VICTORIA'S SECRET ART

On this page are some of the beautiful paintings of my cousin, Victoria or Marivic as my family fondly call her from Melbourne, Australia. I first learned in August this year when she called me to view and comment on her new paintings in Gubatnons Everywhere!, a social networking of Ning.Com of my fellow Gubatnons in the Internet. I was surprised and couldn't believe how she made her first two paintings beautifully. These are, "Mother and Child" and "The Money Tree" She painted impeccably with a brush stroke of a gifted artist. The colors are magnificently balanced and anyone who will see it will really appreciate its originality and form. Her genre is figurative or relating to or representing form in art by means of human or animal figures.

Edith and I learned a while back that she joined a painting class, so she could just paint a piece of art by herself and avoid buying very expensive paintings in Melbourne to hang on her vacant walls. By a stroke of luck, she ended painting very well and got many orders from her friends who liked her paintings very much. I can just imagine now if she becomes popular and she would exhibit in a one-man show in a noted gallery in Melbourne. Well, she was a good artist back then and made everything exquisitely beautiful the way she helped my children on their projects in their science or art subjects when she was with us in Makati. Then, in every establishment that she worked for, Victoria always tried to set up a better way to improve ideas through her skill in art. Well, she is a person who can eye a flaw or imperfection instantly in her work environment.

Victoria is married to Andrew Hall, a businessman. They have been married for more than six years now. They are living in Melbourne and have two children, Ashleigh and Portia. My children, Agatha, Aurora, Ponchie and my daughter-in-law, Babylin attended their wedding in June, 2004 in a Catholic ceremony. The reception was held in a yacht cruise in Melbourne bay. My children enjoyed every minute of their visit, touring some beautiful and noted sites as well.

Rafa's Christening

We celebrated the Christening of my second Grandson, Rafaelo Miguel (Rafa) last Sunday, December 13, 2009. It was a big celebration of our family welcoming our grandson to the Christian World. He was christened at the Santuario de San Antonio Church in Forbes Park, Makati. Friends, relatives, classmates and officemates of Babes and Ponchie came to greet Rafa for his special day. He was exactly 4 months and 20 days. The baptismal rite was held at the Baptistry located at the right wing of the church at 4:30 pm.

After the ceremony, everyone proceeded to the reception. It was held at the Gerry's Grill in Market! Market! in Global City. Many guests who did not attend the baptismal rite came at the restaurant. Before the sumptuous buffet dinner began, there was a short program honoring and welcoming our baby boy, Rafa by the families from both sides and some close friends. Aui and Ags, my lovely daughters acted as emcees to the program. A short prayer was read by a nine year old smart boy, Stephen, a nephew of Babylin. Everyone loved the party as they enjoyed the food and drinks. This is also a time when friends and relatives meet occasionally when schedules and time are always occupied. I would say that this gathering is some sort of reunion for everyone.

Rafa is a bouncing baby boy who has grown so big than we had expected. At almost three months, he weighed twice as much when he was delivered from the hospital. Well, maybe we focused too much attention on Gabe's condition before by comparing my first grandson who was a preterm baby. Gabe was contracted with a bacterial infection of Sepsis and stayed sometime in an incubator at the hospital. He was a frail baby boy and to Rafa's condition it was different, he grew normally at the same time his hunger for milk is too much that he exceeded much to our expectations. On the other hand, Gabe had a hard time finishing his milk most of the time. Rafa is a robust baby growing remarkably. He is a handsome baby boy who smiles and baby talks at you whenever you get his attention. Edith and I love him so much that we always visit him whenever we can. Sometimes he stays with us in our home for a few days and that is a big blessing for us and my daughters as we enjoy him to be closer with us. I hope God will bless my grandson and will keep him to be a good boy. Everyday I will pray for Rafa's well being and to grow in the love of God and fellowmen.

All the photos here were copied with permission from Babylin's album in Facebook.

Alfonso Gabrielo's first Birthday

ALFONSO GABRIELO'S (Gab or Gabe) FIRST BIRTHDAY

Alfonso Gabrielo, my grandson celebrated his 1st Birthday at the Jollibee Global City in Fort Bonifacio last April 5, 2009 the day after my daughter Aurora's wedding to Paulo. Friends, relatives and officemates of Ponchie and Babes with their children came to enjoy the fun with full entertainment from the Jollibee Staff with parlor games, dance, trivias, food, drinks and with special participation of Jollibee himself to amuse the children and adults as well. . . . . . .

Who would have thought that after a year Gabe would turn out to be a healthy and intelligent bouncing baby boy. He was born prematurely at 8 months. He spent some time in an incubator at the hospital in Medical City. He was very frail and was infected by Sepsis, an inflammation caused by bacterial infection from the facilities in another hospital. . . . . . .

He is learning to walk now by clutching and reaching on anything to hold on with his hands where he could move around easily with his shoes on or by his walker. He could utter words like "Dada","Mommy"and "Turtle" and can imitate sounds like the ringing of a telephone, whistling and especially the "r" sound as in "vrrrooom" when he plays the toy car. He likes to make bubbles adeptly on his mouth wth his saliva. He also loves to chatter a clacking sound that he learned from us.  Gabe likes to ride in the car and observes everything that we passed by and does not sleep or bore him as most babies do. . . . . .

