First Day of School

My favorite niece and baby of our family just started school. How time flies! At 2 1/2, she seemed the perfect student already:

Reading on her own!
Painting :-)

Break-time, with her favorite snack, Pop Tarts!

She likes being "teacher's pet"

Now I know why my brother chose this school --- there are football lessons!

Glad you enjoyed school, Baby S!

(Photos courtesy of my favorite brother and dad of Baby S, N)

Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous

Our dear friend JV recently celebrated her birthday and we were so fortunate to be part of her celebration. JV and husband DV invited us to DV's sister's lovely vacation home in Canyon Woods for a weekend. It was a glorious weekend of good (and abundant) food and very good friends. Thanks JV and DV for inviting us. It was indeed a memorable weekend. Happy Birthday again, JV, and we wish you lots of happiness always!

Birthday girl JV and husband DV

The gang enjoying the food and drinks...
...and lovely live music (DV's surprise for JV, how sweet!)

Me and the birthday girl, at breakfast the next day

At the terrace with the beautiful view

The facade of the house

...and the view from the back

Term 17

My 17th Term of teaching just started. I look at every new term as an opportunity to find new ways to make everything much more interesting, and much less boring. Any advice?

Weekend in Subic

It was my annual privilege of using the Company staffhouse in Subic and so my family trooped to Subic. It was raining throughout the weekend so it was mostly shopping at Royal Subic, and eating and sleeping in the house.

We got to visit one of the newest resorts, Segara Villas (Waterfront Road, Subic Bay, Tel. No. +63472528632). It was a beautiful place. It had a number of villas surrounding an infinity pool, and they had gazebos around the place with lounge chairs.

The main lobby of Segara Villas:

Lunch at Asian Spices which serves Filipino, Thai, Indonesian and Malaysian food:

The villas around the infinity pool:

One of the gazebos:

On our way home the next day, we stopped by Pancake House for lunch.

It was a truly relaxing weekend! Weekends in Subic are the best.

Singapore on Business

The opportunity of a lifetime came for me when my Company sent me to Singapore for business. Despite the hectic schedule, I got to stay at The Fullerton Hotel. The hotel overlooks the Singapore River and was the former General Post Office Building. I totally loved the place, everything was very luxurious. The Lobby was so grand. The rooms were huge, yet cozy and comfortable. I love the bathroom too, the shower most especially. They also had complimentary bottled water, tea and coffee.

Had the chance to have a Chinese fusion dinner at one of the hotel's restaurants, The Jade.

Took a stroll down the newly opened One Fullerton at the harbourfront, accessible from the hotel's basement.

It was a short and sweet stay in Singapore, I almost forgot that I was there for work. Good thing I remembered to take a picture of our meeting room:

While waiting for meetings to start... my proof that I was there for work!