And my Sofia is no exception. If I compile all her “quotable quotes”, I’d have enough to publish a book! Aside from cracking me up at every instance, Sofia and her quips remind of the best things about being a kid. Children can take things at face value and still make a lot of sense. They know AWESOME when they see it. And they enjoy life without any excuses.

Until Sofia’s book comes out, Mommy’s blog will have to do.

Here are some of the latest from my princess of wit:)

While sitting on my lap in a Macanese cab:

Sofia: “Mom, he (driver) is driving with eyes closed!”

Me: Singkit cya , anak, singkit! (He’s just chinky eyed, baby!)

On the morning of my most recent birthday:

Sofia: What gift do you like, Mom?

Me: You’re my best gift, babe!

Sofia (exasperated): “Take a look at me, I am NOT a gift!”

Just today, at the sight of a bunch of kitties:

Sofia: ” Look, Mom, the cats are meow-king!”

Me: Fits of laughter!

Since the Belekoy episode is (hopefully?) over (why do I get the feeling that my life is now divided into pre-Belekoy and post-Belekoy ?) , I’m back to work, tons of it. I’m trying to get it all done before it morphs into a Belekoy este a mountain of dues that will rob me off precious boxing time.

Yep, I will start boxing again after four years. Santi and I have put a moratorium on travel and it will be all about the wedding from here on out. I’ve convinced him to take up the sport as well. It is not as if I’m the only one who needs to melt fat in this house

The little tyke is also back to school after a brief disruption that the the dreaded swine flu has caused. I’ve this nagging feeling, call it a conspiracy theory, that WHO or whoever is in charge of disseminating information about this flu is not telling the truth. Is it really that deadly? Doesn’t it really have a vaccine? Hmm. I have my doubts. Meantime, thermometers and hand sanitizers have become fashion fads. And it now takes me forever to get in an elevator to get to anywhere!

That’s all for now. Have to wake up Santi who is still in China. It’s an hour before 8 and I’ve been late too many times this month. Aww!

While I wasn’t very lucky with the tables, I certainly had the most fabulous time with my babies during our Macanese birthday holiday. The Venetian was amazing. I can live there forever But right-hand driven cars DROVE me nuts. And I wish restaurants had spoons on hand for kids. But apart from that, Macau is awesome!

it was indeed the happiest birthday. Thank you, Topman. thank you for everything.

“That’s the beauty of the internet, we can lurk in anonymity. Hope you take advantage of it.”

 

I’m afraid it’s too late for that. After all, people who wander on my blog do so because I am who I am. Mina. Santi’s wife. Sigma. JG Summit attorney. Sofia’s Mom. My parents’ daughter.

Everything is personal , even over the internet.

Besides I’m too tired to hide. Those days are over. I write what I write–at least I hold myself accountable for it. All the time.

First of, before you accuse anyone of not caring enough for Lambda, you should have at least left your own name instead of a pseudonym—what is there to hide from if you mean well?

Secondly, I had posted that entry in response to pictures posted in facebook that nobody had the balls to comment on–I certainly did not see “belekoy” write the owner of the pictures a loveletter. So instead of wreaking havoc in that network, I chose to write my thoughts here. In my blog. where I have written for the past 4 years.

Thirdly, don’t drag Santi into this nor question his loyalty to this fraternity. My husband has nothing to prove–he is a fratman through and through. So please do not even mention his name here or anywhere else. This is all on me– I choose to keep a corner in the blogosphere where I am free to express my thoughts save only for violations of our libel laws. Is there anything libelous here?

Fourthly, I’d like to see my brods rise above this and emerge stronger after the whole thing has blown over. But guess what? I’m quite certain that will not happen if nobody raises a hoot—facebook pictures? Comments? None.

So please, Belekoy. You are barking at the wrong tree. This blog did not initiate it. I was poked so I poked back. I’m a RHOAN after all.

Bags are packed and we are hours from catching our 7:30 flight to Macau. I’m trying to switch on to holiday mode and leave all of  my worries behind. After a year of working without any legitimate R and R, I’m about an inch close to burn-out so I hereby declare that I deserve this Macanese birthday week-end. But before I could even start to pack my bags, last minute concerns just had to creep up on me. I finished a couple of reports in the nick of time. Turned on my out-of-office email and happily left my desk.

When I got home, I was bombarded with association concerns that fell into my lap a week ago. I was elected into the Board of Directors and before I knew it , I was its Corporate Secretary. Little did I know that it had the potential to take up most of my precious time. I’m churning out letters of water disconnection DAILY. Getting into screaming matches with delinquent unit owners who think they can choose NOT to pay their dues and expect water when they shower. A few hours ago, I lost it with one who started cussing because we decided not to give her clearance for incurring hundreds of thousands in association dues. Crazy woman sold her house to a hapless Korean who now can’t transfer the papers to his name because we had  an adverse claim annotated on it. Crazy woman chose to cuss me out and paid dearly for it. Told her to lawyer up and we’ll see her in court. Bruhang yun.

I am not complaining because for the first time in a long while, I am actually enjoying something that  is entirely for my account. I have yet to be paid for this–but a move to give us directors per diem is already on the works. I like it because, for once, I don’t get to ask help from Santi. He’s getting a kick out of seeing me raise corporate hell all on my own. It’s like I have a mini-firm at home. I have already started to brush up on my very rusty corporation law  in preparation for a slew of board resolutions I’m raring to draft and meetings to attend. On the financial upside, I’m bound to finagle a few unit-owners as clients. Not bad, huh? So I guess this is my first ever retainer. Hooray to Minz!

