For Anya's Club Penguin Membership

It's christmas time and the first person I always think of is Anya - she's the first baby in the family and as we all believe - Christmas time is for kiddielets. Since she is in Australia, I always have a hard time sending her gifts unlike when we spend Christmases together, I can give her as many gifts as I want.

Recently, she has discovered an online game from Disney called Club Penguin. She actually showed it to me during her last visit last June. I find it amazing how kids can maneuver laptops, setup Twitter accounts and surf for crazy stuff like funny t-shirts.

Anya, she's passionate about club penguin and although I wouldn't want her to become a net addict like me, it's just so heartwarming to see her smile everytime she levels up. My sister Joni emailed me too on how Anya needs AUD 35 to continue playing. I am now working on my tasks aside from a social marketing campaign so I can raise $35 tonight and send it to her via Paypal.

Anything for my favorite baby girl! :) That's us last year in a Melbourne flat.

I'm also saving so I can go back but I am of course, torn in between investing the money or just use it for travel. God will find a way :)

Twin Hearts

When Anya was less than a year old, we used to watch this teleserye of Dingdong Dantes and Tanya Garcia called Twin Hearts.

It played in the background while my sisters and I take turns in minding Anya as a baby. The theme song was very catchy and we would sing it to Anya.. "Twin Hearts, we would never be apart, I will love you for the rest of my life..."



Hay, how time flies! I am sure Anya doesn't remember. But you know how babies love songs and they smile whenever they hear familiar tunes. I also took to heart the lyrics of Twin Hearts (corny!) but really, it was not only my song for Anya but for my sister Joni as well.

When we were young, Ate Joni and I get sad everytime we watch the American Tail. Channel 2 used to air this every Christmas. The scene where they sang "Somewhere out there" and the two rats were apart. Now it feels like that. "It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky". Tissue please!



I still weep everytime I remember this because when I was a kid, I never thought we'd be continents apart. I get to visit though and she does too, but it's just different when you're simply in the same place and time.

Here is Joni and Anya now, looking fabulous! I miss them so much T_T At least we have the same headbands.




We will always be together until the end of time :)

One day at Salcedo

I pushed hard for us to have one Saturday morning at the Salcedo market. I haven't gone there and wanted to experience this with my sisters and Anya, of course my own mini family with the boys - Azrael and Ashton.



We got overwhelmed with all the food displayed in endless stalls. Cotton candies, taho, and yogurt were also on wheels circling the market.

Anya and Liza

Before buying anything else, I promised Anya that we'll have some popsicles.

My sister Joni reunited with Taho

Joni and Liza ended up getting barbecues, I got a spinach lasagna. They also tried some takoyakis which were too hot to eat, I never got a taste of it. We then headed to the park for lunch.



Lots of tables and dining area, but I brought Anya to the playground first.



Here's Anya with Kuya Bernard "because he can push higher" than me.


And then we enjoyed lunch, Joni and Anya were so hot because they came from the bottom of the earth. Both were turning red already so we headed to Shangri-la mall.

I wish everyday was like this, going places and burning money.

Happy Birthday Anya! :D

To the coolest Pirate in Australia - Anya, happy 7th birthday! :) I wish that I was there to become part of your awesome pirate party complete with costumes and candies. But we will see each other next month, yay!



Here is your video singing I'm Yours, because you're just not a pirate but also a superstar ^__^
I hope we can record another one when you arrive.

I love you baby! you are number one cool dude :D

Merry Christmas Anya!

I can't be with Anya this Christmas and God knows when I will see her next. She is fond of Pokemon, everything Pokemon that is. When I spotted this doll at a toy fair, I knew I had to get it for her.



Hugging Pikachu before sending it off to Australia.


And now Anya shared the hug this Christmas!

I love you Anya :D

I Can't Sleep! Missing Anya so much

Anya and Me

I just can't sleep tonight because I am excited to go shopping, grab new sunnies and that animal cocktail ring I spotted somewhere :D Looks like not much is going on these days because of the disaster. Honestly, I am getting bored but know I shouldn't be.

Anya's birthday

I was just looking at Anya's photos and I am so frustrated with a capital F. She's grown up so tall, maybe she is at the peak of her growth. Was my last trip to Melbourne also the last time I could still carry her and give her piggy back rides? Lord have mercy.

