Yoko Ono?

 This noon, on my down after changing, my son immediately said...

Jason: Mama, you look like John Lennon's wife with that look. You know, from the late 60s to the 70s?

Me: Yoko Ono?

Jason: No.

Me: Who?

((( Yoko Oh-yes! )))

Filipino Accent

 At the dinner table...

I was telling the kids that their father doesn't like this famous half-Filipino stand-up comedian with a couple of Netflix specials on his belt. He doesn't find him funny at all. I feel the same way too.

The boy said that his jokes are predictable. They're mostly about his mom, and her Filipino accent.

The big sister talking to her little brother in Filipino...

Yna: Kung mag stand-up comedian ka, di maapil sa imong routine ang mag make fun sa accent sa atong mama. (If you become a stand-up comedian, you can not include making fun of Mama's Filipino accent in your routine.)

Jason: Why?

Yna: Because di man mag iningles atong mama nato, ug wa pod siyay strong Filipino accent. (Because Mama doesn't talk to us in English, plus she doesn't have a strong Filipino accent.)

Jeopardy

While resting in the living room with the boy, he told me about a new song he heard on YouTube. But the problem is he couldn't remember the title and the artist behind it. 

He said it's in Tagalog, and probably a newer song. 

He described the one in the music video of a guy with long hair, and he had a wife.

So, I tried to help him, and searched Google using the search words, "Filipino singer with long hair."

And what the heck! 

Top answer was Freddie Aguilar, and I am pretty sure it wasn't him the boy was referring to.

But eventually, he found song. 

It was this... 

Hehehehe. It's 'Pag-ibig sa Tabing Dagat' by Orange and Lemons.

The long haired guy he was referring to was Empoy Marquez, and the wife is Alessandra de Rossi. Both are actors and, I think this music video was for their movie. 

I told him that the song reminded me of Eraserheads, and some songs of Parokya ni Edgar back in the day. 

He agreed, but added that he haven't heard any Parokya ni Edgar songs yet.

I recommended 'Harana.'

"Harana? But I thought Eraserheads sang that?"

I honestly didn't know that the latter had a song with the same title too. 

We listened to Parokya ni Edgar on Spotify. He loved them.

I was trying to close my eyes when he asked for help. He said he couldn't read the title of Parokya ni Edgar's first album.

He even asked me if it's in Tagalog and what does it mean.

Hahaha. I, for one, had a hard time reading it. I think they just made this word up.

"KHANGKHUNGHERRNitZ"

"But Ma, the second album has a longer title. It's Buruguduystunstugudunstuy!"

 

"Oh my gosh, 'doy! If there is a Filipino Jeopardy, and it's the final round where you have to wage your money and spell your answer, and suddenly the final jeopardy is ...

"The title of Parokya ni Edgar's second album."

...and then you waged everything you earned, but then you missed one letter of the correct answer. What is Buruguduystunstugudunstuy!

"Patay!" (You're Dead!) was his response.

Taisan

In our living room...

"Mokaon ka ug snacks? Naa tay Ensaymada ug Taisan cake!" (Do you want to eat snacks? We have Ensaymada and Taisan cake.)

I asked my son while he was getting ready to head out and hang out with his friends.

"Hmmmm. I'll have Tyson, 'ma!" , he replied in his American accent.

How old are you?

Last night...

"You're still 46?!" The boy was talking to his father in our room. 

"You want him to be 50?" I teased him. 

"But why do you age so slow, and I am growing old too fast?!" 

Hehehe. 

He was never excited to be an adult. Last Saturday was his birthday---his last year as a teenager. 

Norm

It's the last summer before the boy goes to college. We just let him enjoy and take his time before adulting comes to his very near future.

When he is not in his room and he hangs out in the living room, we talk about anything. Sometimes, I ask about how his friends are, and where they're planning to go for college.

Then, I noticed him talking differently than usual. His accent is different. The way he enunciates words is different. Even his voice is different. It's so nasally.

It bothered me a lot. If he continues to be like this, I don't want other people to perceive him as cocky.

