A Family Reunion in Tanauan, Batangas

Yesterday we went to Tanauan City in Batangas to get-together with the rest of the De Guzman Clan. Our cousin Papon just came back to the Philippines after settling in Italy more than 6 years ago I think. Also Tita Amy is here with her husband. Basically, only half of the clan is present as the other half are mostly settled in the US.

After our arrival (Luna family), came the Munoz family and the arrival of Papon and his wife Doreleen and their daughter Tricia whom we just met for the 1st time.

For our cousins, it's also been quite a while since they last saw my brother Jeff who's been assigned to Qatar the last few months.

Tricia, who was born and raised in Italy, speaks Filipino and Italian. Unfortunately, she does not understand English. They talk in Tagalog at home and Italian in school. She's very charming and sociable. She even recited an Italian poem but we did not understand a word she said. Sabi namin pag lumaki pwedeng maging artista.

It's been awhile since we last had a get-together and so we took some pics of everyone. Too bad Isma's not around coz she's in Anilao for a diving trip and Eric and family is in Davao.

The next generation of kids from the clan... Jeff and inaanak... Tita Nine and apo Tricia while making an Italian speech

The Girls

The De Guzman clan

Discovering one of those old, long lost photographs

I was looking through some old documents and bills of my hubby looking for a receipt of a broken hard disk (hoping it's still under warranty) when I chanced upon an old photograph of me and Rene with a friend of ours after an oath-taking ceremony as Electronics and Communications Engineers back in 2000. Today was the 1st time i saw it.

Rene, me and Ian after the oath taking ceremony for new ECE's back in 2000 (Manila Midtown Hotel)

It is amusing to see how much we've changed for the past 7 years. We were so thin then. It was our only photograph from that occasion. And it was courtesy of Ian, who asked to have a picture with us.

The ceremony was not that big a deal unlike the graduation ceremony. We went there by ourselves, without our parents and did not even bother to bring a camera. Some of our batchmates including Rene even went there directly from work.

Looking back I remember we wanted to skip it as the ticket was expensive. Only it was required by PRC before they could release the certificate/license. Which is also the main reason why we did not take our parents anymore. And to think for that price, the meal they served was a measly pancit (a small serving without much sahog) and a glass of soda. Oh well, afterwards I think we just headed to Robinson's Place Manila right across the hotel for dinner.