Lakan :)

 

Hi Lakan! :)

Born at around 12nn of May 13, 2016

Oh Lakan. :) 

You had a lot of hair right away. So guapo, like Daddy. :)

House hunting

We started looking for houses since June of last year. We've gone to a lot of trippings and talked to a number of real estate/property agents. We've exhausted most of our rest days for finding the right one.

UYIE :)

 

Hi Uyie! :)

Ruby Claire A. Donato

Born at around 5PM on July 21, 2014 

Can you see yourself in Mommy's tummy Uyie? :)

That was in Balai Isabel, Batangas.

That is the lake surrounding Taal volcano.

Look how small you were Uyie! :)

That's you, Sophie, Tita Rach, Mommy and Aling Nita in Wild Flour, BGC.

I think we just came from your pedia checkup with Dr. Bondoc in St. Luke's Medical Center. 

Usually we go to the mall after a checkup. :)

You and Sophie in Lola Uwa's house. :)

I look back to those days now with fondness. :) 

(although at that time I didn't realize how precious those moments were)

Seven months and so adorable my baby! :)

Daddy holding you in COS. :)

I remember the boy beside him was reading aloud and I was listening to him. 

I liked how he read the book a lot. :)

Uyie, during your first few months, you breastfed so much. :)

That's good! We stayed up all night. 

In order for Mommy to stay awake, Mommy watched The Game of Thrones. :)

We stayed in Lola Uwa's house a lot. 

Lolo Ed and Lola Uwa took care of you and Sophie while Daddy and Mommy went to work.

They love you guys so very much. :) And I'm so grateful to Lolo and Lola. :)

I  LOVE MY BABIES! :)

Uyie's 1st birthday :)

In PBCC :)

I don't think you were too happy with your "cake" Uyie. :)

Uyie tagging along Sophie's Christmas Party in Nursery school. :)

Still so many photos of you Uyie! :)

Uyie at ONE.

Now you are SIX!!! :)

SOPHIE :)

Hi Sophie! :)

Remember I told you that you all have a Kuya or an Ate? 

That was because I got pregnant last 2011. 

But I miscarried and we were all so sad... 

But after six months, I was pregnant again, and this time it was you! :)

Sophie in Mommy's tummy. :)

Can you see your face, love? :)

You came out at 9:40 a.m. on the 7th of November 2012

 Sophie Alexa A. Donato

WE LOVE YOU ALWAYS AND FOREVER.

Daddy taking you out for some morning sun. :)

Lolo Rey said you were so small in his arms that he was 

afraid he might break your bones because he wants to GIGIL. 😊😆

Dancing with Lola Ruby and Lola Rose and me around Christmas time. 💜

Lola Ruby held you so many times in the short span that she was able to. 

She was the first one who carried you in the hospital while I slept. 

I started to go in labor at midnight until the 9AM.

She said she was just looking at you for hours and just sat there with you in her arms. 

Look how cute you are! :)

You look like Erin! :)

If I remember correctly, this was a Sunday, in the car, going to Superville.

Mommy had to go to work so Daddy drove you to see Papang, Lola Uwa and everyone! :)

Swimming in your small inflatable pool outside the kitchen in Merville. :)

Sky Ranch in Tagaytay.

I love that grey cardigan Uncle Eboy gave you. :)

Look at Daddy so guapo! :)

Sophie at two years old. :)

Overnight in Summit Hotel (?), Tagaytay.

Aqua Verde, Batangas.

Your first time at the beach. :) 

You didn't like the waves, they were so big for you!

Uyie was just around four months old at that time, I think.

I chose this ensemble for your 2nd birthday in Jollibee, Sucat.

Sophie going to school na! :)

There are so many photos but these are from our first iPad. 

You went to Grace Special School, and so did Uyie and Lakan. :)

I hope you like this snippet from your early childhood. 

More to come! :)

2nd Pregnancy

 

 

42: You took a selfie in the Marriot Hotel bathroom before having lunch with Ma. Precious moments, 34. 

34: How many months was I pregnant?

42: Five. That’s Sophie. :) She’s seven now. She’s so much like us. 

34: Unbelievable...

