“I still get wildly enthusiastic about little things… I play with leaves. I skip down the street and run against the wind.” ~ Leo F. Buscaglia

Every year since I was a kid, my dad made it a point to give something special–a beautiful white rose for Valentine’s Day, a heartfelt letter for my yearly retreats, a meticulously thought-out drawing for my birthday. There was always something so humbling about those gifts, because with them came a part of his heart. I always wondered how he could still have so much more love to give the rest of the year.

I continue, to this day, to try to “out-special” him, channeling all my creativity and mushiness so he’d get back even a fraction of the joy he gives me.

Ah, but there’s no “out-special-ing” my Dad. Not El Dad who gives so naturally, with or without pomp or ceremony. My cool, long-haired dad who just exudes “Daddy-ness” wherever he goes and with whomever he meets. Daddy, who refuses to leave the boundaries of QC to Ortigas to find a restaurant to celebrate any momentous occasion, except my wedding in far-flung Bulacan. Stifles my “creativity”, I tell you.

But this is Mike Orosa. My Daddy and everyone else’s Tito Mike. Ever-humble, simple, kaibigan-ng-bayan Daddy. Anyone who has met him, even for just a few minutes of chatting, would know how much of himself he gives in every encounter. Wherever he is, at whatever time, it’s always his 150% on the table. Integrity personified, this is why I always proudly say that I’m his girl. Every day of every year, I beam with pride for who he is, the love and protection he gives not just to me but to every single person he meets.

For Father’s Day, allow me to share with you a glimpse of his special heart, showing my life from his perspective: his speech on my wedding day. :)

Thank you Tito Sev and Oline!

That is what is interesting about Martial Arts of which Carlo and Michelle were active with. If you misplace the letter “i”, it become marital arts! Then you would have pre-marital, marital, pre-natal, post-natal, etc…

They did it all by themselves. Congratulations Carlo and Michelle!

To the sponsors, friends and relatives, we are all honored by your presence. Thank you very much. This gathering is already an international one. Tito Mario Orosa, my dad’s brother, has timed his visit here from the United States to coincide with the first wedding from the grandchildren of my dad Augusto. His sister Tita Angelina is also here from Australia. 

Fantastic to see friends getting together. We must protect this relationship, it has withstood the test of time. Diane is here from Australia.  Mayang from Hawaii. Mavi from Singapore. And the most traveled barkada, Lala from Mt.Banahaw. Charisse Raneses are you here? … A friendship from way back Grade School days. Did I miss anyone? Thank God for Facebook!

I had prayed so much for a daughter. My prayers were answered with the birth of Michelle. Everyone objected to what would have been her name … Maxx!   Sayang. She could have claimed the candy! So we chose the title of the Beetles song – Michelle.

Since her mom had left for the USA, Michelle till age 8, only knew the men’s room.

I tried to make her a tough kid. She was just too feminine.

The smile and the hug that I always looked for was always there in abundance. Two common lines were “Dadeeeeee” & “Feeeeeed meeeee”, the last one when she wanted a bite of what I was eating. She still does this.

She loved to write stories. Great training for future writing assignments.

Advice for those who have little kids. Train them to love History and the Humanities.

History so they can appreciate the past, understand the present, and help change the future. Humanities because of Art and Music. Everything great will follow, whichever path they choose to take. Michelle is a product of that exposure.

She was so motivated, and was able to join her brother Marc at the Ateneo. I was so happy when she somehow, got into the Arnis team with Diane, the Team Captain.  Now we had something in common – sports and violence!

To everyone who had even the minutest role in shaping Michelle and Carlo’s lives and their relationship with each other. Thank you!

Thank you Carlo for the great relationship you continue to have with Michelle. Over 9 years is proof of that. I hope somehow we were able to show you that things can work out with compromise, lots of humor, and prayers. Together with your parents, brother and sisters, Tita Toots and Fort, we have gotten together in the most “unusual” circumstances,  proof that we will always be there for you.

You both having God at the center of your lives is a clear sign of Victory for the Future.

Michelle, I have never said “I love you” to anyone as much as the thousands of times I would say them to you. And I shall never stop. Thank you for giving me the strength to go on.

I am sure that your brother Marc and your mom Mayette, Lolo Toto and Lola Upe, are all smiles as they are witnesses to this very happy event right now.

Sa pagpugay sa inyong pinagpalang pagsasama …. (bow).

