Dirty and stinky. He had just traveled all the way from Batangas, all soaked up in his urine and vomit. But when he licked my hands and looked me in the eyes with the most hopeful gaze in the universe, I knew he had me on that first day we met.
He was four months old then. It has been 8 years since that first meeting and it has been a lot of fun. The cute little guy I took home in a shoebox is now all grown up. Sometimes he’s stubborn, makulit. But most of the time he makes me smile with his antics and melts my heart when we share our small moments of bliss.
Once, on a summer day, I took him to the park. After a little while he was surrounded by children. He enjoys it, the attention he gets from children wherever he goes. He seems so sure if the person he’s meeting is a child or an adult. I noticed he wags his tail more when he sees a child. I must have rubbed off on him my having a soft spot for children hehehe
“Neee-mo?” the children at the park said almost in chorus when they asked me for his name. They looked a little confused. I was sure they were wondering why they’re seeing a dog and not a fish
Posted 1 week, 6 days ago at 10:36 am. 36 comments
I remember having tasted chocolate for the first time. It was on a Christmas eve, back when I was in third grade.
When Nanay woke us up for the noche buena, my young heart was thumping with excitement. I eagerly checked the old medyas I had hanged by the window for Santa to fill. And there it was, my first box of chocolate—a box of Curly Tops. In the box were 12 chocolate nuggets, all looking sweet and inviting. Tatay knew I was happy with Santa’s gift. He knew I had kept my eyes upon it ever since I saw it in a small store downtown. He smiled and said, “Pag-aram sin maupay basi ka makapalit damo nga sugad siton pagdako mo. Damo pa siton an mas marasa nga chocolate.” (You study hard so you can buy more of it. There are more chocolates out there, better and sweeter.”) That Christmas eve, celebrated with pancit and Coke and a loaf of bread, was among my happiest.
On Christmas morning, I gave a Curly Tops nugget each to my siblings. It was my gift to them. I kept watch over the rest of the nuggets in the next few days. I guarded them against ants. I remember going to sleep with the box beside me. For a little girl whose parents could not afford Kisses, Skittles, or M&Ms, a box of Curly Tops was a treasure chest. It was a precious possession.
I ate the nuggets little by little after carefully dividing some of them with a kitchen knife. Sometimes, I would eat just half of a nugget a day. When New Year’s day came, I still had three nuggets left. I ate one of them. The other two, I put inside a clean ice candy wrapper and set aside. When classes resumed after the holiday, I was excited to meet my best friend in school. I handed her the Curly Tops nuggets inside the ice candy wrapper. She smiled. I knew she was happy and excited. For it was also the first chocolate she had ever had.
Posted 5 months, 3 weeks ago at 12:59 pm. 61 comments
Today, as we celebrate Women’s Day, I give thanks to all the women who contributed to the story of my life. My Nanay. My lolas. My sister. My cousins. My friends. My teachers. My blogger friends. You have touched my life and inspired me with your generous hearts. You have made deep impressions, so deep that you opened my eyes to a whole new way of looking at the world.
One of these women is celebrating her birthday today. The person in the picture is someone who has taught Miss N a lot about life and friendship. I will always be grateful that sometime in the late 90′s, our paths have crossed. Siya ang inuutangan ko noong mga panahong nagpapaaral pa ako ng mga kapatid at kahit pamasahe ay talagang wala ako hehehe. She’s a great friend, a very loving daughter, a sweet wife, and an amazing mother.
Happy birthday, Ate O! We may not have been nurtured in the same womb, but there is a tie that will bind forever us as sisters.
Maligayang Araw ng mga Kababaihan sa lahat ng mga Pinay! Stand tall, stand proud!
One year in blogging and I noticed I hadn’t posted yet a single youtube video at this blog (not that I think it is a requirement ). So, today I am sharing with you one of my favorite finds in youtube.
This is for all of us who sometimes feel we are already on the edge; for us who sometimes forget to count our blessings; for us whose world sometimes loses its colors; for us who sometimes succumb to the temptation of giving up.
). So, today I am sharing with you one of my favorite finds in youtube. 
