The True Value of American Dollar Bills in the Philippines: A Warning

The "small head" fifty dollar bill refused by banks in the Philippines.
Photo source: http://people.ku.edu/~kaf/pmoney/frn.htm

If a US dollar bill with a "small head" lands on your hands, beware. It's worthless in the Philippines. No bank would change it. No money changer would accept it. Not even the black market foreign exchange stalls in the sleaziest parts of town would trade it.  So I write this blog entry as a form of public service to fellow Pinoys who are still in the dark. If you have "small head" bills in your possession, toughen your hearts - be ready for heartbreak when you try to convert them here in the Philippines, or elsewhere in the developing world for that matter. They aren't worth a singkong duling.

Gone are the days when having dollars is a safe bet. I remember back in the 80's and 90's, when my parents would hold on to dollars as though they were lifesavers to keep us afloat when a currency crisis hits. I remember wads of dollars, tied with rubber bands, hidden under the bed. Hahaha, I know, I know, it sounds primitive. But there were 9 coup d'etats that year, and we were always ready to take flight at a moment's notice, so everything had to be transportable. Even our stash of cash.  Those days of political crisis, the preferred currency to stash was  the revered US dollar. GONE ARE THOSE DAYS. A dollar bill in your hand can be worth less than a wad of tissue to wipe your bum.  At least the wad of tissue is clean and can get the job done. The "small head" bill isn't even good enough for that. With so many versions and innovations on the design of US notes, banks and money changers have adopted policies on which kinds of bills are acceptable or not, and the public isn't always abreast with the latest standards.

Narra received a 50 dollar bill from a relative (thanks Tito! in case you're reading this) who was visiting from the US, and she was excited about it. I took her to the bank yesterday, with plans of opening her own little junior-saver's account with her own little passbook. I wanted to deposit all her cash gifts in her name, so she can grow up cherishing the rituals of saving. When I got to the bank, the dollar bill was refused. That was BDO. So I called my other bank, Citibank, where I had a dollar account. They said they accept old US bills for as long as I deposit it to my account and not encash it. So off to Citibank we went. And when we got there - "oh no!" said the bank officer when she saw the bill - "we don't accept this kind, this is older than the old version we accept" - huh? what? duh? come again? errrrrr? are you kidding me?  When is an old bill considered older than old? How infuriating. Apparently, bills published prior to 1991 are too old indeed. Those of the 1996 series are borderline cases - they must be in good condition - crisp, clean, and with no tears. If a 1996 series bill has the tiniest tear, it may be refused. The newer the series (2003) the better. Now is this fair? For banks to refuse to change money?

There's something we must remember about the nature of paper money as "legal tender" or a medium of payment allowed by law and recognized by a legal system to be valid for meeting a financial obligation. A US $50 dollar bill is legal tender in the US, and must be accepted there. Back home in the Philippines, which is its own independent country (Mabuhay and Inangbayan!), Philippine pesos are legal tender here and US dollars are not, which means the green currency can be refused. I can get mad all I want at the banks and money changers in the country, but by law, they are not obligated to accept US legal tender if they don't want to, after all, this land is NOT an extension of the US of A.

Now, before you think I am mad at the Tito who gave Narra that bill, let me set things straight - I treasure this gift and will keep it safe in her scrapbook for sentimental reasons. Many collectors are keeping their "small head" bills as they are becoming harder to find in the USA. I read a coin collector's forum, and followed their discussion on the perceived value of these rare bills.  I know the feeling of wanting to hold on to old designs of money. I was studying in Spain right before they converted to the Euro, and I diligently collected pesetas for posterity. The lovely thing about my coin collection is that the coins featured different parts of Spain. Every place I visited, I made sure to acquire and save a coin - and now, I have a way to relive my journeys through Spanish regions each time I view my collection.  I wish I also saved old 2 peso bills (the blue ones), and the old 5 pesos (with Bonifacio), and the old 10 pesos (the brown ones).... money of my childhood. Sigh, 10 pesos used to be my daily  baon in kindergarten.  So just like these pesos I feel sentimental about, many American citizens are becoming sentimental about the old "small head" bills from decades back. 

The updated "big head" version that's more widely accepted.
Photo source: http://people.ku.edu/~kaf/pmoney/frn.htm

The rest of the world, however, with no emotional attachment to things American, have no use for them.  From Cambodia and Myanmar, to Tanzania and Kenya - "small head" bills are systematically rejected. So what do you do if you have a wad of "small heads"? Look for US-based relatives and friends, and ask if they can take these dollars off you - or if they can exchange them for big head dollars that actually have value to you. They can use the "small heads" in the US where it is legal tender.  But for fellow Pinoys, please don't carry them with you as travel money elsewhere in the world - you may end up very, very frustrated indeed. 

And if family members and friends are planning to visit from abroad, do them the service of informing them beforehand to take only "big head" dollars with them. Because it's unfortunate when someone with a big heart gives a cash gift with a "small head" - for the value of the gift can be severely diminished,  in monetary terms, or otherwise.

At Maynilad's Office on World Water Day

How appropriate. We spent World Water Day at Maynilad,
settling our water bill issues.

Yesterday, I wept in exasperation. Today, I feel mature. Between then and now, I did what I do best: I researched and reflected. In figuring out how to proceed with a huge bill slapped on me by Maynilad, I decided to conduct due dilligence. I read up on Maynilad's history and current situation, on the water crisis and the relevant legislation involved; I looked up the different NGOs and interest groups fighting for consumers' rights. I interviewed people, and found out that tampering is a common practice in our area, and "professional tamperers" peddle their services to everyone. I analyzed the situation and had reason to believe that Maynilad may have a point when they claim that water was stolen from them by the previous occupants of our house. What do I do now? Knowing what I know?  I prayed and discerned the dictates of my conscience.

