I haven’t given birth yet. Thanks to Nurse Nilda for introducing the term “primigravida” or “nanganganay” (first child pregnancy) to me. She added that first children are mostly born late. That explains why Danah hasn’t still shown signs of coming out.

I began feeling pelvic pains two weeks ago. Mama Lloyd (helper) and Dave thought I was going to give birth that time so we stayed in my parents’ house overnight. Everybody was excited.

Dave thought of sending me to the hospital several times. I firmly said no, since I have had enough horror stories from moms who had false labor. Imagine eating hospital food.

I checked with my OB last Friday and she said my cervix is still closed. She said I have about a week or two before I give birth. The pelvic pains are caused by my heavy tummy. Well, yes, I’m 135 pounds heavy, seven pounds heavier than last week.

Everything is all-set now. Dave made amends on his PhilHealth membership, we have already acquired the doctor’s admitting instructions, our things are now inside the car, and personally, I’m ready to face whatever amount of pain delivery might give me.

I am on a strict diet now (although Dave can’t bear the fact that I become hungry and remain that way). It’s a big dilemma for me since I look skinnier yet I weigh heavier. All the nutrients I take go to Danah (vitamins, food) but amazingly, she isn’t that big. I think my tummy is filled with water too.

As much as I want to walk a lot, I’m afraid my pelvic pain is too much to bear. Dave gave me his Power Balance since it always looks like I’m going to fall everytime I walk.

I am proud to say that I haven’t had swollen feet yet (and I hope I never will). It’s quite saddening to see lots of stretch marks on my tummy, but I believe that those stretch marks are my trophy for carrying a child (and being a mom in the very near future). I suffered from leg cramps (which Mama Lloyd says are natural).

I’m glad Dave and Mama Lloyd are always there for me. Despite the pain I feel at times, I feel secured knowing that they are going to take care of me, and in a few days, of Baby Danah.

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Milenyo, our guard dog for years, has died.

Milenyo (who was originally named Tukmol)  was rescued by my sister and her boyfriend (now husband) during the height of Super Typhoon Milenyo (September 2006). You may all recall that Los Banos was one of the most devastated places. A flash flood carried Milenyo away from his home, then my sister and her boyfriend found him afloat through a chair. They took Milenyo home. His owners did not mind.

Since he was a survivor of the typhoon, we renamed him after it.

He was awfully traumatized when he was brought inside the house. Since my niece was in the hospital that time, I had to take care of him like a baby. He was shaking, maybe the thought of the flash floods haunted him.

I built him a small house out of carton and kept him warm inside the house as the storm went. He hardly ate anything but I was persistent. The dog survived a dreadful flood and so he must live.

He grew so fast. Mom had to take him outside the house to be with other dogs. When Spanky and Fitch died (two of our most loved dogs), mom had to train him to be our new guard dog.

It was evident that Milenyo has some sort of autism. He can hardly run fast, he had no sense of direction, he twitched a lot, but he was a fast learner. He and mom had a bond — just like our previous guard dogs.

There was once instance when Milenyo played dead upon knowing that he’ll be given shots of anti-rabies. We can’t forget it since it was a good sign that he has intelligence.

Dave would fonly call him “Meleni”. Whenever Dave and I come home, it was Meleni who always welcomed us first. If there’s one thing we loved about him, that would be his cowardice. He loved to bark like he’s gonna kill, but when the gates are open, he would hide under mom’s car.

Perhaps Milenyo died of heartworm. Mom said he loved eating soil. I think that in spite his immunity (he is a mongrel) he was still vulnerable to heartworm. For a month he looked dreadful, lost his appetite and became less agile.

Mom just found him lying peacefully in the garden. She was crying while she was burying him, and I can tell that she can hardly move on with his loss because she wanted to tell us stories about Milenyo, as if he were still alive.

Now mom is too scared to love another pet, or as she puts it, “best friend”. She still has a fat chicken (“Kokok”), a useless virgin monkey (“Dodger”), a white and furry Spitz (“Japoy”), our Shar Pei (“Val”), a temperamental Dachshund (“Bro”)  and a couple of dogs who love to hurt each other. She still has a pool full of Koi fishes, Japanese carps and white hammerheads. She still has three African Lotino birds. But nothing compares to Milenyo, her best friend.

I miss Milenyo. We all miss him. Maybe his service to our family is over, but we will not forget him, just like our previous best friends who have been of good service and have been part of the family.

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My husband and I decided to just settle down in Los Banos, a province in Laguna known as the “Science and Nature City”.

