DITSE'S BIRTHDAY

Today is Ditse’s birthday and as our way of showing our gratitude for everything that she has done for us…we always celebrate it with cake and a special dinner. Of course, it cannot be helped that she had to cook some of the dishes herself, but most of the time, we buy her something special like cake or lechon manok or liempo or siomai…to save her the effort of cooking everything by herself. Sometimes, we also invite her children to spend the day with her…to give them time to spend together…but with their very busy lives, they rarely are able to come. And so this year, it was just us…I just hope she felt special even for just one day…

JOLLIBEE PARTY AND STAR CITY WITH BALIKBAYAN RELATIVES

About three weeks ago, our step-sister who had migrated to Canada in 2006 came home for a much-needed break. They went there at around June of 2006 with two kids and a dream to make it big in Canada…and they did all of that and much…much more! They now have their own dream house, their own car that would amply fit their growing family of three boys and a girl (the youngest boy and girl were born there), their successful jobs and some money saved/left over to vacation here in the Philippines…imagine that! Well, I guess their big risk and hard work for the past seven years had paid off and now they are starting to enjoy the fruits of their labor…
They planned their vacation to last for about a month, and for the past three weeks of their stay here (we haven’t really seen them yet) they have been making the rounds of tourist spots in the country like Bohol, Palawan, Tagaytay, etc…visiting the places they have truly missed and going to popular tourist places that they want to enjoy and savor. I heard, they even visited Bali or was it Bangkok…whatever…and so this weekend, is the one they have reserved for us. Well, it was not the usual long all-night sleepovers that we used to do where we just spend the night making non-stop kwento and all…but I guess they have other plans and so this birthday at Jollibee for one of their kiddos and for the little girl, to finally meet the Jollibee mascot, is the time that they have reserved for us…we do understand their busy sked! I guess not even a month is enough to arrange meet-ups for all the relatives and friends that you want to see and spend a moment with…
Suffice it to say that we had fun during the Jollibee party…the kids played some fun games and even us adults, participated in some of the games. Then, after the games the kids wanted to have more fun and went to Star City…this time the hubby and I just begged off, I knew it was a Saturday and there were just too many people there…I also knew the hubby would not be enjoying the rides and so we just left our kids in Anna’s care and took off on our own. It was almost 7, when they went out of Star City and we said our goodbyes and thank you’s to our balikbayan relatives…I knew it was just a short but sweet visit especially for the kids who have not been able to have the kinda fun and chat they would have needed to catch up with each other’s lives…but I guess there’s always FB… so here's hoping the family will have a safe trip home! Sure hope, too, that we’ll have a longer bonding time on their next trip home!

My first born...

Last month I became a grandmother...courtesy of my eldest son whose wife gave birth last January 20... and this made me look back to our 'somewhat' short bonding moments as mother and son. You see we never really had the chance to be together all that often...it's a long story...but suffice it to say that in my own little way, I tried my best to be a good mom to him...but I don't think I ever was...and now, I am a grandma...and sad to say I suddenly missed the little boy I once held in my arms twenty-four years ago...I knew many times I have failed to be there for him...I just wish he knew that in my heart of hearts...I will always love him...after all he was the first recipient of my unconditional love - my first born son...

A TRUE BLUE LOLA NA TALAGA!

The inevitable has happened...my first-born son’s wife had given birth early morning today and so now I can not anymore deny the fact that I am a true-blue lola talaga! Since last year, I have consistently said that despite Jera's pregnancy I am still not a lola yet coz the baby has yet to be born...but now there is no more reason to say otherwise. Well, at least even at my age at forty-something, I am still wrinkle-free and quite healthy. Admittedly, I still need to diet and exercise to gain my ideal weight but I could still move around as much as I want to, can still run/jog whenever I find the time for it...and I only feel the occasional aching of the knees during cold mornings when I wake up but by the time I am downstairs the pain is gone. So I guess I could still not be considered a grandma talaga...hehehe but nonetheless though not in body, in spirit I am quite proud to be a lola to my very cute apo! He looks very much like Myk...and I hope to see him someday soon!

