for Lunch - Blue Elephant The Walk IT Park

for Lunch - Blue Elephant The Walk IT Park - his favorite

for Dinner - Giligan at Ayala Terraces

I got lots of options in mind how to make him happy on his special day. I will share some of them to you:

• Go out of town together in the place where we both haven’t gone to
• Buy him a new gadget, his favorite (psp, itouch)
• Throw a party at home exclusive for his friends only
• Treat him to a spa
• Dinner in the best restaurant in the city

Well, I have to pick only one though since I’m not a millionaire to have them all in just one day. I realized that aside from all these gifts and treats just to make hubby happy, one important thing that cannot be bought and too expensive but I know I can afford is “Time”. So even both of us are busy in our respective career, I make it a point to meet him for lunch near his office. So we have lunch in “Blue Elephant” at the “The Walk, IT Park”. I chose the place because it’s new and we haven’t tried it yet. The food is good and affordable, and the place is cozy.

I did not choose to throw him a party or go out of town but one thing I realize is that having a simple and sweetest time together even in the middle of your hectic schedule already means a lot to the man you love. A dinner in “Giligan” in Ayala terraces completes the occasion. So just finding time together will make a husband happy on their birthday.

a surprise bouquet of my favorite flowers

Claire playing on her table while waiting for the food...

It’s a good thing to have availed of a birthday leave and away from my office desk and laptop so I can enjoy my birthday the whole day. I’m not going out of town this year or any lavish party at my expense for this special occasion of my life. But I only wanted to have a special dinner with the 2 most special people in my life and a shopping spree treat. I even did not expect an expensive bouquet of flower to be delivered in my office the day before my birthday.

I always make it a point to go to Church first before all other occasion activites and hear Holy Mass as my thanksgiving to the good Lord who has given me so many blessings in my life. And this year is even unique because I am able to go to Confession as well. It’s a perfect day, the weather is good and the planned dinner to Tsim Sha Tsui in Ayala makes my stomach full… It’s my first time to this restaurant and I’m pretty satisfied with the food and the ambiance is good, maybe because the place is mostly coated with my favorite color.

I also got everything I want from my shopping, from shoes, to dresses, spa, etc… and I can say, I got all I want for my birthday plus a surprise bouquet of my favorite flower coming from the love of my life completes the occasion. Indeed a very happy birthday to me!

Mary’s birth was extraordinary, because she was conceived without original sin for God had chosen her to be the mother of His only Son, Jesus Christ. Her parents Joachim and Anne were beyond their child-bearing years so they prayed that God would grant their aspiration for a child. It was clear that the grace of God already started with her parents when they asked God to grant them a child and He gave them the Virgin Mary.

I remember when my Theology teacher asked the class to write an essay about who is Mary in our life.  And all our answers amazed our teacher because it’s almost of the same thought and same belief. Mary is my “protectress” to all bad elements in life and a “bridge” to Jesus, I turn to her when I’m down and ask her guidance in my daily activities. I’m so blessed with Mary in my life and despite my unworthiness, I continue to feel her presence and with so much faith, I continue to embrace her into my life.

Happy Birthday “Mama Mary”!

yummy "cookies n cream" cake from "Red Ribbon"

Happy birthday to the best dad I know!

I’ve been thinking how to make my dad happy on his special day, then I realize a birthday celebration for dad need not to be expensive or extravagant. Dads are usually happy with a simple happy birthday greetings coming from their loved ones. Well, maybe because unlike women, some dads usually don’t spend much time partying.

I can’t find a perfect birthday present for him yet… but I’m sure bringing him a birthday cake will already make him happy…

Want to share this poem I like to send to my Father on his birthday,  from poemsource.com

Good Man

Dad,
Every year, your birthday reminds me
how grateful I am that you are my father.
With all that’s going on in the world today,
I’m thankful I get to watch you,
to look up to you, being an example of a good man.
What a privilege it is to observe your strength,
your competence, and your kindness.
I am so blessed to be under your wing,
your protection, your care,
learning important life lessons from you.
If all fathers were like you,
the world would be a very different
and much better place.
Happy Birthday, Dad!

As a Catholic, A “Town Fiesta” usually involves thanksgiving and celebration of the parish’s patron saint. It is an occasion where the town-folks gathered together and enjoy lots of fun activities initiated by the parish and the municipal government officials as well. The sumptuous foods, drinks, “disco”, games are just some of the items in the list when you go to fiestas.

Minglanilla is known to be the “Sugat Capital” in Cebu and is also known during its town fiestas wherein full pack activities are well prepared by the organizers yearly. I always make sure to travel back home every fiesta and be with the whole family. This year’s fiesta  fall on a Sunday so I will make it a point to hear Holly Mass in Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish itself, whose feast we are celebrating.

I’m sure varieties of Filipino foods are waiting in the table when I get home… not to mention the all time favorite of Cebuanos, the lechon, then my favourite chicken curry, pork menudo, pancit, lumpia, and many more. Oh, it makes me hungry now, so I better pack my things now and go to the province.

