posted by Jennie on Jun 30

The Filipino people are with hope even as we all tuned in to the inauguration of our brand new President, Benigno S. Aquino III (Noynoy Aquino).  Below is the full transcript of our president elect’s inaugural address with its english translation.

Inaugural Speech of President Benigno S. Aquino III
June 30, 2010
Quirino Grandstand

His Excellency Jose Ramos Horta, Former President Fidel V. Ramos, Former President Joseph Estrada, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and members of the Senate, House Speaker Prospero Nograles and members of the House, justices of the Supreme Court, members of the foreign delegations,Your Excellencies of the diplomatic corps, fellow colleagues in government, aking mga kababayan.

Ang pagtayo ko dito ngayon ay patunay na kayo ang aking tunay na lakas. Hindi ko inakala na darating tayo sa puntong ito, na ako’y manunumpa sa harap ninyo bilang inyong Pangulo. Hindi ko pinangarap maging tagapagtaguyod ng pag-asa at tagapagmana ng mga suliranin ng ating bayan.

Ang layunin ko sa buhay ay simple lang: maging tapat sa aking mga magulang at sa bayan bilang isang marangal na anak, mabait na kuya, at mabuting mamamayan.

Nilabanan ng aking ama ang diktaturya at ibinuwis niya ang kanyang buhay para tubusin ang ating demokrasya. Inalay ng aking ina ang kanyang buhay upang pangalagaan ang demokrasyang ito. Ilalaan ko ang aking buhay para siguraduhin na ang ating demokrasya ay kapaki-pakinabang sa bawat isa. Namuhunan na kami ng dugo at handang gawin itong muli kung kinakailangan.

Tanyag man ang aking mga magulang at ang kanilang mga nagawa, alam ko rin ang problema ng ordinaryong mamamayan. Alam nating lahat ang pakiramdam na magkaroon ng pamahalaang bulag at bingi. Alam natin ang pakiramdam na mapagkaitan ng hustisya, na mabalewala ng mga taong pinagkatiwalaan at inatasan nating maging ating tagapagtanggol.

Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on Jun 27

We were invited last Monday, June 21, 2010 to have a taste of Portugal at O’sonho (pronounced as “O’sonyo”). One of the things my husband and I love is going out on a date, exploring dishes from interesting  establishments. Inasmuch as nothing compares to the quality of food a restaurant has to offer, the first impression that it makes as you march in is a big factor for me. For one, I love restaurants with couches where you can comfortably sink in – O’sonho has that- in deep, inviting tangerine colored ones at that.

The wall paper in the area where our group was set to feast in took my memory back to my school days when I learned about the explorations of Columbus who was a Portuguese. I swear, it pays to be an early bird during events. Because you not only get to shift from the stress of travel time to being comfy enough to get the feel of the place you are in and observe while you are at it.

Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on Jun 24

Three things that I have been pondering on these past few days – moving boxes, moving homes and gratitude. It has been three years since we last moved houses. And years before that we moved places at least once a year ever since we got married. It can be pretty taxing, to say the least. But you can very well say that with all the five shiftings we did from 2001 to 2007, we have become experts that we can actually make a living out of it.

As years went by from 2001 and moving was inevitable, there were at least a couple of  things that we have learned.

1. Not all cheap movers are unreliable. We were blessed to have contacted movers who had a very reliable staff who did not complain despite the one rainy night they had to carry our bulky couches and furnishings from the van, through the narrow alley, up an even narrower concrete stairs, and finally to the third floor apartment we last transferred to before we had our own house built. They charge cheap and we actually thought they’d have “cheap service” too. They did not.

Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on Jun 23

My son and I attended Canon’s Be Inspired with Canon Creative Park event last Saturday at the Top Shelf in Bonifacio Highstreet.

Unlike other events, I did not find any familiar face in the crowd. But it was going to be a busy time for the little guy and I anyway, so we did not mind. My son helped himself with a lot of things as the program went along. He especially helped himself as he went back and forth to the buffet table.

Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on Jun 23

I finally got Lady Rouge’s plate. A few days short to 2 months since we got her. It’s registration is good for 3 years. Sweet! Something I don’t have to worry that long is always a good thing, right?   Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on Jun 22

An invite to the Magyar Hungarian Restaurant in Paseo de Magallanes was the perfect homecoming dinner as I was finally reunited with the husband after being away for two weeks.

Admittedly, beyond Hungarian sausages (which I love by the way),  I barely have a clue about anything else Hungarian. My first impression upon the first few minutes we were inside Magyar Hungarian Restaurant was the polite servers and that their words seem to come naturally and not just for show. That for me is something that counts a lot. Especially after my recent experience in another restaurant where no one offered an ounce of apology after someone barged in the washroom I was in because of their broken door lock! And I was in the most compromising stance then. It was such embarrassing thing, to say the least.  The quality of service, if at all, has the ability to make or break an establishment in the eyes of its customers.

