London (Part I)

My husband and I were so excited to go to London for a couple of reasons.  First,  our daughter was getting married then ( to a British national ) and second,  we have not been there before.  It will be our first time to visit the place and like anyone else, we were rolling down to and pro  the stairs to  " visit the queen" .

Since I was a child, I kept on imagining how the London Bridge looks like especially when it is falling down ( as the song goes ).  I have  dreamt of the King and Queen, their princes and princesses and even the food that they eat.  When I was a bit older, I started reading the stories of the Royal Family.  I had a subscription  of society magazines  ( MOD and Women's ) where the Royal Families were frequently featured.  When Prince Charles and Princess Diana came into the picture, I bought their hard-bound biographies and followed  their write-ups in the weekly magazines.

I was indeed a fan then of the Royal Family and I really did  not know why.    No doubt, I even named my daughter Reina Andrea ( Queen Andrea) .  That alone was a proof of how much I have been influenced by my being a Royal Family fanatic.  But when Princess Diana met her fate with the paparrazi and when so many scandalous stories where written about them, slowly my interest on them died naturally.  But my desire to see London has never waned.  Much more, it was waxed.

Let me share with you some of the photos we had when we visited London.  For today, I'll start with the different food that we ate on different occasions and in various places and  restaurants.

    We had our lunch at Nando's after the worship service at Hillsong London Church.  This was our first Sunday in London.

We thought there was no rice.  But there was at Nando's

Joe's  no-rice lunch

Instead  of rice,  the Londoners have fries.

On August 11, 2013, a day after my birthday,  Fe Santos treated us to an Italian Restaurant in London.  Again, we had a no-rice meal and we feasted on these food:

                                      

Avocado with white cottage cheese and tomatoes

Tomato soup with garlic toasts

Cold cuts festival

squid rings with veggie salad

King prawns

tender ribs with marble potatoes and veggie salad

Red Sea Fettucini

The food were served palatably and  tasted great.  But  . . . . I will never miss them. 

Nothing beats the Filipino dishes .. .  really!



Harvest Time

March 26, 2013.

This was our 14th Moving Up, 12th Graduation, and 3rd Commencement  Exercises.  It should have been one of those  ordinary culminating activities  for the SY 2012-2013.   But for me,  this  day is  history.  This day is harvest time for the fruits of our labor. This is the day when I really felt and witnessed  how far  Queensville School has gone.  This is the first time and this is what I can call an achievement.  

During the processional   . . . Ms.Christine N. Ruben (top)   Mr. Jose P. Bael and yours truly ( below )

On this day,  CHRISTINE JOY N. RUBEN  of Batch 2002-2003 stood before the podium at Paradiso Terrestre to speak before us and inspire the members of the graduating class    including their parents, the faculty members and most of all, we the school administrators.  She talked about her experiences, largely at Queensville School, and how she went on with her journey in high school and college.  For about fifteen minutes, I felt so elated.  I could hardly imagine that we have already produced a young professional as she is, very eloquent, very smart and very successful in her own right.

                                                         Ms. CHRISTINE JOY N. RUBEN
                                                            

Tintin, as she is fondly called, graduated at Queensville School last 2003 with a First Honorable Mention award.  She went to Las Pinas East National High School for her secondary education .  In college, she finished the degree of  Bachelor in Secondary Education major in English from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila ( also my Alma Mater )  as CUM LAUDE last 2011.  In the same year, she passed the Licensure Examinations for Teachers and before we have congratulated her, she has already signed her teaching contract with Statefields School where she is now handling English classes in the elementary grades.

Running a school, even as small as Queensville School, is not that easy.  We have traversed both the smooth and rough roads, the plains and the hills, and we have even climbed mountains just to give the services what our students deserve.  Today is one of those days that I have been waiting for ~  the day when we will be reaping the sweet fruits of what we have sown for ages.  For us, the school administrators, the memory of this  day  will keep us moving when we feel that everything's tough and we are going against all odds. 

To Christine, thank you for the inspiration.  As you stood before the podium during our graduation day, you were like a living trophy for the Queensville School ~ gloriously shining before its family.Your Queensville School family is so proud of you.  As you dream high and pursue your goals, we will always be with you.

