Happy Birthday Carl!

Happy Birthday Carl, Cal, Callie!!!

Happy birthday Smoochum, Fat So Tri, Carlbo, Carlitos dela Cheetos :)

God bless you!

Lolan

Lord, help us to see death for what it really is,
 the end of poverty and the beginning of riches;
 the end of frustration and the beginning of fulfillment;
 the end of fear and the beginning of tranquility;
 the end of pain and the beginning of joy;
 the end of weakness and the beginning of strength.

I remember Kuya Ronald as a happy person. We fondly call him Lolan. We both loved food. He will always prepare good food for us during christmastime and during bakasyon. We both liked basketball. He would accompany me to my basketball games during summertime and I would also watch his basketball games in our town plaza. I still remember when I was young and I wanted to join a basketball league and the team I want to join in have so many requirements. He noticed that I am getting a little bit frustrated, so he asked me to join his team instead and promised no other requirements (he got connections hehe). During that summer basketball league, he advised me to have fun and just enjoy the game, a good advise that is applicable in the game and in life.

Today is supposedly his 52nd birthday but God has better plans for him. And so today is his 9th day in a better place (pasiyam).

Let me quote another line from a prayer...

Let not grief overwhelm us, or a sense of loss embitter us.
But out of our sadness, let there arise a new joy, for so much given to us.

Thank you for the happy memories Kuya Lolan!

Rest in peace Kuya Ronald! May your soul and the souls of all faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.

Ate

(This post was conceptualized April 26, 2016 on the exact date of her bday but given last week's schedule was tough, so I'm posting this on the last day of April, still her birthday month).

Si Ate na butihing maybahay ni Kuya. Si Ate na nakasama ko sa Maynila nung nag-aaral pa ako. Mabait. Magaling magluto, at malaking impluwensya sa pag introduce sa akin ng iba't ibang gulay at ulam lalo na yung galing sa Norte (hi pinakbet, hello papaitan!).

Unique din ang pangalan nya. Filipinas. Tapos marami sya nickname. Nandyan ang Fely, Pie, Arpee at Pye. At bigla ko pala naalala hanggang ngayon hindi ko pala natatanong sa kanya kung ano ba talaga ang kwento behind the name. Kelangan ko rin yata iconfirm sa kanya kung sobra ba talagang nationalistic sila Tatay Roger at Nanay Lourdes kaya yun ang name nya.

Isa sa mga hindi ko malilimutang kwento with Ate ay ganito: Nagsisimba kame tatlo nila Kuya. Sa Mount Carmel Church sa me Broadway, New Manila. Habang nagdadasal kme nakaluhod sa pew, napansin ko na napasandal sya sa akin, tapos pabigat ng pabigat yung pagkakasandal nya. Yun pala nahihilo na kase nga coming soon na pala si Yamski :)

2015 PH Visit
Group Pic with Ate Pye and the gang at Omakase

Dahil nga istrikto si Kuya (teka obvious naman nung dinetail ko sa previous post na ito di ba?) si Ate yung equalizer. Kung si Kuya yung masugid na disciplinarian na nagbabawal na kung anu-ano si Ate naman ay tahimik at relax lang. At kung kokonsulatahin mo sa mga bagay-bagay malumanay lang nya sasabihin sa yo yung opinion nya at hindi iimpose ang gusto nya. Madalas dadaanin ka pa nga reverse psychology. Later on ko lang na-realize na ganun pala strategy nilang mag asawa. Parang good cop/bad cop lang. Or give and take, bawal magalit ng sabay, bigayan lang. Very useful sa buhay mag-asawa.

Dati marami syang "points of view" na hindi ko mapagtanto kung bakit ganun (pero parang inaccept ko na lang). Pero nung kinasal na ako dun ko lang nainitindihan na "there is wisdom behind those points of view".

Salamat Ate. Sa mga words of wisdom at advice mo.

