The (Mis)Adventures of Superboink

M and I were fortunate enough to have a generous dad, who gave us 2 tickets to "The Balladeers on Valentines Day" show held last February 14. Free Vday date! Held at the Manila Fiesta Pavillion of the Manila Hotel, the show is a benefit concert as the proceeds will be for the construction of the San Roque Church in Agmanic Santa Fe, Romblon. We arrived early (7pm) but the show started about 9pm. Dinner was served promptly after we were seated. --- Our ticket included a dinner, though I believe they also sold 'show-only' tickets as there were seats lined up at the far end of the pavillion;

Since we moved to our new home last November, I have been in total control of my own kitchen. I make meal plans, do the grocery and whip the simplest to the most complicated recipes I ever had. There are times when I savor every moment that I am in the kitchen. I cook and bake almost everyday when I am in the mood. But there are also times when I have other chores to do, work or simply just not feeling well - that I have to think of the easiest but the tastiest meals I could do. I am no chef and have no formal culinary education. My love for cooking started when I was still a kid, watching and helping my lola prepare our meals. I learned cooking the Pinoy staples like sinigang and adobo without a recipe in hand - but by using my discerning tastebuds. I am happy that despite having a picky-eater husband and son, I still satisfy their appetite and that I am able to feed them with enough nutrients that we actually need. Hopefully, I'll be conscientious enough now to share and post m...

My personal account of what happened last Saturday, May 29, 2010 during the CAL Swimming School Swim Event where my son Andrei almost drowned. We have been informed of the CAL Swimming School Graduation and Swim Meet via SMS by Coach Tin of CAL Casa Milan since his 10-day swimming lessons ended few weeks prior to the said event. My son, Andrei, 5 y.o. is a beginner swimmer and since this will be a first time, we wanted him to experience the fun of being in a swimming competition – which by now I hope would still be the case. Upon confirmation of our attendance for the Swim Meet, we were informed by Coach Tin that Andrei will be accompanied by a swimming coach during the event. This is one of the reasons why we have decided to make him attend the event. We are fully aware of our son’s limited swimming know-how given his age and his recently acquired knowledge in swimming. Come May 29, 2010, Saturday we were all excited this momentous event in our son’s life. But it is sad that it turned...

After being diagnosed with leukemia in 2005, I created a blog in 'Xanga' which I intended to use as my online medical journal. I have wanted to write about my experiences, my thoughts and help other leukemia patients and their families by being a source of information and support. I have failed to make regular posts because I was almost always in the hospital and there was no mobile internet tools yet back then. Somehow, I felt I failed in my objective. Thank you notes and general updates were the most that I could do. I'd rather spend all my time with my family especially my son who's barely a year old then - since I was not guaranteed of a 'tomorrow'. Anyway, I'd just like to share my old blog entry posted in Xanga/reposted  in  Multiply and Blogspot accts. (June 2006). Here goes: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi everybody!!! I just turned 23 last XXX…and it’s been 73 days today, after my transplant. Everythi...

This IS one very very late post. I completely forgot I have a file saved somewhere. Shucks. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- I have been meaning to make this post since the very first time I saw Derek Ramsey's Century Corned tuna TV commercial. I thought San Marino must be doing well in terms of market sales considering that they were first to introduce the 'corned tuna' concept in the Philippine market - and that Century had to keep up with it. San Marino Corned Tuna TVC Century Tuna TVC So finally last Sunday morning about two weeks ago, I opened two cans of corned tuna - one San Marino and one Century - and put them to a taste test. There's 7 of us having breakfast then. Without telling them which is which, I asked them which tastes better. (L) Century and (R) San Marino My nephew was first to say that he likes the taste of the less oily and sauteed-tasting one. (the one on the left, which is Century Tuna ) I totally...

  The recent onslaught of typhoons Ondoy (Ketsana) and Pepeng (Parma) became a wake-up call to the Filipinos especially those who were directly affected. The aftermath is clear evidence of the vast changes in our global environment. Although there are natural factors and processes that contribute to the world’s changing climate, we cannot dispel the fact that a lot of human activities have altered the atmosphere’s makeup particularly in terms of the greenhouse effect. Global warming (and cooling) and climate change have a significant impact to the way we live life and to our environment. If we fail to act now, there will be further harm not only to our natural resources but also to our own being. Living in this world will be very different for our children and future generations if we ignore the very obvious signs that nature is already giving back to us the damage we have caused it. It is never too late to make a difference. It is now more than ever that we need to take a revol...

  My brother undergoes stem cell apheresis   This is the blood bag of stem cells extracted from him ready to be transplanted to me. I now have a deeper appreciation to the life-giving properties of blood. I am living a renewed life for more than 3 years now because of the gift of blood by my eldest brother. If you'll ask me at what point in my life did I feel the most gratitude towards God, life, my family, friends and medical personnel, it would be on my Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant Day last March 3, 2006. Surviving leukemia made me thankful to - God for a new lease of life, my parents who are my cheerleaders and financial supporters, my eldest brother kuya Fidel, my stem cell donor, my two other brothers and sister, who have patiently watched over me day in & day out, my partner Mike, for his unwavering love and patience , my son Wei, the top reason why the battle is worth fighting for, my doctors, for their expertise and genuine concern, my friends for always r...