We're supposed to have arrived today from a four-day, three-night stay in Palawan via Philippine Air Lines. It was supposed to be Justin’s first plane ride and mommy’s second. It was supposed to be our first family vacation. But we had to back out at the last minute because of the A(H1N1) threat. Never mind if my husband already paid for our non-refundable airline tickets. Never mind that it might take long before we can plan another trip again. There’ll be other times for us to travel. The timing is just not perfect. We’re much safer where we are right now, in our home sweet home.

I've been tagged by Race of Beyond Horizons, Kaye of RandomWAHMThoughts, onlinemommy of Online Mommy's Corner, and wickedlysexy of Mom from Manila.

USING ONLY ONE WORD! It’s not as easy as you might think! Copy and change the answers to suit you and pass it on. It’s really hard to use only one-word answers. Be sure to tag the person who sent it to you!

1. Where is your cell phone? Under the pillow
2. Your hair? Brown
3. Your mother? Resourceful
4. Your father? Dependable
5. Your favorite food? Rice
6. Your dream last night? None
7. Your favorite drink? Lemonade
8. Your dream/goal? Travel
9. What room you are in? Bedroom
10. Your hobby? Blogging
11. Your fear? Dogs
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Philippines
13. Where were you last night? Home
14. Something that you aren’t? Lazy
15. Muffins? Blueberry
16. Wish list item? Money
17. Where you grew up? Makati
18. Last thing you did? Worked
19. What are you wearing? Eyeglasses
20. Your TV? Hyundai
21. Your pets? None
22. Friends? Online
23. Your life? Okay
24. Your mood? Relaxed
25. Missing someone? Jo
26. Car? None
27. Something you’re not wearing? Shoes
28. Your favorite store? Ministop
29. Your favorite color? Yellow
30. When is the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? Dunno
32. Who will resend this? Me
33. One place that I go to over and over? Mall
34. One person who emails me regularly? BuyBlogReviews.com
35. My favorite place to eat? Icebergs

Now, I'm tagging the following people: Melanie, Juliana, Phoebe, Genejosh and Mys.

Just in case I won’t have Internet connection for the rest of the day and until tomorrow, I’m posting my entry now using my phone as modem while I still have cell phone load.

Because Justin enjoyed his five-week summer class and he’s the right age, we enrolled him in nursery for this school year. Classes in their school officially started last June 17, and I say I’m one excited mom! I made my mornings less hectic so I can accompany him to and from school, which is very near our place, by the way.

He’s just been attending class for a week now because classes for preschool were suspended yesterday and today due to typhoon Feria. He’s actually getting bored just staying in the house and playing. I really think he missed school.

Justin is still quite clingy, but last Tuesday, I left his classroom to be with the other parents waiting at the lounge for their children. He cried a little, but he soon forgot about mommy as soon as I was out of his sight. He was even grinning widely when their class was dismissed. “Did you cry?” I asked him. “No,” he said, but he did.

He still actively participates in all their classroom activities, but I noticed he gets distracted and a little bit bored sometimes probably because they now have a three-hour class as against their two-hour summer class last May. He’s gotten a little bit more complacent, too, that he sometimes doesn’t listen to his teachers (two teachers are assigned per classroom) like when he’s asked to lie down on the mat during rest time. He doesn’t want to rest; he wants to play after recess.


Justin during play time


Justin doing “Ring around the Rosie” with his classmates


Justin proudly wearing his school shirt
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Your 1950s Name is: Frances Charlene

What's buzzin, cuzzin?

What's Your 1950s Name?

I think my 1950s name sounds better than my real name. Haha!

Thanks for this fun tag, Niko. If you want to know your 1950s name, just click on the link above.

I’ve always wanted to visit Singapore’s renowned nature park, the Night Safari, for a chance to see nocturnal animals from all over the world up close and personal. I had an opportunity to do just that last year when my husband was sent to the Lion City for an offshore site testing. I had to forego my plan, however, because I could not leave my then 21-month-old son behind. But now that my son is turning three, I think he’s old enough to accompany us on a trip abroad. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect now that air fares across the Asia Pacific region have reached record low.

