a new baby?

We are only three in the family, uhm... I mean officially Genzola.
But we're soon gonna be FIVE! 


Now, when we are all grown ups, the youngest brother being 21 already and all are professionals, my parents are starting to have this BABY IN THE HOUSE SYNDROME! It was not a year ago when they brought home my second cousin Ikay to stay with them in our home; the reason basically was to enroll her to the Day Care Center situated just in front of our house. Since then, Ikay has been the new apple of their eyes. Ikay is a four year old girl who has the wits of an old woman and clearly won the hearts of my paternal grandparents, uncles and aunties who are also living within the compound. Now, Ikay is the darling of the crowd, provided with milk, vitamins, dresses and all the other tiny-thimbles a kid needs and wants.  

face painted as a leopard, she loves it

Ikay participating at the summer art class

Bea, Ikay and me

But two weeks ago, the news of another auntie (again) giving birth to a baby boy injected in them the idea of adopting that baby also. Whew! Now, my mother is excited to buy a crib, towels and all the other baby stuffs! If this pushes through it won't be long when the house will be smelling like a baby again and that we will all stay up late at night trying to dance the baby to sleep. 


Now, when I share this story to my friends, they are all just saying one thing, "It's time to give them an apo..." What? Now, we're also haunted by the baby-in-the-house Syndrome. While admittedly I am starting to love babies and the idea of having a baby my own, it still isn't concrete because it just comes and goes. Now, I want, now I don't. But I think for sure, I am scared! Scared probably of the whole concept of motherhood and parenthood. I have one life to look after to, a mouth to feed though budget is not an issue, but it's the intangible things that I am so much worried of. Just the other day, I dreamt of me being pregnant, and I was so scared to death in my dreams, How much more if it's already a reality? 


I am lucky to belong in a family who is very open-minded and supportive. Both our parents are already somewhat hinting us that they want a grandkid, but I think Daniel and I are not yet prepared. It's not about the age but we are still focusing on our careers and our life as being individuals. We still go home to our own family and we don't have to think of another 'life' apart from our own.  In God's proper time, i know I will be a mother but now, just not yet. There are just 101 reasons why we are not yet ready, first thing is we're not yet married.

Baby?

Tula para sa PBB

I wrote this a year ago when I was auditioning for PBB. 

Nakakatawa and ang sarap balikan... 

Ang PBB experience ko. BOW!

Windang na windang pa rin ako hanggang sa ngayon

Kahit ang lahat ay nagsimula lamang sa isang biruan

Baka bukas makalawa, aba’y paggising ko

May mga kamera nang nakatutok sa pagmumukha ko

Sa Bahay ni Kuya ako’y papasok

Kung  saan totoong drama ng buhay, Pinoy ay nakatutok

Bahay na sikat dahil sa boses na pamilyar sa lahat

Bahay kung saan wala ng iba kundi si  Kuya lang boss ng lahat

Noong PBB season 1, si Kumander Nene ang naghari,

Kasama sina Uma, Jason, Franzen at Cass na sexy

Dito lumabas ang gwapong si Papa Sam Milby

Sa kanyang killer smile lahat tayo’y napa-ihi

PBB Season 2, lahat yata pasaway

Dito sumikat linya ni Bea, “Maricris, respect is not imposed, it is earned!”

Kaya naman boto ng Pinoy sa kanya ibinigay

Hanggang sa  big night si Bea ang nanalong tunay

Nitong pangatlong season,  bunganga pa lang ni Melai show na

Lalo pang tumatak nang pag-ibig ni Jason ay kanya

Melason di naglao’y nagbunga- anak nila Dengue ang ngalan niya

Big Winner sa masa, hanggang sa ngayon si Melai Pureza na

Ngayong season 4, si Kuya naghahanap ng mga kasambahay

Iba-ibang klase ng Pinoy tiyak mapapanood sa Kapamilya

Tanong ko lang aba eh, kasama ba ako?

Sana naman ng aking sarili maibahagi ko

Para sa iba nais nilang pumasok dahil tingin kay Kuya si Binay, gaganda ang buhay

Ang iba naman parang si Villar, tatapos sa kahirapan

Ang sabi ko naman gusto ko happy ka Kuya

Maging inspirasyon ng kabataan na mag-aral at maging mabuting generasyon

Sabi nga ni Miriam, “For the meantime, we should think for our next generation

Because our future should have a very good foundation for our salvation!”

