A Day at the Movies!!

In the SM Gaisano City Mall there is a cinema. 

We went first for some shopping, a snack at Inasal and than a movie!  What a treat!  Movie is Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean, on Stranger Tides.

While were in the ticket booth they are handed us 3-D glasses, so when we entering the theater previews were underway and we found a seat in the dark. I saw my b/f wearing his 3-D glasses and I didn't know that glasses use to watch movies!  I thought it is a souvenir - simply glasses - then my b/f ask me where's are mine?  I told him it's in the bag,  he told me to get and wear it.

I did, at first I didn't know what is the difference.  It was about 3 minutes after I started to wear them that realized ....OHHH!! MY GOD!!!

It is really wonderful. It seems so real. It seems that I was in the action!  I feel that in the climax and fighting scenes it was breath taking!  My mouth almost hung open!  I don't know if my b/f saw me or what my reactions were. Wearing a 3-D glasses, when Johnny Depp pointed his sword at his enemy I could almost feel the tip of it on my nose already!  M heart beat fast - I thought he already hit me!

So it is really a movie worth paying premium for the 3-D version. We went home and I was still very amazed. Movie was funny and the experience was incredible. The tittle of the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean"on stranger tides..

We pick up school supplies for my girls, even new shoes.  But, I remember the movie!

 

Thanks for read my blog!  BB

Silly looking!! BUT Amazing!

One time.. NOT forgotten...

One bright morning, June 28, 2010, when I woke up I felt so inspired and thankful for everything because it is my birthday and my kids surprised me by greeting me "HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA"

That was very touching because they knew it was my birthday and they gave me flowers.

I went to the market and bought a live chicken, I killed and cooked and we ate. Fun! Well.. maybe not fun for Mr. Chicken, but for us something special for breakfast!  And I bought a one liter bottle of coca cola.  That's all I could do for treat to my kids, but they are happy and I am happy too.

Like so many years ago, I did not forget to go church and pray and light a candle. I prayed to give thanks for the things He has done for me and for my health. He gave me good health and He did not make me derelict or crippled. He gave me good and patient children and He understand our situation. I ask too more blessings to come in our life and tahnk for someone I have now - my b.f who is helping me much.

After I lit my candle I went home and continue at works in the home, then went off to work at the factory. My co-workers did not know it's my birthday but my friends and neighbors here they know and they great me too on my way by to go to the job. I don't have enough to treat to them but they understand. One of my friends, she treats me to a little snack with my other friends too. I thank her and am touched.

That was my all I have for my birthday last year.. but it was a good year, and I am so thankful. 

We see what happens for birthday in 2011!

Unforgetable... but parents forget.

One morning on June 28, 1982 it is my very wonderful day but it is wonderful for me only because no one else cares.

Its my Birthday. My parents were fighting because my papa got home at four a.m. from the bar. In the morning I am cooking rice and my mama went early to the village well to wash our clothes. That is why my brother, one year old, the youngest of us, cried when he can not see my mama close. I know that when my mama hears her crying boy she will shout at me, and say that I must take care my brother so that she can finish her washing.

While my mama is washing clothes I am sitting on the wood porch in front of her with my brother on my lap. I have finished cooking rice but we just can not eat yet because my mama has to finish the washing first.

When she's done, that is the time we can eat our breakfast. After eating I wash the dishes and go to my friend, ask her to go to church to light a candle. That is our tradition as Catholics.

When my mama cannot see me around, she shout and she want me to go home and spank and pinch me. Mama is so cruel to me, she said to me that I must be home every morning, I am not allowed to step outside or even go to church for a little prayer with my play mate. As Mom told me that I begged her please but she said no. She made me weep.

Afternoon 3 pm - almost all day wanting and waiting, the sun has almost set for my birthday, my friend Juditha and I go to church. I borrow 1 Peso money from her, so that i can buy candle, so Juditha, my best friend she pitied me for the cruelty of my mother and maybe for my the cruelty of my life, she handed me that one peso.

She said, "it is yours - don't pay me back that is only a little present for your very Special day", She greeted me and we hugged each other,  I didn't know why but that time my tears were falling down. When were in church I gave thanks that even the hardship I encounter everyday I am still have good health. Even my parents forget my birthday, it is ok for me. The important thing is that I am in good health.

When I get home from the church all is the same as usual.  I do my work at home and when the night comes no one remembers that it has been my Birthday. No one remembers the day I first see life and sun, that the day marks my 12 years of existing, of heartaches, and pains and being an older sister.

I don't have birthday party.

