Diary of an Overseas Filipino Wife

I am inviting everyone to read my new blog and follow our adventures as we go through life in another country....

End of the road...a journey to a new life...

to

This blog was written almost 6 months ago but which I was never able to publish at once. The reason behind this is because I had to do a lot of leg work in relation to family documents that I needed to process. Without further adieu... I hope you like my last blog under my callcenter diary....

It was in the year 2003 when thoughts of applying for a call center job seem to be the only option for me. I needed a job urgently as 3 months prior, I gave birth to my second child. Money was short and my husband and I have a daughter who needed to go to school. The very first call center I went to was VXi along Ayala Avenue, Makati City. I breezed through the exams and the first couple of interviews. I even passed the typing test but the final interview did not fit my "good instincts." When the interviewer asked me what I would do if my baby got sick and I needed to go home; I knew that the company was very stringent with their attendance. Though I am not a perenially absent employee, I know that I will always put my family first in case of an emergency, even at the expense of my job. Well, I did not land the job as most of you know, if you read my very first blog entry. I then applied on-line and received a call the next day, if am not mistaken, from PLDT. I stayed in the said company for almost 3 years before I decided applying at the World's local bank. I spent 4 years in this last call center job. And I must say that 7 years in the call center industry has prepared me for what lies ahead.

Over a year ago my husband left for Saudi Arabia...it was a joint decision for him to look for an overseas job. This was brought about by the fact that he is the eldest among 6 children. With no parents to take care of the younger siblings, he is left with that responsibility. Other than that we have 3 children with growing needs and a mortgage to pay. I was luckier because my siblings have jobs of their own and have parents who have enough means to live comfortably. The goal for us was to find work abroad and be able to help the younger ones and save enough for our children's bright future.

Hence, almost 6 months ago, when my husband went back to the Philippines for a month long vacation, we made plans. And one of them was for us to start preparing our documents so that we may follow and live with him abroad. I was left with the responsibility of fixing our documents locally, which is noteworthy to mention, brought so much heartaches and which left us with too much debt on our hands. I was asked to pay for certified true copies of our original documents, which by the way was around 50 to 65 pesos per page. Now I am left with 3 certified true copies wherein only 1 was actually needed entirely. Not only did I need to pay unnecessarily, I had to travel from Cavite to North Avenue in Quezon City several times a week. Again it was unnecessary travel, waste of time, energy and money had the people in the government agency adviced me the first time of the correct documents I needed to bring. Imagine I had to go back and forth 6 times before I got the correct information and finally have my children's documents processed! I felt terribly disgusted and angry but my husband, although far from me, kept me focused and constantly fed me good thoughts. Although it was not the darkest period in my life, it was one with so much anxiety. First, because I tendered my resignation already and therefore our financial means has decreased. Second, because I pulled out my kids after their 1^st quarterly exams as we were expected to leave right after. And third, our savings was dwindling fast and there were my husband’s siblings to feed. All throughout, we never wavered, we fought the war between good and evil, if I may so say, and we won. Six months later, we are now here, left with so much debt, but happy that we are together as one family. We know that we will be facing a lot of adjustments. We left, in the Philippines, my children’s nanny who has been with us for almost 5 years. We left her with my sister who has a baby I know my children, most especially my youngest, will miss her. Gone are the days, when we just need to call our dear nanny for errands. But I know it won’t be too hard, I am armed with lessons from my own mother. It is a good thing that I know how to cook... and have been trained with domestic work.

I am going to begin a new blog once I have settled in Saudi Arabia and hope that you will begin reading our journey through our new life...

Happy Wedding Anniversary!!!

 The first time I met you, I must admit that I had constant reservations on whether our relationship would work out. Why? Because from the start you were so strict (like my Mom) while I valued my independence you always wanted to know where I was going, with whom I was with -- things that I would rather keep at bay while we were not yet married. You never failed to amaze me with your deep understanding of the world around, you never faltered on your beliefs. You knew what you wanted to happen in your life. Early on the relationship you affirmed of a lifetime together while I did not want to hope and get hurt again. But you were true to your word after 2 years we finally got married. We planned everything together ... I saw the excitement in your eyes and felt how much you were looking forward for that to happen. I remember one night coming back from work … you were so excited and knelt in front of me. You then presented me with a ring and again proposed and told me how much you wanted to marry me. Timidly you said that it was not an expensive ring … daddy just to let you know … that did not matter to me… I saw beyond that ring … something more precious, something that can never be bought anywhere. And it was your love … you keep asking me if I have had any regrets over the years for not marrying a rich man. Wealth is nothing without the kind of love you have surrounded me and our children with. You are a fantastic self-made man I know there is no one else like you who could make me laugh as hard, smile for no reason, and with whom I can be myself. I love you my husband, my soul mate, the father of my children, my best friend and counselor, my critic and the love of my life. Thank you!  Happy Happy Anniversary to us!

