When we reached the office, we had our usual rounds among the people close to us. The first stop was at the director’s staff where Ma’am Bel was assigned. The usual hi and hello. Then suddenly Eena suggested that Ryx will sing the Christmas songs he learned in school and from us. To our surprise, he started singing JOY TO THE WORLD with O MAGSAYA. JINGLE BELLS and SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN followed. He did that without any coercion from us. Then other officemates were beginning to approach the caucus made by Ryx’s singing. They started teasing Ma’am Bel that Ryx was doing a Christmas carol and he deserves something. She was about to get money from her purse but Eena stopped her. Eena’s intention was to show off our son’s talent… nothing more than that. Besides, we don’t want Ryx to get the impression that if he does something he will be rewarded with money. Fortunately, she respected Eena’s decision. So Ma’am Bel gave some candies.

It was the other way around when Ryx reached my workplace. After he was summoned by Ma’am Elsa and then performed his singing, people started giving bills and goodies. Same thing happened when our pretty and bubbly Assistant Director called him to her office. He earned a few bills, some chocolates and a big kiss after his stint!

Later that afternoon, another friend (In-in) saw Ryx at the lobby. She asked Ryx if he can come along with her to her workstation. Ryx was hesitant at first. But when we told him that Tita Annie was there, he allowed himself to be tagged along. He even brought his assistant with him in the person of Kweng-kweng. After his rendition (with the “accompaniment” of Kweng-kweng), In-in and Annie gave the two kids money bills. Other officemates present also gave some. Eena, the instant manager of Ryx didn’t say a thing about it anymore for fear that they might get offended.

Roughly, Ryx was able to raise equivalent to his two months tuition fees and lots of goodies. Carolling indeed is a good business!

12/22/2011

We thought our activities will end with the sports fest. We’re wrong. Aside from the basketball, volleyball, bowling and dart tourney, we still have two things to deal with – CHORAL and DANCE PRESENTATION. These will be presented during the Christmas Party. This two-contest event is another deviation from the Christmas celebration tradition wherein only one competition is being made.

Anyway, like what was emphasized in my previous post, the people here in the bureau will not just come up with good presentations. They will always come up with something grand that is “at par” with The Philippine Madrigal Singers for choral or a dance number that will give the Bayanihan Dance Troupe a run for their money. And we know what is needed to come up with that kind of presentation. You have to hire top-notch trainers and of course practice… practice… and more practice.

So here I am. With my precious time divided to dance practice, choral practice, office work and lots of personal errands. Damn!

Will I ever get to complete my Christmas List? I hope not after Christmas.

But now no more.

I switched to Samsung. And its the Champ.

Well, the switch has actually nothing to do with anything. I just took the Samsung phone because it was the only phone available for my postpaid plan.

The question now is: Am I satisfied with the phone’s performance?

Yes!

… I can send short (and long…especially when I am mad and I dont see the need to call ‘coz it will just make things worse) messages to any parts of the world.

… I can call my friends and family member and even strangers.

… I can access my facebook account anytime and anywhere.

… I can take pictures whether for posterity or to aid me in my task (hehe! when I dont feel like taking notes or something, I take pictures!)

… and most of all, I can hear music even on the go!

Those were that matters, right?

January 6, 2011

It was Saturday, and time for bowling game. Wifey and I decided to bring Ryx along. When Ryx was two years old, he received a bowling game set (the one made in plastic ideally for children). Since then, he already has an idea how to play the game. But he never saw the real thing yet. That’s why we grabbed the chance.

Before going to the bowling center, we briefed Ryx on the dos and donts once we get there. We were there for “official business” after all. So he can’t run around or do anything that might disturb the game. We’re glad that he followed the rules.

Anyway, our team played at alley 3 and 4. Unfortunately, I only practised at alley 1 and 2. So playing in that alley was a practice and final game rolled into one. Luckily, I was able to score 99 pin falls with one spare. Not bad! The next game was played at alley 7 and 8. My score improved to 105 pin falls. Yay! It pays to have a two-man cheering squad! Hehehe! Thanks Eena and Ryx! Your presence made a difference.

