It's sad to say goodbye, but we have planned to move to New Orleans when the children are big enough, when they could be independent enough. Now the right time has come, so we're moving on. We said goodbye to friends:
Goodbye Olongapo
We said goodbye to Dolor, my first friend in Olongapo |
My long-time dream of reconnecting with ADB friends happened when I came back from Saudi Arabia in 2003. Not only that, I made lots of friends from our exADBfriends website too. These new friends are the people I could be friends 'only in my dreams' before. Never did I imagine that I truly will become friends with them. Life has lots of surprises. Really. Could you imagine that one of the organizers of my despedida lunch is Ms. Rosie Luistro, former executive secretary of the President of ADB. The awesome Ms. Ophie Sta. Ana coordinated the lunch, and the gift -giving too. I am such a lucky person. Ms. Bebssey Gamboa, my ever efficient and ageless former iron lady supervisor from IFD also came. The pretty and cheerful Letty Legisma and Tess Gonzales were there too. My idols of beauty and grace came too - Lita Gamboa, Lou de Belen, Albertine Santi, Leah Gojo. The naughty beauties joined us too - France Arceo and Baby Bolano. The rich and the famous real estate lady, Yoly Asuncion was there. Kate Blanco (yes from old rich Blanco clan) listened to my life story and promised to have someone assasinated. Thank God he was already dead. Linda Tan, my confidante, my very disciplined friend came too. My pretty batchmates or 'classmates' were there too - Lulu Apagalang, Au Villamor and Marissa del Castillo.
Big Despedida lunch organized by Ms. Rosie and Ms. Ophie at ADB PDR. Some choices of food at the ADB PDR, every one of them is yummy!
And you'd think that I'd have one despedida lunch from ADB friends and that's it. No, Virginia, I've had several. One of the biggest was organized by Carmen Dimayuga. Now, if you're from ADB, you'd surely know her. Carmen is one of the ADB ladies who is known to get her way
Grace (Neneng Dy) Nuni and I had coffee later at The Podium
Thoughtful gifts from Ada. Thank you my friend! Beautiful pearl necklace from the North Group. Thank you my friends. Multicolor pin from Meng. I always wear this, Meng :)) A gift of cash from June 19 Despedida group. I used it for self beautification (war and serengoma removal) and the rest I gave to my friend, Maria Rocky, Aidz and Fe treated us to lunch at 6688 Satin Tea, Malate. We also enjoyed their gifts of delicious Turon and beautiful necklace. Thanks Aidz, Fe and Rocky. We enjoyed bonding with you ladies. We had fun in Olongapo, we had fun in Malate.
Asel, my first BFF from ADB, my swim mate after we both delivered our first babies, gave me despedida lunch too. We started on salad, remembering the days when we were both new in ADB .... until desert came - three kinds of cheesecake, whew! Nothing short of awesome lunch.
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Ruel treated us to a night of Jazz in Q.C. |
We found time to bond before Nory left for Hawaii and Lory for Germany. These ladies are my first friends at Subic Hash Group.
Nory is in a vacation from Hawaii, and Lory will be going to Germany soon Maritz, Marissa, Jen and I went for a Despedida lunch at Mesa, Megamall. Thanks for the wonderful gifts, Maritz.
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As to our family, our girls, Jen and Jaki are independent enough to let go and test their independence wings.
We had family dinner at the Old Spaghetti House Hello New Orleans
We stayed temporarily at Marquette International Hostel
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Look at the wide street! |
Lester and Family welcomed us in New Orleans and Mississippi |
We enjoyed being tourists at the Tourist Information Center, St. Charles Avenue Look Ma, a new sachel bag and white (!) rubber shoes for Dave |
Internet connection at good ol' Mcdonalds while we're waiting for internet connection at home.
And we have to visit our favorite place for Jazz - the French Quarter.
The cathedral, with fortune tellers and painters and their clientele near the entrance of the church.
We saw all kinds of cool people.
Jazz at Frenchmen St.
A cool audience at the Preservation Hall for Jazz
Wat dat? Hu Dat?
I have gotten my French Quarter beads from this balcony :))
A common sight - musicians at the French Quarter
Tours all over the place!
Peace sign from Uncle Sam's Lucky Dogs vendor. He told me, "you have to have one, you have to get the total experience."
Hello New Orleans, Hello U.S. of A!
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