¡Feliz tercer cumpleaños, Junífera Clarita!

With the old municipal hall of Biñán (left, now a museum) and the Church of San Isidro Labrador (right) at the background. Both structures date back to the Spanish era.

When they were still babies, all of my kids adored Jollibee. But among them, our baby Junífera Clarita is the most excited whenever she sees the Jollibee sign. She would mention the name "Jollibee" with much delight. Whenever we are out of the house and ask the family where we should eat, Junífera Clarita would immediately scream the name Jollibee. So today, on her third birthday, we had a simple dinner at a Jollibee outlet. It was her request, to eat at Jollibee. But to add some historical flavor, my hubby Pepe chose to eat at a Jollibee outlet in historic Biñán, La Laguna, just a few feet away from the ancestral house of national hero José Rizal's mother. He said that this historic house will be reconstructed soon.

The rainy night did not stop our simple celebration. I prayed to Saint Clare of Assisi not to rain. Thank God it did not rain on us. Thank you so much for praying for us, Saint Clare! And happy feast day to you!

I never thought I would experience life again after my fifth ceasarian delivery. You are our miracle baby! We are both enjoying the world together with the rest of the family. I will not tire of thanking all my family members, relatives, and friends who prayed for us, as well as all my dearly departed loved ones who are now in Heaven who I know had prayed for me. I will also not get tired of thanking all the saints, angels, and Mama Mary who helped me survive just to bring you here on earth.

Thank you most especially to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our Almighty GOD, for all the miracles and blessing you have given us!

I love you my "koala baby", my "pokemon",  my "baba labs", my baby Junífera Clarita. The smell of your skin eases my problems away. You always make my day. Your smile removes my stress, and you are the main reason why I'm always happy.  

Happy third birthday to you, our sweetest darling!  We love you so much, and may you have more wonderful birthdays to come!

When we got home, her Abuelo Daddy, Jaime Perey, was waiting for her.

—Mamá Yeyette—

¡Feliz 17° cumpleaños, Krystal!

¡Feliz 17° cumpleaños, mi hija Krystal!

Thank you for always being there for us, for always helping me in the household chores, for being my number one fan in my cooking (especially my specialty pastas), for all your sacrifices in our small home. There is no perfect family, but you still tend to stay strong too just like me.

Thank you for all the trials that you have endured with us. Thank you because you always maintain your respect for us your parents. Of course you are not perfect. But still, I can call you a good girl in spite of that imperfectness. Thank you for listening to our advice, for opening up your feelings to us. Please open up your feelings more to me and don't hesitate to ask any questions because we are both ladies, OK?

We'll always be there for you and support you. Follow your dreams, reach for it, and strive to be successful. May you have many more birthdays to come, my pretty and precious eldest daughter! Hugs and love from all of us! —Mommy Yeyette—

¡Feliz 38° cumpleaños, mi amor Pepe!

Happy birthday to La Familia Viajera's writer,  young historian, joker, and our "Mr. Know It All", the head of our family,  ¡mi esposo Pepe! May you have more birthdays to come, and may you always stay responsible, loving, honest, and faithful to us! We love you so much! ¡Muchos besos y abrazos! ☺☺  ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ 

Ho Chai Lai (Muntinlupà, Metro Manila).

La Cruz de Tunasán (Iglesia de San Pedro Apóstol, San Pedro Tunasán, La Laguna).

—Yeyette—

Happy 41st birthday to me!

This day is so special because it's my 41st birthday! I still feel younger than ever! I didn't have a cake, but it's OK. Anyway, I have my family with me the whole day. We were complete, together with friends. That is more than enough. Thank you Señor Gómez for the birthday treat! =)

David's Tea House, Makati Avenue.

Birthday dessert at La Lola, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell.

To GOD Be The Glory!!! 👼 ❤ ☺
—Yeyette—

¡Feliz 13º cumpleaños, Mómay! (100° aniversario de Fátima)

Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Fátima.

Tan especial es tu cumpleaños porque es el centenario de nuestra Señora de Fátima. Ella es su

patrona. Deja que Ella sea tu guía durante tu estancia aquí en la tierra. ¡Feliz 13º cumpleaños,Mómay! ¡Te amamos mucho, Diamond Fist!

Shakey's Pacita.

¡Feliz 8º cumpleaños, Juanito!

¡Feliz 8º cumpleaños, Juanito! Esfuérzate por ser una buena persona siempre. Nunca dejes de respetar a tus mayores. Nunca olvides rezar. Y nunca abandones la lengua española. Esfuérzate por aprenderla para completar tu ser filipino. ¡Te amamos mucho!

Happy 60th birthday, Tita Gilda!

Today we celebrated my Tita Gilda's 60th birthday at Cabalen in SM Mall of Asia together with various family members from Bacoor, Cavite and Abra de Ilog, Mindoro Occidental. Tita Gilda is my mom's eldest sister.

