Begin Again
My life has been a seemingly endless cycle of weight loss and gain that often appears to follow the seasons. Weight comes off in…
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Special In Many Ways
This is for my beloved son Jordan. When Jordan was just four years old, he was diagnosed with Autism. My husband and I were…
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Two Master Chefs Cooked in My Kitchen
Pastry crumbs and chocolate shavings peppered the granite island in the kitchen. A faint of aroma of low tide, ripe from last night’s fish…
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Growing up Filipina American in California
✿ Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught in a landslide No escape from reality ~Queen (Bohemian Rhapsody) y father still…
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A Young Woman’s Life-Altering Decision
It was all calculated in my mind since I was a little girl. I would be married around the age of 26, have children by 30, a…
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My 50 Random Thoughts in NYC
Last Wednesday, I took my three daughters into Manhattan for fun and I rode the Staten Island Ferry and the subway for the first…
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Inspired by Her Mother’s Love of Charms
The six pillars in my mom’s life were prayer, family, friends, travel, shopping and jewelry. Not necessary in that order sometimes. LOL. But seriously,…
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Time Marches On
Society views aging in very different ways. Rock star Jimmy Hendrix, who said, “Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens,” saw aging as something positive. British…
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The Silver Lining
“My Father is the worst dad ever,” was the thought I had of my Father growing up. When I told him to leave me…
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Misery Loves Company: 6 friends, 82 miles, 98 degrees
The KT82 Trail Relay is a race that begins in St. Charles, just west of St. Louis, and ends in the town of Hermann,…
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Pursuing Your Passion vs. Acting CRAZY!!!
As I wandered aimlessly and blissfully among the streets of New York City, I smugly smiled to myself at how authentic I am and…
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Elena’s Nest
Like the eagle’s school of flying and maturity training, spearheaded by the great mother eagle, I could relate it to how my siblings and I…
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I Hate My Mom
I hate my mom. For waking me up every single day to go to school. For force feeding me because she said breakfast is…
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A Mom’s Back-to-School Lament
As this past Labor Day weekend came to a close, I was sad. Sad that summer is unofficially over. I love summer. For me,…
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Failing a Test of Faith
In less than a week, Christians all over the world will celebrate Easter. This celebration takes me back to an unforgettable lifetime experience when I…
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What Democracy Looks Like
Last week was Election Day. It is truly one of the times when you can see Democracy at work. I got up early to vote,…
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Our Perfect Lives on Social Media
I posted a photo of my coffee mug, with the Jaguar emblem in the background; emblem slightly blurred, on purpose. I posted my newly…
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Embracing Fear
I think I was around nine years old when I slipped into the deep end of a swimming pool. I didn’t know how to…
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Remembering Oscar
My world shattered when my father, Oscar, passed away. He had been battling various illnesses, until the Lord called him home in September 2013. The grief…
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30 Dates in 30 Days
Soooo… It all started with a BOY!! A super amazing, driven, accomplished, inspired, inspiring man who was, for whatever unimaginable reason, was just not…
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A ‘Grande’ Family Night Out
Ariana Grande. I could never say her name right. It’s Air-ee–yana, not Ar-yana. My husband surprised the kids two days before the concert. They…
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Who’s That Girl?
Since Ligaya was founded, in 2012, the same captivating photo of a smiling Filipina with a bright smile, and a perfect deep tan, has…
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Why Hurry?
We wake up early, to go to work early, so that we can go home early and cook dinner early, to eat early and…
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The Broken Promise
I got married because I was certain that he was my other half ―the person with whom I would be spending the rest of…
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Don’t Knock it ‘Til You’ve Tried It
People often wonder why women join pageants. On the surface, pageants seem superficial and ridiculous ― what with their crowns, sashes, and blinged clothing….
