The Peñaranda Twins

2009-12-13T09:59:00.001+08:00

November 2009

2009-11-21T20:57:00.002+08:00

Who is Papa Ben?

2009-11-02T05:42:00.002+08:00

Tatay is finally home from Mexico! Arrived at the NAIA Airport on November 1, All Souls Day, 11 PM. How I wish I arrived earlier, and we could have spent the day with the rest of the family at Eternal Gardens, visiting Lolo Ben.

Who is Lolo Ben? Let me start by showing you his resume which I found in our home PC. Lolo Ben wrote this himself. November 1, 2009 is also your 7th month btw. I know you are still too young to read this, but let me write this down now and I will tell you more about him later. We can read this together when you are 7 years and 7 months old.

Lolo Ben was a great Dad. Tatay will always remember him.

====================================================================

BIENVENIDO L. PEÑARANDA
* 431 Gomez Street, Fortune Village 7, Valenzuela City
( (0918) 284-3840 / (02) 292-0129 / (02) 443-5452
: ben_penaranda@yahoo.com

Objective_____________________________________________________________________

To nurture my wish and fervent desire that when I retire, shall strive to be productive and actively participate together with my fellow “sea dos” to engage in worthy and patriotic endeavors by imparting our knowledge and experiences to the next generation of Filipino seafarers.

Qualifications Summary________________________________________________________

Guest Lecturer / Trainor – Norwegian Training Center
Taguig, Manila
February 2008 - present

Training Consultant / training Officer – Norwegian Training Center, Manila
Taguig, Manila
February 2007- January 2008

Electro-Tech Officer – Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (2000-2003)
Chief Electrician / Electro-Tech Instructor – Training Ship Kapitan Felix Oca (1998-200)
Electrical Officer _ Various International Ships Manned by Naess Shipping Philippines and Klaveness Ship Management (1983-1997)
Owned and Managed a Repair Shop – Zamboanga City ( 1976-1982)
Naval Electronic Technician - Philippine Navy (1963-1975)

Work Experience______________________________________________________________

2000 - 2004 Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific
Mariveles, Bataan
Electro-Tech Officer, Vessel Training Center

· In charge of all electronic, electrical, refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment.
· Conduct progressive maintenance, troubleshooting and repairs as prescribed by Quality Assurance System.
· Works closely with academic faculty/instructors when midshipmen are training in the facility.
· Conducts lectures and hands-on training of marine engineering cadets / midshipmen when needed.
· Other jobs as found necessary.

1998 – 2000 Training Ship Kapitan Felix Oca
Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific, AMOSUP
Chief Electrician, Electro Tech Instructor

· In charge of all electronic, electrical, automation and instrumentation facilities and equipment onboard.
· Conduct progressive maintenance, troubleshooting and repairs prescribed by Quality Assurance System.
· Conducts lectures and hands-on training of marine engineering cadets.
· Other jobs for safe, efficient, economical operation of the ship.

1983 – 1997 Various ships manned by NAESS Shipping Philippines and Klaveness Ship Management
General Cargo, Bulk Carrier, Chemical Tanker, Car Ships
(All ships are bridge controlled or periodically Unmanned Machinery Spaces or UMS)
Chief Electrician / Electro Tech Officer

· In charge and responsible for all electrical, electro-mechanical and other equipment aboard ship using electrical power.
· Responsible for safe operation of instrumentation-automation, alarm and monitoring system.
· In charge of the cranes on General Cargo and Bulk Carriers.
· Other jobs required aboard ships.

1976 – 1982 Zamboanga City
Owned and operated a repair shop engaged in the maintenance, troubleshooting
and repair of electronic, electrical, electro-mechanical and refrigeration-air conditioning equipment.

Ø Clients include the following:
1. Industrial and commercial establishments as well as ships calling Zamboanga ports.
2. Naval ships and small crafts – radars, communication equipment, vent/exhaust machines, propulsion motors, generators, etc.
3. Southern Command, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Zamboanga City – generators and motors.
4. Communication Electronics Service Command, Armed Forces of the Philippines – motors and generators strategically located around the country.

