I am now a Canadian.

For my first kwento, I have to tell you guys that as of January 16, 2019, I am already a Canadian citizen. Time flies talaga, parang kelan lang nang mag-migrate ako dito (November 5, 2013). Nakaka-five years na pala ako.

I took my oath of allegiance to Canada in Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Surrey. The invitation letter stated that the ceremony will start at 8:30am and that I should be there 30 minutes prior to the appointment time. Ford took a leave from work. Ang sabi ko pumasok siya after the ceremony kasi saglit lang naman yun pero ayaw niya. Bubuuin niya na raw na one day.

I knew that I will have a problem with this schedule. Ang aga! Nathan and I usually wake up at 11am so I sleep at around 2-4am. I knew na hindi ako makakatulog at nagkatotoo nga. I had to prepare na kasi by 5:30am so we could leave at 7am. Ayaw naming ma-late syempre. Mukha akong zombie sa ceremony tuloy, ang sagwa talaga ng mukha kapag walang tulog.

I was the second to get inside the ceremony room (that was where I also took my citizenship test). Maraming nauna sa aking dumating sa CIC (past 8am na kami dumating) pero nang magtawag na for the registration, nauna ako sa pila. Kasi nga nasa bungad ako.

Seat number 42.

"This is it," ang sabi ko sa sarili ko.

My audience.

The ceremony started at around 9am. An officer of court explained to us the flow of the ceremony and gave some instructions. She said we can freely take pictures of the event.

Then she introduced Judge Carol-Ann Hart who will preside over the ceremony and administer our oath of citizenship.

My first reaction upon seeing her: "Ang pretty naman niya!" I want to be like her when I grow up lol. Ang lambing din ng boses niya.

She spoke in both English and French. I wondered tuloy kung mandatory ba sa citizenship judges na nakakasalita ng French.

According to Judge Hart, there were 58 of us who took the oath that day. Fifty-eight new Canadians hailing from sixteen different countries.

After her speech, that's the time we recited our oath (both in English and in French). Akala ko noon tatayo ang balahibo ko, hindi pala.

It was when we sang the national anthem of  Canada that I felt a bit emotional. There's a part of me na nakaramdam ng 'guilt' at 'lungkot', kasi nga hindi na Lupang Hinirang ang kinakanta ko. When I told my husband about this, I was surprised na ganun din pala siya. Sa singing of national anthem daw siya naka-experience ng goosebumps.

And finally, they handed to us na our Certificates of Citizenship. Graduation feels talaga hehe.

The ceremony was very short. It was finished na at around 9:20am.  I had a picture with Judge Hart after.

I didn't have any nice picture on my oathtaking. Ang palpak kasi kumuha ng asawa ko. Ewan ko ba, lalo akong pumapangit kapag siya ang kumukuha ng picture. Look at Judge Hart, hindi rin siya maganda sa picture eh super pretty talaga siya sa personal. She reminded me of Lorelai Gilmore of Gilmore Girls.

Oh well, don't sweat over small stuff na nga lang. Ang mahalaga, Canadian na ako. My husband and son were so happy, pare-parehas na raw kaming blue passport. But there's a part of me that's sad syempre (mixed emotions talaga). Hindi na ako Pinoy sa papel eh. I consoled myself na lang with the thought na sa papel lang naman yun. I will always be a Filipino. Saka magdu-dual citizen din naman ako eventually.

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Expectation versus Reality.

I envisioned a special meal to celebrate my new Canadian citizenship. Naghanap-hanap pa nga ako ng restaurant na hindi pa namin nakakainan. Kaso ayun, sa McDonald's kami bumagsak. It was too early pa kasi, wala pang 10am. Eh gutom na talaga kami tapos pupunta pa kaming Ikea. Saka kakakain lang namin ng espesyal sa labas four days before that (January 12) kasi wedding anniversary namin kaya parang parang umay pa kami.

Buti na lang din nagpunta kami sa Ikea because I was able to take a nice picture of my oathtaking-OOTD. I actually gained so much weight the past weeks kaya tinamad akong bumili ng bagong damit. Luma lang talaga ang sinuot ko lol. Coat -- Forever21 / Blouse -- H&M / Pants -- Walmart. My shoes and bag were new though. Bag -- Aldo / Shoes -- H&M.

They specified na business attire daw ang isuot kaya ganyan. Pero I noticed na hindi naman sila strict sa outfit, kahit smart casual ay ok na.

