W e n d y's D o m a i n

W e n d y's D o m a i n http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/ i am married to the man i love and the man i can't live without. i have a handsome and adorable son who loves to kiss me morning, afternon and night. this is my life... this is my world... Wed, 2 Jul 2008 11:50:41 -0000 Wed, 2 Jul 2008 04:05:08 -0000 W e n d y's D o m a i n http://images.wrpalomo.multiply.com/logo http://wrpalomo.multiply.com 100 100 In between trips The Sunday that Manuel was here... fun time of father and son with matching http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/photos/album/116/In_between_trips Wed, 2 Jul 2008 04:05:08 -0000 Ladies' Day June 28, 2008. The Day for the Ladies. Wendy, Emma, Jasmine, Katee, Minnie, Zoey, Razel, Dyeysi, Betchay. Pinays in Seoul. Me, THE housewife; Emma, a girlfriend on vacation; Jasmine, a tv personality; Katee, a journalist; Minnie, Zoey, Razel, English teachers; Dyeysi, on training; Betchay, the popular blogger. To Betchay, thanks for inviting me http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/photos/album/115/Ladies_Day Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:36:54 -0000 For the Gurls Pimples! I used to blame the glorious, no-menstruation 26-months for the pimples in my face. That was 10 months of pregnancy (39 weeks and 1 day, to be exact) and 16 out of the 18 months of breastfeeding LeRuof. My face cleared for sometime until several days ago. This time I blame it to my impulsive desire to try the small containers and sachets of moisturizers and emulsions from The Face Shop. Several days ago, I bought a mascara from this very famous brand here in Korea. Famous because it's everywhere. Even the subway stations. They even have a branch in Namdaemun market(asus!). The mascara cost me 10,000 won, way below the amount I had to pay for my loyalty to the Clinique brand. The Clinique mascara is still good but I just thought of buying another one lest I ran out of it. The Face Shop mascara is still in its box but I was curious to try the freebies that came with it. So applied I did the mositurizer. Not contented, there's another small container of 'brigh... http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/journal/item/98/For_the_Gurls Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:50:52 -0000 The Functonality of Bulges What woman loves the bulges in her belly? My belly fats have been stubbornly  glued to my… belly, where else? The fats irritatingly bulge whenever I wear my once-favorite clothes, thus limiting my choices these days. It was good to be rid of some clothes last Sunday for a good cause. By some glimmer of hope, I may(?) come to appreciate my bulges these days. My son loves them. I’m not sure how he came to LOOOOVVVVEEEE them. His fetish for my bulges may have started on one of those days when we were sitting on the sofa and he touched my belly and started to (try to) squeeze it. Realizing that he could actually hold the protruding fats, he laughed out loud. From then on, he would grin at me whenever he gets hold of those protruding stubborn fats. For his entertainment these days, my son would just come up to me and either: ·         let me sit down on the sofa so he could sit on my lap and play with my bulges while puckishly grinning ... http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/journal/item/97/The_Functonality_of_Bulges Sun, 22 Jun 2008 02:14:32 -0000 Missing Daddy Bedtime Story Manuel's stay in Saudi is extended until Monday or Tuesday. LeRuof, last night, asked for the book "My Dad" to be read to him. Maybe, missing his daddy http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/video/item/84/Missing_Daddy_Bedtime_Story Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:05:42 -0000 Hyehwa Sunday The Catholic Church in Hyewha-dong is a haven for Filipinos, mostly workers coming from outside of Seoul, every Sunday. Most of them come all the way from the provinces, travelling an hour or more than two hours, to attend mass or simply catch up with friends. It's good to know that the former parish head, Fr. Glen Jaron, provided a shoulder to lean on and a trustworthy face for the Filipinos here. He stayed here for nine years until December last year. There is a different parish head now but I forgot his name.  They continue to have a Tagalog mass every Sunday at 1:30 pm (or 2pm yata hehe). Below is the facade of the Church. <img class="alignmiddleb" src="http://images.wrpalomo.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SFXhdgoKCtsAADE55oo1/P6150002.JPG?et=rrK%2Cu3pNE0U0sqKNk7wY%2Bw&nmid=0" border="0"> <img class="alignmiddleb" src="http://images.wrpalomo.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SFXc3QoKCtsAAEGna2E1/P6150001.JPG?et=oLZnsI4unSBqRst4KzAsxA&nmid=0" border="0"> My son and I went there yesterday and this is how it usually looks after the mass with people coming out of the church: <img class="alignmiddleb" src="http://images.wrpalomo.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SFXj@goKCtsAAGZadKQ1/P6150011.JPG?et=0f1ndZVI3FFL%2CPQfnuEUUQ&nmid=0" border="0"> <img class="alignmiddleb" src="http://images.wrpalomo.