Lalin's Birthday Treat (2018)

February 18, 2018 (Sunday). We were supposed to do an early morning picnic at Quezon City Memorial Circle (Lalin will bring all the food) but we changed plans the last minute. There's no way that Raxie and I could make it before 9am so masyado ng mainit. Kaya yun, kain na lang daw sa new favorite mall ko -- UP Town Center.

I told my friends that I can only go/drive to Manila on Sundays kaya naging linggo na talaga ang meet-ups namin.

We were the first to arrive so pinakain muna namin si TanTan sa Jollibee (kasi chickenjoy lang ang gusto nyang kainin kainis). I brought our kasambahay Ate Charry nga pala kasi na-trauma ako the last time I met up with my girls na kami lang ni TanTan. It was so hard! Grabe ang pagod at hirap ko kasi nga ako lahat.

I was thankful because his Ninang Atty. Mels brought something for him that would keep him busy the whole day.

We didn't want to pressure Lalin into spending a lot for us (she's the breadwinner of her family) kaya ayos lang samin ang Rodic's tapsilog. Ang importante magkasama-sama lang kami. But she insisted that we look for a nicer place naman. Raxie suggested Silantro. Sakto naman because Mels wanted to try their food din daw.

Sobrang puno ang restaurant. I didn't expect that we'll wait for almost an hour to be seated. Ang tagal naming tumayo sa labas. Medyo tinotopak na nga rin si Nathan dahil sa inip.

Finally, nakaupo rin! We were all starving!

Truly a "cantina-style."

Here's their menu. Very concise. At affordable nga.

We had...

Beef Nachos

Dinamita

Grilled Pork Chops

Grilled Marlin

Silantro's Pork Ribs

Paella

We liked the food, medyo bitin nga lang because we were all very hungry haha! Hindi na kami nag-order ng additional kasi ang tagal mag-antay eh. I think Lalin only paid around Php1,600. Not bad at all. I want to bring my husband there kapag nagbakasyon siya sa Pinas.

As usual, direcho sa Starbucks after kumain.

While lining up, ito ba naman ang nakita ko -- my two favorite cakes in Starbucks! Waaaah! Pero talagang tiniis kong hindi mag-order hay. #ihateyoudiabetes

My girls with my boy, such a pleasant sight.

Haha, hindi payag ang anak ko na wala siya sa picture.

I am so happy whenever I am with my friends. They are my people. We don't see each other as much as before, but I know they're just there.

Ooops by the way, nakahabol pa ako sa Starbucks planner! Haha, nag-extend kasi sila ng promo duration. Special thanks to Raxie!

And because katatapos lang ng Valentine's Day, Atty. Mels gave us a little gift. We would always give gifts to each other kasi dati kapag araw ng mga puso. Medyo na-guilty nga kami kasi hindi namin naalala haha. Among us, si Mels talaga ang mahilig magbigay ng kung anik-anik.

Thanks, pare ko! =)

So there, another birthday has been celebrated. I am looking forward to two more birthday treats before I leave -- Mich's (super late na kasi last November pa ang birthday niya) and Mels' (sa July pa ang birthday niya pero iaadvance na niya habang nandito pa ako).

I love you, my girls!

New books from Raxie

I stopped buying books when I migrated to Canada. Pricey kasi ang books doon, hindi afford ng jobless self ko. Saka I really have this reluctance to buy things na alam kong makukuha ko ng mura sa iba, kaya hindi talaga ako bibili hangga't maaari.

So I took advantage of our Christmas wish list para makapag-request ng books na gusto ko sa friends ko dito sa Pinas haha. Mas mura nga kasi ang mga libro dito.

Sa Sunday (January 28) pa actually ang super late Christmas party naming girls but Raxie already handed to me her gift last Saturday.

That my son excitedly opened!

I now have an official gift opener. =)

And taraaaan, my new books!

Yey, My Crazy Rich trilogy is complete! My bilas actually gave me a link of Rich People Problems so I could read it online pero mas happy talaga ako magbasa ng actual book. I am old school that way.

Philippine Price: Php795.00

This book is not included in my wish list naman kasi nakalimutan ko. It was only later that I told Raxie about it, sabi ko dagdag sa listahan ko. Meaning, pwedeng isa sa mga options niya na bilhin. But my ever-generous BFF can't be stopped, talagang binili nya yung dalawang books na request ko haha!

