First Family Bowling Event in the Philippines

This is my family's first time to playing bowling in the Philippines after more than four years of stay.

This also our three children's first time playing bowling experience.

This sport is not new to them. When were in Thailand, every week, all of them were always with me and my wife watching us playing this sport.

I joined the Filipino community who are members of a Diplomatic Bowling League (DBL) wherein I also became member and then later on, about three years later, became its President.

DBL is one of the prestigious bowling clubs in Thailand in which apart from its weekly bowling tournament, it also conducts two major bowling marathons (24 games each time) for all its members wherein lots and huge prices are at stake.

It's composed of expatriates coming from different countries around the world, most of them working at the United Nations, foreign and local companies. Lots of its members are from the Association of Filipinos in Thailand (AFT).

This is also the first time that I heard from our children saying, " Daddy, one more game, we still like to play."

In short, each of them had played three games in that first bowling session with them and with our friends in the BCBP community.

God willing, there would be more bowling games to play, since our brothers and sisters in the BCBP community like it very much also.

Our Children keep on asking me when are we going to play bowling again.

After Lunch at Bon Chon

After taking our lunch at Bon Chon restaurant, we proceeded to the National Book Store to buy school supplies for our children.

While on the way walking to the store, we took some photos, but posted here only two: one is for our children walking with my wife, and the second photo is for me and our children under the heart structure with the plants over it.

After taking several photo shots under the heart structure, our children asked their Mom to join them, but she declined maybe because of the hot temperature.

It was a very cloudy day, but the heat of the sun still penetrates and got through it and hot temperature could be felt all over the area.

After the photo shots we hurried up to the National Book Store to cool down our bodies and to buy all the items in the list for our children school supplies.

After about an hour of searching all the items in the list, only about 80% were found. We then proceeded to another store about 10 km away after payment, to buy the other items.

We regretted when we found that all the things we had bought at the National Book Store could also be found at the Centro Mall at a much cheaper price.

Lunch after Today's Sunday Mass at a New Found Church in Sta. Rosa

Today, we went to another church (St. John Bosco Parish Church) which we had been searching for more than four years already.

In Thailand, we used to attend Sunday masses in an air conditioned church and when we arrived in the Philippines, we're searching for this kind of church, but we're not able to find it until one of our friends (brother) in our community mentioned it just recently.

As we're already late today for the other church scheduled mass, we then decided to explore the new church hoping that we could make it.

We praised and thanked our Lord God that we had made it - we arrived in the church about an hour before the mass had started.

After the mass, we then went straight to Paseo de Sta. Rosa to take our lunch in a Korean Restaurant there called "Bon Chon".

It's our first time in four years to eat at this restaurant. Each time I saw this restaurant, I just ignored it thinking that it's just new and I hadn't heard anything positive about it.

But when I tasted its foods, I never thought that its very delicious and the price is very reasonable.

Looking forward to eat there again the next time we're in the area.

Today's Sunday Mass and Mother's Day Celebration for My Wife's Mother

Today's Sunday mass with my mother-in-law and my family.

It's the first time of my wife's mother to join us in this church.

As usual, after the mass, a cup of a homemade ice cream for everyone to cold down our bodies before going back home.

As our way honoring my wife's mother for a late Mother's Day celebration, we treat her a special lunch today at the same restaurant we had last Sunday before going back home.

We're so glad to see her happy with our simple way of giving her a late Mother's Day celebration through simple, and yet delicious lunch.

It's our first meeting with her after our last family reunion on the first week of January, 2017.

We're looking forward to have more Mother's Day to celebrate with her and with my family.

Wishing her and my family a good health, more wealth and blissful life with God in our center.

At Pink Sisters Church - Tagaytay, Philippines

It's one of the several photos we had taken at the Pink Sisters Church in Tagaytay Philippines.

At first, we're curious why the church is called Pink Sisters. We just assumed that the sisters there are wearing pink dresses.

Yes, when we're inside the church, we saw them sitting in front of the altar and wearing the traditional style of uniform for nuns, but this time, it's color pink.

We're amazed to see them in this color for we usually see white uniform for nuns in another churches.

Lunch at Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, Laguna

On the way to Nuvali Sta Rosa after a Sunday Mass.

