A Star is Born!

A young Filipino singer, Charice once again proved her singing prowess as she got two standing ovations for her performance with musician-record producer David Foster's discoveries for a benefit concert at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas last Friday, May 23rd.For the event entitled "David Foster & Friends" in front of an audience of almost 10,000, Charice sang a medley of Whitney Houston's hits- "I Will Always Love You" and "I Have Nothing". These songs are from the original sound track of "The Bodyguard" which was produced by Foster. "And I Am Telling You" is from the original soundtrack of "Dreamgirls", also produced by Foster.

Charice got two standing ovations. People cried during her performance, and she received loud cheers and applause after each song.Charice said in an interview after her performance that she was really happy and thrilled to be part of Foster's special show."Masaya lang po ako na biglaan po yung napabilang ako sa kanila, lalo na po sa Las Vegas. Mas maraming big stars ang nakasama ko like Mr. Andrea Bocelli. ( "I’m happy with this surprise that I’m one of the performers, especially in Las Vegas. I am with more big stars like Mr. Andrea Bocelli." )Sobrang bait na talagang after ng performance ko nakita ko nasa baba siya nag-stay. Akala ko kung ano ang meron, yun pala iko-congratulate niya ako parang di ako makapaniwala na sila ang kasama ko," Charice said. ("He (Bocelli) was very kind that after I performed, I saw that he stayed below. I thought of what’s in there, only to find out that he’s going to congratulate me. I couldn’t believe that I performed with them (the stars)." )"Basta parang nanaginip lang ako lalo na noong nakita ko 'yung program. Hello pinagitnaan ako ng big star Michael Buble at Josh Groban," Charice added. ( "It’s like I’m just dreaming more so when I saw the program. Hello I was in between big stars Michael Buble and Josh Groban."

Proudly Filipino,the 16-year-old belter said she was emotional after her performance."After ng performance ko, naiiyak ako. Hindi ko lang mailabas kasi may second song pa po pero talagang natutuwa ako na kahit po 'yung mga Amerikano nakikilala po nila ako. Tapos sinasabi nila na ako daw po yung best na nakita nilang may best performance," she said.("I cried after my performance. I couldn’t just let it out because I still have a second song but I’m really happy that even the Americans know me. And they said that my performance is the best among the other great performances.")"Proud po ako, Filipino po ako. Tapos natuwa ako na binanggit ko na taga-Pilipinas ako ang daming nag-chi-cheer nakaka-proud. Sana proud din sa akin ang kapwa Pilipino ko po," said Charice. ("I’m proud, I’m a Filipino. And I’m happy that I mentioned that I’m from the Philippines and a lot of people have cheered. I hope that my fellow Filipinos are also proud of me.")

As for David Foster, he does not have anything but good words for his new discovery -- Charice."Tonight, a star is born," Foster said."I had the great pleasure of being able to stand inside behind the stage when she was performing... she has a beautiful voice," Josh Groban said.During the cast party where no cameras were allowed, people, including the artists flocked to Charice. They were all hugging and congratulating her for a very wonderful performance.The caterer, famous chef Wolfgang Puck who saw the show with his wife could not get enough of Charice. Mrs. Puck said, "I want to be your mother from now on." Charice got a standing invitation from Wolfgang for free dinners with him and his wife every time Charice is in Beverly Hills.

Making Filipinos proud, Charice said she gives her best in every performance to make her fellow Filipinos proud of her."Iniisip ko lang po na ibigay ang best ko sa bawat performance ko, kahit sino ang kasama ko...para maipagmalaki ko sa mga nanonood na pwede din po akong isabay sa mga talagang batikang singers like mga idol ko," she said. ("I always thought to give my best in every performance, whoever sings with me… so that I can be proud to all viewers that I can also sing like the famous singers like my idols.")"Kaya binibigay ko ang best ko. Ito pong malaking oportunity na binibigay nila sa akin yun na po ang sinusukli ko sa kanila. 'Yung best performance ko na masasabi pong karapat-dapat ako sa binigay nilang opportunity." ("That’s why I’m giving my best. The great opportunity that they’re giving me, my best is what I gave back in return. The best performance that one could say I am deserving of the opportunities given me.")

Charice thanked all the people who had faith in her talent and gave her breaks to be recognized."Salamat sa lahat ng pinag-guest-an ko sa Oprah, sa Ellen DeGeneres sa Paul O' Grady siyempre David Foster," Charice said. ("Thank you to all who has invited me to guest in Oprah, Ellen DeGeneres, Paul O’Grady and of course David Foster.")Charice appeared in the Paul O’Grady Show in London, Tuesday, April 8 and on the Ellen DeGeneres show in December 2007.Last April 11, abs-cbnNEWS.com broke the story that she just finished taping a special episode for Oprah. Her special guesting with Oprah was aired May 12th.

a photo of charice and david foster@ Las Vegas

Goodbye Spring... Hello Summer!

