Our Family, Our History

TITO and CELIA's Pilgrimage in Europe, Spring 2009

2009-06-17T06:15:00.001-07:00

Click photo to enlarge*

Tito and Celia came home (in the Philippines) a few weeks ago from their European tour. Photo here shows them in FRANCE. More photos can be seeen, by invitation only via online feature of CEL's album at KODAK. Cheers!

Gay's Performance at UP

2009-06-17T05:37:00.000-07:00

Found this early morning today, googling names I know. And look what I found! Our opera singer, ALEGRIA!

Irene's 26th Birthday Party

2009-05-24T15:36:00.001-07:00

Irene is Monchet and Carol's eldest daughter. Photos here were courtesy of Ann.IRENE is the one in maroon shirt. Celebration was held in ANIBAN according to Ann.

ARMIE and CANDY, DYAN and many more

2009-05-23T08:15:00.000-07:00

My brain is a little rusty this morning. Am forgetting names of people!

GAY- what's up and about with you?
JULIUS- where art thou?
IRMA, POL and DIGNA- how is life on your end?
DYAN- how are you chidlren ZOE and the boy?

LULAY or LILY is doing well with her rental and caring for her one and only NIKI.

MAMA GORIO is still active in his parish and MAMA BOY is ok. CORA's kids, CORCOR and brother (am having a blurry memory again) are back to school. Otherwise, we all seem ok in the brood.

My sisterettes are doing fine. EMILIE is still with La Salle Zobel as counselor and BALLOON, is a stay-at-home wife in charge of her brood. She still bakes on the side.

Have a great Saturday morning! After one year, am blogging here again. Please update me with news from your end. OK?

Seasons of Change: KIDS THESE DAYS ARE GROWING SO FAST!

2009-05-23T07:31:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos taken from the blogs of CHIARA and YSSA. I used to carry them in my arms when they were babies. They were a bunch of cuties! The cry babies (severely super cry babies) were PACO and MICHAEL!

Michael's first few verses each time he came to visit us at his LOLO MILING's house in ANIBAN were:

"LET'S GO TO THE FISH!"

He was so cute and adorable but boy when he yelled, screamed his heart out and cried
like a monster, we left him alone to be cared for by his folks, ayayay! Then, he'd be fine again. MICHAEL's true buddy to check on the fish at the grotto was his UNCLE FRANCIS. He was his favorite uncle and ANN's too, I believe; coz' when she found out he was about to get hitched, ANN cried like a warewolf. And didn't want to go downstairs (LOLO MILING's house) to meet her AUNTIE EDNA for the first time ever. We thought it was cute, but ANN then, aged 5 or 6, meant business! She was red all over, her tears raining on her, her runny nose had spread all over her face and she snubbed us...tsk...tsk...she was sulking for the whole time EDNA was in ANIBAN! My heart melts thinking of how kids
have these endearing qualities of a sweetheart, but when they reach teen years, yikes, let's just go to the fish folks and let their parents deal with them. Hahahahha! Am not saying they are bad, they are just great but mighty assertive as all kids are globally. Well, with that in mind...I also thought of...PACO. He was a hardcore cry baby. He cried all day long and stopped only when he fell asleep. Later, we found out that he had colic all the time, ayayay! So, if I get it right, when he was a newborn, each time he cried, his mom cried, too-out of exhaustion and lack of sleep! But growing up, these boys turned out to be real nice gentlemen!

The girls are always sweethearts. ANN and YSSA were were always assertive and CHIARA was amiable. SUGAR PIE was vivacious and enjoyed performing for the family. Then, it stopped. Each one of them blossomed into the individuals they are now. They are all bright and beautiful, nice and wonderfu. They are all musical and artistic, these babies I used to bundle in hugs and kisses. And like most of them, they hated me most, for waking them up during their naptime! Even MONCHET's kids, I did the same, hahahah! And LUDY and CESAR's daughter- those annual visits they had with us on MAMA's bday! We were so very fond of their little darlings! Now they are grown up and professionals, successful and beautiful young women making their names in their field!

And LORD, he is happily married to JOAN. Both work and LORD I believe is still in the banking establishment. As for JOAN, the last time I spoke with her which is ages ago now, was when she was with FUJITSU.

On the other hand, ANN, graduated in nursing and passed the board exam last year. She is entering the medical school this June. All the rest are in high school and entering college.

NIKI, our cute little baby who was so afraid of BIGOTE *Uncle Ed* is now in college.

How did time fly so fast? Seasons of change!

And KATIE? She is 7 now, and assertive. And did I forget something to say about them? These kids are all writers in their own right. They blog and post what they see, feel and hear. And that is indeed, captivating and food for the soul.

Cheers!

