Diego's 10th at Moshi-Moshi

It was a fine Friday for 10 year-old Diego.  

Just the day before, he blew his candle on the birthday cake his Tita Angge got for him.

Because he loves Japanese food, read: Teriyaki Boy, we decided to take him to a different Japanese restaurant along Katipunan Ave., Moshi-Moshi, after we saw them on the Deal Grocer site.  We went over for an early dinner.  Moshi-Moshi is located at the 2nd floor of the Regis Center along Katipunan Avenue in front of Ateneo.  They are of the same building with Gold's Gym.  As always, parking can be very tricky. We had to go around twice before finding a great spot (their parking is full).  The restaurant's green and cream interiors are very pleasant to the eye.

Their bento box is very filling, it includes Gyudon, Chicken Karaage, Shrimp Roll, and Takoyaki. With unlimited ice cream, Diego had the time of his life, serving after serving after serving.

Diego's 1st Holy Communion

Another tearjerker for me.

Diego's 1st Holy Communion was held at the St. Therese of the Child Jesus Church along Marcos Highway, directly across SM Masinag.  We were ushered to our seats at the back of the Church while we waited for the processional to start.

Here we go again.
At one time during mass, I think it was before or after Offertory, all participants stood up and started to make take a beeline to where the parents are seated. I felt heavy in my chest when I saw Diego coming over and gave me a rose and a letter. Iyakin talaga ako.

After the ceremony, we took photos of Diego at the altar for posterity, and headed home to fetch Andee for lunch.

We had lunch at Barrio Fiesta SM Megamall, courtesy of a voucher we got from Metrodeal.

It was for lunch good for 4, consisting of Seafood Paella Rice, Fried Chicken and soda.  It was Andee and Diego's first time to taste paella and they loved it.

Diego's 9th Birthday. Transformers 3D at Resorts World

It's a double date!

Thanks to Ingrid and Nelson, with their invitation and tickets to watch Transformers 3D at the Resorts World, I went home after my shift to fetch Diego at home for a post birthday treat. It was our first time at Resort World, and WOW. Met up with Ingrid and Nelson and had a quick lunch before the screening.

There are just a few shops here, or maybe because we didn't really get the chance to explore.  (Would like to take a peek at the casino though..).

Diego enjoying his Starbucks Mocca Frappe.  

Pan de Amerikano merienda

Enrollment nanaman!

We started our day early.  Andee and Diego tagged along.  Was at St. Scho before 9am and finished fast.  We took a detour to Pan de Amerikano for a quick merienda before heading over to San Benildo for Diego's enrollment.

This has always been a favorite breakfast/ merienda hang-out whenever we had to go to Marikina Heights, or sometimes after shift for an early morning breakfast.  The kids love pasta and as expected, this is what they ordered.  I indulge in my favorite cornbeef pandesal with coffee.

While Andee and Diego were having a quick game of chess while waiting for our food, I can't help but admire the way this place looks.  Though I've been here a dozen times, it doesn't fail to leave me just sitting here and silently wishing I had a place like this.  Oh well.  Taya muna ako sa Lotto.

Frustrated and Glad

Why is it easier to train 20 sales staff about retail operations and product knowledge then to train my 7 year-old possessive nouns and vowel diphthongs?!?!?!!?

Not only that... their spelling list includes: AUTHORITY, DAUGHTER, and POISONOUS, among others. I don't remember 1st Grade spelling to be this 'advanced' already. Well...then again, I'm thinking of decades-ago-1st-grade-spelling. Anyway....back to..

Diego has already (good riddance!) somehow developed his study habit at home. Thanks to his Lola. (read: "Si mama hindi marunong eh!" Hehe oh well! ) Diego would dutifully show me his assignment for the day and seatworks done at school. Because of my new schedule at work, I arrive home at around 3pm and find him at the terrace-- books and notebooks out, with his Ate Ana (his Yaya's niece) and of course, his Lola. There will be short bathroom breaks or snack breaks in-between, then homework and study commence again after Diego shouts, "Lola, study na tayo!!!!". The San Benildo Integrated School may be giving them endless homeworks and projects that may spell 'nightmare' for most of us comparing 1st-grade school life more than 2 decades ago, but then again, it does 'force' you to develop your child's study habits.

"Mama! finish na homework! Pwede na ko magcomputer??!?!".

Hmmm....

Little hero

Diego came home from school yesterday crying with a scratch on his cheek. This is what happened...