Then again, I’m leaving all of these now and spend some quality time with Santi and Sofia. If I have anything of real value in this life, it would be them. So later , labor reports and delinquent unit-owners! Atty. Mina is checking out. Babushk!

Never before did I feel a month fly by this fast. I was barely into its first week,  bringing Sofia to her first day of school when AH1N1 hit Poveda spurring the suspension of classes. Little girl was so bummed out as she was still getting to know her classmates when she was told that there will be no school for a week. That is apart from her major complaint that there are no boys in her school. “But I like boys, Mom!”. Could this be the death of me?

 At the same time, I was helping my sister work through her first week in law school. I checked her line-up of teachers and concluded that she should drop Persons due to a uber terror prof who is not worth taking chances on. I personally filled up the dropping form and submitted it to the Registrar.  By the end of that week, I knew that I was not only a stage mother but a stage-sister as well. Yikes. I’m still crossing my fingers that she’d join Sigma and be my sorority sister as well. I don’t want to push the envelope in this case since it doesn’t seem right and well, reverse psychology might eventually work.Haha.

And of course, Santi’s fraternity issues took half of my June away just like that. Wanting to support him and his beleaguered brod, I inserted myself in all of their meetings which left me sleepless for a week.  I received some feelers from the other camp last week-end. Suffice it to say that I gave him (them)  a piece of my mind. They wouldn’t be asking for reactions if they were convinced that their moves were above board in the first place. Bah. Enough of this for now.

Now that I think about it, I only have 2 days before our trip to Macau for my big 3-2 and my bags are not even closed to packed. I’m choosing to celebrate my birthday quietly with my family this year. Not that I’m doing away with parties altogether but the whole year has been one of re-assessment. Of my goals, health and relationships. The first two are more clear-cut than the last. When humans are involved,  everything becomes complicated. And I am the Queen of complicated.

There goes my June in all its glory.

Hello- July!

 

It felt like news straight out of twilight zone. The King of Pop is dead. Half-of my childhood is gone. Billie Jean is no more. My prayers are with the family, children and to the legions of fans who grew up moon-walking to His music.

As a tribute, here is the other half of my wonder years reprising Billie Jean. Madonna does Michael Jackson.

Rest in peace, MJ.

One thing that bind Santi and I together are the ideals we hold on to, belonging to  a fraternity/sorority if not for which, we would never have met. Some days, I question why I had so boldly allowed myself to be hazed– slapped, punched around by strangers  just to feel like I belonged somewhere. Same for him. How he survived the blackest day (literally because he fainted and saw nothing but black) of his life would probably remain a mystery until he grows old and gray. After (what we thought to be) the worst was over, we were taught, plainly and simply ,that we will live by one creed: The Word of the Grand is the Law. Ironic as it is for a bunch of law students to take it without so much as demanding for its printed, published version, it made perfect sense because there was none. It was a dictatorship by one man who called all the shots. If he wanted to call a meeting in the middle of class, we will MEET pronto. If he felt like brawling with another fraternity, all shirts are off. If he thought a brother did not deserve to be called such, out he goes. At 22, all of these just seemed pretty cool to me.What did I know?

Fast-forward to a couple-of days ago, when the shadows of one such decision made by one such grand came into the fore many years after the fact. A group of brothers thought this Grand whimsically and arbitrarily expelled one of us and now petitioned  to overturn the expulsion and bring the expelled brother back to the fold. Underhanded would be an understatement considering the Grand in question is in a seminar in Thailand and had no idea of what was to befall him. In one fell swoop, the expelled brother is a Red Rhoan once again, bypassing the  consent of the Grand who expelled him and that of the present Grand’s, under whose leadership the petition should have been brought to. In short, they took our law into their own hands and spat on it. Worse, they now seek to expel the Grand, himself, citing the flimsiest of reasons that shackles the mind.

Mulling over it now, knowing that my husband will not stand idly and watch a friend go down or his fraternity burn into ashes, I search once again for the meaning of it all and I come to only one. The Word of the Grand is the Law—this is the only law we know. Should we wake up one day not believing that one man can and should rule the way he does, WE go. Leave. Resign. Dis-associate. We don’t throw away the very bond that kept us together. We don’t disrespect a grandship.

I look at Santi’s disconcerted and agonized self as he gets ready for tomorrow’s meeting that will seal his own fate in this brotherhood and my heart breaks into pieces. On Father’s day , this is what I know. Here is a man who values family, friendship and loyalty. The last one  he will stake his life for.  And I love him for it.

Happy Fathers’ Day, B. You jump, I jump. I’m behind you all the way.

1. Staffhouses that the company so generously offers for free to us employees and our families. We’re loving our independence day get-away here in Windy Subic!

2. Rain. Despite the traffic that it inevitably causes, I love rain. I will not trade it for hail,snow or whatever else that doesn’t fall here in this country. Rain has its way of cleansing everything, making it fresh and new again.

3. ESPN, Balls, Solar and Star Sports. Just lately, Santi and I realized that we are not merely sports fans. SPORTS GEEKS are what we are. There is no sport that is too alien or unwatchable for us. Even cricket is fair game. Thank goodness for sports channels that give us our daily fix of games to watch and tournaments to look out for. Wimbledon is next and we simply can’t wait.

4. Music 88 in Bluewave. The newest and hippest karaoke joint in the city. The default watering hole of my L-world. Singing is for me is a gift and I’m glad I can hold a tune and have friends (and a husband!) who share my passion. Videoke na:)

5. A happy and mabait daughter. Really, she is a sweet heart. When I gave birth to her I prayed that she takes after her Dad more than…you know.. me. I think I got my wish. She hasn’t given me trouble, or anything close to it,  that I can’t deal with. And at three, she’s perfected the art of saying sorry.Thank you, Lord.