It’s in the bag

I love bags. Period.

As a carry-all mom, I like them big because I can put everything inside. Thank God for bag organizers, I won’t have to turn the bag upside down or dig inside helplessly for my cellphone or my wallet, or mints. I love the pockets to hold the items as I always bring with me the following:

• Band-Aid
• Biogesic
• my anti-histamine meds
• Rosary
• Globe Tattoo
• 2 USBs
• Menthol cone
• Tissue
• Wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Cologne or perfume
• Calculator
• Scrunchie
• Compact mirror
• Business card holder
• Planner
• Pens
• Comb
• Make-up kit
• Cellphone charger

Needless to say, I always have a bag hook too.

I also like them small – the kikay bags and wristlets - especially when I’m just out for a walk or coffee or movie.

I prefer sling bags especially when I do some grocery-shopping and I need both hands free.

As long as I like the design, the color and the feel, I’d go for it. Of course who wouldn’t want to own an LV or Hermes, but they’re way way out of my league, as they are too expensive for me, certainly not for poor old me. I have nothing against knock-offs either. It’s an aspirational thing, nothing wrong with that as long as you don’t show it off and pass it off as an original. Mind you, there are replicas which are also a bit pricey.

I also love eco-bags and even paperbags.

It must have been a certain fondness for anything “champ” – Champ Lui Pio, Jollibee Champ, but not the People’s Champ please (although I like his wife Jinkee. Team Jinkee!), but I really am crazy over Longchamp. It’s actually the first time that I ever fell for a certain brand. I used to say that once I get one, I’d be happy and satisfied. But no, when I got my first LC, I wanted to buy more! Currently, I have four Le Pliage – 2 medium/short handle (taupe and black) and 2 medium/long handle (bilberry and red).



I hope I'll have money to buy any of the following on my wish list (read: hindi bawal ang mangarap):



1.    Planetes – raisin, medium or large
2.    Le Pliage Insects – bilberry or black, medium/long handle
3.    Le Pliage Arbre de Vie – navy, medium

Aside from its spokesperson Kate Moss, celebrities spotted carrying a Longchamp bag are:

1.    Katie Holmes – one of my style icons
2.    Kate Middleton
3.    Rachel McAdams
4.    Solenn Heussaff
5.    Kris Aquino



Images courtesy of:

• www.longchamp.com
• www.longchampsale.com
• http://www3.images.coolspotters.com/photos/479287/katie-holmes-and-longchamp-le-pliage-large-tote-bag-gallery.jpg
• www.marieclaire.com
• http://www4.images.coolspotters.com/photos/151355/rachel-mcadams-and-longchamp-le-pliage-large-tote-bag-gallery.jpg
• www.cosmo.ph
• www.youtube.com

If there’s a will, there’s a weigh (Whatchama-CAEHL-it XLII)

Upon his discharge from the hospital last January, Caehl was strictly advised by his pediatrician (my good friend and kumare Dra. Joy Drilo) to watch his diet. He's already overweight for his age at 83lbs (his height is a little below 4ft). “Hindi porke mataba,” the doctor said, “ay healthy.”

According to http://www.medindia.net/patients/calculators/height-weight-chart-Result.asp, the optimal height of a boy his age is 3 ft 4 inches (101.6 cms) and the optimal weight is 41.8 lbs (19 Kg).

And so, Caehl promised Dra. Joy he will limit his milk intake (he was still using a bottle, with an average consumption of 2-4 5 oz – bottles a day), chocolates and other sweet and cold stuff.

I didn’t realize how serious he was until I noticed that all his milk bottles were gone, and he would drink milk from a cup (180cc) twice a day – one in the morning, and one before bedtime.

He also started to “junk" junk food, saying “they’re not healthy”, and ice cream sundae, reasoning out that it’s cold, “Baka ako ma-cough.” Sometimes I get sad because I know how much he likes them and I could see how much he is trying to control himself.

One Saturday morning, passing by a Nestle health kiosk in Shopwise Alabang, he stood on the weighing scale and checked his own weight. “80,” he declared. Next, he leaned on the height chart and said, “4 feet.”

