the last chapter: zulueta @ HK

After 10 years... hehehe... I finally had the chance to finish up the last chapters of the Zulueta's adventure in Hong Kong. =)

Day 3: Ocean Park

February 12 Friday

(www.oceanpark.com.hk)

Again we got our Ocean Park tickets from Ate Yolly of Taisan Guesthouse. From 250 HKD, we got it at 235 HKD. Greatness talaga itong si Ate Yolly.

If our day 2 was a sunny day, forecast during this day was it was going to be cooooooooooold!!! COLD it was!

We took MTR TST to Admiralty Exit B. Then we rode the Citybus Route 629 going to Ocean Park. Here's what we had...

Day 4: Shopping Day

February 13 Saturday

Yiiiiihhh!!! Kala mo may pang-shopping. Hihihi.

We took MTR and our route: MTR TST to Prince Edward Prince Edward to Kowloon Tong Kowloon Tong to Shatin. At Shatin is the SNOOPY'S WORLD! The kids enjoyed here much. We ate lunch at the New Town Plaza mall. Then, we went to Ikea.

After Ikea, we rode MTR again. Route: Shatin to Kowloon Tong Kowloon Tong to Prince Edward Prince Edward to Mongkok. LADIES MARKET! Where the bargain is. Hehehe.

Day 5: Last Day

February 14 Sunday

The family met up with some family friends. They took us for a Kowloon Tour.

There are also a lot of bargains here. Eury got her boots here. Hehehe. We ate lunch at KFC. I wished KFC here in Pinas can also serve egg tarts. Haha! I love their egg tarts.

We went back to the guesthouse to get our things. Then, headed to the airport and waited for our flight...

The end of a great adventure!

What type of shoe are you?

I took this quiz from http://www.femalenetwork.com/ and natawa ako! Hehehe!

Here's the result for me:

You are a ballet flat!

Simple and sensible is the way you roll. The ballet flat is perfect you because it is super practical as far as footwear goes—it lets you move about easily and hassle-free, which is exactly how you like it. You know what you want and how to get it done without breaking any rules and getting into trouble. Your appeal is dainty, sweet, and demure—which a lot of guys love. Sometimes people see you as too traditional—but you prefer to call it classy. Besides, you still know how to have fun—after all, wearing flats let you do whatever you want, for however long you want to do it, without getting swollen feet!

Ang galing! =)

Here's the link if you want to take the same quiz:

http://www.femalenetwork.com/fashion-beauty/what-type-of-shoe-are-you

At the 31st Manila International Book Fair!

We went on the third day of the event.

Dada, Eury and I were so excited!!! Hehehe!

Last year pa lang after ng 30th MIBF, iniisip na namin ang 31st. Hahaha!

Sabi ko sa sarili ko, this year, i'll try to buy Eury books that are factual naman. Lagi kasing storybooks ang binibili namin sa kanya. I read somewhere na maganda din iintroduce ang kids sa mga books of facts.

Anyways, enough about my rambling. Here are our finds....

1. Scholastic - ito ang major major na sadya namin because of their bag-all-books-you-can promo. Last year, php1999 ang price nila. I got my Harry Potter set because of this. This year it's only php995. I think it's because limited lang ang stocks nila this time. But that doesn't stop us from doing the bag challenge. Here's what we "bag"(ed). Hehehe!

Worth php5k in original price! Love the bag.

2. Learning is Fun - this station fulfilled my goal this year. Dada bought us a set of great factual books. Eury love them!

"Wow! This is great.", Eury said. (naloka ang nanay!)

3. Lampara Books - you can find coloring and other activity books for as low as php20.

5. Philippine Bible Society - got coloring books for php15

6. Bookmark - I love going here for local books. I got my Noli and El Fili last year for php 100 each. This year...

7. Tahanan - also hold great finds for local books. Check each book for their price. Same books are of different prices. Meron lang konting something yung iba kaya mura pero pwede na!

We were also able to snug some magazines from Summitmedia for only php50. Also bought Clifford DVDs for php99 from Lighthouse Educational Corp.

