A Late Nightcap for a Loungy Family Sunday

Let this entry be the comeback to my blog writing.  I have decided to continue this narration of our Palawan Adventure after an absence of about five years.  We are still here, love being here and still prefer to live here. By now, our children have spent most of their young lives in Palawan. 

So let me begin by saying that I am so happy that there is a cozy outdoor cafe where you can have an espresso or decaf coffee or hot chocolate or a tea smoothie when most places have closed for the night.  Today was a slow Sunday that started with sleeping in and having a late breakfast.  We walked on the beach, had Sinigang na Bulalo and Seafood Gising Gising for lunch and spent the early afternoon lounging on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. Heard Mass at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral on this Feast of Christ the King, went to SM and had dinner at Shakey's and watched Frozen 2.  And my family STILL needed a nightcap. So, Mayad. Look, the store window is all dressed up for the holidays! 

Mayad is one of the rare places where they don't shoo the customers away thirty minutes before closing time. The staff are cheerful and courteous even at 10:45pm even when they are obviously tired. The aircon and music are still on at 11:10pm while they clean up, as the couple in the corner continues their conversation. 

Its convenient location within the City Coliseum grounds gives the little cafe a huge garden where the customers can stroll around with their drinks. The pretty flower lamp posts and dropping lights complete the al fresco vibe, especially when they have acoustic nights and the occasional poetry reading sessions. 

The drinks are good and the quality is consistent. When you take a sip, the taste is not exceptional but it is far from disappointing. It hits the spot. My green tea matcha is always just right, not too sweet and well-stirred. Our  hot chocolate orders are always perfect.  And I'm so so happy they have decaf whenever I need a psychological kick and do not need the palpitations that go with a caffeinated latte. 

Across the street, there is a malunggay pan de sal store that is open 24 hours and sells those hot and small crusty pan de sals for P2 apiece, 24/7. 

(Yawn...) 

At 11:30pm, we headed home, and called it a day. Tomorrow we work and study again. 

EL NIDO

I have not been to El Nido since November 2011.  In fact, I have not written on this blog in years.  But a friend of mine posted a really good itinerary for those who want to go spend time in El Nido, and it's too good not to share! 

Active Fun at the City Hall

It's been several months since I've written anything about our Palawan adventure and too many things have happened to catch up.  

So where are we RIGHT NOW, at this instant?  

We are the new City Hall overlooking Puerto Princesa Bay.  

Doing what? 

Trying out our bikes, scooters and skateboards! 

When we get braver, we'll go down this trail... 

Earth Hour 2015

The cloudy night was dotted with stars but the half moon brightened up the beachfront well anyway.  

The electric power in the entire Puerto Princesa is now off in support of Earth Hour.  The hotel we are in did not even turn on the generator and the guests are out in the beach enjoying a dinner buffet  of grilled dishes.  

So calm and peaceful and breezy. Will just rest on the hammock.  Wake me up when it's time to sleep.... 

Officially Chapter Two of Our Adventure

And so R arrived in July, for good. 

2014 is ending in a few weeks, our family will begin again, sinking bigger roots into this beautiful island as we mark several milestones. 

The house we have been renting since 2012 has officially become ours.


Since July, we have been setting up a playgroup for 2 to 4 year olds in a quaint little house right in the village where we live.  

 

 

We are getting a Huskita puppy.  She has been with relatives in Manila since end of September when she turned 3 months old.   By the time we get her, she'll be 6 months old!

Things will change a lot in a few weeks! 

Sleepless in Puerto

R is arriving 5:30A.M. on the earliest Cebu Pacific flight tomorrow.  

The kids and I have planned it.  Because we missed him SO SO SO much, we're heading straight to White Fence Country Cafe for some REAL crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy waffles, hash browns, pancakes, sausages.... 

By the way, they also have really GOOD pizza! 

Really good thin crust pizza happily served with Parmesan cheese and hot chili flakes!! (Their menu is online.)

But I digress. 

They've never been separated from him this long before.  It's been a record-breaking two months. This week the kids  had a countdown. 

And a "Welcome home, Daddy!" sign in the dining room! 

They'd probably sleep early tonight because we had a busy day in town - dentist appointment, piano lessons, math tutorials and grocery shopping.  We had an early dinner and were ready to sleep before 8:00p.m.  We said our prayers and they were knocked out by 8:30pm!  (Ah, if only every night would be like this! ). I enjoyed the quiet time doing some paperwork till about 11:30p.m..... then... N walked out of his room wiide awake.  He watched me work, and a few minutes later, E came out too.... 

So, at 1:15a.m., they're snacking on some cookies and milk while I pretend to sleep so they'll follow soon.  

At 1:45a.m., they are still hungry and are moving on to the cold taho that we bought this afternoon. 

I can still hear them discussing that in an hour, R will be leaving for NAIA 3.  In another hour or so, he will be boarding the plane on the way to us!  

They doublecheck their alarms and are still talking about biking with Daddy, and going to te beach with Daddy, watching.  X-Men and Maleficient with Daddy, and joking with Daddy, and laughing with Daddy....  

I have to sleep now. 

Destination: Palawan!

So, we've been gone for ten months.  

We had one major project before we left- we brought Trumpets Musical Theater to Palawan.  45 students signed up for a two-week workshop filled with learning theater techniques through play.  We even had 3 students who were sponsored by generous hearts from Manila!  A few days after the recital, we left for Manila.  

It was a work assignment that brought R back to the city, and of course, we went with him.   Despite our resistance, it was the best thing that could have happened when it did because we needed to be there for our family during the one time that we were needed the most, ever.  

We lived out of a few suitcases, knowing that we'd go back to get more of our things if we ended up relocating again.  Kids became restless.  Our dream life haunted us.  We were growing older way too fast and time was running out to make it happen. 

Patiently, we waited.  We kept nurturing our dream, one step at a time.  We percolated our ideas and expanded our network.  Then - we took a deep breath - took several deep breaths, clasped our hands and hearts together as one family, and got ready to free fall into the beautiful and bright abyss that would embrace us and launch us back into the bright sky, past the clouds towards the sun!!!! 

In other words, we decided to go back to Puerto Princesa. 

Amidst the house and car maintenance, settling back into our homeschooling routine, reconnecting with good friends, the universe is converging... Our prayers are being answered so generously, beyond our expectations and hope!  

Soon, we will really Be Home again.