Rain and Floods

It's been raining in Cotabato for several days now. It used to be long time ago, Cotabato rained only at night which was good for the farmers. If it rained during the day, it was probably due to the sweeping end of a typhoon tail somewhere in Luzon and/or the Visayas. These past few years however, low pressure areas are more oftenly spotted somewhere near Mindanao. Last year and the year before, two storms hit Mindanao: Cagayan de Oro and Davao region devastatingly. Although Cotabato has not experienced a direct hit yet, but we have been living through successive rains which rarely happened before and flooding occurs all around low lying area due to poor drainage system and poor city planning and calamity preparation foresight. The city local government is now clamoring for help from the national level for the dredging of the river delta which has been a white elephant project ever since the start of its supposedly operation.

On a lighter side - Personally though, I love down cast weather. I stay at home. It makes me lazy and sleepy. The cool air makes me hungry too. When it rains, I like to read, or tinker around with little memorabilia things like old photographs, my stamp collections or do jigsaw puzzle. These days, I write my blogs just like what I am doing right now.

But irregardless of my own personal weather preference, I do hope some help materializes for Cotabato City. That the dredging at the mouth of the river will soon occur to help ease out the flooding that is causing a lot of misery to a lot of people. Some of our store employees are greatly affected too. They live in low lying places that get flooded even at the slightest rain. Or maybe it is the wrath of nature that throws back at us, because we do not know how to take care of our surroundings. Our forests are denuded because of illegal logging, our mountains are swept away from greedy miners, people dispassionately throw rubbish around the streets and water ways, our leaders enrich themselves with public funds, etc. If for anything at all, we are mostly the root cause of our own problem by our own devil may care attitude until a calamity over takes us. And then we pray..... for God to help us............

Lucas Birthday Pictures

 Rice, lengua with white sauce, sotanghon, sweet and sour fish and chicken curry

 Dinuguan, mango and bagoong, fruit salad, red gulaman, table banana tundan

 And lechon and ripe mangoes that complete the buffet table

 Karaoke singing for the guests composed mostly of LCT store employees

 They came in red.

 Let's drink.............

 and eat ..............

 and  be merry.........

 Group singing 

 With James, Luna and Vicente

 Family and friends

 Immediate family - Tom, Angel, Dylan and Yuri

 Dylan leading the singing of the birthday song 

 After party karaoke group...let the singing continue

And grandpa and Yuri dancing to the music

After party bonding time

Lucas 73rd Birthday Surprise

Lucas celebrated his 73rd birthday in Cotabato. That same day July 12, 2013, my children Emil, Martha and Marion were leaving for United Kingdom for Marion's graduation at University of Warwick. Unlike last year, where Lucas and I went to Manila to celebrate his natal day with our children, this year we opted to stay home and have an after-work party with our employees. They have been like our second/extended family here in Cotabato City.

Unexpectedly few days before the celebration, Tomas texted me from Manila that he planned to come home for his dad's birthday. I told him that he need not come at all, for it would be such a hassle travelling with two young boys: Dylan and Yuri age 7 and 2 respectively. It was the Friday and Tom and Angel had to take a leave from work and Dylan had to absent himself from school also. But Tom had his mind set to come home and told me specifically not to inform his father. He wanted to surprise him.

That - wasn't going to be an easy task for me. For aside from busy preparing for a party for 70 people, I had to quietly prepare for their home coming too. I requested my two helpers to keep things hush hushed. Without much noise, they helped me get ready the big unused bedroom for occupancy. We also brought out plates and utensils, glasses and cups to set the table for more than two persons. But there was this problem of fetching Tomas and family from the airport, I could not personally fetch them home without Lucas wondering where I was. That very morning when they were supposed to arrive before noon, I asked Nestor our driver/employee to go to the airport and please to keep it all a secret to himself. But, their flight however was so much delayed, for more than four hours. I was really getting worried. Even after lunch, I could not take my siesta without constantly looking at my cell phone for further news from Tom and Angel who were still at the pre-departure area in Manila. I said a couple of prayers for their safe travel and when they informed me that they were starting to board the plane already, I thus continued with the remaining preparations and went down to the store later to anticipate their arrival. At the store, after a while of absent, people were starting to look for Nestor. They knew he went to the airport but nobody knew whom he was meeting. The 'surprise', instead of coming home before noon, arrived at four o'clock in the afternoon. What a travelling inconvenience for them, but thank God, He brought Tom and Angel and Dylan and Yuri safely home to Cotabato.

