Two Months

After two months, minus the two weeks of holiday vacation, here is our home: front and side view. I have to control myself because I am so excited... very happy.

Thinking Out of the Box Part 2

Our second out of the box experiment are the 3-D panels. Instead of using typical CHB’s as walls for the second floor, we decided to use the 3-D panel. Funny as it might seem at first installation because of the Styrofoam sandwiched between wire meshes, it is said that these panels are stronger and more durable than typical raw materials. And it is cooler because of the insulating effect.

Somebody went to Costa Rica and missed the sight and view of the metal deck and the panel installation. I liked going up the wooden stairs to the second floor and watching with amazement on how it is done.

Thinking Out of the Box Part 1

For the first floor ceiling/base of the flooring for the second floor, we decided to go a little out of box and use the metal deck. It has a ribbed design, interlocked with screws. Metals bars are placed and then concrete slab is poured over. Our supplier is Puyat Steel Corporation. We weighed over the advantages and disadvantages and though it is bit more expensive, I liked the overall outcome. Now the second floor is on it way.

New Year

We welcomed 2009 at the Cereno’s, with Nanay. Bonding with the cousins, who are growing faster than I imagined. We played cards, with the lipstick dot as punishment. You’ll know who got the most punishment from the picture.

I look forward to the days and months of 2009. Praying for good health, safety and happiness. And hoping for new and good things ahead.

Nicknames

When I was a little, my two playmates were Ate Deeday and Cho-choy. Our Mamang gave us these nicknames that are far more different than our real names. Cho-choy and I served as younger siblings of our Ate Deeday and for a time, we lived happily in La Loma.

Years passed, we left and led on different lives. But the nicknames, Ate Deeday and Cho-choy kept. Still graduated on the same university, though at different time zones. And the closeness we’ve kept. That we’ll never share with any other Marcial cousin.

I reminisced a bit because of the picture on the stairs. The three of us had same picture when we were little. Where is Cho-choy? In Bulgaria during the time the photo was taken. Thanks for the ubong, Choy!
My nickname need not be mentioned, I was lucky, I didn’t carry it growing up.

December 25, 2008

The old Christmas tree was retired and Ate Deeday bought a new one. Aside from that, nothing has changed. Still the wackiest, naughtiest, funniest, loudest and weirdest Christmas family reunion. Thanks to Tita, who made Kare-kare and Morcon. Yummy.
They say I was the luckiest “Marcial-cousin” because I was getting four gifts already while the others had nothing yet. Some are protesting that it’s been more than a year since our wedding and we shouldn’t be receiving weddings gifts anymore. I just smiled back them, thanked the ones who gave them and said, I am more blessed this year. Not that they aren’t blessed. It's just that at the back of my mind, I was thinking, I am really lucky. Because I have these.

Tito Mario

This was a pre-Christmas reunion, because it was Tito Mario’s birthday and his sons and daughters decided to throw him a party.

I call him the wise one, for not only was he the eldest amongst Papa’s siblings, he had the most number of experiences in life (along with the most number of children). At the back of his graying hair, is a very sweet and thoughtful Tito Mario. He saw to it that his family was complete during our wedding because he promised. He keeps newspapers clippings of Elijah when he sees one. He gives good advice and encouragement on our life and decisions. He treasures memories and keeps photographs. My favorite is every graduation picture framed and hanged, starting from his eldest daughter Michelle, up to Marlon. Though Marlon's took some time to be placed on the wall because of the lack of a picture frame. His gratefulness is transparent at even the smallest tokens that you give to him and his family.

Humility, his best trait. He’s not of proud material things but he knows the one thing that is his pride and glory, his children.

Happy birthday Tito Mario.
And Lij too.