Horseback Riding at Camp John Hay, Baguio City

June 12, 2006 - We went to Baguio to set up the transmitter of Vanguard Radio Network's first television station. While waiting for the supplier, we went to Camp John Hay to do horseback riding.

Here are the pics taken at Camp John Hay:

Kitkat Graduates at BLSS

June 11, 2006 - It was Kitkat's graduation. She finished 12 sessions at the Bert Lozada Swim School. It was the founder's 50th year in the industry, so they made it a big event. There were lots of sponsors, games and prizes at Hotel Intercontinental, Makati.

The picture on the left shows a magician entertaining the crowd.

Kitkat was accompanied by her daddy, Daddy-Daddy Nonong, Ate Aiya (who also graduated) and her mom Grace. Mommy Jenn sang at church that day, but we went to her after the ceremony was over.

What made the occasion more unforgettable is that the certificate was done by the National Artist for Sculpture, Napoleon V. Abueva. He only made 500 pieces and Kitkat has one of them!

Here, Kitkat is with Mr. Bert Lozada, National Artist Napoleon Abueva, and Broadcaster Nonong Galvez, Jr. I remembered that when I was young, my Lolo Agapito was the one who went on stage with my sister and brother and put the medals on them during their graduation.

Daddy & Boing at Goodyear and McDo Sucat

June 10, 2006 - It was an ordinary day. We had to buy new tires from Boing's Tito Jay Valencia. What made it exciting is that it was just the two of us - Boing and I. Boing said that the boys would go out and the girls would stay home.

We left Quezon City at 4pm and hoped we would arrive at Goodyear before it closes at 5pm. It was Friday and traffic was heavy, but we got there at 4:50pm.

You can see on the picture Boing looking at the car outside while a man removes the front tires.

He was well-behaved inside the office and just sat on the couch while I explained to him what was being done to the car.

After having the tires fixed, both of us felt hungry. And because I wanted to give him a reward, I brought him to McDo. You can see on this next picture a very satisfied young boy :)

Boing's Magnetix

Boing loves number, letters and shapes sooo much. At one time, he received lots of expensive toys, but when he opened the last one which we bought for only P60, he gladly shouted, "LETTERS, NUMBERS"! Maybe it's because he watched Brainy Baby a lot of times that's why he has passion for those things.

You can see here Boing playing with his Magnetix - magnetic, lego-type toys sent by Dad/Mama from the U.S. Right now, it's his most valuable possession. Why? Because he can make letters, numbers and different shapes out of it :)

On this picture, you can see Boing creating something. He said, "I'll make a boat. First, I'll make a house..."

He made a triangle, then a square below it, put some more magnets, then voila!

Boing has a very analytical mind. He is very creative and loving. Actually, right now, he's sitting on my lap while he waits for his turn to go to nickjr's site.

I think we'll invest on more Magnetix so we could start doing the table of elements :)

Kitkat's Pet Birdie (or Chirpy?)

It was summer, circa 1981, when I was at our backyard in Cabanatuan City. As I watched our two new ducks, I saw something fall from the roof. Because during that time, a "child star" with a genetic condition resulting in short stature was popular, I had mistaken it for a dwarf.

Then, slowly walked towards it. When I saw the two ducks staring at it, as though they were trying to figure out if it was good to eat or not, I realized that it was a bird!

I picked up the bird as fast as I could, then called my mom and a helper. We placed Goldy in a box with crumpled tissue papers. Everytime I fed the bird, I used to form a beak with my thumb and index finger. As I touched the bird's beak, I would do an ascending whistle which lasted for a second, to make it think that it was his mother trying to feed her. Because Goldy recognized my whistle, whenever I would call her, she would hop towards me while chirping. (She didn't live long to try her wings.)

This incident happend again, on June 6, 2006. While I was in Lucena, Kitkat was at our backyard in Quezon City, with two dogs, Kisbee (a poodle), and Jasper (a shi tzu). As she sat on the swing, she saw Kisbee staring at something. When she saw that it was a little bird, she immediately called on her yaya Merlyn.

Because Merlyn didn't know how to take care of the bird, she thought it would die. So, instead of watching it slowly starve to death, she decided to place it on an ice cream lid and left it where Kitkat found it, hoping that its mother would find it.

When I arrived early in the morning of the following day, Kitkat told me what she found. The memories I had with Goldy started to come back. It felt like it was just yesterday. But the more important thing is that I felt it was a message from God. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. It was I who has changed over the years, but His loved has remained the same.


I asked Merlyn where the bird was. She said she left it outside because she thought it was going to die. I told her to get it. When I saw that the frail creature was exactly like Goldy, I told Kitkat and Merlyn that that bird would live.

Now, Kitkat takes care of her new pet. She knows how to whistle too.

She observed how Birdie eats. While the eyes are closed, Birdie would point his beak straight up then open it wide. Kitkat asked me what would happen if somebody feeds Birdie with poison instead of food. I told her, that's how Papa God takes care of us. We have to trust Him that everything He does for us is for our own good. If Papa God takes care of every bird out there, He would certainly take care of us.

Well, I hope Birdie (or Chirpy, if she's a girl) would grow up and be able to fly. Kitkat is prepared to let the bird go when it is able to flap its wings. What's important is that Papa God has given her the privilege of taking care of Birdie, while showing her how He takes care of all of us. For me, it's the privilege of seeing myself in my child. -- NCG