My 13 Thoughts on Your 13th Birthday This August 13

13. I've been a mom for 13 years now. (Who would've thought i'd get this far?)

12. This is a new chapter for you and me. Everybody says the teenage years are the most challenging for parents but the most memorable for their children. I hope we could get through this together and you arrive at your adulthood and my senior life both of us unscathed. (So help us God.)

11. I'd appreciate it if we could stay friends throughout. You did promise me when you were 4 years old that you wouldn't keep secrets from me. So let's take it from there, shall we? It's best to tell your ol' mom your joys, sorrows, triumphs, problems and I promise to be the best listener. Ever.

10. Your sister is your friend as well. I hope and pray that you nurture your relationship with her. Make her feel that she's protected and loved by her older brother. Remember that your future girlfriends will take particular note of how you treat your mother and sister.

9. Though your Dad is not physically present, know that he loves you very much. And you know you can always ask him for guidance and advice on things you cannot ask me. ('Cause he is still the best Dad in the world.)

8. Learning in school is the most important thing to do during your teenage years. It sets the foundation of how you will turn out in your adult life. You wanna be successful yeah? Study hard. It will all be worth it when the time comes and you will be thankful.

7. Independence is something you have started wanting for the past year. The more you will want it in the next years. I'm giving it to you. I give it to you and I trust that you will make sound, reasonable and  balanced decisions. I will always be here to give you advice and guidance. (Just put down your phone and talk to me.)

6. What do I always tell you? Your character is what you do when no one else sees you. Even when no one sees you, always do what is right. And kind. Pray wherever and whenever. There's no limit.

5. Your success in life will be all your doing. No one else's. You define your future. And even your present. (I mean, your now, your present. Not gift. I know what you're thinking.)

4. Don't worry about your height. You'll grow much taller than you already are. Believe me. (I know.)

3. Hugs and kisses and "I love yous' should never EVER run out. You hear me? It reassures me that I'm doing good as your mother.

2. All my promises, I will fulfill them. Not always immediately, but rest assured that I'm trying everything to keep them. I hope you fulfill yours too. 

1. Enjoy your teenage years, my son. How you will live your life at 31 will depend on how you will live your life at 13 onwards.

"There's this boy who stole my heart.

He calls me Mom."

Black Belt

the little big man was promoted to high brown belt in taekwondo on april 28, 2012.  twenty-plus months later, which is a little overdue, he was promoted to 1st dan black belt last sunday, january 26, 2014.

these are his teammates from meycauayan who also earned their black belts with migo.  ethan, giljohn, miggy, princess and maureen.

and their colored belt teammates who came to support.  ralou, luis and ceejay.

with coach moben, their coach, mentor, motivator.

of course, with who else, but the proud mommy.

his defining moment was when he broke the board with a turning side.

i couldn't be happier for my unico hijo.  this is just the beginning of more challenges and opportunities which we will go through together.  love you, anak!

"A black belt is a white belt who never quit."

hello, world!

merry christmas, everyone!

time, truly, does fly so fast when you're having fun.  well, not really always having fun.  but i do believe in cherishing every moment so we may be able to relive it in down times.

on the day before christmas, my unico hijo, the little big man became officially... a man.  

BEFORE

 DURING

Sorry, anak, for posting this.  But you may want to look back at this someday so here it is. ;-)

AFTER

the hard-earned silver

yesterday was testament to the hard work that the little big man has been putting into training to become the best that he can be in his sport.  

he participated in the DPS (Diliman Preparatory School) Taekwondo Championship where most of the best players and teams in NCR competed.  

every competition sees him more and more confident of his moves, happier with the turn out whether lose or win, and learning new things which we know he will carry on to the next competition.

might i brag, he only got a silver.  it wasn't just a piece of metal though. he was matched up with a DPS player in the eliminations and did everything right to come out the winner. next game his opponent was disqualified because of a mismatch because he was, intentionally or unintentionally, matched up with a group 3 player.  third game was a cliff-hanger with a brown belt from vas gym who was a teammate of that junior black belt he fought for gold with back in camanava last summer.  it ended with a draw which led to a sudden death match where he came out triumphant.  and for his final game, the best player of DPS whom he succumbed to but not without a fantastic, breath-taking, action-packed, death-defying (yeah, you name it!) bout.  

i liked that he came out friends with his opponents, even having their pics taken with their medals on.  just shows the kind of sportsmanship these kids already have instilled in them at such a young age.  or maybe, they're going to keep tabs on each other for future fights?

definitely, it was one of the little big man's best days.  

thank you, Ma'am Vicky - Our small group of  parents now call you "Mother" among ourselves, for we witnessed for the first time how you were such a great coach on court, as strong-willed, supportive, yet gentle as a mother.  


thank you, Ma'am Sarah - I think the little big man got his new-found angas from you.  ;-) And for standing up  and asserting what should be. 


thank you, Sir Billy - For coming to the tournament eventhough you had your own game to go to, to support our players.

thank you and congratulations to our good friends and teammates for a great day.

the full weekend

friday we finally enrolled julla in ballet class at nty children's camp.  (she will start on april 5.)  then got her white dress for her moving up come sunday.

saturday we went to taekwondo practice with migo.  it was announced that the team will be moving to the new (high-tech great facility) gym next week.  migo was commended for getting the gold during the last tournament.  he and clarence are now called the tirador ng novice of the team.

after tkd, we went to trinoma with one objective: to get the kids new shoes.  lunch at sbarro.  finally got that brand new black adidas with transparent stripes for migo and cute white baby doll shoes for julla which she will wear too for the moving up.  afterwhich, they played for an hour at kidzone.  i took the chance to get some stuff for myself too at zara and shoebox.  hee-hee!! we got home around 8:30.  while facebooking later, i realized we completely forgot about Earth Hour which was scheduled from 8:30 to 9:30 pm.  

sunday was THE day.  my mom tagged along for julla's moving up ceremonies at the valenzuela convention center.  what a pleasant surprise for us to find out that she got the multi-intelligence award -- the highest lang naman in her class.  :)  of course, the little girl was oblivious to the joy and pride we, her parents and grandparent, felt.  the only prize she requested was lunch at mcdonald's.

later in the afternoon, we went kite-flying at the luneta grandstand.  there's something about the freedom of a flying kite that set off a wonderful feeling inside.  the kids loved running around the large open space.  i could tell hubby was enjoying too.  it was just unfortunate it wasn't as windy as the last time we were there.  after about two hours, we were off to fastfood dinner and mass at the adamson church (san vicente de paul parish)  oh, a calesa ride too...  migo and julla, although have already ridden a horse in baguio before, were squealing in excitement.

home by 9pm.  all's well.  it was a tiring weekend but happy and fulfilling as well.  we've created memories again for our kids.  it's all that really matters.

ok, so i'm back at work.  although only a 3-day workweek (it's holy week!) it still promises to be a lot in my hands, what with an impending announcement of some major changes in the company's corporate structure.  good luck to all of us.