YTAA 26

He made it to the semi-finals a few days ago. 40 were chosen as semi-finalists to the Young Thomasian Ambassador And Ambassadress 2026. Then he was included in the 16 slots with participants from Grade 7 (where he is in now) to Grade 10. Nissa said there will be more interviews and show of talent skills in the next round. Wishing you lots of luck Nate. Even if you won’t make it, consider it another experience in your junior high school life.

So proud of you. That will never change. You are showing more responsibility and diligence in your studies. Way to go. Nonna loves you so much.❤️❤️❤️

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Batanes

What cities do you want to visit?

If you ask me, there is really only one place where I would want to visit. When you love  nature, I guess this is the best place to be.

Per my research, “Batanes is the northernmost, smallest Philippine province, famous for its stunning landscapes (rolling hills, cliffs, clear waters) and unique Ivatan culture, featuring stone houses built for harsh winds. Key attractions include lighthouses (Tayid, Basco), Vayang Rolling Hills, Sabtang Island’s traditional villages, and activities like biking, diving, and exploring ancient architecture, offering a peaceful escape with distinct natural beauty and strong community heritage.”

I’ve heard of so many positive reviews about the place. There is even this Honesty Store where you can buy things and just leave the money behind, without a vendor. I have feasted my eyes on so many features and photos of Batanes.

Look at this winding road.

What a peaceful place.

The famous Fundacion Pacita.

The Sabtang lighthouse. There are seven lighthouses in the province.

This is my dream of a place. All photos culled from the net.

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Counting

Finally, for the first time in several days, the sun showed its face.

I was looking at the Memories app on Facebook a few minutes ago. It’s kind of fun to recall those shoutouts on my wall. Though Facebook is a little noisy, I still love interacting with friends. It is so far the easiest way to get in touch.

Three years ago on this same date, Nissa was promoted as senior manager of the Bank of the Philippine Islands where I used to work. I availed of an early retirement in the year 2000 because we could not find a household help to take care of the kids. It was kind of hard of course to just have one earner in the family but we learned to adjust. Nissa was in college while Josef was in high school. For me, family comes first…always.

We will be starting Simbang Gabi tonight, a nine-day novena in honor of Jesus’ birth. It’s a Filipino tradition and usually starts on the eve of December 16 and dawn masses thereafter. Every year I always try to complete it although three years ago, I started attending masses online because of my hearing problems. Only one ear is now okay even with hearing aids for both. Even with  costly hearing aids, they are just loud when you are in a group with noise coming from outside.

I am counting and quite excited that in ten days, the most awaited event of the year will be here. 🌲🌲🏕🏕☃️⛄️🎄🎄

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