September is a special month for us because it will be the month our Baby Bella Grace will turn one year old. That will also commemorate one month and two days after her corrective surgery for her hernia. Aside from that, September is also the start of the “BER” months which means we need to begin preparing Christmas cards to be sent to friends and families. This year, I am planning to order in advance so that I will avail of much lesser cost and of course, more time to send them.

So, how will September be for you? Do you have any plans or special events in your family?

Lechon manok is my all time favorite dish. The combination of the seasonings I used on this recipe is just perfect for me. I would never change it one bit. Visit www.pinoy-recipes.com for more mouth watering Pinoy recipes. The only thing I would like to change is the baking part. I would prefer to grill this chicken using a smoker, but unfortunately, we don’t have it yet. For some reason, the smoke from charcoal really adds flavor to almost anything. But anyway, I can still get the result that I want using my oven. This chicken came out crispy on the outside and very juicy on the inside. Just like how I want it to be. And though it takes some time to marinate it and bake it, it is still pretty easy to make. You can even marinate it today and bake it the next day. That’s even better. Lechon manok is very popular in the Philippines. I lived in Pasig for quite awhile and if you go to the heart of the city, you will see lechon manok being sold everywhere. And not just in Pasig, but everywhere. I really love cooking, but I never had my own kitchen before so I wasn’t able to cook it for myself or for anybody. I would just buy a portion of lechon manok from Andok’s or Baliwag for my lunch or dinner. A little expensive for me but its worth it. This particular chicken recipe is mostly present during special occasions like New Year’s Eve, birthdays, weddings, family reunions, etc. And based from my own observation, once lechon manok is served on the table, it won’t last long …

Last week, I visited my old work place. The manager who replaced me there asked me for my mobile phone number. He said that my former boss was asking for my number. When he told me this, I already suspected that there will be a job offer waiting for me. I was confident that when I resigned two years ago, my name was clean and I was performing above the average standards.

After a few days, I received a text message from my former boss saying that there is a job vacancy that they would like to offer me. I was enthusiastic when I receive the news but when they say that it’s based in Manila, my enthusiasm immediately wore off. My baby just finished her hernia operation and is now starting to live like a normal baby, and if I accept the job offer, I would definitely be leaving her.

So, I really need a career advice right now, should I or shouldn’t I accept the offer? Well, I initially declined it already but since my former boss replied with an open communication in case I changed my mind, I still need to think it over? If I accept the job, it would mean I will be back climbing the corporate ladder and leave my children at home here in Bacolod City. That mean, I wouldn’t be seeing them for months or probably years. The only positive thing I can see if I go back to work is the stability of income and a break from my marital problems. Which is which?

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