Dani's Graduation

Dani graduated (Grade 6) from St. Scholastica's College Westgrove with high honors. Bebop found out only at the graduation ceremony itself when we received the program of events & saw Dani's name among the awardees. I only found out from another parent last week. So we weren't expecting it. But it is a great blessing for us from God. I myself don't remember receiving any academic awards in my younger years. Just want to share the photos of that special event.

Nicole and Dani's Confirmation Ceremony

Nicole and Dani had their Confirmation last March 10, 2007, 8:00am at St. Scholastica's College Westgrove. Nicole's Ninangs were Gem Manosa and Kristine, while Dani's Ninangs were Reena and Mia Sun. Bebop had a golf tournament right after lunch, so immediately after the ceremony ended, we posed for pictures then he ran off to catch his tee off time. We proceeded to Gloria Mari's Alabang to meet up with Jomi, Sandra and Diego plus their guests for Diego's Confirmation. Yes, both happened on the same day!

Josh' First Holy Communion

Josh received his First Holy Communion on February 23, 2007 at St Jerome Church near our village. He received along with his Grade 2 classmates. They were so behaved, each one of them. It was so solemn a ceremony. Well rehearsed? It seemed so. The mommy beside me shed happy tears, saying she could really feel the meaning of the ceremony. After that, Bebop treated us to Pancake House, Josh' favorite eating place. Nicole & Dani had classes. It was a weekday.

Subic On My Mind

Here are some photos Mia took of their trip to Subic. As you can see, the dalagitas went along as well as the little boys. Matty was caught in an angry mood!

Villareal Reunion at Zusette's House

Here are photos of Reena, me and our cousin Zusette and all our kids at her home, where she moved in March 2006. In the middle of busy San Juan, her home is closely guarded, thus giving residents a feeling of security. A compound of 20 three-floor units, with all front doors lined up beside each other, facing a clean, inviting swimming pool in the center, it gave us a feeling of a community of relatives living together. Though unrelated to each other, residents treat each other like family. The young girls have sleep overs at each other's houses (literally a stone's throw away from their own) and their front doors are unlocked during the day. During our reunion, Zusette borrowed swimsuits from neighbors for our kids in the hope that they'd take a dip in the community pool. That swim didn't push thru, but we had fun chatting and catching up with each other in Zusette's bedroom and at coffee after lunch. We'll make better efforts at including the Marabut clan for our next Villareal reunion. Who knows? If we hold it there, we just might take up Zusette's offer to have the kids bring their own swimsuits so it can be a swimming party!

Outside our apartment on the first snow day for the year. The snow storm lasted for three days.

Reena in Starbucks Walnut Creek, San Francisco

Just wanted to share a nice solo photo of Reena at Starbucks Coffee during a rainy night in Walnut Creek Mall, San Francisco. We had been going around, looking, buying, buying (evidence is right beside her). But when the rains came, we sought refuge in Starbucks. There weren't much people when we were there because it was a weekday. But just being together was great.