Life in this World

My Childhood Best Friend, May and our ever loyal Iyay Ampao

2009-02-11T16:48:00.004+08:00

Pototan, Iloilo Pictures

2009-02-11T16:37:00.008+08:00

Smiles...:)

2009-02-11T16:32:00.005+08:00

HK and Iloilo Photos

2009-02-11T16:25:00.003+08:00

Anne's Kitchen

2006-08-01T22:32:00.000+08:00

It's been quite a while since I've last updated this blog...

I wish I have more time to do so. Had been very busy and tied up with a lot of work to do. Being a career woman and a housewife at the same time is quite a tough job...especially with the kids growing up they demand more attention...whew!!! LIFE!

Well, about my "kitchen", it's not all about "food" as in its literal meaning.
Ah, well..yes it is about food in the sense that it's about "food for the soul", "food for the mind (food for thought)", and "food for the body" as everyone else thought it is all about it.
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Food for the Mind ("A Food for Thought")

rough roads, rough minds
winds blowing, tires stuck
reeds, trees, muds, everywhere
everything seemed hopeless and dim

no trail of light but darkness
just the winds blowing angrily
rains falling, water gushing
no escape, but no fear

no trail of relief but hope
seeking light amidst darkness
pulling all pieces of strenght together
rolling drums of thunder, no fear

when everything seems at sea
while all the rest were drained
nothing is more perplexed
than to prolong the agony

persistence should not exist
when it means to stay
pick up all your pieces
remain not but maintain

life is about fighting back
strength does imply
and the essence of life
it is also in the mind

Old Building

2005-11-19T19:31:00.000+08:00

Old Building -Hanoi, Vietnam

Hanoi

2005-11-19T19:25:00.000+08:00

Oldest Bridge in Hanoi, Vietnam

My pensive thoughts and personal opinion...

2005-11-05T18:20:00.000+08:00

In my own personal opinion,
Prince's Charles Marriage to Diana should have been a perfect marriage should there be no 2nd party involved.
Camilla was there before Diana's wedding to Prince Charles,
she was there during the marriage, and also there after the marriage...

Princess Di is a very well loved princess and a legend.
She is now a part of history; however, she is never forgotten.

Let's just wish Prince Charles and Camilla all the Best of their Marriage;
and let's move on. Past is past...it will never be reversed...

We all could learn from it; not to make harsh decisions and reconsider all points before actually making moves.
We are making our own lives...at least we should search for guidance from the Devine Providence and make wise decisions...
We should always be responsible for our actions; no one will.

The Snow

2005-11-05T02:12:00.000+08:00

I started to work in Vietnam in the first quarter of this year. I only go home to the Philippines during Holidays or vacation leaves.

There is a great deal of challenge working in this country. One thing is learning the Vietnamese language which is difficult to muster especially the intonations. A change of sound would mean another meaning for a single word.

I went to Hanoi and Nha Trang early this year to source factories on Handicrafts & Decorative Accessories for the U.S. & European market. But I was more excited to visit the place because I want to see and experience the snow there. It was February and the temperature was 13 degrees. However, I never had the chance to go to the mountains because my schedule was too tight.

Back in 1993 & 1994 during my business trips in the US, I thought I would have the chance to experience the snow; but I never did because my trips led me, instead, to San Francisco and LA.
The same excitement I felt when I went to China and still, I never had the elusive chance of experiencing the snow…

I know, someday soon, I will have my snow...I will make snow balls and snowman…
And experience what it means to be child again with the snow...

Anyway

2005-10-31T22:47:00.000+08:00

by: Mother Theresa

People are often unreasonable,
illogical, and self centered
LOVE them anyway

If you are kind, people may accuse you of having selfish,
ulterior motives,
Be KIND anyway

If you are succcessful, you will win some false friends,
and some true enemies,
SUCCEED anyway

If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you
Be HONEST and FRANK anyway

What you spend years building,
some could destroy it overnight,
BUILD anyway

If you find serenity and happiness,
some may be jealous,
Be HAPPY anyway

The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow
Do GOOD anyway

Give the world the best you have,
it may never be enough,
Give the world the BEST you've got anyway

You see, in the final analysis
it's between YOU and GOD,
It was never between YOU and THEM anyway.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!!!