When they arrived, I was inside the store office reading newspaper while Lucas was in his own cell working :) I saw Tomas and Dylan came in first. I cried out happily and told them to get inside Lucas' office and kiss him 'happy birthday'. Lucas heard the commotion outside, then he saw Tom and Dylan entered his work cubicle. He was really surprised, he jumped out from his seat. He confessed that he was so happy, he felt like crying. Everybody was so happy for him too. After all, those people whom I told to keep it a secret, did their job pretty well too (many thanks to them). It was the happiest birthday gift for Lucas.

In behalf of Lucas, myself and my family, I sincerely thank God for the gift of life and the gifts of friends and families (personal as well as adoptive/extended). Thank you very much dear Lord.

Still Around

Hello, I am still here! Still very much around, although I got sick few days after my trip to Lake Sebu. At this age, I am not used to hectic outing schedule anymore. I have to take it easy. So at present, I am nursing myself back to good health. I am sleeping a lot and eating healthy food for my weak stomach. There's not much activity here in Cotabato anyway. I read the papers, do crossword puzzles, play the piano, do my taichi and help the cook prepare the family meals. I still have not opened my Mona Lisa jigsaw puzzle yet which I bought in Louve and another interesting box of smaller jigsaw pieces which I bought in Manila during my last vacation. Last week, I attended a couple of parties but I ate sparingly. Losing a few pounds might be good for me.

Day Trip to Lake Sebu

Yesterday June 14, 2012, I went on a day trip to Lake Sebu with the Mary Mediatrix Ladies Circle of Cotabato City. We were a big contingent of around 50 persons under the able tour group leadership of our parish priest, the reverend Monsignor Antonio Pueyo, DCC. He used to head the Notre Dame College of Tacurong in Sultan Kudarat for more than 12 years and knew the vicinity well. The group was divided and accommodated into 4 transport vehicles. I joined in with the bus contingent. The outing was well planned and well organized. Kudos to Monsignor Pueyo and Celia Te, president of the MMLC.

 Inside the bus

 Father Pueyo giving pre-departure instructions to the driver.

 At Notre Dame of Tacurong convento with the Rector, Rev. Fr. Bong Fuentes DCC

My sister Jeannette and I with our able parish priest Monsignor Antonio Pueyo DCC

 at the Tacurong convento

We were served snacks. I loved their banana turon most specially. Ate two pieces of them.

 Road side scenery on our way to Lake Sebu.

 Arriving Lake Cebu at Punta Isla Resort, I took a picture with the Tiboli dance family.

They welcomed us with Tiboli songs and dance.

" Hi, I'm in Lake Sebu. "

 Juliet and Precy's miniature size propped up the grand view. Hehe..

Group picture with President Celia Te in blue top.
 

 Our buffet lunch

Chicharon tilapia and others

 On our way back to Cotabato.... Tributaries of Allah River looked like they were almost over flowing.

We left Cotabato City at 8 AM, took lunch at Lake Sebu at noon, left for Cotabato around 2PM and arrived home few minutes after 5. Thank God for a safe and pleasant trip.

