Never Before Batch '74

Gonzalo Malihan aka Gonzy was my Editor in Chief at our school paper publication Ang Maglalala (The Weaver) Filipino Edition. At his left is Mrs. Constantino our Guidance Couselor and at his right is Mrs. Lumague our class adviser.




Engr. Soledad Cruz is my bestest friend in high school. She invited me to sleep overnight at her house and we shared 35 years worth of stories, happy and sad till the wee hours of the morning. Before I left for Manila, Sol's husband Levi picked mangoes, bananas, and papayas from their farm for me to bring home. They were such sweet, lovely couple.




Mr. Tolentino and Mrs. Grcia, my Geometry teachers. Everyone cheered when Mr. Tolentino was able to guess who I am. Well I'm his best pupil, ok, ok?










Last Saturday, April 26th Mariano Ponce High School class batch '74 held a Grand Reunion. Most of us classmates have not seen one another for 35 years already so you should know how glad we were to be reunited even for just one day. We felt like we were in high school again and we had fun remembering and each other's names and faces. Back in senior high we were just sweet sixteen then. Now we are 50 or 51 years old already. Some of our classmates have not changed much as in the girls still look pretty and the men still look handsome.

Batch '74 Grand Reunion was attended by five 5 sections namely - Mayon, Arayat, Banahaw, Makiling, Samat. Back then our sections were named after Philippine mountains. Anyways, each section prepared a presentation which were entertaining and funny. Section Mayon, where I belonged prepared a retro dance number. The key dancers wore retro clothes of the 70's - mini skirts and fishnet stockings. We even dressed up Manuel Aquino, our Chinese looking classmate with the same dress the girls wore and he was knock out queen of the day. Sadly when our turn came to dance, the cd of the music to which we will dance will not play! So we were not able to perform and our president announced on the mic that there probably was a sabotage. Lol.

Anyways, here are some pics.

The Lake in Taupo

I forgot to ask my sister the name of the lake in Taupo. It was a beautiful lake with a warf. The water was very clean and clear you can see the sand and peebles beneath. I think the place was very romantic and I wish I can have a house by that lake. Lovely.

More NZ Pix

The tea served before the noodles was bland and tepid.




The menu book of the Vietnamese restaurant where we had dinner.




The seafood noodles which tasted sweet came with bean sprouts and lemon.




Viet me. We were making fun of the spoon (?) which looked like a mini laddle.

Asleep as Lard

It's fun to edit the layout of my blog. It's like repainting and redecorating my room. The color idea came from the flower in the blog header I took while in NZ. It was actually the first flower of the plants my sister plucked from the garden of the campsite where she works. I planted the plants in my sister's own garden and watched the flower from tiny bud to full bloom then I took the pic. You will see the date when it was taken at right corner of the pic altho I'm not really happy with those scandalously big numbers in there.

This Sunday morning I woke up at seven to prepare myself for church. I tried in vain to wake my daughter up as we have planned the last night to go to church together. She sleeps like lard as the saying goes. I have taken a bath, have worn a nice Sunday dress, made up my face, sprayed myself twice with perfume and still the daughter was as asleep as lard. I opened my computer to check mails and then I went to blogger, then to flickr, then to composing a post and the plan to go to church was finally called off as the daughter was still as asleep as lard.

Well, the real purpose why I'm posting today is because I want to share my insights into this quote from The Shack book by William P. Young - "God has no expectations, just expectancy." It was delightful to finally realize that God because he is God and is complete in Himself does not expect anything from me actually. All he has for me is expectancy. He joyfully expects the best to happen to me. He waits patiently, with expectancy until I learn to trust fully in his love and goodness. I am the center of his affection and I am loved by him with a love incomparable. While reflecting on this, it gradually dawned on me - what reason is there to be sad, what reason is there to be afraid, what reason is there to feel hurt when someone so loving ang so good holds me close to his heart. It's simply awesome!

Nothing at all

I was first very excited as I thought I can finally post my beautiful NZ pics here now that my usb cord has arrived. I left it in NZ along with my other things and my sis shipped them after me. It was very frustrating because it takes forever to upload in here blogger and then in the middle of forever it aborts. Haruuump!

So your irregular blogger has nothing much blogworthy to show off. Valentine's passed by without fanfare and me without a Valentine even. At least as a consuelo de bobo, Betina and Chloe came over to say Happy Valentine to Lola. Betina's first baby tooth fell on Valentine's day also and I want to take a pic of her with one missing tooth but Beti will have none of it. She said lola will only post her pic on lola's blog and it's a very shameful thing. Aaaah!

I have to finally settle for another Phonak model for my heaaring aid as the one I showed off to everybody in my last post was very noisy. The upgrade cost me an additional 18,000 pesos. My experience with hearing aids has shown me that there's no perfect hearing aid for every individual. There is always a problem or imperfection. The upgraded aid is not very noisy, yes but speech sound is not very clear. I think I have to try different brands for longer periods of time but hearing aid centers in the Philippines cannot offer such choices to its customers. Anyways, my resolution is to just accept the new aid from God's hand and thank him for it.
Amen.

My new diary gift from my sis Luisa also arrived with the big box from NZ and I'm writing entries in it ala Bridget Jones using v. for very, etc. but minus the entry for alcohol, cigarette and calories as I dont drink, smoke or pig out. On Friday, the 13th of Feb I wrote - Box from NZ arrived today. God has no expectations, just expectancy.