I decided what kind of person I wanted to be, and what example I want to give my children. Today, I brought Narra with me on my errands, and made an adventure out of the task of settling our water dsipute.  Having her around as audience to my deeds helped me clarify my objectives. My goal was to do what was right, to be a model citizen, and to behave with dignity and grace in dealing with others.  We cannot control the situations we find ourselves in, but we can control our response to our situation. So I chose to approach my day with a positive attitude, and let my daughter put a smile on my face as often as possible. Isn't that supposed to be one of the benefits of being a parent? That we have our kids to bring sunshine into our lives when grey clouds hover over us?

Self-taken: Narra and I goofing off at the Maynilad office.
 Waiting while spending quality time with my daughter.

Today, I decided NOT to be a victim. I also decided NOT to be that person who says: THIS IS NOT MY FAULT, therefore THIS IS NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY.  I realize that Maynilad has such a big problem in their hands. A lot of the water services they provide is non-revenue, that is, pilfered or wasted through tampered meters, illegal lines, and underground leaks. They decided to do something about it by changing to new meters, and collecting old meters, testing each of them for tampering. This process is tedious, and takes a long time. It just so happens that by the time our old meter was tested, and findings of tampering from 2006-2009 were released in 2010, we had moved into the house.  We became liable for the illegal acts of the previous occupants.  While I initially found this to be unfair, I can understand why Maynilad can't simply strike out our under-collected bills just because I said "I didn't do it! I didn't live there when it happened".  Water was stolen, someone has to pay. A chorus of voices demand that I do not pay! That "it's a matter of principle", that I "should not let them get away with it".  Drowning those voices out, I have to act the way I see fit.

Republic Act 8041, or the Water Crisis Bill of 1995, was created to address a real crisis (as the title suggests). Section 8 on Anti-Pilfering describes the various circumstances in which theft and pilferage can be established.  When a meter has been tampered with, for instance - the actual meter itself is already admissible as evidence for pilferage, and having a tampered meter in your possession has its corresponding penalties.  There is logic behind empowering water service providers like Maynilad with more teeth to run after subscribers with tampered meters. If the subscriber is guilty of tampering - the penalty is only too well deserved. Now, if the subscriber found with a tampered meter is like me, innocent (who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time), the penalty may not be as deserved, but MUST be applied equally nonetheless. It's a simple and just formula: let the ones in possession of a water line be wholly responsible for it.  

I believe in the logic behind this kind of thinking.  I believe, when it comes to the environment for instance, that those who find themselves dealing with the problems of pollution, garbage disposal, and deforestation, can't say "we didn't do this to nature, this isn't our problem" - nope - we can't say the damage was caused by the previous generation, and we can't pass the mess for the next generation to clean-up. Whoever  is here right now, is responsible. Fair enough, I think. 

Narra, playing while our final bill was being computed.

I just feel sad for this country, and how it has bred too many thieves, that water is stolen at such a grand scale. I am mad at the previous occupants of our house for stealing!  Tess, the friendly Maynilad officer who handled my complaint told me that many people pay huge penalties without a fuss.  Why? I asked. "Because they're guilty, the knew they did it so they don't put up a fight", she said. "Not like you", she continued. "You looked really shocked".  Wow. That surprised me. I didn't realize I was transacting at the desk for criminal offenses, that our account actually had pending cases, serious offenses punishable by law, including imprisonment of 6 months to 2 years.

Thank heavens the people at Maynilad did not treat me like a criminal. They only treated me with courtesy, patience, respect and understanding - especially when I was in a state of shock and started spitting out arguments in a hissy fit (though still with my dignity intact).  I requested for a reprieve, and guess what? They gave it. From 56,000 - I was able to contest a number of items, which were stricken off the bill - some 13,000 worth. So we were down to 43,000. I was negotiating a 50% discount - I told Maynilad we should share the responsibility. They failed to inform us in a timely manner, which resulted in injustice - had they been prompt in their investigations, the REAL perpetrators would have had to pay... but because of their 2-year delay, I ended up being charged. So I asked that we split the bill. They had a counter-offer: 30% off the bill, and 12 months installment for the balance, interest free.  I took it. Graciously. 

Then they told me, "okay, here's your payment slip, please go to the nearest bank to pay". Huh? Why can't I pay at the Maynilad office? Wierd isn't it? And downright inconvenient too.  I felt sad again, for this country, that the practices of theft, and doctoring of documents as a result of "lagay" or bribery is so prevalent that a service center isn't allowed to accept cash.  It's very, very sad that the Maynilad Area Service Centers are NOT payment centers. I asked if I could pay by credit card, which would be one big convenience. Nope. They don't have a credit card swipe terminal. Sad, again. 

Narra, pretending to fill up a cash deposit slip at the bank, as we paid our bill.

So Narra and I had to pay at a bank, and had to return to show proof of our payment of the 30% down payment.  It hurt to withdraw money, and to part with it for a crime we did not commit.  But I know Maynilad is on the verge of financial ruin because of rampant stealing. So I do my little part in addressing a big, big problem.  It somewhat feels unjust. But you know what? It's World Water Day, a day when we should think about the value and importance of water. Believe you me, I thought about water A LOT this last 24  hours. I feared losing it. I also understood that water is a basic right for EVERYONE, and not just those who could pay, so I can't even feel very angry at the poor people who tap lines illegally to provide for their family's needs. In my impossibly perfect world in a parallel universe, water is free for all and used responsibly by good citizens.  But alas, I live in this world, where water is a finite resource, where distribution is privatized, and the use of water is measured in cubic meters with corresponding costs, and where freeloaders enjoy the benefits without giving due payments to those who invested in the costs. 

