Curiosity about my ethnicity!

October 3, 2013 by feyma

Curiosity about my ethnicity!

You probably wonder why I am writing about this subject. Some of you readers here are friends of mine on Facebook. Maybe some of you hardly open your Facebook too. Well if you are a frequent FB user, you’ve probably noticed my recent profile photo.

I changed my picture, to one with me wearing a hijab. It was really my first time to wear it. A hijab is a cloth that covers your head (entire hair) and just your face suppose to be seen. That photo, that was taken a few years ago when we visited Tugaya, near Marawi City, in Lanao del Sur Province, which is probably at least 80% Muslim.

Posing with kids in Tugaya

For a Muslim woman it’s a natural thing to wear one. So being I had one on in that picture I was asked by someone on Facebook if I am a Muslim. I was shocked by the inquiry but I answered her back nicely. I told her that I am not a Muslim (nothing wrong if I were). For the record my dad is from Tagbilaran, Bohol, my mom was born from San Fernando,Cebu. But she was raise in Lala, Lanao. My parents met in Lala, Lanao. After few years of marriage, my parents moved to South Cotabato then, Sarangani Province. I was born in a small town in Malapatan, Sarangani Province. Grew up there until I went to high school (Notre Dame of Lagao For Girls then) in GenSan. Then college in Cebu City. Then 2 months shy of my college graduation I married Bob. Three months after graduation I went to the States and lived there for 10 years.

That photo was taken on one of my unforgettable visit to the places that many Filipinos dared not to go to. It was really an honor for me to be visiting there with the invitation of our special friends who live there. You can already tell that, that’s not the place for the tourist to go to. They fear of being kidnapped, in which case I can’t blame them of thinking that. Really the place was nice, but not also the place to visit if you don’t know anyone from there. We were just so lucky to have some friends that we knew that the family was from there. I am not going to mention who they are, but it was really a pleasure going there. Words can’t even explain how I felt on that day when we were there.

But to be totally honest I had mixed feelings after going there. I was happy to be there visiting the place. The people were nice and accommodating to us. The purpose of going there too was to see the stuff that they make there. They make big native drums, gongs, kulintang, brass vase, nice furniture with mother of pearl in-lay, swords and others. They had all those stuff but not many people go there to see and purchase because of fear. They had dealers that go there but just buy few stuff. The big plus of going there was seeing the beautiful Mosque that was built by the father of a friend of ours. It was really awesome. Our friend’s dad, he was just a grade school graduate, but he designed and built the Mosque. The upstairs was not totally done yet though. I think he used part of his own money for that mosque. I’ve heard women were not allowed to go inside the mosque. I was allowed because our friend told the caretaker to let me inside. I was humbled and honored by that and I really treasured that memory. The view upstairs was stunning and overlooking at Lake Lanao.

I was also sad being there, just seeing the way below poverty line people who live there. Just looking at the houses and the lifestyle they have there, really makes my heart ache for the people there. That’s one of the places that I’ve been that I cried while passing by. It’s really hard to explain what I saw there. But people still had smile on their faces seeing us. For the first time I saw the disposable diaper being washed and hung dry to re-use over again. It was really an eye opener for me. And I told my kids we are so lucky to have the life that we have now. We don’t live in fear. Those kids there, they might be on alert most of the time in case there is a war going in the area. That part of Mindanao really is on the “Hot Zone” (war zone as the press say). But I saw big and fancy houses on top of the hill side. I didn’t really know that rich people live there on top of the hill side.

But in short… no, I am not Muslim.

Help us pray for peace in Mindanao!

September 5, 2013 by feyma

Next project in mind here at our house!

Since building the house for our turtles, we cleared out the other part of the front yard. Before the clearing, I had lots of plants there in front, it is just across from our front porch. After building the turtleville and seeing the empty space next to the turtle kingdom, Bob and I decided we will be putting up a small nipa hut soon. We want that it will go together with our native products theme. So we decided that we will be going to put up nipa hut or nipa hut gazebo. I am a big fan of any nice gazebo looking structure. Ha ha ha… I want our gazebo to be easily taken out too whenever it is time for us to move.