Phie, Mel, Ann & Michael in PALAWAN

2009-05-23T06:49:00.001-07:00

Photo credits: ANN JAVIER*

What is amazing about the Ocampo clan is we all write! Here are some photos taken from ANN's blog. If you want to read more on their journey, please click the LINK on the right hand side of this blog. Enjoy!

News from the EAST COAST- RYAN, NINGNING and their Kids Are DOING GREAT

2009-05-22T14:05:00.001-07:00

I am so thrilled to share this super amazing news! NINGNING, I hope you don't mind me sharing this newsbits from you...ok? Please, please don't kill me!
The great news is this: SOPHIE and STEPHANIE are doing so great in school in NEW YORK! Yes, they are brilliant kids (of course!)

SOPHIE is in middle school in public school and scored 100% in English in the US national level! How great is that, hu? Can you beat that? 100% perfect! She was moved to the Honors Section! Santa Banana!

NINGNING emailed today and said that she and RYAN are still awaiting the results of SOPHIE's other major subjects. Am sure she'd score perfect again, no doubt! Gosh, my heart is beating fast. Am so happy for you guys! Congratulations!!! And the little one? STEPHANIE??? She is/was student of the month! Apologies, NINGNING- I can't recall the month! So far, NINGNING's daughters have acclimatized in the American way of life. And academically, are doing fabulous and are competitive, Mamamia!
NINGNING works as a nurse in Manhattan I think and her better half is currently reviewing for his state board in nursing.

So from here, there and everywhere- it is great to hear all is well on our Ocampo side of the clan. Ciao!

NEWS from the FAMILY- News From HERE, THERE and EVERYWHERE!

2009-05-22T11:43:00.000-07:00

CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE!

Last March, YSSA (daughter of FRANCO and EDNA), graduated in 7th grade at ST PAUL PASIG while PACO (son of TITUS and BALLOON) graduated in high school from ELIZABETH SEATON SCHOOL in Las Pinas. Our ballerina NIKI graduated as well in high school from BLOOMFIELD ACADEMY in BF Resort in Las Pinas.

YSSA continues her schooling at St. Paul, is an avid writer, pianist and accompanist at her school during her elementary years. She went to ILOILO last April and spent some time with her Ilonggo cousins.

KATIE, her little sister flew with her with their mom, EDNA. FRANCO, followed shortly and had to fly back to MANDALUYONG because at that time, he had to be in BALI, INDONESIA. Wow, jet setters!

PHILIP and family flew to PALAWAN a few weeks back and visited his long time friend SAMMY. They have a great time as seen in the photos. So everyone is in the groove for travel and play. Great!

It is summer in Manila and spring in America. Wow! Everyone is busy!

More on the family profile…

PACO is enrolled at UST to study HRM while NIKI is enrolled at LA SALLE's ST. BENILDE and had started her freshman year last week. I believe hers is a trimestral program so the time frame is shorter than the traditional university.

MURIEL will be sophomore in HS. She goes to MONTESSORI SCHOOL with CHIARA, her cousin, who had skyrocketed in height! Wow!

MONCHET’s daughters are working and finding time to enjoy life…MONCHET and CAROL do a lot of churchwork and community projects for the poor. Likewise with doc (FRANCO). Both men (him and MONCHET) lead the team of doctors in their own geographical region, for free clinics to help the needy. Wow!

ERICK, EMILIE and CHIARA just came from a summer trip to HK. The OCAMPO family enjoyed their trip. Photos to follow! OK? I will add their blogs to the link.

BTW, still on crossing boarders…

MONCHET and his brood plus LILY, NIKKI, BALLOON and her family and IRMA spent their post Xmas holiday 2008 in HK. Now, isn’t that great or what?

Currently, TITO and CELIA are travelling and jet setting in EUROPE! FRANCO emailed me about this and I was just screaming in excitement. Ooh-lah-la! Everyone is on the move which is just fantastic!

AS for JEFF and I, we are stuck (we love it!)in SAN FRANCISCO running our service business dealing with high end-commercial type kitchen appliance called VIKING. We are doing well. However, there are days we are overwhelmed with a multitude of clients to deal with! Some days are really fun-filled and inspiring. Then, there are days we just want to strangle notorious clients who won’t pay the bills! WONT PAY THE BILLS, MAMAMIA!!! But life won’t be exciting anymore without a variety of colors, right- so I try to be sane. Am lucky JEFF is such a magnanimous spouse, otherwise, eeks! What will happen to me? To us? God is so good, I tell you.

We still volunteer Tuesdays to Fridays after work and on weekends as well as needed. So far, we went through the first batch of training this Tuesday, May 19th at ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL in San Francisco. We were sent by our parish NOTRE DAME DE VICTOIRES as its Special Eucharistic Ministers to administer the host and offer prayers for the sick. We do the E.M. on Sundays at Notre Dame, but working with the sick is another thing. We will also volunteer at the TUNNEL Rehabilitation Center. It is also in the city. There is a lot going on in our lives that we have not been able to work out! And that is for a month now! We have to get going again as working out take off the stress of the day. Isn't it? We surely need that! And you, too! But despite our chaotic work and personal schedule, we still are able and try to enjoy life at its best!

