Flowers at dawn

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An Artist in the Making

"Dora the Explorer"

We are not "Dora the Explorer" , but we did explore San Quintin, from the farthest Barangay to the nearest....

Last Sunday seems to be the longest day that I ever had. It seems to be the hottest day that took in. It seems to be the most tiring day that I experienced.

AS agreed, we explore San Quintin, not as a tourist but as a person with much conviction that the reunion of Batch 96 will not only a dream but will surely come into reality.

It is not an easy task though we are not complaining. No one dictates us, no one ordered us (with Randy, Charo and Ching) but we did it with only one goal, that is to SHARE (SHARE on its deepest meaning……)

It doesn’t matter if we are like wearing something that makes us feel that we are living on the edge. It doesn't matter if we got a very long walk in the middle of a field with a super sunny day, what matters is we had FUN!!!

Anyway, even we are not "Dora the Explorer", we were able to explore not only SQNHS batch ’96 but San Quintin as it is!!!!...

Here are some of our pix..

Knocking SQNHS Batch '96

THis is it!!!

I am Calling all SQNHS Batch '96, there will be a grand reunion next year.

Initial talks are done already.And I am taking the chance to announce it here that the next phase of planning will be next Sunday!!! We(together with Randy, Charo and Cheng) are already done gathering email addresses, contact numbers of our batch (after having been to all barangay of San Quintin last Sunday --October 23, 2011). Though only have a handful right now, we are proud to say we will surely have a reunion (hehe!!!!)

To update every one, we are currently conducting a survey regarding the preferred reunion date and place, and of course " where to get our fund" (maybe a good samaritan might do his/her pledge after reading this....just keeping my fingers cross ..lol).

Suggestions has been posted to facebook site though some still ignores it, maybe a little "knock knock will do"

It is already October 2011 and the plan is to have it next year (no specific date yet), it may look like it's a long time from now, but it is better to plan early. Of course it is for me to have more time to lose weight and look good on the reunion day...... hehe!!!

So please spread the word and email me(gsantos_07@yahoo.com) or post on our Facebook wall if you have the email address of batch '96.I will surely use an end tab colored folders to file all gathered contacts and have a better details.

Oh, before I forget, we will also have our get-together on December, 2011...same time...same place(hello to Ricarte....hehe) ....

See you guys!!!

Sparkles: Mang Inasal Lunchdate

Sparkles: Mang Inasal Lunchdate: Last week, we again agreed to have a Friday lunch outside the campus So, we had another lunchdate at Mang Inasal, this time, Sir Jacaban tr...

Ten Principles of Losing Weight

Yes, I am taking it seriously ..lol,

My mom brought home a magazine .. " Health at Home , International Journal of Better Living and one article is about losing weight.

But of course , once I read it I found the urgency of sharing it and post it here.

This is what i got...( I included my comments hehehe)

"Ten Principles of Losing Weight"

1. Think long term. Shortcuts and quickie plans never last

I always thought that once I escape 3 meals i could lose 2 kilos hahaha!!!!

2. Do it for yourself. Improving your health and energy are better motivation than a coming class reunion

Oh well, we are planning to have a class reunion next year, maybe it would be a bonus then to have a slimmer look..

3. Prepare the way. Don't rush into a diet before you are ready for long- term changes. Keeping a diet journal. will help you become more aware of what you eat and why.

I should consider doing it. Since, as of now, I only limit my self to eating half cup of rice ( but I could still not resist eating chocolates haaaiiizzz)

4. Think fruits, grains, legumes, and vegetables. In the standard American diet, more than 50 percent of calories came from fat, sugar and alcohol

chocolates....chocolates........

5. Control portion sizes. Use a smaller plate. Serve yourself smaller portions and put away leftovers before you eat. At restaurant, ask for a doggie bag instead of cleaning your plate

We are using big plates hehehe....I might suggest to mom to have a smaller plate then (anyway she is also want to lose weight hehe)

6. Eat three meals a day. Eating at regular intervals will not send your body into a deprivation(starvation) mode, which may cause you to eat and binge more.

