Saturday, May 28, 2011

a happy rainy sunday

For us career parents, arranging a family vacation is such a task.  Putting together each other’s schedules is one tough job.  I can only imagine those families with bigger/older/working offspring.

Just before summer comes to an end, I sent an email:

Lea told me about her stay at Subic Homes and I immediately knew that it’ll be awesome for the TTF families to get a well-deserved break there.  But like what I said, schedules are difficult to put together within a family, what more among 4 families and 2 very busy professionals?

Well, we don’t give up that easily.  So even if an overnight staycation failed on its planning stage, we compensated with a day trip to the nearest weekend destination down South – Tagaytay City.

Call time was at 11am at, where else, our house.  We were all late.  Oo, kahit ang mga nakatira sa bahay na ito ay late din!  Armed with giant bubble makers, balls, chips and popcorn, we were off to our destination at half past noon.  We borrowed Mama’s spacious van where all of us will fit.  We wanted to enjoy even the road trip.
all 3 happy families
photo by Alvin Panuncialman
A McDonald’s drive-thru was imperative, Ira was asking for “real food”.  Trusty old chicken fillet, nuggets and fries did the trick.  But it was not only Ira, Mia, Miggs and Iggy who binged, us daddies and mommies were also starving!

And so we arrived Pamana restaurant for a much awaited lunch. 

Pamana is another genius by the Ongpauco’s who has made a name through Barrio Fiesta.  It sits beside the Boutique Hotel, which they also own.  

Welcoming you to this 3-floor restaurant is a small shop where rare platters, jars, preserves, and some other goodies are for sale.  Walking further left, you’ll see a receiving area and family history on the wall.
the jarred items say they were all homemade
gives you that 'grandma's ante-sala' feel
if i was born then, i know i would've had this
photo by Ingrid Panuncialman
'no comment' haha!
photo by Alvin Panuncialman
More history await you as you climb the stairs.
there were images of Sampaguita and LVN movie stars - the frames were beautiful
i think everyone in my generation grew up with a horsey like this - mine was color red, white and black
high back chairs that reminded me of my paternal grandmother's dining room
i love these!  i want a room in our future rest house to have mirrors of all shapes and sizes
the fireplace at the corner of the 2nd floor, near the veranda
We were given a good table on the 2nd floor veranda, more than enough to accommodate even our yayas.  Our spot overlooked this breathtaking sight.

A small (I’m guessing) garden patch was a few steps beneath the veranda, accessible from where we were.  Mia and Ira could not wait to check it out.
Mia was trying to pull-off a peace sign
photo by Ingrid Panuncialman
I went down and saw a tomato and sayote.  I guess all the others planted there were veggies and herbs I don’t recognize.
the tomato waiting to be picked
sayote fresh for the kitchen
looking down at me, maybe even wanting to jump
Choosing from the very interesting menu wasn’t very easy.  Each item was mouth-watering even by just reading how it is deliciously described.  All 6 adults agreed on a soup, vegetables, pork, stew and 3 kinds of rice.
singigang sa miso salmon - the soup alone was fantastically sour and sweet
binignit - very close to the usual pinakbet, this time with perfectly reduced coconut milk
crispy pata - all chopped up crispiness with more meat than bones 
adobo, 3-ways
- chicken sauteed in garlic then simmered in vinegar alone, crunchy yet tender flakes and
the famous pork stewed in soy sauce with basil leaves

photo by Ingrid Panuncialman
aligue rice - name says it all
The 2 other kinds of rice we had were plain steamed and bagoong rice.  The latter had strips of mango, bagoong with chunks of pork and scrambled egg.  I just realized I forgot to take a photo, maybe I could not wait to dig in it J.

Cy had mangga’t bagoong.  At first we thought it was for Jo, who is 4 months preggers, hindi pala.  It seems that it’s daddy who’s salivating for it.
green mangoes with Barrio Fiesta bagoong that never fails
Ang naglilihing daddy asked for salt and was given this.
i love the way they presented their condiments, so creative and classy
When we asked for our bill, we were given this.
Mia called it a treasure box
photo by Ingrid Panuncialman

It started to rain while we were enjoying our meal.  We were hoping it’ll stop by the time we finish eating so we can bring the kiddos to the zoo or maybe somewhere grassy where they can freely play.  But since it continued to pour, we headed for Taal Vista Hotel.  Their children’s play room saved the day.  Dads and Moms got to relax while the kids went crazy J!
Taal Vista's play room located at the 'old' hotel's side
Ira Panuncialman
photo by Ingrid Panuncialman
Mia Aliño
photo by Ingrid Panuncialman
Migs Vergara
photo by Ingrid Panuncialman
Iggy Vergara
photo by Ingrid Panuncialman
We had coffee, happy hour beer and beer chow at the Lobby Lounge.  We weren’t very happy L.  I will stop at that.  Send me a message if you want to know the details.  We had sunny spirits despite the downpour, so we can still manage to smile for the cam despite disappointed palates.  AND, we chose NOT to complain.
Cy, Ingrid, Alvin, Jo with Migs and Iggy, myself with Mia
Adel and Ira were all around
On our way home, all the kids slept soundly.  We had to skip A Bag of Beans L but could not go home without buko tarts from Amira’s.  We had to let Jo satisfy that craving J.

