A Day with New & Old Good Friends

It's Sunday once again and time to play badminton with my batch mates (high school friends) and the BH group.We had just our BH tournament last week December 7, 2008 and I would like to congratulate all the winners especially my batch mates who won the Class B and Class C division. This is the first badminton tournament they had. My batch mates Rey is paired to Rodel the husband of Rachel who also won the championship in Class C together with Trish.

This Sunday is just another routine play were we gather and play. After the play I joined with the youngsters (without my batch mates) to eat at Robinson's Galleria and to know more of the group where I'm a "newbie". Actually, my so called adopted brother (new friend) will accompany me to buy something and have time together. So after eating we went at SM Mega to do the shopping , had coffee at Starbucks and watch a movie upon his request. It was great day and I get to know more of my adopted brother.

Badminton High 3rd Tournament

The next day, my schedule is dinner with my former choir members (good old friends). Meeting place at SM Mega church 7pm. We had our dinner at ManHann.

Pasig Concert Choir

As usual majority of the basses and sopranos are present , one from tenor and none from alto's. But basically it's a gathering of close friends/barkadas. It was a good and fun dinner. Everyone has stories to share and update their lives. In one conversation, an idea pop out of having a reunion concert "One Night Only" parang pelikula...LOLZ...everyone like the idea but then it will take a lot planning and time. And maybe the question is if we can still sing...of course we can.....Let's just see when... The resto is closing so we transferred at Starbucks for more sharing and updates. It's another tiring day for me but I'm happy seeing my choir members wherein some of them are my kumpare's and kumare's. Through the years our friendship remains and even grows better. Truly friends are gifts not easily gained. It roots from one's heart and involves memories that stay...not for a moment ...not for a day but ...always

Badminton Group at Smashville

It's been 2 months since I started joining the BH group (badminton enthusiasts) through the invitation of my high school friend Rachelle. Other batchmates who joined the group are Rey, our senior class president, willie , rollie and eric. I enjoy playing with my batchmates and of course I like the group who welcome us here, compose mainly of young and not so old professionals...hehehe. The game is scheduled every sunday and I try to be there as much as possible because I consider this as my form of exercise and an outlet.

The first few faces that I had a communication are Tess , Dominick, Jordan, Joy, Ernie. Majority of them I know by faces, names but just pure hi and hello (a smile gesture). Aside from my high school friends (batchmates) , there are three persons that has been good, nice and kind to me...(should I say...with impact and recall). Alex (soft spoken and looks naive) for entertaining my querries and ....hehehe, Jay (looks snobbish..first impression only...clean looking and refreshing face) for bringing my box of wine in our plant and Cris (kind and friendly) my adopted brother, for the trust, sharing his life and for the bookings. I'm just new in the group and hopefully will get to know more about the other members.

Me & my batchmates (friends)

Cris Munoz (adopted brother)

Alex & Jay (Dynamic buddy)

Angel's first bday

A simple celebration of my niece, daughter of my youngest brother who happens to be my kidney donor. My brother is teaching my niece to call me "Dada" his second dad (hehehe). Her great baby sitter is my father (her Lolo). It was just a simple family affair with the chosen few relatives. Present also is my eldest brother and his family (with my nephews). My mom (who manage to call us to greet her grand daughter) is still with my sister's family. There will also be a grand celebration next month, this time it's the christening of the twins to be held on December 7 at London, England.



It was in deed a happy gathering seeing my kuya, pamankins , tiya. The next gathering will be this coming Christmas and new year. The one year that happen to my niece was a wonderful year and much blessings from the above, for guiding her, making her healthy, strong and away from sickness. I do hope she will be blessed more together with her parents and the rest of my family....

My Vacation - The London Experience Continuation

The continuation...another London's landmark....The Buckingham Palace, the official residence of British Monarch. It is one of the main tourist attraction where a major ceremony called Changing of the Guard is held daily during summer and every other day for the rest of the year. New guard exchanging shift with the old guard and this process is accompanied by a guards band. Be sure to be early so you will have a nice spot viewing the guards formation and for the picture taking, its really fantastic and exciting, a lot of people really do visit here to watch this ceremony.

