However, as another month has lapsed, I should once again acknowledge my ever-loyal top droppers, who have been so consistent with visiting and dropping, even though my site has been inactive . Sincerely, I’d like to apologize to all who have visited, only to find the site with no updates.  *more sad face*

To my top droppers: Thank you so much for your effort to which I have not responded! For me, the linky love I’m giving below to each is not enough; I truly wish I could do more! Feel my gratitude hugs, for you have encouraged me to keep on! And you have turned the sad face to a smiling one!

(Note: I got this list first day of March yet, and already had the draft of this post, but this pc acted weird, the cursor would be lost after some few minutes, so I could not retrieve my top list! It’s only now, after not being used for about two weeks, that this pc has acted normal, and I could get back to this March top droppers list! A teaser for me? It surely has tried my courage to be back to this website, help!!! But thanks be to God, and to you beloved friends on this list, I’m here again!)
Cacai’s Step and Journey
happy steps
Internet Marketing Blog
my sense and sensibility, including my ‘non-senses’
rainydazeee
happy caity
Symphony of Love
Coriander Dreams
C’est La Vie
Hot in Singapore

With my linky love, here they are:

my sense and sensibility, including my ‘non-senses‘
happy steps
great ordinary happenings
The Way of the Son of the Sea
At The Backroads
Last Minute Flights
Happy Life
Night Clicks
Symphony of Love
happy caity

This write-up is already late but I still push through with this, for one deserving to be acknowledged, and my way of congratulating my dear SIL (son-in-law), yeah Boyet, Cookie’s dependable and loving hubby.

Last year, as you can read in his blog entry, instead of a cup for the tournament winners, he got a cap – a sauna cap! – for having placed third in the tournament.  “I’ll win next time”, he was determined, and I gave an encouragement, by faith, in my comment of that post: “cap for a cup!  hehehe that’s nice..you’ll get a cup later, just don’t give up )

Still, it’s unbelievably soon! Maybe he could do it in a few more years? Or so I thought. But no, he did it already this year! Isn’t this a real feat, being Champion for this year’s Areva Annual Golf Championship in Finland? He himself openly admitted that even he did not expect it, as there were many better players than him, that’s what he thought. But as he said, there’s no secret, only hard work and divine intervention! I would say, also determination, a trait of any achiever. Well, Boyet is a born achiever. Graduating with honors (cum laude) in the degree of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Mindanao State University, he proceeded to his masteral in engineering (in the field of industrial management) with full academic scholarship at the AIT (Asian Institute of Technology) in Thailand, and this was where he met his beloved “sweetie”, who is also an alumna of the same institution.

Now, as you can read in his site, concretepixels.com, he is handling a truly challenging job as one of the consultants - or specifically as one of the concrete technology experts - of Areva, where he is the only Asian among them. Would you be surprised if I’m one proud mom-in-law? Aside from this, we are “attuned” (call it vibes?) to each other as we both are in the same profession – civil engineering!

Congratulations, Boyet, shine on, be it in sports or in the profession, as an add-on to your being a shining star already as a family man! We thank God for you!

It doesn’t help that I visit her site…ah well, it’s okay; at least I see her. But to her auntie Carey, she said it’s better not to visit so she won’t miss her the more, when she sees her pics. Huh? Hmmmm we’ve different views. (But of course, she does!)

It has been now nearly two weeks since February 9 when we sent them off at the Cebu International Airport.

She had been lively with her antics, we would be entertained! Well, I can watch the blueapron entries in YouTube for this to refresh memories, and I can’t help but smile and be happy again . But we miss even just being with her - cuddling her, playing with her, or watching her trying to chase the butterflies in the garden, or dancing before the TV or PC to the upbeat tune of Barney, and trying to mimic him! She’d make you happy, you’d surely laugh! A counter thought of course is, she’s now with her dad; he has priority to enjoy her anyway, as she had been away from him for a good three months, since November yet.

I’m sharing below two of her recent photos, courtesy of mommy Daisy. Thanks! And thanks to the daddy also for allowing me to place his pic with Caite.

I’d like to tell you that in my whole life, this was the first time that I’ve bought a purely red blouse, and to wear this on a Valentine’s Day. And my partner, E, his first time also to have a red shirt, a recent Christmas gift of the Opon bunch - that’s what we call the family of our eldest who resides in Opon (Mactan) or Lapu-lapu City in Cebu.

February 14 was the General Alumni Homecoming of the institution where my hubby graduated in high school. He has always been participative in the activities of his class batch, and I oblige myself to be with him in these affairs, to the point that I have become part of his classmates’ group – a 10 to 15 (or to 20+) diehards. Most of their get-togethers aside from the homecoming, could be a birthday celebration, party given by any balikbayan classmate, wedding of a classmate’s son or daughter, or even a wake/burial of any one of their batchmates who has gone ahead.

