happy birthday baby sister

"you will always be my baby..."

*inside joke between Ana, mama and i.* When she (ana) was young, i always was her baby sitter, and PTA attender. by the time i started working, i used to take her everywhere i go, whether i was shopping, in the spa, in the gym and even on my dates (to my then boyfriend's amusement).
she was my pretend baby/child. i took her to see her first cinema (Lion King), her first disco, her first drinking spree and cigarette puff (i was a cool "ate",lol).
so when she was about 11 or 12 years old, my mom and i played a prank on her. we sat her down for a serious talk and told her in my dramatic voice that in reality,she was my daughter and had my mom pretend she was hers because i was too young for a scandal. Ana didnt know how to react whether she wanted to be happy or to be sad, she looked at my mom for comfort but my mom nodded in agreement to my faux revelation..but then we couldn't stop laughing, and i'm sure Ana heaved a sigh of relief when she realized it was one (ugly) prank we gave her.


on mother's day this year, she sent me a message online to say " happy mothers' day Ate..love, your pretend daughter".. this made me laugh out loud.

This entry is to say how much she is treasured and adored by everyone in our family.

More than anything, she is a gift to my life...in fact, to my entire family's life. Needless to say, Ana, Angkai, Tita Nana, -- is loved by her ate's, kuya's , cousins , mama and im sure, papa in heaven is missing her too.

***

***

I was so happy that we had the opportunity to skype tonight (which is her birthday already as its already the 24th in cebu). Adrian and i sang "happy birthday" to her while she was at work.

Grateful for technology-- which makes distance seem a lot bearable.


and grateful for this space where my heart can load off some of the giddiness it could not handle.

have an awesome day, loves. 

wishes for Roi

(a photo of Roi, when he visited me in England in 2009)

a lot of people do not know that my brother was born very tiny, just almost 6 ounces and the size of a kitten in the palm of your hand. he was always thin and sickly when he was young, and my mom had trouble feeding him.

because he was so sickly and tiny (and short), he would be the butt of mine and my other brother's pranks. Roi would end up just either in  corner observing or laughing out his older sibling's pranks like a little meek kitten.

in a few years of recurrent hospital admissions, and a good number of United American Tiki-tiki vitamins, Roi  grew (in bulk, hehe, peace,bro...) and he also was becoming the charmer that he is to peers and to family--his sense of humour just is unparalleled and he has the best company one would be in luck to share with. (he also is a very good actor. in his high school, he would always do theatre and acting productions as part of his extra-curricular activities. even years later at work, he would always be production leader for any presentations. what can i say, nagmana sa ate! LOL).

he is always my number one ally (we one time left the house, and 'layas' together,hahaha), and i will always have a soft spot for him because he is such a doting brother, and i will always miss his company when i'm anywhere in cebu without him. plus-- we share the love of food. (thank you American tiki-tiki that you made him enjoy food,haha).

[this entry is to tell him how much i love him, because it's no use if i will shower someone i love with such adoration when they are not around anymore. (not that he is going anywhere, simbako!). ]

today is his birthday and i want to tell him all in one blog entry what he means to me and to us as family. but i failed because this space is not enough..

so let me just wish him some of my wishes for him.

**

Dear Roi,

i wish you good health-- a long healthy fruitful life.

i wish you a productive career that you wanted--one that involves busy kitchens and hot burning ovens (your idea of heaven)

i wish you a wonderful ageless love with your equally lovely wife,S-- one that involves healthy dose of romance and less of the challenges, but enough to keep the love warm and beautiful.

i wish myself a world of many mini-you's. because really, i know you will be a wonderful father, and most of all we all need more of you in this world: someone always cheerful and light to be around with, happy and funny and just a great person all around.

i love you. i miss you, my tiny little brother (yes, in my mind, you are still the scrawny tiny one).


love,

Chewy

26th of september 2011

i celebrated turning 35 in my favourite thai restaurant near our other home. we actually celebrated on the 25th, as the 26th was a Monday, and we were travelling to a different part of england on the day.

it was a celebration of many reasons. for turning another year older, for getting my dream rotational post, and for moving to a different part of the country.

the birthday dinner was fun, even though it was just the two of us;-)

