Salary increase celebration

June 27, 2018 (Wed). Ford's company just had their annual wage and work review and we were happy kasi syempre may salary increase ang asawa ko. The increase will take effect starting July.

To celebrate, nagpakain si Mayor sa labas. Where else eh di sa favorite naming Il Uk Jo Korean-Japanese Buffet Restaurant. Susme, parang nung Father's Day lang eh nandun din kami.

We were contemplating kasi kung sa isang ala carte restaurant kami kakain o doon (wala naman kasi kaming ibang gustong buffet restaurant dito). Nanaig ang pagiging praktikal, nanalo ang Il Uk Jo. kasi kung sa ala carte kami, hindi pa kami mabubusog sa $50. Sa Il Uk Jo, less than $55 lang eh busog na busog na kami. Yun nga lang, ang diabetes! Kaso may excuse naman kami to cheat di ba?

Children below 4 years old are free kaya isa pang gusto namin doon. Eh kasi hindi naman kumakain si TanTan ng food nila, sayang kung ipagbabayad namin tapos walang kakainin. Nagbabaon pa tuloy kami ng Mc Donald's Happy Meal for him.

But anyway, narealize namin na mas ok talagang kumain doon pag lunch time kasi mas mura ang rate. Mas makakamura ka ng around $15 for two persons.

Now about the salary increase.

To be honest, medyo malaki naman siya. Ang problema lang kasi talaga eh malaki ang tax. Sa compute ko, around 60% lang din noon madadagdag sa monthly income niya. At dahil nga lalaki ang gross income ng asawa ko, lalaki rin ang percentage ng income tax.

You know what, minsan bitter si Ford haha. Kasi sobrang daming privileges daw ng low-income families - at the expense syempre of middle-income earners. Kawawa raw talaga ang professional class kasi sila ang talagang nagsa-subsidize sa lower class. Syempre ibang usapin ang sa upper class.

I can't blame him. Nakakalula naman talaga ang annual income tax niya. Equivalent na sa yearly income ng isang 'ordinaryong' empleyado dito.

Not that super laki ng income niya. Kung sobrang laki nun eh di sana hindi na namin kailangang mamroblema sa pagbili ng bahay dito sa BC. At sana hindi na namin kailangang magtipid. Sadyang malaki lang talaga ang deduction sa kanya kanya ganun.

Pero usapan lang naman yung bitterness na yun, syempre talagang nagpapasalamat kami. Ang sabi ko nga sa kanya, mas mabuti ng siya ang nagsu-subsidize kesa kami ang under welfare. Hindi naman maganda sa pakiramdam na umaasa ka sa tulong ng gobyerno noh. When he lost his job in Edmonton, nakakakuha siya ng Employment Insurance (EI) from the government every 2 weeks. And although he paid for that insurance (through monthly deduction sa sweldo niya) and is very much entitled to it, nandun pa rin yung feeling na ayaw mo ng ganun. Na mas ok pa rin na may trabaho ka at kumikita ng sarili mong pera.

Salamat po, Lord, for all the blessings!

Father's Day 2018

As usual, we had a very simple Father's Day celebration last Sunday (June 17, 2018). Days before, we were searching na for a nice restaurant na hindi pa namin nakakainan, pero we ended up having lunch at Il Uk Jo Japanese-Korean Buffet Restaurant again. Kasi comfort restaurant talaga namin ito haha. Bukod sa mura (lalo na kapag lunch), nasasarapan naman kami sa food. Saka matagal na nga rin kaming hindi nakakain dito kasi nga five months kami ni Nathan sa Pinas.

By the way, last year dito rin kami nag-celebrate ng Father's Day haha. We're such creatures of habit.

However, eating there wasn't a good idea. Punuan kaya ang pangit ng puwesto namin. Wala kasi kaming reservation. At dahil maraming tao, ang tagal ding dumating ng order namin. Oh well, ganun naman talaga kapag may occasion, dagsa ang tao sa restos.

