When The School Bell Rings

It has been quite some time since I last posted on my blog because my four-year-old son has just started to attend kindergarten class. It's his first time to spend a few hours away from home and from my supervision. This might be why until now, even after 4 weeks have passed, I am still having butterflies in my stomach whenever I bring him to or fetch him from school.

I know that school is just another form of society that our children needs to adapt to and cope with, but I also understand the feeling of maternal protectiveness when you see him or her trying their best to make friends with other children their age, only to have their efforts snubbed.

You don't know how appalled I was to see that a 5-year-old sweet looking little girl could have the nastiest trait when it comes to making friends. It broke my heart to see my son trying to befriend her only to have her answer back with a self-important retort. You could just imagine how I wanted to scold the little prima donna for her bad attitude, but then her grandma was with her and she was no better. I had to settle with trying to assure my son that everything was okay; that it was not his fault that he wanted to be friends with everybody; or that he loved to hug people even if he hasn't met them before.

That little incident did not bode well for my son's behavior. He suddenly did not want to be left at school. He wanted me to sit outside his classroom even though the classroom door remains closed during class hours. Now, each and every time I bring my son to school, I make it a point to be there just in time when the school bell rings so he would not have time to "socialize" outside the classroom -- I may not be able to control myself when a similar thing occurs again.

I know that children have to learn the hard lessons in life but the way I see it, we should be there to help soften the hard blows. I just keep telling myself that in a few years, in case the prima donna doesn't transfer to another school, my son would be ignoring her and others like her because he is more equipped in dealing with that type of situation. I have to think like that otherwise I might not bring my son to school again.

English Tutorials Anyone?

I've had a very exhilarating day yesterday. The day began quite normal, for me, except for the fact that I had to be online before 10 in the morning to prepare for an online training via Skype. A friend told me that there was a company in the Philippines who offered English tutorials online via Skype to Japanese nationalities who were interested in learning the English language.

So I visited their website, filled-up the application form and waited for them to call me. I was mildly surprised when after 2 days the "call" came. I was interviewed for 8 minutes after which they scheduled my training session.

The training session was fun. It did last for 2 hours but it was really fun. My trainer was quite easy to talk to, which made me feel more at ease about what I was trying to learn. I was then told that the result of the training session, whether passed or failed, would be sent via email on or before 10 in the evening.

I felt excited and nervous about the possible result. Soon enough night time came and lo and behold there was an email before 10 pm! I PASSED! I couldn't believe it! After all this was my first try at a tutoring position -- hmmm there is hope for me after all.

Now all I have to do is to send, via email, the necessary documents, review the teaching modules, open a bank account for the salary depository, and I can begin my stint as an online tutor! Life is good!

In case you live in the Philippines and would love to do some online tutoring, I encourage you to try and have a go at it, here's the address http://www.rarejobs.com

The Secret That Should Be Shared

It's been quite sometime since I last wrote here. I've been kinda busy with my home baking business but now I have some free time on my hand to sit down and write about what else I have been busy with.

Baking and cake decorating is fun but it can also be awfully tiring particularly if you don't have an extra pair of hands to help you, and the extreme hot weather condition doesn't do anything to help assuage the tiredness.

Now about the other "thing" that I've been busy with -- I've also been listening to an audio book of The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. I've always been fond of self-help books and The Secret is one book that I highly recommend to everyone.

It takes the idea of positive thinking and the law of attraction to a whole new level. Admittedly, I haven't finished listening to the whole audio book but from what I have already heard, I have also already benefited.

There is a portion of The Secret where it says that you should think, feel and act as if you already have what you desire. I immediately followed this advice and true enough my baking business started to attract clients even if they were not located within my locality. It also worked for my credit card debt, which although the debt was not completely erased, I was given a chance to pay the amount at a fixed rate for 36 months -- which I think is a lot better than simply paying off the minimum amount due with no end of payment in sight!

Why am I telling you this? Because I think this is one secret that should be shared with anyone interested in improving all aspects of their life (yes it can also help you with romance and love).

Interested? Just click on the link below and you will soon be privy to The Secret.

A Life Given and A Life Taken

There is an old saying that for every life given there must be a life taken so that the circle of life can continue and remain balanced.


