ruminations from this corner: January 2014

I love how we celebrated our Christmas Eve. It was a departure from our usual. We went to the Ayala lights festival and then went home before 8 to enjoy a simple dinner of kinilaw and sinigang na lapu lapu. Kids opened their gifts from mommy's friends and Lola (daddy's friends are not the type who give gifts). And then we all went to bed before 10pm.

On Christmas day, we headed out for Baguio at 5am. I discovered traveling early Christmas morning can be so solemn and beautiful, especially if you're headed to the country side. There were only a few motorists on the road, and I felt a sort of an affinity with them, like we shared this secret that only the few of us Christmas travelers know.

The drive took just about 5 hours which was kinda awesome (because everything feels awesome on Christmas day). We headed straight to the picnic site in PMA to have our brunch of chicken adobo and rice straight out of our trusty rice cooker.

We rested a bit in the hostel (the Nakar Guesthouse inside the PMA, where I used to stay when I visited Marvin during his cadet days) before driving around the city. Our dinner that night was my and Marvin’s favorite papaitan and other goat delicacies from Billy's Goat House. We get excited with new discoveries like a hole in the wall eatery serving more than decent papaitan, and promised to eat there again and try their other goat dishes.

The following day was Ezra's 2nd birthday. The baby wasn't feeling so well but he was a trooper. We had brunch again at the picnic spot and helped Ezra blow his 2 candles on a slice of cake. Piece of cake. I thought the pines were lovely and it was going to be a waste if we didn’t have our family portrait taken with them as backdrop. So I arranged the kids for the photo session which is not exactly their idea of fun. I told them they're going to thank me later for all the photos I took of them when they were younger.

After what feels to the kids as obligatory outdoor family portrait session, we brought them to Camp John Hay for horseback riding. Because what's a vacation in Baguio without horseback riding, and boat paddling in Burnham Park. Because childhood memories are made of this kind of stuff.

And we had another happy discovery at Burnham Park: skating rink! Who knew there was a skating rink in that spot all along? It was the first for the kids (and Marvin) to try on skating. Marvin and Zaki were quick learners. Yuan got by without falling flat and Zion loved it so much he wants a pair of skating shoes for his birthday.

Before long, it was time for Ezra's birthday dinner at the Forest House Bistro. That place is so Christmas-y and so perfect for a December birthday dinner in Baguio! It has a log cabin feel and a real fireplace, and it was totally decked out with Christmas decors. Zion said when he grows up, he's also going to bring his kids to hotels and restaurants with a fireplace because his kids are really going to get excited. Don't you just love that boy?

If you ask the brothers, they will tell you Ezra had a really fun 2nd birthday. If you ask Ezra, he will tell you, What do I know? I was groggy throughout with my cough meds.

It was free time (meaning no picture taking and scheduled activities) the following day for the boys which they spent camping at the picnic site and reading the books they brought along. Marvin and I went to the market for cheap vegetables and I got myself a very dandy fluffy bonnet. We had goat again for lunch (as promised) and for coffee we went to this lovely neighborhood cafe called PNKY. It's a good alternative to the noisy, busy and crowded coffeeshops. No one shouting names and orders. It's not a coffee shop for the weekdays, when you're in a rush and you want to get pumped up for the work ahead. It's a coffeeshop for Sundays, when you want to just take it slow, read a book, talk in hushed tones. I wish there were more coffee shops like this around my place in Manila.

For our last day in Baguio, we got up early to have our picnic breakfast at Mt. Sto. Tomas in Tuba, Benguet where you can find the twin radars brought by the Americans pre-World War. You can see those radars from Kennon Road and Marvin always, always tells the kids that those are the big electric fans that keep Baguio cool. I’m starting to think he actually used to believe that when he was first told about it.

It was so cold when we got there, like 12deg. And there were clouds and fog all around us. It felt like we were walking on clouds. And it had the most fantastic view of the city. You can even see Baguio's runway. I loved it!

Then it was time to go home, and face the monstrosity that is the Edsa traffic.

For New Year's, we booked a family suite in Tagaytay. The kids, including Marvin, braved the chilly air and spent the afternoon swimming in the hotel's infinity pool (which is not infinite, not even that big). Yuan was so thrilled to use a really nice hotel bathrobe. He said he felt rich walking around wearing it! haha. Now all he wants for his birthday is a really nice hotel-grade bathrobe.

The kids pretty much had a grand Christmas vacation. And as a parent, nothing makes me happier than seeing my kids getting all excited and hearing them say they feel special with all the (simple) treats they got. Basically, that's what this vacation was all about.

I savored the last sunset of the year from our room’s balcony, which had a view of the Taal lake. I said a few prayers of thanksgiving for the year that was. Like any year, 2013 had its ups and downs, but the things that stick with me are the ups. And they make me hopeful for the coming year. This ability to focus on blessings is a gift in itself. And I thank God for it because I don't want the misery that the alternative brings.

I also said a few prayers of supplication for 2014. I prayed for my family's vigor and stamina and protection. I prayed for my loved ones' hearts to desire the Lord more and more. I prayed that our hearts will only yearn to please Him and to know His will for us. Lastly, I prayed for myself to be kinder, more gracious, more loving and generous.

And may it be so.