Mother's Day 2020 Celebration

May 9, 2020 (Saturday). To continue our previous Mother's Day steak tradition, syempre nagpa-steak si Mayor Coblancs noong Mother's Day weekend. Walang steak for the past two years kasi nasa Pinas kami. Ngayon lang uli naulit.

I would normally prefer to eat out na lang when we need to celebrate para iwas-luto at ligpit na (saka masarap kumain ng hindi mo niluto, aminin!) kaso naman... nasa kalagitnaan tayo ng pandemya! Sarado ang mga restaurants.

But still,  dahil may okasyon nga, sa "labas" pa rin kami kumain lol. Thankfully, maganda ang weather. By the way, Sabado night na kami nagcelebrate para walang pasok si Dad kinabukasan.

My only request to Dad this Mother's Day was that chocolate cake. Ilang weeks na nga kasi akong nagke-crave sa cake na yan. Hindi siya mura at $40 (I bought it from my suking Pinay baker) pero keri lang... Mother's Day naman eh! Mother's Day! Haha!

Aside from (well-done) steak, we also had mussels, macaroni salad, and buttered veggies. Busog na busog na kami at sobrang sulit. Mas mura talaga kapag sa bahay lang kakain.

Sa totoo lang, sanay naman kami sa social/physical distancing haha. Lagi namang kaming tatlo lang ang magkakasama. Pero talaga, I am grateful kasi I am blessed with a small but happy family.

Thank you, Daddy Ford and Nathan! I love you so so much!

My 6th Mother's Day! I am far from being a perfect mom pero alam kong alam ng anak ko na mahal na mahal ko siya. Mama's boy nga yan eh! =)

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Here's the 'steak tradition' I am talking about:

$300-Ayuda from the Government

We're fortunate to be living in a first world country during this pandemic period. Maraming naging tulong ang gobyerno para sa mga nawalan ng trabaho, business owners, renters, students, etc. Kapag nababasa ko ang hirap ng mga Pinoy para makakuha ng ayuda sa gobyerno ng Pinas, di ko maiwasang maikumpara syempre sa naging sistema dito. May program nga dito na tinatawag na CERB (or Canada Emergency Response Benefit) kung saan makakapag-apply ng financial assistance ang sinumang nawalan ng trabaho dahil sa Covid-19. That's $2,000 per month ($500 per week) for up to 4 months. Anyone, as in ANYONE, who applies will be approved. Kahit obviously hindi eligible ha. Kasi nga wala na raw silang time magcheck at magverify, gusto na nilang maiparating agad sa tao ang tulong. Honor system na lang muna daw, later na sila mago-audit.

Luckily, hindi naman namin kinailangan talaga ng tulong mula sa gobyerno kasi hindi naman nawalan ng trabaho ang asawa ko. Sa totoo lang, noong bandang March-April ay nag-worry rin ako kasi nga baka magclose din ang office nila temporarily kasi hindi naman talaga sila "essential" business eh. Thankfully, hindi naman nga. 

The only "ayuda" that we are entitled to during this pandemic is the one time Canada Child Benefit (CCB) payment increase of $300. Dito kasi sa Canada, we receive a monthly child support from the government, depende sa income ng parents. They decided to give an additional $300 per child for the month of May to help families during these difficult times.

Noong una nga akala namin hindi fixed na $300, na maximum na yun at hindi namin makukuha ng buo. Katulad ng sentiments ng middle class sa Pinas, may bitter feelings din kami paminsan (normal naman siguro yun) na puro na lang lower class ang pinapaboran ng gobyerno samantalagang ang laki-laki ng tax na binabawas sa sweldo ng asawa ko. One income family lang kasi kami at marami ring gastusin buwan-buwan. Pero buti naman nga at across the board naman pala ang $300. Kaya ang swerte nung maraming anak haha (4 kids x $300 = 1,200!).

Anyway, I just checked our account online kanina at pumasok na nga ang $300 (every 20th of the month ang CCB payment). I am so happy!

