Special Day

I won't let the day pass without greeting two members of my family. These are my lovely niece Latrisha and my big brother Kuya Jojo. Trisha graduated from Prep 1 at St. Agustine International School in the Philippines. She is a dote! Love her. Here are few photos of her and during the graduation. Congratulations, Trisha!




Trisha with Leonard (Trisha's Dad), Malou (my twin sis, Trisha's Mom), Mom, and Auntie Osing (NY)

..And it's Kuya's 43rd birthday. Happy birthday to you. Love you, big bro!

...Kuya when he went to Dubai

The Importance of Family

(From L to R: Mom, Ate Brenda, Trisha, Kuya and me-taken in the Phil 2007)

At times it is quite hard to celebrate and realise the meaning and importance of holidays and special occasions when you are not surrounded by family and love ones. That's exactly how I felt this Christmas. My Mom is in Davao City. My "kuya"(brother) is in Dubai. My twin sister (Malou) is in Manila. My cousins are in the Philippines. We are all far from each other. I vividly remember before special days and occasions were always fun and family-filled. Mom was busy preparing foods at the kitchen. Dad was still there and everybody was really having fun. It was priceless! We were still living in the same roof then. However, time changes. I am here working in the UK for over five years now. I have missed my family every single day. On the other hand, I got my strength now mostly from my son Arjo who is here with me. He's the only one I have. I love him to bits.

I am working hard to keep up the close bonds and relationships that I have with my family and love ones. Without them I feel alone and pretty much useless. They help me see where I stand in life and help me strive to reach my full potential in whatever I choose to do. Family is the most important thing for me. My own marriage has failed because his priorities were overturned by something else, more than my son and me. However, I have moved on. Life is too short to be wasted. Nevertheless, to my future partner, rest assured my love I could offer would last a lifetime. I will see to it that we both have the same priority... which is our life being together as family.

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"In a world of turmoil and uncertainty, it is more important than ever to make our families the center of our lives and the top of our priorities. "

(Trisha and Malou)

(with relatives)
(my son, Arjo)
(me with my niece Trisha)

Where is Home?

What comes into your mind when I say the word "HOME"? Do you think of a quiet small town or the big crowded city? Is it driving a BMW car or riding a three- wheeled motorcycles? What about driving in an orderly roads or roads filled with auto rickshaws and motorbikes bullock carts travel side by side? A lavish, luxurious, extravagant life or a poverty-stricken family huddles around a smoky fire in the slums? Is it where I can see the caring faces of our family/ loveones or those critical eyes scrutinise me, judging by the colour of my skin and the accent in which I speak? Where do I truly belong?

Home for me is not necessarily about my house, although for some of us it is. Home for me is where my heart is...our hearts! It could be in any place. Where there is laughter and joy. Where there is peace. Where there is an unconditional love ...and a feeling of safety and comfort.

Where is home for you? Where is your sacred space called home?