Hyper Holiday

I have been in an extremely hypnagogic state for the last couple of weeks. A week of jetlag, the onslaught of work, chores, and errands are beating me down. My dear father, who I'm missing terribly, thinks it's due to the following reasons: I'm better fed at home, pampered with massages and acupuncture, didn't have to do any sort of physical labor (his term for basic household chores), and lived like a lady of leisure. Shades of a perfectly marbled cow's life seem so distant now as I type away from the kitchen counter listening to the dishwasher hum.

I remarked to Melanie, one of my best friends from college, that I am so unlike this. To which she replied, lamentably, "it's our age, dearie." Having recently turned 35, I shuddered at the thought while lying in bed. Vanity immediately got me back on my feet as I reached out for La Mer's Eye Balm Intense on my night stand ready to regain my footing.

Just emptied my postal box the other day and still opening a few holiday surprises. Christmas in March is still ok in my book as long as the weather is below 50F, though we've been having some spring flings at 70F the past days. Just as well, it suits  flashbacks of my charmed hyper holiday which started last mid December in New York....

 Irwin Feld Design's It's A Snow Day

 material development research at a glitzy showroom

 slipped into BG to pick up resort Louboutins

 and stepped out in time to marvel at the 
Unicef Baccarat snowflake

photo credit
Arrived Cebu in time for my birthday surprise

cleverly crafted by best friend Joanna Lhuillier

with the help of other besties

 then along came Christmas

 New Year crept up soon after

 

watching the fireworks

 with my family

from the garden 

 was magical

It was the end of a very interesting decade, 

to say the least.

so much to be thankful for

more to look forward to

 

everyday is a reason to celebrate 

no matter what...

goals. resolutions. plans

are recorded

in the hopes that they will spring 

to life from these pages

make time for family and friends

nurture oneself

unlock a few mysteries along the way

make dreams happen

create. sing. dance

 

days and nights are passing too quickly

2011 has been off to an amazing start

but there are days when I feel I'm not doing enough.

i'm happy to realize that i've been living my sage friend's advice

on his annual holiday card:

"find and fill in the blanks to your taste"

My dear friend, Jean Moraros, creates a beautiful holiday card every year.  I posted his last card here. He is an artist in many ways with a beautiful soul. His aura and peaceful sensibility radiates.  It is a delight to open his card in March as I'm stressing out about work. A healthy reminder that I have been  doing what I'm supposed to be doing and always at the right time and place even when it doesn't seem to gel on days like this. Click on the photo to enlarge so you can seek your own adventure as well.

p.s. Hyper Holiday not over yet....will be sharing about our Cebu Mardi Gras in January and Lunar New Year

Ode to my Father

March 17th is always special for me. Not because it's St. Patrick's Day but it's my dear father's birthday. Low key and unassuming, he would probably cringe that I am blogging about his birthday. He doesn't quite get  social media yet. I told him that I will explain visually what all this is about when I am back home.  I've missed his last four birthdays since I moved here. We communicate almost everyday via email, text, Skype, or majicJack. Amazing how technology works, I grew up in the 3rd World with black rotary phones where I remember screaming into the phone on long distance calls and you needed an operator to put you through. I just miss him so much and wish I was in Cebu with my other US based family members who went home to celebrate. These photos were taken five years ago from his biggest birthday weekend bash in Manila (an hour flight from Cebu) which he co-celebrated with one of his best friends, Pete. His birthday is on the 18th. 

Before the evening's festivities, we decided to have a quiet day and drove 70 km south of Manila and went to Antonio's Garden in Tagaytay for lunch. Much has been said about the fine French inspired Filipino restaurant by Chef Antonio Escalante tucked in lush verdant hills that we had to check it out for ourselves. It is an old home converted into a well ventilated garden restaurant. The koi pond also deserves a mention.

foyer filled with Philippine art, antiques and

furniture

with admirable bases

lovely dining vignettes were created in different areas

providing ample intimacy indoors or outdoors

everything was superb---food, service and ambience

 my recent Google search also shows that 
they've remained consistent.

I am going to post the ode I wrote to my father 

on Father's Day six years ago...

Thank you for letting me fly high enough 

to know the ways of the world

and for clipping my wings 

when it became too much for me to bear.

For the times when you drank champagne 

with me to celebrate,

wine during late night talks,

sambucca to help me swallow 

a few jagged pills,

apple-carrot-echinacea concoction 

when systems fail,

and for sharing a mean brownie cup ala mode 

when I'm down.

For listening to my so-called 

love tribulations without wincing,

and knowing when they've done 

enough karmic justice to my face

(thus understanding why it validates

 a big jar of La Mer charged to your card).

For loving me unconditionally 

despite follies and flaws.

For simply knowing when to be a father, 

friend and professional colleague.

I'm very blessed to have and share 

this rare relationship with you.

I thank God for you everyday.

Happy Father's Day

---published June 2005, Gypsy Queen

Sunstar Daily Cebu, Philippines

According to my feng shui calendar, March 17th is the luckiest day of the year. I am lucky to have my father in my life. He has been incredibly supportive of my passions and continues to foster utmost influence and inspiration in everything that I do. His tenets and values guide me. I hope I'm not being obnoxious by posting our photos but I feel it is important to honor and thank our loved ones as much as we can and let them know it. This is part of my gratitude series which I decided to start after my first birthday post. I have been blessed with amazing people in my life who have supported me along the way, contributed to my growth, and kept me grounded. I want to celebrate them.  I am the sum of the people who've inspired me.

p.s. Review of Antonio's Garden Restaurant and more recent photos here