Events and Weddings DECEMBER 2011

December.

What a busy month it was!

The frenzy was so high I was consumed. I knew long before this merry month that it would take up most of my time and energy. Being an event planner/host at the same time night shift worker would excise most if not all of my potentials.

First stop Dec. 16 Friday, the rush of the company Christmas party held at Marco Polo Hotel Davao City. I called it a "rush" because I was informed 2 days prior the event to plan and host the company party. It was such a rush that I had to juggle the wedding preparations that will happen 3 days after the company party and the details of the company party! Such an adrenalin rush indeed!

Thank God for strength and endurance, I was able to go past the company party successfully even with such very very short notice. The program, games, and preparation took 2 days all in all including finding a dress!

Tip: When there's an allotted budget, everything is doable and really fast.

Yes, that's me in bright yellow shuffled dress...having fun hosting in the event!

Next stop Dec 19 Monday, the GRAND wedding day! I have been preparing and planning for this wedding for one year. I have poured all my best talents and capabilities for the wedding of my high school friend. Finally, after extensive highs and lows of the planning and preparing process,

the day has finally come to its culmination. The result? FANTASTIC DREAM WEDDING!

Tip: Make sure you have a substitute for your team members, especially the music department, in cases when the main man has to exit early.

There's me in the floral dress holding the microphone.. having fun hosting the wedding program!

Their 6 foot wedding cupcake tree with one layer wedding cake and cute cake topper. Cake is made by Charisse Dagohoy of Sweet Advocate.

This is the dreamy, romantic elegant set-up of Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao City for the celebration of the reception. Decorated by Wedding Occasion by Rey Rojo and his team.

Thanks to my team for helping me carry through the grand wedding that I have been planning for the longest time and from scratch to a full show! Thanks to  Leah Jacobe Events and Weddings!

Third stop, my cousin's wedding! Just a couple of days after the grand wedding at waterfront insular hotel, I was also asked to host the reception program for my cousin's wedding at Regency Inn. Of course, I was told about this six months ago so I couldn't be more prepared! But alas! On the day of the wedding I forgot to bring my cue cards!

Tip: Always understand your research so that you will always have an adlib to say in case you forgot to bring your copy of trivia's!

Yup! you're seeing me again on the podium! I think I was born with a microphone on hand!

My cousin, the groom and his lovely wife strike a pose after the reception program!

Oh yes, I did it.....most of it... my way! One more event to come and Im all set for a relaxing vacation for the year 2012! Just a day before the last day of the year 2011, Dec 30, I will be, yet again, hosting our 10 years High School Anniversary Reunion!

Well, this is my December! This is my time of the year!

This has been your host Im LIYAH together with my team at Leah Jacobe Events and Weddings, saying for every moment created with us is a moment well immortalized!

Happy New Year 2012 everyone!

What Toys to Give Kids This Christmas Season

Christmas season is fast approaching. In a country like the Philippines, the first day of September is almost instantaneously associated with the most celebrated season of the year which is no other than Christmas. Of course, as a tradition worldwide, it is also the season for spending on gifts especially gifts for the children since Christmas is all about Jesus coming into the world as an infant.

So before squandering your hard earned cash into buying toys and gifts for your "inaanak", niece, nephew, cousins or kids of your selection, you might want to consider these tips in buying the appropriate toys for their age.

Age-Appropriate Toys
The following is a list of toys that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends for specific age groups. Use these recommendations when shopping for toys. Keep in mind that these are only guidelines. All toys can be dangerous when they are not used properly or are in poor condition. Parents should continue to watch out for mislabeled toys and always properly supervise young children.

Newborn to l-year-old baby
Choose brightly-colored, lightweight toys that appeal to your baby's sight, hearing and touch.

1. Cloth, plastic or board books with large pictures
2. Large blocks of wood or plastic
3. Pots and pans
4. Rattles
5. Soft, washable animals, dolls or balls
6. Bright, movable objects that are out of baby's reach
7. Busy boards
8. Floating bath toys
9. Squeeze toys

1- to 2-year-old toddler
Toys for this age group should be safe and be able to withstand a toddler's curious nature.

