My Gratitude Attitude: Today, I say thank you for ---

Goofing Around

2009-08-25T20:55:00.001-07:00

Create Fake Magazine Covers with your own picture at MagMyPic.com

Thank You, President Cory

2009-08-02T23:39:00.000-07:00

"I don't have any formula for ousting a dictator or building democracy. All I can suggest is to forget about yourself and just think of your people. It's always the people who make things happen."

“I've reached a point in life where it's no longer necessary to try to impress. If they like me the way I am, that's good. If they don't, that's too bad,”

"I am not embarrassed to tell you that I believe in miracles."

"You have spent many lives and much treasure to bring freedom to many lands that were reluctant to receive it. And here you have a people who won it by themselves and need only the help to preserve it. "

"Faith is not simply a patience that passively suffers until the storm is past. Rather, it is a spirit that bears things - with resignations, yes, but above all, with blazing, serene hope. "

"It wasn't until we got over the self pity that we were able to accept suffering as apart of our life with Christ. A man or woman reaches this plane only when he or she ceases to be the hero. "

"One must be frank to be relevant. "

"Reconciliation should be accompanied by justice, otherwise it will not last. While we all hope for peace it shouldn't be peace at any cost but peace based on principle, on justice. "

-- Corazon C. Aquino (1933-2009)

More Memories: Asian Projex Days

2009-07-30T19:52:00.001-07:00

This one is of two partners in our small company, Asian Projex Unlimited (APEX). We were doing the "Dress Up Your Cuervo" campaign. One of our stops was Baguio City. The trip doubled as R&R.

The photos have nearly faded. I wanted to save them so scanned them to keep these good memories alive.

Here I am with (L-R) Armi Mayoralgo and Chit Niar. Having Lunch at Cafe by the Ruins.

Here is Armi and Chit on our UP Baguio stop. Gotta admit I do miss the girls. Meeting up with Armi one of these days (or so that's the plan). Sadly, we don't know where Chit is now.

Blast from the Past!!!

2009-07-30T19:41:00.000-07:00

Cleaning up, using this free time to scan old pics and fix up old files, went on a time warp and it has been so for the last 3 days. I am on a brief break before joining a big BPO firm, ELI GLOBAL, where I was invited to be their Marketing Manager. I am using this time to do stuff I always meant to: organize pics & digital files!!!

And so, from sending pictures to old college friends, Julian's classmates' moms, to backpack days in Rio de Janeiro --- I am going through threads and threads of good memories!

Here are a couple more photos from the batch I dug up.

Taken with old flame Renol Urra. (Yes! I can post them because they were good times and Renol remains a good and well-loved friend)....Uy.

These were taken in Baguio City. For the life of me couldn't remember anymore. Definitely between the years of 1995-1997, when we were still together.

I wonder how the old fella's doing??? LOL

This photo was taken in Phil Adamson's house in Forbes. I remember his mother had taken the picture. They've sold that house and Phil's mom passed away a couple of years ago. Saddened that I couldn't even remember her name but happy that I had kept this photo :D

a

Happy Birthday Julian!

2009-06-12T07:29:00.000-07:00

Who knows why I had this urge to compile Julian's baby to toddler pics. Because it is hard to believe he is now a young man? LOL. Maybe.

A. Mabini Class Pic with Teacher Mitchie

2009-04-30T18:00:00.000-07:00

Moving on to Level 2, a little bit of a tribute to Julian's class and teacher for 2 years.

On his first year. Julian is in blue polo, front row.

On his second year with this batch of classmates. Julian is in red, standing extreme left of the second row.

Ice Ice Baby

2009-03-14T08:12:00.000-07:00

Hahaha. Talk about tacky blog titling. Couldn't resist.

Julian tried his hand at ice skating today. Why I never thought of taking him to the rink in Mall of Asia sooner, I'd never know.

A part of me thinks ice skating is a little faggy I think. Hahaha. (What a bigot).

Seriously though, he was clinging to the sides for the first ten minutes. Then, probably getting frustrated at the "traffic" of jologs who were doing exactly the same, he ventured towards the center.

Well, what do you know, he was gliding on the ice with a trademark babystepping, quick walk type of skating move.

Sunday Mass pics

2009-02-28T07:17:00.000-08:00

No grand ideas for captions for this one. Just one of those Sunday mornings when we came in early and waited outside the Holy Eucharist Parish for the 10:30 AM mass to begin.

I had the camera with me. It was a good day outside, so we clicked away...

Impish grin while torturing a millipede. :)

Dropping By Dinos Alive

2009-01-05T10:28:00.000-08:00

At the entrance with what I thought was a prop. It turned out the little thing was alive...

Is it me or does Julian look tall in this shot? My little boy's getting bigger everyday though...

Taller or not, still a little boy at heart. I think Julian's face is changing a little bit each day.

I never really noticed it before, but I think I've begun a Julian archive of shots with a lot of lizards and scaled creatures.

Anyway, here he is with an iguana by the entrance. It took a while but he warmed up to it soon enough.

I must junk this Nikon and get me one of those fancy shmanzy cameras one of these days...Budget. Budget. Budget.

These last two photos are utterly pathetic. Bwahaha!

That way we don't need to lip lock with these creatures in the dark if only I could get them up onto a photo blog!!! Hahaha!

See, there it goes again. Blog readers are probably thinking I couldn't work a digital camera. Tee hee hee.

Julian and Anton: XBox 360 Buddies

2008-12-24T14:07:00.000-08:00

Yup, poor Joaquin. These two took over when we visited Christmas Eve.

But then, of course, they were dislodged from hogging the 360. LOL

Gamers with Ate Naizz

2008-12-24T13:16:00.000-08:00

Cutie dalaga!

Mall of Asia & Saying No to More Birthday Candles

2008-12-10T12:53:00.000-08:00

Let's be clear on this: I am not saying no to cake. Not yet, at least (though it may be wise to do so already!) I am saying no to blowing candles.

Also when you have that much you need to put on your cake, pushing you to get a bigger cake (and coming at a point when I seriously need to lose the weight) it was wise we opted for seafood this evening --- by the bay, where else? Mall of Asia with its fireworks, and I'm fine.

The pictures do come late, but who cares, I think they turned out great. These and taking the kids to the usual TimeZone treat are all bunched in this entry.

Really, I should get myself one of these fabo cameras...

Then, off to Timezone

Anak, may PlayStation at XBox ka naman sa bahay eh...magtipid ka ha?

Mommy....in your dreams....

Joaquin & Mica

2008-12-09T19:37:00.000-08:00

Too cute they deserve their own entry :)

Villa Ortaliza, Pansol, Laguna

2008-12-09T08:22:00.001-08:00

Over the weekend, GoIndustry-DoveBid's Special Children Section for Global Marketing Operations Center took to the road for a day of decadence.

Hehehe. Nah, just good old R&R. These are just the camcreeps I work with --- obviously with no qualms about hamming it up for anything that digitally captures their images.

Me cook? In an out-of-town trip? Nope. I dropped in to see if the utensils were sterile. Bwahahah!

The Art Department climbs new heights. Yeah sure, these girls only needed a camera and they go batty...

...and try to draw Julian into the picture. Yahahaha, the look in Julian's face.

