Pleasure to Pressure

Jerry flew to Macau last Tuesday and since then, I've been driving myself to work, driving from work to Matt's school after his basketball practice, driving from school to the laundry to pick up our clean clothes and finally driving home. In a day, I drive an average of 2 hours! Wow, that's just like working in Makati and going home to Paranaque or Las Pinas!

Yesterday was my all time high when I spent a total of three hours on the wheel. It was partly due to rush hour traffic and partly because I had to get the kids from the house and drive all the way back to Crossroads to attend the birthday dinner for my SIL and send-off party for nephew John. It was a pendulous route that got me exhausted right after.

Work has been kind to me so far. If the load stays as it is, then it's a welcome thing for me. I could get used to this slow pace just as I got used to too much paperwork in my previous job. I'm just a bit unsettled, a nagging thought at the back of my head tells me there could be more than meets the eye. I hope it's nothing that's too much to handle.

So going back to the birthday dinner last night, it was held at Big Mao Crossroads. And as expected, the food was great. I'm glad I only took small portions of each kind. And regardless of how little I got, I ended up still satiated.

Ayayay, I’m seriously starting to worry about shedding off these unwanted calories. *Sigh*


Matt and Jake while waiting for me to take them to the birthday and send-off party


John with A-ma and Mary with Go-ee


Big smiles at Big Mao

Foodies Galore !

From 4PM - 7PM, we were at the Marriott Hotel for our nephew Michael's 4th birthday celebration. My in-laws were there as well in full force.



the balloons in Marriott Hotel... my BIL and SIL looking on as Michael blew his candles...


Jerry and I with our Jake


Then from 730PM to 830PM, we were at Isla Foods for dinner with my parents and maternal relatives.




We actually spent time with both sides of the family today. Yah, all in one day. Quite a feat huh. Needless to say, food was a-plenty and I could already feel my pants pinching. Ow!

And the invitations to special occasions still keep coming!

Wilvin - Lucille

Lucille and I became friends when we were both in our 20's (that was a long time ago!). We were pioneers then of SM Cebu, both working as Accounting Officers for the department store and shoe business. I fondly remember that we were shopping partners everytime there was a mall-wide sale. Woo! Oh yes, those were carefree days! I was already married and with one kid at that time and I thought that any time soon, Lucille would get hitched as well.

Alas, fate had other plans. Years had passed. We joined other companies since then, I had 2 more sons and we lost contact of each other. Then, just recently, I received a text from her. She has found the man of her dreams. The SMS was to invite me to a wedding. "At last!", was the first thought that crossed my mind. Hehe...

I have yet to find out the details of her love story, but I was content to see her finally walk down the aisle…hopeful and so full of love.

Best wishes dear Bru!

Celebrate Life!

Lola Meding, my maternal grandma was resplendent in her pink gown. She looked every inch the loving and warm-hearted Lola we knew all our lives. Gathering almost a hundred guests in Casino Espanol, for a night of feasting, singing, dancing and talking about the good old days, was a fitting tribute to our grand matriarch.

At 91 years old, she has lived and continues to live a full life raising 2 daughters, 6 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren (I hope I got my numbers right).

Happy birthday Lola Meding! We dearly love you!


The mosaic fountain in Casino Espanol


Matt, Kyle and Jake with the other 2nd degree cousins


Sleepy Jake with his grannies, Mamarazzi and Paparazzi


With Lola Meding sans me and Jake. Notice 11 yr. old Matt standing as tall as the adults.


Still looking radiant, Lola Meding celebrating life at 91

Having It My Way

Being a Friday, Jerry invited me to lunch. At first he wanted to have Japanese at Rai Rai Ken, but I thought of having it instead in Maribago Bluewater Beach. Since my new job is in Mactan Island now, that makes the beaches really accessible in minutes.

We shared a really big serving of fresh fruits halo-halo in young coconut topped with a giant scoop of ube ice cream and a big plate of chorizo spaghetti. The halo-halo wasn’t for dessert though, we had them served together. Haha. And with wild abandon, we heartily maneuvered our way between the two. Sayang I forgot to take pictures. When I remembered, we were half-way done. I would have wanted to crow about it and have you all drooling. Hehehe… Maybe next time…


The ceiling of the newly-renovated halo-halo bar


On the right of this walkway are the new rooms of Maribago

Pay Up or Suffer

Jerry and I left the house early at 730 this morning for NBI-7 as I intended to get my clearance for submission to my new employer. It has been more than 8 years since I last had my clearance processed and we already anticipated the long lines of people.

At the designated parking outside the NBI compound, a man and a woman, clad in shorts, greeted us immediately. They were "facilitators" looking for a quick buck in exchange for "special" services. Knowing that some government offices do not practice the "mamamayan muna" attitude and instead would dilly-dally the processing without concern for everyone who is in a hurry, we were fodder for these opportunistic facilitators. Sadly, we took the "express lane" without hesitating for a moment.

I don't know if this errant practice is known to NBI officials. We don't know for sure if some insiders share in the "facilitation fee" loot. What we know is that because we were party to the misdeed, the processing for our NBI clearances only took an hour (1) tops.

We were out of there in no time, passing the long queues snaking their way to the different sections of the office. People like me are partly to blame for the rampant corruption in these offices. How unfortunate. It's either you pay up or endure the heat and long wait as your paper gets pushed to the bottom of the heap to accommodate those who didn't want to be inconvenienced.

Sad. :(

Guess Who Are In Town

Paparazzi and Mamarazzi arrived in Cebu today for my maternal grandmother's 91st birthday on the 20th. Their first stop was to meet up with Aunt Didi, cousins Mimi and Stella for some steak dinner at Arano's.

Ack, the first of a long series of food-tripping... Haha! :D


Paparazzi and Mamarazzi, 3rd and 2nd from left respectively, with cousins Mimi, Stella and Auntie Didi

New Blog, New Job

Yes, my 7-month hiatus from employment has finally come to an end. I'm now the Corporate Services Manager of a diverse organization in the logistics industry, specifically the local licensee of Fedex.

As a newbie, I'm presently trying to learn about the organization as well as the company's jargon. And terms like air waybill, manifesting, duties, export, import and PEZA regulations come into play with my regular gibberish.

Looking forward to my 1st paycheck. Wee!

Thanks Tin!

Ey! I'm now part of the marikit.net community of bloggers. What an honor to be invited! Right now I'm busily learning more about Wordpress and will soon be posting more.

Stay tuned!


Jacob and the Beetle