Sigaw ko lang, atras sila, abante ako. Now na!

-          End –

-          Written by:  Joya Genzola 07-26-2011 

STUDYING 101

I am often asked how do I study...


And I actually do not know how do I study. All I remember was that when I was in elementary I studied with my mother (who was thank God, very very patient in reviewing us with the lessons and making a mock exam) but the catch is --- we do it infront of the television. That's basically my dynamics in learning, no pressure and easy. 

Everything was easy in elementary (oh well except Math) but the real world of 'studying' occurred when I was in high school. I studied at a Science High School and when these three words go together, it will only mean one thing brainiac! True, our BRAIN got Insistently Abused by the Curriculum. You know, why all the other typical high schoolers were preoccupied with crushes and gimmicks, our crushes were Einstein, Mendel, Archimedes and Curie and our gimmicks were inside the chemlab perfecting the mixtures of chemicals that will make our mini-volcano erupt. It was such a headache for four years. We have to endure it but I am glad I survived it. If I were to be asked what is my biggest accomplishment in life, it would be SURVIVING HIGH SCHOOL.  


Check this indie movie about the life of Science High School students, PISAY by Aureus Solito http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuXGrIWDZ5I


But every sweat in high school paid off when we entered college because of the training we got. In college, every subject was just easy basically because we were already sharpened by our high school education. We didn't have to worry about physics or organic chemistry because we already knew the position of the -OH in Ethyl or Isopropyl and all the other alcohol in the world. Now, this explains why I was so keen in my CH4 (methane) example during the debate contrabattle. 


I took up Nursing, it's a subject that was not far from my science inclination but this subject also caused me stresses because of the many memorization, which I am not fond of. Even if I have trained in PowerMemory which gives me the advantage of memorizing things in seconds and storing them in either my short-term or long-term memory, I still hate  memorizing. We have to memorize tons and tons of drugs and its mechanism of action. Like, what's the difference between an antitussive and an expectorant. Not to mention the tongue twister names of other formulation. 


But I again, survived it with flying colors and when I took the board exam, it was all a culmination of my efforts since elementary. I sweat but I glistened after as I ranked 7th in the whole Philippines. 


When I became a teacher, I vowed to myself that I will be the best. I will be that teacher whom students love to attend class with and not fall asleep. I hope I am that - my philosophy is happy learning. That is, learning is better facilitated if the teacher will maintian a happy and positive outlook in the class. No terrorism, never a dull moment. 

Teaching Kuya Eting and Biggel basic English :-) Laughtrip

Now, I am sharing to you some tips in studying. These may not be true to all but these worked for me. 


1. DON'T PUSH. Study when you want and how you want. If you're not in the mood for studying do not waste your time pretending to study, nothing will happen. 


2. CHECK HOW YOU LEARN BEST. I am an auditory learner, meaning I learned best when a good lecturer discusses and I pay attention. So I really don't dwell on writing, I just listen. If you are a visual learner, meaning you retain more if you see colorful things, side notes or other visual aids, then do it. 


3. REST BEFORE STUDYING. Give your self and your brain a rest period before studying. If you're tired, chances of retaining the lesson is quite small. Powernaps or rest-in-between are also helpful. Powernap is 10-15 minutes only, never 4 hours. Haha. 


4. ORGANIZE. It helps if you organize your notes before you study so you won't stop the momentum when you need to look for the next page of your hand-outs. 


5. STUDY THE EASY ONES FIRST, HARDEST LAST. Study shows that we retain the last thing we memorize so it will help if that subject is crucial. Another reason for me is that, I have to finish the easy ones first and be settled so that even if the hardest subject eats all of my time, I am assured all the other subjects were taken already, I just review them a little afterwards.


6. WHEN SLEEPY, MUNCH. My practice was to keep cookies, candies and lollipops while studying because whenever I feel hungry or sleepy, they are my usual saviors. 


