Driving around ATC

Last 01 November 2015, both #RafaAndAngel have had their chances to sit in the driver's seat with me, taking control of the wheel of our old 2005 Ford Everest and driving along Champaca Street going to Daisy Street or lately, through Rosal Street, turning right to Waling Waling Street. It's a simple reward that they earn when they earn a "stamp" from their teachers in Manresa School. Or when they exhibit good behavior.

But they got full control of their cars, when the #StepsOfOurLives brought us one Sunday at the Activity Area of Alabang Town Center. I can't imagine how they felt with that complete control? It would be hard to put myself in the mind and heart of my 5 year old daughter and 6 year old son. Need the help of the creative minds on "Inside Out" to accomplish that feat!

Enjoying Korean Food at Bulgogi

Between #RafaAndAngel guess who is more daring in trying new food? Angel.

Guess, she picked up that trait from Daddy Gil.

Mommy Cecile and Rafa also had fun sampling a little spicy Korean food at Bulgogi Restaurant, Alabang Town Center.

Daddy Gil and Angel shared the seat and the Pororo-inspired drink. Too much sugar really drums up the adrenalin. But its a nice souvenir item from this Sunday lunch after Halloween #StepsOfOurLives

Angel wins a friend and prizes

During the 2015 Halloween Celebration around BF Homes Paranaque, our 5 year old daughter, Angel, met a couple of new friends and won a few prizes in the costume competition. Really precious moments in the #StepsOfOurLives.

Angel proudly shows off her new watch and a stuffed toy from "Inside Out."

Kids Around Halloween

The word Halloween probably goes back around the 17th century and even has its Christian origin. The word "Hallowe'en" means "hallowed evening" or "holy evening." Guess, many kids around the world hold this day as "holy" in terms of getting dressed as their favorite characters. Many kids passed by our old Greenhome along Daisy Street during the 2015 Halloween Celebration. They came in all shapes and sizes, colors and costumes. Even a couple of young teenagers gamely sat besides #RafaAndAngel for a picture.

Thor and Princess for Halloween

It was going to be our last Halloween celebration around Daisy Street as we were all set to move few blocks down the road to Waling Waling. But the move would not get in the way of Thor and a Princess in celebrating their might and beauty this Halloween. Rafa raises his hammer and Angel shows off her pink dress in front of our Daisy Greenhome which was our home for the past two years, since we moved from Legaspi Village.

We don't take much family groupie pictures. Thus, this black and white snapshot of the #StepsOfOurLives inside the Ford Everest going to Esteban Luna would be a rare captured moment. There will definitely be more Halloween moments in our Greenhome!

Steps around SPQC

Back in the late 90s, Gil used to teach in St. Paul College, QC. Today, that school is now called St. Paul University. It has grown in size and height with new facilities and structures given the limited space. One sister who has made a very strong impact in our lives is Sr. Sarah Manapol, spc. Upon hearing the news that she was going to be transferred to Tuguegarao, we found time on Saturday weekend in October to visit her in Quezon City.

Sr. Sarah showed us around the campus and we all caught up with these HRM students practicing for a stage play at the Fr. Reuter Theatre.

Being around the halls and corridors of this school and even inside the IMC brought back many fond and beautiful memories of the hours I spend inside the AVR teaching Paulinians advertising and public relations. And most of all, putting into place the "KAROL Awards" Program which remains a part of the Paulinian tradition.

Drawing Dinosaurs

Rafa has picked up some creative skills on his own. And you give him the space in front of a white board and a white board marker, even if one color only, he would start drawing. In Gil's Ad Prac 4 classrooms, he showcased his early skills and talents in drawing a dinosaur. He called this drawing "Dinosaur Land."

He probably remembers the larger than life dinosaur skeletons he saw at the American Museum of Natural History during our last trip to the West Coast.

It wouldn't be a surprise at our Greenhome to see a lot paper scattered around the house with drawing and sketches, done by Rafa.