The game was about to end. I was standing in one of the bowling alleys cheering for our team. Then it occurred to me to call Ryx and have him touch the ball. I even allowed him to carry it to which he instantly said that it was indeed heavy.

When the game ended, I took one house ball and demonstrated to Ryx how to throw it. I got another one and asked him to give it a try. Since it was still too heavy for him, I told him to use both hands. He was hesitant at first but later on he give in. He gave it a try and he was able to do it! Unfortunately, the ball didn’t hit any pin.

After the game, we went straight to Mano-mano na Greenfields in Sta. Maria for our lunch.

2. First six players lacks chemistry.

3. New court.

4. Bad weather.

5. Our supporters were just a handful.

“Mama, ug ma dead na ta, i-bury na ta sa soil? Then musaka na ta sa sky? Magkita na dayun ta ni Banty sa heaven??!!! Ug ni Kevin? Ug ni Anna Manalastas?”

That was what Ryx said last weekend, with the part about Banty being said very enthusiastically. Of course, for those who watch the “100-days to Heaven” teleserye, you would know who Kevin and Ana are. I’m not really sure what started the conversation. May he just remembered that the character of Kevin recently passed away in the soap opera, or it was something else. But what really touched me was the simplicity that my Ryx looked at death. For him, dying was as simple as that, getting buried in the soil, then going up to the sky (where heaven is, according to his Papa.) and then the added bonus was seeing Banty, our pet dog, again, whom he saw last being buried in his grave after dying of UTI (we think.) As an afterthought, he also said, “Magkita napud ta ni Daddy Rene?” which of course I answered positively, yes, magkita pud ta ni Daddy Rene. And then after a split second, after realizing what we were talking about, I hastily continued:

ME: But dugggaaaaaayyyy pa kaayo na doy…kay dugay pa man ta ma dead.

Ryx: Dugay pa Mama?

Me: Yes, dugay pa kaayo.

Ryx: Kay dili pa man ta old Mama, nu? Dugay pa ta ma dead!

Me: Yes.

After that, I stirred the topic to less frightening thoughts (at least for me, they were frightening). I was trying to avoid where the conversation might lead. He would probably say next: “Si Mamu, Mama, hapit na ma-dead? Kay old naman sya...” Something which I’d rather not think about yet. Thankfully, my ploy worked and he forgot about what we were talking about.

He asked me once where heaven was, I said it’s a very faraway place, to which he countered, “Sa Dipolog?” to which I had to laughingly reply, no, not in Dipolog, or Basilan, or Cebu, or Manila, or Davao..basta, layoooooo kaayo! These are places which he knows, are far away since Ritche and I have been absent from the home on several occasions when we had to go on a trip in relation to work, sometimes, Ryx was lucky to have tagged along too. But he wasn’t very satisfied with my abstract description of where heaven was. Thankfully, his Papa solved that. Heaven is up there, in the sky. So, there!

Sometimes I wish we could look at serious things such as death and heaven the way children do. Although to be honest, I’d really rather not think about such things. Or maybe if I have to, I could look at it like Ryx does, in a positive way! It’s really true what the Bible says, we should be child-like for us to enter heaven. I’m not really sure if that’s how the passage went, but I think it’s something like that. I also wonder sometimes how we are supposed to explain to a very trusting child, the harsh realities of life. I can just imagine how it would hurt him, or dismay him later, once he realizes the world also has its dark side. What I can only hope and pray for is that no matter what situation he finds himself in the future, he will always have that little boy in him, who sees the good out of everything. The little boy who sees death as being able to see loved ones again, and not worrying about those who will be left behind. (maybe because he knows they will just follow eventually?).

