Araw ng Parangal: Isang talumpati

Thank You for this simple plaque of appreciation.  It was fun speaking in front of my fellow SJFS students.

Here's my speech for today's Elementary's Recognition Day.

*****

To the respected school administrators, our beloved principal Mr. Ernesto D. Rosales Jr., members of the faculty, friends, guests, proud parents and students. Good Morning!

Ngayon, I am feeling a bit nostalgic. I am once again on stage, to speak in front of the students of St. John Fisher School. Matagal na panahon na rin nung huli ko itong ginawa. Kaya hindi na ako nagdalawang isip pa na tanggapin ang imbitasyon sa akin. SJFS will always have a special place in my heart.  Dito ako ay sinanay na maging malikhain, matatag at masipag na mag-aaral. Dito na minsan rin gaya niyo ay nabigyan ng parangal dahil napagbuti ang pag-aaral.  But this time, it is different. Dahil ngayon, hindi ako ang pararangalan. Hindi ako ang nagmamay-ari ng entablado. Hindi ako ang bida ngayon. Kundi kayo, kayong mga estudyante na pinakanagsikap at nag-aral ng mabuti. Ang bida ngayon, ay kayo who excel among the rest of the class.

Hinahangaan ko kayo, dahil isa kayo sa mga batang nagbibigay halaga sa edukasyon. Edukasyon na pinaghihirapang ibigay sa atin ng ating mga magulang. Ang edukasyon na tutulong sa atin pagdating ng panahon. Kaya ganoon na lamang ang panghihinayang ko sa mga kabataang napapariwara ang buhay. Marami yan. Sa radyo, sa TV, sa dyaryo. Kaya mapapalad tayong mga nakapag-aral at may mga magulang tao na naka-agapay sa atin.

Naalala ko tuloy yung madalas ibilin sa akin ng Mama ko, “Anak, mag-aral ka ng mabuti dahil yan lamang ang maari naming ipamana ni Papa mo sa inyong magkakapatid.” 2^nd year highschool ako dito sa St. John nang mawala si Papa. After nun, si Mama ko na ang naging sole provider namin. May maliit kaming pwesto sa palengke, nagtitinda ng gulay at dry goods. Kapag weekend, kailangan naming tumulong kasi mas maraming namamalengke. Ang assignments and projects, magagawa lang namin sa hapon. Bihira ang summer vacation kasi nagtitinda during summer break. Nag-aral akong mabuti. Nagsumikap. Binigyang halaga ang bawat tuition fee na pinangeenroll ko. Mas naging mahirap at challenging nung ako'y nagkolehiyo. Halos dugo at pawis ng aking ina ang kapalit ng bawat tuition fee ko. Halos pamasahe lang ang ibibigay niyang baon sa akin. Pero dahil sa kagustuhan kong mag-aral at makatapos, papasok ako sa school ng may ngiti sa labi para Good Vibes. Di alintana na baka magutom ako. O kaya may kailangang bilhin para sa mga drawing plates sa school. Basta sige pa rin. Ngunit sa kabila ng kagipitan, nagawa kong makatapos dahil ganoon nalamang ang pagpapahalaga ko sa edukasyon na pinilit maibigay sa akin ng magulang ko. Sa kabila ng pagsubok, ginawa ko itong inspirasyon at dahilan para mas magsumikap na tulungan ang sarili. Apat kaming magkakapatid, lahat kami ay napagtapos ng college. Kaya sa araw na 'to, hindi lang kayo na mga tatanggap ng parangal ang bida. Sa araw na 'to, maging ang mga magulang natin... sila rin ay bida.

