Baguio,April2011

I love Baguio.It is one of my favorite places on earth. Many a times,I have said, I will never get tired of it. I always look forward on occasions where I can visit the place. I feel lucky that I get to be there annually for different reasons yet with the same familiar places to go to.

 ODOCs.What ??Oh yes,one day old chicks for that.Haha! I was first introduced to this term on 1998 during my PT internship in Benguet.My good friend Ram and I would have them for merienda after our duty.  Since then on, it has been my habit to eat odocs at Mines View Park. If Harry can't let go of "pusit",odocs are mine. I instantly stop at the little store located at the side,order odocs partnered with cold Coke. They are crunchy.The vinegar sauce I could sip and finish. They look weird I know,coz I don't eat this part with "balut" yet when fried they tastes sooo comfortingly okay. Writing about odocs makes me crave for one  now.:(

 This is "Manang." She owns the stall where I regularly order my odocs. I do not have plans to look for any other place because I am well satisfied with what she has to offer. Also, I find her warm and sincere. I asked to take a photo of her and she gracefully though shyly said yes.

 I am glad that Sir Uly,my colleague requested for only one place: the Grotto. It has been decades since the last time I went here. It was fortunate for us to come,we were able to pray the Stations of the Cross.I thanked God for the blessings I receive and continued to ask Mama Mary for her intercession.

 My most favorite place in Baguio-the Pink Sisters Convent. I loved this at first sight especially so when I witnessed the Pink sisters singing.Was it heaven??I felt it.I was convinced that prayers will definitely be granted if asked by them with their angelic aura and voices. I feel holy and calm each time I come to visit the place.

It has been my dream for a long time now to have a diner.I could vividly give the details of how my diner would look like. It will be a place that the whole family will love. There'll be a jukebox.Theme color would be red and black. I am influenced by American films. I have this huge attraction with American diners. No pretense of formality.Just enjoyment and relaxed ambience.
Glenn's diner located near Pink Sisters would always catch my sight each time I passed by. Luckily,my friends and I gave it a go. My gosh!!The servings are huge!I am not kidding. I ordered "every girl must have it"(I am not exactly sure of the name). It has fries,a piece of steak,fried chicken,chicken fillet and 1 piece of pork chop. All in decent proportions. How could I finish all that!!!Of course I did not. I will go back there definitely. This time i will only make sure my company has a great appetite with a big tummy room to store the food.:)

I am looking forward for my next visit in Baguio. As always,I won't get tired of it.

dimsum and sushi

 San Fernando has only a few number of Japanese restos.This is unfortunate for me who loves Japanese cuisine. Sushi-ya,our fave,closed down and heard it won't open anymore after fire hit it. Good thing,Dimsum and Sushi opened in Northwalk 2 and it offers options that can satisfy my cravings for anything Japanese. Above is its shrimp tempura.It has the right crunch and I don't feel short changed with the shrimp inside.It is not all bread crumbs and flour.Another star factor is the tempura are not drowned with oil.

 A traditional appetizer anytime I eat Japanese is kani salad. However the best is still the Sushi-ya's. Sushi and ramen though gives justice to its serving because its serving could satisfy around 3 persons plus the crab sticks on it are fresh and yummy.

Seldom would I refuse noodles.I love it. Here is my favorite in the place. The lobster ball soup. I could immediately taste the lobster in it. The noodles is cooked well. The soup is seasoned with the right amount.

Japaneses I love. One day,I will go to Tokyo,Japan not only to visit my Hello Kitty but to try ,explore and enjoy it most authentic food available.

Tita LILING 1931-2011



Tita Toyang,Mamang,Tita Liling and Tatang.

Van,me,Mond,Doc Totoy,Cleng,AC.Seated:Mang,Tita Liling,Tatang

 In a lifetime,there would be many goodbyes. Most of us has death as the greatest fear.As written by Fr. Jerry Orbos,death is the big LETTING GO, and the big LETTING GOD. In spite of the pain of losing a loved one, we must continue living and go on loving. We must accept that in the end, the people we hold dear belong to GOD more than to us.

