This post is late because I haven’t had the chance to make a recap of my bday until now.  Earnestly, I just want to thank everyone who took the time to greet me on my birthday. Thank you for the sincere texts, secret messages, IG shoutouts, heartwarming cards, phone calls, and professor Xavier-like telepathic birthday greetings. Thankful for my families, who reach out despite the distance, and even my girls who “cleaned up the house” as a bday gift. Even elle kept saying “happy birthday mamam” every 30 mins. Also, a behemoth box of gratitude to @perze for trying so hard to surprise me with a “quaint” bday dinner with friends. It was a subtle way to give me anxiety over a game of sardines. If you made it through that night, I applaud you. I trust him with my life in a heartbeat, but draw the line with planning a party, but he did a swell job. #twelvesixteen #birthdays #35 #thankyou

Thanks to Cliff Cariño and Sifu Mike Lee for nominating me. Read about ALS Here Donate Here (pardon the bloopers)  I’m nominating my brother-in-laws, Fred Fabila, Sam Ng and Mike Cornett to take this challenge.

Having now knocked on our door and having been nominated twice (by Joni Trish Bation and Zeah Estrada ), I’ve decided to accept what is inevitable and add fuel to the proverbial fire. With over 13 million dollars raised, it’s encouraging to bring awareness and encourage giving, even just a little. With that said, I nominate Michelle Valdez Lee Sarena Bañas and Leila Rabanillo … I’ve always hated putting conditions on people, so whatever is in your heart for this cause is ok. Every little bit counts right? You have 24hrs. Donations: Alsa.org

This is late. Robin Williams died.  I know it shocked the whole nation, but it’s one of those things that instinctively brings my siblings together on a nostalgic level, knowing we grew up together unknowingly caught in his brilliance as a comedic actor. You don’t know these things until those people are gone. That’s the sad reality of the living. I was pretty shaken up, and I don’t normally get emotionally affected by people I don’t personally know. He wasn’t a political shaker like Kennedy or Mandela. But when news spread, articles sprang up like plants already ready to bloom, articles about depression awareness, mental effects on suicide, morality choices, the meaning of life, thoughts about hidden clues of his emotional condition in his movies, and quotes that bring introspection. Nevertheless, for those he has touched, we were collectively brought to ponder on meaning, fulfillment, hope, life, and death. But to celebrate his life and how I was reached, they were through these mediums, more or less, characters he brought to life to teach us about life.  Somehow, in the grander scheme of things, I want to believe they were imprints of what has made me a better person.

So I’ve been bitten. Orange Is the New Black. So through 7 episodes of season 1, I’ve learned that when faced with living within the confines of a small environment, one tends to learn the culture- fast. You learn who you can/can’t trust, who holds the power, who to avoid, who has connections, and that 15% who still has that small amount of decency that has withstood the threats to change in order to survive. Not only have I been bitten, but the bite stings. There is no new black you understand. Sometimes in life, to save yourself emotionally, you sometimes feel like you need to adapt to how things are being done and exhibit the same behavior. Sometimes I feel like I shouldn’t offer help, reach out, give, be generous because I don’t see the same things being done around me. Sometimes I feel like I should bark back, talk badly, unfairly criticize, and hit below the proverbial belt by being unmercifully honest. So, for 60% self preservation, 20% bitterness, and 5% revenge, I struggle with believing this is how it should be; this is how I should behave too. Then there is that 15% that reminds me that […]

This is currently the girls’ favorite song.  They’re slowly putting the DVBS Agency D3 songs to rest, and now are ripe for learning songs similar to it. So in my observation, I picked up a kids’ CD of current Christian songs that resemble what they’ve heard from DVBS.  So far, the plan is working and they’ve chosen CD over iPad, iPhone, and videos during car rides, as it should be most of the time. Conscious exposure. Mom: 1pt. Here’s the video: