Dag van het Park (Day of the Park)

Ook weer zo’n zin om lekker naar buiten te gaan? Soms hoef je helemaal niet ver weg om leuke dingen te doen. Laat je verrassen in een park bij jou in de buurt tijdens de Dag van het Park op zondag 31 mei. Het is al de vijfde keer dat de ANWB dit groene evenement samen met verschillende gemeenten in Nederland organiseert. Het belooft weer een leuke dag te worden vol culturele, sportieve, culinaire, groene en andere activiteiten in het park...(lees verder) -www.dagvanhetpark.nl

English Translation: Again some good sense to go out? Sometimes you are not far away for fun things to do. Let yourself be surprised in a park near you during the Day of the Park Sunday, May 31. This is the fifth time that the ANWB this green event together with various municipalities in the Netherlands organizes. It promises a great day to be full of cultural, sporting, culinary, green and other activities in the park.... -www.dagvanhetpark.nl ____________________________________________________________________

Winschoten, our Gemeente (Municipality) is one among the participating municipalities... The activities were held at the Het Rosarium and the Stadspark (City Park) from 1:00 to 5:00 in the afternoon... Actually the the Stadspark and Het Rosarium were just walking distance from our house... so even there's no special occassion we always go there by walking around the Stadspark... The weather is nice.... we walk around, we ate poffertjes (like small pancakes) and ice cream, the kids have special shape balloons, they don't have a chance to have face painting, because there are so many kids falling in line..we thought those parachuters will have their landing in the Het Rosarium, but then it was in Stadspark, so we didn't see them close... Then we went straight to the house of our Filipina neighbor here Ivy, and drink koffee and eat delicious cassava cake made by her...

Anyway, here are some organizations here in Winschoten that joined the activities and invited everyone who wants to join their organization...

1) HCK - Hockey Club Winschoten
2) True Flight Archery
3) Goochelaar Jasper Gray (Magician, actually he's the one who's makes different shape of balloons as you can see in the photo).
4) Vita Nova Toneelvereniging (Drama Club)
5) Hengelsportvereniging Excelsior Winschoten (Fishing Association)
6) Winschoter Kunstrolschaats Club (Skating Club)
7) Golfclub Westerwolde
8) ClubWinschoterGroen
9) Gewichts en Conditiecentrum Winschoten (Weight and Fitness Center)
10) Stedelijke Muziekvereniging Nieuw Leven Winschoten (Urban Music New Life Winschoten)
11) Sportcentrum Nico Jager Winschoten (Sports Center)
12) Damclub Winschoten (Dams)
13) FlyingBirds Winschoten (Cross Biking)
14) Sla Raak Tennisvereniging (Tennis Club)
15) Prenger Hoekman (Physical Therapy)
16) Schaakclub Van der Linde (Chess Club)
17) Kinderboerderij Winschoten (Children's Farm)

Actually there are more organization or sports club here in Winschoten that were not written above, like the table tennis club, runners, wandelen (walkers), swimmers and others. I just wrote here those information from pamplets that were included in the free bag we received from the organizers of Dag van het Park... Mooi zo!

Barbeque Party with my Classmates

Today, was such a nice weather... I did enjoyed the Barbeque Party together with my classmates under the Staatsexamen traject in Noorderpoort College where we study Dutch language... All of us were foreighners of course from different country...

Every pauze or break time the boys normally go outside to smoke. Last month, they came out with the plan to have a Barbeque Party among our classmates and language teachers... Michael (from USA) leads the organizing of the BBQ Party activities, then Halil (from Turkey) volunteered to prepare the meats and to do the grilling... David (from Dominican Republic) together with Fahrat (from Iran) volunteered to help with assisting Michael... Yes, you read it right, ´Men` organized the party... with the consent of course from our Teachers....

And today, the grill party goes well and `gezellig` (enjoyable)... and of course, we ´Ladies` help also in the actual preparation of the food in the table, Titirat (from Thailand) with our Dutch teacher Layla together with our two pregnant classmates, Amina (from Morocco) and Ahua (from China) also help... Then Jhoana (from Venenzuela) and our Dutch teacher too, Lineke en Josefa (from Philippines) who help us with the cleaning at the end of the party as well...

I really enjoyed the day, and I eat a lot... so delicious the meat prepared and grilled by Halil, the Mexican beans made by Michael, Pansit cooked by Ivy (also Filipina), and like a Suman -rice with meat wrapped in banana leaves brought by Ahua... thanks!

