Overwhelming Presents

Summer is here!!!

And so are Ate Pla and her family!!! Hooray!

Ate Pla is Elmer's elder and only sister, sort of (don't ask me to elaborate on that please). She left for the US in 2008 and this year is the first time she's coming back since. This time, she now has a husband and two cute kiddos, Haeven and Neveah. They, of course, are Nikki, Calli and Trace's cousins. And of course, it's their first time to meet each other. They're only staying for two weeks. Very short stay for being gone for five years, you might say. So they have to make the most out of it.

 

They have lots and lots and lots and lots of pasalubong for my family especially to Elmer and my kids - shoes and clothes and toys and chocolates and more shoes and more clothes and more toys and more chocolates. Ako ang na-overwhelm nang tunay!

 

These are just a few of her pasalubong for the kids. 

 

These pairs of shoes are just some of them. There's a whole lot more that I didn't take photos of. Like I said in my Facebook post, I will definitely need more shoe racks for these. As in more na more. 

Moving Up, Up, Up!

Hello, hello guys! How are you? Sooobrang iniiit! Andito na 'ko sa Baguio ha. I can imagine kung gaano kainit diyan sa Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Pampanga and the rest of the Philippines. Summer is here na talaga, yes?

But before we start with summer activities and all, of course, we have to end the school year muna. This is actually one of the few times in a year na very relaxing. I mean, parents like I am get to have a little more rest compared to when kids still had classes - physically and financially. Haha! I don't have to worry about getting them prepared for school everyday, what their baon for the day's gonna be, etc. You know exactly what I mean mothers, right?

On March 26 and 27, it was Calli and Nikki's Moving Up programs, respectively. Days after Nikki's final exams and before the program, her teacher texted me, asking if I wanted to come over and see how she came up with Nikki's final grades. I think she did that to all parents whose kids were vying for honors. (Yes, Nikki was a Grade 4 bronze medalist. #proudmomma)

 

I replied. I said it was okay and that I trusted her and that Elmer and I were not very particular about Nikki's class standing anyway. Not like we didn't care about her grades. Hindi ganown. Teacher didn't reply back. Whatever.

I Love You, Jesus

How are you mga 'teh?

 

Whenever I say "'teh", I remember our van driver in Puerto Princesa when we went there. Anlaking tao pero tume-teh siya! Haha! But I forgot his name na.

 

Going back. Nikki and Calli's school required them to attend like a Sunday school one (of course) Sunday before closing of classes. Pre-school students were required to come in "Sunday" clothes. I honestly don't know what's the definition of "Sunday" clothes kasi 'pag Sunday naka-pambahay lang naman ako. #true My family doesn't go to church to hear the mass. I know, I'm such a... But please don't judge me and my family. Haha!

 

Going back again. Ever since she received this dress she's wearing in the video below from great-grandma Martha, she hasn't worn it until that Sunday. I thought she was overdressed. Who would go to church to hear the mass in a dress like that. Ada pay siling-siling na, Apo! (There are even glitters, my God!) Oha, my translation pa. Ang tanong, tama ba ang pagka-translate. Pero close, something like dutch.

 

Going back again. She insisted on wearing that dress. Okay, fine. I let her try it because it looked to me like maliit na for her. When she did, sakto na lang. Mabuti na lang she got to wear it pa.

 

We had a dress-slash-song rehearsal.

 

Lookie, lookie! ^_^

 

 

What d'ya think? You think she has the making of a diva?

 

Ciao! ♥

 

 



So Long, Sbarro!

For so long, Elmer and I have been wanting to try to dine at Sbarro in SM. Just tbc, there's no other Sbarro here in Baguio. I just felt the need to add "in SM" right there. ^_^

Going back. When SM Baguio opened in 2003, there was Sbarro near BDO, then nawala after some time. Then bumalik, this time, next to Celine. Who knows, 'pag nawala ulit this time e 'di na bumalik. 

Kasi I read this over a week ago. After reading that, I told my self, "Ha! I gotta this  time."

The n times na pumasok kami ni Elmer sa loob ng Sbarro at nag-check ng food and price list, hindi kami natuloy kumain. I know him so well. He always wants sulit-busog  meals. Mga unli-rice levels, ganown. So, hindi siya masyado convinced sa idea of dining at Sbarro.