I chanced upon this poem written by Teri Sprinkel

When We First Met
When we first met,
in my heart I could feel
the warmth of your smile,
and I knew that we would
share something special
that many people
only dream of......


Though time has passed
since the day we first met,
I can sincerely tell you
that I love you more through time,
We've seen both good and bad times,
and I feel they have
strenghtened our relationship,
making it one we can always count on.
I thank you for always being there
to embrace me when life
becomes difficult,
for warming my spirit
and returning my strength.

I thank you for filling
my life, my heart,
and my dreams with unending love.

Done voting

At last I am done voting! My parents, youngest sister and I, woke up early as we wanted to be one of the first ones to arrive at the voting polls. But when we arrived there we were met by a throng of angry people as the long queue were all mixed up. It was clear that everything was so disorganised to see people complaining already so early in the morning. By 9:30 am a lot of people had gone home disgusted about how things have all turned up. We were even given numbers which proved to be useless as we finally reached our precinct. We had to endure more than 3 hours to wait for our turn. All in all it was a disaster but the most important thing is that were able to cast our votes. Now all we need to do is wait for the outcome...  

A call for change

Tomorrow, 10th of May 2010, is voting time in the Philippines. This will also be the first time that we will be using the smartmatic machine which is supposed to make voting and the counting of ballots much easier. As a Filipino citizen, as a voter, and as a mother I am as anxious as the candidates because I would like to be able to vote and say that I made the right choice. I would like to be so sure that any choice I make now would not haunt me back in the future. I would like to make sure that the people I will be voting for are after the best interest of the Filipino people. Someone who would be able to make at least that much awaited single step towards change. Someone whom we, Filipinos, can be proud of. A president who would not be easily swayed by the bad elements that would surely surround him. And a president who will not put this country to shame.

For my countrymen, this is the moment that we have waited for. We want change and this is one avenue that we can take to elicit change in our country. So please....please vote wisely and responsibly!

Musings of an OFW

I received this message through my email and this is something I would like to share to everybody. The article is written in my own vernacular I will try my best to translate it into English but will have to publish the said version on a later date. So to all my fellow Filipinos (wives, husbands, children, parents, brothers, sisters, uncles and aunties of our OFWs who work their asses off abroad) and to our beloved OFWs this is for you... I don't know who the author is but whoever wrote this (it could be Nicole...from where the article came), I hope you don't mind me sharing it  to everyone. 

MGA KABABAYAN PLS READ, LALO SA MGA OFW...GOT THIS BULLETIN FROM NICOLE

Sa may asawa, kapatid, anak, kaibigan, at kamag-anak na OFW. At lalo na sa mga gustong mangibang-bansa. Nais ko rin ibahagi sa inyo, ang natanggap kong email na ito. Maaaring makatulong ito upang lalong maintindihan ng bawa't isa ang tunay na ibig sabihin ng pagiging isang OFW. Tiyak na may mapupulot tayong aral dito.

