EMIL'S 25TH BIRTHDAY

We've been 'surprising' each other for a long time now but I'm glad I still managed to keep this a secret from Emil until the end of the day. The night before, he was asking me what we will do on his birthday so I was trying to be nonchalant when in fact, in my mind I was already panicking on how I will pull the birthday party surprise the next day! I just told him that we are going to a restaurant in the city that he will love but he can't know until the hour of.

As I was so confused on what to do, the gang (aka the twins, Lowell, Will and Brit) volunteered to sleepover so that they can help me the next day. I was kinda nervous of this idea coz Emil might know what's going on so I texted him pretending to ask his permission if they can come, and he said, yes bec its almost his birthday anyway. We sang for him at midnight and then watched some movies. When it was time for him to go to work, I started cooking for the surprise party which wont start til 5:30pm because that's usually the time he gets off work. He texted me at 3pm saying that he can go home early so imagine my panic when I haven't prepared anything yet! I wasn't even at home because I was buying food for the party! He wanted to meet me where he works so we can go to the restaurant earlier but I told him that I haven't showered yet and the reservation wasn't until 7pm so he should just hang around in the city while he waits for me. I wasn't sure if he is getting suspicious already bec what kind of wife would let her husband hang around in the city alone on his birthday?! but still I had to say it! I was running out of lies! Thankfully our landlord wanted to meet us at 5:30pm so he needed to go home instead of I going to the city. At 4pm, he said he was still at work bec his boss needed to talk to him. Whew! One hour down! I came home to prepare and call people to come earlier because he was coming home early but only Lowell arrived before him so it was only me and Lowell who screamed surprise when he got home. Imagine how lame that was?! hahaha I was too tired to worry about it so I just laughed it off. I thought by this time he knew all along but he said he really believed me that we were going to a restaurant so that part of the surprise worked I guess. We waited with the birthday boy an hour until other people came so we could start the party. Despite the failed surprise, he said he enjoyed his birthday. :)

Giant Kit Kat for the Kit Kat boy

Kit Kat cake

Cupcakes by Sonja

This not-so-little adorable shop at Greenhills really caught my eye when we got there. Not only was the interior greatly designed but the name of the cupcakes were so clever. It doesn't end there! The cupcakes that we each got was so good. Some are plain looking and some looked extravagant but all tasted soooo sooo great equally. I am really fond of uniquely designed boutiques especially in the Philippines. I love how they get creative with simple pieces like chairs, tables and lighting to make a well designed store.

Trixie's: Banana monkey cream pie (top left)

Zani's: Choco cream cheese (top right)

Mine: Elvis (bottom left)

April's: Pistachio berries and cream (bottom right)

Laie Filipino Community Haiyan Fundraising

It was such a great experience to help our fellow country men who was affected by Haiyan even we are miles and miles away. I can't even express how grateful I am to everybody who helped out as we prepared, cooked and cleaned during the fundraising. There were a lot of students who sacrificed their time and helped until 2am wrapping lumpia so we will have something to sell the next day. Some of our alumni also took the time out of their busy lives to put some flyer on each TVA and Hale apartment so we can spread the word about the event.

We supported Stand Strong Philippines which was organized by a BYUH alumni, ate Samantha Taylor. She along with her group will be sending out doctors to Tacloban City in December 18, 2013 to attend to the victims of Haiyan. BYU Provo also supported the cause by having a fundraising concert last Nov. 22.

beginning of the day at the Shumways

We on the other hand, had a lunch plate fundraising at the Shumway's residence last Nov. 23. Ate May and Kuya Aaron were very kind to open their home to us so we can prepare and sell the lunch plates from there. On the plates were a piece of huge pork BBQ, 3 lumpia with sweet chili sauce, 2 turon and rice. We started at 10am and I was kinda worried that there weren't so many people that knew about it so I wasn't sure if it will be a success. One customer came after the other and we even had a lot of waves according to Pateet when there will be plenty of people that will come at once. We were so grateful that it was so because it meant that we were getting a lot of orders. We were planning to end around 2pm but we still had more plates so we decided to sell until 4pm. After that, our RM's decided to sell door to door around Laie which they really enjoyed because they said they missed proselyting. haha. We stacked the plates in the car and I followed them as they traveled on foot knocking on neighborhood doors. Some of us even stopped some cars just to sell the plates! hahaha It was really quite an experience! We were holding signs so cars would stop and ask about what we were doing. It was successful! Some of them bought but too bad some didn't have cash on hand.

prep and fundraising day at the Shumways

the sister missionaries even came to help us!

