Zzz

I had to take a break from blogging today to take care of myself.

Will be back tomorrow.

#BeKind #StaySafe

Shopping at Wilcon Depot for Home Needs

Last Friday, we went to Wilcon Depot to buy a couple of needs for our plumbing system. I'm actually glad that the master plumber, Manong Roy, installed a filter system for our water tank. With frequent water interruptions by Maynilad, we see how much dirt is accumulated monthly on the filter. This helps clean the water that goes into our water tank. Having a filter helps keep your tank clean and you avoid the cost of having a water tank cleaned (at least PhP6,000 per service). 

Anyway, we just buy the replacement filter at Wilcon Depot. The same filter is much more expensive at Ace Hardware. Usually, Sweetie buys it, but this time he allowed me to go with him since the branch is fully air-conditioned (last time I went to a similar store I got heat exhaustion). We also went because we needed to replace a part for our toilet. 

We went around after getting what we needed and I was enthralled with the many items they carry. I've been making a list for our future house and took note of the cost of construction materials. It was overwhelming, but a good place to see different kinds of materials. We were also pleasantly surprised to find bigger cat crates (haha). The ones at malls are quite expensive and smaller, so it was good to know you can get bigger crates at Wilcon Depot. 

The staff were also very helpful. They were more knowledgeable than mall based hardware stores and that's a good thing since they helped us find the right part for the toilet we needed (which thankfully got fixed the same day by a plumber). 

I'd like to go back soon to see what else they have so we can plan things better. I'll probably go earlier in the day or later in the afternoon. The blast of hot air when you step out isn't good for you. 

*I've also looked around online for home items, but prefer to know and hold the actual materials before purchasing anything. 

#BeKind #StaySafe

Andre the Giant

Yesterday, we watched the WWE Hall of Fame where they honored Andre the Giant for his contributions for wrestling. To be honest, I only found out that Andre the Giant was a wrestler when Sweetie and I got married! 

I knew Andre the Giant from the film, The Princess Bride. He was one of my favorite characters as a kind, gentle giant. He changed my view of giants from the scary The Hulk. Growing up, I always thought giants were scary, but Andre the Giant who was initially looked mean on the film was actually a gentle person. 

It's been decades since I watched The Princess Bride and my memories are fuzzy about the story, but I remember the characters, including Wallace Shawn who eventually played Dr. John Sturgis in Young Sheldon. The Princess Bride is part of my childhood core memory. 

Going back to Andre the Giant, it was an eye opener to see clips of him wrestling. It was amazing to discover another side of him. He sadly passed away only when he was 46 years old. Despite that he was a legend and left a mark in history. 

#BeKind #StaySafe

The Thrill of Propagation

I enjoy plants more when I grow them from seed or from cuttings. I can just easily buy, but it's more challenging to sow seeds and watch a cutting thrive.

Growing cuttings is really challenging. My Mom told me it's easy. Just stick it in soil and it'll grow. My Mom had a very green thumb. I'm still a work in progress.

A few weeks ago, I embarked on my fourth or fifth cycle of propagating my Mom's bougainvillea collection. As far as I know, she never bought bougies. She exchanged cuttings with neighbors. 

After a few cycles, I think I'm finally getting better at it. Let the cutting drink water with liquid rooting hormone overnight. The next day rub the bottom with aloe vera and wrap it with her leaf, then stick in soil mixed with chicken manure and perlite. Let it slip water from the bottom and leave it in an area with indirect light. I covered it with a bottle with holes for a week and then removed the bottle cap. 

Water everyday and I found out by chance that watering with rice water and orange peels help give it a nutrition boost. Just make sure to dilute it. I only remove the bottles when the leaves are bigger already. 

And the reward comes when you continue to care for it. Prune every so often and feed it with complete fertilizer. It will produce flowers even when it's in a small pot. I haven't repotted any of the bougies I propagated. I'll wait until they outgrow the pot, besides I still have some of those Mom propagated. I'll re-pot those first.

#BeKind #StaySafe

Brain Fry

We stepped out this morning for some errands. Boy, it was HOT! I brought my neck fan to help cool me down while going around.

We first went to a garden nursery to get some supplies. The area where plants were displayed felt cool. They had just watered the plants, so I guess that helped cool down the temperature. The net overhead also kept the sun's harsh rays out. Maybe we should do that for our whole house?

After leaving the garden nursery, we got some breakfast and then went to a hardware to buy some items for our home. Good thing the depot had airconditioning so it was bearable. The last time I went to one I melted! Luckily, we decided to go another way and missed the heavy traffic due to a fire. Soon enough we were home.

I'll probably hibernate until the rainy season comes.

#BeKind #StaySafe

Six Years Ago We Moved

Six years ago we moved to our last home in Singapore. Things were getting stricter back then and we got lucky because the lockdown happened right after we moved. 

I didn't know then that it would be our last stop in Singapore. It was a different experience since from our second floor apartment, we moved 20 floors up! 

