It's been 2 weeks since I came back from my Christmas visit to my family in Manila. I still think of happy days --> 3 weeks with my nephews, my nieces, my siblings, and my mom.... PRICELESS!

I wanted to update this blog and put some stories about my vacation but I ended up writing nothing. I went home for 2 things: be with my family and attend my namesake's (Bing's) wedding. Meeting my friends and ex-ofcmates was in the plan but was not on top of my priorities. I ended up doing all I planned except visiting my friends and enemies at Letran in Calamba. I don't know, it just slipped my mind with all the busy-ness of my first week that I only realized the school closes before Christmas when it has closed.. alam mo yun? Anyway, okay lang, but I should have really went to visit them, it might take years again before I go back and by then, baka wala na akong friendships there. My first day was spent sorting through the mess I left when I hurriedly resigned from my Edsamail job and flew to Canada, back in April 2002 before my medical expired (and risk another medical exam and fees!) Books both from my teaching job and graduate studies were neatly arranged by my sister in a bookshelf as well as my old receipts and greeting cards and letters from friends, and whatever I left then. I threw away most of it for recycling, some were given to the mag-di-diaryo, the books will be donated to a library in Tarlac, then packed and carried all my pictures, cards, some books, and wedding invitation (lots!) back here. I decided Canada is now my home so I should bring all my belongings with me. Since my mom, hopefully, will join me soon, there's no reason to leave my stuff behind. I stayed home most of the time. Cleaned the house, bathe my nephews and my niece, put them to sleep (sometimes by force) every afternoon, even fed them sometimes, and played with them. I went to the malls mostly to meet friends. I only went out alone once and ended up buying groceries, where I nearly dropped dead because the prices were unbelievably high. I can't imagine how people in the Philippines get by, lalo na yung mga minimum or below minimum ang sweldo. Nakakaiyak mang isipin, my family is so blessed because we don't need to worry about money that much anymore. We are not rich, but we get by and we can at least afford to provide some luxuries to the kids. Luxuries which we didn't have when my sibling and I were growing up. We used to live with my father's relatives (who exploited the situation), each of my siblings owns a house (as in own, hindi po naka-mortgage). Ako na lang ang walang bahay sa Pinas :( We are all doing well. God is great, He provides everyday. I remember one time, when my youngest brother and I wanted to go to the Carnival somewhere in Roxas Boulevard with my cousins but they didn't let us go with them. I cried so my mom brought us to Luneta and bought us ice cream. It was the most wonderful thing, and I will forever treasure that in my heart. To my father's relatives who treated us so badly it still hurts until now, may God Bless you every day too. He blesses my family everyday, I hope He does with you too.

The wedding was great. Simple yet elegant, even though it was in the province, it was elegant and you'd know that money was spent on everything. As usual, mga bading ang hair and make-up artists. Sosyal, lima sila so madali lang natapos ang pagandahan. Kakatuwa, kasi yung nag-make up sa akin, bading pero ang damit nya, panlalaki. Mukhang teenager na bading pa sya. Kung lalaki syang tunay, maraming paiiyaking babae dahil gwapo. And in fairness, siya pinaka-simple mag-ayos... ang ganda ko... hehehe :)




Ngayon eto, back to reality and I don't need to write how stressful and exhausting my days has been at work since I came back. No need, really....