It's been more than a month since we relocated to Singapore. Until today, I can't say that we have completely settled. Not yet, but we're certainly on our way there. The kids are getting by so well. As for me, I would say I am adjusting more to Singapore life than work in general. In as far as my career is concerned, I am happy to be back to my comfort zone. I did miss the customary taste and aroma of savoury. My olfactory senses are once again waiting to be challenged. I am truly back home but in one way or another I am absolutely not.

It seemed like it was only yesterday that we were unpacking and loading new things to a new place, in a new home. Back in 2008 we decided to move in to a new location for the kids to have bigger roaming space and cleaner ambiance. I even made a post about our new-found home here. Lo and behold! Surprise of all the surprises, it never did occur to me that we will be passing through the same experience again at the same time of the year. Only, 2009 speaks of much height. We are moving to a new country!

I’ve been in deep thoughts these past few days and weeks. I’ve been trying so hard to discern the decision that we have just made. It’s going to be life changing for sure. But there’s no doubt in my mind and in my heart that it’s where I would like us to be. So in January 2010 we are definitely moving LAH!

For the second time around, we will be welcoming the New Year in a new place. There are just too many to prepare and arrange - house hunting, school search, culture to learn, rules to know and so on and so forth. How does one really prepare to relocate, much more to a foreign land?! This is the challenge my family is about to take. For those who have been through the same road before, your thoughts and suggestions would be very much welcome.

For now, we will take a quick plunge unto our new environment. The pre-scheduled visit to HK with the kids will again take a back seat for now. Zoos and Botanical gardens will be the must visit spots next month over the happiest place on earth. It still is a mixed feeling at the moment. To my dear readers, in 60 days, Our Taste of Life will be evolving to Our Taste of Life in Singapore. Join us as we embark on new beginnings in our lives. I hope to be still journeying with you as we take on new discoveries and ultimately have a new TASTE of LIFE, the Singapore way!

The ber season has just started and apart from summer time, it is the most awaited and celebrated time of the year. This is usually the peak season for great things of all sorts - food, clothing, fashion and of course travel. After visiting Guangzhou last August, I am set to visit it again this month. As these travels are both work related, I am very much looking forward to the family vacation this coming holiday. I'm beginning to make early preparations and plans. Hence, I've started hopping from one travel site to the next to find great travel deals. Foremost among them are discount airfares and cheap air flights.

This will be the kids' first time to travel out of the country. And to say that traveling with tots involves so much preparations is still quite an understatement. However, this will not in anyway prevent me from enjoying every single task related to it. We (especially the kids) deserve this much needed "family- time". I'll share with you a sequel of this post on travel stuffs worth exploring. Stay tuned!

Last year, together with millions of Filipinos across the globe, we joined in the celebration of Lucky Me!'s advocacy on FaMEALy occasion at home. It was that time of the year where all members of the family were encouraged to go home early to sit at the dining table. The TV campaign shows us clearly how valuable family meal occasions are. In fact, the recent ad is another eye opener - a "cut through" information specially for parents. Like how I mentioned in my previous post, I believe in the value of families eating together. The studies are quite alarming. Suffice it to say, conclusive enough that we must all live this advocacy. Read my previous post here.

Hence, this coming September 28, 2009 (monday), let's all join once again to celebrate FaMEALy Day at home!

Mama & Papa, Mom & Dad, Nanay & Tatay, Itay & Inay, don't forget to dine with the kids on monday night! Because the family that eats together, stays happy forever!

I was browsing through the Philippine Star's website and I came across its section of "Kwentong Peyups" (stories about UP). Quickly, I got inspired and jumped straight unto my laptop keyboard and gloriously relived my UP life through this writing. Read on and join me in my walk down memory lane...

In a University with an Oblation Man(by Sherra Bernardo B.S. Food Technology 1994-1998)

In my teen years, the famous premier university in the country that is UP was every senior high school graduating student’s dream for a college life. It is likewise every parent’s choice for his child’s education. I remember how my mother fought for my UP education against my grandfather’s intimidating sign of a “no-no”. Well, how can you blame my grandfather for shielding me from the frightening initiation rites of fraternities and sororities, which UP is so known for? Add to that, I was entering UP at the height of Eileen Sarmenta’s rape-slay and Allan Gomez’ killing. Fortunately, my mother’s dream of a quality education reigned supreme and for that, I am forever grateful.

So in 1994, I found myself queuing in the UPLB campus getting enrolled in the Bachelor of Science program. Getting into the UP campus and living the UPLB way brought me a lot of distinctive realizations and discoveries.

