potty training moments

I cannot remember how successful we were in potty training our kids. Ayi being seven years old now has a long gap with Pio our youngest, who is now two years old. Sometimes when I take a bath, I bring Pio along and I would show him how daddy pee. But when I would ask him to try to imitate me, he would just shake his head and say 'wala', or that he does not feel it's time yet. Other times, he would try it and then I would hear pffffft followed by that foul smell, 'Ay utot lang' he would say with a sinister grin. Yes, we have funny moments inside the bathroom. He learned to poop first before peeing because it was easier to teach him. Whenever we see him groaning or moving his stomach we would run to sit him in the toilet seat. But to catch him before peeing is entirely different.

There is one particular day when we decided to take off his diapers and I told Pio face to face that if he feels he wants to pee, he should ask me or mommy to go to the toilet. Of course, he does not remember and we would only hear him say 'weewee' after he had just wet the floor. One day, I caught him holding onto his crouch that's when I realized he would pee. I brought him to our bathroom but just before I got his shorts off, he let go of his warm urine. I went down to his level and talked to him again face to face explaining that he should wait to take off his shorts before or else he would wet them. From that moment, he seems to understood it and the next one was a succesful pee to the bowl! My wife and I were clapping for him and he seems to enjoy our congratulations. The next day, Suzette called me over the phone to tell me the news that Pio went to pee four times without fail to the bathroom. One thing that helped her that day was scheduling Pio's trip to the bathroom.

The next day, Pio gets to go on a vacation to his lolo and lola in Paranaque. Suzette told them how the little boy is now doing it in the bathroom and so she suggested that the routine be duplicated there also as Pio will be there for a few days. Probably familiarity also is a factor in this that is why Pio would be uncooperative or would just say 'wala' to them. Lolo Tony however was clever to encourage our son to show off how he pees to Maui! And so, every now and then, Pio would pee in their grassy lawn in front of Maui, the dog in Paranaque.

Feast of the Black Nazarene

After bringing my children to school, I went directly to the office to park my car. I then proceeded to walk towards minor basilica of St. John the baptist also known as Quiapo church where I annually attend mass this time of the year. Incidentally, it is also the birthday of St. Josemaria Escriva, founded of the Opus Dei whom I also pray novena to.
I arrived near the vicinity of the church at Ronquillo and Carriedo streets before 7 am. It is usually orderly during this hours but the crowd is already building up. I had a hard time getting through the crowd because the I ended up moving with the wave that is also head on with a crowd going out of the church. I have to backtrack and turn to an alley that puts me on another mob trail that wants to get inside the church. After about twenty minutes, I am in the middle of Plaza Miranda and can hear the mass from there. A giant monitor was also setup so that others can see the celebration inside. Archbishop Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales was officiating the mass.

Little by little I'm inching closer to the entrance doors amidst the sea of people that have some groups going in and some going out of the church. A lady and her companions were complaining that they are heading towards the church again instead of their intentions of going at the back of the church altar to touch the Nazarene. This is one of the problems here. Because of the crowd, you cannot see the steel railings that has been placed to control the traffic of people to the church. Even the signs "Pasukan" at "Labasan" on the rails is hardly noticeable until you are about three to five meters away. It's too late to move to the other side if you fail to notice them.

I found the chance to enter the church during communion when some people have also started to come out while many also seized the opportunity to create another wave towards the entrance. By the end of the final blessing, I was already inside right beside a mom who took her five or six month old daughter. "Sayang" or so I thought, the cardinal started his mass early this year. Although the new priest coming out to celebrate the next mass is quite familiar. And at about 7:30, Bishop Teodoro Bacani started celebrating the mass. Wow, all archbishops and bishops are here to celebrate with the mass and fiesta. I was quite comfortable in the duration of the mass as I was lucky that I am able to place myself in front of one of the wall fans working overtime today.

During communion, I have some hesitation to take it on the left side of the church on where I was because the aides where asking to people to leave the church right after receiving the host. This is because I want to receive the final blessings also inside the church. I scan around and can see that it's almost the same everywhere but I decided to cross to the middle where at least the exit path will be longer and thus have a better chance of hearing the final blessings inside.