So I'm a little poorer today. But what I lost in money, I gained in peace of mind.  I can sleep knowing I solved a situation for my family, and really resolved it this time, and not just delayed it or passed it on to someone else down the line to make it their headache. Nope. Yesterday, I was drowning in worry over this matter, today it's water under the bridge.

The personal IS political, and my personal water woes made me miss talking about Intro to PolSci topics I used to discuss in class, and thinking about the law, rights, interests, justice, and good citizenship.  I will be thinking a lot more about water and the challenges of urban water management in the months to come, I am sure. 

Happy World Water Day Everyone!

Related Post: On Disputing Maynilad's Water Bills

http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2012/03/today-i-just-want-to-weep-on-disputing.html

Link to R.A. 8041: Water Crisis Bill of 1995

http://www.chanrobles.com/republicactno8041.htm

World Water Day Website:

http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/

Today, I Just Want to Weep: On Disputing Maynilad's Water Bills

I am going to write down this day as one of the worst I have ever known in my life. Horrible. Just horrible. I wept in exasperation.  Thanks to the wonderful privatization of water services in this country, a profiteering and inefficient company like Maynilad has the power to appear at my gate with a notice of disconnection, and threats of court litigation, for an exorbitant amount of water I did not use.

I went to their area office and got this print out of UNDER-COLLECTED BILLS - that is, money they say we owe them because they were not charged to us before. Are they kidding? Here's the kicker: the dates covered:  2006 to 2009!!! I WAS NOT even married - nor even engaged to Oliver for most of that period. I was living in Singapore, he was living in Hong Kong. And we lived in Batangas in 2009.  We only moved to this house in 2010 -  and even that brings tears to my eyes (but that's another story).  So this friendly-enough guy at Maynilad tells me: If you can prove you did not live in this house then, it may help. Show us a deed-of-sale, but it cannot be from family. GREAT! This house IS family property. Darn. If you're family, you have to assume responsibility, says our friendly Maynilad official. Haha.  Just great. 

So this unpleasant business lands on my lap. Grrrrr. Now, I have to deal with this crap like any other frustrated housewife with stressful domestic issues.  If only we can really THROW money away to make irritations go away.  But even if I had millions to spend to pay for the entire neighborhood's water, still, I wouldn't want to be surprised like this - slapped with a 56,000 peso bill one day.

So what's the issue: Illegal tapping and tampering of the meter. Mind you, the meter is OUTSIDE the house so we had no protection. We were NEVER billed for the UNDER-COLLECTED usage (enjoyed most probably by the crooks in the neighborhood, at our expense).  They are asking us to pay for 1,800 cubic meters of pilfered water as per their findings based on a meter test (conducted by their officials, with no witness from our side). Maynilad feels empowered by RA 8041 which has a section on anti-tampering. I read up on my rights and how I can argue this out, and they said I have a right to due process, so we can take this up in court. Meanwhile, they disconnect our service. Grrrr. They have all the cards. 

I wrote a well-researched letter on their infractions (technicalities like the fact that the Meter Testing Sheet was not duly signed in the presence of a witness and regulatory officer; or that RA 8041 stipulates that I be informed within a reasonable period, which of course was not followed).  They barely read my letter. I've never been so eloquent in arguing, and so powerless in actual fact. They have the means to lock my water meter and take away my daily water supply.

I paid EVERY bill I received on time. I embraced CONSERVATION and used water conscientiously. I close the faucet when I brush my teeth, or shampoo my hair. I heat only enough for my one cup of tea. I teach my daughter to save water. And now this.  You know why I weep? Because if I was single, I would fight this out, tooth and nail, and even enjoy the challenge. But I am not single. I have a stressed and tired husband who works himself to death and needs to come home to his refuge, where he can take a break. He deserves his nice shower, God knows he's earned it. And I have 2 young children, and staff, and 3 huge dogs with heaps of smelly waste matter. I feel trapped.

Thousands of pesos down the drain. I can't get over it. I can't accept it. I am mad and still not sure how to proceed. So, I just want to weep. Maybe later, I'll pray. Tomorrow, I have to decide on a course of action, and act fast first thing in the morning, before the collectors come to take my water away. If I decide to pay tomorrow, I would have sold myself out, and bought into the system, and surrendered whatever ounce of resistance I had left.  On the one hand, it is just money. But then again, it is not just that. It feels unfair, and unjust, that the lawful get to pay for the crimes of the unlawful.  It feels unfair that water, a basic human need, can be wielded like this. Hooray for privatization! Hep, hep, Hooray! But I am wondering if protesting and resisting, and going on non-violent water strike (like a hunger strike of sorts, only this time it involves sacrificing water usage) is a luxury I can no longer afford, now that I have my husband and children to think about? I feel sick to my stomach.

Excuse me, while I weep some more.

Related Post on How This Dispute Turns Out:
http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2012/03/at-maynilads-office-on-world-water-day.html

We're Putting Up A Business and It's Like Having Another Baby!

Oliver, showing Narra the construction site.

There's a lot of excitement  among the Carsi Cruz siblings nowadays as they anticipate the coming to life of their brainchild. My husband Oliver, together with 5 others: 3 sisters, 1 sis-in-law, and 1 cousin (who is like a brother) are starting a family business. Without getting into details about the what's, where's, and why's - I want to write about how it feels like we're pregnant all over again - all of us who are eagerly anticipating the start of our new enterprise! 

It began with the triumphant, celebratory moment of discovery. Like when a couple first finds out they are pregnant.  When my sis-in-law Rina first announced the business opportunity, it felt much like the moment I found those two lines on my pregnancy test. When Rina confirmed that we got the contract for this business, it felt so much like my first trip to the OB and seeing my baby's heartbeat going strong after I was told the week prior that I had a sub-chorionic hemorrhage and the viability of the pregnancy remained uncertain (the clinical term used was "threatened abortion" and I was put on strict bed rest).  When we heard that the contract was awarded to us, it was just a "Thank you Lord!" moment. We're pregnant indeed, for sure, for real - we're having a baby...woohoo!!!  The bun's in the oven and we have to start baking.