7. REWARD YOURSELF. What I usually did before was to give myself a positive reinforcement if I finish ahead of time like I watch television or read my favorite pocketbook for a good job. And if I did well in the exams, I reward myself by eating ice cream or watch movie. 


8. BE HAPPY. Learning should be happy, never a punishment. 


I hope you get something out from my little list.

Nursery Recognition Day, I was 1st Honors

Remember that education as what we always hear from our parents is something that cannot be taken away from us (except if you will suffer from Alzheimer's), but that's true. And for us to be educated, we have to do our part. The efforts of our mentors are not enough if we do not cooperate and the thing is, it is our own treasure not some one else's so don't expect other people to do it for you. Most importantly, let me borrow Dr. Jose Rizal's words: 

"the heart of education is the education of the heart"

How about you? How do you study? SHARE!

365 things I like, love and learned about you, me and us

I am recycling this Note I've written 2 years ago...
Written Sept. 3, 2011


I like the simplicity of this note and the meaning of every word I wrote.

Ten years from now we would probably be sitting at the porch of our Victorian style mansion; early morning, you sip on your coffee I so genuinely created and mastered for six years of marriage. I, on the other hand is reading our favorite author Khaled Hosseinni and drinking my all time Anlene milk which you so advised me to drink seriously now. Rafa, now six years of age is haplessly playing with his toy he calls broom-broom which was given to him by his favorite lolo and our daughter Nikki now heavy at two years is playing with her toes in her crib.

Ten years is quite long. To think that we are so preoccupied with a lot of things now. Like how do we start our careers on a steady gait and how do we take things as we pace in the times where the salary is only equal to the Nine West shoes I so dying-ly want and so fitted perfectly in my long chiseled legs which by the way the one which you first fell in love with.

We are successful in our first year of relationship. We were successful in keeping it securely fastened to the circle of friends and comrades we trust and share little things with. Now, I write to tell you the 365 things I like, love and leaned about me, you and us.

