During this entire Ondoy and Pepeng experiences, there was one prominent word that I felt — guilt. However, it was something I couldn’t (and still can’t!) process.

I felt guilty that the people in so many places lost their homes. I felt guilty I couldn’t give more (there’s a point when you just have to give and it hurts — been there several times). I felt guilty I was thinking of business while people are sardined in evacuation centers. I felt guilty that I couldn’t join my friends in our breastfeeding missions. I felt guilty that I was still living my life normally (save for our basement, lol!) while so many people stopped their lives (for weeks!) to help out.

The past two years that this run has been on, I’ve been really too lazy to get up and join! Now that it was on it’s 3rd year, and Jan (one of the people who put the run together) knew I was running (kuno), I knew I had no way out.

Well, I nearly thought this was my way out…

It had rained all night! I did text Jan and ask if the run was still on…I had no excuse, because TBR said it was unless there was a storm.

Here were a few sights I saw…

This was cute, a guy in all pink! Note the socks!

And I suppose this guy is behind www.thebaldrunner.com…

And we were off!

(Sorry! I don’t know what is wrong with my orientation, and why I can’t fix the pix!)

And THIS is what made me continue…

I actually had a lot of fun, so thanks, Jan for inviting me!

Okay, so I was in a meeting last Monday. And I receive a call from our admin assistant, “Ms Jen, may box po kayo ng Krispy Kreme dito.”

And I texted her back: “Gusto niyo lang kumain no?? “

This was the box that was waiting when I got back to the office…thanks to Krispy Kreme through GMCI!!

Lookit those killer donuts. No wonder they were “cakey” because they’re Kreme Cakes!

Too heavy for me though. However, the rest of the office was extremely happy! Bring it on!

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After walking what felt like hours in this place, I know now why it’s called the Forbidden City. It was so huge, it forbids people to from wanting to walk to see the emperor. LOL!

I actually forgot to put sunscreen on the neck so I had a huge ring around my chest, where my shirt’s collar was. Hahaha!

Here’s one of the less populated gates. I think behind it is the garden.

It looks really bright because they’ve repainted the gates.

We wanted a spot without much people, the people in our group wondered where we were. But we got a nice picture here:

Here’s one of the emperor’s many thrones, I’m glad S was able to take a photo of it. There were just too many people (both local and international tourists) that I didn’t want to make “siksik” anymore.

And another, which I recall seeing when I finally watched “The Last Emperor“.

I swear, there were so many rooms there (to think we didn’t even see rooms other than the emperor’s), I can’t remember where this was…living quarters or what.

I like how I took this picture:

The last stop was at the garden, but I realize that we didn’t take nice pictures, so I’m leaving you with this one of the gazebo (my interpretation of what it is).

I am Filipino by birth and Chinese by heritage. When a Singaporean friend ask me several years back what I would say if someone asked me if I were Chinese or Filipino, what would I say? I automatically said, “Filipino”. She said that she would, in the same vein, say “Singaporean”. (She’s Chinese by heritage as well.)

On the one hand, we, who are “not exactly” Pinoy and “not exactly” Chinese, have been blessed to have both worlds. On the other hand, it is also difficult because I have personally experienced being called “different” by other Pinoys.

Just recently, I had a chance to visit China, the land of my ancestors. It wasn’t exactly like we were in their province (am assuming that we came from Fujian province, as the dialect that’s spoken by my folks and their folks was that one). But we went to Beijing.

We did a lot of touristy stuff (obviously as we *were* on tour). Here are some pictures:

The map of Tian’anmen Square (天安们). (I’m putting the Chinese names to impress you. Hahahahahahaha!)

Here is the entrance to the Forbidden City.

That place was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.!!!! There was a moat around it and we had to walk what felt like MILES to get to the inner part where the emperor’s living quarters were. Apparently, he had a place where he used to do business, and also a place where he used to read the morning papers (to prepare for his business meetings), and a place where he actually lived, he and his wives.

Here are some pictures entering the main gate.

Here’s a tourist trap, oh I mean, a souvenir shop inside the city.

Here is a traditional baby carrier, and a baby that looks like a Cabbage Patch doll!

I like this framed shot S took…

(to be continued)

Thanks to one of our Ninangs at our wedding, I cooked Hainanese Chicken.

And since I put it on Facebook, a lot of people have asked for the recipe. That’s actually a first, really, because, as a lot of those people know, I.don’t.cook. Yep, that’s because my mom is a great cook…didn’t feel the need to learn anymore. (Until our cook left. Long story.)

