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PART III Summertime in the Philippines

Fast forward to 2024, Metro Manila is experiencing consecutive days of EXTREME heat and dryness since our arrival in April.  It is now May, and we are still sizzling and sweltering.

No longer do I walk around the malls or to church.  Greenbelt 1 and 2 are now history.  The two adjoining malls have been closed down: for renovation, future expansion, or whatever the property owner planned.  Gone are the conveniences that we have relied on for the past twenty years.  Alternate locations of former establishments are additional steps away. John had to go to the next village to find his barber haha.

The first two weeks of this visit was not celebratory;  well, in a way, it was a celebration of his 90+ years on earth.  The celebrator had just spent the end of March with his family to mark his 91st birthday, unexpectedly, Leoncio, John’s second older brother, passed away on April 6.  He had a fall at home two weeks earlier and was scheduled for a medical exam and x-ray tests.  

Seven months before and several flier miles hence, we were in Las Vegas with John, Raymond and Jeremy to attend the funeral service and mourn the sudden passing of his fourth older brother, Doctor Danny.  

The 9 offsprings are now down to 3.  John is the last boy standing.  Let us keep him healthy and strong. 

[susanayaocheng]

Kevin & Erin's Wedding

(My Note: this short write-up was in one of my journals; I saw it the other day and decided to post it. Just another remembrance of a sentimental mom.)

Kohl Mansion

Burlingame, California

October 8, 2011

It was a lovely, early fall afternoon.  The sun was shining, the grasses were recently trimmed and slightly wet from the rain earlier in the week.  The boys were handsome and elegant in their black suits and chocolate-colored ties.

Seeing Kevin standing beside the Officiant under the tree, John remarked to me that Kevin looked so handsome, and I cried.  Our baby is a grown man and making the commitment for a lifetime with his partner.  Then, I looked at my three sons standing beside Kevin as the rest of his groomsmen. Who would have thought that I would have four of them, polite, well-educated, differing personalities, goals, aspirations, motivations.  I could not help myself; not wanting to start a chain reaction before the ceremony, I quietly licked my motherly wound of seeing them veer away from me.

[susanayaocheng]

Wondrous Milk Pond, etc. Part Two

Day 2 was an early Sunday morning taxi ride to LongShan Temple in the Bangka District.  This was the same temple that John and I visited thirteen years earlier (2010) to petition the mercy and graces of the Goddess of Kuan Yin to grant us a grandchild.  The temple was packed as usual, and it was so popular, we went back again another night before dinner.

Grand Hyatt Taipei  provides us buffet breakfast the menu of which was unchanged from day 2 to 6, so we usually hurriedly take our meal. They would put a 1-1/2 hour timer on tables, we then continue to chill and chat in the grand lobby before proceeding with our activity for the day.  Concurrent with our stay at the hotel was the 4-day state visit of the President of Columbia and his party who were billeted there,  so there was extra security all around the property.  Taxis were stationed in front of the hotel and readily available; we even had the same driver on two different days, plus a second one who knew all about us.

After the temple tour, we leisurely walked through the local streets on our way to Ximending,  stopping at convenience stores and drugstores to pick up essentials. The hotel stocked us generously with Balmain amenities, but we needed function and brand specific items and cool drinks.

On our food list was Ah Chong Misua (rice stringy noodle).   People just stood in the middle of the street, on the sidewalk, heartily enjoying this hot bowl of noodle. There were not enough chairs or tables. Ah Chong only sold noodle and is just a stall.

Heading out next on the agenda, by the way, because of the inclement weather, we did not go up to the 101 Observatory.  Besides, John and I did that already on our last trip. We picked up small foods because we had a dinner engagement. There were sideshows and performances to delight the Sunday crowd, and as the afternoon wore on, there were noticeably more people and vendors in anticipation of the night food/sundry market. I saw some macrame dream-catchers that were perfect for granddaughters, but again, the packing was going to be a problem. Without a line, I tried the grilled mochi with brown sugar and ground peanut.  Heavenly!  John and I shared a Xing Fu Tang brown sugar boba milk tea with a small bag of fried chicken ordered as a set that was so good.  The boba pearls are cooked on site every hour.

Our dinner that evening was in Shilin on Tianmu Road. The venue was the Golden Formosa Taiwanese Cuisine, casual family-oriented vibe and one Michelin star, known for their fried spare ribs. Delicious!

