Whatchama-CAEHL-it XCIV

Girls go to OB-Gynecologists for check-up.

Caehl: Mommy, where do boys go? Are there doctors for boys?

Help me!!!

*****

Caehl: Why are you watching Dog Whisperer? We don't have a dog.

Me: Shhh. I like Cesar Millan.

Whatchama-CAEHL-it XCIII

As I have started planning for my son's 7th Birthday in October, I realized I should ask the celebrator himself on what he wants, and should not stress myself by overdoing things, overspending, or making things complicated.

Last night, I asked him, pa-simple, "Caehl, do you know Mickey Mouse?"

He laughed.

Me: "Do you like Toy Story?"

Caehl: "Those are the party themes from McDonald's."

Kahit kelan, hindi ako makalusot kay Caehl 

Whatchama-CAEHL-it XCII

Just now:

Browsing the Net and checking out party planners / suppliers, I finally saw a likely candidate. She got the theme / stuff that I wanted.

 

Me: Do you like that, Caehl?

C: (Just grinning, not answering)

Nanay Ev: Baka naman ang mahal niyan.

C: Is that 'love' or 'expensive'?

Me and Nanay: Both!

 

Yeah, for you Caehl, both!

Whatchama-CAEHL-it XCI

Before going to EK last Saturday...

Caehl: Mommy, why is Dari taking a nap?

Me: So that he won't be sleepy while driving.

C: What will happen if he falls asleep?

M: We'll bump.

C: How about me? What will happen if a young boy like me drives the car?

M: Uhmmm...a policeman will arrest us. 

C: Or..?

M: Or what?

C: We'll also bump.

 

Nga naman.

Visit the Enchanted Kingdom website

The Apartment on Union Civica

It was a two-storey six-door apartment building divided by a steel gate that was never open. That means each side, composed of three doors or units, had a separate entrance. If you went out using the west side, it was no longer the same street. Weird huh. Facing a firewall, its east side was really close to the public market that it was more like a part of it already. This was our side. And I never knew our neighbors on the other side. Falalalalalalalala.

Each apartment unit had two bedrooms upstairs, and aside from the usual living room/dining room, there was a dirty kitchen / laundry area and a big T&B on the ground floor. The stairs landing just had to be the altar – one couldn’t think of something else.

We occupied the first unit which was kind of special because it seemed bigger. It came with a verandah on the 2^nd floor. The others didn’t. During brown-outs, you could open the door and let the wind (if any) come in. It served as a place where we can hang our clothes to dry.  The unit also came with a space for a store and a parlor, also on the ground floor. There were five occupants – my aunt-lola (one of my maternal grandpa’s sister who was a widow and the real tenant on record) whom we called Auntie Ely, Mama Diche (my mom’s sister) and my cousin MJ, my Ate and me. Sometimes there were 6 of us as there would be an occasional transient boarder renting a makeshift room near the staircase. Yes, apartment units then were that big.

The middle unit was actually rented by my aunt, but she decided to sublease it to another family to look after Auntie Ely and us; while the 3^rd door was occupied by another aunt and my 3 cousins.

I loved and will always remember our bedroom window where we could see the action. One could spend the whole day just looking out that window. You wouldn’t get bored - vendors on the market front selling vegetables and fruits; my neighbor-crush (who may or may not have known me) playing basketball; and practically people from all walks of life passing by.

Our unit wasn’t that pretty but it seemed to possess a certain attraction or appeal to our friends who would stay there all day, all night - reviewing for exams, chatting, singing and dancing along our small karaoke player; eating lugaw, banana cue, carioca, or isaw; smoking and drinking. The apartment location was strategic that I could take any route going to UST and back. It had a bakery called “Our Daily Bread.” It was close to the malls (at that time, SM City and SM Sta. Mesa), Quiapo or Divisoria or Cubao or Timog, schools (U-Belt), hospitals (UDMC, UST, St. Luke’s), churches, and practically to anything. My folks would drop us off every Sunday afternoon or evening, using the Nagtahan / Santol route. If you were working or looking for a job, it wouldn’t matter if your workplace was in QC or Manila or even Pasig. Ironically though, I haven’t heard of many people who were familiar with its name, “Galas.”

Our room was also the place where most of my short fiction were born, written, and typed. In this apartment, I have loved and lost, laughed and cried, fought and won and lost.

Whatever happened to this apartment? After staying there for four years, I moved back to San Pedro. I am not sure but I think the owner decided to either sell it or demolish it to build a new townhouse. Auntie Ely and Mama Diche are already with our Creator, while MJ is somewhere in the metro, working for a living I suppose. Too bad we didn’t have too many (if any) photographs taken inside it. 

But perhaps it’s all right. The snap shots are all clear and sharp in our minds and memories, anyway.

Mama Mia

When my father passed away last December 2010, everyone was worried about my mom. The focus was on her, “Kumusta na (ang) mama mo?” because they know about her medical condition.

To most people, she is a fragile woman, a quiet one. After all, who wouldn’t be tagged as quiet with Papa around doing most of the talking?

Prim and proper, she doesn’t know how to swear. She always reprimands us for talking aloud or for doing unladylike things. “Patricia (yes, si Ate ang laging napapagalitan), yung boses mo.”

It was always Papa who took the credit. “Mana sa iyo ang mga anak mo, Attorney,” referring to our academic achievements. Of course, CPA na, lawyer pa. But to me, Mama is the more intelligent one. Low profile / tahimik lang kasi. Mas mayabang at maingay lang kasi si Papa.  Mama has her share of medals and awards during her school days. After high school at UST, she took up Accountancy at UE (they have the same alma mater) and worked as an accountant in various companies until the early 80s, I think.

From her, I think I got my obsession with organization (be it work-related or personal matters). My appointments / meetings have to be calendared.  Everything has to be written, noted, advised, informed, or announced. I always have to have a journal, a “To Do” list, and a grocery/shopping list. Looking back now, I realized we have the same format of “payables” list every 15th/30th and grocery list (items are according to aisle / category). Beside the phone, there should be a notepad and pens. Documents/files have to be in labeled folders or envelopes, alphabetically arranged, including books (I have to confirm this with her again but I remember her saying she also dreamed of becoming a librarian). My father didn’t need a secretary or EA, my mom’s the best organizer. When you ask her for something, alam niya kung saan nakalagay.

From her too, I got my carry-all addiction. Dapat, Girl Scout, laging handa. One of my favorite moments was when we were on our way to a family outing once. My Ate said, “Sana may asin tayo,” I think we were eating either boiled eggs or Indian mangoes that time. Voila, my mother produced small packages of iodized salt from McDonald’s. See?

In more ways than one, turns out I am like her but physically, we take after Papa. Mama’s fair and beautiful, sayang hindi namin namana hehe

My mom may look frail and delicate, but I also realized after my Papa’s death that she is the strongest and bravest person among us. We didn’t expect that but she truly is. The power and capacity of her heart to accept and bear everything in silence, grace and dignity is amazing and inspiring. And worth emulating.

I have a weird way of showing my love. But I know that she knows that I love her.

Mama, Happy Mothers’ Day!

Whatchama-CAEHL-it XC

This 90th Whatchama-CAEHL-it entry is dedicated to our Puerto Princesa trip.

 

On our return flight to Manila, I was trying to get some sleep. Half-awake, I saw Caehl making the two thumbs-up sign.

 

The following day, I asked him. "Caehl, I saw you doing like this (making the gesture) last night. Why did you do that?"

 

"Because I'm happy."

 

Priceless