Father and daughter inspecting the latest development.

                                        

Then came the part when we started to feel the heat, and the discomforts set in. When I was pregnant, I felt heightened sensitivity, mood swings, and nausea as my body adjusted to the situation.  A woman's body goes on overdrive, re-appropriating resources like blood, nutrients, and hormones, to provide the growing fetus the nourishment it requires.  So too are the family's resources allocated for the business - money, time, energy, passion, prayers, hopes, dreams - it becomes the object of affection - even obsession, as every conversation is a brainstorming session. I understand this process, when singular focus is bestowed on a project.  I know I've hyper focused on my children and family, and at times, they are my "bukang bibig", or the only topic I ever talk about.  Now, our family gatherings have this exciting new business as the usual topic of conversation.

They're the fun kinds of discussions really, even if people don't seem to be smiling a lot and going "yippeee!", and even if a lot of debating takes place. It's the good kind of conflict at play, the constructive, creative kind. Thinking of a name for the company, for instance, is a fun kind of problem to deal with.  Naming a company is much like naming a child. It is of utmost importance and must not be taken lightly.  The power to name is an awesome responsibility.  It is the deciding factor between cool and corny; winner and loser; pride and embarrassment.  It's a chance for everyone to give their inner marketer a chance to speak.

Debating about design elements is another delicious battle worth savoring.  What will things look like? What equipment should we buy? It's a productive distraction, anticipating things we'll need and imagining the flow of activities. It reminds me of preparing for the arrival of a baby, and buying all sorts of baby stuff; coming up with a birth plan;  fixing the home and moving things around to create baby's special space. Oh my, organizing the kid's room was a fun project to be busy with. Just as buying stuff to fill up our new building is also enjoyable.  Especially for the Carsi Cruz siblings who are indefatigable, expert shoppers. 

Construction going on round the clock.

Then there are the labor pains, the contractions! Nobody likes being pushed. And that's how it feels sometimes as a due date draws near.  Construction now goes well into the night. Hiring for staff has started, training will follow, then operations will have to begin at some point. Paperwork needs to be accomplished, stuff need to be paid.  Right now we're doing practice contractions, Braxton Hicks contractions they are called, or false labor. They are short bursts of pain that become more frequent. They are not pleasant, but they prepare us well for the tougher phase ahead.  Soon, things will get really busy, when real labor begins. I will have to write about that in coming weeks when we get to that point.  If they go the natural way, I imagine that phase will be bloody painful, and will probably involve some screaming,  that's only to be expected with the birthing process...unless a relaxing epidural can be injected into the situation, in which case it can all be painless.

For now, it feels like we are on our third trimester and on the verge of giving birth, with all the pains and joys involved in anticipating something so close to becoming real.  We're really close, but not quite there yet!  I am hoping we can have an uncomplicated birthday, fast-smooth-easy...just like the super fast and painless birthing days I've enjoyed with both my children.  We have fears, sure. But we are overpowered by our hopes. I can feel the collective steely determination to raise this business like flesh and blood, like offspring, for whom we shall willingly give everything we've got, for as long as we can, to nurture this baby to its full potential.  

This reminds me of my own parents and how my complicated premature birth and 2 months' stay in an incubator wiped out their savings...and how they started their business soon after I was released from the hospital.  I read my father's journal, which contained the daily income - the boundary from the taxis he and my mom operated - and I saw the expenses, for my medicines - and my high chair - etc.  I read that accounting journal like a novel, page by page. It is a touching story of hard work, sacrifice, struggle, and perseverance. It is also a story of growth, as the business clearly flourished, and the couple of cars soon became a fleet of taxis. They worked hard until they met their financial goals. Then they let the business go, stopped working at breakneck speed, put the money away to grow on its own with the glorious gifts of compound interest, and they enjoyed quality time with us as we grew up.  It was that business that gave us financial freedom and a comfortable life decades later. It was the funds earned from that business that now supports my parents' comfortable retirement.  I am brought to tears each time I leaf through that journal, nearly as old as I am, a priceless family artifact kept behind a glass encased bookshelf.  I am so proud of my parents, of how smart they were with their choices. I am amazed at the risks they took, the gambles they waged, and the rewards they reaped from the games they played. They make an excellent team.

I can only dream that Oliver and I will have that too. And this business offers us the opportunity to work as a team. So I am excited. Like the rest of the family.  I can't wait to welcome this child when THE day comes. Keep tuned for our latest baby's birthday!!!

Family Fun at Resorts World Manila: Kid-Friendly Things To Do

The Newport Theater Lobby where mass is held.

Sometimes we stumble into unlikely comfort zones. We visit a place once, then a second time, and a few more times, and before long, we inevitably establish routines with the frequently visited place as we come to know its ins and outs. That happened to my family with Resorts World, an unlikely place to take my kids to because it is well known for it's main attraction: the casino. Of course it also has other things besides, like a few stores for shopping, some dining options, two salons, a performing arts theater, and cinemas. I've been bringing my kids a lot to Resorts World lately, thanks to my parents, who are addicted to the place.  They're NOT gambling addicts, mind you. But they are addicted to many things like freebies (free parking, free buffets, free movies).  They are also addicted to the process of saving up. For decades in their married life, they saved up for cars, a house, our education, travel funds and so on. And now that they've retired, and are committed to enjoying every minute of their retirement, they find in their Resorts World card, a daily dose of "savings" through their accumulation of gaming points.  This in turn, they religiously use to treat us to simple joys: a family meal; a movie date; and always, free parking.  As their invitations became more frequent, I realized how convenient our trips has been for me, even with my kids around. Here's my list of kid-friendly things to do at Resorts World.