SUMMER GET-AWAY @ AMADEO, CAVITE

For this year, the venue for our family summer get-together was someplace new. We already visited Tagaytay during the Holy week and so this time for our kitakits (with my balikbayan brother), we shall be visiting another farm (like Lopez farms also in Cavite). The clan left on Saturday and our take-off point was at Papa’s condo in Makati at around 10:30 a.m. After a bit of taking a few wrong turns here and there, we finally reached the place at around 1 p.m. Expectedly, everyone was ravenously hungry and so after putting down our bags we ate lunch of kare-kare and binagoongan which tasted surprisingly good as it came from Sofitel. After we had our fill, we decided to look around and check out the place.

The place was quite huge and had so many plants. We learned later that the farm’s owners were in the business of landscaping. However, as expected with many plants, there would also be many insects and creatures that would proliferate…eeeww! My brother (a photography buff) decided to take pictures of the different creatures he encountered when he and his kids explored the place. When he returned, he told us that there was a murky looking pool at the bottom of the stone steps but further beyond the farm, the caretaker showed him a short path that would lead to a small waterfall with a cool lake underneath - just awesome! This all got us interested to go down and explore, too, and of course take a dip in the water, after all this would be my first time to see an actual true-blue waterfall!

Going to the falls was quite a bit tricky, one had to be careful as the wet soil and grass made the path quite slippery. So I guess my dad would not be able to go down here, huh. After a few moments, one would get to see a view of the falls, it was a bit small but still quite spectacular. I guess I am a true fan of waterfalls, they just never cease to amaze me which is why something even as small as this one has made me excited already. One thing for sure though the water underneath the falls was quite clear and very cold! But we had fun and played with my brother’s underwater camera so we made many fascinating shots!

The hubby, my son and Ating took turns jumping off a small cliff and into the cool water. It seemed quite fun as we pretty much had the place to ourselves, except for a few remaining locals. It was around 6 when we decided to go back up to the resthouse as it was time to cook dinner of inihaw pork and chicken. We took turns taking our bath then after a while we ate amidst the insects that we already saw earlier but this time around there were more and they were quite noisy too but it was a soothing kind of noise, one that is usually associated with country/provincial areas like this. After eating, the kids played cards and marveled at the different insects/creatures that abound while the adults settled in the common sala/sitting area to chat and surf the net.

The next day everyone was up early at around 7, the kids had breakfast and after playing around a bit in the gardens, they decided to take a dip in the waterfalls once again. But it was a good thing that I decided not to take a swim today because when we went down, there were so many people that they all looked like ducks swimming in a small pond. What made matters worse was that it rained last night and so the water looked dirty because of the mud that the waterfall brought down. But hey, the kids still enjoyed and that’s OK! I went back upstairs by 11 to take a bath in the CR and just relaxed and enjoyed the beauty of the place. My brother was with the kids anyway and so I am at ease knowing that he would watch over them well.

Before lunch, Auntie Chu and fam (daughter X and Tins) arrived and soon after the kids came up from swimming and were raring to eat another hearty lunch. This time, we decided to eat in another area of the resort because it had a longer table and could seat/accommodate all of us. The resort really is a pretty place and had many areas that did not have airconditioning (in fact, only the two bedrooms had aircon) so we all slept on the floors in Papa’s bedroom while Jon and Rachel took the other smaller bedroom. But the common living area and the eating area we had been using since yesterday was quite fresh and airy, there was a cool breeze wafting over us that it was quite OK even if we did not have aircon, just a ceiling fan to circulate the air was enough. Last night, the hubby (who slept outside in the hammock with my son and brother) said it grew quite cold and since he did not have a blanket, he slept inside the vehicle until morning.

In all, it was quite an enjoyable experience that we all had here at Amadeo, Cavite. The place was pretty cool and had a pool and waterfall. By the way, my brother said that the pool downstairs was not really so murky and ‘malumot’ as we thought all along. It was only like that because the floor tiles were made of green-colored stone but the water itself was flowing from a cold water spring and so it was clean. Also, the place was relaxing with its many nooks and crannies where one can just get lost in a quiet corner and sleep, pretty much like Lopez farms because they both did not have electricity and was just a place to unwind and forget the trappings of the modern world, even the internet. It was worthwhile to shut down on social media for the entire weekend, though I am not sure my kids agree with me here. I guess its main drawback was the proliferation of insects but those creatures notwithstanding it was one place where we could just relax, be ourselves and spend some time just talking, eating and bonding with the family.