Father's Day 2018

As usual, we had a very simple Father's Day celebration last Sunday (June 17, 2018). Days before, we were searching na for a nice restaurant na hindi pa namin nakakainan, pero we ended up having lunch at Il Uk Jo Japanese-Korean Buffet Restaurant again. Kasi comfort restaurant talaga namin ito haha. Bukod sa mura (lalo na kapag lunch), nasasarapan naman kami sa food. Saka matagal na nga rin kaming hindi nakakain dito kasi nga five months kami ni Nathan sa Pinas.

By the way, last year dito rin kami nag-celebrate ng Father's Day haha. We're such creatures of habit.

However, eating there wasn't a good idea. Punuan kaya ang pangit ng puwesto namin. Wala kasi kaming reservation. At dahil maraming tao, ang tagal ding dumating ng order namin. Oh well, ganun naman talaga kapag may occasion, dagsa ang tao sa restos.

Sobrang pangit ng lighting sa loob kaya nanghihinayang ako kapag kumakain kami doon. Di ko makuhanan ng maayos ang food.

I will always be thankful that this guy is the father of my son. Swerte kaming mag-ina. =)

After eating, we went lang sa Guildford Town Centre para maglakad-lakad at magpababa ng kinain. Pero kaloka, ang Nathan nagpoo-poo while I was shopping for pants sa Old Navy. Buti na lang ever-mabait si Daddy Ford kasi inuwi niya talaga si Nathan sa bahay namin (na malapit lang naman) para dun linisin. Bumalik na lang sila sa mall after. Yep, that's Daddy Ford! Kapag nasa labas kami, siya talaga ang in-charge kay little boy. Pinapabayan niya talaga ako na mag-enjoy hehe.

Umuwi na kami after mag-Starbucks (na hindi masarap) at bumili ng new headset ni Dad. Then binigay namin yung gift namin ni TanTan for him. Noong bandang gabi na, naga-aya pa siyang lumabas kaso tinamad ako kasi nga busog pa at nahahassle akong lumabas. Sabi ko mag-fishballs na lang kami sa bahay haha! Buti pumayag naman.

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Happy Father's Day, Daddy Ford! Not everyone is blessed with a great father like you! Thank you for everything that you do for us. We love you so much! 

Gifts for Daddy Ford (2018)

I don't usually give gifts to my husband. Aside from the fact that I don't have money of my own here (haha, ang corny naman na bilhan siya ng gift out of his own pocket), mahirap talaga siyang bilhan ng regalo kasi wala siyang gusto. Siya na siguro ang pinaka-non-materialistic person na kilala ko, bukod sa ermats ko.

But now that Nathan is bigger at mas nakakaintindi na, gusto kong ma-instill sa kanya ang value ng gift-giving. Gusto ko na hindi lang siya excited tumanggap, marunong din dapat siyang magbigay. I am glad na as early as two, enthusiastic na talaga siya na mag-abot ng gifts sa ibang tao. Kahit nakabalot na regalo o simpleng pasalubong man yan, excited na excited siyang magbigay at tingnan ang masayang expression ng mga taong binibigyan niya.

So for Father's Day, dapat may maiabot kami kay Daddy Ford na kahit ano lang. It's the thought that counts, anyway. Sa Pinas na ako naghanap kasi nga one week lang after namin bumalik dito ay Father's Day na.

I am glad may stock ako ng Marvel heroes gift wrapper (bought in Dollarama), perfect ito for our own super hero. =)

 Daddy Ford was actually surprised when we handed him these gifts.

Na eto lang naman ang laman lol.

• Father's Day card -- from Dollarama, $1.12 (lagi naman namin siyang binibigyan ng card pag Father's Day o birthday niya)

• San Miguel Beer Light bottle opener / ref magnet -- from Blue Magic, Php50.00 (kasi favorite ni Dad ang beer na ito haha)

• Desk Pad -- from Papemelroti, Php149.00 yata (haha, sabi nga ni dad eh para sa akin naman ito!)

