Earn. Save. Invest. Donate.

We send our children to school to learn. Perhaps, some children, just like my kids, learned about money at school in the subject called Math, but teaching them the value of money- how it is earned, how it should be spend, how to invest it and how to save, they would probably learn it from us, parents. 

I can still remember during my younger years when my parents would tell me that i should study hard in order for me to get a job and then work hard in order for me to earn and save a lot. But when i landed on my first job, i just realized that with the elevated cost and standard of living, having a 9-5 job will never be sufficient to be financially stable. I kept telling myself, Why do i need to get stucked in the rate of my salary, working hard for a company, if i can be my own boss anyway?

No doubt, summer will always be the most exciting time of the year to book for a beach house, dig in the closet for bathing suits, pump up those floaters, fill up the picnic baskets and go for a swim! But with the complex series of climate change, especially the El Niño phenomenon happening in our country today, summer can mean anytime of the year, like December or for people like me and my family who always had a longing for total R and R- any day and any season is just perfect to hit the road for a short fun away especially on weekends.

(Warning! Photo Overload)

Gone are the days when paintings, arts and museum tours are deemed as boring. I'm glad that paintings, just like movies, were now revamped to 3-dimensional work of art that is interactive and fun for everyone. I must say that i am one of those few people who appreciates arts, especially paintings. If given enough resources to splurge on an auction for a prestigious painting i would love to have one for my home.

"What on earth could be more luxurious than a sofa, a book, and a cup of coffee?"  

Last Saturday, I was invited by a dear friend to come over to the grand opening and blessing of the newest "tambayan" in town. Guess what? If you think that only burgers are popping out today like mushrooms in every corner of the streets here in Batangas, don't you know that coffee shops are also massively penetrating at every town nowadays? These coffee shops excites me so much! For the love of coffee, yes it is!

I love Burgers! 

The biggest B2B - Business to Blogger event of the year happened last October 25, 2015 at One Esplanade and the best thing about it is that, i was a part of it! Hooray! 

Blogapalooza is a community of bloggers and online influencers wanting to feature and connect with businesses. Blogapalooza has been running since 2011 and every year it just gets better and better. It was an invite only event that only bloggers and businesses can attend. Not all bloggers can be qualified too because prior to the event, each and every blogger will undergo a screening. Fortunately, i was able to pass the screening together with my MumsDailyPh team and we’re so excited to go!

Trick or Treat is a special time of the year that me and my kids would always look forward to. They've been joining the yearly festival since 2011 and they love it for three reasons: the (1) sweet candy treats, (2) the games with loots and prizes and of course (3) the costumes! October of every year is the season when both funny, cute and scary costumes are out in the shops and kids were excited to wear and follow different characters annually. I must say that this year is quite different from all of the years that we've been through, because as much as i wanted to dress them up cute and colorful, last week became a different vibe. It was their first time to dress in black and looked scary (but they're still cute)! Anyhoo, we agreed to that effect because we just wanted to follow the theme for this year's scariest costume party! And i wasn't expecting that it'll be that super spooky! 

Halloween parties from 2011-2014

The kind of question during my childhood years while i keep myself busy playing bahay-bahayan, luto-lutuan, and school-schoolan with my playmates.

I can still remember well, when me and my sister together with some playmates who were also our cousins will do role-playing activities during our younger days. My favorite role is becoming a teacher where i will get to hold a stick, wear a false eye glasses and stand in front of them as if i was really a teacher who was yelling at my students. Then i would shift to becoming a banker where i would sit on the chair of my mom's home office table and will start signing some old forms, get the calculator, do some computations and pull out some papers that i call "bills" and hand it over to my playmate like we were transacting something. Those were the days, simple yet very happy with the little things that we have. 

If there would be one specialty that me and my hubby would enjoy the most, i think that would be a platter of seafoods garnished with the most delectable flavors of butter, garlic and chili or maybe a bowl of  crabs cooked in creamy coconut milk that is hot and spicy. Yes we love "maanghang", but he likes it more than i do.

Just recently, our busy Monday schedule transported us in the city of Lipa, Batangas, reason for us to check out a new place to dine-in, just in time for lunch. The wheels of the car went fast as we approached San Jose, and slowly till we reach the city where we spotted Seafood in the Bucket by Chef Jonas. Actually, i had been seeing this resto for quite some time now and the name sounds familiar. On my frequent googling, i stumbled across this site and thought that oh! it was in the middle east! How am i goin' to try that? But that was just the name similar to this and how happy i was to know that the concept of seafoods inside a bucket is now here in Batangas.

The past week has brought a lot of trouble and anxiety for parents, not only in our municipality in Bauan but in the whole Southern Tagalog Region. The alarming news about child abductions and kidnapping with reference to four police reports about missing children was really disturbing. As a parent, I couldn’t help but worry about my kids who were at school the whole time and I’m sure a lot of parents are just the same. 

Let me just share to you my thoughts about these current issues that are affecting us today as moms. Apart from my busy day to day schedules, I’ve decided not to open my facebook newsfeed because I never want to bother myself all the more with all the posts that the netizens are spreading on the internet. I’m not saying, I don’t care about the situation, but there are more reliable sources that are worthy of my time and attention. 

