After years of wanting to get this hair colour, I have now finally crossed it off my list.♡
✮ CHRISTmas ✮
Ready for 2020 and ready for another decade of family photos with Santa Claus! ☺︎
Maroon 5
We took Zack to his second Maroon 5 concert. Ahh, parental duties. ? It’s his favourite band. I’m not complaining. ?
Celine Dion
Escorted my mother to the concert of one of her favourite singers. ?
The Script
Ed Sheeran
Bruno Mars
I can still remember preparing for my enrolment in BS Chemistry in UP Diliman. I was grateful for the opportunity to continue my scholarship from Pisay to UP. However, I actually ended up spending my college years in my mother’s alma mater as she hoped that I would become a doctor, too. After a year in Microbiology, I found my way to Nursing. Being a Thomasian Nurse will always be one of my greatest blessings. And now, I am overjoyed to have finally fulfilled one of my academic goals. I am proud to be a graduate of the University of the Philippines – Open University, Diploma in International Health, Class of 2017! Thank You, God.♡
Ariana Grande
Dedication: Zack and Margaux
One of our most important duties as parents is guiding Zack and Margaux in their first step towards having Jesus Christ in the centre of their lives.
Thanks to our family and friends in Brisbane for celebrating this beautiful day with us.
We lift up everything to You, Lord!
Adele
Her heart-wrenching lyrics reflected the depth of her character, and her candid personality and dry sense of humour shined in between songs with heaps of hilarious moments and several f-bombs. ? I could have taken more photos but I was absolutely mesmerised by her presence. No lip-sync, no dancers — her performance was all about her jaw-dropping vocals. She’s the real deal, truly a music icon of our generation. I am honoured to have been able to watch and listen to her live.? (Huge thanks to mameeee and dadeeee for looking after the little miss! ?)
Coldplay
I can still recall when I added this to my bucket list. Back then, I had no idea where, when, or how — but a decade after, I finally got to watch Coldplay perform live. ? Last night was incredible, so blessed to have experienced it here in Brisbane with my boys. ? Thank God for wonderful opportunities like this. ❤️ Thank you so much mameeee and dadeeee for taking care of the little miss. ? (Counting down the weeks — We’re ready for you Adele!! ?)
Baby Shower #1:Thanks to the ladies at work for such a thoughtful gesture!
and thanks to the gents for joining in the fun! #30weeks
Baby Shower #2: Thank you very much for last night’s fun party! Your support and prayers mean so much as we wait for the arrival of our baby girl!
Baby Shower #3: Sooo much love for these beautiful ladies!! Thank you for an amazing baby shower!! I’m so blessed to be sharing this wonderful journey with you!!#36weeks
A baby will make love stronger,
days shorter,
nights longer,
bankroll smaller,
home happier,
clothes shabbier,
the past forgotten,
and the future worth living for.
The “mother-daughter shopping extravaganza” has begun! ? Please excuse me, but with two boys at home, I’ve had lego and star wars dominating my life for way too long! ?
Baby Manalo, on the way! Boy or girl, we will soon say!
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness.”
Maroon 5
Zack’s first concert! He got a VIP ticket to watch his favourite band’s live performance. This six-year-old boy was the youngest person in the audience last night and he just sang and danced his little heart out! It was, in his words, “THE BEST NIGHT EVER!”
At age 16, I was so thankful for my acceptance letters from Ateneo, UP, La Salle, and UST. I respect those institutions for their academic prestige and scholarly excellence, but after Pisay, it was clear to me what I wanted to do next. I chose to enrol in BS Chemistry in UP Diliman. However, my mom had other plans. In the hope of passing her white coat to me, she urged me to study in her alma mater. I enrolled in UST – first, in BS Microbiology, then eventually, in BS Nursing. It was an exceptional journey, and I’ll forever be grateful and proud to be a Thomasian Nurse.
God’s plans are the best and His timing is perfect. Now, it’s time to start a new chapter. Maraming salamat, UP.
Celebratory selfie. First day back in teaching. Still doing admin work though. So, dearest Monday, please be nice. ☺︎
Mother’s Day 2014.
Started the day with Sunday service with family and friends, followed by lunch at Ginga, then snacks at Chocolateria San Churro. Concluded the day with life-changing news from the DIBP.