Happy Birthday sa yo Ate Pye!!!
God bless you and the your family!

Happy Birthday Raven!!!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here are five thousand words to greet you a Happy Happy Birthday!!!

I

LOVE

YOU

VERY

MUCH

I promise that this will be a month-long (maybe even 2-month-long) birthday celebration!

Happy Birthday Moms!!!

March Celebrators

Happy Birthday to all March Celebrators

March
3 - Mama
7 - Tatay Romy
30- Marlouie

love from me

Happy Birthday Mama Cely

Ma, I know the bday celebration we did last time was sort of unconventional... The important thing is that we had a celebration with the family and we enjoyed the day (and the food of course).

I know actions speak louder than words, so I will not make this birthday post too long.

I just want you to know that I love you so much and I wish you good health, abundant blessings and many more birthdays to come!!!

Happy Birthday Mama!

Happy Birthday Mama!

Love and kisses from me and raven and the whole clan.

This is a placeholder for a future post for chartotem blog.

February Bday Dudes and Dudettes

For a change, I will greet the February Birthday celebrators early

1 Corinne
4 Aura
11 Bea
13 RJ
21 Rakki
23 Wino
28 Annel

Happy Happy Birthday guys and gals!

January Bday Celebs

Happy New Year!

As a new year resolution, I plan to revive this bday greeting sessions here at chartotem.

So for January, let me greet the following dude and dudette a happy happy birthday...

19 Ken Brother
25 Ian Cherryl

Happy New Year

Happy New Year 2016!

I thank God for all the blessings that me and my family received last year.



Intro post lang muna for 2016. Will try to post most here and in the other blogs this year.

Again let me greet you readers and friends a Happy New Year! May we all have Prosperous Year this 2016!!!

Happy Birthday Ate!

I want to greet my lovely sister on her special day but the six birthday quotes idea was done so I need to be extra creative with this blog post.

Ito ang good side at down side ng magkasunod ang birthday ng mga kapatid mo. Good side e hindi mo makakalimutan ang birthday nilang pareho. Down side e pag me regalo ka sa isa, dapat me regalo ka rin sa isa, kase magkakainggitan :-). Pero meron bright side for me, kase nde ako nagreregalo sa mga kapatid ko pag birthday so patas lang sila palagi.

Ano bang special na natatandaan ko sa Ate ko na magandang ishare sa birthday nya?

Una, Sharp Eyes.  Sa tagalog, malinaw ang mata, kase mahilig daw sya kumain ng kalabasa (at tsesa?). Eto yung Ate ko na pinaka malinaw ang mata sa magkakapatid, very good in spotting details, good sense of direction pag nagta-travel nde kayo maliligaw.

Next si Phoebe Cates. Favorite nya si Phoebe Cates dati at nung bata pa ako e me mga poster pa yan ng Paradise star sa room nya. In fairness, medyo kahawig sya ni Phoebe Cates... lalo na nung bata pa sya :)

Next, On being a gentleman. Siya ang ate ko ang nagturo (at nag-instill sa utak ko) na pag maglalakad ka kasama ng friends mong babae (either special someone or otherwise) eh dapat daw dun ka sa "danger side" kase lalaki ka. Example: dun ka sa side ng sidewalk na dinadaan ng sasakyan, para pag mababangga una ka hehehe). Palagi mo daw poprotektahan mag babae, yun daw yung pagiging gentleman. Sa tingin ko this advise served me well lalo na nung nagbibinata na ako :) .

"OK lang ang mga kalyo sa kamay". Let me explain. Nung bata pa kme, nakiki-holding hands yan sa akin, at magkokomento yan na dapat daw sa lalaki e hindi smooth ang kamay. OK lang daw yung me kalyo sa kamay kase ibig sabihin nun yung lalaki e sanay sa hirap at sanay sa mga gawaing bahay (at nde Mama's boy at sobrang umaasa sa magulang or katulong). At dahil nga na-train ang engineering/electrician/carpentry skills sa kuya na panganay, sa tingin ko good and lasting ang advise na yon sa akin at nadala ko sa aking paglaki.

