Taking a break after a day of dragon-slaying...
A Cup Full of Lego Minifigs
Posting one of the many presents I got from Christmas... Happy holidays everyone!
Toy Kingdom Warehouse Sale
Trick or Treating with the Kids
I don't recall Halloween being a big celebration here in the Philippines. Things like "treat or treat" and getting dressed up as zombies had no relevance when I was growing up.
Blame it on the malls and the stores who promote the ghoulish costumes, just to boost their sales. Most kids right now consider it part of tradition and parents would spend money to get them dressed up in pretty costumes.
I never planned on getting into the Halloween bandwagon. My son's school organized the celebration, telling parents to bring their kids in costumes and go around the village for some trick-or-treats.
Rather than spend money on some costume, I decided to make my own Thomas train costume for my son.
And we bought a crown and pair of fairy wings for my daughter.
It's definitely cheaper than those creepy outfits.
Blame it on the malls and the stores who promote the ghoulish costumes, just to boost their sales. Most kids right now consider it part of tradition and parents would spend money to get them dressed up in pretty costumes.
I never planned on getting into the Halloween bandwagon. My son's school organized the celebration, telling parents to bring their kids in costumes and go around the village for some trick-or-treats.
Rather than spend money on some costume, I decided to make my own Thomas train costume for my son.
And we bought a crown and pair of fairy wings for my daughter.
It's definitely cheaper than those creepy outfits.
Another discovery at Booksale
Here are some of the stuff I discovered in a Booksale branch in Manila.
The D&D Fourth Edition Eberron Campaign Guide costs 325 pesos. I did not buy it since I'm not collecting Eberron or D&D 4e books.
I did manage to get my hands on a brand new Three Dragon Ante card game set for 45 pesos.
The card game is made by Wizards of the Coast. I also found a video tutorial for this game.
The D&D Fourth Edition Eberron Campaign Guide costs 325 pesos. I did not buy it since I'm not collecting Eberron or D&D 4e books.
I did manage to get my hands on a brand new Three Dragon Ante card game set for 45 pesos.
The card game is made by Wizards of the Coast. I also found a video tutorial for this game.
Found in a Local Booksale Store
D&D Player's Kit worth 210.00 pesos. Looks interesting and a worthy purchase.The set should contain six dice, some miniature figures, maps, and some books.
Separation Anxiety
We finally enrolled my eldest son in a local preschool. It's a new set of adjustment for all of us. I have to rearrange my work schedule to help prepare and drive him to school. My wife has to plan for his recess snack and the clothes he needs to wear.
My son is making the biggest adjustment in the family. He doesn't want to be left in the company of strangers. Blame it on us for not letting him do things by himself. Now he cries whenever we dress him up for school. He cries when my wife leaves him in class. He cries when she fetches him after school. The teacher says he cries during class hours as well.
I know this is just a phase and he will get into the habit and routine of going to school. But we are looking for creative ways of encouraging him to like his teachers and classmates.
My son is making the biggest adjustment in the family. He doesn't want to be left in the company of strangers. Blame it on us for not letting him do things by himself. Now he cries whenever we dress him up for school. He cries when my wife leaves him in class. He cries when she fetches him after school. The teacher says he cries during class hours as well.
I know this is just a phase and he will get into the habit and routine of going to school. But we are looking for creative ways of encouraging him to like his teachers and classmates.
Lair Assault (The End is Near)
The guys decided to play a Dungeons and Dragons 4th Ed Lair Assault blog campaign. It's supposed to be a killer adventure, where you have to stop the main villain in twenty or less rounds from completing his ritual.
It's nice to have a play-by-post game again, even though I have a bad feeling I'll be the first to die. The three other players are more experienced in the rules and the system. But that won't stop me from having fun. At least I managed to kill off one of the warlocks and eat a fire fish (that grants my character temporary fire immunity).
I'm playing a dwarf shaman who is supposed to be healing and curing my companions as they hack the enemies to pieces. But it turns out they don't need much healing to start with, they've chosen stuff to aid their recovery (such as ongoing regeneration). I guess I'll be using my own healing powers on myself.
Anyway, it's already the 8th or 9th round and the dungeon is getting as hot as hell. I'm down to my last twenty-plus health and the fire demons are getting more aggressive. I'm hoping to make it to the main room before I die. At least I could say that I made it to the last climatic event before getting roasted.
It's nice to have a play-by-post game again, even though I have a bad feeling I'll be the first to die. The three other players are more experienced in the rules and the system. But that won't stop me from having fun. At least I managed to kill off one of the warlocks and eat a fire fish (that grants my character temporary fire immunity).
I'm playing a dwarf shaman who is supposed to be healing and curing my companions as they hack the enemies to pieces. But it turns out they don't need much healing to start with, they've chosen stuff to aid their recovery (such as ongoing regeneration). I guess I'll be using my own healing powers on myself.
