The night after the lights

Every year, our friends get together to share the Christmas spirit among ourselves. As couples, Cesar and Marivic, Bob and Monch have been our friends for more than 25 years. Yes, our friendship goes back more than two decades.

The Parejas and Novales have their kids already. Actually, no more kids. Young adults. Cesar and Marivic have Miguel and Ia. Miguel now works for a listed company at PSE while Ia will soon finish college and maybe, study abroad. Bob and Monch have both Rad and Trey studying at Ateneo. Photo shows the young Novales boys (Trey and Rad) and Ia Pareja (right).

Us, we are young parents, raising Rafa and Angel within the confines of our greenhome in Legaspi Village and around Makati. Have not yet gone together as family to as far as Tagaytay. Or maybe, the Big Apple some day soon.

This photo shows all of us parents enjoying coffee at Coffee Blendz after watching the light show at Ayala Triangle and enjoying dinner at CBD Restaurant. We had walked all the way from CBD Restaurant to Solaris Bldg along dela Rosa Street, in Legaspi Village to find a coffee shop as most coffee shops were closed by that time... 11pm.

By that time, the siblings were already asking their parents, "What time are we going home?"

Happy new year to all the parents in blogosphere!

Burgers and Gifts @ CBD

It is all our first time together to eat at CBD Restaurant which is owned by the Meat Plus Group. It's Shake and Bake is one of my favorite drinks, but it has too much calories. The place was full on the last night of the Christmas Lights Show at Ayala Triangle.

There was a long line facing the cashier. But surely, all the other places around Ayala Triangle would have SRO crowd during these past few days and most specially, on the last night of the Christmas Lights Show. Young and old folks alike, from all walks of life, have come to Ayala Triangle to enjoy the 20 minute lights and music show.


Photo shows Angel opening her gift from Monch.


Photo shows Rafa opening his gift from Marivic.

Maybe, next Christmas, the park authorities can make the show interactive? Have live music? Light, jazz music. Or even a caroling festival among local choirs? A giant Christmas tree at the middle of the park? Free goodies for kids? Or even Santa?

Walking around Burgos Circle

A few hours ago, we met up with a good friend Rene Bernal at Burgos Circle. This place is one of our favorite places around BGC. It is a few minutes drive out of Legaspi Village, passing through McKinley Road in Forbes. There are some pretty good restaurants in the place and for the second time, we are eating at Johnny Rocket. Guess, it is the singing and dancing crew that we find interesting. But sometimes, all the partying affects service. What we like most is the bottomless fries!

Photo shows Chief, with Ninong Rene holding on to Rafael!

And around Burgos Circle, we appreciate the wide open space where kids can freely run around, stretch their muscles and use up their excess energy, specially, for Rafa and Angel. This afternoon, there was a lot of space and there were no kids around.

Both seem to have so much energy and even more love for each other as they hold hands while walking around the grass area.

Cecile and I would need to get back to the threadmills at Fitness First to keep in shape.

Yes, parents like us have to be in tip-top shape!

Dinner with Pantaleons

Among the many friends we met while Chief and I were based in Saigon, Mila and Bingo Pantaleon are our BFF. Yes, Bingo started out as a client of Chief while she was Managing Director of McCann Vietnam and Bingo was Marketing Director of United Pharma Vietnam. Locally, they are United Laboratories.

Through our tour of duty, we often went out as couples, having lunch at Al Fresco along Dong Du Street or after office coffee at the lobby of Sheraton Hotel. Or red wine, if Philip Tiongson was feeling harassed.

Mila and Chief shared the passion for shopping. I remember as our tour of duty was winding down and my cousin, Patrick Velez, was staying with us, we all made an out of town trip to a ceramics factory. Panic buying.

These days, Bingo and Mila are based in Burma. And every Christmas, it is a must for us to get together .

This Christmas, the Pantaleons proudly showed off their new place near EDSA Shangrila Mall. And it a beautiful place with a great view of the city, whether the CBD side or Greenhills side. Their corner condo unit faces EDSA and Ortigas.


Here is a photo of the food, all from Conti’s!

Am sure Chief would like to have a well-designed and arranged home like this one. With less the clutter and kalat all over our current Greenhome. But we can’t really avoid kalat. We have Rafa and Angel to keep us busy! And that is what kids are for, right?

Gabutina Photographers

Here are some more pictures from the Gabutina Clan reunion taken from a photographers view point. There are many photos taken during the reunion held Christmas day in the old house in GSIS Village. This was where Cecile grew up while she was studying in UST and now, the house and the school, plays hosts to the Gabutina clan.

