Mom & Dad Food Trip: New restaurants you need to try now!! Like, Really.

Since my youngest turned 2 years old, it's been easier to leave the kids at home without having that feeling of guilt since my youngest can pretty much play on his own or with his siblings already and therefore, does not miss mommy that much anymore (or at all!). haha.

I love to eat good food and discover new yummy places from referrals from friends. Over the past few months we've been adventurous with our food, meaning we've been much more open to trying new restaurants other than our usual hangouts. Some were disappointing, while others are worth writing about! The type that it makes my mouth water and want to plan my next visit just thinking about the meal I had there. HAHA.. can you say Fatness?

Anyway, here's a run down of my top newly discovered restaurants in the Metro. PS- I know some or most of these aren't "new restaurants" but they are new discoveries to a cautious foodie like me!  haha Enjoy planning your next meal outing and comment below if it was good for you as it was for me! Like, seriously, I wanna know how you guys found the food in the places I love! :)


El Chupacabra - Poblacion, Makati

Now I don't normally frequent myself in the "red light district" area haha, but apparently there are a lot of hidden gems of restaurants in that strip! Who would have thought! This restaurant is a small, run down, literal like a hole in the wall place. Felt so authentic like I was in Mexico lol. The food was well worth the trip there, and considering there was no air-conditioning... it was worth it! I absolutely LOVE Mexican food. I ordered the soft chicken taco and OMG it was so good. If I was there on a normal hungry time I think I would be able to eat 3 of those. haha. We also ordered the nachos which was yummy as well. Love also the different sauces they had to add to your dish. Planning on coming back and trying other awesome dishes. BTW, I had so much fun wolfing down my meal that I was not able to take a pic. haha.

Soft Tacos. Photo grabbed from PhoneBooky

B&T Mexican - Tuscany at Mckinley Hill, Taguig

Did I mention that I LOVE Mexican food? haha. So, we live in the area and we still have yet to try all the restaurants in this area, but I recently decided to eat here (like maybe last month?). I was previously wary of trying it out since it was not so aesthetically appealing. Haha. So happy I did because I've been ordering from this place at least once a week for the past month now. I've tried like almost half the items in the menu and I must say that my favorites are the classic nachos, cheese quesadilla, chimichanga and the chicken burrito! A bit heavy on the stomach though so it's better to eat here for lunch than dinner! I took snaps of this before (Please follow me on SNA
PCHAT!! Username: vaneeya) but forgot to save it to my camera roll.

Nachoooos. Photo grabbed from Burpple.com 

Earth Kitchen - Bonifacio High Street, Taguig

I'm all for the "healthy eating" kind of food as long as it tastes good! Well since I tried Earth Kitchen, eating healthy DOES taste good. In fairness. I have yet to try the other items on the menu since whenever I go I always order the same thing because it's that good. Get the mushroom soup and the mushroom spring rolls!! Add on a fresh fruit juice to compliment the meal. I also really love the ambience of the place. It feels as if I'm dining in  a fab garden. Plus the prices are very reasonable.

Ahhh so yum. My favourite mushroom rolls!

Ally's All-Day Breakfast Place - Sikatuna Village, Quezon City

If you love breakfast like me, then it's simply heaven to eat at a restaurant that serves breakfast food ALL DAY LONG. In come this quaint little restaurant in the north that does exactly that. Now I don't frequent that area as often, but heading out to eat here sure makes it worth the trip! Everything in the menu is yummy and very reasonably priced. I had the beef tapa the last time. Sarap with egg and tomatoes and vinegar... but my all-time favourite are the banana caramel pancakes! As in. I don't know how they make their pancakes, but it's really not like your normal pancakes. So fluffy and malasa or tasty! You hardly need much syrup even!

Ahhh this makes me wanna go there now. haha.