Me, looking like a grand alila waiting. I'd have dived in except for two (2) reasons:

#1 I hadn't slept in over a day

#2 THE SCOURGE!!!

(L-R) Bernard, Nina, Jay, Mark, MOI + Julian, Fred, Chloe, Hannah, Ralph, Jester

later joined by Ailene, Sofia and Liezl

Little Racers

2008-12-02T14:41:00.000-08:00

Anton's Birthday

2008-12-01T14:13:00.000-08:00

Anton's birthday at Fun Ranch. I'd write about what happened on this day but honestly for months on end, still having this lazy streak.

I'll just let the kids' pictures speak for themselves.

Moving Up To Yellow Belt in Tae Kwon Do!!!

2008-10-31T00:32:00.000-07:00

It was this outfit, mistaken to be a costume by a talent scout shooting a Jollibee commercial in Ayala Alabang, that got me all doing the stage mom bit.

But I'll take about the invitation for a commercial VTR in another blog. Clearly, that story's for another post. I won't be stealing the thunder from Julian's special day --- moving up from white belt to (drumroll....) YELLOW BELT!

No real need for last minute pointers, but here he is with his coach

Here he is with Papa, falling in line during registration

...waiting for their batch to be called

getting oh-so-serious

I love this "taas noo" look. Hahaha! How he is taking everything to heart.

Silly me, feeling so surprised over the fact that Tae Kwon Do would have recitation involved. Nevertheless, he answered so confidently! (I swear an older white belter was actually seen scratching his head grappling with an answer).

Yup. The guy doing the test thought he was brilliant!

And here's the YELLOW BELTER!!!

Early Halloween at Polo Club (Happy Birthday Gonzo!)

2008-10-23T01:43:00.000-07:00

He was a cute Zorro, wasn't he? Here he is with Gonzo's birthday party loot box!!! (hindi bag eh!)

With Diego and Dominic

Family Day at MMCS (with Sofia and Mico to boot!)

2008-09-23T01:30:00.000-07:00

Who wouldn't consider them as family when we had Sofia and Mico staying over as often as they did.

Which is why it thrills me no end that they should all find themselves together again at Maria Montessori, on a Family Day celebration, no less.

Another Year, Another Linggo ng Wika

2008-08-20T01:36:00.000-07:00

So what else is there to say? He still has a long way to go with Filipino but I'm not complaining --- especially when he looks so cute in a barong Tagalog.

Here he is with Enzo and Dominic

He does look a little bit like Enzo, doesn't he?

Yeah, soooo Pinoy, eating sa "papag". Hahaha!

the show...

Enzo, Julian and Diego (who is growing up faster, that beanpole!)

Mothers Day Weekend at Tito Jojo's

2008-05-10T22:43:00.000-07:00

Too lazy! I'll write my captions later...La dee dah

Playstation with Tito Jojo

Julian

Julian & Joaquin at Jollibee breakfast

Summer 2008 at Bora

2008-04-12T20:06:00.000-07:00

OK, don't know how I managed to put up some of the Boracay pictures before the Jakarta trip, but what the heck...

No matter all these talk about how much commercialism has spoiled a pristine paradise, Boracay is still beautiful. Nothing beats the sight of its fine white sand, stretching as far as I can see in two directions --- all these as soon as you step out of your hotel.

Sure there were occasional puffs of white clouds dotting the sky and these temporarily blocked the sun but it was still a reprieve from sunburn that heats up the lotion-covered bodies of eager beavers like Julian, Joaquin and Mika whom we couldn't seem to call out of the water.

Paradise, it would seem, was all around us.

A taste of God's View of Boracay as we planed into Caticlan

Ready, Set, Swim: Julian already tanned from Jakarta even before taking a dip in Boracay

All together now....Tatatatatan tan....tatatatatan.....Tatatatatan tan....tatatatatan.....(Hawaii Five-O Music)

Awwwwwwwwwwwwww.....Sunbaby Mika is as cute as a button but can be a she-devil underneath that gigil killer smile

Seaweed attack!!!! Mommy, let's look for bluer water!!!

Mika, Joaquin and Julian

Look Ma! Sand angel! Hehehe.

I may have caught the fish, but the kids handled its torture...

I wouldn't have complained if they fed me the darned little fish too,
playing with these urchins often got me hungry, but I passed it up since it couldn't have weighed more than a few milligrams.

Note that it wasn't just the tanguigue that was toasty brown in Paradiso Grill!!! Lesson Learned: Tan + moisturizer = balat ng lechon

One of our pizza breaks on the beach. I love the shhhneaky smile on Mika's face in this one.

Jojo and I sat by our favorite yellow parasol, the only one that stood out among a row of blah umbrellas. It was Joaquin's favorite spot.

Blue Pages instead of Yellow. Advertising on the waters. What, more pizza?

Well at least Mika can still don two-piece beachwear...

Weary but still having a great time, we trekked to D'Mall
...and tried to just look without digging too deep into the pocket...

Notice how we snobbed the ferris wheel? Marami niyan sa Mall of Asia!

Piktyur! As I hide my face from more sun damage

Yeah yeah, like we went to Bora to play basketball at D'Mall

From beautiful sunrise to stunner sunsets, the kids were in the water. Thank God for floppy hats. I might as well have iguana skin without them!

At the end of the day, nothing beats looking at super beautiful sites like these...

...as the kids took a freebie pose by a fly boat we passed up on for fear of our lives. Bwahahaha. Photo op only!

Dinner at the Bamboo Lounge was just too pleasant to pass up.

Who can beat that? Dinner and a show with the-extremely-faggy-Poi Dance.
Gotta admit, Joshua of Samba gave a nice performance no matter how bading this indulgence is.
Later I won my Bailey's glass from the Diageo bar tour.

Personally, still prefer seeing tanned faces while bashing the kids
for messing up their good Bora shirts with food all the time.

...or calling out to them to finish their breakfasts cause they'd be too excited to either go to the pool or splash around in the beach.

Nothing 5-star but decent enough as it was...The La Carmela and Alice in Wonderland

Nightscapes

2008-04-07T17:32:00.000-07:00

Evenings were just as pretty. Barring a few mosquitos, we loved hanging around the pool. Count ten floors from the top and four windows from the right, that's our suite.

Midnight Ice Cream Binging at Shang Lobby

2008-04-07T00:23:00.000-07:00

Look at who's stuffing their faces with peppermint pistachio (Daddy and Julian's favorite!) ice cream at midnight. So while others went for a nightcap....we did a fudgecap? Regular hotel lobby bums with nothing better to do than gain more poundage at 12MN!!!

Note I chose to upload a photo with no proof of the binge. Hehehe.

The Gondola

2008-04-06T00:15:00.000-07:00

Bright Blue Mornings at the Putri Duyung

2008-04-03T06:43:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite stops. No more tour descriptions, the blue sky and the seabreeze capped it all.

It was often hard to drag oneself out of the bed, especially since early morning was really bed weather in Ancol. But the minute you whispered, "time for more sightseeing!!!", you'd be sure to have Julian getting up.

One early morning after breakfast, we took a dip and Julian made some new friends waving to a small boat from the mini-dock.

I just love the blue, blue, blue and little bursts of primary colors all around us that morning.

Ayan ang ballswim!

Hehehe, mag uwi kaya tayo ng ilang bola, anak? Hmmm.....halata ba?