42: Madami pa grabe. This is just the beginning. :)

Pendulum

It is the 23rd of October 2020. A Saturday. 7:05 in the evening. I am here at the arrival area of NAIA Terminal 1. Only four flights during my shift. I brought my laptop with me.

I was looking at my inbox, looking for Montessori materials and Charlotte Mason websites, and practicing my script for a presentation that Ms. Ida taught us (ECA presentation). And then all of a sudden I thought of checking out my blog from a million years ago... 

And so that's why I'm here again. 😊💜

Hello. 😊😊😊

Oh so many things have happened since I was last here!!! 2012? That was eight years ago!!! 

"What has happened?" 34-year old Ria asked.

"Are you prepared for what I am about to tell you?" 42-year old Ria asked back.

34 wasn't sure. 42 kept staring back. Her eyes did not reveal anything, but that always came easy for her. She had dead eyes. Sometimes she came off as indifferent, sometimes cold, sometimes scary. 

"What do you want to hear? The good first or the bad? Because the pendulum really swings from super bad to super good."

"I'm scared."

"Yes." 

42's eyes were sad. Very very sad. Like a piece of her heart was ripped out from her. A longing. 

"No..."

"Yes."

And that was all 42 said. She stood up to wipe the tears that welled up easily from her eyes. They fell on the InLife face mask that covered her mouth. She wasn't alone in the room. Some officers were taking their break. But she was thankful for the dividers that gave her some privacy. She had to take a break herself. Grief is a bitch. It comes unexpectedly, kicking you in the gut, leaving you on the floor gasping for air. 

"Si Ma, congested heart. Si Daddy, lung cancer. Sukob. 11 months apart lang."

42 saw the fear that gripped 34. She looked away. It was too much to take, to see your younger self take in the loss of their parents. 

"But don't worry. Daddy accepted the Lord in his last days. We're going to see them again." She had to tell 34 to move on, there was so much more to say.

"Your marriage will be tested by a DOJ case that will drag on for years. Your friendship with Dianne, too. But don't worry. Both of you will learn from it, and recover. 

"Drix will go through a lot of challenges at work. He will go through many stages of frustration and anger. He will see a lot of injustices done to him. The unfairness of it all. In spite of that, he will rise above it, learn to trust God more, and become the better person. Proverbs 3:5-6 will become a very important verse for both of you. Oh, and he will go to law school.

"You will suffer a miscarriage, but after that have five children. Five beautiful children.

"FIVE?!?!?" 34 was incredulous. 😆

"Oo, lima!" 

"Tumodo!"

"Hindi na yan ang expression mo ngayon. 'Kaloka!' na!" The mood suddenly changed from somber to delight. Talk of babies do that her.

"Rachel is still the pure-hearted, selfless, helpful younger sister you love. You don't always see each other even though she's just in Moonwalk and you're in Merville but that doesn't change anything."

"We will move back to Merville? What's wrong with Mon-el?"

"Niluuban kayo. It will happen in the month of August of 2012. But the burglars timed it when you and Drix were at work. I think they were after the keys of your car. Buti naling talaga Drix always brings it with him. Anyways, the move turned out to be a blessing in disguise because those were your last moments with Ma."

Silence again. 42 spoke the truth: the pendulum swings.

"Aling Nita is going to be a God-send. She will save your from many many things. She loves you and you will take care of her."

"That's nice." 34 said wistfully.

"Now would you like me to tell you about the super good?" 

"My children?" 

"Yes!" But 42 knew she had to wait another time. She had to show pictures! And she was excited to see 34's expression when she sees herself --- her body --- change in the last eight years. Hah! 😂

Til the next entry! It's time to go home.

My Book of Choice for February

This took me more than a month to read. I knew I was lagging behind so I brought it with me to Boracay. I managed to read just a few pages, though. It was only last night that I officially finished the book.

How do I feel about it? Um... I don't know... I'm still trying to figure out what to say about this one.

The first Murakami book I read was "Kafka on the Shore." That one I enjoyed because I could relate with the main character, 15-year old Kafka, who likes to read books. Although it is not a story about books, it does mention a lot of them. Kafka even finds himself working in a library far away from home.