Photo Source

It has always been a tradition in my home to welcome the first day of the "ber" months, somewhat extra special. I just feel like its the most wonderful time to start the countdown before the holidays, do some gift giving lists for Christmas shopping and probably the most awaited time to dig into the storage room and clean that colorful lights and lanterns in preparation for Christmas gatherings! Yes! 

It was a gloomy Sunday afternoon then. The kids were off on a short vacation at their granny's place due to a long weekend celebration once again. While me and my all time favorite cousin Josh were left in the house and that day seemed to be a lazy, sleepy, kind of Sunday. Still, we managed to get up in the afternoon and attended the 4pm Sunday service in our local church. I love Sundays, probably because it's the kind of day when i had the excuse to not cook or prepare any dish for lunch or dinner (we usually eat out). I love it too because it's that one day of the week where i can be on the lookout to try new restaurants or cafes around the city or maybe in the nearby towns after attending church.

Aside from coffee shops and cafes who offer delicious pastas and sandwiches for the foodies, don't you know that burger joints were also popping-up like mushrooms, everywhere in Batangas? In my town alone, i think i can count five (5) garage burger stalls (if i'm not mistaken) or more! And they offer nothing but BURGERS! The slowest kind of poison for the health conscious buffs but perhaps the most satisfying comfort food to many.

After being a mom and getting so caught up with so many things from left to right, finding some time to look good and pretty can be a little daunting for moms. As for me, getting the looks doesn't have to be a dilemma while balancing a busy lifestyle. It actually caused me all the more to find ways on how i can look fabulous despite my busy schedules. Why? Because parenting should be pretty cool by realizing that there's always a connection between feeling good and LOOKING good!

I've been wanting to visit City of Dreams Manila for the kids to experience Dreamplay and since it was a special non-working holiday in the province of Batangas that day, [commemorating the celebration of Mabini Day] and it was a nice Thursday, we pursue the long overdue plan. It was also timing that our Big Daddy is present for a 28 days vacation and so we drove all the way heading to the metro. The visit was originally scheduled for my son's 8th birthday coming August, but since its a holiday on a weekday, i believe it was the perfect time to visit, considering also that ticket rates are cheaper on weekdays rather than the weekends and i presumed that the crowd isn't too big which is in fact true that day.

Photo Source

Restaurants and cafes are opening one by one  in our locality nowadays and it only signifies that our community is gaining progress. Going back to our days, i remember how we drive all the way to Alabang just to meet up with friends over a cup of coffee and a plate of scrumptious dish while setting the perfect mood to start a nice chat in a sound ambiance. But now, coffee shops and a lot more of chic restos are here! Thanks to social media buffs for putting the limelight on these establishments that are now gaining popularity. 

Within the 5 hectare property overlooking the legendary Paoay Lake in Ilocos Norte lies the 2-storey mansion of the Marcoses which is famously known as the Malacanang of the North or Malacanang Ti Amianan as referred by the Ilocanos. It is the official residence of former President Ferdinand Marcos and his family. According to history the house was built as a gift of the former Fist Lady Imelda Marcos to her husband, then former President Marcos on his 60th birthday and has become a venue to welcome affluent personalities and dignitaries, both local and foreign.

I am fascinated with adventure trips and natural wonders and if given any chance and the luxury of time, there's no brainer that i would pack up for a backpacking adventure to climb mountains or cross the rivers just to feast my eyes on the wonderful creations of God and relive myself with overflowing memories when i'm old and gray.

While planning our trip to Ilocos, i had listed quite a few number of hotels and resorts where we could stay overnight, considering the budget, location and safety. Searching through the internet and reading some other blogs i came across this transient home in Saud Beach. I was actually wondering how nice it could be in reality, because it got a good rating from travelers- budget friendly and nice! I wrote it down on my list but honestly, its the least on my options.

As much as i wanted to finish my Ilocandia series in one sitting, but sorry i cannot, due to an overload of priorities and the bedly stormy weather seems to be so inviting for such laziness. Anyway, here's the next installment for my Ilocos Travel Diary and pardon me if this is gonna be a flooding of photographs. This beauty of Saud Beach in the northern tip of Pagudpud need not be described word after word because the photos will speak for itself. And these photographs will not lie, because my first hand experiences with this place just took my breath away...

Standing majestically at the coast of Burgos, Ilocos Norte, fronting the Bangui Bay is the stunning Kapurpurawan Rock Formations. So far, it is the most fascinating natural wonder in this part of the country that I've ever seen and it left me breathless. 

Seeing a lighthouse, whether a picture, an illustration or a concrete one, usually gives me random thoughts. The one in horror movies made me think that lighthouses are such creepy places where ghosts and other outside of the world activities can take place any time of the day. On the lighter side, when i see one on photos seated on calm waters, it give me feelings of hope and dreams, sending me a message of beauty, joy, peace and the need to be still. Truly, lighthouses are a favorite scenic spots and those I've mentioned were just some of the facile declaration of my fondness for such edifice.