It was one really good and picturesque day.

A Room With A View

2008-04-02T22:07:00.000-07:00

It was enough to make you forget irrational fears of being stranded in a crazy killer earthquake on the upper floors of the Shangri-la with the elevator shafts jammed --- the view from our room. Julian and I loved sitting on the ledge as we went through our summer reading lists.

There were times when we'd cheat and just play "I Spy" as we looked at the cityscape before us.

The view from the Horizon Club, where those free sumptuous buffets and drink-all-you-can cocktail hours reminded me of the stark contrasts of home. To have and to have not. Blows the mind to think that a plush hotel would mushroom in the middle of what may well be Makati slums! To leave the hotel in S-class Benz taxis and make our way to an equally ostentatious mall. Snaking our way through congested 'eskinitas' by polluted creeks. It was absurd that the Shangri-la shared the same general address with squatters. It made one think all guests were the Indonesian counterpart of the Gucci Gang. Opulence and poverty sitting side by site, it was almost funny. Were we really in Jakarta? Hahaha! This might as well have been Pinas.

This was our breakfast view from the Horizon Club. It wasn't that great as these bay windows faced another side of the city

Our view from the room was definitely better. Our 'next door neighbors' were these clusters of uppity scale white tower residences. We'd walk through a temple that had these worship chanting practically round-o-clock to make our way to a mini-mall behind these white towers. The weird thing was that, the mall was beside shanty clusters as well!

That's the temple right next to the pool. We watched kids fly their fighting kites in this open lot and wait for the losing kites (those which were cut by the bladed strings) to make their way to the Shangri-la pool area. One day we actually collected five. Othertimes, they'd fly so high we could see them up close from our hotel window.

Summer Afternoons with Katerina

2008-04-02T13:29:00.000-07:00

Speaking of the pool, couldn't let this series pass without a special entry on the playful and naughty Kat.

Katerina and her signature frowning brow. Love it! This little girl from Germany is one of Julian's favorite playmates at the Shangri-la. Her mom and I set afternoon playdates and we sat chatting on the lounge chairs while Julian and Katerina played.

The funny thing about it all is that they don't understand one another! Without Kat's Mom, who translated things when necessary, the two just did their own unique talk & play routine. It was fun to watch. You know that the only way they understood one another is from the tones of their lines and their facial expressions. They ran around the pool and had races on who collected the defeated fighting kites.

I so hate that I missed taking shots of Katerina going after Julian and smothering his face with sloppy little kisses to annoy him. There Julian was screaming, "Make her stop!!!" and Kat's mom shouting, "Katerina, Nein!" Hehehe. Naughty little tramp.

It was such that after Katerina left, we seriously missed her.

I don't know, call me a sap but these last 3 photos make me sad somehow. Oh well...

Bandar Djakarta

2008-04-02T02:02:00.001-07:00

Bandar Djakarta

2008-04-02T02:02:00.000-07:00

Ice, Ice, Ice World!!!

2008-04-01T11:17:00.000-07:00

The weather at Ancol was starting to grown on us, but it is always wonderful to get a reprieve from summer heat. So we asked Yosef to take us to Ancol's arctic attraction, Ice World. I swore to myself, the sun drenched tropical beaches will come later (mark my word!). And so, with 100,000 rupiahs poorer, Julian had a taste of winter, after collecting a possibly unhygienic oversized padded coat at the entrance of a warehouse converted into a walk in freezer.

Waterplay at Atlantis

2008-03-30T23:29:00.000-07:00

Take note, full battle geared Indonesians in the backdrop.

Traipsing Along Gelanggang Samudra

2008-03-29T01:07:00.000-07:00

This stone arch entrance drew images of Jurassic Park's entrance.

From otters riding bikes, shooting hoops and sashaying for a kiddie audience...

To this anorexic looking bear (so far from the cuddly stuffed species!).

Oh but the seals and just adorable. A hands down favorite of ours.

...even if it did splash us with water as it came close!

A perfect candidate to tummy stapling and Xenical. The Hip hip hippo!!!

Unable to wait for the gates to open, we snuck into the tanks where the trainors were giving the dolphins a workout...

Sure enough, there they were!

Waxing neurotic with that 70s tune: "They called him Flipper, Flipper....faster than lightning...."

A genie or the missing-in-action Mr. Clean (who signed up with the POEA as an Pinoy Overseas Contract Worker in Jakarta). Tee hee hee.

Hmmm...more genies

...and rides

A Day at Seaworld Indonesia

2008-03-27T05:24:00.000-07:00

Julian loved Seaworld Jakarta, the biggest aquarium and oceanarium site in South East Asia. We saw 4,000 fish and 300 species of sharks. We were told the shark pool contains three out of the five most fierce shark species in the world and that once, the shark started attacking the feeding crew. Luckily, the feeding crew was able to escape and survive. However due to this incident, feeding crews are now required to enter a steel cage before entering the shark pool.

The feeding of the piranhas alone was pretty cool too. I preferred watching the hungry group of piranha that cleaned out the fish dangled in the water in just seconds. If you looked close enough you could actually see the fishbones! Hehehe. I couldn't get close enough to take a shot of the row of sharp teeth that tore at fish flesh.

Aaaaaaaaaaargh!

OK sweetie, say "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah" while I shovel some raw fish in!

Julian, on the other hand, especially loved watching the dugong feeding on sea grass in its large aquarium as it was fed by the caretaker-divers.

Later, the dugong came up to Julian and appeared to get all friendly! No thanks, we've had lunch!

A whatchamacallit shark cozies up to Julian. Pucker up mahal??? YIKES!!!

The tourguide said that the antinessa tunnel and acrylic viewing windows actually made the marine life look smaller than they actually were.

The touchpools were cool as you could actually feed the animals. They asked us to use sticks to feed the baby sharks and rays (yes, I actually held one) and sea turtles.

Loved this uncertain look on Julian's face. He was probably fearful the pawikan would snap up and eat up his fingers.

Taman Impian Jaya Ancol Gondola

2008-03-26T18:37:00.000-07:00

It also got me confused in the beginning, but the "Gondola" in Taman Impian Jaya Ancol is a skylift cable car system with thirty-seven cars, no different from that of the Sugarloaf ("Pao de Azucar") in Rio de Janeiro (wow, flashbacks!!!). It is built along the shore of Jakarta's bay and offers a spectacular view of the resort and the sea as well as the city.

The Gondola actually goes past the roof of our cottage at the resort.

Dunia Fantasi

2008-03-26T08:53:00.000-07:00

Our day at the Dunia Fantasi themepark turned out quite well. The weather favored our day outdoor.

Julian was still a good sport even if he turned out to be too small for the "Halilintar" twisted roller coaster ride (besides, the looped cork screw thing could have been way too much for a first timer like him!), the Niagara flume ride and the Tornado. He still enjoyed the "Bianglala" ferris wheel, the "Piring Oleng Ombang Ombang", the "Rajawali" and the "Ontang Anting" wave swinger.

The "Halilintar": a good incentive for drinking more milk!

Bumperboats always make a good start...

As we work up the nerve to get up on the "Bianglala"...

Is anyone ever too old for a carousel ride??? They seem to have a thing for tongue twisters. This one they called, a "turangga".

