Hi there! It’s Saturday and my rest day from a week’s work loads. I want to share with you today a very interesting topic, this is specially for women out there. I came across with a magazine and there I read, and learned from Ms. Claire Drueco-Lopez, on how to keep your balance in life through the shoes you’re wearing. (Thanks to her). Try to take a look on this and read it, it really helps us women to make it through the day.

What’s it like to walk in a working woman’s shoes? It’s quite a balancing act that has very little to do with how high your stilettos are. It’s really the dizzying variety of shoes she has to walk in; and you don’t have to be Imelda Marcos to understand what that means. If you’re a woman, you get it.

All of us were trying to be — and wanting to be good at each thing. We are trying to be, which included being a good wife, mother, daughter, sister, businesswoman, employer, employees, teacher, gardener, Christian and friend. On top of all these things, for me, I also wanted to enjoy simply being me, allowing myself time solely to indulge in personal pleasures.

The odd thing was, even though I was managing to juggle being all these things, I was feeling guilty about it! But having a lot of female friends, I knew I wasn’t alone in this multi-faceted dilemma. Apparently, a woman has the peculiar ability to feel guilty about almost everything she’s doing. She feels guilty about having an intimate date with her husband because it means leaving their kids at home. She feels guilty about going to work because she knows her family misses her company. She feels guilty about staying home because she knows her workmates need her at the office. She feels bad about shopping for herself because her family might need the money for something else. She feels uneasy about wanting to be attractive because. . . well, she’s a married woman, and she shouldn’t. She feels guilty about eating ice cream and chocolate, missing a PTA meeting, taking too long a bath, not having enough time to tutor her children, not being able to cook better meals, not having enough energy when her husband gets home, letting her kids eat junk food, etc. etc. etc. She even feels guilty about getting sick.

Suddenly, like an epiphany, it hit me. The reason it felt as though there were too many things that I needed to juggle was because I felt each thing I did was limiting me from accomplishing more in the other things I wanted to be. The thought - and perhaps belief - that I couldn’t do it and that I was setting myself up for failure made me feel . . . well, guilty! But thanks to that solitary line, I decided to just tell myself, “I can!”

And therein lies the secret to how a woman can manage to keep her womanly balance and grace no matter how high her stilettos in real life. She believes she can! So if you’re feeling uncomfortable over the seemingly tall demands of the shoes you need to walk in real life, take heart. Be it flats, high heels, open-toed sandals or pumps - a woman has got what it takes to walk with grace! For as long as she believes she can. Do you?

Few days ago I thought of some beautiful yet informative topics that I’m going to post in my site today. Fortunately, with God’s guidance I came across a nice planner from one of the corporations here in the Philippines and abroad. So, without wasting so much of my time, I want to share some of a Filipino Values which I am pretty  sure every one if not all have missed.

PATIENCE/TIYAGA

When it comes to patience, nobody beats the Filipinos. We are a very patient race as a whole. This virtue of patience gives the Filipino a positive spark of hope. The Filipino adage, ” KUNG MAY TIYAGA, MAY NILAGA” is a timeless proverb which summarizes this characteristic. Filipinos are very patient in terms of life, love, family and work. 

TRADITIONAL COURTSHIP/PANLILIGAW

Traditional Courtship is still very much well and alive in the Philippines for it is in this event that a culture secures its continuity. Clans are united. Ties are created, where previously there were none. And through the observance of traditional courtship, the individuals find a bond, not only to each other, but to generations past… Ancestors who have lived and loved and forged relationships in the same manner. Filipino men go as far as serenading (panghaharana) the women by singing in front of an open window where the desired lady is required to show herself and listen. Families must meet prior to marriage to discuss issues and even exchange gifts with each other as some sort of pre-nuptial ritual (pamamanhikan). Even if the modern filipina is a global achiever, there is no denying that presenting flowers, chocolates, and even the occasional crooning still work.

SMOOTH INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP/PAKIKISAMA

Smooth interpersonal relationship is primarily guided by conformity with the majority. It can be roughly translated as comradeship or being cooperative. It has many manifestations in Philippine society, one of which is extending support or offering help to neighbors who are in need. “Pakikisama” reflects the “bayanihan” spirit, which involves cooperation among fellow men to come up with a certain idea or accomplish a certain task. While bayanihan refers to a community-support deed, “pakikisama” has a more individualized sense. This applies to families, the workplace, in school, even in public places. The Filipinos are known worldwide for their incomparable hospitality, which stems from the Filipino’s desire to make “pakikisama”. Next to family, filipinos value friendship. And there is a natural tendency for a filipino to be friendly with anyone who comes along his or her way. A filipino would always feel good to be there for a friend in good and bad times. A close friend is considered as an extension of the family and every opportunity to seal this affinity would be exerted on significant events like baptism, weddings, and similar occasions. 