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10,000 Philippine Artifacts at Chicago Museum
I was born in Manila, a bustling city, which is the capital of the Philippine Islands… and I’ve always been a city girl. Growing…
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A Milestone Christmas
The saddest, and happiest, part of my life happened six Christmases ago when Mom, nonchalantly, broke the news to us on Christmas Eve. She…
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My Steps to Fulfillment
What does it truly feel like to be a full-fledged OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker)? Three words best describe it for me ― challenging, lonely,…
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In My Father’s Shoes
Twenty five years ago, somewhere in Manila, a fresh off-the-boat provincial boy took notice of a city girl who happened to be his landlord’s…
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Bonding through Bittersweet Gluttony
What compels people to travel great distances for food? Is it the satisfaction of savoring cuisine unique to an area? Is it the novelty…
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Finding “Love” Later in Life
My birthday present arrived today. It’s white with gold trim and my hand fits nicely around the handle. It’s my new tennis racquet and…
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A Doctor Learns to Cope with Inevitability
Someone died at work today. It’s not everyday that someone can say this, even if you work in a hospital. I usually see patients…
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When Your Kids are in Showbiz
On her very first print go-see, my daughter, Jasmina, booked a modeling job for Omnicef, an antibiotic medication. Within months, she managed to secure…
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The Imperfect Daughter
My first child was born when I was age 28 — the same age that my own mother had me. I’ve been told that my…
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A Forum For Empowered Women
Each year, at their annual Circle of Empowered Women gala, the Illinois chapter of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), recognizes nearly two-dozen…
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My Life with Craigslist
I smiled when I saw movie previews of “Craigslist Joe” as I can see how one can find just about everything they need to…
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The Fall Glossies
The 2012 Fall Special Anniversary issue of VOGUE is 916 pages thick. If it’s true that young girls don’t buy magazines, anymore, then that’s…
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Mommy’s Wish List
“Pasko na sinta ko hanap-hanap kita…” There is nothing like this classic Filipino Christmas song that makes my heart swoon into the holidays season….
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Busy Bridal Diaries
Because I rarely enjoyed attending them in the past, I considered not having a bridal shower or bachelorette party at all. No way, if…
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KANA Children’s Clothing Designer
I am so blessed to have met so many amazing ladies in my life who are my role models and sources of inspirations. As…
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Last Day of August: Remembering Mom
It all started with this picture. I see it everyday when I pass by the china cabinet where the urn of my mom resides….
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Educate Yourself Before the Emergency
“You have exercised-induced asthma,” my primary doctor told me. I told him that was impossible since asthma didn’t run in my family, and, I…
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Welt City: A Sleepless Night
The other night was like any other night, as my husband, Michael, and I were getting ready for bed. He was watching some mindless…
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More Than Pretty Faces
I am really not a big sports fan. But, lately, I must admit, I’ve become a big soccer fan… all because of one particular…
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Life in a Frock: My Love of Dresses
There’s just something about a dress that makes me want to wear one all of the time. Historically, I’m not alone. People have been…
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Supermoon
Photographers, I’ve noticed, generally get excited about a few certain things: good, available light, black and white street photography, the newest edition Canon or…
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A Life Journey with Cherished People
“We got the house!” That was the text I received from one of my BFFs (Best Friends Forever) who finally, after more than ten…
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Learning to be Financially Independent
In dating, it’s okay to ask “What’s your sign?” to see if our astrological personalities are compatible. But, in my mind, it’s more important to…
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Social Media Rekindles a Teenage Pastime
My girlfriends and I have whole-heartedly jumped on the Pinterest bandwagon. Where else can you dream up a fantasy walk-in closet filled with Manolos,…
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A Gift of a Lifetime: My Daughter’s Sweet 16
My daughter, Jasmina, has turned 16. Before her birthday, my husband, Ming, and I, asked her what she wanted for her special day. Jasmina…
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Ordeal with a Daughter’s Emergency
It was a hot and humid Wednesday afternoon last year, around 4 o’clock. I was very tired, driving to Grasmere from my office in…
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Allowing Yourself to Take Emotional Risks
This is such a ubiquitous phrase — it dominates all my social media news feeds – Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest — but what does it actually mean?…
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An Unexpected Renewal of Friendship
When I returned to New York City, after a long disappearance, I reached out to some girlfriends whom I had not seen for over…
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An Envelope Clutch Made of News Paper
This orange clutch made out newspapers is one of the specialty items that my friend, Lenore Espanola, sells out of boutiques in San Francisco…
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