Ondoy

I am praying for the victims of the flood. All of us have been hit by this. It is tragic, heartbreaking and devastating. Something we will never forget, but something to learn from, too.

But life does not end here. And we all must continue to fight, to live.

I am praying for strength. I know that God never abandons...

TV JUNKIE

Yup, I have always been a TV Junkie. Gosh, from the time I was old enough to watch Sampaguita and LVN movies after school, to Heredero and Yagit, to Pinoy Big Brother (First Season). From The Love Boat, to Dynasty, to Knots Landing and Falcon Crest. From 90210 to Melrose Place. I am a true sucker for telenovelas, soap operas and different series. Now, well I cannot say that choices are better, but I take time out to download episodes from these shows. So here is my list of guilty pleasures...

1. Project Runway (US) Sadly I was not able to catch the Philippine series, but Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn are my constant favorites. I like this show because the drama is just restricted to creating beautiful dresses. When they bitch about others, it is really based on their performance as designers. And oh, those creations they make are such work of art! That for a time, I thought about making my own clothes (haha, in my dreams)...I love this show because I love looking at clothes made from scratch, newspaper, what have you. So interesting...

2. Greys Anatomy ...I downloaded the first two episodes, but I have yet to see if they live up to their hype. Last season was not as great as the previous ones, but each episode never fails to make me cry. Whether it is about love, or reality, I still learn something from this show, even if it gets a little cheesy..

3. Gossip Girl...Haha.... A 33 year old housewife like me should be into Desperate Housewives, but no. I LOVE this show!!! It allows me to just relax when I watch this, not to think too much, and enjoy the scenes (pretty girls, pretty dresses, gorgeous men!) The show can be influential in some ways, I mean sometimes, it is just a little inspiring to be as scheming as Blair and Georgina!

4. Mad Men.... Hands down, my ultimate favorite for this season. I loved it the first season, the second, and I always find myself begging for more. The whole sixties theme is just amazing, and maybe it is me, but there are just so many metaphors, hidden issues that one can pick up in this show. It is poetry and history meticulously woven in an advertising agency, and in a nuclear family. It is so engaging, although many of my friends find it a little too dark, or boring. But the sight of John Hamm, lighting a cigarette? My week is almost complete...

6. True Blood... Sad but the season just ended. LOVE this, too. As I wrote in my status in facebook, after crashing on True Blood, I just cant take it in small doses. I can watch 3 episodes in one sitting... and I can hold my pee, too... drat, cant wait for the new season...

Getting Comfy With The Treadmill

Yesterday, I made a good decision.

As much as I enjoy running on the road, I decided to do my very first 60 minute run on the treadmill.

How did I find it?

Boring as hell, looking all the time at the numbers: speed, time, grade, trying to get distracted by the many tv screens.

But fulfilling because I know my average pace, the distance I had run, and the calories I burned.

I burned about 420 calories, ran a little over 7k, and my average speed was 7.5 to 8. My grade was 2.5.

Quite slow for others, but for me, this was a pretty good job done!

Imagine, I ran for sixty minutes!!! Woohoo...

Now let me attend to my shins....

Hoping For A 3k

Drat. I was not able to register early for the New Balance Run for Sept. 27. I am left with a possibility for the 3k run. Lesson learned? Register early...

That aside, I realized I have been enjoying my runs in my moms village. A little flat, but it gets the job done. My shins have finally accepted the fact that they will frequently be used (and abused?) and so the pains are slowly disappearing. Another chapter in my running life?

The Heat Is On In Saigon!!

Ten Unforgettable Things About Ho Chi Minh

1. Their new and progressive airport, reflective of their new and progressive city (iwan na talaga ang Pilipinas...)and their ubiquitous MOTORCYCLES..

2. Our sweet and gracious host, Liza....Love her, love her!!

3. Bhen Thanh Market where you can get the most beautiful embroidered everything... bags, scarves, shirts, shoe bags, wallets. These designs are so intricately made...

4. Vietnamese coffee... iced, three in one, brewed, condensed, they are really, to die for...

5. Vietnamese food... Pho 2000 where this restaurant was visited by former President Bill Clinton and they make the best seafood noodle soup...

6. Quan An Ngon, an old but charming place that has different stations a la hawkers. Their wrap and roll vegetables with the rice paper rolls are not only healthier but delicious as well!!

7. Saigon Square, like our very own Greenhills that sells export overruns of all brands (MNG, Adidas, The North Face, to name a few) Even I found shirts my size!

8. The Notre Dame Cathedral built in the 18th century. Its exterior is timeless, and in 2005, the statue of the Virgin Mary reportedly shed tears...

9. The Post Office and the Opera House, both splendid even at night, with lights comparable to Shanghai...

10. The Remnants of War Museum... where I shed tears of sorrow, too. After seeing the Vietnam War from their perspective, (I grew up watching Nam Tour of Duty and a little of China Beach), it goes to show that NOBODY WINS in every war. Everybody LOSES... The Agent Orange is the most painful reminder of this.. and I hope our world will not have to see something like this again....

Well, to my husbands dismay, we were not able to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels. But this is enough reason for us to come back someday...:)

Terrible, Terrible Two

Well, recently I noticed my 2.5 year old daughter has been acting up. Screaming at the top of her lungs, refusing to follow authority. And it is and will always be a major challenge to be over and above and beyond her tantrum to control her.

Sometimes, I just give up and make MY screams louder. And the temptation to inflict corporal punishment is there, but I try my best not to give in. Other times, I just talk to her and say, "I know you are angry, but you can't scream that way. I will talk to you when you are ready(calmed down)."

It's a really tough role, motherhood. Because you are responsible for the life of your child. Every episode of neglect will be reflected someday, and I am so afraid of that. We look at people and even in studies, they show that a major factor in one's behavior is how that person was raised. Family values. And so I have taken this responsibility, I hope I get to fulfill it.

Well, just venting out my frustrations...