Philippine Price: Php695.00

Thanks so much, Raxie! Super happy ako! Ang problem ko na lang ngayon is to find time para makapagbasa nang hindi iniistorbo ng batang makulit. =)

Christmas Wish List (Exchange Gift with The Girls)

Since Nathan and I will be going home in the Philippines this January 8, I suggested to 'the girls' (my college barkada and my core group in Pinas) that we make a list of what we want to get for Christmas para may guide kami sa pagsha-shopping. Barkada tradition kasi namin talaga na mag-Christmas dinner then exchange gifts.

I know na tapos na ang pasko pagdating ko so sabi ko ihahabol ko na lang ang gifts ko. But they said aantayin na lang nila ako. Na-touch naman ako.

Usually pare-parehas ang binibigay namin to all the girls but I thought that it will be more practical if we give (and get) something that we want/need/like. They all agreed naman. Haha, partida nga pala sa akin yan kasi I have a lot of time to shop lol. Mageenjoy pa ako sa paghahanap!

By the way, we don't give expensive gifts to each other nga pala kapag Christmas. Though they are all earning well (ako lang ang jobless kaloka!), syempre may kanya-kanyang family responsibility na kami. Kaya usually "token" lang talaga ang inaabot namin. Cliche as it may sound, it's the thought naman talaga that matters di ba?

So you want to know what their requests are? Paper weight, blanket, USB, Johnson's Baby Lotion, ref magnet, clothes travel organizer, bath/hair towel, travel bag tag, Human Nature Night Cream / Sunflower Beauty Oil, lip balm, scotch tape dispenser, continuous ink refill for canon, pencil sharpener. Ang sisimple lang di ba?

Eto naman ang wish list ko:

• Rich People Problems book  -- meron nito dito pero mas mura sa Pinas haha!
• University of the Philippines (UP) mug -- medyo nahihilig ako sa coffee mugs ngayon kasi paminsan-minsan ay nagkakape nako
• Bento-making tools -- marami nito sa Pinas at usong-uso
• Cute post-its, note pads, stickers, washi tapes (planner paraphernalias) -- marami rin nito sa Pinas 
• Pastel Stabilo highlighters -- dream ko magkaroon nito, as usual wala dito at meron sa Pinas
• Universal USB socket -- gustong-gusto ko ring magkaroon nito kahit mukhang di ko naman magagamit dito sa Canada

I am so excited sa exchange gifts namin haha! It will be fun to know kung anu-ano ang mga nahanap namin for each other. Parang bata lang kami uli. I'll surely post later kung ano ang mga nabili ko. =)

Thankful for the friendship

I miss my girls and I am so excited to be reunited with them again next month. You see, we've been friends since college and up until now, we consider our group as our "primary barkada." If I am to describe us, we are like the SATC (Sex and the City) girls - always talking/discussing, always eating lol!

It was so hard leaving them. I was already 34 when I immigrated here in Canada. I was skeptic kung makakahanap pa ako ng magiging malalapit na kaibigan. I prepared myself for a 'friendless existence.' I have to content myself with Ford, I convinced myself.

And then these ladies came into my life.

Joy, Mylene, and Cecil

I've actually known Cecil since college, She's my bestfriend Raxie's best cousin. Raxie lived with them (Cecil's family) for so many years so we would occasionally see each other. I was really happy na dito rin siya sa Edmonton napadpad dahil din sa asawa niya.

Through Cecil, I met Mylene. Cecil and Mylene's family temporarily share an apartment (Mylene and Cecil's husband Bal are relatives) so I would always see her whenever we would drop by their house. Mylene is super nice, pero syempre nagkakahiyaan pa.

And then one time, Mylene and her husband invited us to their baby's 7th month birthday. That's when I met Joy. She and Mylene are mag-kumares. All their husbands work in the same company in Fort McMurray nga pala.

Of course, closeness is a process. It took several get-togethers before we became really comfortable with each other.

But for me, the start of my meaningful friendship with them started when they visited us at the hospital a day after I gave birth to Nathan. Noon ko talaga sila na-appreciate. Noon ko na-realize na hindi na ako "mag-isa" sa Edmonton, na may karamay na ako. Cecil was already 8 months pregnant that time and Mylene just got back from Pinas. Joy took time to bake a banana cake for me (because she promised to do so after I commented on her FB that I'd love to taste that cake kaso may gestational diabetes ako). It was cold and snowing, yet they visited us.

