“Quarantine ka lang, stay at home mom ako, sanay ako lagi sa bahay.”

That was my initial thought during the quarantine. I can do it, I am trained to do this. I have been doing it all my life. Stay home? Sisiw yan sa akin! And so the first few days during the quarantine seemed ok. Akala ko lang pala yun. As the days goes by, it dawned to me how challenging it can be. First, all my kids are at home 24/7. Bilang isang ina, alam nyo yan na ang pahinga natin madalas ay mga pagkakataon na nasa labas ng bahay ang mga anak natin. It was a never ending list of household chores to finish. Literal na walang katapusan. I am a mom of 5 kids and I know ginusto ko naman ito, pero tao lang nagagagod din.

“Kapag sinabi ng nanay na pagod siya, hindi ibig sabihin ayaw na niyang alagaan ang pamilya niya.” 

I can relate to all other moms out there who for a moment or so feels like they need to take a break but is guilty of doing so. Guilty that their family might think that she no longer wants to take care of them. Guilty that her husband might think that she is no longer happy with her happy. So many to be guilty about that we just brushed off our tiredness. But we really need to take a rest, to take a break and wanting one does not mean that we love our family less.

Grocery time is what we usually consider our break time. A time away from our kids, a time to recharge, tapos nawala yun because of the quarantine. Yung akala mo madali na quarantine because you’re stay at home mom, turns out to be harder than it is. That’s how I felt 2 or 3 weeks after. I feel like a prison. I feel like I need to breathe.

“You cannot pour from an empty cup.” 

The moment I felt like I was a prison, that’s when I started to overwork myself more. Yung dati walang katapusan na pagluluto, sasamahan mo pa ng walang katapusang na paglalaba at paglilinis ng bahay. Kung pwede lang 2-3 chores gawin ko ng sabay sabay, gagawin ko. I feel like it’s the theraphy that I need. Maglinis, be productive. At first it seems effective, I forgot the feeling of being held against my will. But then I noticed how it affected my relationship with my kids. ANG SUNGIT KO NA PALA!

Yes, the house is clean, there is always food pero wala ng lambing. I don’t feel the need to go out but I am not happy, specially my kids, I can see that they are not happy. I realized I am giving too much that it left me empty.

I started seeing what I am lacking, and that is to understand that I cannot do everything and I need all the help I can get. From having to do all by myself to teaching my kids to clean the house, vacuum the carpet, water the plants, leads me to have more time to appreciate not just my rest time but our bonding time as well. Mas marami kaming time sa isat isa when we do things together.

“Kindness is Everything” 

During the time that I was feeling lost, I realized that even the happiest people can really feel down. Doon ko na realize how important it is to show kindness to everyone. Na sa likod ng mga ngiti ng bawat isa, sa likod ng tawa at halakhak, sa likod ng magandang profile photo, there is maybe a sad mom, or a person suffering from this quarantine and the pandemic. You really do not know kung ano ang pinag dadaanan ng isang tao so always be kind.

“Hindi lahat ng tumutulong ay mayaman, yung iba mahirap din, dahil ramdam nila ang kapwa mahirap. Ang tawag doon ay malasakit.”

And when you see people who they really are, what they really are, you started to realize that there is something you can do to make their lives better. Dahil sa pandemic, natutunan ko that I can always do something to help people and through my page and my blog I was able to do that through my Live series and projects that help other people. Through my youtube, I was able to help give information and at the same nakatulong na i promote ang small businesses.

And though people may think na malaki ang tulong ng mga vlogs ko to promote mga small business, mas malaki ang tulong sa akin.  Kase through that, naramdaman ko na oo stay at home mom ako pero nakakatulong ako. Kahit nahihirapan ako, I can help people through my online platform. That’s the best realization sa akin ngayong quarantine, we can always do something.