With Jericho still in Warrnambool, Zack and I have formed a fantastic duo for his soccer sessions on Saturdays, haha! ☺︎
We woke up bright and early to welcome the first day of the year! It was a sunny morning at Mooloolaba Beach with my family. Zack definitely had a blast. If he wasn’t building sand castles, he was enjoying the waves with his dad. We capped off our visit to the beach with a hearty breakfast and luscious milkshakes. Cheers to new goals, new adventures, and new beginnings! ☺︎
Our most unforgettable year, so far. Thank You, Lord, for all the challenges and blessings. We aim to start the new year as better individuals. Nothing but hope and gratitude in our hearts.
Philippine Science High School Grand Alumni Homecoming 2013
I had a great time at this year’s Pisay alumni homecoming. I had the honour of bringing Zack as my handsome date for the night. Initially, he wasn’t so keen about being there (probably overwhelmed by the large crowd), but that changed — with much help from glow sticks, Lego decorations, and some dance music. Many of my batch mates did not turn up; some were unable to fly back to the Philippines for the occasion, whereas others who were in the country simply could not make it.
I still cannot believe that it’s been a decade since I graduated from Pisay. When I was 12, I gave up my spots at the University of the Philippines Integrated School and Quezon City Science High School and enrolled as one of the 240 Pisay scholars who qualified from 20, 000 examinees all over the Philippines. Due to this rigorous screening process, we had always been stereotyped as “nerds,” which I still find a bit funny to this day.
Pisay provided premium quality education to the exclusive community of a privileged few – those who were considered by some as “gifted” or “the cream of the crop.” To me, however, it was high school. Maybe, back then, there were instances in which it all felt like a chaotic atmosphere of teenage hormones, acne struggles, identity crisis, peer pressure, and school troubles — but beyond the high gates and concrete walls of our institution was a lot of fun for growing teenagers like us. I was lucky to have cool teachers, an advanced curriculum, random and exciting school activities and projects, and most of all, friendships that were made to last a lifetime.
I will always pass through Agham Road in Diliman with a smile on my face and gratitude in my heart.
Maraming, maraming salamat, Pisay.
The Proposal
I was at work when Jericho called me up about having something planned for us on Saturday. He had this elaborate speech on how he wanted this date to be “different.” Saturday morning came and I was so lazy to even get out of my pj’s. He didn’t appreciate my lack of enthusiasm, and he also refused to give me any clue about our itinerary. He simply instructed me to wear something casual and comfortable. He also told me that we might go to the beach and that it might be windy. That’s all I got from him.
We drove to Sunshine Coast where this nice man, Richard, greeted us and led us to a beautiful lake. We walked towards a black gondola where a table was set up for us. At that moment, I had my suspicions because of a few subtle signs along the way but I really couldn’t say for sure what he was up to. Jericho, on the other hand, was just looking at me with a silly grin on his face. We got on board and sailed away with our gondolier. We temporarily forgot about the tension as we focused our attention to the food on our table. There were large prawns, Moreton Bay bugs, crabs, salmon, and mussels. In addition to that amazing seafood experience, we also had music from the 1950’s to 1970’s on the playlist. With the perfectly serene lake as our backdrop, I just got myself one extraordinary Saturday afternoon with Jericho.
Despite the tranquil ambiance, he seemed to get increasingly anxious as he frequently glanced at his watch. Then, when we got to the middle of the lake, he suddenly held out to me a small, purple box with a silver ribbon. He said, “Baby, will you..” and I just started crying. He hugged me and I let him proceed. He asked, “Will you marry me?” I just kept crying..and crying..and crying.. until I finally answered, “Yes.”
I absolutely love the vintage-inspired design of a princess cut diamond with a white gold band, but on the other hand, the fact that it’s not the traditional diamond solitaire ring somehow gives a modern feel to it. It has a solid diamond in the centre surrounded by smaller diamonds all the way to the band. Apart from the gorgeous ring, I just love the whole concept of Jericho’s proposal. I appreciate how much thought he put into the details and how he considered some of the things I like — the water, music from the 50’s, seafood, and the peaceful vibe. It was private and intimate — one genuine and sincere moment that signalled the beginning of a new chapter in our lives.♡