My Family ARE My Friends

Facebook is really great! You are able to peek through the lives of different people: People who once had a very active status in your life and people who now have a very active status in your life. The chismosa in me makes me curious about the lives of my friends from way back. I have had a lot of good friends. I had friends to laugh and have fun with, friends whom I can share my dreams and frustrations with. Now, I don't get to see them often. Some, I don't get to see at all. We somehow lost touch with one another. The busy tide of life may have allowed us to drift away in all sorts of directions. Being too far away from each other may have stretched the strings of friendship too long and too taut at the brink of snapping. Some do snap but some strings just kept on growing longer and longer, giving you time to be busy. Knowing that someday life will find a way to bring back the friendship as strong as it used too. 

Being a stay at home mom with a work at home job has it perks: 

1. You don't have to deal with the poor transportation system in our country- heavy traffic and broken down MRT.

2. You get to spend quality time with your children. My favorite part is that I am able to cuddle, kiss and hug them, anytime of the day. You are able to help them with school and teach them good values, discipline, and the importance of being happy and loving God and their faith.

3. You are able to take in home duties, mom and wife responsibilities with ease.  

But I admit, I sometimes feel a pang of loneliness. Working outside of home allows you to develop friendships with your colleagues. Facebook is great but sometimes it's not too great too. Especially, when you are in a hormone charged emotional- just before your period-mode. Looking at the happy faces of your friends from a certain stage of your life having bonding moments with their current friends makes you feel a little left out. You lose a sense of belonging. You know in your heart that you are completely positively happy for them. But you also know in your heart that you also yearn to belong once more to a certain group of friends, whom you can simply be happy with.

I recently attended the Kerygma Conference, "Lifted High" by Bo Sanchez. He preached about a very simple message: People before things. He applied this principle in having a relationship with your friends. He said that if you place your friends (people) before things. If you give value to your friendships, then in times of need, your friends will be there for you. Again, it had me thinking, "Who are my friends?" It seems as if I had no one left. But then Bro. Bo said, "Your friends are those people who are willing to give his/her life up for you." And then it dawned to me that I do have very good friends.





60th Birthday Celebration of Mama and Papa

They are willing to risk their lives for me. They are taking care of me- have been taking care of me, ever since we were little. I was dependent on them as a child and even until now as a grown woman. They are looking after me. Giving me words of advice every now and then. Giving me suggestions and freedom to choose. They will always be there for me. They will love me, no matter who or what I become. And I will always look up to them and emulate them and love them no matter who or what they become too. They are my siblings...my sisters, my brothers, my sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law and my parents. They are my friends. My family, my friends.

The other half of Sunshine 9 in California, USA

I am surrounded by very good people. I couldn't ask for more. I once thought that friendship is a different concept from the relationship you have with your family. God made me realize that it's not. You can be friends with your husband, your children, your parents, your siblings and anyone you are related to. Look around you. Life is not so lonely after all.

My Loving In-Laws

God really knows me well. He knows that I am a homebody, an introvert. He knows that I am not outgoing and would prefer to stay at home than to party hard. God placed me smack in the middle of a vary large family. He gave me people whom I can rely on in this motherhood/parenthood/married life journey. God is giving me the right kind of 'friends' at the right kind of time. And for that I am truly blessed and thankful.

Girl Bonding? Absolutely Mommy!

Girl Bonding

I love going on "dates" with my daughter. She is sweet, smart and fun to be with. Going on dates with her helps me to get to know her better. It develops our relationship. I also get to teach her some of life's lessons. 

When I was invited by Ban Kee Trading to an intimate gathering of Moms, organized by Absolutely Mommy, I thought of asking Claire out on a date. And since her Daddy would be working, we were left to fend for ourselves, at least in terms of commuting from Fairview all the way to Shangri-La Plaza Mall. As we got ready for our commute, I knew that our simple date will turn out to be a memorable adventure.

Absolutely Mommy's Invitation

The Art of Commuting

I want Claire to experience the art of commuting. We do ride a jeep going to SM Fairview for our after-school dates. But this is the first time that we will be travelling together outside our vicinity using public transportation. During the commute, I taught her about money. I let her count the money, pay and get the change.  She learns self-confidence as she says, "Para po." and as she inserts the MRT ticket into the slot. She also learns how to be considerate of others- to keep her voice down and not to move too much, especially when crammed inside a PUV (public utility vehicle). 

Riding the MRT

A Gathering of Moms

You just know in your heart that a "Mom" organized an event just by taking a look at all the details. There was a table laden with toys. My daughter's eyes almost popped out of their sockets. There was a table for kid's activities: coloring, stenciling (art), book reading- to keep them busy. There was a dessert table filled with goodies and sweets. The food served by Craving's Restaurant was scrumptious. Every detail was well taken cared of.

Toys and more toys!

