Personalize your Wedding Invitations

It’s wedding season again as the Ber months are slowly streaming in. To all the Brides-to-Be who are still on the Wedding Invitations phase, let me suggest something…

We love our wedding invitations. It wasn’t anything fancy but it truly spoke about us. It was simple but stylish enough. It was inexpensive yet elegant. Being a Bride-on-a-Budget, I had my nose up for any ingenious find. I was sooo disappointed with the designs that we found on the more popular shops at the mall like VCraft and QP. Most of them were plain but surprisingly very expensive. Another pet peeve was I didn’t want my invitation to look like a hundred others out there. Most of their designs at VCraft and QP had the usual monogrammed initials on the envelope and standard text fonts and wordings inside. I knew that having my wedding invitations custom-made would cost me but I didn’t give up. I know somebody out there would be able to personalize my invitations even for a very low cost.

The answer to my prayers was a little home-based business called “Village Projekt”. The proprietor/designer Katrina Valenzuela runs her design shop at home in UP Village. I learned from our first meeting that this young mom-preneur graduated from the UP Diliman School of Fine Arts. She was really nice and engaging. And the best thing is she can work around your budget. I didn’t want to go beyond P10,000 for 100pcs of invitations. If I went to QP or VCraft that would have been impossible because the cheapest nice ones I found there cost somewhere P120-150 per piece. Since we want a coffee-themed wedding using brown and pink colors, Katrina offered to use coffee-like wood beads as accents to the brown satin ribbon. The pink graphic was Katrina’s enhancement of a clip art that Joseph was able to dig from the internet. They’re supposed be artsy versions of a coffee cup and some coffee clouds. The materials were simple. She used Gold Dust boards and Sirio Caffe envelopes. Our invitation only cost P95/pc. It was simple but our guests thought it looked classy. Pardon me if my photographs didn’t do them any justice. HeeHee… =)



Anyway, as an additional touch, we bought a ceramic seal with the initial “J’ (for Joseph and Jill) at Hobbes and Landes. Since we can’t find a pink-colored wax for the seal, we used pink glue stick instead and it worked.


So there you have it. We had a wedding invitation that wasn’t too expensive. It was personalized for us and by us. And our guests like it. Wedding invitations are very important. It’s not just something that announces the date and venue of your wedding but it gives your guests the first impression of how you really are as a couple. The wedding invitation introduces your personality. We were proud of our invites because not only we were able to save up but putting it together by ourselves (putting on the name labels and sealing the envelopes with the pink monogram) was a beautiful bonding time for us as a couple. So for those who have just been engaged, start practicing your teamwork on being a couple by personalizing your wedding invitations.

p.s.
If you want to see more Village Projekt designs go HERE

Pre-Birthday Blues?

I am officially not earning now. A zero-income housewife, if you may. I already received my last paycheck from my previous TV show and that money has already been liquidated for bills. It’s still a bit of a lean season for Events so I’m not getting much of an action there also. Although my husband’s income can cover all of our basic needs well enough, I just feel a little bit guilty sometimes that I’m just here at home typing away rambling thoughts for nothing. My husband assures me that my housework means so much more than a financial augmentation. And he also supports my new blogging hobby. Honestly, I really do enjoy being at home, and working from home, and being able to write at no expense.

I write for a living but that kind of writing is sooo different from this. When you’re writing for a client, you can never own any right to your work and you can always expect it to be butchered according to their needs, wants, and tastes, and sometimes whims. Anyway, bottom line it’s work. They’re paying me good money for some catchy copy so I better squeeze a lot of those creative juices or else I’m dead meat. It’s relatively fun but generally stressful. Sometimes when I write for them, I ask myself “Am I contributing to the betterment of this world through this script?”(Let’s just not try to answer that)

Lately, more questions like that have been prompting in my head which obviously leads to a machine-gun of blog posts. I’ve never been this prolific in my entire journal writing experience. That could only mean 2 things. Either I have just become more reflective or I just have plainly nothing to do. Well, you know what they say Boredom is the Mother of all Inventions. I got into baking because I got bored some time ago. I tried baking when projects were in a slow stream. I never imagined that I would fall in love with it, and that I would actually be fairly good at it. Who knew? I had oven-phobia for the longest time.

Who knew? So now that I am at the crossroads – turning 30 in a week, a newlywed, in between jobs, and praying to be pregnant – Who knows what’s next?

“There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven.” – ECCLESIASTES 3:1

Right now, I practically feel my whole world turning. Almost literally actually. I could feel God’s every move and it’s quite overwhelming. There are some changes that are quite challenging to accept. There are nudges that I’m tempted to ignore. There are calls that I pretend not to hear. In the end, knowing that I do not have control of things, just as seasons come and go whether we like it or not, I just have to LET GO and LET GOD!

Makan Pagi in KL

I love breakfasts! Well I generally love food but there’s something about “breakfasts” that literally stretches my smile into a mile. I love making them and I especially love having them while I’m still in my pajamas. Whenever I travel, LOCAL FOOD is always the top priority. So obviously, when we were in Malaysia I had to start my day with an authentic makan pagi (bahasa for breakfast).

On our first morning, we found a quaint Indian “carinderia” looking restaurant near our hotel. I already knew what to order: Roti Canai (pronounced "chanai," not "kanai") and Teh Tarik! This is a traditional breakfast set in Malaysia. Roti Canai is a type of flatbread. It’s like a local pancake actually, only thinner, lighter, fluffier and maybe a little “greasier”. Since it’s basically an Indian recipe, it had to be cooked (fried) in ghee (animal fat). This is usually served with Teh Tarik (pulled tea with condensed milk) and Dhal (curry). Of course you have to eat it with your hands. Pull pieces of the fluffy dough and soak them in the curry sauce for some finger-lickin’ yummy ending.

The next morning, we set off early for Genting Highlands. We decided to get some breakfast at KL Sentral. We found this quaint kopitiam (how Malaysians/Singaporeans call their traditional coffee shop) on the 2^nd level. Ever since getting my fill at Toastbox here in Manila, I’ve always wanted to try the REAL kaya toast & kopi breakfast set. A classic kopitiam breakfast would include a toasted roti benggali (Indian white bread) served with homemade kaya (a rich jam made with coconut milk and eggs), and their locally brewed coffee or kopi tarik, which is sweeter than what we’re used to because of the condensed milk.