Anyway, it's already the 8th or 9th round and the dungeon is getting as hot as hell. I'm down to my last twenty-plus health and the fire demons are getting more aggressive. I'm hoping to make it to the main room before I die. At least I could say that I made it to the last climatic event before getting roasted.
Retirement Dreams
I stumbled upon a financial article that featured an American couple who retired in their early 40's. I found the piece inspiring because they managed to plan early, and decided to save money for their retirement. Things like this take a lot of discipline and commitment. While their circumstances are different from mine, I believe I can use some of their suggestions to plan my own retirement.
I admit I have dreams of retiring early. But my situation is different from the Charltons. I have two kids and I live in a third world Asian country. The money I save would not be enough to sustain the standard of living that I want for my family and my children. I mean, I could choose to cut the costs of my kid's education and send them to a public school (which is way cheaper than private schools with a Chinese program). But this is not something I want for them.
There were three things in the article which reaffirmed my decision to focus on my own retirement plans.
1. Cutting Costs
One thing great about living with my parents is the fact that we get to split the monthly bills. Rent is free. We also have more people at home to watch over the kids. I admit I still get the occasional urge to splurge on things, but I think I can control this habit if I become more conscious of my budget and spending.
2. Agreeing on priorities
Planning for the future requires input from everyone involved. It's been a while since I talked to Jen about my financial goals and my idea of "retiring early". I think we both have different ideas on what "retirement" means. My idea of retiring means taking it easy but not totally getting out of work. Her concept of retirement is leaning more towards the "not working and living off your investment" kind of lifestyle. We do need to discuss about what we want, compromise on what we want for ourselves (plus the kids), and work towards that goal.
3. Living below your means
I believe this is something that a person needs to cultivate over time. You won't see the immediate results of being thrifty. There are times when I feel like I am depriving myself of the good things in life. But living a simple life has a lot of benefits, like having less clutter and stuff to control you.
I admit I have dreams of retiring early. But my situation is different from the Charltons. I have two kids and I live in a third world Asian country. The money I save would not be enough to sustain the standard of living that I want for my family and my children. I mean, I could choose to cut the costs of my kid's education and send them to a public school (which is way cheaper than private schools with a Chinese program). But this is not something I want for them.
There were three things in the article which reaffirmed my decision to focus on my own retirement plans.
1. Cutting Costs
One thing great about living with my parents is the fact that we get to split the monthly bills. Rent is free. We also have more people at home to watch over the kids. I admit I still get the occasional urge to splurge on things, but I think I can control this habit if I become more conscious of my budget and spending.
2. Agreeing on priorities
Planning for the future requires input from everyone involved. It's been a while since I talked to Jen about my financial goals and my idea of "retiring early". I think we both have different ideas on what "retirement" means. My idea of retiring means taking it easy but not totally getting out of work. Her concept of retirement is leaning more towards the "not working and living off your investment" kind of lifestyle. We do need to discuss about what we want, compromise on what we want for ourselves (plus the kids), and work towards that goal.
3. Living below your means
I believe this is something that a person needs to cultivate over time. You won't see the immediate results of being thrifty. There are times when I feel like I am depriving myself of the good things in life. But living a simple life has a lot of benefits, like having less clutter and stuff to control you.
Looking back at the "Reincarnated Princess"
A few days ago, I stumbled upon this YouTube clip by accident. It was the title track of a Hong-Kong television series back in the 80s, called "The Reincarnated Princess". The show is a retelling of an old Buddhist tale, about the Kuan-Yin (the Chinese Goddess of Compassion).
I like how the show manages to mix elements of drama, action, and Buddhist philosophy into a presentable and compelling series. I remembered watching the series as an oriental/Asian fantasy story, rather than some boring historical account of a woman's struggle into overcoming her enemies and becoming a Buddha in the end.
I remembered watching the show on our old Betamax player, marveling at the special effects and the martial arts scene. Looking at the clip right now, I realized that the combat scenes and the dazzling visual effects looked campy and outdated. But the show still brought back good memories of those summer afternoon watching Chinese series with my parents.
I like how the show manages to mix elements of drama, action, and Buddhist philosophy into a presentable and compelling series. I remembered watching the series as an oriental/Asian fantasy story, rather than some boring historical account of a woman's struggle into overcoming her enemies and becoming a Buddha in the end.
I remembered watching the show on our old Betamax player, marveling at the special effects and the martial arts scene. Looking at the clip right now, I realized that the combat scenes and the dazzling visual effects looked campy and outdated. But the show still brought back good memories of those summer afternoon watching Chinese series with my parents.
A Lego Birthday Gift
The kids are looking forward to another fun time at the restaurant. It might be the same food, music, and games, but they don't mind. In fact, they don't seem to get tired of Jollibee birthday parties.
