all i want is WORLD PEACE.

I'm not really a fan of "fishing." Seeing the fish wriggle for its life when caught by the rod feels like animal abuse to me. I'd really feel sad for the fish. =(

But then when I am surrounded with kids with unlimited energy, I just have to come up with any activity that will entertain them. With them free for whole summer vacation, it comes to the point that I and they ran out of activities to waste their energy on that I considered fishing; as we live near a "fishing" place / park slash all-in-one, Co Jordan Fishing, Food and Restaurant. It's located at the back of the subdivision. Probably around 2KM from our house.

One fine day, with all the kids bored, I decided to take them to that fishing. The goal was to spend as many energy of my kids so we just walk from our house to the fishing place via a shortcut.

A bit tricky shortcut, but kids love it.

Ate ice cream.

A few poses here and there.


Until we reached Co Jordan.

Mati decided not to fish, and instead volunteered to hold the fish net, where the catches would be placed.
Ate Mona caught 99% of the fishes. Fishing stopped when finally Migi caught one.

Meg had none as she could not keep herself still at one place.

We caught a total of 1.5KG of Bangus, at P160/kg. We had half of it made into "kinilaw" to add to our shrimp and pork order. The place is also like a "sutukil."

I videoke-d, Migi videogame-d while waiting for our food to be served.

As I said it's an all-in-one place, they even have free wi-fi.


For those who want try this, there's a detour across SM Consolacion, it's a road leading to Consolacion Tennis Court and Consolacion College, take that straight until you see Co Jordan. Cottage is at P150 if you like to stay in one. More pics here >>.

Earlier, I went to the Wellnessland Clinic to inquire about their service and to get a feel of them. I guess as we are really used to the very traditional medical service set-up, I just need to have a preview of what to expect the place. I need to see if I can trust them.

I always believe that relationship with doctor matters a lot. I guess we can call it it's part of placebo effect.

I picked a Sister Doctor (nun). While waiting, I went around. They're like a group of doctors housed in one clinic. The place is owkei, no sign of smoking cauldrons. =)

But then I saw a "virginity" soap, along with other organic products, being displayed for sale.  Ooopss. Please, placebo effect, don't be shattered! =)

Anyhoo, I got to talk with the Sister Doctor. Based on our initial talk, I am trusting her! =)

Before we would decide to have my nanay go thru a knife and remove her uterus, I will seek help from the alternative medicine. Tomorrow, I'll visit Bio-Integrative Health Link Center (Wellness Land).

I refused to google about uterine polyps since the first time my mother encountered it for we all know how google can kill us with its results. But this time, I just need to face that monster. If we have to give up a part of our being women, I believe I need to cover all areas.

One of the things that made me think of going the alternative is because of this video of Dr. Terry Wahls, Minding your Mitochondria. It's worth the time viewing it.

Thank you, google. It informed me that hysterectomy is the 2nd surgery / operation made in US, next to C-section. Can I say, poor women?!? It feels there is something not right in the equation.

And, aside from financial reasons, the thing that made me think twice about surgery is that the reason why my mother is having polyps is because of hormonal imbalance. And so one of my big questions that has never been answered is why remove the uterus when the cause is hormonal imbalance. I asked our doctor about it before, and her answer is that one way to balance it is when we have our "period." And, since my mother is already menopausal, hysterectomy is what is for her.

Anyway, I set an appointment with Bio-Integrative Healthlink Center  or Wellness Land. Based on google results, they seem to be the most popular here in Cebu. Though, my mother has mentioned the name Romy Paredes already to me. He is the medical director of that center.

Anyhoo, anyone who has experienced with this clinic, please share. I am really groping as to how to go about this. And, it's doubly hard that it's hard to find a medically licensed doctor who also believes in alternative / integrative healing.

By the way, my decision is not really baseless. I read a book, authored by an OB, "Healing Fibroids," in which he advocated that as much as possible is to avoid hysterectomy.

So right now, I'm in search for a doctor who can enlighten me / us more.

Just when I was enjoying the view and the lovely rolling hills, a steep monster ascent came into view. And, there's no other way but to climb it up, and suck it in.

My nanay's health issues pops up again when I'm enjoying my "retirement." I'm shaken, and scared.

But as we all know, negative thoughts are just energy and time waster. So I'm now summoning all the positive vibes, and God's guidance to push us through this.

