CONTROL PANEL

Savion trash-talked his brother saying, "In your face!" I suggested that he unlearn this trash-talk. He agreed but clarified, "Do you mean I should 'uninstall' it from my mind?"

JUNO'S CROSS

Juno's drawing of a crucifix he saw inside a chapel.

Juno is the 4-year old cousin of Savion and Nicolas.

GATES OF HEAVEN

After attending Palm Sunday mass and reflecting on the coming Holy Week, Savion remarked, "The gates of heaven are closed on Good Friday. Nobody can enter heaven and all are in limbo. But in two days they all enter and are happy."

KINDER KONSULTANT

For a job interview, I had to give a keynote presentation to a panel of experts. I asked some friends for tips and suggestions since I've never done a presentation before. Everyone contributed helpful information and for the next few days I practiced my script. On the day of the presentation, Nicolas kept asking questions and was extra attentive to my needs. He probably sensed the importance of the day and was aware of the situation. I playfully asked him for advice and he said, "Just be happy." - The best advice I got.

TADIAM

TADIAM
(The Nonsense Song)
by Savion Garcia

Ta ta ta diam
Ta di am ma da
Ta di am hakumatata
Di am badi ya badi, uh ah uh uh
Huh tada da ta di ya ma
Ta de yam, ta de yam mada,
Ta de yam mada, Ta de yam mada
Ta de ya m, ta dem mada da
Ta di ya m, ta di ya m mada
Ta di ya m mada,
Ta di ya mm, maaaada.

TOOTSIE POP

Savion received candies as a Valentine treat from his classmates. He got a couple of Snickers and Musketeers chocolate bars and also a "Tootsie Pop" which was new to him. He showed it to his brother, Nicolas, and both were interested in knowing more about this new candy treat. Savion asked his mother, "Mom, what's a Tootsie Pop?" Their mother answered that it was a variation of the Tootsie Roll candy. Nicolas interjected, "I know! It's a Bad Word Pop! You know, like in T.V. They say, "Tooooot" when they say a bad word."

HEART CARDS

BECOMING "A GAY"

Nicolas remembered having his haircut in a unisex parlor. He narrated and explained, "Dad, I saw 'a gay'. She had very long hair but her voice was a boy voice. A gay is a boy who wants to be a girl. I was confused but amazed." I asked him how one becomes 'a gay'. Nicolas confidently answered, "First, you have to brush your hair a lot of times. Then, you eat an ant**. And then you put on lipstick. That's it."

**Legend has it that eating an ant will transform one's voice and make it more beautiful; recommended remedy for aspiring singers.

Photo courtesy of
Salvador Natividad

SUPERFRIENDS

Nicolas discussed the superheroes he knew about. This is what he concluded about Superman and Supergirl: "Superman and Supergirl just like each other. They do not love each other. They're just friends."

EXPERTISE

Nicolas told his brother that he improved a lot in his badminton play. He was asked to assess his skill as a badminton player. Nicolas answered, "Now, I'm a 'medium' (his term for intermediate). In basketball, I'm a 'zero' (his term for beginner) and in singing, I'm a medium." He proudly added, "But, I'm an expert, in loving my mommy."

BOY INTERRUPTED

As Savion accompanied his mother at the supermarket, he saw a beautiful young girl with a flowing Sunday dress. He lowered his head as the young girl passed him but then did a quick 180 degree turn to look admiringly at her. His mother noticed what transpired and smilingly asked what happened. Savion sheepishly remarked, "I'm too young for that, right?"

His mother let it pass and saved 'the talk' for another day.

EVEREST SUMMITERS

"Another few weary steps and there was nothing above us but the sky. There was no false cornice, no final pinnacle. We were standing together on the summit. There was enough space for about six people. We had conquered Everest."
Sir Edmund Hillary
(July 20, 1919 - January 11, 2008)

"I have climbed my mountain, but I must still live my life."
Tenzing Norgay
(May 1914 - May 9, 1986)

"The Philippine Eagle has landed on the summit."
Heracleo "Leo" Oracion
1st Filipino Mt. Everest summiter

Savion with Leo Oracion

at Inauguration of Everest Academy Manila,
August 6, 2007

GIFTS FROM THE HEART

Savion got his mother a belated Christmas gift*. With a tinge of disappointment, Nicolas remarked, "Mommy, I wish I could also give you a Christmas gift. But anyway, you already have my heart**."

