Sun. Sand. Summer.

Since today is the last day of February...and March signals the beginning of summer, most people would go and talk about...(yes, the overrated...) BEACH! Allow me to jump on the bandwagon! :)

Sun. Sand. Summer. 

I'm not really a beach-person. I don't surf. I don't dive. I haven't even tried jest-skiing or riding the banana boat. But, I'd loved to! :) 

Though not really a beach-buff, I try to enjoy myself (by non-stop swimming and playing along the shore) every time I get a chance to visit the beach. I don't have the luxury to do it as often as I'd please so I definitely try to seize the moment.

I could still remember the very last time I had fun under the sun two years ago... 

Sun. Sand. Summer.

Together with my mom, little brother, niece, and the rest of GAIS family, I danced along the graceful movements of waves, and enjoyed the classical grandeur of nature as we visited Real Quezon. I totally had fun since it was not yet a commercialized site. There were no buildings; thus, one could only see the virgin beauty of the island—one that's untouched and unsoiled. 

Calm and steady. Listen closely as the sea tells its wonderful story!
(Shot taken from my Canon digi cam)

We stayed there only for a night, but we certainly did enjoy! 
Have I mentioned that we only slept in a house owned by a local? Yes, we did! Because there weren't fancy hotels or motels nearby. It was like an immersion thing. ;) And the food? It was swell! Seafood overload! (One thing I like most in going out of town, beaches in particular! Haha!)

Waves. Pretending I know how to surf! Haha

Sun. Sand. Summer.

It has been two years.

After that adventure, I haven't had one yet. But if given a chance, I'd totally love to go on a trip! Of course, I'll tag along my Kevin and let him enjoy a wonderful adventure!

Maybe this summer?☺ 

A vacation like no other. Sun. Sand. Summer! Ultimate relaxation! 

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7 at 4!

Who would've thought that time could fly so quickly that I almost lost track of how fast Kevin's growing up!

Oh yes...my little angel's gone so big that he weighs over 7 kilos (16 lbs) at 4 months.☺ Of course, I can't help but be happy for I can see that he's getting enough nutrition from my milk and that apparently, he's a healthy baby!

Though there are few changes as Kevin grows up, such as his sleeping habits (which makes me work more to put him to sleep), I'm still in high spirits for he's becoming more sociable, active, cheerful and yes, heavy! Haha. 

Our happy Kevin :) 

To witness how a life's miracle develops—from the moment he's learned to call for attention, make noise, and hold a rattle—is to see daylight and understand how life works and how  living itself is a great revelation.

Undergoing the difficulties of labor and delivery could not match the happiness I feel now by seeing how happy he is ♥. And, I could never be thankful enough for being blessed with such gift!

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L.O.V.E.

Just because today is Valentine’s Day, I think it’s just apt to write something about LOVE. And here it goes…

L. ustful look into the eyes,

O. pening up even the skyline.

V. ast and deep like the ocean,

E. mploying a delicate, strong emotion! ♥

June 07, 2012...a very memorable photo. This was NOT staged ;)

Never mind the flowers or even the chocolates. They don’t really matter in “love”, though in some way, they add a pinch of "spice" to a relationship.

What truly matters, however, is that LOVE must be TRUE, not perfect, but true.

P.S. This post is dedicated to my dear husband. :) I truly love you, always! :* Happy Valentine's to you!

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The Art of Sucking

Sucking (intransitive verb) : to draw something in by or as if by exerting a suction force; especially: to draw milk from a breast or udder with the mouth.

Whether for pleasure or not, sucking is indeed an art!

While it implies a lot of things, sucking isn't a meager thing for babies. In fact,  for them it's the source of their lifeblood.

Various advertisements in all media forms claim how much beneficial breastfeeding is for babies, and for moms as well! :) They have joined the bandwagon of doctors who fully support breastfeeding and breast-milk. In my case, my OB-gyne (apart from my mom) advised me to breastfeed my baby. Did I take her advice? Yes I did. And I'm happy about it!

Kevin, preoccupied with his fave art :)

It has been 3 months since Kevin started sucking milk from my breasts. Though at first breastfeeding him was like hell (it was just SO painful especially those days when my breasts weren't producing milk yet), I endured it and eventually felt okay. The thought that my son's gonna be healthier helped me go through the discomfort. And...as you can see, Kevin has never been so handsome and healthy! And breastfeeding him now is just a breeze!

At night, I no longer find it difficult to put him to sleep. All I have to do is face him (both of us lying down) and give him his milk. Just that easy! I do the same when he wakes up in the middle of the night. No hassle in standing up and preparing milk for him (for bottle feeding).

So apparently, doing this art doesn't only benefit the little ones. Mothers likewise receive equal amount of favor. (For more information about the benefits moms could get from breastfeeding, click HERE.)

Personally, there are two things I love the most in breastfeeding my son (other than the health benefits), to wit:

• convenient (no bottles to wash or sterilize, no hassle in preparing the milk)
• economical (no need to buy expensive milk formulas)

But, are there setbacks? 

