A Message of Thanks

I took my parents to a walk in the park today. It was supposed to be just for sight-seeing and maybe a little exercise, but it turned out to be one bonding experience. We started talking about how much sacrifice there is to having a baby and my mom ended up musing over how we were being cared for when we were little.

I may never be able to put into enough words what my parents have done to make me feel indebted to them for the rest of my life. We were an average family--my father was a manager of a small financing company and my mother a housewife, who at the same time was running a small family business for some extra income. They didn't earn much so we didn't have the luxury of material possessions that other people had. But we were happy. My parents were able to send us to one of the best schools in the city and despite being around wealthy children all the time, they made sure we did not feel inferior.

There were times when we would envy our friends and wished we had what they had. There were even times when we would ask our parents "why didn't you just become a nurse or an engineer so you could go abroad and we would have plenty of money?" Other times, we would ask them "if you can hardly afford it, why did you send us to these expensive schools?"

But my parents knew what was essential to life. They would always remind us that we had enough, and that we were better off than they were when they were growing up. My parents always told us that we should work hard and take advantage of education so when we get older and have families of our own, we can do better than them and we can give our kids more than what they could give us.

Needless to say, they instilled in us the values of contentment, togetherness and integrity, which as I now fully comprehend, are way more important than money.

I guess I'll never be what I am now if my parents didn't raise me the way that they did, and I can never thank them enough. So I plan to spend the rest of my life making them aware of how much they have accomplished. They are the kind of parents that any child should wish for. And how very lucky I am that I am their child!

TO MA AND PA:

When I think of all the things you have done

the ways in which you care

I am filled with so much gratitude

and pride that is always there

I seldom take the time to tell you

how much you really mean to me

So now I’m telling you what’s in my heart

“I wish I can be even half as good a parent as you are to me!”

I love you dearly!

Little People

It is so delightful to have babies around. They're too cute that you just can't have enough of them.

My nephew has been with us for three days now, and I am so excited that he is staying until after New Year's day. I have to say that since he arrived, there has never been a dull moment in the house. Even when he's sleeping, and most of the time he does, we still get so amused just looking at him, feeling his breath and hearing his soft, delicate snore.

Yesterday, my nephew was having tantrums. He probably slept for only two hours and was crying the whole time. I didn't hear much of it because I was so asleep, but I heard everybody else in the house were awakened by baby's loud and almost nonstop crying. The hardest part is not knowing what's wrong with him and whatever it is that can soothe him down.

My sister said having a baby will really test our patience. But at the end of the day, the joys that the little ones bring to our lives will always outweigh the hard sacrifices. I guess--soon enough, I'll find out myself.

***I enjoyed photographing my nephew's hands and feet. Photos shown in Antique effect (aka Vintage) and B&W***

Merry Christmas

Warmest Wishes from our Family to Yours!!!

So this is my family --  standing from L-R: my brother Richard and his girlfriend Hannah, brother-in law John, sister Lorelie with her son Nathan, me and Charles. Sitting are my beloved parents Ricardo & Ludy.

Hope

Bay Bridge at Sunset

Bay Bridge at Night

We had our Christmas Party at work yesterday--the very first time we had luncheon instead of a formal dinner. The obvious reason being the crisis in the country--everyone is cutting costs and our company is no exception.

I really missed the dinner parties where I had the opportunity to dress up and look good, when I had the chance to bring the hubby along and meet my colleagues' significant others, when I can socialize with my colleagues and spend the entire night talking about anything other than work. Those were good times!

But there's more to it that makes me really sad. I miss what our company used to be--a small, friendly environment with people treating each other like family. You see, I was around when this company started. There were 4 people including myself--it was hardly even "a company". Then we started growing and got bigger each year. Now, after only 6 years, we became part of an even bigger company with about 40 people in our office alone and thousands of others outside of San Francisco. Don't get me wrong--this is actually good and this is what we wanted. But so much has changed in so little time. There are now so many unfamiliar faces, new leaders, new policies, new strategies, and it just does not feel like home anymore. Where are the brothers and sisters that I used to have fun with? Where are the parents that I have come to know and love? Most of them gone.

I didn't enjoy the party, to say the least. I brought my camera hoping to capture the fun moments, but I left the hall with hardly any pictures. So I spent the rest of the afternoon, sitting in our office, looking out to the beautiful city and wondering... "how is this going to end? at least for me..." I still love my job, I love what I do. But is this enough reason for me to come to the same place every single day?

These photos I took of the bay bridge (from our office window) speaks so much about how I felt. At 4pm, the dusk started rolling in, and in less than an hour I was looking at the darkness of the night. But what came before dusk is something that will surely come back. No matter how dark the night gets, the bright daylight awaits! And just like any day, some things will always have to start over. This put a smile on my face.

