Holy Week is Family Day!

The long holy week break gave bi & I chance to play and bond with our baby Evo. Evo turned 6 months just last April 4, same as my sister Jen's 22nd birthday but I just cooked spaghetti to celebrate it. I knew we had to make it up with Evo so on the first day of the long vacation, we tried to visit Calapan Zoological Park on Maundy Thursday but didn't push because it is still closed. So with bi, Bunik & Evo's new nanny, Kimberly, we went to Robinson's to shop for Bunik's shoes, Evo's feeding needs and to buy gifts for niece Rian. I think Evo enjoyed strolling around the department store. Many times, the salesladies would check him out and giggle at how cute he is. I am one proud mom indeed. Bi bought Evo new milk bottles and feeding bowl with spoon set. We also had our first family studio-taken picture shot there at Picture City. Its a good thing we're all wearing presentable clothes; just right for our family portrait. After shopping, we grabbed merienda at Lotsa Pizza and Potdog. We got full and we were all happy.

Back in the department store, while I was busy scrutinizing the bottles I will pick for Evo, I noticed a salesman and saleslady talking near me. I had a notion they were pertaining to me but dismissed the idea. Only when bi approached to ask me what stuffed toy to choose for Rian that the salesman quickly veered away and said, "May asawa na pala si ma'am." Evo and his nanny followed so they saw also that already have a baby. "May baby na pala si ma'am mukha kasi syang dalaga.", I heard them spoke again. Hehe, take that Tope! So they were really talking about me and I must admit, I was flattered hearing from other people that I don't look like a mom yet. It didn't stop there. The saleslady asked if she can take a picture of me beside her co-worker - the salesman who thought I wasn't a mommy. They also asked for bi's permission and bi nodded so I smiled for the photo opp. After that, bi reminded me to tell them this, "Vote Bong Brucal for Vice-Mayor".

My cousins and I always spend our Good Friday every year at lo & la's farm in Sapul. Under the shade of the huge mango tree, we all happily eat together. Since Good Friday is a no red meat day (abstinence), we simply eat grilled stuffed bangus, sinaing na tulingan with patis & paho, mangga't alamang, french fries and ice cream prepared by tita Bless and my dear lola. Good Friday this year is very different because lolo is no longer with us and we surely miss him a lot. I find peace knowing from my cousins with third eye/sixth sense of the supernatural that lolo still sits on his sturdy rocking chair. That lolo still sees, hears and smiles upon us. I could still smell his clean scent in the air around what used to be his bedroom and it paints a smile on my face. Bi and I didn't bring along Evo so his aunts and uncles kept telling us that day that we should bring Evo on Easter Sunday. Going home, bi's reliable crosswind made room for a total of 16 persons since trikes are difficult to find in lo & la's farm. It was one, short but happy road trip with the family. That evening, Bunik, bi & I participated in the procession which had a distance of around 4km.

For the Easter Sunday lunch with my lola and family at the farm, I brought my little Evo and some squid balls. Karri & I cooked it along with the kropeks and Pat helped us prepare heated spiced vinegar for it. It was a day filled with loved ones and foodies! Chicken ala King, spaghetti, beef caldereta, dinuguan, barbeque, nachos, kropeks, squid balls, cheesy sweet corns and flavored vodkas flooded the dining table under the mango tree. Though I've had troubles staying under the sun, it didn't stop me from chatting with my family specially my dearest lola out there. Evo likewise had fun. He played with his aunts, uncles and lolas and I can tell from his high pitched shrieks how happy he was. We aren't complete this holy week not only because lolo has moved to a better place, but also because tito Eric's family, papa, Jen, Raf, ate Gzeth and kuya Marc also were not able to travel back to Mindoro. Bi then fetched us and promised to return if my cousins decided that we will go swimming later that afternoon. I was so excited until Cha informed me we can't go swimming anymore because Sheanne has period. Sigh. The holy week vacation is still too short for me. I miss my family already. Right now, I am back to the world, in front of my laptop sneaking to post this blog entry and looking for law schools with executive classes with my superior seated just behind my table. How's that?

(April 11, 2012)