Feb 5, 2021 After we had lunch at home, my husband asked me if I wanted to explore Sun Valley and Forest Hills in Antipolo. Sige, pasyal lang. This area is outside of my route circumference… Read More

Feb  4, 2021 I will cook Canneloni for Oyen without a recipe guide.  This is my first time and as usual I will just wing it.   I don’t  follow any set of rules when… Read More

I promised myself that I will avoid buying battery-operated watches for 3 reasons: 1. Abala. It’s too much hassle to bring the watch to the service center every year. Although it&rsquo&hell…Read More

I promised myself that I will avoid buying battery-operated watches for 3 reasons: 1. Abala. It’s too much hassle to bring the watch to the service center every year. Although it&rsquo&hell…Read More

Sadly, the earth gets more garbage than ever before. I see face masks hanging on tree branches, buried on the sand, on the sidewalks. Hindi maiwasan malaglag, liparin ng hangin, plus there a… Read More

Edmund made several jars of juiced fresh garlic and ginger, with apple cider vinegar. His friend Larry and William swear by it. Effective daw. In just one month, blood pressure and bad chole… Read More

Feb 3, 2021, 2:20 pm I went to Santi’s to buy ingredients for canneloni. I wanted to cook something for my daughter, mahilig sya sa pasta so maybe she’ll like this. Since I was a… Read More

I was so mad at our staff, L, for not telling me that my BDO account was being charged 500 pesos a month penalty for being dormant. Wala na ngang laman eh naubos pa. I was out of the country… Read More

I feel like a bird trapped in a cage, a nice, spacious, comfortable cage but it’s still a cage. I want to go out but the risk of getting infected is staring at my doorsteps. I want to… Read More

This person madly hates Filipinos. After reading this, I wonder how you would react. From [email protected] February 1, 2021 I totally agree with the stylist, filipinos are the ugliest mos… Read More

Feb 4, 2021 1:00 pm I was in our room on the second floor when I heard loud voices so I dashed out. I thought our maids were fighting. They were not. They were speaking to each other in Engl… Read More

I get so irritated talking to people who, in the absence of accurate information, answer my questions with extreme ambiguity. I’d rather hear them answer “I don’t know&rdqu&hell…Read More

January 21, 7:25 pm Stella planks down on the carpet and doesn’t want to move. I think her tummy is so heavy and she’s probably starting to feel uncomfortable. Baka her puppies w… Read More

We hired a labandera from an employment agency in February of 2020. In just a few days she was already the subject of many complaints from Antonia, and from the other maids. I wanted to let… Read More

Feb 11, 2021 12:20 noon I always get messages from male foreigners looking for a wife. I think they scour Instagram and Facebook for prospects. Me—- “Antonia, merong foreigner na… Read More

January 24, 2021 For 12 years I froze around Lucy.   Before I could even go in and out of the garage,  the maids would have to move Lucy away from me.  I got so stressed out w… Read More

Jan 22, 2021 Our survival food in case we got stranded along the way— nilagang puting mais. 6:06 pm Instead of taking C5, we decided to go straight to EDSA where we expect that traffic… Read More

January 22, 2021 It’s been a year that I haven’t visited our small farm. It’s not actually a farm in the true sense of the word. We don’t harvest stuff. Not yet. We o… Read More

January 18, 2021 I have trouble sitting for a few hours attending Zoom meetings. As I get older, the more I suspect that I have ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). An exception to this is watc… Read More

January 18, 2021 I have trouble sitting for a few hours attending Zoom meetings. As I get older, the more I suspect that I have ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). An exception to this is when… Read More

January 27 Today is my son’s birthday. He lives far away and as I write this note, I am imagining that he is beside me and I am giving him a big, tight mommy bear hug. I never tell him… Read More

January 22, 2021 Immediately after my meeting was done, I phoned Edmund if he had lunch already. Our plan was really to have lunch together but because my meeting was pushed back to almost l… Read More

Aside from the old photos with presidential candidates and business industry leaders I found gathering dust on my office desk in Makati, I also found two photos of me taken in 1995, posing b… Read More

Jan 22 My husband offered to drive for me to Tagaytay.  Oh oh, wah load. I have a 10 am meeting but got pushed back because we got caught in bumper-to-bumper traffic along the Sta. Rosa… Read More

January 21, 2021 Posing beside a Ford subcompact crossover SUV, EcoSport Read More

Jan 21, 2021 Our new driver looked confused when I got on the car and drove off. Aba hindi pa sya tapos mag-quarantine, mahirap na. I’d rsther drive by myself rather than risk catching… Read More

