First step towards driving here in Canada

A lot of people ask me why I don't drive here in Canada (since I am driving naman in Pinas) and here are the reasons I would normally give:

• I don't need to drive since I am "just" a stay-at-home mom (Where will I go? Nathan rides the school bus to and from school)
  
• Our car is manual transmission and I only know how to drive automatic
• The moment I get a driver's license, our car insurance will automatically go up with the assumption that I will use it (even if I won't since it's manual)
•  For me to be able to drive here, we need to buy a new car (gastos!) and the cost of insurance will cost an arm and leg.
  
• The husband is really masipag in driving so I have no problem with mobility
• I am naturally a tamad driver (I won't drive if there's someone who will drive for me) 
  

Seven years! I've lived here in Canada for more than seven years and it is only recently that I had the urge to drive. Medyo naiinggit na rin kasi ako sa new-found friends/amigas ko (haha!). Plus Nathan's asking me na rin kung kelan ako kukuha ng license so I can bring him to school sometimes (naiinggit din siguro sa classmates). Ford's also decided na to buy a new car kaya may magagamit na ako. We'll be selling our old car Subaru since hindi na rin naman gaanong nagagamit (Ford's been given a company car). Nanghihinayang talaga ako kasi kung automatic lang yun, matagal na rin siguro akong nagda-drive dito.

Anyway, the plan of driving here was just a plan until I accidentally watched a youtube video about a fellow housewife who suddenly lost her husband last December. As she was totally dependent on him, ang hirap talaga. Ni hindi siya marunong mag-drive!

Shaiks, the story of my life! The seven past years, naging totally dependent din ako sa asawa ko! To the point na pati driving nga na ginagawa ko since I was 18 eh "kinalimutan" ko na. Narealize ko na paano na nga kung may mangyari? Kawawa talaga ako pag nagkataon.

That very night of February 25, 2021, ayan nag-book na kami ng knowledge test sa ICBC! Sa May 15, 2021 pa ang test schedule but at least meron na.

After I pass the test, pwede na raw akong magdrive basta may under supervision of a qualified driver (i.e. my husband). Bigla akong na-excite! After practicing, Ford will enroll me daw in a driving school para mas maging prepared ako sa road test.

I just wish that ICBC accepts my driving experience in the Philippines kahit na more than 7 years na nga ako dito. I will argue na lang na umuuwi naman ako sa Pinas every year (except last year because of Covid) and I still drive there. In fact, I still have a valid driver's license (which will expire nga lang this August 2021). Naku goodluck talaga sa akin!

It might take several road tests bago ako makapasa. Normal naman yun dito kaya I am not expecting na makakakuha ako kaagad ng driver's license sa first try. Natataranta pa naman ako kapag may nagge-grade sa akin (sino bang hindi?). Pero I will keep on trying. First step ko rin kasi yan towards independence. Kapag nagda-drive na ako, there's a better chance na makahanap ako ng part-time job. May option na rin ako na makapag-aral uli sa actual school dito. Kaloka ang daming plans! I am keeping the faith. 

I'll update you sa susunod the driving adventures ko. Ciao! =)

Some Thoughts on Saladmaster

One Hello Kitty friend (way back in Pinas pa since around 2005) who is now based in California messaged me last Friday, asking me if Ford and I could spare 30 minutes to one hour to watch her cooking demo. Kailangan lang daw kasi nyang maka-pool ng 5 virtual presentations for the weekend. No pressure on sale naman daw.

I admit, hesitant ako kasi familiar naman ako sa product niya at alam ko ring super mahal ng Saladmaster noh. Pero dahil I wanted to help, sige na nga tutal eh nasa bahay lang naman kami (at wala ring mae-excuse lol). So sabi ko 3pm na lang ng Sunday, May 31.

My super bait husband, who do not cook, patiently sat with me. Noong una kasi ang sabi ko baka pwedeng ako na lang, to spare my husband of the one-hour ordeal, pero nagrequest ang friend ko na kung pwede kahit sa initial picture ay makasama si Ford. Kailangan daw kasi na mag-asawa ang manonood para sa quick decision-making on purchase (just in case). Hindi naman nga kasi birong halaga ang Saladmaster. I asked Ford to sit with me na lang din sa whole duration ng presentation para mapagbigyan na nga lang din si Hello Kitty Friend.

I won't delve na into the content of the presentation. Usual marketing na yun. Basta nagka-capitalize sila sa idea ng healthy-cooking blah blah.

Now here are some of my thoughts:

(1) Saladmaster na daw ang pinakamahal na cookware sa buong mundo. Grabe nga ang presyo! Yung non-smoke griller na nasa left ng picture, that's around USD1,200+ na plus taxes and shipping pa. So aabutin ng around USD1,400 (or CAD2,016 / Php72,800)! Kahit gaano kaganda ang quality niya, mahirap pa ring lunukin na ganun siya kamahal.

(2) Even if I have money to spare, hindi pa rin siguro ako bibili ng Saladmaster. Hindi naman nga kasi ako mahilig sa magluto. I cook lang out of necessity. In fact, I never cooked in the Philippines when I was living there, never akong nagka-interes. Kaya hindi ko kailangan ng mamahaling mga gamit pangkusina. Ok pa sa aking bilhin ang mga cute na plato, pang-Instagram haha!

