Christmas Day

December 25, Tuesday, Christmas Day; we all woke up late that morning. At 10:00am, Claire together with my in laws went to Dasmariñas Bayan to catch up the last mass for that day. We were not able to go with them, because we are expecting our “inaanaks” to visit us anytime that day.

Before lunch time, they sent a text message that they decided to go to our relative in Amadeo, Cavite. When they arrived there, Ate Susan and Kuya Ruben were looking for us and our son, they just told them that their visit was not planned and we are expecting visitors.

Late that afternoon, we went to our co-employee, friend, and neighbor. my husband brought a wine to share with the boys and some chicken nuggets that I cooked (not the ready to fry, available at supermarkets) for the kids and us to enjoy. There we just have a small conversation while our kids were playing.

Christmas Eve

December 24, Monday, supposed to be I have to report for work today, but my in laws requested me not to go to work that day. The company has a full force work operation until 6 pm, but I guess if there will be issues, my technicians will just call me.

That morning I prepared all the ingredients for the Christmas Eve which includes: relyenong bangus, roasted chicken, spaghetti, and ham.

At around 10:00 pm, when I finished coking, I take a rest at our bedroom while watching TV. I was half asleep when my husband woke me up for the Noche Buena. He also woke up Adrian at the other room.

After eating; we opened our gifts and great each other, have a little conversation and we all go to sleep at around 1:00am.

Star City and MOA

December 23, Sunday, we picked up my in laws at the terminal. They will be celebrating the Christmas with us. We decided to wait for them at SM Dasmariñas, where there were still a lot of people taking up the last minute shopping for the holidays. At around 11:00am they arrived at the nearby terminal; Jelmar decided to pick them up alone and told us to wait in the SM Appliance Center. When they arrived, we looked for a fastfood chain where we can have our lunch, but unluckily all foot stalls were already occupied. We decided to go to Max’s restaurant at Dasmariñas, but still it was already occupied because there was a celebration going on. We then move to Makro Imus where a Jolibee is located. After having the lunch, Adrian asked if we can go to Star City where Dino Island is located. His in laws approved on it, and also Jelmar told them that we will also go to MOA.

This is the first time Adrian at Star City. But, he always saw it and knew it because we are passing through it when going to Malabon or Manila. The line at the entrance is very long, and the main entrance is full of people waiting for their tickets.

After seeing the Dino Island, we then decided to go to the MOA. We bought new pair of shoes for my husband, and my in laws. Then we ate at Yellow Cab pizza. Adrian already missed their pizza. The nearest Yellow Cab here in cavite is located at Tagaytay.

Then we decide to watch a movie at I-max. This is the second time we watch at I-max (first time for my in laws and Claire). We hope Adrian will appreciate it more today, last year he only wore the 3D glasses half of the movie. The movie currently now showing at I-max is the Polar Express. We already watched that movie at the cable TV but we still decided to watch it on 3D.

Christmas Party

Last December 14, Friday; we had our Company Christmas party. Although everybody is excited for the party we still have to work until 3:00 pm that afternoon. The party will be held at the parking area of the new building or what we call the World Wide Distribution Center. We have been using the parking space of that building for three consecutive years now. We previously used the Sports and recreation center for I think two years, but since the company population has grown big, the space cannot accommodate us. We also previously rented other reception hall as venue for our Christmas party in the late 90’s and early 2000, but there is no more venue hall that can accommodate a population close to 4000. That is not the only the main reason; we can also save money if we will not rent a venue. Instead of putting the budget to the venue the management decided to invite some artist and bands to entertain the employees. We used to have co-employees hosts and performs for us then (the company also have talented employees that can sing, dance and they also formed a band); but the management realizes that the employee should not the one on the stage performing, but instead they were the one to be entertained.

This years Christmas Party Theme is Retro. Same with the other Christmas Party we still have the dance contest and other raffle to give away to its employees. Well, Ate Maricel was lucky to won a colored TV that night. Me, I was not lucky in the raffle, last year my husband won a gift check.

