NY ING Marathon November 1st -

26.2 miles was no breeze but there were a few factors that made it painfully enjoyable.

* Ran with a fellow first time marathoner who did not mind my quarkiness

* No ipod, which gave me a chance to revel in the fact that there were millions of spectators lining the streets - cheering on the 43,000 runners,

* Little emphasis on miles run but rather, what borough I was running through,

* Seeing my family and friends along the way,

* Spotting random friends in the crowd,

* Remembering that not only was I running for a personal accomplishment but for the DOE Fund - for the men and women of NYC who were formally homeless and getting themselves back on their feet,

* Having fun with the crowd and cheering them on,

* and that pain is temporary - pride is forever!

Sleep was almost impossible the day before the race. Not only was I anxious but it was also the tail end of Halloween festivities with N.

No need for an alarm - I kept on waking up every thirty minutes before 5am. With my running gear on and bag in hand, I left the apartment praying I did not forget anything essential. Of course, there were no 1/2/3 trains going downtown from 103rd Street so I made my way to 96th Street. There were still folks walking around in their costumes although I noticed all the other marathoners with the official plastic ING bag slowly making their way to the subway.

I was assigned to take the shuttle from midtown and upon arrival chills of excitement started to tickle my spine. Hundreds of runners were calmly filing between the police barricades leading to the buses, while ING volunteers were directing us with bull horns. While on the bus, like a preview of the of the marathon route, it dawned on me that at some point I would be trekking through that area.

Another rush of enthusiasm came over me as we arrived at the starting point on Staten Island. A gauntlet of puffy eyed yet energized high schoolers welcomed us with cheers of encouragement.

Thankfully, I decided to bring my fleece and gloves because the autumn chill was present at our 5:30am delivery. Our bus was one of the first to arrive but within the next few hours thousands more weary eyed runner ascended in their designated corrals.

It was apparent who the veteran marathoners were because they were the ones that brought sleeping bags, tents, lounge chairs, patio furniture and blankets. My survival mode kicked in as I grabbed some discarded poland springs boxes and flattened them out for my temporary bed and curled up for a cat nap.

The time was 7:00am and I still had 3 hours before the start of my wave (10:20am). I started wandering aimlessly along with others, collected some snacks, a Dunkin Donut hat, had my pre race picture taken and wandered to other corral areas. I saw one of those outdoor overhead tents packed with hundreds of runners seeking shelter and some shut eye. It was quite a site!

Along the road on the opposite side of the tent were dozens of UPS trucks that later on collected our numbered bags. It dawned on me the magnitude of organizing an event and its intricacies. I realized now why the registration was as pricey as it was. From the entrant fee, to transportation of the runners, the bags from SI to the finish line, the water centers, photographers, the bands, police presence, closing of streets and major bridges, volunteers, media coverage and the list goes on!

Finally the last wave of the Blue group was called to the starting line and as folks were making their way to the front the amount of discarded clothing tossed to the ground, piled high in the garbage cans and strewn on the fences was mind boggling! Of course the marathon planners had volunteers collecting everything that was going to be donated to the homeless. There were articles of clothing all over the road through out the race course.

I was fortunate to meet a fellow first time marathoner (who I later learned went to college together) who I ran with for 18 miles before we lost track of each other after greeting our family members. Keeping in mind that the race was going to take at least 4 hours, my attitude was positive throughout. I did not hit the dreaded "wall" and other than my ailing foot injury at mile 20 - I felt like Superwoman. The other runners around us were for the most part trying to keep each others spirits high though as we completed miles we were seeing more people walking and looking exasperated.

I would say Park Slope and the Upper East Side were the highlights of the course along with crossing over the Varrazano Bridge in SI especially because I would zone out the crowds every now and then.

The erie part of the course was running through Bensonhurst, which was probably a mile or so in distance. There were no people holding signs, cheering, handing out cups of water or lined along the side walk. Some kids shyly held their hands out in hopes to receive an occasional high five.