Charlie's Grill - Kapitolyo, Pasig

Since we used to live in the Pasig area, I would always frequent Kapitolyo and would always hear that it's a great place to find amazing restaurants to try. I've gotten rave reviews from friends about Charlie's but never got to trying it out since, again, the appearance was not that appealing. Haha.. (guys I swear I'm not superficial). The small restaurant is right beside a car wash! I guess the owner of the restaurant owns that as well, and looking back it's a pretty good idea since you can eat while you have your car washed. haha. So anyway, tried this place 2 weeks ago and I have been back 2 times since then. Always go back for the same thing. What can I say, I'm a creature of habit! The house fries... OMG so yummy and cheesy like all over your fingers... and my favourite burger the Black Angus cheeseburger with shrooms!!! Aaaahhh. If you're looking for a burger fix, thats the way to go. A bit pricey though at P450, but so worth is bec you can really taste that the meat is really good and with that portobello mushroom... O. M. G... then add pa ketchup and mustard FTW!  PS- the last time we went, we had the car washed for only P150! Niiiice.

My fave burger!

Juju Eats - Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati 

My hubby and I chanced upon this place while on the way to pick up our daughter. We were still bit early and hadn't had lunch yet and we saw this resto along Pasong Tamo ext. and decided to try it out. Now, I've seen people post about this but again, it was one of those healthy eating places so I was not so eager to visit since I thought it might not have that much choices and be horribly overpriced. lol. To my surprise, I was very much happy with the rice bowl I ordered. Although I picked the quinoa as the base, since you can mix and match ingredients for your healthy bowl. So I mixed quinoa (i am in love with this grain.., it it a grain?) , hard boiled egg, strips of chicken, cucumber, tomatoes, corn and cheddar cheese! WHAT? SO YUMMY! My husband got one of those teriyaki bowls that have fixed ingredients already and he was happy with his also. Picture doesn't look like much, but it was seriously yummy. Plus didn't feel so bloated and heavy after but I was definitely full and happy. I also had a fresh slush drink, calamansi I think... it was so good also. Will definitely come back to try a wrap or just order the same thing again! hehe.

Our orders!

Feeling any cravings yet? haha. Well I certainly am!!! Hope you guys will enjoy these places as much as I do them. Let me know what you think? :)

As my Ysabella would say... Happy Eating!

Santino's 7th Birthday: His Dreamplay Adventure

My eldest son, Santino was approaching a milestone... his 7th birthday! And just like any parent, I was scrambling to find the perfect "party" that he would like and that would fit in our budget! :) Since  we weren't planning on having any huge bday celebration, and Santino did not know exactly what he wanted to do, I had to present options for him to choose from to which he would invite his closest friends to join in not the fun.

Now, thinking of a place for a 7yr old and friends to enjoy, when I started thinking hard about it, is a challenge! haha.. but luckily, we were able to come up with options. For those in a similar dilemma, will share my full list since the option we decided to go with may not be your son/daughter's top choice.

The final list of possible birthday places to go to:
1. Kidzania (The Fort)
2. Dreamplay (City of Dreams)
3. Enchanted Kingdom (although logistics of this would make it a challenge)
4. Laser Tag (Greenhills)
5. Active Fun (The Fort)
6. Swimming Party at home (in our clubhouse, haha)

Now, I guess from the title of my blog you know which one we went to. Since I can't share a full experience on the other ones, will just focus on Dreamplay. Sanction ended up inviting a total of 11 kids. Some his classmates from school, cousins and siblings. There was a pinch in the wallet, but in the end, all the kids had a fantastic time so it was worth it. OK, Im getting ahead of myself.