Tomorrow's party will be for a seven-year old boy. We decided to buy a Lego set for the celebrant. I got a nice deal on ebay.ph for the set. I personally love the set because it contains two minifigs and a whole set of weapons and an armor. I would love to buy the same set for my own Lego collection, if I had the money to spare. I hope the birthday boy would appreciate this gift.
Taking A Break
I recently discovered two new variants of the Kit-Kat chocolate wafer candy being sold at the local supermarket.
My New Acquisition From Booksale
Found these three books from local Booksale stores, all for around 105 pesos. Nice deal.
When TB Attacks
A few months ago, one of the house-helps got diagnosed with tuberculosis. He had been coughing a lot at work, so he decided to go to the local baranggay health clinic to have a physical check-up. The doctors found out that he had been infected with the bacteria that causes TB, but the sickness has not fully manifested yet. He was instructed to drink a set of antibiotics for the next six months, just to be sure that the bacteria would go away.
Jen and I panicked when we learned about the diagnosis. This helper is part of is part of our yaya's social circle within the compound. She brings the kids with her to hang out with her friends, including the guy who has TB. So there was the possibility that our children might be infected.
And our fears turned out to be true. Both of them had preliminary symptoms of tuberculosis, based on the x-ray results and the skin tests. The good news is that their TB is not contagious. We also had ourselves and the yaya checked, just in case any of us got the bacteria. Fortunately all the adults are healthy.
The pediatrician prescribed a set of three anti-TB syrups for the kids to drink for the next six months. This means we have to find creative ways to have them take in the horrible-tasting medicine, without them throwing up or spitting it out.
So far we've tried bribing them with chips and lollipops. It would take us up to an hour, trying to convince the kids to take their medicine. They have been drinking the medicine just just three weeks and we are running out of ideas. The two kids are getting more rebellious and they would throw bigger tantrums when they see us holding the familiar-looking syrup.
I just hope they'd recover fast and maybe the doctor might decide to shorten the dosage period from six months or less than three.
Jen and I panicked when we learned about the diagnosis. This helper is part of is part of our yaya's social circle within the compound. She brings the kids with her to hang out with her friends, including the guy who has TB. So there was the possibility that our children might be infected.
The pediatrician prescribed a set of three anti-TB syrups for the kids to drink for the next six months. This means we have to find creative ways to have them take in the horrible-tasting medicine, without them throwing up or spitting it out.
So far we've tried bribing them with chips and lollipops. It would take us up to an hour, trying to convince the kids to take their medicine. They have been drinking the medicine just just three weeks and we are running out of ideas. The two kids are getting more rebellious and they would throw bigger tantrums when they see us holding the familiar-looking syrup.
I just hope they'd recover fast and maybe the doctor might decide to shorten the dosage period from six months or less than three.
June to July 2011 Updates
Sorry, I haven't been posting any updates to this blog. I have been busy with some family and work stuff for the past two months, I'll try to write about them in the next few days.
Anyway, I thought I'd share some stuff I found online. It's mostly related to free e-learning content I discovered on the web. I'm talking about http://alison.com, which is one of cyberspace's leading free online learning resource for "basic and essential" office skills. The site contains excellent multimedia courseware for a variety of topics, such as online English grammar training, multimedia development, English writing skills, and many others. It also offers free courses on business/entrepreneurial training, healthy and safety, digital training and IT literacy. All you need to do is create an account, sign-up in one of their courses, and take the course.
I am currently taking the online English grammar training course and I am thinking of signing up for the effective writing and multimedia development programs. The site offers certification for members who complete the courses. I will post my feedback and comments about the alison.com and the grammar course as I continue my lessons.
Anyway, I thought I'd share some stuff I found online. It's mostly related to free e-learning content I discovered on the web. I'm talking about http://alison.com, which is one of cyberspace's leading free online learning resource for "basic and essential" office skills. The site contains excellent multimedia courseware for a variety of topics, such as online English grammar training, multimedia development, English writing skills, and many others. It also offers free courses on business/entrepreneurial training, healthy and safety, digital training and IT literacy. All you need to do is create an account, sign-up in one of their courses, and take the course.
I am currently taking the online English grammar training course and I am thinking of signing up for the effective writing and multimedia development programs. The site offers certification for members who complete the courses. I will post my feedback and comments about the alison.com and the grammar course as I continue my lessons.
Drawing Computer Chip Boards
There is an exercise in the manual, teaching you how to develop vector drawings of mechanical objects using geometric shapes. Then you create copies of the shapes, altering their colors and shades a bit.
The drawing took a few hours to make, but I only did the exercise during my free time so it took me two weeks to complete.
At least I now know how to create computer chips using Illustrator.
Disturbing Realities
I know this is old news, but I just like to post the image that got a lot of people reacting. The mall owners say it was a prank and they are currently investigating on the matter. That's the problem when you project an image of catering to a specific market niche, in this case, the rich and elite.
This week's Booksale Purchase
Found (and bought) a brand new copy of Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publications. The manual (plus CD) costs three hundred pesos at Booksale.
