"There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage". Quoted by: Martin Luther

it's our seventh year as a married couple!!!
we may not  look the same but it still seems like yesterday....

he gave me my wish...my garden

he personally pick flowers and greens as addition to my grown plants

"The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret".

Quoted by: Henry Youngman

this is his favorite

never too late

I know I am quite old now and learning a new skill at this age was difficult to think at first. But I welcomed the opportunity presented. Thanks to him I am given the chance to try something new.

Finally! At 34, I learned how to drive.
Thank you Mantrust Driving Institute.
Thank you Crissy for paying for it.



He was really firm for me to enroll at a driving school rather than learning from him. He said he wouldn't teach me how unless I have known the basics. It was just a beginners five -day course. And he was right with the decision because when he began teaching me, I gauge the difference between learning from the professional instructor and learning from him.

I guess since the instructor really knows how to handle student drivers, he remained cool and steady whenever I make mistakes. But with him, he immediately gets disappointed and unconsciously raise his voice that causes me to panic all the more. Sabi nga ng instructor, nag-aaway lang daw mga mag-asawa kapag sila magtuturuan. Ayun, napipikon din agad ako sa kanya kapag inaasar na niya ako at di ko makuha ang mga tinuturo niya. Mas lalo akong nagkanerbiyos ng umikot-ikot kami sa ginagawang airport road at feeling ko mahuhulog kami sa palayan. Although, tama naman siya,di naman talaga at nasa gitna lang kami.

Anyway, now that I am done with my classes, he is really patient to teach me more. Though I would love more to be just sitting on the passengers side, learning to drive is becoming a necessity and I don't really have choices since he's away most of the time. That leaves me doing things on my own. And it's not for me to complain, it isn't every day that I will have the resources to learn a skill.

This leaves me with one more thing to gain knowledge of...SWIMMING...try harder in teaching me Crissy.

affordable dining in Albay

He was away for eight months and if he was around we would have  gone out at least 32 times, whether its a movie date, dining out, doing the grocery among others. The best thing about it, he makes up for all the time he was away. The day he arrived we started our constant dates. No frills, just eating out while having our never ending conversations. Palusot lang, di kasi kami mahilig magluto pareho. Anyway, di rin kami ganon kahilig kumain.

Palamigan in Daraga and Sagpon Albay - It's our first stop. Siyempre kapag Daragueña, lumaki na dito.   Really lutong-bahay at very affodable price. Andami variants ng gulay dito araw-araw kaya ang sarap mamili. We ordered  Fish Cocido, a signature Bicolano dish.

Zagitsit at Alternate Road -  I've seen a branch too in Legazpi Boulevard. And since their specialty is "bulalo", it's the one we tried and we weren't  disappointed. masarap nga siya. 

Alibar Foodland -   near St. Raphael Church in Legazpi City. Hindi ako food critic talaga pero masarap din 'yong food nila. This has been around for ages  pero ewan ko ba at ngayon ko lang naisipan i-try. Wow, sabaw pa lang nabusog na ako.

Kim's Bowl  - Lagi madami tao kapag nadaan kami dito and from afar mukhang sosyal   "yong place. Di naman pala, I mean, di naman awkward sa mga simpleng tao lang tulad namin. At take note, mura lang din pala. I like their restroom  too. Siyempre sa mga girls, kapag kakain lagi na kasama 'yon.

DJC Halo-Halo and Fastfood -  Binabalik-balikan namain ito dati pa. Pero first time namin mag-lunch since, lagi lang merienda at halo-halo sadya namin dati. At in fairness, masarap din luto nila. Pinag-piyestahan ko ang lechon kawali while he opted for fish cocido again. At sobrang sarap na sarap na naman ako sa halo-halo.

DJC's yummy halo-halo @ 70 pesos

Cherry Tops in Daraga - It's a newly opened outlet of known bakery Cherryland. Wala kami magawa sa bahay at nagkayayaan uli na mag-merienda sa Daraga. We tried their linupak and bibingka. Yummy as always kapag  galing sa bakery na ito.

his favorite, palitaw
my favorite, nilupak na kamoteng kahoy

Mexita's nachos

Mexita's family pizza

Mexita at Alternate Road - Siyempre we tried their special pizza. But I am not pizza fanatic  kaya di ko ma-appreciate masyado. Basta may coke lang,okay na ako.