Planning this trip, however, is not that easy, as we have to live within our budget. Aside from the air fares, we also have to think about where we will be staying for the duration of the trip. While doing my research, I’ve learned about Accor Hotels City Super Sale. Accor’s various brands, such as Sofitel, Pullman, Gallery, Grand Mercure, Novotel, Mercure, Ibis, and All Seasons, are offering reduced hotel rates in 27 cities across 10 countries in Asia Pacific. Singapore is included in those 27 cities along with Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Hanoi, Jakarta, Manila, Mumbai, Sydney, and Auckland.

With Accor Hotels City Super Sale, you can take advantage of up to 60% savings when you book online from June 23 to 29 for stays between July 10 and September 30, 2009. You can also get room rates for as low as US$25 dollars per night. What’s even better? Over 250,000 room nights will be on sale. So what are you waiting for? Check out the sale rates from Accor for your own vacation travels. The Accor Hotels City Super Sale is for a limited time only.

I got this interesting tag from Laine of Laine’s Abode.

The rules are simple:

1. Open this website: Personality Test

2. Take the Personality Quiz. (It's very short and easy really!)

3. Copy paste the result to your blog.

4. Tag as many friends you can and link to the friend who tagged you!

Now, here's my Personality Test result:)

Your view on yourself:
You are down-to-earth and people like you because you are so straightforward. You are an efficient problem solver because you will listen to both sides of an argument before making a decision that usually appeals to both parties.

The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:
You are a true romantic. When you are in love, you will do anything and everything to keep your love true.

Your readiness to commit to a relationship:
You are ready to commit as soon as you meet the right person. And you believe you will pretty much know as soon as you meet that person.

The seriousness of your love:
You are very serious about relationships and aren't interested in wasting time with people you don't really like. If you meet the right person, you will fall deeply and beautifully in love.

Your views on education
You may not like to study but you have many practical ideas. You listen to your own instincts and tend to follow your heart, so you will probably end up with an unusual job.

The right job for you:
You're a practical person and will choose a secure job with a steady income. Knowing what you like to do is important. Find a regular job doing just that and you'll be set for life.

How do you view success:
You are afraid of failure and scared to have a go at the career you would like to have in case you don't succeed. Don't give up when you haven't yet even started! Be courageous.

What are you most afraid of:
You are concerned about your image and the way others see you. This means that you try very hard to be accepted by other people. It's time for you to believe in who you are, not what you wear.

Who is your true self:
You are mature, reasonable, honest and give good advice. People ask for your comments on all sorts of different issues. Sometimes you might find yourself in a dilemma when trapped with a problem, which your heart rather than your head needs to solve.

Except for my views on education, the rest of the results are pretty accurate.

Guys, it’s your turn to know yourself better: Seiko, Enchie, Chris, Ness and Chubskulit. Have fun!

We celebrated Father’s Day last Sunday at my parents' house in Dasmarinas, Cavite. It was supposed to be a surprise visit to our beloved Tatay (Filipino word for “father”). My younger sister and brother did not tell him that we (Ed, me, and Justin) would be coming along. We all shared a hearty meal of pancit malabon and puto, lechon manok, vegetable salad, lumpiang shanghai, and laing (gabi/taro leaves cooked in coconut milk).

The main purpose of our visit was to show Tatay how we, his children, appreciate all the things that he has done for us. He may not have been the best provider because of circumstances beyond his control, but he has more than made up for that. During those times that our Nanay (Filipino word for “mother”) would be out of the house trying to earn a living, Tatay was the one who cooked for us, fed us, cleaned the house, washed our clothes, attended our PTA meetings, listened to our stories, shared our laughter, and dried our tears. Although we were dirt poor, we never felt deprived because our Tatay loved us. That unselfish love and devotion saw our family through those trying times.


