The Working Title

Monumento a la Madre in Mexico City . The inscription translates as: " To her who loves us before she meets us. " Sophia Ailee and Mummy Reg It's been two happy months when I had my Sophia Ailee. So rewarding. So fulfilling. And now, she's almost 3 months. She's getting plump like a tomato and face like a siopao (its a Chinese delicacy and best paired with Chinese style noodles, mami as we call it here in the Philippines). She can already roll at her side all by herself, giggles, smiles, and laugh when she wakes up and when getting sleepy. From time to time, when her mood hits her, she holds her bottle like this... Every hour, every minute, everything  is a bliss. Unexplainable euphoria that engulfs me (big words ugh!) when I see her giggles, wiggling hands and feet, and smiling eyes and lips. Well I guess that's being a mom. You'll love your kid from inside your tummy and when he's finally out. :) Your love will go a long, long way.

I had my check up yesterday October 14 and today October 15. Yesterday, I went to my cardiologist and it was a good news. He said that I am already clear from any medications or whatsoever procedures. He also said that I'll make sure of monitoring my blood pressure and if there is any sudden increase of blood pressure, just go to him. Sigh! It's a done deal! And now to my neurologist. She checks on my reflexes, ask some questions and it turned out okay. She told me that it seems like I hardly bare or give birth (a nice compliment for me, of course). This is the worst part, I'm not yet clear in this department. She told me to have cranial MRI and EEG because she wants to make sure that the seizure will not recur to me then I said okay. Then I got home. I searched how much does the MRI cost. OH MY GAWD! It cost a thousands of pesos! It range from ten thousand to twenty thousand pesos. It is the amount of the christening package of my daughter. This is something! It really

As I said before it's not the day for the migrant workers, it's the part of pregnancy where all your guts, emotion, finance and bodily strength will be put to a test. Morning of August 18, 2001, I started having the contractions. It felt like its ripping my hips off of my body. I immediately tell it to my Mama and said "Wala pa yan. Kapag sunod-sunod na yan at madalas, manganganak ka na. Lakad lakad ka lang. ( That's nothing. When you feel the contractions more frequent and comes in second, you're on your way. Just walk around.) After hearing my Mama's assurance, I spend my no ordinary day doing light house chores. As the night struck, contractions grew stronger. Can't eat my dinner, can't even sleep. That night was very exhausting. I walk around the living room for nth times while taking deep breaths. I even timed the contractions and write it down to monitor if I was really having getting-ready-to-give-birth contractions. As the night went deeper, t

---> UERMMC Hospital, January 13, 2011         Sophia Ailee was 8 weeks then. Just about the size of a tadpole with normal beating heart. To my awe, it made me say, Oh my god, as I saw her on the ultrasound monitor. She's there, definitely there. ---> Amisola Maternity Hospital, February 22, 2011, Pelvic Ultrasound         Our dear baby has grown a lot. From being a tadpole-like to a human baby body with head like her Didi (shorten term for Daddy), little arms stretching and crossed legs. Her spinal cord and bones in both arms and legs is already formed but still maturing. As I saw her thru the monitor, feels like I can almost touch her. It made me teary eyed during the session. Our baby is perfectly fine and that was an ease on my part and Charles, too. Phew! ---> Twist. Kick. Roll. Punch.         Sounds like a video game, right? We just need some super powers. Hahaha. It is very overwhelming to feel a little person moving inside you like playing a sports.  --->

Iyak, sermon, galit, gulat. Lahat nang iyan ay napalitan ng tuwa, saya, halakhak, pagkasabik. “ Ayoko pong masira yung bakasyon ni Papa …” Paiyak kong sinagot ang tanong ni Mama habang katabi ko si Charles at magkahawak ang aming mga kamay kung bakit hindi agad naming sinabi ang tungkol sa aking kalagayan nung panahong kasama namin si Papa para sa isang linggong bakasyon dito sa Pilipinas – nagtatrabaho kasi si Papa sa Hong Kong bilang isang family driver. Kinabukasan, nasabi na rin ni Charles sa kanyang mama ang tungkol sa aking kalagayan. Natanggap na rin naman agad nya ito. Naging strikto si Mama nung sumunod na dalawa o isang linggong strikto sa aking paggising, pagtulong pati ang paggawa ng gawaing bahay. Dapat raw ay kumilos ako para maiwasan ang pagkamanas ng aking katawan. Ngunit kalaunan ay naging magaan na ang kanyang pakitungo marahil dala lamang ng pag-aalala. Nagbago na ang lahat. Napalitan ang pagkabigla nang pagkasabik.  Ang lahat ay nakaabang sa mga bago

I wrote this on March 7, 2011, 4:20 PM. By this time, may be some of my friends and classmates are now breaking a leg in various institutions and companies related to what we’ve finished studying. Some may have landed on a job they love and earn enough; some may have the job just for the sake of having it not to be called a bum and yet earns a lot; some may have a no choice job to suffice the needs of his/her own family, and lastly, some still waiting for the job they’re dreaming of or wanted of. If you ask me, I have a job – a toughest yet fulfilling and loving one that any woman can have. I am the Chairwoman, CEO, President, Senior Manager or any high ranking positions you can think of. I handle all the departments on my own from the decision making, design, naming, filing of documents, and documentation up to the smallest details of supplies needed, budget, planning and maintenance. I’m the boss. And how much do I get? Well, I get paid everyday but not that much. I earn just a