Whoever thought of the name the "Ontang Anting"

The "Ombang" went all the way up for a great, but quick and dizzying view of Jakarta Bay.

The "Rajawali" or the condor ride

More looking around and buying souvenirs...

Julian waits up as Yosef drives up to take us back to the hotel.

Walang Sinabi ang Mall of Asia!!! Waaah

2008-03-23T19:06:00.000-07:00

After four days at the Shangri-la, could you blame us for getting antsy and wanting to get out?

We went to this mixed-use complex on the south side of Jakarta --- Senayan City. Whoa! From Jimmy Choo, Ermenegildo Zegna, Tod's and Roberto Cavalli, even if all I could do is sigh and dream (bwahaha!) Plaza Senayan was impressive, elegant and very sophisticated.

So never mind that watching Spiderwick at Cinema XXI set us back some Rps 100,000 and nakatulog rin ako inside...minsan lang naman. The plush alone was well worth it. A true feast for the eyes. We loved it, loved it, loved it!

The Montesorri Musical Theatre Productions: "We Tell The Story"

2008-03-11T23:55:00.000-07:00

My baby's a theatre artist!

"We Tell The Story" features two plays. Julian appears in both but is a bigger star in the first one.

In the first, he played Tias in a Lola Basiang adaptation of "Ang Parusa ng Dwende". Take note! Julian's lines are in Filipino! Yebah yeabah! Imagine how much more work he had to put in it to get all the words and intonations right. But play it exceptionally well, he did. Hahaha. And I am, as expected, beaming 1000 kilowatts with maternal pride.

One unforgettable incident during the production was Julian tripping over this giant cable as he entered stage right! Whattatrooper! He regained his composure and delivered his lines, still. That's my boy...hehehe.

Too cute to be an underdog, really. He'd crack up and smile at times, but he does elicit sympathy as the poor "utusan". Plus, the meanies make it so easy to sympathize with "Tias".

Curtain call: Taking a bow in one of the two performances for the day.

Here with co-star, Paolo "Dwende"

In "The Sad Princess", he plays a bit role as one of the townspeople. Again, take note the only boy who gets into this scene.

Thespian teacher Dianne at the helm: Who'd have thought that gaunt frame could lead these kids to a play and a musicale? (I lay prostrate at thy feet). Hehehe. Pretty cool directress. Thanks for the curtain call pizza treat Dianne!

The Retro part of the musicale was wonderful too. "Manila" by the Hotdogs....and I so hate that I couldn't get any better shot that could outwit the bad lighting on that one. So this will have to do. That was where Julian had this bandanna and shades on, where he danced with little girls in boas and frou frous (tranny dream sequence if you asked me) and where you could really see how he was appreciated by the audience because....well....he just let go! I mean he was seriously just enjoying himself dancing onstage with his friends.

And boy, was that super duper glorious to watch. Sniff...I think I'm gonna bawl out! Bwahaha!

Such big boys for pals too! Not even the 4 to 5 year difference seemed to matter. These boys became friends, friends, friends!

Ahhh...my little star. Gotta get me one of those homemade production posters the kids made behind him.

A Day at the SM Science Discovery Center

2008-03-08T08:22:00.000-08:00

It turned out to be one of those days when Julian would beam from ear to ear. Thank God for Henry Sy's Mall of Asia! Tee hee hee. The perfect reward for a good little trooper like my baby.

I mean, he did deserve the treat no matter how exorbitant the entrance fee was. (A trip to the Planetarium at the Luneta would have produced as much gasps from Julian but who cares, my darling was ecstatic!).

Just loved these robot replicas from TV shows from my youth. Julian thought they looked "corny". And what would you expect with one who grew up with Terminator-type killer machines??? To him, this looked like a teddy bear robot! Hahaha!

Yup...though he knew pretty little about the "Robot Wars", the Terminator, well this one he definitely was not alien to..

Oh yes, the coup d' grace, Astro, Astro Astro Boy!!!

Our robo-sensibilities piqued, we joined the sampler course on Introduction to Robotics. Sure its cool but it would drain Mommy's pocket sweetie so....sorry!

Manood ka na lang, anak.

These "classics" however, R2D2 and what appears to be Spiderman on steroids, were among Julian's favorites.

...just as flight simulator rides like these. Tee hee hee. Now, ask Julian what he'd like to be when he grows up and he'd be quick to say, "PILOT!!!".

...and making new friends (to wallop) as they were all chroma-ed against a blue screen in a game of virtual soccer and virtual volleyball.

He liked the virtual chuva so much he queued up for another round before moving to..

...the other ho-hum stuff like big aquariums and marine life for viewing. La dee dah. Been there done that.

And then the super hyped planetarium part of the tour. So ok, the concave screen dome was new, I grant them that. You did get a feeling like you yourself were in some space module floating out in space but my God my aching neck and throbbing head (she says as she grapples to search for an Advil in her magic mommy purse...)

Now wasn't that a perfect prelude to the "bangag" shot here? Bwahaha!

YMCA!!! Told Julian if he worked out in these mini-gym structures by the Bay, he'd be reduced to a reed. "Blaaaaaaaaaah, Mommy!!!", he went.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, takip-silim sa Mall of Asia!

Julian and Mika Clayface on Cam

2008-02-23T01:08:00.000-08:00

Mommy & Julian Camwhorin'

2008-02-06T03:13:00.000-08:00

Hmmmmmmm...who'd have thought Julian and I had it in us to enjoy taking shots of our clownin' selves?

Yup, a new webcam and some free time on our hands equals pillow fight and cam fun with Mommy & Julian.

Julian's "Lolo" Prof. Hyman Bass: National Medal of Science

2008-01-09T06:32:00.000-08:00

Whoa! What can I say, the National Medal of Science. The medal is a Presidential Award given to individuals "deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to knowledge in the physical, biological, mathematical, or engineering sciences."

The NSF formal citation for reads: Hyman Bass --- "For his fundamental contributions to pure mathematics, especially in the creation of algebraic K-theory, his profound influence on mathematics education, and his service to the mathematics research and education communities."

http://www.nsf.gov/od/nms/recip_details.cfm?recip_id=5300000000434

Yuletide 2007

2007-12-25T08:15:00.000-08:00

Christmas Dinner was at Jojo's place this year. With Melissa deciding to settle in Manila to try her luck at the soon-to-open Philippine Women's Basketball League, to Tita Lulu and her crazy brother Vince's flight from LA to support her decision, everything was extra special. (Nope, nothing was said about 'just' getting a bronze at the SEA games!)

The kids, of course, couldn't keep from getting all excited about their Christmas presents. Anton and Julian hounded their Tito Jojo for clues for what they were getting...

They eventually wore him down and ripped their presents open to find identical remote control car sets.

Joaquin, of course got one for himself too.

Andrew had to be held through the test drives, otherwise, our "little man" would have gotten his way and stomped on the itty-bitty cars of the "kuyas".

The men chose to do "unplugged" performances, lest be labelled uncool (ha!) while Mica chose to hang out with the lolos...

...hmmm, I just realized I had no pictures of Naizz, Tito Rene and Erwin! (I owe you!)

The women, on the other hand, pushed the baduy notch to a higher level.

