AAP 2nd Caravan - 2nd Stop: GBR Museum

November 27, 2010

To continue with my journal about the 2nd AAP Caravan, our next stop was the GBR Museum, in the compound of the Gateway Business Park in  Gen. Trias, Cavite.  The Museum contains more than 3,000 vintage photographs chronicling the History of the Philippines.  Once you reach the compound, you'll see the monument to the Cavite Mutiny.  

There are five (5) pavilions inside the building:  Pavilion A showcases 19th century photographs;  Pavilion B has the Underwood and Underwood archives from 1898-1905; Pavilions C & D showcase collections of different model aircrafts and paintings; Pavilion E has photographs during the 2nd World War.  Here are some interesting pictures from inside the aircraft pavilions.  

Space Shuttle Lapel Pins

Space Shuttles

Here on the right is a Flight Certificate awarded to GBR for riding the Concorde in November 1995.  

 

To the left is Charles Lindenberg's plane, the Spirit of St. Louis, which he flew when he made the first solo trip across the Atlantic.  To the right is a piece of mail, signed by the original crew of the China Clipper during her maiden voyage in November 1935.

In another pavilion, I took the liberty of taking these photos (of photos) which really made me smile.  I had such a fun time going around and gazing at photos from this period becaue it's like being taken to that point in time even when I can see and touch the "now" version.  Photos from Quiapo, Binondo, Avenida are so endearing because you see them in their heyday - clean, well-dressed folk, trains and calesas.  There were just too many pictures to take in and to savor.  :)

Being a kid from Sampaloc, Manila I am familiar with the Malacanang Palace.  Here's a picture of the old Malacanang Palace on the Pasig River (left).  If you love visiting Tutuban, Divisoria, here's the original facade of the main terminal station of the Manila-Dagupan Railway inaguarated in 1891 (right).  

Coming from a replica of the "Bahay na Bato" from the Museo De La Salle, here are actual pictures of the 'sala' of the photographer M. Rodriguez's sister's house during that time.  They really are very opulent !

Dana was delighted to see pictures of the Philippines' national heroes on display as they have been studying them in school.  She especially found it funny to see the picture on the leftmost side because there was an exact replica of it in JT's Manukan Grille, one of our favorite restaurants.  I even took a picture of the names because in JT's picture the names were blurred and we couldn't read it LOL

I found it funny to see our national hero, Jose Rizal in such a relaxed pose with Juan Luna, here after a bout of fencing :) Coolness! :D  Emilio Aguinaldo sure looks handsome! :)

 

We took such a long time looking at the pictures that we were the last ones to leave the Museum hahaha Dana even found time to relax inside. After, there was a snack break at the Petron Station in Tagaytay where we all enjoyed ice cream! :)

More to come in the next post! :) Stay tuned! :)

Meng & Vio's Wedding

It's always a good day when there's a wedding.  It's especially great since Dana has been invited by my cousin Meng to be one of the flower girls for his and Vio's wedding.  Dana was very excited!  It was also her first time to be a flower girl so she was nervous and wasn't particularly fond of wearing a dress hahaha What she did look forward to was the ManiPedi we had a day before the wedding hahaha

Here we are upon arriving at the Church.

The beautiful bride and Meng with his Dad and Mom.

 Here are the couple with their Ninongs and Ninangs.

On the right is their entourage..

 Here are the kids. :)

Naturally, we can't have a wedding without us goofing off hahahah but we did this at home so as not to embarass ourselves and our newlyweds! hahahaha

In between activities

This post is a combination of the small though not trivial activities that happened in between major events in November.

November 04 - We found out that Stevie, Patrick's brother, was rushed to the hospital due to a tummy ache.  His wife, Toni, has been in touch with me during the day because she feared that Stevie was taking the pain too lightly and may not reach the hospital in record time.  Apparently, Stevie was in Bulacan working on a project when he felt that his stomach was giving him pain.  It took a long time for him to get to Manila which left Toni worried.  Around 6PM (by my recollection) he was already brought to surgery for an emergency appendectomy.  His appendix hasn't ruptured but there appeared to be infection around it and so the doctor had to remove it.  We went to the hospital that same day but it took a while for the anesthesia to leave his system so we didn't see him.  We came back on Friday.  Oh and we saw the appendix! hahaha Patrick thought it gross! LOL

November 12 - Both kids did well in their report cards.  Dylan has great improvements.  Dana got awarded the 3rd Top Borrower in School ! :) Guess who she takes after? LOL

November 13 - Happy 16th Anniversary to me and Patrick.  Unfortunately, this was a sore day because we didn't get to celebrate it because Patrick stayed overnight at the Hotel H2O at the Manila Ocean Park for the annual Top Gear Planning.   I could understand it, it's work, it's important, but to not send me a text message (AT LEAST!) that was the worst thing.  He didn't even call us that night!!! okay, enough with the rant, but I thought I'd just shout it out LOL

November 19 - Dana and I tagged along when Patrick went to Mall of Asia to cover a car show there.  We decided to watch Harry Potter 7 because we were at the mall early and I thought there wouldn't be a throng of people in line because school and offices  haven't really let out.  I like it but I knew it would be a tad slow because they had to stretch it to cover one whole film.  There were some highlights and I especially liked the dialogue.  It is recommended that you watch the first movies or at least read the prior books to have a better understanding of the movie.