First off, Dreamplay is located in City of Dreams which is near the area of SM MOA and SnR (haha).  It's open everyday by 10am. I wanted to be first to avoid the rush of people so we were all at the venue by 10 and it was a good decisions since the place was nice and clean since it just opened and we had the whole place to ourselves with just a few other people for a good 2 hours maybe... considering this was a Saturday. The rates vary for weekdays and weekends/ holidays. Obviously it's more expensive on weekends/ holidays. We went on a weekend so we got the more expensive rate (weekend rates are cheaper, and for the more full list of fees, you can check their website (cityofdreams.com.ph/dreamplay) For Adults it's a rate of P400, Kids (17yrs old and below) P880 and Toddlers (below 100cm) P100. These rates are all for 4 hours of play, which for me is more than enough time to get around everything since the place is not that big. You can also get an unlimited day pass for more. I would also advise buying tickets online since it would save you the hassle of lining up at the venue to buy. The website has a built in ticket purchase that redirects you to SM tickets. NOTE that they only email you a voucher, so you still have to go to a SM ticket net outlet to redeem the tickets.

The great thing about Dreamplay is that it brings to life great characters created by Dreamworks, which are all familiar to the kids. You have the penguins of Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and Shrek.

Santino and Friends at the entrance to Dreamplay

The place is very interactive. It has a lot of activities that kids, especially hyperactive boys can do. Run, run, run, slide, climb. There are a lot of long slides, places to climb, hands on activities to do. Each "area' inside is dedicated to a specific movie that is designed to take you into the actual movie set where the kids can pretend to be part of it.

Inside the airline of the Penguins of Madagascar

Climbing up, up and up

Slides that look like your moving inside a snake.

With hyper 7yr olds, this was the ideal place. Not too big that I couldn't keep tabs on them, but packed enough with activities to keep them busy.

The only downside  was the expensive food. Obviously, you are not allowed to bring any food or drinks, so you had to eat at their facility, how else will they make money? haha.

There are a lot of things to do for young kids, but there are also other activities that are preferable for bigger kids like 10/11yrs old and above like wall climbing or wearing a harness and climbing the steep poles like in Kung Fu Panda.

Not for the faint hearted!

Instructional activities to teach kids

Baking class

My daughter particularly enjoyed the baking class since she got to make her own gingerbread man. NOTE: you have to sign up in advance for the classes since you have to reserve a slot.

All in all I would say that is was a success since my son said it was "The Best Birthday Ever!" haha (he says that every year by the way). For first timers, would definitely recommend coming for the 4 hour pass. Would I come back again? Hmm.. maybe not since when you've gone once, you've pretty much seen it all.. unless they would add on new activities, then that would be worth going back to. But do give it a try, I think it's worth the entrance fee to see your kids favourite movies come alive and they can interact with.





And the best thing about this, to my surprise, FREE PARKING!!! hahaha...

Oh and of course you HAVE to pass the gift shop on your way out.. so naturally... we ended up getting a toothless cap for the birthday boy. :-)

Happy Birthday, Santino! <3

Summer Activities For Kids

While summer is something all kids look forward to, it's also the time most parents with toddler aged kids and up dread because it means having to fill up days with activities that will keep kids busy and active as opposed to have them just sit around and watch TV or iPad the whole day.

There are so many activities you can get your child in to.. sports, art, music, etc. As a first time summer activity parent, things can get overwhelming and super exciting at the same time. I remember  the first year my son was "eligible" to attend summer sports, I signed him up right away for a sport that turned out to be something he was not interested in. I guess you could say I was one of those "photo mommies" that just wanted that 1 great pic to upload on Instagram and FB. haha! But now I know much better. This time around, my kids are , 4 and 1 respectively and I more or less have an idea already of what they want and what is worth spending on (these activities are not cheap!).

Depending on what your kids interest is, you will be able to find something for him/her. In my case, I'd like to share the activities that either my kids are in or that I think are worth trying out this summer.


SPORTS
A good sport to try for beginners are Basketball, Soccer/ Football and Taekwondo. Futbol Fanatics for Football or in your kids school, they usually offer summer classes. For Basketball, there are a number of summer clinics you can enrol into or go for the bigger ones like Milo best. Schools also offer summer classes for all kids of sports. For Taekwondo, there's AAK in Megamall and I heard Monsour del Rosario also has a Taekwondo school.

