An Open Letter from a Mother to Her Firstborn

Dearest Akira,

If you’re reading this, my son, you're probably in a better state than where we are right now. I know you won’t remember anything about this, but you survived the CoVid-19 Pandemic that has made the world unconceivably shut down for months.

My love, you came to us a week earlier than expected one morning last September, and to say that we had challenges during your first few months is an understatement. The pain of giving birth was unimaginable but the irony of it was, it’s the best pain I’ve ever endured. I have you. Thank goodness you won’t be experiencing childbirth in the future—unless you go with your future wife in the labor room, like what your tatay did.

The three of us went home the next day and we were happily stuck during the four months of my maternity leave. Not knowing what to expect, the Internet was our very best friend during your first month in this world. We embraced the fear of the unknown and prevailed—you never had any major sickness during those times. It was our first taste of a complete lockdown as a family and we managed to take care of you all by ourselves, no hired help, whatsoever.

9

Lucky nine. A cat’s assumed life. If it were my child, he/she would’ve been in fourth grade. Cheers to my ninth year on this little space of mine in the blogosphere. My blogger friends and I now consider ourselves as semi-retired bloggers (if there’s such a term). I haven’t written in a long time now ‘coz ‘adulting’ hit me really hard when parenthood consumed me the past year. Tatay Lakad Pilipinas. Nanay Blissful Guro. Baby Akira. We’re now three in the team. Woot! 

Asilah: Morocco's Artsy Seaside Resort Town

How many days are you staying here in Morocco? 

Around thirty days. 

What? Why? 

I remember how surprised a certain backpacker was upon knowing that we're going around Morocco for a month. He then told us that a friend and him will try to cover as much for seven days. Upon knowing this, me and my buddy were stunned on that tight schedule. Well, as they say, some people do have lotsa money but no time and some do have the luxury of time but do not have loads of moolah—that was us on the latter. 

Rabat: Morocco's Capital City

After spending three days in Rabat, it actually saddened me to leave—a total departure from our experience in Casablanca wherein we wanna leave right away after our very first day. I dunno if it's the cheap food, the not-so-threatening feel in the medina, or the friendly people but we had a nice time in the Morocco's capital city that we felt like our three-day stay wasn't enough.

Eurasian Summer Bump 2019

Our school year has ended three days ago which prompted the start of our two-month summer vacation. Once again, my teaching life will be put on hold and my explorer self will kick off. This year, it will all be different as compared to our past trips. We’re traveling to two new countries as a one-year old married couple plus, we’re in the family way! This will surely be really exciting, eh? 

Muntik Na

Isang taon na naman ang lumipas. Ang bilis ng panahon. Labing-isang taon na pala ako sa pagtuturo. Kasabay ng mga pagbabago sa buhay ko bilang may asawa ay ang pinakamalaking pagsubok na hinarap ko sa aking pagtuturo; bigla ko na lang naramdaman na ayoko nang pumasok sa eskwelahan, Hunyo pa lamang nung mga panahon na ‘yun. Nasa puso ko pa ang pagtuturo pero hindi na ako natutuwa sa sistema ng kagawaran.

Morocco: Casablanca more than the Classic Hollywood Film

It was not the Morocco I imagined it to be. There were hardly any colorful tiles and magical lamps that I’ve seen a number of times on travel magazines. It was our third day in Casablanca and I wasn’t even thrilled on waking up as I didn’t feel safe when we go around especially with our cameras in tow. Apparently, Casablanca that was made famous by a movie with the same title (that wasn’t even shot there) is not a usual stop for first-time travelers in the country.