Happy Birthday, Party Girl Ain

Lot's of birthdays this month. We just celebrated Cousin Ain's. I made dinner and desert, and fresh brewed iced tea to wash it all down.

Fixin's for Tres Leches Cake.

See how cute Cousin Ain is dressed? That's because she was going dancing, or bowling, or karaokeing, or something fun later that night.

She's 3[something] years old. Young. Practically still a teenager.

That's the Tres Leches Cake. I would have taken more pictures of it, but it was devoured before anyone could even burp in satisfaction.

Mattie, the teenager: "ugh, another picture? Hurry up, I wanna go back to doing whatever was I was doing before you old people pestered me for another picture."

Ah, don't you just love teenagers?

There's little Sheazie Bear, wearing the proper colors.

Go Huskies! (Unless Gonzaga is playing...)

Cousin Ain: "red is hot. HOT. Hot on the dance floor. Hot on the bowling lane. Hot on the microphone. Red. Now, I just have decide which one I want to do..."

What did I tell ya? Party Girl Ain is back in full swing!

It's My Birthday, And I'll Eat if I Want To

Jamesie Cat turned 3 this week. His mom, Cousin Ain, threw a party for him at the last minute. This is what happens at a 3 year old's party...

I'd post all the pictures, but you'd kill me for a broken record effect. James kept blowing out the candles before we even started singing Happy Birthday. We finally gave up on lighting them after the 4th try.

Yum, I love cake. I could eat cake all day long.

Agh, but the stupid fork is too hard to use. Ugh, what a hassle!

Ah, no wonder Preacher & Sonya don't use utensils. This is so much easier!

What?! It's my birthday, and I'll eat if I want to!

Fine, I'll wipe my face. But I'm still not using a fork!

These are James's guests. The ones that count, anyway, because they're more his age.

Ooooh, you're flying through the air. Like in Avatar.

(You know, the 3D effect and all...)

This is Sheazie Bear.

This is Little Miss Alina.

She's her mommy's little social butterfly.

Come here Sheazie Bear, I love you.

Look Mommy, a little baby!

Aw, don't cry little boy.

Here, I'll make you feel better...

Mwaaaaah!

Ack! I wonder if this worries Alina's daddy...

You took a picture? Let me see. Can I get a copy?

I love little babies.

What, you still pestering me about wiping my face?

Fine, give me a napkin.

It's still my birthday, and I'll still eat the way I want to!

What? You want a kiss?

The End.

Remembrance: A Photo Essay by Sander James Alvarez

My grandparents had been married for 67 years when Lolo T died. Three years later, Lola I followed. Her burial was a fiasco. The original coffin she was laid in was deemed unworthy, so they got a shinier, brassier, more expensive, deluxe coffin. It was pouring down rain on her burial day too. So imagine the frustration and impatience of the mourners when the new coffin would not fit into the sarcophagus, the panteon. Masons were rushed to build a new sarcophagus. By night fall, the coffin was finally shoved into the wet, uncured cinder box in a hurry.

Thirteen years later, Lola's sarcophagus was falling apart. So, long story short, Lolo and Lola's bodies were exhumed, the remains placed in new boxes, and reburied in brandnew, well built panteon.

I was not there for the reburial. But my nephew, Sander James Alvarez, was there, and these are his pictures.

Now I feel in touch, and the remembrance is complete.

Thank you, Sander.

He Was Laid to Rest in 1994

I DEDICATE THIS ENTRY TO BING AND PHILIP. Because you asked to see these pictures. Because this week is our late grandpa's death anniversary. Because our Lolo was a very good man. Because we will always remember him.

I remember now, it was 1994. I spent the whole summer in the Philippines, traveling back and forth between Bohol and Cebu.

The day of desperas at my other grandparents' house.

In the picture: L-R Jojo, Jelyn, Yours Truly, Jane.

My Lola and Lolo on Ma's side.

It was very late on this stormy and rainy night. Uncles and aunts just arrived from Cebu.

