A Day With My GPI Friends

My tenure with the Malaysian-owned company (GPI) where I worked in Cavite may be the shortest I had in my employment record but the friendship that I forged with some of the people there are long-lasting!

Last Sunday, I bonded once again with my ex-GPI friends: Alma, who I fondly call Bok, Gricelda and Ivy, Ibyang to me.

I last saw Alma and Gricelda on my wedding. I was so glad they were able to be there on my special day.

With Ivy, the last time I saw her was on my last day in the company, which was 13 years ago! HAS IT REALLY BEEN THAT LONG?!?!

A lot changed... (well, obviously our sizes and shapes, LOL) but not our friendship. They are among the friends I dearly treasure.

We agreed to meet at lunch time in Shabu-shabu in Alabang. We spent more than 5 hours there, chatting more than eating. We realized that we have overstayed when a crew approached us and asked us if we still have additional orders despite the ample leftover in our table. Well, in all fairness to them, it’s not that they attempted or even hinted to throw us out. They told us that we can stay as long as we want, I think they just needed to close their register or something.

What I realized was that I will never be a shabu-shabu fan. As mouth-watering the tiger prawns (which I got a bit intimidated because of their size) are, I wasn’t able to eat much of it because I don’t know how to season them! BUMMER! I indulged with the tuna, scallops and thinly-sliced Angus beef instead. Though unseasoned, they still made me feel full. :)

It was obvious we still didn’t want to end the day so when Bok’s husband, who is a PAF officer, invited us to dinner, we all scurried to McKinley to meet up with him.

We had dinner at Uncle Cheffy’s, where I had the best cheesecake ever! I was so stuffed I wasn’t able to eat anything but a few bites of the Lovely Jenny Salad (which is really flavorful!), and a slice of Uncle Cheffy Cheesecake, which I fell in love with at first bite! I made a mental note to drag the Hubby to a nearest Uncle Cheffy this weekend. I have to have another slice of that cheesecake!!!

We said our farewells at past 9PM. I bet if it wasn’t a workday the next day, we might have stayed longer!

I missed you, girls! Until our next date. :)

Another Night of Craziness

Not that I’ve done anything crazy...

It’s more than that!

I got to spend another night with my Crazy Girlfriends!!! Yay!

Being with these girls is nothing but absolute fun.

See you next time, girls! I wish we can really make that big plan happen. ;D

Abe Isaac’s Christening

Welcome to the Christian World, Abe! ^_^

With the fairy godmothers.

The fairy godparents with Abe's proud parents, Bam and Arcee. 

Abe is 6 months and 14 kg! I would have loved to carry this cutie patootie a bit longer because he is such a darling! But my arms are not shaped for heavy weight lifting. Ang bigat, grabe! What have you been feeding Abe, ha, Mareng BFF?!? Nonetheless, he is so, so cute and cuddly! Na-miss ko bigla kumarga ng baby. :)

A Crazy Night Out

I had a girls’ night out with the “Crazy Girls” last Friday and as always, it was a blast! If the evening could only be extended a bit longer, the witches in us would have taken out our wands and zapped the night away! But Halloween is still weeks away so we’re powerless. L

I had to bid goodbye at a little past 10 as I still have a long way home and the Hubby was already in the parking lot waiting for Cinderella.

Nonetheless, the evening was fun-filled! Especially that it was graced with the presence of Mailyn, who was MIA for the longest time!

Roll Call...that's Jhulie, Me, Piche, Mailyn and Yes-yes. Ate Liza's still on her way.

Deym, she’s so skinny! Makes me wonder if she still deserves to be part of a group of now voluminous, err... voluptuous women like us. LOL! We might need to oust her from the group. Pardon me for sounding rude but that’s what she gets, for not gaining even a single pound after all these years! What has she been doing, really?!?! Gagayahin namin! Teehee!

Seriously, we were all so happy to see her again. I’ve heard so many stories about her and it is just good to know that she’s doing well and still as bubbly as she was back in Highschool.

Shout out to Mabee... this mini-reunion of ours makes us so looking forward to that 2013 reunion you promised us. As a matter of fact, we have officially assigned Ate Liza to hunt for a venue and she might already book it soon. You cannot back out anymore! Yipee!

We're increasing in number! Plan is to complete 7 of us next year. Excitey-excitey!

