I'VE BEEN TAGGED, ALRIGHT!!!

I'VE BEEN TAGGED MY MADOKA!!!!

In the 8 facts about PEACHES, you share 8 things that your readers don't know about you. Then at the end you tag 8 other bloggers to keep the fun going.Each blogger must post these rules first.* Each blogger starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.* Bloggers that are tagged need to write on their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.* At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.* Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

FUN STARTS HERE ;)

1. I have this proclivity with highfaluting, pompous and pretentious vocabularies. I get easily impressed with writings peppered with grandiose words which I really don't understand…

2. I fell in love with my husband because he is smart… Smart enough to let me copy his answers during a grueling exam in law school.

3. I am lazy baby-sitting my kids… But I am crazy about them…

4. I sleep with the bright lights on. Really, darkness frightens me but ever since I got my permanent roommate with me, I learn to sleep with the lamp on. Definitely, not lights off!!!

5. I have a collection of old-aged stamps. A hobby inherited from my grandmother… (she passed on to me her stamps). I have stamps of pre-war era. Honest….But until now, I do not know what to do with them.

6. I have this penchant for very, very old, antiquated, prehistoric, ancient sleepwears. The older, the better.

7. I very seldom brush my long hair. I learned that in one lifetime, a person spends 182,500,000,000 seconds just fixing one's hair. I therefore conclude that brushing hair is just a waste of time.

8. Before I got married, I was given an antique engagement diamond ring by my soon-to-be husband. An heirloom passed from generation to generation. I had it RESET!!! But I managed to secure a go-signal from my mom-in-law.

Friends I am going to tag: (1) Mado; (2) Eroica; (3) Erlynn; (4) Mildred; (5) Anna; (6) Berlyn; (7) Inah; (8) Charisse

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE LINE?

I am a film buff. Every word that was uttered, every dialogue exchanged in the movies incessantly fascinates me. Often times, the lines become too proverbial that it is etched forever in my mind. Hereunder is a list of classic, unforgettable movie lines from the numerous films (not necessarily my favourite) I watched so far.

1. I'M GOING TO MAKE HIM AN OFFER HE CAN'T REFUSE.
- Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando, The Godfather, 1972)

2. SEIZE THE DAY, BOYS. MAKE YOUR LIVES EXTRA-ORDINARY.
- John Keating (Robin Williams, Dead Poet's Society, 1989)

3. YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!
- Col. Nathan Jessep (Jack Nicholson, A Few Good Men,1992)

4. YOU COMPLETE ME.
- Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise, Jerry Maguire, 1996)

5. MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU.
- Hans Solo ( Harrison Ford, Starwars, 1977)

6. THE GREATEST TRICK THE DEVIL HAS PULLED WAS CONVINCING THE WORLD HE DIDN'T EXIST.
- Narrating (Kevin Spacey, The Usual Suspect, 1995)

7. WE ALL GO A LITTLE MAD SOMETIMES.
- Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins, The Psycho, 1960)

8. I SEE DEAD PEOPLE.
- Cole Sear ( Haley Joel Osment, The Sixth Sense, 1999)

9. I DO WISH WE COULD CHAT LONGER BUT I'M HAVING AN OLD FRIEND FOR DINNER.
- Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins, The Silence of the Lambs, 1991)

10. TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO DIE.
- Nelson Wright (Kiefer Sutherland, Flatliners, 1990)

11. MY MAMA ALWAYS SAID, LIFE IS LIKE A BOX OF CHOCOLATE, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA GET.
- Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks, Forrest Gump, 1994)

12. WHEN I FIRST SAW YOU, I THOUGHT YOU WERE HANDSOME. THEN OF COURSE, YOU SPOKE.
- Carol Connelly (Helen Hunt, As Good As It Gets, 1997)

13. I FEEL THE NEED… THE NEED FOR SPEED.
- Maverick (Tom Cruise, Topgun, 1986)

14. YOU HAD ME AT HELLO.
- Dorothy (Renee Zelwegger, Jerry Maguire, 1996)

15. WOULD YOU STOP THINKING ABOUT WHAT EVERYONE WANTS? STOP THINKING ABOUT WHAT I WANT, WHAT HE WANTS, WHAT YOUR PARENTS WANT. WHAT DO YOU WANT? WHAT DO YOU WANT?
- Noah (Ryan Gosling, The Notebook, 2004)

16. I WANNA GROW OLD WITH YOU.
- Robbie, singing (Adam Sandler, Wedding Singer, 1998)

17. REAL LOSS IS POSSIBLE WHEN YOU LOVE SOMETHING MORE THAN YOU LOVE YOURSELF.
- Sean (Robin Williams, Good Will Hunting, 1992)

18. HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
- Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks, Apollo 13, 1995)

19. IM THE KING OF THE WORLD.
- Jack (Leonardo Decaprio, Titanic, 1997)

20. FRANKLY MY DEAR, I DON'T GIVE A DAMN.
- Rhett Butler (Clark Gable, Gone with the Wind, 1939)

The foregoing enumerations only reflect the personal choice of the blogger. You can add up to the list. The American Film Industry (AFI) also came up with their own best-ever movie lines based on viewer's choice. Click the link to have a glimpse of what I meant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOGSD-j6UgI

ALPHABETICALLY SPEAKING

In a popular broadsheet circulating, a famed showbiz columnist usually features famous celebrities and the important things in their lives done chronologically, commencing with A until Z. I may not be famous, I may not be a celebrity, but it wouldn't hurt if, for my perusal, I come out with my own version of my "ABCs". Bear with me as I list down the people, events, places and stuffs that matter to me at this point in my life:

A - ARCET (nickname of my favorite son),
APPELLATE COURT (Tax Appeals or Court of Appeals, institutions that compelled me to be a lawyer)

B - BADMINTON (My favourite Sport, thus far),
BRETON (after-dinner destination to chit-chat with family and friends and a serving of crepe and a cup of coffee)
BORACAY (the sand, the beach and the food)

C - CARAMEL ICE CREAM (just one scoop is enough for me)
CAVITE (a blast from my past)

D - DADDY (mine and my kids'- influential figures in my life)
DISPOSITIVE PORTION (of a legal decision gives me this unexplainable sense of fulfilment, knowing that I have made one work done)
DIGITAL CAMERA (I love capturing moments)

E - ELADIA (I was a lola's girl and I'm proud of it)
EMPRESS (she understands my quirks and idiosyncrasies)

F - FRIENDS and FAMILY (need I say more???)

G - GOD (the reason for everything) and
GREEN (my favorite color & brown, of course)

H- HOLIDAYS (including Christmas, New Year & some Extended Weekends),
HERSHEY'S Dark Chocolate (not so sweet, not too bitter)

I - IELLA (I'm crazy 'bout this Little Girl )
IMELDA (a mother like no other)

J - JAPANESE FOOD (Salmon sashimi, futomaki, etc. etc.)
JUNE & JULY (My wedding anniversary, my kids' birth months)

K - KNITWEAR (I just love knits)
KISS (from hubby or from children, it effectively wipes my tiredness away)

L - LAW ('our' profession)
LAPTOP (the repository of important documents and cherished memories, and of course, my gateway to the world
LAUGHTER (I do this often & I found out that it's still the best medicine)
LONG DRIVES (and the Long talks that come with it)

M - MESINA (I was and will always be a Mesina)
MOBILE PHONE (Can't function without it)
MARATHON DVD Watching (alone or with someone else, it's exhilarating)

N - NEW WAVE (the era of my youth)
NIECE & NEPHEWS (im fond of them all); NIGHTS (I am an evening person…)

O - OUTINGS (the camaraderie and togetherness that grew out of it)

P - PRAYERS (my secret formula and my weapon to everything)
PHOTOS (my tangible evidence of treasured moments)
PARENTING (eight years and I am still learning)

Q - QUADRUPLE Sharing (We are four in the family, remember?)

R - REALTY PLUS, INC. (How fun is it to do business with family and friends!!)
READING (can't live without books, magazines and newspapers)

S - SIBLINGS (love them, miss them)
SALE (who hate discounts?)
SCRABBLE (I have been playing this classic board game since I was 8.)
SLEEP (the sweetest thing invented, it invigorates my body and revitalizes my spirit)

T - TAI-CHI (my effective stress buster)
TEA (java green, please!)

U - UNCONDITIONAL love, UNWAVERING SUPPORT and UNDIVIDED Attention (What deserving people could expect from me)

V - VACATIONS (my temporary respite from the rigors of the real world)
VIDEOS (sights and sounds of my kids, captured!)

W - WEDDINGS (a hopeless romantic… I cry on weddings)
WATCHING TVs (I plead guilty, I am an addict!)
WINE (I like its crisp, bitter-ish and sweet taste).

X - XER (if reversed, it becomes the important part of my life!!)

Y - YAYAS (my angels in disguise…)

Z - ZANY DISPOSITION (and lastly, I have learned to arm myself with this in every situation, at any given instance, in all events)….

YES HONEY, I BRAVED OCTOBER!!!