Nipa Hut

You probably wonder why on earth we want a nipa hut near the turtle kingdom? Really we just like to see what the turtles are up to. Every morning Chris likes to hang out there at the turtleville with our dogs, while watching people passing by. It might be a fun project for Jhun Jhun to make. We will see if it would be cheaper for Jhun Jhun to build or just buy the already built one and just assemble it in our yard. Me and my niece Glenda went to see the price of the already made ones. I’m surprised, it’s not too bad. It’s around P14k for the 6 feet base structure. I told them if I need to change something would that make the price higher? They said no because the changes is just for the sitting part anyway. Also I want them to add a door that will open/close to the entry of the hut because I don’t want the dogs to stay there and maybe ruin the inside of the hut. They told me they will do it at the same price. So that makes me happy.

I think it will be a good project for us. It’s really a good place for us to lounge around during the day. When we told the kids of our plan, man they’re all excited over it. They’re even asking me when is that project going to happen? I have to think it over and talk with Jhun Jhun. My only thing if we have him over to build, Bob and I will might have so much changes that at the end it might cost more than buying the already built one. It’s already our track records when Jhun Jhun comes here we have so much project for him to do. So much too for us to consider. 🙂

I know for sure the kids will hang out there a lot. I’m also sure that my teenage kids will have their friends over and just lounge around there. Which is okay for us as long as they maintain the cleanliness. Aaron might have his band mates play their drums and other instrument in our yard. Hmmm, it will end up with a small party on our front when the teenagers come over. Will it’s okay, Bob and I like the friends of our kids that come here anyway. So that should not be a problem. We will see what happens. Will give you update later folks!

CHEERS!

August 29, 2013 by feyma

Something to think about!

I was asked by someone why is LiP not helping out during beginning of school here. That’s going to be June here in the Philippines. That really made me think a lot at first. But after thinking hard, I think its better not for now. We did help out before, a few years ago using our own money. I guess its not really ideal for us to be helping at the beginning of the school. Can’t really afford to do it. We just don’t want to ask here for that too. I think Christmas is good to be asking since its giving time.

Ham and Cheese

I think you probably remember that one of our readers here and of our other blogs sponsored a kid who just started her 7th grade last year. So I thought that he might just be sponsoring her for the whole year last year. I’m so thankful that the person did sponsor the girl again this year. So happy that the person continued on helping the girl. That student that the person were helping thriving to be number one in her class. She’s really a good student. She comes to our house during Sundays to get her allowance, which is sent to us monthly by this reader. Most of the time Bob and I talk with her and her mom. Just to keep up with whats going on with her.

Last Sunday while they were here. We let them try some stuff that we bought at S & R. She’s so funny when she saw the ham and the crackers and cheese and we told her to try the ham. She immediately said: You sure it’s okay to try that meat it looks raw to me. Bob and I just smiled to her and told her it’s okay to eat it right away it’s already cooked. Bob and I each got a piece of ham and ate it. So she followed what we did. She said she likes it a lot too.

While talking to some other people here that organize some charities same questions were asked why not help during the beginning of school year? I told them to be perfectly honest I am not comfortable asking people twice in a year. We are helping out some people during classes starts but not a lot since we are also preparing for our students here in the house. Some of our extra school supplies I gave them to some students that I know and in need.

But in the near future I’m going to give something to the school I graduated during grade school days. Just wanting to thank my Alma Mater for the job well done of our school there. I mean its still in need of a lot of stuff. I know even if few of us helps there at least it will improve slowly. I will try to start, hopefully others will follow too. Some of our neighbors before their kids or grand-kids also successful being working abroad they can also afford giving something there in our school. So I might have my other classmate that teaches in the neighboring town contact most of the graduates there to help out. Hopefully it will be successful though.

For you guys that support the LiP Christmas drive thank you always for being there to help out. So highly appreciated!

Mabuhay!!!

August 22, 2013 by feyma

Dear Feyma: “Question on expats who home-school”

I got an email from our reader here, his name is James. He is asking about any expats who home-school their kids. I was asked same inquiries before. Instead of answering him with I don’t know I want to ask here first instead. I was thinking not just James has the same some questions about home-schooling. I his is email below:

“Hello I have been following your web blog for years and I have a question? Do you know of any expats there in PI that homeschool their kids? Reason being I am looking at bringing my 9 year old son Sam with me to PI this fall.

The reason I am asking about Homeschool is I homeschool him here in the US but I want to look to bringing him to stay with me if his Mom will let me bring him to PI for a vacation for a month or two. I would like an idea on how homeschool there in PI that Expats do. I want to immerse him into starting him on a journey of living overseas from time to time.

