30 December 2012

Bebeng's Twelve Isms for 2012

I have asked my followers of my Facebook fan page about their favorite blog post I have written and I will include it on my list of 2012's Bet na Blog Posts ni Bebeng. But only a few responded. So instead of best blog posts, I have listed down the 12 best things/thoughts/what-nots that I have learned in 2012 as a blogger, woman, wife and mother. 

Design by Mye de Leon

Assaulters Made Zambales Kids Smile

In my previous post, I have said that Christmas should always be about who you spend it with. And that expensive gifts aren't that important. Yes, it was once again proven by the kids of Zambales. I am now close to tears as I write this. My heart is swelling with so much gratitude to our Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour. I have never felt so contented with my life as what I am feeling right now. I am doing my favorite pastime (read: blogging) in the comfort and security of my husband's room in the camp. Behind me are my snoring and blissfully sleeping loves. Any military wife would wish to be where I am seated right now. Oh, I wouldn't trade this for anything in the world  so please find your own monobloc chair. Sorry.


If we have spent Christmas Day in Marikina, we could've been in my mother's house for lunch or met with some friends or could be at a mall. We could have taught LB to do some extortion practices again. Hehe. But this year's different, aside from a very fabulous Christmas Party that Rhambo's command post had and a cold and simple Noche Buena in the camp, Christmas Day was spent with 300+ kids of Zambales. 

Noche Buena at the Camp

I was not looking forward to a very festive and elegant Noche Buena like what we had last year. I knew that we will be celebrating it here in the camp. Rhambo & I had planned this months ago pa. This is his first Christmas as a Commanding Officer so he has to be in his command post for the holidays. He had spent extra days in the hospital when LB was confined, so we decided to spend New Year's here, too, to compensate for the time he was not around. Yes, it may sound sad and boring for some; but for us, who think that being together is what really matters, it's still special.


R and the Assaulters

I’m one of the fortunate army wives who could spend Christmas with her soldier. I will always be thankful for that. Not all military families are given that chance. And once you are given that rare chance, you have to take advantage of it. Well, we do have lazy days where LB & I didn’t do anything much but sleep, eat, play and be merry; but prior to Rhambo’s command post’s Christmas party --- everyone was busy. Yes my dear mudrabelles, it included me. It was Rhambo’s idea to hold a contest a la Mr. Pogi during the party. It served as the spotlight of the program, which usually has frolics, exchanging of gifts and a lot of inuman. The prizes at stake are worth the kahihiyan (if that’s how the soldiers have put it). The top three winners had cash incentives and a few extra days for their holiday break. I also gave three shirts courtesy of Dennis Dolor of ekoy.was.here.shirts. At first, according to Rhambo, there weren’t any brave soldier who had courage to join a male pageantry. But when they knew about the extended holiday break, there were 10 men who took risk, all for the love of spending more time with their family.



Few hours before the party, Rhambo distributed this cap to his troops. Super happy ako that it turned out really good. And it’s really just affordable. It’s only Php90 per cap. If you want to have caps or any embroidered souvenir done, you may contact Diongco General Merchandise at diongco_gen_mdse@yahoo.com or 0933-1608445.


I’m not really a morning person so I usually wake up at around 9-10 in the morning. The earliest could be 8am, if I need to. So while my lazy ass was still snoring, the Assaulters were already busying themselves with carrots, potatoes, torching the goat and what, designing the stage! Good thing that some of the soldiers have gay friends who helped them coordinate the event. Yezzzz muthers, these soldiers have gay friends. 


See how everything was so pageant-ish? Because these gay friends are so sanay in doing this. Just excuse the banig and plastic flowers, alam niyo na, barriotic. But admit it, it looks bonggelz. I can’t imagine the kaba of the contestants while the stage was being prepped up. Kumpleto pa yan with smoke machine and strobe lights ha. The head of the gay friends even asked me if it looks okay, while I was taking pictures of it. I said yes, of course. I didn’t want to hurt the heart of our kafatid by saying that the banig and straw hats were so bakya. Native chenelin siguro talaga ang peg.