I just have to keep remembering my running mantra, "I'm stronger than you, pain." I guess in this case, I have to reword it to "I'm stronger than you, uncertainty."

I've been receiving 'happy mother's day' card for days already. I've been stashing them here and there. Then today, I saw these (they're 2) pinned on our door, artsy next to dirty door.

I'm not really fond of these mother / father / grandfather / ghost's day. But after all our stock of bond papers is gone, I have to be grateful for being gifted with these 3 smelly noisy adorable but-not-so-adorable-personalities babies.

I'm feeling so lucky I don't need a day dedicated to me to remind me that. :)

I really suck at this. I don't know how to end this without leaving out those people who cannot relate much with mother's day. Anyhoo, happy mother's day everyone. We all have Mama Mary!

I'm a sucker for me-me list. I love reading people's "101 things about me," bucketlists, or wishlist. It really makes me happy to know someone's favorite color, dream stuff, dream vacay, favorite dish, or whatever likes and hates. I'm just amazed that people can be so the same at some things, but can be so different in others.

I tried many times to come up with my own list. But I never get to finish them, as I always run out of things to list, or I got bored, or I got disappointed that I cannot come up with any thing interesting.

Hopefully, this time with 30 years of existence in this world, I could come up with at least 30 "nice" wishes. I'm calling this "selfish wishlist" as this would only be about me, nothing about world peace.

1. 10KM/hour that can be sustained up to 160KM, and also on uphills and downhills. enough said. I'm currently at 5-6km/hour sustainable for long runs.
2. 8km/hour. If 1st wish is too much to ask.
3. Mirinda Carfrae's boody. For me to get to that faster pace, I need to be in a racing weight. I don't think it's really about losing weight, but it's more of tightening the whole body that they can all work on giving me the faster pace.

But I think what I really like about Mirinda is her short hair. And so I cut my hair short, at least I got that part. =)

4. Orange bike. Orange-colored bike. After looking for an orange bike, I discovered that there's an "Orange" brand in bikes. =)

I think it would be sweet to have an orange Orange mountain/ xc bike. =)
The road bike is also cute. =) The eeny-weeny bubbles-like details on the design is cute. =)

5. Gummy candies. I love gummy candies, especially during long runs. The sweet and sour would be an emotional booster when every thing gets so dragging and lonely during long runs.

6. Kiamoy. It's also good to have a stash of this on long runs. The odd sour taste is a good entertainment to keep me up.

7. Clif Bloks.

8. Clif Shots. I'm not really fond of energy gels but when push comes to shove, this is really handy.

9. Singlets / Running tops / Dri fits. I've been using Mark's dri-fits but then they all get bigger and I'm left with nothing much to wear. The free singlets from races also got bigger on me.

10. A more calloused feet.

11. Running Capri tights.
 
12. Different flavors of Eng bee tin hopia except for pork and that one with egg. They're my equivalent to Magnum ice cream. Though La Fortuna monggo hopia brings back childhood memories.

13. Halo-halo and Shawarma with lots of extra cheese combo. Ever since I got into running, I always feel that craving for sweet and salty mix every after a long run. This combo exactly hits the spot.

14. Gel pens. But I ran out of space to store them so this can be scratched.

15. Colorful Le Sportsac big bag. But then I could not give away my 2 old ones and I no longer have space for new ones so this can be scratched too.

16. Orange / pink Sanuk slippers. My old one was stolen. =( Or any rubber slippers will do.

17. Teva rubber sandals.

18. Running skirt.

19. Colorful head wears / head buffs.

20. Yoga outfit.

21. Birthday run with buko juice party at the end.

22. Find more (accessible) trail routes.

23. More hiphop / R&B or "The Postal SErvice-ish" kind of music mp3 files.

24. Be able to tick off items from my footraces bucketlist.

25. To be able to finish this list before my birthday!!!

Many times I'm being mistaken for a college kid. I'm definitely bragging. And, bragging is not complete without details.

Scene 1: Today at school, enrolling my 3 kids.

School Staff: Magsoon ni sila tanan? Puros man diay ni sila gagmay pa.
Me: O. Sunod man gud kaayo na sila nako pagkaanak.
School Staff: Aw. Imo diay ning mga anak? Abi man nako imo mga pag-umangkon. Pila diay imo edad?

Scene 2: Last last week, at yoga studio.