Daddy, you bless me, Carlo, Martin, Marc, Tita Gy and everyone else in this world every day by simply being YOU. Thank you for your love, your protection, your laughter, your music, your daily craziness. Thank you, most of all, for giving me everything I need to be ME, and loving that ME every day. I am who I am, and I am who I will be, because you’re my Daddy. I love you more every. Single Day.

I am and forever will be so proud to be called your daughter.

And to every dad who has touched the lives of his family and those around them, I dedicate this entry to you as well. Your strength, love, and character blesses all of us around you. Your life, lived as it is, makes this world so much a better place. You are loved, and you make us all proud.

Happy, happy Father’s Day

There was something about that smile.

I don’t remember seeing it before, but at that moment, I was just happy to see my mom smiling. See, she had different smiles for different occasions. There was that smile mixed with pride for achievements, there was a smile for mischief, a tired smile after a day’s work, and even a smile on the phone–miles away but tinged with joy upon speaking to her children and finding out about their day. I loved every smile and looked forward to each one.

My mom was a character. Strong but jolly, playful but precise. She used to say I got my love for writing from her, and today I realize she actually meant I inherited her love for showcasing the flair and drama of everyday life. Because she loved emotions to a tee, and would reserve neither the softest giggle of glee nor the tiniest tear for herself. These were experiences the family would always get to see and experience with her. Every shared moment was a memory to be cherished, and every moment something to be happy about.

The smiles weren’t all hers, because she was a joy to us in every way. She was the best of everything: the best cook, the best confidante, the best personal shopper, the best protector. I suppose the world never runs out of bests when it comes to a mother, and for all the effort they put into making sure every day is a perfect one for all, they absolutely deserve that superlative.

That one night was one of those nights of sharing. We talked about many things. Her, me, them, us. I never thought a few hours could go so fast, yet be so full of love, of memories, of laughter, and of plans. I heard her say over and over that she believed in me and the rest of my family, and that she was always excited to see where we would end up–not that she didn’t have a few fantastic ideas of her own. But she believed in the freedom to choose paths, and whichever path was chosen, she assured she’d be at the sidelines cheering us on.

She kept her word, and even as life went on, I knew she was there.  And truly, I felt I could do anything.

What I didn’t know was that one night was our final night together. Not long after that, we received the news that she had gone ahead, only this time without pomp or fashion. This moment wasn’t shared, like all others. She closed her eyes for the last time in silence, leaving all of us with nothing more than memories. Good  memories, but memories just the same.

I often wondered why that last moment was kept to herself.  And yet when I feel the gratitude for all the other shared moments, when I remember the laughter, the tears, the endless “I love you-s”, I realize she chose the strongest memories to seal in our hearts. If at all, she wanted us to remember that we were never in lack of the assurance of love. (And what a feat that must have been for her because it wasn’t everyday we all deserved the words!) In the end I suppose all Mommy wanted us to take home was the reality that above all else it is love that shouldn’t be a luxury, it should be shared and always for free. Everything else is negotiable.

And so, thinking back, I knew there was something about that smile. Reassuring. Wistful. A mixture of both, maybe. I realize it’s a smile that all mothers wear before stepping into something bigger than themselves–maybe a change they aren’t comfortable with or a new chapter in the family’s lives they aren’t prepared for. But they step in just the same, knowing they have to go ahead, prepare, and make sure everything is wonderful before the rest of the family comes in.

And while everyone else waits, it’s joy and love that every mom wants in her family’s hearts–not sadness, and definitely not regret.

Thank you, Mommy. I love you. You were everything “wonderful” should be and more, and I think of you every single day.

If you are a mom, or are about to be, I’d like you to know that you are wonderful. You are loved. You are cherished. And most of all, you are amazing.

Happy Mothers Day

“If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go where a prayer has not already been.”  ~Robert Brault

Carlo bought me this really cute kitty hat tonight, and I was having fun with it when suddenly this adorable little girl wearing a really cute doggie hat approaches me.

Little Girl: (Softly, pointing to my head) I like your hat!
Pleasantly surprised Me: Thank you! I like your hat too! What’s your name?
Little Girl: Thea.
Happy Me: My name is Michelle. Can we have a picture together?

She smiles this wonderful smile and comes over to stand beside me so Carlo can click away. Her mom follows closely and asks to take a picture of Thea with her New Friend too All this time, little Thea beams beside this lady with a red polo and kitty hat, almost just like her doggie hat.

