Monday, December 25, 2006

Christmas Letter 2006

Merry Christmas to all!

Each of us Valdeses has written up our year, blog-style with added pictures, links and videos. It's a great way to explore what we've all gone through in 2006.

We've also loaded up our previous Christmas letters so you can see how this annual process has evolved.

Enjoy!

Bryan is now legal

It’s about that time of year when we all sit down and start to ponder the question, "Has it been a year already?" Well, the bright lights, colorful decorations and going over the credit limit dictate that Christmas is all around us.

During the course of the summer, my family was kind enough to pay me a visit in the US. Our vacation began in Michigan, visiting the Prieto’s for a couple of weeks.

After Lansing, we flew to Las Vegas. Quite frankly, of all the destinations, I enjoyed Sin City the most. I was amazed how the hotels lit the Vegas strip. These casinos spend billions each year competing for tourists. I guess money really does make Vegas go round.

The last stop of our trip was a visit to Disneyland in Anaheim. This part of the trip was focused mainly on the children. I came to conclusion that I had officially outgrown Disneyland.

However, the most memorable event of the year would be my coming of legal age. Turning 21 is a milestone for everyone.

I was fortunate enough to have a celebration in The Fort prior to my return to the United States.

Being legal means that excuses are no longer acceptable responses to authorities. We can no longer use ignorance as our last saving grace. It also means that Mom's and Dad's expense accounts are no longer smiling in your direction. There comes a point in everyone’s life where the nest is no longer the “cool” place to hang out.

I guess you could say being legal has its perks as well as countless responsibilities.

It will also be during this period of my life that I will hopefully graduate college, and with any luck, find a job. Suddenly, my priorities change, short-term goals seem real difficult to achieve and long-term goals almost impossible to reach. All I can say to those who will be experiencing this in the near future: welcome to reality kid, mom and dad never took the easy way out, why should you?

It is with anticipation and curiosity that I look forward to the New Year and future experiences that can help pave the yellow brick road to success.

Tyrone went trekking in Thailand

The best thing I did this year was go on my Beacon Grade 5 class trip to Chiang Mai in Thailand. There we saw a really cool temple. We had to walk up these 306 steps to get to the temple. I didn't race up the steps cuz I was taking pictures but I did race down. Once we got there, we all posed for a picture.

Inside the temple was a golden buddha, with rubies or diamonds - I'm not really sure. There were a lot of buddhas all over the place. The place smelled weird cuz of the incense.

There was also a green buddha. If a friend or family member is sick or hurt, you can paste something on the buddha and that guy will get healed.

I saw this lizard. If you did something bad in the past, when you put your hand in the mouth, the lizard's mouth will close and bite you. I tried putting my hand in and good thing nothing happened.


We went to an orchid garden where I took this cool video of a butterfly.


We also went trekking all the way to Mahout's Elephant Camp, where I took this video of an elephant playing soccer. Afterwards, the mahouts gave out sugarcane and bananas and I fed the elephant a banana. My friends and I also got to ride the elephant. My elephant was called Ty-ty, almost like my name.

We also went to a metal factory, where I saw this pewter carving of an elephant battle. I guess Thailand is really into elephants.

Dad insisted on putting my picture in. Merry Christmas!

Annika's great year

In April, I went to visit Bryan in San Francisco, then went to visit Tito Andrew, Tita Myda, Alexi, Audrey, Anatori and Mitteo in Michigan, then flew to Las Vegas with Daddy, Mommy, Bryan, Tyrone and Athena, and then drove to Disneyland and Legoland; and then drove back to San Francisco with Daddy, Mommy, Bryan, Tyrone and Athena.

In San Francisco, we also got to visit Great America with Janine. It reminded me of my birthday when we went to the Eurostar carnival in Manila.

The trip to the U.S. was really fun and next year we're going there again because of Bryan's graduation.

I'm now in Grade 2 and my best friend is Tin-tin Tolentino. I also play a lot with Tara and Chesca Imperial, Mia Laurel, Nicole Barandiaran, Daniella Uichico and there is another girl but I forgot her name.

In December, I had my First Communion. The bread kinda tastes like trail mix and a bit of peanuts and bread mixed all together. And I was really shy cuz so many people were looking when I was walking down the aisle.