We were just 2 during the yoga session. The other one was a new mom to a 2-month baby. She fell asleep during the "dead" pose (i dunno what's the right term for it). When the instructor woke her up, she then explained that she was sleepless for the baby. I then inserted talking about my own "baby and sleepless" tales, and told them how I'm happy I'm over that stage.

They then gave me the confused look, and told me they thought I'm still a college girl. =)

Scene 3: Week before that yoga incident, at the starting line of a race (Coast to Coast Ultra)

At the check-in area, I had to have my race bib number and Mark's both checked. The person assigned seeing both our last names as Buenconsejo asked me if Mark and I were siblings. So I told him that he's my husband; we're married.

The staff then told me I looked too young to be married.

Scene 4: From time to time this would happen, during our runs together

When Mark and I run together, I'm usually way behind him as I'm very slow. So sometimes bystander would then comment to me how far my mate is. And, they would usually refer to him as father, or older brother. So sometimes, they would say something like, "Imo tong papa ang nag-una?" or "Hala, layua na sa imong maguwang oy."

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I really do feel happy being seen as young. But sometimes, it can no longer feel funny when Mark and I looked like we're having an incestuous relationship.


Next Friday, I will be 31. I'm really wondering how to look that part.

I've been following a lot of mommy blogs. But when I got busy with running around and other interests and confusing stuff, I failed to keep up with them. And just lately, I'm reading a few of them back. And, I was surprised that one of them had broken up. How did it ever happen?!? I'm sad because they're such a lovely family.

Which made me think if ever there was a time I / we thought of separating or divorce or breaking up? Well, there are times that how I wish we did not get married and have kids young. But separating??? I think the closest is me being suicidal. I did suffer the severe PPD (post-partum depression) with the 3rd baby. That when I was at the lowest point, all I could see were hanging rope waiting for my head as pulling myself from the dumps was futile which just led me to drowning more into the bottom of the pit.

I wish I knew running at that time.

Anyhoo, I came from a broken family. And, it's not that bad. Well, I don't turn out that bad. What I'm trying to say is that getting separated or broken family is sad. But then on the bright side of it, it gives you that different color that we will not be who we are without those few skeletons in our closet.

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I asked Mark if we'd ever get to that point. And, he said no because his only interest is his self. I don't really fully get what he meant. But I guess we're just at the point that we each have our own self interests that being in some marriage drama would be such a hassle to our own interests. 

My last entry was that we're in "chaos." I forgot what exactly Mark and I argued over. I think he was frustrated that his kids had / have no discipline. Of course, he was pissed at me because I'm now a "fulltime" housewife and he does not get it why I could not discipline our kids.

Well, my only reply is that his kids are his kids -- they perfectly have Mark's genes. Is Mark John a disciplined boy? How do you discipline a Mark John?!? A Mark John does not listen to any one. Mark is a crash-and-burn kind of person. He always would go after what's inside his mind until he'd get annoyed and stop. So all I can do is to just wait when the kids would crash and burn. Then, I could stick out my tongue at them, "Bleeehhh." =)

Anyway, I guess we're in a "transition" stage where every thing is new, and we're groping. Just like in any other stage, we have an idea of what is ideal but how to get or reach that ideal idea is a deep black ocean.

The 2 older kids will be both graders, and Mati will also be in school (I don't know what's his level. Some changes to the education system.).  They're in this stage that "brute force" / "ilad-ilad" kind of discipline does not work much. Just based on what I think, it's a stage where the kids take more from what we actually are doing than just our usual "good little boys and girls" go to heaven, or will receive gifts from Santa this Christmas stories to make them behave or eat well or listen to us.

If we want them to eat well, then Mark and I also have to eat well. If we want them to clean the house, then we have to show them that we clean the house. Of course, that's not a problem except that we're used to having the Ate's around. Removing Ate's is a totally different story. The thing is that we have to divert from our usual routine at home that we are most comfortable. And, as humans who are habitual, it's not going to be easy.

It's time consuming to be patient over kids learning how to fold their blankets, sweep, mop the floor than just I or Ate would do it. For the OC, it can be such a headache to see the kids are messing instead of really doing the job.   

I guess what added to the drama is that Mark is also having that "new stage" at work. So it gets messy for him. Let's just say he's doing non-programming works, and he does not really know what he's supposed to do. There's that ideal picture, but getting into that ideal picture is a big blank canvass and he's no painter. And he does not know any painter who can bring that ideal picture to reality.

