A fulfilling experience

About 6 years ago, our first baby we named Althea was born.
And it was one memorable chapter of our lives because it's official...we're now Parents!
And for that long period of time, I and my wife thought that we will just raise only one child.
But we became more excited when we both found out that, we're expecting another baby.

While, the world were torn between hate and celebrations because of the outcome of Pacquiao and Mayweather Jr. fight...a few hours before sun officially rises, our second baby we named Baby Kayla was born.
Everyone, in the family were very excited. And at the time, we felt we're so blessed...imagine, from one baby girl to another baby girl.

Come to think of it, being a parent, is one phase of everyone's life to cherish and celebrate.
Here, you'll no longer just think about yourself but the welfare and well-being of your family. And everything about the way you see life will finally change.
I remember, when we had Althea, our first baby...should I say we don't know what to expect and we're not ready. Now, I have a better understanding of what to prepare and what to expect.

One, must begin with being emotionally prepared.
In my case, I married my wife when I got her pregnant. Actually, everything was unclear to me, like I don't know if I will marry her right away or we just push through with having the baby and talk about it after giving birth.
But somehow, I have one clear mindset...we end up having a civil wedding.

Another important thing to consider is getting ready financially. The truth of the matter is building a family comes with expenses.
In my case, I shouldered every single expenses from wedding preparations and reception plus the two months advance and a one month deposit in the apartment were renting and a lot more.
Think of this way, don't rely on help your family, relatives, and friends will provide you...it should be you alone. And bare in mind that in our society, it is a man's one great obligation. In short, be man enough dude.

And a heads up, be ready for some major adjustments in getting to know your wife's family and relatives. Think of this way, it's not only you who will adjust with the set up, but your partner as well.
Don't bother too much about it, it's really a continuous process.
But one good advice, live your own and away from your parent's or relative's house.
It will help you (the newly weds) to live a life on your own.

Just remember this, becoming a parent not just come upon's having a baby. It will automatically turn you too it, but just like any learnings, it comes in a continuous process.

Working Girls:The Movie Review

Sabi nila may "battle of sexes," between male and female. And it originated sa mga bagay na kayang gawin ng mga lalaki na hindi raw magagawa ng mga kababaihan. But I was one of the many people, na hindi na naniniwala dito. No offense for some guys like me, iba na ang mga babae ngayon...kayang-kaya na nilang makipagsabayan sa anumang larangan.
Isa sa mga pelikulang nagawa noon na aking hinangaan ay ang kuwento ng mga..."Working Girls."
Hindi po natin pinaguusapan ang isa pa ring pelikula na may kaparehong titulo na ginawa ng dekadang ito, kundi ang pelikula noong dekada otsenta o 80's movie na likha ng batekang direktor na si Ishmael Bernal.
Bagama't nahahawig ito sa isang ring kaparehong titulo sa Hollywood ang "Working Girls," ni Oliver Stone at at nang kay Michael Nichol's na "Working Girl," masasabi nating orihinal ang kuwentong ito.

Click the link below for more details:
http://www.spot.ph/entertainment/56367/retro-review-working-girls


