I am ReigningStill: Learn

Showing posts with label Learn. Show all posts

Another fashion blog guys… SORRY! As I’ve said countless times already, I’ve been keeping up with my blogging but I guess I’m not doing any good here as my pile seems to grow everyday! hahaha.. But I’ll try.. REALLY TRY!

Anyway, G.p have this very gorgeous top/vest with a rock star feel complete with that very MJish look of embellished shoulder pads that I’m dying to wear! (Stole the top and secretly wore it for work! hahaha .. Said sorry after anyways!)

Initially, I planned to wear this one on a Friday and pair it with a nice fitting jeans and equally drop-dead gorgeous heels! Can you imagine it? Very Rihanna I tell you!

Photo grabbed from Google.

However, I also have this very pretty A-line pink skirt that I haven’t used for quite some time now…

And so you guessed it right! I made the most unusual outfit match and come up with a Rockstar-girlish-smart casual-look!

I love the way this outfit made me look ssooo sexy with that unbelievably small waist because of the top, that “illusion” of bigger boobs created by the collar that rest right on top of my chest and very full hips because of the A-line skirt. The sleeves is also perfect for making my ridiculously large arms look a bit smaller. Agree??

I also love the fact that the top complimented my skirt to achieve that business look that I’m aiming since I’m wearing it for work. I’ve used my black peep toe pumps to complete my smart ensemble for the day.

Accessories is another major factor in dressing up. So I’ve decided to combine rockstar and formal accessories. Since I already have green on my skirt, I opted to use my beaded bracelet for the rockstar look and since I’m wearing pink, I also wore my pink studded bronze bangles with matching ring. I added another huge oval ring to complete my attire. I chose not to wear necklace or earrings as to avoid looking like a walking Christmas tree. Remember.. I am still vying for that business casual look so over-accessorizing is a big no-no!

My girl Jin, whose also wearing a skirt that day posed with me! :-) Hahaha.. Inggitera much! So here’s us posing for Cor! Thanks anyway to my Cor for being my photog! Love you both loads!

Just finished reading this book, and for those of you who follow me on Facebook would know my reactions WHILE reading this. J But let me have the liberty of reposting my comments for the benefit of those who doesn’t know my existence on the said networking site. :-P

I love it and hate it at the same time. I don’t know. I just do. I keep on telling my friends who wished to read the book that they should be warned. This book is not for the faint hearted, and definitely not for the narrow-minded. It tells a lot. Explains a lot. Explores a lot. There are times when you’d question yourself why you even bother to read and yet you know for a fact that it would be a waste not to.

I love the reality. I love the fiction. I love the stories and the emotions behind every word of Belle de Jour. I love her witty way of telling things. Of telling her story. She has this talent to make even the most gruesome experience seem like a part of our daily lives.

Although I can say that I am an open-minded person, someone who accept things as they are, but I cannot say it’s true specially when it comes to the subject of sex. I am a believer that sex must be made by TWO persons in love. And this deed must be done with love and respect and passion and deep emotional feeling that will make this act as magical as it can be.

But on this book, there are two faces of sex that was shown. The one that I am aware of and the one I refuse to look at. But it’s there, right into my face. Written on a paperback. And I am siphoning those information like a hungry hyena.

But I must say, that my beliefs about sex is as intact as it is before I read the book. The only thing that changed is my acceptance of the fact that not everybody believes in what I believe in. And that I must respect their beliefs even if they go against my nature.

It is a must read for those who want to learn. For those willing to know the difference. I myself is astound of the way Belle de Jour narrates her story. In a way that I was able to understand and feel what she’s feeling.

Hats off to Belle and all her intimate adventures. Hats off to us readers, who were influenced and touched by Belle’s story in a way unimaginable. Hats off to Desi and Adel, my friends who introduced me to the book.

I’m looking forward to another Belle de Jour book and I hope it’ll satisfy me the way this book does. :-)

I stumbled upon this article in Yahoo! News and cried buckets. Yes, in front of my officemates. My keyboard is soaking wet now and I can’t seem to stop. Because I can relate to Malu Tiongson, as I have a baby brother who’s suffering from Cerebral Palsy. Me too have a “A Very SPECIAL Story” to tell.

I was planning on creating a blog dedicated to the most important person in my life, but always, I end up staring at a blank white paper. I can’t write. Maybe it’s because I’m not sure of what to say.