(3) My friend Mylene from Edmonton, who has a few Saladmaster pieces, was convincing me to buy din nga. Maganda naman talaga at "sulit." I concede naman na siguro talagang maganda nga (virtual presentation lang kasi ang nangyari sa amin dahil sa pandemic kaya hindi ko nakita nang personal ang products at natikman ang mga naluto) pero a USD1,300-casserole won't give me joy. Bibili na lang ako ng Louis Vuitton, seriously.

(4) If a Canadian is contemplating to buy a Saladmaster, now is not the time to buy. Sadsad na sadsad ang Canadian dollar ngayon, USD1.00 = CAD1.44. Sobrang lugi ka. Antay mo na lang na tumaas uli ang CAD (Oh well, kelan pa kaya?).

(5) During this pandemic, may bibili kaya ng ganito kamahal na panluto?

(6) My Saladmaster friend was aking me for referrals, kung may kakilala raw ako na pwede nyang pag-present-an. I honestly can't think of anyone who will be willing to shell out a small fortune for a cookware.

(7) My husband just 'inquired' about the griller kasi nga mahilig siya sa ihaw. Pero sa totoo lang, hindi na namin kailangan ng ihawan kasi bukod sa outdoor grills namin, meron na rin kaming pang-samgyup at air fryer for indoor use. So aanhin pa yun?

(8) Ang sabi ng asawa ko, for lifetime use na ang mga Saladmaster na yan kaya masusulit din naman nga raw. Susko, ayoko naman gumamit ng isang kaserola na lang sa buong buhay ko. Masawain din naman ko sa gamit kaya ayos lang na hindi mamahalin ang mga kaldero ko para mapalitan ko rin sila.

(9) As much as possible, kapag walang balak talagang bumili, umiwas na lang din sa mga demo-demo. Ang hirap-hirap kasing tumanggi in the end. Kung small amount lang sana, ang sarap sa pakiramdam na pagbigyan ang isang kaibigan eh. Kaso thousand dollars ang pinag-uusapan dito. Yung sulit package na inooffer nila is around CAD5,500! Kahit siguro type na type ko ang cookware eh never akong magpapabili sa asawa ko nun.

(10) Ilang percent kaya ang commission ng mga ahente ng Saladmaster? They must be getting so much kasi nga super mahal ng products nila eh. 


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PS. I have nothing against Saladmaster products ha. Opinyon ko lang po ang mga nasa itaas.

I sincerely wish my friend goodluck sa raket niyang ito. She's been selling Saladmaster for so many years now at mukhang successful naman siya. I politely told her na lang na now is not a good time nga for us to buy and true enough, hindi siya nagpilit. She just smiled and thanked me, at nagrequest na nga lang ng referrals. =)

Hello!

Yey, I am back! I really am, promise!

I can't believe it's almost a year na since my last entry post. Grabe! Sa totoo lang, gustung-gusto kong magsulat, lalo na ngayon that we're in the midst of Corona virus pandemic at stay-at-home lang kami all the time, pero one thing hindered me -- my very slow laptop! Nakakainis siyang buksan kasi ang bagal-bagal nya. We really regret buying it sa totoo lang. But anyway, more than 4 years na rin naman yun (although it still looks new ha, bihira nga kasing magamit) kaya ayos lang na palitan na. The other big laptop that we have is already 8 years old kaya matitigok na rin soon.

Kaya eto na nga, bumili na ang asawa ko ng bagong laptop. Sayang, we were deprived of the thrill na pumili sa store. Ford attempted to go to Costco last night pero sobrang haba raw ng pila kaya hindi na lang. Nag-online purchase na lang siya sa Best Buy tapos pinick-up niya sa store.

I am so happy! Ang laki ng laptop na ito kaya ang bilis! I swear, makakapag-blog na uli ako nang madalas nito.

Ooops,  by the way, this book was my Mother's Day request from Ford. Maganda ang feedback sa book na ito, sana magustuhan ko. I have so many bad habits that I want to break eh.

O siya, it's almost 1am and I need to put Nathan to bed na. Yep, dahil walang pasok, back to being night owls uli kami. Another bad habit tsk.

Bye, for now! Please come back again soon because I'll be blogging a lot again from now on. Ciao! =)

Cherry Blossoms in Trinoma

I wasn't able to take selfies with cherry blossoms in Vancouver this spring. Pauwi na kasi kami sa Pinas noon and we were so busy shopping, packing, and all. Last year naman, nasa Pilipinas din kami ng March to April kung kelan peak ng cherry blossoms.

Kaya sobrang saya ko nang makakita ako ng maraming cherry blossom trees sa Trinoma, malapit sa Landmark Supermarket Extension. Syempre fake lang pero na-happy na rin ako haha!

O di ba, pwede na? Mukhang totoo na rin lol.

Bihira na akong mag-selfie pero hindi ko talaga na-resist magpeechur-peechur. Wala na akong kebs kahit pagtinginan pa ako ng mga tao haha!

Next year, I promise to go to the best cherry blossom sites in Vancouver. Goal ko talaga yun this year kaso hindi talaga kinaya ng schedule eh. Sana lang talaga pumayat na ako uli para maganda sa picture hehe. #asapa

A Canadian passport at last!

Finally, my Canadian passport is here! Yes, I am so thrilled! Why, blue passport = MOBILITY!

I applied for this passport in Service Canada - Passport Service in Central City in Surrey last January 25, 2019. The process was fast. There were many applicants pero marami rin namang open na servicing windows kaya mabilis lang din. After checking my documents and making me pay $160 (ten years validity), they told me that the process will take 10 business days and they will deliver it na lang daw (akala ko nga pwedeng ipick-up na lang para mabilis pero walang ganung option).