So when you're in KL, "makan" like Malaysians and try these traditional breakfast sets. Better if you can really go to small, family-owned kopitiams in the neighborhood. But fret not 'cos you can easily get these breakfast fares everywhere, especially in the mall. So go "makan" your heart out!

The best thing about breakfasts is that they can be enjoyed the whole day! So who ever said you have to be a morning person to get these goodies? Some people MAY NOT agree that breakfast is the most important meal of the day (the carb-conscious crowd, you know) but I always believe that breakfast is the LOVELIEST meal of the day. I’ll tell you more about beautiful breakfasts next time… For now, let me fix myself a milk tea. Selamat makan!

A Budget Hotel that feels like 5-Star!

We chose Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as our honeymoon destination primarily for the FOOD! But before I blog about that let me tell you first about this wonderful board and lodging discovery we found in downtown KL.

After the wedding, we obviously had to work with a tighter budget for our honeymoon. It’s good that Joseph and I are basically no-frills travelers so this new boutique hotel fit our budget perfectly without causing us some hassle and stress.

I was desperately looking for budget hotels on the internet when I found a goldmine. TUNE HOTEL, located at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, in downtown KL, is operated by Tune Air Sdn. Bhd. founded by Tony Fernandes, the same founder of the AirAsia, the low cost airline in Malaysia. We flew AirAsia going to KL so booking in Tune Hotel just fit perfectly.

Guess how much we paid for a 3 Nights/4 days stay? …(drumroll)… only a little less than 3,000 Philippine Pesos. Yes, no kidding. At first I thought hey this might be a motel type of place (You know like those flower group of low-cost hotels you can find along Pasig?) but seriously this was a LEGIT & CLEAN hotel.

Okay here’s the concept behind such low-priced accommodations. First of all, bear in mind that this is a BUDGET Concept Hotel. Forgive me for saying this, but you know Malaysians have a "better" definition of the word “budget” than Filipinos. Tayo kasing mga Pinoy pag sinabi mong agad na budget alam mo agad na super tinipid ka talaga.

In this case, for PhP3000 it even beats staying in a so-called 3-star hotel here in the Philippines. Let’s admit it when you’re traveling in a foreign country, you’re out touring most of the time anyway, right? (Unless you’re like a hotel hermit like Woody Allen or something) Anyway… staying in Tune Hotel is CHEAP yet COMFORTABLE because they have taken out the stuff that you don’t REALLY get to use anyway but end up paying for it in bigger hotels such as Cable TV, Room service, Telephone, Mini-Bar, etc… What you really need from a reliable hotel is a GOOD SHOWER, a GREAT BED, NICE AIRCONDITIONING, and PROPER SECURITY. You may not have the other extras inside the room BUT you have all of these 4 important factors in 5-STAR CLASS. Since the hotel is in downtown KL, it’s so near the KL tourist spots like the Petronas Tower and Menara. It’s even a stone’s throw away from the monorail. Around the area, we even found some great off-the-beaten track places to eat.

I’m obviously raving about this place because it really deserves it. It was such a blessing to find it in the Internet. I really recommend this cheap yet chic hotel. Check out the interiors. Not bad at all. In fact they were so hip and funky. With such a concept I thought that only young travelers would be able to enjoy it but guess what, I found a couple of senior citizens staying there too. So it’s really for everybody.

Another good thing that I liked about it is the hotel’s concern for energy conservation. To cut down on energy costs, guests can only pay for the amount of air conditioning used. They style is prepaid. So for our stay we paid for a 12-hour use of air conditioning. That cost was already included in the 3k bill. So imagine how cheaper it would have been if we didn’t get some AC. But you know what since we were out most of the time, the prepaid 12-hour AC lasted us for the whole stay.

Joseph and I really recommend this hotel. It was a small room but the bed made us feel like we were honeymooning in Shangri-La. I swear! =)

Corned Beef Casserole

Here's another personal quick & easy comfort food recipe that I would like to share. Good to bring to a potluck party. This recipe yields 25 servings. Just adjust proportions accordingly.





You will need:

• 500 grams cooked fettuccine
• 3 cans (250-300g) cream of mushroom soup
• 3 cans (250g) corned beef, sauteed w/ garlic & onion
• 500g cheddar cheese, grated
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup butter, softened (1/2 block)
• OPTIONAL: 1 can (250g) of either of the following:
• green peas, cream-style corn, or button mushrooms

How to:

• Preheat oven to 375 degree Fahrenheit
• Spoon half of the cream of mushroom into an oven-safe baking pan, about 9x14 inches
• Place half of the cooked pasta on top of that
• Pour half of the sauteed corned beef on the layered pasta and cream of mushroom
• Cover the top of the layers with optional ingredient: green peas, corn or mushrooms.
• Pour the remaining cream of mushroom on top of the layer
• Followed by the remaining corned beef
• Then cover the entire bed with grated cheese
• Sprinkle the breadcrumbs
• And dot some areas with butter for extra flavor
• Slide the casserole into the oven and bake for 30 minutes
• Serve warm. Best w/ garlic or toasted bread

Cupcakes for Grandparents Day!

Celebrate Grandparents Day on September 7!
Feed your lolo and lola's sweet tooth with sugar-free cupcakes.

Just make sure to place your orders 2 days before pick-up date.
To see more of Jillicious Cupcakes click HERE & HERE TOO




Contact me:
0915-985-5557
jaunjie@yahoo.com
(Strictly for Metro Manila only)

Baking the Christianity Cake

On my 2^nd spiritual birthday last August 23, I decided to bake a chocolate cake to treat myself and my boys at home. I challenged myself to bake a full-sized cake this time. Cakes are trickier to bake than cupcakes because of the batter’s larger volume. A slight drop or increase in the oven temperature, or a little lapse in the measurement of ingredients can easily cause big disasters in baking, especially for full-sized cakes.

Baking always makes me realize a lot of things about being a Christian. When it dawned on me that it has actually only been 2 years since I received Jesus Christ in my life and obeyed Him thru water baptism, it was another proof that like baking a cake, being a REAL Christian is not like using a no-bake fudge brownie mix. There are no easy 1-2-3 steps to becoming a full-fledged faithful follower of Christ. Being a real Christian knows no shortcuts. Like baking, it needs precise measurement and type of ingredients, exact oven temperature, plenty of patience, and earning some burns in the process.