Actually, this picture was taken during Mother's Day last Sunday. We normally ate delicious homemade ice cream after every Sunday Mass.

While on our way to home, our children just thought of the best place to celebrate Mother's Day. But before they said anything, I was already planning to bring them at Nuvali, but I don't know which of the restaurants there.

Anyhow, we ended up at the same restaurant. It was our third time to eat there.

After spending happy bonding moments with my family while enjoying our foods, we then go around taking some photos including this one.

Then all went around farther to see some dresses to buy at the nearby small market for cloths and other items.

We returned home few minutes later and arrived at around 2:30 P.M. We praise and thank the Lord for that another beautiful, wonderful and blissful day.

Celebrating Happy Mother's Day, May 14, 2017 at the Nuvali

We praise and thank the Lord our God for this beautiful and blissful day for the whole family.

We started the day with a Sunday Holy Mass and then a cup of home made ice cream bought just outside the door of the church and a rose flower for my wife immediately after the Holy Mass.

We then proceed to Nuvali, Sta. Rosa for a simple Mother's Day Celebration - lunch at the Uncle Cheffy Restaurant.

After an hour of enjoying our lunch, we then go around to take some photos with the school of fish in the background.

We then proceed to the small market where we bought some dresses for my wife and for our two daughters.

Our eldest daughter didn't buy anything thinking that we will buy her perfume today. We just promised her that we will buy it next time we come visit the place again.

We then returned home and arrived at around 2:30 P.M.

LOVE MORE

It was one of the CFC Philippines' activities that my family had attended in 2014.

The event was held at the Mall of Asia (MOA) located in Metro Manila area. It's a very popular venue for a big event such as this with a theme, "LOVE MORE."

I had a mixed emotions attending that event for one thing, it's my first time to drive into that area. Second, we're excited to see familiar faces from other countries, especially, Thailand. Unfortunately, we didn't see anyone from that country.

Lastly, I was happy to see our children excited to see the place after about five since the first time we visited the place.

Taal Lake

I just found another picture we had in Tagaytay with Taal Lake in the background.

The lake surrounding the Taal Volcano.

The funny thing is, I could not remember what was the occasion, when this picture was taken and who took us this picture.

One thing I am very sure of is, it's one of the best bonding moments I had with my family.

We're so grateful with our God to allow us to have this opportunity to enjoy one of the most important gifts in life - Family.

ENCHANTED KINGDOM

It's one of the photos we had during our Christmas treat to our children and my wife's siblings and relatives four years ago.

About eight months after we arrived in the Philippines, this is so far the experience that made them forget Thailand for a while.

They really enjoyed a lot, everything in this place called, "Enchanted Kingdom" located in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Even this time, they still wanted to have those experiences again in that same place.

Our Second Daughter's 14th Birthday Celebration

Our beloved second daughter's 14th birthday simple celebration.

We taught our children since they're still very young the simplicity in life when it comes to this kind of special event in their life.

So, it's our way of celebrating her 14th birthday. It's the same way we had this year for our eldest and youngest daughter.

We did a thanks giving prayer for giving her another blissful year and then she had her wish before blowing out the candle.

Mommy then sliced the cake and everyone was enjoying eating this very delicious cake from the Red Ribbon.

Unplanned Pre-Birthday Treat For our Second Daughter

Picture taking while waiting for our ordered foods for lunch. It's our unplanned pre-birthday treat for our second daughter at the middle who will be celebrating her 14th birthday within this week.

After attending the Sunday mass yesterday in Laguna area, we're supposed to take our lunch at the Southpoint golf driving range.

The venue was chosen because of my plan to practice to iprove my golf driving skills in that area.

It was a wrong timing for all the staffs there were out for their company outing.

So, we landed at the Kenney Rogers' Restaurant where we ordered one whole roasted chicken with side dishes, Burrito, Muffin, etc.

After eating our lunch, we went shopping, buying in advance birthday gifts for beloved daughter.

As usual, buying for anyone of them, means buying for everyone.

It's another blissful day for the whole family and for all this, we praised and thanked the Lord.

Wishing for a very happy, healthy, blissful and abundant 14th birthday for our beloved daughter.

