Lola Lomy

[ Friday, December 29, 2006 ]

HAPPY NEW YEAR to ALL!

And…
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to: Romy Lanto(1); Khrissy Jaromay & Dominic Oyzon(2); Kathy Gusmano(3); Gabriel’s 5th(4); Mikey Gusmano(6); Jared Fukushima(7); Doming Oyzon(9); Danton Basco & Vir Nantes(12); Sami Fukushima(14); Peter Jones(19); Morna Eugenio(26); Dion Basco(29).

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to:
55th – Doming & Connie Oyzon (6)
37th -  Ariel & Sonia Santos (27).
         
May you all have many happy returns!
If I failed to include your special dates, please post in ‘Comments’...Thanks!

Thank you, all, for the Christmas greetings, the presents, the best wishes and your friendship!

I welcome the Year 2007 with great hope. My family has been blessed with good health, enough wealth and happiness this past year, and I pray that God continues to bless us as we go through the New Year and beyond.

May we all strive and continue to be kind to one another, be compassionate to our less fortunate neighbors, contribute to cleanse our environment, and promote Peace by doing your share in these endeavors. GOD BLESS!

[ Thursday, December 28, 2006 ]

BABY KEANEY HAS ARRIVED!

Aileen gave birth to a baby girl at 3:19 this morning- name to be determined. 5.5 pounds…18 1/2 inches long. She came quick and easy (in less than an hour).  Rumor has it she looks like Terry :)

Mom, dad, baby and pooch are doing great.

CONGRATULATIONS!

[ Wednesday, December 13, 2006 ]

CONGRATULATIONS…

and Our Best Wishes on your marriage, Leecie and Chakib!

Can’t wait to celebrate it with you come spring!

love, mom & dad

[ Saturday, December 02, 2006 ]

Christmas Season in the Philippines

...is a whole month of joyous gatherings, caroling and shopping (pretty much like here in America, but the Filipino way).
The Rosal Family Christmas holiday was always fun and memorable.  As our neighbors’ windows and yards were decorated with large lanterns of different designs, so did we. Our lantern was usually in the shape of a star.  Decorations started as early as November. And every night friends gather and hop from house to house to go caroling.
We seldom slept before Christmas day.  We had enough excitement to keep us awake.  Pang (my dad) made his special Christmas ham: he woke up early on December 24th, to start boiling the Chinese ham. After it had simmered all morning, he would drain it, peel the skin off, sprinkle the fat side with brown sugar, and then with a red hot cleaver (previously torched over red hot charcoal, like a branding iron), he would sear the glaze until the ham was golden brown all around, ready for our Media Noche (midnight [feast]).  It was fun watching him do this every Christmas Eve. 
Late that night we met with friends to go caroling; thereafter we went to midnight mass.  A snack of “Puto Bumbong” (a rice cake especially prepared using a bamboo reed as the baking receptacle, baked over coals, served on banana leaves, sprinkled with grated coconut, and vended right outside the church grounds) was usually a byway fare.  We looked forward to our Media Noche when we arrived home. Along with the delicious ham, we had Pan-de-Sal (sourdough rolls), roasted chestnuts, walnuts, Queso-de-Bola (very sharp cheese ball), and Tsokolate (a rich, dark, hot chocolate beverage) to complete our Media-Noche on Christmas Eve.
Afterwards, we opened our presents (“opinning op da gips”!).  More food later; or for some exhausted souls, would call it a night.
A funny thing I remember is, in the morning all the doors in the house were hard to close, as they have become loose at the hinges on account of everyone using the hinged sides as walnut crackers.
Pang always had new, crisp peso bills ready for “ina?anaks” (godchildren; and he had a lot) when they came calling on Christmas day.  He was a regular Santa Claus.

All through the Christmas Season, we always had an open house. Friends and relatives always dropped in, so our larder was always ready for company. It’s the Filipino way.

Benny had requested that this Christmas, we spend at Weez’s in Rochester (closer to Jonette and her family). And since Elice and Chakib are in Morocco, Elaine and family will be spending the holidays with her in-laws, and Beau and Coco might go to Chicago for the same reason, Ely and I will trek up north.

It’s going to be a White Christmas!

And since no one had taken me up on my invitation to Stafford over the holidays, this will work for us. 

We’ll be missing the Oyzon Circle, but it’s good that the kids share their times with their respective in-laws. 

Happy Holidays, and safe travels, you’all!