Ito ay ang mga libro ng aking ina. Ginagamit niya ang mga ito araw-araw sa kanyang pagdarasal at pag-aaral ng “Mabuting Balita”.
Patunay lamang na di kailangang tumigil ang pag-aaral sa pagtatapos mula sa paaralan at di lamang ito para sa mga kabataan. Kahit sino, sa anumang edad, antas ng karunungan o estado sa buhay, ay maaari pa ring mag-aral. Kailangan lamang ay bukas na pag-iisip at ang pagnanais na matuto.
I’m sure a lot of moms like me can relate at how we normally mark our kids’ milestones…
1st tooth at 6 months
First learned to walk at 1 year
First day at big school at 4 1/2…
…and so on, and so forth…
And so, at the ripe old age of 35 1/2, may I list down yet another first…
…my very first colonoscopy! (Quite anti-climactic, huh?)
Yes, folks, I’m ticking off yet another medical test tomorrow afternoon to hopefully put my mind at ease given all the aches and pains (imagined or otherwise) that have been bugging me for quite some time now. And yes, I’m worried sick too! 
I know…I should do my best to think “happy fots” only especially during this time as this will definitely help me in battling my demons.
In the meantime, I again ask for your help in storming the heavens with prayers so that the results of this medical procedure come out favorable. I also am grateful to all those who have reassured me and have rallied me on to keep the positive vibes going. You are all truly heaven-sent – thanks so very, very much! 
Lastly, I’d like to share the very comforting words from my good friend, May, who sent me the following SMS yesterday:
“Dear Pinky, trust that God’s power is made perfect in your weakness. At this time of anxiety and pain, His grace is all you need. I am praying for you.”
A definite “Amen” to this! Here’s to better days and even better news in the days to come! God bless all of us. 
Mga haligi ng tahanan sila’y naturingan
Iba’t iba man ang pamamaraan -
Tahimik na sumusuporta o pag-gabay tunay na nararamdaman
Samu’t sari man kanilang mga katangian…
Seryoso paminsan ngunit may tinatago rin palang kalokohan!
Sa kanila’y lubos na gumagalang
at mula sa kanila, lakas ay nakakamtan
Kaya sa iyo, Papa, Daddy, Pappy o Itay
Ang aming taos-pusong pasasalamat at pagpupugay!
Ang “Daddy Badoy” ng aking ama
Salvador Jimenez Veguillas (11 Aug 1917 – 02 Apr 1974)
Ang “Pappy Gang” ng aking ina
Edgardo Crescini Hernandez (06 Oct 1921 – 16 Oct 1989)
“Papa Jess”
Ang aking ”look-alike” at pinakamamahal na ama
“Papa Keith”
Ang aking mahal na asawa at dakilang ama ng aming tatlong supling
Needed a major dose of cheering up as I have unfortunately fallen prey to some nasty bug again – yes, I guess I must’ve unwittingly “imported” some ”pesteng ahems” with me when I flew in from the kingdom I distinctly remember how dear hubby was plagued with exactly the same symptoms (swollen throat, painful ears, difficulty swallowing – the works!) shortly before we left… (*sigh*)
What better way to do this than by finally doing my long overdue “cutesie-pie” sparkly friend tag from LP buddy, Jeanny…
Guess close to nothing beats a “care bear” in spreading some love and wellness around, right?
Well… a care bear, some doctor-prescribed pills, and steaming servings of this…
Hmmm…am really feeling much, much better now! 
Thanks again, Jeanny!
To keep the “sparkly” caring, sharing and wellness going, I’m tagging Weng, Meeya, Thess and Nell. Shine on, guys!
A lot of you must’ve already heard about this game show… but nah… am not going to talk about it here! Gotcha!
Actually, if you are indeed smarter than a 5th grader, then you should have no problems with my blog. Why so? Because, the results of my “blog readability test” just came in and it says:
Thanks, Tin, for this “easy-peesy” tag! 
