Who said fasting and abstinence is only for Lent?

I will attempt to do mine, this Christmas and New Year.

I have finally wrapped up my last project for the year, and will try not to be online for the next week (fingers crossed!).

This year has been incredibly crazy but wonderful for me. Everything came fast, and I am thankful that God has been the most faithful God there is.

So, to all my friends, have a blessed Christmas and New Year ahead! You are all in our prayers.

Don’t forget to click this blogpost for my Christmas gift to you: a $10 credit from design website, Canva!

It was the fourth day of the anticipated Simbang Gabi. I was hoping the previous attendance of five kids would be more, knowing that some of my members are almost done or maybe done with exams. Unfortunately, I had four.

I don’t mind. I trust my kids too well that I know they could deliver. And deliver they did. We had a good service tonight. We even had to change the line-up to more familiar songs so that the community could better participate. They were prepared for these kinds of “emergencies.” 

What was best though was the Homily delivered by Fr. Elis Santos of Don Bosco, Mandaluyong. It was all about what my kids had shown: being ready.

Earlier in the morning, a dear friend posted the following on Facebook, and I quote:

It was a night like any other night but it wasn’t a child like any other child… How can we take such a simple story which can be read in seven verses and come up with a complicated celebration? As the world celebrates the birth of Christ for all the wrong reasons for the expressions of self-indulgence, materialism, partying and social events of any kind, may we find the real significance why Jesus had to be born in human form. Don’t clutter your mind with such Christmas clutters. 

So, why are we readying our Christmas presents, then? Why do we rush to that expensive restaurant or hotel to make an early reservation? Why are malls filled to the brim? Why are we readying ourselves for the wrong things?

Fr. Elis gave us three simple things that will help us Be Ever Ready, especially when the -BER months usher in:

Basa ng Bibliya (Read the Bible). One verse a day. Then it will become one passage, one chapter, one book, then the entire thing. One step at a time.

1 Peter 2:2 said it: Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.

Enthusiastic (participation in the) Eucharist. One hour a week. Only one hour. That’s what is requested of us. You need not to be part of the lectors or of the choir to be able to participate. Respond, sing along the songs, focus, pray.

Regular Rosary. Filipinos are known to be Marian devotees. A Rosary a day is like a bunch of flowers offered to the Blessed Mother, and the many intentions you have prayed for each bead. Like an apple a day, a rosary a day keeps you connected with the Blessed Mother, who is praying for all of us to our Lord.

Seems easy, right? But are we really committed to do all of these? Are we really readying ourselves for the main event next week, Jesus’ Birthday?

~ Touringkitty

Toys for Joys.

This was Aria’s project for St. Nick’s Day when we sorted her toys to give away. It took me an hour of explaining and crying from her before she finally gave up her old, non-battery operated, and educational toys. She understood that other kids who do not have toys will be happily playing with them, thus she named the project as such.

I actually planned to turn them over to Jollibee, but did not have time to bring them yet. I had two bagfuls, and I might do another round of spring cleaning including books.

We did our weekly grocery this afternoon, and we rode the tricycle. It was not just us and the driver, but three other kids suddenly jumped to sit on the driver’s seat.

The driver, an old fellow who seemed to be working hard to earn them a living, seated the two girls in front of him, the little boy behind him.

I could not offer the seats inside the sidecar, as I had Aria and the groceries. Besides, it seemed as if they are used to sitting on what seemed a hazardous place. No seatbelts, no helmets. Imagine my horror. And there were three kids there!

One kid held a toy boat, an old and dirty one, which Aria took notice of quickly. They passed the toy boat to each other, and then I thought they might be the best beneficiaries to our simple project.

While in transit, I called my aunt who was at our condo to bring down the bag of toys we sorted. Then I decided which ones they can already play with.

They were surprised with the toys I gave! The boy, who was the oldest among them, said Thank You in a soft and shy tone. I reminded them all to share the toys with each other and not fight over them.

Aria was quite happy with what we did. She kept on repeating “Toys for Joys!”

Yes, honey, they thank you for sharing your toys with them.

~ Touringkitty

Want to help us make this project bigger? Let’s talk! Email touringkitty(at)gmail(dot)com

Think of Andres Bonifacio and you will surely remember the heroic guy clad in white shirt and red pants, holding a bolo in the Monumento.

But here comes San Andres B. Bukid? Nay, I say. It is Bonifacio.

This is definitely not your typical Bonifacio story.

San Andres B is a new opera with libretto by National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario, with music by Josefino Chino Toledo, one of the foremost 21st century Filipino composers. Amazing work of art, text and music beautifully woven together.

Stage direction is by Floy Quintos and choreography by Kris-Belle Paclibar-Mamagun. Both of them have been working closely with us for the past two months and we are amazed by their virtuosity, creativity, and humour. Yes, they’re happy folks, too!

So, why is this not your usual Bonifacio story?

There will be less sword fights, but more thinking, both from the actors and from the audience. The libretto and music was indeed a challenge for all of us, given that this is an untried and untested work. We are so proud of what we have done out of the material. And we would love to show it to all of you!

You will discover more of Bonifacio as a responsible brother, protective husband, caring leader, truly deserving to be called Supremo.

Cast includes Dondi Ong, Margarita Roco, Antonio Ferrer, Marvin Gayramon, plus the Auit Chamber Ensemble, TP Actors Company, and Grupo 20/21.

Interested? Get tickets now through Ticketworld or CCP Box Office. We guarantee you to have a renewed sense of freedom and social responsibility after you see this show. And I am pretty sure you will thank our heroes like Bonifacio for that.

~ Touringkitty

Last Friday, November 8, 2013, my husband and I celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary. It was a most special day for both of us. It was also the most unfortunate day for our kababayans in the southern part of the country.

