The biggest difficulty was deciding who to spend time with. Unlike other family gatherings, I was glad to see most everybody. Classmates and professors from grad school, cousins from down South (ok, just Paranaque, he he), cousins from around the block, feisty titas & lunching ladies, jesuits, and neighbours.
Neighbours. That is such a novelty. My dad was at the neighborhood community center earlier in the day and he remarked that he met more neighbours that morning than he had ever met in 30 years of living at our old home. One of our neighbours is this remarkable lady who said that she enjoyed reading the obituary section of the Economist. When I mentioned that half the time I don't know who they're writing about she countered with "all the more you should read them!". Good point.
One highlight of the day though was the entry of our next door neighbour of Ponds cream fame. Goodness. Luminous and amazing. I usually make jokes to my siblings and cousins and call them "pathetic" for being so star struck, but I do know that I get that way too. I said something quite moronic like, "Hi, I'm Fabian. I'm the son of my father". DOH!
For this family event I was in charge of dessert. This meant some last minute shopping for pistachio ice cream, and a decision to buy a cake. Courtesy of a "tea party" I had attended a few months ago, I had the idea of ordering a Lemon Torte . Out of the many wonderful desserts served during that party, this one stuck out. I also figured it would handle the heat well (though I took more than a few precautions). Needless to say, it was a hit, especially as it was unveiled to Auntie Susan and Mom's classmates in the air-conditioned dining room. It seemed like a special cake for them only. They were the best audience really. Pristine white lemon torte cake on white table cloth and white plates and silver. It all worked out. I was knighted a 'foodie'. "Nigella Lawson is quite sensual." "Where did you buy this?" Ha ha. That's the kind of question you love titas to ask you.
Only little hitch was when a strong downpour came and we had our old problem of leaks on the 2nd floor. We had to drill holes to prevent the dreaded pooling that devastated Kel's room just the weekend previous. A few guests over stayed a bit, but it's all good. Good time to share things with people.
* * *
Prior to this family thing, I wanted two things to happen. I wanted us to remember well where we came from, and I wanted people excited for the future. Not much of the former, enough of the latter. One of two ain't bad. It's a changing different time.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Anilao
Just returned from Anilao, a little burnt and tired. Quite a good trip though. Arranged this trip primarily for cousin Johanna who wanted to get some mileage in as a newly certified diver. Thought she got her moneys worth: overnight stay + gear rental + good food + 7 dives(!) = around $90 US. Diving in the Philippines is really a steal.
We stayed at Planet Dive , which was a no-brainer coz that place has always been reliable and comfortable. Just a bit of a chore to get too 'coz of the rough roads, but well worth it.
Finally had the excuse to do a discovery dive, something that took two years to do. Perhaps thanks to being in the water more this year, that whole bit went without a hitch. No problems equalizing, and all the colorful fishies to see. Our divemaster Carl was cool, and helped Martha out well when she was having trouble with her mask and tank. Being underwater is just about being 'chill' as Gica would put it. Feeding fish and watching the aquarium movie. Evenings spent some time with J just looking at books about molluscs, echinoderms, fish, coral, etc.
Rest of the time, when not enjoying PD's yummy meals (kilawin and seafood curry, pare), we just went island hopping and snorkeling. More fishies. More coral. Last bit was just working on some snorkeling skills 'coz people were tired of going to other places.
Could I imagine getting certified 2006? Perhaps. I think it's just a matter of time really. Money and Motivation shouldn't be big problems. I think I need a dive buddy for this one, someone besides all my other friends who already got their c-cards.
Finally, some color on my skin!
We stayed at Planet Dive , which was a no-brainer coz that place has always been reliable and comfortable. Just a bit of a chore to get too 'coz of the rough roads, but well worth it.
Finally had the excuse to do a discovery dive, something that took two years to do. Perhaps thanks to being in the water more this year, that whole bit went without a hitch. No problems equalizing, and all the colorful fishies to see. Our divemaster Carl was cool, and helped Martha out well when she was having trouble with her mask and tank. Being underwater is just about being 'chill' as Gica would put it. Feeding fish and watching the aquarium movie. Evenings spent some time with J just looking at books about molluscs, echinoderms, fish, coral, etc.