Last week, after running some errands sa town (or city, kasi people here in Baguio call the cbd as such), I dropped by Sbarro "in SM" and tried their mushroom pizza and ordered a glass of iced tea.

I'm sorry, Sbarro. There's nothing extraordinary about your mushroom pizza, sabi ko. But I gotta say, it's one huge slice of pizza, almost the same size of the plate. And, I think natural spices ang ginamit, which was good. And, I love it na may spice rack kayo for a couple of options. Although, I find your iced tea much, much sweeter than most iced teas I tasted. Bow. 

It was too late para magsisi ako, and I told myself, sana nag-Don Hen na lang ako. But then again, baka naman masarap 'yung ibang pizza nila. Baka naman dapat kong i-try. Kaya lang mahalia talaga mga 'teh! Pag-iisipan ko pa kung ita-try ko 'yung iba. Balitaan ko kayo 'ne? 

Well, I was there for the experience in the first place after all. So there.

Ciao! ♥

For The Nth Time

Helleeer!!!

May blog nga pala ako. Haha!

How are all of you?! I know, I know. I was gone (again) for so long. A lot of things happened here and there...and everywhere. ^_^ I missed a lot, I know.

I don't know now how and where to start (again). Let me try.

I have a couple of things in my Drafts. Like this one that's dated 11/17/2013 --

Half Year

Yay! Trace is 6 months old today!

 

Where have all those six months gone? They've gone so fast. Whenever I do some organizing of his clothes in the cabinet, I'd always find at least a piece that doesn't fit him anymore. Some of them, never niyang nasuot even once. No worries kasi most of his clothes, or shall I say all of his clothes, are hand-me-downs from Elmer's nephew Haeven and my cousins Rhys and Rahl. Some others were Nikki's and Calli's pa. I don't think may binili ako or si Elmer na damit for Trace. So hindi nakakasama ng loob na hindi niya nasuot 'yung mga iba.

Trace is turning 10 months on March 17. And he looks nothing different from the photos above. He just has more hair, is much taller, much stronger and is still gwapo. ^_^

 

I will post a photo of him on my next post. Pwamis!

 

I always ask this when I look at my kids, "Where have the times gone?" Ambilis kasi!

Do you guys watch the series The Walking Dead? I am an addict, and I am proud. ^_^

I asked because I also found a would-have-been post sitting in my Drafts dated 11/19/2013 about it --

The Walking Dead Season 4

When my notebook got broken late last year, I never bothered getting it fixed until I was about to give birth in May. I could use it while I was in maternity leave. I thought I would still have that much time to spend on the computer like when I was still pregnant. I thought wrong. May baby na nga pala. I have to say babies are the most demanding bosses. My ged!

 

Ang result, the notebook sat on one corner and gathered dust until last month. I thought of a good use for it. Because I didn't, and still don't, have internet connection at home, the best use for it is for watching movies or videos. I wanted to start watching a TV series again. As far as I can remember, there are only two TV series that I religiously watched from the their first seasons up to their last  - Prison Break and Desperate Housewives. I also watched Grey's Anatomy, got bored at Season 5. I also started with Modern Family, stopped at Season 3.

I heard about The Walking

Ayan, hanggang mahabang intro na lang ako. Hindi ko na natuloy at nai-post. Season 4 is three episodes away to its end. I will definitely miss this. I'll have to start a new series while waiting for Season 5. Any suggestions?

Then I have one more in my Drafts titled Trace's First Solid Food. It only has this photo collage Trace and his first solid food I prepared for him. Effort ako mga 'teh but I didn't get the chance to post it naman. :(

That's it. Nothing after 11/19/2013.

I have been very busy, promise. Since my team has been assigned with a new task, wala na. That's when the (again) hiatus started. But couple of days ago, I saw the light. So I followed it. Haha!

I'm hoping (again) to stick around for long(er) this time. ^_^

 

I want to end this post with this quote I got from Kim Chiu and Xian Lim's movie. I enjoyed the movie, btw.