She's growing up fast, her face looks different and not so baby-ish anymore. Yet I still vividly remember waiting at the delivery room, all giddy and sleepless, nervous and excited. That cocktail of emotion is priceless. When I tell Anya of stories when she was still little, she couldn't remember them anymore. It would be a different story if I was with her all along retelling all my personal accounts of her tantrums and our afternoon naps turned into a game of "who falls asleep first". Usually it was me who fell asleep first before Anya, so much for babysitting.

Sometimes I hate it that we can't simply have everything and I hate more how people have to transfer countries in order to have a good life. Anya is way better off in Australia where everything is accessible and organized. No I wouldn't want her strolling in Manila with her wheelchair only to find bumply ramps or no ramps at all. Writing this makes me grow a lump in my throat. I hate missing memories and not being able to share them with the most important persons in my life like a) my older sister b) anya and c) tamahome. Letter B being the most important, I think Anya and I have so many things in common, God forbid.

Anya's first time to see a computer?

When Anya grows up I am afraid she wouldn't know me at all. She'd only know me as a far relative stuck in the third world.

Anya blowing my birthday cake


Bahay Kubo


Anya's first drawing and first photos in Melbourne

In this blog post, I thought they were just in Australia for a vacation

My Pet's New Outfit by Anya

Anya has been playing with our pet, Mae Mae on Facebook. Even though she is in Australia and I am here in the third world, Pet Society keeps us connected and I see what she does with our pet.



Awhile ago, I asked Anya why Mae Mae has no clothes on and she laughed very hard. At first, the pet's hat remained and the next thing I knew, the pet is totally nude. I reckon Anya put the clothes on sale to earn some gold coins.

She played Pet Society again this afternoon and gave Mae Mae a new outfit. Very cool!
On the wall, she added the word "and" in between Lace and Anya. I also observed that she purchased a second couch and an extra chair.

Thank you Anya! I miss you so much :) I can't wait to see you again.

Kiko's Birthday

Anya never fails to remind me of my younger self, she too celebrates her doll's birthday. His name is Kiko, if I had Alvin, Anya has Kiko.

Happy Birthday Kiko! I hope you had a fun celebration and what a cool mask you have! :)

I wonder when Kikay's birthday would be.

Pet Asiety

That's how Anya calls it before. We even played Pet Society in a computer kiosk in Sydney, she loves the game so much. When she is restless, I just ask her to play Pet Society.

Dear Anya, this is our pet now. I like the dress you chose for her. We also have a new garden to fix!

I got letter blocks so your name is also displayed in the house.

At The Langham

Last Tuesday, we celebrated Vincent's and Tito Emboy's birthdays at the Langham Palace Hotel. They have a classy restaurant which has an extensive selection in their buffet.



Indian, Japanese, Chinese, Australian, seafood, and lots lots lots of desserts!



I feel good!


Happy Birthday Vincent and Tito Emboy :)


Vincent "PS3 Boxing Champion" Ibarra


Tita Cora, Tito Emboy, and Anya Kulit.

Lace and Anya at the Melbourne Museum

The name of my tour guide and museum curator is Anya. She showed us around Melbourne Museum and even wore a dinosaur hat.


Outside the museum


Being silly with dino teeth

I am very impressed with the museum's extensive collection and features. I especially like the science, fashion, and psychology areas.





For Anya, the most important piece inside the museum is this:



Fossilized dinosaur poo.

Koko Black at Lygon Street

One of the places I visited the last time I went to Melbourne was Koko Black. Since my last trip was only one day - Koko Black reminds me of sad goodbyes and limited time with my niece Anya. Not anymore.



Take two, at Koko Black. This time, we can cap every night here if we wish.



Anya remembers so much about my last trip, what we ordered and everything. I had the same Belgian hot chocolate. Anya had an icecream from Casa del Gelato.


So many truffles and chocolate creations to choose from!


One truffle costs Php 70 or AUD 2.50 - crazy but delicious. It melts in my mouth and the cocoa powder's texture is priceless.



Most importantly, spending time with Anya who said I'm the girl she loves most in the whole world :)

Melbourne take Two

Anya, Lace, and Joni

Looks like I survived an 8 hour flight. I'll just blog this swiftly - the first thing I did right after landing was to take Anya to school.

Kiko and Kikay with Anya

And right now we are playing with the dolls given by Yeyey and Azrael. The dolls names are Kikay and Elephant fish.

Anya and Elephant Fish

More later! Thank God for a safe and smooth plane ride.