Ang buhay nating bilang mag-aaral ay hindi laging isang madaling paglalakbay. Maraming bumps and curves. Minsan nga may zigzag pa. Tulad niyo, naging isang estudyante din ako. Sumagot ng maraming assignments, gumawa ng gabundok na projects, hiningan ng madaming researches. Pumasa. Bumagsak. Nagpuyat karereview. Anu man ang pinagdaanan ko noong ako'y estudyante palamang, ginamit ko itong inspirasyon. Ito ang tumulong sa akin na mag-aral ng mabuti. Bilang estuyante, madami narin tayong naiisip na goals and dreams. Bata palang ako, I started dreaming na. Saying, “Pa, balang araw... magiging Arkitekto ako.” Pero syempre hindi sapat ang yung inisip mo lang. Hindi sapat yung i-dream mo lang. Thinking about it na kaya mong gawin is not enough. Hindi natatapos ang lahat sa dreaming big. Lahat naman ng pangarap pwedeng marating, you'll just have the believe in yourself and have the courage to pursue them and do something about it. Natatandaan ko nga, napanood ko nga minsan sa TV. Tinanong ni Nobita si Doraemon. “Doraemon, Bakit maski isipin ko na kaya ko gawin... hindi ko pa rin kaya?” Sagot ni Doraemon: “Simple lang yan! Kasi iniisip mo lang. Hindi ka naniniwala.” Si Nobita naman kasi, sumusuko na agad, hindi pa nga sinusubukan. Pero kayo, kayong mga narirto. Kayo na tatanggap ng mga parangal dahil nagsikap sa pag-aaral. Binabati ko kayo at hinahanggan dahil sa mura niyong mga edad... sinimulan niyo ng makuha ang mga pangarap niyo. Ngayon palang, you are starting to build the bridge to reach your dreams. And with the help of your parents and the school, you'll get there.

Muli, Congratulations to the proud parents. And to you students. Thank you.

At Uncle Cheffy's Restuarant

Dinner with siblings.
Thanks Ate for the libre ^___^
Pasta + Pizza + Grilled Tuna
YUMMY!!! Happy Tummy!

Garlic & Herb this time

March 11, 2013

Just needed something to do, meryenda for me and my siblings.

Ingredients:
* 1 can of Hunt's Pasta Sauce (Garlic & Herb)
* 1/4 kilogram of pasta noodles (cooked)
* 8 pcs. hotdog (cut into cubes)
* 4 cloves of garlic (minced)
* oil
* salt & pepper

Procedure:
1. Put oil in the pan, add garlic.  Saute until semi-brown.
2.  Add the hotdogs, semi fry it.
3.  Add the pasta sauce.  At this point, the hotdogs will continue cooking.
4.  Add salt & pepper to taste.

The sauce is ready!!!  Itadakimasu!!!

Since 1996 to 2013

March 9, 2013

Finally reunited with my dear High School Friends.  Since June 1996 and counting.  These are the friends I have that whenever I am with them, surely there will never be a dull moment.

Today, I laughed a thousand times.

I finally meet my new grandson, my friends' son.

We had coffee, and laugh more.

Then sing our hearts out doing the videoke.

Drank a couple bottle of beers.

But the most memorable done today is the partying after.

Thanks friends for this new experience.  ^_______^

Let's do it again!

Napapanahon (Isang talumpati)

Minsan, nung ako ay naglinis at nagligpit ng aking mga kagamiutan.  Nakita ko ang mga pahina ng talumpati na aking inihanda para sa araw ng pagbibigay parangal sa mga natatanging bata sa paaralang minsang nag gawad na din sa akin ng medalya.

Ito'y napapanahon sapagkay nalalapit na naman ang araw na pinakahihntay ng mga estudyante, gayundin ng mga magulang - Ang "School Year End".


Taong 2005:  Ako'y nagtratrabaho na bilang Junior Architect sa isang architectural firm.

"  To the respected administrators, our beloved principal, members of the faculty, parents and students, Good Morning!

I am feeling a little nostalgic, because the last I took the stage and had my speech was 5 years ago.  But this time, it is different.  For today, it is not I who owns the stage.  Hindi ako ang bida ngayon.  Kundi kayo na mga estudyante na nagsikap at naghirap mag-aral.  You who excel among the rest.

Ganoon na lamang ang paghanga ko sa mga batang pinahahalagahan ang pag-aaral.  Ganoon na lamang ang panghihinayang ko sa mga kabataang napapariwara ang buhay.  Marami niyan.  Makinig ka lang ng radyo o kaya naman manood ng TV.  Magbasa ka ng dyaro.  Kaya mapalad tayong mga nakakapag-aral.  May mga magulang tayo na laging naka-agapay.  Kaya sa araw na ito, hindi lang kayong mga tatanggap ng parangal ang bida sa araw na ito.  Maging ang mga magulang natin.

