Birthday Countdown: Day 10 ~ Stray Cat Photography

I was born on a cold November night, on a Friday the 13th. In 10 days, I will be celebrating another birthday. What makes this more special than all the other birthdays? Because I have found  a deeper meaning in life. I now find joy in the sunrise. I wake up and thank God that I am alive! I stand in awe watching the sunset. Another day done, accomplished my tasks, but have I made someone's life better? Have I taken care of God's creation? 

For the next 10 days, I will be paying more attention to things that I used to consider mundane.

Today I mark the countdown to my birthday. Today is Day 10. I took a leisurely walk around the neighborhood and took pictures of stray cats.

Why cats? Because I pity the poor creatures. They seek shelter from the sun's heat under parked vehicles and wait for people to take their trash out before they can have a meal. I am not an avid cat lover, but I do have a feeding dish outside our house where I put table scraps for the stray cats to eat. 

Without much ado, here are my neighborhood friends:

This kitty cat seems to be wondering why I wanted to take a picture of her.

This cat was scared and ready to take off!

My neighbor's "resident" stray cat.

Now this cat even posed for the camera!

Tomorrow will be another day for me to see the beauty of the world, and I cannot thank God enough for all the blessings!

Great Service Creates Happy Customers

It is rare that I make a major purchase for myself or for the house. About two months ago, our television broke down. It was still working, however, the picture was not good. It was blurry and the red hue was making my eyes hurt.

I had been planning to buy a new television set to replace our old one. My plan had to be sidetracked because of my son's recent hospitalization. And then I came to learn about an appliance store that accepts installment payments even if you do not have a credit card. So I checked it out. Royal Star Appliance Marketing, Inc. in Marikina City.

I was assisted by Mr. Richard Fuensalida, a sales agent who was very kind and accommodating. On the day that I visited their store to choose a television, it was his rest day but he still kept in touch through text messages and phone calls, instructing me to ask assistance from his friends. 

The process was very simple and the document requirements are easy to acquire. All you need to present are a copy of your company ID, a 2x2 ID picture, copy of your latest payslip, and copy of your Meralco bill. If your Meralco bill is under someone else's name, then you have to secure a Baranggay Clearance to prove your residency. You will then be made to choose the unit you wish to purchase and then a credit investigator will interview you. You will also have to name a co-maker/guarantor who will help you with the payments if in case you fail to remit. An ocular visit to your residence and your co-maker's residence will be done within the day. The following day, you will receive a phone call instructing you to proceed to the store to sign the agreement/contact and make a down payment (corresponding to your first monthly installment). Your appliance will be delivered to your home within a few hours.

At Royal Star Marketing, Inc. you not only get your dream item at an affordable installment plan, you also get to receive freebies. For 12 monthly installments of P2000, I decided on the Sharp Aquos 32 inch LED Smart TV. My freebies were a free 1.5 Liter capacity Sharp Rice Cooker and a bag of groceries. But wait! There's more! They also gave me three rebate coupons worth P500 each! As if it were not enough, I would also receive P75 off my monthly installment if I pay before my due date. Sweet!

I am happy with my purchase. My hubby and I said that it will be our gift to ourselves for our birthdays, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and Father's Day. Haha. 

Here are pics of our purchase. No pics of the grocery items, sorry, they went by really fast. :)

The unboxing

Testing... (please excuse the clutter on our bookshelf)

Testing again...

My free Sharp Rice Cooker

My rebate coupons

If any of you would be interested, please feel free to contact Mr. Fuensalida. He is very professional and eager to attend to all your inquiries and concerns. Royal Star Marketing Inc. has 45 branches, and you may have one near you. Check out the company's Facebook page too.

Here are their contact details:
Mr. Richard Fuensalida 
Contact number: 0926-813-3196
Royal Star Marketing, Inc.
100 Shoe Avenue, Sto. Niño,
Marikina City
https://www.facebook.com/ApplianceStoreNgBayan

Note: This is NOT a sponsored post. I am a consumer who is sharing a positive customer experience.

One Year After Typhoon Haiyan

Every 2nd of November, Filipinos troop to the cemeteries to honor their dearly departed. Flowers are laid on the graves, candles lit and vigils are held. It is ingrained the Filipino culture that we never forget those loved ones who came before us. 

