Welcome Back, Jocjoc!

It's another evening on my favorite yellow chair, in front of the computer, with the tv on my left. Ordinarily, my husband and I would watch the news and discuss significant points together, but right now, he is busy fixing his mobile phone using my hair dryer upstairs. Thus, I am updating my blog at this moment while watching TV Patrol alone.

Today’s top story is the comeback of the infamous Jocelyn "Jocjoc" Bolante who was the former Dept. of Agriculture Undersecretary and alleged moneybag in the fertilizer scam that vexed Juan dela Cruz in 2004. He sought political asylum in the US but was denied and eventually deported.

He arrived at the NAIA on board Northwest Airlines Flight 71 around 11pm last night. After he was turned over by the US agents to NBI, he immediately boarded an airport ambulance that took him to St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City due to an “ailment.” Hmm.. seems like a déjà vu. It happened many times before that believed witnesses to a probe would either go missing or confined to a hospital by reason of a strange disease.

I was working in Thailand when I learned about the anomaly through philstar.com. According to the Commission on Audit, P728 million was robbed from the Filipino people. The fund for the fertilizer program was supposedly distributed to the indigent farmers in the countryside but it was pocketed by some gluttonous individuals instead.

I’m hoping against hope that a small step into redefining our nation is made by resolving this corruption issue once and for all. If only Jocjoc would come out from holing up and spill the beans on the real fertilizer scam masterminds. C’mon mister, be a real man, be a hero, and give a legacy to our race!

Fun Begins at 31

Mark had “ramos breakfast” with his troops after their road run last Friday morning. Then, he bought spaghetti sa bilao, buns, and soft drinks for his colleagues in the afternoon. Also, he treated his seniors with bottles of San Mig Light and steamed tahong as pulutan in the evening. That was just the onset of his 31st birthday celebration.

The next day, he woke me up with a kiss (as he always does) around 8am, and told me that he would bring me and my sister Jill (who’s staying with us) to NBC swimming pool, as promised. Yippie! And so, I cooked my “espesyal” pancit bihon. It’s good-humoredly called “espesyal” because my husband says that it’s neither salty nor sweet yet there’s something lacking in between. Whatever hubby! For me, it’s the yummiest pancit in the world. We also had boiled banana with latik, biko, and tinolang isda (bol-anon style). We were all set to go when suddenly, the heavy rain came! We were held up and ended up eating half of our baon. After an hour, it stopped and so we were revived.

I’m not a good swimmer, sad to say, but I know some strokes by heart. I wouldn't want to go deeper than 5 feet as I’m flustered when I couldn’t feel the ground under my feet. That’s why I admire people who can swim, I mean CAN really swim, like my husband. He’s my obliging coach but sometimes he pushes me beyond my limits.

Well, last Saturday, he was more patient to teach me nifty techniques. He gently urged me to come out from my comfort zone. Initially, I swam along the pool railings and reached the 6 feet area. Then, I freely made through the water and went wading into the 8 feet spot. Whew, that was quite an achievement for me!

Mark lectured me some physics afterwards. He told me that I have full control over the water if I really want to. All I need is to breathe in as much air as I can so that my body would expand and my density (mass/volume) will be lesser than the water’s density (1 kg/cubic meter); consequently, I would float to the surface. He mockingly added, “That’s law of buoyancy, baby!” Yeah right, navy man. Anyway, I proved to him that I was not amateurish anymore but I know I still have to exert more effort in overcoming my fear of depth. So, when can we go swimming again, honey?

Last Sunday, we invited a family friend over for lunch. This time, I cooked humba deliciously (i swear, my sister can’t get enough of it) while Mark prepared his mouthwatering kinilaw na dilis, sinugbang bangus and tulingan, and adobong baboy. We had a sumptuous meal! After Kuya Roger left, I helped Mark with his paperwork and finished until midnight.

All in all, it was a fun weekend!

An Open Letter to My Husband

October 24, 2008

Dear Honey,

Few weeks ago, I posted a poll on my friendster page on what I should do to make you happy on your birthday. The choices were:

* bring you to the spa for a full body massage
* buy you a pair of shoes
* prepare a candlelight dinner
* set a picnic at the pool with friends
* write a poem or a love letter

The candlelight dinner won, but you told me that you couldn’t make it to a dinner because you are scheduled to be on duty tonight. It’s one of the special days that we put off a celebration owing to the mandate of your profession. However, I am not whining because when I married you, I accepted the fact that you should do your duty to God and country first, before your personal commitments.