Baka madami pa ako masulat sa susunod, pero me time pressure today kase dapat ma-ipost ko ito ng September 10 para sakto sa birthday nya.

So some birthday greetings (researched and edited) especially for you Ate Lani:
"If our kooky family were represented by cookies, you my kooky sister would be the chocolate chip. Why? Because you are so sweet! (Kaya nga Suetlani di ba?) 
Happy Birthday, Sis!!!"

I wish you good health and abundant blessings!

Tayabas 2012

Me,Ate and Cian, Swim/bonding time after Papa/Mama Golden Wedding Anniv 

<note: I don't usually post personal pics here, but another sort of exception to the rule for my sis>

Happy Birthday Ate Lani!!!
God bless you!!!

Happy Birthday Kuya!

I really want to greet  my Kuya a Happy Birthday in a memorable way... So let me do it via a blog post :)

In the tradition of my free six series of blog post, I have researched and collected the catchiest, coolest and craziest six birthday greeting quotes for him on his special day! Here we go...

"On your birthday, many miles may keep us apart, but you are always in my heart!"

"My love for you is directly proportional to the number of gifts you will give me on my birthday. Plan accordingly. Happy Birthday!"

"Today, I want you to know that I am grateful for a brother like you. Wishing you nothing but the best on your special day, brother."

"May all your dreams come true this year, dear brother. Let’s raise a toast to your birthday and many birthdays to come!"

"Some people have wealth. Some have beauty. Some have fame. But I hit the jackpot when I got you as a brother. Happy Birthday!"

"Wishing you a very Happy Birthday bro, and you don’t have to say it out loud that I am your favorite brother (I already know that). Love you!!!"

Misibis 2015
Me and Kuya sumiselfie, Bonding time in Bicol

<note: I dont usually post personal pics here in chartotem, but this one with the usual edits/filtering will be another sort of exception to the rule>

Happy Birthday Kuya Mey!!!

God bless you!!!

special thanks to here and here for the greeting quotes and ideas  

Kuya

(This post was conceptualized in 2014 when the Kuya visited Manila with the whole famille entourage. I'm posting it on his birthday month as a late birthday greetings post here in chartotem's blog)

Si Kuya na guardian ko nung  high school. Sya yung pumipirma sa report card ko dati pag 1st/2nd/3rd grading period. Si kuya na umaatend ng PTA meetings ko sa school. Si Kuya na nag-sermon nung una kang nag-overnight outside manila ng walang kapaa-paalam nung high school. Yung kuya tinataguan mo pag gusto mo mag basketball sa kanto pag gabi (ayaw na ayaw nya kase uuwi ka ng pawisang pawisan sa gabi, kaya dapat kakutsaba mo mga anak nya para iwas sermon ka). Yung Kuya na magaling mag-gitara, at bilib na bilib ka sa acoustic nya, mapa-Apo Hiking Society man o Rey Valera.

Bday 2014

Kuya with me and my other bros + his best friend

<note: I dont usually post personal pics here, but this one with some edits/filtering will be some sort of exception to the rule>

Sa kanya ko na-train yung "engineering" skills ko, yung magbaklas ng electric fan at mga appliances para linisin. Yung "carpentry" skills sa pagmamartilyo at minor repairs sa bahay. Magaling din sya sa "division of labor" (read: pala-utos). Madalas nag ro-rotate ang paglilinis ng banyo at inidoro sa aming magkapatid na bunso dahil sa kanya. Good pala ito, dahil ito yung mga skills na  ma-aappreciate mo pag tanda mo.

In a sense parang conventional yung kuya-kapatid relationship namin. I-expound ko siguro sa future post, pero alam mo yun the usual kuya-mas bunso relationship.

