A Motto to Live By

When the world gets you down,
put things in perspective.

Move ahead in a positive way;
don't allow yourself to become mired
in a negative view.

See things for what they really are.
Don't let the little things get in the way.

Do what you can, however you can,
with the resources you have available
to you.
Don't sell yourself short;
you have the power within you
to change what needs changing.

Face the situation with the resolve
to remedy it; do what you need to do
to put it behind you.

Move ahead in the direction of happiness;
go for your dreams
and reach for your star.

And remember who's in the driver's seat:
you are.

My Son has a letter to Santa

Last Friday night my son and I are in the mall to get some grocery stuffs for the house. Since it’s already time for dinner I decided to just have a Happy Meal at McDonald's. While eating I asked him what he want for Christmas. He immediately replied and said, Mommy I just want a toy car and a robot- that’s his favorite toys actually so I won’t wonder why those were the ones that came first in his mind. I remember I would like to teach him to write a letter to Santa and so I told him someone out there would make your wish come true if you would be good. He replied, Yes Mom I will and who will that be? I replied, later you would know.

After we ate we walk around the mall and He saw a Big Santa with his reindeers, hang in the ceiling of the mall’s atrium. I asked him, do you see that? That’s Santa and He is coming to town this Christmas to give presents to all the children who were been good and if you write a letter to him, he will surely grant your wish. I saw the smile in
his eyes and said, Mommy when we reach home please guide me on how to write a letter to Santa. I said, Yes I will and I loved too.

When we reach home, even yet without dressing down and change his clothes. He pulled out a pencil and a paper inside his bag and started to write a letter. He asked me how to start it off and how to spell the words. I guided him and so he was able to write a simple letter to Santa telling that he wants a toy car with a remote and a robot. After, He went to his room and gets a stocking (His old sock) and put in the letter and hangs the stocking on the Christmas tree.

He was in silence for a minute and I thought He would stop asking me about Santa, I was wrong, he then asked me, Mom what is the date today? I showed him the calendar and told that today is Dec. 5 and 20 more days to go and its Christmas and Santa would bring you your wish of a toy car and a robot. His face immediately turned from happy to sad emotion and said, Mommy it’s too long to wait for 20 more days and started to count his fingers. I laughed and told him to have patience and Santa would not give your gift if you were in a hurry. Oh! I love his innocence but I’m glad my objective to let him write a simple letter was accomplished.

There you go, every morning when he wakes up he would go and see our Christmas tree. He promised to wait until the eve of Christmas. So to my Dadnificent start to wrap our gift to him and be a Santa on Christmas.

A Letter to Santa Claus

Does your child love to write? If yes, this coming Christmas Holidays why don't we sit down and guide your child to write a letter to Santa Claus and put this in a stocking on a Christmas tree.

Why to Santa? Well, Children believe that Santa Claus exists and if they are good they will surely receive a nice present from Him. This is what most parents would say to their children when in time for Christmas. Not that we are telling a lie that Santa Claus do exist but we just want them to know that someone out there appreciates a child who is kind, respectful, helpful and obedient.

I remember when I was a child, My Mom and Dad would see me hanging a stocking on the Christmas tree and they would guide me to write a letter telling Santa the gift I want for Christmas. On Christmas morning, I’m so excited to see my stocking and to my surprised I got my wish. I thanked my Mom and Dad of helping me to write and prayed of my wish to Santa. And as I grow up I’ve known that Santa does not really exist and only my Dad and Mom was the ones who put in the gift inside the stocking.

I planned to do this with my child. The idea and objective is not that I’m teaching of a character that does not really exist in real life but I want my child to learn how to write simple letter and to express himself of what he want for Christmas and that if He is good, wish will be granted.

So to all Moms and Dads, this is a perfect bonding time and perfect present we could give to our children this Christmas. Let’s teach them how to write a letter to Santa Claus.

The secret of success is "Hardwork"

One Sunday evening while I am doing my son’s pointers for review on their upcoming Periodical Exam, I am watching a special show in ABS-CBN entitled " Walang Iwanan" (Don't Leave). The show featured the stories ofwell-known business tycoons in the Philippines namely Lola Socorro Ramos of National Bookstore. Henry Sy of SM, BDO,China Bank. Lance Gokongwei of URC, Cebu Pacific, Robinson, Sun Cellular. Lucio Tan of Fortune Tobacco, PAL, Allied Bank.Manny Pangilinan of PLDT and Smart, Dr. Pedro of Lamoyan Industries maker of Happy Toothpaste, Raul Concepcion of RFM and Oscar Lopez of Meralco and ABS-CBN.

From this mentioned business tycoons, the one that inspired me a lot is that of Lola Socorro’s story. She was born out of silver spoon and has finished only High School in a public school and was not able to take up college due to financial hard up of the Family. She worked as a sales lady at her uncle’s bookstore “Goodwill”. While working she finds time to learn the ins and outs of the business until she got married and taught of putting their own bookstore and they named this “National Bookstore” The very first National Bookstore was established in the late 1930’s in Escolta, Manila as a small stall selling school supplies and textbooks.

