Inside Mall of Asia at Christmas

Sometimes there is an activity we’d like so much to accomplish but because of the hassle we have to undergo to do it, we just forget it if it’s not important anyway. That activity becomes a dream, until destiny suddenly brings us there. For me, that activity is simply to go to “Mall of Asia”, which they said is the biggest mall, not only in the Philippines but in the whole of Asia. The place is too far from our residence and there are a lot of shopping places nearby like Megamall, Robinson’s Galleria, Eastwood City malls, Gateway, Trinoma, SM City North, Hypermart, Tiendesitas, SM Marikina, etc. We are actually in the middle of all these malls.

Until one day, my son and daughter told me that their choir, Novo Concertante Manila, will be singing at MOA (popular abbreviation for Mall of Asia) and I immediately answered “We will watch!”. I couldn’t think of a better reason for me to go there. The day of their performance was December 22, Monday. We expected a lot of traffic so we decided not to bring the car. Fortunately there were already jeepneys going to MOA waiting for passengers from the MRT, so it was really easy.

When we were there, I was expecting a large structure and I was disappointed not to see any. I realized though that what really made MOA the biggest is its sprawling low structures connected by bridges. At the far background of this photo with a “cute” open shuttle is a blue bridge. The next photo is a shot of this same place from that bridge.


At Christmas, inside a big mall is of course a big Christmas tree, and a stage where various shows are held. Choirs singing Christmas carols are indispensable, especially if they’ve won in a contest, like the first prize for church choir category won by Novo Concertante Manila in the recently concluded “Vivere Chorale Competition 2008”, a popular annual chorale competition in the Philippines. The host of the competition is Vivere Hotel, an elegant hotel in Alabang. Maybe one day I should visit that hotel and blog about it (another dream, LOL).

What a wonderful way for me to go to MOA, and listen to Novo Concertante Manila sing one of my favorite Christmas songs, a German song titled “Frohlocket Ihr Folker auf Erden”, which exclaims the joy and thanksgiving of the world for He has sent His son for the redemption of mankind.

Merry Novo Christmas!

Merry Novo Christmas! The "Novo" of course means "new" and it can be a short single word for "May your dreams be fulfilled this Christmas!". Do you like that? I like that too, very much in fact, so I'd like to thank the annual Christmas event of Novo Concertante Manila for coming up with that title for their traditional Christmas concert.

For this year, the "Merry Novo Christmas" concert was held just a few hours ago, on December 20, at the Holy Family Chapel of Eastwood City in Quezon City. The video shows a part of the concert where Novo Concertante Manila sang a Filipino Christmas song titled "Kampana Ng Simbahan", a well choreographed rendition. Just brighten your screen a bit to appreciate the choreo since it was a far shot just using my camera.

Singing with Novo Concertante Manila

Novo Concertante Manila is one of the best choirs in the Philippines. There was a time I dreamed to be a part of this choir but it was not a serious dream. Until my son and daughter became members, because the conductor of this choir, Arwin Tan, was the former conductor of the choir where my children were members.

Our family sings with some of my children's former choirmates, at the Holy Family Chapel at Eastwood City every third Sunday of the month (11 A.M. mass), with my daughter as a "passive" conductor. Until some members of Novo Concertante Manila joined us, including their conductor who doesn't conduct this time, but sings as one of the basses. I feel proud to sing with the choir's sopranos, though sometimes I prefer to sing as an alto because the sopranos are obviously very good and there are just a few altos. I'm contented to just sing with them informally during the mass, primarily because the choir won't need somebody like me LOL.

In this video is a song of Novo Concertante Manila, which showcases their very talented sopranos and an alto. The title of the song is "Ili-ili Tulog Anay", a Filipino lullaby in Ilongo dialect. Their performance made me very happy that I was part of the audience and not the choir. I took the video just using my Samsung U600 cellphone during the Thanksgiving concert of the choir at Holy Family Parish in Kamias, Quezon City, last December 6 of this year.

Ilonggo

Ili-ili, tulog anay,
Wala diri imong Nanay,
Kadto tienda bakal papay,
Ili-ili, tulog anay

English Translation

Little one, little one, sleep now
Your mother is not here,
She went to buy some bread
Little one, little one, sleep now.

My own version, to put Lyca to sleep (LOL):

Sleep, sleep, my little one
Mama will stay to sing for you
I will be here to watch you sleep
Sleep, sleep, my little one

The Dream Match: Pacquiao Wins!

