Wandelen (Walking)

Wandelen or walking is one of the most common activity among dutch people here. And walking in the park or in the wood is their favorite place.

Last week we walked in the woods in Natuurpad Ennemaborg. I liked it, to walk in the wood on autumn with those orange or yellow trees and fallen leaves. But most of all I enjoyed walking together with the whole family. Gezellig!

p.s. Thank you Papa Willem for sharing some photos you made :)

Elf november (Eleventh of November)

Elf november of 11th of November is one of the favorite days of the kids here in Holland. They don't have trick or treat here every halloween instead they celebrate the feest day of Sint-Maarten (St. Martin). They are doing something like trick or treat in a way that they will not really threat you instead they will sing one of the those Sint-Maarten songs. They are doing it in the evening by walking from house to house with their special lamp or what they called here lampion. Then they will receive candies, chocolates, fruits and sometimes small toys too.

The evening was a rainy one that's why our daughter together with her cousins Deniz, Tim and Jesse didn't have a chance to walk in the centrum as what we have planned. Anyway, they did walked and sang Sint-Maarten songs just in the neighbor, so they received candies and chocolates too.

Our daughter is lucky to receive a doll from our neighbor. It's not usual to give special toy on Sint Maarten but yes, she got one from Oma Lucy (our generous neighbor). She said for sure our daughter received so much candies and chocolates (which is true) so she gave a doll instead. Thank you Oma Lucy :)

U2NL Concert

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"Het Grote U2 Muziekfeest" that's the title of the concert that we've watched last night. It was U2NL's concert, don't be mistaken because they are not the original U2 that is well known in USA, they are the famous U2 band here in Netherlands, yes the U2 version here in Netherlands that's why they are called U2NL.

Me and my husband together with one of my filipina friend here Aileen and her husband Alex went there and enjoyed the music. I've heard that the tickets were sold out and there were about five thousands U2NL fans came and watched the live concert. They played so good. And one more nice thing is that it was at the same time a benefit concert for Unicef.

More power to U2NL and we'll be watching again your show next year in Excloo.

Ruben's 65th & Berta's 70th Birthday Slideshow

Today is my mother's 70th birthday and yesterday was my father's 65th birthday. Like what i wrote yesterday, my brother's, sister and sister-in-law organized a special birthday party for our parents. The youtube video above was made by my brother Jon and was shown in a projector then. I've heard Jon received compliment from some relatives because it was well done. But for me, the first time i've watched it, tears came out in my eyes.... there's no question with the photo slideshow, it's so beautiful and a bit funny in the first part with some old photos of my Papa and Mama... but when the photos for Family was shown... I just felt how i miss all of them sooooooo much... How I wish my father is in Manila to celebrate with family, relatives and friends... How I wish my husband, our daughter and I was there too... Actually that was our plan since last year, that we will all be in Manila on their birthday celebration, but due to circumstances beyond our control it didn't happen.

But of course, I'm happy that my Mama enjoyed the party together with all the visitors. And my Papa was happy too that with Jon's help he was able to record his telephone message for Mama. Yesterday we did a long distance call for Papa in Saudi and our daughter sang "Happy Birthday Lolo" to him and that made him so proud too..
Thank you Jon, Happy, Alvin, Roshel for helping each other that made the birthday party a happy and successful one. I've seen the video clip of Red and Steph for their Lolo and Lola, that is also so sweet and so nice of both of you. I like it!
And thank you to all our relatives and friends who came and danced in the party.

Happy Birthday Papa en Mama

Today is the 65th birthday of my father and tomorrow is the 70th birthday of my mother. My brothers, sister and sister-in-law helped in preparing the birthday celebration which was held yesterday. I'm a bit sad because my father is in Saudi, so he was not there in Manila to celebrate together with Mama their birthday. My husband our daughter and I prepared a surprise video greetings for my Papa and Mama.