1963 – 1975 Philippine Navy
Naval Rating or Job Specialization: Electronics Technician

v 1966-1967 – Instructor, Naval Communication Electronics School,
Naval Training Command, Cavite City
§ Taught Basic Electronics to naval personnel undergoing radio, sonar, radar and electronic technician specialization course.

v 1967-1969 – Petty Officer in Charge (POIC), Electronics Repair Team 3, RPS AKLAN AR-67 (Repair Ship)
§ Team leader or in-charge when required to repair electronic equipment of other ships and naval units.

v 1969-1975 – One-man Electronic Repair Team - Naval Component, Southern Command, AFP
§ Performed troubleshooting and repair on electronic equipment aboard ships and small crafts deployed in Mindanao when the ship’s electrician cannot do the repair alone.
§ Was commented and cited several times for outstanding repairs completed on various tasks where others repeatedly failed.
§ Was awarded with the Military Merit Award.

v 1975 – Honorably discharged from active service.

Educational Attainment_________________________________________________________

Secondary: Mabini Memorial Colleges, Camarines Sur
1958 – 1962

Professional License: Registered Master Electrician (RME-10252)
Professional Regulation Commission

Trainings and Seminars Attended_________________________________________________

Building Wiring Installation and Maintenance
¨ Meralco Foundation Incorporated, Pasig City

¨ ISO 9001:2000 / Total Quality Management Awareness Seminar
Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific, Bataan

¨ ISO 9000 / Total Quality Management Awareness Seminar (With Distinction)
Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific, Bataan

¨ Personal Safety and Social Responsibility
National Maritime Polytechnic

¨ Marine Electro-Mechanical System Auxiliary Machinery 1 & 2
* Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Heating
* Hydraulics and Pneumatic System
* Machinery and Electrical
* Instrumentation and Process Control
LAB-Volt, Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific, Bataan

¨ Crisis Management Seminar
Norwegian Hull Club, T/S Kapitan Felix Oca

¨ Training Course for Instructors - IMO Model Course 6.09
Maritime Training Council, NYK Training Center

¨ * Basic Electronics
* Electrical Equipment and Schematics
* Automation and Instrumentation
Norwegian Training Center, Manila

¨ * Instructor Course
* Electronics Technician A
* Basic Seaman Course
Philippine Navy

Personal Information___________________________________________________________

Date of Birth : November 6, 1943
Age : 65
Gender : Male
Citizenship : Filipino
Religion : Roman Catholic
Civil Status : Married
Height : 167 cm
Weight : 152 lbs
Languages / Dialects Spoken : English, Filipino, Basic Spanish, Bicolano, Chavacano
Skills : Teaching, technical, communication, computer, driving, carpentry,
iron works, gardening
Interests : Electronics hobbyist, maker of engine and motor electronic ignition,
experimenting gas-fuel saving devices

References____________________________________________________________________

*Available upon request.

Answer key to your assignment number 1

2009-09-08T08:02:00.002+08:00

When you go to school Vienna and Venice, it is very likely that your teacher will ask you to make a big placard bearing your name and ask you to explain why you got that name. Well, during our time, that was the usual icebreaker so I am making this post so you have a ready answer.

Nanay and me thought long and hard about your names. If we were blessed with a singleton boy, we would have named him Bienvenido III, aka. Thirdy right of the bat, no questions asked. But you see, you turned out to be girls, twin girls!

So we just derived your names from your Lolo Ben, Bienvenido. Splitting it into two = Bien + Venido and mixing in a few more vowels and consonants resulted to Vienna and Venice. These are both names of beautiful cities in Europe and we hope that when you grow up, you will tour your Tatay and Nanay there.

From Wikipedia:
Venice (Italian: Venezia, IPA: /Ve'nεtsia/, Venetian: Venesia) is a city in northern Italy, the capital of the region Veneto,
Vienna (pronounced /viːˈɛnə/; German: Wien [ˈviːn]) is the capital of the Republic of Austria and also one of the nine states of Austria.