Photo shows the aspiring and avid photographers in the clan, led by Tito Lorenz Gabutina, who recently retired and teaches in St. Scholastica and College of Fine Arts and Design.

Photo shows Boom Gonzalez using his Galaxy Tab to take a photo of Cecile and Anne, who always has a ready smile for any photo opportunity.

Tito Lorenz takes a photo of three Gabutina angels.

Vangie takes a photo of our little Angel and Cecile.

Bubbles and slides at Legaspi Park

What is it in bubbles that makes kids and toddlers chase them up?

Earlier, both Rafa and Angel, together with other kids and toddlers were chasing bubbles inside Legaspi Park. And the kids don't really mind whether the adult who is blowing the bubbles away is their own mom or dad, what matters are the bubbles.

Legaspi Park is just a five minute walk from our greenhome. In the mornings and late afternoon, it is full of young and old joggers. Cecile and I have jogged around Legaspi Park a few times, specially, when we need to "train" for a fun run.

This Christmas season, a couple of all-white Christmas trees were put up. Nothing really fantastic in terms of design and color, but does give the park some kind of Christmas spirit.

It is not really a clean park and even, child-friendly. There is no comfort room inside the park. One would need to go to Starbucks at the corner of Rufino and Legaspi Streets to relieve oneself.

The slide is old and has some rust. I don’t think they even sweep it or clean it. Sometimes, some older kids or even high school boys play around this place and they bump off the toddlers! The park authorities should have a round the clock security guard to keep the boys out of the slide. And by 7pm, it is really dark as there are no lights inside the park, which makes it look gloomy and dark. Maybe, the MACEA authorities or LGU can do something to improve this park to make it more ideal and fun for parents and kids to share time and fun together!

But for kids, it really doesn’t matter. Rafa, wearing the Canada-branded baseball cap that Minnie gave a few months ago, still enjoys the slide.

The Gabutina Clan 2011 Christmas Reunion

Every year, on Christmas day, the Gabutina clan gathers for it annual family reunion. Like last year, everyone went to Dividends Street, GSIS Village, Quezon City, for this year’s reunion.

By the time we all arrived, the lechon was almost scratched to the bone. It is only during the holidays that I can feast on lechon. Yes, watching my cholesterol count during the holidays. There was so much food on the table and even much more story-telling and catching up with everybody.

Sor Estrella was around and everyone wanted to have their photos taken with her. She had been bed-ridden for the past couple of years. Luckily, this year, she had been able to join us. We have visited her a few times at Sienna College, where she used to have a senior position. I remember, I visited her a few years ago and she treated me to “turon” from the canteen which she used to manage.

During one of our visits, she also gave Rafael a blessed figure of Christ on the cross. She said that she would rather give it to Rafael than bring it to her when she died.

I asked Juluis to keep watch over Rafa, Angel and Keno as they played in one room, where all the toys were kept.
Part of tradition during the reunion is the clan pictures.

Notice that Rafa is not in our family picture as he was busy playing. Mom and Dad Gabutina also didn’t join us this day as they were not feeling well. But we did treat Dad for his birthday at Alabang Town Center. That would be another blog entry.

Daily Blessed Experiences

Our son is growing up right before our very eyes! These are amazing moments in the steps of our lives. Totally new blessed experiences that bring joys and smiles to us, our families and friends. Photo shows us having dinner at Italianni's in Bonifacio High Street.

Photo shows Rafael exploring what the white Black and Decker electric fan is made of.

These blessed experiences, thanks to Him, include:

1. Sofa surprise. One night in May 2011, dad suddenly saw Rafael in the sofa. He just moved into the kitchen to prepare dinner as mom as changing to “pambahay.” Within a few seconds, he was able to climb over his playpen and got himself seated in the sofa. He was looking guilty that moment. And it seemed that Angel CG plucked him out of his playpen and placed him in the sofa.

2. Playcar. He has outgrown the play car that Carla, Geneve and Nicole had sent by balikbayan box last year. He still can squeeze into the driver’s seat but his weight challenges him to move around our Greenhome. Now, we have to hide it from him as he tries to fall asleep but is quick to find out where we hide it.

3. Twelve kilos. Yes, his weight. He now weighs nearly 12 kilos. Nearly as heavy as dad’s black Macbook. During our last trip at Subic Zoofari, I was carrying Rafael most of the time around the place, together with my laptop inside my red Samsonite knapsack. That’s nearly 25 kilos on dad’s back.

4. More than 25 words. As he turns two by the 25th of May, he should be saying 25 words. Well, he knows more than 25 words. Word like iPad and juice, and all the names of the characters in Disney Playhouse!


