Dear Loved Ones,
Pleasant Greetings from SAC, USA! I am happy to be back to the very cold climate, to the 3-layered outfits, while missing the sleeveless shirts, shorts, fresh mangoes, warm Pinas weather, and other tropic things. We praise and thank God for the pleasant flights back onboard DELTA last Feb. 20 via Narita, Japan!
I resumed my SAC routine by attending our monthly Lunch club at the Radisson Hotel on Feb.25 with Sr. Roseanne Murphy, SND- author, as speaker who presented the Story of Sr. Dorothy Strang, Martyr of the Amazon. Then, back to my daily 8:30 am Mass at St. Mel’s and catching up with my Tuesday Bible study group.
For the early part of Feb. in Pinas, I continued reuniting with friends after attending the 3-days silent live-in retreat with the Opus Dei at the Hilltop Drive in San Juan. Annie Ranoa through the help of Alice Librea, got me connected with the Pinas group of OD to fulfill my annual spiritual commitment. It was a very enriching experience with 30 ladies, under the guidance of Fr. Patio, Directress Celeste Baldonado and Sonia Em. I learned much and gained new insights from them,
aside from gaining new friends in the Work.
Other Highlights of my Pinas sojourn:
· Meetings with my business partners, consultants, and friends:
My Meralco connections Ed Evangelista and Carl Aquino at the Q.C. Circle where one had to sign a Deed of Assignment in favor of the other for a smooth transfer of stock ownership in our company Fairview Marine Transport Corp;
· Visit with my dentist Dr. Ariel Santos, for cleaning, repair, and updates on family members whereabouts. While they had received their U.S. embassy approval for migration, all their 4 children are over 21 years old; hence, the kids opted to take graduate courses in Singapore and Australia;
· Met up with my close kumare Tess Santiago at the Via Mare Trinoma (our favorite meeting place for 4 years). After our updates and since it was coded day for my service pick-up truck where I cannot be on the road till after 7:00pm, we decided to watch a movie, like we used to do 33 years ago during our NPC Engineering days. Then, we would go the Hyatt Hotel along Roxas Blvd. to watch lunch-fashion shows which were in vogue during those days. We truly had a great time reminiscing those days and doing the same things now – having much fun!
Two nights later, Tess called me again for a dinner date with family and friends to celebrate the 31st birthday of her son, my baptismal godson Dr. Daryl Santiago – a resident surgeon at the Makati Medical Center. Aside from parents Chito and Tess, daughter Yumi, Imet Daryl’s girlfriend - pretty Yasi Jarin (a nurse based in Singapore) and a friend. Asked when they are settling down, Daryl remarked that “Yasi doesn’t have enough savings yet to support us, so she needs to save more . . . .’, to which Yasi responded with a smile - wonderful sense of humor!
· One afternoon was spent re-visiting UST campus with Dominican priests Frs. Art Dingel and Richard Ang, taking photos around the campus, landmarks, offices, especially with the 1511 – 2011 signs: 400 years of Unending Grace; Proud to be Thomasians at 400, other signs, and logos, etc.. Very nostalgic enjoying the sights in a much improved global ambience.
· Through Facebook, I re-connected with Gloria Mamaclay Tadeo, now working as Admin Officer of Congressman Tumawis of Mindanao. 30 years ago, she worked with NPC Consultant EDCOP who was our office neighbor. When she married 27 years ago, she got me as Ninang at her wedding held in Guagua, Pampanga. I remember the whole family (with Sarah) going there and our car used as her bridal car. She married Wilson, a Civil Engineer with the Land Bank, and they have 3 grown-up children (Civil Engineer, Architect, and Accounting – Joan). How time flies and so nice to be re-connected; her Facebook photo has her close-up with Manny Pacquiao.
We met up at UP-Ayala Land Techno Hub along Commonwealth, which seems to be the hang-out place of yuppies and congress people. Ever since, I like meeting up with friends there – the ambience is cosmopolitan – the location of many call centers. I enjoyed eating halo-halo at Razon’s, lunch at Kanin.
· The remaining days were spent meeting with people interested in buying up furniture and items of our Fairview home, like piano, sala / dining sets, china cabinets. We figured, since my children are settled here in U.S., Gerry finds it too far from work, and I have no close relatives settled in the area, we decided to sell and let go of the property. I have chosen things essential for me, for Sarah and Sean, and leave the rest for Gerry’s disposition. Again, I am adopting the philosophy of detachment, letting go, and moving forward! God is great!!!
Attached are 4 group photos of recent reunions with family and friends. Let us continue to pray for our country and people. Peace and Joy to You and God Bless Us All!
Much love and Best Regards!!!
SUSAN BG
