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? 

How Did You Celebrate Christmas

I copied this quote from one of my facebook friends. 

How was your Christmas, or better yet, were your "Holy Days" happy?  Did it go as you expected?  Did you bond with family and friends?  Did you pose for that traditional picture by the Christmas tree?  More importantly, did you create happy memories to last forever?

Families have different Christmas traditions. Some travel abroad taking advantage of the children's vacation, others check in to hotels to be free of cooking and preparing food at home. Some devote a day during the season to share their blessings with the less fortunate.  However most of us stay home, big families take turns in hosting Christmas feast for the clan. 

Way back then, the celebration with my parents and siblings revolved  around church festivities; it starts with the misa de gallo and ends on the feast of the Three Kings.   That's how it was in the early days; the Christmas atmosphere prevailed until early January.  The festive feeling that's in each and everyone lasted throughout the whole season.

 

Our big party is the noche buena,  right after the midnight mass on Christmas Eve.  In our hometown, my parents had lots of friends that they always invite.  Add this to the numerous aunts, granduncles and grandaunts around, so there's always a big crowd celebrating with us at home; and I liked that, "the more, the merrier". 

My own family's tradition today is dinner together at around 8 o'clock on Christmas Eve.  Afterwards, we pose for the traditional Christmas picture and open our gifts.  That's when fun pics are taken, it's when we loosen up a bit and forget whatever life's challenges we have (at least during the season).  There's a lot of laughing and kidding around that one just couldn't avoid being caught into it.  As we open our gifts, we thank each other; some are even trying them on for size so they know if there is a need to exchange.   We usually break up before midnight so our married children can spend noche buena or Christmas Day lunch with their spouses' families. 

This year, my Christmas was wonderful; my two daughters and their families celebrated the happy event with us, the younger one and her husband who live abroad came home for vacation.  We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day together just catching up, enjoyed long meals; recalling family stories and sharing future plans.  Though we've been going to the malls and eating out, still being at home; the place where they all grew up and had celebrated many Christmases gave us a memorable venue for great bonding time.  

My son and his family couldn't make it; but because of FaceTime it felt like they were also with us.   Before our 8-month-old grandson's bedtime, we saw him in his Christmas outfit: a white shirt with a picture of a penguin wearing a Santa cap and snow falling around it; a text is printed across:

"My first Christmas".  

Then, we continued exchanging greetings.  

"It looks like you're having fun, I see everyone smiling and hey, did you all plan to wear blue?  And Dad is wearing a nice polo shirt, is that new, Dad?" My son asked.  I myself put on a dark pink shirt but my older daughter asked me to change it to blue so that I blended in.  

"Don't send our gifts", my son said:  "I'll get them myself when I go there for business in early January, we'll celebrate Christmas again and I will bring your gifts then". That's how it went, everyone greeted him and his wife; everyone was thrilled with the baby, lots of ohhh's and ahhh's  were expressed as we all looked at him when we passed my iPad around. 

One day between Christmas and new year my husband's two married brothers in Vancouver had FaceTime with us as well, including their wives, children and grandchildren. We got to listen to their youngest, my nephew's two-year-old son who was very talkative.  He kept saying: " I love you", as he was prodded. 

Again, we passed the iPad around like they did as well, brother to brother talked, sister-in-law to the other; cousin to cousin, niece/nephew to uncle/auntie and everybody. It was fun, everyone in high spirits, they just had dinner while we were putting away the remains of our brunch.  

What I miss this year was the annual FaceTime with my sister and youngest brother who both live in the US.  Every Christmas, my sister and my younger brother and his family go to my niece's home in Fairfield, California and when they're all there, I get to talk to everyone of them. Nonetheless, it's okay since we chat often. 

On Facebook, I learned a lot of interesting things about my friends' Christmas celebrations. For instance, I learned that one of my BFF, Agnes who now lives in New York cooks delicious ham decorated with pineapple rings and cherries.  She post this ham prepared for the nurses in the hospital where she works. 

I saw a college BFF, Bee, wearing a Santa costume at a party and when I made a comment: "Filipina turned into a Santa", she replied:

"Watch you chimney Ritz, if Santa stays with her diet, then she'll make it there, Ho! Ho! Ho!"

I saw a picture of my childhood friend having their Christmas dinner with the family members in costume.  My comment:

"This reminds me of your family reunions where each and every family presented a production number.  I knew it was a lot of fun for you all and I envied that as a child".  And she replied:

"We still have that reunion, Rita, this is our 70th year". Isn't it great that they kept that tradition alive?  

