In a Flash

The shortest month of the year happened by, well for me, in a flash. If I were to summarize the whole month, it would be: Vday, UPLB Feb Fair, almost four days of toothache, a trip to my dentist and Friday or Saturday night hang-outs with friends. What about the more or less remaining 15 days? I don't know either. Haha. But  I'm glad I get to cap of the month with my family. Unusual though cos we spent the afternoon of the last day of February at a memorial park cos it's my deceased aunt, Tita Luzette's birthday.

I never got to meet her. She passed away when she was five, when dengue wasn't that a household disease and had no immediate cure. I always wondered what it would be like if she was still alive. She was the youngest in my grandparents' brood of five so maybe, just maybe, we would really be close, like her older sibling, Tita Nalu, whom I'm very close with and is more like my second mother. However, I know that Tita Luzette's in a happy place now and she'll always be in our hearts.

The memorial park was quite peaceful when we got there. Far from the noisy and tent-laden park during the first of November. Ahhh it was such a good day. :)

A Healing Prayer

Dear Lord, You are the Just judge, Holy and True. You are the Most High God. You give us life. You hold all power in your hands.

You are the Mighty one from God who carries the world, and is ruler over all the earth. You Oh Most Blessed One are the giver of life. In you are only good things. In you is mercy and love. In you is healing of the nations. In you is freedom of worry and freedom of pain.

Lord Almighty, You loved us so much. You were sent from your Father, sent to save us from destruction. We truly can never make it to Heaven without the help of Jesus the Son, who was sent to earth to help us.

You, Lord are full of mercy and grace, please forgive us for our faults. Lord Jesus, in you all healing is performed. You Lord are the miracle worker. In your Spirit, your gift of healing is alive. In you Lord we can put our trust that you can heal us, and protect us from the enemy, and death of our soul.

You, Lord are miracle worker for the sick, and for the lost souls. You, Lord forgive us and save us from condemnation. You cleanse us and make us born again new. You give us a clean heart full of peace. You Lord are the Light.

In You is all truth. Your way Lord is the way to Heavenly Hope. Your hands Lord created the universe. You Lord are the True giver of Life. Every child is a miracle of Life. Life rests in Your Hands.

Wrap us as a close knit family, draw us near to you Lord, and bind us with your Loving Hands. Let us be drawn closer to You. You are the Vine, dear Lord and we are the branches. You carry all knowledge and all power. You Lord are our medicine. Your Words Lord are Truth and Life.

Help us put our trust in You. You Lord are the greatest physician. You heal, You protect, You care, You love, You are kind, You are patient, You are thoughtful, You are strength. You Lord are our Creator.

You know our thoughts, our sighings and our cryings and every hair on our head. You are Wonderful and make all good things for us. Heal us Lord, if it be Your will.

Amen.

Hey 2013!

Won't make this post long with words. I just want to share how my family and I spent New Year's Eve and welcomed the new year ahead. :)

Of course, some fireworks :)

Fooooood

Skyped with Mama and Masato

My best buds in high school and even til now, Albert and Emman

Friends came over for some drinks yay :))

I had a blast and I hope you did, too! Happy New Year! :)

Joyeuses Fetes!

I just love the Christmas season, well who doesn't? So without further ado, here's how me, my family and some friends spent the most magical time of the year.

December 24

Misa de Gallo then Noche Buena at the old Sevilla home. Forgot to bring thy cam so no pictures for this day.

December 25

Had an early Christmas breakfast at home then went to SM North Edsa-Trinoma for some errands for my cousin's wedding, had lunch there with my aunt and uncle, visited the Hello Kitty Houses, then visited my grandfather's siblings and some relatives, had some drinks with cousins and friends, went to The Cabanas for some more drinks but it was jam-packed so we just went to Mcdo instead.

December 27
Get-together with my first UPLB friends at MOA, Saphie, Tony and Kevs. Had lunch at Yellowcab, tried the 5D Fun Rider at Timezone, bought our NBA friendship socks for some ice skating bonding and then more bonding at Starbucks before heading home. I really had a great tiiiime. :)

December 28

Galura-Dimagiba nuptials at Barasoain Church (see 10-peso bill). I was the lector, yay! Reception at Hiyas ng Bulakan Convention Center followed after. What I loved about this wedding is that it is a very intimate one. I think only about 350 people were invited. It was a traditional church wedding but I was surprised that they let butterflies fly free instead of doves. Best wishes, Ate Mel and her husband! ♥

Barasoain Church

Ate Mel with Tito Jaime and Tita Remedios

Second cousin, Jawo

Reception at Hiyas

With my grandmother

Cake-cutting

Proud DIMAGIBAs :)

Joyeuses fetes, indeed! Happy holidays, everyone! :)

Undas 2012

Just like most Filipino families, our family is a grand celebrator of All Saints' Day. Grand, in such a way that we remember our departed loved ones by visiting memorial parks early in the morning and staying there until midnight, with packed lunch, merienda and dinner, candles and flowers in bulk. Of course we pray for the eternal repose of the souls of our departed loved ones, too. But if there's one thing that I love the most about this day is that it can pass as a mini family reunion!

 Here's my November 1st through pictures. :-)

How's your November, so far? :)

What A Wonderful World

♪ I see trees of green, red roses, too. I see them bloom for me and you. And I think to myself, what a wonderful world. ♫ 

Can't help but sing Louis Armstrong's song while roaming around Showa Kinen Park. Good thing I ditched my usual routine of staying in front of my laptop for hours and went here instead. Truly worth it. :-)

One of the numerous park entrances. This was the Nishi-Tachikawa entrance, just a few walks from the eki station.

Ticket. Entrance fee costs ¥400 for adults.

Numerous stores are scattered inside the park where snacks, hats, and souvenirs can be bought. This soft cream cone costs ¥250.

Park map. 

Paddle boats can be also rented for ¥700 for 30 minutes. 

This duck really gave me a hard time taking photos of it. Haha.

This is a carp, I think? 

With Mama after our paddle boat ride. 

Showa Kinen Park also has swimming pools inside. Perfect for the sunny Saturday afternoon.

Haha! Sorry for this. I looked like shit. But yeah, I wanted to do this when I saw those cylinder stones. :>

The bridge between the pool area and the Cherry Blossom Lane.

Cherry Blossom Lane without cherry blossoms. :| I should've gone here in April or early May to see cherry blossoms in full bloom.  Next year, maybe.

Crows in the BBQ area.

For those who can't stand roaming around the park by foot, you can ride trains like these inside. :)

The park also has fields for baseball, disc golf, basketball, etc.

I wanted to go to Showa Kinen because of this.

Whoaaaaaa.

Met this cute and sweet dog. Hi. :>

I don't know this little guy but he still smiled when I aimed to take a picture of him. Kawaii desu ne! :>

Playground for kids and kids at heart.

I really wanted to try this. However my shyness won over. Hahaha.

One of the trains roaming around the park.

This is where the Winter Vista Illumination takes place during December. 

Breathtaking, ain't it?

At the park exit-Tachikawa.

Hello brother! He wasn't able to come with us because of his part-time job and he really didn't want to because he had been there several times already. So he just fetched us there after his shift.

I'll definitely go back here and see with my own eyes the Winter Vista Illumination! Looking forward to that!  How's your weekend, btw? Hope it was great! :)