Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi Everyone in the States or People that live all over the world that celebrate Thanksgiving. Happy Turkey “GOBBLE” to all. We havw a lot to be thankful for to God. Well in our household we celebrate Thanksgiving on Saturday, since the kids has school on Thursday, the kids usually come home around 4:30 in the afternoon. It’s really late and short time for them to sit down and have dinner with us. We want them to really enjoy the Thanksgiving Day so we made it Saturday since we lived here in the Philippines.

We really prepare the American tradition of Thanksgiving. We will have turkey butterball of course. Bob will help me make the stuffing and gravy. I will prepare mashed potatoes, beans, the yams I will make it with our local sweet potato (Camote), we made that a lot and it turned out good. It is hard to find ready to cook yams in a can here that were imported from the States. So why not make our very own camote here. Also pumpkin pie, the other day I tried to use the local squash to substitute into pumpkin for my pie and it turned out good. Bob and the kids liked it. I think because its almost thanksgiving its hard to find imported pumpkin in a can here. So I decided to make pumpkin pie out from squash and Bob told me that he can’t tell the difference anyway. The thing is its cheaper too.

Our turkey we have arranged for it to be roasted (lechon style) in our local lechon house. It’s really good. Honestly its not even dry inside. I prepare the turkey in the morning of Saturday. I rub with butter and salt and pepper inside out. Then put some lemon grass (Tanglad) inside the turkey while its being roasted. The smell of the tanglad will remain. Gosh, while typing now my mouth is drooling.

I hope each and everyone of you have a good Thanksgiving Day. Travel safe you guys. Happy Eating Time!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY!

40 Days

Last week I went back to the province to attend the 40th day of my mom’s passing. Here in my province the 40 days is a big day. Since my mom was a Catholic we did everything in her beliefs. My sister whose a Catholic carried it on. Nine days before the 40 days my sister had 8 nights of prayer (1 hour long). On the 9th day/ 40 days at the same time the prayer would be at the grave. I think only Catholic would have the 9 days prayer, but some other religions celebrate 40 days. My nephew who’s wife is a Muslim, the wife told us that they also celebrate 40 days.

Lots of my family and my moms friends came to have prayer  at the house too. We really had 2 prayers going on one was at my sister (my mom stayed at her house for a long time too) in GenSan who is a Catholic and the other one was at the house where my mom died. It was really nice seeing some of our family there. A lot of them helped us during the time my mom was ill.

On that day at the house we butchered a pig and some chickens. Really most of the people that attended were  the family of my mom and some from my dad side, also some of my parents’ tenants on our land before. The people that helped in the kitchen are the friends of my sister in church. Very nice people and good cooks too.

Its really a double celebration because its my mom’s 40 days of passing and its also the birthday of my brother-in-law. We had prayer first for my mom and later that evening my sister prepared also for my brother-in-laws birthday. At first my brother-in-law didn’t really feel like celebrating because my mom just died. My sister just prepared something since were there anyway to celebrate with them. It turn out to be a good celebration though. My brother-in-law really had a good time. Honestly it was hard loosing Mama but we are also happy that finally her suffering is done. We just celebrated the life that we had with her. Before my mom died and when our farm was safe for my kids to come and visit the original plan of my brother-in-law was to have a big celebration. He wanted to invite all his nephews and nieces. But the plans changed when its not that safe anymore there. He was really looking forward for my kids to come there especially Chris. They really are close. Hopefully next year our place would be good already for my kids to visit again.

To my siblings thank you for preparing. You guys really work hard there. Of course to my Honey, your always so supportive even though you don’t really understand the culture sometimes. I love you more for that.

Family trouble!

I got an email from somebody. I won’t mention his name. He is a foreigner married to a Filipina from the North of the Philippines. Here’s part of the email he sent me.

I am married to a Filipina. We have a 6 month old baby. Here is my question: My wife has a 17 year old son back home. Occasionally, I send him money. Today, my wife called to ask him if he has received the money, to find out my wife’s brother is trying to extort money from him. He threatened to physically harm her son. I told my wife to have her son call the police on his uncle but she says the police will not come. She said the police do not get involved in domestic disputes. Is that true?

I really thought that whenever you called up the police and asked for help they will help. Also I thought that they will not help out to the family disputes if the family itself would not ask any assistance from them? For me if the police would not help, who will help then to the people that are in trouble? I was shocked when I saw the email that the 17 year old can’t ask for help. I thought the job of the policemen was to help. So any advice from here will really help these people.