When the business was starting to be made-well known to the people, the Japanese Government invaded our country. During this time the Japanese Government has many strict rules to be followed and one of these is Filipinos were not allowed to sell and patronize products made or that came from the USA.

Lola Socorro and husband have no choice but to follow rules and have kept all their books and school supplies and displayed only slippers. Though the signage of “National Bookstore” was still there they continue to open the business.

At the end of the Japanese Occupation the whole Escolta area in Manila was burned and the store was destroyed The Cancio-Ramos family, the owners, were able to rebuild National Bookstore at the corner of Avenida (now Rizal Avenue) and Soler. National Bookstore was able to recover due to the post-war boom selling school supplies, mostly books and Stationary. After this the Family faced yet another disaster. Typhoon Gene strucked the Philippines and destroyed the store and all of their merchandise were soaked but the Family didn’t lose hopes and have reconstructed another building that would serve as their base operation and the rest is history.

Today, National Bookstore is the largest bookstore chain in the Philippines with more than 90 branches nationwide. It also continues its corporate social responsibility through its foundation where they build a Library for the children of school aged and thus donating books to some public schools.

When asked of her secret, she says... “Hard Work” is the secret of the success of National Bookstore.

Perfect Relationship?

One day a man visited a match-making agency for marriage, and requested "I am looking for a spouse. Please help me to find a suitable one." The agency officer said, "Your requirements, please." "Oh, good looking, polite, humorous , sporty, knowledgeable, good in singing and dancing. Willing to accompany me the whole day at home during my leisure hour, if I don't go out. Telling me interesting stories when I need companion for conversation and be silent when I want to rest." The officer listened carefully and replied, "I understand you need television."

There is a saying that a perfect match can only be found between a blind wife and a deaf husband, because the blind wife cannot see the faults of the husband and the deaf husband cannot hear the nagging of the wife. Many couples are blind and deaf at the courting stage and dream of perpetual perfect relationship. Unfortunately, when the excitement of love wears off, they wake up and discover that marriage is not a bed of roses. The nightmare begins.

My Wish List.....

As the song goes… When you wish upon a star makes no difference who you are. Anything your heart desires will come to you.

Have listed part 1 of my wish list. I know some of these are so crazy and still very impossible to fulfill it now but I believe fate is kind and in God’s time it will surely brings sweet fulfillment of my wishes.

I wish to…

• meet Daniel Steel my favorite romance novelist and ask all copies of her novels (of course first to my lists are Remembrance, To Love Again, and Kaleidoscope)


• meet Jo Girard- (top car salesman in the world).I love his “Ferris wheel”.


• own a fun playhouse business ( so that my son will not go to the mall and pay a per hour basis )


• have our second honeymoon in Santorini, Greece ( have watch “For the First time” love the scenic view, great for honeymoon destination.


• go back to Sta. Mesa Manila particularly in Bacood (where I grew up) and meet old friends


• go to the roof of our old house again in Manila and eat “Kropeck” with spicy vinegar plus Bayabas for constipation he-he…


• play again “Tansan”(softdrink cap) , “Text” cards and “Rubber band” with my uncles.


• join house to house Christmas Caroling ( 100 days more before Christmas)


• be a Chef and cook my favorite comfort food, mashed potatoes (he-he)


• meet my idol Chef Rob of “Chef to Go” ( He’s so cute)


• have a new house on top of a hill … maybe in Chocolate Hills in Bohol (he-he)


• have my own car ( Porsche ?) ooh… wishing only.


• meet my classmates in Grade School and High School again. ( most especially my crush -our President in the class)


• have a fine dining restaurant and learn the etiquette in fine dining.


• bring my son in Disneyland ( Hongkong will do since there’s no visa )


• get to have a Carribean tour with my Family. The ship is Royal Carribean ,my brother is working here.


• learn to sing “ I am your Brother , Your Best friend Forever” American Idol (lol)


• meet J. Lo, and Angelina Jolie


• win in a game show “ Deal or No Deal”


• learn to bake my favorite blue berry cheese cake.


• get the old recipe of Goldilocks sans rival (my Dad's “pasalubong” when am still small)


• eat again Halo-Halo with my Dad in Escolta


• own a property like a farm lot so I can plant my favorite fruits and vegetables and build a nipa hut. For Retirement purposes (he-he)


• eat kiwi fruit and try dragon fruit shake.
  

On Part 2 ... More wish lists to come. There's no harm in wishing . Anybody can make a wish (he-he)

Happy Wishing to all..

Trust

Trust is a very important factor for all relationships especially for married couples. When trust is broken, it is the end of the relationship. Lack of trust leads to suspicion, suspicion generates anger, anger causes enmity and enmity may result in separation.

