MATI'S 2020 BIRTHDAY!!!!

My big guy is "sweet 16" na!!!!! GRRRR.... 

I'm sure that it's a term he'll violently veer away from (ha ha ha) but yeah, he's really a teen now.

DRATS.

Currently, I'm in a place where I am torn between letting him have fun and enjoy being a teen, to keeping him safe and teaching him discipline.

HAY!!! Lately he's been asking me many times to go out with his friends. I don't want to be a party pooper but I'm also worried of how he'll manage outside! I know that the Yub and I have trained him well but still, times are different these days and there are many "stranger dangers". To think that there's even this virus going around!

NGIIII!

Oh well.... I know that I have to let him go sometime and the Yub and I promised that we will always be there. So yeah, he may go out with his friends but his Daddy and I will drive him to the place and wait for him somewhere. OR, if we're at work, our long-time driver could act as his "bodyguard". It's not that we don't trust him. It's more like we just want to be there for him until he grows up and be really ready to face the world alone.

Though I doubt if I'll ever be ready to do THAT. Ha ha ha ha ha!

But yeah, I'm sure Master Mati is on his way because from what I (and other people) see, he's growing up to be a kind and independent gentleman.

An example is his birthday celebrations: he's so used to having about 3 weeks of fun where we'll have foodtrips here and there, getogethers with friends, and staycations! But this year, he knew that my budget was tight  that when I asked him if it's okay to have a simple birthday, he was like "Of course!"

"My only wishes for my birthday is to go to Greenhills to shop, eat at Shabu shabu, and have a day with my friends."

AWWWWWWW......... 

And that's what we were able to give him.

His celebrations this year may not be as grand or super long as what we would have before but it still made my big guy so happy. I guess, even if I'm not ready to accept it, he is indeed growing up and appreciated spending time with his true friends and family more.

And, like with Andrei, even if the celebrations are simpler this 2020, it is still filled with so much love and gratitude for this super awesome guy that we proudly call our son.

We love you soooooooooo much dear Mati!!!!!!

(Belated) Happy Birthday dearest!!!!!

OUR AWESOME YAPPY 2019 (PART ONE)

I really don't get what's the deal with time these days -- everything's just sooooo fast!!!! One minute we're blowing horns and lighting up firecrackers to say good-bye to 2018, the next minute here I am again making a compilation and looking back at this year's most memorable moments.

I know time flies when you're having fun but C'MOWN!!!!! He he he he he he!!!!

I guess the reason behind this is that the Yub and I now choose to spend our time only with family and our very close friends. Before, we would accept invites here and there. Now, we would rather stay at home with my Mom to Netflix our asses off or cook recipes that I get from the net. It's not really being lazy or not making an effort. It's more on being happy with what we already have and with our family that we don't need any other "outside forces." If we do go out, it's still with our family (or friends who are already like family... he he he he).

Di ba? With that, I remember my Dad. He may be so busy with work and with his various social organizations but he ALWAYS made his family the top priority -- and we all felt it. He started it all for us. Of course, he still went out (because he's really a very active person who liked to move) but he would always do so with us or his cutie apos. And THAT became our inspiration for this year.

And we will not have it any other way.

So let me share with you our memorable moments in the first half of our 2019 where you'll see the same faces over and over again (because of our reasons above). He he he he he he he he!

Bye 2019!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HELLO TO THE NEW YEAR!!!

I made another resolution for the year  2019!!! Did I fulfill all of them? One thing's for sure, I forgot about number 5 and passed A LOT OF gas. Ha ha ha ha ha!

(I was only able to fulfill number 1, number 4, number 8, and number 9!!!!)

ANYA RESORT TAGAYTAY (PART TWO)

THE YAPPY BUNCH is having a "family only" getaway in Tagaytay and the "unfortunate" hotel (he he he he) to experience our ruckus that weekend was ANYA RESORT.

ANYA went to infinity and beyond with regards to our expectations mostly because of the cool facilities, and the room (because it was larger than the usual De Luxe suite).