A day before the party, I bought Rhambo a collared shirt from Bench. We first planned to be in matching shirts but since I can't find any pretty top in the mall nearby that matches his, I went back to wearing my little black dress I bought last year in F&H. After all, mauupo lang naman ako bilang judge. Korek, head of the board of judges ang mudra niyo! Kasama ko was Cpt K, Attorney F and 2Lt E sa judges' table. Seryoso kami sa pag-judge ha, kahit aware naman ang lahat na hindi ito papogian kundi palakasan ng loob. Aliw factor was very very important. And when the Magic 5 was called, intelligence was 100% needed. We threw them with serious questions. Unlike during the preliminary Q&A portion, all the questions were casual, somewhat crazy but everything was real. Some of the questions were:
  • Babaero daw ang mga sundalo. Anong masasabi mo?
  • Meron kang matalik na kaibigan simula pa noong CS (Candidate Soldier) kayo, biglang nagtapat sa'yo ng nilalaman ng kanyang puso, at ikaw iyon, ano ang gagawin mo?
  • Ginagawa mo naman ang best mo, pero madalas ka pa ding malasin sa CO (Commanding Officer) mo. Kanino mo ito isisisi, sa kanya ba o sa iyo? At bakit?
  • Sa tingin mo ba, normal lang na maging mabaho ang isang sundalo? Ipaliwanag.
R and I were vying for crazy answers as well when we did these questions, but it seemed that they were too nervous to be funny; hence, got very malalayo and irrelevant answers. 


The program was opened in its usual invocation-followed-by-a-welcome-message flow. Aba, maya-maya bumanat na ang music, smoke machine at strobe lights! Tapos naglabasan ang mga malalangis na sundalo with super kapal na foundation; rumampa, pumosing at nagpakilala. Tawanan, hagalpakan at hiyawan. All the way para sa extended holiday break. Atteeeehn-shoon!


I'm sure this is a first para sa mga mamang kawal na ito kaya ang dami-daming dead air. For a MassComm graduate like me, kapintas-pintas ang dead air. Good thing the band was there to kill those dead air moments. Oh yezzz, hindi ko pinalagpas ang pagkakataon na hindi makakanta with the band. Bumanat ako ng Adele! Someone Like You, mga teh. Eh medyo embarassing kasi mali-mali ang tono ng banda. Haha, sila talaga ang may kasalanan. So I redeemed myself. Bumirit ako to the tune of Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive. Ano pa ba?! So ayun, dahil hindi pa sila mga lasing, naka-smile lang sila sa'kin habang ligayang-ligaya ako sa pagkanta. But I did all the pagwawala sa mic after the judging kiyeme ko. Shempre dapat kagalang-galang. Choz.


And after two hours, the winners were announced. Jay Manalo, Coco Martin and Robin Padilla won. Oo, yun daw mga kamukha nila. Sabi nila.


Like what I said, they also received a shirt from me, courtesy of ekoy.was.here.shirtsA'Coy wears Ekoy! Bagay nga sa title-holder yung Bing, Bob, Bill & Baldo shirt niya eh. Di ba no, he kinda resembles Baldo? Hihi.


The party didn't end there. R gave a pamatay Christmas message to his men. He said, "yang inom-inom na yan, saka na yan. Pumunta lang tayo sa kitchen, pwede na tayo mag-inom eh. Pero ang makasama ang pamilya natin tuwing makakauwi tayo, minsan lang yun." Naks naman my kawal noh. Family guy! Ear to ear ang smile ko niyan, infer. And then they had exchanging of gifts, worth Php200. Pasa-pasa lang sila to the right, to the left. Ganun lang. Ang ending, nakakuha si R ng dalawang face towels from Bench, kapalit ng plastic storage box na may lamang soap, pancit canton, cotton buds at red wine. Soshal, may red wine. Hehe, hello recycling!