I finally have my own hard copy of the Microsoft technical writing style guide.What convinced me of buying the book is the unopened CD at the end of the book. The CD contains an ebook version of the manual, as well as a copy of the Microsoft Press Computer Dictionary.
Learning Adobe Illustrator
I've been studying some basic Adobe Illustrator techniques for the past few months. It's an interesting and challenging tool used for vector drawing; something that technical illustrators use to design detailed images and illustrators. So far I've been using the Adobe Illustrator CS3 Classroom In A Book, trying to follow and replicate the exercises given in the book.
But there are a lot of Illustrator training materials available in the internet. I discovered Tony Soh's Learn Adobe Illustrator Tutorial Class on the Vector Diary website. The lessons are short and very informative, with each day focusing on one particular tool or aspect of the Illustrator program.
The Vector Diary website also offers a lot of tutorials for people who want to learn Illustrator. I tried my hand on one of the tutorials and here is the image I created:
I'm supposed to add a picture at the center of the grafitti wallpaper art but I could not find a decent image online. But I'm happy with what I made.
But there are a lot of Illustrator training materials available in the internet. I discovered Tony Soh's Learn Adobe Illustrator Tutorial Class on the Vector Diary website. The lessons are short and very informative, with each day focusing on one particular tool or aspect of the Illustrator program.
The Vector Diary website also offers a lot of tutorials for people who want to learn Illustrator. I tried my hand on one of the tutorials and here is the image I created:
Disaster Preparedness
I've been keeping myself updated to the latest events happening at Japan. I am amazed at how the Japanese are coping with the crisis, trying to do everything they can to prevent a nuclear meltdown and rescue survivors in the earthquake-devastated cities.
Part of me keeps wondering how we would react and cope if such a disaster struck Manila. I remembered the events of Ondoy, how we lost people and property that time. We were able to survive and recover from the floods. Some people even got to swim in flooded underpasses, cheer at moving vehicles that were able to cross the flooded streets, and steal from those abandoned houses.
I admit that I'm a bit concerned about the possibility of another Ondoy, an earthquake or a tsunami hitting the city, and how unprepared we are for such an event. It got me thinking about preparing ourselves for the possibility of such an event. I'm not talking about stockpiling water and food that would last for months, or buying firearms to protect yourself from looters. I'm thinking of making small emergency kits like bottled water, biscuits, first-aid medicine, flashlight, extra clothes, some cash and other stuff that can fit a small backpack. These kits could be placed in cars and strategic positions at home, just in case something bad happens and you need to get away quick.
Call me paranoid but I think it pays off to be prepared for emergencies. Some people would just put their trust on other people -- like God, the government, or other institutions, for help whenever trouble comes. I think we should help ourselves by preparing for whatever happens in the future.
Part of me keeps wondering how we would react and cope if such a disaster struck Manila. I remembered the events of Ondoy, how we lost people and property that time. We were able to survive and recover from the floods. Some people even got to swim in flooded underpasses, cheer at moving vehicles that were able to cross the flooded streets, and steal from those abandoned houses.
I admit that I'm a bit concerned about the possibility of another Ondoy, an earthquake or a tsunami hitting the city, and how unprepared we are for such an event. It got me thinking about preparing ourselves for the possibility of such an event. I'm not talking about stockpiling water and food that would last for months, or buying firearms to protect yourself from looters. I'm thinking of making small emergency kits like bottled water, biscuits, first-aid medicine, flashlight, extra clothes, some cash and other stuff that can fit a small backpack. These kits could be placed in cars and strategic positions at home, just in case something bad happens and you need to get away quick.
Call me paranoid but I think it pays off to be prepared for emergencies. Some people would just put their trust on other people -- like God, the government, or other institutions, for help whenever trouble comes. I think we should help ourselves by preparing for whatever happens in the future.
Weekend Booksale Purchases
Visited the local Booksale store this weekend. I found a couple of interesting and affordable books -- one for me and the other one for the kids.
The first book costs 25 pesos and it is a Children's book. Written by Janan Cain, "The Way I Feel" is a picture book that talks about emotions. The book introduces young kids to feelings like "happy", "scared", "silly", "angry", "proud", and "sad". I loved the way Janan explains each emotion and the pictures enable children to quickly identify each feeling.
I bought the book (without much hesitation) because it teaches young kids how to express themselves and make them aware of what they are feeling. The book also has two pages devoted to teaching parents on how to introduce kids to their feelings -- how they should manage their anger or fears, what experiences evoke happiness or sadness, and so on.
The second book costs 75 pesos and it is an anthology of short stories about super-heroes. "Who Can Save Us Now" is a collection of superhero stories edited by Owen King and John McNally. The stories revolve around the theme of superheroes in the twenty-first century. The stories range from underachieving heroes, bizarre villains and protagonists, and reluctant superhero teams.
The first book costs 25 pesos and it is a Children's book. Written by Janan Cain, "The Way I Feel" is a picture book that talks about emotions. The book introduces young kids to feelings like "happy", "scared", "silly", "angry", "proud", and "sad". I loved the way Janan explains each emotion and the pictures enable children to quickly identify each feeling.
I bought the book (without much hesitation) because it teaches young kids how to express themselves and make them aware of what they are feeling. The book also has two pages devoted to teaching parents on how to introduce kids to their feelings -- how they should manage their anger or fears, what experiences evoke happiness or sadness, and so on.
The second book costs 75 pesos and it is an anthology of short stories about super-heroes. "Who Can Save Us Now" is a collection of superhero stories edited by Owen King and John McNally. The stories revolve around the theme of superheroes in the twenty-first century. The stories range from underachieving heroes, bizarre villains and protagonists, and reluctant superhero teams.
Visiting the new 999 Shopping Mall
While making my rounds at Divisoria, I got the chance to visit the new 999 Shopping Mall. Located at Soler St, besides the (in)famous 168 Mall, 999 is the newest shopping center in the block. The mall has three floors, with basement parking (for customers) and food court. And They even have a facebook account.
I stumbled on the mall by accident, but I heard about it from my mother-in-law before. She told me that the 168 Mall already had an extension mall built beside it. So I thought it was just part of the old 168 Mall. Apparently this was a new mall with its own facilities.
The foodcourt is located at the third floor, which is smaller compared to the foodcourt in Divisoria Mall. It has the usual Chinese food stalls, along with Andoks Litson Manok, Lot's A Pizza, and a Wendy's Burger stand.
There are still a lot of empty stalls in the second and third floor, but the entire first floor is filled with shops owned by Chinese businessmen.
I found an interesting store near the foodcourt, which sells Korean junk food -- from ice cream to chips. The store is offering free chips to people, to try out the merchandise before buying. And it works. A lot of people are crowding the store, trying to taste the chips and buying them afterwards.
The mall has its usual clothes, school supply, hardware, and jewelry shops. There are a number of toy shops at the first floor as well. I came across a couple of toy shops that sell authentic US toys at a cheap price. One store (stall 1-L-9) sells original action figures and toys. I saw numerous matchbox cars, Star Trek action figures, Lego sets, and other toys in the shop.
The toys look original.
Of course, you have the electronic shops that sell the fake Apple Ipads. The smaller unit costs around 3k with the keyboard. The bigger unit costs around 7k.
I stumbled on the mall by accident, but I heard about it from my mother-in-law before. She told me that the 168 Mall already had an extension mall built beside it. So I thought it was just part of the old 168 Mall. Apparently this was a new mall with its own facilities.
The foodcourt is located at the third floor, which is smaller compared to the foodcourt in Divisoria Mall. It has the usual Chinese food stalls, along with Andoks Litson Manok, Lot's A Pizza, and a Wendy's Burger stand.
There are still a lot of empty stalls in the second and third floor, but the entire first floor is filled with shops owned by Chinese businessmen.
I found an interesting store near the foodcourt, which sells Korean junk food -- from ice cream to chips. The store is offering free chips to people, to try out the merchandise before buying. And it works. A lot of people are crowding the store, trying to taste the chips and buying them afterwards.
The mall has its usual clothes, school supply, hardware, and jewelry shops. There are a number of toy shops at the first floor as well. I came across a couple of toy shops that sell authentic US toys at a cheap price. One store (stall 1-L-9) sells original action figures and toys. I saw numerous matchbox cars, Star Trek action figures, Lego sets, and other toys in the shop.
The toys look original.
Of course, you have the electronic shops that sell the fake Apple Ipads. The smaller unit costs around 3k with the keyboard. The bigger unit costs around 7k.
Toddler Book Repair
Jen and I would often bring Aaron to Fully Booked Greenhills so he can run around in the Children Section of the bookstore, reading Thomas the Tank Engine books. He's already familiar with the layout of the bookstore and can find the shelves where his favorite books are located.
Sometime I dream of building a small library of books for the two kids -- a stack of alphabet and number books for them to read and enjoy. Unfortunately anything they touch ends up getting broken or ripped apart. All their books are now torn and damaged, with missing pages and ripped bindings. They still love to look at the pages, or whatever that is left
So far I managed to tape back all the books that I can salvage. I am trying to convince myself that this is just a stage and they would eventually learn how to treat their books well. I don't even know how to teach them to take care of their books.
Right now I am becoming reluctant to let the two toddlers touch any type of book -- even my parent's magazines or the phone directory. I'm afraid they'd eventually learn how to climb the desk, and reach out to shelves containing my collection of fantasy novels. I'm still letting them play with their old (damaged) books, although I am not going to give them any new stuff until they grow older.
Darna Lives!
Stumbled upon an interesting online comic blog., featuring our favorite local superhero. Darna Lives is a fan fiction/blog/online comics created by Gerry Alanguilan and Arnold Arre. It offers a different re-interpretation of the Darna mythology.
I love the artwork and the depiction of Narda and her family. Honestly, I've been accustomed to see the likes of Marian or Angel playing the Darna role. It's a refreshing and delightful experience to see Narda presented as something different. In the blog, she is a middle-aged woman, selling meat at the local wet market, with a husband and three kids.
There are only a couple of posts in the blog, it's still too early for anyone to make any conclusions on the story or the characters. So far, things are getting interesting and I'll be sticking around to find out where it goes.
I love the artwork and the depiction of Narda and her family. Honestly, I've been accustomed to see the likes of Marian or Angel playing the Darna role. It's a refreshing and delightful experience to see Narda presented as something different. In the blog, she is a middle-aged woman, selling meat at the local wet market, with a husband and three kids.
There are only a couple of posts in the blog, it's still too early for anyone to make any conclusions on the story or the characters. So far, things are getting interesting and I'll be sticking around to find out where it goes.
Graveyard Dwellers
Here's another video that features families that live in cemeteries. It reminds me of the caretakers in my grandparent's grave. Like the family in the video, they live inside the graveyard, taking care of the tombstones and mausoleums. Some people find it creepy but these people are making a decent and honest living.
Serenitea Revisted
Jen, Aaron and I went out last night to visit our favorite tea house in town. I'm amazed that Aaron knows about the tea house and is looking forward to drinking his favorite milk tea.
The tea shop is located along Wilson's street in Little Baguio. It is a block away from Little Store and it is along the block where the Buddhist Ocean Sky Monastery stands.
It is branded as the healthy tea shop since you get to decide how much sugar you want to place on your orders. There is also a wide variety of flavors to choose from -- like the Hokkaido milk tea, Yakult fruit teas, Okinawa, and even Earl Grey milk tea. The drinks also come with sago pearls and other gelatins which you can add for a few extra pesos.
I enjoyed taking out the family around the neighborhood and have a quick snack along the way. It offers a (tea) break from the usual weekday routine that we've been having. My only complaint about the tea store is its size. I think the store should expand to accommodate the number of customers it has. There were limited seats and tables. The traffic of people also makes you want to just order your drinks to go and leave immediately (rather than stay and enjoy the tea you ordered).
Jen and I ordered the Earl Grey milk tea and theRaspberry plum Passion Fruit tea for Aaron. The drinks tasted wonderful, the sweetness was just right. We decided to stay for a few more minutes before heading home with our drinks.
It is branded as the healthy tea shop since you get to decide how much sugar you want to place on your orders. There is also a wide variety of flavors to choose from -- like the Hokkaido milk tea, Yakult fruit teas, Okinawa, and even Earl Grey milk tea. The drinks also come with sago pearls and other gelatins which you can add for a few extra pesos.
Jen and I ordered the Earl Grey milk tea and the
Belated V-Day post
I found a nice music video to post for this Valentine week. Yeah I know its a bit late, but I think the song describes everything about the occasion.
Despite the hectic weekend at Clark (with the kids and the hot-air balloons), I still manage to sneak out of the house and buy some flowers for Jen. It's a small token of appreciation for all the things she's done and everything she has brought into my life.
Despite the hectic weekend at Clark (with the kids and the hot-air balloons), I still manage to sneak out of the house and buy some flowers for Jen. It's a small token of appreciation for all the things she's done and everything she has brought into my life.
Urban Bridge Dwellers
I am posting this video as a reminder to myself, to be aware of these families and their sad condition, and also to remind myself to be grateful for what I have.
I've seen these people who make homes under bridges all over the city. It is sad, but I think they are better off compared to those who don't have shelter and live on the streets. The video also shows the resourcefulness of these people, how they are capable of surviving in the most intolerable environments.
I've seen these people who make homes under bridges all over the city. It is sad, but I think they are better off compared to those who don't have shelter and live on the streets. The video also shows the resourcefulness of these people, how they are capable of surviving in the most intolerable environments.
Clark Adventures: 2011 Hot Air Balloon Festival
We made plans with my college friends to go to Clark this weekend and watch the 2011 hot air balloon festival. The four of us met up with Sunshine and her family, Ching, as well as Chris, Eddie, and Rico. It was a nice road trip going to Pampanga, making occasional stop-overs for the kids.
Jen managed to reserve a lodge at Fontana Resort (with membership discounts). It was a three-bedroom cottage with television and a spacious living room for the kids to run around and play. We managed to check-in the resort around 2pm Saturday, take a short rest, and visit the Hot Air balloon show at around 5pm.
The house we got was a three bedroom duplex, with two beds on each room. Good thing the neighbors were not that noisy. We managed to take a short snooze before heading out to the air field.
It was a short ride going to the balloon show. Traffic was heavy but tolerable, since you get to see the balloons and airplanes even from a far distance. A lot of people did not go in anymore; they just parked their cars outside and watched the show from the street.
