http://blogactionday.org/

I came across this interesting site while reading the day's news at inquirer.net. Just click on the link for the full article.

To make a long story short, this blog aims to unite bloggers all over the world to write about one issue for a specific day. One issue. One day. The issue? The environment. The day? October 15, 2007. Mark your calendars.

I am a casual blogger. I write about my life, things I care about, things that I want to react to, movies, books, food... My readers are generally just contained to my friends, I may not have the reach of some bloggers but there is no way I am going to miss this "call to action". The environment is something that everyone should care about, and I am doing my own small part to promote this awareness to people who might come across my blog.

Imagine if thousands of "casual bloggers" like me posted about the same issue? Imagine how many ideas would be shared and how many people could be reached? The stats below would give you an idea.

As of August 24, 2007... 8:31 AM, Manila time, 51 days to go, there are already 2,505 registered blogs reaching an audience of over 2,742,388.

Be a part of this initiative. One day. One issue. Thousands of voices.

Afetr weeks of preparation, countless hours of planning and meetings to discuss best routes and worst case scenarios, we were finally able to pull off this year's trick or treat! I'm one of the organizers, and together with HR and my fellow SCC-mates, and the help of our ever reliable admin assistants and staff volunteers, Trick or Treat 2K6 was a success!

We at Central Systems, decided to go for a Pirates of the Caribbean theme. Last year, we did Addams Family, plus a graveyard (complete with cobwebs and sound effects), witches and a dark pathway with a creepy, maniacal laugh that a lot of made kids cry on our floor! So this year, we decided to keep it light. The fact that over 270 kids participated was also a factor, since we decided to just pool our funds for the loot bags.

It started with a tour of the booths from different departments, There were 9 groups, starting at different floors, traffic was controlled by coordinating with the guards placed at the entrance and exit stations who were prompted via walkie talkie by the central control station. Oh yeah, logistics-wise, this was one well organized feat. :)

We finished the tour of 10 booths in 6 different floors in less than an hour. Last year, it took us more than 3 hours. I guess we were able to learn from our mistakes and made the necessary adjustments this year.

After the tour, we assembled all the kids and their guardians at the Enterprise lobby (since our offices couldn't accommodate the number), then there were teachers who taught the kids songs, told them stories and games for the kiddies. After a while, Jollibee even joined the fun!

But we still have a lot of things to improve on for next year, and hopefully, next year's organizers will make the trick or treat bigger and better. :)

I don't really know when office trick or treating became the norm, but I think it's slowly gaining popularity. This is only the second time we've had a trick or treat at work. Personally, I have no complaints, it's a lot of fun watching kids dress up in costumes. Prizes of course go to the most creative ones. :)

This year's winner for best costume was Popcorn Girl and Mazinger-Z. I'll try to post pics later,

Happy Halloween everyone!

Food, food and more food...

May is such a fattening month!

1st, mother's day. We had two celebrations, for Lunch, we went to Seaside. First, in Diosdado Macapagal which was jam-packed with cars, so we tried to go to my favorite Jap resto, Red Kimono at the Fort, which was also packed. So, we decided to try another Seaside, this time in Ortigas. There were still a lot of people there, and we had to wait for a table at Aling Tonya's (great food!). Finally, we had a hearty lunch at 3PM, with some of my favorites, salt & pepper squid and butter & garlic shrimps. :)

Then, there's dinner with the Espiritus to celebrate Mother's Day for Nanay. :) We had dinner at Emperor's Court in New World...There was so much food! And since we couldn't eat much since we were still full from lunch, there were a lot of leftovers, which we divided so we can all have "baon" for Monday. We had a blast, as we usually do when we put all of us in the same room.

Fast forward two days later, May 16, my dad's birthday. He's 50 now! Happy birthday pa! Mwah! :) Another heavy dinner, I haven't felt hungry in days!

Next day, May 17, tito JRs bday and the annual blessing of the Espiritu residence. Which meant, another party! This time, with my cousins, aunts and uncles from the Bibiesca clan. My favorites on that night was the turon and the cucumber-something fruit shake...basically, the only things I could eat coz I was still reeling from the aftershocks of so much food.


Then, May 21. I'm a ninang again! This time to Andee, my aunt's baby girl. :) She looks so much like Tere when she was a baby, only Andee cries at the sightest inconvenience...and when she does cry it will rattle you to your very core. I mean, you can't imagine how loud this 3-month old is. But, adorable nonetheless. :) This time, we ate at Cantonese Kitchen in Jupiter, Chinese again.

Lastly, Mich's bday! May 23, we had lunch at Tempura at Convergys building. Food is pretty much like Teriyaki Boy, which was great. I love Japanese food. Happy bday Mich! And thanks for the treat!

And now, I need to work off all these calories... :-p

Happy Mother's Day!!!
Read on... this is really nice...

Being a mother

* *
*We are sitting at lunch when my daughter
casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of "starting a
family."
"We're taking a survey," she says, half-joking. "Do you think I should have
a baby?" *
*"It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral. *
*"I know," she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous
vacations...." *

*But that is not what I meant at all. *
*I look at my daughter, trying to decide what to tell her. I want her to
know what
she will never learn in childbirth classes. I want to tell her that the
physical
wounds of child bearing will heal, but that becoming a mother will
leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be
vulnerable. *
*I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper
without asking "What if that had been MY child?"
That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her. That when she sees
pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse
than watching your child die. *
*I look at her carefully manicured nails and
stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is,
becoming a mother will reduce her to primitive level of a
bear protecting her cub. *

*That an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause her to drop a soufflé or her best
crystal without a moment's hesitation. I feel I should warn her that
no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will
be professionally derailed by motherhood. *

*She might arrange for child care but
one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will
think of her baby's sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of her
discipline to keep her from running home, just to make sure her baby
is all right. *

*I want my daughter to know that everyday decisions will no longer be
routine. That a five year old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather
than the women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma. *
*That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming children,
issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against
the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that rest-room. *

*However she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself
constantly as a mother. Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure
her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will
never feel the same about herself. *

*That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has
a child. *
*That she would give it up in a moment to
save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years -
not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs.
*
*I want her to know that a Cesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will
become badges of honor. My daughter's relationship with her husband will
change, *
*but not in the way she thinks..*

*I wish she could understand how much more you can
love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play
with his child. *
*I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again for
reasons she
would now find very unromantic. *

*I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel
with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice and
drunk driving. I hope she will understand why I can think rationally
about most issues, but become temporarily insane when I discuss the
threat of nuclear war to my children's future. *
* *
*I want to describe to my daughter the
exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. *
*I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is *
*touching the soft fur of a dog or a cat for the first time. *
*I want her to taste the joy that is so real, it actually hurts. *
*My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have *
*formed in my eyes.*

*"You'll never regret it," I finally say. *
*Then I reach across the table, squeeze my daughter's hand and offer a
silent
prayer for her, and for me, and for all of the mere mortal women who
stumble
their way
into this most wonderful of callings. *

*This blessed gift from God!
Being a Mother.** *

Kung Hei Fat Choi everyone! :)

May the Year of the Fire Dog bring us all luck, prosperity, health and happiness. :)

In case you're wondering if my bowling game improved over the weekend, I wouldn't have anything new to report. Tere got sick yesterday so I was stuck at home, glued to my Sims2 PS2 game. It can be incredibly addicting you know? But in fairness, I am practicing my "release". Keeping my arm straight and all that. Hopefully, I'll remember it next week when I play again.

I'll be going to Bohol with my family this week... which is why I can't help but feel incredibly lazy, since I only have to work for 2 more days before my Bohol escape. :)

Will tell you all about it in my next post.