family matters

Already Planning

As mentioned, my Tito, mom’s youngest brother, is leaving soon. His petition was finally approved after years of waiting. I know he both happy and sad by this. He is sad because he will be leaving us behind, including her girlfriend. He is most likely happy because this will surely open a lot of opportunities for him and for his future family. We do not really know when we will see him again but he jokingly said he will come home as soon as he has the money to buy a two-way ticket! And he is still here when he said that. I know my other Tito will make the transition easier for him.

And of course, he can always go online, login to facebook and skype and catch up with us when he can. That’s the good thing about the technology we have these days.

In Time for Thanksgiving

My Tito Louie, mama’s youngest brother, is leaving for Guam a couple of days from now. Finally, his petition papers came down from the embassy after, uhm, 10 years, I think. He has been really busy the past months fixing his papers and we are all glad that all his hard work will finally pay off.

We had a simple gathering last Saturday as his going away party. There were not so many of us, just the usual relatives who come in any get together that we organize. Still, everyone had fun. There were stories on how each of us are doing, there was singing on the karaoke, there was drinking and eating, of course. My Tita-Lolas kept on telling my tito advices on what he should do when he get there, which I am sure he has planned for already. The younger ones, they kept on telling Tito what they want for Christmas. Hahaha! One of the cousins told Tito he wants a new sound system, like an avr-1912. As for me, I just want him to have a safe landing there. Chos. LOL.

We had to leave ahead of everyone else because we do not have a car and I have two girls in tow. But this mama vows to learn how to drive soon!

Waste Segregation

Hello Everyone! I hope all of you had a good start this week.

A few months ago, we were advised that garbage collection schedule in our village will chance from Wednesday/Saturday to Monday/Wednesday/Saturday. Apart from that, the baranggay is also implementing waste segregation. Monday/Friday, only biodegradable garbage will be collected and Wednesday is allotted for non-biodegradable materials.

I love the idea. It is not a secret that I am trying to promote green-living and this is sort of helping me convince everyone in the family to do their share.

Our first try failed. We segregated our waste but when the collector comes to get them, we noticed that they simply take everything we bring out, biodegradable or not. Eventually, we mixed our waste in one bag again.

One Saturday, people from the baranggay did a house-to-house visit. They gave us flyers that contain information about this drive. I took the chance to tell them our observation. They said we can take note of the truck’s body number then report it to them. They also stressed that we should only bring out what is due for collection for the day. Since then, I initiated to segregate the garbage again. I asked one of the guards who always has spare large cans to give me one so that the plastic for the other waste type has a container.

Until now, we are still segregating our garbage. Ayex is getting the hang of it too! She would ask where she should throw her garbage and I am happy that she understands it. I just really hope that we strictly follow what the baranggay people said: ONLY BRING OUT WHAT SHOULD BE COLLECTED. I hate it that they also bring out the non-biodegradable stuff on a Monday simply because they are plenty already. Or maybe the helper did not understand what my FIL told her. Maybe papa told her to bring them out too but not together with what is due for collection. That is possible.

I really hope everyone here at home does their share, and so are the people in the whole village. Then I hope the baranggay will start eliminating plastic bag usage in the public markets and groceries.