2024 PHILIPPINES - DAY 1

Sony A7IV  ■ f/2.8 ■ 1/60 ■ ISO 500

We booked our flight several months in advanced before planned departure towards the end of April 2024 via Singapore. It was for my mother’s 80th birthday. My brother and cousin Grace were coordinating the event, and I went along with whatever they came up with, since I was not a party planner.

I was on the fence about going back home knowing the long flight let alone my fear of flying. Since it will not be for several months. I was not thinking about it and was thinking that it was for my mom’s 80th birthday, and I needed to be there.

I don’t have any idea why the fear of flying but I will probably write about that later. For now, I am going to focus on what is at hand, the trip to the Philippines.

It was decided that the celebration would be held a day earlier than her birthday to accommodate guests who have work the next day. It was also decided that the venue would be the same place where she had her 70th birthday. My cousins did the legwork and much more. All is settled.

There were 5 of us from here who made the trip: my wife and I; Denisha and Ash; and Sinjin. Ruchi was not able to make the trip this time since she was waiting for her travel papers. Well, she did get the documents before our flight, however, the price if she was to book it would be more than double the price we initially paid. She opted to stay and just looked after Cooper.

My wife suggested that we stay in a hotel rather than stay at my mom and dad’s house. If we stayed, it would be crowded.

Weeks before the flight, I looked at our itinerary and noticed that from Newark to Singapore was a 19-hour flight. I asked my wife if she knew that the flight was that long. They wanted to go and visit the Jewel just outside Changi airport. We also found out that there are free tours provided by the country to entice flyers who have at least more than 6 hours of layover. I will be writing about our layover in Singapore later.

Everything was planned with help from my cousin Grace, arranging the hotel reservations as well as the shuttle from the airport to the hotel. Our arrival was around midnight, and I did not want to bother my parents or my cousin, she had already done so much.

Seda Nuvali

Breakfast was included with our stay; we just called our parents and brother to just go to the hotel for breakfast. My cousins on my mother's side would be checking into the same hotel that day because it was closer to the venue. Relatives from down under will be checking in that same day, or should I say re-checking in because they just checked out a few days ago to go to Boracay.

I should have taken a picture of the hotel but sad to say I did not, I think I may be able to screenshot one from their website. Better yet just click on this link to see their website Seda Nuvali. I would say 4 out of 5 for the price. The room was spacious, the staff were so accommodating and breakfast was included with the stay and it was eat-all-you can.

First Day

My wife and daughter are scheduled to get their hair done in Alabang. Not sure why since we were in Sta. Rosa, that will be more than an hour's drive depending on the traffic. No traffic, probably 30 minutes, with traffic maybe an hour or more.

We exchanged our money, and they will be using ride-share, but my father suggested driving them there instead and we can hang out in the mall while waiting for them. I also decided to get a haircut.

After my haircut, we ate lunch at Sandaime restaurant inside the mall. I will not recommend this restaurant to anyone. Only Ash enjoyed his food and all of us were disappointed. My brother and son ordered mango smoothie and they only took a sip and left it. Nobody even bothered to ask us about our food and the smoothies that were barely touched.

My parents, my brother, Sinjin, Ash, and myself. My wife and daughter were still not done with their hair. I suggest they go back to Sta. Rosa, and I will wait for them and just book a ride-share.

That night, there was a planned dinner in Sta. Rosa at Amare La Cucina, there were around 30 of us, and as always Grace and Joel handled the bill after. It was my first time seeing my cousin Lolita’s daughter, Zadiya, and her fiancé, Ali. Last time I saw Lolita was during my mom’s 70th birthday and she was still single then, time flies.

The restaurant was closing at 10 PM and it felt that we needed to hang out longer. The closest places are hours away from us. Decided to just get back to our hotel and hang out at the bar by the poolside. When we got there, there was live entertainment, a duo. Found out that they were also almost done for the night and the bar was closing soon. Someone from our group requested the duo to stay longer and we ordered a couple of rounds of drinks before the bar closed. We ended up jamming with the duo and got on stage. There may be a few videos floating around somewhere.

Day 1 Pictures

CHOICES

Disclaimer: Just my opinion, and they are neither right nor wrong.

We did not have a choice when we were born. From which parents or if we are to be born rich or poor or to be a boy or a girl. On the other hand, our parents have a choice of whether to have us or not to have us. It is sad but true that pregnancies can be terminated because they claim that it is their right. The unborn don’t have rights they say, and this is a hot topic for debate. What do you think?

Growing up, some are slowly given choices, like what food they like to eat or what clothes to wear. Others are not given choices because there are simply no other choices but what is available. Gradually we get more choices, either we choose them ourselves or they were chosen for us.

Unlike our parents, we can choose who our friends are. We can choose to let our friends run our lives or we can choose to run their lives. I would choose neither because I don’t want to force anyone to do things, on the same token that I don’t want to be forced to do things I don’t like.

The bottom line is that we need to be responsible for all the choices we make in our lives. We cannot and we should not blame anyone for the choices we made. Blaming others for our wrong choices is just making an excuse and blaming others. Our choices are not going to be always right, perfect, or popular, but we need to learn to move on and correct ourselves when we make wrong choices. However, whatever choice we make, we have to fight for it or we have to accept that others do not conform to our choices and learn to accept theirs, just like you want them to accept yours.

Often, you will hear some lame excuse why they are such because of what has happened in their past. An example, an alcoholic or an abuser will say that they are such because they saw or experienced it growing up. You have a choice to be one or not to be one. You can choose to rise above or to get drifted by the current.

We live our lives today with so many choices and we are getting drowned by such an overwhelming number of choices. The information or the misinformation that we see every day makes our decision-making too difficult. Do we choose the popular or the less popular? Or do we choose based on our conviction or do we choose because we are swayed?

Choosing what is right and wrong seems straightforward, but what is right and wrong? Who defines what is right and what is wrong?

Nativity

Sony DSLR-A200 ■ f/4 ■ 1/40 ■ ISO 400

I took this picture when we were active in the Alliance of the Two Hearts. This church, Saint Peter, in Merchantville, New Jersey was the host for Adore. It was a three-day event for children and young adults to participate in a religious celebration. The church had a nice Nativity display, and I was learning photography. My first take on a low-light situation.

The Birth of Christ is accounted for in the Bible and the Quran. There are so many visual representations all over about the Nativity. It adorns most Christian churches and homes all around the world during the Christmas season. In the Philippines, when the month ends in “ber” people start to hear Christmas songs and even put out decorations. Most countries celebrate Christmas. Businesses capitalize on the season, just like any other holiday or event. One may even think that all these are just to make money.

But why December? If you read the Bible, suggests that it happened during the lambing season. Shepherds were out in the pasture with sheep when an angel appeared to announce the Birth of Christ. Otherwise, sheep may have been corralled during the cold season. I have read that the Roman Empire may have had a hand in choosing the 25th day of December. I believe Emperor Constantine chose this date maybe because of a political motive or probably just a popular date for the celebration. Not to mention, the emperor was leaning towards Christianity at that time after previous emperors persecuted Christians.

The fact of the matter is that we do not have first-hand experience or knowledge, however, it does not diminish the fact that the event gives each one of us hope for togetherness and shared love. What’s ironic is that people get together only during some sort of celebration or something horrific that has happened. Why not give love not only on Christmas but every day?

But why do we have a Christmas tree? I will share my thoughts on this one next time.