So good and excited to look forward to our third night dinner with long time friends from our Guam days. It was at a Shanghainese cuisine restaurant in Daan District, “Chez Yeh”, known for their delectable dishes such as smoked yellow fish.  We were enticed to order their blueberry cheesecake which was fantastic.  Catching up with friends and enjoying their company with good food and wine never gets old.

Friends sent us packs of goodies to bring home. We also loaded up on fresh fruits during our stay such as guava, wax apple, pineapple, and honey tangerines but could not bring them home.  Customs can be a pain.   The trip became too short, too little, and left us wanting to explore more the beauty, the friendships, the scenery, and good foods of Taipei and the cities beyond.  Hopefully, it will not take John and me another 13 years to go back.

[susanayaocheng]

Wondrous Milk Pond, Grilled Mochi, & Mitsukoshi at Xinyi

April 22-27, 2023 Food Trip to Taipei, Taiwan

Part One

What a rewarding outdoor experience at “Yangmingshan National Park”.  Part of a six day tour with John, his eldest sister and her daughter, four days were raining and cold. But this trip had been conceived since February, with five (5) participants, possibly six (6), rescheduled twice, hotel reservation amended three times, and time was essential before our May trip back to the US.  We did not cancel.

From the parking lot, we first took a short climb up the vista point. Down below, barely visible through the fog was this post-volcanic collection of sulphur that turned milky white in a crater like lake.  There was no direct path down to view this wonder up close. It is protected and preventive because of fumes.   Called “Cold Water Lake”, city dwellers come here often.  This is a popular site.

Quickly enjoying the rest of the trail, while the rain was trickling down gently, soon, it was lunch time. At a crowded and popularly-priced dining spot called “Green Leaf Garden” or “Qingcaiyuan Restaurant”, we partook of free range roast chicken, yam soup, newly harvested mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and vegetables.  A short stroll after lunch, the road was accented with magnificent calla lily fields.  Hydrangeas have not blossomed yet when we were there so we were most likely a few weeks too early to witness another spectacular sight.  The lilies are the Asiatic variety, all white. We came across a gazebo-like nursery in the middle of the field with beauteous pots of budding & sweet smelling gardenias. Down the road, we spotted a shop (SHOPPING ALERT) with various sizes and media of pottery, craft, plants, mugs, and flowers. It was so tempting to buy and bring back to our apartment either in Manila or Foster City, but it would just be too cumbersome to pack or to ship.

That was actually our Day 3 or Monday. 

We arrived at our hotel late Saturday afternoon and after checking in, we headed out to grab a quick dinner at the Taipei 101 Food Court consisting of familiar comfort food:  pork belly rice, oyster omelet, and pork bone soup with radish.  Taipei 101 was just a walkway away. 

In the days to come, that would be our go to place:  we had our Din Tai Fung lunch there, snacks and visits to the Sunny Hills pastry shop (apple cake was delicious), and Mia C’Bon, the supermarket.  

Our hotel, the Grand Hyatt Taipei, was also near the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store, a gigantic multi-building shopping mecca at Xinyi District where on our last free day before departure, we shopped at Muji, Aesop, and the cosmetics and skin care counters.  Unfortunately, trying to get into Shin Yeh A9 Restaurant for lunch was a long 2 hour wait.  Also near the hotel were 2 different Uniqlo stores, one smaller and one slightly larger.  We also wanted to go into Canada Goose Store for their nice parkas and jackets, but they were still close.

[susanayaocheng]

The Trek of 6K Miles That Took 9 Days

We were forewarned late Thursday evening that our Friday departure flight from SFO to MNL will most likely be delayed/cancelled.  We thought if the contingency was weather related, we would fly out the morning of Saturday.

By Friday morning, we were officially informed, and our rescheduled confirmed outbound will be Sunday evening, same departure time.  Oh, good, another day and a half to clean up and finish packing our 7 pieces of baggage/luggage. 

Philip, the chauffeur, picked us up at 6:45pm.  We locked up, loaded the baggage with the help of our friend “Lightning”, amidst the evening downpour, we headed to SFO, having been informed earlier that our departure time has been delayed by one hour.

John and I already checked through Pre-Check TSA and waited in the Departure Lounge.  We decided to forego dinner, thinking that we would have the flight meal soon.  When Ken and Avery face-timed us at 9:30, our airplane, a Boeing 777, was still nowhere in sight.  Before we said our goodbyes, the plane slowly crept within my sight and was taxiing into its A9 berth.  We were temporarily relieved, the plane was here.  