Thanks for the treat, Tita Gilda!

Happy birthday, Tita Ninang! May you continue to stay young and sweet and generous. And remain pretty in your 60s! We love you!

—Yeyette—

DID YOU KNOW?: Tita Gilda is also my baptismal godmother, that's why I affectionately call her as Tita Ninang. And since I'm the eldest granddaughter in the Atienza clan, my younger cousins have imitate me in calling her as Tita Ninang as well even though she is not their godmother. ☺

¡Feliz 10º cumpleaños, Jefe!

Happy 10th Birthday, Jefe!!!

We are not complete today because your Ate Krystal is currently on a field trip in Baguio City. But she still did not forget to greet you through Facebook video. I am so touched (¡Gracias, hija!) So, at the end of the day, in our hearts and minds, it is already a complete birthday for you, my son. We had a simple early dinner celebration for your birthday, a surprise video from your Ate Krystal, and that's it. We may not have a "bonggacious" celebration, but the love and care that we have within our family is enough to complete it.

Video clip courtesy of Krystal's friend, Melizza.

Happy birthday again, Jefe. May you continue to stay kind and God-fearing. And may the love and concern you have for your brothers and sisters always remain. GOD bless you, and we love you so much!!!! =) =)

—Mommy Yeyette—

For more photos and videos of our family travel blog, don't forget to LIKE US on Facebook! ¡Gracias! =)

¡Feliz segundo cumpleaños, Junífera Clarita!

It's my youngest daughter's second birthday today! She is known to us as our miracle baby. Thank you GOD for giving Junífera Clarita a wonderful life and allowing her to experience this world. And thank you too for giving me my second life in order for me to continue loving and taking care of my beloved La Familia Viajera.

We celebrated her birthday here in San Pedro Tunasán, our adoptive hometown since 2004. Before eating out, we first visited San Pedro Apóstol Church to give thanks to GOD for her new year in life. Then we proceeded to nearby Álvarez Bakeshop, one of the oldest bakeshops in La Laguna Province. I bought a custard cake for Junífera Clarita. This cake is a must-try because the flavor is simple, not too sweet. Just right on the taste buds. It will definitely satisfy desserts. =)

Iglesia de San Pedro Apóstol.

Afterwards, we walked towards Maciang's Pancitan, an iconic place in our young city, for a simple birthday dinner for Junífera Clarita.

This popular eatery was named after its founder, the late Marciana "Lelang Maciang" Dolletón. It lost its signage during a previous typhoon.

Our kids just had their enrollment a few months ago. That is why we chose to celebrate Junífera Clarita's second birthday in Maciang's Pancitan. I wanted to celebrate it at home, but my hubby Pepe didn't want to. He wanted to celebrate it outside our apartment, especially since we call ourselves La Familia Viajera, hehehe!

It is said that birthday celebrations among us Filipinos is not complete without eating pancít. Maciang's Pancitan (also known as Pancít Maciang) is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, eatery here in San Pedro Tunasán. It has been around since the 1950s. It's an old place and looks like any ordinary eatery, but famous celebrities such as Alden Richards​, Charice Pempengco​, Efren "Bata" Reyes​, and Sitti Navarro​ have all been here and tried its strange but delicious pancít. Maciang's Pancitan serve mostly pancít, but what makes this place unique and special is that, aside from its age, it is the only place in the world where pancít bihon is deliciously served with fried egg, balún-balunan (chicken gizzard), and topped with catsup.

A lot of people busily walk around this place, but they will not mind you because the people of San Pedro Tunasán are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. I have even learned to speak their unique Tagálog accent/dialect. I didn't study it. I just noticed that I'm already speaking like a native San Pedrense, especially since we've been here for the past twelve years, hahaha! Anyway, if you are a "cowboy" like me and the rest of my family, you will not have second thoughts of eating in a place like Maciang's Pancitan. And when eating there, you will feel that you are in a rural place. So if you happen to pass by our city and want to taste something different that will satisfy both your stomach and wallet, do try Maciang's "Special Pancít" for only ₱30.00. Just drop by at the población and enjoy your unique pancít after a tiring day.

Click here for our complete photo album of Junífera Clarita's second birthday!

The custard cake from Álvarez Bakeshop.

We may not have given you a bonggacious birthday, my dearest Junífera Clarita, but what's important is that we are still able to celebrate it together, we are all healthy and happy, and we can appreciate whatever it is that we have. A simple yet memorable birthday, filled with love and care.

I love you my "pichiki-chiking", my "koala-baby",  my "baba labs"! Happy second birthday! La Familia Viajera loves you so much!!! More birthdays to come, and may GOD bless you always! ¡Muchos besos! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

—Mamá Yeyette—

¡Buen provecho!

