heart obesity

You might be wondering what's the title all about? it's actually how to describe my heart upon reading Yuan's journal. Here it is:

My Favorite Person

My Father is my favorite person.
He always plays with me.
He helps me do my homework.
He takes care of us.
He protects us.

Then he made a note in one paper after our math session, showed it to me,

"I love you Dady"

(wrong spelling for Daddy, alright. May pinagmanahan. But definitely made my heart "obese" instantly)

Napuwing ako. maalikabok sa bahay,haaay.

I love you, too. Son.

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.......

what's in a name

What’s in a name?

Yuan Mari. Kyan Rhed. April Rheiboy. Marie. Ryukym. Exactly, what’s in a name? For one, I remember during my high school days, one teacher told us that a name is the sweetest word to a person’s ear. Come to think of it, it’s true. Imagine being introduced to a crowd when suddenly the person who’s doing it forgot your name? That’s awfully awkward (you a**hole! Here’s my knife, catch!) And so you end up with a fake smile while uttering your name (huh, I’m sure this happens all the time). And vis-à-vis, I am guilty (countless occasions) of introducing people who I remember by face (tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon as I call it) not by name, hence embarrassingly putting them into anonymity on the spot! You know who you are guys, here’s my apology blog.

I don’t want this thing to happen with my kids. That’s why I gave them (WE gave our bundle of joys) unique names. Here’s their meaning.

Yuan Mari. Yuan is Chinese for original (we’re not Chinese btw, and its also their currency). He is our first-born. Actually, the original name was Yuan Luigi – sounds Italian, Luigi (from Mario brothers) fits quite all right with Yuan. Marie gave birth September 8 at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital, FYI September 8 is Mama Mary’s birthday – without hesitation, we changed Luigi to Mari (computer game is no match to Heavenly matters). Yuan Mari, our first-born. Original. Heaven sent.

Kyan Rhed. In less than two years, God gave us another blessing. Kyan means capable. You see, Marie was in her pre-residency training when we found out that she’s pregnant. Being a resident physician in the biggest government hospital in the Philippines is no easy task. It was indeed a challenge for my wife. She endured all these. She began to have premature labor contractions before her 30th week of gestation. Spotting during her duties. Kyan came out of the world preterm – but with all the stress our second kid and mom encountered, Kyan showed to everyone that he is capable - capable of living. He stayed for one week in the hospital – incubator, antibiotics, IV fluids and all. God is great!

Rhed? I don’t want to give Rheiboy (let me carry the burden to my grave, ok?) so we gave the name Rhed. Kyan Rhed. Capable. Great.

I pray that our third baby will be a girl (I’m sure Big Boss will grant our request), any name you can suggest?

can i have a date too?

My weekend was a blast! After a very hectic week, 2 days off work is like heaven. At the same time my wife, (who, at the moment, is living the real doctors-for-the-people experience by being a resident in the biggest government hospital in the Philippines) had her weekend off. Enough time to spend our valentine’s ahead of the 14th plus quality time with the kids plus plus a visit with lolo and lola.

Valentine’s. We went to Makati and watched midnight cinema, curse of the golden flower (bosoms) – chow yun fat, gong li, jay chou. (I know, this movie is not for the season of hearts, I was actually inviting marsmyloves for a mushy “Holiday” movie, but it already started 30 mins). So, we watched a Chinese movie, I initially thought was dubbed in english (like the Jackie Chan’s) but to my surprise it wasn’t! Thank God there’s subtitles. I thought my date was ruined, but it turned out quite the contrary, my wife liked the movie and told me “I don’t need to watch mushy movies, I already have you” ahhh, I love you mars. J Walking along vibrant Makati district, you can see yuppies (young professionals) and highschoolers probably from their prom night. It was a nice evening, some enchanting evening indeed. Then we went to a joyride, its nice to drive without the traffic.

Sunday morning. Yuan was asking where did we go last night? We said ,we watched a movie at the “big tv”. “You had a date?” he asked. (At the age of 4, kids already know what date is?) Smart kiddo, “yeah we had a date”. “Are you getting married?” he added. “Yuan, we’re already married, that’s why we have you and Kyan.” Sometimes, you wonder, how do kids get ideas of dating, marriage, etc. if we think our lolos and lolas as old fashioned, how do kids think of us now? And the question of the day popped out! “Can I have a date too?” endless questions from a kiddo, sometimes you worry that you might actually run out of answers. And yes, it does happen! So, I carried little Yuan, put him in my lap and told him. “Of course! But always remember, you don’t have to hurry, you have all the time in the world, when you grow up, you will have plenty of dating (daddy will not fund it though, hehehe) but for now, you can only date mommy together with daddy and little Kyan. Deal? He smiled and gave me a confused look (I wonder why, hehe) ….. then, he went straight to the room and had a “date” with the playstation!