Jan 16 10:17 am Oyen gave her dad a cellphone stand. I doubt if Edmund will use this, baka masayang lang. Jan 17    12 am CNN reports a man has lost 7 relatives to Covid. How tragi… Read More

Jan 21, 9:36 am The barangay delivered to our residence two face shields, an alcohol spray bottle, one bottle of liquid hand soap, and a box of surgical masks made in China. This was unexpec… Read More

  After the bloody mob at the US Capitol on January 6, I waited anxiously for January 20 to come (and go) without any hitch. Like it or not, America affects the whole world. Whatever ha… Read More

January 18, 2021, 12:52 pm While I was still in the US, I saw a photo of the most delicious-looking callos on Celeste’s Facebook post. I oromised myself thst I would order ss soon as I… Read More

January 16 Even before we got married Edmund has always been enamored with water elements like ponds, rivers, fish. He had big fish tanks at their house in Malabon. A little over a year into… Read More

Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of posts on Facebook about people dying. Almost every week I see photos of candles. Ang problema ko, gusto ko mang makiramay, hindi ko naman alam kung si… Read More

January 13, 2021 The Oscar’s restaurant sits on top of the highest peak inside the Eugenio Lopez compound in Antipolo, a 10-hectare estate owned by the same family who owns ABS-CBN, &n&hell…Read More

January 13, 2020, 4:29 pm We were on our way home from Morong, Rizal and when we reached the entrance to the Eugenio Lopez Center along Sumulong Highway in Antipolo, my husband asked me if I… Read More

January 13, 2020 My husband willingly drove for me to Antipolo to check out something. Antipolo is supposed to be a short distance but there’s no way we can drive any faster because of… Read More

Jan 14, 2021 Gray (grey) is the color of neutrality, symmetry, and balance.  It’s the combination of two contrasting colors of white and black. Long time ago, this color was consi… Read More

January 12, 2021, Tuesday We drove to Makati Ford from our residence but from there I have another meeting in Jupiter. Parking would be a big problem so I had no choice but to let one of the… Read More

January 10, 2021, 5:10 pm I saw on television that the monthly contributions to the SSS by employers and employees were to increase again. Why? Naku po, merong pandemic ngayon ano? Baka nama… Read More

January 7, 2021 I totally forgot that I sent home through Oyen two boxes of truffle set. i was pleased when she showed me the truffles.   The black truffle sauce is my most favorite. He… Read More

January 7, 2021 I totally forgot that I sent home through Oyen two boxes of truffle set. i was pleased when she showed me the truffles.   The black truffle sauce is my most favorite. He… Read More

January 6, 2021 Thousands of Pres. Trump’s supporters marched to the US Capitol to stop the counting of the ballots and to prevent Vice President Mike Pence from declaring Joe Biden an… Read More

Jan 6, 11:43 am I have just started wrapping gifts. The hassle part is the delivery or distribution. 12:04 pm Instead of making him sit in front of my desk, I let Sonny, Makati Ford’s… Read More

Jan 4, 2021 10 am Antonia—“mam, birthday ni Norma mamaya,  may pagkain” Me——–“Oh,  ilang taon na si Norma?” Antonia—“Fif… Read More

Jan 2, 2021 We used to travel for 8 to 10 hours to or from Baguio, With SCTEX it got shorter, then came TIPLEX. Without having to go through the towns in Tarlac and Pangasinan, the drive got… Read More

Jan 2, 2021 Instead of eating again at the hotel, we went to Bistro by Hill Station. We chose to stay outdoors. Edmund didn’t leave a spot unsanitized. Dining out is always risky that… Read More

Jan 2, 2021 Time to leave. Edmund got a P15,000+ room refund because instead of staying in the courtyard room, we moved to the garden room in search of privacy, peace, quiet. The garden room… Read More

Jan 2, 2021 I didn’t sleep well last night. Hindi naman maingay yung neighboring rooms but I didn’t sleep soundly. We’ve spent 7 nights in this room. Nothing happened becau… Read More

January 1, 2021, The Manor Hotel Whether I am busy productively or busy just lazing in bed, time is always not enough. We spent the whole morning in bed, on the phone, watching CNN, me on my… Read More

Dec 31, 2020 This would be the fourth time if I remember it right that we are spending New Year’s Eve in Baguio.  The first three were with my kids. Now it’s just the two of… Read More

Dec 31, 2020 We thought of having an early Buena Noche at Le Chef but when we got there we changed our minds.  We were not in the mood to have a full meal and we also wanted to avoid pe… Read More

Dec 31, 2020 1:20 pm I skipped dessert at Chef’s Home and opted for strawberry taho. The vendor was not at his usual spot on the sidewalk outside The Mansion. We found him in Wright Pa… Read More