From left to right: Tatay, Nanay, Justin, Tito Dennis, Ate Tin-Tin, Tita Meg, Me, Ed, Ate Ayie, and Tito Orlan
Happy Father’s Day, Tatay! You’re the world’s greatest dad, and I’m proud to be your daughter.

Creative Mom Blogger Award
In celebration of her 1st blogging anniversary, Jacris of Mom’s Special Diary came up with the Creative Mom Blogger Award. I’m truly honored to be one of the recipients of this award. Chris of The Mommy Journey,Niko of Niko's Blog, and Laine of Laine's Abode also graciously gave me this award.



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Here are the simple rules:
♥ Take your award and put the logo on your post.
♥Link the person who awarded you. Remember each recipient of the award should acknowledge the person who honored them and go to Mom's Special Diary to copy and paste the award.
♥Put your own blog title and link.
♥Nominate at least five deserving moms.

1. Mom's Special Diary 2. The Mommy Journey. 3. Niko's Blog 4. Laine's Abode 5. Pensive Thoughts 6. You're Next.
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It’s my pleasure to pass on this award to the following creative mommy bloggers: Kaye of RandomWAHMThoughts, Evan’s Mom of A Little Boy’s Blog, Prettymom of Deeply in Love, Race of Beyond Horizons and Jeng of jengspeaks.

Your Blog Makes Us Smile
Jacris of Mom's Special Diary also gave me this really nice award. Again, thanks so much for thinking of me.


I’d like to share this award to the following people whose blogs never fail to put a smile on my face:Kaye of RandomWAHMThoughts, Hazel of Delineating Des, Niko of Niko’s Blog, Cecile of Things that Matter Most and Beng of Beng’s Entertainment Spree.

Best Blog Award
As if the two awards were not enough, another one was sent my way from Genejosh of Her and History and Seiko of Seiko’s Diary. I appreciate your lovely gesture, ladies.


The following bloggers deserve this award as well: Pinaymama of A Momma’s Journal, Jacris of Mom’s Special Diary, Katherine or Mom’s Place, Dhoy of Simply Irresistible and Mys of Thoughts and Obsessions.

Blogger Buddy Award
This final award is from Seiko of Seiko’s Diary. I cannot thank you enough for giving me one award after another since we’ve met on blogosphere.


To all my blogger friends, please feel free to grab this award.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

When Justin grows up, he will be proud to know that his Daddy was able to obtain an MBA degree while working full-time. He also graduated with honors, having been named one of the silver medalists in his class.


Getting ready to graduate


After the ceremony
Justin also couldn’t have asked for a better father as his Daddy’s priority is his family. Justin’s Daddy spends quality time with him and wants only the best for his son.


A special father-and-son bonding moment
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When the clock struck 12 last Sunday, my husband felt discomfort in his stomach, making the first of his series of trips to the bathroom. To make things worse, he also had vomiting spells. By 5am, he was too weak to simply ignore what he was feeling, and we both decided that we should go to the hospital. But we were without company at that time because my niece went home and would only be back later that day. My son was also fast asleep, and we wouldn’t want to bring him along to witness his Daddy’s distress. Besides, it’s not even safe to take kids to the hospital these days because of the A(H1N1) threat.

So I called my father, asked him to go to our place first thing in the morning, and my husband went to the hospital by his lonesome since there’d be no one to look after our son. To make the long story short, my husband was hospitalized for acute gastroenteritis. Because he became too dehydrated, he was also diagnosed with acute renal failure. (Lesson: Too much fluid loss in the body can affect one’s kidney.) We had oral rehydration salts in the house to be mixed with a glass of water, but he hates the taste of it, so I couldn’t make him drink it. His doctor told us we should have bought Gatorade instead. How come we haven’t thought of that? We were out of the hospital by Tuesday afternoon.