1. Cloth, plastic or board books with large pictures
2. Sturdy dolls
3. Kiddy cars
4. Musical tops
5. Nesting blocks
6. Push and pull toys (remember - no long strings)
7. Stacking toys
8. Toy telephones (without cords)

2- to 5-year-old preschooler
Toys for this age group can be creative or imitate the activity of parents and older children.

1. Books (short stories or action stories)
2. Blackboard and chalk
3. Building blocks
4. Crayons, nontoxic finger paints, clay
5. Hammer and bench
6. Housekeeping toys
7. Outdoor toys: sandbox (with a lid), slide, swing, playhouse
8. Transportation toys (tricycles, cars, wagons)
9. Tape or record player
10. Simple puzzles with large pieces
11. Dress-up clothes
12. Tea party utensils

5- to 9-year-old child
Toys for this age group should help your child develop new skills and creativity.

1. Blunt scissors, sewing sets
2. Card games
3. Doctor and nurse kits
4. Hand puppets
5. Balls
6. Bicycles with helmets
7. Crafts
8. Electric trains
9. Paper dolls
10. Jump ropes
11. Roller skates with protective gear
12. Sports equipment
13. Table games

10- to 14-year-old child
Hobbies and scientific activities are ideal for this age group.

1. Computer games
2. Sewing, knitting, needlework
3. Microscopes/telescopes
4. Table and board games
5. Sports equipment
6. Hobby collections

As an events planner, I knew very well from years of experience that BER months is the time for most expenditure and therefore must be well planned months before. It is very crucial to plan first before hitting the malls. Most of all, avoid the holiday rush by listing all your beneficiaries and recipients, list their ages and also consider your budget. You might want to shop as early as November in order to avoid long lines and hassle understocked scenarios. All in all, this will save you time, effort and money instead of just hitting the market in this frenzy season!

Happy Early Shopping everyone!

60th Birthday Party September 2011

I haven't written much about weddings these days. I've had to attend several events particularly birthday milestones. I am gradually blessed with a handful of event bookings since the start of the 3rd quarter. All my focus and energy are channeled in bringing about the best birthday bash for a one-year old kid and a sixty-year old woman this month of September.

First week of the month of September will all be geared up towards the 1950's theme birthday surprise. I had a lot of fun going to and fro in secret to tie all the loose ends of this party. Insofar, the best decoration ideas (and by best, I mean the most economical and most wacky choice for the event). Thanks to Google for the following photos in giving me ideas how to design the venue:

Ceiling decoration ideas--

Table Centerpiece ideas

Roughly, that's how things must look during the event, but of course the procurement of these things will not be so easy as materials like vinyl cds are not so affordable in my town these days. In order to add more funky look for this event, I decided to hang CD strings on the ceiling. This will be an alternative option for a disco ball since the reflective side of a cd is already illuminating different specs of light colors and this will also give a Retro feel knowing cd's are very much part of the 1950's to 1970's era. The balloons cost less if you buy in bulk directly from party suppliers. Plus they also provide you with unlimited options on balloon size and designs.You will need to invest on a $1 balloon pump, which can be used for a lifetime if well stored and kept after use. For the table centerpiece base, you can use $0.25 coffee mugs available in many bargain shops.

In lieu of the invite cards, I went scouting for prices at the cheapest printing stores and found out that one invitation card is way too expensive for our budget. So the best thing I did was to see samples from the printing press and made it myself. Good thing I only had to make 50 pieces of these invite cards. Of course, I had to choose a special paper, ribbons and a professional printer (available in internet shops) in order to come up with this masterpiece. With the availability of these things, I found out that the total cost for each invite cards is approximately 75% lesser of that sold in the market. Now, that's what I call a bargain! (I must also consider the fact that these printing press companies are paying the building rent, their employees, the investments on the machines, etc.. so they had to put on a higher mark-up on each card).

DIY Invitation card - outside appearance

Inside the inviation card

The other details of the party include choosing a location that will serve buffet with various food choices, tapping out sponsors for program equipment such as the laptop and projector for the audio and video presentation and many others. It is best to contact friends and family and ask them to contribute in the preparations of the party. I'm very sure if you ask them politely they'd comply with openness and enthusiasm... because everybody loves to party! 