I excused myself from the people sitting and kneeling at the pews where I passed with no effort. And as expected, I was led to exit at the middle aisle after communion and was slowly walking toward the back exit with the others. Just before hitting the turn towards the door, the bishop gave his final blessing and I paused to say my final prayers. And after the mass was finished, I cannot move an inch as people started to dart toward the middle aisle. Lay ministers were sprinkling holy water to the people who have raised their hands with their rosaries, novena booklets, images of the Sto. Nino and the Black Nazarene and even handkerchiefs. I too, picked my rosary from my pocket and joined with the crowd.

Going out takes a shorter time than going in but the effort is double. I am caught in the lane of two opposing groups with one moving in while I'm at the edge of another crowd going out. My shirt is being snagged from other people's bags or fans while trying to control my balance from the pushing and the shoving of other people. I can feel the cool winds of January is still here when I look up and grasp for air but my head and body is already hot and sweating from the effort of moving towards the welcome sight of Carriedo streets.

By 8:45 I'm already at Avenida. I feel very hungry so I decided to have a quick meal. All three Jollibee stores that I passed by are full when then I noticed a new Tropical Hut in the area. I proceeded inside and placed my order. It isn't until the food was served that I noticed the claim number that the cashier has given me that I request the server to hold on while I take a picture before they take the number tag. Why, it's the number 9! Cool isn't it? Call me corny but hey I like corny. Sometimes I take them as signs or assurance that things will be better. I take this time of the year to thank God for all the blessings my family received and as well as for giving me another year here on earth. So, yes I take that as a sign from God that He was listening to my prayers. At lunch time my wife called me that she noticed the crawling vines that we planted about five months ago has started to bloom. Now, that's another sign and He's telling me I am not corny. Believe!

Jing 4.0

"'Tol kwarenta ka na bukas ah, parang Dota games natin -- Jing 4.0". this is how my youngest brother, Denny greeted me today upon entering our office. Wow oo nga. Everybody close to me seem to be very excited. My brother, sister and in-laws in the US too have greeted me in advance during our YM session. Kiko my bro-in-law also sent a chat message greeting me in advance.

My tita Josie today just whispered in my ear "happy birthday" while I'm blogging in my desk and added that she would be absent tomorrow that's why she is greeting me in advance. While my mom and tita has been busy also buying ingredients for some dishes I requested.

My loving wife is so hyper preparing some dishes and dessert for tomorrow's small gathering. "Excited ka na ba?", Suzette would ask me. I can feel she is. I cannot say that I don't feel excited but I am not in a festive mood either. My wife reminded me I really should celebrate even with a small party as a thanksgiving because we are so blessed this year that just passed in all spiritual, emotional and material things. Hands down I agree and couldn't ask for more. I know God is so good to us and all and now I realize why am feeling like this -- I can feel the love of so many people that it eclipse my want of celebrating my birthday. Thank you all. Family, relatives and friends. Thank you for being a part of my life. Thank you for being there always. God bless!

Do we wii?

Do you play computer games at home? Ever since we got married, we have not installed a computer game system at home. We believe that it lessen the social interaction skills of a child and that it also promotes violence.

Anyway, last December 2006 we decided to give our son Jiego his well deserved DS since he is doing exceptionally well in school. There are rules imposed like: one hour gaming tops in a day (weekends only) and none especially when there is an exam the following week. He should also share it with his sisters and the same rule also applies to them.

Last Christmas (2007), nanay Nini, their grandma gave them a wii for a present. Compared to other gaming platform, we can accept to install this during vacation and free weekends for our children. The sensors in this system allow the player/s to be virtually in the game by 'acting' the required action unlike the usual paddle and buttons consoles in the market that may cause you carpal tunnel syndrome. Included in the package is Wii Sports which includes tennis, baseball, bowling, golf and boxing. Everyone in our family sweat it out playing these sports and also helped improve our reflexes and sort of work out everybody. If other consoles suggest self-centeredness in their games, this gadget can promote group games and even family bonding time.

Hollywood trivia

Sometimes when I am staring blank at my computer thinking of what to do next, I would log on to http://www.flixster.com/never-ending-quiz and try to improve my score. You can check it out and see if you are up-to-date with today's (and yesterday's) Hollywood films.