Seven years yet still counting

December 6th, 2011
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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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Shaynna

29 Days to Christmas

November 25th, 2011
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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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Christmas, Family, Philippines, Shaynna ,

The Jinx

November 24th, 2011
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Ever since I was a child, I always avoid participating in group games that I’m not good at (all games, in fact). Also, I feel that I bring bad luck to my group. In physical or mind games, all the teams that I belonged to, always lose. And I still feel the same way! That’s why in team building activities, I always find an excuse to be absent.

A few days ago, I decided to participate in our next activity: Archery trial lesson! I never tried it and I thought this was supposed to be done individually but I was wrong! Later did I know that we are to group ourselves and compete with other groups!

Anyway, I hope that on Saturday, I will run out of excuses and decide to show up at the venue. Most of all, I do hope that the next activity would be horseback riding! I’ve always wanted to try one of those horse riding helmets. Also, I want to find out if I’ve finally gotten over my fear of animals. :(

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At work

Maze Parks and Resort, Iligan City

November 22nd, 2011
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Iligan City is blessed with majestic waterfalls and cold springs. So, there’s a number of spring pools and resorts in the city. One of them is the Maze Park and Resort which is locally known as “Maze”. Maze is not as accessible as the Timoga spring Pools but paying the extra fare or renting a jeepney to go there is worth it. Two years after my last visit, I was able to have a fun day at Maze with family and relatives last April.

Here’s the spacious entrance to Maze, so you won’t have a problem looking for a parking space.

The entrance fee is only Php25.00 per adult and Php12.50 per child. It’s 50% cheaper than in Timoga spring pools. The cottage is surprisingly a lot cheaper as well. I only had to pay Php250.00 for this huge cottage!

There are two kiddie pools:


One junior-size pool (I think it was 4 feet deep) and an Olympic-size pool.

If you want to take a break from swimming, you may listen to the child in you or pay the animals a visit.

If you choose to go to this place, make sure that you have enough food because there’s no nearby lechon stand. I think the place has a restaurant but I don’t know what the kind of food they serve. Although you can find a small sari-sari store with reasonable prices.

I have no idea why this place is called “Maze Park and Resort” when there is not a single maze in it. Maybe because getting there is just like a maze?

Shaynna is already asking me to go back there when I get home in December. :)

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Family, Mindanao, Philippines ,

Why did I become a Computer Engineer?

November 19th, 2011
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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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At work, Shaynna

Stress control

November 16th, 2011
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Last Monday, I entered the office and noticed some people talking in low voices. It was pretty unusual because it is either no one is having a conversation or some are discussing something with distinct if not loud voices. Then a colleague told me that someone from our team died. The saddest part was that person took his own life. I later knew that he was suffering from a major depressive disorder and one of the triggers for this tragic event was the piled up stress he experienced from work. It was really shocking because he always wore a smile on his face. He was one of the few people who would smile back at you when you meet him in the hallway. May he rest in peace.

This made me evaluate once again how I cope with stress:

  • overeating or eating not so healthy food such as ice cream and cakes
  • zoning out for hours in front of my computer
  • withdrawing from friends, family, and activities
  • sleeping too much

These temporarily reduce stress but based on an article at HelpGuide.org, may cause more damage in the long run.

I think I should discard my usual approach and follow what’s on that article. I should practice the following stress management strategies:

  1. Avoid unnecessary stress
  2. Alter the situation
  3. Adapt to the stressor
  4. Accept the things you can’t change
  5. Make time for fun and relaxation

How about you? What do you usually do you battle against stress?

The photo of me and a friend above was taken in 2001 in Japan, when I was still a trainee.

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At work, Health

Android and photos

November 7th, 2011
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I was very contented with my non-smart (thus, wifi incapable) phone for a few months, until I went to Kuala Lumpur with friends. One friend has an iPhone and the other one has a Samsung Galaxy Tab. Every time we got into a place with wifi, we stop talking to each other because both of my companions were so busy checking-in and updating their Facebook status! While I had nothing else to do but observe the people around me. Fortunately, I do take a couple of books with me when I travel. That experience made me decide to get myself a phone that is at least wifi-capable.

