Happy bday bez......

now you are as old as the rest of us (most of our classmates and i) are!!! enjoy the start of a new decade in your life!!!

Fun Around the City with Boyce...

boyce, my best friend who's visiting Manila from his home base in Pennyslvania, U.S.A is still here...staying with us in our humble abode. being the gracious hosts that we are, we've been taking him out.... when time permits.... or he just stays with us at the meatshop.... messing around with the meats!!! hehehehehe

A Milestone in the Family!!!

The Graduate: Gail Monique, the youngest of two daughters of my Kuya, was graduated today from the University of the Philippines in Manila.



The Gift: Being the "Blog Queen" and a self-confessed computer geek, what better gift to give her than a router which will make their home in Quezon City a wifi facility???

The Marketing: To celebrate this event, Kuya and Ate Liz (together with jon & i) went marketing for the food that we'll share with the rest of the family.

The Graduation Banquet: We brought the raw food we bought to a nearby restaurant to be cooked. We then had a grand time partaking of them. Even Daddy and Mommy enjoyed the feast!

Our Circle of Friends Enlarges.....

last night, we accompanied noel to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport - 2 (NAIA-2) to fetch his friend tom who planed in from new york via hong kong. his flight was to arrive at 11:00 PM.... and so, we picked up noel from The Manila Peninsula Hotel at 10:15 PM. we were at the airport quite early. to pass the time, we had snacks at the kiosk at the parking area.... and at the snack bar at the arrivals area!!! hehehehehe.

at about 30 minutes past 11:00 PM, tom emerged from the customs and immigration area and a few minutes later, we were relaxing at the lobby of The Pen. we stayed there talking for about 30 minutes, then we left for home.

it was a pleasure for jon and i to meet tom for the first time. any friend of a friend is a friend of ours.... and as we meet more friends, our lives are enriched!!! today, noel and tom are leaving for cebu and bohol.... i hope they both enjoy their stay in these places and experience a wonderful vacation that they both so deserve!!!

Another Golden Boy.....

today is the 50th birthday of a friend.... i've known him since freshman days in college at UP.... and although he works and lives in the USA now, he is and will always be a friend!!!

ken....

HAPPY, HAPPY 5OTH BIRTHDAY!!!

http://www.2000greetings.com/mycard.htm?c=1975

mountain king!!!

this afternoon, we met with friends about a possible business venture. among all the others that we've been considering, this one has the greatest possibility of attaining fruition!!! good luck to all of us!!! hehehehehehe

sidelight: we got to see ginger again.... what a very friendly and lovable doggie!!!!

The Family....Part 1

Now that i have featured each member of my immediate family, it's time to meet the Family....in pictures.....(Note: persons not recognizable in the following photos were our household helper or the boys' nanny at that time.)

at Luneta Park, 1957

at the beach, 1959 (big tummies, eh?)

at home in Quezon City, Rizal Day (Dec. 30) 1960....these were the first colored photos of the family....a professional photographer had to go to our home to take these pictures.

(Note how Kuya took this photo shoot very, very seriously!!! hehehehehe)

at Luneta Park, 1969 (Note the way we posed in the upper photo....Mommy taught us well how to pose, especially the placement of the feet....a la Miss Universe! hehehehe)

at Tagaytay (with the Taal Volcano in the background), 1986

I have just realized....we have very few photos in which the family was whole....even before Mabelle was born and even after the advent of instamatic and digital cameras.....and even then, they were very far apart! I guess part of the reason was when we had our own camera, one of us was the photographer and invariably, Diko was always the one taking our pictures.

