The Year That Was

It's the last day of the year 2009 and I have a lot of catching up to do. Time really flies so fast and tomorrow is already another year.

Looking back, 2009 was a good year for me and my family. I continued to enjoy many writing jobs and I finally started work as a virtual assistant or VA. I've always been curious about the job of a VA and now that I'm one, I enjoy the variety in the work that I do. Also, it's nice to be able to help someone accomplish her tasks while at the same time fulfilling my own goals.

Healthwise, I'm thankful that not one in my family got sick. My mother has fully recovered from her illness and our kids are eating well. I gained a little weight myself which is another plus. My only wish is all of us continue to enjoy good health in the coming year.

The year 2009 also fulfilled my husband's wish of working on a cruise ship for the first time as a cook. He got on board M/S Salamis Glory for seven months and although his job was quite grueling having to cook for hundreds of people including crew and passengers, that gave him a lot of training and experience. The biggest fulfillment for him was having to visit several countries including the birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem in Israel during their cruises.

And not to forget, my dear sister Tina finally tied the knot with Boboy on September 12. It was a much awaited marriage and we're all happy for them that they found each other.

Looking forward, we pray for more blessings in the coming new year. The best way to start it is with a positive attitude coupled with hard work and for sure, everything will fall into place. So I wish everyone a fruitful 2010. Cheers!!

Writing for the Internet

Writing for the internet is fun whether it's just a hobby or you're earning from pursuing such passion. Fun and very informative it is. Not to mention very convenient as well especially if you are able to find regular writing work that makes you stay at home.

This is what I do now and I can't be happier. As a former journalist, choosing to be a home-based web writer is what you will call an early retirement job.

What I love about writing for the web is its being more personalized. I've been exposed to different types of work in the broadcast industry in the past spanning more than five years. From there, I then moved on to the print media for several years. As a big part of my job then focused on writing, I was able to hone my skills in both formal and informal writing.

In writing straight news, you need to be formal in your style to be credible to people. If it's a feature story whether for broadcast or print, the style can be less formal but engaging. On the internet today, though, the conversational writing style is the trend. The news, of course, has to be straightforward still but when it comes to blogs and websites as well as articles, the more casual and interesting the style the better is the chance of your content to be read by more web users.

By casual, it means writing in such a way as if you're just talking to a friend. The simpler the English language you use, the better you will be understood. Just make sure that you avoid typo and grammatical errors so people will get the message you want to convey in just one read.

If your passion is writing, why not start doing it on the internet. There are even lots of jobs that you can apply to if you really want to earn serious money. And I'm not kidding :)

After the Storm

Several super typhoons have hit the Philippines in recent years causing so much devastation in properties and agricultural land. The latest Typhoon Ondoy that hit Metro Manila and nearby provinces caused the same flashfloods that hit Panay in Western Visayas in 2008 due to Typhoon Frank. People were caught offguard due to the rapid rise of floodwaters that resulted from overflowing rivers.

My heart went out to the victims and at the time I was monitoring the news as it happened on TV, I also got worried about friends and relatives in the affected areas in Luzon. I have my own experience with floods when I was younger and I must admit it can really bring trauma to affected people especially those who have lost family members and relatives as well as their homes.

Natural calamities like these make many of us sad but life has to go on. Filipinos are a unique lot and they know how to stand up after a fall. I salute those who helped other people during the flashfloods whether they know each other or not, to those who gave their time to help pack relief goods, to private companies that donated hundreds of thousands or even millions of pesos worth of their products and to private citizens who donated cash and used clothings for the victims. This bayanihan spirit of cooperation is so alive in most Filipinos during tragic situations and this is what makes me proud to be a Filipino.

I'm a Proud Mom

I feel so proud today for the recent achievements of my two kids. First, my eldest James or JP as what we call him at home who is now in Grade 6 was a Champion in their school's Spelling Bee as part of their Communications Month culmination program last September. He bested the topnotcher of their class but my son was so humble about everything. He didn't even brag about it at home. I only discovered it when I saw a pin bearing "Certified Speller" on his backpack and a certificate inside his notebook later when I checked his belongings. James has been a good speller and he also got a citation from their Language teacher last year.