The priest, taking time to talk to churchgoers - as though
in a usual parish church. This doesn't feel like a casino!

1) SUNDAY MASS. It was a pleasant surprise to experience a solemn Eucharistic Celebration just above the casino.  On Sundays, at 11 am, the large foyer/lobby of the Newport Performing Arts Theater is converted into a place of prayer. Cushioned stacking chairs are arranged in rows, an altar is set up, and a choir and other mass servers are imported from a nearby church. The place is secluded, with no disturbance from foot traffic.  It's really comfortable, with the strong air-con, and the good acoustics.  The carpeting also helps absorb sound, so the place is quieter than a usual church.  If one could get past the flashy light fixtures, and the multi-colored carpet, one could really concentrate on the mass here. An added plus for moms: there are elevators for strollers; and there's a little "holding room" of sorts, a lounging area to the side, with nice, long couches, where a crying baby or fussing toddler can be appeased out of view while the parents still get to attend mass.  

Lolo and Narra at the entrance to the Game Zoo.

2) GAME ZOO: On the fourth floor, across the cinema ticket counter, is the newly opened Game Zoo withe usual arcade games for older kids.  While my kids are too young to play with most of the games, Narra had fun at the entrance where a strip of liquid-filled tiles changed color when stepped on. 

Narra jumping on the liquid lava/liquid motion tiles.

She enjoyed jumping on those squares.  She spent many minutes just playing by the entrance.  And inside the arcade, there's more of that kind of flooring, a bigger cut of liquid-filled/liquid lava/liquid motion tile mounted on an elevated section.  

Inside the squeaky clean and shiny new Game Zoo.

One thing I like about the Game Zoo is the sparkling, shiny floor.  The layout is stroller friendly and spacious - and not cramped like most other arcades which tend to be packed with too many machines.  The place looks, feels, and smells clean, and I hope they keep it that way.

One of the seating areas outside the cinemas.

3. CINEMAS: Newport Cinemas have the earliest show times in town. As early as 9:00 am, they already have movies playing.  This means the theaters are almost empty.  I like taking my young kids and their yayas to movies here early in the morning, to avoid the crowd. This way, it feels like we have the whole place to ourselves, as though we are at home. The kids can make noise without disturbing anyone.  The theaters also seem squeaky clean, so I'm not too scared of germs and bugs. I recently took the yayas there, because they wanted to see John Lloyd Cruz's latest flick.  The tickets, were of course, free, thanks to my parents and their religious accumulation of game points. 

Grandparents with their grandkids.

Even the posh Ultra cinema is part of the Resorts World Rewards program.  For 100 gaming points, one can enjoy the ultimate viewing experience, with extra wide seats, super ample leg room, fully reclining seats, unlimited popcorn, and drinks, all served by a butler.  Sigh (a nice, super contented kind of sigh).  I feel spoiled whenever I watch movies there.  The generous and comfy seating areas outside the cinemas are also kid-friendly.  There's ample room for running on carpeted floors, and the couches and nice lounge chairs offer much needed rest from carrying my baby around. Our family gatherings on weekends involved a lot of waiting time.  Most of the time, waiting is done in discomfort. But not here! It's fun to lounge around here, it's almost difficult to get everyone to stand up and leave. It's precious, seeing my parents bond with my children here, as though they were on a park bench in some plaza somwehere. In many ways, Resorts World functions like a town center, or community center for us. A place to go to, for relaxation and recreation - which is what the developers intended all along, it seems to me.

                          

4. WHOLESOME SHOWS. There are a lot of family-friendly events going on as well. From free concerts, to ballet recitals, and of course, the most popular musical of all time - The Sound of Music! a show which has extended its run so many times, from December, extended to February, then to May. I watched it with my sister and Oliver last year - back then, Narra was still too young, but by May, she will be three, which is the minimum age requirement to enter the theater.  My sister, her ever generous ninang, asked me if she could bring Narra to see the musical. 

There are also "Meet-and-Greet" sessions with all sorts of characters, for holidays, or in sync with the opening of a new movie.  Yesterday, March 10, for instance, there was a Meet-and-Greet session with Dr. Seuss' "the Lorax".  We didn't get to bring Narra to this because we had a birthday dinner to attend.

Sunday lunch at Johnny Chow's...two long tables full of Serranilla kin.

5. FAMILY DINING.  And then of course, there are the restaurants. Most of the establishments have high chairs (a clear sign that kids are welcome), and smoking and non-smoking sections are clearly delineated. What's nice about the restaurants on the second floor is their arrangement, surrounding a nice, wide, central "plaza" with a fountain. Kids can stroll around, and even run, before or after the food is served, a good way to keep them from fussing in confined spaces.  There's an option to dine inside, in the enclosed section, or outside, somewhat "al fresco" (though still in air conditioned comfort).  When my kids are sleeping, I prefer to stay indoors, in a quiet corner way at the back of the resto; when they are awake and active, I prefer to stay outside, so they can stroll.  I like the size of the plaza. Big enough to feel like a wide open space, but small enough to see my kids even if they're at the other end of the plaza.

So Resorts World has become something of a comfort zone. A small place to go to where I don't have to deal with crazy crowds. Where I can go to watch a movie with my kids! Where I can enjoy some quiet catch-up conversation with my sister, minus the usual circus at busier malls. Where my retired parents and young kids can enjoy each other's company in comfort and cleanliness. I really hope this place remains well-maintained in years to come. 

Narra's Bungee Trampoline Ride & Knowing When We're Ready To Jump

Narra suspended in mid-air and still smiling!

When do you know you're ready to jump? I guess, it's a simple as asking: Do you want to go for it? And  if the answer is YES! then you're ready. It's as simple as that, isn't it? Be it for taking the plunge and deciding to get married; or using up your savings to start your own business; or applying for a job after years of taking a break from the work force; or letting your tiny toddler shoot up into the air on a bungee trampoline ride.  You just go for it, you pray and hope for the best, you deal with the somersaults in the pit of your stomach, and you just JUMP!   