So I guess that's why Mark is in rage last week over me? =) Anyhoo, there's nothing much we can do about it but to have that blind faith but keeping the nose and eyes wide open. I just have to reassure him that our kids' percentage of going to detention cell is very very slim as I'm doing a good job as a mother based on my scientific study. Funny, that I have to reassure Mark when I'm always the unsure person.

If it's running, to go the top, we have to endure a very steep uphill and we're not even sure if we really like what is on top. We can pause and look at our back and be amazed with the view from time to time. But it will be always uncomfortable if we want to move forward, and much more if we want to go up. And, once you're up -- you might need to take a painful descent, a rolling hills, or get stuck at the top. =)

So I'd like to believe that's why we are in pain or uncomfortable from time to time is that it's a sign we're still moving. =)

My mind, our home, our kids are in chaos as of this moment. Well, it's always in chaos but this time it's a bit on a notch higher. Maybe a good long torturous run could sort it out, but I'm not in the mood.

So I'm posting about this so I can take off my mind from the leaning-on-a-negative chaos kind of day.

Last week, Migi and Meg were tagged along by the MIL and relatives to their Bohol trip. Lucky kids, I've never been to Bohol yet.

Following are few of the 300 pics given by the MIL to me.

I'm not really sure what's the point of the kid in costume when we all know there's no longer indigenous people in Bohol. Maybe I'm just in a bad mood today, but I felt it's kinda sending the wrong signals especially to the kids. Something about the a kid in a "silhig-looking" costume holding a "coconut-tree lizard" (I just made up that animanl name) felt like child + animal abuse? Not that I have any solution to offer so I will stop sensationalizing it.

I love this except that the MIL cropped Migi's head. Clowning on pictures really looks cute on kids.
The whole Bohol Trip gang -- thanks a lot for tagging along my kids!

This was our first ever family picture. This has been printed over and over again for my kids' school assignment which asked them to bring a family pic.
Finally, we got a new version. Below was taken earlier after the Quota Trail Run. Not really a better version. We still look topsy-turvy but I guess that's just how it is we are.
(For some story about our Quota Trail Run, click here >>. Yes, I do keep a "running" blog.)

Even though you love your child...
...you must let them go to the other side of the mountain.

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I was watching the trailer of Town of Runners, a documentary film, and I saw this subtitle. I guess letting go, giving the kids the free reign of their lives might be much more harder than providing them with their basic needs -- food, shelter, and gadgets. =)

The last thing I want to post here is about running. But then I just cannot resist to be bragging about my kids' first organized fun run -- Run for BB. I signed up the 3 kids.


Migi. I intended to register Migi for a 400M dash run but Mark said it's too short for Migi, and had him signed for a 3KM run. But Mark's going to accompany him. Being sporty is something natural for Migi so it was not really much of a question or a surprise that he'd be able to make it.

Since Migi was in the 3KM, he and Mark were the first to go. I think they're a bit too fast. I did not notice them crossing the finish line. A bit sad that I was not able to get a pic of Migi's first finish line crossing.

Migi looked like he did not break a sweat.
Mati. Mothers / parents always have this gut feeling of what their kids are into. But with Mati, I just could not see what is that certain thing / activity he is really into. Migi has this natural talent for athletics. Meg is big about doodles and arts. Mati is I don't-know. He seems to have some 'theater arts' traces as he can be very animated.

So anyway, I signed him up for this fun run just because one of the sibs is joining. You know that sibling "all or nothing" kind of thing.

He was the second to go for a run for the 200M dash. And, his finish line drama looked too familiar. We have the same 1st finish line experience -- crying.

I thought he was crying because he was cranky from waiting too long for the kiddie dash to start. Later on, while I was consoling him, he told me again and again in between sobs, "Wa ko daug. Hinay ako dagan." He did not stop crying and saying how slow he was on our way home.
At home, he told me to get him a shoes so he can run faster. Yay! Blame it on my laziness and my being fan of barefoot / minimalist running. Anyhoo, we found some hand-me-down rubber shoes from Migi. And, off he went running outside as practice for his next run. I'm just glad he's able to pick his self up.

