filipino-style spaghetti sauce

We are lucky little pebble to have somebody looking after us.  Every weekend, Norma comes to Mommy’s place to clean up and cook.  Norma has been with Mommy for around eight years now.

Norma today brought with her Vades, her daughter. Vades made you special Filipino-style spaghetti sauce. It was so good Mommy had to ask Vades to teach her how to make it so you will have a chance later on to whip this up for Mommy and Daddy ;)

Ingredients:
(Enough for about 1 kilo spaghetti)

250 grams spaghetti sauce

1 bottle (320 grams) ketchup (hot-sweet flavour)

8 pcs large hotdogs (chopped)

500 grams ground beef

250 ml all-purpose cream

Soy sauce (4 tablespoons)

Onions

Garlic

Chili powder

Pepper

Salt

Sugar

Canola oil

Procedure:

1.       Brown onions and garlic in canola oil.

2.       Add ground beef.

3.       When beef is cooked, add chopped hotdogs.

4.       Add spaghetti sauce, ketchup, and all-purpose cream. Bring to slow boil.

5.       Add soy sauce, chilli powder, pepper, salt, and sugar to taste.

the people's champ

Do you remember little pebble when Mommy took you to watch the Pacquiao vs. Bradley fight and Mommy became very upset after because Pacquiao lost his WBO welterweight title? Well almost two weeks after, a five-person panel formed by the WBO came up with a review saying that it was Pacquiao who won and not Bradley.  Bradley, however, gets to keep the title and the belt.

While a lot of people say this is Pacquiao’s vindication, Mommy thinks there was really no need to form such panel.  No one really believed Bradley won.  Moreover, Pacquiao has won 8 titles in different weight divisions. Nobody has achieved this in boxing history. He may eventually fail to defend these titles, after all he is 33 years old and it will become tougher for him to go against athletes in their 20s like Bradley, but unless somebody manages to win 8 or more than 8 titles, Pacquiao’s reign in the ring continues.

And here’s what the Nevada State Athletic Commission can never take away from Pacquiao and the Filipino people: Pacquiao’s shining example that no matter how poor a person is, by hard work, determination, and taking timely advantage of opportunities that comes one’s way, one can rise from poverty and make his mark in this world.  Dear little pebble, Pacquiao came from a family who had not enough to eat and yet he managed to become a world class athlete, educate himself, and get himself elected to Congress. His interests have branched out to community service, entertainment, and even religion. Although some people may think Pacquiao is spreading himself too thin, Mommy thinks that Pacquiao is just showing to himself and to everyone else, that poverty is not a hindrance to success.

There is another important thing that Pacquiao has shown the Filipino people: They are capable of being united.

Philippine history is marked by divisiveness.  We have Filipinos telling against Filipinos during the Spanish colonial period, Japanese occupation, and during the Fil-American War. Present-day politics is more about private and self-serving interests rather than public service. Yet, whenever Pacquaio has a bout in faraway Nevada, there’s a hush which permeates the streets and highways of the Philippine archipelago, Filipinos dispersed far and wide abroad gather in pubs, and in one voice, cheer for their hero.

This is why, little pebble, Manny Pacquiao is and always will be, the People’s Champ. We don’t need a five-person WBO panel to tell us that.

happy birthday daddy!

You are now 26 weeks little pebble! The book, “Pregnancy from Preconception to Birth” says that your eyes are beginning to open and your response to sound is more consistent.  You now measure about 14 inches from crown to heel and weigh a little more than 1.5 pounds.  You still continue to take small breaths and although you’re only breathing in water and not air, it’s still good practice when you are born.  Your testicles are beginning to descend to your scrotum and this trip will take about 2 to 3 days.

It is Daddy’s birthday today.  We planned to be in Adelaide to spend with him this special day but Mommy and Daddy ultimately decided, after weighing the pros and cons, that it may be stressful for you little pebble to travel 13 hours by plane from Manila to Adelaide and another 13 hours from Adelaide back to Manila after a few days.  We also don’t want you to come out much earlier than your scheduled date. So even if Daddy will be lonely and Mommy will be sad that they’re not together today, they have to make this small sacrifice for you to make sure that you are all right.