(I know – told you this was queued at #3 for my to-do list but since it was so simple, it practically jumped the queue by itself! Hahaha!). 
For the “chosen ones”, here are the simple rules:
As we have been wont to do since our temporary relocation to the Middle East two years ago, our annual home leave, apart from reconnecting with family and friends, is also the perfect time to have all our medical tests completed. Although we certainly can have all these done in our desert home (and with hubby’s office shouldering the costs to boot!) , we still find it more comforting to have all these work-ups done in good ol’ Pinas -where we feel the doctors are a lot more thorough and competent than anywhere else in the world. How’s that for Pinoy pride?
Anyway, among the procedures I scheduled during this leave is the removal of my lone gall stone which has been causing me some discomfort (and much anxiety!) while still in the kingdom. For a backgrounder on this, click here.
However, not wanting to plunge into the surgery right away, my doctor mom-in-law saw it prudent to have a repeat abdominal ultrasound to assess matters more closely. Of course, being the obedient daughter-in-law, I obliged. Here’s what happened…
The ultrasonologist took some time working on my tummy and asked me, “Talaga ho bang sinabi nila na may stone kayo?” (Did they really tell you that you have a gall stone?). Of course, being the ever-paranoid one, I asked back: “Oo. Bakit, ano bang nakikita mo? Dapat ba akong mag-worry?”. (Yes. Why, what do you see? Should I be worried?).
Perhaps, sensing the tone of fear and panic on my voice, the ultrasonologist even went the extra step of calling the head radiologist to confirm her reading.
So what was I finally told? My gall stone has miraculously disappeared! Yes, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the nasty 5mm stone has somehow made a graceful exit from my system. The radiologist even showed me my gall bladder on the screen and it was indeed empty! This means that I am spared as well from going under the knife. How’s that for a welcome home treat?
What have I realized from this whole experience? God is truly good and ever-faithful! And yes, with proper diet, a detox regimen from our good friend JP and exercise to help along the way, prayers can move mountains (and take away gall stones too!).
I ask for your continued prayers that the remaining medical tests I have to undergo will have favorable results as well.
Have a good and blessed week ahead, everyone!
Kuha sa harap ng munisipyo ng Paranaque, Pilipinas, gamit ang aking “antique” na Sony DSC P43 na “point and shoot”
Opo, nandito na kami sa Inang Bayan para sa aming taunang bakasyon. Salamat sa lahat sa inyo na nagdasal para sa aming maluwalhating paglalakbay…
Sa aming muling pagbabalik, bagamat lubos ang aking kaligayahang makita muli ang mga kapamilya at kaibigang pansamantalang naiwan mula nang magpasya kaming mag-anak na mamalagi sa aming munting “kaharian sa disyerto”, di ko pa rin maiwasang makaramdam ng kaunting kalungkutan dahil sa nadatnang kalagayan ng ating bayan.
Kalayaan nga bang maituturing ang…
… pakikipagsapalaran ng maraming Pilipino sa iba’t ibang bayan maitaguyod lamang nang maayos ang sarili at pamilya sapagkat walang sapat na pagkakataong gawin ito sa loob ng Pilipinas?
…diumano’y paglakas ng ekonomiya at piso sa harap ng di maunawaang pagtaas din ng presyo ng mga bilihin at mga “basic necessities” upang mabuhay ng maayos at matiwasay?
…matinding kahirapan ng nakararami na nagtutulak tungo sa isang buhay ng krimen at karahasan?
Ilan lamang ang mga ito sa mga katanungang sumagi sa aking isipan. Marahil, ako man ay dapat ding maging “mas malaya” sa aking pag-iisip upang mapansin din ang mga mas positibong kaganapan na nangyayari sa ating bayan – tulad na lamang ng matinding pagkamatatag at pananampalataya sa Diyos ng marami sa atin sa harap ng matinding pagsubok na hinaharap.