"The Dream Match: De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao" is probably the first “David and Goliath” match for so many years. For this “Dream Match” with Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao has been the underdog. For the last seven years, he had been an underdog, in 2001 against Lehlo Ledwaba and according to some, to Erik Morales in March 2005. But in those two fights he was an underdog, he emerged as the winner!

Today’s fight of these two boxing giants will end all speculations. They said that Oscar may win by knockout, while Manny may only win by decision.

Here's an unofficial outcome of the Dream Match:
1st Round: Pacquiao's learning curve has accelerated
2nd Round: Pacquiao lands more than half of his shots
3rd to 5th Round: Pacquiao dominates the fight
6th Round: Pacquiao wins the 6 rounds
7th Round: De La Hoya weakens, Power punches: De La Hoya 34%, Pacquiao 57%
8th Round: Pacquiao still dominates the fight
9th Round: De La Hoya's doctor advises to stop the fight before this round started!

Pacquiao wins by TKO! Power punches: De La Hoya 31%, Pacquiao 59%

Dreams are my reality

I'm dedicating this post to my brother who celebrated his birthday last November 20, because my wish is for his dreams to become real.

I must admit though, that every time I see my Dreams List blog, I silently sing "Dreams Are My Reality" because I always wish that some, if not all these dreams, will come true (except for some dreams in my sleep like my friend who became a vampire, LOL!}.

Met you by surprise, I didn't realize
That my life would change forever
Saw you standing there, I didn't know I cared
There was something special in the air.

Dreams are my reality
The only real kind of real fantasy
Illusions are a common thing
I try to live in dreams
It seems as if it's meant to be.

Dreams are my reality
A different kind of reality
I dream of loving in the night
And loving seems alright
Although it's only fantasy.

If you do exist, honey don't resist
Show me a new way of loving
Tell me that it's true
Show me what to do
I feel something special about you.

Dreams are my reality
The only kind of reality
Maybe my foolishness has past
And maybe now at last
I'll see how a real thing can be.

Dreams are my reality
A wonderous world where I like to be
I dream of holding you all night
And holding you seems right
Perhaps that's my reality.

Met you by surprise, I didn't realize
That my life would change forever
Tell me that it's true
Feelings that are cue
I feel something special about you.

Dreams are my reality
A wonderous world where I like to be
Illusions are a common thing
I try to live in dreams
Although it's only fantasy.

Dreams are my reality
I like to dream of you close to me
I dream of loving in the night
And loving you seems right
Perhaps that's my reality.

Working in the dark

I finally got a project based job from my former employer in the medical department. But before you get excited, let me complete my story. I am working closely with a former office mate whom I also worked closely in the past, and I consider him one of my close male friends. We worked overtime one day, and since we were working on our computer monitors, we hardly noticed that it was getting dark. Until I noticed that the surrounding was totally pit black so I told him, "Hey, let's open the light because it's too dark, the people outside might not think right since we're alone here". He replied, "No! I don't want them to see me!". He went near me, led my hand to touch one of his fangs while saying, "Look at my fangs, they're growing!" (as long as my index finger!). And then I woke up.

I've published this dream in my "Dreams List" blog, but after two days I saw the billboard of "Twilight", the movie, so I thought of incorporating a part of its soundtrack in this post, Linkin Park's "Leave Out All The Rest".

Bloggers Unite for refugees

I’ve been busy with a task for a family event the last two days, I forgot to finalize and publish my Bloggers Unite entry about refugees. As with the other topics I’ve participated in under Bloggers Unite, I’m not a resource person as far as the topic is concerned, but I’ve gone to a refugee center in Athens, Greece, in 2005, when I was there with my daughter and the members of the University of Asia and the Pacific Chorale. The number of the refugees we’ve seen was overwhelming. They could come from Iran, Iraq, Kurdistan, Afghanistan as well as from parts of Africa and other nations

Before the chorale offered a few songs for the refugees, there seemed to be an informal evangelism class, and I was able to shoot a photo as shown. Based on the pamphlets displayed at the center, I would say that one of the center’s focal activity for the refugees was evangelism. I found the website that tells more about this center and I hope through this post, people will visit the Athens Refugee Center website and see how they can help. Visiting a refugee center was a worthwhile experience, because now I know that a refugee center's programs can also help the refugees continue to dream big.

