No Sun, but lotsa Sand & Sea

Despite intermittent rain, we had a fun & full day on Sentosa island. A little bit of time at the Underwater World, a dip in the sea, and finally Songs of the Sea sound & light show. We were impressed (our first time) with all the pyrotechnics and fireballs!


The kids really enjoyed a couple hours with Captain Palawan who showed them how to build sand castles galore.

This is one of my all-time FAVORITE photo of BCF (best cousins forever) Asia Malaya and Ella Paris.



We keep finding new things to see & do in Singapore...my friend Jessie told me about a new little adventure....we went on the Tree Top Mt Faber walk and we all thought it was gorgeous walking above a rainforest.

Turtles, Orangutans and Lorakeets

We love going to the Turtle Museum at the Chinese Gardens. The kids just think it's the coolest when the giant turtles grab the cucumbers and when the smaller turtles fight for the little food pellets in the pond.






The Chinese Gardens are gorgeous.


We always take all our family/friends who visit to the Singapore Zoo, one of the best in the world (we think!).


The Bird Park is also delightful, and Ethan somehow always manages to get picked from the crowds to perform a trick or two....

Christmas in the Philippines

This is my childhood home in Lagro Novaliches. When I was a little girl, it was only one level, and the water only ran certain hours of the day, otherwise we'd pump it by hand. More recently, my mom added a second level and I was delighted to see that all the toilets flushed anytime of the day! However, showers are still cold and my kids thought that was FUN as they took a Filipino shower using a bucket and ladle.

My cousin Reneth and my mom organized a reunion that was kid-friendly, complete with a clown show, Christmas games, ice cream and cotton candy stalls, and video karaoke all day and night.

Pabitin (to hang) is definitely my all-time favorite Filipino party game, my kids thought it was the coolest idea!

There is always a lechon (roasted pig) at all Filipino celebrations. When Niko saw it his eyes grew big and he asked me, "What's his name?" and I answered, "Lechon". Then he asked me, "WHO KILLED HIM??!!"


When Filipino families gather, you eat all day and night. People don't come visit for one meal but for several meals throughout the day. They always come laden with "pasalubongs" - gifts of food and sweets. My mom is from Pampanga which is known for the best food, so the relatives came with regional favorites like "suman" and "kalamay" - glutinous rice cakes that I love.



This is my sister Alma and I with cousin Ethel and Ate Jeng Jeng. I am particularly close to Ethel b/c she and I are the same age. We spent our childhood singing karaoke songs so it was fun to relive the good old days. I love my mom's side of the family b/c they are so humble, kind-hearted, pure, hardworking and thoughtful.


You may think this is a lot of people, but this is only about 1/4 of my mom's side of the family. Many have migrated to the USA, Canada, New Zealand and Finland. We missed everyone who was not there, but it was wonderful to see those who are still in the country. I find it amazing that years will fly by, but those family ties and your family roots are STRONG as can be!

My Dad's side of the family

Meet the De Guzmans....they are a colorful bunch!
All talented singers and dancers (that gene skipped my Dad and our family though)
and I know I got my social/chatterbox personality from this side of the family.

My cousin Ate Poching's girls are the CUTEST!
Muchi and Michi were so adorable with the kids.

I don't see cousins Ajijing and Madok as often as the others b/c they live further away in Caloocan city, so it was fab to catch up with them and their girls.

My cousin Luchie is the BEST! She just had her first - little Bettina.
We were at Luchie's wedding in 2009 and it's wonderful to see her as a mother now.

My Tita Malou (my Dad's little sis) is HILARIOUS! She is an actress and a drama teacher. We always laugh when we're with her. She's somewhat of a star back home so when we cruise around with her people come up for autographs and one time she had to imprint her hand in clay then sign it for a restaurant.

Images of the Philippines

I loved this trip to the Philippines! I loved showing my kids around.
I love that my kids picked up a few more phrases.
I love people watching and realizing that these people are MY people.
I love talking in Tagalog and remembering words I had thought were forgotten.
I love being Filpina!


I find it so interesting that most Filipino beggars are.....always smiling, despite their hardships.


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I have such fond memories of all things Catholic from my early years.

I just love how a whole family will squeeze into a tricycle....

...and you gotta love the garrish Jeepneys all over the country. It was quite an event to take the kids on a ride, they thought it was a party!

Ella is so Filipina!

Ella had the guts to try BALUT!!! I have NEVER eaten it. This is what balut looks like - basically an egg that is a half-formed chick. It's a real delicacy.


Ella loved making new friends at church. She got along great w/ all the girl cousins (your second, third etc cousins are considered cousins, there is never reference to first, second etc) b/c if you're family, you are FAMILY.

Ella loved coconut (buko) juice and mangoes, and all the desserts and street foods I love.



A Christmas favorite is Puto Bung Bung - a rice dessert that is smoked in a coal contraption - wraped in banana leaves and served with grated coconut. I used to eat this as a little girl when my grandmother would take us to Midnight Mass at the Catholic church down the street. Of course I had to drag Mateo to midnight mass to experience it all.




I have so many favorite foods when I am home, but one I get VERY excited about is the TAHO man. You get silken tofu in a cup and he pours sweet sugary syrup and tapioca balls on top. He goes around the neighborhood shouting TAHO and it's DELISH!

Tagaytay, Philippines

We spent a few days in Tagaytay where my parents bought land to build a home to retire in. It's in the highlands only a couple hours away from Manila so we enjoyed cooler weather. It's a place for lots of "balik bayans" like us - basically it translates to "those who return to their home country".


We did a day trip to Taal volcano (which is a small volcano w/ in a lake w/ in a volcanic crater - or something like that according to my Dad).


We took a long boat across Taal lake.


Threw each of the kids on a horse to do the hour ride up the volcano.

Then Mateo and I hiked up together behind them.


To enjoy this wonderful view!