When I was pregnant a couple of years ago with my son, my father was diagnosed with Stage IV Tonsillar Carcinoma that surely made us worry. Since it is not healthy for a pregnant woman to worry too much, I did not dwell on my father's health condition too much and instead focused on the positive news that there was going to be a new addition to the family.


Eventually my father underwent chemotherapy treatment and I soon gave birth to his first grandson. To make the long story short, my father experienced the recurrence of stage IV carcinoma -- the last one was diagnosed in his nasal passage. Being a strong and willful man that he is, he still chose to undergo medical treatment so that he may live a little longer. Unfortunately, this last treatment affected his salivary glands thus he was unable to produce saliva resulting in his loss of appetite and soon enough his body began deteriorating.


After a few months of fighting to stay alive, he finally drifted off to permanent sleep with my son right beside him.


It has now been almost 7 months since my father passed away but I can't help thinking if somehow his death had an effect on my son. You see, at the young age of 3, my son is exhibiting behavioral characteristics that were specifically unique to my father. My son's way of laughing, dancing, and even the way he rubs his chin when in deep thought makes me remember my father. I can't help but think that there really is a connection in each one of us; that there is a trait that can be passed on from one generation to the next; and that we will never forget those who really matter most.


A life given and a life taken? It does seem to be the rule of nature. Don't you think?

Home Baking Business

I used to bake cakes for our pleasure and as gifts to family and friends when somebody suggested that instead of giving away those baked goodies why not try and see how I could make an honest earning out of my hobby. So that was the start of my baking career.

When I resigned from my day job last September 2009, I decided I would try to make a more conscious effort of promoting and selling my baked items, hence the birth of PAVZEL Homemade Cakes and Pastries. I won't sugar coat the reality that it has been tough to enter the baking business - what with the hundreds of available home bakers that have entered the market long before I did, but when you love something that you do then you simply do not give up.

Now, I have started to gain a number of clients and am steadily building up a good list of clients -- either through my online store or through family and friend recommendations.

It is hard but at the same time it is fun and I wouldn't have it any other way :)

The Season of Lent

It is finally here, the end of the Lenten Season, which is a significant Catholic holiday for people who practice the Catholic faith. In the Philippines, everything slows down to a halt particularly on Good Friday. Both government and private firms allow their workers to take a few days off to be able to observe the final and most holy days of Lent.

Why the end of the Lenten season? The Lenten season actually started on Ash Wednesday and it now ends with one full week of abstinence, fasting, repentance of sins, and constant prayers until Easter Sunday arrives.

Unfortunately, not everyone is steadfast on practicing the old ways of Catholic faith. Some choose to have fun and frolic in the beach instead of staying at home and meditating in intimate prayer. But who am I to judge them? I am only saying this out loud because it is the truth and the harsh reality of life.

I have had my fair share of gimmicks and traipsing around with family and friends but somehow it never occurred to me to have fun during the Holy Week of Lent except on Easter Sunday. Maybe because I grew up in a family that took the role as a devout Catholic seriously.

How does this affect my freelance work? I shall be working until Holy Wednesday (even government and private firms still require their workers to report to work until this day) then anything that is work-related comes to a halt until Easter Sunday has passed. This way I could fulfill both my "earthly" duties and my "religious" duties.

The Art Of Forgiveness

     No matter how much we avoid it, we still get into arguments with family, friends, and even our colleagues. It is relatively easy to argue, be mad, and even stay mad but then is it really that easy to ask for forgiveness and to forgive?

     I have had my own fair share of arguments but found out, the hard way, that not everybody is as willing and easy to forgive like I do. There are those that harbor anger and resentment over several years, without even a chance of forgiving the offender. I, on the other hand, simply need to be given some space -- let's say an hour or two at best, and I would be ready to forgive the person in question should my forgiveness be needed. On the other hand, if I was the one who inadvertently offended another person, I do not really know how to go about starting to ask for forgiveness, although it is my intention all along.

     Realistically, people do differ in attitudes and beliefs including the art of forgiving and asking for forgiveness. If you are left in a quandary as to whether you should be forgiving a person, ask yourself this, was the offence really that bad that necessitates days, months, or even years of anger and hate? Isn't it better to be forgiving and be at peace with yourself and others than to live day in and day out with anger and hate? Just think about it.