Miscarriage

Its been a month since my 2nd miscarriage. October 24,2009 around 10:00 in the evening when my husband rush me to the hospital because of bleeding. Unfortunately the baby didn't survive. Around 2:00 AM when we arrived in our home.

Masakit emotionaly, pero mas masakit ang makarinig ka ng salitang "bakit mo sinayang". For God sake I was mourning that time and trying to move on, then makakarinig ka ng ganung salita. Kung sino man ang unang-unang taong gustong mabuo ang baby ko, ako yon. Walang makakapantay sa sayang naranasan ko when I found out that I am pregnant. At wala ding makakapantay sa sakit na naramdaman ko ng makunan ako, it's definitely unfair na sabihing sinayang ko! Napakaraming luha ang iniluha ko dahil sa nangyari.

Sobrang gulo ng isip ko that time, maraming tanong, maraming bakit. Good thing my husband is always there to remind me to strengthen my faith and confidence. He reminds me na "kung si Job nga lahat ng anak nya namatay, lahat ng ari-arian nya nawala sa kanya, nagkasakit sya mula ulo hanggang paa pero hindi sya nagreklamo, Tinanggap nya dahil yon ang kalooban ng Ama. Hindi sya nawalan ng pag-asa at pananampalataya. Samantalang yung nawala sa atin dugo pa lang, wala pa tayong puhunan, may dahilan ang Ama kaya hindi sya nabuhay. Ibibigay din satin ng Ama sa tamang panahon." My husband's words really help me to moved on. Mas madali nga akong nakarecover ngayon emotionaly kesa nung first miscarriage ko. I don't know why, is it because nasabi ko this time kung ano ang nararamdaman ko at nasa kalooban ko, unlike before na nanahimik lang ako or dahil pangalawang beses ng nangyari sa akin ito? Anyways, we are still hoping that there is another chance for me to get pregnant, we will continue to pray to our Lord God. And if He permit, we hope that it will be a successsful one.

And of course to all my friends who comforted me in times of my sorrow. Ramdam ko yung pagmamahal at pag-aalala nila sa akin, they cheer me up, ang sarap ng feeling na karamay mo sila sa pagdadalamhati mo. I really appreciate all the words they said and all the things they have done to me, thank you so much!

Sulat ni Tatay at Nanay

Sa lahat ng mga anak, mahalin at kalingain natin ang ating mga magulang maging ang mga magulang ng ating asawa. Wala tayo kung wala sila, utang natin sa kanila ang ating buhay at kung anumang meron tayo. Nakakalungkot lang isipin na may mga anak na kayang tiisin ang mga magulang nila. Habang buhay sila at kapiling natin ipadama natin sa kanila ang ating pagmamahal, hindi man natin masabi sa kanila maipakita natin sa gawa. "Action speaks louder than words".

Paalam Po, Ka Erdy.

Ramdam na ramdam ang pighati at pagluluksa ng mga kapatid sa libing ni Kapatid na Erano G. Manalo. Hindi alintana ang pabugso-bugsong buhos ng ulan.

Habang pinanonood ko ang paghahatid sa kanya sa huling hantungan, walang tigil ang pagpatak ng aking luha. Hindi na namin sya makikita pa, pero sa Bayang Banal muli kaming magkikita-kita.


GOODBYE KA ERDY Hundreds of thousands of Iglesia ni Cristo members stand in the rain for hours along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City to pay their last respects to their leader, INC Executive Minister Eraño “Ka Erdy” Manalo. -JIM GUIAO PUNZALAN Inquirer.net

INC leader laid to rest

abs-cbnNEWS.com 09/07/2009 12:40 PM

MANILA - There was no necrological service, no eulogy, no Mass, no extravagant ceremony.

It was simple and solemn, although there was a 21-gun salute befitting a state leader who had passed away.

This was how "Ka Erdy," the leader of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) was laid to rest at 12:15 pm on Monday in a temporary burial site in the Tabernacle of the INC Central Temple in Tandang Sora, Quezon City His remains will be transferred to a mausoleum that is being built beside a monument of his father, Brother Felix Manalo, founder of INC in the Philippines.

Although there was no eulogy, those who paid their respects, regardless of whether they were INC members or not, rich or poor, were full of praise for Ka Erdy.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo again came to pay her last respects and left after 30 minutes.

Many leaders from the provinces came to pay their respects to Ka Erdy, who was instrumental in making the INC a powerful force.

The discipline Ka Erdy instilled among his followers was clearly seen in his orderly interment.
Ka Erdy, 84, led the INC for 46 years.

