============
Wake info here.

Saturday - Party @ the Park.  One of the pinoy kids, Madeline celebrated her birthday at the Queen's Park.  It was 4pm and the sun was just going down, so it began to get cooler, but still warm. 

Sights & sounds: Pigeons, a squirrel, kids everywhere, families, picnic mats, food, park police, tai-chi, love-brids (the people kind), chatter, whispers, laughter, shouts, squeels, chirpping, turtles, catfish, fountains (for a short time only), runners, treasure hunters, agawan base, longest line, pinoy spaghetti, internationals, sand, shipwreck, lake, trees, manicured grass, tall buildings, snack bars, people feeding themselves, each other and the wildlife... 

Sunday - ICA worship services, sunday school, another pinoy party for another kid & table tennis.

Sights & sounds: rain drops, car screeches, singing, music, people worshipping, kids running, greetings, hugs, kisses, going up, ding, elevators, 23rd floor, preaching, laughter, prayer, chatting, snacking, 12th floor, tables & chairs, teaching, laughter, fooling around, families, kids, teens, singles, yuppies, refugees, internationals...silence...thai food, kids, families, parents, singles, kids playing, people chatting eating, games, pabitin, sablay na magician, fathers playing monkeys, balloons popping, cake cutting, gifts being given and opened, music blasting, palayok na hindi, bratz look alikes, grumppy kids, happy kids, shy kids, boisterous kids, noisy-happy-pinoys...ping-pong, twos, singles, asaran, kantsawan, pawis, tubig...kwentohan, kainan (uli), kweto pa kont, tulogan...

The moment I passed the immigration line at the NAIA Terminal 1 there was no turning back.  To follow Jesus where He leads is a commitment I made when I decided to make Him Lord of my life.  It's been an exciting adventure since I chose to do that at age 13.

A new chapter is once again being written in my life as I together with my family venture into the unknown.  Knowing only that it is He who called us and is faithful to the very end.  May He find the same in me.

On the day of departure 26 Feb 2008 we had to make a decision which I didn't like.  That was for Renz & Nav to stay behind to finish up the clearing of our rented house in Pasig.  We didn't want to leave Mommy Vaisy crying because of the still a lot of things to sort and clean up at the house.  We'd rather her crying because she will miss us ;p  So reluctantly I left Tuesday night.  Thanks to Bro. Jessie & Sis. Choleen Lema who took me to the airport together with dad Pete, ma Vaisy, Renz & Nav.

I heard it from my dad's own lips... "wala na si ma..." (mom is gone)...  one can never prepare for news like that... I'm now in the Philippines trying to fix my Visa & ticket to fly down to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea to help my dad... I'm realizing the disadvantages of being an only child in times like these... but thankful for God's everpresent help & those He has surrounded my family with who are more than willing to help in any way thay can... immediate realitves, extended ones... the phones have been ringing off the hook & the sms have been  flooding my small screen since yesterday...

it seems in these kinds of situations there are people you expect to help who are nowhere to be found, but of course there are those who do pull through and there are countless... but what is really surprising... to hear and meet people you have never known but are quick to offer words of affirmation and unexpected help...

to those who have already shared beyond what is expected... THANKS!... 

it's my first time to lose a parent... it's not a pleasant feeling...  it's only the 2nd day & it seems the gravity is pressing down on my chest harder than usual...

thank God for my wife, Nav, my dad, & inlaws, Kuya Je, ate Ann & countless others who have been shoulders to lean on...  there are some who are not as blessed...

I do hope my dad is experiencing an uplifting... somehow, someway... I cannot begin to imagine what it's like losing the flesh of your flesh & bone of your bone... nor do I want to... God forbid!

Thank you Lord for sustaining us!

Of all the days I can foget to bring my digicam, it had to be Maundy Thursday... Grrrr.... 

Last Wednesday I wasn't sure if our planned family day trip to Laguna was going to push through.  Mon-Tue I was having car trouble.  It would start sometimes then it wouldn't.  When I had it checked:

1st mechanic said - "check battery or alternator"

2nd mechanic said, "problem with alternator, but we can't fix it"

3rd non-mechanic said (my church friend), "it's the starter"

4th mechanic said, "it's the ignition & we can fix it".

Kaloy's car repair shop fixed our 1999 Totyota Revo in 6 hours.  Not bad.

So the day trip did push through.  We invited other members of the extended family with us & Nav a blast!  Dona Jovita's Garden Resort is nice place.  Not too big & the pools are scattered all around the property as opposed to the usual "let's try to fit in as many pools & cottages as possible & as clos to one another as possible so when they all begin to sing videoke they'll end up having a brawl because of noise pollution".

We took the longer route back to Pasig due to heavy traffic from Laguna - Manila.  It was a 4 hour drive on the usual scenic route.  Since it was already 7pm it was just black & the moonlit sky.  Detoured when we hit Antipolo because of the "alay-lakad" (pilgrimage of devout Roman Catholics to the Antipolot church).

So many experiences & sights to capture... & my digi was sitting on the sofa at home...  It was still there when got in at 11pm.

Contact info: www.donajovita.com Tel no: (02)807 0245