It's been over a week, and he hasn't changed.

Oh my! Is this permanent?

Sometimes, I can not even get what he's saying! This is new to me.

I am worried.

"What happened to your accent? What happened to my boy? You talk differently now!"

I couldn't help it but asked him about his change last Wednesday.

"Do I sound like Norm now? I thought I do!"

Hahahaha!

He has been binge watching a show on YouTube called The Norm Show starring Norm MacDonald. It's a show on TV that ran from 1999 to 2001 on ABC. It started airing about 9 months before he was born.

He liked the show and Norm so much that he turned to sound like him. Just like this...



Last Saturday, I finally got my boy back.

Thank God!

Norm has left the building.

A Band with Lionel Richie

This afternoon after school, the boy and I were just lounging in our living room. I was watching the last 20 minutes of a sappy Filipino movie starring John Lloyd Cruz and Jennilyn Mercado, while the boy beside me was watching a documentary on his phone.

"doy, kuha-i ko ug toilet paper. Palihug ko bi? Naa ra sa komidor." (Boy, can you get me toilet paper, please. Will you? It's in the dining room.)

"Why do you need it? You have sip-on?" (runny nose)

Actually, I don't. I blamed the movie on my leaky nose. Hehehe.

He got up, and walked towards the powder room which was located farther away from the dining room and from where we were sitting.

"It's just in the kumidor, 'doy!" (It's just in the dining room, boy.)

"What? The Commodores?"

"O!" I confirmed. I was listening to the movie on my laptop with one ear bud in one ear.

"That's a band with Lionel Richie in it, 'ma! The Commodores!"

Hahahaha!

Komedor (spelling variation: komidor) is from the Spanish word comedor. It is a Filipino term which also means 'dining room' in English. 

Image source: Ikea

Commodores is an American funk and soul band which was so popular in the 70s. Lionel Richie was one of the original members before he went solo in the 80s.

Image source: Google

The 80s!

Yesterday was amazing, and I meant the weather. It was in the 70s (°F). It was a T-shirt kind of day.

I asked the boy to get me a pair of socks in my sock drawer. To walk for an hour at 4:30 p.m. was the plan but rain was in the forecast although it was still sunny outside. I was replying to an inquiry in the store when...

"Ma, just go before it'll rain. I got you socks already!"

Well, it eventually rained even if the sun was still out for the next 5 to 10 minutes. I felt bad that I didn't wear the socks to walk, so I hopped on my bike in our living room attached to a bike trainer. But, the rain stopped 11 minutes past 5 p.m. Armed with my $2.99 classic umbrella from Ikea, I walked for the next hour in our cul de sac.

That was an achievement.

Early today, while driving the boy to school at around 7 a.m., I thought out loud...

"I wonder if it's in the 60s or the 70s..." 

I couldn't even finish my thought when the boy answered me, "It's the 80s, 'ma!"

"WHAT? THE 80'S!?"

That got me really excited. It'll be another T-shirt day, and maybe a jorts (jean shorts) day for me! This means I will probably have another walk for an hour or more outside. Yey! I really love walking more than biking. If it rains or it's too cold outside, I have no choice but to bike indoor. If biking gets boring, I'll dance to Latin songs on the Latin Workout Radio on Pandora.

"It's Hall and Oates!" He continued.

Huh? I had to pause and clear out all my senses to understand what he meant.

Hahahaha! I did not realize that he was referring to the song played on the radio, while I was referring to today's weather.

Private Eyes by Hall & Oates was on. It is one of the many popular songs by the duo,
Daryl Hall & John Oates released in 1981. The boy was absolutely right. He is just like his father, both are musicophile. The mister has an enviable (a term used by a blogger when she saw it in one of  the photos of my previous post) collection of vinyl records, and our turntable is always on when he is home.

I have very limited knowledge in music compared to the rest of the family. With Hall & Oates, I only know 2 of their songs --- Maneater and Rich Girl.