The guest artist were, Janel Jamer who hosts the entire program; Katya Santos, Belinda Bright, and Jenny Miller performs a dance showdown. While the Sabado boys Paolo Santos, Luke Mejares, Tap Suzara, Mike Chan and DJ Mike serenade the employees with acoustic and RNB songs.

Night Swimming at Laguna

Yesterday December 12, was not only my husband’s birthday but also the Christmas party for Equipment Engineering. At the very moment the date of the party was set, I told my boss that I may not be able to come because it is my husband’s birthday. They suggested that I can invite my husband to the party and at the same time celebrate his birthday. I told my husband about it, but he is not in the idea of joining the party because he may felt out of place or maybe we may discuss something confidential on that party. He told me that he will let me attend the party, but I will have to leave early (the party is an overnight swimming). We decided to move the celebration of his birthday this weekend.

Being in charge with the food, I together with Alain, Alou and Sir Abet leave the company early at around 3pm. We buy fish (tilapia, we did not buy bangus because an engineer brought 10 bangus), Chicken, Liempo, vegetables and other supplies at SM Dasmariñas. After that we bought fruits (banana, pineapple and green mango) at a fruit stand along the way.

We arrived at the venue at around 6:30 pm; we are expecting the guests to arrive at 7:00pm, so we have to move fast. Sir Abet and Alain started to grill the liempo, Alou cooks the sinampalokang manok while I took care of cooking the rice. Past 7 pm when the guests started to come by batch. They also helped us to fasten the cooking of the food, even our managers helped in cooking.

We started the party with a prayer, and then we have our dinner. After that some decided to swim, others enjoyed playing cards (with no money involved – I guess the looser will have a shot of win instead), while others are enjoying the videoke (Filipinos loves to sing). I am texting with my husband, who is waiting for me to come home. He told me that he was with our common friend Francis in SM Dasmariñas. Francis broke up the news that he has just submitted his resignation that day - effectivity of the resignation will be on January 12.

At around 11pm we decided to leave. We (Aries, Alou and Jeff) are lucky because Alain also will leave the party that time; he has an everyday commitment to drive his mother every morning to work. It is very difficult to commute from Laguna to Cavite especially those times.

I had a Fever

Yesterday, I had a schedule check-up on WellCare Clinic, and after having lunch at KFC, we went to Festival Mall Alabang. We are looking for a minus one CD for Claire. She will be joining a singing contest here in our subdivision. We already looked at SM dasma and bacoor, and also at Robinson Imus and Dasma but we are not able to found a minus one CD of the song that she wanted to sing. So our last option is to go to Alabang, and we were lucky to found that she was looking for. Adrian had a ride to his favorite mini-car race. We will also buy shoes for Adrian, but that I told my husband that I was not feeling well and we better go home.

At home, I checked my temperature and I had a slight fever, the reading on thermometer is 37.7, and I am chilling. My husband gave me paracetamol, and told me that if the fever will not go down until tomorrow, we will have to go to the hospital or clinic to have a check-up. Today I decided not to go to work, even though I am already well, my husband told me that I still have to rest.

Pre-Christmas Party

December 1, 2007, our group held our pre-Christmas party at Pansol, Laguna. Pansol is known for hot spring swimming pool/resort. We rented a private pool for the group. I, together with Fernan, was assigned with the seafoods. He lives near the poblacion at Rosario, Cavite; we decided to get our seafoods there to make sure that it is fresh and it is cheaper there. My husband and I went to Fernan’s house at around 3:00 am and we went to the poblacion. We bought tahong, talaba, maya-maya, alimasag, squid, bangus and tilapia.

At around 8:00 am we pick up Jonathan, Fernan and Ivan at Robinson Pala-pala, while Mike decided to wait for the others who will commute to the place. We arrived at the location at 9:00 am. We preparing for the food, when Edgar and his wife and children arrived. I did not bring Adrian to the occasion because, I was assigned to cook the food and my husband told me that I may not be able to do my duties if we will bring him. His wife helped in cooking the sinigang na maya-maya and the rice. It is almost 12:00nn when Raymond and MJ with his wife came from the nightshift duty; just in time for the lunch. Edgar led the prayer before meal. After eating lunch, the guys were busy swimming at the pool, while others were drinking some beer and singing in the videoke.