Bye NY

From Hailee, I've learned to always do my best in everything I do.
From Brandon, I've learned not to hold grudges and to enjoy what youth brings.


Bye NY. See you again someday...

45 and 21

After four and a half decades of being in God's tender, loving care, ... He never fails, ... His faithfulness lives on, ... He knows what's best for me, ... What more can I ask for? Twenty-one memorable years with God's best for me, ... We saw each other's ups and downs, ... Not exactly what I prayed for, ... But, definitely, he's the answer. Lord, thank you so much!

Seasons in the Sun

Fall, October 25


Fall, November 24


Winter, December 20

Merry Christmas

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." - Isaiah 9:6

Lighting Ceremony

Tito Jojo is fond of decorating their house and their front yard with Christmas lights. This year he had a grander design featuring a lighted pathway (lighted carwash as the joke goes), lighted winter animals, and more. The party started early in the afternoon and we were all surprised to see the main dish. Tadaaaa, lobsters! After the salu-salo, we all went out for the countdown. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Wow, Christmas lights in various colors blinking with matching music!... Ooops, something fell on the icy ground. ;)

And More Snow

The snowstorm started to come from the south when we left the city for Yorktown. It was not as strong as the previous northeaster ones. There were thick deposits though in Long Island, NY (more than a foot) and down south until Virginia. Bobby had another round of snow shoveling. Hmmm, seems like he's getting used to it. ;)

Around Times Square

We went back to the "city that never sleeps" for an overnight with my sister's family. The hotel is right there in the heart of Times Square and the Broadway District so we had more time to explore the vicinity and witness nightlife in the famous part of Manhattan. Bundled up on the platform of TKTS Ticket Center Times Square, in front of NBC studio (it was 28 degrees F!) Rockefeller Center, Times Square View of Hudson River and New Jersey from our room in Marriott Marquis

NY City Tour

It's the second leg of our city tour. This time we covered midtown to downtown Manhattan.

From NY Presbyterian Hospital, my sister's workplace, we purchased day pass subway tickets. Ride all you can in one day...


NY Presbyterian Hospital, Macy's


Madison Square Garden, Empire State Building


At the 86th floor, Empire State Building Observatory


Chinatown, Battery Park (the sculpture used to be in the open space in front of the World Trade Center)


Battery Park (Liberty Island in the background), World Trade Center Memorial

White Plains, NY

Bobby and I slept over in my aunt's condo unit in White Plains. Tita Pors prepared the yummiest sushi rolls, fresh seaweeds, chicken buffalo wings, chicken Francaise, cocktail shrimps, and molo soup. Oops, her vegetable salad is the best! Crunchy salad veggies with strips of super sweet mangoes tossed in Italian dressing. Weight alert! Weight alert! Unfortunately, my other folks did not make it because of the maddening traffic caused by freezing rain. Black ice.

  

Visiting New Jersey

Meeting kababayans at Jo's (my niece) 16th birthday party at Bergenfield, NJ


Tea time at my aunt's condo unit in Jersey City

Dean's Visit

Dean and I were in the same batch of ARDS scholars during college years at UPLB. We did not see each other after his graduation in 1985 (I graduated a year after because of my five-year course). Who wouldn't be glad to be reunited with a friend 24 years after?

More Snow

Four days after, another snowstorm took place. This time Bobby had to do more snow shoveling. A different experience. Sweating inside but feeling sooo cold on the outside.

 

Winter Wonderland

It was snowing when we left Milford for Yorktown. Yipee! It was Bobby's first snow experience. The snowfall in Connecticut was wet. In New York, it was flaky and dry. Since it was almost midnight, we only took a few shots of Bobby enjoying the snowfall. The following day, we woke up to about four to five inches of snow. And it's not officially winter yet. That means more to come...

Milford, Connecticut

Tita Emma hosted the Matibags' Christmas party early this year because they will spend the holidays in Cancun, Mexico. We came in the night before and helped in preparing some of the dishes. It was good to see our folks from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. After finishing a hearty meal and singing all-time favorite Christmas carols, the most-awaited gift giving followed (as if we were all "gifted" children).

Black Friday

Black Friday is the Friday after the Thanksgiving Day. My sister, Bobby, and I left the house before 4:00 a.m. to take advantage of the big, big sale at the Woodbury Commons in NY. We were late. The parking lots were already full and people from all walks of life were in line at famous stores in the outlet. And the country is in recession huh? And there's Cyber Monday too!