Happy on the Water

Aside from her first air plane ride and out-of-the-country trip, Euen had her first dip in a swimming pool in Singapore also.

Is it obvious in her picture how much she loved it?

It was a very big bath tub to her, incomparable to her "timba."

Ikea is our Happy Place

Euen's first airplane ride is where else but our favorite out-of-the-country-destination: Singapore.  Denden had a business trip and we just tagged along.  Very timely for Kuya Shosh's birthday, so Shashing accompanied us.  The baby's airplane ride was smooth, she just watched by the window during the take off, then, she was asleep the whole time.

I gave Euen the same experience, the first time I went to Singapore.  Mostly, went around places, ate lots and lots of food (she loved rotti prata), took the river taxi, enjoyed the view and sights.

Of course, we took her to Ikea.  She enjoyed playing with all the display toys and trying out the baby and children's furniture.

Like me, Ikea is Euen's happy place too!

Early Christmas Present

I got an early Christmas gift from the bestest sisters in the whole world!
Between the three of us, I am the only one without a MAC device: without Whatsapp and Facetime. And since I didn't really want an Iphone, they decided to give me an IPAD 2 instead. They figured I'd want the bigger screen to be able to play games and browse the net. And with the two cameras and an HD videocamera, I'll be able to "document" Euen easier.

Thank you Shashing and MamaCherub.

Thanks to Bing, for the GST refund and bringing it here from Singapore.

Sisters Day Out

Probably the last, if not the second to the last trip to Singapore, we booked our flight even before I knew I was pregnant. Fortunately, I got clearance from my OB to ride the plane. We decided that this visit will be just us sisters, with Kuya Shosh.

Unlike my previous trips to Singapore, this time, we had limited places to go. I couldn’t walk too far, especially go and up down staircases, and I get tired easily. Of course, I wouldn’t miss Ikea and its yummy meatballs! But I had to limit what I had to buy because of the baggage allowance, mostly baby stuff, decors for baby’s room. And it was Cherub’s first time to eat in Marche, and as always, it was a treat.

The five days went by instantly. It was a “mission accomplished,” we got to spend quality time with Lij. For some time now, I haven’t experienced having two sisters: living in same house, sleeping in the same bedroom, waking up and having breakfast on the same dining table. I missed that!
On the other hand, we also got to witness how her day starts and ends there, how she and K/S take care of each other.

I guess this trip was not for different places to visit, or tourist spots to go to. But it was for the sharing of stories of different people we knew, and sharing of experiences that isn’t only read thru emails or chats. This trip was for the endless talks and laughs on the MRT train that would almost make you miss your station. Or the long serious conversations on the bus that would make you wonder if you’re passed your stop already. It was for watching TFC teleseryes together even if you don’t really watch it back home. It was for old Tagalog movies that you wouldn’t mind watching again just to share with her, the feeling of being home.

When it was time to go, I asked her if she wanted to accompany us to the airport, she said she didn’t want to because she might cry. It was sad having to leave her and I know it breaks her heart as well. But what’s left is to cherish the last five days. After all, she exceeded half of the two years. A few months more and she’ll be back home. And we will look forward to that day.

Bonchon Chicken

Chinese New Year dinner last night,we were thinking of where to eat. And Bamba came up with a bright idea, Bonchon Chicken. I remember that this is Shashing and Kuya Shosh's favorite in Singapore but I never had a chance to taste it. I'm surprised that we now have it here in Manila. And glad, at the same time.

Super yummy Soy Chicken! A different kind of "fried" chicken because of the unusual taste. Said to be healthier. With a reasonable prices.

Sure to be one included on my list happy foods.

Universal Studios Singapore

Even though they were only on soft opening and the Battlestar Gallactica had to stop operations, we still decided that after all the trips here, Universal Studios was new so we had to go and see.