The party was well-attended. There were matured (oo, mga thunder cats) guests invited by the matured soldiers. And there were kids of the soldiers, too. Maraming civilian attendees, but most of them are dependents of the men of Alpha Company. Kung meron mang kabit na dumalo eh hindi ko na po inalam.


When my judging job was over, I had the chance to sit with my little behaved princess to have a photo op. Medyo busy ang fadir kaya hindi na namin inistorbo. Buti nga naki-cooperate si Sophia. Pero ang eksena, habang nasa judges' table ako eh nagpapakain ako sa bagets - ng kanin at ulam. Saya noh! Motherhood nga kasi - multitasking. Buti hindi nakiinom sa Tanduay Ice ko. 


R also had to entertain din kasi his fellow officers who attended the Christmas party. They are graduates of the Academy, too. The table had a representative each from classes 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012, respectively. I think hindi masyado uminom si R that night. Practicing what he preached, perhaps? 

A little like 30 minutes after the party, dance, party, booze, eat, party started, Sophia and I went inside the bunks. I felt like it's not for us. It's for the boys. Plus, the boys get a tad wild when they get drunk, right? I don't want my little girl to see that side of the world, yet. Sabi ko nga, there were booze and strobe lights. So talagang party mode sila. Plus the band and mobile sounds pa. Grabe, 4 in the morning na ata nanahimik ang mundo ko at tuluyang nakatulog ng payapa. Really, I have learned to sleep with that noise ever since sumasama kami sa kampo. Well, I'd rather hear them singing their hearts out than listening to gun shots


Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our brave and mababangong (sige na, hindi na kayo ganun kababaho) soldiers. Cheers! 

28 December 2012

Her Lesions and Hospital-Hopping

The day after we moved in to our new house, we went out with R for some huge errand. We bought our first car, a pre-loved gray Vios. Sophia already had mean red rashes all over her face that resulted to absences from school since it obviously showed.

Still smiling, despite of.
I didn't know what it was then, so my only reasons why I didn't want her to go to school was for her not to catch more germs. She was actually makulit, malikot and ever a ball of energy but her face said a different story. Nakakaawa talaga. Everything was normal, she even had a cup of strawberry ice cream before going to the hospital. But her nose was somehow rotten na. :(

27 December 2012

Bagong Balur & The Power of Pink Roses

Hello mudrabelles! I can now make kwento how things went on with me & my family since my open letter to my hot army officer. Well, with so many ganaps happening around, I didn't have time to REALLY blog. I think you noticed that. I miss this. So much! Kaya I promised myself tonight na babawi ako sa kwento. Let me start with this photo. Yes yes yes. A bouquet of pink (or peach?) semi-bukadkad roses from the lover boy. He went home on the day of our 2nd wedding anniversary. ♥


When I heard the engine of a car parking in front of the gate, kinabahan ako. As in same kaba that I felt five years ago when he came home from Mindanao, for me. Ang powerful cheek bones ko, unti-unting umaangat to a smile. Aba, pagsilip ko, ang mamang sundalo, may hawak na bulaklak! Hahaha! Napakaripas ako papasok ulit ng bahay. Kalooooooooka. Ngayon niya lang ako ulit binigyan ng bulaklak kaya ganun na lang ang kilig ko. Hindi siya tulad ng kilig na nararamdaman ko everytime I make weewee. Ibang-iba talaga. Shet. Is this love? (Ah eh Denise, asawa mo na siya.)

14 December 2012

Is Cookie-Stealing a Ground for Annulment?

'Di ba I said in my Facebook fan page that this whole blogging thing will be on hiatus for a short while, since Sophia's still in the hospital and that we'll be spending the holidays in the camp in a few days? No. Hindi pwedeng paghintayin 'tong post na 'to. You all deserve to know about this. 

Dahil nga the bagets is in the hospital, she has daily rasyon of food three times a day. Hindi niya bet that rasyon of food. Kaya kami ng pudra niya ang kumakain nito - along with some food bought outside by no less than the person I want to be annulled to. Bakit nga ba? Kasi ganito yun.

