A New Beginning in British Columbia

We arrived in Surrey at around noon of October 2, 2016. We had lunch at Guildford Town Center (the mall just across our new place) then proceeded to the apartment to meet the building manager. We've managed our expectations naman kaya hindi na kami nagulat upon seeing na old building na talaga siya. Medyo nadaaanan na rin naman namin yung area during our August visit eh.

Sobrang kaba ko habang papunta na kami sa unit, I was hoping na sana maayos naman. Imagine, we would have to live there for at least a year as per our contract. Or we could leave earlier but w have to pay $1500 yata as penalty.

The unit was actually big (malalaki ang units sa mga lumang buildings) but it only has one bedroom. Wala kasing bakanteng two-bedroom. The stove and refrigerator are old, really old. Gusto kong umiyak talaga. We came from a brand new modern townhome, malaking adjustment talaga ang lumipat doon. But I chose to be grateful, at least nga makapapagsimula na kami. Inisip ko na lang din na pansamantala lang naman, na bibili uli kami ng bahay. Isa pa, pauwi na rin kami ni Nathan sa Pinas in a month (for a five-month vacation) kaya saglit lang ang ipagtitiis ko.

Ford took some of our essentials on the storage para may magamit muna kami. Haha, para kaming mga basang sisiw. Grabe, ang hirap palang magsimula uli. Again, the experience was so humbling. Pero what mattered naman was that magkakasama kaming tatlo. Through thick and thin.

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A few days later, Ford submitted his resume na in an engineering consulting firm in Langley. He chose to apply there first because of its proximity to our current apartment. Mas ok daw doon, pasaliwa sa traffic kapag rush hour. Last option na niyang mag-apply sa Downtown Vancouver kasi at least one-hour-per-way commute doon. Tapos mahal pa ang parking fees kaya dapat mag-skytrain na lang. Sobrang hassle.

Luckily, he instantly received a reply from the firm, asking him of his availability for a personal interview. After the interview, he was asked to produce some things and submit copies na rin of his previous project reports. Sinabihan na rin siyang ayusin na niya ang paglipat ng professional engineer's license niya sa BC.

So basically, he already knew that he'll get hired. Very positive nga kasi ang interview. In fact, instead of him convincing the interviewers that he's fit for the position, it was the other way around pa. Yung mga bosses pa ang nagmemention sa kanya ng mga benefits and how fun it would be to work in their company haha. Siya pa ang hinikayat!

The hubby received the good news (via email) on that beautiful morning of October 21st. May trabaho na siya! And with a salary that's way way higher than what we were expecting! Sobrang saya talaga grabe! Ang gaan-gaan sa pakiramdam kasi tapos na ang 9-month "ordeal" namin. And I love seeing his confidence back. Ibang-ibang aura ang nakita ko sa kanya.

He was asked to report to work on November 1. Ang bilis talaga ng pangyayari, many were surprised kasi nga nakakuha siya agad ng target job niya. Tapos after a few more days, licensed professional engineer na rin siya sa British Columbia.

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So there, it's been more than a year since we moved to BC and we are doing ok. I am back to being a stay-at-home mom and the hubby's back to being an engineer lol. Pero madalas nagbibiruan pa rin kami on how we miss those days na nagtatrabaho ako at siya ay panood-nood lang ng TV sa bahay. Looking back, I think that episode in our life had truly made us stronger. And humble to the core. Mas naging appreciative din kami sa kung ano ang meron kami sa ngayon. 

Just a couple of months ago, Ford told me: "Ok na tayo dito noh? Bahay na lang ang kulang."

Yes, bahay na lang talaga ang kulang. Pero hindi "lang" yun ha, given the real estate situation dito sa Metro Vancouver. Ginto ang presyo ng bahay dito haha. I've already accepted the fact na hindi na kami magkakaroon ng malaking bahay dito nang kagaya sa pwede naming mabili sa Edmonton. Basta ang gusto ko na lang ay magkaroon uli kami ng sariling place, kahit na condo na nga lang, para totally makapag-move on na kami. We decided to stay na lang din muna sa current apartment namin kahit lagpas one year na kasi nga ang hirap maglipat na naman. Gusto namin kapag lumipat kami, sa talagang amin na.

Hopefully mangyari iyon this year. Sa pagbalik namin ni Nathan sa Canada this April, sisimulan na talaga namin ang house-hunting. Please wish us luck.


--- To Be Continued ---

Two Years Ago in Edmonton (Part 2)

Sa una biru-biruan lang: "Tara lipat na tayo sa BC! Malapit ang Jollibee doon!" But on April 2016, we found ourselves talking to a realtor. On the first week of May, for sale na ang house namin.

I've always wanted to live in (Metro) Vancouver. When I first visited Canada in 2012, dumalaw kami sa Tita ko sa Surrey at nagandahan ako sa place. Hindi gaanong malamig (bihirang mag-snow) saka ang daming pwedeng gawin at pasyalan, hindi kagaya ng Deadmonton. Tapos cross border ka lang, Washington na. May Seafood City doon at Jollibee, Red Ribbon, at Chowking. Isa pa, mayroon nga akong Tita doon (na sobrang ka-close ko dati) kaya talagang na-engganyo ako.

Pero syempre hindi kami pwedeng lumipat noon kasi settled na si Ford sa Edmonton. May magandang trabaho siya, may bahay na kami, at may malalapit na kaibigan na rin. At mahirap din kasing iwan talaga ang Alberta kasi nga mataas ang sweldo doon (prior to recession) kasi nga mayaman ang probinsya. Tapos 5% lang ang sales tax  (sa BC ay 12%) kaya mas mura ang cost of living.

Pero by April, we realized that we had to leave Edmonton already. We already knew for a fact na matatagalan pa bago maka-recover ang Alberta. Ford's employment insurance will only last until February 2017. Sure, we could get by later on kung maghahanap muna siya ng kahit anong odd job tapos tuloy ang work ko, pero we had to consider his career. Hindi siya pwedeng ma-stagnate nang matagal. Yung ex-officemate niya na nalay-off din, nagrelocate na sa Ontario and found a job there.