Realizing that I am only a 2 year old Christian made me feel so small. I suddenly felt like a toddler crawling amidst the walking and running legs of Christian grown-ups in the church … I have a long way to go but I know I’m growing... “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” – 1 PETER 2:2-3

DO SIFT AND MEASURE

“Lord, how soon can I fully serve you?” I lamented in my heart. When you bake, it is imperative that one must have ALL the CORRECT ingredients and utensils needed for baking such as standard measuring spoons, measuring cups, right size of baking pans, etc… and of course a good working oven!

This is why Baking is different from Cooking. When you’re a professional chef or a creative homemaker, whipping up gourmet or classic dishes in the kitchen sometimes don’t require strict measurements anymore. It’s all about “tantya”. A pinch of salt and a dash of pepper can vary from one cook to another.

In baking, you can’t merely trust your gut and taste buds. Ingenuity will not often be praised. When the recipe calls for Cake flour instead of All-Purpose Flour, then use cake flour to be safe. Baking powder cannot be an alternative for baking soda. Each one has a different effect. And always remember to SIFT dry ingredients together. I have learned how sifting and measuring have worked well in baking my Christian Life.

“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man (or woman) therefore purge himself (or herself) from these , he (or she) shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work”-- 2 TIMOTHY 2:20-21

Sifting after all is all about making the dry ingredients finer… removing the lumps, filtering the coarse elements, and thereby making the flour mixture clean and pure. Sifting can be tedious. In fact some recipes even call for sifting the dry ingredients 3 TIMES! When I became a Christian I also went through major sifting. God saw I had a lot of impurities that needed to be sieved and thrown out – my chain-smoking habits, partying, hate, envy, vengeance, a handful of wrong people… and the list goes on. I had to be sifted more than 3 times. It is just amazing how God still wants to bake a beautiful cake out of a lumpy flour mixture like me. Our God just never gives up on us.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” – JOHN 15:1-2

From living a life of excess, God has now carefully measured my new life according to the right proportions. Years ago, even though I was earning a lot, my finances always fell short. Now, I practically don’t have a regular income but all our bills are paid on time, my family enjoys good meals, we are even blessed to be able to afford weekend movies and dinner dates, and everything is just ENOUGH. His Word continues to be the spatula that levels off the ingredients of my Christian Life. Indeed, God only gives us what we need.

DO NOT OVERMIX & OVERBAKE

As a young Christian, most of the time I get so excited about my new lease on life. I want to lead right away… I want to be equipped to minister… I want to disciple my own circle of care… of course I learned that none of these things can happen on my OWN volition. GOD HAS TO CALL ME FOR IT and if it’s really God’s will, these things will happen IN HIS TIME.

A beginning baker always has a difficulty deciding whether the batter is already over-mixed or under-mixed. In baking, there is NO EXACT time measurement or number of whips or whisking motions to determine the right consistency of the mixture. Experienced bakers just know, while beginning bakers can only get this kind of wisdom thru baking classes and constantly learning from practicing at home.

In the Christian Life, this is basically similar to DISCERNMENT. Just like experienced bakers, mature Christians have fuller skills in discerning as compared to younger ones like me because they are filled with the Spirit as they live in fervent Prayer.

When I just started out in my baking hobby, I really had some struggle with over-mixing my batter so I did what I had to do. I formally enrolled in one of Heny Sison’s baking class to find out. With constant practice at home, I don’t over mix my batter anymore.

In the same way, I learned that whipping up the right consistency of my Christian Life is not based on my own “standards”. Just because I think I’m ready to disciple, or just because I think I have lots of talents to share with the church doesn’t mean that I AM REALLY READY TO SERVE. Only God knows and I can only know if I have the Spirit in me. And the way to be filled with the Spirit is to learn and live thru The Word.

“This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.” – 2 CORINTHIANS 2:13-14

At home, I work with a very challenging oven. The oven is kind of old and the heat is very inconsistent. I learned in baking class that you should never rely on the existing heat gauge of ovens that are just designed for homes. Unless you’re using the industrial type or the really expensive and imported brands, you should always use a separate oven thermometer. And since my oven is not high-tech I have to constantly check my cake and practically kneel in front of it and watch out for any slight drop or increase in the temperature.

While I was watching my cake rise and enduring the heat wafting from my rickety-old oven, it came to me that becoming a Christian in this world is like being baked in a very non-reliable oven like this. That no matter how sifted and measured our new lives have become, and no matter how we have mixed up the right consistency in our learning and living of the Scripture, we are never going to be spared from the dreadful heat of this rickety-old oven A.K.A the sinful material world.

The world we live in right now feels and works very well like my non-reliable old oven – it’s rusty… it’s inconsistent… it can over bake your cake if you don’t watch it! But God is determined to make a beautiful cake out of all of us despite this junk of an oven! That’s why He is also kneeling down and patiently waiting for us to rise. He’s there constantly pricking us up with the toothpick of His Word to see if we are already cooked. God is the best baker, don’t you agree?

My chocolate cake that Saturday afternoon was not THAT perfect but it was saved by the grace of my perfect chocolate fudge frosting. Just like me, and I guess just like everyone else, I didn’t come out of the oven 100% perfect because the oven (this world) is problematic… BUT… with God’s GRACE we have been covered and sweetened with perfect fudge frosting.

Inked for Eternal Life

Nowadays, whenever someone asks me about the tattoo on my left shoulder, I briefly explain that it’s a PERMANENT MARK OF A TEMPORARY INSANITY. It is not a secret that I did have a fair share of the wild lifestyle for some years. Looking back, I cannot believe how foolishly impulsive I was. Honestly, I didn’t even think about the what-ifs that came with getting permanently inked… What if I grow out of it?... What if I get married?... What if I become a mom?... a Grandma? None of these thoughts ever came an inch close to my mind. I was purely living for the moment without the least remorse. Some people called it guts, “astig” “cool”… but really now, it was just plain craziness. I was definitely living on an out of this world mental and emotional plane at that time.

When I started my spiritual walk with God, one of the strongest Bible verses that I came across with was Isaiah 49:16: "See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands."

Wow, God has a tattoo of me! The difference is that he had full knowledge of what he was getting himself into. It was God’s decision to love us. That decision wasn't a temporary commitment—his love won't stop if someone better comes along. And it wasn't a conditional commitment—his love isn't based on what we can contribute to the relationship. It's a forever promise, a "not even death can part us" promise. In our human relationships, we long for tangible reminders that we're loved. We want people to remember our birthday, send us flowers for no particular reason, tell us what they appreciate about us; hug us.