2005-10-31T21:34:00.000+08:00

hello everyone,

happy halloween out there to all of you!!!!

enjoy and make the most of it.

from me,
princess as always

Family & Kids...nurturing relationships

2005-10-30T18:41:00.000+08:00

Things To Do As A Family

Ways to spend more time with the people who matter most.

In a busy family lifestyle it can be easy to forget that families, as a group, need love and attention too! Spending enough quality time as a family will strengthen your bond with your children, and truly teach them what a family is about. You may pleasantly discover that most squabbles in the home are due to a lack of time spent with each other.
The more your children can expect to be with you, the less they'll have to fight for your attention. This is where a weekly family night or date really makes great strides toward family unity. In fact, you can go even further and help grow your child's confidence in the real world by letting them plan the family nights. Give them a budget and time allowance, and let them do the arrangements. For younger children, give them a few places or things they can choose from. Make sure to keep in mind what they want to do.
Below are a few suggestions for perfect family time activities.

-- Include your children in your hobbies.

-- Make a day or time period JUST for your children. This works best when you do it
individually with each child. During your time let them do whatever they want to do.

-- Set a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly family date night. Here are few suggestions of places you can go:

Amusement park
Local carnival or circus
Movie theater
Out for ice cream or a dinner
Local zoo or marine park
Roller or ice skating
Day at the park, beach or lake
Nature walks
Musuems, especially ones with children's exhibits
Local landmarks & malls
Sports activities & events around the community
Go sky watching

Or just sharing and partaking on children's activities and knowing what the chidren have during the day at school, or with their friends. This will keep them closer to you and make them open up to you as both a friend and parent to them.

No matter what you decide to do, or how you spend your time together, just make sure you keep family time an important part of your everyday life.
Soon your children will grow up & will have a life of their own; the indelidible marks are their time spent with you and how you have influenced their lives.
Always remember that your children is a special part of you. They are special gifts; what they have become is your gift to them.

Communication... a vital part of each Relationship

2005-10-30T18:10:00.000+08:00

"If some things are better left unsaid, then maybe they too are better left undone".
by Jennifer Good

It's amazing, but if you really look closely you'll discover that people are extremely private creatures.
For all that we seem to want to boast and have ourselves become acclaimed, we still tend to bottle our truest and deepest feelings inside. And, for what? Most often to protect our helpless hearts from heaps of pain, anger, ridicule, despair or ultimately heartbreak. But, what if keeping our inner selves hidden is what causes the pain to appear in the first place? Have you ever considered that preventing the people close to us from really getting to know us is what's keeping them from giving their all as well?

Every person has an inner need to be heard and understood. The people who understand us best are the ones we consider our closest friends, and the type of people we tend to gravitate towards. So, it would make sense that if we took the time to understand our partners and visa versa we could create a relationship of true closeness and intimacy. We wouldn't feel the need to hide our real feelings, or keep our deepest dreams and desires hidden because we would feel safe in the knowledge that our partner would understand.

For a lot of couples this may seem like an impossible task. If you've been together for any number of years, and communication is still your number one problem, it is definitely worth the risk to try and create a better verbal environment.
To begin on the road to verbal bliss you'll need to check all emotional baggage at the door. It can't be allowed on this trip. What kind of emotional baggage? Well, first you need to strip away any "shoulds or should nots," or other beliefs. These are the statements that you hear cycling in your head when you're partner is doing or saying something such as: "He should know what I mean," "If he really loves me he should understand," or "She should know better than to do that." There aren't any prerequisite behaviors that you or your partner should have, other than a willingness to understand and listen. Everything else is just a made up excuse to get away with not using real communication.