Nanay wanted to add a second name. She has long fancied “Sophia” or “Sofia” and I liked how it sounded too. We paired it with Vienna… Vienna Sofia seems to make the tongue effortlessly roll. How about Venice? Venice Bakekang didn’t sound right. The second name has to be as classy and profound as Sofia. We came up with Clare… Venice Clare, in honor of St. Clare, who is the patron saint of that church along Katipunan where Nanay and Tatay sometimes hear mass. It is also in that church where nanay offered eggs a few days before our wedding day to ask for good weather. Her wish was granted. After the wedding, Nanay and I went back and offered her bridal bouquet of tulips to St. Clare. We prayed hard to ask for a child and I even begged the guard to put the bouquet inside St. Clare’s glass altar. She must have been pleased with the beautiful flowers and granted our petition. She gave us not one, but two.

In Latin, Sofia means wisdom, and Clare means clear or bright. Together, you will provide Tatay and Nanay with clarity of thought and wisdom.

The good vibes don’t end there. We also took into account the number of letters in your names. From: http://www.chineseastrologyonline.com/BabyName.htm. Both your first names have 11 characters, middle name 4, last name 9. The sum First Name +1 (12), First Name + Middle Name (15), Middle Name + Last Name (13) and First Name + Middle Name + Last Name (24) . All of these numbers (except 12) are lucky numbers. 3 out o 4 isn’t bad at all!

So there, that’s the story behind your names. Try to google for them when you are old enough. I googled today and found the following hits:
Venice Clare is a name of a bridge in Venice. Vienna Sofia turns out to be a regular flight from Venice (Italy) to Sofia (Bulgaria). Nonetheless, unique or not, your names are still the most beautiful names in the whole world for Nanay and Tatay.

Vienna Sofia and Venice Clare.
Live and bear your names proudly. You are your Lolo Ben’s legacy, you are Nanay and Tatays bundles of joy, our source of wisdom and strength.

2009-08-16T23:26:00.001+08:00

Cut and paste

2009-08-07T23:37:00.003+08:00

Venice and Vienna, you are God's gift to Nanay and Tatay. Truth be told and you can do the math... Tatay's birthday wish last year was to have a baby.

I think they have started computerizing their systems in heaven. Maybe birthday wishes get to heaven in the form of an email. And when God responded to Tatay's wish, he either double clicked too fast or did a copy and paste. I asked for one, he gave me two.

Its my birthday again today and I'm making another birthday wish. Health and happiness to everyone in the family.

2009-08-02T13:01:00.001+08:00

2009-07-31T23:21:00.001+08:00

Dry run

2009-07-26T15:32:00.002+08:00

It was a very busy week for Tatay. I shuffled from work, malolos, valenzuela and la union as I tried to close the deal for my biggest purchase ever.... our new home. I showed it to Nanay yesterday and she liked it. I carried her inside like how newlyweds do it in the movies. Now my back is aching. While the unit was nothing fancy, its just about the right size for us and its very near tatay's office! Just 7 minutes away on foot. Now, instead of driving 2-4 hours a day, Tatay can spend more time with you girls! Yehey!

But thats yesterday. Today is different, its Tatay's first overseas trip since you girls were born. I am in HongKong now watching hordes of people hustling through the busier floors below. I think one out of every ten of them is a filipino/filipina, who has to work elsewhere to earn enough money to send back home. I feel happy and sad at the same time. Happy because at least I have a job in this time of economic recession. Sad because I came to realize that having a job may also mean leaving the family behind. These OFWS I see are no different from me. They surely miss home too. But I chose to be happy... I will only be away for 4 days...hehehe. No need for senti. When I left home today, no one was crying... so at least thats a good start. A dry run.

But the time may come that I will need to be away from home a lot longer. So be strong girls when Tatay transforms into a superhero, an OFW bagong bayani.

2009-07-02T07:10:00.001+08:00

Historia de Un Amor

2009-06-24T06:13:00.003+08:00

Tatay is memorizing this just for the heck. :) Estoy aprendiendo el idioma para ganar mas dinero para que puedo comprar sus pampers.

La Historia De Un Amor – Luis Miguel Lyrics from [lyricsyoulove.com]

2009-06-21T21:21:00.001+08:00

2009-06-21T11:18:00.000+08:00

June Pics

2009-06-21T10:40:00.002+08:00

Tatay fell in love again last Saturday

2009-06-01T06:46:00.005+08:00

For some reason, this post got saved and published with no content. I encountered an error when I clicked on the Publish button.

Note to self: Make drafts in another software like word or notepad and just copy and paste into blogspot.

Okay. Im doing that now.

