A Letter For My Two Son's On Father's Day

My dearest Victor Paulo and Juan Miguel,

Someone decided long ago to set aside a special day in June to celebrate Father's Day. I'm not sure why they thought us father's / I needed to be honored for loving you both. Being your dad is the greatest privilege in the world \0/

Juan Miguel, you're nearly 1 year old now. It seems like yesterday that I cradled you in my arms after lulling you to sleep on my chest. I still try to cuddle you, but you're not as easily convinced anymore. Besides, how big you've gotten! Almost 20lbs. of solid mass makes you quite the chest compressor.

Victor Paulo, people tell me all the time that you're my clone, a bona fide mini-me. If only they knew how proud it makes me to hear that. At the same time, it's terribly frightening that someone in the world has my DNA, along with the tendency to reproduce my quirks and frailties. Thankfully, mom's DNA helps to balance that out. That's the beauty of God's system. Two flawed and feeble human beings reproduce a blend of themselves in someone who has a lifetime to live life better than they did.

I'm grateful that you are so strong willed. Even at birth, you wanted to enter the world at your pace, on your terms. So what that it took 36 hours! Mommy would have to deal with it (which she did, and if I may add, with remarkable grace and enduring strength).

If there's only one thing I can successfully pass onto you and your younger brother (besides 80% of your physical features, which, frankly, I had no control over) let it be this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and strength, and love your neighbors as yourself. These truths, combined with the strength of your character, have the power to change the world.

They're hardly original thoughts, but there are none better to build your life around. The God who fearfully and wonderfully formed both of you in your mother's womb deserves every ounce of your love and affection. Throughout life's challenges, He will always provide, never steer you wrong, and empower you to fulfill a destiny that's exceedingly abundantly above all you, or anyone, can think or imagine.

That destiny intimately involves other people. God saw fit that you would be born at a time when over 6 billion of them would share your world (with two added each second!). Leave your mark by loving each and every person your life touches as God first loved you: your future wife, your children, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, and those you meet in passing; those who love you and those who don't; those who spitefully use you. Love attaches no conditions. It expects nothing in return. It gives freely and in abundance, only then to multiply and grow.

As the two of you learn to love others, don't forget that your love for them can go only as deep as your love for yourself. Not narcissistic self-obsession (remind me in a couple of years to explain what "narcissism" is), but rather, an understanding that you are God's handy-work, crafted for His good pleasure. He uniquely designed the two of you to be you alone, comfortable in your own shoes. Be ready to create your own path. Never will there be another Victor Paulo and Juan Miguel. Never will someone else impact the lives you will as only you can. Imperfect though you will be, learn to appreciate your weaknesses, as it's in them that you will experience your Creator's greatest strengths.

I'm tempted to say that I can't wait to see what both your future holds, the joys and challenges that awaits you, the legacy your life will create. But I'm enjoying the two of you too much right now. All 11years and 11months of you..And i will forever be thankful for each passing day of my life that i have you both with me, physically, in my heart and in my mind.

I pray you cherish your life's journey as much as I am.

With Much Love,
Daddy

Pig-Out Adventure

I don't usually write much about food and restaurants but i got hand it down to this one. On my recent trip to the Philippines, me and the rest of the Family decided to go for a post birthday dinner. So we went up north from Batangas goofing for a dining place. We ended up in this place called "Pig-Out!"
Located within Nuvali’s lush 1,700-hectare community at the heart of Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Pig Out! is the newest concept of the Bistro Group of Restaurants, the same company behind the success of Italiannis, T.G.I.Friday’s, Fish & Co., Flapjacks and Billy Rock.. think I no need to tell more after mentioning all those sister resto's they have :D

The moment you enter you'll be spoiled for choices — from the appetizers to the main courses down to desserts. But what tickled our palates is its extensive and interesting beverage list that boasts carefully concocted drinks that are not just thirst-quenchers but good for the body, too. Who would have thought that celery could be so addictive? Pig Out’s! Stalk of the Town is a refreshing mix of blended celery and apple with honey and pineapple ring (my mom and sister ordered that straight away) Not to mention; SkinTrip with carrot, wheatgrass and honey, the Cucumber Breezer; which is a blend of cucumber, pear, mint leaves and honey and also Green Fizz, a flavorful concoction of ampalaya, lemonade, honey and Sprite topped with squeezed lemon. Trying out these drinks is a yummy and fun way of teaching kids how to enjoy and love their veggies =)

The resto features long wooden tables and chairs specially designed for big families or barkadas. The sleek droplights and glass panels meld well with the wooden furniture.