Hmm...I can barely think of any apart from he's nibbling my nipples. *OUCH! But here's something catchy...ever since I started breastfeeding Kevin, he started NOT to like bottles or pacifier! Even if my milk is in the bottle, he doesn't want to drink it. *SIGH! Does this mean I have to breastfeed him till he's already 1 or 2 years old? Oh no! :( The teeth....

Then again, "Breastmilk is still best for babies up to two years." ;) And...admittedly, I take pleasure from thinking how sucking came to be. How moms are capable of producing such healthy milk for babies to suck! See...life, which in itself is an art, really is AMAZING!

P.S. "The Art of Sucking" is concocted by my husband during our conversation about our son. Such discussion inspired me to do this account. :)

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SSS Maternity Benefit

This is definitely one of the things new mother should know: that they are entitled to a Maternity Benefit as an existing member of Social Security System (SSS), a government agency that has social insurance programs, providing retirement and health benefits to all enrolled employees in the country. 

As we all know it, every payday, a percentage of our salary goes to SSS (if you are an employed individual). At times, we wonder and ask ourselves what good could possibly come from such deduction in our monthly earnings? Will it do us good, eventually? 

Well moms, the answer is yes! And here's one cogent proof!

According to SSS, Maternity Benefit is a daily cash allowance granted to a female member who was unable to work due to childbirth or miscarriage. In my case, I stopped working during my first-trimester of pregnancy because I opted to concentrate on my gestation and rather avoid stress caused by my work. Though I was a separated member (unemployed), I was still eligible to receive a Maternity Benefit. How? Why?

Visit SSS Index-1 on Maternity to know more. There, your concerns about Maternity Benefit will be addressed as it enumerates the qualifications for entitlement to such benefit, explains how much you're gonna get, and shows how it is computed. 

Just take note moms that you MUST go to SSS office near you to apply for this benefit. You need to fill-up and pass the Maternity Notification Form or MAT-1 Form prior to giving birth! When you're about to submit this accomplished form, don't forget to bring an I.D. and a proof that you're really pregnant, say a recent ultrasound scan. Also, be ready with your SSS number!

They will process your application and check whether you may be granted with such benefit considering all the requirements. This process is quite fast and no hassle, so don't worry moms. After the officer accepted your form, that's about it. You will just have to return AFTER you give birth!

This time, what you must do is fill-up the Maternity Reimbursement Form or MAT-2 Form, and submit the requirements enumerated in the SSS Index-2 on Maternity.

After about a month and a half, you will get your benefit! :) 

I just got mine this morning! :) I waited for it about a month and a half (I submitted my MAT-2 December 13 of last year, and was informed that my benefit was approved just last January 30). 

Here's a snapshot of my MB :)

Though the total amount of my maternity benefit doesn't equate to the actual price my husband and I paid for my delivery, we're still grateful for this! After all, ang pera ay pera. And it's definitely a necessity these days! ;)

Here's my Maternity Benefit Check and Voucher :)

I am also thankful that my soon-to-be kumare Donna I. Pahignalo told me about this benefit. For like most moms, I wasn't aware that such benefit exists! 

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All the best for the little one

It's one of the greatest things I've learned thus far. That as a parent, you can't help yourself but give all the best for your little one. 

Yes...that's a tendency. Something that goes unplanned, unexpected, and just comes to you naturally. As others say, it's "a mother's instinct" to do everything in her power to rather give all for her child. 

And I am no different.

From his clothes, to bottles, to bags, to diapers, I want to have almost everything that's beyond compare...for Kevin. Especially now that his first event (baptismal party) is on the way!

http://stmarysdedham.com/sacraments/baptism

On April...that's when my husband and I are planning to have him baptized. And of course, I want the event to be "picture-perfect"! As of now, I'm still scouting what's the best venue for our reception (within stone's throw the Antipolo Cathedral where Kevin will be baptized) with everything else considered (accessibility, price, food, etc.)

Though we want the affair to be solemn and simple, we still want our guests to enjoy, not only the ambiance of the place, but as well as the food. (of course!)

So here's my shortlist for the reception venue: 

• Max's Restaurant (convenient, accessible, good food but quite pricey) 
• Shakeys (convenient, accessible, food's okay and affordable)
• The Original Savory (very convenient and accessible, haven't tried their food, price on the average)
• The Old Spaghetti House (a bit far compared to those already mentioned, their Kiddie Party Packages, however, look nominal)
• Jardin de Miramar (venue rental only, but the place looks definitely nice!

While we're still undecided with the reception venue, we have already chosen our party favor supplier!!! :) And it's gonna be Sweet Li'l Soles Online Shop. We fell in love with its creativity and because we could customize our own souvenir, we chose it. Watch out for our baby's party favor! Hihi :)

For the cake/cupcakes we'll be having my husband's friend, Myca: Glam Cakes by Myca.

Anyway, as of this moment, there are still few things to think about and decide apart from those that I've mentioned, to wit:

• Final list of ninongs and ninangs
• Final look of the invitation
• Kevin's outfit
• Final motif/theme
• Final budget for the event 

*Sigh! 

