Getting used to being an OFW's wife...or am I not?

Husband's birthday celebration at our humble abode, a month before he left for Malaysia

It’s not easy...especially when you’re also a working-mom. But I ain’t complaining. I have a lot to be thankful for. For one, I’m thankful that I have reliable helpers who look after our children and our home while I’m at work and husband is away. I don’t cook anymore when I get home. I don’t do the dishes, laundry, or iron our clothes, or clean our house. They take care of those things. What I can’t delegate are tutoring our children and the grocery-shopping.

It’s important that I get home by 7:30 p.m. every day to be with our girls. But nowadays, because of traffic, there are times that I get home at 8:00 p.m. (that’s the latest and I can still forgive myself for that). You see, I really value the time I spend with them each day. And when I get home, I see to it that I’m still at my “best”. I don’t want to short-change them by giving them the “tira-tira” of my time. To still be at my best with them is the least that I can do for them. I watch what they only watch on TV - Disney Junior. I laugh with them, play with them, cry with them. Weekends are spent watching a marathon of their favorite DVDs such as Barbie movies, Toy Story 1,2,3, Shrek 1,2,3, Tangled, Spongebob Squarepants and Mickey Mouse.

I took a crash course in driving and got my driver’s license. I have yet to drive myself to work, though. I still take the shuttle from office to our house. I use this time to recharge (sleep) and prepare to be with my kids. That’s almost 2 hours of travel, imagine? I am also thankful for my two neighbors, Rose and Fritzi, who I get to hitch a ride with to Makati almost every day.

Taking the public transport has never been a problem to me. I am so used to it. I’m used to walking, too, even long distances and I’m proud that I don’t catch my breath every time.

I have learned to become a handy man. I now know what kind of bulb or light to buy when Nanet, our yaya, would text me, “Ate pondido na ung ilaw sa banyo.” Just last night, the internet wasn’t working so I called PLDT and reported the problem. I tried my hand in trouble-shooting it, and alas the internet worked afterwards. No need to wait for PLDT. I would buy food for our aquarium fishes and instruct our helpers to help clean the aquarium (we used to have more than 5 fishes when husband left, now it’s down to 2 fishes). Those used to be Ronald’s concern. But, all things can be learned and I’m learning.

Every night, Ronald and I would talk via videoskype or FB video while the kids are just playing or watching in the attic. That’s how we talk to each other everyday, hindi nga lang face-to-face, pero screen-to-screen naman.

These are certain things that I can get used to as an OFW’s wife, but still there are things which I refuse to get used to, most especially when it involves emotions and feelings.

I miss how things were before. I miss our family bonding moments over food and coffee, our weekend trips to the malls, attending worship services together, movie-watching in cinemas, the Friday night dates with Babes, our free concert escapades (c/o our kumare) when we groove along with teenagers, our conversations while Babes is driving to and from work, our trips to the grocery, and most of all, I miss our times of family-togetherness. Noelle once told me when her papa left for Malaysia, “Mom, we’re not a family anymore. A family should have a papa, mama, ate Nisi, me, and baby Nala. Papa’s not here, we’re not complete.”

Family-bonding over food...

and coffee

Friday-night dates with husband

Just goofing around with each other

I believe in my heart that God not will not allow us to be “separated” for long. In the meantime, we will take this circumstance as an opportunity to deepen our faith, to grow wiser, to learn from and to love and value each other more. For we know that where each of us is at this moment, is exactly where God wants us to be. We will wait on the Lord and anticipate the best of what He has in store for us. I don’t want to miss the best just because I am settling for the good.

We surely hold on to His promise: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord.

We will all be together again as a “family”. May that be here or in Malaysia, or maybe somewhere else, we just don’t know yet. All I know is that it will happen in His perfect time.