Anong plano ko sa $300? Actually nagastos na namin siya kahit hindi pa dumarating lol!

We badly need a colored printer kasi nga nago-online schooling si Nathaniel ngayon, syempre may mga kailangang iprint. Bibigay na ang 6-year-old laser printer namin kaya kailangan ng palitan.

Pero ang mahal nito ha, inabot ng $337.67 (tax included) kaya paluwal pa kami kaloka.

Salamat sa ayuda, Canadian Government! Malaking tulong rin ang printer na ito for my sanity! I have a lot of projects in mind na sana magawa ko hehe.

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Ayuda = assistance

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!

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!

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. =)

"Thanksgiving" Dinner @ Nando's Peri-Peri Chicken (Guildford)

November 23, 2017 (Thursday). It was Thanksgiving Day in the US. Though hindi kami taga-doon, naki-thanksgiving na rin ako kasi talagang grateful ako that Nathan was already ok and back to his usual energetic and makulit self. Halos six days din kaming di napakali at nakatulog nang maayos dahil nga he got sick.

Nag-sink in na sa akin ang exhaustion that day so I asked Ford to bring me to Dollarama so I could "breathe" (aka shop) a little. Mababaw lang naman talaga ang kaligayahan ko dito, makatingin-tingin lang sa dollar store ay ok na.

When Ford suggested that we eat out na rin. Haha, alam ko namang gustung-gusto na niyang kumain sa Nando's kasi may coupon siyang nakuha from our mail box. Pero naisip ko, hay kain sa labas na naman! We've overspent na this month (because of our California trip) kaya ayaw ko na muna sanang gumastos ng gumastos. Kaso ako nga itong naunang mag-aya sa Dollarama, di ba? Haha, sige na nga. Thanksgiving na rin kasi nga feeling better na si Nathan.

There's a Nando's branch near our place, mga 3 minutes away lang siguro, pero first time naming pinasok yun. When we discovered kasi na there's a Nando's sa foodcourt sa Metrotown Mall, doon na lang kami kumakain. Aside from fast service, iwas-tip pa haha.

Ford loves Nando's. I introduced it to him in March 2016, when we were still living in Edmonton. Kabubukas lang ng first ever Nando's noon doon kaya na-excite ako (may 3 branches na yata sila ngayon). Una ko kasing natikman ang peri-peri chicken nila sa Malaysia at na-appreciate ko talaga. I am glad na nagustuhan din ni hubby. In fact, madalas siyang kumain sa foodcourt sa Metrotown nung nagbakasyon kami sa Pinas ni Nathan.

Bagong renovate ang Nando's Guildford na ito eh. It closed for a while (palagi kasi naming nadadaanan kaya alam ko) and I even thought na for good na. I am glad nirenovate lang nila talaga.

I instantly liked the restaurant's interior pagpasok namin. Maaliwalas. Hmm, parang hindi naman maaliwalas dati sa Edmonton ah (at saka sa Malaysia).

Hindi gaanong maraming tao because it was a Thursday. A server guided us to a table and gave us the menu.

More or less alam na naman namin ang oorderin namin haha. Dapat around $30 lang kasi ang coupon namin ay "less $10 for $30 bill."

We ordered the Classic Share Platter (whole chicken + 1 side and garlic bread) na ok na for two people. Pero dahil $28.95 lang siya, we added a small sized side (peri-peri vegetables) pa worth $3.75.

After looking at the menu, you need to go to the counter to order and pay. By the way, I paid $26.70, including the 12% tip.

Then you get your preferred sauces and dressing sa isang corner. Nandun na rin ang pop (soda) dispenser if you ordered some.

They first served the garlic bread. Hay, ang sarap! Di talaga namin na-resist. #cheatdayforthenthtime

It didn't take long for the chicken and the vegetables to arrive. Haha, nagkatinginan kami ni Ford nang makita ang gulay. He knows me too well, alam niyang hindi ko kakainin yun. Kahit siya hindi nya rin type yun (pero kinain niya pa rin kasi sayang). Buti na lang we didn't get the bigger size.