The boarding gates announced all carry-ons weighing over 7 kilos had to be checked in.  Dutifully, we did.  No extra charge.  Who knew that this was going to be ominous?

Originally arriving at 4:30 am, our ETA was now 7:40 am. Tuesday, Manila time.  Our flight time was 14 hours.   After boarding and settling in, we were informed by the Pilot that we would have to wait to finish refuelling.  It was approaching midnight.  Short staffed, baggage loading/refuelling took 3 hours. We departed around 3:30 am, the following day.

We arrived Manila, 9:40.  All 5 pieces accounted for;  just waiting on the checked-in hand-carried luggages (2 pieces).  After an hour of waiting, the ground staff informed us, face to face, nonchalantly, that they were left behind in SFO.  CHAOS!  Immediately, I asked the porter to obtain a baggage claim form, looked  for our receipts, filled up the paperwork, and John jumped to the front of the Baggage Claims Desk to start the process.

By the time we arrived home, it was close to noon or thereabout.  We were both exhausted, irritated, annoyed, all of that, and just took the rest of the day to catch up on our energy, sleep, understanding, and patience.

Needless to say, we learned our lessons.  Do not check in your hand-carry items especially when you have your laptops in there. The fiasco ended the following Sunday. This remarkable 6,000 miles modern voyage took a long 9 days,  heaping merciless hours of anxiety, frustration, restlessness, and sleeplessness. 

[susanayaocheng]

The Saga of the Second Pair

I have always been insecure about losing my prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses.  At one time in my life, I had one pair for each corner of my house.  I always have a second pair.  It broke this year (2022).

I went for my eye care exam in October and promptly ordered a new pair - fun pair that would not intimidate my grandkids.  The senior optician at my long time store/optometry will try to rush the lab to finish the pair before I went on a short trip.

The trip came and went.  Thanksgiving flew by.  I huffed and puffed.  I raised my voice.  I gave them my next departure date for the Philippines.  

Finally, on the eve of Christmas Eve, I wore them to John’s birthday dinner at The Dough Room of Flour & Water in the city.  Hallelujah!

[susanayaocheng]

My Cherished Senior Friendships

They are the stalwarts of the first generation Chengs: the descendants of Be Lay and Ko Tuan, the merchant/trader in Manila’s textile industry and housewife, from Fujian, China, settled in Catarman, Northern Samar during WWII and resided later in Balut, Tondo and then in my early Cheng years with them at Mayon, Wayan, and Bulusan in Quezon City, and finally before my kids emigrated with us, at Dampol Street in Damar Village.

Of seven sons and two daughters, Be Lay and Ko Tuan probably never imagined a brood that had grown to over 130 descendants, at last count.  These are my immediate in  laws, residing in different parts of Metro Manila, as south as Paranaque, as north as Quezon City, and as east as Antipolo, and one, a retired doctor living in Nevada, USA.  Meeting a few times a year, we celebrate, commemorate, travel, talk, eat, and cherish our time together, perhaps sharing our few and far between days.  

They welcomed me since day one, the relationship of which is inching towards 50 years. These Chengs can be counted on to be by your side in times of adversity, sorrow, or jubilation. 

We are therefore, the super senior Chengs. The most senior member celebrated her Zoom 90th birthday in October 2020.  The last unplanned gathering was at the Food Court of the Magnolia Mall in July 2019 pre-pandemic. 

We had lost three.   

The next generation is hopefully that closer and sincerer to possibly carry the torch and transform themselves to be the next super-senior group when their time comes.  

[susanayaocheng]

“When Will You Learn?”

Everyone thought I had colon cancer, including my doctor.  It was in early 2014. I had bouts of stomach pain that would not ease with medication. It became worse within weeks.  I lost weight. I looked pale.  Thinking the worst, I tried alternative healing first. 

For nine months, perseveringly and painstakingly making the weekly trips to a renowned herbal doctor, I brewed  and drank the tonic which he would prescribe for 5 days, to be cooked once in the morning and the residual brewed again for a second time to be drunk before bedtime.  This seemed to make me better.

One day I decided to come to terms with whatever it was.  In and out of Makati Medical for visits with my gastroenterologist and tests, by April of the following year, I skipped one test right before Holy Week.   I wanted to visit my family;  I was tired of going to the hospital.