Personally,  my 6yr old son too shy to be part of a big group. So we did not enrol him in any summer class, but what my husband does is that he brings our son with him during his weekly basketball games with friends and allots some one-on-one time where he teaches our son the basics. This way, Santino develops confidence and there's no pressure. :)

Not to mention it's a really good bonding experience for my boys. :) Excited to wear their basketball outfits. haha!

BALLET / DANCE
Now for all the little girls out there, it's definitely either ballet or gymnastics! Although there are older ones that also like other alternative dance classes or hip hop. And for those in the middle school age, you can usually try piano or voice lessons too. There are numerous places that offer these activities.

For my daughter, since she had gone to baby ballet the previous year and she still expressed interest in doing ballet again, I felt like it was time for her to attend a real "ballet school" which had more structured lessons and would also have a culminating activity such as a recital at the end. After searching, I chanced upon the Ballet Philippines newly opened school in the Fort, SM Aura.

There are a total of 15 of them in their class. A bit big, but still manageable. I've sat through 2 classes so far and Belly has been very dedicated and follows instructions to a T. haha. Although if there was something I would want, it would be that the teacher have an assistant ballet teacher to manage the class better. Let's see how the next few sessions progress. This is also more structured in a way that it's a regular MWF class so it feels much more "serious" and official... plus I love her cute little pink ballet tutu! <3


ART / WORKSHOP
If kids are not that into sports or dance, there is also art! This is pretty universal since for kids, you don't need to be an expert or know how to draw so well. It's just another great way to express their creativity! Last year, I had an art teacher come over. I gathered friends who wanted their kids to join some sessions and we put up "a class". This is another alternative to sending kids to art class where there are so many kids vying for the teacher's attention.

For my son, I noticed that he always likes to make and build things. So imagine my joy when I chanced upon this workshop beside the Gymboree place my youngest would go to. The place is called BEME and it's basically a workshop where can kids can pick which "projects" they want to do.  Then each session is them completing the project. No time limit and no minimum number of kids/students necessary. at your own pace.

Here Santino picked a plane. He was given the different parts. He used glue and a hammer (under supervision) to put it together. Then he got to paint it in any color he wanted. Pretty cool, right?


SWIMMING
An all time favourite! Perfect for kids of all ages and such a good skill they should learn! So many places to enrol for this. Basically may be any venue with a pool will most probably be offering lessons! For me, I contacted a swim coach and ask her to come once a week to our village pool where she does 1-on-1 sessions with my kids. It's logistically easier and more focused for my kids.

There is really so many things that kids can do. At one point I was even considering enrolling my kids to be part of a fast food kiddie crew. but my son backed out. haha. It all just depends on what your child wants to do or is interested in. There's also no need to rush them into an activity if they're not really into it because it will just end up being a waste of money!

Reflections on All Souls Day: Reasons why we hang out in cemeteries

I've always been aware of the Filipino tradition of loved ones spending the night and into the wee hours of the morning hanging around in the cemetery during the eve of November 1, but have never really experienced it or fully understood why. For the past years, as long as I can remember, my side of the family (before I got married) had always had the tradition of celebrating mass together and then blessing crypts of those who have passed. Even when my son Giovanni passed 2 years ago, he was cremated after the funeral and we would always just do a quick visit to the crypt and say a short prayer since crypts are not really conducive for "hanging out."

But since my mother-in-law, mom Marilyn passed last month, the family had honored her request to be buried in the cemetery and not cremated. This November 1 was the first time for me and my kids (my husband and his family would always have this tradition before we got married) to actually spend hours literally hanging out by my mother-in-law's grave.

