CHRISTMAS 2015

Christmas 2015 was celebrated with the family.  On Christmas eve the Baldado clan gathered at uncle Hermi and auntie Mayets house  for a party.  It has been a tradition to spend the Christmas eve with the whole family in their La Mirada residence.  The gracious hosts made the ocassion more festive by decorating their house with Christmas ornaments.  Even the front yard, their display of lights was spectacular.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The food was great too.  Fusion of pinoy and other cuisine.  Dessert table was overwhelming for those with sweet tooth.  It was a potluck party so there was enough for everyone.  The la habra folks was assigned to bring tempura.

 After dinner the distribution of gifts took place in the garage.  The kids were the happiest after all they got most of the presents from their aunties and uncles, grandpas and grandmas.  Party ended at 1am.

 On the 25th, Christmas day, my family attended the mass in the morning.  We proceeded to kuya Brians place for lunch.  This time it was just us, siblings, nephew and nieces and our parents.  We shared the food on the table, there was baked lasagna and baked potato, egg rolls, ham, and a pie.

 




After lunch we gathered around their Christmas tree for the opening of gifts.. It was a joy seeing the kids with their happy faces opening their presents and being grateful to whoever gave it to them.  Christmas indeed is for kids.

THANKSGIVING 2015

The family gathers for the thanksgiving party hosted by kuya Boy and ate Minda in their residence in Placentia.  It’s a tradition to celebrate this holiday at their place.  This is my first time to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday and was excited to get to taste the turkey.  Not a lucky day for me.  We showed up late in the party and no turkey left in the table.

Nevertheless, it was good to see the family at the party.  Food was great.  Time to catch up with family who I get to see only during gatherings. 

 

Most of all Thanksgiving celebration is a way of expressing gratitude for all the blessings we received.  Let us count our blessings.

PAPAS 77TH BIRTHDAY(2015)

 











October 8 this year is papas 77th birthday.  We started the day with a surprise birthday breakfast.  Planning to surprise him is hard to pull off because papa is always curious, he always asks whats going on.  So I had to wait til he falls asleep to do my stuff.  What I had in mind was to serve simple breakfast, so I went for bread and egg muffins, coffee, fruits.  I had to bake brownies to put the birthday greetings and candles to blow. I made

some cake pops to add colors and fun to the buffet table.  I put the gifts as well in the table.  Luckily I was able to pull it off before papa woke up.  Yes, he was happy to see what I prepared for him. 

 






















In the evening, we went to Auntie Thelmas place in Yorbalinda for another surprise birthday dinner hosted by papas sisters. The Baldado family was there to celebrate the special day with him.  It was a potluck party.  Auntie Mayet assigned each family on what to bring. Except for some few members who were working on that day, majority of the clan were there.

 

The celebrant was the last to arrived.  When he got inside we started singing the birthday song. Then dinner was serve.  Usually our parties is our chance of catching up.  Kids enjoy playing with their cousins.  Girls chitchats.  Boys having beers.  But nevertheless, we are having fun doing this.  Just like papas birthday party.  





Everyone was having fun. Just being together is already fun for us.  Later in the night, we offered toast for the celebrant.  Then the family photos.  






 

This is another moment to treasure.  First of all, papa is 77.  We his family is just grateful for all the blessings the Lord showered on our dearest papa in his 77 years. It had been another good year for him. We are grateful for all the love from our family, it was evident in the party.  It was heartwarming to see everyone that night with all their love for our papa.

BORONGAN FIESTA IN SOCAL(2015)

The Borongan community in Southern Ca celebrated their fiesta last Sept 29 in Anaheim Ca.  The Baldado clan was there to support and enjoy the occassion. Before the party a mass was held co celebrated by father Ven Amidar.  After the mass, the buffet table was opened for dinner.  There was also a short program while guests are having dinner.  Two groups showcased filipino folk dance. One of the said folk dance was the "dinutdot" which I overheard someone in the party telling us this was originally a dance from boronganons. After the program, party started. There was a raffle too for the guests. Party ended 11pm.
 

 Attending the Borongans party was a chance of meeting new friends and cousins.  Also I had the chance to see cousins like Seyan, meeting ate Arlene.  Finally seeing Jiw and Mica here in the US. It was our way also of supporting friends who are behind the said party. 

The next day, bublagan party was held in Carson at the Idance Studio.  Tina, Marnie and I went there after lunch.  Again, friends and family were there.  There were lots of food.  Guests were dancing in the dance floor. There were even parlor games for the guests.  We ended going home late.  We did zumba too with Nonie later that night.  I had fun.  I get to know new friends and it was fun.

 

SULAT FIESTA IN SOCAL(2015)

 
This is my first time to attend the Sulat fiesta celebration here in California.  I only get to see photos from their previous fiesta partyin the social media.  Usually mama would be the one to share us what happened in the party who came and so on. 

 Tina and I went to the venue early to help setting up the place.  At around 5pm the mass officiated by Father Marito started.  After the mass buffet was open for dinner.  There was a long stretched table in the corner filled with Pinoy food and delicacies.  The guests started digging in on what was in the table. And then with the music on, guests started strutting on the dance floor while others babbling with their fellow sulatnons or estehanons. Definitely there was the dancing of the kuracha, as part of the tradition.  They also have raffle games for everyone and I was lucky to won one of the raffle prizes.
  

I was new to the group.  But I see familiar faces.  Most I heard of and seen from the photos from previous parties they had.  Glad to know that everyone is welcoming and friendly.  At the party I also met a childhood friend Mylene Patilla, so the whole time we were just reminiscing our childhood and the life spent in Sulat.

Events 
like this  somehow fills that part of missing my home. Home back in the Philippines.  The small town of Sulat.

KUYA BRIANS BDAY (2015)

We had kuya Brians birthday party on the 26thof July, because it was the weekend and our family were sponsoring the Sulat fiesta novena here in California.  His real birthdate is on the 25th. As expected it was not just family but most of the members of the group (estahanon) and friends attended the affair.  Towns of Borongan and Oras had their patron saints brought to kuya Brians place too.  So party started out with the novenas for the three patron saints, afterwards the party.
















 Party is basically dinner, talks, and guys will always have their beers and the girls usually have wine.  In our table, we finished 9 bottles of wine.

  The party was well attended.  Ate Marisa and Kuya Ed came over for kuya Brians birthday.  Most of the cousins were present including Angelo who was having a break from his work in Abu Dhabi. Our group couldn't get enough of the wine so ate Charito had to go home and get more wines from her place.

Food was good.  Pinoy dishes were serve.  I made some ready mix red velvet and lemon cupcakes for the kids.  And since if it is a get together party they do usually potluck, so some brought food to share.

 The party was succesful.  Most had their take home (pinutos).  Some of the girls got dizzy from too much wine.  But everyone had fun