My determination not stop me at any point in the race though I pushed my limits towards the end as I had to talk myself through the growing pain in my right foot. I knew my pace was slowing after mile 18 but thankfully I knew I would be seeing my family and friends. I was relieved in that brief moment when I spotted my mom, brother, J and N in the crowd and gave quick hugs and greetings.

I may have not finished in the desired time I had hoped for but I crossed the finish line feeling a sense of pride after months of training. I was in the best shape since my glory days in college playing field hockey and lacrosse.

Will I run another marathon? As long as I am chosen in the NYC marathon lottery!

It has been 6 months since my multiple hospitalizations in November 2008 and two months ago I had my gall bladder removed. The severity of my Acute Pancreatitis was quite a shock considering I did not have any prior medical issues. The prognosis looked bleak according to my doctor but someone was looking after me and though my recovery was not speedy I slowly got back on my feet, altered my diet and reminded myself every day how fortunate I am of my improving health.

After my health scare it led me to make the decision to run in the "world's largest race", ING NYC Marathon on November 1, 2009. The training alone is rigorous as well as the mental preparation to run 26.2 miles through 5 boroughs of NYC, starting in Staten Island. I wanted

I chose the The DOE Fund: Ready, Willing and Able organization to sponsor my entry into the race because I was unable to run the 9 NYRR required races for automatic entry. RWA has been assisting the formerly homeless in NYC for many years by providing temporary housing, employment assistance and legal services. When I lived in the Upper East Side, I always noticed the men and women with the blue shirts, pushing garbage cans and sweeping up after New Yorkers (yes, I said it!).

If you would like to donate to my cause visit DOE: Ready, Willing and Able .

Got Pilipino?

The first ever IndioBravo Filipino Film Festival was held this weekend in NYC. Initially, I wanted to see Foster Child (again) because I felt it captured the essence and emotions of being a Foster parent in the Philippines. Though I would say that the portrayal of the eventual adoption of the main character was a little skewed.

A weekend of Filipino movies with English subtitles!? A perfect opportunity to see a glimpse of life in the Philippines, learn about the styles of Filipino cinematography, the actors and especially to learn a little bit of the language!

Since my summer abroad at the University of the Philippines Diliman in 2003, I have desperately tried to maintain the basics of the language that I learned. I bought a highly recommended double volume set of Phil/English Eng/Phil dictionaries, Lonely Planet phrase book, Before You Know It computer tutorial, Learning Filipino book, children's books I bought in the Phils (in Filipino with English translation), downloaded Filipino songs, you name it.

I have since learned that one of the better approaches to retaining Filipino is through movies.
On that same trip a good friend of mine brought me to a dvd shop. I purchased movie titles, which I thought would be of interest. I have watched a couple of them and when I attend Filipino events I make it a point to buy such movies.

It has been a slow process but I don't like to pretend that I the mother tongue when people speak to me. I am determined to teach myself the basics.

If you have any suggestion of movie titles let me know!

Looking forward to next year's Indio Fest!

Model Filipino-American

My good friend Dr. Kevin Nadal and Godfather/Ninong to Noah has written, Filipino American Psychology - A Handbook of Theory, Research and Clinical Practice. I was especially excited to provide him with information about Filipino adoption, which very little is written about.

I was also honored when he asked me and Noah to pose for the cover of the book along with a dozen other Fil-Ams. Noah made the final cut for the front cover and there is a group photo on the back of the two of us!

BUY THE BOOK NOW!

Congrats Kevin!

The Proud Day for All Americans and the World!

I still can't believe I was considering driving to DC the night before the Inauguration. I suppose part of me wished I was the care free person I once was but with some disappointment resigned to the fact that I would not join the thousands of people in DC.......sigh.

Instead, I woke up early (7:30am) with Noah and listened to CNN until 1pm. I watched as the droves of people descended on the Mall in the early morning hours, checked into Facebook and read friend's statuses who were in DC and happily carried on with my mommy duties.

I can agree with many that for the first time I felt patriotic to my adopted country and was optimistic about the future of America.

"The Moment"

JEWELRY UPDATE: ETSY.COM SITE OFFICIALLY OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

I officially opened my Etsy store and within days had my first sale! Exciting times considering Etsy has over 100,000o crafters all over the world and selling their goods. I have some of my items listed on the right side of my blog that you can view.