My younger child, Charlotte, on the other hand is the top 3 in her Kinder-I class. She shows much interest in her studies and according to her teacher, she works independently in class. She also learns fast and does not hesitate to recite when she feels like it.

My two kids are exact opposites just like me and my husband. James is the silent type while my little girl is a vocal type of individual. But despite their differences, they both do well in school and I feel so blessed that they are.

These are the rewards a mother can be proud of. These achievements of James and Charlotte are what inspire me to do my best as a mother. It does not matter whether I raise our children singlehandedly while my husband works overseas because what counts most is a mother's constant support and love to her children. The hardships and pains that we go through are not that important because they are part of our journey through life. As long we continuously gain the strength and we keep the faith in God, there will always be blessings coming our way.

My Sister's Wedding

I went home to my place in Iloilo City last September 12 to 14 to attend my younger sister's wedding. I had to be there as I was the matron of honor and I didn't want to miss a very important occasion for our family. I brought along my two kids who were just as excited as I am to see their Tita and Lola Beck once again. A big part of my baggage were the giveaways which I was assigned to buy in Davao City. Unfortunately, my husband could not make it as he is working overseas.

The wedding was a much-awaited one as my sister, Tina, is already in her late 30's. It was really meant to be. Tina and her husband, Boboy, are both mature people who have found love, I must say, at just about the right time. Both have enjoyed their singlehood to the fullest and are now prepared to settle down as a couple.

My Nanay had been praying for a partner for Tina. I guess all mothers want their children to settle down and have kids of their own. And God has blessed my sister because of all the good deeds she has done all these years. She has been well rewarded both in her professional career as a banker and now, in her personal life. And we are all so happy that she has found a man to call her own.

The ceremony was on a Saturday afternoon and we flew from Davao early that morning. It felt great to be home again after more than a year. I think I haven't mentioned before that I'm a true blue Ilongga who grew up in the City of Iloilo so I always look forward to every chance that I can go home and visit my mother, relatives and friends.

Weddings are always an opportunity to get together with family and friends. And what made the event special was three close relatives -- one from Manila and two from the U.S. came just to be with us. Our second cousin Fr. Nestie Gungon (from Manila) officiated the wedding ceremony while Tita Tess and Kuya Romy (from California) were the primary sponsors.

Our three days flew so fast but it was worth the trip. What matters is my kids and I were able to share my sister's very special moment. Congratulations and best wishes again, Tina and Boboy and may God bless you with a happy life and kids of your own.

Encourage Musically-inclined Children

Music will always be part of life. Without it, life just isn't complete. As babies, we've been exposed to music when our mothers would sing to us lullabies or play music to put us to sleep. However, not every child develops an ear for music when they grow old.

As a mother, one would know whether her child is musically-inclined. A child normally shows signs that he or she is really into music. You would know by the way she hums or sings some lines of songs she's heard of or would nod her head when she hears music.

One sign that showed me my four-year-old daughter, Charlotte, appreciates music because of the serious attention she gives me whenever I sing some lines from my favorite songs in front of her. She would observe closely my mouth and then would imitate how I sing afterwards. In fact, she can memorize the lively tunes she hears from TV commercials as well as the theme songs of the teleseryes on primetime TV.

I'm amazed that my child appreciates not just slow music but even the upbeat tunes. The truth is, she's good at dancing, too. Sometimes I would catch her pretending to sing and dance while playing alone and I would just silently admire her because once she catches me looking at her, she'd stop.

As parents, we need to encourage our children to develop their musical talents. It's God-given and they should learn to develop it when they can. Parental support plays a vital role here. I love singing and dancing, too, and when I have the time to do that, I encourage my daughter to do it with me. In this way, you're not only bonding with your child but teaching her to continue her love for music.