Let me talk about my experience. Upon arrival at Manila Memorial, I was still in awe at how many people were there, setting up camp (literally with tents) by their loved ones graves. Some bigger families with their own mausoleums would even go to the extent to have catered food and big portable fans to keep family fed and cool. Others had their own portable devices-- I even saw one spot with a TV!, while others (like us), lit candles and had a flashlights. For some that didn't have the time to bring their own food, there was a vast array of food stalls lining the streets, including well known food establishments selling food 'til the wee hours.

This is me and my husband, Santi with our eldest, Santino.
We walked a few minutes to the nearest pizza station where we had the option to "dine in or take out"

I swear if I wasn't aware of the graves, I'd think I was in some kind of outdoor festival. There were even vendors selling toys and things that lit up… which of course were jacked up prices since I ended up buying my son a battery operated fan (hardly any air coming out) that lit up for P90!

My family and I were there (with the rest of my in-laws) from 7pm-12mn, while some other relatives were even there much earlier. We put out a mat, umbrella and foldable chairs and just hung-out. I always wondered why. What was the reason for people to brave the traffic and the heat and the bugs and the hassle and just hang out.

I googled possible answers but words like tradition, honoring and culture popped up. The best way I could understand this was finally being able to experience it first hand. It all just boils down to being with family. Even though you are there to "celebrate" someone who has passed and someone who you can no longer be with, it's keeping their memory alive through sharing the stories and just really bonding with the people who are still in your life right now. If there's one thing that death has taught me, is that it brings family closer. In the end, when money, career and popularity fade, all you have is family. As the saying goes, friends fade, but family is forever.

Thank you Giovanni, and thank you Mom Marilyn for loving me and my little family unconditionally, and for teaching me what it is to be more loving, kind and generous to the family that we still have here left on earth. Until we see each other again.

Raising a safety-savvy family

I regularly contribute to SP online and one of the most recent articles they asked me to write was about safety. In this day and age, it has become so alarming for parents with all the news about kidnappings, modus and all the bad things that SHOULD NEVER happen to our families, especially our children. Making this article was also a refresher course, like a checklist for me to make sure that my family is safety-savvy. Read on and let me know out of all the tips, which one is your family practicing?

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It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Here are some helpful tips on how to be safety-savvy. (Published on Smart Parenting online)

IF you turn on the television, listen to the radio or browse the Internet and social media sites, you would definitely notice the alarming increase in kidnapping and untoward incidents involving children. As a parent, you not only feel for the children and parents involved, but also pray that such an instance may never happen to you and your own child/children.

Prevalence of unscrupulous characters should not, by any means, hinder children from enjoying life to the fullest. Instead, parents, guardians, family members and our trusted kasambahays must equip themselves with the knowledge and know-how in keeping our children safe.

Please read on for some very helpful safety tips that all members of your household should be educated with.

1.    Trust only the people you know well.

It’s important to teach your kids to know who to trust. Constantly remind your kids that even though other people may seem friendly and nice, this does not mean that they should, by any means, go with them. Encourage your kids to let you know right away if someone is trying to talk to them or is staring at them.

2.    Keep a list of emergency numbers in your home.

Often times when both parents are working parents, children are left home with our trusted kasambahays. We must then equip them with the knowledge and quick thinking when it comes to emergencies. Having a list of important numbers they can call is essential. *Note: Talk to your help also about the popular dugo-dugo gang modus. Stress that in times of emergency; they should call you or a close family member to verify.

3.    Be involved in all your kids’ activities.

Get to know the other children your son or daughter spends time or plays with. Attend school activities, events and extra curricular activities your child is involved in. Be a hands-on parent as much as possible.

4.    Have a listening ear.

Ask your child how his/her day went. Pay attention to the stories they mention or talk about. For younger kids, this is the best way to learn about what happens when mom or dad is not around, be it in the classroom or in other school and extra-curricular activities. If your child starts making kwento something that is disturbing to you, set an appointment with the teacher to discuss.