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SFXqbAoKCtsAAAK5smY1/P6150016.JPG?et=fKnL1l9uPoKNFqazNtBVlA&nmid=0" border="0"> I went there because it had been a long time since I last saw Sister Angel Libron. She became a good friend when I was still pregnant. Yesterday was a good chance to see her again because she organized an ukay-ukay to support her c... http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/journal/item/96/Hyehwa_Sunday Mon, 16 Jun 2008 03:23:51 -0000 To Saudi With Love <img class="alignright" src="http://images.wrpalomo.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SFQCAAoKCtsAADndjUc1/IMG_2838%5B1%5D.JPG?et=rqWJY%2B6VyusOT4Cl2OPrKw&nmid=0" border="0">   He gave meaning to Father's Day when he came into our life... His head was a perfect fit in the palm of your hand... You gave him his first morning sunshine...                                                                                                                                             &n... http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/journal/item/95/To_Saudi_With_Love Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:40:47 -0000 First Dentist Visit <a href="http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/SFDWggoKCtsAAHf0TBY1"><img class="alignleft" src="http://images.wrpalomo.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SFDWggoKCtsAAHf0TBY1/P6100032.JPG?et=jOgwRntbTUZuWcBR18bCHw&nmid=0" border="0"></a>June 10, 2008. LeRuof had his first dentist visit. He cried when the dentist checked on his teeth. He wailed when the dentist's assistant cleaned his teeth. He got a balloon for crying. He got the small truck for wailing. At 19 months, LeRuof has cavity on one of his teeth already. This, even when I religiously clean his teeth morning and night; even during those rare times when he asks for milk immediately before sleeping, I still manage to brush his teeth. Explanation given: LeRuof was born with weak teeth. Nobody knows why. Genes, maybe. Helpful explanation given by the dentist, right? No miscommunication between dentist and me here since she speaks perfect English. It's not your fault, she added. Just watch out for the food that he eats and regularly come over for cleaning. So, every two months LeRuof and I will be at the dentist for the regular cleaning. At 40,000 won per session. Ugghhh. Ok, 40,000 won down, so be it. It was the "born with weak teeth" which bothered me.... http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/journal/item/94/First_Dentist_Visit Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:17:53 -0000 A Kid Slaps Mom on Dr. Phil Show <a href="http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=1pEFhzoXnuc&amp;feature=related"><img class="alignmiddleb" src="http://images.wrpalomo.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SEwUlgoKCtsAABg0RUk1/default%5B6%5D.jpg?et=0j2wRP1o8y8WKVwWTpKzeg&nmid=0" border="0"></a> Click the picture above and you will be redirected to the full youtube video. My first reaction was, "The boy needs help. ASAP." I was very angry with him. And then I thought, why was he like that? What has the Mom (and the Dad and everyone around who is with him everyday) done to make him behave and feel that way? He has so much anger in him. The anger is way bigger than his very big body and he is just a boy who is supposed to be out playing with friends. Sad. Who is worse? The kid who slapped the Mom or the Mom who let it happen? Mom and son has a long emotional and psychological history behind them that this video can never fully tell. The Dr. Phil Show is not enough to show the whole picture. One session with a psychiatrist cannot bring out the whole story. I just felt so sad that this could happen... to a young boy... to a mom... to a family... What would become of him if his issues are not properly handled and resolved?  Frightening thought. http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/journal/item/93/A_Kid_Slaps_Mom_on_Dr._Phil_Show Sun, 8 Jun 2008 17:20:05 -0000 Tuyo and Rice with Coffee for Lunch It's a cloudy day today... it actually rained in the morning... a little bit windy... My son is sick for the past three days and the doctor required us to go back everyday as he wanted close monitoring of LeRuof. Going to the doctor (just a short walking distance from or place), carrying LeRuof around the house when he feels soooo sick, the sleep-deprived me is quite exhausted to cook. Last night, my husband and I had to settle for noodles for dinner. What's for lunch today? I opened the refrigerator and found the tuyo my parents brought from Iloilo. That had been my request from my brother whe he asked what I wanted from Iloilo. Perfect. The cold weather... the hot coffee... tuyo and rice... eating with bare hands... oh, what a bliss... it was just like eating breakfast back in the Philppines! http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/journal/item/92/Tuyo_and_Rice_with_Coffee_for_Lunch Thu, 5 Jun 2008 05:57:06 -0000 Religion and Politics I would have wanted to write about the separation of church and state but I think I am not an authority on this subject. At some point in my life, I pored over law books and read jurisprudence on this subject but this does not give me the license to pretend to be an expert on this subject. However, this hesitation would not prevent me from saying my piece about Obama’s decision to quit from his church, the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois. I absolutely bow to Obama’s decision to distance himself from his church after Trinity’s former pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright and Rev. Michael Pfleger made political statements during their sermons against Sen. Hillary Clinton. In American politics, this drives home the point of separating one's religious affiliation from his politics.  