Sobrang pangit ng lighting sa loob kaya nanghihinayang ako kapag kumakain kami doon. Di ko makuhanan ng maayos ang food.

I will always be thankful that this guy is the father of my son. Swerte kaming mag-ina. =)

After eating, we went lang sa Guildford Town Centre para maglakad-lakad at magpababa ng kinain. Pero kaloka, ang Nathan nagpoo-poo while I was shopping for pants sa Old Navy. Buti na lang ever-mabait si Daddy Ford kasi inuwi niya talaga si Nathan sa bahay namin (na malapit lang naman) para dun linisin. Bumalik na lang sila sa mall after. Yep, that's Daddy Ford! Kapag nasa labas kami, siya talaga ang in-charge kay little boy. Pinapabayan niya talaga ako na mag-enjoy hehe.

Umuwi na kami after mag-Starbucks (na hindi masarap) at bumili ng new headset ni Dad. Then binigay namin yung gift namin ni TanTan for him. Noong bandang gabi na, naga-aya pa siyang lumabas kaso tinamad ako kasi nga busog pa at nahahassle akong lumabas. Sabi ko mag-fishballs na lang kami sa bahay haha! Buti pumayag naman.

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Happy Father's Day, Daddy Ford! Not everyone is blessed with a great father like you! Thank you for everything that you do for us. We love you so much! 

Gifts for Daddy Ford (2018)

I don't usually give gifts to my husband. Aside from the fact that I don't have money of my own here (haha, ang corny naman na bilhan siya ng gift out of his own pocket), mahirap talaga siyang bilhan ng regalo kasi wala siyang gusto. Siya na siguro ang pinaka-non-materialistic person na kilala ko, bukod sa ermats ko.

But now that Nathan is bigger at mas nakakaintindi na, gusto kong ma-instill sa kanya ang value ng gift-giving. Gusto ko na hindi lang siya excited tumanggap, marunong din dapat siyang magbigay. I am glad na as early as two, enthusiastic na talaga siya na mag-abot ng gifts sa ibang tao. Kahit nakabalot na regalo o simpleng pasalubong man yan, excited na excited siyang magbigay at tingnan ang masayang expression ng mga taong binibigyan niya.

So for Father's Day, dapat may maiabot kami kay Daddy Ford na kahit ano lang. It's the thought that counts, anyway. Sa Pinas na ako naghanap kasi nga one week lang after namin bumalik dito ay Father's Day na.

I am glad may stock ako ng Marvel heroes gift wrapper (bought in Dollarama), perfect ito for our own super hero. =)

 Daddy Ford was actually surprised when we handed him these gifts.

Na eto lang naman ang laman lol.

• Father's Day card -- from Dollarama, $1.12 (lagi naman namin siyang binibigyan ng card pag Father's Day o birthday niya)

• San Miguel Beer Light bottle opener / ref magnet -- from Blue Magic, Php50.00 (kasi favorite ni Dad ang beer na ito haha)

• Desk Pad -- from Papemelroti, Php149.00 yata (haha, sabi nga ni dad eh para sa akin naman ito!)

• Body Bag -- from Girbaud, Php525.00 yata (Dad doesn't use bag but I felt that he needs one now for an updated "baby bag" lol. Siya kasi ang tagabitbit ng baby bag ni Nathan pero dahil bigger na ang bagets, less things na ang kailangan naming dalhin. At least iyan pang-lalaki haha. And why Girbaud? Kasi "special" sa amin ang brand na yan. Nung panahon namin (i.e. when we were in college), sikat na sikat ka kapag naka-Girbaud ka hahaha! Eh ngayon sobrang cheap na lang ng Girbaud, saka walang ganyan dito sa Canada noh. I am glad natuwa naman siya sa bag. Sabi niya sana bigger daw para magamit niya sa office. Aba me ganun pa siya ngayon!

Ayan tapos na ang Father's Day. Next occasion to prepare for naman is Dad's 40th birthday in September. Dapat medyo bongga naman ng konti hehe. 