Hindi mayaman ang OFW - We have this notion na 'pag OFW o nasa abroad ay mayaman na. Hindi totoo yun. A regular OFW might earn from P20K-P300K per month depende sa lokasyon. Yung mga taga-Saudi or US siguro ay mas malaki ang sweldo, but to say that they're rich is a fallacy (amen!). Malaki ang pangangailagan kaya karamihan ay nag-a-abroad. Maraming bunganga ang kailangang pakainin kaya umaalis ang mga pipol sa Philippines. Madalas, 3/4 o kalahati ng sweldo ay napupunta sa tuition ng anak at gastusin ng pamilya. Mahirap maging OFW - Kailangan magtipid hangga't kaya. Oo, masarap ang pagkain sa abroad pero madalas na paksiw o adobo at itlog lang tinitira para makaipon. Pagdating ng kinsenas o katapusan, ang unang tinitingnan eh ang conversion ng peso sa dollar o rial o euro. Mas okay na magtiis sa konti kaysa gutumin ang pamilya. Kapag umuuwi, kailangan may baon kahit konti kasi maraming kamag-anak ang sumusundo sa airport o naghihintay sa probinsya. Alam mo naman 'pag Pinoy, yung tsismis na OFW ka eh surely attracts a lot of kin. Kapag hindi mo nabigyan ng pasalubong eh magtatampo na yun at sisiraan ka na. Well, hindi naman lahat pero I'm sure sa mga OFW dito eh may mga pangyayaring ganun. Magtatrabaho ka sa bansang iba ang tingin sa mga Pinoy. Malamang marami ang naka-experience ng gulang o discrimination to their various workplaces. Sige lang, tiis lang, iniiyak na lang kasi kawawa naman pamilya 'pag umuwi. Besides, wala ka naman talagang maasahang trabaho sa Philippines ngayon. Mahal ang bigas, ang gatas, ang sardinas, ang upa sa apartment. Tiis lang kahit maraming kupal sa trabaho, kahit may sakit at walang nag-aalaga, kahit hindi masarap ang tsibog, kahit pangit ang working conditions, kahit delikado, kahit mahirap. Kapag nakapadala ka na, okay na, tawag lang, "hello! kumusta na kayo?". 

Hindi bato ang OFW - Tao rin ang OFW, hindi money o cash machine. Napapagod rin, nalulungkot (madalas), nagkakasakit, nag-iisip at nagugutom. Kailangan din ang suporta, kundi man physically, emotionally o spiritually man lang. Tumatanda rin ang OFW - Sa mga nakausap at nakita ko, marami ang panot at kalbo na. Most of them have signs and symptoms of hypertension, coronary artery disease and arthritis. Yet, they continue to work thinking about the family they left behind. Marami ang nasa abroad, 20-30 years na, pero wala pa ring ipon. Kahit anong pakahirap, sablay pa rin. Masakit pa kung olats rin ang sinusuportahang pamilya - ang anak adik o nabuntis; ang asawa may kabit. Naalala ko tuloy ang sikat na kanta dati, "NAPAKASAKIT KUYA EDDIE!" Bayani ang OFW - Totoo yun! Ngayon ko lang na na-realize na bayani ang OFW sa maraming bagay. Hindi bayani na tulad ni Nora Aunor o Flor Contemplacion. Bayani in the truest sense of the word. Hindi katulad ni Rizal o Bonifacio. Mas higit pa dun, mas maraming giyera at gulo ang pinapasok ng OFW para lang mabuhay. Mas maraming pulitika ang kailangang suungin para lang tumagal sa trabaho lalo na't kupal ang mga kasama sa trabaho. Mas mahaba ang pasensya kaysa sa mga ordinaryong kongresista o senador sa Philippines dahil sa takot na mawalan ng sweldo. Matindi ang OFW - Matindi ang pinoy. Matindi pa sa daga, o cockroaches which survived the cataclysmic evolution. Maraming sakripisyo pero walang makitang tangible solutions or consequences. Malas ng OFW, swerte ng pulitiko - Hindi umuupo ang OFW para magbigay ng autograph o interbyuhin ng media (unless nakidnap!). Madalas nasa sidelines lang ang OFW. Kapag umaalis, malungkot and on the verge of tears. Kapag dumadating, swerte 'pag may sundo( madalas meron). Kapag naubos na ang ipon, wala ng kamag-anak. Sana sikat ang OFW para may boses sa Kamara. Ang swerte ng mga politico nakaupo sila at ginagastusan ng pera ng Filipino. Hindi nga sila naiinitan o napapaso ng langis, o napagagalitan ng amo, o kumakain ng paksiw para makatipid, o nakatira sa compound with conditions less than favorable, o nakikisama sa ibang lahi para mabuhay. Ang swerte, sobrang swerte nila. Matatag ang OFW - Matatag ang OFW, mas matatag pa sa sundalo o kung ano pang grupo na alam nyo. Magaling sa reverse psychology, negotiations at counter-attacks. Tatagal ba ang OFW? Tatagal pa kasi hindi pa natin alam kailan magbabago ang Philippines , kailan nga kaya? o may tsansa pa ba?