After all, what Pinoy party would be complete without videoke of the cheesiest songs of whatever age??? So what the fook? We had fun! From Mommy, Tita Lulu and Tita Ditas' "Knock Three Times" and "Top of the World Numbers", my Swing Out Sister routine with Maan and Michelle, Melissa's "Emotion" to Vince's crazy mime dances...

Jojo with Christmas jester Vince (L), Erwin (middle).

Yikes. Johnny Walker Blue and Tito Jojo don't mix too well in this pic. Bwahaha!

Julian had extra fun upon finding out that he made it to Santas 'nice' list after all. Here he is with his brand new remote controlled chopper ;-)

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!

Maria Montessori Christmas Pageant

2007-12-22T06:33:00.000-08:00

Friday morning, Mom, Dad and I went to Maria Montessori to watch Julian take part in the school Christmas pageant, his first in his new school.

The A. Mabini class prepping right outside the auditorium while the stage parents' clicked away to their delight. (L-R) Sofia (Gonzalez), Marga (de la Cruz), Ivy (Pistis), Vince (Inciong), Obi (Pistis), Bianca (Magdaluyo), Julian and Sofia (Yulo).

Here he is again with very pretty Sofia (Yulo)...

...and partner-in-crime, Diego (Santos)...

...and class adviser, Teacher Mitchie Dalusong.

While I played the stage mother, Papa and Mamita waited for the program to begin.

"Pasko ng Pamilyang Pilipino" was the Program Directress' idea of a holiday season theme. This, in itself was wonderful but having every single word of the Christmas pageant delivered in romantic and traditional Filipino??? Hmmm. Not that practical, really. Poor anchors were sweatin' through it all!

Julian singing "Himig Pasko" was cool just the same. Seeing him signing out the song was a treat. Here he is with (L-R) Digo, Vince, Jaime (Irasga), Stephen and Thomas.

Julian Takes Up TaeKwondo

2007-12-09T02:04:00.000-08:00

Julian's extra-curricular activities, with the exception of piano (which he says often bores him), are turning out to be good choices. Or is it that I'm simply in love with seeing him in uniform?

Watch my little TaeKwonDo baby's moves
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!"

Notice how in between some kicks he tries to get rid of a few slightly nasty wedgies??? Bwahaha!!! Later he told me that his butt was biting into his briefs with every kick. I love it!

Jungle Julian Meets Santa

2007-12-08T22:00:00.000-08:00

I loooove school fairs. From jail to marriage booths to cotton candy, snowcones and hotdogs. So when Julian asked me to go to Montessori bright and early this weekend, I said yes right away. Papa joined us and ended up carrying shopping bags for me! No, I was smart enough not to splurge. Just took advantage of this bargain corner selling Christmas decor export overruns. I got myself some neat stuff for the house.

The petting zoo was pretty cool. I liked watching Julian slowly gaining confidence with the animals. You see him here, pretty apprehensive about the albino python at first, only to later serve as the mini-zoo's resident tour guide with classmate Chalu and the others who came in a little bit later.

See the initial tension on his face over here? Hahaha! Couldn't you tell he was a tad bit nervous? Why even the turtle made him a bit edgy.

And wouldn't you know it, for the very first time, a monkey that neither spit nor threw stuff at the visitors.

Yup, in no time, Julian and his cute classmate Chalu here, found a friend in the little monkey!

The official photographer took one really cool picture with this snake almost draped over Julian's shoulders. I'd scan and post it here but realize I've got more than enough to show how he had a blast this day. At one point, he even said, "I wan't to be Steve Irwin!" To which a friend joking replied, "...you wanna be dead???"

Ha! Tentative today, crocodile hunter tomorrow!

But you could immediately tell Julian was interested in the iguana. He kept asking if this was the same kind of reptile that had a radioactive blast turning it into Godzilla!

At one time, Julian even had one cockatoo poop on his head. He had been so busy lifting the belly of the python off a pup that it nearly crushed. "Eeww, cockatoo poo!"

I wish I could say he was just as excited to meet with Santa. The poor old man came in second to the highly-popular python. Here's Mr. Claus with my little Steve Irwin.

And then back again, this time to make friends with puppies and to try to referring bickering hens, a crazy turkey and the noisiest geese...

By noon, Julian was begging to buy one pet to take home. Thank goodness he decided he wanted the colored chicks instead of white mice! Here he is choosing his new friend, which he named "Chicky Bass"! Har har har!

Shutterhappy

2007-11-30T23:59:00.000-08:00

...and could you blame me when I just love my baby so much???

Ready for the Holidays

2007-11-30T04:16:00.000-08:00

Aaah, what a coat of paint can do to a home! The house looks a lot better now with the few touch ups we did recently.

The kids seem to agree, especially after we dragged Julian's old swing set, this time for Mica to use.

Evenings are cooler in Paranaque now. This weekend, we used it to move our potted plants around the garden.

Stumbling Across Konishiki

2007-11-21T08:23:00.000-08:00

Just finished fixing my right panel links after realized that my AIFL "boss" JJ Reyes had taken down the English order sites for my first set of published books and commercially sold CDs.

Click here

to view the Konishiki English Classics online catalogue, so you know what "books" I'm talking about.

Anyway, a few more clicks later, I came across a Japanese lady's photoblog with no less than Konishiki himself holding the books. OK so he's not holding MY Black Beauty nor 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, but hey, they're still the series I'm proud to be a part of!

To backtrack: The books I worked on carry the brand "Konishiki Easy English".

That is because it is essentially the project of this gentle giant of a sumo wrestler, one of Japan's most popular personalities. He retired in 1997 then surprised everyone by crossing over to being a TV celebrity in Sesame Street-inspired shows that teach English in Japan. Beyond that he has cut several rap albums, and is a Michael Jordan type of endorser in the Japanese world.

Click here

to read about Konishiki on Wikipedia.

...I should really get a hold of a copy of my books!!!!

A Basketball Belle in the Family!

2007-11-19T19:09:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend, I got converted to being a fan of women's basketball.

Yup, thanks to the idea of relative by affinity (hahaha! isinakay bilang "extended family"), we had a refreshing discovery over the weekend. Tito Rene has a niece who is a basketball star in her own right.

The whole family was abuzz with activity this weekend. An extra-special reason to convene after Sunday mass and the big family lunch that followed Michelle's Fil‑Am cousin, Melissa (Sison) Jacob flew in to begin training as an "import" of the Philippine Women's Basketball Team in preparation for the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.

Melissa in the News 1

Melissa in the News 2

Melissa in the News 3

'Sang Hirit Pa! Melissa in the News 4

Melissa in the News again!

True to Pinoy rah-rah fashion, the whole family (extended and by consanguinity included) as well as little kids-in-tow, neatly packed into two vans and trooped to the Adidas Sports Camp at The Fort to watch her first real game on Philippine soil. Never mind that it was just for an exhibition match, we were ready to cheer our hearts out for the women's team pitted against the Filipino-Indian men's basketball league.

Julian with Tito Rene, BJ and Papa (with Fanny too!) waiting for the game to begin

I looked forward to the game because (1) I am still finalizing my choices for extra-curricular activities of Julian (whaat? first Piano, then Theatre, then TaeKwonDo,now E-Basketball?) Poor overscheduled Julian!

OK so the towelheads beat them (obviously bitter!). It was still fun. The match had all the festive trimmings of a PBA game. Loud buzzers, blaring music and fans in a-frenzy.