It was Memorial Day and Robin was off from work when we had a lil' splashing activity in our backyard. Summer is not quiet here yet. But the weather in Houston makes us feel like it is already summer time. It's completely silly to admit, but it was our lil' boy's first time to play out in the backyard. We have our reasons why we never allowed him to play out there until yesterday. It was a fun and an amazing scene as I keenly gazed at Sage sprinting out in the water. He was lovin' the fact that he's finally limitless to play in a bigger space, and he was free to play with the water as well. I just wanted to remind all my readers that my son is only 19 months old, so he was a little dubious getting in the splash mat at first. It took daddy few efforts to really get him under the splashing water, but it didn't took Sage long enough to get used to it. We noticed that he mumbles a lot lately and his favorite sentence was "I scared." He was scared and at the same time, was having a great moment of his life scampering around our backyard like a mad dog. When do these two things go together? It just doesn't make sense to me, but I guess for my son it meant something. "Yucky" was another word he uttered yesterday. He denoted a bunch of left-over grass from a newly mowed lawn that was stuck on his legs. To him, it's unpleasant! I agree and my son has a point in that matter. It's funny that Sage is learning so much and uses words that I thought were bigger than him. Overall though, we had a blast and what a great activity for a Memorial Day!

They New Journey Has Begun!

The wait is finally over for the legendary band Journey. And who would have thought that the new lead singer of the band is a Filipino? Hailing from Quezon City, Phillipines, Arnel Pineda was welcomed with open arms as a new member by rockers Neal Schon (guitar), Jonathan Cain(keyboards), Ross Valory (bass), and Deen Castronovo (drums). AP(Arnel Pineda) used to sing in a band called Zoo and through posting amazing videos in youtube singing Journey songs, AP's discovery began from there. The new Journey will be releasing REVELATION, a three-disc CD/DVD in June 3 which will be available at Walmart stores. The band will be guesting in Ellen Degeneres show on Wednesday. I am not going to miss that! The most exciting part is, I am going to see AP in a live concert in July 26, 2008 here at the Woodlands Spring, Texas! you heard it right baby! Robin, me and friends are so excited to see him perform. I am so proud of Arnel not because he is a Filipino making other Filipinos proud, but because of his great talent that brought him to the limelight. Goodluck Arnel Pineda and keep making us proud of you!

just another karaoke talent

Imagine life without music???

music is my life and without it, living is a zilch. My free time is about reading or singing. I don't sing good but I don't sing bad either. I don't know but I'll leave it up to you to do the critic. one of the things I'd love to do is "karaoke-ing... " this is my way of venting off stress and it works for me. Robin does the same thing. If not playing video games, you'll see him with a microphone in his hand. Let me share with you my karaoke moment. Notice Sage on the background.

6 more days...

and school year will soon be over. It has not been decided yet if Robin's going to teach summer class, but my prayers are for him to do summer school. Why?... Simply because we need the money, so we can do something this summer. And talking about summer, Rob and I will try to have baby #2. I hope the Lord will give us one more because we are anxiously ready to have another one!
This weekend is going to be a lazy one. Nothing big and special about it except for the baseball game that I am looking forward to go on Friday night. And oh, I get to go to church this weekend. I guess that's something special, at least for me.

lil' brown boots

in my brown boots

in my brown boots

i stomp around in my brown boots

in my boots stomp, stomp

in my boots stomp, stomp

i stomp around in my boots...

Sage loves his brown boots that one night, he wanted to sleep with them.

You could only see how he hugs and cuddles his first boots.

My Mother's Day

Saturday, my husband told me that he'll take me to the Jewelry shop to get what I want for mother's day. I decided not to get really expensive, so I told him I am getting nothing. I don't really need any jewelry this time.. not just yet! So he moved his head in agreement and said, "Okay, I'll take that".

Sunday came, and it was Mother's Day and the whole world rejoiced! I am a mother, but it wasn't about me at all. I just didn't feel it! First of, my husband woke up that Sunday morning forgetting that it was mother's day. Second, I don't get any card from him, not even a damn cold electronic card. He's not a card/flower/balloon type of a husband anyway, so I kinda' expected that. But he used to send me electronic greeting cards on Myspace, yet not this time, baby. Not this time! I figured out he was really "too busy" to remember that. I won't deny, but it made me really sad. But sometimes, there are things that we need to throw out of the window just to avoid conflicts.

So, I left the house and the forgetful husband. Then I found myself at Kroger to buy my mom some balloons. That's the least I could do after Robin forgot about mother's day. On my way to my mother's, I decided to stop by the cemetery to visit my mother-in-law's grave site. I laid new flowers on the vase and I had a balloon tied around it.