Anyways, going back to the recipe–let me just say that it was easy peasy. Honest. (Wonder if it’s those “survival” instincts kicking in, considering again, I.don’t.cook…but.now.I.need.to.)

So gals, here it is:

rub salt in and out the chicken

put the following in a pot:
10 cups water
6 slices ginger
6 cloves smashed garlic

bring to a boil. when boiling, put in chicken, breast side down. lower flame to simmer. After 20 minutes, turn off flame and DO NOT OPEN the cover for 2 hours to allow the chicken to continue cooking.

After 2 hours, take the chicken out and plunge in icy water to stop cooking.

To make the rice (you have to do this after the two hours):

In a pot, saute minced garlic and ginger in some oil, and when browned, put in 2 cups of rice. Stir then put in 4 cups of chicken broth.

To make the ginger sauce:

chop very finely (or grate) ginger
chop onion leeks
put salt
put in oil

That’s it! Have fun everyone!

So, general rules at the table is no toys — if my father-in-law’s around.

And he isn’t.

So yesterday, K brought some two transformers to dinner. After the meal, he asked Ate N to hold them for him as he was preparing to go back to the room.

I said, “K, you brought them him, you should carry them back yourself.”

He sidles up to me and says (real smooth), “But mom, I want to hold your hand.”

We’re dead when he’s dating age.

Everyone knows HK is both a food and a shopping haven.  So everytime we go (sounds like a lot, but it’s not, really), S makes a list of “must buy” items.  (Yes, between the both of us, he’s the shopper.  Mana sa nanay.)

This trip, his (practically) only “must buy” item was a laptop.  And after the first day, it was a toss up between a Sony Vaio and a MacBook (the newer one, of course, the one that’s made of aluminum).

Day one came to pass, and he was still confused about which one to buy.  Both were within his budget (well, okay, so they were a *little* over), sleek, light enough (the MacBook Air still wins, but he didn’t get that), and met most of his criteria (there were geek things like how fast, the chips, whatever…)

By day two, he had an excel file listing each one’s pros and cons.  He went to bed so late trying to decide which to get.  Saturday morning (day three already!  And we are only staying till day four)), he left early, and said he was going to check out both already.  But he came back with a bunch of so beautiful roses, and greeted me “happy anniversary, you didn’t think I’d not get you flowers, would you?”…he just bought flowers, and STILL couldn’t decide which machine to get.

Come our renewal rights.  So Fr Ari starts with, “do you guys know what the symbol for the 10th year is”?  S and I look at each other and wondered what the symbol is.  We said we didn’t know, and didn’t even bother checking.

Fr Ari said, “The symbol of the 10th year of marriage is tin or aluminum”.

S and I looked at each other and said, “it’s a SIGN!” and started laughing.  Laughing so hard we couldn’t stop!  ALUMINUM!  Of course, by this time, Ari looks at us like we were crazy.  So in the midst of the laughter, we manage to blurt out that the reason why we were laughing…it was because the MacBook is made of aluminum, thus S finally knew what laptop to get!

10 years.

S and I have been married for 10 years.  We had known each other 13 prior to that.  We’ve known each other for more than half our lives.  We felt it best to celebrate by renewing our vows.

So, on the 14th of March, 2009, we did.  Fr Ari Dy, a friend from highschool and a Jesuit priest, officiated the rites for us.  He so graciously offered to arrange the details with the chapel at the Mariner’s Club in Kowloon, a few minutes away from where we stayed.

Ari chose a wonderful reading, here it is—

Sirach  (40:18-27)
But goodness will never be cut off, and justice endures forever.
Wealth or wages can make life sweet, but better than either, is finding a treasure.
A child or a city will preserve one’s name, but better than either is attaining wisdom.
Sheep folds and orchards bring flourishing health; but better than either, a devoted (spouse);
Wine and music delight the soul, but better than either, conjugal love.
The flute and the harp offer sweet melody, but better than either, a voice that is true.
Charm and beauty delight the eye, but better than either the flowers of the field.
A friend, a neighbor, are timely guides, but better than either, a prudent husband and wife.
A brother, a helper, for times of stress; but better than either, charity that rescues.
Gold and silver make one’s way secure, but better than either, sound judgment.
Wealth and vigor build up confidence, but better than either, fear of God.
Fear of the Lord leaves nothing wanting; he who has it need seek no other support.
The fear of God is a paradise of blessings; its canopy, all that is glorious.

Thanks Ari, for celebrating with us!

Thanks honey, for the 23 years!  Here’s looking forward to more!!!