For SGD66, it had a 10 dollar meal voucher and a 5 dollar souvenir voucher because of the soft opening. Nice shows: Lights Camera Action Hosted by Steven Spielberg where you get to be in a major hurricane hit movie set. Waterworld, based on the movie, was a different live water show which I found amusing. Also Shrek 4-D Adventure. I had a chance to meet Alex and the gang and took some pictures.

My favorite rides were Revenge of the Mummy, indoor roller coaster like Hongkong Disneyland’s Space Mountain, but better. And Adventure Rapids, like Enchanted Kingdom’s Rio Grande Rapids, but so much better.

Food was affordable, which was unexpected. The 10 dollar voucher could be good for lunch already. Overall, it was a soft opening, there were many people but not too much to cause a queue of more than 50 minutes, at most. The one whole day was almost enough. I thought I’d just want to see it once, but then, we’ll see in the future...

Leaving on a Jet Plane

This is for owner of the elephant.

From Armageddon, one of her favorite movies, one of her favorite songs.

The previous entry is somewhat a prelude to this entry. We have vowed that whatever happens, we will not take jobs outside the country or outside of Metro Manila for that matter. We could go abroad for a few days, to weeks, to at most, a month, but no further. The reason, we do not want to be any more distant apart than the 30 kilometers of Marikina and Paranaque, or Quezon City. ---From Papa, from Mommy and from each other. Whatever happens to our country’s economy, we will not leave the Philippines and migrate somewhere else because we don’t want long distance family relationships, and we can’t leave papa, who wouldn’t want to leave his house in Marikina.

About a few months ago, I received a text message from her, calling for Sisters’ Meeting. I paused for a while, thought what kind of news does she have. After a while, I knew better. We finally got to talk and she confessed that her company wants to send her to Singapore for TWO years!

Yes, two years. That is 24 months and 730 days. Yes, Singapore—that is 3000 kilometers from Manila. Immediately, I didn’t want her to go. Cherub, on the other hand, wanted to be open minded. She explained that the offer was good and she could go home any time. Yeah, I heard that from my best friend. And for the almost five years that she was in Singapore, I just saw her twice or thrice a year.

After a while, she said that she declined the job because their company lowered the salary. So we were happy again. But a few weeks ago, she said that they really wanted to send her and brought back the original salary offer. And she’s going.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooo!!!


She doesn’t even know how to cook rice. All she can cook are: pancakes, fried eggs and hotdog! What about Saturday night sleepovers? Going to malls? Who'll take care of her when she's sick? She couldn’t even wash her clothes without me and Cherub. Ikoy will miss her. She is Papa's favorite. A lot can happen in years and she can’t be home only on special occasions.

After some time, I still do not want her to go. But after this same time, I had to accept it. She didn’t want to go either but she needed this for her job. And she says, for the money, so that she could immediately finish paying off their housing loan.

And now, we are counting the days till all her bags are packed and she sings:

So kiss me and smile for me Tell me that you’ll wait for me Hold me like you’ll never let me go Cause I’m leaving on a jet plane Don’t know when I’ll be back again Baby, I hate to go.

I am just holding on to her promise that she’ll go home as often as she could. I am also hoping that we could get Papa to visit her there. Though I am one hundered percent sure that she'll do just fine, I pray that it won’t be too difficult for her. Or else, it will be more than one Singapore trip this year.

Breakfast at Singapore

I usually just have coffee during mornings but when we were there, I got fond of eating breakfast. For reasons that I can't explain, (even after analyzing)... it was delicious and fun to eat. It was more like how they serve breakfast in hotels. And it gives a good and happy early-morning-start, during, and after eating.

Here are the ingredients:
1. A cup of coffee with sugar and fresh milk
2. A few slices of toasted wheat bread
3. Spreadable butter
4. Sugar-free strawberry jam
5. A sunny-side-up egg cooked the way I want it


And so I tried the same breakfast when we came back. I brought back the same (almost) strawberry jam. Bought the same ingredients, and even got the same bread toaster. But it didn't taste the same.


