Thursday, Jan 26, 2006

After lunch today I went and picked up Nestor and Glo from Angeles. We went to Greenfields so they can check out its community. It so happened that the person responsible for approving the drawings was in the area. As expected the carport posts/columns were questioned. Lily suggested for us to check with SFELAPCO, the local power company to find out whether there's 110V lines available in the area. Then she took us around the subdivision. I took a couple of pictures of the lot and Nestor took some pictures of various homes in the area. After that we went to SM so Pap and I can have some late lunch. Nestor and Glo already had lunch so they just walked around while we finished. Afterwards we went to SM Supermarket to have Razon's halo-halo. We went to Masamat to talk with Kong Naring about the disapproved drawing. We agreed that he'll discuss it with Armin and try to convince Greenfields to let it slide. He'll also get the information from SFELAPCO. We left Masamat and visited Daddy Estong's grave where Nestor took some more pictures then we went to San Jose so they can say goodbye to their relatives. They're leaving early Tuesday morning. Pres Manalastas, a Class '70 and who's also my elementary classmate is Nestor's cousin. I haven't seen her for a while so I just had to visit her. She married this guy from Sapa, San Matias and they knew Odette (Ed's wife) who also comes from Sapa. She lost a lot of weight due to diabetes. Then we went to San Fernando Subd so they can see Kit, her mom, Nestor's sister-in-law with Noel and their children. Noel wasn't there. After that, we dropped by Party Place for the Class '70 board meeting but found no one there so we went ahead and dropped Nestor and Glo off in Angeles.

On the way back Pap and I dropped by Sotero's Place, a local eatery in Guagua with Karaoke. After dinner Pap and I sang 3 songs each for Php 20 each then we headed home.

Tomorrow early morning, I'm planning on going with Jack and Ate Pie to Manila and am planning on getting picked up by Pareng Nasty so I can see Didi and Mergine.

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

I started to get ready earlier than usual this morning thinking we should be able to turn in the preliminary drawings to the Greenfields office. But once my cell started up, everything went downhill from there. Receiving and sending text messages slowed me down quite a bit. I finally left Guagua at around 10:00 am. We gassed up at a service station on the Olongapo/Gapan road Sta Rita and Guagua intersection. When we're about done, I got a call from Jack saying she's already in San Fernando and would I mind picking something up from the house that she's forgotten. I said sure and so we did. We turned around and picked it up. I sent her a text message asking where we could meet so she can get her stuff. She said meet her at SSS and Pap-pap, my driver should know where it is. Pap-pap, by the way is Carding's nephew and Ate Pie's grand nephew. We were on our way to SM to pick up Kong Naring and Pap-pap said it's actually out of the way. The good thing about it is we can drop by Francis' body shop and check up on the Tamaraw FX. When we got there, the FX is ready which is a good thing because it has room for more people 'cause I made a lunch date with some Class '70 friends at Myrna and Vir's place in San Felipe. We switched vehicles and Jack agreed to meet us at the body shop. Off we went to SM in the Tamaraw, picked up Kong Naring and we headed to Greenfields. When we got there, Armin was already waiting. I realized I was rushing, I suppose from the excitement in realizing that we've actually started the ball rolling. Lily took a look at the drawings and it seems like all's well except for the carport which sticks out a bit on the side and may be questionable for approval. She said she'll ask and I should be able to find out within the next day or so. Once we have the approval, we can finalize the drawings, resubmit for final approval, go ahead with the ground breaking and submit the drawings to the city for approval. Lily gave us additional information on the construction and then Armin and Kong Naring and I went our separate ways.

