TWIN ABELLA'S TURNING POINT: LUZON

My Twins escapade at PAGUDPOD, VIGAN, LA UNION, BAGUIO.

This was the very first time that our twins will be off away from home, from April 08- 11 they would be able to experienced and view beautiful places in our country. Good thing about here is we would also celebrating our 5th year wedding anniversary.

DAY 1 - April 9, 2011 Morning

PAGUDPOD Blue Beach

ACE W/ DADI

AMIR W/ DADI

April 09 - Saturday Night

BANGUI WINDMILL- Ilocos Norte Sight seing...

It is also known as the NorthWind Bangui Bay Project, a project by the NorthWind Development Corporation as a practice renewable energy sources and to help reduce the greenhouse gases that cause global warming. The project is the first “Wind Farm” in the Philippines consisting of wind turbines on-shore facing the South China Sea and considered to be the biggest in Southeast Asia. The project sells electricity to the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) and provides 40% of the power requirements of Ilocos Norte via Transco Laoag.

April 10, 2011 - Morning sight at Ilocos Norte

Marcos Mausoleum and Museum

The museum is where memorabilia of the late president is stored, from his stint in the Armed Forces down to his presidency. Here, taking pictures are allowed. Among the things you can view here are tons of photos of him and Imelda, military awards, pieces of his writing, and his work desk.

Presenting the Abella Twins at CALLE CRISOLOGO - VIGAN!

Stepping in the streets of yesteryears...

CALLE CRISOLOGO is famous for Old Vigan Colonial Houses – the ancestral houses were built mostly by rich Chinese traders. These great big houses are made of thick brick walls and plastering with red clay. Tile roofs are made to survive earthquakes. The Mestizo district where more than a hundred houses line side by side along Calle Crisologo.

THE PAOAY CHURCH

Its a dream come true for us to be able to visit y the best-known “earthquake Baroque” church in the Philippines. Large coral stones were used for the lower level while bricks were used for the upper levels of the church. The walls are 1.67 meters thick and are supported by 24 carved and massive buttresses.

BALUARTE ni Singson in Vigan w/ AMIR

Its a new attraction around the Vigan area in Ilocos Sur is Chavit Singson’s Baluarte. Just as, if Ilocos Norte is Marcos territory, Vigan is where the Singson’s rule. The Baluarte is a big place to see with a mini zoo, shooting range, and a chapel. It is also known as Chavit’s Fortress. Access to the mini zoo, where Singson’s numerous pet tigers and other animals are found are free for the public, as he considers this as a gift to the people. But if you would like to experience to touch, encountered or ride on their horses you also need to give small amount of money as a token to the handlers.

ACE MARLY at Baluarte in Vigan

There are still more animals and sights to see at the Baluarte, some of our friends got closely encountered handling huge wide snake. Wow! Singson indeed has a lot of money to spare for having this kind of place.

April 11, 2011 - Morning at...

LA UNION - CABAGUAN BEACH FRONT W/ ACE

The Agoo Team summer get away...wild current and cold water combined together in this hot summer days. who can't resist even just playing sea side sand like Ace.

Way up to BAGUIO - The LIONS HEAD

a snapshot with the Lion’s Head in Kennon Road.

No Baguio City trip would ever be complete without a glimpse,

it just so unfortunate that it was repainted by the time we pass by.

The Lion’s Head is located at Camp 6 on Kennon Road. Unlike before, only light vehicles are allowed to pass here to get Baguio. A very minimal toll gate fee compared to other side for each car has to be paid.

Kennon Road was built to connect Baguio (formerly Kafagway) to the lowlands. The thought that the cool weather of Baguio City could be reached in 45 minutes made the locals from La Union very happy back then.

The Lions Club, a civic organization that has always been active in Baguio, wanted to make their presence felt and established in the city. But this is not how the idea of a Lion’s Head on Kennon Road was conceived. Man, represented by the members of the Lions Club only went on to perfect something that nature was already making. It actually started with a weirdly shaped boulder that eventually, took the form of a male lion with a mane. Naturally, the members of the club grabbed the opportunity to leave an imprint made of limestone on the face of Kennon Road, Baguio City.

So, you see? There is not just one Lion’s Head, but two. One that was shaped naturally and the other made by man. Today, the Club continues to look after the larger lion, working on it over and over. Repainting and rehabilitating it to maintain its magnificence as visitors make their way to Baguio City through Kennon Road.

The PHILIPPINES MILITARY ACADEMY

THE WRIGHT PARK

ACE MARLY at Baguio Botanical Garden

It's just a few minutes away from La Union, after short swimming in a cold water this morning...and due to heavy schedule of those busy people - who needs to get back to Manila. We still capture the time of visiting the summer capital of the Phils. But unfortunately... this is not the proper time to wear bonnet and jackest due it its warm weather.

