May 10 - Mother's Day

We spent Mother's Day with Mama Orencia, the mother of our Sakonit friend and Sayans batchmate, Paeng Orencia.  She had just turned 99 last May 6 but their celebration was on the Sunday.

She was sitting in bed, having lunch when i arrived, my cake - i chose Chocolate Mousse from Red Ribbon because she wanted something soft, not so sweet - and that was the Mousse for me.

The food was good, as usual - but there was lechon this time, and maki. i liked the 2, and the shanghai.  The shanghai was thin but delicious. Nice for pika-pika.

I missed Tita Cherry, Tito Billy Abueva's wife.  She and Mama Orencia are best buds, but she wasnt there this time.  I figured Amihan was out of town.  Apparently Butch didnt have a driver for the today so he was home-locked, and i dont know where Jerry and Liza were.  Manny and Alice had just deplaned from Canada so i thought they wouldnt be able to make it.

So twas me, Joey Dumandan, and Dale Villamor who joined Paeng .........

Sunday, 19 October

Paeng's birthday.
so Sakonit trouped over there for lunch .... and we found Butch with  his wife Josie (met her for the first time) and Jerry O discussing things over what seemed like "done lunch"

Alice, Manny, and I arrived together (they gave me a ride!) and proceeded to have lunch.  I remember having a bit of rice, karekare, chicken, lumpiang shanghai.  i had a tinny bit of beer, and a tinny bit of scotch.

Amihan was not free to join us, neither was Dale, or Boboy.  Joey arrived, but sooooo late - but we did have a chance to gab part of the afternoon away.

Mama, Paeng's mom was asleep though Li-Anne assured that she was strong, only that her sleeping habits have changed.  Mama is 97.  Marianne, Paeng's daughter is now 3rd year - at the College of the Holy Spirit (yes, over there in Mendiola), taking psychology.

Butch is a chemical engineer, and he had a fascinating discussion on coffee - decaff that is, and 3-in-1 things.
I will no longer take decaff, not after he explained the process and the chemicals that removes caffeine from the coffee beans.  The chemical that removes the caffeine is similar to the paint remover you use when you redo the house.  So ugh.

Jerry did give away so many dvds.  Alice said i should give the titles of those i want so she could save them for me.....

Saturday Socializing

our group, Sakonit, met last Saturday at the home of the MD of the group, Jerry.  he lives in Philinvest 2, and has a wonderful home, and like all homes when December nears, a little crowded because all the Christmas decors are out...

we played mahjong.  i havent played in the .... maybe last 10 years, and was a trifle rusty, but i broke even.

i was thinking if i could parley my jedi sense (you know, when you sense things beyond the normal ken) into winnings.  i guess my jedi sense isnt for financial gain, more for danger - and that's good enough for me.

i discovered that everyone in the group knew how to play, if not prodigiously, then at least adequately.  i was never one with jokers except when playing poker with family members - and then we'd have all kinds, queen-low, one-eyed jacks, bigotes wild. we played one mahjong game with a joker and it was interesting - and fast!

in an aside, 

my dad taught his children to play contract bridge, poker, and mahjong just in case a group of people needed a fourth, and he felt all his children should be able to play.   not really into bridge, but i know someone who used to be into it.  dont know if he is still playing.......

Jerry, Li-Ann, Dale, Liz ... i'm taking the pic

Alice and Paeng.  Manny and I have no pics