Arrian's Graduation Day

Yesterday, Arrian graduated. All I can say is "Finally! she graduated". I took a leave so that I can join them however children below 7 (I think) were not allowed to enter PICC for the ceremony so Nanay just invited Tita Nelly and Tito Ferdie. We left the house around 11:30 in the morning and we arrived early. We thought of having lunch first at Gerry's Grill, Bluewave, Macapagal. We had sinigang na baboy, grilled squid, gambas, tuna belly and 4 orders of crab rice. I was so full. So after eating we went to PICC. Alwyn and I decided to go stay in Star City with Anjela. Unfortunately, Star City opens around 4:00 in the afternoon so were forced to go to Mall of Asia instead to kill time.

 

Inside Mall of Asia, I asked Alwyn to rent a kiddie car for Anjela because I don't want to carry her for hours. I know she will ask us to carry her. So we got a kiddie car and pushed Anjela around. We took pictures under the big Christmas tree and the Christmas display that they have.

 

We also went to Toy Kingdom coz I wanted to look for some cute toys for Anjela. Unfortunately she already have most of the toys displayed in the place. I saw a huge teddy bear but I won't buy that for Anjela, coz it's larger than her and it's super expensive.

 

We bought ice creams, krispy kreme doughnuts, walked around again we did that for hours. Finally Nanay texted and we went back to PICC. After PICC, we went back to Mall of Asia for dinner. This time we want something light coz most of us are still full because of the heavy lunch. We went to Razon's of Guagua and just ate pancit luglog and their specialty halo-halo (I love it!).

 

Since I was super super tired, I was sleeping while we were on our way home. My body aches and it felt like I will get sick. Well it's all worth it, coz my sister graduated, I spent some quality time with my baby. And somehow we had fun.

 

Looking back, it really feels good to see the fruits of your labor. Nanay said she was teary eyed when she heard the Valedictorian's speech.

 

.. ang mga araw at gabi na laging walang tulog umabot lang sa deadline,

kelangan mo pa pakisamahan ang ibang tao para lang makakuha ng OT.

 

Been there done that! I cried inside the comfort room for nth number of times because I cannot make a project run. Nanay witnessed all of the things I did because she was there too and she stayed up with me during those sleepless nights. Well I have more number of sleepless nights compared to Arrian. If you asked me how I passed our Thesis project? it's still fresh in my memory. It was the sweetest day ever, where in our Thesis Adviser shook our hands infront of the other students (those who were watching the continuation of our defense in the hallway) saying:

 

"Congratulations, ga-graduate na kayo"

 

I'll post a separate blog about this coz I want it to be as detailed as possible and share it to the whole world. For now, i'll give this moment to my sister. Congratulations, graduate ka na rin!

So Sick

I went on half day VL last Monday coz I was not feeling well. I went to the clinic and the nurse took my temperature, 37.8 and so I decided to go home.

I also took a leave yesterday to get some rest but my head hurts really bad. I asked permission if I can also go on leave for Wednesday shift.

Tonight I'll be working again. I need to do all my reports. Got tons of work all piled up. Well I know I'll be able to finish them all. =)

Ondoy

Last September 26, we were scheduled to go to Santolan for Tito Orly's birthday celebration. I also agreed to go there since we were not able to attend the town fiesta last Sept 22, since Anjela is very sick.

We decided to go to Balara first, to my sister-in-law's house to get the videoke player. It was already raining and traffic was really heavy. We were able to pass Marcos Highway and when we were in Katipunan, traffic was still heavy. When I looked at La Vista Subdivision, a Honda CRV was stranded coz water is half as high as the car. That's the reason why other cars can't go inside the subdivision and it was one of the reasons why the cars were not moving.

We decided to go back to Santolan. On our way back, water is already high. I started to feel scared coz the current was really strong. When we passed Marikina River, you won't see the roads right beside it coz it was already under water. So we arrived in my in-law's house in Santolan.


