Bryan Turned Six...

I felt so bad last Saturday because it was our grandson's birthday and I did not get my request for day off. Hubby and I wanted to be there earlier so we could spend more time with family and friends but time was not in my favor. I went to work and worked until 7:30 pm. It was already late but we still managed to get there.

We were on the road when Elsie called us to find out where we were at that time. They were getting ready for the cake but after knowing that we were almost there, they decided to just open the gifts so we all could sing the birthday song for our darling celebrator altogether.

When we got there, Bryan was still opening his gifts and so we added ours on the unopened group. We got him just a birthday card since he already knows how to read and a Target gift card. Target is his favorite store to shop that's why we decided to give him that. But what really astounded us was our choice of the birthday card. We picked the 5-year-old card instead of six. It was a mistake but anyway Regina did the same thing too. We're not the only one, anyway. But Gilbert and I both knew he turned 6 and I wrote it on our calendar at home. It's just that when we picked the card, we were so focused on the contents inside forgetting what it said outside. LOL! It was a funny embarrassment! To think that he is our grandson!

This is our boy with his Lego. He just could not wait to assemble them all after opening the boxes.

Bryan Turned Six...

My Cousin's Visit

My cousin called me from the Philippines when she got her multiple entry visa. She told me that she's coming and that hubby and I had to pick her at the San Francisco International Airport. That's what we agreed but I kept waiting for her next call to confirm her departure and arrival so I could schedule my day off from my work. I suggested a weekend for her to arrive so hubby and I could pick her from the airport without a problem. But she called me just before she left the country and since I was at work, she left me a message saying that she was flying through LA instead of SFO. It was a relief then because hubby was working. Besides, she was flying through another airlines that arrives day time. We're used to PAL that always arrives late which was easy because we could just take off after work time.

She did not give me the number to call so I just waited until she called me to tell here whereabouts. When she called, she told me that she would come on a train the following day. What the heck!!! I was struck. I did not know what to do because it was a weekday and both of us had to go to work. I was just glad that I work swing shift last week. So I called my best friend from Hayward and told her the story. It was a perfect timing because it was her day off. It was a real coincidence! I planned to leave my cousin, while I go to work on that same day, to my mother-in-law's house so she could be with the lady from Fiji who is also an adventist like her. I thought that they could get along well having the same religious background but my friend got mad with my plan. She offered to take my cousin to San Francisco while I went to work. I thought it was too much for my friend to go to that extent but she was insistent.

So we picked her last week (Tuesday) at San Jose Amtrak Station. We got there a little bit late because of the traffic and she was already waiting outside when we arrived. We took her to our other friend who lives nearby. It's been a long time though, since we last visited the Obenza's so we decided to just stop by to say Hi. From there, we went to Crazy Buffet for lunch. Then we headed home to drop off her luggage and to bring me to work. Then they took off San Francisco bound. They had dinner at the Agustin's house on their way back and told me that they would stop by to pick me up after work. It was already late so I told hubby to just sleep and not to bother coming the store where I work. Vilma (my friend) decided to stay for the night. Then in the morning, she took my cousin again to Hayward to meet Manang's other friend. I really did not have enough time to spend with her because of my work. They came home late again so hubby still did not meet Manang Alma (my cousin). He went to bed because he had to wake up at 4 am to go to work.

The only time that we were together was last Thursday, the day before she headed back to LA. Vilma went to work during the day but I asked her to stay with us for the 2nd time for the Karaoke night. I went to work until midnight so while I was gone, I suggested a singing time would be a perfect entertainment. It was then the time that hubby and my cousin finally see each other. The four of us had dinner at our house just before I went to work. They stayed talking and singing until hubby decided to go to bed. Vilma volunteered to pick me after work. My friend is really a blessing. Then in the morning, my friend left to go to work while hubby and I took my cousin back to the train station.

This morning, I just got a call from her. She's in LA now and is doing fine with her friend.

My Cousin's Visit

Another Feather Added on her Cap....

Awesome Achievement

Your MBA graduation
Fills us with love and pride.
We always knew that you could do
Whatever you really tried.

It's a long and challenging journey
To get an MBA degree,
But you wouldn't quit it, you just went and did it,
And we're beaming affectionately.

Your achievement is awesome, Elsie;
You've worked hard and you've passed the test.
We love you so, and we want you to know,
We think you're the very best!

Congratulations!

By Joanna Fuchs

Another Feather Added on her Cap....

Profile of my Four Brothers: Cirilo

This is my second brother and the third of ten. His name is Cirilo but he is Boy to all family members and friends.

Just like my first brother, he also went through a lot of struggles. He did not finish school on time because of taking turns and financial problems. My grandma took him to Butuan City to keep her company as she was living just by herself. He was in grade four at that time. He was shocked when he went to school and told us that he was the brightest in that class. Not a surprise though, I know that he also has a sharp brain if given the chance to shine. But he was not able to finish that year because my Lola got sick. So he came home and joined us again.

It's really tough when you have the desire to finish school and at the same time have the intention to help the whole family. He never got a 100% attendance in school but he was doing okay, though some assignments were missed. He finished elementary and enrolled in the Municipal High School which was just opened. It was a little relief to my parents because the tuition fee was not as high as in the Catholic school.

He finished high school with honors and his motivation to go to college was amazing that he could not wait for my mother to go with him. He went just by himself to Marawi City and enrolled at Mindanao State University. He took civil engineering where he is good at Mathematics. He was lucky to get partial scholarship at the start and it helped him through as he gained full scholarship in the succeeding years. He finished his chosen field without any problem except for financial aspects.

After graduation he went to enroll for a review class in Manila.That was really a big sacrifice from all of us but that was the only reason that he could get a license and be able to land a good job. He was blessed when he passed the Lisensure Examination for Civil Engineer and Jr. Geodetic Engineer. He came home bringing the laurels of all his sacrifices. No more fish nets, no more going out to sea in the evening, no more going to the farm to clean the fields.

His real world started when he got his first job at the Department of Public Works and Highways in Agusan del Sur as one of the engineers . He was commuting everyday until he finally got his own motorcycle.

With him landing a real nice job, and with my other brother (though he was already married), with me in the field of teaching and with my other sister who happened to finish first before him, life was getting better. And I knew that it was a little bit of relief for my parents too. Not only that their toil was compensated, that also gave them the sense of pride. Six more to go out of ten.

Now he is the Municipal Engineer of our town and got his own family.

Just like my eldest brother, he built his own house too. They are next to each other in that small piece of land that my father bought with a can of sardines.

Aside from being an engineer, he also has rooms for rent right within few steps from their doorstep.

And now their eldest is already in First Year High School and is intending to follow the footsteps of her father. She is really good in school, too.

(to be continued...)

Profile of my Four Brothers: Cirilo