People like to reminisce, and we are here right now. We’re nearing the end of the year.
Only younger people make a tally of the good and bad things that happened in the past year. Older people like me don’t usually count. Truth be told, I am always anxious about the first two months of the year. Ewan kung bakit. Maybe because there were intense moments that I experienced in the past coincidentally during January and February.
I will pretend to be young and I will look back and think of how my 2024 went by:
1. January —- My family and I spent the holidays together in the USA.
Noodles Noche Buena
I do want to experience White New Year again.
We hosted the Tan Family Reunion with my siblings and their families. Theo met his relatives from Wowa’s side.
2. February —- I stayed behind in San Francisco. My Kuya Romy passed away on February 5. The feeling of grief is indescribable but we learn to live with the pain of losing a family member.
Hanging out with my son before I head back to Manila. I won’t be seeing him for almost a year or so.
Feb 12, 2024
3. March —- I was back in Manila.
The best part of being here is being a grandma. I am back to my most enjoyable activity, Lola-ying.
Kuya Lito and his wife Dimple were in town. We had lunch in Resorts World Manila on March 5, 2024.
Being the president of our high school batch, I headed the weekly meetings and dance practices in preparation for our Grand Reunion in May. Although the travel to and from our town took several hours each way, I didn’t mind it. I considered the dance practices as forced physical exercises.
I feel uninspired to attend formal events because I hate wearing formal dresses but sometimes I just have to force myself. It’s also fun and I get to meet new acquaintances.
I hosted a prayer service on March 16 for Kuya Romy which coincided with his burial in Fremont, CA.
I met his daughter, Gilda, for the first time. I didn’t know that he had a daughter long before he met his wife. The anecdote goes that he was still in college when he got a girl pregnant and he couldn’t bear the brunt of our father’s anger. He didn’t want to disappoint my parents he wanted to earn his college diploma first. But according to his daughter, his mom disappeared and never responded to my brother’s letters. After a year of looking for her, someone informed Kuya Romy that she was already married.
Gilda has three beautiful and responsible children, and has two grandkids living in Belgium.
A simple dinner in celebration of Kuya Lito’s 77th birthday, March 18.
Picture with Theo and my daughter, Yen’s birthday, March 21
I consider it a privilege and a personal commitment to spend Holy Week in Binangonan, Rizal.
March 27, Holy Wednesday procession in Pila-pila.
We distributed white towels, ice cold drinking water, bowls of arroz caldo, cookies and bread, to thousands of Catholic devotees during the Good Friday procession.
First time we came home at 5 o’clock in the morning the next day because we waited for the Giwang-giwang to pass our street.
4. April
Easter Sunday with my apo at Cafe Breton, Ayala 30th Mall, Pasig City
Spent most of the time playing and taking care of my apo.
Attended our high school batch reunion, April 7
Watched the concert of James Taylor on April 8.
April 9— My sister in law Dimple and her sister Cecil made time to visit our small farm before they flew back to San Francisco.
April 12 —My elementary and high school classmate Sarry with her husband Olan, and their children and apos made a quick visit at our residence in Manila. Sarry asked me not to prepare lots of food because they were going to have a family dinner, so I just served them pastries and four seasons juice. Up to know I still regret that I followed her request. I should have served more food. Nakakahiya.
Theo was at the farm from April 27 to May 1, 2024
Our little Steph Curry.
5. May 4 — Souvenir photo with our apo.
May 8 — I donated for the major renovation of the small school for Special Children and PWD run by Guronasyon. They prepared a short and simple program to welcome and honor me when I visited their school. Nakaka-touch.
Back to my Happy place
May 13 — Theo visited his great grandmother Soling
May 13 —Theo didn’t want to wear clothes, shoes, and didn’t want to go to school.
May 18 — dinner at Asador Alfonso in Cavite.
May 21 — Always a challenge to cut Theo’s hair
May 22 — Theo attends his first official Ford event and launching of Ford Bronco in Okada.
May 24-30 We spent a long holiday at the farm with Theo.
Buon Giorno dinner
May 25 — I went all out to treat some 36 batchmates to a day of relaxation in Tagaytay.
It was also a birthday blow-out.
I was supposed to have a birthday party at the farm last year but meron daw bagyo according to PAG-ASA so we canceled it. The food had been paid in advance by my daughter, so this catering was supposed to be for my last year’s party for 50 px.
A very nice birthday gift from my batchmates and from artist Raul Lacanilao
We didn’t attend mass on my birthday, instead we made a quick visit at the chapel.
I find lighting of candles sacred. I believe that God can read my thoughts and all of my heart.
A very simple birthday dinner with the most special guest, my apo.
May 28 — For a change of scenery, I brought my apo to Ayala Mall Serin in Tagaytay. We stayed for about 15 minutes. He didn’t want to walk eh ang bigat-bigat na.
May 31 —- The month of May ended with a luncheon with my good friend Madeline at Cowrie Grill in Greenhills followed by a foot and shoulder massage.
6. June
After two months of waiting, the peacock mural in the female guest toilet and rooster in the male toilet were finally done. I commissioned a local artist but he is employed fulltime in a hotel-events place so he only worked on these murals part time. Kaya ang tagal bago natapos.
My apo is almost two years old in this video. He is just too cute.
You can’t keep your eyes off this toddler. Theo learns how to climb stairs.
Daniel visited our showroom in Makati on June 5 with the lovely daughter of Mr. Keller. They didn’t mind braving the heavy traffic to have a simple dinner at our house.
7. July —
July 1 —-The heavy air pollution makes Ford EDSA’s facade needing constant cleaning and maintenance.
July 2 —- Theo turns two. Time flies. Soon we will miss the baby Theo.
His mom set up a simple decor by our door. In contrast to Theo’s grand first birthday celebration, this time around there is no party.
Bye muna apo, Wowa and Wowo are traveling. See you in two months. Ang tagal ano?
to be continued