Hundreds of thousands of INC followers had been trooping to the INC Central Temple to bid farewell to their leader following his death last August 31 from cardio-pulmonary arrest.
Malacañang declared September 7 a special non-working holiday in honor of Manalo.

More than 100 buses from various provinces brought thousands of INC followers to its Central Temple for the interment.

Around 5,000 who could not be accommodated inside the Central Temple waited outside and watched the ceremony from a large monitor.

Some of those who paid their last respects came from abroad, including from Saudi Arabia.
As of posting, a huge portion of Commonwealth Avenue was closed to traffic, but will be reopened later in the day.

About 2,000 policemen were deployed to the area to provide security to mourners.
No shifts seen with 'Ka Eddie'

There will be no major shifts on how the INC is charting itself, spiritually and politically, with the death of Ka Erdy.

As a religious group, its teachings, practices and values are etched on solid ground, but the highly disciplined Christian sect, known for its bloc-voting practice in elections, might adopt a more objective political view with the change of leadership.

Manalo's son, Eduardo "Ka Eddie Boy," 54, is expected to carry the torch and the family legacy.
The elder Manalo himself assumed as executive minister of the INC also after the death of his father, Felix, who founded the religious organization on July 27, 1914.

Sources close to the inner circle of Ka Erdy said the late religious leader had been grooming the younger Manalo for years, just like what Felix did to his son a generation ago.
Eduardo has been the INC's deputy executive minister, or the "pangalawang tagapamahalang pangkalahatan," and his assumption as his father's successor will be just a formality, said an INC member.

Ka Erdy was credited for expanding the church internationally. It was during his term that the INC became a major political force with its estimated 2-3 million bloc-voting members. -- with reports from Aries Rufo, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak; Anthony Taberna, Zyann Ambrosio, Jorge Cariño, ABS-CBN News

as of 09/07/2009 4:26 PM

Para kay Ka Erdy

kakaibang lungkot aking nadama
Nang mabatid, ang Ka Erdy ay wala na
Di makapaniwala, di makapagsalita
luha'y dumaloy sa aking mga mata.

Hindi maiwasang aking magunita
Makailang beses ko din syang nakita
Makamayan lamang ay maligaya na

Hindi malilimutang mga sandali.

Tunay na pagmamahal inialay sa Iglesia
Buong buhay nya ay ginugol sa kawan
Hangad ay maligtas lahat ng kapatid
Wala ni isa mang maiwan sa paglalakbay.

Hindi namin sasayangin inyong pagpapagal
Hindi bibiguin hangarin nyo ng sugo
Magpapakatatag, magtutumibay sa kahalalan
Upang kami'y magtamo ng dakilang kaligtasan.

Brother Erano G. Manalo Passed Away

Lahat ng kapatid sa Iglesia ni Cristo sa buong mundo ay nagluluksa sa pagpanaw ni ka Erdy.

Paalam po, mahal na mahal po namin kayo!

Ang mga payo't saway nyo ay mananatili sa aming puso.

Manila Ocean Park

Manila Ocean Park is the Philippines' first state of the art oceanarium. It is located at the back of Quirino Grandstand at the Rizal Park. MOP is bigger than Sentosa's Underwater World in Singapore. The park is too crowded. Picture taking is allowed but you have to turn off your camera's flash, because living organisms would be extremely hurt by those flashes.

Highest Point

Highest Point is located at Sayangan Benguet, the elevation is 7,400 ft. This is the highest highway system in the Philippines. Sa sobrang taas dito, makikita mo na ang tuktok ng mga bundok at syempre dahil mataas ang lugar na ito sobrang lamig at foggy.

My Phone TV22 Duo

At first I was hesitant to buy My Phone baka kasi madaling masira dahil bagong brand ng cellphone. So I ask Chris, my sister-in-law about her cellphone, she is using My Phone T11. She said, she is satisfied with her phone and I find it cute and trendy. So I make up my mind to buy My Phone TV 22.

So far, I am also satisfied with my new cellphone. It's like having two cellphone in one because the dual sim are both active at the same time. I also like the 2.4" screen hindi na yata ako sanay sa maliit na screen at manipis lang sya so even if you put it in your pocket hindi gaanong nakaumbok unlike my N70 na medyo makapal. And you can watch TV right on your cellphone anywhere and anytime you wanted. It is also user-friendly like Nokia.

I am hoping na sana walang maging problema with my cellphone although it has a one year warranty.