Almost everyone is holding an iPhone, and I didn’t want to jump on the bandwagon. Also, I wanted a phone that has a keypad. Old-fashioned I may sound but I’m not comfortable tapping on the screen all the time. Thus, I got myself a Samsung Galaxy Pro. The price is fair and performance-wise, I’m very satisfied with it. I agree that the good thing about iPhone is the thousands of apps out there, and I have to admit that I do love the instagram. Fortunately, I was able to find something similar in Android. From then on, I was like a mad lady taking and uploading photos, especially of food!


McFlurry Oreo

Yakisoba, hot & spicy pork, miso soup

With less color, it no longer looks delicious anymore. I hope Sony will sell cameras that are wifi-capable. Samsung already released a camera with wifi but I love Sony. Maybe their Sony Ericsson phones have great phone cameras?
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Food, Gadgets, The Geek in Me

Unfinished business

November 6th, 2011
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It’s almost winter in Japan, so for the past few days I’ve been missing Japan a lot. It must now be cold enough to wear 2-3 layers of clothes. I do love winter, maybe because I’ve spent most of my life in the Philippines. I get cold easily but I can just add up another layer of clothing to feel warmer. And it is a nice feeling eating something hot when it’s really cold outside. It’s the best time for ramen and hot green tea! Honestly, I’ve been doing some job searches because I do want to go back to Japan. First, I love the place so much. Second, I have an “unfinished business” there. I never tried skiing, never found out what it feels like wearing Julbo Ski Goggles! I was already there yet I kept putting off the chance. The thickest snow that I’ve seen was during that one day in Osaka. Ohh how I loved it!



Lord, please, grant me the chance to go back to Japan…
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Japan: exposed , ,

I need an upgrade

November 4th, 2011
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More than 8 years in software development yet there are still a lot of things that I don’t know, and things that I have long forgotten. Maybe because making things work out is more important than knowing the theories. That might have been an excuse, but I honestly feel that I do need to upgrade my skills or I’ll be stuck to where I am. One of my friends is already considering taking up masters. That piqued my interest, too because I don’t like the feeling of being “obsolete”. True that getting masters would somehow open up more doors for me, but it’s more of self-fulfillment. However, I’m still in the process of getting rid of debts and before I know it, Shaynna will be in college! I hope I can find myself a scholarship that would allow me to work at the same time.

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At work

Chicken Cutlet Curry Rice

October 21st, 2011
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These past few weeks, I’ve been craving for Japanese dishes. Fortunately, there’s Manpuku near my place. Unfortunately, because it is so accessible, I’ve been eating a lot and gained weight!

Here’s my favorite, thanks to a friend who recommended this to me. I’m wary of trying out Japanese food here in Singapore, having been disappointed many times. Yet this one, is really oishii (delicious)!

You can find this delicious Japanese curry at Manpuku, Level 3 @ Tampines One

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Food, Singapore

Longing for something new

October 20th, 2011
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I was employed in a staffing company before coming to Japan. Because of that, I was assigned from one company to another. I did C++ for a few months, then Java, and so on. It was hard, yet exciting to adjust to a new project, new work environment, new office mates. I got used to it and I would have to say, I liked it. These past few weeks, I’m afraid I’m slowly losing my motivation to go to work. I wanted to just be in my bed just watching a movie from a lcd dlp projector that I wish to have. OK, you can say that I’m just lazy. But I think I need something new. Not a new job, but maybe a new hobby? A few minutes ago, I’ve reactivated my Postcrossing account. At least I’ll have something to look forward to aside from Christmas. ^^

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Sentiments

7 years delayed

October 11th, 2011
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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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Shaynna
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