I went to Angeles to pick up Glo and Nestor. When I got there Nestor and I went to pick up Glo from the parlor having her hair straightened out which is 'misbehaving' due to the high humidity. Then we proceeded to Jolibee to pick up Mike and Emelita and we're finally on our way to San Felipe. This was already about 12 noon and I haven't had breakfast yet since I was rushing in the morning. We tried to get directions (I have a different driver this time than when we were here in October) over the phone but when Myrna noticed I was having a hard time, she just said she'll have someone pick us up from some hardware store in Mexico. I can feel my stomach rumbling while we were waiting. I tried to ignore it by listening to everyone talk about old high school days and stuff. Our guide finally came and when we got to the house, all kinds of dishes was waiting for us: pancit, pork chops, tinola, tilapia. After lunch, everyone got updated on what's what and who's who. By the way, it's been raining off and on since last night. Check out the picture above of Myrna's yard with the mango trees. The upside is that it's not too hot - the downside, it's wet and muddy. There hasn't been any flooding yet. I understand there's a storm and it should be over by tomorrow. We left around 4:30 and we went to SM. I needed a car cell phone charger but Pap-pap said not to get one yet because Jack may have one since they cost around Php 700. Lily from Greenfields needed a copy of my driver's license so I went and got one. Nestor needed some documents copied as well and I got a box of bottled water. We dropped off Mike and Emelita in Dolores and we went to Angeles to drop off Glo and Nestor. Close to their house, Glo was saying they had lagat ampalaya and ginisang langguk kulubasa and kamangyang the night before and I told her that was my favorite. So she said she'll find out if they enough left over and if so we could have dinner there. I figured I can use a break from chop suey and boneless bangus so I said sure. After dinner, we talked for a little bit and agreed to meet tomorrow afternoon so they can introduce me to Nestor's cousin who was also a Balikbayan and and had a house built at Hacienda Royal.

Tuesday, Jan 24, 2006

I was able to accomplish quite a bit today. I had a late breakfast with Jack at Chow King (yes, again!) and had chop suey and boneless bangus (yes, again!!). I'll either have vines growing out of my toes or fins sprouting from my back with all this chop suey and boneless bangus!! After the meal I went to SM to try and get a USB cord for the camera so I can download the pictures from its built in memory. I tried several computer stores and photo shops but they didn't have what I was looking for. I got a couple of pairs of slacks instead which are on sale for around $6.00 each. I just hung around SM because of my appointment with John at Kong Naring's house in Masamat. At around 3 pm we went to Masamat and Kong Naring had Mary Jane get some merienda, a huge plate of pancit palabok and some kalamay. The palabok smelled great and the kalamay looked luscious but I didn't have any. Aren't you proud of me? But then I had some Razon's halo-halo when we were in SM. Oh, well..

John came and showed us the revised version of the floor plan. He rearranged the rooms a bit, put up the music room towards the front of the house, among others. Armin didn't make it. His son had a relapse of the flu or whatever he has. We all agreed the new layout is acceptable so John and I went to SM to get some copies made and tomorrow we're planning on submitting them to Lily of the Greenfields Subd office for approval. Once they're approved, we can start with the ground breaking.

Myrna and Vir text'd me and are inviting for lunch tomorrow. She wanted me to take Mike and Emelita. I told her I'll let her know tonight but I have yet to acknowledge her invitation. Ned also sent a text saying Class '70 board will have a meeting Thursday night at the Party Place and is wondering if I can make it. I told him I'll attend if I'm available.

It was Kong Orling's and Ate Pie's 35th Anniversary today and they invited me for dinner at Fortune's Seafood Restaurant on Olongapo/Gapan road. When we got there they're almost done eating. I had to finish all the leftover!! YUM!

Monday, Jan 23, 2006

Yesterday, we went to Ate Lynn's house in Bacolor celebrating their Fiesta. She gave us some directions to their place (house on the right after passing the little chapel) and off we went. It was a typical Fiesta with streamers, a brass band, bottle rockets, etc. We stopped by in front of some house to ask which house is the Tuazon's and it turned out to be the house we're looking for. We went inside and it was an awkward moment for a little bit because there were about 8 tables with people chowing down staring at us strangers. Finally, Ate Lynn came out and greeted us. Then Kong Yeng showed up and started talking with us. We felt special eating inside the house by ourselves away from the crowd outside. (Jack got the laptop hooked up to her DSL here in her bedroom so I'm able to finally post some pictures. )

