3 X on Father's Day

Today is Father's Day.  Like Mother's Day, it has been highly commercialized, too.  Every one seems so excited to go to the malls, hotels and shops  to avail of the special discounts given to all the Dads out there who will celebrate the day with them.

My siblings and I were no exception to the many children who wanted to celebrate the day with their fathers.  Since today is a Sunday, my first activity was to go to the church .  After the worship service, a  very simple celebration was held in honor of all the fathers in the Church.  They had a Father's Day wish followed by a cupcake candle-blowing and a snack of spaghetti and pandesal.  Simple as it was, I saw the smiles of happiness in the faces of all the fathers present.



Sis. Bengga, with the help of Bro. Epoy Milan lighted all the candles on the cupcakes



Smile Dads and make a wish  . . .  ( where are the others?)



blow your candles . . . NOW!



Here's your spaghetti and pandesal . .  HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

 

From the church, my sister Eunice, Banjie and I, grabbed a crab for our #1 Dad for lunch.  Basically, we chose Red Crab for my Dad's favorite dish which is Sinigang sa Bayabas.  We thought he would like it but, unfortunately, he didn't.   Good enough, my sister Banjie was there and ( after asking for some sugar ) she was able to "manipulate"  the taste of sinigang na bayabas  my father was craving for.  Incidentally, my sister Banjie used to cook sinigang na bayabas for Papa .  She said she was able to get the secret of the said recipe from my Mom that's why she knew exactly what taste Papa is expecting from the said dish.  Nevertheless,  my father  enjoyed the other dishes from the Red Crab such as Crab Maritess  and the Mango Crepe for his dessert.



The Red Crab in Tomas Morato, Quezon City



The special prmo for Father's Day



Sinigang na bangus sa bayabas



Crab Maritess



Mango Crepe

After our hearty meal,  some  "cowboy" staff  in the restaurant approached us for the souvenir picture taking which they said will be published in their website www.redcrabalimangohouse .  They also gave Papa the souvenir mug.  We also had our picture-taking afterwards.



pakulo ng The Red Crab on Father's Day



and their  souvenir mug



Wala na ang cowboy . . . cowgirl na ang may hawak... haha



Papa with Banjie and Eunice



It's my turn with Papa and Eunice



Happy Father's Day, Papa!  Thanks for everything!

Incidentally, for my fashion-conscious readers, here's my outfit for the day.

Dark blue-violet blouse with clipped black floral accent  ( from a charity store), white riveted  pants by Lee, Black wedge  sandals by Neue Diffusion, Handbag by  Longchamp and sunglasses by  Giordano

From The Red Crab in Quezon City, I proceeded to Alabang Town Center in Muntinglupa  to celebrate Father's Day with my daughter's Dad.  As usual, we planned to have a special dinner for the occasion  but to our great disappointment, all the restaurants and food shops were fully occupied and my partner does not have the patience to wait for long queues when he's hungry.  So we ended up going to the METRO STORE (Supermarket) and since it's Father's Day, he called the shots.  He immediately proceeded to the Suisse Cottage for his lemon bread ( he's a real bread lover ), bought some grapes and apples and 2 bottles of 1.5L Coke.  We went home early and he simply requested for his favorite veggie salad rolls and chicken cordon bleu  with roasted zucchinis for dinner. 



Nonoy's favorite spot in the Metro Store



Special sale of the day . . . Php 178.00 per kilogram of seedless grapes ( a stolen shot  because he hates picture-taking in places like this.  Sorry Dad, I have to for my blog... hehe )

My very own version of veggie salad rolls  which has not yet been sliced

( the picture includes sliced ham and cheese pin rolls )

 

sliced veggie salad rolls ( with sliced  ham and cheese pin rolls )

 

my very own version of chicken cordon bleu with roasted carrots and zucchinis

Thank God, I had the chance to celebrate Father's Day three times today.  Actually, it has always been that way for the past few years and I am expecting for the same things to happen in the next coming years...

 

Today, this Father's Day, there are so many ways to honor our fathers, as The Bible commands us to do ( Ephesians 6:2  Honor your father.... ) It need not be expensive nor dramatic; it need not be laborious nor simply elegant.  One way, even if they are no longer with us ( in our respective homes or in this world ) ,  is TO SHOW OUR RESPECT FOR THEM . . . not on how good fathers they have become but simply for the fact that they were the men whom God chose to be our fathers.

 

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY !

 

Note:  I have written this blog yesterday , June 15, 2014, but was published only today, June 16, 2014.

A Celebration for Life

 

Not everyone is blessed with a long life.  In truth, many people didn't grow old simply because they died very, very young. Others succeeded in getting their bonus years but many of them are spending it, if not in pain, in bed.

Last January 4, 2014, my father turned 80. To see him grooming and fixing himself everyday to go to the nearest mall and play the piano to the sweet delight of the shoppers is indeed a wonderful blessing that calls for a thanksgiving and a celebration.

My siblings and I, together with our families gave him a simple and intimate party as our way of saying "Thank you, Lord" and as a celebration for life. It was held at the Third Floor of Betty's located at the corners of Biak-na-Bato and Cuenco Streets in Quezon City and was very well attended by our relatives and close friends. We had  the simplest  but very meaningful repertoire of songs and dances for the night as well as special numbers in piano performed by people closest to my father's heart.

We had the best food for the occasion, delicately prepared and served by Betty's.  Among the favorites were Guisadong Sotanghon, Chicken Alexander, Fish Fillet with Tofu in Oyster Sauce, Beef Caldereta and Lumpiang Ubod.  of  course, nobody could ever forget their specialty ~ Betty's Sans Rival for dessert coupled with cold tropical fruits.  To quench our thirst in the midst of the celebration, everyone enjoyed the Four Seasons and/or his/her choice of soda.

