I've been tagged

Ito na yung assignment ko kay Marhgil....

01. What is your favorite word (s)? ok, great, please

02. What is your least favorite word (s)? stupid

03. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? serenity

04. What turns you off? Kayabangan, pessimism

05. What is your favorite curse word (s)? tangeks, syit

06. What sound or noise do you love? Enya, Parokya ni Edgar, giggles, raindrops

07. What sound or noise do you hate? vacuum cleaner, busina pag heavy traffic

08. What profession(s) other than your own would you like to attempt? Lawyer (like Atty Danny Concepcion), secret agent (parang si James Bond)

09. What profession would you not like to do? Jeepney driver (ayoko ng usok), police officer

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? "you did great"

101 Things about me

1- I was born in Manila.
2- I was baptized Jennifer Hankins
3- My father is bisaya with american ancestry; Mom is an Ilokana (from Pangasinan)
4- I am 2nd in the family
5- My zodiac sign is Gemini
6- Born in the year of the Pig (kaya pala medyo chubby ako)
7- Both my parents are teachers (although my dad changed career later on)
8- My maternal grandparents took care of me when I was 2 to 4y/o
9- From Proj. 8, we moved to Bulacan in 1975
10- I was 6y/o when I entered first grade
11- I went to 4 different elementary schools (Isabello, St. James, Barasoin and St. Martin)
12- My younger sister studied piano and banduria but it was I who ended up learning the instruments
13- When I was 7 and my sister was 9, my parents would allow us watch movies in Paramount Theater (just the 2 of us)
14- I was best in Rondalla in grade school.
15- My aunt sent me an aerobics book+tape when I was 8y/o (ang taba ko daw kasi)
16- I was Most Obedient in Girl Scout
17- There were only 32 of us in my 6th grade class
18- I speak a little Ilokano
19- My father thought I wanted to be a nun (he was so wrong)
20- I had rheumatic fever/heart disease when I was 13y/o
21- I enjoy playing Scrabble esp. with my dad.
22- I never experienced spanking from my parents
23- I am not comfortable speaking in public
24- I easily get dizzy in moving vehicles
25- I was angry when Ninoy Aquino was killed
26- I was an 'extra' in the movie Deadly Roses (a movie I never saw)
27- I was a CAT officer
28- In 1984, I had first degree burn on my face courtesy of our pressure cooker
29- In high school, I graduated with honors (20 ata kami noon)
30- I dreamt of being a journalist (di naman masamang mangarap)
31- I had appendectomy in 1986
32- I thought I was good in numbers so I took up engineering (I proved myself wrong later on)
33- My first calculator in college is so cute but not scientific (that's why I failed my first quiz in Trigo)
34- I took up Industrial Engineering in college
35- My student number in MIT is 87117318
36- My very first subject in college is Chemistry
37- I hate chemistry; Chemistry hates me
38- My first dormmate is Eleanor Fejer
39- I joined a collegiate service sorority in 1988 (nasa puso ko pa rin yon 'til now)
40- I got 'bokya' in a quiz bec. my then new calculator is solar-powered. Uso noon ang brownout and my classes were usually in the evening
41- I finished college in Nov. 1991
42- My best friend is Glenda Saludes-Cruz of Mariveles
43- The first time I voted was in 1992
44- My first job was selling (sales engineer for a roofing company)
45- I photocopied my very first salary
46- I lasted only 2 days on my second job.
47- My 3rd job was as an Industrial Engineer in shoe manufacturing company (1992)
48- I had an operation in my ureter in 1992 (stone removal)
49- I worked for Bankard, Inc. for 10 months (1995)
50- I met my husband at Salem Beds where we both worked (sya 5years, ako 3 months)
51- I never had my own birthday party :-(
52- I learn to drive in 1996
53- I once lost my entire bag to a theft in a mall (muntik na akong maglakad pauwi ng bulacan)
54- I got married in 1997
55- I had 2 miscarriages
56- I was devastated when my dad died in 1999
57- I first gave birth in 1999
58- I named my son Vince Mitchell. Vince bec. my dad's second name is Vincent, and I like Mitch of Bay Watch (corny..)
59- My OB Gyne is a good friend from high school
60- I got an educational plan (CAP) for Vince when he was 8 months
61- I switched career from industrial engg to IT in 1996
62- My first IT job was as an MIS Assistant
63- I am good in systems analysis and application testing
64- I studied programming but didn't have the time and patience to practice it
66- I am not into sports (my body is not designed for it)
67- I am scared of dogs, snakes and heights
68- We started our plans to migrate in 2002
69- Australia was our first destination
70- 2003, we appreciated New Zealand
71- We got invited to apply for Work-to-Residence visa on June 27 2005
72- I like Kris Aquino
73- I am not afraid of moomoo
74- The first and only time I had Big Mac was in July 2005
75- My favorite perfume is Beautiful
76- I am not into Nokia phones
77- My phone right now is Samsung E330
78- I collect wonderful quotes
79- I gave birth to my second child in 2004
80- I don't like raisins and pineapples cooked
81- My right thyroid gland was removed in 2002
82- I only had professional manicure/pedicure once (for my wedding)
83- My shoe size used to be 7.0, now it's 7.5 (minsan 8 pa)
84- Waistline - secret!
85- Weight and height - secret pa rin!
86- I have freckles all over my face
87- I completed all payments to CAP despite news that they are 'bankrupt'
88- I don't' drink nor smoke
89- I don't have a night life
90- I don't have a social life (sabi ko na sa inyo boring ako)
91- I am 'matalinaw" (20/20 vision)
92- I have not seen any of the Lord of the Rings movies (dehins ko sya type)
93- I was able to read only one Harry Potter Book, yung #2
94- I have 18 inaanaks
95- My dream vacation is BORACAY
96- My pc at home is so jurasic, a Pentium 1 233mHz
97- After office, I am a full time mom (no computer, no cellphone)
98- One thing that I would like to learn is how to get mad.
99- I love watching CSI (Las Vegas), The Oprah Winfrey Show and Justice League
100- When I was just learning to drive, naka-disgrasya ako ng tao
101- Wala akong favorite color.