But if the topic crops up again, I would have to gently, but firmly tell him that for now, Banty, Kevin, Ana Manalastas and even Daddy Rene, have to be patient. Hopefully, with God’s grace, we can still do many things to do here on earth, with his Papa, Baby Brother and all others, before we can go to heaven and see those who have gone ahead. And like the trusting person that he is, he would accept my statement and I can even imagine him adding, “with Dida and Lulu pud, Mama!”

eenskie 10/19/2011

10:55am

Volleyball.

Bowling.

Dart.

Swimming.

Wrestling.

No, I just added the last two. Hehehe! These are the events in the coming sports fest. It is really a sports fest indeed considering the events. My gulay! No wonder people are asking for additional uniforms. But can we just concentrate on two events only? So we can cut costs?

My officemates are the competitive type. It’s a good thing actually. But sometimes it gets overboard. Like this one. Some are skipping office in order to practice. Yeah! They are that serious. Trading office hours for practice just to be sure they will come prepared when the competition day arrives.

Anyway, I overheard somebody saying that this sports fest is just for fun.

Fun? With these kind of people? Ha! The way things are going? Ha! In your dreams!

Yay! Tournaments and other sports activities will be flourishing!

When October came, the director held a meeting with the chiefs of the different divisions. The result of the meeting was announced. THERE WILL BE A SPORTS FEST COMING THIS HOLIDAY.

What?! Sports fest this Christmas?!

We never had sports activities in December at the office ever since (or since the time I joined the bureau). That’s why the announcement was a surprise! But what can we (or was it I only?) do?!

Obey.

Later, all the employees were grouped into four groups, represented by Blue, Yellow, Red and Green. It follows that uniforms are necessary… so one shirt for every individual was allocated. But knowing these people here in the bureau, they won’t settle only with that.

Now, things are getting overboard. For me that is. Accordingly, one team has three sets of uniforms. Another team has complete jersey uniforms plus jogging pants. And another team with jacket as supplement.

OAness!

When we arrived home past 10pm, Ryx was already asleep while Zyk was still wide awake. According to Dida, Zyk had fallen to sleep earlier. Maybe he was not contented not to see us before going to Neverland that’s why he woke up before we arrived home. Few minutes after, Wifey and I were ready for bed. Zyk was showing signs that he was sleepy as well. So we went inside the room.

(Pre-Zyk days, we have one maternity bed in our room. When Ryx became 3 years old, we needed an extra bed since our old bed can no longer accommodate us. The new single-sized bed was placed beside the old one since Ryx was not ready yet to sleep apart from us. When Zyk was born, we rearranged our beds and its position in such a way that one side (apart from the headboard) is touching the wall. That way, the chances of kids falling off the bed would be slim. The downside of this setup is there’s a one-inch gap between the two mattresses – we termed this gap as the Suez Canal! Hehe!)

Ryx was already sleeping in his usual place which is the side adjacent to the wall. My usual place is on the other end parallel to Ryx while Zyk would stay in between me and wifey. That night, after putting all my efforts Zyk finally fell asleep (putting him to sleep is struggle lately because we are training him to sleep on the bed on his own instead of carrying him) he was occupying wifey’s bed space already. Left without a choice, wifey, who was dog tired due to her overtime work at the office,  took Zyk’s place. In effect, they ended up exchanging places.

After putting Zyk to sleep, I lost the urge so I took the book I’m currently reading and started  flipping the pages.

When it was my time to join them, wifey took my space already. I have no choice but to stay in between wifey and Zyk. While there, I could not go to sleep. Maybe it was because of the new position… or maybe it was my subconscious telling me that our position is not right. It’s kinda dangerous to leave Ryx and Zyk side by side you know. Ryx might end up on top of Zyk. I transferred and stayed in between my boys.

Never mind the discomfort brought about by the Suez Canal… but being SANDWICHED by my two kids is a perfect bliss!!! How I wish wifey was awake so she can take pictures.

November 15, 2011

My partnership with you has come to an end. And this is the saddest part… saying good bye.

But before that, I want to thank you for the nice memories in San Remigio Beach Club, Cebu… Davao… and most of all your presence in my daily struggles in life. Sniff!

Thank you!