2016: Page 17 of 366

Today has been a tiring but great day.  Little Aya went with me in my Sunday school assignment in Dividend.  Then we had a short but worthwhile bonding at the mall in the afternoon.  I really love spending my time with my little girl.  She takes away my exhaustion and makes me happy even when I am tired.

Earlier after our officers meeting in the locale of EGM, we had a minor road accident going back to Taytay.  The van we were riding bumped into a vehicle crossing the roundabout of Kaytikling.  Fortunately, everything was settled by a calm talk between the two parties and one traffic officer.  Sad thing though, the bumper of the van we were riding fell off.  We have to tie it before we can proceed driving to our destination again.

Mentioning the officers meeting, I was so moved by the gestures of my former co-officers in the locale of Centennial.  Upon seeing me in the meeting, they all approached me and gave me that "we miss you" look.  Then most of them told me to come back already.  Two of them even had the guts to chant "Iiyak na yan! Iiyak na yan!" urgh! Miss these kids!

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There is this new juice kiosk that makes me want to drink until my tummy is "super full tank." Juice Avenue, which apparently is a part of Fruitas Group offers delicious, thirst-quenching all-natural juice drinks.  Looking at its website, it also offers a variety of fruit shakes but the one in SM Taytay only displays juices.  I don't complain not having shakes because I prefer juice over shakes.  My favourite flavour--- MELON!  Then of course, Buco comes in a close second favorite.  I have yet to try their Apple flavour which should be another favourite of mine, and they also have Watermelon & Yellow Mango flavours.  Next time. ;)

2016: Page 12 of 366

Today, I am not feeling well.  My sinusitis triggered this morning from either dust or something that smells odd.  I don't know. All I want to do is go home, lie down and take a good rest.  But knowing that I have pending items to finish (write), most likely I will work from home.  And yeah, send email to my boss later tonight.  *sigh*

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I was able to see Treston International College and its campus... well, actually, just its main and second floor lobby.  Was able to have a short chat with Dixie who informed me that I may have to chat with Daphne as well, who had to leave the campus that time for a chore.

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Meeting wifey after office in our 2nd favourite mall.  I'm longing for this family time.  Got to go!

2016: Page 4 of 366

Happy birthday, Towtow!

Today has been generally pleasant as we start the first work day of the year.  Traffic is still surprisingly light and people in the office seems to be feeling good. Good vibes, I must say.  We had a small celebration for our colleague, Mich, as she celebrates her birthday today.  She brought us 3 boxes of Papa John's pizza and we gave her a birthday cake in return.  I know, the pizza costed more but what the heck, what mattered was that we were all happy.  The team also had the chance to talk to our interim boss and we found out that I may be considered to relocate to CDO for work.  This thought only sank in my mind at this time, before I finally call it a day.  I have been to CDO only once in my life when former boss Nix & I flied over there to do media rounds.  It was a quick and a busy pure business trip and I haven't appreciated the place yet unlike my love and appreciation with Iloilo.  So now, I was like, wait.. do I really want to be relocated there?  Our boss jokingly asked how old my daughter is and where she is currently studying.  I think he is ready to consider my whole family moving to CDO and assign me a new job function.  Now this reminds me to share this thought with wifey after I publish this post and before we sleep tonight.  The thought of being in a new environment excites me but the fear of getting out of the box somehow creeps in since it will mean settling anew, back to square one for my family.  There would have been no problem if I am still an eligible bachelor but taking two other lives with me in this change somehow makes it more complex.

After work, my office mates & I went to the wake of Papa Rey.  A mini-reunion with former office mates capped the night, having Mabel & Simon's presence as well during our visit.  Before driving home, I drove thru Starbucks to get wifey her green tea frap fix.

At Papa Rey's wake in Marian Memorial Chapel (Marcos Highway) with PCFI officemates

2016: Page 2 of 366

Iglesia Ni Cristo, Lokal Ng Taytay, Rizal

Feels good to perform spiritual duties first thing in the morning.  Since I transferred locale, I always love driving to church with my performance schedule:  morning schedule on weekdays & weekends, I get to drive on no-heavy traffic roads at dawn, leading to the church.  This is my 3rd time to perform in the choir in our new locale and my first choir performance this new year, 2016.   Today, the church commemorates the 91st birth anniversary of our beloved former executive minister, Bro. Erano G. Manalo.  It is always good to remember our leaders, as advised to us by the words of God:  "Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith."- Hebrews 13:7 NIV  Bro. Erdy was my living role model of a good leader and it played a big part on my learning of how to love the church whenever I perform my duties to God.  Today, we thank God for giving us a leader in the person of Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo, who is in union with the former church Administrators.  Their love and care for the church continue and never fade.  This we genuinely feel whenever we stand before the presence of God to worship Him.

