heart obesity

You might be wondering what's the title all about? it's actually how to describe my heart upon reading Yuan's journal. Here it is:

My Favorite Person

My Father is my favorite person.
He always plays with me.
He helps me do my homework.
He takes care of us.
He protects us.

Then he made a note in one paper after our math session, showed it to me,

"I love you Dady"

(wrong spelling for Daddy, alright. May pinagmanahan. But definitely made my heart "obese" instantly)

Napuwing ako. maalikabok sa bahay,haaay.

I love you, too. Son.

yuan's christmas party 2008

merry christmas! - yuan mari a. andal

maligayang pasko po!

Maligayang Pasko! This year, i used the internet (Chikka server) to reply to my friends - i saved a few pesos and delivered the message just the same. Thanks to the wonderfulworld of cyberspace. Merry Christmas everyone!!!

(that's my eldest under the christmas tree a few years ago, very christmassy)

Easter family (mis)adventure

we just had a new addition to our family. at first, you have to spend some time with each other, sort of getting-to-know-each-other phase. know what to expect, listen carefully, gentle on maneuvering, speed up the acquaintance part, careful on sudden turns, get ready on tough times and rough roads, and if everything goes well, a nice break for a cup of tea will do.



and when you come to an unexpected twist of faith, bumps and bruises will definitely hurt.....



a quicksand along the way may stop you from getting to your destination.....



but perseverance conquers all.



all for my family. happy Easter!

what's in a name

What’s in a name?

Yuan Mari. Kyan Rhed. April Rheiboy. Marie. Ryukym. Exactly, what’s in a name? For one, I remember during my high school days, one teacher told us that a name is the sweetest word to a person’s ear. Come to think of it, it’s true. Imagine being introduced to a crowd when suddenly the person who’s doing it forgot your name? That’s awfully awkward (you a**hole! Here’s my knife, catch!) And so you end up with a fake smile while uttering your name (huh, I’m sure this happens all the time). And vis-à-vis, I am guilty (countless occasions) of introducing people who I remember by face (tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon as I call it) not by name, hence embarrassingly putting them into anonymity on the spot! You know who you are guys, here’s my apology blog.

I don’t want this thing to happen with my kids. That’s why I gave them (WE gave our bundle of joys) unique names. Here’s their meaning.

Yuan Mari. Yuan is Chinese for original (we’re not Chinese btw, and its also their currency). He is our first-born. Actually, the original name was Yuan Luigi – sounds Italian, Luigi (from Mario brothers) fits quite all right with Yuan. Marie gave birth September 8 at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital, FYI September 8 is Mama Mary’s birthday – without hesitation, we changed Luigi to Mari (computer game is no match to Heavenly matters). Yuan Mari, our first-born. Original. Heaven sent.

Kyan Rhed. In less than two years, God gave us another blessing. Kyan means capable. You see, Marie was in her pre-residency training when we found out that she’s pregnant. Being a resident physician in the biggest government hospital in the Philippines is no easy task. It was indeed a challenge for my wife. She endured all these. She began to have premature labor contractions before her 30th week of gestation. Spotting during her duties. Kyan came out of the world preterm – but with all the stress our second kid and mom encountered, Kyan showed to everyone that he is capable - capable of living. He stayed for one week in the hospital – incubator, antibiotics, IV fluids and all. God is great!

Rhed? I don’t want to give Rheiboy (let me carry the burden to my grave, ok?) so we gave the name Rhed. Kyan Rhed. Capable. Great.

I pray that our third baby will be a girl (I’m sure Big Boss will grant our request), any name you can suggest?

terror mom to super lola!

How mom became grandma

Nothing is permanent in this world… but change.

I remember years ago (ok, let’s say more than 10 years…. or 20, I’m not good in math, especially when it comes to age and ageing!), when I was small and skinny and naïve on how the world works, my mom and dad were the guardians of whatever I do. My overprotective mom, such a character, overprotective to the nth power - to the point that in order for me to go out of the house I (well, not just me but that’s what my brothers and sisters do) sneak-out in the afternoon and go to the playground a few blocks from home – with the rusty slide, see-saw, dirt piles, grasses and all – and spend the whole afternoon, sweat and dirt and stain covering me. Funny thing is, when mom wakes up during her afternoon siesta, she knows where to find us. Haha, you’ll see mama rushing towards the playground, shouting our names, briefly pausing at the sidewalk to break a branch of an ipil-ipil tree, ready to whip our ass! Haha! Such a sight to the awe of our playmates (who sees mommy as the “terror mom”. Owe, I even hide my wound to mom whenever I get a mishap because she will definitely deliver her mantra - “sinasabi ko na nga ba, yang kakulitan mo! Yan ang napapala!” (I told you, that’s what you get for being naughty grrrr! – for my non-tagalog comrades). This was our schedule, we can go out in the morning until 10am, 10am-4pm inside the house (or prison, as what I recalled) 4pm –6pm – freedom! And by the way, during prison time, we are not allowed to bring inmates (friends). No visitors allowed! Yeah, those days, such a wonderful childhood. Thinking about it, mom was truly “terror mom”.

Years passed (here we go again). I’d say time, mellowed mommy. She’s not a terror mom after all. Having five kids, raising us all in one roof is such a Herculean task. Looking back, she’s not a terror mom (like my playmates call her); she’s a super mom!
My 2 kuyas are now engineers, ate is now a manager, little sister a pharmacist and me, a responsible Filipino citizen (and a netizen). We will never be on such stable ground today without “overprotective mom” who guided us along the way. Everything I owe it to terror mom.

We visit mom and dad every weekends (now lolo and lola to Yuan and Kyan). Nothing is permanent in this world but change. Terror mom allows my kids to go out and play outside the house (even during prison time 10-4pm), even calls the neighboring kids to play inside our house with Yuan and Kyan – playstation, run-around the house for as long as they like. Brings the kids to the playground (can you believe it!), and yeah no more breaking of ipil-ipil branches on sidewalk…… how mom became grandma, and how terror mom became the best lola in town (make it the whole wide world).

Love you Mommy, you’re the best. (Dad, love you too :) )

little andal family's christmas joy ride

merry christmas!

we left manila 24th and reached taytay rizal early evening. taytay is 2 hours east of manila, famous for textile and sash factories. streets, especially at town central, are narrow that's why most people have motorbikes - ergo, traffic everywhere. this is the place where i grew up - my elementary and high school years.

antipolo is the hometown of my father-in-law, famous for cashew nuts (which i bet came from palawan) and native rice cakes. Most devotees flock during May 1 and December 8 and walk their way up to the Shrine of Antipolo (the place is an upland) and pray for the patron Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. I remember our "jeep" being blessed here (see, it's not just people being baptized but vehicles as well :)



christmas is family. this is my chronicle on how my little andal family went on a joy ride to visit and celebrate Christ's birth with the people we love most. A famous philosopher once said.... "family always comes first" - adam sandler in click. Merry Christmas, Maligayang Pasko, Feliz Navidad!

here's the link merry christmas everyone!
(you can double click the title as well)


uh, you can also view this in my friendster sandbox, fourth clip!

Again, Merry Christmas, Maligayang Pasko, Feliz Navidad!