Ohh did I read it right? three meals a day!!!!! okay.. no comment hehe

7. Maintain your program. Successful weight - lose managers realize that they are not on a temporary diet - they are starting a permanent new lifestyle.

8.Exercise. It's fun and keeps you flexible. Activity is the key to successful weight control, particularly in middle age.

Emphasizing middle age hehe .....

9.Don't overdo it. Don't push yourself to the higher end of the target range. A brisk one-hour walk a day is a terrific goal for steady, healthy weight management.

Yaah, I should not push my self to the limit...

10. When you think activity - think "play". Walking the dog, gardening, yard work, household chores, sports, bicycling, and playing with kids are all productive activities. How do kids exercise? They play! You can have fun too.

Jumping rope and badminton with Clarence might do for now!

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This principle are so simple, though requires a lot of Self discipline.

Mom's fieldtrip with Clarence

It was very unfortunate that I wasn't able to be with mom and my daughter during Mom's fieldtrip, I had my very long Ph.D. final exam then (as mentioned on my previous post)

Anyway, Clarence had a great day as seen in this pictures...

They went to Intramuros, Crocodile park ( I think it is near Star City), Manila Ocean Park and Mall of Asia..

Mang Inasal Lunchdate

Last week, we again agreed to have a Friday lunch outside the campus

So, we had another lunchdate at Mang Inasal, this time, Sir Jacaban treats us (yippeeeyyy!!!!)

Looking forward to another Friday lunch date with you sir!!!

5s at office

Papers, Books, envelops, folders, plastics, box, pen, cartons scissors, calculators, well they are all around the corners in our office. (I'll try to post pix sometime hehe) and well they are really an eyesore. No proper filing, putting different stuff together, no labels, haha what a working area isn't it? Hay, I always get frustrated looking for files and I think my workmates also do feel the same.

I've done a little 5s in my workplace today. Sorted papers, reports, filed documents, labeled folders, thrown away unnecessary stuff. I had a long day doing it but I think it was a little fun and worthwhile. Just seeing a well thought-out area well makes us more stimulating get done with our task ahead of time.

While doing my 5s (ohh I think I only did 1s--sort hehe) , I asked my workmates to also do the same on their area ( anyway we are starting our QMS, 5s might be a great help) I just do hope they may also do their share (and might be not in attendance in a little while on their social networking toil ...lol) . They might like to have a custom divider wizard to start doing their own 5s. Who might want to have a cluttered work space anyway?

A chaotic workspace I think also indicates a chaotic mind, and this is not the message I want to send to my superiors or to our customers.

And since 5S stands for Sort-Set in order-Shine-Standardize-Sustain, It would be better to start first with: SORT – We need to go through with our stuff. Though, it might be a daunting task and sometimes a stumbling block need to dedicate some time to sorting so a good idea is to come in on. Our goal is to get rid of as much as possible. We might consider having a storage box and label them as follows:

Things I need and use every day

Things I occasionally need

Things I haven't touched in over three months and have no need for

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we are still on our level one--- just beginning--- where necessary and unnecessary stuff are mixed together. I just do hope we could do it right at put a commitment on it!!!!

Unforgettable

It is already Tuesday, but I could still feel in my veins what had happened last Saturday. Hehe, haven’t get rid with it and the hangover is still there.

Whoops, it is not about drinking liquor, it is about our very long Ph.D. final exam ( anyway my “kalyo” is still aching”). I think my classmates also do feel the same, it is my very first time, hahaha, first timers predicament I think!!

I am thinking now if what I have written is good enough to justify my callous, if my grammars are in good shape. How could I forget that in the last hour of our exam, my hands already refusing to write for it already shakes and could no longer form a single word (and so my mind too.)

Anyway, I haven’t slept the whole night then before my exam, nope , I didn’t review nor read my notes hehe… it is just because I need to prepare stuff of my daughter because she’ll be going to a fieldtrip (huhuhu, I wasn’t able to be with her!!!!)

An unforgettable experience, but it was fun…

Gentle with myself

I just started my "Losing weight" plan a while ago, and got this message from my Facebook account.