1. I love you.
2. I love you loving me.
3. I love your unconditional love.
4. I like the way you tell me that you love me.
5. I love it when you tell me that nobody can ever replace me.
6. I like it when you play with my hair.
7. I like it when you told me, “There’s something about the way you stare at me.”
8. I like it when you call out my name when you’re already angry.
9. I love how you hold my hands.
10. I love how you kiss my forehead during good-byes.
11. I love how you kiss my cheeks during Mass.
12. I love how you hold my hand during the Our Father.
13. I love it when you talk to me things you’re frustrated with.
14. I like the way you deal with my brothers and family.
15. I love it when you tell me you’re scared of losing me.
16. I love it when you kiss me in the hand.
17. I love it when you kiss me before bedtime.
18. I like it when you wear the jeans I so liked.
19. I like it when you let me translate the gay-lingo we hear.
20. I like it when you let me decide what to wear.
21. I like it when you tell me that the dress looks nice on me.
22. I like it when you spoon-feed me.
23. I like the curiosity I see in your eyes each time I caught people staring at you.
24. I like it when you tell me I’m sexy.
25. I like it when you hold my hands and trail me along when we walk on the streets.
26. I love it when you hold me tight each time we cross the road.
27. I love it when you tell me, “You don’t have anything to be jealous of…”
28. I love it when you share me to your parents.
29. I love it when you greet me, “Good morning sweetie…” each morning.
30. I love it when you text me, “Where are you gorgeous?”
31. I love it when we speak good English each time we fight.
32. I love it each time you smile.
33. I love it each time you make pa-cute when I’m bad trip.
34. I love the time we danced like crazy people in the suite.
35. I love it each time you smell my armpit.
36. I love the scent of your armpits too.
37. I love it when you tell me to eat more but not force the food when I start gagging.
38. I love it each time you guide me in the movie house.
39. I like how you always tell me, “Naano ka man?”
40. I love it when you always give me the second spoon of ice cream.
41. I just learned that you are now scared of Potato Corner.
42. I love it when you tell me, “Yes, boss…”
43. I love it when you tell me, “Relax!”
44. I like it when you would always tease me about my asymmetrical face.
45. I love it when you tell me, “Anything for you hon…”
46. I love it when you will ask me to keep your wallet.
47. I love competing with your virtual girlfriend.
48. I love eating spaghetti with you.
49. I love eating barbecue beef teriyaki with you.
50. I like the taste of isaw when I’m eating with you.
51. I like how you always put your hand on my head under rain.
52. I learned that I cannot hide any emotions from you.
53. I love it that you can read me from the inside.
54. I love it when you tell me, “I’m all yours for the takings…”
55. I love the way you make me feel secured by telling me, “I could not ask for more…”
56. I love it when you would always tell me, “Ngaa may ma subra pa kay Genzola?”
57. I learned that you keep print outs of our pictures together.
58. I love it when you eat the rest of my rice.
59. I love it when you would call me at home.
60. I like it when you show your concern over my hellish emotions.
61. I love it when you tell me, “Ikaw pa, kaya na ah…”
62. I learned that one of the cherished moments that we have was the time we were scrambling getting into a tinted taxi.”
63. I love it when you tell me, “You’re my wife…”
64. I love it when you tell me that come the time, you will be the one to walk our kids in the mall.
65. I like it when you tell me, “Sunggod ka naman…?”
66. I like it when you tell me that you love my knees.
67. I love it when you always go gaga over my long legs. 
68. I love it when you like my tummy even if it already has little folds.
69. I love it when you would always remind me to remain fit and sexy even if I’ll have kids later on.
70. I love it when you consider me your secretary, manager, pimp and commissioner.
71. I learned that even if it annoys me, I still enjoy you playing with my floppy arms.
72. I love it when you spoil me like a real brattinella.
73. I love it when you always tell me you believed in me.
74. I like how you would always text me and ask if I’m home already.
75. I love you being close to my father.
76. I learned that you are one of the biggest risks I took.
77. I learned that I wasn’t prepared for you this soon.
78. I love it that we are not the usual item.
79. I love it that up to now we still do not know what we are.
80. I love our system that when apart, we fight and sleep with it knowing we’ll be okay after waking up.
81. I love it when we fight and we’re together we do not let the night slip without fixing things.
82. I love that we only share one pillow, one blanket.
83. I like the thought of you always counting on all my toiletries.
84. I like going to grocery with you.
85. I like how you would ask me to buy you pineapple.
86. I like it when we would always play the Idiot’s game in your cellphone.
87. I love the foot massage experience that we had.
88. I love it when you always commend me when I wear nice clothes, put make up and don high heels.
89. I like the shawarma rice and watermelon shake combination that we have during movies.
90. I like all the Kate Beckinsale movies that we watched together.
91. I like going to vacations with you.
92. I like staying idle on the beach with you.
93. I love that you would always ask tissue papers from me.
94. I love seeing you play with kids.
95. I love shopping with you coz I always end up not buying anything.
96. I love eating palitaw with you.
97. I love the thought of you talking with my mama on the phone.
98. I love eating cakes with you.
99. I love drinking sjora beside you while you drink your frappe.
100. I like the tightness of your squeeze whenever I tell you I’m scared.

~to be continued... 

Just save your own fansign

Miles and Miles of FANSIGN.


"Ateh, pwede mo akong magawan ng fansign?"
"Ako rin"
"Thank you in advance"


Now, these are what I would usually see when I open my twitter account (@enJOYAble7). And how can I say no to people who in so many ways supported and loved us while we were inside the PBBhouse. 


Now, I'm trying my best to make time in making them a little bit happy by making them fansigns. 


This is just the first half as I know I still owe others their own fansign to. 


Sorry if I have to paste all here and will just let you save your own fansign coz I'm in the middle of finishing starting my work. 


As soon as I can find longer time, I'll tag you and do the other half as well. 


Thank you so much and sana, napasaya ko kayo. 

If you have observed, it's a solitary job. I hold the fansign and I also click the camera! ang saya!


Just save your own FS and have fun!

highschool crush, 1st boyfriend and the Prince

What if you fall in love with someone not like your dream man? Girls would always dream of a knight in shining armor, probably the one who is tall, chinito, heartthrob, the shool athlete, etc. But what if suddenly you wake up loving someone who is not just your typical high school crush? This I say as the start of reality.

I would be more surprised if we didn’t click as friends rather than as a couple.