Launched in 2005, "Etsy is an online marketplace for buying and selling all things hand made." You can very likely find anything hand crafted imaginable. If you are looking for a one of a kind something rather, Etsy is website to go to. It supports the crafters and their talent as well as an alternative to

A brilliant concept for folks who have a creative side to them and would like to make money from their hobby or talent. I have found some phenomenal stores with eye catching products and look forward to utilizing Etsy for future purchases.

Maligayang bati Kevin! Pacific Grill at Pier 17, NYC

DIRTY THIRT(IES) -

My friends I've met in my 20's and a few who have withstood the test of our prepubescent years are slowly entering their third decade of life with positivity and realization that 'it ain't that bad!" As each birthday passes for me I don't 'feel' old and attribute it to my youthfulness and high energy.

I definitely spent a couple weeks in a depression about leaving my twenties, reviewing my accomplishments and wondering what I had to look forward to in my thirties. I came to the conclusion that I referred to second decade as the terrible twenties; a time of soul searching, making many bad judgments, feeling unsure of my career path and wondering if I would find meaningful relationships with people. All of which have defined me.

Reaching my thirties has been a time for me to reflect and also reinvent myself. Now as a mom, a far more drastic role than my earlier years; I do not have as much freedom to be carefree, to travel on a whim or be involved with the various volunteer organizations I was once affiliated with. Now it is a matter of balancing being a stay at home momma, integrating my other interests/hobbies and maintaining my sanity.

So, I am happy to celebrate the day my friends turn a new corner in their lives and look back at our yesteryears without regets!

photo: circa 1996

Rekindling my passion....for Lacrosse.

Most of you may not know that lacrosse used to be my life until my second year at Ohio Wesleyan University (Delaware, OH). I prided myself in the fact that my agility on the field let me face girls that were twice as big as me. For reasons that were not necessarily in my control I decided to quit playing and for over ten years I "hung up my stick", until a recent opportunity arose.

On my way to an appointment, I stopped for coffee just outside of Central Park West. I saw two Asian girls with their lacrosse sticks stretching on the steps and was immediately drawn to speak to them. After a quick introduction I asked them if they were part of a team and how I could join. I shared with one of the gals that I used to have nightmares of myself being unable to catch the ball. With the quick exchange of conversation and jotting of notes I signed up to play with the Central Lacrosse NYC team.

I started to have flash backs of the many hours I spent in training, running 3-5 miles a day, going to spring training in place of spring break fun, traveling to tournaments and week long summer camps.

Flash forward, I realize other than carrying Noah up and down the stairs my work out regiment has been minimal. Let's hope my weekly West African dance classes will relieve some of my concern! My adrenaline ran high after meeting the girls and signing up for the lacrosse team and I wanted to immediately go for a long run. It came to my attention that today and probably for the last five years that it is mandatory that all women lacrosse players wear goggles, something I am not familiar with at all.

I have a week before my first practice in over a decade!

My Beantown Days: Reminiscing without regrets.












Above: entrance of my old apartment where lived for almost 5 years.

To think I lived in Boston/Allston 10 years ago is mind boggling. I referred to that period of my life as the terrible 20's for a few reasons.

I found Boston to be stifling after a while and part of it was because it is a college city. I lived between Boston College and Boston University. Once you complete your four years everyone moves on and if you choose to stay you start to feel old as younger students replace the departed graduates. Quite honestly I outgrew the small city and was yearning to go to the city that never sleeps!

In retrospect being in a smaller town like Boston was the stepping stone for me when I made the decision to move to gritty/glamorous New York City a few years later. It was also the backdrop of the next 5 years as I started to embrace my identity as an adopted Filipina in America. And not to mention some of the characters I met along the way.

After doing some internet research, I quickly became immersed in Fil-Am student organizing, which sometimes felt like an unpaid job. My first year I was a member of the programming committee for the Filipino Intercollegiate Networking Dialogue (FIND) conference hosted at Harvard University. To this day the 1999 FIND spring conference continues to hold the record for the largest attendance of 1,500 delegates that traveled nationwide to take part in the most unprecedented conference.