Net 25 Feed Your Mind

Net 25 focuses on informative and educational show, that is why I like watching Net 25 Shows truly it feeds our mind. Here are some of my favorite shows in Net 25:
Landmarks is a travel and history show that combines places of historical importance and the information that they have contributed to our rich history of our country. Hosted by Faye De Castro and ka Totoy Talastas, every Sunday at 5:30 pm.
Spoon is more than just a presentation of great-tasting and mouth-watering recipes from celebrities but how they share what they do and care about where their heart is-from strong bonding with families to the passion in maintaining happy homes. Hosted by Ms. Janice De Belen, every Sunday at 6:30 pm.
Tribe is a show that tells the stories of people, their lives and how they intertwine with the culture of the great arena of the world. A informative shows, relevant and real information, that helps enhance the way of living and features the diverse culture of Filipinos from the different walks of life. Aired every Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 pm

Triglyceride

I made a research on what is triglyceride, causes of high level and how to lower it. Because based on the result of our annual check up my husband has a high level of triglyceride. As a wife, I am so much concern with his health, I wanted to know what is the risk of having a high level of triglyceride and what we should do to lower his triglyceride aside from taking medicine prescribed by his doctor . And also how to maintain its normal level.

What is Triglycerides?
Triglycerides are common type of fats (lipids) that are essential for good health when present in normal amounts. It is present in food as well as manufactured by the body.

High triglyceride levels are associated with known risk factor for hearth disease and obesity. It may contribute to a type of thickening of the artery walls.

Causes of High Levels
1. When someone eats a diet that is high in carbohydrates (starches and sugars) and saturated fats.
2. People who are obese or who rarely exercise.
3. It can also be caused by a number of medical conditions and other factors such as:

Diabetes

Hypothyroidism, or lack of thyroid hormone

Kidney Disease

Estrogen replacement therapy

Rare genetic conditions

How to Lower It

1. Decrease the amount of saturated fat in the diet.

2. Eat a balanced, heart healthy diet.

3. Start regular exercise program.

4. Achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

5. Control diabetes and high blood pressure.

Buttered Kangkong

This recipe is easy to prepare and to cook and most of all low in cost.

Ingredients:

kangkong, removed from stem
butter
garlic, minced
liquid seasoning
pork cubes
cornstarch
water

Procedure:

1. In a sauce pan, saute garlic in butter.
2. Add kangkong, liquid seasoning, and pork cubes stir cook.
3. Thicken sauce with cornstarch diluted in water.
4. Simmer until cook.

You can also use pechay instead of kangkong.

Adik Sa Yo

I enjoy watching Adik Sa yo, a GMA 7's new romance comedy show topbilled by Jolina Magdangal, Marvin Agustin, Dennis Trillo and Jennica Garcia. Also in cast are Iwa Moto ( na kamukha ko daw sabi nila), Joey Marquez and Pauleen Luna (na napaglihihan ko before, gandang ganda ko sa kanya, I like her face).

Talagang nakakaadik panoorin ang Adik sa Yo, kwela silang lahat tatawa ka ng tatawa, no dull scene. At kahit nagdadrama na sila to the point na umiiyak na may halo pa ring comedy. Kaya naman tuwing 9:15 ng gabi bubuksan ko na ang T.V. para hindi ko mamiss ang umpisa ng show.

Effective ang pagganap nina pauleen at Dennis bilang Batangenio, katunayan nahahawa ako sa accent nila. My husband told me, "Hayan kapapanood mo ng adik sa yo may punto ka na".

I like watching romance comedy show rather than drama or heavy drama pwera na lang kung talagang maganda ang story at worth subaybayan. Some of the comedy romance show na sinubaybayan ko are Full House and My name is Kim Sam-soon.

KAV Academy Foundation

KAV (Knowledge And Virtue) Academy Foundation is now open to cater pre-elementary and elementary students. It's aim is to provide high quality education and build a better men of tomorrow. All classrooms are air conditioned for conducive learning and has limited students per class.

It is owned and manage by my sister Lai. The school is located at Pick & Shop Building, Sta. Rosa 1, Marilao, Bulacan with contact number (044) 6956428 and 0922-8022476

Maja Blanca

Maja Blanca is one of my specialty, according to my friends na nakatikim ng gawa ko masarap daw. I don't know if it's bola or totoo. Anyway I just wanted to share it with you, dami na nanghingi sa akin ng recipe na ito.



here's the ingredients you need:

1 1/4 cup cornstarch
3/4 cup sweet corn kernels
1 cup sugar ( you may reduce according to your taste)
3 cups coconut milk
1 can evaporated milk
3 tbsp. sweet corn kernels

Procedure:

1. Ground the 3/4 cup corn kernels in a blender.
2. In a sauce pan, combine all the ingredients.
3. Stir the mixture until the ingredients are well blended.
4. Cook over medium heat until thick while stirring constanly.
5. Pour into mold pan and cool until set.

