To Be, To Be. Tutubi.

Wednesday Happy Thoughts!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:00:00 +0000

Happiness is:
1. All three kids finally enrolled and Danniel's 50% tuition fee discount! Buti na lang, matalino ang anak ko! Books and school supplies na lang.
2. The 'puchu-puchung' fun run last Sunday.
3. The Trentalog at QC Memorial Circle.
4. Happy Thought. You know what you are, hi hi hi.
5. Free movie ticket to Fast and Furious 6!
6. Seeing Karen over lunch. She is here for a short vacation and we miss her so much! And it was also a chance to see my friends again despite being buildings apart. He he.
7. Our 'emergency leave', he he.
8. My paypal emergency fund.
9. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series.
10. My two laptops at work. See, I have lots of stuff to do so my laptops are such a big help!

To see how this started and for credits on the image, click here.

My Sister, The Graduate!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:22:00 +0000

A late post, a shout out to my sister Kris, who graduated from college last May 10. She was part of the graduating class of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, where she had her degree in Journalism. Her four years of hard work and perseverance have paid off! I am such a proud big sister! Good luck on your next adventure and may you have the job that you have dreamt of!

PS. Siempre, the graduation ceremony was from 1pm to 6pm since there were 3,600 students! And the only photo we have was when she was marching na to the stage! My mom clapped the loudest when we heard her name!

Look Who's Watching Fast And Furious 6!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Tue, 21 May 2013 10:02:00 +0000

Thanks to Nuffnang and Kettle Korn, we will be watching Fast and Furious 6 on Friday!!! This is for the Kettle Korn contest I joined last week. I am so excited to see Dom again :)

QC Wellness Fun Run

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Tue, 21 May 2013 03:00:00 +0000

Last Sunday, my friends and I were at QC Memorial Circle for our 'puchu puchung fun run.' Oh well, it was the QC Wellness Fun Run that we opted to buy at the last minute because it was cheap. And look what we got! I registered online, and my friends bought from Chris Sports. Then we were given a claim stub to get the bib. It says 4am at the ticket, but the booth (or table) was there only at 530am. There were less than 50 runners!

The starting line. The organizer was holding a mic and he announced that it was time to run, both for 10K and 6K runners. For 6K runners like us, we had to circle the Circle 3x. There were no marshalls from Blue Concept, just policeman along the way. And there were bikers who were also doing laps on the circle and you can feel them swooshing by! We had to run at the inner lane as far away from the bikers as we can.

The guy in blue below is the organizer. And that below were all the runners. But it was a fun run, and we just had fun anyway.

My finisher shirt and medal. I think I finished 3rd in the 6K category. I can't be too sure because there was no timing chip in the bib or anything that would tell us the time. There was just this guy who asked for my name when I went up to the this table at the finish line where I got my sandwich and water. The finisher shirt was given when we got our bib earlier before the run.

The run was okay, though the organizers were not quite as prepared and organized. We were hoping they will just give the extra sunglasses to the top 6K finishers because there were only 4 girls who ran in the 10K but they didnt. Oh well.

Me and my kids, goofing and having fun. There were lots of activities going on atthe Circle, and they loved the Zumba. The booths were few but we were the priority as runners.

Here I was on stage, awarding myself, before the awarding began, hahaha.

A River Experience

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:43:00 +0000

Two weeks ago, my family, together with my sister and her family went home to Batangas for the weekend. And straight from our 3-hour road trip, we went to the river near their place for a dip. I thought my kids, who are city born and bred would find bathing in the river uncool. But I was pleasantly surprised that they loved it! They begged for more even after 4 hours and wading and playing in the water, and eating lunch too. Too bad it was threatening to rain!

This is the river where we went. Downstream, the kids and the not so young ones were enjoying the cool and clear waters, and there were also some ladies washing clothes. Just like how I remember it from my childhood!