Happy Fiesta all Minglanilla Town folks and visitors!

our church wedding

One of my favorite occasions is an “Anniversary”, may it be my parents’ anniversary, friendship anniversary, and birthdays can also be an anniversary though in a special way. Well… it makes me feel good when I’m being thoughtful especially to an occasion that involves loved ones. The best anniversary occasion is of course my own wedding anniversary. In general a wedding anniversary is shared intimately and quietly between the couple in a special, private and romantic settings. And how we celebrate this occasion? Here’s my simple sharing…

Hubby and I celebrates our 3rd wedding anniversary which is traditionally known to be a “leather” wedding, it’s symbolic in a way that it represents the durability of your marriage. Though we did not exchange gifts together like leather belt, leather bag, leather wallet, etc… I believe that being together on this occasion and accompanied with our only little girl is already a durable representation for me.

Let me share some highlights of how we celebrate the occasion.

ucc coffee cafe terrace

cyma restaurant - greek cuisine

For our lunch date, we decided to pick a class A restaurant where we are both first time. We went to Cyma restaurant then in Ayala and relished the Greece cuisine, it’s definitely a good dining experience for me, loved their food and the salads… my hubby loved the prawns.

Dinner should be more special, so after a quick strolling and shopping, I reminded myself to pick up our little girl at home in order to join us for dinner and hear the 6:00 pm holy mass at the same church where we exchanged vows. The mass is the most important activity for me, because it is one special way to thank the Almighty that we reached this special occasion. After the Holy Mass, we had dinner, which we also wanted to pick up a new dining place and it’s him who personally choose “UCC Café”. Though it’s not really our first time, because we had dine at their Makati branch when we were still engaged, but it’s our first time in Cebu since the cafe opened.

It is simple and spontaneous, that is how we celebrate our 3rd year! After all, whether it’s our 3rd time or 50th year, it is important to celebrate wedding anniversaries together in a special and memorable way we can afford.

on the way to her culminating activity

I’m one of the many proud moms watching my little 2 year old performing in the stage… Sitting in the front row, I can’t help but to clap my hands all over again from start to finish when Claire’s batch perform their “My toes, my knees” song. I’m amazed how she simply cooperates without running and moving around the stage.

We got her certificate of completion and also her report card… and I’m so happy to see all her compiled art projects that according to the teacher, Claire performed them all. I’m just glad we decided to enroll her to this summer activity. Now that summer is over, our little sacrifice to wake up early and change work schedule just to drop and fetch Claire in School is also over,… I can say that it was fruitful and such a great accomplishment as a parent.

Bright Academy

Claire's Play Group Certificate.

Happy Mother’s Day to my mom whom since day 1 of my conception took good care of me until I was born and finally lead me to where I am now. And to all mother’s out there, this is the most special day to honor all of you!

From Wikipedia, Mother’s day is an annual holiday that recognizes mothers, motherhood and maternal bonds in general, as well the positive contributions that they make to society.

Motherhood is the best thing for me, I never realized how special and heroic all my mom’s sacrifices for me before until I myself get to taste the stage of motherhood. It is a special responsibility that each mother portrays uniquely and by instinct… I always love to hear my friends’ different stories who are now parents how they care and support their kids. I learned from them, and most especially I learned from my mom who showed me one of the best example of motherhood.

A mother does not only care for her kids but also to the father of her kids… this for me is the essence to perfect motherhood because when my little daughter sees how her dad and I bond and take care of each other, I see in her eyes how lovable she is and how sweetly she expressed that love to both of us too, and from there I can say that it is my first step to lead her to respect me as her mom.

Happy Mother’s day great Moms!

One of the grandest and popular occasion in Cebu is the “Sinulog” which is celebrated annually by all cebuanos and not just the town folks but even many Filipinos in the country and foreigners around the world. The celebration even started with a ‘Sinulog Street Fair’ from December 01, 2009 and will end January 31, 2010. It is indeed a festive days in Cebu during this time, the activities and different events will surely make everyone happy, from Sinulog contestants’ street dancing, to mall fairs, not to forget eating and dancing and of course, one of the best thing I see during this event is the big religious crowd in the “Basilica del Santo Nino church” hearing the novena masses and praying.

This grand occasion is not just street fairs but the most important one is a thanksgiving to the main celebrant, who is the baby Jesus himself. That is why, the days celebrating in different corners of Cebu is not complete when people will not drop by the Basilica and pay homage, pray and hear the Holy Mass.

First thing, I will probably be going to the Basilica with my family then party in the streets with my friends! See you all and Viva Pit Senyor!

Below is  the schedule of religious activity during the actual Solemnity feast day which is on January 17, Sunday in the Basilica:

4:00 am – Mananita Mass with Msgr. Frederick Kriekenbeek
6:00 am – Pontifical Mass with His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal
every hour – Holy Mass

the cast of the Korean "Boys Over Flowers"

It’s so hard for me to stick and like a tele-series… but this “Boys Over Flower” series hit me big that I don’t sleep much this past few days just watching it over and over again… I heard about it last Christmas vacation where I stayed home to watch TV, and I can’t wait to see the next episode in the TV so I asked my hubby to download all 25 episodes and alas I have them all… hehe… Everybody likes it! It’s even a talk in the office and every weekend, hubby and I and even my little girl bond and watched it! haha… thanks to my addiction!

Boys Over Flower is the Korean version of the original “Hana Yori Dango”, and I appreciate how the cast of this Korean version played the role, they are all fantastic and good! The way they portray it is so funny and so “kilig”! Of all F4, I heart the character of “Gu Jun Pyo”, he is very adorable! I love him from start to finish! You better grab your own copy and watch it with your friends, and with families. Indeed a good series to watch for a bonding occasion!

Hope to see Gu Jun Pyo and Jan Di in person!