One time my little boy Kean tugged on my sleeve and said, "I have a secret to tell you." Then he "whispered" into my ear, loud enough anyway for anybody else to hear, "I love you!" Five minutes later, another tug, another whisper. This time: "I love you very much!" Throughout that moment, Kean’s eyes lit up every time he thought of another way to express his love. For someone whose Love Language is WORDS, I melted each time he delivered his secret. And I was reminded of how we're wired to be told we're loved. God knows we have this need. He understands our short memory and our desire for tangible proof. So not only does he tell us over and over in Scripture how crazy he is about us, he went so far as to engrave our names on the palms of his hands. If there ever was a doubt of his love, God's tattoo settles it now and forever. We belong to him. Permanently. Unconditionally. "It is he who made us, and we are his" – Psalm 100:3

Apparently we aren't the first ones who needed reminders of God's love. Thousands of years ago, God assured the Israelites of the coming Redeemer and of his plan to save them (Isaiah 49). But the Israelites weren't convinced. Though they'd seen God's faithfulness in the past, they were desperate for a little proof. They lamented, "The Lord has turned away and forgotten us" — Isaiah 49:14

I have only ACKNOWLEDGED evidence of God's faithfulness just recently. Like the Israelites, I've been parched for some proof of God's love for many years. I started to crave God-love when I was painfully realizing with each break-up and heartache and deep-seeded family hurts of how conditional and transitory human relationships tend to be.

When I quit the wild nightlife – taking my nephew Kean under my wing, working from home and getting to know God, my friends list suddenly was slashed down to more than half. Now the only way I manage to keep tabs or be on track about my friends’ lives is through Friendster or Multiply. Some of my friends have started making babies. Now I’m married it further makes it impossible for any coffee chats or girly night outs with my single female friends. While these changes are inevitable and aren't personal, they remind me that relationships don't stay the same. Life can be so fluid. But honestly, I do miss my friends sometimes. I miss the good ol’ days. Sometimes it’s even hard for some of us to move on from one job to another. It’s hard to break up with someone we’ve been steady with for 5 years or more.

None of these adjustments is so different from what everyone else goes through — it's just life. And maybe that's part of why change is so difficult to swallow. At the core of who we are, we long for permanence, for someone who'll never leave us, move away, get too busy for us, grow tired of us. Someone who'll never stop loving us.

"I have engraved you on the palms of my hands."

At the time the prophet Isaiah recorded these words (about 2,500 years ago), it was common for pagan worshipers to carve the name of their god into their hands. The throbbing pain reminded them of their devotion and hopefully earned them their god's attention. God spoke into this mixed-up religious climate — and turned things completely upside down. Instead of asking us to prove our love and worship, he took great pain on himself to show us his love. And instead of demanding our sacrifice, he sent his Son to be the sacrifice in our place. "Christ … loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" – Ephesians 5:2

Now I still have my tattoos. And what I used to call Art now just becomes a nagging Scar of my dark past. Thankfully, God's tattoo isn't like that. There's no chance of a removal process, no possibility of a cross-out. He'll never get tired of us; he'll never break off the relationship. He'll never abandon us or leave us for someone else. And he'll never ever stop loving us. I don't know if I'll ever have the chance, guts (I heard it’s really painful) or MONEY to have my old tattoos removed. But I know I now have a beautiful new tattoo. I have been inked for Eternal Life when I received Jesus Christ.

From Kuya Bodjie to Lolo Basyong!

For Kean’s 1^st Musical Happening @ his new school The Learning Tree, he played middle-sized Gruff in the Billy Goats Gruff Story.

But actually, the highlight of the day was the appearance of KUYA BODJIE from Batibot! It was just so funny because it seemed the parents were more excited about him. Malay ba ng mga bata kung sino siya… hehe. Man he looked old! He’s not Kuya Bodjie anymore… more like LOLO BODJIE! or LOLO BASYONG because he's still deemed as the Master Storyteller!

Sayang wala si Pong Pagong at si Kiko Matsing. I had to explain to Kean who he was and what he did. I told him Batibot was a show like Sesame Street. He was still kinda confused after that ‘cos the Sesame Street characters he knows now are mostly Elmo and Cookie Monster. So to make things more clear I told him he’s like Johnny in “Johnny and the Sprites”, one of his favorite shows on Playhouse Disney. Sigh… talk about Generation Gap.

Anyway, speaking of Batibot, who grew up watching it? Itaas ang inyong mga kamay! Who was your favorite character? Mine would have to be Manang Bola… “Perlas na Bilog huwag patulog-tulog sabihin sa akin ang sagot. Bah Beh Bih Boh Boooh” It still cracks me up ‘til now. And I can’t resist reciting it every time I hold anything round.

Of course who can forget the sisters Ning-Ning and Ging-Ging, the superhero Kapitan Basa, the aliens Sitsiritsit and Alibangbang, and Ate Sienna! (Did Ate Sienna and Kuya Bodjie ever date? Hahaha)

There were other muppets in the show but these were by the far the more popular ones next to Pong Pagong and Kiko Matsing. Batibot was more known to be as a spin-off of Sesame Street but I don’t know if you’re aware of this, Batibot was actually an original production of Children’s Television Workshop. So it was a real franchise and not just a copycat. CTW broke this relation with the local production PCTW (Phil Children’s Television Workshop) in 1989.

In 1994, while the show was airing on GMA after being tossed around the networks, RPN, PTV and ABS-CBN, the main muppets Pong Pagong and Kiko Matsing were pulled out due to licensing issues. That explains why it’s so hard for us to see them these days even for just cameo roles on wherever. CTW owns them. So what we know as the icons of Pinoy Pre-School Education are actually American properties. So isn’t that ironic? Another one of our Pinoy Paradoxes! Go figure! =p

Anyway, seeing Kuya Bodjie brought back a lot of kiddie memories. Oh the ‘80s…

I’m sure by now this song is humming in your head…

Pagmulat ng mata
Langit nakatawa
Sa Batibot
Sa Batibot

Tayo nang magpunta
Tuklasin sa Batibot
Ang tuwa, ang saya

Doon sa Batibot
Tayo na, tayo na
Mga bata sa Batibot
Maliksi, Masigla (2x)

Dali, sundan natin
Ang ngiti ng araw
Doon sa Batibot (2x)

Tayo nang magpunta
Tuklasin sa Batibot
Ang tuwa, ang saya

Doon sa Batibot
Tayo na, tayo na
Mga bata sa Batibot
Maliksi, Masigla (2x)

Hahaha! You still memorize it, I bet! How about this one?

