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.

Rafa's First Steps Into Manresa

Yes, our son, Rafa, is already in a big school. Really a big school.

Coming from Smart Explorers last year, he is now Kinder in Manresa where there are probably a few thousand students, from nursery to high school. Where there is a huge football field and a covered basketball court. Where there is a canteen, where one needs to segregate. Where there is a library with a "castle" and a bed where Rafa has jumped up and down. During his first day, both Cecile and I took a day off from our work and be part of this milestone, the first steps of their lives into Manresa

These will all be part of his steps to learn and be educated as a young Christian.

Angel’s 2nd birthday

Our little daughter, Angel, celebrated her 2nd birthday weekend in many ways. Whatever the way, form or manner of our daughter’s birthday, what counts the most is the family being together on this weekend. We opted to spend a whole morning at Active Fun Bldg at Bonifacio Global City (BGC). Cecile has been very proud of this building as this is where the new McCann WorldGroup offices can be found and directly below their offices is a new playground, Active Fun. The moment Rafa and Angel saw the play area, they were pulling us to get inside the place. But there was a line of kids with their parents who were all eager to enter. The Toys R Us store directly besides Active Fun would provide temporary relief but still Rafa would run around the place.

We joined our kids for an hour inside the playground. Rafa and I took a few turns going down the slide, which was relatively high, but very safe. Rafa would attempt to climb up the slides. But he would slide back. Angel was too small to slide down and could only watch her brother. Initially, she was afraid of the pool of plastic balls but after a few minutes, she would swim through through thousands of plastic balls. Dad got drowned here too. Often, we can’t imagine where Rafa and Angel would get all their energy and stamina. Where? But I guess, they, too, want to spend as much time with their parents as we would like to spend as much time with our kids. And on Angel’s 2nd birthday, time was the best gift we could give our daughter! Happy birthday Angel. We love you!

Pictorial at Kraft Philippines

I know that back in the late 80s, Kraft was one of the clients of Cecile when my wife used to work at J Walter Thompson. I remember, during those days, I would call, 574681 and Zeny Toledo would answer. Zeny was Cecile’s secretary back in JWT. She is still with JWT and my wife is now with MWG. But this blog isn’t about advertising agencies but about the pictorial of our kids, Rafa and Angel, for a feature article at “Working Mom” Magazine for their June 2012 “Father’s Day” issue. Yes, father are being featured next month in a mom-centric magazine. And today is the day we openly declare to media that Rafa and Angel are our loving adoptive children! Am earlier pictorial was scheduled at the grounds of Mirriam College, but agency work tied me down. Yup, sorry, this isn’t about agency work. It’s about a pictorial on the week of Angel’s 2nd birthday.

Lola Meya joined us for this pictorial, together with Yaya Salome. Like my kids, it was my first time inside the Kraft Philippines compound. And my mom had some good memories of Kraft too, back when she was working for the Manila Chapter of the Phil. National Red Cross. But really, it was time spent with our kids that made this day another milestone on this birthday month of Angel. I really wasn’t prepared for this pictorial, even, my experience. Luckily, I brought an extra white colored shirt. Cecile prepared two sets of clothes for our kids. Unfortunately, work tied down Cecile at MWG. Chester, the photographer, was good with our kids. Using the leaves that Rafa would play with as a toy to get the kids to smile! Good tactic! Thanks Chester! I only wish that my wife, Cecile and mom could have been part of the pictorial. She would say, “Matagal pa ang paghintay natin kaysa sa actual na pictorial.” She was right. We arrived on time, around 4:00pm and got the lights and camera running around 5:00pm. But I was used to these delays. Nothing new for me. And the kids were having fun too!