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Part of the charm of traveling with my brothers and sisters is that good food is a must. We're quite adventurous and open to new food and taste... as long as it is clean. So on our trip we were open to eat Khmer food. Twice we had dinner at a Khmer "kitchen" and had a Khmer lunch in the hotel restaurant to get an "authentic" taste of Khmer cuisine.
Before the trip, all of us were expecting that food in Cambodia would be spicy. Cambodia is bordered by Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. We know two of the three (are the food in Laos spicy too?) neighboring country have spicy cuisine, hence the expectation. As we drew closer to dinner time, I asked Kim "Are Khmer food spicy?". He answered "100% not spicy".
What does Khmer cuisine taste like? It is sweet... a little fruity... at least of the food we ate. It seems that their best sellers are either in coconut juicy (which we call "gata" here) or has a hint of pineapple. To our un-bias taste buds Khmer food is in between great tasting to tolerable. Like Filipinos, Cambodians are heavy on rice too (thats what you expect when your industry is 80% agriculture) so it seems like it would be a fit to Filipino taste buds. However we were able to chance upon a group of Filipino workers in Cambodia who were taking their vacation in the Siem Reap area and they did not recommend to us the Khmer cuisine. This was strange since our group found it okay.
Of course of our group, each had their own favorites, likes and dislikes. My favorite was "Amok with fish". My personal description would be "the tastes run amok inside your mouth"... maybe a tad to exaggerated, amok with fish is fish and vegetables cooked in coconut juice. Bicolanos would prefer to have it spicy, but it is Khmer and not Bicolano. Emil likes the Beef Loklak, which was sweet and peppery. I did not like it that much and just had a few to taste. Angel loves the green mango salad. Add some slices of salted egg added into and it becomes a perfect Filipino green mango salad. Roy craved for the caramelized pork, but I thought it was a disappointment. We all love the fried noodles which tasted like our instant noodles, I guess the saltiness of the noodles was a break from the sweetness of the other dishes.
Although as good as Khmer cuisine can get we thought they lacked something. Cambodians need servings of good desserts or refreshments. All the time Roy was looking for halo-halo for dessert and relief from the heat, the twins were craving for leche flan. When we asked for dessert the waiter could only recommend fresh fruits.
Coming from a tropical country, a dish of slice fresh pineapples, papayas and bananas does not impress us. They also have caramelized bananas and bananas in coconut juice (a far cry from our sweet ginataan), but it does not hit our dessert craving spot. Foreign owed business have offerings of ice creams, crepes and sherbet but its not really "tropical". Maybe we should bring in some Filipino desserts and refreshments such as sago at gulaman, mais con yelo, halo-halo, leche flan, scrambol, etc to help relief people of the heat and at the same time earn money from it.
During our temple visits we also chance upon some locals losing their rice dessert to monkeys. The rice dessert is sticky rice with some red beans stuffed and cooked inside a piece bamboo. The monkeys were wise enough to steal the piece of bamboo and open it up, just like our monkeys in Subic bay who are wise enough to open a beer in can. Roy wanted to taste the rice dessert and at the confirmation of our tourist guide that it was safe to eat we bought a stick and shared it among the 6 of us. The rice dessert is good, different from suman more like sapin-sapin, but good.
Once while we were walking to the parking lot to get to our bus we also were able to see some vendors selling Khmer delicacies. They had soft boiled egg on a stick, sun dried snails, roasted or fried dung beetles and locust. Kim did not recommend us to try it, since it might give us some health problems. The snails especially are usual culprits of water born diseases such as typhoid, dysentery and diarrhea. We were not shocked with the street food since we have our own... quekquek, betamax, isaw, balot even kuho (snail), locust and dung beetle. We were just surprised that they too also have "delicacies" similar to our "delicacies". Since we are not adventurous enough to eat our own stuff here, why start in Cambodia.
Khmer food is something worth to try. With an open mind and empty stomach it is good cuisine. Would I recommend to open a chain of restaurant with Khmer food? No. I think they are still far from Japanese, Chinese, Thai or Vietnamese cuisine that are know asian cuisine internationally. I don't think it could even compete with the Filipino cuisine in terms of taste and variation. If you are in Cambodia, I would suggest to have at least a dinner of Khmer food.  We arrived mid afternoon. Siem Reap, Cambodia is just around 2 hours away from Singapore by plane. Because of the time difference (Cambodia is 1 hour behind Singapore/Philippines) we only wasted 1 hour for the flight. Going thru immigration was weird, it was the first time I have experienced wherein the airport authorities asked for the boarding pass after arrival. It was also one of the rare moments that being a Filipino has its perk; while other nationalities had to queue for their visa applications we skipped the queue and went directly to the immigration officer . After going thru immigration and customs we were met by our tour guide Mr. Kimhas or who we will fondly call Kim for the rest of our adventure in Cambodia and driver Kom who rarely speaks to us during the trip because he know little English. The two would be our daily companion in Angkor for the next 3 days. Kim who seems to always sport a 5 o'clock shadow was a straight forward guy. He is proud of his Khmer heritage and culture, and he would give you a piece of his mind with regards to the issues and current situation of Cambodia and their people when you ask him about it. Aside from English, it is a proud fact that he is one of the "seven or eight" Cambodians who can speak Italian fluently. Highly intellectual, he believes that the plight of the Cambodians (58% illiterate according to Kim) can be solved thru education. They took us immediately to get our 3-day pass so we can roam around the Angkor area legally. Foreigners have to pay a certain fee to be able to have access to the temples around Angkor. It funds a privately owned, Vietnamese Company who maintains (but not the restoration) of the sites. Vietnamese? Hmmmm.... Anyway, Cambodians do not have to have a pass, even foreigners who are of Khmer descent qualifies. How do they know? Apparently if you can speak Khmer fluent enough you are Khmer. Before checking in our hotel, we begun our temple tours with Angkor Wat. Kim explains to us that the area used to be called Angkor, but the modern name of the area is now Siem Reap. Siem or Siam meaning Thai and Reap meaning defeat is apparently the place where the Khmer defeated the Siamese. He explains the significance and the details of the temple like he was reading the it from the encyclopedia. We all failed to absorb it all since all of us were at awe of the the sight of the temple. We begun to take out our cameras and