So many dream jobs

At my age of 55, I just can't stop dreaming of the right dream job! That was probably one of the reasons why I insisted on changing my first blog's title to "I Don't Want To Retire!" from the original "My Retirement". I have conflicting dreams though, and I wonder how I can combine all of them or organize them as steps to fulfill the biggest dream.

I just mentioned in a previous post that I have a new dream, which is to learn the body's acupoints and I'm currently learning. But when I sometimes think of the current need for a regular income, other dreams come in, like I still dream of going back to an IT job where I have gained so much confidence after years of experience. Maybe I can still work as a processor of SAP-HR since I haven't taken the full course thus can't be a consultant. Or I can be a web designer if only I have the time and money to study.

There were also several times in my sleep where I was a student and was late for my next class or forgot I had a class. I mentioned in another post that maybe I should finish my Interior Design course so those kind of dreams will stop. That should make me an Interior Designer, but that will be an entirely new career.

So many dream jobs, but too little time. That's really the problem. There's some logic if I can complete all three. Maybe I can put up a Wellness Center later where I can apply all my learnings about modern acupuncture, and where I can design the interiors myself. I can then advertise it through a website I'll also design myself. It's hard to believe I can do all that. Of course there are other people who can do the interiors as well as the website! I just have to renew my friendships with my Interior Design classmates, and I think I have a new friend who is a web designer. He just offered his services for free, I just hope his offer won't expire.

A half-fulfilled dream

If you will check my Dreams List, my second dream on the list, to study Interior Design, was half-fulfilled because I was just halfway the basic course when I stopped. It was not my intention to stop permanently since I knew I may resume it anytime as long as there's sufficient fund for it. The only problem now is in my sleep, I always dream that I'm already late in my class, or I forgot that I have a class and I'm very worried.

Maybe I should seriously plan to resume my studies or those dreams will not go away. That dream to complete Interior Design is obviously still in my subconscious mind!

Teach the street children to dream!

I've always avoided "poverty" as a topic as if I knew so much about it. But it was only this year, now that I'm 55, that I really understood what it is all about. How can I be so naive about it, easily judging those street children about their lifestyles when I didn't know everything about them? I'm just glad that on this day, October 15, which is the "Blog Action Day" focusing on poverty for 2008, I will have the opportunity to express my feelings (mostly guilt).

"Don't give them a single cent because they'll just buy rugby to sniff, with the money you'll give", I would tell myself when street children come to me to ask for alms. The sight of street children sniffing rugby was a dreadful sight, I felt hatred for their parents and the older children the younger ones would emulate.

It broke my heart to learn just very recently that the rugby the street children sniff will help them forget their hunger for two days. And their parents would even teach them to do it so they will stop complaining about their hunger.

What's more heartbreaking is when you hear those children talk about their dreams. They don't want to study, they just want to follow the footsteps of their father or mother. Who will teach these children to dream bigger? If nobody will teach them, poverty will never be solved, instead it will even proliferate and will be willingly accepted by the affected population.

Let's teach those street children to dream! Mr. Fernando Sena, Philippines' Father of Art Workshop has done his share of teaching those children. What can the rest of us do?

A Bronze Lion

It is now 8:30 in the morning, and Monday here in the Philippines. At this very moment I'm looking at the Ranks Criterion of Tiens Philippines where my status is now 4-star, out of 8 stars. After the 8-star rank are the "Lion" ranks. These are the rewards these lion ranks get:

Bronze Lion: International Travel
Silver Lion: Luxury Car (BMW)
Gold Lion : Luxury Yacht
Gold Diamond Lion: Private Airplane

And a Villa Reward for Honorary Director who has 4 Gold Lions under his network.

The reason why I can confidently tell the whole world about these rewards is because Tiens is known worldwide and so many nations are contented with the health benefits they get from Tiens, which are much more important than the material rewards.

I can tell you that I am now more at peace about my health though the last ultrasound of my breasts showed several small benign cysts. I've just started to regularly take Tiens Cordyceps capsules (5 in the morning and 5 in the evening), which will inhibit the growth of the cysts. I will have another ultrasound before the year ends, and every six months thereafter.

As far as rank is concerned, my dream is to be a Bronze Lion. That means that I will get an international travel as a reward, as well as a world wide bonus of 1% of the Global Gross Sales of Tiens divided among the qualified Bronze Lions.