It’s already bad enough that the uncle can’t be trusted by this family, then the police can’t help out too. I email back the guy that wrote to me if him and his wife were thinking of letting the son move somewhere away from the uncle. Maybe that 17 year old will get a part time job while going back to school and they’re also  sending money to him anyway. He should just have to be on a tight budget. I’m sure he will be okay without the uncle. It’d really unfortunate of what happened to this stepson of this guy. I hope that the other family will try to help out too.

To the person that emailed me, good luck to you and your wife. I really do hope that somebody can help you out. I hope that some people here can give good advice to you and be very helpful to your stepson. Will pray for his safety.

To you all that help advice thank you very much! God bless!

Moving out…

I was told by my nieces and nephew that our next door neighbors are moving out. At first I said thank God for it. But I didn’t like when they told me that they are moving out but we think that they are leaving the dogs inside the place. I was shocked and didn’t believe it at first. Our house its just divided by a concrete wall against theirs so I really checked them out. And yeah, they did leave the dogs there and without food too. Gosh, I felt bad for the dogs. During mid-day our kids tried to give the dogs some food over the fence. The dogs are really happy about that. The kids are really complaining about it. How can these people leave their dogs without food or even water?

Really from the time that these people moved in next door I have heard them mistreating their dogs. Sometimes I could have screamed at them and tell them to be nice to their pets. The lady owner and their maid were nice to the dogs. The guy he would be nice sometimes especially if he’s not drunk. When he gets drunk he will kick or just totally be mean to the dogs. Lots of times we were tempted to call the animal control here in Davao and report them. I know its none of our business but its just not nice to see them being mean to their pets. Sometimes these dogs would get out of their gate and just be roaming around outside our gate too, its scary to get out because these dogs are really big.

These people they are not just so mean to their dogs they are also very loud people. They just would not care of other people. Even if its late at night and everybody were sleeping if they got home from somewhere else they would not be quiet and just would not be gentle in opening and closing their door, instead they will scream at each other and slamming doors, kick the dogs. They really are something. I just don’t understand those people. As if they can’t figure it out that during nighttime they should be quiet and calm down. Almost every night the guys were drunk and when they get home they would be loud and sometimes they’re fighting with each other. It’s normal to fight but just stay inside the house. Their are instances that the guy will be screaming in the middle of the night running outside by his undies and the dogs will be following him. We would be scared what if when he gets out and not looking at the road and he would be struck by a car or truck. It’s really scary sometimes.

Anyway, I was happy they moved out. I guess they finally got the dogs yesterday. They left the dogs there for 2 days, I think. With that 2 days I’ve never seen anyone came back and feed the dog. Those neighbors are foreigners from another Asian country.

Thank you Everybody!

I just came back from the funeral of my mother. It was hard at first loosing my mom, but we are happy at the same time for her that her suffering is over. She’s been sick for a long time already. It’s hard on us, her kids watching her suffer. I’m glad that God let us be ready in our hearts when He took my mom away.

From the Bayoy clan & the Martin clan I thank you all for praying for us. It was really difficult times for us. Your thoughts and prayers really helped us a lot. My mom’s wake lasted a week. My goodness I didn’t know that we had to do a lot of paperwork before the funeral. Plus we include inside her tomb the remains(bones) of my dad and my sister.

My dad and sister died and were buried in our land in the farm. That was over 15 and 20+ years ago. A few years back the Philippine Government passed a law that prohibits loved ones to be buried in the private property. All dead people have to be buried in cemetery. So when my mom’s illness got worse, me and my siblings then are talking of buying a place in a nice cemetery in GenSan. I’m glad we did. To have Mama buried we have to get her death certificate, it should be signed by somebody at the health department it should have a seal from the municipal or the city where you get it. We also got a burial permit so that you can present it to the cemetery personnel that its okay for my mom to be buried there. Really figure one week of wake before you finish up the paperwork and your love one be buried.

For my dad and my sister we had to get the original copy of the death certificate they have when they died 20 years ago. So my sisters and nieces went to the NSO office and have it authenticated there. We also have to get an exhume permit, that its okay to dig and get their bones. And a transport permit, that its okay to bring my dad and sister’s bones to GenSan from the farm. Of course the burial permit for them too. Really, we finished all the paperwork that friday. My mom was buried Sunday. I’m so glad we finished everything in time because the offices were closed during weekends.

