Jakie and the Beadstalk

Ang LRT at MRT. Bow! So, I 've mentioned   here on my blog that I ride the MRT everyday to and from work.  Tuesdays and Thursdays, I ride the LRT after work to go to the university where I teach part-time.  Everyday I wish that the stations would not be so full of people and the trains are all cooperating so there won't be any delays.  Operations may halt from time to time and one's face is not too safe from being squished to oblivion as a regular occurence, but I still find that riding the LRT and MRT are convenient modes of transportation in Manila. I remember the first time I rode the LRT, what was then used to enter the station was the very heavy tokens.   I was an excited girl, watching the view from the train's window. It was one of the most exciting rides of my life! My mother and I attended a party in Caloocan and we rode the LRT from P. Gil to Monumento. In the evening, after the party, I was nauseous and feverish in the train.  I st...

Photo credit: brethollander.me Pardon my use of character from EL James' 50 Shades of Grey. See, this is part 1, where my Subconscious, my "id", justifies the things a Pinoy/Pinay does just to keep his/her job. A lot of us complain about our jobs. The most common complaints are the following:    1. my job doesn't pay a lot    2.  my job sucks    3. my boss sucks    4. my workplace is too far from home    5. my co-workers suck    6. I'm being made to do work outside my job description    7. my job makes a slave of me A survey was conducted by the National Census showing that unemployment rate in the Philippines is at 7.2% while underemployment rate is at 18.8%.  Unemployment refers to the absence of a job, underemployment means that one has a job, but the job pays below the minimum wage as required by law.* So, with these statistics, it is clear that it is so hard to find ...

The past week/days have been very rainy and we were forced to stay indoors (no work for me and hubby and no school for the little one). So to while away the time, my kid and I did some art project at home. Different headwear! l-r: none, antenna, ribbon This is a really easy activity because there's very few cutting and more 'glueing".  Just perfect for your toddler.  What's also nice is that most of the materials are old, recyclable things.  This is a chance to put to good use those socks, ribbons, thread, beads or other trinkets that you no longer use. Materials: Old (smelly) socks Yarn (any color) Plastic Eyes (can be bought from craft stores) beads, sequins glue (the really sticky one) optional: ribbons, buttons, cloth, what-have-you's 1. Take a sock, glue on a pair of eyes (or more, if you want an alien-looking puppet)    If you can't find "eyes", make one yourself. Trace a small circle on paper or white cloth, draw eyes ...

Hah, and you thought this was a sunflower! It's nice to have friends who love to bake like me but unlike me, they have their own ovens and they can really make time to do their passion to bake. Like Atty. Mitch.  She's a lawyer, beauty and brains mind you, with a very hectic schedule, but with an equally amazing skill in the kitchen. She's in the stage of perfecting her red velvet cakes. moist and sweet! I like that she put these cakes on little waxed paper (so that it can easily be brought to my table-hahahahahahaha), err, I mean, so that it is very easy for individual consumption. By the way, this was her first try: just right out from the oven Tadaaaaa!!! With icing! Not bad for a first time, eh? I can't wait for her future "creations"! Oh by the way, did I mention that her blueberry cheesecake is to die for? Yum! Here's to more spatulas and measuring spoons  Atty. Mitch !

  The Philippines is again besieged by a calamity. This is an opportune time to share our blessings and show to ourselves that we still have in us the spirit of "bayanihan".  You may think that your contribution is small and not worth giving at all, but believe me, every contribution, if made with compassion, goes a long, long way. I am reposting this courtesy of http://www.gmanetwork. Note: [If you feel that this is far away from your place, you may start your own "bayanihan" in your own neighborhood. Make sure that you first coordinate with your barangay, your local DSWD office and LGU so that your efforts won't go to waste.] GMA NEWS COMPILATION OF RELIEF CENTERS These are relief centers that have been called by GMA News Staff or named by verified social media accounts or websites of organizations and government institutions. For additions or corrections to this list, Tweet @gmanews using the hashtag #ReliefPH. GO...