* - I got the inspiration from Teacher Sol

Meeting Ka Uro the first time

I attended several meets of the Pinoyz2NZ group but I never felt more excited than the one we had last Saturday. Pano ba naming hindi, more people signed up, we had bigger venue, and of course Ka Uro agreed to be one of the speakers.

Marami nang tao nang dumating ang aming special guest. Kasama nya si Jean, daughter Fides (very pretty indeed), and some relatives. When he stepped into the room, nakilala ko na sya agad. Sa araw-araw ba namang pagbisita ko sa blog nya, hindi ko pa ba sya makikilala. Nung makaharap ko na sya, parang kaharap ko ang isang matagal nang kaibigan. Sa mga nabasa ko sa blog nya, feeling ko marami na akong alam tungkol sa kanya. Hinanap nya agad yung mga kuntil ko sa kamay. Kung hindi nga lang nakakahiya, gusto ko pa sanag ipakita yung marks ng tinanggal na kuntil ko sa paa. Buti na lang nakapagtimpi ako.

Lalo akong humanga kay Ka Uro nang makausap ko na sya. Simpleng tao lang sya despite what he has already achieved. Walang ere sa kanyang pagsasalita. He’s very soft-spoken (ewan ko kung kinakabahan lang, he he he) and very down to earth. Sabi nga ni Henry, halatang mabait na tao. Hmmmm, palagay ko nga.

Gusto ko pa sana syang tsikahin ng matagal kaso lang alam kong madaming naghahantay na makausap sya. I’m sure, hindi lang ako ang excited na makausap sya ng personal. Andoon si FlexJ, Bluegreen, Marhgil, banjan, lito, allan, etc.

Sana may chance na makausap ko ulit si KU. Pero sana sa next meeting namin sa Auckland na.

