#RayalaTravels

R, Sophia and I are like most families who always look forward to traveling together. My girl first rode a plane at 15 months when I didn't have a camera phone yet so there were no documented photos. It was a crazy trip - flight was a day delayed and my baby vomitted her milk during take-off. Yikes! But having to spent the holidays with our soldier daddy for 13 days in the farflung province that is Surigao del Sur, the crazy things that happened were worth it. What we are looking forward to now is to travel by plane altogether. Prayerfully, it will happen soon.

This year, last summer, we had a 3-day semi-planned vacation up north. It was exciting as it was the first time that we have been to a new place we've never been before. Sure, it was also our first time to see Potipot in Zambales and Hundred Islands in Pangasinan but we went there while we were at R's workplace. You know, it was just due to a spur-of-the-moment, itchy feeling to swim on the beach. But as for our long drive to Ilocos, I booked us a really nice hotel via Deal Grocer a month ahead. We also researched (aka read blogs) on where we should frolic and grab some grub. Just like in all the travels we did, I enjoyed taking photos! I then posted a few on Instagram and later found myself creating a hashtag that would collate all the travel photos so we can easily go back to it for posterity and nostalgia. The hashtag was called #RayalaTravels - by obvious reasons, haha.

A Soldier's Family at Enchanted Kingdom

After a heavy breakfast at Rowena’s, we travelled straight to Philippines’ happiest place — Enchanted Kingdom! Woohoo! Can you picture out the bouncing little brave girl shrieking in delight at the backseat of the car? She kept on asking us “are we there yet?” like on every stop, haha!

We finally arrived on our destination a little before 12noon but a few excited families have already began to pile up at the entrance. My guts told me that most were from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and R thought so, too. You see, it was November last year when EK announced that all AFP personnel can enter for free until October 31st of 2015. I believed that it was in celebration of AFP’s 79th founding anniversary. Wait, there’s more (in a sales pitch tone, of course)! Their dependents can enjoy 50% discount and up to 5 companions can slash off 25% on the ticket price. Isn’t that such a great news? Don’t forget to bring your dependent’s IDs (yours and your children’s) for validation. Yup, mistresses and illegal wives will still pay full, heehee.

Anyway, I have a confession.

New Year's Afternoon at Children's Island, Pangasinan

When I wrote about our Hundred Islands trip two summers ago, I was aware that the story was OK but the photos aren't. So I made a mental note of taking better snaps the next time we go there. It was the New Year's afternoon when my husband R and I decided (more on him granting my request) to give the islands a second chance. 'Cause like what I said, "I think if there were less people, the trip was close to perfection." Well, we chose Children's Island, smaller than where we stayed at the first time we went there, just so we'd reach that less-people-more-bliss beach vibe. It's a holiday and most vacationers think pretty a lot like we do so the island huts were still mostly occupied. I'm fine with having crowds in beaches, it's the feels I'm really after. I'm glad that the people I see this time were dressed (or not) more appropriately. Rash guards, swimsuits, board shorts, those stuff. Yup, not a salmon short pants with side pockets that made an appearance on my previous post, haha! It was half a day of holiday leftovers, snorkeling, laughter, getting a perfect tan and lovin' it. xx

The Daughter of a Soldier

Sophia was around three years and something months old when I finally felt that she knew what her father does, why he's away most of the time and why a lot of men call him "sir". 

It was December of 2009 when she first rode the plane and traveled with me and her nanny to the South to spend the holidays with her soldier dad. Unlike today when nails can already be a subject of a beautiful photograph, this momma-in-the-moment forgot to have a photo of her in front of or inside the plane for posterity. Oh well. 

The journey with my then chubby 15-month-old baby girl was a breeze. She slept the whole time, giggled to everyone who said "hi", and when we arrived, her father lovingly held his unica hija. Was the feeling mutual? Did she reciprocate the affection given? She did nothing and said nothing (of course). Ha! Our tiny trooper just smiled showing her 8 (or was it 12?) milk teeth and remained her cute bubbly self the entire vacation. We did not complain. For us, it was more than enough.

