Gia turned 4 last August 30!
Guests outside their house.
I can play at the mango tree.
Kuya was asking for 'Mirinda'.
We arrived late on August 30 at Gia's place. Since we came from Catigbian Mountainview. It was quite a travel too, and we were excited because of the food. It was her 4th birthday!
Happy birthday, Gia! :)
At almost 2PM, there were still people, we were hungry and the food was almost gone ;)
But we were happy to see Gia and of course Sush was happy to play :)
Don't blink!
This video is not for the faint of heart. You will even notice that I did not react anymore, there is no urgency on my side for him. This is my daily scene, his hurried, careless act that always puts him in danger zone.
Raising a child whose energy seems to have no limits can be a constant challenge. There are days when I question myself, worry if I’m doing enough, and quietly wonder if everything I’m seeing is simply part of who he is, or something I should be more concerned about.
And in those moments, I’m deeply grateful for the men who I met at work, or co-parents, who have raised sons themselves. They have a way of saying, “It’s okay. We’ve been there.”
Somehow, those simple words carry so much weight. They calm my anxious mind, ease my worries, and remind me that raising a boy is not always meant to be understood from the pages of a book. It is sometimes learned through patience, experience, and simply letting them grow.
Since it falls on a Monday, it was fit for a planned escape. Many months prior, I have been eyeing Catigbian Mountainview because of how it looks in pictures from other people's travel. Lush, greens, flowers, semi-forests, and a pool. With two kids, what they have is a perfect combination for us.
So, off we went! What was encouraging about their FB page was the prompt responses. When I said that I would like to book on this specific date, they never asked for an advance payment. That in itself tells me a lot. It was a legitimate page.
I booked for just a night stay there, how I wish we could have stayed longer though. But we were also wishing to go to Gia's birthday the next day, so we cannot stay longer.
From the moment we step on the restaurant, I already know that the owner is a dog-lover. There were statues of dogs within the restaurant. I was in awe, it was overlooking the vast land planted with flowering plants, mainly pink and orange in color, a happy place to watch.
It also has three pools to choose from. A mark says "Healing Pool". I learned later on, that it was because the water has white particles which is in itself - a magnesium, the owner explained.
From the place, we experienced forest-bathing and just be surrounded and calmed by nature. The pool was also contributing to the kids' favorite and happy moments.
I reminded them to always pause, stop and smell the flowers :)
Catigbian Mountainview is located in Purok 7, Mahayag Norte, Catigbian, Bohol.
This is the first time that I brought my kids at my favorite place Cabilao. I have been to this island many times that I lost count, yes! :)
I'm excited for them, because I initially plan to let them play and soak at the beach to their heart's content, especially at Punta Baluarte.
But I was in for a shock. The hotels and hostels there are not accepting guests due to the water problem. One owner said that they don't have enough stored rainwater for their guests. Well, what can I do? Sad.
But I am not the one to easily lose hope. Together with our motorcycle driver, the one that I hired, I told him to take us to Cambaquiz instead to check if there is someone who is willing to take us for the night. And he kept on saying "Ate Mila!".
Indeed, she took pity on us. Ate Mila shared that she was moved by the kids being with me and my willingness to be a guest even with the water issues. I assured her that we will not bother her with that need as long as we have a bed to sleep on. Instead of her usual Php3,000.00/night, I asked her if she can just give it to me for Php2,000.00/night, given the water problem. Deal! Problem solved :)
So I gained a friend that day ;) We went to Cambaquiz in the afternoon until 7PM. We were able to talk to locals from the island until it was time for us to go back to Ate Mila's place.
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Every time Tinang Brenda asks anything, I can't say no.
Simply because I would love to see Amarah too, her cutie. Or maybe because I miss her too, after she resigned from our company. Or maybe because among the people I met, she is one of the few who is deserving of my time.
And the kids love her mansion, lol ;)
So it was their fiesta again in Tiptip. She is so busy. A lot is going on in their house.
And darling Amarah was there, very bubbly and cute :)
The food was a lot!
Thank you Estardo family!
Happy Fiesta, Tiptip, Tagbilaran City!
I filed a leave of absence from work because of the event at Sush' school.
In the afternoon, I have to pick up Nat instead of him going to my office, while leaving Sush at home.
I decided to let him eat. He look starved and pretty much in sweat after playing at the ground.
It’s heartwarming to see him longing for food and hungry because it compels me to feed him and let him choose what he wants. Along the way, we saw a vendor selling tapioca. I decided to buy one from him. It was too sweet, yes, but cold and really good. :)
I asked him if it is okay for him to have snacks at Painitang Bol-anon. He said “yes”.
I let him choose what he wanted. He said he likes two pieces of biko.
In the middle of his munching, he complained that the biko was kind of hard to chew. I explained that it was expected because that type of biko is like biko dukot. Or something intentionally made to burn a little to add to its amazing taste. But a 7-year-old cannot tell the difference, of course, lol :D
Paw was given to us by M's friend who is a nurse. There were two of them actually, another one was Bolt. But unfortunately, we lost him a few months ago too.
But Paw crossed the rainbow bridge today, sadly. With his symptoms, I guess it was caused by distemper. I always saw Paw guarding Sush and making sure that she is safe when on the road. That is how loyal dogs can be.
This is their first time to see a dog die. Their first heartbreak.