It was truly a night of music, fun and thanksgiving.   Most of all, it was a celebration for life that God graciously gives to this man whom He chose to be our father ~ Mr. ERNESTO A. BALADJAY, SR. !

A night of royal blue, light blue and white

The celebration started with a Doxology ~ singing the song "Tribute" led by Dorothy Chrizelle Baladjay, one of Papa's grandchildren

Wishes do come true!  Blow your birthday candles now.... HAPPY 80th Birthday Papa!

EI and Aimee, both Papa's grand daughters were the Masters of the ceremonies...

The HOSTS and the CELEBRATOR

Ela, Eunice and Banjie dancing to the tune of Michael Buble's SWAY



My sister Ela and I dancing boogie steps to the tune of  "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"

SWING IT BABY . . .

A special piano piece from one of Papa's piano students



Deryk Baladjay, one of Papa's grandchildren, rendered one of his own musical arrangements

A wacky shot with all of Papa's grandchildren minues Rein and Lal

A wacky pose with Papa and my siblings after our dance number

A special dance number from all the grandchildren  of  PAPA

Papa with some of his "balae"s and close friends

Papa with some of his nephews , nieces, grandchildren and great grandchildren ( Evaristo and Guinto Family)



Papa with his brother REMY BALADJAY and family and sister LYDIA  FLOR BALADJAY-ANINGAT  and her family 

 

My brother Ernie Jr. and his family

 

My family (my son-in-law Joseff was not around at that time )

My sister Bhet and her famiy

My sister Elaine : the surprise

My sister Elaine (her husband Phillip not in the picture)

My sister Evelyn and her family

My sister Citas and her famiy

My sister Banjie and her famiy

My youngest sister Eunice who remains single up to this time

 

 

Papa, his children and grandchildren

 

 

Araw ng Kalayaan

Masayang Araw ng Kalayaan!

Masaya ka  nga ba?  Naniniwala ka bang malaya ka na?

Buong tapang na ipinaglaban ng ating mga ninuno ang ating kalayaan buhat sa mga dayuhang manunupil.  Maraming mga Pilipino ang nagbuwis ng kanilang buhay upang ang ating kalayaan buhat sa mga dayuhang mananakop ay ating makamtan.  Simula sa Mactan hanggang sa ipagdiwang ang unang Araw ng Kalayaan noong 1898 sa Kawit, Cavite, buong giting na iwinagawgaw ng ating mga ninuno ang bandilang Pilipino.



Isang obra na ipinapakita ang labanan ng mga kawal ni Lapu-lapu at Magellan sa dalampasigan ng Mactan.  Ito ay matatagpuan sa Lapu-Lapu Shrine sa Isla ng Mactan., Cebu



Ito ang eksaktong lugar kung saan naganap ang labanan sa pagitan ng mga tauhan ni Magellan at ng mga tauhan ni Lapu-lapu.  Ang monumentong ito ay matatagpuan sa Lapu-Lapu Shrine,  Isla ng Mactan ,  Cebu .



Ang lapidang ito ay matatagpuan sa Lapu-Lapu Shrine, Isla ng Mactan, Cebu
 

Monumento ni Lapu-lapu , ang kauna-unahang bayaning Filipino.  Ito ay matatagpuan sa  Lapu-lapu Shrine, Isla ng Mactan,  Cebu



Ayon sa tour guide sa dakong ito, nakalibing ang ulo ni Magellan sa monumentong ito samantalang ang kanyang katawan naman ay muling naiuwi sa Espanya .

Ito naman ang mga larawang kinuha buhat sa iba't ibang anggulo ng PARIAN MONUMENT,  ang bantayog na nagpapahalaga sa kasaysayan ng mga Filipino, higit sa lahat sa mga labanang naganap sa lalawigan ng Cebu.

Nguni't tunay nga bang malaya na ang mga Filipino?

Wala na ang mga Kastilang mapanlinlang.  Wala na rin ang mga Hapones na gahaman.  Wala na rin ang mga Amerikanong imperyalista.  Tunay ngang nakamit na natin ang ating kasarinlan.  Nguni't ang lahat ng mga anino ng mga banyagang ito  ay tila  ipinamana  nila sa ibang mga  kababayan  natin na  patuloy na nililinlang ang kanilang kapwa Pilipino, mga Pilipinong wari mo'y mga Hapon sa pagkagahaman sa kapangyarihan at salapi at mga kapwa  nating Pilipino na wari'y mga Amerikano sa pagiging mataas,  mapagmalabis at mapang-api.


ITO ANG BAGONG HAMON SA MAKABAGONG PILIPINO . . . ANG MAKAKAWALA SA TANIKALA NG MGA KAPWA PILIPINONG MAPANG-API, SAKIM AT MAKASARILI; ANG MAKAALPAS SA MGA TAONG PATULOY NA KINUKUPKOP ANG MGA KAISIPANG BANYAGA NA UNTI-UNTING KUMIKITIL  SA  ATING MAKABAYANG ADHIKAIN.

Bangon makabagong Filipino!  Buong lakas nating kalasin  ang mga kadenang buong higpit na nakapulupot sa atin lahi at katauhan.  Magpumiglas tayo at sikaping makaalpas sa mahigpit na pagkakatali sa kahirapan dala ng mga pagmamalupit at pang-aabuso  ng mga kapwa nating Filipinong nasa kapangyarihan at nakaaangat sa buhay!

KAPAG  ATING MAPAGTAGUMPAYAN ANG MGA HAMONG ITO, MASASABI NATIN NA TUNAY NGANG MALAYA NA ANG MGA PILIPINO! 

Ito ang tunay na ARAW NG KALAYAAN na dapat ipagbunyi at ipagpasalamat!