started to take pictures. Angkor Wat got our attention. The moat was huge, the gate and the towers were spectacular. A portion of the causeway has been reconstructed/restored and while the other portion lay unevenly the original stones where you could also walk on. Inside the gates were three huge statues of Vishnu a, of the three, two were looted of its heads and arms. Kim took us to see the one that has its original head and arms. We started to click away. Kim explains that apparently looters love to take the heads and/or arms of the statues all over the sites of Angkor and sell it in the black market. He then talks about 3 tragedies that Angkor Wat suffered (it is somewhat politically sensitive, so as not to cause any controversies I leave it to Kim to spread it thru word of mouth). Even at the gates the carvings on and around the walls is in such great details, Kim would be quick to point out every time we come across carvings that were still in great shape. He was especially fond of pointing out Apsara (celestial dancer) carvings in good condition. Needless to say our digital cameras were on overdrive. Walking inside the courtyard of Angkor Wat our shock from the beauty subsides and the realization of how hot it was in Cambodia sinks it. Sweat began to flow. We walked or sweated our way to the ruins of what is described to be a library, but according to Kim it was an archive misinterpreted to be a library (the difference being? pardon the ignorance). Then we sweated our way to a pool where there were countless lily pads. Kim exposed to us the secret place where you can get the "best" picture of Angkor Wat. It turns out that at a certain angle the pool provides a reflection of the structure. We started to click away again. Kim explains again; there is some confusion as to what tourist wants to see and what is best seen in Angkor during sunset. Tourists demand to see the sunset in Angkor where you see just the sun setting when in fact Angkor Wat is best seen during sunset when the light is just right and gives Angkor Wat a golden glow. I guess Kim does not understand how westerners romanticize sunsets. However he is right! Angkor Wat is best viewed or pictured during sunset, when the light is just right and gives the structure a golden glow. We started to click away again. Angkor Wat closes at 5:30 PM so we made our way back to our coaster where we learned that part of what we paid for was the free flowing bottled water to keep us hydrated. Even being used to warm weather we started to melt away in the heat in Cambodia. Good thing the tour operator provided for the water we badly needed for the entire trip. After Angkor Wat, Kim was ready to take us to our hotel to check in. The day was over. Next - Khmer Cuisine  It has been long overdue for Angel and I to have an adventure, so around March this year I planned a trip for Angel and I along with my brothers and sisters to Angkor, Cambodia. It was a task to get all our schedules right, with Roy coming from Seattle, Emil's work at a bank and Marion teaching summer classes the window for travel was tight but doable. Only problem for this adventure was that we could not take Dylan with us. Last Friday (14 May) Roy, Emil, Martha, Marion, Angel and I caught a evening flight to Singapore where we would be in transit to Siem Reap Cambodia. Dylan was left behind, at home at the care of my mom, dad and mother-in-law. The stop over was long enough to allow us to leave the airport, sleep in a hotel and roam around Singapore for half a day. With only a change of clothes and some money in our carry on, our adventure commenced after arriving from a late flight at the Singapore Changi Airport. It was a task trying to figure out our way to our hotel. With our high spirit, tired body and stingy pockets we decided to take the MRT/bus route instead of catching a taxi ride to the hotel. Hindsight it was a bit daring for us to do so since none of us really knew our way around Singapore and the last train ride was leaving in 15 minutes time. We had directions from the internet and looked at the map. It took a software engineer with a PhD, an industrial engineer with a masters, a chemist with a masters, a civil engineer, a banker and a aspiring professor to buy train tickets to the wrong station. Fortunately for us the fare to the right station was the same amount as the tickets we bought. When we arrived at the Toa Payoh Station we were on the last train trip and the station was closing. With the help of a couple of transit authorities we were able to get into the correct bus to our hotel. The hotel room was something, or should I say close to nothing. It was just a bed, TV, toilet and bath. It resemble more of a high end prison cell rather than a hotel room. At least the bed was comfortable enough, or maybe we were just so tired that sleeping in our "cell" was no problem at all. Breakfast in Singapore was expensive. Although we had a delicious one; chicken congee with century egg, fried tofu and the piece de resistance steam fish (garupo). Food was more fitted for dinner rather than breakfast. When the food was served we first though we could not finish is all, but we under estimated the stomach and appitite of the Ledesma & Tan clan combined.Nothing was left but the bones of the fish. With our stomach full and the confidence high; we ventured out to explore Singapore. We made our to the Marina Park via MRT and our ever so reliable feet. We walked again from the Marina Park and was able to make it to the Merlion Park where we had fun taking pictures and taking funny pictures. Good thing everybody made the right decision of wearing comfortable shoes because walking was intensive during all our trip. After a short stint of laughter, sweating, picture taking and getting briefly lost (again) we made our way to Singapore Changi Airport where we had our lunch and waited for our plane to the main attraction of our trip; Angkor. All in all I was surprised and a bit disappointed that Singapore is not as square as I thought it was. I imagined police paroling everywhere looking out for offenders to fine, but to my disappointment and glee (if it were possible to feel both at the same time) Singapore did not live to my expectation. I still see pedestrians jaywalking and disregarding signs. Being a person from the land of "organized" chaos, it was comforting to see some resemblance of chaos in Singapore. Although I might say I love how Singapore is so clean and green. Due to the short stint in Singapore, we were not able to go to the main "Pinoy" attraction such as Sentosa Island, Night Safari, Orchard Road and the newly opened Universal Studios. I would say someday I will go back to Singapore again, not to enjoy the said attraction but as another jump off point or a warm up to another adventure. I liken Singapore to the trailers before the movies that I equally love as much as the main movie attraction. Singapore sets the mood to an even greater adventure. Next - Angkor - the main attraction Years before even blogs was even a word, I was already into running. At the last semester in the University I joined a dragon boat racing team and the way we cross train was to run/jog. It was even a habit of some of our teammates to run a couple of kilometers before hitting the docks. I did rowing for a while until I got a job and getting fit started to halt.
