HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISSY AND MIKE

Cousin Missy celebrated her birthday last January 21, 2009 while Mike, husband of cousin Myra , is January 22, 2009. Wishing you both the best of life...good health...happy family...peace of mind...and more blessings from our LORD. HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to both of you.

FOR A WHILE...GOODNIGHT

Last week was a very busy week for me. I thought I would have a good rest this week-end but I never had. I had some activities to personally attend to and to my church as well. But I did have my biking inside my room three times this week which I stopped for almost a month since December due to hectic schedules. I have to resume this again because I ate a lot of meat and fatty foods lately....hahaha. Anyway, I have to go to bed now because tomorrow will be another working week for me and I expect this to be loaded due to scheduled meetings which I arranged with the clients. Bye for now and until my next posting...but before I go to sleep, let me share this with you all, "His will be done...we say with sighs and trembling. Expecting trials, failures and tears. And then how does He answer us? With blessings and sweet rebuking of our FAITHLESS FEARS." Goodnight to everybody.

BIG PREPARATION FOR PRO-RATA 2010

My cousin Engr. Larry Sevilla was chosen to be the President of the PRO-RATA 2010 which was also announced before the party ended. We had a meeting today at my Ate Virgie's house to initially discuss the plans and the preparations we have to do. We agreed that we should meet regularly and should accomplish something every after the meeting since this will require big preparation. My cousin Larry(first cousin from my Mom's side), with sash representing the acceptance of the position, was with his wife Cheng Sevilla(in dark green gown) in this photo. They are inseparable and love each other so much.

PRO-RATA 2009

Yesterday evening (January 17, 2009), Ate Virgie's family attended to the PRO-RATA, a formal diner party exclusively for those whose roots are from SAN ILDEFONSO, BULACAN. It's a fund-raising program to benefit certain individuals that need financial help. Marlon represented the family as a sponsor(NINONG). My Ate Virgie, Kuyang Juaning, Minet and Marvin were there too. In one of the pictures, Marlon was onstage to offer flowers to the muse of the occassion. He was also seen in the presidential table chatting with other sponsors of the affair. It was a yearly big occassion especially prepared prior to the feast day of ST. ILDEFONSO which is being celebrated every 23rd of January.

VIVA STO. NINO

FEAST OF STO. NINO-FILIPINO STYLE

We celebrated yesterday the Feast of Sto. Nino in our Parish Church.. Thousands of devotees joined the annual parade of images of Sto. Nino. The mood was very festive and people were dancing in the streets. In other parts of the country especially Cebu City and Kalibo, Aklan near Boracay(South of Manila), this event becomes a tourist attraction. You will see how people painted their faces and whole bodies with different striking colors. Filipinos leaving abroad are coming home for this activity to join the celebration. It's a way of manifesting our faith and Thanksgiving for the coming of the Child Jesus in our lives.

AYZA IS LEAVING FOR LONDON

My niece, Celestine Yzabel Ramos Liclican or AYZA as we call her, is leaving for London tomorrow morning at 6:30am(January 15, 2009) flight with a stop-over in Hongkong for a change flight. From there, she will have a direct flight to London which will take about more than 13 hours. Ayza is expected to arrive in London by 11:00PM of January 15, 2009( Manila time). She is a dentist by profession and prior to her decision to pursue her schooling abroad, she was connected to a dental clinic in Binondo, Manila. She will be turning 25 years old by January 25, 2009. Ayza has a younger brother named Jeffrey who is working in Metrobank. Fred Liclican, her father has just arrived from London last January 09, 2009. He is presently working for a luxery liner ship as part of the Comptroller group. Ayza's mother is my sister Ledgie. We had a small DESPEDIDA diner for her earlier in their house and we were joined by my MOM, my sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins and apo's. I know it will be hard to be away from her family but she has her dreams to pursue and we all wish her goodluck. May GOD bless her always and keep her safe at all times. See you again my niece...HAPPY TRIP!!!

BLOWING OF CANDLES

THE VENUE

MESSAGE FROM ATE LODY

MESSAGE FROM A COUSIN

MESSAGE ATE NORMA

MESSAGE FROM COUSIN CHAVENG

MESSAGE FROM IRENE

MESSAGE FROM VICKY

MESSAGE FROM DAISY

MESSAGE FROM JANETH

MESSAGE FROM ATE YOLY

FLOWERS FROM VICKY

A BIG DAY FOR ATE VIRGIE

We ended the birthday party for Ate Virgie with so much happiness in our hearts. We all know that we made her truly happy and fullfilled in all aspects of being a wife...a mother...a Lola Mommy and trying her best to unite the family she dearly loves. Her children made a wonderful job of showing how much they love their Mommy. It was heartwarming to see the family all together...totally happy. The whole day activity was so tiring but the spirit of the party defeats what we physically felt. I hope for better days for my sister Virgie and for her family. Good night...oh it's already 1:30 am of January 09, 2009...and it will be Minet's birthday today this time. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MINET. I know you are a strong woman...a survivor...a courageous person who can handle difficult tasks even alone. That will make you a better person. It will mold you to be somebody who can hurdle all trials and pains in life. I know what's inside your heart and one day...you will have what you wish for and what your heart desires. Always remember that I am here for you. Take care of yourself and like what you said...STOP WORRYING ABOUT YOU AND YOUR SON. What a beautiful assurance coming from you. Again, happy birthday.