Angel's Steps around UST

Hopefully, many years from now, these steps around UST that both #RafaAndAngel will pay off as they pursue college education. While am not even sure how they can enter UST in the future, they are a couple of ways to help ensure a transition into college life. This second semester, on a couple of weekends, Gil brought #RafaAndAngel separately to UST and "sit in" the Ad Prac 4 classes.

And see the campus too.

And grab a happy meal with toy at McDonald's along P. Noval Street, and a free copy of the Phil. Daily Inquirer too!

Still pretty with pink finger nails

Our little girl is already exploring the world of beauty and has selected permission from Cecile to put on manicure on her five-year old fingers.

Yes, all ten of her fingers a slice of pink. Pink takes it color from red. It is the color associated with beauty, charm and politeness. Childhood and femininity. Angel's favorite color is pink. Her bedroom called, "the pink room" is filled with pink stuff from her princess outfit to pink-colored stuff toys and dolls.

Back around the 12th century, an Italian artist named, Duccio painted a version of the Madonna and Child, with the Child dressed in pink.

Being part of World Orphan Sunday

As part of 2015 World Orphan Sunday celebration, we took a long drive to Antipolo to join Mike and Malen and other families to be part of a documentary that promotes the advocacy of fostering orphans around the world.

This celebration is being organized by Christian Alliance for Orphans.

A few rules are waived like drinking orange juice around Cloud 9 Hotel and Restaurant in Antipolo.

While Rafa explored the place, Angel met a new friend, named Chosen, son of Sam and Hope Carino too!

Let us continue to find ways to open up our hearts and homes to orphans around our community.

Learning around The Greenhome

Scrabble is a very good board game that strengthens one's vocabulary. Did you know that this game is available in 29 languages and was first developed by an architect? Guess, building words has more impact than building homes for Alfred Butts. It even became a game show in 1984, many years before #RafaAndAngel stepped into our own lives.

It was inducted in the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1992.

#RafaAndAngel played their very first Scrabble game with Daddy Gil this month.

Hopefully, many more days learning new words through Scrabble.

Rafa's Steps Around UST

One day, many years from now, our son, Rafael will walk through the Arch of the Centuries. Hopefully, he would have passed either the high school or college entrance exams to become a Thomasian. Or maybe, earned a tennis scholarship? There will continue to be many steps around UST for #RafaAndAngel as they explore and discover what UST means to our own lives and how this university will have an impact on the #StepsOfOurLives today and tomorrow.

It will be a long journey. Many bumps along the way, but it will be a fun-filled beautiful journey with our children, #RafaAndAngel

The Images around the Church Of Morong

As we prayed inside the Church of Morong, I took a few pictures of the larger than life religious statues which would be part of the Holy Week procession on Good Friday. According the historical marker found in the walls of the facade, the Church of Morong was "entrusted to the Recollects in 1607." That would make this church more than 400 years old. The marker also says that the church was a witness "to the Morong Katipuneros fight for freedom during the revolution against Spain." The church was also part of the heroic stand of the Cavalry Unit of USAFE Unit as part of the "western section of the main line of resistance" during World War II. Given the rich historical value of the Church of Morong, we would wish the more Filipinos would actually visit this church and help in maintaining it's structure and antiquities.

Maybe, one day the #StepsOfOurLives" will bring us back again to the Church of Morong.

Steps around the Church Of Morong

The #StepsOfOurLives this Holy Week brought all of us to Morong! We left Tahanan Village early Thursday morning, around 7am. Yes, that was early already, given that we had to prepare our kids for the trip. We picked up Rene at StarBucks front Tiendesitas which was one of the few outlets open this Holy Week. None of us had been to Morong. Even, Rene, hasn't been to this part of the country. The Felicianos, who had joined us for a couple of road-trips are also newbees to Morong. I just googled resorts around Morong and after a few inquiries, confirmed our accommodation at Alpina Beach Resort. On our second day in Morong, we visited the Church of Morong around 2:30pm, Good Friday. The Felicianos, together with Rene, did the Stations of the Cross, while Cecile and I just sat on the wooden church benches together with Rafa and Angel.

Lucky for all of us, there was going to be a 3pm Holy Mass.