Masarap isipin na kasama mo ang pamilya mo araw-araw. Nakikita mo mga anak mong lumalaki at naaalagaan ng maayos. Masarap kumain ng sitaw, ng bagoong, lechon, inihaw na isda, taba ng talangka. Masarap manood ng pelikulang Pinoy, luma man o bago. Iba pa rin ang pakiramdam kung kilala mo ang kapitbahay mo. Iba pa rin sa Philippines , iba pa rin kapag Pinoy ang kasama mo (except 'pag kupal at utak-talangka), iba pa rin 'pag nagkukwento ka at naiintindihan ng iba ang sinasabi mo. Iba pa rin ang tunog ng "mahal kita!", "day, ginahigugma tika." "Mingaw na ko nimo ba, kalagot!", " Inday, diin ka na subong haw? ganahan guid ko simo ba". Iba pa rin talaga. Sige lang, tiis lang, saan ba't darating din ang pag-asa. Kung OFW ka at binabasa mo ito, mabuhay ka dahil ikaw ang tunay na BAYANI ng lahing PILIPINO!!!

Worldless Wednesday

When we lose our children to drugs

Just this Sunday past, I celebrated my birthday and I could say that it was not one of those birthdays that I would have wanted to look back on. I also celebrated my birthday in our province to attend my cousin's funeral. My cousin would have turned 47 this coming 14th of February. Her death came as a shock to many. She died on the morning the next day after her brother, who died from heart attack, was buried. My cousin, bless her soul, never had any kids of her own, thus 13 years ago when she was presented a male child who was then only 2 months old, she took it on her own to adopt this child whom she loved and adored so much. 13 years later she was stabbed by her adopted son 40 times to her death.

At 13, children like my cousin's adopted son should have had built healthy relationship with other children. But he was just different, he was high on drugs when he decided to stab his mother over and over even as my cousin was begging him to stop. I was very much affected as we continually live in a much different and dangerous world. I have three kids of my own, and I keep praying and hoping that I will be able to bring them up to be God-fearing, respectful, and very loving individuals.  Drugs can alter people's perspective in life, ruin families, destroy life, and take away an otherwise bright future. Families should continue the fight against drugs and should focus on giving their children quality time. Monsters are created not born, and as parents we have the capacity to make sure that our children by blood relation or not, are strong individuals who will turn up alright. Children should not be spoiled nor abused. We must know how to balance our authority when dealing with our children because their future lies on the hands that feed them.

back to blogging

I have not had any blog entries since last year and for a while I would not even take a peak on what is going on with my blog site. I have been busy doing a lot of things, juggling my time between making sandwiches and cooking pastas that I would be bringing to work (i sell them in the office), preparing for work, doing domestic errands and making sure that my children would have something to eat for dinner while I was at work.  

There has been so many things I wanted to share but so little time and even today I am squeezing just a little of my time for my absence from the blogging world. I would not want to stop blogging entirely as this is will form part of the legacy that I will be leaving for my children.

Grrrrrrr!

I had just finished an article when something happened and my blog entry disappeared. Normally, I would find unfinished entries in my draft but when I clicked on it nothing happened. Grrrr! And I have written a lot! Now it really sucks to be me (this time only)! I'd have to put it off for a couple of days, I can't think straight now. 

Wordless Wednesday

my Allen...

While doing our groceries, I asked my youngest son whether he was really ready to go to school and with much enthusiasm, he said "opo mommy" (yes mommy). I told him "if you really want to go to school, you have to make sure that you know how to read well."  My son answered that he already knows how to read, so I told him "ok if you know how to read, can you read this word?" (as I pointed at a big sign at the grocery aisle. My youngest son kept quiet for a few seconds then answered me "hindi ko sasabi mom, secret lang" (I won't tell you mom, it's a secret) then smiled sheepishly.

Then awhile ago, my Allen said, "mom aral na po ako" (mom i'm done studying). I then proceeded to test him and told him to read the word that I have written down. After a few seconds, my son told me, "kaw nga mom try mo basa!"(go ahead mom, try to read it). Haay...he has so many "palusots" and I have no idea how he is able to come up with them. :)

Now I can breathe...