My mom’s wake was at St. Peter in Apopong, GenSan. I am impressed with that place, nice and clean. They always come to the chapel where my mom lies and clean it like 5 times a day. On that chapel there is one room that some family member can rest (sleep) and it has its own bathroom too. Also if the family member of the deceased living outside the outside the city you are in, or living abroad you can view the wake on the internet. They had a camera that is just focused in front where there casket is located. I highly recommend this place. I didn’t get paid or anything to endorse them. I am just happy with the service they did for my mom. To St. Peter of General Santos, I thank you for the good services you gave to my family while there in your place. You guys really listen of what we asked for.

My mom laid to rest at Forest Lake Memorial Cemetery. It used to be called San Carlos Memorial Cemetery. The people there are nice too. Very nice place too. To the people there thank you so much.

Again to all of you guys our Readers “Thank You” so much for the message, prayers and the love you gave us. My family really appreciate very much. God bless!

Mabuhay!

September was birthday month

Well within September we have two birthday celebrants. Its Jean Jean on the 15th and Aaron on the 24th. We celebrated the parties separately. Jean Jean invited some of her friends over. I can’t believe how grown up those kids are now. Like 3 years ago they come to our house for lunch almost everyday, Jean Jean invites them a lot since their school its just not far from our house. They were just small then, gosh during the party they all look so grown up.

One of the guest at the party our friend teases us that pretty soon we will have boys come over and be courting Jean Jean. Hmm, I didn’t think of it yet until she said that. I was thinking oh dear I am not yet ready for that. Just then after dinner Bob and I was talking and Jean Jean came to our bedroom and we found out that she had a phone call from an admirer to greet her a happy birthday. As of right now she said that she had like 3 boys that are admiring her. Oh my gosh, I just could not believe it. Her friends already were teasing her of the name of their baby if they end up to be together later with the kid thats calling at the house a lot. Last night this kid called her on the phone and they talked for awhile, after she hangs up she told my niece that if somebody called up for her to tell them that she’s busy or she’s doing something. She said that she’s tired of answering phone calls. My nieces were just smiling at her.

Honestly it is scary raising a little girl nowadays. I just found out that one of my family their daughter is pregnant. Shes like 14 years old. As if its a trend here. Lots of the teens got pregnant. Bob and I would not want that to happen to Jean Jean. I hope she really would value what we are teaching her.

Same feeling with our boys. I don’t want them to have babies at the young age. I hope anyway. My goodness with the high prices of everything nowadays it would be hard for them now to raise a kid without good high paying job. Of course to achieve that they have to finish school.

With Aaron he didn’t show or told us anyway if he has crush or admiration yet towards girls. His interest right now is to build something from lego. He really likes to design building, a gun, a house and others. He likes to experiment stuff just like he experiment some of my expensive perfumes and powder. Mix them all up and wanting to see what would happen, then pour it down the toilet. That was when he was 4 years old. He also likes gadgets. Nice cellphone, Xbox and laptop. He is good in the computer now. Really at 12 he knows a lot more than I would expect him to be.

To our birthday celebrants. I hope that you guys did enjoy your party. I love you both.

Walang ganyan sa States

Since living here, I notice a lot of stuff now that I would never have thought of before.

Bob and I were having dinner with a friend the other night at a nice place here in Davao. The place was in a nice subdivision. On the way to the restaurant I was thinking I like this place but I would not like it to be our next door neighbor. My goodness I would have hated fighting through a traffic when the restaurant has lots of customers that night. I would not like it when they would have customers during late at night swimming, and they might be a bit louder than they should because they are a little drunk. It is fence really high that you could not peak inside, but still the sounds from the restaurant you can hear it when your next door or few houses away.

We had this experience before, like 3 years ago. We lived in a very high end subdivision here in Davao. Our house that we were renting was just across the club house and the tennis court. Every time there was like a wedding, birthday or any party at the club house we could hear it at our house. It’s also hard fighting through the traffic lots of cars park outside our house. When they had the music played its too loud. When somebody played tennis we could hear the ball hitting the racket and with the cheers, its really loud. Can’t complain because that is just part of it living there. Let me tell you we are not happy with it at first.

