Pure fun and hilarious riot. That is how I would describe my annual Christmas Eve moment year after year. Every time my family gathers during this beautiful time and especially when all my nieces and nephews would show up at Nengkoy’s house on Christmas Eve, sheer joy and laughter would ensue.
team langit #livelovesparkle
2016 Christmas at Nengkoy’s was metric tons of happiness. Everyone lived, loved and sparkled that night!
Sakit sa panga! Grabe!
I have one seem-to-be-odd and old-fashioned question.
I won’t be asking you what your wishes this Christmas are. Neither would I ask where are you gonna spend it. I won’t inquire whom your gonna spend it with or what look are you gonna don with on that joyous day. My question would be: Do you remember when was the last time you sent a Christmas card to a friend or a relative through the classic postal mail?
With the advent of the internet, convenience of the social media and the availability of modern day apps, I’m pretty sure you cannot remember. Or maybe, if you’re really young and part of the millennial generation, I guess you haven’t even sent yet a letter through snail mail.
I have sent a couple of merry Christmas greetings already via social media for the past few days, but Nengkoy still settles for the classic and traditional mode. Just 2 weeks ago, she showed me a bunch of envelopes filled with Christmas cards to be sent to relatives in USA and Canada via old-style and old-fashioned postal mail. And while taking photos of these classic form of greetings, out of nowhere, I suddenly wanted to receive a Christmas card sent via snail mail. It would be one earnest feeling, I guess.
nengkoy’s snail mails
3 generations: neil, nengkoy and my nephew gabby, a millennial who I guess has not yet sent a letter via classic postal mode
Though I no longer remember, I have sent letters and greeting cards via postal mail in the past. And I know how much time and effort that is poured in handwriting as well as the time and effort of going to the nearest postal station.
Handwritten letters and classic greetings cards for me is a beautiful thing. Merry greetings received through this mode, I guess, is warmer, sincerer and more heartfelt. It is one art, culture and tradition that is unfortunately on its verge of extinction.
But going back to my question if you happen to remember when the last time you sent a snail mail was. Nengkoy for sure can easily answer such an odd and old-fashioned question.
Klasik ng lola mo!
My mother loves me. Case in point is what just has happened.
I was too lazy to answer my phone. But after ringing like a million times, I knew that it’s my mother who’s calling. She’s the only one whom I know who has the patience and tolerance to wait that much amount of time of allowing numerous ringing of a telephone before finally giving up. But this time, I was starting to feel a headache out from the unstoppable ringing, I did not have the choice but to answer it.
And when I answer “hello”, Nengkoy’s first utterance over the phone was a question of what time will I be going to her house. I did not answer her question but instead greeted her warmly by saying “Happy Mother’s Day!” She answered back by saying an annoyed and sarcastic “Tse!” (English translation: Shut Up!)
She started telling me stories over the phone, who were already in her house at that moment and what food she has prepared. We concluded our conversation by assuring her that I will be in her house later in the afternoon. That’s how Nengkoy loves me!
Happy Mother’s Day Nengkoy!
Hapi Mader’s Dey sa lahat lahat!
One usual and inevitable question you’ll receive in case you would have a session with a psychiatrist is, “When growing up, who do you think loved you unconditionally?”
I would have an easy answer to this question. That would simply be the person whose birthday is today! Happy Birthday Nengkoy!
Thanks for always being a part of my colorful circus. I wish that you would continue to bring sunshine and delight to all the people around you… Love you so much!
still cool at 79
Hapi Berthdey… mula sa pinaka-masarap mong anak!
One measure to prove that a traveler is so fascinated by a holiday destination is when he experienced the wanderlust to come back. It is the strong desire and the itching feeling of wanting to return and re-experience the stunning sights and striking sounds of such captivating destination.
I have done a lot of returning and re-experiencing of various spellbinding tourist destinations myself both locally and internationally. And one destination that has recently been added up to this beautiful list is Baler. In less than a year I am back visiting this countrified town of Aurora Province here in the Philippines.
