Mother's Day 2020 Celebration

May 9, 2020 (Saturday). To continue our previous Mother's Day steak tradition, syempre nagpa-steak si Mayor Coblancs noong Mother's Day weekend. Walang steak for the past two years kasi nasa Pinas kami. Ngayon lang uli naulit.

I would normally prefer to eat out na lang when we need to celebrate para iwas-luto at ligpit na (saka masarap kumain ng hindi mo niluto, aminin!) kaso naman... nasa kalagitnaan tayo ng pandemya! Sarado ang mga restaurants.

But still,  dahil may okasyon nga, sa "labas" pa rin kami kumain lol. Thankfully, maganda ang weather. By the way, Sabado night na kami nagcelebrate para walang pasok si Dad kinabukasan.

My only request to Dad this Mother's Day was that chocolate cake. Ilang weeks na nga kasi akong nagke-crave sa cake na yan. Hindi siya mura at $40 (I bought it from my suking Pinay baker) pero keri lang... Mother's Day naman eh! Mother's Day! Haha!

Aside from (well-done) steak, we also had mussels, macaroni salad, and buttered veggies. Busog na busog na kami at sobrang sulit. Mas mura talaga kapag sa bahay lang kakain.

Sa totoo lang, sanay naman kami sa social/physical distancing haha. Lagi namang kaming tatlo lang ang magkakasama. Pero talaga, I am grateful kasi I am blessed with a small but happy family.

Thank you, Daddy Ford and Nathan! I love you so so much!

My 6th Mother's Day! I am far from being a perfect mom pero alam kong alam ng anak ko na mahal na mahal ko siya. Mama's boy nga yan eh! =)

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Here's the 'steak tradition' I am talking about:

It's holy week!

I admit to not being religious but I love the observing the season of lent. I am a sucker for traditions "holy week" is filled with it. 

Today is Holy Monday and I couldn't help but wish that I am in the Philippines right now. Ibang-iba kasi ang pakiramdam ng holy week doon eh. Ang saya, ang kulay. Dito parang wala lang talaga (though people here 'celebrate' Easter). Buti nga ginawa pa nilang holiday ang Good Friday eh. Second holy-week-in-Canada ko na ito so I know.

Oh how I miss my mother terribly. We used to watch the Holy Wednesday and Good Friday processions together for 33 years. I feel guilty na iniwan ko siya. I am hoping na someday, magkasama uli kami sa holy week kaso parang hindi ko kakayaning umuwi sa Pilipinas kapag summer dahil sa sobrang init.

Anyway, we are going to my aunt's place in Bristish Columbia this coming Good Friday. Ford got bored and wanted to do a long drive this coming long weekend. Para daw kunwari nasa Pilipinas lang kami at uuwi sa probinsya dahil Mahal na Araw. Kaloka, hanggang ganito na lang kami -- papretend-pretend. 

Marsala: 2015 Color of the Year

After a long wait, Pantone finally revealed yesterday the "color of the year" for 2015.

MARSALA, according to Pantone's website, is "a naturally robust and earthy wine red." It "enriches our minds, body, and souls."

Photo taken from the internet. Credits to the owner.

I am the type of person who is excited to know what the "official" color of the new year will be. I am no fashionista nor interior design afficionado but it really interests me. I am truly fascinated on how the color is chosen eh.

Anyway, 2015 is fast-approaching and I've always dreamt of dressing up in the so-called color of the year on new year's eve. Now that I have a house and little family of my own, my plan was to buy a terno outfit for the three of us in this color so we can wear them on December 31. It's a "new" family tradition that I want to implement sana.

But the challenge is finding those outfits. And I am not even sure if the color will suit my ebony-colored hubby (lol!). I am not sure too if there are many baby clothes in this hue.

Photo taken from the internet. Credits to the owner.

Oh well, given my post-CS condition, I know that may not have the time anymore to shop before this year ends. But I am really hoping I can find a Marsala-colored top for myself at least. Para may reckoning ng taon. Plus I think I will look good in this color. Now for my boys, bahala na kung ano ang outfit nila haha!

For our loved ones in heaven...

I've been going to cemeteries every November 1 to visit our dearly departed loved ones for the past 34 years. This is one tradition that I really looked forward to every year.

Sadly, I cannot do that anymore now that I am living in Canada. I cannot even visit the grave of my grandfather who passed away less than two weeks ago.