Medyo matagal bago dumating ang corn pero masarap sya ha. Four pieces yan eh, nakalimutan kong picturan bago kainin. Namiss ko talaga ang inihaw na mais. Talagang pikit-mata kong kinain kahit na ma-carbs. I liked it more than the chicken haha.

Nathan didn't eat. Panay pa-cute lang ang ginawa. Hay, ganun naman talaga siya, matumal kumain. He's three pero ayaw pa rin talagang kumain masyado. More on dede talaga.

Oh well, basta super happy ako that night because Nathan's good health has been restored. Ang gaan-gaan ng pakiramdam ko.

I have this feeling na madadalas na kami sa Nando's na ito. Kanina lang nagtatanong na si hubby kung may bagong coupon ba eh, haha!

PS. Katulad ng Max's, mas mura ang Nando's dito kesa sa Edmonton. Yung platter na inorder namin na $28.95, $30.45 sa Edmonton. 

October 20 is our lucky day

I know that it could be purely coincidence but I choose to believe that there days that are just so lucky for some people. For us, it is probably October 20.

October 20, 2016 (1 year ago). Ford received a job offer, with a salary that's more than what we were expecting! We were so grateful! Less than 3 weeks of moving here in BC and he's got a job already. It really felt like everything was falling into place.

October 20, 2013 (4 years ago). After almost a year of stressful wait, we finally received an email from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) that a decision has been made on our spousal sponsorship application. It meant one thing -- that after 10 1/2 years of being in a long distance relationship (bf/gf + husband/wife), we will finally be together! You will never imagine how happy and excited we were!

October 20, always be good to us ha! =)

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.

Birthday with the Stroller Mommas

I went out with my new mommy friends last Thursday (September 7) for my post-birthday celebration. Kinulit kasi nila ako haha, pero na-touch naman ako kasi nga sila ang nag-initiate.

We've been here in BC for almost a year now (though Nathan and I went to Pinas for 5 months and 1 week) and I am glad to have found two new friends who became my ka-gimikan and ka-chika the past months.

Meet the Stroller Mommas

I actually met Juris (the girl in white) at Taipei Taoyuan Airport during our flight layover last April. Pabalik na kami ni Nathan sa Canada noon, ganun din sila ng family niya.

Sobrang layo papunta sa gate ng connecting flight namin (may train ride pa) tapos medyo parang scary na yung mga areas na dinadaanan kasi kokonti na ang tao (alanganing oras na rin kasi). The worst part, all the elevators were not working kasi may pending construction yata. Imagine me and my 2-year old son trying to figure out how to go to the next floor without an elevator. Eh me stroller ako at maraming handcarry.

The first two escalators, nalampasan namin. Medyo mababa lang kasi ang escalator, una ko munang inihatid sa taas ang anak ko tapos I instructed him to wait for me kasi bababa ako to get the stroller. No choice eh, walang ibang tao sa paligid (creepy nga eh). Pero at a very young age, my son naman knows na how to follow instructions saka hindi siya magulong bata. Takot din siya sa stairs so hindi siya bababa nang walang kasama. I just made sure na nakikita nya pa rin ako habang bumababa ako para hindi siya magpanic.

Yung last stair ang problematic kasi sobrang taas. Kapag nasa taas na si Nathan, parang hindi na niya ako makikita sa baba. I was worried kaya hindi ko talaga alam ang gagawin ko. Walang katao-tao talaga sa paligid.

Then after a few minutes, dumating si Juris, her Caucasian husband, and two little kids. Juris nicely asked me: "Anong matutulong ko sayo, Ate?" I was so thankful, sabi ko kung pwedeng pakitingnan lang saglit yung anak ko sa taas kapag inakyat ko para makuha ko yung stroller sa baba. They couldn't help me kasi with the stroller dahil ang dami rin nilang dala.

