My Brother Allan's First Birthday Without Papa

Last August 10 was my Kuya Allan's 35th Birthday. And it was his first birthday without Papa. We celebrated his birthday dinner at Trinity Restaurant in Seaside Macapagal Avenue. We have met them there after they bought the seafood and meat to be cooked or otherwise called "Paluto" at Trinity Restaurant. Hubby and I dropped by at Bannaple first to buy a Banoffee Cake as our birthday gift for him.  We then asked the Banapple staff to put "Happy Birthday Tito Ato" on the cake. My son calls my brother "Tito Ato" as here in the Philippines, we often call our uncles "Tito"; my brother being a lawyer, the "Ato" is a shortened name for "Attorney. The place is really cozy and comfortable too. I'm used to eating grilled foods in an open restaurant (We call those places here in Manila as "Dampa" or "Ihaw-Ihaw") but Trinity has an atmosphere of an elegant but cozy air-conditioned restaurant. There was a strip of restaurants too where people could eat outside if they want to listen to a band or to dine inside. If I'm not mistaken, Trinity also offers live bands as I saw a mic stand, musical instruments and other band thingies on a nook inside. The food, service and place are great! 

The food was astonishingly delicious! It's as if we had our personal waiter too. Shrimps, Grilled Squid, Adobo, Sisig, Sinigang sa Miso, Ensaladang Mangga and Crispy Pata were served, among others. Mouthwatering yet sinfully delicious! We reminded our Mom to just get a little portion of every bit of it as she has a maintenance for having a high blood pressure. She already took Blopress (I believe) prior to eating just to be sure. Those foods were my Papa's favorite, I should know! Aah, it kills me inside thinking that last year he was still with us and now all we do is wishful thinking... 

The next day, we all decided to visit Papa at his grave-site. It was a rainy afternoon, but we have decided to go there by hook or by crook. My brother asked Ate Lita to cook Pancit Canton, Mixed Pork and Chicken Adobo and Ensaladang Mangga. Hubby and I dropped by at JCo Donuts and bought 2 dozens of assorted ones. My Mom is a certified nut-lover and I didn't get surprised when the Alcapone became her favorite. I still love the Avocado Dicaprio. Glad that our contact at the cemetery was able to prepare the tent and 10 chairs so we could stay there comfortably, bond with the rest of the family and with my Pops too, in spirit, :) !



It's true we all have to deal with the loss and move on with our lives, coz if Papa was still here, I think he wanted us to do so. As long as we remain strong for each other and we include him in our prayers and in all the important events in our lives, Pops will remain alive. 


will post photos soon

The Best Day by Taylor Swift and Bye Bye by Mariah Carey

I admit, I'm uber emotional. I cry while watching Titanic over and over again. I cry while I watch Finding Nemo. With regards to songs, ever since I was a kid, I listen to a song not solely on the musical arrangement but on the lyrics primarily. Would you believe that when I was still 9 years old, the popular songs of Eraserheads were not my fave, but their single "Poorman's Grave" was at the top of my list? I love the meaning of it.

So now that my Papa's gone, I'm a sucker for all songs that relate to father and daughter relationship, death of a parent or something that tells about a person leaving. Whatever genre it's in, as long as the meaning revolves around those I've mentioned, then I'm a fan of it! It helps me express myself and think about memories with my Papa. The things he has taught me and the way he lived which made me realize important things in life. He was not perfect, nor how he lived his life- from there I should extract the great things and apply them to my life; the not so good ones should serve as a lesson. 

I super love the songs "Rainbow" and "Dance With My Father". Recently, these two are my favorite. Here are the lyrics and sources of "Bye Bye" by Mariah Carey and "The Best Day" by Taylor Swift.