Mabelle....the Beloved Kid Sister from Across the Ocean

When i mentioned the Decade of the 70's earlier, i said that it was a tumultous decade for the country.... what with demonstrations, sit-ins, political bombings, Martial Law, etc. In contrast, this decade was a decade of accomplishments, wins, and successes for the family. It was during the 70's when Daddy first went abroad and stayed a month in Europe attending a training program under the UN's International Labor Organization (ILO). They were based in Turin, Italy but had the opportunity to travel to London, Rome, Ireland, etc. As far as I know, this was the longest time that Daddy was ever away from the Family.... and needless to say, his coming home was eagerly anticipated by all.... partly, because we the children were excited for his pasalubongs for us!!! It was also during the 70's that Kuya graduated from college, got a job at the DFA, and had his first foreign assignment - to the Philippine Consulate in Kobe, Japan.... subsequently, on different ocassions members of the family would go to Kobe and visit with Kuya. It was also during the 70's that i finished my studies at the vet school and was offered a job as an instructor with the vet faculty. More significantly for the family, the 70's was also the decade when my kid sister, the 4th and youngest child of Mommy and Daddy, was born!!!

Mabelle, as we affectionately called her, was born on April 9, 1978. Her birth date is auspicious because it is a National Holiday - Bataan Day - to commemorate the historical significance the province of Bataan played in the nation's history. This is not lost to the family because both Daddy and Mommy and their families are from Bataan!!! But in spite of that, she was not named Bataana or Bataanina.... thank God!.... she was named Maria Bella A. L. instead!!! Actually, I was the one who gave the name to her..... and it was originally Maria Bella Donna A. L. .....but Mommy & Daddy said that Maria Bella alone is nice..... again, thank God!!!

Mabelle was the little princess of the family. She was loved by all of us..... maybe because she came when we, the three boys, were already young adults and will soon be leaving the nest.... which meant that Mommy and Daddy would have experienced the "empty nest" syndrome.... had she not arrived in our lives. She was so loved that we fought on who will buy her milk!!!..... Kuya, invariably won because he was earning the most among us at that time.... I didn't contest that at all... my first salary was only P965.00 per month!!! She was so loved that she wore beautiful, expensive, "imported" baby clothes. At that time, Mommy had a little business going on....she was a subcontrator for a baby wear and toddler line for export to the US. She employed 9 sewers from Bataan supervised by a seamstress cousin, Ate Tessie. In a weeks time, they turned out more than 500 pieces of dresses from a small room within the family yard in Quezon City.

As a baby, Mabelle was the best behaved that I've known.... she hardly cried or threw tantrums and she was always smiling.... she was a happy baby!!! One of the fondest moments with her that I can remember was waking up early, going up to Mommy & Daddy's room, and finding Mabelle already awake in Mommy & Daddy's bed but not crying....she would just lie or sit there and play by herself. When she'd see me, she'll give me a very big smile. I would then get her, bring her down the living room, prepare her milk and let her suckle her bottle while we both lie down on the sofa. After she finished her bottle, we'd then begin to play. Oftentimes, I'd fall asleep again and she'd just lie there and play with her bottle.... not complaining and not bothering me at all!!! I treasure those moments because it turned out that those will be the only moments of bonding that I'll be experiencing with her as a baby.... soon thereafter, I became very busy with all the requirements for graduation, followed by my immediate employment and intensive review for the licensure exams which I was supposed to take just 4 months after graduation!

When Mabelle was one and a half years old, she and Mommy would spend months on end staying with Kuya in Kobe, Japan. She'd come home having lots and lots of Sanrio items that she was the envy of children and even teen-agers in our neighborhood. Sanrio items then were the fad especially among girls and they were very, very expensive locally. If i remember right, all in all, Mommy & Mabelle went to Japan two or three times.... even joining Kuya and his new bride, Ate Liz, when they had their first child, Gwen Astrid.

In 1980, I left for Minnesota for my Master's studies.... coming home in early 1983. Then in 1984, I transferred to UP at Los Banos....leaving again for my PhD studies in Japan in 1987. Mabelle, for her part, left with Mommy for Japan in late 1983..... coming home in 1984.... then for the US in 1986. And so, during that span of time that she was growing up, we hardly saw each other. We only saw each other again when I went to the US thrice (1991, 1995, 1997) to visit them.

