Sorry for the late posting. Had a problem with the internet connection. Also, since I’ve given my very last copy of the revision 1 to a student last Saturday, I wasn’t able to make corrections for the 1st revision paper. Here are the corrections for the last 3 however.

By the way, this is where I’ll be uploading the files from now on. You can view the corrections online or download them by clicking on the links in each post. Check the site every once in a while for update. I’ll try to get a copy of revision 1 and upload the corrections as soon as possible. Good luck with your revising.

Recently, I’ve been weighing the pros and cons of getting a digital converter. I’m convinced that it’s the best solution for us since it’s both a storage place and a TV processing accessory itself. It also picks up several different  channels as we.

Well, of course that will come after I get a TV first. But it just feels nice to think about what to buy with the money I earned from all the sweat and hard work. Maybe… next year. We’ll see.

I’ve been seriously considering getting a car already but I’m kinda worried about the financial stress that acquiring one would bring.  First, even if I go for a second hand unit, buying still requires spending around 5-6k. Second, there are also additional charges that come with getting and maintaining a vehicle like registration and insurance. Yes, it is pretty convenient. However…

If the walk to and from school is the only sole consideration, then I surely would have gotten a ride already. But, since I need to reserve some money for my family’s bonds, I really don’t have much savings left.

I just have to remind myself more often that we’ll get one too, not just now… but eventually… hopefully soon.

Every once in a while, andrea and I talk about the things that we miss in the Philippines. No, it’s not that Brunei doesn’t have anything that strikes our fancy. It does. In fact, there’s the famous nasi katok, the rarely congested traffic, the quiet evenings, the wonderful greenery, diverse wildlife, and so many other things.

It’s just that there are things we left behind that we find ourselves thinking about a lot lately – Starbucks coffee for example, Banapple hickory ribs, and even the occasional spirited drinks. Heck, we even miss the familiar decorations, the LED Light Bar, the atmosphere of the overlooking restaurants that we used to visit before, the busy lights and sounds of Manila, and even the wide wide range of choices when it comes to shopping malls.

Hopefully, we save enough to taste these things again when we go back to the Philippines. The only problem is when…

I’m not of fan of bearings and grease. I’d rather dirty my hands with soil and animal droppings. And although I really appreciate automobiles, I have greater regard for plants and wildlife. No wonder I became a biologist instead of an engineer.

Anyway, now that I’m here in a country with a very striking contrast between cars and wildlife, I can’t help but feel quite happy. I get to enjoy both which is rare characteristic for a lot of places.

Usually, where there are nice cars and nice roads, forests and wildlife suffer and become scarce. In Brunei, however, they find an odd compromise between the two – excellent ride and rich greeneries. Both the engineer and the biologist in me are really enjoying the environment.

I just hope that I could get a cool ride myself because it’s getting quite tiring appreciating things from afar.

The first time I saw a laminate floor in a local shop, I thought it was nothing more than an expensive fancy house accessory. I mean except for the looks, I thought it served no other purpose, so I didn’t pay much attention to it.

Now, several years and two kids after, I realized there was something more to laminate flooring than just elegant and customizable appearance. Because of its material, it’s actually a safer, baby-friendly flooring choice. It is much more effective in cushioning falls than wood parquet or hardwood, and definitely easier to clean too. Yes, it may not be as tough as marble, but whatever it lacks in the toughness department, it makes up for in safety.

What I’m basically trying to say is that I wish our room had laminate flooring so it’s a bit safer for our curious little explorer. But, I guess we’ll have to wait till we have our own place to fix already. Just hope though that anika would still be needing it by then.

It’s finally time for andrea’s sister to tie the knot. Yes, her significant other has already popped the question and she has responded with affirmation. So, some time next year or the year after the that, their wedding will formally happen.

However, before the ceremony, there’s the tedious preparation – the search for the best wedding dresses, the quest for the most appropriate venue, the delicate building of the guest list, the planning of the budget, and all the other time, effort and money-consuming tasks that come with designing the perfect wedding. It’s every bride’s dream and, at the same time, every groom’s challenge… but I have to say… it’s worth it.

Heck, even andrea seems to be feeling the excitement whenever she thinks about suggestions for her sister’s wedding details. It’s another reason to look forward to going home for the vacation. Hope everything proceeds smoothly for them.

I know finding our place was a stroke of luck and somewhat similar to finding a needle in a haystack (bit of a cliche), but now I realize why it was not so much of a find at all.

First, it is kind of isolated. This we like because we keep our privacy dearly.  However, the boy next door, which I originally thought could be mateo’s first real friend here, turns out to be nothing more than a bully. He was really kind of polite when we first moved here, but then as he became more familiar with us, he started asserting himself over our son. First, he insists on going inside the house whenever he wants to. Then, andrea would occasionally catch him poking or sometimes even pinning mateo’s arm (and even neck) when he wants something (like a toy) and our boy refuses. I guess he knows he’s the owner’s son so he’s pretty confident that we wouldn’t reprimand him. So now, we just simply refuse to let mateo interact with him by not letting him inside the house anymore.

Second, the neighbors have cats. No, I don’t have anything against cats in particular. Yes, I am a dog lover but I don’t necessarily hate cats. However, the  cats outside are frequently kept inside the cage which means they don’t get to poo outside and cover their own dung. And because the cage is just outside our kitchen, the smell often finds its way inside our house.

Third, it gets pretty dark outside when night falls. I think instead of solar street lights, our area still uses those electric ones with manual switches. I’m not really sure who takes care of the switches but when they’re late in turning them on, the road outside becomes a hazard.

I know it was difficult finding this place, but I sure hope there’s a better one out there. And I hope I can find it soon.

Our youngest member of the family is turning out to be a voracious eater. She never rejects anything you give her. And she has no quams about showing her eagerness when it comes to food. At almost 9 1/2 months old, Anika has already eaten buttermilk bread, mashed potatoes, some Coco Crunch kernels, steamed fish, buttered fish, eggs, oatmeal, different egg omelettes, chocolate, cheese, and a bunch of there foods.

And these are just the edible ones.  On top of these, she’s already consumed an undetermined amount of stickers, paper, probably hair, dirt, and other things you won’t even think about putting in your mouth. Yes, she’s quick to put things in her mouth especially when we’re not looking.

So, by August (on her birthday), I’m thinking of giving her a strawberry cake like one of those Sharis Berries birthday gifts. I’m sure she (and probably her mom too) will love the choco-berry combinations.

Mother’s day has already come and gone, and I still have not been able to find a gift for my wife. I’ve browsed through several unique mother gifts already but nothing seems to either fit the budget or suit her.

She’s been wonderfully keeping the family together, patiently taking care of the kids and the house, and even manages to work while doing everything else. She’s definitely amazing. And although I’ve failed several times to tell her so, I hope this makes up for even just a little.

I LOVE YOU ny! You make our lives more than complete. Thank you so much for being the best wife to me and the best mother to our kids!