Our Family @ 2008 December

I would like to share to everybody our 2008 family Christmas Pictorial. This year, the pictures were taken at the 4th floor of the Podium Mall here in Ortigas Center. Enjoy the pictures. Happy Holidays to all...

Tatlong Krus @ Paete, Laguna

Paete, is a small town in Laguna known for its wood carvings. We visited Paete to buy Christmas presents for Nikki's teachers. We were planning to give them a wooden Crucifix hand curved by the Paeteans. We bought one of those when we went to Paete a few months back.

Mommy and Nikki even bought a complete set of the seven guardian angels to guard our home from any unwanted visitors.

After the shopping spree, we asked around town on how to get to the top of the Sierra Madre mountain where 3 white crosses stands. Pligrims flock to this shrine atop the mountain by foot during Holy Week. There were two ways to reach the crosses, the first is via San Antonio but only by foot and the other is via the town of Longos. It was a long and winding road to the top via Longos town. Although cemented, since it was not a regular route for motorized vehicles, only one lane of the two way road was passable due to tall and wild grasses. After 30 minutes of driving uphill, we finally reached our destination thanks to some local folks who had showed us the way. It was truly breath taking to see the 3 giant crosses right before our eyes. We could see the whole town of Paete below the view deck. James and John were very thrilled of the strong winds blowing in their faces.

After enjoying the view on top, we hurried up to go down since it was almost sunset. It would be difficult to maneuver those curves in the the dark. When we got back to the town we wanted to check on the light house. But to our disappointment, we could not reach the light house because the lake's water flooded the road. According to a local we had asked, during this time of year, the water of the lake rises and floods the whole reclamation area.

There are indeed hundreds of secrets one could discover in this small and quiet town of Paete.

Serendra @ Fort Bonifacio

Probably one of the coolest places the kids had enjoyed visiting. It's a heaven for photographers with the numerous interesting subjects around the place. It's also one of those places where the rich and famous shop and hang-out.



And because Christmas is near, there was a chorale group singing Christmas carols.



There was also a Lego land exhibit for a cause. For every 200 pesos donation, you get to help UNICEF in their efforts to help uplift the lives of poor Filipino children.





Nikki also built her own Lego mini Santa while James was very fascinated with the Lego Ferrari. A pose by Mommy, Nikki, James and John infront of the Lego Christmas tree makes you feel that Christmas is just around the corner.

Philippine Center for Padre Pio of Pietrelcina

November 22, 2008 - It was our first visit to the Philippine Center of St. Pio in Bagumbayan, Quzon City. Every 23rd of the month, a novena followed by a healing mass was heard in the chapel in honor of St. Pio. We were surprised that a very quiet and peacful place in the heart of the city still exist. There was even a special room for kids just to make the mass solemn and to avoid distracting other pilgims from the noise of the children. After the mass, there was a short sharing by the priest of the life of Padre Pio followed by the annointing of the the sick. Everybody lined-up to be blessed by the priest. There was even a sumptous meal prepared for everybody after the celebration.



At the back of the chapel was a statue of Padre Pio. You can write your petitions and prayers and ask for help.

Padre Pio was canonized by Pope John Paul II in Rome on June 16, 2002. A miracle happened five years after when his tomb was opened by an Archbishop from Vatican. Padre Pio's body was found incorrupt. Todate, thousands of pilgrims flock to San Giovanni Rotondo in Italy to say "thank you" for the prayers answered and to continue to pray for more help.

Araneta’s Giant Christmas Tree

After doing our regular grocery shopping at Shopwise, we stopped and posed in-front of the Giant Christmas Tree.

As part of the tradition that started since 1981, a Giant Christmas Tree in-front of the Araneta Coliseum now known as the Big Dome, signals the official start of the Christmas season. With a height of almost 100 feet and more than ten thousand lights adorned with colorful giant ribbons and Coke Smile baubles, anyone would surely notice the bright colorful tree. This is just one of the few reasons to smile and be merry in this season of love and hope. Merry Christmas.....

Kamay Ni Hesus (2nd time around)

Our second trip to the Kamay Ni Hesus shrine in Lucban Quezon was last September 28, 2008. This time around, we were determined to reach the top of the grotto. It was a rainy and stormy week before the last Sunday of the month. Luckily, the sun came out in the morning of the 28th.



At the back of the church is the Garden of Eden. Statues of Adam and Eve before and after committing Original Sin was shown.



Different images of the Virgin Mary were lined-up around the church grounds.



Another grotto with the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary can be found at the right side of the main gate.





It was indeed a very rewarding experience to reach the top of the grotto. One could see the town of Lucban and a glimpse of the majestic mount Banahaw.