October was such a hectic month and before it bids its last hurrah I found myself under the weather -- unsettled, unwell and queasy. My croaky voice even betrayed me that I was compelled to keep it shut, which of course, delighted my roommate. Because my boss was in his 3-week European respite, my office work load proved to be lighter than usual. This rare opportunity permits me to do things, my way… But before reality sank in, I was already ensnared in the convoluted events that flooded my October…

Close friends knew for sure that October is the month of my birth. As early as the first week, I was already pre-occupied with throwing birthday treats for family and friends. The first one was in my office. The celebration in my office was a triple treat as I shared birthday with two other co-lawyers. We treated the office with Chinese food, brazo de Mercedes ice cream for dessert and two bottles of crisp Sangria. The next was my treat to my girlfriends from the judiciary. This time, I went Italian. Unaware that it was a treat, I surprised them with pizza and pasta. Then came the much-awaited Libran nights (with four other Librans in the spotlight)… Fabulous guys, gays and girls flocked to our usual watering hole to celebrate that night with us --- singing, dancing, drinking and sharing yummy food. It was indeed a party of quadruple fun! Come the very date of my birthday, I spent it with family. We had a quiet dinner at a famous American restaurant in Serendra. The original reservation was cancelled due to the unfortunate bomb incident that happened early on that day. Later that night, me and hubby proceeded to the chateau and drank vodka tonic until the wee hours of the morning. It was a moment of uncontrollable laughter.

October profusely overflows with numerous activities in my kids' school. First, there was this El Dia de la Hispanidad (Filipino-Hispanic Friendship Day) where I found myself rummaging all-over the city to look for my children's Spanish costumes. We were also tasked to prepare Spanish food to be brought to the Agape. Then, there was this Guardian Angel's Feast day for Nursery pupils, where my little daughter was assigned to lead a prayer through singing. (Of course, the mom helped in memorizing the lines). And the most dreadful of all: the second Periodical Examination. Again, the mom played a major role in the review. I was literally trapped in the four corners of my home, posing as a look-out to any straying, stubborn kids who refused to study their lessons. My night life for the week was zero. I was overwrought indeed!

The Third Friday of the month had me an Italian Cooking Galore with Friends. The head cook was in full-battle Chef's gear setting the mood for a real culinary delight. Brimming over the dinner table were different kinds of pasta (I love the tuna Tuscany!), salads (I love the fresh mixed fruit) and a wide array of sumptuous appetizers, from the beefy and cheesy nachos to the poultry a la Kentucky. Thanks to our talented featured chefs for the night!



Then came some filial obligations… The 28th of the month, We were heading to a far-away province to visit the dearly-departed ones (on my hubby's side). It was a six-hour drive from Manila. While there, the children had real fun enjoying the freshness of the surroundings, the crisp coolness of the air and the abundant greens everywhere. The 29th of the month, we dropped by at my hubby's hometown in time for the Barangay election. We were mostly on the road…



And of course, October will not be complete without the Halloween party. This year's Halloween party was different than the usual. There was no creepy costumes, no high-pitched music, no loud parties, no screaming aplenty. Just a handful of friends all clad in black (The black theme was intended for picture-taking purposes only). The idea was originally to share scary stories over delectable home-delivered dishes and numerous bottles of Martinis. But the night ended up with some, imparting their own romantic adventures and heart-breaking dramas. By the time the party was over, I was really very ill. I cannot laugh. I cannot even utter a single word. My voice sounded guttural. It's time to go home and to take my much-needed rest. It was a break I so well-deserved. Anyway, a long extended weekend is looming ahead…

A GAME OF DICE and TOGETHERNESS

One Tuesday afternoon (September 25, that was), I sneaked out from work to experience a different kind of adventure. Early morning on that day, I received a 'text-invite' requesting my presence in a Dice Game to celebrate an old-aged Chinese tradition, usually held during the Mooncake Festival.

Unmindful of the voluminous legal works piling up at my office desk, I rushed to the "Chateau" to participate in the said event. Good friends, relatives and business associates came one by one, all looking forward to be part of the much-anticipated game. Except for some who is of Chinese descent, each of us remains clueless of how the game is played.

As explained to me, the game is commonly played by most Chinese in the Philippines in celebration of the Mooncake Festival. The game needs six dice and a bowl (in our case, a dainty red glass bowl). A player takes the dice and throws them into the bowl which may or may not yield a combination. If the throw produces a combination, a person wins a prize depending on the combination produced by his/her throw. As they say, the prize could be of anything--, appliances, food, or cash. In our dice game, it's raining cash!!! (Thanks to the affable host and the generous sponsor).