Turned 35

Vandaag ben ik jarig! (Today is my birthday!) I just turned 35... Last week, I was asked by my mother-in-law, When or what is my plan for my birthday celebration?... i just answered in dutch "Ik heb geen zin in viering mijn verjaardag... gewoon" (I do not want to celebrate my birthday ... just)... But of course, I expected that the whole family will be here, Mama Gea (my mother in law) and her boyfriend Papa Willem, who's birthday was yesterday (Happy Birthday Papa Willem!)... and my two sisters-in-law and their family with all the kids... At first i want to cook Filipino food, but my husband decided to just order in Chinese Restaurant so everything will be easy especially for me it's my birthday...

Oh! Thank you Mama Gea, actually, she's the one who pays for the Chinese food as her birthday gift for me... My husband surprised me with a bouquet of pink roses as you can see in the first photo... Thank you also to my sister-in-law Marjan who gave me bouquet of flowers as well. I received a special and beautiful drawing from my nieces in Manila, Red and Steph, as you can see in the 2nd photo... Then my cousin in Manila, Aldrin made a special birthday greetings too with my photo in it as you can see in the 3rd photo... Thank you Kuya Aldrin, Red and Steph, I like it and they are so special for me.... Thank you also to my step-daughters, Sharon and Nienke who made drawings as their birthday greetings and they gave me parfume too, sweet ha! Thank you also to everyone who greeted me in Facebook, Friendster and Hyves... and Thank you to Mireille my sweet little girl who send e-card with YouTube clip of "Mama" by Kus as you can see in the video below... (of course it's Ron who really send the video for me, hehe!)

Hemelvaartsdag (Ascension of Jesus)

Here in Holland, the Hemelvaartsdag (Ascension of Jesus feast day) is Official Non-Working Holiday. So we decided to walk in the Park near to our house... There was a lake there, so my husband planned to give food for the fishes, but suddenly the group of swans from the other side of the lake came to us... At first my daughter was afrad, but later on she learns how to give food then for the swans... It's fun!

Vrouwlu & Kerels Run 2009

In Zuidhorn part of Groningen the Vrouwlu & Kerels Run 2009 (Vrouwlu  and Kerel are Gronings dialect which mean Woman and Man) was organized by Sportgebeuren Zuidhorn en World Runners... It's like "run for a cause" whose main goal is to help the children from 3rd World Countries...

The registration was at the pool side of the Waterborgh, Zuidhorn and where was also the start and finish line. De Band Nuchter, whose members were Fred, Dick, Harm and my husband Ron, they perform there in pool side too of Waterborgh to give them live music and enjoy the event at the same time.

For more photos you can visit the website of Stichting Loopgebeur'n Zuidhorn and click the foto's in 2009... And the 1st and 2nd photos above were from the website VrouwluRun 2009. 

Oh! I really wish to join the running activities like this or walking activities as well...

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mothers day!!! to every mother in the world...
Fijne moederdag toegewenst voor mijn schoonmoeder "Mama Gea"!

and Happy Mothers Day to the
BEST MOTHER IN THE WORLD... my Mama
I LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU EVER KNOW and
I MISS YOU SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH

Parish-homesick

Congratulations! to all the Parishioners of The Holy Family Parish in Karuhatan, Valenzuela City in Philippines for the Consecration of The Holy Family Parish church.

In the morning, I go online and waited for any news and updates about the Consecration of the Holy Family Parish church in Philippines, then... It's good that my sister-in-law Happy go online so I got as many information and as early as possible... I was really so excited to know on those moments about the ongoing consecreation then... I've heard it was so solemn that it's not possible to just make photos during the consecreation... The Bishop lead the consecration together with the priests... Seminarist choir came also to sing the Litany of the Saints... Grand Chorale sing for the Holy Mass... And those who attended the consecration especially members of different organization of the parish wear Filipino Costume.

I feel "parish-homesick" as I called it... The parish of the Holy Family is like a home for me way back in Manila... I started to join the Holy Family Choir and the Ministry of Lectors & Commentators in 1997 and became member till i went here in Holland last year... I've learned a lot when I become the Chairman of the PCY (Parish Commission on Youth) in 2000-2001. I was there from the very start that the church become under construction... And I became a member of the Finance Committee, of the Parish Construction Committee with helping in organizing the different fund-raising activities...

Today is the moment that we've been waiting for... the Consecration of the church... I wish I'm there.... tears came out from my eyes, when I saw the photos.... I miss everyone there in parish... but of course deep in my heart, I feel joy knowing that finally the The Holy Family Parish church was Full-Pledged JMJParish (JMJ-Jesus, Mary and Joseph)...
God bless us all.

