Touring Terraces

We've been frequenting the Terraces for the past few days until the last weekend. It's a nice venue to take my Manila-based parents to. They're impressed that there's something like Greenbelt or Glorietta in my Cebu home-base. Hehe... For city-dwellers like them, malling is a staple activity. Yep, I should know. :P



Here we are, enjoying Yellow Cab pizza and calzone a few hours after a filling lunch at Big Mao (both at Terraces)

Playing Catch Up (1) - Mama Sol's Birthday

The past weeks have been busy for me at the homefront with my youngest and me getting sick one after the other, like a tag-team of sorts. Then to add to that, we also had major movements and changes at work. Think, paperwork and tighter coordination among all groups.

To cut the chase, I'm posting pics of other events that happened in between. So this is part 1:



We got invited to Mama Sol's (aunt's) dinner party at the Marco Polo where we were served a fusion of Japanese, Italian, Chinese and native food. Yummm! However, the al fresco dinner was mildly rained on and prompted most of the guests to wear the table napkins on their heads ala "hat" party. Wehehe... I guess that was what caused me to get sick for a week. :P


When the mild drizzle stopped, the dances began. One of the dance numbers was from a belly-dancer, to the men's delight. As the music commenced, I threw side-glances at my teenage boys who seemed to enjoy the serpentine moves of the curvaceous dancer. Ah boys... My Papa Lalo (uncle) was regretful of the fact that he left his eyeglasses home! Haha! That was amusing and definitely good news for my Mama Sol!


Since it was a Tuesday, with work the following day (my sons were on school break), we left at about 930pm. That was when most of my uncle and aunt's contemporaries started boogie-ing and chacha-ing the night away...

Litratong Pinoy: Puti at Itim

Ilang Huwebes din akong napahinga sa pagsali sa lingguhang Litratong Pinoy. Mabuti at may konting oras para makapagblog bago maging abala ng tuluyan. Ang tema para ngayong Huwebes ay "Puti at Itim" at sa aking paghahanap ng litrato sa aking koleksiyon, nakita ko ito...



Litrato ito ng kamay ko, ng aking kapatid na si Junnie at ni Jake OR Zia sa ibabaw ng umiilaw na upuan sa Manila Ocean Park. Sa katunayan, "colored" ang shot na yan kaya lang against the light kaya naging parang anino ang kulay ng aming mga kamay. Puede na rin di ba?

Dalawin natin ang ibang lahok sa Litratong Pinoy dito...

SM Horror Story/ies

Last Sunday, as soon as I plopped myself on the couch after our Manila-Cebu flight, my cellphone rang. It was Ma. She was just checking on us if we arrived safely home and on time. But right after I replied, she proceeded to blurt her horror story.

She lost her wallet in SM Mall of Asia! Argh! And as she was speaking on the other line, she was close to hysterical. She narrated that Pa looked for a place to sit down while she went to nearby Celine. She was just a few minutes inside Celine, picked an item she wanted to buy and proceeded to the counter. She noticed nothing unusual, except that the mall and the boutiques were jampacked with people. It was a weekend sale after all.

At the counter, when she unzipped her bag, she found her long wallet gone! Her cards, cash, senior citizen's ID, everything... gone!

I could feel her anguish. Along with the cash she lost was the cash gift I gave earlier that day for her birthday... I was even joking about it, telling her I couldn't afford to buy her an LV Speedy yet (to replace her Lacoste bag), but the amount could be her 1st installment.... *Sigh*

Sad thing is, this wasn't the first time it happened. Earlier this year, she also lost her wallet from inside her bag while in SM Southmall with Pa. Same story. The thief seemed to have used some "sleight of hand" trick for Ma not to feel anything. Grr.

Let this be a warning to all to please be careful with your bags or wallets. SM is not immune to these petty criminals. Hard times... There's no telling when and where the thieves would strike again.


Ma, enjoying the empty (newly-built) Northwing of the SM City Cebu last January...


At SM City Cebu - Jake (with Pa), Matt, me, Pa and Ma... That's how she normally carries her bag while malling...