It was not cancer, but a litany of digestive issues that I had to deal, some probably since birth.  With awareness, prevention, diet, exercise, and choice of food and drink, I stopped taking herbal brews, continued seeing the gastro, and with time, I became better, more knowledgeable, stayed on this path.  

On one visit, my gastroenterologist shared that he initially thought I had colon cancer.  I appreciated his frankness and do not belittle the fear or the reality of cancer of any form.  My family has a comparatively mild history of it, we are more inclined towards heart disease and eye and knee ailments, but I was thankful that it was not.

In 2016, John and I had lunch at a nearby Japanese restaurant where I ordered raw salmon before heading to Redwood City Century Cinema to catch the first screening.  I forgot what movie it was.  Halfway through, I got sick.  That night, I had high fever, chills. John was going to call 911 or bring me to the hospital.  I said no;  I do not want to be in the hospital on an auspicious day like Chinese New Year.  He fed me fever lowering medicines from our stash of reliables made in Beijing.  The second day of the Lunar New Year, we went to see my doctor.  She sent me to ER.  I had food poisoning and urinary tract infection and stayed in the hospital for 5 days, complicated by allergic reactions to morphine and Dilaudid.

In May 2019, my US internist doctor weaned me out of a hypertension medication and introduced a new one. She is quite careful and thorough and knew that I would be travelling back to the Philippines soon as John had gone back ahead of me.   In July, I passed out once at home in the bathroom.  I woke up and laid down on the sofa.  I thought I had indigestion.

One evening in August, I passed out again.  I checked the back of my head.  I did not bleed, so I rested again on the sofa.  

The third time in September required medical attention.  I even saw a neurologist.  That was when I read the literature that was handed to me by the US pharmacist. I then knew what triggered all three incidents. Do not mix and do not do this and that.  The benefit of the new medication outweighed what I had to give up and so I learned.  

Each and every episode of my life when I thought I had come to an end, God has spared me and taught me lessons.  My Lord says “Susana, when are you going to learn?”  

I hope I keep learning.  

[susanayaocheng]

Keeping Things in My Heart

There are certain events that I keep close to my heart.  They may have caused sorrow or evoked joy.  I decided to write them down in no order, so today, I take you to my first trip out of the Philippines alone to live and work.  The original Chinese-Filipino overseas worker, after my college graduation and my two year summer internship and service at the family’s Makati office, I embarked on my long journey. 

I got my social security card, opened a bank account, and bought a new Buick.  There was homesickness, but I was independent and happy to be in a new environment, a new challenge and an opportunity to express my ability, creativity, and courage.

My purpose in life - mentioning it to my mother and expressing gratitude to her for raising me and sending me to graduate from the prestigious English-Chinese high school that became my badge of honor.  She was a mother of nine, widowed early, and I did not understand at first her strong desire to elevate my education.  I came from Aparri’s St. Paul’s Shomi School and the Kete Chinese School, then after father’s death and the move to Manila, I attended Hope Christian and Crusader’s Academy, and transferred to ICA in fifth grade,  failing my entrance exam miserably, and only by the grace of a second chance and Mom’s perseverance that I was accepted. I made life long friends there, became a committed practicing Catholic, gained confidence that carried me through college, career, and challenges.  Of course Mom cried when I read her the letter of gratitude that I wrote.

The death of my father - I still remember and keep in my heart.

Meeting John and his family, having our wedding and reception in San Francisco, California, the birth of our children, the birth of our grandchildren - these are encapsulated as one leading to the other.  I am blessed, thankful, that I have a strong, united, loving family, and an extended one that loves me back.

Mom’s illness for so many years - her 30th death anniversary will be in October 2022.  She struggled and it was difficult to watch, but she never failed to welcome me and my children when we visited her, smiling and cheerful to see her grandsons, ones she remembered and ones she missed out on when she suffered her third major stroke.  

[susanayaocheng]

Humbled

My parish, St. Luke Foster City, since the pandemic started last year, sends out its weekly letter announcing forthcoming activities.  Holy Thursday, 6 pm, Good Friday 12 Noon, Holy Saturday 5 pm Vigil, Easter 10 am & 5 pm.  

In this time of virtual attendance, I turn to livestream events from Manila.  I caught the recorded Chrism Mass from the Manila Cathedral officiated by Apostolic Administrator Broderick Pabillo.  Due to new quarantine and imposition of curfew, the Philippines’ celebration of Holy Week has been derailed. I would say two firsts for me occurred.  My first attendance at a Chrism Mass, which is celebrated on the morning of Holy Thursday, and my first mass officiated by Bishop Pabillo.  

