Homecoming Queen

Biboy Arboleda and I have been friends for more than a decade now, often I would hear his stories about his mother, Mamang Cely who lives in New York. The groovy kind of Mom, Mamang is the type who goes out to smoke and exchange banter with her children's friends. This year, she decided to come home for Christmas and stay for good. It was happy news for all of us.

There is nothing like a mother's warm embrace, no matter what age you are. This Christmas, Biboy is truly home.

We call it Xanadu, Deo Endrinal's beautiful home.

Deo Endrinal hosted the welcome dinner for Mamang Cely.

Kris Aquino and Mamang Cely

Coco Martin and Mamang Cely

Meeting Mamang Cely for the first time.

Filipino favorites - Spicy Crabs, Lechon, Kare-kare and Ube Panna Cotta

Clockwise - The author, Biboy Arboleda, Joel Mercado, Dale de la Cruz, Mitch and Jaki Po

Clockwise - Jojo Saguin, Song Medina, Biboy Arboleda, John Lapus, Ruel Bayani and Mamang Cely

Dale de la Cruz, Joel Mercado and Biboy Arboleda

Biboy Arboleda, Mamang Cely, Mylene Dizon and Agot Isidro

Biboy and his Mamang

Mamang Cely and her family

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The House Of Dr. Luis Santos

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Our next journey takes us to a historic town in Bulacan, thirty minutes north of Manila. My road trip buddies, my college friends who all share with me the same fascination for heritage houses were privileged by an invitation from Melecio Cojuangco to visit their ancestral house in Malolos. Mel, his cousin in law Marissa Lopa, Rima Datuin and Evelyn Bautista and I discovered each other's funny bone because of our love for the ice cream served in a huge bowl at Peninsula Manila's lobby. One evening, to justify our appetite, we pretended it was my birthday and we had the string quartet play happy birthday for me, from then on, we became good friends. Mel's grandfather, Jose Cojuangco was born at the Malolos house, very near the Barasoain Church. Jose's mother traded rice from Nueva Ecija, sacks transported by boat via the river at the back of the kamalig to Binondo, Manila. Like most turn of the century houses, the Cojuangco house uses piedra china ...

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I started blogging five years ago after reading the book Life On The Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers. So touched was I from the story, I named my blog My Refrigerator Door . Ms. Kuipers wonderfully weaved a story about a daughter and her mother who battled with breast cancer in a series of notes posted on the refrigerator door. Last Sunday, at the funeral of Tita Passy, Paz Cojuangco-Teopaco, I was reminded of that beautiful book. She too fought a long battle with the disease, but in her suffering, she has brought her family back together. I met the Teopacos through my good friend Kris Aquino . In one of Kris's anniversary specials on TV, I was introduced by Kris' mother, President Cory to her youngest sister, Passy. After that, I got to bond with Kris's cousins, Tita Passy's daughters, Marla and Rina in a summer trip to Mindoro. Sharing the same love for sentimental music, and deep affection...

My Refrigerator Door

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