Alin? Alin?
Alin ang naiba?
Isipin kung alin ang naiba?
Isiping mabuti
Isipin kung alin
Isipin kung alin ang naiba?

I don’t think there’s any other Filipino TV program for kids that could level up to Batibot’s credibility. I don’t know if were we just easier to please back then, while the kids today are more sophisticated. Well things may have been more simple back then but I would not trade climbing on a tree and playing in the rain to having the latest PSP.

Smothered by my Mother

My mother… Oh she’s a handful! Anybody who knows me too well would definitely know about me and my “Mother Issues”. I had mixed emotions about her when I was growing up. Early in my life, I already knew I was the apple of my mama’s eye. I remember always getting the prettiest gifts when I was an Honor Student. When I was sick, I would surely get a Barbie Doll to make me feel better. I was always the “bida”. I was definitely my mother’s darling.

But things changed when I witnessed my parents’ split in March 1988. At that time, I was about 10 years old. What did I know about my parents’ marriage being on the rocks? I didn’t see them fighting. I thought we were a perfect happy family. And I even remember saying that those broken family stories in movies will never happen to us. I was wrong of course. LIFE happened to me when I was 10.

It was like a scene from a movie… My dad practically threw my mom out of the house while burning her clothes in the yard. She was crying. I was kicking and screaming while my father held me. Our helper was in the bedroom holding my two baby sisters. I cried out “Mama! Saan ka pupunta? Sama ako!” But she just walked away. That was the only time I saw my father in rage.

At that time, I only heard one side of the story. My parents split up because my mom had an affair with another man. I remember not attending school for a few days after that fateful night. I was stunned. I could not believe that this was happening. I felt ashamed, rejected and cheated on. In my head, I was thinking “None of the other kids in school have broken families… Didn’t she love my father?... Why did mama leave me?... Didn’t she love me?...”

Nobody among my relatives talked to me about what really happened. And papa was probably not in the right emotional state also. Our yaya was my source of information. So there… At 10, the only explanation I had for what has become in my life is this – Our mother left us for another man. How do you think I felt after that?

I grew up angry and resenting my mother. I had so much hate and aggression in my heart growing up. But at the same time – I MISSED HER SO MUCH. I envied my friends who had their mothers by their side. Growing up, I remember crying myself to sleep. After my mom left us, seeing her was rare. Months would pass and sometimes years before we heard from her again. And then we would just learn about her whereabouts when we would receive something from her that flew in from Manila… and then later on from the States…

Growing up without her was financially tough for us. My father single-handedly raised us and sent us to private schools. It was hard for him… hard for us. All those years, of course my sympathy went to my father. But deep inside my heart, I was longing for my mother. Growing up female just wasn’t complete without her. Although my father was the best, deep down I still needed my mom and I hated her for not being with us.

My childhood friends and my High School friends would know everything about the emotions I dealt with regarding her… the venomous letters I sent… the phone screaming… everything, but despite all that, I still wanted to understand my mom… hear her story… and be with her.

It’s amazing how one’s experiences in love and relationships in young adulthood can transform you. While I hated my mom growing up, I was beginning to see some light in our relationship when I finally became an adult. As I went through my own follies in love and catastrophes with men, I slowly wondered why Mama really cheated on my father. I started to think about my mother’s feelings, emotions, thoughts … What did she need that my father could not provide? What were her heart’s desires that remained unfulfilled with my father? I was suddenly asking questions that were oblivious to a 10 year old but significant to a 20-something young woman in search of Love.

It was only when I was in my quest for Love that I began to understand my mother’s spirit. I have forgiven my mom already. And in fact my father has forgiven her already years ago.

As I am growing older now, it’s quite alarming but generally funny to realize that my mom and I are so alike in a lot of ways. And in fact, people are saying, I actually look like her. When I was a child, I knew I looked like my dad but when I was growing up, it was quite evident that my face features were becoming more like mama’s. But of course, we both know by now that we cannot deny the fact that we certainly have the same temperament thus we clash – most of the time.

I’m turning 30 and I haven’t had a “mother” for 20 years now. I don’t have the kind of mother that most normal people have. Mama and I know that we can never be a “normal” mother-daughter team. She calls me a spoiled brat and I lovingly call her difficult. She only calls to complain, but I do find it weird and lacking when she doesn’t have a tantrum.

It’s ironic that although my mom paid for most of our wedding expenses, she’s always the first one to forget that I AM ALREADY MARRIED. I guess my mother will never understand what marriage is really all about. She failed miserably to uphold her own. My mom and I had a big fight soon after Joseph and I got home from our honeymoon. I just could not take the fact that she was still trying to control me despite my new status in life. She railed against the fact that I have already put my husband on top of my priorities. And she even resented our decision to move out of the condominium that she gave me when I was still single. She knows that our reason for renting it out is to have a much bigger space for me, Joseph and of course my nephew Kean. Of course, she thinks that it’s another one of my ways to spite her, which is definitely not true! But who wants to argue? So for more than 3 months now, my mother and I haven’t talked. This is by far the longest we have gone without communicating.

My mom has been driving me nuts ever since I can remember. But despite that I miss her… and of course I still love her. I miss her makulit messages on the answering machine. I used to get an average of 5 messages from her everyday. She immediately panics when I don’t text back. “San ka ba???” As if she's the only important person I should be corresponding to. On the other hand I’m also kind of wary to call her or text her because I’m afraid I might trip on a landmine of issues and I might lose another part of me again as we explode into another fight.

But I’m praying for that blessed day to come when we can finally talk again. Every time I encounter Matthew 5:24, I am convicted to be humble and seek reconciliation with my mother. I want to say sorry… I want to say I Love You Mama… Oh Lord, clean my heart of any pride, anger, or fear.

Faith in a Disappointing World

A few months ago, I had a very profound encounter with the meaning of Faith. And I had this remarkable experience with my 5 year old boy Kean.

As you all know, Kean is actually my sister’s son. Cindy had him when she was only 17, while his boyfriend was about a year older. Okay, based on their age, it seems obvious that Kean was born out of wedlock; into the hands of unwilling and unprepared set of parents. Anyway to cut the long story short – my sister and her BF broke up, my family had to deal with my “difficult” sister’s “more difficult” situation, and basically, after a whirlwind of drama, twists & turns… my sister had to leave for New York due to her US petition and I ended up rearing Kean.

