in each other's company
When it felt like we had too much to worry, a call for a vacation was necessary.
So we did just that, right before the last month of the year started, and right before we get to be busy with all the holiday parties, even before we will try to fulfill the Christmas wish lists and everything that comes with the hectic December schedule.
The long weekend presented the right moment.
With free airfare vouchers, free two nights and three days stay at a beach front hotel; spending much was the least of our concerns. The trip to Boracay in November just had to be made. It was what we needed, or say more of wanted - the time to relax and enjoy.
Zai & Alli, run in the white sand; Zai Angelo having fun in the beach; Toni & Zai bonds under the sun
For three days, it was all just frolicking in the white sand, dipping in the refreshing beach, seeing the lovely sunsets and the best thing about it aside from it was free, we were in each other’s company - our first family trip to the famed Boracay beach.
the Corteses @ Boracay island
View more pictures here
Final dose:
A good vacation with the family is one for keeps
The long weekend presented the right moment.
With free airfare vouchers, free two nights and three days stay at a beach front hotel; spending much was the least of our concerns. The trip to Boracay in November just had to be made. It was what we needed, or say more of wanted - the time to relax and enjoy.
Zai & Alli, run in the white sand; Zai Angelo having fun in the beach; Toni & Zai bonds under the sun
For three days, it was all just frolicking in the white sand, dipping in the refreshing beach, seeing the lovely sunsets and the best thing about it aside from it was free, we were in each other’s company - our first family trip to the famed Boracay beach.
the Corteses @ Boracay islandView more pictures here
Final dose:
A good vacation with the family is one for keeps
Where am I going to?
So what happens now?
Another suitcase in another hall.
So what happens now?
Take your picture off another wall.
Another suitcase in another hall.
So what happens now?
Take your picture off another wall.
Where am I going to?
You'll get by, you always have before.
Where am I going to?
Don't ask anymore.
A poignant chorus to a poignant song.
Very valid question.
Where AM I going to?
Where am I going to?
Don't ask anymore.
A poignant chorus to a poignant song.
Very valid question.
Where AM I going to?
our little bumblebee
By the end of September, what I thought would be another month-long celebration of Oktoberfest turned out to be an entirely different story. It was a month-long preparation for just one event – All Hallow’s Eve.
I’m not one to be excited with Halloween parties, let alone tire myself in finding a scary-looking costume, but this one event wasn’t for me. It was Angelo’s first time to go trick or treating and being the artistic dad that I am, I wouldn’t want my little boy to look the same as the other kids would. So by the first week of October, I laid out my plan…
It was Angelo’s idea; he kept on watching these Transformers videos on Youtube when we stumbled upon something really “interesting.” So, to cut the long story short, I ended up making a Bumblebee costume.
Complete with headgear, the chest part, the arms and legs and the backpack. Every part was made in proportion to Angelo’s anthropometrics and was attached via Velcro, thus making him able to move with ease and comfort.
So Angelo went on to enjoy our Halloween around the village and even joined SM's Halloween Superhero Costume Contest.
Boy was it tiring. But looking at how people were so amazed and how everyone wanted to have a picture taken with our little Bumblebee was very fulfilling. And did I mention he won the costume contest? Well, that in a way was the icing on the cake.
Final dose:
Next year, the wifey said she’ll be the one to make the costume. Mr. Potatohead.
I’m not one to be excited with Halloween parties, let alone tire myself in finding a scary-looking costume, but this one event wasn’t for me. It was Angelo’s first time to go trick or treating and being the artistic dad that I am, I wouldn’t want my little boy to look the same as the other kids would. So by the first week of October, I laid out my plan…
It was Angelo’s idea; he kept on watching these Transformers videos on Youtube when we stumbled upon something really “interesting.” So, to cut the long story short, I ended up making a Bumblebee costume.
Complete with headgear, the chest part, the arms and legs and the backpack. Every part was made in proportion to Angelo’s anthropometrics and was attached via Velcro, thus making him able to move with ease and comfort.
So Angelo went on to enjoy our Halloween around the village and even joined SM's Halloween Superhero Costume Contest.