I was sad when we left Manila. I couldn’t even pack our things very well. Dave made sure that we have made most out of our last week in the city so we went out every night to pig out, watch movies, shop, and just savor the smell of the malls. We we’re pointing at particular places and saying “we’re gonna miss this.”

Now going to Manila makes me feel like a child going on a field trip in the big city.

This has happened to me before, when I used to commute all the way from Los Banos to Manila for my Master’s. I didn’t mind the stress of taking a bus, then taking two trains just to get to the graduate school; it’s like I’m indulging in the mixture of sweat and city-feel. You cannot blame someone who’s been tied up to the province for almost a quarter of her life (assuming that I live for a hundred years, haha).

I got to enjoy the little things the big city gave me — good or bad, are worth smiling for. It brought me two of the most important people in my life: my husband and our little girl.

I kind of admit that I get bored in the province. My husband has given me a new lifestyle in the big city, which is way too different from what we have now. We were mall rats, movie buffs, steak fans, and we socialized very well by means of late-night dinners and drinking sessions (but we were not party animals for Pete’s sake!) We two enjoyed almost all the alcoholic drinks in a bar in Makati that going home both drunk was not unusual for us. There was once an instance when we couldn’t get home since we had no cash left and all the ATMs were down.

I can’t compare the big city to the province. Each has its pros and cons and feeling constantly bad about going back to where I was raised is like turning my back against my past. There are still reasons for me to love my province yet the thought of being in the big city is much, much more exciting for me.

I’m about to give birth anytime so I’m hoping this is just some pregnancy blues. My actions are limited to walking, sleeping, eating, writing (for a living) and attaching myself to our friends via internet.

We are not certain if we’re going back to the big city soon or we’re ever gonna go back there. There are lots of things to miss, but surely when our little girl comes out, we wouldn’t care about where we are — for as long as we three are together.

Definitely we’re taking our little girl to the big city often when the right time comes.

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“Anytime”. That’s what I tell my friends whenever they ask about Danah’s birth date. Yes, everyone’s waiting for her arrival, but personally Dave and I still want her to arrive a bit later.

We believe we still haven’t finalized everything. Although my hospital expenses are already secured, there are a few things which make us quite nervous:

1. Have we bought enough stuff for baby? It’s suffice to say she has more than what she can wear for a couple of weeks, but there are other things like feeding bottles, nappies, sterilizer, a plastic drawer, et cetera.

2. Is her room clean enough for her? I don’t think so. Dave has been very busy with the room design, which includes repainting, ceiling redecorations, flooring, and making sure the baby’s room is well-ventilated. As of now the room is partially filled with unpacked boxes and an unpleasant smell left by the previous tenant.

3. Do we have enough knowledge about baby stuff? Like how to properly sterilize a bottle, how to make a baby burp, what to do when she cries and how to deal with her mood. I have washed most of Danah’s clothes, mittens, booties and blankets, but when she comes out, these things will just last for a couple of days.

4. Are we ready to go overtime in baby sitting? Sure, my yaya (the one whom I became really attached to when I was young) is going to help us with chores (thanks to nanay for finding her after two decades) but taking care of Danah is primarily my job (and Dave’s job). People say we have to get used to waking up at the wee hours to change her diaper or feed her. I don’t really mind, but is my body ready for it?

5. Are we ready to deal with people who believe in the customs? I remember my sister hiding her son Zeus inside the car since a lot of old-fashioned people put their saliva on the poor baby’s forehead and tummy to prevent usog, or the inexplicable and sudden baby illness. I simply can’t handle that yet, lest people tag me as suplada (snob). I don’t mind if they call me over-protective; every passionate mom is.

Dave and I are really excited and nervous about Danah’s birth. But if we were to decide on her birth date, we prefer having her delivered at the end of July.

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We just can’t describe the feeling of finally seeing Danah. Every word related to happiness and joy comes along.

I feel Danah growing inside me. She’s becoming participative which makes it easy for me to walk and do a lot of things. Everytime Dave would place his hands on my tummy, Danah would twitch. Ah, the joy.

Tomorrow is Dave’s birthday. This will be the first time Dave will be celebrating his birthday with the family of his own — us, and I feel nothing but happy for him. He has worked so hard to ensure our safety, and now he’s working even harder to give us a good life.

We’re doing some big decisions right now. We’re not that sure if they’re worth it, but we know it’s all for Danah’s best.

Today is the start of our last week in Manila. We’re moving to Los Banos since we believe Danah will be raised well here (but she’s still going to be born in Manila). I like the idea but giving up the urban life seems a bit hard. Rest assured that our careers won’t be sacrificed. Dave and I have to do a lot of parenting and after that, we’ll go back to where we left.