Naalala ko tuloy yung laging binabanggit sa akin ng Mama ko.  Medyo gasgas na nga lang.  Pero itong mensahe na ito ang tumulong sa aking mag sikap na makatapos ng pag-aaral.  Dagdag pa nito yung kalagayan namin sa buhay.  Sabi niya na tanging ang edukasyon lamang ang maaari nilang maipamana sa aming magkakapatid.  Kung kaya't ganoon na lamang ang pagsisikap nilang kami'y mapagtapos.  Naging mahirap sa amin ang lahat.  Halos dugo at pawis ng aking ina ang kapalit ng bawt tuition fee ko.  Naalala ko pa noon, halos pamasahe lang ang ibibigay niyang baon sa akin.  Pero dahil sa kagustuhan kong pumasok, sige pa rin.  Di alintana na baka magutom ako.  O kaya may kailangang bilhin.  Ngunit sa kabila ng kagipitan, nagawa kong makatapos dahil ganoon nalamang ang pagpapahalaga ko sa edukasyon.

Mahalagang mag-aral.  Di niyo pa siguro ito napapansin, pero mabuti iyong habang maaga palang ay namumulat na kayong pahalagahan ang edukasyon.  Kaya ako nandito, kaya ako narating ang mga pangarap ko dahil pinahalagahan ko ang edukasyon.

Ano nga ba ang ibig kong ipahiwatig?  Maganda yang nag-aaral kayong mabuti, kaya sana ay huway kayong magsasawang mag-aral.  Pero hindi niyo naman kailangan na i-pressure yang sarili ninyo.  Ibig kong sabihin, Just enjoy studying.  Huwag mapanghinaan ng loob kapag bumaba ang ranking.  Naranasan ko nayan.  Sa halip na malungkot at maglugmok, mas pinagbutihan ko pa ang pag-aaral.  Sa mga magulang naman, malaking bagay ang naitutulong ng suportang ibinibigay niyo sa inyong mga  anak.  At sana, huwag kayong magsasawa sa pagsuporta.

Muli, pahalagahan natin ang edukasyon.  Marami pong salamat.  At magandang araw. "

~ wakas ~

Ang talumpati ko'y maikli lamang, ngunit

nailahad ko naman ang nais kong 

ipabatid sa mga bata at magulang.

My Home made Waffles

March 7, 2013

Just want to try mom's old waffle maker.  It has been ages since I used it.  This time, I made some with hotdogs in it.  Successful!!! And they are tasty.  I made the waffle mixture from the pancake mix.

Ingredients:
* 250 grams Pancake Mix
* 1 medium size egg
* 2 tbsp. oil
* 3/4 cup water
* Hotdogs
* sticks

Procedure:
1.  In a bowl, put the pancake mix, egg, oil, and water.  Mix all together.  Avoid over beating as it may loosen the consistency of the batter.  Set aside.
2.  Make 2 cuts on each hotdog, so as to cook it through.  You may fry it the usual way.  In my case, I heat it in the microwave oven, a minute each side.
3.  Put each hotdog on a stick.
4.  With a waffle maker, put the pancake batter on each mold half-way.  Add the hotdogs.  Place more of the mixture on the hotdogs.
5.  Let the waffle maker do it's magic.  The waffle is cooked when the light turns off.

Mom's old waffle maker in the upper left picture.

Nail Art

March 01, 2013

Today is Muntinlupa Day.  No-work-day for my youngest brother.  And since he's been having the dry coughs and runny nose for the past few weeks, he decided to had his check-up today.  We went to The District Mall at Dasmariñas, Cavite.  It is just 10 minutes drive from our place.  While waiting for the doctor, my sister and I decided to have our nails done in Nail-a-holics while brother had his haircut.

Check out my nails!!!

Ate's polish on the left, while mine's on the right side.

On-going Nail Art.  First time I had my nails done with dark
colors.  I usually have it French Tipped or in Skin Tone.

Finish Product.  Nice diba?

Here's me with my nail art ^___^
And check-out my brother's new haircut.  Cool!

The taste of Baguio's Panagbenga Festival 2013

February 24, 2013

From the Hot Air Festival, my friends and I went straight to Baguio.  We traveled for another 7 hours, inclusive of an hour long drive in a zigzag road (Marcos Highway).