I've been taking piano lessons and I had a Piano Recital in December. For Christmas, my Daddy bought me an electric piano. I've also been taking lessons in Little Gym so that I can get as thin as Mommy but not as thin as a skeleton.

Athena, cover girl

I guess I can say my first year has been a pretty good year, especially since it started with me on the cover of Baby Magazine's January issue. Not so bad, considering I didn't turned one until May.

And what a grand birthday bash I had. Mom threw me an Indian-inspired party that even made the pages of OK! magazine. Between Mega last year and all of this year's magazines, it's possible that Mommy Tessa may have finally found her match!

All that and I haven't even spoken my first words yet. I can manage the occasional "Mama-ma" and "Dah" but "Tyrone" or "Annika" or "Bryan" are just too hard. But I don't mind, cuz I'm only one and I've got a lot of time!

Tessa's been everywhere this year!

In my very colorful and animated world, I am continuously being showered with love, laughter and blessings from my dearest family and friends. I guess the highlights of this year are the things I am most grateful for aside from the usual ... health, wealth and happiness.

First, I am grateful for all of my kids who are individually blossoming into a silly, creative and bright bunch. I am particularly happy about how little Athena is gaining ground in everyone's hearts. For her first birthday, I organized a Bollywood/Princess Jasmin theme party with belly-dancing by sultry Ginajane Grey and some transvestites in full costumes. Most of the kids didn't even realize the latter were not ladies (and some of the Dads didn't either).

Second, I am grateful for all the work that enables me to travel and explore the world even further. This year, I flew to KL for an intensive Feng Shui course with my Baclaran buddy Rosan Cruz. We took a 5-day course under Feng Shui master Lilian Too so we could harness more good graces, gain positive energy and get the most luck the stars and planets will allow us to have.

As life is so unexpected, Dennis was in a major crossroad in his life at the same time as the course. But Dennis and I just enjoyed more trips together and went diving in Tubbataha on board the Tri Star thanks to Tita Mary de Leon. We dove with PGMA who joined us for a day dive when she hopped on board from her naval ship.

From Malaysia, I headed to Amsterdam and London for the media launch of the Freedom of the Seas. As the largest cruise ship in the world, Royal Carribean's Freedom did an inaugural tour from the Port of Southampton, England (the same port that the Titanic sailed from but the comparison stops there). The ship is so gigantic and filled with Pinoy staff. I was again proud to be Filipino.

For our 12th anniversary and to keep the marital sparks ignited, I kidnapped Dennis to spend a get-away weekend in beautiful Boracay. We stayed at Boracay Tropics, a green sanctuary oasis just a few meters from the beach.

My biggest event this year was my Assumption Velada. I am just totally grateful for all my classmates that have worked tirelessly for months as the hosts of this year's homecoming. Super Popsie Gamboa delivered maybe the most attended, well-organized Velada of the century.

On the health side, I have toned down to my pre-Athena figure and become even stronger. My activities range from Bikram yoga, Pilates (sessions I share with Dennis), Body Toning, Flamenco and swimming. My new goal next year is to run the NY Marathon! Dennis and I completed a charity triathlon with HSBC Warner Manning, who is leaving his post this year (sob! sob!). It was challenging but tons of fun even if I came in last.

So many other countless events and side trips to places as diverse as Vigan and Singapore have kept this whole year exciting and fast moving.

We may go through life without ever smelling the roses and really appreciating the people who matter most. This year, I feel my relationship with Dennis has strengthened after weathering the tension from all the family issues and I believe we both are on more stable and loving ground.

May we all be loved and blessed as much as we deserve! If not, just love and be blessed because all that good energy comes around a hundredfold!

Dennis rolls the dice

In early April, I got a horrified phone call from Tatler editor Anton San Diego, "What do you mean you're leaving Inquirer?!? Your article comes out in our April issue!"
He was right. In my life, I've found that when events start moving, they move very fast. I had to tell Anton that indeed, after 10 years, I had resigned from the Inquirer group effective end-March.

Perhaps it's the stubborn Ox in me or maybe it's the unflinching principles that characterize the Ongpins, but the bottom line is that it had become impossible for me to continue to operate under the management status quo.