If you find my dream awesome and you want to remain healthy, we can help each other if there's a Tiens branch near your place. Just register as a member and write my name and Tiens ID No. as your sponsor. My full name is Maria Luisa Taa Venida, my Tiens International ID No. is 87742869, and my email address is mltv@ymail.com. I am willing to share everything I learned from Tiens about wellness and the real financial freedom.

"Focus on helping others, and your success will follow".

Pinoy Dream Academy Little Dreamers

It was the Pinoy Dream Academy Little Dreamers' turn to make their dreams come true, two hours ago here in the Philippines. I was right again in my projection: 3rd place will go to Angelo, 2nd place to Amy and Philip will be the Grand Little Dreamer.

The oldest of the three finalists, the tears of joy of Philip could be expected. But for the two others, Angelo and Amy, both 6 years old, I was amused with their innocence. They all wanted to be the grand prize winner but the two youngest contestants were not sad they didn't get it, nor were they so happy that they also won as runner-ups.

The contest of the Little Dreamers is an example that as time goes by it becomes harder to compete with the younger batches because the performance level standards increase each year, as manifested by the youngest talents. I believe that the stage presence of these three winners are even better than their counterparts in the regular category.

A dream becoming a reality

Last Friday, I got a call from the social worker in-charge of the adoption case of our special child and she said the court's decision is about to be released. Weeks earlier, I also learned about the possibility for our special child to be sponsored in an Elks program in the U.S. Looks like the events are gearing towards the fulfillment of a dream! What's lacking now is the money I will need for us to go to the United States. Before I woke up this morning, I dreamed that a friend just told me a way to get a million dollars. And then this same morning, I read a blog's post titled "Nouveau Riche - dream which become reality".

Wow! Just look at those coincidences! Look what a "Dreams List" can do! I am now encouraging everyone to make a list of your dreams and write about them in detail. Have you read or watched "The Secret"? I've watched it after I've created this blog, so it was not related to this blog's creation, but what "The Secret" was saying is exactly what this blog is doing.

"Nouveau Riche" is "the new rich". Like what Ukion described in his blog, I want to be a "nouveau riche". Not to be a millionaire, but to use the millions to experience or realize the dreams that I believe in.

The fulfilled dream of Charice Pempengco

Once upon a time, a little girl's dream was to sing with Celine Dion. She knew it was an impossible dream, but last September 15, that dream of Charice Pempengco was fulfilled when she was invited as a guest at Celine Dion's concert at the Madison Square Garden! So you can see for yourself, here are videos of that fulfilled dream of Charice with Celine, starting with Part 1. I suggest you view Part 2 after this Part 1 video. I was very touched with these videos, I wonder if others will feel the same.

Fulfilled dreams in Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2

Finally, the Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2 contest is over. I was right that Laarni will be the "Grand Star Dreamer", but before I tell you why, let me tell you first about my observations for the top four scholars of the season:

Liezel: Her extraordinary talent was evident from the start. She could easily emerge as the winner.

Miguel: During the first gala nights, his flats irritated me, though it was nice to know that he is really a musician because he plays musical instruments as well. The first time he sang a fast song, I must admit I was impressed, but I was thinking that maybe faster or pop songs will fit him better. But from then on, whatever he sang was impressive and showed how greatly he has improved.

Bugoy: He also has an extraordinary talent which was evident from the start just like Liezel. His "Cinderella" story would make him a winner.

Laarni: At first I thought it would be great to recruit her as a soprano in a choir. Before the season ended, I thought she has the potential to be the next Lea Salonga who can perform outstandingly in a Broadway play. But that's only as far as her voice is concerned. I've seen more about her, I've seen her determined hope to change for the better, in all aspects.

Now here's to summarize the people's choice for the Top 3 scholars of the season:

Third: Miguel, the improved musician

Second: Bugoy the talented, whose "Cinderella" story proved appealing to Filipinos.

Grand Star Dreamer: Laarni, not only because of her voice but because of the "hope for change" that she symbolized, in my opinion.

So there you go, maybe the winner is who can best relate to the dreams of the majority of the people. For us Filipinos, we subconsciously dream for "change for the better", even in a singing contest.