Mabelle only had the chance to go to school here in Manila for kindergarten studies at a school near our home in Quezon City and for her Grade 1 studies at St. Joseph College also in Quezon City. She finished her elementary and high school studies in the US. Initially in the US, Mommy & Mabelle stayed in Detroit, Michigan with Mommy's cousin, Tita Lou,..... then they settled in Staten Island, New York, when Mommy got a job in Manhattan. It was here that Daddy joined them years later after his retirement from office. Later, they joined Diko and family in California. When Mommy and Daddy went home to Manila in 1998, Mabelle opted to stay in the US. She would transfer from state to state to find her luck and fortune. Presently, Mabelle lives in Pennsylvania with a family of her own....a loving husband, Billy, and a gorgeous son, Julius....the latest additions to the family. In a way, i feel sorry for Mabelle having grown up without the complete family.... much less a Daddy (at least for a while) around her. She missed having been tutored by Daddy every night (as we were).... Daddy making us memorize things over and over and over again.... until our eyes can't hardly open!!! However, I also applause Mabelle for having grown mature and independent.... learning the ins and outs of life earlier.... and for having survived alone in the US. All these indicates fortitude, survival spirit, and strength of character!

That's my kid sister, Mabelle.... my one and only sister.... and I love her very much!!!

A simple family affair....

last night, we had a great time celebrating the birthday of my niece Gwen. it was just a simple party....made more memorable by the presence of some of my first cousins....gwen's aunts and uncle-in-law from mommy's side. Doris, a practicing nurse from california was there. she's here to accompany Ima Unday back to the US where Ima will be celebrating her 80th birthday next year. Doris' eldest sister, Nene, and her hubby, Wency, were also there. Ate Tessie and Baby, Kakang Migring's daughters were also there.

actually, the party was supposed to be just for the immediate family...including Gwen's and Gail's bfs....but since there was no other time i could meet up with Doris (they're leaving on Saturday.), i requested that we just meet in Quezon City. good thing there were enough food for everybody!!!

as for the food....we had lechong manok, pancit malabon, puto, buko salad, pao tsin fried dumplings, and mocha cake, of course! hmmmmmm...yummy....i was so full....we even had take homes!!!

Red Letter Day....

today is a special day for the family....it's Gwen Astrid's birthday....yipeeeeeeeeee!!! For those following this blog, Gwen is the first-born, elder daughter of my Kuya.... and as a sort of a preview (because i'll be featuring her and her sister, Gail Monique).... here is how she looks now...

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY GWEN!!!!

Diko....The Car Enthusiast!

Being the second-born, and later the middle-born, child is not easy.... but Diko pulled it all too well.... largely because, i think, of his individualism and independence! Diko was born to Mommy and Daddy on February 19, 1955 and maybe, because they're not sure if they'll be blessed with another son, they named him after Daddy.... thus, becoming Pablo A. L., Jr. or Jun for short.

Since Diko and i were only 1 yr and 10 months apart in age, our elementary and high school studies were closely intertwined.... we both went to the same schools and we had the same set of neighborhood friends. This brought us closer to each other than he with Kuya or I with Kuya.

Diko first attended the nursery school at our parish church, which is just walking distance from our home. Supposedly, I was to be left alone at home when Kuya and Diko went to school.... and so, initially, i went along when our older cousin brought Diko to school. Later, I would be left to join Diko's class as the class' "saling-pusa". But because, even at 4 years old, I can keep up with the class, i was eventually made a regular member.

After nursery school, Diko was accepted to Grade 1 while i went on to kindergarten at St. Mary's College in Quezon City. Next, we attended the Toro Hills Elementary School, also in Quezon City, as Grade 2 & Grade 1 students, respectively.... then the Children's Village of the National Coordinating Center for the Study and Development of Filipino Children and Youth (NCCSDFCY) where Diko spent Grades 3 & 4....and i, Grades 2 thru 4. Since NCCSDFCY offered nursery to Grade 4 classes only, when Diko went on to Grade 5, he entered the Notre Dame of Manila in Caloocan City.... for the first time in our young lives, we attended different schools. Diko went on to finish his elementary and high school studies at Notre Dame of Manila, where i also finished mine a year apart from him.

