THE DEBUTANTE

Not that Irish's debut is "not blog-gable" but I thought its not appropriate for me to be showing such luxury when the economy crisis is affecting every part of the globe. But if I were her parents(Ate Josie and Kuya Rodney), I'll do the same. Celebrate and proud with what a lovely lady their little girl had become - no matter how much it costs.

I was a bit emotional during her party. I remember her as a little girl who usually tags along with his dad as she holds her two little sisters' hands. Then came the other "kids" or them who used to be kids and danced with her, I was shocked to how much they've grown.


Like these cousins of Irish, the twin brothers - Marvin and Marwin, who were just like Lukie when we first came here. Each arrived with their own girlfriends and I thought, time flew and knocked me off. I still can't believe they're young adults now. They used to be running around as children playing football when there are occasions to gather the Pinoys in Venice.


I'll brace myself for this next batch, around Lukie's age, soon they'll have that "dance". When that time comes....gosshhh, my eyes will be puffed and I'll look ugly from crying my heart out.


All the best for you Irish, enjoy the wonders of your youth!

THE FOOD KNOCKED

Our employer once asked me if we have customary food served for Christmas and I readily told her about 'pinikpikan'. Not to give her the wrong impression that its all for Filipinos, I immediately told her about us from the 'montania'(mountain) and also queso de bola, puto bongbong and other food for the season. I was thinking, what is expected of me to say about traditional food? Of course, I'll tell her what I was accustomed to. My mom with her pancit, macaroni salad and other stuff, true we're never out of these on all occasions but its not really considered as traditional in it's very sense.

Lukie enjoying his Pandoro breakfast

Here, the Italians have their traditional Christmas cakes Pandoro and Panettone flushed by dessert wine after the main dish which is suppose to be fish. For us, we don't really eat it for dessert. We prefer it for breakfast because of it's more bread like taste. Pandoro, which we like better, is plain and softer while Panettone has dried fruits, orange rinds and sometimes chocolates and nuts. Few days before Christmas, you'll see almost all people going home with boxes of these with wine in it as give aways from their bosses.

As we speak of food, I mentioned on my last post that till the 27th of December, I haven't cook any of our meal. Thanks to our friends and neighbors who brought us their specialties on Christmas day. Kuya George who gave us 'pinapaitan' and 'kilaweng pusit'. Lorna with 'dinuguan', 'ginataang hipon', 'patatim', 'puto' and 'crema d' frutta'. Then Manang Neneth came with her tray of Cassava cake. Ingredients for such recipies are not easy to find here, Kuya George's kins had to butcher 'kambing' just for the 'papa-it' and fresh blood for dinuguan is not allowed in the market.

Then my nephew Roldan had his 3rd birthday on the 26th. I stayed home with sick Dylan. My husband went back to work so my sister Ica came to get Lukie for his cousin's big day. Again, more food when my son came back home.

Once more, GAZIE to Kuya George, Lorna and Ate Neneth. Belated happy 3rd birthday to Roldan and a million thanks to all who who sent their presents to Baby D and Lukie.

If its easier to have friends than owning a car then I've also proven that ITS BETTER TO HAVE FRIENDS THAN TO COOK hehehe....

OUR CHRISTMAS SPENT

The plan was to attend the midnight mass and have the Noche Buena at my friend Lorna's house. They've got three kids and it was always fun for my boys to be spending time with them. We were suppose to see Tito Joel who stole Santa's costume (joke Jo' hehehe) that made Tita Lorna so pretty that night. Then the most awaited opening of gifts that Lukie had been anticipating would be later that night when we get back home(if they are still awake).

tito joel and tita lorna

Another plan for the next day was to have a simple Christmas lunch at home with my sister Noeda's family. Then maybe in the afternoon, we'll head over to Jing's house for his husband Jojo's Christmas birthday.

All remained as mere plans. Dylan had Scarlet Fever which is an epidemic here. He got it from his brother's Christmas party at school. "Strong Igorot boy", I call him as even with fever and all, he still goes with his walking around the house, dancing when there's music and his messing up with the Christmas tree.

It was a surprise for me when he slurped his anti-biotic at first take. He will be on meds for ten days though rashes have already faded. We're now nursing a cough that makes him vomit at times and his lost of appetite. I was trying to reach his pediatrician this morning to ask why his fever came back after four days of not having it. He was still on holiday leave that started last week and from his answering machine, he referred us back to the doctor who saw Dylan last Sunday.('Igorot' boy is dancing with this music(CLICK HERE:) as I was encoding this entry).

Our Christmas eve still turned Ok if not better as we intimately celebrate it together - just us! We ordered pizza as we don't feel like cooking which Lukie enjoyed more than a fancy dinner. We popped a bottle of wine for the grown ups after and ate some nuts, fresh fruits and chocolates.

My sister Ica, who divides her days off between me and my other sister Noeda, joined us as we hear ALVIN and the CHIPMUNKS fill our home with their Christmas songs.

On my next post, read why until now, 27th of December, I HAVE NOT yet cooked any of our meal...

FISH FROM THE PHILIPPINES

If back home in the Philippines, “package” is congruent to “abroad”, here, we also have our “little excitement” as we wait for our boxes that come monthly.

father and son

Kuya Arthur is a father of two who has a Filipino Store in Padova, ‘La Etnica’. A two and a half hours drive from our place - Cavallino. 10 Filipino families live here and every end of the month we give our list of Pinoy goods needed to my friend Lorna. She then sends it to Kuya Arthur thru fax. After 3 days or so, our boxes are delivered carefully packed with our names written on it.

Sample prices: Marca Pina Soy sauce-1.50 euros(90pesos), Payless Pancit Cantoon-30cents(18pesos),Bagoong Isda Balayan 2eu(140p).Clover(med)-95cents(57p) for me, Taquitos 75cents(51p) for Papa and Oishi-70cents(49p) for Lukie.

We have an Italian owned shop, Rizzo, in Venice that sells selected Filipino Items but its more expensive.

Another shop in Piazza Le Roma which is nearer than Padova(Arthur’s Store) but their prices are even higher than Rizzo. The irony is, its owned by a ‘Kababayan’.

Lukie loves Ligo Sardines(70 cents). He calls it, “fish from the Philippines”. They had put Mega Sardines this time, probably Ligo’s out of stock. I haven’t tasted this Mega Sardines yet, hope its OK.

They also sell, frozen Bangus, fish/sguid balls, lumpia wrappers but all are products of Thailand. ‘Gata’(coconut milk), 'Patis'(They call it Squid Sauce) and 'malagkit' rice, for these three, we preffer the Thai's than Pinoy made.

lukie and his friend/enemy - marco

Every item has a pasted translation of ingredients in Italian. Pancit or they call it here ‘Pasta d’ Riso’, fried rice – ‘Riso Cantonese’ and Spring Rolls are among our host countrie's favorites.

Oooppss, how can I forget the rice!!! Only 25 kilos per sack with prices ranging from 15 euros to 32 euros depending on it's kind. All came from Thailand. We get the cheapest(15 eu = 900pesos), its the same as the 'Milagrosa' in the Philippines.