Juggling Parental Responsibilities

Being a wife of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) is no big joke. As the hubby is working in another country, this means I'm left on my own to raise the children, keep the house and earn a living at the same time. Tough job it sure is but when you have adjusted to life like this, you'll learn to manage everything with ease. Attitude counts a lot.

It's a good thing that I have a home-based job (actually two jobs) which allows me to attend to the children's needs and keep the house neat and clean without the time constraints. I also credit my parents for raising me to be a responsible and independent person because if not, I would have depended on them all the time especially as I live far away from them. I thank my young and trusted helper or I'd rather call her my personal assistant for assisting me in watching over the kids and helping in the household chores.

Literally, I'm a single parent in this situation. But I can't complain because I know that God has reasons for everything. I'm grateful for what I have right now, for making me a mother and wife, for giving me a good job and a good assistant in the house. Sometimes, my patience may be short when it comes to instilling discipline among my two kids but always, I try to remind myself to keep my cool. And above all, I never lose my faith in God because it is with His grace that I am able to fulfill my parental responsibilities every day to the best that I can even in the absence of my partner.

The Amazing PSP

I am really amazed at this PSP or the Play Station Portable that has swept the world. Kids and adults alike have been magnetized by this handy electronic gadget from Sony. My 11-year-old son JP was gifted by his Dad with one in 2008 and since then has been so engrossed with it.

I didn't realize the gadget can be so addictive especially to the children who love to play their computer games with it until I saw my son using it with gusto. He would start playing upon waking up in the morning and if only he had his way, he could go on using the PSP until the end of the day. Children, especially the males, can go on playing for hours without getting bored. My son and his friends in the neighborhood would hop from our house to his friend's house just to play their PSP games. What's funny is that when they do their house hopping, they would bring along their chargers to let them continue playing after their batteries have run out of power. Sometimes, their moms would personally fetch them from our house after long hours of absence in their own homes. I would do the same when JP doesn't come back on time.

The PSP can actually do other things apart from playing games stored in the Memory Stick or content in a disc (UMD). Being wifi ready, it is capable of connecting to the internet. It can also copy images, music and videos from the computer and can be connected to the TV to view videos stored in the Memory Stick Duo.

I like the PSP better than the GameBoy because it has a wider screen and therefore friendly to the eyes. An advantage is its storage capacity which means, it can save several games in the Memory Stick plus you can purchase discs containing games and still use it in the PSP. Whereas with the GameBoy, you only have one choice and that is to buy separate cartridges to play games. Since one cartridge only has one game, it can be quite costly to buy several pieces.

With its current popularity among the young and old alike, it looks like this amazing PSP is here to stay. Let's wait and see then whether Sony will come up with an upgrade in the near future.

Earning a Living Online

People are so lucky today they have the internet that can help them do a lot of things in the convenience of their homes. Thanks to this highly advanced information technology, wives, mothers and even the men can choose to stay at home and earn a living at the same time. They have so many choices from starting an online business and engaging in internet marketing to blogging, article writing and working for a company on a home-based setup.

The great thing about working online is that a person can have not just one but several jobs or businesses. You can start out by assessing what field you'd like to get into. If you're good at writing, then you can go for blogging and writing articles on a freelance or fixed employment basis. If you're business minded, you can apply for affiliate programs and start your own online store or get into network marketing. If you want a full-time job with a stable company, you can also apply for a home-based position.

With numerous tools available today without any cost, earning a living online is not that difficult. As long as you have focus and you're committed to doing your best in every endeavor that you get into, success is not far behind.

I'm glad to be one of these lucky people now earning my keep on the internet. It's the best setup for me and one which I'd like to maintain in the long run. There are endless possibilities to earning money online these days, one just needs to be resourceful enough.

Life Begins Today

I'm celebrating a new year in my life today and this is where life begins for me. If you still don't get the hint, yes, I'm now 40 and I thank the Lord for giving me such a wonderful life. I'm grateful for all the blessings, big and small, that I have received through the years. I consider myself lucky for having been born into a complete family with very supportive parents and siblings. Now that I'm a wife and mother, I'm thankful for having a great husband and children with whom I can share my life and for having a home-based job that I love. I can never be happier.