For college, Diko attended the University of Sto. Tomas, where he obtained his Bachelors of Arts degree in Advertising Arts. It was while at UST that Diko met and befriended his classmate, a young lass from San Pedro, Laguna.... by the name of Ms. Nenette Callanta. Later, being both members of the same school organizations and sharing lots of time in organizational activities, Diko proposed to and married Ate Nette in 1983. This time, i was able to attend their wedding because in early January of that year, i came home from my studies in Minnesota, USA. By July 1983, Diko and Ate Nette was blessed with their one and only child.... and Mommy & Daddy's first grandchild ....Gian Paulo Callanta Limcumpao.... Gino for short. (Incidentally, i was the one who suggested the name Gian Paulo.... I told them succeeding names of their offsprings could be Gian Franco and Gian Carlo!)

Immediately after obtaining his college degree, Diko joined Daddy for a while at the National Manpower and Youth Council (NMYC). Sometime in 1986, Diko and Ate Nette decided at the spur of the moment to apply for a US visa. They showed up at the US Embassy in Manila for an interview carrying nothing with them except their passports and Gino. Apparently, the American consul who interviewed them was amused by Gino's antics, she gave them their US visas right there and then!

In 1987, Diko and family left Manila for the US and there they've lived ever since. Presently, Diko works for a Mercedes Benz dealer in California while Ate Nette works for a private organization that caters to taking care of the elderly. Gino, on the other hand, works for a big supermarket chain in the US.

As the youngest in the family for a long time, i was the "baby" even to both Kuya and Diko. As such, when Kuya and Diko fought while we were children, i didn't take sides.... i let them work their differences without interfering. As children, Diko and i played cowboys & indians, hide and go seek, mahjong, etc. with kids from our neighborhood street. It was later, as young adults, that we, the three boys, went our separate ways for the first time.... Kuya went on assignment to Kobe, Japan.... i went to the US for my studies.... Diko was left behind at home to be with Mommy & Daddy.... and Mabelle!!! This is the reason why among us, it was Diko who became closer to Mabelle as she was growing up in Quezon City.

This closeness to Mabelle extended up to the time that Diko was still courting Ate Nette. Mabelle became their constant companion and they became sort of the "parent figures" for Mabelle. Until now, this relationship exists because among the family, they're the only ones living in the US.... Diko, Ate Nette and Gino in California.... Mabelle and her family in Pennsylvania.

As "Pabling, Jr." Diko had his share of living up to that name. He has a way of befriending girls.... even being phone pals with girls who called our phone number randomly hoping to be a phone pal to any boy who would answer the phone! Even when Diko was sick with hepatitis and confined for a month in the hospital, he befriended a fellow patient and gave her hope of being cured and experiencing the joys of being alive. After classes in high school at Notre Dame, i'd go straight to the hospital to be with Diko and i'd find them in the hospital balcony talking and laughing. She left the hospital ahead of Diko but they continued their friendship for a while.

One thing that Diko loves are cars. Even though we didn't have our own car he took up auto electrical training at NMYC. When we finally had our first family car in 1978, a GM Opel Gemini, Diko took ownership of taking care of it and drove the family around. From knowing nothing about driving, he became such a "good" driver that we called him the "Evel Knievel" of the family. One of his stunts was fetching me from school at UP Diliman. At first i didn't want to get in to the car.... because i knew he was just starting to learn to drive and he didn't have a license yet.... but the gesture was so sweet, i had to ride with him! We got home alright....except that i hope the man who was reading by the roadside whose newspaper Diko sideswept was okay!!! Another of his stunts was driving me from home to my first day of taking the national licensure examinations in a record 7 minutes! ....normally, it would've taken 30 minutes.... good thing i studied well and my brain wasn't left in the wind - i ended up being No. 4 among the Top Ten topnotchers of that exams!!!