My husband and I are already anticipating the super typhoon (or, in our words, super duper typhoon), and we are starting to get quite scared because his parents and youngest brother are in Iloilo, one of the provinces where the typhoon is heading to.

We are so thankful to the Lord that they all are fine. No damage to their house whatsoever. We monitored them through calls and texts.

However, damage and destruction were seen in other provinces. We opted not to watch any news that day. We did not want to spoil our anniversary.

We made plans of attending a Mass and having a simple dinner out, but we scrapped them for fear of the storm. Together with our little girl, the three of us stayed home, had some food delivered, and prayed the Rosary before we slept. Likewise, our city was spared from the threat of the typhoon. God is good, we exclaimed.

Through Facebook, we read updates and stories — looking for relatives, asking for food and water, wanting to leave the barren land. As the days passed, news got worse. The tragedy still has not sink in me, that is why I choose not to update my Facebook. All I did was forward directly messages to whoever can help, especially to my former colleagues in the military, who, I am aware, has an overwhelming task now. They can only do so much, and we can only pray for their safety and success.

But still, we are grateful for God’s faithfulness to our family, for giving me and my husband five years of strong marriage and 15 years of friendship. Likewise, He gave us a wonderful family and loving friends who are there for us. 

It may be the most forgettable anniversary, but it is also the most meaningful.

So, please allow me some moments of cheeziness which I was not able to do last week.

Happy Anniversary, my darling Schatzi. I love you and Aria so very much. Thank you for being my best friend, worst critic, love of my life, and partner in crime (and rhyme!). Thank you for allowing me to be who I want to be, for inspiring me to make wonderful music through my singing and through our choir–our first labor of love. Thank you for being the head of this family, for being a good husband and father to Aria. I always pray for your good health. Here’s to more adventures, more music-making, more harangs, more travels, more babies (!), and more love. To God be all the glory!

~ Touringkitty

How can you help the Philippines:

Among other institutions, we always give to Philippine Red Cross, good or bad weather alike. List of where you can donate at www.rappler.com or www.cnn.com

Mission: SUCCESSFUL!

Four days, two countries, nonstop MRT transfers, nonstop walking, and nonstop eating (for me, haha!), I can say that we really enjoyed the trip (despite the stress, which I will try not to talk about here. Blog = happy space, remember?).

Touringkitty survived Singapore and Malaysia with a preschooler and her dad, first-time out of the country travelers (my mom, sister and her boyfie), along with a trolley bag, handcarried bag, a backpack, and a stroller (and those luggage were just for my family!). My mom, sister, and the boyfie had just one trolley, and two backpacks, reason to carry so much stuff when they were headed home, haha!

I have prepared so many stories and tips for you travelers out there. I do hope to post it in the coming days, though. So stay tuned!

Meanwhile, I’m off to work (at home) so I could save up for the next trip. Conquer the Great Singapore sale in 2014, perhaps? 🙂

~ Touringkitty

Tomorrow, I will turn 30. I am quite happy about it, contrary to what people imply that “mawawala na ang edad ko sa kalendaryo,” or simply put, I am not getting any younger.

Why would I not be happy? At 30, I am raising a lovely family of three, sleeping in our own home, working from home while taking care of it, still actively serving the church. And I get to sing and teach again! Happy dance! And my family supports me all the way in whatever endeavor I take. Blessing upon blessing.

I made a life list back when I was in high school. Nope, I am not gonna share them to you, cos I have not ticked some of the items yet. Still praying for some things and I hope to reach them before I turn 40.

Tomorrow also, we’ll be having our first family trip abroad. Will tell about it soon. So may I ask for a simple prayer for this trip, that all of us will be safe, and more importantly, enjoy the experience of God’s creation in another country. Likewise, please pray for our dear country, the Philippines, and let’s lift it up again to the Blessed Mother.

I am so excited to ride the plane and live in a suitcase again, after all, it has been my life some years ago.

Forgive the birthday pause, too, as I might not be online in the next days. Will try to post in Instagram and Twitter (follow @touringkitty).

I shall say a prayer tonight for all my friends and family and everyone who gets to read this. May God bless you and your families.

~ Touringkitty

I miss studying in the university. I had the best time during college, even though I had to take leaves for whole semesters because of concert tours with the Madz.

Now that I am a full time mother, I still want to learn, and I do them online, through the free online courses offered by professors of major universities abroad. Sans the university credits, these absolutely FREE online courses offer the same quality education in an online platform and in shorter spans of time.

Recently, I completed my Crash Course on Creativity. It was my second attempt to take it, as I was not able to finish the first time I took it last year. This year, I was so proud to finish the course in between work and household management, and got this Statement of Accomplishment from a Stanford professor, Tina Seelig.

There are lots more coming up and ongoing! Check out Coursera and Novoed (which was formerly Venture Lab wherein the Creativity Course I took is in). At the moment, I enrolled in Coursera’s Crafting and Effective Writer, Survey of Music Technology, and Creativity, Innovation, and Change. I do hope to finish them all, though, else I’ll end up just auditing again.

Hope you also take advantage of technology and education. Best thing, they are all free. No need to fly out to have classes under foreign professors.

~ Touringkitty

I am happy to announce the winners for the first blog giveaway!

Let these photos tell you how the raffling went. Super fun!

And the winner is…

Next winner is…

The last winner is…

BEANS Baby Store shall ship the prizes directly to you. I shall send you all an email or Facebook Message so I could get your complete mailing addresses. Thanks, BEANS Baby Store for your generosity!

Thank you SOOOOO MUCH for joining! Please watch out on the Facebook Page as I announce the next giveaway, probably in two months!

Happy Birthday, dear Ariadne!

~ Touringkitty