I thank God for blessing us with wonderful, cheerful and loving parents like my Papa and Mama. May God continue to bless both of you with good health, love and happiness always. Keep smiling and stay sweet and young at heart.

We miss you and we love you!!!

Bloemenmeisje (Flower Girl)

Last Monday (September 6) was the first time for our daughter as Bloemenmeisje or flower girl for the wedding of Leo and Diana (dutch-filipina couple)... Weeks before the event i felt so excited already for our daughter... I let her watched the videos of flower girls who usually will throw the petals after the wedding ceremony so she will be familiarize on what she should do then...

I become excited too in looking for a dress and shoes she should wear then... But it's not so easy to look for a flower girl dress here that's why Diana (the bride) made the dress for our daughter. (Thanks you Diana for the lovely dress). Looking for a nice shoes is not so easy too unlike in Manila where you can find in the shopping malls more choices of different style and nice shoes for little girls...

The wedding party was such a nice one.. with Chinese, Thai and Filipino food we've definitely enjoyed eating as well :)

To Leo and Diana, Gefeliciteerd! God bless your family.

Geweldig Huldiging voor Oranje (Wonderful Tribute for Dutch National Team)

Dutch celebrates 2nd place in WK 2010 (World Cup)which was held in South Africa.

There was a Tribute for Dutch National Team today.. I've followed the program almost the whole day in NOS (Ned 1) and tried to watched some in internet in www.nos.nl for the some parts that i've missed to watch...

It was a wonderful tribute for Dutch National Team in The Hague and in Amsterdam...Supporters wears orange again and they have a big party especially in Museumplein in Amsterdam.

Feels like Champion!!! Hup Holland Hup!

Oranjekoorts (Orange Fever)

Last sunday (July 11) we've watched the Final of 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa between Netherlands and Spain in the big screen, in Marktplein here the centrum... Since June 26 or the openning matches for the said world cup, here in Netherlands seems to have Oranjekoorts or Orange fever... This is to show support to the Netherlands National Football Team, whom they call here more as the "Oranje"... It was a nice experience for me to come out there and give support too.. We're about 1,000 oranje supporters who watched there in the big screen...

I liked it really to see everyone on his own style wearing something orange.. As for me, i'm thankful that i have this special Holland t-shirt which i received from Aileen, one of my filipina friend here... It is a personalized t-shirt for me, there in front is a picture of windmill with name "Holland" and at the back you'll see "Dutch my life, Manila girl in Holland" named after this personal blog of mine... Then I made my orange costume complete with an orange crown... ) In the photo above you can see me with my husband with orange t-shirt as well.

We went home sad because Holland lost the game... But of course, it's not bad at all... Out of 32 countries who played for World Cup to reach the Final is something you could really be proud of... For the dutch people the orangekoorts stayed longer... Since the openning of World Cup 2010 till Finals, it's worth it to have those orange flaglets in the streets and in front of the houses, orange displays in the house and orange stickers in the windows (like what we have, hehe!), orange collectibles from supermarkets which our daughter enjoyed playing with... I've seen how dutch people become one in supporting the Dutch football team by having the oranjekoorts... Hup Holland Hup!

Gefeliciteerd Oranje! (Congratulatons to the Nethelands National Football Team!)

Mañana de band Nuchter (official videoclip).mpg

Just want to share the MTV of the song "Manana" by the band Nuchter. It was launched in RTV Noord (Noordclips XL) last July 3, then featured De Weekclip on July 4... By the way the lyrics is in Groningen dialect so just enjoy the music and video which shows the meaning of Manyana or Mamaya na habit :)

Lieveheersbeestje (Ladybug)

Last Sunday was Vaderdag or Father's day. It's the first time that my husband received something from our daughter as a gift for vaderdag (father's day)... It's a stone painted as lieveheersbeestje or ladybug. Our daughter had painted it herself and she was so proud of her gift for her Papa... so sweet.

I've read in Wikipedia that in Dutch, the ladybug is called lieveheersbeestje, translating to "Our Dear Lord's little creature". It is also common to ask ladybugs to bring fair weather the next morning by saying "morgen mooi weer" upon encountering them...