Right, any statement from any minister of Trinity United Church of Christ will be imputed to Obama as long as he is there. Even if the statements would not come from him, the act of tolerat... http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/journal/item/91/Religion_and_Politics Tue, 3 Jun 2008 01:37:49 -0000 On Filipinos and F-3 visas I went to the Immigration Office in Mokdong yesterday to update our Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) card. I should have done this three months ago, right after we transferred apartment but the great motivation just came recently. As a resident foreigner here in Seoul, we need to inform the Immigration Office about any changes in our stay here. As a F-3 visa holder, I am glad that things were easy to me. I actually applied for a C-3 visa (tourist visa) back in Manila in 2006 thinking that I would only be granted the F-3 visa once I apply here in Seoul. The Korean Embassy granted me the F-3 visa in Manila. When I arrived here in Seoul, I only had to process my re-entry permit. Two years ago, the processing would take several days and the applicant could opt to go back for the card or have it delivered for a minimal fee. The update that I had to do this time for the change in our residence was more easy and more convenient. I made an online appointment for 2:30 pm yesterday. I b... http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/journal/item/90/On_Filipinos_and_F-3_visas Fri, 30 May 2008 10:12:18 -0000 I am 2 years old! I will be two years old on May 29 --- Wendy's Domain. I only got to start blogging (and that Friendster account!) two years ago. I used to have my own journal. i have several well-kept notebooks of my journals since first year high school. i became a real homebody two years ago when i moved  here (Seoul) to become a wife and a mother so i had all the time to browse through the internet. Looking back... I always smile whenever i read my first entry <a href="http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/journal/item/2">A Life Willingly Surrendered</a>. It is who I am to this day. I once told my husband's colleague, I think I have a vocation for motherhood. My pride for the life that I chose to live is evident in <a href="http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/journal/item/58">Our LeRuof: All of Twelve Months</a>. I tried to share the struggles and joys of my vocation through the <a href="http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/journal/item/61">speech I delivered last Christmas</a> with the community of my husband's family in Cabanatuan. My husband and I agree in our parenting ways in <a href="http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/journal/item/72">As Parents to LeRuof, we...</a> I am a fulfilled mother with <a href="http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/journal/item/82">The Weaning Diary</a>. It's a good two years!  ... http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/journal/item/89/I_am_2_years_old Tue, 27 May 2008 07:05:03 -0000 Another Airport Goodbye Since his first domestic plane ride at 19 days old, LeRuof has had numerous airport goodbyes. This time, he is not the one http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/photos/album/114/Another_Airport_Goodbye Sat, 24 May 2008 14:19:08 -0000 Bonding, Eating and Strolling LeRuof entertaining the grandparents... Semi-reunion. Thanks to LeRuof, the grandparents were just so happy to come http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/photos/album/113/Bonding_Eating_and_Strolling Fri, 23 May 2008 23:10:34 -0000 Fun at Lotte World May 21. Lotte World in http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/photos/album/112/Fun_at_Lotte_World Thu, 22 May 2008 06:39:17 -0000 Relaxing First Day The grandparents arrived at 730 am from a four hour trip from the Philippines. After a little rest, off we went to a relaxing afternoon along the Han River. A Han River cruise was in the itinerary but the tourists can't take the night cold breeze... Not much walking around... just sitting down... feeling the cold breeze... being entertained by http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/photos/album/111/Relaxing_First_Day Wed, 21 May 2008 16:41:47 -0000 Home Again! In 6 hours, the Korean Airlines flight from the Philippines will be arriving at the Incheon International Airport. With  my husband. He is going home earlier than expected and we are just so happy to wait for him. Best of all, my parents will be able to meet him here. It has been quite some time since Daddy and Manuel last saw each other. Happy, happy days ahead... http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/journal/item/88/Home_Again Wed, 21 May 2008 15:12:09 -0000 The Grandparents In four hours, the Philippine Airlines flight from the Philippines will arrive at the Incheon International Airport. With my parents. They will be here as "bakasyonistas" for four days. Regardless of whether my husband is coming back or not, they are going home on Friday. Daddy will have to work, of course. My mother? She can't stand being a mother and a grandmother <IMG src="http://images.multiply.com/common/smiles/star.png">. She has been so used to minding only herself and daddy after my brother and I