Pay day please be quick

Today is the 13th of the month and all of us in the office are waiting for the payday to come.  Remember, I once mentioned that we only get our pay once a month, every 15th of each month. 

It took me a while to adjust myself and manage my finances with this pay scheme in the office.  All other works I had in the past pays two times a month but not this company. Our company was able to explain it to us why the do it this way though I was not really interested to remember their explanation. I am already happy getting my pay and having this job.

I was able to get by with this scheme and so are my colleagues.  In trying times, I could cash advance from our local cooperative set up also by the company.   Another favor the company does to us is paying us not later than the 14th of each month.  I have been here for more than three years and there was no instance I remember we got our pay on the actual payday. It is always early and we are all happy with it.   Though its always like this, we can never blame if they decide to pay us on the 15th.  So if our luck continuous until tomorrow, we will get our pay.

Thirty Six Hours

Here we are, back again in Manila.


This recent trip to Bicol was the shortest visit I had in all my visits. We only stayed 36 hours at home. We arrived at 8am on Saturday and left at 5pm on Sunday. We were on the road for 7 hours each way. From Cavite, my Uncle and I picked up my Lola in Tondo, then hit the road going to Bicol.


I missed my hometown, this my best description of simple living. According to my Uncle, we had electricity in our barangay at about 1980 or so. I am lucky because I was born in Manila in 1979 and my Lola brought me to Bicol sometime in 1980, I suppose when electricity is so new in town. Suddenly, I remember the old radio transistor and a small electric fan we have at home. These are the only thing we have at home that uses electricity aside from the 2 electric bulbs we have. Analog TV, Turn Tables and Electric stove may already be common in Manila but not in our place. In fact, I don't remember that we have ever used the electric fan because its not needed. We only had that because its one of the things my Lola got from my mother when I was given to her. So my lola had no choice to take home the fan with me.


Enough of reminiscing, I will show some picture I took when we had a chance to attend the afternoon mass on Saturday in our local chapel.


Enough of reminiscing, I will show some picture I took when we had a chance to attend the afternoon mass on Saturday in our local chapel.

This is the main altar at the chapel. A lot of improvement compare of what we used to have more that 20 years ago.

The old image of San Roque is the same we have years and years ago.

This is the same old image my lola and I used to pray at whenever we pass by the chapel.

This is my Lola, taken after the mass. She was talking other mass attendees who wants to say hello to her and ask blessing of the hand.



I was lucky to take pictures of those who attended the mass also.

Bicol Here We Come

We finally gave in to my lola's request to visit our hometown in Bicol again.   Later today, we are leaving for a long drive going to Paracale.  

Seems to me like when you're as  old as my Lola, a strong 84,  you get all the authority you want in the family. Imagine how my Lola's request mobilized my two of my Uncles and me to allow her to travel to Bicol. I can feel how Rey would like to refuse for me to go with them, especially when I decided not to bring Gab along for two reasons (one, he get see sick when he travels far, and two, I am needed to assist my Lola since she can't walk anymore), but he just can't because of the demand of my Lola.

This is the first time I will be far from Gab since he was born, I hope it will be easy for him and his nanny when Rey is away at work.  The vehicle that we will use is actually scheduled  for repair and anytime it should be taken to the shop but we still push thru.  The wreck I did on the car since almost a month ago will be another story I have to post for you.

My uncle will drive for us.  How I wish I am really good already in driving so I can atleast substitute him when he gets tired.  But since I am not and I don't want to get my Lola to panic just because its me whose driving, I will just be a happy passenger.  Hope I can think of lots of stories and questions to ask my Uncle to keep him awake for a drive that is around seven hours or more.   Good thing, Philippines is a tropical country so we will not  need rud tire chains along the road.  I will make sure we have enough goodies to keep up awake along the road.

I will surely give you few glimpses on our photos from Bicol.

Five Natural Appetite Suppressant

If there is a problem that is not well given attention but being complained about most of the time, I'd say its weight management.   I am hardly not the only one. My feeling of being overweight started since I can't remember when.  All I remember is I was never the skinny one within my group of friends, in my class and amongst my cousins. 

I am in my early 30's and I have observed my friends younger that I am also think and feel like I used to when I was their age.  Mind you, they are not as fat or obese that you can think of. Would you think that the feeling of being overweight is only within one self.  But for me, it is always best to refer to the Body Mass Index chart.  I hope I had referred to this before.


Refer to this website...

If you think suppressing appetite may be helpful to avoid having excess fat is the solution I agree with that.  Thing is, how well will you do it.  I made a quick  research online and I stumble upon this list of five foods that will help you suppress appetite:
*     Drinking water
*     Green veggies such as lettuce, cabbage and other leafy vegetables
*     Pickles
*     Apples
See reference here.

