Defective

Been trying to post photos but am not sure why it's not working

So for now, hope things are looking up for you.

Enjoy the rest of the week...

Michelin Star Chef at TIn Hau

w/ Tin Hau's Chinese Exec Chef, Mandarin's Exec Chef & Chef Takase

Mandarin Oriental's Tin Hau

We had dinner last night at Mandarin Oriental's Tin Hau

Thank you to Exec Chef Rene Ottlik for inviting us over

The guest chef, Chef Kenichi Takase, is from the renowned

Sense of Mandarin Oriental Tokyo

He's a Michelin Star Chef for 3 consecutive years, wow!

Chinese food infused with Japanese ingredients

It was different

And since I love both Chinese & Japanese food, I enjoyed it

Thank you again to Mandarin's executives for always

inviting my husband

I kept thinking he must have really been a good boss

We can't eat as people always come by to talk to him

The 2 top chefs in the kitchen, both the Exec Chef & Exec Sous Chef

got him as godfather in marriage

That I think is the best compliment any boss can have.

Catch that Michelin star til June 26!

Happy birthday JPR!

Covered an event yesterday

The more you know about the life of our National Hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal

The more inspired and in awe you get

Happy 150th!

Rainbows

Saw a rainbow last Thursday

Just a reminder how life is

After the rain, comes the rainbow

After every trial , comes joy

May you all have a joyful week ahead!

Brownie Points to Be a Cool Mom

watched Green Lantern at Rockwell

My son treated his friends to a movie and dinner yesterday

I was the sole chaperone

Being a teenager, he was very picky who to invite, what to do, where to go

The day before, he even asked me, rather, instructed me not to ask questions

from any of his friends

Oh-kay

I answered, "I will let this go just because I know you're a teenager

Can I ask what they want to eat?"

"Yeah, that's fine"

So, we are now going through that stage where I might say something embarrassing

Yes, it does happen

When they were kids

Everything I say was gold

Well, truth be told it's not bad

But he does speak up his own mind now

But I still try hard to be considered a cool mom

Well, if you're cool , you don't need to try, right?

Hey, it's my relationship with my son we're talking about!

His friends even vote for me on stylebible, haha

Without him or me knowing it

One time I was in school and his friend said,

"Tita , I voted for you, twice"

How cute is that?

So I always tell him, I am cool

Your friends think so

But then again, I'm a mom

So it was really a high for me yesterday

When , while his friends were choosing what flavor of gelato they want

He hugged me and said, "You're the best, Mom!"

And he just kept thanking me for being cool!

Yahoo! I scored big points!

I've always wanted to be that cool mom

Disciplinarian but hip

Strict but approachable

And yes , nothing beats being cool in front of your TEENAGED son

Biggest compliment ever!

Cool mom signing off!

I have a teenager!

Happy, happy birthday to the one who first called me Mama.
Showed me how much love I am capable of

Can't believe how much you've grown
And how time just flies like the blink of an eye

And all the changes I've seen and observed
How we're now going through that challenging phase of teenhood
But with you as my first
I know the journey will be magnificent.

Happy birthday, my dearest!

They still keep coming!

When I got home today from lunch at Anna's
Guard gave me a gift from Hindy
She wasn't able to make it to my party last Friday
But she still sent her gift
Thanks much, Hinds!

Anna also gave me a gift for our kitchen
and a souvenir from their last trip to Shanghai
Awww, you guys!!!

I already feel so special
You guys can't help it, huh? haha

Thank you, thank you, thank you

How can I not love getting older?

My lunch date

Anna with cute Stefano

by their poolside

Had lunch today at the lovely home of Anna & Raymond

We used to be neighbors but then we moved out a couple of months apart

Though we still live close to each other , it's not like before where we practically

go to each other's homes in our houseclothes and hang out

If anyone thinks of something to share , the other's door is open

Every morning, we await for Stefano's trip to the poolside

Our whole family saw him as a newborn and am so amused that he can now talk

Though not geographically as close as before

Our bond has gotten closer now

I guess distance does make the heart grow fonder

Their families know us

We know their families, both sides

Like in my last post

I feel really blessed to have such friends

who fill my life with so much warmth and love

Thanks for the awesome company today

It was lovely!

The only one

w/ Jeanne, Lills, Laura (their friend), and Eds

w/ Maritoni, Joey, Eds, Lils, moi, Jeanne & Laura

parting shot before heading home

Covered an event yesterday

What's fun was seeing all these good friends of mine

And even friends and old colleagues I haven't seen for decades!

This group of friends all went to Assumption high school

I went to Maryknoll

But they're friends of mine from different stages of my life that

we all blended and surprisingly they were all friends!

Eds & I have a common friend, Bess, they were friends in Assumption

while Bess & I were friends from U.P.

We both are godmothers to her son

But she lives overseas so Eds and I continued the friendship

I must say, Eds has not missed my birthday celebration since I turned 35

Lils was also a college friend but more so a colleague from my first job after college

Bumping into her when we came back to Manila is one of the nicest blessings I treasure

Jeanne is a cousin of Lils and several people told us that we look alike!

