Happy 28th Wedding Anniversary...

to Kuya Gerd and Ate Cora,

who are celebrating their 28th Wedding Anniversary today. Flowers for you both and --------

let me take this opportunity to thank you for the love, care and support you have given and you are still giving us ever since you are together. Your love to each other changed our lives. Without you, I wouldd not be in Germany, and without your financial support, our family in Trece Martirez would have been still struggling against poverty. Then, we do not know where to live.  We have no family home and we were worrying about our future. Now, after 28 years, we are all stable and we have three (3!) houses of our own!

It is through your bonding that our family become stable. I am very grateful of you both.

Thank you for your understanding in the past. My deep appreciation for the present.

Stay healthy and may you have more anniversaries to come, Kuya Gerd and Ate Cora!

Bonding Time with family in Norden....

The Lufthansa Flight from Munich last Thursday landed safely and punctually in Bremen.

My brother-in-law was there smiling heartfully and to my surprise, my sister Cora and Mary were there to welcome me. It was indeed, an unexpected delight!

We dined at a Greece Restaurant, had my first acquaintance with Ouzo, then we drove to Norden.

Everyone was happy to see me. It was a long time since I visited the place. The last one was in 2000, Keno's baptismal. Keno is now twelve years old, turning thirteen in August this year.

Cora started her birthday with a simple breakfast, then we spent an hour of a webcam-family-bonding with our relatives in Trece Martirez, Cavite, in the Philippines.

Coffee, cakes and a delicious dinner with friends followed. In the evening we had the time to play Phase 10, and it was a lot of fun and laughters.

I heard the voice of H.P.P., which comforted me.

I am enjoying the company of my niece, grandnephew Keno and Celine. At this very moment, everyone is busy with electronic gadgets, either playing a game, listening to music, seeing one's favorite sitcom or film, and I am in the midst of them....blogging.

And I say to myself, what a family....

Gute Nacht! Schlafe gut! Bis morgen! 

Visiting Norden..

At last! The 24th of January, the 10th day at work and at 13:00h today....

I will be flying to Bremen to visit my sister and her family in Norden, Germany!

The first trip to the North Sea since I came back to Germany in March 2011. I will be seeing my sister Cora, brother-in-law Gerd, nephew TJ and his girlfriend Mandy, and Mary with her kids Keno and Celine.

My nephew, my sister and my brother-in-law will be celebrating their January birthdays and I expect a full house of family and friends this weekend.

It will be a lot of throwing decorum into the air!!

Have a good Thursday, dear readers!

Tea Time With Christa...

Yesterday, Christa and I met to celebrate her birthday. We had a hearty talk over glasses of hot Ginger Tea, and we had our obligatory "Munich Walk" from the Marienplatz around the Hofgarten to the Marienkirche, where we lighted candles and silently uttered wishes.

Very grateful to have Christa as my best "German friend". As I flew back from the Philippines to Munich to work as a Nurse again, she was the one who picked me up from the airport and organized my flat in Munich. Without her, I would have had a difficult start.

We were were working colleagues in Klinikum Grosshadern (Heart Surgery Intensive Care Unit) way back in 1997. Since then, we are taking care of our friendship. Not only that. Christa serves as a bridge to some friends and former colleagues, who are still sending regards and good wishes for me all through the years!

Christa was a former sponsor to Joey Nantes, now a grown-up guy, a then needy but deserving little Filipino boy who was able to finish his High School because of Christa. Joey is now already earning his own money in Manila and that is because of Christa.

Christa stood by me during my darkest hour when I lost my mother in November 2011. A year after that, her mother died and she is in the same situation as I was then. Feeling lost, not knowing what to do with the rest of my life. 

Without Christa, I would not be standing strong again.

DANKE SEHR, CHRISTA!  Sei tapfer!!! Das schaffst Du!!

The Hobbit and I

It was a Saturday filled with beautiful images and sceneries from the film "The Hobbit".

It was a kind of experience! The film was in 3D Technology and it was very exciting. I read the book some thirty years ago and I am wanting to read it again!

It is not only the bright pictures and the great technology but also the message that touched my heart and mind.

It, "The Hobbit",  reminds me that there is a place which can be called "Home", and finding it is not easy but not impossible.

It inspires me to continue to struggle. I have found my new home and am willing to do everything to save my new place under the sun.

It will not be impossible at all. There is a "Hobbit", who is willing to give, help and share me his home.

Good morning, H.P.P! Good morning, dear readers!