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.

-----------------------

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. =)

I returned a dress

I was getting desperate. It was 8 days before the wedding we'll attend to and I still didn't have a dress. Tsk, ang hirap pala ng walang available-dress-to-wear sa closet. You see, I don't work and we seldom attend parties that require a dress kaya wala talaga akong mga ganyan. In fact, the last event na nag-dress ako was in November 2016 pa, sa wedding ng first cousin ko dito sa Surrey.Naisip ko nga na isuot na lang yung dress na sinuot ko noon kaso nang sinukat ko, ang sagwa. Ewan ko nga ba.

I have a weird body rin kasi kaya choosy ako sa dresses. I have big arms, huge boobs, and small hips. Tapos ang laki pa ng tummy ko. Ang hirap talagang humanap ng damit na bagay sa totoo lang.

Then last Friday, we passed by Hudson's Bay in Metrotown and I saw this dress (the light old rose at the back). Naisip ko, baka pwede na yun. I am sure na may size ako kaya hinanap ko. That's one thing I like here, "normal" lang ang size ko.

Pikit-mata, I bought it for $99.68, tax included. It was my most expensive clothes-purchase to date. And the worst part was, I didn't feel good pa wearing it. Parang lalo akong tumaba.

Pero objectively, sukat na sukat siya sa akin. Saka ang lakas maka-sosyal ng tela, wedding party-appropriate pa talaga. Saka may sleeves. Since I have big arms, never talaga ako nag-sleeveless. Biggest insecurity ko talaga yan eh.

Naisip ko na lang na bibilhin ko na lang tutal I can return it naman. Grabe, may "I-can-return-anyway" mentality na rin ako na parang taga-dito! Dati kasi pinagsasabihan ko si Ford na wag bili ng bili kapag hindi naman sure tapos ibabalik after. Bad habit kako yun.

Right after purchasing it, naisip ko na agad isoli haha. Imagine, I still would have to look for shoes/sandals at a formal bag to go with it. Again, wala akong mga formal accessories na ganyan. Very casual lang kasi talaga ang mga outfit ko in the past. Tapos I gained so much weight pa so I lost interest in dressing up.

Naghanap-hanap lang ako saglit ng shoes pero talagang alam ko na that I will return the dress lol. I really wasn't happy with it. Binili ko lang talaga as panigurado that I will have something to wear just in case wala na talaga akong mahanap. Kaso how can I wear it without shoes?

Thankfully, I found a short casual dress at guess what -- Walmart! Nadaanan ko lang tapos nakita kong may potential. I fitted it at ayon, ayos naman! At dahil Walmart, given na na mura siya at $22.37 (tax included).

When I told my husband that I will buy it for the wedding, he commented: "Ang pangit naman nyan." I justified that it's a lot better than the expensive dress that I bought in Hudson's Bay. Tapos hindi ko na kailangan ng new shoes kasi I have a black sandals na na bagay sa dress. I also assume na hindi naman ganun ka-formal ang wedding reception kaya pwede na siguro yun.

We returned the $100-dress yesterday and I was so happy! Parang may mabigat na nawala sa dibdib ko haha. Hanggang di kasi nasosoli eh dagdag pa siya sa isipin ko. Returning an item here is so easy, no questions asked. Basta may resibo, attached tag, at within the return-day policy pa, they will accept it. Dapat lang dala yung card na ginamit pambili.

So now my realization. Dapat mag-stock na talaga ng ako ng dresses and other formal accessories para kapag may mga ganitong event eh hindi na ako mangangarag. I am getting old na rin (I'll be 39 in a few days) kaya dapat medyo age-appropriate na rin ako magdress-up.

New Relatives in Surrey

I haven't blogged pa pala that I have a newly-found relative here in Surrey. Ang lapit lang ng bahay nila dito sa amin, pwede ngang lakarin.

I didn't really know Kuya Nilo. Kahit si Mamoosh hindi siya kilala (pero kilala niya si Mamoosh). They saw each other sa burol ng father ni Kuya Nilo sa Lolomboy at noon nga nagkatuntunan na nandito rin ako Vancouver. Basta parang cousin ni Mamoosh ang parents niya (both sides ha).

Kuya Nilo instantly added me sa FB pero dinedma ko. Kasi nga hindi ko naman kakilala. Tapos minessage niya ako na kamag-anak daw niya ako lol (hindi ko pa kasi nakakausap uli si Mamoosh noon kaya hindi ko pa alam). After a few minutes of chatting, ayun nagvoice call na. Sobrang daldal haha, nakakatuwa. Kapag daw nalalaman niya na may kamag-anak sya sa lugar kung nasan siya (tumira na kasi siya sa iba't ibang bansa bago nagsettle dito sa Canada), talagang pinupuntahan niya.

He went back to Canada after malibing ng tatay niya. One week lang talaga siya sa Pinas. The day after he arrived (June 24, 2018), we went to their house to meet him and his wife Ate Rosie and to pick up na rin yung padala ni Mamoosh. I was so happy kasi nga he told me pwede kaming makidala hehe. Kababalik ko lang ng Pinas noon pag talagang ganyang offer eh gina-grab ko!