What a lucky girl, haha

Friends are one of the most cherished gifts I have

At this time and age of my life

I don't go for fake friendships

These people are true and always supportive

We're happy for each other

That's why when I look at them

I see joy and contentment

Because they are genuinely good people

That's why they give good friendships

And that I think is the secret to having a happy and contented life

Happy Thursday!

Dream

DREAM - from my friend Rica, her gift last Christmas

this is how it is now (uploaded wrongly)

I still remember this

how it was before

Whenever friends of mine or people come here

They are amazed

I am also amazed for something that just started as a dream

to have been given and made into a reality

All great things start from a dream

Most good come from wishes

Prayers move mountains

If everyone would hope

Everyone would believe
Everyone would have faith

Then all dreams can come true

Though The Greatest grants them

We should work hard to realize that dream

Most importantly, I think, maintain your integrity

In all that one does

Honesty is still the best policy

The harder you work for something

The sweeter it tastes in the end.

Keep dreaming!

My impromptu party

w/ Rina, Jeanne, Eds, my boys, Cel, Rowie, Rima & Anne G.

w/ Eds, Lils, & Rowie M.

w/ Rowie, Cel, Leah, Jeanne, & Anna

w/ college friends Rowie & Lills, Jeanne, Eds & Rowie

Anne G. & Rhea Matute

w/ Rima

W/ Rhea M.

Had an impromptu birthday party last Friday

Wasn't planning anymore to have one as my birthday was past

But my friends also haven't seen our new home

And since I always feel that birthdays need to be celebrated everytime

Whether simple or not

It is just a thanksgiving for another year

I love birthdays

I enjoy getting older

I am proud of my age

I feel I earned it

It's a gift and a milestone everytime

It's celebrating life

So here's to friends and making it easy for me to have a great celebration each time

Enjoy the photos...

Thanks, Mai!

Thank you so much to my dear friend, Mai Kaufman, for always being so sweet, kind and loving.

Though she couldn't make it, she sent her lovely gift which I surely will enjoy.

Thanks, Mai. Stay well!

Back in Manila

It was a very clear & nice day last Sunday, this was at our roofdeck, we always have visiting birds around

Sunday's my favorite day when we can just relax and hang out

Always lovely to see mountains & the river on a clear day.

It's almost Friday, hope you're keeping warm in this weather.

Farewell to Siem Reap

On our way out of Siem Reap
We had a very lovely time

Thank you!

Happy birthday, Kea!

w/ Jackie Laudico

w/ my godchild, Kea

Happy, happy birthday to my cute goddaughter, Kea.

Spread your wings!

Pleasantry is alive

lotus flowers, my hubby arranged for this

the ever reliable staff of dela Paix

the one on the right was my "butler", even going to several churches (he's not familiar with the difference between Catholic & Protestant Church) to find me a Catholic Church

getting me a 110v transformer just because I didn't want to plug directly in a 110v outlet (go figure!)

and etc, etc

One of the things I took with me was how pleasant and warm Cambodian people are

Part of traveling is getting to know the culture and history behind the place

And knowing that, I am quite amazed how people with such a painful past

can be so positive and giving

They seem to have this innate desire to serve and please

I tell you, one time we had a meal at the restaurant and when I was asking for the check

Waitress comes and tells me no need because we didn't eat a lot!!!

Huwhattt???

Even at the airport, we were supposed to pay 25USD each exc for 1 which was child rate

I was just asking them if I can pay by credit card

So I can use for my mileage

Then they answered something I didn't understand

So I repeated if credit card okay

they said no credit card

machine is broken

We were going to pay the dollars then

when the lady just said, never mind

you may go in

Huwhattt???

Will that ever happen in Manila????

I guess being pleasant has its perks

And just like the memory of our stay , it is always the thing that sticks.

Always believe!

Happy Wednesday!

Ancient Ruins

my favorite Bayon Temple



My fave of all the temple ruins is the Bayon Temple

It was quite striking and impressive

Cannot share all the photos as I'm planning to have a photo exhibit

of hubby's work

Am just the PR

With all the beauty in Angkor

So for now
Here are the few that made it

Enjoy....

More of Angkor Wat

After hearing Mass

We headed back to the hotel to have breakfast at Meric

Then went back to Angkor to explore the ancient temples

Best to wear really comfy shoes and clothes as it can get very hot and humid

Important to bring water as well as the heat can dehydrate

Thank you to the generous strangers

for taking time out to photograph us

Amidst the scorching heat

Here's to seeing more Wonders of the World!

Nest

outdoor dining at Nest

We got 2 beds at Nest, 1 for my hubby & myself, another one for the kids

on the way to dinner at Nest

This doesn't belong to this post, I just like it, haha

On our first day in Siem Reap

We had dinner at Nest, a few blocks away from Hotel dela Paix

It was nice lounging outside

Food was not bad

What's interesting is everytime we travel

I just get to thinking how all these remote places

Alright, technically, not that remote as it's a tourist spot

for one of the wonders of the world

but you know what I mean

They have nice restaurants

which have distinct personalities

I miss that in Manila

So, when in Siem Reap

Try out Nest

People were so pleasant too

Despite their not- so- pleasant past

And that, I think, is one of Cambodia's treasures