This year's All Souls Day will be extremely difficult for those who lost their loved ones in the storm that devastated central Philippines. Typhoon Haiyan (known locally as "Typhoon Yolanda") was the strongest typhoon ever recorded to hit land. The death toll was 6,300. More than 1,000 people are still missing and hundred of thousands of families left homeless. 

While Typhoon Haiyan was wrecking havoc in Central Philippines, I was in a mess because I had to take my husband to the emergency room of The Medical City hospital. He suffered a hip fracture and had to undergo hip replacement. While I was worried about my husband's surgery, I was also worried about what was happening in Tacloban and Samar, the two provinces that were badly battered by the storm. 

My husband's friend lived in Tacloban with his wife. They had a farm and a nice house and was living an idyllic life - until the storm took away everything they had. My husband's friend said that he practically held on tight to a beam fearing for his life. Him and his wife survived and have started their life over in the United States. Here are pictures of their house before and after the storm. 

In preparation for All Souls Day in Tacloban, their Mayor had unnamed crosses planted on a mass grave site so that the survivors had somewhere to place flowers and light candles. It is so disheartening to have the survivors "pick a cross" and write the name of their departed relatives on it, even if they are not even sure if their relative is indeed buried in that mass grave.  

Photolink

Photo by Franz Lopez/Rappler in an article by Paterno Esmaquel II 

A year has passed and efforts to provide appropriate housing and livelihood to the victims are still in processes. Our wish is for a faster processes - get the people out of their temporary shelters into sturdier homes. Christmas is coming soon. Think of the children who will be missing their parents, and parents who have lost a child. 

For us who were lucky to have been spared this tragedy, please continue to support the rebuilding efforts in anyway we can. Your spare change can go a long way. We can join donation drives and other humanitarian efforts to help our brothers who are living in despair. 

Typhoon Haiyan 2013 Victims ~ You are not only remembered, YOU ARE NEVER FORGOTTEN.

Further reading: "Statement of the Presidential Spokesperson on Version 2.0 of the Foreign Aid Transparency Hub (FAiTH)" 

Gardenia Site: Your One Stop Shop for Elegant, Affordable Gowns and Dresses

As the year-end draws closer and closer, I can't help but worry about what to wear for the annual office Christmas party. Then I hear of my friends whose daughters need a nice formal dress for the school prom. Some women choose December for their wedding. The last three months of the year are always the busiest time for shopping for gowns and formal wear. 

To ease the stress of going from place to place searching for the perfect dress for that special occasion, a reputable company offers high quality gowns and dresses for such an affordable price. At www.gardeniasite.com, you will find a vast selection that will suit every occasion and budget. They offer wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, cocktail dresses, even dresses for flower girls! I was really amazed at all the beautiful gowns and dresses. They are so elegantly styled to suit every age range and body type. Unlike other clothing stores that cater to small size, lean women, Gardenia Site has plus size dresses for women with real curves like me!

Upon browsing the site, you would also come across special occasion maternity dresses! Now, that is just awesome. Being pregnant should not limit a woman to baggy clothes. We can still look stunning even with a baby bump. Who says only Hollywood stars can look gorgeous? We too can, without wrecking havoc on our budgets.

Their prices are very affordable and the quality is tops. Just like other online clothes stores, like www.asos.com, Gardenia Site offers huge discounts on their products. They also offer the best match accessories for the dress you wish to order. A true one stop shop.

One more thing that sets this site above the rest is that they ship to almost every country in the world! What a deal this is. You can not only get huge discounts on quality dresses, you can even have it delivered to your doorstep, wherever continent you may be. As a wise, budget conscious consumer, I highly recommend Gardenia Site for your special occasion needs. Check them out and see for yourself!

Amplify the Blues

I love listening to music, any kind, depending on my mood and time of day. When I get the chance to go to a bar or music lounge, I prefer those that play the blues. It is so relaxing to listen to guitar players who are not only talented, but choose the best amplifiers to bring out the clearest tones. I may not be a frequent customer in music lounges but one thing I noticed is that the amplifiers that give the crisp tones are fender amplifiers.