FOUR DAYS OF FUN, FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP!

DAY 1 (Saturday, May 5)

Okay, I am fully awake, so definitely I am not dreaming. I really am going to Cebu! In fact, I was even surprised when I left this morning at 4:30 am and there wasn’t much traffic at all along EDSA and so I got to Papa’s house at 6:30 am (talk about excited!!!). We left for the airport a few minutes later and boarded the plane before ten am. We reached Cebu airport an hour later and my cuzin was very quite surprised when he saw me walking down towards the car beside my dad. Well, he’s not the only one, that’s for sure! At the airport, I was met with surprised but truly welcoming hugs from cousins, who also just arrived (but were on a different flight).

Our first stop is at an Uncle’s house in Mandaue City, formerly Lola’s house and the place I spent numerous summer vacations when I was younger. I was quite surprised to see that the place has definitely changed a lot! If I recall correctly, the last time I was here was during a PLCPD presscon/event in 2006 and at that time, the main house (Lola’s old home) had already been torn down to make way for a more modern bungalow. But their old house, situated at the right side of the compound, remained the same and it was there where I stayed for a night during that PLCPD trip to Cebu (in the former boys room).

The old house was also renovated to open up more space – the third bedroom was removed and became the receiving area while the other two bedrooms were renovated to accommodate more visitors. The kitchen remained in roughly the same place but had modern amenities replacing the conventional ones. The door to the main house was also changed. In fact, the entire wall was removed to become sliding glass doors making the place more bright and airy, truly a great improvement from their once dark and gloomy house.

After, unloading our bags in the room we went out to have lunch at another Uncle’s house next door. But unlike in olden times, when we can use the backdoor to easily get to their kitchen, I found that it had already been sealed off with a fence so we had to go out on the street to get to their house. It was OK since the good food that greeted us there more than made up for the short trip under the hot sun. I missed the original humba from Cebu moreso the one especially cooked by Auntie Yolly!

Oh God, I not only missed her homecooking, I missed her too and I felt she felt the same way in the way she hugged me tightly. I asked about her health and said sorry for not being able to come home for Uncle Dong’s funeral. She asked about my Mom (in a whisper, of course) and we all shared the good food that she prepared for our arrival –humba, chicken inasal, and arroz valenciana . Marichi, another cousin, was there (of course!) and she too was surprised to see me in Cebu coz she was the one who replied to my FB post that I wanted to go home and see Borbon! Afterwards, I went up to surprise Janice at the second floor of Uncle Dong’s house (their house was also renovated BTW, courtesy of Kuya Kooks!)

We rested a bit after our sumptuous meal then by 2pm, we decided to leave to check in at our resort – the Alegre Hotel. It was a one and a half hour drive going there and I am truly glad to have come with this vacation with my dad because otherwise, I would not have been able to visit a very pretty place like this! Just check out the gorgeous pics of the resort! I wish someday I would be able to take my children here as it is just so perfectly relaxing! I also wish we wouldn’t just be sleeping here since considering the schedule that we currently have, after our breakfast tomorrow we will be immediately leaving for Borbon and so we won’t have the time to explore the place and truly enjoy all the amenities they have to offer. Oh well, maybe we could still find the time in the next few days.

At around 6:30, after we rested a bit and had our fill taking pictures of our pretty cabana, we left once again for Borbon. At long last, after so many years I will finally get to see Borbon! My uncle’s retirement resort! But of course, I wasn’t able to take much pictures since it was already night-time and there isn’t really much to see, maybe tomorrow I would be able to appreciate everything that the place had to offer. Suffice it to say that we just spent the rest of the evening there - just chatting with the cuzins – they drank beer and MP lites, I just had coffee otherwise, I would be nodding off already since it was way past my bedtime of ten o’clock! We went home to Alegre resort at 11:30, so happy with the first day I spent back here in Cebu. I am sure tomorrow would be an even more fun day because it is D DAY! Sound asleep at 12:30 after texting the hubby and the kids goodnight!

DAY 2 (Sunday, May 6)

I was surprised to wake up at 6am this morning to find Papa already awake. When I slept last night he was still browsing in his laptop and he said he was finding it difficult to sleep (namamahay, so to speak). After we took our baths, we left to eat a buffet breakfast at the Pavilion – it was near the pool and was quite a picturesque place to eat. But sad to say though coz the view can’t make up for their lackluster food – well, it wasn’t really bad, but it wasn’t also good either and judging by the price of their buffet, I guess they should have offered something quite good. Well, here are some pics of what we ate.

