Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Recollecting... A better way to start the new year.

There is no better way to start 2011 for me than to recall and assess first the
things that transpired last year - have to thank the lord for all the blessings and
pick-up the pitfalls.

Here is a rundown of the important events in my family's life last year:
   January:-We welcomed the 2010 new year with the family complete in
                    my parents' house.  Marty was awake enjoying the fireworks and
                    the food.


                  -Challenge for budgetting family's expenses and savings. Thank god
                   our target savings was met. Also, we acquired a pioneer saving and
                   insurance.

                - Setting new goals both in our (my husband) personal lives and of our
                  family.  At work, to continue aspire for a career growth.  I was tasked
                  to temporarily head our section, thus, exposed me to bigger
                  responsibilities.
                  In the family, no plan of acquiring new asset, but focused more on the
                  schooling of my four-year old son.  Also, one vacation for the family
                  by the end of the year. Moreover, need to increase savings by 10%.
                  With these goals, all possible means of saving may it be small, were
                  explored.

                -Weekends were always time for bonding with Marty. He loves going
                  to bookstores to sit and read esp. in Powerbooks at SM Megamall
                  and Fully Booked in SM The Block and Serendra. While weekends
                  is for Marty, every Friday is for me and my husband.  Grocery and
                  dinner date.




   February:-Thank the lord for each day that passed that my family is safe and
                   healthy.

                  -Feb. 7, we went to 8 Waves with Dennis and Sunwha's visiting us
                   from Korea.

                  -Just have a date with the family for the Valentine's day.

   March:  -At work, more responsibilities and preparing for our involvement in
                   a multi-million big big project of the company - the SAP.

                - Scouted a good pre-school for marty and atlast found MSA. Backed
                   up  with good reviews and feedbacks for this school, as early as
                   March, we were already decided that we will send Marty to that school.

                - Its my sister's bday(March 3), my mother in-law's bday(March 18) and
                   my husband's great day(March 20). What a plenty of fun and eating.
                   Quite gained weight.
  
   April:   -We enrolled Marty to summer class for Phoenix in MSA.  At first, it was
                really a struggle since it was Marty's first time to come out of his comfort
                zone - from the house. It is a classroom type summer class thus, Marty
                has to deal not only with his teacher but also a lot of kids which he was
                not used to.  He was used to playing alone. But kudos to Teacher
                Glaiza, he made Marty participate in class on the 2nd day.

              -Aside from Phoenix summer class, Marty was also enrolled in Voice
                Power for singing, dancing and modeling.  This played a big part in
                Marty's coming out from his shell.  He improved a lot and every day
                he gets TODDLER OF THE DAY.  They had their show at SM
                Fairview Storey Land to complete the course. And yes, Marty did
                great!

              -At work, very busy preparing for SAP.

              -Went in Iba Zambales with my family for 2 days stay in Bakasyunan
                Beach Resort.

              -Another big day we celebrated was the birthday of my 2 brothers
                (April 13).  Just have a dinner without the 2 celebrators. One is in
                Dagupan and the other is in Korea but yes, we were one in spirit.

              -Had a 2-day get-away in Tarlac and Baguio last April 17-18
                sponsored by my brother Ronald.  We loved the great lunch  at
                Isdaan in Tarlac.

                We went up to Baguio and stayed in the Teachers' Camp. Had
                a buffet breakfast in Manor Hotel and went to Baguio Country Club
                for the pastries and bread.


             -Another 8 waves for Marty during our Rebisco's company outing last
               April 11.  Marty won in Bingo games that we played in the bus on
               our way to the 8 waves. Most of  all, he really enjoyed swimming.


    May:  -Marty enjoyed the Safari at SM North Edsa Sky Garden with his
              tito Dennis.

            -Another date to remember was May 20-24 when we went to South
              Korea to attend my brother Dennis's wedding with Sunwha. Via Cebu
              Pacific we arrived in Incheon Korea night of  May 20 Since its
              buddha's day, we strolled first in the downtown and had our first dinner
              before heading to their house in Seoul. We liked the hot and spicy food
              served and grabbed the free coffee available on every resto there. On
              the 2nd day we went to to Busan where the wedding was held and had
              an accomodation in one of the 5 star-hotels there - Guerinari Hotel. This
              was also the venue of the wedding.
              Then came the big day. Wedding was so formal with all guests
              dressed-up.

              There was the 2nd ceremony wedding - the korean traditional wedding.
              It was very touching that I cried when it was my turn to give speech and
              wishes for the newly wed. Following after was the reception with mix of
              asian specialties.

              It was all dining, no program at all. 4th day was our Busan tour and
              bought souvenirs in the downtown.  Then at night was our trip going
              home, Busan to Cebu then to Manila. Marty was so sad because his lolo,
              lola and tita doods still stayed for another week there.
              Marty bought Thomas engines set in Busan airport Duty Free to add to
              his collection.           


            -Marty completed his summer class successfully - he is now good in
              spelling and in reading.

            -This was the start of my temporary work assignment in Ortigas.
              Everyday was a struggle to wake up at 4AM, prepare for
              breakfast and lunch and baon of Marty.  Have to leave the house
              by 6AM to catch the service going to Ortigas by 6:30.