Post party updates will be posted here soon! See at the RETRO Party! yeah!
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September 10 was the day of the surprise party for a mother celebrating her 60th birthday. She had no idea that her children was working with Leah Jacobe Events and Weddings to give her an unforgettable milestone birthday.

Retro Themed Birthday Cake by Sweet Advocate and souvenirs 

The Birthday celebrant to her surprise!

Table centerpiece by Leah Jacobe Events and Weddings

Playing the trivia game

Happy faces in a happy occasion

Guests with celebrant pictorials

Best Dressed Female Guest

Dance presentation for the celebrant

A song number from this melodious young singer

Happy Birthday Mama Fely

Leah Jacobe Events and Weddings conceptualized and coordinated the entire event from scratch. Thank you Mr. Glynn Alaba and Ms. Joan Alaba for entrusting this very wonderful birthday surprise for your mom to Leah Jacobe Events and Weddings. 

Credits to:

Sweet Advocate for the retro themed cake.

Grungero Mund for the photography

Leah Jacobe Events and Weddings team for invitation cards, souvenirs, program creation and hosting, party details, decorations, etc...

One....Two...Three... Say Cheese!

It's been two months since I launched the wedding and events planning business. I have been receiving great encouragements and a handful of prospects to jumpstart my reputation. I realized how I missed the opportunities to document the events that I have been part of and have hosted in the past. If only I could turn back the time and go back to the times I was at the prime of creating social events in our district.

Speaking of documentation, it is very crucial to find a wedding photographer and videographer who understands not only the technical side of the event but also the emotions that come with it. Wedding events come only once in a person's life especially in a country where marriage is highly sacred, the Philippines. Photos and videos of the event will mean a lifetime of reminiscing together and with the generations to come.

It is important to canvass the photographer and videographer that you are going to hire for your wedding. You should be able to ask the following questions to them:

1. Who exactly will be photographing my wedding? Will he/she come with an assistant?

Don't rely on personnel description, instead get the exact name of the photographer. You don't want to be handled by the marketing personnel or the wedding consultant of the firm. The presence of an assistant makes sure that the main photographer will be focused on the shooting and will not worry on setting up hi equipment in the event.

2. Can I see a complete album from one wedding you photographed?

The sample album will give you a clue on the photographer's style of creating a story out of the pictures.

3. Can I see a proof book from a recent wedding? Can I see the actual sample of the package I am taking?

Proof books are an unedited and uncensored look at what you will receive after your wedding. Seeing the actual package chosen will secure you of the things included with it and wont substitute it with other lesser-quality packages.

4. Describe to me your philosophy and approach to wedding photography.

With this question, you will know how the photographer sets up his plan in capturing the event from pre- to post.

5. What is your shooting schedule during a wedding?

You will have to know the order of the shots and the time it will take for the photographer to take the shots.

6. Is there a limit on the number of exposures or your time?

Be careful of photographers who set limits to their exposures and time. Too many times weddings have shifted into fast forward because of the photographer's other appointments coming up the time. Limiting the number f exposure will also limit the coverage of the entire wedding event.

7. If you shoot with a digital camera, will the shoot be of archival quality?

Some pictures fade over time especially when printed via regular ink-jet. Better yet, ask for a copy of all the pictures taken and saved it in printable dvd copy.

8. How soon will my photographs be ready after i submit my order?

Photographers who value customer satisfaction should always quickly process albums and reprints.

Investing in good photo and video company for your wedding is worth every penny. After all, it will remain the visual and tangible proof of the happiest day of your lives as a couple.

--Leah Judith Jacobe--

The Wedding Planner

Davao City, Philippines

leahjacobe@gmail.com

0920-430-32-76

Launching The Wedding Planner Business

For a couple of weeks now, I have been drafting and editing and researching ideas on how to go about this chasing of dreams. I thought of using my personal Facebook account to launch my presence online.

I changed my Profile Pic and tagged people randomly. I never thought that my friends would be interested and supportive of my ideals. In just a few while, I got two clients willing to journey with me in their path to their wedding day. I'm so thrilled at such positive outcome.