We left the resort at around 9:30 and dropped by a nearby church to hear mass first before proceeding to Borbon. The mass ended at around 11 am, and when we got to Borbon there were already so many people milling about the grounds in different colored shirts. There was noisy music blaring in the background and the guests were being greeted by the young ones and made to answer some questions in a data sheet (to trace their lineage/ family tree). I immediately saw some people I recognize – the yellow-shirted ones from Lolo Paul’s clan, and so I went over to them to pay my respects. I also went over to kiss the hands of the other elders (orange-shirted ones from Tita Baby’s side of the family, the red ones who live next door to us in Mandaue city and the dark and light blue shirted relatives – FB acquaintances)

The first thing I did after acknowledging most of the relatives present was find a quiet nook with an electric fan or air conditioning because it was getting so freaking hot already. After a while, I got up and did my job – take photos and videos for Papa. I took snapshots after snap shots of various people (some I don’t even know) but they gamely smiled for the camera and when one of the oldies of the Marianita clan would be present (like Auntie B or some other aunt) they would introduce me to the rest of the group as Mesiong Jr’s daughter. Finally, the festivities began and everything started with a short prayer to the Lord, thanking him for the opportunity to bond together as a family and for the food we shall soon partake.

I do not really know what the arrangements were for the food – whether the families individually brought their own or they just contributed some money to a centralized committee and it is that committee that bought the food that we all shared but suffice it to say I was surprised that food was quite aplenty, even the drinks were overflowing. And of course, the Cebu festivities would be incomplete without the perennial fave – the lechon! I reckon there were about three whole pigs slaughtered just for this event! Everyone was satiated after a while, and some even found their own quiet resting places to catch a quick siesta after the furor had died down.

After the people have eaten their fill of the sumptuous food spread before us, the games began! Of course, I did everything I could to wiggle out of joining – like I’m too old for that game or that I’m the official videographer (but of course!) and so I contented myself just filming and watching and laughing at the antics of the gamers. Well, we tried our best but I guess our best wasn’t just good enough so we didn’t really win much of the games. Suffice it to say that we all had fun and it was a great bonding moment for us cuzins and also for those of us who do not really see each other regularly.

With the games finished, the group then settled down on the grass to listen to some band music, the band was brought by a group of relatives (the white shirts) since one of the band members belong to their clan, oooh, I just wish my brother was here and Dian too so they could show their talents! By then, it was already about 4 pm and so the groups gathered around for some group picture-taking and we each had our turn at the tarp. The pic-taking was quite a raucous affair but fun!

In all, I guess everyone had fun and went home to their respective places feeling quite happy and satisfied at how the reunion went. We stayed on with a few other clans for dinner and the sky lanterns/prayer-wishes for the departed souls portion. After eating and of course, more drinking, the group strayed on to do their fave past-time – singing! With a bit of dancing! I was even surprised to see Oboy and Mama C singing and dancing – first-time really! It was so much fun! Decided not to go home at the resort and instead stayed on at Borbon with the cousins all night! Can’t even recall if I got to sleep at all because I don’t know where I slept!Some others I saw slept in tents or just laid on the wooden benches that were all over the place.

DAY 3 (Monday, May 7)

Today is our last day at Alegre resort so we decided to hit the beach after eating breakfast and it was truly an enjoyable time. My dad swam with us cuzins while the Aunts lounged on the chairs to nap. When the other cuzins arrived, they said they already swam this morning at Borbon and that the kids had fun cliff jumping during high tide. Well, that would be something I would want to experience another time. But as for cliff-jumping? I don’t think that’s really for me! After our swim, we availed of the free massage and hair spa that the hotel provided and truly, it felt like heaven! I didn’t feel like getting up to leave anymore but we had to since our stay is only up to 1pm and so reluctantly we packed our bags and said our goodbyes to Alegre resort.