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It took a while bago nabili yung house. Again, recession. Sino ang bibili ng bahay sa mga panahong iyon? Medyo skeptic nga ako eh, pero sige lang, wala namang bayad sa realtor. Magkakaroon lang siya ng commission kapag naibenta na niya.

At dahil matagal nga inabot, medyo naipit din ang job-hunting ni Ford. He couldn't apply in Vancouver kasi nga paano ang bahay kung hindi pa naibebenta? Hindi naman namin pwedeng iwan syempre. Hindi rin naman pwedeng mauna siya sa Vancouver, paano naman kami ni Nathan sa Edmonton? Ni hindi ako nagda-drive doon. So we had no choice but to wait.

My cousin in Toronto once asked me, "Buti hindi umiinit ang ulo ni Ford? Buti hindi siya nai-insecure na ikaw muna ang nagtatrabaho?"

Actually hindi naman. Hindi talaga. Una, mas malaki pa nga ang nakukuha niya sa insurance kesa sa sinusweldo ko noh. So mas malaki pa rin ang share niya sa household expenses namin haha. Pangalawa, mataas talaga ang EQ niya. He knew na temporary lang naman ang sitwasyon, that everything will be back to normal once na nakarelocate kami at nakahanap na uli siya ng work. At pangatlo, I would like to believe na hindi ko naman kasi siya dinown during those times. It wasn't his fault na nawalan siya ng trabaho, usaping ekonomiya yan. I reminded him that when he was earning well, he's been so good and generous to me. Kaya walang rason para maliitin ko siya sa puntong iyon ng buhay niya.

Pero minsan nang sabihin ko na pagod na ako (physically tired), he said: "Sana magkatrabaho na ako uli. Kasi pagod ka na." I assured him that I wasn't complaining, na wala naman talaga sa akin yun. Pagod lang talaga ako kasi may physical aspect din naman ang work ko.

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After what seemed to be an endless home viewings, we finally got an offer on August. Syempre we didn't get the amount that we initially stated, nagtawaran pa kami. In the end, break even lang kami. Pero ok na rin, at least makakapagsimula na kami uli sa BC. Saka two and half years pa lang naman kami doon, kaya wag magexpect ng equity. Masuwerte pa nga kami kasi nabenta, ang dami-daming properties (both old and new) that time na nakatengga kasi nga walang pambili ang mga tao ng bahay.

By the way, ang nakabili ng townhouse namin ay isang matandang mag-asawang Intsik yata. They used to live with their child (and his/her family) in one of the units din in the complex, pero gusto na nilang humiwalay. Kaya bumili sila ng unit (cash ha) doon din para malapit lang din sa anak nila. We were thankful kasi nga kung hindi sila tagadoon din, I doubt kung bibili sila ng second hand house. There's a new array of townhomes just across our street na marami pang vacant units, pwedeng doon sila bumili kung tutuusin.

We agreed to turn over the house on the last day of September. We thought that should give us ample time to look for an apartment in BC, pack, and bid goodbye to our friends.

Pero kaloka ha, mid-September na eh wala pa kaming malilipatan. On my birthday weekend (August 27-29), we drove all the way to Surrey to check a townhouse-type rental apartment that's big enough to accommodate all our things. Akala namin makukuha namin, given my husband's good credit history and our savings (that will prove that we are capable of paying), kaso we got declined. We were shocked, ang sakit palang ma-reject. Ang only reason na naisip namin is because Ford was jobless at that time. Our savings (plus the sale of our house) didn't count. We really never saw it coming, we were too confident na walang magiging problema sa paghahanap namin ng matitirahan.

We searched and searched online pero walang vacancy sa mga apartment complexes sa Langley, Delta at Delta (iyon kasi ang mga target cities namin). Mukhang booming talaga ang BC, naisip namin. Marami nga rin kasing naglipatan doon from Alberta simula nang mag-recession. I tried emailing / text messaging yung mga homeowners na nagpaparent ng basement but nobody replied. Mukhang hindi ako sineryoso.

We were getting desperate. Malapit na kaming maging homeless. Ang tindi ng pressure. Thankfully, meron isang nakausap si Ford na apartment manager who was willing to take us in kahit na hindi na namin ma-view ang apartment. When Ford informed her na wala pa siyang trabaho, enough na daw that we email to her our bank's statement of account para lang masigurado na may pambayad kami sa mga susunod na buwan. I guess she took us in when she learned na Filipino kami, marami raw kasi silang tenants na Filipino. Gusto siguro nila ang Pinoy kasi maayos sa bahay.

The only problem though was that we could only move by October 1. The only solution was to rent a huge storage in Surrey (hay, gastos!) and dump our things there at least a week before September ends kasi we needed to clean the townhouse pa before the turnover.

My parents-in-law came over in September and helped us pack the house. I quit from my job na rin (my last day was September 17). Then Ford rented a truck and they brought all our things in the storage on September 21.

We stayed at our good friend's (Mylene and Obet) house for a couple of days before the townhouse's turnover. We spent those days with our distant cousins and closest friends who became our family in Edmonton. It was bitter sweet. We were excited because a new adventure awaits us, but it wasn't easy to leave the life that we've built in Edmonton.

With a heavy heart, we left on the night of October 1st.

---- To Be Continued ----

Two Years Ago in Edmonton (Part 1)

Want to know why we left Edmonton?

It's because my husband lost his job there two years ago.

January 26, 2016 (Tuesday). Ford went home on lunch time, as usual. But when he mentioned that two officers from their Saskatoon head office were in their office, I suddenly felt nervous. Alam ko may male-layoff na naman. Marami-rami na rin kasing nalay-off the past months, yung iba matatagal na sa company saka matataas din ang puwesto.

