Dec 24 Christmas Eve was spent at Best Western Premeir F1 Hotel in BGC. Since my sister and her family was checked in that hotel for their staycation, we went there to join them but we didn’t stay for the night. For our christmas eve dinner we decided not to eat at the hotel since their dinner buffet choices were not our type given the cost. Hindi sulit. So, out we went to Bonifacio High Street (we just walked) and we looked for an open restaurant. We wanted to dine in Itallianis but they were full house so we ended up in Agave Mexican Resto. Lesson learned: if planning to have a christmas eve dinner outside, better to have a a reservation. Because it was already holiday, most of the restos that are open on regular days were closed.
Around 1am after the fireworks display, we headed back to Calamba. BGC-CALAMBA took us only 45min. Average speed 80-90kph. Sobrang saya kasi free toll sa slex.

Dec 25 We visited my SIL and pamangkins in Pandacan. My brother, who is a seaman seldom spends his holidays with his family kaya naman as much as possible, we should be there for his family. Hinatid ang gifts and after lunch bumalik na ulit ng Calamba.

In the afternoon, we visited another relative in Cabuyao who just got out from hospital after operation. Then that night we watched El Presidente last full show. Napahanga ako sa movie. Upon exiting the cinema, my love of country was rekindled. Ganun pala ang pianagdaanan nilang hirap para lang makamit ang kalayaan. In my senior year in high school, i did not fully appreciate our Philippine History subject. Puro memorize ng dates, memorize ng name ng tao para sa quiz, halos nawala na ang essence kung bakit ito pinag aaralan. But after the movie, dun ko narealize kung bakit dapat nating malaman ang ating history, ito ay para mas mappreciate natin kung ano ang meron tayo sa kasalukuyan. We should not take for granted the freedom that we have right now, we have to continue to protect it and fight for it just like what our forefathers did.
Ang ganda soundtrack sabi ko may laban to sa best musical scoring. At hindi nga ako nagkamali. Hinakot nila ang awards during MMFF awards night. Sila din ang bet ko sa best make up at sila nga ang nanalo.

Dec 26 my husband left for singapore. I was kinda sad kasi the next day will be our 7th wedding anniversary. Pero kahit na wala nang celebration o special date, okay na rin kasi nakapag date na rin kami the night before.

Dec 27 Our 7th wedding anniv. This is the first time that we are not together on our special day.
My sis and pamangkins just came over to our house. We are supposed to watch sisterakas but the cinema was full and we have to wait for hours just to get in. So we just let it go.

Dec 29 Attended a wedding of husband’s buddy in Allego, Nueva Ecija. First time to have a long road trip up north. SLEX-EDSA-NLEX-SCTEX lang naman ang tinahak namin. Naging date na rin namin to sa sobrang haba ng byahe.

Dec 30 Pajantoy Family get-together (my MIL’s family). Early morning we went to Los Banos to buy originals buko pie para sa aming potluck but we were not lucky since their pie was not available. We ended up buying banana cake and carrot cake.

In the afternoon, we watched Thy Womb. That is second on our list to watch for this years MMFF. It became our tradition every Christmas vacation to support Filipino Films. Masyado kaming na curious on why it was pulled out sa karamihan sa cinemas. Bakit siya nilangaw. And after watching it, we knew the answer. Hindi siya pang masa. Hindi pang ordinaryong manonood na naghahanap ng entertainment. Malalim ang mensahe nito. Ang manonood ang bahala magbigay ng konklusyon at kahulugan sa kwento. I exited the cinema feeling so stressed out. Naawa ako sa karakter. In short, naantig ang aking damdamin. Sobrang galing ni Nora. Naging siya ang karakter. Makatotohanan talaga para siyang hindi umaarte, parang siya mismo ang babae na nasa kwento. Very sad ang ending, bitin. Nung pinakita na ang credits parehas kaming nagtaka ni hubby sabay sabi “yun na yun? Tapos na? Anong nangyari sa kanya? Ganun na lang yun, tatanggapin na lang niya? Hindi ba siya maghihigante? Babawi man lang katulad ng usual na mga soap opera sa tv? Di ko alam kung sino ang sisihin dun, ang kanyang katangahan o tadhana na para siyang pinaglaruan nito. Haay..ang tunay na buhay talaga ay sadyang mas madrama kesa drama ng soap opera. Doble o triple pa ngang mas madrama.

