where does our tax go?

i just want to share this... my good friend told me that there are free trainings and seminars given by their municipality. it is free and done on a regular basis. trainings include such as cooking, jewelry making, processed meats making, etc. it is offered to marikina city residents for FREE! thats what i call maximizing the funds of the city.

not to compare, but in quezon city, they keep on investing in the "beautification" of the city. and for what? for beauty?!?! c'mon!! 1 typhoon and thats the end of it.  seriously, are the plants and the useless lamp posts in the middle of the street cheaper than fixing the sewerage? or adding a more useful police post on the streets? or adding manpower that will do round the clock checking on the streets to avoid carnapping, robbery, etc? perhaps beautifying the city (and putting the initials of the government official on every corner) is a lot cheaper than making the city safer. maybe so. but there are more important things to be done and more constructive ways how to maximize the taxpayer's money.

really, i don't get it why government officials make it a habit of putting their names and/or initials in every outpost, waiting shed, streets, basketball courts, etc. did the funds really came from their own pockets?

i wish that all cities would unite. i wish that we will follow the footsteps of those who are progressing instead of outdoing them. anyway, it will benefit each one of us.

i wish that government officials will do their part. to lead by example.

fairy tales

i don't really know the history behind these fairy tales or why they were created in the first place. sure i like it. i watched it. and even when i am an adult already. the thing is, now that i am a mother, when i read these fairy tales to my daughters, i don't see the meaning in most of it. of course, as a parent, i would want to inculcate values to my daughters as early as possible and in many ways. i would also want to encourage the love for reading. i think its a wrong move to start them with fairy tales though. like for instance the story of snow white, what lesson can one get from it? perhaps, patiently waiting for the right man for you? maybe. how about cinderella? love for family? maybe. beauty and the beast is different and i like it. for the rest like princess and the pea, hansel and gretel,  jack and the beanstalk, red riding hood, three little pigs, etc. i just don't get it. maybe i have the wrong books. hehe.

well wikipedia explained it. maybe it was just really passed on from generations to generations that stories are somewhat changed already.

anyway, i am glad that there are now more books that are educational and stresses more on value forming, family ties and pure love.

the precious thing i got from the trip

i still can't get over my trip to korea with my 3 college friends namely nicole, boomy and jeanne. aside from the walks, jog, yoga, food trip , talks, a bit of shopping and sight seeing that we did, i can't forget the things i learned from these 3 whose worlds are quite different. nics being an island girl, boomy living a luxurious life in korea and jeanne always exploring the world and the seas.

funny, i don't remember the time how i met them. i know they are college friends and that they are special. and i love them. and thats how it will be.

nics gave me the push that i can help mother earth one at a time. i've always wanted to. i did my share by saving on water and energy. by participating in earth hour. by suggesting to our community re segregation of trash. but there is still more. and it can be done a step at a time. though i still can't find a supplier of earth friendly laundry soap for our laundry shops, we are putting a sign to our customers, encouraging them to bring their own laundry bag so that we won't use much of plastic. soon, we will totally eliminate it. i also make it a habit to bring with me a small bag (i have a couple at home) for small purchases like veggies, bread, medicines, milk, etc. so that the bagger at the grocery won't give me plastic anymore. like i've said, i have a couple of canvass bag at home given by friends. i guess, i just have to see somebody like nicole to see that it's actually being used before i use it myself. i don't know why. but i'm glad i'm somewhat helping. thanks nics.

boomy... i can't tell how much i admire her for being a mom. the way she lovingly communicates to her 2 adorable sons ollie and stan, its so refreshing. mind you, she is on her third trimester to their son and she remains cool. i remember, when i was on my third trimester with robin, i was irritated most of the time and poor raya always receives my bad temper :(  so i've seen boomy. now i try to be more patient with my daughters. to talk to them cooly just like boomy even if both of them are whining and crying. i try to be with them and play their games. to stay positive even if things go wrong. now its a bit manageable with the girls ;)

jeanne is living her life. when i asked what her future plans are, she said she was shocked by my question because she doesn't know. the thing is, she knows. she loves to read and spends her hard earned money buying books. she also loves pets/dogs. she have a couple back home and spends for their food. she loves to discover the world and so she has worked (and will go back) in a luxury cruise lines. she loves the water, and now she is a dive master. she even had a recent trip to tubataha! she claims that she doesn't have the money. but look at what she have purchased and accomplish? she had spent to live the life she wanted. what i learned from her? to love what you love... spend for love :D

i wish we'll have the opportunity again to be together and create a new adventure

application for a Philippine passport

my younger sister, ria, will get married in hawaii this coming september. the good news was announced to us early last year but due to hectic sched and scarcity of funds, we were only able to prioritize it at this time. so the first step is to renew my passport and get the girls their passport.