For a while badminton was my game, our group started to play even before badminton courts sprouted like shawarma stalls everywhere. Courts were so rare that we played in Camp Crame. The badminton group we started still exist less the presence of me. Games were played late in the evening and when I started with my work in Makati I could not find the energy to work effectively the next morning. Exercise stopped for a while.
Last year, I rediscovered the joy of running. At the whim of my siblings (Emil and the twins) we joined Urbanite's 5K run. Since most of us were working we trained ourselves at night and during weekends. We had our differences in style and pace. Marion an ex-ADMU trackster is a beast but prefers to run with her twin, while Emil runs with his ipod. Me? I run with my thoughts and objectives. That's when I added another item in my bucket list, run the Portland Marathon.
We did a couple of 5K run last year, then running in the family slowed down. Probably because of the busy holiday season. Flabs begun to build up again and unhealthy habits sunk in, that is until Emil and I signed up for Globe's Run for Home 2010. Funny thing was we were forced to do the 10K run because application for the 5K ran out. So wheels started turning, or should I say legs started running.
Last Sunday we ran the 10 kilometers that took us from Makati CBD to Fort Bonifacio back to Makati CBD. It was excellent. I love the views, espcially the finish line at Paseo de Roxas. There were a lot of inclines, the most challenging was the Buendia fly over which we had to cross twice. Organizers did a great job. Marshalls could be seen everywhere. Best part was running it with Emil, who was the noisest 10K runner ever. We were at pace for the most of the run until the last kilometer. Unofficial time is at 1 hour 15 minutes, still waiting for the time results to be posted. I had such a great time I'm already looking forward to Run for Home 2011.
Running is a theraphy for me. It is my alone time, it is my stress out let, it is my planing time, it is my way of getting fit, it is my time to bond with my siblings, etc. Angel bought her running shoes last weekend, and might join the running addicts soon. So soon it will be a bond to share with my wife.
10 kilometers is just less than 1/4 of my objective of the 42 kilometer marthon. I look forward to scratching it from my bucket list.
Been a while since my last blog. Multiply has taken the back seat to another website. Anyhow... here's a quick update:
- Lost a few pounds and able to fit in my "pre wedding" jeans.
- Angel's been baking different pastries and cakes, might get back the few pounds I lost.
- Executive check up revealed my cholesterol is a bit high, and currently cutting back on food with high fat content.
- Stopped running since Typhoon Ondoy, but I need to get back on the horse again.
- After 2 years of hiatus, our company has another bowling tournament, our team is struggling.
- Dylan will have his 1st school play next week on the last day of the semester.
- Still planning for a vacation sometime November, hopefully this pushes thru.
- Bought new insoles from New Balance, old ones are terribly worn out. New insoles does not have the customized feel but its doing a sufficient job.
- A good friend got married last Sunday and had a fun time at the reception with the company of good friends.
Yesterday was the last day of our final exam for the College of Estate Management. Last December I started a new adventure of getting another BS degree. An adventure that needs a commitment of 4 years of studying and another 4 years additional time in our company. 16 subjects in 4 years, virtual slavery in another 4. Crazy huh? All this just to increase my marketability in the international scene. People and Information Management, Introduction to Law, Building Technology 1 and Economics 1... sounds easy enough. The problem for me is that my adventure involves distance learning or rather self discipline. Mustering the discipline to study is the hardest. I still prefer the time pressure experienced at the hands of the La Salle system. At least all I had to do was to absorb the information being fed by the professors at a rate that sometimes would break the sound barrier. With distance learning, I had to dig deep inside me to sit down, read and study rather than lay down relax and watch TV. Facebook did not help either. Being such a lazy bum, I managed to pass all of the eight assignments. The last obstacle for the year was four exams in four successive days. Yesterday was the last day of exams. How well did I do? I hope I did enough. Grades will be posted on November 5... kinda close to my birthday, so hopefully it would be a happy one. I just pity the ones checking my test papers. I do hope they have extended patience or a worse handwriting than mine. My mom and all my teachers know what a pain it is to read my handwriting, my only hope is that grades are based on content of the answers and not the presentation of it. Fingers-crossed.  August 10 was Dylan's birthday. I took leave from work to help out with Angel on Dylan's small party at his school with 9 of his classmates and teachers. We bought Jollibee Chickenjoy for the kids and Red Ribbon's Palabok for the teachers. Of course there was a birthday cake. Angel also prepared give aways for Dylan's classmates, in turn Dylan got gifts from them. He was happiest when we got a "Lightning McQueen" toy car for a gift. (See picture on the left).
We were also lucky to have Dylan's aunts (the twins) helping us celebrate his birthday. Marion got a day off for working on a holiday earlier in the month. Martha on the other hand did not have classes on that day.
