REMEMBERING MY DAD ♥♫♥

Daddy asked and had a full body massage by a neighbor coz he was feeling sluggish. He was on leave from work. He was sick. Actually he was on and off the doctor in months. He was given lots of medications. One time he said to me, he was getting tired of those medicines he was taking. He could no longer taste the food he was eating and every time he breath he could smell those medicines.

15 November... Daddy was struggling to hold the spoon. He was shaking a lot. I need to feed him for the first time. We were having dinner. He did not finish his food. He said he was not that hungry anyway. After dinner, had to prepare my two older kids to bed. Then I started ironing my eldest son's uniform for school. My mother was helping  Daddy to calm down. He was feeling hot but his feet were so cold like ice. Had to iron a cloth to make it warm and gave it to Mommy to put it to Daddy's feet so it will get warm or back to normal temperature.  Daddy was starting to panic. He said he could hardly breath. We called Aunty Violy for help, who got a tricycle for us to go the clinic in the town proper. Aunty Olivia, who was living in the town proper came to help us. The doctor gave Daddy a tablet under his tongue and advised us to go the Dagupan City (we were living that time in Malasiqui, Daddy's hometown) where Hospitals were located. We asked for the town's ambulance so we can go to Dagupan. The ambulance was just a van with no aircon, with no oxygen, not even an emergency kit, I thought so, just a siren. So while we were in it, we kept on making Daddy cool by making card board/cloth as a fan coz he said he felt hot even all the windows of the van were wide open. We first brought him to Cuison Family Clinic, where the main doctor, we considered was our family doctor. Unfortunately, he did not accept Daddy coz he said his clinic (small hospital) had no ICU. We went to Luzon Medical Center. He was admitted and put him to the ICU. The nurse/doctor was asking what happened to him and what were his medications. Daddy answered them clearly and precisely. He was given oxygen and still complaining he couldn't breath coz he was feeling hot but his body was cold and he was sweating. The nurse put some baby powder to Dad's body so he would feel bit better and calm him down. The doctor talked to me in private and explained what was happening to Daddy. The doctor decided to put a hole in his throat and put the oxygen there coz obviously the oxygen put on his nose was not working. They called for the doctor who does that thing but that doctor said he couldn't come that time coz his child was sick and said he'll just do it in the morning as in maybe he was thinking of like 7 o'clock, I don't know. Anyway, my Daddy was a bit mad with me why did I leave him. I told him twas because the doctor talked to me and showed to me his X- ray result. Daddy held my hands hard, he could no longer talk coz the nurse was pumping oxygen through his mouth. I was feeling weak and thought, wished Uncle Willy, Daddy's brother, and a Medical Technologist, was there and helping us coz I couldn't understand those things in the monitor, where those different tubes in Dad's body, were connected to. I heard myself kept telling to Daddy to fight and that if everything will be alright, I and my kids will take care of him, even sacrificing not to go to Australia anymore.  He said ,"yes". I was praying, but couldn't really concentrate praying. My brother left us, stayed outside the room and was crying. Then dad released my hand.

My brother cried, my Mom cried, but I didn't, I don't know why. I was just weak. Now I am telling my kids, if you're sad or if you need to cry, then cry. I was trapped for so many years after what happened to Daddy. It didn't make me strong, it scared me a lot! Many things happened in my life after that but deep inside me I felt I was still in that room/moment. I've seen how he suffered, how he fought for his life, how much he wanted still to live, but he had to leave...16 November 1994.

Six years before, Daddy had a medical check up in Makati Medical Center, where his younger brother, Uncle Willy was working as Medical Technologist. He was advised to have an operation in the gall bladder. But he was scared or rather anxious because we don't have money to pay for the operation. He just asked for medicine to ease the pain he was feeling. I don't know what happened but what I can recall is that he survived it and lived long enough to see my two boys, took care of them, play with them, sacrificed for them. He loved my kids very much from the moment I gave birth to them to his last breath. I will always remain telling this to my two boys so they will never forget their Lolo Romy coz they were only 4 and 2 years old when Daddy left. My father kept saying to us, his family, may will never forget him when he's gone. Request granted! How could we ever forget him...he died a day before my first son's birthday. My 2nd son was born on the 4th of March, and my 4th son was born on the 14th of March. And Daddy was born on the 18th of March.