To cap it off, thank you Jhulie labs for yet another chance for the group to bond. You made our tummies full of yummy food and hearts filled with so much joy. 

An Unexpected Visit

A former employee of our company paid us a surprise visit yesterday. He and I were hired almost the same day but he had to leave the company after 2 years. I stayed loooonger. ^_^

Then I started reminiscing. It was in March 2001 when I joined this company. 11 years and counting. I literally spent my childhood here! Teehee!

I have witnessed employees and business partners come and go. Projects that were bagged and lost. 

I’ve seen the company grow, I am even proud that I played a big part when it was incorporated in 2002. I’ve seen its best and worst years.

I can still recall how our annual outings went. How I played around with my boss’ nieces who were only 13 years old then. Now, they have graduated from college and 1 of them already has a kid of her own. Yet, I still remember her as a kid herself.

Year 2002: Those kids with us are all grown-ups now.

My boss’ infant firstborn then is now about to enter highschool. A former officemate’s daughter who has became my goddaughter is already 10 years old and looking so grown-up now.

Those years have really gone so fast.

Sabi nga ng officemate ko, I didn’t have to look afar. I am already a wife and a mother of a 3-year old. ^_^

Whenever friends ask me what is making me stay despite the opportunities outside, I simply respond, I feel at ease here, I have a good boss who values my capabilities, co-workers/friends who make a stressful day enjoyable, a job that challenges me but doesn’t totally wears me out.

It may not give me a luxurious lifestyle but it pays me decently. And at the end of the day, it’s my personal contentment that matters the most. ^_^

But honestly, no matter how heart-warming their visits are, I hope we don’t often get visited by former co-workers. I can’t help but feel nostalgic and worse, realize that I’m getting old. LOL! No, that was a joke! I really love seeing them again and be able to catch up on lost times. I sincerely hope that they get to visit us more often. 

Hello There, Baby Isaac!

Oh my! This welcome post for baby Isaac is already overdue. He was born in June (Last week ng June ba yun? I really have to find out the exact date!) but I missed to give him a welcome post. So huli man daw at magaling, maihahabol pa rin. ^_^

Congratulations, Mommy Arcee and Daddy Bam for a very lovely baby boy!

Mommy Arcee, by the way, is my college best buddy. Naku, andami naming pinagdaanan nyan! Even if we were stuck every freaking day in SLEX (from school) for hours until past midnight during the construction of Skyway, parang di kami nauubusan ng kwento. Those times, haaay!

Isa pang side kwento: Alam nyo ba, Arcee was one of the busiest people during my wedding? Isang gabi kaming hindi natulog nyan para tapusin lahat ng DIYs ko. Ano ba ang tama, she volunteered or I assigned her, to be one of my coordinators. When I got my wedding pictures, that was the only time I realized we never had a decent picture together. Eto lang:

Arcee, while having her hair fixed. Pareho pa kaming payat nun! I missed those days! Teehee!

I feel bad. Pero sabi ko nga, marami naman kaming memories that I will forever treasure and keep in that special place in my heart. Keri na kahit wala mushadong picture, di ba BFF?. ^_^

See you very soon, baby Isaac. Your Ninang Lanie is so excited to meet you.

Gyan & Gyo’s Double Birthday Celebration

I didn’t want to post this event yet until I get hold of some pictures from friends. Kaso ang tagal nila eh. And I’m excited to share what happened last weekend.

Seeing my best buddies was so worth the long trip to Sinaliw Na Munti in Alfonso, Cavite.

After years and years of not seeing each other, the double birthday celebration of Ate Gay’s kids, Gyan and Gyo (who turned 7 and 5) gave way to my mini-reunion with Ate Gay and Noemi.

When we stopped in front of the Ferre’s ancestral home, I rolled down my window to ask for a parking space. When Ate Gay saw that it was us, she immediately went to us and started to make a small chat, not mindful that we were blocking a big part of the road.

Ate Gay: Dumating kayo! Naluluha naman ako...

*Abah! Sa layo ng binyahe namin, di pala nya talaga ini-expect na darating kami! Wehehe! Joke lang ‘te Gay. When did we ever fail you?!? :)

I could sense that she was really overwhelmed. I was too, after a long time of not seeing her. Noemi, who was with us in the car could not help but feel the same.

