Philippine Election 2019

May 13, 2019. Nathan and I accompanied Lola to the nearby elementary school to vote. Ako lang sana ang sasama pero nagising ng maaga ang bagets kaya nagdrama na ayaw daw niyang maiwan sa bahay.

We started walking (toward school) past 7am. Ang init na grabe. Mamoosh said na kung medyo tinanghali pa akong nakaligo eh hindi na siya boboto kasi sobrang init na nga. Pero syempre kahit na hindi ko talaga forte ang gumising ng maaga eh nag-insist ako na samahan siya, para nga maengganyo siya lalong bumoto at makapag-observe observe na rin ako. Matagal-tagal na rin kasi akong hindi nakakaboto. Last year nagkaroon ng barangay election (I was also here in Pinas) at pwedeng-pwede pa sana akong bumoto kaso hindi na lang. Wala rin naman kasi akong/kaming kilala ni isa sa mga kandidato so useless lang kasi talagang manghuhula lang ako/kami.

Hindi pa gaanong maraming tao nang dumating kami at around 7:30am. Kaso hindi pa ready yung table kung saan mo puwedeng itanong kung saan ang presinto mo so I did a room-to-room check. May mga nakapost naman na list sa may pinto ng classrooms.

And as expected, nasa listahan pa ako. Gosh, I was so tempted to vote! I felt that my country needs my vote now more than ever. Pero siyempre hindi ko ginawa kasi nga Canadian citizen na ako. I just hoped na wala sanang ibang gumamit ng balotang para sa akin.

Walang masyadong tao sa labas, yun pala nasa loob na ng classrooms at naga-antay na makaboto. As in punung-puno na ang mga presinto. I felt bad for those people kasi nga sobrang init na at siguradong tatanghaliin na sila doon. We were lucky because Mamoosh is a senior citizen. May priority line for the oldies kaya medyo napabilis. Medyo nag-antay pa rin siya ng 25 minutes bago nakaboto.

It was Nathan's first time to step in a Philippine school, aliw na aliw siya. Ibang-iba nga kasi ang schools dito kumpara sa Canada.

Mamoosh was done voting at around 8:10am. I was happy na nandito kami ngayon sa Pinas kasi nga nasamahan namin siya. I will feel bad kung mag-isa lang siyang boboto o hindi siya boboto.

Post-Election Thoughts

Three hours pa lang after matapos ang botohan eh alam ko na na wala sa mga binoto ni Mamoosh ang papasok sa Magic 12. I actually gave her a list of who to vote kasi hiningan niya ako. I was so disheartened. Middle-class sentiment, I know. I felt bad for our country, feared for the future of our younger generations. I've never been this so disappointed in politics sa totoo lang.

Admittedly, ang unang pumasok sa utak ko nang una kong makita ang partial result for senators ay: "Syet, buti na lang Canadian na kami!" There was a part of me na relieved kasi kung tutuusin, hindi na kami makakasama sa sinking ship that is the Philippines. Pero syempre hindi naman ako talaga selfish. Kung maayos man ang kinalalagyan ko ngayong bansa, gusto ko rin na maayos ang bansang pinagmulan ko at kinalalagyan ng pamilya at mga kaibigan ko. Kaya nga sobra-sobrang ang pagkadismaya ko sa resulta ng eleksyong ito eh.

Eighty percent of Filipinos belong to the lower class. Nakakalungkot kasi hanggang may mga Pilipinong kapos sa pinag-aralan, may boboto at boboto sa kandidatong gwapo lang (kahit na magnanakaw). Hanggang may Pilipinong kumakalam ang sikmura, may boboto sa kandidatong namimili ng boto sa halagang limang daan. Iyan nga siguro ang "resbak" ng mahihirap sa minorya ng Pilipinong medyo nakaangat sa buhay at antas ng edukasyon.

Sa totoo lang, hindi ko na alam ang gagawin sa Pinas. Nawawalan na ako ng pag-asa. SINKING SHIP -- yan na talaga ang tingin ko. Sana lang talaga mali ako.

One year ago today...

One year ago today...

November 5, 2013 (Philippine Time) @ NAIA Terminal 2 

I left the the Philippines with a heavy heart. It was so painful leaving my mother...  and the life I had for more than 34 years...

I had to go though... to be with my husband who has long been waiting for me...

Oh how time flies! I still couldn't believe it that a year has already passed. I admit, I am not yet fully adjusted. But I am getting there.