Thanks and have a good day”

I am recalling who do I know that home-schools their kids here. So far the people that I know that home-school already left the Philippines. I don’t have any way of contacting them again. So when James asked me about it I immediately told him that I might make an article out from his query. Which I did now. I’m pretty sure someone from our readers experience home-schooling here in the Philippines. At least they could share here the experiences they have on home-schooling in the Philippines. They could share also the place where to get the books, pamphlets and other materials needed for it. They might also know the circle/group of parents that the kids were on the same grades levels that they can have play time/activities for their kids. Not sure if only in Manila where to get the materials. As everything here in the Philippines almost all will be coming from Manila. Hopefully availability of materials can be found on other cities in the Philippines.

Home Schooling

Maybe also go to the Department of Education, ask them if they know of a place or people that home-school kids. If they have communities that they know of that registered to the department. Do they have materials/books that specially for for home-school kids and that accredited to the department of education. I think, the department of education people have all the knowledge that we are having in our minds right now.

Maybe one other place to go and ask will be the tutorial place. So many tutorial places near the schools. I had a feeling that one of them might have the knowledge about home-schooling or they might know of somebody that home schools their kids.

I’ve heard of many actors and actresses here that were home-schooled. And hearing from them on TV they had places to go to get their materials for the semester or school year. They just didn’t indulge where to go though. With them they might have tutors that get for them.

If any of you knows or already home-schooling kids please feel free to share your experiences of home schooling kids here. I really appreciate your help for James and other people that have same question with him.

Cheers!

August 15, 2013 by feyma

Our mischievous pets in the house!

You probably saw on Bob’s Facebook photos of our newly made Turtleville. It was really a fun project for the whole family. It all started a few days before our Anniversary. My brother-in-law Jhun came here for a job that we wanted him to do for one of our businesses. It took him 2 days for that job. I told him after his work for the business, I had projects for him to do. For one, I would like for him to build a bigger place for our turtles, so that they could roam around instead of just in that small plastic tub that were in.

So Jhun started the project that I wanted him to do. He bought the cement and pebbles and other stuff. So while Jhun was finishing up with the “turtle swimming pool” Bob asked Jhun if he could make the pool have an opening with a ramp to go down, that the turtle could go in and out easily. Bob wanted the turtles to go down and have room to roam around. So we decided to use some big rocks, like bolders, that we had in our yard for the fence. They really are huge rocks and very heavy too. So we settled for that. While the new pool was drying, Jhun started moving the big rocks with our help. Later that afternoon the pool was safe for the turtles to go in, so we put them inside. Soon enough Chuckie (the big turtle) figured out right away how to get down the ramp. We were so confident they would not get out of our rock fence that we built (arranged really) for them. Shocking to say but it just took Chuckie less than 30 minutes to figure it out how to get out of the rocks. Gosh he’s so tricky. Few times he fell on his back but he knows how to flip over to his tummy again.

That’s when Bob decided we will make a bamboo fence for them. Chuckie was on a hunt to look for a place to escape the new bamboo fence. He is so restless. We we’re so confident that we built the nice bamboo fence, (duh), but the next morning, I was just sitting on our porch talking to my sister on the phone. I saw Chuckie almost got out of the fence. He climbed next to the tub with his other legs on the bamboo fence and just keep moving up and his head was already on the other side of the fence. In shock I was screaming to Jhun that Chuckie’s almost out. That problem was fixed for now. He is trying to climb at the roots of the tree, but he didn’t make it yet. Thank God for that.

Today I saw our cat Sputnik climbed inside the turtle kingdom. She’s the other mischievous pet in the house. I was just observing her. I thought she might hurt the turtle but I guess she was just watching the turtles for now. Not sure if she will do something if we are not watching. I’m not sure what would Chuckie learn from Sputnik in the long run. Sputnik really knows how to get our attention. She knows how to show other cats what to do. Whenever she’s sleeping in one of the kids’ bedroom, come morning like after 5 am and no one was up, she will meow near the door, if no one will get up and opened the door for her she will bite somebody’s toes if out in the blanket. If no one still listening to her meow she will then go near the ear of the person and meow louder. If no one still listening she will push important stuffs on top of the side table especially cell phone. That will get the kids’ attention then. She also knows how to wake Bob and I. If it is past wake up time and no one gives them food, she will knock/pound our door to make sure we know that she’s out there calling. Problem is, she knows I am usually up early and feed them. So if I’m late she will be outside our door knocking and meowing.

Every morning now Bob and I sit near the turtle kingdom and just watch our Chuckie and Sputnik. It’s kind of our stress reliever. We are now thinking of putting some new projects soon.