And so after the not-so-long-but-agonizing wait, we finally saw a notice in our mailbox stating that I have a package in Canada Post in London Drugs near us. Around 8:30pm na nun ng Valentine's Day. The store will close at 9pm so talagang nagmadali kami para abutan. Ayaw ko ng ipagpabukas pa haha!

Honestly, ang saya-sayang magkaroon ng "powerful" passport! Sobrang nakakakilig yung idea na hindi na ako kukuha ng visa sa kahit anong bansang gusto kong puntahan. Grabe, parang di pa rin nga ako makapaniwala na plane ticket na lang ang kailangan ko at voila, makakabiyahe na ako anywhere. Sobrang nagpapasalamat talaga ako, lalo na sa asawa ko who made this possible for me.

Yun nga lang, me blue passport na pero wala pang budget pang-travel haha! Kakabili lang namin ng bahay tapos bumili pa ng share si hubby sa company nila kaya nasimot din talaga kami sa cash hehe. Pero keri na yun, marami pa namang araw. Ang importante ay ready-to-go na ako anytime lol. At syempre, makakauwi na ako sa Pinas yebaaah!

Measles Vaccine

Uuwi kami sa Pinas soon (late March or early April) and I am somewhat scared because there's currently a measles outbreak there. Nakaka-praning. When I was still living there, hindi ako bothered sa ganyang mga isyu at balita pero ngayon, talagang naga-alala ako. Una, may anak na ako. Pangalawa, medyo nasanay na rin kasi ako sa first world living (walang halong kayabangan, sadyang pagpapakatotoo lang) kaya medyo "umaarte" na.

Naalala ko noon, naaartehan ako sa mga kamag-anak kong from the US na nagbabakasyon sa Pinas kasi nga masyado silang worried sa safety and security nila. Ngayon naiintindihan ko na na natural lang pala iyon kasi nga sa ibang mundo ka na naninirahan at hindi ka na sanay sa pamumuhay sa Pinas.

Anyway, dahil nga natatakot ako sa tigdas, hinanap ko talaga ang immunization record ko dito. I remembered kasi na noong time na pinababakunahan pa namin si Nathan, pati kaming mag-asawa ay tinusok na rin. They saw something in my blood daw (when I was pregnant) that I wasn't immune to something (I forgot what it was) so kailangan ko din ng bakuna. At dahil wala nga kasi kaming immunization record sa Canada, they want to make sure din na hindi kami makaka-acquire ng sakit na makakahawa sa anak namin. I am confident na kumpleto ako sa bakuna noong baby pa ako (my mother is very responsible) pero wala namang mawawala kung babakunahan uli para sigurado. Wala daw over-dosage sa ganyan.

So eto na nga, nakita ko na. I am so happy! At least kampante na ang loob kong uuwi sa Pilipinas kong mahal hehe.

But before kami umuwi, kailangan ko pa palang pasaksakan si Nathan ng booster shots (including measles). Sinasaksak daw yun kapag 4 years old and above na. Noon pa ako nagpapa-schedule sana ng vaccination kaso they asked pa for Nathan's immunization record from Alberta para ma-enter nila sa system nila. Ganun kasi dito eh, hindi centralized ang health records, by province talaga.

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Another kwento. Noong unang uwi (or pangalawa ba?) namin sa Pinas, gustung-gusto kong pasaksakan ng Dengvaxia si Nathan. Kasi nga natatakot ako sa dengue, tapos kagatin pa talaga ng lamok ang anak ko. Kahit sa mall kinakagat siya ng lamok. Ang laking pasalamat ko talaga na hindi ko siya natuloy pabakunahan nun hay!

Currently, walang nirerecommend na dengue vaccine ang Public Health Agency of Canada kasi  daw"although advanced research is underway, there is currently no approved vaccine or medication that protects against dengue fever." Hindi nga rin pala present sa mosquitoes ng Canada ang dengue virus.

Walang Forever

We used to live in a place where there's snow six months (almost) in a year. Hence, I've taken it for granted. Wala akong masyadong pictures sa snow, feeling ko kasi 'nandyan lang yan,' makakasama ko forever.

The last time I wore these boots was three years ago.

Who would have thought na lilipat kami in this part of Canada that seldom gets snow. In fact, nitong February 3 lang kami unang nagka-snow this winter season. Natunaw agad. Tapos last Sunday (February 10) lang uli naulit. Kaya sabik na sabik talaga kami.

Tsk, wala talagang forever. Kaya dapat seize the day na talaga. Huwag ng ipagpabukas ang magagawa naman sa ngayon. Because you'll never really know where life will take you.

A Jollibee party for me?

I am turning 40 this year (ouch!) and I told myself a couple of months back that should I be in the Philippines during that time, I will throw a party for myself in Jollibee. Yep, Jollibee!

You see, Jollibee Philippines has this Hello Kitty Fun Carnival theme and I love it! Everyone knows that I am a big fan of Hello Kitty. But I tell you, I am also very much a Jollibee girl so ang perfect lang, di ba?

(Picture taken from the net. Credits to the owner)

Sakto that we are going to Pinas again this April and we'll be staying there till mid-August. My birthday is on August 27 so sabi ko ia-advance ko na lang. I only plan on inviting my immediate relatives and barkada, maximum of 70 pax lang siguro.  I already asked my hubby for a budget at syempre game naman siya. Ang mura pa rin naman kasi kung tutuusin. Around Php20,000-Php23,000 siguro (we want to have two mascots), so less than Ca$600 lang. Yung pinakamahal na food package na yun ha. Included na rin ang cake.