Eugene, our master "ihaw-er" and AJ our grill sponsor

on our way to sell door to door

some of us selling to our friends Yengo from Congo and Kone from Ivory Coast

Emil, Liahnne and Cyril on their way to knock on doors

so proud of my husband who was so excited to 'proselyte' haha
(picture taken from inside our mobile 'stockroom')

Nathan sold a lot by knocking on doors. Good job!

We were able to raise around $2000! I couldn't believe how much we made! The plates were sold for $10 and canned drinks for a dollar and some even asked us to keep the change which was so awesome.

I am so happy to be able to help in our own little ways. I am so grateful for kind hearted people who sacrificed to provide service to our fellow men. So proud of my friends! We did it!

Baby Riku Mateo

Finally got the chance to meet this little guy! His parents have been great friends of ours but its so sad that its getting closer for us to part since they are moving to Japan. Good to know that the world gets smaller when you know someone from the other side of the world. So excited to visit them next year though! This baby is such a cutie. So Japanese looking. haha. I watched Zettai Kareshi and thought that Riku would look like the leading man because he was also half Japanese and halp Filipino. haha.

Photoshoot with the Alombros

Its been 2 weeks since I last posted on here. I've been so busy with the demands of life (char!) but I don't think any special thing happened to me aside from the Pumpkin Carving activity and Miki's baby shower that I organized. Soon, when photos are sent, I will post something about that. It's such a pain when something happened and I don't have my camera with me! I have to wait for photos from other people. haha.

Anyway, 2 weeks ago I had an opportunity to take photos for the Alombros before we all leave Hawaii. They've been our neighbors for the past year and a half now and this coming December, its time for us to part as they are going to Colorado and we are going to San Francisco.

This day was quite challenging because it was about to rain and the sky was overcast. No sun at all and the colors looked so washed out. Good thing some photos came out better than I expected. Haha. Here are some of my favorites:

these were my favorites :)

Photos were taken at Laie Point and at the back of Laie Hawaii Temple.

August 17, 2012: Aj Rafael Concert

It was a great experience two days ago. It was my first time to perform as an opening act for someone that is well-known. My band and I had so much fun. Ira will tell you below why James and Jayvee weren't able to play. But definitely next time, we'll perform with the whole band and have some even better tunes with perhaps some original material. It was an inspiring experience and I feel motivated to pursue my interest in music while I still pursue a career in accounting. I guess since I was in high school I had that dream to be a musician, so little by little I guess I'll try to rekindle that flame.

Ira: Emil, Kit and Kuya Osel got to play at an AJ Rafael Concert here in the school's auditorium. They sang With A Smile by the Eraserheads (The Beatles of the Philippines), I wont give up by Jason Mraz and Charlie Brown by Coldplay.

Before the concert, we had dinner with AJ and his band. They were really nice. He tried speaking tagalog to us and gave Emil some music advice. His performance was very good too. Some of my friends didn't know him before they came but loved him after the concert. If you still don't know him, check this out: His version of Lucky by Jason Mraz with Cathy Nguyen. This was the very first video that I've watched of him and followed him ever since. Here's a few pictures that I took during the concert.

Here's Emil, Kit and Kuya Osel. Too bad the whole JELLYACE (their band name) can't play since they cannot be bigger than the main event. (James the bassist and Kuya JV the drummer weren't there to play.)

Here are the links to Emil's performances:

With A Smile by Eraserheads
Charlie Brown by Coldplay
I Wont Give Up by Jason Mraz

and Ke Alakai's (BYU-H student paper) interview with Emil:

Coming Soon: Miki and Phil 9/5/12

It was an honor to do Phil and Miki's invitation. I've know Phil since he's a Filipino and I am too? Haha. I already forgot how we became acquianted. I guess that's just how it is in BYUH. When you came from the same country, you automatically get to know each other. On the other hand, I've known Miki through the 19th ward. She's one of girls that I admire most in the ward. Usually, asians (I am asian too so this aint racist!) tend to be very quiet but she wasn't. She was the first to say hi. They are such a cute couple! Perfect for each other. I am honored to be one of their bridesmaids. 

Their motif was peach and navy. It was quite challenging for the second page since it was in Japanese! I can't seem to figure out how the typography was supposed to be since I didn't understand any of the words. Thanks to Phil's friend who helped "line upon line." Many thanks to all those who complemented the invite. :)

(Since they've distributed their invites, I now have the right to post it.) Yay to Phil and Miki! <3

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