It dawned on me that perhaps, his self-imposed restriction is working. He already lost 3 pounds in less than a month. His tummy has been less prominent and he even looks taller. “Healthy na ako, Nanay,” he would tell his nanny. He’s afraid of being obese. He would take short walks in the afternoon with Ate Doobs, our all-around angel, and do some exercises while walking or while in the churchyard across our house.

Last Monday, forgetting that he refuses to eat ice cream anymore, I brought home McFlurry Oreo.

“Mommy, it’s yours na lang,” he said. Naawa tuloy kami ni Ev.

“Ayaw na niya talaga, kahit chichirya,” she said. “Basta sinabi niyang ayaw niya, ayaw na niya talaga.”

Not only related to food, when Caehl sets his mind to do (or not to do) something, he will be true to his word, and you cannot sway him to do otherwise. Sometimes though it can be frustrating.

I don’t know until when he’s going to keep this up, but at least I know that he is already aware that keeping promises and staying fit are indeed important, regardless of age.
------------------------------------------------

Dr. Joy Drilo-Cano's clinic schedules (Pediatrician, Diplomate, Philippine Pediatric Society):
MPI-Medical Center Muntinlupa
Tues-Thurs-Sat 4-6pm
862-0162 local 123

Kobe Clinic, Festival Mall Alabang
Mon & Wed 3-7pm
842-5405

My Health Clinic, Festival Mall Alabang
Tues & Thurs 10am-1pm
Sunday 1-4pm
850-4855

Humana Clinic, Sta. Rosa, Laguna
Wed & Fri 9am - 2pm
(049) 544-0634

Caehl reads his dictionary 2

Caehl reads his dictionary

CKLC Field Trip 2011 - Album 2

February 19, 2011

CKLC Field Trip 2011

February 19, 2011

A Valentine Story

February 14, 1992, morning - I went out of our Journalism classroom for a drink at the nearby water fountain. I saw a guy standing outside the room beside ours. Late for his class, I presumed. But hey, I know this guy.

“It’s Valentine’s Day today,” I called out to him.

He just said (curtly even), “So what?”

Suplado naman, I thought.

A month or so later, I dreamed of the guy one night. The following morning, he was the first guy I saw in Tinoko Park on my way to class.


I tapped him on his shoulder. “Hey, napaginipan kita kagabi (I dreamed of you last night).” Without looking back and waiting for his reply, I continued walking.

Little did I know that that guy who didn’t care about Valentine’s would be my Valentine for the rest of my life. For many years, Alex and I would greet each other “Happy So-What Day”, acknowledging that one particular moment in our lives.

In fairness, we’ve had a lot of memorable and unforgettable Valentine dates. As a girlfriend (or wife), I guess I am not the sweetest person around. Despite my seemingly sociable personality, I am not really a showy, demonstrative gal (except when it comes to my kids). Alex knows it and has accepted it. If he took it against me and takes it against me even now, I cannot help it. It’s just the way I am. I express or display my love in a different way, in my own unique way. And I guess again that people who are dear to me have long understood and accepted me the way I am.

Alex would often tell me that he never stopped thinking about me after those encounters. Just before my graduation, we ended up together. And we are still together. And there is no way I will ever give him up. Not yesterday, not today, not tomorrow.

Malay ko ba, I would tell him, I never planned those encounters anyway.

Maybe the One Up there did. But don’t tell Alex that maybe, just maybe, I prayed a little bit that He would.

Happy Valentine’s everyone! Live, love, and learn.

Acknowledgment: Photo courtesy of http://wikimapia.org/3002449/Tinoko-Park

 

Whatchama-CAEHL-it XLI

Every Saturday, on our way to Shopwise, Caehl and I would see a Chinese truck or two (like the one in the photo).

This morning, I saw one. "Caehl, there's the Chinese truck. See?"

He said, "No, Mommy. That's Japanese."

Yabang ko kasi.


Acknowledgment: Image from bfg-global.com 

Glee Cupcakes from Goldilocks

Although I don't really have a sweet tooth, as a Gleek, I just had to buy some.

The cupcakes are available at Goldilocks for Php220/box (4 pcs).

Plastic Men

Just this January 2011, Muntinlupa City (where I work - Insular Life is in Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang) started to enforce City Ordinance #10-09 “BAWAL ang PLASTIK Sa Lungsod ng Muntinlupa” effective January 18, 2011 BYOB - BRING YOUR OWN BAG/BAYONG.