Timeline: 31 hours in Manila

SATURDAY
8:00 AM flight to Manila

12:00 noon @ Recipes (Greenbelt)


2:00 PM @ Mocha Blends (Las Pinas)




4:00 PM @ Cafe Breton (Westgate, Alabang)


7:00 PM Dinner @ home
9:00 PM Coffee @ Starbucks, Madrigal (Ayala Alabang)

SUNDAY
8:00 AM breakfast
10:00 AM Skype video call between family in Manila and Junnie and Mitzi in Canada
12:00 noon lunch at home
3:00 PM (after 31 hours in Manila) flight back to Cebu.

Happy 70th Birthday Ma! :D

2 Weddings 1 Weekend

Wedding No. 1 -

Last week, we attended 2 weddings and a birthday party. As in all weddings, dress code was formal. However, I was dismayed when I tried on my formal dresses. None of them fit me comfortably. Ugh. After a quick trip to the mall, I bought a gray dress that looked passable.

Two days before the wedding, I tried the dress on again and found out it easily showed wet marks (back, under arms, etc). Disgusting. So I went back to the mall to get me a decent looking outfit and ended up with this....



Nope, it's not a dress nor a gown. It's just a dressy top I wore with a pair of really dark skinny pants.

Oh well.....

Anyway, here are my sons, looking dapper in long sleeved polos...



Wedding No. 2 -

The first wedding was evidently lavish and expensive. The guests totalling 1000 were mostly the who's who of Cebu. But to me, wedding number two was better in all respects. It was intimate and all the details were just impeccable... decor, food, music, programme. The works. Of course you can't go wrong with food from Abaca. It was just perfect. And to think, preparation was only less than two weeks....


infinity pool


Jerry and some of our friends during cocktails


the table setting...

Ah weddings... I pray both couples have a blessed union full of love, happiness, and little kiddies. :)

Cuz Mimi's Barney-themed party for daughter Marti

Cuz Mimi's Barney-themed party for daughter Marti, originally uploaded by gratitude.

Last Saturday was the advance birthday celeb for my niece and God-child Marti. JCA Pizza along Salinas Drive was made exclusive for the afternoon event. Her mom, my cousin Mimi, was initially frantic when Barney the mascot, was nowhere to be seen.

It turned out the mascot was just late. Perhaps they got stuck in traffic. Imagine a purple dinosaur on the road.... Hehehe...

Jake, amused at Barney...

Saturday in Makati

I used to work in SGV Consulting in Makati in late 1989 up to 1992. Spending most of my waking hours in that area from Monday to Friday familiarized me with the ins and outs of "old Makati". Why do I say old? Since moving to Cebu 16 years ago right after getting married, a lot in the place have changed. Every year that I got to visit Makati, a structure got renovated or torn down and replaced by another. It's sad that I didn't have photos of how the Makati I knew looked like.

Last Saturday, Jerry and I strolled down memory lane as we tried to recall the old places. I couldn't help looking for Gibson's where I usually took colorum mini-bus or jeepney rides to Las Pinas back in those days. Now, Jerry tells me it's already part of Park Square. I asked him where the Tia Maria Mexican bar/resto we used to frequent is located, and he tells me it's actually Max Brenner now. Larry's Bar, San Mig Pub, and Max's Fried Chicken, the resto where my parents and siblings once ate to celebrate a grade school graduation is now GB5! I couldn't help but shake my head... Haha! Ganun??? I'm feeling lost...and old! :D

Even the SGV Development Center along Perea and Dela Rosa Streets, where Jerry and I worked and met in 1989 is no longer there. In it's place is a high-rise condominium.

Change happens so fast it's dizzying...


With Pa, Ma, sis May, niece Zia (Pics taken at GB5 and Glorietta)

Liwaliw

View from Greenbelt 5 (GB5)

"Mall" agad ang pumasok sa isip ko sa temang liwaliw. Tamang-tama. Ang litratong aking lahok ay kuha ko habang ako ay nasa loob ng Greenbelt 5, sa parteng malapit sa bagong mamahaling boutique na Adora. :D

Nasa Manila kasi ako noong 080808 para sa opening/blessing ng aming opisina. Kaya noong sumunod na araw ng Sabado, inilibot ako at ang aking hubby ng aking mga magulang at mga kapatid sa bagong GB5.

