Friend's Birthday Celebration

It's another wonderful day for our family today. After another visit to the same Chatuchack Park in the morning where, once again, I did my weekly excercises, we had joined our neighbors and friends in celebrating one of our neighbor's daughter's "7th Happy Birthday."

All the children really had enjoyed the fun well-organized by the parents of the birthday celebrant, with the assistance and coordination with the kind and helpful staffs of the fastfood center inside the Amarin shooping mall in Bangkok, Thailand where the celebration was held.

Because of this experience, many parents, including us, had gotten a brilliant idea of where a celebration of this kind would be held when our turns come.

At the Playground

These are some of our pictures at the Chatuchack park during our work holiday last week. Right after an hour of my bodybuilding, we went biking around the park and then played at the playground.
Because this was a long holiday in Bangkok, most Bangkokians were out of the city to enjoy their holidays. So, there were few people around in the park and it was very convenient to us. We had easily hopped from one playing area to the next without much disturbances.
It's one of the best and quality time we had together leaving all concerns behind for at least eight hours during that day.

Hope we could have more of this kind of family bonding every now and then, God willing.

Butterfly Garden at Chatuchack Park

This is one of the good place worth visiting inside the Chatuchack park. It's called "Butterfly Garden." However, during this time - rainy season, not much butterflies fying during our visits. But I was able to capture the only one giant butterfly left in this garden.
This is the best angle I could take without disturbing it's best resting position.

If you want to find out how big it is, then it's better for you to see it yourself.

Family Day at Chatuchack Park

It's a wonderful and beautiful family day we had at the Chatuchack Park, here in Bangkok, Thailand.

Our children enjoyed biking, running, chasing the birds, playing at the playground etc.

While my wife was watching them for about an hour, I did a 30-minute jogging around the park and then after our lunch, did an hour gym.
When I was done with all my physical activities, I give all myself to them.

It's was a great experience spending quality time with my wife and our children.

A Simple Way of Saving

We have discovered a simple way to save at least 200 Baht everytime we ate at any fastfood center. Before we used to have this extra amount paid which we have now a method to avoid it.

Normally, we have four to five glasses of Iced Tea which cost us more than 200 Baht at 49 baht each glass. This is where the fastfood center gained a lot of profits because too much ice are normally put each glass. So, it's like, you are paying too much for the ice, not the tea.

Our strategy, is to buy two bottles of green tea at 20 Baht each bottle outside and then ask for the ice which is actually free.

Hope, they won't discover this for I am worried that one day they will charge for the ice.

You can try this too. If you prefer to have any softdrink, then it's better to buy it outside than inside the fastfood center.

For us, it's very effective because we are five in the family, and one glass of drink is not enough for me. This strategy may not be feasible for a single person, unless he/she can consume two or more glasses of any drink each time.

Journey to the Great Wall of China

One of the best journey I ever had in my life was my walk on the Great Wall of China during my first visit to Beijing in May, 2009. The first picture above is the way to access to one of the stations of the great wall. It took us around 30 minutes to get there from the base.
The second picture shows how exciting it was in our first hour of our more than six hours of walk back-and-forth from the very start. The energy was still very high as you can see me here fly. Oh, what a nice rhym! I was wearing three clothes at the start for it was very cold.
This third picture is one of the other beautiful spot to take a picture because if you turn around and the cameran is also at the top on your level - at your back, you can see the beautiful scenery down at the back.

However, it's one of the riskier postions for if you slip your feet, you will surely die. So you must be very careful at all times.

The next picture below, is looking at our unseeable direction yet to go due to the heavy fogs at that very moment. As the time goes by, the fogs were getting thinner as the sunshines getting hotter. This image was after about two hours of walk from the initial station we had entered to.

At the beginning, I thought we were already near to the last station. I thought the station I saw, as you also see here in this picture, was the last one. But, I as we patiently continuing our walks, another stations appear one-by-one as we were getting close to one of it. Now, after about three hours of continue walk, and stop only when

taking pictures, I already had felt some pains not only on my feet, but also on my shoulders.

This time I had regreted not listening to one of my colleagues' (Mr. Sombat) suggestion to leave my things in the car we had rented. I had the second thought then, but nothing could be done.