A dream product

What can be a dream product? Maybe it is something that can give you sweet dreams. I know that statement sounds corny, but it can be true. The Tiens Dream Bio-Energy Health Mattress has an unusual silent magnetic vibrations that exercise your body while you sleep. This could activate your body’s anti-aging, anti-cancer water molecules, revitalize your kidney functions and blood circulation, also activate your cells, improving their metabolic functions, and balance your automatic nervous system. Also purify your blood, balance its pH, strengthen your immune system, and regulate your body temperature.

How is that possible? There are 380 pieces of 3 different types of stones in Tiens Dream Bio-Energy Health Mattress. These stones are the source of miracle healing power of Tiens Dream:

Germanium is also known as far infra red stone. This is the newly developed FIR Stone. It is produced from a combination of germanium, quartz, feldspar, loess and ceramic. The stone is heated at 1300 degree C using high technology method. After processing, Germanium stone releases higher intensity of F.I.R than other gem stones.

Tourmaline is the highest energy crystal in the world. It has two physical features, namely Pyroelectricity and Plezoelectricity. Pyroelectricity is the condition where Tourmaline carries positive and negative charge under different temperatures. Plezoelectricity is the vertical direction of Tourmaline that meets up two ends and produces negative charge. Such negative charge will be absorbed by molecules in the air and becomes negative ions.

Jade stone is validated as one of the sources of F.I.R. It is widely used in promoting blood circulation, anti-aging, enhancing immunity and relieving fatigue. Besides, examinations showed that jade stone contains lots of important elements such as calcium, potassium, iron and magnesium. For thousands of years, jade stone had been used as health accessories by the oriental people. This was recorded in a lot of ancient medical books.

The arrangement of the stones has massaging effect on muscle nerves. It can relieve tiredness, improve air circulation and remove body heat. Its exclusive structure helps improve health while sleeping. For maximum effectiveness, the temperature of the mattress can be regulated by a controller.

Note: The above product was upgraded to this latest model, the Tiens Photon Bio-energy Mattress.

A new dream

I have a new dream, and that is to learn the acupuncture points of the body so I can perform acupressure or acupuncture using the more modern gadgets (electronic acupuncture). I wonder how long it will take me to study those acupoints?

Among the dreams I ever thought of, this seems to be the simplest, but can be a most challenging one because of what it can achieve after I learn. I can save lives, even my own life! Isn't that wonderful?

A dream house and garden

When we are young, we can dream even for the impossible. But when we're at the last decade of our lives, I wonder if we still need to dream for something big. Yes if it's for the benefit of mankind, but if it's just for a material thing, maybe not anymore.



I dream of a house that will fit me when I'm too old, and it will just be a small one but with a big garden. The house I want should be a different one, made of logs, like the one shown in the photo. Surrounding the house should be a garden full of flowers, much better if orchids. The garden of orchids on the photos were taken at The Malagos Garden Resort at Davao in the Philippines. Even just a part of that garden outside my dream house will make me really happy!

Awesome dreams

Funny, but all my activities for the last few days were based on my dreams during my sleep, the night or early morning before. I'm not sure if doing the activity in my dream is the right thing to do, or if there is any explanation to that. It just makes me feel that I have started the activity and just have to continue it as soon as I wake up.

Maybe I should share this awesome experience: Last Sunday, maybe it was already morning when I dreamed that I should be selling a health product that comes in a package of several gadgets, than the single gadget that is already the whole product. I was awaken by a phone call from my father to make a presentation on selling a product since he knew that I was starting to sell health gadgets. The presentation will be for a Toastmasters project where my sister was supposed to present but has no time to prepare and it was just timely that I was selling to my sister and father a health gadget the day before my father called up. I had to be inactive in Toastmasters Club since 2006 because I wanted to study.

The past days after Sunday, my dreams were about the presentation I am developing so that was what I did during the day, so I even blogged about the product, which is an Electronic Acupuncture Healthcare Apparatus, in my other blog. Last night, I dreamed about the background of the calling card for the manufacturer of the product where I am a member. That reminded me that I have to make and print my own calling cards, which I am about to start now.

One dream I had that I will never forget was when I was still developing computer programs and I could not debug my program until I became sleepy and decided to go home, though I was obliged to produce the payslips, the output of the program, before 10 o'clock the following morning. I couldn't believe I would dream about the exact location of the bug in my program, so very early the next day, I was at the office at 6:30 in the morning and was able to debug the program, and print the payslips before 10 o'clock.