We travelled for two hours to Mandaue city and just made one stop at a pasalubong shopping center (forgot the name!) to buy the usual otap, uraro, etc. for our loved ones back in Manila. We rested a bit in our rooms at Oboy’s house and come dinner, we walked to the next door pension house for a scrumptious feast hosted by the Alang-alang branch of the clan. Every branch of the family had one representative to go up on stage to introduce the members of their own families that are present and for our side, it was Papa who went on stage. After that there was more singing and dancing and in a while, we decided to leave for Uncle Dong’s house where the cousins continued their own drinking/bonding session since it was quieter in their area. Kuya Ted arrived too and it was good seeing him again. Though I don’t really drink and couldn’t follow fully their Visayan conversation, I stayed on to bond with these people whom I haven’t seen for such a long time.

DAY 4 (Tuesday, May 8)

Today is the day of the actual Mandaue fiesta and I got up early to savor the last day of my stay here in Cebu. I would have wanted to visit more places like Lolo and Lola’s grave but when cuzin Mike and I left in the morning, we had a difficult time getting a ride into the city itself because all the roads are blocked because of the parade and the fiesta, so my plans to go to the cemetery went pfffft! Well I sure hope Lolo and Lola would understand, there will always be a next time! So, instead, Mike and I ate breakfast at a fave old hangout - Carlos Bachoy. But it wasn’t in the old spot it was before. The old restaurant is still there but Mike says the cook left and put up his own place and that’s where we went so we could savor the original bachoy of my childhood! Yummy!

For our fiesta lunch, we all trooped next door to Manang Yolly’s house and ate the food they have prepared - shrimp, calamares, empanada, fresh lumpia, morcon, humba, fresh mangoes, watermelon, and of course, the star of the day – the lechon cebu!

The past four days had been filled with so much fun, too much calorific food but most of all with good times of fellowship with long-missed relatives. True, I missed my kids and the hubby but I would never exchange the time I spent these past four days since they were moments I would cherish for a lifetime. I wish the time would come when I could take my family here to savor what a real Cebu fiesta feels like – savor its decadent flavors and languor in Cebu’s magnificent beaches! I know the language barrier somehow makes them hesitate, but they would soon see that despite not knowing anyone and how to talk with them, Cebuanos are truly very warm and accommodating and can make them feel welcome in their homes anytime. I just hope that day would come soon. Goodbye for now Cebu, till next time!

SURPRISE…SURPRISE…I’M GOING TO CEBU!

I got a surprising (but still very welcome!) text from Tita E around lunchtime today asking me if I wanted to go to Cebu!?!? And my initial reaction was - are you F%$#! kidding me???? Of course, I want to go! Who wouldn’t!!! If you had read my previous FB posts, you would know how much I had wanted to go to the reunion and visit Borbon once and for all but my budget just couldn’t cut it. If I remember correctly, my last post to my brother was one of poignancy – wishing that I could go and yet knowing that I can’t because enrolment is just around the corner.

So when her text came, it felt like Santa, my fairy godmother and the Almighty God in heaven all conspired to make my wish come true! And so expectedly I said yes! Even yes please! It seems someone who initially planned to go with them backed out at the last minute and so rather than letting the ticket go to waste they decided to just let someone else take her place. Of course, I needed to do some last-minute maneuverings just to ensure that I could leave for Cebu on that plane. But given the small amount of time left I guess it is just understandable why they chose me.

I guess, this is just so heaven-sent and so the heck with not having any money! Anyway, I’ll be hitching a ride with my dad and sleeping, too, in their hotel room so I guess there really isn’t really much I need to worry about! I easily got the nod of my boss to file a leave of absence for Monday and Tuesday next week so all I need to worry about now is asking permission from my family. I guess it would be easy to get my hubby to agree but it’s the kids I’m really worried about. I’m dead sure they would want to come and it’s just sad that I can’t take them with me. Well, maybe next time coz it has been my dream to really take them there – my hometown of sorts and where I spent many memorable summers. Here’s hoping this trip would also be a memorable one for me.

TITA'S FATHER IS DEAD…

This weekend, we had planned to go to UPLB, stay overnight at the National Arts Center and even maybe visit the huge Olympic-sized pool at Pook ni Maria Makiling. This would have been our celebration for March birthday celebrants (including mine, of course!) but alas it wasn’t meant to be because yesterday I received a distressing text from Papa asking for prayers for Tita Espie’s father who died in his sleep last night.