There are still other booths aside from what I mentioned. It's a great saving to go to this book fair because the publishers themselves are the ones selling. So you're sure that you can get the best price for the books. National Bookstore also have a booth (or a big space I should say) and you can compare the prices.

I'm so tempted to go back but my wallet is saying, "Sorry you can't anymore." Hahaha! Quota na ko so next year na lang ulit. Worth the wait naman e.... =)

baby mossimo casting call 2010

I saw a poster from mossimo kids that they are holding a casting call for 2010. I thought why not try Eury's luck in modelling. So, i logged on and sent two pictures.

A month later, we received an invitation for the grand-go-see. Wiiiiih! Eury has a chance to be the next face of baby mossimo.

We arrived at the Festival Mall and woah!!!! The line was sooooooooooooooooo long. I thought we were in Pilipinas Got Talent. Hehehe! So we registered and our line-up time started. I think we lined up for about 3-4 hours for the pictorials. Alas!

Yey!!! She was great in the pictorial. Next is the screening. I think we waited for another hour for this. So we went in the screening room. Jeffrey and Arnie Hidalgo were there. And...

Nyeeeeeh! Eury was so conscious seeing herself in TV. She kept on looking at the video feed that she wasn't able to smile naturally. Hahaha!

Well, we didn't received a call back. Hehehe! Sayang! But that's life.

I guess she's not for showbiz-ness! hihihi!

good words from an angel 8

THE GLOVE
"You're so quiet, Son. What's on your mind?" asked Ben's father as he stopped at Ben's room to tell him good night.
Ben put his hands behind his head and stared at the ceiling above his bed. "Oh, I've just been wondering if I should be a missionary."
"You don't seem very excited about the idea," said Dad.
"It seems like such a hard job," said Ben, propping himself up on one elbow. "I have this feeling that I might not be any good at it. What if God calls me to do something I can't do!"
Ben's father thought for a moment, then reached over to Ben's desk and picked up his baseball glove. "What's this?" he asked.
Ben laughed. "Don't be silly, Dad! It's my ball glove."Dad walked over to the corner of the room. He propped the glove against the wall, found a baseball, and threw it at the glove. Though the ball hit the center of the glove, it rolled to the floor. Dad picked up the glove and looked at it in disgust. "This glove is a total failure," he said, shaking his head.Ben laughed and laughed. "Oh, Dad, you know it can't catch by itself! It has to have a hand inside."
Dan smiled at Ben. "You're just like this glove," he said. "God has a purpose for your life, Ben, just as there is a purpose for this glove. You put your hand inside the glove to give it guidance and strength - you give it power to catch the ball. In the same way, God will give you power to do whatever He calls you to do. Don't worry, Son, God will never prop you in a corner and leave you alone. It's His mighty hand that does the work when you are willing to be used."
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (John 15:4-5)

first day @ school

First day of schooooooooooooool!!!! I think I was the one who got nervous, excited and all. Hehehe!

The school released a Fetcher's ID and I lost it immediately after I got it. Haha! I felt stupid. I'm just glad that the school cares so much about the security of the students. They even phoned me to verify if my yaya was really the one to pick up Eury. Thumbs up for the teachers on that! =)

Well, tomorrow is another day and another story...

a journey to gold

Eury was 2.9 year old when she started Kumon. I got a lot of raised eyebrows at that time. Some people were telling me she was too young. Well, we didn't enroll her to torture her. Hehehe. We just wanted to support her. Thank God Teacher Didit took the time to assess her and yes, she said Eury was ready. She advised us to let her start with Math. I wanted Reading. She said Math will be easier for her because numbers have specific meaning unlike words. All I know back then was Math is difficult, period. Hehehe. So we agreed on Math and Eury's journey started.

It was so easy at first but as she moved up level by level I admit, it was becoming hard. The path was with, yep, rough roads. There were crying and even "hating" moments but what kept us moving was Eury. I'm so proud of her because at times we wanted to stop already, she showed us she can do it. I'm amazed how she learns slowly but surely.

Through all this, come August 2009 she was able to reached bronze in Math.

She saw her picture at the center's bulletin board but she was asking why hers was small. We told her kids with big picture were those who got gold. I think that made the worksheets more challenging for her. She was motivated to go for gold because she wanted a big picture.

