This is the second part in a series of birthday wishes for me. Libre ang mangarap, so please indulge me…

NEW BALANCE WX780WP

Running Shoes

I’m a second generation runner and a second generation fan of New Balance running shoes. Nike pushes you to “Just Do It” and with Adidas, “Impossible IS Nothing” but it’s New Balance that makes you “Spread the Love” — o diba? Ang layo.

Nevertheless, from experience, NB really does it for me in terms of running. I love my current NB shoes which was a gift from my children last mother’s day. I’d like to get another pair to alternate with the ones I have right now. In my search, this is what I found - the NB WX780WP which is lightweight, flexible, a cushioned trainer that features Lateral ABZORB EX - the world’s softest cushioning - designed to support diverse workouts. I’m not too crazy about pink but the fuschia against silver makes for a fun combination. If Manolos and Jimmy’s do it for other women, ako simple lang — just give me my New B’s and I’m ready to get up and go.

POLAR RS100 Heart Rate Monitor

“Your Heart Knows How to Make Every Beat Count.”

Whether you want to train to improve your performance or simply want to lead a healthier lifestyle, the most effective way to do both is to listen to your body. Of course, if you have no way of understanding it, you have no way of knowing what it’s telling you. And this is the reason why a Polar heart rate and activity monitors is on my wishlist.

How does it work?

As you get fitter by training with your heart rate monitor, your heart is able to pump more blood with every beat. The upshot of this is that your heart doesn’t have to beat as often to get the required oxygen to your muscles, which in turn decreases your resting and exercise heart rate. As a result of training, your muscles utilize the oxygen better, meaning you can put more effort in and still maintain the same heart rate. On the other hand, with activity monitoring you can measure your health beneficial movement and track your activity level to accurately record information about your active time, intensity and calorie expenditure. Because I am a newbie to running, I just need the basic model for now. Having one attached to my wrist will give me enough peace of mind to know that my heart rate isn’s all over the place (I have a heart condition that strangely disappears while I exercise) and that I am within my target heart zone. Oh, and I’m going to need a Polar Wearlink Coded Transmitter Belt to go with that too. Othewise, di nya masusukat ang bawa’t tibok ng puso ko

Having said that, you now have an idea of where my passion and obsession lies. I have one more wish and ironically, as the days go by, I can see how all the wishes fit together and how all of this is slowly falling into place. Let’s save the last wish for tomorrow, and in a few weeks time, I’ll tell you guys how this is all going to fit together like the pieces of a puzzle, orchestrated by God, no less.

Okay. I’m no Angelica Panganiban, and neither is my spouse a Derek Ramsay. But our duo has something very similar to their duo in the sense that we are both opposites.

I am south to his north, I am the creative one, he is the more sensible one. When you open his cabinets, everything is in it’s proper order, filed according to function and color. When you open mine, well…. you better have a helmet on, lest something comes crashing down your head.

Differences notwithstanding, we learn from each other and hopefully bring out the best (sometimes the worst… but that’s another story) in one another. I couldn’t help but smile when I read this article on Angelica and Derek. Consider too that there is quite an age gap between them so it’s expected that A will learn more from D because he has more to teach. Maybe they should do a second part of this email and ask D what A has brought into his life perhaps?

Says she –

Boyfriend Derek Ramsey has done wonders to broaden her perspective. The London-raised hunk is outgoing where Angelica can be painfully shy. He goes out of his way to call up press people and explain his side when an issue arises. He greets everybody, from the highest to the lowest in the cast and production crew.

“I’m afraid people will ignore me,” Angelica says. “That’s why I don’t initiate conversations.”

Derek has taught her to take risks in dealing with others, to trust in their willingness to make friends and put themselves in her shoes.

Now, Angelica is less afraid to let people peek into her thoughts, her feelings.

*Sigh. What love can do…. Read the rest of the article here.

It’s free to dream. As I approach my double 4 year on earth here are my heart’s desires…

The DELL STUDIO 15 Notebook

I own a DELL laptop and it is my friend and constant companion. She is the sole witness to the most private of my thoughts and rants. The Studio 15 is available in your choice of seven colors: Plum Purple, T

angerine Orange, Flamingo Pink, Midnight Blue, Ruby Red, Spring Green or standard Jet Black. I want this baby in Spring Green. If you are a good friend of mine, you will know that this shade of green has long been my favorite color.