In less than an hour after he left the house to go back to work, I received a shocking message from him: "na-lay off ako." Biglang umakyat ang dugo ko sa ulo. I was hoping na nagbibiro lang siya, pero alam kong hindi. Hindi siya nagbibiro ng mga ganyang bagay. Saka alam kong may problema na sa office nila, wala na silang masyadong projects. I just didn't expect na male-layoff siya ahead of other employees. You see, he's the MOE (most valuable employee) in the office. He's the owner's "right hand" in Edmonton Office (that owner unfortunately died just four months prior). Akala ko mala-last man standing talaga siya sa opisinang yun. Yun din ang akala niya.

It was a world-shattering text message. Sobra ang takot ko. Ang nareply ko lang: "Paano na tayo?" I remember crying so hard while waiting for him to come home. My then one-year old son was somewhat aware of what's happening. He quietly sat on my lap and hugged me while I was sobbing.

What made the situation worse was that my parents-in-law were already in our house that time and in three days, Ford's sister from California and brother from Qatar (and his family) are also coming for vacation. Ang gara talaga ng timing.

Ewan ko ba pero parang nase-sense ko na rin na mawawalan ng work ang asawa ko. Just a week before it happened, nag-blog pa ako on how scary the Canadian economy was na that time. Alberta was badly hit by recession because the prices of oil continued to drop in the world market. Fully dependent ang economy ng Alberta sa oil kaya talagang bagsak na bagsak ang probinsya.

My husband is a licensed Professional Engineer (a Geotechnical Engineer to be exact) at talagang apektado ang industry nila. Bagsak ang ekonomiya kaya no new projects, no new constructions. Many engineers, who were being paid well, were laid off.

Ganun pala yun. Uso pala talaga ang lay-off lay-off na yan sa North America. At yung recession na nababasa ko lang dati, na-experience talaga namin.

I was so scared that time. Paano na lahat ng bayarin namin? I suddenly looked around and regretted buying so many things that I didn't really need. Bigla akong nanghinayang sa pera. To be honest, hindi na ako sanay maghirap. When I came to Canada, everything has been served to me on a silver platter. Hindi ako nahirapan. My husband has been a very good provider, naibigay niya talaga lahat ng gusto ko. Ang komportable ng buhay namin and I took pride on that. Imagine, we were living comfortably on a single income. Not many families in Canada could afford that.

Then I realized na kung mabigat para sa akin ang nangyari, mas mahirap para sa asawa ko who has taken pride in being a good provider as well. Mas mabigat ang dalahin niya, sa balikat niya nakasalalay ang pamilya namin eh. Of course hindi niya pinakita pero alam ko na sobrang naga-alala rin siya. Sino ba naman ang hindi?

As a wife, all I could do was give him words of encouragement. That everything will be ok. That we will get through that difficult situation. But as two realistic individuals, we knew that it might take some time. Again, recession eh. Hindi naman basta nagclose lang ang company at nawalan siya ng work. Kung ganun lang kasi ang nangyari, ang bilis niyang makakahanap ng bago given his credentials.

I mentally assessed our finances. Kahit paano medyo kumalma ang pakiramdam ko kasi aside from our savings, meron naman siyang makukuhang severance pay from his company tapos may Employment Insurance (o EI) naman where he paid the highest contribution so he'll get the highest benefit din.

I called my mother that night and cried on her virtual shoulder. She said she'd send us money (initial reaction syempre) but I assured her that we're still financially ok, that we could manage in the coming months.

The following day, I remember modifying my husband's resume. Di ko talaga maisip na balik na naman kami sa paggawa ng resume. Nag-apply na rin siya agad sa mga nakita niyang openings online (na parang mga old posts na) tutal wala namang mawawala.

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The next three weeks was extra difficult because we had a put up a brave front in front of my husband's family. It wasn't easy to smile and laugh when all you wanted that time was mourn and wallow. We also became cautious na of spending siyempre. Before his siblings came, sinabi na niya that he's lost his job kaya sila na muna ang bahala sa gastos. Syempre as the manong (or kuya) and host, that was so hard on his ego. Kaso no choice, we had to preserve whatever money we had for the rainy days ahead. Biglang naging mahalaga every dollar. Buti na lang nakapamili na kami ng groceries and other things bago nga ang lay-off.

Thankfully, money was no problem naman with his family. His siblings generously shouldered all the expenses sa mga trips and dine-outs namin. They also offered us financial help just in case we need it (na sobrang na-appreciate namin siyempre).

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Even before my in-laws left, I already toyed with this idea na ako na muna ang magtrabaho while Ford is under EI. You see, when you're receiving insurance benefits, lahat ng magiging sweldo mo from any other part-time job ay ide-deduct. My husband that time had a part-time job in Lowe's (he applied when Nathan and I were in Pinas for our first long vacation and he got bored) but he had to quit dahil nga ang useless lang kung yung kikitain niya doon ay ibabawas pa sa monthly cash benefit na makukuha niya sa EI. Parang nag-aksaya lang siya ng pagod at gasolina.

The best solution was really for me to work muna para may pandagdag kami sa EI at nang hindi maubos ang savings namin. Nang sabihin  ko yun sa asawa ko, I felt his hesitation. Syempre pride pa rin kahit papano. But after explaining to him na susubukan ko lang bumalik doon sa dati kong work at talagang gusto kong makatulong sa finances namin, he gave in.

I immediately contacted my former co-worker-turned-good-friend Cristy and asked her if there's an opening in the store (I worked there pala for only six weeks in 2014 kasi I got pregnant na). She excitedly said yes, kulang daw talaga sila ng keyholder/supervisor kaya mag-apply na ako agad. Sabi ko pagkaalis ng in-laws ko, pupunta ako agad doon.

After Ford's siblings left, sumunod na rin ang mga biyenan ko. They rebooked their flight a week earlier, probably para makapagsimula na kaming makadiskarte sa bagong sitwasyon namin. Before taking them to the airport, hinatid muna nila ako sa store early morning so I could submit my resume.

Cristy accompanied me to the assistant manager (the manager wasn't there that time) so I could personally hand to her my resume.