One day a taxi operator received a phone call. She answered, "Holiday Taxi" There was silence. She repeated, "Holiday Taxi" There was still no answer. When she was going to cut off the line, she heard a lady's voice, "Oh, so this is Holiday Taxi. Sorry, I got the number from my Husband's pocket but I do not know whose number it is."

Without mutual trust, just imagine what will happen to the couple if the taxi operator answered with just "hello" instead of "Holiday Taxi".

Patience

This is a true story which happened in the States. A man came out of his home to admire his new truck. To his puzzlement, his three-year-old son was happily hammering dents into the shiny paint of the truck. The man ran to his son, knocked him away, hammered the little boy's hands into pulp as punishment. When the father calmed down, he rushed his son to the hospital.

Although the doctor tried desperately to save the crushed bones, he finally had to amputate the fingers from both the boy's hands. When the boy woke up from the surgery & saw his bandaged stubs, he innocently said, " Daddy,I'm sorry about your truck." Then he asked, "but when are my fingers going to grow back?" The father went home & committed suicide. Think about this story the next time someone steps on your feet or u wish to take revenge.

Think first before u lose your patience with someone u love. Trucks can be repaired.. Broken bones & hurt feelings often can't. Too often we fail to recognize the difference between the person and the performance. We forget that forgiveness is greater than revenge.

People make mistakes. We are allowed to make mistakes. But the actions we take while in a rage will haunt us forever.

A Touch of Love

Here’s a very touching poem that I received from a friend in email. Every parent can surely relate in every word written here.

Time goes so fast so let’s treasure every moment of being with our kids. We will surely miss all their "FIRST"..... the innocent smile, the laughter that sounds just like sweet music to our hears, the first step of walk that they are very dependent of holding our hands so tightly and afraid to fall and can't rise back again, and hearing the first word that they uttered be it "Dada", "Papa" or "Mama", "Mom", "Dad" made us so proud.

These are worth remembering, for One day, a Man or a Woman is in front of you leaving you for a while and be having a Family.

A TOUCH OF LOVE

You were six months old and full of fun,With a blink of my eye, you were suddenly one.
There were so many things we were going to do,but I turned my head and you turned two.
At two, you were very dependent on me,but independence took over when you turned three.
Your third birthday; another year I tried to ignore,but when I lit the candles, there weren't three, but four.
Four was the year that you really strives.Why, look at you now, you're already five.
Now you are ready for books and for rules.This is the year you go to school.

The big day came, you were anxious to go.
We walked to the bus going oh, so slow. As you climbed aboard and waved good-bye, I felt a lump in my throat and tears stung my eyes.

Time goes so fast it's hard to believe that just yesterday you were home here with me.
And tomorrow when the bus brings you home and you jump to the ground you'll be wearing your cap and graduation gown.
So I'm holding to these moments as hard as I can,because the next time I look, I'll be seeing a man
(Author unknown)

Goodbye lines....

“ If I would love a man, half as wise, half as good as you are” (woman)
“ Why set for half, If you could have it whole” (man)
“ Could I? (woman)

Oh! These goodbye lines strikes to the deepest part of my heart when my former board mate who was working as a telephone operator had confided to me her problem on how to say goodbye to someone you shared a love with for more than two years. I told her that it’s really hard to say goodbye to someone who have brought so much love, joy and fulfillment in your relationship. I asked her why? Are you not in love with him anymore or maybe the other way around. She cried and told me that we’re still both in love with each other but the relationship was wrong since the very first time we’ve met. I said why? She then admitted to me that his boyfriend is married and she has finally decided to end up the relationship even how painful it is and how much she loves the guy.

Her lines above were the last lines of goodbyes and let go of that which she once held.

My Love

I once met you.....
Then I felt something I can't deny.
My heart leaping with joy and happiness
and all of a sudden I know you were mine.
I am happy whenever I see you each day.
You and I may not be the perfect pair.
The kind most people dreamed themselves to be....
Just as long as you and I are both aware that life is what we make it to be...
Then we won't care what others have to say. Our love will guide us and show the way.
There could be no one for me but you.
You're the best thing that ever happened to me.

Innocence

Once in my life that I've met someone... He came like thunder and lightning that suddenly stroked my heart leaping with joy and happiness. No matter how innocent I was then, good memories with him will linger forever....

I was innocent until you came;

I love nobody until you came;

I knew nothing about love;

I knew not how to care.

I was thoughtless when you came;

I knew not where to go, i was living yet without a goal;

I kept on waiting for nothing every morning and you came and helped me change my being.

You taught me how to miss you;

You taught me how to long for you, you made myself entirely new.

You are not at all perfect yet I thought you were an angel.

You are a fraction evil yet i know I vow to love you forever.

Could you blame me? ...you came and taught me everything