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Is the Chinese Calendar for Gender Accurate?

February 28, 2009 By Althea Tan 2 Comments

When Thea was already a little more than six months into her pregnancy, Dr. Bautista, her ob-gyne at St. Luke’s Hospital confirmed that her baby is a boy.  So it’s really a boy.  That’s what I already told her and my son-in-law a long time ago and I based it on a Chinese calendar, which is several times proven accurate and correct.

Chinese Calendar for Gender

Chinese Calendar for Gender

Amrin was wishing their baby is a girl and his Mom was wishing the same too. Maybe because she already experienced having a grandson, that’s why.  And some people wish for a daughter as their first born, because they believe it is a guarantee of having someone to help the parents and the family. A daughter also takes care of the younger siblings better.

Amrin even said that basing on the circumstances of Thea’s conception, it’s likely that her child is a girl.

But I also told him that based on Thea’s age and the month she conceived, it’s most likely a boy although I did not insist so as not to spoil Amrin’s excitement.  So I said further, maybe it’s really a girl, anyway, my Chinese calendar is not that accurate. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: All Blogs, Pregnancy, Thoughts from Grandma Tagged With: , ,

Meeting Hong Kong’s Giant Buddha

February 17, 2009 By Althea Tan 2 Comments

3285564737 41505b1ac9 Meeting Hong Kongs Giant Buddha


One of the highlights of our recent trip to Hong Kong was visiting Lantau Island, the largest in Hong Kong, and catching a glimpse of the awe-inspiring Giant Buddha, which is said to be the world’s largest outdoor seated bronze Buddha. It is definitely an understatement to say that looking up at the enormous statue was an emotional moment for us, especially for my husband, who was a Buddhist before he converted to Christianity.

Giant Buddha fast facts

3286422172 d1ac923e1b Meeting Hong Kongs Giant Buddha


We learned from our guide that Hong Kong’s giant Buddha is actually known as Tian Tan Buddha. It sits on top of the Muyushan Mountain, which literally translates to Phoenix Mountain. We felt so privileged to learn that it houses some of the remains of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha. [Read more...]

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Satisfy Pregnancy Cravings the Healthy Way

February 16, 2009 By Althea Tan Leave a Comment

lecheflan2 Satisfy Pregnancy Cravings the Healthy WayOne of the exciting experiences during my pregnancy with Daniel was when I had pregnancy cravings. So intense was my desire for a specific variety of food that it had become common occurrence for my loving hubby to go to nearby stores and restaurants to order food for me.

Coping with pregnancy cravings

Although there has been no scientific explanation as to why pregnant women crave for certain foods, a possible explanation would be her rising hormone levels. It is also possible that a pregnant woman needs certain nutrients so that the body reacts by craving for food rich in that particular nutrient. Whatever the reason, it is very important not to over-indulge. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: All Blogs, Pregnancy Tagged With: ,

Exercising During Pregnancy (with videos)

February 15, 2009 By Althea Tan 1 Comment

Learning that I was pregnant with my first baby made me very much aware of the things that I must do and the things I must avoid. I consulted my doctor, read a lot of books, and learned from other women who had been through the same magical experience. Their advice: Eat healthy and do not forget to exercise.

Benefits of exercise

Contrary to a lot of misconceptions, pregnant women are encouraged to exercise, subject to certain precautions. In fact, I felt much better after consistently working out. It aided the movement of food in my intestines so that I wasn’t constipated often. My back didn’t ache that much so I was able to sleep better at night. More importantly, it became a great form of stress reliever. [Read more...]

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The Story Behind Our Baby's Name (And Tips For Naming Yours)

February 12, 2009 By Althea Tan 3 Comments

When we learned that we were going to have a baby boy, we were so ecstatic. It was absolutely exciting to hunt for baby names, especially because we wanted his name to be perfect and meaningful. We picked the name Daniel Nicholas, and we couldn’t have made a better choice.

Origin and meaning

Daniel is actually a Hebrew word which means “God is my judge.” Our son’s name reminds us of the fortitude and strength of the prophet Daniel, an interpreter of dreams who survived a death sentence in a lion’s den because of his steadfast faith in God.

On the other hand, Nicholas is of Greek origin. It means “victory of the people,” and we thought that such a positive but strong name would be perfect for our baby. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: About Daniel, All Blogs Tagged With: , ,

Top 5 Lessons from American Idol

February 11, 2009 By Althea Tan Leave a Comment

american idol top 24 Top 5 Lessons from American Idol

Since local channels started airing American Idol many seasons ago, I tried my best not to miss a single episode. To say that I religiously follow the show is an understatement. I sometimes find myself leaving things in a heartbeat just to root for my favorite contestant and see him go through the next round.

Perhaps it’s the frustrated singer in me that likes this reality show very much. Having joined several singing contests in the past, I can totally relate to what the contestants feel minutes before their performance. I also like seeing dreams realized and immortalized on TV. And, I must confess, American Idol is the only show that makes me cry.

Apart from the glitz and entertainment that is American Idol, there are some lessons from the show that we can apply to our day-to-day life:

1. Be an underdog, but do not overdo it

Admit it: underdogs are adorable. We are passionate about cheering for the underdog (think Syesha Mercado and Elliott Yamin) and when our voices are hoarse from too much “coaching,” our underdog is certainly not an underdog any longer because the rest of America– and perhaps the world– have decided to cheer him on, as we have.

Lesson: It is okay to be imperfect or not so popular at first because the world always looks for fortitude and resilience in addition to raw talent. However, overdoing it is a no-no. Nothing looks more miserable than one who is trying too hard to look and act like an underdog. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: Entertainment Tagged With: ,
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