At UP, You are you; I am I. Nobody care for what you wear or how you look. It is here where credentials weigh more than the physical looks. In the university, I can be me without the discriminating eyes of classmates and teachers. Do I dare say I had a taste of equality? Gladly more than I had. Students here have so much freedom but it’s prickly encased with real responsibility. You mould your own life but you also learn how to manage it wisely. Creating a balanced life is a pitch. You get to choose your own course plan even the type of brotherhood you want to cling into. But as they say, with great power comes great responsibility. So family values and support of your loved ones are very much needed to get through to UPLB living sensibly. And I thank my family for I did.

No sleeps but not necessarily reap the glory. On exam days, which we normally refer to as “hell week”, sleepless nights and group studies are so common. In this period, I had my own take on the 24-hour shift of life. But ironically, you still ask why is a week of studying and sleepless nights don’t seem enough to score high on the exam? Later, I came to know that it’s all about having a good study habit and then some. Plain intelligence is not enough. Diskarte, patience, persistence and real hard work, all play vital roles. More so, I often heard social interaction is key. Popular clichés like man does not live by bread alone or no man is an island holds true in this university. So much more if you stay in the dormitory. There, you learn how to deal with different people and consequently be trained on how to adjust the strand of your interpersonal skills. Anyhow, old exams and hand me down books are some of the must grabs for doing so.

Make do of what you have and live simply. We typically commune with nature to relax from the hurdles and pressures of studies. A climb to Jamboree and NAC (National Arts Center) or an eco-adventure to Botanical Garden is our definition of luxury. We happily settle for bidani balls, siomai and empanadas for our snacks sometimes even for our lunch. Starbucks is not yet born, so we’re satisfied with our stocks of 3-in 1 coffee in the dorm to last us longer in our night of study.

Sacrifice and heroism, are what the outstretched arms of the naked man in the university are all for. But it took a while before I appreciate the value of an oblation run. I almost passed out the first time I watched it. Nuns educated me in my high school days, to say that seeing an oblation run is a culture shock for me is so much of an understatement. Because of that, I was challenged to question some UP beliefs and advocacies. On the contrary, the symbol of the naked man epitomizes the intellect and vigour of a UP education and markedly, it’s imbedded in me.

On the whole, living a UPLB life is like an amazing race. It’s generally filled with roadblocks and detours but perseverance and more got me through to the pit stops. The adventure I had is a memory of a lifetime.

When Lucky Me! encouraged us to celebrate Famealy Day at home last September 22, all the more it occured to me that the essential benefits it gives can really go a long way. So, let me share with you my thoughts in living this advocacy...

“Daddy, kanina nag drawing ako! Ang galing ko na mag-drawing.” “Ako Mommy nag-color ako, ang ganda ng pag-color ko!” “Sarap nito Mommy, luto ka ulit nito hah?” This is how typical conversation at our humble dining table sounds. With such inspiring and heart warming remarks, tell me, how can I resist family meal occasions at home? This is simply the kind of happening we shouldn’t want to be missed. A happy memory we must all partake. That’s why; KAINANG PAMILYA MAHALAGA (Family Meals deemed important), became a mantra in our home. We are pleased to declare that it’s a place where absence in the dining table at dinner time is forbidden.
As a working mom, on weekdays, I get to enjoy eating with my family on a single meal occasion only. Though I prepare my kids’ foods before I go to work, I can hardly join them in all their meals. So it really pains me to count how much little time I have for them. However, no matter how challenging it may seem nothing should prevent me in gathering the entire family to the dining table to celebrate God’s bounty. Like all time-strapped parents and homemakers in particular, the desire to give my family yummy treats and scrumptious meal is still ever burning. So when I heard flattering remarks about my cooking and the smile of satisfaction in their palate, it makes all the sacrifice worth it. If dads are considered the foundation of the home and moms are its light, I would say the dining table is its roof. It shelters all of us from the many challenges of family life. Physically, it’s witness to everyone’s food preference and eating habits. But beyond that, it’s our important link to close family ties that could last a lifetime. What could be more rewarding than being with your family as you celebrate your many firsts and milestones? From contagious laughs to serious talks and lamentation, there’s plainly no better way than sharing these with our loved ones.

Yesterday, a colleague excitedly showed me a copy of YUMMY magazine’s August edition. Little did I know that she’s off to break some good news? “Have you seen this?” she asked me while showing a page of the magazine. Momentarily, I got wide eyed with what was before me; my e-mail to YUMMY last June was published in their latest edition. Truly elated, more than I am! I didn’t expect that my e-mail would land into their picks. What I sent were actually words of delight for the magazine that had influenced me in many ways. I remember making a post about it here when I started buying issues of it. Thank you YUMMY! You keep on bringing genuine foodies with such gastronomic reads!