BYE BYE 

by Mariah Carey

SOURCE: http://videokeman.com/mariah-carey/bye-bye-mariah-carey/  

This is for my people who just lost somebody

Your best friend, your baby, your man, or your lady

Put your hand way up high

We will never say bye (no, no, no)

Mamas, daddies, sisters, brothers, friends and cousins

This is for my people who lost their grandmothers

Lift your head to the sky ‘cause we will never say bye

As a child there were them times

I didn’t get it but you kept me in line

I didn’t know why you didn’t show up sometimes

On sunday mornings and I missed you

But when we talked too

All them grown full things

Separation brings

You never let me know it

You never let it show because

You loved me and obviously

There’s so much more left to say

If you were with me today face to face

Chorus

I never knew I could hurt like this

And everyday life goes on like

“I wish I could talk to you for awhile”

“I wish I could find a way try not to cry”

As time goes by

And soon as you reach a better place

Still I’ll give the whole world to see your face

And I’m bragging right next to you

It feels like you gone too soon

The hardest thing to do is say bye bye

By-Bye By-bye By-bye

By-Bye By-bye By-bye

By-Bye By-bye By-bye

By-Bye

And you never got the chance to see how good I’ve done

And you never got to see me back at number one

I wish that you were here to celebrate together

I wish that we could spend the holidays together

I remember when you used to tuck me in at night

With the Teddy Bear you gave to me that I held so tight

I thought you were so strong

That you can make it through whatever

It’s so hard to accept the fact you’re gone forever

Chorus

I never knew I could hurt like this

And everyday life goes on like

“I wish I could talk to you for awhile”

“I wish I could find a way try not to cry”

As time goes by

And soon as you reach a better place

Still I’ll give the world to see your face

And I’m bragging right next to you where

It feels like you gone too soon

The hardest thing to do is say bye bye

By-Bye By-bye By-bye

By-Bye By-bye By-bye

By-Bye By-bye By-bye

By-Bye

This is for my peoples who just lost somebody

Your best friend, your baby, your man, or your lady

Put your hand way up high

We will never say bye (no, no, no)

Mamas, daddies, sisters, brothers, friends and cousins

This is for my people who lost their grandfather

Lift your head to the sky ‘cause we will never say bye

I never knew I could hurt like this

And everyday life goes on like

“I wish I could talk to you for awhile”

“I wish I could find a way try not to cry”

As time goes by

And soon as you reach a better place

Still I’ll give the world to see your face

And I’m bragging right next to you

It feels like you gone too soon

The hardest thing to do is say bye bye

THE BEST DAY 

by Taylor Swift

SOURCE: http://videokeman.com/taylor-swift/the-best-day-taylor-swift/

I’m 5 years old It’s getting cold out

Got my big coat on

I hear your laugh And look up at smilin at you

I run and run

Past the pumpkin patch and the tractor rides

Look now, the sky is gold

I hug your legs and fall asleep

On the way home

I don’t know why all the trees change in the fall oh oh

But I know you’re not scared of anything at all oh oh

Don’t know if Snow White’s house is near or far away

But I know I had the best day with you today

I’m 13 now and don’t know how my friends could be so mean

I come home crying and you hold me tight

And grab the keys

And we drive and drive until we found a town far enough away

And we talk and window shop til I forgotten

All their names

I don’t know who I’m gonna talk to now at school uh uh

But I know I’m laughin pn the car ride home with you uh uh

Don’t know how long it’s gonna take to feel okay but I know I had the best day

With you, today

I have an excellent father

His strength is making me stronger

God smiles on my little brother

Inside and out he’s better than nothin

I grew up in a pretty house

And I had space to run

And I had .. The Best Days with you

There is a video I found

From back when I was three

You set up a paint set in the kitchen

And you’re talkin’ to me

It’s the edge of princesses and pirate ships

And the seven dwarfs

My Daddy’s smart and you’re the prettiest lady in the whole wide world

Now I know why the all the trees change in the fall oh oh

I know you were on my side even when I was wrong

And I love you for giving me your eyes

Staying back and watching me shine

And I didn’t know if you knew

So I’m takin’ this chance to say

I had the best day

With you, today

Papa, I remember our afternoon naps when I was a kid, our chit-chats, our funny moments- everything. But when I grew older, started out my own family, got busy with work, I just wish I had the chance to say a lot of things more than "I Love You"...