Day 2 Manila
I spent the first day doing chores. I was just so happy that I was able to do the POEA stuff at the airport when I arrived and the staff at the airport were very helpful. It was a much better experience than having to spend half a day going to the POEA office in Ortigas. First thing monday morning I went to Caita to visit my bank and when I finished my stuff there, I headed back to Makati to visit my other bank and tried setting up a checking account. It is not an easy process to do this in any bank anywhere. It was good I was able to contact my cousin who also works in the same bank and she helped me get my account set up.

On the way back to Makati, it was much easier to jump into one of the FX's taxis that work more like small buses and takes on as many passengers that the car can stuff into it. Unfortunately in this case the fx was also hot as in the aircon was not working well. Poor kid in front of me was entertaining himself with a toy. The young lady in the second row was very grumpy and I do not blame her because the fx driver tried fitting four people in the second row when it was really built to seat 2 people comfortably and perhaps 3 people would still be okay, but 4 full figured people???

After finishing up my business with my bank in Makati, I had to hurry to meet my friend Portia at the Greenbelt Starbucks. I got there ahead of her but did not wait too long before she arrived. Off we went to lunch and did a lot of catching up with each other. She is almost finished with her Law degree and I am very glad for her. In addition to this she also does Tarot readings which she did for me that afternoon.



I took this photo as we were heading back Ayala before I went to visit my sister's former colleagues in the German bank she used to work with in Manila. It is not easy to take pictures of yourselves. But then it can be fun.

It did not take me long to do my chore at my sister's former office. I then headed to Olympia Tower to have a massage. They offer shiatsu (which is probably very similar to thai). I opted to have a swedish oil massage to see if I can get some relief on the pain on my shoulders and back. It was a good session. But then it just gave me enough time to walk to the MRT station to head towards Megamall and meed my cousin, the banker, Ate Ruth. As this was the rush hour, it took a lot of effort, pushing and squeezing to get into the train. In fact 2 trains went past before I could get into my ride.



It took me a while to get to her because it was a bit of a walk to got to megamall from the station. We both did not realize that it was better to meet at the Shangri-la Edsa because the bank branch she was working in was right at the back of the hotel. Well you learn from experience. I asked about Tatang Jerry, Ate Ruth's father who is also my uncle. She told me that there had been some improvement in his condition. We also talked about her other siblings who I have lost contact with. Then at past 9 we called it a night and bid each other goodbye and back to the hotel I went using the MRT. This time the trains were not as cramped.

Day 1 - visiting with kuya bert in Pampanga











arriving on late saturday, I went to Pampanga with my nephew Raymond who is working towards a degree in Nursing in Manila. When I arrived Kuya Bert's house in San Matias, I finally saw my nieces who have grown up quite a bit since I saw them two years ago. Rishia and Roseanne just had their junior senior prom and they delayed returning their rented gown so that I can take their pictures. I was glad I took my gear with me and we converted the front room into an impromptu studio using some old fabric as part of the backdrop. Before I left, I took a picture of our group in front of the ancestral house which is slowly falling into decay. I hope my brother, sister in law, my nephew and nieces and of course Bing my sister in Australia will like the results.

You should pass by Guagua on the way back to Manila.

I remember Guagua as the stop where my mother and I would get off on our way their home in San Matias. We would go to Tondo to board the La Mallorca bus that would pass through each town along the old Highway. This was before the North Diversion Road was built. During those days, it took three hours to get to Guagua. My mother would insist that we rise up early in the morning and board the jeep to Azcarraga (now Recto) and board the wooden seats of La Mallorca to go to Pampanga. I would know we would be near once I smell the foul air from the sugar mill near Betis then it would not be long before we get to Guagua. From there we would ride a jeep to go to Santa Rita and then into Becuran or San Matias.


Guagua has since been bypassed by the big highways as so many other quaint towns in Bulacan and Pampanga. I still remember the bakeries where we would go to before we headed back home. So on this trip we passed by Guagua. The two major bakeries are still there and still seem to do brisk business. Apung Diung is the older one dating back to the late 1800’s while La Moderna had been around since the 1930’s (making it more modern in comparison to Apung Diung) Unfortunately Apung Diung ran out of pastillas de casuy so after paying for the arrowroot biscuit, Raymond, my nephew took me to La Moderna across the street. Yes they did have some Pastillas de Casuy. They also have macaroons and empanaditas (which is so delicious that if I get the chance to go back there, I would get some more of these) I hope their business continue to do well because their sweets are really delicious. Should you end up passing by Guagua, La Moderna is located across from the statue of Rizal in the Town Plaza and Apung Diung is somewhere to his right, on the same side where the Baliwag Transit terminal is located (which by the way was the terminal of La Mallorca in Guagua in the ‘60’s).



On the way back to the highway, Raymond decided that we should go by the longer way. I am glad this happened because we passed by the old houses. I saw that the church of San Miguel in Betis is still as it was before. We even chanced by a parade as my sister was calling Nardo’s cell phone to see how we were doing. The trip did not take long. But then when we hit Edsa, the traffic was bad and it was already getting dark when we got to Makati. Not too bad though because we still made it in time for the 6PM mass at the greenbelt chapel. I had dinner with Raymond and then afterwards he went back to his dorm in the University belt.

a day at the beach

The sky was clear, the sun was shining. Earlier than morning the there was a cold spell (perhaps cool but felt cold to me)
More photos on our trip to Pattaya thanks to Albert.

More photos from Amy's cruise
I had been following with interest Amy's cruise. She had left with Henrik to go on a cruise that would take them to Australia then to Chile then now to Antarctica. I am glad Amy is taking a lot of pictures and are sending these to me together with stories of the places she is visiting. The latest email I received from her says that they are now in Buenos Aires and are enjoying the fascinating city. Perhaps when Amy gets back to Bangkok, she will show us a couple of tango steps she as learned. Below are the pictures of her trip in to the Antarctica.

the chilean fjord

sanctuary of truth

I was no too keen to go there but Cocoy was really enthusiastic in trying to make it there. It turned out to be the highlight of our otherwise ordinary weekend trip to Pattaya. They started building the Sanctuary of truth in 1981 and up to this date the temple has not been finished. There seems to be something that need to be added or repaired. the base in itslelf is a 100 meter square and the height is 100 meters as well. The place is unique because it is made of wood and that even the nails that put it together is also made of wood. Once inside you see massive columns of timber and more carvings of Hindu gods and godesses. Because of the sea breeze and the height of the structure, the interior is quite cool. It costs THB500.00 to enter the place. Late in the afternoon, the place also has a dolphin show.