graduated from college and went on to: me, Manila purposely to study Law; my brother, to become a seaman. Of our individual goals, my brother is way more successful than I am. He has the drive, the vision and the character to aim high and achieve it. Unlike most seamen, he is not bothered by his next employment after his vacation. On the contrary, he always asks his company (or agency) to extend his vacation. This time, he got his wish again and he is home for four months. He happily informed me that he will be teaching in John B. Lacson C... http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/journal/item/87/The_Grandparents Mon, 19 May 2008 17:11:52 -0000 The Art of Writing May 19, 2008. This is one of the moments i have been waiting for. When LeRuof learns to have a good grasp of the http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/video/item/81/The_Art_of_Writing Mon, 19 May 2008 15:13:43 -0000 Gabriel Garcia Marquez characters I finished reading Love in the time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez around two weeks ago. To this day, I can’t get Florentino Ariza out of my mind. He is the most despicable character I have ever come across with (as if I have read a lot of books J just among the books I have read).   Of course, Gabriel Garcia Marquez is a highly-esteemed writer but why do I have the temerity to call his character ‘despicable’? My own prejudices considered, I could not bring myself to be convinced with Ariza’s love for Fermina Daza. I am sure there are so many reviews about this book and about Ariza’s character and there are many theories as there are many reviews. Admitting my own prejudice, I am in no way attacking the great Gabriel Garcia Marquez (who might come out with another love story by the end of the year). I am deeply affected by the character of Florentino Ariza. If love would be defined by how he professes and lives with it, this world would abound with lustful men lurking in the... http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/journal/item/86/Gabriel_Garcia_Marquez_characters Tue, 13 May 2008 18:21:16 -0000 Another Countdown Another countdown begins... This time we don't know when Manuel is coming back. It could be a week, two weeks, or worse three weeks. This time I will be counting from 1 day, in contrast to his previous business trips when I count from his scheduled number of days till the day he arrives. What makes it difficult this time? It isn't just me looking for Manuel anymore. It isn't just me anticipating Manuel's coming home at the end of the day. LeRuof looks for his Dad all the time. He says Dad-deee (emphasis on each syllable) all the time. He looks for his Dad the moment he wakes up. He says Daddy when he finds something to associate his Daddy with. He looks for his Dad for playtime before going to sleep. Favorite game he plays with us these days is: when we are all in the bed, he would cross over to our bed, lie between us, puts his little arms on each of our head, forces us to put our head on top of his head and we would pretend to look for "Leyup" (as he pronounces his nam... http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/journal/item/85/Another_Countdown Tue, 13 May 2008 06:16:34 -0000 Finding Nemo Fishing Trip Mother's Day. Fishing trip in http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/photos/album/110/Finding_Nemo_Fishing_Trip Mon, 12 May 2008 03:54:27 -0000 Parent's Day Today is Parent's Day here in Korea. I only know about it yesterday when I asked my friend why there are flower baskets everywhere. The most common gift given to parents is the flower Carnation. I guess, we have to wait for more years before LeRuof comes to understand this practice. But then again, we may have moved on to another country or be back in the Philippines by then. For now, Manuel and I will just content ourselves with the sight of our son... his smile and laughter make us laugh... <IMG class=alignmiddleb src="http://images.wrpalomo.multiply.com/image/4/photos/107/300x300/19/P5032220.JPG?et=cDgnh3XeMogPg3e+KWtY1A&nmid=94412803" border=0>   http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/journal/item/84/Parents_Day Thu, 8 May 2008 08:22:41 -0000 Children's Day May 5 is a national holiday here in Korea. It is a day for children. Korean children view this day the way Christmas is viewed by many children. They expext to receive gifts and spend the day with lots of fun. Parents are free to indulge their child/children since this is a non-woeking day. Most parents take their children to amusement parks, movies, parks, zoos, and other places that would make kids happy. Bang Jeong-hwan, a children's story book writer, started Children's Day by writing on May 1, 1923, "An Open Letter to Adults." One translation of Bang Jeong-hwan's letter states: "Children are the future of our nation. Let's show respect for children. Children who grow up with ridicule and contempt from others will become people who disrespect others, while children who grow up with respect from others will become people who respect others in turn." Interestingly, the original date of Children's Day is May 1 owing to the above history. However... http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/journal/item/83/Childrens_Day Wed, 7 May 2008 17:09:37 -0000 Children's Day May 5, 2008. Children's Day in http://wrpalomo.multiply.com/photos/album/109/Childrens_Day Wed, 7 May 2008 02:36:11 -0000