• Body Bag -- from Girbaud, Php525.00 yata (Dad doesn't use bag but I felt that he needs one now for an updated "baby bag" lol. Siya kasi ang tagabitbit ng baby bag ni Nathan pero dahil bigger na ang bagets, less things na ang kailangan naming dalhin. At least iyan pang-lalaki haha. And why Girbaud? Kasi "special" sa amin ang brand na yan. Nung panahon namin (i.e. when we were in college), sikat na sikat ka kapag naka-Girbaud ka hahaha! Eh ngayon sobrang cheap na lang ng Girbaud, saka walang ganyan dito sa Canada noh. I am glad natuwa naman siya sa bag. Sabi niya sana bigger daw para magamit niya sa office. Aba me ganun pa siya ngayon!

Ayan tapos na ang Father's Day. Next occasion to prepare for naman is Dad's 40th birthday in September. Dapat medyo bongga naman ng konti hehe. 

#LatePost: Nathan's 2nd Birthday (2016)

Nathan is turning three in less than 2 months and I still haven't posted his first two birthday parties yet. Let me start with his second, kasi I couldn't find the USB (from the official photographer) where his first party pictures were saved. Nag-pack nga kasi kami ng gamit kaya nagkagulo-gulo na. Most of our stuff are in storage. But I am not worried naman kasi I have a copy in the Philippines. So I might be able to post it by next year pa. 

Anyway, Mamoosh and I gave a very small and simple party at home for Nathan last year. Unlike his first one, which I admit was sort of 'bongga,' I decided to just keep it low that time. My reason: "Pagod pa ako sa first party ni Tantan." It was actually true. Sobrang nangarag ako sa party na yun  (saka sobrang napagastos si Daddy Ford haha) which took several months to prepare. 

We deliberately went home to Pinas just a few days (November 8, 2016) before TanTan's birthday so we could throw nga a party from him. We just moved here in BC then so aside from wala kaming own house, wala rin kaming friends dito na pwedeng iinvite. Kaya sa Pinas na lang para mas masaya. Sunday ang birthday niya noon but we held the small salo-salo in our Marilao house on November 12, Saturday, para walang hassle sa mga cousins ko kahit mag-stay ng late.

Please read here na lang why I chose minions as party theme.

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I am glad because our every reliable secretary/assistant Joanne knows how to photoshop. Siya lang ang nag-design ng tarpaulin na ito tapos pina-print namin. Ang mura ng tarpaulin printing sa Pinas, yun ang mahal dito kaya hindi uso for parties.

Ang cute ng color scheme noh? It all started from the plastic table minion table cover that I bought in Dollarama. Teal color yata yan, saka syempre orange and yellow. Ang aliwalas tingnan. 

Bitbit ko yang mga balloons from Canada, binili ko sa Dollarama (orange balloons) and Party City (yellow and teal balloons). I would have bought everything from the dollar store kaso wala sila ng teal-colored balloons eh. The NATHAN balloons naman were bought at Divisoria by Joanne. Dito sobrang expensive ng mga ganyang letter balloons.

We just rented a couple of tables and chairs. Konti lang naman ang bisita namin. Ang konti lang kasi ng close relatives namin sa mother side. Sa father side naman, puro nasa States.

Joanne's husband Louie helped us set up the place. Natuwa ako kasi nag-match sa color-scheme namin ang chairs pati table cloth (na pinatungan ko ng yellow plastic table cover from Dollarama rin).

Balloons make me happy! Gusto ko talaga ng nice balloons kapag birthday.

As I have said, super simple lang ng party na ito. Walang kahit anong eklat (like games, give-aways), just food and balloons and cake.

We just asked my cousin-in-law Ate Janet (the Francisco family's official cook) to prepare some dishes -- fried chicken, pancit, lumpiang gulay (without wrapper), menudo, and beef caldereta.

We just ordered one small-sized lechon. Nathan's Grandpa Jim and Lola Elsie (hubby's parents) gave us some moolah for it haha.

Dito nga rin pala sa Canada galing ang mga disposable plates, utensils, and plastic cups. My old-fashioned mother wanted pa to use "real" (as in babasagin) plato and baso but I told her mahirap magligpit noh. She said, may kasambahay naman kami who would help. Sabi ko wag na dahil ayan nga at may dala na ako. Sobrang na-impress pa nga ang mga guests namin sa quality ng mga disposable na ito, ang kakapal naman kasi. Ayun, I later found out na hinugasan pa rin pala nila yung plastic cups and utensils kasi sayang daw lol.

The cake's so cute, I loved it so much! I ordered it from Box of Sweets, same maker of Nathan's barnyard cake. Ang gaganda ng cakes nila as in! And since since province-based sila (sa may amin lang sa Marilao), affordable pa.