5.    Keep mum.

Some things are just best left private. This most especially goes for our yayas. Oftentimes they take the kids out for a walk or to play in the park or a common area where other yayas and kids also frequent. Remind your househelp not to divulge any detailed information like a child’s school, schedule/routine, places that the family frequents, recent material purchases or talk about upcoming days that no one will be home and the like. This is to avoid any possible “temptations” to others who may be listening.

6.    Always hang around well-lit areas or populated areas when waiting.

Often times it can’t be avoided that there is idle time waiting. Always pick a place where you and your kid won’t be alone or in a badly lit area at night. Instead of hanging around a deserted street corner, opt to wait at a nearby 7-11, coffee shop or even gas station.

7.    Limit what you share on social media.

Click, Upload…. Wait! Take a moment to think before you click that share button for the whole World Wide Web to see. How much information do you need to divulge? I know you’re proud of your son’s achievements in school, but maybe you can opt to not include a picture of his section or ID number in the photo. You can also check your privacy settings. Most social networking sites provide this feature. This way, you can share away to family and trusted friends.

8.    Never ever leave kids unattended.

Everything can happen in a blink of an eye. Parents and guardians need to be alert and aware at all times, especially if you are in crowded areas. It has become very alarmingly rampant for abductions to happen in malls. Always have an eye on your children. Nothing is ever more important than your child’s safety.

9.    Be accessible incase of emergencies.

If you can, provide your kid’s yaya with a mobile phone for easy contact for you both, anywhere and anytime.

10. Teach kids how to say their name, age, phone number and address.

At an early age, you can already train your kids to know important information about them. This comes in handy when they’re lost or need help.

11. Talk to your child about the dangers of abduction… in a non threatening way.

Never hide the truth. Parents should always be open to their children especially when talking about the dangers “out there.” What’s important is that it is explained in a non-threatening way. Do not, by any means, instill fear in your child. Empowerment and knowledge is key.

12. Always double check locked windows and doors.

Be it at home or in the car, always make sure all doors and windows are locked. Don’t make it easy for intruders to get in your home or car.

13. Remind your kasambahays not to entertain anyone they don’t know unless you left word about it.

There is no excuse for ignorance. Even if it takes constant reminders, always tell your kasambahays or whoever is left at home with the kids, to never entertain people that are not expected.

14. Invest in CCTV.

The best “eyes” you can have when away while being so convenient since you can check on it from any mobile device.

15. Be social media savvy. It’s good to be on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Be up to date on important service announcements or issues that may be of good use to you and your family. Learn from the experience of others. Stay safe and informed.

16. Don’t hang out in deserted areas after hours.

You are not a leading character in a horror movie. Stay out of deserted areas.

17.  Never go near someone in a car asking for directions.

Stay a safe distance away from anyone asking directions from inside a car, especially if it’s a heavily tinted one. Raise your voice to be heard, or if you feel uncomfortable, don’t say anything at all. You are not obliged to give directions.

18. (In another perspective) When asking for directions, no need to open your window all the way down.

The inside of your vehicle is your safe zone. Don’t let anyone cross into that zone.

19. Carry handheld or pocket-sized pepper spray.

Your family’s best defense is a quick and reliable one. You can purchase a pocket pepper spray at any local hardware store (try Ace or True Value).

20. Pray and always ask for the Lord’s guidance and protection.

There’s nothing stronger than divine protection.

A Beautiful Tribute

A few days ago I watched the movie Tangled (yes, yes, I know, I am so behind in watching movies!), and I was so overwhelmingly touched with the part wherein the King and Queen would light a floating candle every year on the evening of their daughter's birthday. The daughter, who in the story is Rapunzel, was kidnapped by a witch (of course.. as the story goes) and the parents never gave up hope that someday their daughter would find her way home. Touching diba? I cried my eyes out!