ANG BUOD NG KUWENTO

Sa isang maunlad na siyudad sa Makati iikot ang kuwento ng pitong magkakaiba ngunit magkakaugnay ng mga babae ng isang prestiyosong kumpanya ang "Premium Bank."
Si Hilda Koronel (Carla Asuncion), isang Top Executive ng nasabing kumpanya na ang nature ng business ay mag-approve ng mga loans. Ang kanyang desisyon na pahiramin lamang ng maliit na halaga ang businessman na si Mr. Jefferson Lee, ang kalauna'y magluluklok sa kanya sa kumpanya bilang Senior Vice President nito. Bagama't pilit na binabalanse nito ang karera at ang pagibig sa kasintahang si Roy, ang promosyon nito ang magiging daan na unahin muna ang trabaho at talikuran ang minamahal.
Mayroon mang sariling kinahaharap na problema, siya ang tutulong sa kanyang sekretarya na si Rio Locsin (Isabel), na noon ay may secret affair at kalauna'y mabubuntis ng isa ring top executive na si Tommy Abuel (Raul Leuterio.)
Sa isang konprontasyon kay Raul sa pelikula...igigiit ni Carla ang karapatan ni Isabel, na magiging daan para makakuha ng suportang pinansyal ang batang dinadala nito.
Si Raul ay gaganap na biyudo na may kaliwa't kanang love affair sa mga kababaihan...kasama na ang artistang si Baby Delgado (Amanda), na kasalukuyang namang nililigawan nito.
Ngunit kasabay nito pilit namang pipikutin ng Alaherang si Gina Pareno (Nimfa), si Raul na ang tanging nais ay magkaroon ng Amang taga Makati at isang executive ang bastardong anak. Ngunit dahil tuso ito, hindi man niya nakuhang magpakasal sa kanya ang lalaki...tatakutin naman niya ito sa tulong ng ilang mga kakilala upang makunan ng malaking halaga ng salapi.
Sa isang banda, ipakikilala rin ang katauhan ni Chanda Romero (Ann), isang maybahay na may lumalagong karera sa buhay. Pero ang kanyang tagumpay ang pagmumulan nang away nilang magasawa na mauuwi sa hiwalayan. Dahil hindi kasing successful ni Ann ang asawa...iisipin nitong may iba itong kalaguyo at pagseselosan ang isang kaibigan at kasamahan sa trabahong si Robert Arevalo (Ed Gonzales). Isang Byudo at nanliligaw naman kay Ann sa pelikula.
Kung pagibig ang problema ni Ann, sa pera naman maiipit si Maria Isabel Lopez (Rose), kaliwa't-kanan ang utang sa mga kasamahan sa trabaho kaya't kalauna'y  mapipilitang gamitin ang ganda at katawan para makabayad ng utang at masustentuhan ang luho. Pero sa pagtanggap nito sa panibagong hamon ng buhay, hindi inaasahang may darating na bagong pagibig sa kanya. Ngunit sa 'di inaasahang pagbabagong buhay, mabibigo ito dahil madi-diskubreng minsan na niyang nakasiping sa kama ang Ama ng kaniyang pakakasalan.
At ang maharot, maingay at malanding karakter ni Carmi Martin (Suzzane Galang),  na isang ring sekretarya ng iisang kumpanya na nagpapalipat-lipat at sumisiping sa kanyang boss dahil sa ambisyong manatili sa posisyon at guminhawa ang buhay.
Hindi nito inaasahan na darating si Mr. Right sa kanya sa katauhan ni Edu Manzano (Danny Prado), na sa kalauna'y mahuhulog din naman ang loob sa kanya.

MAHUSAY NA PAGLALAHAD NG KUWENTO

Akala ko noon (nung 80's era) hindi pa uso ang paghahabi ng kuwento kung saan maraming mga karakter na magkakaugnay o kabit-kabit.
Parang nanonood tuloy ako ng mga banyagang pelikula gaya ng "Valentines," at "What to expect when you're expecting," na ang daming mga involved na characters sa istorya.
Pero aaminin ko na namulat ako sa ganitong istilo ng pagku-kuwento nung makita ko ang pelikula na gaya ng "Jologs" ng Star Cinema at ang "One Night Only," na under rin ng Viva.
Nakasanayan ko kasi ang mga pelikulang iilan lamang ang mga bida na karaniwan ay mga sikat na aktor at aktres ang gumaganap...ibang-iba sa "Working Girls," ni Bernal.
Dito hindi ka maiinip kasi nga sa dami nila maaaliw ka. Lalo mo tuloy tututukan kasi nga interesting ang mga characters at walang dull moment.
Sa kagaya kong manonood tila napaka-palad ko kasi nga sinusulit nito ang pera na ibinayad ko para magpunta ng sinehan at manood ng hindi lang iisang kuwento kundi higit sa lahat nagtataglay ito ng isang makabuluhang paghahabi ng mga kuwento.

