My summer so far, have consisted in my so-called basic indulgences such as sleeping late, watching DVDs upon DVDs, eating Brunches (that I've lost track the last time I ate a decent hearty breakfast) and then the occasional mani-pedi, and massages.
Then again the last two may not be as basic for everyone else, I suppose, and for the last, not even for myself...)
But point being, it has been pretty much laid-back.
I've made some calls and talked to people from school, so it's my way of ensuring that I still get to go back to Grad School by June, and basically April is the month of sloth-ing for me.
I actually hate as much as I admit it, but it has its own perks. (The sloth-ing, I mean.)
As of the last two days, I've obliged myself to wake up earlier than usual, hence the hearty breakfast is slowly getting back on track.
For other accomplishments, April has been the month of sentimental events for me, ranging from a celebrated cultural feast we call Pabasa, to quaint garden weddings, and even a 'small-range' despedida party (and I call it small because it was a party of three!)
Throwing a sort of small despedida party for a german friend of mine, Pia Puchner, and spending it with the uber foxy Kristinne Felix. (Both are comrades from The Ateneo, having met in our General Psychology class.) We watched Battleship in Trinoma! And boy, you just gotta love the hint of humor here and there. (Coincidentally, I recently just watched 'Fright Night, and although this is a random thought--but not so random--I notice that humor gets into every other genre, may it be a gory horror flick, or an action-packed one such as the Battleship. Really wins the audience over--kinda gives it life actually. I'm starting to dig films like this more and more. And the chick flicks have been down with the romance + humor formula for so long, seeing it in another genres apart from romance is so damn refreshing. Just wanted to share!) :)))))
Then after indulging our eyes with beefy hunks, we now changed our direction to a drinking session, well-fit for our friend who's bound to fly back home in less that 24 hours from that point. (L-R: Pia, me, Tin)
Her leaving was a rather sentimental note for me. Like waking up the next morning and realizing a good friend was already across the other side of the world, and that I may not see her anymore. Still Kristine was adamant we'll get there someday, after we 'establish' ourselves successfully. See Tin!! I used your word! ESTABLISHED!
(Note: it's very difficult for Filipinos to get their visas approved. Almost all embassies assume that we're there to stay and marry off a white guy and never return. Not all of us are like that. Some of us just want to visit friends and get back with our lives in MLA. But apparently not a lot of the consuls get that. By the way, my Schengen visa was rejected under the grounds of,
'She is young, single, unmarried, have no children, have no land or property to her name, an administrative assistant earning ***** per month.' And let us just say that ***** is not enough for their approval.)
Still, Kristine has a point. Someday, when I do have a land or property to my name, perhaps with a boyfriend let alone a husband, perhaps with children, definitely older by then, hopefully of a different occupation that earns so much that it would finally satisfy their requirement, maybe then, maybe, I could visit Pia.
The Pabasa was quite the success again this year! We spent it at my Aunite Jenny's house which was like a retreat house/condo family unit --super awesome. They have this big porch where almost 50+ people crowded in to celebrate the dinner party with us. It was a fast scene especially it the kitchen, and the stories that exchanged amongst us was the best!
Old friends, relatives, they all came, and we shared short and long conversations with each table, trying to see how everyone's doing for the past year.
(A picture of the actual pabasa inside the house. Pabasa is an Easter event celebrated all over the Philippines. It is popularly coined as Mahal na Araw. It's when we commemorate the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We celebrate it during the Holy Week where thousands and thousands of Filipinos travel back to their beloved provinces to celebrate the Holy Week with their loved ones. It's officially a holiday celebration. So for 5 days including the weekend, people could rest and spend time with their families.)
The Pabasa is conducted by singing the actual passages. Some family members have asked me to give it a go! But I've yet to give this unique and sacred task a try; it's basically freestyle, but there's still a general tone that you ought to follow.
(Man beside me: my dad.)(this is my Nanay. Mother of my mother.)
(the one to my left is my lovely, lovely cousin, Anj. This is her parents' house by the way.)
(my dad, me and my auntie Jen. Auntie Jen is the mother of cousin Anj. They recently renovated the interiors of their house. Sleek and modern! They got the bar going on at the back, and the family table--all in marble, and the brick accent was just so comfy. I love the chairs, too! There's another dining table at the front, glass.)