Well, mabilis namang natapos ang drama naming tatlo when we were called by Ate Gay’s mom, Nanay Pency, (who we also missed a great deal!) to the buffet table. Hahaha! Tinalo ng gutom ang pagka-miss namin sa isa’t-isa!

After that, we started enjoying the party. It was held the traditional way. Tables and chairs were arranged on the spacious front yard of Kuya Andy’s family house. The front balcony was made to be the stage for the celebrators. A funny clown hosted the party. There were pabitins, 7 roses and 7 candles, where I was one of the participants together with Gyan’s 2 grandmoms and 4 other 7 year-old friends. 

Photo courtesy of Ate Gay's friend

Korek! 7 years old lang ang peg ko at naihanay ako sa mga kids with the exemption of the lolas! Hahaha!

Gyan, Gyo and Amber.
Noemi's kids were busy with the games that we weren't able to take pictures of them. :(

It was with a heavy heart that we have to leave before the party ends as we still have a long way to drive home. But Ate Gay assigned Noemi to plan for another meet-up soon! This time, we will have the time all to ourselves and I’m sure that it will be a blast!

Happy birthday again, Gyan and Gyo! Amber and I hope that we can see both of you more often.

The Crazy Get-Together

My highschool friend Jhulie Anne is in town for a vacation. Of course, the group didn’t let it pass to be an excuse to meet up. ^_^

Roll Call, L-R : Jhulie, Yes-yes, me, Piche and Ate Liza. All mommies now!

We had dinner at Cravings. As usual, we will not be tagged as the Crazy Girls for nothing. We must have annoyed a few customers, to whom I ask forgiveness. It is not every day that we meet so pardon us for being a bit loud and for behaving quite inappropriately, pleasy-please?;-)

We were so busy making chika that I forgot to take a picture of the food we ordered. :-(

It is always a blast to meet up with these girls. Never a dull moment! What we mostly talked about are our kids, motherhood, the people we are displeased with (yes, we also share our dislike for some people), giving birth the CS way (since 4 of us underwent CS), the guys in highschool (who most of the girls regret of admiring, they almost puked, lol!) and a lot lot more!

After we had our tummies full (THANK YOU JHULIE FOR PAYING FOR OUR DINNER ^_^), we spent some time at Starbucks courtesy of Ate Liza naman. Well, we went there because Cravings will be closed in a while and I had to wait for the Hubby to pick me up before we finally call it a night. Though I wished the night would be longer.

We bid adieu at 10 past 12AM. I was still in high spirits that time. Feeling like 16 again.

Thank you, girls! You never fail to make my evening fun-filled! I am so looking forward to the middle of next year for our bonggang reunion with our families. I’m sure it will be an epic event!

Fun DIY: Baptismal Candle (Upcoming Project)

I’m not supposed to blog about this yet... not until I have it done nor my friend gives me the permission to brag blog about it. But I’m so excited with this new DIY project, I can’t contain myself!

Piche and Don’s baby Zoie will be baptized on August 14 and I volunteered to do her baptismal candles! Yay! I just hope the candles will turn out the way they are expected of.

Will be scouting for the materials later. So excited!!!

Btw, my first attempt to do a baptismal candle was for the Hubby’s niece, Chloe. Here’s how it turned out...

Yeah, I know, plain and simple. We didn’t put enough thoughts on it because I did it only the night before the baptism. Korek, ngarag ang lola nyo jan!

I hope I can fix a better one this time for Zoie. ^_^

Their names rhyme no? Chloe... Zoie... how cute! ^_^

This One Is For My Crazy Friends!!!

Ladies, gentlemen and in-betweens, allow me to introduce my beloved highschool barkada... the Crazy Girls!!!

TGIF, ATC - 2008
L-R: Ate Liza, Pitse, Yes-yes, Jhulie Anne, Mabee and Me.

Yeah, I know... it’s baduy naming barkadas nowadays but what can I do? I was born in that age and time when people gave names to their barkadas to identify them easily. Parang Sigue-Sigue Sputnik Gang ba. But shempre, we were a generation after that naman, ano!

I was inspired to talk about them because one of the founding members, Mabee, created a Facebook group for us yesterday. Thanks, labs for the initiative! Now, we can chat with the group to our heart’s content!

