5 Years

Is that "long" 5 years or "short" 5 years?



The Marcelo Fernan Bridge, connecting Mactan Island to mainland Cebu


For a 1st attempt on visa application, I sure think being given 5 years multiple entry to the US is going to be 5 great years of travel prospects!

Weee!

Jakester's Dictionary

Jake is 1 year and 10 months old. And like most tots his age, he has accumulated a number of words that he has learned from those he frequently interacts with. He talks to us in his usual gibberish coupled with hand gestures. And over time, we have come to know what some of his "words" mean. Let me share some of his more common words...


Jerry - Papa
Linnor - Mama
Matt - Mach, or most of the time when confused, Kai
Kyle - Kai
Lolo - Yoyo
Lola - Yoya
A-ma - A-ma (Grandma in Chinese)
A-ko - A-tu (A-ko is aunt in Chinese)
Juju - Dudu
Cathy - Tah-tee
milk - mik
fish - wish
turtle - turtah
dog - doh
cat - ngi-yao
cat or car - kah
star or car - tah
bird - wa'wa' - "quack quack"
close - on
stand - tan
down - dan
carry - popo (carry in Chinese)
fireworks/gun - bangbang
wow - wow
yey - yey
airplane - peplen
amen - ah mi
no - no
ball - boh
basketball - ba'boh
drink - dink
bye - bye


Coming from both Chinese and Filipino families who speak Fookienese, Cebuano, Tagalog and English, Jake's vocabulary is clearly a mixture of all.


From all of us:

Happy Chinese New Year (Year of the "DOH")!
Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Pit Senyor!

My ninos in Sinulog head regalia, complete with junk food in plastic bag...

The Sinulog mardi gras every 3rd Sunday of January is the culmination of the feast in honor of the Holy Child Jesus we endearingly call as the Sto. Nino. Even before the novena masses start, everyone seems to be on high-mode. The City gets decked up with colored buntings along the parade route. Replicas of Cebu's Sto Nino Church or the Sto Nino icon crop up along the Fuente Osmena Circle. Ah yes, of course, the advertising companies are having the time of their lives busily hyping different events and street parties.

On the Saturday preceding the Sinulog, the biggest religious procession in the city takes place a little after lunch. It starts from the Basilica and passes through the commercial districts of downtown and uptown Cebu and goes back to starting point. Thousands of devotees flock to participate in this annual pilgrimage watching the re-enactment of the 1st baptism or the changing of the Sto Nino's clothes, praying, venerating and waving to the 500 year old Sto Nino. It is praise-worthy that the crowd was well-organized inspite of the humongous traffic jam the re-routing of vehicles has caused. All for the love of the Holy Child.

Saturday night after the religious procession, the city comes more alive with concerts and live band music in every open space. It's the start of the street partying. It is common to find yourself stuck in traffic at 12 midnight. This is party night for the Cebuanos and everyone seems to be out on the streets.

Early Sunday, even after staying up late the night before, people attend mass and gear up for the big mardi gras. The biggest parade of about a hundred dancing contingents from different schools, organizations, companies, and groups representing Metro Manila and provinces as far as Surigao del Norte assure everyone of a display of colors and dance routines well up to the early evening.

We tried to go as near as we could to watch the parade, but with 3 kids in tow, it was close to impossible. We were getting squashed by people from all sides. If your intention is to see the complete parade then you're better off watching the live coverage on tv. However, most of the people on the streets were not there to seriously watch but were there just to take in the sights and sounds as well as the whole gamut of fiesta atmosphere permeating in the air. Cars are parked everywhere and families were setting up camp in the fields and open space of the Cebu Business Park. There was a helicopter for rent for those who could afford and would want to view the mardi gras from above. People in black shirts with headdresses or whistles or face paints are a common site.


In a sea of black shirts, headdressed, capped and face painted people, we donned a yellow shirt on Jake to spot him easily in the crowd. That's a Sinulog survival tip. :D


After the last of the dancing contingents has performed, the big event is capped with fireworks display. The best place to be at 930pm after the Sinulog is anywhere in the open spaces of Cebu Business Park where everyone is sure to be treated to a 3o-minute show of spectacular pyrotechnics.

