WAIT

Gerson is our new neighbor who just came from the Philippines along with her mom and older brother. Their Dad had been working on their papers and at long last they're here. He is of Lukie's age but twice the size of my son - in built and around 7 inches taller. I thought he'd be Lukie's "bouncer" when his dad came to introduce them. Gerson and Lukie will go to the same school this September.

One of my talks with Lukie:

Mama: Honey, always play with Gerson so that you'll teach him how to speak Italian.

Lukie: 'Non voglio'!(I don't like). I can't understand what he is saying.

Mama: That's why play with him so that you will learn 'Tagalog' while you teach him Italian. 'Povero lui'(poor him), he has to learn something before he goes to school.

Lukie: But, I have my own friends!

Last Wednesday, we dropped by their house and asked her mom if we can take Gerson with us for a swim. It was funny how my eldest and his new friend played in the pool. It was like a movie with only laughter and giggles for the audio. They've been jumping in the water, splashing and racing for the beach ball.

We took Gerson home and I told him he could come after lunch and play video games with Lukie. After 30 minutes, just in time for us to have 'pranzo'(lunch), he came and I asked him to eat with us. He said he already did and I told him that was quick. He answered, "E mabilis po ako e!" (I'm fast).

This little boy talks like an adult. He also thinks as one. Once her mom asked me an "adult" question, he understood and was laughing. Me, taken aback by the question said, "Oh my... Gerson knows that?"

I miss my Filipino tongue and our new little neighbor is a big help with his 'Batangas' diction. I like how he adds 'po' and 'opo' all the time.

Gerson: Tita, bakit po Italiano ang salita NYAN(he calls Lukie that when speaking to me)? (Aunt, why does he speak Italian).

Me: Kasi dito sya ipinanganak at yun ang salita nila sa school. Pati na rin mga kalaro nya. (Because he was born here and its what they speak at school. So with his playmates, its what they use).

Gerson: (Looking at our food) Kami kanin. Pasta lang po ba kinakain NYAN? (Us, rice. Does he eat only pasta?).

Me: Hindi naman, kanin din pero madalas pasta. (Not really, rice too but most of the time - pasta).

Gerson: (looking at my 'insalata'(vegie salad)) Parang McDo yan a!(Looks like McDonalds).

Me: Hahahaha....

Gerson: E bakit po marunong ding uminglis YAN? (Why does he speak Enslish too?).

Me: Kasi yun salita namin sa kanya.(Because we talk to him with it).

Gerson: Aba'y nong ininglis ko po e naintindihan naman. (When I spoke in English, he understood).

Me: Bakit, anong sinabi mo? (Why, what did you tell him?).

Gerson: WAIT! Aba'y hinintay po ako! (He waited for me)

For the remaining afternoon while they play car racing with the PlayStation, Gerson keeps on saying WAIT. But, Lukie who wants to win, doesn't seem to understand the word anymore.

REDENTORE 2008

Every third Saturday of July, 'Redentore' is celebrated here in Venice. Its a festivity highlighted with an hour of fire works from 11 pm till midnight to commemorate the victims of the plaque that took 50,ooo lives in the year 1577.

Residents and tourist take out their boats and yachts as early as 6 P.M. to flock the waters between San Marco and Giudecca. Others take out their tables on the wharf of San Saccaria, San Marco and Zattere and other places fronting the the Giudecca Church or the place for the fire works. In merriment, food is consumed as well as wine and beers while they wait for the main show.

Here is a very interesting article about the origin of this event: Venice, Redentore( A MUST CLICK)

Pictures bellow are the serene sight of Giudecca during ordinary nights.




This is the third 'Redentore' that Boogie covered. He is in a graveyard shift at work to sneak for these shots (lol). When I was pregnant with Lukie and when he was about 3 years old, we watched the fire works from Lido(an Island near Venice). The event is not suited for kids specially if you're near Giudeccca. Too crowded, deafeningly loud and too much smoke. You'll surely go home with a "black nose" ;-)

SCULTURE DI SABBIA 2008

I thought the whole week's anticipation for our Sunday outing will be ruined when it drizzled after I took the kids to the pool. We were set to go and see the sand sculptures at Lido De Jesolo in the afternoon after the Formula 1 race. Its good it rained only for about 30 minutes and later went back into a hot summer weather again.



ABOUT THE COMPITITION: Festival of Sand Sculpture

The 11th International Festival of Sand Sculpture of the city of Jesolo is dedicated to China and the Olympics. Among the works chosen by artistic director Richard Varano and carried out by 18 sculptors from all over the world will be the Great Wall, the terracotta soldiers, pagodas and other symbols of Chinese culture...more HERE.


Here are some pictures Boogie took. An entrance fee of 1.50 euros was fair enough and the kids went in for free.


This is Lukie's choice by Damon Farmer of USA: The Great Wall Of China. I have just known from his site that a non toxic transparent glue is sprayed to hold the sand in place.


I didn't take note who made this. It was done great but IMHO, it didn't catch the theme.


My husband and me thinks this piece by Baldrick Buckle of Holland will take home the price. He calls it High Jump.


Horses will never fail to catch my attention so this one's my second fave made by Ilya Shanin of Russia:Show Jumping.

There are more pictures but I'm too sleepy now. I'll settle for these... and hope to show you the 'Redentore' Venice had last Saturday.

WEEKLY QUESTION 8

Our late birthday greetings to Teacher Julie of GreenBucks and his son Julian!!!

Since its their special day, this week talks about Birthday Celebration .

WEEKLY QUESTION 8 :

How would you like to spend your special day, your birthday?