This means that the City “prohibits the use of plastic bags on dry goods, regulates their use for wet goods, and prohibits the use of styrofoam or styropor, usually used for foodstuff.”

Muntinlupa, for the record, is the first in Metro Manila to officially ban the use of plastic bags and Styro.

It has been three years or so when the canvass / non-woven / eco-bags started to gain popularity among Pinoys. In fact, I have lots. I collect them. I ordered the “I am not a plastic bag” kind and gave it as a Christmas present to officemates and friends.

In our Company alone, I think we came up with not just one or two, but five kinds, I think (and there will be one more this year). I have one from a building and construction expo, from Crocs, from Let’s Face It, from Dunkin Donuts, gifts from friends, from SM, from Shopwise and hey, I can’t remember them all now.

I bring a non-woven bag everyday and it’s where I put my baon and my usual pair of slippers. There was a time when the security guard at Save More (it was a Bring Your Own Bag day) wanted me to deposit it in the package counter.

“What will I use?” I asked him. He must have failed to connect my bag to their BYOB campaign.

Last year, Save More started to implement the BYOB every Wednesday. If you don’t have one, they’ll put your stuff in a paper bag, which is not ok if you’re buying heavy or wet goods. The SM Green Bag (in chartreuse, go Google it LOL) is foldable and has four designs depicting air, water, land and energy. You earn two points in your SM Advantage Card if you use them.

Shopwise (SW) has three versions of its reusable bag – canvass (Php99.50), sack bag (Php60.00), and non-woven black / blue (Php10.00). Every use of these bags allows you to earn double points on all purchases that fit into the bag, credited to your Wise Card or Elite Card. I bring the canvass and the sack every Saturday, along with other non-SW reusable bags, for our grocery-shopping.

In SW’s wet goods section, I like the self-service / help-yourself concept (you just get a plastic bag and get as much tilapia, bangus or galunggong as you like). But now, with the City Ordinance, there are no more plastic bags lying around. The staff will be putting the fish inside the bags. So you have to wait for your turn. Unfortunately, more often than not, there’s only one staff available. And because there’s no more Styro either, the packed meat (pork cubes, ground pork, chicken pieces) looks miserable and gooey.

Prime yourself when the cashier or the bagger starts to put the wet goods inside your reusable bag, without paper or newspaper lining. My helper has to wash the unlucky bag afterwards every time.

I also miss the plastic bags which serve as our trash bin liners. The paper bags, when they get wet or torn, aren’t reusable for that purpose. I also wish the sales clerks won’t be so stapler-trigger-happy. They staple the bag too much, I'm afraid.

Lest I be accused of not being supportive or not being eco-friendly (read: I'm a lover, not a fighter), let me just say that there are things (food and drinks, especially) that are not really made to be placed in paper.

The take-out siomai which used to be so neat and tidy inside the styro are now in a small waxed paper tray, with no lid, pushed inside a paper bag which you have to carry horizontally with your hands. Otherwise, they’ll spill inside the bag. And yes, there’s no alternative for plastic for the soy sauce and chili.

But as they say in Muntinlupa, “The dream of having a plastic-bag-free country may appear rather ambitious and difficult to realize at this time. But small steps, such as those being taken by Muntinlupa, can be the giant leap for realizing that dream (Public Information Office, City of Muntinlupa).”

Yes, perhaps we’ll get used to it. In due time. Tayo pa? If we can save the world a bag at a time, why not?

Whatchama-CAEHL-it XL

Caehl's favorite expression nowadays is "Can you just..."

***
While he was watching the Japanese prefectures video over Youtube, I was trying to catch his attention by dancing along with the music. Laughing out loud, he said, "Mommy, can you not come here? Mommy, can you just stay in the living room?"

***
In the bedroom, while writing: "Mommy, can you not go to the bedroom?"

***
In the bedroom again: "Daddy, can you just go out of the room and close the door?"

***
Mommy: Caehl, do you know that Mommy loves you?
Caehl: Yes.
M: I love you forever.
C: Until?
M: Until I'm dead.
C: Mommy...can you just love me?