It is also interesting to see friends' homes well decorated; a friend in Alabama  post pictures of her home, including the nooks and corners tastefully decorated for Christmas. 

A lot of friends post pictures of their feasts while others shared their family pictures.  I noticed that every family has their own delicious Christmas menu.  My favorite is the one prepared by my niece, Angel who lives in Los Angeles.  That porcheta looks so crunchy.

There is no doubt that everyone of my friends had a wonderful Christmas, if I gauge it on what I saw on Facebook.   Tables were overflowing with all kinds of delicious food; the Christmas trees loaded with gifts and they were all smiling, I'm sure there's a lot of kissing and hugging as well.

For my family, our Christmas celebration is not yet over, even though my younger daughter and her husband went back home to the city where they work.  In fact they spent New Year's Eve in our son's home.  Here she is feeding her nephew, our grandson while she's drinking her red.   

For want of a reason to go out, we again had dinner with my older daughter and her family only last night, we enjoyed yet another wonderful evening with yummy Italian and Mediterranean food.  Over coffee and dessert, we just listened to the popular music (which only our granddaughter can sing along), played a group conducting Zumba sessions. 

When we meet our son to hug and greet him "Merry Christmas", over breakfast, that would wind up our celebration on a high note. 

Happy New year everyone! 

Thankful For This Year

It's been a month after Thanksgiving and you maybe wondering why this blog is a month late.  Well, it is during the holiday season that I feel most thankful;  it is this time of the year that I slow down and gather my thoughts over the "gifts" I receive every year.  I count them every night though, before I go to sleep instead of counting sheep.  

I am thankful for my life and this beautiful world we live in.  If we would just "stop, look and listen",  we would see that our world is a kaleidoscope of color and drama.  It stimulates our five senses and sharpens our intuition, our sixth sense.  I am happy that now I have time to cultivate a few plants and  "smell the flowers", my small way of bonding with nature. 

The BIG blessing that we received this year, the most unexpected and pleasantly surprising is the birth of our grandson. After praying and hoping, our family's wish have been granted, you can't imagine our  joy and excitement!

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

William Shakespeare, in Hamlet

These immortal words were written almost four hundred years ago, spoken by Hamlet after he saw his father's ghost in the castle hallway.  It is believed that he was talking about the mysteries of life and death.  

Why in heaven's name would I invoke Hamlet here, especially when I'm talking about being grateful?  Well, speaking of life's mysteries, who would have dreamed that I can now talk or send a message to someone, anywhere in the world by just tapping a few buttons on a gadget as small as 2x3 inches or even as small as a watch?   I wouldn't have believed it then, if someone told me during my childhood; at a time when the only means of communication available was through telegraph, telephone available only in strategic cities and sending letters via the postal system.  I would have thought that impossible.  

Then afterwards, in more recent years, what I thought to be improvable then, which is possible now, was when I watched with amazement Michael Jay Fox used his credit card to pay for his cab fare in the movie Back to the Future. 

Isn't it wonderful to be living in this digital age when communication is done in a heartbeat?  It makes a "small world after all".   Within my  family, there is no other time that we bond as often;  two of our children live oceans apart from us, but we seem to be talking almost everyday, as if they just live around the corner.   I even know what my two daughters' families had for lunch or dinner, complete with pictures.  

Through FaceTime and in pictures e-mailed weekly, (which I always save in Dropbox), we observe my grandson's progress as he grows into a little boy.  I am also delighted every time my 9-year-old granddaughter says goodnight by sending me through WhatsApp cute little good nite pictures. 

Thanks to Wattpad, Kobo, and iBooks, I am enjoying my favorite past time again, reading as much novels as I want; and through blogspot.com, where I publish my blog, I found an outlet for self-expression. 

Digital communication aside, I am most happy that nowadays, my husband and I developed a good rhythm, no words necessary; never did we understand each other better than now;  and learn to accept each other's idiosyncrasies.  Is it because we are more relax now, there is no more pressure from work; or is it because we just mellowed with age?   Whatever the reason, our bond is stronger now thus together,  we are more apt to face life's challenges.  We also exercise together and enjoy our "happy hour" at Starbucks, content and comfortable in companionable silence as we sip our fraps and read the newspaper or a magazine, oblivious of the noise around us. 

I am thankful for my wealth of health, including that of my entire family.   At my age, I thank God that I am still equipped with more youthful energy, vitality and optimism.  Most people our age take a lot of maintenance medicine, I am lucky that I only take multi-vitamins.  Earlier on at work, I used to take headache medicine almost everyday.  Having my spinal column aligned by our chiropractor is also a blessing for my body heals itself to function properly.