It certainly helped to have a balcony. We got fresh air and managed to get some sun when we stepped out to hang laundry. It was a smaller space, but it was good to experience living on a higher floor. I don't think I'll experience it again.

The move was hard to do, but we managed to pull it off. We had to since our old apartment seriously needed attention and I felt I was getting sick in the place already. I would probably have gone crazy if we got stuck in the old apartment during the pandemic. 

Just a good memory to remember. There's always something exciting when you move to a new place.

#BeKind #StaySafe

Changing What I Eat

My recent annual physical exam didn't have good results. My doctor didn't scold me for being at the ceiling of what's normal, but I know it's time for me to change my diet so I don't overboard especially with cholesterol and blood sugar.

The summary report suggested I avoid eating meat, including chicken, and to eat more veggies. For over a week now I have been eating fish everyday and I'm keeping a diary of vegetables I eat everyday.

It's been an eye opening experience since I've been finding new dishes to try. I also rounded up my seafood recipes I've made through the years. My next grocery run will include more seafood in the list. 

It's been a week and the most noticeable change is I'm able to sleep faster. My doctor said the body aches and cramps I'm experiencing is due to the heat and humidity. I just need to be better hydrated and stay out of the sun (gardening time has also moved to a later time).

I lost about a kilo already, but I'm not counting that as a permanent change. I'll consider it as weight loss if it stays for another week.

#BeKind #StaySafe

Made a Bag for a Friend

When I heard my Malaysian friend was visiting, I immediately thought about replacing the bag I made for her years ago. It was one of my earlier projects and was hand sewn. It wasn't too sturdy.

I had only a few days to make it, so I made a small all-around bag which she can use as a lunch bag or shopping bag. I worked on it for a few nights and the coffee beans we got for them fit perfectly. 

I like making stuff for dear friends. I hope this bag lasts!

#BeKind #StaySafe

Combating Bad Air Quality

The whole metro was affected by the huge fire in the Navotas landfill. It's one of the rare times that government flagged the bad air quality and asked people to wear N95 or KN95 masks.

I monitor air quality frequently because I have severe asthma. Air quality frequently goes bad, it's just more pronounced now because the fire is probably burning through materials that's producing PM2.5 particles.

Breathing in PM2.5 (micro particles) is really bad for your lungs. It's probably why my lungs have deteriorated through the years. The best way to combat it is to close your windows and use an air purifier to help clean the air.

I've tried different air purifiers, but the most practical one is Xiaomi. The filter lasts long, plus it's easily replaceable. I also never had issues and it's helped me a lot avoid asthma attacks.

Protect your and your family's lungs. I usually check air quality through the IQ air app. You can also just do a quick search by typing "air quality + city your are in".

#BeKind #StaySafe

Artemis II

Back when I was a child space exploration was talked about often. It was probably because of the successful Apollo and Columbia space flights. I was teased a lot because of my last name!

It waned in the 80s following the failed Challenger flight and I guess it became more frequent with other countries also sending their own missions. In 1986, our attention locally was focused on what was happening. A lot of changes happened after the EDSA Revolution and international news faded in the background.

Artemis II though piqued my interest. We'd watch news about it. It was fascinating and a good distraction from all the bad things happening. I clapped when the crew landed back safely. The good news kept me hopeful.

Let's all remember to pray for peace 🙏

#BeKind #StaySafe

The Flowers that Love the Sun

The change to hotter weather has been horrendous. I've had to figure out how much water to add to my plants because of the heat. I have to be careful since I don't want to cause root rot or over watering. 

Well, there are some plants that thrive during sunnier weather. The kalachuchi (desert rose) I rescued from Mom's garden is so happy. It's been producing flowers non-stop.

The bougainvillea cuttings I propagated last year have been producing flowers too. I'm amazed even the smaller ones are flowering too. Bougainvillea truly thrives under the sun.

I have two santan plants I've been meaning to fix, but they've been producing flowers lately. I'll just probably add some nutrients to it. I'm scared it might get shocked if I re-pot it under this crazy heat.

My Gumamela plants are slowly recovering and showing signs of flowering again. I hope they will produce flowers again soon!

#BeKind #StaySafe

The Heat is On!

Ughhhh! It's been getting hotter and hotter everyday. I moved my gardening time to 5:30 already since the heat has been unbearable.

I also busted out my neck fan to keep me cool while puttering around the garden. Sweetie got it for me way back and I'm glad it still works. One of these days I'll probably bring out a portable fan already, haha.

Stay hydrated and cool everyone!

#BeKind #StaySafe

Bataan Day

My Papa Lolo marched across Bataan in 1942. He survived and according to my Mom saved a fellow soldier, carrying him so he wouldn't be struck by a bayonet.

And today we honor all those who were forced to participate in the death march 84 years ago. I cannot imagine the horrors they went through on that day. It also brought a lot of heartbreak for the families of those who perished.