"May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you.
May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace."

Beloved Retreat 2014

It's our first and only time overnight in Tagaytay in 2014.

We were invited by our friends in our CFC community to attend the Beloved Weekend Retreat.

We liked the place very much, but because of the financial difficulties, we could not afford to go around for we just ride with our friend's vehicle.

Anyhow, what's important for us at that time was the message of the Lord we have heard from the speakers and the community praise and worship and thanksgiving.

We praised and thank the Lord our God for that wonderful experience.

One of Our Family Outings in Tagaytay, Philippines

This is our whole family photo in one of our trips to Tagaytay.

At least, we got somebody to take us this photos. This is after our attendance in one of the Sunday masses at the Pink Sisters Church in Tagaytay.

The view is at the place where people call it "high land". It's one of the spots in Tagaytay where people visiting the place normally takes some photos.

It's really a very nice spot to take some beautiful photos.

Lunch of at Balinsasayaw Restaurant at Tagaytay

It's a lunch date with two families: my family and my office mate's family at the Balinsasayaw Restaurant at Tagaytay, Philippines in the fourth quarter of 2015.

After receiving our company's midterm bonus in that year, I and my colleague had agreed to bring our families at one of the best restaurant in Tagaytay, Philippines.

The restaurant is very popular in it's very delicious and tender beef in soup and vegetables which is popularly known as "bulalo" in Filipino language.

It was a fun day for everyone enjoying the foods and knowing more about our individual family.

It was the first time both members of the family had met each other. We're looking forward to meet them again in that similar occasion.

Watching Live Alice in Wonderland

Our children's school field trip ended at a Theater at the Greenbelt area, Makati City, Philippines.

It's the most awaited part of the field trip to watch a live show of Alice in Wonderland.

After travelling from one place to another for the different field trip locations, such as in Taguig City, Pasay City and then Makati City, our children were so exhausted.

However, when we arrived at the Theater, their individual energy started to wake up. When the casts began to show up in the stage, all students were shouting and they were then awaken completely.

They were so excited and curious to see the live version of the Alice in Wonderland which they repeatedly watched at home DVD.

They're so happy, but a little bit frustrated because they thought that what they watched Alice in Wonderland at home would be the same in the live show.

Anyhow, it was a wonderful experience for the family. We praised and thanked the Lord for that blissful day.

On the Way to our Children's First School Field Trip

It's our children's first school field trip in 2013 to Metro Manila area.

Since we're new here in the Philippines and our children were still too young at that time, then me and my wife accompanied them all the way.

All of us were so excited of what we will see in those places we're going to go. True enough, our children and both Mom and Dad were amused with what we had seen first time in our lives.

I will post more of our pictures in this topic in my next post later.

Family Bonding at the Golf Driving Range

Below are some our photos during our family bonding moments at the golf driving range in Laguna, Philippines

A different location, difference experience and different feelings.

This is my wife's second experience in the golf course area, Her first was when our eldest daughter was still inside her womb.

For our three children, it was their first time and they really like it.

Each of them, except my wife, had tried hitting some gold balls in this golf driving range.

My eldest, did it well, our second daughter tried it hard but found it difficult and our youngest daughter was trying hard hitting every golf ball and did good most of it, though short in distance but, in the right directions.

I lectured them first, giving them some basics of golf, such as feet position, swing, follow through and etc.

After about 30 minutes, they became tired and hungry. So, they left me alone and they went to the club house to order for foods for our lunch.

Few minutes later, I finished my golf driving practice and followed them to the club house's restaurant to join them. I lectured them first, giving them some basics of golf, such as feet position, swing, follow through and etc.

The foods were delicious and not as expensive as we thought. The price is reasonable for that beautiful golf location.

After eating our lunch, we went around again just to the see the beautiful views of the surrounding near the restaurants and the driving range and take some photos there.

After taking enough photos, we decided to go back home and along the way, we still took some photos of the sloping up and down terrains we passed by.

What a beautiful and wonderful family bonding in a beautiful golf location.

We praise and thank the Lord our God for this another family bonding moment He allowed us to experience that day.