Dec 31 New Years Eve early dinner was spent in Bellevue Hotel, Alabang. This time we brought our home cooked meals. I shared my fried bufallo wings, fruit salad and ref cake. Around 9pm, we went straight to Dasmarinas Cavite in my MIL house to spend media noche and new year. Sa sobrang pagod ni 3a, di man lang siya nagising ng midnight kahit nakakabingi ang putukan. Around 3am nagising siya at iyak ng iyak naninibago sa kanyang higaan kaya napilitan kaming umuwi ng Calamba.

Jan 1 We watched a movie again, we were intrigued by the box office record of sisterakas so watched it. Hindi naman ako nagandahan. Kababawan lang compare sa naunang 2 movies. May nakakatawang eksena oo pero hindi ako masyading naaliw. Kaya nga ayokong nanonood ng comedy hard to please kasi ako. Sobrang TH si Kris sa kanyang kontabida role. Bagay sa kanya horror movies na lang, yung tipong lagi siyang sumisigaw at natatakot dun siya magaling lol..mas natuwa pa siguro ako kung si Eugene Domingo gumanap sa role niya. Siya lang ang natatanging komedyante na nakakapagpatawa sa akin. May cd pa nga ako ng kimmy dora eh hahaha..

Sa araw na to masasabi kong i’m back to my regular programming/routine since Dec which was the start of my holidays. That was the busiest time of the year kung saan sira ang regular programming ko at mga activities ko dito sa bahay.

I’l recap what had happend with my whole month of Dec and the first week of January:

Dec 9, we attended the Norfil Adoptive Parents (NAP) Christmas Party. Norfil Foundation is the agency who is instrumental to our son’s adoption. So basically they are one of the reason why we had 3a. The venue was in fun ranch pasig. That was our first time there. We enjoyed the place esp 3a. So definitely will be back maybe in their alabang branch kasi mas malapit sa amin.

Dec 11-20 This was the week when 3a caught a very strong virus that had him feverish for 3 days so we had him checked up at Asian Hospital because of cough and colds.

We could not help to take pics of the beautiful christmas decorated lobby of asian hospital

Dec 16 my birthday. We are suppose to go out of town but since 3a was sick, we just had a simple spa and dinner date. This is our first time in The Spa Alabang. I must say that was a very pleasant yet luxurious experience. We wanted to avail the executive package for couples but we have to wait for 2 more hours so we just agreed kahit magkahiwalay kami ni hubby. I somlove their jacuzzi. First time kong maligo outside my house na totally naked. Buti na lang di masyadong madaming tao at naenjoy ko nman ang experience.

Since it was dinner time when we got out of the spa, we had our dinner at Gloria Maris for the first time. The food is just ok. For the price we paid i thought it was not worth the value.

Fire works started outside, so i had to peek and took pictures..

After dinner we went to inside ATC to buy JCo donuts for take out instead of cake. We ended up in Krispy Kreme coz we didn’t brave through the long as in very long line. At home, i blew my birthday candle together with my still sick son.

Dec 20 My parents and sis from samar arrived. I had to make adjustments with my sched to accompany them wherever they want to go. Also more groceries and food to prepare.

Dec 23 We had our Christmas Party with the neighbors in our compound. This is our first christmas party and probably the last on my 3yrs stay in this 4 door apartment. The last because hopefully next Christmas will be spending it in our new house.
We had fun sharing food. Potluck style. Family on door 1 cooked shanghai and menudo, on door 3 fried chicken and sauted veges, mine is spag, salad and cake. Kanya kanya kami dala ng kanin at drinks including the utencils. We had videoke fun til 2am in the morning and the kids enjoyed palying outside during night time.

Please see part 2 of this post for the continuation..