I was super excited talaga. In fact, na-announce ko na nga sa mga pamangkin ko sa pinsan last Christmas ang plan ko. Nainvite ko na sila.

Picture courtesy of Laling

Kaso naman parang I am changing my mind now. You see, the primary reason why I really want a Jollibee party is my son. We've gone home in the Philippines thrice na and yet walang nag-invite sa amin ng Jollibee party. Ewan ko nga ba. Noong wala pa akong anak, ang dami-daming nagpapa-Jollibee party na dinededma ko lang. Ngayon namang may Nathan na, wala na. Favorite pa naman niya si Jollibee.

Actually noong first birthday-baptismal ni Nathan, nag-order din ako ng Jollibee food for the kids at syempre two mascots (Jollibee and Twirlie). The party was held in a pavilion at catered ang food. Nagdagdag lang talaga kami ng Jollibee para sa mga bata. Kaso naman my little boy was too young pa to remember that. Kaya sabi ko, bago ma-outgrow ni Nathan si Jollibee eh kelangan maka-experience siya ng Jollibee party.

So everything was planned na in my head. Kaso ba naman, I learned about three weeks ago that my friend Laling is also throwing a Hello Kitty Jollibee party for her youngest daughter in July. Waaah, so wala ng justification ang pagpapa-Jollibee party ko kasi nga makaka-attend na rin kami ni TanTan.

Our other friends were cool about it. Sabi nila ok lang if the same theme, different experience pa rin naman daw yun. Laling even asked me if I want her to change the theme para hindi kami magkamukha, pero syempre sabi ko hindi noh. Hello Kitty is a nice theme and her daughter deserves it.

So na-convince na nga ako na ok lang. Nakabili na nga ako ng ilang hello kitty activity kits (na on sale) na ilalagay ko sa lootbags ng kids. I was also planning on buying Bath and Body Works and/or Victoria's Secret merchandise for  adults. Pero ewan ko ba, lately eh I am having a change of heart. Parang ayaw ko na.

Naisip ko rin yung $600. I could use that money to treat my significant others separately (per group) na lang. At least makakapag-bonding pa kami nang matagal-tagal. Two hours lang kasi ang Jollibee party, medyo bitin. Syempre mahahati pa ang attention ko sa mga bisita. Madodoble-doble rin ang gastos ko kasi kailangan ko pang i-treat nang hiwalay ang mga girls ko (my core group) kasi lagi kaming may girls-day-out kapag birthday namin.

May point naman noh? But on the other hand, there's also a part of me who wants to experience a Jollibee party haha! Parang bata lang. Deprived kasi lol. I know I am not alone. May nabasa nga ako na maraming call center agents and nagpapabook ng morning parties (as in 7-8am kasi nga iba ang work hours nila) sa Jollibee for themselves. I've also seen a lot of adult FB friends na nagpa-Jollibee party.

Hay ang gulo ko! Ano ba talaga? Ayaw na tuloy akong seryosohin ng asawa ko. Bahala raw ako sa buhay ko. Oh well, I have a few weeks to decide. I blogged about this para lang kapag hindi natuloy eh maalala ko itong I-want-a-Jollibee-party-for-myself thingy ko.

I am now a Canadian.

For my first kwento, I have to tell you guys that as of January 16, 2019, I am already a Canadian citizen. Time flies talaga, parang kelan lang nang mag-migrate ako dito (November 5, 2013). Nakaka-five years na pala ako.

I took my oath of allegiance to Canada in Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Surrey. The invitation letter stated that the ceremony will start at 8:30am and that I should be there 30 minutes prior to the appointment time. Ford took a leave from work. Ang sabi ko pumasok siya after the ceremony kasi saglit lang naman yun pero ayaw niya. Bubuuin niya na raw na one day.

I knew that I will have a problem with this schedule. Ang aga! Nathan and I usually wake up at 11am so I sleep at around 2-4am. I knew na hindi ako makakatulog at nagkatotoo nga. I had to prepare na kasi by 5:30am so we could leave at 7am. Ayaw naming ma-late syempre. Mukha akong zombie sa ceremony tuloy, ang sagwa talaga ng mukha kapag walang tulog.

I was the second to get inside the ceremony room (that was where I also took my citizenship test). Maraming nauna sa aking dumating sa CIC (past 8am na kami dumating) pero nang magtawag na for the registration, nauna ako sa pila. Kasi nga nasa bungad ako.

Seat number 42.

"This is it," ang sabi ko sa sarili ko.

My audience.

The ceremony started at around 9am. An officer of court explained to us the flow of the ceremony and gave some instructions. She said we can freely take pictures of the event.

Then she introduced Judge Carol-Ann Hart who will preside over the ceremony and administer our oath of citizenship.

My first reaction upon seeing her: "Ang pretty naman niya!" I want to be like her when I grow up lol. Ang lambing din ng boses niya.

She spoke in both English and French. I wondered tuloy kung mandatory ba sa citizenship judges na nakakasalita ng French.

According to Judge Hart, there were 58 of us who took the oath that day. Fifty-eight new Canadians hailing from sixteen different countries.

After her speech, that's the time we recited our oath (both in English and in French). Akala ko noon tatayo ang balahibo ko, hindi pala.