I love my Dell but lately I’ve been having to share her a lot with the a senior high school student at home who burns the midnight oil doing research and all. Maybe it’s time for me to get a new one in my favorite color. The Notebook Review Website lists the following positive points…

Pros

• Beautiful design
• Solid selection of available configurations
• Reasonable battery life

The Cons to me were negligible.

I’ve always been happy with my graphite grey Dell. Here’s a picture of us together (10 pounds ago… the

owner, not the PC). If God grants my wish, I’ll miss my old Dell but I know she’ll be in good hands. We look like a Dell ad in the photo but we’re not Dell and I have been crafting my weekly Philippine Daily Inquirer column “Roots&Wings” together for the last year or so. Many of the major changes in my life have often been marked by the purchase of a new laptop. Thank God there haven’t been that many changes over the last five years But change is always good. It’s the one thing (outside of God’s love for us) that is constant and what keeps us moving forward.

Tomorrow, part two…

This is a gem that I found in my INBOX today. Sent by a dear friend– one whom I often share ice cream with Read it and be inspired…

One day I had a date for lunch with friends. Mae, a little
old “blue hair” about 80 years old, came along
with them—all in all, a pleasant bunch. When the menus
were presented, we ordered salads, sandwiches, and soups,
except for Mae who said, “Ice Cream, please. Two scoops, chocolate.”

I wasn’t sure my ears heard right, and the others were
aghast.
“Along with heated apple pie,” Mae added,
completely unabashed.
We tried to act quite nonchalant, as if people did this all
the time.
But when our orders were brought out, I didn’t enjoy
mine.
I couldn’t take my eyes off Mae as her pie a-la-mode
went down..
The other ladies showed dismay. They ate their lunches
silently and frowned.

There are many malls I haven’t shopped. I’ve not
laughed at all the jokes.
I’ve missed a lot of Broadway hits and potato chips and
cokes.
I want to wade again in water and feel ocean spray on my
face.
I want to sit in a country church once more and thank God
for His grace.
I want peanut butter every day spread on my morning
toast.
I want un-timed long distance calls to the folks I love the
most.
I haven’t cried at all the movies yet, or walked in the
morning rain.
I need to feel wind in my hair. I want to fall in love
again.
So, if I choose to have dessert, instead of having
dinner,
then should I die before night fall, I’d say I died a
winner,
because I missed out on nothing. I filled my heart’s
desire.
I had that final chocolate mousse before my life
expired.”

With that, I called the waitress over.. “I’ve
changed my mind, ” I said. “I want what she is
having, only add some more whipped cream!”

Be mindful that happiness isn’t based on possessions,
power, or prestige, but on relationships with people we love
and respect. Remember that while money talks, CHOCOLATE SINGS!

Have you had some ice cream today?

Twenty-three year old Christopher John Alandy-Dy Tiu, excels not only in sports but is an academic superstar too. In 2007 he graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Management Engineering from the Ateneo de Manila University. He is taking a second course in Applied Mathematics and Finance. In the face of all his success and fame, his most endearing and outstanding trait has been his humility.

How does one go about raising a young man such as he?

I had the chance to interview his parents Jerry and Lianne and was very much inspired by the dedication they had, and awed by their insight and humility. I now understand and appreciate how Chris has grown up to be the highly successful yet terribly grounded and admirable young man he has become.

His mother says that Chris has always had a boundless energy. Lianne shares that as a 5 year old, he enjoyed climbing the door frame of his parents bathroom with his bare hands and feet like a little Spiderman. His rock-solid Christian values too, were formed very early in life.
“When he was 11 years old, he joined the school team which represented the country to compete in a basketball tournament in Las Vegas. While the boys were quartered in a motel, one of them accidentally went into an x-rated channel. The next day, the coach found out about it and was so angry. As punishment, the kids were asked to pay for the charged TV show, “ Lianne recalls, “Chris approached me and said that he was not going to pay for it. I told him it was only fair that all of them pay equally since they all watched. I later found out that he really did not join the group to watch since his back was on the TV and that he was praying the Rosary!” Being different from his peers in a way, made him also subject to bullying, Lianne says that peace-loving that he was, Chris tactic was to run as fast as he could, instead of fighting back, until the bullies could not catch him.

In a separate interview, Chris says that in the Tiu household, there would be set hours for studying, playing, watching television and playing computer games. “My parents really instilled in all of us the value of studying and hard work. They would push us to do our best and as long as they knew we did our best that would be enough.” Lianne echoes this when she says that for Jerry and her, the efforts exerted was always more important than the end result. Chris also adds that their mom was very active in helping them with schoolwork. “We would still have tutors but she was always there ready to help us, especially in Chinese. She would really take time out to sit down and help us with our lessons.”