ANG KUWENTO AY NAGLALARAWAN NG KUWENTO MO AT KUWENTO KO

Ilan nga ba sa atin ang hindi pipiliin ang magandang karera sa trabaho para talikuran ang pagibig?
Hindi ba maraming ganitong uri ng mga desisyon?
Baka nga isa ka sa mga Carla Asuncion sa pelikula.

Ilan naman sa atin ang kagaya ni Isabel na magkakamali at magkikibit balikat na akuin na lang ang responsibilidad magisa at pipiliin na maging isang single mom na lang...kapalit ng walang habas na paghusga sa kanya ng mga tao sa kanyang lipunang ginagalawan?

At ilan namang Rose ang papipitas kung kani-kanino at kakapit sa patalim para kumita ng pera?
Aminin man natin o hindi may mga ilan na ganito na ang nakagawiang buhay.
Kung saan nilunok na nilang lahat ang pride at kahihiyan mabuhay lamang ang pamilya at sarili.

Ilan naman sa atin ang magiging tuso gaya ni Nimfa at manlalamang sa mga gaya rin niyang mapagsamantala?
Sa madaling salita, kaysa sa ikaw nga naman ang malamangan, sila na lang ang lamangan mo.

At wala bang kagaya rin ni Suzzane na laging iisipin ang kapakanan at gagamitin ang angking ganda ng katawan at kabataan upang makapang-akit ng iba?
Maaaring isang mapangahas na galaw, pero kung ito nga lamang ang makapagpapanatili sa kanya sa isang matatag na posisyon...bakit nga naman hindi.

Bakit hindi mo nga rin naman pipiliin na magmahal at magpakasal sa kagaya mong mayaman at may sinasabi at posisyon na rin sa isang kumpanya?
Hindi nalalayo ito sa naging desisyon ni Amanda.
Dahil batid nito na ito ang pinakamainam na paraan upang mapanatili ang maganda niyang estado sa kasalukuyan at maging sa hinaharap.

At ilan naman sa atin ang inaaalok ng magandang career pero nagdadalawang-isip na kunin dahil isinasaalang-alang ang masasaktang pride nang asawa.
Isang desisyon na bumabagabag kay Ann...kasama na ang isang manliligaw na very perfect for him biyudo, mayaman, matalino at may mataas na posisyon sa isang kumpanya.

Ilan lang ito sa mga karakter na buhay at sumasalamin sa bawat isa sa atin na masasaksihan sa pelikula ni Bernal.

MGA KAPUNA-PUNANG EKSENA SA PELIKULA

Sa paglalahad ng kuwento ng pelikula, maraming bahagi sa eksena ang may kasamang "sex scene." May eksena kung saan naroon ang mga bida sa loob ng hotel o condo. Marahil bahagi ito talaga ng kuwento o isang mainam na kalakip na sangkap upang mas maging maganda at maipakilala ang mga karakter na mga gumaganap sa pelikula.
Pambihirang halikan ang ipinakita ni Gina Pareno (Nimfa), at Tommy Abuel (Raul Leuterio), sa kanilang eksena hindi mo tuloy makikita na inaarte lamang nila itong pareho...naging makatotohanan ito dahil sa torid nilang kissing scene. Kung baga sa pabalbal na salita, naroon ang hinihinging "Libog," sa eksena.
Bagama't sana ay mas higit na naipakita ang libog sa pakikipagtalik ni Maria Isabel Lopez (Rose), sa mga kalalakihang pumapayag siyang sumiping...sa bahaging iyon pa nagkulang.
Iniisip ko na lang na mahigpit din ang "Censorship," noon kaya hangga't maari walang maselang parte ng katawan at mahalay pang eksena ang makikita sa pelikula.
Pero halos lahat ng bida sa "Working Girls," ay mayroong bed scene, bukod sa dalawang unang nabanggit, mayroon din nito si Carmi Martin (Suzzane Galang), at kunwari'y bedscene ni Hilda Koronel (Carla Asuncion), sa Nobyo nitong si Roy at ni Chanda Romero (Ann), kay Robert Arevalo (Ed Gozales).