But Toru Okada, the narrator and protagonist in "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle" is quite a character. He is extremely passive, unemployed, weird (he goes down a dried-up well to think), and there are just far too many women around him besides his wife, Kumiko. It's not his fault, I know. Two of the women were introduced or referred to him by Kumiko (to help them find their missing cat), one is a teenage neighbor (who has a thing for wigs), and the last one is a fashion designer turned psychic healer (although she doesn't know how she does it herself) who gives him money to buy a haunted house.

It all sounds interesting, yes. That's why even if I couldn't translate my feelings for this book in a good way, I still read it the whole way through. More interesting are the chapters where other characters talk about historical events such as the Battle of Nomonhan and World War II. It was a point of interest for me because I've never read about Nomonhan, the life of prisoners of war in Siberia and Manchukuo. I never imagined that a little thing such as a border violation could spark a war in another part of the world. It makes me feel that we are all connected, somehow, by the little acts we do. Sort of like a ripple effect.

I didn't like the chapter where Lieutenant Mamiya told Toru about how he witnessed an officer skinned alive by a Mongolian barbarian, upon orders of a Soviet general. It was painstakingly detailed! I could practically see it in my mind! For that maybe I have to give Haruki Murakami some credit for affecting me so much. Also graphically worded was the chapter on the Chinese prisoner who was tied to a tree and beaten to death with a baseball bat. I mean, baket?!?! Baket kelangan pang sabihin?!?! Baket kelangan pang ilagay sa storya eh wala namang koneksyon?!?

I marked some pages though, that had me crying. Maybe it's because I'm pregnant that's why my hormones are on overdrive, hehe. But yes, there were some parts where I found myself tear up... Like when Toru and Kumiko were having a conversation in the first and last parts of the book. I hate myself for forgetting to bring my book with me now so I can quote them!!! But anyways, it lets me take a peek into the inner workings of Toru's mind and will. Yes, he is passive. Yes, he is currently unemployed. Yes, he is peculiar. But he is also faithful, he is simple, and! he loves much in spite of the fact that Kumiko left him and was unfaithful to him.

I loved it when he said to Kumiko --- when she was finding it hard to reveal a secret to Toru --- that everything that is hers, he will accept as his own. =) Whatever deep dark dirty secret that may be of his wife's, will also belong to him. To that Kumiko answered, "That's why I married you." =)  It's a reassuring thought for married couples, don't you think?=) When I read that, it made me feel like any spouse can say to herself, "I'm not alone, I don't have to feel alone, because someone has willed himself to stand alongside me." To me that's one of the biggest perks of this institution called marriage.

In the last parts they also have an exchange of messages through chat. It was amusing how Murakami made me feel that online chat was also still in its infancy (the book's time and setting was 1984-ish). In their exchange, Toru explicitly reveals his feelings for his wife --- how he's so confused with her leaving him, how he's figuring out what the real reasons were, and how he is set on taking her back. When I read that, I thought, "Then Toru is not so passive after all!" :) Hurray Toru!:) Ten pogi points for you!:)

This book for me is like "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I couldn't quite figure out my feelings for it. When I try to sum it up, it sounds interesting enough. I might be a moron for not being able to appreciate this book as, say, Oe Kenzaburo had (this man was Haruki Murakami's harshest critic and yet he gave him the Yomiuri Literary Award).

I read an article in Newsweek a couple of months ago about How to Read Haruki Murakami. His latest book, IQ84, just came out, and the writer posed that question: how must one read Haruki Murakami? Given that his style involves the metaphysical and the bizarre interspersed with everyday life in contemporary Japan, must one find meaning, a connection, an analogy, or go into further study in order to have a better understanding of the book?

"When I’m not writing, they are gone,” Murakami said of the mysterious creatures that populate his novels. “I don’t even dream.”

And so that kind of gives me an idea as to how to enjoy my next Murakami novel. Don't over-think, don't over-analyze. Just open the book, read the story, and enjoy the ride.