A "Changi"-ng Ina Mo Story at the Changi Airport

Weeks before our scheduled visit to Singapore where Ronald was having his 3-week training, I was already conditioning my mind that everything would be fine. From packing our bags to the waiting in NAIA to the actual plane ride and arrival at Changi. Yes, it was big deal to me because I would be traveling with my 3 girls ages 11, 5 and 2, and with tow strollers in two. I mean, two strollers in tow (hehehe). I made ID tags for them and even bought whistles which I looped over their tags. I told them to blow the whistle in case of emergency. That was the “praning” side of mommy Vivian working double time.

I successfully fitted all our clothes, shoes, slippers, diapers, and everything else (2 Ziploc bags of formula milk, stuff toys, water toys, Purefoods Deli Bologna, bilins from my husband like canned goods, Knorr seasoning, toyo, vinegar, Boy Bawang, etc.) in just 2 small luggage. The bolster pillows for my tots I was able to pack inside my carry-all bag. I am now a packing expert! 
 

My tween’s backpack carried her board games and other chips (hahaha). Now, we were ready to go!

NAIA 1: Kiddie Lounge

They had the place all to themselves.
 

We were one of the first to board the plane and as soon as we were ushered to our seats, the girls settled down and observed the other passengers coming in. Meanwhile, Nala was hyper. She would stand up then sit down then sit on my lap while drinking her milk. For almost 2 hours she was on my lap playing, reading, drinking and when she felt sleepy, she started to whimper while saying, “I wanna lie down…higa,” repeatedly. She would cry with her eyes closed. I struggled to calm her down. I was also sleepy and I didn’t want to disturb the other passengers who were sleeping at that time.
 

Finally, she was able to sleep while I rocked her in my arms just like a newborn baby, only 10x heavier. Geesh. I was counting the minutes until our plane reached Changi because my arms were so tired already. She would wake up every time I tried to put her down on her seat.

A few minutes before the plane landed, I immediately woke Nisi up (a very deep sleeper) and sat Noelle on her seat while sleeping. A stewardess came to me and strapped Nala on my lap. And since we were also the first ones to disembark, I had to act fast – after unbuckling Noelle and Nala, I carried Nala over my left shoulder, wore my shoulder bag over my right shoulder and carried my carry-all bag over my right arm, got Nisi’s backpack from the overhead cabin, assisted Noelle who was irritable and still groggy, continued to wake Nisi up while walking on the aisle. I didn’t want to hold up the line. Hahaha! I still managed to put a smile on my face when the flight attendant bid us goodbye and said, “Thank you for flying Jetstar.”

When I couldn’t bear anymore Nala’s weight over my shoulder, I put her down. As her bare feet touched Changi’s carpeted airport floor, just like a battery-operated toy, her face lit up and she excitedly explored her new surroundings hand-in-hand with Noelle. It was a long stroll before we reached the line to the immigration counter. And not long after, I saw Ronald eagerly waiting for us. But first, I got our two strollers and our 2 checked-in luggage.

I was tired but happy. The kids were happy. My husband was happy. It was almost 2 a.m. Thank God we made it in Changi safe and sound!

Above photos: Taken inside a big van-cab on our way to our hotel

"Thank you God for bringing us safely here in Singapore to be with papa. We love You. Goodnight."

And oh by the way… everything, indeed, turned out fine.

The end.

Going Gaga Over Gargling

Intro:
(Sing to the tune of Bad Romance)

Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah!
Roma-Roma-ma-ah!
Ga-ga-ooh-la-la!
No need to gargle all the time

Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah!
Roma-Roma-ma-ah!
Ga-ga-ooh-la-la!
Don't wanna gargle all day long

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My top reasons why I need not gargle all the time/all day long

Lipstick won't look good on me.
Angry birds will have me as their new nemesis since I look more like a pig than their pig enemies.
Dating my hubby will no longer be as exciting. (I don't wanna be caught in a bad romance). Just imagine, whenever we'll go out on dates, he'll be wondering if he, indeed, made the right decision in marrying me.
You will be mocked and ridiculed by society for having a face that looks like a moving butt.

Gargling all the time / all day long is not only time-consuming but so tiring.
Addicting as it may be, this unproductive habit makes a working-mom like me less credible and more like a clown.
Gifts that I will receive every Christmas or during my birthday will most likely be related to oral hygiene or oral care. Now, that's not too exciting, isn't it?
Angelina Jolie is who I would love to look like not somebody who is suffering from incurable mumps. See picture below.

