God Defend New Zealand

After 4 good years in Aotearoa, we were granted the privilege to become NZ citizens. yipee!!!

Henry and I sang the national anthem God Defend New Zealand for the first time during the citizenship ceremony. It was a beautiful song (but I still have to research the translation of the maori part). It makes you feel proud and elated to be a New Zealander.

Soon, well have silver fern passports. This also means loosing our Philippine citizenship (which we can regain later when we apply for dual citizenship). So am I now a kiwi? Naku, di ata bagay sa akin yon. I vow to be a good citizen of New Zealand but inside me I am still Filipino. .. 100% Pinoy.... and 1% kiwi. that's sweet as…

I love Daddy

4th April 1999, I got my Dad a coffee mug with a cute print "I love Daddy". It instantly became his favourite. He wouldn't use any other cup for his beverages (not just for his caffeine dose). Four months later, that mug was on top of him with a glass separating them.

31 July 1999, the day our dear dad left us. Up to this day, I remember how devastating it was. Time healed the pain but the memory is still vivid.

One of the mass cards we got inscribed a beautiful poem. I read the first four lines then stopped. It was so touching but my heart wasn't ready for it . 11 years later, it's only now that I have the courage to finish the rest of it.

I’m Free

Don’t grieve for me, for I’m now free.
I’m following the path God laid for me.
I took God’s hand when I heard the call;
I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way,
I found that place at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss.
Ah yes, these things, I too, will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow,
I wish you the same sunshine of tomorrow.
My life’s been full, I savoured much,
Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief;
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me –
God wanted me now, God set me free.

miss you dad...

bunge

For weeks, Shannen was waiting for her first tooth to fall off. She wouldn't stop talking about it. Most kids in her class have already lost a tooth ot two so she was excited to be one of them.

Friday night, Ate Chris asked Shannen if she wants to cease the waiting. The little girl agreed after hearing Ate Chris credentials (maraming ngipin na daw ang nagdaan sa mga kamay nya while she was still a nurse at Hankins'). So the wobbly tooth was pulled out. But when Shannen saw (and tasted) the blood, she got upset and started crying. She wouldn't want to talk to Auntie Chris. Humupa din yon nung wala ng bleeding. Then back to best friends sila. he he he

Shannen now happily calls herself Bunge :)

Myla Nano - April 26, 2010

HO broke a sad news yesterday. My cousin Khem’s wife, Myla and their new born son passed away yesterday due to pregnancy complications. Khem is the son of Tito Tirso (my mom’s eldest brother). They are very close to us.

Myla’s death is very sudden. Khem is still in shock. May the Lord to give him courage and strength to get through this extremely painful time.

They're coming!

After almost one year of waiting, Ate Chris will finally be reunited with her family. On early morning of Thursday (29 April), Renie, Sam, Bea and Rein will set foot on New Zealand (grass and) soil. Can't wait to see the girls again.

Kia Ora Tei

On board Qantas QF 115, Tei arrived in Auckland on 2nd March. Tei is Henry’s brother’s daughter. Although her work takes her to different parts of the world, this trip is special. It means so much to us esp. her parents as this is the fulfilment of her residency application. So officially, New Zealand is her second home.

Because of personal and work commitments, Tei could not settle here as yet. She’s actually now on her way back to Manila. Yeah, not enough to see the sights and feel the lifestyle but I hope the short stay could make her decide to settle here sooner J

We’ll see you again. Hei konei ra!

Auckland Museum

Mt. Victoria, Devonport

Lake Pupuke, Takapuna

SkyTower

Arataki, Waitakere Ranges

Muriwai

etc.

I so love our PM

NZ Prime Minister John Key may have some policies/plans that raise some eyebrows, but personality-wise the guy's a rockstar!

Here's his interview re: new Supreme Court Building.

"Breathtaking inside," he says.

The outside?

"No, the inside."

What about the outside?

"Well, art is in the eye of the beholder," says Mr Key. "Look, it's okay, but I prefer the inside.”

New Supreme Court Building

Chicken pops

Last week, our 4yr old neighbor announced that her baby brother has 'chicken pops'. Natawa ako then when it sunk in, I got a little worried. Not for Shannen and Vince (meron silang chicken pox vaccine) but for Henry coz he never had it. I heard it could be really bad for adults.

What do we do? Henry and I had a serious thought. We can't keep Shannen away from playing with her friends. Kahit i-explain namin sa kanya (I even showed her photos of severe blisters), hindi nya ma-grasp yung danger non.

Eventually, we resorted to diversion tactic. So the whole week, Henry took the kids 'somewhere' after school. They went to the grocery, KFC, McDonalds, beach, library, picked me up from work, etc. This week ganun ulit ang gagawin nila. Magastos lang but it gives Henry peace of mind.

winter olympics

I've been attempting to blog again for weeks, but don't know how to start. i'll stop stressing myself. I'll just write something light and easy.

Winter Olympics. This is the first time that I got interested in this gaming event. Wala naman kasing pinapadala ang Pilipinas doon. We've been following the 2010 competition for days now. Most (if not all) of the sports are dangerous. Even the very skilled ones could easily end up with an accident. Mas safe ang mga games sa summer olympics (walang nalulunod sa swimming!). NZ althelete Mahe Drysdale vomitted and fainted in last year's olympics. Pero tingin ko naimpatso lang yon sa daming delis sa china.