". I will surely miss her contaminating laugh whenever I make her laugh and squeeze her flabby arms (which I do love!). I will remember our talks about the bible way back in our house in Green Meadows. I will remember how she looked like when I passed the board exam and how she greeted us when she attended our engagement party.

And as tears build up in my eyes now...I pause...

and give it all a sigh, I will surely miss my Lola Nating....

PURPOSE ON HALT

After reading my fiance's reply blog to my "R.N. Rat Race (Need Back-up)" about "PURPOSE...", I now know that I turned something upside down. I might gave her the "push" that she's been waiting for and with no intentions, it turned out well. Yes I agree with her and gladly we're on the same wave. I don't want to come philosophical or too falloted and waving the "Buddha" flag here. I mean...I just felt the urge of sharing my insights. I didn't realize that it would have that kind of impact. Anyways, it is true that our purpose defines us. It gives us substance and molds our character. It makes us 'exist' and become 'humans' and not 'robots' bonded with the daily curfew of someone in the race -- a prisoner per se.

How do we liberate ourselves then?


I have been trying to rekindle the things that makes me really happy and passionate about. I am trying to relive and experience again how it felt like. Successful and happy people are doing what they really love and passionate about. The Chinese guy who designed youtube.com basically thought beyond the box. Now, he's enjoying the perks. He excelled in something that he's good at. One will only know it once everything becomes 'REAL' again. I have been tied and caught up with a lot of mishaps but, there is no other way but to stand up, walk and carry the load again. I just wonder when I'm going to leave that "load" and carry my own "load" for a change. My fiance saw where my passion rests. In less than a year, she knew where I was passionate about. It was only when I COOK my family's recipes...my signature recipe...that I forget everything and try to perfect that craft. With Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsey's influences in their shows -- I know it is possible! QUALITY, EFFICIENCY & HARD WORK simmers everything! My purpose is TO FEED and my passion is TO FEED GOOD FOOD. With all the appreciations and "push" I had from Rica's uncles, Mommy Rubs, good friends and most especially from my family and TRUE INSPIRATION, Rica...I think I have to start somewhere.


Maybe soon where I'm not caught up.
Maybe soon when it's fully ripe.
Maybe soon when opportunity knocks once again.
Maybe soon when I am in the tip of the cliff and can't go back.



I'll just jump impulsively and have faith...
"leap of faith?"

...I dunno...But, through that action -- I am going to redeem myself from bondage again!

R.N. Rat Race (Need Back-Up)

Times change and the opportunity thins every second. The quality of life for the newly nursing board exam passers in this country has been jeopardized with a pile load of expenses and limited opportunities. Loading? I guess. Gone were the days when a newly passed nurse can just apply to a medical facility and get the most appropriate training and be hired because of his/her key competencies. Gone were the days when nursing in the Philippines provided graduates who know that nursing is a vocation and not a source of income. Gone were the days when the Nursing Board and the Nursing Alumnae took care of their graduates to attain their highest potential. And gone were the days when nursing wasn’t still choked up and a “rat race”.

The sad truth is, we come from a third world country and there are a lot of people still mesmerized with the promises of working as a nurse abroad. As they receive their diplomas and soon their licenses, it is late for them to realize that to work abroad still requires them to SPEND thousands of pesos just to pay for the foreign exam fees, visa screen, foreign exams review fees, etc. that promises NO SECURITY at all. They are all bonded and trapped in the “rat race”. And to recover for the loss, a sheer faith of “luck” remedies their exacerbated souls. You pass the NCLEX or CGFNS, good for you – another expense and you’re one notch closer to Graceland but the long wait isn’t over. But if you fail, pity you – you need to spend again and repeat the whole process of application.

Practically speaking, you just spent loads of money that could’ve been used if you started an investment and focused on to something that you know will excel. Who gets rich then? Well...well...well...I don't want to sound sour and bitter yah know! All good!

I am not here to stain the nursing profession or even pull anyone down. I am just blogging based on experience. Of course everybody wants to elevate his or her life. But, as the Chinese saying goes, “There are 1000 ways to kill the cat and 1000 ways to catch a fish.” Bottom line is, to kill the cat and catch the fish – earn money and be comfortable. By far, nursing isn’t just the only means to earn money. There are a lot if only; you try to think out of the box – beyond the “nursing dream”.



Roughly, the bulk of the graduates as well as the passers just saturate the whole entire populace. With a limited supply and availability of health facilities and nursing-related jobs in this metropolis, these “NEWLY GRADUATED & NEWLY LICENSED NURSES” are basically adding up to percentage of the UNEMPLOYED CITIZENS OF dear PHILIPPINES – leaving them helpless and unproductive and left with an open option to end up as a call center agent. There go the 4-years of case presentations, community presentations, hospital duties, R.L.E. journals, etc. Is nursing also included in their context as “survival of the fittest?” What have the colleges and the universities done with their graduates? It seems like we were just “milked” and in a blink of an “eye” we were left on our own – like a used rug. We weren’t given an opportunity to really grasp the full drama of nursing. We are now bombarded and flooded with a lot of registered and unregistered nurses all dreaming PERIOD. Does it stop there? Are we just left here to dream and think about the “what ifs” and “if only”? It’s not a bad thing but base on experience, “Where will you situate yourself?”