The very first to reply to my poster immediately booked me in just a few minutes it went live! So she gets the pro-bono services. She gets FREE services for her wedding! I guess I'll have to change my poster again and this time accommodate the first 5 couples to book me will get an early bird discount once they book me as their Wedding Planner. This is so much fun! I never thought doing what I love will fire me up and keep me moving.

I am very thankful to God for putting thoughts in my head and guiding me to follow my dreams! The Holy Spirit is indeed working in ways I could never imagine. I am so grateful that things are working by my side these days. I hope and pray that as I move along this passion and dream that I have, I will always come out a winner!

Thank God for suspension!

=)

-Leah Judith Jacobe-

The Wedding Planner

Davao City Philippines

leahjacobe@gmail.com

Bridesmaids Best Beauty Tips Before The Wedding

I have been part of the Bridal Party countless times. [by the way, I am not part of the picture ;-) it's from http://www.yourspecialwedding.info/what-does-a-bridesmaid-do] Being a bride's maid has its own perks and perishes. Sometimes, the couple will sponsor your dress and it will be given to you as souvenir. Other times, they will include bride's maids in the make-up package. These two significant benefits of being a bride's maid in a wedding are really worth appreciating.

There were a few weddings I have been invited to be part of the bridal party that which didn't offer such benefits. In 2002, I attended a wedding as a Bride's maid and had to pay for the dress and the hair and make-up. Way back then, I was merely a student who can't afford the luxury of things [oh and even now, I still can't afford the luxury of things 9 years later ;-) ]. But of course, my parents (who were also financially uptight then) paid for everything. I had to settle with what they had chosen and can afford at that time.

To cut the story short, I had the most horrible hair and make-up fix in the history of my bride's maid life. Clearly, the make-up artist wasn't that good in balancing color palettes that matched my skin tone and the dress and the time of the event. It did happen twice about six years later, I was a bride's maid again and the make-up artist made me look like a Halloween horror in a bright red dress.

LESSON LEARNED: I learned to teach myself how to apply make-up, what products to choose and what colors to mix so I won't look so horrible during the event which was usually I have an important role to play. The internet has been my greatest ally throughout the years of learning basic beauty tips. So let me share to you some basic tips for every bride's maid:

1. If you want to do it yourself make-up, first determine the color theme of the occasion. From the color, you can figure out the kind of eyeshadow that you are going to apply on your eyelids. Apply liquid concealer first before everything else. It hides the blemishes of your skin. Then apply the foundation powder. I suggest you invest in quality foundations such as Max Factor and Mac. In the long run, they're worth every penny. Start from top of the face down and outwards.

2. Take note of the time of the event. When it is held during daytime, wear pastel colors make-up. Shades of pink, blue, green, yellow, etc. will truly be helpful. After all, the purpose of make up is to accentuate your natural features and not alter them. The lighter the shade the more it emphasizes your natural beauty. When the event is held at nighttime, you can wear darker eye shadows, bolder lipstick and darker shades of the palettes. It is important not to overdo it though. Applying too much dark make-up will turn you into a walking horror. Shades of dark blue, dark green, earth colors, etc. will do the trick. You can research in Youtube on how to apply the shades over each other and what colors to pick.

3. When it comes to accessories, the lesser the better. For dangling earrings, as much as possible you may choose not to wear anymore necklace as it will clutter the over-all look. For stud earrings, you can wear a necklace to bring the impact of the get-up. Wear one-piece bracelet to give that elegant look but don't wear bangles as it brings out the impression that you want to outshine the bride. Ditch the wrist watch unless it looks like a fine piece of jewelry when used with the dress.

4. For your hair-do, if you are wearing dangling earrings, it is best to wear lay-down hair or wavy and curly hairdo. This style will complement the earrings. If you are wearing a stud earrings, show it off by pulling away your hair in a stylish bun or simply in a chic ponytail. This will show off your shoulders and neckline which could be very sexy get-up.

5. Be wary of your feet. Get a foot spa or a pedicure a day before the wedding. Unless you are wearing closed-shoes [which is a fashion crime in every wedding], you need to prep your toes to make it look pretty as you also walk down the aisle. An ugly pair of feet will ruin the sexy sandals and the overall get up. It is a must for every bride's maid to have pretty toes even for the wedding day only. If the couple provides uniform sandals, make sure to attend fittings so you wont get sore feet during the wedding event.