We instantly get along. She smiles up at me when I take her hand and shake it. Her eyes are on me and the purple kitty perched on top of my head until I board the car, and we wave goodbye at each other like really good friends

My heart melts. This definitely caps off my week perfectly. *Love*

During today’s interview with our good friend Oplan Asenso, something he said grabbed me: “Communication is vital to teenagers today. Cellphones, laptops have become a necessity.”

As my partner Gerard and I chewed on the topic a bit, I suddenly thought of my hubby, Carlo The techie that he is, I realized that he was the one who introduced me to technology.  And I want to share this walk down Technology Lane with all of you for nostalgia, more than anything else

Randell’s point was that expenses of teenagers before pale in comparison to what the need for technology has done to the expenses of teenagers today.  I’m fine with admitting I’m no longer a teenager, and really, this made me think about where I was in technology back then   I remember I didn’t even need a laptop before–it was more of a luxury.  I was brought up in a household full of papers and colorful pens, where creativity was king and technology merely an afterthought. Reports were typed neatly on the lone desktop at home, and art was infused to give life to the black and white ink.

I hardly think that would give anyone an A today

My cellphone definitely wasn’t as important to me as it is today, when I now carry two: one for the office and one for personal calls.

The first gadget I ever owned right before I met my husband was this Infopage beeper. It’s hilarious that I can’t even find an accurate picture of it to post! I used to call it a pager, but if you type that in Google, you won’t get much…

It’s funny, thinking of it today, how weird it probably was for my then-classmate-now-husband to send me sweet messages through a third party. I remember there was even this one time he paged me the entire chorus of “Iris” by Goo Goo Dolls. That. Was. Long.

I finally got my first cellphone around second year college, a hand-me-down, when my kuya flew to the U.S. It was an Ericsson GA 680, a single-liner phone I could change the color of the keypads of, once in a while. It was fascinating to “chat” with classmates on the go! I couldn’t find much use for it though. At that time, my dad would still page me through the cute beeper, and my more important messages were always read there.

That’s when Carlo decided I needed a Tech-boost, if you will. That same year, he gave me my first, up-to-date phone: a Nokia 3210. I remember feeling overwhelmed since it was my dream phone. It had that game, Snake, which I could now play and compare scores with among friends. I’m laughing now as I type this. I do miss that simple game!

And after that came the Nokia 3310, which was one of my favorites. It looked like a bar of soap from a hotel (the 3210 was more like a bar of laundry soap in size ) and had more games for me to play with. It was also more convenient to keep in my bag, and I remember it was the first time I was able to change ring tones haha. But it was also my Trauma Phone since it was the first one of all to be stolen. Daddy replaced it, only to find out it was stolen again within a span of several months

That’s the thing with technology. The more it evolves, the more people want it, and will do anything to have it. I guess the person who took my phone really needed it, but I wish he/she worked harder for it

Other phones followed. Carlo would sell the previous phone he gave me so that I could “upgrade”–a concept I still have a hard time with until today! I like the comfort of a familiar interface, but he was of a different opinion.

I decided to take updating matters into my own hands when I got my first salary. I splurged on my next dream phone: A Nokia 66101 It was the first colored phone of its kind and (drumroll please), it had a camera! I was sooo careful with this one, since I spent my hard-earned cash for it. And I’m proud to say that after several years and being called “jurassic”, it lives until today.

I wasn’t too sharp on the time period for updates though, the next phone I got after this one came five years later– my iPhone–when I applied for my first postpaid line. As you can see, it takes me ages to catch up with technology, and by this time I thought, hey why not. New company, new phone. My benchmark for keeping up with the game: if I see my phone being used by an actor/actress on a movie being shown in the cinemas (preferably action movies), I’m still updated

By this time, I was already a TV reporter. And boy, had things changed from the time I was in print. I used to only have to carry a recorder, notebook and pen for my coverages.  These days, I have to have a laptop, my two cellphones and a flipcam for every story, every day!

But it was this next gift from my then-fiance-now-husband that gave me a Tech-boost to high heavens, and made me realize that tablets today weigh far less than those Moses carried at Mt. Sinai:

Carlo turned my dad into an iDAD too!

