One day, I took the public transpo to the town proper to buy Aloha's Bowow. I took the front seat, assuming that the ride will be comfy on that spot. As we pass by San Antonio de Padua, a guy in a Toy Kingdom uniform rode the jeep and shared the front seat with me, carelessly puffing his cigarette smoke on my face.

 

I asked him, "kuya, don't you see the (No Smoking) signage?"

He said, "Nakikita ko."

 

Effective 07 January 2010, the LTFRB has required that all Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) and public land transportation terminals be 100% smoke free.  LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2009-036 provides that PUV drivers and operators are responsible for posting "No Smoking" signs in their vehicles.  Drivers are responsible for warning their passengers and co-workers against smoking inside PUVs and may ask non-compliant passengers to leave the vehicle.  Operators and owners of public land transportation terminals should also post "No Smoking" signs within the terminal and should prevent smokers from lighting up in any indoor area or in areas near where people congregate.  
Failure to comply with said duties and responsibilities under the Memorandum Circular will subject violators to fines ranging from P500 to P10,000, suspension of the PUV's certificate of public convenience or in some cases, cancellation of the said certificate.

Ate Aton's Fan

The long queue inside Ice Monster brought our mother- daughter tandem into a sneak photoshoot. LOL

Aton was alone on this pic:


And there's a little Kuya na umaaligid:

The little kuya was pretending to be shy and was hiding behind the tarp.

  

Later on, the kuya introduced himself and requested me to take a picture of him with my daughter.

The funny part here was this little kuya bid my little girl goodbye with a flying kiss and a pahabol: "I love you!"

Kids these days talaga!:)

A New Career Perhaps...

This is my new interest. 

Die-hard!



I've never thought I'd be venturing into this. But here we are now... And Drich has been supportive. :)

Happy 77th Birthday Dad!

Photo Credits: Cake Central

It's Dad's birthday. He would've been 77 today had he not joined Papa God in 2008.

I miss Dad. I miss him so much! I can still remember the last time I bid him bye for work. That was in June 18. I was not even able to kiss him goodbye that night. I don't know why I did not. That's one thing I regret.  I even went on overtime the next morning and was not reading the messages on my phone.  I was not even answering the phone calls since I was in a meeting. I didn't know that it was my mom calling. Worst, I didn't know it was about my dad.

I love my dad. He is not the most wonderful creation but I love him the way he is. To me, he is a superhero. He is the only legend. And to me, he is perfect. As he is.

Today's you're birthday, Daddy. I am imagining that you're laughing from wherever you are now while you're watching me do this entry.  I can't help but cry tonight because I miss you. I was not even given the chance to tell you how much I love you and how thankful I am for everything. 

I love you. And happy birthday!

B-L-E-S-S-I-N-G-S!

Monday. My first working day of the week. I was busy with a chat when my seatmate caught my attention with an email saying:

I had to crop it for compliance issues. I just want to share with you how lucky I am!

That email was followed by this one:

And another one:

And who's so lucky today? There's another one:

I just can't believe how lucky I am. Thank you, Papa God!

Family Day @ EK

Last Sunday, we set our feet @ EK again.  It's Allison's 4th visit at the Enchanted Kingdom, and Allson's 1st.

My bad. I forgot to bring the Fun House tickets Allison earned on her first EK visit.  I was planning on exchanging them with some cute stuff.  I guess I'll have to bring them next time then.

I got an All- Day Pass but was able to ride just one attraction-- The Wheel of Fate. LOL

I was a little frustrated but I guess that's okay. I invited my little Allison for a few fun games at the court and to our luck, we won this one:

The bear was as tall as my daughter that she can hardly hold it while walking.  I was actually torn between getting this stuff toy or the mini guitar.  I forgot what occured to me then and why I chose this over the guitar. I would've been teaching Allison how to play the guitar now had I chosen to get that.  But that's okay.  It's a big prize anyway. And Allison was happy with her new friend, Bowbo.

I Love Him More Each Day

I just think that that title is an understatement. 

Drich and I have been together for quite a while and are happy with our married life. We're blessed with two wonderful kids, Allison and Allson.  And there's nothing more I want. (Thank You, Papa God!)

On my way to work last night, I just thought of sharing this feeling.  I know Drich is not into reading blogs, etc. So it is safe for me to share this with you, sisses.

I just want the whole world to know that I love my husband so much!!! (Eeeeww... So in love? That's cheesy!)

Who would have thought that I will be marrying this boy (and I really mean, a boy) I met in a truck back in June 1999 on a drizzling afternoon?  That was the same boy I saw on the stage ramp modelling an all-white golfing outfit. Sabi ko pa sa katabi ko non while I was watching that fashion show, "cute yang batang yan, ano?". LOL And the same boy I always meet everywhere Ate Let and I would go during YFC conferences.

All the universe has conspired to bring us together and there was not doubt about that. I am just thankful. Very, very thankful. :)

We may not have the perfect life that our folks imagined us to have. But we are happy, and I just think that that's all that matters.  We have bouts and a lot of booboos almost always, but we make up for them.  We are not perfect, but we always know where to stand.  And that's what makes me even happier.

I just love you, Drich. I know you know and I want the whole world to know about that.

My Choo-choo Train Experience

Prologue/ Side-kwento: I was making major adjustments on a client's dress when it occured to me that I was left with merely 2 1/2 yards of orange chiffon.  I started detaching the dress details while I was at the office the night before and thought I'd be ready for the major repair last Tuesday morning. And I was wrong.