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January cousins wedding
I so love attending weddings especially when my husband is with me. It’s just like a date for us. Aside from the fact its the only time of year that we become glamorous, we got to see romantic places and of course two people in love is a sight to behold.

This post inspired me to share pictures of the previous weddings we attended:

February Coron Travel
This was our first out of town after we became a parent. This marks our 10th anniversary as bf-gf.
Below were just a sample of the total pics. We got hundreds of pics hehe

March Balai Indang, Cavite and Paradizoo

April Riverview

May Laiya

Sidetrip to Club Balai Isabel and Tagaytay before going home

See Part 2

Long weekend of Bonifacio Day was spent in Pasig. We checked in Saturday around 4pm. We are 4 adults and 4 kids. We have the suit room as our accomodation. It has 2 separate bedroom with 2 toilet and bath. There are toiletress but no bath tub.

I was not able to take pictures of the closet but it has 2 bath robe, slippers and a vault.
The suit room is spacious. It has a living room, dining room and a kitchen sink.

For the amenities, the swimming pool is very cold, my toddler was not able to enjoy it.

But we enjoyed the jacuzzi.

My only comment is that it smells a little like a sewer. Medyo madumi na compared to the other water in the cold pool. But we endured it kesa naman mangatog kami dun sa malamig na pool.

Here is their kids play area. Medyo disappointed ako. Expect ko kasi na may mga ibang toys pero slides lang pala ang nandun at di pa kayang akyatin ng 2 yo ko.

They have their mini golf too na wala namang naglalaro

Their billiard room. Di ko napicturan ang billiard table

And their gym

Nag enjoy mga bata sa threadmill, maya’t maya’t may dumating na bantay bawal pala mga bata hehe umalis na agad kami.
Breakfast was served at Benassi restaurant. Ang liit lang ng resto nila. I was expecting a large dining area just like in Acacia hotel.

Outside the resto

Then picture taking sa harap ng hotel at sa lobby bago umakyat ng room.

We enjoyed our stay esp my kid who played the whole time with the duvet on the floor na ginawang sasakyan nagpapahila sa mga kuya niyang cousins.

Dear 3a,

Napalo kita sa kamay ng dalawang beses ngayong araw na to. Partly nagsisisi ako, pero merong parte naman ng utak ko na nagsasabi na tama lang dahil pagdidisiplina naman yun. Ganito kasi ang nangyari, nagpakuha si mommy ng mga bato na nilagay sa lata para gawing stand ng christmas tree. Gusto mo itong kunin lahat at paglaruan. Hindi kita pinayagan kasi liban sa madumi ang mag ito, gagamitin nga ito para maitayo ang christmas tree at para hindi maging laruan mo.

Pero nag pupumilit ka, hindi ka nakikinig na hindi pwede, kaya ang ginawa ko binalik ko ang mga batong kinuha mo at tinakpan ang lata. Bigla kang nagalit, nainis, naghurumintado (not sure kung tagalog word to) pinagpapalo mo lahat ng mahawakan mo at pati ako pinapalo mo. Dito ako nagalit sayo. Ilang beses ko sayo sinasabi na hindi dapat pinapalo ang mommy. Okay lang naman na magalit ka kung di ka napagbibigyan, sabi ko sayo pwede paluin ang upuan, ang sahig para lang mailabas mo ang galit mo, pero wag na wag ang mommy paluin dahil pag pinayagan kita ng ganun, baka masanay ka at madala mo yun sa paglaki mo. Di kita papayagan na pagalitan mo ako, na saktan mo ako. Kaya ang ginawa ko para matauhan ka na di tama ang ginagawa mo, hiningi ko ang 2 mong kamay at ito’y pinalo ko ng malakas na kahit ako na nagpapalo ay nasaktan din.

Umiyak ka ng umiyak ng napakalakas pero hinayaan lang kita. Gusto kong maramdaman mo na hindi talaga tama ang ginawa mo at yan ang magiging resulta pag patuloy mo itong gawin, masasaktan ka.