Daddy was my teacher. Every school vacation, he was tutoring me on his expertise subject, Mathematics. Whenever I got bored listening to him, coz I wanted to play more than doing those lessons, he gets angry and I felt sad and cried. He never yelled at me though. But his words were hurting and yet you cannot hate him. Though he looked "scary" (as described by one of my cousins)and very strict person, he was very kind and loving person. Oh, strict?...yes he was! I won't forget my first Quiz in Algebra during my first year in University. I failed it! My Mom was very disappointed but Daddy comforted me and said he believed i can do it...the engineering course. He told me he wanted me to go to Mapua to study if only we had the capacity. Twas hard going to Manila University. There are many factors to be considered. Daddy was an Electrical Engineering graduate in Mapua Institute of Technology, then a Physics teacher in University Of Pangasinan High School Department.

Where did I get my skills in the kitchen/cleaning? I know now, I got it from Daddy. Though he was not cooking complicated dishes, but his taste buds were great. I love his adobong pusit. I memorized it and have passed it on now to my second son who loves calamari/squid. He used to make yummy tomato conserve. He was an excellent "farmer" in his small vegetable backyard. His vegetables were big and really good yet he never used insecticide, all organic. He lets me pick up his vegetables when they were ripe. I enjoyed eating tomatoes while picking them up. Whenever I wash dishes, I'm always reminded of Daddy. Especially washing the pitchers and the Catsup bottles, etc. before returning it to the fridge. Daddy cleaned them properly and gets mad if they were oily/slimy. I get frustrated if I clean my kids shoes and couldn't surpass or could not even equal my Dad's ability in cleaning/washing shoes. He cleaned/washed my shoes even I was already in University. And always perfect! When I clean, it's detailed, just like Daddy.

Dinner was my favorite meal time. Twas when we ate as a family together. Twas the time when we talked about the day's "adventures". I remember how Daddy would tell us funny real (not made up) stories and how we all laughed together. He used to tell us stories as well before we go to sleep when we were still young kids. Oh, Daddy used to feed me and my brother boiled rice mixed with raw eggs and sauteed shrimp paste for merienda and sometimes cold rice mixed with white sugar and coconut flesh. Weird?!...yes, but twas yum!

Daddy was always updated with the political events. He used to cut out clippings about unnatural issues/news. He always read the daily news. We used to watch the stars and moon at nights and will tell us stories about his father or his beloved hometown. He loved and respected his ten siblings equally and adored his mother. His father, Ireneo, died when he was in his late years in elementary education. He acted as a second father to his four siblings. He had other six siblings, resulting from the marriage of his mother, Nanay Leonor, to Laki Bening after Laki Ireneo died.

When sicknesses come to the family, Daddy led us in praying. He had a very strong faith to the Lord. He was a deacon in INC church. Later, when he was diagnosed with diabetes, he started to change. He became less happy, impatient, more sensitive, more melancholy. But whatever, I only wanted to remember all the happy moments me, my brother, my mother have shared with Daddy.



We may have said our Good-byes...until then...we will see you again Daddy!

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MY FAVE TV SERIES

BROTHERS AND SISTERS

Twas aired in the television, forgot what channel was. I got interested to it coz the main character was Sally Field, who is undoubtedly plays excellent mother roles, Calista Flockhart , I usually call her Ally McBeal though coz of her TV series before that I loved as well, and Emily Vancamp, to us she is Amy, Rebecca.

What I loved in this series was the Family connection. Though they were adults and have their own families or partners, the support, the love was always there. They were the Walker Family.They cannot kept secrets...it will always come out. They fight...they shout at each other but they still helped each other. They criticize the new found partner of their siblings with respect but once became a part of their family, he or she became like their real brother or sister. But there was always limitation between the real Walker Children and their In laws. The Walkers have a real bonding that their partners could never separate, that they might have tried to tear apart but no success. They laughed together, they cried together. There was no sincere jealousy, meaning they were happy for the success of their siblings or they were real sad for the failure of their siblings and give or offer help to the best of their capacity.The partners of the siblings would help but never interfere with the family business of the Walkers which was Ojai Foods. The Walker children would tell their partners about what was going in with the business, which was just normal, but with the decision making it was always among them and their mother. Since the company was built by their parents, but mainly the father. The Walker patriarch died and left the company to manage by the first two eldest children. All the children and the mother have shares in the company.

