Mang was there for me

“Mang” was my paternal grandmother and was my world for a large part of my childhood in the Philippines 🇵🇭 and adult life in the United States 🇺🇸 

Childhood memories of Mang 🇵🇭

1. DOTING. Feeling special and really doted after. She always strove to make me feel comfortable and taken cared of.
2. MILLIE BOO. I don’t really know why she loved me because according to multiple sources I was not easy to love. I was called “Millie Boo” because I was frequently in a bad mood, “buysit” as a child and not friendly at all.
3. LOVED ME ANYWAY She didn’t care about all of my shortcomings and loved me anyway.
4. MALAMBING/TENDER/AFFECTIONATE. She was so attentive and malambing toward me I could not help but place her on a pedestal. 
5. HOW TO BE A CLASSY LADY. Another beautiful memory when I was around 8 was a class she signed me up for on how to be a proper lady. It was etiquette training in how to behave properly in social settings. We learned how to walk with books on our heads, how to navigate a formal dining experience, how to properly socialize in a party, and how to make delightful and polite conversations. She was a dignified lady and I want to pass down this positive legacy to my bloodline.

In the US memories🇺🇸 

1. TALENT SHOW/LOVE OF DANCING. Signed me and my sister up for a talent show. Taught us how to boogie. Got us coordinated outfits. Permed our hair and made us look like little Asian dolls dancing to music she grew up to. In the mood. 
2. KNEW HOW TO DO HAIR Permed our hair and it actually looked good.
3. I will forever associate the smell of Ogilvie perm solution with Mang.
4. As an adult, she was very delighted to have great grandchildren. I even had a dog she helped dog sit for me that she adored (Lattie). As a great grandmother, she loved Gigi’s articulate way of speaking and Gavin’s earnest straightforwardness. Plus she found my children well mannered and endearing. “Makayama la reng anak mu talaga.” ==> In American Colloquial California Youngspeak with the proper emotional context: ”Your children bring forth lots of love and light, like for real.”

What I miss the most about Mang is her sweetness, intelligence, and feistyness only true divas possess. I am forever grateful for all of the fond memories she made with me and pray that she continues to rest in eternal peace with our Heavenly Father, Jesus, and all the angels and saints, and family that have passed. Amen.

After School Programs

Dear Forest Park PTA Family,

Putting on a PTA-sponsored After School Program for over 60+ children most definitely takes a village!

Our team needed to secure approval from school administration, iron out logistics, create and distribute marketing material, create an online interface for sign ups, track these sign ups, obtain sound equipment, create easy to follow and engaging fitness routines, teach routines, and check in/register all participating members.

I am happy to report that it was pure magic yesterday! The first of our After School Programs, Family Fitness, was a smashing success and was extremely well received by our community :)

On that note, please remember how important you are to the success of our organization. A heart-felt thank you for your generous donations, the sharing of your talents, and service with us!

When we are old and gray, our children will reflect fondly on how we "gave them the world" with our presence, time, and love throughout their formative years.

Holding you all in high esteem,

Millie

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Millicent Rose Galang Dizon
Forest Park PTA
Chair, After School Programs
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."~Aristotle

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My Art Gallery

Welcome to my personal art collection 🖼️

Family of turtles 🐢🐢🐢🐢The art instructor only instructed us to paint 🎨 one turtle but I went above beyond and painted a happy family of four turtles. (I blame my Overachiever + Eternal Optimist tendencies lol 😂).

My favorite subjects to paint are items found in nature: trees, sunsets, rocks, and landscaped mountains. 

We had a Paint Nite Party and I selected the pink cherry 🍒 blossom tree signifying feminine energy.

Go get creative and create SOMETHING!!

My Hero (one of them)

Every heroine obtains her super-powers from someone, or something. I, luckily, have strong parents who have bestowed upon me some awesome qualities that I have honed and made my own. Since today is my dad's 60th birthday, I would like to honor him by writing this post.

Millie, Erle, Lyle, April- 1988

My sister was the most prolific writer when my dad was in New Zealand in 1988

Erle's drawing to Papa, 1988

Lyle's drawing to Papa, 1988

My earliest memories of my dad was doting over us and telling us the BEST made up stories. He'd tell us about giants, little people making footprints on the floor, and witches whose bodies would fly off at midnight seeking the blood of a pregnant woman. His flair for language and creative plots were endless. We, my three siblings and I, were always mesmerized. He worked hard to provide a good life for his family and everyone knew he was (and is) the go-to-guy for sound advice. He continues to be this way and has amassed a close-knit circle made up of family and non-family members.

Our long time mechanic Rick, expressed his deep concern for him when he was recently hospitalized earlier this year. He said, "Your dad is like a dad to me too. Please help him get healthy as much as you can." I nearly lost it right then and there but kept myself in check only because I was soooo not expecting him to get that emotional. (I lost it, privately, on the drive home.)

We have another long time associate, our broker Mansoor, who has the same birthday as my dad. This guy is super-soft-spoken, many times unprofessional, and always slow in his service but no matter how demanding my dad can be, Mansoor is (always) naturally and un-flinchingly-kind, competent, and closes deals left and right for us no matter what snags we face.

And the list continues. I don't want to get too personal here because my dad hates that. Just think, if this is how his associates feel about him, think about how his "inner circle" feels about him. He is just absolutely BOMB.COM. With all of his idiosyncracies and dysfunction (we all have them), I can say that my dad has showed tremendous love (the Rough-Around-The-Edges-Kind "RATEK"), compassion (RATEK), and a fluid-competency in almost all of his dealings with his loved ones.

Also, I have learned that you don't need a butt-load of friends or associates. You just need a good handful who are trust-worthy and naturally "gel" with you.

TO PAPA: Without further ado, I want to wish you, my hero, a Happy 60th Birthday! We can't wait to celebrate YOU and really hope you get your health action plan truly dialed in this time around. God has been more than gracious to you these past few years. Please know that that all of the good and success you see in all of us have been directly from Yours & Mama's efforts. We love you immensely and wish to celebrate many more blessed birthdays with you.

Love, your adopted daughter

:-) Millie

*For the record I am not adopted. This is an inside joke as he introduces me to people as his "adopted daughter." As though that would faze me ;D