Kiddie Party for Mac as He turn 19!

Who says if you are turning 19 you are too old to throw a kiddie party? Nah!!! I was ableto prove that wrong... as I organize one for my brother. Haha!

Part of my recent Philippine vacation is to celebrate my middle sibling's birthday. Yes, he turn 19 years old. But instead of a formal dinner over fine food and alcohol drink, I decided to booked Jollibee fastfood instead. With the hassle-free party package that includes party hosting, party games/ prizes, mascot and food - I know it will be such a memorable and wacky experience for all!

It was a suprise. My brother knew the day itself, inside the car when we are already on our way there. He initially got irritated with what I did and insisted he will go back home. But when we reach the place an all the fastfood crew started to greet him "happy birthday", he can't say no anymore and started to be on a party mood.

the birthday boy with his justice league kiddie party theme

with his superhero cake

the guest and party venue

mac, mommy ybeth and baby zy with the party hosts

start of the kid's game - game number 1: longest line

game number 2: longest "happy birthday" greeting

start of adult game (ladies won by the way. hehehe..)

scores: boys - 0 ladies - 2 (best of 3 on the game "arrange yuorself according to...")

eating time

jollibee and hetty mascot came

entetaining the crowd with their dance presentation

birthday wish and blowing of candles

zy with the mascots

It was such a great time. Even the fastfood manager was shock that the celebrant was already a grown-up. Haha!

So to you Mac - Happy Birthday again. Hope you mature as you age. Since I'm not there with you all the time, please continue to take care of Zyrus, Mama and our younger siblings. Focus on your studies as that will be your investment to succeed in the future. Remember that Ate Ybeth will forever be here to guide and love you all.

Celebrating Mother's Day!!!

Of all the roles of being a woman, motherhood tops it all…

I have always been grateful of how my mom raised me and my 4 other siblings very well especially when my dad died sometime back. It was not easy accepting that her eldest daughter got pregnant out of wedlock and now living a single parent life… it’s not easy taking it when your eldest son says he needs to leave and marry his girlfriend already… it’s not easy guiding and monitoring her 3 other younger children 24/7. Among these and a lot of other difficulties my mom encountered, she is still standing proud and serving us all the best way she can.

My mom once told me that I can only repay her for giving me a life when I myself became a mother. Being one for more than 5 years already, by now I fully understand what she meant. Only a mother will be very much willing to risk her own life during birth delivery. Only a mother can surpasses sleepless nights of breastmilk feeding and changing diapers. Only a mother can guarantee her child the love and protection that nobody else can never ever give. Now I know that as long as I’m doing my job well as “mommy ybeth” to “baby zyrus”, I’m little by little paying my own mom my debt of life.

So to you Mama, may God continue to bless you and shelter you from harm. We love you and thank you for being our mom!!!!

baby zy and mama

me and mama

my brother with mama

May I take this opportunity as well to honor some of the great mothers I know. It’s really a privilege being their friend.

To my ever sweet Asia Select office room-mate Ajie:
A lot of memories on our shared room. I miss those times where we chat about our personal lives and how we manage to support each other, All those laughter and tears we shared… All those advises we each partake. Now, your life is perfect. Remember I told you I envy your life? A rewarding career… A loving and handsome husband,,, A beautiful little daughter… What more can you ask for? J

To a very strong lady May:
Who says single parenthood is boring? You girl is the exact epitome of how exciting and rewarding it is to be one. Your strength and will power is simply amazing. I remember you saying I’m your inspiration why you survive this far. Honestly, it’s the other way around sometimes May. I learned a lot from you also. Despite of what you have been through, I admire you for still taking risk and believing on love (talking about trusting someone again). Goodluck on your new found relationship. I’m happy for you girl!

To my ever caring boss Rita:
I wish I’ll be as glamorous and as cool as you when I reach your age and still give justice to my role as Zyrus’ mother. As I observe, I admire the way you raise your family as affectionate and closely-knit as possible. I see my mom in you sometimes, because she is also showy and vocally loving like you.

To all the mothers out there – stand tall, stand proud. As not all were given the opportunity to experience this such wonderful task. As the saying goes, Motherhood is the highest noble paying job as the compensation is pure true love.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!!