So yun, may new relative ako dito sa Surrey. Nakakatuwa talaga. Kuya Nilo and Ate Rosie are having their church wedding this August 25 and they invited us. Magkikita-kita daw kami ng ibang kamag-anak namin dito sa Canada at US, at pati na rin ilang kababaryo sa Lolomboy. Nakaka-excite din. Hindi ko sila kilala pero alam nyo naman, nagiging close ang mga magkakamag-anak dito bigla kapag nagkatagpo-tagpo.

---------------------------------------

By the way, ito nga pala yung pinapakidala namin kay Kuya Nilo.

Insert one pack of Red Ribbon macaroons

Medyo mabigat din yung chocolate coins ni TanTan haha! Konti lang kasi ang nabaon naming chocolate coins kaya naubos na agad, eh sobrang paborito ni TanTan that time kaya nagrequest kami sa Lola Mamoosh niya.

Ensaymada talaga ang gusto ko kaso ang bilis mag-expire eh, kaya macaroons na lang. Akala ko ako lang ang kakain kaso nakihati ang asawa ko. Hay naku, tanong ako ng tanong sa kanya kung ano ang gusto niya, ang sasabihin wala. Tapos pag nandyan na pagkain ko eh makikiagaw. Hmmmp.

Yung Fissan pala was so effective sa akin. Nung nasa Pinas ako eh nangangati at ngpapantal pantal ako sa may breast area dahil sa init at pawis, yang Fissan ang nakatulong. May baon naman ako kaso dahil summer din dito sa Canada, nagpadala pa ako ng isa to be sure na di ako mauubusan.

My picture was stolen by Kawaling Pinoy Recipes

I must have liked Kawaling Pinoy Recipes Facebook account a long time ago, I don't really remember. But I keep seeing its posts on my newsfeed.

And then one time, I saw one familiar photo.

Naisip ko agad, ay kamukha ng picture ko. I let it pass.

And then after some time, I saw it again. Hmmm, kamukha nga talaga. I have taken millions of photos already (seriously) pero alam ko pa rin naman kung ano ang pinagkukuha ko. But again, I disregarded my feeling. Naisip ko malamang kamukha lang talaga. Hindi lang naman ako ang gumagawa ng ganung puto using a rice cooker as steamer at gumagamit ng ganung colorful silicon molder.

Tapos nakita ko uli sa newsfeed ko. Ang kulit talaga, nagpapapansin sa akin.

That's when I decided to check my IG and this blog post. Hala, picture ko nga!

I actually felt bad. Pakiramdam ko talaga ninakaw ang picture ko. Fine, hindi naman maganda ang picture na yan, hindi rin maganda ang pagkagawa ko sa puto as I have mentioned on the blog, but still it is mine.

Here's what Kawaling Pinoy Recipes says about its account:

Kawaling Pinoy Recipes

Kawaling Pinoy Recipes™ is a collection of delicious and easy to prepare Filipino recipes compiled from various sources around the web.

Sa pag-browse ko sa FB, ayun naconfirm ko na tagpi-tagping pictures nga ang pinaglalagay nila sa mga posts nila. Compilation daw? Kahit compilation, dapat properly documented at cited ang source. Ang nangyari eh pulot na lang ng pulot ng picture sa internet kaloka.

Oh well, pabayaan na nga. Sana lang talaga magka-decency ang mga tao na rumespeto sa mga bagay na hindi kanila. Asa pa.

More Pinoy Hotdogs in Canada

We went again to the newly-opened Lucky Supermarket last August 9 so I was able to observe more.

The one thing I noticed, ang dami ng Pinoy hotdogs na binebenta ngayon ha.

Noong bagong dating ko sa Canada, itong Pinoyfoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs lang ang meron eh. Pero bukod sa hindi siya pula, sobrang layo ng lasa sa Pinoy hotdogs talaga. I am surprised na may bumibili pa rin pala nyan kasi nagdagdag pa sila ng flavor/variety oh.

Then eventually nagkaroon nga ng Filipino Style hotdogs. Dati sa Alberta lang meron nito eh. Nakalipat na kami dito sa BC nang nag-expand sila dito.

Tapos ngayon meron na rin palang Fiesta Hotdogs ngayon. Ngayon ko lang yan nakita actually, kasi parang wala naman niyan sa T&T Supermarket at Henlong Market. Sa mga small Filipino stores may tinitinda ring variety ng hotdogs, ewan ko lang kung meron sila nyan.

I still have a lot of Purefoods Hotdogs and Martin Purefoods Hotdogs on our freezer kaya hindi muna ako bibili. Pero talagang titikman ko rin yan soon.

I am happy kasi mas dumarami ang Filipino products (kahit na gawa dito) na available dito sa Canada. Pang-iwas homesick nga kasi ang mga yan. We might be living faraway from the Philippines pero at least nakakakain pa rin kami ng mga pagkaing swak sa bitukang-pinoy.

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.