I know...I still have a lot of time to prepare for this, but I just can't stop being excited about it! One cogent proof of this enthusiasm of mine is the invitation wordings! Yes! I've worked on it already. Haha...here's a rough draft:

We are truly blessed with a beautiful baby boy sent from above.
Rajon Kevin bounced into our lives and hearts!
Now, join us as we welcome him into the court of Christianity!
Sunday, April [  ], 2013 at [  ] a.m.
Antipolo Cathedral (Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Shrine),
P. Oliveros St., Antipolo City, Rizal
Reception will follow at [  ]
R.S.V.P. on or before February 28 to Boya at +639178787385
"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward." - Psalm 127:3

Will certainly make a blog on how Kevin's baptism went! Till then!

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"Argo fuck yourself!"

No, I am not cursing somebody named "Argo". 

The title is just a line famed by a recent hit movie which raised a few eyebrows because of...one, it's directed by a well-known Hollywood actor who has a handful experience in directing (thus far, he has directed only three movies including this one), and two, because it's based from a true story.

A 2012 American thriller film directed and starred by Ben Affleck, Argo narrates the story of how an American CIA technical operations officer amazingly came up with Operation Argo and ex-filtrated six American diplomats who were trapped in Tehran, Iran during the 1979 hostage crisis.

Antonio "Tony" Joseph Mendez, who specialized in support of "clandestine and covert CIA operations", is this film's protagonist played by Affleck himself. Mendez received an Intelligence Star in 1980 and due to his heroic deed, he is named one of the 50 greatest "trailblazers in agency history by the CIA".

But, what did he do to become a true American hero? Well, as shown in the film, he rescued the injured party by posing as part of a Canadian film crew working under the banner "Canadian Caper", the joint covert rescue by the Canadian government and CIA. 

Original poster of Argo made to make the pretense look real

It is through this decoy that Mendez brought back home Robert Anders, 54, consular officer, Mark Lijek, 29, consular officer, his wife Cora Lijek, 25, consular assistant, Henry Schatz, 31, agricultural attache, and couple Joseph Stafford, 29, consular officer and Kathleen, 28, consular assistant.

Chronicle of history

The film starts with an opening prologue and few clips narrating how starvation for power and glory moved Islamist militants to begin a coup d'etat and caused an uproar in Iran. At first, you would think that Argo is yet another typical documentary about the past. But, no. It has a different twist as it chronicles history with a melodramatic approach. 

As the story unravels, it shows how the Canadian Caper worked in-depth in order to deliver and fulfill its mission. You can see how detailed they got, from the story lines to posters, just to "fake" a production of the movie Argo. They even contacted John Chambers (played by John Goodman), a Hollywood make-up artist who has been working with CIA, to help set up a pseudo film studio, make a pitch for their plan, and successfully establish a double-dealing rescue mission. 

These details, as I see it, make the film exciting. Audiences are left in awe whether the Iran government will be convinced by all those pretenses or will the six American diplomats will be abducted including Mendez himself. 

Seeing the group (Mendez and the six diplomats) in imminent danger, however, makes Argo much more thrilling and exciting! Especially the scenes where they went to a bazaar and got caught up in a fight with an Iranian; when they were trying to board the plane, and when Iranian guards tried to stop the plane they're on. These scenes definitely portray a dramatic sequence which imbues the film a little flavoring and spice. 

For this, I give Affleck a pat on the back!

Apart from the scenes being well-directed, the actors did okay in their acting as well. And the use of actual news footage and photos from the era as in-story expositions is superb!

Everything considered, Argo kept me on the edge of my seat right up to the very end!

Fact or Fictitious?

Producing and making a film that's actually based from a true story, however, is no picnic. All facts must be checked and accurately presented. 

In the case of Argo, some reviews and online readings say accuracy was compromised. They say there are few historical inaccuracies or scenes that didn't happen in reality. And these are the scenes that I actually like (mentioned above)!

So...what if they added few things on the film? I mean James Cameron did it in Titanic.

For the sake of making a film more enticing and thrilling for its audience, I think adding fictitious events are acceptable, unless the film is a strict documentary. 

Underdog Argo

Argo is considered to be an underdog compared to its contemporaries. Nonetheless, it doesn't fail to make history and inspire people. 

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Always...

I - rreplaceable are the memories we've shared together,
    ostending a bond that could last forever.
    and even from the moment we've hit that road,
    we found happiness—as bold as a cord! 

L - imping as the tides hit the hardest,
     but still carrying through even at our weakest.
O - n and on, the story continues,
     challenged by few scenarios and different cues.
V - ying for a memoir that's wide open,
     unswerving towards a seventh heaven.
E - ven supposing there could be hard knocks,
     genuine love couldn't bend for it's well-locked!

Y - our warm embrace and soothing kisses,
     your sense of humor and silent sweetness,
O - n the whole make you the best I ever have,
     and the reasons why from loving you—I didn't starve! 
U - ntil the birds cease from flying,
     and myself stop from breathing.
     I will love you whichever way,
     I will you, forever and always! 

Forever 21 ♥