Well, I guess it is for the best as he is quite old already and had been afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease for the past few months (or maybe even years I just don’t really know). And though he has not been suffering much from any disease, I guess he can be considered to have lived his life fully well. In fact, when we arrived at his wake at Sto. Domingo church, I was quite surprised to learn that he was a tenor during his heydays – and quite a well-known one at that! We were even treated to a concert-like performance by some of his contemporaries who came to visit his remains. All the while we thought it was a radio or stereo with an opera CD playing buy it turned out to be a few old men with golden voices, truly quite an enchanting experience.

We got there at around 8pm, after we ate dinner but there was lots of food there, too, so we had no trouble staying long and engaging in some small talk with the cousins. It was way past midnight when we finally left and we still brought my sister and my brother’s kids to their home in Project 4 and Maryland. But before we left, I gave a tight reassuring hug to my step mother. I know nothing and no one could really ease her pain. It is just so sad to lose one’s father no matter what the circumstances were. I guess I just want to let her know that I will just be here in case she would ever need some comfort…

ANOTHER NEW SAMSUNG GALAXY Y PHONE!

After eight days of letting him stew without a phone, I finally decided to go ahead and get a new plan from Globe for only 500 which had a free Samsung Galaxy Y handset. I didn't have the cash to buy him a new phone so I got him one that is offered for free, although I would have to shell out a monthly 500 at least I can use said amount for texting and calling Globe and TM subscribers in my phonebook. It was amazing that Globe was able to grant this application of mine quickly. On Monday (21 November), after the weekend that Kuya lost his phone, I browsed Globe plans and saw one that advertised an online application. The next day I filled up an application form online and the day after I submitted the requirements thru fax. Then today, Monday I got the phone already! Hurrah! However, I decided not to give it to him just yet and instead I would take the gadget for a road test and use it myself for a few days...

A LOST PHONE...AFTER JUST TWO WEEKS!

Two weeks ago, around November 5, my son was the proud owner of a brand new Samsung Galaxy Y phone. But then yesterday after eating lunch and as the rest of us were busy doing our regular tasks – Ditse with her laundry, the hubby with his smaller TV rack, K and I fixing toys and books to determine which ones to clear out and give away – bad news came. We learned that my son’s phone was missing. He was at the internet shop at around 12 noon and there were just a few of them there at the time. He stood up for a bit to borrow a card reader from the pc shop helper and when he remembered his phone, it was not there beside him.

In truth, I do not know what to feel. The hubby was obviously angry and took it out on the aluminium screen door, kicking it thus creating a dent. He talked to the two guys who were with my son at the PC shop and he deduced that my son’s friend was not lying when he said he did not see it but the helper obviously was. But then, there was nothing we could do much about it. I guess it was ultimately my son’s fault that his phone got lost. Though I wanted to comfort him and let him know it was OK, I knew he had to learn his lesson. He had to continue paying for his half of the phone with his allowance money, even if the phone is no longer present. Oh well, even if I had wanted to buy him a new one, I don’t have the extra money to pay for it. He would just need to be more responsible with his possessions and so I would let him stew without a phone for now.

BUYING A LYRE FOR KAYE

About two weeks ago, she broached the subject about joining the drum and lyre band in their school, and I go what??? What the hell is a lyre??? I don’t even know what it looks like? And so I figured that would be the end of our conversation. But the week after, she mentioned it again and asked whether she can be allowed to attend the group’s first meeting to be held at around 3pm on July 12. OK so it seems she’s really adamant about this but I had a problem because she goes home with the school bus service and if her schedule would be disrupted I don’t think she can be accommodated by the service anymore since there would be others riding the 5pm batch. Hence, she needs to be fetched by Nanay Ditse. Well, Ditse relented to her request so that’s one problem solved. So I allowed her to attend one meeting to let her find out more details about the group and decide for herself if she really wants to join..

Guess what? When she came home that afternoon, she couldn’t contain her excitement and definitely, definitely wanted to join the band. So I laid down some ground rules. First and foremost is that it should not interfere with her studies. I don’t want her standing in class affected by her practice with the band. Second, she needs to practice outside the house, in the garage preferably or maybe in the room upstairs. Because ours is just a small house, so we would be all affected by the ruckus she makes when she does practice. She asked me to buy her a lyre and their school costume and she told me it costs 1200 and 1000 respectively if both are to be bought from the school – what the!#$@^&*! That much for something she may not sustain an interest for so long!!! So I compromised and promised her that we would buy her a lyre somewhere else.