Next, you need to reenter the relationship with an open and trusting heart. You need to be able to begin these tasks without harboring negative or hurtful feelings. What has been done is in the past, and this is a step towards creating a new future. If you let the past in, you're only crippling your future.
The first step towards improvement is to examine your current communication patterns. Below are a few questions to ask, and share your thoughts with, each other. This should be done without ANY accusations. It is a time for revelation and pattern changes. In fact, you may not want to do all the questions at one time.
Remember, this is an exercise for a couple to complete. You can gain benefit doing it on your own, but you won't experience the ultimate reward of true intimacy in the same way as doing this together.

Negative Pattern #1: Are you belittling your partner's communication? Check the tone of voice you are using. This is the most common area of misunderstanding and invalidation. The surprising fact is that most of the time you won't even realize you are doing it. Sugar goes down a lot easier than spice. Make it a special point to practice kindness in the way you say things, even if you don't agree. To put this into practice take notice of how you react when you disagree with something your partner says or does. Does your vocal tone change dramatically? Do you act incredulous or as if your partner has grown horns and sprouted whiskers? Do you frequently find yourself saying no or other negative comments? These are not actions that promote a willingness to talk and grow together. It just makes your partner feel stupid and as if you feel you are better then them. If you do nothing else to improve your love life, just make sure to take care in the way you speak to each other.

Talking It Over: How has this pattern made it more difficult to talk to your partner? Give each other three different examples of ways they could say things better towards you.
Assignment: Get caught using the examples your partner has given at least 5 times this week. When you notice your partner making an effort to improve their communication tactics, reward them with an "I love you," a kiss, or other small acknowledgment.
Practical Usage: When in a disagreement, use phrases such as: "I understand what you're trying to say, but I disagree because…," "Your viewpoint is important, but I still find that I like it better like this because…" Try to make sure your partner knows you do not desire to invalidate what they are saying; you just disagree.

Negative Pattern #2: Are you always trying to prove a point in a discussion? Do your conversations seem to always have an ulterior motive? You aren't in this relationship to prove how worthy you are, or to see how well you can outwit your partner. An open debate is healthy, but not if every conversation seems to be about you becoming the winner. When you spend all your energy seeing what statements your partner makes that you can shoot down, or devising ways to get your point across, you miss the entire point of communication. It not only makes your partner want to withdraw from talking with you in the future, you also ruin the chance of really getting to know your partner's internal feelings about an issue and why they believe what they believe. You may feel like you're the winner of a conversation, but it's only a false victory. In the end, you become the loser because you'll have lost that someone who was willing to help you find your real victories.
Talking It Over: Have you ever felt your partner had a hidden agenda when talking with you? Give two examples of this negative pattern and two different suggestions for ways you would have liked them to handle it better.
Assignment: Instead of looking for ways to debate with your partner, search for the real meaning of what your partner is trying to say. Let your partner talk to you about an important issue or problem they are having for 15 minutes without you interrupting or saying anything in return. When they are done, see if you can reinterpret their root feelings about the problem, find any viewpoints your partner may have missed and help give some solutions. Then switch and let your partner do the same for you. Practice this at least twice a week.
Practical Usage: Your partner comes home from work a little irritable. Make the time to give them a supportive hug and invite them to sit and talk about their day. Do not try to steer the conversation in any direction. They may not feel like talking about why they are irritable. That is okay! All you need to do is show that you care and understand that they aren't feeling up to par, and that you are there if they should need you.

Negative Pattern #3: Do you maintain eye contact with each other when you talk? Eye contact lets the other person know that you value and respect what they are saying, EVEN if you disagree. Looking away, or even walking away, while your partner is talking is non-verbally communicating your lack of concern about their viewpoint in a situation. This trait is often used as a control mechanism. If you avoid the conversation or give the "silent treatment" then your partner may feel sorry for you or even just give in. Take an honest, inward look and see if this is your intent when using this technique. If you are, you're not reaping the real rewards true communication can bring. All you are doing is getting your own way. In the end your partner will just end up resenting you for not allowing them a chance to express their feelings
Talking It Over: Do you feel your partner practices good eye contact and body language with you? Why or why not? Is the silent treatment a communication technique you use? Give each other two examples of disagreements that could have been handled better. Offer your own solutions for ways you can both handle these types of disagreements better in the future.
Assignment: Practice talking while looking at each other. Make it a point to keep eye contact for as long as possible. When you notice your partner doing this with you, make sure to thank them for taking your communication seriously.
Practical Usage: When your partner comes to you to talk about their day or other news they'd like to share, be an active listener. Don't do chores around the house, handle the kid's homework, or take phone calls. Actually sit for the few minutes your partner needs, and listen to what they are saying intently, paying close attention to your eye contact and body language.