But my No. 1 reason why I do not want to gargle all the time/all day long is that I do not want to be the Lady Gaga of Gargling. And here's a good news! With Colgate Plax, I shouldn't worry about it -- of being a Lady Gaga of Gargling. Colgate Plax has 12-hour anti-bacterial protection for longer lasting fresh breath.

Find out more about what Colgate Plax can do for you by visiting Colgate Plax website and going gaga over their Gloo Gloo animation using the Colgate Plax Gloo Gloo application. You gotta try it. It's super fun to use. I actually tried it several times using a photo of each of all the members of my family. It was actually a fun way to bond with my 3 daughters. Really.

Colgate Plax Gloo Gloo animation -- my cheeks move, simulating the gargling action.

~~~~~~~~~

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!

Oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh!
Stop Plaque with Colgate Plax

A happy mommy's journey to snacking-healthy with Soyami

I look forward to Friday nights when I get home from work and our kids and I bond together over watching our favorite DVD movies. These movie-bonding nights are never complete without snacks. Oh yes, we love to munch on a snack. In fact in our family, snack is one important meal.

I was still single when I got hooked on potato chips and sweets. When it comes to potato chips, "the saltier, the tastier" they were to me. While on sweets, "the sweeter, the better". But I realized later on in life that such indulgence was never healthy. In fact, we all know it to be true that too much salt and sugar can be deadly.

I started looking for a healthier alternative to my "junk foods" when I became a mom with my kids sharing my fondness for having snacks. That's why, slowly I refrained from eating too salty chips and too sweet treats. I began to fill my diet with fruits and lots of veggies. I would like my 3 daughters to grow up healthy and eat healthy. Kids learn from their parents the most, right? So, I must really be a good example to my children. It has paid off. I'm happy to see them fight over a piece of apple or go crazy over bananas or be so excited to have grapes for their recess. They love salads and green, leafy vegetables, too.

Well, I used to think that all chips are junk food. But then I heard and learned about healthy snacking and healthy chips and Soyami. I got curious about Soyami Soya Chips particularly, its taste, so I bought the 3 flavors available: Original, White Cheddar, and Pizza.

I sampled the Pizza flavor first during one lunch break at my office. Lo and behold, I liked it!

Next, I introduced my newly-discovered healthy snack food, Soyami Soya Chips, to my kids. Lo and behold (again), they liked it, too! and I'm one happy mom. Yipeee!

My kids snack on Soyami during their playtime.

We just found our healthier choice to snacking! Soyami Soya Chips are made with Real Soya, no MSG, High in Protein and Calcium and 0% transfat. Wow, just look at that -- 0% transfat!


It is available in 3 flavors: Original, White Cheddar, and Pizza and is out in the market already. I love the Original flavor the most. On the other hand, the White Cheddar is my kids' favorite.

One fact I learned about consuming soy during childhood is that it "has been shown to promote growth and boost bone health." In other words, my children can benefit significantly from eating Soyami. That's one great news!

Knowing about the health benefits of soy foods has convinced me to stock up on Soyami Soya Chips at home and office.

I want to keep a healthy lifestyle and live long for my children. "Soy foods, when consumed regularly as part of a healthy lifestyle, can help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by improving key risk factors, such as by lowering cholesterol, reducing blood pressure and helping to keep blood vessels flexible as we age."

So now, even in our DVD bonding time, we snack on something healthy...even if these are chips.

Join me and my family in our journey to snacking healthy with Soyami! Weeee!
http://mukhangpera.com/goto/http://twitter.com/healthysoyami and http://mukhangpera.com/goto/http://www.facebook.com/healthysoyami

Swish to be fresh! in Malaysia and Singapore

In just the last two months I was able to travel to two Asian countries, Malaysia and Singapore. It was a first time for me to visit Malaysia. My purpose of going there was to accompany my husband who would now be working in Malaysia. My trip just lasted for 6 days and in that span, we were also able to find a place to call home in Kuala Lumpur.