Everyday, Gab would hear music from CDs, like Baby Mozart's, Baby Bach's or Chopin just before taking his bath. He loves to watch TV and his favorite are mostly commercial ads and cartoons. My lovely wife, Edith and I would sing some lullabies and Nursery Rhymes on Gab on many occasions that he is already familiar with the songs. What we noticed was, Gab would hum to the tune of the music. I practice my Korg Piano at home very often and Gab loved to watch me how I played. Then I would let him tap the keys which he would gladly enjoy doing it. He does not bang the keys as other babies do but tries to listen to the sound of the notes at the speaker monitor. Very fascinating for a small tot like Gab. . . . . . .

His biggest drawback though is, he seldom eats solid food like veggies or anything that a baby boy must eat at his age. He vomits easily if he does not like the taste of the food. He depends mostly on formula milk throughout the day. He consumes an 800grams can of Nan 2 in 3 days. He drinks vitamins regularly like Vita Zinc and Tropicee. These vitamins have lysine, taurine, zinc and ascorbic acid that promote brain and phsycomotor development, stimulates appetite and strenghtens the immune system. His weight and height is just right for his age by following the advice of his Pediatrician which he regularly visit for a check-up. At this early, we try to teach Gab on sign language which will promote and help his communication skills and for better IQ . . . . .

My daughter Au's wedding

MY DAUGHTER AU'S WEDDING

Tears of joy flowed as we marched down the aisle

THE WEDDING

The time will come when one day, one by one, your children will finally leave you on their own. Last Saturday, April 4, 2009 it was my daughter Aurora's turn. My eldest child, Ponchie was the first one to leave us who married last 2003. What is left with me and my wife Edith at home is my second child, Agatha. . . . . As a father, losing another child in marriage can be very sad and emotional as I have loved and reared them, seeing them growing up and sending them to school through the years. My lovely wife, Edith and I have been biding for the time up to the last minute of the wedding of my daughter Au to her beau, Paul. . . . . .

There were mixed feelings of emotions as excitement intensified when Edith and I began walking nervously down the aisle to the processional of the bridal entourage. We stopped on the midway of the aisle waiting for Au to join us and proceed towards the altar and present her to the groom, Paul to start the wedding ceremony. There was an air of anticipation and surprise as my daughter Au's dramatic entrance into the church door kept everyone waiting. I could see her at a distance just as she was preparing to march down towards us. She was nervous, I supposed but composed and well poised for this occasion as I thought confidently that she had prepared long enough for this wedding as her happiest moment in her life yet. . . . . . .

She was beautiful and radiant in her long cream wedding gown as she smiled gazing at everyone, pausing sometimes to greet some familiar faces. Guests, friends, classmates, relatives were awed and dazzled by her beauty as she marched magnificently. A beautiful filipino love song rendition of "Panunumpa" being sung by the choir filled the air as everyone was thrilled to the song. . . . . . . . .

I was speechless and amazed with admiration to the beauty of my daughter watching her for the last time as she leaves us for someone to live for the rest of her life. My lovely wife, Edith and I anxiously joined her to march towards the altar as Paul was waiting impatiently. Consciously, I felt everyone was watching us as we moved on. I felt sad and teary eyed with my head bowed as I was thrilled to the sentimental song of the choir. Thinking back, I will miss my daughter Au, who was very loving, caring, obedient, sweet and thoughtful to us and to her siblings, Ponchie and Agatha. At that moment, I was very proud of my youngest daughter, Au. I loved her so dearly and letting her go was definitely a loss but I guess, I gained a new son, Paul because Au will never leave us actually. . . . . . . . . . . .

The beautiful bride and her bouquet

Nice shots of Au just before wearing her wedding gown

Ponchie and Babes with their one year old son, Gabe

Our family picture sans Paulo at the Ascot (formerly, the Oakwood), Glorietta, Makati

The women in my family

Au and her parents

My children Ponchie, Au and Agatha

Nice dramatic photo of Au beside the window catching the needed light for this shot

My favorite shot from Nice Print

Beautiful black  and white photo of Au at the Church door

Tito Toots Fajardo looking after Au at the Church door

Waiting at the door of Sra de Gracia Parish Church

The long march

The wedding ceremony

Paul and Au cutting their wedding cake

Our family

Our family and relatives

Paulo's Family and relatives

Paulo and Au with the Bride's Maids and Best Men

At the altar after the ceremony

The Pastiche singers with Markke Marasigan, they stole the night with selected songs from Burt Bacharach 

Tossing the bouquet for the lucky next bride

Paul and Au 

The reception at the Monastery garden

The beautiful buffet trays of Hizon's that provided the catering at the reception in the garden

Nice pair!

Paulo and Au with their friends in front of the Church

The wedding was held at the Nuestra Senora de Gracia Parish Church at Guadalupe in Makati near Edsa. This is a very old Spanish church with a monastery on the left wing area where the reception held at the garden. The wedding and reception of my edldest son, Ponchie and Babylin was also held at this church in Jan. 2003. Some of the photos here were taken from Au and Ponchie's Canon Ixus digital 90, the first 3 photos above. The rest of the  photos were from Nice Print. Thank you.