What I particularly loved about Baler is that there are so much to see, do and explore. And that every spot is so overwhelmingly beautiful. Add to that are the surprisingly affordable restaurants and food establishments that offers fresh, delicious and hearty meals.
To further substantiate that I am truly captivated by this place, I returned back with Nengkoy and my family for them to see and experience for themselves how much fun I had the first time I visited. And true enough, Baler for the second time around did not fail to amaze the traveler in me.
A very long rickety yet enjoyable Hanging Bridge
enjoying the sea breeze at the baywalk
me & nengkoy posing at lukso-lukso beach & islets
the millenium tree! one of the largest trees in asia..
the surf is up at Sabang Beach!
magnificent Mother Falls!
the view up the lighthouse hill…
And what is even further amazing about this return is that members of family were equally amazed by the beauty, warmth and hospitality of this gorgeous province. I wont be surprised if I will again be back in this province and say “Haler… Baler…”
Babalik-babalik pa mor…
After spending the whole afternoon at the mall with Nengkoy and family – watched a Filipino movie and have an early dinner treat – me and my nephew Luis decided to walk the three-and-a-half-kilometer distance from the Mall of Asia to our respective condo units in Vito Cruz. I was actually in some way thankful that there was a traffic gridlock in our place and that taxi drivers refused to have us as passengers. It is because on our way to our respective units, we instinctively slowed down, took photos and enjoyed this…
Captivating Manila Bay Sunset!
While walking the surprisingly breezy streets and intently listening to Luis about his school research/thesis, at the back of my mind I am realizing that appreciation for the beauty of nature is something that is innate and spontaneous. Since it is instinctual, it is but a natural tendency for a person to stop, stare and be captivated. It gives human beings a break from fretting over the past and a pause from worrying about the future. Captivating beauty of nature makes you feel refreshed, relieved and revitalized at that very moment.
And for those who have been overridden by the acquired imperative of the need to be urgent, of the feeling to hurry up and of the thought to get things done immediately, I simply wish that you would someday take it easy and be swooned and captivated by the natural beauty of the sunset.
Teyk it isi…
A New Year is but a couple of hours away, I would like to wish myself and the rest of the world to further develop a pretty good amount of emotional and intellectual common sense. And may the exclamation points that we will encounter in the coming year be all physically and psychologically enriching. And lastly, may bliss and beauty be all over the planet!
From Nengkoy and I, Happy New Year!
Heypi Niyu Yir!
Spending Christmas Eve at Nengkoy’s place has always been festive, cheery and hilarious. My general feeling every Christmas Eve at Nengkoy’s is like that of sailing into the supermoon with my family or it’s the feeling of being the biggest doll among all dolls in the babushka doll. Everyone’s positive energy resonates which gives light to what a happy Christmas should be.
Celebrating the holidays has made my family even closer together. And I will never exchange for anything the time I would get to spend Christmas Eve at Nengkoy’s place.
Hilaryus!
Nengkoy has a new look, particularly the header. It is sourced and adapted from the cool calligraphy by http://howyouare.com/calligraphy which I found in Facebook. 
Happy reading…
Stey kul… bukul…
Based on genetics, half of the reason why I look so delicious is because of Nengkoy (my mother). So if you hate the way I look, don’t blame me. Blame my mother for giving me such a stunning set of RNA components and eye-catching DNA segments.
Though I am still a work in progress, I consider myself to be a mature, open-minded and caring human being. But if you dislike me, don’t blame me. Blame my mother because a big chunk of what I am today is the rearing that she gave me.
But if you like me (or at least don’t hate me that much), then let me thank my lovely mother. Seriously, without Nengkoy, I’d probably be in some stinky gutter somewhere.
nengkoy 2015
Thank you Nengkoy for being such a beautiful human being. And thank you for always thinking about me even though it sometimes makes you go bonkers and so loony. Hahaha!
Hapi Maders Dey Nengkoy!
Nengkoy 