6. Be ready with an emergency kit which includes tissues, mirror, touch-up kit, etc. You may not know any impending mishaps so it is better to be prepared for anything. Better to have it when you don't need it than you need it and you don't have it.

Most of all, be aware of your role in the wedding event. I will write about it in the next blog. I hope this article has been helpful to every bride's maid mesdemoiselle.

=)

-Leah Judith Jacobe-

The Wedding Planner

Davao City Philippines

leahjacobe@gmail.com

Weddings In The Year 2007

In June of 2007, two my close friends tied the knot in that same month. Being the ambitious and aspiring wedding planner that I was, I volunteered to help them with the wedding preparations. I was also, again for the nth time, one of the Bride's maids and the emcee of the program. (The photo above was the only visible proof I have of that very wonderful wedding event.)

The photo was taken at the church during the pictorials after the wedding ceremony proper. It was June 7, 2007 when it all happened. The wedding was so meaningful since it was the culmination of a great love story. I was there to witness and to participate in the event.

At the reception, more of our friends came to celebrate their union. The one lesson I'd never forget in this wedding is that - make an RSVP. In this wedding, there were more people who came at the reception than expected. Naturally, excess payment has to be made in order to cover up the additional people. As the wedding planner, I knew right away that couple is in deep financial trouble at that point. If RSVP's were given, people would have responded to the invites and only those who are invited would have been accommodated in the reception. But then knowing the Filipino culture, it is always better to be hospitable than to send them away. It would be a great insult.

It turned out all is well that ends well. God has provided them with an unexpected surprise. Wonderful Wedding indeed!

Two weeks later, on June 25, 2007, my other close friend tied the knot in that same church. They only had an ordinary wedding, so there was no entourage. They were a lucky couple because at that time, they were the only couple marrying that day so it looked like a special wedding still.

At their reception, no one was there to host the program or whatsoever. So being the wedding planner on the spot, I hosted the event without script, without practice and preparation. The very thing I learned about this wedding - Ask in advance about their wedding reception details and assert myself to do some tasks to arrange the wedding even when they did not initiate to ask me so.

The weddings of that year have tested me to be flexible and impromptu at all times. I have learned a lot in those experiences and I have always treasured these lessons in my head and in my heart. So the next time I face another wedding challenge, I'm up for it!

Bring it on!

=)

-----

For wedding tips and advice, email me at leahjacobe@gmail.com

-Leah Judith R. Jacobe-

The Wedding Planner

Davao City, Philippines

leahjacobe@gmail.com

That Moment Between Engagement and Wedding Planning

You have just been recently engaged? Congratulations! You are on the first step towards married life.

So what to do next after receiving a marriage proposal? Plan the wedding right away?

Not so.

After saying 'yes' to a marriage proposal there are still a few things you need to do before jumping into planning the wedding. There is always that moment when you just could not catch up with all the rush you experience after a wedding proposal. And before losing all your breath, here are some crucial steps to follow on an engagement:

First, allow a few days or weeks to savor the moment. Savor the high. Savor the feelings. Only this way can you truly be present at the moment and not hasty on the stressful planning.

Second, before telling your best friends about the engagement, tell your family first. It's just a traditional order of things. It doesn't mean though that those who knew about it later are less important than the first ones. Just out of respect, tell your parents or family first.

Third, take pictures, videos and other memorabilia of the moment. It will remind you of the first day you have decided and willfully given your commitment to that person for the rest of your life. It is indeed an extraordinary event. Spend time documenting or making a scrapbook for it. Years from now, you'd relive the feeling once again and you'll be glad you did keep track.

Fourth, before getting a wedding planner, envision your wedding day. Envision yourself in that white dress. Envision the entire event. Get creative in your imagination and if possible, draw or write it on paper describing the ideal wedding event you'd want to have.

Lastly, plan with your fiance. Communicate with each other on the wedding. This is the time you consider a wedding planner after you have ironed out what your fiance wants in his wedding too.

Being engaged should not compel you to jump into the wedding plans right away. Between the cozy moment of the engagement day and the fuss of wedding planning, there are moments that need special attention to. That moment is a time to be with yourself and savoring everything that is happening inside you.