Meg. When it comes to sports, Meg has been underrated. She usually declines to be enrolled to tennis clinics (we're just a few meters away from a tennis court) as she believes she's meant to be in a ballet class. Eeekkkxpensive so nothing happen to that belief. But Mark, instead, got her a bike and she's the official bike tutor in the neighborhood. So those sporty kind of activity is really more of a social event for her than a physical activity.

When she got dressed up for the run, I asked her if she's going to wear his white rubber shoes or her high-cut kind of pink chucks. Being Meg, the pink-ier the better so she ran in chucks.

I kind of actually thought that she'd pull a drama-queen, and won't run. But surprise, she came first in the 400M dash group. I got teary-eyed watching her beaming with happiness and pride getting to cross the finish line first.
She actually kind of won it more by being 'smart.' (I'm not saying the other kids are not. Please forgive this proud mother.) She was not in the lead, but the lead missed the turnaround. That's why she was able to overtake them.

Anyhoo, we'll see next Sunday if Meg's winning is just a fluke, if Mati can redeem his self with some old chucks, and if it will be just another day for Migi. Yes, we're joining yet another fun run. =)

I've been wanting to update my multiply again regularly. But it feels like that of a close friend back in grade school, and then you finally meet, and then you realize that a lot has change between the two of you that you no longer know how to connect with each other. And so subsequent meet-ups would just be up to "hi and hello." So that's how I'd been feeling every time I open my multiply account, hoping to update it about bits and pieces of my life but I just ended up just giving it a quick hello, a quick browse, then bye.

But unlike a long-lost friend, I just cannot let go of this little piece that keeps 20 pages of album photos and 73 pages of my rants / thoughts about me, myself, and I, my kids, my husband, anyone that annoys or amazes me. 

So hopefully this is a start, instead of just saying a hello and then exit. This is kind of important to me because it's not really about me -- but more about my kids, and few ramblings to annoy the husband, and yes, about ME! =)

So the kids, every time I would be asked about the traits of my kids, it will be:

Invisible Kid
Migi is the invisible kid. In the house, I do not really much hear from him except on the obligatory sibling fight. Most of the time, he's just in the corner playing any thing video games. I know it's bad but what can I do, our house is one cyberzone of gizmos.

But on the brighter side, he does also demand to go out and play tennis. He has Saturday classes, which he sometimes attends and sometimes not.  And, I'm proud that he biked around Cebu City with Mark, a good 10KM+, during the Earth Hour celebration.

Annoying Meg
I'm trying to say it with love. She's the younger MIL version. And, again I say it with love. =) If Migi is invisible, then she is the exact opposite. She's the reason behind our walls to be always updated with murals, stickers, and arts.

She can really be annoying but at the end of the day, when I see her tucked in bed holding her stuffed toys, lady bug and spongebob, how can I not feel lucky! =)

She just finished pre-school, which means I now have 2 graders. Ow how time flies! =)
Always the Baby
I cannot deny that Mati is spoiled. He is everyone's favorite. I guess it's one of the perks of being the youngest. He is the family's troll who is such a tease to his older sibs.

And, again how time flies so fast; he's going to be schooling this June. After 2 tries in taking the entrance exam, the teacher let him in. The first try was he crumpled the test papers and threw away the pencil. I'm not really proud of if but on the other side, at least this kid is not afraid to express what he feels. The second try, he finally cooperated though he did not get any correct answer.
Ow what an update! =)

A+ for her effort of climbing to reach those part of the walls, and stick those cut-out spongebobs. I think those are from Isla's birthday giveaways.

Whatever floats in her little head that girl. :)

Those are Meg's fatty finger and toe nails painted by her. :)

Lying in bed with the trio, waiting for Mark from their office swimming lessons, and thinking how an absentee mother I am. I got me thinking about it when T asked me over skype what are my kids' curriculum, and sadly I could not pull out any concrete answer from my brains. I could not even understand what is curriculum. Duh me.

Oh parenting - a frustrating thing for me to understand. The only achievement I probably have is making up rule #1 - you can say 'what the fuck, man' when you're 20.

I'm in love with (distance slow) running. The only thing that made me gave up weekends with my family.

A few finds I collected on the way.

Just like love, I really do not know how to explain why I love distance running. =) It's probably the mix of pain, unsureness and peacefulness that comes with it. (Emphasis on distance because I get bored with running around the subdivision -- too monotonous.)

will end here before I go on preaching that running will solve all our problems. Thanks to markjohn for agreeing to babysitting alone on weekends.