My Book of Choice for January - Category: Fiction

In the enormous jeep that took us inside the Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary last May, I asked my sister, "Rach, maganda ba?" pointing to the book in her bag. It was the Life of Pi, a ubiquitous book I've seen in the best-sellers shelf in Fully Booked two years ago. She nodded, tucking her upper lip to form a smile that said sobra. "Eh bakit P50 lang ang tag price nito?!?" I said, noticing the small round sticker with a hand-written CLP 50 on the front cover. She shrugged and told me the synopsis of the book. It instantly piqued my curiosity. I asked if I can borrow the book after she's finished with it. Sabi n'ya, "Ate bilisan mo lang ha. Sa library ng school yan."

Nine months later, it's still with me. I tried to read it last June but one third through the book, my excitement waned. I just couldn't understand how Pi could embrace three different religions. And where's the damned tiger?!?! Isn't this supposed to be a story about a little boy and a Bengal tiger?

And it is.

The Life of Pi is about a boy who survived 200+ days at sea on a boat. He was a son of a zookeeper in Pondicherry, India who was going to migrate to Canada, and they decided to bring the whole zoo with them. But four days out of Manila, the ship broke down. His family died, along with the rest of the Chinese crew and other animals. The only reason why Pi survived was because he was thrown into a lifeboat. But he wasn’t alone. He had an orangutan, a hyena, a zebra, and a Bengal tiger as fellow castaways. And so goes the story.

I liked this book very much because the author explained how he came about writing this book. It was actually the story of an old man who knew Pi when he was young. Yann Martel and the old man met in a coffee shop, and after knowing that Yann Martel was a writer, he said, “I have a story for you. A story that will make you believe in God.”

And really, to a skeptic, Pi’s story will make you believe in God. Ang ganda lang talaga. =) =) =)

Allow me to share some snippets from the book that I came to love:

The Pondicherry Zoo was the source of some pleasure and many headaches for Mr. Santosh Patel, founder, owner, director, head of a staff of fifty-three, and my father.

To me, it was paradise on earth. I have nothing but the fondest memories growing up in a zoo. I lived the life of a prince. What maharaja's son had such vast, luxuriant grounds to play about? What palace had such a menagerie? My alarm clock during my childhood was a pride of lions. They were no Swiss clocks, but the lions could be counted upon to roar their heads off between five-thirty and six every morning. Breakfast was punctuated by the shrieks and cries of howler monkeys, hill mynahs and Moluccan cockatoos. I left for school under the benevolent gaze not only of Mother but also of bright-eyed otters and burly American bison and stretching and yawning orang-utans. I looked up as I ran under some trees, otherwise peafowl might excrete on me. Better go by the trees that sheltered the large colonies of fruit bats; the only assault there at that early hour was the bats' discordant concerts of squeaking and chattering. On my way out I might stop by the terraria to look at some shiny frogs glazed bright, bright, green, or yellow and deep blue, or brown and pale green. Or it might be birds that caught my attention: pink flamingos or black swans or one-wattled cassowaries, or something smaller, silver diamond doves, Cape glossy starlings, peach-faced lovebirds, Nanday conures, orange-fronted parakeets. Not likely that the elephants, the seals, the big cats or the bears would be up and doing, but the baboons, the macaques, the mangabeys, the gibbons, the deer, the tapirs, the llamas, the giraffes, the mongooses were early risers. Every morning before I was out the main gate I had one last impression that was both ordinary and unforgettable: a pyramid of turtles; the iridescent snout of a mandrill; the stately silence of a giraffe; the obese, yellow open mouth of a hippo; the beak-and-claw climbing of a macaw parrot up a wire fence; the greeting claps of a shoebill's bill; the senile, lecherous expression of a camel. And all these riches were had quickly, as I hurried to school.

(from pages 17-18 of the book, Life of Pi)

There are so many dog-eared pages I marked as remarkable writing, some even whole chapters. To write them all would be to invite a copyright violation. This book has seen me smiling and imagining in the gym's lounge area, laughing in the elevator, wide-eyed and incredulous in my favorite yogurt place, and tearing up in the comforts of our bed. It was Pi's perception of God that endeared me to him, this boy who felt responsible to take care of an animal that would consider him as prey.