Happy Valentines! Marsmyloves, I love you!

netizen in distress

i have a deadline to beat. i was in front of the computer all night to finish some stuff and slept at the same time the sun was having his majestic entrace at this side of the planet.

12noon, my little rascals are jumpin all over me, askin me open the computer and play DISNEY! (sorry guys, give me a break, its weekend - kids rule and i allow them to use the net - weekdays is a no no). To my surprise (or dismay) i cant access the net! Imagine the reaction of my kids - the tantrums and all, no matter how well you can explain the situation to the kids, believe me it will not work! so i called the service provider - glitch again. taiwanquake really made an impact. i read in one daily's that their workin on it already - exploring the seabed and fixing the cables (reminds me of fix you by coldplay). fix it, fix it, please, please please.......

kids? you know how they are, after a while they will give up as if nothin happened. there they are - playing with their thorn, worn-out toys, incomplete train, robot without a head, etc etc etc. - easy to please (unlike you guys! OLD people you!)

ME? i have a deadline to beat. am now in a net cafe, sending my accomplished work-of-art to my boss. (extracharge though, sigh)

done.

on discipline (sa disiplina)

drag down for english translation :)

kagabi, pag uwi ko ng bahay, tuwang tuwa si yuan at kyan. yehey dumating na si daddy (siguro yun ang iniisip nila). lahat ng pagod at antok mawawala makita mo lang ang mga bata. totoo pala sinasabi ng matatanda, na iba pala pakiramdam kapag nakikita mo na ang pinaghihirapan mo ay may patutunguhan. mga sakripisyo na kailangan mong gawin para sa ikabubuti ng mga taong mahal mo. haaaay, lumilipas na nga ang panahon.

ilang oras pa, naglalaro na kami, para kaming barkada, kaya lang dahil ako ang "panganay" ako ang magpapalugi. pwede ka nilang gawing kahit ano - kabayo, poste, tuod, target - basta kahit ano. makita mo lang na masaya sila, solve ka na! sa sarili ko, oras ko na rin yun para makabawi sa mga panahon na nasa trabajo ako at hindi sila kasama.

maya maya pa, ayun, sila naman dalawa ang nag-aaway, pinag aagawan ang celfone ko para makapaglaro, iiyak si kyan magsusumbong, kukunin mo yun celfone, iiyak naman si yuan. Haaay, humahanap ng kakampi. eh sinong kakampihan mo. Ang napagkasunduan namin mag-asawa (pinakamamahal kong si marie), kung ayaw nilang magbigayan, walang makikinabang. ayun, umiiyak ang dalawa. Mabigat man sa loob mo nakikita silang umiiyak, na parang pinagtabunan ng mundo, kailangan kang maging patas.

ilang sandali pa, tatahimik na ang dalawa, magkabati na muli si yuan at kyan. Kakausapin sila na parang mga kasing edad mo. "handa na ba kayong magbigayan?" tanong ko. sasagot ang dalawa ng "opo, tatay". ibibigay ang celfone (sa kwentong ito, celfone pero sa laruan at iba pang bagay rin ito ha) at makikita mo, para na silang mga anghel, tahimik na nanunuod ang isa, pagkatpos naman ng mga 5 minuto, ibibigay ni kuya sa pangalawa.

ayan, habang bata, natututunan na nilang magbigayan.

ang buhay tatay, ang buhay magulang, ibang iba pala kapag ikaw na ang nagdidisiplina.

time and chance happeneth to us all.

last night, yuan and kyan were so happy seeing me home. yahoo, daddy's here! with the kids, i feel energized. Its true what the old folks say - such a nice feeling when you see the fruits of your hardwork, enjoyed by the ones you love most. o yah, indeed time goes by..

a few hours more, we're playing like bestbuddies, since i am their "big brother", i'm always their target - their horse, post, airplaine, slave - anything! their enjoyment is my reward. For me, this is my chance to catch up and spend quality time.

and then the usual, the two will fight on whose going to play with my celfone. Kyan, being the younger one will cry in protest, i will get the phone from yuan and give it to kyan. As expected, Yuan, feeling deprived, will cry. So what now? My wife (marie, love you so much) and I agreed not to give it to anyone. If they will not share the celfone to each other, no one can play. Loud cry of disappointment from yuan and kyan. Looking at them crying like hell is not easy, it pains me. As if, the weight of the world is on their shoulders (and mine, too). But i have to be firm.

the two eventually surrendered, silent and patient (tired of crying?). I approached them and talked as if they were of my age. "Are you ready to share with each other?" i asked. "Yes, daddy". I gave the celfone (in this story its the phone, but its the same with toys, books, crayons etc). Looking at them, their like angels, peaceful and quiet. Yuan first while kyan is patiently watching, then after 5 minutes its Kyan's turn.

now that's more like it. learning the value of sharing.

ahhh, life as a daddy, living as parent, i can say it really is different when you're now in-charge of discipline.