Narra's feeble smile right before her turn. 

The previous weekend, Oliver's mother's side, the Socorros, had lunch in Eastwood for our balikbayans from the US, Tito Joseling, his son Henry, and daughter-in-law, Balbir.  We had lunch at Sambo Kojin, and we did a little walking afterwards, at the weekend bazaar nearby.  That's where we chanced upon the bungee trampoline ride.  My niece Sabel started it all. She was followed by my other niece Julia.  It looked like they were having a lot of fun.  Narra was quietly watching and I casually asked her - you want to ride anak? "Yes", she said quietly. It was not the answer I was expecting so  I asked her again. She said "yes" again.  I asked the attendant on duty if my little girl could go on the ride; "she's 2 years and 10 months old", I said.  The attendant told me there was a height requirement, and age didn't matter. She was tall enough all right.  The ride costs 120 for 3 minutes. It's an amount I can risk. I'll pull her out of the trampoline the second she gets cold feet. 

Narra being strapped on to the harness which was way too big for her.

"Are you sure she's ready for this?" Oliver asked me. "Yes", I said simply.  I knew how much Narra loves to ride on swings, and how she asks me to push her higher. I knew how much she loved to jump on our spring mattress, and on the thick foam cushion in Gymboree. And I was thinking how everyone says she and I are so alike - and if there's any truth to that hypothesis at all - then she'd definitely enjoy a ride like this because I love heights, and tumbling (or at least I used to)! But I wasn't sure of course, only Narra can tell if she's ready for this, and she'll really know only when she's doing the actual ride.  So we were nervous parents in the sidelines. We can't do this with her, or for her, she's on her own.

  

Oliver, the nervous papa, lending moral support by the sidelines.

The attendant completed hooking her up to the harness and stepped of the trampoline. Narra was all alone in the spotlight, in front of onlookers and passersby.  So far, so good.  She wasn't smiling, but she wasn't crying either.  I was on alert for the slightest indication that she needed to be fished out of the situation.  When it was time to take off, I shouted to her a familiar formula: "Ready, Get Set, Go!" ... and off she went!

She started tentatively, just a foot or two from the trampoline's surface at first, then as she got the rhythm, she started to go higher, and soon, she was smiling, then squealing!  She was shooting upwards, flying! I felt so proud of her.  It isn't easy for a parent to see her little baby being thrown up higher than the roof, and towards tree branches.  My stomach lurched. But I was glad she said "yes" when I asked if she wanted to do it. I am glad I took her word for it, and believed she was ready.   

I didn't let her finish the whole 3 minutes of the ride. When I saw she was getting tired, and her grip on the ropes seemed to loosen, I signaled to the attendant to end the ride. We still had a good part of 1 minute to go, but I felt it was time to stop.  Whew!! ok, ok,  it was more like Weee!! but also, Whew! It was a long 2 minutes for me.  She came down excited to join her cousins, Ate Sabel, Ate Julia, and Ate Sophia. It was her cousin Matty's turn next.  It's a good thing she was surrounded by a lot of family.  I'm sure that helped boost her confidence, to see familiar faces everywhere she looked. 

A happy Narra runs to her cousins after her ride.

So Narra's done her part. She wanted to go on a ride, and she did, and had a lot of fun. And it will do us good to take our cue from our daughter and do our own thrill rides.  We're going to try something new, embarking on a new business venture, and we'll bounce up and down, I'm sure. The important thing is to go for it, and enjoy the entire process, and just JUMP! 

A Filipino Baptismal Reception at Adarna Food and Culture

Front row: My Aunt Eva with baby Juliana. Sophia. Ieli with baby Guiana.
Back row: My cousins Barbie, Debbie and Angela - with my son Guijo.

It was the 25th of February. A day when our country commemorates the anniversary of the People Power EDSA Revolution.  It was a fitting day to hold a family milestone - the Christening of the latest addition to my mother's side of the family, the Serranillas. We celebrated the baptism of my niece, precious little baby Guiana Cevennes.  The baptismal reception was held in a venue that is as nationalistic as they come: Adarna Food and Culture Restaurant in Quezon City.  Attending that party that day made me feel very happy to be Filipino.

My uncle, Fr. Manny Serranilla, documenting the event.

Upon entering the restaurant, there's a nice little courtyard with no less than the Philippine Flag proudly displayed on one of the walls. My balikbayan uncle, Fr. Manny Serranilla, paid homage to our bandila by singing Bayan Ko as he videotaped the environs (Yes, I come from THAT kind of family - the karaoke (80's), videoke (90's), magic mic (2000's) song-crazy family...and we dance a lot too).  He's like that, my uncle. He sings with fervor, and not just an excerpt - but the whole complete song with matching crescendo, vibrato, and eye-closing climax. 

The venue: Adarna Food and Culture's Dining Area.

What a charming venue it is in a Pinoy-shabby-chic way. I've eaten at Adarna before, when Oliver's Ateneo high school class held one of it's reunions there. It's the type of restaurant with so many interesting knick knacks on display that even if you've seen it before, you feel like seeing things for the first time again, even on your second visit. There are many period pieces, memorabilia, clippings, ads and posters from bygone eras; There are old photographs on the walls, antique lampshades, precious heirloom crystal chandeliers; old hardwood tables and chairs, and floors. There are windows done in the old style; and ornately carved wooden trims - on the ceilings - partitions - windows - and walls.  Entering the dining area felt a lot like walking into an old family home, as though we were at a relative's. That's because the venue is an old house-turned-restaurant.  

The buffet set-up's blue and white china.

