PAMANA: A Father's Day Post (12 June 2012)

Hubby has been veerrryy busy these few months, rendering OT for successive weekends (as in wala nang QT=quality time with the family!).  Thank God yesterday was his last OT for a weekend! So for Father's Day Celebration, we invited both our families to join us for lunch at Pamana in Tagaytay last Independence Day.  We wanted to do an ocular visit of an Ayala property in Nuvali kaya lunch in Tagaytay is not far-fetched.  Ang ganda dun I swear and the property itself is quite promising. 

 Here is a rare shot with my brother's family who met up with us.  This is the area where we were seated with the family's pictures at the background.

Here is what we ordered:

The Original Bulalo (Php535.00) - This is just ordinary, nothing spectacular but the serving was large (good enough for our group of 11adults).

Three Way Adobo (Php295.00) - The Native Adobo Spareribs is yummy, my son loves the Adobo Flakes (di siya maalat and it's really crunchy) BUT the Chicken Adobong Puti is quite forgettable.

Kare-Kare (Php395.00) - Hubby loves Kare-Kare but he said the one in Cafe Romulo is way better than this one we had in Pamana.

Binagoongang Bagnet (Php365.00) - This one is a hit!

Pinoy Fondue (Php265.00) - This is a must-try when you do dine in at Pamana! Sarap!

 This is at the upper floor of Pamana with quite a good view of Taal.  The de Claro's cousins - yup! All boys yan hahaha!

7th at Tagaytay

We went with my in-laws to Tagaytay on Black Saturday. It just so happens that it is also Rafa's 7th-month birthday. Buti na lang most shops are open already and we were able to get a chocolate cake (Php499 lang!) from Red Ribbon on our way there. Ganda naman ng penmanship of the one who wrote the dedication on the cake. *clap* * clap*
Here is Rafa on his first-ever trip to Tagaytay. At the Pink Sisters. We never-ever missed a visit here whenever we go to Tagaytay. Most of the time, we do go to Tagaytay just for a visit to this place.

After visiting the Pink Sisters, we ended up in Dencio's for lunch kasi super traffic! We were supposed to eat in Gerry's but we are all hungry na kaya Dencio's na lang.

Here is Kuya. Nagsawa na 'ata sa picture-taking because more often than not eh ayaw na nya magpa-picture hahaha!

(candle blowing)

Side kwento: Dencio's waiter told us that if we eat the cake, we will have to settle the corkage of Php500 (ano! mas mahal pa sa cake!). I asked the supervisor instead if they have a cake we can buy. Wala raw... yun naman pala eh! So I reasoned with her and buti na lang she agreed without having to pay the corkage fee.

Here is Rafa's past time - to pull Mommy's hair all the freaking time! ;pHappy 7th-month Birthday, cutie pie!

During his visit to the pedia last March 27, he weighs 7.66 kgs and is 68 cms longer. His head circumference is 42 cms and chest circumference is 41 cms.

The Full Story

This is the story behind this post.

My brother texted me and Papa Saturday afternoon asking if we wanted to visit Lola and Tita in Batangas the next day since Monday is a holiday. I said ok but asked if we can come home a bit early as Lawrence has work the next day. Yup! Isa siya sa mga dakilang empleyado (standing ovation). We left QC at 5past and got to Cavite to pick-up my SIL and nephews around 6AM. We took the Cavite-Tagaytay-Lemery route. I didn't notice exactly what time we got there, maybe around 9AM. This is the house of my Lola and Tita standing in a wide, wide space that Josh, my nephew and Enzo had lots of fun exploring. Walang ganito sa condo namin!

And Enzo had fun playing with the goats... ...and rabbits, too! Hubby forgot to take pictures of the chickens.