This year, in celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Introduction of Christianity in the Philippines and to commemorate the first Mass celebrated in Cebu on March 31, 1521, the Chrism Mass was moved up one day, and what I attended was its recorded version.

Regarding Bishop’s Pabillo’s homily, it was delivered in Tagalog. What impressed me about his homily was the vivid description of the reading recounting the Passover in Egypt.  Several words were new to me; he spoke with such elegance.  I am humbled.

That same night, I tuned in to his live Holy Thursday mass. Whether it was the pomp and majesty of the Cathedral, or the inspiring homily or the beautiful music, I felt wonderful.

The following day, after my breakfast and chores, I listened in to Father Dave Concepcion’s Seven Last Words Liturgy and the Veneration of the Cross.  Again, this was the recorded version - 4 hours long from start to finish, I had a couple of short breaks in between.

Easter Sunday was a beautiful outdoor mass (a bring your own chairs event) in the parking lot.  It was good to hear Father Jonathan’s homily, to see friends and new faces, to receive Holy Communion in person.  I felt wonderful.

[susanayaocheng]

Once You Turn 70

Once you turn 70, you say, let it be!  Let it go!  I thought I had already done that when we met the turn of the century.  I discarded a lot of my junk in the old house; we filled a whole container to be disposed of by Allied Waste & Management, including things the boys no longer needed, luggages, shoes, clothes, old furniture.  You name it, we gave them away.

And then again, 11 years later when John and I sold the house and moved to Manila, this time, the purge was even more painful.  CDs that I have collected, treasures of personal attachments, as some one said to me, the kids might not even want. Of course, we discerned what could be given away, to Goodwill, to good people, the nicer stuff. 

In Chinese tradition, a child is considered a year old when it comes forth from its mother’s womb. The entry of spring (lichun) or Lunar New Year makes one gain a year, so, if a baby was born this February 12, 2021, he/she would be 2 years old already. For seniors celebrating their milestones birthdays, like 70, 80, 90, 100, they would be celebrating their zero-ending birthdays for 3 years. 

In his column “Turning 70” by Michael L. Tan of the Philippine Daily Inquirer in 2018, which inspired me, he spoke about his mother’s passing and his consultation with the Chinese funeral planner at the Funeraria Paz in Quezon City.  John consulted the same planner for my mother in law’s funeral arrangements when she passed away at the Western age of 99 a few years ago.  With all the norms and cultural significance attached to one’s elder’s passing, John wanted to make sure we did everything right.  

According to the planner’s calculations, my mother in law should be celebrated for having lived through five generations and her demise age should be 104.  He explained that her symbolic age is “tai hok” or grand fortune; and as such added one year to each person’s living through segments of 30 years. The grandchildren wore white, the great grand wore yellow, and the great great wore red, as was the color of her sashed ribbon framed around her photo during the wake.

Such cultural and significant acts of respect are necessary for the smooth path of future generations.  If one is unsure, it would be better to consult a professional, but not to go overboard because it can then be a bit insincere.

I had a fetish once of reading newspaper obituaries.  Not to sound too morbid, but I did write my own a few years ago.  I have been looking for it and I think it might have been a victim of one of the purges I mentioned above.  I also keep diaries of my daily events, recording expenditures, activities, people, etc.  I write short-hand, meaning to say, I scribble them or acronym them to death because my daily activities are repetitive.  But once in a while, there is a gem in those notebooks that I keep with me whether I am here or in Manila.  Recently I was re-reading my entries and came across an event of 3 years ago that read - the tale of the oxtail that got away - and I laughed thinking about it.  It happened so fast.  I am still laughing.

[susanayaocheng]

The Super-Chengs

They are the stalwarts of the first generation Chengs: the descendants of Be Lay and Ko Tuan, the merchant/trader in the Manila textile industry and housewife, hailed from Fujian, China, settled in Catarman, Northern Samar during WWII and resided later in Balut, Tondo, Manila, and then in my early years with them, at Mayon, Wayan, and Bulusan Streets in Quezon City, and finally before my kids emigrated with us, at Dampol Street in Damar Village.