Dec 31, 2020 We were going to Hill Station for lunch but changed our minds and instead we went looking for Chef’s Home. Their new location is sadya-in meaning you have to plan ahead. H… Read More

Dec 30, 2020 We were lazy and tired to dress-up and dine-out so we just ordered room service. I had smoked salmon salad. Burger for Edmund. In-roomm dining is covid-risk free, quieter, no ne… Read More

Dec 30, 2020 After having foot massages at the nail salon in Ayala Technohub, we went to Choco-late de Batirol restaurant in Igorot Park, Camp John Hay.  We’ve seen this rustic pl… Read More

Dec 30, 2020 What? Yes, we did it again. Not content on the haphazard pedicure we had two days ago, we went back to the nail salon. We set an appointment at 10 am so that we would be the fir… Read More

Dec 29, 2020 We were invited by Oyen’s in-laws to join them for dinner at Hamada Restaurant on the ground floor of Baguio Country Club where they are all billeted. There’s a big… Read More

Dec 29, 2 pm Wala na akong maisuot kasi I accidentally left a stack of clothes at home. I don’t have enough clothes to wear for 7 days. Eto na lang ulit, repeat performance, hindi nama… Read More

Dec 28, 3:55 pm We did the unthinkable, risk catching the virus by having pedicure. Edmund and I kept our masks and face shields on the whole time while the manicurists wore face masks only… Read More

Dec 28, 2020 Customers are given a maximum of one hour and forty-five minutes to sit down, order, eat, drink, take photos, hang-out here because they get really busy, maybe because it’… Read More

Dec 28, 4:09 pm I am really fond of inihaw na mais (grilled corn).  I can finish 10 small cobs in one sitting .  The smell of corn being grilled over burning coal is intoxicat… Read More

Dec 28, 2020, Baguio The Barn restaurant sits on a ridge with a sweeping view of the surrounding mountains. Among all the restaurants here in Baguio that I have been to, I say that this has… Read More

Dec 28, 2020 After my daughter and her inlaws dined at The Barn, she thought I would like the food and the ambiance so she booked us a table for four. Instead of going there in our respectiv… Read More

Dec 28 We have an hour to spend while waiting for Oyen and Derrick. And what better way to spend it by memorializing those moments through pictures.   I still like the old fashioned sty… Read More

Dec 27 We were too tired to dine out and not  yet hungry but we might look for food in the middle of the night so we ordered spaghetti bolognese and mushroom soup for room delivery. &nb&hell…Read More

Dec 27 While Edmund played golf with Derrick and his dad Philip, and brother in law Richard, Inhang-out with my daughter,  After having lunch together at Le Chef, we walked to the store… Read More

Dec 27, 2020, Baguio While Edmund played golf with Derrick, Philip, and Richard atnthe Baguio Country Club,  my daughter joined me for lunch.  She walked alone from BCC to Manor. D… Read More

Dec 26 After driving for almost 4 hours we no longer wish to ride the car again just to look for food so we decided to just eat here at the hotel’s restaurant, Le Chef. They no longer… Read More

Dec 26 Edmund booked a courtyard room just like what he al3qys did but this time I didn’t want to because nanay ko, wala akong katahimikan.  It’s always noisy on that side o… Read More

Dec 26,  Baguio The incumbent mayor  of Baguio City, Hon. Benjamin Magalong, is doing his big share in keeping his constituents and visitors safer from spreading the dreaded virus… Read More

Dec 26, 2020 Oyen and Derrick, convoyed with Derrick’s family to Baguio. They left at 8:30 am while Edmund and I followed at 11:30 am. We saw black smoke billowing up in the sky, must… Read More

Dec 25, 2020 We spent 4 consecutive Christmases in the US with half of the Tans (2016-2019).  Contrary to the previous 4 when we had lumpiang shanghai, creamed corn, grilled rib eye ste… Read More

Dec 24, 2020 We didn’t prepare lots of food for our Christmas Eve celebration.  For dessert, we still have the box of multi-flavor cheesecake from Ford Edsa’s service manage… Read More

Malabo na mata ko most especially when it’s around 9 pm and up. And even when it’s still daytime, I have difficulty typing the correct letters and words. There are always mistake… Read More

Dec 24, 2020 8:13 am While I was still in the US,  oyen messaged me if I wanted to go up to Baguio after Christmas till after the New Year.  She would be going with her in-laws and… Read More

Dec 22, 6:22 pm A vacant lot inside our subdivision was decorated with Nativity scene with tube lights shaped like reindeers. Christmas tree, Santa and his sleigh, and a beautiful Belen… Read More