P2NZ 8th Phil. Meet

Congratulations to Pinoyz2NZ for another successful meet. Actually, understatement yung ‘successful’. It was a blockbuster. Imagine, nasa 200 yung dumating. Sari-saring klase ng tao yung nandoon. May mga umattend para ma-enlighten kung pano mag-apply for NZ migration. Meron namang mga nasa EOI at ITA stages na gustong kumuha ng tips para sa mga susunod na steps. May mga nandoon din na a few steps na lang sa finish line na walang ibang gusto kung hindi makatulong doon sa mga nag-uumpisa pa lang. At syempre, meron din iba doon na fans ni Ka Uro :-)

Kita-kits ulit tayo sa 9th meet.

Mini-Me

Among my siblings, I am the one who has the least number of baby pictures. From age 0 to 5, bilang sa daliri ang pictures ko sa family photo album namin. Yung isa pa doon, taken when I was 6 months old, merong doodles. Ewan ko kung sino sa mga autistic este artistic na kapatid ko ang gumawa non.

When we visited my mom last week, I was so happy to see 3 more pictures of me when I was young. According to my mom, she got those from my aunt’s photo album. Ayun, kaya pala wala akong pictures, kokonti na nga, pinamudmod pa nya sa mga kamag-anak namin. Buti na lang masinop si Tita Nieva kaya eto masasabi kong dumaan ako sa pagkabata.

Buti na lang nakita ko yung mga pictures na yon. I was able to prove to myself and to everyone that my daughter Shannen and I are really look-a-likes. Medyo bilugan lang ang mata ko pero generally, magkamukha talaga kami. Ooooppppsss... walang ko-kontra.

The first picture was taken when I was 2. With me is my sister Christine. The second one was taken when I was about 5 years old. Family reunion ata namin yon kaya kasama ko yung mga cousins ko. Ako yung nasa right na naka-yellow shirt.

NZ in our dreams

NZ in our dreams

Tinanghali ako ng gising kahapon, ang resulta late kami for work. Pano ba naming hindi. I couldn’t afford to let go of my dream. It was so clear, as if it is real. I can still remember the clothes I was wearing, the people with me and the place where it happened.

Ito yung panaginip ko. Nainip na daw ako sa approval ng visa naming kaya I decided to go to the embassy in Makati to make a follow up. The girl in front desk asked me to wait for a few minutes while she checks on our status. I seated on the visitor’s lounge while she digs on her file. Pagtingin ko sa mga kasama kong naghihintay, I recognized 3 people from Pinoyz2NZ. They were also there to inquire about the developments of their application. A few minutes later, tinawag na ako nung babae. She showed me our EOI which was manually reviewed. I noticed some markings made by our visa officer. Ang finale, inabot sa akin yung visa namin na nasa ziploc, 2 passports per bag. O di ba, sino ang gustong gumising pag-ganito ang panaginip mo? Ang tagal naman kasi the balik ng passports kaya tuloy hanggang panaginip yun pa rin ang topic. Pero ok na rin, at least nagkaron ako ng konting enjoyment.

Pag-uwi kagabi, nai-kwento ko yon kay Henry (I didn’t have the chance to tell him about earlier). Gulat sya kasi he also had NZ in his dream that night. What a coincidence! Iba nga lang tema ng sa kanya. Lumipad na daw sya papuntang NZ (uy, mas advance sya). Pag dating nya sa apartment, he was shocked that there were so many Pinoys staying with him in the flat. Sa sobrang sikip, na-claustrophobia sya. Biglang nagising ang aking esposo. Unpleasant man yung feeling nya, at least nasa NZ na sya sabi ko.

Sa sobrang inip namin sa paghihintay, ayun, laman pa rin sya ng aming panaginip. Senyales ba ito na malapit nang matapos ang waiting game? Well I really hope so. Sabi nga ni Walt Disney, “If you can dream it, you can do it.�

Helping others

I'm sharing with you our oppurtunity to help others sometime ago. I don't intend to brag about this, just hoping that it becomes an inspiration to others.

January 2004, we rushed our son to the ER of Phil Children's Medical Center. Matindi kasi ang ubo and asthma noon ni Vince. Di pa naman daw yon pnuemonia sabi nung doctor. He just changed his prescription. Aba, masigla na yung anak ko after the consulation. Nung nasa pharmacy na kami nagulat ako na super mura yung mga gamot doon.

