FIFTY-FIVE WHA??!!: April 17

Celebrate April

Marriage is neither heaven nor hell, it is simply purgatory. - Abraham Lincoln

I’m not sure about that. I’m not Catholic. 

Anyway, what can I say, but, remarkable! Can’t imagine over five decades of having survived being together, mildly annoying each other.

So, let’s celebrate. 

Sorry, no refunds.  Warranty expired.

Sometimes soulmates, sometimes cellmates.

Food is the ingredient that binds us together.

Sarap! Dinuguan, tocino, sinigang, adobo, pancit, and lumpiang Shanghai. Laguna Bay Bistro: Columbus, Ohio

We never met a dessert we couldn’t eat.

Dessert treat from Second Daughter: chocolate chiffon cake slice, tiramisu tarts. Paris Baguette: Avon, Ohio

Well, we’ve weathered each other’s quirks for yet another year.

I’d say that’s impressive, deserving a medal for endurance, won’t you agree?

Sloth: proof that slow and steady can still win the race... eventually.

Confirmation Sunday: April 12

Confirmed In Christ 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. – Jeremiah 29:11-13

Today, our Fav Granddaughter, together with eleven other young people, were confirmed in Christ at King Avenue United Methodist Church.

Congratulations on your confirmation day, dear child!

Sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit

They say confirmation is a rite of passage.

 I’ve heard others say it’s the only time you can wear a fancy dress and still be told to sit still. 

Getting confirmed is like getting a diploma in “How to Sit Quietly in Church.”

Still someone has commented that it's just a really long church service with cake.

Seriously, today’s service was an affirmation for the confirmands and for their family as well of commitment to the Christian faith. 

Through Christ, we are bonded not just to Christ, but to each other as a community of faith.

It was a milestone initiation into full church membership and a personal, mature acceptance of faith.

Confirmed in Christ

Confirmation: when you finally get to say, 'I do' to the church, but still can't say 'I do' to chores.

R.M.M. (behind, right) with Confirmands, after delivering Called In The Dark message 

Confirmation: the moment you realize your grandparents and Mom are more excited than you are.

And friends are friends forever, If the Lord's the Lord of them.

Left: Piano Rendition by I.T.V. Friends – Michael W. Smith, in celebration of the Confirmands and friendships formed

The welcome will not end, Though it's hard to let you go

In the Father's hands we know, That a lifetime's not too long

To live as friends.

To our beloved A.V.S.:

May your heart always shine with faith,

 

May the Holy Spirit guide and strengthen you today and always!

NATIONAL SIBLINGS DAY: April 10

Celebrate April!

Other things may change us, but we start and end with family. – Unknown

There are seven siblings in my family. Six of them are my brothers. Mum used to call us her Seven Crosses. On our good days, we were her Seven Angels.

It has been really easy for me to recite our ages because they are in multiples of two’s. Like when there was a baby (0 years old), the siblings were 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12.

Until we had a proper bedroom, my siblings and I slept on woven mats on the living room floor. 

It was on my 13^th year, I think, that I got my own room. The Brothers got their own space as well. It was furnished with three double-decker beds.

Perfect.

Two of them were my mortal enemies: Brother No. 1 and the Youngest No. 6.

BROTHER No. 1 and I celebrate Christmas at Lolo Gorio’s. Manila: Circa 1949

 

My favorite brother was Brother No. 3. He was my partner in crime. 

All seven siblings quarreled regularly. Those that say they never fight are most definitely hiding something.

At other times, we were the best of friends, sharing a sugar cane or spitting watermelon seeds at passers-by.

Official Studio Foto on BROTHER No. 3's second birthday. Manila: February 5, 1953

FOUR BROTHERS, so far. BROTHER No. 4 was zero years old.

Now that we’ve grown, I have come to realize how they were like stars. They may have annoyed me, but at least they were always there.

 

When we get together, it’s like a stand-up comedy show. We can make each other laugh until our stomach hurt.

Foto with inscription in Mum's handwriting. Manila: October 7, 1973

I had left for America four months earlier when this foto was taken.

My brothers may not always be at my side,

but they are always in my heart.