This cake only cost me Php1,150. I just sent them my design (ginaya ko lang sa cake na pinost ng isang FB friend ko) at ayan, maganda naman. We agreed on a 6-inch cake at mas malaki siya sa expectation ko. Probably kasi malapad and the hat made it taller.

Ok, let't admit it. Good-looking cakes seldom taste delicious. Kaya bumili pa rin kami ng additional cake na "edible" haha. Salamat, Goldilocks!

The candle is from Walmart. Buti nakapagdala ako kasi ang chaka ng mga candles sa Goldilocks at Red Ribbon eh.

Nathan was still very shy that time. Kagagaling lang sa bundok eh (i.e. Canada). And shaiks, I was so bloated! Grabe ang bloating ko that time (sign na ng disease ko) na wala akong maisuot na damit kaloka.

Tsk, tuwing birthday ni Nathan ay may insect bites sya sa face. Grrr.

We had few guests. My BFF Raxie wasn't able to come kasi her brother died, tapos yung isa ko pang BFF was heavily pregnant. Tinamad na rin yung iba.

Aside from an aunt, my cousins, and nephews and nieces, I also invited Ford's two aunts and one uncle who live just a town away.

One cousin from my father side also came with his girlfriend (I only have two cousins left in Pinas).

We also called some of our kapit-bahays. We invited all our employees kaso konti lang ang nagpunta. Nahihiya daw.

Medyo na-overwhelm si TanTan at the start of the party kasi nga maraming tao. As expected, ayaw humiwalay sa akin. But later on, medyo nagloosen up na rin. Tumambay na rin sa labas with his guests.

Having a small party is fun, you get to chika a lot. Para rin kaming nagka-mini reunion. Our guests stayed till around 11pm, I think.

They were just kids dati grabe! Ngayon ang lalaki na, may asawa na nga ang iba. They are my son's second cousins.

Nagpa-prepare nga pala ng isaw bbque ang  isang cousin ko and that extended our night. At alam nya kasing paborito ko yun. #preDDSdays

It was so funny, Nathan hid under the table cover when we sang happy birthday to him. He was smiling pero hiyang-hiya talaga siya haha!

Nung bandang gabi, binaba ko na lang ang cake niya para maka-face-to-face niya si "bab-ba."

Amazed na amazed din siya sa cake nya, katuwa.

He actually didn't know how to blow the candle yet.

Nathan's second birthday gifts (which he opened the following morning, his actual birthday).

The only sad part about Tan's second birthday was that his dad wasn't there. Oh well, he was with us in spirit naman.

I would have to thank my Mamoosh nga pala uli for Nathan's handa. Siya talaga ang nag-shoulder haha! We love you, 'Nay!

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Nathan will be celebrating his third birthday naman with his dad's side of the family in California. Yung first two bitrthdays niya were in Pinas na eh. Kelan kaya sa Canada?

Dad's 39th Birthday Dinner @ Kyo (Vancouver)

September 6, 2017. Dad's birthday this year fell on a Wednesday so there's nothing else to do but eat dinner out after his work. Nagkataon pa na ang dami niyang load so past 6pm na siya nakauwi. Buti na lang it's still summer kaya maliwanag pa.

Oops by the way, he was given a cake daw in the office and his officemates sang for him. Ayos, at least may cake na siya kasi hindi na ako bumili (#hellodiabetes). I asked him to take a picture of his cake pero ayaw, nakakahiya raw haha.

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We drove to Granville Street in Vancouver because I found a restaurant that serves my husband's favorites -- sushi and korean BBQ. Maganda ang review sa Yelp so I suggested it to Ford. Game siya, lalo na at buffet. #cheatdayagain!

Buffet dinner is $30.95 + drinks + 5% tax + tip. Mas mura pa rin kesa kakain kami sa Tony Roma's or Old Spaghetti Factory. And no, we are not fond of fine dining. Kahit dati pa lang, hindi na (mga simpleng tao lang kami lol). Lalo na ngayon na may anak na kaming bitbit.

There's a similar buffet restaurant Il Uk Jo in Surrey (near our place) that we frequently go to if  we want to pig out pero mas sossy dito syempre kasi mas mahal at mas maraming food options.

 The ambience of the was was nice and cozy. Medyo madilim nga lang kaya pangit ang pictures.

Unlike in traditional buffets na nakalatag na ang food, usually ang korean BBQ dito ay per order. You will be given a paper where you can check what you want (and put the quantity too). Maximum of 1.5 hours lang daw ang eating pero hindi naman siguro nila inoorasan haha.

I don't eat sushi (or anything raw) but I love BBQ and tempura and teriyaki and tonkatsu.

Here's some of what we ate:

We asked for 10 pieces of mussels pero 6 lang ang sinerve. Ginto kasi ang tahong dito.

All protein, I know. Meat lovers kami talaga. No salad, no kimchi, no soup, no noodles. We just asked for plain steamed rice. Thankfully, hindi tumaas ang sugar ko after kasi nga low carbs. Kaso patay naman sa liver kalurkey!

 My very picky eater son (mana sa amin kanino pa ba?) only had rice and chicken wings.

Keri lang naman ang service. I was expecting more from the food though, pero parang mas ok pa ang sa Il Uk Jo.

We asked one server to take our family picture, parang hesitant siya. Hindi ba talaga uso ang makipicture dito? I didn't like the said picture kaya di ko na ipopost. Itong groufie ko na lang. Again, pangit ang lighting eh.

Ford had a small strawberry pudding for dessert and then we asked for the bill. He paid $75.73 all in all.

We had nowhere else to go after that. It was past 9pm, wala ng mapuntahan. Di na rin pwedeng mag-frappucino sa Starbucks.

Bigla tuloy namin namiss ang Manila! Yung area kasi ng Kyo ay parang street sa Manila, busier-looking lang sa Manila syempre. Saka marami pang bukas na establishments kahit alas onse na ng gabi.

Kyo has an underground parking nga pala na ayos sa reviews sa Yelp ay very steep kaya ayaw kong magpark dun. But we were left with no choice kasi wala na talagang available na street parking kahit nakailang ikot na kami.

My hubby laughed at me nang makita ang sinasabing "steep." Maluwag naman pala, sa standards nating Pinoy ha. Kahit ako hindi mahihirapang mag-park doon noh. Isa yan sa advantage nating Pinoy drivers eh, sanay sa masisikip. Masyadong spoiled ang mga taga-first world lol.

Ay nga pala, when we were in the car na, we saw the server who hesitated to take our picture. He went to his car to get something eh. Nagkatinginan kami ni Coblancs, brand new BMW ang kotse nya ha! Naloka talaga kami.

CES -- Baka naman sila ang may-ari ng restaurant? Tapos gusto lang siyang i-train ng tatay nya.
FORD -- Ano yun, koreanovela?
CES -- Haha, asar talo ka lang kasi yung nag-serve sayo eh naka-BMW!

Oh well, common naman dito talaga na naka-magarang sasakyan ang blue collar worker. I know pa nga one person na sa McDonald's nagwowork pero naka-Mercedez Benz. Ay correction, isa ang McDonald's sa mga work kasi triple job nga pala siya. Kanya-kanyang trip talaga yan. Kapag mahilig ka sa kotse, you will do everything para mabayaran ang montly or bi-weekly amortization.

I remember just a few weeks ago, I asked my husband if he's not envious of those with 'magarang' kotse. He simply answered: "Mi, kung gusto ko ng mamahaling sasakyan, sana bumili na ako noong binata pa ako noh." 

Oo nga naman. Modesty aside, he could afford a really flashy car naman (lalo na noong hindi pa niya ako asawa at binubuhay haha) pero hindi niya talaga trip. Kaya ngayon we're happy na with our  reliable Subaru. Hindi ko rin naman din kasi type ang mahal na sasakyan.

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We just went home after dinner. Pagod na rin kasi si Dad and he still has work the following day. Corny nga eh. Di bale, next year when he turns 40, I'll make sure to prepare something special na talaga.

I was sad nga kasi we had no gift for him except for this card (na pinasulatan ko rin kay TanTan ang loob). Eh kasi wala naman akong makitang magugustuhan niya. I am telling you, Ford is the simplest guy you'll ever meet. Walang mga kiyeme sa katawan. Binilhan ko na nga lang ng card sa Dollarama (no cute happy-birthday-daddy card kaya itong pang-hubby na lang) para may maiabot sa kanya si Nathan. I want our son to grow up kasi nang nagbibigay, nang thoughtful at caring at generous.

Happy 39th birthday, Daddy! Everyday we thank the heavens for giving you to us. We love you very much!

This song is for you!