I finally found the perfect time to tell my Papa, "I love you"  and guess what? He said "I love you" back :)  I called a few days ago to greet my father as it was his 81st birthday and it just came out of my mouth...perhaps, my mind and my heart has been preparing for this moment. And am so happy it went well. I was even about to put the phone down and was not even expecting him to answer back but he did. I was smiling the whole day I was in the office. No one could break my stance, not even my angry and frustrated customer over the phone. I was still smiling when I went home. You know how it felt like? It felt so much like Anggat, La Mesa, Magat and San Roque Dams combined. It felt like the rush of water that's been kept contained for quite a while. All the emotional baggages I have stored in the recesses of my mind has been instantly cleaned of its cobwebs of doubt. And although those words were said over the phone I know it meant a lot to him as much as it did for me. 

My father is a quiet man, he'd rather talk to the nails he pounds on the wood at the back of our ancestral home than say what runs deep in his mind. But...

Papa, thank you for putting this family together. Thank you for being the calm after the storm. Thank you for teaching me how to drive, for giving me 10 pesos each time I wash your car :)  

For teaching me and my sisters to ride the bicycle, for teaching us to love animals...especially cats. Thank you for giving us a home...for making sure we graduate from college and for putting up with what happened in between. 

Thank you Papa for being present on major occasions in my life, for being there on my graduation, and for walking me down the aisle on my wedding day. There are so many memories that you have been a big part of Papa and I am sorry I was not able to say "I love you" on several instances. I thought doing so required some form of Herculean task but I  was wrong. But there...I've said it...we can now both breathe and let go of our silly fears and doubts. :)

Pasta a la calabaza

I recently discovered ways of creating healthy food using squash. I've done it a la lumpiang shanghai with corned tuna, I've also used it as a binder for cooking "tortang dulong" (which, according to google is also called, anchovy fry). And my kids loves it! Just the other day, i experimented again, this time with pasta. I sauteed, corned tuna in olive oil and lots of garlic then mixed it with squash which i have mashed earlier. As seasoning I included lots of ground pepper and italian herbs...i did not even include tomato sauce as I think this would not match well with squash. And that was it...I just poured it over spaghetti noodles and topped it with cheese and my kids just loved it to bits! Instead of corned tuna perhaps you may want to try using ground beef or pork for it to taste meatier. 

Wordless Wednesday

(last) Friday tags

I was tagged by my blogger sis - Ria of It's my party (and I'll cry when I want to). Yes, sis it's been a while too since I last did a tag.

So, let's see here...hmmmm

What are your middle names?
~ Mine is C while my husbands' is C as well.

How long have you been together?
~ a lifetime... 

How long did you know each other before you started dating?
~ since our previous life .... :) 

Who asked whom out?
~ My husband did.

How old are each of you?
~ Now that is a big secret hahaha

Whose siblings do you see the most?
~ My siblings. His siblings are scattered all over Luzon

Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
~ Being far apart and making ends meet.

Did you go to the same school?
~ No

Are you from the same home town?
~ No

Who is smarter?
~ My husband is very good with numbers and Logic...and yes finances. While am good at arts, english, science and practical sense.

Who is the more sensitive?
~ ME, myself and I

Where do you eat out most as a couple?
~ Shakey's Pizza, Dad's

Who has the crazier exes?
~ I think we both have. Though he'd rather not talk about his exes (not sure if there were many! hahahaha) but mine were dysfunctional individuals. I think I was a magnet (then!) for major losers! hehehehe....

*** Ria, I have the same answers for most of the questions i was also a magnet for the sweet type turned whacked out playboy losers type back in College hahaha...

Who has the worse temper?
~ definitely, that would be me. My husband is also a very patient man. I tend to just snap when I reach my "boiling point".

Who does the cooking?
~ I cook a lot...I love cooking and the only food my husband has done so far is fried chicken, and the best tomato omelette. Cooking is part of my territory...

Who is the neat-freak?
~ I am very OC when it comes to organizing our stuff. My husband is too in some ways but he is messier hehehe. Am sure my husband will react :)

Who is more stubborn?
~ My husband says I am more stubborn.

Who hogs the bed?
~ our children...

Who wakes up earlier?
~ when my husband was still in the Philippines, if am not too tired from my shift i wake up and fix him breakfast. but during weekends, he would wake up first then wake me up too.

Who is more jealous?
~ Both of us are.

How long did it take to get serious?
~ as soon as we got to know each other. I think he was more into the relationship during the first few months. He was already talking about marriage then while I was still in doubt whether the relationship would work. It's this way since I have been from relationships that did not work out so...there

Who eats more?
~ We both do. But I think my husband eats more because I remember coming home from work he'd eat as if he has not eaten for a week.