So now, years later, that is why when my kids have a birthday party even I don't have enough money I let them realize and know that I am their mom trying to make a living and trying to make their birthdays soo happy and special. As long as I can, I at least give them Hugs and kisses.

That is my unforgettable day. Since when I was young I have never had the experiencing of having a party on my birthday. At my age now I am happy and thanking GOD so much that I have experienced how to loved and am loved by the people around me. Thank you very much.

All I can give to my kids is my strongest affection and love. That's all, but they know I give it freely and remember what is special to them.

Awards!

One night after we chat my b/f send me an email address of a store in Cagayan de Oro to find something sexy. So, the next day I went to the city to find the address but... I couldn't find it.  So, we went to the mall to buy some dress for my girls. A nice formal for Llana, and a costume for Pammi in dance class, and another little outfit. I realize Llana is a very pretty young woman and help her choose dress that is good for her look but conservative.

They both received awards at school and had presentations. Llana is second academic grade in her year. Pammi is also in top of class and is honors student. My b/f also gave me some money to buy gifts for my kids for school awards, so I think is ok with him.  Maybe he is disappointed I not find sexy thing he wanted. He is good hearted but from distance is hard to keep interest and satisfy like I want to.  Have Pammi and Llana with me in city so maybe not best trip to find that store.

Sadly, the ceremonies are both on the same day. Make for hard day. I got confused about who is first and went to the wrong school. I found my youngest, left her, went to see other daughter in high school, and came back to first school but the ceremony was over.  Her principal had given her honors ribbon. I was disappoint to miss it.  Now school is over for a few months.  No expenses until first week of May when enrollment and classes open.

Then I have to pay entrance and for notebooks, papers, ball point pens, bags, shoes, socks. More.

I hope my boyfriend helps. My salary at the factory is not enough for these needs. I hope he understands.

<3

Dance class performs... new outfit!

Life on Cannery Row....

I  leave in my house at 1:30 pm and have to ride a trisikad to go town then transfer to jeep to go in the city to my job at the cannery. The trisikad has street priority in daytime, so is faster and easy to get to mains streets where I can catch jeepney. Give php15 (us$.035) to trisikad driver. Today it is Milan - who is registered with proper ID from government. He is engine, and driver for triskid. Takes 2-3 people. Usually just short trip to main street.  At street I catch jeepney (b/f says) this is only in Philippines. Made from jeep to carry many people on benches in back. Very colorful, so driver can get passengers attention. Jeepney from my town to Cagayan de Oro cost php25. (us$0.60). Is quick trip to factory.  Today crowded - many people - but I get seat. 

Before we go in to the plant, I read the sign at the gate. On a post "NO ID,NO SHOES NO ENTRY".   Important for discipline to look like employee, not squatter, so I arrive in uniform. White tee-shirt, jeans, have gloves, have hairnet and apron, have mask. Company and employees both serious about doing clean work with food product.

We are serious while we work. Begin 1:30pm, snack break at 6:00pm. My job is in finishing product. Is already to put in can when comes to me, I sometimes pick out eyes of pineapple - imperfections - I pickup pineapples (always use sterile gloves) and plop! into can. Pass on to machine that puts top on and seals. There are more than twenty of us who do this job. Hundreds of cans in an hour. Today I read advertisement. They need more people.

Desired qualifications -
Very Good scholastic records
Strong leadership skills
Team spirit
Above average skills in written and oral communication
Ability to work under pressure
Willing to undergo rigid training

So.. I am proud of job - we put this product on market and grocery shelves around the world. In America, in Europe, in Asia, Africa. Satisfying to make sweet treat but healthy for people everywhere. Job not pay so well, but is satisfying. To me at least. 

At snack time..its 6:00pm I will hide maybe today, I have only a candy mint for lunch, but my friend there Lilly, she gives me some of her lunch for free.  I'm shy about that, but when I have salary on pay-day, I sometimes give her free snacks too.  At the lunch time my coworkers always joking. We smile and laugh after lunch its quiet again, we are all back at jobs.  Rest of day goes quickly, back to work at 6:30pm, home at 8:30pm. I earn about php125 (us$3) for the day, after I pay jeepney and trisikad drivers both to work and back home.

This is our product - before is ripe - in the field.

And after work I am so excited to go home. No truancy for me!  It is good. Factory supervisor lets me choose own hours so I have mornings to do details and get Llana and Pammi to school, and they can stay at my sister's house on their way home. Straight home for me on jeepney and trisikad. Because of my kids and of course to talk again to my b/f on net. 

I am comfortable in my life, working at company and caring for my kids. Get support and inspiration from my b/f...  I look no further. It is enough for me..

This is day of factory worker in Misamis Oriental.