Whatever. Clearly it was time to roll the dice!

Two months later, I was in Bobby Ongpin's office as he informed me that he would very much like it if I started work the next day. Bobby has always been a persuasive man and so I did just what he wanted.

So now I'm running PhilWeb, a publicly listed company focused on assisting Pagcor in operating internet casinos. It's a surprisingly profitable, growth business - perhaps showing that the Pinoy DNA truly does contain risk-taking genes.

On the non-work side, Tessa and I have really been working on our health. I have Pilates with her on Thursdays, underwater hockey on Tuesdays, golf on weekends and swimming in between all that. She tops all this with additional Bikram, Flamenco and body sculpting.

With all this, we're looking forward to a truly healthy 2007!

Tessa's Extra Page (of course, she's gone over the "Baggage Allowance")

My Velada has been such a big part of our whole family's life all year, that I thought I would share my Inquirer columns on the event itself:

Excerpt from "Divisoria to Velada"
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Last updated 01:49am (Mla time) 10/15/2006

TODAY IS MY WEDDING DAY. All right, all right. Not really but, well, it sure feels like it is since today is Old Girls’ Day in Assumption College. My batchmates and I have been preparing for this 25th anniversary of our high school graduation for the past five years. That’s even more time than I spent preparing for my wedding!

One key difference is that this Velada literally involves a cast of thousands! It’s impossible to list everyone, but there are batchmates, co-celebrators, sponsors, spouses, children, suppliers, printers, videographers, directors, choreographers, costume-makers, set designers, carpenters and so many other people who have worked to ensure that this is an unforgettable milestone.

The final week has just been chaotic, what with the monumental rehearsals squeezed in between entertaining our balikbayan classmates. It’s in our Filipino DNA to be more entertaining when a visiting friend is in town.

Amazing shopping
I am always so proud to be Filipino whenever I am with balikbayans and have the chance to tour them around our urban jungle. Where do I bring them on their very first day? Our very own... Divisoria! Together with the 168 Mall, Divisoria is the epitome of Pinoy bargain shopping. My friends were simply amazed at how far their dollars could go in this place, and they totally got the hang of retail purchasing at wholesale prices.

The Philippines is also being promoted as a spa destination. In line with that, I took my closest balikbayan high-school friends, Annabelle Luzuriaga-Bautista, Emilie Ochoa-Petrocelli and Isabel Lacson, to Urban Spa at the Shang Mall for a whole afternoon of pampering. I treated them to a Luxury Scrub and Urban Spa’s newest service, Hot Stone Therapy Massage.

Urban Spa has an ongoing promo with American Express Peso Platinum Credit Card, where one can enjoy complimentary treatments when signing up for the relaxation and wellness packages. The Double Membership Rewards Points program is a wonderful option in time for Christmas. Everyone loves some pampering to knead our stresses away.

After that short, shameless plug, let me return to the topic of balikbayan entertainment. A lechon must be on the agenda, so aprés spa, I hosted a dinner catered by Elar’s Catering, known primarily for their lechon and Pinoy dishes. Personally, I don’t eat meat, but the lechon was so good there wasn’t even enough leftover to make paksiw.

At the dinner party, I noticed we have so many doctors in our high-school batch. We graduated in 1981, the era of “Saturday Night Fever,” “Charlie’s Angels” and an explosive political scenario. Hence, a good number of classmates opted for greener pastures abroad. After 25 years, it’s great to be briefly reunited to celebrate our Silver Anniversary.

Excerpt from "Old Girls' Night Out"
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Last updated 00:49am (Mla time) 10/22/2006

Velada
The very next day was Assumption Old Girls’ Day. Straight from Malacañang Palace came PGMA herself dressed in her classic, red plaid uniform! Popsie Gamboa, chair of Old Girl’s Day, and I, as head of the Silver HS Batch ’81, I greeted the President as she entered the chapel.

Our solemn Mass, officiated by Fr. J. Cesar R. Marin, S.J., was painstakingly arranged by Girlie Guzman-Sison. It was so meaningful with the angelic voice of Silver girl Anna Hortaleza-Galvez and the symbolic homily and tear-jerking reflection of Silver balikbayan Monica Francisco-Benares.

