Mamang - New York APOs

Victoria & Rhovia (Seated)

Rhodora & Vincent (Standing)

Canada Day Adventures

Double Click (2X) on Pictures to Enlarge

In addition to the Carandang's planned City Tour with a Splash, was an afternoon adventure of The Ontario Place.  The Ontario Place did not happen as they can not get on the King street car which would take them to their destination...." too many people" they say.  They opted out with a few hours of strolling along the Harbour Front.  JV tells me, he saw ducks, boats, birds.  He says one word sentences and motions to riding a "bus" "train" and "bus". He must have slept on the subway train coming home and on to the Birchmount bus.  He was cranky and sleepy when they got home.  Jiro was all excited telling me about the places they went to and the restaurant they ate in . JV has been pounding his fists on him again and kicking him on the sheens... ahahayyyy...

but he poses very well for pictures

Mamang's July 1, 2011

The younger brood scheduled themselves a tour of the city with a splash.  They decided to take on the Toronto Hippo Tours, the hippest way to see Toronto.  It is a continous journey on both land and water to experience the thrill of the "splash" into Lake Ontario.

Mamang and I have designated ourselves to stay put at home and enjoy the coolness of the air condition.  As soon as the younger set were out of the house, Mamang decides to narrate her stories of old.  She was talking about her buying "in-kiwar" in the corner store and was looking for a black rice in-kiwar called binalayagan.  I think this term means "not pounded to the purest pulp".  [[ I need to verify this terminology from my Ilocano resources, as I am not quite sure]].

After an hour of story telling, she starts conversing in simple but gramatically correct English.  When she does this, I worry and worry myself that her brain must be really working hard and reverting back to the language part of her brain.  Mamang is tired and she goes to bed, still talking in English.  I asked her why she is speaking to me in English, when I am a full blooded Ilocano. She can not be bothered and quips..."so, you can understand what I am saying to you".  Ay, motherrrr !!!! I exclaimed.

9 Celebrations for Jiro's Bday

Jiro has been celebrating his 9th birthday since the beginning of June. Every week-end, starting Friday nights, his dad fires up the BBQ grill. Saturday nights and/or Sunday nights, we have another backyard party. I can still remember the "liempo" being marinated, sometimes just a few hours and it is good to go.

JV exclaims..WOW !!!! (everytime)....... Na-imas latta !!! 

We found giant squid at the nearby T & T grocery.  We stuffed it with onions/tomatoes and grilled it... ay, sarap !!!  Most times, we have accompaniments of grilled eggplants, sweet pepper, zucchini... and we even tested grilled Romaine lettuce leaves. We just seem to have a lot of grilling ideas from steak to fish ( we had turbo, red snapper, grouper).  Yvan seems to struggle with the fish, but seems to perfect the liempo. Sanan tu aramiden didiay "pulpog" nga kuna da!

No problem with left overs.  For grilled eggplant, we have eggplant "torta" for breakfast.  The sweet peppers/zuccini, we add mushrooms to make "gulo-gulo" omelet for the following day's meal. Nag-kirmet kami ania? It just takes a few imaginative brains to come up with left over specials.  Awan iti masayang.. na-imas latta met iti ka-ka-anan mi !!!

June 21, the first day of summer was Jiro's 9th birthday... He must have received 9 presents including the blue car, a present from his school, which was earnestly acquired by the younger celebrant JV (lol !!)

The culmination of the  9th Birthday celebration happened at the Skyland de Shanghai on June 25th with Uncle Buzz's (Lightyear of Toy Story series) timely arrival in town.

Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur

This is being posted as a reference to an earlier blog posting regarding the Sto Domingo barangays

[This information was sent to me via email from my brother Rudy October 22, 2009]
Some piece of conversation with Mamang.  Those highlighted - she might be familiar with.

Santo Domingo is a 4th class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 25,888 people in 4,871 households.

Barangays

Santo Domingo is politically subdivided into 36 barangays.

Binalayangan Binongan Borobor Cabaritan Cabigbigaan Calautit Calay-ab Camestizoan Casili Flora Lagatit Laoingen

Lussoc Nalasin Nagbettedan Naglaoa-an Nambaran Nanerman Napo Padu Chico Padu Grande Paguraper Panay Pangpangdan

Parada Paras Poblacion Puerta Real Pussuac Quimmarayan San Pablo Santa Cruz Santo Tomas Sived Vacunero (Poblacion) Suksukit

Origin of the Municipality's Name

The name of the municipality came from its old moniker, "Paggappuan ti Santol ti Domingo," an Ilocano term meaning "The source of the Santol sold every Sunday." "Santol," Sandoricum koetjape, is the name of the tree bearing round, yellowish fruits growing in abundance in the municipality, notably in Barangay Pussuac.

During the Spanish era, an enlisted man of the Spanish Civil Guard looked for the source of the santol being sold in the markets of Villa Fernandina (now Vigan) on Sundays during the months of June to August. To do so, he asked for a leave of absence from his platoon leader to trace the source of the fruits. With his Ilocano guide, he searched the lands north of Villa Fernandina. He found nothing in the neighboring towns of Bantay, Santa Catalina, San Vicente, and Bantaoay (now San Ildefonso). He finally found lots of santol-bearing trees in a place north of Bantaoay now called Barangay Pus-uac. He has found the "Paggappuan ti Santol ti Domingo." The town was named Santo Domingo on account of this feat.

Don Pablo Arguero was claimed to be the founder of the municipality on May 12, 1742, with Father Tomas Millan as the first parish priest. Father Millan laid the foundation of the belfry, where the great Filipino hero Diego Silang once worked as a boy.

Maria Agbisit - A Centenarian Friend

Lelang Mayang - 100th Birthday Celebration
September, 2010

Lelang Mayang (as she is fondly called) enjoys having a party even as a young maiden.  She is the Social Directress of their time.  Often, she invites Mamang, her siblings and friends from Cabaritan (an adjoining barangay) to join in at their "Socials" in Flora (another barangay). Lola Maria also arranges for their transportation going and returning from these parties.  She doubles up as a chaperone to assure the respective parents of the young ladies' safety.   @ 100 years of age a "big" party is befitting this grand lady.  HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY Lelang Mayang !!!

Funny Little Kid

I was cooking early mid morning to beat the clock for the ever so high electric tiered billing we have here in Toronto. I checked on mother and JV as they were silently seated on the sofa by the patio door. JV seems to be teary eyed and I asked what is wrong? He says in his one word sentence "Cry" demonstrating with his pointing finger the tears that are now flowing freely from his eyes and then points to grand "LOLA"

I think JV sympathizes with Mamang. Mamang due to her age has a teary left eye and it flows. JV sits beside LOLA and holds her hand and with sadness in his face also is teary eyed... OH, what a funny lovable kid he is...

Pictures above were taken November, 2010: JV @ 1 year 10 months, LOLA @ 97 Years but the scenario is still the same. This 2.5 year old kid watching over GrandLOLA @ 98 years old !!!