Whichever side I’m in (father’s or mother’s), the elders ALWAYS make the young’uns perform. But with my Joven cousins, because we jam a lot, we are able to sing together.
This was when Uncle Lito, Kuya Jun, Ate Maria, and Avery came to the Philippines. Please understand that horrible though our singing is here, this is not the best we can do. No, really! Hahaha! The point was getting Kuya Jun to sing along.
I am so happy because some of our relatives from the States are here! Uncle Lito was here just 3 months ago, but now he came back with Kuya Jun, Ate Maria (Kuya Jun’s wife), and Avery (their beyond-adorable 18 month-old baby!).
Their purpose is to attend Ate Maria’s brother’s wedding in Iloilo, but in their itinerary is Manila so they could come to visit us too. It was our first time to meet Ate Maria and Avery. We’ve had so much fun these past two days getting to know each other and exchanging stories over delectable food, either home-made or in good restaurants.
They’ve left for Iloilo already, after which they’ll go to Boracay. But they will be back in Manila on the 30th. We’ve planned on going out for dinner and having sushi-all-you-can.
Kuya Jun has always been a sweet cousin. He was last here about 15 years ago and I remember he used to kiss our sweaty smelly little heads. We also used to teach him some Tagalog words which he never could pronounce well. When they left that time, he gave us each a letter. I’ll look for mine! I hope I find it!
He is also such a joker, making us crack up every time. I want to share the funny things he says but I’m afraid I won’t be able to deliver them well. So let’s leave it at that.
I really wish they could stay longer. I hope they visit more often. Or better yet, I hope we could visit them in California! That would be so grand! But for now, I’m just really thankful we’ve had this chance to bond again.
Meet Avery, A very adorable baby!
She’s the baby version of Snow White. She’s so fair and her lips are so red!
And then, there’s the rest of the crowd
“This packrat has learned that what the next generation will value most is not what we owned, but the evidence of who we were and the tales of how we loved. In the end, it’s the family stories that are worth the storage.” -Ellen Goodman
“The great gift of life is to be intimately acquainted with people you might never even introduce yourself to, had life not done it for you.” -Kendall Hailey
“Like branches on a tree, our lives may grow in different directions yet our roots remain as one.” -Author Unknown
With the Sabados
It’s so rare for us cousins to be in a single photo, let alone complete in a family event. We live far away from each other. This is as much as we have ever come close to being complete.
Hmm, in point of fact, It’s not until now, after many years, that I’m going to count again how many we are.
*Doing a quick count in my head*
Fourteen! MIA: Kuya Ygor, Kuya Momon, Kuya Miko. Not bad! And Kuya Ygor was there. Sleeping I think. Kuya Momon’s in Cavite and Kuya Miko, in Singapore.
Anyway, what I get so happy about every time (and beyond compare), is these blokes getting together.
Papa with his brothers, positioned according to age in the previous photo (by special request from their wives).
In the next, according to.. soberness? Hahaha. Kidding!
They eat, drink, indulge in merriment and stories, play the guitar and belt their hearts out. I really mean it when I say, THEY LOVE SINGING. They do the blending and all. But most of all, they love being together. The kind of relationship these men have with each other has always been my idea of what family ties should be at it’s deepest. This is what I grew up knowing, this kind of bond. This is what a family is all about. And I know I am blessed.
I always get to join in on the singing. Papa taught me a lot of songs. Old songs. And I teach him new ones too, but mostly, we sing old songs. Old songs are magic. They’re beautiful. Really deep and meaningful. This Christmas, I joined these Knights of the.. um.. square table, again in their singing. I was a good addition (according to myself) because I’m the only one who can do Soprano. Of course. Hahahaha.
By the way, please pardon my half-naked Tito. I’ve gotten so used to him walking around like that, that in my eyes, he’s fully dressed. :))
Papa and my uncles asked my cousins and I to perform for them. Actually, “asked” is putting it lightly. “Forced” is the more appropriate term. And BY GODDDD I DON’T KNOW WHEN MY COUSINS STARTED BEING GREAT GUITARISTS! I am so proud of them! I am the only one who ever does strumming anymore. I have to level-up.