Namiss ko sya sobra nung nangibang bayan sya kasama ang kanyang pamilya. Pero salamat na lang sa Facebook kase dun kame ulit nagkita. Haha nasobrahan nga yata sa FB itong kuya na ito kase ngayon mas marami pa friends nya at likers kesa sa akin :)

Marami akong natutunan sa kanya nung nasa Pilipinas pa sya dati (high school at college days). Sa diskarte sa buhay, sa sports, sa kalakaran sa gobyerno.
At marami pa pala akong matutunan sa kanya sa kanyang pagbabalik sa Pinas noong nakaraang dalawang taon.

Wala na akong ibang maisip na sasabihin parang mapahaba ang blog post na ito. Kaya didiretsuhin ko na lang. Salamat Kuya, Saludo ako sa yo!

Happy Birthday Kuya Mylo!!!

God bless you!!!

Essentialism

Me naassign sa akin libro na dapat basahin ko (or else... hehehe).

Aaminin ko. Tamad talaga ako magbasa ng libro. Ang exception dyan ay pag World of Warcraft novel yung libro, malamang gabi gabihin ko yan para matapos ako. O di naman kaya ay mga Greek at Roman Mythology books, yung kwento binabasa ko at hindi yung parang opera ang haba ng istorya ha. Yang mga mythology matitiis ko yang basahin religiously gabi gabi. Although may mga pailan-ilang akong libro na nabasa ko entuthiastically on my free time. Nadyan yung Moscow Rules ni Robert Moss and The Day of the Jackal ni Frederick Forsyth. Pero outliers yata yun kase tamad pa rin talaga ako in general sa pagbabasa.

At dahil nga sa bagong libro na ito at ang kasamang requirement (self imposed man o hindi) naisapan kong mag set ng oras mga 15-30mins per work day para magbasa.  Sa ngayon nag eenjoy naman ako sa kanya dahil kagaya ng training na pina-atendan sa akin, sakto rin ang message nung librong Essentialism. Very timely ika nga.

Nag iisip ako kung mag book review ba ako dito. Pero wala sa plano yung chapter per chapter. Naalala ko lang bigla na dapat makapagsulat ako para sa aking blog tungkol sa libro na ito para in the future me ebidensya ako sa blog ko. Malay mo mapangiti rin ako nito in the future.

Sa ngayon good chapters yung Discern, Tradeoff at Escape. Maraming konsepto na magandang i-try.

Yun lang muna...

Hanggang sa susunod na blog post.

5 Choices

Pinaattend ako ng boss ko sa isang seminar last month.  The 5 Choices to Extraordinary Productivity. Actually matagal na nya ako pinapa-attend pero hindi ko lang talaga pinafollow-up. Come January nag email sya at me date na, then nag remind na ang HR, so kasubuan na, aattend na ako.

I was in for a surprise! Parang swak sya para sa akin kase nga medyo kalat kalat ang priorities ko sa opisina at sa personal kong buhay. Franklin Covey sya so ok. Parang reinforcement ng 7 habits. Happy lang ako kaya eto sharing sa inyo kung ano ba yung 5 choices na yan.

Ang 5 choices:

1. Act on the Important. Don't React to the Urgent
2. Go for Extraordinary, Don't Settle for Ordinary
3. Schedule the Big Rocks, Don't Sort Gravel
4. Rule Your Technology, Don't Let It Rule You
5. Fuel Your Fire, Don't Burn Out

Mga 1 week ko na pinapractice yung mga mga natutunan ko both sa work at sa personal ko. Mas mahirap kase mas marami gagawin pero mas ok kase alam mo kung ano like mo na ma-achieve at ma-prioritize talaga.

Nde ko alam kung mag post ako sa main blog. Gusto ko lang mag post so dito lang muna :)

Wish me luck on applying this new learnings...

Blood Test

Tagal ko na pala na hindi nag post dito. Tapos yung last post ay tungkol pa sa maintenance meds. Para me connection here is the next post.