For our loved ones in heaven, especially our grandparents - Nanang Leona and Amang Felimon - who just left us this year...

All we can offer now is a lighted candle and prayers. May their souls rest in peace.

Chicklet's first Christmas tree ornament

I found this Precious Moments' Baby's First Christmas tree ornament  the other day at Walmart. It only costs $4 (+5% tax) so I instantly grabbed it.

Every year, I'll get a tree decor that will commemorate my son's life. Oh, I am so excited!

I've always felt that Christmas is only for kids. This year, I am finally gonna have one -- exciting, eh! I will make sure that all the Christmases of Chicklet's childhood will be special and memorable. As a new family, we'll build lots of Christmas traditions together. We will all have fun, I promise!

Our Lipat-Bahay Ritual

We are now living in Canada but there is nothing wrong in following some Filipino pamahiin naman, right?

When we moved into our new home last January 24, we made sure that we first brought these items inside the house:

• Our Poon -- Holy Family, little Sto. Nino (given by Sir Tantoco), and small Holy Cross (bought in Guimaras last August 2013) -- to symbolize our faith
• Rice -- for abundance
• Pillow
• Sugar
• Salt -- to ward away bad energies
• Cotton

As Roman Catholics, we prefer to have our new home blessed by a priest. But 'getting a priest' is not easy when you live in this part of the world (i.e. wala kaming kakilala) kaya nagdasal na lang muna kaming dalawa nang mataimtim. 

Ford and I are very grateful for the gift of home. We promise to fill it with love and laughter.

New Year's Eve 2014

A non-traditional new year's eve celebration. That's exactly how I would describe what happened to us last December 31, 2013.

Except for our 13 fruits and one giant round coin-like chocolate,our night can hardly be called a 'celebration' at all (in my standards haha!).

I don't eat fruits (except bananas) so The Husband has no choice but to finish all these!

Bought last minute @ Dollarama 

I originally planned on having a bonggang bonggang media noche because it was our first new year together here in Canada but I changed my mind. Again, we are still living in a very small studio-type apartment with an equally minute kitchen so food preparation is kinda difficult. I've experienced it last Christmas eve. Also, because we lack dining stuff, I will only end up using the same table mat, plates, flatwares, etc. which I do not like. I am not fond of repetitions, especially when I'm posting pictures online haha!

At first I told Ford we'll just do take-out. I realized though that washing the dishes is more difficult when you're full so what the heck, we better just eat at the Chinese restaurant across our building. Ford learned that it will be open until 11pm of that night.

Oops, before I forget, Ford had to go to work that day (December 31 is not a holiday here) and he was only able to go home past 2pm. Then we left the house to meet with Modz, Ford's distant relative, who was stopping by here in Edmonton Red Arrow Bus Terminal (from Calgary) for 1 1/2 hours before proceeding to Fort McMurray. We took him to City Centre Mall to for snacks.

Going back, after Facetiming with my in-laws (Mama, Daddy, and Cil Cil) who live in California, we put on our coats again and walked toward Urban China. It was a very chilly night, -22 if I remember.

We've always wanted to try this restaurant kasi ito ang bumubungad na view sa window namin. Araw-araw naming nasisilayan. As compared to other Chinese restaurants around our area, medyo high end ito ng konti.

There were quite a few Chinese diners. Siguro nga wala lang sa kanila ang new year. Sabagay, may Chinese New Year naman silang sine-celebrate.

To give you an idea of how 'big' our toonie chocolate was, here it is..

We were both starving but then the drawback of having only a party of two is that you cannot order much. Chinese restaurants here are big on servings so be ready for left-overs.

So here's our new year eve's dinner...

Wonton soup 

Special fried rice

Sweet and Sour Pork

Chicken Hot Pot

The food were good albeit quite pricey. Pabayaan na nga, new year naman.

When eating in Chinese restaurants, I always look forward to these fortune cookies. It adds fun to one's dining experience, right?

My fortune was a blah. It read: "Getting away for the weekend will help clear your mind."

It's Ford's fortune that was interesting. I wish I had his! Haha!

He said this fortune was so appropriate. When I asked him why, he answered: "Haler, Ethan Allen!"

Oo nga noh! We'll be moving to our new home by the end of January and we've started buying house things (like an Ethan Allen bed) already. So yun pala ang luxury ni Pod haha!

selfie selfie!