Shopping

I am not a compulsive shopper, but I enjoy shopping and sometimes window shopping. In Cotabato, I buy only what is necessary, but when I am in Manila, I love looking at the latest fashion and accessories. How I wish I were that slim to fit into those dresses. The next best thing I do is buy clothes for my daughters because they belong to those extra small and small sizes. But when it comes to spending for my own self, I choose things pretty quickly. I am not very meticulous and I am easy to please. Often times, I am up to date in my get up but I am sure nobody really pays much attention to how I look.
Some years ago, when ladies of the houses in Cotabato City went crazy with Chinese ornamental jars, I stayed put. I actually thought those gigantic vases were some kind of a cheap imitation. One day, I bought a small Ching dynasty antique saucer. (there were excavation sites of buried porcelain in Dulawan). I bought the antiquated piece from a local Chinese dealer and displayed it on the shelf.....but alas my maids soon broke it into pieces. That's the end of my mocked up porcelain acquisition.
Shopping is mostly done during Christmas time but I rather give baked goodies to friends rather than buy trifle things that nobody really want. Sometimes though, I am possessed by Mrs. Jolly Good Christmas Spirit and splurge on nicer gift items. It makes me happy to be a little generous during the yuletide season.
Whenever I go abroad, I spend more on food than shopping. My luggage allocation never gets over weight. But woe, each time I reach home, I don't have enough presents to give everybody.
Shopping for clothes sometime is a bit tedious. Obviously because I don't have the figure for good suitability. However few days ago, I went shopping with my children at the greenbelt area and I was just so happy to finally find the right place to buy short length but oversize pants. They were just the right fit for me and no need for alteration. One pair was a little bit costly though. No matter, for now I know where to find the store for my proper fit. I also bought one dress for my daughter and I was really happy to spend my time and money shopping with them.

Class '68 Tagaytay Outing 2013

My high school classmate Rita Cua Uy came to the Philippines from Canada to visit her parents in Cotabato. Taking the opportunity of her short stay in Manila, CCI batch 1968 arranged for a mini overnight reunion at Tagaytay on June first. Sixteen of us former classmates responded to attend the outing. Namely: Imelda Bugayong, Corazon Taeza, Herminigilda Chew, Anita Go, Remedios Fornillos, Robert Atienza, Ricky Lim, Robert Tan, Quan Minton, Manny Hao, Pablo Lu, Ramon Yee Fon, John Co, Pepe Chio, Rita and I.

For our class outing, the batch hired a coaster big enough to shuttle the group. We were picked up at two junctions, one at UCCC Tomas Morato, Quezon City and another one at Cash and Carry, Makati. After everybody was picked up at the two meeting places, we requested a drop-off to get our packed lunch at Manyann, Makati. We then proceeded to Naia terminal 3 to await for the arrival of Rita from Cotabato at 1 PM. When Rita arrived, we were all so joyous to see and welcome her. Losing no more valuable time to go on our trip, we ate our packed lunch inside the coaster. Because of time constraints and because not everybody was capable of climbing steep terrain, our initial activity to cross Taal lake and trek Taal volcano was cancelled. We arrived Tagaytay around 4 PM. Booked and stayed at Tagaytay Vista Lodge. It was an old renovated classic inn considered as having the most ideal panoramic location in town. Instead of doing the trek, we visited the MH family resort at Alfonso to chill out. We took a sumptuous supper at Leslie's Restaurant and went to the Casino at night. Three of our classmates who took chance to play, won!

The next day, on June 2nd which was a Sunday, we leisurely took our buffet breakfast at the hotel, attended mass inside the hotel area, checked out at noon and off to Minton's Batangas farm for late lunch and recreation. For our hungry stomach and thirsty palate, our most gregarious host Minton prepared lechon, grilled tilapia, lechon manok, Indian mango, tinola and young coconut. After lunch, some boys played poker, others catch-up and talked with each others; the girls did karaoke singing and practiced dancing together. We also picked up plants from the farm such as celery, leeks, basil, green mangoes, ripe bananas to bring home to our respective families. Before going home we were served sibut soup to increase our stamina. And off we went back home, exhausted but cheerful, happy and gay, hoping for another class reunion to happen again next year.

To date, this was my fourth trip to Tagaytay since February. It was as enjoyable each time with sets of different companies. For our mini class reunion, the place was nice, the company even better!!!

Below are some pictures taken:

 Imelda and Minton on the bus

Class 68 at the airport welcoming Rita (center green)

 

Cora, Remy, Anita and Hermie at the hotel lobby

 The guys: Ramon, Pablo, Ricky, Robert, Manny, Pepe, John, Minton

 Berto, the only thorn among the roses with Hermie, Cora, Imelda, Heddy, Remy, Rita and Anita

 Class'68 at MH family resort

The girls at the hotel lobby at night

 At Minton Batangas Farm
 

Roses from Robert Tan. He gave a bouquet of roses to all the girls.