Hope to hear from you if you try to cook this.

Cutting Board: Wood or Plastic?

Which do you prefer to use wood or plastic cutting board? I use plastic board because for me it is more convenient to use. But according to the book Forever Young: guide to beauty and wellness, Wooden cutting boards are better than plastic ones. After a thorough soap scrubbing, bacteria on wooden boards are eliminated while plastic boards still contain some bacteria.

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

PMS is a group of symptoms that start one to two weeks before a woman's period. Most women have at least one symptoms of PMS, and the symptoms go away after the periods start. Hormonal changes trigger the symptoms.

Common PMS Symptoms: breast swelling and tenderness, acne, bloating and weight gain, headache or joint pain, food cravings, irritability, mood swings, crying spells, and depression.

How to Relieve PMS:

1. Exercise more. Exercise increases the level of the body's endorphins which promotes pleasure and decreases pain.

2. Take in less sugar and caffeine.

3. Eat less salt. Drink more water.

4. Over the counter medicines may help, like ibuprofen and acetaminophen.

5. Take a long hot bath or place a hot water bottle or heating pad on your stomach.

6. Get enough sleep.

Tips for Good Night Sleep

1. Leisurely take a medium hot bath. Mix a few drops of lavander oil and inhale it's soothing fragrance.

2. Drink a glass of warm non-fat milk or eat a banana.

3. Read a good book in bed.

4. Once sleepy, sleep on your side not on your back or on your tummy.

5. Tell yourself that you will sleep well and have a sweet dreams.

source: Forever Young, guide to beauty and wellness

Stay at Home Wife

Someone ask me what is my work, I told him that I am a stay at home wife. He replied, "ang swerte mo naman nasa bahay ka lang". hellooo, parang gusto ko syang dagukan that time. As if naman nagpapasarap lang ako sa bahay, kung kain tulog lang ako sa bahay ang swerte ko nga! I just wanted lang to inform other people na hindi biro maging plain housewife dahil lahat ng gawaing bahay ikaw lang ang gagawa. There comes a time pa na kahit gawaing panlalake ikaw din ang gagawa, like magkumpuni ng sirang gamit or faucet and alike. Kaya nga hindi lahat ng babae kayang igive-up ang career lalo na kung to the highest level na ito just to be a plain housewife.


Siguro swerte to the point na wala kang boss, sarili mo ang oras mo at pwede kang matulog sa tanghali kumbaga beauty rest para pagdating ni hubby maganda ang aura mo.

Back to School

I just wonder why there are parents forced their child to excel in school? Is it right to do that? In my opinion, well this is only my opinion correct me if I'm wrong, I think it is not right and it is unfair to do that. In the first place, the reason why parents send their children to school is for them to learn and not to compete. So let the child enjoy his schooling especially those in pre-elementary and elementary level. Do not pressure them to perfect their exam, get a high grades and excel in class. It is not good that the child's will to study is because he didn't want his parents to get mad at him. Let your child study well because he is eager to learn. If your child is bright, be thankful and even if you didn't force him to study hard he will surely excel in class.

I think the best thing that a parent can do is to guide her child to study and not to force him. Tell your child the importance of education and what education can do for his life. Give him a reward every time he got a high grades for him to inspired to study hard.

Father's Day

My father is a disciplinarian and he always gave us advices. He always told us when we were still young to be humble and not to be proud because all the things we have in life is not really to us, it is all from God. We only borrowed it to Him and He has the power to take it back.

I am very thankful for having a father like my father. I really appreciate what he did for us especially for my mother. He took good care of my mother when she suffered from stroke eight years ago and unfortunately her half body was paralyzed. Truly he has a lot of patient in terms of taking care of my mother. I can say that my mother is lucky for having my father because I knew not all husbands can do what my father did to my mother. I heard some stories that the husband abandoned his wife when the wife got sick.

And even my father himself got sick, he suffered from heart attack last December 2008, he's in the ICU for four days and stayed at the hospital for two weeks, still his concern is with my mother. He didn't want us to tell our mother his true condition. So we have to create a story to our mother that our father is okay in the hospital while the truth is his life is in danger and we didn't know what might happen to him. We are so afraid that time, the only thing that we can do is to cry and to pray hard for him to survive. And thanks to God he did, God is so kind we considered it as a miracle to us. Glory be unto God!