*"The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman

**Cutout Heart by Nicolas

GREET TREAT

When my friend came home from work, his 5-year old daughter, Issa, was watching T.V. She was totally engrossed with her T.V. program and ignored his arrival. So, he called out to her, "Hey, Issa! You didn't greet me!" With a puzzled look, Issa turned to him and asked, "Why? Is it your birthday?"

GOODBYE HELLO (Series)

"Goodbye 2007. Hello 2008."

"Goodbye 2006. Hello 2007."

"Goodbye 2005. Hello 2006."

"Goodbye 2004. Hello 2005."

KNIGHT ADVERTISING

As we drove over a bridge overlooking the city, Nicolas noticed a floodlight at a distance. He was amazed at the intense light illuminating the night sky. He started a conversation with his brother...

Nicolas: Kuya, look at the light. Is that for Superman, Batman or The Flash?
Savion: No, Nicolas. That is for Advertising.
Nicolas: Advertising? What is advertising?
Savion: Advertising is like selling.
Nicolas: I see. So, are they selling flashlights?

AGE GAP

Savion asked us about our age difference. "Six years.", we told him. "So you mean to say, Daddy, when you were eight years old, Mommy was two years old?" And with a hint of disbelief, Savion asked further, "So you mean I can marry a pre-schooler?"

THE FALLEN ANGEL

I had an animated breakfast conversation with the children and their cousins (their ages are 5, 7, 10 and 13). There were questions on:

Souls - "Do we really have souls or are we just organisms?"
Heaven - "How will I look like in heaven?"
Fallen Angel - "Why did the angel disobey God?"
Love of God - "How much does God love us?" and
Santa's Elves - "How do they sneak around and hide the gifts?".

It was a balancing act receiving and dishing out information from these topics. I made sure to keep light of the topics and not make it a theological discussion. I already had a tough time answering Nicolas' question, "Did you see Santa in the mall? What did he look like?"

Savion was interested to ask more about the fallen angel. He thought of how God must have felt when the angel disobeyed Him. The children wondered whether the fallen angel could ever go back to God and return to heaven? Was there a chance of this happening?

Savion then said, "When I die, I will go to hell and tell the devil to say sorry to God and then He will let him in heaven. Then I go to purgatory and I then I go to heaven."

PYTHON

The children have been watching a lot of features on cable channels, "Discovery", "National Geographic" and "Animal Planet". Nicolas saw a feature on snakes and was instantly fascinated. He went on asking questions about the cobra and the python and went on to inform everyone how these creatures shed their skin and devour their prey.

A bit worried, I inquired, "Are snakes amazing or a bit frightening?" Nicolas replied, "Snakes? They're beautiful."


Check links:
http://discovery.com
http://nationalgeographic.com
http://animal.discovery.com

ROW,ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT

"THE SEVEN CONTINENTS"
Seven continents of the globe
Count them all with me
North America, South America, Africa makes three.
Europe, Asia, Australia, the three more that I know.
And don't forget Antarctica, the seventh way to go.

"ARE YOU HAPPY?"

I often, just out of the blue, ask the kids this question, "Are you happy?". They always say yes and they give good food, tasty snacks, a great movie, computer time, a funny T.V. show, or gummy worms as reasons for their happiness.
Today, I asked the same question, "Nicolas, are you happy?" "Yes!", he replied. "And why are you happy?" "Because of you."
Today, I am equal with the gummy worms.

PUPPY LOVE LETTER

Nicolas accompanied his mother during her tap dance class. There, Nicolas met his mom's 12-year old students. Nicolas was particularly smitten with Maddie as evidenced by this letter:

HIGH EMOTION

"Is he excited or is he mad?" remarked Savion, after learning that his uncle was brought to the hospital after a sudden increase in blood pressure.