Of seven sons and two daughters, Be Lay and Ko Tuan probably never imagined a brood that had grown to over 130 descendants, at last count a few years ago.  They are my immediate in  laws, residing in different parts of Metro Manila, as south as Paranaque, as north as Quezon City, and as east as Antipolo, and one, a retired doctor living in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.  Meeting a few times a year, we celebrate, commemorate, travel, talk, eat, and cherish our time together, perhaps sharing our few and far between days.  

Of course they welcomed me since day one, the relationship of which is inching towards 50 years. These Chengs can be counted on to be by your side in times of adversity, sorrow, or jubilation. 

We are therefore, the super senior Chengs. The most senior member just celebrated her Zoom 90th birthday in October 2020.  The last unplanned gathering was at the Food Court of the Magnolia Mall in July 2019. On my 70th celebration, we had lost two.   

The next generation is hopeful that these gatherings continue and endeavors to possibly carry the torch and transform as the next super-senior group when their time comes.  

One of the seniors’ activity was mahjong.  When my mother-in-law was still alive, we played. Nowadays, with transportation constraints, it gets more difficult for a leisurely get together. 

The foundation has been laid. The rules are simple. Common interests and concern for family members, the continuation of the Cheng legacy and traditions, companionship and camaraderie, motivate these youngsters to continue. After all, the Chengs are not hard to please, in a way, they are “kalok” ( combination of mischievous, silly, or prankish) ready to have fun and enjoy.

[susanayaocheng]

Twelve Easy Self-Care Tips

I probably got these tips from a Beauty Bar Journal that was gifted to me in 2017 for use in 2018;  I do not have the author’s name or the source, and am just guessing here, based on my personal diary or journal which I update daily at best, sometimes compiling lists of items that caught my eye, my attention, my inspiration. I had been toying and briefly reading this list while organizing some of my junk. So here it is.

1. If it feels wrong, do not do it.

2. Say “exactly” what you mean.

3. Do not be a people pleaser.

4. Trust your instincts.

5. Never speak bad about yourself.

6. Never give up your dreams.

7. Do not be afraid to say “No”.

8. Do not be afraid to say “Yes”.

9. Be KIND to yourself.

10. Let go of what you cannot control.

11. Stay away from DRAMA and negativity.

12. L O V E

After written those down that day, I had a home serviced 2 hour body massage that night, fulfilling #9, 11, and 12 all at the same time. But yesterday, I did the opposite of #4, did a #5, failed at #9, and just simmered in #11.  I grew fangs and claws, I wished it to end.  Mercifully, I was able to sleep well, and today is another day!  Heaven helped.

[susanayaocheng]

Alvin & Chico

They are a pair of red-eyed doves that started roosting in the south corner of our balcony in 2018.  I googled them, and they are not an endangered specie.  The female I named “Alvin” and her mate, “Chico”.  They usually come home to perch on top of our balcony lighting fixture which sits atop the compressor of our air conditioning unit. 

Promptly at 6 pm, Alvin comes first, stay through the night, and leave in the morning, probably to forage for food among the trash receptacles of McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and Star Bird, a block away.

It is like keeping a pet, and cleaning up after them, scooping the poop up and disinfecting the balcony everyday. Deterrents include putting up all sorts of wannabe scarecrows, including my picture, but no, the only reprieve they give me is when a balloon is tied over the light.  The most is 4 days.

I first noticed their eyes.  Surely if I were smart enough, I should have called them Leica and Canon.  But, they come at that hour when John and I tune into the 6 pm Filipino TV newscast, and the reporter’s name is, of course, Alvin, and his last name, Elchico.  Sorry, no disrespect meant, it was just so right at the time.

Early this year, before the lockdown, I began cleaning out a lot of dried leaves, twigs, and debris behind the A/C unit.  They were building a nest! My dreaded horror.  John, the soft-hearted one, wanted to see their nesting through.  I was seething inside, more work.

One morning, John, like an expectant and hovering grandfather, saw an egg on the ground. Chico must have kicked or rattled it out of their nest with his sheer wing force or something because the nest was quite protected and covered.  But the mom was nowhere around.  Quickly, John put it back, and the thought of 3 chicks seemed to delight the loving grandfather, but to me, it was just not a superb idea.

They abandoned the eggs.  They left and did not come back the day and the day after.  Sadly, John had to dispose of them, now irretrievable and nothing more for us to do. 

But, as soon as September hit, Chico came back.  He is back!!

[susanayaocheng]

The Best of 2019

Some features of my Apple photos are Memories and Collections.  In Memories, most prominent when I opened it this late August of 2020, was The Best of 2019.