10 December 2012

A Mrs. of Two Years: An Open Letter to the Mr.

Dear Rhambo,

Today's our 2nd wedding anniversary. Ta-daah.

Two years ago, I was a mommy with no nanny and we got married in the office of the Mayor of Palauig while my two hot and single girlfriends were chasing our terrific two-year-old. She didn't like us to kiss. She said I was only hers. And that's what I thought of, too --- I.am.only.yours. 


09 December 2012

Rayala Dialogues: That "Aww" Moment

LB became a mini film buff when I introduced Snow White and the Huntsman to her. Napapapalakpak pa siya sa mga fight scenes. And because I'm an X-Men fan (sobrang beki ko na ba, pati pelikula "x-men"?!), we both watched its trilogy. Yung first nga lang napanood niya kasi nakatulugan na niya ang kabaliwan kong mag-marathon. Then the next day, I gave her the chance to enjoy her childhood kaya we watched Toy Story 1. It was only earlier today that we got the chance to watch its sequel, Toy Story 2 and she was so maingay --- a sign that she likes the movie. Human subtitle! While watching, scene na nag-eemote si Woody kasi torn na siya if he will be in a museum in Japan or babalik sa house ni Andy. Ang bagets, nag-senti din...
LB: Nanay, thank you.
B: For what po?
LB: You watch toys with me.
B: (smiled and kissed her forehead) It's Toy Story po.
LB: Why is Woody sad?
At mega explain na naman ako. You think pwede na siya sa sinehan? Baka batuhin kami ng mga katabi namin, ang daldal eh. Hinid siya sa akin nagmana. Char. :)

08 December 2012

Review: Jeunesse Anion Sanitary Pads

Have you remembered my post about having that monthly visitor? Well, as always, I have endured it with a few minor grunts here & there. I just made sure that I drank a lot of water as to make me pee at least every hour, which really helped ease out the bad cramps. Aside from having that mean fiend C during your period, you always have to deal with a bulgy pad and the worst, blood stains. Who didn't get to experience that, especially as a teenager? Oh sister, you're missing out so much about life! Haha! During those heavy days then at night, I tried to wear the smallest size of a diaper to ensure that I won’t have that icky bloody spot at the back of my pajamas. I kind of looked like I was Barney with a protruded behind (because I have enough of it plus the diaper --- awful, awful). Over the years of experience plus some money to buy, I have tried the night pads. Some helped, some didn't.

Thank you, Jeunesse Anion! :)

Update: Back to Square One

Oh, I miss blogging! This is by far, the most bad trip experience I had with Smart Communications, Inc. I called them up around five times already for what, 3 days, and they still haven’t fixed my internet connection. Super duper kairita. Tapos etong Mercy Molina, sumabay pa! Wala na daw siyang career growth sa akin kaya nagpaalam na. Greener pasture daw. Akala mo maga-abroad, yun pala sa Alabang lang. Hmp. Palibhasa nagka-exposure na sa blog ko, kaya lumaki na ulo. Ayun, iniyakan siya ng bagets nang ma-realize na aalis na siya. Okay, samakatuwid, bonggang DH na naman ang peg ko. Mailabas nga ang nag-iisang Charles & Keith habang naglalaba. Chos. 
So … what’s up nga? Na-miss niyo ba ako kahit slight? Ay naku, ako, miss na miss ko ‘tong pink cyber world ko. Naiyak nga ako sa pagkapikon ko sa internet eh. Ang dami kong kwento at reviews at giveaways na gusto i-share sa inyo. And Smart was taking that away from all of us! Boo. Anyway, eto makakalipat na kami sa aming kingdom! Sa wakas. 