One of the striking things that Chris told me was about how he felt so blessed to have parents who genuinely love each other. He shared how up to this day he still sees them show affection towards one another and that he is in awe of how they truly love each other. “My parents walk their talk. They have shown us kids by example what love is and what good, clean living and hard work is all about. They really take care of each other.” he says. It is certainly true what they say, that the best gift a man can give to his children is to love their mother, and vice versa.

Lianne tells me that it has always been important for her and Jerry to make sure that the children see that they love each other. “I pray a lot for the children. I give a lot of importance in raising them to be men and women of faith, competence, and values. For example, I encourage them to frequent the sacrament of Confession and we go to Sunday Mass together. I try my best to control the TV shows they watch making sure that they are wholesome. I try to put away immoral reading materials at home; I don’t give them much money; I try not to spoil them with material goods. I guess they are tired of hearing my advice: If you don’t need them, don’t buy.”

Among all his traits, it is Chris Tiu’s humility that has impressed me the most. Considering all the good things that have come his way, it mazes me to see how he continues to remain grounded in a world where fame, power and fortune can so very easily corrupt other young men or women his age. I ask Lianne why she thinks Chris has remained grounded and she gives me quite an insightful reply. “I think he has taken our advice to heart, something we tell our children all the time: “Much is given to you, much will be asked of you (from God).” We try to remind him to thank God for all his talents and gifts (for without Him, he can do nothing) and to repay Him by loving Him and helping others.

She adds that recently, media, fans, and the brands he endorses are spoiling him with so much attention, praise and material things and sometimes they worry about it. However, she is quick to say that she and Jerry continue to remind him that fame is fleeting. “We always tell him that what is important is not the applause of people but the approval of God. Even if he scores high in his studies or in sports, but is not at peace with our Lord, then his efforts are wasted. On the other hand, he may perform poorly in whatever activity, but he is in the state of grace and it is offered to God, then he will always come out a “winner” in God’s eyes.”

I never used to be this vain about my skin, most especially my face.

I have a mother who in the sixth decade of her life still has skin any woman worth her salt would die for. Her secrets - virgin coconut oil and moisturizer. Plus, mom has used the same kind of cleansing cream for as far back as I can recall - Albolene. Everytime I have the chance to go to the U.S., Albolene cream is a staple pasalubong. Maybe I should start using the stuff myself. For now, I use the Face Shop’s Brown Sugar cleansing cream and it has worked wonders on my 40something skin.

I came upon this article on the web tonight that outlines 16 rules for younger skin. Here are five of my favorites. Here goes –

1. Sunscreen or Sunblock, (at least SPF30, every day) not only prevents aging, it gives your skin time away from defending itself, so it can actually repair and undo existing damage. Because we live in such a hot climate, my personal preference is to go at least with an SPF45 or better yet, if I know I will be driving or going outdoors, it’s SPF70 no less. Always keep a tube in your bag. Locally, I like VMV’s Armada and for the foreign brands, I like Aveeno Active Naturals Continuous Protection sunblock SPF70. This one came highly recommended by my dermatologist.

2. If you want any antiager to work better, get your skin very wet. For instance, if you want your face scrub to exfoliate more than usual, do it at the very end of a shower. This has really been my regimen and my way of “detoxing” myself at the end of the day. I like to linger in the bathroom and do all my facial rituals. The Nivea DNAge line has an excellent line of products that will not break the bank.

3. Always pat eye cream in with your ring finger–it’s the weakest, so the most gentle.

4. Retin-A, Tazorac, Renova: These prescription-only retinoic acid formulas de-age skin like no over-the-counter cream. It takes about six weeks to see results, but the difference in most people is truly spectacular. I only recently started using Tretinoin which was prescribed to me by my doctor and I have been so happy with the results! At mid-life our skin (just like an adolescent’s) undergoes many changes and it will not kill you to go and see a derma so that you can be properly guided towards the proper and right products for your kind of skin. When using Tretinoin though, you need to be extra wary about sun exposure.

5. Your skin does most of its repair-and-refresh work at night. Lack of sleep shows up on your face as dullness initially, graduating to wrinkling, sagging, and even breakouts as you continue to lose sleep. Now, this is an area that is a work-in-progress for me. I have to remind myself to be asleep by 10PM so that i canget at least 7-8 hours of sleep. This can sometimes be difficult to do when you have deadlines to beat, a household to run and children plus husband who need your attention. Nevertheless, I try my best to squeeze in 15-20 minute power naps whenever I get the chance to do so in the day.

