Tweet Follow me in twitter @momblogger.”FUN is a very simple word that everyone in the world understands.” Secretary Jimenez

My husband and I hied off to Boracay last Summer. We had so much fun. It was just the two of us having fun. Our children are all grown up and it gives us the chance to travel places in and out of the Philippines. Just the two of us makes it even more enjoyable as we venture out to new places in the Philippines. I have been to Boracay alone but never with my husband. Lounging by my chair and enjoying the soft cool breeze , I spot him strolling along the shoreline of the white sandy beach. Walking barefoot on this powdery white is therapeutic.

Just the two of us, strolling and letting our feet enjoy and sink into the fine white sand as our eyes feasted on the crystal blue ocean and the coastline of the other island. So much fun to be together in a beautiful place.

When my siblings visit me here, I hear the words “oh it was so much fun.”

Department of Tourism announcement of the slogan “It’s more Fun in the Philippines” last Friday felt true. What is even remarkable is that the campaign slogan is we are all part of the campaign. You and me define the true meaning of fun and happiness. It does not mean closing our eyes to the sad realities of the Philippines. It does not mean that our government shouldn’t fix our airports, the infrastructure and other support systems. There is nothing wrong about the showing truth. There is nothing wrong about highlighting what is GREAT in our country.

“It’s more Fun in the Philippines” works especially when you know how to balance work and fun. When you know how to be part of the solution

The Filipinos are already known around the world to be one of the happiest and warmest people on earth. The campaign hopes to enjoin the whole country in creating positive buzz of the tagline. We can fix the negatives and focus on our positives. There’s more than 7,107 awesome reasons to love the Philippines, so my friend Ryan says.

I support it because I travel a lot and know how to have fun. “It’s more Fun in The Philippines” works especially when you know how to balance work and fun. When you know how to be part of the solution

The response of most netizens have been overwhelming and enthusiastic that creative ways of showing how #itsmorefuninthePhilippines are being displayed here.

You can also do it like my image above. Try the MoreFunMaker.com (If you have photoshop skills, check out Jayvee’s How to make your own “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” Meme.

What about you? How can you make the new Philippine slogan work?

How can one be involved?

To Join in the Campaign, just tweet about things that are more FUN in the Philippines and tag it with #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines #1ForFun

Be part of the solution. It is up to Filipinos themselves to defend and make the campaign true.——————————-
You might also want to read Positive Mental Energy and Affirmations and my other blogs like Free Filipino Food Recipes, Shopping Finds, Pinoy Food Photo Blog and Techie Gadgets. Or Follow me in twitter @momblogger.

How about visiting my Beauty over 50 blog?

Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado.

Add me in Facebook by introducing yourself. My facebook is at facebook.com/noemidado

Tweet Follow me in twitter @momblogger.What better way to show off the Pink theme for Photo Hunt than a girl’s 18th Birthday celebration?

Okay fine, my daughter’s 18th birthday debut celebration was over 5 years ago and she’ll never know I posted this (yes she might get a bit peeved) because she is in New York right now for a three week vacation. She wrote about her Fairy Tale debut party in her old blog. Much as my daughter dislikes the pink color, I (the stage mother) ended up using it as the main debut’s color theme. Even her tulips were almost pink.

I did use multiple shades of pink and light purple and other pastels to maintain the soft, delicate, and playful nature of pink. There were also touches of the darker shades of pinks and purple and burgundy in the flowers and her dress.

So it wasn’t cotton candy , bubble gum and sugar and spice and everything nice. The combination of the pastel and the stronger shades of pink symbolized the wonderful transition from little girl to an adult.

Of course you know that the pink color is the universal color of Love, which makes it a perfect feng shui color to soothe the energy. Its gentle and delicate feng shui vibrations have a proven comforting effect on one’s behavior like soothing the heart and filling it with love.

Asides…5 years ago, I was twenty pounds heavier even though it isn’t too obvious in this photo below because I hid half of my body behind Lauren.

Is pink your favorite color? Variations of pink colors are Salmon, coral, hot pink, fuschia, blush, flesh, flush, fuchsia and rose.

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You might also want to read Positive Mental Energy and Affirmations and my other blogs like Free Filipino Food Recipes, Shopping Finds, Pinoy Food Photo Blog and Techie Gadgets. Or Follow me in twitter @momblogger.

How about visiting my Beauty over 50 blog?

Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado.

Add me in Facebook by introducing yourself. My facebook is at facebook.com/noemidado

Tweet Follow me in twitter @momblogger.Photo Hunt theme today is Book(s).