Up until now, Diko is into cars. Ask him anything about any brand and model of cars and chances are he'd be able to talk about it endlessly for hours.... don't ask him though about mercedez benz cars.... unless you want to be stuck talking with him for days!!!

That's my Diko.... and i wouldn't have any other Diko in the world!!!

Kuya....The Diplomat

Kuya, the first-born child of Mommy and Daddy, was born Socrates A. L. on May 8, 1953. Come to think of it, he may have been the reason why Mommy and Daddy's one-year secret marriage was revealed! They were secretly married on January of 1952 and had their church wedding on December of that year. On May the following year, Kuya was born.... you do the math!!!

Being the first-born, he enjoyed certain advantages. One is, almost always, being the favorite grandchild of our grandparents since he is known by them the longest; and another is having the most baby pictures.... being the first, all of Mommy & Daddy's attention was lavished on him.... and when the 2nd or 3rd child comes.... he's always in the family pictures!!! hehehehehe.

Kuya attended St. Mary's College in Quezon City and Notre Dame of Manila in Caloocan City for his elementary education. He attended Notre Dame of Manila, the University of Sto. Tomas, and the Far Eastern University for his high school education. Finally, he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the San Sebastian College.

Immediately after graduation, he joined the Fiscal Affairs Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), where he is still currently connected. Being in the foreign service, he's been assigned to sevral postings abroad.... the first of which was at the Philippine Consulate in Kobe, Japan during the late 70's.

It was while he was assigned in Kobe and was home in Manila for a visit that Mommy introduced Kuya to the former Ms. Elizabeth Lindain of Nueva Ecija. After a whirlwind romance, they were married in 1981.... this was the first wedding in the family and i wasn't present because i was attending the University of Minnesota in the USA for my master's then.

After their wedding, Kuya brought Ate Liz back to Kobe and in November 14, 1983, their first-born child, Gwen Astrid was born. After Kuya's stint in Kobe, he brought his family back here to Manila and in August 6, 1985, their second and youngest child, Gail Monique was born.

A few years later, Kuya was assigned to the Philippine Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar. Off he went with his family.... returning back to Manila only after completing his assignment. After two years at the home office, he was assigned again abroad.... this time to the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi. Always a family man, he brought his family with him. By this time, the two girls were of almost college age.... and so, both Gwen and Gail came home early to attend the College of St. Benilde (CSB) and the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila, respectively.

Presently, Kuya and family are in Manila awaiting his next assigment. This time, though, just Kuya and Ate Liz will have to go.... Gwen is now working also at the DFA after having obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Consular and Diplomatic Affairs from CSB while Gail is graduating this year from UP.

Having a Kuya at the DFA and working abroad is not without advantages. Early on, during Kuya's assignment in Kobe when he was still single, i would ask him for the latest in electronics and he would gladly give it to me. He bought me a walkman w/ AM/FM radio which i used in going to and from work (I was a fresh college graduate then). When i asked for a small TV for my room in Quezon City, he bought me a stereo casette recorder with AM/FM radio and with a built in 3.5 inch black and white TV! This was what is used to record TV sitcoms (Three's Company was the hit then) which i listened to to practice American slang and idioms. And when i got the scholarship to Minnesota, USA, i spent 10 days including Christmas of 1980 and New Year's Day of 1981 with Kuya in Kobe on my way to Minnesota. This was my first trip abroad and i enjoyed immensely my stay with him.... he even gave me winter sweaters and coats to use in the US.

Then, when he was assigned in Myanmar, i also had the opportunity to visit him and his family and spend a whole month's vacation with them and their 5 household helpers plus a driver, a gardener, and a security guard in their spacious and roomy house in Yangon!!! Finally, with Kuya at the DFA, i didn't have much trouble getting and renewing my passport!!! hehehehehe....