Boy was it tiring. But looking at how people were so amazed and how everyone wanted to have a picture taken with our little Bumblebee was very fulfilling. And did I mention he won the costume contest? Well, that in a way was the icing on the cake.
Final dose:
Next year, the wifey said she’ll be the one to make the costume. Mr. Potatohead.
trick or treat
the reason why we haven't had any updates for the whole month of october
Zai Angelo with his bumble bee costume for trick or treat
happy halloween!!!
Zai Angelo with his bumble bee costume for trick or treathappy halloween!!!
final dose:
the story behind it all, soon
the story behind it all, soon
people making lists. . .
Oh gawd, September arrived as fast as how my boss sent an SMS reminding me that it’s a holiday on Monday and Wednesday (not that I’m complaining). I never really cared that the “ber” months were already here, not until we were in this not-so-fancy resort in the south last weekend and they had Christmas decorations surrounding the window frame. I thought it was too early to put the décor up until I realized that they were dusty, and I figured out that these were last year’s… or the year before that perhaps. Sure time is fun when you’re having flies.
This time of the year signals, as it has been for the past years, nothing but the usual. You’ll start to see out-of-tune carolers on the street; you’ll probably hear the tinny voice of Michael Jackson again on the radio belting those Christmas tunes. As they say, Filipinos celebrate Christmas the longest. I don’t know if that’s something to be proud of.
So before everyone makes up their Christmas wish, need and want lists, I’ll go ahead post mine.
This time, I would do away with the usual since I don’t really want to disappoint myself, not getting what I want, and the mere fact that I will not be on Santa Claus’ list of deserving kids just put out any hopes I have. Forget about giving me the Nikon DSLR camera, the PALM PRE phone, the MacBook Pro, Nintendo Wii or tickets to Jack Johnson’s Kokua festival. I’m starting to accept it’s going to be simple presents I’ll be receiving. So to lessen any hassle for would-be givers, when I say simple, here’s what I mean:
This Christmas, I wish to have a t-shirt, not any fancy shirt, not branded, not expensive, so long as it’s wearable and something that you think you don’t want to get caught wearing. TIP: a Titanic movie t-shirt with Leonardo de Caprio and Kate Winslet on it. Methinks it’s baduy but it’s a collector’s item. (big grin)
This Christmas, I wish to have a game and watch, not a portable PlayStation nor a Nintendo DS or any high-tech game gadgets. Having a game and watch gives you that nostalgic feeling, back in the days when the game was just plain and simple. TIP: A brick game will do, but I want the game and watch with the Popeye game on it. Again it’s a collector’s item.
Lastly, this Christmas, more than anything else, I wish for my wife and my little boy to keep the faith. We’ll get through all of this together. Love your dad, because I heart you both. Seriously.
Final dose:
Random blah blah to occupy the wandering mind.
This time of the year signals, as it has been for the past years, nothing but the usual. You’ll start to see out-of-tune carolers on the street; you’ll probably hear the tinny voice of Michael Jackson again on the radio belting those Christmas tunes. As they say, Filipinos celebrate Christmas the longest. I don’t know if that’s something to be proud of.
So before everyone makes up their Christmas wish, need and want lists, I’ll go ahead post mine.
This time, I would do away with the usual since I don’t really want to disappoint myself, not getting what I want, and the mere fact that I will not be on Santa Claus’ list of deserving kids just put out any hopes I have. Forget about giving me the Nikon DSLR camera, the PALM PRE phone, the MacBook Pro, Nintendo Wii or tickets to Jack Johnson’s Kokua festival. I’m starting to accept it’s going to be simple presents I’ll be receiving. So to lessen any hassle for would-be givers, when I say simple, here’s what I mean:
This Christmas, I wish to have a t-shirt, not any fancy shirt, not branded, not expensive, so long as it’s wearable and something that you think you don’t want to get caught wearing. TIP: a Titanic movie t-shirt with Leonardo de Caprio and Kate Winslet on it. Methinks it’s baduy but it’s a collector’s item. (big grin)
This Christmas, I wish to have a game and watch, not a portable PlayStation nor a Nintendo DS or any high-tech game gadgets. Having a game and watch gives you that nostalgic feeling, back in the days when the game was just plain and simple. TIP: A brick game will do, but I want the game and watch with the Popeye game on it. Again it’s a collector’s item.