Palabas na kami ng hospital nung may narinig kaming sumisigaw na lalaki. May isang tatay na nagwawala na may karga-kargang baby na mukhang dehydrated na. "Mahirap na nga kami, inaapi nyo pa", yun ang dialogue nya habang umaagos ang luha sa mata nya. Sabi nung guard, di daw nya pwedeng pauwiin yung bata kasi di pa nagse-settle ng P350 bill. Naawa kami doon sa bata. Since may natira pa dun sa baon namin, inabutan ko na lang ng pambayad yung nanay nung bata.

Yung ginawa naming pagtulong ay isang paraan ng pasasalamat sa Diyos na di nya pinabayaan ang anak namin. Sa akin kasi, it's good that you thank God for all the blessings you receive, but if you have the chance to help others, so much better. Sabi nga, "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me".

Have a nice day.

Today, I'm broke

Nasubukan nyo na bang lumakad ng walang kapera-pera? Matagal-tagal ko nang di nararanasan ito. Today, that’s my situation. All I have in my purse are coins not more than P20. I realized this only halfway to my office. Ingat na ingat nga ako sa kalsada. Kung mafa-flatan ako ng gulong, kulang pa yung pera ko sa pang-vulcanize.

Last night, I stopped by Mercury Drug to get vitamins and meds for my kids. Sa mahal ng bilihin, nai-surrender ko tuloy lahat ng bills ko sa kahera. Magwi-withdraw sana ako sa ATM pag-uwi kaso, nakalimutan ko na.

Ang hirap ng walang madudukot na pera sa wallet. May credit cards nga ako pero magagamit ko ba yon kung may babayaran dito sa office? Walang problema ang lunch ko, may pa-lunch naman dito. Sa merienda mamaya titiisin ko na lang na di kumain, nakakahiya namang umutang sa canteen. Isa pang problema yung tubig dito sa department namin. Ako ang toka ngayon sa pagbili, di na ako iinom para umabot pa hanggang bukas.

Di naman ako mayaman pero I make sure na kahit papano may 'tao' ang wallet ko. Ayaw kong dumating yung time na may babayaran tapos wala akong mailabas. Gaya ngayon, kakaba-kaba talaga ako. Haaaay, sana uwian na.

Nakakalulang presyo ng gasolina

Maka-ilang beses nang nagtaas ng presyo ng gasolina. Dahil sa may supply ako dito sa office, hindi ko to masyadong pinapansin. Nagulat ako nung Friday nung magpa-karga. Three years ago, my 30- litter ration costs P424. Ngayon, tumataginting na P1008. That's 238% more. Tataas pa daw to in the next days. Naku, wag naman sana.

O kawawang Juan Dela Cruz, gulpi sarado ka na nga, tinatadyakan pa. Pero wag kang susuko, matatapos din lahat to.

8th week wait

last Friday marks the 8th week since NZIS Bangkok received our WTR application. Pinaasa nila ako na hanggang 8 weeks ang paghihintay but why our passports haven’t arrived yet? I check Henry’s credit card balance every day hoping to see the migrant levy charged to his account. Wala pa rin. Lagi ko ring inaantabayanan yung tawag ng bangko namin. The visa officer might ask kasi the bank to validate the bank certificate we submitted. Siguradong tatawagan kami nung bank manager kung may na-receive silang fax from NZIS.

Last night, I told Henry that we might need to overhaul our plans. Instead of Henry flying to Auckland this year, baka sa January 2006 na. Kung October pa kasi namin makukuha yung passports, alanganin na yung timing. He still has to file his resignation upon receipt of visa (mahirap nang mag-file ng wala pang kasiguraduhan). Syempre, may one month na notice pa yon. Aabutan na sya ng summer sa NZ. That’s not a good time for job hunting, baka kasi naka-bakasyon yung mga employers. Kesa naka-tengga lang sya doon, he might as well stay until the end of the year. Matutuwa pa yung boss nya.

“Please be patient with us. We probably take a few months to finalize your application.� That was the advise of the visa officer when I made a follow up. Sa totoo lang, tinubuan na ako ng maraming patience since we started this whole application. Konting intayan na lang naman ito kaya pagtya-tyagaan ko na lang. Patience is a virtue I now have.