I cannot ask for more in 2009, I didn’t ask so much or wished for more, I just moved on and do whatever is apt to do. I have traveled a long journey but at the end, it was a good journey with my kids at the center and me just behind.

You know how mummies are, they never got tired of talking about their children specially if they have achieved something through their own efforts.

First, we have so many bonding activities and likewise shared common interests. One secret that I can share with other mummies is that I am always interested in the things they do, I always try to be involved and be a cool mum. That’s the reason why I got into blogging, and now enjoying every bit of it. I would remind them, “ o bakit ka pa hindi nag blog? Or “ nag blog ka na ba?”, or a text message “ ma meron event sa Tuesday, mag register ba tayo?”

Second, Dianne and Jeric fared very well in their school and other endeavor, Dianne graduating and eventually became an RN, Jeric’s Brinknotes won as best podcast in the Philippine Blog Awards and he is doing very well at UPOU. My youngest Roxanne is 15, she into campus journalism and adept in using IMAC.

Me, I am into a lot of things, very busy but thats the way it is. I just have to deal with my premenopausal symptoms.

I welcome year 2010, it’s a good life, starting the long journey again, but this time, I’ll make sure it’s a light journey; I am leaving excess baggage behind.

What is in the minds of Filipino children? Are Filipino kids ready to be independent? A simple task  for 100 kids , what are they going to do with 500 pesos on hand?

One hundred school age children were gathered and were made to choose from a makeshift shopping paradise with extensive range of toys, school supplies, and snacks and other options like a charity box where they can donate the money or the alternative for them to save the money they received.

As they were making their choices, their parents were asked the question “ What do you think your child would purchase? “More than 50 % of the mothers expected their kids to buy toys and snacks, with the belief that they were too young for responsible decisions.

The result …. Ninety-nine out of one hundred children saved most of their money. Many donated to charity. Half of them purchased items for school. One child indeed spent all of his money on food and toys – but to give as gifts to his brothers and sisters.

To learn more, watch Tang’s “Do you know kids?” social experiment video by logging on to http://www.knowkids.org.ph/ and share the surprise!

Looking back….

I used to give my kids their “baon” everyday during their school age years. I try to give them more than enough but not to the point of being luxurious. As I looked back and reflect about this experiment, based on my own experience, my kids really learned how to save and prioritize on how they would spend their money. As I would always asked if they would have peso bills to change my 100 or 500 peso bill, they would have the money. There was never a time when their wallets were empty. This proved that they saving money.

Now that they are grown ups, their “baon” is on a weekly basis, again a little over than the usual but not luxurious and outcome is they don’t ask for extra money to spend on other school needs or money for out of school activities. Fairly they have learned to manage their money wisely.

They have applied for their ATM’s and we are experimenting if they will be beneficial for them and me.

Again, know about the Filipino kid independence, log to http://www.knowkids.org.ph/

There was no Halloween party for this year to attend, but I got amazed with the way some establishments celebrated this Halloween, This is in particular one of the banks I patronize, Chinabank, 5th Avenue branch., Caloocan City The bank transformed in one big macabre settings. Bank employees serving you with their outfits! Scary !

Department stores, have their usual trick or treat for kids. My youngest nephew had his day in one of the SM malls. So many amenities for kids these days!

My ultimate event this Halloween This is It movie of Michael Jackson. Who’s gonna beat the King of Thriller anyway? You don’t get scared but you get to swoon him and be entertained.

What do you do with your life when you are in midlife?  I have to make things happen, restore balance in my life and re- invent or re reframe myself. I am letting go of a phase of my life wherein I have to do what is in order, but now, do what I enjoy and like.

Before I have to do things because I have to, for someone else. Now I want to do things because I enjoy doing it and it gives me fulfillment and contentment. With these I am embracing a new life, my looks and my health becomes my responsibility.

For the past 5 years  I have gone through these changes:

I have shifted my work from public practice to private practice. I worked in a totally different environment and this gave me a new challenge and lots of opportunities..

I have involved myself into activities that my children do get involved in, in the end I am becoming a cool mom.  I blog, do facebook , follow them on twitter, watch the latest movies and concerts , updated my celphone and now I am using IMAC.

70 % of my work involves dealing with the young ones (Academe). I have change the way I look; I became aware of what’s new in fashion, thanks to my kids.

I may have disappointments and goals that have not been accomplished. But I am taking my time….

I have been reading books about perimenopause to learn how I will be able to prepare myself for the natural change that I am about to undergo in the next few years. Since my foremost inconvenient feeling is the “hot flushes” , I have gathered the following information which I can share with some who are also in this situation.

Top five things to do to relieve myself from perimenopausal symptoms

• Take Vitamin E  (400- 800 I. U per day),Vitamin C (500 mg) and B-complex vitamins
• Avoiding hot baths and hot drinks
• Eat more vegetables and fruits
• Modification of my lifestyle, do only what I like and prioritize my activities
• Do a make over of myself, i.e change in the way I look

I am one of those who is experiencing perimenopausal symptoms. It’s a little disgusting because, after all these years your body is telling you, hey there is going to be changes, I hope change for the better and not for the worst.