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To cut the story short, I got rehired and started working on February 29 (just over a month after Ford lost his job). It wasn't easy at first kasi nasanay na ako na pahiga-higa lang sa bahay but I got used to it eventually. After all, sabi ko nga kay Ford, I may not be masipag in the house pero masipag akong magtrabaho. Lahat ng extra hours kinuha ko. Kapag may absent, willing na willing akong sumalo ng shift.

Ford became a house husband for several months haha. Tapos personal driver ko pa kasi hatid-sundo niya (nila ni Nathan) sa trabaho. Sa totoo lang, nag-enjoy pa nga ako. Finally, I was able to work again!

Ang drawback lang siyempre is the salary. Maliit lang ang sweldo sa retail. Saka hindi naman ako full-time kaya hindi malaki ang take-home pay ko. Pero ayos na rin kasi at least nakukuha na ang pang-grocery at gas namin. Yung insurance ni Ford ang naging pambayad ng house mortgage, car, and other bills namin. Saktong-sakto lang talaga.

I am telling you, it was the most humbling time of our married/family life. Kinailangan din talaga naming magtipid kasi we weren't comfortable na mabawasan ang savings namin. Kung dati panay ang kain namin sa labas, syempre hindi na pwede. Walang shopping (except for essentials), walang luho, wala lahat ng nakasanayan namin. Nanahimik kami sa bahay. Buti nga one year old lang si Nathan noon, hindi pa demanding sa toys at McDonald's.

Kapag inisiip ko na minsan yung isang araw na sweldo ko ay isang oras lang dati ng asawa ko, napapailing ako. Malalaman mo talaga ang importance ng isang bagay kapag wala na sayo. Basta, nakaka-humble. Nakakawala ng yabang. It took a while pa nga before we informed our closest friends in Edmonton about our situation. Syempre ayaw namin ng "awa" o kahit na anong judgment. Pero hindi naman sila ganun. They, of all people, will understand our situation kasi nga taga-Alberta rin sila at nakaka-experience ng impact ng recession.

Ford continued to apply pero wala talagang hiring (yung mga nakapost online ay parang joke lang talaga).  He's had one job interview from a relatively "new" company pero sobrang weird daw ng owner. Ang taas ng vision, ang daming demands, pero $18 lang ang offer sa isang professional engineer. Sobrang shocking, really. It's expected na given the bad economy, hindi talaga makakapag-offer ng malaki pero $18 per hour lang talaga? Mataas pa ang sweldo ng cleaner? Big joke talaga kaloka.

Then one time, he contacted his former officemate who was then employed in a bigger engineering firm. That officemate promised to help him, tutulungan daw siyang makapasok kapag may opening. Sadly, only after two weeks, he got laid-off, too. More than half na pala of professional engineers in Alberta have lost their jobs.

Fortunately for us, may trabaho ako kahit papano kaya hindi na masyadong nakakapressure on my husband's part. But for his ex-officemate, grabe ang pressure because he just had a baby and the wife couldn't work. And because it was futile to look for work in Edmonton, he tried applying in Vancouver where he received an instant request for interview.

That's how we got the idea na lumipat sa BC. Mukhang madaling makahanap ng trabaho doon.

---- To Be Continued ----

Lunch at Gerry's Grill

My BFF Raxie came over here in Marilao again last Saturday (January 20) to spend time with me and Nathan. But because I don't want to hassle Mamoosh (since we've had late lunch already), I asked Raxie to just meet us at SM Marilao first so we could just eat lunch there.

Raxie arrived first so she called me and asked where I want to eat. She mentioned Max's which I instantly negated lol. Umay na ako sa Max's sa Vancouver haha! I suddenly remembered that I haven't eaten at Gerry's Grill in SM Marilao yet since it opened around two years ago so I suggested it. Oks daw. We both love sisig and calamares kaya ayos.

We waited for a couple of minutes before we were lead to a booth table. The receptionist was nice. Overly nice na nga eh haha.

Raxie didn't want to order a lot, kasi baka di raw namin maubos. Both of us are watching our diet kaya kelangang magigil sa pagkain.

We just ordered calamari for appetizer.

And pork sisig and inihaw na liempo as main dishes. Plus one cup of rice lang since I'll be eating Nathan's leftover pa kasi Jollibee chickenjoy ang lunch nya (na tinake-out ni Ninang Raxie for him).

Raxie ordered green mango shake din pala kasi init na init siya.

Nakakamiss din kumain sa Gerry's. But I might not dine there again in the near future haha. Ang liit na ng servings nila. Or baka nasanay lang din ako sa malalaking servings sa Canada? Haha, bitin ang food. Buti na lang nga may leftover pa na chicken si Nathan. Hindi na kami nagdagdag ng order kasi nga it will take a while, baka wala na rin ang momentum namin pagdating ng food.

This was our bill. I made the mistake of thinking na walang service charge kasi I looked on the lower left side -- VAT sales, 12% VAT, at Total lang ang nakita ko. I didn't know na may VAT din pala ang service charge? I gave the Php50 bill plus the coins as tip.

Tataasan ako ng kilay sa Canada (at lalo na sa America) kapag nalaman nila yan. Unacceptable haha. Kasi at least 12% DAW dapat. I guess Pinoys are just kuripot in giving tips kasi nga mahirap ang buhay dito. Kumbaga, niraraos lang din ng karamihan sa atin ang pagkain sa labas so masyadong malaki ang PHp95 pesos para ibigay lang (on top of the service charge). And no, hindi dahil balikbayan ako eh dapat generous ako haha. Kasi nga jobless naman ako sa Canada noh, humihingi lang din ako sa asawa ko.

The kuripot side of me was really nanghinayang. Naisip ko sana we ate somewhere else na lang, baka mas nasatisfy pa kami. Namamahalan na rin akong kumain sa mga restos dito sa Pinas, fast food gal lang talaga ako. Feeling ko kasi ordinary lutong-bahay lang naman ang food ng Gerry's.