Pig Out! serves meat and seafood grilled specialties that are cooked just the way we Filipinos like: smoky, juicy and tender with just the right amount of sweetness. The selection includes not just all-time Pinoy inihaw favorites but Western and Asian-style grilled delights as well. The beef ribs spicy Seoul-style is simply delish. It tastes like kalbi chim, a popular beef stew dish in Korea. The sesame and chili sauce has a smoky, sweet/salty flavor that’s appetizing to the palate. And of course, pork barbecue is a hometown favorite sold by the stick (we never order it though, but I'm sure the dish will speak for itself once you tried it) It goes well with a serving of grilled shrimps salsa cocktail, a robust Tex-Mex starter served with spicy tomato salsa. Also try the inihaw na spareribs marinated adobo-style and lets not forget the Pig Out! crispy pata (pork knuckle) which we devoured.

Prices are surprisingly affordable in both “just for you” (solo) and sharing portions, which are good for two to three persons. Everything that comes out of the kitchen tastes heavenly. Each dish left a delectable mark on our palates (I forgot the Chef's name there at that time and rest of the Kitchen crew, you guys we're terrific! compliments to all of you)
**Veggie lovers, on the other hand, shouldn’t be turned off by the name of the resto because Pig Out! has something equally tempting for them.



And oh, lets not forget..aside from food, includes " a Team of amazing, wonderful and dedicated individuals who is " one of the most engaging and enthusiastic around" from the kitchen, bartender, service staffs, dining supervisor and outlet managers (they even dance for us as an extra treat while singing happy birthday to me and my son) thank y'all very much, you guys are the greatest!

True to Bistro Group’s reputation as one of the Philippines leading casual dining chains, Pig Out! is big on everything — Whenever and wherever there’s great food, service and ambience, there’s lots of good reasons to pig out! I'm so looking forward to come back there again!

What If?

Hi there people! Its been a while since I last posted an entry here coz I've been away for some Rn'R in The Philippines. And talking about my beloved country, we just celebrated our Independence Day yesterday. Well yea, I posted it on my Facebook, that it doesn't seem real or I'm really not feeling the independence or freedom that we Filipino's are celebrating.. So not to brag about it and frustrate myself more, I decided to write something off the hook of my "subversive thinking" and yea, this is my post-Independence Day post :D

WHAT IF? ...we were still an American colony in 2011? Let me humor you with what we could have been had if The Philippines did not won its independence in 1946;

Several months ago, Senator Bongbong Marcos made a highly debatable statement: " if my father (then former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos) was not exiled, the Philippines could be a Singapore now." Or something to that effect. Taking his cue, can we boldly declare: " if the Philippines remained an American colony, the country could be a Hawaii or Puerto Rico or a Guam right now? " How would our lives be different?

OUR FAUX AMERICAN ACCENTS WOULD BE JUSTIFIED
You wouldn't have to work in a call center or to be a DJ to spot a heavy drawl or twang. When people ask, "You talk like you're from the US, where you from? Well, if it was me, i can answer proudly, "I'm from the coffee state of Batangas, biatch!"

OUR SARI-SARI STORES WOULD HAVE MORE PX GOODS
I love Chocnut, but it would be nice to have a broader variety of junkfood at our disposal. Sari-sari stores would carry American items as Twinkies, Mars, Baby Ruth, Jelly Beans, fresh milk in a tetra pack and Budweiser beer :D

WE WOULD'NT NEED A U.S. VISA
Or need to line up at most embassies, for that matter. We would enjoy the same " no visa policy" that most of the world enjoys - -except from China and other countries that are'nt too crazy about them Yankees. Japan, Europe and the rest of North America would welcome us without that condescending look as if we're coming to take away their jobs. We would rightfully say, " I'm here to spend money, so stamp my passport and get our of my freakin' way!"

AMERICAN IDOL WOULD BE DOMINATED BY PINOYS
Ryan Seacrest would learn to speak Tagalog or Chabacano - after all, the top 24 would all be Filipino's belting out songs like Aint No Mountain High Enough, Umbrella, Easy Like Sunday Morning and Anak. And there would finally be an American Idol of Pinoy descent \0/

STREET KIDS WOULD WEAR REFLECTORIZED VEST
In true enterprising Pinoy fashion, they would still peddle their wares on EDSA, but at least they would be dressed appropriately to keep them from being run-over :D

AMUSEMENT PARKS WOULD BE SCARY FOR THE RIGHT REASONS
We would be thrilled with huge drops and scream-inducing speed not worrying about getting tetanus from rusty metal or whether the ride passed the safety inspection.

WE WOULD GET SOME OF THAT OBAMA BAILOUT MONEY
We would cry like those on Wall Street and get a piece of the stimulus package pie =)

Truth is, we'll never know for sure. We are where we are for a good reason; what it is, i still don't know. What's clear is we gotta love the Philippines , for better or for worse. :D

have a blessed week y'all!