Earlier was totally a different scenario, though. 

Life Goes On

So we lost our pet named Pepper.

I may look okay outside (though the huge pimples on my face are quite an evidence on how stressed I am lately), in truth, I'm totally crushed inside. I was doing two baskets full of laundry yesterday and whenever I'd glance at where our pup's cage used to be, I can feel a strong tug in my heart. I can't do anything with it anymore but to let out a heavy sigh. The Barangay Police did not respond to my complain. My co-pet parent, R, did his best to find our furbaby (in his very James Bond way) despite his busyness in military school. Sophia fervently prayed, and continues to do, that Pepper will come back. Unfortunately, all to no avail. 

I finally felt that I need to do what I should do. And that is to let go, get over it and move on. After all, life goes on.

We love David's Salon in Marikina!

When Pia had her first haircut done in a salon, I was so disappointed! The salon's airconditioner wasn't working well, the staff weren't accommodating and my girl's haircut looked awful. So when my husband and I tried out David's Salon and realized how good they were, we went back and this time, as a family.

They Deserve My Time

I didn't blog for six days for nothing. It's not like I was in an 'emotional break' like I used to, I was actually high in happiness. And no, thankfully, I have not lost my blogging mojo, yet. I simply wanted to devote a large amount of my time for and with some important people of my life. When I took Gary Chapman's Love Language Test, it resulted that my love language is Quality Time. According to 5lovelanguages.com, this language is all about giving the other person your undivided attention. Sure - I browse Facebook, check e-mails and post on Instagram, but I always do my best not to let my social media life eat me. I resist the temptation of taking photos of each and every waking hour with my husband and daughter and eventually post it on Instagram. I decided to savor the quality of the moment than stare at a shallow quantity in my social media platforms.

Oh well! You'll see updates one after another this week since I know this'll be a busy one! I have a few blogging events to attend to so I guess I'd be breaking that 'preachy' statement I made. *wink*

The main reason why I did some 'art of unblogging' that started on Tuesday was because of my husband's Lenten break. He came home and was ours since then until earlier today. We went to Trinoma in Quezon City and used our free cinema tickets that I got from one of the media events I went to and watched Rio 2. We all had a blast! We, my husband and I, unanimously thought that it's better than its prequel. If you haven't seen it, I suggest you to please do. So many LOL moments, really. Especially those turtles doing Capoeira moves. Oops, sorry for that little spoiler there. 

Dasoland Family Adventure Park's Mini Zoo

In my previous post, I showed you photos of what you can see and do at Dasoland Family Adventure Park located in Barangay San Vicente Dasol, Pangasinan. I said that the Mini Zoo photos will be on a separate post because for me, it was the highlight of our trip. You know, a ram ran after us! LOL.

Our Dasoland Adventure

It's summer! And what else should we do this season but go out, have fun and do things with the fam bam. Right? Heeeep, our financial mom-nager instinct is telling us to stay, try to have fun and just watch movies with the kids at home. Although it's a picturesque idea to book a hotel on a beach front so you could sip your expensive fruit shake while watching your already-tanned children build their sand castles, you honestly know it will break your and your husband's bank account should you do that unplanned.

So when unplanned trips happen, we savor it.

Sophia and I usually spend the holidays with my husband R at the camp. One sunny day in December, bored and armed with some extra cash from the Christmas budget, we drove to Dasol, Pangasinan and explored the non-mainstream theme park situated in a vast and remote mango plantation in Barangay San Vicente that is the Dasoland Adventure Park. 

Planned and Spontaneous Holidays

I can't believe that despite this mean cough, colds and aching joints, I am here blogging away my thoughts again... or should I say, kwento. OK, I think I promised you this early today. So, how did my small humble family celebrate the past holidays? We celebrated Christmas Eve at my husband's camp. It's the usual chilly, kinda malamok evening of food, booze and videoke. I baked mussels. I made buko pandan. I sang a few songs; mostly the new ones on the list, to the military kids' delight. I sang Titanium... twice! Haha. Sophia flamboyantly sang Roar. For our family's finale, my little popstar sang Lenka's The Show. Around 1amish, we called it a night.

I Love the New Coca-Cola Ad

I'm taking a break from my domestic queen duties because I believe that "all work and no blog makes this mama a very dumb girl". Hihi. 

Okay, let's get it on.

I'm sure many of you have seen this new funny family ad by Coca-Cola already. It's trending! It's been shared by many of my mom friends on Facebook. I clicked it, watched it for like more than three times and was smiling with tears at the last part of the vid. I super duper love the dad's reaction towards the end. It'll definitely be my R's reaction if I'd show him a pregnancy kit with a positive sign!

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Yup, we want another of Sophia's kind. Maybe, three more? Ooh, that would be so chaotic to have four active, noisy, rowdy kids! But it'll be soooooo much fun, I'm very sure of that. Our house would be filled with love, sweetness and cuteness. I bet Rayala Dialogues will be loaded with stories if that happens. Oh well, perhaps God's plans are better than ours so we just have to wait for His timing. But Lord, I have a deadline po, can we like have kahit one more before I hit 30 next year? Please? Hihi. 

So yes, I love my daughter and I really, really, really want to have more... even if she's messy and whiny, even if I can't poop peacefully, even if my bag's too heavy with her cookie crumbs and complete cast of My Little Pony, even if making love with her father is like being a mistress to my own husband (always sneaking!), and even if I have to stay at home just so I know she is always safe.

Kudos to Santos Buenos Aires in making this new Coke ad. It's just so true for me; when parenting makes my nape ache, I drink Coke (or the local cheaper counterpart hehe).

*For Jeff Beer's article about the ad, click here.

Remembering Papa

I was eight when my father died. I will never forget that I lied. They were busy preparing for Papa's hospitalization when I told my folks I was not feeling well so I would not go to school. I didn't expect that that absence from school would be the day we will lose the king of our kingdom. 

Honestly, I just cried because my sisters were crying. My mom was hysterical. The first thought that came to me: "paano na kami?"  He was our superhero. Come afternoon naps, when Mama was the fatter version of Queen Ravenna, Papa was our Thor – gwapo and strong. He protected us from whatever punishment we could have gotten from the jail warden. He worked nonstop to always give us what we needed. He brought me to school with our Lite Ace while my sisters commute. My last birthday in 1992, I had a classic mocha cake from Merced Bake Shop, lots of party food and a set of new clothes from Cabbage Patch Kids. New Year's of 1993, he woke me up to welcome the brand new year with the fam bam. He fed me grapes like I was Cleopatra. I was Papa's little Bebeng, I was his princess. But when he died, I knew my tears weren't because I won't see him every day anymore but because I knew this day will come. This day that I will miss him so much. 

The Captain's Treat for His Girls

I can't believe that I have intentionally forgot to blog. Well, it's not that I'm beginning to lose my blogging mojo or I'm not feeling emotionally okay to write. A reader actually asked me why I wasn't blogging, she said I looked happy with all my IG posts so she wondered what went wrong. Uhm, is this a good excuse? I felt sluggish these past few days that even turning on the lappy was a daunting task. There. Like what I always post in my Facebook page whenever I'd get too busy to blog, follow me on Instagram! There are nice photos there; not very pro photography-wise but it's about me: food I cooked, my happy little artist, quotes I like and all things Bebeng. Yuhh, I check that first now more than my email. Haha! I told yah, I'll be flooding you with my Queenstagrams. 

That's the original Rhambo, my Christmas 2006 gift for him. ♥

Sophia Turned Five: Lunch at Home and Dinner at Red Ribbon

Two weeks and few days earlier, the Rayala kingdom was uber busy preparing for the princess' 5th birthday party which was held at her school. I will share with you the details of LB's colorful gallopin' gala of sweets and fun party on a separate post. If you wish to see it on Instagram, you may search it via this hashtag #LBTurnsFive. Yes, may sariling hashtag ang event ng bagets! In the meantime, allow me to make kwento the things that happened on her exact birth date. 