Perimenopause is the transition years before your actual menopausal period ( when your menstruation stopped coming every month). The main cause of these changes is the diminution of what makes us a woman, our precious hormones, estrogen and progesterone.

Some changes that I have experienced are menstrual period changes, hot flushes, reduced stamina, mood swings and irritability.

Of all these changes, the hot flashes are so unpleasant . After taking a shower in the morning, there is sort of a bad feeling or an aura I cannot understand, I had to pause and sit in front of an electric fan even if I am in an air conditioned room. Hot flushes would come my way and profuse sweating follows.

This has been my dilemma every morning after I had my shower. During the night even in an air-conditioned room, my profuse sweating would awaken me and eventually disturbed my sleep.

I can do nothing this is bound to happen. No woman is exempted.

“Yes, i could have done all those things that win wide acclaim, exiting as grandly as any president could wish. But while my power as president ends in 1992, my responsibility as a Filipino for the well-being of my country goes beyond it to my grave. A great part of that responsibility is to do the best I can today, according to my best lights, while I have the power to do it.

I hope that history will judge me as favorably as our people still regard me, because, as God is my witness, I honestly did the best I could. No more can be asked of any man.

Maraming Salamat at Paalam.”

Prayer  for A Happy Death by Cory Aquino 2004

Almighty God, most merciful Father
You alone know the time
You alone know the hour
You alone know the moment
When I shall breathe my last.

So, remind me each day,
most loving Father
To be the best that I can be.
To be humble, to be kind,
To be patient, to be true.
To embrace what is good,
To reject what is evil,
To adore only You.

When the final moment does come
Let not my loved ones grieve for long.
Let them comfort each other
And let them know
how much happiness
They brought into my life.
Let them pray for me,
As I will continue to pray for them,
Hoping that they will always pray
for each other.

Let them know that they made possible
Whatever good I offered to our world.
And let them realize that our separation
Is just for a short while
As we prepare for our reunion in eternity.

Our Father in heaven,
You alone are my hope.
You alone are my salvation.
Thank you for your unconditional love, Amen.

 Tita Cory, you have changed our lives, you have been a good model for us mothers,

caring for your husband , family  and caring for a nation in turmoil.

Thank you Tita Cory, you will live in our hearts forever.

One of the most awaited board examinations results finally after 48 days of agony the results are out. There were 32,617 out of 77,901 who passed the June 2009 Nursing Licensure Examination with a national passing rate of 41.87%. One of the lowest passing rates since June 2006.

I was one of those who patiently waited for the results because it involves many people close to me, my former students and most especially my eldest daughter, Dianne Kristin G. Pena. It was one of those very meaningful feeling that you could ever experience, knowing your daughter is now a registered nurse. A very rewarding feeling, more than what I felt when I passed my own CGFNS and NCLEX exams. Today, your name is all over the papers as one of those newest nurses.

To my eldest daughter Dianne, my congratulations, you made me proud. Twenty years ago, I was at the hospital, bringing you to this world, the 24 hours pain was unbearable, but today, this is so much joy for me. Happy birthday!

The Philippines’ National Hero

“I was born in Calamba on 19 June, 1861, between eleven and midnight, a few days before full moon. It was Wednesday and my coming out in the vale years would cost my mother her life had she not vowed to the Virgin of Antipolo to take me to her sanctuary by way of pilgrimage”. From Jose Rizal’s writings Memoirs of a Student in Manila.

At 16 years old, he graduated from Ateneo Municipal with the degree of Bachelor of Arts

At 26 years old, his book Noli Me Tangere was published in Berlin.

At 30 years old, El Filibusterismo  was published in Ghent , Belgium.

At 35 years of age he was executed at Bagumbayan, Luneta.

The essence of being a woman is motherhood. From Day 1 to Day 252, she carries her child in her womb, though sometimes it becomes uncomfortable or at times, she may be in the brink of death in the course of her pregnancy.

Conceiving, and giving birth is considered as a natural thing for women , are bodies are designed to carry and eventually nourish our babies.

But why do 230 women die for every 100,000 live births in the Philippines (WHO , 2008)? It means that 230 babies in every 100,000 babies born alive will be motherless and will be left to the care of a surrogate mother. These mothers die due to complications related to childbirth.

I am glad I am still here for my children to celebrate Mother’s day. Its my 20th year of
celebrating mother’s day. My own mother is celebrating her 49th year of being a mother. Like me, she has not stopped on being a mother to us her children though we have our own families to care for.

To the other mothers who may be biological mothers, adoptive mothers, or foster mothers, this is our day. We just cannot stop caring and nurturing our children in their life journey. May God always bless us give us good health and peaceful life with our children.