I could relate to Nora Walker, as a mother and as a sister to her only brother. Showed how much she cared for her children, family. How she loved cooking, preparing formal/informal dinners for her family and family friends. Very particular in family gatherings/occasions. Sacrificed personal career  to take care of her family. Always renovating her house. And I love her kitchen! Oh, how I wish I could have a kitchen like hers. Nora loved helping other people as well. She established a charity helping families with sick children. If I would be given a chance, I would like to feed hungry children...

The Walker children always had an access to Nora's house/Walker family house. Whenever they are in trouble, unhappy or whatever, they always go there and eat and be with their mother. I wish my children will do the same. As I keep saying to myself, my children will grow, leave home, have a family of their own, but they always be my babies.

The TV series showed the Walker family usually have "conference", they talked to each other in the phone, all at the same time. Twas really fun! And I love Rebecca and Justin as a couple in the series, so it made me sad when Emily Vancamp (as Rebecca) left the series just before the last season ended. I wish they could have just ended the series with Rebecca coming back, attending Sarah's wedding with her and Justine's child as a surprise for the Walkers.

Out of 10, I rate Brothers and Sisters, 9!


BAKE WITH ANNA OLSON and MARTHA BAKES

Willy decided to get Foxtel for the family. He wants to watch Sports, especially the tournaments of Golfs. He's crazy about it. Oh,yes because he wants to enter Golf competitions. But if you only get the basic Foxtel, you won't get the Good Sports, no new movies, no cooking shows. So we upgraded it. Then I saw Bake with Anna Olson. At first I don't want to watch it because I don't like the colour of the set up. What I watched was Cake Boss because I was amazed with the cakes they make. Before getting Foxtel, I bought DVD's of Cake Boss and me and my kids were blown away with those cakes they make and touched by the relationship of the Cake Boss to his siblings and mother. Then I realized, Cake Boss is for those who already know how to make cakes or those who find fun in complicated  cake decorating. So I told myself let me watch the Bake with Anna Olson again. The very first thing I noticed was Anna and her kitchen's organization. She is well organized! And the shows starts with the basic, medium and great recipes but only  one major topic. She's very good teacher. She knows how to explain very well. All of a sudden I find myself hooked to her show.

While Bake With Anna Olson series are being shown, then came Martha Bakes. I heard of Martha many, many times with the recipes or bloggs of other people and even with office supplies in Officeworks. Oh, my she's adorable! I really, really like her show. The plot is the same as Bake with Anna. The Kitchen set up though is different. I am a lover of country style  house, kitchens that's why I'm impressed with Martha's kitchen. While Anna's kitchen is sort of in a studio. But I like Anna's oven because you can see how the cake's rising when being cooked, while Martha's oven is closed. Like Anna, Martha is a very good teacher as well. And what I like about Martha is she's funny. She has this little jokes and she says stories or story of the cake, pastry or bread she's making.

Haven't make the recipes both Anna and Martha have shown, so I couldn't say how good or whichever is good. One of these days I will start cooking what I've seen and learned from their shows. It just make me sad because I was not able to watch the first episodes of Bake with Anna, only the last series. It was only Season 1. I wonder if she'll make another Season. Anna Olson have a new recipe book and I'm asking my son, Harold to buy it online for me. I don't know if book stores here in our area sell it. I'm still enjoying Martha Bakes, now already in Season 3. I wish they'll sell both Bake with Anna Olson and Martha Bakes shows in DVDs. I'll definitely get them  both.

If only I have a mother like Martha or have a sister like Anna. Times like these that I'm not feeling great, I want to come to their places and eat what they're cooking. But with the family I have, I am the Martha and the Anna.

My ratings:
Bake With Anna Olson : 10/10
Martha Bakes: 10/10

I strongly recommend to people these 2 shows.
















FIXER UPPER
DAWSON'S CREEK
TUDOR
EVERWOOD
DESPERATE HOUSEWIFE
THE THORN BIRDS

BUYING A HOUSE

 I was watching the movie, "THE OTHER SISTER". There was a part where the sister was trying to find a place for herself. She inquired about a flat somewhere in the city and the Real Estate Agent sent her a video about it.
I told my husband, Willy, who is a Real Estate Agent himself, what the Agent in the movie did was great. Tried to convinced him to do the same. The problem however, was, my husband, was a free lance Agent, he had no front shop, he was not connected to any Real Estate Agency, not until now where he work with Vogue Real Estate Australia. He dealt mostly with the developers and directly to the clients, going to their homes giving somewhat like a personalized service. He developed his clientele by word of mouth.