I will really try this myself.  I have tried diet pills, capsules and tea like and coffee appetite suppressants, why not go something natural this time.

Fruit Diet or Diet Pills

I feel like I am loosing weight now....its true...believe it or believe it.  I think the effect of steriods I took at the start of the year if escaping me now.  Too bad its only now it is happening.  I have been bloated all year round because of this medecine, so you really can't blame me if I have a love and hate feeling with steriod. There is really no best weight loss pills if you are on steriods. I love steriod because I need it for my vocal chord nodule but I hate it because it makes me bloated.

My fruit diet also helped a lot.  I hoard as much fruits as I can whenever I visit SM Department store in Makati on my way to the office.  Thank God for the biggest refrigirator I have ever seen, my office is generous enough to give its employees a two door fridge to stock food good for one week consumption. Mind you, I can eat a whole watermelon and papaya in one day. Makes me full and not bloated at the same time. See these pictures,  the one with my Lola and son was taken on Christmas of 2010.  The one in the middle was during one of the parties we had on Christmas.  One at the bottom is one friday meeting at the office.

What kind of work do you want

I have been working for 11 years now and still I am not getting the kind the kind of job I want? Honestly, this is how I sometimes feel. But there is one important lesson I learned all these years of working, that is....you will never stop working and  you can never just leave a job.  This is specially true for two reasons, one if you have a dream and two if you have family to support. 

A couple of days ago, I received a request from one of our garages in UK to verify if all transactions on the email attachment have been paid to them by my company.  I am happy to help, so I said yes and I will get back to them in 48 hours.  When I check the attached, I thought of printing it for easy reference and guess how thick it was after it was printed. That bundle of paper is more than an inch thick and each paper have at least 3 manual vouchers on it that I need to check.  Its all about the fleet cards not working properly at the point of sale, and you can just imagine how many digits are there in one card number. If they say patience is a virtue, its not enough here, being careful at all times needs to come along.

If I can just leave my job just like that and look for Technologists & Technicians Jobs just for the heck of escaping this request from our retailer, maybe I would. But I just can't stop working for so many reasons I don't want to elaborate....Thinking of  reasons why someone needs to work seems to be more complicated than starting to fumble my fingers on these bundle of papers and getting back to the retailer with an answer.

Basics of Car Cleaning

Our vehicle is barely a year old now and I can count on my right hand only how many time Rey cleaned his car by himself.  I am sure its not more than five times at all. Its not that the car never get cleaned at all but i think someone cleans it for him in his office.  

I don't have any problem with that, but my issue is the interior of the car never gets cleaned as its supposed to be.  I can't help but notice the car interior so dusty on a weekend.  And because last week was a long weekend (due to the back to back holiday in UK and PH) I realized I have been barking at Rey regarding the interior of the car.

Luckily, I came across this chevy astro custom floor mats and basic tips on car cleaning on this website. Rey loved the mats and mags and is willing to commit to keep his car clean in and out just to get the mat free from me.  I wont be ordering the mats until he proves to keep his car clean until his birthday next month. He will take care of getting the mags himself.  Last time we inquire its price from our local supplier, it costs about Php 50K.  whew!!!

How to Save Battery on an Android Phone

Does  your battery always run out when you're on the go?  I have  few tips on how tosave battery life on you celphone, more especially an Android.  A lot of people are having issues with battery and the most common is battery life, and if you don't have an extra bucks to buy you a spare battery, then you should always carry of charger with you and find a socket where you can plug it to recharge your phone.

I have been using an android for a couple of months now and my real issue with the battery is that it runs out when I am on a phone call or downloading files from the internet.  So here's are some tricks on how we can save battery.  Helped me a lot, should help you  too.

- Lower the brightness, its not always night, so when you on broad day light, its best to low the brightness of you phone

- Wi-fi, bluetooth and GPS should be off when not in use

- Sync ( if you are not using Gmail, tweeter or anything else, its best to stop syncing to save tons of battery life)

-Task Killer - get a free task killer program so anything that is not in use for about 5 mins, depends on your settings, get shuts off

-Vibrate/Ringing  - turn it off /low when not needed.

Price of phone batteries are really high so its really important if we save it, its not something like makita batteries that we can purchase at a much affortable price.  Most of us would like to have high end phone and battary should also go with its manufacturers price.  So, let's save energy, save battery life.

Family Dine Out on a Weekday....

I wish its already five o'clock, I can't wait for Rey and Gab to pick me up here in the office and go the mall.  This is a rare occasion for me because most of the time we only go out on a Sunday.  This Monday is different 'coz it a back to back holiday with the UK and PH.  And if it is, both Rey and I don't come to work.  Except that I opted to work overtime for a few hours today, just to make sure I cashed in on a double pay,£££$$$.