While I was not in the water wading with my kids, I was walking upstream taking these pictures of the river and of dragon flies! Just like when I was young!

What a fun experience it was! I was able to share with my kids what I did when I was a child and I loved it that they loved it as much as I did. Too bad we were not staying in Batangas longer for them to be able to repeat the experience.

Wednesday Happy Thoughts!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:18:00 +0000

Happiness is a choice and I choose to be happy! Happiness is:

1. The Mt. Maculot traverse. Wow, it was so hard, but it was worth it!
2. Staying at home on Mothers Day and being hugged and kissed by my kids.
3. My simple gift to my mom: a watch.
4. And my 2 new watches, he he.
5. The unexpected income from Paypal and to Amazon! Whooooo!
6. My ukay-ukay mountaineering shoes that didnt give up on me. More mountains to conquer, he he he.
7. My application for re-admission for my MBA has been approved! Yes!
8. Movies, movies and movies!
9. Two of my 3 kids are fnally enrolled. One to go, and then te books, and school stuff, and uniform, and a long list, ha ha. But I know God will provide.
10. My sister is finally a graduate! And is now officially unemployed.

To see how this started and for credits on the image, click here.

Conquering Mountains: Mt. Maculot Traverse

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Mon, 13 May 2013 05:02:00 +0000

FB post caption:

"Nobody said it was going to be easy, but it was going to be worth it!"

Kettle Korn: Poppin' Fun All The Time!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Sun, 12 May 2013 14:32:00 +0000

If I were to star in my own movie, I will be an unwilling heroine. The plot will be like this: I am a working mom, who unwittingly uncovered a mad man's plan to create weapons of mass destruction and to ultimately rule the world. I used my talents as a programmer to thwart his plan, and despite the threat to my family, I somehow managed to save the world! Actually, the movie is playing now in my head as I type this, and I know that the smell of Kettle Korn Poppin Pop Corn makes my own movie more fun! What else can make movie watching more exciting than by poppin some Kettle Corn!

Make sure to enjoy movie watching more with Kettle Corn! Check out their FB page.

Wednesday Happy Thoughts!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Wed, 08 May 2013 10:34:00 +0000

"Better to lose count when naming your blessings, than to lose your blessings to counting your troubles!"

Happiness is:
1. Our weekend trip to Batangas. It was tiring, but super fun!
2. My kids first time to bathe in a river. And we saw some Tutubi too!
3. The all-you-can-eat fiesta fare! I gained 3 lbs just that weekend but it was all worth it!
4. Ishi's simple birthday celebration. Swimming!
5. And me forgetting the sunblock but bringing the off lotion instead. He he he.
6. Inihaw na mais, rediscovered!
7. My new watches. Yes, with S. He he.
8. My request for re-admission for going back to school has been approved! I just have to know what program I will have, and I will re-take the whole thing or they will credit some units. Either way, I am happy to be finally taking hold of my future.
9. New mountains to climb.
10.New scheduled runs!

To see how this started and for credits on the image, click here.

I Found Some Tutubi!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Wed, 08 May 2013 05:30:00 +0000

I have a long fascination with Tutubi or dragonflies, hence the name of this blog. I also have a small dragonfly inked on my foot. So last weeekend when we went home to Batangas for a quick get-away, I was so happy to discover these wonderful tutubi in the river where we took a much needed dip!

I wish you could have seen me when I was a young kid jumping with my cousins over rice fields chasing after grasshoppers and dragonflies!

We used to bathe under the rain and look for frogs and then run when we find them. Our lolo would cook for us corn and camote which we would eat happily after we were dry and safely inside our warm nipa hut.

Seeing these dragonflies makes me fondly remember growing up as a kid, with nary a care in the world. I am just happy to see these tutubi as a reminder that to a child, everything is wonderful. I hope that I am able to give that to my kids too.

What Would You Try If You Have No Fear?

