Dear Stella

On this special day, I want to share with you the letter I wrote to Stella on her blog.

"

Dear Stella,

Today would have been your Lolo Achie’s 82nd birthday. He would have been beyond joy to see you and hold you in his arms. He was a very loving Dad and Lolo to us all. Just ask any of us, your titos, titas, cousins (from Paolo to Ella), and they’ll tell you how funny, warm and sweet Lolo was to each one.

I’m sure though that in time, you’ll experience Lolo’s sense of humor, simplicity, generosity and kindness in each of us children and grandchildren, and yes, in time, even in yourself.

Sometimes I catch you talking and smiling at a space above you. I’d like to believe that’s Lolo Achie you’re playing with.

When you’re older, I’ll tell you all about him — about his short shorts, big belly, corny jokes, yummy steaks, contagious singing, and more.

"

Happy Birthday, Dad! We miss you!

proud grandma

wow what a beautiful pool...

well, on the other side of town, here's what you missed.

what better way to celebrate dad's 8th birthday in heaven than with our 2-week-old little grandchild.

indulge me as i show you the little one.

he's so tiny that twinpopbro's hands look like a monster's. haha.

i'm in love... and thought this moment would deserve my rare appearance here.

*giggles*

all souls day

today we remember dad, and everything he taught us...

here are 7 lessons i remember today:

1. to be your own boss

2. to not say anything bad about anyone else

3. to boogie & chacha & rhumba... and to moonwalk even if you can't really do it

4. to drink cognac over scotch, and scotch over wine, and wine over beer

5. to make jokes no matter how corny

6. to put up with mom. (oops did i just say that?)

7. to be proud of yourself because he's 100x prouder of you!

with honors

a few days ago, i got this email from a friend...

in it, she said:

I was angry, sad, inconsolable -- all at once. This kind of violence didn't -- shouldn't -- happen to soft-spoken, generous, kind, down-to-earth people like Alexis and Nika. Maybe you've heard of them on TV or in the papers. They were staunch supporters of art, especially the local indie film scene. They were believers and lovers of this country."

she went on to say:

They weren't Filipino citizens but they stayed because they believed they could make a positive change here. They believed the Philippines could be great again. They loved this place.

And then they were gone. Just like that. Murdered in the land they loved, in a manner that they truly didn't deserve.

and she ended it by saying:

And although I know Alexis and Nika are gone, I want to honor them by continuing to love, to hope, to dream -- and to appreciate friends like you.

sniff...  so in their honor, let's continue our support for all things positive, creative and filipino.

i really feel this is the way to honor a lost loved one.

this is how i chose and continue to choose to honor dad:

1. to be generous
2. to be unassuming
3. to be genuine
4. to be entrepreneurial
5. to tell jokes, no matter how corny

sniff, sniff.

august 4

hey sis :)

missed you at the "crep" (read: sign) for daddy's big 8-0.

i wrote him a birthday note, and signed your name anyway :)

it's also flower's big 7! (or in our years, 49... sniff...)

she grew up to be a pretty loyal, sometimes snappy li'l pooch.

disciplined too -- see how she resists (our staple) cheese sticks even if it's well within reach.

she's also a great quiet sleep-mate at night :)

happy birthday to my sweethearts!

happy father's day

the last photo i remember taken of dad.....


happy father's day! *sniff*