NATIONAL BEER DAY: April 7

Celebrate April!

A day without beer is like… just kidding. I have no idea. – Unknown

With days getting longer and sunnier, new hope and a new you are awaiting. Are you ready to welcome April?

Here are some fun facts about the month you may not be aware of.

For starters, some of you may be happy to know that April 7 is NATIONAL BEER DAY.

Yay!

It is celebrated to commemorate the end of Prohibition in 1933.

In the US, it has been set aside to recognize the history, cultural significance, and popularity of one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in the world.

Beer doesn't have a lot of vitamins.

That's why you need to drink lots of it.

Beer Flight. Toronto: July 27, 2024

 

Nuttin’ like San Miguel Beer with kare-kare. UP Hotel: March 4, 2024

Fun fact: San Miguel Beer refers to San Miguel Pale Pilsen, a Filipino pale lager and flagship beer of the San Miguel Brewery.

It stands out for its versatile flavor profiles and its broader international recognition. 

Reportedly, over 177.5 million kiloliters of beer (that’s about 46 billion gallons) were sold worldwide. Now, that’s a lot of beer! 

No wonder, someone decided to create this holiday, one that’s preceded by another beer holiday: New Beer’s Eve.

Double Yay!!

If you can't fix it with duct tape or beer, it ain't worth fixing. Dixie Saloon Brewery and Restaurant, Mackinaw, Michigan: June 2025

Second Daughter: Abs are cool and all, but… have you tried craft beer?

Hubby: Yeah, I’m into fitness. Fit’ness whole beer in my belly.

 Bavarian Inn Lodge, Frankenmuth, Michigan: June 2025

Weekend forecast. 100% chance of beer.

P.S. Just received reader comment and reminder from Hubby saying that he was responsible for giving first taste of beer to Second Daughter, then a toddler in Chicago (circa 1976). 

Friends And Family

 Winter Getaway

Stick to the basics. Hold on to your family and friends – they will never go out of fashion. - Anonymous

Through all our winter wandering, I’ve come to realize again and again that in every conceivable manner, family and friends as well are linked to my past, a bridge to my future. Family ties mean that no matter how much I might want to run from family, I can’t.

 So, I celebrate them both in this final post.

What a strange creature brothers are! - Jane Austen

Left: Chickenjoy fried chicken and peach mango pie with "BUNSO" (Youngest) Brother. JOLLIBEE, Waikiki

 Right: What’s a tiki’s favorite drink? "Aloha-cohol!"

Sharing food is like sharing a secret, but with more calories!

Left: With HUBBY, slurping soft, fluffy shave ice flavored with lychee and mango

The best surfer out there is the one having the most fun. - Phil Edwards

Right: YOUNGEST BROTHER Surfer Wannabe. Duke’s, Waikiki

Me: I wanna go on a diet.

Food: Ha-ha-ha. No!

A family-owned shop established in 1951, MATSUMOTO SHAVE ICE serves shave ice, original t-shirts, and goods. Haleʻiwa, Oahu's North Shore

 Rub my belly for good luck!

Right: YOUNGEST BRO after authentic Cantonese dim sum style lunch. LEGEND SEAFOOD Restaurant: Honolulu, Hawaii

Phones down, forks up. It's family dinner time.

 On the sand on famed Waikiki Beach, DUKE’S offers the freshest seafood and its iconic HULA PIE, a mountain-shaped Hawaiian dessert featuring macadamia nut ice cream piled high on a chocolate cookie crust, topped with chocolate fudge, whipped cream, and toasted nuts.

An hour with your GRANDCHILDREN can make you feel young again. Anything longer than that, and you start to age quickly. 

Watching "Avatar," a groundbreaking sci-fi epic. KAHALA MALL, Honolulu

Our GRANDSON is absolutely awesome. He must have inherited it from his groovy old Lolo.

Volleyball practice. Instagram photo posted by "Cartercaptures", Kaiser High School photographer. Honolulu

I told my worries to mango away. They didn’t listen. I’m sorry… did I roll my eyes out loud? 