Just like right now not too far from our place there’s one quiet a popular restaurant. I saw lots of time they offer lunch and dinner buffet. I think that’s what they are famous for is serving buffet, of course they are loaded with people. I don’t really like to go that route when they had lots of customer because its hard to pass there and some customers will park at the main road. This restaurant is also next door to a nice houses here in Davao. I guess they just don’t mind it. I really think that people here are used to this kind of set up.

Oh well Bob and I always had this saying, especially if it fascinates us we just say right away “WELCOME TO THE PHILIPPINES”. Or, “WALANG GANYAN SA STATES” ( Theirs none like this in the States). Honestly Bob and I are already used to living here that I think it doesn’t bother us now. I think living here was difficult at first. Now we just laugh it off. That is one thing we love about the Philippines lots of stuff fascinates us and lots of it makes us laugh now. It sounds weird but really living now here for 8 years we can tolerate almost anything I think. I hope so though. I guess try to have an open mind before moving here and have a lot of patience.

Mabuhay!

Market Day

Early Sunday morning I went with my niece and nephew to the Palengke (market) to get good and fresh produce and fresh meat. We went around 4am so that we can catch when the butcher delivers the fresh meat. Sunday is the market day here. People really flocked from all over Davao to get the fresh and newly delivered veggies. I mean they deliver everyday, but its really Sunday that the delivery is abundant and lots of variety.

Since living here in Davao, 7 years ago if we go to the market P500 is enough already to buy the veggies that we want for the week. Nowadays we have to spend like P2000 for the weeks worth of veggies. Just a sample a kilo of potato before its 20-30 pesos, now its 60-70 pesos per kilo. Even with the price increase of course people have to go to the market to buy their food though. Can’t complain because its worldwide that’s really suffering right now. Its just sad that I can hear people complaining there. Well, at least at the Palengke they can bargain the price, unlike at the supermarket at the mall.

I really enjoyed going to the Palengke. Really its not just for the veggies and meat but its also nice seeing and meeting lot of people from many walks of life shopping there. The vendors still smiling  a lot even though they’re having a hard time. They’re still happy trying to get a decent living. I know its not much for them to earn everyday but still they are satisfied. I’m happy for them. A lot of them the whole family will be selling the veggies or meat in one stall, they take turns in serving the customers. Some members will take care during night time while others sleep, then vise versa. I saw a kid she might have been like 6 years old. She’s helping her mom and dad selling beans. She’s really cute, of course I bought some veggies from her. I also saw a dad and his 4 kids. This family used to be selling Filipino delicacy everyday, the dad was the cook, the mom and the kids (when they were younger) was the one selling the food in the Palengke. Unfortunately, the mom died a few years ago, so now the dad and the kids will just sell their food at the Palengke during weekend because the kids are in school. The dad has other jobs during weekdays. We always swing by there at those peoples stall and buy a lot of their food. These are the food that they are selling like biko (sweet rice with coconut milk and sugar), suman (sweet rice again with similar stuff as the biko and wrapped in banana leaves), palitaw (ground sweet rice and mix with water and drop in boiling water when its cooks, eat it with ground coconut), and a lot more.

Maybe we will bump some of you guys there? Anyway, have fun going to the market and have fun bargaining.

Mabuhay!

A nipa hut with class

Today Bob and I went to Samal Island with our friends. They wanted to see some land there for them to build their vacation house. They really liked the beach front. After looking at the property we then decided to get some lunch. We know a good place in Samal for that its Chemas by the Sea. We know the owner so we called him up if we could go there at his place and eat lunch. He said that its okay. So we went there, but before sitting at the restaurant we gave our friends a tour at Chemas. They were really amazed of how nice and clean Chemas is.

After a little bit of a tour we then sat down at our table and began to order our lunch. Their food is good there too. While waiting for our food Bob and I observed that Chemas really had a lot of renovation going on. They really beautified the place. Our guests really enjoyed the peace and quiet of the place. After eating we were just chatting, the owner came to our table and talked to us a bit. He was telling us about his renovation. Just then he asked us if we wanted to see the inside of one the the cottages that they just finished making? We said to him sure we would like to see it. I was in awe of how the good craftsmanship and the good design of the room. The structure is really something. As if I was seeing something in a magazine. The cottage was made of bricks and a lot of good woodwork. I like the crown moldings that he had all through our the cottage and the bathroom. The loft is really nice too. I could have like that for an office with a nice view of the gulf. The design of the bathroom is really awesome and its overlooking the water and had a sitting area. Very impressive.  I am not totally in for Adirondack furniture, but they had on that cottage and I like it a lot.