   June: -Marty turned 4 on June 12, 2010.  Can't imagine how this young
             boy who was once inside my womb grew fast to be a big and
             smart boy.  Until now, he loves Barney, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,
             Blues Clues, Dora the Explorer and Super Heroes as additions to
             his all-time faves. We had a lunch date at MAX Roces with his
             cousins in Kamuning. The cousins enjoyed their pictorials.


            The following day, we went to Subic with lolo, lola and doods for 2
             days. Marty enjoyed the sea lion and the dolphin show in Ocean
             Adventure and stayed overnight at Venezia Hotel.


            -At 4, he already had collectibles of different super heroes
              (superman, batman, spiderman, flash, etc.). He also collected
              Power Rangers.

            -Had quite difficulty in waking up so early for Marty's first month
              of schooling.  He woke up at 6am, eat, take a bath and dress-up
              for 30 minutes before the service arrives.  His class is at 8am.

            -Marty did fine on his 3 major quizzes for the 1st qtr.

            -At work, I completed my training in SAP-ABAP - another new
              language to be further explored and will surely be used once SAP
              is in place. This was the start of the many ABAP programming
              assignments that we have to finish before October Go Live. 

   July:   -It was Marty's lolo's birthday. Just dine out at Tong Yang
              SM Fairview.   

            -Marty did great on their assessment video and completed the
             1st qtr as top 3 in their class of 15. As usual, the subject that
             he loves most is Reading.
           
   August-Community helpers costume for Marty last August 5.  Marty
               was just so smart on his engineer costume.  His hard-to-find
               costume was courtesy of his lolo.

              -Another dining at Tong-Yang for Jec's birthday last Aug. 3.

              -Marty gracefully danced on their Linggo ng Wika presenttion
                last Aug. 22.  It was held in Casa Milan.



   Sept:   -Thank god, my cousin provided me a helper.  Atleast I was
               relieved from waking up by 4AM and just woke up an hour
               later.

             -As the weather becomes colder, its not easy for Marty to sleep
               and wake up at 6AM. He usually slept at 1-2AM watching DVDs,
               thus, very difficult to wake him up.             

   Oct:   -Oct. 1 Variety Show of MSA.  Marty played well as Sebastian on
              their Little Mermaid play at SM Fairview Cinema 9.

             -We attended my god daughter's(Meg) 7th  birthday party at Shakeys
               Centris last Oct. 16.  Marty enjoyed the party very much by showing
               his talent in dancing and joined all the games.

             -Lola's big day last Oct. 30 at Dory's.  Its good that Dennis and Sunwha
              were on their 4 months vacation here in the Philippines.

             -Again another challenge for me to wake up at 4AM everyday to prepare
               breakfast and lunch. Our helper did not return from her day-off anymore.

   Nov:  -Marty was on his favorite BATMAN costume again on the Treat or Trick
              at Robinson Novaliches. He got lots of candies and toys.  Hope we can
              join his cousins for the Trick or Treat this 2011.

            -Nov. 6 was MSA fieldtrip at Sand Magic, Ayala Museum, lunch at MOA
             and Enhancted Kingdom. I went with Marty and as expected, we were just
             able to ride a few in EK due to plenty of fieldtrips. This was his 2nd visit  in
             EK.  Just bought souvenir shirts and wizzard hat for Marty.  Overall, Marty
             enjoyed the day with his classmates.

   Dec.:-Dec. 1 was my 37th year. I can say that I had lived my life the way I prayed
             and hoped it to be. With the guidance and blessings of our dear Lord
             surrounded by my ever loving family, relatives and friends. I THANK THE
             LORD FOR EVERYTHING..... My family just organized a dinner for me.

            -Visited Manila Ocean Park atlast last Dec. 12.  Had a great time with the
              Oceanarium and Jellies. Had a great lunch at Gerry's.

            -Its MSA's Christmas Party in Lagro last Dec. 18.  Marty with his
             classmates, presented their song and dance christmas carole.


            -Dec. 18, attended Jollibee party of my inaanak Thea Tagorda in Lagro.
              As usual, Marty enjoyed the party by joining games.

            -Marty was just fond of Transformers as his new collection. Thus, he
              requested his tita doods to give him bumblebee and optimus prime
              on Christmas.

            -Dec. 24 & 25 - We spent the day with Marty's cousins in Kamuning.
              Brought our gifts and Marty recieved his gifts too.  Then we went
              straight to his lolo's house and spent the Noche Buena there. 
              Marty was the Santa Claus who distributed all the gifts for everybody.

              He had received lots of gifts from his lolo, lola, titos and titas.  As
              expected, he received his new collection - the Transformers.

              Dec. 25 morning, we went back to Kamuning to visit lola Ming.

            -Departed for Singapore last Dec. 28 via Singapore Airlines with my
              husband's family side.  Had 6 days and 5 nights stay there. We were
              able to see their newest attraction - Universal Studio Singapore,
              went to Singapore Zoo and the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark.  Had 2
              nights accomodation in Festive Hotel in Sentosa and 3 nights in
              Mandarin Orchard.  We celebrated the new year in the hotel with
              Marty's cousins.  This was really a family trip to cherish.  Big thanks
              to Marty's Tita Baby for this grand vacation. We hope we can return
              there soon and swim in Marina Bay Sands SkyPark's infinity pool.
              Though no shopping, we really enjoyed the great food, accomodation
              and great views. Jan 2, we went back to our homeland.

              Universal Studio Singapore

                 Singapore Zoo

              Marina Bay Sands SkyPark


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