Okay Lah - Malaysia, is it??

There will always be a time where in decisions has to be made with regards to career goals and aspirations.  Early last year, my husband and I decided to move here in Malaysia to try our luck in our careers and to live on our own.

Although we are not alone "perse" here in Malaysia, we are our only family here.  Like we make our own decisions and so on and so forth.  We are miles away from our comfort zones and we have to start living not necessary like Malaysians but  how to live here in Malaysia.

Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy in Southeast Asia and is consists of thirteen states and three federal terretories.  The capital city is Kuala Lumpur while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government.

One good thing that I like about Malaysia is that they are multi-ethnic and multi-cultural.  Their constitution declares Islam as the state religion but there are other religions as well.  They are very diverse in terms of almost everything; food, clothing, religion, beliefs and culture and it makes it more interesting to stay here because there is a lot to learn!

Even if we are here in Malaysia, it's as if we are still in the Philippines.  We mingle with our fellow Filipinos, we eat Filipino food and we watch Filipino movies and shows.  So what seems to be different? Well there are still some, like in my case...

1. I like to eat guava and sweet mango dipped with "asam" (asam is powdered tamarind).  I also love papaya - reason being, you can buy one cut of papaya and I dont need to worry about peeling and cutting one (lazy me).

2. I like Tofu - one meal that I enjoy is "Yong Tau Fu", it is a chinese soup dish with tofu.  Tofu and other vegetables like eggplant, okra and bitter melon are stuffed with meat paste of fish or pork.

3. I like Limao Ice and Lime with sour plum!

4. Spices - name it, they have it.  From sambal, curry, rendang, pepper and what not... but even if I have been here for quite some time, I am still not used to it.  I think I am used with the smell but not the taste! 

5. Noodles Noodles and more noodles - Since there are a lot of Chinese here, they have all the noodles you want.  Kuey Teow is my favorite!  I also love to eat at Hawkers!!! (Hawkers is not a resto name but is a place where there are a lot of food stalls.  From rice, noodles, pork, indian cuisine, drinks and all.  Plus they are very cheap!). 

6. I point to things or person using my thumb and not my index finger - its inappropriate to point using your index finger because its like cursing

7. Really??? I don't use this anymore.  Now its "is it?"

8. Are you going home? Yes I am going back!

9. Instead of calling people "Kuya" or "Ate" - we call them "Auntie" or "Uncle"

10. I enjoy paying by the cents.

These are some things that I can recall now but definitely there will always be something to add to this list.  There are a lot of things that I haven't tried or eaten but I know in time I will be able to do them.

Just to add to my list - I came across this video -- quite cool and pretty much I can relate :p

I just wanted to share what is my life here in Malaysia. There are still a lot more instore for me and by husband but we will take it one step at a time!

Happy Friday: Busy April

I was not able to write anything for the past weeks because April was such a busy month for me.  Although I always want to write what happened, because of the busy schedule I have decided to write it all in one sitting J

First week of April, my husband and I went back to the Philippines because it’s Holy Week.  We were in the Philippines for 7 days and what we did was to divide these days to Angono Rizal and San Pablo City Laguna.  This is to make sure that we will be able to visit both our families before we head back to Malaysia.

During our stay in Angono, we focused ourselves in the Holy Week and went to repent and recollect. It was also another way to look back at the things that we did and reflect on how we can serve Him more. 

On the other hand, while the time that we arrived in San Pablo was the Stations of the Cross Parade (prusisyon), our stay there was more for us to do bonding and do spring cleaning.  True enough, I was able to do spring cleaning (because I am the only person that my mother would like to clean) we were also able to do bonding.

We had our long overdue bonding (like cats and dogs) when we had dinner for my mother’s 36^th birthday. 

We also had our BFFs bonding in our house.  I cooked our favorite dish which is “Sinigang” and it was so much fun because even my father cooked grilled Tilapia for us, he even bought sweet potatoes for our snack!  It’s always fun to talk and just relax at home with special persons in our lives.

Soon enough, I left San Pablo together with my brother and we headed back to Angono.

Every time I go back to the Philippines, I always have a list with me.  This is to make sure that everything that I planned in meeting and doing are accomplished.  That’s the reason that every time I am in the Philippines, my schedule is so full packed and it is not even a vacation.  Well it is a vacation because it is away from work but it will still be a busy and happy vacation.

How can you make one thing beautiful?

Can you imagine that behind that smile is a Trash Can?  This is from one of the hotels in Port Dickson Malaysia (which I got from my friend Anne).  When I got to see this picture I was amazed on how they thought of making that cover as lovely as that. 

I see this one as yet another inspiration.  It is but normal that we will encounter difficulties; what is life without these challenges right.  We will never appreciate how happy we can be if we were not in our lowest moments? Yes, it is normal and how an individual face such situation makes all the difference.

Negative feelings are normal; it will always be part of what we are but most of the time we tend to avoid them thinking that it will not give us anything good.  That mindset is correct but avoiding these negative feelings should be done in a right manner.

I am not an expert on anything but this is how I view things in my simplest way.

For me, the first thing to do is to acknowledging the negative feeling / situation. Acknowledging is like recognizing the situation as a situation first and not as something that will lead into something. 

Once I have acknowledged the situation, I will assess how it happened and its root cause.  This will help me better understand why a particular situation happened, this will help me think of ways to go around the situation and accept it.

Acceptance is a key role for me, this is when I stop thinking about the situation and will start looking for possibilities. How can the situation help me, how can I grow? This is when our mindset from a negative situation is turned around to be beneficial and will eventually be a good situation.

Always looking at things on a positive side has always been my mantra in life, some of my friends and colleagues say that I am very positive.  The reason behind that is I always believe that everything happens for a reason and that every obstacle is a learning experience!

Make my Mama Proud!

A woman's beauty is measured not by the physical appearance but by how one has managed to raise her family!

36 years ago (of course this is a joke) a child was born and became a simple girl.. dreamt of finishing college and landing a perfect job.  Dreamt to built a family of her own, raise her children and become a good wife!

36 years ago, once just a dream is now a reality!



I thought that I ought to make my Mama proud but it was the other way around.  Last March 25, 2012 during the 46th Commencement Exercises at Canossa College San Pablo City, all of the hardwork and commitment has paved the way.  Mama recieved a Commendation!

Escorted by my brother, the award was...

"For her 20 years of invaluable partnership and committed service to the institution towards the concretization of the ideals of St. Magdalene of Canossa in the formation of the young As Christian Person Sharer of God's Love"

There is a saying "Be proud you are a teacher, the future depends on you" this is very much true and we are lucky to have both; a teacher and a mother!

Today is her birthday and I will always wish her the best of everything, happiness and love from her friends and family.

Even if we are apart, we will always be one message away!!