SIMPLICITY/PAYAK NA PAMUMUHAY

Filipinos are very simple in nature. Even with the advent of malls, electronic devices and other forms of sophisticated entertainment, filipinos are easily delighted over the simple things in life. Though TV and Radio still provide most of the entertainment, homegrown board games like “sungka”, or street games like “patintero” and “piko” continue to be very popular past times.

CLOSE FAMILY TIES/PAGPAPAHALAGA SA PAMILYA

Filipinos have extremely close-knit family groups and a large extended family network. Filipino Families are usually solid support systems, standing together through one economic crisis to the next. Family members usually know each other’s secrets and borrow one another’s things. In our society, the problem of one becomes the problem of the whole family and even of the relatives. For us, our families are the fuel for our dreams. We want to catch the stars for those we love. Family members would always find a way to look after the welfare, well-being and future of family members at whatever cost or form of sacrifice. To a filipino, blood is always thicker than water.

RESOURCEFULNESS/MAPAMARAAN

When it seems we’ve reached the end of the road, we still find a way. We filipinos maximize what we have. Our self-reliance enables us to come up with solutions on our own. We are capable of adjusting to every given situation. We can be in any territory, any situation or condition, or any person or group of people with a totally different orientation. Yet, we would always find ourselves fitting in notwithstanding language or cultural barriers. The showcase of the filipino’s ingenuity has placed us on the world map with inventions like the karaoke, the moon buggy, the fluorescent light, the water-powered car and the yoyo among many others. Despite these big achievements, we filipinos display resourcefulness even in the simplest of means.  

DILIGENCE/SIPAG

The average filipino office worker spends up to eight hours a day in the work place. Most filipinos are breadwinners for their families, thus explaining the more than the usual extra effort they have to exert just to ensure a financially stable future for their children. Indeed, this display of dedication and patience to get the work done right has earned the filipino worldwide respect.

POSITIVE THINKING DURING HARD TIMES/KASIYAHAN SA PAGGAWA

Filipinos are considered as the “happiest people in Asia”, because they don’t need much to be much. Despite the many challenges, filipinos still find ways to amuse themselves. They would always line up to catch a good movie, or spend time in the company of friends or family members over meals or a cup of coffee or a round of drinks, organize parties and reunions, or simply be glued to their favorite music or television program. People wonder why shopping malls, bars and food houses thrive and are always filled with people; It is simply because filipinos know how to have fun. Filipinos love to deliver and exchange jokes even over a serious public concern. It is not that Filipinos do not treat problems seriously. It is simply because filipinos love a vibrant life. They are not afraid of laughing at themselves, their mistakes, and even the trials they experience in their lives. It is positive thinking that saw the filipino through adversity and intense economic trials.

LOVE FOR NATURE/PAGPAPAHALAGA SA KALIKASAN

The Philippines, in general, is a tropical paradise. Just a few hours away from Manila is a vast selection of Pristine beaches and three-layered virgin rainforests and wildlife adventures which are considered top-notch in the world. These are easily accessible via a long drive or a journey via bus. Long weekends usually mean a trip to the beach with friends or trekking on a nearby mountain. Boracay, an island off the coast of Panay, is a world-famous beach not just because of the white sands but because of the wonderful snorkeling/scuba-diving experience it promises. The Tubbataha Reef Marine Park in Palawan, covering some 33.2 hectares of Pristine Coral Reef with a high density of marine species, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Philippines’ scenic natural resources are one of the filipino’s most prized possessions.

CARE/PAG-AARUGA

The Filipinos are universally known as good caretakers, maybe it’s because of their love for children or for the love of taking care of others. There is still a high demand for filipino nurses and medical doctors to work abroad because of their genuine love and concern even to strangers. It is the Filipino spirit that makes them so endearing not just to fellow locals but to foreigners as well.

MYTHOLOGY/MGA PANINIWALA

Philippine Mythology and Folklore include a collection of tales about magical creatures and entities. Some filipinos, even though heavily westernized and christianized, still believe in such entities. Because the country has many islands and is inhabited by different ethnic groups. Philippine Mythology and Superstitions are very diverse. However, one that remains famous throughout the country is the legend of Maria Makiling,  A Diwata (Goddess) associated with Mount Makiling in Laguna, Philippines. She is believed to be the guardian of the mountain. Responsible for protecting its bounty. There are many who claim to have “seen” her: Hikers, students, locals and foreigners alike. They all share similar stories of a beautiful woman in white with long, cascading black hair.  