Graceland @ Pacific Mall-  The main branch is at Rizal St. Legazpi, where I have fond memories when we were in college. We would spend the entire afternoon chatting there with just the 19 peso burger meal each. Last week we tried their pancit canton. I know I am biased thinking that it is no match to Palamigan's pancit, but it did came close. If i like Palamigans meatballs with it, i enjoyed  their pansit version with lechon kawali.

their salu-salo pancit good for three @ 165 pesos

love,love,love @ Albay's treasured paradise

We were supposed to be at Sorsogon City today. I already imagine a day strolling around the city, a lunch at a seafood restaurant and perhaps a visit to the museum and churches. But at 9am, the one we were suppose to meet (who happens to be his textmate) cancelled it. Natakot 'ata sakin,hahaha. I immediately got disappointed. Good thing bumawi agad siya and suggested for us to go to Misibis instead. I didn't have enough info since I've researched for Sorsogon City.

But this is Albay, and I am a pure blooded Albayana.  We can always ask questions along the road. We decided to hit Bacacay town proper. We were first pointed at the port when we asked for directions. That was correct too, since before transportation is through the barge. It was lunchtime already,so we had one at a nearby eatery. 

the Bacacay church built in 1660

Nakita ko pa lang ang church na ito, worth it na ang pagpunta namin. I love Bacacay's quiet town. Parang sa pelikula 'yong municipal hall, church, park at police station na malapit sa isa't-isa. Ang sarap siguro maglakad-lakad sa hapon.

finally, after  almost an hour travelling we reached the Sula bridge, the one that connects Cagraray island to the mainland

It's a long drive. There were no road signs. The only sign for us were the solar powered lamps. From the town proper, the landmark would be the chapel in Barangay Danao. I eagerly waited for the sight of the bridge and it was like nowhere in sight. At although sementado ang daan, nakakatakot ang mga curves niya. I am just confident in his driving and I know we could never go wrong.

bad hair day but who cares with the awesome view around

along the way, we just stop and took pictures

the entrance to Cagraray Ecopark

Daniel at Katerina daw ang peg

THE CHAPEL
Me: Can we renew our vows here?
Him: Ma-char-char ka talaga Doringring!

sige na nga kunwari pre-nup photo shoot at wala tayo mga ganon dati

his advance anniversary treat to me kaya i-enjoy na

the hanging bridge on the way to the pool

upong char-char according to Crissy

photo credits to our chaperon who got only one word "cool"

I fell in love again and wish to remarry. To the same man of course, hahaha.

I feel proud too that this paradise is in Albay. Just two hours away from home, meaning we could always go back. This is where the best of both worlds meet. The mountains and the seas come together in its full grandness. I so envy those who could afford to own a property here. Parang gusto ko magkaroon din ng sariling isla ng makita ko 'yong maliliit na isla habang nakatunghay sa dagat sa daanan. Parang 'yong scenery na dinadayo nila sa Taal. Kasama kaya sa 7,107 islands na 'yong maliliit na isla doon? Ang sarap din siguro ng may yate para mag-ikot-ikot sa dagat.

I just have to wait for a year to experience the luxury at the nearby Misibis Residential Resort. Nevertheless, I am thankful already for seeing a piece of paradise I  only read about.

the little boy is back!

he's back! he's back!

and i look forward to having my very best friend to talk with, my critic to  parade my dress on and hear a very honest answer, my servant at my beck and call, and my husband who's whenever around, I have nothing to worry anymore. for once, ang sarap kaya ng feeling na siya na muna ang bahala sakin at di ko na kailangan lagi pagurin ang sarili ko at mag-isip ng mga bagay-bagay on my own. he is the one in control and i never mind.

2012, the year that was...

The year ended with me sleeping as usual,haha.... Just got busy the whole day, oh, the whole week before the year ends that's why I was dead tired when we welcomed 2013. Tired but happy of course. 2012 ended  with us finally getting one, on his dream list.

The whole year of course saw us getting excited each month of the growth of the baby's family. We all eagerly wait for the many first in Binky's life. He is the ultimate source of our joys now. And as he turns one, naging makulit at pasaway man, still we are happy always to have him around.

One of the highlights too of the year that passed was my vacation in his hometown. It is always pleasant to be with his family since we got so limited time to be together. We are looking forward to have them here too, which we hope to happen  next year.

There were times that I got sad too that the year folded without Mommy around. It is the one fact of life that I can never get used too.

Although he was away for the whole eight months of the year, I never felt alone. We communicate almost every day and that made up for his being miles away.

The saddest part was, we didn't have yet our most fervent wish , but that's what new year is about. A fresh start, a new hope, and we can always work for it, and pray for it. The blessings were bountiful and there were so much to thank God for.

Needless to say, I always find myself thanking God every day for giving a better half that is so kindhearted that you just want to be so nice all the time too to deserve his love.

a date with binky

@ Legazpi Boulevard

anthony & doris
@ Embarcadero de Legazpi