Everybody was tired but fulfilled to reach the top.

Nikki @ Eight

Nikki celebrated her 8th birthday with a simple family get together at the Siasoco compound in Marikina City. Lola prepared Nikki's favorite, white sauce spaghetti, chicken lollipops and cup cakes. It was a double celebration since it was also Tita Kat's birthday. It was a simple yet a memorable day for Nikki and the family.



Nikki helped in the preparations of the cup cakes.




After the party, it was time for the opening of the gifts. As usual, James and John came into the picture. They wanted to play with the gifts their ate had just received.



It was another shopping spree for Nikki on her 8th birthday.

Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene

Commonly known as the Quiapo church, it is one of the most popular catholic churches here in the Philippines. It is the official home of Black Nazarene, which has thousands of devotees and is believed to be miraculous. Last September 13, 2008, after the therapy sessions of John and James, we went to visit the Black Nazarene to ask for his guidance and healing. The whole family prayed the rosary seeking for healing and thanks giving to all the blessing that the family has been receiving all these years.

Frantic Saturday

For most of us, Saturday is normally a day off from hectic schedules, meetings and deadlines from work. But for my family, it’s one heck of a day. We start it off with waking up the kids at around 7 in the morning. Eating breakfast, taking a bath and finally getting dressed for a whole day of activities. We leave the house at around 9 am and drop off Mommy at the shuttle terminal (she has half day work at the office) going to Ortigas. Then from the Antipolo terminal, me together with Nikki, James and John travel down for the occupational therapy in Marikina at Kids Can Do. We need to be there by 10 am for an hour of therapy. Our next stop is Robinson’s Galleria in Ortigas. We pick-up Mommy from her office, eat lunch, do some window shopping and play at Tom’s World. At around 1:15 pm, off we go to Teacher’s Village in U.P. for an hour of speech therapy at C.H.I.P.S. The therapy ends at 3pm. We usually eat dinner in Marikina at Lolo and Lola’s house. We reach their house at around 5pm. After playing, cleaning the car, watching television, and eating dinner we prepare to head for home. We usually reach home at around 10 pm. Before we end the day, we finish it off with a prayer. Finally, it’s lights off.

The Blue Leaf

The Blue Leaf Events Pavilion in McKinley Road in Taguig is the venue of Ryan and Michelle's wedding held last June 14, 2008. The family had lots of pictures taken as souvenir shots. Poses were taken at the gazebo, the gabi garden and at the little bamboo forest.







To the newly weds, congratulations and best wishes.

Terrazas de Punta Fuego

June 19, 2008: Terrazas de Punta Fuego, Nasugbu Batangas. We brought Kuya Nervin to Punta Fuego. This time, it was in Terrazas de Punta Fuego. Together with Mommy, Tita Mel and Michelle, we drove off to Nasugbu, Batangas aboard Tita Mel's brand new Toyota Vios. With only 900 km in the odometer, it was a break-in trip for the car. Mommy's friend invited us as her guests and gave us a complimentary entrance and a cabaña.



We ate a sumptuous lunch at Cafe Sol which offered classic Filipino cuisine and seafood delights.



After eating lunch, we strolled along Boardwalk—Terrazas` which is a collection of Asian-inspired cabañas carved out of the forest, right on the beach front.




A dip in the infinity pool was simply a refreshing experience because of the calm breeze of fresh air coming from the fine white sand beach that is one of the best in Batangas.



Inside the locker rooms is another story. It's a perfect place to shower and relax after a day under the sun.



Indeed a very memorable trip for all of us.

Club Punta Fuego

March 20, 2008: Peninsula De Punta Fuego Nasugbu, Batangas. It was a hot summer day in the month of March when the family went to Club Punta Fuego. The seaside community of Punta Fuego is an exclusive resort, only for members and theirs guests. Accompanied by our Ninong Quezon, who is a member of the club, we drove all the way to Nasugbu, Batangas in his Ford Expedition. The trip was 3 and a half hours long. Upon seeing the fiery leaves of the fire trees from afar, we knew we were very near the place. Club Punta Fuego got it's name from these fire trees which is Spanish for "fire". Located atop a cliff overlooking the Sunset Cove is a two-level infinity pool which is one of the main attractions of the place. The pool is just behind the main club house.



It was very humid that day that a dip in the pool was very refreshing. James and John enjoyed swimming in the pool and the view of the place.




Behind Nikki and James is the family pool located at the lower beach club.



And behind John is the children's playground also at the lower beach club.



We stayed in one of the 33 Casitas (Spanish for dwelling) available for guests. It offers a spectacular view of the whole peninsula and the beautiful sunset.





Punta Fuego is a dream destination for the entire family.