Digitally Bionic

My new hearing aid is BTE as my hearing loss is severe to profound already. I needed a powerful aid which is not available in ITE models. I wanted grey or blue color but there's none available. My son thinks the color flesh is so uncool. I promised him a magenta next time around.


Last week I bought me a new hearing aid. It's Phonak from Switzerland. It's my fourth hearing aid since I was twenty-two. Now I'm digitally bionic again. cheers!

The past days I was busy recognizing the new sounds my aid gathers around me. I specialy liked the bird music I hear in the morning when I turn on my aid. I also liked the resurected sounds of my footsteps. But not all sounds are pleasant to hear. Although I avoid using the word hate, that is the only word to describe my reaction against the sound of automobiles and electrical appliances. They're so annoying and even competes with the tinnitus already buzzing inside my ear. Oh well, the audiometrist who fitted me with the Phonak aid said I should have realistic expectations and that learning to use my aid to my greatest advantage will take time. I'm being realistic and patient, ok? At least I can hear and understand speech again. I was surprised to hear my sister's voice again after a long time and I think her voice has matured. My son's voice was good to hear again and I felt like hugging him tight like I missed him terribly. My daughter who had become an expert in lip speaking seem to have forgotten to speak to me in the normal way. I kept telling her to speak up, put voice to her speech. All in all this is a hapy experience I want to document in my blog, thank you.

Anyways, last week when my sister Teresa accompanied me to my audiologist she lent me a book titled The Shack. It is a very controversial book as it contained very radical ideas about God and religion. I have finished reading the book but I'm re-reading it again and I'm taking notes. I'm very excited about this book and will write a long blog post entirely about it soon. For starters, I want to tell you that I'm very happy these days after many years of nursing a 'Certain Sadness' in my heart. The happiness is not the flimsy, human kind of happiness. It is strong and enduring.

Card Capture

I have arranged to meet with my sister Teresa today at Glorietta so she can help me shop for a new hearing aid. Before riding the bus to Makati I tried to withdraw a little cash and to check my account balance. The atm captured my card. I have kept this secret fear in me since I began using an atm card. What will I do if my card is captured? This might sound a very third world and very backward fear but I can't help it.

I went inside the bank to report my misfortune and in checking they discovered my account was closed already. Now I understand I have neglected my account while I was vacationing in NZ. The bank clerks were very helpful particularly when I told them I can't hear well. They explained patiently what I have to do to re-open my account so that I can use my card again. I'm very thankful that I was able to come out of the hassle "un-scratched". I used to be a very helpless person when it comes to transacting business or when I face emergency situations. I think I am improving on self confidence and besides this morning and last night I have prayed, "Lord, bless me indeed and take care of me".

More pics

This is my fave pic of the bride and groom taken at Cornwall Park.




Maxine Sophia Belle or Max for short got bored with the photo shoot at Cornwall Park, strayed away from the group and nibbled on some leaves. Max could say... "No one loves me, I'll go to the garden to eat some leaves." :)




Ez and Jam danced the social foxtrot and we clapped to their flawless dips.




Candles burned bright as you danced all night...

The photos were taken by Reymart Mercado.

The Wedding Last October

I went to New Zealand early in October last year to bring the bride and brides maids' gowns which I made for my niece Ezra's wedding. I really wanted to blog about the wedding but I did not have the chance as I was very busy during my stay in NZ. Anyways, better late than never, ok?

I wish to put a caption for each photo but I can't figure out how. The photos will not appear in the compose box. Anyways the top photo is a fave of Ez because of the nice contrast the white gown and veil made against the red carpet. And she really liked her long imported illusion tulle veil.

The next pic is Ezra when she played the drums at her wedding party. Ezra and hubby Jam are members of the band called Constellations. She plays the drums, he plays the guitar and they both sing. During this photo op all photographers and all wedding guests with cameras scrambled to take pics of the amazing drummer bride.

Ezra is the kind of girl who's so lavish with her affection. There's she kissing the aunt again.

The Filipino wedding tradition is the parents of the bride must walk the bride down the isle. So there was her Dad Diosdado and Mum Maria Luisa, my sister.

The bride's dad's a joker and all through out the wedding ceremony the dad joked. But when the bride spoke and thanked her wonderful parents, the dad cried.

A Proper Blog

I just got fed up with my other blog and decided I should have a proper blog with a proper title, proper posts and proper followers. I really love to write but I lack the time, discipline, and training to be a proper writer. What I only got are some proper genes. Even my English get really improper sometimes because I did not get the chance to study English in an exclusive girls' school in Manila where they had Irish nuns as English teachers. Wee, poor me attended public schools where I was taught carabao English. Yes, not the American English, not the Irish English, not the English English but the carabao English where subject and verb don't always agree and plural forms use an apostrophe.

Good thing my late father picked up a sack full of pocket books left behind by the American GI's after the liberation of Manila. He developed a love for reading English short stories and novels and this love he passed on to us his kids. It was actually thru reading that I learned to speak and write in English not thru listening to my teacher with a bloody grammar.

My blog will contain any topic under the sun. Some days I may write a mean blog, some days a dull blog or at other days a plain blog. Whichever, whatever I hope it will make you laugh or touch your soul with the thoughts and sentiments I convey.

Here’s to a happy blogging. Cheers!