OUR FIRST DATE POST ECQ

Ever since the pandemic started, my family and I dutifully stayed at home. Save for work and other essentials, there's no going out for us.

The great thing was I had such a great family that I didn't mind the solitary life with them. I didn't yearn for our usual mall gimiks, or out of town trips -- as long as we're all together (eating, doing chores, praying the rosary, having movie nights, etc), I'm happy.

Yun lang the Yub didn't agree. He REALLY wanted to go out and fast. BWA HA HA HA HA! So di siya masaya sakin ganern??? Che!

Kidding! In his defense, he has been religiously working at home for 4 straight months now, only going out for grocery runs. So yeah, he felt like having a bit of a social life even for just a few hours.

That weekend, the boys were in Antipolo with my brother's family so I didn't have that guilty feeling of going out without them. With that, the Yub jumped at the opportunity and excitedly invited me out for a mini-date in Powerplant Mall.

To be honest, if given the choice I'd rather stay at home and chill. At the same time I wanted to be practical and just save money. The Yub though was very insistent and declared that he will treat me to ANYTHING. Minsan lang naman daw.

E DI SIGE! Bwa ha ha ha ha ha! Basta I already raised my points ah (nagpapilit... he he he he).

FINALLY after 4 months, we're out on a date!

KAYA POWERPLANT MALL (2019)

(This was documented before the ECQ....)

One Saturday, the Yub and I invited the boys to go out for Saturday gimik night. Andrei was game na game to go. As for Mati? He was like, "Meh. Never mind."

With that, the Yub, Andrei, and I went to have dinner at Kuya's favorite -- KOREAN!!!

Belat. Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!

We're at KAYA!!!!!

CIBO WITH THE BUNSOY

One Sunday, our little guys were rejoicing because they didn't have classes the next day. With that, the Yub and I invited them to go out (since we don't have date nights with the boys as much as we wanted to) to go to our favorite Powerplant Mall.

Master Mati bowed out because he'd stay with his Lola since my brother is going to Greenhills. (I'm sure my big guy also plans on using the computer as well). Traitor!!!!

So it's just me, the Yub, and our baby bunsoy who'll go out. When deciding where to go though, we all made pompyang to help us choose. I won our little hand game but I realized that we should just go for wherever Andrei wanted to have dinner. Even if I'd rather go here or there, I know that what would make my night is making the bunso happy. I'm sure if you're a parent you'd agree that your child's happiness is your happiness na din.

So with that, we ended up in CIBO. Normally I would rejoice but I just had Italian food the day before. Kaya, ick!

It's okay! Seeing my baby bunsoy's excited face made the repetition of cuisine worth it. Great thing too that CIBO never fails to cook up delicious dishes that I STILL had a wonderful dinner in the end.

Yooo to the HOO!!!!! 

CIBO!!!!

SUNDAYS AT MONGKOK

It was a lazy Sunday and we were all just craving to do NOTHING that day.

Of course, we had to eat. Now where should we go after cleansing our soul in Sunday mass?

Why not have some of our favorite comfort food????

With that, we all thought of going to MONGKOK, a surefire favorite in Powerplant Mall that always hit the spot when we're lazy and hungry at the same time.

Lazy because we don't want to think what we want anymore. Everything there is just good!!! He he he he he he he!

And as expected everyone agreed. You really can't go wrong with greasy Chinese food even if it IS a Sunday. He he he he he!

MONGKOK!!!!!

GANSO SHABUWAY FOR DAD AND THE FAMILY

It's the second year since my Daddyowzers went to heaven, and even it was a very sad day for us, the family got together to honor a very great man and offer our prayers for him.

Hello Daddy! We miss you!!!!

GANSO SHABUWAY AND AVENGER'S ENDGAME AGAIN

I guess it's fairly obvious how my boys and I are such super hero addicts. That's why after watching AVENGER'S ENDGAME, we wanted to watch it again and again.

One weekend, my big guy and I thought that it's high time for our AVENGER'S ENDGAME part two. My Master Mati pointed out that it could be our pre-Mother's Day date already.

Awwwww... That's my Mati! He's a man with a plan!!!!!