PICTURE OF THE TWO DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW(iN VIOLET)

kUYANG JUANING, WITH COUSINS AND THE THREE CHILDREN

A COLORFUL BIRTHDAY PARTY

WITH RELATIVES

MORE... MORE... MORE

....MORE PICTURES

MINET, JOSEPH AND MARIELLE

MORE PICTURES

WITH JANETH AND DAISY

WITH ATE LODY

ATE VIRGIE WITH VICKY

MY PICTURE WITH MY APO'S

THE PARTY

THE SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY

We gave a surprise party for my Ate Virgie on her 60th birthday today, January 08, 2009. She never knew anything about this until she was brought to the venue lunctime by her son Marvin. The party was initiated by her husband Kuyang Juaning. He asked Marlon, Minet and Marvin to prepare a big party to surprise her. This was conceptualized only last January 02, 2009. Marlon called me for a meeting somewhere outside their house to discusss the matter. It was past 8:00pm then. We contacted a caterer right away and made a list of menu. We did a telephone/celphone brigade to call our relatives and friends for the surprise party. I was asked to prepare a video similar to what I did last May, 2008 during the birthday party of Uncle Lito, Tita Angela and my brother Boy Ramos. We finalized everything on that night because we were running out of time with few days left to us. I went home after the meeting almost 11:00pm and immediately went to the ground floor where I am staying. I remembered once that my Ate Virge told me where her old pictures were. GOD is so good because I found all the materials I need for the video. I did a lot of scanning, editing and selection of songs until early morning of everyday for the last 5 days. I brought my laptop to my office for more editing. I taped and recorded messages from her loved ones. This part was the hardest to do. I finished the presentation a day before her birthday. I asked Marlon to have it played using the projector and the home theater Last night(Jan. 07, 2009) to make sure that my editing is okay. I woke up early today to monitor the preparation/decoration of the venue. After everything was put up...the place looked so beautiful fitting very well for the big party.

Ate Virgie was brought out by her son Marvin this morning from their house so she won't know anything about it. We were closely monitoring their whereabouts and the exact locations of our invited guests who were coming from Bulacan. They were our relatives from my mother side. Everything went smoothly. The guests and relatives arrived on time. That's the only time we called Marvin so he can already bring the celebrant to the venue. My Ate Virgie was crying when she arrived because she never expected it. What she and I talked about her birthday was I will just cook some foods for her. We were very happy and thankful that all our invited guests came. We prepared lunch, mirienda and diner that will feed 150-180 guests.
There were a lot of tears not only from my Ate Virgie but also from some of her guests who were so happy for her. This was the reason that made me soooooo busy for a week. I posted some pictures of her in my blog yesterday to deliberately mislead my sister because I knew she was always viewing my blog.

The party was so successful. I am so happy for my sister. It was my brother-in-law who made everything possible to show his love for my Ate Virgie. I can't find words to express my feelings...my happiness. The party is something to be remembered by my Ate Virgie and we will all have it too inside our hearts. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ATE!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ATE VIRGIE

My Ate Virgie with Kuyang Juaning, her husband... with her children Marlon, Minet, Marvin and John...and with her grandchildren namely; Paul, Ren-Ren, Joseph(Marlon's kids), Jarred(Minet's son), Marielle and Merryl(Marvin's daughters)

ATE VIRGIE'S BIRTHDAY- JANUARY 08, 2009

Tomorrow, January 08, 2009 is my Ate Virgie's birthday. She was the little girl in baptismal dress carried by her NINANG(Godmother), our Tita Lourdes. She was also the little girl with a hat(I can't improve the image of the picture anymore hahahah). Another picture with my Kuya Ante, my brother. And lastly, the picture when she graduated. How times fly...She is turning 60 years old tomorrow. I knew how hard her life was after the untimely death of our father in 1963. That single moment could have been the reason why she was made to grow strong and dedicated. She is now a fulfilled wife...a very loving mother...and of course, a TOLERATING Lola to her cute Apo's. She is also a caring sister to us and most important...a LOVING daughter to our mother. Ate Virgie is so blessed. She might have some shortcomings as everyone has...but the goodness in her is beyond measure. She is sometimes misunderstood but this doesn't make her less of a person. As I grow old with her, I have come to know her life...to understand her better...and to love my Ate Virgie for who she is. We share common problems...giving advices to each other and always looking forward to better days despite trials that come along. I know she is regularly viewing my blog and I think there's no better way of conveying my birthday message than posting it so that all of you may know how well she is loved and appreciated. My birthday message for you...

"In all cases of your life, try to create a meaningful out of a meaningless life. It creates life itself. When the storms of life blow around you, and you are tossed and buffeted and carried to the winds of distress...come into HIS chamber for a little while, until those calamities be past. In those quiet moments when you and HIM communicate together, HE can give you new perspective...and renewed strength. You all have the reasons to be happy...and you are one of the many reasons why a lot of people are made to be happy...BECAUSE OF YOU! Be patient to endure life's little crosses and be courageous to hurdle what fears you and stay lively to see the beauty and truest meaning of LIFE. It's your unlimited power to care and to love that can make the biggest difference in the quality of your life. There's no better exercise for our spirit than reaching down and lifting someone up. The person who gives of himself gains most in life. This is the victory that overcomes all our bitterness because winner doesn't dwell on limitations and still, hold to unchanging principles. It shapes one's life and crafts one's soul...making everything whole and complete. Always remember that happiness is somewhere between too little and too much. I wish you all the "ENOUGH'S" in life because these will give you real happiness and peace in the end. Sometimes, you just have to go with...whatever happens...HAPPENS! I am always praying for you and your family because deepest in my heart...you ALL made me feel how much your family love me. We have been together in many battles. And we will always be together in our victories. Stay happy...keep healthy...and open your heart to HIM who knows what's inside. ATE...MARAMING MARAMING SALAMAT." I love you. HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOLO

January 01 happens to be my nephew's birthday. He turned 9 years old. He is the elder son of my brother Joji and his wife Cynthia. Jolo is a very intelligent child. He loves reading books instead of playing toys. I know he will be somebody someday. HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOLO.