God loves me, He gave me a happy family.

Everyday I try to reminisce and criticize myself whenever I am having my morning bath. I think of so many things and how I would be able to deal with it. I set goals and make sure I accomplish all of them everyday. I used to write it in my Starbucks 2011 Diary which my sister Yza sent to me by post last January. But since it is so heavy to carry along in my bag, I regret to write day by day. Sometimes, I try to catch up and put all memories in one sitting. I do it when I lie down on the bed, prone position. It has been my routine since my highschool days. I am a very sentimental person. I am particular to dates, 'special statements', and most especially with the word 'PROMISE'.

I know Ma needs to do some 'smile workshops' with me.

I was brought up by my Aunt at the age of 2. We lived in a house beside my parents' so I see my brothers and sister and my parents as much as I want. My aunt, who we call 'Ma' served as my mother. She calls me 'Bunso' even at my age now. For 24 years of my existence, we had always slept on the same bed side by side. So no wonder I was crying in London for a week telling Jerome 'waah! namimiss ko na si MA..!' Jerome hugs me and calms me down. She have a son and daughter, a widow at the age of 32. Ma's eldest is Ate Mi.

Ate Mi, Kuya Bobot, and Nadine with Choco Bear

She is a math wizard, a UP Grad and works now at Procter and Gamble. They say they pay big in P&G and most employees there are really intelligent graduates from only 3 of the most Popular Universities in the country-- UP, Ateneo, and La Salle. I can say Ate Mi is really a huge earner. She invests her money to a house and lot in Ayala Greenfields Estates and a stock holder of Marriott hotel. I remember 2 years ago when Ma and I spent our holiday here in Singapore, it was Nadine's (ate Mi's daughter) school break when we flew to Phuket, Thailand. We stayed in a big Marriott Hotel Villa overlooking the landscape view of Marriott. We stayed there for free and spent the days relaxing by the shore, swimming and there we watched a popular stage show, Phuket Fantasea. So to whoever is planning to go to Phuket, Phuket Fantasea is really a must-see! I can say it's way better than Songs of the Sea here at Sentosa. Way better, really! Ate Mi's husband is a Kuya Bobot, a non-practicing Dentist. He spends his time biking here in Singapore. He joins different bike Races and always brings home the bacon. Kuya Bobot has been biking for almost his entire life. He maintains it really well not to mention he have 4 different types of bikes. Kuya Ek, brother of Ate Mi works at Philippine Airlines as a Steward. He is married to Ate Dolly who used to work at PAL but now in the states working as a Nurse. They were blessed with 2 beautiful children, Lance and Maegan. Kuya Ek lives in Mandaluyong with his in-laws so it's just me and Ma in our humble home in Calamba. I grew up much clinged to Kuya Ek because he's a laid back person. He doesn't get mad at me when I am messy and 'pasaway' in the house unlike Ate Mi who is strict with what should be done, and it should be done right without mistakes. Though I know Ate Mi and Kuya Ek loved me much like their 'bunsong kapatid' I felt like the super baby of the family. Once they go out with their friends when they were younger, they would sometimes take me with them. And if they can't bring me with them, I'll cry hard then they will tell me to stop crying then they'll promise they'll bring me 'pasalubong' when they return home. That's the big thing of the word PROMISE to me. Most people says promises are made to be broken but my family abides to their promises. They were taught how to keep promises and they have passed it on me. So when I say promise, I know I'll keep it.

