Christmas in Manila (Part 1), December 2008

DAY ONE

It's that time of the year, when we again pack up our gear and fly home to Manila to be with our family and all our loved ones. After the re-opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, we were relieved to get our flight confirmed for Friday, December 19, 2008. We got up very early in the morning to arrive at the airport three hours before our flight, as recommended.





Here's Little Nio posing with his Daddy and Mommy at the airport areas right after passing through Immigration Control. We spent a bit of time wandering through the Duty Free shopping area before we went to our boarding gate. Here he is wondering what's so delicious about an apple you can't eat.





A quick swig from a bottle of milk on his Mommy's lap while playing with the ear of his "Barrista Bear", and Little Nio is off running around the gate area. We try to tire him out and use up as much of his extra energy so the flight becomes a great opportunity for him to rest and catch up on his sleep.

Our uneventful flight became unexpectedly unpleasant for us. We sat in the middle row seats right behind the bank of toilets, and we bore the full brunt of all the malodorous smells wafting out of those cubicles. A disturbing reminder for me to be more meticulous about the seating arrangements I make with our travel agent.



My wife, Kanittha and Little Nio waiting with the luggage. Just waiting for my brother, Tito Nico, to drive up with our borrowed ride from my sister and her husband, Tita Tessa and Tito Louie.



Finally arriving at Lolo Jun and Lola Nene's house in Marcelo Green Village. We spent the rest of the day unpacking and just relaxing. It was then that I realized that I caught a very nasty flu bug and for the entire duration of our visit I was running a fever, coughing painfully, suffered a running nose and had the most intense headaches. Although it put a cramp in our schedule, it didn't prevent us from enjoying the holidays as best as we could.


DAY TWO

Our visit to Manila was really all about getting Little Nio to spend time with his grandparents. It's not only about celebrating the miracle of Christmas and being able to exchange gifts, but more importantly it is being able to be with family.





Little Nio spends time in the garden with Lolo Jun.



Little Nio proves beyond reasonable doubt that he's literally got lots of balls. He's discovered a giant cache of assorted balls — footballs, basketballs, plastic balls and all sorts of other balls. Don't worry about that unusual long line behind him... that's the tether for towing a toy truck, not some garden snake basking in the sun.


DAY THREE

Once more out in the garden with his Lolo Jun, Little Nio enjoys himself playing with some assorted buckets and pails filled with a bit of water.





Here they are exchanging some thoughts on how best to make mud and get messy in the shortest amount of time possible.





Lolo Jun isn't offering too much advice on the matter, so Little Nio decides that this issue should get top priority and promptly places things on his head.



After a bath and a change of wardrobe, Little Nio settles down in front of the television and gets some educational entertainment time watching the "Little Einsteins". His favorite Starbucks "Bearista" bear is a constant companion. We've named this stuffed toy "Barry Bear". Little Nio usually crosses his legs when he watches his show, and it has earned him the moniker of Don Antonio.

With all these unusual little habits, which we ourselves don't do it makes us wonder and Lolo Jun agrees that perhaps our Little Nio is an "old soul".


DAY FOUR

Our day started off a bit early, with Little Nio having breakfast with Lolo Jun. Our son eats "monk style". Buddhist monks here in Thailand are taught that one must only eat to live, and that they should transcend the niceties of having food separated into different sorts and look beyond the aesthetics. They only need to focus on the nutritious value of the food. Little Nio does pretty much the same thing when he starts mixing all his food together.



I fought off a very high fever the day before, but felt well enough to do all our last minute Christmas shopping for the entire family. We didn't bring any gifts with us as our bags were already overstuffed with some dried fruit samples for Lolo Mon and Kuya Rene, but thought it would be better to do our bit for the local economy and do our shopping all in Manila.

We went off to "Market Market", which has quickly become one of my wife's favorite places to visit because of the variety and the prices of goods there. I spent most of my time carrying Little Nio around, and his Mommy, armed with a comprehensive shopping list completed almost everything in around three hours. My brother, Tito Nico, was with us the whole time to help get things done even quicker.



We had an opportunity to meet up with my sister and her boyfriend, Tita Via and Tito David, to have lunch at this Italian restaurant at "Market Market". From left-to-right, Mommy carrying Little Nio, my younger brother Tito Nico, my older sister Tita Via and her boyfriend Tito David.