actually, it's so easy to apply since everything you need to know -- the process, requirements and even setting the  schedule of appearance in the Department of Foreign Affairs office -- are all there in their website.

so, i logged online, followed the simple procedures and went to the DFA office on time. it took the four of us 2 hours to complete the process. sure there's a lot of people but waiting isnt really an issue since there are staff guiding us. there were also signs everywhere. plus, there's a flat screen tv where movies are shown :) staff were also quick.

thank God some department in the philippine government such as the DFA shows progress. clap! clap! clap! i would just like to comment, though. when i went there, i came prepared with all the requirements, both for renewal (for my passport) and new application (for the kids). i had it in original and photocopy forms. when we got to the counter to submit our requirements, this is what was posted on the window:

FOR RENEWAL:

1) original passport

2) photocopy of first and last page of passport

FOR NEW APPLICATION:

1) NSO copy of birth certificate

that's it! i was just surprised since they seem to require more than whats listed above when i finished the online application and had set the appointment. weird. well, better be prepared than sorry.

oh, one more thing. though my husband's passport (not yet an e-passport) isn't expiring in 6 months yet, they did not allow him to renew saying that there are still more pages/space in his passport. he explained that he travels every april or may and if he travels next year, his current passport wouldn't be valid anymore. so he decide to do it now, with his family. the staff said that he should make a request letter with the reason why he wants it done now and have it notarized. then submit the letter to them. duh! well, if passports are still valid for more than 6 months are not allowed/qualified to apply for a renewal, i think they should have mentioned it in their website. what if that person only have the time now? sayang lang ang effort and ang pagpunta.

yun lang.

back to life

its been a week already since i arrived from my 6-day trip to seoul, korea and i am slowly going back to my senses. i totally missed hubby and the girls. but i know i needed that time off for my own sanity. i, along with my 3 college friends, were really on high. we had a great time catching up since its been years since we last saw each other. i went there to rest (no responsibilities, no work), go around at our own pace, no plans / itinerary, to recharge and to simply try it on my own (first time to travel without hubby and kids). and God has answered my prayers in more ways than one. thank you, God!

it was still summer when we got there. it's such a blessing since June is supposed to be a rainy month in korea. there were flowers everywhere.

i was able to jog and did some yoga with my friends. it was cool early in the morning so it was really such a nice way to start the day. and look whats in our path....

and, its just down the block to where our friend, boomy, lives!

we went shopping a bit. myeong dong is a street of branded stores. well, we just went into one store, the H&M, and went crazy over the sale. lucky us. hehe.

we liked insadong which consists of small shops in a long road. what i liked about this place is the uniqueness. all local shops, made in korea like clay pots, art works, etc. seldom will you see the usual souvenir shop of shirts, magnets,  flags, etc. in short, they support their own ;)

of course we visited tourists spots such as the seoul tower in which we were also able to watch a cultural show.

we also had a great time looking at the locks of love which became a symbol of the place of promising an everlasting love for couples with hanging a lock together.
.

isn't this amazing!

we were able to visit just one palace and was able to watch the changing of the guards.

we also went to mojeongyo. a lake in a middle of the city! it is hoped to be the symbol of harmony and communication.

 

i think what we did most during the trip was to eat and eat and eat over catching up.

grapefruit & pears for breakfast

affogato



green tea crust potato pizza

tuna kimbap

cotton candy

berries

fluffy waffles

papping su

papping su... again



and even  free and refillable drinking water





wine with a view of the seoul tower



kalbi

unlimited side dishes

bibimbap

we also loved the bookstore down the block.

 the trip was really memorable because of our kwentuhan while walking and walking around...

because of the very nice koreans



because of their creativity and uniquenes

because of strengthened frienships

and most especially because of these two adorable boys named ollie and stan =)