November and still she landed at bronze. She was kind a disappointed because her picture was still small.

At last February came and she bagged silver.

Her picture got bigger and she went up to the room and excitedly said to Teacher Didit, "Teacher! Teacher! Big na yung picture ko!"

I nearly cried because she was so happy. From there, with the help of all the teachers, Eury tried harder each day to see her big big picture.

May came then June... This was posted right after her birthday. She was speechless when she saw her big picture. She was so shy to look at it in front of the other parents and guardians. When at last we were left alone downstairs, she asked me if she could step up the monoblock chair to look at her picture. I said yes, and when it was in front of her face already, she requested for me to take a picture of it. She didn't know that I already did that. Hehehe!

I'm not really sure that she even understand the achievement and the fulfillment she allowed us to feel with this award. All I know is that her big picture means a lot to her. =)

A great birthday present for her, she also got bronze in her Reading as of May 2010.

I know this is just the beginning. Maintaining the status is another story. For whatever the future brings, I want Eury to know that we are all behind her, supporting her.

We love you bebe!

eury ellyn's 4th birthday

a very special day for a very special girl

we love you eury ellyn

It's Clio's 3rd Birthday!

We attended the super "sosyalang" birthday party of Clio.

Thank's Ninang Tin for sharing this great moment with us!

Eury did the prayer and here's her looooong prayer:

"Papa Jesus, please bless Clio. Amen"

Eury Ellyn's Banana Party @ 4

Time flies so fast... She's already four!!!! =)

We had FUN!

Santacruzan @ Barangay 2010

At first, I wasn't that excited on the fact that Eury was invited to join the Santacruzan. I was thinking that she was too young and so I was not really preparing. When I talked this over to my officemates (5 days before the event), they were more enthusiastic about it than me. Hehehe. And so I was encourage to really prepare for it.Thank God I realized this a few days before the event. I saw that my daughter was really into it and really was excited.

The Santacruzan (the walking itself) started at around 6:30 PM and ended at nearly 8:00 PM. Eury walked for about one and a half hour with a gown longer than her in a not so smooth road with hot lights and humid weather and she didn't complain. When we asked her if she's tired already she always say NO with conviction. A lot of the other young girls asked to be cuddled already but she walked until the end. Even us adults were nearly if not yet tired from walking. I guess she really wanted this....

Thanks to my officemates for the encouragement, to the whole family for the support and to Ate Gwyneth for the "bonggang-bonggang" gown!

Flores de Mayo History

Flores, from Spanish flores or "flowers," also known as Flores de Mayo (flowers of May), Flores de Maria (flowers of Mary) or alay (offering), may refer to the whole Flower Festival celebrated in the month of May in tribute to the Virgin Mary . The Santacruzan was a novena procession remembering St. Helena's mythical finding of the cross. St. Helena was the mother of Constantine the Great. According to legends, 300 years after the death of Christ, at the age of 75, she went to Calvary to conduct a search for the Cross. After some archeological diggings at the site of the Crucifixion, she unearthed three crosses. She tested each one by making a sick servant lie on all three. The cross where the servant recovered was identified as Christ's. St. Helena's feast day falls on August 8 but the anniversary of the finding of the Cross is on May 3rd, in the Philippines, this celebration took the form of the Mexican Santa Cruz de Mayo.

good words from an angel 7

"Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10) .

Has God brought you to a place of nothingness? Be still and know that He really is God. When this happens, your nothingness will be turned into something you will value for the rest of your life.

good words from an angel 6

THE JARS

The preacher placed two identical jars on the table next to the pulpit. He quoted 1 Samuel 16:7 'The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart"
These jars came from the same factory, were made of the same materials, and can hold the same amount. But they are different, he explained.
Then he upset one and it oozed out honey. He turned over the other, and vinegar spilled out. "When a jar is upset, whatever is in it comes out.
Until the jars were upset, they looked alike. The difference was within, and could not be seen. When they were upset, their contents were revealed.
Until we are upset we put on a good front. But when we are upset, we reveal our innermost thoughts and attitudes, for "out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks". ( Luke 6:45)
What if someone tipped you over today? What would flow out? Would you reveal the "honey" of grace and patience, or the "vinegar" of anger and sarcasm ??? "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins" (1Peter 4:8)
Have a terrific day knowing that the one who upsets you may be just looking for some honey.
Author Unknown

We will miss you VAVALICIOUS!