Later that evening we went out for dinner where Emil joined us. Everybody work a red shirt including Ruby, Dylan's nanny. At a young age of 3, Dylan knew it was his special day. It looks like he takes after his father who loves to have his birthday celebrated in a special way.  Our son Tyler David passed away 16 July 2009 while recovering from his operation. He was able to survive the procedures done to him, but his heart stopped while in the recovery room. His doctors who were with him the whole time were not able to revive him. Now he is in heaven with God free from pain. We cremated his body and buried him the following day at the Cathedral near our residence. This way we can visit him when we want to. Tyler shall be missed. Support and prayers from family and friends have eased our pain as Angel and I try to bounce back from this ordeal. Tomorrow (16 July) Tyler will under go an open heart surgery to repair his major congenital heart problem. Our search for B+ blood ended last night as our requirement was fulfilled. Special thanks to Ruby, JP, Carlo, Herbert and Francis and to those who wanted to donate but were not able to. Thanks also to the Masons who contacted me williing to donate more blood.
We will admit Tyler to St. Lukes later today. Pray for our baby, for Angel and I, our family and the doctors who will operate on Tyler.
Last Saturday (04 July 2009) we went to Chinese General Hospital to get Tyler's 2D echo. The results was discouraging. It turns out that Tyler has 4 heart abnormalities. 1. The great arteries are connected to the wrong place (the one supposed to be connected to the right chamber of the heart is connected to the left, so goes for the other). 2. There is a whole in between the heart. 3. the is a mass that is narrowing one of the entrance to the arteries. 4. There is a vein (PDA) that is bridging the 2 arteries (common to all but closes after birth, in Tyler's case it did not).
It is a nightmare any parent should not be should not be subjected to. Above description maybe too techincal, so let me explain it to you in another way. The appointment with Dr. Charles Cuaso (Tyler's pediatric cardiolgist) was at 8 AM. We were the second in-line at the clinic. The kid infront of the line was bigger so the sedating her took a little longer than Tyler. At the heart center Tyler was the 1st to go for the 2D echo scan. One by one other kids/babies were arriving. After we were done there were 6 other kids in line. Dr. Cuaso's window for the use of the machine was from 8 to 10 AM. So we retreated back to his clinic and waited for the diagnosis. When the doctor got to his office the secretary told all those waiting that the doctor was going to talk to those who he had less explaining to do. One by one other kids went in. Out of the 7, Tyler was the last. By the time we were finish it was almost 12 noon.
It took Dr. Cuaso more than 30 minutes of explaining and 3 pages of paper to illustrate what was wrong and the possible options there was. Since he had a surgery in the afternoon, he promised us that he would talk to his team about Tyler's case and run the options with them. By monday, around noontime Dr. Cuaso called me. He went over what he and his surgeons discussed, it took us my whole lunch break. During the conversation I asked to meet with him again so that Angel and I could go through the options again. By then I have already e-mailed my uncles (retired doctors, a surgeon in Canada and a radiologist in US) for the advise.
Tuesday afternoon, Angel and I were accomplanied by Tyler's (and Dylan's) pediatrician and consulted Dr. Cuaso again. We discussed again the options, Dr. Cuaso explained more about the procedures and by that time, more or less Angel and I have decided to go for the surgery to repair Tyler's heart. The question was when. Angel and I went home discussing everything again. We mostly agreed on what we individually thought. So the decision was easy. But week just started. That night while Angel was pumping for breastmilk she felt something was wrong with her body. It turned out she was hemorraging quite prefusely. So we went to Cardinal Santos Medical Center. She was confined for observation and was scheduled for an ultra sound the next morning.
By Wednesday, while going through all these we contacted Dr. Cuaso and scheduled Tyler for surgery on the 16th. Angel's case on the other hand was a bit of a mistery. After 2 scans later it turned out the placenta was not completely extracted. When Tyler came out the placenta was shreded and cleaning Angel's uterus was a bling procedure. With the ultrasound, Angel's OB-Gyne had a clearer understanding where to clean the left over placenta.
Angel was scheduled for a procedure the next day. Everything went well. First good news in a few days. Angel was kept for another night for observation and we were discharge just this morning. It has been a roller coaster ride this week. I'm a bit tired. It's a long blog, but it is just the summary. In between the lines there was a historectomy scare, a baptismal planning, search for B+ donor for Tyler (still on-going), some work related stuff in my end... Whew.
I'm glad it's going to be Saturday tomorrow. a brief sunshine in between storms. Tomorrow will be Tyler's Christening. There will be some celebration, but it will be simple. If everything is ok, on Wednesday afternoon Tyler will be admitted to St. Lukes Hospital and will be operated on the following day.
Thanks to those who have been there to support us, parents, siblings, relatives and friends. Specail thanks to Dr. Joy Ty-Sy, Dr. Lety Chua and Dr. Charles Cuaso. Please pray for my son. Tyler will need everyhelp he can get. Pray for Angel and I also, we need the strenght to endure this challenge we are facing currently. Lastly, pray for Dr. Charles Cuaso and his team may the Holy Spirit guide them throughout Tyler's operation.
