I wake up very early on weekdays to prepare to go to work leaving my daughter in the room with the door partially closed. While I take a bath the yaya slips inside our room to accompany Pia so she does not wake up early. When I’m done I go back inside to get dressed.

Oftentimes Pia is still asleep, and so I have to get ready in the dark and make sure I don’t make unnecessary noise. But sometimes she is awakened by my movement, and she just lie down on the bed watching silently in the dark. I would eventually go out of the room bringing my bag believing that she is still asleep. Pia on the other hand would see me get out thinking I’m leaving the house already.

One time this happened she sadly turned to her yaya beside her and said, “Mommy did not kiss me goodbye.” Sometimes when she wakes up late and I am already in the office she would complain, “Mommy forgot to kiss me.” Today she bolted to the door when I left the room just to catch me and say, “Bye Mommy!”

What Pia does not know is that after I finish packing my bag outside I always come back to the room to kiss her, awake or asleep, before I finally leave the house. Kissing my daughter is my favorite conclusion to my routine so she, and her baby scent, is the last thing I have on my mind before I go to work. I am amazed that Pia always wants to kiss and say goodbye thinking it completes my day. Well, she is absolutely right!

Since typhoon Ondoy hit the country followed by Peping I have been sharing to my daughter the sad stories of the victims. Pia has seen videos and pictures of the flood on the TV and the internet. I emphasize to her the difficult condition of the little boys and girls whose houses have been washed away. For the past week we have included the victims in our night time prayers. Usually Pia just lie around listening to me pray but last night after 'our' prayer when we were ready to sleep she prayed on her own...

"Lord Jesus go inside the TV to fix the house so that no more water in the house. Give new house. Give sunshine and rainbow. And no more yayay for the boys and girls. Thank you."

After her prayer she said "Pia is so good!", and I agree :)

Just some quotable quotes from my 3 year-old daughter.

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Mikel: Daddy bite Pia.
Pia: Pia not food!

Me arriving from office.
Pia: Mommy, mommy I have something for you!
Me: What is it?
Pia scrambles to find something to give. She has nothing for me, she just likes to say ‘I have something for you’.

Pia: Mommy open your mouth.
Me opening my mouth.
Pia (shouting inside my mouth): Mommy!!!!

Us going to church.
Pia: No sing song!
Pia doesn’t appreciate Praise and Worship (yet!).

Us praying before bed with me leading the prayer.
Pia: Daddy you pray also!

Roger Federer’s Rolex commercial on TV.
Pia: Hi Roger! Me Sofia!

Me: Where’s the yellow crayon?
Pia: I don’t know!

After Pia found out that the wings I bought her could not make her fly she now asks me something else.
Pia: Mommy I like mermaid feet.
“Mermaid feet” is the fish part of the mermaid. I’m betting she thinks that could make her breathe under water and swim like fish too.

Pia is showing some very strong influences from school.
Me: Pia do not play with your saliva.
Pia: Teacher said not play with saliva.
Or
Me: Pia let’s brush your teeth.
Pia: Teacher said brush my teeth.
OR
Me: Pia let’s read books.
Pia: Teacher said read my books.
I’m just glad the teacher and I say the same things!

Pia waking up at 5:30am and me trying to put her back to sleep.
Me: Pia go back to sleep. It’s still very early.
Pia: No mommy, the sun is here.
Me: It’s still very early Pia.
Pia: Where’s the moon?
Me: Moon go to sleep.
Pia: Sun is here?
Me: Yes sun is here. Now go back to sleep.
Pia: No! The sun is here!
For her when the sun is up it’s time to wake up. Too bad the sun rises real early in our part of the world.

When Pia is feeling lazy.
Pia: I’m so very tired.

Last week I had cough and ended up coughing at night. Pia would cry and get upset.
Pia: Mommy I’m scared.
Me: Why are you scared?
Pia: I’m scared your cough.
Or
Me: *cough* *cough*
Pia: Ssshhhh!!

Pia: Sofia like Kathy. (Not her real name)
Me: That’s nice. I’m sure Kathy likes Sofia too.
Pia: No, Kathy not like Sofia.
Me: Why?
Pia: (no answer)
Kathy happens to be everybody’s favorite friend in class. I’m sure Pia wants to impress her. Is it not too early for these types of issues?

Pia seeing something she wants.
Pia: I like. . . I like. . . I like. . .
If she cannot name what she likes after 5 ‘I likes’ she resorts to “I like. . . . this one!

Pia gets an egg from the ref , cuddles it in her arms and sings a lullaby.
Me: Pia return the egg. You will break it.
Pia: Sshhh Mommy, the baby chick is sleeping.
She thinks there’s still a chick inside the egg.

I am a big fan of The Amazing Race so I'd like to be in that show. I have thought who I would possibly pick up as a partner. They are:
- My husband because we make a good team. He is also analytical and smart.
- My friend Kristyn because she's not afraid of almost anything (except needles and blood ).
- My sister because she likes The Amazing Race also. She could be a b*tch if she needs to and she is willing to do anything to win.

My strategy to win will be to read the instruction carefully. Too many teams fail to do this on the show and it always cost them to be eliminated. Also I will make sure to enjoy the race. Somehow those who enjoy what they are doing always end up a strong team.

I will enlist the help of Mr. Sherlock Holmes. He is the ultimate investigator for me. He has the most critical deduction skills so I feel very secure he will get me out of trouble.

When Chip Tsao wrote his 'The War at Home' column in HK Magazine last March 27, 2009 he must have already decided to create a bad name for himself, or maybe his inner demon just got out and showed his true person.

Anybody who reads the article will shake their heads in disgust at how ignorant and demeaning this arrogant Chip Tsao is. He is truly an imaginative yet coward writer by making up stories that he "summoned Louisa [Luisa], my domestic assistant who holds a degree in international politics from the University of Manila, hung a map on the wall, and gave her a harsh lecture. I sternly warned her that if she wants her wages increased next year, she had better tell everyone of her compatriots in Statue Square on Sunday that the entirety of the Spratly Islands belongs to China". That stern lecture did not happen, by the way. He just made it up just as he made up the claim that Spratly Islands belong to China. I guess Chinese have a penchant for claiming lands they don't own (remember Tibet?). I suggest Tsao should start writing fiction books and maybe, just maybe, he will have a better reputation. But as a columnist he sucks big time. He does not have the credibility and integrity to write an opinion. Even his fellow Chinese frown upon his remarks.

Yes many Filipino women work as domestic helpers. The truth is I have a helper myself at home. But I treat her respectfully because I know she is doing me a very big favor. I pay for her but still without her it would be difficult to work and manage the house. So yes I am proud to say I am not like the racist Chip Tsao, who looks down on his father's servant (he does not have his own servant).

I agree these Filipino domestic helpers bring big income to the Philippines. But did he even consider the big help and relief that they give to their 'masters' (as he so fondly calls himself). Without these helpers every HK home without a Filipino would be filthy and stinky because somehow Chinese are simply incapable of cleanliness which is proven by the many contaminated products that come from his motherland.