Just then Bob and I decided to build something like that for our house in Samal. I’m really a fan of a brick wall and Bob too. That is what they had on the cottages. I like the whole package except for the roof. Its Cogon or nipa material (like straw hat materials) on the roof. For me that kind of roof its always needs maintenance. Plus the birds or some bugs would be living inside it. So that is really our (Bob & I) dilemma now.  He likes that nipa hut roof but I don’t. Gosh, we might end up with no roof at all because we can’t agree to it. Hmmm we have to compromise I guess… Good thing we still have a lot of years to think about and resolve this matter. Anyway, Bob and I have to think a lot about this though. We have to be on this place forever. This is our home. I know we are on the tropics and that it would be the perfect thing to have a nipa hut. MAYBE!

Mabuhay!

Talking with Inday

Yesterday I was talking to our laundry lady (her name is Inday). She just came back on working with us again. She worked for us before like 2 years ago. The kids really liked her and she liked our kids too especially our youngest one. Before she left 2 years ago, she asked me if she could take off for 2 weeks because her and her hubby will be going to Zamboanga to visit the her husband’s parents. Then the next day she came back to get her paycheck, at that time I was not home but my niece (the one that has baby now) was here at the house. My niece told her that I’m not home but she gave the money for Inday’s pay. Inday stayed for awhile and chatted to some of my workers. She’s kind to 2 of them. After awhile of talking she went downstairs and started talking to my niece. My niece just then told her that if you are waiting for for Aunt Feyma, she won’t be here until later. She’s really busy taking care of a lot of orders. So Inday told my niece its okay I will wait I just wanted to talk to her. Right there and then my niece just told Inday to not worry on coming back because her services on being the laundry lady is already terminated and to not come here and be near here again.

Well, I didn’t know that our laundry lady was being terminated. I’ve been waiting for her to comeback. My niece didn’t tell me anything that she’s firing somebody without my approval. My niece told me a different story that our laundry lady quit working here because she’s tired and she wanted to stay and live for good in Zamboanga. I believed my niece’s story at that time. All along when Inday was gone she’s thinking that I was the one who wanted her terminated. Since then we didn’t see her, but Chris our oldest saw the husband of Inday like last year. They just said hi to each other.

A few days ago one of my nieces saw Inday’s sister at the public market here. My niece (different niece) asked her where’s Inday? The sister told my niece that Inday is in her house , that it was her day off that day. The next day I was so shocked that Inday showed up at our house and came to visit. It was really nice seeing her. The kids were really asking her if she could come back and do laundry here for us again. She told me that really she likes working here because she felt that she was treated really good and the kids are really nice to her. So I told her that if she is available and can do laundry for us that I would be interested for her to work for us again. She told me that “Yes Ate Feyma” I would like to work here again.

So Inday has been here now for almost a week. A few days ago we were just talking about the past and she was asking about some of our employees who were close to her, what are they doing now? She then asked me where’s my niece the one that terminated her 2 years ago. I told her what happened to her. She then said that I am not shocked that she had baby now because she’s been causing lots of trouble with you guys before I left. Inday then told me that there were instances before that my niece would even tell her that she’s (laundry lady) stupid because Inday didn’t prepare her uniform. My niece has lots of bad days before because she’s always called up to see us a lot in our room. We would talk to her for a long time. After talking to us my niece then has a bad attitude and she will take it out on our people. I know she treated our helpers like that before, she’s calling them bad names. It’s so embarrassing because all of them would say we are nice but the niece had bad attitudes. Honestly, even now she had baby she didn’t change. She even called Bob bad names too. Come to think of it Bob was the person supporting her even before she started grade school. Bob was even trying to help her after she had the baby. But she’s lazy and just wants hand outs. Bob and I NEVER RECEIVED ANY THANK YOU from her. None what so ever. But we received bad mouthing from her.

Anyway, I’m glad that Inday believed me when I told her that I didn’t know about her termination until later. And some of my nieces and my workers told her too that I didn’t have any idea of what my niece did to her. I told her from now on to tell me if my nieces or nephews would say something bad to her. She must have like us because she would not come back here to work if she didn’t.

Mabuhay!