That small yellow ball

When I created my blogspot,  the first and foremost articles that came into my mind and which I intended to write about were those of my travels .   However, since I started writing blogs  in August last year,  I never had a chance to write any of them .  Also, since we have arrived from that “grand marathon vacation” last October, 2012, my time had been consumed by more pressing demands in school.  Nevertheless, as the saying goes,  it is better to be late than never.  So starting today, I’ll share with you some of the interesting moments and experiences I have had in the recent past together with my favourite travel buddies ~ my family .

   

For so long, my husband has been dreaming of playing the ball with his son. For so long, I’d been wishing also that it would come true.   Well, as everybody knows, we only had a daughter named Reina Andrea or Rein for short.    We never had a son for twenty-four years.  But last August 16, 2011, finally, God gave us our “ miracle son “ Joseff or Joe as he is fondly called.  I often say he's  our “miracle son “  because he looks entirely different from us  ~  “ in race, in size, and even in words “ , as their wedding theme song goes.

After their stiff Olympic 2012  schedule, Joe and Rein had their two-week off from work.  They visited the Philippines and some of the nearby Asian countries.

In October , 2012, we visited the Nirwana Gardens in Bintan, Indonesia via  WAN SERI  BENI  vessel.   It was just a 45 minute  travel from the Bintan Resort Ferries at Tenah Merah Ferry Terminal in Singapore.  

Rein and Joe at Bintan Ticketing Office

a littlte lesson in geography from Rein

At  Nirwana Resort Hotel , we were welcomed by a team of graceful cultural dancers swaying , most  probably, to the tune of an Indonesian music performed by  an accordionist and a number of brass drum players in their native costumes.    A glass of ice-cold "strawberry-like" juice drink was also offered to all the incoming guests. 

the welcoming team

The place is awesome and far, far better than our expectations. With its  back to back infinity pool(s)  and the tranquil sea, the lustrous greens with a touch of summery wild flowers  all around, the place gets a perfect 10  for a weekend getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life.   For the first time, I felt so relaxed in the midst of  the cool sea breeze and the green, shady trees with a bit smell of  incense in the air.  

the infinity pool   by the  beach

relaxed in the midst of the lustrous greens

How I wish I  can bring home the fresh air . . .

The Jumbo Park where the Sumatran elephants  can be found

Nirwana Resort Hotel at night

In front of the non-living Sumatran Elephants . . .

In the following morning,  while we were enjoying  both the warmth of the sun and the refreshing water in the pool, a  small yellow ball floating from nowhere  appeared  and ALAS! ~ that small yellow ball from nowhere  made it happen.  Nonoy had the fun-filled time of playing the ball with his son (-in-law ) as we ( Rein and I ) joyfully looked at them.

Joe enjoying the sun which he barely does in London

what an awesome VIEW . . . . lol

Who do you think they are looking at ?

Why are they looking at me??

the sweet couple after a year and two months...

Joe and Rein enjoying the water massage

he is dying to have all those tan lines . . .

More tan lines, please !

our  "miracle son"

Nonoy getting the small yellow ball from nowhere

They played with that small yellow ball in the pool for about fifteen to twenty minutes.  It was not that long but that play was the most fulfilling one for Nonoy.  It was a dream come true for him and a wish fulfilled for me.

and they played like children

with that small yellow ball

... his dream came  true

and my wish  . . . fulfilled!

                                                               

To Joe and Rein, thank you for those simple but great moments!

To our AWESOME GOD who has brought us into this AWESOME PLACE, 

WE GIVE HIM BACK THE GLORY !

Hats are In in 2013

Yes!  Hats are In  . . .  in 2013.  And this was what our 2nd Annual Talents Night was all about.

Queensville School celebrated  it 14th Founding Anniversary and every member of the Queensville School Family shared  his/her talent through the lifestyle of the hat his or her group represented.  Through the different hats every student has worn , we had a glimpse of the culture from the high end families like the Royals in Europe down to the equally smart kids in their colorful "balintawak"  dancing to the tune of the planting rice with their salakot.

Scroll down and see for yourself how hats can bring a lot of messages .