Except for the romantic rendezvous, you seem to get all what I have mentioned above anyway. You got new leather shoes and body massage the other day, the billet-doux that I’m writing right now, and then tomorrow, we’ll eat al fresco at NBC swimming pool!

What matters most is that you know how much I love you, honey. The everyday things that I do may seem trivial yet those are my ways to show the depth of my commitment and passion for you. Rest assured that when we get old and have gray hair to remind us that we’ve travelled long enough, I will still hold your hand, look into your eyes, and tell you that you are the best thing that ever happened to me. At this point, I want to shout to the world that you are mine and mine alone, and nothing could ever come between us. You are my soulmate, the angel of my life, and my eternal love.

Happy birthday, my love.


Yours forever,
Jane

->see the jpeg file

Celebrating the Feast Day of Nuestra Senora de la Naval

Today is the fiesta celebration of Nuestra Senora de la Naval, the patroness saint of the Phil. Navy.

I had fun street dancing along 1898 Avenue in Sangley Point.

It is known that the miraculous Lady of La Naval helps childless couple to be blessed with an offspring so, Mark and i danced our faith fervently.

After the Holy Mass was the "fiestahan" at the grounds of NBC Social Hall.

To know more about Nuestra Senora de la Naval, click here.

Getting Paranoid Over Melamine

How was i affected with the recent melamine scare?

So bad. I mean i initially got paranoid. I couldn't imagine the family milk that i drink every morning and the pancit bihon that i always buy at the supermarket might have been contaminated with toxic melamine. Thankfully, that wasn't the case or i could have been dead by now.

For starters, what is really melamine? It is combined with formaldehyde to produce melamine resin, a very durable thermosetting plastic, and melamine foam, a polymeric cleaning product. The end products include countertops, dry erase boards, fabrics, glues, housewares and flame retardants.

It is sometimes illegally added to food products in order to increase the apparent protein content. Moreover, it is described as being "Harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Chronic exposure may cause cancer or reproductive damage. Eye, skin and respiratory irritant.” (Source)

Scary! Now, i'm more cautious when i shop. I always look at the label, manufacturer, expiry date and ingredients of the food products that i buy. As what my mother said, "mas maayo nang makasiguro". I also search around and arm myself with accurate information about this issue so that i would avoid unnecessary worries and headaches. Like the recent scare of eating from plastic utensils, i think it's baseless because as i have mentioned above, plastics are made from melamine.

At first, only milk products were found to contain residue of melamine but then, public health officials said they discovered melamine in instant coffee, milk tea and chicken-and-corn soup products that contain non-dairy creamer as well. As of today, the four imported products from China that were tested positive are:

Green Food Yili Pure Milk

Mengniu Original Drink Milk

Lotte Strawberry Koala Biscuit

Jolly Cow Slender High-Calcium Low-Fat Milk

The updated list of of products negative of melamine are here.

Let's Get Fishy!

One of my multiple roles as a wife is to do research work for my husband. Last night, he asked me to search for local fish names that he would use for his assignment. Then i discovered the informative blog entitled "Wyatt Kitchen". Not only i got the info that i wanted but also i found some recipes and cooking essentials which i desperately need. Here are the pictures and names of the local fishes that i'm most familiar with:

Bangus - Milkfish

Tilapia - St. Peter's Fish

Dilis - Anchovy

Tanguigue – Spanish Mackerel

Tambakol –Skipjack Tuna

Tulingan - Frigate Mackerel

Dalagang bukid – Yellow Tail Fusilier

Banak - Broad-mouthed Mullet

Chabita, Hiwas Bilong-bilong – Moonfish

Samaral / Danggit– Rabbit Fish

Hito - Catfish

Alumahan – Big Mouth Mackerel

Nadal Clinches Year-End No. 1

"Frenchman Gilles Simon advanced to his first ATP Masters Series final after an exhilarating 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(6) victory over World No. 1 and home favorite Rafael Nadal in the semifinals of the Mutua Madrilena Masters Madrid on Saturday." - ATP

Oh, i'm so sad! But i really don't feel sorry for Rafa because just by reaching the semifinals in Madrid, he finally kicked Federer's butt out of the number one spot! No one would ever argue if i say that Nadal is the greatest player in tennis history. He won five masters titles, two grand slams cups, and the prestigious gold in Beijing Olympics.. all within the year! I always love his electrifying presence on court. My husband and i are his biggest fans!

