catching up series: sandbox adventure

Here we go! This one I'm excited to write about. This was (still) back in July 2016. Yes friends, July pa din tayo in this catching up series. Pasensya na po, mahina ang kalaban. :)

As you all know, July is my birth month, so this was like my birthday adventure. This was extra special to me because prior to this, my last travel was way back 2013. That was when I went to Ilocos with Foursome. Wait, let's make it rain with links just as I usually do. Just in case, you wanna read some more? Hehe!

day1: ilocos sur - santa, bantay and vigan tour

day1: ilocos norte - batac and paoay tour

day2: ilocos norte - pagudpud tour

day3: ilocos norte - bangui and burgos tour

day3: ilocos sur - calle crisologo tour

So anyway, for my birthday adventure, we went to Sandbox in Pampanga. Can't exactly remember whose idea it was but most likely, mine. Hehe! I went there with my college friends and work friends combined. So baka nga ako ang nag-aya ng trip na 'to. Oo, ako nga siguro. :P

Also, I can't remember if we booked in advance or what. Medyo matagal na rin po kasi, ano po? Haha! But I remember that we all met up at a coffee shop in Cubao, and Dwin was the last to arrive. He was the one driving for us so hindi namin sya maiwan. Hahaha! Kidding! Of course, we wouldn't. 

We got there a little late for lunch, so we started our Sandbox adventure with food. And again, I couldn't recall what we had for lunch. The thing is, the photos I took were saved in an old laptop that refuses to turn on already. I only stole photos from Jov's Facebook uploads, and some more that I posted on Instagram. Good enough photos to back-up this kwento.

So after lunch, first stop was the Aerial Walk Challenge. According to their website, it is an adventure course of nets and rope walkways that will test your agility, balance and flexibility. True enough it tested mine, most especially my balance. That's actually my weakness! I can't ride a bike, remember? Who you callin' loser? Haha! 

For this challenge, you'd have to give your camera to the guides if you want photos. Non-joiners can't come near the rope course so even if Jhov didn't join, she was only able to take photos from the first part of the challenge. Sheena went first, and then me, Den, Jun and lastly Dwin. And as much as I'd like to describe each part of the challenge in detail, mahirap eh! Hahaha! But I'd let the photos do the talking..

Believe it or not, this was easy for me despite my short legs. :P

The next photo shows the most difficult part of the Aerial Challenge, at least for me. It was too high and you literally have to walk on the rope, with only hanging ones to help you out. My legs were shaking because duhhh, wala talaga kong balance, and to make it worse, it was hard for me to reach the rope guides. This was four years ago but writing about it makes me remember how I felt at that moment. Feeling ko wala ng katapusan yung challenge na yun. Hahaha!

Aside from Aerial Walk Challenge, other activities were Avatar One, Adventure Tower and the Giant Swing. Avatar One is the Philippines' first roller coaster zip line. Their website says, "You don’t just zip down the 180-meter course. You zigzag along starting from 12 meters high." Although, I wasn't able to find photos from this activity (there might be in the old laptop!), I'd borrow photos from the net just so I can you show. The Avatar one was such a fun twist on your rather usual zipline experience.

via 

Next was the Adventure Tower. It's 15 meters of wall climbing, rappelling and free falling. We actually have a short video of this on Facebook but I can't download it. Also, the guide told my friend that taking videos wasn't allowed so he stopped recording. Weird if you think about it. Why would you prevent your patrons to record such thrilling moments? Hmm. But anyway.

I did all three activities of the adventure tower but I was disappointed with myself that I did not get to finish the wall climbing part. I was heavy at this point of my life kasi. Haha! But the first time I did this in Eco Park, I got to finish it. Must try again for the third time when I'm more physically ready aka thinner. Haha!

via

And then lastly the Giant Swing. Well, almost! Hehe! Unfortunately, we weren't able to do this because it started raining. Some visitors opted to still do it when the rain turned into light drizzles and honestly, I was inggit. No one from our group wanted to continue na kasi and the swing was made for two people. I'd look dumb if I do it alone. Haha! 

via

Aside from the activities I've mentioned, they also have ATV, Go-Kart and Splash Tub. I think the latter was a new addition. I don't think they already have it when we visited. They also have a kiddie playground with picnic areas, mini golf, airsoft and paintball. 

Now, if you're gonna ask me how was the Sandbox experience, I'd say it was fun and definitely challenging but kind of bitin. The rain was a party pooper kasi. But definitely, it was one for the books. Every new adventure naman is worth looking back to. 

Would I want to go back? Yes! For the Giant Swing! Hahaha! Good night, folks! :)

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catching up series: birthday weekend

It's another weekend and that means it's time for another throwback kwento! We're still in July 2016, by the way, and we're celebrating triple birthdays -- mine, my sister's, and my sister-in-law's. We're all July celebrants. ♡

Honestly, it's really not my thing to celebrate my birthday. I actually checked my old blog posts (via the labels), and I only found one birthday celebration with the family. That was back in 2012. But as I've said, 2016 was a special year, so we opted to celebrate. We decided to go bowling before dinner but before everything else, since we arrived at the mall first, Mithril had a little shopping sesh. 

Wait, lookie, that's lola! Nakakatuwa lang to look back at days like this because now, lola is a already bedridden. She had an accident New Year's eve of 2018 and she never got to walk again. It's been so nice to see photos of her since I re-started this catching up series. Even the kids get entertained seeing old photos as I blog. Being a "memory keeper" really isn't easy but definitely so worth it. I say this as I encourage myself to finish all my backlogs and to continue writing for as long as I can. :)

So anyway, I guess it's safe to say that aside from actually playing bowling, we also had fun posing with the bowling balls. Haha! People these days talaga. Photos or it didn't happen. :)) Partly, it's a good thing because we would have something to look back to. But of course, we should not forget to enjoy the moment too even as we try to "document", especially now that vlogging is the "IN" thing. 