In the picture: L-R Tita Nida, Tio Pedro, (?), Tia Naring, Papa Gunding, Papa B, (?).

Almost all the grandkids were there during the wake. And indeed it was a WAKE. Anyone who could stand it, stayed awake all night to keep Lolo's (confused) spirit company. See, the spirit of a recently deceased does not know that he has died, so he lingers for 3 days, wandering.

Why 3 days? Because that's how long Jesus was dead.

Yeah, we're crazy! Hah!

In the picture: Abner

In the picture: Ian

This was actually in the middle of the day. He was so tired that he slept through the intense heat of the noonday sun, and humidity rising from the wet earth.

In the picture: Cirilo.

In the picture: Tata.

In the picture: Mario "Mayot", the neighbor help.

In the picture: L-R Honey, Kuya Larry, Tata.

Honey is such a sweet girl. But that night she must have thought "I'm not having anything to do with these drunkards' snoring!

Only Tita V wears her eyeglasses to sleep!

In the picture: L-R Tita V, King, Ryan (aka Tom), Ati Virginia.

Literally, we kept Lolo's spirit (and body) company.

In the picture: L-R Kuya Glenn, Ati Sisit, Yours Truly, Tata.

In the picture: L-R [Ati Allory's daughter], Darwin, Ati Allory, Ati Lani, Abner, Yours Truly, Tata.

In the picture: (in the foreground) Jovi.

In the picture: L-R [back row] (?), Darwin, Jansin "Jan-Jan", [2nd row] Ian, Joey, Jetry, Tata, RG, Dante, Ted (or is it Edwin?), [3rd row] Ati Lani, Sandy, Yours Truly, (Ati Allory's daughter), Sweet, (?), [4th row] Vanjo, Darlene, Monique, Abner, [front] Honey. And that's Lola on the left, with the comb in her hair, walking away.

In the picture: L-R Darwin, RG, Ati Lani, Kuya Larry, Yours Truly, Ian, Edwin (or Ted?)

At the pantalan, waiting for more relatives to arrive from Cebu.

In the picture: L-R Tata, Ian, Yours Truly, Sandy, (Forgot his name).

At the pantalan.

Breakfast.

Jansin "Jan-jan"

Dionicio.

On the day of the burial, all the relatives wear white

At the threshold of the house, the coffin is held high, and everyone walks under it so that Lolo's spirit won't come back and haunt them.

Like I said, CRAZY!!!

The procession to the church.

The day started out sunny.

Under the umbrella with the turquoise paipai: Mama Dadie. Walking in front of her: Papa gunding.

From the left, toward the priest: Papa Val, Tio Pedro, Papa Gunding, Mama Dadie, Lola I, Papa B.

But as soon as we left the church, it was as if the sky just realized that Lolo had died, and she cried unconsolable drops of rain...

Wearing sunglasses, with a white towel draped over his head and pointing: Tito Nilo. To the right of the bouquet, Kuya Rene, Papa B, Kuya Angie.

Tita Marilyn.

Under the blue n' white umbrella: Tita V, Ati Ekith, King. Holding the black umbrella on the left: Ian's cop uncle.

Far left, whose face is next to the ©watermark: Tito Benny.

Papa B and Tito Benny, against the hollow block fence.

Coming in: Lola T and Tia B (with umbrella), Tia Naning, Inday D, Jojo. With the plastic back over his head: Ian's cop uncle.

Between the pillars: Lola I, Mama Tiny, (Lolo T's sister).

Above the umbrellas, from the left: Marlene Setik from Truk, Kuya Angie... Ati Arnie... Joey, Kuya Rene, Kuya Glenn... Tata with the sunglasses. In the foreground, with the turquoise paipai (of course!): Papa Gunding, and in front of him, Tito Benny.

Eternal rest grant unto him, o Lord.

And let perpetual light shine upon him.

May he rest in peace.

Amen.

Now excuse me while I dry my tears...