With that, I asked him what he wanted for dinner. He wanted to know what I craved first but I countered how making him happy makes me happy already. He then thought long and hard and chose a restaurant where we recently enjoyed that the Yub was not in a hurry to eat in. We both looked at each other and said in unison --

GANSO SHABUWAY!!!

He he he he!

Yihiii.... It's date night for us!!!!!

ANDREI'S GRADUATION (2019)

My bunsoy baby recently graduated from Grade school and I cannot help but feel so emotional about it.

Emotional??? Yeah. I know you might find that weird (or over-acting) but I swear, having a son graduate from Grade School is something that would get a Mommy all choked up because it makes their transfer from babyhood to teenager all official. 

My baby bunsoy is going to be in High School naaaaa!!!! Huhuhu...........

CHILI'S POWERPLANT MALL WITH RELATIVES (2019)

After we all packed up and set out last Holy Week, my Mom was thinking where to have our late lunch. At first we entertained the thought of eating in our favorite Dampa along Roxas Boulevard. But then, we remembered how much seafood we had over the course of the week that it would be nice to have something else.

I then suggested to go to CHILI'S because why not? They cook up delicious American food with big servings for sharing, the branch is located in the comforts of Powerplant Mall (which is so near our place), and yes, CHILI'S is my favorite and I would like my relatives to revel in its goodness as well.

(Or maybe I'm just making another excuse to eat there for free.. tee hee).

Whatever the reason, it's good that we went for CHILI'S because we all had an enjoyable late lunch after a looooong and traffic-filled travel. CHILI'S will always and forever be our favorite and I would NEVER get tired of putting in our "places to go to."

Especially if malilibre ako... BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA!

CHILI'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CAFE MARY GRACE - POWERPLANT MALL

The bunsoy Andrei recently learned that they will have his confirmation in school and he was beyond excited. It may not be obvious (because he's very  naughty) but he's the most religious one in the family, and got very curious with what's going to happen in the confirmation. We picked out his godparents and he counted the days till the date of the ceremony.

Yun lang, dear Andrei is sooooooo unfortunate to have an eng-eng Mommy. BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!

You see, we are Filipino Catholic. So I thought that like in his first communion, they were fine with mix religions in the ceremony.

OH I WAS SO WRONG. Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!

Turns out, you HAVE to be Roman Catholic to be able to be confirmed in Andrei's school. Ha ha ha ha! Oh well. I guess I was sleeping when they taught that in High School.

Andrei was soooo mad. Tee heee.....

ANYWHO, I guess it was a blessing because we discovered that Master Mati hasn't been confirmed as well. He attended this mass confirmation with his lolo in Cavite when he was about 3 years old and has forgotten about it. That's why he's open to having another one. With that, we made plans and listed down the godparents that the little lords wished for. The great thing too was that since we have our own schedule in our church, the little lords would be the only confirmants. We appreciated the solemnity and privacy that our own schedule would give. At least, we won't have to wait and crowd around with about a hundred students, parents, and godparents.

Now where to go after the ceremony?

It's quite difficult to look for a venue close to our chosen church because it was a Sunday, and most restaurants don't accept bookings that day especially for big groups.

So imagine my relief when CAFE MARY GRACE in Powerplant Mall agreed to my request and offered to put us in their function room at no charge.

Woaaaahhh!

This was a far cry from another restaurant whom I made arrangements with where I was at the mercy of the sungit receptionists. I loved the food as I've been there before but they were not very welcoming.

In the end, we cancelled our reservations in the first restaurant and went for CAFE MARY GRACE because of their friendliness and helpful attitude. The great thing too is that since it's in a mall, there would be a lot of parking spaces and our guests could shop around after our early lunch.

So yay! See how everything worked out for the better???

I guess sleeping that day in religion class was meant to be! Har de har har! Kidding!!!

Congratulations dear Mati and Andrei!!!!!!!!!!

Proud to be Aglipays!!!!!!!

OF CAPTAIN MARVEL AND GANSO SHABUWAY

Call me childish...
Call me bratty...
Call me sexy (tee hee)...
Call me OA...
or call me maybe (sorry I cannot resist.. ha ha ha!)

But yeah, birthday celebrations are done when I say it's done.

As they say, "It ain't over till the fat lady sings."

Now wait a minute....