Little Venice in the Philippines

Below are just some of the photos we had taken during our family bonding last April 28, 2017 at the Bonifacio Golbal City, Philippines.

After eating our lunch at Italianni's Restaurant and after buying bunch of books at the Fully Booked, we then proceed to the McKinley Hill where the little Venice in the Philippines is located.

It's a nice place to visit. Too many local visitors coming into the place, taking photos, eating in the restaurants and buying some stuffs sold in the side walks.

Since there is a shopping center in the vicinity, some people also doing shopping after roaming around the place.

There lots of nice spots in the area for a better angle for picture taking, but we didn't get that opportunity because of the big crowd of people contending the right spots to take their photos.

Because of the hot weather during our visit, we lost our patience to wait our turn.

So, we went inside the building to cold down our body temperatures while sipping some cold drinks.

A little while later, we decided to go back home quickly to avoid the heavy traffic jam on the way to our place.

Traffic was expected to be heavy on that day because of the long weekend holiday (APEC Summit and Labor Day in May 1, 2017).

We praise and thank the Lord our God for a safe journey and for the wonderful blessings He poured and showered upon us.

Lunch at Italianni's Restaurant, Bonifacio Global City, Philippines

This is the restaurant where we took our lunch yesterday after buying a bunch of books from the Fully Booked at Bonifacion Global City, Philippines.

Of all the foods we had ordered, what I liked the most was the Sicilian Chicken salad which contains chicken breast, crispy romaine, mangoes, red grapes and walnuts tossed in creamy anchovy dressing.

Our children loved the taste of the Spaghetti Pomodoro which contains Chopped red tomatoes, sautèed with garlic in a light tomato basil sauce.

My wife ate lots of the Tuffle Chicken and Mushroom which contains Fettucinne pasta with black truffle cream sauce topped with grilled chicken.

The last food I ate was two slices of Pizza Enorme - a 16-inch family pizza with four quarters.

Each quarter carries their own distinct flavors: peperoni, ham and pineapple, shrimps & mushrooms and four cheeses. It's perfect for 4-6 persons.

The last food that was served was the Spinach & Antichoke Formaggio which is composed of spinach, artichoke, mushrooms in a creamy blend of cheeses and served with garlic bread.

What a beautiful and wonderful family day we had yesterday! We praise and thank the Lord, our God for all these wonderful blessings.

Bonding at the Fully Booked, Bonifacio Global City, Philippines

Today's bonding with my family at the Fully Booked, Bonifacio Global City, Philippines.

After about two weeks of waiting for my promise to bring them there, finally today we'd made it.

I and my wife were so happy seeing how happy our children were when we arrived the place.

They then chose the books they would like us to buy for them.

Our eldest daughter chose the whole set of Percy Jackson Novel which contains 5 books.

Our second daughter chose Princesses Behaving Badly in a very hard cover.

For my youngest, since she cannot chose this time, I chose for her the "Secrets of the Millionaire Mind". However, she also likes to read the whole set of Percy Jackson Novel.

Before buying their chosen books, they read briefly some books which were not part of them all, like the one our elder daughter showing above.

That's one of the books we will buy for her as our rewards the next time she will performs excellently again at her school in this coming school year 2017 - 2018.

After buying all the books they had chosen, we then got out the place to find a restaurant to eat our lunch. Our photos in the restaurant where we took our lunch will be posted tomorrow.

Two hours later, we came back to the Fully Booked to read briefly some more books we will buy next time we come to the place.

After spending about two hours reading books, we then go and proceed to the Venice Grand Canal to find out more about the place.

We're all curious what we will find out there for our friends talked about this place positively.

Beautiful photos of my family in this modern version of Venice in the Philippines will be posted in the next post or two.

We then returned home at around 4:30 P.M. and reached home around 6:00 P.M.

We praise and thank God for this wonderful blessing He had given us and His mantle of protection that shield us always.

We're looking forward for another opportunity we could build a happy memories for the whole family.

One of the Bonding Moments on the First Week of January, 2017

It's one of our family's bonding moments during the first week of January, 2017.

It's the night when my wife's siblings' family had to go back to their respective home three days later after welcoming the New Year 2017 at our home.

