A PRESCHOOL CELEBRATES ITS GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY.....

OLL Child Guidance Center Teachers.....





Lian's Dad, Dr. Nemenzo.....





The School Administrator.....





Dinner Guests.....

















I met my friend and long time photography buddy Lian in a portraiture class held at Design Center Philippines at the CCP Complex a few years ago. She owned a preschool and during that time, it was evident that she really was engrossed with it, being the school's administrator and teacher. Apparently, the school was a business of her Lola, her mom's mom and it was passed on from grand mom, to mom and finally to her. Although she still consults her mom when decisions about the school have to be made. And the reason behind why she attended that portraiture class? So that she can take the class pictures of her students and not assign it to someone anymore! Ha! Ha! Ha!

These days, she is as busy as a bee. Her preschool, Our Lady Of Lourdes Child Guidance Center is celebrating its 50th Anniversary! Now, can anyone beat that among preschools? The school is even older than me! c",) And there are a lot of activities lined up for it. I heard her talking about sending out letters to former students for a grand reunion to be held at the school, a school play to be held at one of the theaters of SM Megamall and so many others (I have to ask her formally just what are these activities so as not to second guess).

And what so great about her school? I am not an educator, my own mom is, she being my teacher during my first few years in grade school. But I do understand what Lian meant when she said her school employs a non traditional method of teaching. It involves the enhancement of a child's skills first, in order to assess a child's potential and areas where a child is good at.

She asked me to cover the reunion dinner over at her school and house. It was great to see her family in full force. Even Von, her husband, who is also busy and somewhat gained celebrity status now that he was featured in Time Magazine as one of the "Warriors of the Environment" for being the head honcho of Greenpeace in Southeast Asia; went home to attend the celebrations. Just how big that Time issue was? He got mentioned along such prominent names as Al Gore and Mikhail Gorbachev! Yeah, that BIG!

Congratulations sis! This is an added feather on your cap!

SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE.....

"Where art thou?"





Two Characters From The Play.....





Hans Eckstein And Jenny Jamora.....





The Female Ensemble.....


















The Boyband.....






Main Actors Nicolo Manahan And Chris Villonco.....





As much as I love theater plays, it seems that I have a limit in what play appeals to me and what doesn't. I once watched a theater play in London, Tennessee Williams' "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" which featured Brendan Fraser (such a hunk of a man! (swoon!)) as Brick Pollit, an aging ex-football hero who neglects his wife (Frances Mcdermond) and further infuriates her when he ignores his brother's attempts to gain control of the family fortune. I haven't seen it before nor do I have the knowledge about the plot. But I was able to get the gist and plot of the play just like I was watching a movie. Cool! So when I was asked to take photographs of the dress rehearsal of the Repertory Philippines' production of Love's Labor's Lost, I agreed to do so.

I guess I am not a big Bard fan, of his literary works that is! I had so much trouble catching up with the lines and that I couldn't even get the main plot line. Perhaps it would have been better if I was completely focused on the play and not on taking pictures. It might have increased my comprehension to understand it. To think that The Bard happens to be the greatest writer that I even wanted to go to his hometown at Stratford Upon Avon in England to pay homage to him. If the time comes that my headaches clear, that I don't have internet connection, that I don't have a shoot, that I am just inside the house and that I actually have a Shakespeare book with me, then I probably have no choice but read the book and see for myself if I can really dig Shakespeare's words or not! Any suggestions on what story should I read first?

Bart Guingona directed this one. Epy Quizon, Nic Manahan, Hans Eckstein, Gabs Santos, Micah Munoz, Jenny Jamora, Cris Villonco, Crisel Consunji, Caisa Borromeo make up the lead and they are ably supported by Ana Bitong, Oliver Usison, Jejie Esguerra, Kenneth Keng, Pom Docena, Dingdong Rosales and Bonngoy Manahan. Although the play was written and thus patterned during Shakespeare's time, Guingona actually adapted it to fit the present setting which by Bart's choice is the 80's. A part of the play where the female cast sing a song that describes them as a group, they actually where humming and singing rubbish lyrics of Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun". Surely the song didn't exist during Shakespear's time. But Bart believed that the play's theme is timeless. Whether the setting is during the time when kings and princeses reign or when people's power is the in thing, the plot will work.

Bless his heart. I hope that people will flock and go to the theater to watch this performance. Hey! They should be! This is a comedy! This is Shakespeare!

FROM MANILA TO ILOCOS AND VICE VERSA.....

My Aunt Estring, Years Ago.....





My Aunt Irene With The Young Ones.....





My Aunt Estring With Her Daughter, Manang Beck and Guests.....





With Aunt Leoning.....





With Aunt Betty.....





Cousins, Nieces And Nephew.....





More Cousins Joining The Fun.....





The Cakes Gallery.....





All Smiles After Blowing Out The Candles.....





"Apo, Sayaw Tayo!"





My First Twin Nephews With Their Aunt Oping And Sallie.....





"Akin Lahat Ito!!!!"





Handing Out Raffle Numbers For The Raffle Draw.....





Number 8! Deal Or No Deal?!?