Left: Precious time with FOURTH BROTHER snacking on our favorite tart mango with bagoong. Right: Walking through Chinese New Year-decorated mall. Taguig, Philippines

There’s no Buddy like a brother.

Lunch: okoy, lumpia fresca, pancit, pampano, pork belly, cassava cheesecake, mango and watermelon shakes

LORE by Chef Tatung is a Michelin Guide-selected contemporary Filipino fine dining restaurant. Taguig, Bonifacio High Street Mall

They said we’d never make it. Well, here we are, proving them wrong… again!

UP HIGH 65^TH REUNION. DINKY'S CLUB HOUSE. Manila

Umm… these people are old. Are you sure we’re at the right reunion?

 

UP MED REUNION

CASA GAMBOA, a Heritage home in Silay, hosts private dinners, cultural tours and intimate events.

You can’t turn back the clock. But you can wind it up again. – Bonnie Prudden

The LACSON RUINS are the remains of the ancestral mansion of Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson and Maria Braga Lacson. Talisay, Negros Occidental

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter. – Mark Twain

Privately-owned NEGROS MUSEUM is the first of its kind to not house precious archaeological artifacts, but was designed to display Negrense lifestyle and society, which includes old furnishings and loaned items from ancestral houses. Bacolod, Negros Occidental

It appears someone invited a lot of old people to the class reunion.

GATHERING AT DR. P's MOROCCAN MANSION. Bacolod

The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age. – Lucille Ball

Leftmost: NINONG PATING had gifted SECOND DAUGHTER with stuffed FROGGY on her baptism.

Above, right: FROGGY has survived the years, here seated on SECOND DAUGHTER's baby red chest. GRANDKIDS' ROOM, Columbus

ALCOHOLICS, No Longer Anonymous

We thought about quitting drinking, but we're not quitters.

 

One day each year spent together fills our souls for the next 365 days.

TORIO SIBS and Family Reunion 

DAD'S WORLD BUFFET is a premier, long-standing buffet in the Philippines offering over 200+ dishes, including Kamayan (Filipino), Saisaki (Japanese), and international stations. Known for favorites like lechon, sushi, and carving stations, it is a popular, high-value choice for large family gatherings and celebrations.

I smile because you are my brothers. I laugh because there’s nothing you can do about it.

Left to right: My now-beloved FIFTH, FOURTH, SECOND and FIRST BROTHERS - all of whom I used to ignore when we were growing up (LOL)

My brother has the coolest sister… I’m just saying.

Memorable time with SECOND BROTHER and family

Left: The RIZAL SHRINE or BAHAY NI RIZAL is a reproduction of the original Spanish-colonial bahay na bato where national hero José Rizal was born on June 19, 1861. Showcasing his childhood, it features a two-story house, a library, and a garden with a bahay kubo.

Right: TAGAYTAY is a popular holiday town south of Manila. Known for its mild climate, it sits on a ridge above Taal Volcano Island, an active volcano surrounded by Taal Lake.

You know it’s a family reunion when the laughter is loud and the food is endless.

 Lunch: fried tawilis, sigarilyas sa gata, tortang talong, bulalong Tagalog, kare-kare bagnet, green mango shake

RSM AL FRESCO Lutong Bahay serves delicious Filipino cuisine with a great view of Taal Lake in Tagaytay.

Dessert: sago and gulaman, maja blanca, puto bumbong, ice cream

BALAY DAKO is a casual venue with Taal Lake views offering traditional local fare and fusion cuisine.

Celebrate, indulge, and feast like a Viking today!

ESPIRITU Cousins and Family Reunion

VIKING’S LUXURY BUFFET offers a diverse array of flavors.

*************************************

 And just like that, our Winter Getaway ended. Back to reality. Ugh!

Wise Words Yoda Speaks. Truly wonderful, life is – until someone says, “Let’s circle back.”

Your path you must decide – but maybe sleep on it first.

The best part about a holiday is after it’s over.

Yet, though vacation ends, memories travel with us, and joy remains.

Our suitcases are heavier with Eng Bee Tin hopia and bagoong, but our hearts are light with joy.

And, hey, we haven’t forgotten that retirement is just a never-ending vacation. So there!

(Hoping It's Not... The End)