I’m close to my 8th month of pregnancy and so far I’m doing great. I look thinner and paler but it’s a good sign that Danah is getting all the nutrients I take.

Anyway, Dave and I will be very busy hauling our things to the province and getting ready for our little angel.

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I’m down to my last trimester of pregnancy. Dave and I cannot aptly describe the feeling of finally (actually close to finally) having a baby girl.

Entering motherhood entails a lot of adjustments and changes. I feel like I took my mom for granted when I was young and I feel utterly guilty for that. Now that it’s my turn to be a mom, I realized the pains my mom went just to make sure I and my sisters are all okay.

Before Danah was conceived,  all we thought were spending a big part of our salary on thingswe want (and not really need). Dave overspent on me. I spent my money to finance my seemingly insatiable need to buy everything I lacked when I wasn’t earning my own money. That included a flat screen TV, toys, stuff for Dave, and a few bags (I dislike buying expensive clothes and shoes). Dave did the same. He bought lots of toys, clothes, shoes, and stuff I wanted (and barely needed). Dave bought his laptop a couple of weeks after Danah was conceived. We were just right on time on quitting our overspending.

Now that our little Danah is closer to coming out of this world, all Dave and I ever do is to think of what she will need (and want). Our mall trips become much more frequent than before since we like to spend time on the baby section.

I overheard Dave’s conversation with a fellow SEO that his short term goal is to have his “little angel” delivered normally, and that his long term goal is to raise our children well (and to have a stable business to finance their needs). I remember that during my first few job interviews, all I answered to the same questions were “I honestly don’t know” and “I have yet to figure that out.” Now, it’s changed. Dave and I are entering parenthood and it’s crystal clear that our goals are mainly focused on our family, especially our kids.

Here are a few instances that justify the changes in us:

1. Dave learned how to cook. He got his chest burned with cooking oil. I got my face and arms blistered, too. We don’t mind.

2. All we talk about when he gets home is Danah.

3. I take a few bites but my diet discipline is much much stricter. That’s because there’s a baby inside me.

4. I browse for recipes, pregnancy facts, baby care, and I love to befriend doctors online.

5. Dave can finally get through a day even with a few hours of sleep. Sometimes he wakes up at night when I complain about my back, or about Danah kicking my ribs, or about my pregnancy blues.

6. Dave browses for cars online. He wants to get a car to make sure Danah will be safe during trips.

7. We are willing to give up our careers to raise Danah well. I will elaborate on this in time…

It may sound so overused, but we will give everything to Danah and our future kids. Yes, everything. We don’t know what sort of ‘everything’ that would be, but definitely it includes our happiness.

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As you can see, I review all comments before approving (or rejecting them). This is because a lot of spam bots and stupid link builders love to spam the site with annoying comments. Being an SEO, I am aware of this stuff (because I, too, spam for a living). But ladies and gentlemen, I make life unfair for those reckless spammers.

Now, to be a bit nice, here are some tips on how to effectively spam this page.

1. You only have one shot. Be sure that when you comment, you comment CONSTRUCTIVELY, or if not, nicely. You are benefiting from my page so why not do something in return? Also, do you even bother to read my post? If not, forget it.

2. Be human. Have emotions. I don’t take “this is a nice site” as a good comment. A few personal touch might do the trick.

3. Don’t do blatant spamming like “avail cheap replica watches” or “enlarge your weener 10x”. I presume that you’re spamming for robots and not for humans, so just do something about it. If your product is much like what I’ve mentioned, please, don’t bother. Your comment will just be deleted.

4. Write in a language most people can understand. No encryptions, no codes, no sticky caps. This site is mainly for humans, not for robots.

5. If you’re a one-time spammer and you happen to like to spam this page, here’s the bad news: links, by, default, have rel=NO FOLLOW. Perhaps your boss would prefer spamming do-follow sites. But if you get lucky and have, about, five spammy comments approved, your link will have the *drum roll*  DO FOLLOW attribute in this page.

So here’s to a successful and “clean” spamming. Good luck to all spammers out there.

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When I graduated college, I made sure I made most out of my summer before finally having the courage to seek for a job. I went out with friends, travelled in Visayas, finished every episode of South Park, slept and woke up late, until I grew tired of being a bum.

Yet there was one thing I’ve always pondered about: my resume.

Everywhere I went I thought about what to put and what NOT to put in my resume.

Here are some tips on how to create an effective resume (if you haven’t been taught about this in college):

1. Keep it short and simple. No flowery words, no long descriptions.

2. Make sure it is relevant to the position you’re applying for. Companies wouldn’t care if you won in a pageant; you’d rather state some relevant facts that sum up your character as a future employee.