This story is an entry to ComCo Southeast Asia’s “Write to Ignite Blogging Project/” The initiative is a response to the need of our times, as every story comes a long way during this period of crisis. Igniting and championing the human spirit. “Write to Ignite Blog Project” aims to pull and collate powerful stories from the Philippine blogging communities to inspire the nation to rise and move forward amidst the difficult situation. This project is made possible by ComCo Southeast Asia, co-presented Eastern Communications and sponsored by Electrolux, Jobstreet and Teleperformance.

 

Let me share muna a sangla story of our own. We lost our wedding ring to Cebuana. Actually during our poorest time, we rely on Cebuana Lhuillier to help us with our day to day expenses.. kaso dahil nga hirap talaga kame noon, umabot na kame sa point na kahit pang interest wala kame. No choice kung hindi i let go ang wedding ring (eherm Cebuana, eherm, wedding ring, eherm sponsor haha).

Now, the reason why I tagged Cebuana Lhuillier as sanglaan ng mga kumare  is because of an incident the Kumare Bloggers had, a few weeks ago. Eto ang kwento:

Ang Kumareng Nagigipit, Sa Cebuana Lhuillier Kumakapit! So yes, after like so many many years (months lang naman haha OA lang ako) and many failed attempts to meet, nagkita kita din ang magkukumare sa Makati. Seeing another blogger (hello Doktora Ruth!) was a surprised. Like seryosong OMG Doktora! We haven’t seen her for a while. Though Ruth is very active in blogging, specially lifestyle blogging/ event, ang mga kumare nyo, hindi na madalas mag event.

Sobrang saya namin seeing Ruth that when she told us about her advocacy, we decided to commit. It was very new to the kumares. Doing or helping a community as a group. Little background, Ruth has a yearly advocacy,  #bloggermailproject in partnership with #projectkkk lead by her friend Orsa where they donate school stuff to a community in Mindoro. When she told us about this, natuwa naman kame that we will have the opportunity to help, saktong sakto pa kase pasukan na.

In our eagerness to help, nag sangla kame ng alahas! Naubos na kase mga pera namin kakain ng Mango Bravo (wala kaseng dalang cake si Peachy!)! Seriously, this is the time of our lives na nag aantay pa kame ng sweldo/allowance from our partners. We all agreed to use one jewelry to pawn for our share to Ruth’s advocacy. Paypal na bahala sa usaping bayaran. Watch nyo yung video kung kaninong alahas at bakit. Buti na lang hindi yung bag ko ang napagdiskitihan, Mother’s Gift ng asawa ko yun!

Why Choose Cebuana Lhuillier? 

Ang taas ng appraisal nila eh! We tried in another pawnshop and the necklace that we are about to sangla, 16300 Pesos ang appraisal nila while saCebuana Lhuillier, appraisal was 19,500 Pesos. If malaki talaga ang kailangan mo na pera, syempre dun ka na sa pawnshop that will give you the highest appraisal. Imagine more 3000 Pesos ang difference ng appraisal nila.

Basta Sangla, walang pila! Yes, may dedicated lane sila para sa pagsasangla. Kahit marami ng tao sa loob tapos lahat sila eh ibang transactions tapos ikaw lang ang magsasangla, straight ka na sa counter. For Cebuana Lhuillier rates, check nyo na lang sa branch near you.

Cebuana Lhuillier 2,500 branches nationwide. Super dali mag sangla kase Cebuana Lhuiller is literally everywhere! Cebuana Lhuillier hours is 8 am to 5 pm but some are open until 6 pm pero may Cebuana Lhuillier 24 hours na bukas, please check sa website ng Cebuana: https://www.cebuanalhuillier.com/ . Makikita mo din sa website ang Cebuana Lhuillier near me.

For more inquiries about Cebuana Lhuillier rates, Cebuana Lhuillier branches, and Cebuana Lhuiller appraisal rate, visit Cebuana Llhuiler Facebook Page, like, and i chat nyo lang ang mga tanong nyo.

P.S. Yung kwintas po tinubos ni Badet kase sya pinakamalapit sa Makati.