We had a great time catching up with them, and after lunch we moved over to have coffee at Starbucks. The day ended very simply, we dropped off Tito Nico who had to go and get a haircut, then we detoured to do some groceries at "SM City Bicutan" before we went home. It was very tiring because it took us about ten minutes to do all our grocery shopping, but the queue at checkout took longer than half an hour.

Christmas in Manila (Part 2), December 2008

DAY FIVE

The day before Christmas started off with a very pleasant surprise with a visit from our very good friend, Bong Mendoza. We know Tito Bong through my brother, Tito Nico and through the years he has pretty much become a part of our extended family.



Here's Tito Bong carrying Little Nio. We asked our son to point to the moon, and he unerringly pointed straight up instead of the shiny shaved head of our gentle friend.



Out on the street in front of our house, the neighbor's dogs are barking furiously at our son. Much to my surprise Little Nio didn't jump back in fright or surprise, but balls his tiny hands into little fists and stands his ground with a serious face. Even though the dogs were safely behind a closed gate, I was still very proud to see first hand that our son has a naturally courageous streak in him. Something to be developed and guided properly as he grows up.



Getting ready for Christmas Eve mass, Little Nio and his Mommy feign surprised expressions when I jump out to snap this photo. Too funny. These two characters are really something else.





My wife, Kanittha, posing with my younger brother's girlfriend, Tita Jocelyn. I am very glad that they have become such good friends. We are expecting Tito Nico and Tita Jocelyn to visit us in April 2009, when we can all celebrate Songkran together. We are really looking forward to this visit and plan to make it very special for all of us.



Back from Christmas Eve mass and almost ready to start our Noche Buena, Christmas Eve traditional family dinner. Here I am seated behind our niece, Sofia (who is the daughter of Tito Louie and Tita Tessa) and Little Nio who is munching contentedly on an ice cream cone, sans the ice cream.



Crowding together on the family room couch, from left-to-right, my wife Kanittha, our niece Ate Sofia, our son Little Nio, and his older cousin Kuya Jose (eldest son of Tito Louie and Tita Tessa). Not sure what's with the raised fist, but it could be some kind of gang sign.



A rare family photograph, but Little Nio is more interested in the television show rather than preserving the moment for posterity.



Time to open our Christmas presents! Here's Little Nio opening up the gift from Tita Jocelyn and Tito Nico — a wonderful Starbucks "Bearista" bear dressed up in a cap and blazer and waving a flag with "Philippines" written on it. His Mommy promptly named this new stuffed toy "Billy Bear", to compliment his other favorite named "Barry Bear".

Little Nio received so many wonderful toys and gifts, with so many mini-basketballs and little toy trucks, and all sorts of puzzles from Lolo Jun and some beautiful books from Lola Nene. He received a wonderful bowling set from Tita Via, an awesome pop-up book from Lolo Mon and Lola Charing, personalized stuffed letters from Tito Louie and Tita Tessa... and so much more.



Lolo Jun looks on and watches everyone opening up their gifts.



From left-to-right, Kuya Jose and his father, Tito Louie, and seated on the couch is his mother, Tita Tessa.


DAY SIX

It's Christmas Day! Merry Christmas everyone!

Tita Via, my elder sister, came to visit and have Christmas breakfast with us. Right after breakfast she made sure to spend time and give Little Nio some special instructions on how to bowl.



Here they on the rug of the common room playing bowling, from left-to-right, Tita Via, Little Nio and his Mommy.



Time to take a quick power nap with Lolo Jun on the big bed. Little Nio didn't quite get to sleep, but it was a great chance to spend some quiet time with his grandfather.



Posing with a papaya that's as big as his head — Little Nio on center, flanked by his Lolo Jun on the left, and his Lola Nene on the right. Not sure why they are posing with fresh fruit in the first place, but it does make for an interesting and unusual photo. Charming, in a slightly fruity way.

Christmas in Manila (Part 3), December 2008

DAY SEVEN

After the excitement of Christmas, and our collective healths taking a turn for the worse, we took a slow start knowing that the day would be a very long one.





Mommy and Little Nio still snuggled up in bed, catching a few more precious moments of sleep after a long fitful night of coughing and sneezing. Little Nio was running a fever, but he was able to sweat it off and get a bit better later that day.



All dressed up and ready for the big family reunion! Little Nio and his Mommy sitting in the garden waiting for the guests to arrive.



Among the first guests to arrive are Little Nio's nephew, Andre (son of my niece Erika and her husband Gersh King), carried by his cousin Ate Carissa. I know that this gets extremely confusing and one of these days I am going to spend time and map out the family tree on something outrageously sophisticated like genebase.