For my birthday celebrations early this year, I was happy to have spent it with family and friends over delicious food and wonderful company.

However, like all losers, I needed some "closure" or finality from all that birthday celebrations (otherwise, I wouldn't stop and use it to make the Yub treat me everyday!!!). So with that, I eyed a particular Saturday where my favorite dinner and a movie routine would be accomplished.

Because yeah, the perfect date is a dinner and movie don't you think?

GANSO SHABUWAY!!!!

CIBO POWERPLANT MALL (2019)

Many months ago, I celebrated my 44TH este 34th birthday, and as expected we're going to have dinner that night!!!

Before, we would usually go out as a family for birthdays. But since my brother moved somewhere far, far, away, and my sister would sometimes go out of town with her husband, we would usually schedule our birthday treat during family Sunday lunch.

So since it's only going to be THE YAPPY BUNCH, Kuya Jon, and my Mom for tonight, where should we go?????

I was sooooo tempted to treat them to Kimpura (our favorite) since the bill would be more manageable without the other asungots (he he he he he) but then we decided it's better to just stick to the mall nearest to us (Powerplant Mall) since my birthday falls on a day where heavy traffic was expected.

I then remembered how much I was craving for pasta. With that, our automatic choice became CIBO!!!!!! Yayyy!!!! No objections there because EVERYBODY from the family loves CIBO.

Oh THAT, and if somebody requests for something else, I'll use it as excuse to make them pay for it.

YAAAAAYYYYY again! Tee heee!

Kidding!  

CIBO!!!!!!

MIGHTY QUINN'S (POWERPLANT MALL)

I haven't eaten in MIGHTY QUINN's in Powerplant Mall even if my family already ate there a few times and didn't invite us (traitors!). To think that the YAPPY BUNCH are always in Rockwell but we never got to trying out the place since, I don't know, we have separation anxiety from our favorites maybe?

Or maybe we just found it expensive. BWA HA HA HA HA!

Anywho, one weekend, my brother invited the whole family for an early lunch in MIGHTY QUINN's for his post birthday treat. YEHESSSSS!!! Finally!!! I'll be able to eat in MIGHTY QUINN'S!!!! LIFE IS WORTH LIVING AGAIN!!

He he he he he!

Seriously though, I'm also very excited that the family will be complete. I seldom see my eldest brother because he lived far, far, farrrrr away -- he would usually visit my Mom on weekdays (while we're all at work), and is too lazy naman to go down and join us on Sundays (his "rest day"). So yeah!! This is really a treat!!!

And yup! True enough, we all had an awesome lunch!! Family time is INDEED the best time!

Lalo na if libre kami. He he he he he he!

We're at MIGHTY QUINN'S! Wohooooooo!!!

THE NEW KAYA - POWER PLANT MALL (2019)

One Sunday, THE YAPPY BUNCH went to our favorite mall in the metro for dinner. The Yub and I were not really craving for anything. So we asked the little lords:

"Where do you guys want to eat?" (It's really a standard question because we always go for what they wanted. Ha ha ha ha!)

The first one to speak up was Master Mati (since he's our resident foodie) and he hurriedly said KOREAN!!!!!!! (Just in case we changed our minds).  So the Yub and I decided KAYA may be a good choice for us that night because we haven't eaten there since it opened. 

And KAYA it is!!!!

THE GRID FOOD MARKET AGAIN

The YAPPY BUNCH have a new favorite in Powerplant Mall --   THE GRID FOOD MARKET!!!

We loved the food because everyone took their pick in the cuisine they liked. There were also several stalls that offered not your usual food court menus but instead served special gourmet dishes that kept everything exciting. Another great thing too was that the servings were big enough for sharing! Kaya yay! That would make it more affordable for me and the Yubhub!!!!!!!

So now, whenever we're thinking of a place to eat in Powerplant Mall, we would always blurt out in unison...

THE GRID!!!!

Yup! With that, everyone will be truly and deliciously happy!!!!!

THE GRID FOOD MARKET!!!

Yup! Again and again!!!!!!!!!!!

PHAT PHO MANILA

One Saturday, the Mommers invited me to hear mass with her and Ate Jowjits in Powerplant Mall. The Yubhubs and the boys were supposed to go with us but when they heard that we're going to have mass, they said that they suddenly had to go somewhere.