Next on ATP Calendar:

October 26 - BNP Paribas Masters (Paris, France)

November 9 - Tennis Master Cup (Shanghai, China)

xoxo

Go Green!

I'm fully aware of the global warming and i'm rightly consumed in doing my share to fight against it. So, i proudly use the "green bag" every time i go shopping at the mall and at marketplaces. I just put my purchases right inside it and by doing so, i avoid using the plastic bags that shops usually provide nowadays. By saving a bag, i'm saving the world as well!

Rivals Meet in Madrid

I'm watching Mutua Madrilena Masters Madrid on Star Sports; and of course, i'm rooting for my man, Nadal. Watch out Federer and Djokovic because the new king reigns! Vamos Rafa!

I'm For Barack!

Why talk politics today?

Well, if you watch CNN religiously like me, you surely get bombarded with US political broadcasts nowadays especially that the 44th Presidential Election is just around the corner. I'm interested in its progress and of how the candidates uproot each other. Really, it's more thespian than reality tv!

At first, i liked John McCain because he is fatherly, soft-spoken and yeah, a Republican. I thought Americans should choose a leader that embodies the true image of its country. Moreover, he is with the present administration so he's in the loop of the real situation (especially intelligence feeds) in America, in particular, and in the world, in general.

BUT McCain is so lousy during debates. Like when it's his turn to speak, i could easily drowse off. He speaks monotonously. He also keeps on attacking his opponent and fails to highlight his qualifications. In other words, he's a loser.

This leads me to listen Barrack Obama more. I realized that Barack is not too corrupted by the politics of Washington. He is fresh, dynamic, and a family man. Most of all, he's black (an immigrant from Kenya) that means he definitely has the non-white people (like you and me) close to his heart.

My two younger sisters are registered nurses and they want to work abroad. I think if Obama wins in November, he will give them (and all OFW's, for that matter) more respect they deserve. He will efface the archaic white western supremacy through all its incarnations. Hopefully, a black US President will put an end to racism.

That said, i'm all for Barack Hussein Obama! I wish i could cast a vote in the US though. Tsk tsk.

It's Datski's Birthday!

my joy, my friend, my confidant, my listener,

my angel, my sidekick, my nurse,

my clown, my idol,

and my beloved

sistah!

Not So Gloomy Day with Dunkin' Donuts Coffee

This morning was so drizzly that I refused to get up until noon and when I did, I instantaneously craved for a cup of hot brewed coffee. So, I went to Dunkin’ Donuts to have one and thankfully, the staff greeted me with comforting exuberance that made me forget how dreary the weather was. I guess i could say that dunkin' donuts coffee made me happy today! (",)

Coming Out of Hibernation

I've been blogging on friendster since 2005 but after 43 posts, i stopped. I went into hibernation. And God only knows how i missed the excitement of sharing my life story to the world!

Now, here i am again! Here's the insert of my comeback post on "Breathing Space":

~~oo~~

I’m back! As the colloquial salaam goes, “long time no see but now sinaw”! Howdy blog enthusiasts?!

Let’s see, my last entry was in Feb. 2007 yet. A lot of stuffs happened between that point and this very moment that i haven’t shared with you yet. I would like to say that i was out of the loop for quite some time mainly because i got married. Yeah yeah yeah.. i know what you are thinking but it was not only the honeymooning phase with my husband that got my full attention also the big adjustments that came along.

Anyways, you will be hearing a lot from me from now on. So, feel free to check me out here and here!

See ya!

xoxo

Lost in Translation

An Arab being interviewed at the US Embassy:

CONSUL : "Your name, please?"

ARAB : "Abdul Aziz."

CONSUL : "Sex?"

ARAB : "SIX times a week."

CONSUL : "I mean, male or female?"