Be prepared to be overwhelmed with happiness, bliss, contentment and joy. It is just fitting that you should not miss out these feelings for they come rarely in any woman's life.

=)

-----

For engagement and wedding tips and advice, email me at leahjacobe@gmail.com

-Leah Judith R. Jacobe-

The Wedding Planner

Davao City Philippines

leahjacobe@gmail.com

Greatest Lesson of a Wedding Planner

August 15, 2008, Razonado - Coca Wedding

(Leah Jacobe, left side the groom)

This is a very memorable wedding for me. This marked the greatest lesson I have ever learned as a Wedding Planner.

Delegation.

In this wedding, I helped my cousin, the bride in all the wedding details. I went with her in the many arrangements to make the wedding very memorable and organized. I also agreed to be one of the Bride's maids, Church commentator, Emcee during the reception and church coordinator. So basically, I allowed myself to be everything in one.

Before the wedding day, everything was so smooth, the preparations were all set. Until that fateful day, the wedding day.

As the wedding planner, I know very well how the event should roll along. But being the wedding planner, bride's maid, commentator and emcee altogether, is very very chaotic.

It turned out, that I was a one-man army at this time, there were major lapses in the ceremony like there was no one to guide the entourage on the distance as they walked down the aisle, bride's maids and groom's men didn't really know what they were there for and worse at the reception there was no one to cue the couple as they enter the hall because I was on stage as the master of ceremony.

So all in all evaluating my performance, I really flopped in this event. I looked at it as my guiding experience as I move on and improve other weddings as well. I learned 3 crucial things in this experience:

1. Assert my stand in the planning process.

I failed my expectations to myself because I didn't really know when to assert myself and ideas to make the whole wedding plan grand. I just let the bride do all the decision-making and I just rolled over even though I had great ideas of my own that would have been acceptable to the couple. I knew something but I kept quiet.

2. Accept only ONE key role in the entire event.

Another thing that I contributed to my failure as a wedding planner in this event is that I accepted too many key roles in the event. I lost focus and I got easily burned. I didn't delegate the roles and never bothered to call on help.

3. DELEGATE the tasks.

Lastly, I failed to give tasks to others who might have been helpful in making this event more organized.

But alas! This is the very same wedding that taught me to draft better weddings and learn from the experience. This has become the cornerstone of all my wedding coordinations as I want to become better and better in making great weddings happen. I never forgot the experience until now. I learned a lot from it and the lessons were so valuable to lose.

I know that for the next weddings that I'll be handling, I am more focused, more in control and more organized. Thanks to this fateful wedding day!

-Leah Judith R. Jacobe-

The Wedding Planner

Davao City, Philippines

leahjacobe@gmail.com

Leah Jacobe Weddings and Events: Planning, Hosting, Venue Design and Coordination Services in Davao City

Most women today have high powered careers. Their jobs are already taking up most of their time and so they hardly have time for anything else. In this competitive modern era, settling down and getting married have stressed out these working women when it comes to juggling their time and creativity altogether.

Wedding planners and coordinators are the best ally when it comes to wedding scenarios. They are the stress absorber of the occasion so that everyone attending the event will worry not but just have fun and enjoy the festivities of the event.

If you are around the vicinity of Davao City, you probably wonder where to go and get a wedding planner that will present you with excellence at economical price.

Wander no more! You are reading the right wedding planner and coordinator article.

First up, my name is Leah Jacobe. I have been making events happen for 10 years freelancing now. I have been planning and hosting weddings, debuts, kiddie parties, reunions, etc... So basically, great and important events are my forte.

It is every girl's dream to have a fairy-tale wedding minus the stress of preparing for it. So leave the stress to me and be the happy and stress-free bride that you can be!

If you have any more questions feel free to ask anytime.

Email me at leahjacobeweddings@gmail.com for any questions you might want to ask. I will respond to your query as prompt as I can. Or better yet, text and call me at Smart: 0949 770 28 29.

Have a memorable wedding that you will cherish all your life!

Dare to Live your Dream Life

For me to live - part of me must die”

There is a very important person in my life who is not very pleased of the things I have been doing in my life recently. She's my mother. I know very well how she feels about certain aspects in my life. I understand her fears and concerns. I understand how other people's comments affect her so much.

