Mauie Flores

This year, we were more fortunate in terms of financial blessings that we were able to treat everyone in the family with special (and more expensive) gifts. It's really our dream to do that eversince. Syempre pag pasko, basta may nakabalot ok na. lalo sa mga bata.

But don't get us wrong. We did not, and would never, forget the true meaning of Christmas. Personally, I thanked Jesus for giving us blessings every single day of the year. I count my misfortunes as blessings, too. They are, in fact, learning experiences that make me stronger and wiser every step of the way.

We attended the midnight mass at our parish church before having the traditional Noche Buena with the family. Sobrang dami nga ng tao, naawa ako sa kids kasi they had to sit on the church's floor. I wasn't able to fully absorb the priest's homily nga e. I got distracted with everything. Kaya I just made my personal and quiet meditation afterwards.

On to the Noche Buena....

This festive table is what we had for our salo-salo. We had our traditional arroz valenciana, hotdogs on stick, Christmas ham, grilled squid, chicken barbecue, steamed crabs, honey garlic prawns, garden salad and (ang matagal nang pangarap ni Daddy Jun... hehehe) curried lobsters!

Seryoso! Talagang matagal nang pangarap yan ni Daddy Jun! Sobrang mahal kaya! We went to Dampa in Paranaque just to buy this jumbo lobster. Mahal pa rin naman pero... who cares? Minsan lang naman 'to. Solved na solved ang mama sa picture ano?

Kain kung kain! We set our dining table outside the house. As in... on the street... in front of our house. Our street's not a busy one, anyway. And sa dami namin di kami kasya sa aming dining room!

Look at these two boys. Ang saya saya ng mga mukha. Hotdogs ang ham lang naman ang kinain ng mga yan!

After we had our sumptuous meal, we proceeded with our gift giving. Oo nga pala, it's our first Christmas with a Christmas tree! Hehehe.

We sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus first. Then, Rap acted as our master of ceremonies. He gave the first gift to Lola Aba. Syempre, we won't forget the rule : Kiss the one who gave you the gift. Nakaraming kiss si Rap, puro pangalan kasi niya ang nilagay ko sa tags ng gifts namin eh. Ate Megan became his big helper.

And after all the giving and the kissing.... syempre opening na!

That's Olec opening all of his gifts. Di ba sulit na sulit talaga pag nakikita ang happiness sa face ng mga bata once it's gift giving and opening time?

This is Rap opening our gift to him. Naks! Lumi Drum yata yan! Syempre our most expensive gift would be for our most beloved person in the world. We hope that this gift will further hone his musical gift.

Hehehe... Obvious bang haping-happy ang lahat sa mga nakuha nila? Ang saya-saya talaga!

I bought a bottle of tequila and a couple of limes. We had tequila shots afterwards. Siguro by 2 am we slept na rin. We had to go to Pasig pa to my parents' house for our Christmas lunch.

Sa Pasig, gift giving na naman. I'm so touched kasi even Lloyd and Christie had gifts for everyone considering that they have a lot of expenses with the new baby. Ang baby Clyde, which I fondly call Pasaway, made our day worthwhile. Pinaglaruan ko nang pinaglaruan. Humahagikhik pag tinatawag na Pasaway. Sayang, I can't upload the video of my gwapong pamangkin here.

Si Mama, ewan ko ba kung nang-aasar o nagpi-pressure lang, gift ba naman sa akin maternity dress! Grrr.... Eh ganun daw yun para matuloy ang pagbubuntis. Pamahiin ng matatanda.

I hope they're happy with our gifts, too. We bought them a DVD player. ;p

Ang saya talaga pag nakakapagpasaya ka ng mga tao. Talagang feel namin na this Christmas wala kaming nakalimutang maambunan ng blessings. Dahil sobra sobra ang mga dumarating sa amin, it's just befitting that we share everything.

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You couldn't just imagine what we had last night!

Absent ako kahapon kasi interview and exam ni Ralph sa Don Bosco Makati. After his exam, we went straight to Glorietta so I can do some Christmas shopping on the side. Daddy Jun picked us up there and we decided to drop by at Festival Mall so he can buy his Christmas party costume.