Tita Liling,Mamang's older sister joined our Creator on April 10,2011. It came soon after Mom and I left her place. Two days before,I came to visit her in the hospital. She was complaining of pain.Difficulty of breathing was evident because of pneumonia and pleural effusion,that oxygen had to stay in place. I was glad she recognized me. I burst into tears when she mentioned she wanted to go home and see "Curasing", my mother.I read her chart,talked to her cardiologist,and I knew the prognosis is not hopeful.
I tried to talk it out with Mamang,explaining so carefully that Tita Liling's condition is not good.I told her,"Baka di na s'ya gumaling." Her firm reply was" Dapat gumaling s'ya," which left me speechless.

I have witnessed many a thousand times the care the siblings(Tatang Batman included) had for one another.Under the scorching heat of the sun,Mamang would ride on her three-wheeler to see Tita. No long chats,just them physically close to each other already brings them happiness.They would sometimes visit Tito Batman and Tita Toyang.These two old sisters will then make "lambing" to Tatang and ask for money.I told Mom to refrain from doing that.She wouldn't listen and reason"Bakit?Koya ku ne man." No wonder I am her daughter.

With Mamang's health condition,she continues to think about Tatang's walking ability and Tita Liling's fracture and hospital admission. They worry for one another. I would ask Mamang every now and then why she loves her siblings that much and she says,"Kasi kapatad ku la." A constant answer.Just that.

I must really be a strong girl.I waited for the elder members of the family to break the news about Tita Liling,to no avail. Doc Totoy was suddenly nowhere in sight,Kong Gie was beside Mamang yet he seemed catatonic. Ati Peng was sobbing. Tita Nora was babbling incongruent statements. No choice to me. I had to do it. Seeing Mamang's reaction,she repeatedly trying to wake up her sister,was beyond pain. In that instance, I wished my brothers were here.

I know in my heart that Tita Liling is in heaven with their parents and other siblings. I will remember her in quite a number of ways. Her fascination with dangling earrings and wide belts,her addiction to baby powder just like Mamang,the crayons and paper pads she gave me when I passby in her store in my elementary years,the annual dinner she prepares for the family every All Saint's Day.But most importantly,I will always cherish and relinguish the moments she and Mamang spent together. I am not yet ready to imagine the next days when Mamang might ask for you. Coming to your place has been her practice.

Thank you sooo much Lolet for loving Mamang,for waiting for her to see you before you finally rested in peace.Thank you for being my mother's ATE.

Enjoy your tour in heaven. Guide us from up above.

My PT MARS



Standing(L-R): Danna,Rose,Che.Seated: Misty,Me,Pam

I entered Angeles University gates on the year 1994 to take BS Physical Therapy.It is under College of Allied Medical Professions.The course was one helluva tasking.I had to endure four Anatomy subjects,Physiologies,etc. I almost had to literally kiss a cadaver just so I can master all the muscles and nerves for the moving exams,not counting their actions and insertions.Thank God,after five years of daily stress,I graduated BSPT. Sad to say,I am not a PTRP. I tried and did not make it. Truth to tell,it is still one of my wish to be one someday.
However,I am not to say that I regret enrolling the degree because it is in the grounds of AUF where I met my beautiful PT friends.

 Ain't they lovely?? Through the years,we have managed to maintain the friendship. Thanks to Facebook and celfones.We are updated on each other's status and whereabouts.My girlfriends and I share many a number of happy and sad adventures.Pity that digicams and DSLRs were not in the market during this era.Or else,I bet,more than a million photos would have been captured.

 This is Pam,my best friend.She is also a guardian,sister and anything in between. We didn't tire in each other's presence even if we were together 24/7. We were classmates and roommates in "Auntie's" dorm. She even brought me along on gimmicks with her high school buddies. We love Channel 2,fiercely loyal to Tagalog movies.Show biz na show biz!:) I super care for her. We were our own witnesses with our joy and drama life episodes.I miss her every now and then. Need I say that she is beautiful?

 All the married(happily at that) and single(owkei at that) women. It brings delight in my heart to see these girls settled with the men they love. Each of them have their little darlings already. I know that they are grateful and happy with their relationship status. Fingers crossed, I claim I won't grow old alone as well.:)

Oh yes,we call each other MARS.I am a proud "Ninang" to some of their children. We miss our others friends,Che of Ram,Pen,and Armin especially when we get to squeeze time to be together on certain occasions.

If only for the chance of meeting these women and building a lasting friendship with them, I say I do not regret setting my feet studying in AU.
Cheeky friends for life,as what Danna the Suprema wrote!True.