When they arrive at five, we will go straight to Glorietta, Gab will play basketball game at the arcade until both he and Rey  gets tired.  Ate(nanny) will not have to prepare dinner at home today because we also plan to eat dinner at the mall and she will come along with us.

I only have 30 minutes left in the office right now and Im trying to pass time while finishing this blog and chatting with my brother in Isabela thru facebook. My tote bag is ready and I have prepared all my things so I can leave the office that quick.  You know what I am really not excited about going to the mall, its  those metal detectors garrett that chase you as soon as you get to the main entrance of the mall.  And if security are not happy, they will still let you open your bags or use some sort of a drumstick to examine the contents.  Haist!!!

Group Buying Sites Addiction

What is the new addiction that is so fun to do in the internet today?  Well, if you haven't heard of it, this the the so called group buying sites.  Check this blog to have a well understanding of group buying sites.  This is you find great value to your money.  On the companies side, its like they will buy in bulk or have an aggrement with the service provider that if they can  encourage a specific but large number of buyers to purchase their product or services, they will agree to give a big discount for the company and the participating buyers.  So what is the role of the buying public, do network marketing to all interested friends and family to buy the product or service as well.  Isn't it a great deal, you get a discount by having your friends buy products or services both of you are interested?

See this great deal my friend Kim got from one of the group buying sites she is fond off.

That lovely make up only cost her Php 999.00.  It comes with the complete shade of blush on, lipstick, eye shadow, lip liner, mascara and a nice set of brush. It is compact and handy, imagine how the size is by comparing with the clutter on my table. Pardon me for the unorganized table, but this how organized I can have it.  By the way, I have been looking for hydrocodone vicodin addiction detox, if there is anyone from you who have found an offer on any of the group buying sites you are aware of, I would be a nice referral for you.

Simple Living is still an Option

I missed the "bario fiesta" in my hometown on 1st August.  Its been a long time I've looked forward to our hometown fiesta to be celebrated on a weekend or at least the day before or after the weekend.  Weekend means off to work so I can go partying for four days straight.  I will be on vacation on a Friday and Monday so I can have long out of town vacation.

These are now just a dream, vacation to me now means bringing my son Gab and hubby Rey to the province to celabrate the barrio fiesta.  Since my lola is now staying in Manila, all of my immediate family are already here and we have no one to visit in the province. I wonder when will we be able to visit and celebrate the bario fiesta in my hometown.

I miss the simple life we had in the province.  We did not have a TV at home because my grandmother doesn't want to pay monthly dues for the cable tv, so when Gab and I had our vacation last time, he was forced to sleep by around 8pm in the evening.  Here in Manila, he sometimes goes to sleep at 11 or 12 midnight.  Well, its not all about being backward but its more of having a choice if you are in the province.  Life is so simple and from city-dueler point of view, it may be hard to live there.  But in my personal opinion, if only I can make decision for my self alone, i'd love to be in the province.   Would you believe that one of our neighbor have ariens zero turn mower, it is one of those with high-back seat.  Our neighbor is one of the great businessman in my hometown so he have all the high-end technology from far away places.  He never want to live in the city.

Sun Cellular's New Promo TU 200

You should know this if you are Sun Cellular user!!!

Starting tomorrow, July 29  to October 31, 2011,  Suncell is offering its newest promo for Text Unlimited Category.  Instead of loading worth Php 150 for unlimited text for 30 days and getting 4 hours sun to sun free call, you can get TU200 via load conversion.  You just have to load  worth Php 200 and then convert your regular load to Unlimited text for sun to sun for 30 days, 4 hours free sun to sun calls and best of all, get the free 500 free text to all networks.

Remember, this can only be via load conversion.  Load up Php 200 and text TU200 to 247.

This is very economical for me because I just have to add Php50 to my suncell budget for the month and it will cover my texts for smart and globe subcribers for the whole month, I cannot even consume all the 500 free text to all network.

Swimming...Family day

Sunday's best for family day!!!  We visited our relatives in my husband's side last Sunday since its been a while we don't get together.  We were unprepared for spend swimming at the nearest Villa Cristina  Resort in Antipolo so I ended up not swimming at all and was just running errands for the kids who enjoyed the water not to mention the rain that came late in the afternoon.

Look at these pictures, its really all-of-the-boys-time together.  My brother in law and her daughter Yma Bea,  missed all the photoshoots. There were just there in the background.

Did you know that spending family time together, brings one another in the family to know more each other and develops better relationship.   A simple outdoor activity or an indoor game makes perfect bonding time while spending less.  This will also prevent exposures among teenagers in the family to bad influences and bad habits.  By the way, my father-in-law recently promised to have less of his la flor dominicana ligero cigars because he is enjoying out door activities with Jerome and Cali.   Jerome and Cali are the eldest cousins of Gab.