Before I came here in Holland, I used to be afraid with so many insect like those ladybugs, but my husband told me that they are really sweet and will not bite you. I don't have a courage yet to put them in my hands but for our daughter that's not really a problem, she knows that they are indeed sweet and not biting:)

Belated Happy Father's day to my Papa and to my father-in-law
and belated Happy Father's day to all the fathers in the world!

Zwembad (Swimming pool)

Since we came here in February 2008, today is the first time that we went to Zwembad (Swimming pool). My husband is not fond of swimming so we forgot to make a schedule for it... But this time, together with my 3 Filipina friends named Ate Josie, Ivy and Rhoda, we made some schedules for swimming. Actually, it was me who initiated in organizing it... I don't know how to swim but I like it.. And taking a swimming lesson is still in my agenda...

It's the first time that we brought our daughter to the zwembad or swimming pool so at first she was so afraid of the water. But I encouraged her by first just playing her feet with the water, then sitting in the water, and then walking till the water level reaches her neck. I'm happy to see how she finally enjoyed playing with the water. She was even crying when I said that we're going home, hehe! But I said that for sure there will be next time :)

De Ketting (Necklace)

As early as 27th of April, I received already from our daughter her Mother's Day gift. In the Peuterspeelzaal or school where Mireille is going, she made this beautiful ketting (necklace)... As you can see in the photo above, it's made of macaroni pasta which she painted and used it as beads for the necklace, funny!... But I"m proud of her artwork.. I know she made it with all her heart and that she made it especially for me... Normally everytime she'll came home with her artwork, she'll always say that it's for Mama and Papa but then it would end up that she'll be playing with those artworks anyway.. But this necklace since the day she gave it to me, she never ask for it anymore to play with even when she'll see me wearing it... She will just say to me "Wat mooie ketting!" (What a beautiful necklace!)... Indeed it's beautiful and special :)


My husband surprised me too with a bath set mother's day gift.. sweet ha:)

Happy Mother's Day to the best Mama in the world, my Mama
en Fijne Moederdag aan mijn schoonmoeder Mama Gea

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mothers in the world

Lege Batterijen (Empty Batteries)

Lege batterijen? Lever ze in en WIN! (Empty batteries? Send them and Win!)... That's the campaign motto of Stichting Batterijen (Stibat).


Just put 10 empty batteries in a small plastic. Write your name, address and telephone number on a paper and put it there. Then send it to the nearest drop box near in your area. Then you'll have the chance to win the first prize of € 2,000 reischeques (travel check) and 50 VVV irischeques worth € 50. Every month you'll see the list of winners on their website. And for April 2010 VVV irischeque (€50) winners....

I won!!! Yes, today I received a letter from STIBAT together with the enclosed VVV irischeque (€50) as my prize... I'm so happy, thanks to Mama Gea (my mother-in-law) who told me that instead of throwing those empty batteries, I could keep them and send together to the contest of STIBAT... Last March (2010) I have at least 10 plastics with 10 emtpy batteries each and I drop them to the drop-box in the Lidl. I never thought I would win right away...

Thank you STIBAT and more power!

Bevrijdingsoptocht (Liberation Parade)

Yesterday (May 5) was the Bevrijdingsdag (Liberation Day) here in Holland. But it's non-working holiday, only every 5th year like this year the 65th Bevrijdingsdag. We went to Oude Pekela to watch the Bevrijdingsoptocht or Liberation, Parade. We saw military vehicles, tractors of the farmers, antique cars and some Veterans as well. The parade was organized by 50 Pekelder associations and organizations in cooperation with the Stichting Oranje Bevrijdings Comité Pekela (OBCP).
It's the first time that I saw this kind of parade... I like it!

Kikkerdril (Frogspawn)

Most part of Holland is very flat and they say it often as lowland. With some land that is below sea level and almost half of the land is about a meter above sea level. It happens to be the perfect place for the frogs to increase their population.