By the way, it's in the 40s (°F) today. It's a sweater and coat day. Plus, it will also rain in the mid-afternoon. It's currently gloomy and misty outside, and I wanted to walk but I have to pack two items to ship for customers in New York and California.

Oh shoot! Technically, I am still at work at this moment.

Got to go!

Not yet!

It's a 2-hour delay today as announced by the county public school website. Yesterday was a 3-hour early dismissal. Around 11:30 AM, it rained. Freezing rain, and what came falling were like coarse salt. It accumulated as soon as it reached the ground. Actually, it already rained when I was still in school properties.

The road and sidewalks were icy and slippery. The mister told me last night that he had a hard time driving up at the gradual slope exit. It felt like an uphill battle. hahaha Just kidding.

That is the reason of the school delay today---because of the icy roads and sidewalks.

Back to my story. This morning, I called the boy on his cellphone at around 8:00 AM. I didn't want to get up or shout from our room to wake him up just to ask him something. Besides,  the mister was still asleep.

"'doy, maayong buntag!" I greeted him 'good morning' the moment he picked up my call.

"Hi, Ma."

"Nagtoothbrush na ka?" (Did you brush your teeth?)

"Wa pa!" (Not yet!)

"Nag-ilis na ka?" (Did you change?)

"Wa pa pod!" (Not yet too!)

He doesn't speak in straight Bisaya, but he's really trying his best everyday. He's a proud Filipino and Bisaya.

Years ago, I introduced the boy to our new neighbor in our cul de sac who happened to be Filipino. She asked if the boy speaks Tagalog.

"No, I am Filipino and Bisaya!" he answered the old lady.

It's not straight Bisaya, but this still makes me happy. #Bahaw is Bisaya for #kaninglamig in Tagalog or cold rice in English. #budoyquotes #bisdakinmaryland

A post shared by LiLi Yan 😎 (@missnalupa) on Jan 7, 2018 at 9:41am PST

Career Change Advise

Last night, I went to bed earlier than I am used to. I was already in bed, and playing a puzzle game on my phone when the boy came in and laid down beside me. He was very chatty and excited about a film project he's planning to do.

Then we talked about his friends and that he's excited about their sleepover at our house this coming weekend.

Me: I noticed that I have been seeing your best friend all over Frederick with his new girlfriend. I saw them at Starbucks last month, then I saw them again at the park days ago.

The boy: I think they're just spending time together while we're still in high school because they're planning to break up after our senior year.

Me: Ha?! Why? Why can't they just try to work it LDR? Sometimes it works for couples. And if it doesn't, then that's the time to break up.

The boy: But what's LDR, 'ma?

Me: Long distance relationship! Why think of the ending of a beautiful relationship just because you're going to different colleges when there is still thrill and love between the two. It's like food. Don't say it doesn't taste good if you haven't tried it yet.

The boy: Ma, you always gives the best advise. I think you should be a hairdresser.

Me: Hairdresser? Why hairdresser?

The boy: You know, they listen, and give advises while cutting a client's hair.  Just like you, you're playing a game, then listening to me, and still giving the best advise. I'm going to tell my friend what you told me today.


Hahahaha.

I accept walk-in clients!

Oy! Oy! Oy! Oy! Oy!

It was late in the evening. I was still finishing work in our dining room. The mister was waiting in the family room for me to finish work so we could go upstairs together.

The boy came down from his room, and was telling me of his latest favorite classic song. Then, he grabbed a box of chocolate covered peanuts from the next room, our kitchen.

"Oy! Oy! Oy! Oy! Oy! Nganong giabrihan na nimo? Alas onse na. Gabii na kaayo para mokaon anang tsokolate."  (Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Why are you opening that? It's 11 already! It's too late at night to eat chocolates.), I said to him the moment he ripped the plastic wrap from the box of chocolates.



"Oh! I'm just opening it for the future, Ma!" he quickly replied.

What does "Mahal Kita" mean?

Early in the evening today, the boy came running down the stairs from his room.

"MA! MA! MAAAA!"

I was at our backyard checking my newly planted lemongrass, and was talking on the phone with my older sister so I didn't hear him right away.