By the way, I saw this stamped notice at the back of my receipt. Hindi ko mareconcile sa utak ko kung bakit kailangang issurender ang receipt in exchange of a free item. Hindi ba pwedeng ipakita na na lang? What will they do with the returned receipts? Hindi ide-declare?

So freaking slow!

One of the my new year's resolutions is to blog often. I intend to do that (even if it's hard to write when you're on vacation), but there's a huge hindrance -- our very slow internet connection! Waaaah!

We've had DSL internet connection since time immemorial. It's what made my LDR with Ford worked (we were on LDR from May 2003 to November 2013). As far as I can remember, ok naman ang internet namin dati.

But instead of further improvement, our internet situation now is getting worse. Sabi ko nga, pabagal nang pabagal ang internet namin kada uwi ko. I feel so hopeless, ano pa bang ibang options ang available? Puro bad feedbacks din naman sa ibang internet service providers and naririnig at nababasa ko.

Ang hirap hirap mag-adjust sa ganito kapag nasanay ka na sa super bilis na internet. Well at least for me, this is only temporary. I'll have fast internet again in April. I just feel sad though for the people living here, bakit ba kailangan magtiis sa ganito? Kahit ang nanay ko nahihirapan akong kausapin sa Facetime kasi paputol-putol ang koneksyon hay.

I really wish na matuloy ang pagpasok ng ibang telecom players sa Pinas (kaso wag naman sanang mga chekwa) so we could have faster and cheaper internet. We Filipinos deserve that.

Kaya yun, please bear with me. Don't worry, plan ko namang igapang ang pagba-blog kaya stay tuned ha.

Break-up with Master Siomai

I am breaking up with you, Master Siomai!

Our relationship was so short-lived. Our love affair started around November 2016 when I had an instant liking for you. Eventually, like became love. I've loved you. And even when I went back to Canada already in April 2017, I never stopped dreaming about you. I've met and liked another siomai, yes, but my heart still belonged to you. I waited for the day that our paths will cross again.

And finally, last Wednesday (January 17), we met again in SM Marilao. I had high hopes that our relationship will be back to the way it used to be.

But my reaction after just a second of devouring you -- "Anyare sayo?!?! Ba't di ka na masarap?!?!"

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I was so disappointed, nakakaloka! Php35 pa rin ang presyo ng apat pero obviously, nag-iba na ang quality (and to think 9 months lang akong nawala ha). The siomais are smaller tapos makapal ang balat. Lasang balat na nga siya sa panlasa ko. I was supposed to bring home some for Mamoosh pero hindi na lang.

I forced myself to eat the remaining siomais, sayang naman kasi. Pero hindi na siguro ako uulit pa. Buti na nga lang at di ako sabik sa siomai kasi nga madalas naman akong mag-steam nun sa Canada.

Cheap haircut for Nathan

I am so happy -- mukhang graduate na kami ni Daddy Ford sa pagpapa-kiddie salon! =)

Ever since we arrived here in Pinas last January 10, I've been bugging Nathan na to get a haircut. He was asking me kung sa SM (or mall) daw ba (kasi alam niyang may cars doon ang gupitan) but when I said no, nagpa-panic. Ayaw daw niya sa T&T (where his dad gets his haircut) or sa regular adult parlor. So na-delay nang na-delay.

But last Sunday (January 21), I was able to convince him na kasi kumakati na ang tenga niya. Tumutusok na kasi yung buhok. Napansin ko marami na rin siyang butlig-butlig, probably dahil sa pawis na tumutulo from his hair (sobrang pinagpapawisan siya dito), kaya I seriously talked to him. Sabi ko we really need to cut his hair na or else his ears will continue to itch. Ayun, pumayag na rin, on the condition na kasama dapat si Lola Lucy (my mother) and Ate Charry (our kasambahay). So ayun, isang tropa kaming sumugod sa parlor sa "may kanto" haha!

I was expecting na magpa-panic siya pagkakita sa parlor but he was surprisingly calm. Pangiti-ngiti pa. We waited for around twenty minutes pa siguro kasi may nauna sa amin.

The owner of the parlor (my mother's suki) outright told us that he doesn't cut children's hair. Takot daw siya. Sabi namin si Ryan (her assistant and technically my nephew because his father is my second cousin) naman ang ineexpect naming gugupit (because Mamoosh already saw him cutting a small child's hair before). Right there and then, I was confiddent na that we won't have problems with Nathan anymore, na magbe-behave siya (na parang sa dentist at clinic).

And true enough, he willingly sat in the "high" chair when instructed to do so tapos pangiti-ngiti pa haha!

Everyone in the parlor was impressed because he was so behaved. He sat still the whole time. Unlike his previous haircuts na less than five minutes lang yata inabot kasi buzz cut lang, medyo matagal this time kasi nga medyo may style. Hindi plain semi-kal(bo) lang. Pero the little boy was very patient, nakakatuwa talaga.

I was so proud of him. At sa isip-isip ko, sa wakas malaki na matitipid namin ng daddy niya! Pwede na rin namin siyang pagupitan ng madalas sa Canada kasi around $12 na lang din ang babayaran namin.

Because we live in the province, Php50.00 lang ang gupit! I gave Php100.00 to Ryan and told him to keep the change. Sobrang entertain naman din kasi ang ginawa samin haha! Saka ang laki nga rin ng natipid ko, imagine kung sa Cuts 4 Tots Trinoma kami nagpagupit, at least Php400 yan! Plus gas, parking at chibog pa (wala kasing kiddie salon dito sa area namin).

My mother was so happy with the outcome. Hate niya kasi yung sobrang upod na gupit ni Nathan dati. Eh kaso kailangan namin ipaupod talaga para matagal bago humaba.

Parang gusto ko na tuloy uling pagupitan si Nathan next month! Kung ganito ba naman kamura, kahit talaga every month pwede hehe.

New books from Raxie

I stopped buying books when I migrated to Canada. Pricey kasi ang books doon, hindi afford ng jobless self ko. Saka I really have this reluctance to buy things na alam kong makukuha ko ng mura sa iba, kaya hindi talaga ako bibili hangga't maaari.