Happy Father's Day to my Father!

Halabos na Hipon

Ingredients:

1 kilo hipon (shrimp)

1 cup 7up or sprite

1/4 block butter

1/2 head garlic, crushed

salt to taste

Procedure:

1. Trim whiskers and legs of each shrimps, wash thoroughly.

2. Put shrimp in a pot, add butter, 7up or sprite, garlic and season with salt to taste.

3. Bring to a boil, simmer and keep covered in a medium heat for 3-5 minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated. Stirring occasionally.

4. Serve hot.

Diningdeng

Diningdeng is an Ilocano dish, this is one of my husband's favorite. It is a dish of boiled vegetables and grilled or fried fish flavored with bagoong na isda.

Ingredients:
3-5 tbsp. bagoong na isda.
1 pc. onion, cut into 4
1 pc. tomato, slice
1 small size kamote, cubed
kalabasa, cut into wedges
okra, cut into wedges
eggplant,cut into wedges
sigarillas,cut into wedges
sitaw. cut into 2” lengths
saluyot tops, leaves
malunggay leaves
grilled or fried fish, sliced crosswise

Cooking Procedure:
Boil 1-2 cups of water, onion and tomato in a casserole. Put bagoong na isda and 2 pcs. fried fish, cook for 1-2 minutes. Add in kamote cubes and simmer for another 2-3 minutes. Add in all the vegetables, vegetables that will require longer time to cook at the bottom and leafy vegetables at the top. Add more water if necessary. Simmer until vegetables are cooked but firm. Serve hot.

Baguio City

We lived in Baguio City for almost 6 years. It’s nice to live there; I really enjoyed living in Baguio City. But there comes a time that I’m lonely because I miss my parents and my siblings, I am the only one who is away from them. Anyway, there are thing that I really miss in Baguio City:

1. The cold weather and the fog, especially during the month of December up
to February.
2. Fresh vegetables
3. Yummy strawberry
4. Peanut brittle, lengua de gato and chocolate cereal
5. The Panagbenga or the flower parade
6. My neighbor in Dacanay Compound at P. Burgos St
7. Last but not the least my very dear friends there.
8. And of course my parents-in-law who live there, they are good to me.

Hopefully this year we can go Baguio City to visit my parents-in-law and our friends, to stroll, feel the cold weather and buy pasalubong going back to Manila.

Childless

I’m a plain housewife, married for six years and still trying to conceive. I have a strong faith that in God’s time we will have our own bundle of joy. I really want to have my own family and I want to be a mom. But if we are not lucky to have our own child, perhaps that is God’s plan for us. No questions ask we will surely accept it for He knows what is the best for us. Besides there is another option to have a child, right? Maybe in the right time we will consider adoption to make our family complete.

Being depressed for not having a child is not healthy and wouldn't help me at all . Not having a child is not a sin, there's no reason to be sad and feel guilty. Life is beautiful if you will only look at the brighter side of it. For now, I'm enjoying my life as a wife. I’ll make sure that I have enough time for my husband and attend to all his needs. Once a week we go for a date, my hubby's weakness is to dine out, we’re enjoying each other. With or without a child we will love each other for the rest of our lives, nothing can separate us.

I will never give up, I always pray hard, for I know all prayers are being answer at the right time. God answer prayers in three ways: yes, no and just wait. There are gifts that are being sent a little bit late. There are couples who had children in their late years of marriage.

String beans with Oyster sauce

Have you ever wondered how a simple string beans turn into special dish? You must try my very own version of string beans with oyster sauce. It’s easy to prepare, and for sure your family and friends will love it.


Ingredients:

1 tofu, cut into thick strip
1 small can mushroom, slice into 2 or 4
2 bundle string beans cut into 2” length
½ cup oyster sauce
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp cornstarch
1 red bell pepper cut into strip
1 small Ginger cut into strip
1 Onion, diced
½ head garlic minced
Salt to taste
Cooking oil

Cooking Procedure:

Deep fry tofu until crisp outside and cut into strip. Set aside.
Sauté ginger, garlic, onion and mushroom.
Add soy sauce, oyster sauce, water and cook for 1-2 minutes.
Add in string beans and stir cook for 3-5 minutes or until half cooked.
Add in bell pepper and tofu.
Thicken sauce with cornstarch diluted in ½ cup water. Stir cook for 2-3 minutes.

Serve hot.

Enjoy eating!