The Journey. It’s Mine. [My personal take on love, life, parenting and blogging.]

This morning, I woke up to no electricity that lasted until almost 6 pm. Therefore it was only then that I saw on TV the tension at the Manila Peninsula in Makati City. Honestly, I was a bit disappointed when Trillanes surrendered and was shocked when the 12 MN curfew was announced.

Why is Malacañang palace seem so “scared”, thereby retaliating in such a way?

But the bigger question to ask I think is: who is beyond the almost coup d’ etat? If the whole military forces will not abide by GMA, her administration is dead meat.

With all that happening, the more that Filipinos are not feeling the spirit of Christmas. Maybe it’s just me, but it’s weird that Christmas isn’t very felt in the surroundings here. OR maybe I am just too far from the very commercialized civilization?! He he. I guess tonight I’ll know when I get there.

But then Christmas should be felt in the heart and that Christmas can be every day of our lives, right?

By this time tomorrow, we’ll most probably be lango sa saya at busog over there at Raine’s birthplace. Yeah, my adopted home town is Raine’s birthplace, so nobody can really blame if I am this over-static each time I plan to visit. I couldn’t sleep for days, each morning we wake up Raine will ask: “Uwi na tayo sa baños mommy”? Dropping the los as he normally calls the place. And then my standard reply: “Hindi pa, X tulog na lang.” He he.

Since we left 19 months ago, this will be my third visit but Raine’s first. I may be excited but he’s tons more excited with this trip.

It’s just weird that when one friend texted me with : “Uwi pala kayo ni Raine, see you soon.” it felt the most natural thing in the world. Despite the fact that we don’t live there anymore.

Hmmm…maybe when it’s time to find Raine a decent school in the future, I wont mind renting an apartment and going back there. Instead of going to Legaspi or Naga (obvious bang na sa aking standard eh walang pumasang big school dito?!), I’d rather go somewhere familiar where we have friends in. But then maybe Raine will freak out and not allow me to accompany him to college. (but if it’s high school, i will definitely go and Raine cannot do anything about it!)

He he. Daig ko pa stage nanay! Pero mga nanay…delikado na sa high school, mabuti na yung nakatutok ka.

Thank God it changed course.

Let’s all hope it gets out of the country soon but without another one on its tail.

Down here, it’s far from being bright and shiny, but most important is that electricity is up and I can get online.

Since the recent full paypal support in the Philippines (withdrawal to credit/debit cards and U.S. bank accounts only), I’ve been closely following what netrepeneurs and professional bloggers are saying about it. I’ve taken note of which credit/debits card will work.

Highly recommended is Unionbank(UBP)’s EON Cyber Account that comes with a VISA Electron card. I do not have credit cards anymore since i left my day job (March 2006) and the fact that credit card cash advance fees are quite hefty, I reckon debit cards are quite handy aside from its cheap withdrawal and maintenance fees — making debit cards more lucrative for paypal withdrawals here in the Philippines.

The only bank here in Sorsogon that offers a VISA Electron card attached to your bank account is Equitable PCI (EPCI) Bank. However, since this bank was recently acquired by Banco de Oro (BDO), issuance of VISA Electron cards has been suspended. Besides, BDO carries the Mastercard logo only.

Anyways… so I applied for an EON cyber account online, i think the first week of October, hoping that the UBP branch in Legaspi will call me once the card arrived ready for pick-up.

I read somewhere that they will call. No call arrived. I called them last week (i found the branch’s contact numbers in the website) and my card was already available.

Picked it up last Friday, the card arrived Oct. 19. Now, I’ve yet to verify my paypal account (and withdraw the funds already received from the recent pay cycle from using paypal as the only form of payment), my VISA card is still not activated. (48 hours activation daw, naipit ng weekend so baka by Wednesday pa!)

I thought I was weeks ahead in securing a VISA card. I should have called UBP-Legaspi earlier.

I hate waiting. The only good thing I’m seeing, maybe the dollar-peso exchange rate will become better by a few cents. But that may be even impossible by the way the peso has been getting stronger kuno these past months.

My mind may not feel getting old, but my body does.

Ten years ago, i do not mind walking and hiking. Now I can barely get up on occasions- my bones, joints and muscles are killing me.

Fifteen years ago, I can survive without eating solid food and sleeping for 48 hours -after which, I can sleep for hours during the day, hoping to get back the lost sleep hours. That was also the time that I do not eat on the appropriate eating hours.

I used to sleep in my college dorm bunk on odd hours, there was a time I actually got up at 2pm thinking that it was just dinner time. Sabi ng dorm guard, “alas dos na burger na lang makakain mo sa labas ng campus gate!” (hindi ko maalala pangalan nung food cart na may kape at burger kahit madaling-araw).

These days? If I do not eat on time, I’ll get a terrible headache and will pass out if I don’t eat soon enough. Dati puedeng mabuhay sa yosi at kape lang.

Today aches here and there. Pain every now and then. And we feel pain for a reason.

Ngayon, kailangan ng masahe, regular reflexology, kung may acupunture lang na malapit, papatulan ko na talaga. Ngayon, may araw mainit na tubig gusto kong ipaligo, pag nanuot ang lamig, sasakit kasi sikmura ko. Ka-ka-miss tuloy mainit na tubig sa LB. He he.

Dati hindi ako umiinom ng herbal at vitamins, ngayon yata kahit putik kakainin pag sinabing may therapeutic effects.

Speaking of therapeutic effects, before I thought, ek-ek lang maglakad sa tabing-dagat pagsikat ng araw sa umaga. Ngayon, papalibing pa ako sa buhangin kasi nakaka-relieve daw ng arthritic pain.

Every day payag akong gawin yan, mabasawan lang meds na kailangan inumin sa araw-araw.

Madalas sa gabi, ang hirap matulog. Lalo nang mahirap matulog sa araw! Nasabi ko na ba?I finally kicked that bad habit (smoking) for good! Ang sarap, maluwag sa dibdib, literally.

Every morning, I need to convince myself to drink milk instead of coffee. That is something I need to work on in the coming years., sana time will come na iinom ako ng gatas na hindi ako parang umiinom ng lason. One glass of milk a day is a feat. Hayy.

Ayan na nga, singil ng panahon sa katawan.

Isa pa, i never exercised in my life. Konting jogging lang dati (in college at nung working na) pero wala na since I got pregnant with Raine.  Na-ko-corni-han ako sa exercise. Pero baka yoga o kaya taichi eh pumayag ako. Kaya lang, hello?! Saan naman dito meron niyan?!

Now that All Saints’/All Souls’ Days are over, the next time there’ll be a family get together is on Christmas and New Year’s day.

If we come to think of it, at the end of this month, Christmas shopping should start (if not already), that is if you want to beat that extra-thick crowd at that time of year. I started my preparation by updating my address book. Something I haven’t really done for too many years.

The holiday season became extra special to me since Raine arrived. His birthday is an additional celebration for my family between Christmas and New Year’s day — meaning I have to work hard at hiding that birthday gift. Otherwise, baka masanay si Raine na doble lagi regalo ko sa kanya tuwing pasko.

What about you? Have you already thought of what Christmas gifts to buy this year?