Shaking hands with GMA

When my boss saw this picture, she said "Tupperware to the max!"

She's right. 'Plastic' ako since I am not an admirer of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. But you wouldn't know that, judging from the way I am smiling and eagerly holding out my hand.


What can I say? It's hard to ignore the President walking by. I got starstruck.

A show of gratitude

When one of our utility at the office was hit by typhoon 'Ondoy', we rallied to help him and his family. We passed the hat around and forgot it soon afterwards...until we all received this email:

Dear my family:

Ako po ay lubos na nagpapasalamat sa inyong lahat dahil sa tulong at suportang binigay po ninyo sa akin. Dapat po pala noon ko pa po ito ginawa. Akala ko po kasi sapat na ang magpasalamat ng personal. Yun pala hindi kasi po iba rin yung gumagawa ka ng isang liham para maipadama ko po sa inyo kung papaano po ninyo natutulungan at napasaya ang katulad ko.

Treating at Halloween

My daughter did not don any costume this Halloween. I did not influence her in any way, even if I do not believe in the whole Halloween thing. In fact, I took her to two malls to find her a new costume, since the first one did not have her size.

I was a bit surprised when I learned that she still did not feel like she had to do the whole costume thing, even if they had trick or treat in school. "Teacher says we can come in costume but not to buy anything new," she tells me.

Way over

A friend once drummed up a list of things to do by the time she turned 30. I don’t think she crossed out all the items on that list by the time she celebrated her birthday. But I do remember that turning 30 was a big deal.

I celebrated my birthday just recently, and I’m way over 30. I’ve never done any lists – the only one I ever considered (and not seriously) was that outlined in a saying on achieving immortality: Plant a tree, write a book and sire a child.

What not to do at wakes

I was at a wake recently.

It wasn’t my first, but it did bring back all of these superstitious beliefs that Filipinos observe.

Bawal maghatid. Relatives of the deceased should not show you the door or walk with you to your car. It has something to do with bad luck or ill fortune.

Next, no take-home or take-outs. Should you choose to eat what’s offered, eat up. Don’t bring any of it home. Actually, don’t bring anything from a wake to your house.