 It’s not too long now. Mommy and Daddy are expecting you by 15 September (Saturday), that’s only 2.5 months from now! And you’re their no. 1 priority which means that you are most important among all other important things for Mommy and Daddy.

So what you did this morning was to give Daddy his present and his cake to be opened/eaten when he comes to Manila in September (let’s see if he will share with you his cake when you come out in 15 September).

Speaking of sacrifice, Mommy has read this book “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother”.  The book was written by a law professor who has two girls.  The two girls excelled in their classes and became very good at playing the piano and the violin. The friends of the parents of the two girls always ask how they were able to raise such intelligent and talented children.  The parents, especially the mother, only smiled.

The secret? Lots of sacrifice and hard work.  The children had to go home quickly after school to do their homework and then several hours practicing piano and violin.  The children were not allowed to waste their time watching television or playing video games. Of course the sacrifice was not only on the part of the children. The parents sacrificed a lot too. They had to work hard to pay for the school fees and music lessons of the children and they spent lots and lots of time supervising their girls’ lessons.

Little pebble, Mommy and Daddy want the best for you. They want you to be able to go to good schools, excel in your classes, so you can later have a good job and a comfortable life. But Mommy and Daddy cannot do these by themselves. We’re a team. So when Mommy makes you do practice exercises in addition to your homework and not allow you to go to parties so you can prepare for you exams, please don’t think that she’s making life miserable for you.  Mommy and Daddy are doing these all for you.  Oh, for sure we will have misunderstandings, you not wanting to do some things or not understanding why you have to do certain things when your friends are allowed by their parents to freely roam.  But that is not us, little pebble. Mommy and Daddy will devote their time and resources so they can prepare you for a life when you are going to be all on your own.

So really, Daddy’s birthday today when we are not all together is a start of sacrifices Mommy and Daddy have to make for you, little pebble.  It is a sacrifice, however, which is joyous. They know that they are starting today on a journey to making you the best that you can possibly be, our dearest little pebble. 

sunshine

Sometimes Mommy feels you get uncomfortable inside her tummy (like when you’re caught up in traffic for a long time or when Mommy gets a bit stressed at work).  What Mommy does is to rub her tummy and sing to you. And you settle down, little one.  You must like Mommy’s singing J

Aside from her own make-up songs about you, little pebble, this is the song Mommy usually sings to you.

You are My Sunshine

You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are grey
You'll never know dear
How much I love you
So please don't take
My sunshine
Away

The other night dear
As I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms
When I awoke dear
I was mistaken
And I held
My head
And cried.

Mommy used to sing that song a lot to Daddy before you came along, so Mommy has to give Daddy a new sunshine song now.

You Are the Sunshine of My Life

You are the sunshine of my life
That's why I'll always be around,
You are the apple of my eye,
Forever you'll stay in my heart

I feel like this is the beginning,
Though I've loved you for a million years,
And if I thought our love was ending,
I'd find myself drowning in my own tears

You are the sunshine of my life,
That's why I'll always stay around,
You are the apple of my eye,
Forever you'll stay in my heart

You must have known that I was lonely,
Because you came to my rescue,
And I know that this must be heaven,
How could so much love be inside of you?

You are the sunshine of my life, yeah,
That's why I'll always stay around,
You are the apple of my eye,
Forever you'll stay in my heart.

doctors

Little pebble you are now 25 weeks! The book, “Pregnancy From Preconception to Birth” says that you now weigh 23.5 ounces and you are about 13.5 inches long. There’s no air in your lungs yet, just amniotic fluid, but you’re making movements that look like breathing.  You’re getting some baby fat too! As this happens, your wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out. You’re also growing more hair.

Mommy has persistent carpal tunnel syndrome.   This means that she’s been feeling pain in her fingers, hands, and wrists for some time now.  The book “What To Expect When You’re Expecting” says that this condition is common in people who regularly perform tasks that require repetitive motions of the hand.  It is also common among pregnant women.  This is because the carpal tunnel in the wrist through which the nerve to the affected fingers runs, becomes swollen during pregnancy.  The resulting pressure causes numbness, tingling, or burning.