Always remember that Communication bridges the gap. It should be handled appropriately especially for couples who lacks communication

Managing Stress

2005-08-13T17:30:00.000+08:00

Plenty of life's situations aren't as urgent as our "knee-jerk" reactions would indicate.
We either over-react on impulse; or we worry on a lot of things without putting things in it's order of prioity, or without organizing our thoughts....

4 quick stress management tips could prove handy:
1. Nightly recap of your day (with pen and paper)
2. Dream work - visualize program plans or activities (a proactive approach)
3. Prioritizing your day each morning
4. Scheduled naps during lunchbreaks and/or meditation at least twice throughout the day.
**this maybe a few minutes nap before or after lunch breaks --or what we call recharging...

The nightly recapping of the day's activity, when practiced over time will naturally, effortlessly lead to paying attention to the occurrences and encounters of the day... as they occur.
Dream work will lead to lucid dreaming and being conscious of dreaming while dreaming.
This makes for some of life's grandest adventures. Indulge flights of fancy or query depths of the psyche with which we usually aren't "consciously" in communication.

Morning prioritizing, when regularly practiced will lead to prioritizing "on the fly", letting go of, or delegating that which isn't of highest importance".

Taking time out during breaks beats the heck out of coffee breaks or water cooler "bull" sessions.

Remember, stress is biologically beneficial, but the mind simply can't discriminate between actual and imagined threats (or what we imagine to be actual!)

Life is stressful....but we always have a choice....
The life and the direction we take is our own choice.

Joyful Journey

2005-08-13T17:16:00.000+08:00

Let me but live from year to year,
With forward face and unreluctant soul.
Not hastening to, nor turning from the goal;
Not mourning for the things that disappear
In the dim past, nor holding back in fear
From what the future veils;
but with a wholeAnd happy heart,
that pays its toll
To youth and age, and travels on with cheer.
So let the way wind up the hill or down,
Though rough or smooth,
the journey will be joy,
Still seeking what I sought when but a boy;
New friendship, high adventure, and a crown,
I shall grow old, but never lose life's zest,
Because the road's last turn will be the best.
- Henry Van Dyke

Battling The Physiological & Psycological System...

2005-07-18T21:21:00.000+08:00

When I was in College, a Sophomore in a Commerce Department majoring in Accounting in a University in Manila, I was requested by my English professor to replace her class temporarily; as she was leaving to attend an important engagement at that time.

The last lesson we had, has something to do with trance meditation... Our English Professor was very good at giving us good exercises which enhanced our mental and physical system. And since she has very well projected voice, she taught us how to inhale and exhale properly to enable us to freely release a flowing voice & well projected voice ourselves...

As soon as our professor left the room, I asked everyone in the room to sit and relax ....which they did while listening to me attentively. Then, I had asked them to focus while their eyes closed... to think of a nice place.... a cool flowing stream of clear water.... surrounded by green trees & green grass; all green and soft grass...with soft blowing wind; it is blowing the leaves and grass gently.... creating an air they can feel passing through their faces....to imagine the cool environment...the cool stream and the smell of the grass... I had asked them to relax as they imagine themselves sitting on the grass and observing the serenity of the flowing stream...that they have to stay there for some time.... while watching the silence of the environment....that they have to rest there for a while....

Then, to visualize themselves flying in a blue and cool sky with the breeze...flying towards soft pink clouds... flying around for sometime...enjoying the cool air and the breeze....; that they have to keep flying high till they feel they are satisfied and happy with what they have experienced in the pink clouds......
Then, I had asked everyone to open their eyes awake.....to awaken from a trance.
When my classmates opened their eyes, they streatched a little; as if after some sleep. And they told me that they felt relaxed as well as their tensions were gone... few moments later, our professor was back. She was more than delighted upon learning of what had transpired and with what I did to my classmates...