To all our graduates of  Batch 2012-2013 whom Christine have spoken to, may you be inspired by the life she has lived as a student.   One day, all of you will be like her and / or  even better than her .  All of you will  have your time to stand out before the crowd and be an inspiration to others. All of you will become  our future leaders worthy of the emulation of the next generation.  This is our dream and this is what we have worked for.  Together, let's pray that this is what  you will become.

To all our parents and guardians,  we salute you!  Without you, this day will not be possible.  Today is the proof  of your sheer dedication and hardwork for your children's future.  Today is the evidence of your great love and sacrifices for them.

To all our visitors and friends on this day, THANK YOU!

TO OUR GOD ALMIGHTY, we give back to you all the honor and glory.  IN YOUR HANDS,  we totally entrust  the future of our students and of our beloved,  the  QUEENSVILLE SCHOOL OF CAVITE!

Until her last breath...

Every Sunday, a gray-haired granny sits comfortably either on the 4th or 5th row  on the right side of the Sanctuary.  Dressed simply in a printed georgette and slacks, she sings on top of her voice during the praise and worship time and listens attentively during the sermon.  After the worship service, she kisses everyone in the Church.  Hence, we called her the Kissing Lola. 

 

Kissing Lola is actually one of my aunts in the father side.  She's  a few years older than my father and we called  her Ate Nellie. Despite her age and her ailments,  she'd been very active at  the Lealtad Church where she was one of the pioneers.  Together with her children , grandchildren and even      greatgrandchildren, she's always present in most of the Church's main events.  She may not be always the participant, but she's always there to support the church activity.

Ate Nelly during my father's 75th Birthday Celebration

 

For the past few weeks, we failed to see her.  She was confined in the hospital and was on comatose before she finally expired last March 15, 2013.

 

Through the years, and as far as I know, Ate Nellie had lived the simplest life. Most probably , she had not left any material things behind for her family to enjoy now that she's gone.  However,  she has left a legacy not only for her family to treasure and to look up to but for every one in the church to emulate.  Ate Nellie remained faithful to her Master and to her faith  until her last breath.  

 

We will definitely miss you, Ate Nellie ! But we are happier to know that you are now peacefully resting in God's everlasting arms than to see you in bed, motionless!

After a stressful week . . .

We simply cannot get away from stresses in life.  We have to learn how to live with it.   So after a week of  stressful encounters, we ( the seatmates in my previous blog dated February 1, 2013 entitled Reunited )  decided to treat ourselves  to an afternoon of good life at the Resorts World.




We had our lunch at the famous Johnny Chow Asian Cuisine

and experienced an amazing Asian food 

where the F & B Associates are wearing colorful wigs

and God's blessings abound in our table . . 

After lunch, we roamed around for pictures . . . 
catching up with the Chinese New Year displays

hoping to take a rickshaw ride, too

                                              

just to find out that we're too heavy for it . . .

Kaya pose na lang si Rosette sa Chinese money tree



pati si Remy . . .

kasama ang kanyang  " BUNSO"

di rin pahuhuli si Myrna . . .



at siyempre,   ako

                                             The princess took a rickshaw ride

while Myrna . . .

 

 

                                             and  Rosette posed for a photo shoot.

                          Remy and her apple of the eye posed too for a click.

                           That green corner never escaped our eyes

                                                        nor our cameras

                                                       for a souvenir photo

 

Kung alam lang nya kung gaano kaganda si Rosette . . .

at pati si Remy

at kung alam lang nyang mas maganda pa si Myrna sa babaeng ito...

Gugustuhin nyang mabuhay . . .    para MAG CASINO!  hahaha

From a stressful life,  you will appreciate a stress-free afternoon . . .

 

with friends and loved ones

                  

Simply looking for nice spot for a photo shoot . . .

including the  Marriott Hotel

where we had  a couple of clicks  for our souvenirs.

 

Leisurely walking along the wall-to-wall carpeted halls

we finally decided to sit down and have an afternoon snack

in a  high-end   international restaurant

 

where we can enjoy the soft music from a triplet of classical stringed instruments

and be served with international delicacies in a three-tierred snack plates

with matching hot tea of different flavors  served in classy porcelein teapots.

 

 

With all these blessings, what more can we ask for? 

 

GOD IS SO GOOD!  He gave us the FACEBOOK and all our REUNION ORGANIZERS.  Most of all, He gave us the opportunity to relive old friendships.

 

We are indeed lucky to have been blessed not only with material things  but most of all, with friends who are more precious than any gem in this world!