Do I make the article sound like I’m thankful? Do I question God? Will I admit that there are times when I felt angry at my Mom because she did things that might cause this? Will I admit that I felt angry at myself for not knowing what to do? I do not know. I do not have the slightest idea. And I hate the fact that most would feel sorry for my brother. I hate seeing people looking at him and feeling sorry for him. I hate it. And I hate myself for feeling that way.

Every time I try to write about him, I felt like a bursting bubble. Like I have so much to say but I can’t find the right words. I cannot phantom. All I know is I am glad, God gave him to us. To me. To my family. And that I love him so much. More that I can ever love anybody.

I’ll write another entry especially for him some other time. Not now I guess. Coz again, I am a bursting bubble.

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A Very ‘Special’ Story

Down Syndrome (DS). Any mother would dread hearing these words after she gives birth.

When my daughter Clarissa was born in 1987, I didn’t even know what this word meant. The pediatrician said, “Her low-set and deformed ears, slanted eyes, small nose low nasal bridge, and the straight crease in her palm all point to one conclusion - Down Syndrome.

I wished that the doctors were mistaken. I questioned God over and over. “Why me, Lord? What have I done to deserve this?” The truth feels like an endless burden and I could not feel joy. Why would God give us a special child? A child is supposed to be a cause for celebration, but can we honestly celebrate when He gives us a handicapped child?

Psalm 139:13-14 reminded me that when God created my child, He exactly knew what she would look like even before she was born. He knew the color of her hair and eyes, her gender, and yes...the number of her chromosomes. She was knitted together in my womb and was fearfully and wonderfully made. God is perfect and doesn’t make mistakes. He intended to create my daughter to be a child with Down Syndrome because He had a purpose for her in our lives.

When Jesus was asked whose fault it is that the man was born blind, he replied, “Neither this man or his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” (John 9:3-4) In God’s will, nothing happens as an accident. He created our child imperfectly and designed her the way she is. My husband Claro and I are the parents He chose and our child was made according to His plan.

Clarissa was born multi-handicapped. As a child with DS, she was diagnosed to have moderate to severe mental retardation due to her inability to hear. Her left ear is severely to profoundly deaf while her right ear is moderately to severely deaf. Because of this, she is therefore unable to speak. My daughter was also born with a left leg that is two inches shorter than her right leg causing her hip to hurt when walking for a long time. Her muscles and ligaments on her left foot have stiffened permanently in a tiptoe position.

Our latest discovery is that her psychiatrist says that her mood swings and occasional burst of rages are due to a condition called Bipolar (a mood disorder). Because of this, I had to totally trust God’s work in me for patience and perseverance. While normal kids could walk and speak at the age of one, Clarissa learned to walk at the age of two and every step she took and every sound that she uttered is God’s display of His miracles.

Parenting a child with special needs is a God-given privilege. When Clarissa was born, I had to release her to God’s hands. I cried numerous times, for I realized that our lives would never be the same. I was not equipped to raise a special child. I was at a loss and was clueless.

As Clarissa grew up, the Lord showed me many lessons through her. While I was focused on teaching her a-b-c’s and 1-2-3’s, she was teaching me the greater things in life - unconditional love, patience, perseverance, contentment and simplicity. Because of her, I was drawn closer to God. She is one of God’s greatest gifts to me and Claro.

In 2005, I decided to homeschool my daughter. In the area of academics, I realized that apart from having an interest in fostering reading and math, I should not exclude the importance of character. Homeschooling her was a well-thought out investment for her future. We surely do not want to spend the rest of our lives with an ill-mannered, selfish, skill-less, unhappy, disabled adult. I may not be with Clarissa all her life so I do not want her to become a burden to her siblings. Homeschooling Clarissa has made me realize that I am the best teacher for her.

There are numerous benefits for our home-educated children with special needs.

My daughter receives the one-on-one teaching that enables her to grow academically which cannot be matched in the private or public setting. She learned at her own pace and her needs were met properly. She also has the opportunity for successful learning experiences which motivates her to keep on trying when she encounters difficult concepts.

We can choose the children whom she can socialize with. We were able to instill our own personal/spiritual values into our teaching. Our time was flexible and there was no wasted learning time. Instruction was individualized. She had quality time with our family and much less time spent away from home.