Marikina River
After a few hours, we heard that the water from the river is starting to rise. The lower part of Santolan was already under water. We can already see the water coming, so my mother-in-law already prepared the appliances to make sure they won't submerge in the flood.

Electricity went off and it was late in the afternoon. I can see the water running fast and starting to enter the house. Alwyn moved the car to Evangelista St. After a minutes, water was already as high as my knees. I told Alwyn that we will just stay inside the car. And so we did. I was really scared that time. It was the first time I've encountered that.

I was scared and was thinking of my family in Vermont. I was not sure if some of my relatives helped Nanay and Arrian. I wasn't thinking about our appliances anymore, I was thinking about their safety. The CDs with Anjela's pictures and videos since birth, I already conditioned myself that I won't see those again. Our dogs, I was thinking if someone saved them from drowning. Nanay and Arrian doesn't know how to swim. I was thinking what they were doing during the storm.


Nanay trying to contact me

I cried inside the car. Anjela was sleeping, the lights were off and I know no one can see me. I cried and I prayed that the rain would stop. I know I was not the only one praying that time. I saw an old lady being carried by her relative. She was wearing a rosary. I can't eat and I can't sleep. I was scared that the water will continue to rise.

Around midnight, the rain started to stop. Alwyn told me that the water is starting to subside. I was thankful but still worried coz I don't have any means of communication with my family. Still I wasn't able to sleep.

Sunday morning, the rain stopped and there's mud everywhere. People were full of mud. I was able to contact Nanay and thank God they were ok. I still can't contact Tita Nelly coz their phone is still dead. I asked Alwyn if we can go to Dela Paz just to check them and so we did. We saw Tita Mer sitting outside trying to remove the mud. Alwyn and I helped them remove the mud coz I was scared that they might slip and that will cause additional problems. Come night time and finally there was electricity in Santolan. Again we spent the night there coz the water in Vermont still hasn't subsided.

Monday morning, we went home. We saw the damages caused by Ondoy, cars filled with mud parked all over Marcos Highway. Our house was a total mess. Nanay was able to save most of our appliances except for the refrigerator. She also saved our photo albums and Anjela's CDs. Alwyn's motorcycle got submerged in the flood. The dogs are ok too. Everyone was busy cleaning their houses. Still I was thankful because everyone was safe.

I wasn't able to go to work for 2 nights to take care of things in the house. We bought food good for days as well as mineral water. It was hard to buy though because of the long lines in supermarkets.

Finally things are starting to go back to normal.

Inspite of that tragic experience, I also saw goodness in people. Those who tried to help in carrying other's belongings. People who assisted the elderly. Those who were not that affected giving away foods and letting them call their relatives for free.

I just hope everyone will be able to move on from this experience. God is still with us and we should thank him for still being here despite of what happened.

Here are some pictures:


Inside our house

Our neighbor's house

Our neighbor's car

Dick's Birthday Bash

Dick was assigned to work in Glorietta for Thursday and Friday shift. Loleck and Les decided to give him a surprise birthday party. Olu asked me if I could help with the preparation since they know that Dick and I are close friends.

Thursday shift. I helped Les with the birthday card. I roamed around the production floor looking for our friends so that they can put their message on that card. Good thing I'm already done with my deliverables. With Grace's help, we decorated the Conference Room with the balloons Loleck and Les bought. It's not that many so we decided to just design Dick's name and for the rest of balloons, just scatter it all over the board.

Dick was really surprised. Set up was Les will inform him about their meeting and will bring him to the Conference Room. And there we were, all standing. The Managers were there to greet him. We celebrated his birthday with the Starbucks Oreo Cheesecake Loleck bought. There we were just chatting and having fun.

Friday Shift, I bought a chocolate cake in Bread Talk. That's my birthday gift for Dick. We ate at Gilligans (Dick's treat) with Les, April and Magic. After dinner I gave Dick his birthday cake.


Our little masterpiece, so kindergarten

To my good friend Dick. Happy 29th Birthday!!