It was when we sang the national anthem of  Canada that I felt a bit emotional. There's a part of me na nakaramdam ng 'guilt' at 'lungkot', kasi nga hindi na Lupang Hinirang ang kinakanta ko. When I told my husband about this, I was surprised na ganun din pala siya. Sa singing of national anthem daw siya naka-experience ng goosebumps.

And finally, they handed to us na our Certificates of Citizenship. Graduation feels talaga hehe.

The ceremony was very short. It was finished na at around 9:20am.  I had a picture with Judge Hart after.

I didn't have any nice picture on my oathtaking. Ang palpak kasi kumuha ng asawa ko. Ewan ko ba, lalo akong pumapangit kapag siya ang kumukuha ng picture. Look at Judge Hart, hindi rin siya maganda sa picture eh super pretty talaga siya sa personal. She reminded me of Lorelai Gilmore of Gilmore Girls.

Oh well, don't sweat over small stuff na nga lang. Ang mahalaga, Canadian na ako. My husband and son were so happy, pare-parehas na raw kaming blue passport. But there's a part of me that's sad syempre (mixed emotions talaga). Hindi na ako Pinoy sa papel eh. I consoled myself na lang with the thought na sa papel lang naman yun. I will always be a Filipino. Saka magdu-dual citizen din naman ako eventually.

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Expectation versus Reality.

I envisioned a special meal to celebrate my new Canadian citizenship. Naghanap-hanap pa nga ako ng restaurant na hindi pa namin nakakainan. Kaso ayun, sa McDonald's kami bumagsak. It was too early pa kasi, wala pang 10am. Eh gutom na talaga kami tapos pupunta pa kaming Ikea. Saka kakakain lang namin ng espesyal sa labas four days before that (January 12) kasi wedding anniversary namin kaya parang parang umay pa kami.

Buti na lang din nagpunta kami sa Ikea because I was able to take a nice picture of my oathtaking-OOTD. I actually gained so much weight the past weeks kaya tinamad akong bumili ng bagong damit. Luma lang talaga ang sinuot ko lol. Coat -- Forever21 / Blouse -- H&M / Pants -- Walmart. My shoes and bag were new though. Bag -- Aldo / Shoes -- H&M.

They specified na business attire daw ang isuot kaya ganyan. Pero I noticed na hindi naman sila strict sa outfit, kahit smart casual ay ok na.

I am back for the nth time.

Hello! Yep, I am still very much alive!

Courtesy of Bitmoji

Sobrang daming ganap sa buhay ko the past 6 months kaya I wasn't able to blog. Pero katulad nga ng dati, kahit ilang beses ko mang gustuhing dedmahin na lang ang blog na ito forever eh hindi ko magawa. Babalik at babalik pa rin ako sa pagsusulat dito.

I wanted to blog na sana starting January kaso hindi talaga kinaya eh. Aside from health issues, naging busy rin talaga ako (hanggang ngayon) sa paga-ayos ng bahay. Kaloka, more than 2 months na kami rito pero talagang wala pa sa 50% ang kaayusan ng bahay. Ang dami kong gamit, narealize ko lang.

Look at my sample kalat. Super dami pang kailangang ayusin talaga.

January 27, 2018

By this time, medyo 75% ok na ang bagong "Me" room ko kaya nga eto nakapagsimula na uli akong magsulat. Ang sarap magkaroon ng sariling space sa bahay! Sobrang namiss ko ito. More than two years din akong nangulila sa ganitong privacy eh.

Anyway, I promise (for the nth time) to write again as frequent as possible. Masaya kasi ako talaga kapag nakakapag-blog.

I also promise to tell you the reasons why I've gone missing. Just give me a couple more days para maisulat yun.

O siya, matutulog na ako. It's past 2am and we're going to Whistler later so TanTan could play with snow.

I really hope you're still there, my very few readers. =)

Birthday Wish 2018

Good health for me and my loved ones. That's my only birthday wish this year.

Courtesy of Bitmoji

I am not the one who usually wish for good health during birthdays. Siguro kasi taken for granted ko talaga ang health matters na yan dati. But now that I am nearing 40 (I'll be 39 this year), iba na talaga ang pagtingin ko sa buhay.

It was around this time last year when I learned that I have diabetes. Tapos ang dami-dami ko pang ibang sakit, pinakyaw ko na yata lahat. Every day, I am living in fear na baka hindi ko na makitang lumaki ang anak ko kasi nga I feel so weak. Parang I have a body of a 70-year-old na (seriously).

I really am wishing and hoping now for a longer and healthier life for my husband and son.

I also wish good health for them syempre. At sa mga mahal namin sa buhay, most especially to our parents who are in their prime na. My father-in-law was recently diagnosed with a serious illness and we are praying that he'll get through this. My son needs his grandpa and we are hoping that they can spend more time together pa.

High Cholesterol

In addition to Metformin for my diabetes, nagsimula na rin akong mag-take nito since July 19.

Yep, maintenance meds to lower high cholesterol. Nang magsabog yata ang mundo ng sakit, sinalo ko na lahat. Mag-39 pa lang ako pero may mga gamot na ako for life. Whew!

Kasali sa blood works ko ang cholesterol last July 7 and just as I had expected, mas tumaas pa ang cholesterol level ko kesa last December. Sa dami ba naman ng nilaklak kong isaw sa Pinas. I am to be blamed, I know. Wala talaga akong disiplina.

