It's a New Year!

And just like that, we begin another year.

Thanks, 2025, you were great.

Here's to greater things this 2026!

Forever (Tong) Yang

Today is Mark's birthday, and it's our 19th year of celebrating it together.

We were walking around One Ayala, looking for a place to celebrate his birthday lunch. We passed through our usuals (Friday's, Chili's, Italiani's, etc.) and considered new places (The Fat Seed, Ikinari Steak.)

But then, we passed by Tong Yang, looked at each other, and we instantly knew that it was where his birthday lunch will be.

Of course, he got his lunch for free. So, there IS such a thing as a free lunch.

Cheers on your special day, Mark!

Happy Birthday!

Back at one

Today, we usher in another year.

It's day one of month one.

As we start another new year, we start more opportunities to better ourselves, be more generous, be a blessing to other people, and make 2025 the best year for us.

Happy New Year!

Style Mousse

As it is customary, the fam dresses up and welcomes the New Year with Pantone's Colour of the Year.

So, we all had different style iterations and hues of Mocha Mousse during tonight's New Year's Eve festivities.

Ready for the coming year in 3...2...

M&M

Nope, this isn't a continuation of yesterday's M2M post.

It's about the fact that Mona & Maricar was able to join my family birthday dinner!

(And Gary, too!)

It's a long overdue meet-up, which I'm glad finally happened. And as expected, the time felt too short.

Time for a part 2 soon.

Little Miss Sunshine

Nope, this isn't about the Abigail Breslin film. But mind you, that's one of my favourite comedies.

This is about celebrating the birthday of our very own Miss Sunshine - Jing-jing!

As she celebrated her milestone birthday, CAO peeps from past and present gathered to show her how much she's changed our lives for the better. Back in SMC, she gained the monicker "Sunshine" because of her warmth and radiant personality. 

Even after my SMC exit, we've remained steadfast friends and we've had the privilege of partying, traveling and just being goofy and silly together. There's even a group name for our group - JKLM - and I'm the honorary member.

Happy Birthday Jing! As the Stevie Wonder song goes, "you are the sunshine of our lives."

Meals with Mark: State of the Art(ons)

For this year, we decided to celebrate Mark's birthday in Laguna.

When faced with the question of where to eat, we had a choice between our tradition (TGIFriday's) or something new. After all, it's not everyday that we're in Nuvali.

Eventually, the "something new" won. And our lunch was at this cozy Mexican restaurant called Arton's.

They serve a combination of Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine. As a fan of Mexico, this was an exciting proposition for me. Also, TGIFriday's fajitas are among the usual things we order, so maybe we can ry the fajitas here, too.

After browsing the menu, we ended up with the Queso Fundido, Baby back ribs and the Peruvian Seafood platter.

The food is really good. The service was a bit spotty, but overall, the experience was great. Especially since we're there for Mark's birthday.

Feliz Cumpleano, Mark!

Of parents and grandparents

Yesterday, September 8, was a day of double celebrations.

On this day, we celebrate the birth of Mama Mary. That's why yesterday's mass and homily were centred on the role of Mama Mary in raising and nurturing Jesus Christ.

It's also grandparents day! So, we were also celebrating the role of grandparents - aka Mom and Dad - in raising and nurturing the 3rd generation of Moraleses. 

Having parents and grandparents is truly a blessing worth cherishing.

Dads the way!

In 3 months, there's going to be a new Daddy who'll be added to our roster of Dads.

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Happy Father's Day, Kuya Marv, Biboy, Ray, Bob, Jul, & Carl.

Happy Father-to-be's Day, Kevin!

Noah's Arc

When Noah left the Philippines, he was just a 1 year old baby.

We had this big family portrait, and he was the newest addition and the youngest one in that shot. Biboy and Liz also had him baptised before they flew to the US.

That felt like it just happened yesterday, but in reality, it's been more than 2 decades.

