Living My Life

The Day Before The Pagudpud Experience

We are now at the last week of March 2015 and the heat is terrible around Manila City. School has ended and summer has officially just began. With the excitement of getting relieved from school's stress, office burnout, and heavy load of house chores, we thirst of a relaxing break. To get out of the busy city, polluted environment, and just go where we can unwind and recharge our strength.

So we decided to go to Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte where they call it the untouched Boracay of the North. So secluded and 2 hours away from Laoag City, we can experience a bit of out of the civilization. We went there before sometime of April 2011 and it was fun, though I was not able to get pictures because of unpreparedness.

Creamy Stroganoff Rice Toppings

Hectic day of cleaning our home today, stayed late last night doing movie marathon and I still have to wake up early to tend to my family. Hmmm, crazy thinking and formulating what would entice my dear Jaha to eat and savor nutritious food and of course meat. She does not like eating meat with her small teeth. I am now accustomed to really cook the meat tenderly. With my gregarious personality, I am happy I could somehow deceive her (in a good way) of eating her meals! :-)

Squashy Macaroni and Cheese

My daughter is coming home soon from her last day of school and I haven’t thought yet what would she like to have for a late lunch or snack maybe. My daughter is very picky with her food choices and it gave me a hard time deciding what dish to serve for her today. Well, as I rammed through my minds, I only knew that she loves to eat pasta preferably macaroni provided that is creamy. My problem adds up when I realized long before that she is not fond in eating vegetables and it is very vital that vegetables should be in her dietary requirements.

Simple Macaroni and Squash Soup

We visited my doctor and he advised us to intake foods that are soups and can be easily swallow. He advised to stay out from hard, crunchy, and chewy dishes that may harm my recovery. Well, as usual, I am not worried from myself but I am concerned again what will I cook so that my daughter will also take additional nourishment through proper eating.

As I opened my fridge, I can still see my leftover pieces of squash and elbow macaroni. Hmmm, some of the corner eatery serves macaroni soup but this time, I need to invent something that is good and high in vitamin A.

Concocting Watermelon Fruit Juice

Summertime and the family decided to go to Quiapo, Manila where all society status roamed around looking for good stuff for an affordable price. Yes, that is the glorious place where the rich and famous attends mass at the Catholic Church beside the Miranda and the poor and middle class mingled to buy or to sell along the sidewalks. Bystanders are scattered everywhere, finding rackets for money.

After circling around the market area window-shopping and bargain hunting, we happened to spot little stores near the bridge where they sell varieties of fruit. Jaha quickly exclaimed to buy watermelon and she chose the biggest fruit she could see.

How To Cook HamSiDog (Ham, Sinangag, and Hotdog)

It is seven in the morning busy surfing the net and my daughter sneaked behind me shouting "I'm awake, I'm awake". I was a little bit startled unknowing she woke up early today considering it is their summer vacation.

She immediately turned on her PS2 game "God of War" and quickly turned to me and requested that I will make breakfast. I checked the fridge and gladly, the hawaiian ham is still on stock and the cheesedog comes in handy. Jaha loves ham except if it is fried.

How to Cook Fried Rice with Chorizo

Last night, we overestimated rice servings so this morning we still have more than a handful of leftover white rice. Well, I cannot let it go to waste considering that I store it inside the fridge and some people are not lucky to have three meals a day. I made a quick sniff if the rice is spoiled and it was not.

5 Ways to Riches

One of my avid financial advisers is Francisco Colayco and his colleagues in the Colayco Foundation. One of the great basic principles and teachings that inculcated on my mind are the different ways to become rich. I know that many people aims to have a humongous stash of money so that they may able to buy the things their hearts desire.

1. Inheritance
Few people are lucky to be born with silver spoon thus this way does not come easily. About 2% of the country's populations are gifted with this untimely splash of wealth.

Having Your Cake and Eating It, Too

One day, I was sorting old newspapers in my drawer and I happened to stumble a great article with regards to finances. I noticed that the author is one of my Facebook friends and also, we went to the same high school! I love the thought of sharing it on my new blog site as a new avenue to spread excellent thoughts. Gladly, Liza heartily gave me the favor of re-publishing it.

Read on...

---------

This article was originally published on OpinYon’s Vol. No. 1, Issue No. 42, and is edited for this blog.

The saying ‘have your cake and eating it too’ seems to be an embodiment of all that we want – we want to achieve our dreams, and enjoy life in the process.

‘Having your cake and eating it too’ means being free from financial pressures to able to enjoy the freedom to choose; and the opportunity to create and share. The good thing about having more than enough money is it frees us from having to worry about where are meals will come from next or whether we will be able to pay our bills on time.

How Much Is An Emergency Fund?

It was inculcated on my mind that I need to save enough money for the rainy days. Rainy days are times for future financial need, mostly unexpected events where money requires to spend for.

Since then, I learned to save. Every time an extra dime or more comes in a handy, I usually keep it in my clay jar bank and break it when it is full to deposit in a bank. When I started working, ATM or electronic banking makes it easier to save in just few clicks.

So I did save a lot! (At least based from my age 10 years ago :-) )
Then came the unexpected situation when I need to withdraw a large sum of cash. Whoa! The money that I put away solely for rainy days like this one...is merely NOT enough!

