ToyNk

Sunday, April 12, 2015

My 2014 - Part 4

AUGUST (PART 2)

My August blog is not yet over!

Another adventure happened on Ninoy Aquino's Day. We were on a tourist mode as we visited famous spots in Davao City. Since Maan was in town, she suggested we go to Malagos Garden Resort and Philippine Eagle Center. I remember when we were in High School and had field trips in these places!

So Paula, with her 2 kids, plus Farinah, Maan, Allan, Johanna and I went off on that holiday!

Welcome!

Friends FOURever!

Band of Brothers

Alla and Jazzie standing under a tree!

Bamboo!

With the Philippine National Bird!

Sa uulitin!

August was also a month full of celebrations as it was also the birth month of both my parents as well as close friends :)

SEPTEMBER

September was a fun month as well. I started it with having lunch with Noche and Michael, as well as with Allan. The fiscals also had their lunch, so we asked if we could have a picture of them too!

Good (and busog) Times!

Under the control and supervision of the public prosecutors ...

The Law School faculty also went to Butuan to attend a seminar conducted by the Legal Education Board. It was quite a long trip but I had additional insight to take home. However, I don't have any pictures .. toynk!

I also ecstatic when one of my students remarked "enjoy ang Sales". And I was happy that one of my students who passed the CPA board exam noted what I have previously pointed out in class as to "with regard".

And I had a client who topped (as in TOP 1!) the Radio Therapist Exam! Maka-happy and I was able to personally congratulate her :)

I also had a dinner with Lyn, Jinky and Bajo as we look forward to someone getting married!

Congrats Bajo!

And we also had a pina-abtik na badminton!

Exercise din pag may time!

Yahoo!

My 2014 - Part 3

Yes, I am determined to keep this going. I will still try to blog about my 2014 even if its already April 2015.

AUGUST (PART 1)

To continue, my August 2014 was awesome. And it would probably deserve a whole blog post on its own. Please bear with me as this will be a long blog post.

I really had a good start in August when I went to Cebu, together with family, to support my baby brother as he joined his first Ironman Competition. I was also pretty much excited as it was my first time to stay at Shangri-la Mactan :)

We were off to a good start as we were in a plane with a whole bunch of participants, with their supporters. We had a warm welcome arriving at Cebu.

And so off we went to Shangri-la. We were impressed by the resort itself. Although the room itself was not so amazing, the resort was quite impressive

First-timers!

After we had lunch, we went to the Expo area. JJ stayed while my sister and I went around. We went to the beach area and who did we see?

Yes, Matteo and Ryan! My sister and I were just sitting when we heard some people talking about whether to approach someone and have a picture taken with them. I heard one of them say "yung asawa ni Juday". And a lightbulb in my head went on!

I am a big fan of Ryan Agoncillo since his Penshoppe days. I was bummed when the Penshoppe models went to our school (Paolo Bediones' batch) way back in 1996 I guess, but Ryan was not around. I saw Ryan at Bonifacio High Street from afar sometime in 2008 I think. But not this up close and personal. And so we approached Ryan and then, we noticed Matteo as well. So, picture time!

Ako na jud ang na-happy!

May similarity ba kami ni Sarah?

My sister and I then gleefully went back to our room and who did we encounter near the elevator area? It's Piolo! Pagkagwapo na lang jud niya :) He and his company were walking towards us and I just immediately grabbed my camera and asked if we could have a picture with him. Wala nang hiya-hiya! Yahoo!

Sino lang ang gi-kilig? Haha!

I also had a picture taken with the Pangilinan spouses. We also saw other celebrities like Gretchen Fullido, Jennylyn Mercado, Kim Atienza, Paul Jake Castillo, Sen. Pia Cayetano, among other. First day was a success indeed! We even joked that we could now go home .. haha!

Parang anak lang din nila ako .. haha!

