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Next project in mind here at our house!

Since building the house for our turtles, we cleared out the other part of the front yard. Before the clearing, I had lots of plants there in front, it is just across from our front porch. After building the turtleville and seeing the empty space next to the turtle kingdom, Bob and I decided we will be putting up a small nipa hut soon. We want that it will go together with our native products theme. So we decided that we will be going to put up nipa hut or nipa hut gazebo. I am a big fan of any nice gazebo looking structure. Ha ha ha… I want our gazebo to be easily taken out too whenever it is time for us to move.

Nipa Hut

Nipa Hut

You probably wonder why on earth we want a nipa hut near the turtle kingdom? Really we just like to see what the turtles are up to. Every morning Chris likes to hang out there at the turtleville with our dogs, while watching people passing by. It might be a fun project for Jhun Jhun to make. We will see if it would  be cheaper for Jhun Jhun to build or just buy the already built one and just assemble it in our yard. Me and my niece Glenda went to see the price of the already made ones. I’m surprised, it’s not too bad. It’s around P14k for the 6 feet base structure. I told them if I need to change something would that make the price higher? They said no because the changes is just for the sitting part anyway. Also I want them to add a door that will open/close to the entry of the hut because I don’t want the dogs to stay there and maybe ruin the inside of the hut. They told me they will do it at the same price. So that makes me happy. :-)

I think it will be a good project for us. It’s really a good place for us to lounge around during the day. When we told the kids of our plan, man they’re all excited over it. They’re even asking me when is that project going to happen? I have to think it over and talk with Jhun Jhun.  My only thing if we have him over to build, Bob and I will might have so much changes that at the end it might cost more than buying the already built one. It’s already our track records when Jhun Jhun comes here we have so much project for him to do. So much too for us to consider.  🙂

I know for sure the kids will hang out there a lot. I’m also sure that my teenage kids will have their friends over and just lounge around there. Which is okay for us as long as they maintain the cleanliness. Aaron might have his band mates play their drums and other instrument in our yard. Hmmm, it will end up with a small party on our front when the teenagers come over. Will it’s okay, Bob and I like the friends of our kids that come here anyway. So that should not be a problem. We will see what happens. Will give you update later folks!

CHEERS!

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Something to think about!

I was asked by someone why is LiP not helping out during beginning of school here. That’s going to be June here in the Philippines. That really made me think a lot at first. But after thinking hard, I think its better not for now.  We did help out before, a few years ago using our own money. I guess its not really ideal for us to be helping at the beginning of the school. Can’t really afford to do it. We just don’t want to ask here for that too. I think Christmas is good to be asking since its giving time.

Ham and Cheese

Ham and Cheese

I think you probably remember that one of our readers here and of our other blogs sponsored a kid who just started her 7th grade last year. So I thought that he might just be sponsoring her for the whole year last year. I’m so thankful that the person did sponsor the girl again this year. So happy that the person continued on helping the girl. That student that the person were helping thriving to be number one in her class. She’s really a good student. She comes to our house during Sundays to get her allowance, which is sent to us monthly by this reader. Most of the time Bob and I talk with her and her mom. Just to keep up with whats going on with her.

Last Sunday while they were here. We let them try some stuff that we bought at S & R. She’s so funny when she saw the ham and the crackers and cheese and we told her to try the ham. She immediately said: You sure it’s okay to try that meat it looks raw to me. Bob and I just smiled to her and told her it’s okay to eat it right away it’s already cooked. Bob and I each got a piece of ham and ate it. So she followed what we did. She said she likes it a lot too.

American foodWhile talking to some other people here that organize some charities same questions were asked why not help during the beginning of school year? I told them to be perfectly honest I am not comfortable asking people twice in a year. We are helping out some people during classes starts but not a lot since we are also preparing for our students here in the house. Some of our extra school supplies I gave them to some students that I know and in need.

But in the near future I’m going to give something to the school I graduated during grade school days. Just wanting to thank my Alma Mater for the job well done of our school there. I mean its still in need of a lot of stuff. I know even if few of us helps there at least it will improve slowly. I will try to start, hopefully others will follow too. Some of our neighbors before their kids or grand-kids also successful being working abroad they can also afford giving something there in our school. So I might have my other classmate that teaches in the neighboring town contact most of the graduates there to help out. Hopefully it will be successful though.

For you guys that support the LiP Christmas drive thank you always for being there to help out. So highly appreciated!

Mabuhay!!!

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Through the years, 23 years to be exact!

This first part is from Feyma.

Wow, 23 years ago on the 9th of August Bob and I said our “I DO’s”.  Another year to create precious memories together. I just can’t believe it that it has been that long ago already since we became husband and wife. We were both in our 20′s then. Him in his late 20′s and me being in my early 20′s.

Can’t believe it that we’ve been together for over 2 decades now. It’s been a good ride for us. We are blessed with our 3 good looking boys, and 2 beautiful daughters (have to brag. LOL).