Julian and Mica enjoyed themselves. Joaquin, who complained saying we should have just gone to the movies, bawled a few times.

Julian seemed pretty excited to meet Melissa. I wonder if this means more extra-curricular expenses, this time for E-Basketball at the Montessori??? Hahaha!

Heck, I gotta admit I was starstruck myself. To hell with showbiz celebrities, gimme a female sportsjock anyday.

A day or two later, Julian saw Melissa at a TV interview...

...and then, another two days later OJ and BJ had their turn to be featured in an ABS-CBN Feature on "Bigatin" Twins of Philippine Tennis

MELISSA AT THE S.E.A. GAMES

Watching "Wanders"

2007-11-08T06:18:00.000-08:00

Never mind if the idea isn't exactly original (Phuket Sukhothai era-inspired FantaSea in Kamala Beach, Phuket appears to be the inspiration of PAGCOR's "Wanders" presentation), the Vegas-style family show is still very entertaining.

Hmmm...maybe I can take Julian to Phuket and see the Palace of the Elephants one of these days. Aaah, those birthdays spent in the beaches of Phuket. Remember this vavoom show, Gelo? Fabo!!!

And thanks a lot for the Sugarhouse Triple-X treat, Leah. We loved the gazillion calories it obviously packed. Kept us quite full through this wonderful show Julian and Mamita enjoyed tremendously.

And to think Casino Filipino is something like 8 minutes away from home!

After-show picture we took with the Russian showgirls and the seemingly "boneless" contortionists from carnival town of Kenan Province, China.

Halloween at MMCS and the CPA

2007-10-30T22:32:00.000-07:00

The A.Mabini class before trick-or-treating in school. Julian as Superman with best buddy Rafael as The Black Ninja...

...and Diego behind them as The White Ninja (a.k.a. my Taekwondo uniform redux).

Julian later joined us at the sem-ender cum Halloween & birthday-celebration I put together at the CPA. That turned out wonderfully as well. The kids had great fun.

Little Sofia, who came as an orange and gold genie.

Thea as Belle. Hayden as a fairy.

JM who came as the character from the movie, "Scream", Thea and Mica, who came as a baby fairy.

Another Year Older. Ho Hum

2007-10-28T23:58:00.000-07:00

I'd slow time if I could, but alas, no such luck. Tee hee hee. (Now where's my Retinol?????)

I wonder if tummy tucks can just come in a sachet by the time I turn 45??? After stuffing our faces everytime someone in the family turns another year older, I may just need it! Bwahaha!

I'd post a snapshot of my cake, but I dug into it and with the kids' help, it was like "Silence of the Polly's Cake: The Chocolate Massacre".

Ooooh, but receiving the call just in time for the delivery of the roses was the real icing on the cake. After we were done rearranging my birthday bouquet, we had three vases with a dozen each of those beautiful pink and orange roses! The house looked wonderful!

Thank you, baby, for making me feel so special.

Cinderella and The Glorietta Bomb

2007-10-11T21:28:00.000-07:00

OK, so they refuse to say a bomb ripped the Glorietta. An LPG explosion? LPG my ass, unless they've got uranium in those tanks how could it cause this much damage? (Thanks, to Gani for the interior shots)

Anyway, two days later, en route to nearby Onstage Greenbelt, we took a look from Makati Avenue (near the FX Terminal) and saw one sad sight. It still sends shivers down my spine to remember I crossed this walkway to the Park Square at least 3X a week!

But life goes on and after a rather surreal briefing on how to calmly get to the EXITs, the Maria Montessori family enjoyed The Repertory's Cinderella.

Julian hamming it up with the other Montessori kids and the cast right after the show. Lucky too cause Niccolo Manahan, who plays Prince Charming, was a graduate of Maria Montessori.

Hmmmm....my baby had a blast, especially after getting a prize of a P100 Jollibee Gift Cheque under his theatre seat that night!

Julian starts with his Theatre class at the Montessori in a week. His first stage stint? "My Dog Has Got No Manners". Hmmm, not exactly close to Prince Charming. But soon, my sweetie, soon! LOL

BIBBIDI-BOBBIDI-BOO

Salagadoola mechicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Put 'em together and what have you got
bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Salagadoola mechicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
It'll do magic believe it or not
bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Salagadoola means mechicka booleroo
But the thingmabob that does the job is
bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Salagadoola menchicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Put 'em together and what have you got
bibbidi-bobbidi bibbidi-bobbidi bibbidi-bobbidi-boo

Charmaine's Kate-Pwet Turns Two!

2007-09-22T16:34:00.000-07:00

Time does fly.

Here is Kate spitting on her cake. Ehe! Blowing out her birthday candle pala...

Swim...Swim...drink chlorine water...LOL!

...and as the kids got all prune-skinned in the pool, tie-dye arts & crafts naman ang mga mommy.

...da vah????!!! pretty!

Linggo Ng Wika

2007-09-01T21:05:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness Julian could get away with it!

I was way too lazy to go out and get him a plain white shirt, especially after he told me they were just going to slap some paint on it during their art activities in school. I threw a 2-year old Fruit of the Loom in his bag and forgot all about it.

Hahaha! Later on, I found out they were making their "Mang Kepweng" outfits for Linggo ng Wika.

Oh well, he got away with looking like he was garbed in shrink wrap, right? Bwahaha! Mommy, you're a meanie...

Sofia's Visit

2007-09-01T07:02:00.000-07:00

Two and a half year old Sofia, one of my favorite students, dropped by to visit Julian today. LOL. She always gushes, "I love Julian!"

Joaquin's 7th Birthday:TimeZone & Little Asia

2007-08-20T05:31:00.000-07:00

August 18. Not even overcast skies and a week of cancelled classes and flashfloods in Manila would stop us (nor other families for that matter) from a weekend in town.

We killed an hour or two at Timezone where the kids' fun drained their parents' pockets...

...and tested the patience of the senior citizens who had no choice but bear Timezone's blaring arcade sounds...

One final group shot before our next stop...

After Timezone the entire barangay of extended families and video-crazed kids crossed the streets to the Promenade in Greenhills for dinner at Little Asia.

Happy Birthday, Joaquineeeeee!

Mylene, Mica, Papa, Mamita, Naizz & Tito Rene ("Papok!!!") while Joaquin's sexy grandma Tita Ditas dotes on the birthday boy's youngest guest (cousin) 1-year old Andrew, son of Erwin and Michelle's sister, Maan

Yup, everyone's growing up fast --- including the kambal (I'm not too sure if this is OJ or BJ). Here's one of the gentle giants with Papa

...so, whether or not this is OJ or BJ now, fact is, he's going to be a Daddy himself soon and imagine how that would add more little mouths to feed should the family go to another restaurant for a birthday celebration. Practicing on mom-to-be's cute little niece. Is it me, or does this beauty look a bit like Pocahontas? Bwahaha! (Hey that was meant to be a compliment)...

Jojo, Mamita and Tita Ditas

The kids made the resto staff a bit nervous, I think. They began to play tag after Joaquin blew the candles in his cake

Puff the Magic Dragon --- Jojo and Erwin sneaking some smokes outside the resto.

While everyone goes back to doting on Andrew...

Mica couldn't really care less...the food at Little Asia was yummy from start to finish.