3. Always indicate your character references and do not put “upon request”. Companies really DO track you down and it will cause much hassle and delay if you do not indicate a reference in your paper.

4. A lengthy resume is not impressive, unless you have years of experience and has obtained a PhD degree somewhere.

5. The layout and style of your resume matters. Be as formal as possible.

I am proud to say that my first resume has attracted companies I’ve applied for.

Speaking of job applications, do not fret when you don’t land that job interview. Do not worry about getting soaked in the sweltering heat carrying an envelope of resumes. Do not worry about having your heels blistered. Ladies and gentlemen, applications via walk-in is so yesteryear.

If we can use the internet to research, chat, make friends or even stalk people, we can use it to package ourselves and apply for jobs. Suffice to say that companies now prefer applications via internet since it’s more convenient. Job sites like JobStreet, JobsDB, BestJobs, Craigslist and other remote/freelance job sites could give you a job you mostly fit in. These websites sort jobs according to your level of expertise, field of experience, salary expectations… It sure doesn’t hurt to browse along. It’s safe, it’s cheap and it prevents you from getting tired and thirsty.

Why would you still opt to walk building-by-building to find a job? The internet is here to make lives easier. Both employers and employees use the internet as if their lives depend on it. So you, applicant, should be practical.

The issue of unemployment is not as prevailing as before. There are new industries today by which every fresh graduate could consider taking for experience. I am not solely talking about call center jobs since personally, I don’t find these jobs fulfilling.

Unemployment. Look around the internet and you will find a lot of employers. My statement may be limited to the information technology or journalism industry but getting referrals from, let’s say, hospitals, restaurants, hotels and other companies is just a matter of packaging yourself very well. Finding a job at this time is not as hard as it seems, you just need to package yourself very well and be practical, so I reiterate.

Gaining experience increases your chances of getting employed much easier in the future. Who does not want to be offered a high salary? Who would not be flattered about getting pirated (another company offering higher pay to you)? Of course these are good sub-goals since it does not only increase your worth, it increases your morale as well.

Some companies still cling to the issue of school discrimination (“candidate must be a graduate of the top 3 universities in the country“), and the issue is getting far-fetched, as far as internet-based job postings are concerned. The only discrimination I have encountered so far is not getting the job offer since I am pregnant (and thus incapable, so the company said).

To cut you some slack, here’s a list of the techniques on how to land a job interview and eventually get the job you applied for (from application to actual job interview):

1. Search the internet for the job you’re targeting. If you are still not decided on the specific job, go to a job site and browse for jobs by category.

2. Look for the qualifications. Entry level jobs are abundant. If you find yourself fit for the job, bookmark it and look for another related job.

3. Do steps 1 and 2 until you find your job list quite satisfying.

4. Apply for each job. Job sites require applicants to register in their websites. It takes about 3 minutes to do so.

5. Write or prepare your cover letter. It should be less than 200 words long, with only 3-4 paragraphs. Cover letters are supposed to be taught in college.

6. List the jobs you’ve applied for. You may expect a call a few hours to a few days after your application.

7. If the company gives you a call, it means you are scheduled for an interview OR you are being interviewed via phone.

8. If you’re scheduled for an interview, jot down the complete office address, whom to look for, contact number (in case) and the date and time.

9. Dress accordingly. Never forget to print a few copies of your resume and never forget to bring a black pen on job interviews. You might be scheduled for an exam.

10. Do not fret if the company reschedules you for another interview. It does not really mean you have chances of getting rejected.

I did not land the first job I really targeted. It took me about a month to get over it. Do you know how much time was wasted? A lot. So if you don’t land the job you’ve been wanting, it’s okay,  don’t always assume that you’re at fault.

Again, good luck in finding and getting your first job. I’m always here, doing the Lord’s work.

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This is just a primer of my entry to be published tomorrow.

The change. We can’t feel it unless it happened drastically. When we were undergraduates all we cared about were exams, allowance, passing the subject and enduring the long lines just to get enrolled. A few days after we graduated, we worried about our resume, job applications, career paths and what to wear on the first day of work. Now that we’re working, we care about tax deductions, benefits, payday, you name it.

What sort of change is there now?

I realized that getting a job isn’t everything. First, you make a good bargain just so you land a job. You settle for night shift schedule, bonds, company policies and whatnot. When you’re already feeling the weight of your decision, you decide to look for another job that will give you growth, good health and life.

Then what now?

I have a story for you.

I once didn’t care about taxes, deductions, health benefits, tenure… All I really cared about is getting my money every payday and staying happy at work. The company I worked fort he longest time did not have sufficient benefits that I never realized that I will be desperately needing now that I am married and about to have my first child. What’s the lesson?