Do you want to know what my husband ate before he started having diarrhea and vomiting? He had tahong (mussels). Now, I don’t think we’ll be serving that dish in our house for a very long time.

I'm at a loss here. When hubby opened my blog today, my header and even my right-hand sidebar are filled with Photobucket messages saying that I've reached maximum bandwidth already and that I should upgrade. This is the first time this has happened, and I'm so frustrated, disappointed, angry because I don't really know how to fix the problem. When I opened my blog again later tonight, the messages were nowhere to be found, and my blog was back to its normal self again. But will this thing come back? What brought this on? Earlier, I deleted my latest post "My Very Own Post Signature," thinking it was the culprit (I'm so sorry, Kaye), but decided to post it again. As an added measure, I also deleted some files from my Photobucket album, hoping that this will solve the problem.

Has something like this ever happened to you? What have you done to reverse the situation? Please, I need help here.

Kaye of RandomWAHMThoughts and WAHMaholic was offering free post signatures the day before Independence Day. Being a blogging illiterate, I have been wondering for the longest time how I can have my own signature appended to my posts. But I haven’t really done anything to satisfy my curiosity because I’ve been busy. Okay…okay… truth be told, I don’t know where to start. I’m really poor when it comes to these things. In short, it’s not really my cup of tea. Now, back to my story, I commented on Kaye’s post and let her know I’m interested in what she’s offering. And after just two days, she came up with the finished product, my very own post signature. Isn’t it lovely?

I started blogging actively September of last year, and that is when I met Kaye. The moment I laid eyes on her first blog, RandomWAHMThoughts, I already knew that this girl has talent, loads of it. We haven’t really known each other that long, but every time I have a blog-/blogging-related question, she was more than willing to share what she knows. Well, what do you know? This girl has a big heart, too. I’m really glad I’ve met her on blogosphere. Thanks so much, Kaye, for all those times I bothered you with my never-ending, oftentimes ridiculous, questions and for this wonderful gift you gave. I truly appreciate all your help.

Wow! Two of my new blogger friends gave me this Treasured Friends Forever Award, and I say I’m forever grateful to both of you. Thanks so much, Seiko of Seiko’s Diary and Jacris of Mom’s Special Diary.


I'm sharing this award with some wonderful people I've met in the blogosphere:

Rachel of Heart of Rachel
Ibyang of A Wife’s Charmed Life
Wenchie of The Sweet Life
Kaye of RandomWAHMThoughts
Cecile of Things that Matter Most
Shy of My Solitude and Serenity
Laine of Laine’s Abode
Genejosh of Her and His Story
Michelle of My Crazy Life With a Toddler
Cacai of Cacai’s Step and Journey

Mommy Moments’ theme for this week is “Outdoor Fun.”

When Justin was smaller, our family loved going to parks simply to relax and enjoy the view. Now that he’s bigger, the only outdoor activity that he gets to do is going to the playground at our condo penthouse.


Taken at Manila Baywalk when Justin was only 6 months old


Eight-month-old Justin with Mommy at the old Greenbelt Park


Justin at the playground when he was 2 years and 3 months old

Click on the badge above to see more Mommy Moments' entries.

Is there such a thing as ethical hacking? As unbelievable as it may sound, yes, there is. Hacking is considered a crime in the United States and most other countries. When hacking is done with permission, however, then it becomes ethical. The Certified Ethical Hacker is authorized to penetrate an organization’s networks to test for vulnerabilities and exposure to help tighten the company’s IT security. While the unethical hacker maliciously attacks a company’s computer systems, the ethical hacker is the one responsible for preventing these attacks.

There is a great demand for ethical hackers these days as more and more organizations are becoming victims of rampant hacking. As a matter of fact, the top 50 percent of these security specialists, forensic investigators, or network defense architects—professional titles for ethical hackers-- earned anywhere from $97,970 to $123,900 in 2007. Now, that’s one great reason to get into this line of work.