 Last June 08, Angel gave birth to our second son Tyler David. He came out to this world 7 pounds and 12 ounces, measuring 20 inches tall and with lots of hair. In Angel's opinion, Tyler looks like me. I'll be posting some more pictures so you'll be the judge of it. However there's more to the story. Life throws us curve balls when we're expecting fast balls. Tyler is born with a congenital heart defect. The doctors have not yet given their definite diagnosis, but they are sure Tyler has a heart problem. The way they describe is that the oxygen saturation of the blood is below normal, somehow some of the un-oxygenated blood is mixing with the oxygenated blood, in other words there is a hole in Tyler's heart. The doctors are not giving any more details pending further testing. Whatever his condition is we're very happy for the blessing that God has given us. Tyler came home now with us this afternoon. His condition is stable. According to the doctors the best thing to do is to give Tyler breast milk because it might help him to heal whatever is wrong with his heart. The problem is that with Tyler's condition he does not have the strength and endurance to breast feed, often times giving up after a few tries. So, right after returning home from the hospital, Angel and I went to see someone to but a second hand breast pump (that has been used only for one month). My friends Pin and Lenlen help us with the search and through them a kind person named Marjorie gave us a good deal with her pump. Even with a pump in hand we still have another problem. Angel's still not yet lactating. Luckily for us, Pin (who's still breastfeeding her 7 month old son) has extra (frozen) breast milk to spare. Bless Pin's generous heart, just some minutes ago Tyler had his full meal of breast milk since birth. Sometime is seems that Tyler's a bit frail than other babies. He may have some initial disadvantage at first but my gut feel is that this little guy a fighter like David from David and Goliath. That's why my personal moniker for him is "my little warrior". With the love, support and prayers family and friends and God's guidance my little warrior shall overcome his Goliath. Last week I got an email from the College of Estate Management informing me that my grade and the checker's comment on my assignment for Economic 1 has been posted on MyCEM page. Economics 1 is last in the schedule of assignment submissions for the four subjects I am currently taking. 1st batch of assignment accounts for 15% of my final grade and the scores are in.
Lowest score I got is 60 (for both people and information management and economics), it's really a struggle for me since I have not taken these subjects back in DLSU. The highest I got is 71 for building technology 1 (no required explanation for that) and I got 61 for introduction to law. I should have gotten a higher score for law, but I got a zero for the last question. My conclusion was right, but the checker deemed that how I got to the conclusion was irrelevant to the question.
Standards here in the Philippines would say that my grades are failing (where passing is 75%). Not to be alarmed in this course the passing grade is 40. One of the subject guides state " 60-74% The candidate shall have produced an answer that indicates a progression beyond a basic understanding of the material and an ability to apply the information in a more competent manner" 75% and higher would be genius! I wish this applies to my highschool report cards, I would have been a genius back then hahahahahaha.
While I've done ok in my 1st assignments, what scares me is the rest of the way to the final grade. Due date of the 2nd batch of assignments starts on 7th April, it accounts for another 15% of my final grade. Final exam is the scariest, it accounts for 70% of my grade. Not only that, submission dates for the assignments are paced 3 weeks apart while the exam is schedule in 4 successive days. It starts on September 07 to 10. Last time I took an exam was for the board exam sometime May 2001.
So round 1 goes to Tom and if I don't stop blogging round 2 might go to CEM. Let's take one round at a time and deal with the final round later. Angel was scheduled to have her ultrasound today, so I took the day off to accompany her. The experience was different from the 1st time. Although both of us was as excited as before, previously I was with her when the doctor did her congenital abnormality scan. More than two years after, the clinic has a different policy now. Only the patient was allowed inside. So I had to wait outside the room while Angel had her scan. The clinic was considerate enough to setup a TV monitor outside so eager fathers like me could watch the black and white images the ultrasound made.
Everything is fine, the baby seems normal. Ten toes, ten finger, no harelip, heart is ok, size is ok, fluids are plenty. The baby moved about quite a bit and the doctor had a hard time looking at the heart. Angel had twice temporarily cut the scan, walk about and re-enter the room after the other patients finished their scan. We were able to finish after the third try.
After the scan we went to Angel's OB-GYN at Cardinal Santos. While waiting for our turn we were able to meet Aunt Dianne who looked lost and did not know where to find her doctor. Doc Lety confirmed that the baby and Angel are at the moment doing fine. Angel has to continue her supplements and has to keep her weight gain to 4 pounds per month. Next doctor's appointment will be on the 20th of March.
The waiting, ultrasound, another waiting and doctor's visit look us more that 3 hours! Saturdays are worse, it would have probably taken us twice longer. Nevertheless Angel and I are both happy and relieve that the baby is ok.
By the way, it's a BOY. We're having another son! Twice have I been so happy to see "balls" and the letters MALE printed on screen. We already have a name in mind, 2nd name is still up for revisions... any suggestions? I rarely blog about work, but in this case I'll make an exception. I work in the construction industry. The scariest thing about working in the construction industry is not the structural integrity of a building, nor the fuglyiness of the design, nor the hazard of the construction, the scariest thing is that we are dependent on the status of the economy. If ever there is a slow down in the economy, we are the first to go. No money, means no budget, no budget means no project, no project means no work for us. That's why construction is often times used as a indicator how well the economy is. Forget the prices of galungong or pan de sal. If you want to see how well we are, just take note of the amount of construction on-going or on-hold or the lack of it.
You've probably heard this word since late 2007 and most of 2008, but for me it's in 2009 when it hits home. RECESSION. Late last year, when the rest of the world was feeling the effects of the economic slow down, most of us here in Manila were spared because the Christmas Season. Probably blinded by the Christmas light, deafened by the Christmas carols, elated by Christmas gifts, pissed off by the Christmas traffic jam, or enlighten by the Christmas Sprit, most of us thought 2009 was just be as good as 2008.
Around mid 2008, my boss and I had a talk and he revealed to me that 2008 was one of the best year for the company and we were probably be getting a descent pay raise come 2009. Three months after, it was a grimmer out look... it looked like 2009 was going to be a slower year, a descent pay raise was a possibility but is in question. By the time of our company Christmas party, the story was that management won't be getting any raise at all and our salary review would be released on the 15th January instead of the 1st working day of the year as it had been traditionally.
Fast forward to 2009, after all the calories and alcohol my body took from the revelries of the holidays, I went back to work heavier and with a new job title. My promotion was effective 01 January 2009. I have my own team of 7 (including me) and 8 projects. With the news of our salary still in limbo we eagerly awaited the 15th of January. It came and it went.