Let us remember them with love and grateful hearts 🙏

#BeKind #StaySafe

Improvement Due to Pulmo Rehab

I re-started my pulmo rehab sessions last January. I preferred it over physiotherapy for my knee. I've also been consistently using my spirometer everyday.

The annual PE included a chest x-ray. I put my previous x-ray side by side with the new one and was surprised to see some improvements. I have no idea how to interpret x-rays, but my right chest looked clearer than last time. The head pulmo rehab therapists also told me my lungs looked better. 

I was supposed to see my doctors yesterday, but I wasn't feeling well so I had to reschedule. Our priority is to keep the healthy parts of my lungs stable, so any improvement is a big plus. My heart though is bonkers. Oh well.

#BeKind #StaySafe

Got a Bag for My Mom's Sewing Machine

Mom's sewing machine (the one I bought for her) is in my maker room. I tested it and it's working and it's my back up sewing machine. I just used my sewing machine's cover to keep it dust free, but I thought it needs better storage since it doesn't fit any if my cabinets.

I couldn't find any sewing machine bag locally. Found an affordable one on Amazon with free shipping. I received it last week and I'm pleased with the quality of the bag. It has a lot of compartments and would be great for traveling. Now I want one for my main sewing machine, hahaha.

#BeKind #StaySafe

Catifying Your Home

We all grew up with dogs in our home, so we didn't have any experience having pet cats. My Mom didn't like cats because they always ruined her plants.

Fast forward to 2022, when we noticed that our new home came with a cat. For a random reason we had brought home two cans of cat food*. We gave to him and soon enough he had a name, Grey.

Word spread fast and we eventually had other cats visiting to eat and the kittens were born! We scrambled to learn how to care for cats and kittens. Here's what we learned:

1. Feed them at specific times and in specific areas. Remove leftovers so it doesn't attract pests. Make sure their drinking water is always fresh.

2. Bring them to the vet for vaccination and deworming. Spay and neuter them. This keeps both you and your cats protected plus you get calmer cats.

3. Designate cat toilets by placing litter boxes. Keep it clean. Don't put it near where they eat.

4. Boxes are the best beds for them. Don't bother with expensive beds, they prefer boxes. You can use mats or old towels as their bedding. Keep it clean.

5. Protect your plants by placing used disposable forks (cleaned of course), so they don't use your plants as a bed or toilet. Keep poisonous plants out of reach from cats.

6. Playtime is important. Just make toys yourself, they'll appreciate it more than expensive toys.

7. Don't cut their nails. They use it to defend themselves.

8. Respect their boundaries. Not all cats like being petted. Let them take the lead.

Everytime I step outside, I call each of our fur babies by name. I ask them to call those who are not around and soon enough they're all present. 

I ♥️ my kitties 😻 

#BeKind #StaySafe

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! 

I'm relieved that Lent is over and we can celebrate Easter! We were planning to have a Christmas-like feast, but Miggy isn't feeling well. We had him rest and will hopefully do our planned feast tomorrow.

We stepped out this afternoon to support our friends' pop-up cafe at the park. I've been missing their coffee so this was a perfect opportunity to try their new product, peppermint mocha coffee. Yum!

May you all have a blessed Easter Sunday!

#BeKind #StaySafe 

Black Saturday 2026

I'm still observing quiet time.

Have a blessed day everyone.

#BeKind #StaySafe

Good Friday 2026

A prayerful Good Friday to everyone 🙏

#BeKind #StaySafe

Holy Thursday 2026

Have a prayerful Holy Thursday 🙏

#BeKind #StaySafe

Annual Physical Exam

Before I take a break for a few days, I wanted to share my experience doing my annual PE at St. Luke's BGC.

There was no traffic, so I arrived 40 minutes earlier than my appointment. We also got lucky and was able to park easily since it was a Sunday. The facility wasn't full too since it was Palm Sunday.

Check-in was easy and we haven't warmed the couch when my 4-hour journey started. I chose the cardiometabolic program and added OB related tests since I'm due. In between tests I had breaks and Sweetie and I had breakfast and lunch at the center. They even had my favorite St. Luke's spaghetti! The medical staff and doctors were friendly and efficient. They just need to review how to assist patients on wheelchairs.

I have to be honest though, the path to the day was rocky. My insurance company promised I could do the APE overnight, but I was only approved for out-patient. They tried to appeal it, but the approver did not budge. 

Reserving a slot wasn't a walk in the park. My doctor's assistant warned it would take a month to book. We went to the center in person and got an appointment. If you have inquiries, it's better to go there as the reservations team isn't very responsive on emails and their system has a lot of glitches. Imagine receiving a cancellation ping on Viber two days before your appointment even though you didn't cancel. They also keep sending annoying reminders for things you've already done. That's where they need improvement.

Overall, I'm hoping they improve their reservations team and system, I wouldn't mind doing my tests there again next year.

#BeKind