It started out with a panorama of scenes taken by my daughter in law of our family vacation in January, of a specific dinner at the newly-opened “Mott 32” of HongKong and New York fame, recommended by Ray and Janine, and Ken, who and Ruth were unable to join because 1) Ruth was expecting to deliver towards the end of January and 2) they had to remain in LA for an important matter.

The restaurant’s ambience/decor was retro-charming. Service was  impeccable, sommelier and service staff were engaging, food gorgeously presented, enjoyed, consumed, memorable time was had by all.

The slideshow continued for a few minutes:  Avery’s birth, Margaux’s and Carter’s first birthdays in April, my visit with Ken’s family in LA in late July/early August, Carter’s first haircut, a trip to HongKong in November that ended in Macau with John’s sister, nephew, nieces, niece in law, grandnieces, and grandnephew.  Then. my pre-70th birthday celebration in Quezon City, and culminated back to  the yearend festivities with my family, a full circle.

Not forgetting and dismissing all that is around me this year: a pandemic, loss of jobs, businesses, an election year, BLM protests, the California wildfires, this slideshow was just a simple, pleasant tour of heart-warming moments, to remember all those good things that we treasured, and surely will take place again.

[susanayaocheng]

TWO

Two continents, two countries, two lifestyles, two time zones - that is a blessing to have in one’s life.  Oh, yes, to be able to do so, but there is a downside and I have been told, some I am sure with sincerity.  For the last eighteen years, John and I have been doing this merry go round, at first, by season and weather changes, no schedule, no fixed routines, just enjoying our time on both sides.  Then, a decision was made;  we tried to live more permanently on one side.  We downsized; we let go so many things. That was ten years ago.

They matured, we grew older.  Their families expanded, wanted us near them. Now, in the middle of this, when do we go back to the old normal?  What is going to be our new normal?

I kept getting stuck and strove/prayed for inspiration.  Finally, I started this write up;  a few paragraphs into it and I plateaued.  Then, on the first Saturday of August, on the feast of St. Alphonsus Liguori, I was following the online mass (another new normal) of the National Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus of Manila celebrated by Father Romy Castro, SVD. His homily struck a chord.  

He said:  “some examples of the new normal rules are also found in the Bible” as we are all affected by COVID-19, combating our fear with the virtue of courage which the Saint of the day had, among other accomplishments.  

He cited these seven (7) examples in short form listing them and the passage’s author/number.  Here, I am using the Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition printed in 2004 by Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc. of Quezon City, Philippines, the font in bold are mine. 

1)  WASH your heart with Christ’s Blood: 

Psalm 73:1:  “Surely God is good to Israel, I mean, to the clean of heart.”

2)  Keep your SOCIAL DISTANCE from evil:

Job 28:28:  “And to humans he said:  The fear of the Lord is wisdom; avoiding evil is understanding.”

3) Avoid the CROWD of wickedness and wicked men”

Book of Psalms 1:1:  “Blessed is the one who does not go where the wicked gather, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit where the scoffers sit.”

4) COVER your mind from being infected with the disease of sin and hate:

Book of Leviticus 2:1:  “If anyone offers Yahweh a grain offering, his offering is to be fine flour on which he is to pour wine and put incense.” (My note:  I rechecked his homily several times and read the passage more than once or twice.  It is what it is supposed to be.)

5) Be SAFE so that you will be saved:

Jeremiah 17:14:  “Heal me, Yahweh, and I shall be whole; save me and I shall be safe, O you, my hope.”

6) SANITIZE your bodies with the Word of God:

Book of Psalms 1:2:  “Instead, he finds delight in the law of the Lord and meditates day and night on His commandments.”

7) DO NOT HUG heresy and fake news:

2 Peter 2: 1:  “Just as there have been false prophets in the midst of the people of Israel, so will there be false teachers among you. They will introduce harmful sects and, by denying the Master who saved them, they will bring upon themselves sudden perdition.”

Do you like this as much as I do?  

[susanayaocheng]

When Will They Return II

The celebrations began the minute they stepped off onto SFO.  

There were Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year, the Super Bowl, five birthdays, and came spring-like weather.

No confetti and no parade to watch.

Savoured the moments with family, precious minutes with grandkids, met up with high school classmate, cruised here and there, near and nearer, sopped up new sceneries around the malls and downtown area, dined and shopped, caught up and kept the health routines, and all that- days passed, soon, the question to answer, when will they return?