5. Toddler class. These are major steps in our lives as parents. Rafael going to “Smart Explorers” playing and learning. Photo shows Rafael during his first day as an official smart explorer.

These are among the many blessed beautiful moments that happen in our daily lives with Rafa! There will definitely be more experiences to look forward to, but for now, can we just stop and cherish these moments!

1st Toddler Class

Last Thursday, Rafael took his first steps at "Toddler" Class at Smart Explorers Pre-School. Yes, our loving son is meeting new and old friends at "Toddler" Class. There were about five little boys in the class. One of them is Padi Wenceslao, the boy who lives besides our condo unit.


The next day, Rafael seems restless around 11am. He didn't want to sleep and seem expecting to go to his "Toddler" class. Guess, he thinks it would be part of his daily routine. Not yet Rafael. Maybe, twice a week, all through this summer!

Rafael is a smart explorer

Kids are all smart explorers.

They are naturally curious of things, gadgets and colors around their environment. At home, Rafael is already an explorer. Whether it be around the book shelves or under the wooden sofa, which is vintage furniture from our tour duty in Saigon, Rafael's curiosity will take him to all nooks and corners of our Greenhome. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him under the sofa reaching out for his toy car or a piece of Lego.

He now can reach the ref and call out "apple juice." He could pick out the small bottled water in the ref and gulp from it. Soon, he could reaching our front door knob. Now, we always have to lock the door. He punches the keyboard of dad's Macbook.

At "Smart Explorers" Pre-school, last 5 May 2011, Rafael discovered and explored his new playground. And it's very convenient as it is only a few meters away from our Greenhome in Legaspi Village. Teacher Melay (in a green T-shirt) welcomed Rafael with wide open warms and widest smiles!

There are more bright colors and helmets in all shapes and sizes. Plus, a trampaulin and slide. Music provides for a fun and happy environment. It may not as big and wide as Gymboree at Rockwell but is definitely a much better and safer playground that Legaspi Park!

Here's a video that Cecile took of our son's first official day as a smart explorer!

More steps around Subic Zoofari

We spent three days and two nights at a house Binictican, which costs around 7,500 pesos a night. A little expensive, but it was worth the trip out of Manila to take these steps around the Subic Zoofari.


The house had three bedrooms. Nady took one bedroom while Rene and Juami shared one bedroom. The biggest room went to us. Grace, our broker, left some plastic paper plates and utensils for us. While we brought some pans, Rene cooked breakfast. Yummy. Omelet with tomatoes and onions!

There was a slight problem with the front door which Grace had someone fix within our first day. The place was newly-painted. Can just imagine the former American officials who used to live in this place and around Binictican until Mount Pinatubo drove the Americans back to their homeland.

Around Zoofari, Nady and Rene took these photos. I really couldn’t snap much pictures as I carried Rafa most of the way around Zoofari.

Tigers of Zoofari

It was Rafa’s second trip to Subic. Last year, we took these steps with Max and Grace and Kai. And we explored the dolphins at Ocean Adventure. Although, Rafa was a little afraid of the dolphins. Maybe, as he grows older, he would learn to appreciate these intelligent dolphins.

Last week, we took the steps around Subic with Rene Bernal and Nady Nacario. We arrived late Thursday afternoon at Binictican due to traffic along NLEX. Maybe, most Manilenos were heading to out of town for the long weekend.

We hit Zoofari Friday morning as we were expecting a big crowd on that day. True enough, it didn’t seem like Holy Friday here at Zoofari as families in all shapes, sizes and color were around Zoofari.


The day started with a short program and animal show. Not really interesting. No special tricks that one hasn’t probably seen around. Plus, there was little audience participation. And those who did get a chance to go on stage got discount coupons. Not really an attractive incentive.

The safari ride in an enclosed jeep was a long wait after long walks around the zoo under the heat of the sun. It was around noon when we were in the safari, which was really a small enclosed area.


Only one tiger was around waiting to be teased. Our guide convinced us to shed out 200 pesos (at one hundred pesos per group) so a chicken could be fed to the tiger who would teased to approach the grills of the jeep. But by this time, this tiger would have surely eaten his ____th chicken.

Do you think the tiger went to our jeep, growled at us or even jumped on the roof?

I read that tigers are territorial. They are also solitary animals which is probably why there were one or two tigers in the cages around Zoofar. Many of their kind have gone extinct.

Today, these tiger will long be in the mind of Rafael as it was his first up close and personal encounter with these “big cats.”

Photos by Nady Nacario and Rene Bernal