I was really thankful. When you are in an alienating hospital at kayong dalawa lang ng asawa mo ang nandoon (and tired and exhausted because of the new baby), mata-touch ka talaga kapag may dumalaw sa inyo. I don't easily forget other people's kindness to me. Maaalala ko siguro iyon habambuhay.

Hay, enough of the drama! My point for this blog is: MAMI-MISS KO ANG TATLONG ITO!

I know na medyo sad din sila because I'll be away for four and a half months. Ngayon kasi mas masayang magkainan, magpicnic at gumala-gala kasi summer. Pagbalik namin, "winter" na. Medyo ma-stuck na naman kami sa bahay because of snow.

Di bale na, marami pa namang summer na susunod. Plus we'd probably be stuck with each other for as long as we're here in Edmonton hahaha!

I don't think these three girls will ever read this post (my family and friends are oblivious of this blog haha!) but someday if they do, I want them to know that I will treasure our friendship. Salamat talaga kasi pinasaya nila ang stay ko dito sa Canada. =)

Fresh from the mail box!

We got two nice surprises from our mail box this week!

The first one is a package from Ford's cousin Marjorie who lives in California. She sent us a belated Merry Christmas card and a Ralph Lauren onesie for Nathan. Hurray!

I love receiving thoughtful gifts! Thank you so much, Marjo! Our little boy will be wearing your gift soon!

The other is a "no-occasion" card from my girl friend (barkada) Michelle. Haha, she wasn't able to send me the Christmas card that I "demanded" from her last September kaya alam ko pambawi ito! I am surprised though because it arrived fast. She only mailed it last January 26 (Philippine time). Well I guess post offices are not busy nowadays!

Thanks a lot, Mitch!

It's a happy week for our mail box! Sana may magpadala uli soon! Hahaha! =)

Christmas card from Mels

A couple of weeks ago, I asked (or rather, demanded) my girl friends to send me a Christmas card. You see, those girls are the only persons who give me gifts for Christmas (haha!) and now that I live faraway from them, I miss our yearly gift-giving activity. So for the meantime, sabi ko kung pwede card na lang muna. They happily obliged.

Atty. Mel's card came in the mail yesterday (December 5) and I was surprised kasi ang aga. Wala pa nga akong Christmas tree kaloka! But I was very happy. Ang sarap makatanggap ng something from your friends and from Pinas! It's like receiving a piece of home.

But another thing actually surprised me. When I looked at the envelope, there is no stamp or any postal mark in. As in malinis. There's just a handwritten "85" on the upper right portion of the envelope which I assume is the postal fee. So parang personal na nilagay lang ito sa mail box namin at hindi dumaan sa postal office. Paano kaya itong nakarating dito??? Ni walang date stamp ha.

Too bad, I was hoping pa naman to receive nice Philippine stamps na Christmas theme (may nakita ako nun sa internet eh). And I am sure you will agree that those stamps and marks give a mailed letter its distinct character. That makes a written card much more special. Importante rin kasi ang date stamps for documentation, di ba?

Oh well, I am still expecting two cards from Pinas so sana naman may stamp at mga tatak na.

Ooops by the way, I still didn't open the card. Kapag malapit na ang pasko na lang at may Christmas tree na kami para mas feel na feel ko.

Thanks so much, pare ko! Mwah!

Remote meet-up with my girls

I "left" my four girls when I immigrated here in Canada. We've been together since college and I've become so dependent on them for the most part of my adult life. Yes, we are the 'Sex and the City' girls-like, in its truest sense. We would always meet-up, dine, and talk about life, love, and relationships. They are my sisters from different mothers. I truly miss them.

We are now in our mid-30s and things have changed. Two of us have gotten married, one became a single mom, and the other two are still enjoying their single life. Raxie and I went abroad (she's been working in Kuala Lumpur since 2007) while the rest are in Pinas. Different fates, I tell you, but we've remained loyal to each other. We may have become occupied with our respective daily toils but the friendship and the 'time for the girls' will always be there.

