Rapha's Birthday

We celebrated Rapha's 1st Birthday at the La Azotea, Central Philippine University, in Iloilo City yesterday, Jan 28. Through the efforts of my sister we had a wonderful party. There were only 5 children among the guests. most of them were Geline's friends who really loved Rapha and my students in my Tourism Class and the Faculty of the College of Hospitality Management.

They did a great job in cooking our simple menu of Spaghetti, Valenciana (Filipino Paella), Leche Flan, Bread Sticks, Cake and orange juice.

We celebrated his birthday early because I am going to leave for a tour today (January 29.)

Sunday Leisure

Rapha, my youngest son, who is about to turn a year old next Sunday, January 31, contracted a mild cold that made me decide not to attend the 2nd service with the rest of the family. I opted to stay at home and take care of him. He's only experienced havin a common cold twice in his lifetime and not one had bothered him that much. He just gets restless when his head isn't elevated when lying down. It was pretty tough last night when he keeps waking up every hour.

We spent most of the morning watching the Dinagyang Festival, the cultural festival for Iloilo City. It wasn't as grand as the others in the previous years. Perhaps we have finally felt the brunt of the recession. Instead of a strong tribe dancing to the beat of the drums, there was an apparent decrease in the number of dancers which made me think that they participated just for the sake of. As a matter of fact Kasadyahan (the merrymaking dance drama competition on the eve of Dinagyang) had its "last dance" yesterday and never again will it be included in future Dinagyang Festivals. The economy is that bad, I guess.

Matt, my eldest son, and I finally put the Volcano together. I gave him this Volcano Making Kit last Christmas and we never had the time to make it. It took 24 hours to let the plaster dry and we painted it with the paints that went with the kit. Once the pictures have been developed, I'll try to post some online. We made the volcano "erupt" using baking soda and vinegar. It was a good bonding moment. The science stuff can be interesting.

I still haven't thought of any topic in particular to write for the whole year. I've been mulling over it since last night. I have no hobby now and the only thing I find interesting in my life is how my career has been unfolding and how i try to juggle family life with work. Pretty tough, but I'm surviving pretty well. I should think some more and maybe i'll do it while I have my nails done.
;p

Inspiration. Thanks Julie Powell

Julie and Julia a movie worth watching. In so many ways it inspired me to continue on doing the things that I had begun and never finished.

One of them would be blogging. Like the others I have started in different blogsites, I wonder if this one would survive... Its 2010. Maybe Julie Powell would be more than enough inspiration for me to carry on with the chronicle of my life.

I'm always on a journey to self discovery. With so many experiences in life, I often wonder if I have really found myself, or have fully understood my identity. Too late in life to have an identity, don't you think? But really, I think I'm going through one.

Well, for those who have the patience to follow through with this project... I wish I could be like Julie Powell. Have the courage and tenacity to finish what I had begun.

As I had been putting as a disclaimer in my other writings, I'm no professional writer, I am an amateur. I attempted to write but had failed. Perhaps I had attempted so many things.

With so many of those attempts I only wish this one would see itself accomplished... up to what point I don't know.

Feel free to join me in this journey.