IBA'T-IBANG KINAHANTUNGAN NG MGA BIDA SA PAGTATAPOS

Ganun naman talaga ang buhay, hindi laging nagtatagumpay at hindi rin naman laging nabibigo.
Ganito ang kinahantungan ng pito sa mga pangunahing karakter ng pelikula. Minsan kahit na masama ang ugali mo gaya ng babaerong si Raul Leuterio, maaari ka pa ring magkaroon ng magandang buhay. Mali nga lamang dahil ginagamit mo ang iyong kapangyarihan at salapi para makamit ito. Na gaya naman din ni Suzzane Galang, na gumawa muna ng hindi magagandang bagay bago tuluyang sumaya at maging suwerte sa buhay.
Pero sa totoo lamang, ikaw ang gagawa ng sarili mong kapalaran. Totoo na minsan kailangan mong magkamali. Pero ang mahalaga matuto ka rito. At isang katangahan kung mauulit muli ito na 'tila parang nakasanayan muna. Isa lang ang totoo, para magtagumpay sa buhay, gawin at piliin mo ang tamang daan at landas. Desisyon lang 'yan, Pero ito ang bagay na magdadala sayo sa anumang larangan na gusto mong magtagumpay.

Summer means too hot in the Philippines

Typical Sunday, at home relaxing. But the weather is extremely hot today. The weather forecast says Metro Manila is now at 34 degree celcious. But I doubt it. Lately, I've been experiencing figuratively and literally bathing in my own sweat while doing househouse chores like washing the dishes. And everytime, I access the comfort room to deficate, the same worse thing happen to me.
I couldn't count, the number of times I open the fridge for water. I know it's essential for the body to replace fluids that's taken away because of too much heat.
Now, this keeps me from changing clothes a number of times and replacing towels I usually place at my back.
At night, I usually wake up to drink water and change positions facing the fan at home.
The heat is giving me uneasy feeling. And every now and then, feeling like I've been to gym and just had workout.
So, instead of facing the fan inside our home, I chooses to stay outside where there's a natural air. At least, somehow I'm getting enough air I need for myself to prevent me from perspiring.
I hope it'll soon be over.
We will be facing illnesses brought about by intolerable warmness of the weather...plus the fact that our water reservoir is deteriorating fast.
I hope it will rain soon, so that the warmness that we feel if not fades away...will at least somehow deteriorates.

There's an Angel on Earth

I don't know, but one thing I'm sure of, there's a time in our life that we are facing financial problems. Oh, how to deal with it? Is still a big question that left unanswered.
Some are resorting to borrowing money from people whom we know, while some rely on the loans provided by the company and/or institutions.
Believe it or not, I used this two lifelines.
After my wife successfully gave birth to our youngest...unexpected immediate hospital expenses came out.
Yes, we're prepared for it...as in months before her labor. But apparently, professional fees from my wife's OB, Anesthesiologist, and our baby's Pedia gave us extra "big" burdens.
I contacted several people, some of them replied but failed to help us financially.
I don't know, at the time, I felt I was standing at the highest building and thinking if I will jump or not.
While, my mind is occupied with so many things, two important people in my wife's side answered our call.
Right then and there, there was an immediate relief. And the family, finally went out of the hospital.
But of course, since it's just a money we lend from relatives...we have to settle it, as fast as we can to not compromise people and avoid inconvenience on them.
I lay all my cards, the following day, after bailing out of the hospital...I visited my office and asked for emergency loan. Got so lucky, after a few days...the cheque became ready.
But there's another remaining amount that needs immediate attention, and our deadline last until the end of month of May.
I remember, one good samaritan who offered me help, at the time I was also having financial difficulties with my Mom who suffered from a mild stroke.
I just sent him a private message and he responded right away. And to think that this person is not a close friend of mine, but a batch mates during College days.
To cut the long story short, we became friends through Facebook with a common friend whom I offered help at the time.
Actually, I really wanted to ask for his help even before, but I was then hesitant to do so because I never want to bother him.
He offered financial help, and also offered me a flexible payment terms.
I'm also actually, thinking twice to do this because I have current loans and some monthly obligations to pay.
But God is so good, again He uses people to let me know that He's just around and always listening on our prayers.
For now, again...I feel so bless.