People come in and out of our lives... Few leave marks in our hearts...

Iva is one of those people who will leave a great mark in anyone's life.

She surely left joyous memories to our group.

Thanks for the great friendship Vavalicious! Hope you like this...

Here is Iva's last day with TE Manila at The Sizzlin' Pepper Steak. YUMMY!

Special thanks to Rachel for collecting the pictures and to Lele and Cookie for helping me save the video. You are angels! =)

eury's easter egg-hunting!!!

i always try to let my daughter join activities like egg-hunt. i'm always on the lookout for great events sa kiddieparty.ph. kaso super tipid mode ako ngayon na parang hinayang na hinayang ako sa mga 500 worth tickets sa egg-hunt events sa website na iyon. KAYA! Niyaya ko na lang mga pinsan ko na magprepare ng egg-hunt para sa mga kiddos namin.

and so the Manaloto Easter Egg-hunt 2010 was held at tita ganda's garden. and I think super nag-enjoy mga kids especially eury because she got to do the activity with her cousins.

after the family's egg hunt, the SK of Barangay also held their egg-hunt of which eury also joined.

enjoy the pictures!!!

Manaloto on Holy Thursday

It has been our (hubby, Eury and I) tradition to visit Tagaytay and go to Calaruega during the Holy Week. Usually we go there during Black Saturday but this time we decided to do the trip on Holy Thursday with Manaloto Family (Nanay Belen, Jessa, Mamu and her hubby). This is so that we can also do the Station of the Cross at Calaruega.

Aga nagising para maaga makaalis. But! but! but! Traffic still!!! We traveled for about 3.5 hours. Kaya nag-lunch na kami agad before proceeding Calaruega. Picnic picnic outside the small church before Calaruega. I always forgot its name. Anyways, after lunch pasok muna kami sa small church to pray.

Then punta na kami sa Calaruega, did Station of the Cross, sight-seeing and visit the church.

After Calaruega. we went to the healing priest beside Picnic Groove. (nagMushroom burger on the way) Then horse-back riding sina Eury.

Supposedly uwian na pero ang lola naglilihi ng Dear Darla from Yellowcab. Ayun sinuyod ang kahit saan para lang makakita ng Yellowcab. Napunta pa ng People Support sa Makati para lang makakain. Hehehe.

Check out na lang the picture to feel the experience.

eury @ ballet manila

Eury attended ballet lessons for a whole school year (2009 - 2010) at Ballet Manila owned by Liza Macuja. She started last June 2009 and ended last March 21, 2010.

Her last day, I believe was the best class she attended. It was just then that they were taught very keenly. For the rest of the year... well... she learned how to stretch. Hehehe!

Her classmates come and go. One month they were jam packed. One month they are just three. I don't get a lot of advantage there, really. Every week seems just a start for Eury. Same lessons, same stretches. At times, teachers also change. There were two sessions that they really didn't learned anything because I believe the relievers were so young and impatient.

I guess it's our bad that we enrolled her for a whole year. If we just paid monthly, maybe i got her pulled out for the second month and just find another school. My daughter is young I know but if they think they can't teach that age why accept students as young as 3. I had high hopes from that school especially it carries the name of Liza Macuja but well...

Anyways, here's a collection of pictures from Eury's classes...

Ballet class costs Php16,000 for 10 months, Php2,000 every month.

Classes are Saturdays and Sundays 10am - 11am.