Roadlink's 10th Anniversary Celebration (2018)

Our tourist bus company Roadlink Travel and Tours, Inc. turned 10 last April 11, 2018 (Wednesday). A lot of things have happened in our family the past few years but I am grateful because Roadlink continued to be the source of Mamoosh's pride and entertainment (now that she's living 'alone').

A brief background --  Our family started operating EDSA city buses in December 1995. In 2001, we finally were able to get our own franchise so the parentals established a company named Royal Star Transport, Inc. A few years after that, my father learned about tourist bus operations so he began acquiring tourist buses (which we operated under Royal Start). In 2008, we bought a tourist bus franchise and thought of establishing a new and separate company that will cater exclusively to private tours. Hence, Roadlink was born.

We sold our city buses in November 2012 and decided to just concentrate on the more lucrative and less-stressful tourist buses. I was already married then and about to migrate in Canada already. My parents were not young anymore and my only brother will be the only one to take-over the business once I am gone. Kaya ok na na isang company na lang ang i-maintain namin.

However, after so many years of tumultuous marriage, my mother finally kicked my philandering father out of our house in 2014. And in 2015, because of my major fight with his married live-in partner (who's the most evil person I've met, I swear!), it was my brother naman who left our house, our mother, and Roadlink (he took several buses and a franchise with him). Hence, my then 68-year old mother had to take over everything (sa Canada na kasi ako nakatira noon at may anak na). But with the help of our loyal employees, she's proven that she can do it even without us. Ayan nga at 10 years na ang Roadlink.

That's the reason why I couldn't let April 11, 2018 pass without a celebration, no matter how simple it may be. Ang sabi ko nga kay Mamoosh, yung ibang bagay nga napaghahanda namin, iyon pa bang nagbibigay sa amin ng kabuhayan? My mother kasi is very simple, wala siyang hilig sa mga parties. Hindi naman siya kuripot, talaga lang wala siyang hilig sa mga pabonggahan. Pero ako naniniwala that occasions are there for a reason - para tayo makapagreflect at makapagpasalamat.

At first, I planned on just treating all our employees sa isang buffet restaurant dito sa Bulacan. But we later realized that it's impossible to gather all of them in one place at a given time. Scattered kasi sila. Yung iba nasa biyahe, nasa garahe, nasa gas station, etc. Peak season din kasi ng tours ngayong summer so everyone is busy (at iba-iba ang schedule), hindi ko pwedeng hilahin sila, say lunch time para sabay-sabay kaming kumain. Marami rin kasing rush na trabaho, lalo na sa maintenance ng mga buses na bibiyahe the following day/s. Tapos malalangis pa sila kasi nga gumagawa sa bus, kaya sobra silang mahahassle kung iinterrupt ko.

So I told Joanne (our trusted overall admin staff) na sa bahay na lang kami maghanda ng merienda. Kahit ano lang, basta may cake lang to celebrate a milestone for our dear Roadlink. Ang sabi ko itext na lang niya lahat ng employees na pumunta sa amin kung gusto nila, no pressure.

We just bought a cake na lang from Red Ribbon. Buti na lang blue ito kasi blue ang color ng Roadlink.

And prepared some ihaw-ihaw. (Sorry naman sa high-tech na ihawan namin, palpak kasi yung talagang ihawan kaya nag-improvise na lang lol).

That's my famous pork barbeque haha!

 Then Joanne cooked spaghetti, request ng isang driver namin na ayaw ng pancit haha.

Super simple lang talaga.

But my little boy was so happy na kasi may cake, makakapag-blow siya ng candle haha.

Only three of our employees came. Yung mga mekaniko, nahihiya ng pumunta kasi marumi raw (kasi nga naggawa ng bus), alanganin kung magbibihis pa sila at babalik kasi sobrang traffic dahil ginagawa ang kalsada malapit sa garahe namin. Yung ibang drivers, nasa biyahe. Yung iba pang drivers, nasa mga bahay nila (kasi nga walang biyahe). Oh well, at least nasabihan naman sila.