So on July 15, a Friday, we passed by SM Fairview to look for a lyre – junior sized to fit her small frame. We found one for 790 which was medium sized so we reserved a small-sized one that would probably be delivered next week costing 690. And so I thought that problem was already solved. But come Monday, the lyre was still not delivered and so we went home empty-handed. Of course, she made a fuss about it and got worried that she may be the only one without a lyre during today’s practice. And so hubby and I went to Cubao and also Sta. Mesa where we found her a junior-sized lyre for only PhP500.00. At last! I just hope she would really learn something from this gig, that it would not be just a passing fancy she would soon tire of when her interest wanes.

TAAL FOR JULY KITAKITS

For this month, Papa and Tita E decided to hold our monthly regular kita-kits at Mother Lily’s resort at Taal, Batangas – The Royal Imperial Resorts, to celebrate Puloy and Marn’s arrival from abroad. It’s our second time actually to visit their resort; the first one was during the Holy week break last April. But then, even if it wasn’t really a spectacular place - the pools weren’t all that clean and do not have slides that the kids could enjoy playing with – going there was a welcome respite. Besides, Puloy, Marn and Dian were first-timers here so we would be taking them around.

We got there at 1pm na, since they arrived late from buying food at FTI. We had to cook rice pa so while waiting the kids decided to take a dip in the pool. Good thing we bought bonete bread at Alitagtag so we had something to tide us over while waiting for the rice to cook. After eating lunch of chicken afritada, embutido, and some veggie lumpia we retreated to our rooms while the kids went back to the pool again. Jun and I slept until 6 pm when we awoke to join Puloy, Marn, Dian and the kids who have finished swimming and wanted to go to Taal Basilica for some picture taking. But it was almost dusk when we arrived so we were only able to take pics of the outside of the church because it was already closed. Before heading back to the resort, we passed by 7-11 to buy some ice and snacks for the kids.




Upon our return to the villa, it was already time for dinner. We ate a hearty meal of BBQ chicken, liempo, and spaghetti then I returned to room to do Kaye’s test in English for a while. But she felt sleepy at 10 pm pa lang, so I let her rest and went outside to chat with the others till past 1 am. I know, it’s way beyond my usual bedtime of 10 or 11PM but what the heck, I am only with these people once every month, (and with my brother once every year lang!) so I might as well spend the time catching up on what’s happening in each other’s lives.

The next day, I awoke late at 8am and ate breakfast of Taal longganisa, tapa and hotdogs. After eating, we all took a dip in the pool and played with Papa, Tita E and the kids. After all, it was getting hot na din and it will be our last chance to swim before going home. I went out of the pool to take my bath before lunch time so I could eat my lunch dressed and in peace. We ate kare-kare, crispy pata and sinaing na tulingan…yummy! And I wanted to take an afternoon nap but I had to pack our things to leave which I finished by 3pm. However, we spent some time taking group pictures in front of the villas so that it was 4pm by the time we finally left. We had lots of take home ulam because the others who were planning to follow (like Auntie Chuchay’s family) weren’t able to make it. Just too bad there wasn’t any lechon or much seafoods but still we were satisfied with the food we all shared. But I guess more than just the food, we’re glad to spend some quality time together…all of us, like one big happy family.

P.S. Just too bad coz we had many pics here courtesy of my photographer brother but I can’t download them from FB so I can’t post them here .

MAAP APPLICATION

Today, we took the first step towards the realizations of Keith’s dreams and his future. These past few days, I helped him complete his application form and requirements for his entrance examination to the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP). And today, I am finally going to Intramuros, Manila to find the Seaman’s AMOSUP Center so that I could submit his application there and pay the corresponding processing fee of PhP300.00. I got lucky coz someone in the office would be going to Intramuros to get a certification/official receipt for liquidation. Otherwise, I would have commuted to get to this place and I would not have been able to find it since its hidden somewhere within the interiors of the walled city, near the San Agustin church.