Lastly, this Christmas, more than anything else, I wish for my wife and my little boy to keep the faith. We’ll get through all of this together. Love your dad, because I heart you both. Seriously.
Final dose:
Random blah blah to occupy the wandering mind.
the impulse to face risks is in us all
That being said, I raise this question: so what’s stopping me? Is it because I have been eating a lot of chicken for the past few days –chicken adobo, fried chicken, grilled chicken, baked, kinamonggayan, -that all these made me be a coward?
What I’m saying is, why have I chickened out to take the risk, what’s holding me back?
Every adventure involves an element of danger; it’s that danger that makes the adventure so exciting and hard to resist. I have willingly spent good money to experience the thrill, regardless of the physical threat - whitewater rafting, zip line, mountain climbing, even getting a tattoo, etcetera, etcetera… I may even have, in a way, helped keep haunted house attractions and adventure sports in business.
alli and toni, doing whitewater rafting and crossing the hanging bridge
during our valentines trip to Cagayan de Oro last february 2009
The fascination with danger can prove to be such a powerful lure that some people will gamble with their own lives to confront a mystery or explore a new world. But exploring a new world has not been included in my options as of late, even if the opportunities are outright presented to me. Instead, I opt to burn my ass in my comfort zone, allowing myself to be content and to disregard complicated things. I have the tendency to want my world to be painted with the brushes of fate and destiny. That’s not the case of wifey though.
So all these ramblings boil down to these: it has been a recurring conversation and lately it got me thinking real deep. What does tomorrow have in store for us? Nah, seriously it’s really about the unending search for answers to the many pressing questions - specifically about our respective careers, which I hate to elaborate further on until I have weighed the pros and cons. Until then, it’s a battle I have to face and to which I’m hoping to find the appropriate actions in due time.
We’ll cross the bridge when we get there is easier said than done.
Final dose:
Man’s thirst for something can never be quenched.
What I’m saying is, why have I chickened out to take the risk, what’s holding me back?
Every adventure involves an element of danger; it’s that danger that makes the adventure so exciting and hard to resist. I have willingly spent good money to experience the thrill, regardless of the physical threat - whitewater rafting, zip line, mountain climbing, even getting a tattoo, etcetera, etcetera… I may even have, in a way, helped keep haunted house attractions and adventure sports in business.
alli and toni, doing whitewater rafting and crossing the hanging bridge
during our valentines trip to Cagayan de Oro last february 2009
The fascination with danger can prove to be such a powerful lure that some people will gamble with their own lives to confront a mystery or explore a new world. But exploring a new world has not been included in my options as of late, even if the opportunities are outright presented to me. Instead, I opt to burn my ass in my comfort zone, allowing myself to be content and to disregard complicated things. I have the tendency to want my world to be painted with the brushes of fate and destiny. That’s not the case of wifey though.
So all these ramblings boil down to these: it has been a recurring conversation and lately it got me thinking real deep. What does tomorrow have in store for us? Nah, seriously it’s really about the unending search for answers to the many pressing questions - specifically about our respective careers, which I hate to elaborate further on until I have weighed the pros and cons. Until then, it’s a battle I have to face and to which I’m hoping to find the appropriate actions in due time.
We’ll cross the bridge when we get there is easier said than done.
Final dose:
Man’s thirst for something can never be quenched.
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big daddy
drawing inspiration from his little boy and wife. he writes
mostly about topics on family, fatherhood, about architecture and the arts. know more about TONI here
hot momma
the proofreader and the ever dutiful wife and mother. she shares her philosophies and writes about friendships and on being a mom. learn more about ALLI when you click here
little boy
he can be playful and naughty sometimes. get to read his views on childhood, playmates, toys and baby stuff. get to know more about ZAI on our about us page
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