Human Jukebox

For the Preschool Entrepreneurship Fair, Bela and her Kinder Bula classmates were human jukeboxes. Instead of selling the usual food and drinks, teacher came up with this great idea. Drop a coin into a box and they'd sing you a song. There was even a board where the songs were listed.

Bela enjoyed herself! Singing and dancing and performing is her thing. And sing and dance she did. From the national anthem to nursery rhymes to boy band standards.

Singing in the Rain

So what do kids do when classes are called off for an entire week because of rain and flood? Make music videos of course!

It's Gone!

Gabi lost the last of his upper front teeth the other day. 

It happened on the day the school dentist visited their class. The dentist told Gabi that with the way his tooth was dangling perhaps it was best to just have pulled out. 

Gabi got so nervous that he asked if he could drink water first. He downed one big glass of water and ended up swallowing his tooth too!

Love. Pray. Eat

So how are we coping with a loved one's death?

We love. We stay together. We spend time with one another. We bond.

We pray. As a family and on or own. Prayers of petition for healing and for comforting. Prayers of thanksgiving for the beautiful life my brother led.

And we eat. To honor a brother's life. And to celebrate the gift of family.

Partners. Room Mates. Brothers.

We were born only 13 months apart, Wawel and I. We were room mates from day 1. 

We were classmates in high school and in college, team mates in soccer and co-conspirators in pranks both at home and in school.

We worked together in the same office when

 we both started out, both working extra hard since we had our father as a boss.

And we've been collaborators for the last 8 years in Forest Club.

Rest now in God's embrace. I love you very much.

I will take care of Mila and Therese. Promise.

And I will continue our work, dear brother. But it will be hard without you.

Rest in Peace, Dear Brother

Wawel A. Mercado

8 December 1966 - 11 July 2012

Father's Day Presents

I received home made cards from Gabi and Bela this Father's Day.

Patty and I always encourage our kids to make their own gifts. A drawing, a painting. Even a poem or a song. These gifts we appreciate more because we know they worked hard to make it. And oftentimes, these gifts also surprise us with how our kids see us.

In his card Gabi drew what he appreciated about me. The travels and the soccer was expected. But what surprised me was that he also cherished the time he spent in the office, doing little things for me and just playing quietly in my company.

Bela on the other hand appreciates my funny faces. Of all things. ;)

Best Friends? Not!

Oh don't let this photo deceive you. Yes, at times these two are sweet to each other. But more often than not, they are at odds. 

The younger one is smart. She knows that she can get away with many things being the younger one. So she picks on her kuya. And irritates him to bits.

At times it can get violent. But it's usually the younger one who deals the blows. 

There was a time the older one ran to me covering his eye and crying. "Papa, Bela hit me!"

I called the younger one and asked her, "Why did you punch your brother?"

She denied it of course. But only to clarify. "I didn't punch Gabi, Papa... I kicked him!"

In the end they always make up. The younger one saying sorry. And the older one readily accepting.

Then they are friends again. Until the next argument. :)

Tomorrow's Promise

"Tomorrow, tomorrow... Always tomorrow!" Bela said out of frustration. 

We were in the mall yesterday afternoon and Bela kept pointing at toys she wanted for herself. 

And since we don't want to just give in to her every whim, Patty, Bela's mother, kept telling her, "Not now, Bela. Maybe tomorrow."

"Why do you always say tomorrow? Why not now?" Bela was almost shouting.

"So you want them now?" Patty tried to talk sense to our three year old. "There's a way you can do just that. Why don't you start working? Do some chores so you can be paid. Money has to be earned, my dear."

Bela paused, looked at Patty and smiled.

"Ah it's okay. I'll just wait for tomorrow."

A Busy But Fun Summer!

Summer vacation is not an excuse to be lazy. That's what my father used to say.

I remember looking forward to summer so I could join soccer camps, basketball clinics and even take golf lessons. We also attended out of town camps that lasted several days and where we hiked up mountains, learned survival skills and were made to cook our own meals. My summer was always busy. But a lot of fun!

I try to do the same with my kids this summer. Sure, since school is out, I make sure we get the chance to go to the beach or Baguio or even out of the country for a few days. But for most of the summer months, the kids have a full schedule.

My son has soccer practice three times a week. And tournaments almost every weekend. He also attends a Filipino reading class and catechism lessons  twice a week. My daughter also has her summer classes and activities. Too bad she's still too young to join the sports camps. But she'll definitely enrolling next year.

Yes, we should keep our kids' busy this summer. Allow them to sleep late and just watch TV all day during the school break and they will end up soft and unready to face the next school year's challenges. Yes, they need a break from school. But they must be kept busy. Doing things that they enjoy.

Vindication. A Year After.

I wanted Gabi to run in the relay race in this year's Raya Olympics. I know he's not the fastest runner but I wanted him to overcome whatever shame or regret he may still harbor for last year's fall and loss. (Click here to view the 1 March 2011 post)

Of course I didn't tell him why I wanted him to join the race again. I was so sure he also wanted vindication.

And so he joined the race. And although he lost the lead to his competitor in red in his leg of the race, at least he didn't fall this time and gave his team a fair chance at winning.

After the race I congratulated him and whispered. "Now you can forget what happened in last year's race, right?"

"Why Papa?" he gave me a puzzled look. "What happened in last year's race?"

"Oh... nothing, son. Last year, you, ah, finished fourth. Now you finished second!"

"Yup," Gabi exclaimed. "We'll win next year!"

Yes, my son, you will. And your father will soon learn to forget what you don't even remember.

Singapore Was a Stroll(er) in the Park

We went to Singapore with only three destinations in our itinerary: the Singapore Zoo, the Universal Studios in Sentosa and the Singapore Science Centre. All huge places that required a lot of walking to explore.

And we survived! Thanks mainly to the strollers and pushcarts available everywhere for rent. They made life easier. For me particularly, the designated driver.

So from the airport, to the zoo, to the science center, the studios and even to Ikea, the strollers and pushcarts were truly appreciated.

A Proud Soccer Dad, I Am!

I bumped into a couple of high school classmates during the De La Salle Zobel Football Festival. All three of us were there to watch our sons play.

All of us had to wake up early on a non working day to drive to the venue. And all of us expected to spend most of the day under the sun, taking photos and playing water boy to our sons’ teams.

We all bantered and chattered about our shared misery, sharing stories of labor and toil. Yet we all had smiles on our faces. And we all laughed as we heard each others’ sacrifices.

“So this is what it has come to, guys,” one classmate sighed.  ”After getting our college degrees and starting on successful  professional careers, we are now soccer parents.”

“Yup, ” I answered. “We’ve done pretty well in life, don’t you think?”

My two friends nodded immediately.

And all three of us broke out in laughter.

Photo by Arnel Dominic Barrameda