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Thu, 02 May 2013 10:55:00 +0000

At this very moment, I can't think of anything that I would like to do if I have no fear. I mean, I don't want to try bungee-jumping, or skydiving just for the fun of it. I see no reason why I would do that. Not that I am scared, but I don't think I will enjoy it anyway. The same reason why I don't like roller coaster rides. I don't see the point of scaring myself silly just to prove a silly point. The things that are stopping me from doing the things that I would love to do are money and time. If the question was, "What would you try if you have all the time and money", then that would be one long list. So, does this mean that I have no fears? Of course I do. I just don't like doing things that will put my life in danger. That would be irresponsible, being a mother and all.

Now climbing mountains may be dangerous and some may say that there is no reason why you should climb one, but I say, why not. I love the feeling of pushing myself to the limit, and being rewarded by the view of God's wondrous creations. Now, that is what I call an adventure!

Wednesday Happy Thoughts!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Thu, 02 May 2013 10:48:00 +0000

Happy Wednesday on a Thursday! Remember, happiness is a choice! Happiness is:
1. My daily 7K+ treadmill run, and the license to eat that comes with it, ha ha ha.
2. Swimming with Cathy and family, and for Blanda and family, and her sister and bro-in law for having us! Simple joys of friendships.
3. Salted egg with tomatoes. I miss eating this! Thanks Cathy for making hiwa, he he.
4. Driving to Pasig and back. Ahem, nakakalayo na ko Ehms!
5. My sister and her new Iphone 4S. Wag na lang pag-usapan kung san galing na bansa ha. He he.
6. Looking forward to going home to my hometown this weekend.
7. The much needed midweek break. Kaya nga nakapag-swimming.
8. Eating adobong Iloilo, courtesy of Blanda's bro-in-law, Noel. Yummy!
9. Extra rice. He he he.
10. White coffee.

To see how this started and for credits on the image, click here.

Supplies for Hydroponics

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 01:35:00 +0000

Growing with hydroponics and capturing pictures of the plants is quite easy once you've gotten all the supplies and hps grow lights down! Get some great carbon filter and other gear from TheLaShop.com. Although it is very important to find cheap supplies for hydroponics (so that you don’t break the bank), it is very possible to keep everything quality while still at a lower price.

LA shop has been known for making products not only cheaper, but easier to purchase as well. Reviewers have mentioned products being fifty dollars cheaper than other rival sites, and customer service was always great. Hydroponics is a great hobby to start up, and can even be a business in a small town. Growing your plants indoors enables you to not have to worry about the weather constantly and will allow you to not deal with any natural disasters such as floods and thunderstorms that could ruin a whole season. All the products available have been through testing so that they are ensured to help you and be efficient for your garden. One of the things that LA shop Hydroponics is known for actually is their customer service.

If any product arrives damaged or dysfunctional, they are more than happy to help with no hassle! Not many companies are like that nowadays so the customers are very appreciative. If you want to give hydroponics a try, start at your library and take out a few books so you can learn what really goes into it! It is a very rewarding experience and is an easy way to maintain your plants. Growing with hydroponics is very easy once you get the hang of it and can be very rewarding since you don't have to go outside.

Look Who's Watching Iron Man 3 Tomorrow!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:13:00 +0000

Super thanks to Nuffang and Sun Cellular for the awesome contest, Sun Cellular, The Good Choice in Postpaid, me and my son will get to watch Iron Mar 3 tomorrow at Newport Cinema! Guess who is excited!!!