Then it hit me, what a wonderful way to honor someone's memory! And I thought of my Giovanni. I have been thinking of how best to "celebrate" his birthday once it comes next year (and his rebirth into heaven as well, since it's only a few days apart), and this is a wonderful way! We can even hang pictures or short letters to the lanterns as they "float" up to heaven. :)

I love and miss you so so so much my baby!!!! Just looking at your pictures makes me cry so much. It hurts me so much you are not with me now. Until we see each other again. Love, Mama.

PS- if it proves difficult to make these lanterns, colorful balloons are also another wonderful idea. Just like how we released balloons during his funeral.

Of signs and wonders.

I've always been the type of person who believed in signs (not the hocus pocus kinds), miracles and that everything happens for a reason. I believe that if we put God at the center of our lives, and if we allow Him to take control, He will. God has a plan for each and every one of us and for each and every life as long as we surrender to Him. I have been clinging on to this belief more so even now ever since my Giovanni had passed. After all, what better image to have than to have that of Giovanni so happy and at peace in heaven with Jesus. This thought comforts me. There is nothing better than knowing I've got the best "baby-sitter"... Jesus.

But of course, being humans and here on earth, there are times when the pain comes and I do believe that it will never go away. There will always be an ache in my heart that will only be complete when my time comes and I see my Giovanni again. These past few weeks since he has passed, there are some good days and some days that I just cry. It's a good outlet as long as I am able to pull myself together and "move on" afterwards. I do not see anything wrong with crying and missing my baby so much.

Last Sunday was a trying day for me. Everything just seemed "wrong". I felt down and out and just all around depressed. I missed my Giovanni but I also know that he would not have wanted me (and our family) to be this way... as I was heading to the priest for communion I decided to just surrender everything to God. I told him, "Lord, ikaw na bahala... only you can take away this pain and grief, only you can fully console us."

I prayed to My Giovanni. I prayed for a sign to reassure me that he is okay, happy w Jesus... So that we can be happy too even if we miss him so very much.

Yesterday I took the kids for trick or treat in makati and afterwards I went to visit Giovanni's crypt and there I got my answer. There was the sign. Right in his vase. Yellow flowers.

I love you Giovanni. Always and forever. 

New Beginnings.

It's been 18 days since my sweet baby boy passed. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't remember details of what happened in the hospital or different fond memories with him. And when I do, I get this anxious feeling inside my stomach, as if I'm riding a roller coaster and my insides are turned to mush. A tugging feeling pulls at my heart and there is nothing I can do about it.

Since Giovanni passed, I would pray to him and even at times make tampo since he did not visit me in my dreams or make paramdam. But then on Sept. 14 on the feast of our Lady of sorrows, I had a dream about him. I was carrying him in my arms and he was smiling up at me. It felt so real. After that, I have not dreamed about him again. I think it was Mama Mary who told him to visit me. It was an assurance that Giovanni was now with her and Jesus and that he was indeed in the best place that he could be in. Giovanni got the better end of the deal in this life since he is now where all of us pray and hope to be. This is my only consolation... that God, Jesus and Mary (along with all our relatives who have gone ahead of us) have got their hands full with this beautiful, loving, sweet, kind and affectionate baby boy that was once mine. Dear Giovanni, my baby Saint Giovanni, always pray and watch over us, especially your Kuya and Ate. We love you so much my dearest.

Faith amidst darkness.

Santi and I have been reading the book about the private writings of Mother Teresa. I've only read a few pages (just started) and am amazed to find out that for the most part of her ministry she was in total darkness. Not physical darkness, but spiritually.  Mother Teresa would often be in anguish that she could not "hear" the Lord speak to her. It was a true test of faith. She did not disappoint. She was truly a living saint.

Sometimes I find myself questioning God.. why? I think this is normal. I do not know the answer, and I do not know when I will find or if I will find out the answer. All I can do is keep my faith and draw strength from people like Mother Teresa who have shown unimaginable courage and strength. I pray everyday that I (and my family and all those deeply affected by our loss) be given this great grace. I am not saying I have it now, but everyday is a chance to work towards it.