We were watching the dancing lights with the accompanying music at the Nuvali's huge farm of lights in Sta. Rosa Laguna,Philippines, varying its colors with the tune of the music played.

It's a very beautiful and wonderful display and exhibition of lights synchronizing its changing patters that goes with the tunes of the series of music played.

Everyone was so amazed of how those lights dances with the music which I am sure everyone was familiar with for about 30 minutes.

Shopping at SM Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Philippines

This was the last month's shopping moments at SM Sta. Rosa Laguna, Philippines. It was a day before our children's school year 2016-2017 closing and awarding event.

It's our way of giving them rewards not just for completing the school year, but also for the best performances they had achieved.

Each of them had received "Academic Excellence Award". It's the third and successive same award for our eldest daughter.

However, for both of our second and youngest daughters, it's their first time.

This is our best way to inspire and motivate them to do their best in their school academic and non-academic activities.

So far, this strategy is working very effectively with our children.

Of course, the support system we have established in our home has played a very important roles in the over-all results of their performances in school.

Now, they're looking forward for a much better results in the coming school year 2017-2018.

We're praying to God that everything will be okay, trusting His constant and lasting great blessing in our family.

FAMILY BONDING AT THE RESORTS WORLD MANILA

Family fun time last year, 2016 before Christmas at the Resorts World Manila.

It was really a very beautiful and wonderful experience for all of us bonding again in another beautiful place.

When we were in Bangkok, Thailand, we also used do this bonding thing in a hotel, just to swim in the swimming pool, eat and sleep and then the next day, check out and return home in a very relaxed manner.

However, this time, our minds were not so focused of our enjoyment. We're so worried about our best friend - Prince, staying alone at home.

It was the firs time that we had left him alone for overnight. The next day, we hurried back home curios what happened to him and our home. Fortunately, when we arrived home, everything in was in place, but Prince, didn't do his morning habit, for sure because, he used to do it outside our home.

Though we put somethings inside one of our toilets just to simulate the outside environment, but it's ineffective.

Now, we're not so comfortable to leave him alone, especially after we had heard news from our neighbor that their friend died because of kidney failure.

So, we don't want this to happen to him also. Anyhow, everybody had enjoyed, though not fully, but at least the goal of family bonding was achieved.

Our Children's Academic Excellence Performances for School Year 2016-2017

It's our three beloved children's Academic Excellence Performances for the School Year 2016-2017 at the Holy Redeemer School of Cabuyao.

From left to right, our eldest daughter got three awards (three medals) for Academic Excellence Award, Best in Computer award, and Academic Contest Winner in Ekonomiks "Economics" Award.

Our second daughter in the middle, got two awards (two medals) for Academic Excellence Award and Division Schools Press Conference (DSSPC) Award.

Our youngest, for the first time got her first award - Academic Excellence Award. She's now more determined to strive much harder to get more awards in the next school year.

It was a very fulfilling moment for us parents to see our children to have these achievements.

All their hardworks and the support system we have established in our home, really pays off.

We both supported them, in all their subject activities, such as assignments, homeworks, reviews, tutorials, and etc.

Anything that involves analysis, calculations, such as Mathematics, Science, Physics, Statistics, etc., and Computer stuffs, it's my call.

For the rest of the subjects, my wife took care of them. Sometimes, I also assist her for something that I could also contribute, like writing baby thesis.

There were several times that I need to solve some mathematical problems while on the way to my office. Fortunately, I am no longer driving for more than a year already. So, I could still do it while setting on the bus on the way to my office.

My wife, simply send the mathematical problems to be solved via messenger,and when I finished solving it, I sent is back with the answers through the same medium. She will use it to tutor, normally,our youngest who forgot to ask me help on the subject the night before.

This is the kind of support system we have established in our family. Sometimes, I found it hard because oftentimes, all the three of them needs our helps at the same time.

So, we have to figure out who we have to help first. Even when I am in a business trip abroad, I still do the same thing. We're just lucky that in this generation, we have all the technology that could facilitate quick communications via the Internet. We normally used skype for video conferencing, LINE, Viber and Messenger for other form of communications such as sending text messages and pictures.