Brrrr...

There is no more denying that winter is finally here! Last night, we reached below 30°F (-1°C)--the lowest so far for this winter. I guess it stayed that way overnight because we woke up this morning seeing the lawn covered with thin ice, the maple leaves on the ground wilted and frozen, and neighbors spraying their ice-covered vehicles with water.

It doesn't snow in our area--or at least it hasn't for the past several years. So this is probably the worst that we can possibly experience--who knows? I don't really dislike winter--there are some things about it that I like. But it still is my least favorite season.

My Sweet Clementine

I have been eating a lot of these lately, not because I'm preggers but I just like it--it's sour and sweet, juicy and seedless!

A co-worker saw me eating this at work today and she blurted out "so that's what you are craving for, huh!" I wonder how we started associating sour food with pregnancy. Is it really true that most pregnant women crave for something sour? Or is it simply a notion?

I was kind of expecting it for myself--I mean I've always liked sour stuff but I thought this time I was really going to crave for it. But I don't feel that way, and luckily so because it's going to be tough trying to find green mangoes or "sampalok" or "iba" here.

Sweet Treats and Memories

It’s been a while since I had these—thanks to our friend Cindy, who visited us with her family for the first time.

Cindy's visit brought memories of our childhood days. We were neighbors in Tagbilaran back then. Cindy and her two sisters Mary Jane and Jennifer were our playmates. I don't know if she recalls it, but on few summer breaks they would come to our house and play with us when our parents were not around. Our parents worked the same hours and when they were out working, we were not allowed to go out of the house. I guess Cindy and her sisters were told the same.

So after my parents would leave, my sister and I would go outside, clap our hands as hard as we could (that was our cue) and the three sisters would come to our place with their toys and we would play the entire afternoon until it was time for our parents to come home. On some days we go to their place too. We loved playing with them not only because they were so nice but also because they had all the fancy toys--stuffed animals, crying dolls, game and watch, and other toys that we couldn't afford to get.

Those were sweet memories of our childhood days and we have Cindy and her sisters to thank for.

Thanks Dee! And thanks for sharing these delicious homemade treats! YUM!

Goodies from Home

My parents just arrived from Bohol and brought us all these goodies!

There's a few of our favorite canned goods--corned beef and beef loaf from home are so much better than the ones we can buy here. Dried mangoes are all-time favorites, I can only wish we are allowed to bring fresh mangoes too! I have recently been craving for Sampaloc, so they brought me this Moniegold Tamarind candy which did not disappoint--thanks to my friend and fellow Tamarindo-addict Riza who suggested this particular brand. Charles and I recently found ourselves yearning for a good hot chocolate after we finished a really good Belgian Hot Chocolate pack that was brought from a trip to London--the Instant Tabliya satisfied the craving! We also had Bulad from Tabu-an and Sukang Pinakurat that goes very well with the bulad! And for a Bol-anon like me, Peanut Kisses is a must-have!

These are only among the many pasalubongs that my parents got us, and this will probably last for a few more weeks. Nothing compares to the taste of home and I can't thank my parents enough for letting us experience it once again!

Flame

I didn't really have anything in mind when I took this photo. I guess I was just fascinated by the flame and thought it was a good color to capture.

This piece was a gift from my sister and I consider this one of the most important things in the house. It's an air-freshener/odor neutralizer. I fill the bottle with alcohol--unscented (if I want to just neutralize odor) or scented (if I want to freshen up the place). I light it up and keep the coil in flames for only a minute, then I put out the flames. The smoke that comes out of the coil effectively eliminates odor (especially from food) and freshens up the place.

I've had this for over three years now and it's still works perfectly. To me, it's definitely better than candles, sprays and oil diffusers.

Thanks Sis!

A Special Holiday

We normally start decorating for Christmas right after Thanksgiving holiday. But this year, we're a little late. We have just finished putting up the Christmas tree and hanging lights outside the house. I still have a box half-full of Christmas decors still to be hanged or placed somewhere, and a stack of Christmas cards to send out.

I used to be so excited about all the decorating, the cards and the holiday shopping. But this year has been different. I haven't even made one trip to the mall. This year is all about family and the excitement that comes with having them around once more. Christmas this year is going to be very special to us because after ten long years of being apart, we are finally spending Christmas together all over again. My sister's baby Nathan is also joining us for the first time, and we have another one coming soon.

I have so much to be thankful for! This has been a phenomenal year, and the next year comes with a lot of promise.

The Place...continued

The Mallard ducks are some of the residents of the Palace of Fine Arts. They create a spectacular sight while bobbing along the surface of the pond. They are such a joy to see!