I've been to every fabric store in town searching for the right shade and type but it was just unfortunate that all these stores did not carry that one specific tangerine hue. I was left with no choice but to got to Divi at two in the afternoon.  (I have regular work shift at 8PM, where I usually leave the house at around 5:30 PM to get to work on time.)  So, I just wished my self good luck! :)  You are superwoman and you can do that, Ulai! Lol!

Arrived in Divi at around 4:30 PM and managed to get the goods in a flash.  And side-trip to getting the fabric for Jiji's dress.  It was a walkathon from Ilaya to the PNR Station in Tutuban. But it was fun. :))

I decided to take the train going to office to avoid the traffic jam.  I was lucky enough to arrive at the station at exactly 5:25 PM and the last trip to Alabang is at 5:35 PM.  This was my first time to ride the PNR train and was shocked that it would only require me 20 peso powers to get to Alabang!  What a buy!  It's like just half a liter of V-Power Diesel minus the toll!

Photo Credits: Backpackertrail

I was able to get a good seat at the ladies/pwds/ senior citizens' coach and it really was comfy at least on the first few minutes of the ride.  After some time, the condition went worse but still a little manageable. It's a ride where you can never get yourself to rest.  For one, you have to be weary of your stuff.  You'd hear passengers yelling from time to time.  I guess a few people got used to this condition and they can really manage to nap despite the noise, ventilation and cramming inside.  The travel time was like an hour and 45 minutes.  It was an assurance that I won't be late for work that night, so I took the chance.  But I really can't decide yet if I'll ride the PNR again.  I guess there's some argument between saving gas and footwork versus convenience versus losing your sanity. Lol


Xoxo,

Lalai

Country Style @ Plaz@ A

Our office switched concessionaires and we now have Country Style servicing the 6/F pantry since Monday last week. 

Before my shift starts, I’ll drop by the pantry to get free cappuccino and a rocky road square doughnut on good days or a boston kreme log on better ones or a heated sugar raised loop on rainy ones. J On my first coffee break, I’ll drop by again for a breakfasty treat, my all-time favorite--- cheese omelet!

It’s barely two weeks since they took over, and as early as now, I love them na!  At about 7:45, I am still at the pantry door and whoever was at the counter would politely greet me and would ask if my rocky road will be wrapped on wax or paper. Lol!  I haven’t ordered yet but they already know. J  When I ordered my omelet earlier today, one of the kuyas at the counter told the other kuya “gusto ni ma’am toasted yung isa pero yung kabila hinde, pero parehas yan may butter” [trans: “ma’am wants the other side toasted and the other one, not. But both sides with butter” And while they were assembling my meal, I noticed how careful kuya was on putting the mayo and catsup. That is, catsup, cross-wise and mayo, length-wise. Because that's how I want it done. OC!

Another favorite classic I like from Country style would be their Bagel with Soft Cream Cheese.

Photo Credits: Je Tabenoja



Yummmm.... I can't wait for my next coffee break! :))

A Dinner Date with Old Friends

I had a date with my Psych blockmaties from UPD last Saturday and I brought Allison with me.  It was good seeing these people again after, uhmmm... more than six (6) years.  I just can't say enough about how we all have grown and ehmmm... matured! Lol!

One of the best things about this get together was, I felt so part of them! I am now the exact opposite of how I was back in college. And I am happy about that change. When I think about how I used to be then, I feel a little sad and regretful. ;D  I never had the chance to bond with them before since I was busy with my world. Which was, errr.... bad.

A lot has changed but some things remained the same.  And I am very very happy about the things that changed, and the things that remained the same.

We are all living separate lives now and the dinner date became a good venue for us to bond and update each other of our whereabouts....

Macs, still a corporate slave (says she) and has spent her career life in th IT field. 

Marie and Isa, still single? But still beautiful as ever! And I just realized that the BPO Industry is such a small world that Marie knew most of the BPO HR personnels we had in GE Money.

Jab, the "somebody" she introduced in the last reunion, is a nobody now. Huwaaaat?! After 6 long years of being together?! Oh, well. There's nothing more shocking than that. Eh!

Kahrs, she's getting hitched next month.  What a good news!

While Me, myself and Ulai, proudly introduced my three-year old Allison to them. My daughter had a great time with these guys and even with Kahrs' husband-to-be. 

We set ourselves to meet at 7PM @ G5, but got together only at about 9 in the evening and had dinner @ Kitchen, Greenbelt 3. I had Missing Ink (which seemed to me like adobong pusit, with green peas) and Cool It (mint iced tea) for dinner, which I had to share with Allison. 

The Missing Ink ü (which was obviously not missing at all)

I wasn't able to join the guys on the night-out since I have a kid with me. I'll just probably make up for it next time.  We parted ways at around 11:30.

Allison and I were walking by the outskirts of Ayala's ParkSquare, and my dearest little one was forcing me to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" with her, out loud, on a gloomy starless night. Lol. It sure was funny. And she was making actions with the song! She certainly had that much energy to sing with all her lungs out. At 12 midnight!

We guys are to see each other soon again. On Kahrs and Erbi's Big Day. I will look forward to that.  Now, I suddenly miss college, and UP Diliman, and the PHAn Lobby, and Sunken Garden. And Mr. Palis and Dr. David+ and everybody!! Huhuhu... Sniff sniff..