I don't know if she knows me as much as I know myself or has she spent enough time to even notice my very nature as a person through all these years. I don't know if she knows the pattern of my thinking or the manner to which I respond to things. But one thing I am very very sure about her is that she is a deeply religious woman and strictly moral person.

She is the person who will walk through fire just to follow the commandments of the church. She is the person who will never compromise Catholic idealism for reality. She is the person who will slay you with harsh truth just to save you from the fires of hell. She is that religious that anything "bad" is ought to be terminated at once.

So lately, I have been wandering this life. I left the house to search for my self and to live the kind of life I have always imagined. I dared to move out so I will know how it is like to be free and be responsible without the pressure of a disapproving authority. I just wanted to decide without considering what others will say about me. But then, it never occurred to me that there are things I say (or post in Facebook status) that will cause others to talk about me and hurt my mother and siblings.

It was my bad really. I was so careless about my Freedom, I didn't consider that other people have different views, conventional, traditional and conservative views that will stir up commotion over one uneventful random Facebook status.

I apologize to my mother and my siblings who are caught up in the midst of rumors from people trying to pry into our private lives. I will be more careful next time and every time I post things to say in my social networks.

Dissecting the tragic event, I came to many realizations. One of which I already know very well and that is the opinions of people vary. I don't expect my mother or other people to understand every fiber of my being nor are they entitled to pry in it. I think there is only one BEING entitled to do that, GOD. He knows every protein molecule embedded in my system. It is just fitting to leave up to him the judgment of whether I am "satanic" or not as what my mother believed me to be.

Second is that, it hurts to know that your own mother looks at you like you are the most sinful person on earth that I am burning my soul in hell as I write now and that she succumbs to what people say on how to live this one life that I have. Is it because it is inline with her morals? Or is it because she doesn't know the truth about me?

Third, no matter how deeply hurt I was with the notion that they are disappointed of me, I cannot hate. I can't hate her although I wanted to keep all the grudge. "Hate" is a strong series of long-kept anger in the heart. I don't hate my mother. When I think back of the things she's done for me and our family, she has exerted efforts too. I owe credits to her for nurturing me all these years, for sending us to a good school, for teaching us life lessons and for not abandoning me in the streets or whatever like that. Yes, there were times I felt emotionally abandoned but I could not berate her because of that.

Fourth, I realized that if there is one great thing that I learned from my mother that I should pass on to the next generation, is the realization that prudent, honest and open communication affects entirely how the child looks at the world and acts towards it.

I missed that. I wanted to talk to my mother without the fear of being judged, condemned or called "satanic", "sinner" or "immoral" person. I could not recall a time when mom and me talked like that. It was always arguments and pressing points of view. Of course, we saw things differently so there was never compromise. It's either I tell her with heightened tone or I don't tell her at all and withdraw from her. I understand her frustrations, really. I understand what she had to go through to make both ends meet, still for some reason, we never collide. We always clash. She tells hurtful things, I tell hurtful things. In the end, we hurt with each other with our words.

How I wanted to share to her many things about me and my life but there is always inhibition. Of course based on the past, I don't think I could face her for another battle of hurtful words.

My mother is not a bad person, she is not a bad mother either. She is a mother who loves her children unconditionally and a person who has a set of life principles and morals to follow strictly.

I am a daughter and a person who, unfortunately, could not conform to tradition of her life principles and morals. I am a person who dares to ask "WHY" and "HOW"? Why are there rules like that, How did it evolved being a law? Why do you follow it? What is the reason behind it?

Why, why and a lot of why's. I am a person who tries and draws conclusion from the experience. I am a person who dares to live the dream life I set for myself.

The world condemns. That's how it is. People are entitled to their own opinions. They are free to see the world and interpret them according to how they think of it. But it does not give them the right to tamper other people's views.

What is true for one person may not be true for all.

They can share their views, they can persuade others but they can never coerce others to adapt to their thinking. If there is one great thing that God blessed each human being with, it is the gift of Mind. It is so powerful and yet no one can ever steal your thoughts and knowledge.