The hotel service too was NUMERO UNO -- it's like they cannot say no to any of our requests and our weirdness with the pictures. Come to think of it, I'm sure ANYA RESORT wouldn't mind so much if we'd be our usual crazy selves because everyone's just so nice and welcoming. We really felt like we were home (or VIP members of a clubhouse for that matter).

Yep. The reviews are real, and here's another rave to add to it. We really had an awesome weekend at ANYA RESORT and would love to return once budget permits. This would be another resort I wouldn't mind saving for again.

Sharing with you all part TWO of our ANYA RESORT TAGAYTAY weekend.

ENJOYYYYYYYSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!! 

After a relaxing and blissful Saturday, we all set out for dinner.

ANYA RESORT TAGAYTAY (PART ONE)

Summer was about to end and I thought that it's high time for THE YAPPY BUNCH to have our own family getaway.

Don't get me wrong, going on trips with our family and close friends are fun, but it's a different kind of bonding when it's just the 4 of us. The Yub and I agreed that with our very busy times these days, it's something that we should really do with the kids on a regular basis.

Now where to go????

The Yub and I have been hearing rave reviews about ANYA RESORT in Tagaytay from my sister and a friend. I checked it out and yep, it really did look nice. However, everytime I looked at their weekend rates, inangkupush... P14,000.00 for one night? I'm all for indulging once in a while but I somehow can't stomach P14,000.000 (ha ha ha especially that I'll be paying for the hotel while the Yub will take care of the restos). Sorry, I'm just being honest. Ha ha ha ha ha! Ang dami ko nang magagawa for P14,000.00 (like get hair implants on my big noo).

Then one night, lo and behold I saw that for one weekend, the rate for their Junior Suite Twin was only about P9,000.00! Yipeee! How meant to be for us! We immediately booked and made our plans on where to go to Tagaytay.

And how was our weekend?

It was SUPER fun. I think it's our best weekend for the summer!!!! Of course, all getaways with the family are the best, but for that trip, ANYA RESORT made a very big contribution!

:P

We're going on a trip in our favorite rocket ship.....

TO THE SOUTH!

Uy ang fresh ko pa!

MEAT PLUS CAFE (SUBIC)

I remembered the last time we went to Subic with my officemates, they made it a point to have our "arrival meal" in MEAT PLUS CAFE because it was super popular in the area. We tried it and I remembered loving the steaks which were at a very practical price.

Fast forward to our SUBIC STAYCATION with THE YAPPY BUNCH and our BP (Bawal Panget) Group. While we were plotting our itinerary, I suggested that we all go to MEAT PLUS CAFE for our early lunch since we all loved steaks from our last visit and I know that we were all kuripots (he he he he he).  Everyone agreed and that became our first order of the day.

How did we find it? Read on, hamon!

:P

We're in MEAT PLUS CAFE!!!

Parang asa US! Ay naku ay!!!!!

MOONBAY MARINA LEISURE RESORT - SUBIC (PART TWO)

It was THE YAPPY BUNCH's first time to go to Subic as a family and even if there were asungots around (bwa ha ha ha ha) we were still having loads of fun.

If you're following this silly little foodie blog, you would know that it doesn't really take much to make us happy, as in mababaw lang ang mga kaligayahan namin. I would always tell the kids that as long as we are together we're going to have loads of fun no matter where we are.

That's why for this weekend, even if we're in a simple (yet lovely) resort, with asungots (who are like family naman, ha ha ha ha), and without doing the other activities that Subic is known for (meh we're lazy), THE YAPPY BUNCH still had a memorable and awesome time!

Check out part two of our super SUBIC weekend! We enjoyed it so much that we're raring to have ANOTHER part two! He he he he!

Good morning!!!

Only my bunsoy baby is awake. He he he he he!

MOONBAY MARINA LEISURE RESORT - SUBIC (PART ONE)

My little guys' summer vacation started in May that by the time their schoolyear was done, it was already in the middle of the rainy season. Oh well... So that meant we'll be doing our "summer" fun in the rain.