So I took advantage of our Christmas wish list para makapag-request ng books na gusto ko sa friends ko dito sa Pinas haha. Mas mura nga kasi ang mga libro dito.

Sa Sunday (January 28) pa actually ang super late Christmas party naming girls but Raxie already handed to me her gift last Saturday.

That my son excitedly opened!

I now have an official gift opener. =)

And taraaaan, my new books!

Yey, My Crazy Rich trilogy is complete! My bilas actually gave me a link of Rich People Problems so I could read it online pero mas happy talaga ako magbasa ng actual book. I am old school that way.

Philippine Price: Php795.00

This book is not included in my wish list naman kasi nakalimutan ko. It was only later that I told Raxie about it, sabi ko dagdag sa listahan ko. Meaning, pwedeng isa sa mga options niya na bilhin. But my ever-generous BFF can't be stopped, talagang binili nya yung dalawang books na request ko haha!

Philippine Price: Php695.00

Thanks so much, Raxie! Super happy ako! Ang problem ko na lang ngayon is to find time para makapagbasa nang hindi iniistorbo ng batang makulit. =)

Low conversion rate

If you are a Canadian or Canadian resident vacationing here in the Philippines, you will feel sad because the value of your dollars is (still) low and very much lagging to its US dollar counterpart.

As of last January 14, CAD1.00 is only equivalent to Php38.44. Obviously, hindi pa rin nakakabawi talaga ang Canada from its economic crisis in the past years. Pero kahit paano nag-improve na, dati umabot pa sa Php31.00-32.00 lang ang conversion eh.

TIP: If you are going to the Philippines and will, of course, be spending money here, better send money through remittance na lang to a bank account here. Mas mataas ang conversion kaya mas malaki ang value ng dollars mo kahit na magbayad ka pa ng remittance fee.

We're in the Philippines (again)!

Hello, hello! Did you miss me? Oh I can't believe that we've been in Pinas for more than 9 days already! Ambilis ng araw, before I knew it, pabalik na naman kami ng Canada kaloka!

Anyway, saka ko na iisipin yun. One-tenth of our vacation pa lang naman ang nako-consume namin ni Nathan so enjoy enjoy muna.

I have so many kwentos that I don't know where to start. Pero in the almost 10 days na nandito kami, wala naman talagang major ganap. We stayed mostly at home tapos the usual short trips to SM Marilao lang.

Picture taken last January 11, 2018

My major problem though in this vacation is that Nathan had stopped drinking milk. I never thought that I'd have problem with milk since he loved Anchor Fresh Milk when we were here just nine months ago. Ngayon ayaw na. We made him try other brands, kahit yung Holly Fresh Milk from Laguna (na pinakamalapit na ang lasa daw sa fresh milk sa Canada), pero di niya talaga gusto. Good thing that he's eating solids naman, unlike in Canada na 80% yata ng daily food diet niya ay milk, kaso pumayat na rin siya talaga.

He understands na walang milk dito na kagaya ng sa Canada (kasi nga walang Walmart o Superstore dito) so he stopped asking for milk na on our 3rd (or 4th?) day. Zest-O tuloy ang ginagawa niyang "dede," which is not good kasi nga matamis yun. Pero di bale na nga muna, tutal three months lang kami dito. Kesa naman hindi kumain (he always eats snacks with Zest-O).

Speaking of solid foods, he's only eating rice kapag Jollibee Chickenjoy. Kaya everyday, at least once, bumibili ako sa Jollibee para may maipakain sa kanya. Ang gastos, two-piece chicken pa dapat kasi nga ayaw nyang kumain ng balat (or any part na may matigas). Nakakasira rin talaga ng ulo. But my mother, the kunsintidor lola, tells me na pagbigyan na. Bilhan na ng Jollibee araw-araw kahit magastos, basta makakain lang. Hay ang hirap if you have a picky-eater child. Pero sabagay kanino pa ba magmamana ito eh di sa amin din ng tatay niya.

O siya, it's past 11pm na and I am sleepy. I promise to blog again tomorrow. Ciao!

PS. Masarap pa rin talaga sa Pinas. I am so happy to be home! =)

We're flying tomorrow

Hello! Sorry if I've been MIA since Friday. Super busy lang because we're flying na tomorrow, January 9 at 12:50am (Vancouver time).

Nag-online check in na kami kaso ang malas, sa dulong-dulo ba naman ang upuan namin! Ang tagtag kaya dun kakaloka! Pero dahil wala ng magagawa, sige isipan na lang ng positive. At least malapit sa washroom. At least wala kaming katabi ni Nathan kasi dalawahan lang. At least mauuna kaming magboard kasi dulo (ang dami naming handcarry!).

It's almost 2am na at ang dami ko pang nililigpit. As usual, excess baggage na naman ako kaya kailangan magbawas. I told myself na konti lang ihahand-carry ko pero eto, sandamakmak na naman. Tsk, wala talaga akong kadala-dala. Goodluck talaga samin ng anak ko bukas.

O siya, I'll try to be back as soon as I can. Tomorrow will be a very long day, me doctor's check-up pa ako sa tanghali.

See you soon, Pinas! Sana maging smooth ang biyahe namin.

Noche buena food fail

We ate at Grandt Kitchen, a Filipino restaurant here in Surrey, last December 16 and I've decided to just order our noche buena food from them. Wala na rin kasing choice, di ko na alam kung saan pa bibili (unlike sa Edmonton na maraming pwedeng orderan ng kung anu-ano). Nasarapan naman ako sa kinain naming kare-kare noon (pero hindi sa crispy pata) kaya nag-risk na rin ako. Ang sabi ko sa asawa ko, let's get surprised lol.

The owners of Grandt Kitchen were very nice and accommodating. I was thankful that they accepted "small" orders for Christmas eve, sa iba kasi puro tray-size lang. Tapos hindi na rin sila nanghingi ng deposit. We agreed to a 6:45pm pick-up on December 24 (they will close daw by 7pm).