From 6.14 in December 30, 2017, 6.57 na siya ngayon. Normal is between 2.00 to 5.19. Very high na daw talaga kung tutuusin. Walang epekto ang fish oil ha. My doctor gave me a month to lower my cholesterol, tapos magpakuha daw uli ako ng dugo. When I asked him papano kung hindi pa rin bumaba, no choice na raw kundi mag-take ako ng gamot. I told him resetahan na niya ako kasi mukhang di ko naman kakayanin.

I want to be realistic. The only solution for my cholesterol level to drastically lower down is for me to significantly cut down on red meat and fried foods. Ano pa ang pwede kong kainin kung ganun? Since I am diabetic, talagang konting carbs na lang ang kinakain ko. At para ako mabusog, talagang nilalakasan ko sa ulam o protein.

It's actually hard to live here in Canada kapag hindi ka talagang taga-dito. I've had a Filipina doctor in Edmonton two years ago and I won't forget our last conversation. Noon pa lang kasi nakita na na medyo mataas ang cholesterol ko.

Ang sabi niya, sa talagang maggagamot na lang ang mga Pinoy dito sa Canada dahil nga sa nature ng pagkain. Mostly greasy, high in carbs and calories, processed. Ano bang healthy ang pwedeng kainin dito sa totoo lang? Salad lang yata. To be honest, hindi naman salad-eating ang average Pinoy (ako hindi kumakain ng salad). Hindi tayo mabubuhay nang yan lang. Ang mga isda naman na nabibili dito na galing Asia, puro frozen na. At dahil frozen, usually ipiprito mo na lang kasi hindi naman masarap sabawan. Super mahal din ang Asian vegetables dito tapos ang lalaki ng pack. Kung magluluto ka ng chopsuey, sobrang laki ng magagastos mo sa dami ng ingredients na kailangan. Sana kung marami kayong kakain. Pinakamura na talagang iulam ang karne sa totoo lang.

Tapos dahil mabilisan ang buhay dito, pinaka-convenient talagang kumain ng mga instant food (noodles, canned goods). Pinakamadaling luto rin ang prito. Sa case namin, ako lang ang kumakain ng mga niluluto kong may sabaw kaya nakakatamad magluto sa totoo lang. Yung anak ko puro pritong galunggong at manok lang kaya madalas sinasabayan ko na lang. Ang sabi ng doktor ko, mag-ihaw na lang daw ako instead na magprito. Ang tedious kaya nun, tapos good for one person lang iihawin ko for lunch halimbawa? Eh madalas gutom na gutom na ako by lunch time tapos magluluto pa ako ng ibang pagkain para sa anak ko tapos susubuan ko pa. Kung may nabibilhan lang sana ng lutong ulam dito sa tabi-tabi na parang sa Pinas, ayos sana.

Basta ang punto ko, ang hirap mag-healthy-eating dito lalo na sa puntong ito ng buhay ko huhu. Kaya talagang tinanggap ko na na maggagamot na lang ako. Pero siyempre pipilitin ko namang bawasan ang pagkain ng mga bawal na pagkain pero I doubt it kung talagang maiiwasan ko totally. Kahit ang nanay ko naiintindihan ang sitwasyon ko. Siya nga raw na nasa Pinas na eh hindi na rin malaman kung ano ang kakainin, ako pa ba na very limited ang food options dito.

Hay, diabetes at high cholesterol. Apart from my unhealthy lifestyle, namana ko rin ang mga sakit na yan sa magulang ko. Pero buti na nga lang at hindi ako "high blood" na katulad ng nanay ko. Bata pa lang ako eh low blood na talaga ako. Sana Po talaga hindi magbago.

July 19, 2019

I am grateful though kasi covered naman ng health insurance namin ang maintenance meds ko kaya hindi ko pinoproblema ang additional gastos. Kung nasa Pinas siguro ako, sobrang manghihinayang ako sa pera. Ang sabi ng nanay ko, Php52 ang isang piraso nung cholesterol medicine niya. Hindi birong halaga yun ha.

Pero dito pala sa Canada, usually 'generic' lang yata ang gamot. Basta ibibigay mo lang ang prescription sa Pharmacy tapos sila na ang bahalang mag-dispense. Unlike sa Pinas na makakapili ka (o ang doktor mo) ng brand na iinumin mo.

Kaya kung titingnan mo, mura lang naman pala ang cholesterol medicine ko for 90 days. $23.17 lang o Php926.80 (around Php10.30 per day). Mas mura pa nga sana yan kung walang dispensing fee na $10.

Yun nga pala, sa bawat prescription medicine na bibilhin mo dito, may $10 silang china-charge. Kahit na good for one month lang halimbawa (o 30 pieces), $10 pa rin ang babayaran mo. So better na imaximize mo na ng for 3 months para tipid. Good for three months lang ang maximum na pwede nilang ibigay eh.

Sa ibang health insurance companies, may co-pay. Minsan 20% ang share ng patient. Buti sa insurance namin (sa company ni Daddy Ford), sinasagot nila ng 100%. May health spending allowance kami in a year at iyon lang ang dapat naming iconsume. Malaki naman sya kaya hindi naman basta mauubos. Kailangan mo lang munang paluwalan sa pagbayad tapos irereimburse nila kaagad through bank deposit kapag nasubmit mo na ang resibo online. =)

Syento!

Yebaaah! It's finally over! I passed the citizenship exam yesterday and I got a perfect score! Wooohooo!