We wanted to watch the fireworks display in the City Hall area but it was so freaking cold. I don't think I can take it.

When we reached our apartment, Pod immediately took a bath, said good night to be, and laid down on bed. It was only 11:15. I hysterically asked him: "What, matutulog ka na??? Hindi pa nga 12 noh!"

He reasoned that he's already tired and sleepy. Hay, I couldn't blame him. He woke up very early to go to work.

I stayed a bit longer in front of the laptop, enviously clicking the celebrations done by family and friends. I couldn't help but wish that I am in the Philippines that very moment. I missed my family, my Nanay's usual media noche handa, the fireworks (we're from Bulacan!), and all the noise and merriment in the Philippines.

My only consolation was that I am already with Ford. I finally gave in to bed at around 11:45pm. Di ko na rin inantay ang midnight. Haha, the irony is that I always sleep at 3-5am everyday but on new year's eve, I slept before 12am. Kakaiba talaga.

Oh well, it's a new year. I guess I should stop being sentimental and start living a real life here. I won't be living in the Philippines anymore and THAT'S A FACT. I have to go forward. I better get used to the "new normal."

I am aspiring to become more positive this new year. I know I can.

Happy new year, everyone! :)

Our Christmas 2013

We were supposed to stay at The Sutton Place Hotel last Christmas eve but I changed my mind the last minute so I asked Ford to cancel our booking (we've booked it last October pa when I was still in the Philippines and was depressed upon learning that our town house won't be ready yet until early next year). I realized that it will be too much of a hassle to pack just to stay less than 24 hours in a hotel that's just a 5-minute walk from where we're currently living. Saka nanghinayang din akong bigla sa $200.

I guess the idea of staycation is really not for me. My theory is that some people who love to stay and spend on hotels are those whose homes/rooms are not as nice and comfortable as those luxury suites. I have a relatively big and pretty bedroom in Pinas (oh how I miss it!) and I wouldn't trade it for any hotel room in the world. In the first place, nandun na lahat ng kailangan ko. Hindi ko na kailangang mag-pack at ma-stress kasi may nakalimutan akong bitbitin. Familiar na rin ako with everything, like the bathroom, so hindi na ako mangangapa. Kaya plano ko talagang pagandahin ang upcoming bedroom namin ni Ford, para hindi na naming gustuhin pang matulog sa iba lol!

Going back, since we were no longer staying in a hotel room and dining out on Christmas eve, we had to come up with a noche buena. I just recently imigrated and wala pa nga kaming bahay so kaunti lang talaga ang kitchen and dining things namin. I had to make do with the few stuff that we have (almost all of which I bought nang paunti-unti sa Dollarama at Walmart haha!).

I am glad our simple table setting came up nice in picture! Kunwari sosyal hahaha! I made a promise to myself that next year, our Christmas eve dinner will be so bongga na talaga.

We didn't wait for 12midnight anymore. I think we ate at 10pm, we were hungry na kasi.

Here's our main handa:

STEAK. Pod and I are steak lovers. This is a perfect handa kasi easy-to-cook na, sossy pa!

BAKED SALMON. Another favorite of ours.

BUTTERED GARLIC SHRIMP. It was the first time I cooked shrimp in my life and I was happy! Ford doesn't eat shrimp though so ako lang ang umubos niyan.

And for desserts, we had chocolates, Selecta ice cream, and leche flan (that we bought at Panciteria de Manila).

We were so full! I hate wasting food so I insisted that we finish everything. Pero di talaga namin kinaya. In fact, my tummy ached so bad that Pod was the only one who cleaned our after-meal mess! Now isn't that the greatest Christmas gift ever? A very good and understanding husband haha!

We spent the rest of Christmas eve talking to our BFF Raxie (who's based in Kuala Lumpur) via Hangouts. I honestly missed her all the more this Christmas. Palagi kasi kaming magkasama tuwing Christmas season, madalas din kahit sa mismong araw ng Pasko. We've been doing that for more than a decade. This year, hindi siya umuwi sa Pinas because 'I am not there.' Hay! I love you, Friend!

Anyway, we woke up really late that following morning. We dressed up and drove to St. Albert to pick Ate June (Ford's distant cousin and our only family here) so we can do Christmas lunch.

Edmonton is really "Deadmonton" pala on Christmas day. As in parang walang katao-tao and most of the establishments (even malls and restaurants) were closed. Malungkot, really.