On the bus service on their way home, 2 other boys on the were picking on a smaller boy, who happened to be Diego's classmate, Paolo. Their bus driver at first didn't mind it because it was just like any other ordinary ride home where there would be 'kantyawans' or 'katuwaans' with the little tykes. Then came asaran, and pikunan. Apparently, Paolo was now being bullied by the 2 bigger boys. Diego, on the other hand, remained quiet 'at first'. Commotion followed and the boys were now crying. When asked, Diego replied...

"Eh, ang liit ng inaaway nila, kawawa naman. Sinuntok ko nga!" (They were picking on someone smaller that's why I punched them!)

Awww.... my little hero! hehe!

Diego at 7

Was still working on the computer at around 6am when Diego came in and said good morning. It's his 7th birthday today and aside from growing taller and still missing his two front teeth, he's like a young adult na when spoken to. I asked him why he's up so early. "Kasi tatawag si Papa at lalabas kami eh." *OMG... *
"Are you sure baby? Hindi naman siya tumatawag diba?"
"Dati kaya tumawag. Nood kami Transformers at tsaka may gift siya sa akin na PSP!"

It felt sad kaya... and felt really bad. His last true memory of his dad was a trip to the zoo and Star City when he was 2 years old. Now they see and bond with each other once a year.. either during Christmas or after New Year. A few months ago Yaya Wilma mentioned that his dad called and spoke with his Ate Andee. When asked if he likes to speak with his dad, he says "Ayoko sa kanya, liar siya". Broken promises of weekend bondings. Broken promises of gifts that never were.

His Ti'Angge got home from work with his cake and was he so excited. He'd insist on changing to his new Transformers shirt and eagerly wait for....---?

Everytime the phone would ring, he'd dash over and answer the phone. Naiiyak na lang ako when I see the look on his face when it wasn't who he was hoping for.

Diego's Crossing-Over ceremony

It was goodbye to KOF (Kids On Focus) as we attended Diego's Crossing-Over ceremony at the Water Nymph Resort in Marikina. 'Most Improved Student' was the citation he received this year. Haay.... and I remembered again when he took his 1st Grade entrance exams at the San Benildo Integrated School (Marcos Hi-way, Antipolo) on how a nervous wreck I was that time knowing how seemingly 'lazy' and reklamador he is with studying!Anyway, this year he has an itsy bitsy role as an emcee together with this classmate, Fonzo. A lot a coaching from his Ti'Angge paid off as we were (finally) able to understand what he was saying. He and his classmates presented "A Whole New World", and it was something he reminded me to watch because he is partnered with his crush, Pams.

 Last year, Pams was in another class and has been calling Diego's attention eversince. Ayaw lang nitong isa at iba daw and crush niya. This year since classmates na sila, nag-iba ang ihip ng hangin. He likes her na rin daw. He'd make kwento na magka-holding hands sila during their practice for their presentation, etc. What is extremely funny is this picture I hurriedly took while the kids are getting ready on stage for their group song when I spotted Diego's reaction when Pams gave him a hug! Hehehe!

Small needle and Diego

Yesterday, Mama took Diego back to the Medical City for the 1st among 4 succeeding vaccines/ injections after the dogbite incident last Tuesday, as I was in turn, at Makati Med with a scheduled doctor's follow-up consultation.

Diego: (while being braced for an injection and looking terrified at the syringe and needle the doctor is holding) "AYAW KO YAN! MASAKIT! MASAKIIT! AYAW KO NG INJECTION!! AYAW KOOOOO!......ay bakit ang liit ng needle, lola?"

Comedy ka talaga, baby. After ng injection, nag hot fudge sundae nanaman sila.

One wonderful reason of maintaining a blog is recording funny moments like this with the kids, especially with 6 year old Diego. Here are random quips:

Me: "Diego!!!! Stop that! Where did you get that? Akin na yan! Dirty!" (Scolding Diego for the nth time. He has this nasty habit of putting things (anything!!) in his mouth)
Diego: "Si mama pumapangit pag nagagalit."
--------------------------------

Diego: (Ran over to me, excited, without anything on, after taking a bath) "Mama! Mama! Tignan mo abs ko!" (strikes a pose ala muscleman)
Me: "Baby, di yan abs. Ribs yan!"

Hehehe... till next laugh.

Diego at 6

Diego turned 6 today. Called him last night from work, before 7am. He seemed more like a nine year old than Andee...

