It's not rocket science, but I don't know how kids are these days. I can't give one good logical explanation how they get to great with almost anything. I know I've been pouring in praises for my daughter as often as I get the chance to. But the wonders are really astounding.
When shopping, she'd browse through the whole store like flipping through the pages and as soon as she'd spot something she wants she'd let me know she likes it. At first I'm not at all conviced of her choice, but once she slips into them, she'd prove me all wrong.
Dress by KOB, shoes by Kiddos, bag by Lacoste.
When dressing up, I'd often ask Kiara,
Janiz: "Ok or not ok?"
Kiara: "It's so nice mom! And it goes well with those shoes."
Genius. Simply genius. Just with anything.
Dress by POMELO Lifestyle, shoes by Possibility.
I've always said that sometimes Ilonggo lack that zest or the love for their own. If Cebuanos are known for being loyal to their own produce, Iloilo on the other hand, lacks just that. There's nothing wrong with being proud of where you're from. Now you can do just that with POMELO Revolution, Iloilo series shirts.
August 22, 2009, Iloilo City -- Like I've said in my previous post, we were expected to do more running around for all the last minute stuffs. Dad asked me not to bother my brother with anything this day. And the preparation pretty much turned out great.
My brother and the whole family would like to thank my brother's professors who flew from Manila just to be a part of this event.
And of course the support my brother recieved from his friends who were there and stayed the whole time and even volunteered on whatever they can help us with.
And the girls were around too and they wanted to buy the shirts which were in fact made for guys. They want it really bad, begging mommy to get them one.
Only half of the family can make it since some had other plans prior to this. But it was great having as much family members around as possible.
POMELO Revolution
Ground floor, MaryMart Mall 1, Valeria St., Iloilo City
It was way past lunch when my stomach started complaining. I would have forgotten if not for that. I want something that I can't actually have when I go back to Manila. So fast-foods were not a considerable option. The nearest that we could ever think about is this Chinese restaurant just near the mall we're at, conveniently named Kusina Tsina.
When I was having Kiara, the mere smell of Chinese food made me want to throw up. But after 9 years, I think I've grown accustomed to it as though it's a part of my culinary preferences. What came as a surprise was that my daughter loves it, compared to Italian food, specifically pasta and pizza which her taste buds often rejects.
Wesley of course is Chinese, therefore he'd have to love his own. Come to think of it, I don't know any Chinese who dislikes Chinese food...If you come to know anyone, he's sure is an oddball.
I find Chinese food rather oily but really tasty. Thanks to that one person who discovered MSG. That's one thing too, I shove all this tasty Chinese food in my mouth and end up seriously dizzy, what with all that MSG. A good excuse to have tea and wash away the toxins in our body.
My verdict? The food was really great and the prices were reasonable. I just hope that the urban food legend that Chinese food uses much MSG would not hold true with Kusina Tsina.
If you know me all too well, you'd know at an instant that I won't be home for no reason at all. Of course I miss my family and friends, but besides that, I'm good at where I'm at right now. So for the long weekend, we flew home for the launching of my brother's men's clothing line.
I'm well aware of my purpose; that I'd be in charge of whatever and wherever my brother has left off. Which would mean, all the store preparations, plus a whole lot more on the sides. So come Friday I asked for as much labor force I could get a hold of to help me with, since the store was closed for a good two weeks to give way to all the renovations.
While I was running around for all those last minute installation and other preparations, my little girl was busy on her own. One thing about my daughter that I haven't said here before is that she's very domesticated. And she's good at it, especially listing down items or organizing the process, I can honestly rest my mind as soon as I give her the instructions.
Kiara: "Can I help?"
Janiz: "What do you want to do?"
Kiara: "Anything."
Janiz: "Later if the clothes are here, you can help with the inventory."
My brother on the other hand needs more time in his hands. He's got professors to attend to and tour around the city. All that while using whatever help he can get to get the work done. He's not having a child, not anytime soon, but I think he's got the same feeling any man go through just before he turns into a dad. You know, feeling high and scared at the same time? That's how he was. He's launching his baby soon for everyone to see.
Too much running around looses much juice. Anyone would know I am busy just by looking at me. I look really bad! hahaha I can't even spare a second to look at the camera. I was clearly unaware, or basically I had too much on my mind.
We were on overtime. The mall management politely kicked us out of the mall since it's a little over 9pm -- way past mall hours I guess. So the day is done, yet so much is still left undone. Tomorrow will be the day, a good few hours of running around yet again.
My daughter and I were in Iloilo for the long weekend. Gawd, how I miss being home! At first I felt a little odd about the city, but then again, it's the people here that matters more. Until I got in my feet and was pretty much busy the whole time I was there. I felt that 3 days back home is not enough. I didn't even have time to lounge around, sit and breathe in the fresh air.
My daughter Kiara brought along her books in school so she'd have time to study and catch up on school readings. Such a geek right?
Top and shorts by KOB, gladiators by Secret Garden.
There's never a dull moment with Kiara, especially since she's not afraid to make fun of herself. She could get really wacky when she wanted to and she'd laugh at her pictures when she'd get the chance. Here's my daughter in what ought to be the poster of some horror film. Actually it won't send you shivers, instead it'll send you giggles! hahaha
I'm not sure if black is my thing really, but lately it's been my top color choice. Chinese believe that black wouldn't give you much of a luck, for some reason, black's exactly what I want to wear recently.