Wednesday Happy Thoughts!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 02:37:00 +0000

Happiness is:
1. The PBA Fan Run last Sunday. Hooray for fitness!
2. And I drive the car by myself! Without my husband riding shotgun (well, it was my son with me) and I was able to park properly after 2 tries only!
3. Our newly installed hanging shoe cabinet. Yehey for getting rid of the clutter!
4. The garage sale that netted some cash. We were able to sell the old TV rack for P250 to our neighbor.
5. Hot compress. Work wonders!
6. Great Taste Iced Coffee at the office. We had some ice cubes at the ref and I didnt like the sugar free coffee hot so I made it cold and it was great! Hurray for new discoveries!
7. Blanda's belated birthday lunch and meeting with old friends again. It was great catching up with friends.
8. Making plans for a May 1 swimming! And I might get to drive again, he he.
9. My husband, for being supportive in my activities be it running, climbing mountains or driving. He trusts me. And that feels great.
10. The Zumba DVD from my friend that Ishi and I tried last night and hopefully every night. It was fun dancing in front of the whole family and them making comments about my bad dancing. But it was so fun!

To see how this started and for credits on the image, click here.

Climbing Mountains: Mt Batulao

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:00:00 +0000

at the summit of Mt. Batulao

Last Sunday, April 13, we went on a day hike to Mt. Batulao in Nasugbu, Batangas. Armed with information from Adaphobic and Pinoy Mountaineer, we decided that we could do it because it was an "easy climb." And yeah, it was like a walk in the park. But the park was located at the top of the mountain, and it was very dusty and it was very hot. But it was very scenic, it was very beautiful and it was very, very worth it!

at the start of the trail

There were 5 of us in the group and meeting place was McDonalds in Pasay-Edsa-Rotonda. The bus station is behind McDo. Fare was 125 and we told the conductor to drop us off at Evercrest. One member of the group lives in Nasugbu so she just met us there. At Evercrest, a kid approached us, offering his service as a guide for P300 so we agreed. We also rented a tricycle for P20 each going to the jump-off.

our happy little group of 'pseudo'-mountaineers

We were at the jump off by 8am. It was a long walk, made longer by our frequent stops for pictures, and rest of course. We met a lot of overnight campers on their way back, and they were very generous with their encouragements, and greetings along the way.

the scenic view

But we were not bored, as the scenery was breathtaking! It was really, really beautiful. I was reminded of the quote, "You climb mountains not so that the world can see you, but so you can see the world." Indeed.

We reach the summit at 1045am. We know we could have gone a little faster, but we are not mountain climbers, really just there to see the beauty of the mountain. But what the hell. Its always about the journey. There is no time to beat.

almost at the summit, but taking our sweet time

And a little more walking here and there. Registration is at Peak 8, pay P20 only for day hike. There are also buko vendors along the way. Yup!

With some hikers we met along the way. They were very nice, helping us up when we needed a boost.

Didn't I say the view was simply breathtaking? Then let me say it again: the view was breathtaking!

our little finally at the summit

It took us more than 2 hours to reach the summit, but it was worth it. Our hearts were pumping hard and we were so dusty from the trek. But the view on the way, and the 360 degree view at the top more than made up for the climb.

at the summit!

If the climb was hard, going down was even harder! Good thing there was a rope to help us down.

So, I was always asked when people learned I love to climb mountains (this is my 3rd mountain) why I do it. And I say why not? When will I do it if not now? I want memories I can reminisce when I grow old. That is the long and short of it. :) And will I climb another mountain after this? You bet!

Run with the PBA Fans

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:59:00 +0000

The Run with the PBA Fans was held last Sunday, April 21 at Frontera Verde in Tiendesitas. Thanks to the Buy 1 Take 1 promo of Shopinas.com, we were able to buy race kits for only P375 each, instead of the usual P500. Well, the shipping cost was added since it was an online purchase. Anyway, there were only a few PBA players, like it said, it was a run with the PBA fans, not players, he he he. Below is our group, and my son who took our picture. It was also a first time for me to drive without my husband beside me, so this run is going to be very memorable!

I finished the 5K race at my usual 45 minute mark. I did better during the OFW run because my time then was only 40-something minutes. There was this one portion of the road were everybody was walking because it was uphill, unlike in Roxas Blvd were it was just one straight road. Hahaha, excuses, excuses, I know!