Yesterday, our boss gather our team together with other teams and made the announcement. Salary review is still on hold until the end of the 1st quarter of the year. Staff who were promoted will still get their promotion, but pay would be the same. Grimmer news is that our other partner offices around the world and the local structural engineer we usually work with are now downsizing. Recession hits home. If the economy does not pick up there will be no pay increase for all. Personally this means more work, same pay. Love the timing.
Most people in our office take comfort that we have not been hearing a BIGGER words for 2009, RETRENCHMENT, LAY-OFFS. Is there really comfort? I guess, but can't help but be scared of what's to come. Trend shows there is a possibility of retrenchment. Although, my team handles projects from a key clientele, when retrenchment comes every head is in the chopping block.
Contrary to the claim(s) of some/the idiotic leader(s) of our country, we are not safe from the global economic crisis. Like a typhoon hitting Philippines and on route to Taiwan or Hong Kong, our industry has been hit and it's on route to other industries. Ask someone from the manufacturing industry, they probably felt it earlier than us. There's no way to avoid it, just be sure you've save up for the rainy days and have your flashlights and candles ready.
When Global Warming takes a back seat to Global Financial Crisis, words such as Sustainability are replaced with Recession, Bailout, Retrenchment, etc. What a happy world we live in. CHEERS! Last quarter of the year 2008 was hectic at work. Year end is usually the busiest time at work. A lot of deadlines and reports to do, and usually clients would like to rush in things they want to be finished before the year ends. On top of it all we had Christmas presentation for the company Christmas Party to prepare. It was so hectic that Angel and I finished our Christmas shopping on the 24th just in time to wrap the gifts and distribute it. High lights are as follows:
December 11 - Company Christmas Party theme was Retro 70's, our team presentation won the 1st prize. I was not a direct participant of the out team's dance number, but I provided the audio and video part of the presentation. Our team had afro wigs in different colors (some resembling a clown's wig) with huge plastic sunglasses, and dance to the tune of Hot Stuff, Bad Girls and Disco Wonderland. We also had a raffle and although I did not win anything I was happy to be one of our company's core value awardee.
December 18 - Team Christmas Party, with our team budget of the second half of the year untouched our team had a festive celebration at a videoke bar near our office. 5 cases of beer (120 bottles), raffle prizes (I won an electric fan) and exchange gifts were the main highlight of the evening (and early morning).
December 22 - Company Children's Christmas Party, our social club from work holds annual Christmas party of the kids of employees. It's a simple party where is there's food, ice cream games and giveaways. This year the theme was capes. Angel made Dylan a red cape and decide to he was happy to wear it.
December 23 - Last day of work for the year 2008. Enough said! Papa and Mama flew to Manila to spend Christmas with us.
December 24 - Christmas Eve, did some last minute Christmas shopping for gifts. Angel, Dylan and I went to have dinner with her relatives on her side, while Papa, Mama, Emil and the Twins had dinner with Mama's relatives. It was specially great to see Angel's nieces and nephews. Came home in time to open gifts, Dylan had tons of gifts while I had just a handful.
December 25 - Christmas Day, we spent the day with Angel's mom and siblings. Angel made lasagna for lunch. We opened gifts again. Dylan was happy to receive 100 plastic balls, while I was very happy to get a can of Royal tru-orange. Thanks Tin. Angel and I went to attend Mass in the evening.
December 27 to 28 - Went diving with friends. It's been a long time since my last dive (early 2007) and although the diving conditions were not great (cold water and poor visibility) it was great to spent some time with the ScubaRats.
December 30 - That's today. Angel and I are going to visit some friends down south. We're having lunch with my friend John and his Family and Fiel (long live the 3 musketeers? or stooges) then dinner with Angel's college buddy Karen.
Tomorrow's New Year's Eve, I think Mom's siblings are coming for dinner. We did not buy fire works to play with. I think Dylan's a bit scare of fire crackers, but it's mainly because we've been practicing a safe New Year's Eve for a time now.
Everybody's anticipating, predicting what's going to happen on 2009. Being in the construction industry, I'm sure our company's going to be the 1st one to be feel the effects of the slow down in the economy. But I'm eager for the next year. I'm leading my own team next year. From a group of 4 to a team of 7 (or more), an increase from 4 projects to 8 projects. Work's gonna be hell, bring it on!
Yesterday, as I was taking the elevator to our office floor, I bumped into our office accountant. She told me that the company has already made the payments for my studies and I should be expecting the study materials to arrive soon.
True enough, barely 2 hours later, DHL delivered a package for me and it was marked as "Study Materials" Wow, I thought it would arrive in a week or so... surprise! The package weighted 12.5 kilos (27 pounds) and contained a year's worth of notes, books, CDs and DVDs.
I took it home yesterday and Angel had just helped me unpack the study materials earlier this evening. I have 4 subjects and the assignments and the due dates have already been given.
I have mapped out the schedule and it looks like February and May will be the busiest months, excluding September (Finals month, no clear dates yet).
Officially December 1 will be the start of the classes, but I guess I'll be reading in advance. I've gone over the manual and it looks pretty scary. The College's advice is to allot time daily to read the materials, review every week and have another review every month.
Maybe it's just the shock of getting a years worth of study materials in one day, but I'm already thinking "oh no, what have I got myself into". However I am confident that I can do this. I just need to shed the old Tom's attitude of cramming (which worked pretty well in La Salle and the Board Exams) and work on this regularly everyday.
Note to myself, I need to buy an huge calendar to mark all the important dates and have it posted where I can see it everyday. Also clean out and make a space in our study for "MY" use only. Oh, and buy a folder for the CDs and DVDs. Yesterday our driver called in sick, so Marion and I had to take the public transport to work. Early in the morning I was hurrying Marion to get to the commute to work. I was in a hurry because I wanted to reach the MRT before the rush our begins. Ever since they segregated male and female from the carts it's been almost hell for us guys. For those guys who have taken the MRT to Makati on a rush hour, they can relate.
