Today I am Overjoyed...

Today I am overjoyed to experience the goodness of our Father God. Last May 10th, our family, together with my uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews and nieces had a simple get-together as we celebrated my grandmother’s 99th birthday.

The previous year was a tough one for her. She had another bad fall which fractured her right hip (second time). Recuperation was longer and tougher. She also stayed in a nursing facility for over a year. In hindsight, the advantages of bringing her to this place were quite numerous. A caregiver is present 24/7 for her medicines, to change her diaper, give her a bath, to feed her - to basically tend to her daily needs. However, there weren’t many recreational activities to stimulate her mind, body and soul. 

I am overjoyed that my grandmother is mentally alert. She enjoys conversing and is aware of the things happening around her. She knows everyone, too. She shares her preferences for food which we bring whenever we visit to make her happier. She chatters non-stop and it’s truly a blessing to have her around in our lives.

I am overjoyed that the sore on my left ischium is getting better. I no longer feel the “pain” in that area after sitting for an hour or so. Though I still limit sitting for 3 - 4 hours each time. The exudate or discharge is very little these days. And I am confident that it will heal very soon.

Despite life’s challenges and obstacles, it is always best to focus on the positives and to appreciate the goodness in every situation. 

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Domestic Tourist

Seriously, I haven't been to most of the 16 cities in Metro Manila lately. In some occasions, my parents and I would go through the thoroughfares interconnecting some cities or municipalities for a road trip or when we purposely need to visit a specialist. 

With the changing times, advancement in technology, and the construction of newer streets, it is best to travel using a web mapping app especially if you don't frequent the area. The newer vehicles these days have a GPS or Global Positioning System installed. It is a helpful device to reach to one's destination through a road map with concise directions and an estimate time. 

Correctly following the instructions given is for a different blog post because we have gotten lost a few times. And I gently explain to my mom that it is part and parcel of traversing a new place. She gets anxious and chatters nervously while my father maintains his cool. Yes, quite contradicting reactions - so just imagine how I would feel. Hihi.

When my aunt and I visited my cousin who stayed in Conrad Manila last month, the route we followed was what she knew. I still turned on the GPS anyway. I remembered too in the past, rather ages ago, that we went through a different path going to a nearby place in the same area.

I was surprised to discover a number of things:

1. Once we reached EDSA (from Bonny Serrano Avenue), continue driving along its long stretch. The reclamation area, where Conrad Manila is situated is at the end of the street. 

2. There will be forks along the way. Make sure to stay on the right lane and to listen attentively for directions given by the app to avoid getting lost.

3. The distance from our residence to Conrad Manila is only 23 kilometers! We were on the road for a little more than 1.5 hours because of the traffic congestion, similar to Indonesia and Thailand according to my cousin.

4. Modern and new buildings caught my attention while leisurely driving the reclamation site (yes, I can multi-task now but very cautiously). 

5. There were few vehicles within the district that I almost forgot I was in Manila.

6. I need to work on my patience; a gentle reminder from my aunt.

As a newbie driver and a domestic tourist, I was glad to have decided to visit Laura despite the number of hours we were on the street. She flew thousands of kilometers to spend time with us to begin with. Driving through different types of avenues and streets as well as being exposed to the many types of drivers were a great experience. 

When was your last day trip? 

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Nono's Comfort Kitchen & Bakery

Satisfying is the best word to describe my dining experience at Nono's located at S Maison at Conrad Manila. It was pure bliss to rediscover Filipino comfort food by a Filipino chef. 

L-R: Nono's salad, Roasted beef belly, Parmesan crusted fish with tomato & basil spaghettini, coffee, Pork belly balsamic adobo

I met my cousin, Laura (who is from Malaysia), together with my aunt Pinky for brunch. Laura tagged along with his husband Jeffrey for his meetings in the Philippines. He is the regional director for an international insurance company based in Singapore. They stayed at Conrad Manila atop S Maison. They were here from February 11-16.

The food photos we took may not look as enticing and may not justify how tasty they are. But seriously, everything is comforting. Every dish had a unique and distinct flavor that complemented well with each other. It was reasonably priced too since portion is good for sharing. Nono's salad and pork belly balsamic vinegar were my favorite. And coffee, too!

After dining here, I googled and learned that some of their bestsellers are Nono's home style fried chicken and waffle, Nono's pizza, truffle cream pasta and Nono's chocolate oblivion. As early as now, I'm planning to treat my parents' combined birthday celebration (10 days apart) and try some of those dishes. Spending wisely is also a must these days. 