If ever you'll be travelling to Vigan on a summer or maybe on a weekend, make sure you book your hotel atleast a week or days before you plan to go. I just made a terrible mistake of not booking our room ahead of time, thinking that its a Tuesday so most probably, the hotels are available though it was a peak summer season. We left Batangas on a Sunday night and headed straight to Ilocos Norte, targeting Pagudpud on our first day. While i enjoyed so much of the places in the North, and we got a nice stay at Saud Beach which i just booked that same day when we arrived, I thought i can do the same thing at Vigan. But that was a major epic fail!

Our Vigan Home Stay

I've mentioned on my recent post about our Vigan tour that i'll be sharing more of Baluarte in another blog, and so this is it! Honestly, i'm not in the perfect mood to write another installment for this Ilocos Travel Diary so please forgive me if this is gonna be some sort of photo overload, words are hiding at this very moment. Lol!

Vigan has always  been a dream destination for me and my habitual liking for heritage and cultural places caused me to long for this place all the more. With its scaling appeal to the tourism industry, both foreign and Filipino alike are going nuts about visiting this UNESCO heritage site. And so because its summer and the family is complete, together with some friends we decided to pursue this long overdue trip to Ilocos, finally! God has been so good!

While planning our trip to Ilocos, I've kept myself busy for a week reading blogs, searching for hotels and listing down top grossing places to visit in a stretch of 4 days including the travel time which is more than 10 hours from Batangas to Manila, then to Laoag, and a few more hours till we hit Pagudpud (one way).

The past week has been a busy week for me working for MumsDailyPH and the kids too. Adjusting to their schedules and school works plus my maiden bentosiasm in preparing their everyday lunch boxes is quite a tough job! But i thank God i just made it through the week and survived some business works all done ahead of my time schedule. So i find the weekend a perfect day to drive all the way to Alabang to visit ExpoMom Goes South- a MommyMundo event that I'm sure everyone is always looking forward to! I've got a few things to buy on my list and the whole Sunday is just enough for us to squeeze everything before the sun sets. So here's the highlight of our weekend!

I will always remember how our Dad raised us, and how he provided us everything that we need until we finished schooling. I can also remember how firm he was with his decisions and how consistent he was when he says No. At that age it took me a while to understand how Dads can be so mean while Moms can be just cool and easy. Well, as far as i can remember, my Mom is the most negotiable person in the house i know, yet she is caring and can be demanding too all at the same time, but minus the firm qualities. 

Heading back to school signals a time of transition. For parents it could be the start of a midyear roller coaster because of the added routinary schedules of our day to day lives. But more than our own personal grief on transitions, the adjustment is actually most difficult for our kids. After a long summer vacation, getting your kids into the mood for studies can be an uphill battle. Their enthusiasm may be low or non-existent at all. But it shouldn't be something to be worried about, it's normal. 

Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby, but honestly, when you become a mother, "normal" is history. Then somebody said that the hardest part of being a mother is labor and delivery, but the truth is, every stages of motherhood is hard like watching my "baby" hop on the school bus for the first day of kindergarten, or soon, on a plane headed for a much deserved career when he’s all grown up. Another, somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married but don’t you know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a mother's heartstrings?

Staycation is one of my favorite things to do. Whether we are celebrating a special occasion or we just feel like we wanted to escape and relax for a weekend. And like I always say, being a southern dweller for most of my life, our quick go-to places will always be Alabang. It's an hour drive and nice hotels are just around the corners. 

For my daughter's birthday she only wished for one thing, "Mommy i want to stay in a hotel with a nice swimming pool!" That was quite a surprise for a 6-years old, wishing for a staycation instead of expensive toys or perhaps a lavish party. So there, i booked a room for us at Crimson Hotel.

"The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray."

Proverbs 12:26

When it comes to friends, I am the CHOOSY one. And maybe at this age i can call myself one lucky girl who managed to win some friends. Friends that i can call my sisters at heart. Some have been there for decades, some were still in the getting-to-know-each-other level but we hang around like we've known each other since birth. And just like anybody else, I also got friends who laughs with me and admires me face to face like genuine people, and all of the sudden they'll change or should i say, it's not the person who changed, but it's the mask that falls off. Sometimes, i wanted to believe in the saying that "Life is a masquerade, everywhere you look are people hiding behind masks." As usual, friends come and go but i really feel blessed to be surrounded by a few but amazing friends in my life whom i know will be there for me and will accept me and love me in any circumstances.

I'm a Christian and a believer of GOD by heart, and i do have high regards and respect to the Catholic church because this is where i started building my spiritual foundation since the day i was born, until i was reborn and now serving a Christian fellowship that inspires me to honor God and make disciples. Today, i just can't help but share my personal feelings while watching the coverage of the Pope's visit. When i saw him reaching out to our fellow Filipinos, it gave me some sort of excitement, feelings of joy that is indescribable. I was deeply moved and overwhelmed by his presence while staring at him on national television's live forecast. Honest to goodness, it made me teary-eyed... and then cried.