Though we were perfectly happy of course with just swimming in our favorite Valle Verde Country Club, we were somehow still craving for some sand and sun that summer vacation usually warranted. The Yub and I were planning something for the kids when our Bawal Panget Group (he he he he) wanted to have an out of town trip too. Wow! That would surely be fun!

Most of the popular resorts were already fully booked but good thing we found this simple and affordable one in Subic that garnered good reviews -- MOONBAY MARINA LEISURE RESORT.

Mabilis pa sa alas kwatro our good ol' friend Gem immediately booked for the whole gang that before anyone could change their minds, sorry, no can do. Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Good thing because it was such a fun weekend that it would be a shame for those who'll miss it. As for us, we're thankful again for this opportunity to have another weekend of exploring new territory as a family -- the whole weekend was actually super fun because of them.

Check out our SUBIC TRIP with THE YAPPY BUNCH and our BP Family!

We're going on a trip in our favorite rocket ship....

I think I'm the only one in the family who remembers this TV show.

Ooooh... How strong naman Coco Martin!!! GROOOWL!!!!

OUR YAPPY SUMMER 2019 (PART TWO)

My YAPPY SUMMER 2019 feature was supposed to be one looooooooooooooooooooooooong excruciating post but then I took pity on my one or two readers (icharge pa sakin ang pagpapagawa ng salamin  nila) that I thought of just making it a two-parter. Tee hee!!!

Yeah... I know... I know that I could get a little bit too detailed in my blog posts but it's because I consider times with my ugly husband, my boys, my family, and my few close friends to be the best experiences of all that I don't want to miss out on anything (even if it's just a very minute detail of like, let's say, cleaning the bathroom... I SWEAR). So sorry na lang kayo that I'm sharing it with you. Ha ha ha ha ha!!!

Here's part TWO of our YAPPY SUMMER that, even if we had three months of school break, it was still OH SO bitin for all of us!!!

Enjoy.... at your own risk. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

OUR YAPPY SUMMER 2019 (PART ONE)

My little guys' school is adjusting to start classes at August to follow the newly recommended regulations by CHED.

Wow! So that meant by boys will have a 3 month vacation??? YEHESSSS!!!

HOWEVER...

You'd think that 3 months is more than enough...
You'd think that 3 months will get us all so bored...
You'd think that we'll be raring to send the boys back to school...

BUT NOOOOH...

The three months school vacation was still "BITIN" with a capital B and WHYYYY Huhuhu!!! Why can't vacations last forever? I'll surely miss having them around, going on foodtrips, and doing stuff until the late nights.  My little guys certainly feel the same.

Check out the long (but not so much) school vacation of the boys and how those 3 months just whizzed by like a shooting star defying the laws of gravity (thanks Queen).

And of course, I'll still say it (like I often do) to commemorate our love for summer:

No more classes! No more books!
No more teacher's dirty looks!

This was by far the boys' best summer vacation yet!!!

:) 

April 17

YIHIII!!! 

Master Mati was finally "free"!!! He woke up late and enjoyed his breakfast. Yep! Nobody was telling him to hurry up.

As for Andrei, he didn't have classes anymore but he still had to go to school to attend graduation practices, so, it's not fully vacation mode yet!

TAPENADE, DISCOVERY PRIMEA (2018)

THE YAPPY BUNCH were having a staycation in DISCOVERY PRIMEA for the birthday of the December celebrants and the Christmas season as well.

For our dinner that night, we decided that it should be somewhere special. We are after all celebrating something special anyways. We wanted to go out but we realized that since it's the holidays, traffic would be terrible and the restaurants would probably be jampacked (reservations are zero pa on weekends).

Aning and I decided that it would be best if we just stay put in the hotel and have dinner in TAPENADE. We remember how much we enjoyed the food before and I'm happy that this time, we would be with the boys. Yun lang, since it's a Saturday on a Christmas season, they cannot take our reservations for our big group of 20. Good thing that since DISCOVERY PRIMEA values their hotel guests (and because we're soooo CUTE), they finally agreed. 