I've long been curious about the saying "Life begins at 40." All I knew then was that people who reach this age throw a big party to celebrate their birthday. But now that I'm a member of the club, I have a better understanding of what it means. Based on my research on the internet, the "Life begins at 40" saying refers to middle age considered to be a new stage of life. This is in reference to American writer W.B. Pitking who wrote a book with the same title.

Birthdays are a celebration of life and I guess when you turn 40, it's when you are able to look at life in a more positive light. It's when you are able to do things that will make you happy. It's when you've hurdled the most challenging years of marriage and starting a family. It's when you're more relaxed in life and enjoy watching your growing children.

There's this one study done in 2008 at the Queen's University of Belfast showing that growing old is actually a happier experience. Just as young people are enjoying their youth, so do the old folks. The difference is in the attitude towards health wherein the younger ones can be carefree about drinking and smoking and all those vices while the old folks have already changed their lifestyle for good.

So there's really nothing wrong with growing old and it's not a gloomy life as what some youngsters believe. Age does not matter as long as you enjoy every moment and do your best to live the life you want for you and your family. Cheers to many more years ahead!!

Tribute to Tita Cory

Most Filipinos wherever they are in the world are saddened by the passing away of former president Corazon Aquino yesterday. But somehow despite the grief we feel, most of us are also glad that her suffering has ended and she is finally reunited with her husband Ninoy Aquino. It's one of her wishes during her last days as shared by her spokesperson Deedee Siytangco.

Tita Cory, as she is known to us Filipinos, was a role model and inspiration not only as a president but also as a mother. She was the first woman to become president of a country and one who always wanted to unite the Filipino people. She was not only a mother to her children but to all Filipinos who believed in her. As a mother, she was strong in her faith to God and was very loving to her family. She raised her children well with the right values since the time Ninoy was in jail until he was killed. Also, we have been witness to how she was a doting grandma to her grandchildren.

I know how it feels to lose an important figure in life having lost a dear father myself almost four years ago. But I'm sure Tita Cory prepared her children and other family members by stressing the importance of praying together and I know they will be able to move on with their lives with the memory of their beloved mother always alive in their hearts.

Thank you, Tita Cory for sharing your life to the Filipinos. We will miss you.

My Dream Job

It's been my dream to be able to work at home. This way, I can look after my kids and earn a living at the same time. This dream job finally came true almost three years ago. And now, I'm happy to just be working in front of my computer every day at home and earn my desired income. Not that I earn that much but when compared to working in an office and all the commuting that I need to do, I no longer want trade my current work setup.

My very first job was in the broadcast media industry. As I was starting out back in the early 1990s, I held varied positions from being a radio anchor for an AM station, a disc jockey for the FM station to a newswriter, radio newscaster and TV news reporter. It was a rewarding experience for me being able to apply all that I've learned in school and meeting different types of people from the celebrities and high ranking government officials to the ordinary citizens. Another benefit was being able to go to places I've never been before.

But being a journalist is no easy job. There are deadlines to beat and official holidays mean work as usual except only on Holy Thursday and Good Friday during the Lenten season. In other words, there were trade offs but then again, it didn't matter at that time. I was committed to doing good in my job and it all paid off.

As times goes by, though, we need to make changes in our lives. And for me, the major changes came after I got married. I had to move to another city and establish myself. Fortunately, I was able to land in another rewarding job still in the media but this time, the print media sector. With hard work, I was able to establish myself well which again contributed to my personal fulfillment.

My present home-based job is still connected to the media but now it's more high tech as my work is done through the internet. I'm still involved in information dissemination and writing and since this is my passion, I think I will do this for as long as I can.

It feels great to achieve the dream job that you want. You could call mine an early retirement option but I'm happy with what I'm doing and I won't trade it for anything.