The next day was the race itself. I was so proud of my brother, being the youngest triathlete. Maka-inspire magtriathlon when you see all these people giving all their best. It made me think what if I try? So far, hanggang think lang .. haha!

Bike mo dira!

At napicturan uli kita!

My baby brother in action

An article which featured by brother as youngest Ironman triathlete! So proud!

Team JJ

Together with my sister and JJ, my mom and dad were also in full support as well as JJ's Ninang Grace. And yes, I had the t-shirts printed to show our support! JJ saw it on the day of the event! I kept it as a surprise from JJ, aside from the fact that I had it made the day before we left for Cebu as I really had no time before that. Success!

Another icing on the cake was seeing some familiar faces I haven't seen years. I saw Joy, who was a participant herself and who was part of our Kalaag group way back in 2005 when we had the time of our lives going around Luzon. I also saw Jen, a former Accenture employee, who was there cheering for her husband.

Before the race with Joy!

Waiting at the finish line with Jen!

And this was just the start of my August 2014!

Sunday, April 05, 2015

My 2014 - Part 2

Here I am attempting to finish my post regarding my 2014. So here goes my part 2:

MAY

And so my journey continued. May was another month of trying times for the family, as my sisters, Jeni and Bajeck, had to leave to Philippines. I was continuously grateful for the Lord's strength for our whole family.

On the side note, I was able to meet up with my dear friends Lyn and Jinky, together with her one-day-she'll-be-famous daughter, Gaby. We had dinner at Cafe Tavera and lo and behold, Gabby Concepcion right behind us. I cannot remember if we were really shy or we just did not feel to have a picture of him. So, here's our picture, with Gabby Concepcion in the background, with Gaby taking the pic.

Look for Gabby Concepcion!

In my pitiful attempt to stay healthy and lose weight, I tried zumba together with Jinky. But it only lasted for a couple or weeks or so because a school semester was about to start and my nights are loaded.

Zumba lata with Bajenx!

JUNE

It was on the first day of the month when Atty. Emmanuel Accuna was pronounced death. A lot were truly devastated and truly shocked and surprised. To this day, I believe people are still finding answers for what really happened, who did it and why it happened. To this day, I continue to pray for his justice.

The fondest memory I have of Emman was on the first day he took the bar exam. I arrived early at the breakfast place to send warm wishes to the bar takers. Emman gave me the biggest smile and I wish him best. I shook his hands, and I was surprised that it was so cold. Yes, the biggest smile with the coldest hand. On January of 2014, we then had a talk how interested he was in taking the New York State Bar. And I told him that I would help him out.

I think June was really a time for me to reminisce my law school days as it was also a time when I got in touch with some of my law school friends.

Dinner with law school friends at Cafe Tavera (again!)

June was also a new adventure for me, teaching-wise. For the first time, I was given teaching loads for Accountancy students of Ateneo de Davao University. Exciting indeed!

JULY

Work-life balance continued. I had pleadings to finish and classes to hold. I had dinner with friends and I also got to spend time with my relatives from my father's side. My Auntie Didith, who is a nun, came from Italy and visited the Philippines. For those who are familiar with my father, you'll notice that my dad and Auntie Didith look really alike.

With Auntie/Sister Didith from Italy

Dinner with Jinky and Lyn again (one of the reasons I don't lose weight .. hehe)

Our family continued to overcome trials and I still thank GOD for always being there for us.

Sunday, January 04, 2015

My 2014 - Part 1

Yes, I know. I am fully aware how less I blogged in 2014. I posted the fewest blogs in a year from the time I started blogging. Let me just say that my hands were indeed full. Nevertheless, to cap the year that was, here is my 2014 summary.

JANUARY

I celebrated New Year's Eve in one of my favorite cities in the world - Melbourne. And on the first day of 2014, took a plane from Melbourne to Manila and from Manila to Davao City.

Happy New Year from Melbourne!