Outside the Buckingham Palace is the Canada Gates (with black and yellow color) this is the entrance to Hyde Park which is one of the romantic and cool park here in London, including also the St James park. After strolling the in the park, we went to Starbucks to have a merienda. We then proceeded to one of the world's famous department store in London's Knightbridge.... The Harrods. We just do window shopping and buy small items for my niece.....

We then proceeded to London's Museum...the first Museum we visited is the Science Museum. We did not manage to go to 2nd to 5th floor because our camera battery is too low already but we do have some pics in the museum to show. It was a great and wonderful day (although tired and exhausted) seeing this amazing tourist attraction here in London.

The last travel and visit before I go back in Manila.....Another popular travel destination here in central London. The Tower of London, a historic monument...a fortress, a royal palace and prison. One of UNESCO World Heritage Center.... The next one is the Tower Bridge, the iconic symbol of London... and the London Zoo which is the world's oldest scientific zoo. Check out my video pics.

for more info click here : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_of_London
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Bridge
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Zoo

An Extraordinary Day

This is one of my memorable birthday , sharing it with the twins (my nieces) and celebrating with my sister close friends together with their kids. I know some by names and faces, others just met here for the first time, except for Nana Maxine (British National) who been in the Philippines, my sisters second mom here. It's my first time to blow a candle for my birthday cake...sounds funny but it's true ( no picture - confidential....lolz). The kids sang a birthday song and blown the candle for me. I was also surprised with their birthday presents for me. I said to myself it's nice having a birthday here ....oh no!!!...just kidding. Maybe I'm not used in receiving gifts now a days at my age. But I'm really thankful for the warmth welcome and generosity of my sister friends.

Kids blown the candle for me

Nana Maxi with Sam, Christian, Ashley, Tara, Laura

Above are the items I received: stuffed toy (monkey), birthday cards, M&S T-shirt, 2 England caps, 3 Umbro shirts (the red one is the new official shirt of England for 2008-2010 kick off), pair of watches, another M&S polo shirt (not in the picture) and 160GB external hard drive.

I will never forget this wonderful day being with you people and looking forward in seeing you again someday. I owe all of you for making my natal day an extraordinary one ....

My Vacation - The London Experience

This is the first place that I visited, The London Eye, dubbed as Millennium Wheel. An Eye flight (air conditioned passenger capsule) where you can view London's famous landmarks such as Big Ben, House of Parliament , River Thames, Westminster Bridge....This famous tourist attraction is located at Western end of Jubilee Gardens, on the South Bank of River Thames.

We were lucky enough that we already inside the capsule when the rain pours. It was amazing seeing famous landmarks while you are inside the capsule and on top. After the ride , we just go around the park and find a nearby restaurant to have our lunch.

We then proceeded to London's famous day out, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum with branches in a number of cities (New York, Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Shanghai, Hongkong....). The Museum represents entertainment, sports and public figures.

This was just two of the many tourist attractions and landmarks here ... we will still visit some...It was really a day to remember, experiencing all of this together with your family.

New Angels in the family

My new nieces, Allison and Alliza was born 25th of July @ 14:46 and 14:47 and 1,660 and 2,630 gms respectively via elective cesarean section. They're genetically identical twins though its not obvious at the moment due to dissimilar birth weights. They're a bit premature so they had to stay in the neonatal unit for quite sometime! Allison (the elder and smaller of the two) is still on a drip and has to rest her tummy a bit to avoid gut problems as a precaution due to her low birth weight otherwise all else seems ok so far. Alliza (the younger and bigger of the two) was fed through a tube and is beginning to suck nicely from mum's breasts. Alliza was the first one to go home after three weeks and Allison after five and a half weeks.

Allison

Alliza

The twins weight after 6 weeks , Alliza from 2.6 to 5.0 and Allison from 1.6 to 3.0 kgs. The lovely twins shows great improvements and their healthy too.

Ashley

Ashley (twins sister) who is turning 5 years old this December is currently enrolled as preparatory in St. Theresa. It's been four years that we haven't met her and my sister. Ashley was also excited knowing that I'll be celebrating my birthday here together with the twins thanksgiving. It's been a good year with full of blessings for us, new angels for the family, my 1st year anniversary being a post KT, seeing my sister and his family doing well and a chance to visit London and explore the nice places here.