More importantly, I realized that ultimately, my role as a parent is to lead my children to the Lord. His instruction is read in Deuteronomy 6:5-7, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”

Clarissa constantly prays every meal and when we forget to say grace, she taps my hand and reminds us to pray. When she used to go to school, I regularly prayed over her before she left the house.

This has been her routine. Whenever she is all dressed and ready to go, she comes to me and asks me to pray for her. She constantly reminds us to pray to God. I discovered this only when I first introduced her to Jesus. I led her to a prayer inviting Jesus to come into her heart and be her Lord and Savior. From then on, she always had the desire to pray. If children were created and designed to worship God, then it is our duty to help them discover what they were created for.

Special children are special gifts from the Lord. They are like angels sent by God to us for a special mission. Clarissa is God’s instrument to me and Claro to mold our character and make us better people. Through her, God taught me to be the Mom I never thought I could ever be.

(Note: Those who want to get a copy of Embracing God’s Purpose for My Special Child may contact Malu Tiongson-Ortiz at 0917-8966258.)

Ebi, Kevin and I decided to go out of our house to go to the nearest computer shop. We just can’t stand eavesdropping on our neighbors just to get updates. Our FM radio’s are just not enough.

The first thing I checked? TWITTER!

Twitter is mayhem. Loads of tweets are about updates and rescue messages, messages asking for pledges and volunteers. Miriam Q, Bubbles, Maxene, Ruffa, even Demi Moore, Alyssa Milano and Josh Groban are actively seeking help for those in need. The only thing I can do is to RT. Hoping someone could read my tweet and help! :(

Am so glad a lot are helping. Even celebrities are going out of their way to help. They are the ones who have access anyway. Their tweets could reach many and based on the tweets am reading, a lot are actually helping.

Thank God for Twitter. There are a lot of people that was actually rescued because they tweeted for help. Haaaayy!

I also tried to visit my Facebook account and check out for my friends who are online. So far, some seems OK enough to post love quotes on their FB wall. Thank GOD! :)

I also went OL on my YM account and was able to get in touch with a couple of my closest friends. My friend Jerellt already managed to post a blog about the flood on their place caused by Ondoy.

Some of my friends got stranded. I just got a word that my bestfriend walked from Nagtahan to Pandacan. She’s safe. Am glad. Thank God again. :)

I checked some news site to get myself updated. I was even able to watch a video where cars are being carried away by the heavy flood. Also some pics of the streets last Saturday. I saw a video from FB where the subway in Ayala Ave is overflowing with rain water.

But the pic that almost made me cry is a photo of Mikee Arroyo, at the grocery store looking for a brandy!!! Really!!! Heller Mr. President’s son and Congressman! The whole Philippines are suffering. A lot are cold and wet and hungry and is asking for some help. And there you are! Looking for some brandy! Hu-WOW! And the government is saying we don’t have funds for these types of calamities because guess what? 800M was spent for your Mom’s travels that were supposed to be for Emergencies like these! And guess what again? It was actually Richard Gutierrez who rescued Christine Reyes from their rooftop after staying there for 13hours with her kid nephews and nieces. It was also Judy Ann and Ryan Agoncillo who rescued Gladys Reyes and family. It was a lowly Airport Security Guard who donated his used clothes and some groceries to Red Cross via Twitter/Bubbles Paraiso. Heller! Even the security guard helped and was actually worried for his fellow Filipinos! Grrrrr…

Celebrities are busy asking for help. Celebrities are re-tweetting help Tweets! They RT messages from fans asking for help! Instead of the government doing all these, it’s the PRIVATE citizens and private organizations that are doing it.

There’s actually a very touching Tweet from Ruffa, she said the people from a POSH village was rescued by their neighboring baranggays who bravely swam to help them. And as far as I know, those “neighboring baranggays” are slum areas. Even poor people who basically have NOTHING helped! Risked their lived and tried to save their fellow Filipinos.

I’m tired. I don’t wanna think about it anymore. I feel sorry. I felt angry. But above all, I THANK THE LORD OUR GOD for everything. For every single blessing. For making my friends and family safe. We glorify you Lord! Thank You for everything!

A Toast for that Great Year!

I’m a Rock Star!!!

Big Buddha

De-Cluttering

Lie To Me

Book Review: The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl

A Very SPECIAL Story

FLOOD! FLOOD! At the Metro! – Updates

My Instagram