The Lady Who Inspired Me To Blog

As i was browsing around the web last december, i came across a blog that really inspired me to read every word. Its the homeworked.blogspot.com of raquel who live with her wonderful husband and two bubbly daughters in Heidelberg. She's an AB Journalism graduate of the University of Santo Tomas, the oldest University in the Philippines.

I send her an email to let her know that it was her blog which motivated and inspired me to create my own blog. She's a member of Pinoy Mom Network and teaching Playtime English in the Kindergarten. Thanks again Raquel, for introducing the nice world of blogging.

Her two lovely daughters MC and IC

Balikbayan Box

Filipinos live and work around the world. For their generosity of remitting money and sending balikbayan boxes to their families back home, they're even called modern heroes. These boxes help migrant Filipinos keep ties to home and the tradition eases the pain of separation. I'm sending 4 to 6 boxes a year and my box contains non-perishable items, canned goods, toiletries, household & kitchen stuff, hard to find items in the Philippines and other gadgets for the future construction of our house.

Kim's Taekwondo Class

Taekwondo is the world's most popular martial art in terms of number of practitioners. it is also the national sport of South Korea and is loosely translated as to the foot and hand way. Kim, my grandson enjoyed very much his taekwondo summer class in which he gained some friends and learned self-defense.

Taekwondo training includes a system of blocks, punches and open-handed strikes and may also include various take-downs or sweep, throws and joint locks.

A Sunny Friday

Today we experienced a sunny day, good for the mountain bike world cup tomorrow. Most of our hotel guests are bikers, delegates and media for the said race. The roads leading to the starting point were already blocked and its a common scene for the mountain bikers doing their rounds of training and familiarization of the route.

For a change, we have a lunch of pizza and french fries at Kebab and Grill Haus in offenburg. Because of the nice weather, most of the cafe and ice cream houses in the city were full.

In the city, we met again some of our friends enjoying the sunny weather

Grace Birthday

Since we're all busy with our private life, i seldom see all my friends.But last tuesday, i finally saw some of them. It was Grace late birthday celebration with just few friends around. We enjoyed the night by exchanging jokes, karaoke singing and playing our favorite game.

Retirement Haven

During our vacation in the Philippines last november, we visited the Philconstruct messe which showcased modern construction materials and techniques. This is in preparation for our house construction at South Forbes Golf City in Santa Rosa, Laguna, where dirk got some ideas and contacts. We decided to move to the Philippines in the future to be near my family and for dirk to enjoy his retirement playing golf. After all, life here in germany is getting more expensive and Philippines is the best place to retire where we have everything, the sun, sand, sea and shopping.

We're so busy on those construction materials that we didnt notice a cute dog between me and dirk

Kim's Birthday Celebration

Kim, my grandson celebrated his 6th birthday last week at Villa Esquivel Resort, a stone throw away from our house. The kids enjoyed very much the pool and the games. The resort is equipped with 9 cottages, two swimming pools, karaoke and videoke room. It's also a sort of family reunion and despedida party for my brother-in-law Joey, who's flying back to the US the next day. His wife, myra, my youngest sister didnt make it to the party coz she's enjoying a holiday in Tokyo, Japan with my cousins.

Kim enjoying his special day with his special guests

Girls At Work

Today we have again a sumptuous lunch prepared by Elena. After eating, we helped her putting the plastic linoleum on their terrace. The picture speaks for itself how they done it.

Oooops, its not a parlor game, not even a race nor displaying their nice behind, they're just flattening the linoleum on the floor

On the relax mode, mission accomplished

The Many Faces of Daphne

Daphne Antonette is my three year old grandaughter. She's going to attend the kindergarten this coming june. She always wanted to have her photo taken and she's not camera-shy. She's really cute, right???

Lunchtime at Chinese

For a change, we decided to have lunch at the chinese restaurant in offenburg. This small restaurant is always full, mostly take-out customers. But we prefer to dined-in because its much better to eat warm food and besides you can see how they prepare the food. Its really delicious and the price is reasonable as well.