We managed to get into the field at around 6pm, paying 150 pesos per adult (kids go in for free), to watch the final event. Everyone got a chance to see different hot-air balloons -- like Darth Vader, Frosty the snowman, Pirate in a barrel, and others.
This was our first group trip ever since I got married. It was both fun and tiring, since Jen and I had to deal with the two kids. Sunshine and Leo also had their hands full with Basti. I am really thankful that Ching and the other guys were there to help out, taking turns watching the kids.
We left Clark at around 12 noon the following day. But before we left, the group managed to take a dip at Fontana's pool grounds. Too bad the main pool area was under renovation. However the 'smaller' pools are still big enough to accommodate the guests -- with Olympic sized pools and hot/cold pools for people of all ages.
Everyone had a great time -- with all the traveling, eating, swimming, and balloon watching. It was a bit tiring for the adults, since we had to pack up and drive whenever we wanted to eat or go around. Despite this, we are looking forward to our next out of town trip.
Jen managed to reserve a lodge at Fontana Resort (with membership discounts). It was a three-bedroom cottage with television and a spacious living room for the kids to run around and play. We managed to check-in the resort around 2pm Saturday, take a short rest, and visit the Hot Air balloon show at around 5pm.
The house we got was a three bedroom duplex, with two beds on each room. Good thing the neighbors were not that noisy. We managed to take a short snooze before heading out to the air field.
It was a short ride going to the balloon show. Traffic was heavy but tolerable, since you get to see the balloons and airplanes even from a far distance. A lot of people did not go in anymore; they just parked their cars outside and watched the show from the street.
We managed to get into the field at around 6pm, paying 150 pesos per adult (kids go in for free), to watch the final event. Everyone got a chance to see different hot-air balloons -- like Darth Vader, Frosty the snowman, Pirate in a barrel, and others.
This was our first group trip ever since I got married. It was both fun and tiring, since Jen and I had to deal with the two kids. Sunshine and Leo also had their hands full with Basti. I am really thankful that Ching and the other guys were there to help out, taking turns watching the kids.
We left Clark at around 12 noon the following day. But before we left, the group managed to take a dip at Fontana's pool grounds. Too bad the main pool area was under renovation. However the 'smaller' pools are still big enough to accommodate the guests -- with Olympic sized pools and hot/cold pools for people of all ages.
Everyone had a great time -- with all the traveling, eating, swimming, and balloon watching. It was a bit tiring for the adults, since we had to pack up and drive whenever we wanted to eat or go around. Despite this, we are looking forward to our next out of town trip.
An Online Community Dedicated to Collaborative Learning
I came upon Wikiversity by accident. I was researching course materials for technical writing when I found this interesting website that promotes open (free) educational learning to everyone. Much like Wikipedia, this site was built to store information on different topics.
I like the concept of free learning for everyone. I think everyone is entitled to education and this site is one good step towards that goal.
Imagine having students logging on to their computers and access their daily classes online. A lot of university classes are already taking this mode of learning, specially distance learning education (where students from one country can take courses from a school in another country). This wiki site has a grand goal to make learning available for everyone at no cost. I think it is possible if there are a lot of professors who would be willing to contribute their knowledge to the site, sharing what they know for free.
Currently, the site is still underdeveloped. A lot of information from different subjects are still missing. It would be nice to have a free online learning site that contains modules and lessons to aid its readers in learning.
I think the wiki site can use online quizzes or exercise questions, much like other LMS courses. These lessons can become more interesting and entertaining with additional learning exercises, videos, forums, and other tools that encourage student participation.
Imagine having students logging on to their computers and access their daily classes online. A lot of university classes are already taking this mode of learning, specially distance learning education (where students from one country can take courses from a school in another country). This wiki site has a grand goal to make learning available for everyone at no cost. I think it is possible if there are a lot of professors who would be willing to contribute their knowledge to the site, sharing what they know for free.
Currently, the site is still underdeveloped. A lot of information from different subjects are still missing. It would be nice to have a free online learning site that contains modules and lessons to aid its readers in learning.
I think the wiki site can use online quizzes or exercise questions, much like other LMS courses. These lessons can become more interesting and entertaining with additional learning exercises, videos, forums, and other tools that encourage student participation.
Book Review: Leaper (by Geoffrey Wood)
Flipping through the first few pages of the book, I saw how James discover his ability to teleport or "leap" from one spot to another. He found himself transported to the house of his ex-wife and struggled to make sense out of the whole predicament.
Based on my initial impressions, I thought the book was a good read. It had everything that I like in a story -- a quirky protagonist struggling to make sense of his new ability and what to do with it. The humor and snappy dialogue made the story even more entertaining.
After buying the book and making through the next couple of chapters, I got to learn more about James. He has been coping poorly with life, thanks to his divorce. His ex-wife took away everything and all he has left was his job at the coffee house and his apartment. The super power that he discovered made his situation even worse.