As usual, I was super early. I arrived at Surrey IRRC bago pa man mag-12 noon. Ako ang unang-una na naman haha. I was thankful kasi malamig kahapon (unlike the previous days na sobrang init) kaso ang hirap din palang mag-antay sa labas nang malakas ang hangin haha. Wala pa naman akong jacket. Buti 3/4-sleeved-blouse ang suot ko.

We were allowed to get in at around 12:25pm.

I will no longer discuss the details of the test because the IRCC staff instructed us not to disclose any information about the test and the process. To protect the integrity of the program daw and to be just to all exam-takers. Tama nga naman.

Pero basta yun, I learned during the interview that I got a perfect score. I was so happy! At least my efforts to study have paid off. Kahit na it doesn't matter kung ano man ang score mo (for as long as you pass syempre), syempre natutuwa pa rin ako because I earned extra bragging rights to my husband haha. He also got a perfect score when he took the exam more than two years ago pero mas mabilis akong nakatapos sa kanya kaya mas magaling ako lol.

Now I will just be waiting for the notice of my oath-taking schedule. In 2-3 months daw. It's time to look for a perfect dress.

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NOTE: "Syento" is 100 in Filipino.

Wish me luck

Hello! I am taking a break from my cramming review to blog a bit. I need to de-stress lol.

I am actually quite nervous because in less than 13 hours from now, I'll be taking my citizenship written exam already. Yes, it's all happening so fast! If I pass this exam and interview, I'll take my oath of allegiance to Canada na in a couple of weeks (or 3 months at most). I'll share with you the full details of my Canadian citizenship application later on.

So yun nga, cramming ako as usual. I've already read this study guide several times pero gusto ko pa ring ulit-ulitin. I am already (almost) 39 years old, my memory is not as sharp as before. May insecurity na talaga ako sa memorization. But my husband assured me na "madali" lang naman ang exam, 20 questions lang -- 15 mulltiple choice and 5 true or false.

Oh well, let's see tomorrow.

After this exam, medyo makakahinga na uli ako. Almost two weeks ko na ring dalahin ang exam na ito eh. Last July 5 ko na-receive ang email na pinage-exam na nga ako.

Please wish me luck. I really want this over and done with. I promise that I will blog at least four times a week na talaga after this. Medyo napabayaan ko na rin kasi ang blog na ito. Ang dami-dami kong gustong i-document na hindi ko nagawa. Sayang ang panahon.

I bought a Juicy Couture bag

I promised myself (and my mother) that I won't be buying bags for the time being. I have lots already, at hindi ko naman nagagamit talaga dahil ako ay dakilang tambay sa bahay lang naman. And you know what, there was even a time in my life na mas marami pa ang bags ko kesa sa damit ko na kasya (kasi nga sobrang tumaba ako noon at naubusan ako ng masusuot). I am not exaggerating, super dami ko talagang bags as in! Magkukuwento na lang ako ng bag addiction ko in a separate post, oki?

Anyway, I got bored yesterday so the good hubby took me to Winners-Homesense in Coquitlam na lang para malibang. Medyo house-mode na uli kasi kami ngayon dahil may bago na kaming bahay na lilipatan.

Yung Winners nga pala ay bilihan ng mga branded stuff (clothes, shoes, toys, bags, house items, etc) at lesser price. Yung Homesense naman na kapartner niya ay pang lahat ng gamit sa bahay.

The moment we entered the store, nag-aya na agad si Nathan sa toys section. Sumunod ako pero napatingin ang mata ko sa bags section din. Haha, pinabayaan ko na silang mag-ama at ako'y naningin muna ng bags.

Eto agad ang kumuha ng atensyon ko. I am drawn sa mga floral thingy talaga na ganyan. Tapos sling bag pa. Sobrang gustung-gusto ko ng sling bag kasi napaka-convenient gamitin lalo na at may bata ako na palaging kasama.

Original Price is $80.00

I checked the price at namurahan ako -- $39.99 + 12% tax. Sabagay hindi naman kamahalan ang material.

Bitbit-bitbit ko siya the whole time na nagtitingin kami ng mabibiling gamit sa bahay. My mind was telling me to just leave it behind kasi nga ang dami ko ng bags kaso I didn't have the heart to do it. Type ko kasi talaga haha! Ang gaan pa kasi... saka sabi ko ke Ford wala pa akong Juicy Couture na bag. I know na pambata ang JC kaso yung design naman na ito eh pwede na sa age group ko lol.

Wala namang kontra ang asawa ko ever. In fairness, hindi ako kinokontra nun sa bilihan. Pero syempre kunwari nagpapaalam pa rin ako hehe.

Ayan, me bago na naman akong bag. My first this 2018. Last year super dami kong nabili, puro mahal pa -- Michael Kors, Kate Spade, Furla, Tory Burch, Dooney and Bourke, Herschel, etc.). Kaya malaking improvement na ito ha.

Pero sige na nga, once a bag addict, always a bag addict.

"Me" Room and House-Hunting

Ahhhh, how I miss my "Me" room! Right now, I am still trying to reconcile myself with the fact that I'd probably won't have my own space anymore in Canada.

This was my special place in our previous townhome in Edmonton.

There's a new townhouse development in Aldergrove and my husband has an appointment to view the sample units on March 4. He registered on their website a couple of weeks back and eventually received a notice that phase 1 homes are already ready for selling.