Kuya got coconuts from the tree. Look at Enzo trying to carry one (ah! bigat).
This is Lola, my Papa's mother with Miguel (brother of Josh)...
...and Tita Ellen (Papa's sister).
This is the facade of Basilica de San Martin de Tours. The largest Basilica in the Philippines and in Asia. The image of Nuestra Señora de Caysasay can also be found here. We went here in the afternoon before going to the market. Just look at how beautiful this old Basilica... wow! And the ceiling is amazing.
This is a clearer picture of the one I earlier posted where hubby's camera seemed to focus on the "blue light." The focus now is on me and Rafa. The "blue light" is still visible but it moved compared to the photo I earlier posted. Check it out!
This is the altar where Nuestra Señora de Caysasay is. Can you see that "blue light" hovering over the altar?
Church goers can touch the image through the stairs at the back of the altar.
Here is a clear picture of the altar. The altar is at the right side of the front of the Basilica.
This is just me and Rafa after saying our prayer.
Honestly, hubby didn't do anything on the pictures. No photoshop, whatsoever! Except for our pictures, I told him not to enhance anymore the picture where the "blue light" is visible. We cannot explain what happened. None of us are photo experts. Tita told us though that Nuestra Señora de Caysasay is believed to be miraculous. Simply amazing!

Glimpse of an Enchanting Weekend in Batangas (22 January 2012)

Looks like a side view of a face. We were thinking it might be the Our Lady of Caysasay as she is dressed in a blue gown. Hmmm...

See how the camera seemed to focus on the "blue light?" Strange...

Looking forward to 2012!

So much to look forward to... and with much anticipation I guess.

We have to be frugal this coming year and more discerning (the term!) when it comes to our expenses. We cannot simply splurge and splurge and splurge like we did in 2011. Our battle cry for 2012 is "Save! Save! We must!"

With the projected expenses for the coming year - tuition fee by 2nd quarter (nanay na talaga ako!) and Rafa's 1st birthday party by 3rd quarter - we really must monitor how we spend in 2012. Less unnecessary dine-outs, I suppose pwede fastfood (but that's not healthy!). And if we "want" to buy something, we need to think not only twice but thrice if we "need" it at that moment. Better yet, postpone buying it for a week or so and see if the desire to have it is still there by then.

Except for a few items we badly needed to get already. Like a new, no-frost refrigerator which we are getting this January. Napapagod na si yaya mag-defrost every 2 weeks hahaha! We also needed new cooking pots and electric stove (in case and we usually do ran out of gasul!). A smaller, wooden laundry basket we can put inside the washroom so we can take out the big, aluminum-type "trash can" we are currently using which was given to us by my BIL (as it's not working already and so as to lessen the clutter in our small abode). Also, a desk & chair (with storage spaces for the small toys) for Enzo so he has a place to work on his assignments. We saw something similar in S&R and I hope it's still there when I get the moolah to buy for it.

Some "wants" on the list is a new bag. I wanted to get the Petit Noe but I know it's impractical so I'm eyeing this Michael Korrs bag. Let's see if I have enough bonus to justify the splurge. Cheaper than Petit Noe for sure! And something I can use everyday in the office. Sige, i-justify pa! ;p

An out of town trip, maybe Boracay again. Oh! and a divider for our sala. I'm still visualizing if it will occupy too much space.

So 2012... I am sooo ready for you!

2011: the year that was...

2011 has been a blessed year to our little family with the arrival of bunso, Rafa. There is really nothing more to ask. We are thankful to the Lord for giving us our heart's desire. Late last year, hubby and I were already discussing about having baby #2 as we believe this is the gap we wanted for our kids. Honestly, I don't want to be 35 and still be caring for an infant. I want to enjoy them as toddlers already when I reached that age. I'm turning 33 next year, I'll have a 4-going-5 toddler and a baby-going-1. Not bad huh?! Thinking of baby #3... hahaha! No more (for now) but we're not punctuating that statement with a period. God might have other plans and I'm still within the age range that I'm okay to still be carrying another baby. But with the difficulty that goes with the pregnancy as I get older, I'd like to stick with my 2 boys. And with our plans to bring the boys to Disneyland on Enzo's 7th Birthday (year 2014 - I'll be 35!), that just might be the case for good. Note to self: must SAVE! SAVE! SAVE!

