scary mathematics

Yuan and Kyan just transferred to a new school this year. It was a big adjustment for Yuan - he was accepted for Grade II even if he is 6. The curriculum was way way advanced compared to his previous community school. In fact his Math textbook is intended for Grade III students! I know the adjustment period was difficult for Yuan - smallest and youngest and new(est) in class. It was indeed stressful for my Panganay.

It was equally stressful for mommy and daddy, too.

The first few Homeworks, Seatworks and assignements came - scores with more mistakes that you can easily assess "hula/chamba" factor contributed to some (or most) of the correct ones. Intervention must be done....

Everyday, upon arriving home, i open Yuan's bag and check for his notes, folders and assignments. He had quick improvements in all subject...except math. Addition of 4 digit numbers, Roman Numerals, Subtraction (with dreaded borrowing), Multiplication.

Everyday, i make 2 sheets of questions and post it in the board before i leave for office. Don't worry, it's not the sadistic type. I make sure that he will be able to answer math problems with some room for difficult ones in the latter part of the sheet. This is his assignment everyday after class. I will call home late afternoon to check if his done with his "homework-made-by-daddy".

.....and it's working. He is no longer scared of numbers. Division is just around the corner, but I'm confident Yuan can handle this. And Dad will always be at his side.

other subjects? I leave that to Marie :-)

yuan's christmas party 2008

merry christmas! - yuan mari a. andal

maligayang pasko po!

Maligayang Pasko! This year, i used the internet (Chikka server) to reply to my friends - i saved a few pesos and delivered the message just the same. Thanks to the wonderfulworld of cyberspace. Merry Christmas everyone!!!

(that's my eldest under the christmas tree a few years ago, very christmassy)

twilight

After Bangkok Dangerous, i'm now on my next not-a-movie-but-a-movie-titled blog. Books for me are like diphenhydramine - with sedating effect. This will actually be my prescription for the insomniacs, hyperactive and zombees. It works for me, i just dunno if reading books has the same effect with the general public.

Enough of the introduction. okay. While i was stucked in Bangkok, Marie called me and said she watched a vampire movie - Twilight. Not just once but thrice! It was Edward Cullen's appeal that made her go back and watch it 3x. Hmmm, i wondered why (malamang pogi, ganyan din siya kay coffee prince at nagagalit saken pagsinasabi kong kamukha ni kuya kim atienza (matang lawin) si gong yu, hehehe)?

On my first day back in office, my friend gave me an audiobook version of the twilight saga. "Now, this is cool, let's see if this will keep me awake, cuz i will definitely not read the book version, knowing that the Twilight Saga is 4 books!".

Let me try this nonconventional way of "reading". And so i started. It was the unabridged version narrated by Llyana Kadushin. Is the audiobook version as diphenhydraminic as the visual book version? To my surprise, its not! This version actually made me "thirsty" for more. Such a lovely voice! A few minutes passed and twilight consumed me. It seems i'm under the spell of Bella's voice that i have to continue "hunting" the book. Ahhh, Bella, Bella, Bella. The accident-magnet Bella, my Bella.

I guess i have to stop from here. So? did i like this nonconventional reading you might ask? I'm now in Book 3 - Eclipse. Hooked. Enchanted. Bellafied.

(for the movie version..... i'll probably stick with the audiobook version for now, i'll probably wait for the clear dvd (blue ray daw) copy in Quiapo)the hunt is on!

Bangkok Dangerous

"kailan ako lalaya? sa anino ng pag iisa? mga rehas lang ang tanaw, nanginginig sa seldang maginaw." - eheads (NGA PALA, NAKARATING NA KO PILIPINAS, SALAMAT SA DIYOS! -12/01/08)

How does it feel to be a prisoner in an invisible jailhouse? This is what i'm feeling right now. I flew here from Manila to attend a business meeting last Saturday. My flight back was booked last Wednesday afternoon. But Tuesday night, there was news that protesters blocked the International Airport leaving no choice but to stop business - all flights cancelled - until further notice. The people are demanding CHANGE. Let the prime minister step down his office and start a new era of good governance. The world will know their plea by demonstrating a peaceful protest in one of Asia's biggest airport (infact 18th bussiest in the world) - Suvarnabhumi.