So what was I trying to write about last June 1? Let me recall.
Ah, it was when I came home to Malolos after almost a week due to work. Missed you girls so much. When I got there, you were all in the sala.
Clare, who just weighed 1.98kg when she was born has started stacking up on Nanays milk. Sofie was born heavier at 2.58 kg, if Tatay's memory isnt failing him yet. Now, you two are almost the same size and weight. Weird thing is, Clare is longer but lighter than Sofie. I wonder how you girls would grow look like when you turn 18...

So why did I fell in love again last Sat? I don't remember all the details anymore. Maybe it was your smile or your giggle. But I remember one thing crystal clearly, that Tatay loves you two and your Nanay.

2009-05-24T15:23:00.001+08:00

Weve been busy as bees but the hive is alive!

2009-05-24T15:08:00.007+08:00

Dear Readers (naks, parang ang dami),

Sorry for the delay in updating this blog. Nanay and Tatay have been busy with Vienna Sofia and Venice Clare. They are almost two months old now. Weve been busy as bees but the hive is alive! Good thing that we now have DSL in Malolos. Nanay and Tatay will try to update the blog as much as we can. We have posted more photos on photobucket, feel free to check them out.

Here's a sampler:

Bucket full of photos

2009-04-12T19:38:00.002+08:00

April Fools, April full

2009-04-01T19:45:00.003+08:00

Tatay slept after hearing that Nanay did not have to be operated on this morning. He woke up to the familiar sound of Dra. Jojie Reymatias' voice. They were talking about something, something to be scheduled at 8 PM today.

At 8 PM today, Nanay is scheduled to have her CS. She is already 3.9 cm dilated and Dra. says that its possible for the dilation to progress abruptly to 6 cm and by that time, the operation will be riskier. It would be best to have you delivered sooner than later, you girls are strong and ready. Nanay asked if you will need to stay in the incubator. Dra. says she is optimistic that it would be minimal, perhaps a few days.

Fast forward to the present. Tatay is waiting right below the sign that says Fathers' Waiting Area, Tito BG is beside him. Tatay is typing this post when the nurse suddenly calls for him.

1 Day Extra

2009-04-01T08:08:00.004+08:00

Yesterday, Nanay had a close call. She was found to be 3.75 cm dilated, which means that you girls may need to be delivered by CS soon. 4 cm is the point of no return. When Nanay's cervix dilates to 4 cm or more, she will have to be scheduled for CS.

Nanay was already instructed by the doctors not to eat dinner and that is usually an ominous sign. It is a standard Pre-Operation preparation. Nanay said that doctors will check her dilation at 12 midnight and depending on the measurement, they may or may not schedule the CS. Although very anxious, Tatay still went to work and instructed Nanay not to text him about the results. Right after the shift, Tatay printed the revised birthplan and mentally prepared himself. "This could be the day but I hope we can have at least 1 week more or even two".

He drove past the Ortigas and Greenhills morning rush and every church that he passes by, Tatay made a short prayer for you and Nanay. He arrived at St. Lukes in no time and before going to Nanay's room, Tatay passed by the St. Lukes Chapel. He again said a prayer. He then proceeded to Room 226, Nanay's room.

Slowly opening the door, Tatay saw that Nanay's bed was still there and Nanay was still on it! It was a perfect way to start the day. Hep hep hooray! We gained another day extra. You don't have to be delivered yet which means you still have another day to grow inside Nanay's better-than-St-Luke's-worldclass incubator, her womb.

Stay still babies, stay there.

Nanay's Simple Joys

2009-04-01T07:38:00.005+08:00

I asked Nanay to write in this blog, but since she is struggling to type, considering that her big tummy is blocking the way, I volunteered to write for her. The following are Nanay's simple joys:

Feeling your kick in Nanays tummy
Burping after a good meal of croissant, ham and cheese
Eating sampalok from Bangkok
Tatay massaging Nanay's back
Getting a new book
Watching the sunrise
Getting a pedicure
Belly rubs
Hearing your heartbeat
Flowers by her bedside
White sheets
Shampoo in bed
Chocolate sundae
Hot Spanish bread
The pushbutton controlled reclining hospital bed
Another extra day on bedrest, because that means Nanay doesn't have to undergo a Ceasarian Section yet... just like today!

