De Jurk (The Dress)

Last Saturday, my filipina friend Cathy who is living in Schiedam (about 3 hours drive away from us) came to our house with her Dutch parnter, to bring some pasalubong... She just came back from Holland after her 2 weeks vacation in Philippines... And my family in Manila sends some small things for us here especially for Mireille... It made me proud that now, Mireille have her first jurk (dress) made by my Mama (as you can see in the photo)...

My mother is a dressmaker eversince and we grew up wearing clothes made by her, all our school uniforms from kindergarden to college level. And even on our teenage days when wearing casual dress or bestida (in tagalog) is not usual, she never get tired making clothes for us... not to mention all the dresses she made for me and my younger sister on special occassions like birthday, graduation day, recognition day or if we are going to attend special occassion.. And one of the special dress she made for me was my Wedding Dress...

As of now she still likes to make clothes and this time those are for her grand children like my nieces, Red and Steph... And the jurk (dress) for me daughter could just be one but for sure it's a VERY SPECIAL ONE... My daughter didn't realize yet that it was made by her Lola Berta but to see how proud she is when she wears it, could mean that for her it's also her special dress...

Boodschappen Cadeau Pakket (Groceries Package Gift)

Last year in August I wrote about spaarzegels (dutch my life: Spaarzegels (Trading stamp)) where I did tried to save stamps and if I'll be able to complete the spaarkaart then I'll get special prize...

In January this year, I did completed the whole spaarkaart of C1000 Supermarket and I received a Boodschappen Cadeau Pakket (Groceries Package Gift) worth 50 euro...

Then this Summer the C1000 supermarket once again had a promo on Spaarzegels (Trading stamp). Of course I get busy with it again, why not? We are regular customer of C1000 and everyweek we did our weekly shopping there... It's the same last January, for every 10 euro you'll get 1 spaarzegel but this time it's not much... S0 last Saturday, I claimed again a Boodschappen Verrassingspakket (shopping surprise package) worth 20 euro... This time I did not really have the complete stamps needed, my filipina friends here Ivy and Rhoda and Tina (from Indonesia), share some of their extra stamps... Dank je wek! (Thank You!)

NT2 Niveau 1 (A1) - Dutch as 2nd language Level 1

Today is the first day of school... Yes, I'm not yet done studying dutch language... With my status here in Holland, normally I'm required to take Inburgering Course and pass the Inburgering Exam before I could apply for Dutch passport...

But then I have another option and that is to take Staatsexamen NT2 course and pass the Staatsexamen exam... I choose Staatsexamen... Inburgering is much easier and more on studying culture, but with Staatexamen is to really study the dutch language till Level 4... It's a bit harder and higher level so if I will pass the exam (please pray for me) then I don't need to take Inburgering exam anymore... And with Staatsexamen I could go to school here to study another course or better maybe to refresh Accounting course, but if it would be hard then I have option to study Boekhouding (Bookeeping) here... I hope I could really do it so I could have a good job in the future...

By the way, the photo above was taken last March 2009 with my Verklaring (Testimonial) on NT2 Niveau 1 (A1) - (Dutch as 2nd Language Level 1). It's like a certificate and I'm really excited and proud that I'm done with Level 1, as of now I'm preparing to take exam for Level 2... :) Succes to me!

De Band Nuchter in Apeldoorn

Yesterday we went to Apeldoorn and attended the BBQ Party... De Band Nuchter (Ron, Fred, Dick and Harm) went there also and gave live performance... it's the first time I've watched them live, I saw them performing only on practices but everytime they have a performance I can't be there because I have to stay home with my daughter... It's good, last night we can sleep there too so there's no problem... We did enjoyed the night even Mireille every now and then dances with other kids there... and the BBQ food were delicious :)

Ahh, Summer vacation is over, back to school again... the past weekends were such busy days... 1st weekend we attended a birthday party, then on 2nd weekend we went to BBQ party here in Winschoten, then this 3rd weekend BBQ party in Apeldoorn... the coming weekend, no schedule yet, maybe it's time then for us just to stay home and relax, but for me it's time to give full attention again with my dutch lessons... party is over!

Filipijnse Lerares en Klasgenoten (Filipina Teacher and Classmates)

Last Wednesday, my Filipijnse Leraares en Klasgenoten (Filipina Teacher and Classmates) came to our house for a visit... In the photo you'll see me, Rhoda (my classmate), Ate Josie (assistant teacher), Ivy (my classmate) and Inday... It may seem funny to see Filipina studying dutch language but for me I'm proud in school, that at the same time, it's possible that a Filipina like Ate Josie could also be a teacher of dutch language...

Today, we did have a nice day... Ivy brought Binagnit (especially made by her with coconut milk) in Manila this taste like Ginataang Monggo... Then we ate Macaroni cooked by my sister-in-law Marjan... And because I'm so busy and don't have time to cook... I just prepared fruit salad... easy and delicious! lekker!

Mabuhay!

Corazon Aquino, Filipinos Tita ng Bayan

Last Saturday, i first heard from my husband that Corazon Aquino, the Ex-President of the Philippines, died... Actually I was not yet even a teenager when she lead the PEOPLE POWER and became President of the Philippines... so I don´t really have a chance to go out and participate in political activities like the People Power...

She´s known as `Tita Cory´ among Filipinos... or Tita ng Bayan (Aunt of the Nation) with that we felt close to hear almost like a relative to her... That´s why now, it´s no wonder why thousands of Filipinos did fall in line for 3 hours just to have a chance to see her in her coffin, pay respect and offer prayers...


Today, the holy mass offered for her at 9:00 in the morning in Manila Cathedral then thousands of Filipinos went out to look as it travel going to Manila Memorial Park ,Paraňaque for Burial Internment which was held at 8:00 in the evening... My brother gave me the link for livestreaming of Cory´funeral... I did cried and cried and cried while watching.... just sad that we lost our Tita Cory, our Tita ng Bayan... the person that leads people for revolution by holding on candles and rosary beads with the power of prayers in it, she's our true icon of democracy that's shows the world that Peaceful Revolution is possible... A simple housewife that became the President... She was even became the cover of Time Magazine and hailed as Woman of the Year in 1986...

Goodbye Tita Cory and Rest in Peace...



Photo from Inquirer.net

Fotolijst (Photo Frame)

I'm always fond of photos that's why our house will never be complete without fotolijst or photo frames in the wall... The first photo was in Mireille's bedroom, the photo of my family in Manila which you can see before the window so my daughter will be familiar with my family even they are in Philippines...

Then the 2nd fololijst (photo frame) is hanging above the computer with all the Grandfathers and Grandmothers of Mireille. Also her cousins are in the photo...

Then the 3rd photo is in the Living Room... the Mulder Family, Ron, me, Mireille end Sharon en Nienke... Also our wedding photos are there too...