I Am Tiramisu

Well-come!
To The Concepcion Chalet
(pronounced 'sha-let')
Remember in one of my earlier entries...this is the house. Finally it has opened it doors to both old and young generation of the Concepcion family.
It is beautiful!!!
The house of Lolo Pepe and Lola Ina at 145 Washington St., Jaro, Iloilo City.
A congregation of nuns used to rent the place but the elder cousins decided to get it back and fix it.



My daughters will now have the chance to go back to their roots.
I have a feeling we will be spending a lot of time in this house when we visit Iloilo. hehehehe
(Way back then, the patio is ordered. It is not built with the house. So you can see a space between the wall of the wall and the patio.)


I have never met Lolo Pepe and Lola Ina. But now I feel I will also have the privilege of being a part of their lives through their house.




Funny...the picture above is what I call the "table/talking" scene is a permanent one in every big gathering. Everyone at their usual places. Yes, even the ones standing are in their usual places. Everyone in their comfort zones. As an in-law I would not even pretend that I know the depth of this family's happiness and joy to be back in their lolo and lola's house after all these years. Even I felt awashed in acceptance and being loved the very first time I set foot in the house.



Just look at that!!!
Look at the pictures!!!
Speaking of pictures...as I viewed the photos of my cousins I realized most of the antique furniture are those from Nang Cynch's house.
Hmmm...I wonder how suddenly "spacious" HER house must be now. HAHAHAHAHA



145 Washington St., Jaro, Iloilo City. The house number above...that's the original house number.



I have never met Lolo Pepe and Lola Ina. I have only heard stories of many happy memories Joel have in this house in Jaro. Breakfast on Sundays at 8 o'clock, church at 9, are always very special. Coming back together at the house in Jaro for some games of chess and more food!!! With Lola Ina's "tinok tok" (ground pork soup with vegetables)..."atay" (breaded liver), all yummy and delicious! And the one of its kind cake, the "sapatos", as they called it.
And as the grandchildren got older a disco night would always end with a 10 or 11 o'clock brunch in Jaro.the next morning.



January 19 is the birthday of Lolo Pepe and Lola Ina. So the day was of great relevance to the whole clan. Everyone came. Relatives from other parts of the country. We couldn't make it as we were just there during the Christmas holidays.
Trivia: January 18 is mine and Joel's birthday. hehehe
My father-in-law and his siblings came, Tita Marina from Manila, who shall be staying in the house for some months, Tita Cecile from Bacolod and Tito Berting, Iloilo.




G.A.M.O.T., my sister-in-law, Cynthia's organization will take up residence in the house. G.A.M.O.T.
Established in 1993, SEC Incorporated in 2008 as a response to the growing demands for the bio-psycho-socio-spiritual approach to human resources development in schools, seminaries, dioceses, convents, monasteries, businesses, NGO’s, GO’s, families, parents, faith communities and circle of friends.
The house will also be a bed and breakfast place.



I am so glad these masterminds pictured above woke up one morning and decided to fix the house and bring it back to its glory!!! Thank you! Thank you!!!
I thank you for giving me and my daughters the chance to connect deeper with the family.



Isn't it just grand...

Thank YOU Boss.
Thank YOU for the strength, perseverance and guidance.

(I would like to give special thanks to Nang Felice, Anna and Lisa for letting me use their wonderful photos)