Forever Friends

In my very first blog, "making old friends gold", I wrote about how we remember or tend to forget friends we meet at the different stages of our lives.  I picked this title from a song taught in grade school.  In part it goes like this:

"Make new friends... But ke-ep tha-a o-old.... One is silver and the other gold....."  

This first blog was inspired by a childhood friend living in the US who came to visit me at that time.  I remember us being very good friends in grade school and high school but did not see each other again after we hugged and cried at our high school graduation.  We recently reconnected on facebook and she came to see me on her next trip home as promised. 

 I wrote that friends in grade school are the ones we remember the most, as we go through life's twists and turns.  I even asked: 

"Are we too pre-occupied in college that we tend to forget friends we made along the way?"  True, isn't it?

But I can't say the same with my three BFsF from college.  They are like family to me.  While I stayed at a dorm all through college, they lived with their parents in the city.  During weekends and holidays their parents would invite me to their homes, and most of the time it was a sleep over.  Dinners at their homes were always a treat to me then, after having enough of dormitory food. I recall one of theIr Moms used to wrap big chunks of cheddar in foil for me to take back to the dorm  to eat with crackers and coke.  I also recall that I was able to entice them to come to my hometown to meet my parents on one occasion. 

  

Last week I learned that they are all in town and they wanted to catch up.  They all live in the US, they left after college, they worked, got married there, raised their children and only came home occasionally. Having been preoccupied with career, marriage and raising kids myself, we hardly had time to meet up when they were in town. 

Though I was initially reluctant to miss my weekly bonding time with my granddaughter to meet their schedule, I felt better after my daughter assured me that it was fine with my granddaughter to miss one bonding day.

"I'll be a bit late", I said as I wanted to take advantage of the first two hours on the first day of a big sale at the mall near us to get my cosmetics supply for the year. 

"Any restaurant you can recommend?", Gee texted.

"Haven't been at the place myself, though my daughter recommend three options, but it's really up to you, after all, it's not the place, nor the food, but the company", I texted back. 

While we were along C-5, Gee called: 

"they wanted to go to NIU Vikings", she told me. 

So lunch was at NIU Vikings, a buffet restaurant that claims to offer the best spread in town. 

They are March celebrants, their birthdays are only a day apart. 

After much eating, drinking, chatting and laughing, we thought we'd walk everything down and we eventually found ourselves at the Skypark on the fifth floor, complete with plants around, a water feature and plant boxes to sit on. 

Not to be outdone, the husbands also asked to take their pictures. 

While at the park, we had more catching up, here we discussed more serious matters, some very personal but since we are best friends, it was okay.  

There was a 3-day sale at the mall as well, so we proceeded to the shops.  I'm at another SM mall regularly for my daily walk so I have lots of opportunities to shop but I surprised myself this time that I bought two dresses.

After shopping around, we went to the Prestige Lounge to rest our weary feet, did more catching up until we felt it was time for dinner.  

"We're still full",  some of us said.  "Let's go to Lugang Cafe and just have dimsum", one of us said. So, back we went to the restaurant row on the fifth floor.  

Dimsum, is it?  But we ended up with a full course meal.  

"Let's just diet tomorrow", Lornz said happily.  Look at this enormous fish, isn't it BIG?

We headed home past nine, tired but happy,  we had a wonderful day!

Catching Up With My Grandson

This quote from Pinterest 

  

This week was one of the happiest, I would say; ever since we retired there isn't much excitement going on here except when we spend time with family and the occasional meet up with friends.  But these are too far between. 

The visit of our 10-month old grandson and his parents created a lot of excitement, it was a great boost to us, pretty much like a concentrated shot of adrenaline. 

The most excited of all however, is my 9-year-old granddaughter, meeting for the first time her only cousin on her mother's family.

"Mama, how I gonna tell my cousin why I'm already 9 and he's only almost one?"  

Her dad replied: "you know what, that's not even a problem".  