07 December 2012

When Rhambo Met Bebeng Part 2: RhamBeng

I know some (or a lot) of you have been waiting for this --- the second installment of how I met LB's father. In the first part of When Rhambo Met Bebeng, I highlighted about our HS puppy love shenanigans, including that of a story about Bagfull's owner. But this time, it's all going to be about him & me. Naaaaks. So where was I nga? Okay, let me start this with thanking the people behind Friendster then, who helped built our relationship. As what I have mentioned in my previous post, I GAVE HIM MY MOBILE NUMBER. Ha! I know some ladies here will find that a bit of ka-cheapan. Haydowntkurr. Eh wala naman akong constant textmate nun, sayang ang load allowance from the office. Char. Actually, there really is something about men in uniform. Watchatink?

Or maybe, it was a naudlot love team kaya I grabbed the chance of pursuing it na? Hay naku, whatever it is, I'm happy I did it. So yun, hindi pa naman siya kaagad nagtext. So nawala din sa isip ko na may pinagbigyan ako ng number. Akala ko nun hindi ako type ni Tinyente! So sabi ko na lang sa sarili ko, kiber. Aba after a few days (or weeks ata --- momnesia, sorry naman), may tumatawag! Suplada ko eh, hindi ko sinagot. Pag hindi naka-register ang phone number at walang text prior the call, sorry talaga. Choz. Pero hindi ko nga talaga sinagot. So, nagtext siya: "akala ko ba..." Naku, nakalimutan ko na exact words. Ayun, takang-taka ko who that was. Mga 3-4 messages, nahulaan ko na siya nga yun. Kasi naalala ko na siya lang naman pinagbigyan ko ng number ko lately.

05 December 2012

Confessions of a Non-Supermom but Aspiring Parent Achiever


When I was a gradeschool student, I knew and was aware that I was a fast learner. Bragging aside, I belonged to the smart pack of the class. I was a consistent first honor and the Top 9 in the National Elementary Achievement Test of our batch. I also joined Regional Press Conferences.

It unknowingly changed in high school, though. I abhorred Algebra and never got to memorize the Periodic Table of Elements and Chemistry. I felt that it was so irrelevant to my life! However, I did what I thought I was good at. I secretly contributed poems to our school paper. I think they published one.

I did fairly in highscool so I kind of took revenge in college, being on the Dean's list twice and once on the President's list. I regretted the fact that I was so close to being a Cum Laude but as fate dictated, I got a low grade in Sociology. Of all subjects! Anyway, I'm still happy I wore that black toga. I once dreamed of going to Graduate School because I aimed to be a professor. But I got pregnant two years after graduating from college and was already a working girl. Things changed.

It's THAT Time of the Month Again!

If you're a male homo sapien reading this and happens to be a bit chauvinist, please do not read after the dotted line. 
....................................................................................................................................................................................................


Pretty ladies in dresses, power outfit, heels; sipping wine (or Martini or a Long Island Iced Tea or Tanduay), laughing and chatting. After a loud, somewhat boisterous laughter over a topic only species with estrogen could understand, there was the evil drop of something unfriendly. And the whole chika-thon was ruined. Sounds familiar? Oh yeah, I know this space is too big for me to discuss about my monthly period but hey! This is something that sets us apart from the creatures who claim to be the stronger sex. Ahem, getting pregnant and giving birth is so overrated. 

04 December 2012

Rayala Dialogues: Mercy Molina Episode

No, Ate Maritess' full name is not Mercy Molina. In our colorful world of bekiness, a helper/maid/nanny can be called Mercy Molina, Mayla Gumila, Yaya Medel or a better term --- ANGEL. And I'm giving my angel a space in my blog because she deserves it! For sure after this post, you will all like her. Basta, don't pirate ha. :)

Last Sunday, I was feeling unwell and asked her to massage my back while watching The Buzz. Ang bagets, busy sa toys niya. The topic was about Julia Barretto, Marjorie Barretto's beautiful daughter. At nauwi kami sa usapang Barretto sisters.
Ate Maritess (AM): Ang ganda ni Julia. Anak nila ni ...
B: Dennis Padilla
AM: Buti nalahian ni Marjorie (Judgmental si ateng!)
B: Younger Claudine nga eh.
AM: Hindi naman mabait si Claudine ,di ba? (Anong konek, teh?)
B: Siguro, nakaaway si Angel Locsin at Angelica.
AM: Tsaka yung sa erport, si MON DOLPO.
B: Ha? Hahahahahaha!
Parang nabiyak ang lupa at lalamunin ako sa kakatawa. Napaka-judgmental mo teh, pero hindi mo kilala ang nakaaway ni Claudine sa erpooooooort??? 