(here's another shot of the kitchen; again there's auntie Jen, and this time that's auntie Elvie at my back. I just love love love the tables and the cabinets!)
(these are my grandparents. Nanay Rosario and Tatay Ceferino. I got my second name after my grandmother. My mom said she wanted it that way so we would keep nanay's name living on. In college, I was nicknamed Rose.)
(My relatives got a gazebo for the guests right outside the porch. It was very useful in case it rained (which it did not, hurrah!) By evening, people were everywhere; the entire house and porch and even until outside of the gates.)
(My aunt's place reminds me of the scenery of a Retreat house. You could sit in the porch at sunset, and just watch the sky and the landscape meet together.)
My cousin Aina, or as I call her Ate Sheen, celebrated her birthday early this April, too. We spent it in Yakimix, at SM North Edsa. We had this table for two groups, only our groups were back to back since misunderstanding from the receptionist got us there. Still, my cousin happily went back and forth, and we still got to bond despite all our schedules.
(Above, that's me 'offering' my gift to Ate Aina: it's a mere keychain; but it represents the day she was born and all the famous people and events that transpired on that day. Particular designers and actresses were born on her day and 'coincidentally' my cousin is an interior designer and a model. So I guess she was written in the stars before we all knew her.) :) <3
(L-R: Ate Che, Ate Aina and Ate Mary Rose. Behind this dynamic trio is the infamous buffet of Yakimix. I just adore their chandelier.)
(Holding a jelly dessert, that's my cousin Ate Aina. Ate by the way, stands for big sister [for my foreign readers.] I can't help but smile every time I see this picture. Ate Aina, or Ate Sheen as I fondly call her, is the only female relative who could resemble me. I always felt a little more secure knowing that I share my looks with someone else apart from my dad. I mean I feel proud that I've a cousin who's basically like a big sister to me and I don't have a sister so this resemblance makes it feel extra special.
I love how she's changed so much over the year; she's more optimistic, more down-to-earth, ever-more stylish, sexier!!, prettier than ever, and absolutely fabulous. She is a fighter, and an advocate of good change. That's my Ate Aina. :)
The highlight of the month, was the wedding of my dearest Auntie Justine, who said her vows in a beautiful garden at a place they call 'Light of Love' (this was my first time to witness a garden-wedding.)
(me, Auntie Melanie, and Auntie Stephanie) <3
It was a very interesting day though, at the same day we went to the wedding, we went to a birthday party after, and then 2 wakes!
A wedding, a birthday, and 2 wakes. In some wakes that's I've been to, many of which were celebrated lightly and minus the tearful grievance. I feel somewhat ashamed that in these wakes, the hosts and myself still found the opportunity to laugh and smile about so many topics which gave us the chance to catch up with each other. Because of someone's wake! That's a unique blessing we got there.
We still made it back home before midnight! My parents said this is a first for them, too. The entire day just felt so happy, so blessed, and so lucky. I'm so grateful to God to this unique, happy experience.
(this was my first garden wedding. I love the location; they got the gardens, the ponds, it's like this huge garden place with a reception area inside perfect for couples who want to get married with a grassy landscape, framed by rustic verandas and tall old trees and statues.)(this is my Auntie Steph, pic shot above. Technically, I'm older than her by a year. However, by family lineage, she's 'older' since her mother is the cousin of my grandfather. That makes her mom my extended grandmother...whom I still call Auntie. Auntie Steph has a younger sister, Melanie, who's around 10 years our junior--whom I am still obliged by our family to call Auntie. She's at the pic above, sandwiched between Auntie Steph and I. Awesome eh.) :)
(in this shot, L-R: my dad, Auntie Melanie, Aunti Steph, Auntie Jessie, and Uncle Nilo. The rest of the guests unfortunately I do not know.)
(to my right, that's Auntie Jessie, who should be called Lola (grandma) Jessie by family lineage, but (her) preference obliged me to refer to her as one of my titas (aunties). Done! <3
I have to say, despite the late-night sleeping and the poorly planned eating this April (which defeats my healthy plan for 2012), the events that I've witnessed were so far beyond satisfactory, and I know I'll cherish them in my memories.