Of course, I was very happy to be a part of my friends' special events - attending Teen's birthday and thanksgiving party as well as Cloud's baptism.

With law school friends at Teen's party (Ate Jo not ready for the picture .. hehe)

Godparents at Cloud's baptism

And there's that once in a blue moon beach outing with law school friends.

Beach time at Paradise!

This was also the year I turned 33. I was very lucky to have people greet me before, during and after my birthday. I feel so special having celebrated it with family and friends.

Turning 33 at Yakimix!

How sweet!

Simple but fun lunch with this bunch!

FEBRUARY

My February usually starts with a joint birthday celebration with Lyn. This time, we spent it at Vikings!

Mukhang busog na ako dito :)

Teaching wise, I was very flattered having a talk with my former teacher now my co-teacher in undergrad.

And of course, my BL Entrep Class was very amused with my perfect circle in class. I do not have any picture of it, but my students surely took a picture of it. I just drew a circle on the board and amazingly, it looked as if it was a perfect circle.

MARCH

I had a sumptuous dinner sometime the first week of March with friends.

Food galore at Cellar de Oboza

Things happened so fast towards the last week of March. It was quite shocking and surprising for the whole family and we just all hoped for the best. To this day, I always thank GOD for the strength He has given our family as we went this ordeal together.

Taken at 1 am after we fetched Jeni and Ally from the airport.

Our dad was very surprised when Ally was the one who woke him up at 1 am!

Paradise again with family!

APRIL

One thing I will be always grateful is that of GOD's presence in my life. Without Him, I have already faltered. But what is amazing is that my faith remains steadfast in Him. Our family has truly been blessed by Him, and with that I am always thankful.

To be continued ...

Friday, May 30, 2014

Mmmmm .. Melbourne!

I love Melbourne!

I was really blessed to have been given an opportunity to one of the best cities in the world. I was assigned to work there for a total of 11 months and I still relish that experience to this day.

When my sisters decided to further study and work in Australia, I gave them my all out support to stay in Melbourne. And I am pretty sure they love it!

I was ecstatic when we got a chance to visit them last Christmas -Mom, Dad, JJ and me visiting Johanna and Bajeck. Jeni is missing .. next time hopefully.

So we left on the 22nd of December for Melbourne ... (Considering that I writing several months after our trip, the events are not necessarily in order)

First stop .. St. Francis Church right. I used to attend Sunday mass here. Sometimes I just go inside whenever I am near the area, which is just a walking distance from my workplace. And they have a Filipino mass here!

Tram ride! One of the reasons I love Melbourne is because of its public transportation.

Of course, we have to eat! (for lunch)

We also got to eat at Crown (buffet dinner) .. I used to watch movies at Crown, too!

Pictorials at Yarra River!

Right across the iconic Flinders Station. I told my sisters that we should laugh while the picture was taken. We are so naturals! (And yes, we decided to wear maong for that day! OOTD coordinated!)

Since it was the Christmas season, lights were all over town as well. This one taken at Bourke Street (just near my previous work place!)

Noche Buena is not practiced in Melbourne (except for Filipino families perhaps) But for us, along with the friends of my sisters, we really stayed awake up until midnight. We played charades and ate. We woke Mom and Dad just in time for Noche Buena! (With the cute Christmas tree!) (By the way, that crown thing is apparently a Melbourne/Aussie thing)

We also got to eat sumptuous dinner courtesy of Tita Cybele and family. Busog!

Meeting the animals at Melbourne Zoo

Of course, we took the Great Ocean Road tour. The mini-bus we rode kept on conking out and so we finished the tour late. Nevertheless, it was still an experience worth remembering!

My first helicopter ride was right there at the 12 Apostles! Johanna and I, who experienced it before, kept prodding our mom to take a helicopter ride. After much thought, she decided to go for it, reasoning that the more she gets old, the less probability that she will get to experience. Live and experience now! Johanna and I rode experienced the helicopter ride again!