She continued: 

"How am I gonna play with him now, he's still a baby?  When he's 9, I'll be 18; and If I skip-count further;  when he's 18, I'll be 27 already".

But here you see her bonding well with her cousin.

The last time we saw our grandson was in late August when we visited him; he was just around four months old then.  Though we get to see his progress weekly when we FaceTime, it's quite different when I got to carry him.  Was he heavy?   You bet!  In fact I felt like I was carrying a heavy rock that moves.  Oops! I had to be careful lest he'll fall off my grasp. 

Last Sunday, we went to see him at his Nona's (his mom's mother) home where they stayed during the visit.  It was a happy afternoon, my son's in-laws were all there; it was quite a reunion, very enjoyable to have seen all of them again.  Of course the center of attention was my grandson; who at first, was over-whelmed with so many people talking at once, and taking pictures here and there with him. 

When we finally sat him down on his high chair for snacks, he had a reprieve; it was then that he started calling attention and when one of us talked to him, he responded with a big smile.  The sound of his laughter is heart-stopping. 

When my son arrived three days after, he called us right away.

"Lets have coffee at Bouna Vita", he invited us. So, here we are, my granddaughter can't seem to have enough of her baby cousin.

The next day, everybody were gathered at our home for lunch.  Though he can't eat this cake yet, I couldn't help myself getting it.  But then I had to be fair, so I also got one for my granddaughter. 

Before they left, my son asked: 

"Let's have lunch at PF Chang tomorrow, the three of us if you're free", he invited me and my husband. 

While at PF Chang midway to lunch, he announced that his wife will bring along my grandson to join us for dessert. 

Oh, wow!   What a pleasant surprise that was!   My son knew how much we like to see our grandson again before they go back home the next day.  Here, we posed before we parted.  

Finally, here he is on the plane going back home.  Looks like he is enjoying the ride. Is he even aware that he's in business class? 

This quote from blakeflanerry.hubpages.com

I Had A Lovely Lunch TODAY!

I thank God for another wonderful day happily spent with our older daughter and granddaughter, not to mention lunch at one of the best buffet restaurants in town, The Vikings.  

"Mom, let's go try the newly opened Vikings at SM-BF on Sunday.  I reserved for 11:30", my older daughter called last Wednesday.  I've read and heard a lot about the Vikings so I agreed immediately.  

The first Vikings that opened is in the SM Mall of Asia (MOA); the mall dubbed as "the 10th largest shopping mall in the world in terms of leasable area and known to attract about 200,000 foot traffic daily".  The MOA arena is where Pope Francis said a mass during his recent visit. 

Another Vikings buffet restaurant is at SM Aura Premier at Bonifacio Global City, the NIU by Vikings; known to be the most prestigious, it claims to provide "a cloud nine buffet experience"; it being located at the top floor and coincidental with its name, it has 9 food stations.  I haven't been to any of the two, but since the newly opened one at SM-BF is the nearest to our place, my daughter invited us there. 

Though the Vikings opens at 11 AM, we were there at 10:30.  

"Mom, please come to our house early so we can go together; our reservations is only good for thirty minutes, otherwise, our slot will be forfeited", my older daughter advised. 

When we arrived, we found a big crowd waiting in spite that half had reservations, so there were a lot of walk-in customers.   In spite the big  crowd, I like that the reception is handled well; at 11 sharp, they started ushering in the groups with reservations. 

As soon as our usher sitted us, he immediately asked if there is a birthday celebrant today, a celebrant of the month;  a senior citizen, and whether the child with us is below 3-ft tall.  I saw a guy holding an antique-looking  calibrated rod to check on the height of each child.  They have a discount scheme for each category. 

Midway into the meal, my daughter said:  "I think I'll ask my sister to come home and celebrate our birthdays here".  They were both born in June and their birthdays are a week apart.  This made me miss my younger daughter more, especially on occasions such as this. 