Strolling in Tagaytay During 2016 Christmas Season

After one of the Sunday masses we had attended in the Pink Sisters Church, we strolled around the city of Tagaytay just to enjoy the overlooking views and feel the cold breeze of city in the mountain.

We then stopped over to the place along the road to buy something and to take some photos for the family to share it with our friends and to look up to in the future.

It was a very beautiful and wonderful day for all of us enjoying the blessings God has given us.

About an hour or two later, we're heading towards home, but while on the way, everyone was already hungry, so we stop over at the All Day Supermarket to look for foods for our lunch.

Since we could not find the food we like in the ground floor, at the grocery area, then we decided to go up the second floor.

We then remembered that there is a Thai restaurant on that floor. So, we didn't waste more time but, hurried up. When we have found it, we then asked for the menu and ordered the foods we had agreed to order.

Within few minutes, we got our orders and we started our meal with a short prayer led by one of our three beautiful daughters.

So we returned home with our tummy full of Thai delicious foods.

My Wife's 4th Family Reunion 2017

It's my wife's fourth family reunion in four succeeding years (2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017) in our humble home. As you can see in the photo, there lots of girls than boys, i.e., the fathers only of the four families.

One of the fathers is the one taking the this photo. My wife's eldest brother, Joel has two beautiful daughters. Next to him is Jay has only one beautiful daughter, my wife has three beautiful angels and their youngest has one boy and one girl who were not in the photo.

This is the year 2017 family reunion welcoming another New Year.

I could see how happy my wife was seeing all her three brothers and their beloved Nanay Dina Salazar. Everyone is looking forward to the coming 5th yearly reunion, again during the 2018 New Year's evening celebration.

Welcoming New Year's Eve, 2017

It's one of our family photos taken last New Year's (2017) evening party held at our very small and humble home.

Let me introduce to you briefly my family members, from left to right: my wife (Judeen), our youngest (Johannah), our eldest (Inah) and our second child (Judeil) and their loving Daddy (Deil).

We just thought that time it would be better to have the family photo taken on the opposite side of the table. In the last three years - 2014, 2015 and 2016, it was always on the other side.

We'll share to you later at least one of those photos. Still looking where we might had stored them.

Few Days Before New Year 2017

This picture was take few days before New Year 2017 at the Alabang Town Center. This was the day we met Nanay Dina - my wife's mother- who stayed for few days at her Son - Jay, before transferring to our home.

As our post Christmas blow out for everyone, we chose Shakey's for our lunch. It was a fun to see them again after almost a year.

We usually meet at least twice a year in our home during Christmas and New Year. But this time, we met only once, to welcome New Year 2017.

We're praying and hoping, God willing, we will celebrate Christmas and New Year again this coming December, 2017 and New Year, 2018. It's a joy to see my wife happy to see all her family member's during these important occasions.

Eating Bulalo in Tagaytay

Picture taking after our second Sunday mass at the Pink Sisters Church in Tagaytay. Everyone seemed to be hungry for we're a little bit late for that Sunday mass.

So, it's almost lunch time after all those picture takings in the church campus. We then decided to take our lunch before returning home. Everyone had agreed to go to a restaurant serving "Bulalo" (a beef in soup - bone and flesh - cooked with water and vegetables and other delicious ingredients)

After driving for about 20 minutes searching for the restaurant I and my office mates we're having lunch together on the way to our company outing in Batangas, we finally found it.

It's Dinner's restaurant. It's been in business for more than 30 years - since 1984. So, foods are guaranteed delicious. We then look at the menu see what else we could order. After selecting three kinds of foods, waiting for about 20 minutes, foods were served and everyone was so satisfied with the foods and appreciate the beautiful overlooking view of the Taal Volcano.

After eating our lunch we took some photos of the beautiful views of the Taal volcano and then look around to see some junk foods we can buy for snacks when we reached home.

We arrived home after about 45 minutes drive. It took us this long because the traffic flows were not smooth almost everywhere we passed through. It usually took us about 30 minutes only when there's not much traffic.

We're very sorry for our best friend - prince. He could not come with us with this kind of activity. I remember in Thailand, our Parish Priest there will allow us to bring our pet at least once a year for a blessing specifically intended for them. I don't know if it's allowed here in the Philippines.