That's my Kuya.... and to me, he's the greatest Kuya anyone could ask for!!!

My Daddy and Mommy

There are many "co-incidences" in Daddy's and Mommy's lives that it seems it is not a coincidence at all that they met and became one when they did. Both are from the same town of Pilar in Bataan. Both are the youngest child in their respective families. Both grew up celebrating the the wrong birth dates. Both studied in the same elementary school and high school in Balanga, Bataan. Both of their families evacuated to Pampanga by boat during the Second World War.... incidentally (or not!) both families stayed in the same evacuation center ....this they determined after they and their families have met!. Both went to Manila to study after the war. Both stayed in Caloocan City among relatives while studying in Manila. And, not to mention, both were goodlooking during their prime of youth!

Daddy met Mommy while they were living in the same area in Caloocan City. Daddy was with her niece (by his older half-sister) and her family at a house about 50 meters away from the ancestral home of Mommy, who was then staying there with my Ima Unday. Being both from the same town, they were bound to meet each other. At the time they met, Daddy was dating other women (this is according to Ima Unday) but he courted Mommy incessantly, even walking alone late at night the long walk from his home in town to Mommy's village home when they were back in Bataan. This road is known as being haunted because you have to pass by a nearby cemetery, as well as a very huge, old narra tree in front of the old elementary school which was used by the Japanese troops as a garrison where many Filipino fighters met their fate. In other words, he was just being his brave and "Pabling" self.

After dating for some time, they decided to get "secretly married", or SM as they called it. on January 16, 1952 in a civil ceremony in Markina City. At that time, Daddy was graduating from college while Mommy was on her Junior year as a B.S. Pharmacy student. For their SM, Daddy used the money that was given to him to pay for his college ring! According to Mommy, the real reason why they got married early was because Daddy wanted her to quit the Bb. Bulaklak beauty pageant in which she was a finalist. Following almost a year of being "married", yet not living together (but seeing each other secretly daily), they finally had to tell their respective families about their status ... and so, they were married in church on Christmas Day of 1952 at the parish church inside the Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac.

Being newly-weds wasn't easy for Mommy & Daddy. When Ima Unday found out about their secret marriage, Ima Unday, who was a seamstress and sewed most of Mommy's dresses, tore all her clothes. Their youngest brother, Tio Esming, who was then in the US Navy and was supporting Mommy's education, stopped sending money and even stopped communicating with the entire family. Daddy and Mommy rented a small house in Project 4 Quezon City. In May of the following year, 1953, their first son was born. In early 1955, son number two was born, followed by son number three in late 1956. In 1958, the family moved to their own home in Project 8 Quezon City.... where the house still stands and where Daddy and Mommy still live.

Throughout their married life until 1986, Daddy and Mommy never left each other's side (except for a month in the 70's when Daddy went to Europe to attend a training program by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and together they worked to support the family. In 1978, their youngest child, the one and only girl, was born. In 1986, Mommy, together with her youngest, moved to the US to help in the furniture business of a cousin. This was the first time that Daddy and Mommy really lived apart from each other; but this didn't last for very long because in 1991, Daddy followed Mommy to the US after his retirement from the government service a year earlier. Seven years later, in 1998, Daddy and Mommy both came home to Project 8 for good.

During the first part of the new millennium, both Daddy and Mommy suffered setbacks, as far as their health was concerned. In December of 2000, Daddy suffered a stroke and subsequently developed pneumonia for which he was hospitalized in intensive care for three weeks. At that time, I was the only one of their children living here in Manila, the others were with their own families abroad. When we brought Daddy out of the hospital, it was against the advice of his doctors. At that time, Daddy has suffered his 4th hospital-acquired bacterial infection and was being given very a expensive 4th generation antibiotic .....the newest in the market that time. I figured that if Daddy overcomes this latest infection then gets another hospital-acquired infection, there won't be any antibiotic that could be used against this resistant strain. And so, with my suggestion Mommy and I decided to bring Daddy home and converted their room at home into a clean, totally-sealed hospital room with all the necessary gadgets and a 24-hour private nursing care at hand.

