Remember 2011 | Trips and Adventures

"Memories make the best souvenirs."

2011 had been a year filled with learning and adventures. New lessons and experiences made each of us better persons. It allowed us to appreciate every little things there is and every single moment shared.

SGIS Outbound Learning

It is not an ordinary school field trip. Outbound Learning is about learning while enjoying and having fun.

I appreciate the role of Lakbay Kalikasan's Outbound Education program in my kids' school. It helped every students value safety, education and adventure. Through their Zero Waste Management mission, students become responsible for their own trash. It also emphasizes love for self, the environment, others and of course, God. They make use of the social and natural environment as resources for learning.

This year, students from the preschool and Grades 1 to 3 get to visit the Manila Ocean Park, Museo Pambata and Manila Zoo. Other grade levels get to explore the La Mesa Ecopark and Avilon Zoo.

Manila Zoo

Kiddie Zoo

Museo Pambata

Museo Pambata

Manila Ocean Park

Ocean Adventure in Subic

Ocean Adenture is truly an enjoyable water marine theme park. Every visit is always an informative and entertaining experience.  

Walk on the Wild Side at Eco-theater

Sea Lion Marine Patrol Show

Adventures of Olongapo Jones

Dolphin and Friends Show

Read Family Moment: Ocean Adventure, Subic Bay


Munting Buhangin Beach in Nasugbu, Batangas

Our family and relatives enjoyed riding on the boat, island hopping and swimming in the beach. It's good that the month of October was not a peak season. The beach wasn't crowded, in fact only a few people were there during our stay. We enjoyed its idyllic setting, clear and unspoiled beach to the fullest.

Munting Buhangin is an affordable beach resort and a great place for outdoor activities, family trips and company outings. You can choose to stay on the cottages, rooms, inns or a tree house. 





Fisher's Farm Resort in Dasmarinas, Cavite

A place where everyone can enjoy swimming, fishing, and other activities. We only visited the place so the kids can enjoy fishing and they got more than a good catch!





Swimming at Laguna

The coldness of January month didn't stop the family to enjoy swimming at a private resort in Laguna. This is one way of enjoying each other's company and strengthening ties with cousins and relatives.

breakfast at Burger King :)

These trips and adventures make us see that Life is indeed Beautiful!

Hope you all had an adventurous 2011!

Remember 2011 | Kids Performances

"To establish true self-esteem we must concentrate on our successes and forget about the failures and the negatives in our lives." - Denis Waitley, American motivational speaker and writer, consultant and best-selling author

My kids' performances is one way that helps develop their confidence. They are enjoying every program rehearsals, getting in their costumes and being there on stage. It helps become aware of their own abilities and self-importance.

Grand Ballet Recital at CCP

Dancing at the CCP stage is a dream come true for my daughter. Effie Nanas ballet presented Enchanted Ballet last November. She danced Chinese Tea for the Nutcraker - Clara's Dream and "Butterfly" for Snow White.

Taking photos and videos inside the CCP theater is not allowed, so we only have pre and post photos of her.

butterfly costume

Chinese costume

Everyone - from the star ballerinas to the little belles - did wonderful performances.

Effie Nanas ballerinas

Tinkerbell Butterfly at SGIS Disney Holiday Magic

My daughter was chosen by the school principal to be Tinkerbell Butterfly (a part in Alice's Adventure) in their Christmas program. Good thing, she was able to wear the butterfly costume again.

Tinkerbell butterfly :)

with Alice in Wonderland cast

She also danced "Let it Snow" together with the grade 3 girls. Girls from her grade level performed a different dance number. Watch the video:





Little Santa Claus at SGIS Disney Holiday Magic

My son, together with the preschoolers, happily sing and dance Jingle Bells for the Christmas program. The venue was filled with much cuteness and happiness!

little Santas :)

Enjoy watching:

Disney's Believe in Holiday Magic

Malaysia in United Nations Celebration

My son represented the country of Malaysia and performed "It's a Small World" together with the preschool students.

Malaysia flag bearer :)

Japanese in United Nations Celebration

My daughter, together with the Grade 2 students, performed a Japanese dance.

Japan umbrella dance

Read The Silk Road to Peace and Prosperity


Linggo ng Wika Performances

It had been my daughter's first declamation contest. She didn't win,but still proud since she was able to deliver Dr. Jose Rizal's "Sa Aking Mga Kababata" in front of the audience.

"Sa Aking Mga Kababata"

Read Daughter's First Declamation Piece

Traditional Filipino dances were all performed.

Filipino dance

in costume

Read Linggo ng Wika Activities

Indeed, "the world is a stage..."

Hope you all enjoyed the Year 2011 as much as we do!

Remember 2011 | Achievements and Celebrations

"People who live the most fulfilling lives are the ones who are always rejoicing at what they have." - Richard Carlson, PhD


I always choose to live life in gratitude. These are moments that makes me more prouder and happier.

[Achievements and Recognitions]

Third Honors



My kids' first year at SGIS had been fruitful. They both received the 3rd Honors award during the school recognition last March. They ranked 3rd (overall) in their levels respectively. In addition, my daughter received an award for Best in Conduct.