I love my sister. I had to put this disclaimer before this blog entry becomes misunderstood again. Again, I’ll repeat it: I love my sister… but… she’s not exactly what you would call “mother-material” if you know what I mean. At least not yet! I know one of these days she’ll completely blossom into the kind of mother that she needs to be for Kean. As for Kean’s biological father, well there’s nothing to talk about that either. AND YET… despite the fact that these so-called parents are as indisposed and reluctant as they could get, Kean remains to be so faithful in them.

Kean has this unwavering faith that his Mommy will commit to her promise of finally coming back from the States to be with him for good. It breaks my heart to see my little boy unaware that the promise has already been broken. He’s practically counting the days already. It amazes me that even if Cindy does not regularly get in touch with him as much as she’s supposed to be, Kean is steadfast in his loyalty.

I learned more about Faith when Kean was making excuses for his parents and covering up for their shortcomings. Unlike most kids left by their parents, Kean understands why Cindy has to be in the States. He will answer “Mommy Cindy has to work because we need the money for my milk and toys.” And every time his father fails to show up to visit him or fails to call, Kean doesn’t say “My daddy doesn’t love me” INSTEAD, he’d be quick to reason “Maybe he’s busy. He will call soon.”

Kean, despite being “neglected” has so much Faith, Hope and Love for his parents. In our standards as grown-ups, they are certainly disappointing, right? And yet for this child’s heart, HE BELIEVES THAT THEY ARE HIS PARENTS AND THEREFORE THEY WOULD DO NOTHING TO DISAPPPOINT HIM. This whole scenario reminded me of a passage in the Bible that talks about having a Child-Like Faith.

“… I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like a child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.” – MATTHEW 18:3-4

Oftentimes, we as grown-ups put Faith and Hope in things that are SURELY GOING TO DISAPPOINT US. Many times, we lament about our disappointments with boyfriends, husbands, and maybe friends. Some of these disappointments even result to break-ups. We put a lot of expectations in people who like us are IMPERFECT.

Not too long ago, I was very jaded. I didn’t believe in relationships anymore because the men always disappointed me. Nothing in this world ever satisfied my needs. Nothing in this world made me feel important. I felt neglected in this world. I felt that all my plans and dreams burst into bubbles one after the other.

And then I discovered why Life was Disappointing… Nothing in this physical world will really be adequate for the inner cravings of my spirit. I realized that there’s only one thing – ONLY ONE THING – that will NOT DISAPPOINT US – and that is GOD’S LOVE!

“And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” -- Romans 5:2b-5

Unfortunately, we do not put Faith in God like we do on the things that disappoint us. Unfortunately, our families, our relationships, and our man-made plans are as imperfect as this damaged and flawed world. That’s why most of us end up being disappointed. That’s why most of us are still searching for that thing that satisfies us.

I am glad that Kean is not a jaded, rebellious kid like most kids who are in the same parent-less situation. Soon, when he grows up, he will inevitably realize that he missed out on a lot of things regarding his parents. But by Grace, this little boy will grow up with Jesus in his heart and with Him he will never be disappointed.

Jesus Rocks!

I was de-virginized last Friday night! Gotcha! I was only trying to say that it was my FIRST TIME in a Christian rock concert, and you know what… it really rocked!

I never imagined that I would ever utter those words in my lifetime but I just did and I am not taking it back. Last Friday, my friend who works at the Araneta Center marketing office was able to snag me some last minute tickets to the Sonicflood concert. My husband wanted to go so a week earlier I already asked her if she had any complimentary tickets she could throw away. I wasn’t exactly THAT thrilled to go but I was somehow INTERESTED to see how a Christian rock concert looks like. I practically had no inkling. Not a tad bit. We didn’t hear from my friend until about 3 hours before the concert. She called up to say that we could pick up our tickets at the Gateway Concierge. Although I was excited to tell my husband, I also felt a bit ambivalent because I didn’t know what to expect. But I know God wanted me to watch this concert so off we went.

Working for MTV for several years gave me the opportunity to watch some of the biggest rock concerts here and abroad. I’ve seen how an actual mosh pit looks like in a Metallica and Linkin Park back-to-back concert in Staples Center, LA. I’ve been backstage with Gwen Stefani and the whole No Doubt band in one of their major Singapore gigs. I’ve had the privilege of interviewing countless rock stars (both international and local) in my MTV job. I loved rock music and I was totally living a rock and roll lifestyle until I came to know Christ.

Jesus said in Matthew 16:24 “…If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Part of the Denying-Thy-Self process is the painful letting go of my music preferences. Oh it was so hard for me because I thought that now that I have become a Christian I will already be compelled and convicted to consume only “Christian” music, which I thought at that time was purely ballads, hymns, and those “church” songs. Hey don’t get me wrong. I also love a good ballad, and the church songs are written well, but there are days when you just want to rock it out. I want face-melting guitar riffs. I want heart-pounding drumbeats. I want roof-raising synth solos. I want music that I can dance and jump to.

I really had a crisis there for some time because while I still wanted to listen to the “music” of the secular rock songs that I like, listening to it would mean that I have to listen to its lyrics too. But of course, listening to non-Christian lyrics would totally undermine my commitment to be Christ-like in lifestyle. It was just a tricky situation. And I only made it through God’s wisdom and discernment. By Grace, I was able to mature in my walk with God and my worldly affinity for the useless kind of rock music just slowly faded. It’s really not all about me, and it’s not all about this world.

So anyway, going back to my first Christian rock concert… I was pleasantly surprised to see true-blue rock musicians, who could very well just play secular songs and earn millions from it, play Christian rock music instead. I got everything I ordered – guitar riffs, mega drumbeats, synth solos, etc. Nothing in their musicality can be tagged as corny. They were really rockers. They were really rock musicians. I may not be THE expert in rock music but I’ve seen, heard and even tasted enough ROCK in my life to know that these guys on stage were indeed rocking out in the real sense of the word. The music was undeniably awesome. These melodies could have been made into Top 40 pop songs but their chart-topping fate was really meant for the Lord’s countdown.

What was even amazing about is that this time around I was not screaming my lungs out for some dopehead on stage. While Sonicflood performed really well and deserved every roll of those thunderous claps, the band also recognizes that the cheers weren’t just for them. They were just decoys, if you may. They were just instruments. The real rock star on stage was Jesus!