It’s been my dream to write my very own book and have it published. In my blog, I do share snippets of my journey but it’s not organized and it’s not the same as holding on to something physical and leafing through the pages. I am getting closer to that dream as I conceptualize my book. While the dream is a work in progress, it did not deter me from being a co-author of two published books :

1. Fallen Cradle- “Fallen Cradle” is a book of 22 stories by parents who have a lost a child. My story on Luijoe, My Angel is on page 29. The book launch was held three years ago on May 6, 2006.

2. Iskolar ng Bayan Gives Back, the Enterprising Way- a book features 25 UP alumni who have made—and continue to make—their mark in business here and in foreign lands, living up to the UP tradition of excellence and nationhood. My case subject was Loida Nicolas-Lewis whom I interviewed in September 2007 but the book launch was in August 27, 2008.

Click to enlarge

Do you have plans to write a book and have it published?——————————-
You might also want to read Positive Mental Energy and Affirmations and my other blogs like Free Filipino Food Recipes, Shopping Finds, Pinoy Food Photo Blog and Techie Gadgets. Or Follow me in twitter @momblogger.

How about visiting my Beauty over 50 blog?

Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado.

Add me in Facebook by introducing yourself. My facebook is at facebook.com/noemidado

Tweet Follow me in twitter @momblogger.Photo Hunt theme today is Blue. What better way to portray the Photo Hunt theme than the clear blue skies of Jamesport, Missouri. You know how much I love the country side so a trip to a town with 505 residents was even more exciting for me. As we head off to Jamesport, I notice the sky is a lovely blue as the sunshine starts to beam and the green grass starts to gleam from afar. Not to mention the bales of hay.

It’s rare to see perfect blue skies in a tropical country like the Philippines. I’m not seeing any clouds. Such perfect day it was! I just had to capture the beauty by taking photos of the pristine blue skies as my brother and I head off to our destination with Kippy Cat as my travel mascot.

Jamesport is a small town nestled in the rolling hills of Northwestern Missouri. It is also home to Missouri’s largest Amish community and hosts a large number of both Amish and English shops and activities that cater to tourists wanting to return to days gone past. I am one of those tourists.

I was excited to buy some freshly baked bread from the Amish bakery but first, I held the moment in my hands as I marveled at the blue skies.

I even took videos of the blue skies and the countryside so I can remember the joy as I passed through the peaceful Amish countryside. Our first stop was the H & M Country store, where they sell spice, food supplies and many dried processed foods.

With cloudless clear blue skies all day, sunny and with temperatures in the mid 70’s (F), it was a perfect day, made even more special because I was with my brother.

Do you like the color blue?——————————-
You might also want to read Positive Mental Energy and Affirmations and my other blogs like Free Filipino Food Recipes, Shopping Finds, Pinoy Food Photo Blog and Techie Gadgets. Or Follow me in twitter @momblogger.

How about visiting my Beauty over 50 blog?

Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado.

Add me in Facebook by introducing yourself. My facebook is at facebook.com/noemidado

Tweet Follow me in twitter @momblogger.Every first monday of the month, Pinoy Moms Network members share photos through the Fam Pics project. This month’s theme is Glossy

A writing table for my adorable husband seemed like the perfect sanctuary for him at night. I wanted to situate it by the bay window in our bedroom so he can quietly surf with his laptop before he sleeps. My specification was Light walnut Flat finish. I paid the 50% downpayment of the list price which was 5,500 pesos at the Klapptstuhl, Inc. 3rd Level Market Market! Taguig City. The price is not bad at all. The quality of the furniture looked really fine even though I wasn’t sure if the wood is really hard wood. I could live with it though. My husband just needed a functional writing table in our bedroom.

Thirty days later, the writing table finally arrived.

I was horrified to see a glossy writing table. I demanded to know why they delivered a glossy table. The delivery man says “Madam, you said Not Flat”

“No I said Flat Finish. I find glossy finish so tacky. Let me look at the order form”

What do you know? The salesman noted my order like this:

Light Wall Not Flat Finish

My order should have been spelled as Light walnut Flat Finish NOT Light Wall Not Flat Finish. My head took a spin when I overlooked this tiny detail. I looked around at my bedroom to see if the glossy writing table blended well with the rest of the furniture.

Seeing that our bed headboard is of glossy finish, I relented . “Yes , it will do. But I will call your sales manager and advice him to teach his sales staff to SPELL properly”

Other Glossy entries

1. Glossy Writing Table by Noemi
2. Glossy Appeal by Rachel
3. Attack II by Leah
4. Glossy by raqgold
5. PMN Fam Pics Series 1 : GLOSSY by Cookie de Guzman-Lugue (Kongkong622)
6. GlossyMonday–My World Turning Upside Down by Sexy Mom
7. Glossy by Mitch
8. Glossy by Chats (iMom)
9. Glossy Apple Cheeks by Analyse
10. The Mane Event by Lynn
11. PMN Fam Pics, 1st edition: A very glossy story by Connie
12. Mommy’s girl by Lady Cess
13. GLOSSY Topped Cupcakes by Dexie the FeistyMomma
14. Glossy from the garden by KK
15. Glossy Plastic Covers by Feng

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You might also want to read Positive Mental Energy and Affirmations and my other blogs like Free Filipino Food Recipes, Shopping Finds, Pinoy Food Photo Blog and Techie Gadgets. Or Follow me in twitter @momblogger.

