Echoserang Palaka

Despedidas are bittersweet memories. Oh well.

A colleague who is also a dear friend is off to new challenges. I'm already missing her company. No more cheetos, no more "friendship", no more food trips, And most of all, no more "echoserang palaka!" - Charlotte's famous expression. 

We, together with a few colleagues, had a simple dinner followed by a 3 hour non-stop videoke session as her despedida party (?) last Tuesday. 

To cut the story short, we made the most of the remaining time with Charlotte before she left last Wednesday. It was a blast. 

   

*thanks Randy for the photos

Farewell Charlot-te!

Til we see each other again Echoserang Palaka!

Remembering Lola

Yesterday, our family celebrated the 92nd birthday of our beloved Lola Sylvia (Lola Bebing as we - her grandchildren call her) at Balingasag. It was the first birthday where we celebrated without her. She passed away last year. 

 

Lola on her 90th birthday

I went inside her room to relax a bit before traveling back home with my mother and brother. I saw her stuff toys and doll collection on the hanging cabinets - gifts given by friends, sons and daughters, and grandchildren, her photo albums with family pictures from decades ago up to the present, and photo frames of her children and grandchildren - I saw the little me on that picture frame. Those things reflected the things my lola valued the most - her family and friends.

I've had great memories with Lola:

- A great story teller. I always get hooked when it was time for her to tell stories. My favorite was that of a prince who's love for a maiden was tested against all odds (thanks to my poor memory, I can no longer recall the title of that story).

- A thoughtful grandma. She never failed to give us presents on birthdays and on Christmas. She would even secretly put bills or coins on our pockets (when the elders were not looking) every time we visit her. She would cook meals and prepare snacks for us when we were around. She always treated us like her little princes and princesses - even when we were already grown ups.

- A proud lola. She would always mention to her kumares the achievements of her grandchildren.

- A secret keeper. I share my crushes with her. I show her the pictures and she would always say I had good taste!

I simply miss her.

me and lola

with her grandchildren and great grandchildren

I miss you Lola. We all do.

Thank you for the genuine love you exuded to all of us.

I'm a Cry Baby

One truth about me is that I'm a Cry Baby. I cry for many reasons - be it overwhelming happiness or frustrations.

Quivering Cheeks, Locked Jaws, Frowning lips, and Watery Eyes --- Signs that spell C-R-Y-I-N-G.

When I start crying, I just don't know when to stop. But somehow crying becomes my means of releasing tension (happy or sad tension...whatever).

What makes me cry? To name a few:

Heavy drama on TV or in Movies

Achievements

Bruises/Blisters

Recognition of Good Deed

Comfort from Friends

Arguments

Birthdays

Disappointments

Heavy Traffic and I'm in a rush

Surprises

Weddings

Ingrown

Here's a recent souvenir of me crying over an ingrown on my right little toe. It was super painful to remove such. And I was on mixed emotions - I laughed, then I cried over and over. Jiemar took this candid shot while helping me out on my agony.

Photo edit via Adobe Photoshop

So this is how I look when I'm in extreme pain.

What a face!