To read the rest of the 11 rules to younger skin, click here

Last Wednesday, I was invited to speak at a forum in Miriam College on the positive and negative sides of Reality TV. Psychiatrist, Dr. Randy Dellosa and reality TV host (of “Hired”) Paolo Abrera were part of the panel as well. Reality television, as defined by Wikipedia is “a genre of television programming which presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and features ordinary people instead of professional actors. Such shows frequently portray a modified and highly influenced form of reality, with participants put in exotic locations or abnormal situations, sometimes coached to act in certain ways by off-screen handlers, and with events on screen sometimes manipulated through editing and other post-production techniques.”
To find out what Filipino parents like me, thought of reality TV, I conducted an informal survey from among 50 participants comprised of friends, colleagues and classmates. Thank God for email, multiply and Facebook, the responses, both animated and insightful, came in very quickly.
Interestingly, all the parents I surveyed watched reality TV with their children, varying in frequency from “sometimes” to “all the time”. Foremost among their concerns were the following – projection of values and language used; exposure to sex and violence; wrong impressions given with regards to love and relationships; behaving “over the top”; encourages voyeurism and public display of areas in life that should remain private. Many of these concerns were my issues as well. This is the reason why, once in a while, I like sitting and watching shows like “Project Runway”, “America’s Next Top Model” and “American Idol” with my children. Once upon a time, when it was very new, we were avid viewers of the “Pinoy Big Brother” Celebrity and Teen Editions and rooted each night for our favorites on “Pinoy Dream Academy”.
Based on tan informal survey of 50 parents, the Top Seven Reality TV Shows are as follows:
1. America’s Next Top Model
2. Project Runway
3. Amazing Race
4. Iron Chef
5. American Idol
6. Clean House
7. The Apprentice
Parents who watch these shows with their children say that they use the wrong examples they see on television as teachable moments. “Offensive scenes are examples of what they need to avoid in life,” one mom said. Another one told me, “I ask my kids how they feel about a particular scene so that I can gauge if I have implanted the right values.” One huge fan of the show the “Amazing Race” would watch the show with her teen-age boys and cite the different ways and means by which the participants would cope with the different stressors.
All o f the parents were in concurrence that much can be improved in the content of reality television shows, most especially the locally produced ones. “I worry about content and the glorification of negative behavior. Does one need to behave badly to succeed or be noticed?” One other mother feels that some of the locally produces shows place unnecessary stress on the lives of the participants akin to “mice in an experiment.” In general, parents are in agreement that many of the shows need to re-think the lessons and values that they want the viewer to gain. They also feel very strongly about setting limits as to what scenes can be reasonably shared with the public so as not to appear offensive. Emphasize the positive over the negative and use the show as a vehicle for values formation.
Curiously, it is to our dark and voyeuristic side that shows appeal to. It’s really a two-edged sword when you think about it. These shows will not rate or prosper if there is no audience that watches it. Though media is a powerful medium and tool for good (or evil) depending on which way you look at it, the consumer or the viewer can empower himself or herself too, by choosing and being more discerning of the programs that they watch.
Professor Ronnie Motilla of Miriam College raised a point that was echoed my Dr. Dellosa and me, that on the positive side, these reality shows can be used in such a way that the program reveals us to true selves. Motilla, a clinical psychologist and Head of the wellness center at Miriam College spoke briefly about Carl Jung’s concept of Shadow, which is everything in us that is unconscious, repressed, undeveloped and denied and which we project unto other people. Dr.Motilla says that, “We are driven by our humanness to be authentic persons. And perhaps Reality TV provides us this venue.” He adds that while Reality TV continues to thrive, we need to take greater responsibility for our life. “Our life is our own unique creative life project. Instead of passively accepting whatever TV networks try to feed us with, it would be better to take some time to reflect on why such programming is made and why we still feel attracted to it? Let us take a moment of solitude ask ourselves after watching a Reality TV show: Is this my own drama or another’s life drama? Am I imitating real life or am I living my own real life?”
For all its pluses and minuses, as parents we need to be discerning and constantly aware of the reality TV shows that our children choose to watch. In the same vein, as Dr. Motilla suggests, we can use these opportunities to go deeper into ourselves as individuals and as parents. What is it about this particular scene that offends or inspires me to action? What trait does this character have that makes me want to root for him or her? Reality is what you make of it. As in books, the best programs are those that reveal us to our true selves, and in the process make us better, more compassionate human beings and parents.