Let me tell you that going to a buffet is not easy especially if one has to watch his diet.  I reminded myself to use my head, rather than my eyes in order to be very discriminate.  As usual I enjoyed the tuna and salmon sashimi, some crab, a thin slice of the roast lamb with mint sauce and four, yes, honestly; just four one-inch cubes of prichon, (or was that one-and-a-half inch cube?  Well---- it's hard to tell) along with fresh fruits. 

I finished off the meal with a scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with fruits, creme brûlée and caffe latte.  I agree, the dessert was an indulgence, but then, can't I indulged once in awhile? 

"I'll just have fruit for dinner", I told myself.  I already consumed enough calories for the day. 

Thank you very much daughter for that lovely lunch, most especially for the great loving company that you and our granddaughter provided. 

Entertaining A Balikbayan

Balikbayan is a term coined for visiting Filipinos who live abroad.  "Balik", meaning "return or go back" and "Bayan" means "country".  "Balikbayan" is "retuning/going back to country".  Balikbayans usually come home, to attend class/club reunions, weddings, anniversaries or simply visit relatives. 

The visit of a nephew, J and his Vietnamese girlfriend Li, from Vancouver this past week prompted me to write this blog. When his family migrated to Canada, he was four years old; the whole family came back for a brief visit when he was about nine to attend my son's wedding; there are places that he barely remembers.  So  on this last visit he wanted to take it all in as an adult. 

Meeting them at the airport, after hugging one another, my nephew said: "thank you for meeting us".  From the airport, we met my older daughter, her husband and daughter for lunch at a chinese restaurant along the way.  My daughter took our pictures and emailed them right away to Vancouver.  His family were excited and curious, they replied to ask what we were eating when they saw the pictures. 

"What do you guys want to do?", I asked as we headed home after lunch. 

"Oh, auntie Rita, all I want is to spend our time here with family", he replied.  

Fortunately, my husband rounded up the cousins, their spouses and kids for dinner at home that night. Aside from a 5-day trip to El Nido, he wanted to devote his time to bond with family, catch up on his cousins' lives and share what's going on with his own; and he also wanted to introduce his girlfriend to the family.

I like that friends and family visit us here at home; whenever I learn that balikbayan friends are in town, I always invite them over for brunch.  When relatives visit, I enjoy having them stay with us; I believe that laughter bring good vibes to a home.  I also enjoy bringing them around, to the malls and to my favorite restaurants. When shopping I tend to look at things differently through their perspective. 

When guests arrive, the first thing they ask is my password for Internet access;  they immediately want to assure their love ones back home that they arrived safe and sound. 

The next thing they need is a local sim.  Fortunately for J, my older daughter is quick to help; she immediately secured a sim card and put it on my spare iPhone, fixed it ready for J to use.  Usually, she identifies the number in our "contacts" with the guest's first name and attach it the word "Manila"; as in "J-Manila",  then puts in all our numbers on that phone under  "favorites".

Filipinos usually prefer to stay with relatives rather than in a hotel; that way, they get to have more bonding time.  That first dinner we had was a lot of fun, there were plenty of hugging; everyone was talking, eating and laughing all at the same time and posing for pictures now and then. 

The last time, my husband's siblings had a reunion, there were 7 relatives who stayed with us.  In order for everyone to be comfortable, we arranged that a couple sleep in a relative's  house next door, but they didn't want to separate, they didn't  want to miss the fun, especially  before bedtime.  That's when the funniest family jokes are retold and the latest family news is told.  They didn't mind sleeping on futons as long as they were together. 

The older folks are eager to eat Filipino delicacies.  Top requests in our family are steamed "talangka", (native crablets with lots of the orange fat inside) and a mix of local veggies cooked in fish sauce trimmed with broiled milkfish. 

My husband's siblings love the "burong isda" (local fish fermented in salt with rice).  After it is sautéed with lots of garlic and tomatoes, this is eaten with steamed okra, eggplant, string beams and banana hearts.  The  "daing na bangus" (milkfish dredged in vinegar, garlic, salt and lots of pepper) is a breakfast favorite. 