Music after all is a gift from God but while God created everything, not everything can remain in Him without holding onto Him. Sin has destroyed the beautiful things that God created. Sin has cut our ties with the Lord. Music has been won over by the enemy since time immemorial. I am glad that “rock” music can be redeemed this way.

What a joy to be singing my heart out for my maker, my savior, my “idol”… I am now a certified groupie; God’s number one fan!

In Love with my In-Laws

Anybody who knows me well enough knows that one of my bizarre requirements for Mr. Right is that he should be an ORPHAN. Yup, you read it, right. I want a guy with zero affiliations with any of his family members. I wanted God to spare me from the whole meet-the-parents thing. Blame it I guess on my weaning on Cinderella but I really dread the idea of having another set of mother and sisters to deal with. There were a lot of reasons why I didn’t want to have In-Laws. First of all, I don’t even know how to deal with my own mother, how much more with someone else’s? Second, my own sisters are already a handful all by themselves. Third, I was so conscious with the fact that I do not generally fit any mother’s criteria of an ideal girl for their hijo.

Well, anybody who was there at my wedding knows that I got married to a man whose family had quite some trouble letting him go. Gaining their favor was that ballgame I didn’t want to play. We had a very rough start but with God’s grace we managed to get on the road and endured some humps and bumps. His family was eyeing someone else for him at that time which caused the entire ruckus.

In the beginning, especially during the course of the engagement, I admit to have had some difficulty reaching out to my husband’s sisters. There was an undeniable tug-of-war for Joseph’s attention. They also had very strong opinions about me. Honestly, I don’t blame them for feeling a bit jealous over me. They’ve had their kuya all their life and then suddenly this “girl” gets to hold him in the palm of her hand. On the other hand, I also could not understand why they can’t just be happy for their brother. All in all, I guess it was tough for both sides. It was hard for them to swallow the bitter pill of their brother’s departure from home and challenging for me to love the people who have hurt me before.

I could not imagine how everything would come together by our own efforts. The restoration of Joseph’s ties with his family and church, and the blossoming of my relationships with these people were all a miracle. Now, I am blessed to have my mother-in-law and my sisters-in-law, as well as Joseph’s extended family in the church. Last Saturday, it was my sister-in-law Queenie’s birthday and I found it in my heart to bake her some cupcakes. (FOR ORDERS CLICK HERE) Baking for someone is really something very significant for me. I even surprised myself that I felt compelled to do this sweet thing for her. And then it dawned on me that I have been finally cleansed of any resentment towards my new family. Praise God!

So far, my sisters-in-law and I are fine. I’ve noticed that they have become a lot less clingy to their brother. I am happy that they are maturing into independent but God-dependent women. I am actually excited to get to know them better. Having my real sisters away from me (Marla’s in Davao while Cindy’s in New York), I know God intended to put Queenie, ShaSha and even Ate Sherry in my life to fulfill my sister duties in another way. I am praying that God will fill me with the wisdom and the heart to be the Ate that they never had but would love to have.

Proverbs 17:9
Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends. (NLT)

Freelancing by Faith

Technically, I’ve been working freelance since 2004 right after I resigned from MTV. However, that kind of freelance work wasn’t that daunting since I got signed up with GMA as a Regular Talent for one year. That means that regardless of the output, I was going to receive a regular monthly talent fee for the whole duration of the contract. So the good news was I had a secure salary yet I was also free to take in other gigs, and even worked on some freelance projects with MTV. The following year, after leaving GMA, I went to New York for some breather and when I came back I got another offer to do a show on another network. The job of course was also on a freelance contract. This time around, our contracts were only renewable per Season. That was when I started to feel the volatile reality of freelancing.

Being a Freelancer is not a very popular mode of income earning here in the Philippines. I know a handful of people, mostly involved in graphics, video editing or writing who have been successful in peddling their expertise. I also know some who unfortunately have to go back to a regular job for many reasons. Fortunately, I have managed to thrive on being a full-time freelance writer for the past 3 years.

Going Freelance is indeed a LEAP OF FAITH. I know a lot of people who drag themselves to work everyday. They complain about their jobs but whenever I dare them to quit and seek their calling, they always say that they cannot live with the risk of not earning regularly. That’s a practical reason. Nobody really wants to go hungry. With prices going up and glaring on our various domestic responsibilities, it’s no wonder why most people would rather get stuck on a desk.

But to those who are tinkering with the idea of going freelance, let me assure you first that it’s one of the most fulfilling decisions I have ever made in my life. As with everything else, it has its Pain and Pleasure. The pain of course is unstable income. The pleasure is increased income. So basically there’s a median point to it. Like with everything else, success can be achieved with strategy. I’m not a big expert on this but BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE let me share to you the Top 10 things I have learned:

HOW TO KEEP FLOATING ALIVE ON A FREELANCE LIFE!

1. Don’t Burn Bridges!

If your boss doesn’t say “Don’t be a stranger!” after he gives you your exit interview then freelancing might be a little challenging. Even if you hated your boss, it would be BETTER to be at least “showbiz-friendly” to him/her. In my case, when I resigned from MTV, it was a good thing that I was still friends with “most” of the key people there who eventually gave me freelance projects. You will find out sooner or later that it’s a small world after all. You will still need these people to give you jobs, and their recommendations can also land you some. It’s all about NETWORKING. Be ma-chika because the sad truth is more than half of the time, you may not get projects based on your talents but rather on the basis of a peer recommendation. It’s not WHAT you know but it’s WHO you know!

2. Last Impressions Last

That’s not a typo. I meant to write “last” instead of “first”. It only means that in the freelance world, you’re only as good as your last project. This is so true especially when you’re working with a client for the first time. I had the misfortune of experiencing this during my first foray into hard-core freelancing. I’ve had excellent work prior to accepting this certain project but of course they can only believe what they see. So regardless of my extensive work portfolio, this first-time client could not look pass the mediocre script I presented. That explains why I haven’t received a call from them ever since. Tsk tsk…

3. Stick to a Strict Schedule EVEN IF YOU’RE JUST HOME!

Being on a pajama payroll (my term for working from home) should not give you any license to be a slacker. Working from home may have reduced the tensions of an office but it can increase distractions… In my case it’s the Internet (blogging, surfing, Diner Dash games hehe)… Cable TV… cooking, cleaning, washing the dishes, folding the laundry… attending to Kean (tutoring him, and most of the time just wrangling with him to keep him behaved)… errands (groceries, bill payments, etc)… or if you’re single, the bed!