The book “Pregnancy From Preconception to Birth” gives the following advice to those experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome.

1.       Don’t sleep on your hands.

2.       Hang your hands over the edge of your bed at night

3.       Shake your hand until the pain or numbness reduces.

4.       Flex your wrists and fingers regularly throughout the day.

5.       Dip your hands in ice cold water/apply an ice pack.

6.       Massage from your hands and wrists upward.

7.       Avoid jobs that require repetitive hand movements.

8.       Eat a well-balanced diet to avoid excessive weight gain.

9.       Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.

10.   Eat 5 portions of fruit, salad, and vegetables daily.

11.   Have a small amount of protein every meal.

12.   Get wrist splits from the pharmacy.

Mommy has tried everything except the wrist splits as these will be difficult to manage when she’s at work.  Her doctor said that the pain will go away once you come out from Mommy’s tummy.  In the meantime, we just need to go slowly little one as sudden motions of Mommy’s hands make her wince in pain.

Maybe when you grow up little pebble, you can become a doctor and come up with a remedy to treat those who have the same problems as Mommy.  Can you imagine how many people you will be able to help out if you can come up with a fool proof remedy for carpal tunnel syndrome without undergoing surgery?

I am reminded of a doctor who would be celebrating his 151^st birthday today if he were still alive (He died a long time ago, little one. He was shot on 30 December 1896 when he was just 35 years old). His name is Dr. Jose P. Rizal. He is the Philippines’ national hero.  Rizal was a very smart boy.  He learned to read quite early and grew up speaking and writing in 22 languages! He painted, sculpted, was great in sports, and wrote poems and books.

What is outstanding about Rizal is that he did not keep his knowledge and learning to himself. During his time, the Philippines was under Spanish colonial rule and the Filipinos experienced great hardships. Rizal, through his writings, encouraged the Filipinos to free themselves from the Spaniards. He proposed reforms without violence.

When Rizal was caught by the Spanish and exiled in Dapitan (this is a remote area in the Philippines), instead of pitying himself, he spearheaded reforms in the village by helping little boys to read and write. He also acted as village doctor and healed people and taught them how to take care of themselves better so they stay healthy and strong.

But you know what’s very special about Rizal little one? It is said that he became a doctor because he wanted to help his own mommy. She was having problems with her eyes and she couldn’t see clearly anymore.  Imagine, he could have become a lawyer, an engineer, or a world famous painter.  But he chose to become a doctor and in this way was able to help not only his mommy but also a whole lot of other people.

Filipinos all look up to this man. Every town, municipality, and city in the Philippines has a monument honoring Rizal.

presents galore!

Hey little one! Mommy has brought home some presents for you!

Daddy needs to keep reminding Mommy that you're not going to be born already five years old...

saturdays

Since you’ve started moving in Mommy’s tummy, she’s been wondering if you can distinguish the days in the week.  For some reason you don’t kick on Mondays and only poke sluggishly throughout the week. But when Saturday comes, oh my, Mommy feels like you’re playing soccer in her tummy. You’re even up as early as 5.30 a.m.!

Mommy gives you a special treat on weekends. She has observed that you love pasta with the sauce Daddy makes.  So she makes it a point now to cook pasta for you every weekend. After Mommy finishes a plate of pasta (usually with a glass of grape or apple juice), you get really quite excited. Daddy says you’re burning off all those carbs by kicking around.

When Daddy comes to Manila, he always makes a lot of pasta sauce and stores these in the freezer.  The sauce is now gone (you eat a lot these days little pebble!) and Mommy has to make you some until Daddy comes back to make a new batch.

So via skype, Daddy has to teach Mommy how to do his special sauce so you can still have your weekend treat.