ARAB : "Both male and female and sometimes even camels."

CONSUL : "Holy cow!"

ARAB : "Yes, cows and dogs too."

CONSUL : "Man, isn't that hostile?"

ARAB : "Horse style, dog style, any style!"

CONSUL : "Oh dear!"

ARAB : "Deer? No deer, they run too fast!"

It's one of the many far-out jokes that my zany husband tells me to make me laugh. He's indeed my source of joy!

Bookworm Princess

I was six or seven when my father asked me if i understood the content of the news mag i was pretending to read intently. I told him no but i surely admired its glossy pages. It was a Newsweek or a Times magazine (i couldn’t exactly remember which), my dad subscribed during his stint at the Ministry of Human Settlement in the Marcos regime, that brought me into the world of reading. He might have foresighted that i would become a voracious reader so he bought me a complete set of Grolier encyclopedia and countless of reading materials as i was growing up.

The kid thrillers of Nancy Drew were my grade school faves. During that time, i preferred reading books than playing chinese garters or marbles with my childhood friends. No kidding. Then, i graduated to Francine Pascal’s “Sweet Valley High” and “Sweet Valley University” series. How could one forget the celebrated twins Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield? I basically grew up with them. When my imagination increased to more complicated twists, i would secretly read my mom’s Mills & Boons in my mid-high days. Wow, i was indeed baptized with some erotic fantasies! One night, my mother caught me curling up with Daniel Steel’s “Kaleidoscope” (which i sneaked from her room) and she scolded me endlessly. Maybe she was just afraid that i would learn about sex at an early age. Haha. Then collecting novels became my hobby. I used to love Sidney Sheldon, John Grisham, Mary Higgins-Clark, Tom Clancy, Stephen King, and Daniel Steel.

In our family, i was known as a “cold fish princess” because i used to ignore everyone at home whenever i was holding a paperback. I simply loved to stay in my bedroom and get lost in the pages of the book i was reading. Now, i am not the "cold fish princess" anymore. They now call me "the bookworm princess"!

I am Jane

Exquisite and sensual,
As slender as a girl,
As warm as a woman,
As sexy as a fantasy,
As haunting as a dream,
As sweet as a honey,
As strong as a rock,
As beautiful as a rose,
As flowing as a stream..
That’s who i am and then more..

Love Me or Hate Me

I…
- am basically a simple, laid-back person
- love peace, freedom and serenity
- value true friendship
- am a nature, music and book lover
- prefer staying in the comfort of my bedroom than going out to overcrowded parties
- believe in everlasting love
- like romantic, funny, witty people
- am a fan of rafael nadal
- hate dirty restrooms

- love to laugh
- love someone who makes me laugh
- like red because it’s a romantic color
- like hanging-out at Karaoke bars with my friends
- hate dirty politics and corrupt politicians
- am secretive and conservative when it comes to big decision-making
- hate waking up very early in the morning
- am positively a night person
- love my husband, family, and friends
- like Heineken Draught than any other brand of beer
- like watching reruns on HBO
- easily get bored with certain songs
- like surfing the net and updating my blog
- am a fan of amazing race asia and project runway philippines

- love my cp

- feel happy when i make someone smile
- easily forgive and forget
- wish we have a better world to live in
- dream to be like Princess Diana
- want David Beckham for a bodyguard (dream on!)
- like chocolate ice-cream
- crave to own a Jaguar
- plan to finish my Master’s Degree
- love Nakhonsithammarat, Thailand

- easily cry when i get very emotional
- hate gossip-mongers, backbiters, green-eyed monsters and unreasonably bossy people
- will die for my MBB

10 Things I'd Like To Do Before I Die

1. Learn the art of cooking.
2. Get married and have kids.
3. Own a business.
4. Build my dream house.
5. Work out the body figure to die for.
6. Finish a Doctoral Degree.
7. Travel the world with my family and friends.
8. Drive a platinum Jaguar.
9. Produce a collective album and/or concert of my favorite artists.
10. Leave a legacy as a benevolent philanthropist.

Welcome To My Life

An austere portrait of an ordinary girl

who’s trapped in the matrix of evil and good.

Ladies and gentlemen,

welcome to my life!

xoxo