--

Sukothai restaurant..

the starter

thai inspired vases

my partner in crime

but of course;-)

prawn pad thai

pork in black bean sauce

yummy food

my fave special rice

another pork dish

they were quiet on a sunday night

happy birthday dearest me;-)

a chicken dish

my pla sam rot.. fish in sweet and sour sauce

**

and the birthday girl..

i can still remember my excitement that night

***

the next day, i started my new job, where i found out, i was so unfit and got so tired by noon. (while fifty-something colleagues walked faster than me,and were breathing normally up and down the stairs. it was a wake up call). topping it all, everyone were so into keeping healthy in my workplace that i couldnt help but get inspired to do the same.

on the 27th, i decided i need to shape up. (well, the above reasons, and a lot more got me into exercise once again).

get active. slow, baby steps. a 1 or 2 year plan to get to my goal weight. no crash dieting, no crash whatsoever, no shortcuts. no dieting,even. (the diet change came when i started losing some weight,and i got even more challenged to do more)

just a lifestyle change. not even an overhaul. and that's another blog altogether.

birthday 'thank you' post

i am another year older.

apart from another birthday it is the start of a new job in a new place,so it will be a crazy day for me, as i am moving a different county, a new job, and staying in a hotel for a whole week.

just in case i am unable to due to the crazy schedule, i would write this now and say my birthday 'thank you's' for the lovely messages over at Facebook/Twitter/Skype/Multiply/private messages


**
i had great laugh reading a birthday blog dedicated to me from my family.


here is the blog


some photos that made me feel the love..judging from the photos you would think that our family has some screws missing..(yes,they are really like that in person, wacky and 'kengkoy').

even the little girl has the same personality,hahaha;-)

my super 'game' mama;-)

my cousin by blood,but my sister in love;-)

my sister Mayel,and niece Dominique

B1

and B2

i know, they're all weird..but lovely..and i love them to bits..

theyre very creative on sending their love to me every birthday..last year was a video..this year was mugshot messages..i wonder what's for next year??



**

my birthday started early. on saturday my friends gathered online for skype and wished me a happy birthday.

they sang for me too.

and had a birthday cake for me (and candle too).

they are my friends since we were teenagers ..we missed one of our barkada, but we knew she was in the middle of vacationing in Seattle ;-)

**

on saturday i also received a wonderful birthday loot from bestfriend, Kharla.

i still am trying to get over receiving kropek over the mail..one of my long-time misses.

wonderful lovely messages from auntie/uncle and cousins...and lovely handwritten message from Simone (my goddaughter and niece)..

and some tear-enducing message from kharla..

**


and some nice time with Ana and Dominique today;-)

**

i thank the Lord each day for such wonderful amazing people that surround me..;-)

thank you too for dropping by this space and leaving some lovely thoughts,too;-)xxx

bullet-ing

*stayed up late to greet Ana,a happy birthday. so proud of you Ana, you know that..

*drugged up to my eyeballs with painkillers due to an ever recurring abcessed tooth. long story. painful.

*picking up my SADE tickets on wednesday. or thursday. i forgot now. i cant chance them sending it to me, and i'm not at home to accept the delivery. adrian's first gift for my graduation. (many to come,i concur).

*excited for THE festival of the YEAR. the London Taste Festival.(the festival where all you do is enjoy London's famous restaurants in all of Regent's park). Adrian and i have been getting VIP tickets every year. but this time, were getting VVIP. we have access to the exclusive "secret garden". what its about, i have no idea.

*thesis....

*fever..maybe due to the abcessed tooth.

*incessantly you-tube-ing some clips about lechon. crispy skinned, soft, breaking meat...yes, thats my kind of porn.

*sadly, i have been only having soup today due to the tooth. painful.

*and already i lost weight..mostly, from lost hair than weight. painful.