1.       Prepare the ingredients:

a.      Onion

b.      Garlic

c.       Olive Oil

d.      Tomato sauce (about 250 grams)

e.      200 grams minced pork

f.       3 pieces chicken wings

g.      6 pieces of beef  (smaller than matchbox size)

h.      Pepper

i.       Basil

j.       Olives

2.       Chop up the onions and garlic and brown these in olive oil.

3.       Lightly fry the minced pork, chicken wings, and beef together with the onions and garlic

4.       Pour the tomato sauce over the meat.

5.       Slow cook for at least 2 hours until the meat fall apart.

6.       Add water occasionally

7.       At the end, season with pepper, basil, and olives

Mommy has to make a confession (A confession is when you admit something which you should or should not have done but it bothers your conscience so much that you’ve got to tell your deed. For example, Mommy told you that you can only watch Disney on weekends but you watched a really scary movie that you start having bad dreams at night. You’ll have to confess this to Mommy and Daddy so they can tell you that those scary things you saw are not real and won’t get you when the lights are turned off.)

Going back to the confession.  Mommy has difficulty slow cooking the sauce for 2 hours. It causes so much splatter in the kitchen.  She also doesn’t have the patience watching over the stove for 2 hours. She also easily gets distracted. She goes off to read the papers, write, clean the house, or do some work from the office and forgets that something is simmering in the kitchen. This is why Daddy is the Master Chef in the house. He is patient and watches over whatever he’s cooking with much love and care.

So Mommy was quite relieved that even if she simmered the sauce for only an hour, it was passable for you little one.  How does Mommy know this? After she finished a plate of pasta, you started kicking happily around!

But am sure you can’t wait until Daddy comes back to Manila to make the real thing.

POSTSCRIPT: Daddy dreamt about you last night. He said you were between 3 to 6 months old and he was feeding you (see, even in his dreams he makes sure you’re eating right). You looked so cute and pure. And you had shiny black hair.

thursdays

You are now 24 weeks or 6 months little pebble!  The book, “What To Expect When You’re Expecting” says that you are about 13 inches long and weigh about 1 ¾ pounds. Your skin is thin and shiny, with no underlying fat.  Your finger and toe prints are visible.  Your eyelids now begin to part and your eyes open. 

This is how you look to Mommy and Daddy:

Since you’ve started moving in Mommy’s tummy, Mommy has observed that you’re always so quiet on Thursdays.  You see, Mommy sits in Board meetings every Thursday and she wonders whether you can hear all the economists, lawyers, and finance people talking in the Board room.  It’s interesting listening to their discussions of world issues and how these impact on the Philippines, how the Philippine financial system can be better managed, and how the economy can be improved.  At the end of the day, these 7 members of the Board decide on things that we all hope will make the Philippines a little better for each and every Filipino (that includes you now, little pebble).  This is what Mommy loves about her job. Despite the long hours and the tight deadlines, she feels that she’s making her own contribution, no matter how miniscule, at making the Philippines a better place to live in.

But this Thursday, dear one, Mommy felt you shyly poking during points in the Board meeting.  Did you get worried as well with how Greece and Spain are doing? Can you make sense now of these economic calculations?

Mommy is quite convinced that you can hear so much better. Last night, after Mommy and Daddy talked about getting you a crib, you suddenly started kicking actively. Mommy asked you if you’d like to listen to her read you a book. Then you kicked! Mommy was so pleased. She started reading to you your first book, The Little Prince. This is one of Mommy’s favourite books.  It is about a little boy who lives on an asteroid (an asteroid is like a little planet) and who somehow managed to get himself to earth.  After the first chapter, Mommy asked whether you liked the book she was reading to you. And you kicked again! Mommy read you two more chapters and I think you fell asleep.

Dear one, Mommy can’t wait to read to you all these books of adventures! You’ll hear tales of gallant knights, of brave princes, of spies and mystery solvers, of boys climbing beanstalks, of young men flying on carpets or sailing across stormy seas, of pirates, dinosaurs, and space men! On some nights we will read about smart people and some of their cool inventions and discoveries. Oh such stories little pebble.

But Mommy will need to contain herself. You’ve got to play ball with Daddy too.