Anton and Julian were also busy putting together their helicopter prizes from Timezone.

Joaquin himself seemed pretty content.

It was one of those real good picture perfect family days.

Soooo Birthday Pinoy. Eating out with an entire barangay of extended family members with yayas-in-tow, and dining as if this would be their last supper! As if that wasn't enough, doggie bags of take home! Yum!

Julian Does Magic as Andrew Turns 1!!!

2007-08-20T05:06:00.000-07:00

A sunny Saturday at the Fun Ranch within Tiendesitas. It was Andrew's first birthday. All came in their cutest cowboy and cowgirl gear.

As Charmaine would say, "Mumu Cute!"

The cowboy-magician asked for all the boys to come forward to assist him with his tricks

Probably sensing the cynic in Julian, this cowboy magician invited him to be his assistant.

Julian roared with laughter when meters of colored ribbon were pulled out of his ears!

Titos, titas, lolos and lolas also sat it out to watch...

including Andrew who stayed with Lolo Nesty.

Mica said she'd rather eat spaghetti...

after a while the kids (and Mommy too) try out their luck with the plastic balloon game...

but proved to be no match to Anton, who won it hands down.

So we give up and as expected, get right down to the business of chow time.

While Andrew tries to chew on a balloon!

Happy Birthday, Andrew!!!

Julian's First Family Day at the Montessori

2007-08-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

Filipino games. Cheering competition. Red Team came in second. Julian was more interested in the body painting booth...

Then there are classmates Chalu and Martina with Diego, of course, one of Julian's best friends at the Montessori.

Julian, Diego and his red dragon...

Volunteer Friends from the Social Action Center

2007-08-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

Julian and Mommy helping out at a parish activity. Here with some very selfless friends from the Church's Social Action Ministry.

Mica's Dinner at Luk Foo

2007-06-28T19:23:00.000-07:00

More birthdays. More pigging out. This time it was Mica who turned 3 years old. Old Luk Foo's Cantonese fare gets better through time.

XBox Weekend

2007-06-15T07:21:00.000-07:00

First we dropped by Jojo & Michelle's place then moved to the Islas for pizza.

From Naizz to Mica, all were glued to the widescreen for video games all afternoon.

Thanks to Maan & Erwin. We just love adorable little Andrew (who really looked more like a girl in this shot)...

Happy Birthday Julian!

2007-06-13T06:26:00.000-07:00

NO MORE BIRTHDAY PARTIES!

He has no idea what a relief it was that he preferred an XBox console for his 8th birthday. No more maddening children's parties.

So ok, the birthday gift came about a full month before the actual celebration, which was at Gateway Mall.

Everyone was there, of course... and yummy food from China Bowl wasn't so hard on the budget either.

Bottom line is, when you see him with such a happy smile, doesn't really matter what type of birthday it turned out to be, right?

Mommy's Cute Little Students

2007-05-17T05:48:00.000-07:00

Summer Camp at the Centre for Performing Arts. Bright shiny faces of the little children at the school readiness program.

Julian, Abbie and Mico (still in their aprons!) of my KinderArt class showing off their works in the art exhibit we put up to mark their graduation from summer camp.

Pool Party!!!

2007-04-03T03:18:00.000-07:00

Lifesavers and floaters in hand, Joaquin, Mica and Julian went to a birthday party and spent an afternoon at Sherwood Heights' Clubhouse. If you think the pictures are cute, you should see the video.

And now that we have enough photos for our fashion spread, we're off!

Cooking It Up With Julian

2007-03-03T04:57:00.000-08:00

Chef & Chopsuey! Mommy needs to lose the weight and Julian needs to bulk up. We meet halfway at the kitchen and have fun cooking it up.

Looking like he just achieved culinary history with ladle and wok in hand...

Later, Papa came home with barbeque and Julian feasted away...

2007 Starting Off with Ivan's Visit

2007-01-22T03:25:00.001-08:00

2007 starting off with Ivan’s visit

Merry Christmas!!!

2006-12-26T10:42:00.000-08:00

The house coming alive today with the visit of Jojo, Michelle, Joaquin and Mica. Mica is 2 years old. She is precocious and giggly. She is as cute as a button and a sharp as a tack!

Julian warmed up to Mica almost immediately. He was the perfect KUYA as he shared everything from toys to his Christmas chocolate loot. Mica has the same curls on her head as Julian did when he was a baby. I love the way they look in this shot.

They even did a BOOM-TA-RAT-TA-RAT dance together. Under usual circumstances, I hate the song and sometimes wish its singer dead as I hate it to kingdom come. But when Julian and Mica went at it together, it might as well have been Swanlake!

When Julian saw Joaquin, they hugged. This was still in Church, about 3 minutes before the 7 p.m. Mass started. Within an hour they were clowning around together. Joaquin had his Gameboy along while Julian and his laser guns were a hit with Joaquin.

Mica loves to play with the camera. We tried convincing Mamita to do the same thing but as always, she has this cut-and-paste face in every photograph anyway. It turned out to be a great first picture just the same.

Papa was the same with Joaquin, who has really grown.

I warned them this next photo would be hard to put. It would look like a Benetton ad. Filipino. Chinese. Jewish? Hahaha!

It was cold in Moonwalk evening of Christmas day, so while Jojo, Joaquin and Mico took the go-kart and Twist & Turn, Julian tried out Joaquin’s Gameboy. Obviously, Mica continued playing putty-face.

Finally managing a decent Christmas family photo

2006-12-25T14:43:00.000-08:00

Christmas morning. Still in his pajamas, Julian rushes to the tree, checks out his stocking to find this note from Santa.

Toys. Toys. Toys for the good boy. Not to mention a stocking full of chocolates!

I just loooove this goofy Christmas morning smile.

2006-12-16T12:57:00.000-08:00

Santa games. Julian makes his Christmas letters with the loveliest of messages. Spelling butchery included. Living it like I too was seven all over again.

2006-12-13T17:03:00.000-08:00

Julian plays picture pretty with Mamita and Papa by the tree

2006-12-08T16:35:00.000-08:00

School holidays like today. While I puttered around in our neglected little patch of earth, pretending I had a greenthumb, Julian bounced around the yard.

We later went back indoors. Julian tried his hand at taking pictures, though not successfully at first

and yet he nails one without making me look that much like a housegeek in a duster!

2006-12-07T11:39:00.000-08:00

Today I say thank you for hearing that dear dear James Loyola is doing just fine. Receiving this pic from him made me miss the guy and wonder when we’d cross paths again.

2006-12-01T08:10:00.000-08:00

The magic of digital coloring that morphed what Rene Cortez drew beautifully

Into this even more wonderful work of Aldo Banaynal

2006-12-01T06:47:00.000-08:00

My own little space among some of the most selfless individuals I have ever met. Their desire to do good and how they keep things plain and simple is a refreshing new perspective…

2006-10-31T08:13:00.000-08:00

surviving HOLYWEEN, success in scrounging around for props to "layer" Julian into a Moses (note the box with the pasted in Ten Commandments!).

2006-10-28T20:34:00.000-07:00

A new project and a chance to actually see my name credited as the author! Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea and how cool will it be for Julian to show this book around and say his mother wrote and conceptualized the rendering of this adaptation!