New beginnings.

It was becoming increasingly difficult to continue to stay in the home where we had countless memories with our little one. Every little place I remember, and it's not that I am trying to forget, but I just want moving on to be a bit easier. The memories will forever be in my heart and mind. But to be able to somewhat go in the right direction to move on, I believe that moving to a new place is healthier for the whole family. We have been in our new place for 3 days now and it was the right decision to make. Giovanni is still here with us, in our hearts, and we are also able to create a new beginning for our family.

Who knows what the future will be like? Does anyone? All I know is it will be a bright one since Giovanni will be watching over us and guiding us until we see each other again.

The search for the right Pre-school.

Every time summer starts to come to an end and June is just around the corner, I, along with other "last-minute" moms are frantically in search for the right pre-school for our kids. We recently moved to the Pasig area (from Antipolo) and being new to the area, I was anxious to find a pre-school for my very curious, hyper-active and eager to learn 3.9 (in June :)) year old boy. As of today, I have enrolled my son in a pre-school already. I am happy with my choice.. for now.. but just like any mom, I am hoping that the teachers will be able to address the needs and bring out the best in my son.

Just as I know there may still be a few moms out there looking for a school, it's never too late to post the different schools I personally went to and inquired at. I would also like to make a short definition between Traditional and Progressive schools, as this is always the area which parents decide among when it comes to picking the right school for their children. Knowing the different teaching and classroom styles are important in making a choice between schools.

Traditional	Progressive
School is a preparation for life.	School is a part of life.
Learners are passive absorbers of information and authority.	Learners are active participants, problem solvers, and planners.
Teachers are sources of information and authority.	Teachers are facilitators, guides who foster thinking.
Parents are outsiders and uninvolved.	Parents are the primary teachers, goal setters, and planners, and serve as resources.
Community is separate from school, except for funding.	Community is an extension of the classroom.
Decision-making is centrally based and administratively delivered.	Decision-making is shared by all constituent groups.
Program is determined by external criteria, particularly test results.	Program is determined by mission, philosophy, and goals for graduates.
Learning is linear, with factual accumulation and skill mastery.	Learning is spiral, with depth and breadth as goals.
Knowledge is absorbed through lectures, worksheets, and texts.	Knowledge is constructed through play, direct experience, and social interaction.
Instruction is linear and largely based on correct answers.	Instruction is related to central questions and inquiry, often generated by the children.
Disciplines, particularly language and math, are separated.	Disciplines are integrated as children make connections.
Skills are taught discretely and are viewed as goals.	Skills are related to content and are viewed as tools.
Assessment is norm-referenced, external, and graded.	Assessment is benchmarked, has many forms, and is progress-oriented.
Success is competitively based, derived from recall and memory, and specific to a time/place.	Success is determined through application over time, through collaboration.
Products are the end point.	Products are subsumed by process considerations.
Intelligence is a measure of linguistic and logical/mathematical abilities.	Intelligence is recognized as varied, includes the arts, and is measured in real-life problem-solving.
School is a task to be endured.	School is a challenging and fun part of life.

Source: http://www.wingraschool.org/who/progressive.htm

Ok, with that in mind, I was in the search for a progressive school since I knew that my boy needed this type of education in order to really bring out his talents and basically bring him out of his shell since he does have moments when he is very shy and introverted. Some of the schools I was able to visit in the Pasig Area:

Aheadstart Developmental Center

www.aheadstartpreschool.com

Britesparks International School

www.britesparksschool.com

LEAP School

www.leapschoolforyoungchildren.com

Kids Academy

www.kidsacademy.com.ph

Creative Beginners

www.creativebeginners.com

There are also an increasing number of parents out there who have turned to homeschooling, bit just because of how expensive education has become, and if I only had the drive and discipline to do this (am not one to pretend I can do this), I would definitely pursue it.

I found my school for my son, I hope you also find yours! Good luck! :)