Category Archives: Shaynna

Shaynna in her school uniform

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I can’t believe it took me more than 2 years to add another post to one of my blogs! It’s not the right time to scold myself now so I’ll just get down to sharing some updates.

Shaynna is now 7 years old and she’s turning 8 in October! Time does fly so fast and I’m already very anxious about her becoming a teenager (and I still don’t want that)!

My little girl is now in second grade but she’s as thin as she was in first grade. It is still so hard to convince her to eat a lot. The photos below were taken last year but there’s no difference now (except for the larger hair accessories that she always wears nowadays).

Here she is in her school uniform:

In her P.E. uniform:

She experienced her first disappointment at school a few months ago. She didn’t make it to the honor’s list because she got a low grade in Mathematics. Of course I didn’t scold her. Who would have the heart to after hearing from her that she was angry with herself. I even had a hard time holding back my tears when she told me that.

Instead of sulking in the corner, she has decided to join the Mathematics Club in her school and she’s one of the officers.

I don’t know where she got that attitude of standing back up again. So proud of my little girl!

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I want a short vacation

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Shaynna’s summer vacation is almost over and my plans of going home before school starts again is fading. I have gained two more days off because I worked on a holiday here and a Saturday. I have an option of receiving the overtime pay but I prefer the days off. When one is stretched to the limit, I suppose overtime pay is not that attractive anymore. But for now, I don’t have a budget for a round trip ticket home.

When I talked to her the last time, Shaynna did ask me if we could go on a picnic somewhere. I sure would love to grant that to her. Aside from that, I have promised to buy her an inflatable mini pool. I sure wish to give her more outdoor playground equipments but I know that she and her cousin will be very delighted to have a mini pool. The two little girls at home love taking a dip so much.

Soon, I’ll be able to post a photo of those two little girls with the huge smile on their faces wearing their swimsuits on that mini pool. I’m so excited already!

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A 5,000-peso house?

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I just talked to my 7-year old. She was so confident and excited when she told me that her Tito/Uncle is going to gift her with cash. They had an agreement before that if she finishes this school year with first honors, she will get 5,000 pesos; second will be 3,000 pesos and third will be 2,000 pesos. She told me she really wants to get 5,000. But it doesn’t really matter to me. I am already so proud of her accomplishing so much at her age. I couldn’t remember being able to read English so well when I was her age!

She even made me promise to add in more if I can. I asked her if she wants to buy something and why she wants it so much. I was already thinking of getting her a yamaha apx500ii (at the back of my mind, I want her to be a singer or musician some day). I even expected her to ask for a doll house but she wanted something more. She told me that she wants to help me build a house!

I left her at the care of my mother and cousin and I for once never felt good about it. I have always watned to take her with me but I just can’t. But knowing how much she wants to be with me, really brought me to tears. God has really blessed me with a beautiful daughter.

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Seven years yet still counting

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Shaynna was barely two months old when I entrusted her under the care of my mother and cousin. I was hoping that after a few months, I would be able to take her with me. Financially, it was impossible. Now, it still is. I am a struggling single mom, and at the same time supporting my family. It hurts a lot that my dream of taking Shaynna with me is still a dream.

Shaynna turned 7 two months ago, but it was only her 5th birthday that I got to spend with her. I hope that starting next year, I will be there to spend it with her. I dream of personally organizing her parties. Well, I’ve been organizing her party through other people so during her birthday month, my phone bill shoots up. I dream of designing Sweet 16 Invitations with her. I dream of spending more time with her. I hope that by the grace of God, I will be capable of taking her with me, soon.

Before that, I am now looking forward to my Christmas vacation! 14 more working days and I’ll be on a plane bound to the best place to spend Christmas and New Year’s day: home.

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29 Days to Christmas

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29 days to Christmas! 29 days more then I’ll be on a plane home! I’m so excited already. I look forward to seeing my little girl again. I already have lots of things in mind that we’ll do together, one of them is of course, photo-shoots! I don’t have an SLR but I just love taking photos of my favorite models. ;)




Photos taken during my Christmas vacation last year @ the Gaisano mall in Iligan City

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Why did I become a Computer Engineer?

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Shaynna’s school is having an activity where they would portray what they want to become when they grow up. They have to dress up for that profession and memorize a short speech on why they chose it. Her first choice was to become a teacher. But as the presentation date draws near, she changed her mind and decided she wants to become like me! Now I’m in trouble.

First, how to dress up as a Computer Engineer and be easily identified as one? When she asked me why did I choose to become a Computer Engineer, I couldn’t give her a good answer! She couldn’t understand “Software Engineer” so I couldn’t get too specific with her, right?

To be honest, I didn’t plan on pursuing this profession. I wanted to take up Mechanical Engineering because I wanted to become like my father. But my father told me it is not good for a female to become one. Still, I wanted to pursue a degree in Engineering to be at least a bit like him. I had no interest in chemicals, so ChE was out of question. I thought EE, ECE, and CE are for guys as well. I had no idea what IE students do after graduation, so that left me with Computer Engineering! I cannot tell my daughter that, right?

For the getup, I told my mother to just let her wear jeans, blouse, and blazer, then have her carry her toy laptop. I am almost done with this post but I still have to prepare her speech, make it short, simple, and in a way she and her classmates could understand. Also, how do I make it sound like it is as noble as being a teacher? You know, something like how do I exactly contribute to mankind and stuff like world peace?

The photo above was taken during Shaynna’s 7th birthday party.

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7 years delayed

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My Shaynna is turning 7 tomorrow. I will be a mother of a 7-year old! OMG! Time flies by really fast. Unfortunately, I will not be with her on this special day (again). It really breaks my heart not to be there. Anyway, before I succumb to loneliness, this reminds me of the task I have set upon myself that’s now 7-years delayed! You see, after I gave birth to Shaynna, I bought materials and vowed to include monthly photos of Shaynna in a scrapbook. When I went to Japan, I’ve brought those untouched materials with me. When I came to Singapore, those materials were still with me. Yet, I don’t have a single photo on my planned scrapbook! I feel like I’m a failure as a mother (not to mention being away from her since she was still two months old). To lessen the guilt and self-loathing, I’m thinking to try scrapbooking online. I’ll try to find one here in Singapore so that I won’t have to spend a lot on shipping.



This photo was taken when Shaynna was 5, during her visit here in Singapore.

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She called it “mansion”

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I mentioned in one of my posts that after my short trip to Portugal, I just dropped by for a few hours in my place here in Singapore, then took a flight to Cebu and met up with Shaynna, my mother and sister, to attend a friend’s wedding. It was Shaynna’s first time to stay at an inn. It was far from grand, since it only cost me Php1000. The room didn’t even have a single window nor a cabinet, but it was a completely new experience for Shaynna that she even called it a “mansion”.


We went to Carcar to visit my grandmother but Shaynna wanted to go back to the city, to just chill out at the “mansion”. The only good thing about that inn was it is just right in-front of a shopping mall. It is close to Ayala Center, too. I have never been to Cebu again after I left in 2005. I was surprised by the changes.

After a night’s stay in that window-less room, I decided to find another hotel but Shaynna didn’t want to leave. For her, that was already a grand place. Thankfully, after a thorough search online, I found a good discounted room at Mango Park Hotel. The room was much better, bigger, with breakfast buffet. Because of this, Shaynna was more reluctant to leave the “mansion”!

I hope I can take her somewhere again…

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