Last September 20, S014 - Saturday at 9pm, (September 21, 2014 - Sunday at 11am in the Philippines and Malaysia) we all agreed to an online meet-up. Because I am pregnant, they adjusted on my available time. The Pinas girls went to Buffet 101 in Libis for lunch while me and Raxie were at home. We used Hangouts as our medium.

The remote meet-up was so fun! I haven't talked to the three Pinay girls in 'web cam' for a very long time so I missed seeing them 'in action.' They are not very techie eh haha, we would only just communicate through our Facebook group. It is only Raxie who I often talk to in Facetime.

Lalin and Mitch

Atty. Mels

Queen Raxie

My girls

Picture courtesy of Raxie

I hope we could do this more often. As adults, we have more responsibilities now so scheduling a common free time could be a bit of a challenge. But if there's a will, there's a way right?

I love you, my girls! Cheers to a lasting friendship!

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Oops, before I forget, I would like to congratulate my Parang Mels and her husband Wahid because she told us two days ago that she is pregnant again! Haha, we were shocked! She's just given birth to her second son last November 30, 2013 eh. Oh well, a baby is always a blessing! Yebaah, kuya na rin si Chicklet! =)

Missing the girls

I am turning 35 in four days. This will be the first time (since college) I'm celebrating my birthday without my girls.

My 33rd birthday celebration @ Red Box Trinoma (August 27, 2012)

I miss them so much! And I need them, especially with all the big changes happening in my life right now. Oh how I wish they're just here beside me!

I've been living a relatively 'friendless' (in the profound sense of the word) existence here in Edmonton ever since I moved. It's not easy, as I am used to having long quality talks over Starbucks coffee with these ladies. It was painful leaving them, I am telling you.

Hay, birthday jitters!

Raxie's Day

My BFF Raxie is celebrating her birthday today (yesterday actually in Malaysian time)...

And because we are thousands of miles apart, we couldn't celebrate this special day together like we always used to (since we we out of college). But nevertheless, I am with her in spirit!

I am glad she received the birthday card I sent her ON TIME! I was quite worried that she'll receive it late because I was only able to mail it last July 31.

Happy happy 34th birthday, my friend! You are indeed one of my life's greatest blessings so I'll forever be grateful!

Looking forward to celebrating our birthdays again together soon! Mwah!

My Girls and Abram

I was so happy to see my three remaining best girl friends in the Philippines together again. Medyo nainggit nga lang ako kasi ako ang palaging present dati sa mga get-together namin hehe.

December 30, 2013 @ Kowloon House West Avenue -- Picture courtesy of Laling

Abram's Aqiqah is just one of the many occasions in our barkada life that I will not be able to take part with physically. Our friend Raxie has been 'away' since 2007, tapos ako naman ang sumunod. Hay, senti na naman ako!

Picture courtesy of Mels

Anyway, I am glad that Atty. Mels has given birth to a healthy and cutie boy -- ABRAM! Sayang nga lang at di ko na naabutan. But Abram (aka Bam Bam) is such a good boy, pinilit niya talagang lumabas ng November 30 so that he will be a living reminder kung kailan ako nag-migrate dito sa Canada hehe. Pang-reckoning talaga!

Picture courtesy of Laling

Congratulations, Pareng Mels, Wadz, and Kuya Amir! Your family is happier now that Bam Bam is here!

And Bam Bam, I promise to bring you a nice gift when I go back to Pinas. I can't wait to see you!

I miss you, girls! Medyo dalasan ang pagkikita ha! And I am designating Laling to be my substitute photographer! I love you all! Mwah!

Happy birthday, Michiko!

My good friend Michelle (one of "my girls") celebrated her birthday last November 23.

Picture courtesy of Bitstrips

Though a birthday is always a happy occasion, I felt a bit sentimental that I am no longer in the Philippines to celebrate with her. Simula college, magkakasama na kasi kami sa lahat ng espesyal na araw ng buhay namin.

Oh well, cliche as it may sound, change is the only constant thing in this world. Siguro kailangan din namin maghiwa-hiwalay talaga for us to grow more (as fabulous individuals haha!).

Happy happy birthday, Michiko! I may be away but keep in mind that I'm always here for you. As in always. I love you, Friend! I miss you all so much!

Picture taken on October 5, 2013 @ Starbucks Landmark Trinoma

PS. I hope you had a fun birthday! Errr, sa Davao ba? =)