So far, we have been out a lot. We are lucky we live in a fabulous neighborhood in our matchbox size flat-studio type, but we don't mind the miniscule thing about space! City life is quite different from suburbian living. The city itself is why we all live here! we love it- the energy, color, et al. We are here not for anything but for the energy factor and for what it brings into our life! We want nothing more than a space greater than our bed could fit us in. Hahaha! This is us- minimalist by need and necessity (laughs). And we got everything here in the Italian District of SFO, called NORTH BEACH!

Yes, we have been eating a lot of GREEK, THAI, MEXICAN, ARGENTINIAN, ITALIAN and CHINESE FOOD of late. I have been so tired the past days and weeks so for dinner after our prayer time, and after we volunteered, we walk into the ristorante that tickles our mood for the mean time. Am just so exhausted at the end of the day to cook. I think my bio-rhythm is just low these days. Then after our ciao time, whatever is left off in the palette, we take home and eat it whenever laziness gets through me again.

But as a baker, I still bake our daily bread which is Italian rustic bread, whole wheat (100%), focaccia, Amish white bread, etc. Just check out my blog!

www.631westfourthstreet.blogspot.com

Oh, BTW, last APRIL 9, 2009 we celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary!

This December, we will be in NYC from 12/24/2009 to 01/02/2009. We already are booked at the MARIOTT HOTEL at TIMES SQUARE and we already have our tickets with NORTHWEST!

After calling back MARIOTT, we have been informed that they are already fully booked for the dates we will be there in NEW YORK CITY! So am glad husband was fast enough like mercury in doing the hotel and airline reservation plus booking online!

This is all for today. It has been months since I blogged here. Ayayayay! Call it a busy life!

Would catch on you all later. Ciao!

P.S. For more photos of the clan, click the link on the right column of the blog and you'd see how they are doing in their lives right now. Babu!

UPBEAT NEWS:

Claire "MACHAY" Bondoc visited JEFF and BECHA in SFO, early this month of May. With her was her niece MARISSA and Claire' bestfriend and Marissa's spouse. Here they are as captured by VICTOR's camera, meeting LITTLE BOY BLUE for the first time ever!

And here we are, pretty maids all in a row, posing in front of a carriage, touring the rest of Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. It was glorious, exciting, animated day seeing somebody from my childhood, came by and said hi. WOW!

***NOSTALGIA***

This was our last family photos, in attendance were the adults except for KATIE, who was still a baby then. Here is how she more or less looks right now, very cute!

***POTPOURRI***

Moi, taken on LITTLE BOY BLUE's 56th bday during our quarterly meeting at NDV. I was wearing the VIKING apron his former boss gave me two years ago.

LITTLBE BOY BLUE, in beige, as surrounded by our Marian priests friends, during our bday party con Hospitality Team meeting last April 27th at Notre Dame de Victoires. All the cakes here were baked by moi: custard cake, yellow cake with choco icing and fruit cocktail upside down cake. I also made EMBUTIDO!!!

MILESTONE: ANN and KATIE GRADUATED This Week

2008-03-16T01:01:00.000-07:00

CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE*

Two Javier ladies graduated this week: Ann, for BS Nursing at St. Paul University and Katie, Kindergarten 2 at St. Paul College Pasig. Congratulations! The clan is very proud of you!

Some Photos

2008-02-10T03:35:00.000-08:00

New Year's Day Party @ Ed & Armie's Home in San Lorenzo, California

2008-01-05T00:03:00.001-08:00

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Celebrity Magazines

2008-01-04T00:59:00.000-08:00

Celebrity Magazines

2008-01-04T00:53:00.000-08:00

Celebrity Magazines

2008-01-01T01:35:00.000-08:00

Celebrity Magazines

2007-12-29T00:45:00.000-08:00

Midnight Mass at Notre Dame De Victoires

2007-12-26T19:37:00.000-08:00

We attended the concert at half past eleven midnight, then the mass at 12 PM, followed by the "Revellion" (French reception) at the church hall. We were home by 2:00 AM.