Rest of the time, when not enjoying PD's yummy meals (kilawin and seafood curry, pare), we just went island hopping and snorkeling. More fishies. More coral. Last bit was just working on some snorkeling skills 'coz people were tired of going to other places.
Could I imagine getting certified 2006? Perhaps. I think it's just a matter of time really. Money and Motivation shouldn't be big problems. I think I need a dive buddy for this one, someone besides all my other friends who already got their c-cards.
Finally, some color on my skin!
Sunday, May 14, 2006
my so-called suburban life
Have been living, comfortably, in LGV the past two weeks and things are going well. This is fortunate because I am able to temporarily distract myself with whatever dissatisfactions I've been getting in my professional life. Thankfully, we have quickly moved into a civilized existence here. We've got cable, phone lines, and internet. The first few days, I semi-felt (though not regrettably), that I was far away from everything, what compounded by that fact that we are in the further reaches of LGV. That has its own charms, but i digress. Now, that I'm plugged in, things are more comfortable again. :)
Airconditioning and Internet. Very important.
My room is shaping up! All you guys who I've bugged about advice, thanks. The room isn't complete yet, and it 'never will be" (haha). BUT, as Mahar will probably be glad to hear, I have lost the urge to hang-out in my siblings rooms. The minimum livable-ness quotient has been breached, and I could even legitimately claim that there is some sort of atmosphere in the room. Bob's framer did a decent job on this poster, and the color choice of the walls really worked out. Still would like to add other comforts in the room, but won't put that all down here, coz then that'll just be Queenie McBear braggy.
Living in a subdivision is a new thing for me, and, I find myself wondering if some family members realize how they're being sucked into the alternate reality that comes from living in a gated neighborhood (and in a pretty paranoid, though not without reason, gated neighborhood at that). Askals are not allowed/frowned upon here. So I still feel a little pang of guilt that we had to leave our askal dogs back in our old place with the tenants. The names of our dogs were Mommy Dog (coz she's a prolific puppy-bearing dog), and Zorro. Now, we have a mixed retriever that was gifted to Kel. His name is Nash (yes, Phoenix Nash), and he actually now sits when we tell him to. I know, how sub-urbia right. Hilarious. Our manang now speaks to our dog in English. "Come here, Nash!" Oh no, not you too.
We did a very sub-urbianny thing this afternoon. Pop bought bikes. Two bikes on the cheap, bought in Marikina (our backdoor). They look nice enough, but of course would never stand up for a real road test IMHO, much less for a triathlon. But, during early mornings I guess I'll be able to get around the neighborhood with less hassle. Really, this neighborhood is so Pro-Car already it's kinda gross. People can scarcely commute to this place (unlike our old house near Banawe and Quezon Ave.) If you take a cab home, you kinda feel you have to tip big, coz he really is 10 minutes into a neighborhood where his chances of getting a passenger are slim-to-none.
The end of the summer is just gonna speed along. I know it. Ateneo is hosting the Asian Universities Debating Championships. They're gunning for the 5th win in a row. Inside tsismis for debaters: I heard ICU made semis in rival tourney Asians. That's something huh? he he.
My cousins from the US are also coming over, partially to celebrate the 90th birthday of my recently passed Grandmo. It's Mother's Day. Happy Mother's Day Grandmo! It's the first holiday I think that we won't be placing a call for her. No kwento about what their ulam and celebration is gonna be. We should play mah-jong (her game).
Drop me a line guys, I miss a lot of you guys. til next entry
Airconditioning and Internet. Very important.
My room is shaping up! All you guys who I've bugged about advice, thanks. The room isn't complete yet, and it 'never will be" (haha). BUT, as Mahar will probably be glad to hear, I have lost the urge to hang-out in my siblings rooms. The minimum livable-ness quotient has been breached, and I could even legitimately claim that there is some sort of atmosphere in the room. Bob's framer did a decent job on this poster, and the color choice of the walls really worked out. Still would like to add other comforts in the room, but won't put that all down here, coz then that'll just be Queenie McBear braggy.
