Yey!!! New header design!

I figured I want to show my idea of the perfect tiramisu.

I mean, notice the proportion of the cherry to the cake?

hehehe...

I make mine with real Italian cheese. And ladyfingers I can only buy in Iloilo.

I make mine that big.

I hope you like the new design folks!

I drew that myself. Ahihihi

Thank YOU Boss for the inspiration.

Thank YOU for guiding me.

We are so glad we got the chance to sleep in the chalet at Washington St. It was our first time. It looked different sans the chairs and tables from the party the day before. It was big, spacious and peaceful. Beautiful energy. Of course I feel in love. I had been in love with it since the day I saw it, 18 years ago.
I have sworn to Joel that if we had the extra extra money we would buy it from Nong Tony. I love old houses. I love this house!
This is the Concepcion-Ledesma ancestral home. Where my father-in-law grew up.
This is the house which appeared in one of my earlier entries, it was still under renovation.
The Concepcion Chalet.

Of course we would not be able to restore its glorious olden feel, but that's okay. Nang Cynch's G.A.M.O.T. now holds residency here. With their own space for lectures and seminars. This is also a bed and breakfast place. This house will have new occupants now. The new generation of the Ledesma-Concepcions. The new generation will have their own time here. And that's is okay. Their turn to grow up here. I have consciously made the effort to take a lot of photographs at what's been happening in the house lately whenever I am present. Someday it will show that it is not only us who has grown, but also the house.

Thank You Boss for the guidance.

The Cross Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice..."For Church and Pope".

An award of the Roman Catholic Church also known as "The Cross of Honour".
Originally given to men and women, who significantly aided and contributed to the success in the celebration of Pope Leo XIII's sacerdotal jubilee on July 17, 1888. It is the highest honour given by the Papacy to religious and laity as recognition to their distinguished service to the church.
Year 2010, my sister-in-law, Cynthia C. Baga of Iloilo City, is one of the deserving honorees.
The solemn investiture was held at the Cathedral of Jaro, attended by close family and friends. It was indeed a very happy occasion for all of us.

On the medal is a cross made octangular by fluers-de-lis fixed in the angles of the cross. The arms of the cross narrow towards the center, with slightly indented ends, approaching the form of the patonce cross. In the center of the cross is a small medal with the image of Leo XIII, the words "Leo XIII P. M. Anno X" (tenth year of his pontificate) circle the image. In the center of the reverse side are the papal emblems. The motto Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice is stamped in the circle surrounding the emblems. On the obverse side of the medal, the branches of the cross are comets, which, with the fleurs-de-lis, form the coat of arms of the Pecci family. Stamped on the reverse side are the words "Pridie" (on the left branch), "Kal" (on the top branch), and "Januar" (on the right branch) and the year "1888" (at the foot of the cross).

It is unbelievable how much faith, strength, love and dedication she is giving the Roman Catholic and yet has managed to completely and gracefully stay at her peaceful corner of this world, humbly smiling. She is a force to reckon with. A force so strong it embraces you fully without judgment. She takes you as you are. And you cannot help but embrace her back with pureness in your soul, heart and mind.
You can talk to her for minutes in the attempt to get to know her only to realize in the past 2 hours you have actually come to know yourself.
She is no fanatic, mind you. She is my Manang. She is everyone's manang (elder sister). Mommy Cynch.
We love her, purely and dearly.
Watching her receive the medal made my heart glow and warm.
She is the hand that we trustfully rock our cradle.
She is our mentor.
She is always ever there to comfort us in our downs. Celebrate in our joyous ups.
This is the time for us to give back to her.
My heart smiles for Manang Cynch.
This is her time.
Her glory.

Let me share with you our conversation:
Phone rings at night.

HER: "Hi Atiiii...good news...I had been given the award of the Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice.:
ME: "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA (screams loadly). Congratulations Nang!!! Wow!!!"
(little silence)
"What IS IT Nang?"

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)

The Roldan-Alvarez of Roxas City.
The family of my mother-in-law.
This trip got me pretty excited. Nopes, let me correct myself. Really really excited!!!
This was my first time to visit Roxas City. We always pass this town by on road trips to Boracay. This time we are really going! The seafood capital! They cook everything here differently. More deliciously. It's like they squeeze out some love from their hearts as special ingredients. The aroma, the taste. Heaven!!!


