Elle's 8th birthday party, 2014

* Originally posted on October 10, 2014.

Elle Marie turned eight years old last week, October 1. Time has wings. :-)
Her birthday party was held at her own school, The School for Academics and Arts (TSAA), not far from our house in Makati.

There was a painting workshop conducted by my wife's friend, Amiya Velasco. All the kids have the same materials, and they would paint different things.

Amiya, standing right, and her buddy Deo, standing on the left, of Maharlika Artists and Writers Federation (MAWF).

Elle's painting. And her birthday cake.

My wife Ella also brought some of her students Faith and 2 others, and former student Enzo, to help out.

With teachers LJ and Fran, and school Directress Cherry Fernandez. Cherry was a friend way back in the mid 80s in UP Diliman.

Our family portrait. Bien did not attend her afternoon class so she can join  her Ate Elle's birthday celebration. She was moving around the room but in this photo, she hid her face. Hoy, anak :-)

Elle said she enjoyed her birthday party. Thanks to the classmates and teachers of Elle at TSAA. Below, a stolen shot of Elle by Amiya, taken a few days before her birthday, at a MAWF event at Intramuros.

Elle is simply beautiful. Thanks Amiya.

Bien's 4th birthday party, 2014

* Originally posted on October 10, 2014.

Bien Mary turned four years old last October 4. She is a jolly and articulate child who generally knows what she wants and what she does not want. All photos from my wife's fb postings.

In her birthday dress, taken one day before her actual birthday, October 3, Friday.

Her birthday party was held in her school, Kids PlayLab Preschool (KPLP), YMCA building, front of a church not far from our house in Makati.

Some of these photos were taken by Alyson's mom, Joyce.

Bien likes Jollibee. Sometimes McDo. Her classmates in apron during meals.

With her two close friends, Alyson and Julia, respectively. Bien is small compared to most of her classmates.

After meals, the kids have removed their apron, and prepared to watch Jollibee dance. Kids from another class joined in the celebration.

Alyson greeted Bien, "Happy birthday my BFF", wow.

Julia also gave her gift to Bien.

Her birthday cake.

Elle Marie also followed to catch the latter part of the party.

Bien said she was very happy with her party. Thanks to her classmate and teachers.

Wawa dam, Montalban, Rizal

* Originally posted on October 04, 2014.

Today, my wife and her student at DLSU went to a nursery and forestry project upstream of Wawa Dam, among the famous spots of Rizal province. Our two girls joined.

Elle Marie and the dam at the background.

The water is actually partly muddy and brown but when it falls down the dam, it looks so white. Loud sound of falling water, really nice.

The dam was created during the American colonial  period I think, it remains there but it's not yet used to augment Metro Manila-Rizal's drinking water supply, Maybe someday.

A viewing deck above the dam. Elle Marie and Bien Mary with their Mama Ella, plus their Ate Faith Gonzales, my wife's student. Today is Bien's 4th birthday, though the celebration was held yesterday at her nursery class.

Dam upstream. We walked going up to the project, about 30 miinutes from this point, and rode a boat going back. Only until this point, of course.

The dam is built on a narrow passage between  these two hills or small mountains. Folk legend says these two hills were "fighting" and Pinoy folk hero "Bernardo Carpio", a local  giant, stood between them and pacified them. Nice bedtime story for kids. 

Another view of the two hills, both well forested, from the boat. Two portions of the river has mild rapids.

Below the dam. Huge white rocks, thousands of them.

Bien with Ate Faith. We met many cyclists on their way down while we were walking to the dam.

Our group photo. It was hot this morning, very few clouds. Though it rained in the afternoon.

A tunnel going to the dam. Nice.

Elle with kuya Deo / Maharlika Nation.

Another view of the dam's upstream. Notice that both left and right sides of the river, the hills and mountains are thickly forested. Trees are like grasses, they just grow fast on their own even if no human plant them. They just need  to be protected from  poachers and illegal cutters for charcoal, firewood, small scale lumber, etc.

This floating hut is for rent, I think about P200 for one day. But during the hot months (March to May), rental can go up to P500 each. And there are many of these sprouting. 

I like this shot, taken by Deo of Maharlika Nation. While walking up to the project site, Elle said she was very tired, although I think she was just making drama, so I carried her on my back. One of our rest stops.

Thanks for accompanying and guiding us Deo.

All photos from Deo + my wife's camera + few from my camera phone.

----------

Elle and Bien turning 8 and 4 years old, 2014

* Originally posted on September 30, 2014.

Elle Marie will turn 8 years old tomorrow while Bien Mary will turn 4 years old this coming Saturday, November 4. Time has wings. All these photos I got from the fb album of my wife.

Here, taken last Saturday at the Maharlika Artists and Writers Federation (MAWF) gathering in Intramuros, Manila. My wife was invited, she tagged us along on our way home from Divisoria.

Another view, same event. Venue was The Collectibles building I think, 3rd floor. This is just behind the Manila Cathedral.

In one of the regular outings of the mother-daughters. Usually when it's malling, I don't join them. Am too lazy to visit the malls until now. 

Elle Marie at one year old, seven years ago. She enjoyed bubbles then. Until now actually, though not as passionately as before.

I would jokingly tell Elle that she should grow fast so that when she's big,  she can drive me someday as I am getting older. Will become a senior citizen less than a decade form now. :-)

Below, a charming, pretty and tall Elle. She's slightly above my nipple already.

Taken last Friday at a nice bakeshop in our barangay in Makati.
While they both like sweet food, sometimes they are choosy. To balance such unhealthy appetite for sweet food, I feed them banana  often. They like banana. Sometimes mangoes (but mangoes now are expensive) or orange.

And this is Bien Mary now....
She sees herself as a fashion model or ballerina, or a singer ("Let it go, let it go...")

TSAA's Family Day, 2014

* Originally posted on September 13, 2014.

Two Fridays ago, September 5, The School for Academics and Arts (TSAA) held its first Family Day this school year. Venue was the Makati Coliseum, not far from the school in Davila St., Makati City. I was not there as I attended a round table discussion by Citizen Watch at UP Diliman.

My wife and our younger daughter, Bien Mary, accompanied Elle Marie (Grade 3) at the event. The grade schoolers showing their Filipiniana dance number. They also performed a musical number using  bamboos and other local materials.

The kinder schoolers showing their talent too.

A game, the kids and parents were having a great time.

Fathers and their kids. I really miss that...

Other parents. Gilbert Maramara (rightmost) and Dean Gioia (beside him) are my usual chatmates whenever we see each  other at the school picking up our kids. And Noel Sadicon too, not in this photo.

Elle Marie, Bien Mary, Elle's two classmates.

All photos above from Dean, Dee Oh and my wife's facebook pics.
Good job TSAA. I honestly miss that event.