**

if i had a magic carpet, Adrian and i will be in cebu right now enjoying a pool day out with Ana,and her "kids". yes, my sister is celebrating her birthday with our neighbours children. lovely human being my sister..more than i could ever be.

his birthday last year

the man of the house is going to celebrate his birthday soon.

i thought of things to do for his birthday, and then i remembered i have not posted photos from last year. i could not find the dinner photos, but i did find the breakfast photos (because he worked on his birthday).

presents on the table

he woke up to a hurriedly done menu for his breakfast..you got to give a man a choice on his birthday,haha:-)

opening his birthday gifts

***

i was up late last night, thinking of other creative ways of celebrating his birthday and other gifts i could give him. (i suppose, the lesser money you have to blow on gifts, the more difficult it is,which is the case,hehehe)..

but, knowing him, he cares less about his birthday, unlike me,who have been the most excited.

plus, he thought he already got his birthday present.

{ recent photo of him on Monday night, 10th Jan, picking a book for his birthday. he loves making bread, i love eating them}

**

Happy birthday my dearest K

***

what can i say except, you are loved and treasured.

i miss your company and im praying everyday that your visa pushes through.

i/we love you so much.

see u in september (crossing my fingers)...

hmmmnn, someone's celebrating soon too.

Kharla..in her second home...an airport lounge

***

its her birthday tomorrow, thursday, the 27th.

i wish her good health, and some time to relax.

she works too hard.

and she deserves some swanky good time.


****


Kharla, is the bestest bestest friend i wish to give to each of my love ones. she will always be there for you, no matter what.

its lovely how she generally prioritises me above herself (proven time and time again).

i can enumerate all the good things she has done for me but there's just too many that its just become the norm in our relationship.

where else can you get someone, who would wake up early for you,and go to the very smelly Taboan, and buy 'bulad' in kilos, and have to go home to change before meeting up with business clients because the 'Taboan' smell clung to her (not to mention posting it to me, --which is a really hard job too, coz they want you to do the package infront of the postoffice customers).

where else could i find someone who is generally a quite 'un'social person but would brave long hours (after work) to meet up and socialise with my friends because she has to deliver stuff in behalf me? (nevermind that she sleeps at ungodly too early hours because she wakes up really early too,lol)

where else could i get someone who would be my driver and chaperone to any function that i need her to?

who would be there for me when i need a shoulder to cry on, whatever time of the day? (or night?).

and someone who would be on the phone who never is bothered when i complain about the same thing over and over again?

that's Karla for you.

i cant even mention some stuff this girl has done for me, and truly i'm grateful for each and every one of them.


***

i am so happy that the last few years i am now able to shower this lady with some material gifts (but not as big as the ones she has given me all the years).

because when i had nothing, she was there, always giving and never asking anything in return.

and until now, she's still there. ready to jump into action when i need her.

27th of May ---a day God gave me one of my lifes bestest blessings.

Happy birthday baby Sis..

Happy birthday dearest Sister...you are missed and love...=)

Continue being the person that you are..Someone i look up to, and admire.

In my next lifetime, you should be the "ate".x

i so wish i'm there celebrating with you..=)

its almost her birthday

***



i've always prided on making the most of having a sister. (well, i could also say about that with regards to making the most of my cousins too,LOL).

i made sure that first of all, yes, i am figurehead "ate", yet at the same time, i'm the friend,despite the generation gap.

i'm so lucky 'coz when Ana came here, i realised and knew much much more of her and her passions. Although i have long been proud that i know her well enough to push her in the right direction, i know much more of her too to acknowledge that she cannot be pushed to any direction she doesn't want to go to.

Alot of people (who are not close to us) have this impression that Ana is quite spoiled and pampered. But what a few people only know, that yes, she is pampered and is given such material blessings by the older sister because she doesn't ask, and most often than not refuse to (maybe because i dont wait to be asked and i hate my generosity being refused to,Lol), but spoilt she is not.

She waits when she is given,and what she is given, and actually refuses lavishing her (although i still do). And she actually works hard for them too (great grades always help).

Take the recent example is her birthday this year. i wanted her to have a big party, but she refused that. So we compromised, and still she refused an over-the-top idea i had in mind (she doesn't want a fully decorated room). She said she'll make her own centrepieces if she has to (oh she likes crafty things like that).

If it were up to me, Ana would have had a debut party on her 18th worthy of someone getting married to a prince--but no,no,no. She doesn't want ballroom gowns and ballroom masquerade (coz thats basically "ate"'s idea of a party,LOL), Ana wanted more laidback, beach affair. So we compromised, she had a debut in a beach, wearing a semi- beach gown, 100 guests, catered and DJ'd, and a cotillon. (OK so she got the beach part!)


