Eight Lies of a MOTHER

This story begins when I was a child: I was born poor. Often we hadn't enough to eat.
Whenever we had some food, Mother often gave me her portion of rice. While she was transferring her rice into my bowl, she would say ..

"Eat this rice, son! I'm not hungry."
This was Mother's First Lie.

As I grew, Mother gave up her spare time to fish in a river near our house; she hoped that from the fish she caught, she could give me a little bit more nutritious food for my growth. Once she had caught just two fish, she would make fish soup. While I was eating the soup, mother would sit beside me and eat the what was still left on the bone of the fish I had eaten. My heart was touched when I saw it. Once I gave the other fish to her on my
chopstick but she immediately refused it and said,

"Eat this fish, son! I don't really like fish."
This was Mother's Second Lie.

Then, in order to fund my education, Mother went to a Match Factory to bring home some used matchboxes which she filled with fresh matchsticks. This helped her get some money to cover our needs. One wintry night I awoke to find Mother filling the matchboxes by candlelight. So I said, "Mother, go to sleep; it's late: you can continue working tomorrow morning." Mother smiled and said

"Go to sleep, son! I'm not tired"
This was Mother's Third Lie.

When I had to sit my Final Examination, Mother accompanied me. After dawn, Mother waited for me for hours in the heat of the sun. When the bell rang, I ran to meet her. Mother embraced me and poured me a glass of tea that she had prepared in a thermos. The tea was not as strong as my Mother's love, Seeing Mother covered with perspiration, I at once gave her my glass and asked her to drink too. Mother said ..

"Drink, son! I'm not thirsty!".
This was Mother's Fourth Lie.

After Father's death, Mother had to play the role of a single parent. She held on to her former job; she had to fund our needs alone. Our family's life was more complicated. We suffered from starvation. Seeing our family's condition worsening, my kind Uncle who lived near my house came to help us solve our problems big and small. Our other neighbors saw that we were poverty stricken so they often advised my mother to marry again. But Mother refused to remarry saying ..

"I don't need love!"
This was Mother's Fifth Lie.

After I had finished my studies and gotten a job, it was time for my old Mother to retire but she carried on going to the market every morning just to sell a few vegetables. I kept sending her money but she was steadfast and even sent the money back to me. She said,

"I have enough money!"
That was Mother's Sixth Lie.

I continued my part-time studies for my Master's Degree. Funded by the American Corporation for which I worked, I succeeded in my studies. With a big jump in my salary, I decided to bring Mother to enjoy life in America but Mother didn't want to bother her son; she said to me ..

"I'm not used to high living!"
That was Mother's Seventh Lie.

In her dotage, Mother was attacked by cancer and had to be hospitalized. Now living far across the ocean, I went home to visit Mother who was bedridden after an operation. Mother tried to smile but I was heartbroken because she was so thin and feeble but Mother said,

"Don't cry, son! I'm not in pain!"
That was Mother's Eighth Lie.

Telling me this, her eighth lie, she died ...
YES, MOTHER WAS AN ANGEL!

Getting to know you, Getting to know me

Copy this entire list of questions and change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then tag and pass it along to other blogging friends. Let’s see how well we can get to know one another!

1. What is your occupation? I am an Employee Relations Specialist

2. What color are your socks right now? No socks at all.

3. What are you listening to right now? I really want to be with you by Joan Baby

4. What was the last thing that you ate? Sky Flakes with Hot and Spicy Tuna

5. Can you drive a stick shift? Nope… I can’t drive

6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Pink

7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My Baby (Ian)

8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Yup!

9. Favorite drink? Iced Tea

10. What is your favorite sport to watch? Boxing (Pacquiao fight)

11. Have you ever dyed your hair? Nope.

12. Pets? I have 2 basset hounds

13. Favorite food? Cakes, Pasta and Lengua

14. Last movie you watched? Virgin Territory

15. Favorite Day of the year? December 25

16. What do you do to vent anger? Cry, huhuhu….

17. What was your favorite toy as a child? Barbie dolls

18. What is your favorite, fall or spring? Spring

19. Hugs or kisses? Both

20. What kind of pie? Peach Mango Pie

21. Do you want your friends to email you back? Of course

22. Who is most likely to respond? Shiena, Ruth

23. Who is least likely to respond? none

24. Living arrangements? Ian, Dei and I together with my MIL and BIL

25. When was the last time you cried? Can’t remember

26. What is on the floor of your closet? None

27. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this to?

28. The friend you have known the shortest amount of time that you are sending this to?

29. Favorite smell? Smell of my dei

30. What inspires you? My family

31. What are you afraid of? Losing my love ones

32. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? Cheezy

33. Favorite car? Starex

34. Favorite cat breed? I hate cats

35. Number of keys on your key ring? 16

36. How many years at your current job? 6 years and 8 months

37. Favorite day of the week? Saturday

38. How many provinces have you lived in? 26 years in Pasig and 3 years in QC

39. How many countries have you been to? None

I am tagging all my Blog Pals who haven’t received this tag.

Pandan Chicken

Pandan chicken is made by marinating the chicken in a pandan sauce, then actually wrapping the chicken pieces in pandan leaf (this step is optional) for a colorful, flavorful dish that's beautiful to serve as an appetizer or main dish at a potluck or party.

Well, I made one last Saturday for our supper. Honestly speaking, I don’t have any idea about the taste since I haven’t tasted one. Hmmm… since Ian, my hubby, does not eat anything with “gata” I somehow re-invent the ingredients for this recipe. Result?! Wala! As in there is no single piece left in the serving dish. I guess it was a success experiment on my part.

