Litratong Pinoy: Paskong Pinoy

Sinasabing ang Pilipinas ang pinakamatagal o pinakamahabang magdaos ng Kapaskuhan. Kapag pumasok na ang mga buwang nagtatapos sa "ber", nasa isip na ng mga Pinoy ang Pasko. Samu't-sari ang mga pre-holiday sale sa mga malls. Marami na ring naglalabas ng mga paninda magtatapos pa lang ang Oktubre para sa paghahanda ng mga Paskong pang-regalo.

Iyan ang mukha ng Paskong Pinoy - mall sale, parties at paglalagay ng Xmas lights sa tahanan para lalong maging mukhang festive ang paligid. Sinasamantala na rin ang family reunion tuwing Pasko sapagkat karamihan ay nakabakasyon.

Alam mo ring malapit na ang Pasko kapag ang mga poinsettia ang unti-unti ng idini-display sa mga malls at sa mga bilihan ng bulaklak. Isa na rin itong simbolo ng Kapaskuhan sa Pilipinas.


Gustong-gusto ko ang poinsettia. Buhay na buhay ang mga kulay at talagang nakadaragdag sa pagkasigla ng paligid. Sana nga ay hindi lang tuwing Pasko mayroong ganitong uri ng bulaklak.

***An entry for Litratong Pinoy.

Snow

The unpredictability of the weather all over the world is getting predictable. Who knows, a tropical country like the Philippines will have its share of snow in the years to come. There is no need to make-believe anymore.






***An entry for 5 Minutes for Mom WW and Wordless Wednesday.

Fort Santiago

One of the activities included in my daughter's HEKASI subject (Heograpiya, Kasaysayan at Sibika - Geography, History and Civics...whew!) is to visit Fort Santiago with the family. It aims for a vicarious experience for the students of a great part of the last days of Dr. Jose Rizal before his execution at Bagumbayan (Rizal Park or more popularly knows as Luneta).

I see this as a wonderful idea by most schools. A light discussion on a historical event among the family members proved to be very engaging for us. The last time we visited The Walled City was maybe seven years ago when my daughter was still a toddler. This trip to Fort Santiago was very much appreciated.


Our visit coincided with the Marian Convention. Different floats of the Virgin Mary were on exhibit inside the fort. I had a good time taking pictures even if it was so crowded and the temperature very humid.


One of the many interesting exhibits inside the Rizal Shrine was the enshrined vertebra of the national hero with a bullet wound. My daughter was in awe when she read what was embossed on the glass partition of the cabinet. We were all in awe.


The last steps of Jose Rizal were immortalized by embedding brass plates from his detention cell to the gates of Fort Santiago. You can see a lot of children following his steps just like what my daughter did. "He's got small feet", she said. Small he may be in height and built but big in courage, goals and vision for the Philippines.


We went around Fort Santiago for almost two hours. My daughter finally had to sit on the pavement and rest before leaving the area. We were all tired and exhausted but definitely, we had a great time visiting Fort Santiago. It was a different experience reliving a part of our history.


Next stop is looking for a place to eat. Changed top as it was really hot in Fort Santiago and bought my daughter's monthly dose of Total Girl magazine. While waiting for our orders, my daughter went back in her present time and browsed her magazine, read about one her favorites, Justin Bieber, her present-day hero so-to-speak. :)

This is my first entry for Pixel Bug Weekend. I love joining photo meme and I hope to do this consistently. :)

Litratong Pinoy: Hudyat (Sign)

Katulad ng karamihan sa mga mommies, hilig kong kunan ng litrato ang aking anak. Maraming beses ko na ring naibahagi sa blog ko na ako ay isang "mamarazzi". Hindi kailangang may espesyal na okasyon para kumuha ng larawan ng aking anak. Minsan ay stolen shots or candid shots, minsan naman talagang tinatawag ko siya para mag-pose sa harap ng camera.

Pero lumalaki na ang anak ko. Kasabihan na nga na nagkakaroon na ng sariling disposisyon ang anak kapag ito ay nagmamature na. Pati ang pagkuha ko ng litrato sa kanya minsan ay mukhang hindi na niya nagugustuhan lalo na at sunud-sunod ito sa loob ng ilang minuto.

Madalas sinasabi n'ya ng derecho sa akin na ayaw na niya magpa-picture. Minsan naman may hudyat na nagsasabi sa akin na tama na at tigilan ko na ang pag-click sa camera.

Kapag tinakpan na ng anak ko ang mukha n'ya, hudyat na ito na tumigil na ako sa kakakuha sa kanya ng litrato.


