Friday, April 10, 2009

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 . . . . .


Saturday, April 4, 2009

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.