Anyway, during the jeepney ride to the MRT station, something very unfortunate happened to me. I was hit by a "lalag barya" gang. To those who are unfamiliar with the term, a "laglag barya" gang is a gang of three person whose main objective is to pickpocket a target. Unfortunately for me that morning I was the target.
These gangs always work at least in 3's. One works as the "setup", who "accidentally" drop his coins so you'd help him pick up his coins, thus the term "laglag barya". The other one who works as the "distraction" who tells you there's more coins to pick up and the last one who's right besides you (the sly one) who act as the "pickpocket", the one who picks your front pocket to get your cellphone or wallet you help the "set up" pick his change.
When the deed is done the "distraction" leaves, he'll pretend to pick something up in front of you, that's when things gets confusing. It is the moment "set up" would let you know you lost your cellphone by declaring the guy who just left got something from you, in my case he told me the guy got something that looked like a calculator, something black.
Of course your tendency is to leave the jeepney to chase after the "distraction", but in fact the guy beside you has your cellphone. The "set up" tries to mislead you by pointing to a different guy who you would chase after. I knew the "set up" was trying to get me off the jeepney, and I stayed.
I stayed on the ride trying to figure out some plan. After a few yards, the guy (the pickpocket) beside me left the jeepney, then a little further on the "set up" also alighted the ride. The black calculator the "set up" was describing was my cellphone.
From the moment the "set up" dropped his change, I already had a suspicion that I was getting hit. I have heard of these stories before, I have witness one myself, not the actual deep, but I was in a jeepney when one of these gang hit an old man.
The thing is I was aware of it. Before I helped picked up the change I looked into the "pickpocket". He was an old guy, late forties, early fifties. I though the guy was safe, so I helped with the change. However my mind was trying to feel for the cellphone in my pocket, and I still did feel it in my pocket when I picked up the change. When the "distraction" told me there still some coins behind my feet, I knew they were hitting me already. I was observant enough to know the guy got the correct change. I knew not to look for the mystery coin, and I felt my cellphone in my front pocket.
The "distraction" failed, but I've never heard of the "set up" who follows up on the distraction... the "set up" then declares that he is going further than what he paid for, so he returns his change. So I help him get his fare to the jeepney driver, in retrospect I realized that this was the moment when the pickpocket made his move. It was the moment when I let my guard down.
Shortly after that, the "distraction" pretends to pick up something as he leaves, and even before the set up declares that the guy who left got something from me I knew I have lost my cellphone. I also knew not to chase after the "distraction", I knew the guy sitting beside me still has it and I knew the "set up" was trying to get me off the ride.
I asked Marion for her cellphone to call my phone so I have proof the guy beside me still had my phone, unluckily or luckily for us she left hers at home. I've never been to a fist fight before so I would not know how to get my cellphone back have I proved he had my phone. What if the thieves had more that their fist to back them up, I would have not stand a chance. I know there's at least 3 of them, what if there's more. What if there was still a silent player who act as a look out. I would have endangered my life as well as Marion's.
I still keep thinking "what should I have done?" I realized it was similar to a game of chess. But instead of having my move vs. one move, it was my move vs three moves. I thought I was aware enough, I thought I was smart enough. I guess it was all decided when Marion and I stepped into the jeepney that they were going to force me to get my cellphone. I lost when I thought I was smart enough for their tricks.
In the span of 4 years, I have lost two cellphone to thieves, both on the jeepney rides. The first was when Angel and I and other passengers of the jeep were help at knife point to give them (2 robbers) our phone, that was a more scarier ordeal. In both instances, aside from loosing my phone, nothing really ugly happened. So I am really thankful.
There's 3 things I'm pissed about. First is not about loosing my phone, it was on it's way to the gadget heaven and would have not last 3 more months with me anyway, but it is about loosing all those pictures and videos on Dylan starting when he was still weeks old to a few weeks ago. He does not know it to remember it, but Dylan lost his favorite gadget to play with, he loves bring it to his Mom and have her show him his baby pictures and videos. Those pictures and videos are worthless to the thieves but are priceless to Angel and I. It's sad also to loose all my contact number, but those information are recoverable from friends and family, the pictures and videos are gone forever.
Second is the indifference of the people, specially the jeepney driver. Everyday they ply their route and I am sure this was not the first time they have seen these types of action. I am not accusing them of being in cahoots with the thieves, but I am pretty sure there's a chance that they are familiar to these thieves. And yet they do nothing. They don't warn the passengers they drive these thieves away, they don't even care. They just let innocent people be target of thieves.
Third is that I have to shell out for another phone, which we really do not have a budget for right now. My pockets are not really empty, but Angel and I have already budgeted for our monthly expenses and spending for a new cellphone is not on the list. Maybe next month, maybe not until next year. December is fast approaching and that's when crime rate, especially theft goes up, last time I lost my cellphone was 2004 Christmas Season.
Lessons to learn. Now you know how these gang operate. When you suspect you're getting hit by one, leave the jeepney. Don't worry about arriving late, don't worry about the fare. It's better safe than sorry. Now I understand why people are not as helpful anymore, it's because of these type of thieves who prey on the helpful and kind. When someone drops a coin, don't pick it up. Remember Tom who helped but lost his cellphone.  | Journeys | Oct 17, '08 9:50 AM
for everyone |
I started this blog October last year, when Angel and I were vacationing in Seattle. It was meant to update our friends and family of our 3 week trip through Seattle, Portland and LA (with a little side trip to Las Vegas). So what happened a year after our trip? I'm excited to say that Angel and I are taking 2 journeys. Our journey is not of the traveling kind.