My April 8-12 Philippine Vacation

Just sharing to you guys my well spent 5-days Philippine vacation. :)

April 8 (Wednesday):

Reached philippine airport at 4am and went straight to island cove resort. Even if we check-in very early, the hotel staff were kind enough to give us our room with no extra charge.

baby zyrus, mommy ybeth & mama lola at executive veranda room

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First activity is of course, go oceania park and swim our hearts out. Got big time sunburn because of this. But it's ok since my son enjoyed alot.

at oceania park inside island cove

zyrus enjoying the kiddie pool

jacuzzi in the middle of adult pools

other side, with the giant slides

When back to the hotel to freshen up in time for lunch.

at the hotel lobby ready for lunch

while going to our middle cabana for lunch

30 minutes holding the bait rod but still no caught fish...

festive lunch at fishing village

After lunch, we headed to the island zoo - petting zone where zy enjoyed feeding the animals, butterfly park where we didn't see even a single butterfly (haha!) and the wild farm where tigers, lions, ostrich, crocodiles, monkeys, etc are based.

zyrus and sister linggit with the ostrich

at the petting zone of the island zoo

picture first before meeting crododiles and monkeys

family souvenir photo with a 4-year old crocodile

horse-carousel ride around the island then back to hotel

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Went island song ktv at 7pm - my siblings shamelessly sang for 2 hours. Ok, ok... I admit, me and Zy sang and dance too. Haha! Then went to Patron Bar for late-night dinner and little cocktail (my son was my escort that night. wink!).

one and only bar inside the island - patron

APRIL 9 (thursday)

waiting for mama and younger siblings for breakfast

After having buffet breakfast at sangley point, we roam around the island outdoor park then dipped on the hotel's jacuzzi and mini-pool for sometime before checking-out.

zyrus choosing the perfect bike for him

zyrus ruining and distracting the giant chess game. hehe...

mommy ybeth and baby zyrus replacing the king and queen

mommy ybeth and baby zyrus enjoying the hotel's jacuzzi

APRIL 10 (friday)

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Travelled very early from our province to manila just to be in our old city house at 7am to watch the famous pinetensya (tagalog word). Pinetensya as per my own understanding is a good friday tradition of of some people as a form of self-sacrifice - where they wound thier back, hit it continously and let it bleed until road procession is done. This pinetensya procession goes infront of our old city home itself. It's been a yearly tradition to have our clan's family reunion.

pinetensya is one of the good friday highlights at our manila home

close-up look

more on pinetensya

family reunion over simple good friday lunch (seafoods galore)

After lunch, we decided to go out and have cold dessert somewhere. We tried roaming around and most of the good places were close because it's good friday. Luckily, bluewave macapagal is open. While my son, mom, siblings and younger cousins enjoys thier ice cream, my uncles are having thier alcohol drinknig session. hehe...

Speaking of my uncles (brothers of my mom), i'm lucky that we were raised close with them. They were like our extended fathers. I remember they used to fetch us to school and give us extra pocket money too. When I grow older, they are the guys who tried thier very best to protect me. When they learn my personal problem with zy's dad, they are the people who would be wiling to kill someone just to make me feel secured.

finally, bluewave macapagal is open - and they serve beers for my uncles! hehe...

mommy ybeth with uncle bhot and uncle jaime

Then went Makati and check-in at Great Eastern hotel for 3days and 2 nights.

at our superior room (zy bought winnie the pooh & tigger along)

zy with siblings and 2 cousins at the 10th floor pool

April 11 (Saturday):

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We appreciate the dimsum and continental hotel breakfast - really value for money. Went glorietta shopping mall at 11am and first activity is watch monsters and aliens movie. Zy didn't appreciate sitting inside the cinema, He was very eager to go out and go toy shopping.

queing for movie icket at glorietta cinema (monster vs. aliens)

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After movie, we went on the newly open indian restaurant as my mom said she miss eating these dishes already. We just ask the waiters to make our meal less spicy only for my younger siblings to appreciate.

exterior of new bombay restaurant with the food we order

nice wall painting interior and elegant ethnic dining table

lunch at new bombay glorietta mall

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After lunch, we went to Zy's ever favorite timezone. My son loves playing arcade games alot as well as the kiddie fun rides.

arcade playing at timezone

toys shopping

Finale is zyrus shopping - i gave him the go-signal to buy whatever he want. He completed his disney cars collection and purchased more hotwheels toys. Whew, just don't ask me how much it cost me. Hehe... just kidding.. Anything for my son.
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April 12 (Sunday):

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Official photos of zy's graduation rites and graduation lunch party will be release in two weeks time. Sharing to you partial and unofficial pictures. I'm so proud of my son graduating on pre-school and being the top 5 among the whole class (not to mention that he was studying as early as 2 years old - toodler class). Mommy loves you very, very much! Thanks for making mommy and mama lola so happy.

zyrus singing his graduation song

happy graduation baby zy! love: mommy ybeth

happy easter from crispino family

cake, wine and souvenir table at abedeen court restaurant

mommy ybeth and baby zyrus

baby zyrus with mama lola

wine toasting for zyrus' graduation! mommy ybeth's so proud of baby zy...

uncle ramon giving his wish and good luck message

me with mama (notice mama wearing indian blouse from fab india)

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Late check-out at the hotel after the lunch party. Went back to our new province home. Requested mama for personally cook our dinner. Rest and get ready for my ealy flight back to Singapore the next day.