Why MAAP? It’s the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific and for me it’s the better alternative to PMA since their school campus is just near, in Bataan unlike in PMA where we have to go to Baguio every time we wish to visit him. And what’s more, in both schools, their students are scholars, meaning we do not have to spend a cent on his education if he passes either of the two schools. The advantage at MAAP is that during his third year and he goes into apprenticeship he would be earning dollars if a Dutch or any other foreign ship invites him to join their organization.

So, I have been tutoring him in English but I want also to tutor him in Math because he wants to take the Marine engineering course and not just the Marine transport course. I know he needs lots of knowledge in Math to be able to pass the test. The sad part is that I seem to have already forgotten the concepts, only the basic ones on fractions and decimals remain, and these are not enough! Oh dear, I sure hope we have enough time to study. I specifically chose the test on October 8 because I wanted him to gain more time to review. I just hope that when that day comes, he will be ready. Dear Lord, please make him ready!

MY BROTHER’S HOME

After a year of slaving away like a dog in UAE (that’s what he says!), my brother is back home for a three-week vacation this year. Last year he was here for a month, but he says he found it difficult going back to work at once upon returning to UAE after his vacation so now he gave himself one week to readjust his body clock before going back to work. Hence, the cut in his time here in the country but that’s OK as he just needs to just make sulit every moment he spends here. His flight home was scheduled at 12 midnight and so we picked him up at the airport (with Myk and Kaye) and brought him home to Mama at Project 4.

Why was Kaye with us at so late an hour??? Well, of course she’s excited to see her new PSP. You see, I asked my brother to buy her a PSP because he says it’s cheaper there by half. Imagine what we could buy here for around 10 or 12K he could get for just 5 or 6K so I told him to buy us one before he arrives and that is why Kaye couldn’t wait since he said he bought her a white PSP 3006 version and he even had about 20 or so games installed. It was priced at 500 dirhams, so that makes it around PhP 6500, but he made us pay for only PhP 5000 only. So, thank you dear bro! You made my little girl so happy! For me and Mama he brought Nine West wallets (big brown for Ma and a small black one for me), for Marn and Anna - Victoria Secret’s Body Mist perfume, for Jun, Myk and Keith some shirts/polo shirts and of course – chocolates galore! We all went home quite satisfied with our pasalubongs and so happy that my brother is home.

MY DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY

I would have wanted a simple celebration for her birthday. After all, she’s just turning nine this year – not really a special number to hold a grand birthday. And besides, we didn’t plan to hold her birthday on a weekend – so it would just be a simple get-together with maybe some neighbors and her friends as guests. But it didn’t turn out as planned! Because Inang decided to take her entire brood from BP and even borrowed a jeep to ferry all of them to our small abode in Bulacan.












For sure, our planned food budget went awry that day and we had to make some major adjustments and bought additional food just to accommodate all of them. In fact, our house felt too small and too hot because we couldn’t seem to fit all of them inside!!! But it sure was fun!!! Tiring because we had to do all the cooking but fun all the same! The choco fountain was the hit of the show and the teens took turns drinking Boracay rum under the hot afternoon sun, whew! All that was lacking is a beach to dive into and it would have been perfect. Of course, I would’ve been much happier if the hubby was were here to tend to his relatives but he can’t go on leave today, so we just held the party without him.

Kaye’s recognition day

I went on leave today to attend a very important occasion – my daughter’s recognition day at Village Montessori school. I am happy because every year, her rank keeps getting higher. Last year she was ranked ninth so she was Sixth honorable mention. This year, however, she not only ranked eighth and got a Fifth honorable mention medal, she also got a best in Math award for topping their Math Quiz Bee!!! I am so proud of you baby! Keep it up and I hope you do even better next year!

PROM NIGHT

Tonight, I witnessed yet another grim reminder that I am indeed getting old… because it’s my little boy’s prom night – well, he’s not quite so little anymore, in fact, he’s a lot bigger than me! Funny how time flies so fast and you never really realize how fast until it suddenly stares you in the face… in a few more years he’ll be going to college and depending on whatever college he may eventually chose to enter – be it the PMA or MAAP or whatever college he ends up with – it would turn out the same – I would cease to see him everyday…harassing him to take out his baunan from his school bag and pick up his clothes which he is perennially leaving on the floor and all over his already messy bedroom. Truth to tell, despite his hardheadedness --- I am honestly going to miss him! So I guess I really do need to savor moments like this while he’s still with us…and maybe create more bonding moments to spend together...