CHE!!!

It's okay. It's been awhile din since I've had an all ladies' date with my Mom and Ate Jit. So I'm sure it's going to be fun.

ESPECIALLY that there's no asungots around.

CHE AGAIN!

PHAT PHO MANILA!

IPPUDO RAMEN (POWERPLANT MALL)

THE YAPPY BUNCH were in Powerplant Mall for some lunch, window shopping, and people watching. When we had nothing else to do, we all got home and got ready for a late siesta and some serious idle time in the TV room.

Yep. I guess we're the close relatives with the sloth. Tee hee!!!!

Then my Mom called me saying that they'll be having dinner at IPPUDO RAMEN with Daddy's sisters and asked if we would like to join them.

DID WE??? Of course we did!!!!

Though it would disturb our declaration of laziness at home, it was our duty to our appetites and tummies to dress up once again and go to Powerplant Mall. Big steaming bowls of our favorite IPPUDO RAMEN awaits and were just too good to pass up.

Tapos we'll be treated pa?

Ay kakaripas talaga kami ng takbo! He he he he he he he!!!

IPPUDO RAMEN!!!!

IPPUDO RAMEN in Powerplant Mall just opened July of this year and woah, as expected, the lines are always long.

OF MONGKOK AND THOSE CRAZY ASIANS

When the movie CRAZY RICH ASIANS came out, my Mom asked if we could go out and see it. Now to be honest, it's not really on my list to watch on the big screen because, MEH. Last thing I want was to see pretentious, materialistic, and money hungry people being glamorized. But since my Mom wanted to (she doesn't watch movies in theaters much), I was game. She has been reading the novels along with my sister so she's curious how it would be depicted on film. So really, I'm cool with anything my Mom wants to do if it would mean spending more time together.

EXCEPT going to the palengke, or to Divisoria for our Cavite supplies for Holy Week. Because EWWWWWY.

Sorry Mommy, Ate Jit is there for you. She's your favorite naman e.

Tee Heee! I'm such a lovable daughter I know!!

To make it more fun, we thought of inviting my sister and auntie (Daddy's sister) to join us as well. Call it a "ladies' night out" if you will.

Of course, a Saturdate will not be complete without dinner. And since we ARE going to watch CRAZY RICH ASIANS, there was no other choice for dinner that night... 

MONGKOK for some Chinese food! Yebah!

MONGKOK has always been our go-to restaurant whenever we're craving for some Chinese food in Powerplant Mall!

It's almost always full because the dishes are affordable and delishes as well. My Daddyowzers regularly ordered here too and was friends with the servers.

THE GRID FOOD MARKET (POWERPLANT MALL)

It was a holiday and that meant that THE YAPPY BUNCH would be out and about for some silly family time. It may be tempting though to stay at home and just sleep the day away but then our stomachs grumbled and we suddenly remembered how we all wanted to try out the new THE GRID FOOD MARKET in our favorite Powerplant Mall!

E you know us, we're a slave to our tummies and cravings. Ha ha ha ha ha ha! The best part too is that we ALL felt that way so everyone was excited to go. Yup! We all had the same mindset for that day.

Naks! The family that craves together, stays together nga naman!!!

:P  

DADDY'S FIRST YEAR IN HEAVEN

Last June was the Anniversary of my Daddyowzer's first year in Heaven. Now as much as I'm yearning to make this another dramatic post and recount the pains of how much I still miss him, I'm sure my Daddy wouldn't want us to be always crying and overlydramatic (Siguro konti lang he he he he.... He doesn't want us to be too unsentimental!). So yeah, I'll try my best to keep this as light-hearted and fun as I could (because that's the way he is).

And also like how my Dad would always prefer, his Anniversary will involve prayers and GLORIOUS FOOD!!!!!!

We started off the day with a mass offered for him....

Andrei cam!

CELEBRATING DADDY'S BIRTHDAY AT AKIRA

Last June, my beloved Daddyowzers would have celebrated his 82nd birthday. I didn't expect it (thinking that the waterworks would flow during his death anniversary) but I got so emotional that day that I couldn't stop tearing up even at the office.

INANGKUPUSHNESS, I think I'm choking up while typing this intro.