Then, I realized that there were more ingredients that I missed:
1. the adorable baby princess that crawls on the floors and gives you the cutest smiles.
2. the dad who works hard and even goes home for lunch to spend time with his girls.
3. the uncle who claims to just wash dishes and do the laundy, but never complains when asked to do anything.
4. the mama-ate and bestfriend who tirelessly takes the best care of the baby princess, almost leaving nothing for herself.

I missed and I am missing more. Unfortunately, I couldn't bring them back home with me.

The good thing, there is a new "baby" addition to the many reasons why I go to Singapore. The not so good thing, the same addition becomes a reason why it breaks my heart every time I leave.

Our TWINS

Nope! I am not referring to babies yet. But out newest toys that I would like to call our babies.


The first born is Neeky. We were hoping to find a good deal from the PC Show and ended up at Alan Photo. At first, he wanted a different, cheaper brand. And after some convincing powers, he decided on the Nikon D40 Dual Lens kit! Thus the name, Neeky. It was a good buy for SGD 1099, less the GST Refund. And a few weeks of playing with his new toy, he had no regrets.


The baby of the twins is Rui. I was having second thoughts of replacing Yugi, but on our last day, I was convinced, by the one with convincing power above, to go ahead and order online: Dell Vostro 1200. We opted for the 12 inch because we wanted the smaller one; lighter, more portable and mobile, since I bring it everywhere I go. I was happy because it was customized with the specs and add-ons that I really wanted. I don’t really know how I got the name though, just popped out of the mind a few days before it was finally on my hands.

They say we went to Singapore for a honeymoon, to make babies. This was the outcome, both ordered, bought and delivered in Singapore, our twins.

My favorite things

IKEA is my favorite furniture shop in the whole world. Every time we visit Singapore, we see to it that we get to buy something from IKEA. From the simplest bowls for our doggies, to small kitchen utensils, up to stools and side tables.



What is good about IKEA is that the products are packed flat and small. An advantage for us, because they have to fit in our check-in luggage. And having to assemble the furniture yourself is a good thing. Because, there is “labor-of-love” attached on every item you buy. And once you’ve completed it, you will be more fulfilled.

One more favorite part is their showroom. Sitting on every sofa, enjoying the comfort of the arm chair with foot stools and feeling the sheets and mattresses of the beds. Almost falling asleep on the super soft bed and cuddly pillows, not being bothered when other customers walk in front you. The kitchen set-ups are the best. Still dreaming to have one of this on our own house, soon.



My favorite on all these favorites is having my favorite person with me during my trip to IKEA. Not only that, I am also with my “soon-to-be” next favorite person in the whole world.

Couldn’t get enough

The five-day stay with them was the best. First night was rainy, but I had the best cream-tomato-sauce-combined shrimp pasta in whole world. Second day, I brought him to places I’ve been during the first time I went there. Still rainy, but we managed to find our way (with Daddy’s ever reliable map), to the IT Mall and to Merlion. We took the boat to Clark Quay, then to Orchard, then to Chinatown. Third day, rain made way for us, so I was able to ride a tandem bike for the first time, along the beach. One hour passed very quickly and I enjoyed the ride. Then we went to my favorite furniture shop in the whole world!

Sunday, I was able to attend a Catholic Mass where a lot of Pinoys were there. Then we headed off to the zoo. This time, we didn’t let the rain get in the way. The butterfly garden was scary because they put birds inside. And with our plastic raincoats, I was able to see the Polar Bears, finally!

Who would have thought I’d survived commuting, riding the bus and train, with the all-purpose Ezlink card. Sleeping as long as I want, waking up to cook breakfast, sitting on the dining table and having dinner, having mommy make me hot tea. Best part was seeing mommy and daddy and spending time with them. The airfare was worth it.

Now that I’m back, I wish I could stay longer, or forever maybe. I just couldn’t get enough of it.