Photos of the other guests, starting with Tito Louie and Lolo Mon.



Here is Ate Arianna, with her mother Tita Andie, and Tita Lisa.



Another table with Kuya Don. seated with his parents Tita Amy and Tito Manny, with Lolo Jun at the other end in a bright red shirt.



Here's Lola Nene standing beside Tita Pat carrying their daughter, and seated beside them is Tita Leah.



The two young ladies seated very quietly here are Little Nio's niece, Ate Carmen (daughter of my niece, Ate Marica) at left, and his cousin Ate Paris (daughter of my cousin, Tita Liana) seated on the right.



Just before the real fun begins, Little Nio and his Mommy decide to do a bit of pretend tree climbing in Lolo Jun's garden. A rare smile from our serious son.



Some opening remarks from Lolo Jun, welcoming everyone to the reunion and acknowledging the presence of everyone there and thanking them all for taking the time to come and get together.



Standing above the assembled clan on the right, Tita Pia (wearing blue), organizes the events for the reunion. The activities start off with a bit of family and Christmas trivia with prizes for the winners, followed by a gift roulette game played by dice, culminating in a traditional pabitin for the younger children.

Let the games begin!









With participants standing around a table laden with gifts, they take turns rolling a pair of dice. Odd numbers do nothing and they pass the turn, but even numbers allow the participant to take any gift from the pile. A natural roll of double six allows the participant to take two gifts from the pile.

Once all the gifts from the pile are taken another round starts again, but not before everyone unwraps the gifts they've taken from the pile. Now everyone can see what everyone else has and the real fun starts. On this second round odd numbers still do nothing, but an even numbered roll (2-4-6-8-10-12) allow you to take a gift from anyone else. I don't remember if you can take two gifts on a natural roll of a double six.



Time for the pabitin! A wooden frame filled with various toys and goodies, held by a rope is lowered to the participating children who then make a grab for these wonderful gifts. The fun is when the frame is lowered just barely out of reach of the screaming and excited children.

We held four rounds of the pabitin, starting with the babies, then the little girls, then the little boys... and finally a free-for-all to make sure that every gift and goody on the frame went to a child.



Here's a photograph of Little Nio's Mommy, she's sporting a pair of LED lights attached to a set of frames that can be worn like eyeglasses. Not all the gifts went to the children. My wife had a wonderful time as well. I think she came out from under the pabitin with a fist full of toys in either hand.



After organizing such a wonderful and memorable set of activities, Tita Pia takes a breather and squeezes in a hug for her husband, Tito Rwin. And then it was time to dig in to the potluck dinner prepared by all. Thank you very much for all the hard work, Tita Pia!



More photographs of the guests, from left-to-right, my cousin Tito Lex, then Tita Maridol and my cousins Tita Pia and Tita Leah.



A very surprised cousin, Tito Raul.



In the foreground are Little Nio's cousins, Kuya Mio and Kuya Nico, who are the sons of Tito Raul and Tita Maridol. Jumping in on the photo at the center is Ate Carissa (daughter of Tita Lisa).



From left-to-right, my cousins Tita Risa and Tita Ginggay, with Little Nio's Lola Vicky, who prepared the most amazing and mouth watering dishes for the potluck dinner. My stomach grumbles at the very thought of the kaldereta she prepared that evening and the scrumptious dessert, which didn't last very long.



Again we have Lola Vicky at left, then Lola Chit (who is Lolo Jun's younger sister) and then Lola Charing (who is Lolo Jun's older sister).



My cousins, Tita Lisa and Tita Andy (daughters of Lola Charing), and with Ate Arianna (daughter of Tita Andy) at the right.



Other cousins of Little Nio, my nieces, starting with Ate Iris (youngest daughter of Tita Ginggay), then Ate Zoe seated behind the laptop (daughter of Tita Pia) and then the two older daughters of Tita Risa.



Here's a rare smiling photograph of Kuya Kiko (son of Tita Risa) another cousin of Little Nio.



My cousin, Tita Leah manages to get in on a lot of the photographs, that's probably because the camera loves her. My cousin, Tito Lex and his wife Tita Pat join her at the table. I wasn't able to catch their twin sons, Marco and Gabby on camera, as boys will be boys, they were running around faster than I could.

This reunion was very special for us all. It was a chance for both Little Nio and my wife Kanittha to meet the rest of the clan. Not everyone was there, but it certainly established the relationships we all share with one another.