TAPENADE! HURRAH!!!!

SAVOY HOTEL 2018 (PART TWO)

THE YAPPY BUNCH received a free staycation from a secret angel, aka my favorite frenemy, from my office.

If you've been reading my silly little blog, you would know who she is. Ha ha ha ha ha!

Anyway, we were super excited for this insta-weekend because SAVOY HOTEL just opened (so it was fairly new) and we got 2 rooms all to ourselves. You know us, we love anything that comes with a pool but in SAVOY HOTEL, we enjoyed their pool plus their other cool family friendly facilities!

But would you believe that for our last day, we only used the pool and stayed in our rooms yet we still had a blast?? Ay it's SOOOO true!

Check out part two of our SAVOY HOTEL staycation where we discovered once again the extreme happiness of lazy Sundays to the fullest.

SAVOY HOTEL YEAAAAAAH!!!!

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  

ANVAYA STAYCATION 2018 - DAY ONE

Summer vacation is not complete without a trip to the beach. No matter how much we'll darken up or look bondat in our swimsuits, going to a resort is already tradition (he he he he he). That's why I'm so thankful that for this school break, we were able to have a family trip to the beach.  The best thing too is that we're celebrating the birthday of a dear friend in a resort that we've long wanted to stay in..... 

ANVAYA COVE!!!

As always, when going on an out of town trip, we head out early!!!

ANDREI'S 11TH BIRTHDAY (2017)

Growing up, my Daddy always made a fuss about our birthdays and would come up with ways various ways to celebrate. The celebration need not to be a lavish or expensive one. We could have lunch at  our favorite Shakeys but my Daddy always knew how to make the celebrant feel special.

That's why every year, the Yub and I made sure to make the little lords feel like kings during their birthdays; even extending it to a 2 week celebration to make it more memorable for them. Again, the "birthdates" may be a staycation or dinner at a fast food restaurant, but one thing's for sure, it's something that the celebrant will love.

Of course, we know that it doesn't take much to make the little lords happy. They're fine anywhere as long as there's a birthday song at the end. Still, the Yub and I want them to have unforgettable times that we will do all that we can to make it happen.

The numerous celebrations may be costly, that's why we'd just set aside something every payday. I may miss some shopping or gimik days, but it's okay -- we're celebrating something so much more worth it anyway.

So here's to you my dearest bunsoy! We hope you had a lot of fun with your 11th birthday celebrations. Truth be told, we feel that this is still not enough because Mommy, Daddy, and Kuya Mati love you so much that if we can, we'd celebrate everyday!!!! He he he he he!!!!
  

So really, thank you for being YOU my dearest. Happy Birthday and we love you!!!

Wohooo Andrei!!!!!!!

HONG KONG DISNEYLAND 2017 (PART TWO)

THE YAPPY BUNCH are in DISNEYLAND HONG KONG and I don't know if it's because the boys are bigger, or there aren't many people that day in the theme park, or that we were able to ride all the attractions that we wanted, or that we just make it a point to always have a fun time whenever we can....

But we were all having such an awesome time that it may be one of our best vacations to date!!!!!

Here's part two of our DISNEYLAND HONG KONG trip with more of our great times and pictures! He he he he he! Don't say I didn't warn you.

Yoo to the hoo! 

In part one, the boys were thrilled to be able to chat up with IRON MAN.

When I said "boys", yes the Chinese Dimpol is included. He he he he! 

The little lords were also able to undergo Jedi training and spar with the likes of Darth Vader!

We also got to meet the very cute BB8!

DREAMPLAY FOR ANDREI'S BDAY 2016

My little bunsoy is celebrating his 10th birthday and with that, we're giving him a 10-day special too!!!!

We already had a party...

We already had a sleepover...

We already ate in his favorite restaurants...

We already had a staycation...

Now what next?

Time to do something recreational and fun! With that, we thought of DREAMPLAY!!!!

DREAMPLAY! Awooh! Awooh! Awooh! (ala 300)!