*L*A*F*A*M*I*L*I*A*V*I*A*J*E*R*A*

A mi querida hija,

Por el momento de leer esto, espero que ya seas fluido en nuestro idioma verdadero. Y mientras que estoy escribiendo este breve mensaje, quiero que sepas que estamos experimentando actualmente una terrible sequía financiera. Es por eso que no estábamos en condiciones de darte una fiesta dadivosa. Pero, como lo que tu mamá te dijo, lo que importante es que todavía somos capaces de celebrar juntos, estamos todos sanos y felices, y podemos apreciar cualquier cosa que tenemos. Para nosotros, todos los cumpleaños que nuestra familia celebra son memorables aunque sencillas, llena de amor y cariño.

Viva una vida sencilla y santa, al igual que tu patrona...

Santa Clara de Asís.

¡Te amamos mucho, nuestra Junífera Clarita!

—Papá Pepe—

¡Feliz 16º cumpleaños, Krystal!

¡Feliz cumpleaños, Krystal! Nos hubiera querido viajar este día para celebrar tu cumpleaños, pero hay clases hoy (y como ya sabes, estamos en un presupuesto ajustado). Pero esperamos que te hayas gustado la sorpresa. Y seas una buena chica siempre, a tus amigos, miembros de la familia, y sobre todo a tus padres. Y más importante, seas una buena chica cristiana. ¡Te amamos mucho!

¡Feliz 37° cumpleaños, Papá!

Through thick and thin, we never faltered. Through love and hate, we never fainted. Through sweetness and bitterness, we are always together. In richness and in poorness, in sickness and in health: that is what we promised to GOD. May we never forget our "I DO's" to Him, and may we continue to maintain our love and affection towards each other till death do us part. I love you always and beyond, all through eternity, my endless love... Happy 37th birthday, my dear husband Pepe Alas! More birthdays to come, and kisses to you with so much love from all of us in La Familia Viajera!

—Yeyette—

Life begins at 40!

Celebrating my 40th birthday at the Fig Tree Café.

I can't believe that I'm already 40 years old! Why? Because I still don't have white hair. I listen to songs being enjoyed by Krystal. And despite having gone through five caesarian deliveries, I can still wear a bikini without batting an eyelash, hahaha! I thank GOD I survived my five CS deliveries and for the second life that I have now.

So does this mean that I'm still young although I've already turned 40 years old? Or am I just feeling young? 😄

I remember when I was still in college back in Adamson University, I used to take six vitamins just to have more energy to survive my course (I took up Bachelor Of Arts, major in Mass Communications). My main health supplements were vitamins C and E (Squibb E 600 I.U. which is no longer available). I also took Propan with iron, and added more supplements such as vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12 (Neurobion), Royal Jelly. And last but not the least I had Glutaphos because I saw in a TV ad that it's good for the brain, something to help you out in memorizing lessons easily! I think it helped because I graduated hehehe! Thank GOD. But take note I did not get addicted to those vitamins. I just needed to take them to survive my hectic college life. I was such a health freak! So I think that's the reason why I'm aging slowly. But right now, I'm only taking two vitamins because I'm not in school anymore, I'm just taking multivitamins and Vitamin C plus eating healthy food, and doing work out from time to time or whenever I feel that I'm putting on weight! 😄

And about the bikini thing, hehe! My Facebook and Twitter friends know that I love the summer season very much. And even if it's not summer, I still go to the beach with my family or just with my hubby Pepe. The reflection of the waters and the sand looks great during summer 'coz you can see the real color of the sands and what lies underneath the waters because of the summer sun, that's why summer is my favorite season. But I actually wonder why some people visit beaches only during summer. I know of course that it's hot during that season, and that we need to refresh ourselves by hitting the beach. But if you visit beaches during the rainy season or the cold months, you will realize that in our country, summer actually never ends! That is how enticing our beaches are. And they will always be that way as long as the quality of the seashore, its sands, and sea breeze remain intact. Oh, what a feeling of enchantment I feel whenever I talk about beaches! Beaches make me feel young! ❤

And what do you expect to wear when you are at the beach, pajamas or casual dress? Of course you have to wear something light and comfortable so that you could enjoy playing with the white waves while smelling the sea breeze, or running around on the seashore, or sunbathing on the fine sands. So you guys can try it for yourself and feel the excitement that beach offers.

So, am I still young, or do I just feel young? Age is just a number. Always remember that.

Now I'm 40 years old, but what I feel now is just the beginning of my life, with my family, relatives, and friends. May the Lord give me more birthdays so that I could continue loving and taking care of my family. Yes, life begins at 40, and I am ready to face the future with much love, and challenges with more courage, so that I can live meaningfully with all the people who love me.