How delightful it was to use blue and white china, with that special patina that only comes with age and frequent use. I loved how the buffet was laid out on crocheted table cloths. It reminded me of my grandmother's memento at home,  a huge mantle she crocheted by hand. My grandma came from an era when talent in home economics was a woman's source of pride. The food too, reminded me of my lola - especially the sigarillas salad (my lola grew her own vegetables and she liked me because I loved eating them).  Lola hailed from Bicol, and one of the dishes was Bicol Express made with nice whole pieces of sili which I gobbled up enthusiastically even if I'm not usually a "spice girl". I also liked the piasok, a beef recipe from the Southern Philippines; and the desert, fried kesong puti with langka poured with syrup...oh gosh, I went for seconds (and thirds, and fourths).  How refreshing it was to have Filipino food that deviated from the standard classics, for a change.

Adarna's Sari-Sari Store for some free goodies.

I'd say Adarna is very kid-friendly.  In one part of the resto, they recreated a "sari-sari store" with free candies in nice old glass jars.  Guests can have their fill of goodies for free. Narra was in heaven! It wasn't just the candy per se, but the entire experience of getting to pick a treat,  hearing the grinding of lid on glass grooves, and dipping one's hand through the wide opening. The candies they put on display were nostalgia-inducing. There were harder-to-find homegrown brands found only in your usual neighborhood corner stores. Even the weathered bench in front of the sari-sari store seemed authentic, as though it was just plucked from some kanto.  

Narra trying out the rocking horse.

Adarna has a very relaxed vibe. One feels encouraged to lounge around, to loiter, to read (there are books to leaf through, and framed articles to read on the walls), and even to tinker with things. Narra spied an old wooden rocking horse, and I was only too happy to tell her, "go ahead, give it a try".  Narra had many questions about what things were for, and I obliged her with explanations.  She's been recently acquainted with Disney's Tinkerbell and Princess Ariel, and both these mythical heroines have insatiable curiosity for human inventions and gadgets.  Oh wow, I realize how many things that are so familiar for people of my generation, are so foreign to our kids.

Collection of antique implements and household gadgets.

On display in one of the walls were old everyday things, like a poso (water pump), or kudkuran (coconut grater), and even the palanggana (wash basin). I remember hanging out with our labandera (clothes washer) at the back of our house.  I was about 3 years old, and I'd sit on a piece of hollow block, and I'd also do my fair share of pagkusot (srubbing) and pagpiga (wringing).  Later, I would get a bottle cap or tansan, and domesticate my Barbie doll by making her do laundry using her own tiny little wash basin. Ah, the 1980s. Good old days.

My cousin Meg, Myself, Narra and Guijo, my mom Sonia, and dad Walter.
Behind: Yaya Jennilyn and my sis Marion.

That family gathering at Adarna took me back to the 1980's, the happy years of my childhood, when the country was in turmoil.  I remember our family praying countless rosaries, and my mother lighting countless candles in front of the many saints at Mt. Carmel Church in New Manila - throughout Martial Law, and especially so during the EDSA Revolution when my father's safety was in God's hands. My dad had to make the most important decision of his military career: would he side with Marcos or Cory?  This time 26 years ago, February of 1986, we relied on faith for strength, and on family for solidarity as we worried for my father and wondered about his fate in uncertain times. I looked around Adarna house that Saturday afternoon, February 25 of 2012, I saw the same faces, of my aunts and uncles, the cousins I grew up with, with new additions of course - the in-laws who married into the family - and the babies!  I felt the strength of family ties, and the importance of being anchored in faith.  The significance of a Christening isn't lost on me.  We need to do this, to go through the motions of coming together to welcome this little girl, because we are family, a Filipino family, and that means a lot of things - it means being there for each other when times get tough.

My cuz-in-law Jen, and the celebrant, Guiana Cevennes.

I look at my niece Guiana, the daughter of my cousin John.  Like me, Guiana's also a premie, born on the 7th month of gestation.  Like me, she too stayed in an incubator for weeks, and came out into the world as this tiny little thing.  Those who saw me as a baby, my parents and aunts/uncles all say I was like her, too.  Oh how excited I was to see her for the first time.  She seems fragile and delicate, but she is a survivor, a fighter, triumphant and strong. She reminds me of the Philippines, and our fragile democracy, induced in EDSA.   Adarna Food and Culture is that kind of restaurant. It makes one think of home and the past; of the country and its history.  Through food,  and furnishings, it makes you happy to be Filipino.  Welcome Guiana, to our faith, to our family, to our country, and our culture.  

Super Stroller Friendly Bonifacio High Street Central

Ascending terraces facing the water fountain (view from our table at Elias)

The Ayalas inspire me. When they develop something they do it well, then they top themselves, and do it even better.  My first paycheck ever was from Ayala Corp. I applied for a job at the tender age of 19 and started working a month before I marched down the aisle for my graduation. I worked there ever so briefly, it was clear I had a different calling because I received an invitation to attend a summer school program in Germany and my stomach flipped in excitement.  I left in a heartbeat, resigned from Ayala,  and headed off to Europe. That brief stint, however, gave me a precious insider's view of this awesome Filipino company, their commitment to excellence, their love for this country, and their high standards and meticulous care in crafting and executing plans. Whenever I see anything new developed by Ayala, I expect to be impressed, and they never fail to inspire!  I just felt it again a few days ago - my "happy to be in a new Ayala project feeling".

The sunken garden at BHS Central on 7th Avenue. (See ROX right behind).

Last weekend, I was just thrilled to have dinner, al fresco, at the newest section of Bonifacio High Street (BHS), all the way to the end, on 7th Avenue, just beyond R.O.X.  Like the rest of BHS, the place is a delightful cross between a mall and a park.  It offers a different atmosphere however, because of its incline.  The twin boulevards of the BHS felt rather flat while this new section feels like a sunken garden -  even a grand amphitheater in the way ascending terraces are angled facing a stage-like expanse of water-fountains.  From a distance, it seemed to me like kids were really getting wet, as though they were in a water park. 