I am fortunate to have a friend or two who play in a band and asked them about their amplifiers and where they buy them. My friend Jap said he got his amplifier online at http://www.musiciansfriend.com. I did some research on it and found out about specs and functions. I read product reviews and I enjoyed learning something about it. I am not a guitar player in anyway, (I wish I was!) but I guess it would be wise to get an amplifier only from a reputable source.

On my next music lounge escapade, I will not only listen to good music, I will also be there with added knowledge of how amplifiers work and where to get a good deal on them.

Fender Hot Rod Series Blues Junior NOS 15W 1x12 Tube Guitar Combo Amp

The Dengue Timeline and Unexpected Joy

My son, Irvin Jason, "Aton," as he is fondly called, was diagnosed with Dengue Fever. This is the second time one of my children had the disease. In 2012, it was my youngest son who got sick. I can't believe how dangerous the mosquitoes in Manila are! Aton's brush with Dengue was worse than Mickey's. I am writing this post to increase vigilance in spotting the tell-tale signs of Dengue.

Dengue Fever is a painful, debilitating mosquito-borne disease caused by any one of the four closely related dengue viruses. These viruses are related to the viruses that cause West Nile infection and yellow fever. (Source: WebMd, read the full article here)

Aton's Dengue Infection Timeline:

October 13, 2014, Monday. Aton called me from the dorm informing me that he was running a fever. The first thing that came to my mind was, "Oh my God. I hope he did not get Leptospirosis!" I remembered the day before he said waded in knee deep flood to get to the dorm. I told him to take lots of fluids, paracetamol every 4-6 hours and rest.

October 14, 2014, Tuesday. Aton's girlfriend, Marga sent me a text message saying Aton was still running a fever. I asked her if she could accompany Aton to the Student Clinic at UST. She said Aton was still weak and that they will go to there the next morning. I was getting several texts from Marga throughout the day, giving me updates on Aton's temperature. I noticed that his fever showed a spiking trend. I prayed that it would not be Dengue.

October 15, 2014, Wednesday. Aton and Marga went to the Student Clinic. Aton was instructed to continue taking paracetamol for the fever. The doctor said that if his temperature would still rise throughout the day, he should go back to have a blood test. At this time, Aton was already feeling weak and exhausted.

October 16, 2014, Thursday. My son headed back to the Student Clinic for a blood test. The results showed that his White Blood Cell count was way below the normal range. He was given admitting orders to a hospital. The working diagnosis was Typhoid Fever, to rule out Dengue Fever. 

October 17, 2014, Friday. Marga took Aton home so that he could be confined to a hospital here in Quezon City. Aton was pale and weak. I was able to reserve a hospital room for him in a small hospital near our house. With only a few thousand pesos to my name, I had him admitted. I wanted my boy to be well again. A low white blood cell count would make him susceptible to other infections. In the emergency room, they took another blood sample for a repeat blood count and a Dengue test. 

October 18, 2014, Saturday. The attending physician gives us the dreaded news. Aton tested positive for Dengue and that his platelet count was starting to drop. They did a fast drip for his intravenous fluid replacement. Aton was getting one liter of IV fluid every 6 hours. His platelet count upon admission was 151. He had two platelet counts today. The 8am result was 148, the 8pm results showed his platelet count dropped to 131. At this point, they had to monitor the color of his stool to check for signs of internal bleeding. Aton was not even allowed to brush his teeth for the same reason. 

October 19, 2014, Sunday. Aton was getting his appetite back. My mother would take breakfast, lunch and dinner for him everyday he was in the hospital. My mom said the hospital food has a very small serving size and that it would not be enough to make Aton recover quickly. My son showed signs of being back to his usual self, although he is still pale. His platelet count today was down to 121. My sister told me about this herb, locally known as "tawa-tawa," (Scientific name: Euphorbia hirta L.) which has been rumored to cure dengue. At this point, I would try anything to help Aton fight the infection. I was lucky to find that wild herb around the public elementary school near our house. I got a lot, planted some of them in a flower pot, washed and boiled the rest to make a tea. I took this with me to the hospital and made Aton drink the concoction. (Read more about "tawa-tawa" here)

October 20, 2014, Monday. My son's white blood cells and platelet count increased! His white blood cell count was now at 4.9 and his platelet count is now 135. The attending physician said it is a good sign that my boy is recovering. He ordered another blood test for the evening. The doctor said that if the 8pm results and tomorrow's results would show an upward trend, he can be discharged from the hospital tomorrow afternoon. After the doctor left the room, I made my son drink the tea again. It was at this point that his girlfriend was already "force-feeding" him the tea.