Dec 22, 200 Sorting out my old stuff and files to choose which ones to discard or keep is too overwhelming so I do it very gradually which doesn’t even help reduce the amount of files… Read More

Dec 22, 1:01 pm Kay Ann celebrated her 10th year with us with a simple salu-salo of Chicken Joy, pansit, etc. It’s been ten years na pala since I personally interviewed this young girl… Read More

Dec 17 11 am Because there were some issues found from the results of our blood tests, Oyen and I went to Cardinal Santos Hospital for whole abdomen ultrasound to rule out any indication tha… Read More

Dec 22, 9:25 am I went down to the family dining room finding Antonia busy setting up the table. I asked her what she served to Derrick for breakfast. She said he didn’t eat. I saw a s… Read More

Dec 20, 7:45 pm Mister Yee found out that a friend of his had been exposed to the corona virus.  They played a round of golf together before his friend found out that his son tested pos… Read More

In street lingo, tesbun is the reverse of the word buntis. When you say “sya ay tesbun” it means sya ay buntis. After I mentioned to Antonia that I had abdomen ultrasound, that r… Read More

Dec 20, 2:14 pm We went to Adora to see if they still have the same shoes or step-in that Oyen had bought in October but in a different color. We also checked out their other inventory. Too… Read More

Dec 20, 12:55 pm She has errands around Makati area so I tagged along.   Second stop is lunch in Greenbelt 5.  No particular preference so we just walked.. and we stopped at the fi… Read More

Dec 17, 2 pm Hanging out with my daughter leads to more eating and eating.  We both love Cafe Breton. We used to eat at their Podium and Pasong Tamo branches in the past. We were too ha… Read More

I received a message from my daughter on October 31, 2020 at 4:24 pm saying she bought shoes from Adora in Greenbelt 5 to cheer her up. She didn’t include a photo so I didn’t kno… Read More

Choco has a twin sister, Latte, which is now stationed at the cars depot in Taguig. Edmund tranferred her there because she likes to bark. Our neighbor on the right side of our house keeps c… Read More

Dec 19, 7:51 pm I was so touched when my daughter showed me the special candle she ordered in honor of her Lolo Cardo and Lola Felicing supposedly for All Saints’ Day. It actually has… Read More

Dec 19, 3:40 pm My husband complains of back pains and lack of sleep. It could be the mattress. We don’t want to call the helpers to come to the room to help so he flips it all by hims… Read More

Dec 20, 11:42 am Our 12 year old dalmatian Lucy is back to her old self. She has regained the weight she had lost in August, thanks to her mommy Oyen who provided her with all the medical at… Read More

Dec 18 Growing old together… We went to Chef Jessie to celebrate our 19th million minsary. When Oyen was booking a private room at Chef Jessie they told her that there’s a 5,000… Read More

Wedding anniversaries should not be ignored. Not because it comes every year means it’s just something repetitive, boring or unimportant. Newly weds or honeymooners count every hour, d… Read More

Dec 16, 2020 Dear husband volunteered to drive for me today to drop off some gifts just within 3 miles  circumference from our house. He did his errands after I was done. I felt like a… Read More

Dec 18, 9:17 am Henry is our long-time neighbor. He is such an amiable fellow. Soft spoken and always smiling. I sent him and his wife fresh fruits and peanuts. Aside from two Chinese calend… Read More

Dec 15, 2020 Two days ago as I entered the garage lobby, I noticed a tiny package on the table by the door. It was sitting on the tray where all the vehicle keys are placed. It was addressed… Read More

Dec 17, 4:52 pm Exchanged peanuts kami ni Wash. I gave them two bottles of organic peanuts cooked by Antonia and in return he sent me a big pack of imported peanuts plus a big jar of sampalo… Read More

Dec 16, Grapes symbolize abundance and prosperity. In many Asian cultures, they are hang on the doorways, placed on the dining table to attract wealth and good luck. The Bible mentioned the… Read More

Dec 15, 3:35 pm The driver of Elmer and Det de Leon delivered a styro foam ice chest cooler which I suspected contained fresh king prawns at our residence at 3:30 pm. I saw him from our bedr… Read More

Dec 15, 9:56 am Due to my high sugar level and bad cholesterol, I’ve started to cut down on my food intake. I don’t know how long this would last but I am trying, although knowin… Read More

I saw a post yesterday about someone who made it to my list of people I hated had recently died. He must be in his late 70s. A common friend mentioned to me last year that this guy had been… Read More

Dec 15 Our most trusted maid Jebel leaves today for her home province Iloilo. She is under extreme pressure from her father, mother, siblings, and relatives to work in the Middle East. They… Read More