Indeed, cash prizes await lucky participants. Each combination of throws corresponds to a different prize. A throw with:

· One dice of four wins P100.

· Two dices of four wins P200.

· Three dices of four wins P500

· Four dices of the same number (except 4) also wins P500.

· Two sets of trio of any number wins P1,000.

· A straight (1-6) dice wins P5,000.

· Six dice of one to six or any three sets of 2 consecutive numbers also wins P5,000

· Five dices of four & six dices of any number qualifies for the jackpot of P12,000. The combination yielding the highest dice would win the elusive jackpot.

· And a combination of six dices of four or one wins all the prizes including that which everybody has won so far in the game (but in our case, the host modified the rules to ensure that everybody will win something)

The game began and we were all surrounded by piles of mooncakes (fresh from their red boxes). The first person threw the dice... Then the next… It was so much fun. There were cheering, bellowing, teasing and bantering. Then there were the cash prizes. As the game progresses, the yells and howls slowly come to fade. Everyone is now in focus. Everyone is now seriously playing the game, eyeing for the much-coveted jackpot. Each came up with their own unique technique of throwing the dice. Some would blow the dice first… The right-handed person would use his left… Some would intensely shake the dice. Some would use both their hands in throwing it. Others would whisper a soft chant for the dice. And so on and so forth… My first try won me P1,000. I smelled luck on my side. But then again, someone is luckier than me. After several rounds, she bagged the elusive jackpot and took home the top prize on top of the other consolation prizes at stake. At the end of the game, everyone is laughing. No one went home empty-handed. No one regretted having joined the game. As we were feasting on the mooncakes on the table, we talked about how the tradition brings good luck and good fortune to everyone and how it dates back from ancient times. But surely it is, deep in our thoughts, we are all looking forward to the next mooncake festival…

SAY THAT AGAIN!!!

I treasure each moment with my children. Being with them, at any corners of the earth (in the breakfast table, in the mall, in the beach, in the bedroom or even in the car) is just an absolute bliss for me. But the experience of actually conversing with them - giving them your insights and waiting for their retorts - is just like flipping through a book with a much-anticipated climax. You will never know what they'll say until you really hear it. Their naïve ideas, blurted into words, are always full of surprises. It amuses me though that their candid and ingenuous words often times make real sense. Below are just some of the many memorable yet comical remarks they forthrightly said:

1. "I THINK YOU'RE JUST NOW THE 'LITTLE' BEST MOM IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD"-- My 4-year old daughter said to me when she thought I bought a book only for her 'kuya' and did not get her anything...

2. "I PEEPED THROUGH HIS DOOR AND MOM, HE'S NOT WORKING, HE'S JUST READING A NEWSPAPER" - My then 4-year old son was telling me about my boss (a justice of the Court of Appeals) when I brought him in my Office.

3. "CAN YOU JUST BUY ANOTHER ONE" – My impatient then 4-year old son was telling his Tita O, who was looking (under the seats of a darkened movie house) for her still amortized-ring which she accidentally dropped.

4. "MOM, IS IT REALLY HARD TO BE A GROWN-UP?" One difficult question, my son asked me when I went frantic over a trivial issue.

5. "WHY CAN'T YOU JUST GET MONEY FROM THE WALL IN THE MALL" - my son (age 7) referring to the ATM, wondering why his parents still need to go to the office.

6. "WHEN WE'RE RICH, COULD YOU BUY ME A REAL PINK PONY?" – straight from the mouth of my 4 year old daughter who at that time owned a small pink pony doll.

7. "DAD, CAN YOU GET ME A BIG BOOK ABOUT ALL THE JOBS IN THE WORLD, I HAVEN'T DECIDED WHAT I WANT TO BE WHEN I GROW UP!" – uttered by my 8-year old son while in the car during one of our long drives.

8. I CAN'T BELIEVE A NORMAL ADULT WOULD BUY SOMETHING LIKE THIS! - very well said by my son when his Tita E. bought him a black slimy (almost real) toy mouse.

9. “IT'S TIME TO CALL THE FIXER!” – my daughter referring to his handyman lolo J when something was broken in the house.

10. "DEAR JESUS, THANK YOU FOR ALL MY TOYS, FOR MY OLD TOYS, FOR MY NEW TOYS AND FOR ALL THE TOYS IN THE WORLD. AMEN". - a night prayer said by my then 3 year old daughter as if only toys and only toys really matter in her world.

11. “DEAR JESUS, PLEASE DON'T MAKE MY MOM AND DAD GROW OLD BECAUSE I KNOW THEY WILL SURELY DIE”. --A night prayer said by my then five-year old son already worrying about unimaginable things... (Morbid indeed)!