October 21, 2014, Tuesday. I was at work when my son sent me a text message informing me that the doctor gave him the discharge orders. Thank you, Lord! My boy is going to be fine! I asked my son if he was given the hospital bill. When my son told me how much I needed to pay, I almost fainted. I did not have that much money! My mom, my sisters and brother, and my daughter gave me some money to help with the bill but it was not enough. I had to find a loan shark to complete the amount needed. My son is finally home and will be back in school on Friday.

October 22, 2014, Wednesday. I started a fundraiser with GiveForward to help me pay off the loan I incurred and for medical assistance to cover the follow up blood tests for my son. Being a brand ambassador for GiveForward, I did not find any difficulty in going through the initial steps. My major roadblock was finding a relative who is a US citizen and is presently residing in the US where they can send the donation money to. I tried to contact my cousins to ask if they would be willing to act as my Funds Manager. They never replied back to my emails. I guess being granted US citizenship changes the way people regard themselves. I asked friends instead. I know someone out there would be willing to help me out to get the fundraising campaign running. God bless my blogging friend, Rose. She replied to my email and was willing to help me out with this. She is what GiveForward calls "unexpected joy." 

October 23, 2014, Thursday. I will email Rose back. She has a good heart indeed. Despite her own worries, she still reached out and offered her help. Rose is also in a difficult time, her sister is sick and is depending on her to help out with the the medical expenses. I will recommend her to GiveForward, so she too, can experience "unexpected joy."

I know this is such a lengthy post. I just poured out my emotions on the very stressful two weeks that passed. I have learned a lot from the experience and I know that help can come when we least expect it. I thank the Lord for everything, and I ask Him to bless the people who stayed with me during this difficult time in my life.

Have a blessed day.

P.S. As of this day and time, (30 October 2014) I emailed my fundraising coach to notify him that I am not pushing through with my fundraiser. I have found ways to pay off my loan and that I felt it was unfair to continue. There are other people more in need than me. I have been blessed and I have decided to share the blessings in whatever way I can.

Thank you for all your words of concern, well-wishes and prayers. May it all come back to you a thousand fold. 

Work and Relax with the New Blue Mo-Fi Powered High Fidelity Headphone

My job as a Quality Assurance Specialist entails listening to agents' calls and evaluating their call handling skills and adherence to policy. Aside from the keen eye for detail, we QAs have to have impeccable auditory acuity. Every whisper, every response is noted and scored. One tool that we invest in is a good headset, preferably one that drowns out external noises to allow us to concentrate only on the call. 

I searched the web for a list of the Hottest Headphones and decided on the New Blue Mo-Fi Powered High Fidelity Headphones. I read through the product specifications and although it is basically a headphone for the music lover, its features are perfect for use in my job too! The words "extreme accuracy" and "mind blowing listening experience" got me. The best thing is that it will make me save money. I do not have to buy a separate headphone for work and another for listening to my music on my cellphone. Two devices for the price of one. 

Check out these awesome features:

Work and relax using just one device. Isn't that great? I am definitely a believer!

Magnetic Bracelets and Alternative Pain Management

Anyone with rheumatoid arthritis can tell you that they live with pain almost everyday. I am witness to this, because my husband is suffering from it. As if it was not enough, he had to undergo total hip replacement last year when he suffered a Trochanteric fracture of the femur. I wanted to help alleviate some of the pain he was going through and I came across this procedure called Magnetic therapy.

It involves wearing magnetic bracelets or jewelry. Pain relief is believed to be the result of normalizing the electromagnetic activity of the cells. When our cells' electromagnetic activity is disturbed, it will cause pain and discomfort. Wearing a magnetic bracelet will help correct the imbalance. I got my husband a hematite bracelet from a little chinese drugstore. I just wanted to try anything to relieve some of his pain.