Hi baby! How are you?

DIEGO: Ok lang.

What are you doing?

DIEGO: Nood kami TV ni Ate Andee.

Sleep early ha?

DIEGO: Bakit?

Late na eh.. para rest ka na.

DIEGO: Bakit?

Birthday mo bukas di ba?

DIEGO: Oo nga.

Ok. Bye na. Work na ko. Love you!
*blag*

Ngek. Binabaan ako ng phone!?! Inistorbo ko ba? Anyway. Got home, took a quick nap. Cousin Angge arrived before lunch with Diego's cake. Kami-kami lang. Sang Happy Birthday and Diego exhausted himself trying to blow up 6 re-light candles-- and enjoyed it! Hahaha!

Diego and Holy Week

During Holy Week, Marikina is known for its procession of 'santos' during early evenings, participated mostly of old Marikina families who have mostly decades or centuries old relics of saints, Sto. Nino's, Mama Mary's, and various images that depict the passion of Christ, in carozzas that are heavily decorated with flowers and lights (which are a sight to behold! See video at YouTube; or pictures from Slythe, MD).

Imagine a carozza depicting with the 'Last Supper' or when Jesus was taken down from the cross!). These are paraded around Sta. Elena, San Roque, and Calumpang. Incidentally, one of our neighbors annually participates in the procession because they have their own 'santo'.

I was lucky to have watched the procession around 3 times already since it started years ago. Andee was only about 3 or 4 years old then. This was the conversation, as told by my mom, after Diego watched our neighbor decorate their carozza and witnessed the parade:

DIEGO: Lola, sino pwede maging Isaiah Jesu? (where he got the name, I don't know..)
LOLA: Yung mga mababait and malalaki na na boys. Gaya ng mga tito, kuya, manong...

DIEGO: E si Tito Cak and Tito Baron and Tito Earl pwede maging Isaiah Jesu?
 LOLA: Oo naman because big boys na sila and mababait.

DIEGO: .......
DIEGO: (after a thought..) Di pwede si Tito Cak at tsaka si Tito Baron eh...
LOLA: Why, baby?
DIEGO: Eh pareho kasi silang kalbo! di naman kalbo si Isaiah Jesu eh!!! 
LOLA: (suppresing a laugh)... a ganon ba?

DIEGO: .... eh si Papa pwede?
LOLA: Oo naman kasi big na rin siya eh 
DIEGO: .........

DIEGO: eh.... di rin siya pwede eh!
Lola: Bakit?
DIEGO: kasi mataba si Papa eh! .... tutumba ang krus!!!

Museo, Pizzas and the 'wild' Life

It was Kids On Focus' fieldtrip today and I had to hurry home from the office to take Diego to school before 6:30am. Was just getting ready when KOF texted saying that the group will be leaving shortly (scheduled departure time is 7:00am). It was only a 3-4 minute walk from the house to Diego's school.
First stop was at the Museo Pambata , a children's interactive museum, in Roxas Blvd. (beside the US Embassy). The tour started with the kids entering 'Miss Big-Mouth's mouth, passing through her esophagus then finally into a room where kids can learn more about the human body. They can press a large nose, a tummy and even a big butt to hear a sneeze, a rumble, or a f*rt! hehe. They see what blood vessels go where, or touch and feel different surfaces (and guess what it is). It's hands-on all throughout the museum. There is a science room, rain forest room, etc. There were a lot of educational trips that time, and the Museo management was able to organize the groups very well!

After this was lunch and a Pizza-making party at Shakey's Libis. We all had a quick tour of the kitchen and afterwards, we were given our pizza 'skins', as what they call it-- pizza' crust' actually to ordinary folks-- and basic ingredients for us to make our own pizza-- pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, ham, pepperoni and pineapple. Diego literally took a handful of pineapple bits and spread it over his pizza skin. I had to include the other ingredients for him. By the time the party host came over to get our pizza masterpiece and put it in the oven, Diego has plucked out all the pineapple bits and had eaten it. So much for a masterpiece. Shakey's special guest was Mr. Pizzaman, which is well, you guessed it, a giant slice of pizza that danced with the kids to the tune of 'Kembot'. Sa totoo lang, nakakaawa siyang tignan. What happened to Capt. Shakeys??!?!?!? Anyway....
Our last stop was Ark Avilon in in Tiendesitas. Its owners also own the Avilon Zoo (2) in Montalban, Rizal (obvious ba?) . After the infamous over-reacting snake bite news, there was still no clinic, but roving first-aid people (nice di ba?).