Hayy!!! I should realize it by now that in order for me to achieve my Weight goal, I should BE GENTLE with Myself!! Thank God for knocking my head!!

This will be the first on my self imposed rule, a Self imposed Policy, a motivation now and maybe forever...

And of course the other one..BE KIND and SUPPORTIVE . I will surely highlight it on my journal!

Have a Happy Wednesday everyone!!!

It's tiring

I was doing a little stretching exercising this morning when this thought popped up. Whooaaa, I am tired of being fat. I wanna try being slim. I wanna try having a little tummy, I wanna try stuff with an S or XS size.

Hahaha!!! (I just only realized it today????? )Nope, It was a wish before but now I believe it is a MUST to do now..LOL!

Well come to think of it. I should now take it seriously. I am tired of being heavy. How about being slim for a change, right? Nyay, of course, it will not take me one day to become thin. I did not become fat overnight anyway!!! (haaayyy...chocolates!!!)

Yes I know It's going to take time. It's going to take a lot of effort, motivation, and focus and of course SELF DISCIPLINE.

I should change my perception. I always try to lose weight but after quite some time I procrastinate. I should take it seriously not for any other reason but to be healthy and to have more choices of all girl stuff that I mostly like.

Yes, I always lose weight, always trying to lose weight but then again, I'd gain the weight back.Oohh, It's a ferocious cycle.(how bad!!)

Hayyy!!!! It's tiring. It’s really tiring.( haha!! what a sentiment!!!)

It must be a self imposed RULE now, I should try..ohhh not try I SHOULD lose weight and make it forever. And I will do it TODAY not tomorrow, or next month or next year but TODAY!!!!(focus..focus....LOL).

(wish me luck!!) .. wink”,)

Edible Fern

Most of the time if we were not able to have a quick breakfast before going to work, we order breakfast meal and let it delivered at the office. Though sometimes we could no longer manage to eat what we ordered so we often have it for lunch.

It was a rainy Tuesday then when we had this conversation

Buddy: Breakfast?

Me: Yup..

Buddy: So, what is your order?

Me: Oh I have "pako" here.

Buddy: "Pako"? Nakakain ba yon?

Me: Yup! why?

Buddy: Haven't heard about it .

Me: Oh well, You could try eating it later hehehe!!!

Buddy: How did you cook it?

Me: Nope, I did not cook it, I will make salad later. A fern salad.

Buddy: Can't wait tasting it, Could I see how it looks like?

(I wasn't able to take picture of it before the salad thing, but thanks to google for having this picture.--http://pinakbet.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/486pako02.jpg)

It was first introduced to me by my grandpa(father side) when I was i think 7 years old and became one of my favorite edible plant. So this is how my "pako" salad looks like then..

There are lots of ways to prepare this edible fern – you could have it fresh as vegetable salad mixed with fresh tomatoes, a little of calamansi juice and "bagoong" or any dressing that you want. Some folks cooked it in coconut milk or simply blanched and mixed with grated green mango and onions.

Well anyway, I have learned from my mom that this fern only grows at the sides of very cold rivers or streams and usually folks and kids go near rivers and picked them and sell them to have extra cash ( one bundle I think ranges from Php15 to Php20)

Also you might try doing this recipe:

Bundle of Pako (1 or 2)

2 Red/Salted Egg (Itlog na Maalat)

1 Onion (either white or red) chopped

2 Tokwa (deep fry until golden brown then chopped )(optional)

3 Tomatoes chopped (desired shape)

8 Tbsp calamansi juice

4 tsp patis

a pinch of salt and pepper (to taste)

1 tbsp sugar

- wash pako, remove young leaves and tops from the stem. disregard the stem. wash again the young leaves and tops, put in a bowl then set aside

-mix onion, tomato, calamansi juice, patis, salt, pepper and sugar. (taste will be dependent to what you prefer. if you want it sweeter you could add some more brown sugar) in another bowl.

- in a bigger bowl put the pako, toss in the dressing together with the salted egg and the tokwa

-serve and enjoy eating the edible fern salad.

Oh, before I forget, my buddy enjoyed eating the salad and looking forward to another recipe soon.