Way back in Manila, I happened to be so scared of frogs and thoughts that they are so dirty. But I discovered here in Holland, they treat frogs as special animal. I came to know more how kids are interested with frogs. I saw the movie Kikkerdril (Frogspawn or frogs eggs) about the young boy who tried to have kikkerdril just to give it to his older brother.

Anyway, today we went to my father-in-law. There were some kikkerdril in his fishpond and my husband wanted to have some too. We brought it home in a flower vase. My husbands just wanted to show me how they grow each day from een egg into a frog. At first we tried to put them in our aquarium but the fishes seemed to be aggressive against the kikkerdril so it would not even be possible for them to reach their todpole stage... Anyway, we put them back in flower vase so we could really have a better look for the frogs life cycle.

Filipinos in Walk for life 2010 Groningen

Today we walked for life.....




Together with my 2 pinay and pinoy (Filipino) friends named Aileen,Lea and Kim, we joined the "Walk For Life 2010" in Groningen. It's a walk for a cause against cancer. Especially for UMCG Kanker Researchfonds.. And you can choose where to join to. There is Recreative Run, Wandelen (Walking), Nordic Walking (Ski Walking) and Kids Run. For us, we joined the Wandelen 10.8 km. We are all first timer in joining this kind of activity here in Holland that's why at first we didn't know what to expect... Like we didn't know that we can bring food and stop along the lake side to eat, anyway we did take a break in one of the restaurant on the way, hehe! Before the walking, we thought that maybe 10 km is a long walk, we're afraid if we can really do it, but then we said to ourselves "okay we'll just stop if we can't walk anymore till the finish line"... The funny thing is, with walking and talking we didn't noticed that we are walking near to the Finish line already. We found that 10.8 km is so easy, we walked for about 2-1/2 hrs (i think)...

So now we are planning that next year, we'll be joining the wandelen for 28 km... :)

I did have a nice day today with Aileen, Lea and Kim in Walk for Life... This is what I always wanted to do joining a sort of Fun Run though we just walk... The last 3 years in Philippines before I came here in Holland, I did became part of Fun Run activities 2005, 2006, 2007 in the Parish we're I'm active with in Parish of the Holy Family in Valenzuela City. It's a fun for a cause especially for the Construction of the parish church... But I never have a chance to really join and run because for 3 yrs. i was always in-charge in Registration Area, they thought my knowledge in Excel program in computer is a big help to have a fast and well organized registration records... So I always stay behind with all my pleasure of course :)

I'm thinking maybe here in Holland is MY MOMENT TO RUN, hehe! Calling Pinays here in Groningen, please check the website of Ladies Run 2010 (www.ladiesrungroningen.nl). Het lijkt me leuk! (sounds cool!)

De Band Nuchter 1st single cd "Missing You"

A year ago I wrote over The Winner of Popcircus Award 2008. And the winner is De Band Nuchter (where my husband is a lead singer). The prize is CD recording for their first single.

Today they released their first single in cd and digital format. It has two songs, 1st is "Missing You" which is the title of their single in cd, the song let them won the Popcircus Award 2008. It is in english language which was composed by my husband (Ron Mulder) and of course dedicated to me. The 2nd song is "Manana" which is in Gronings dialect and was composed by Fred Jager Sr. (the father of their guitarist Fred Jager).

By the way the cd cover was designed by my brother Jon Debulos (www.jondebulos.com), who's at the same time maintaining the website of the band www.debandnuchter.nl. Dont'ask me anymore who's the girl in silhouette...ahh she happens to be my younger sister, hehe!

To everyone who's interested to buy their single... You can buy it in legal download with this link http://www.legaldownload.net/Nuchter .

Congratulations to the nuchter boys Ron Mulder, Fred Jager, Dick van Huit and Harm ten Hoove. God bless your music.

Again thank you to the supporters of the De Band Nuchter.