Buti na lang may iba pa kaming bisita -- si Tita Oya (Mamoosh's only living sibling na palagi namang nandito) and Raxie (my BFF na talagang pupunta sa amin that day, natapat lang na may chibugan).

Many of our buses are parked in gas stations (malayo kasi ang garahe namin at ginagawa pa ang kalsada kaya mas gusto na ng mga drivers na doon mamalagi at tumambay) so we decided to pack some food para sa mga employees doon. Pakisama saka syempre sharing of blessings.

So there, nairaos din kahit pano. Haha, pero ang sabi ko next time eh ayaw ko na maghanda sa bahay talaga. Sa totoo lang, sa napakakonting pagkain na yan, grabe naging pagod naming lahat haha. Mas mura at madali pa kung kumain/nagpakain na lang kami sa Jollibee o tapsilog lol!

Happy 10th year, Roadlink! Maraming salamat kasi hindi mo kami pinababayaan ni Mamoosh. Mahal ka namin!

Lalin's Birthday Treat (2018)

February 18, 2018 (Sunday). We were supposed to do an early morning picnic at Quezon City Memorial Circle (Lalin will bring all the food) but we changed plans the last minute. There's no way that Raxie and I could make it before 9am so masyado ng mainit. Kaya yun, kain na lang daw sa new favorite mall ko -- UP Town Center.

I told my friends that I can only go/drive to Manila on Sundays kaya naging linggo na talaga ang meet-ups namin.

We were the first to arrive so pinakain muna namin si TanTan sa Jollibee (kasi chickenjoy lang ang gusto nyang kainin kainis). I brought our kasambahay Ate Charry nga pala kasi na-trauma ako the last time I met up with my girls na kami lang ni TanTan. It was so hard! Grabe ang pagod at hirap ko kasi nga ako lahat.

I was thankful because his Ninang Atty. Mels brought something for him that would keep him busy the whole day.

We didn't want to pressure Lalin into spending a lot for us (she's the breadwinner of her family) kaya ayos lang samin ang Rodic's tapsilog. Ang importante magkasama-sama lang kami. But she insisted that we look for a nicer place naman. Raxie suggested Silantro. Sakto naman because Mels wanted to try their food din daw.

Sobrang puno ang restaurant. I didn't expect that we'll wait for almost an hour to be seated. Ang tagal naming tumayo sa labas. Medyo tinotopak na nga rin si Nathan dahil sa inip.

Finally, nakaupo rin! We were all starving!

Truly a "cantina-style."

Here's their menu. Very concise. At affordable nga.

We had...

Beef Nachos

Dinamita

Grilled Pork Chops

Grilled Marlin

Silantro's Pork Ribs

Paella

We liked the food, medyo bitin nga lang because we were all very hungry haha! Hindi na kami nag-order ng additional kasi ang tagal mag-antay eh. I think Lalin only paid around Php1,600. Not bad at all. I want to bring my husband there kapag nagbakasyon siya sa Pinas.

As usual, direcho sa Starbucks after kumain.

While lining up, ito ba naman ang nakita ko -- my two favorite cakes in Starbucks! Waaaah! Pero talagang tiniis kong hindi mag-order hay. #ihateyoudiabetes

My girls with my boy, such a pleasant sight.

Haha, hindi payag ang anak ko na wala siya sa picture.

I am so happy whenever I am with my friends. They are my people. We don't see each other as much as before, but I know they're just there.

Ooops by the way, nakahabol pa ako sa Starbucks planner! Haha, nag-extend kasi sila ng promo duration. Special thanks to Raxie!

And because katatapos lang ng Valentine's Day, Atty. Mels gave us a little gift. We would always give gifts to each other kasi dati kapag araw ng mga puso. Medyo na-guilty nga kami kasi hindi namin naalala haha. Among us, si Mels talaga ang mahilig magbigay ng kung anik-anik.