Now, Noah is all-grown up, and just graduated from college.

Our Noah is not a Respiratory Therapist!

It's so mice to have seen Noah's story arc progress through the decades. And it's exciting to see where his story will take him next.

Double Delight

When we were planning Mom's 80th Birthday Celebration in Bicol, one of the things she asked was: "What about our friends in Manila?"

This is where the idea of having another celebration came from. And because Dad's birthday was also coming up, it was decided that the party would be a double celebration.

That's how this party came to be.

Mom and Dad's birthdays are just 9 days apart. That's why we've had double celebrations prior to this. The last joint celebration was in Gloria Maris, many moons back.

The family all got together to ensure that the party would be a success. Ate Bullet helped with the venue and food choices, I was in charge of the invites, souvenirs and other paraphernalia, and Raymond was in charge of the cake. Which was super nice, of course.

It was awesome to see Mom and Dad's friends from different timelines of their lives. Dad had his Letran HS classmates there. We also had Tita Sari and Martin who lived in Scout Gandia with Mom and Dad when they were in their 20s. There's  Tita Mira who's Mom's best friend since we were in Grade School. And the Park Avenue crew who became close friends during the pandemic.

They all made the evening doubly fun and special. Just like the special double celebrants last night.

Happy Birthday Mom and Dad! We're doubly blessed to have both of you!

Belated Blowout

Thanks to an impromptu get together with the 026 trio, was finally able to blow out a birthday candle. Almost a week after my birthday!

You know what they say, better belated than never.

P.S. It’s the shirt I just talked about...

Buon Compleanno

Today is Mark’s Birthday! Woot!

We had our celebration in advance yesterday. We were trying to decide whether we’d go for a “usual” or if we should try something new.

Being fans of pizza and pasta, we decided to try something new and eat at La Ragazza.

This is a good, affordable place with a good selection of pizza and pasta. We decided to go light and had their truffle pasta, chicken Caesar salad, and spinach and bechamel pizza. Double yummers!

Sooo felice di aver trascorso il tuo compleanno con te.

Wheeee! It's 2023!

Another year is upon us! And we face it with renewed hope that we'll have an even better year than 2022.

As promised, the family celebrated in varying shades of Pantone's colour of the year - Viva Magenta!

May we all have a more blessed and bountiful 2023! Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas has always been about family. So, on Christmas Day, our family, both near and far, came together to celebrate this most joyous day.

And when the clock struck 12 in the US, we had another virtual Christmas gathering with the US family as well!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Double Celebration

Today is Mark's birthday! Woot!

And for the 1st time in 3 years, we're celebrating it together! Woot! Woot!

We celebrated it by going to some of our favourite places, like Chili's for lunch, then Pho Hoa for apres lunch drinks.

It's so indescribably wonderful that we're finally able to have this celebration, on a milestone birthday, no less. It's like a Birthday-Reunion, which makes today doubly meaningful.

Happy Birthday Mark! 

Fireworks

Let me quote Katy Perry's 2010 hit song, "Firework".

"Like a 4th of July. Baby you're a Firework! Come on, let your colours burst!"

Happy 4th of July, and have a colourful celebration to all my family and friends in the US! 

Golden Fiesta

Nope, this post isn’t about cooking oil.

It’s about Fiesta’s birthday celebration which we had yesterday!

As expected, Melrose made sure that there are a lot of golden moments during our Zoom get together. And she definitely enjoyed our virtual party.

Happy Birthday Fiesta Girl!

But I'm feeling...

Twenty-two!

To be exact, 2022!

And while I've written about this Taylor Swift song before, I think it deserves an encore on the 1st day of the New Year!

Happy New Year and a blessed and bountiful 2022 to all!

Golden Hour!

It's Bong's Golden Year! 

Of course, Melrose had to get together in our yellow-gold finery and greet him a Happy Birthday!

It was a Golden hour fitting of a Golden boy!