So, we were already parked in a nice spot in Festival Mall. I went out first, then Ralph. As Daddyjun was about to get the keys out, he noticed that the car alarm switch wasn't attached to it anymore! Buti na lang he noticed it before closing the door by the driver's seat. Kung hindi, ay naku....

We went frantic looking for that damn thing! I started groping under the seats. Syempre, insticts told me na dapat nasa may bandang ilalim lang ng driver's seat yun. But, to no avail.

We decided to go back to Glorietta at baka nga dun sa parking area nahulog. Sinara ni Daddy Jun ang door niya and he tried to start the car. Hindi nag-start! Tapos nag-lock ang doors with the three of us inside! Panic-attack!

We needed to go out or else we're going to be trapped forever! Daddyjun's door won't open, I tried to open mine and it did. Kaya lang, nung pagbukas ko, biglang nag-alarm! Ngak! Panic attack na naman si Daddyjun. As in sigawan kami sa loob ng kotse.

Lumapit ang guard, kala siguro carnappers kami. Buti na lang at naka-office clothes ang Daddyjun at may kasama kaming bata. The guard helped us to disable the alarm. Tinanggal niya yung connections sa battery. Kaya lang once na sinasaksak uli, tumutunog uli ang alarm.

Iyak na ng iyak si Rap. He started praying. Haay, nakakaawa nga eh. Takot sigurong di makauwi. Tapos, me guard pa. Lahat na dinasal niya, Our Father, Hail Mary, Apostles Creed. I went on reassuring him that everything will be fine. That God will send us an angel and probably an answer to our problem.

We looked for the car alarm's manual. Nakuha na rin ni Daddyjun ang technique kung paano i-start makina then disable the alarm. We were ready to go back to Glorietta. Before closing the door, Daddyjun went to the backseat and tried to find the alarm's switch. Haay buhay! Nandun nga sa floor.

It turned out na on the way from Makati to Alabang, natanggal siya and nahulog sa floor. Tapos syempre umatras ng umatras hanggang napunta sa backseat floor.

Ang sarap ng tawanan namin afterwards. We treated ourselves to sumptuous meals at Fat Choi. Nung mahimasmasan na kami, we realized that maybe God knocked on our doors that night. That He reminded us of His power. Masyado kasi kaming aligaga sa pagbibili ng mga pangregalo, sa pagpaplano ng mga ihahanda sa Pasko. Puro saya. Talagang suntok sa utak at puso. A very humbling experience.

What's funny that night is that Daddyjun and I, who were supposed to be the all-knowing adults, didn't even think of asking God for help. Si Rap pa ang nag-initiate. Sabi nga ni Rap, in tears ha, "Sana matulungan ko kayo. Pero bata pa ako." Kaya siguro nag-pray na lang.

Bigla kaming nagising. Pati ang anak ko na-realize ang power of prayers.

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Friday is art and crafts time once again. We reserve this day to let the kids relax and unwind. Meaning, there are no academic subjects pag Friday. Only PE, games, theater arts, and arts and crafts.

Here are my Grade 1 students busy making 3D stars. Ms. Len (my teacher aide) and I used them to decorate our classroom for the holidays. Actually, they have made decors for 2 Fridays already. I'm proud to say that our room is the most "Christmasy" (if there is such a word!).

I'm sad that my time with the school will be almost over. We have to move back to Manila come summer time. Ralph will take the admission test in Don Bosco Makati soon. Daddy Jun has recently resigned from Intel and is now a Duty Manager at Coca Cola Exports (in Makati also).

It's the same thing all over again. Ganito rin dati when I was still in the Editorial Dept. of Saint Mary's Publishing. We have to move to Santa Rosa kasi Intel opened the new site (back then) in Cavite. I had to resign. Santa Rosa has little job opportunities then. Ngayon, we have to move nanaman, and I have to sacrifice my career. Although, I think that I have lots of opportunities in Makati. I can teach or offer tutorial services. Or maybe, I can just go back to my old part-time mommy and wife and part-time grad student existence. Lapit na rin ng thesis ko eh.

What I will miss most are the kids. Next to them are the friendships I have established with my co-teachers and the school staff. Ang school, parang extension lang ng bahay ko eh. Ang saya ng bawat araw.

Haay naku, mag senti ba? Tama na nga, tagal pa naman yon eh. I still have to produce a bright idea for the class' production number on our Christmas concert. Any ideas?

:)

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