I have also read a book on how to control your system in order not to get sick; or at least cure an ailment psycologically if it is already existing...
Once you felt pain, say for instance in your stomach, imagine yourself getting inside your system. Imagine your intestines to be really healthy and with bouncing red cells... Then, imagine black cells coming along towards the red cells which caused you pain.... Imagine the red cells gobbling and turning all black cells to red cells until all of the black cells are gone...; then see all the red cells patrolling and watching all over your body circulating all over your system...; see how healthy and happy you are....How you walk and smile healthily...hear yourself speak and imagine a full colored picture of a healthy you....closer and closer....
Then step into that body and feel your new self... rejuvenated and really feel healthy.

Month of May

2005-07-02T18:50:00.000+08:00

these flowers reminds me of my youth....
on a month of May of each year
i would gather "calachuchi" flowers from the backyard
place them in a nice metal wire basket
and bring them to church every 3:00 in the afternoon
of a Sunday for the "Flores de Mayo".
we will have prayers, stories from the Reverend priest...
there were so many children my age
about 7, 8, 9, and 10... and some were older
we were so much filled with innocence
i love the candies and fruit juices they serve
each time we have something to bring home
right after each services we may have rosaries,
booklets, stampitas and mementos to bring home
those were the days....
in my youth
when i was the age of my children
it is a joy to serve the Lord and enjoy it
i would scold the other children
stealing our flowers at the backyard
climbing the brick walls
"it is no use offering to the Lord
something stolen from somebody else
just so you have something to offer Him
He will appreciate the gesture
but never the wrong deed".

Difficult Moments

2005-07-02T16:55:00.000+08:00

Difficult moments come unexpectedly...
they come in varied forms
sizes and shapes, plain & dull
but only in black and white
like monsters in the night...

most of all it leaves an unending pricking pain...
it goes to the highest tip of your hair
to the numb and bare cold toes

you ask yourself why it has come...
why it has to leave some pain
when will this go away?

when things are difficult...
the mind seems frozen
dark & empty

you try an outlet...
writing helps a little
passing those hours does a lot
but pain won't go away...

it stays there on difficult moments...
eats you up; brings you down
until you wish you are gone forever...

why do we have to work hard?
to earn some financial stability...
or even just to make both ends meet
but what if that reason became the cause
you lost your very "reason"
lost your only treasure among others
whom you called SELF....

The Smile...

2005-03-14T19:28:00.000+08:00

My children's smiles are like a passing moon behind the cascading clouds...

Danielle

Dani

Daniel

Life in this World is like that...

2005-01-23T11:40:00.000+08:00

Life in this world is like that...
We have to be what we are. Contented of what we have; or rather, make the most of what we have.

Once we seek for more, more than what life can offer us we become unhappy.
This means, becoming what we are and making use of what we have is contentment. Trying to become what we are not, and taking more than what we have makes our lives miserable....

Life is simple yet challenging, we need to work hard to achieve our apex...; nothing in this world is easy...; we need to struggle, to make things right, to make things as simple as they are. Life should not be complicated if we do not complicate things and complicate ourselves.

Sometimes we easily get tired, then...we give up...; then we lose the chance of getting to the top; of being successful and triumphant; we should fight our best, be confident and strong...

On moments when you are down and depressed, analized yourself and examine what has gone wrong, review and trace the root of your depression...; then, ask yourself if it is worth? Is it worth to get yourself hooked to depression?
What is important is you will have to realize what has gone wrong...; then, you should accept whatever it is..no matter how difficult..; that is life...

You can overcome all evils, all depression; nothing in this world is permanent...
Everything in this world is temporary...; people come and go, things change, nothing is constant..

We maybe depressed now, we should always realize that that feeling of depression is temporary..

Hence, we should not allow such moment to engulp us and overpower us.
Life is like that....
Life is what we make it!

-in my moments of contemplation...about depression.