Free MySpace slideshows, photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

La Processione at Sts Peter and Paul Parish in North Beach- December 23, 2007

2007-12-24T06:20:00.000-08:00

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Christmas Time in San Francisco

2007-12-20T14:09:00.000-08:00

This is a compilation of photos of us in the company of our friends in San Francisco. One of them here is ARN, my old time gf during my Brent days. She's from Guam and was here for an autumn term doing her graduate work for art therapy in South San Francisco. Before she flew back home, we had dinner with her and her bf. Others in photos are our friends from the San Francisco World Wide Marriage Encounter, Jeff's friends from Sta. Rosa, California plus some scenes from Union Square where the 80 ft. Christmas tree of Macy's (department store) highlights this tourist destination! Merry Christmas!!!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

House Blessing, Manuela- Nov. 10, 2007

2007-11-28T16:41:00.000-08:00

F. John of the Good Shephed Parish in Manuela arrived at a little past 3 PM on Saturday, the 10th day of November. Once inside the compound, he and I had a small talk with Monchet and Philip. By this time, most of the guests had arrived. Later, he proceeded to blessing the house where Papa and Mama lived during the last few years of their life. It was a small gathering designed exclusively for the family and for those people who worked for us and gave in their services beyond the call of duty. These are the special nurses of Mama and the two young girls (support staff) who cared for her during the last 1 1/2 years before she passed away last October 30th. Inday, our neighbor in Aniban and a good friend of the family led the 9-day novena rosary for the family. Thank you, Inday!

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Selected Photos of Kids, Nov. 11, 2007- One True Media Slideshow

2007-11-28T11:27:00.001-08:00

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Yssa Playing "Tomorrow" & J.S. Bach's "Prelude"- Oct. 31, 2007

2007-11-28T10:17:00.000-08:00

Tall and slim, Yssa has long hands that are outstanding qualities of a good pianist. In this video file, she plays her piece, "Tomorrow," missing a bit of the bars initially. However, she went on and finished it which is awesome. Her rendition of "Bach's Prelude and Fugue" was beautiful. She played it with ease. Yssa has the spirit going for her as a child pianist. Yssa is comfortable with her medium and is confident to perform when requested to do so. Keep it up, girl. I am very proud of you!

2nd Interview With Katie

2007-11-28T01:56:00.000-08:00

She is one smart and cute little girl answering questions here and there at the time I was in Cavite from October 31st to November 15th. Katie was a charmer as a baby, the apple of everyone's eyes in my family and the adorable quiet little cherubim from a distance. Here she is, all grown up and has a mind of her own, a kinder 2 student at St. Paul Pasig. Come and listen to what she had to say!

Kids & Adults, Nov. 11, 2007

2007-11-28T00:23:00.000-08:00

Impromptu gathering of the clan for a series of pictorial that night after dinner. Cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and siblings gathered together for this one memento we will always cherish.

Michael, November 10, 2007

2007-11-28T00:01:00.000-08:00

Handsome Michael was a cry baby as a child but has grown up to be an attractive young man he is today. He used to say bits and pieces of one-liner stuff in English during his Sunday visits with his folks at his Lolo Miling's house in Cavite. His favorite one liner was, "Let's go to the fish." His companion was his Uncle Francis on his way to the grotto where a fishpond is also situated. In this slide show, Michael is alone, and in the company of his cousins while creating some interesting comic poses in front of the camera. Well, here's the heartbreaker for you at his best!

Yssa & Katie Plus Cousins' Slide Show- November 3. 2007

2007-11-27T23:35:00.000-08:00

This is like a reunion, sort of, after the dinner following the funeral of Mama last November 11 which was also Emilie's birthday. The kids and adults gathered together for a series of photographic session. Here is a slide show that depicted the images and emotions at that time. Our mascot was Katie, being the youngest in the brood, was game and a good sport. Enjoy the show!

Interview With Katie

2007-11-27T09:15:00.000-08:00

Katie is one kid who is filled with energy and enthusiasm. Here she shares her observation on the little things around her.

Yssa & Katie

2007-11-27T02:36:00.000-08:00

Yssa and Katie as they met me upon my arrival in Cavite last October 31st were a bit timid but soon enough, they warmed up after a while. Katie I soon found out is a teaser and a heckler, teasing her Ate Yssa with all sorts of things! But I am impressed with how Yssa handled her little sister with tolerance and patience. Kudos!

Katie Plays The Piano

2007-11-27T02:15:00.000-08:00

Like all her cousins on her dad's side, Katie is musical. Here she plays her rendition of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" with the exact pitch and musical notation of the piece. You may have to excuse my video recording of this clip as I was both the videographer and piano accompanist as wellof Little Katie. Take note, she ends her performance, as always- like a princess, with a curtsey. She is just soooo cute and soooooo adorable, aside from the fact that she is cuddly as well. Boy, she's a doll!

Lil' Katie Sings

2007-11-27T01:34:00.001-08:00

Amused by her superb grasp of the English language, I asked Katie if she speaks Tagalog. She answered me with a song in Filipino. Isn't that amazing? Listen to her sing about "Nanay, Tatay gusto ko tinapay; Ate, Kuya gusto ko kape." Wow!

Little Boy Blue

2007-07-12T09:15:00.001-07:00