It was during this time that I personally experienced how much love Mommy has for Daddy. One early morning, at about 2:30 am, I was awakened by a very angelic-sounding and soothing Tagalog love song softly coming from Daddy's bed. (I was then sleeping on a folding bed on the floor at the foot of his bed.) At first I thought I was dreaming and although the room light was turned off, it was not entirely dark 'coz a little bit of light was coming into the room from the outside. I opened my eyes and in the dark I saw Mommy's silhoutte hugging and cradling Daddy in her arms while singing a hauntingly beautiful song about promises, about romance, and about love! I've never heard that song before and I don't know if Mommy just made it up.... but it was so beautiful, I immediately felt that everything will be alright! I fell asleep again feeling a great wave of relief overcoming me while tears came down my eyes. Together with Mommy's loving care and the help of cousins and nurses as well as a very good physical therapist who did home service calls, Daddy recovered with some side-effects.

The following year, at almost the same time as the preceding year, Mommy was hospitalized for colo-rectal cancer. A few months prior to that, she started losing weight and had frequent stomach aches. At first, she thought it was because of her heart condition, subsequently, she was diagnosed to have a malignant growth in the colon near the border with the rectum. She didn't take any medications for this, instead every Wednesdays and Saturdays, I took Mommy and Daddy to an RVM sister who was doing healing sessions somewhere in Caloocan City. We'd leave very early in the morning so that we'll be there early and be able to have them signed up among the first to be seen by the Sister because hundreds of people do come from near and far to see the Sister during these days. Then we'd stay there the whole morning until mid afternoon when the healing session starts. In the meantime, prior to the sessions, we'd hear mass, pray the rosaries, and listen to the Sister's "sermons and stories". Fortunately for us, the healing sessions would start with the very ill first, then with the children, then with the elderly and those with cancer, followed by the rest. By the time we leave the place, it'll be about 9:00 pm. In one of the sessions, the Sister told Mommy that she's already "healed", but for her peace of mind, she can go ahead and have the operation. And so, in early December of 2001, Mommy had the growth removed. During that time, Kuya has come home and he was with us to deal with the situation.

At present, Mommy has just been declared cancer-free a few months ago in spite of not having undergone radiation or chemotherapy after her operation. She does suffer some aches and pains as part of growing old. Daddy, on the other hand, still has the side-effects of his stroke and pneumonia, but is otherwise eating very heartily. Both still walk to church to attend mass everyday... and their love for each other still endures!!!

Talaga lang....

Jon and I just got home from our weekly dinner with Mommy & Daddy followed by a visit to Kuya and the two girls. Only Gail, a.k.a. MufFIN and the Blog Queen, was there (Gwen went out with her bf). As always, we had questions about blogs for the Blog Queen and as usual, she had the answers!!! Kakabilib talaga!!!

For dinner, we brought Pao Tsin fried dumplings w/ that specially flavored green rice. We gave Kuya and family too. Ang saraaaaaaap!!! I don't think i'll get tired of eating Pao Tsin. Super talaga!!!

While our Pao Tsin order was being prepared by the staff of the newly-opened branch at The Block at SM North City, Jon and I bought Christmas decors, at the department store, that we'll use to decorate our Christmas Tree. Picking the right color and type of decors was a breeze. Waiting for the cashier to punch them in took a long time because she had to re-check the receipt with the items... it seemed that there was some discrepancy.... only to find out there wasn't any!!! Kakainis talaga!!!

