A Big Affair

This post is way overdue, like months past its prime, but I'm still posting it. April began with a Bishop's son's wedding and ended with a Bishop's son's wedding. First up was my bishop, Bishop Wandag's, son's wedding in Santiago. It was a big affair with Bishop's wife and son flying in from Canada!

Birthday Celebration

 This post is more of a photo journal of recent fun times! Friday, January 17 the staff came together to celebrate it’s January birthdays – Sir Patrick (January 3), Grace (January 18), and Ma’am Andrea (January 23). I am happy to say I orchestrated the whole event from planning to execution. There was delicious food – fried chicken, pancit, pork bbq - the boys even cooked aso (dog), which I refused to try. There were great drinks – beer and margaritas – and of course, videoke. There was supposed to also be a bonfire but it got rained out. Actually, I was worried it was all going to fall apart because Ma’am Andrea specifically requested margaritas and my hunt for margarita was falling short until the day of the party. And finding a videoke machine to rent was becoming an impossible task. But Sir Junior pulled through at the last minute!

I was ecstatic it all came together because I just love celebrating people’s birthdays and having fun get-togethers as a staff!

Local Seminarian, Arnold, barbecuing. 

New Year Celebration

This year’s New Year’s Eve celebration was quite different than the past couple of years and I quite enjoyed it. There’s not much to say about or many pictures because of its low key nature.

On December 30, 2013 I traveled with Andrea, my neighbor and co-worker, with her husband, George, her two children, Shemain (19) and Kevin (21), and her nephew, Dave (14) to their family house in the mountains of Nayon. It’s only about two hour travel from Santiago City, but a vast difference in climate and landscape. It’s definitely quiet, simple, country living.

Christmas Eve & Day Celebrations

This post is almost a month overdue but here it is! 

Christmas celebrations were pretty low key for me. They consisted of quality time spent with friends and family (over skype).

Christmas Eve was a lovely day which I spent outside with my new puppy, Zoe, and cleaning my apartment top to bottom! That evening the Cathedral had a typical Episcopal service with lovely Christmas hymns. I was disappointed we didn’t sing Silent Night, though.

After the service, the priest, Fr. Clarence, invited everyone, about 20 people, over for dinner and birthday cake. It was his son’s 14th birthday! I passed out candy canes to all the kids. Someone brought out a guitar and Christmas carols were sung.

Santa Hats & Candy Overload

Candy wrappers scattered across the ground. Excited children running and screaming round in circles. Santa hats discarded all over. It can only mean one thing…. Preschool Christmas Party!

Celebrating the Dead

As it is said, "a picture is worth a thousand words." And so, I believe they can display a deeper meaning of All Saints' Day than my description. Although, I will give a little background.

Here in the Philippines, Halloween is not widely celebrated or really even mentioned. All Saints' Day, the day after Halloween, is traditional, family holiday. Almost everyone has November 1st off of work. This year it fell on a Friday, so it was a long holiday for everyone. Our office closed at noon to allow people to travel. Buses and Jeepneys were completely packed. People even talked about how if some wanted a ride they would have to stand or sit in the aisle. It's one of the busiest travel times of the year.