Neri's Birthday

by Neri | 0 comments


It was around 5 in the morning when I woke up...it's rather unusual for me to wake up ahead of my alarm. I thought that it must be a special day. When I gazed my phone, I had 2 messages in my inbox. They were from my Nanay and Tatay. Both of them sent very touching messages...worth keeping in my inbox.

Immediately after reading the SMS, I got out of bed to turn on the computer. There should be more birthday messages in my Facebook. And there were few messages posted on my wall. Then, I went to the toilet to do my normal morning routine.

When I put on my polo which Arrah prepared the night before, I felt something strange in the shirt pocket. I guessed that Arrah put something extraordinary touch on my shirt. She placed a note saying wishing good luck on my day.

Things went on like any normal class day in school...of course with occasional birthday wishes from my students. When recess came, everybody gathered around where I was eating my snack and sang 'Happy Birthday' song in different languages. Most students sang the English and Chinese versions but there were few who sang it in Korean and French...Kids where off key but the song felt good. Then, everything when back to normal.

At lunch, my principal called me after my students' lunch play. She asked me to go to her office for a while...she wanted me to cut the cake that a parent gave to her...since it was my birthday.

At night, Arrah cooked extra special lasagna and she bought some roasted chicken and cake for dessert. It was shared by all the dwellers of CNIS teachers' dorm. It was fun sharing meals with dorm mates. After dinner, we shared stories and jokes, and discussed our Kris Kringle.

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Building Blocks

by Neri | 2 comments


We've been encouraging Rania to build blocks for several months now.  We thought she would not be able to do it and gave up on the "project".  We thought she's not interested to do it at all and probably would skip the block stage.  We were wrong.

Last night, she started piling blocks and really spent considerable amount of time to pile one block at a time all by herself.  She was not prompted at all. You would really see her thinking on how to make her block grow taller.  She was very patient; she did not complain even if her blocks keep falling down.

May she continue to enjoy this stage and hopefully this new skill will be useful for her when she grows older!



Ice Skating

by Neri | 0 comments


 Today, we went to Novena Square to have Neri's hair cut and to watch Barney for second Mall show at United Square.  While waiting for Barney's show, we watched an ice skating show.  Rania was amazed by the performance. She even called the beautiful ice skater, Barbie.  She was dancing while watching them glide on the ice, even clapping her hands every time they jump and turn.  Rania has developed appreciation to different variety shows.  She even claps her hand to a singing man along the corridors of the subway.







Rania at the Barney Show

by Neri | 0 comments


Today,  Rania went to United Square to watch her favorite mascot, Barney.  She and her mama woke up early to prepare for the show.  After doing their morning routine, they dashed towards the Mall to queue.  We were waiting and waiting until Rania was getting more and more impatient for Barney to come out.

When Barney and his friends came out, Rania was hesistant to shout with the crowd and somewhat shocked with all the commotion.  And after a while, she started to shout, "Beya!...Baby Bop!"

Unfortunately, she could not go near Barney after the show.  Maybe, they'll try again next time.

Rania: Turning 19

by Neri | 0 comments

November 30, 2009


After my work at school, I brought out Rania for a walk with her new stroller. While pushing her, and not knowing where I would bring her, she kept mumbling words which only her could understand. Her words seems to communicate to me that she's excited that I'm taking her out for a walk.

We went to Tanglin Community Center on foot. It is about 500m away from our house. I brought her there to inquire for Community Center activities that I can do. On our way there, we saw birds, the sunset, and two cars crashed into each other (nobody was injured though).

It was a nice to spend an afternoon with Rania...without rain...

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Asian Civilization Museum

by Neri | 0 comments

November 29, 2009


Today is the end of the 3-day long weekend of Neri. We decided to visit the Asian Civilization Museum where they exhibited in their main gallery collections from the Philippines. The exhibit was called, "Land of the Morning Sun." The gallery showed considerable amount of pre-Hispanic cultures and artifacts. The burial jars, legends of Sarimanok, and other artifacts were featured.

These conclude that our ancestors came from our neighboring Southeast Asian countries. The ancient people of Mindanao and Central Visayas where mostly from Indo-Malay origin, whereas, the Negritos of the North shared similar features as of the Aborigines of Australia. Amazing!



After the tour in the museum, we went out to stroll around the area. We went to the Fullerton Hotel passing through a very historic bridge, Cavenagh. We took some photos around the vicinity and invaded the privacy of Fullerton Hotel by using it as a linkway to Merlion. Hahaha!.  Fullerton will make you WOW! inside....... Grabe jud ka nice sa sulod!

From Merlion, we went to Marina Square to eat our late lunch...4:00pm lunch...After lunch, we went to St. Joseph Church at Victoria Street to hear the 5:00pm mass....start of Advent....hapit na jud ang Pasko!
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Marina Bay

by Neri | 0 comments

Saturday, November 28, 2009


Today, the whole family went to Marina Bay area. First, we went to see the infamous 'Fountain of Wealth'. We walked from the corner infront of Marina Square and walk about 200 meters all the way to the fountain. Along the way, we saw different kinds of artistically built skyscrapers.

At the fountain, we went around it and were mesmerized by the magnificene of its uniqueness. It would have been good, though, if we went there at night. It was told that the fountain will be filled with lots of alternating color as it shoots water.

We trudged back towards the bay coursing the Millenia Walk. This 'Walk' is filled with many stalls of designers merchandise. The aisle is lined with lamp posts that resembles the street lights, creating a 'feel' of walking along a cool-breezed boulevard of stores.

The end of the walk lead us to the linkway that spans Millenia Walk and Marina Square. Hoping to find a cut-rate stroller for Rania, we stopped at John Little. Indeed, we found a descent, sturdy, and lightweight stroller that was marked down from $259 to $99. Sa walay pagduha-duha, amo gayod gipalit ang maong kahimanan.

Soon after, we strolled towards the center of the square. And in the square of the Sqaure, we espied a considerable number of spectators watching a performance of the Winks. Rania, who was a bit tired sitting on her new stroller, bestired herself and rose up to behold her favorite afternoon show character in real life. She climbed up her Dada so she'd be able to get 'taller' than the towering heads of the audience. Sa tibook pasundayag, walay gayud mamilok si Rania. Nalingaw gayod siya.



Just before the show ended, we scoot our way up to the Food Center. We know that people will rushed in there after the show and we will have trouble finding tables. Then, we ordered some Indonesian dishes and dined while enjoying the night view of Marina Bay. From where we were seated, we could see the roof lights of Esplanade (a durian-shaped theater), the Fullerton Hotel, the Singapore Flyer, and the Merlion. We could smell the saltiness of air, as the wind would gently blow the waters of Marina bay.

Perked up by the food we ate, we began another hike. We went through the Esplanade, took some photos of the bay and its structures, and prowled towards City Hall area. There, we amazed by the night scene of the structures of the Old Parliament and City Hall.
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