Kindergarten students in their New York New York dance number



The Nursery pupils in their beach hats dancing to the tune of Pearly Shells



and their Tahitian Dance to the tune of Hawaii Five-O



The Beret Boys from the Kinder  class



The farmers hats from the Grade One pupils



The salakot dance by the Grade One Pupils



The glamourous Royals in their fascinators



The Hard Hats from Grade 2 & 3 pupils



The Witch Hats from Grade 4 pupils



In the Navy by the pupils from Grade 5



A mother and daughter tandem rendering a special
Michael Jackson number 



The Majorettes  from high school girls



The Riders from the Third Year High School students



Military Hats from the Fourth Year High School



The Cowboy Hats 

Just like the hats, Queensville School has brought a lot of messages to its family in its 14 years of existence.
It has produced worthy citizens who are now making waves and printing their names in the sea wall of life  for every one to see and recognize.  As the years go by and with the continuing support of all the members of the Queensville School Family, we will continue to be a leader in moulding the hearts and minds of our young people, making them the cherished  treasure of our beloved country, the Philippines.

Hail! Queensville School!  The school with a loving heart! Surely, the HATS ARE IN in 2013!

Reunited

Reunited and it feels so good!
Reunited and we understood!

Yes, thanks to FB!  After almost forty long years of being away from each other, nothing  seems to have changed except a little in each other's physical appearance.  But the sincerity and the warmth of the friendship  is still there, untarnished!  The old ways, the language, the antics and even the non-verbals are still clear and very traceable.  Silang-sila pa rin !

Last Saturday, Remy , Rosette, Myrna and I had a chance to sit down and chat  ~ first time for the longest hours.  Basically, we used to be classmates and high school real buddies and  friends.  We were ACTUALLY SEATMATES! So, naturally, the conversations boiled down to high school memories . . . about girls and girlfriends, boys and boyfriends, teachers, crushes . . . everything about the good old high school days.  We tried to recall all the memories, funny and otherwise, and we laughed and sighed.

We also took a look at ourselves now.  I never thought that Rosette will eventually end up as a conscientious social worker and at the same time an academician in the country's topnotch university. She has roamed around the world reading her papers, giving as much as she can  her valuable contributions in her field.  Remy ,  who used to be a very good gymnast during our high school days ( I still remember when she got hospitalized due to a sprain/fracture while having gymnastic rehearsals ),  started and most probably will end up her career in the insurance business.  She  is now a big wig technocrat of a well-known insurance company in the country.  She is continuously enriching her life through travels as she gloriously looks back at her children who are now all professionals in their own right.  And the  most docile among us, of course, is Myrna.  She decided to invest her millions of pesos and time  to her six children and a loving husband.  She is also unselfishly devoting much of her time in serving The Great Master through the various talents that He has given her.   Myrna excellently speaks and writes English.  Right now, she is busy preparing the Church's magazine and attending the different church activities.  Don't forget us, Sis. Myrna!
    
It seemed the day would never end as we sat and eat comfortably at Barrio Fiesta, the home of original kare-kare and crispy pata somewhere in SM, North.  We started at daytime and we parted ways at nightime.

Sana'y maulit muli.  KAILAN KAYA AT SAAN KAYA?

Angel

Her name is Angel Anne Olaivar.  She's 8 years old and a second grade elementary pupil.  She's very smart, sweet and a very loving Ate to her kid brother JC and to her cousin Igi.  She's a true darling in the real sense of the word and you could easily describe her as pretty and beautiful inside and out.  She's an adorable daughter to be ignored and a very likeable granddaughter to be taken for granted.

Angel during our swimming party last summer. 
On her left is JC,  her baby brother.  On her right
is Benj Abanono, one of her buddies during her
summer classes.  At the back is Andrei Funa, her
best friend

Angel is a consistent honor student since her pre-school days.  She's very diligent in her studies, though at times according to her Grandmother whom she calls MAMA, she prefers watching television.  She's very sensitive to the needs of others especially to the emotional needs of other children.  She's very friendly, honest and a very caring classmate.  She's really a bunch of good character traits.

Smiling Angel ( the girl  at the middle ) during the photo shoot  
for   Queensville School 14th Founding Anniversary  tarp

We'll never run out of positive words  to describe our little Angel.   As she now rests in the loving arms of our Lord,  we will truly miss her.  One thing is sure, however.  Angel    will always be  in our hearts  . . . our little Angel at Queensville School..... FOREVER! 

I could still hear the yell of Angel .( in pink shorts )
Hail to the Blue! Hail to the Blue!
Hail to the Blue!  The Royal Blue!
(Her team is the champion during the
recently concluded Sportsfest )

We  love you, Angel!  Your Queensville School Family loves you very dearly!