All these, and our camera at home which I am now investing on with accessories, is enough to keep me busy for the next couple of years, I think

There’s still a lot of new gadgets, phones, iPad no. x’s coming out today. I hear that the game has evolved to yearly updates! I can just imagine how much parents will have to shell out for their teens now, especially since I hear some schools are now requiring either laptops or iPads. Which is fine, as long as the household budget doesn’t suffer. Carlo’s into the yearly game like his gadgets are so yesterday, but our rule of thumb here at home is if you want a new toy, sell the old one to get it

As for me, I’m slowing down on the upgrades once again. Yes, I admit I am looking forward to seeing and experiencing the evolution of technology. Looking at these pictures here I would never have imagined the types of gadgets I’d be using today. But what I have now is more than enough to keep me happy for another half decade, or at least until one of them breaks down. Apps have a way of expanding my interface comfort zone too

Besides, the best part of Technology Lane is the person I’m walking along the road with. Nine years going on ten, there’s still so much to learn together and about each other. And seeing technology through his eyes is definitely amazing.

Thank you, love, for being you, and for opening these doors for me and my family to experience.

More pictures after the jump

Wednesday March 9th, 11:15PM, TV5.

It’s that kind of week.

You know the drill. You flag down a cab, tired from a day’s work or probably from carrying shopping bags loaded with either groceries or other essentials, and your feet are just aching to find some rest. You hop in the first cab that stops in front of you and throw all your baggage–physical and emotional–inside and breathe out the directions to your destination.

And then the answer: NO.

Well, not really a “no”. Usually it’s the cab driver saying he’s on the way to eat someplace else, he’s going the other way, he’s on his way back to headquarters, it’s traffic ma’am I’ll have to beg off, I have a flat tire (but I’ll take other passengers going nearby), the list goes on. If you’re lucky, he says yes, BUT (peso sign here).

Most of the time, it ends with you picking up all your baggage again, adding this instance to your already fatigued and probably simmering emotions, until the last Samaritan driver finally picks you up and brings you home. Several hours late.

After a few rants and broken vases (nah, just kidding ;D) you go to sleep. Tomorrow’s another day.

It shouldn’t end there, but it does.

Just a few weeks ago, reality bit me hard. It was pay day. A Friday. A real recipe for “Isnabero” taxis. I tried to counter the usual problem of getting a cab by having myself brought down a nearby MRT station. I tried the MRT, but it was also unusually crowded, and at that time, security concerns warranted a mob-like crowd waiting to get in. So most of us decided to just wait it out downstairs, where taxis came by the second.

I was prepared to let a few, maybe three maximum, slip. But an hour into waiting, wearing heels and all my other things, plus two more cabs refusing a ride, things started to get ridiculous.

The sixth cab gave much the same drill, with a twist. Got in, was refused. Curt reasonings: ride the MRT instead, traffic, I’m about to go the other way… I sigh and ask him to just take me to my destination, and I would add to the metered bill. When he refused again, I drew my last card: refusing passengers is prohibited by law. See, we’ve been reporting this “Oplan Isnabero” program of government for weeks prior to this, and I knew enough about it to assert that I had a right to be brought to where I needed to go by that cab, and then some.

His response? He tells me his name, points to the door where his operator’s name and number are written, and says “Go ahead and report me!”

I get off the cab.

My Samaritan cab came immediately after, bless his soul, but I realized that it shouldn’t end there. In fact, it shouldn’t have ended there for the last five cabs before the sixth one. I look at my phone, and realize I only got three of six plate numbers, the last one with more detail since he gave me his name. My Samaritan cab driver tells me it’s pointless, since reporting ends up in hearings, which end up in vain because no one ever goes through the hassle of seeing a case through. I mull the thought while composing myself because at this point, I’m up to my neck with frustration, it brings me to tears.

I texted the plate numbers to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) hotline, but I realize I needed more help if I was going to do something about this problem. A good friend gave me numbers to text, and by the end of the evening I was convinced lessons would be learned from this.

And yesterday I received my first formal summon to a court hearing. Apparently, while the LTFRB/ Department of Transportation and Communication do get the reports, they still need to summon the complainant and the respondent to appear in a hearing and file formal complaints/ statements. It’s the venue where the respondent can defend him/herself, or settlements can be made. I’ve never been subject to a hearing, and definitely not one scheduled the day after I received the letter.

First thought that entered my head was: “hassle!”, second: “oh no this has my address on it and he has this copy too,” and third: “there’s a reason why this summon wasn’t delayed. I’ll go.”

And so I went. My dad came along (yey!) and armed with prayers from my husband and good friends, we went through the process of filing the complaint. My “respondent” didn’t show up in court. In fact, we’re told he refused his summon, and that equals a guilty plea.