At my mom's, I had a really good time. My sister was there and her husband. They brought my mother a chocolate cake, which was really yummy. My brother-in-law made a very good lunch for all of us there. At the end of the day, I felt really good because I got to spend a wondeful time with my mom. here she is cutting her cake.

I love you so much mom!

My First Words

Sage's vocabulary list has been stretched as he quickly learns new things everyday. These days, he says sentences that really amazed us. Like the other day, I put him on the tub to clean up his behind. I guess he didn't like being in a big tub and he immediately said "mommy, I scared! I scared!" And last night while I was giving him a bath, he told me "Oh, cold mommy" as he felt the water dribbled on him. I found it really cute because big words like that from him is like amazing! That only reminds me how amazing God is because he created me. Two nights ago, Sage and Robin did a lil' "classroom act". Robin raised flash cards and Sage did his part by telling us what's on the cards. He's doing quiet well with some of them and we are still workin' on getting him to learn about the shapes, colors, things that go, and things in the farm. I'd like to share a video clip of Sage and his first words.

Derby Updates

Derby is one of the many events the family considers special. Every year, the family goes to the track and enjoy the day while betting our favorite horses. So, this past Saturday was the 134th Kentucky Derby Run for the Roses. We hung a derby flag on the only Oak tree we have in the front yard. Derby day is not only about the horses but the ladies' hats as well. In addition to laying a bet for the horses, we decided to put entries for the derby hat contest held at the Sam Houston Race Park. I made both of our hats that took me 2 days to get them all together. Unfortunately, we weren't lucky to be chosen as a winner, because we didn't have the whole "get up". Besides creativity and time spent in hat making, which I believed we have, the judges seemed to be judging the contestants' dresses that matched their hats. I thought it was a hat contest, but I guess it wasn't. By next year, I will be smarter... but I am not sure being there again for the hat contest. Prizes are not worth-after, let me tell you that!


this is the hat I made for my husband, which he wore to the Derby.
He named his hat "Barbaro's Dream" in tribute to the late 2006 Kentucky Derby
winner Barbaro. That's Barbaro on top of the hat.






This is my "bird of paradise" hat... you like?

me at the Sam Houston Race Park for the Derby.

The Derby was a huge pay day to those who put money on the big favorite "Big Brown". I was the only one who believed on Big Brown in the family. My husband picked Pyro, and Colonel John was favored by my father-in-law. Coming from the 20th hole, fears and qualms played a big role in many peoples' minds. Can Big Brown win the race, was the biggest concern. Of course I was one of them, so I boxed the horse with other three horses to hit the board in any order. Regrettably, it didn't worked out the way I wanted it to be. I should have known, but that's the name of the game. That's why horse racing is such an exciting sports.

The victory of Big Brown was stained when the filly, Eight Belles broke her front ankles and was euthanized at the track after finishing second behind Big Brown. It was historic for Big Brown being the undefeated horse, who is aspiring to win the Triple Crown, yet the day ended poignant when Eight Belles has to be put down. It is sad to think for people who came out to the track and saw all that, it's got to make them think, "Man, why would I want to go out there and see that happen to a horse?" It's got to be very disappointing to anyone who loves horses. True… I remember watching my husband sobbed the other day as he watched a 6-second replay of Eight Belles falling down. I agree with the media for not focusing on Eight Belles on the ground. A very sad moment on a beautiful day for a horse race. She gave everything she had and what is expected of her including her life. A beautiful animal with this much heart deserves much than being put to death. May you rest in peace, Eight Belles...

31 cent a scoop night at Baskin-Robbins!

On April 30th, groups of all sizes and ages showed up and treated each other to a scoop.
And it was a big Wednesday night for our little angel, Sage. It was his first real ice cream treat at Baskin Robbins, as the store gave a special of 31cent a scoop. It was a great deal that numbers of customers flocked outside the store waiting to get in. Sage was so proud and happy as he dig into the cup of his first strawberry cheese cake ice cream. He also had a little share of mine and Robin that made him really stuffed that night. We left the ice cream parlor still packed and headed straight to the mall to let Sage play at the play land. It surprised us both because for the first time, Sage refused to play as he held on to his stroller. We tried to walk around the mall a bit thinking that he would changed his mind, yet the little tired boy won’t get off his stroller for the third time. I guess eating a scoop of ice cream could make a baby really full as young like Sage. I wonder if Sage dreamed about strawberry cheese cake that night??? Here are some of Sage's photos enjoying the night away as he devoured and gulped down this so-called frozen dessert made with cream!

All this for me? cool!

hmmm... yummy, yummy in my tummy, tummy!


sharing with daddy's ice cream cone.