Like Manila Zoo's Kinder Zoo, one can get up close and personnal here with the animals. They have a 'centerstage' for photo ops with a sea eagle, albino snake and Coleen, the orangutan. The animals here are healthier looking-- the owners really do care for them! (makes me itch to take the kids over to Avilon Zoo). And like Malabon Zoo, you won't get an eyesore or strain your eyes getting a glimpse of the animals because the way they layout the place almost make you feel that you can touch them!

The main attraction (especially for the kids) is feeding the animals on the second floor. There is a mini 'corral' full of rabbits where kids can go in and feed them. Diego had a blast feeding a carrot to several rabbits, and okra to a tortoise, but begged off feeding a cricket to a chameleon. Definitely coming back with Andee in tow.
Good thing there are places like these where you can bring your kids. In this modern world where kids are mostly exposed to computers and books, only in pictures will they be able to see and experience this. Next to look forward to is the Manila Ocean Park, behind the Quirino Grandstand in Manila and expected to open this February 2008! Now that will be an experience!

Diego's surprise

Iyak ako. Sa totoo lang.
Diego had his 1st trimestral exam for Senior Nursery in school (Kids on Focus) a week ago. Yesterday he showed me this star given to him by his teacher, along with the other scores of his exams. A perfect 60/60 combined score in Math for oral and written exams. Same with IQ (20/20 combined scores). Not far behind are his 2 other subjects, Science (49/55), and Reading (54/60).
Two weeks before that, they were being reviewed already for IQ, Math, Reading, and Science. Reviewers were also given so we can guide them at home. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I had to wait for Diego to arrive home from school at around 11:15am (I get home at 9am), wait for him to finish his lunch and would have a review session--- for about 2 minutes. 5 minutes tops!!! From the beginning, I am a bit apprehensive on how Diego would fair in school. He has always been 'up and about', parang kiti-kiti-- and has a very,very, VERY short attention span. After a few question and answers here, and a few reviews in Reading there... ayaw na niya. Exam week was soo stressful for me. Di ako mapakali. Not that I don't trust him enough to do his best, it's just that maybe I don't see enough effort from him, not like Andee. Whew.. at least now I can breathe!

Hay, Diego..Part2

Lola: Diego, kamusta ang girlfriends mo? Diego: (no answer)
Lola: Sinong mas maganda? si Julianne or si Andrea? Diego: Si Julianne.
Lola: Bakit? Diego: Kasi nagpupulbo siya! (Aba! marunong ang baby boy! haha)
Yaya Wilma: Sinong mas maganda? si Julianne o si Mama? Diego: (Silence. Looked at his Lola then, his Yaya.)
Yaya Wilma: Sino mas maganda? Diego: (Silence.)
Lola: Hmm.. si Julianne! Yaya Wilma: Sino mas maganda? si Mama or si Julianne? Diego: (without batting an eyelash) SI JULIANNE NGA EH!!!!! Ay.. and I thought for a second there that he is having a hard time making up his mind!!!

Diego's 5th

Today is Diego's 5th birthday!!!! Had to get home early and do a last-minute-panic-buying-cake for him. He comes home from school at around 11:00am so we had to rush. Mama and I went over to Marquinton's Blue Wave Mall, stopped by Red Ribbon and got a cake for him. Diego is easy to please when it comes to food (ask him what he wants for breakfast and he'll insist on tuyo or daing) so it wasn't that hard in choosing the right cake for him-- he is not that head-over-heels-gaga over specialty birthday cakes with SpongeBob or Superman on it. Good boy. :-)

Diego asks....

Mama, pag kinain ang kulangot nagiging snake? (Mama, if you eat booger, will it turn into a snake?)
Ano? Saan mo naman natutunan yan? Don't do that, it's bad. (What? Where did you learn that?)
Lasang kalamansi e! (Tastes like lemon..)
Wha...haaaattt?!? YAYA!!!!!!! *faint*

X-men Idol?!?

Jollibee has X-men toys given out with their kiddie meals and Diego, my three year old, of course, got his own (Wolverine was unavailable). He proudly showed us his treasure.
Me: Wow, Diego, what's that? Diego: Toy.
Me: What's the toy's name? Diego: Taylor Hicks!