the laugh of isabela; la risa de Isabela

nothing beats how the smile or laugh of a child melts all your rackets away…las risas con mi ahijada…

flowers for the living

daryl and i happened to get nanay the same motif of flowers for nay’s birthday!!! after all, nanay always says that flowers are meant for the living…we celebrated el mismo dia del cumpleano de ella en 9/17 a su apartamiento en l.e.s.

nanay’s 66th birthday

Giving thanks to family and to God for nanay’s opportunity to celebrate her 66th birthday. The celebration was at Todai’s, a midtown Japanese buffet rez.

Her arduous struggle against breast cancer deserves celebration by those of us who profoundly care for and love her. My most recent memory of her fierceness was when, in the midst of Camille’s hospitalization, nanay unbendingly advocated for Camille. It was here that I made the connection to the source of my being a lawyer.

Nanay lleva una vestida verde y las perlas. Ella con mi hermana y tias (han sentado); el foto segundo—el resto de la familia y invitados, incluyedo Ken Escano, el hijo de la amiga mejor de Nanay. 

La Familia de Hinonangan y Valenzona.

La generacion proxima de mujeres de Mascarinas: Camille, Daryl y Isabela. La mesa con la nueva generacion: Joe, Jason, Camille, Francis y Victor. Buena suerte a todos que buscar sus senderos de suenos. 

It was also a nice sit-down opportunity for the extended family to catch up with each other’s milestones. No question that time not just flies but zips right through.

Mama Nelly con Isabela, la hija de mi primo, Franz, y su esposa, Haidee. Yo con mi ahijada (god daughter).

Los modelos guapos despues del almuerzo.

launching of the leapers poster on JC Fridays-Fall 08

Last Friday, 9/5/08, I launched the leapers poster, which is temporarily taped onto the plastered wall by the 140 Bay St. entrance. Temporary because it could be removed any time. Also, I plan to move it by the Butler warehouses in front of Trump Plaza in Washington Street to get its new residents engaged in artepara’s crusade: “Restore & Build the Powerhouse Now!” Smaller versions of the poster I will also distribute to PAD businesses and other JC community organizations. 

sister’s labor day bbq + college mate visit

it was great to have camille back after her hospital stay…yeay! also nice to see my sis’ friends. thanks don for the bbq. all filipino bbqs should be as healthy as the one they had. best of all, kudos to einstein-weinstein for good d-o-g behavior. Good boi! some shots:

then on monday, labor day, we had an impromptu visit from Binghamton collegemate, Andre Abaya. It has been ten years since we last saw each other. He is married to Mitzi and they have one son, Max, as per photo. We hope to see them again soon. 

mama begins her first day

…of work as a live-in caretaker of an elderly Jewish couple. After a few months of job searching, she finally secured one, thanks to Nang Lina & Nang Gloria. Gracias a Dios! Nice to see a strong network of Filipina women in home-health care. 

We will miss her daily cooking…Neida will also miss her daily walks with her lola. See you this weekend, mama!