Here’s little Julian (who I last saw as a baby)
He made top-cousin on my list this Christmas.
And look! He’s so good to Kimba :’)
This boy will be getting a very very special gift next year.
Lots of priceless moments when the Sabado family gets together. I really hope we have our annual reunion soon!!!
2011.11.05
We went to Molino, Cavite to celebrate my niece’s 7th month birth day at their new house.
Started the day in the van playing with these two.
They look like angels
Especially Pipo when he’s sleeping—- or at least pretending to.
But really, it’s riot with these two. And I mean that in the fondest sense. A wonderful, fun, full-fledged riot.
Anyway, after the ruckus in the the van traveling to Molino, the cousins finally see each other again
There’s Sophia, she is so cute! Happy 7th month Sophie!
She claps her hands when you tell her to!
And plays peek-a-boo with Kuya Pipo
She’s such a cutie pie in her little chair!
Look at her lashes they’re so loooong!
She opened gifts but was more interested in the wrappers
And then we ate eagerly and abundantly.. aBUNDATly is more like it. I have no photos of that because yes, I was eating with much gusto. There were lots and lots and lots of food. I blame my family for every cellulite in my body.
Sophie ate her mashed potatoes
I hate my cam for blurring this next photo but I have to post it because Sophia’s smile is something the world has to see :)
With mommy and daddy
So adorable, isn’t she? :)
Now with Kuya Pipo in the photo too
While she played with her lola,
—-And got sleepy,
the rest of us decided to check out the clubhouse nearby.
During these moments, when I was trailing behind them and taking photos, I realized two things.
One, I really love taking pictures. I love taking them more than I want being in them. I don’t know a thing about photography, composition, techniques.. but it gives me a sense of fulfillment when I capture a moment so it can be preserved for all eternity. They say when you take a photograph, you take away the life of something— the smell of it, the feel of it.. That may be true. But you also preserve a tiny part of that moment for a lifetime, in the best way that you can.
Two, (and this realization is not new to me. I always think about it with fondness and tears in my eyes), this family has really grown. I remember when it was just Tito Dodo, Tita Myra and my kuyas, Ygor and Momon
Here’s the three of them. If you remember, tita is back at the house with Sophia.
And then Kuya Ygor brought Ate Marj into our lives.
(Sorry for the lopsided photo, I was carrying Biancs when I took this)
And they had two amazing children, Pipo and Bianca
And then Kuya Momon brought Ate Gemma into our lives.
(I have yet to take a photo of the two of them for myself)
And they had adorable Sophia!
From four to nine! And this has made the whole family closer.
Anyway, where was I?
Oh ya, we were going to the clubhouse (I can get so lost in thought)
We got there and it was a very nice place. Of course there was a pool.
This is Pipo when he found out. So enticed by the pool
And Biancs expressing her every desire to go in too
And so, you guessed it! Spontaneous swimming for the two kiddos!.. and their papa. Hahaha
Pipo testing the waters
Getting the hang of it
Venturing out alone
I am so so proud of Pipo for not being afraid of the water and for enjoying swimming. I promised myself early on that I would teach all the nephews and nieces I will ever have to swim. Knowing how to swim could increase life adventures, and thus, happiness, a hundredfold.
And here’s Biancs. Still too little to venture out into the waters alone but having so much fun nonetheless.
Believe me when I say Bianca is going to be a very good swimmer. She is quite the little adventuress she is today. She’s fearless! She never cowers— at anything!
What a bonding experience for the trio!
The rest of us were content with having our photos taken:
Abigail, my cousin
(She asked me to take her photo like this. Haha)
My beloved Tito
All in all, a fun-filled day! The best company.
Bathe in the joy of family togetherness
No other people will you hold more dearly in your heart.
:)
