Family Visits Baguio City

After more than 2 years, we were able to visit with our families in Baguio City with two of our kids, Joseph and Janice. Arriving at 2am on Saturday (Jan 17), we stayed at our house along Military Cut-Off where my wife's siblings and 75-year old father live in a compound.

We took time to go around on Saturday morning. We walked to UP-Baguio Campus which is less than a kilometer from home, then to SM. We had lunch at Barrio Fiesta where woodcarvings of few dignitaries were displayed as decors. In the evening, we had dinner with my relatives at brother Julius' home. On Sunday morning, wife and I went to Burnham Park for a walk, looked for everlasting seeds at Marbay, then went home for lunch with my wife's siblings.

In the afternoon, we were privileged to attend the wedding of Edward and Malou who both are children of old time friends. It was a garden wedding held at the Bells Ampitheater, Camp John Hay. Reception was at Baguio Country Club. Decors were beautiful plants and flowers in vases which were given away to guests. I saw strawberry plants with a couple of fruits as part of the table decors.

I've witnessed a lot of weddings but this one moved me to tears at intervals. I guess many in the audience had similar reactions - but not necessarily at parts that moved me. I don't know but it seems there is always strong, mixed feelings at the thought of a father giving away her daughter to a man who is going to be loved more by his daughter, and for a mother to see her son cleave to a woman whom his son will love more than her. But such is the circle of life that must go on if we are to perpetuate our family lineage.

And I guess that's what this family visit was for - to reconnect with our roots and make sure that we know other parts of our family tree, as our family lineage perpetuates.

For photographs of this visit, click HERE.

Christmas Minus a Loved One

Christmas is merry as one should make it. After all, Christians commemorate Christ's birth during this season. By tradition, it is a season of giving, no matter how much commercialization has been coupled to it.

During this season, Filipino families make sure that they gather together. Extended families likewise gather among households during these days. We also did. Our sons working in Polomolok and Makati, and daughter who studies at Diliman were all with us. We hosted for 3 days a relative (Stephanie) who settled with her family in Vegas. And we took time to visit our only relative (wife side) residing in Davao.

But this Christmas was different. We missed Yam so very, very much. But we didn't allow ourselves to sulk in a corner feeling sorry for ourselves. We visited Yam's tomb to honor her and to thank our great God who assured eternal life, for her and to us, in His own time.

In response to a friend who is a fan of Yam: "Grief is a long process. But it's not something we ought to deny but something to recognize and embrace. It shouldn't slow us nor drag us down but should be discerned for all it's worth. Grief is not about misfortune - it is about living life well. Life has its seasons, and seasons have their reasons."