…trunks and trunks of artistic talent. Looky looky at what Per Volquartz did for the first cover and what Rene Cortez has done in my Black Beauty material. It’s not quite done yet. The digital coloring doesn’t start till the sketch for all 88 frames of the book are completed, but couldn’t you tell this guy can freakin’ draw? Oh, and I just love how the horses are developing their own “characters” through his drawings…

2006-10-05T19:01:00.000-07:00

…living through this hellish ordeal of a Sacred Heart Foundation Day! I hate having to crowd with eager parents taking snapshots of their children as the smug senior nuns of the school are comfortably seated. The heat alone was a scorching hell. I’m never going to do this paparazzo thing ever again. Bah! The nuns can have their show, from the next foundation day onward, I will just have my private performance with my son, Thank You!

2006-10-01T22:28:00.000-07:00

Surviving a typhoon apocalypse! Milenyo’s damage on Cooper Street. Why am I saying thank you? Three trees fell in our lot alone, all landed on spots where they either did the least damage or hardly touched the place at all.

Can one say thank you cause cleaning up after the mess turned out to be an impromptu street party as well? I mean, who’d have thought the aftermath of a typhoon could actually elicit good shoulder jabbing fun? Only among Filipinos, of course.

2006-09-10T21:39:00.000-07:00

…I don’t really know what it was, but seeing Julian watch this man sharpen our old rusty bolo made me feel like it was like I was into some peeping tom phase. I see this man ride by our street several times but I think this is the first time I gave him a second glance, ever. Not until I saw Julian show interest in what he did. So I snapped this pic.

2006-09-07T21:44:00.000-07:00

…seeing Julian with Fiorello (who the heck came up with that name?!) and having a jolly good time with him…

…or him with Patricia. So I grabbed my camera thinking I might as well get as much shots in because in 2-3 years time, Julian wouldn’t dare admit he once said his best friend in Grade School is a girl! Even now he says, “Girls, yuck!” Ha! My sweetie, are you in for a ride…

Hamming It Up with UP Kalayaan Posse

2006-07-16T22:20:00.000-07:00

my blast from the past weekend. laughing my heart out with statuesque-as-ever-edna, reinvented-marissa, chubby-cheeked-and-gorgeous-liza, guy-behind-the-lens-arnold, resident-artist-toymie, roll-on-head-glenn, gma big burrito-odi and hunka-hunka-teddy-bearish-nick.



...hmmm, couldn't help but reconsider joining the CSA reunion set next month. after all, i did have fun catching up with the girls, their docile husbands, fabo eladio even if i did want to gag at the antics of the other Agustinians in the gathering...

2006-06-21T23:09:00.000-07:00

my packrat ways! a shoddy kate moss? bwahahaha! how else could i have kept this horrific shot from 40 or so pounds ago in caceres (matto grosso, brasil), with julian’s bosom buddy fernando and my dear sweet marcilene.

muito obrigada, minha amiga.

2006-06-21T08:15:00.000-07:00

so call me a sap, but i did wax sentimental seeing this picture the very first time. what can be more poignant than this rocking chair shot, aber?

2006-06-18T02:11:00.000-07:00

a chance to see Eric & Tracy after what feels like a lifetime of text messages. a snapshot from Webby days where the underdogs ruled!

eyebags that were well worth it

2006-06-12T09:54:00.000-07:00

My darling is 7 years old today and he continues to be a joy...

I have some of the best conversations of my life with this little boy. With him, I feel like the Energizer bunny...

Lord knows how much longer before coming up to me with bear hugs saying, "I love you" would soon become a real feat for him. Just a little bit longer as my little boy please!!!!

2006-06-11T19:59:00.000-07:00

….in a few hours, julian will be 7 years old. who would have thought, from looking at a shot taken just months ago…isn’t he still such a baby? Anyway, happy birthday my darling…

2006-06-10T09:39:00.000-07:00

OK...OK, so the cake isn't exactly Mernel's, Charmaine, but the kamag-anakans of LA treated Julian to a pre-party cake and a lauriat a day or two before his 7th birthday party at the Centre for Performing Arts. Maraming salamat!

I like this one of Papa with Julian the "bao head"

Happy Birthday sweetie!!! Mommy loves you soooo much!

2006-06-10T01:41:00.000-07:00

seeing thoughts in print in "Women on Fire". revived hopes of writing. the pleasure of finding time to read, read, read.

2006-06-03T10:20:00.000-07:00

SALAYSAYAN 2006. my honest-to-goodness shot at professional storytelling. Induging in fantasies of actually earning from this. and why not. isn’t it about time we end the reign of THE freeloader?

2006-05-25T10:27:00.000-07:00

well, well, well. once again proof that even computer clumsies like me can learn how to post pictures on a blog!

2006-05-13T16:05:00.000-07:00

I find myself cheering to high heavens during those rare times Julian begs me to buy him something from our SM Hypermart errands and that 'thing' turns out to be a book!

I love it!

OK, so never mind that it was because the cover was of a whale (as in "Jonah and the Whale" Bible Stories for Children) hey, I've got documentary proof he actually read it.

2006-05-01T08:04:00.000-07:00

An opportunity to be of service of my own community, starting with ‘the vineyard’

Watermelon Summer

2006-04-23T16:07:00.000-07:00

love the memory of this shot. julian just lost a tooth a day before and though i don't see that much of it here, it is the first thing i remember looking at the pic...

2006-04-21T21:15:00.000-07:00

this real 8 ft-wide cheap-o summer pool that i could just plop out for Julian and occasionally dip into. who would have could it would be this fun!

Julian's Report Card, Graduation 2006

2006-04-09T08:49:00.000-07:00

Even Filipino at 96! 96! 96!

Julian Graduates from Preschool!

2006-03-31T16:24:00.000-08:00

despite the deplorable heat at South Merville School, Julian beamed from ear to ear as he took us through what to expect in that morning’s graduation rites. ha! my smart boy. he was still all smiles when i took this picture. it started to fade though as he put on the cute white toga. in many shots he bravely manages a half smile. hahaha!

oh-so-serious getting ready for his turn to march!

with his preschool buddies Gabriel & Tyke

with Papa & Mamita

what may probably be his last picture with the principal, Mr. Cura. ha!!!!

and then, with Mommy, of course...

i mean, it really does feel like i took these school halloween pics a week ago. julian was such a baby who wanted it all that when he couldn't make up his mind if he'd be a little devil vs being a skeleton, he decided to be both!

or this shot of him during his Linggo ng Wika stint. that crazy morning we couldn't find his pair of black pants we said, "what the heck, who could tell???" and yet(!), pictures don't lie! looky, looky! talk about color blindness and corresponding fashion faux pas...

...and what about these shots from that field trip to Jabez? his first big bus ride and his zest at conquering the obstacle course?

Julian’s Graduation Picture

2006-03-30T20:06:00.000-08:00

so even if it feels like it’s a jillion-years-to-go, what mother wouldn’t celebrate when you’ve got photos like this to mark them by?

2006-02-18T23:10:00.000-08:00

Kitakits at Chocolate Kisses

an afternoon at the chocolate kiss, bahay ng alumni. catching up with great people i overlooked back in 1986 at the up’s kalayaan residence hall. who know’s i may need nice vice gov maliksi to run to one day? * wink * to you, manny