For the day’s assembly, the motif was Hawaiian, so E bought a Hawaiian polo shirt for the occasion. I decided not to go with the crowd but to emphasize its being Valentine’s Day by wearing red, as I reasoned out, anyway I’m not an alumna of their school (I was not alone for this, many alumni/alumnae even did go for the color of the day!). The school affair began with the Eucharistic Celebration at 8:00am, followed by the parade/motorcade (some were on foot, some on wheels) and the program. At lunch time, the group then headed to the Sunburst Seaside Resort owned by one of the classmates, where we had our fill. The cottage we got had a room with two beds – ahhh one should be for me, perfect for my after-lunch one-hour sleep! While I went to dreamland (did I really, with all the noise, nay shouts, outside?), they were playing games, to which I joined when I got up. We had fun with bingo to while away the time up to past 4:00pm, when the group broke up.

In the evening, the family (with our guests, my brother-in-law’s family of three and a niece) took over, and that’s when the daddy wore his Valentine attire (he could not be outdone, hey?). Inside, I was really amused with us both in red!  And this added to the happy mood of the evening! Looking for something new, we had our dinner in a known native/seafood restaurant, but which we had tried for the first time, it being far from our place, plus there are now so many food establishments in Bacolod City to choose from, and more accessible from where we live. Aboy’s (that’s the name) has a unique approach to dining in that, they have prepared cooked yummy varied viand ready to be served for the hungry guest who cannot wait for orders anymore, and also have marinated ready-to-grill fish/chicken/squid/pork if the customer opts for it. The result: yummy food and fast service!

With full tummies we went back to the van, but wait, there was no dessert yet. Some wanted the favorite halo-halo, but as the mall was closing, a wiser alternative would be to buy ice cream and enjoy it still with the group, and so to the uncle’s place which was nearer, we went. It was a limited edition of Nestle`, and you know what I mean – yummy! While watching “Maalaala Mo Kaya” (a favorite Saturday TV show here in the Philippines), and also munching pistachio nuts (sent by bro-in-law from the States) with the ice cream, time dashed by quickly.

With great thanksgiving to the Lord for a day well celebrated, we bade goodbye and good night to end our memorable red day at nearly eleven.

This above pic I share just for the occasion. Bah! Both of us in red! This has happened for the first time, that’s why it was captured by the cam for keeps. Not that wearing red is uncommon on this Day of Hearts; it only happens that ever since, we had not been daring enough to be “this” fashionable. Then how come? I’ll be telling our Valentine’s Day story in a coming post. For now, it’s time to call it a day.

Good night and God bless you!

(Note: Valentine’s Day story posted Feb. 18th))

Last Minute Flights
happy steps
my sense and sensibility, including my ‘non-senses’
rainydazeee
new horizons
C’est La Vie
San Diego Backroads
happy caity
Doin’ The Working Mom Thing
Young Urban Professionals nOOk

To all in the above list: Of course I owe each one of you a linky love as my thanks to you, and I thank the Lord for all of you. May you continue to visit! I commit myself to acknowledge my top droppers here, as a sign of gratitude, though sometimes it may come late. May I be better next time, please God help me!

Aside from time spent with each other, and especially with the grandchildren, just here at home, impromptu outings would just pop up, and we would have great fun! Can you imagine how it was? Well, pictures will help, at least a little. I’ve not shared photos here for quite some time, but as a treat (Valentine’s?) to you, dear friends, to balance my shortcomings for all those days off from here, I’ll let you see some of our Christmas takes though they may not be of season now. It’s better late than never? (Could have been “better never late”!)

I could safely say however, having lived in Cebu for a good 18 years of my life (not to mention my college - five years in the engineering course - plus the two years following, teaching in the same college), that the devotees still compose the majority of the swelling population during the celebration days. Many have been granted their petitions especially when they dance before the image of the little King, or out in the streets to the beat of the Sinulog rhythm, as a fulfillment of a promise made at the time they have prayed for a very important and pressing need.

So therefore, let all our countrymen shout with joy, “Viva Pit Senyor!” All hail King Jesus! You have caught us with your sweet endearing smile as an infant, even as You are King!

However, the feast is not just celebrated in this prime city but similar festivals are held in other places, to name a more-popular few: the Ati-atihan of Aklan, the Dinagyang of Ilo-ilo City; in our Negros Island, the Sinulog of Kabankalan City, and one in Cadiz City, which we had attended many years ago. (I’m not sure though if it’s continued until now. Is there anyone who can tell me? Please feel free.)

All over the Philippines this feast of the Child Jesus is being celebrated, but Cebu is the main destination for the grandest of them all, if we include the spiritual and the historical aspects of the event. When tourists come, they have various destinations to enjoy as side trip.  Before proceeding to Cebu, nearer the capital city of Manila, they can try Olongapo hotels, for one.

Oh, oh, I have to cut this short, time to call it a day, see you tomorrow (More on the Sinulog Festival). Good night and God bless you!