"Unsa man?" (What is it?) I shouted from outside the house.

"What does 'mahal kita' mean?"

"It means 'I love you!'", I answered.

"Oh shoot!"

"Why?"

"I thought it meant 'We're expensive!'"

Hahahaha. Poor Kid!



P.S. The word 'mahal' can also mean 'expensive' in the Visayan dialect and 'kita' means 'we' in both Tagalog and Bisaya, but when used together in Tagalog like 'Mahal Kita', it has a totally different meaning. By the way, we speak Bisaya within the family.

Sequoia

I'm just kidding about the title of this post. It's Si Kuya actually. Hehehehe.

I was watching on old Filipino movie via YouTube when the site suggested a burger commercial after the flick. I clicked it because it said Nadine Lustre and James Reid's new tv ad for Jollibee. If you don't know, they're one of the hottest young stars in Philippine show business. I loved their first Jollibee commercial, so I didn't have any second thoughts not to watch this new one.



Lo and behold! I saw a very familiar face. That guy on a skateboard is Demit also known as Demetrio Cuevas. He's Kuya Demit to my kids, and the unico hijo of our friend from Cebu, Randy.

He was a very nice kid. The first time we attended a party in Virginia back in 1998, fresh from the Philippines, I remember he was really friendly with the newest kid, Yna. The young lady was three and a non-English speaking toddler at that time. In fact, I thanked Randy about what Demit did, and he didn't even know about it. Demit guided and protected Yna from the older kids during the games. He was six, and no one told him to do that.

Yesterday, I let the boy watch the ad, and these were his comments:
"HEY! THAT'S KUYA DEMIT, 'MA!"
"Oh my gosh! Why is this so dramatic?"
"Who would smell and sniff their burgers?"
"This is so long!"
"Thank God it is over!"
"Kuya Demit is guapo."
"Kuya Demit has been guapo."

Honestly, the ad was just too long. It was like watching a dragging movie. Read: boring. But we were thrilled everytime Demit was on the screen.

This isn't his first commercial though. He was an endorser for Honda Beat Philippines too. Well, maybe he has more. I just don't know about it.



Randy, Demit's father, was one of my closest friends together with another friend, Lea. I fondly call her Miss Lei. We would talk on the phone until the wee hours of the morning. We were a threesome. One time, we all agreed to lose weight. We measured and weighed ourselves in inches and pounds. For the prize, we'd chip in $100 each. For a total of $300 papremyo, looking and feeling great, plus bragging rights, that's not bad at all.

There were also times when the three of us would talk on the phone early in the afternoon. I was in the kitchen cooking an early dinner, Lea was still in the office, and Randy was somewhere in Baltimore jogging. Lea and I would panic everytime he's exercising. When it was time for weigh in, obviously it was only Randy who lost the weight. The two of us weren't too serious with the pact. Lea and I backed out days before the final weigh in, and totally cancelled the premyo , or we tried to forget about it. I hope Randy is not reading this. hehehehe

There were also times that the three of us would hang out in our family room, and talk until morning. Then a few years ago, Randy had to go home, and decided to move back to the Philippines for good when his father got sick. Sadly, while on a plane ride to Cebu, his father died. Demit followed soon after, and built a name in the skateboarding community. If you are an enthusiast, I am pretty sure you know Demit.

I miss the threesome, but I am glad I still get to talk and spend time with Lea sometimes.

Anyway, this is a #TBT---throwback Tuesday post. I hope the kids won't kill me are okay when they find out about these old photos that I posted here. I can't find better photos from my Flickr account since most of my photos are in our ancient computer in the basement.

The boy's birthday gathering in 2007 (Demit, Yna, Dara, Jason--behind Demit)

(Kuya Janjan, Yna, Dara -- Lea's unica hija, Jason and Demit)

Christmas 2009 at our friend Lea's house in Linthicum, Maryland (Yna, Jason, Demit, Dara, and Lea)


(Demit, Dara, and Randy at the back)

We're so proud of Demit, and rooting for his success in the Philippines.