While everything sees that I’m this shallow, feisty and talkative girl and you are this calm, cool and collected guy, a lot of people would certainly ask, 

“Why them?”

Let me then point out the things that might have led us into this almost 20 months long relationship. While I have this very estrogenic-drive, let me point out that I’m the analytical type, you are then the rational type. While you are the methodical, I am the intuitive. I am the emotional, you are the objective.

So, you see we are completely not opposite but complementary. So it’s not that opposite attracts but let me say, we collided and like two small particles, there was mergence. So  the Law of Conservation of Energy is really true, that is energy cannot be created nor destroyed, it can only be transformed from one form to another. So therefore, in our case, it is such that our friendship eventually transformed into a kind of love indestructible(?), hence we call ourselves the ‘power couple’.

I know it may be early yet to say these things but let me also correct that this is not a perpetuation of a phenomenon but that in my words I may call it destiny, that is, if we are really meant to be with each other the it will be us. In your own translation, you call it choice. That is, if we want it, then we shall choose to be in it.

Isn’t it funny when at least one of five interprets me as not fitted to be your better half because obviously, everybody loves the nice guy and hates the overturned girl. Well, that would just really be in Hollywood movies.

 Take this for example, you have been thirsty for a decade not being able to drink water and here it is served in your face a glass of water, not just tap but straight from the Alps mountain, what would you do? 

Of course, instincts will say that automatically, you will quench your thirst by gulping that water bottoms up. Now, let me dissect the scenario, your thirst is the longing to be loved, to be quenched, to be filled again. The water is that source of happiness. So you expect me to claim that I’m the water – naah! I am the glass which holds that water. 

While the water is the substance that quenches the thirst, I am that vessel which holds it.

If then it is determinism or randomness, who cares? All in know is that I am very much thankful and appreciative of all these beautiful experience of being in love the first time and probably the last? Like you always say, it is the here and now that all matters because it determines tomorrow. 

For as long as we make each other happy, I’m fine with it. For as long as we grow together, I’m okay with it. You always tell me, I can always go if I really want to, I just want to laugh and say, like as if you’ll let me...

It’s really funny and I guess this makes me high. So high that it’s addicting. And I’m getting to the tolerance level. At the end of this all, whether you are really the frog or the beast, I’m okay with it. Coz it will only take a kiss to make you my Prince. 

Written and 1st published on April 17, 2011.

TEN TEN de SARAPen

May mga bagay sa mundo na sadyang nakakapagpaligaya sa tao. 

Hayaan niyo po akong ibahagi sa inyo ang para sa akin ay dahilan bakit napapangiti ako. 

ANG SAMPUNG BAGAY NA NAKAKAPAGPASAYA KAY JOYA

Hours ago, I was on the telephone talking to my boyfriend deciding if we really have to drop something we really wanted a month ago. And it really pained me since that whatsoever would and should have been a reminder of my craziness last year. I was so frustrated and hurt. I was so down and I wanted to cry.

But thank God for such a therapeutic talker, he eased me out of the sadness telling me the many things we should be looking forward to and that when God closes a door, He not just opens a window "but the whole rooftop" I added.

Now, as suggested by a friend, here are the ten things that makes me smile on a tough moment. 

DISCLAIMER: The rankings may be odd and the list may be silly but don't get me wrong these are things. Small things that just brighten me up. Please don't expect answers like Family and Love. They are not things in the first place. 

1. WATER --- H2O. 

Yup, whether it is for drinking or cleaning. Water is one thing I cannot live happily without. Remember when we were sent inside the PBB slums, we have to survive a day with only 10 pails of water for 14 housemates? That was so difficult. The new set of housemates were adjusting to being away from our comfortable lives and another blow is to be sane without water. Not to mention that the female housemates were having that time of the month? Kalowka! And so when we did have a chance to win the luxurious water (desert lang ang peg?), we did everything we can. Personally, water is everything. After a tiring day, just give me a great shower and I'm fine. I remember the first thing I did after I got evicted--- take a bath for at least an hour. 

2. Could there be any yummier than an UBE ICE CREAM?

Native to Philippines, this purple-colored eye candy and mouth sweetness is an ultimate childhood to adulthood feast to almost all Pinoys. Whoever invented ube ice cream is my Einstein!