Soon In our New Home

We have stayed for more than a year now at the apartment we are renting, even then, Rey and I have dreamt of living in our very own house.


This particular picture I came across online inspired me of what I would like my living room to look like. Its a small one but looks really cozy.

Makes me wonder what other furniture I would like to have other the center table and the comfy sofa. I like to have a decent kitchen where I can cook meals for my kids and of course Rey. I hope I can find time to learn cooking soon.

I remember before Rey and I were having a chit chat before going to sleep and he asked me which part of the house I want to be meticulous with the design, I didn't have an answer then, but now I already have. Its the kitchen. To be specific, I want a very nice faucet with a sensor and an undermount sinks. Having this, I will not want to leave my kitchen unclean and not organized.

GREEN is the color!!!

Thank you Tito Noel and Tito Molly for this lovely bag.  This is now my new favorite thingy at work.  How did you know that color green is so close to me.  That green wallet is from Inay, the green pouch is from Avon and the green mug is from Milo, of course.

Work Work Work

Once again, 15th of the month is just around the corner.  Our company pay us once every month unlike other companies so we are only rich one day in a month every month.

Anyway, I am so excited to receive my pay check because its only this month I had worked so hard, literally hard.  I did not realize I spent more than 50 hours overtime work.  Don't get me wrong, I am not workaholic and I despise my job. I guess, I feel this way not because of anybody or anything about my job but because I want to stay home and take care of my son.  I guess I want to become free from being needed to report to work on weekdays and on a specific time. I hate when someone dictates what time should be hungry or go to the washroom.

Maybe its best to reward my self for being such a workaholic but not workaholic. I want something for my self. I wonder where can I buy compaq laptops, the one given to me by my lovely husband two years ago was already broken but I still want a compaq.   Promised myself, I will get one this payday.

Having a New Baby Again

Our son Gab just had his first visit at the Araneta this Sunday to watch the PBA ball game. To my surprise, we had to pay for his admission ticket even if he is only two years and two and half months old.  He is already more than 3 feet tall and only children below three are given free entrance.

Gab is so big and most of the time he is being mistaken for a 4 year old boy.  At times, sales ladies at mall boutique would him what his name is and wait long for him to answer.  Only to find out that he doesn't talk that much yet because he is only two years of age.  They say baby boys talk late that baby girls do and I want to believe that.  My nephew started talking in phrases a little after her first year.

And because Gab is already two, a lot of my friends are wondering  when we will have our next baby.  I just hope I can reduce some weight first before getting pregnant again.  I need a diet pill that works, really works.  Can somebody ever recommend any?

Shop in the US while in the PH

I learned this very interesting website from my colleague Kim.  If you love to shop online and you problem is how to send items purchased in the US going to the Philippines, your problem is now a history.

Visit this website, USA 2 Pilipinas to learn more about it.  You can utilize their FAQ for any query you may have with them.  It is an advantage if you have a credit card as it is the prefered payment mode.  This one is really affordable and I think the company have stayed long enough to prove their means.

Few Ways I can be Thrifty

I love the most recent post in female network, reading their post about Tipid Tips: 5 Luxuries You Can Live Without hit me.  It made me make my own list of 5 ways I can be save.

1. Spend QT with my family every Sunday at home.  Instead of going to the mall and spending our time running after Gab at the mall and making ourselves hungry, we'll spend the whole Sunday at home and making our own snacks while watching movies. 

2.  Go to work with full stomach and bring pack lunch.

3.Stay away from junk foods.  Yellow corns fresh from the market are best substitute for snacks, bread from the local bakery is much healthier from those in expensive fast food chains.

4. Re-use. Instead of buying trash liners, we will reuse grocery bags.

5. Avoid temptations such as high priced phones. I have 3 functional phones and they still serve the purpose of call and text.


Now, I wonder when will I give in for himalayan bath salts.  Rey is asking me to try having full body spa and massage, this is the best time I visit group buying sites and look for the best body spa and massage offer.

Law For Tire Chain Use

I didn't know that there is such a thing as "Law For Tire Chain Use". This is not very much known in the country where I lived and I was intrigue about it when I first bumped with in when I was doing a research for a nice tire for our car.
Rey is so inspired to customize his car, last Sunday, he consulted our of our local tire dealer and we were surprised that it will cost us Php55,000 to change the mags of the car. My initial thought of costing us about Php 20,000 is a foolish idea. I hate to know that its really that expensive.
Anyway, going back to the Law For Tire Chain Use. I learned that this is being implemented in the States during winter season, mostly December until March. Extreme cold temperature often results to ice crytals especially in shaded areas and this may result to slides when vehicle are on the road. Check this helpful website that, its really fun reading.



Just to give you an idea  how tire chains are...