It’s been a roller coaster ride for us. We totally handled it good with the grace of God the almighty.

Of course we had our moments, just like the typical and normal couple. Our marriage is far from perfect, especially with the two different cultures together. Bob would say something and I take it differently. Sometimes we argue and fight, thank God not physically. Raising voices yes we do that, who would not. Being married for 23 years and together almost everyday (24/7 for a lot of years, since Bob has been working at home for more than 20 years) what can you expect? LOL. I’m so glad Bob put up with some of my shenanigans. I think he’s the only guy that can put up with it. Ha ha ha… Really he’s an amazing husband and a father to our kids. He is really good to our girls too. He’s also good to my family especially when my parents were alive. He was so thoughtful to them. That’s why I love him more for that. I know he will do anything for me. I do the same for him.

Bob works hard to support me, our kids and some members of my family. He never complained that. We’ve been burned out on helping other members of the family especially nieces that have been so ungrateful. One thing that’s so different on the 2 cultures. Filipino way, after what happened to some of my family members so disrespectful and not appreciating what we’ve done for them. I told Bob I had it, we are not sending anybody to school anymore. Western way: they would still support the other family members because not all members of the family are the same.  In short not judgmental. I really applauded him for that. He totally open my eyes. I think I was just blindsided by my anger and embarrassment. I got over it and moved on.

To Bob: I love you so much honey. You and the kids really are my life. Thank you so much for loving me unconditionally. Thank you for helping me adjusting and teaching me living the life in the States. Thank you for pampering me. You really taught me a lot in life. Love you more for that. Happy 23rd Anniversary Babe. Another year to strengthen our marriage that last a lifetime!!!

A few photos from our years together

The baby is not ours
With Father Franco our friend
Happy Times
Coffee with LiP Friends
Island Hopping
Wedding Day 1990
Visiting Samal

Now, this part is from Bob.

Thank you, hon, for your kind words!  You know that I love you very much!  Unlike most couples, this is the first (and only) marriage for each of us, and we will keep it that way, I know that!

We have had a lot of good times together, and a few bad too, of course.  I have so many great memories of my times over the past 23 years!  I know you do too.  When we first got married, and you migrated to the States, I was able to help teach you and help you learn the ropes of how things worked there.  After a few years of that, we both learned from each other (well, I guess we did that all along too, though).  Then, in 2000, we moved to the Philippines and it was your turn to start teaching me how things work here.  I love you for that.

Something that a lot of our readers may not know is about cooking.  When we got married and you moved to the States, I quickly learned that you didn’t know how to cook!  It was not a problem for me, though, because I enjoyed cooking, and I welcomed the opportunity to make meals for you.  I hope you liked the things that I cooked.  I quickly bought some Filipino cookbooks and I started cooking Filipino food for you.  It wasn’t always perfect, but a lot of times it turned out great.  I took great pride in the fact that I always made sure that you had some kind of food from “back home” to keep you feeling comfortable in the States.  You never did learn to cook very much in the States.  However, when we moved to the Philippines, you decided it was your turn to take care of me when it came to the cooking department.  You not only started cooking most of the meals, you also learned how to cook American food, and you always made sure that I had the kinds of foods that made me happy!  I love you a lot for that!

Marrying you was the best thing I ever did, and the thing that made me happiest in life.  A close second was when we grew a family.  We had 3 boys in the States, and they are all good kids, and I know that both of us are very proud of our boys.  Still, as much as I love our boys, and you too, we always wanted to have a girl as well.  Moving here gave us the opportunity to make that addition to our family by taking in two of our nieces and making them our daughters.  It has really made my family life complete, and I love the girls just as much as I do our boys.

Happy Anniversary, honey, I love you from the bottom of my heart!  Thanks for writing this surprise post, and I think you will also be surprised when you see that I added the second half to it!

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Another unending cycle of problems here in the Philippines!

I was just browsing my wall on Facebook. One message caught my eyes. Just reading the story brought some thoughts in me. The never ending cycle of family problems that goes on here in the Philippines. It’s a story and revelation of a family problem with the property that was left behind by the parents. The person that wrote this, it was her grand dad who was a victim. The story goes that the grand father had 6 hectares. He was happy to have that, he used the income for his needs every month. Finally he didn’t realize that one of his daughters pawned the land to somebody else. That daughter didn’t give any share to her other siblings. Well, she didn’t even ask her dad for that. Take note the dad is still alive.

Well, one day her uncle and aunt approached her if she could get the pawned land from other people since she’s earning pretty good money. She did agree to what they asked. She went and got the land and she did let the grandfather and her aunt and uncle signed the papers that she owned the land now since she paid from the person the aunt loaned it to. Even she owned the land, all income still goes to her grandfather. She was happy to give it to him when he was alive since he had no other income aside from that land. It continue on for years.

Farm land to earn for the family

Farm land to earn for the family

When the grandfather died, she then wants to get the land so that she could give to her parents. So she asked for the title and other papers. She found out that the aunt that pawned had the title and other papers. So she realized too that the papers that she had with her it’s not notarized by the lawyer (the agreement between her and her grandfather). Not be honored then.