Ok, this wouldn't probably take long....and so i thought. Today is Sunday, my 9th day in Bangkok. Both local and international airports here are closed. You have to go to Pattaya (+ 2hours) or Phuket (+12 hours) then fly to Cambodia or Vietnam or Malaysia or Singapore if your flight carrier can accomodate you. Everyday, the number of stranded tourists are in the thousands. 5 days post airport seige. Booking for train (earliset available booking Dec10!), car (hotel car to Phuket - 17,000 Baht!), bus (fully booked), boat or plane (prioritize nationals - Cathay for HongKong, SQ for Singaporeans, Thai Airways for those already booked) to any destination away from Bangkok is like joining the Amazing Race! Until finally, you're too tired of thinking all the possibilities.

Shop. Eat. Walk along the streets of Bangkok. Watch CNN. Sleep. Drink. Sleep. Watch CNN. Walk along the streets of Bangkok. Eat. Shop. Plenty of things to do. A lot of sites to see. But no matter what i do, the reality is - i'm stranded, i'm stucked in prison without the jailbars.

I want to go home. I miss my family.... ganito pala ang malayo sa mga taong minamahal mo, sigh....

You're my Hero

This weekend was all "parteeyy" for my kids. Saturday, November 1. We went to a friend's son 1st birthday party. My 2 kids, both excited with their superhero costumes - green lantern and flash. The party was on the 7th floor a few minutes from the biggest government hospital in taft (yeah, you guessed it right) were my wife works (and i used to work). The place was perfect - swimming pool, overlooking crowded manila, cool breeze and bright lights in the bay area.

Too excited, the boys rushed inside the party place but immediately turned back upon seeing cookie monster and the clowns! haaaay, for some unknown reason, my kids don't like mascots (kung pwede lang sila ma banned sa mga party) even our very own jollibee! But of course, we can't stop the party just because my kids are afraid of these "monsters". So we managed to enjoy the event..... at the far end of the party room away from these creatures. haha.

Here comes the "bring me game". Definitely they still want to win and have a price (TOYS). Bring me a pair of white socks! (I have gray). Bring me three piso coins!(i have 500 bills, ehem, ehem). Bring me a receipt! (i gave one to my son, but he was not the first one to reach the clowns...we're at the far end, remember?) Bring me the longest belt! (my waist size is just 30, i gave it but obviously not winnable). Bring me a license! (still not the first one)... the game was such a sure hit to the crowds, but for my son, i saw in his eyes, he wanted to win atleast one so that he can have a precious lightning mcqueen prize (TOY).... i saw in him not happiness but a tinge of sorrow for not being able to get atleast one precious, which is like a world for him. I openned my wallet, getting ready for whatever bring me the clown will utter (Please God, give us a chance, all for my kids....)

Atlast, one last bring me.... Bring me your PINAKAMACHONG DADDY!!! Without any hesitation, i stood up, brought my son to the clown and proclaimed my self MR. SEXY! Nevermind the laughter from the crowd, but seeing my son getting his prize, the pure innocent laughter in his face, like in the credit card commercial, its PRICELESS.

After the party, my son told me, "thanks dad, you're my hero!" I may not be green lantern, flash or superman but i will endure anything, all for love.

The next day, November 2, there's another party.......

barya lang po sa umaga

Oh i can feel the credit crunch!

I have to pay my 2 credit card bills this week. I overspent last month (learning #1: thou shall not swipe your card left and right, there's no such thing as plastic money, in the end, you have to pay for everything!)

ok, they were mostly house supplies - groceries, must-haves, and uhm, "other stuff" (learning #2: though shall not go to the supermarket without a list of must-buys, or else you will end up buying extras)

since i'm out of cash, i opened my alkansya and got a hefty 5,000 pesos of piso, 5 peso- and 10 peso coins! (learning #3: pag may isinuksok may madudukot)

Now, am on my way to bayad center. there's a long line of payees. here i am carrying a heavy plastic (i bundled the coins in 1,000s)..... "Tumatanggap kayo ng barya?" (Do you accept coins?). "Yes, po!", she said. Then i initially showed the paper bills and put the heavy plastic of coins in front of her kahera. "Five thousand po yan"

She looked at me, smiled. Looked at the people next in line. Looked at the ceiling (oh, God parusa ito!) then she immediately called for back up. (I never looked at the people behind me, i wonder how they reacted upon seeing me putting the heavy plastic of coins infront of the cashier? hmmmm....urghh)

Haaaay, after about 10-15 minutes, i heard the backup clerk who counted the coins saying, "Maam complete po!"

Thank you very much SM Taytay for accepting my coins, talagang service with a grin, este smile (learning #4 Though shall love your customers so that they will keep on coming back!).

Next month ulet!