After lunch, we went back to Guagua. I had to wait for a long time for my ride because everyone's glued to the TV watching Pacquiao pummel Morales. I figured I might as well watch since I'm waiting anyway. It turned out to be a great fight. I've heard a lot of this Filipino fighter but this is the first time I've actually seen him on the ring. I think he made all Filipinos proud of who they are for an hour or so yesterday. After the fight I went to visit Nestor and Glo at her sister's place in Angeles. They looked like fish out of water when I saw them, so glad to see a familiar face. Greetings and condolences were exchanged and I got an update on Emy's stay here, their arrival and on the hospitalization and funeral of Daddy Estong. We were going to have halo-halo somewhere but since I got dropped off, we didn't feel like going on a tricycle. We ended up just talking in the house till dinner time around which the power went out for about an hour or so. We had boneless dinaing na bangus, some mud fish both fried and sinigang with string beans. I got picked up by Ate Pie (from school) around 10:30 pm, then we went home to Guagua.

I took a quick shower, downed a whole buko, juice and all and talked with Jack till 3 a.m. this morning.

Today I went to PCI, picked up Kong Naring at Francis' body shop. Then we went to a couple of hardware and lumber stores in Mexico to get quotes on some construction materials. Then we went to Angeles to see Armin and talked with him on some of his proposals on the drawings for the house. We had some halo-halo at Razon's by AU. Afterwards, we went to Baliti to drop the pasalubong off for Len-len and them. I found out that Edward will be leaving for Canada on the first week of February. We left there and went to Mer's place in Sindalan and checked out his ice cream plant/warehouse. I didn't think we can use it for our stuff since he's utilizing it for his business. We told him about our warehouse situation and he said he'll look around the area for some houses for rent that I can take a look at potentially to stay in and storing our household goods at the same time while the house is under construction. The night before, I had a long distance call from Donna telling me that Father Bobet has been promoted as bishop. We went to his parish in Lourders Heights but I missed him by literally a minute not realizing he was in the car pulling out. His mom gave me his cell number but I was unsuccessful in trying to get a hold of him. His mother told me to give her regards to Sister Gay. I also tried to see Father Cito but he wasn't home either. We dropped off Kong Naring at SM and then on the way to see Ate Auring we had dinner at Holiday Land. Grilled squid, tuna belly and chop suey went down real nice. I gave Tonette another try and she finally answered her phone. It turned out she's had severe viral infection since December. She's gotten much better but she lost 20 lbs. I told her when things slow down a bit, I'll organize a small get-together of Class '70 friends. Ate Auring was glad to see me and she proudly announced she's cured of diabetes! With her track record, I'm glad to hear she's rid of diabetes but thought I'd take that with a grain of salt.

So glad to be posting on my laptop again while eating fresh buko! You're right Ed, I can feel South Beach diet slipping through my fingers!! See you next blog.

Sunday, January 22, 2006

I checked out of Gracelane yesterday. We went here in Guagua and Jack lent me her extra cell phone (but I'm planning on getting one for myself today or tomorrow) and I've been sending text messages to everyone most of whom have responded: Leda, Len-len, Elena, Alan, Mon, Ned, Myrna, Ate Lynn. My number here is 0915 942 3964. Today Ate Lynn is inviting us to have lunch for their Fiesta in San Vicente, Bacolor. After lunch I'll probably run around and distribute some more of the 'pasalubong'.

Last night after church Ate Pie took me for dinner at Chow King and I had chopsuey and boneless bangus, the same thing I had at Chow King on our way from Manila Friday.

I'm temporarily rooming with Jack so last night we were talking about stuff in general and she went out to take a shower, I guess I was tired because when she came back I was knocked out and didn't wake up until early this morning to go to the bathroom. After shower this morning Ate Pie took me back to Chow King for breakfast and guess what I had - boneless bangus and chopsuey. My diet puts a great limit to what I can and cannot eat here. However, yesterday afternoon we went to Razon's and I just have to have their 'world famous' halo-halo! Really refreshing stuff!

Ate Pie couldn't really find a warehouse for us to store our household goods here. The best she can do is a single room which will be way too small for all of our stuff. Although she knows of a 2 bedroom house with a garage in St Jude's in San Fernando that can be rented for Php 5000 a month. I told her I have to see it to determine if it'll be big enough for our stuff. If it is I can stay in it while the new house is being built.

Till the laptop is hooked up, I probably won't be able to post pictures.

See you next blog.