Since we were there at the mall, Dana and I had a ManiPedi session at the Mint Hand and Foot Spa in preparation for my cousin's wedding.  I was a little worried because I just had a traumatic ingrown infection that took a while to heal.  Fortunately, Gina, the senior technician was able to deal with my toe quite nicely.  It was also the first time I went to that nail salon and I must say, it was a good experience.  It was quiet and clean and the technicians were efficient.  :)
 

Reuniting with old friends

Once again, time has permitted former office mates and great friends to meet.  This time, it was at Martin's son, Kevin's 21st birthday and graduation bash, held last October 30.  It took a while to get most of the pictures so this post is a bit delayed. So, sorry for that :)

There was a casino theme as you can see, which was a perfect backdrop for our getting together.  We all shared good times, entertaining moments and unforgettable blunders that mostly centered around clubs, drinks, girls (for the boys) and  general frivolity during the years we all worked for Senator Ramon Revilla, more than 15 years ago.

Here's a toast to Kevin - Good luck on your new path!
Here's a toast to my friends - It's good to have found you all once again!



Here's a photo chronicle of the night:

Before going inside the venue
L-R: Alan, Russell, Kevin, Jerry, me, Patrick

Standing (L-R): Lily caught up with us, Russell, Mang Rudy
Sitting (L-R): me, Jerry, Martin, Ronnie

Martin opened a bottle of Patron for us to enjoy!

Ronnie and I got free hats!

Girls (seated): me and Lily
Boys (standing): Russell, Martin, Ronnie, Jerry & Mang Rudy

I've become so fat I'm able to block Jerry!

Pro Photo!
Jerry's missing! Where in the world is Jerry Panela?

UST Thomasian Expo

I have to be honest and say that I hardly participate in any of my former school's activities.  I don't attend reunions.  I don't attend get-togethers.  I don't attend anything! I think I'm a scrooge hahaha

But when I saw that UST was holding a Thomasian Expo at the SMX at the Mall of Asia in commemoration of it's upcoming 400th Anniversary in 2011, I just couldn't miss it.  I guess that one of the factors that made me want to go was because I will be seeing a friendly face there, Mina, a High School classmate and friend who I've gotten caught up with because of Facebook.  Her sister-in-law has a booth there and it was a good chance as any to see each other.  I was also wondering what other exhibits and booths were worth looking into, not just for me but also for my brother who was also from UST High School.  

GO USTE!

Taken at UST when Dana 2 years old

Though it was a 3-day event, I was only able to go on the last day because of our hectic October schedule (which also happens to be my birth month so Happy Birthday to me!).  We could only drop by after our trip to my Grandmother in Cavite where we brought her wheelchair which we got from our local government.  So hurrah for that too!

Anyway, so yeah, we saw Mina, had our fill of Vigan Empanada, bought a couple of pairs of shoes for the kids, a couple of cute hats, and basically just went around :) I wish I can tell you more but we arrived later than anticipated so there wasn't much to see at that point.



There were some photo ops outside the trade expo which we took advantage of :)

 After a tiring day, we found ourselves at Don Henrico's with the kids wearing their newly-bought, cute hats :)

Happy Birthday Tita Gigi!

Since both Patrick and I have lost our mothers, his to a brain aneurysm and mine to a car accident, we've kinda looked at Tita Gigi as our 2nd mother.  He has been friends with their family since he and Carlo (Tita Gigi's son) became best buds during their JASMS days.  It was funny too, that when I was introduced to their family, Lolo Tony immediately welcomed me into their clan because according to him, we were distinctly related (via the Paypons and the Escalantes of Calayan and Batanes).





So, on this special day, Tita Gigi was celebrating her 60th birthday and this was such a milestone in her life we didn't want to miss it.  The birthday celebration was a smash! It was like watching a live concert because Bito and Kalila (Tita Gigi's daughters) were singing the night away.  There were performances from Carlo and his friends (though I don't think Patrick did his part hahaha)  As you can see from the picture, Dylan was really impressed and wanted to sit in front, right where the action is.  Would you believe that he also wanted to sing by himself? hahaha


Dylan was also awestruck by the lechon (roasted pig).  I think this was the first time he saw lechon up close or if he's seen one he probably forgot about it. He actually can't stop talking about the pig getting cooked and the fact that there was a L'Amour (the orange fruit) in the pig's mouth.  He calls it L'Amour because of the Sesame Street Orange that sings the Aria "Carmen" which he's watching to avoid getting bored hahahaha

It was really such a great night to be with family and friends, great  food and great company!!



 Happy 60th Birthday Tita Gigi!!  We love you! :D





PS: Dana spent a lot of time playing with Kalila's daughter, Tamara, so she's mostly missing in the pictures :)