I did not expect the author to take the next few chapters to another direction, which was different from the typical superhero stories that I read before. It turns out that James was a non-practicing Catholic and wondered if his new power was given to him by God. I did a little research on Geoffrey Wood, and it turns out that he is a Christian writer and most of his works revolve on faith and religion.
As I continued reading the novel, I learned that it was God who as the one responsible for James's newly acquired power. I part of me cringed, thinking that the story would become one of those preachy religious parables that promotes Catholicism and religion.
Despite his sudden renewal of faith, James's situation continues to deteriorate. He loses his job, alienates his friends, becomes a fugitive, and gets arrested. I noticed that the humorous writing (which was present in the first few chapters) had been replaced with a grim and darker tone. With everything gone, James only had his faith left and learned to trust in God.
The novel had a satisfying ending (I won't spoil it for those who want to read the book), but I am not sure if the book would have the same impact for non-Christians. Wood took the risk in using God as the source for James's leaping power. The superhero story eventually became a spiritual journey of man who rediscovers his faith and reconciles with his own failures.
I find the book a worthy read. It's been a while since I came across a good Christian-based fiction. Despite living in a Catholic country, I noticed that we do have a lack of worthy Catholic stories and novels. Most that I encountered fall into two extreme opposites -- bashing the Church (and God) or blatantly praising them. For me, a good Christian-based fiction is a story that uses religion and faith to explore human nature, from its flaws and imperfections. Such stories don't have to end with people singing and praising God, but religion can be used as a catalyst to either help resolve or to heighten the conflict. It is still the protagonist (and not religion) that makes the choice and finds an appropriate ending for the story.
New Year at Tagaytay
It was a bad decision to go to Tagaytay on New Year's day. But we thought it was a nice idea to spend the holiday outside the house. We thought it would be easier to manage the kids when we are out of the house. But things have a funny way of getting back at you when you least expect it.
Our trip going to Tagaytay was tiring but enjoyable. Jen's younger brother and his wife joined us on the trip. They just returned from Singapore to spend the holidays with her parents. We talked on the road and played with the kids. We made a stop over to SM Dasmarinas to have lunch at Max's restaurant. There were a lot of people there and strangely, the department store was closed for the holiday.
We left the mall and made our way up to Tagaytay. It was around 3pm when we arrived. There were a lot of people and cars near the junction. We noticed that both sides of the main road was packed with cars. Traffic was slow moving.
We decided to have a short snack at Josephine. The restaurant was packed with people, but we loved the ambiance. Aside from the actual dining area, customers can enjoy the scenery outside.
We ordered Bulalo, palabok, halu-halo, and blue marlin with mango salsa. The food was okay for its price. I guess the main attraction of the restaurant is its ambiance and its panoramic view of the lake. Jen and I had to take breaks in our meal, to feed and take care of the kids. Aaron loved the cold weather and kept dragging us outside to look at the volcano.
It was almost 7pm when we left the restaurant. Traffic was still bad outside, but we were determined to leave Tagaytay. We spent three hours on the road, trying to entertain and put the kids to sleep. It wasn't an easy task. Both of them demanded attention and would cry out when we appear to be ignoring them. But after an hour and a half, we managed to put them to sleep.
Note to self -- don't bring the kids to Tagaytay during holidays, you'll be stuck in traffic and you'll get even more exhausted taking care of the kids during the trip.
Our trip going to Tagaytay was tiring but enjoyable. Jen's younger brother and his wife joined us on the trip. They just returned from Singapore to spend the holidays with her parents. We talked on the road and played with the kids. We made a stop over to SM Dasmarinas to have lunch at Max's restaurant. There were a lot of people there and strangely, the department store was closed for the holiday.
We left the mall and made our way up to Tagaytay. It was around 3pm when we arrived. There were a lot of people and cars near the junction. We noticed that both sides of the main road was packed with cars. Traffic was slow moving.
We decided to have a short snack at Josephine. The restaurant was packed with people, but we loved the ambiance. Aside from the actual dining area, customers can enjoy the scenery outside.
We ordered Bulalo, palabok, halu-halo, and blue marlin with mango salsa. The food was okay for its price. I guess the main attraction of the restaurant is its ambiance and its panoramic view of the lake. Jen and I had to take breaks in our meal, to feed and take care of the kids. Aaron loved the cold weather and kept dragging us outside to look at the volcano.
It was almost 7pm when we left the restaurant. Traffic was still bad outside, but we were determined to leave Tagaytay. We spent three hours on the road, trying to entertain and put the kids to sleep. It wasn't an easy task. Both of them demanded attention and would cry out when we appear to be ignoring them. But after an hour and a half, we managed to put them to sleep.
Note to self -- don't bring the kids to Tagaytay during holidays, you'll be stuck in traffic and you'll get even more exhausted taking care of the kids during the trip.
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