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!

Top 10 Oldest Restaurants

According to Yahoo! News published last 03 September 2010, the top 10 oldest restaurants that we would like to bring our Rafa one day include:

10. SAVORY (1950) 201 Escolta Street, Sta. Cruz, Manila with various branches Tel. no. 243-0336 Open from 9 a.m. to 12 midnight daily

9. LITTLE QUIAPO (1949) 90 Malakas St. Brgy. Piñahan, Quezon City Tel. no. 922-4131 Open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily

8. MAX’S (1945) Roxas Boulevard, Baclaran, Parañaque, Manila with various branches Tel. no. 832-1991 Open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

7. ONGPIN MANOSA RESTAURANT CO. (1940) 926 Ongpin Street, Binondo, Manila Open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Saturday, closes earlier on Sundays

6. BOY CHING WOO (1939) 103 BCW Building, J. Rodriguez Street, Caloocan City Tel. no. 287-1430 Open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily

5. ARISTOCRAT (1936) 432 San Andres St. cor. Roxas Blvd., Malate Tel nos. 524-7671 to 80 loc. 225 or 230 Open 24 hours daily

4. RAMON LEE’S PANCITERIA (1929) 540 Ronquillo Street, Sta. Cruz, Manila Tel. no. 733-0642 Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Saturday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday

3. MA MON LUK (1920) Quezon Boulevard, Manila Open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

2. AMBOS MUNDOS (1888) 750 Florentino Torres Street, Sta. Cruz, Manila Tel. no. 734-1160 Open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily

1. NEW TOHO FOOD CENTER (1888) 422 Tomas Pinpin Street, Binondo, Manila Open 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Saturday and 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday

Among all, Cecile and I have eaten at Max's Restaurant and Aristocrat, often with our own parents. Rafa has tasted Max's Fried Chicken, while their chicken sisig is a favorite!

First Time with Minnie

My sister, Minnie, had been working in Edmonton, Canada for nearly five years.

By 2005, when we were returning home from Vietnam, my youngest sister was packing her bags to explore work and life in Canada.

This was going to be her third foreign trip. She visited us in Vietnam around the summer of 2005 and even got to meet up with Patrick Velez, our cousins based in the East Coast. We had also travelled to HK that year with mom. It was our first trip together as a family.

Last month, my sister had come home and for the first time, she would meet Rafael! Am sure Rafael felt the love and affection when Minnie first hugged him. I, too, was all smiles to see the immediate connection between my son and my sister.

And for the first time, we would all go duty-free shopping. You could see the smile and excitement in Rafael as he kept Miguel busy running after him at the lobby, while Minnie was filling up her registration form.



Maybe, Rafael was saying, “What are you guys getting for me. I have been sitting here in this push-cart for so long and haven’t really gotten anything for myself.” Baby Crocs?



But I guess, Rafael was amazed just the sight of the bright packaging of candies and chocolates around him. Plus, seeing the M and M mascot. And the Disney-inspired merchandising items, from bags to pillows.

He would point endlessly at these items, probably wondering, what’s for him? Well, that would be all the love and affection that our family can share!

First Haircut

I don’t remember when I had my first haircut. But for our son, Rafael, his first-ever haircut is a milestone that will forever be etched in our lives and in blogosphere. His first hair-cut was last July 25, 2010. And it was at Rustan’s. We had asked our friends where there was a good barber for babies. He definitely couldn’t go with me at Bruno’s Greenbelt.


Amazingly, Rafael was behaved during his first haircut. He sat quietly at the car-inspired barber’s seat while watching one of his favorite cartoons. Dora. There were a couple of other kids and they seemed behaved too. But they didn't look like neophytes in this barber shop.

At the walls, there were poster of various kids with different hair styles. Guess, we were both conservative that day and didn’t want to experiment on any styles. Maybe, when he turns two? Or three?

Chief and I were also experiencing a first as we watched the barber slowly and carefully trim our son’s hair. There were moments of a few close calls, specially, as his “bangs” were being trimmed.

But I guess that is all part of our steps of parenthood. Being nervous and excited for Rafael’s first haircut!