I didn’t expect the fervent atmosphere to get me so teary-eyed but seeing everyone in uniform just like we were 25 years ago was so nostalgic. This Velada tradition is truly unique to the Assumption. And no Velada is complete without a Velada Show! Held at the newly renovated Mother Rose Auditorium in Assumption San Lorenzo, our show started promptly at 3 p.m. and was followed by an Encore Show at 6.

All Veladas are the product of years of hard work, mountains of fun and countless generous sponsors. Like infectious laughter, our Velada fever spread and by the time we hit the stage, our group of Silver Jubilarians was the largest ever, featuring a record 130 girls-now-women.

“Assumption … World Class!” was the title coined by our creative director Freddie Santos. His commanding voice was powerful enough to lead 300 participating Jubilarians—Silvers, Golds, Rubies, Pearls and even Diamonds— through a Broadway-level production. The formidable Assumption education was the main theme with dances from the different countries where there are Assumption schools.

After countless days of involvement in socially relevant activities, long weeks of rehearsals, myriad months of meetings and literally, years of preparation, Assumption HS ’81 had re-bonded together and that overwhelming impression was felt throughout the auditorium. We were screaming between performances in such joy and relief. Many said that they couldn’t even remember what life was like before the Velada!

Flamenco
Our first dance was Flamenco, as choreographed by sexy instructress Ginajane Grey. We may all be women of a certain age, but with the right attitude, all of us looked like skilled dancers, with our Flam skirts swirling and all of us twirling with gusto.

Of course, we couldn’t compare to the recent, impressive staging of “Carmen” by Instituto Cervantes. I had the good fortune of watching Sara Baras, the world’s top Flam dancer, as she did “Carmen,” thanks to the gracious invitation of Spanish Ambassador Ignacio Sagaz.

Afterwards, I was even more inspired to perfect my dancing. The awesome flowing outfits and graceful movements of the Spanish dancers were so beautiful. I am sure next year’s recital of the Ginajane Grey Dance and Art Center will be visually stunning.

After our Spanish number, we covered England, Asia and, of course, the Philippines, with the still-strong ladies of Diamond ’46 doing Sa Kabukiran. In the past, Diamonds had not had a chance to participate in the Velada Show, but this year, they willingly joined not just one but two shows!

Belly dancing

Months ago, I introduced the idea of belly dancing to the Golden Girls of HS Batch ’56. After the initial wave of violent reactions, there were gentle suggestions of veil dancing and fully covered bellies, and then finally, they were all sold on the idea and heartily embraced the theme. With Ginajane’s drum-beating guidance, the Golden Girls were one of the most loudly applauded numbers during the show.

The show’s most magnificent costumes went hands-down to Ruby Class ’66, who delivered a most bodacious number from Latin America. Also much applauded was a jazzy, cool number by Pearl Class ’76, who added pizzazz to the show with their “New York, New York” performance.

The disco medley finale by Sandy Hontiveros and HS Musical dance by Batche Tan was most brilliant and brought the house down. With makeup by Lancôme and hair by Basement Salon, all of us Silver Stars looked fresh out of high school—well, at least in spirit and attitude!

Still on a Velada high, we all headed to Strumm’s Jupiter for our after-party, featuring drinks and DI’s for us girls-once-more. The ’80s live music was provided by Route 70, with Dingdong Eduque singing the hits of our era. More disco hits were mixed by DJ Boyet Almaza, who kept the dance floor full all night. Batchmate Janine Cuenca-Dario arranged this high-energy party.

The list of people to thank is too long but biggest thanks go to Smart Infinity, PLDT, Volvo and PDI. Generous CEO Manny Pangilinan, who also celebrated 25 years of First Pacific, even played badminton in one of our past, fund-raising tournaments. My mother, Marixi Rufino-Prieto, has been just as bighearted. It’s such wonderful timing that Golden Mom and I celebrated this milestone together.

Bonded with memories of laughter, endless food, fun and camaraderie, we are all united. The time we spent to show our love for Assumption was well worth every hour! We will always look back to our Velada with unbelievable joy.

Other Inquirer columns this Christmas season:
Holiday disco fever, Dec. 17, 2006
Christmas and birthdays, Dec. 10, 2006
Sweet gifts are made of these, Dec. 3, 2006