If I keep on with the account of the Sinulog, I may not be able to fully describe the sights, sounds, smell and general atmosphere of this annual event. Rather than read or hear about it, it's best to experience it and get yourself immersed for a day or two. However, this much I could tell you, the Sinulog is most probably the biggest event the Cebuanos celebrate in a year, perhaps even bigger than Christmas and New Year combined.

Viva Pit Senyor!

I Don't Want to be First!

Every January, we all make it a point to troop to the dentist for cleaning and general check-up. It has become a routine for several years now. (Other dental appointments are booked sporadically in between). And this is one affair that the boys are not too excited to go to. Hehehe.

If The Shoe Fits --- (I GO BUY!!!)

I don’t know what has gotten over me the afternoon of Tuesday. While Jerry and I were at Banilad Town Center taking a break after doing some errands (remittances to government agencies), we saw the sale that the Adidas outlet was having. There were rubber shoes on sale for less than 50% of its original price!

At first we just walked up to it to see if there was anything that was priced for a steal. The first few minutes, nothing caught our fancy. But moving on to the men’s section, Jerry saw a pair of white Duncan that Matthew has been pining for. From the original P5500 list price, it was now down to a very tempting P2700+. I automatically thought of the next important occasion where it was fit to be given as a gift. And almost like an instant, I thought of Matthew’s upcoming graduation. (Note: Justifying my action is a classic sign of impulsive shopping.) It is still two months away but I thought I could buy this pair now and just keep it hidden until the occasion it’s intended for finally arrives. Hehehe.

We ordered for a pair in Matthew’s size (9.5 US) but we didn’t stop there (Now, this is a really serious sign of impulsive buying!). I tried to look for something for Kyle as well but there was none. Then, I soon found a dark navy (with matte gold stripes) trainers that I thought looked cute on Jerry. It was down from P4500 to P2200. I told him if it fits him, I’d buy it as well. It did look good on him (of course, heh!). So now I just maxed my card for P4900 for 2 pairs of Adidas shoes. I need help… I am such a shopaholic!

December 30, 2005 - New Year Party at Di-ee's

Pic 1 - "You better watch out, you better not cry", sang Michael. Pic 2 - Angie danced gracefully to a very upbeat tune.


Pic 3 - Fairlie, Jay, kids, yayas and niece happily danced to a Christmas medley. Theirs was a family production number. :D. Pic 4 - Hans recited a beautiful poem.


Matt and Kyle morphed into a midget as they danced to My Humps.


"Yey!" Jake exclaimed as he applauded the performances.


In left pic are Achie, Gerard, Jerry, Mommy and nanny Lilimar, Jake and nanny Cathy. In right pic, the teens exchanged gifts. Jenny, Juju, Matt, Angie (in pink) and Anna (in white).


"WOW!" exclaimed Jake as his Di-ee-po was distributing the gifts to the performers.

Until the next New Year Party... :D

December 31, 2005 - Bidding 2005 Goodbye

Spent the early part of the last day of 2005 at the IT Park. The kids had fun running and enjoying the wide open space as I took pics of them.


The kids' view...

~~~ RANDOM NEW YEAR's EVE PICS ~~~







BYE 2005... It was such a great year!


HELLO 2006!

January 1, 2006 - HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL

This has been my first time to post 4 different entries in one day. I guess there were one too many occasions for photo ops. I am completely "speechless" in my posts lately. Hehehe. And it's been faster for me to put my flickr pics here than to compose coherent write-ups to go with each entry. Oh well...

Enjoy the pics...

At the City Sports Club for a few rounds of billiards


At the Waterfront Hotel Lahug for dessert and coffee

December 28, 2005

I've only been in that company for barely two years but the friendships have remained to this day. When Jiji called to say she was coming over to see me, I was pleasantly surprised to see not only her but Chat as well. It was an afternoon of reminiscing about the good old days - the good and the not so good. Hehehe.

Well, what else could be more amusing than talking about the past right? :D