However, you need more than just a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology or Computer Science to become a Certified Ethical Hacker. As the title suggests, you need to be certified. That’s exactly the purpose of EC-Council. EC-Council has certified many IT professionals from big corporations (Cisco Corporation, Novell, Canon, Hewlett Packard, US Air Force Reserve, etc.) as Certified Ethical Hackers. Aside from Ethical Hacking, EC-Council also offers the following online courses: Security Fundamentals, Penetration Testing, Computer Forensics, Disaster Recovery, and Secure Programming.

Pinaymama of A Momma’s Journal, Katherine of Mom’s Place, and Race of My Crossroads have given me this Favorite Blogs Award. Thanks so much, ladies!


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This is the easiest and the fastest way to:
- Make your Authority Technorati explode.
- Increase your Google Page Rank.
- Get more traffic to your blog.
- Make more new friends.

The rules are very simple:
- Start copy from “Begin Copy” until “End Copy” to your blog.
- Put your own blog name and link.
- Tag your friends as much as you can.

http://lilyarbee.blogspot.com/
http://www.basicbloganomics.com
The Mommy Journey
http://www.mommyjourney.com
A Momma's Journal
http://www.joshandme.com
Pensive Thoughts
http://www.pensivethoughts.com

I’m now passing on this award to those amazing blogs in my blog roll. You’re all my favorites!!!

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When I checked my email today, I was surprised to know that Entrecard has already transferred $3 to my PayPal account for the 3,000 EC points I exchanged for cash last week.

Hello Maria Teresa Figuerres,

Entrecard.com, Inc just sent you money with PayPal.

Payment details
Amount: $3.00 USD
Transaction Date: Jun 8, 2009
Transaction ID: 3RJ526321U562232T
Subject: Entrecard CashOut
Custom note: CashOut payment for 3000 Entrecard Credits

I learned about this Entrecard cashout application thing from Smart Mommy back in May, and I was encouraged to try it out also. It took longer for me to have my application approved, but I didn’t mind.

Now, I have all the more reason to keep dropping ECs everyday.

The first thing that comes to mind when I hear the word “landscaping” is a beautifully designed garden. Through research, however, I’ve learned that landscaping offers many wonderful benefits aside from simply improving the appearance of our backyard, garden, or lawn. To name a few, good landscaping can purify the air, prevent property erosion, remove unsightly fixtures in the house, and improve the value of our homes.

But landscaping isn’t an easy task. We need the help of experts to help us achieve the look we want for our homes. If you live in or anywhere around Phoenix, Arizona and you’re seriously considering having your place landscaped, then you need to hire a qualified Phoenix Landscaping company to perform this job for you.

Desert Crest is a full service landscape company known for its innovative design and quality installations. With over 18 years of experience, Desert Crest's group of professional landscapers will help you create the look that best complements your home. As an added bonus, they will provide you with a computer drawing design of your plot plan to give you a glimpse of the final product.

Desert Crest specializes in landscaping design, landscape installation, plant selection and options, quality workmanship, and landscape maintenance.

To help generate awareness about the Fresh Air Fund (FAF), I wrote a post about this organization last April 15, 2009. The Fresh Air Fund is an independent, not-for-profit agency that has provided free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877.


The good news is that the Fresh Air Fund has received a generous offer from some kind-hearted donors. Any gift given to the Fresh Air Fund from now until June 30th will be matched dollar for dollar. Think about how many more children could benefit from this.

There are several ways to send in your donations. You can donate online, join FAF’s monthly giving program, fill up FAF’s printable donation form, donate by phone, and make special contributions.

For more information, you can call the Fresh Air Fund at 1-800-367-0003.

One of the disadvantages of condo living is that there’s minimal to zero social interaction among neighbors since most, if not all, of the tenants/unit owners are busy working people. We also don’t get to see our neighbors' kids or know if they even have kids, so Justin doesn’t really have that much friends in the building since we moved here a little over a year ago.

