Summer Splash in Hundred Islands

This is the view of the pier at Children's Island, one of the developed islands at Hundred Islands in Alaminos, Pangasinan. Thanks to dear hubby for these photos taken on our daughter's 10th birthday in summer 2007.

Kids enjoy under this rock forming like a cave.The water is crystal-clear so they can see the aquarium fish around.

 

One of the hundred islands

 

And here's another

 

Here's cousin Jun on his triumphant rock climbing through the vines at Governor's Island after hurdling the CPA board. On his left is the entrance to the cave with lots of bats inside. 

 

The rest-house of Pinoy Big Brother in one of the islands

A long range shot

The birthday girl enjoys soaking herself in the pristine water.

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Happily Wrapped in Yellow Batik Malong

 My cutie-pie enjoys being wrapped in SIL's yellow batik malong. Malong is a very versatile piece of cloth commonly used in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and even in some parts of Thailand. The full-length is 2 spans combined together to cover the full height of the user. It is very handy for travelers as it can be placed in a handbag so if they don't want to use the sheets served in the hotels, they can simply use their own malong. Or if they are traveling by bus, train or even plane, they can use it as a blanket when it's cold. It is also used artistically in beauty pageants and it is styled as a nice gown in different ways. Malong is made from different fabrics and prints but I love the soft cotton with batik design most.I keep 3 pieces of it as a collection.

Tree House and Long Winding Kennon Road

 

The Tree House at PMA, Baguio City - Summer Capital of the Philippines

The long winding Kennon Road to Baguio

The Lion Head (sorry not so clear, was taken by hubby from a long distance) on Kennon Road. Can you notice the cross? A lot of vehicles fell down into the cliff on  this site.

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Cool and Peaceful Scene on a Boring Wednesday

Pop-eyed  frog waiting
for the fresh rolled waterlily leaf
in the pond to open and hop on.

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Red books we read

Some best-sellers our American friends passed on to us.

Academics, Literature and Health

My kids bought these books along with Amazing Facts and Eragon from KL Sentral Train Station in Malaysia on our way to Singapore. They're an entertaining read for little kids on a long boring trip.

Buying books for kids even at a very early stage is a lifetime investment as they learn to love reading especially if they see adults around reading a lot. I bought these colorful books for Baby Jako from Scholastica during the Thailand International Education Exhibition. I got them 25% off when my baby was only 3 months old and now he's enjoying them especially Let's Spell with Clifford, the red dog as he can easily flip the thick pages.

It's our kids' all-time favorite since they were babies yet. Now they're 12 and 11 so they're now the ones telling its stories to their 8 month old baby brother. Its simplified stories and interesting illustrations make kids love Bible stories.

"A family that reads together grows together."

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Bright Sea Creatures at Ocean Adventures

 Here's an interesting aquarium fish with a bright yellow spot I captured at Subic Bay Ocean Adventures. It took me some time to take a shot I got contented of as this kind of fish is hyperactive.

 

A yellowish fish is swimming around the yellow corals.

 

 More bright corals

 

This creature rests peacefully on yellow rocks covered with sea moss and corals.

 

 I like these corals very much with the yellowish manta ray as a background.

 

It's my first time to see this kind of  yellow starfish. It matches well with the yellow rock and brown seaweeds as its background.

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Rice-planting season

Half of the rice field is waiting to be planted. This photo was taken at Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac, while the bus was running on its way to Subic Bay during my kids' fieldtrip to Ocean Adventures early December. Hacienda Luisita is mainly owned by the family of the late first lady president of the Philippines, Mrs. Corazon Cojuangco Aquino.

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Of being a Nanny

Hush, my baby is sleeping! I have to sneak to the PC to post here quickly. You know what? It's my second day as a nanny. To my own baby! Yes, I've been absent from my work because our baby's nanny had to go home after 4 months of taking care of our now hyperactive little boy. I realize more how important the role of a nanny is. That's why I keep telling my kids never to look down on anyone doing menial jobs such as farmers, janitors, drivers and even nannies and domestic helpers. I asked them why they should not. Their answer was: Without the farmers, we don't have food to eat; without the janitors, our environment will be dirty; without a nanny, mommy and daddy can't go to work and if they don't go to work, we can't go to school... and if we can't go to school we are nothing... and so on. Good, they know the value of menial workers. I can't imagine myself without our dear cousin who has been patiently taking care of them for over 5 years now.
The good thing I'm now serving as a  nanny myself is to be more compassionate, understanding, grateful and respectful to any nanny in the world even to moms who are serving as nannies to their own kids. I would say, they play a very important role in every family that needs them and to the society as a whole. Without them, like teachers, even the greatest of lawyers, doctors, engineers, businessmen, politicians, etc. haven't become what they are.

New Year's Eve Traditions

Some of us believe that to make the new year prosperous and bountiful, we have to make our New Year's Eve celebration festive and colorful. Accordingly, red foods are the best at this time. Some also believe that it is good to prepare round-shaped fruits and wear polka-dotted clothes as the shape of money is circle. What about the bills which have bigger values? Are there rectangular fruits? What about the 13 kinds of fruits? What do they symbolize? Some people make noise or have a display of fireworks to ward off evil spirits or simply enjoy the colorful sight of them. Those who are not careful with fireworks or even just onlookers end up fingerless or burnt.
Our celebration was just a simple one. It was joyous enough that our family was complete and we had some friends to share the joy with in welcoming the new year and in being grateful for the past year. It was just a coincidence that we prepared some reddish foods. It so happened that my kids' favorite food is spaghetti and for us adults it includes caldereta (beef or goat meat stew) and escabeche (fried fish with sweet and sour sauce). One of the family's favorite fruits is red watermelon. Perhaps, the good reason for this tradition of preparing colorful foods at this season is the psychological effect red brings being joyous and inviting.It's also a coincidence that we use polka-dotted dinner plates and our friends who believe in the luck it may bring were so happy.
Whether or not we have colorful foods or 13 kinds of fruits on our table, wear any polka dots or have a grand display of magnificent fireworks , what matters most in beginning the year is our optimism in life and our will to make ourselves a better person.
What about your idea of new year's celebration and resolution?
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Time is Gold yet Reduce Stress

How's your new year everyone? Mine was very well spent as my family was complete.
This is my first post for this year and I want to begin the new year right. Here are some Time Saving Tips to help us reduce stress and improve our productivity this year 2010. 
I stumbled upon this list of tips at Pag-ibig Home Development Fund Office in Gensan last month so I took a photo of it as I consider it worth sharing.

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