How I Got Into Scrapbook Making

I've always loved arts and crafts since I was a small kid. I've carried on this passion even until now which is why I've decided recently to become a member of some a local site catering to the art of scrapbook making called Scrappin' Moms.

Everything started when I was about 8 or 9 years old. I used to collect small stationeries and I would draw some of my favorite Sanrio characters on it and then give it to my close friends in school. Sanrio was at the height of its popularity back then in the late 1970s until the 1980s. My favorite characters were the Little Twin Stars and Hello Kitty. Fact is, I collected several small Sanrio items at that time some of which I was able to pass on to my little girl, Charlotte.

My love for scrapbooking came a little later during my high school and college days. It all began with my collection of magazine cutouts of my favorite male celebrity Aga Muhlach. I was following Aga since his Bagets days and started collecting magazines which featured him. I would then paste his photos and writeups on a scrapbook. And would you believe I was able to have it signed personally by Aga Muhlach when he came to our place. Modesty aside, the actor was so impressed to see that scrapbook from his Ilongga fan.

Back in 2003, I got into the more modern art of scrapbook making which involves creating a beautiful layout of pictures and other art materials on a page. I made one for my son, JP, using just the inexpensive materials. I've long been searching for a group engaged in this hobby and it was only now that I found one.

Scrappin' Moms are all mothers and professionals passionate about scrapbooking. They make fantastic scrapbook pages using the wide range of materials available in stores today. I'm glad to be a member of this group and I hope to learn and share wonderful ideas with these amazing moms.

Happy Birthday, Tatay!

It's my father's birthday today. Unfortunately, he's no longer here because he passed away almost four years ago in December 2005. But we always remember his special day. He would have been 70 today.

My Tatay, the late Buenaventura C. Salazar, is a very special man in my life. He was a disciplinarian, a man of few words and a thinker. He was not the expressive type but I know he was proud of what his four children have become despite of our flaws. Tatay was a very practical man and a loyal employee. I admired him for rising from the ranks through his sheer dedication and hard work.

I share with you here the eulogy I made for him.

TATAY– Our Superman

He may not have the body and physical strength of Superman but our dear Tatay was a man of steel – strong in mind and spirit.

As a father, he was always our “pillar of strength” reminding us all the time to be strong in facing life’s trials and never failing to give us practical advices when we need them. He was a strict disciplinarian during our growing up years but we thank him for being so for it taught us to be independent and responsible. Weekends and special occasions were always spent with the whole family either at the beach or dining out in a restaurant.

As a husband, he was ever loyal to Nanay. He took pride in his wife bringing her with him to any place he was assigned to. As a couple, they were a sight to behold.

As a grandfather, he was the doting “Lolo Ben” who would shower the kids with his overflowing love, attention and generosity. Even the children in our neighborhood, who serenaded him with his requested Christmas songs on his last night, love him dearly.

As Belly, the brother, he was very supportive – never failing to help a sibling in need and never complaining when asked to do a favor.

As a boss and friend, he was very humble, always smiling and easy to get along with.

He was a big basketball fan with a passion for the sport that was contagious.

From his humble beginnings in Lubao, Pampanga, Ben was a self-made man who worked his way up through his own dedication and perseverance. He was a man of few words yet an intellectual with unbending loyalty to his family and job -- having served the First Malayan Group for 40 straight years.

His dream of building a home for his family he did achieve with no frills calling it “the fruit of my labor.” And until his last day here on earth, he beautified our home most especially for Nanay and a dear sister just like how our Lord prepared a home for us in heaven. Hence, despite this grief we feel, we are comforted by the fact that Tatay died a happy and fulfilled man. And surely, when he met our Creator, he was told “you did a great job Ben, welcome home!”

To our beloved TATAY, thank you for everything. We love you so much and we will terribly miss you.

Mother and Child Ties

If there's one thing that I admire in Michael Jackson other than his music and remarkable achievements in his career, it's his close ties with his mother, Katherine. It's heart-warming to know that amid all the fame as well as the rough roads that he had to go through, his mom was his staunch supporter. No wonder why Michael entrusted his three children to his mother.