The younger ones are adventurous enough to taste the local food but having been raised abroad, they usually prefer their kind of food.  Of course, you'll never go wrong if you give them pasta, pizza and fried chicken. Even the older folks after sometime, already look for their usual diet, as well. 

Shopping at the mall is usually the first in their agenda.  The SM malls is often the most visited since true to their claim that "they've got it all for you", it is the place where balikbayans can get most of the items they need.  I'm proud to say that regards apparels, there are international labels here which is not even available in Canada. When it comes to fashion, I'd say that we're not that laid back.

My husband's former colleague from Los Angeles is presently in town. 

"I need a tailor  to custom make some clothes; likewise I also need someone to take in my pants since I lost 20 pounds" he told my husband.  My husband messaged him the tailor and the alteration shop; expectedly, both services are available in any SM mall. 

I observed that balikbayans are not keen on local historical places and museums;  they prefer to see the latest shops and restaurants.  In the south of Manila, a great place to entertain the guests is  at Alabang Town Center (ATC), Town to those who live in the south of the metro; there are restaurants offering a variety of international cuisine as well as the authentic local food;  Right across Town is Molito complex where a row of nicely decorated restaurants are located, also offering authentic food from Japanese sushi, Italians-pasta ala vongole, French- croque mosuer, Koean noodles, etc.  

Out of town road trip is usually Tagaytay; with its cool climate especially during the months of December to February, guests are more comfortable there.   Along the way, there are lots of local fresh fruits and local sweets and delicacies to taste and bring back home.  We started early going to Tagaytay; 

Here we are having breakfast at Pancake House, this is pretty much like Denny's

Here are J and Li, enjoying the view of Taal Lake at sunrise

Taken after lunch at the Royale Tagaytay County Club. 

Oh, did I tell you that our meals were long?  There were just too many stories to tell and J always stirred our conversation about family, mostly how his family is getting along as well as other relatives in Vancouver.  He would relate incidents that gave us a good grasp of what's happening over there.  We found ourselves often laughing and J would say: 

"That's funny!". 

But there were serious conversations as well, my husband gave them tips to minimize issues between couples; how to live wisely on whatever resources one has and many other things.  We enjoyed bonding with them and I'd like to believe that they also felt the same.  When they bade us good bye, J said he plans to come back soon, most likely with the whole family. 

The low point after guests depart is that our house seems so lonely and empty.  But then again, after a day or two, we bounce back to our routine and when our children call, message or FaceTime with us, our lives are full again!

Gone Crazy Over Fitflops?

I wondered whether I've gone crazy over a fitflop.  I already have one that my younger daughter gave me three years ago.  It's gray with silver sequins all over the thong-shaped strap. I just love it!  

Everyday as I walk at the mall, I pass by this fitflop outlet and I often check out what their new arrivals are.  I find the Cha Cha model attractive but I felt like it is too fancy for me. 

I really had no intention of buying a fitflop because first, mine is still good and the cost is more than what one would usually spend on a pair of "step in, aka slippers".   Christmas came and went and I wasn't so conscious of that store I obliviously pass by everyday in spite of their many customers.

Sometime last week, my husband wanted to look at the outlets in Sta Rosa and asked my daughter and her husband to go with us.  He wanted to shop for another Nike.  I myself had no plans of buying anything, I didn't feel like I need something. 

We went around the shops, no luck, my husband couldn't find what he was looking for.  

"Did you find anything that interest you?, I asked. 

"No", he replied.  "When I see it, then I would know that it's the one I'm looking for". 

Did you ever feel that way when you shop for something?   That always happen to me when I shop for the right blouse, the proper dress, the appropriate footwear or even the best kitchen gadget. 

We went to Purple Oven to buy some pastries, then my granddaughter wanted to check out the other Payless outlet after I pointed to a penny loafers that is something different from her collection of Payless and Cotton On ballet flats.  The first pair she saw had glitters, she didn't like it. 