Ngunit sa aking obserbasyon ang hilig n'yang kuhanan ang sarili n'ya ng picture, solo at kasama ang mga kaibigan n'ya. May term nga dito, luvo. Luvo ay ang sobrang pagkahilig sa pagkuha ng litrato ng sarili. Napapansin n'yo ba, ganyan ang mga kabataan ngayon.

***Bisitahin ang Litratong Pinoy para sa mga larawang nagbibigay Hudyat.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon, The Movie

I read the book, I love it! I watched the movie, I like it. But definitely not as much as I liked Twilight. In Twilight, Edward Cullen dazzled me. He was enigmatic, he was mesmerizing. In New Moon, there was less of him (as expected) and in those scenes he was either brooding or sneering. The mystery was uncovered in Twilight hence there was less excitement for me in New Moon. The sparkles were better though I think. Having said that, I am still for Team Edward!

New Moon was true to the book as Twilight was. I love the opening where Bella dreamt of the future - Bella as an old woman and Edward, still at 17. I love the meadow where the scene was taken. It gave a dreamy, soft feeling.

The effects in New Moon are far better than in Twilight. The transformation of the men into wolves were smooth. Yes, it could have been better if they morphed slowly for better impact. Maybe they will do that in Eclipse.

What I liked about the movie:

1. Edward's sparkle.
2. Bella is so beautiful.
3. The scene where the months passed by while Bella remained brooding.
4. The werewolves, the casting was good.
5. Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black for the effort of working hard so he will fit to his role.
6. The paper cut scene. I find Jasper adorable when he's helpless.
7. The parade in Italy.
8. Bella's adrenalin rush where Edward always appear in her vision.
9. The scene where Jacob did not give the phone to Bella when Edward called.

What I wished were given more creativity:

1. The series of miscommunication which made Alice and Edward think that Bella has passed away.

I can't believe there are still Twilight Saga haters, that there are still people who try to put the series down for not finding any deep, profound meaning in the books. There is none. We all know that from the start. You read these books for the sheer fun of it, not because you want an Edward Cullen or a Jacob Lautner in your life. We all know Bella is not an ideal person with her lovelorn self all over the book/movie. They are fun books, or fan books, the two apply. Everything in the book is fiction. Either you read and watch or just leave them alone.

I would like to see the third installment of the Twilight Saga, Eclipse. I read it will be shown on June 2010. Great! This is my favorite among the Twilight series. The love triangle is intense here.

Children and Household Chores

I want to believe the picture below is precious. Come to think of it, I haven't seen her do something as "noble" as this for so many months now. She used to be the one to ask me if she can do it, sometimes to the point of begging.

I was adamant because they might slip from her hands, she might get hurt and all the broken pieces scattered everywhere. But why not? We have to start somewhere when it comes to household chore assignments. We have to level up so to speak after she learned picking up and keeping her toys when she was younger.

So I let her wash the dishes, limited to only two or three lest I be accused of child labor. Haha. It was just to let her experience it. She seemed to enjoy it. But that was a few months ago. Lately, the only household chores (if you can call them that) she ever does are these two - fixing her bed and changing pillow case. Oh yes, she fixes her school bag too.


Household chores are often times a novelty for children. They have fun doing them the first few times but get tired of them after. Like most children my daughter loves playing with water so her most logical choice then would be to wash the dishes.

There may be helps around in a household but I'm one in saying that children should know basic housekeeping when they are capable already and as they grow older. Involving children in doing household chores make them more self-confident, independent and responsible.

Let me share my thoughts about children and housekeeping based on my experience, some of which I realized only lately.

1. Take advantage of that stage when the children are very curious and enthusiastic in participating in household chores. It's the best time to share and teach them the proper way of doing things. It's still like playing for them.

2. Some chores need not be gender-based. This will probably challenge the kids, especially the girls, but that's where the motivation comes from more often than not. They are excited to try new things. They will surely be proud of accomplishing something not quite expected from them in a general sense. But of course, the task should be age appropriate.

3. Sustain their interest by making a schedule of when to do what activity until this becomes a habit. This is where I fell short I believe. I was not able to sustain her first acts of being excited about some chores. But I won't fret, we'll start all over again.

4. Preparing meals or baking together are activities that foster more family bonding. I should say these two things are what my daughter and I do gladly from the bottom of our hearts.

***Read more sharing at Mommy Journey.

Post It

I discovered a site linked from Hailey's post, Post-it Notes Left to Their Fate in Public Places. I am thankful for sites like this which do not attempt to be profound or preachy but shares inspirational one-liners in a simple but creative way.


I will definitely visit this site often, if not everyday. And yes, written on the post-it was what I had just promised myself a day or two ago. Quite providential that I chanced upon it in a blog. It just echoed what was on my mind all along.

Let go, let God. Live, learn, share, enjoy life and be blessed by God. :)