40

Much of adventure and beauty.

With an equal amount of pain. 

The road to my 40.

Was not without rain.

Never to take for granted.

The life I continue to live.

To let go of a life I loved and wanted. 

God had reasons, I believe.

The rainbow on my 40.

The waves and the sea. 

My beautiful little family.

Is all the hope I need to see.

Still blessed.

Happy birthday to me! 

Letter No. 40 - El Nido, Palawan

 Dear Lance,

This is El Nido, Palawan. And you were 5. 

"I love water too much." You said.

"Our son is probably a fish." Dad said.

You always wanted to jump. 

From the boat. From the kayak. 

You always woke to see the sunrise.

Everyday. You and daddy.

You always woke me to say..

"Mom, we found a sea slug!" 

"Mom, we saw a lot of hornbills!"

"Come, I'll show you!"

It was beautiful there.

Especially watching you make friends with other kids to build sandcastles.

You were brave and adventurous. 

I hope you will stay that way.

Now here is a little video for your memories someday.

Loving you so much always,

Mommy

7 Years

Dearest Sherick,

Here's to the years of seven

That feels more than golden

When rainbows have melted

To ashes that bled.

Wishing it was easy to say

Those were our happiest days

But some years were beautiful

And the last ones just awful.

Yet here we are..

With our 3-year-old best friend.

Hoping the next years of seven

Would feel more like heaven.

Happy Anniversary, My Love!

Love,

Jamie

Letter No. 36 - 3rd Birthday

Dear Lance,

"For your 3rd birthday..



Would you like to go to the beach or see Mickey Mouse?"



"Play Sand!"



So a lunch in Tagaytay..



To see a real volcano called Taal..



And eat your first ever ice cream..



Before heading to Calatagan, Batangas..



To stay at the Stilts..



Because on birthdays..



Your wish is our command!

"Happy birthday, Daddy.."

"Happy birthday, Mommy.."

You'd walk around singing..

Like it's ours.. But well..

That's how we feel, too..

Just having you!

And oh.. You also had your first barber's haircut!

We love you, Lance Oliver.

Happy birthday!

Love,

Daddy and Mommy

-----------------------------------

Restaurant - Balay Dako, Tagaytay

Accommodation - Stilts Calatagan Beach Resort

Letter No. 35 - Labrador Nature Reserve on National Day
Letter No. 34 - A Weekend in Mactan, Cebu

Letter No. 33 - Taiwan

Letter No. 32 - 2nd Birthday

Letter No. 31 - Despite Everything

Letter No. 30 - Our Strength 

Letter No. 34 - A Weekend in Mactan, Cebu

Dear Lance,

A glimpse of your near future..

Beaches and family..

That's our plan for you.

You were 29 months old..

When your Dico and cousins from the U.S. ..

Out of the blue..

Came to Cebu.

And so did we..

Because it's family!

It was beautiful there.

You were feeding fish with bread..

Because there were lots of them!

Feeding birds with fries..

Playing sand with your cousins..

And just soaking up with Daddy..

And Mommy.

And then..

There was Beco's engagement to Uncle Adrian!

It was such a memorable.. meaningful vacation..

And that smile says it all :)

Love,

Mommy

-------------------

Related Post: Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa, Philippines

Letter No. 33 - Taiwan

Letter No. 32 - 2nd Birthday

Letter No. 31 - Despite Everything

Letter No. 30 - Our Strength

Letter No. 29 - Kiss My Chubby Foot

Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa, Philippines

For the first 16 years of my life, Cebu, Philippines, to me, was the equivalent of family and vacation. 

Every summer, semestral break, and christmas, we would take an overnight ferry from my hometown, Cagayan de Oro, to get there. I never liked those ferries.. the beds, the pillows, the smell.. but waking up knowing we have docked in Cebu, and seeing my uncles happy to pick us up at the port, always made up for it.

We were often there to visit our grandparents, and play with our cousins. But then I went to college in Manila, and moved to Singapore. Family vacations changed. And I started flying to Cebu only for weddings and funerals.

15 years have passed. 

For promises I had to keep, I visited Cebu and stayed at Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa with my colleagues in May 2014.

And realised what I have been missing..

This very beautiful beach cove..

On that big rock, a flight of stairs leads to spa beds and lounge chairs..

There's a lot of fish just by the beach.. so snorkelling is really great!

The swimming pools and hotel grounds..

I was always at the balcony, and forgot to take pictures of the rooms.. but they're good :)

Isn't that amazing? 

The sunset was actually on the other side of the sky, and it reflected on those clouds.

Twilight..

Loved Ones.. At the Buko Bar..

Too happy dancing at the Waves Bar every night..

I forgot to take a picture of the place itself.. which was really nice.. by the beach.. sea breeze..

Sunrise..

I just used my iPhone, and this picture seriously does not do any justice to the beauty of that morning..

Breeze Bar..

Sand almost as fine as sugar..

My favourite spot..

Comfortable beach beds.. 

Loved them even more at night.. to snooze and listen to the sound of the waves.. without getting sunburnt :p

The bridge to the Ocean Pavilion..

My dream wedding venue..

At this moment, they were setting up the Ocean Pavilion for a wedding ceremony..

The Altar..

I love it so much!!!

Since my own wedding did not happen here.. 

I would have to book this for my future children.. haha! :)

The jetty..

And me.. loving every part of this part of Cebu.. so much!!

How can I not?! :)

-----------------

Just a side note: When you are staying in Mactan..

Rent a car with a driver, make reservations, and go to Lantaw Native Restaurant in Busay. 

There are different Lantaw Restaurants, so make sure you are going to the one in Busay. 

It's at least an hour away from Mactan, but this view of the whole Cebu City is totally worth it!

They serve Filipino food that's really good! 

And whatever happens.. order the Tuna Belly! :)

---------------------------

References:

Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa - www.shangri-la.com/cebu/mactanresort/

Deluxe Room, Sea View, with Breakfast - May 2014 - SGD 360 per night

Lantaw Native Restaurant, Busay - +63 32 511 0379