If you know her well enough she is the exact opposite of me when it comes to socializing. She is actually different to me in most things (but we always have had a bond over food and the creative arts).

She hates having to please other people and smile because she has to (because she's in a party). its not because she is antisocial, she's just normal. It's the "ate" who is overly social,haha.


And as much as she sounds all too 'gushy' and 'young' in most things, discuss serious matters with her, you get the sense youre talking to someone of your own age (the advices i get from her just sometimes makes me speechless).

It must be my fault. I always have laid on her things that i want---sometimes forgetting that this person/individual, although wholly my blood and flesh (since we both come from the same parents, and not because she's my daughter,haha), is an entirely being to herself. But she agrees to most of it though, bless her, because she wants me happy. But all this girl wants is a good time, less fuss, less drama and less 'samok'. But with me as her sister, i think she just has to contend to the fact that until i keel over and die, i still have an 'opinion' on things that she engages in, and things that involve her.


And because its almost her birthday, i just wanted to say that i really appreciate all that she is right now, and all that she will be.


***


Happy birthday on Monday Kai.



You make me one happy sister.

Eve's birthday weekend (post 1)

A close friend of mine celebrated her 50th birthday over the weekend.

It was in a farmhouse cottage and all of her closest were around except two people who have very serious reasons why they couldnt be there. (Cheryl's sister is leaving for South Africa on the Saturday were at the cottage, and Natasha is in Thailand holidaying with her boyfriend).

Eve would have wanted everyone to be there (she is sentimental that way) but there are things she cant have control over.

Eve is a great friend. She has lived her life in a "Maalaala Mo kaya" saga (if there was a Brit version of it , it would have been the story to be written for premiere showing), but that is not for me to share.

My part is to share how beautiful it is to have weekends with girlfriends who are strong and gorgeous women and who has achieved quite alot in life (materially or not) and has so much to share in terms of lessons and inspiration to me.

We celebrated her birthday just the way Eve is. FUll of life, laughter, dancing and just a rollercoaster of activities. And yes, loads of booze, food and games too.

**

She is the epitome of age is nothing but a number.

She has a very full social calendar and just about all the activities any party girl would envy. But then again, thats what alot of single career woman friends i know have,lol.

Eve just manifests her life in her daughters Claire--who works in the entertainment industry (specifically TV production) and Sarah (a family lawyer)--who are high achievers and just so like their mum in all sense of the word.

Seeing them with their mum made me realise that motherhood is about how you positively influence your children (no matter the trials one goes through life), and how they love you in adulthood is a testament that how great a mother's sacrifice is for her children has its (BIG) rewards.


***

Eve is a truly special friend of mine. She has been nothing but support ever since i arrived in this country and i have been with her all these years, and four men after (in a span of 7 years! ,lol), we just keep getting stronger and our friendship better.

And one good indication? She's practising to eat rice, which she doesnt like, and she is doing so for me. Because she knows, one day, she will come and visit me in the country which i so lovingly talk about.


**

Some photos from the birthday night..7th of May.





After the evening welcome meal in the rented cottage, we surprised her by turning the lights off and singing her a birthday song and the cakes were brought in.






she cant believe she's half a century old. and we tease her for it.





can you tell her happiness? behind her are her daughters Sarah and Claire






she's one cool woman..whatever age.

wishes...

fervent ones..





there she is in between sentences and laughter..

cakes unlimited..the chocolate cake was baked by Ross--the only man in our group... and the butterfly cupcake was from Chris who celebrated with us that weekend..Chris is one of eve's friends from years before..




oh my goodness..i cant believe i have been friends with these ladies for ages..Sarah J.--from no babies to now two children..and Lisa, from single --to dating--to single and now (almost) engaged! x..and theyre both dorks too.






and although we dont see eachother that much, it just makes our get-togethers all the more fun and such a gabfest.

frenzy of the night..





our abode for three days and 2 nights (technically only 2 days-2 nights for me)




such a beautiful night



***

we ended the night in the morning (at 3 am) just dancing in our pyjamas and playing Wii Games..

(to be continued...as soon as i can,x)