Nagkahiwalay na kami after that and we saw each other again sa may play area malapit sa gate namin (same flight kami). That's when I learned that they are from Langley.

Hindi rin kami gaanong nakapagchika because she was very busy attending to her kids. Nagkita na lang uli kami sa Vancouver airport na while we were waiting from our baggage in the carousel. That's when she asked for my number, ang sabi ko wala na "yata" akong phone number kasi more than 5 months ako sa Pinas, tila pina-disconnect na ng asawa ko kasi nga magbi-BC number na rin naman ako later on. Add nya na lang kako ako sa Facebook.

Since the, we became chatmates na sa FB. Then she invited me to her son's first birthday last June 25. That's where I met Tess, her best friend in high school. Tess is currently on a one year mommy leave from work. She has a 9-month old son and they live in New Westminster.

These two girls are so gala, hindi sila mapakali sa bahay. Juris' husband works on a one-week-work-one-week-off basis (sa mining) so kapag wala ang husband niya, talagang pinapasyal niya ang mga kids nya kung saan-saan. Si Tess naman every Sunday lang off ang husband niya kaya naiinip din at laging umaalis ng bahay. These girls are so madiskarte, kabisado na nila ang pasikot-sikot sa Metro Vancouver haha. Through them, natuto ako mag-bus at mag-train kasama si Nathan.

Lagi nila akong inaaya kapag lalabas sila (to meet with their other friends din) pero madalas hindi ako sumasama kasi nga exhausting for me ang magcommute tapos ang init pa. Saka they normally meet early eh ang late gumising ni Nathan kasi nga late na rin matulog. Alanganin.

Kaya for my birthday, ang sabi ko puntahan na lang nila ako sa 'terrritory' ko -- sa Surrey. No problem daw.

Because they like Sushi and Korean food, I brought them to Il Uk Jo, an eat-all you can Japanese and Korean restaurant na madalas naming kinakainan ni hubby.

I admire this girl kasi ang hirap nang may karag na dalawang toddlers ha. Ang liit ba babae pero very strong.

Juris with Zoey and Jack

I admire Tess naman kasi talagang ang patient niyang mag-alaga ng baby. I don't remember being that hands-on with Nathan haha. Kasi palagi kong kasama si Ford, siya ang in-charge kay Nathan tuwing umaalis kami.

Tess with Baby Marco

We feasted on a lot of food grabe. Busog na busog ako lalo na sa bbque. Oops, ang sugar! I make sure that I eat very little rice/carbs. As in less than a cup lang. So far, ok naman ang blood sugar level. Nakakaya ng gamot lol.

I was so surprised when then handed me their gifts after eating. They didn't have to, parang nahiya naman ako. Pati si Ford binigyan din ni Juris ng gift. I was thankful. At least me na-receive akong gift sa birthday ko haha.

(Note: Ford, until today, is insisting that we buy a gift for me. Parang di siya mapakali. Pero sabi ko wala naman akong gusto saka madami nakong nashopping the past weeks. Saka nag-Victoria trip naman kami kaya gift na rin yun).

After lunch, we proceeded to Guildford Town Centre (the mall across our apartment) so that kids could play at nang makalakad-lakad na rin.

I am happy kasi may constant kids na sa life ni Tantan - sina Baby Marco, Zoey, and Jack.

He's now comfortable being with them. Hindi na siya nahihiya, at home na siya. Gusto nga palagi kaming nakabuntot sa kanila while walking sa mall.

Indeed, I am grateful kasi nga I found good friends na rin dito. By the way, Juris is/was a nurse in Pinas and she's been very helpful sa mga health concerns ko ngayon. Tess is also very supportive. Nakakatuwa talaga. I hope we could be friends forever.

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Eto pala ang gift nila. Haha, the chocolate will definitely go to Pinas kasi nga bawal na sa akin (buti matagal pa ang expiration).