How about visiting my Beauty over 50 blog?

Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado.

Add me in Facebook by introducing yourself. My facebook is at facebook.com/noemidado

Tweet Follow me in twitter @momblogger.Imagine the consternation on Lauren’s face when I told her that I rejected the immigration papers that Lorna, my sister sent me in 1987.

“Mom , how could you?” I explained to her my reasons.

While reviewing the requirements and the time frame for approval, I figured that in twenty
years, my papers would have been approved. My children would then have the choice of staying in our beloved country or the land of milk and honey. But I didn’t submit the immigration form and instead told my sister that I wanted my children to stay in the Philippines and continue to work for the good of the country. After all, People Power Revolution fever was still high in the air. My heart filled with hope and dreams for the Philippines through my children. As a mom, I felt that my UP student activist and idealistic days can be best transformed in educating my children towards patriotism and nationalism. Yes, “the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world” so I thought.

I was confident that if the kids chose to go to the USA after college, it would be a piece of cake since I had a lifetime US visa (it was lifetime then) and if need be, acquire American citizenship from her dad using that obscure immigration law of Filipinos born to American citizens in 1930. I missed the fact that working opportunities are not open to non-American citizens.

It’s been 20 years and now, Lauren screams Screw Nationalism

I suppose some would say that I’m a horrible person for being aware that our country’s society is shit and instead of getting up and trying to change things, I want to get the hell out. I don’t feel like a horrible person, though. I’m not the asshole killing off political enemies, or stealing from the pork barrel. This is my reaction to the reality I see. Philippine society won’t change, at least not in my lifetime. And I want to live my life the way I want to instead of wasting my time fighting a losing battle.

When I read her entry, I felt so sad that I didn’t pursue the immigration angle . That other obscure immigration law requires my husband to stay in the USA for some period of time. So yes, regrets but I cannot undo that now. I continue to have hope for the Philippines despite the fact that the country has not progressed in ways I imagined it to be.

Funny that I have such a long introduction to this tagged post on “3 signs they see happening now that make them shout out, “It feels great to be Pinoy!” but I do have a point. My list is not about the current signs but the Filipino traits that make me shout that “it feels great to be Pinoy!” and why I continue to think the Philippines is a great country. It is because of our people.

1. Filipinos exhibit bamboo-like resilience even during the most difficult times. I remember the time when Ninoy Aquino was shot in 1983. Our peso dropped drastically that imports got very expensive. I believe it was the most challenging economic crisis ever. What saved the country? The underground economy. The micro-entrepreneurs. Filipinos find ways to save themselves from their financial rut . During those times, I was able to interview a lot of micro-entrepreneurs who came out with products/services’ subsitutes in place of imports.

2. Filipinos know how to have fun. We can see it in our fiestas and parties. I never appreciated this wonderful trait until that Independence Day party celebration in Laos where various embassies were invited. The function room was bursting with foreign diplomats. A diplomat told me that they look forward to our parties. It’s the laughter, the singing, dancing and eating our sumptuous food which they enjoy the most. There never is a dull moment. Pessimists think “having fun” is an escape from reality or too costly. Whatever. Let’s have fun once in a while, right?

3. Filipinos are creative and resourceful. I see it in the handicrafts, the fashion accessories, and the furniture which is truly a Filipno design. This resourcefulness coupled with the proper investment and marketing strategy will continue to offer us hope for the economic independence of our countrymen. I know it’s taking so much time for the government agencies to speed the process but we are getting there with their new thrust, called the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Program of the Department of Trade and Industry.

These are just some of the traits that will make our country survive and grow. Working and having the right amount of fun will pull us through any challenges.

Other “Feels Great to be Pinoy” Blog Entries

Melissa
Aileen
Miguel
Dexie
Rico
Marc
Michael
Grace
Jannette
Shari
Jester——————————-
You might also want to read Positive Mental Energy and Affirmations and my other blogs like Free Filipino Food Recipes, Shopping Finds, Pinoy Food Photo Blog and Techie Gadgets. Or Follow me in twitter @momblogger.

How about visiting my Beauty over 50 blog?

Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado.

Add me in Facebook by introducing yourself. My facebook is at facebook.com/noemidado