This sounds like a title to our storybook — and that’s because it is.
Or to be clear about it, it WILL be.
Our youngest son, Jeff Junior, is obsessed about firefighters, firetrucks, fire engines. 
I am sure he got this from his older brother, Nicholas, who learned about different jobs that people do from the book, Ang Pambihirang Sombrero (The Amazing Hat) by Jose Miguel Tejido. Continue reading“JJ goes to the fire station”
“Tuko, the Tenor Wannabe” is a story that defines expectation versus reality. 
Author Nemah Hermosa gave us Tuko, who badly wants to be a singer. He went to music school and dreamed of being in the opera. But he just not cut out for it because… he does not have the beautiful voice to boot. To be blunt, he is off key and annoying to listen to. But he is persistent and stubborn refusing to listen to anyone, even his mother.
With fun illustrations by artist Ruben de Jesus, this story takes us into the amusing journey of Tuko — and how he realized that he just have to give up singing so he can keep his friends.
This is a story that I first encountered nine years ago during an Inquirer Read-along session. I did not like it at first. I cannot quite remember why. Maybe because I was 23 years old then with little knowledge about what storybooks are appropriate for children. I saw a copy of this again in 2017 when I was browsing through the shelves of National Bookstore, in search for a unique storybook. I found this book, read it, and loved it! This is a perfect material to use to teach children the value of humility; to accept their weaknesses and choosing to channel their energies into other endeavors.
Starting with this edition of our Book Reviews in this site, I decided to record myself (audio or video, whichever works) reading the story along with a copy of the book. For this edition, I have my daughter, Antoinette, help me out. She can now read sight words and four-letter to five-letter words so I am using this book to help her improve her reading skills as well.
If you have any storybook suggestions, feel free to send us a message through our Facebook page or write a comment below.
Thanks for reading and watching!
We live in a sub-urban, sub-rural community in a town called Liloan, which is located about 16 kilometers from Cebu City or 13.3 kilometers from the Mactan Cebu International Airport.
It is a nightmare to travel from where we live to Cebu City because of the horrible traffic situation in Consolacion town and Mandaue City. On good days, it takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes; on bad days, travel time runs for three hours. Continue reading“An Afternoon at Liloan’s Ibabaw Mountain Resort”
We are creatures of habit — and what we constantly do shapes our person.
When I was nine years old, my family moved to a village called Libas in Merida, Leyte. Barangay Libas is located 27 kilometers (or 45 minutes to one hour travel) from Ormoc City.Continue reading“Creatures of Habit”
The best thing about Book Sale, the shop for pre-loved books here in the Philippines, is finding rare treasures to share to my children.
Our latest adventure is about going back to the basics, which include learning how to send letters through the post office.Continue reading“Book Recommendation: Where does it come from? (Letter)”
I took my three children to the post office on January 28 all by myself.
I have been feeling invincible since then because I came out of the experience alive.
Badian is known for Kawasan Falls and its gift of challenging its visitors to an exhilarating canyoneering experience.
But in our recent trip to this southern Cebu town, located 104 kilometers from Cebu City, we skipped the falls and headed to Lambug White Beach for two days and one night of nothing but the glory of sand, sea and sunContinue reading“Ruffolo Travels: Lambug White Beach in Badian”
Any mother would agree when I say that I will do anything to make my children happy.
I did not know I was capable of writing that before the twins, Nicholas and Antoinette, and Jeff Junior came into my life and turned it upside down.
Continue reading“Hapee with the Balde: What it means to #GoTheExtraSmile”
I never realized that I will also be dealing with “lice” when Jeff and I decided to enroll our children in regular school.Continue reading“Dealing with head lice”
School is here again after a week of no classes.
The mutants are ecstatic about going back to school.Continue reading“Buwad and Rice: Back to school with the excited trio”