Thanks, pare ko! =)

So there, another birthday has been celebrated. I am looking forward to two more birthday treats before I leave -- Mich's (super late na kasi last November pa ang birthday niya) and Mels' (sa July pa ang birthday niya pero iaadvance na niya habang nandito pa ako).

I love you, my girls!

Valentine's Day 2018 (in Pinas again!)

Time flies so fast! I can't believe it's almost a week now since Valentine's Day. Kaloka, malapit na naman kaming bumalik sa Canada!

February 14, 2018. We went to Malolos after lunch because I promised my balikbayan aunt-ninang that I will help her fix her SSS pension that was stopped in 2014 pa because she failed to update with SSS. But before we left, we Facetimed Daddy for our mandatory VDay family picture lol.

I haven't been to Malolos (my father's hometown) in a long time. The last time I visited was in November 2013, a few days before I migrated to Canada, to say goodbye to my grandfather. That was the last time I saw him because he died three weeks before I gave birth to Nathan. I deliberately avoided going there na after because of some familial issues. I chose to stay away because I wanted peace.

Hindi ko lang talaga matiis ang ninang ko (who's been so good to us when I was still a baby) kaya bumalik ako to help her. Kaso hindi pa rin namin naayos ang SSS niya kasi ang dami pang kailangang gawin. Hay, bureaucracy!

After going to the SSS, ayun simula na ng drama. Sabi ko na nga ba magkaka-issue na naman. My cousin kasi is getting married in church this February 25 (kaya nagdadatingan ang mga balikbayan kong kamag-anak from the US) and I opted not to attend to avoid some people. I don't want to be put in an awkward situation sa event na dapat happy happy lang. Basta ang seryoso ng sitwasyon kasi. I explained myself to my cousin and asked for his understanding (which he gave naman when we chatted). Pero ayun,  isyu pala sa tito ko. Basta me dramahan pang nangyari. Napunta pa sa "invitation" issue kasi hindi nabigyan ang nanay ko. But I am glad I was able to air my side. Bahala na sila dun.

Before going home, we dropped by another aunt's new house beside my grandparent's. Retired na yung tita ko na yun (pati asawa niya syempre) sa California kaya pabalik-balik na lang sila sa Pilipinas. Among all my aunts and uncles (my parents included), they are the luckiest. They have lots of money (and houses!), their 4 children are all educated and successful, they are in good health, they have inheritance, they have so many friends, and they love each other dearly. Napaka-ideal talaga. #Relationshipgoals kumbaga.

My aunt (the one I helped with SSS) just recently divorced and is in currently in limbo on what to do with her life. She said the formula for my lucky aunt's good life is that he found a good and responsible man who truly loves and adores her. That's my opinion, too. Madaling maging successful ang marriage ng Pinoy kung devoted ang lalaki kasi culturally, hindi naman magloloko ang babae kung maayos ang pamilya niya (although this trend is probably changing na rin haha).

We went home a few minutes before 5pm at nagsisimula ng maging busy ang paligid. Valentine's Day nga kasi. When we reached the Bocaue exit (of NLEX), I called Mamoosh and asked her to get ready because I wanted to eat out to celebrate the day. Haha, like what I keep on mentioning on this blog, I like all occasions to be celebrated kahit simple lang.

And because of traffic, I was afraid to go far na. Puno na rin ang SM Marilao for sure kaya ayaw ko ng makipagsiksikan. Ayaw ko rin naman mag-Jollibee o McDonald's kasi umay na umay na kami dun. I am glad there's a newly opened diner sa kanto namin (along McAurthur Highway), pwede na dun. Super lapit lang niya, lalakarin nga lang haha.

It was only past 6pm so hindi pa gaanong maraming tao when we came. Marami pang vacant tables. Self-service pala sila.

Medyo malaki yung diner (dati itong bar) at may segregated areas. My booths sa gilid, merong parang pang-Japanese style na upo lang sa sahig, merong bar-type tables, at meron ding 'normal' tables.