We ordered pancit canton, beef caldereta, pork sisig, and pork barbeque nga pala.

Sobrang ginusto kong maging masarap ang pagkain namin kasi puwera sa pasko, I wanted to have another Filipino restaurant here in Surrey na masarap kainan. Kaso fail talaga. The beef caldereta was too cheesy na hindi lasang caldereta, hindi ko talaga malunok (favorite ko pa naman yun), the pancit canton had too many red and green pepper, the pork barbeque was mediocre (ni hindi naubos ng asawa ko ang isang stick), and the sisig was dry (medyo gusto ko naman ang lasa pero hindi type ni Ford). Overall, sayang ang $43.79 na binayad namin.

I made a mental note, next time hindi na nga ako magririsk. Sa Max's na lang ako magtetake-out kung hindi pa ako sure sa dishes ng mga Pinoy restos dito.

I threw the caldereta and pancit later. Hindi na talaga nakain.

At dahil konti lang ang nakain namin for dinner, naglook forward na lang kami ni hubby sa chocolate cake na matagal naming inasam-asam. Natikman namin ang cake na ito last Thanksgiving at nagustuhan talaga namin.

I ordered it from a Filipina home-based baker last November pa. Mabilis kasing maubos ang slots niya kapag may occasions kaya maaga talaga akong nagpareserve. Ang sabi ko nga, this will be the star of our noche buena and our ultimate cheat food. Kakalimutan ko munang magbilang ng carbs.

Toppers were not included in the cake.

Kaso fail din waaah! Matigas yung cake, masyadong dry yung loob. Na-overcook, obviously. Sobrang disappointed talaga kami. And to think hindi siya mura ha, kasi $40 siya.

I somehow felt guilty kasi as the wife and mother of the house, obligasyon kong mapakain nang masarap ang pamilya ko lalo na kapag ganitong Christmas season noh (sexist stance, I know). Kaso bigo. Kaya sabi ko sa sarili ko na babawi na lang ako talaga next year. Hindi na mauulit ang ganito.

So there, I am putting it in writing to put pressure on myself. I WILL PREPARE A GOOD NOCHE BUENA FOOD next year. Promise talaga yan.

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The following day, sinubukan kong kainin uli yung cake kasi sayang naman. Kaso I felt that it's not worth cheating for. Susme, halos diko na nga malunok tapos tataas pa ang sugar ko? Uneasy na talaga ang pakiramdam ko so I messaged the cake-maker nang madaling araw na (December 26).

She's actually very nice naman kaya ang sabi ko magfi-feedback lang ako. I wasn't demanding for anything. I just felt the need to release haha. Ang sabi ko nga medyo matigas yung cake, unlike doon  sa previous order namin.

When I woke up, may reply na siya. She was apologetic, siguro raw sa dami ng cakes na binake nila kaya nagkaganun. She offered to replace the cake which I gladly accepted. Medyo nakahinga na ako kasi nahihiya rin ako sa asawa ko kasi nga $40 ang matatapon kung hindi mapapalitan.

So on December 30, may new cake na kami (hindi pwedeng December 31 kasi fully booked na sila).

And it tasted so good! Moist na hehe.

Minessage ko agad yung cake-maker to tell her na perfect na yung cake this time. She was very happy, binantayan daw nila talaga yun sa oven to make sure na maayos na. Ayos, both parties were happy!

Note: Dapat kainin ang cake in 2 days kasi titigas na rin after. 

Christmas Eve 2017

My aunt invited us to spend the Christmas eve with them but I graciously declined. I told her Nathan won't make it till 12 midnight because he's been sleeping quite early lately. While it is half true, the real reason is that I really just wanted to stay at home for noche buena. We may not have the best Christmas decors nor the most delicious food this year but I want to be comfortable with my two boys. Ok na yun.

December 24, 2017. After having lunch with friends, we spent the rest of the afternoon at Metrotown Mall killing time. We shopped a bit and left at around 3:30pm to pick up the cake that I ordered at 4pm. We went home after that and tried to make Nathan nap so he will be awake later that night. But he couldn't sleep. Ford got a call from Grandt Kitchen (a Filipino restaurant here in Surrey) and was requested to pick up the food that we ordered earlier than 6:45pm, so he did.

At around 6:15pm, he's back and complained that he's hungry. So instead of waiting for 10pm or 12mn (my original eating time plan), we had early dinner na. Mabuti na rin para bumaba na ang sugar level namin later that night at nang makakain uli.

Ang hirap mag-isip nang ihahanda for a party of three, lalo na kapag hindi pa kumakain yung isa at diabetic yung dalawa. We just ordered food sa Pinoy resto because it's practical and economical.

Our handa -- pancit canton, beef caldereta, pork sisig, and pork barbeque.

We ate in front of the TV watching news. Our plan was to watch all night.

As expected, the little boy only ate apples. I was hoping that he'll eat pancit kaso ni ayaw tikman. I'll do a review of our food on my next post.

Then at around 8pm I brought out our ultimate holiday cheat foods na. Big time cheating talaga ang plan lol.

We ordered this cake from a Filipina home-based baker. Si Jesus pa ba ang mawawalan ng birthday cake?

Nathan joyfully delivered a birthday song for Jesus.

Family groufie after.

And the little boy couldn't wait to open his gifts! Ang alam nya kasi pagkatapos magblow ng candle ng cake ay gift-opening na haha!

I am thankful that we bought several gifts for him. Enjoy na enjoy siyang magbukas.

Here are his three major gift requests -- "animals,"hugas-hugas," and "toilet." Paniwalang-paniwala talaga siya kay Santa (I don't remember believing in Santa when I was growing up. Siguro kasi poor lang kami noon haha!).

Ford and I also opened our gifts from Juris and Tess. Haha, we didn't have gifts for each other kasi nga wala naman kaming separate money/bank account. Basta I buy whatever I want and tell him gift na niya yun sakin lol.

A little past 9pm, we started watching Seven Sundays na. We rented the movie @TFC.TV for $7.99. Medyo pricey pero ayos na rin kasi I've always wanted to watch this film.