It was such a stimulating day.  Each kid had their own episode.  Ira had some sort of a reflux inside the van when we were very near Pamana.  Miggs overfed himself then jumped and ran all around the play room at Taal Vista which resulted to, you guessed it right, throwing-up.  And just as we thought that that was it, Mia’s nose bled while playing at the same hotel’s lobby.  Turns out, she was picking her nose!  Eow yuck Mia! J

As parents, we were all delighted that the kids had a blast.  My heart was smiling non-stop seeing Mia chasing bubbles, driving a car, climbing a playhouse, and finding a spot to read a book.
Mia called on Ira and Migs to sit with her
she loves sitting on these steps, wala kasing hagdanan sa bahay namin
Migs, Mia and Ira indulged us for photos
enjoying the bubbles; look at that genuine happiness
she really loves driving, sana lang hanggang pagtanda para ipag-drive si mommy
i love it that she manages to find a spot to read wherever we are
We know we will do this again.  Next time with the Santoses, everybody’s Ninong Dennis and their favorite Tita Crissie.
the Aliños
the Vergaras
the Panuncialmans

Pamana is on Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City; just beside Boutique Hotel, near the Tagaytay Rotonda

Amira’s Buco Tart Haus is on Aguinaldo Highway cor. SVD Road, Tagaytay City

Friday, May 27, 2011

baby no more

Let’s rewind to May 7th.  Things to do have been up to the brim, but it’s never too late to pen our birthday greetings for dear Chami.

I met this cute, fair-skinned, round and fat, happy, yummy baby when she was around 6 months old.  She was huge!  I wanted to bite her cheeks!  I fell in love with her almost instantly ♡.
kissing Tacar - her favorite bear
Every year, we celebrate Adrianne Francoise Aliño all together.  There were crazy children’s parties, summer get-aways, quiet meals and what-have-you’s.  I saw her grow up.  I witnessed every tantrum.  I enjoyed being audience to new dance steps.  I listened to tone-deaf la-la-la’s, which, thankfully, later on became real music.  I indulged in every as-if-written-in-a-journal story.  I flew spoons like they were planes landing inside her mouth during meals.  I nervously introduced new things for every year she turned older.  Chami’s my first-born who came from my heart ☺.
always my Starbucks buddy, and here, she still wasn't conscious of the blouses she wore
on our way to watch The Wanders at the Pagcor theater
in September 2008 during the baby shower for Mia, Chami was still so baby-ish
Turning 12 this year, Chami invited friends to have tween fun.  Aside from our thrown together photo booth, we made sure there was a “kikay corner” where the make-up-loving Chami can paint her friends’ faces.  She's really good at it!  In fact, she'll be Mama's make-up artist for the annual Flores de Mayo Grand Ball in Marinduque.
choosing the right brush
Mia looking on while Ate does her thing
These tweens, they did not even know what they wanted to do!  I did not push for parlor games since judging from their faces, plus body language, they would hate me if I forced them.  They looked at my party-crazy daughter Mia with the urge of wanting to play with her, but it seemed that they did not know how anymore.  They move like there was a Troop Commander counting every budge.  Hay!  Ang mga dalagita nga naman!

they sat in front of the videoke machine, all wanting to sing but were too shy to do so
her friends from the village
And did i mention, they hardly ate!  Susmiyo!  Conscious na agad!


We knew that the party was going to be intimate and mostly family, so comfort food was prepared by Chami's maternal grandmother, Tita Elvie.  She really cooks well and we always look forward to her lumpiang shanghai and sinigang na buto-buto.  You know those "lutong bahay" dishes that make you feel really safe, comfy and so at home, that's what she does best.
yummy Pinoy spaghetti
crispy fried chicken - only our favorite parts: wings, thighs and legs
not too sweet, neither overwhelmingly tomato-ish, one of the few menudos i actually eat
quartered cheese sandwiches - making sure the dalagitas need not open their mouths too wide
We also had a smokeless hotdog grill station (which i forgot to take a photo of).  The not-so-kiddos got to grill their own hotdogs on a stick without the hassle of charcoal, smoke and abanico.


I just have to say that this 12th birthday party was a bit new to us.  Even Mama Baby and I  were unsure of what to prepare.  When we were figuring out where to get extra tables and chairs, Mama said "Yung kiddie tables lang naman diba?"  We both paused, then started laughing.  We realized the celebrant won't even fit those small chairs!  That conversation was so funny!  In denial din yata kami na dalagingding na ang aming panganay na babae.
look at this fatso girl, she ate a huge plate of ice cream
Ariel became her favorite, this was the Christmas gift she got from her mom in 2007
she loves lechon
i don't think i can force her to wear something like this now

during one of our ice cream dates
again, she loves lechon
her 1st fondue
her 1st halloween outside Marinduque
mother and daughter bonding in Boracay
Oh Chami dear, enjoy being a tweenie.  Explore, yet be careful ha, Ate.  We are always here for you.  Mia will always be following you around just to cutely annoy you – our “sweet revenge” to the fat-nose biting-makulit baby that you were.  Haha! ☺
October 14th 2008, when i gave birth to the little girl who 1st made her an Ate
fooling around in front of that tiny mirror
artwork at ATC
after Chami floated with happiness while shopping at Forever 21
after another shopping spree sponsored by Adel

We love you more than ever!

from Tatay Bo-j, Tita Arlyn and Mia