I realized, sana may ganito na 2 years ago when we threw a grand party for Nathan's baptism and first birthday. I would seriously consider this place for reception kasi nga enclosed, may aircon, at may play area pa ang kids. Ang laki pa sana ng natipid namin.

By the way, meron din silang area for kawaii merchandise. I was surprised kasi ang cheap ng items nila. May pagka-Korean fanatic yata yung dalawang girls na may-ari ng place.

Here's their simple menu:

I find the prices ok, pero syempre dito sa probinsya eh mahal na yan hehe. Lalo na kapag di ka sanay kumain sa labas (like my Mamoosh lol).

My mother let me do the ordering. And I made bad choices.

I order calamares (na favorite ko)...

Sweet and sour pork...

And fried chicken (because di ko matiis na hindi i-order si Tantan).

Waaah, puro may balat! Yung 3 dishes na yan plus 3 cups of plain rice and 1 can of coke zero already cost us Php930. Mahal kasi di kami nabusog haha! Sana nag-Kenny na lang kami (kaso nga lang malayo at punuan).

The diner was self-service so I paid right after I ordered. Mano-mano lang sila (parang soft-opening pa lang kasi sila) and I forgot to ask if they honor the senior citizen discount.

The owner-cashier handed this to me together with my change. Oh at least nagka-flower pa rin ako ng Valentine's haha.

Mamoosh and me.

I made the greatest mistake of ordering fried chicken. Php365 for 10 pieces. Small pieces lang talaga sila na may makakapal na breading na sobrang tigas.

Hindi rin gaanong nakakain si Nathan because he was so distracted. He wanted to go back to the play area na.

Failed man ang food, at least happy naman ang bata! This play area was actually the main reason why I wanted to eat there. Nakikita ko kasi palagi sa labas.

Seeing them like this gave me so much happiness. I love my mother and my son dearly and equally. Sabi ng marami, ang pinakamamahalin mo raw na tao sa mundo ay ang anak mo. Ewan ko, pero parang pantay ang pagmamahal ko sa kanila, I swear.

Pero dahil sya ang bata, every occasion is now for him.

For his happiness.

Buti na lang may batang sobrang likot na dumating at natamaan ng balls si Nathan sa ulo kaya when Mamoosh told him (Nathan) na aalis na kami, dali-dali namang sumunod ang bagets. Ayaw niya ng batang magulo eh haha. Si Mamoosh naman medyo "napikon" din sa kalikutan nung bata kaya ayaw ng pag-stay-in pa dun ang apo niya.

By the time we left, sobrang punong-puno na ang diner. May mga umalis na nga rin dahil wala ng tables. Konti lang ang servers nila so sobrang ngarag na sila (wala pang tip kasi nga pay as you order nga). Wait time for food was at least an hour already. Marami talagang nagse-celebrate ng Valentine's hehe.

I ordered mocha frappe pero paalis na kami ay wala pa rin. I cancelled na lang. TanTan was expecting it so I just suggested that we buy ice cream at Jollibee na lang (nag-drive thru kami). Gustong-gusto kong magpunta sa Starbucks kaso nga ang dami namang tao siguro.

I texted my husband that night and demanded that they (he and Nathan) give me gifts na next Valentine's. Mahirap na lumaki si Nathan na hindi ako nireregaluhan haha! Sayang kasi nga dalawang Valentine's Day na kaming nagcelebrate dito sa Pinas. My husband jokingly said na dapat may gift din ako sa kanya. I argued na girls lang naman usually ang binibigyan ng gifts sa family. Uso lang bigyan ng gift ang lalaki pag bf-gf pa lang. Pero as I observe sa FB news feed, puro wives, mothers, sisters, and daughters lang naman ang may gift from their family members.

We were about to sleep na when I realized na wala pala kaming selfie ng favorite boylet ko. Game na game talaga siya sa peechuran. =)

And just like that, natapos na naman ang isang araw ng mga puso. Pang-apat na Valentine's Day ko na ito with TanTan. =)