So I guess, let us all live peacefully in this earth. We only have one life time. Why do we let others dictate how it should be lived? When we die and face God, what will we tell HIM if he asks "What did you do to the one life I gave you?" Should we tell HIM, "GOD, my neighbor dictated how I should live, can you ask him instead?"

Graveyard Shift: How To Stay Awake All Night

These past few days, I have been trying to stay awake all night during graveyard shift working hours. My body clock has been adjusting tremendously with the waking and working hours. The hours starting 11pm to 2am are the most tempting, most fierce battle against downtime sleepiness. I could catch myself sleeping while sitting without the intention of falling asleep. Truly, the body craves for a shut eye and it does without any warning.

I stopped drinking coffee about a couple of weeks ago since it always leaves me with a painful abdominal cramping later in the morning. I tried to hydrate myself with water and occasionally, cold tea.

I found these ways extremely helpful in staying awake all night without sacrificing so much your health in the process. If you are stuck with the notion that your body could not adjust to graveyard shift, you're dead wrong. The body is amazingly and wonderfully engineered and designed to adapt to just about any life circumstances. If you only realize what it can do, you will know what to do. So the following are some of the many ways to help you stay awake all night during graveyard shift.

1. Sleep an hour or 2 hours before your shift starts. This will energize your body as it prepares you to last the first 3-5 hours of the shift.

2. Although coffee is a known anitoxidant and stimulant, it also has an acidic level of 2 which is very acidic. It will revamp the acid in your stomach and will lead to acid reflux later in the morning or worse gastric ulcers. Coffee can also dehydrate your body since it is a diuretic substance that pulls your fluids and excretes them as urine. For hydration, stick with the basic - WATER. You can alternate warm and cold water during the whole shift. Warm water works well when the AC is freezing.

3. Jumpstart your shift with pumped up music. Somehow, hyped music can alert your auditory nerves and wakes up the sleeping brain.

4. Chew peppermint gum. Mint has a direct effect to the brain. It stimulates the brain and keeps it active. The glucose content in mint gums can also rev up the body and gets it going. So keep it handy in your pocket.

5. Walk-Jog-Run, when you are extremely drowsy, walk the hallway, jog in place or run up and down the stairs five times to get your blood circulating the system. This will release heat, adrenalin hormones and get your muscles working waking up your whole body.

6. Substitute ordinary peanuts for Almonds or Cashew nuts. Yes, they are more expensive nuts but they have properties that stimulates the brain, plus less oil too. If you are a health buff, you would invest in healthy foods no matter how expensive they are. Hospitalization is more expensive than adding up all the healthy expensive food purchases.

7. Drink vitamin tablets and eat a healthy meal. A complete nutrition will keep your body in good feeling and shape. Don't cut cost in your meals. Fast food can lead to fast dying. Avoid it at all cost. The oil in those food will block your veins and arteries, the sugar can lead to debilitating diabetes and its effects to the body is useless. Meat can make you drowsy, french fries can make you sleepy, oil hidden in those food can make you fat. Get the picture?

8. Splash cold water to your face. It stimulates nerves and wakes up relaxed and ready to sleep muscles.

9. At every start of the shift, set your goals. Then provide a treat for every goal met. This can keep you motivated to work all night. If you compromise this, have a friend or a lover set the goal and the reward so you will always stay awake to work and don't let him/her compromise with you.

10. WILL POWER. There is no greater way to stay awake all night than to have the will to stay awake all night. If you don't motivate yourself, no one and nothing can make you stay awake. It takes a lot of practice to have a strong will. Start training your Will Power with simple goals and try to achieve them without compromise or fading. For example, list down the things you want to do for the day, and stick with achieving the to-do list. Then move from daily lists to weekly, then to monthly, yearly and and so on. Will power starts in the mind. If you train it well, you can do just about anything. If there's will there's a way, as they say. And it's very true to all aspects in life!

I am a health buff so I make sure I resort to the best options in dealing with stress without adding more stress to my body. The above list is all health promoting ways to keep you awake all night. Health is wealth so it is just fitting to uphold it above all else in your career.

I hope these ways work for you too. Working in the graveyard shift is financially rewarding. Thus it is empirical that you give back to your most valuable asset in working - your HEALTH!

Long live the vampires! =)