Warning!!! This is a very very very looooong read! I can’t make it any way shorter. L

I love how we are still intact after all these years. We still get to see each other especially if there are occasions like weddings, birthdays, our kids’ parties, etc. But apart from that, no matter how seldom it becomes, we try to see each other for dinner or coffee just to catch up on lost times and have that endless reminiscence of our highschool years.

We laughed. We cried. We got mad at each other at some point. We talked. We ironed out differences. We shared special memories. We have been always there for each other at any given time!

I am glad that I have been with this group of friends during my adolescence. Each of us has different characters that when put together, created the perfect mix!

Know more about them...

Ate Liza is the matriarch of the group. The craziest of the crazies! The boldest one! She is like a lioness. She is so tender and protective of her cubs but can be very vicious if anyone of them has been hurt. Gera kung gera!

Her a few years our senior didn’t affect her closeness with the group. In fact, I think she took the responsibility of looking after us and made sure that we are properly guided and not being taken advantage of.

We look up to her. We even tell her first if we want to meet up with the group kasi we know that if she will be the one to call for a meeting, tyak lahat pupunta. ^_^

She is married to Kuya Abner (for the longest time! With emphasis talaga to, teh. Haha!). Her eldest Alexis have already graduated from College and is now probably a Registered Nurse. Awww, I still remember her when she was 3 years old. She often comes to school with Ate Liz and we are just enamored of her!

Allison, her youngest is now a young man at 17 (I’m guessing the age ^_^).

Mabee is the most charming girl among the group. Everybody is so drawn to her. Everybody likes her. Do I need to run down your suitors during that time, labs, to validate my statement? Haha! Seriously, she is very likeable. A friend through and through. Being the only daughter, she enjoyed the privilege of having her own stuff and own room, that we turned into the barkada’s den. Yes, we are almost part of their household because we eat, sleep and almost lived there! We are not just sure if Nanay Lagring minded that we are there almost all of the time (hope not though). ^_^

She is now residing in Dubai with her husband Roy and cute kids Riane, Mikayla and Moana.

Jhulie Anne is one of the sweetest members of the group. Well, lahat naman yan sweet pero I find Jhulie, the sweetest. She is the type who will hear out your concerns and really listens if you need to pour your heart out. Someone who will console you when you need comforting. 

She is very diligent. If we miss a lesson, we go to her. Kasi sha lang ang kumpleto sa notes. Ang sipag magsulat nyan! Kopyahan-material, haha!

She is now a doting mom to 1 year old Jhana. We can’t wait for her to be back in town again. She’s a Medical Technologist working out of the country at the moment.

Pitse (Prescy) may be the tallest among us but she is like the babiest of the group. She’s the youngest kasi. A very obedient daughter, she always observes her curfews. She never cared if we sometimes tag her as KJ basta she will go home the time she tells her parents she will. Bait-bait no? ^_^

She is now married to her long-time boyfriend Don and mom to cutie Zoie, who is almost 2 months now.

Yes-yes (Imelda) is one of the smartest. Well, I’d say again that everybody is smart but shempre someone will really exude that aura especially when we were still in high school. Consistent honor student yan! She added a perfect balance to the group. Why? Kasi, kung anong ingay namin, shang tahimik nyan! She is very soft-spoken. I never heard her get mad. Or baka di ko lang talaga narinig?!? Haha, peace labs!

She is married to Jon, and has 2 beautiful children, my inaanak Yvonne and newborn Ynakee.

Mailyn is the pinaka-happy-go-lucky among the group.

I haven’t seen her for the longest time. She has been out of the limelight ever since she moved to Mindoro (I think) with her family.

Calling Mailyn, kelangan mo magparamdam! Hehe.

And ako... well, you should already have an idea how I am like if you’ve been following my blog. If not yet, please feel free to read my blogs! Teehee!

Those are the original members of the group. We have honorary members who I will talk about some other time. ^_^  

And you've read it right, each of us are mommies now and have reached that certain level of maturity (I hope!^_^). Yet, when we are all together, we always seem to be pulled into a time warp that brings us back to high school life. We become possessed by 16-year olds who have shrieking voices! We laugh so hard, we shake like we are having seizures!!! Hay, kaloka! 