No picture of my version of Pandan Chicken coz it’s “simo’t sarap!”

Sa Aking Pagtanda

I want to share this forwarded email I got from my yahoogroup... grabe, sobrang nakaka-touch! I can't help but miss my Daddy in the 2nd to the last paragraph.

Sa aking pagtanda, unawain mo sana ako at pagpasensyahan. Kapag dala ng kalabuan ng mata ay nakabasag ako ng pinggan o nakatapon ng sabaw sa hapag kainan, huwag mo sana akong kagagalitan. Maramdamin ang isang matanda. Nagse-self-pity ako tuwing sisigawan mo ako.

Kapag mahina na ang tenga ko at hindi ko maintindihan ang sinasabi mo, huwag mo naman sana akong sabihan ng "binge!" paki-ulit na lang ang sinabi mo o pakisulat na lang. Pasensya ka na, anak. Matanda na talaga ako.

Kapag mahina na tuhod ko, pagtiyagaan mo sana akong tulungang tumayo, katulad ng pag-aalalay ko sa iyo noong nag-aaral ka pa lamang lumakad.

Pagpasensyahan mo sana ako kung ako man ay nagiging makulit at paulit ulit na parang sirang plaka. Basta pakinggan mo na lang ako. Huwag mo sana akong pagtatawanan o pagsasawaang pakinggan. Natatandaan mo anak noong bata ka pa? Kapag gusto mo ng lobo , paulit-ulit mo 'yong sasabihin, maghapon kang mangungulit hangga't hindi mo nakukuha ang gusto mo. Pinagtyagaan ko ang kakulitan mo.

Pagpasensyahan mo na rin sana ang aking amoy. Amoy matanda, amoy lupa. Huwag mo sana akong piliting maligo. Mahina na ang katawan ko. Madaling magkasakit kapag nalamigan, huwag mo sana akong pandirihan. Natatandaan mo noong bata ka pa? Pinatyagaan kitang habulin sa ilalim ng kama kapag ayaw mong maligo.

Pagpasensyahan mo sana kung madalas, ako'y masungit, dala na marahil ito ng katandaan. Pagtanda mo, maiintindihan mo rin.

Kapag may konti kang panahon, magkwentuhan naman tayo, kahit sandali lang. Inip na ako sa bahay, maghapong nag-iisa. Walang kausap. Alam kong busy ka sa trabaho, subalit nais kong malaman mo na sabik na sabik na akong makakwentuhan ka, kahit alam kong hindi ka interesado sa mga kwento ko. Natatandaan mo anak, noong bata ka p a? Pinagtiyagaan kong pakinggan at intindihin ang pautal-utal mong kwento tungkol sa iyong teddy bear.

At kapag dumating ang sandali na ako'y magkakasakit at maratay sa banig ng karamdaman, huwag mo sana akong pagsawaan alagaan. Pagpasensyahan mo na sana kung ako man ay maihi o madumi sa higaan, pagtiyagaan mo sana akong alagaan sa mga huling sandali ng aking buhay. Tutal hindi na naman ako magtatagal.

Kapag dumating ang sandali ng aking pagpanaw, hawakan mo sana ang aking kamay at bigyan mo ako ng lakas ng loob na harapin ang kamatayan.

At huwag kang mag-alala, kapag kaharap ko na ang Diyos na lumikha, ibubulong ko sa kanya na pagapalain ka sana … dahil naging mapagmahal ka sa iyong ama't ina…

Time Flies

Honestly speaking, I really don’t know if I should be happy or sad. Just like in one of the commercial says, “My baby is no longer a baby”, this is also true with my baby what I mean is with my little girl. To date, here are the accomplishments of my girl.

Can say the following words:
1. Dada – Dad
2. Mama – Mom
3. Ny – Barney
4. Do – Dog
5. Ca – Cat
6. Wa – One
7. U – Two
8. E – Three
9. Ta - Stop

Can do the following:
1. Throw the trash in the garbage can
2. Jump after the count of three
3. Imitate Dora’s dance… “We did it, we did it! Hurray!
4. Imitate Sponge Bob’s birthday bop dance
5. Browse her books (as if she knows how to read)
6. Wear her Dad’s cap

Can imitate the sound of the following:
1. Dog
2. Cat
3. Dragon
4. Airplane

So far, these are the things that I can recall regarding Dei’s development.

Some Thoughts on Motherhood

Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby... that somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, "normal" is history.

Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by instinct... that somebody never took a three-year-old shopping.

Somebody said being a mother is boring... that somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a driver's permit.

Somebody said if you're a "good" mother, your child will "turn out good"... that somebody thinks a child comes with directions and a guarantee.

Somebody said "good" mothers never raise their voices... that somebody never came out the back door just in time to see her child hit a golf ball through the neighbor's kitchen window.

Somebody said you don't need an education to be a mother... that somebody never helped a fourth grader with his math.

Somebody said you can't love the fifth child as much as you love the first... that somebody doesn't have five children.

Somebody said a mother can find all the answers to her child-rearing questions in the books... that somebody never had a child stuff beans up his nose or in his ears.

Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and delivery... that somebody never watched her "baby" get on the bus for the first day of kindergarten... or on a plane headed for military "boot camp."

Somebody said a mother can do her job with her eyes closed and one hand tied behind her back... that somebody never organized seven giggling Brownies to sell cookies.

Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married... that somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a mother's heartstrings.

Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home... that somebody never had grandchildren.

Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her... that somebody isn't a mother.