Sleep deprived.

Christmas Day. Supposed to be attending my 1st godchild's christening at Quezon City but was stuck in traffic at Baclaran 'round high noon. My cousin Dianne (from my mother's side) gave birth to a baby boy named Yuan Dominick & I was chosen to be the godmother (no, I am not that old!) Didn't get there on time so I just paid them a visit and gave my "pamasko" (Christmas gift).

We then left to visit Papa's relatives who also live in the same city. I got to visit my lovely Tiya Weng (tiya in Filipino is aunt; she's my paternal grandmother's sister) and the kins in the compound. This is Tyler's 1st grand meeting with them.

Me, Mama and Tiya Weng

With my youngest sister at the farthest left.

Tyler & Tiya Weng

Playing my aunt's guitar

It was 10pm when we were on the road back home when Papa asked to stop by at The Seaside near CCP Complex.

I took the cam so I didn't have a shot with them here. .___.

A day before the New Year.

Parents invited Tyler and me to SM Mall of Asia; Papa was going to have his reunion with his college batchmates. I took this opportunity to take Tyler out for a date. 

By the Bay

Seaside Boulevard

Mama, Irylle, Tyler and I were supposed to eat at Gerry's Grill but it was so full during lunch that we had to relocate. Tyler saw a Mediterranean restaurant back from where we entered so he suggested the place.

It was Cafe Mediterranean: Flavors Of The Sun.

Mama ordering something from the menu

They have neat authentic interiors which makes it more appealing to eat in!

Table mosaic.

...he ordered Kofta Burger. I ordered a Moussaka.

The foods were really delectable, I was already full when I ate 1/2 or 3/4 of my Moussaka. Cafe Mediterranean is a much affordable resto than it seems (large dishes are around PHP 250 per person; tall refillable iced teas are PHP 75) but it's not something you could eat every day of the week. It'd probably good to check in once or twice a month - reserve it on special occasions.

By the end of the day, we found ourselves being tugged to this swinging Galleon that Irylle asked us to ride in. Tyler and I obliged knowing it would make my youngest sister happy.

We had boxed cheesecakes as take-home desserts too. Too bad I didn't get a hold of pictures of those.

New Year's Eve.

Two things were abundant that night: food and fireworks.  

Empty street outside the house.

Watermelon balls.

Skitty, our cat of 5 years.

Rainbow puto (puto is a Filipino delicacy; it's cupcake made of rice flour)

Tyler's favorite: Mama's homestyle spaghetti.

My plate!

The chef who cooked everything that is delicious. My mama.

More spaghetti and chicken & beef frankfurts.

Hope you're all having a good start this 2012!

x Iris

...continued from part 02.

Since I got my salary from my freelance project with my uncle, I used the money to buy some good stuff. To people who know me so well they're aware that thrift shopping is my thing so when somebody tipped me over at this thrift shop somewhere within the vicinity, I asked Mama if I could use the car and if she wanted to go with me to find some cheap goodies.

Candies in the car!

The moment we parked in front of the thrift shop I knew I was in for a thrill ride! There were pretty dresses everywhere most of which were sold for 120-180!

There were only a handful of people when we arrived, although as Mama and I have noticed, the number grew just after minutes when we were scouring the racks of clothes.

They have 2 floors of thrift goodness!

The thrift shop was really a heaven! The ground floor was for the new arrivals (most of which are SO PRETTY!) and the 2nd floor features everything that's 50% off! I was literally pulling anything that I see from the racks. 

Everything I got amounted to almost PHP 4,000+, which were like 28 beautiful pieces of clothes. Boy, shopping sure takes a toll on my wallet but hey, I got good stuffs!

Mama looking at some polo from the rack.

PHP 25.00 sign.

Shopping was a good mother-daughter bonding too! Mama and I are definitely gonna be back at that place. I even scored a faux leather jacket for only PHP 280! Can you believe that? And anybody who saw that jacket told me it was gorgeous and didn't even think it was thrifted!

SM Molino in a very festive mood.

When we got home, Mama told me she'd be going to SM and pay at BDO. So when she was at the bank, I went to National Bookstore to look at some books. Most of them, were for my revitalized hobby...

I think I spent a good 30 minutes in that section alone, scouring through everything that breezes through my hands. I wanted to buy so much photography books but then again, I won't be able to use it that much unless I actually own a DSLR. I'm still sticking to my good ole Agfa Digicam anyway. Plus, I'd rather spend on books later when I'm upgraded. For now, I can just read tutorials on the internet for free :D

However, I came to National Bookstore for a very good reason. I was going to buy a very nice gift for Tyler.

A handy phrase book and an English-Tagalog dictionary for my love.

UPDATE [12/29/11]: He loved the books I gave him! I told him it'd be very useful on his travel. And also, it would be a good read on his plane back home or when he misses me. As a gift to me, he gave me a necklace that he made himself. It was a coin necklace with genuine Yens and a 5-centavo coin. I love handmade stuff! He was so frantic cause he didn't know if I would like his gift that he even cut his finger while making it.

Tyler is very sweet and I am so lucky to spend this year's Christmas with him. :')

x Iris

Every day of every week felt like the same - it was monotonous and bland. So when I had the opportunity to paint my day brighter than anything else, I did.

I started the day with simbang gabi (early Christmas mass). Here in the Philippines it is a tradition that every Yuletide people attend mass at 4am. I didn't get much sleep that day so I just waited till the clock hit four.

A big crowd gathered outside the church. We came a bit late but just in time to hear the sermon. I kind of missed waking up early just for this.

Interior of the Sto. Nino de Molino Parish Church (front)

Back view of the church where the entrance is

Mama and Irylle after the mass. :)

Looking outside the van window

After the mass Irylle and I were chanting at the back seat proposing to Papa that we should go have breakfast at the newly-renovated McDonald's near RFC Molino since we're already outside - a wish which our father had eventually obliged.

On the way to McDonald's

My cup of hot chocolate

My little sister Irylle eating her pancake

Longganisa, rice and egg meal

Papa about to drink his coffee

Me, shot taken by Irylle

Breakfast @ McDonald's has always been sumptuous. We had pancakes, coffee and longganisa and rice; coffee and hot chocolate to wash down our meals. 

The new place was nice but as an interior design student I find the interior too common - the use of dark laminated MDF wood, graphic prints and vibrant colors of lime, turquoise and violet were all too cliche in my eyes; I guess it's because in my observation I have seen a lot of establishments with such design approach and that it's also because for me McDonald's trying its best to be a really modern and upscale fastfood.

I thought this branch would consider having a 2nd floor (since the other McDonald's Branch at the end of Molino Blvd has one) but they didn't; they just retained the place only improving the aesthetics and space planning of the area.

Lovely sunrise.

...part 02 to be continued.