This dire straits I experienced disheartened me from things I needed to accomplish especially the outgrown means of saving. The BIG question is... how much should I save?!

How to Apply Three (3) Thrifty Tips for a Kid

I have set aside a daily allowance for my daughter to spend in the school. With her money allowance, we as parents gave her the right to choose what to buy for herself whether snacks, lunch, or treats. Or sometimes an unexpected need for school projects or supplies for writing. With her 100 pesos daily allowance, a surmountable change is still left in her pocket. Twenty pesos, fifty pesos, five pesos and most of the times nothing - NADA.

As a kid she is, it is inevitable for canoodle wishes to buy her additional foodies and goodies at sari-sari and convenience stores nearby our house. Thus as loving parents, we give in with her “lambing” not thinking that this small amount is reduced from our family budget.

Writing a Simple Young Filipino Poem

Being a Filipino takes pride for every individual who practice Filipino cultures and proud of being who we are. Poem below created by my daughter and I in an effort to accomplish a project in Araling Panlipunan Grade 3 level.

The project is to create a poem describing the adorable physical traits she have and why she adores it.

ANG KAIBIG-IBIG KONG AKO

Tula ni Jahaziah Castillo

Buhok ko ay itim at mahaba

Mga mata ko ay tsinita

Ilong ko ay matangos, labi'y manipis

Balat ko ay kayumangging makinis

Long vacation, no school and no work. We took the time to have a joy ride to Antipolo City using our motorcycle, easy to avoid and get through the busy and heavy traffic.

Going up the mountain is a splendor, fresh air, cold breeze, relaxing sounds, great view of the city. Unluckily, our phone camera was not able to capture the city, foggy and bright, reflecting the lens and I cannot find a good angle.

Ready to go home from walking around the QC circle park, I took the last shot of the big bright Christmas tree sometime eight in the evening standing at the parking area. Remembrance of a wonderful tired night strolling with my family.

There are so many people at the fountain playing around. There are bazaars selling different "anik-anik", street vendors of the candy colored sugar twirled on a stick, kids happy holding their parents hand, mini joyrides, ferry's wheel, etc.

Lazy Saturday with Jaha

Flirting with my daughter, bonding, and having fun brings so much joy in my heart. Trying new things, projecting, posing, wearing, just to kid one another introduces hearty laughter that engulfing our house with sweet noises.

This is one of the lazy afternoon we are having in her room, well, just her in the picture actually. December 14, 2013, unforgettable.

Year 2013 is ending soon and the small group prayer in the company lead by Sheila is having a get together to celebrate our mini-accomplishments and being thankful for the blessings we received from the Almighty.

We decided to go on a potluck - where every individual or pair will bring a food on the table. To organize further, we have listed who volunteered for a specific meal or vouch for a good food they wish to share.

Why I’ll Buy Valentine’s Bear Heart

One night to sleep and surely valentines 2014 will wake me up again to bring simple joys to my family. Not necessary to indulge in a lavish treats but making sure I will splurge them with my simple message of thoughtful candor of love.

Sure, making a surprise breakfast will do… but something tangible and for keeping. Aha! Our Finance committee is in promoting goods for raising budget. Why not?

Go, Hang out at Yellow Cab Marcos Hi-way

Sometime in the last week of December 2013, tired of having a long journey from Antipolo to Cainta to Ligaya, Pasig, riding on a Super-8 motorcycle, we badly need a stopover. With smokes dusted on our faces given we wore helmets, not a good shield to combat air pollution from vehicles smoking out their fumes.

While waiting to place our order, Jaha posed to keep cam moment

Good thing we parked our ride in front of McDonald Marcos hi-way and there our daughter sees the Yellow Cab store near the park lane. How can she not notice, a gleaming yellow paint of the store and a glass wall captures the magnificent light of an evening scene! This is past 8pm already and hunger strikes our little girl.

Manila Ocean Park - Jellyfish Sanctuary

Growing up near mountain tops and nearby beaches, I am accustomed to monthly family outings along the beaches of Ilocos. One sea creature that attracts me is the jellyfish. Nevertheless, for my entire childhood, I thought that there is only one type of jellyfish. I realized when I reached high school that there are different species among them until I met them personally at the Manila Ocean Park Jellyfish sanctuaries.

It took a long time to have this encounter but it is worth it because my daughter was fascinated with the different dance lights emanating from their luminescent gel body.

Manila Ocean Park - The Oceanarium

My family and I have seen terrific shows and scenery on the cable and internet and my daughter is always mumbling and forcing us to see one locally. She loves water, oceans, beaches, but I stopped her because too much sun is bad for the skin. Well, we had sunburns last summer due to overexposure on the beach at Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte and Boracay.

Luckily, my daughter (Jaha) spotted the Manila Ocean Park and until then, she had not stopped wooing me in purchasing tickets for the park. Therefore, as a parent, there is a special spark and touch in my heart while my daughter does the puppy eyes request. Moreover, I search the promotional vouchers online on where I could get discounts for the family field trip. Timing that Ensogo (www.ensogo.com.ph) offers that discount vouchers and I did purchased 3 tickets for the much awaited event.