Kagaya ng malamlam na kuha ko ng watawat sa itaas na tila sumasalamin sa katayuan ng ating bansa, nawa’y matamo na ng ating bansa ang tunay at nagniningning na kalayaan upang ang bawat isa sa atin ay taas-noo ding masabi – “Pilipinas kong mahal!”.
I guess it’s that special time of the year again… when we celebrate our little girl and her joyous coming into our lives. Yes, Marga, our “mini-diva” has finally crossed the “Terrific Twos” threshold last 03 June!
Try as I might not to repeat my first birthday wishes to her, I find myself having the same sentiments… and much, much more. So as not to bore you too much with all the details, I’ll just give you a quick “run-through” of how we celebrated our little princess’ special day.
First off, to “siomai” love for her (and inspired by an earlier siomai post by Reflexes), I tried my hand at making chicken siomai (steamed chicken dumplings) for lunch…
… and paired this off with tuna-mushroom pasta in olive oil… Though I had to make do with several substitutes for some of the original siomai ingredients (ground chicken instead of ground pork and filo pastry instead of siomai wrapper), I was pleased that my first crack at making this dish proved “passable”.
Come dinner time, we were off to Casper and Gambini’s. Unlike our previous trip, though, we were a bit disappointed with our eating experience this time around. Aside from the delay in getting our orders and in serving the food (no thanks to the “prayer time” observed kingdom-wide where all “outward” activity stops) – which meant that we were practically “past-famished” by the time our food arrived – the airconditioning in the restaurant also was being repaired! “Hot and hungry” certainly do not make for happy party people!
Good thing our desserts in Haagen Dasz considerably cooled down our “hot heads” and made us enjoy the evening once more! Hurray for ice cream!
In fact, the “sugar-high” was more than enough for Papa and the birthday girl to have the “energy” to ham it up for the camera! (*cute!*)
Our dear Marga, you are truly one of the most precious gifts we have received. Your coming into our family is definitely an answered prayer. Thank you for the joy and happiness you have brought into our lives. Here’s to more blessed and healthy years ahead. Happy birthday, our sweet, silly girl! We love you!
Mga pangakong hinayag sa harap ng dambana
Kalakip ang basbas mula sa itaas
Dalawang nilalang pinagbuklod sa isa
Magkatuwang harapin, hirap man o ginhawa
Mga pangakong hinayag sa harap ng dambana
Pinakadalisay na sagisag ng pagiging isa.
Kuha ito ng aming mga “personalized marriage vows”. Mabuti na lamang at nahagilap ko ang kopya ng aming “Wedding Liturgy” sa baul! Sa awa ng Diyos, nagagampanan pa rin naman naming mag-asawa ang mga pangakong binitawan ilang taon na rin ang nakararaan.
Sa aking mga kaibigang litratista, ipagpaumanhin sana ninyo kung hindi ako masyadong makadalaw sa mga lahok ninyo sa loob ng dalawang buwan at kalahati dahil hindi ko masigurado kung gaano kadali akong makakahagilap ng kompyuter habang nagbabakasyon. Habang binabasa ninyo ito, tiyak na nasa himpapawid na ako kasama ang mga supling patungong “inang bayan”. Hinihingi ko ang inyong mga dasal para sa isang maluwalhating paglalakbay at masayang pagdating sa Pilipinas. Maraming salamat!
Yup, in exactly 2 days, the kids and I will be in the “beloved motherland” once more to spend their summer break from school – a GLORIOUS two months and a half of “abaya-free” existence – woohoo!!!
Sadly though, this also means that I would most probably lie low from my blogging presence during this time to let “real life” unfold more fully.
To all my pals in the blogosphere, I will definitely be back! And when I do, I promise to fill you in on all the “juicy” bits from our Pinas holiday…
Till then, please pray for a safe, uneventful and hassle-free flight tomorrow evening… and please do me a favor and keep my hubby, Leap of Faith, ”entertained” by your “cyber-presence” during the time we are away.
Goodbye for now and here’s looking forward to my tons of “bloggables” when I return.
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