That was decade ago, now with the evolution of internet, changes almost everything. So as the Real Estate Agencies. Unlike before that you need to go the Agencies or read the newspapers if you want to buy a house. Now Agencies have their own website or there are websites where almost all Real Estate Agencies post their properties for sale or for lease. So, you just have to open your computer and visit the website and look for a property, within your budget, in the area you want. If the address is given, you can google it and if you like the area, you can drive pass there or ask the Agency for appointment to have an inspection of the property. Oh, and yes Agencies are now starting to have a video of the properties just like in the movie I watched. I like the First National where the Agent is like a TV presenter, presenting her property for sale.

When buying a house, I think the first thing to do is checking your finance. It's somewhat pointless looking for a house, and assuming you found one that you really want but not be able to get it coz you have no or lack of capacity to buy it. You will only be disappointed. So you go to the bank and inquire about getting a mortgage loan or maybe to a mortgage broker. If everything is fine with you, you've got no other loans, have a very good income, less dependents, go directly to the bank. Otherwise you go to a mortgage broker, who will help you with a strategic plan on how and where to get the loan. Brokers are good especially if you have other loans or you're getting a second mortgage or whatever. When choosing a bank, it should be the one giving an offer that suits your situation. When finding a good Broker, i think it's good to ask your friends or relatives. If talking to your new found broker makes you comfortable that you can almost tell everything, then that's good. But when the broker is someone so domineering and just want you to follow everything he says and or he's not interested talking to you, or he's somewhat jealous with your situation ( you can feel it! ), then change broker at once, don't continue dealing with him.

When you're now quite sure of your finance, then start looking for a property. People have lots of considerations when choosing one for them (himself/herself/family). We ourselves, look for the location, the structure, the set up or lay out for the functionality and the potential, meaning, how much and how long will it appreciate in value. Check out your options. What do you want, a brand new house, house and land package, off-the-plan property, land and design/build your own house or an existing property, including heritage houses. I'll go first for an existing property. Then when we have enough equity from the property then will go for the land and design/build your own. My other two sons want to buy heritage houses. One son though, said it will be scary, there might be  lots of ghosts. I said, it's alright as long you're friend with the ghost. As long as there's no murder that happened in that house.

Buyers of house/s can either be an investor or owner occupier. As an investor, I would look for a property that can have at least zero vacancy rate. Wherever it may be. Because at the end of the day, what I wanted is income from it. Whereas, buying a house for me and family, requires so much considerations. We have to ask every member of the family what does he/she want...maybe bigger rooms, bigger kitchen with bigger walk in pantry, it should be near to school/work, etc. No matter who's gonna pay for the mortgage, no matter who's name/s will be in the mortgage, the matter is that we will all be living in that house. You do not want someone unhappy in your family. Maybe you couldn't get what you want all at the same time, but there's always later. Just make sure there's a provision that you can do it later when you settled.

We've been to different Open Houses, when everyone interested in that property can come and inspect it, all at the same time. But I don't like it! When I go to this thing, instead of looking at the property, I was looking at the people coming and thinking, analyzing them whose gonna get the house. I still prefer to inspect the property by myself, i mean, just us, family, no other people. Funny thing, there are Real Estate Agents, who are so cautious that sees everything you do when you're inspecting a property as if you are a thief. Huh!  So annoying! Another Agent talks a lot that you don't have the chance to feel the house. I like an Agent who gives you space to thoroughly see the property and contemplate. When I see a property, go inside it, I want to have that warmth, peace, welcoming feeling and that, will I call home.

Pricing of the properties now are different. Before, though very few others are still doing it, they've set a price already. Now, they're sort of having a secret auction. I know the Agents are doing this. They put price like, " from $$$...". Then they ask the potential buyers to submit their offers to the Agent, who will then submit it to the owner.Then the owner will accept obviously the highest offer. How would you know if your offer has been considered or whatever, especially if there are many contenders or say "bidders" ? I prefer to go to a real/public Auction instead of this. But that's the game now! What can you do?!

Then finally, if you find the property you want and that suits your financial situation, go for it. Act quickly, otherwise you'll gonna lose it. Once the keys been handed over to you, make a promise that you will take care of it. Maintain or beautify it as often as possible. The words of the lady valuer keep on reminding me,..."what have you done, what improvements you made since the time you bought the house?"

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