3. DARK DENIM JEANS

I will never exchange my dark denim jeans! They are just fashionable, comfortable and will certainly be alive 100 years from now. They will never be out of style. When jeans were accidentally made during the gold rush era, it meant only one thing, the rush is not in ores 

but in jeans. 

4. NIKE Sports Bag

I'm a self confessed sucker for anything Nike. Ehem! Paging Nike Philippines? From shoes, to shirts to flipflops and ultimately their bags - knapsack, gym bags and sling bags. Grabeh! I am convinced with their philosophy. I often told my boyfriend before that he is such a brand conscious buyer, he corrected me by saying he just wants quality - and yes, with Nike, I agree. 

5. FLAT FOOTWEARS

You would always find me wearing flats. Although I'm a great fan of extremely high-heeled shoes, I am slowing down on them after my doctor advised me to minimize the use of tall shoes since it aggravates my back pains. Bye! Bye. But since I will still opt comfort and not just because I am a good patient, my flats are a constant companion. 

6. JOURNAL NOTEBOOKS + PEN

I like taking down notes, writing facts, quotes and just doodling anything that crosses my mind especially when I'm at airports. I don't have an iPad so I'll just do great with my pen and the pages of my journal notebooks. These notebooks, whether expensive or affordable are my latest addiction. I love looking at beautifully designed covers and I particularly fancy the nature-friendly & recycled notebooks that are sold in stores now. Whenever people ask me what do I want as gift, I always say a journal notebook, but it also wouldn't hurt if an iPad is coming. 

7. PAULO COEHLO'S BOOKS

I am such a Paulo Coehlo fanatic. I like how he writes and does magic with words. He was introduced to me by a friend and since then I have read 80% of his books and what else could make me even love him more when he himself, the great Paulo Coehlo retweeted me: 

ANSABE?!!! me already!

8. RED VELVET CAKE

Give me red velvet and I'll be a good girl with a big red smile :-)

9. SOAPS 

It may be rooted to my OC personality, but gosh, I'm just freakin' addicted to soaps. I love how using soaps make feel so clean and fragrant. I confess that I think I've tried almost all of the soaps in the market. HAHA!

10. DRINKS or any thirst quencher

 Obey your thirst so you'll find HAPPINESS. 

There you go, these are basically the things that make me happy. Things that I run to in times of sorrow. 

But then again, these are just superficial and external, happiness are from within. We define our own happiness and we don't depend on the availability of things in the market. 

Now, even if I get frustrated earlier on, what I did was still to talk about my emotions to someone who gives me the happiness that is beyond the ten things listed above.

summer fun!!!

I know what we did this summer!

If being a celebrity is a thing to be herald with, I'm with Angelina Jolie and George Clooney who with great passion used their statuses to enrich the lives of the people who surround them. In the same parlance, I am not a spec of whatever popularity they have now but it is in every heart that we all desire to help out and share whatever blessings we have.

I remember when I was 10, my brother and I enrolled in a summer art class. We took up painting and sculpture. For two months, we enjoyed learning the basics of painting and techniques in  clay sculpture. 

Now, after 15 years, I am so happy to passing the torch to all the kids in my father's barrio. 

We called it ---

Summer workshop

2nd day: cactus making

2nd week: paper mache and bird's head designing

face painting during the culmination & socialization day

musical chair game during the socialization day

kids feasted on hotdog sandwich and fruit juices

1st day: talking to kids

newspaper dance

1st day: name tags made from their own traced hand on cardboard

inside the Daycare Center

4th day: Frog making from cut-circles

more frogs :-)

5th day: cup designing

kids in action

starting with the paper mache

almost finishing the head 

The whole workshop became successful with the help of my friends who sent art materials for the kids. 

To Joanah Micah Eufemio (@jmicaah) & her freinds at Malacanang, Twiteroso Guy(@Ttiterosobuy) and Merflod Enderez (@nhemerf) --- You guys ROCK!

And to my brother Steve, cousins Bea, Jinen and Champ, thanks a lot. 

Now, this is just the first step. We are considering on giving teh Daycare center a face-lift and provide a mini library. It is the same center that received me 22 years ago and who knows a better kid will come out from the same room.