Passing by some stores, I saw something I like, something I wasn't looking for but it caught my eye and suddenly I got interested.  

It is a black fitflop Ibiza.  I felt like shopaholic Rebecca, who couldn't resist the window display that seem to beckon her every time she passes by the shops.  I just couldn't get it out of my mind. 

When I got home, I thought I'd look for it at Amazon US and ask my son-in-law to get it for me on-line.  The thing is my size was not available.  I looked at the four outlets in town but it is out of stock as well, except for one pair but one size smaller. 

"Thats the model people got crazy about last Christmas", the salesman told me.  My size is so common that they easily run out, I almost can't get anything from any sale or clearance either.  I asked my daughter to check if it is available on-line in Singapore but they also run out. 

What to do? 

 For the first time I felt like I really have to have it.  It is very unlikely of me to  go to such extent for myself.  What's happening to me?  Am I experiencing second childhood?  I wondered about that, LOL!!

Last night, I kept looking for it again on-line at Amazon, but nothing. I thought I even dreamt about it.  

What did I do? 

I settled for my second choice, I got the "Fun, flirty, feminine, super-comfy, beaded flip-flops", (that's the manufacturer's description, not mine), the black fitflop Cha Cha.  I was told that it's their best seller. Even though I thought earlier that it is too fancy for my taste, I settled for it since the design is similar to the Ibiza except for the sequins and the patent siding.

I hope to sleep soundly tonight.  My husband would kid me that I'd put it beside me while I sleep.  It is a family joke when one has a new pair of shoes; it started sometime when my son as an adolescent slept with his new pair of top sider.  

Pope Francis in the Philippines

With all the excitement and celebration going around Manila, I cannot pass up writing a blog on Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines. 

Several days before his arrival, the excitement started building up.  First, the 5-day holiday in Metro-Manila was announced, then came the plans and programs that will take place; the international and domestic flights to be cancelled three hours before the arrival; road closure and re routing of traffic and venue preparation. 

The D-day yesterday on Pope Francis' arrival was a BIG "fiesta" in Manila. Large crowds were gathered at the Villamor airbase, children danced in welcome, as President Aquino met him along with his cabinet. 

Riding on an open, all-white Japanese-made popemobile, Pope Francis was brought to the Apostolic Nunciature where he opted to stay during his visit.  He was standing and smiling as he waved to the crowd (who were there as early as 5 hours earlier) that lined up the streets all the way to his destination. They were waving flags, raising religious images and statues; cheering, some giving letters (handed over to his security group); at the same time raising their phones, tablets, iPads and cameras to take souvenir photos and for posting on social media.

Again, today, as he navigated his way to the venue of activities, the crowds on the streets were over-whelming, his famous smile is pasted on his face at all times; though it was reported that children got his sweetest smiles.  Everywhere he went, the crowds in the streets got bigger and bigger; and that made him very happy. 

This afternoon, as he entered the Mall of Asia arena (MOA), to meet with families; he connected with the crowd, he was so close that they could almost touch him.  A child was carried up and he blessed, kissed and embraced the child. It was reported that he is happiest if he can touch and reach as many people as possible.  At the MOA this afternoon it was arranged that he encounters with three families; those victims of calamity; the sacrificing family of OFWs and the victims of injustice.  

I understand that pope Francis' visit has a dual purpose: as head of state and as head of the Catholic faith. This morning I saw again on TV the warm reception of the crowd on the streets covering his entire route to malacanang palace where he was accorded the ceremony honoring him as head of state.  

I had to leave the house and when I got back my husband who continued to watched tv related the interesting  incident at the start of the pope's homily during the mass at the Manila Cathedral. 

He started with a quote from John, 21: 15-17, in which Jesus asked Peter:

 "do you love Me?" 