Forever is giving the person you love unlimited chances to love you right everyday. - Lala, (Bride for Rent)

 

Oha!

 

Anong konek 'ka nyo? Forever. I want to be present na here sa blog ko from now on (again) 'til forever. Haha! #ipushyangforevernayan

Ciao! ♥

 

 

Yolanda

Yolanda - next to Janet Napoles - must be the most hated name in the Philippines today.

I spoke with Muder yesterday para makibalita because there was no power here in Baguio the whole day. I was complaining about the power interruption. She told me I wouldn't be complaining about the power interruption if I was seeing the news on TV about the damage in Visayas caused by Yolanda. The damage was incomparable to a simple power interruption. As I type this, I'm watching Rated K Special on typhoon Yolanda. My muder was right. My whole day suffering yesterday because of the power loss was nothing.

It breaks my heart to see on TV dead bodies just lying on the ground covered with newspaper or anything there is. Somewhere, there's a family member surely sick worried about them, waiting to hear from them, never knowing that they're already dead.

I could not imagine that same thing happening to my family here in Baguio or to my family in Nueva Ecija. I wouldn't know what to do. I know it's impossible for that not to happen anywhere in the Philippines.

On a brighter note, it feels great to see people who are very much willing to donate cash or goods, volunteer services and help in their little ways. Nakakasarap ng feeling maging Pinoy. Nakakaengganyo to join. Tara, donate tayo?!

When I woke up this morning, I knew today was gonna be a better day than yesterday. I was just so thankful that, relatively, there was no damage at all here in Baguio and in Nueva Ecija. It sure was one fine day today. The sun was out the whole day. I knew it would already be today. That's why I initially planned for my family to eat out today. But then I remembered, nagtitipid pala kami. Also, it didn't feel right - us celebrating one fine day after a day of not-so heavy rain - while many are suffering, grieving.

So we stayed here in the house, watched Miss Universe 2013 where Ms. Philippines Ariella Arida won as 3rd Runner-up, after tiring ourselves watching the news on Yolanda's aftermath.

We got bored in the afternoon, took a walk in the neighborhood.

See how the weather was here in Baguio today? See how my kids were? I really cannot complain. In fact, I'm thankful. 

My prayers to our kababayans in Visayas. May God be with you always. Take care!

Ciao! ♥

Taste Buds At Work: Emong Malunggay Pandesal

First night of my long(er) weekend in Guimba, my sister was scheduled on night hospital duty. Before she left for work --

Me: 'bili mo 'ko ng Amazing Aloha pag-uwi mo bukas sister.

Vian: Okay.

The next morning, sa awa ng Diyos, walang Amazing Aloha. But she got me these --

I wanted to be disappointed pero na-excite na lang ako. I had been hearing a lot about Emong Malunggay Pandesal from our househelp, Ate Emily. Masarap daw. Super. At blockbuster palagi ang pila. 

Diz iz it!

That's 15 pieces of freshly baked malunggay pandesal, P2.00 a piece. Ambango lang! (If nag-compute ka, yes, P30.00 lahat 'yan. Galing mo sa Math kid!) ^_^

Although, Emong Malunggay Pandesals are a bit smaller than Baguio's Danes Pandesal that I'm used to buying, I think they're much tastier. They're quite crispy on the outside - parang matigas at first look, pero parang lang - and soft and chewy inside. 

However, I wondered why "malunggay"? There was no hint of malunggay taste in them. I don't know, maybe it was just me. When I looked closer --

Ah okay. Meron naman palang mga tiny flakes of, I suppose, malunggay. 

Also, I find these pandesal sweeter than most pandesals that I've tasted. Vian said they're better when hot. I have to say they really were, pero masarap pa din, at malambot, even nung afternoon na hindi na sila mainit. 

Anyhow, I liked Emong Malunggay Pandesal. At first, I thought it was an original product of Guimba, hindi pala. May kilala kasi akong Mang Emong sa Guimba. 'Kala ko business niya. Haha! I Googled and learned that this bakery is all over the Philippines, originally from Bulacan. Wala pa kasi yata sa Baguio nito, o baka lang hindi pa nakarating sa akin ang balita. 