Rayala Dialogues: Tickle Tuesday Edition

I am not at least a quark doubtful that LB is mine. She may not look like me but her character says a lot about where she came from. She really is her mother's daughter --- a mini me in kadaldalan, that is! Here's a sample ---

LB: The Filipino frog says ribbit!
B: I think it's kokak, 'nak.
LB: Noooo. Chinese frog says 'rokak'. Kai Lan said datt.
B: Ok.

Ikaw na ang multilingual. Sakit mo sa bangs teh. o_O

~ ♔ ~

Rayala Dialogues: Sinister Sisters

OK, my sister N is not a Rayala, so technically she shouldn't be in this segment. But she's a part of our small family that there are times Rhambo and I talk about her. Haha! Why? Because she is such a senior citizen commenter on Facebook! LOL. Alam mo yun, yung wala sa hulog. Minsan pa, flooding. Kakaloka. Here's a sample, when I posted a photo of the buko pie and espasol that our mama gave yesterday ---

A Mom's Life: 31/48

Meeting new faces and faces behind the blogs I read make my social life and life per se a little bit more exciting. For my 31st AML feature, I got a multi-slashie mom on the blog, y'all! As in, working mom slash band vocalist slash TV commercial talent slash blogger slash wife slash mom. Whew. Only a few can do that, aminin niyo yan! So I'm very fortunate that she allotted time to answer my AML slumbook. Hihi. But before that, watch this video first ---

That's her on the first few frames with the knob-less door! You could also see her Jollibee TVC here and Joy Dish Washing Liquid commercial here. I got lucky that she shomehow "blogged" this post for me with her well-thought answers. :*

A Mom's Life 30/48

When I was a newbie mom blogger last year, I was always on the look-out for moms who are writers. As in those who have lengthy posts and not just product reviews, giveaways, event aftermath, etc. I wanted to read their stories and be able to connect with them; as I felt that I was after storytelling like they do. Unfortunately, around July of 2012, I started to do some 'commercial blogging addiction' that I forgot that originally, I was a storyteller. One of those mom bloggers I read was Janice of The Roller Coaster Ride. I think the first post I read from her blog was a book review. I grew up loving books and actually reading them in one sitting (or two). Then I read her 'about me' section and was surprised that she has a 'blended' family. Eventually, I 'backread' her past posts and would always check if she has new. We instantly became cyber friends. 

Grabbed from Roller Coaster Ride's Facebook page. Like her page here.

Come May 2013, we finally met at a mom bloggers event in Serendra, which I blogged about here. Janice is just quiet and listening, as opposed to my talkative hilarious self. We haven't really had a serious 'talk' but I felt like I knew her for so long 'cause I always read her stories about her partner and her three kids. Get to know a little bit more about my 30th AML through my slum book-ish questions. ;)

Slow Down, Breathe and Savor Each Moment

When I was not at my bestest self, which happened here and here, these were what I have at home.

Three Girlfriends and a New Kind of Hope

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I am a walking contradiction. I am brave but a wimp. I am strong but a crybaby. I am funny but always searching for happiness. Tunog Bipolar na ba? Hehe. I know myself well, that I actually have the power to manipulate my own feelings whenever I want to. I think all of us could do that as well --- the manipulation of our own emotions. Do you agree? You see, I was not at my best self lately. I cried over the littlest of things. I started to have that moment, I think a week ago and I "over-shared" it with my husband. Rhambo, not used to having a Judy Ann Santos of a wife (read: teleserye queen) ignored it. Ugh. It was the lowest of low, muthers. As in. It's hard when that one person actually caused you to be more emotional when all this time you thought he would be the saviour of your emotions. I extended my drama scenes over at Instagram. Mega-post ng quotable quotes na swak sa nararamdaman ko at that moment. Ang sarap eh, masokista lang ang peg. Hahaha! But when I realized it didn't help me lessen the burden, I spilled all the beans to my best girlfriends: E, my 1st AML from the North; C, the fitness trainor from hell; and S, the spelunker video editor from SG. Yes, we had brunch a la SATC, only virtually. Oh, you just didn't how I felt so much better after that! But the husband was still dedmadela to the max that I can't afford to smile yet.