And the hundreds of enthusiastic crowd watching on live stream gathered outside the cathedral mistook it as a question and answered: "yes", 

 before he could continue.  So he replied:

"Thank you very much" 

and then he laughed along with the crowd. 

Unlike the earlier visit of Pope John Paul 11 in 1995,  this visit gathered much more enthusiasm today since there are cell phones and other gadgets to spread the word on social media.  I learned that Pope Francis himself has around 17 million followers on Tweeter.  According to the Philippine Star, even the conservative bishops in the Philippines turned computer savvy creating a website for Filipinos to send prayer requests.  It was reported that topmost were requests for help to heal the sick; bear children and find jobs.  When people in the street were asked how and what they feel about this visit, they replied:

"Seeing him gave us hope"

"The hurt and sadness will be lessened if we see him", said a typhoon victim. 

"Over-whelming joy that i don't know whether I will cry or smile, it can't be explained". 

"I did not wash the face of my child last night after pope Francis kissed her", a mother said.  She waited with her child at the gate of the Apostolic Nunciature the night before. 

Pope Francis aim to focus this visit on the poor, the exploited and the victims of injustice. His theme is:

"mercy and compassion"

He also mentioned that he is all for freedom of speech but with limits so as not to hurt people so they maintain their human dignity.

It was also mentioned that the visit was to "give momentum in spreading the catholic faith especially that the Philippines is noted to lead in Asia". 

In an editorial of Teddy Locsin on ANC: The World Tonight", he said in so many words that one lesson the pope learned in life is:

"to give help the moment it is asked, not any moment later", as such help maybe a matter of life and death.  Locsin continued:

"it is therefore not wise in some instances to teach one to fish when he is so hungry that he needs nourishment right away". 

As Pope Francis arrived via the flag carrier of Sri Lanka, the SriLankan Airlines, the country of origin; likewise, the country's flag  carrier, the Philippine Air Lines (PAL) will bring him to Palo, Leyte, the south of the country and back as he visits the victims of typhoon Yolanda  and them back home to Rome on Monday. PAL has no direct commercial flights to Rome.

This historical visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines is a precious gift that gave much hope and inspiration to the Filipino people and shall remain in their hearts as a pleasant memory never to be forgotten. 

It's Not Too Late To Make A New Year's Resolution.

When the clock strikes 12 midnight on December 31, it customary to let champagne pop, kiss and hug the person close to us, close our eyes and make a wish or a resolution.  It's almost the middle of January and if you haven't made up your mind about your  New Year's resolution, please don't despair.  

I read somewhere that 12 midnight on New Year's Eve takes place around the world within a twenty-four-hour period.  It takes place first in Australia, followed by Asia, then Europe and finally the Americas. Therefore, if you believe that making a wish or a resolve on New Year's Eve is more effective, then remember that you have 24 hours to do that next year if you were too pre-occupied that you forgot to make a wish/resolution recently. 

Besides, as Olivia Goldhill wrote:

"Instead of setting a firm resolution on January 1, it’s best to spend the first few weeks of the year thinking over your goal, what you really want to achieve, and how to incorporate it in your life to make it sustainable."

I agree with Olivia Goldhill; since more often than not, many resolutions seem good in the beginning but as the days, weeks or months go, our resolve wains.  It is best therefore to give it a lot of thought.

What are the top most resolutions ever made?  Laurie L. Dove in howstuffworks.com wrote: 

"According to a 2011 Marist University poll, "losing weight" topped the list for one in five resolution-making Americans, closely followed by "exercising more," with "spending less and saving more," "quitting smoking" and "being a better person" tied for third."

In general, it looks like the majority all want to feel good and look good while the rest are simply not very conscious about it.  Why then do we need to make a resolution about health? Why not make it just a plan to follow, as they all say, a heathy diet is a lifestyle.

  

Then again, come to think of it, why do most of us only make resolutions on the onset of the new year?  Couldn't we do that anytime, any day? After all don't we all agree that a new day always bring hope for a fresh new start?