May I just share one incident at school that I will never forget for the rest of my earthly life?! A measure that our barkada will stick together through thick and thin! All of us (all that is present during that time, at least) experienced kneeling outside the classroom. Capital punishment yun di ba? Bawal yun di ba? Ewan ko ba, galit ata samin yung classmate namin who was assigned to list down the names of the very talkative ones while the teacher is away. Nilista kami lahat! Bitter! Ayun, when the teacher came back, she was really mad that we behaved daw inappropriately kaya para kaming nagumpisal ng wala sa oras.

I love high school life! One of the best years of my life! ^_^ It is where and when all the fun began!

Here are some of our photos in the present times. Just regret not having or keeping pictures of us all together in our uniforms back then. Anyways, here we are now believing that the 17 years that have passed didn't change us at all, especially on the looks department, heehee! (weh!)...

Pancake House, Festival Mall  -  March 2011
Not present were preggy Piche who needs to stay rested and
Mabee who is on the other part of the planet.

Pregnant Yes-yes and yours truly.

Jhulie Anne and Ate Liza.

Have I said that I love these girls?!?! ^_^

Say Hello To Ynakee!

Quick post muna amidst my busy day. ^_^

I’m just excited to announce and present to you, baby Ynakee!!! The newest baby to my highschool barkada.

Ynakee Allen, Born July 12, 2011
(Awww... isn't he adorable?)

I’m always happy whenever a baby is born, especially to parents I know who are very responsible. Ynakee is the second baby of my highschool friend, Yes-yes and hubby Jon.  

Congratulations also to my inaanak, Yvonne! You are now an ate. Always look after your baby brother.

The "supreme" friends! ^_^

"Good friends are those who care without hesitation, who remember without limitation and who love even without communication."

Just like in this forwarded text message of whose origin I do not and will never know... (true) friends are and will always be there to remember no matter what.

I didn't know how much I missed Noemi until she called me up in the office yesterday. It was unexpected. She remembered that it was Amber's birthday yesterday so she just have to call. I missed her! 

Our friendship started way back in 1995 where we met in RRPI. We were both trainees and we were inseparable since then unless of course we had different schedules, yet we make sure that we see each other during shift-changes. Together with Ate Gay, we were part of an inseparable trio.

Taken in one of our cliff-climbing adventures in 1996. Ate Gay took this photo.

Now that we all have our own families, we seemed to be on different parts of the world! We rarely, or make that barely see each other! 

Ate Gay is in Malaysia with her beautiful family.

Ate Gay with hubby Andy and kids, Gyan and Gyo.

Noemi is in Bay, Laguna, also with her loving family. Never mind asking me where Bay is, it's far! He-he!

Noemi with kids Francise and Yuan and husband Francis.

And I stay now with the Hubby and my cute little me-looking daughter in Caloocan City (the farthest side... the area that is in the most northern side! With emphasis? Teehee!).

My treasured family ^_^

See? I wish we can meet up very very soon and have some sort of a barbecue party with our families. That would be so much fun! I'm sooooo looking forward!

Missing Ate Gay and Noemi terribly,

After college life.

I attended my college batchmate’s get together last Saturday, June 4 and it was a blast!

L-R: Jade, Denson, Jepoy, Arcee, Me, Miggs, Gladys & kids, and Claire.

I was picked up by the hubby afterwards. Although not from our batch,
he became classmates with some of my batchmates.

Haven’t seen some of these guys in more or less 10 years! That’s how long it was? Eh kasi naman, some of them I didn’t see na even during college time pa especially after first year because we had to choose our own schedules already on our second year! – Defensive! Haha!

Anyways, we had a great time! Distance didn’t wane the bond that we strongly grew during our freshmen year in CSB. Although, there were still a lot who weren't able to come but they promised to make it up the next time. 

Looking forward to a bigger reunion come December where those from around the world are coming home!

Don't you just love reunions?

Meet Zoie!

Zoie Xanthe, born June 2, 2011

She is the newest addition to my highschool barkada's growing family (one day I'll blog about the kids of the group ^_^). That makes all of us in the group, mommies already! The topic of our occasional meetings will now be about diapers, milk and vaccines! No one will be left out anymore, nanay na kaming lahat! Ang saya!

Congratulations to my friend Piche and husband Don for a beautiful bouncing baby girl!

xoxo,