12. "WHO DO YOU THINK IS WEALTHIER, Auntie M or Tita E? – a baffling question asked by my son, awed by the so-many gifts showered to him by his Auntie M and Tita E...(initials supplied, for privacy)...

13. “YOU DON'T LOOK PRETTY TODAY MOM, BUT MAYBE TOMORROW YOU WILL...” - Ouch!!! Uttered by my daughter when she saw me with “un-brushed” hair with a big zit in the middle of my nose

14. “REALLY? ONE CLICK OF THAT BUTTON AND MY MOM WOULD SEND SOMEBODY TO JAIL?" – a bewildering response of my son to his Tito P, the latter explaining to him the nature of my job when my son asked me why i keep on typing many words in my office computer.

15. "GROSS!!! EEEWWW!!! MOM, BOYS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO KISS GIRLS"- innocently commented by the 4-year old daughter when she saw her dad kissed her mom, one cold lovely evening…

FROM LAMEST to GREATEST

It was a cloudy Saturday morning and we are all getting ready for my son's soccer culminating activity at his school in Colegio San Agustin, Makati (CSA, for brevity). Excited mom as I am, I went to the nearby mall (as early as it opened) to buy food for the "picnic cum agape" that would be held after the awarding of medals. The mall was already bustling with eager-beaver people anticipating to get a catch in the mall's 3-day sale – (up to 70% off). And I have to deal with these shoppers as bravely as I can… Deliberating what to get for the picnic, i settled for 1 dozen hotdog waffles, 15 pieces yummy empanaditas, liters of lipton kalamansi-flavoured iced tea and gallons and gallons of water (one would never know how soccer players guzzle water when they're super tired).

The whole family (grandma tagging along) and my two angels rushed to the football field to show our support to the family's champ. My son was in high spirits vowing to eat alive all his worthy opponents! (Yes, he brags when nervous). He was even more thrilled when he saw his other team mates warming up for the game. Jogging, stretching and kicking some balls….

CSA's Coach Mario divided all the players into two categories, the big-built group, consisting of red, yellow and blue team and the medium-built group, consisting of white, orange and gray team. My son was with the medium-built white team. At exactly 2:30 pm, all the players rallied in the field with Coach Mario giving important instructions. In the medium built, there would be three elimination games. First game: Orange vs. White; second game: White vs. Orange and third game: Orange vs. Gray.

The soccer game begins, with everyone showing his own mettle and skill, with everyone doing his own David Beckham in the field. I was "deafened" by the shouts and cheers of other parents chanting their son's name. I was busy capturing the whole event with my digital gadgets. My hubby, on one hand, was pre-occupied with posing as an 'unofficial' assistant to the assistant coach of the white team. Go, Go, Go… All players unrelentingly run for the ball. My son was his team's defender. No lucky kick for him. I sensed disappointment. The eliminations game was a cardiac-finished… The tally result:

First game: Orange vs. White = Orange team won

Second game: Gray vs White = Gray Team won

Third game: Orange vs Gray = Gray team Won

TOTAL: Gray Team : SIX (6) points; Orange Team: THREE (3) points

White Team : ZERO (0) point

But it ain't over til it's over. The Gray team garnering the highest point is assured of the finals slot. The next big question is: Which team will compete with the gray team? There goes the rematch between white team and orange team. This game is truly spine- tingling and nerve-wrecking! It's anybody's ball game now… Edgy and panicky as I am, I watched from the distance. Bhaamm…! the white team made their first goal… Everyone applauded, everyone cheered. Time is of the essence. The orange team's star- player was close to exhaustion. Then came the white team's second goal… Yes, it was my son! My son made that winning shot. My hero… The white team's hero… Everyone tapped my son's back… My hubby, the proud father was jumping in joy… I was near in tears…. White team advanced to the finals!

The championship match between white and gray is not as nervy as the previous. At least, (I thought) silver is better than bronze… Gold is surely a bonus. First goal came from the white team. I rejoiced! Run… Kick….Run…Kick!!! Go for the ball… Orange team then scored… One minute and forty seconds left. Tic- tac- Tic- tac.. And before I knew it, white team made another goal. And time's up…. White team won! My son's team and their avid supporters were all roaring wildly. VICTORY!!!

I was able to video the whole awarding ceremony. With the gold medal still hanging in his neck, my son approached me and hugged me. And in his very own childlike but proud, little voice, he retorted: "It's awesome, mom.., from lamest to greatest"! I hugged him even more… We went home with big smiles in our faces… The mom, beaming with unfaltering pride!!!!