After our pictorial, este bowling pala, we had dinner at Jay-J's. Again the usual Filipino food! Napaka-adventurous talaga namin when it comes to food, no? :P You really can't bring the parentals to a Korean, Chinese or Japanese resto. Filipino lang talaga, filipino lang! Haha! Our staples are Crispy Pata (dad's fave!), Sisig, Kare-Kare, Kaldereta, Roasted Chicken, Crabs and Shrimps, Pinakbet for veggies, and then Pancit or Pancit Malabon. Ayan ganyan. Paulit-ulit lang kami whatever the occasion is, whether we eat out or we cook at home. Haha! :))

And during this tough time (Read: Pandemic & ECQ!), I am definitely missing going out with the family. We had summer plans for the kiddos and looks like nothing will turn into reality at this point. But of course, we're still thankful and grateful that we are all safely stuck at home, with roof above our heads and food on our table. Really praying for this pandemic to be over soon.

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catching up series: let it gooo ♪♫♪

Reminder yet again that on this side of the world, it's 2016. July 2016 to be exact and our dear Carin (my niece) is celebrating her 4th birthday. But in reality, she's seven already. Hahaha! Backlogssss! :P

It was a Frozen-themed party held at Sangkalan Bar and Grill in QC. Can you imagine? The first Frozen movie was released in 2013 but three years after, kids are still hooked to it! It was also Faye's theme when she turned five back in 2014. And as always, it was mommy (ate Tin) who baked the cakes and it was me who made the birthday banner and balloon columns. Team DIY forever and ever. :)

The party was hosted by Cait (Carin's big sister), and as usual, there were a lot of games for the kiddos! I remember Faye being so competitive. Well, she's always so competitive naman. She even won in the Trip to Jerusalem game. There's a video below of her winning moment. Hehe!

The host, ate Cait. 

Stop Dance

Trip to Jerusalem

Faye's Winning Moment :P

You know what else I can vividly remember? The kids' chaos! Haha! In the photo below, Avie and Mithril were fighting on who gets to be carried by their favorite aunt -- who else? MEEE! Hahaha! I had to carry both of them because #superauntie is always after fairness. Back then, Avie was just two years old and Mithril was one, and they were frenemies! Fast forward to now, they can already tolerate each other. Thank goodness!

Avie and Mithril fighting over auntie :P

Mithy and auntie Pie
Carin and auntie Tin

Avie and ate Cait

Bear Fam!

auntie Dang and Mithy

As for Mithril's OOTD, this was the time I loved dressing her up like a grown-up. Hehe! Earlier that year, I loved dressing her up in gowns. Look here and here! :) It's been my self-assigned task to style her (and buy her outfits haha) since she was little and I can't wait to share more of her OOTDs here. Til then! Happy Sunday! ❤

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catching up series: sad reunion

Life is a backstabbing b*tch, a friend used to say. While I was on a high because of the new job opportunity, my mom's side of the family suddenly went through a dark time when my uncle got ill and eventually passed away. He is my mom's eldest brother, Uncle Nar.

I would have to admit that we are closer to my dad's side. We would regularly go out with my cousins' families or visit each other's houses. We would celebrate special occasions with them too. Meanwhile, with my mom's side, we would only get to see them when it's All Soul's day. And in the habit of linking old posts, here are some Undas reunions with the Abadilla clan at Sanctuario de Paz. It is where my lolo Macho was laid to rest. 

Undas 2011. 

Late Visit for 2012. 

Undas 2015. 

See? We can't even make it a regular thing as a clan. 

But of course we do visit lolo regularly even without the rest of the family. 

Grandparent's Day 2013. 

Random Visit 2014. 

It's raining links, as always! :)

Anyway, speaking of reunions, we were suddenly forced into one back in June 2016 when Uncle Nar passed away. If I'm not mistaken (which I think I'm not :P), it was Mithril's first time to see some of her cousins. At this point, I have lost count of Kuya Jong's youngsters. The last time time we were all together, that was Undas 2015, he had six kids already. Fast forward to today, he has eight na yata! Grabe no? I can't even begin to imagine the daily chaos. 

A crying Mithril and the Abadilla kids
Zai, Jonnel (back), Moimoi, Lawrence, Miyuki, Neya, PJ (back), JJ, Hael & Papao
kulang pa yan! :P 

MoiMoi, Hael and JJ

Moi and Neyang

Mithril and ate Miyuki

Going back to the passing of tito Nar, he was also laid to rest in Sanctuario de Paz, in the other cemetery plot that my mom bought. It was honestly a bit on an issue cause if you think about it, my parents invested for the family's security but because their family failed to prepare for tough times like this, we had to give it up for them. Not that we ever wanna use a cemetery plot di ba, but you get what I mean. But my father was understanding of the circumstances and we just had to invest again for when the inevitable happens. But Papa Jesus, please, sa far future pa ha? :)

Whew! Family issues no? But I guess, as much as we should be there to help and support one another, we should also know where to draw the line. I am actually very proud of my mom for always being there for her relatives but sometimes, I, along with my sisters, can't help but remind her to realize what is too much already. Because ideally, everyone should work hard enough to be able to sustain themselves and their immediately family. 

As for uncle Nar in heaven, I know he's happy with all the help that mom is extending to their family. But I'd like to believe too that he'd be happier when he finally sees his grown-up sons providing enough for the household that he left behind. One day, uncle Nar! Keep guiding them from above. :)

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