<3

The daughters I love...

Every morning I do the same work at home, make breakfast and look after and take care of my kids. Breakfast is rice, fried eggs, milk, hotdogs.  When they go to school, I maybe chat with boyfriend for a while, then I go to work at the pineapple canning factory.

Llana and Pammi - they are good students in school and at home they are always well behaved for me. I love my kids very much. They are my life. That is why I work hard for them. When they come home from school they do their projects and home work assignment before they going to sleep. School is serious here and all parents hope is way to better life for children.

Llana likes desert foods. My girl has a sweet tooth like her mother did! She likes to dress. I forget she is teenage girl now. Nice blouses, skinny jeans, sandals with heels. She is popular and has many friends at school and at home in our neighborhood. Most of her attention is on her studies. At school her favorite subject is English but she does well in all her subjects and does school activities after classes. Taekwondo and badminton, and is a dancer too. She is always winning in dance contest in her school. Music? She likes love songs and of course, worship songs from our church.

Little sister Pammi is always trying to keep up! She likes spaghetti salads but we can only in this kind of foods when have occasions here like birthdays. In school, her favorite subject is also English. She likes sexy clothes because she likes to be in pageants. She always goes. She won the 3rd runner up award last time she entered! Like her sister, Pammi is popular and has many friends at school and home. I am concerned, she needs more attention to her studies. I try to keep her concentrating and focused. She likes dancing too and she is in drum and bugle band. She would like to have a bicycle, but she doesn't know how to drive. Sometimes she's a performer. Singing, but no microphone, only a stick of softbroom. She like lovesongs and worship songs from our church. My boyfriend says Filipina like love songs too much. But is easy to get nice feeling from song. Maybe nice feeling in life comes along too. I hope for my girls.

They both have a good gradings on their report cards and have received awards in every grading periods. They are very involved in the school activities. I worry that their teacher may send me a notice for their tuition payments and school fees. I am afraid of interrupting their education by not enough money to pay.

Catholicism is important here in Philippines and I want my girls understand role of God and church in life. We pray to give thanks before we eat and after eating.  Then we pray before we leave our home. We pray before sleep and on waking.  Llana has not yet confirmation only recollection last March 15, 2010 and Pammi is only 9, but has first communion last February 2010. Both to go catechism and catholic class.

I am glad I meet my new b/f and he is willing to help. He sends enough for school, and so my kids can eat nutritious foods. I pay fees, buy milk and vitamins with his money. This little security has brought me comfortable now in life. The blessings we have now is enough for me and I am happy when I see my kids happy and healthy.

This is a big thing for me.

I love my daughters. Llana will read and giggle to hear about herself, but she knows this true and is from my heart.

I am proud of both my girls.

<3


Last report card -

With all my heart...

When my husband left me I fell into deep depression and at first I decided that I don't want to let my kids go to school. In other words, I want them to stop their studies. But, I thought it over many times and I really know and feel deeply that I should not ruin my kids' futures because of my misfortune. So even as a single mom I strive to encourage them to pursue their studies. Bless my sister, she bought them notebooks. They had gone to school without any bags, which when I thought about it I cried and it hurt me as a mother to see my kids going to school without a good dress and no slippers or shoes.

All mothers were children once and know how children can be cruel. My big concern is their school fees and their school uniforms - and the others. I fear that the other children will criticize them. The other children know that my kids' mother washed neighbor's clothes to earn money for their needs. But, even that is not enough, because I could only wash two times a week, so I also got work at the fruit canning company. Still my salary is not enough for our daily needs.

Really, that's why I decided to join my internet café friends. Karen and Carol and I go to the café everyday before I go to work. Maybe you read in my story about "Café Betrayal" that I met a guy who pitied me and helped me for my kids needs he sent me $25 a week, until one of my café friends found out and snatched him away. This was heartbreaking for me. He was nice to me, but it was my children's school and lunch and uniforms that she took. Not just internet chat boyfriend. That is why it hurt me so.

For months I didn't know who going to help me with my kids studies. I fell behind. But now I am lucky - have new b/f who has helped, but he wants me to tell stories so people can understand my life here in Misamis Oriental, for people who do not have land or money.

This is the story of my life on the way back. I hope I can continue, not for me really but mostly for my kids' future. Somehow new b/f and blog makes my world more colorful.  A little help with school fees and other necessities of life is what I need. People think internet café life is for fun and flirting and for camera play and playful tease. But for me is not.

My girls study hard at school. They know the cost to me. "A" students. I send report card to my new b/f, and I am proud. So is he. I am thankful for help, with all my heart.

<3