Sunset at Conrad Manila

At Conrad Manila, you'll get the best view of the sunset along Manila Bay. Guests have the option to go alfresco while enjoying the breeze and the magnificent scenery or be amazed indoors.

Luckily, my work schedule enabled me to spend time with Laura. I was with my aunt Pinky who readily agreed to be with us and took the time off caring for her 5 dogs and 4 cats.

Little did we know that 4 loong hours passed by in a jiffy! We did not only enjoy the food. We filled each other with stories about our health, hobbies, families and our lives in general. How was your last dining experience?

Helpful links:

1. Nono's Comfort Kitchen & Bakery

2. Conrad Manila

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Fiesta at Town and Country Executive Village

The Philippines boasts an abundance of culture which were passed on to us by many influences (East and West colonization). It also encompasses a wide range of topics like food, language, values, fashion, and festival, to name a few.

Last month, our community had a weeklong fiesta celebration. Fiesta is defined by Merriam-Webster as: festival, a saint's day celebrated in Spain, Latin America, and the Philippines with processions and dances. The Pahiyas Festival I witnessed years ago in Lucban, Quezon is altogether a unique manner of the townsfolks' gratitude to their patron saint for a bountiful harvest (you can view the story from here and here).

I am not a Catholic. Neither did I join in the procession . However, as a member of the TCEV PWD group, I had to be present for the picture taking (at least). This is quite necessary, as explained by our Chairman, to show that we exist, especially after being recognized by our local government last December 2024. 

The procession 

The festival was well attended. I was happy to witness the labor of those individuals who brainstormed, organized, and exerted so much effort to make the event successful. There were kind and generous souls too who donated food. These were served for breakfast after the early procession. 

The palaro or traditional games is one the most awaited event. These were played and enjoyed many decades ago, when life was simpler, minus the presence of gadgets. I enjoyed watching the video, "Huliin ang Biik ni Tonio" the most. The mechanics is simple - to catch the piglet. It seems like an easy game but tedious for the participants who were blindfolded. I'm sure the piglet was stressed too from the manipulative hands who wanted to win. 

There were many other traditional games too like the Pabitin. Here, the contestant, while blindfolded tries to hit the pot with a wooden long stick. Inside the pot are coins and candies. Akyat, Tonyo, Akyat is a bamboo pole where one attempts to  climb to the top. Limbo rock aims the player to pass through a stick without falling. I'm sure the kids of this generation, even the kids-at-heart were delighted to witness such games again.

Video of Huliin ang Biik ni Tonio

Fun Run

More than the fun, excitement, and camaraderie it brought to the entire community, I realized that being involved is vital. It promotes belongingness and togetherness. It also fosters open lines of communication. If these values are applied not only when an occasion happens,  serious problems the community poses (like the unpaid dues and utilities) can be resolved if the majority cooperates and participates. The newly elected board of directors play a significant role in the execution of many projects to maintain order (and fun) within our village.

Videos and photos from the FB Page of TCEV PWD Association

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A PWD Group in our Village

"Ang PWD group sa ating community ay nabuo dahil sa pagibig ng isang ina sa kanyang anak na may kapansanan. Dahil din sa kanyang intrinsic persistence, effort at optimism, ang imposible ay naging posible.

Tayong mga PWDs ay social creatures din kagaya ng nakararami who are collectively called able bodied. We also long for meaningful connections and a nurturing environment. Kaya maraming salamat po Ms. Racquel Alma Jose Singson for this initiative. Maraming salamat din po Chairman Percival Garcia sa inyong suporta."

These were the words I shared to the audience when I, together with the rest of the TCEV PWD Adhoc Committee had our oath taking ceremony. It was done during the Christmas party of the senior citizens and the PWDs within our village last December 27, 2024.

The adhoc committee members are mostly PWDs (with psoriasis, spinal cord injury, epilepsy, lupus, depression, hydrocephalus, and dialysis ), including the parent of someone with disability. 

The group was formed because of a mother's love for her child who has special needs - downe syndrome. She spent many hours with the directors of the community's homeowners association (HOA) and requested for their support. Her initiation and countless effort is the result of our group.

During the event, two councilors from our local government were present. Five HOA directors graced the occasion. We were given a certificate recognized by the Person with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) in Antipolo City after submitting all the requirements like the names of the adhoc committee, guiding rules and regulations, minutes of meetings, and our identification cards. 

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There were birth pains along the way. However, we are grateful that our Father allowed this to happen. This is just the beginning. We are hopeful for the numerous plans we have in the future to make us have "meaningful connections and a nurturing environment. "

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