Proud that my sister got the 3rd Honors award as well.

Today, my daughter ranked 1st in class and my son is receiving high letter grades as well.


Blog Awards Finalist

A Woman Remembers had been a blog finalist for the Home and Parenting Category – National Level in the recently concluded Philippine Blog Awards. Being recognized and being included in the list is such an honor I never expected.


[Parties and Celebrations]

It had been a year filled with wonderful celebrations. From celebrating birthdays and attending birthday parties to welcoming new babies to the Christian world! In between, there are simple and "just-because" family celebrations that I would always be thankful for.

Daughter's 7th Birthday

a ballerina-themed party

Son's 5th Birthday

party at school

celebration at home

Cousin's 18th Birthday

fav-cousin's debut

with the 18 candles

Nephew's Christening

with the godparents

my "inaanak" with the proud parents

hubby's niece with my MIL

These are family events and celebrations and I thank God for love and blessings He had given all of us!

Remember 2011 | Tech Moments

Hope you all had a meaningful Christmas!

Truly, there's no place like Christmas as home. Food, lots of presents and togetherness makes our family's Christmas more wonderful.

Year 2011 is coming to a close. It had been a good one and for that I am thankful.

"Life holds so many simple blessings, each day bringing its own individual wonder." - J.McLeod

For the past years, I never fail to write about some of the fondest memories of the months that passed. I even shared some here in my blog. (Read: 100 Moments of 2009 and Year 2010 Revisited)

My best things consist of moments and lessons that I want to treasure and remember. Now, let me make time for my blog and share my best memories of the year to you, my friends and readers. These are some of the memories, lessons and experiences that I would want to keep on remembering.

This year, I'll share some of these in blog. I'll start of with: Tech Moments of 2011

I didn't need or wished for the most high-tech tablets, laptops or other tech toys. I don't have a MacBook Pro, iPhone 4S, Nikon D3S or Nikon D5100, 3D Tv, etc. but I'm more than thankful for what me and my family got to have.

Asus K43SJ laptop

It's pink and it has a shiny aluminum textured body. One of the best feature is its exclusive IceCool Technology which keeps palm rests cool. This laptop is affordable and makes me more productive.

Nokia E72 phone

This Nokia E72 phone wrapped up my July month. I love this well-designed and full-featured messaging smartphone.

Sony PSP

My son is truly at his happiest when he got a Sony PSP as a "pasalubong" from my mom.


China iPad (APad)

My daughter got a pink China iPad from my mom. Cool that this APad runs on Android OS.


Earlier this year, even my mom and and my brother bought new laptops too! My sisters got new laptops as well - a purple Samsung Series 3 305U1A netbook (It's thin, has a stylish metallic-tone and powerful!) and a Samsung NP RC420 notebook!

Samsung Series 3 305U1A

Samsung Notebooks

Plus, there's also my BenQ camera (which I've won from Facebook), a Nikon Coolpix L120 (which I enjoyed using) and a Canon EOS 1100D camera that my mom bought for my siblings.

There are other more things, but it seems like 2011 had been a laptop year for us. :)

My heart remains to be thankful.

Happy for all these. Stay tuned for my next Remember 2011 posts.

Happy Holidays!

...Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin
Good tidings for Christmas And a Happy New Year!

To Everyone... May your home be filled with Joy this Christmas time, and may special happiness be yours throughout the coming Year!

Let our Holiday Season be filled with Peace, Love, Hope and Happiness!

Smart Parenting Meet and Greet: Enlightening and Inspiring

The Smart Parenting Meet and Greet had been an enlightening afternoon filled with inspiring talk and interesting discussions.

Being a former Summit Media employee, it felt good to be invited as one of the lucky magazine reader, together with my sister and my nephew. There I've met mommy and online friends, bloggers, and of course, the people behind Smart Parenting magazine and SmartParenting.com.ph.

"Words are more powerful than fact."
"Choose your words... direct your kids' life"
"... words that daily empower them to direct their life, their decisions"

All these interesting words came from the informative talk by Aileen Santos. Her talk on raising successful and happier kids thru the power of words is indeed very insightful. She shared the value of words, the labels that parents put on their kids, and its effect on their lives.

She used as an example the water-crystal experiment (crystalline formations made on both clean and dirty water ) conducted by Japanese scientist Masaru Emoto. It illustrated what words words can do to human beings.

The talk was followed by discussions with Smart Parenting staff where we, readers, share insights and suggestions as to what we'd like to see and improve about Smart Parenting.

There had been a raffle as well. My sister won baby products and I'm happy for getting a this cute prize - a mini water dispenser from Sangobion.

Thank you Smart Parenting and sponsors for these goodies.

goodies and raffle prize

I know lots of moms are already looking forward to next year's Smart Parenting Meet and Greet event!

This event was held last November 29, at the Eastwood Richmonde Hotel. Major sponsors include Eastwood Richmonde Hotel and Sangobion.

photo with Smart Parenting staff

our table: mommy friends, SP mommy readers, bloggers

with my nephew and my sister

Remember and Share:

"Stop letting your worst memories be the moments that define who you are"