For those of you who have yet to find their ideal job, consider these things:

1. Does the company offer regularization on your sixth month of employment provided that your performance is above average? If not, you better consider another company.

2. Does the company offer health benefits and not only the mandated PhilHealth? PhilHealth is not equivalent to HMO (health maintenance organization — loosely interchanged to ‘health card’). PhilHealth only covers hospitalization but health cards and benefits cover medicines and check-ups. Why are health cards important? Because you’ll never know when you’ll be sick and when you’ll be having money to pay the hospital bill. Happened to me.

3. Does the company secure you from being terminated for no reason at all? It’s called tenure. There are companies that do not have this so-called tenure, which is why they just terminate employees right away. Real-life scenario: there are companies that terminate employees on a very short notice (“good morning John Doe, here’s your final salary, you are fired effective today, thank you.”) Working in a company without tenure is like crossing the SLEX blindfold.

4. Taxes. When you accomplished that BIR form, did you state any dependent? If you’re working as a single person, you have the most tax deductions. Some companies deduce tax on just one payday, while some would divide the deduction into two paydays. Either way, there are pros and cons:

Deducting it once

Pro: you’re settled for the month. You won’t have to worry about tax deductions on your next payday.

Con: Tax deduction hurts a lot.

Deducting it twice

Pro: you will feel less burden in your bank account/pocket.

Con: there are other deductibles.

5. Pag-Ibig, SSS, PhilHealth. These are other deductibles aside from tax. I am not sure if there are companies who do not offer these and if these are really mandated by the Labor Code. For starters,

Pag-Ibig – Pag-Ibig fund offers low housing loans. IT IS FOR YOUR FUTURE HOUSE.

SSS – Social Security System is a broader government institution that offers loans, health, and other benefits. If you got a woman pregnant, your SSS cannot cover for her maternity. I just had to emphasize that.

PhilHealth – this is a health insurance. YES IT’S FOR YOUR HEALTH. But it’s only applicable when you get confined in the hospital. Confinement means admission to the hospital for days (as per experience).

It is a painful reality for me that I lacked most of these benefits. So you must be very wise in choosing the company you will work for. Never hesitate to ask about these benefits during your job interview.

Let’s just say I’m partially living my life with regrets because I did not secure my future that well. But let’s just say I’m happy to move on and be more wise in choosing my next job, which will happen right after I give birth.

So to all of you, do not be overwhelmed just because the company has quite popularity, or has a nice building/office. Think beyond that. Will the company give you what you deserve?

Good luck on landing your first job. I will post tomorrow some guidelines on how not to have a hassle job hunting and stuff.

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WHY NOT?

I won’t complicate my explanation. This partylist, although was granted a seat in the Congress late, has done many things — and not all of them were promised during the 2007 electoral campaigns. May I elaborate some of the major contributions?

1. The partylist was behind the extension of voters’ registry. Cong. Mong Palatino said it is just legal to extend the registration to the particular date. Now, many newly registered voters can vote on May 10.

2. Without much media exposure, the partylist helped victims of Typhoon Ondoy. Thousands of families were given aide.

3. The “Anti-No Permit No Exam Bill” was passed to protect students from the schools’ usual “no permit no exam” policy. The partylist believes that no student should be barred from taking examinations due to unpaid fees.

4. The partylist also lead the anti graduation fee for public schools.

5. Other than student rights and outreach, the partylist has also been acting on saving the environment. One example is the styrofoam ban on schools.

For complete information on what the partylist has contributed and the 2010 platform, visit the Kabataan Partylist website.

Personally, I admire this partylist since its aim is not mainly to chant on the streets and assert/fight for something; it also is committed to what politicians should really focus on: the citizens. Come 2007 I’ve had personal campaigns for the partylist, which mostly benefited the youth and the urban-poor sector.

Top left photo: Kabataan Partylist Southern Tagalog Wall Painting Contest (April 2007)

Top right photo: Kabataan Partylist Southern Tagalog Roadtrip for Employment

Bottom left photo: Me making a KP streamer during a workshop with ST people

Bottom right photo: my niece who campaigned for KP much harder than I did.

I learned a lot from this partylist. In 2007 if we’re not in a caravan campaigning, we’d be teaching the youth about music, arts and other things, or making silk screen shirts, wall painting, and basically making ourselves educated and productive by means of arts, literature and politics.

Our friends from the US even made a campaign video, summing up the youth’s activities during the 2007 campaign period:

So why am I for Kabataan Partylist? Need I elaborate?

Why should YOU be for Kabataan Partylist? After reading this, you’ll just have to say WHY NOT!

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