STRONG FAITH/MATATAG NA PANANAMPALATAYA

As of 2000, the Philippines reportedly had 72, 225 million Christians, comprising 84 percent of its total population. The Philippines is the only Christian archipelago in the Pacific covering East Asia. Because of this strong faith, Filipinos have assigned official patron saints for almost everything, from conception of babies (Santa Clara) to relief of toothache (Santa Apollonia). 68% of the entire population still attend weekly church services. Christmas is one of the major Roman Catholic Holy Days and one of the major highlights of the occasion is the nine-day novena or simbang gabi, when catholic churches across the nation start to open their doors shortly before the break of dawn to welcome those faithful to the tradition. The novena begins on December 16 as early as 4 in the morning and culminates with the “Misa De Gallo” on Christmas eve to welcome the birth of Jesus Christ.

 

My husband Aaron is in his early 40’s today. We chose to celebrate his special day privately together with our three children. An intimate dinner can be a wonderful, elegant birthday celebration, where there’s enough time for everyone to talk together and our budget can go much further.

We have an elegant dish that requires time, not effort, to prepare. And everybody who partakes the food are enjoying. Though my husband is growing older it doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate his birthday together and have fun! Celebrating life events like a birthday can be either a private experience or the celebration can include a larger gathering of friends and family, it’s really up to us on how are we going to celebrate it. Just remember we are never too old to have some fun.

Aging is truly a state of mind. As we aged, let us approach our life with a child-like curiosity, eager to embrace everything life can offer. I am full of gratitude for all the blessings in my husband’s life; his career, good health, our three beautiful angels who keep us going through and of course for having each other in good and bad times. And so it is my birthday wish for him that he will continuously be a blessing to everyone.

Hello fellow bloggers! I would like to inform you that I am now on my adjustment period, because I’m back to work. The changes might somehow affect my blogging activities because of being too preoccupied with my work and with my kids. My husband and I are still weighing things in order for us not to run out of time especially to our kids. I hope we could find good solutions on this, hopefully soon, if not, someone has to give up his/her career for our children’s sake. I won’t gamble my kid’s future just because we are both working, of course! I am thankful and so blessed for having this opportunity but not at the expense of our children.

I hope to see you around like we used to do. Feel free to visit my site. I will be back soon. (promise) CIAO!

I Thank You Lord. . .

for all the blessings you gave me in the year 2007,  for the sunny days and for the sad, cloudy days for the peaceful afternoons and the long, dark nights.

Thank you for health and sickness, for the sorrows and joys I had in 2007. Thank you for all the things you lent me and then took back again.

Thank You, Lord, for the friendly smiles and helping hands, for the love I received and all wonderful things, for the flowers and stars, for children and loving souls.

Thank You for the loneliness, for work, for difficulties and problems, for uncertainties and tears because all these brought me closer to You.

Thank You for preserving my life, for supplying shelter, food and all my needs.

WHAT AWAITS ME THIS YEAR?

Whatever you wish, My Lord… I ask only that you grant me faith to see you in everything that comes my way, Hope and Courage to not give up, and Love . . . more love for you each day and for those around me.

Give me Patience, Humility, Yieldness and a Giving Heart. Give me, Lord, what you know is good for me and that which I know not how to ask.

Grant me an obedient heart and listening ear, an alert mind and active hands so that I may yield to your desire and submit to your perfect will for my life.

Pour out Your blessings over all my loved-ones and loving peace to the Hearts of men. Amen.

Blessings come in the most unexpected packages. Through the years, I’ve come across a number of supposedly fabulous people who try to put on fulfilled, happy faces, but deep down you could somehow sense that something is amiss in their dull, miserable lives.

In contrast, I had the opportunity to count my blessings and considered myself as one lucky girl. No, I haven’t won the lottery. It just feels that way every time I wake up in the morning.

At the beginning of the year, I declared 2007 as my year for adventure, as the year I would leave my comfort zone and try to live my life more fully. I’ve done just that—and I am grateful…

1. For my family, who is the ultimate indicator of my happiness. You may be living alone but the thought of seeing your family sooner or later is what keeps you going through the years. I am thankful for the good health of family members and loved-ones.

2. A good relationship with my husband Aaron and all the members of our families.

3. My husband Aaron’s career. It is doing very good so far we just can’t help waiting for his promotion to Commodore (Brig. General).

4. My job at PWU (Phil. Women’s University) Taft, after all the many sleepless nights at the call center.

5. Our Sunday ritual as family. We saw to it that we will be spending our Sundays with God, for us to have a more meaningful day-to-day existence.

6. My Peace Corner which encourages me to at least share my life and passions, my way of meeting new friends in the world of blogosphere, Maline and Grace, especially.

7. At the top of my list is the unconditional love from the happy boys and girl in my life, which allows me to take life’s sacrifices and difficulties.

8. And of course, nothing beats the hugs and kisses I get every morning which make me want to count my blessings everyday, over and over again.