That's all for now. Bye!

How do you spell relief?

Today, early in the morning, the boy was being chatty. Such behavior is very unusual since he's cranky in the morning and very chatty after school when I pick him up.

The boy: Ma, I wish all my farts would turn to burps.

Me: Ha!? ...Why?

The boy: You know, burps are okay. You don't have to hide it. You just cover your mouth when you do it. It's just hard to hide your farts, especially when you're in school.

Hehehehe.

Happy Monday, everyone.

The Godfather

Thursday of last week, on our way home from school, the boy was so excited to tell me about Al Capone. I didn't exactly know the reason of the sudden interest of the famous American crime boss, but I just kept listening. I also told him about the young lady and my trip to Alcatraz in the summer of 1998 before he was born.

The three things I know about Al Capone were: 1) he was in prisoned in Cell 181 in Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in San Francisco, California; 2) after his time in prison, he went to John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland for mental treatment, and 3) he didn't pay his taxes.

Then, he also told me that he's interested in watching the movie, The Godfather.

Me: Pwede na diay ka motan-aw ug ingon ana nga salida? Pwede na diay na sa imong edad? (Are you allowed to watch that movie? Is that suitable for your age?)

The Boy: Ma, I'm turning 17 already. I've been watching movies that aren't for babies anymore for a long time. Besides, Abe Vigoda is in that movie!

Me: Kinsa man na siya? (Who is he?)

The Boy: He's in Godfather lagi! (He was getting annoyed.)

Me: Sigurado ka pwede ang 'The Godfather' sa imong edad? (Are you sure that 'The Godfather' is appropriate for your age?)

 

Photo source

Then, he wasn't slightly annoyed with me anymore because he was pissed! He stopped talking to me the rest of our way home. He really wanted to watch the movie, but since I haven't watched it yet, I was thinking it's a violent one. You know what I mean---mob, gang, full of crimes, and violence.

I knew that the boy wasn't pleased with me because he didn't ask for his after-school snacks. He also refused to give me hugs before he went up to his room to do his homeworks. When the mister got home that evening, I told him what happened in that afternoon. But, I was careful because I always knew that the boy never liked being talked about. From being pissed, he'd surely be fuming if he'd hear me telling on him to his father. So I told it in Tagalog, a language that the boy doesn't understand at all.

"Kaninang hapon, nagalit si Budoy sa akin. Hindi niya 'ko kinausap hanggang ngayon kasi nainis siya sa akin noong tinanong ko kung angkop na ba sa kanyang edad ang pelikulang 'Ang Ninong.' Sabi niya kasi na ninanais niyang manood sa nasabing pelikula ngayong Sabado." (This afternoon, the boy was mad at me. He didn't speak with me even until now because he was annoyed when I asked him if the movie, The Godfather is suitable for his age. He said that he wanted to watched the movie this Saturday.)

The mister just laughed at me. Hehehe. It sounded funnier when I Tagalized the title of the movie.

Anyway, I think it's fine if  the boy will watch the movie. It's from the 70s and I guess some scenes will not be as gory as mob movies shown nowadays. As a mother, I sometimes forget that my baby boy is going be a legal adult next year. *sigh. Life isn't short, it just flies so fast.

DR ATE

A blog post originally published on February 13, 2014.

Today and as any day that the young lady is not home, I really miss her, and especially the boy. He counts the day when the big sister comes home for the weekend.

He said earlier today, "It's no fun  building a snowman without Ate!"



Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and the young lady will be home. Yay! I think the best thing that you can do for someone on that day is something not bought, like this letter.



Look at the Blue's Clues pretend stamp! It was his favorite kiddie show.



This is considered as the best and the cutest love letter I have read. It's from the heart. It was a letter that the boy wrote for his big sister before he was even in school. I remember I caught him getting something from the young lady's room. He told me, he needed something pretty for his *Ate. I did not realize he got a paper and a matching envelope from her drawer on the bedside table where she kept her stationary sets. He wrote this on his own obviously. The young lady kept this letter in a special Hello Kitty box along with letters from her Mamagrand in California, and some from friends. By the way, I have permission from my children to post photos of this love letter.