Just by reading with the story of the lady it also reminds me of a message I got over a year ago. The same problem as these lady. The lady was asking for an advice from me on what should she do and her other siblings against other siblings who was getting all the income from the property that their parents left for them. She was really in deeply need on what to do. I just told her to go see a lawyer in there area that specialize about property.

Honestly it happened to my family too. We had nephews that took over some of my parents’ property. One of my nephews used the family of his wife to get the property from us since they are the natives in the area. Problem for them my parents bought the property legally from one of the local residents there before I was even born and the wife of the owner she’s a native in the area and knew my parents very well. Her and her kids helped out my sisters now on getting back our land  from my nephew. We even had papers to prove to them that my parents owned the land. My parents hired people there to plant coconut trees and other fruit trees there. I think in mid to late 60′s. When we had it surveyed a few years ago, we hired a few army men to escort the surveyor and my siblings to be there. When the army saw the land the army men and other people that accompanied my siblings made a comment, that no wonder that my nephew would not give it up because it’s a good piece of land that my parents have there. Yeah my nephew should be very happy the area alone the size I think were little over 18 hectares.

We hired a lawyer to take care of a lot of our paperwork now. I think lately my nephew realized that we would never give up to him the property of our parents. So now we are just waiting for the courts decision. It will be a big loss for him. He usually gets more or less 200 sacks of corn, plus the income from the copra and other plants there.

To be honest I told my parents before they passed, during of one of my visits here before to sell all the land they owned and enjoy life. I told them go take vacations to Bohol to visit all the relatives there or go to Cebu visit mom’s family. My dad just had something in mind, he wanted to leave us something and hand it down to the next generation. Wished he did that. Now all of us siblings agreed to sell everything, just leave the land where we grew up with.

I know lots of similar problem going on all over here in the Philippines and even on other country. Families fighting over inheritance. Some were even killing each other. I know for one my cousins were using fists fights for it. I know it sounds crazy but it’s happening though.

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Reconnecting friends from over a decade of friendship!

Yesterday I went to see again a friend that Bob and I knew for over a decade now. We knew them through the net. Her name is Effy, she now lives in Texas with her husband John and their 2 kids Jessa and little JP. Now joined by Effy’s mom Ate Ermie.

We met her just not long after we arrived here from the States in early 2000.  At that time we used to live in GenSan. Effy just graduated her college and got engaged to her fiancee John from The States. At that time Effy was still the shy girl. Just talking and interacting with her I remember my days with her before meeting Bob and before my days going to the States. The typical Pinay, so shy and timid. Effy really is every parents dream to have for a daughter. Bob met Effy and John when Bob came to Davao for a business trip. John came here to see Effy for the first time. Bob and John had been communicating on the net for awhile. John decided to visit GenSan. We’re so happy to show them around, we brought them to Lake Sebu and Isla Parilla and other nice places there.

The long time friends

The long time friends

We still got in contact with Effy after John went home. One day we had some business to do here in Davao. We then proceeded to Tagum to see Effy. I think at that time she’s working at the hospital there. It happened to be her off day at work, we invited her to come with us to Davao to have lunch. We brought her to one of the restaurant here. I think that was Don Henrico’s Restaurant near Gaisano South. We ordered foods and one of the things we ordered was onion rings. That was the first time Effy tasted onion rings and she really like it a lot.

John came back few months after and they had  pre-wedding celebration here in Tagum. Bob and I were invited. It was really a nice and beautiful celebration. Effy’s mom Ate Ermie who is a fabulous wedding planner, she prepared the whole thing. It was grand since her lovely daughter would be married in a few weeks in the States. The party here was for the family of Effy who can’t attend the wedding in the States. We were sort of the grooms family during the pre-wedding. Our friendship did not end after we atteneded the pre-wedding. John and Effy went to the States a few days after the pre-wedding celebration. Effy first lived in Seattle for a few years before settling  to Texas until now. John is a chef at RainForest Restaurant.

Aaron and Jessa

Aaron and Jessa

Even when Effy was already in the States I am still communicating with her mom. Then when Effy visit her family here after living in the States for a few years. She came to our house and just catch up with our friendship. Then a few years ago Ate Ermie’s went  to States. We still continue on our friendship. Thank goodness for Facebook and the telephone. We continue knowing each other activities through there. I can see now that Effy is a very busy mom to her daughter who happens to be modeling. She’s traveling to have shows on some other areas in Texas.

Effy and her mom Ermie also do some wedding planning and flower arrangement on the side for wedding in there area in Texas. Effy also accepts Balikbayan Boxes shipment for the Philippines. If ever you want more info just email me on that.

To Effy and Ate Ermie, little JP and Jessa. It was really nice seeing you guys. Thank you so much for visiting. Thank you for the gifts too. I hope to see you guys before you head back home. Have a good visit with your family here in the Philippines. Have a good trip home.

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