So even if you are not in an office cubicle anymore, working from home should still entail some form of ORDER. Contrary to popular belief, working from home requires a more scheduled clockwork lifestyle because aside from work, each day will surely be dotted with domestic demands.

4. Weekend Hiatus

Still on the issue of schedules, I really suggest that as much as you should keep a working week calendar, freelancers should still keep weekends as weekends. That’s one major pet peeve I have about clients. Just because they know that you’re a freelancer, you are immediately perceived as a beggar. It’s true that we are grateful to receive gigs from them but freelance professionals are no different from regular employees. I still go to Church every Sunday and I would like to keep it that way, thank you very much. But of course, freelancers can’t just bellow at their clients and say “Don’t bother calling or texting me on weekends, I’m not available.” Unless, the project deadline or the event really lands on a weekend, I highly suggest keeping your weekends sacred by not replying to any text message or e-mail. This will send the message that you are currently engaged. If they do call, don’t pick up right away. If it’s really urgent, they will text. I always base my decision to reply on the magnitude of the emergency. If they don’t send an SMS, then I get a hint that it’s not an SOS.

5. Manage your Money

I guess this applies to everyone who’s earning, but more so for freelancers like me. Since the biggest con in freelancing is the unstable income, you should be able to have good stewardship of your finances to reduce the probability of a hand-to-mouth existence. In my sphere of freelance writing, I concentrate on 3 areas: Events, Television and Marketing Support. The Events industry would be the highest paying of all and this is where I really get the thickest slice of the butter. The going rates for scripts range from 8k-25k per event, depending on the scale of the event. So this is where the pleasure of freelancing comes in. Imagine, what one person can normally earn in a month can be earned TAX FREE on one night.

Another good thing about writing for events, especially the corporate ones, is that they’re fairly easy to do; your creativity is NOT that challenged but gets STIRRED anyway; and most of all, they require the least time of client correspondence. There are only 3 major phases in this line of work. A) The Initial Project Meeting/Brainstorming… B) The Writing/Editing Session (which you do at home and editing by client is done via e-mail) and C) The Event Day, where the writer’s main task is to just make sure the script continuity is observed and assist the host with any additional info or any on-the-spot changes. 99% of the time, you can get your check (talent fee) immediately right after the event. Just make sure the field accountant is within sight.

Check delays rarely happen in on-ground event projects but this is a common nightmare in Television. Ugh. Another con in television writing is the excruciatingly low talent fee. Creatively, it’s the best place to be but if you’d rather be monetarily successful, then it’s not enough to write for only one show on TV, especially when you’re writing for a major network.

6. Warm Up to Cold Calls

Just a little less than a month ago, I was faced with 3 prospective TV projects but now I’m getting the sense that they may turn out be mere cold calls. As a freelancer, cold calls are frequent especially when you’re looking at TV gigs. That’s because putting together a TV show is a more tedious and LONGER process than a corporate event. Sometimes, the usual problem is the budget issue. Many times before I have fallen prey into putting in some writing and brainstorming work for a TV show in development, only to find out later that the project is going to be shelved.

In the events industry, especially the corporate accounts, project shelving rarely happens. They do once in a while but more often than not if a producer calls me for a corporate event writing gig, it’s already all systems go.

7. If the Price is Right then the Shoe Fits!

This is the trickiest thing I have ever encountered in my freelance career – quoting my talent fee! Basically, it is really beneficial to know your worth. Setting a standard rate allows the producer some space for negotiation. As a freelancer, I only agree to pay cuts depending on the scale of the event, financial reputation of the client, or if it’s a favor being done for a friend. Once in a while, I do pro-bono work for the events of PAWS (Philippine Animal Welfare Society) not only because one of its program directors is my suki events producer but also because it’s one of the causes that I believe in. Doing goodwill will definitely do a freelancer good. Even if they’re done for free, you can still add them to your work portfolio plus don’t underestimate the power of networking. These events open up to more prospective clients in many ways.

8. Say No As Often You Say Yes!

I learned this the hard way. I had the most number of projects during the same period of my wedding preparations! Suicide, right? Indeed. Sitting on the laurels of being On Demand can easily turn into Greed! At that time, I thought I was doing myself a favor. By taking in as much projects as I can then I can add more moolah to my wedding budget. God proved me wrong. Some of my projects suffered because I had too much on my plate. I was already spreading myself too thinly. Of course, as freelancers, we are always faced with the uncertainty of income that’s why sometimes we can fall desperately into these traps of over-booking ourselves. I know some people who can handle it very well but to those mere mortals like me, I suggest to take note of the waves in the events industry. The really lean months are usually after Summer. Yes, I’m currently experiencing some work drought in the middle of storm season. Then they only start to pick up in October to December, then January-February might have some dip but it can immediately pick up in March all the way to May.

In connection with Tip # 7, I advise that you only take a pay cut on the first project (if the pay cut was due to budget constraints). If the 2^nd project with the same events producer involves a bigger project for a financially fit company then it’s just fair to gracefully set a higher talent fee. But then again, that all really depends on your discernment. If you’re strapped for cash then I think scraps will do. Ouch!

9. Be Good on Paper!

Since income is unstable, one of the flipsides of freelancing is independent management of paperwork. As regular employees, we get to enjoy health care, some insurance and we have the company’s finance department filing our taxes and SSS contributions for us. As a freelancer, you are solely on your own. It was such a hassle filing my ITR early this year. It pays though to have an accountant friend who can teach you the “tricks” to check and balance your returns. It’s so easy to be irresponsible about acquiring these benefits especially if you’re single because there’s a false notion that you still don’t need it. But believe me it pays to be good on paper, especially when you’re applying for things like credit cards or loans.

10. Get Insurance from Heaven

You know what, among all of the tips that I have shared to you, there’s no other strategy or survival tool that I can really attest to be 100% effective than PRAYER! The best way to keep floating alive on a freelance life is to hold on to your Faith. Amen!

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” – PHILIPPIANS 4:19

Cupcakes for BemBem and Gracey

Call it a labor of love. I made these cupcake trees for a double celebration last August 10 - my godson's dedication day and his mommy's birthday celebration. Baking is a favorite hobby and since I'm quite free these days, I don't mind taking in some orders which I haven't done in a while. For more of my cupcakes, check out these online albums:

JILLICIOUS CUPCAKES 1
JILLICIOUS CUPCAKES 2
CHRISTMAS WREATH CUPCAKE

My prayer partner Gracey with baby Zeph A.K.A BemBem & hubby Pol