Eleven Minutes was touted as Paulo Coelho's second international best seller next to The Alchemist. According to the author, it was his boldest story ever made. Must agree, I would. It's a story about a woman who lived a life full of emotional and physical struggles in the pursuit of her dream. It's a plot enriched with love, lust, melancholy, sacrifice and hope. Maria (the protagonist), an innocent girl turned into a prostitute, instinctively took the winding road in realizing her dream. Unfortunately, her journey didn't happen the way she expected it to be. It didn't provide her a smooth run but a tougher and highly pebbled one. It even came to a point of almost losing her true self in exchange of awakening, sexual experiences.

When I bought this book, I didn’t have a slightest idea of what eleven minutes exactly means. My impulse just trusted the name Paulo Coelho in having it. Half way through the pages (more or less), I learned that it’s how Maria coined her work as a prostitute. Perhaps to mollify the guilt that's resting inside her, she made herself believe that she only loses her pride, experiences humiliation and abuse, in eleven minutes. Tolerant that afterall, she submissively performs her work only in a matter of eleven minutes. Then, she can redeem her self again.

This novel is about self-discovery and how human life normally faces the battle between free-will and determinism. In Maria’s case, she was able to endure the battle and came out victorious in the end. She was able to transform her eleven minutes into a lifetime. Whenever we face such life’s conflict we were always left with different choices. One, we allow ourselves to be taken by the flow and let destiny gets its toll on us. The other, we take full control and drive our lives to whichever way we want. But is it always more fruitful to have the later choice? Yes, for some may be not for others. At any rate, the choice is always ours.

It's amazing how time flies so fast really. I can't believe it's already been a year of blogging for me. A year filled with wonderful tastes of life. A writing experience rich in unforgettable memories. Having Our Taste of Life online, felt like giving birth to a baby needing to be nourished to be able to grow poperly (like how I first mentioned it here).

All 95 posts were written from our own share of life experiences, and everything there was in living a happy life. The 112 comments state how the blog is still slowly building its readership. Still very young in terms of readers' involvement. Nonetheless, the blog's visits and page views along with its other statistics are more than enough reasons to keep me going and yes, celebrating.

For first timers here, thank you for dropping by. For those who have been here a number of times, my warmest gratitude for patronizing my humble abode in the world wide web. I'd like to share with you how Our Taste of Life had become in a year. Join me in reminiscing the highlights of this blog. Cheers! :-)

Sixty three posts in 4 months and 8 days for a blog entitled Our Taste of Life. This is pretty much good already but I would still consider myself new in this world of blogging and this blog I'm maintaining, still at its infant stage. Am I enjoying it? Well, the fact that this post was created need I answer more? The question now really is where is this blog taking me? Yes, writing for a blog is sometimes tiring, taxing, time consuming what more for a working mom like me? It's like having another baby and another work to take care of. It needs to be fed frequently at most daily. It needs to be nourished and loved at the same time.

FAM PICS! I've read about this fun photo-sharing activity of PMN 30 minutes before the deadline for the first theme. So unlucky me! Similar to Photo Hunters, a participant or a member of Pinoy Moms Network submits a photo that is home or family related, original and owned by the member posting it based on a monthly theme. This will be one of the regular activities (other than Weekend Herb Blogging and Royal Foodie Joust) Our Taste Of Life will be joining in. It was just unfortunate the 30 minutes was not enough to come up with an initial entry. I have something in mind that will fit the "Glossy" category. However, I don't want my post to appear something like hurried so I decided not to submit my supposed to be first entry. Now, I'm posting it here in our site. I'll make sure the next themes will be included in my calendar of activities. Cheers! to the Pinoy Moms and may the creative juices flow abundantly!

These are pictures taken from my daughter's 1st birthday party. Our excitement in celebrating Sofie's birthday is as "glossy" as her birthday cake and balloons. Although we celebrated it simply and exclusive to family members only, we still had the typical party snippets. Me and my husband got busy coming out with a theme, preparing our menu plan, thinking of party games to play, basically everything for an all DIY concept.

Sofie is the first grand daughter for both clans. Thus, all are excited to celebrate her birthday. We know she's too young to fully comprehend what's happening on that day, yet somehow, in

some way, part of the event brought a glow in her life. And it will forever be remembered maybe not by her but by all the people who love her and those who've shared with her special day. We sure have our own many "firsts" in our lives. And more often than not, we want to celebrate it all out! As others would say, because it shall pass only once we better make the most out of it! It doesn't matter how simple or extravagant it may be, what's important is we have it shared with our loved ones.