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

\

"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!