03 December 2012

Babypalooza Bazaar: The Aftermath

This is by far, the most swabe bazaar I have been into. Having this as my 3rd mommy-baby bazaar made it like a comparative study of such. Well, I will not go into gory details though because they all came from a different perspective. Let us only focus on the good things. Good vibes, baybeh. I will just be a bit biased here because I will label this bazaar as my favorite! Ooh, what an announcement. Well, I may not have received a hefty number of  freebies but it made an impact to my lakwatsera spirit because it's nearer and it was the time I got to meet (and had a photo op) with my favorite fellow bloggers. Sweet.


So attending a mommy bazaar wouldn't be complete without my MBF, ME. We met at the LRT-Katipunan station and took a jeepney ride to Arrneyo (Ateneo). I wish we just rode a trike. The 5-minute walk to Walter Hogan Conference Center gave me a tearful armpit. Letch. And ME & I pa were wondering why walang people around. We thought we're lost. And then we saw the signs! Hurray!

Because It's 2nd in 7 Days

When will this waiting be over? I'm shedding a tear while writing this. It didn't only cause me eye bags from trying to bury myself in watching movies and staying up late at night; but also a bulgier tummy from pigging out on anything fatty. Anything rich in calories is not good. But I need to get back in shape again to make my husband feel that it's like the first time we see each other. Darndest.


This exact emotion is difficult to explain to a 4-year-old clueless kid so I don't share. I can't even explain it to myself. Neither will the single, naive & innocent helper can understand the tough situation I am currently into. Let her enjoy the pre-loved Yes! magazines I gave her. Waiting is not a new topic for me. As far as the military wives are concerned, it's second to trust. You got to learn to wait if you wish to marry a military guy. 7 days, 2 weeks or even months. Just wait. No questions asked.

02 December 2012

Review: Russell Stover Chocolates and Candies

Whoever says he hates chocolate is a hypocrite. I mean, what is there to hate about it? Because it could make you fat? Because it might add to your already diabetic-blood that runs in your family? I have discovered mouthwatering chocolates (and hard candies, too!) that are sugar-free. Would that change your mind?
Courtesy of Google Images
Russell Stover is the largest maker of boxed chocolates in the US and is now in the Philippines through Candy Corner. According to its fan page, it has been making chocolates since 1923. They recently joined the Candy Corner Festival last October 26-29 held at the North Court of Rockwell Power plant Mall. 

01 December 2012

Rayala Dialogues: When LB Prayed


Graveyard shift ang peg ng bagets. So nagpapaantok siya habang nagkakalikot ako sa laptop, biglang kumanta with matching actions:
LB: It's a sunny day, and I'm living it for my Lord...
(sumabay ako, namali ang lyrics ko)
LB: Sing properly, Jesus said you sing properleee.
(natatawa ako sa pagka-strikta)
LB: What's fahnee, Nanay? You sing properly.
(at kumanta na nga kami at natapos ng matiwasay)
LB: See, Jesus love your sing properly. (ano daw??)
B: Eh who's Jesus ba?
LB: Jesus, si Papa Jesus. Yung pray mo, Nanay. (at pumikit at umastang nagdadasal)
B: Ano sabi mo po kay Jesus?
LB: I miss Tatay and I want a small puppy. (hugged her)
Aww. Gaano ka-small ang small puppy at bakit puppy ang naisip niya nung ma-miss ang Tatay? Anlabo.