NO RECITAL (frustrating!)

according to her

she said she's not sorry.
she said she doesn't agree to most of what she read.
she said she's asking why, why it was written like that.
she said she felt as if she didn't do any of her bests.
she said it was as if she never gave any of her good side.
she said it's like she never love.
she said she's asking what was she supposed to do.
she said she doesn't want to say sorry.
she said... she said... she said...

she misses a lot...

the fault for not changing

"no, i won't change...
no matter how i promise it or how many times i stop myself for being me, no i won't change. this is me... a bitchful sensitive me.
changing me means not being me... means to be a total stranger.
who did you love anyways?
was it me or an idea you want me to be?
i easily get hurt.
at least i'm honest to admit that.
you see it clearly when i'm pissed off.
at least you see through me.
would you rather i become a tv.
switched on to channels you just want to see.
turned off because you grew tired of the same telenovelas you see.
i know people who loved a person however bitch they are.
i see through their blind ways how much they love them.
it's not good.
but at least they know they love them.
do you love me?
the way i am.
however bitch i am.
because if you don't, i don't think changing me will change what you feel.
it will come to an end.
and just like now, you'll throw the faults to me.
the fault for not changing..."

Persistence in Prayer!

In the midst of my confusion in life, I received a great news today and it did make me breathe to life again. Such a good air in the middle of a hot day. I am smiling. My heart is smiling.

Persistence in Prayer
The Daily Encourager

"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that theyshould always pray and not give up." (Luke 18:1)

There are a lot of background voices in our lives that would discourage us, when what is needed is persistence in prayer. The background voices may be from the apparently overwhelming circumstances, our family and friends - and sometimes in our own heads. And those voices tell us, “Give up! Give up!” It is tragic that many times we are ready to give up on ourselves, on others, and on God, when just around the corner from our desperation is the very miracle God has in store for us.

Rocky Henriqueswww.timothyreport.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Daily Encourager is powered by InJesus.com.

Kim & Cookie's Bday Celeb with TYCO

Happy happy Kainan brought to TYCO by birthday celebrants Kim and Cookie!

Ang pagkain ni Wewoy...

Hugasan na!!!

The end....

Oist Rachel tapos na...

O sige na nga picture picture pa...

Psssst Rachel ikaw na lang nakain...

Peace!!!

The End.

good words from an angel 5

We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. Colossians 1:11

Facing a tough situation? Looking for a quick fix? Easy answers? The Lord says to wait on him instead. He'll give you his power so you'll have the patience you need. Claim it!

zulueta @ HK Day 2

Day 2: Disneyland Day

February 11 Wednesday

(http://park.hongkongdisneyland.com)

We brought our tickets from Taisan Guesthouse. We got discount. From 350 HKD, we just paid 335 HKD to Ate Yolly.

Weather forecast told us it was a sunny day with temperature of 15 to 18 degrees Celsius. What a great day to go to Disney. I took a cooooooold bath dahil hindi ko alam paganahin ang heater. The others were able to have a good shower dahil hindi na mala-yelo ang water ng turn na nila. (obviously alam nila paganahin)

Punta ng MTR station (www.mtr.com.hk/jplanner/eng/planner_index.php) na nasa kanto lang pagbaba ng building namin (saya!). Our route TST to Lai King interchange Tung Chung Line. Lai King to Sunny Bay interchange Disney Line. Sunny Bay to Disneyland.

After a bunch of interchanges...

Kuya Olan, Ate Liza, Tatay Rolly, Nanay Elsa, Kuya Rony, Jason, Ate Eloi, Daddy, Jaja, Gywneth and Eury

We're inside DISNEYLAND!!!!

Ayos sa posing anak!!! Pwede na!

Carousel ride with Daddy

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Ride with DUMBO

Picture picture with WINNIE the POOH

Picture with Mickey and Minnie

Lunch time at Clopin's Festival of Food (Fantasyland)

Enjoying the sights

Jumping Jam

Picture with Princess Aurora aka Sleeping Beauty

Disney on Parade

I nearly cried when I saw Dopey moving. O sige na nga naluha na ako. Buti na lang hindi nahalata ng mga katabi ko. Hahaha!

Adventureland

Side picture with other Disney Stars

Hindi na kinayang pumila sa sobrang haba kaya nakaw picture na lang.

It's a Small World After All

Me as one of the Seven Dwarfs

Fantasyland Train Station

Dinner at Tahitian Terrace (Adventureland)

FIREWORKS!!!

Last picture picture at Disneyland

Ang saya saya!!! We really had a great time... a dream come true... stop na! Naiiyak na ko...

After Disney, we rode the MRT again and went back to our place all smiles.

End of day two.