Nothing beats a simple or grand celebration with the whole family back home in the Philippines. Every body's busy preparing their own dish. Thanks to a bigger cooking place and an extended dirty kitchen which I really miss when I'm moving in my small kitchen. My Daddy's 'pinaupong manok'. My sister Jehan's pancit. My sister Irish's Shanghai Lumpia and her sweet and sour or grilled Tilapia. My brother in-laws' 'pinikpikan' for soup. And of course, for the kids, Tender Juicy Hotdogs by Purefoods which I really-really love in sticks with marshmallows.

When there's money and we decided to butcher a pig, where a part of it we cook it the Igorot way producing a tasty 'wat-wat' and soup that will give you a "delightful taste sensation"(from Sponge Bob). Some portions for 'tinuno' I marinated and dinakdakan prepared again by Dad.

The desserts too are equally important. Fruit salad by Irish again and Buko Pandan I make sure is better than what they have at Greenwich. And oh, the chocolate cake made by Cramberry(or Cranberry, I forgot) Bake Shop in La Trinidad is really good which was paid at a very reasonable price.

Best part would be the jamming with my family, cousins and friends. Then my kids enjoying the company of "many children" running around. Once Conrad Marsan, a Baguio folk singer, joined us the last time Lukie had his birthday there and its like Le Fondue(Baguio Bar, not sure of the spelling) was brought to Tublay(my home town).

Day dreaming again, I am...how I miss home!

CHOICES

Its been more than a week now since Ingrid Betancourt was freed from his kidnappers in Colombia after held captive for 6 years. I've been waiting for someone to upload the video made by CNN: Colombia in Betancourt's heart at YouTube where she talked about her comfortable life in France before setting foot into politics. I guess no one will and the waiting can't wait any more. So, I'm posting this entry when all the elation on how she was freed is mellowing down.

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Former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt was captured on 23 February 2002 by the left-wing Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia)... On 2 July 2008, Ms Betancourt was finally freed from her jungle prison along with 14 other hostages in a daring rescue by Colombian forces.

Speculations on the real story behind her release may be true or not, that a ransom amount was paid... some politicians made negotiations... the rescue operation was staged etc, etc. All these conjectures, I don't care at all! I am just happy for a mother who is reunited with her children.

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From this next video, you could see the fury in Ingrid's eyes the flame of fighting the system. In anger she pleads but was captured anyway by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

I admired her more on this video. Her weak but human side. Its okey to bare down defences and admit we need help and let our wounds heal first before we continue the fight. That's not giving up, its bravery.

I personally went emotional and took Ingrid's story as standing for one's choice. She had chosen to stand up and fight for what she believed and her family paid the price. Suddenly hugging young adults out of her children when she left them with little hands. She chose to be considered dead while she's still alive. God knows what else happened with her in that jungle.

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Just as we choose to have the comfort of our home and family while others choose to save the world... help the sick and do all the nobility for the good of mankind. Sometimes I wish to be numb and be ignorant with what's happening around us. These makes me think and question my many choices in life. But, to have decided being the mom to my Lukie and Dylan - its the BEST CHOICE I've ever made!

HAILSTONES

We had a rainy Sunday with strong lightnings and thunderstorms. Eeesshhh... hailstones too, aimed our place down from gazillions of slingshots up there. The weather report says its going to continue the whole week. ---

The temperature is down to 17°C when last week we were in the scale of 27 to 35°C.

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Yesterday morning, Monday, the sun would shine for 3 hours. Then it gets gloomy and later back to a bright day again. You'll see nearby islands like Venice and Lido, so dark with heavy rains for about 30 minutes. Then again, a perfect sky after.

'Dadal'lo'(hailstone for Kalanguya) used to be fun when I was a kid, I pick them up with delight and shove them straight into my mouth. Disapproving look from parents won't work as I continue savoring this nature's ice. Then I would wait for the verge of whips on my butt before I'll finally stop.

Its not fun anymore, look what it did to my precious 'gabi'. I've been waiting for those leaves and thought of the 'la-ing' I will eat soon. Now, its all ...."shattered"(hahaha)... "ripped" and "holed"(?).

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Seriously, these "tempesta"(storm) that stirred us did a great damage on our Italian crops. When all prices of goods are soaring high with inflation, the effect of the 'dadallo' will worsen the present condition. Triple cost or more will make it hard for me to chew my fruits and vegetables(lol) soon.

FOR REYNZ

Hindi po ako hina-harass ni Reyna Elena upang iboto sya sa Project Lafftrip Laffapalooza 2008. Ito po ay isang timpakang pandangal na pinapamunuhan ng isa sa mga kataas-taasang blog sa ating bansang Pilipinas na si Kwentongbarbero.com . Isang taunang pagpipili sa mga blogs na nakakakiliti at walang sawang nagpapatawa kahit walang tigil ang taas ng gasolina.

Number 1 – Reyna Elena[reynaelena.com]

Number 2 – Mandaya Moore[mandayamooreorlis.blogspot.com]

Number 3 – Raqgold[Kwentong Kengkay ]

Number 4 – Sayote Queen[sayotequeen.com]

Number 5 – Chuvaness[mynosebleed.com]

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Pinapakiusapan ko rin po ang mga ka-blogers na sumali po tayu. Para na po ninyong awa dahil nakabitin at tagilid ang ating Reyna na panatilihin ang kanyang ganda sa TOP TEN. Kung paano ang pagboto i-click po ito: Project Lafftrip Laffapalooza 2008 para sa paraan ng pagsali. Ito rin po ang pawagan na Lola para sa Reyna: Round 3: Road to the Finals – The Philippine’s Best Humor Blogs