Top, cover up, jeans by POMELO Lifestyle, shoes by Charles and Keith.
July 31st, Friday Kiara was ecstatic to meet up with her friend Cheska who was here with her family for a week-long vacation. It was a tedious planning process since schedules wouldn't match. Then we got settled with the Friday schedule. You know how kids are, they wanted to do a lot of things if you allow them too. I heard them planning about swimming, going to the mall, etc. It's as if time was at their side.
So we met up at their posh Joya unit at Rockwell, and the girls were inseparable! Cheska and her sister Bianca was begging Kiara to stay over for the night. But my daughter's not the type to go to a battle without an armoury (take note, not just a weapon but really an armoury). That's how she is.
Bianca: Pls. Kiara, spend the night here. We'll go swimming tomorrow morning.
Kiara: Are you sure it's ok? Your parents may not be cool with it.
Cheska:It's ok. They wouldn't mind.
Kiara: But I don't have my clothes, especially my nighties.
Bianca: I'll lend you mine, we're almost the same size.
Kiara: How about my clothes tomorrow and my swimwear?
Cheska: Your mom will bring it 7 o'clock in the morning.
(Kiara was angelically smiling. Probably thinking of more excuses while the sisters patiently waited for her response. And when she couldn't find more, she waved her flag and surrendered.)
Kiara: Ok. *grin*
I can see that the girls would move mountains, just so my daughter gets to sleep with them for the night. And as a mother, I was touched. How could you not feel light-hearted for something like that?
So this is the mark of the historic...the first ever sleepover my daughter ever had. I know she's been wanting this, and she was just waiting for the right moment. With that said, I left the 3 girls with smiles that could stretch up to their ears. And when Vanessa - Bianca and Cheska's mom announced that they'd be pampered with a spa service, they faces lit up like a torch in the dark. Kids, I can't seem to get enough of their energy.
I'd also want to thank Bianca and Cheska's family, for welcoming Kiara even just for a night. It means a lot.
Together with Spyglass Entertainment, Hasbro and Paramount Pictures, whose previous worldwide blockbuster collaboration of the "Transformers", bring another extraordinary action-adventure to the big screen and we're not passing up the chance to see it. August 7, Kiara and I flocked to theaters just like hundreds in line for the premier of G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra. All I really know about G.I. Joe is that it's this little action figures my brothers were just dying to have.
So when my daughter asked: "Who is G.I. Joe? What does G.I. Joe stand for?"
Janiz: "We'll find out."
Kiara: *shrug*
I did the eye-roll thing when I saw the trailer with the accelerator suits, but it turned out to be one fo the coolest thing in the movie. I'm pretty surprised that I could say that it was pretty good.
After that action packed, male dominated movie, we decided to go window shopping, which we haven't done for some time now. And sometimes this "window shopping" thing becomes a photo op moment for Kiara.
And sometimes too, the word "window" is forgotten and left at the door, just before we enter the store. Which leaves us to just shopping...and leaves me broke.
I promised my 9-year-old we'd watch the Lady Gaga concert, and every time we hear her greet on the radio saying:"Hey hey, this is Lady Gaga."
Kiara and I would respond, "Hey hey!"
It goes without saying that we're really excited to be in the concert and slowly counting the days.
Come Tuesday, Kiara arrived home by three. We did all her assignment and homework in a flash, then left home at half past five since we're anticipating the traffic. I was right, it was literally a crawl to Araneta Coliseum. We arrived at a little over seven. That's more than an hour stuck in traffic! All that for Lady Gaga!
One of the sad part is that you can't have cameras and we were stopped at the entrance. But when we were inside, majority actually got away with it. Oh well. Once we got settled, we patiently waited and when the lights finally dimmed, we were all screaming. Just to realize that there's still an opening act. And when she finally went out, we were up again and screaming!
The first song she sang was my favorite among her songs so far, "Paparazzi". I was a little disappointed coz I would have wanted her to sing it in the middle of the concert, but nevertheless, it was still amazing.
One of the songs though that got us off our feet, jumping slash dancing was to the tune of "Just dance." Lady Gaga is a lot of things, and now I'd have to add up to the list, she's the type that adjusts her undies in her concert. Watch watch:
What's good about a rowdy and screaming audience, is that sometimes, your daughter wouldn't hear what you wouldn't want her to. It's basically not a kid's concert...a lot of profanity.
Like when she said: "A guy asked me, do you have a d*ck? Then I said: yes I do, and it's much bigger than yours."
I would have laughed my ass off, but since my daughter was around, she asked what Lady Gaga said, I denied ever hearing it. So that puts the hermaphrodite rumors to an end. Watch the video while she performs the acoustic rendition of "Poker face" while humping the piano that my daughter wishes to take home.
She's wild and weird. But she's the nicest. And she loves the Philippines, she's been saying it at the concert that her best friend's a Filipino. It's obvious on her Twitter, here's her tweet the day before arriving to Manila:
"I'm your biggest fan, I’ll follow you until you love me, Papa-paparazzi."
And when she left, she tweets:
*cough cough* I'm slowly loosing my voice. But thank you Lady G., you brought the house down! The experience was just...orgasmic - to say the least.
I'm Janiz Anne Jardiolin-Lo. Eccentric. Mother/Wife and everything in between. Swimmer. Entrepreneur. Optimist. Art enthusiast. Philomath and Philanthropist wannabe. I have a love-hate relationship with the world.
