Chasen Dreams

One time, I found a chocolate bar on my table. Me: Kanino to galing? Officemate: Hindi ko alam.  Nandiyan na yan pagdating ko. Baka galing sa mga nag Subic. Me:  Alam ko na kung kanino galing! Officemate: Pano mo nalaman? Me: Isa lang naman ang kaibigan ko kaya alam ko na kung kanino galing. Officemate: May advantage din pala pag isa lang kaibigan noh? Haha Of course, I was exaggerating.  Hindi lang naman isa ang kaibigan ko.  But, I only have few friends.   I am nice, but I am not that friendly.  Does it make sense? Haha.  I feel that I am too old to make new friends.  I mean, I no longer have the luxury of time to make friends.  Don’t get me wrong but  I believe that  one needs to have time and effort to nurture budding friendships.  And how can I commit my precious time to others  now that I am already a wife and a mother?  And you know what? I don’t easily tag a person as my friend.  ...

My husband gave  me a big surprise on Mother’s Day, so I believed it’s just fair to return the favor. Haha.   However, knowing my husband, he wouldn’t appreciate “Happy Father’s Day” letter cut-outs, balloons, flowers or mushy message on Facebook.   Making him feel  extra special is a bit hard.   I always make him feel  special, that’s why.  Haha.  I mean, I always cook yummy food for him so, a  surprise breakfast won’t be a pasabog.   He is also not a maporma type of guy.  He buys clothes simply because he can’t go to work naked.  So, buying him clothes will not make him extra happy.  He doesn’t have sports.  He is not into NBA.  He is not adventurous. He has not climbed a mountain, and has not tried wakeboarding or surfing.  Skydiving is not in his to-do list. He is not into gadgets.  He is not into photography.  See, it’s  hard to choose a gift for him.  ...

Out of the blue, a guy officemate asked me: P: Chasen, nangyari na ba sayo yung nalungkot ka or nagalit ka? Me:  Bakit mo natanong? P: Kasi parati kang bungisngis. Hindi ko maimagine na malungkot ka. Nalungkot na ba ako? Yung malungkot na malungkot?  Oo naman.    It happened four years ago, but until now, I still do not want to talk about it because until now, it still makes me feel a bit sad.   “Nagalit na ba ako?”  The answer is in the affirmative.   But, I seldom articulate my anger.     I am not confrontational. More than I hate being angry, I hate offending others, especially those who are dear to me.  I was not raised to be palaaway.  While growing up, my mom would always tell me not to be troublesome. Pag may nang-away daw, isumbong ko daw sa teacher.  Good thing, I never experienced being bullied. Or ako ba yung bully? I don’t think so.  When I moved here in Manila, I was in...

Last week, a man went to my work station. Me:  Good afternoon po. Man: (looking at me, then on my desk) Good afternoon.  Ako po si ________________, officer  (I forgot the exact  designation) ng PDEA.   Me: (on  my mind) Baka naframe up ako. I don’t do drugs.  Hindi ako papayag ipasearch ang mesa  ko. Hindi talaga pwede! Wala siyang search warrant! Man:  Dito  po ba humihingi ng copy ng Board Resolution? OMG! Nasosobrahan ako sa panonood ng drama series.  lol

Just right after the Holy Week, my mom and nieces visited us here in Manila for a few days.  As kids raised in the province, my nieces consider Manila as a lovely place, a place to be excited about.   As their Tita Ganda, I didn’t want to take away that notion. I wanted to take them to places that highlight the “beauty” of Metro Manila, or to places that would make them happy, at least.   I thought of Manila Zoo, Kidzania, Ace Water Spa, Club Manila East and  Ocean Park.  However, considering that my mom could easily get tired,  I changed my plan, and opted to go to  senior citizen-friendly places or  places where we won’t endure the other face of the metro (traffic, pollution etc.).     Since kids love to swim, I decided to just look for a hotel (with pool) near our place.  And luckily, I stumbled upon B Hotel QC.  It’s a relatively new  hotel located at Scout Rallos, Quezon City, a tricycle ride away ...

I’ve been very busy these past few weeks.  My mother and nieces had their vacation in Manila. Then, a day after they went back to  Naga, I was informed that my mom was admitted to the hospital.  Without a second thought, I boarded a bus going to Naga, leaving my work  to the members of  the committee I was heading up.  When  I arrived, I found out that my mom was transferred to the ICU while my father was also admitted.    Imagine the anxiety.  But God is indeed good.  Both of my parents are home now  although my mom has not completely recovered yet.   The hospital bills were settled.  My differential (I got promoted!) was timely credited to my account.   My superior and colleagues were very considerate.   My relatives and friends showered us with so much love and support. When I got back to the office, as expected,  I was bombarded with  work and responsibilities.  Th...

I almost had a heart attack two weeks ago.  I was in the bathroom when I heard my husband yelling “Mommy! Si Baby C…” In an instant, I ran out of the bathroom.  My trembling husband was carrying my crying baby.  Apparently, Baby C fell off the play pen.  I immediately checked if something was wrong with her, if she was bleeding, or if she had bukol.  When she stopped crying and seemed okay, I went back to the bathroom.   That was the only time I realized that I went out naked. Dan and Baby C’s yaya told me that their eyes were on Baby C that they didn’t bother to look at me.  However, they were not sure whether our neighbors saw my sexiness. Waaaah! I don’t care! Baby C is now very malikot.    We cannot take our eyes off her.  Bawal kumurap.  Taking care of a toddler is indeed tiring but at the same time fun, super fun to be exact.     I realized that I haven’t written much about my daughter here.  ...