Chapter 74 is my most favorite of all.When Pi tried to put his faith into practice, he would do religious rituals to comfort and remind himself that he was still alive.

"But it was hard, oh, it was hard. Faith in God is an opening up, a letting go, a deep trust, a free act of love - but sometimes it was so hard to love. Sometimes my heart was sinking so fast with anger, desolation and weariness, I was afraid it would sink to the very bottom of the Pacific and I would not be able to lift it back up.
At such moments I tried to elevate myself. I would touch the turban I had made with remnants of my shirt and I would say aloud, "THIS IS GOD'S HAT!"
I would pat my pants and say aloud, "THIS IS GOD'S ATTIRE!"
I would point to Richard Parker and say aloud, "THIS IS GOD'S CAT!"
I would point to the lifeboat and say aloud, "THIS IS GOD'S ARK!"
I would spread my hands wide and say aloud, "THESE ARE GOD'S WIDE ACRES!"
I would point at the sky and say aloud, "THIS IS GOD'S EAR!"
And in this way I would remind myself of creation and of my place in it.

But God's hat was always unravelling. God's pants were falling apart. God's cat was a constant danger. God's ark was a jail. God's wide acres were slowly killing me. God's ear didn't seem to be listening.

(page 263-264 of the book, life of Pi)

I finished the book third week of January and I didn't want to hurry on to the next book even if I was behind schedule. I challenged myself to read 50 books this year, which means I have to read four to five books a month. But just like a good movie, the Life of Pi affected me so much that I shared it to a bible study group. I said to watch out for the movie in December this year. It's gonna cast Toby Maguire as Yann Martel.

It's time to return the book to my sister's school library. Buti nalang hindi kelangan ng teachers ng borrower's card or else ang laki ng fine ni Rachel. :o) As far as the book goes, it's a great book to choose to start my 2012 Reading Challenge.;) Good job, Yann Martel.:)

Steering Away From Our Usual Pinoy Breakfast

I mentally listed it down: January 4, 2012. That was the day I resolved to lose weight and stick to one of my New Year's Resolutions which is to become a better version of me.

ANG HIRAP!!!:( But I have to do it... cuz nobody will do it for me. Forgive me if I sound that serious!!! The past few days I've been feeling low and self-conscious about my appearance, and it's not a good feeling I tell you...

So the first week (which was last week), I was not on my hard-core diet mode yet. I still ate rice, sweets, didn't work out, and I just tried to eat small portions. My only attempt to "work out" is by putting that elastic strap around my waist while doing chores in the house or going to the grocery. It proved futile... But this week, eto na. Mejo dapat konting galaw-galaw naman. So whereas before ang almusal namin ay sinangag, ulam at itlog with coffee... or di kaya pancakes with honey and sausage and scrambled eggs... or Pan de Manila with Spanish sardines... naging oatmeal with blueberries and strawberries na. We opted for honey and low-fat milk as well. I bought the U.S. version of Women's Health on Zinio yesterday and I saw this oatmeal ad in one of the pages so ayan. I'm posting it to remind myself: don't get sidetracked!

Since I've posted this supposed secret objective here, I might as well state my plan:

Pounds to lose: 12 lbs. - 17 lbs.

Selected diet: No rice. As much fruit and veggies possible. 

Drink: LOTS OF WATER.

Selected workout: Yoga and Dance classes at the gym.

Again, note to self: Compete only with yourself! Don't compare, don't look at others around you. Just stick to the plan. And pray that God grant you success. 

Happy healthy new year!:)

Getting Cooking Tips From Panlasang Pinoy

I gotta say, that if it weren't for the YouTube How-To video and blog of Panlasang Pinoy, I wouldn't be able to cook the meals I've been meaning to try out. Last Saturday I learned how to cook Pinoy Spaghetti and tomorrow I'm going to cook Ginataang Tilapia. Numnum.:) So if you have any Filipino dish that you want to try but you're not just so sure if you remember right, go to Panlasang Pinoy. I highly recommend it!:) But about how my cooking turned out, well, hindi pa naman na-confine yung mga kumain sa munting salo-salo nung birthday ng daddy ko. Hehe.:)