Image Credit: Wikimedia at NARA

Masaya lang ako dahil kakatapos ng blood test ko kahapon at all results are ok. Cholesterol levels are within accepted levels. Sabi nga ni Doc extra challenge daw ito kase nga holiday season tapos wala muna meds. Oo me konting days ng cheat codes to balance out the cheat days :-) .

Masaya rin ako kase nakakapagbisikleta na ako. Small steps to fitness ika nga.

Yun lang muna!

Happy New Year!!!

Meyntenans

Dati yang salita na yan ay ayaw na ayaw ko. Isang beses sa isang linggo. Pero kailangan ng servers ng pahinga at paglilinis. Masaya pag isang oras lang. Malungkot pag mga anim hanggang walong oras. Dati yun sa Wow.

Pero iba na ngayon. Hindi na ito patungkol sa laro. Ito ay pangkalusugan na. LDL at VLDL. Cholesterol. Yan ang matataas.

Cholesterol Spacefill by RedAndr

Credits: Wikimedia Commons.

Napabayaan kase ang check up at diyeta. Sabi ni Doktora i-try daw ng tatlong buwan. Babalik pagkatapos nun. At hindi dahil meron ng ganyan e lamon pa rin. Iwas na muna karne. Mas damihan ang isda at manok. Wala muna prito prito. Steamed at grilled mas maganda. Damihan rin ang gulay. At galaw galaw at mag eexercise na rin.

For good health.

Exciting!!!

Exciting! Yan ang pakiramdam ko nung mga nakaraang araw. Gusto ko nga sanang sabihing "eggzoyting" pero baka nde bagay sa akin at maging OA ang dating so exciting na lang.

Sabi ko nga sa ilan sa kanila, parang yung huling ganito ko yata ay nangyari pa ng mga pito or walang taon na na nakakaraan. Isipin mo para akong isang beteranong sumo wrestler na nakikipagsabayan sa kanila! Panalo di ba?

Image Credit: Namco

Refreshing rin! Para kase naiibang routine ito sa mga nakasanayan ko na gawain. Nakakapressure pero ok lang kase sanay naman ako sa ganon dati.

Happy ako kase very supportive sila. Good news rin for today kase downgraded na yung status, so good to share dito sa chartotem blog.

                           Image Credit: C. S. Goldsmith, P. E. Rollin, CDC, Wikimedia Commons

Sa uulitin muli? Ewan! Itanong nyo na lang sa Mojofly kanta nila yan eh!

Happy thoughts lang para sa blog na ito!

Pikachu, I Choose You!

Oo alam ko. Weird yang title. Di ba nga sinulat ito ang history ng chartotem, na si Charmander ang paborito kong pokemon. Pero paborito ko rin si Pikachu, si Bulbasaur, si Squirtle, si Jigglypuff, at si Snorlax. Pati na rin si Flareon, Vaporeon, si Licktung, si Vulpix, si Sandshrew at marami pang iba. Ok sige sige pede naman kaseng baguhin yan.

Charmander I choose you!

Image Credits: deruuyo.deviantart.com

Back to the topic. Hindi si Pikachu at hindi rin si Charmander ang topic sa post na ito. Yung "I choose you" talaga.

I choose you.

Happy ako na naka "I choose you" ako. Brings a lot to the discussion table ika nga. Ako ang pumili at ako ang me "choice". Alam ko na mas mahirap yung pinili ko pero dun kase ako magiging mas masaya. Physical ba yung advantage or psychological lang? Ewan ko pero di ba Kung san ka masaya dun ka.

Yun lang, hindi ko alam kung me sense. Dapat lang talaga ilabas ko ito via this post.

Happy Birthday Raven!

Happy Birthday To You!
Happy Birthday To You!
Happy Birthday (ala-cian changing tunes), Happy Birthday (more changine tunes)
Happy Birthday To You!

I love you so much!!! Muwah!

Hope you liked the weekend place and the cake too!!!