Happy 40th Birthday To Me!!! 😄 ❤

¡Feliz 12º cumpleaños, Mómay!

Hoy celebramos el 12º cumpleaños de nuestro hijo mayor, José Mario Guillermo II (o Mómay). Su cumpleaños siempre no es especial y memorable porque es nuestro hijo favorito sino porque su día de nacimiento es importante para nosotros cristianos. Para aquellos que no lo saben, Mómay fue nacido el 13 de mayo de 2004, durante el 87º aniversario de la famosa primera aparición de la Virgen María en Fátima, Portugal.

En St. John, una tienda en Festival Supermall que vende imágenes católicas y otros artículos religiosos. Momay está llevando una imagen de Nuestra Señora de Fátima.

¡Feliz 12º cumpleaños, Mómay! Que la Virgen de Fátima siempre será tu guía. ¡Te amamos mucho!

¡Feliz 7º cumpleaños, Juanito!

Playa Amazona, Abra de Ilog, Mindoro Occidental.

¡Feliz 7º cumpleaños, Juanito! ¡Te amamos mucho!

¡Feliz 9º cumpleaños, Jefe!

¡Feliz 9º cumpleaños, Cuya Jefe! Qué Dios te bendiga y guíe siempre, qué continues la herencia de nuestra familia. Te amamos siempre. =)

¡Feliz primer cumpleaños, Junífera Clarita!

¡El tiempo vuela tan rápido! Parecía como si fuera ayer cuando tu mamá casi perdiera la vida al dar a luz a tí. Pero mírate ahora: te estás convirtiendo en una chica tan hermosa como ella y tu Ate Krystal. Y somos completos, sanos, y felices, ¡gracias a Dios!

Junífera Clarita está llevando puesto su collar de perla del mar del sur que se le dio a ella por su madrina Gemma Cruz de Araneta.

Y dado que eres nuestra princesita preciosa, no te mereces nada menos. Así que decidimos celebrar tu primer año en un lugar tan especial: en el histórico Hotel Manila.

Construido en 1908, este hotel de cinco estrellas que se encuentra por la Bahía de Manila en Ermita, Manila es el más antiguo de Filipinas. Fue inaugurado en la conmemoración de la independencia estadounidense el 4 de julio de 1912 (Filipinas fue entonces colonia de EE.UU.).

Nuestra llegada.

Mómay, Jefe, y Juanito: los tres "guardaespaldas" de Junífera Clarita.

Por más de un siglo, se convirtió en testigo de varios acontecimientos históricos desde dentro y fuera de sus muros. Su ático fue la residencia del General Douglas MacArthur durante su mandato como el Asesor Militar de la Mancomunidad de Filipinas de 1935 a 1941. En 1935, Presidente Manuel Quezon contrató el arquitecto Andrés Luna de San Pedro (hijo del pintor Juan Luna) para hacerse cargo de las renovaciones del famoso hotel. Y durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, el edificio fue ocupado por las tropas del Ejército Imperial Japonés, y la bandera japonesa fue volada por encima de los muros de la totalidad de la ocupación japonesa. Durante la batalla para la Liberación de Manila en 1945, los intensos combates entre las tropas estadounidenses y los japoneses sucedieron en el interior del edificio. ¡Incluso se decía que cada habitación del hotel tenía que ser tomada de los japoneses! A la larga, el hotel fue incendiado por los japoneses, pero el armazón del edificio sobrevivió a las llamas; la estructura fue reconstruida después de la guerra.

Cenamos en Café Ilang-Ilang, un restaurante dentro del hotel que lleva el nombre de una flor filipina fragante.

Muchos personajes famosos también se han registrado en este hotel: el autor pro-hispano Ernest Hemingway, el famoso actor estadounidense John Wayne, iconos de la música pop como Michael Jackson y The Beatles, y líderes mundiales como tales John F. Kennedy de EE.UU. y Primer Ministro Anthony Eden del Reino Unido.

Con suerte, por el momento de leer esto, ya estás considerada como una de las registrantes famosas del Hotel Manila. Si Dios quiere. =)

Quiero que seas una aficionada de la Historia Filipina como yo, así que celebramos tu primer cumple aquí en Hotel Manila, el más histórico hotel en Filipinas.

Sabes que cuando escribo este blogpost, nos estamos apretando el cinturón por muchas razones inevitables. Pero como dije, no te mereces nada menos. Este día celebramos tu primer año en la tierra. Y eres nuestra princesita. ¡Simplemente te queremos mucho!

En el vestíbulo del hotel. Haga clic aquí para ver más fotos de nuestra celebración sencilla.

*L*A*F*A*M*I*L*I*A*V*I*A*J*E*R*A*

Santa Clara de Asís, siempre ruegue a nuestro querido Señor por el bien de su tocaya. Gracias.