The only time he gets to mingle with other kids is when he goes to the playground or to the swimming pool located at the building penthouse. I also think one of the reasons he enjoyed his summer class is that he gets to be with kids his age, playing with them, singing with them, and learning with them.


This is when Justin attended playmate Gabby’s 3rd birthday party held at Pizza Hut, Robinsons Galleria last November 2008. Justin met Gabby at the playground. From left to right: Gabby, Sophia, and Justin


Justin enjoying his balloon and posing for a souvenir shot with his classmates on their last day of school.
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I will be enrolling my son in preschool (nursery) tomorrow. He’s only turning three this July, but I think he’s quite ready for school because of the following reasons:

He can follow simple instructions from switching the electric fan on and off, getting his glass of water from the refrigerator, getting his dad’s/mom’s slippers, packing away his toys, etc.

He can already recite the alphabet and identify all 26 letters, count 1 to 30, and identify shapes and colors.

He knows a number of nursery rhymes already and loves to sing and dance.

He knows how to use a pencil and write some recognizable letters on paper and draw recognizable shapes and objects.

He enjoys working with his hands, whether it’s coloring, finger-painting, or gluing as evidenced by his summer class artworks.

He is showing interest in books. Sometimes, he assumes the role of a storyteller and tells a story based on the pictures.

He knows how to use the computer, playing online games, watching videos, and typing letters on the keyboard.

He knows how to spell his two-part first name, Justin Edward, and can even type it on the cell phone.

He loves being around people and is usually very friendly.

He is very curious about his surroundings, noticing things, big and small, and experimenting with them if he ever gets the chance. The tiniest insect cannot escape my son’s prying eyes.

Do you know where to get the best Miami Dolphins game tickets? Would you like to stay up-to-date on Miami Dolphins news and statistics? Lastly, would you like to network with other Miami Dolphins fans on the website and read blogs that talk about anything and everything about the Miami Dolphins? If you are an avid fan of the Miami Dolphins, you’ll be glad to know that there’s now a website that’s entirely dedicated to one of the best football franchises in the National Football League (NFL).

MiamiDolphinsTickets.com offers a good selection of premium Miami Dolphins tickets at unbeatable prices. What’s even better is that the company does not charge hidden service or handling fees unlike their competitors. The company’s extensive ticket inventory and secure online ordering make purchasing Miami Dolphins tickets all the more convenient. At MiamiDolphinsTickets.com, you can also read the latest updates on the Miami Dolphins, comment on blogs and news articles, and chat with other Dol-fans.

The Miami Dolphins are the oldest major-league professional sports franchise in the state of Florida. The team won Super Bowl VII and VIII in 1972. In 2008, the Dolphins bagged the AFC East title for the first time since 2000 and performed in the playoffs. The Miami Dolphins will play their next game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on August 17, 2009.

MiamiDolphinsTickets.com is a privately owned ticket agency. It is not affiliated with the Miami Dolphins, NFL, or any company for whom they provide tickets.

I’m honored to receive this One Lovely Blog Award from Jenna of A Mom’s Balancing Act and Mrs. Graig of Mom and Her Diary. Thanks so much, ladies!

The rules are:
1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Now, I am passing on this award to the following lovely blogs:

Simply Irresistible
Mom’s Special Diary
A Momma’s Journal
Seiko’s Diary
Delineating Des
Mom from Manila
written by mys
Online Mommy’s Corner
jengspeaks
trust.loyalty.bliss.
Living A’ La Mode
Etcetera Etcetera
earthlingorgeous.com
Mom’s Place
Moms Lifestyle

It’s time to once again acknowledge my top Entrecard droppers.

Online Marketing
my review
Zero
Cacai’s Step and Journey
Things That Are Me
photodito
FickleMinded – A Life That Is Less Ordinary
Denford Magora’s Zimbabwe Blog
Happy Moments…Happy Thoughts!
Survivor: The Reality of My life
Thank you for dropping ECs on my blog. I hope to see all of you again this June.