Cry babies

2009-03-30T12:49:00.001+08:00

I have a feeling that when you grow up, Vienna and Venice, you will be cry babies.

Last night, Lola Elie, Auntie Beth, Tita Mae, Tita Sheila and Tito BG went to pay us a visit. They brought food with them, from Lola Elies recent vacation to Thailand. We were serving ice cream, when Lola Elie suddenly started crying. She remembered Lolo Ben, who likes ice cream very much. She said that Lolo could have been sitting with us now, eating his ice cream while everyone else is chatting away. So we consoled Lola and a few minutes later she was fine.

I then showed them this blog. I volunteered Tita Mae Mae since she was right beside me. She was reading the first post: And then this blog was born, when in the middle of reading, she also started crying! I asked her why, she said: Wala natotouch lang ako at yung nga, nalulungkot na wala si Papa. So we also consoled her and later she was fine. I think she got in from your Lola. It is very likely that being cry babies is in the Penaranda genes.

But how about Nanay? Is she a cry baby too? You bet. Malupet. I showed this blog to her yesterday when she was about to get her IE. I wanted to cheer her up but like your Tita Mae, she also broke to tears just reading my first entry. Its a good thing she did not have contractions!

You girls are hard to understand. You cry when you are happy, you cry when you are sad, you cry when you remember and you cry when you want to forget.

But I will love you just the same even if you turn out to be cry babies. I will make you cry many many times.....because I will make you so happy, you will shed tears of joy and we will spend wonderful moments together and you will cry, remembering how happy we always were.

Tatay loves you Nanay, Vienna and Venice.

3 CM

2009-03-29T06:27:00.000+08:00

Tatay was taranta tense about 20 hours ago. Now, his laptop is fully charged ( I wonder if you still have laptops when you come to read this Venice and Vienna). Tatay too is fully recharged after sleeping beside Nanay throughout the night. He was able to do so since Nanay was given the go signal to go back to our room, instead of staying in the delivery room.

The reason: 3 cm. Nanay's cervix is just 3 cm dilated and there is no immediate indication that she will have to deliver you soon. So that buys us time little girls so you can still stay in Nanay's womb, to grow big and strong and healthy. His hopes are up after reading in a googled article that says that it may take one more week for delivery to be necessary even if the cervix is dilated > 3cm.

The intern doctor checked her twice since yesterday and its still 3 cm. Nanay and Tatay are happy. We prayed last night and our prayers were answered. Nanay said that one thing we learned from your premature labor, is that we need to learn to let go. God is in control. No need to worry.

Tatay is taranta tense

2009-03-28T11:07:00.000+08:00

Nanay, after having her IE today was found to be 3 cm dilated. We didn't really expect it, Lola Cora said she even slept well last night. I was even keeping my hopes up that we might be sent home today.

So tatay is taranta and tense, typing away in his brand new blog for you, Vienna and Venice. His fingers need to move, else his hands will tremble. But he shall not tremble in fear, he shall do so in anticipation. God is Tatays strenght and he knows his girls are in good hands.

The Laptop is running out of charge. Tatay needs to rush to get the birthplan and camera, just in case. Batt is almost empty, but Tatay is full of hope.

How much do I love Nanay? Let me count the stars

2009-03-28T07:54:00.000+08:00

How much do I love you Nanay?
As countless as the El Nido sand
As magical as Harry Potter's wand
As high as inflation rate
As anticipated as a blind date
As priceless as a Mastercard commercial
As expensive as St Lukes Medical
As deep as the Marianas trench
As warm as this bench
As unpayable as Philippine debt
As unforgettable as when we first met
As addictive as Shabu
Thats how much I love you

And a Blog was born

2009-03-28T07:29:00.000+08:00

I am currently waiting for my beloved wife at the St. Lukes OB Gyn section. Shes having her nth tracing session to check for uterine contractions. Out of boredom, but in the same breath, out of love, I decided to start this blog. When the twins grow up, I hope that blogspot is still around. I want them to read what Nanay and Tatay has gone through, how much we treasure them and why they mean the world to us.

On March 28, 2009, Saturday at 7:35 AM, on the 3rd chair from the door leading to the labor room, Tatay gave birth to this blog.