Finally, after several days of planning, the big surprise happened…and boy were they surprised (well, all except for Betty*) — Shey’s visit to Manila 2009!


One of Shey’s aunts died kasi; thus, she was to accompany her mom to Manila.

We last saw Shey nung December pa (my crayola-scene sa NAIA), so after five months, we super miss her already!  Thus, super gulat ako when she sent me an SMS at 4am (Philippine time) first week of May.  When sure na her flight, we planned to make her visit a surprise to the 0′96.  Gosh, ang hirap i-gather pero napapunta/overnight din ang mga bruha sa bahay.  The problem was to make those going home stay late as Shey was to arrive 1230am pa!  Hahaha, Betty had to physically restrain JM to stay and great timing, Shey in an airport taxi finally arrived.

*Betty found out through Shey’s cousin, Joyce.

Betty: Ri, I got chismis!
Ria: What?
Betty: Darating si Shey!
Ria: Ha, pano mo nalaman?!

Okay, I could still have saved the secret before my last line, but early-morn-just-woke-up state of mind did not make me creative yet.  Oh well, better na rin na may karamay na may alam as sasabog na ko sa secret and good na may kasama mag-restrain sa mga tao from going home before Shey arrives at the house the morning of May 22.

Sayang lang talaga, hindi kami successful i-lure sa house si Riza and she missed the big surprise.

P.S. I will be bringing Shey to the airport at 430am.  Gosh, the days just sped by! Since super aga, promise, no more crayola-scene! hahaha.

Thanks Pam and Mitch for the photos.

Tita Madre and I went to the 40th death day commemoration for Uncle-Atty. Roger Berbano at Loyola Memorial Park.  Nagulat kami na malapit lang ang grave nya and many other Berbanos sa crypt ni Papa.  Sad circumstance, but happy to have been reunited with family.

My dad often spoke about uncle Roger and the Kuratong Baleleng case.  I remember him last at the cremation of papa, despite being paralized and on a wheelchair already, he came and grieved for him.  In law school before and at work, I’ve been asked many times how I am related to Atty. Roger Berbano…and every time I proudly replied that he’s my uncle.

With Uncle Roger’s passing, I all the more want to keep my maiden name sa Roll of Attorneys.

Farewell, Uncle Roger…happy reunion with papa!

Kris’ vision is improving after one month since his PRK eye surgery; however, more people in the province are having a hard time recognizing him without his ever present eyeglasses.  Wifey also misses the bespectacled look on the hubby.

We went to all optical shops in SM MoA to look for the perfect-but-reasonably-priced ‘porma glasses.’  Since pang-porma lang naman, i suggested we try shopping at the divisoria/dangwa of eyeglasses — carriedo!

I came across this review http://mrtgeneration.multiply.com/reviews/item/4
and it helped us in our carriedo adventure.  Dual purpose na rin the trip — eyeglasses and photo-op ni Kris sa isa na namang SM. Yiihaa!

We left the car in robplace manila, took the LRT, and walked to Carriedo/Paterno streets.

Grabe, ang daming optical shops nga!  And may isang building kaming napasukan na super nakakalokah sa dami ng shades!  They look like the ones being sold sa malls and/or i2i — the thing is they are P75 a piece or drumroll… P16 to P22 a piece wholesale (1 dozen).

Happy we accomplished what we came for.  Medyo nabasa nga lang kasi umulan and nakipagsiksikan ng konti kasi nga naman pasukan na sa lunes at maraming bumibili ng mga uniforms ng bata sa kalye.

Bonus pa, nakatapak na rin si Kris sa Quiapo church and Plaza Miranda.  Hahahaha, to get him excited about it, I told him the Amazing Race Asia people had a challenge stop there.

Aside from eyeglasses and shades and camera stuff (I remember nasamahan ko si Shey dun nung college days), I learned that the area also sells a lot of wedding stuff, sporting goods, dental supplies, stamps/name plates/dry seals, clothes, and divisoria-kalye-stuff.

1. booyeah, Shey (with tita chato) and I, raided Divisoria again.  They took over 169; while I, Tutuban and Tabora (got some materials for the ilocos-inmates’ livelihood project and other house knick knacks).  happy with our respective purchases.  didn’t know though that there is construction beside 168, making parking horrible — kaya napaghiwalay kami ng lugar to shop as I decided to park Wudju all the way to Tutuban Cluster mall parking lot na (malayo, but safe).

p.s. Shey is in the Phils for a week for family affairs.

2. driving Wudju when someone signaled my right-back-tire is flat.  shucks.  air up at a gas station.  drove again, okay naman the whole ride uli.  i wonder if someone let the air out?

3. Halo-halo-congee-split-to-two and radish cake at Luk Yuen — yep, Shey is in the country alright.

4. Drove Shey and Tita Chato to Sucat.  Super traffic way back; but, thanks to my trusty citi-atlas, i was able to go home via the inner-Pque route.

5. Kris was finally able to confront the neighbor who bumped Vios — malas lang, never nagalusan sa Ilocos, tapos kung kelan inuwi sa Manila for tune-up and registration, dun pa nasugatan. wawa naman trauma ni vios.

6. Claimed my choco-carnival treat from Krispy Kreme BHS.  Whee, free doughnut and coffee merienda.

7. brought hubby to airport.  i swear, gagawa na rin ako ng coupons at para na akong airport taxi.

8. sad to be saying goodbye to the weekend.  i hate mondays.

worth mentioning na part of this day:

9. betty’s birthday — otanjoubi omedetou gazaimasu, be-ti-san!

10. i have a new cousin-nephew — Angel gave birth to a baby boy this morning.

care to suggest 30 things I should do in 30 days before I turn 30?

accepting realistic suggestions for the next 10 days.

thanks in advance!