Those who have tasted Emong Malunggay Pandesal, 'no say niyo?

Emong Malunggay Pandesal

Poblacion, Next to 7-11 

Guimba, Nueva Ecija

Note: There may be a lot of other blogs out there that offer an extensive and more detailed review on the same topic as the above. Things I put here are just my two cents. I don't even consider this a review. Just a kwento on the experience per se. Enjoy! ^_^ 7-11

Ciao! ♥

My Fave Spot In The House + Some Food Tripping

How are you friends?

I'm enjoying my vacay so much that I don't want it to end. I'm going back to Baguio tomorrow, going back to work tomorrow night. Aaaw. 

Mami-miss ko 'to. Dito, rest kung rest talaga. Kain-kain, nood-nood ng tv, tulog-tulog. Nakakapagpahinga na, nakakatipid pa 'ko. Haha! It would have been more fun sana if Vian didn't have hospital duty during my entire stay here. Madami kaming "magagawa". ^_^

She didn't have pasok yesterday. So in the afternoon, when the sun had almost set, 'di na masyado mainit, tambay-tambay lang sa labas.

This is our favorite spot. 'Lakas maka-bata.

Muder even noticed, "Kahilig mo ding mag-swing 'no?"

Barangay Elections 2013

Howdy?

Did you vote today? I didn't even care about this year's barangay elections. However, my father was very much involved in it. Oh no, he didn't run for any post or anything. Mega support lang siya sa kumpare niya who ran for barangay chairman post. He stayed in the voting precinct the whole day. Plus, he forced Vian and me to come and vote, and vote for his kumpare. Sort of.

'Yan ang mukhang natatae.

Who would have thought na registered pa din ako kasi I haven't voted in the past two elections. 'Kala ko 'pag ganun, kelangan nang magpa-register ulit. Although it was never in my plan to vote, dahil sa kagustuhan kong lumabas, gow kami ni Vian.

The lady who was handing out voter's slips was so sungit. I fell in line. I waited for my turn to be handed with a voter's slip. When it was my turn --

Long Weekend

Hello, hello there!

I'm having a hard time keeping my promise of updating this blog often. Super busy ako these past two months - sa work, sa bahay, sa lahat. Andaming changes sa work dahil ang account namin ay nasa dreaded "red zone". The good news is, after two months of working on it, it's almost out of the red zone. Happy lang kasi holidays are near, mahirap namang holidays e stressful ang work. 

Enough talking about work. It's long weekend for most of us because of the 2013 Barangay Elections on the 28th. Are you guys gonna vote? Vote wisely, okay? Most of us think, barangay elections "lang" 'yan. Wrong. Wala akong proof, pero I know, madaming kurakot sa barangay. Agree?

Enough talking about the upcoming election. While most of my friends are enjoying the first past of their long weekend in San Juan La Union's Surf Break 2013, I'm having a longer weekend. I'm on leave until the 30th. Woot woot! This is my first ever vacation since I came back to work from my maternity leave. I needed this vacation so much. I was so excited about this kasi guess where I am now? Uhuh, uhuh. I'm here in the province! Nueva Ecija baby! Ahlavet here. There are so my hands here to help me take care of Trace. Makakapag-rest ako ng bongga. Plus, wala dito sila Nikki and Calli. They chose to spend their one week vacation with their Mama Shirley in Pangasinan. Si Elmer naman kamo? Ayun, andun sa Baguio kasi may work. Haha! Pamilya ko na ang watak-watak. Keri lang, one week lang naman. ^_^

I'm so proud of my Trace. He again braved the entire trip, 4 hours? We arrived here earlier ng mga 3PM. I think the weather here now is more tolerable for Trace, not that init just like before when we were here in July. When we arrived kanina, meryo mahangin sa labas. Even ngayon, mahangin sa labas. Kaya naman si Trace, keri na sa electric fan. He's already asleep in the room as I type this, no need for the aircon.

Looking amazed with Tita V

I don't think I have ever seen Trace in sleeveless shirt and short pants before. Palagi kasi siya naka-frog suit sa Baguio. Yay, I can now see his arms and legs. 

Enjoy the long weekend friends! Be safe.

Ciao! ♥