 

I am thankful that our children are married to responsible, no-nonsense spouses, living sensible lives and are dedicated and faithful to their jobs, a good thing to be at a time when jobs are hard to come by.  Now that I see how they all turned out, I have no qualms that they will be fine for life. 

I am happy that I've reconnected with friends and relatives in my hometown.  After high school, I was pre-occupied with college then later on I focused on career, marriage and raising children that I haven't looked back.  Nowadays however, we are catching up and re-acquainting on Facebook.  Some are inviting me to their parties, old friends who now live abroad are visiting  and/or planning to meet up when they come home. 

This year I am excited that my younger daughter is spending Christmas with us along with her husband.  After she left to work abroad nine years ago; for one reason or another, she was unable to make it for Christmas. 

I can go on and on and this blog would be very long if I mention all my blessings this year; suffice it to say that there are a lot to be thankful for and that life is really wonderful.  

What about you, what are you thankful for?  

Remembering My Mama on Christmas

When Christmastime comes around every year, I can't help having mixed emotions; happy and sad at the same time since I remember my parents, especially my Mama; someone who is very loving, kind-hearted and selfless.  She always put us, her children before herself; she gives her all just to make us happy. 

It is during Christmastime that I remember her most because she plays the organ for the church choir.  I remember this clearly for she always tag me along during practice and during the mass that I memorized all the hymns, especially the Latin ones sung during the misa de gallo.  Again, my favorite is Pastores a Belen, sung in Spanish. 

But more than that, I also remember with longing how she made our home happy especially on Christmas.  She would tirelessly bake cakes, ( my favorite is the angel food cake);  cook the hanging dried leg of Chinese ham that boils for hours  and finishes it with sprinkled brown sugar and caramelize the top by pressing a blazing-hot steel butcher knife or steel ladle or turner on top.  I believe there was no torch then or maybe we just didn't have one. I also love her baked chicken-macaroni-Chinese sausage-tomato dish that tasted like heaven.  And her fruit salad is to die for!  She mixes raw egg yolks with nestle cream and some sugar to cans and cans of peaches and fruit cocktail. 

And that's not all, there were all the fruits: grapes, oranges and apples but the roasted chestnuts is my favorite.  Since my Papa love that so much as well, she buys a lot;  I remember gallons of chestnuts in reusable magnolia ice cream aluminum cans.  But the best is always served last, the big slab of torrones that she sliced into one-inch chunks that we had for desert and downed with muscatel.

We always had guests, even though we lived in my Papa's hometown, while my Mama came from Calixto Dico in Manila, still she made lots of friends, young and old, single and married.  They always come to our parties, and they had lots of fun, laughing and dancing till dawn.  She keeps the table filled with food and kept pouring drinks. 

But, let's go back to my Mama.  

Her passion is not really cooking, though she is excellent in that department, she loves reading.  When I was little, she subscribed to almost all the monthly women's magazine: Ladies Home Journal, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, Ladies Home Companion, Cosmopolitan, Harper's bazaar, House And Garden while my Papa had the Reader's Digest, Saturday Evening Post and Popular Mechanics.  Then there were also the weekly local magazines, Women's, Kislap and two others I can't recall.

Receiving these magazines from the postman (there were no local editions in the 50's), was like getting candy for my Papa and Mama.  The magazines are shipped and they came rolled in brown paper, and my papa would flatten it down by rolling it the opposite way.  

These magazines were just "appetizers" for they also read a lot of novels, their main menu.  I look back with sadness that they haven't lived today;  I would have gotten them both an iPad and downloaded lots and lots of ebooks for them. 

Later, when I was married, I would bring my Mama to the bookstore, aside from the restaurant where we went to eat,  that's all she wanted to go at the mall.  When I got my groceries, l left her at the bookstore to browse as long as she pleased.

One day, my nanny who had lots of friends in the village brought her to a neighbor's house with shelves and shelves of novels; she was so excited that when I got home from work she looked like she had just won the lottery:

"There are many shelves full of paperbacks and the owner said I can borrow as many and as long as I like, look what I got for a first batch", she told me showing about twenty books.  

When Christmas comes around every year, I really regret that my parents haven't lived longer, they passed away too soon, they were just in their early 60's.  It would have been my turn to prepare a sumptuous Christmas dinner for them.  It would have made me very happy to buy them all the books and magazines both ebooks or paperbacks alike.   Sad to say that I will never have that chance.   But they are always in my heart every Christmas and everyday of my life. 

"Merry Christmas Papa!, merry Christmas Mama!"