The World of Second Chances

My Son’s 7th Birthday

July 20, 2016

Wedding & Family Life

One and a half months from now, my son will turn 7. I am torn between giving him a celebration with his friends in our domicile or take the opportunity of doing it in the province in the presence of my relatives and friends there.

One of the purpose of delaying our transfer to our new house is to let my Adi enjoy his 7th year with our neighbors. I’ve been staying in this apartment for 10 years and I have come to love our neighbors like a relative. However, the neighbor next door plans to do her son’s 7th birthday celebration on Adi’s birthday because of schedule constraint. Because of this, her worry is we won’t be there for her son’s birthday celebration and vice versa, they won’t be there for Adi’s birthday, as well. I intend to simplify Adi’s birthday by doing it somewhere.

I told my neighbor that should her decision about celebrating her son’s birthday on the same day with Adi is final, it’s fine and she should just enjoy.

My 7th birthday was just a simple celebration at home with my friends and family. There were just around 35 of us then. It was simple yet intimate and I still remember it to this day. I want a similar one for Adi.

Sometimes, I feel guilty for not being a party person enough. A thing like this would have been a piece of cake had I have that gift of organizing events. That is why I consider my family my comfort zone. They would never complain wherever and whatever our celebration would be. How I wish that my mother were still alive so that she would be the one to supervise and plan everything!

Anyway, I decided to create an initial guest list and my target attendees is 100. I hope that my son will have a wonderful 7th year.
Finding Earl

July 19, 2016

Life & Love

My fascination with missing children story started with the Madeleine Mccann case. My feelings are not out of entertainment but rather of empathy. I feel for the Mccanns and the Needhams and I sincerely wish that Madeleine and Ben would someday be back to their families.

In 1997, 2-year old Earl Dollente was kidnapped while picking flowers for Mrs. Laurie Dollente. The Dollente family tried their best to find Earl but all efforts were fruitless. Almost 19 years later, Mrs. Laurie Dollente resorted to social media to find her missing son. She is suffering from stage 4-lung cancer so you can just imagine how battered this wonderful mother is physically and emotionally.

A certain Armstrong Miggy posted his gut feeling that he could be the missing boy when he watched Mrs. Laurie Dollente on “Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho.” Netizens gave their support and wished with him that this story would have a favourable and happy ending.

Just when the excitement of the netizens are at its peak, Armstrong Miggy deactivated his Facebook account. It is understandable because of privacy and security reasons. He is probably in touch with the Dollentes for verification like the DNA test and he would like some privacy until the result is released.

Personally, I wish that this story would have a happy ending. Mrs. Laurie Dollente has suffered a lot along with Mr. Ernest Dollente and their daughter Patty. Whatever is the result, I pray that all of them will accept it.

Update as of November 17, 2016:

I am sorry to say that Armstrong Miggy is a fraud! How could Melvin Maniacop aka. Armstrong Miggy afford to create a lie as big as that? Mrs. Dollente is sick and the whole family is affected and then there is this psychotic who did more harm than good by fabricating lies and manipulating feelings.

Update as of September 16, 2018:

Mrs. Laurie Dollente passed away (not sure if it’s September 14 or 15) after two years of battling cancer. I am heartbroken for her family and Earl, too. I still hope that he would find his way home soon. Mrs. Dollente gave her best fight; let us continue to pray and search for her missing son.
The Diary

July 14, 2016

Life & Love, Poems & Stories

Looking at the clock in this rainy afternoon.

Then opened my journal to read my past posts.

I saw your hellos and good days.

Those were the days of confusion and excitement.

I remember those days and how emotions were high.

You asked me if I love you, I told you that “you should know by now.”

Because the question is not how much love is there; the question is until when will that love last?

On the hindsight, I knew that that love wouldn’t last.

We were just stressed out with our every day life.

We needed somebody to listen; a diversion.

Until I felt that I was falling for you and that was a big mistake.

I felt lost a couple of times.

That love could never be reciprocated.

There were things that were not meant to be.

That included you and me.

Thank you for the love, if what you felt was indeed love.
My Namesake, Tet

June 16, 2016

Life & Love

I was called “Tet” by my family. I hated that pet name, it sounded absurd. Then sometime in the 80’s, somebody named Tet Garcia became Bataan’s second district congressman. My “kababata” and even my younger brother would tease me for that similarity in pet name. It was a harmless joke but it got into my nerves; I just hated that pet name then a popular public figure had the same pet name and there was a lot of recall about it.

Before the Garcias came into the political picture in Bataan, there was the Romans. I grew up with Ding Roman as the governor and as a child, I believed in his capabilities though I had no exact idea how he worked as a public official. Tet Garcia was a newbie then in the world of politics; my parents adored him especially my mother. Then sometime in the late 90’s, his eldest son Abet became the mayor of Balanga while Tet became the governor. Years later, Gila and Joet became politicians as well and opponents said that this family started a political dynasty in Bataan. Garcia family’s supporters retorted that it was the end of the Roman dynasty. Whichever side of the political fence a person was into, the tension to the rising popularity of the Garcias could never be stopped. Their supporters loved them and were loyal to them. Their political opponents calculated and magnified their every moves.

