As promised, sharing with you bits and pieces of the Blessing of our humble abode...
Because we only get to stay in the Philippines quite longer during the holiday season, we originally planned to do it on New Year's Day to usher in 2017 feeling more blessed than ever. But then we had urgent family matters to attend to so we decided to delay it to January 8th—just the perfect cap to our 2-week Christmas vacation. It turned out better too because we had more time to prepare and unlike New Year's, most of our invitees didn't have plans for the day so indeed, the house was warmth with the love of family and friends.
Team Blue! It was actually a last minute idea to be color-coordinated
and I was so happy how it looked in photos ^^,
While planning, the only food I specifically asked my husband for was, you guessed it, LECHOOOOON!!! Here in Singapore, half a kilo costs 20 bucks -- that's close to 750 pesos for freakin' 500 grams! We still buy when we can't resist the craving but we always end up wanting more. Finally, we had a reason to buy a whole pig. Yay! We got it from a local Marikina store called L. Silva's and I tell you, it's so good! The meat is tender and succulent and skin crispy and just the right amount of salt. Oh my, I am salivating right now T_T
Let me show you our spread...
All the food was store-bought except for Molo soup which was not in the photo because it's best eaten right off the casserole. Hihi. Pinoy food is just love. Another local favorite from Marikina, at the bottom right, is the Rocha's Puto-kutsinta. Kakanin-lovers (like me!) can easily finish a box in one seating. If you happen to visit the East, do give it a try! :)
Now some photos with our dear guests:
With my maternal grandma, uncle and godson (who is now taller than me at 12yo).
Our favorite aunt from Jhay's side of the famiy, Tita Meg, sis-in-law, and Maddie's cousins TJ and Leanne! :)
With tito, tita and cousins from Mom's side.
I also asked my sisters to invite their best friends over :)
Funny because when we set the appointment at our parish, the priest told us that we should be all set by 11am because he will be there sharp but on the actual day, it was almost 12nn already and he hasn't arrived yet. Jhay had to drive back to the church to check on him and turned out he knew he has a blessing set but when he asked his secretary, the latter lost the form that we filled out! Nastress kami ng slight! Good thing he's also free at 1pm and he asked us to have lunch first and we'll do the ceremony later.
So we just blessed the food and eat we did!!! :D
My uncles butchering the lechon and devouring some of its skin :)
The house isn't that big so we had to set up some tables and chairs outside. In the photo are some of our cousins and family friends.
The kids with the Mommas.
And the teenagers.
It's a full house so hubby and I just sat on the stairs. Buti nga may naka-alala mag-picture sa amin ^^, Usually when we have events, since we are both too busy minding the guest and the activities, we realize that we didn't have a decent photo together only when it's all over.
Jhay's former officemates.
Finally, at just about 1 pm, the priest arrived and the blessing began. It was a quick ceremony but I liked his message of letting Jesus in to our home.
Cute stolen shot of Maddie :)
(Please don't mind my face. Haha.)
(Please don't mind my face. Haha.)
The blessing of our bedroom and small altar. The Sacred Heart image on our bed was a housewarming gift from Tita Meg.
Another boo-boo. We already thanked the priest and walked him to his car when one of our relatives reminded us that we have not had the coins blessed yet. Silly! We had to ask him to go back in to do the blessing. Buti nalang he's also very nice :)
After that, we had the paagaw portion already, for prosperity they say. Of course Maddie enjoyed throwing out some coins, too!
More photos from that day...
Albeit late, my cousins from dad's side were able to make it. They traveled all the way from Cavite, so I am very grateful that they came.
The teens entertaining themselves with some old school charade-type games. I love the bottom photo—they sure were having a lot of fun. Good vibes for the house ;-)
(Top) That's Ate Pants, my best cousin in the whoooole world :) We grew up together playing house and those pretend stoves were from our playsets when we were little. Mom was able to preserve them. Amazing din minsan ang pagka-emo ng nanay ko eh. (Bottom) Nakakatuwa to see our kids playing this time around. We are full-fledged adults indeed!
Albeit veeeerrrry late, my girlfriends made it too! :)
Photo ops in our bedroom. Hihi.
Around sunset, we took a stroll to the clubhouse and saw my sister and her 2 BFFs playing in the subdivision's playground.
And this, friends, is how our community looks like. Ang nice din pala sa pictures kahit walang gate yung houses eh. Haha!
That pretty much sums up our small housewarming event. Till my next (overdue) kwento! A still have a lot, I swear! :D