POSTSCRIPT: Economists are strange people. If you ask them a question, they will give you at least two answers. They’ll say, “On the one hand it is possible that ….. but on the other hand, it can also happen that…….”. This way of answering makes Mommy worry a little bit about you, little pebble. Since Mommy thinks that you can hear the conversations now in the Boardroom, you may absorb this way of thinking into your system.  Mommy is afraid that the day will come when she’ll say, “Now child, why do you think that Mommy and Daddy won’t allow you to watch TV on school nights?” Then you may say, “On the one hand, I think that you have a very good point in not allowing me to watch TV so I can concentrate on doing my homework and do well in class and develop self-discipline in the process. On the other hand, it is also possible that you do not understand that I can really multi-task and that I need to keep pace with world events and what’s happening to society at large.”

sportsmanship

Mommy took you today to watch the Pacquiao vs. Bradley match.  You seemed quite excited little pebble, you kicked a good deal in Mommy’s tummy!

Mommy is devastated. Her favourite boxer, Manny Pacquiao (that’s OUR favourite boxer… you and Daddy’s too) lost today his WBO welterweight title.  He had a total of eight titles to his name (now down to seven) in eight different weight divisions. Little pebble, no one in boxing history has held such a number of titles at any given point.

Pacquiao lost to a strong and younger opponent, Timothy Bradley.  Bradley is such a good fighter that in his 28 matches, he has not lost a single fight and was able to knock down 12 of his opponents.  He was a worthy contender to our Pacquiao (Pacquiao has had 54 fights of which he lost only three and knocked down 38 of his opponents). 

While Mommy is very sad about the outcome (Pacquaio has not lost a game since 2005), we have to respect the decision of the judges.  That is how it is in sports or in any other contest. Judges are appointed to decide who the winner will be and that the players have to abide with the judges’ decision even if they think that such is not correct.  Of course in extreme cases, the decision of the judges can be contested but that is the exception rather than the general rule.

Despite Pacquiao losing today, Mommy is still quite proud of him.  He fought a good fight and he did not show any fear.  When the decision was announced, he gallantly went to Bradley’s side to congratulate him.  He did not say any bad words against the judges nor did he raise a fit. He didn't forget to say a prayer and even remembered to thank his supporters. That is sportsmanship dear little pebble which Mommy thinks is much more important than winning. Winning is not everything.

Little one, losing in itself is not dishonourable.  It is not possible to win all of the time and there will be times that you may lose.  The important thing is that you did your absolute best and that you prepared well for the game. If it happens that someone else bested you even if you did all you can to win, go to your opponent and shake his hand. Of course you can cry a bit when you get home but what you absolutely cannot do is to lose your temper in front of everyone because you lost.

If you really think that you are better than your opponent, practice harder, analyse why you lost in your last game, study your opponent’s technique, and improve your strategy. Then in the next game, you can show the world that you are by far the better player.

POSTSCRIPT: Daddy liked Mommy so much after he met her that he came with Mommy in Adelaide to watch with her the Pacquaio vs. Cotto fight in November 2009 notwithstanding that he did not know who Pacquiao was and that he did not care for boxing (Daddy is a football and soccer man).  Daddy even made Mommy a special poster from that the Pacquiao vs. Cotto fight.

Guess what Daddy gave Mommy as wedding present in their Adelaide wedding? Not flowers nor jewellery but an authentically signed boxing glove of Manny Pacquiao! Daddy and Mommy did not go to Paris or Florence after their Adelaide wedding but went to the Marion Hotel to watch Pacquiao vs. Marquez.

One day, they might go to Las Vegas to watch a live fight at the MGM Grand Arena… of course you're coming along little pebble.

be cool

You are now 23 weeks.  The book “Pregnancy From Preconception to Birth” says that your hearing is now well established and that you’re getting used to all kinds of sounds.  You can make out a distorted version of Mommy’s voice, the beating of her heart, and her stomach rumblings. You now weigh a little more than one pound and measure about 11.5 inches.

Mommy took you to her doctor two days ago to check how you are.  The doctor gave both you and Mommy the thumbs up. You are growing fine, our little man, and we’re expecting you somewhere between the 12^th and 17^th of September.  Daddy will be flying to Manila around the 10^th of September so that he will be the first person you’ll see when you come into this world.

Now that you can hear Mommy’s voice, she has to be extra careful with what she says.  Take for example early this week. Mommy’s parking slot at home has been transferred without giving her notice.  Apparently, they needed to fix something around the area where Mommy’s parking slot is located.