Digitally Bionic

My new hearing aid is BTE as my hearing loss is severe to profound already. I needed a powerful aid which is not available in ITE models. I wanted grey or blue color but there's none available. My son thinks the color flesh is so uncool. I promised him a magenta next time around.


Last week I bought me a new hearing aid. It's Phonak from Switzerland. It's my fourth hearing aid since I was twenty-two. Now I'm digitally bionic again. cheers!

The past days I was busy recognizing the new sounds my aid gathers around me. I specialy liked the bird music I hear in the morning when I turn on my aid. I also liked the resurected sounds of my footsteps. But not all sounds are pleasant to hear. Although I avoid using the word hate, that is the only word to describe my reaction against the sound of automobiles and electrical appliances. They're so annoying and even competes with the tinnitus already buzzing inside my ear. Oh well, the audiometrist who fitted me with the Phonak aid said I should have realistic expectations and that learning to use my aid to my greatest advantage will take time. I'm being realistic and patient, ok? At least I can hear and understand speech again. I was surprised to hear my sister's voice again after a long time and I think her voice has matured. My son's voice was good to hear again and I felt like hugging him tight like I missed him terribly. My daughter who had become an expert in lip speaking seem to have forgotten to speak to me in the normal way. I kept telling her to speak up, put voice to her speech. All in all this is a hapy experience I want to document in my blog, thank you.

Anyways, last week when my sister Teresa accompanied me to my audiologist she lent me a book titled The Shack. It is a very controversial book as it contained very radical ideas about God and religion. I have finished reading the book but I'm re-reading it again and I'm taking notes. I'm very excited about this book and will write a long blog post entirely about it soon. For starters, I want to tell you that I'm very happy these days after many years of nursing a 'Certain Sadness' in my heart. The happiness is not the flimsy, human kind of happiness. It is strong and enduring.

Card Capture

I have arranged to meet with my sister Teresa today at Glorietta so she can help me shop for a new hearing aid. Before riding the bus to Makati I tried to withdraw a little cash and to check my account balance. The atm captured my card. I have kept this secret fear in me since I began using an atm card. What will I do if my card is captured? This might sound a very third world and very backward fear but I can't help it.

I went inside the bank to report my misfortune and in checking they discovered my account was closed already. Now I understand I have neglected my account while I was vacationing in NZ. The bank clerks were very helpful particularly when I told them I can't hear well. They explained patiently what I have to do to re-open my account so that I can use my card again. I'm very thankful that I was able to come out of the hassle "un-scratched". I used to be a very helpless person when it comes to transacting business or when I face emergency situations. I think I am improving on self confidence and besides this morning and last night I have prayed, "Lord, bless me indeed and take care of me".

More pics

This is my fave pic of the bride and groom taken at Cornwall Park.




Maxine Sophia Belle or Max for short got bored with the photo shoot at Cornwall Park, strayed away from the group and nibbled on some leaves. Max could say... "No one loves me, I'll go to the garden to eat some leaves." :)




Ez and Jam danced the social foxtrot and we clapped to their flawless dips.




Candles burned bright as you danced all night...

The photos were taken by Reymart Mercado.

The Wedding Last October

I went to New Zealand early in October last year to bring the bride and brides maids' gowns which I made for my niece Ezra's wedding. I really wanted to blog about the wedding but I did not have the chance as I was very busy during my stay in NZ. Anyways, better late than never, ok?

I wish to put a caption for each photo but I can't figure out how. The photos will not appear in the compose box. Anyways the top photo is a fave of Ez because of the nice contrast the white gown and veil made against the red carpet. And she really liked her long imported illusion tulle veil.

The next pic is Ezra when she played the drums at her wedding party. Ezra and hubby Jam are members of the band called Constellations. She plays the drums, he plays the guitar and they both sing. During this photo op all photographers and all wedding guests with cameras scrambled to take pics of the amazing drummer bride.

Ezra is the kind of girl who's so lavish with her affection. There's she kissing the aunt again.

The Filipino wedding tradition is the parents of the bride must walk the bride down the isle. So there was her Dad Diosdado and Mum Maria Luisa, my sister.

The bride's dad's a joker and all through out the wedding ceremony the dad joked. But when the bride spoke and thanked her wonderful parents, the dad cried.

A Proper Blog

I just got fed up with my other blog and decided I should have a proper blog with a proper title, proper posts and proper followers. I really love to write but I lack the time, discipline, and training to be a proper writer. What I only got are some proper genes. Even my English get really improper sometimes because I did not get the chance to study English in an exclusive girls' school in Manila where they had Irish nuns as English teachers. Wee, poor me attended public schools where I was taught carabao English. Yes, not the American English, not the Irish English, not the English English but the carabao English where subject and verb don't always agree and plural forms use an apostrophe.

Good thing my late father picked up a sack full of pocket books left behind by the American GI's after the liberation of Manila. He developed a love for reading English short stories and novels and this love he passed on to us his kids. It was actually thru reading that I learned to speak and write in English not thru listening to my teacher with a bloody grammar.

My blog will contain any topic under the sun. Some days I may write a mean blog, some days a dull blog or at other days a plain blog. Whichever, whatever I hope it will make you laugh or touch your soul with the thoughts and sentiments I convey.

Here’s to a happy blogging. Cheers!