Our Family

I just got back from a recent trip to Los Angeles - I always enjoy coming down for a while and spending time with my "Nanay & Tatay"( Mom and Dad ), My siblings, cousins and dear friends.

Visiting L.A. is always fun for me, Our family loves getting together because it is the time where all of us gather under the same roof and share funny and eventful stories on a personal level.

Now that all of us are considered adults, the age barrier of being uncomfortable to share life stories with our family has been torn down and now more than ever I feel that our family is happier with solid bonds between brothers and sisters as well as an openness to accept and welcome other like minded people in our lives...once we get to know them, they are not considered as peers anymore but our extended family members.

Wealth and things of luxury may be a good thing but I am happy to say that my family is not all about that - the things that we value the most are the experiences and knowledge that our Mom have instilled in all of us and "to always think about our siblings and never argue about money"...I guess all those years of Mom reminding us about this has finally paid off - My brother is someone that I will look up to probably till the time that I'm old and crinkly- he's a cool dude, My sisters are always like a ray of sunshine to me, their outgoing and cheerful personality never fails to shine even if they have other things to worry about, I love them dearly and I'll always will.

My "Tatay" (Dad) is a very hardworking guy, at his age now, he's supposed to be retired but instead he decided to keep working to help support our 2 remaining brothers in the Philippines - Dad may not be the warm and cozy kind of guy but we know and feel that he loves us even if he doesn't say it to all of us.( although occasionally he will have his sudden spurt of goofiness...such as picking on my weight gain or giving flattering comments on our self improvements )

My " Nanay" (Mom) is my pillar, I am very proud of her especially for EVERYTHING that she has done for me and for all of us - she's the kind of Mom that every one could wish for, she always puts her childrens need before hers, she always shows her love for everyone unconditionally and for that, I will be forever thankful that I have been blessed with a Mom like her.

I guess the best part of having a family like ours is the fact that although we dream of things of grandeur, wealth and luxury - we always think of each other and look after each other, having the confidence that you have a Mom & Dad, a brother, sisters, extended family and friends who will always be there for you is the best feeling in the world - No matter how things may come or no matter how hard things may be, I know in my heart that they will always be there, always supportive - never negative.

Mom have always told us to live life within our own means and never aspire for things that we simply could not afford...living a low key and simple life is something that I will always remember, "Life lived in simple ways brings a lot of good and order in a household".

The joy of having such a wonderful family can never be measured nor summed in any amount of money, I am very thankful and grateful that I have them in my life.

I feel like our extended family is a big blessing to our family, having people like them around us is a wonderful thing, I hope that in our very own way, we have never made you feel unwelcomed, your friendship and camaraderie will always be a part of us, thank you for your trust and confidence in our familia.

Now for the question Why are family, relatives and friends important?...

...Without them, you are just an empty shell, without them you are no one, without them your life is just a mere example of isolation.

The things that your family teaches you are your foundation to your own growth, the things that you'll learn from your extended family are the ingredients that will make your life experiences more fruitful, the lessons that you'll learn from all of them are the things that will make you the better person that you could become...

...without them...

...your world will be a world of single hues, of little color...

..."No man is an island, no man stands alone"...

...Your Family, Relatives and Friends are a blessing,
Keep them, Enjoy them....

...Treasure them.