Sometimes I felt out of place among the Fil-Ams I became friendly with. Part of it was my insecurity about my adoption, as if I had a disadvantage because I grew up 'more American.' I tried to normalize my feelings by building a collection of books about every aspect of the Philippines and absorbing as much information possible. I also became a frequent flier attending Fil-Am conferences and networking with other Fil-Ams easier made me feel more harmonious with my Filipino counterparts.
















Above: Paradise Club - I used to work here as a coat check girl......why?!
















Above: Quincy, MA - in the eyes of Pedro Magni

The other reason why I visited Boston on one of the coldest days this winter was to meet a fellow adoptee Pedro. He attended my alma mater, University of Massachusetts Boston and one of our mutual professors gave him my information. We met at one of my favorite dim sum restaurants, China Pearl in Chinatown and also drove to Quincy to get a glimpse of his Fil-Am stomping ground.

Driving through Allston into Chinatown was a quick time warp of my Beantown years. It warmed my heart to drive around and see familiar places I used to frequent though other spots have not changed i.e. The Paradise, what a dump! Although I thought of that period of my life negatively I realize it helped define who I am today.

GO REDSOX!

Losing it

My girlfriend asked me a few years ago to go to West African dance class in New Haven. I went on a couple occasions but because I lived in Boston at the time I did not continue to go. Five years later I finally took the plunge and have been going one a week in Manhattan.

At about 6 months I felt like I was going stir crazy being around Noah and not having as much interaction with adults. I was at my breaking point, being a stay at home mom, having little time to enjoy any independence and have any physical activities such as running or dancing. Luckily, John's mom started coming into the city to watch Noah. This allowed some well needed me time.

I slowly overcame the concern of leaving Noah with other people and mustered myself to find a babysitter in July. She is a high school student, somewhat young but her reference said she was very responsible for her age. The first couple times were nerve racking; her phone battery died one night we were at a concert in Central Park so we ended up leaving early. Her mom was willing to stay with her a couple times until we felt comfortable. Now that her daughter is back in school she watches Noah every Wednesday.

With my Wednesday nights free I go to my West African dance class in Union Square. I consider it the W. African version of Tai Bo. The first 30 minutes are concentrated on ab work and then we go through the choreography of the routine. I've been told Tyra Banks also goes to the same class but on a different day.

It has been a couple months already and I am more confident. I feel revived after each class; my tank shirt drenched in sweat and my muscles panging from exerting my body. Maybe I will try belly dancing next!

After years of making excuses not to go to dance classes I finally went to a West African class with my friend at the Djoniba studio near Union Square. He preferred Afro-Brazilian and I can understand why. As we walked into the studio the advanced class was just finishing up. The pounding rhythms of the djembe and other instruments could be heard from the elevator. The percussion alone had my heart racing and as I walked to look through the studio window my excitement grew even more.

At the end of each class students line up in rows to go through the routine they just learned. Arms were flailing, bodies gyrating along to the drums and I was about to spend the next hour and half exerting my body in ways I have not done since my days playing sports.

I have a long way to go to learn the basic movements but looking forward to get back into shape.


Some tips:
Djoniba offers a free trial class for new members;
Wear loose clothes - the air circulation in the studios is limited;
Bring a water bottle!

as if i did not know nyc should be my home right now but this is great validation that i have a couple more years here in the hustle and bustle of the big apple.

You Belong in New York City

You're the energetic, ambitious type. And only NYC is fast enough for you. Maybe you'll set yourself up with a killer career Or simply take in all the city has to offer.

What City Do You Belong In?

Biological link

Being adopted, I often think about my relation to my family. I dealt with the uncomfortable stares knowing we look nothing alike, feeling scrutinized and . My frustration stemmed from the fact that people could not see us simply as a diverse family. It has taken me years to accept that we are a blended family.

My good friend asked how I felt being Noah's Mom who is, that I know my only biological link. I had a moment of relief thinking to myself, "I am no longer alone." I will always be curious what I looked like or what my temperament was as a baby although am comforted that I can pass on my legacy that I continue to build.