We ended up eating at Taipan Cafe, one of the many Chinese restaurants here in the "China town area" of Downtown. Bilib din talaga ako sa mga Tsino, walang holi-holiday basta negosyo!

We were so hungry so lapang na naman kami. Chinese restaurants here in Edmonton are generally good (by our standards) and we wondered why Filipino restaurants can't shape up. Oops, that's for another post na lang.

One souvenir shot of our Christmas lunch. By the way, Kuya Rodel joined us nga pala. He is Ate June's trusted friend and helper (mechanic/driver/errand person/etc). He's here on a work visa and we learned that since Canada has this new policy of limited stay for foreign workers, he's going "home" na in 2015. Tsk, we are hoping though na maayos ang papers niya and maging PR (Permanent Resident) siya.

We drove Ate June and Kuya Rodel back to St. Albert after lunch. Ate June was invited by a choir mate to a Chrismas dinner naman so she bought a cake.

I will forever be grateful to Ate June for being such a good 'insan' and companion to Ford here in Edmonton...

I was so touched when Ate June handed us a gift. Haha, ito lang ang kaisa-isang regalong natanggap ko/namin this Christmas! Except syempre sa gifts ni Santa Ford sa akin.

Again, we have no other family and friends here YET kaya walang gift-giving activities. Someday sana magkaroon, I enjoy wrapping gifts kasi. Plus it's always a joy to give (and receive)!

Too bad wala kaming gift for Ate June. I really wanted to get something for her kaso di ko talaga alam kung ano. Next year na lang talaga, when we are more settled na in our own home para mas organized na ang thoughts ko. I also promised her that we'll be having Christmas meals na at home next year.

Thanks so muchie for the lunch and gifts, Ate June! Highly appreciated talaga!

And because we were so full, we immediately went into sleep upon reaching our humble suite. We woke up at around 8pm and Pod was craving for some pancakes. We knew that the nearby Humpty's was open (nadaaanan kasi namin) so we dressed up (again!) and went there.

Di ako papayag na wala kaming maayos na couple pic this Christmas so mega picture uli. This was the most decent one.

We regret spending our Christmas dinner at Humpty's. Sana sa Denny's na lang. Their food doesn't look nice at all and their store was somewhat untidy. Oh well, lesson learned. No more Humpty's from now on.

If there's any consolation, maganda ang color registration nila sa Iphone ko. Haha, I was able to take my official Christmas 2013 selfie! And thanks to iPiccy, naging flawless ako haha!

Christmas may not be as fun here in Edmonton as in the Philippines and Ford and I may not have done something really really special for the holidays but at least we were together and that's all that matters. It was the very first time we've spent Christmas with each other's physical presence (would you believe) and we were grateful.

Cheers to the many more Christmases we'll be celebrating together!

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The only regret I had was that we weren't able to attend mass on Christmas. Promise, sa new year talaga!

It's Christmas in Pinas!

The Philippines is 15 hours ahead than Edmonton so they are already celebrating Christmas now. I can't help but feel sentimental. This is my first Christmas away from 'home.'

For the past so many years, my mother and I, together with Tita Oya and other relatives, would attend the December 24 10pm mass in Lolomboy (my Nanay's home barangay where I grew up). Then after, we'll head straight to SanDoc's house for a simple noche buena.

I am lucky because in this day and age, we have all these technology in the world to connect with our loved ones who are so far away. Nakakatuwa kasi kahit ang misa, mapapanood na live online!

The Roman Catholicism is really shaping up!

Ang saya ko kasi hindi ko pa rin totally na-miss out ang mass na dinadaluhan ko taon-taon.

I wasn't able to finish nga lang because I had an abdominal ultrasound appointment at 8:30am (Edmonton time). Pero hanggang sa sasakyan, I was watching.

And after my appointment, when I turned on my Iphone, this was what I saw. I knew that my cousin Cricket posted this for me. I used to be their photographer.

On our way home, I contacted SanDoc via Facetime and I was able to see my family at home, feasting! Really, I've never been this grateful with technology!

I spent the last two hours scanning my FB, making usi on how my friends and relatives spent their noche buena. It was fun, feeling ko kasama ko na rin sila. Postmodern na talaga ang celebration ng Pasko ngayon.

To everyone in the Philippines, especially to my family and friends, Merry Christmas from us here in Edmonton!

Picture courtesy of Bitstrips