We all packed ourselves early morning into the van (thanks a million Lar!) for the 2 and a half trip. With 2 very young kids I had the privilege of placing myself at the most convenient seat at the back of the driver with 2 open bags for the kids' water, food, wipes and what haves. hehehe. The kids were excited. Our first time to go on a road trip together! Of course, an hour on the road, and the kids at the back falls quiet. Sleeping of course. Carried them out of their beds very early.


Timmerrification 2.0. My neice. Graduating from Ateneo de Manila this March. Crazy kid. I love her!!! Saw this big industrial fan and I asked her to pose in front of it. She obliged. So who's crazier? HAHAHAHAHA I love you Timz!!!


Ava took this shot!!! Yes she did! I am so happy my kids have the natural sense of composition.


The Roldan-Concepcion cousins...Alyssa, Sivney, Timmee, Ava and Kayle (not in pic: Joshmond, at a jamboree in Mt. Makiling and Marie, on hospital duty -- med school intern). This bunch is definitely artistic!
So...Roxas City. The seafood capital. Seriously delicious food. Cannot resits. Must not and never resist. If I resisted eating fruits and stuff in other places, I did not dare resist eating the crab in Roxas City.
Tita Tess said, "The only way to eat the crab is by hand."
That sure eliminated me in an instant. Knowing me, Joel did try to get me some meat, all ready to eat sans the shells on my plate just so I could taste it. I almost never really eat with my hands. I do not favor sticky messy hands. Then standing to look for water to clean them. Sorry, no offense guys but that's just me. Most especially now with the kids, it's like how can I help them with their needs if I have sticky goey hands? hehehe. Valid excuse right?


My sis-in-law have been tempting me for the millionth time with this plate of crab. I just couldnt do it. I tried picking it up with my spoon and fork and maneuvered to get those juicy bits out. I'm good at that. Years of consciously avoiding eating with my hands has made me an expert of being able to pick that last delicious meat on that bone or piece of morsel sticking on that shell. I can clean out a chicken bone with my utensils. It's just not the same with this crab. And not just any crab.

It's cooked by Tita Tessie.
From Roxas City.

Those are the magic words. I stared at that crab long and hard. What the heck! Here goes!
I picked it up with my hands and VIOLA!!!

PURE HEAVEN!!!

I believed I sucked every bit of juice from those crabs. Sorry crabs. hehehe.
And thanks!

Tsarrraaaanngg! My parents-in-law! In a very rare appearance in my blog. hehehe. I love them!
Sweet, most caring, smart, absolutely lovely!
Family time in Iloilo. Joel took us to the newly opened Cafe Laguna (yep, they have reached the shores of Panay) at SM City.
Yipeeeeeee! Sizzling bulalo and crispy pata! The absolute fave! hehehe
I love this occassion. It's been years since we all went out for lunch or dinner. It's an even more happy event as the kids are all grown (making our group more noisy, hihi).


I just asked for a small spoon and fork for Alyssa and Ava, instead they give me these super cute Hello Kitty dining set. Isn't that great?!!! With matching cup. Precious! My girls went gaga over it!



Oh yes, Alyssa goes thru the menu and actually knows what to order.
In this case, she was looking for the mango shake picture.
HAHAHAHAHA
There there there at the farthest, that's Timmerification 2.0. You should check out her blog.
She's graduating from college this summer. Hilarious!

Bestfriends/cousins forever!

Thank You Boss for the best in-laws a girl could wish for.
Thank You for my family.

This is probably the only place in town which we visit almost every day. My ultimate fave. No offense meant to the others but this place just makes me wanna lie back and relax. This is their newest branch. Don't you just love the facade?
Remember that pricey tiramisu?
The price of our food on this table totals the price of that one tiramisu! Crazy isn't it?
And the stuff we have in this place? All YUMMMMMMMYYYYYY!!!




We are smiling. Coz at the end of each day of no less than one party to attend, we have this place to run to late at night to get our caffeine and hot choco! (Ice cream for Ava).