hot lights in manila

I was not able to update about our Christmas Eve gathering. Nothing much is different from the previous years. It still took us time to hand out all the gifts and red envelopes, settle the kids to enjoy their respective gifts and take pictures - except that we were not able to take a complete family photo...oh well, JL was not around to direct us kasi...

Anyway...

It's the last day of 2006. In just a few hours time, we will be making noise again to welcome the new year. As the tradition, we will be in my uncle's house somewhere in Makati for the family dinner and the wait for the clock to strike midnight. As I've heard, we will be feasting on lechon, fried rice, salad and lots of fruits (well, mostly pomelos and mangoes). There will be lots of jumps (to add a few millimeters to our heights), coins and bills in our pockets and wallets (to summon prosperity), and lots of laughters (to make it a happy 2007). And oh, by the way, there will be the usual chaos...the fun, kinda stressful but very much welcomed, chaos.

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After dinner tonight, I made Daddy drive us to The Fort for Krispy Kreme doughnuts. I wanted to try it since they opened a franchise here a month or so ago, but the store is not that accessible. It's way inside The Fort area and they just recently opened a branch in Megamall - still not in Glorietta or Greenbelt! Anyway, Daddy, Fe and Jackie were curious why I dragged them all the way to get doughnuts, but when they saw the store and the original glazed freebies...I rested my case :)

Here's our very own Krispy Kreme experience:

Christmas Cheers to Everyone!

here are three elves to add to your christmas cheer!

happy holidays from our hearts to yours!

click on our names:

johanna liza
jonathan louie
jennifer lynn

more cheer from our chief elves:

click here

and here, too!

Christmas Greetings 2006

Christmas Greetings 2006 from New York!

JOHN LEGUIZAMO!!!!!

it is HIM!!!

the big 3-0 jump!

I wrote about lists when it dawned on me that I will be turning 3o in a few days time. But then, I did something better than coming up with a list...I jumped, but not the usual jumping jacks or jump for joy jumps but I jumped off from a bridge, 30 feet high!

Aside from doing an event in Cagayan de Oro (which turned out well and got us sentimental in some parts) 11 out of 14 of us stayed for two more days. We had no definite plans but we wanted to do something to take advantage of being in a different province. It is very seldom that we find ourselves in this part of the Philippines, thus we have to seize the moment! And since CDO is famous for its whitewater rafting, a majority from the group was really decided on it. So, after finalizing with the local tour guide during our post-event dinner, we all took our well-deserved sleep and rest. The next day, we woke up without the pressure of the alarm clock. Around 1pm, we found ourselves donned in life vests and ready for our big jump. Yes, there were hesitations (especially for some of us who do not know how to swim!), questions (will the vest really work?!?), and a lot of screams and shrieks. But there were also a lot of encouragements and claps before and after our jumps. There were two jumps, one from the bridge and the other from a rock, midway during the rafting. Too bad we don't have any waterproof cameras to capture the rafting and rock jump, but for sure, we all have a very vivid memory to keep the moment and the adventure alive :-)

This experience is really a big one for me. It was an exhilarating feeling, just letting go of all fears and conquering them. The others who also made the jump may have a different take on this, but for me, this is one adventure that marks a milestone in my life. I know that I am still in for more jumps in my life, more fears to conquer...but now that I have made my first jump and conquered it, the next ones will be easier.

Congrats to our Sis!

Our sis, Jennifer, is officially a nurse.

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Everybody in the family is so proud of you!!

pushing thirty

The countdown begins. It is 31 days before New Year, 24 days before Christmas and 17 days before my 30th birthday. They say that a person usually turn into senti-mode days before and/or after your birthday. I guess I am having the blues...and deep inside, I know the reasons why.

There are so many lists people have published when they reach a certain age. There are "Now That I Am 30, I'll Be..." or the "What I Have Learned In My 30 Years of Existence" or "Things You Should Have Done Before You Turn 30" Just the other day, I've read in a friend's blog a list from a 35-year old's "35 Simple or Not-So-Simple Things I've Learned About Life." I am five years shy of turning 35 but I agree to most of what he has written. Now, do I come up with my own list? I don't feel it now...maybe in the next few days, though.

As I was cleaning (deleting) my files, I came across my last year's birthday list and invites. I can still remember my green and pink party and the details that came with it. I bugged my sister to get me jellybeans and my brother to do the invites. Thanks to my mom and brother for the additional funding, everyone went home well-fed with food and laughters. At the end of the day, when my brother asked me if I was happy, I sincerely answered yes because I was genuinely feeling it.

Birthdays are important for me. We are lucky that we were able to have birthday parties to celebrate our childhood. I believe that when a child experiences (at least one!) birthday party in his/her honor, a happy childhood memory will make him/her a better and happier person. That's why when I knew of close friends who haven't experienced birthday parties, I usually throw a surprise for them when their special day comes. My cousin even had a kid's party when she turned 30, complete with kiddie games and costumes! And who can miss Jackie's yearly themed birthday party. She was Dora the Explorer when she turned four, a princess at five and monkey at six! Just kidding, I just don't know what she was this year because she has a zoo/jungle theme party with a Hello Kitty ala Wizard of Oz birthday cake.

This time around, I think it would be a quiet birthday for me. For one, no JL nor Jenjen will be in Pinas (yes, it sinked-in already). Two, I just don't feel like it. I rather sneak out of town or somewhere. I don't want to be here, where I am right now. I have the time to be alone and not to think of school or events. I'll be in Cagayan De Oro on the 9th till the 12th for an event, a video shoot on the 15th while the term wraps up on the 16th, including enrollment for the next term. Sa January na ulit ang busy-busyhan.

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Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance...and dance like nobody's watching.

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By the way, I received my first Christmas present for this year...this one came from my dad. I watched Martin Nievera's concert last night at the Mall of Asia. Even when I was seated at an aisle seat, I was not able to take a good picture of Martin kasi...I was again mesmerized when he passed by! Hahahaha!