After performing my church duty, I drove to my in-laws' place to get the sopas which my mother-in-law prepared for the wake of Papa Rey.  When I arrived at my in-laws' place, I still had time to take a good sip of coffee with Papa Johnny.  Regular coffee, creamer and sugar on a hot water and there goes my coffee fix for the day!  When the sopas was ready, I left for the memorial chapel.  Seeing the parking area almost empty, I was able to park conveniently.  Saw the people sleeping so I just left the hot soup there and sent messages to the family so when they wake up they'll know that it came from us.  I then proceeded to our favorite car wash place and had the car washed.  Chose to eat pancake for breakfast while I wait for the car's turn to be washed.  The place is full for a holiday weekend.  When the car was ready to go, I drove to the bank and to the supermarket beside it to do a couple of chores.  Now I get to rest at home until the afternoon then leave with my little girl again later when it's her mom's turn to attend church services and perform her duty in the finance department.  In a couple of days, it's work, work, work again!  Better cherish the moments of these two remaining days with my two girls before I get busy again.  And yeah, looking at the 2016 Philippine calendar, most of our official holidays fall on a Sunday.  What a bummer.

2016: Page 1 of 366

Before I call it a day, let me once again greet everyone a happy & prosperous new year!  Time's indeed fast.  We just waited for 12 midnight to arrive yesterday and now, the first day of the new year is almost ending.  After my two girls slept until almost half the day, my family went back to Mommy's place to celebrate new year with them over lunch and afternoon snacks.  I lost count already on how many times I was offered to drink with the big boys while the big Lucido clan gathers and each time I turned them down with the help of my parents-in-law, answering for me, "hindi yan umiinom.  sa softdrinks lang matakaw."  I am not sure though if they (my in-laws) are proud about that or what. hahaha!!  We had a nice time there in Mommy's place and even my little girl enjoyed bonding with her 2nd cousins.  This is the first new year that her first cousins, JM & Miguel, were far from us as their mom just recently went home from Dubai and they spent their own family time together in Baguio.

After the gathering in Pasig, we dropped by the mall to get some stuffs for our mobile phone.  I know, I know, I don't have a new mobile phone unit so I just bought something for it to look like new.  Talk about saving for future new plans.

We were texting the Ocampo siblings on the update with their Papa Rey.  A very sad news broke last night just more than an hour before new year stroke.  Papa Rey was gone.  His suffering ended just before the new year.  He was diagnosed with a lung cancer and everything happened too soon.  Just merely a week being confined in the hospital, his true condition was just revealed by another doctor too late already.  This is the first time in my life that I didn't greet a whole family a "happy new year."  And yes, it is a very hard time for the family I considered my second home when I was still a bachelor.
So just as they have settled in the funeral home, my family was there already.  We checked what's needed and assisted the siblings who are all younger than I.  We still manage to smile as we greeted each other and tell stories of what really transpired during Papa Rey's medication days in the hospital.  But really.  We can only do so much to console them.  We volunteered to bring sopas tomorrow for them to have something warm for the tummy.  After meeting with a few acquaintances who also tried to visit the family early, we left promising to come back the next days until Papa Rey's burial.

I ended day 1 of year 2016 by attending our Sunday School class for the first time in the new locale where we transferred.  This is it.  Back to square one.  I need to reminisce my starting years as officer in the church where most of the time I am a follower rather than the leader.  It's all good though... gives me a humbling experience to reflect once again how a church officer must perform his duties to God, following the leaders which God elected to administer the faithfuls. I admit, I lost a great part of me when the special tasks in the choir and in the PNK were left in the former locale.  But I fully trust God why we are here now.  It's all for the better, I believe.  When the purpose is known, I will all the more praise and give thanks to the LORD, our God, for He is good all the time!