Going back this 2011, early January, we were able to go to Nuvali. I didn't know I was pregnant already this time. It took us the end of the month before we decided to take the pregnancy test and voila! It wasn't as easy when I had Enzo in 2007 (I was 28 then!). I had bouts with nausea and GDM on my last trimester. That wasn't fun. But I had to be strong for the little boy. And now looking at him (at 3months), I'm still in awe that we were gifted with such a precious little angel.

We weren't able to travel for 2 years now (cancelled our Bohol trip last 2010 because Enzo got sick boohoo! then I got pregnant) but we plan to make up for next year. Though we were able to enjoy summer as we enroll Enzo to Futbol Fanatics. He surely had a blast and we'll do it again this coming summer of 2012. We also enrolled Enzo in school for Junior Nursery.

We did get a few gadgets this year so materially, we are also as blessed. And grateful for that.

Fish Feeding @ Nuvali

With less than a month, I will be turning 32. My age is out of any months in the calendar. Hubby says, “it’s okay, you’re still in Lotto!” grrr… But I don’t really mind my age now unlike when I was younger and single. I think it is my family that makes me feel complete. Financially, we are better off now than when we were just getting started. Our combined salaries then would have been lower than what hubby is earning now. But we survived then… with the weddings costs then I got pregnant at once and delivered via CS plus Christening and 1^st birthday party. Whoa! That’s a lot and we survived. Sometimes, I think that even if I quit my job now and rely only on hubby’s income, we should be okay. It’s just a matter of spending within your means. Except we might not be able to afford to send Enzo to Ateneo harharhar!

-oOo-

On another note, hubby gained the confidence in driving (or is it really me who gained the confidence to let him drive?!) so we are able to use now my parents’ car to bring us to nearby malls. Maybe next time, I will be brave enough to let him drive in EDSA (maybe on a holiday!). Enzo named “his” car – Astroboy. Technically, it is my parents’ car which my brother used until he was able to get their own car. It is really an old but reliable car which even survived the wrath of Ondoy.

Our only problem is the parking in our area. So we still park the car in my parents’ house which is some blocks away from our condo. We still end up hailing a cab on our way home.

-oOo-

Last Sunday, January 9, we went to Tagaytay, Caleruega, Nasugbu and Nuvali, Sta. Rosa. We were supposed to go with hubby’s cousins that Saturday however, Enzo is a bit feverish that Friday night so we begged off. My in-laws offered to bring us that Sunday. My parents also went with us. It is Enzo’s 3^rd time in Tagaytay. The weather that Sunday was cool but rainy.

Here are some of our pictures in Pink Sisters.

Then off we went to Caleruega. This was our 1st time there.

Before we proceeded to Nuvali in Sta. Rosa, we dropped by Rowena’s to buy buko pies/buko tarts. I swear their pies/tarts are way better than Collete’s.

Enzo had the most fun in Nuvali and enjoyed the fish feeding and boat ride a lot. The fish food is Php15.00/plastic while the boat ride is Php30.00/person with a capacity of 12 pax. 2 years old and below are free of charge.

We treated the lolos and lolas for lunch at Pig-Out since hubby was recently promoted. It’s always a plus points for me (and I guess for any moms or dads out there) when restaurants have activity sheets and crayons to keep my son occupied while we enjoy the food. Though their rice platter is small especially when you compare it with those offering unlimited rice these days. I think we ended up ordering 2 additional platters of rice. But the dishes we ordered are all yummy!

Their bestseller Crispy Pata (Php549.11). Though the skin is not that crunchy anymore.

Flavorful Adobong Spareribs (Php433.04 ) which hubby loved!

Yummy Grilled Tuna Belly (Php388.39 ) which I loved!

We were unable to bring Enzo to Ocean Park last year. I am hoping we can bring him this year. When? My birthday is actually coming up but I am decided to only celebrate at home by ordering spaghetti from Amber (which I have been craving for lately!), pitchi-pitchi with cheese, Elar’s Lechon or KFC bucket and Brooklyn Pizza (which I missed the most when I left AIM!).