Living in a subdivision is a new thing for me, and, I find myself wondering if some family members realize how they're being sucked into the alternate reality that comes from living in a gated neighborhood (and in a pretty paranoid, though not without reason, gated neighborhood at that). Askals are not allowed/frowned upon here. So I still feel a little pang of guilt that we had to leave our askal dogs back in our old place with the tenants. The names of our dogs were Mommy Dog (coz she's a prolific puppy-bearing dog), and Zorro. Now, we have a mixed retriever that was gifted to Kel. His name is Nash (yes, Phoenix Nash), and he actually now sits when we tell him to. I know, how sub-urbia right. Hilarious. Our manang now speaks to our dog in English. "Come here, Nash!" Oh no, not you too.
We did a very sub-urbianny thing this afternoon. Pop bought bikes. Two bikes on the cheap, bought in Marikina (our backdoor). They look nice enough, but of course would never stand up for a real road test IMHO, much less for a triathlon. But, during early mornings I guess I'll be able to get around the neighborhood with less hassle. Really, this neighborhood is so Pro-Car already it's kinda gross. People can scarcely commute to this place (unlike our old house near Banawe and Quezon Ave.) If you take a cab home, you kinda feel you have to tip big, coz he really is 10 minutes into a neighborhood where his chances of getting a passenger are slim-to-none.
The end of the summer is just gonna speed along. I know it. Ateneo is hosting the Asian Universities Debating Championships. They're gunning for the 5th win in a row. Inside tsismis for debaters: I heard ICU made semis in rival tourney Asians. That's something huh? he he.
My cousins from the US are also coming over, partially to celebrate the 90th birthday of my recently passed Grandmo. It's Mother's Day. Happy Mother's Day Grandmo! It's the first holiday I think that we won't be placing a call for her. No kwento about what their ulam and celebration is gonna be. We should play mah-jong (her game).
Drop me a line guys, I miss a lot of you guys. til next entry
Monday, May 01, 2006
bye bye old house
Gica and I passed by P. Florentino yesterday afternoon for a last minute clearing out of things that would then be transferred to Nova Scotia (street). Macy did a good job in moving things out though, since there was scarcely anything left for Gica and I to cart away, just a few stray musical score books that were gathering dust in a bodega.
Our old house has been transformed! We even have some photos as "evidenciary support". Our front door now has mini-Chinese lions on either side to welcome guests about to walk in. The foyer had all these religious figurines (ready for installation), and fake plastic flowers everywhere. Our patio has the orange fall-effect fake potted plants. What's with our tenants and the penchant for artificial foliage?
Upstairs, my parents room were painted deep pink. I'm glad actually coz it gave the room a better look. It looked much less sorry than the mess we had left it in from last week. It gave me the feeling that some Chinese spirits are gonna move into this house. My old room is now the temporary storage area for the new tenants things. There are multi-colored balls, for luck I assume, in a basket in my room. lovely.
* * *
Further up north, it has been moving in and decorating time at the new house. lots of problems/issues to deal with, which is why I've been neglecting this spot somewhat (and also because our house is very un-civilized in that there is no internet connection there! awful). the landscaping needs work, but our rooms are coming along. Megamall is a new friend coz we get stuff from Our Home to spruce the place up. you guys should check out my new room. i can imagine now burrowing and killing a lot of time in there. Never have I been so organized.
* * *
you guys should drop by for a merienda and chat. it's May, summer's almost over
Our old house has been transformed! We even have some photos as "evidenciary support". Our front door now has mini-Chinese lions on either side to welcome guests about to walk in. The foyer had all these religious figurines (ready for installation), and fake plastic flowers everywhere. Our patio has the orange fall-effect fake potted plants. What's with our tenants and the penchant for artificial foliage?
Upstairs, my parents room were painted deep pink. I'm glad actually coz it gave the room a better look. It looked much less sorry than the mess we had left it in from last week. It gave me the feeling that some Chinese spirits are gonna move into this house. My old room is now the temporary storage area for the new tenants things. There are multi-colored balls, for luck I assume, in a basket in my room. lovely.
* * *
Further up north, it has been moving in and decorating time at the new house. lots of problems/issues to deal with, which is why I've been neglecting this spot somewhat (and also because our house is very un-civilized in that there is no internet connection there! awful). the landscaping needs work, but our rooms are coming along. Megamall is a new friend coz we get stuff from Our Home to spruce the place up. you guys should check out my new room. i can imagine now burrowing and killing a lot of time in there. Never have I been so organized.
* * *
you guys should drop by for a merienda and chat. it's May, summer's almost over
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