You see, the prices of new townhomes and condos in Metro Vancouver have soared so high that ordinary residents like us can no longer afford them. Hence, Ford suggested that we try to look farther. That's when the idea of living in Aldergove came in.

Medyo malayo na yung place (trivia: the Kent farm in the TV series Smallville is a working farm in Aldergrove), mga 35 minutes to Surrey and about an hour to downtown Vancouver. Boundary na rin ito ng BC at Washington, US. To be honest, ayoko talagang tumira doon. I don't drive in Canada yet so feeling ko maa-isolate ako, but this is our last shot in owning a brand new townhouse in BC. If not, we'll end up in small-sized condos or 30-40+ year-old townhomes in Metro Vancouver. As I have mentioned on this post, my husband wants a "new" home. Hangga't maari, ayaw niya talaga ng luma. Kung sabagay, mahirap bumili ng old townhomes kasi kahit na sabihing renovated, wala na rin yun value later on. Lugi lang kami.

Pero kung kelan naman ok na sa akin na tumira doon, saka naman parang naging imposible. Among the 30+ units that will be sold, dalawa lang ang kasya sa budget namin. Two-bedroom lang yun ha. My husband is scheduled on the second day of viewing (at sa bandang hapon pa) so I am not expecting na maaabutan pa niya. Yes, parang hot pandesal lang ang peg ng pagbili ng bahay dito. The prospective buyer has to make up his/her mind the very moment na ma-view niya yung units and issue a check for reservation. Unahan talaga. Ready na rin ang units for turnover by April kaya mabilisan na.

Sabi ng asawa ko, "kung para sa atin talaga yun eh makukuha natin." I agree, kaso nalulungkot pa rin ako. I want to move na and really start anew. Ayoko ng magtagal sa current apartment namin. For sure, hindi na rin namin magiging option na antayin ang ibang phases 2-4 ng townhomes kasi tiyak tataas na ang presyo dahil sa demand. Hay, to give you an idea, halos doble ng halaga ng dating bahay namin yung target namin ngayon.  Two-bedroom lang yun ha.

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So there, imposible na nga akong magkaroon ng panibagong "Me" room. I'd probably set up an area na lang in our future bedroom for my stationery/arts and crafts stuff.

Pero sige, ok lang. I just want to have my own house again.

Senti

We were in UP Town Center yesterday to meet up with my girls (i.e. my college barkada and my core group).

We went to Daiso to Daiso after coffee. I finished shopping first so I waited (together with Michelle) for my other friends to finish theirs. I looked around and observed. Oh how I love this mall. Too bad it was built right after I migrated to Canada.

Then sadness suddenly engulfed me. I told Michelle: "Nakakalungkot din. Dati taga-dito ako, ito ang mundo ko. Ngayon nagbabakasyon na lang ako sa Pinas, limited lang ang oras ko."

 Ewan ko ba, na-senti talaga ako.

#BuhayImmigrant

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? =)

My Sugar Pouch

Meet my sugar pouch. Ang cute noh haha. My husband has been teasing me, aliw na aliw daw kasi ako sa pouch na ito.

I bought this pouch at Daiso for $2 (plus 12% tax)

You see, hypoglycemia or low blood sugar is a common yet scary effect of diabetes. In my case, there was this certain medication (Glyburide) that throws my sugar off balance. Simula nang inumin ko yun every morning after breakfast, ayun palagi na akong nanginginig sa gutom, nagpa-palpitate at pinagpapawisan. During one hypo attack, I tested and my glucose level was only 2.2 mmol/L or 39.6 mg/dl (normal must be at least 2.9 mmol/L or 70 mg/dl)! I literally ran to the refrigerator to get a regular pepsi! I was so nervous, nakakatakot sa sobrang baba. And to think na hindi pa ganun ka-severe ang pakiramdam ko noon ha (kaya nga nakapag-test pa ako). There were days na hindi na talaga ako makapag-isip nang tama at parang magko-collapse na ako.

Hence, I never leave the house now without my sugar pouch. Mas mahirap kasi kapag sa labas naabutan ng hypoglycemia, hindi laging may access sa food lalo na sa fast-acting carbs like candies and chocolates.

I always have something to eat naman dati pa sa bag ko but I just put them on the pockets, or minsan sa diaper bag ng anak ko. Ang problema, minsan nagkakadurog-durog o napipisa. Kumakalat pa sa bag. I also change bags often kaya ang hassle pa maglipat. So this pouch is the perfect solution. I like that it's transparent pa for easy viewing.

A small juice will fit pa nga in this pouch kaso ayaw ko ng beverage na hindi malamig kaya wag na lang.. 

Aside from chocolates (I wasn't able to buy candies yet), I always make sure too that I have crackers with me. Again, ang hirap kapag nasa labas at hindi ka makakain sa tamang oras. Kailangan ng pantawid-gutom.

And just today pala, I also added Twin Sugar (calorie-free sweetener) in my pouch. I realized na dapat laging ready just in case may gusto akong kainin/inumin sa labas na kailangan ng sugar, like coffee or mais con yelo.

So there, I guess I'll have a sugar pouch for the rest of my life.

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NOTE: I finally found the courage to stop taking Glyburide, since last Monday (October 9) pa. Thankfully, my numbers are still good. =)

Thankful

It's been (almost) four years since I came to live in here Canada... and I am still amazed by this...

My life here is Canada wasn't always fun. I've had my share of ups and downs.

But at the end of the day, I am thankful.Because with all objectivity, Canada is indeed one of the best (and beautiful) places in the world to live in.