With my BFF Ehms and super friend Tinay. My running buddies, aside from son Drex, are also my mountain-climbing buddies.

There were a handful PBA players but unfortunately, I don't know anybody! I would look at my son whenever I see some tall people running and he would even nod or shake his head to let me know whether they were players or not!

This one is an injured Ginebra player according to my son. Very nice of him for showing his support to the runners!

I don't know the guy also, ha ha ha.

And since I wasn't able to take my pictures with any player since its my son who likes them, I had this photo with the Rain or Shine mascot instead, ha ha ha.

And here I am, a proud race finisher! There were lots of booths and freebies by the way, and we really enjoyed ourselves at this fan run.

Sun Cellular, The Good Choice in Postpaid

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 05:55:00 +0000

I have been a Sun Cellular postpaid subscriber since the first time that I got my own phone. And there was never any other reason to move networks. And you want to know why Sun Cellular Plan 600 and Plan 999 is The Good Choice in Postpaid? Simply because you get the best possible deal to suit your lifestyle! For your postpaid subscription, you get Unlimited Calls and Texts to Sun Subscribers(which was pioneered by Sun Cellular), free SMS to other networks and unlimited Mobile Internet depending on the profile that you prefer that would best suit your needs!

Plan 600

You may choose from the following Profiles:

Call & Text Unlimited

Unlimited Calls & Texts*

P250 Consumable** (except International/Domestic Operator-assisted calls)

350 FREE SMS to other networks

Text Unlimited

Unlimited Texts*

P450 Consumable** (except International/Domestic Operator-assisted calls)

350 FREE SMS to other networks

Fully Consumable

P600 Consumable** (except International/Domestic Operator-assisted calls)

350 FREE SMS to ALL networks

* Local Sun-to-Sun Calls and/or Texts only

** Consumable may be used for the following:

Sun Cellular calls to other networks – including NDD & IDD,Sun - to - Sun MMS, SMS2Email

Plan 999

You may choose from the following Profiles:

Text Unlimited

Unlimited Mobile Internet

Unlimited Texts to Sun

4 Hours Calls to Sun

Source: http://www.suncellular.com.ph/postpaid_choose_a_plan.php

And they offer the slimmest phones currently in the market! I want to get my hands on those phones right now! So what are you waiting for, get your Sun Postpaid Plan now!

Visit their website at: suncellular.com.ph

If You Want to Climb Mountains

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:30:00 +0000

at the summit of Mt. Batulao

This is a must read for people like me who have recently discovered a great love for mountains! From Gideon Lasco of Pinoy Mountaineer, a site I have been reading for several days before and after our climb at Mt. Batulao.

An excerpt from the article An introduction to mountain climbing:

I tell you: it is all worth it. Whatever expenses you incur, or difficult training you undergo; hiking is very much worth it: it is not just the beauty of the views, but the challenge of the trails; the camaraderie of like-minded individuals; and the sheer tranquility of nature that will reward you. And of course, mountaineering is a sport, a social activity - relaxation and exertion - at the same time.

An introduction to hiking is never complete without a word on the environment: Please, start it right: have concern for nature. The reason why there are beautiful mountains right now is because climbers in the past have preserved it; they did not trample on its beauty. Mountaineers past have left no trace of their treks: and you should do the same. I hope that as you develop your passion for mountain climbing, you will also develop a passion for the mountains: we need you to make our voice stronger, as we fight, in our individual or collective ways, the threats our mountains face -- be it against mining, illegal logging - or even irresponsible mountain climbing. The mark of a true mountaineer is not having the passion to climb mountains, but the passion to protect them. I have to say this forcefully: Shame on you, if you leave your trash along the trails. Shame on you if you will dare vandalize the rocks or the tree trunks. Yet, you bring honor to the hiking community if you uphold the principles of responsible outdoor recreation.