Lunch at Elena's Haus

Yesterday, elena invited me and madam jo to have lunch with them. Being a good cook as always, we enjoyed very much her chicken curry and adobo. She also had bulad which prompted madam and cecille to eat with their hands.

Photo session time

Sexy Girls

Our cute hotel guest

Today, we have a very small hotel guest, he is very nice and a hairy one too. The owner is very friendly to us and she allowed us to play with her little dog.

"mother and son"

Floh Markt

Four times a year there is a so-called Floh markt or bargain market in our area. The sellers line up the street selling new and second hand wares. Here you can bargain for the price and its more cheaper than the stores. For a minimal participation fee, they can sell used house wares, antiques, toys, clothes, shoes, paintings, and other junks. And for the buyers, they really can get the best value for their money.

But yesterday's floh markt was marked by a bad weather so very few sellers participated.

A Glimpse at Mutti's Nest

Mutti Helga, an independent, strong willed mother of dirk live in a 250 square meter living room in Köln. She maintained a housekeeper to keep the place in shape. Since Puppi's death in 1997, the place became too big for her. The cozy house also undergone a lot of improvement and survived a fire. We always visit her thrice a year and that makes her happy.

Mutti with Dirk and Janine (dirk's daughter)

Golf Meeting

Last night we attended the yearly golfer's meeting at Oberen Linde Hotel, a 4-star hotel in Oberkirch. Dirk is one of the 800 active members of Golfclub Urloffen e.v, Most of the members belong to the upper scale society which also includes successful businessmen, retirees and employees both in private and government sector. As usual, i am the only one with black hair, brown skin, flat nose (joke) but i am proud because not all were given a chance to mingle with the rich people. I am also rich, but rich in friends and wisdom aside from being a down-to-earth person.

They discussed the financial statement of the golfclub, future plans, tournaments rules, regulations, and other matters. There's also an open forum where some members gave suggestions for the betterment of the club.

Lunch with Friends

Today, maureen invited us to have lunch at their place. She cooked spare ribs adobo, crispy fried chicken and lumpiang shanghai. She came from northern luzon in the Phils. and she's really a good cook.

Tobias Communion

Today we did drive to Freiburg to attend the communion party of Tobias, my nephew (second degree) his mother Liberty is my first cousin. Martin, Liberty's husband prepared a sumptuous german foods for lunch, cakes and coffee for snacks.

Its a good opportunity for a get-together with my relatives, (Lolet in white pullover is a friend of ours) and the rest are my cousins, margie, liberty and marites, the three are neighbors.

My Wish

Dirk got this shooting star picture and with the use of a computer program put my wish in it. But faith and prayers are more powerful more than anything else.

My Twin Junks

Dirk and me had some things in common. When it comes to buying personal things, i sometimes bought it in pair. When i like the design of any t-shirts or shoes, i'll buy two of the same items but in different colors. Dirk is the same, he is also fond of buying t-shirts with the same design but different color.
Would you believe that Dirk also own 10 shirts (picture below) with the same print and the same color, weird right??? people will think that you're no longer changing your shirts, but thats his choice.

Maria Linden Church

Yesterday we drive to a miraculous Maria Linden Church in Ottersweier, Germany. It was believed that an apparition took place in this church in the 1850's. We prayed and lighted candles for our own prayers and wishes for our family.

I believe that miracles come in many unexpected ways. For those who believe, no explanation is needed and for those who dont have faith, no amount of explanation will suffice.

My friends who were with me at Maria Linden Church

After our visit to the miraculous church, we then proceeded to Ate Lita's house in Sinzheim. The picture speaks for itself how Ate Lits prepared for our visit.

Imagine we're just 5 and the foods that she prepared is good for 20 person. Now, look at this yummy yummy desserts, kuchinta, palitaw, cassava cake, maruya and chicken salad, wow, as if we're in Pinas.