I have always admired people who are close to their mothers. I know how it feels to have a wonderful and supportive mom and I consider myself a very lucky daughter. I enjoy a great relationship with my mother whom I fondly call "Nanay." She's been there to support me and my siblings in everything we do even until now. Nanay was just a call away and I appreciated it so much that she was able to be with me when I gave birth to my two children with a seven-year gap. She and my Tatay were successful in raising all four of us to become the responsible and independent individuals that we are now.

Nanay is a young looking person especially when in her tip top shape. In fact, as me and my sister were growing up, the three of us were even mistaken as sisters. I took after my Nanay in many aspects including my looks, my being a hands-on mother and my dedication to keep my family together. And although we're miles apart today, I always make sure to call her at home as often as I can and update her with our latest activities.

We may have differences but our strong bond is more important than anything else today. A mother is the best person anybody can have and now that I'm a mom myself, I'd like to follow the footsteps of Nanay.

Thanks for your Music, Michael

It's sad to let go of a great artist who's made a huge impact in the lives of millions of music fans. I don't want to say goodbye to Michael Jackson. I just want to say "thank you for your music." Because even though he's physically no longer with us, his music will live on forever. And as what Madonna said in her recent concert where she paid tribute to Michael, "Long live the King!"

I must admit that I'm a fan of Michael Jackson. I grew up listening and dancing to his music. I come from a dancing and music loving family and my older brother and I were the ones who followed Michael's popular songs as we were growing up. My great love for music was what actually led me to become a disc jockey in an FM radio station more than 10 years ago. Back then, my favorite Michael Jackson song that I loved to play was "Heal the World" not only because of it's meaningful message but also because of its wonderful musical arrangement.

Dancing to Michael's upbeat songs was what I also loved to do back then. In fact, I can still remember the dance moves associated with his hit songs from Rock With You, Beat It to Billie Jean, Thriller and Bad. It only goes to show that the King of Pop can really make people get up and dance with his music any time, anywhere.

I would have loved to see him back on stage for his final concert, even just on TV or on the internet. But sadly, he couldn't do that now. One thing's for sure, though, I will always play and dance to his music along with my kids. So thanks to you, Michael for your wonderful music. You will always be remembered.

Love to Bike in Denmark

I come from a family who loves to bike. I have always loved to bike since I learned how to do it when I was a kid. The feeling of riding a bicycle and pedaling it to wherever you want to go is just so wonderful. It gives me a different high. And even when I'm a mother right now, I still love to bike around with my kids when I have the opportunity.

This is what I love about Denmark. The lifestyle there that lets everybody bike around the city and the countryside is what attracts me to this lovely country. I would love to visit the famous Copenhagen on a bicycle. With so many great attractions to explore, it would really be a dream come true to be able to tour the sites on a bike. I really wouldn't mind at all. I could go fast, I could go slow as long as I'm on a bike, I'm ready to go.

And take note! Denmark has become a model country owing to its bike program. I have learned that many countries in Europe now want to adopt the same program promoting the use bicycles in an effort to achieve less carbon emissions in the environment. Hats off to that.

Denmark.net Jazz Weekend - I'm in!

The Power of Mothers

I salute all mothers who juggle their roles as a wife and mom and still find the time to work to contribute to the family's income. This just goes to show that women today are not limited to being just a wife and mother because they can lead the life they want by engaging in business or other worthwhile endeavors that they're very passionate about. Whether they prefer to work in an office or work at home, women have the freedom to do things they want to fulfill their dreams and be happy people.

Very true that it's tough to be a mother regardless of whether you're a single mom or with a husband. But life wouldn't feel so great without the challenges. What matters is the attitude that we have and we maintain going forward. The challenges would be easy to hurdle if we take a positive look at life and live every day to the fullest. It's when we love our family and what we do that we become satisfied and happy individuals.

Women empowerment is here to stay and there are numerous mothers right now who are out to prove that they have the power to achieve financial freedom and make life wonderful for themselves and their families.