Wednesday Happy Thoughts!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 05:37:00 +0000

"Do what makes you happy. Be with who makes you smile. Laugh as much as you breathe. Love as long as you live."

Happiness is:
1. Conquering Mt. Batulao.
2. Becoming officially, a pseudo-mountaineer, ha ha ha.
2. Planning the next mountain to climb with official climbing partners Ehms and Tinay.
4. The body aches and pains that comes with knowing that you did challenge yourself, and made it!
5. Tinay for being such a superb host, Stan for being such a game driver, he he and for bringing us to their Aunt's for free merienda.
6. The side trip at Punta Fuego and swimming at the white beach.
7. And the sunset viewing at Fuego point.
8. My husband, for allowing me to experience these things by never making it an issue. "Gusto mo yan eh." He he he, supportive din.
9. My Inay and my sister Kris for looking after the kids when I'm gone.
10. Our new 32 inc LED TV. Ha ha ha, kala mo Ehms, makakalimutan ko no? At si Vangie na rin for letting us use her card for installment!

To see how this started and for credits on the image, click here.

Conquering Mountains

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:04:00 +0000

At the summit of Mt. Batulao

My mom's question is still echoing in my ears: Why do you want to climb a mountain? And my answer? Why ever not? And also, Mallory's answer, because it's there. There is a huge satisfaction from conquering mountains, and knowing that you have conquered yourself and pushed yourself to your limits. And the view that greets you when you reach the summit (and even while trekking) that, is reward in itself. Up there, you just marvel at the beauty of God's creation, and wish that others can see in wonder and in joy. That is how rewarding climbing mountains can be for me.

I knew I always wanted to climb mountains, even in college, but my sense of self then was not what it is now so I never did get the courage to inquire at the school's mountaineering club. But now that I can, and while I still can, and I have friends who feel the same way that I do, I know that I this will not be my last mountain.

I Have This.

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 07:30:00 +0000

Thank God. I am blessed.

I Diet Because I Love To Eat

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 07:14:00 +0000

Beef Rice Platter @ Brasas

I told myself that before May rolls in, I will be back to my weight of 132 lbs, down from my current 138 lbs. But, I gained another pound overnight and above is the culprit! We had dinner at Brasas in Podium to celebrate my friend's birthday. That is the Beef Rice Platter (P220) that I had and I tell you, it was worth the weight gain! Paired with a bottle of cold San Mig Light, I realized that this is precisely the reason why I exercise: so that I could eat without the guilt. We also ordered Carne Asada Fries (P120) as appetizer and it was delicious! Brasas is Latin American Street Food and it was great! Thanks to my office mates for introducing me to Brasas!

Before You Join the Gym

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:10:00 +0000

Ha ha ha, Aunty Acid hit it spot on!

Wednesday Happy Thoughts!

noreply@blogger.com (Dinah) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 03:16:00 +0000

"Gratitude turns what we have into enough." Happiness is:

1. May Skycable na kami! And after two weeks without cable signal, we loveeeeee it!
2. The holiday yesterday was such a welcome respite from work. I just watch TV, sleep, read and eat. Hahahaha, tamad na tamad.
3. The GH fun run last Sunday, which was Ishi's first, and I hope not the last.
4. Drex, who also ran in the 5k category, won a gift check for P1000 worth of dips and dressings. Good thing I bought some chips last week and we ate it over the weekend.
5. Nilagang Baka. In this heat? Oh yeah! Sarap talaga magluto ni Inay.
6. Magic Flakes and Peanut Butter. or Magic Flakes and Spinach and Anchovy Dip. Yummy!
7. Making up with my husband. He he. Making up is really an essential in any relationship.
8. Kisses and hugs from the kiddos. Even from my eldest who is bigger than me!
9. Having the willpower not to open my chocolate stash. I will once I reach my target weight of 132 lbs (A long way to go!)
10. Planning a weekend Mt. Batulao hike with my friends.

To see how this started and for credits on the image, click here.