The Place

I used to rent an apartment only three short blocks away from the Palace of Fine Arts, and since then this place has become one of my favorites in San Francisco.

This is the place to go when--
--you want to find serenity or just relax
--you want to think hard and deep
--you want to dream big or dream about owning a million-dollar home (this place is surrounded by them)
--you want to have a date with nature
--you want to meet somebody special (this is where my husband and i had our first photo as a couple)
--you want to see great architecture
--you are in the mood for a nice "walk in the park"
--you feel like having a picnic with friends or family
--you are simply entertaining guests (especially those not from San Francisco)

Rendezvous

All across the sky

The mysteries of faith

Fossils of desire all assume their rightful place

Is there any danger in their fire

Is there any solace in their wake

Could it really make a world of difference for goodness' sake

To the rendezvous

Fortunes to be told

To the rendezvous

Wonders to behold

Onto a place where we can find

Maybe a trace of peace of mind

To the rendezvous all in good time

-Christopher Cross

Peek-a-boo

Another interesting thing about babies is that they always show something new everyday. Today my nephew showed new expressions--playful ones, ones that seem to say something like "peek-a-boo" or "really?!" or "i hear you!" or "what did you say???". He doesn't smile yet, but that is something I can't wait to see him unveil.

Monster Tree

I left work early today so I took a walk in a nearby trail. We have several in the neighborhood and Charles and I used to frequent these trails in the last summer. I brought along my camera hoping that I would get a nice sunset view from up the hill. Instead, I came across this wooded area filled with monstrous trees that looked like Ents (talking trees) from the Lord of the Rings.

Maybe I'm just imagining too much, but have a close look at the second tree from the right--there's something in it that looks a little creepy to me.

The Season of Colors

This is why autumn is my second favorite season--you see colors everywhere, it gets moderately cold and you start feeling the spirit of the holiday in the air.

These photos reminded me of my last trip to Minnesota. The day before I left was a dark, foggy day and at least three of my co-workers said the same thing to me--"I hope the sun comes out tomorrow so you can see the colors". I didn't get it at first. The following day the sun indeed came out. My plane took off and I looked down and saw how beautiful the colors were! Greens, yellows, oranges, browns and reds--it's not something I haven't seen before in my own neighborhood. I just didn't bother to stop, look around and appreciate what's out there.

So here I am, trying to capture the colors I see just outside our home and enjoying them while they last.

When the rain stops...

It finally rained today! While we were out in the yard, Charles carefully examining if his rain sensor worked, I came to notice how the colors of the grass, the leaves and everything I saw got so much richer!

I remembered a photography article I read in the past saying that one of the best times to shoot is right after the rain stops, not only because mist creates drama but because you can easily get that diffused natural light when it's cloudy and the sky is overcast. I guess that's true. I didn't let the opportunity pass and took a shot at our drenched lime tree, and it didn't look bad at all!

Amazing Little Thing

My sister's fancy oil diffuser--she loves it because it effectively eliminates the smell of food inside the home after she cooks and it provides a cozy atmosphere with it's diffused light.

I love it not just for its functions but for its details--the glass unicorn details on each of the three sides, the bowl shaped like a clam shell, and the stunning combination of colors make this piece truly eye-catching.

Nathaniel John

It is such a joy to see a new-born baby, especially when the baby is somebody special to you.

Nathaniel "Nathan" John was born on November 24th, 2008. He was born to my sister Lorelie and her husband John Mayel. I was there to witness the very moment he came into this world and no true words could ever describe how powerful that moment was.

Nathan is now my favorite subject. When he's around, I always keep the camera in close proximity so I'm always ready for a good photo opportunity with this adorable little guy!

Disney

This was a fun shot, to say the least!  Not only did we lift our bodies as high as we could, but we lifted our spirits as well when we later realized that we were more athletic than we thought we were.

This trip to Disneyland did bring out the kids in all of us--again!

Shoot 'n Share

I am new to blogging, and to be completely honest I am not very fond of it. But lately I've been inspired by a good friend of mine, Chichi, who uses blogging as a tool to connect with friends, express her thoughts and share her day-to-day experiences through photos.

You see, writing is not my forte but I do take a lot of photos and I love doing it. Photography has been a hobby that Charles and I share for a while now, yet we haven't really taken a lot of steps to be good at it--especially me. Charles at least has the theory (he reads a lot about photography), while I just try to learn a trick or two with every shot.

I never thought about sharing my photos as well, until recently. I mean, why not? Since I'm no wordsmith, might as well use my photos to share a little bit of myself to someone else.

This photo was taken by a friend of mine and another photography enthusiast, Jeffrey Uy.  It shows Charles taking countless photos of me and my friends during one of our summer trips.