Now even having a license makes no difference at all.

Natividad...

We basically grew up with Lola Nating beside us. From Manila to Davao, she was surely there for us.

Though she's not our direct "lola", we basically grew up with her. She's the only "Tia" of our mom (whom our mom grew up with) and our own "Lola Nating". Since she had only 2 boys (Tio Sandrex & Tio Jessie), out of frustration I guess, she gracefully took care of our mom (the eldest daughter of her younger sister, Lourdes), "owning" herself with an instant daughter. From then on, she devoted her time and effort with us. She witnessed 4 generations of our family and truly our one and only. My fondest memory with her growing up is her contaminating laugh and 'inato' recipes. She left us a legacy of being "light hearted" and "service" where no matter what, loyalty to FAMILY comes first.

As she kissed dear life farewell and embraced eternity, I will surely remember how she makes me smile with her gibberish English terms like "inggerdients" rather than "ingredients" and cook for me her very own "kalo kalo, palitaw, bico, bas-uy and inun-unan na matambaka". I will surely miss her contaminating laugh whenever I make her laugh and squeeze her flabby arms (which I do love!). I will remember our talks about the bible way back in our house in Green Meadows. I will remember how she looked like when I passed the board exam and how she greeted us when she attended our engagement party.

And as tears build up in my eyes now...I pause...

and give it all a sigh, I will surely miss my Lola Nating....

OPLAN NUNAL

I carried it for more than 27 years. With the charm it brings, underneath it is a threat that can make me loose my vision and harm my sinus. So, I finally decided to have my rapidly growing mole removed a month ago and have it biopsied. Accompanied by my fiance who was more nervous than I am...hehehehe... all good! Big thanks to our physician friend for the FREE SURGERY and pain meds! Dr. Ben Datu Dalandag rocks!!! cheers!

From Cateel With LOVE...

From our 4-day business holiday last week in Bukidnon (Saturday until Tuesday night), we stayed in Davao for a day (Wednesday) and went back packin' again with Rica's relatives on Thursday morning to Saturday evening.

DESTINATION: Cateel, Davao Oriental
TRAVEL TIME: 10 hours (via Compostela Valley) / 12 hours (via Mati)
DURATION: Thursday until Saturday
PURPOSE: Fiesta back in the roots

Rented a Nissan Urvan to bring us there and luckily we had a driver who really drove fast. So, the usual 10/12 hour drive is cut short by 3-4 hours. Unfortunately, since the road isn't paved yet, there are areas where we have to go down from our van just to get through and walk like 30-100 meters (exercise!) -- me and Rica along with Tita Nilda (wife of Dr. Hansel "Jun" Magno of Brokenshire Hospital) situated at the back seat endures all the humps and the rattles of the van's poor shocks. What a nasty drive! But, that's just not it -- the driver just doesn't know how to avoid the holes...tsk...tsk...so we end up battered and pounded after the travel.All good now! Now we know what kind of vehicle to bring next. hehehehe...

Anyways, Cateel is simply a lovely place and where "DINABAW" is widely spoken -- something that I really want to learn. Got the chance to see different sites like Aliwagwag falls, their beach and experience how they do the "fiesta" over there. One phrase about Cateel, "GALEEEEET SILA SA LECHON!!!!!!!!" hehehehe...It is a place where you can use the crispy, tasty and mouth watering skin of the lechon as your plate and have rice as your sud-an. Imagine how spoiled we were there...we were basically served with lechon every meal (aside from the crabs with colossal snappers and prawns). Truly, no one's starvin' in this side of the country ug dili uso ang high blood diri! We had total of 4 lechons plus 1 bring home pa! hehehehe... (lechon paksiw? - naa pa stock hangtud karon yo!) hehe..

As the folks and locals would say over there, "waya na chemical!" kampai!

FYI (from Wikipedia.com): Cateel is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Davao Oriental, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 28,655 people in 5,731 households.

Cateel is the home of the Aliwagwag Falls, located at barangay Aliwagwag. It is a towering waterfalls considered by hydraulic engineers as the highest in the country and regarded as one of the most beautiful falls in Mindanao. It is a series of 84 falls appearing like stairway to heaven with various heights among the steps ranging from 6 to 110 feet. One step is measured 72 feet and another is 67 feet. Overall Aliwagwag Falls is 1,110 feet of cascading energy and 20 meters in width. All these in the midst of virgin forest. River at the foot of the falls. 13 rapids to cross.