Little pebble, if this happened before you came along, Mommy would have barged into the building administrator’s office and given him a long lecture, so long that he’d feel he was walking the entire length of the Great Wall of China.  Since you are in Mommy’s tummy however, she has to show you that she is a civilized citizen of the universe. 

So what she did tonight, was to tell the guard assigned to the parking area that he convey to the building administrator that he was an incompetent person because (1) he didn’t observe procedural due process when he shifted Mommy’s parking slot; (2) Mommy has manifested that the temporary slot assigned to her was difficult to manoeuvre given her present condition and that her request was just ignored; and (3) the length of time to repair the area is unreasonable (she wanted to asked if they’re putting up a skyway in the middle of the parking area but she refrained from doing so).

Daddy is quite proud of Mommy.  He knows that Mommy has about 50 other words for “incompetent” (some of these downright nasty) but that she did not use them, in deference to you.

So you see little one, you and Daddy are teaching Mommy a lesson or two on how to be cool; how not to sweat the small stuff, and above all, to choose to be kind rather than right.

PS: “Procedural due process” is a mouthful of words so Mommy has to explain this to you. It means little pebble that a person has to be given an opportunity to explain and defend himself before the appropriate action can be taken against him.  For example, Mommy comes home one day and all the walls have your crayon art works on them.  Mommy can’t say, “Young man, no play time tonight.” She’s got to say, “Young man, explain why there are crayon art works on the wall when you’re supposed to do them on your notebook.”  Then little pebble, you’ve got to give a good explanation why. A really very good explanation. 

what's in your name?

Daddy and Mommy beg to disagree with Shakespeare when he wrote, “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”  You see, little one, you have been named with great care and after much discussion between Mommy and Daddy.

We are naming you Anton after your Italian great grandfather Antonio (Daddy’s paternal grandfather. Daddy’s father, by the way, was also named Antonio); and Lee after your Chinese great grandfather Leon (Mommy’s paternal grandfather).  We want you to always remember how special you are, how different cultures run in your blood. We want you to have an Italian’s love for life and a Chinese’s sense of discipline and industry. 

Dear little Pebble, you are not only partly Italian and Chinese, you are also Australian and Filipino at the same time. Daddy, while born of Italian parents, has been raised and grew up in Australia, enjoying the freedom and opportunities the country has provided its migrants. Mommy is a Filipina and a strong believer that one day, her country will get its act together and be able to raise the quality of life of all its citizens.   We hope you develop a Filipino’s resilience and trust in Divine Providence and an Australian’s belief in equal opportunities for everyone.

We are also giving you a third name, Thomas, a name you can reflect upon in times of great challenges.

Sir Thomas More, who lived from 1478-1535 in England was a lawyer, a statesman, and a humanist. He was ahead of his time. During a period when women were not generally given access to education, he believed that women were just capable as men of academic accomplishment. In this regard, he attended to the education of his daughters. His eldest daughter, Margaret, was much admired for her learning especially her fluency in Greek and Latin.

Sir Thomas More was a loyal servant to King Henry VIII, the king of England at that time, serving him in the capacity of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from 1525-1529 and as Lord Chancellor from 1529-1532. His loyalty, however, had its limitations. He simply could not agree to the separation of England from the Catholic Church and accept the king as the Supreme Head of the Church of England. Thus, he refused to sign the First Succession Act. He resigned his post as Lord Chancellor and became an ordinary citizen again, leaving behind the power and wealth that came with his position. The king, however, was not satisfied. Sir Thomas More would be imprisoned, then charged with treason and beheaded in 1535.

Ok, this beheading business is a bit grim. The point of this little one, is that while Mommy and Daddy love you very much and will protect you from all harm, it may come to pass that you will have struggles that you alone will need to face and overcome. If this happens, you can pray for clarity and steadfastness from your namesake, Sir Thomas More (he was canonised  by Pope Pius XI in1935) who stood firm in his beliefs and held on to what he believed was right and just.