The letter says:
DR ATE
HPE VALENSTAIM
AD
I LV WO
LOF
JASON



Translation:
Dear Ate
Happy Valentine's
and
I love you!
Love
Jason

I told you, it's the sweetest and the cutest.

Until next time!



*"Ate" is used to address an older sister respectively as a sign of respect in the Philippines. It is also used to address older female Filipino cousins (regardless if they are the eldest or not, but older than cousin addressing them) as a sign of respect. It may also be used for people who aren't necessarily relatives but are older.  - source

Hello? Who's this?

At 9:52 in the morning today, my phone rang. It's a local number. I answered it even if I don't know who's calling. I was thinking it might be the boy's allergist office for his annual check-up reminder. I was a bit hesitant, but...

Me: Hello!
Stranger: My stomach is hurting.

What the heck! Who is this man with a deep voice telling me about his painful stomach!

Me: Hello?
Stranger: My stomach is hurting!

He said it again! "Is this a prank?" I asked myself after hearing him the second time. The voice was really unfamiliar to me.

Me: Who is this?
Stranger: Maaaa, si Budoy ko! My stomach is hurting. (Ma, I'm Budoy!)

Hahaha. How did this happened? I couldn't tell that the voice on the other line is my son's.

He's home already. I picked him up right after I talked with the school nurse. The boy, however, is hopeful that he'd feel better and be able to go back to school before the school day ends.


Photo: a man on a phone booth in London . image source.

Ceiling Lights

In the living room, while waiting for the mister to get home from work, the boy and I was watching Family Feud. This was the episode for July 2. It was between the Edwards family from Watkinsville, Georgia and Wright family from San Diego, California.

"Name something a man doesn't care that a woman has as long as she's hot!"

At 3:14, It was Jonnae's turn (Wright family).

The boy: Wait. What? Why did she answer that?
Me: Ngano man diay iyang tubag? (What about her answer?)
The boy: It's wrong!
Me: Why?

"She said ceiling lights!"

Hehehehe.

 "No, she didn't. She said cellulites!" I answered.

"Huh? What's that?" the boy wondered.

Nah nah nah! Hey hey hey!

Last night, the boy and the mister wouldn't let me sleep. I was in bed already when they came in at a little over past midnight. The boy wanted the mister to finish the song that he was LSSing from the movie they watched in school that day, Remember the Titans (2000). The boy kept humming and singing the song Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye popularized by Steam in 1969 that the movie included in their soundtrack. This one. 

If the mister finishes the song, then he'll go to his room and sleep but...

The boy: (singing) nah nah nah hey hey hey...
The mister: ......
The boy: Say it!

This has been going on for minutes already, and still...

The mister: .......
The boy: Gosh! Just say it!

It's midnight already. Part1. #fatherandson

A video posted by LiLi (@missnalupa) on May 27, 2015 at 9:21pm PDT

Still the boy didn't give up!

The boy: Just say it!
The mister: Gooood bye booooy!

It's midnight already. Part 2 #fatherandson

A video posted by LiLi (@missnalupa) on May 27, 2015 at 9:25pm PDT

Hahaha!

Imagine the boy's frustration when the mister didn't finished the song for the boy, and when he did, he sang the wrong lyrics.

Oh Jackie!

Today after school, the boy told me about what happened a couple of nights ago. He said he got so scared when he came down late at night to get a glass of water in the kitchen. On his way to the kitchen, from upstairs going through the dimly lit living room, then passing through the dining room, he said he was spooked, and his heart was trembling so hard that he could hear it, because he really thought he saw a person.

"Ma, your bag scared me!"

I didn't know which of my bags he meant, and then he added...

"THAT BAG!" 

Hahahaha!

Poor kid! My old Andy Warhol's Jackie O canvas bag terrified him. Some nights ago, I remember it was sitting on a high bar chair in the living room near the open doorway to the kitchen. The moment he came into the dining room, it was that face that he came face to face with.