Oh by the way, Doods, Mommy's dog in Quezon City, bit in the foot the helper of a neighbor this morning. She is a frequent visitor there and she hasn't had any problem with Doods in the past; but apparently, she passed by Doods while she was eating... maybe Doods thought she's there to take away her food... that's why she probably bit her. Tonight, I had to talk to the helper and explained to her that Doods had been vaccinated. Nevertheless, i told her we'll still observe Doods for any change in temperament or personality. In the meantime, I advised her to get anti-tetanus shots for extra precaution. Because of this, we also had to tie Doods up on a leash. It's the first time for her and she hates it. Since birth, she's had the run of the yard; now she's confined to the gazebo in the garden. After some time of crying, trying to remove the collar and the leash, and getting suffocated ....she calmed down, lay on the floor and looked very, very depressed ....her usual bubbly nature whenever i come close to her gone!!! Kawawa talaga!!!

Talking of a dog's personality .....is this really an appropriate term? shouldn't it be "dognality"??? Just asking. Corny ko talaga!!! hahahahaha

My Mommy....the Beauty Queen...almost!

Like my father, my mother was born and grew up in Pilar, Bataan. But unlike him, who spent his childhood and early teen-age life in the town proper, she spent hers in a quiet, sleepy, fishing village about 2 km from the town proper. Like Daddy too, Mommy or 'Me for short, as we call her also grew up and kept on celebrating the wrong birth date of June 7, 1931... only to find out later that her real birth date is July 7, 1931. This happened when she obtained her birth certificate from the town registrar for her passport application in preparation for her trip to the US in 1986... coincidence? ....i think not!

As i mentioned earlier, 'Me is the youngest of the six children born alive to my maternal grandfather with my grandmother, his first wife. She finished her elementary education at the town's elementary school and her high school studies at the province's capital. During the war, Mommy's family (minus the eldest son who was a Lieutenant with the resistance forces fighting against the Japanese troops) evacuated to a nearby province by boat to sit out the war.

In 1945, when Mommy was 14 years old, my grandmother passed away. Shortly thereafter, 'Me joined her elder sister at their Caloocan City house while she attends college at the Centro Escolar University in Manila towards a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy. Meanwhile, during her free time, she went out with her cousins and their friends to enjoy the city life. In one instance, she was spotted by a photographer and was convinced to join the Bb. Bulaklak (Miss Floral) Beauty Pageant. For this, she was given a free photo shoot by Tropicana Studio, the foremost photo studio of the day.

Unfortunately, she wasn't able to continue competing in the contest in spite of her strong standing nor was she able to finish her university studies because a certain "Pabling" swept her off her feet!

When the children started coming, Mommy joined the government service to help augment the family income. She worked at the Philippine Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) as research assistant. As the boys became teen-agers, she retired from government service to more closely take care and monitor her growing brood. She was then the Chief Librarian of PAEC at the time of her retirement. As a stay-home mom, 'Me continued to help augment the family income by going into backyard chicken and pig raising and buy-and-sell ventures operating from our present home in Quezon City. I remember her going to the US bases at Sangley Point or Olongapo with her cousin to buy PX (post-exchange) goods which she sold to her friends; and going to Pateros to buy fresh fertilized duck eggs which she boils to make balut that we, the three boys, sell at night around our neighborhood while shouting "baluuuuuuuuut!!!".

As I entered high school, Mommy joined the Pacific Memorial Plan to sell pre-need memorial plans to company employees. Here, she was extremely successful and through hard work and perseverance, she reached the level of a Unit Manager with numerous sales agents under her. For several consecutive years, she was one of the top Unit Managers of the company and received financial rewards, as well as appliances for our home and even country-wide travel opportunities to attend company annual conferences.

In 1986, Mommy was invited by her cousin, who was then involved in exporting rattan furnitures at that time, to man their commercial booth as they join furniture fairs across the USA. In July of that year, Mommy left for the US bringing along my kid sister, Mabelle, with her. Mommy and Mabelle was joined by Daddy in 1991 after his retirement. In 1998, 'Me and 'De came home and are now back at our Quezon City home.