Dessert Table

The event started at 12:30 PM. We were welcomed by Absolutely Mommy. Lunch was served and Ms. Jenny Fernandez, Advertising and Promotions Manager of Ban Kee Trading made a short presentation about toys. It was a fun and relaxing event. I got to chat with other moms and played with the kids. There was even a hands-on tutorial on making your own loom band bracelet.  The event was capped off by an awarding of prizes and a raffle. My daughter Claire won the best in coloring award and got to take home her very own Chill Factor. My name was picked in the raffle and I got to bring home a Leap Frog AlphaPup! All moms got to bring home goodies from the event courtesy of Ban Kee Trading, so no one went home empty handed. 

Arts and Crafts

Getting a hang of making my own Loom Bands bracelet

Loom Band Bracelet crafted by Mommy Bluey!

It was such a memorable event for me and Claire. An adventure that we would always remember. Kudos to Absolutely Mommy for putting the event together. Check out their website for cool, fun and up to date parenting tips: http://www.absolutelymommy.com/

Not Just Mere Child's Play

Ms. Jenny T. Fernandez, Advertising and Promotions Manager of Ban Kee Trading explained the importance of play in children. She said that toys have evolved throughout the years to keep up with today's generation. From playing out in the streets, children are now exposed to a wide array of toys.  Toys do play a big role in our child's development. But sometimes too much exposure can also be a big problem. Like for example our gadgets / tablets. My kids like playing with the apps in our iPad. In no time, they become very adept at navigating the apps. My daughter, only 7 y/o can even easily access videos at You Tube. Without grown up supervision, this can be a very dangerous thing. And for this reason, Ms. Jenny introduced Leap Pad - the tablet made especially for kids. It has all the features of our tablet but the apps are educational and the content, child friendly. 

The girls are going crazy over this Lalaloopsy doll!

Ban Kee Trading is the leading distributor of high- quality toys and baby products here in the Philippines. LeapFrog, Graco, The First Years, Lalaloopsy, Lamaze and Zhuzhu pets are among the brands they carry. These brands ensure the safety and quality of toys. These toys have undergone research and testing. It considers the developmental age of our children to make sure that our kids learn while playing. Now, we moms can relax and play with our kids without any second thoughts. Check out their website for more info: http://www.bankee.com.ph/

Goodies and Giveaways!

My Goodies! Thank you, Ban Kee Trading!

Claire won best in coloring, her prize: Chill Factor!

My name was picked in the raffle! I won this AlphaPup for my son, Ivan :)

On Being a RareJob Teacher

Teaching is a treasure that I would hold dearly in my heart. When I started teaching here at RareJob, I fell in love with it. I never knew that it could develop me as a person while I was helping others learn.  Teaching gave me a sense of fulfillment. It felt good knowing that I am making a difference in a person’s life. 

Learning a new language is indeed life changing. It breaks down the wall that separates you from the whole world. It bridges the gap that cultural differences bring. It helps you understand others and even yourself better. Teachers are instruments of change. Who would ever know that I would end up in this job and loving it as well. 

So far, my journey has been amazing! I love my students! They are generally very polite, kind and hardworking. Some are funny and easy to talk to while others are serious and can be challenging. Most of them are disciplined and determined to learn the English language. Those who go to work wake up and have English lessons as early as 6:00 am. Some prefer to have lessons as late as 10:30 at night after work. They are very dedicated. I have had the opportunity of conducting lessons to Japanese students from various parts of the world and from all walks of life. 

Sometimes I think about how lucky we Filipinos are for being immersed with the language at such an early age. The Japanese needed to exert more effort to learn and reach out to the world with a language alien to them. We Filipinos are given the opportunity to use what we know. Maybe we have the responsibility to pass on to others the knowledge that we have. Or maybe we have the responsibility to put into good use what we know and make the most out of it. 

As a stay at home mom, this job is truly a blessing. I am able to take care of my husband and my two beautiful children. At the same time I am able to do something productive in my spare time: teach others, learn from others and earn too!

20th Tutor Gathering and Workshop (RareJob Office, April 23, 2014); Kato-san RareJob's CEO

Selfie with my Orange Burst Sisters! (From L-R: Gracee, Khrisna, Me, Jeanilyn)

Our Lunch

I won The Extra Mile Award: for exerting the effort of looking and smelling good! :)

With RareJob Japan Customer Service  (shoes are not allowed inside the office so we slipped  into comfy slippers)

Hanging out at Starbucks after the Workshop

With The Early Birds (L-R Erly, Angel, Me)

19th Tutor Gathering For A Cause (The Circle Events Place, December 7, 2013)  

With Gaku-san COO of RareJob Philippines

With Tutor Maria... She referred me to RareJob. Thanks! :)

With Kato-san RareJob's CEO and Gaku-san RareJob's COO and my co-tutor

RareJob, Chances for Everyone, Everywhere. Work at YOUR PLACE at YOUR own PACE. Be an Online English Tutor. If you want to work as an English Tutor at RareJob, All you need is the following: 

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Has stable non-USB internet connection.
• Has the needed computer requirements
• Proficient in English