Love Always

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It has been ten wonderful years and I look forward to the rest of my life with Romil and our kids.

We celebrated our anniversary by renewing our vows with no less than Rev. Fr. Fidel Orendain, who officiated our wedding ten years ago. This time, however, the ceremony was held the the Don Bosco Retreat House Chapel in Lawaan, Talisay, where Fr. Fidel is retreat master. Our long-time friend, Cio Datan, took our photos on our wedding day and again last 15 August.

Dinner afterwards was great, albeit the long drive back to the city, at La Buona Forchetta, where Italian food has always been authentic and oh so good.

A small, intimate celebration. The way it is supposed to be.

True Colors

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After all that has been said and done, all the trials, all the challenges, all the disappointments, and all the misadventures, I've become the person I always was in the beginning.

A friend once said that the life I've led is the stuff made of Hollywood movies. The dramatic kind. A good read, if I or some other writer would take the time out to put into words all that I've been through and all that I chose to do with my life. Except maybe that for a good conclusion and commercial appeal, that writer would have to end my story early on or write a brief summary of what came to be.

Looking back, the person I was and whom I tried to be a decade or two ago area far cry from whom I've become today. Then again, I realize that I've always been the person I am today, albeit older, wiser, and definitely more mature. I sure didn't know anything much in my late teens and early adulthood, despite my strong belief that I knew it all back then.

I certainly had no idea before that my true colors are the ones I don today.

A Lil' Fun, A Lotta Lovin'

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Life has never been more fun until hubby and I had kids, especially now that Raj and Elle are in that adorable age. Thus, I have to admit, I have difficulty understanding couples who choose to marry, but exert extra effort not to have kids or not to have more than what they'd like. I wish I could have more and yet, for now, have only been blessed with two -- wonderful, adorable ones.

Beyond Ourselves

You've always been there for me
even when you did not know it.
Knowing in my heart that I could run to you
if I needed to was at times enough.
Thinking of you, what you would say
if you were there made it seem
like you never left.
All those times I wanted
you to be the first to know
what was going on --
I did tell you, you know.
Those conversations may have been
all just inside my head,
but they kept you and me
alive and real.
So much so we can start
were we left off
as if we never truly did.

How many people in a lifetime can you say truly know you and accept who you are, whom you've become, the person you are going to be? Someone who knows what's going on your mind, what you would say, before you even start forming the words in those little grey cells?

I have such a special someone in my life. Sad to say, he has not been that much a part of it the past years as much as I thought he would be, as I wanted him to be. Our pride seemingly kept us apart more than the lands and seas that were physically in between us, not wanting the other to think less of the persons we've become. Much more, to not be understood and accepted. Alas, it was, in the end, what kept us apart was our lack of faith in each other.

But that was then. We've hence vowed to be better friends. No more pretenses.

In the meantime, as we cannot yet spend endless hours catching up on each other's lives, plans, and dreams, the virtual world would have to do and we'll be taking our coffee to go.

I am a Moonstruck Mom

Yes, I agree, Cher did a great performance in the movie “Moonstruck, ” wherein she landed her first and only Oscar as Best Actress. But that was in 1987. Two, long decades ago. Although my real name is Cherry, there is no co-relation whatsover between the title of this entry and Cher or the movie.

Long before that, there has been the Moonstruck Band that plays pop, rock-a-billy, blues, country, and Latin dance music. I never actually heard of them until I got several queries as to why I named my company “Moonstruck” [Marketing]. They were, I hear, a hit, back when I was way too young yet to care to listen to them.

So why am I a Moonstruck Mom? Well, I’m no typical mom. I cook, but I’d really much rather not, and wish I had a personal chef adept with international cuisine. I’d rather eat cakes and pastries than bake them. I want a neat house, but prefer to only lift a finger to point to what needs to be picked up and cleaned. I can verily thread a needle, but that’s as far as I go.

On the other hand, I’m a devoted wife and I actually fall in love with my husband over and over again with each year we’ve been married. To spark things up, I keep him second-guessing –almost all the time.

I adore my two kids who constantly make me want and strive to become a better parent, a better person. After all, becoming a mom is the best thing that has happened to me. My family motivates me, inspires me. With them I find true love, joy, and peace.

And yet, like those who get awed by the full moon, I get a little crazy sometimes.

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Back in School

It's true, you know. You should be careful about what you say, because it might come true.

Even as a child I've always admired teachers, but whenever asked what I wanted to become when I'd grow up, it was just one profession that did not cross my mind.

When I was filling up college application forms decades ago, I vividly recall choosing psychology or behavioral studies primarily because should I later on decide not to pursue law (which I did not), I did not want to end up having no other option than to become a teacher. With psychology, I repeatedly rationalized over the years to everyone and to myself, I can get into almost any profession -- as long as it involved dealing with people.

Well, fresh from college, my first job was a teaching one. I taught English and History to high school students at La Salle Greenhills, and became homeroom adviser to a 2nd year class to boot. Why?? They had this ablult night school program that called to this perennially gnawing need of mine to serve others. Plus, I couldn't say no to the Superintendent (a LaSallian Brother) that time, whom I was quite fond of. He had his secretary call me and facilitate my teaching position. It was a done deal.

That stint, however, lasted only a year and I told myself I was not cut out to teach. That such a vocation was quite a laudable and honorable one, and yet so not mine.

I decided to take the easy route. I took another course, hung out with friends, continued working on the student paper (a bi-monthly) that I became the managing editor of. Afterwards, I became editor of magazines and trade publications.

A decade later and with a family to prioritize, I opted for an even easier path. Marketing consultancy, which mainly involved public relations and events management services. Even with a real office and secretary, I worked mostly from home. It was fine and it has served its purpose: additional income for my family; professional work for me.

So that need to serve? It gnawed and gnawed and gnawed. So I'd do some advocacy work and that gnawing feeling would subside. Somehow, they weren't enough to fill that need.

After several prayers for guidance and wisdom, I decided (with my husband's full support) to go back to school. That is, to help the PAREF (Parents for Education Foundation) Southcrest School by working full time as marketing officer. Several more prayers later, I agreed to teach Composition and Grammar to the fourth year students.

Surprisingly, I have found myself actually enjoying teaching, relating with my students. I look forward to listening to their speeches, reading their compositions and journals, and viewing their projects. There are only 11 of them and so I get to personalize the lessons. I truly enjoy getting to know each one of them and helping prepare them for college.

I am challenged by our generation gap and thus, aim to inspire them, motivate them. Teaching is putting my creative skills (and digital know-how) to a test. Teaching is actually fun. And I'm proud to say I'm a teacher.