Guilty = P3,000 fine for the operator, about P1,500 fine for the driver, and possible 2 months suspension of his driver’s license.

And that’s how it should end.

I visited LTFRB Chairman Nelson Laluces afterwards, and he said there’s just too many reports that don’t push through because the complainants don’t go ahead with filing the cases needed to penalize the drivers. Which is why most of the drivers become complacent that the law in fact doesn’t apply to them, and they go on being rude.

But here’s the reality: the whole process takes only a few minutes. All you need is a formal, notarized complaint, and your presence in the hearing. The hearing, if the cab driver doesn’t arrive, takes less than ten minutes. Make sure you have your Community Tax Certificate, because looking for that can take almost your whole morning.

So when encountering Isnabero taxis, take down their plate number and text to these numbers:

LTFRB Hotline: 0921-4487777
DOTC Hotline (Smart):0919-2227462; (Globe): 0917-2470385

You can also take pictures of the cab itself using your cellphone. Friends gave me this advise, but by then, my Samaritan cabbie already brought me to my destination. Less than a hundred pesos in fare, and smooth traffic. Loved it!

Be prepared to receive a text from either agency asking for your address for the summon, and be prepared to receive that summon within a few weeks.

And then– attend that hearing!

I thought about letting the cab driver off easy, the Lord did say forgive after all. And I decided that yes, I do forgive him. I’m sure he had his real reasons why he had to stay within a certain route. But reading on, God also said the Law is there for a reason: to be followed. And consequences exist for those who don’t. Those consequences are meant to polish a person so that next time, he may be more of a blessing than a curse to others.

Be vigilant. It’s not cliche, at least, no longer for me Thank you LTFRB and DOTC.

With LTFRB Chairman Nelson Laluces

…and my Dad!

Ephesians 4:28 “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.”

Happy birthday!

There’s something about every birthday that makes me want to look at the clock and wait until it strikes 12:00. On November 2, I finally got the picture I wanted two minutes later, but just the same, the anticipation between myself and my newly-minted husband was obvious as we waited in a restaurant along QC, probably looking quite funny to the tables beside us.

A nice hug after the momentous “12:00″, the greetings came. It seemed a lot of family and friends were excited to share in the moment too I loved reading each message and answering each call. You guys set the tone for my day way ahead of the sun’s rising Facebook was fun too, and I think I spent hours just trying to thank everyone that evening. If not for the anti-spam warning I got, I swear I’d have answered all of it before November 3:D

Each greeting cemented what was truly a wonderful year for me. How can one year be so much more special than the previous one? I sit here wondering how many “best” years I could possibly have, and I can only thank God that He is so generous with His “bests”.

2010 was undoubtedly a year of breakthroughs, love and fulfilled dreams. Just the year before I cherished my “last birthday as a single lady”, and now I thoroughly enjoyed my “first birthday as a married woman”–and many other firsts. So I took the day off, spent it with family and wonderful friends–and was so happy that even as November 2 came to a close, the next day, friends from Church still “surprised” me with their love

Love. Love. Love. Thank you, thank you. *Big, busog and happy heart here*

And so I’m thinking now about what makes each birthday special, and when I look back, the answer is right there– it’s always the people surrounding me who make it all such a beautiful experience. The greetings are just one facet of a myriad of joyful experiences I remember every year. I find that I treasure each moment I spend with my dad, Toshi, Tita Gy, my bestest friends from all walks of life, my spiritual family, everyone. It’s the reason I take so many, many pictures, and though I fail to upload on time, I promise I will soon It’s the reason I keep texting for dinner, meet-ups, coffee or what-have-yous. The relationships built and strengthened through time, for me, is priceless. They remind me every time that God watches over every one of His children, surrounding them with love in so many, many forms.

I want to spend this year and every year after just loving. Loving everyone God sent for me to love. I pray that by His grace, I’ll always have that feeling, even on the rough days, because it’s the celebration of that love that makes my birthday such a memorable one, all the time:) The roster, the cast in this story called life just grows and grows, and I’m excited for the faces I’ll see, and will continue to see, this year and the next

So, thank you. Yes, YOU. You who are reading this, and you who know I’m talking about YOU. You make my life a happier one.  Every second of the day. I want you to know that and remember that YOU touched a life, not just on a birthday, but every day

Thank you.

“Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve… but for those who love, time is eternity.” ~ Henry Van Dyke