Fiesta Ng Tondo 2006

(Updated with Pictures!)

Twas the third Sunday of the month when we all headed for Tondo to join the merriment! We all look forward to the yearly Fiesta ng Tondo because it's close to being equivalent to eating, eating, and more eating.

Babies and kids! They seem to be all over lately!






Adults and more adults! Kuya Marlon is currently in training for his new job. We would very much like to hear his American accent soon! Perhaps a dialogue with veteran Call Center pro, BG?



Yes, this is Lester asleep! His parents report that he came from a party the night before and was just beat. Zzzz... Tita Teng silently observes her nephew.




The growing Yap family! Baby of the moment, Zhaira, looks just like... Hmm... Parang ngayon it's a toss between Mommy Sheryl and Daddy Jun.




Sweethearts Kuya Jun and Ate Cynthia. Their kids, Gelo and Gengen were at home resting.



Perla street scenes... We love those bandaritas!



Hmm... a thoughtful Tita Marison...




Food was aplenty! 80 kilos of pork! Haha! Tita Guste was the gastronimical mastermind behind most if not all the dishes we ate. Tsalap tsalap!



What's a party if not for the inuman and chikahan?! Even Lolo Ric had one bottle of beer.




Our beloved Perla Street... And all the party people who chanted "Viva! Viva! Sto. Nino!"






Here's me with best bud, Yssa. My oh my... Lookie at tall she is.


Scholasticans Unite!!


Haha! In this picture, I asked Sheryl to do an abrupt face-the-camera-at-the-count-of-three. The results?? Really funny photos. She's a natural comedian!




Here's Ianna, napping. The pretty and dainty girl is tired from all the afternoon activities.




Open wide!!



The Artetas and their happy Ponchito!!

Quick Family Updates

Gelo Torres is wrapping up his final semester at De La Salle University. He will be graduating next month (February 2007) with a degree in Applied Economics. Gelo has begun his search for a job.


Marlon Esguerra is starting a new career! He just recently resigned from his previous employer and began a new job at a call center in Libis. Good luck, Kuya Marlon!

Tito Mar Tanquilut has lost 30 pounds to date! Yssa and Tita Alda's man has slimmed down. His tummy is curiously absent! Naks! Tito Mar gives props to his new healthy lifestyle and will power.

Family trip up ahead! Lola Naty, Lolo Ric, Lola Nieves, Lola Juling, Tita Marison, Tito Romy, and Tita Lody, are all planning to visit Lola Pacing in Canada this March. They're working through the requirements and the paper work. More details to follow! Tito Romy and Tita Lody might make a side trip to New York.

Fiesta Ng Tondo! This weekend marks the third Sunday of January. Gear up and loosen those belts. Tis time for the annual Fiesta Ng Tondo! See you guys this Sunday! And don't forget to bring your Sto. Ninos!

Zhaira Shanti Isabel Yap's Baptism

Last January 7, we went to San Isidro, Guagua Pampanga, to attend the Christening of Zhaira Shanti Isabel Yap. She's Sheryl's third, and to date, the youngest apo sa tuhod.

The color theme for that day was pink and purple! So very girlie!In attendance were the ninongs and ninangs. Included in this roster (but not on this picture), are Kuya Andre, Sheryl, Kuya Jun, and Rommel. In this picture, Tita Myr, Tita Marison, Tita Lody, and Tita Gina, enjoy the culinary delights Tita Guste prepared for the guests. Yummy yung lengua!

Best buds Kuya Ariel and Pao.
Ate Cynthia and Gengen keep the kids company.

Hmm.... Guess who wants a younger sibling?! Haha!

Angeli's Third Birthday

Angeli Gutierrez, Kuya Lancer's youngest, celebrated her third birthday just recently! During the January first Saturday prayer meeting, we had a mini kiddie party at the Geocaniga auxiliary house in San Gabriel.



Kids love the sight of a birthday cake! Everyone wanted a piece of the "blow-the-candle" action! hehe. But it seems Gibo here has another agenda... Hmm...

Nickher, who's a dead ringer for his Mom, Lencx, showed us his famous "nguso" while blowing the candle.

Mommy Monina helps Angeli cut the cake. Monina's super yummy baked spaghetti is worth mentioning! I must've eaten two huge servings!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Angeli! Continue smiling!

New Year's Eve at the Gutierrez's

(Updated with pics!)

2006 seems to be a year of keeping traditions alive. In more recent family history, we celebrated New Year's at Tito Boy's house in Antipolo. Since Tita Baby and Tito Vlad were in the country, it was decided to have the party in the Gutierrez's BF Almanza home instead. So to CRM Gloria we went, just as we did a couple of years ago.

Tita Baby sure had a feast! The guests happily trooped to the dining area and piled their plates with yummy dishes.




I particularly loved these baked prawns! Topped with cheese and garlic. Yummy!



Present that evening were Lucille and Dindo Gutierrez (Tito Vlad's son). And of course, the very pretty Iris and Ina! Here they are with Lester.



Pink is most definitely the color that evening! Here are the Tanquilut ladies in their uniform pink tops (all courtesy of Tita Baby).





My oh my... See how the kids have grown. Pretty girls Iris and Ina, with "tita" Yssa and cousin Alfonso. Fonzie is destined for showbusiness, it seems!



Tita Babes went all out for this party! Meron pang lechon baka (yes, that's what this blurred thingamajigger is). The meat was tender! Rommel reports he might have finished three sizzling plates.



Here are the forever drinking buddies.



Table to table pics!




We had a couple of games that evening. Four groups attempted to build the tallest and sturdiest structure made of platic straws (with only a pair of scissors and scotch tape).

Tita Baby, Rommel, Ate Cynthia, Tita Rosie, and RenRen's group emerged victorious!













And since 2007 is the year of the pig, we had a "Make your own big" contest, were delegates from each participating team, had to endure 20 minutes of make up, scotch tape, and sheer embarrassment. In the end, Tito Ferdie emerged victorious (beating Gibo, Renren, and Tonton). Funny because of all the three, Tito Ferdie looked like a horse! Hehe!

The winning Pig! That'll do, pig. That'll do.

Happy 2007 peeps!