In this picture we already had an idea of when our half of the journey would end. When we asked people where's the last station, they pointed it to us, and it could seen this time as the fogs had became so thin. However, it's still about seven to eight stations away from here.

This is the other picture where I was so scared when it was taken. As I was already tired of walking, I din't have too much confidence on my feet to hold my weight very well. Only one wrong move, could bring anyone down and kill him. But, I had pretended I was not so scared for all of my two colleagues had already taken their pictures.

Because of pride, I also had this picture taken, and thanks God, all of us were okay. Then we continued our long hours of walk, and this time, we're very closed to the last station - four stations away.

By the way, just click any of the pictures to enlarge it to have a better view of it. Also, the last station means, the last station allowed.

So, there are still so many stations ahead, but for security and safety reasons, people were not allowed to go on farther from this station. When I had checked it briefly, it's so rough and already badly damaged and not easy to climb up with.

In these three remaining pictures below, our journey to the last

station allowed had finally ended. After taking some pictures at the last staion, we slowly moved down to begin our journey back to the station of the great wall we first had entered.

While slowly moving down on this most difficult stair way (about 60 degree), I questioned myself "Why people -including myself- risk themselves into having this kind of adventure in life.

Later on, after a year, I had realized the good things about that journey and I considered it as one of the most beautiful gifts God has given me. This was the first Wonder of the World I had visited. The other one was in Egypt, a month later.

More to go, and I am still figuring out and waiting again for God's another gifts to visit the remaining wonders of the world.

My prayer is that someday, God willing, my family, will be with me in my other journeys to the other remaining wonders of the world.

This is very expensive, but as sons and daughters of the Most High, I hope, trust and believe without any doubt, that this dream will come true someday.

It's His great promise and great plan to prosper us and not to harm us, and therefore, to allow us to enjoy all the good things in this world He had created for us.
Now, after learning and knowing more and more about Him, I am also experiencing His faithfulness to His promises. It's all a matter of following His commandments.

Holiday Vacation

Koh Samui will be our next destination Island for our family holiday vacation here in Thailand.

As usual, it's all about swimming in the swimming pool. Our children really loves so much swimming in the swimming pool. Just like what we had lately in Rayong. Three to four times daily swimming in the pool at the Nice Beach Hotel.

One after breakfast, one after lunch, one after 4 P.M., and sometimes, once after dinner.

They had it for three straight days. For sure, it would be the same things when we go to Koh Samui for our next holiday vacation anytime this year, or early next year, God willing.
As long as they are happy with it, then it's all right for us. We are also enjoying watching them swimming happily. We became so closed because of this very seldom, but a quality family bonding.

After Charice Dream Come True Concert

After more than six hours of standing, while waiting for about four hours and watching Charice concert for just more than an hour, their feet had finally relaxed.

It was a very nice experiece for our two children who were able to got in the restricted area. But for our youngest child, since she won't get it without her Mommy, she was left behind and just went up and down from the escalator to have the chance to see Charice singing beautifully.

While we're still at home, everyone, especially our children was hoping to have a very close look or even an autograph or picture taking with Charice. Unfortunately, we didn't have that opportunity.

Anyway, at least we have these pictures with the Thailand's popular singer, Zani and our beloved Charice, posted on the wall outside the concert venue, at Siam Paragon building.

I just hope and pray that one day, one of these children will also make something significant and postive that people will praise forever.
This time we couldn't determine yet what they really want for their life. But, they also love singing and dancing, and at school, there doing very well with their Taekwondo lessons.

When they were still too young, I tried to put in their minds and hearts everything about tennis, and the result was very encouraging. They always wanted to come with me when I played it. I had coached them and they were learning very quickly.

Unfortunately, when I had changed my work, we don't have that opportunity to come to the tennis court anytime we want. At that time, tennis courts was just on the rooftop of the building where we were staying inside the compound where I was working.

Charice Dream Come True Concert, Siam Discovery, Bangkok, Thailand

Yesterday's "Dream Come True" concert of Charice Pempengco at Siam Discovery, Bangkok, Thailand had drawn a very huge and mixed and excited crowds.

People from different walks of life were patiently waitng for her stage appearence which was about 45-minute behind schedule. In spite of the delay, people's excitement seeing her performances were not lost. In fact, more and more people were arriving while Charice was still behind the stage.