A kid bathed in green light and drenched in water!

Upon closer inspection, I was right!!! Kids (and a few adults too) were frolicking in neon juice - an illusion created with changing colored lights.  The fountains are just so inviting, the public couldn't resist.  Now, it isn't one of those space-saving, compact fountains.  The wet area is a sizable expanse.  There's plenty of room  to run around.

A girl "stops" a water column with her hand.

There's so much space between each of the fountains, that one feels safe weaving through the streams of water shooting up to the sky, without getting wet.  I even saw a stroller being steered and parked between water columns as mother and baby posed  for pictures. 

A mother steers her kid's stroller onto the fountain floor.

The entire complex is really very user-friendly for anyone on wheels, I wouldn't think twice about bringing Narra here, on her new bike!, or Guijo on his stroller.  I imagine this place would be a great destination for skateboarders too, and rollerbladers, kids on scooters, and people on wheelchairs.  The Ayalas made accessibility a central feature of the open-air mall.  In other wheelchair-accessible places, ramps seem like an after thought.  Here, they dominate the design.  They are not tiny things squeezed into corners, but grand, wide spaces in the heart of all the action. 

Low incline and ample space for strollers, bikes, scooters and skates.

To get to the second floor from street level, for instance, they opted to build not one, but two spacious ramps.  Thank you, dear designers for doing this! You have this mom's gratitude!  My stroller experiences aren't always pleasant. I have had to negotiate my  way through steps and crowds in ramp-less malls - or, in places where they do exist, I've had to work my way precariously up steep and tight, single-lane ramps.  Here, it seems to me, that the space is big enough for 4 lanes - like a stroller super expressway.  I could get to walk leisurely here, without worrying about stalling people in a rush - there's plenty of room to accommodate different speeds. I love it!

On the second floor. Behind me are double ramps with a gentle slope.

We came here to BHS Central for some good old adult conversation over dinner with Oliver's cousins and their wives. It was supposed to be a nice little break from the kids... which it was.  But the kids were always on my mind though.  And I can't wait to wheel them over.  Ayala's done it again. They've given back to the community by offering us a new playground to visit. I grew up visiting Ayala Malls, from the Park Square and Greenbelt of old - the open-air  shopping plazas of the 1980's! - and my kids will grow up doing the same as we frequent the evolved shopping promenades, also open-air, of stroller-friendly Bonifacio High Street. 

Our dinner party: (l-r) Rakel & Thunder; Balbir & Henry; Me & Oliver.

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Narra's New Radio Flyer Bike & Why This One's a Keeper

Narra's new Radio Flyer Steer and Stroll Trike.

It was on sale, it's what we wanted for Narra, should we buy it? There was just one problem. Narra already had a generic pink bike that she used and liked. So why get her this Radio Flyer trike that she didn't need? Oliver was calling me to consult. I could tell he really wanted to get her this new bike. So I gave him a supportive reply: "Go get it babe, I'll sell her current bike on-line".  I just heard the words "Radio Flyer" and I was sold, I didn't need any more info. I wanted that bike too, even without seeing it, and here's why.

There are brands that evoke certain memories, that make you feel nostalgic and fuzzy inside, they tug at your heartstrings and make a purchase done in the present, an act of paying homage to the past and preparing for the future.  When I see Radio Flyer bikes, I see old photos in my head. One picture is of my sister Marion from 1980, riding her red steel trike with a step at the back - the step was for me, her little sister. She would pedal, and I would stand behind her, and round and round we went, in the cramped little "hi-way" from our living room to our kitchen back in our old house in New Manila (a house that is no more). The other photograph goes farther back in time - it is a photo of my dad, in black and white, taken in 1950, with his own little brother Elvin. He was dressed in a striped shirt, tucked in khaki shorts, he had black leather shoes with white socks - such a formal look - and he was sitting on a trike, made of steel.  Let me tell you what I see in my head - from my dad's face - to my sister's face - to Narra's .... I see one look, their shared blood evident in the common manner in which their faces break into smiles.  

Narra's first time to take her new bike for a spin. Mall of Asia, by the bay.

Narra's new bike is the Girl's Deluxe Steer and Stroll model. It is more streamlined and simpler than her older bike (which had lights and sounds, an attached bear head with beeping horn, and front and rear baskets, a safety bar, and padded seat - so much stuff!) I loved the simplicity of this new bike - it looks sleeker, and more like a classic bike than her more elaborate older one. Sometimes less really is more.  I push her with the sturdy steel push bar. It feels solid.  The wheels look robust, and they ride well on tiled pavements.  Then there's that tiny little bell, the old-fashioned round ones that go "ding!"...sigh. Hearing it brings back memories.

I wanted to get Narra a Radio Flyer when I was away in Singapore to finish my dissertation two years ago in 2010. Near National University of Singapore, there was a bike shop that carried the Radio Flyer line, and I badly wanted to buy  a bike which was a tad bit too heavy and costly to take on the plane with me. Oh how I regretted not buying it the moment I got home.  So when Oliver found this bike on sale, I jumped at a chance to erase an item on my Big List of Little Regrets.

I just sold Narra's older bike. I posted an ad on-line and had a buyer (or buyers!) in a snap. It was picked up today and I was happy to sell it. Just like that. Now, this Radio Flyer - haha. I have no plans of selling it even when Narra outgrows it. I am imagining a nice spot in my dad's huge attic where this bike will bide its time before I get it refurbished for my grandchildren to come. After watching marathon episodes of "American Pickers" and the joys of finding classic old toys in rustic barns and untouched attics, I have my own hopes of keeping my own treasure trove. This one's a keeper.