Maganda... Kumain pa nga kami sa Travel Cafe kung saan unang natikman ng aking Ma, Pa at sis ang coffee alamid, ang isa sa pinakamahal na kape sa buong mundo. Sa Pilipinas lang yata ito nakikita. Sa umpisa nag-atubili akong subukan pero nang matikman na, masarap pala.

Kakaiba ang naging pagsubok ni Ma. Sa una, sarap na sarap siyang lagukin ang coffee alamid. Parang capuccino daw ang lasa. Pero di maipinta ang mukha ni mader nang malaman nyang galing pala ito sa dumi ng alamid. Nai-imagine kasi nya na pusa ang alamid kahit ito ay mas mukhang "mongoose". Hahaha.... Makikita dito >>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4896230.stm ang karagdagang kaalaman tungkol sa pinagmulan ng sikat na coffee alamid.

Eto naman ang litrato naming mag-anak na kuha ni hubby habang nasa Travel Cafe.... bukod sa napakalaking halo-halo na di namin naubos, Coffee alamid ang hawak ni Pa sa kuha na ito.



Saan kaya nagliwaliw ang ibang sumali sa Litratong Pinoy? Puntahan natin...

Planning for College

My eldest son is in 3rd year high school now and soon will be off to college. As my brother and I were chatting earlier today, he suggested for Matt to consider going to NY, Boston or Toronto for a degree. Our conversation went this way:

Me: How much ang tuition sa NY, Boston or Toronto? Baka makuba kami ni Jerry.

Junnie: 45,000 per year

Me: *Gulp* Wala bang scholarship?

Junnie: ...but the student can loan that and pay when able

Stop, you had me at "pay when able", I told mysef. Hahaha....

Me: Matt! Tito Junnie said you should prepare for college as early as now. Where would you prefer? NY, Boston or Toronto? (Naks, as if I could really afford)...

Matt: (Voice coming from the 2nd floor) Ok Ma. How about NY? (Sakay naman sya. This guy is playing along.)

Me: And you Kyle, where would you want to go?

Kyle: *Shrugs his shoulders and smiles* (Perhaps he thought I wasn't being serious. Hmm.)

Jake the 4yo: Ma, I want to go to Boston! Now...

Me: Ooh-kay... :D



Jake and Kyle

The Walk

The Walk, originally uploaded by gratitude.

It took more than a year, if I remember right, for this small patch of food / entertainment space to open its doors to the public. Now it's a new destination for food-lovers who want a change of scenery. There's Figaro, Mooon, Pier One, Shakey's, McDonald's, La Marea, Casa Verde which are sure to satisfy anybody's craving.

During Junnie's short visit, we included it in his itinerary. Pics were taken after a filling fusion lunch at Mooon, one bright day in June...

Manila Ocean Park

Sunday afternoon of June 8, 2008, we braved the hundreds upon hundreds of people waiting in line to get inside the Manila Ocean Park. We waited for at least an hour for our number to be flashed before we were allowed in... P400/person is quite a stiff price to pay but since we were in Manila for the weekend, and we wanted to see something we haven't seen before, we decided to splurge a bit....

Enchanted Kingdom

Pag-iisang Dibdib

Ito ang napili kong litrato para ipagmalaki sa lahat na apatnapu't isang taon nang nagsasama sina Pa at Ma mula nang sila ay makipag-isang dibdib sa isa't-isa noong Disyembre 22, 1966.

Panalangin ko na sana, kaming tatlong bunga ng pag-iisang dibdib na ito ay maging matibay din sa aming mga pagsasama. Hindi madali ang pag-aasawa, lalo na kung dalawang magkaibang personalidad ang magsasama. Pero naniniwala ako na malaki ang naitutulong sa matiwasay na pagsasama ang pagkakaroon ng "third party". Ang tinutukoy ko ay ang Maykapal na siyang nagbibigkis sa dalawang nagmamahalan.

Akala nyo kung anong "third party" ano? :D

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Narito pa ang ibang mga kalahok sa tema ngayong linggong ito sa Litratong Pinoy. Samahan nyo akong umikot. :)

Coupling

I mentioned in my previous post about my aunt & uncle's ruby anniversary. Just like what I said during my own parents' 40th anniversary last December 2006, not a lot of married couples get to reach that milestone these days. Pity.

