Mom's Birthday 2010

We celebrated Mom's birthday at Greek restaurant Cyma. When we asked her where she wanted to be brought for her birthday, her only request is that she wants to be somewhere she hasn't been to. We thought of Cyma because first, well-travelled as she is, she hasn't been to Greece. And second, she hasn't been to this particular restaurant. We ordered all our favorite dishes plus more, while my sister T and BIL brought wine (unfortunately we couldn't escape the corkage despite the volume of food we ordered). Pictures from the fun evening:

The birthday girl and Dad. Look at that tall glass of sangria.

Family picture with our expensive wine (cost of wine + corkage=expensive!)

One of our appetizers, spinach and artichoke fondue

Our favorite pasta: Angel hair pasta with clams

The moussaka

The best salad: Roka SalataHappy Birthday Mom!

S singing Happy Birthday for Lola before singing "Nobody, Nobody..."

Belated Anniversary Celebration Part 2

Continuing our 13th anniversary theme of a low key celebration, we spent the weekend at Richmonde Hotel in Ortigas, Pasig. Richmonde Hotel is the most reasonably priced hotel in the Ortigas district. E and I really enjoy our stays in hotels because we can be lazy for at least 24 hours. It was the perfect down time for us, he watched TV while I spent most of my time enjoying internet surfing with my wireless Smart Bro. The best part: we didn't have to clean and tidy up. And free buffet breakfast and a coffee maker inside the room. It was all good, well except they could have offered free internet, too!

First Day of Classes: Term 19

First meeting with Accounting 1:Introductory Accounting students:

Me: So, why are you taking Saturday classes?

Students: We like the teacher!

Me: Huh??? How do you know? We've never met!

Students: Our friends told us about you!

Me: Oh... so, do you trust your friends???

Students: Yes!

Marunong na mambola!

December 2009

This month was most eventful, and very busy. I'll try to squeeze in everything here. As most of you know, our Globe internet service has been down for three weeks now. It is only now that I finally gave up and got us a Smart Bro prepaid kit. So here I am . However , I just realized that because I was so busy and distracted, I always forgot to bring the camera to some events. But I will share the few pictures I have, and probably borrow from my brother N's Facebook album.



1. Just ended my 18th term of teaching! If I have an average of 30 students per term, that would mean I've taught 540 students...

2. Started a business with some of my closest friends. It is a deli/cafe that we intend to put up in one of the malls. This Christmas season, we decided to participate in a toys and gifts fair. It was a great learning experience for all of us.

3. E and I celebrated our 13th year of marriage. We didn't get to celebrate in a big way because we were busy with the business, but we enjoyed our "staycation". We decided to stay in Manila this time instead of traveling, and we're so glad we did. Iba pa rin ang pasko at bagong taon dito:-)



4. High School Barkada LCN from San Francisco was home for the holidays and so the barkada got together for dinner at Recipes in Trinoma. Sorry, no camera that night.



5. College Barkada RJW from Hong Kong was home for the holidays. The Christmas get-together was held at the Z home. Again, sorry no camera that night.


6. High School good friend HF from Los Angeles was also home for the holidays. A few of us from high school got together at Freska at the Promenade in Greenhills. It was my first time there and pleased to learn that oysters are cheap there, and good.



6. Christmas Eve at my Parents'


We were joined by SIL's parents and sister

5. New Year's Eve at Pacific Plaza -- BIL's friends from New York who are now based in Manila went home to New York for the holidays and lent us their condo. Such good, good friends! WE ordered food from Casa Armas:

The Cuchinillo!
Paella Negra


Paella Valenciana



Lengua Estofado prepared by my Mom's cook




6. Our belated Anniversary celebration right on New Year's Day at John and Yoko in Greenbelt 5



Some shopping notes: Tory Burch's prices here in Manila are a bit cheaper than in the US if you use the Rustan's discount card, so don't bother buying from the US. However the Manila branch only carries 1 pair of shoes per size per model. If you're seriously thinking of buying one, buy na, now na!