All I knew about Malaysia was based on the internet and some accounts from friends who had been there before. It also helped that my husband's head hunter emailed a booklet entitled "Living in Malaysia".

Prior to our departure, I spent a lot of hours daily researching about Malaysia through the internet. I searched for the must-see places/spots to visit in Malaysia. I even familiarized myself with Kuala Lumpur's street map and street names. I'm kinda O.C. when it comes to traveling. I wanted to make sure that my 6-day trip would not go to waste and would make me "experience" what Malaysia has to offer - Malaysia, Truly Asia.

When it comes to food adventures, I knew what I had to deal with -- lots of spicy stuff. But oh yes, I was game! Oh so I thought.

The first time I stepped into KL's airport, I immediately noticed how Muslim women, most especially, tourist women from Arab countries apply eye make-up that further enhances their deep set eyes. That observation prompted me to copy the way they put on eye make-up ... just so I could blend in a little.

The mosque-like structure behind me is the official house of Malaysia's Prime Minister.

When I travel, I try to learn as much about the place's culture and language. I ask a lot of questions from locals and try my best to speak their language and even copy their intonations.

Inside a Muslim mosque with my hubby.
Women need to cover their head while inside the mosque.

During my stay in Malaysia, I was also lucky to be invited to a usual Muslim family celebration of Malaysia Day. That's when I learned that Malaysians are truly simple and nationalistic. Most of them even wear their national costumes, not only during national holidays but even during simple family celebrations like birthdays.

But I believe one of the best ways to appreciate and understand the culture of a certain place is through its food.

These are just some of the food present on the table which I was able to take a photo of during their celebration of Malaysia Day.

It's their tradition to serve colored rice during holidays.

They also have itlog na maalat!

Beef Rendang - This one's HOT!

I gladly tasted everything which was put on my plate.

From mildly spicy to very spicy, I was happy to try authentic Malaysian dishes served during their feast day.

Every time we went out to eat and would get back to our hotel after, there would still be the spicy aftertaste lingering in my mouth. This was where Swish would come in. I would gargle with Swish which my hubby brought from Manila (3 different variants of 60 ml. Swish plastic bottles). Gargling with Swish would leave me with long-lasting fresh breath. Oh by the way, my hubby has sensitive teeth and gums that's why Swish is just perfect for him and yes, for me, too.

My next Asian trip took place last October 26. For a week, I, along with my 3 daughters toured Singapore where my husband was having his 3-week training. It was also a very happy reunion of sorts or get-together for all of us after a month of being away from hubby. I am grateful to experience and enjoy Singapore this time around and our kids were so happy to be with their daddy once again.

All our bags are packed and we're ready to go -- to Singapore!

Here, we also did a lot of eating. But unlike in Malaysia where we didn't know anyone, here in Singapore, we got to meet up with a lot of friends for dinner or lunch.

Dinner at Clarke Quay where seafoods abound

So happy with my crabby!

Aside from the MRT which we used a lot during our stay in Singapore, we also did a lot of walking, passing through CityLink Mall (Singapore's first underground pedestrian mall). In fact, during our adventures from one place to another, oftentimes, we didn't have the time to get back to our hotel to freshen up that's why I would always bring a big bag to carry some change of clothes for the kids, face towels, toiletries such as wipes, cologne, baby powder, alcohol and our very handy mouthwash - Swish. There's also one we leave inside our hotel room.

First time to try this world-famous Garrett

Ben & Jerry's banana split -- gone in split seconds!

Not only was our trip to Malaysia and Singapore memorable, both experiences were refreshing, revitalizing and truly enriching. Visiting these two countries has taught me to understand and respect different cultural values, not to mention, appreciate the distinct flavor and taste of their cuisine.

With all the eating and milk-tea drinking I did in Singapore & Malaysia, Swish surely helped in keeping my breath fresh all day long. All it takes is a gargle with Swish and I'm confident again.

'Til my next visit...lah.