P.S. Mommy’s only reservation about Anton Lee Thomas is that it may be a challenge writing your full name once you start school. When Mommy was a little girl, students who were noisy were made to write their name 100 times on the blackboard before they are allowed to go home. We do not know if this policy will still be allowed by the time you go to school but Mommy is a bit worried that by the time you finish writing your name for the 100^th time, dinner will have gone cold at home and that will upset Daddy (Not that Mommy is saying you are going to be a noisy pupil. This is just in case you get caught by your teacher one day more active than usual).

third time's a charm

Daddy is ecstatic (ecstatic means extra happy, like you want to dance, twirl around and somersault because you’re very thrilled at something).

You see little Pebble, this is the third weekend that Port Adelaide has won.  Daddy has been upset the past few weekends as his team (sorry, that's Our Team) has been losing badly.  Last year was even worse; Port Adelaide did so poorly that Daddy said a lot of harsh words about the coach.  Mommy asked Daddy last year whether we should change teams.  He was horrified.  He could not even believe Mommy raised the topic!  (Seems like football in Australia is really different from politics in the Philippines. In the Philippines, if a political party’s head, usually the sitting President, is no longer influential, the members switch to or form another party).

Since you came along, Port Adelaide, however, has been on a roll. Some people believe that third time’s a charm.  But Mommy thinks you, our dear little one, is Port Adelaide’s charm this season.

P.S. That’s Mommy’s cap on the photo. Am sure Daddy will get you one too. Afterall, you cheered quite hard  for Port Adelaide, Mommy felt your strong excited kicks the whole afternoon!

buckle up, little one!

You are a child borne from much travelling.

Your nonno (Daddy’s father) came to Australia by ship from Montefredane, Avellino, Italy (just outside of Naples) in February 1955. He was only 19 years old when he sailed to Australia.  Your nonna (Daddy’s mother) also came by ship from Summonte, Avellino, Italy, around the same year. Your nonno and nonna, while almost neighbors in Italy, got to know each other only in Adelaide.

Your lolo sa tuhod  (Mommy’s paternal grandfather) came from China to settle in a fishing village called Villareal, Samar, which is in the southern part of the Philippines.  Here he would marry a Filipina and they had six sons and one daughter. Two of the children would become lawyers; another two, engineers; and the other three would become a doctor, teacher, and an accountant. Their youngest son was Mommy’s father.

Your other lolo sa tuhod (Mommy’s maternal grandfather) was a Philippine war veteran who fought the Japanese in World War II.  His wife had to take care of their seven children while he was at war.  This lolo sa tuhod, when Mommy’s mother was a little girl, went to Manila (the capital of the Philippines) to prepare and take the bar exams so that he could be a lawyer. Your lola sa tuhod (Mommy’s maternal grandmother), who was a very smart, creative, and industrious woman, would thereafter move to Manila too and stayed on there even after your lolo sa tuhod passed away. Mommy used to visit her on weekends when Mommy went to Manila to study so she could be a lawyer like her grandfather.

Your Daddy has travelled a lot:  Europe, Canada, and the US.  Mommy also has travelled a lot too, most of Asia and parts of Europe.  But guess where they’d meet... in Adelaide, just like your nonno and nonna.  When Mommy looks back, she finds it interesting that the first picture of Mommy and Daddy together was in a German village called Hahndorf, somewhere in South Australia.

But the travelling didn’t end there. Since Daddy met Mommy six weeks before Mommy had to fly back to the Philippines (she was in Adelaide only for a year to get her Master’s degree), Daddy had to fly to Manila several times to make sure that Mommy didn’t forget him.  Mommy also would keep flying back to Adelaide so she can sit in Daddy’s kitchen to watch him cook Italian food (as you will soon know, little Pebble, Daddy is the Master Chef in our house).

Mommy and Daddy married in 11 November 2011 (how cool is that, 11-11-11!) in Adelaide at 3:00 pm. A few months later, Mommy and Daddy had their marriage solemnized in church in Manila on 29 February 2012 (that means, they celebrate their Church wedding every leap year).

Daddy lives right now in Adelaide while Mommy (and you of course, since you’re inside Mommy’s tummy) lives in Manila.  But don’t you worry dearest Pebble, one day you will wake up with both Mommy and Daddy beside you already. In the meantime little one, you’ve got to get used to a lot of flying.

If you announce to Mommy and Daddy over dinner that you want to spend a year in Tibet, we don’t think we will be very surprised.