Guess what? It worked! I am now ready to take this Magnetic Therapy to the next level and purchase a new bracelet for him. Superior Magnetics offers magnetic jewelry for pain free living. I searched the website for magnetic bracelets and I was just overjoyed to find a wide variety to choose from. The bracelets are not only pretty, but they also have other healing gemstones included in it. I have chosen the Garnet and Jade Double. It has triple strength hematite stones interspersed with garnet and jade, known to have great healing powers. I will get one for my mother too, who is also having arthritic aches and pains.

I am looking forward to seeing my husband and my mother walk without any pain at all. That alone would make me so happy.

The Bear Poem

Early in my world when I was young and free

I met a boy and asked myself, "Is this he?"

He held out his hand, with a smile of joy

I got that feeling, "Am I Helen of Troy?"

Mom and Dad voiced their disapproval

"You're being hard-headed, as usual

"He is a drop-out, what life will you have?"

"Its nothing serious," I said with a laugh.

The days flew by and things went way out of hand

Confused and worried, a pregnancy unplanned.

Too young to be a wife, too young to be a mother,

Why did this happen? How will I tell my father?

"You will marry my daughter and pull her out of shame.

She is studying for her future, you must do the same.

Once the ceremony is over, my daughter stays with me.

You go home to your parents, wherever they may be."

The boy never got past being a boy

He loved his friends, he loved his toys.

With a second child on the way

I had to be strong despite the clouds of gray

My father died of cancer when he was fifty eight

One of his last words were "Help my daughter set her life straight"

I feared the future without my father

Who will defend me and my children against this monster?

Sixteen years, three children and buckets of tears later

I decided to make my life better

I hauled my three kids and entrusted them into my mother's hands

I then found myself working in a foreign land.

The monster could not keep up with the responsibility

Packed his bags and left without saying sorry

I could not cry a tear of remorse

I laughed, jumped and celebrated this divorce.

I loved the new freedom, I loved being me.

I was happy but deep inside, I felt empty

As if fate had it all planned,

Here comes a man with his words, "Its okay, I understand."

We have now been together for eight blissful years

The union of like minds and like hearts braving new frontiers.

He took on the task of being my children's father

Looked after each child to ensure they would not falter

As we hold hands on a quiet Sunday evening,

Sharing dreams and hopes, both hearts smiling.

I raise my glass, "To infinity and beyond!" I say

He squeezes my hand and whispers, "Here's to forever and a day!"

I have three wonderful children now in their prime,

A roof over my head, food on the table, clothes on my back, and some spare time.

And I have a husband who loves me unconditionally,

For all these, I thank God dearly.

P.S. This is my second attempt at writing a poem. The first attempt was when I was 15 years old. Unfortunately, I was not able to save a copy. 

Lolita Dresses: The New Trend in Clothing

Christmas is only two months away and the yearly excitement can be felt all around. There will be the annual family get together to look forward to, and of course, the office Christmas party. 

Our family get together parties do not require anything else but good food and casual dressing. The office Christmas party is the one I have to prepare for. Our office parties are usually themed, so we have to find an appropriate attire for the event.

I was browsing the net one afternoon when I came across an interesting online shop for Lolita dresses. At http://www.tidebuy.com/c/Lolita-Dresses-4461/, I was excited to see so many designs for a reason price! For those who are not aware of Lolita dresses, these are Victorian-era inspired, modest knee-length cup-cake design skirt. The Tidebuy classic Lolita dress and the Tidebuy sweet Lolita dress styles are often called "baby doll" dresses and are really cute! Usually worn with knee-high socks, this style would suit any themed party.

I personally prefer the Tidebuy gothic Lolita dress because I feel that every woman deserves to have an LBD (little black dress) in her wardrobe. I like the modest style, the neat hemline, and the dress length. Not too flashy but very elegant, and would not require a lot of accessories. I think a nice pearl necklace would be great to wear with this classic elegant piece. The timeless design makes this dress appropriate for any occasion!

Check out the vast designs of Lolita dresses at Tidebuy. Browse and purchase any of the following Tidebuy Lolita dress; Tidebuy gothic Lolita dress; Tidebuy white Lolita dress; Tidebuy cheap Lolita dress; Tidebuy pink Lolita dress; Tidebuy classic Lolita dress; Tidebuy blue Lolita dress; and Tidebuy sweet Lolita dress. Easy ordering process and ships worldwide!