I found this family package promo by NOBU HOTEL where a weekend staycation with 2 kids also included 4 tickets to DREAMPLAY. I had enough cash saved up for Andrei's 10 days of fun, so we're going!

A NOBU STAYCATION FOR ANDREI (PART ONE)

It's our bunsoy Andrei's birthday and we have booked a staycation at CITY OF DREAMS' NOBU HOTEL. Initially, we're just going to celebrate my little lord's birthday by going to his usual favorite restaurants or letting him be KING of our silly household for 10 days. But then I caught this special deal by this popular Japanese-themed hotel that we just GOT to try out.

And so, THE YAPPY BUNCH was able to conquer....

NOBU HOTEL...

Dan... dan... DAAAAANNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!

After breakfast and playtime, THE YAPPY BUNCH drove out for NOBU HOTEL!!!!

ANDREI'S 10TH BIRTHDAY (2016)

My most favorite baby OF ALL TIME is celebrating his 10th birthday and we are all so excited!

Yep. I know that he's already too old to be called a "baby" but he's my bunsoy and will forever be my adorable little being whom I'll kiss and hug and bite till the end of eternity!!!!!!!!!!

Well...  Until he becomes a teenager anyway. He he he he he!

Or until he gets married. #hulingtawad

And like what we do every year, the birthday boy lists down all the things that he wants to do for his 10-day celebration. He also gets the ultimo VIP treatment from the family and gets his way in the car radio. He he he he he!

Yup! Birthdays are such a big deal to us!!!!

I remember when I was a kid, my parents did the same to me and my siblings that we can't contain our excitement at turning a year older. Would you believe that my Mom would even buy a live chicken from the market and cook it as "pamalit buhay?" Yuh-uh!!!! And that's just at the break of morning! He he he he he! Because of the special and loving birthday memories that I had with my family, we are also doing it now with the little lords. Don't worry. Our celebrations do not bank (well, sometimes it could but we make sure to save up for it) -- it ranges from hotel staycations to simple Jollibee dinners -- depending on THE boy of the day. One thing is for sure, we make a lot of effort to make our celebrant feel that he is KING for the duration of his birthday weeks.

And right now, it's ANDREI'S turn!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY our dearest Andrei! Awwww!!! This is him doing my favorite "cute-cute pose!

This took a lot of convincing because he felt old na daw. Ngek!

My bunsoy is now 10 years old and I'm so proud of him already!!!!

On the eve of his birthday, the Chinese Dimpol and our angels set up our dining room with balloons and signs. We want our birthday celebrant to be surprised with the colorful greeting when he goes down for school tomorrow.

ANOTHER DISCOVERY PRIMEA STAYCATION (PART ONE)

THE YAPPY BUNCH are back in DISCOVERY PRIMEA for another staycation and even if it is already our second time, we are still so excited as ever!

And why not? We are going to have another sweet family bonding session with great friends in one of our favorite hotels in the Metro!

WOO TO THE HOO!!!!

GREENHILLS COD (CHRISTMAS ON DISPLAY) SHOW 2016

Every year, THE YAPPY BUNCH never fail to watch the Christmas On Display (or COD) show in Greenhills shopping centre. I'm happy that my little family is now experiencing it because I used to watch the same show as a kid when my Dad would take us all to Quezon City. It's great that they have transferred the show in Greenhills and it has already become part of the Christmas season for THE YAPPY BUNCH for many years now.

Among the two though, it's my little Andrei who's still very enchanted with the COD show. I'm glad that my bunsoy has such an innocent and simple taste (aka mababaw ang kaligayahan) that even if there are more magical Christmas shows out there, he could still appreciate the rustic magic of the COD. He loves it so much that he often includes it in his birthday wishes for December.

And since the Chinese Dimpol and I are not only just happy to oblige but we are also very sentimental, we vowed to ALWAYS take the little lords to watch the COD, no matter what.

:)

The Greenhills' CHRISTMAS ON DISPLAY show!!!!!