AMIR MYROL riding a horse at the summer capital of the Phils.

Recently renamed Centennial Park (although there are no signs to indicate that change of name anywhere) a valuable addition to Botanical Garden is a beautiful bronze sculpture by famous Filipino artist Ben-Hur Villanueva depicting the original builders of the city, composed of Cordillera natives, Americans, Chinese and Japanese working together. This work of art is located right past the gate so it will be hard to to miss!

AMIR & ACE 4th BIRTHDAY

With God's grace and blessing , we are very thankful that we would be able to celebrate you birthday with our friends and relatives. Simple celebration and simple food we shared is a special bonding that everyone will be remembered.

A celebration we made with you dearest classmates....

The Invitation

DATE: FEBRUARY 8, 2011

TIME: 10:00 a.m.

PLACE: Baranggay 122 Day Care Center

The Tarpaulin

The food and give-aways...

Thinking something useful to your classmates,

...and special treat to those nice.

Your Cake...

And your Gifts.

The Happenings!

At School...

...and in our home.

Parteh-party! Thanks to everyone!

The Zoocobia Fun Zoo - Clark Pampanga

Some say's "A happy childhood is poor preparation for human contacts" because you intend to spoiled a child. But how do we really say that our kids are happy in what we are doing, in what we are giving??!

As parents like me would say, i would to give the best for my kids! but after going to a mall that full of toys and Amir asked me to buy small spiderman that cost P548. I started to think, how could I hide this toy to my son. kahit kayang bilhin parang hindi makatarungang gastusan.

After that, I came up a realization to my self : "lagi ko kayong dinadala sa mga may laruan pero pag nag turo na kayo di ko naman lahat binibili. Buti na lang di pa kayo masyadong umeeksena na umiiyak at nag wawala sa mall pag di binilhan ng laruan.

Thank God dadi's here,

Happy days are here again....Our Amir and Ace first encounter to animals

how can we forget, even Amir is so happy and excited, He almost killed one of the birds here...

...Ace is a little bit afraid holding and feeding the birds...nararamdaman nya ung tuka ng ibon.

It's an amazing experience to feed this animals...lakas sumipsip ng milk!

This is one thing that Ace enjoyed and amazed so much...feeding the goats...

Another realization that, a child could say: "Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I understand." We have two lives - the one we learn with and the life we live after that.

KINDER - KAIN GRADUATION DAY!

From kindergarten to graduation, I went to public schools, and I know that they are a key to being sure that every child has a chance to succeed and to rise in the world....But when it come to my kids your Dadi and I has a different perspectives. Your Dadi also came from a public grade school but because of his 'brain-drained' attitude, He become a municipality scholar in high school.

....We are very serious of thinking were we could enroll you in the beginning;

It was a debate between me, your dad and you lolo and lola were we could enroll you.

Your Mami of course, want you to be in her school in Caloocan but because that is million miles away from our home, the plan dropped.

Your Dadi don't want you be be pressured in the beginning of your school years. Your Lolo and Lola very much disagree on a very high cost of kinder garden education.

They, suggested a school that was few steps in our house,

The Baranggay Day Care Center!

Head Start is designed to ensure that all children - regardless of their family's income, race, or background - are able to enter kindergarten ready to learn.

This is what I realized after a year of letting you in the school. Activities and programs in this school are really taking their best to give what supposed to be learned experienced in this school though theres still a lot of things lacking in terms of materials matter. I salute the teachers, co-parents and others who helped our children.

Thank you for letting us be part of you community.

"to our kids, always remember, Don't let anyone else take the measure of your worth and capabilities.

Always stand proud in who you are! Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine."

"Big Thanks to our Big GOD!"

Dadi's Back Home - March of 2011

"What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life - to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories... What I learned as as our family's getting older is to try to appreciate good and bad things happen to our life because, it's a learning experience. Never asked for anything, because if He thinks there is a need, He will provide more."

After giving birth, what I only prayed is: "Sana, meron kaming sapat na lakas para maibigay ang panganailangan ninyo ng hindi nyo kami sumbatan sa kakulangan namin..."

But you know what?! You have what you need to have and what we don't think that we could Give;

It's a usual saying to us: " Nung bata ako, wala ako nyan!" tapos tatawa si dadi.

Don't expect too much that we will always be there kids, If we could- we will! but always remember that we would like to raise a warrior children, can grow independently...

...and can ready to face challenges in life...

and later, when you look at your life, you may realize that the greatest happinesses are family happinesses!"