Happy Fiesta!!! for tomorrow
May 9 - Sto Cristo, Sto. Rosario Fiesta or "Karuhatan Fiesta"

Mireille sings and dances as K3

Few weeks ago, I took a video of Mireille as she sings and dances to the tune of "Frans Liedje" song of K3 - the singing group composed of 3 female singers from Belgium named Karen, Kristel and Kathleen. Eventhough they came from Belgium they are famous here in Holland especially for the kids. It's just sad that after they stay together for 10 yrs in music industry, last March 2009, Kathleen (the blond singer) decided to leave K3... I hope there will be a new singer to replace her and K3 will still go on because for me, I like the group and their songs as well.

Mireille likes K3 too. I remember, one time I tried to sing a Tagalog lullaby "Sa Ugoy Ng Duyan"... ahh she don't like it because she is so sensitive with mellow music. She can easily get emotional with teary eyes, everytime I will sing any song with mellow music... Anyway, lately whenever I will sing "Sa Ugoy Ng Duyan", she will always say "Nee, K3" - "Nee" in english "No" and with K3, she wants me to sing any K3 song instead. Of course I didn't sing K3 for lullaby or else she will not sleep, she will be more awake and will be eager to sing and dance as you see in the video ha... hehe!

Bevrijdingsdag (Liberation Day)

Every 5th of May, is a National holiday here in Holland to celebrate the Bevrijdingsdag (Liberation Day). Holland was liberated from Nazi (German) occupation in World War II with the help of Canadian troops with British and American armies too... I've seen in TV here some of the old videos during World War II... it's sad...

Today, I did not have a chance to watch in TV, the particular activity for today. I just tried to browse in the Nationaal Comite 4 en 5 mei. I told my husband that if the Liberation Day here in Holland was during World War II and ends in 1945... In Philippines, the Independece Day which is celebrated every 12th of June, ends the Spanish colonization for 300 years in Philippines in 1898.

Nationale Dodenherdenking (Remembrance of the Dead)

Every 4th of May, Dutch people commemorates all civilians and military forces of Holland who died in World War II. They let the flag hang half-staff. And at 8:00 p.m., two minutes of silence are observed throughout Holland. Public transport is stopped, as well as all other traffic.

I've made some photos while watching on TV the traditional ceremony at the National Monument on Dam Square in Amsterdam. The program was orgnanized by "Nationaal Comite 4 en 5 mei". It was attended by Queen Beatrix with Royal family, members of the cabinet, military leaders, social groups and people who gather around the monument to listen to speeches as well. They offered wreath and flowers... And at the end of the ceremony some people lay down flowers too.

Godchild

Last year on May 17, 2008, I've got my first "inaanak" or Godchild here in Holland. He is Morten Benedict "Moby" Kruisenga, son of Mary Ann and Jerone... I remember when I met Mary Ann in Sint-Jozefkathedraal, she was then still pregnant with Moby... Then on baptismal, Moby was just 2 weeks old then... Today, I've seen Moby again his a big boy now...

We've attended his 1st birthday celebration in "Apekooi"... it's nice, the kids have chance to play around and enjoy! I met some filipinas too, hehe! there are lot's of Filipina here in Holland.

Happy Birthday Moby! en
Gefeliciteerd Jeroen en Mary Anne

Jesse was born

Today, Jesse was born...

My sister-in law Marjan gave birth to a lovely baby boy. Before she gave birth, she don't want to tell us the name they will give to their coming baby... But somehow we have a chance to hear it from Deniz, her 3 yrs old son. The name will be "Jesse", what a nice name ha... Marjan don't want to believe in my husband that actually that was the name we plan to give to our baby if we will have a baby boy...

Wayback in 2006 when I'm still pregnant and we don't know yet whether we will have a girl or boy, we choose names already for a boy and for a girl.. because we have a girl then we named our daughter Mireille and her 2nd name Frances because she was born on feast day of St. Francis de Sales.... But if it happened that we have a boy, then for sure the name will be Jesse along with 2 other names we choose because Ron wants to give 3 names, but for Mireille i told him that 2 names are enough...

The baby name Jesse is a biblical name means "God's gift" and some defined it as "God exists". Indeed, Jesse is such a nice name for a cutie baby boy of Marjan and Greg. Actually on the day of Marjan's giving birth we are all hoping that everything will be okay with her and her baby, because she has Diabetic pregnancy... Now, we Praise and Thank God. Marjan is okay and the baby is better than what we are first afraid of... Marjan is home now but baby Jesse has to still stay in the hospital for some medications especially he was born 3 weeks earlier...

Gefeliciteerd Greg en Marjan for your lovely baby boy en
Gefelicitieerd Deniz,
I've seen in the photo how excited and proud you are to see your little brother ha...
May God continue to bless your family.