Carbs overload!

Pero mukhang mas nag-enjoy ang asawa ko sa palabas haha. Plus he kept on saying "Ang gwapo talaga ni Dingdong" kaloka!

I think we'll do this na every Christmas eve, watch Filipino-themed movies. Sana lang palaging meron.

Halfway through the movie, nakatulog na ang bagets (not that he was watching lol). Sabi na nga ba eh, hindi nga kasi nag-nap nung hapon.

Pack-up na kami around 11:30pm. I had my red day din that night kaya I wasn't feeling well. It was the husband who washed the dishes, salamat naman.

My major wish that night was for us to have our own place na (be it a condo or a townhouse) by next Christmas para mas bongga naman ang celebration. Pero kahit simple lang ang naging noche buena namin, I was happy and contented kasi kasama ko ang asawa at anak ko. Iyon naman ang pinakaimportante.

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By the way, I am glad that that morning, I was able to talk to my Mamoosh and Tita Oya via Facetime. How I wish na magkakasama kami on Christmas kaso hindi naman palaging posible. Buti na lang talaga may internet. =)

Reduced MSP Premiums

As I have mentioned in this post, we British Columbia residents pay monthly MSP (Medical Services Plan) rates "which help meet a portion of the costs of  BC's health care system." We were being charged $150 per month (for two adults). I actually dislike the idea of paying these premiums kasi wala namang ganito sa ibang provinces, dito lang yata meron.

Buti na lang that starting January 2018, they reduced it na by 50%, kaya $75 na lang ang charge samin kada buwan. Thanks to the Liberals, lol.

Whew, we will save a total of $900 in a year. Sobra sobra na yan pambayad sa kuryente. Malaking bagay talaga. I hope magtuloy-tuloy na kasi they have plans of totally eliminating MSP premiums later on.

Sana marami pang good news ang dumating this 2018!

New Year's Resolutions 2018

Parang di pa rin nagsi-sink in sa akin na 2018 na. Ambilis talaga ng araw!

Anyway, I made a list of my new year's resolutions. I actually stopped making resolutions a long time ago, ngayon na lang uli. Wala lang, para may pang-reckon hehe.

1. Continue with weight loss. I lost 18lbs since August 16, 2017. Medyo napako na nga ang weight ko recently (lalo na this holiday season) kaya kailangang maging conscious uli sa pagkain at paggalaw-galaw. I am still overweight and I need to lose more pounds.

2. Take better care of self (especially skin). I am now on my late 30s (huhu) and sadly, my physical appearance has deteriorated na rin talaga. Obvious na obvious na na #TitaOfVancouver na ang peg hay. Hindi rin kasi ako maalaga, lalo na nung nagka-anak ako at naburo sa bahay. I used to have great skin pero dahil iba nga rin ang weather at water dito, grabe na sa pagka-dry (and I became dark huhu). I am hoping na mahabol ko pa na madelay ang inevitable aging ko.

3. Dress well again. I was never a fashionista but I can objectively say that I dressed well during my dalaga days. Gusto kong bumalik sa dati. I want my husband and son to be proud of me. I sort of lost my interest in dressing up din kasi when I gained a lot of weight, syempre wala nang bagay na damit. Pero ngayon nakakatuwa kasi nagkakasya na uli sa akin yung mga ibang damit na nakaliitan ko na.

4. Be more mindful in spending. I am naturally magastos. Sobrang hilig kong magshopping at bumili ng kung anu-ano. But this year, I'll try to be more careful sa paggasta, lalo na since we are planning to purchase a place already. Iwas muna sa unnecessary spending.

5. Start purging. Since I shop a lot, I naturally have a lot of things. Ang problema is that I never let go of them. Would you believe na yung mga damit ko noong 20s ako ay nasa closet ko pa sa Marilao? Kung hindi kami na-Ondoy last 2009, kahit mga gamit ko mula pagkabata ay tiyak nandun pa. Dito sa Canada, ang dami-dami naming gamit sa storage na hindi na naman namin kailangan yet hindi ko malet-go. My husband is telling me na dahil sa mga "kalat" ko, nagbabayad kami ng mahal sa storage. I really need to do something about it. I'll dispose all those things na. For sure, we will be moving to a smaller place later on (smaller than our previous home) so wala na talagang space for them. I will declutter and purge.

6. Be a better wife and mother. With all honesty, I will admit that I wasn't able to give my best to my mag-ama the past year. Siguro dahil na rin nagkasakit ako at mas napagtuunan ko ang mga sarili kong concerns. Saka naging too complacent din ako because I know that they love still me even if I am not lovable at times. Ahh basta, babawi ako sa kanila.

7. Document more. I love documenting, orientation ko rin kasi yan as a Sociology graduate. This year, I'll try to "save more memories." I'll produce photo books and get back at journaling. I'll take more photos and videos (especially of my son who's growing up too fast) and share them with my family and friends in social media (what's the use of having all those kung hindi ishe-share lol).

8. Blog as often as possible. I love blogging because this is one form of documentation. Online diary ko ito eh. So I will try to blog as often as I can. Hahanapan ko talaga ng time at energy. I also promise (to myself) na hahabulin ko pati backlogs ko kasi andami-dami kong hindi pa napopost dito. Kumbaga, kulang-kulang ang istorya ng buhay ko kaya dapat buuin.

9. Be grateful always. Bukambibig ko ang salitang grateful pero kadalasan hindi ko rin naiinternalize talaga. More often than not, I dwell on the negative, nakakalimutan kong magpasalamat sa kung ano ang meron ako. I will aspire to develop a grateful heart from now on, yung mas nakakaappreciate ng kahit maliliit na bagay o pangyayari. For sure magiging mas masaya ako.

So there! I will look back at this list a year from now and see what happened.

Kayo, anong new year's resolution ninyo? =)

Hello, 2018!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 

May we all have a prosperous and blessed 2018!

More blog posts to follow, I promise!