Moving on… the Hungarian cuisine goes beyond the sausages which they are very well known for, in this side of the world, at least. Apparently, Hungary’s cuisine is actually more known for their rich soups and sauces. Which are considered their comfort food. And I was to figure that out soon enough as I tasted two of the tastiest soup I’ve had in years – one of which is The Szekely (pork and sauerkraut) Goulash.

Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on Jun 18

My age has always been a non-issue for me. Whenever I get asked how old am I, I don’t shy away from answering. I’m 33 and will turn 34 on September, for the record. With that fact, my husband and I have been vocal about hoping to have another child. (my body is ticking away from the “ideal” child bearing stage)

Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on Jun 14

When NAVPRESS sent me the book Intimacy Ignited, Conversations Couple to Couple to review, I never really anticipated it to land on my list of favorite books. But it did, for reasons I will mention as I go along this post. The book has a heading right on its cover saying, “Fire up your sex life with the Song of Solomon,” so you could say I had high expectations and it sure did not fall short.

Intimacy Ignited used God’s Word to drive it and not just as a supplement to the authors’ thoughts and insights. As said in Psalm 18:30 that the Word of God is flawless, which we stand by through and through. And the Bible sure did not leave the marriage life for couples boring. In fact, it is ought to be the exact opposite, as reinforced right from the pages of Bible, no less. Simply put – God is for great sex life in marriage!

Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on Jun 14

Thoughts of summer evoke so many popular American pastimes including barbecues, picnics, sunbathing, and pool parties. Swimming is the perfect way to cool off on a hot summer day. A dip in the pool is also way to relax at a barbecue with friends and family during warm summer evenings. Swimming is also a dynamic form of exercise, appealing to people who often are unable to do other forms of exercise due to pain and health problems. Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on Jun 10

JIVE Youth has cooked up this year’s back to school party for 2010. This year’s program is titled “I CAN… My Future Decided.” It is going to be held at the JIVE Youth Center in Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati City this coming Saturday, June 12, 2010.

Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on Jun 10

I have been lacking sleep since the hubby left for Africa last week. It has been 7 days today and the most I slept per night since was 4 hours. I am sorely missing him. There was this two days that we barely communicated. Because he was on borrowed time as he had to line up to use the hotel’s common personal computer at the end of the day. That will be in the wee hours of the morning, Manila time. For some reason that function button to turn the wifi on of his Asus netbook failed to work.

Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on Jun 8

We are in a generation filled with distractions of all shapes and forms. This is why it is no longer surprising why the default could easily be to raise up children with short attention span problems. A considerable percentage of attention disorders roots back to the galore of distractions made available to children before they are able to control and make a grasp of the value of time management.

While I do not have anything against game consoles, its potential for distraction is too real when left in the hands of children without giving them limits. This can bring about a barrage of problems, to say the least.

my son wearing his Action Man watch from Kids Watch Central

One thing that has worked right from the time our son was a toddler, long before he became an expert at telling time, was teaching him to keep track of time. How? For example, we tell him that time is up when the long hand is on number 8. The watch is the one tool that has allowed for him to set his mind that there is time for everything. A child should not be left on his own doing what he wants to do until he feels like it.

Now this contest is as fun as fun can be, an easy one at that.

Mechanics:

(Contest will run from June 9, 2010 to July 9, 2010)

Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on Jun 8

The summer heat of these past months has been totally unforgiving. It actually has caused us heat exhaustion more than a couple of times. Aside from the fact that I do my job from home, we are also a home schooling family. The steady rise of temperature from 32°C up to beyond 42°C called for us to do something about our air conditioning for home. The humidity actually makes it a lot worse.

Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on Jun 4

Marriage and Beyond is cooking up a contest and it should be up in a few days. Now to have a head start, you might want to think and list down your best management tips and how important it is to teach children the value of time. I will make joining easy for you. Because all you’ve got to do is write the answer to the question on the comment section. That’s it! Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Jennie on Jun 3

Father’s Day will be on June 20, 2010. That will be less than three weeks away.  While we cannot deny the reality of the epidemic of missing fathers, we should nonetheless celebrate fathers who have stood up as the head of the family that they are purposed to be. If truth will be told, a whole bunch of fathers are but taken for granted.  Just because they are expected to provide and protect their respective families, they should be left unappreciated.  Methinks fathers should be appreciated and affirmed more by their loved ones.

Read the rest of this entry »