A leader sees everything as opportunities

Yesterday, I've attended one of the best leadership trainings I have attended so far. One of the speakers is a missionary, and there was one statement about leaders and his lecture about it stuck in my mind because it was the first time I've heard it. Since I know that there are many others like me dreaming to be an inspirational leader, I might as well share this, in addition to what I've shared in my last post.

The statement was "a leader sees everything as opportunities".

His lecture about it surprised me because he said "everything" includes anything, including problems. Looking at myself now in a problematic state because of financial distress, I could see his point. Because of our financial situation, I am now confronted with a lot of opportunities, and these include the following:

1. To value each cent that I have.
2. To eat just the right amount of food.
3. To travel by car only if absolutely necessary.
4. To be more humble.
5. To be happy even with the smallest things or help that I receive.

The list goes on. No wonder why even the homeless are happy with what they are doing. But of course, we should not stop at just being happy because of those opportunities. Opportunities are there for us to change continuously for the better. Not just to be helped, but also to help. Not just to be loved but also to love... the list goes on again.

To be an inspirational leader

One of the most recent dreams in my mind and is therefore not yet on my list, is to be an inspirational leader. There is a book that tells me how to fulfill such dream and this is "The Heart of a Leader". I enjoy reading this book because each chapter is short and is started with a quote. There is a quote that confused me not only once or twice. It says:

"People of humility don't think less of themselves, they just think of themselves less."

Every time I read the part that interprets this quote, I'd feel a strong desire to impart it to people but never had the chance, until today. This is the part I'm talking about:

A great rule for doing business today is: Think more about your people, and they will think more of themselves. And don't act like you are perfect. Leaders need to come from behind their curtains of infallibility, power, and control, and let their "very good" side -their humanity- be revealed. Folks like to be around a person who is willing to admit his or her vulnerability, asks for ideas, and can let others be in the spotlight.

I guess the quote and interpretation is a good guide to be the kind of leader I and many others dream to be.

Dream Academy

To be a soprano had been another childhood dream. I can remember regularly watching the "Sunday Sweet Sunday" show of Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, a Filipina soprano, when I was a child. She became my favorite, though I've kept that to myself, as well as the desire to be a soprano myself, maybe because I was very young then, and should go with the trend of singing pop music instead.

So that was what happened. I followed the trend but felt there was something wrong with my singing. At first it was nasal and then it was throaty.


Until the Carpenters became popular and I tried to emulate Karen Carpenter. I guess I was successful but that was with the help of a family friend, Raffy Amaranto, who taught me how to follow the diction of Karen. I still had limited range though, because I could not sing the high notes.

When I gave birth to my eldest daughter, Lauren, we noticed her exceptional talent in Music, and her profound interest to take up Bachelor of Music in college, at the University of the Philippines or UP. She majored in piano and even graduated Cum Laude. That inspired me to take up voice lessons at the extension program of UP's College of Music, for two summers. I learned a few techniques but I still need constant exposure and practice.



I'm glad that there is now a Pinoy Dream Academy that teaches scholars how to develop their voices and that I can watch in TV everyday so I can also learn. It's actually a double treat on weekdays, started by Uberture hosted by Billy Crawford! Pinoy Dream Academy's Headmaster, Ryan Cayabyab, who was one of my daughter's best teachers in UP and someone who doesn't need an introduction if you're a Filipino, Kitchy Molina, UP's Voice Department Head, and Joey Reyes, a popular film director, are the mentors of Pinoy Dream Academy, so the scholars are really very lucky!

I'd like to think I'm becoming a better soprano now, thanks to my son, O.C. and daughter, Lauren, who are persistently monitoring my singing and who are now both members of one of the best choirs in the Philippines, the Novo Concertante Manila, and yes, Pinoy Dream Academy for inspiring me. I want to try singing Mariah Carey's songs but I still like to sing Karen Carpenter's songs, so I'm now trying to practice shifting my voice from chest to head tone and vice versa.

Unconditional love and a standing box

For the sixth birthday of Lyca, our special child, the best gift we can give her aside from our unconditional love, is a standing box. My mother-in-law paid for its construction which was designed by one of Lyca’s physical therapists (the guy on the photo with her), while my husband and I are now taking care of its finishing touches. At the right side of the first photo is a part of the unfinished standing box.

A dream is about to come true, with the help of this standing box. Lyca will soon be able to stand on her own! After that, she should be able to walk too, of course with a guide since she is blind too, aside from the cerebral palsy that is hindering her to move normally.



Another dream is for her to be able to talk normally. I know that is not impossible because I was able to teach her to say “Mama” very clearly whenever she needs me.

To be an announcer or an emcee

DZMB…on your radio….

Hi! This is Lita on DZMB! I will be with you for the next two hours of your listening to the finest music in town...

That was Lita, my mother. My brother and I would listen to her radio program every morning when we were kids. In the afternoon, she would go home to lie down and rest. I would look at her from head to toe, admiring every inch of her while she was lying down. She was not only my mother. She was a star! Every household listened to her radio program every morning!

That was how “to be an announcer or an emcee” started to be my dream, but it was not a serious one. I just wanted to experience a part of what my mother had experienced as an announcer. When I was already working as an IT professional, I knew that I will never have the opportunity to be a radio announcer. I was thinking that I can be contented to be an emcee instead, because I knew there was more chance for that to be realized.

When I was still with a company’s Corporate Technical Services where IT was one of the departments, the search for a volunteer to be one of the hosts or emcees for the Christmas program was announced. This volunteer will be the partner of a male host who was earlier identified. He had a very good reputation as a host, so a novice in emceeing would be hesitant to volunteer. But that was an opportunity to fulfill my dream, so I grabbed it and volunteered!



The outcome was good enough because the feedback was that I’ve projected a “showbiz” personality. They didn’t know that I emulated a popular host in the Philippines, Gel Santos-Relos, since I can’t remember my mother’s style. Incidentally, Gel resembled my mother when the latter was younger. The old photo is a reproduction of my Mom's photo when she was younger, but it also reminds me of Gel Santos when she was younger.

The photo from Citizen Pinoy shows the hosts which included Gel Santos-Relos, when she already had migrated to U.S.A. as an alien with exceptional skill (something like that). I just learned that Gel Santos-Relos is now hosting “Balitang America” (News from America) in The Filipino Channel. Maybe I should watch her show to rehash my showbiz style of hosting (LOL).

Thanks to my Mom and Gel, I will never forget my experience as an emcee.

Finally, Athens

Our last stop in Greece was Athens. We expected to see the Acropolis as we approached Athens. Knowing it was on the highest hills, I thought I was already seeing it from afar, and I was overwhelmed at its vast area. When we were already there, I realized that the vast area I was seeing from afar was the whole city of Athens, which obviously is a high place and full of buildings, and on one of its highest peaks is the Acropolis. I'm sure glad I’ve gone to this place at a younger age, otherwise I don’t think I will be able to go up through those shiny steps all made of marble stones going to Acropolis. I thought it was only the steps, but when we finally got there, every hard spot was made of marble, or maybe limestone, and we were not yet at the entrance.



So have I now seen the homes of the gods and goddesses? We haven’t gone to Mount Olympus but I’ve considered a childhood dream fulfilled. The gods and goddesses were at the Acropolis Museum anyway, but now made of marble stones and some of them were headless, as a result of the wars.

A home in Preveza

When I was a kid, my dream was to see the homes of gods and goddesses in Greece. I had no idea about the scenery in the countryside till the day we arrived in Greece with the University of Asia and the Pacific Chorale and rode the bus from Athens to Preveza. The common view was a group of houses arranged like an amphitheatre at the slope of the mountain, every house with a full view of the sea surrounding the mountain. The place in Preveza where we stayed was not at the slope of the mountain but it was a small town along the sea harbor. Small business establishments can be found all around.

If I am to recommend a hotel in this area, it will be the same hotel where we stayed, Hotel Urania. This place just felt like a home with many bedrooms.



The landlady, a beautiful Italian lady, serves our breakfast herself in a dining area that looks like the one found in big homes. For lunch and supper, we walk near the harbor to a “taberna” owned by a German whom we later called “Daddy”. Right after supper, we go to the shopping stalls near the taberna. After lunch, these shopping stalls are closed for siesta, until 4 in the afternoon. Why, sunset is around 9 in the evening so there’s a lot of time to shop.


When it was time for us to go, it was just like leaving home because there were tears of goodbye. Flowers were given by Arwin Tan, University of Asia and the Pacific Chorale’s conductor to our landlady, while the “Irish Blessing” was sung by the chorale to Daddy.

.... and until we meet again, until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.