Family dinner at DAD's

On our last two evenings in Manila, we had a treat! Enna-Marie and I together with our family (my sister Maricel and her family and also with my brother Maxwell and his wife Valerie) went to a restaurant called DAD's . We ate some Japanese (Saisaki), Western (Dads') & Filipino (Kamayan) cuisines.

Meeting tita Juvy and tita Mina

we meet up with tita Juvy at SM North Edsa, one of the malls in Manila. Here EM says: i'm as tall as papa Maarten!

EM inside a rented kid's car

us with tita Juvy

we visited tita Mina in Makati, here with me are her beautiful children kuya Melo, kuya Carl & Carminet Chesna



chatting downstairs are my ate Munirih, tita Cel, tito Bonito, tita Mina & mama

best buddies (tita Mina & mama have been friends since their college days)

Manila Ocean Park

My sister Maricel and brother Maxwell accompanied us on this amazing trip to ocean park located in Manila. I'm glad we brought Enna-Marie here as she hasn't really seen yet a lot of creatures from the water, except in books or fish tanks in the mall or in friends' homes. Will surely bring EM again here the next time we visit Manila. Enjoy the photos of this fantastic trip!

Few more pics of Kidapawan & Davao...

heading to San Roque at Menchie's uncle's place (dad's brother)

here's our national animal, carabao (or "kalabaw" in Filipino) is a water buffalo

typical view of a rural area in the Philippines

taking shelter at this nice nipa hut

newly weds singing-a-long

group photo, my aunt & uncle are sitting at the back beside mommy Ping

Enna-Marie with cousins (Balundo side of the family)

just posing with the carabao











We visited our friends, the Eugenio family in Davao City and stayed there for one night before our trip back to Manila (my mom kindly accepted to accompany us in this two hour trip from Kidapawan; she went back that same evening to Kidapawan after bringing us to Davao airport). This family also served at the World Centre and left eight years ago.

ate Beth prepared a delicious dinner: rice, adobo & some seafood

Menchie & Lua

Eugenio family: Lua, Beth, Horace & Sammy

group pic before we leave for Manila

last shot with lola Ping