As I savored the food served before us at the reception, I took some and posed for a few shots, with me and Paparazzi taking turns with my digicam. Here are some couple shots from the recent celebration...


The ruby couple... My Papa Lalo and Mama Sol (my mom's only sibling)


My own Pa & Ma :), they celebrated their 40th yr last Dec '06


Jerry and me... with 24 years more to our 40th :). Notice the orb? That must be our maternal Grandma who passed away last Jan '08...


A romantic silhouette of Pa & Ma as they danced the night away... *Awww...*

Happy Birthday Sistah!

Happy birthday, May!
(May, Junnie, moi)
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* This is a favorite pic which I keep recycling on this site...not because I'm 50 pounds lighter here. (Heheheh...This obsession about my weight is making me crazy now). I think I posted this one at least 2 or 3 times to date. It's just one of those moments you want to keep reliving in your mind. This was taken during our trip together in beautiful Switzerland. Ahh those were the days... Sana maulit! Tara, byahe ulit tayo kahit Siargao lang :P.

Thank you Tito Junnie & Ninang Mitzi!

A new toy.... weee! - Jake
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In a post several days ago, I wrote about Jake wishing to get a PSP for his birthday. Knowing how expensive this gadget is, I had no intention of spending 10k for it. I'm no Gucci Gang member after all. Heh...

We both ended up wishing (aloud) that his Tito Junnie buys it for him as "pasalubong".... Ok, ok... more like coerced him to buy. Hehehe....

Well, he did deliver the promise and delighted Jake with the gift he wished for.

Thanks Junnie and Mitzi!

May I also tell you what I want for my birthday??? :D

In less than a week...

... Jake will turn 4...

I'm pretty sure I have an idea of what he wants for his birthday... Great timing that Tito Junnie is coming... :D



Jake and 2nd degree cousins Renzo, EJ and Lois



Last weekend while in the car with the boys, 11 yo Kyle said: "Ma, I know what I want for my birthday (in Oct yet... hehehe)... a pair of Converse shoes." "Oh, okay... we'll see if that's what you still like when the time comes," I said knowing for sure that he might change his mind within the next 7 months.

"Hey, Tito Junnie is coming, we might be able to ask him to get us something then" I blurted out. "On second thought....", I said stopping mid-sentence after realizing it was cheaper actually to get shoes locally at Mamplasan.

"Ah, I know!" Jake interrupted. "I'll tell Tito Junnie I want a PSP!"

Aha! Brilliant idea!

40th Day

Yesterday was my maternal Lola Meding's 40th death day... Nine days prior, we had novena masses said at the chapel in Sto. Nino for the repose of her soul and to pray for the dead as well. Ma and Pa flew to Cebu from Manila for this occasion.

The last mass was celebrated at the family plot in Cempark at 4pm. The weather was just right for about a hundred of us taking cover under the canopy of steel and tarp. I sat there listening to Fr. Punzalan's thought-provoking homily while Pa was his usual paparazzi self taking pictures of the event. I occasionally glanced at Ma to see if she was filled with emotion... perhaps in tears, but as I expected, her face was calm. She has long accepted that Lola has passed on.

Although we all miss Lola in a big way, gone is the grief which initially had most of us reeling in pain and feeling of loss. We still talk of Lola with so much fondness, but without breaking into tears as much as before.

"Where you are now, I was... Where I am now, you will be." was a line that the priest shared. We are consoled by the thought that Lola is in a happy place now where everything is perfect. In time, we'll all be there too.

This morning Ma & Pa flew back to Manila. A different kind of sadness filled me. Now that Lola is gone, their trips to Cebu will not be as often... Oh well... I will have to save up for trips to Manila instead.

Lola Meding (May 20, 1914 - Jan 20, 2008)

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Who says you can't smile during a wake? We know Lola is in a happy place now...


"May the angels lead you to Paradise. May the martyrs receive you at your coming and conduct you to the Holy City, Jerusalem. May choirs of angels receive. And with Lazarus, who was once poor, may you have eternal rest."-