Initially our standing positions was very okay and it's very close to the stage. But, few minutes before the the concert has started with the Thai singer, Zani, the winner of AF6, securities asked people to move backward a little bit causing all the people to stand up making our positions very inconvenient.

We were standing there since 2 P.M. not leaving the spots to avoid filling it with somebody else. Unfortunately, since the show didn't start as scheduled at 5:00 P.M., my wife and our youngest child could no longer wait further and they moved out.

At about 5:45 P.M. Zani, the Thai singer came up to the stage, showcasing proudly her very good singing skills and abilities which are also well praised by Thais. After her three songs, she was interviewed briefly by the host while waiting for Charice appearance.

Fortunately, our two elder children was able to get inside the restricted area through the help of a very kind Filipino lady and understanding few Thais standing in front of us.

So, they were able to watch the show very clearly from the start to the end.

Actually all of them could have been inside the restricted area should our youngest child had agreed to go with them without her Mommy. But as usual, she won't stay anywhere without her Mommy.

I was also about to leave my spot, but I couldn't leave our children alone worrying that something might happen when unexpected thing will occur like what had happened in India couple of months ago.

We (I and my wife) said to each other never to get into this kind of event when it's done on the same kind of venue. We better pay it than watching it for free without a proper sitting space. I just hope that next time, in October this year's concert with Charice, it would be held somewhere which is more convenient for everyone. Hope the cost would be affordable, especially for big families, like ours.

After six-straight hours of standing, from 2 P.M. to passed 8:00 P.M., my feet were aching. It's my first experience to this kind of show without sitting all the way to the end of it. We had once watched a paid Barney show at Siam Paragon before, and we were okay with the set ups. It's very convenient for everyone. All our children were enjoying it very much without any hassle.

Hope in the next concert with Charice, about two months from now, at least the same venue, like the one used with Barney show, would be used by then.

Surely, all Charice fans and followers would be willing to support it.

For us, it's the right time to start saving for our tickets for the whole family for the next Charice's concert. Hope everything is okay: Charice, her family, her team, all her fans and followers would be healthy, and Thailand would be peaceful by then.

No matter what, over-all, it was a great and mixed experience for my beloved family.

Now at home, the show seems to be still fresh to our children's memory. They keep on singing Charice's Pyramid song and humming the part of it which they can't remember.

Family Bowling Time

Family bowling times here in Thailand were so much that it had drained lots of our financial resources.

I started bowling since I was in the Philippines during my college days back in 1989 during our Physical Education (PE) subject. We had the options to choose which sport we want to play for the whole semester.

Knowing that my grandfather was also a very good bowling player, I was more motivated to play more to achieve that status.

Because of my passion to this sport, I was able to improve more and more in terms of average and even won lots of tournaments, especially in our Diplomatic Bowling League (DBL) here in Thailand.

This more than 40-year International bowling club (where I became a President for one year -38th year) is composed of players from different people around the world who are working in Thailand, including Thais.

I came to Thailand alone and because of bowling, I met my wife in one of the bowling centers here in this country and the rest are history as you can see from these pictures which were taken during one of our weekly tournament every Sunday with my other bowling club composed of all Filipinos, supposedly. But, since some of the members have non-Filipino spouses, then it's a little mixed up.

Since the early part of 2000 until the early part of 2008, I had joined at least four bowling clubs, which one of it is from the University where I was working with.

My one contribution to this university bowling club was winning at least three tournaments and the most unforgetable one was during the all Thailand Inter-University Bowling tournament which was held in Nakhonsawan province where I had made an average of 212 (with 258 as the maximum score) beating all the other university team players.

It was a five-men team each playing 3 games and the scores were combined. All of my colleagues won't forget me because of this winning. They were so hungry for this winning because it was one the greatest bowling events for all Thailand's university bowling players they hadn't won yet as champion.

My greatest struggles was winning within my fourth clubs I had joined at Major Rathayothin bowling club every Sunday. I ended up a 1st runner-up only. My schedules were so hectic and my budget was so limited that I cannot do a lot more to perform excellently all the times.

However, I still felt great during those times because my family is always with me during most of my weekly and big bowling tournaments.

Now that all of our children are at school, I completely stop this passion to this sport mainly for financial reason and secondly, because of the nature of my work which involves lots of travelings outside Thailand.

If you really want to excel on this kind of sport, you need time, money and of course, the passion to do it.
By the way, before I forget, I have played and was playing and winning lots of tournament using a simple, straight bowl.

My greatest achievement so far was the passing of the qualifying round during one of the Thailand Bowling Open where I had the opportunity to play along with one of the World's Greatest bowler - Mr. Rafael (Paeng) Nepomuceno.

Graduation

These are some of their pictures taken before going to the venue of the graduation ceremony of our youngest daughter's pre-school education.

Each of them had her individual role during the ceremony, but there was also one part where all of them were on the same presentation.

While waiting for their Mommy still in the room taking care of herself, lots of their pictures were taken in many parts of our living room.

It's very clear from their eyes that they were looking forward to this very exciting day of their lives.

Everytime they have this kind of activity for their school, they always do the count down. They keep on asking us "How many more days Mommy or Daddy to our school's activity?" Oftentimes the youngest would always ask "How many more sleeps Mommy?"During each presentation day, they were so confident to share what they had prepared for their individual part and for the part where all of them were doing it together with their schoolmates.

However, we have noticed something with our children: Once we are in the other community outside their school, no matter what we do to force them to showcase their talents, they won't ever do it.

Even if they know who are these people around them, like our AIT community or CFC community, they still won't like to do it.

This is one of the struggles we are facing with these children at the moment. Hope one day, with God's help and guidance they will be changed for the better.

Bangkok Bayoke Tower Visit

This was our second visit to the tallest building - Bayoke Tower - in the heart of Bangkok, Thailand in 2009.

It's on the top part of the building circling around giving everybody the chance to see the whole city beautifully colored by it night lights.

In these pictures, the beauty of the city colored by different lights could not be seen clearly because of my position when I took the photos. I was at the low level in reference to their positions.

To have better angle of the city around, the position of the camera man should be at least at the same position of the target, or a little above it. That's the best angle of taking the shots.

Johannah is not included in this picture because she was so scared to stand alone in the circling round floor.

All of our friends were so amazed at the wonderful experience they had in this Bayoke tower. There were so many tourists too, happily taking their photos.

So, when you are in this country, Thailand, you should not miss this wonderful opportunity to experience this beautiful scenery of the whole city during the night time.

You should also prepare a small amount of money for the entrance fee. With that amount, you will have at least a glass of juice to drink.

Our Three Lovely Girls

Our three lovely girls holding beautiful flowers while posing.

This picture was taken during the Easter 2010 Sunday celebration at the Korea House inside the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand.

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My Family in thai Costumes

These are the beautiful family pictures in Thai costumes taken during the Couples For Christ (CFC)'s 20th Anniversary Celebration held in Thailand in 2009.

Because of the similarity of our faces with the Thais, there's no wonder that Thai people had greeted us and talked to us in their language. When they heard our responses in English, they simply apologized for mistakenly talking to us as if we are also Thais.

Knowing that we are not Thais, somehow, they're so proud looking at us comfortably in their Thai traditional costumes.

After our special presentation, many of our brothers and sisters in our CFC community took lots of picture with us, especially with our children.
It's another memorable experience for us in this very active CFC community here in Thailand.

It's very inspiring for us seeing our brothers and sisters in Christ, coming from different far places in Thailand: Tari, Chang Mai, Phuket, etc., some of them traveling 10 to 12 hours one way just to attend the celebration.

The Trio

These are our three beautiful models proudly presenting their lovely poses.

The first picture was taken during our CFC brother/sister's (Bob and May) Christening of their beloved daughter. There was a very huge celebration in one of Bangkok's popular hotel that held the the Christening party.
The second picture was taken at the Major Rachayothin bowling lobby during one of my bowling tournaments last two years ago. This is our best place for relaxation every Sunday afternoon all throught out the year 2008.
The third one was taken during their school's (Bangkok Baptist Learning Center) 5th year anniversary.

As parents, it's one of our happiest moments watching our children during their lovely and amazing presentations.

I really appreciate how their teachers molded them at school. I could sense how dedicated they are with their mission and purpose for all the kids.

Everyone was amazed listening to the long Bible verses our children and their classmates reciting during the presentation. It was a great encouragement for the parent who hadn't opened their Bible or don't even have any Bible at home.