Another meet-up in Edmonton

September 30, 2014 (Tuesday). Marlon, a kababata, school batchmate, and neighbor in Lolomboy (my mother's home barangay where I grew up), and his family came for some holiday here in Edmonton. They live North Battleford, Saskatchewan. He messaged me on Facebook and asked if they could drop by our house. I suggested that we meet in West Edmonton Mall instead because I don't know how to cook so I have nothing to serve them haha!

I met them the following day after my check-up. It was my first time to get acquainted with his wife and kids who immigrated here in Canada in 2012.

Picture courtesy of Marlon

It's really nice seeing a familiar person from your home country. Marlon and I were not that close in Pinas. But that's the thing with living abroad, kayo-kayo lang kaya dapat maging close haha! Kapag nandito ka pala talaga, hahanap at hahanap ka ng kakilala.

Too bad I wasn't able to invite them in our house. Aside from the fact that I don't cook, I also do not have the energy to entertain eh. Our house at the moment is not at its best form since I am too tired (and lazy) to tidy it up. I hope I could make it up to them some day.

Oops by the way, I really like Marlon's family. His wife and kids (and even his mother-in-law) were all nice. Sana taga-Edmonton na lang din sila.

It's almost Christmas...

... pero hindi ko pa rin ma-feel dito sa Edmonton.

Pic courtesy of Bitstrips

This will be the first Christmas I'll be celebrating away from "home" and I am feeling a little low. I guess I should avoid looking at Facebook's News Feed at this time. All I see are photos of Christmas partying, mindless shopping, gift wrapping, and food indulging in the Philippines. Those merry making activities make me miss Pinas (and my family and friends) all the more. I am envious. I am jealous.

I guess my 'depression' is a bit justified because at this point, my life here in Alberta can be objectively described as 'boring' (not complaining, just saying). I have no family (except for hubby), no friends, no job, no money (of my own). Heck, I don't even have a Christmas tree to celebrate the holidays with! I have tons of new clothes but I have nowhere to wear them. This season sucks!

I can't wait till the holidays are over. Haha, I've officially become the Grinch!

One month

Time flies. I can't believe I am here for exactly one month already.

It's been super cold since Monday and I wasn't able to roam around on my own. The Husband never failed to ask me if I wanna go out (after his work) and we went out every other day. But aside from the usual West Edmonton Mall and supermarkets, there is nowhere else to go.

I am not complaining though. I am choosing to be grateful because many people here, especially those who are on a temporary stay like OFWs, have to endure the cold and publicly commute just to be able to do some grocery shopping. I never experienced the "real" cold yet because Ford wouldn't let me. He patiently warms up the car for me and drops me off directly to the door of the mall so I wouldn't have to walk from the parking lot anymore.

I am lucky too because I am now with my husband who I dreamt of being with permanently since 2003. I am now living this dream.

Yes, there are times when boredom (and a bit of homesickness) hits me. But I guess I just have to be patient with things. Time will come when I'll be busy and productive again.

So far, so good. Thank you Edmonton for being nice to me the past month. I am looking forward more of our happy times together.

PS. Please make it warmer on weekends so we can explore the city better, oki?

Embracing the cold

I've been warned a million times by so many people that I should be "careful" when I get to Canada/ Alberta/ Edmonton because it is so cold in here. Others would even attempt to "scare" and "discourage" me into migrating, insisting that the winter weather is too harsh for a person like me who grew up in a tropical country.

November 17, 2013

To those who are wondering on how am I coping, I AM OK. I am very very much ok.

In fact, I am loving the weather. I AM EMBRACING THE COLD.

Winter isn't at all scary (though I have yet to experience the month of January). With proper gears and outfit, one's good to go.

I honestly loathe the Philippines' hot and humid weather. Extreme heat made me sick. Our monthly electricity bill soared up so high the past years because of my excessive use of air conditioner (and electricity in the Philippines costs more than here in Canada). I couldn't go out in the middle of the day for fear of sun burn and heat stroke.

Hence, being here in Edmonton is truly a blessing! And snow is beautiful!

If at times winter gets into me, I will always remember that this is what I've always wanted - to live in a cold, cold place. I shall always treat the cold as my ally, never a foe.

Finally, Ces is in the City!

And so I have finally reached Edmonton after so many hours of waiting at NAIA, two plane rides, and long layover at Vancouver.

LDR no more! :)

My husband was already at the airport waiting for me. At last, our almost 11-year LDR journey has come to an end.

It's time for new adventures. =)