ADM 102: Introduction to Ateneo-La Salle Games
Thu/Sat/Sunday, 4:00 PM, Araneta ColiseumCourse Description

The course introduces the student-cheerer to the dynamics and principles of the Ateneo-La Salle rivalry. The course employs both theoretical and application dimensions. The theoretical phase exposes the student to the history of the rivalry, the tradition of cheering, the construction of the ideal Atenean 6th Man, and other theoretical concepts.
The application phase on the other hand requires the student to put into practice all the theoretical principles. These practices include, among others: effective skills in lining up for the games, cheering (pre-game, during the game, half-time and post-game), jeering, heckling, creating effective posters and banners for one’s favorite players and posing and smiling for Fabilioh.com.

Course Objectives
By the end of the course, the student should have been able to:
understand what it means to be the Sixth Man
understand the difference between an Atenean and La Sallite
integrated himself with the community of believers
develop his school spirit

Course Outline and Reading List
Chapter 1: What is School Spirit?
Required Readings:
Excerpts from the “History of the Ateneo”
The student’s “OrSem Manual”
“The Ateneo Cheerbook”
“Who and What is the Ateneo Sixth Man?”
Ruel De Vera’s “The Eagles Have Landed”
Selected Speeches of Angelico Sinjian (Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion)

Chapter 2: Knowing the Enemy
Required Readings:
SUSPENDED! The 2005 UAAP Scandal
“We Must Come From/Hit Them From Behind”
“What is Sports Science and Translation Management?”
“How To Spell Correctly During Cheerdance Competition”
Optional/Supplementary Readings
“No Cheering During Time Out”
“Get that Ball! — UE”
“Why are there Two Birds in UAAP?”
“Who let the (Bull)Dogs out?”
“You Cannot Overcheer Us!”
“NABRO: Equality or Social Injustice?”

Chapter 3: Pre-Game Rituals
Required Readings
“The Art of Lining Up”
“Sketching Great and Creative Posters and Banners for Your Favorite Players”
“Scalpers and Where To Find Them”
“Reserving Seats for Friends in Upper A and Upper B”
Optional Readings
“How to Jump From the Gen Ad to Upper B: A Step-By-Step Guide”
“How to Jump From Upper B to Upper A: A Step-By-Step guide”

Chapter 5: Game Time
Required Readings:
“Developing Your Endurance”
“The Psychology Behind Get That Ball”
“Who are the Gang Green?”
“Half-time is Game-Time”
“Fly High” + “The Victory Song”

Chapter 6-A: When the Final Buzzer Beats (In case of Victory)
Required Readings
“The Song for Mary and the Proper Way to Sing It”
“How to sing The Song For Mary and Still Look Cute for Fabilioh.com”
“How To Argue with Sore Losers in PinoyExchange.com and Gameface.ph”

Chapter 6-B: When the Final Buzzer Beats (In case of Defeat)
Required Readings:
“Win or Lose, It’s The School We Choose: Deepening Your Spirituality — The Sesquicentennial Edition”
“Contemplating on the Meaning of Life: An Introduction”
“Surviving the Wrath of Fr. Adolfo Dacanay SJ” Course Requirements
Written Long Test will assess your memorization of the tradition and history of the Ateneo-La Salle rivalry. The test items consist of Multiple Choice questions and an evaluation of True or False statements.
Oral Exam. The student will randomly draw two cheers from a lot. The student must cheer/sing the cheers he picked. Afterwards, he must be able to explain the significance of the cheer/song. He must also be able to identify when these cheers/songs are used.

I’m a woman and a mommy. When I woke up Sunday morning to learn that Senator Mc Cain had picked Alaska Governor Sarah Palin for his running mate, I instinctively clapped with glee and said out loud, “What an iteresting twist on the campaign trail….” Here’s another one about to shatter the glass ceiling.

This morning, and as a couple of days have gone by, I find the joy short-lived and start to wonder. This NY Times article got me thinking even further if Sarah Palin is doing the right thing.  Read it and share your views. Here in Manila we have yayas and in-laws to help us raise our children. I don’t know how it is with Gov. Palin but I guess she has made the necessary preparations and thought this decision out well.

She and I are almost the same age and I admire her for how far she has come. There is no perfect world, as there are no perfect moms or marriages. Her life certainly proves that. How America votes will be a reflection in part, of how it views this mommy issue. Her family’s issues is like a drama playing itself out in public.

What do you think?