I personally do not have a recollection about the late Tet Garcia except for the shared pet name. What I know is, he was well-loved by most of the people in Bataan. His family had something to do with the people’s affection because they knew when to mingle with the common tao. Our family was once a recipient of their “pakikiramay” when Abet, Joet and Mrs. Garcia went to my mother’s wake. Abet was in his usual friendly mood. Joet, though a little shy, let us feel his sincerity. I was at first intimidated at Mrs. Garcia but felt comfortable later on when she asked about how my mother succumbed to cancer.

I’ve always said that I would never forget the people who were with me and my family during our darkest times. The Garcias were with us then. Now, it is my turn to return the affection and concern.

Rest in peace, Congressman Tet and condolences to the whole family!
The Achiever

June 13, 2016

Poems & Stories

The worst feeling is to be taken for granted.

To be regarded as a substitute.

To be remembered only when needed.

To be one’s second choice.

To fill in whatever is missing.

To suppress your growth and potential.

To give way for the favored ones.

To pretend as if you’re okay.

But this worst feeling is a preparation for my future.

My own battles and sacrifices.

My commitment to a better me.

My road to full recovery.

Surely, a good soldier bounces back from defeat.

Because a good soldier never accepts defeat.

We fight even when the chances are slim.

We fight with honor, equality and dignity.

When someone treats you unfairly.

Consider it as a preparation for a better you.

Nobody becomes successful by spoon-feeding.

The more hurt a person is, the more he becomes an achiever.
Thoughts

June 10, 2016

Poems & Stories

Have you ever felt something so strong to resist?

A monster in the making, an ogre or a beast?

Have you ever looked at the stars in the sky?

And wish to touch them right before your eyes.

Have you ever wished to be a different you?

Do some crazy things out of the blue.

Have you ever done anything unacceptable?

Against the norms of society where we’re expected to be impeccable

Have you ever wanted to be lazy all day?

Pretend to be a puppet, a doll or a clay.

Have you ever felt weariness from life’s roller coaster?

Then find another place that can make you feel better.

Have you ever thought how strong a person you are?

A survivor, a winner, a champion, a star.
Shakey’s Supercard is NOT for Us

May 28, 2016

Career, Finance & Product
We just had dinner at home but decided to park at Shakey’s and order something for the kids while waiting for my daughter who’s on the way . Since all of us were still full, we just decided to take out 1 order of pizza. My husband and the server were the ones discussing. One order of pizza would cost us PhP430.00. Then the confusing part came when the server asked us if we were interested to avail of the buy one-take one + free 1.5 liters of Coke promo at a price of PhP 469.00. Of course, it sounded like a great deal so we said, it was okay. Then the server came back with an application form and hurriedly left. I asked my husband what was that form for and he said that I just had to fill it up.

When the bill came, we were charged with PhP1,089. I asked him the breakdown of the PhP1.089 because from what I remember, the pizza was only PhP469.00. He said that the supercard costed around PhP400+ so I answered that if that was the case, then we should be charged with less than PhP1,000. I probably missed something when we were taking our order earlier but had it was clear what a supercard was, I wouldn’t think twice of not accepting his offer for the following reasons:
1. Since October 2015, I decided to remove pizza on my diet. The last time I tasted a pizza was during an officemate’s birthday last March.
2. Our kids would pick Jollibee, McDo and KFC over pizza so getting a supercard would not be advantageous.
3. I am not a fan of cards except the Mercury Drug card and SM Advantage Card.
The server left and talked with his manager. I followed him and demanded an explanation why the whole thing was never explained to my husband and I thoroughly. PhP1,089 maybe a small amount but what angered me was the way this whole promo thing was not properly explained to us. I demanded to cancel that card and just revert to our original order (1 pizza for take out) then I went back to the waiting area.

The manager probably thought that we were after the free pizza and Coke so he approached me to remind me that what we ordered was the 1 pizza+ free pizza + free Coke to which I clarified that “No! Just refer to our original order!”

To cut the long and stressful situation short, they cancelled the supercard and we got our original order. In all fairness, the manager was cool and professional. He apologized and I did the same thing.

Lesson Learned:
1. To the customers like my husband and I, if you are not familiar with the promo, ASK MORE questions. Don’t assume that you have understood everything because getting a card might not be advantageous to you if you are like us who are not frequent pizza eaters. ASK if the card is free. (Example: SM offers a free advantage card for a minimum worth of initial purchase.)
2. To the management team of any business establishments, GIVE your customers time to ASK questions. Clarify if the customer understands what he’s getting into. ALWAYS give the breakdown of charges during the sales talking so that the customer can be made aware of what he needs to pay.