Hitting The Pot.....






My mom is in town! After staying in the U.S.A. for nearly four years without vacationing, she decided to come home and be with me and my brother for a few days. The last time that she was here was a difficult moment in our family's history as she suffered from stroke not once but three times! I had to look after her since I realized my father wasn't doing a good job at it (perhaps due to his age). She got well from her illness and the rest is history!

This month of August has not been cooperative to me. My mother's stay isn't that long and the rain has prevented me from achieving my main goal as long as my mom is here, that of having her checked up. I wanted to make sure that she is in good physical condition. I have to have a baseline of her blood works, chest xrays, and the likes. It has been four years since her last stroke so I am just being cautious. And to go to Manila on a scheduled appointment while it is raining cats and dogs, getting drenched in it and subsequently having great difficulty in getting a ride home is an experience that I didn't want me and my mom to undergo. Sadly, we did.

And because of the rain, I had to undergo a backbreaking travel tour that never in my wildest dreams shall I undertake; that of travelling to and from Ilocos in a span of 3 days! Meaning I had to accompany my mother to go to her hometown of Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur on a Thursday (straight from her doctor's office at the Philippine Heart Center), return to Manila in the afternoon of Friday (after eating an earlier scheduled lunch), send her off to the airport as she goes back to the U.S. on Saturday morning then returning to Ilocos right after that! Why is it important for me to go back to Ilocos afterwards? It's my Aunt Estring's (my mom's eldest sister, matriarch of my maternal side of the family)birthday, being celebrated a month ahead since my Fil-Am nephew and niece are in town while they are on vacation from school in the U.S. Of course, these kids wouldn't be able to go travel here without adult supervision in the form of their dad and their dad's sisters.

It was great to see my cousins and of course my "imported" pamangkins as well. We had great fun during this day and my cousins even made sure to share their blessings with the less fortunate by way of a raffle where people can win items ranging from imported shirts to pots and pans to small ticket electrical items. They even held a kiddie version of "Deal or No Deal", where in it's the kids turn to earn money but playing for it. But even if some of the kids didn't win, it was heartwarming to see the joy in these children's faces as they participated by cheering, coaxing and teaching the contestants on whether to deal or no deal.

For her part, my aunt always loved big celebrations and enterttain everybody. It seems that organizing such celebrations is her way of touching base and reconnecting with immediate relatives and friends. As the head of my maternal clan, her presence and sage like wisdom is often sought by family members and even by people who just knew her from days of yore. She may be 80 years old but has achieved a lot in life. For even in her advanced years, she held various positions in governmnent from a barangay captain to a top vote getting kagawad and our town's vice mayor. She is well loved by all of us and it will truly be a loss for our clan in general if God decides to call her back home. WWe do love you Aunty Estring! Hope you shall have more years ahead of you.

My mom would have loved to stay a day longer just so she can attend the affair. But she didn't want to pay additional charges for it, instead, she instructed me and my brother to go in her behalf! If only my mother can find her way around a computer and the Internet perhaps she can see these pics that I have posted! Hope you can see these pictures mom!

THEMED PARTY FOR THE GUYS.....

And The Winner Is..... Anne Curtis!!!



























I received an sms one day coming from Bless, my colleague from the photography club, inviting me to go to The Fort for a shoot. The odd thing was that it was scheduled in the night time and on a work day. Together with Lian, the three of us met at her office, had dinner and proceeded to go to to The Fort for the shoot. And it turned out that the event was sponsored by a men's magazine called UNO and it celebrated the finals for the "most popular cover girl" for the said magazine. How Bless got an invitation to such an event is beyond me!

I have never been a party goer. I have a serious aversion to cigarette smoke and alcohol isn't one of my favorite drinks! And with themed parties just like this, both are present in large volumes. I had to adapt and make most out of the situation if I wanted to get decent shots. Even if that meant me inhaling secondary smoke that can trigger my allergic rhinitis!

Some of the winners were not around. But the highest vote getter was Anne Curtis. I remember watching a local film where she was casted as a child. Now, she is a very beautiful, young woman. Oh no!! I must be getting old!

I WAS BORN IN THE U.S.A.... I WAS BORN IN THE U.S.A.

The Little Prince with His Mom, Dad and Jollibee.....Fast Asleep!





"Dad?....Are You Sleepy Too?"





Jollibee Says Raise Your Arm!





Jollibee Holds The Pinata as Julian Pulls The String.....





Smile Ate Rose!





Audience Participation.....





Julian Meets Jollibee For The First Time......





"Hi Tita Doray! Can I Borrow Your Cam?"





I got to see Julian for the first time in person. And I am sure that this guy will be breaking hearts in the future, in a good way sort of! He and his parents came home to the Philippines from the US so that he may share the experience of turning a year old with his relatives and his parents' friends! The thing about celebrating one's birthday that falls on a holiday is that it would be difficult for other people to forget and miss it! And to be born on the 4th of July? Entitles you to a free fireworks display to mark your day. Cool!

He is such a happy baby and sure is a big boy! And I am sure his parents, even at his tender age, are so proud of him! Hope he enjoyed his birthday!