We're in Las Vegas. The kids had a fall recess from school so we decided to take a little break and take all of them to Vegas and have some fun! We took some balikbayan boxes to send to the Philippines too for Christmas. We just arrived and got tired from a long trip so we'll rest for now and looking forward for all the fun things we'll do tomorrow. Here's some pictures for tonight!

I was watching "The Correspondents" show last night. This is one of the documentary shows in the Philippines and I am able to watch it through The Filipino Channel (TFC Now) in my computer. It's a cheap entertainment for me ($7.95) a month and I am able to watch all the shows I used to watch while in the Philippines.

FYI: If you're eating or about to eat please don't watch the video. :)

This episode is about those scavengers whom they call “Magbabatchoy.” They were called as such because they earn their living by gathering leftover food (usually from food giants Jollibee and McDonald. Jollibee is a Philippine version of Mcdonald and Mcdonald in the Philippines serves chicken and rice with gravy) hunger-stricken families, at P20 to P40 ( $.50-$.80) . These leftovers are cooked in oil and called “batchoy”.

While watching the show, I felt a mixture of feelings. My heart was breaking and I felt a mixture of pity, anger and at some point I felt like throwing up. I felt sick watching them going through the trash using their hands (without gloves) to separate the leftover food from the rest of the thrash ( plastic cups, straws, napkins etc.) Despite the things that the “magbabatchoy” does, I realized that while their labor may be disgusting, these people cannot in no way be called disgusting. I admired their strength of character to go to the level of picking those disgusting leftovers just to bring something to their table whenever they and their children got hungry. A lot of us don’t have to work as “difficult” and as “undignified” as them just to eat.

I have to admit when I first got here from the Philippines My heart was broken many times seeing a lot of food inside the trash. I had to tell them many times not to throw away food in the trash and the kids learned the hard way. I'm glad they're not doing that now. It also breaks my heart when there's a church activity here, there's always a lot of leftovers thrown in the trash. In the Philippines, there's never a leftover even at church activity. We're lucky if there's enough food for everyone to eat.

As a child, I have experience some hard times (at times we have to eat porridge with salt on it, sometimes we we went to bed without any food in our stomach) but not to this extent. The case of the “magbabatchoy” is a clear proof of the alarming state of poverty in the Philippines. It shows how eating three meals a day can be so difficult. It shows how much some people put up just to have food in their table. Contrast these to our lives here, there's always food to eat and yet we complained. There are clothes to wear, cars to drive around, a pair of shoes to wear, toys to play with and still we complained. One of the things I like in here is the abundance of food. If those people are lucky enough to have an equivalent of a $1 or $2 to spend for leftover food how much lucky we are to have food to eat more than three times a day? How much we're spending for a pair of shoes, for toys and for clothes?

I am glad that I can help my family in the Philippines so that they don't have to experience this. I wish I have more extra than just to help my family there. It has always been my desire to help not just my family but to those who are deprived (especially food). I hope someday I can.

1/8 teaspoon sesame oil

1/3 cup chow mein noodles

I love general conference. I was excited to hear President Monson's temple announcement even in Rome Italy.



("This morning, I am pleased to announce five new temples. Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Cordoba, Argentina; the greater Kansas City area; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Rome, Italy," he said).


What a wonderful announcement ! I know the Lord's work continues to move forward and always will.


Today’s two sessions of General Conference were wonderful! All the talks were great. I can hardly wait for Sunday’s sessions. I want to share with you some of my faves;

Elder L. Tom Perry;

"We have been counseled to live within our means. Most of our troubles today is the failure to heed this counsel. Live within our income. Stay out of debt. Save for a rainy day. Practice frugal living."

Sister Sylvia H. Allred;

Elder Oaks;

Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf;

Elder Wirthlin; "Have you ever encountered an angry driver, or a unseen cupboard door? Laugh when you make mistakes, and anger and resentment will not take hold. When you are tempted to groan, laugh instead. It will extend your life and make it more enjoyable."

Elder Holland; "Take heart. Be filled with faith. God has said he will fight our battles. Pray always and be believing. All things will then work for our good. The latter days are not a time to fear and tremble. They are time to remember our covenants and to be believing."

Lawrence E. Cobridge (of the Seventy); "Live life your own way, is the most popular philosophy of man. But, we must follow Christ, and be even as He is. We can follow him even though He led a perfect life. It is not beyond our capacity. God’s standard is the highest, but it is reachable by all."

Elder D. Todd Christofferson;

Elder Bednar; "Every sincere prayer is heard and answered by our Heavenly Father but the answers we receive may not be what we expect or come to us when we want or the way we anticipate. Meaningful prayer is a privilege in a soul’s sincere desire. We can move beyond routine and checklist prayers and engaged in meaningful prayer as we appropriately ask in faith.”

Andrew playing with Ate Danny.

Andrew wanted to help blowing the candles :)

he wanted to pose too! so I guess I have to post it :)

(I'm taller than Russ :))



Paul (Russ's nephew) his wife, me & Russ, and Doug (Russ's brother)


The newlywed!

groom's parents
bride's parents
bride's siblings
bride's friends