Who does the laundry?
~ When we got married, he made sure I did the laundries because when I was single I never touched my soiled clothes. So for a few weeks he made sure I did but then he saw my hands, he decided to have someone wash our clothes for us.  

Who’s better with the computer?
~ I would say he is far better than I am with computers.

Who drives when you are together?
~  whenever we go out he would drive but when I see him tired na as in really tired then I do the driving.

Thanks to Ria for tagging me! Am tagging my blogger buds as well...have not visited you guys for a long time...

Mommy Gen, Jennifer, Nhil, Call center gal, Wendy, Jane, Qumang, and Karen.

After the storm...

I remember years back when I would challenge my best male bud to race along what used to be a crater like road, in Bacao, Cavite.  With our company borrowed stainless jeepneys (or better known as Owner-type jeepneys), we would race the long stretch and I would always win. I remember years back when I would dare agree to try out the most "stomach churning" amusement rides in Tokyo Disneyland and our very own Enchanted Kingdom, or those times when my father would ask my help in fixing the antenna on the roof, and I would bravely climb up... or even those occasions when my sister and I would climb up the Aratilis tree on our backyard and pretend that we were Wonder Woman or Darna. That was so many years ago when I was still single. These days you won't even find me near an aratilis tree, encouraging my children to climb up and see the first one who gets to break their bones. I think my mother was braver than I credit her for. Me? I palpitate and panic a bit when I hear my children cry. Eversince I've become a mother, my fears were more centered on my children. Hence, when typhoon Ondoy (international name: Ketsana), decided to wreak havoc and leave hundreds of people dead and millions homeless...i felt more scared. Oh! I am very thankful that our place was spared from the floods and feel so sad for my countrymen and friends who were not so lucky. But as a mother, I cannot help but wonder about the "what ifs???" how would I have handled such a situation?, how would I proceed in saving my family?... Ughhh! it just scares the s**t out of me! But then what can we do? As mothers...as parents...we can only do as much then put all our trust in the Lord. Because no one really knows the plans He has for us, only He holds the blue print of our lives.  Only the Lord.... 

Seventish

It was my mom's 70th birthday yesterday, 16th of September and it was our wish to spend it festively if not lavishly. However, we found out that our relatives from the States where coming over and has planned a party of their own. Still everything went well...our mother spent her 70th with people who mattered to her all those years ... her family ... and although some of our relatives were not able to attend. They made their presence felt through the text messages and phone calls she received that day. 

Happy Happy birthday Mama! Enjoy the rest of the day with family and friends....

Birthday road trip...

The "date" that I had with my daughter yesterday went great! We went to Tagaytay and had lunch at Leslie's. I made sure that i brought along a drawing book and some art stuff that my daughter and I can do while waiting for our order. She drew the Taal Lake, which was a bit foggy though but the view was a sight to behold! After Leslie's we proceeded to Starbucks due to "insistent daughter demand" it was her first time :)  And on we went to Pink Sisters we stayed there and joined the adoration sisters in their midafternoon prayers. Then we met an old lady who requested to ride along with us till she can get to Aguinaldo highway. She was about 75 to 78 years old perhaps and she says that she has been in the Philippines for 11 years serving a Catholic Organisation called Focolare. She came from Italy, and I noted to my daughter that Italy was where she could find the best pasta and pizza. She was a very nice old lady who reminds me so much of my Lola Belle. I know I surprised my daughter today by letting a stranger join us but I trusted the Lord right that moment. I would like to think that I made a positive mark to my daughter. However, I also reminded my daughter that this is something that we do not do often and that we need to trust our instincts when someone approaches and asks for a ride as given the current times it's best to be on the defensive. We were supposed to watch a movie but my daughter and i decided to go home early as we wanted to celebrate the rest of the day with her two younger siblings.

baaaloow me down...

Blowing air into a balloon is no simple task yet this was the first thing I did as soon as I arrived home from an 11-hour shift. My two sons prepared a "birthday poster" while their Ate Ally was in school. So, at the last minute I thought the poster would look more festive if i threw in a few balloons, as I wanted the said poster to be the first thing my daughter sees as soon as she wakes up. The "air pump", however, that i bought last Christmas was no longer working so I had to go manual. By the time I finished the fifth balloon, I was so breathless and felt as if I've lost 20 pounds lol.