One Very Hot Sunday Afternoon

Raffy organized a trip to Pila, Laguna so that the kids can see Philippine ancestral houses. It's a pity that there are very few left of these houses for the kids of their generation to appreciate. Not even the blazing heat could take away from the rare sight of the plaza surrounded by well-preserved Filipino houses.

While there, Baz got to review what he learned during their theme investigation on Philippine houses such as callado, bangerahan and ventanillas. Sadly, we learned that some of these houses are uninhabited except for the token care-taker. Some are owned by corporations and therefore used as offices. And because it's election time, many of the houses were plastered with campaign materials. Obviously, the boys were happy to see the Noynoy/Mar campaign posters - and covered their eyes as they came upon Villar's.

It was quite a drive so the first order of the day was lunch at a local carenderia off the town plaza. And Raffy was actually okay with the kids eating carinderia food!!!! For the kids, we played it safe with sinigang (which they re-heated in the microwave as an extra precaution) and grilled fish. Don't worry, we did bring our own set of utensils for the kids. Hahaha!!!

As for us, we took a chance and tried the menudo. We were rewarded for our bravery :)

Sidebar: Look at the little mokong here. Ano ba, Hadrien? Were you bored, intrigued, shocked or captivated by the movie you were watching (while Mommy and Daddy were eating in relative peace)?

After lunch, we visited the St. Anthony de Padua church - beautiful both inside and out.

This is what the sun does to poor Hadrien ...

A quick stroll around the plaza and a first-ever tricycle ride followed, complete with lubak and all!

(Agra house in the background, Daddy and a wilted Hadrien in the foreground)

(in front of the Rivera house)

(in front of the Pila Municipal Hall)

(St. Anthony de Padua Church in the background)

(their first tricycle ride c/o Mang Jessie)

On the way back, it would be unforgiveable not to take a photo of the lush green ricefields. Thinking that we would actually go into the ricefields, Baz cautioned: We must be extra careful or we will ruin it!

Then another quick stop at UP Los Banos. but not without stopping to picky up milk from the Dairy Husbandry. YUMMM!!!

More Facebook Updates from Mommy

M sees two kids clutching their ears. The reason: a truck playing the song of Villar passed by. H is now shouting: STOP, VILLAR!! OK?!!! (4/11/10)

B and H are so much into politics these days. They both refuse to eat, wear or even see anything orange. If anyone says they like "V", they immediately berate that person with "why?! do you like the roads to be zigzag?" (4/10/10)

Comments:

1. There goes their beta-carotene! Tsktsktsk! Hahaha! - T. Jojie
2. The roads to be zig zag... HIGHlarious! - Nikka
3. When when we were playing with the toy bowling....they refused to hit the yellow pins..but they put the orange ones up front so that it would be the first one to fall. LOL!! grabe na 'to!! - Aunti Ritchie

B: Daddy, I have to ask you something. What does a lawyer do? D: Lawyers help people understand the laws. They also help people when they appear before the courts, like the Supreme Court. B: What is a court? Like a basketball court? (Laughter) B: Is that part of the government? D: Yes, you remember there are ... (3/24/10)

Baz's reaction to chat not working: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is so so so Very BAD!!!!!!!!!!! x-(. (3/13/10)

Baz: I watched Noynoy (obviously a big fan) on the news. They called him "Senador", not "Senator"... Must speak Filipino to them more often. (3/13/10)

The kids were upset during yesterday's brownouts. H asked me if he could go to heaven and turn on the lights and come back to earth. At some point (10 minutes into the brownout) they both got cranky so I told them that they should learn to be still. B asked me what he could do in the dark (I figured they got bored talking to me), so I said why don't you talk to God. And he said "God, please fix the power plants!" (3/2/10)

M's 4 and 6 year old rushed to meet her and Raffy as they came home. B reported that H hit him on the head. The reason for the scuffle - they had an argument as to whether "infinity" was a number! Needless to say, the scolding for the physical fight was half-hearted. (3/1/10)

H's attempt to make her feel guilty with: "Mommy, when you go on trips without us, I want you to get this, this, and this... Make sure when you go that you get this, this and that. Ok? Promise?" (pointing to a Thomas the Train catalog) (2/14/10)

H: "Mommy, I love you to infinity!" But this is the same kid who made paper flowers for 3 of his favorite girl classmates - and none for me! (1/20/10)

M fooled B into thinking that she turned eggwhites and salt into icing and then chicken! (1/18/10)