My parents lived in a home beside ours. Kuya, my eldest brother named Ysrael, Kuya Jo, (Jonelle), and Yza (Yzabelle) lives all together. Nothing much to say on our childhood because it was a 7 year age gap for me and Kuya Jo. All I could recall is how me and Yza fights over different things when we were small. We were like cats and dogs literally and I am really as 'maldita' as an evil sister back then. I guess that's part of growing up, and when we reminisce things, Yza and I would just laugh about it. I hate it when Yza reminds me of my embarrassing moments. She's good at remembering my flaws. She would even sometimes pop out a question saying 'Ate diba yan yung music sa production nyo noon nung sumali ka sa pageant? Yung natalo ka sa Munting Lakambini ng Calamba!?' See how she annoys me? And sometimes I would come and beat her with another child story of 'E yung sinipsip mo yung ink ng ballpen mo tapos nakain mo yung ink at natakot ka kasi akala mo lason yun, tumakbo ka pauwi ke Mama crying aloud with those ink overflowing in your mouth like a vampire, naalala mo!? Then we'll laugh even harder. Ma would always tell me stories of my childhood. She said when Daddy used to scold me when I do something wrong, I would cry and say, 'hindi ko kayo bati! mga pangit kayo!' I would confess that I was really confused when I was small, I said my surname is not Laude, my surname is Dela Cruz, (which is Ma's married name. Ma and Mama are siblings) so I am Ma's daughter! Kuya Jo and Kuya Ysrael was on their teenage years by then. They don't focus much on playing with us but on having crushes and childhood girlfriends. Funny how they would tease each other on different ugly girl neighbors we have back then. That's how they annoy each other. But both of them were best mates since they were only a year apart. They too have the same circle of friends. I think they never fought. I know it's just us girls who is easily triggered and annoyed so Yza and I fights and argues about simple things.

I have become so attached to everyone in my family. We were brought up full of love and affection. I am much proud and blessed to say that God loved us so much He made our family very intact compared to the trend among most of my friends of having a broken family. That's something I would treasure til the end of time. My family is blessed, all of us are. Daddy would never ever allow us to eat meals in a day whenever one  is still at work or he/she is not yet home. It's Daddy's rule that all of us will eat all together. It's one thing I am thankful about. I know Daddy was also raised that way by Lolo and Lola so he is passing it on on us. Though I live and stays with Ma in our house, whenever we would have a chance, or I fancy their menu I am more than welcome to eat and we will eat all together. We talk while we eat. It's our family time. THE BEST TIME. Daddy's routine is to serve rice on our plate. No miss, he does that all the time. Daddy cooks really good. He came from a family with good cook and chef. Lola even had her own Cafeteria when she was still living (SLN). This makes me miss Daddy more. He is celebrating his birthday on the 11th of June. That's on Saturday. Wish I was home, but I'm still stocked here in Singapore. When I get back home, I'll be going to a specialist doctor for Daddy's check up. Hope everything turns well. I know he has been very worried since he told me that he is having difficulty urinating. I know somethings wrong with his health so I'll be prioritizing his issues when I get back. I want to get back to see how he's been. I missed Daddy. I remember his SMS to me when I was in London telling me to come home.

'C, musta ka na? uwi ka nalang. dito buhay reyna ka, dyan aburido ka, dito senyorita ka, dyan alila ka. uwi ka nalang ipagluluto kita ng gusto mong ulam.' 


I was so touched because Daddy told me that line through text. I didn't know he cared much.

Daddy Nato

My family served as my strength when I was in London. My one of my goal was to send them a 'Balikbayan Box' for them to enjoy the fruits of my labor. When Jerome and I will pass by the mall, I would look at clothes and other stuffs and tell myself, 'Gusto ko ibili si Daddy nito', 'Ay gusto to ni Mama!' 'Kasya kaya ito ke Yza?' So finally after more that about 5-6 months, I filled in 3 'Balikbayan Boxes' with toys, bags, clothes, chocolates, and all other products that I have been using in England. It's not the things that I bought for them that made me happy, but the smiles I gave to them knowing that they were all remembered and loved. I wish I never left England, I wish I should have given them more. I wish I had a better visa that will allow me to stay there. I have regrets but I have much things to focus on right now. It's not always the things that money can buy. It's not being materialistic all the time. Now, it's about family time. The happiness of not having everything but seeing us smiling and laughing again. A loving family, that's all I have now. All I ever have, will always have. No pounds, no over-priced taxes, just them. Their smiles. Their love. I LOVE MY HAPPY FAMILY.

regret the braso, Kuya's smile is good here.

Ate Karen super bait to us all.

goofing around Changi Airport

Starbucks with ze girls

Itadakimas!

We smiled together on my 24th birthday in London