I am now a registered voter

I've been wondering about the process I'm about to go through, if I will visit the nearest COMELEC office in the city.
This morning, I took the initiative to go out and register.
It's been 15 long years, I am a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines and yet never exercise my right to suffrage.
I'm most of the time committed at work and being in the media is making me more busy and somehow disinterest me to do so.
But I always came to ask myself, how will I help our country achieve change, if I am not number one...practicing my right to vote for the most deserving candidates.
It's just only a very quick process, just present any Identification Card that contains your name, address as well as signature.
I remember, I'm asked to write the name of a relative living with me. But the tip here is make sure to give a name of a registered relative. In my case, I indicated my Mother's name and right then and there, from the window I'm standing...my Mom's information and picture appeared in their computer.
Then, comes three similar pages of paper that I have to fill-up.
I just only paid for P1 for the photocopy of my ID.
The steps are very simple just provide the information about you and then proceed to the last phase of registration...the biometrics.
I only encountered a very little interruption when the computer malfunctions during the data encoding.
After the encoding, I'm asked to have my picture taken, signature followed and thumbmarks.
And given instruction, as to how will I be notified when my voter's ID is ready for pick up.
So, I'm now encouraging everybody avoid the rush and visit now the nearest COMELEC office/station in your city.
And together, will make change for our future.

A gift from God

Mikayla Ysabelle Garabot
1st baby picture, May 3, 2015
Sunday, around 4am
PGH, labor room

Excited Dad
Finally overcome fear of carrying her

My wife Mary Anne with our Newborn
Baby Kayla and our eldest Althea

I thought it's just a regular Saturday. We'll bring my pregnant wife to see her OB for the usual check up. But surprisingly, the doctor told us after an IE procedure she did...my wife is requested to be admitted.

And the next thing I know, I was waiting outside the labor room just like what we did 6 years ago.

My eldest at the time, was with us and I'm left with a choice of looking over her while I'm also taking good care of my wife ready for labor.

Time check, it's 2 in the afternoon. 

I wanted to stay outside the labor room, but the hospital told me to prepare her room. With my daughter we searched and spotted the admitting section. I wanted to focuss with my wife's labor but the hospital is keeping me busy with the requirements for the stay.

We were able to get my wife a comfortable room. And since, the waiting area where relatives and loved ones is not a friendly place to stay...I told Althea's uncle to wait in the room instead.

The hospital is not "child friendly", so we both decided to vacate it and left for home. 

I just took all the things we prepared for the hospital and back again around 11 in the evening.

My wife requested for a sandwich and water before the labor. 

I stayed in the room, with TV on switching channels, and still feeling uneasy.

And who wouldn't be so worried, my wife is in the labor room. A lot of things is bothering me. But still praying that everything will be alright.

I'm not pretty sure of getting a sleep, but I think I had a few.

Around 4am, Sunday (hours before the Pacman and Mayweather fight), a nurse called my attention to go to the labor room.

So, I went there. I was told that my wife already gave birth. But as long as I'm not seeing the baby or even get a hold of it...I wouldn't believe.

And a few minutes after, my surname got called and there was a nurse in front of me holding a baby.

And time freezes. I was now staring at the baby wrapped with a green blanket. 

I couldn't help it, I took her first picture on my android phone.

I don't know, the feeling was, I was about to cry because of happiness but it never push thru for there was a doctor and a nurse in front of me.

Baby Kayla is so adorable. It was in front of me, trying to stare at me while I'm having a glance on her. The baby is one-eyed open from her left. She's so calm and relax.

I also tried asking questions about my wife's condition. After, I was told she's perfectly okay, the doctors were still talking but I cannot concentrate for my full attention was at my Baby Kayla.

I and my wife is very thankful to God for her safe delivery and for the baby's welfare as well.
It was a prayer I've been whispering to God every now and then.
An answered prayer.