Ewan ko ba. Ito na siguro ang sinasabi nila na pinaka mahirap na stage ng bata, terrible two. Kasi gusto mo lahat ng gusto mong gawin masusunod. Pag hindi sayo binigay nagagalit ka, umiiyak, nagdadabog, naninira ng gamit, namamalo, pinapaalis mo ako at kung ano pa.

Hindi muna kita pinansin at kalaunan tumigil ka rin sa pag iyak. Pero nung nilalapitan na kita para makipag bati, ayaw mo. Hindi ka pa ata ready. Galit ka pa rin sa akin. Tinatapik mo ang kamay ko. Nabigla ako. Bago ito sayo ngayon. Dati naman ikaw pa ang unang lumalapit pag napapagalitan kita. Aba ngayon may pride ka na?

Ang pangalawang beses na napalo kita ay dahil sinira mo ang christmas decor na pinaghirapan kong idikit dahil nagalit ka naman dahil kinuha ko ang gunting na hawak mo kasi delikado. Ewan ko kung ako ang may kasalanan baka nga mainit lang ulo ko ngayon at maiksi ang pasensya ko. Pero ayaw kong lumaki kang destructive pag nagagalit ka.

So pinilit kong kargahin ka amuin ka pero nagpupumiglas ka umiiyak so binaba na kita hinayaan kita at dumistansya ako. Nilaro ko ang games na gustong gusto mo sa cellphone ko para lumapit ka. Pero hindi ka agad lumapit hindi katulad dati na lalapit ka agad at makikipaglaro ka.

Pagkaraan ng ilang minuto lumapit ka nga pero nang tangkain kong hawakan ka lumayo ka pa rin. Galit ka pa rin. Doon kita kinausap. Sabi ko “galit ka pa kay mommy? Gusto mo tawagan natin si daddy isumbong mo ako na pinalo kita?” Biglang nanlaki mga mata mo na para bang yun ang gusto mong gawin. “Eh ano sasabihin mo kung tanungin ka no daddy bat kita pinalo?” Na pa uh  ka lang na parang nagtatanong din. “Sabihin mo napalo ako ni mommy kasi pinapalo ko siya. Ayaw ni mommy na paluin siya. Yun ang sabihin mo kay daddy ha?”

Bigla namang nag ok na mood mo. Lumapit ka na nung pinapili na kita kung anong gusto mong color ng car na nilalaro ko sa cp ko. Nakalimutan mo na siguro na galit ka at nagpahawak at nagpayakap ka na sa akin.

Nang dumating si daddy nagsumbong ka nga. Ang sabi mo palo palo sabay palo sa kama. Ayun kinuwento ko sa daddy mo ang nangyari.

3a sana di na maulit ito ng madalas ha. Mahal na mahal ka ni mommy kaya ko to ginagawa.

Love,
Mommy

P.S. Hindi ako naniniwala na kailangan gamitan ng sakit o pamamalo sa pagdidisiplina pero minsan talaga pag hinihingi na ng pagkakataon sa tingin ko naman na okay lang itong gawin. Lalo na pag ginawa mo na ang lahat ng pakiusap at mahinahong paraan pero wa epek pa rin.

Nung bata pa ako at kami ng mga kapatid ko. Pag nag aaway away kami sa maliit lang na bagay, palo ng belt ang inaabot sa amin ng tatay ko pagkatapos ng 3 beses na pagsaway at di pa rin kami tumitigil. Pag nandyan na ang belt tahimik at tiklop na kami noon. Para sa akin, wala naman itong naidulot masama sa paglaki ko. Alam din naman kasi namin na mali kami kaya di umabot sa puntong nagrebelde kami.

At this particular sunday we decided to have a picnic to celebrate tatay’s 71’st birthday. We had a lunch at harbor view floating restaurant beside manila ocean park where we tasted foe the first time a “sugpo” na napakamahal worth P3500. Not worth the value of money but charge to experience na lang.

Around 4pm we left for BGC. We enjoyed our picnic complete with banig and picnic basket na puno ng pagkain.

The kids enjoyed the play area.

We had a side trip to bonifacio high street which is just one block away.

We enjoyed our little picnic especially the kids that they requested to go back.