We reached the city proper of Baguio just about time for the concert @ Melvin Jones Park.  There we enjoyed taking pictures, fooling around and bought several street foods.  We had dinner @ Savory, SM Baguio then had waffles and ice cream after.  Just enjoying the cold breeze, over-looking the city.  After a lot of talking and laughing, we went home at The Granary, a guest house of Cathedral of the Resurrection along Magsaysay Avenue.  It was still 9:30pm (a bit early for my usual sleeping time) when I hit the sack.  I usually go to bed at the crack of dawn.  But maybe with the long hour of travel and extreme heat, I ended up snoozing early.

Sleeping earlier than ever, I woke up earlier too.  It was just 4 hours past midnight when I woke up.  Bad tummy had to do with it.  Water is cold, no heater available.  But I manage to do my morning ritual then took a shower.  The gang is ready by 7:00 am, and off to Session Road for the annual grand float parade.  Thousands of people from all-over are scattered along the parade path and we are not that lucky to be situated in front of the pack.  Even so, we still happened to get a good look on the amazing floats.  Actors and actresses on the floats are bonuses.  It was fun dancing with the several marching bands who played funky tunes along side the dancing crew.  We enjoyed the parade.  We enjoyed the ambiance.  And the feel of the festival was so giddy.

After the parade, we went to Camp John Hay for our lunch @ Dencio's Restaurant.  We had adobo rice, bangus sisig, sinigang na hipon and lechon kawali.  Then we walked a few steps to The Manor, a luxurious hotel in the heart of the Base.  The cozy ambiance of the hotel is a perfect place to relax.  But I assure you, it'll cost a fortune too.  We had several pictures taken here.  Enjoyed the beautiful pine trees and natural landscape of the luscious forestry of Baguio.

We then grabbed our daily doze of whip cream and caffeine at Starbucks-Technohub, which is just inside the base also.  Glazed and Chocolate donuts are our desserts, thanks to Tyron.  But I guess this time, we're lucky and was able to watch a street dance parade for the Panagbenga Festival up-close.  Check out some of our pics, if you want to know what I mean.

We left Baguio at around 4:00 pm and off to the Metro.  I was able to reached home at 1:00 am the next day (February 25, 2013 Monday).  Tired but had another weekend to remember.  This time, with my friends.

Concert at the Park and food trip!!!

Grand Float Parade

A weekend of everything that flies

February 23, 2013

A week long preparation for a quick weekend road trip with my college friends is finally here!  First part of our weekend get-away from the busyness of the metro is here at Omni Aviation Complex in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.  The location is a vast open field - no trees just plain rays of the scorching sun.

The ticket costs 250.00php.  You'll be able to see the hot air balloons up-close.  Although in our case, we're a tad late so we only captured few of the hot air balloons on ground.  Others are already way up high!  Anyway, it was still a blast since we have seen the daredevil paragliders, not-so-dangerous kite flying and the aerobatics of the aircrafts that all of us left in awe.  It was fun even with the extreme heat of the sun.

For the empty stomach, a lot of food stalls are available inside the event venue.  From burrito to fried chicken, pizza and pasta.  It's like food porn, a festivity of food for health conscious spectator to i-do-not-mind-what-i-eat people.

For the car enthusiasts, there are a couple brand new models on display around the venue.  There are also pimped and customized ones.  I happened to grab a photo of some of it.  Bumble Bee of the transformers was even there (*wink).  And it's beside Iron Man!

For the kids and young-at-heart- there are several activities you can do aside from the kite flying.  There is this booth where you can win festival goodies when you pop balloons using a dart pin.  I didn't tried it though, not in the mood to aim and pop.  By the way, this costs 50.00php.

Several people had brought there own tents.  Some had bought mats in the venue.  In our case, we've just been dodging the sun by trying to sneak in one of the tents provided for the sponsors.  And we even had a chair.

My friends and I had an early lunch and left the place for Baguio at 10:30 am.  As much as the sun enjoyed shining, we had enjoyed the weather too.  It's better to be sunny than it's raining like the weather that was back in Cavite when we left.

Check out my next blog for my Baguio Trip.  ^____^