Firsts this first. Angel tested POSITIVE!!!! Yes, she's positively pregnant. Last weekend she used a pregnancy test kit and two red stripes appeared! Tomorrow, we're going to get an ultrasound and see Angel's doctor. Hopefully everything is alright and that Angel would have a safe pregnancy. So we (including Dylan) are already starting a 9 month long trip that would hopefully end on a new journey that lasts a lifetime.
Second, I signed up for a course to get my BSc Quantity Surveying Degree. I have already been accepted and the company I am working for is paying for my studies. Although I won't be personally going to UK to study, I would be receiving a program from Reading University, College of Estate Management. Material would be sent to me, reports would be sent to the University and tests would be taken at the British Counsel. It's a 4 year course that starts this December. I'm already tied to my work for 4 years for the course and another 4 years for a work bond for the expenses the company incurred. This journey would take me 8 years, all for a degree worth approximately 9,000 Pounds, I hope it's worth it.
Other updates; Angel's finishing her thesis for her masteral. She'll have her thesis proposal defense on Wednesday then her thesis defense sometime in November. Pray for her and wish her luck. Dylan's getting more and more talkative. He counts a lot knows his ABCs and is just recently tell colors. He tries to sing his nursery rhymes and dances to them. He still likes to jump on our bed, and well behave enough that we don't have problems making him sleep.
As for Emil and the Twins, read their blogs on Multiply. I rarely talk about work in my blog, since this is up for everybody to view so I have been careful not to mention anything about my work. However today is an exception. Together with some of the people from work, I went to do some charity work. There were 19 of us, including my boss, Henry. This year Henry wanted to have more group activities, and top on the list was to do some volunteer work. Since we work in the construction industry working for Gawad Kalinga (GK) seemed a wise choice. GK with the help of volunteers and sponsors build houses for the poor for free. So the activity would be charity work and also be educational at the same time. We would help people build houses, as in work with our hands not just computing costs and estimates.
It did turn out as a great idea. We started with a brief program prepared by some of the tenants to the free houses already built. Heads from the non-profit organization as well as some resident gave shared some of their experiences to us, the the kids gave us a couple of delightful song and dance number. After a brief program we went around some villages that were built by GK and were amazed how these former unruly squatters are now living an organized life. Then it was off to the work site.
We were assigned to work at a village that was still in the middle of the construction phase. Some structural work and masonry work were being done. Most of us went to do some masonry work on the 2nd level, exposed to the blazing heat of the sun while a few remained on the ground floor to help form a human chain where buckets of concrete would be passed from the cement mixer to the slab where they were pouring.
It was pretty tiring, we hauled a lot of hollow blocks, manually mixed a lot of mortars and help put up walls. For 19 professionals, I can say we did some pretty descent job. Of course 19 masons would have done a lot more that we could do. But the community was pretty appreciative of us, doing some manual work.
What I am most thankful most is that the community gave more to me than I gave to them. All I did was help put up walls, but the community gave me hope. I've pretty much given up hope for our country and countrymen. All I've seen lately is selfishness all around, myself including. But today I've seen "bayanihan", I've seen that if we were to act or think like the volunteers, Philippines can be a better place. They have transformed a shanty town where people would be afraid to walk pass thru to a clean, healthy, organized and unselfish community. I am shamed to say that their pathway is even cleaner and more beautiful that the street where we live in. Hats off to these people. I do hope that our group decides to do some volunteer work again.
To those who have yet to experience working with Gawad Kalinga, please try to. I assure you, you'll leave the place all drenched in sweat, muscles aching, but with hearts full filled and a renewed sense of respect to the modern day Filipino. This was a happy trek for me today
Hmmm, this made me thing to a huge commitment I once made and have not fulfilled.
PS. I was not able to take some pictures since our digital camera is broken, but a couple of friends were able to get some pictures. I'll have to wait until I get a copy of their photos before I can post some pictures.
Angel and I were able to watch 3 major movies the past couple of weeks, Sweeny Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (what's with the long titles) and Vantage Point. Warning there's a few sort of spoilers for those who have not seen the movies described below.
Out of the three, Jesse James sucked the most. Sorry to those who loved the movie, but personally it was a snooze fest for me. There were a couple of gay guys in the back who I guessed bought tickets to see Brad Pitt in action, but just 30 minutes into the movie the couple were chit chatting instead of watching their beloved Brad Pitt. I even took pity to the character of Robert Ford, except for shooting someone in the back I think he did the right thing. The movie was more or less 3 hours long, I wanted to walked out of the movie, but I've sat through to worse movies, so Angel and I finished one of the most boring movies we have ever seen.
Sweeny Todd on the other hand was gross, violent, weird, dark and entertaining. What do you expect, it's a Tim Burton movie. I think Johnny Depp did a good job too. Joanna, was freakishly beautiful, reminded me of those dolls that are so lifelike that you'd be scared that they might come alive when you're not looking. I keep thinking how in the heck did they do a play on this? The production must have been outstanding. I'm curious to know how they do the slashing and the squirting of the blood in the play... hmmm One draw back in the movie is that Angel won't be eating any type of meat pipes anytime soon. If you have the taste for something weird, I would recommend you to watch this movie.
Last night Angel and I had the company of the twins, and we went to watch Vantage Point. It's considerably short compared to the other 2 movies mentioned. I liked the concept of the movie, keeps you thinking what happened and what happens next. The action scenes were great. I loved how one story ends and another story begins again, eventually giving you a more complete picture of the whole story. However there's a couple of spoiler in the movie, especially the part where the hero's car gets rammed by a semi and not only survives the crash, but has the strength to case the bad guys... and I'm curious to why the villains did not just kill the real president. I still like the movie, see it if you have the chance.
Not much trekking this days, just to the movie houses.
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