Pagdiriwang 2010

I don't normally do any touristy stuff in Seattle but when I do, it's normally because I have out of town friends. Last weekend, friends from Portland decided to drive up to chill after a crazy weekend in Championships down in their hometown.


It was perfect timing as well that it was the Pagiriwang (celebration) of the Philippine Independence at Seattle Center. So I told them about I and of course, if there's food, the Ohana will be there.



All I'm looking forward to are the Filipino food. Eventhough I was just there Monday when I got back from Portland with Daddy.



When there's events like this, the first thing I look for is Espi's BBQ. Together with some sloppy Pansit (Filipino Chow Mein), their BBQ Pork is just amazing and has tons of flavor. Your Filipino meal won't be complete not unless you get some Lumpia. I couldnt resist but to buy extra Lumpias, being the big girl that I am. Haha!!!


Everybody found a spot by the grass and it had the perfect view of the Space Needle. Being the ChaCharazzi that I am, I snapped couple of pictures of my friends with the Space Needle as the background. I should have remembered this spot coz Daddy and I had a hard time taking pictures of the two of us with the Space Needle in it.


Here's Louis posing with the infamous Adidas D1 ball that we used in Championships. We were laughing coz we said that it will be a non volleyball weekend but somehow everybody had the itch and Bubba had to get this ball so that we can pepper a lil.



Heres my Chics leaning over the Space Needle. The picture actually came out good and its one of my favorites.


I had to put some sass and have a picture as well. Sporting the signature broken elbow pose and everyone favorite poutty lips.



Halo-halo (from Tagalog word halò, "mix") is a popular Filipino dessert that is a mixture of shaved ice and milk to which are added various boiled sweet beans and fruits, and served cold in a tall glass or bowl.There is no specific recipe for this dessert, and a wide variety of ingredients are used. The order in which the ingredients are added varies widely. Primary ingredients generally include boiled red mung beans (munggó), kidney beans, garbanzos, sugar palm fruit (kaong), coconut sport (macapuno), and plantains caramelized in sugar. Other components may include jackfruit (langkâ), star apple, tapioca or sago, nata de coco, purple yam (ube) or sweet potato (kamote), sweetened corn kernels or pounded crushed young rice (pinipig), leche flan or custard, ice cream and gelatin. Other fruits, such as papayas, avocados, kiwifruit, bananas or cherries, may also be added. Some preparations also include ice cream on top of the halo-halo.
Generally, condensed milk or evaporated milk is used instead of fresh milk, due to the tropical climate of the Philippines.
In terms of arrangement, most of the ingredients (fruits, beans, and other sweets) are first placed inside the tall glass, followed by the shaved ice. This is then sprinkled with sugar, and topped with either (or a combination of) leche flan, ube halaya, or ice cream. Condensed or evaporated milk is poured into the mixture upon serving.
The dessert exemplifies the "east-meets-west" culture in the Philippines, with the ingredients used coming from a wide variety of influences (to cite some examples: red mung beans which are from the Chinese, garbanzos from the Indians, leche flan from the Spaniards, and shaved ice itself, which was introduced to the islands by the Americans). (via wiki)

It is not a full Filipino meal on this kind of events and this just completes the hole thing. I was so excited for dessert and get some Halo-Halo. I was waiting for Allan to get done eating so we can buy one and fix our cravings. I didn't know almost everyone had the same craving and it ended up looking like a Halo-Halo party.


I ended up having a stomach flu that night. I dint know from where coz I've been eating Espi's since I moved in Seattle 8 years ago. But all in all it was still worth it hanging out with the Ohana and pigging out with all the food. I'd do it again in a heart beat.

not using xoxo,
ChaCha

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The Laundry room and the Patient

I hate doing laundry period. First is not having my own machine inside my apartment, secondly is that our apartment laundry room only has 5 washers and 6 dryers which by the way only 3 of them dries pretty nicely. Yes, FMML! Fuck my Laundry Life! Lmao.

Anyway, I went to our laundry room today for my first round of laundry in preparation for my trip to Portland this Thursday for the NAGVA Championships Yes people, I take forever to pack, get everything sorted out and decide which one makes it to my luggage. So what I do is that I do a general laundry mission. Haha.

When the elevator doors opened, I immediately removed one of my headsets just to hear if there's people in the laundry room. I can hear the washers and dryers running and in the back of my mind, I was like "shit! Here comes a long night of laundry work". I stepped in the room and here comes one of my neighbors that lives around the corner from me. Again, talking in my head and said "Damn it!"

She is this Filipina lady on her 50's. She wears this vintage style glasses that just fits her short curly hair and her mumu dress.

I was about to sit away from her not knowing that she was just right behind me and tells me that one of the washers is open. She says it as if she owns the room and was about to ask me for rental money for using one of her washers. I thanked her for letting me know. That wasn't the first time that happened, ive done my laundry before with her using all the machines all at ones.

Why did I title this "The Laundry room and the Patient"? She happens to go to the hospital that I work at. She often comes in everyday for her clinic appointments. Most of the time, she uses our emergency room entrance to get in the hospital and since I work there and she saw a familiar face, she tries to get my attention to ask questions and at the same time she asks me to get her checked in to her appointment.

One time, I checked her in for her appointment but it was showing that she was running behind. U asked her if the doctors office knows and she replied, "yes!" I guess it was my fault not checking with the doctors office but fact that she lied to me and it got me in trouble pissed me off.

Eversince that happened, i made it clear to her that she should check in for her appointments where the rest of the patients should check in but deep inside I still feel bad not helping her coz she is a patient and it's part of my job.

Did i just get even with her with these? Would she feel the same way if I need to use her so called laundry room?

Shallow I know.

not using xoxo,
ChaCha


- Posted using BlogPress from my ChaCha iPhone

My Just Out Magazine Cover vs Lindsey Bergs Volleyball USA Cover

LMAO!!!
I found the cover of Volleyball Magazine featuring Lindsey Berg and my sillyness kicked in once again.

My second Mom, Momma Lei

This past Mothers Day, I managed to spend time with somebody who I think is an amazing, nurturing and pure hearted lady who I consider as my second mom and of course I made sure I can spend the same time with my real mom but that story will come later.

I met Momma Lei or as what everybody calls her Auntie Lei when I played down in Portland last year around October. At first I asked myself who was this lady who have such a positive aura surrounding her. She cheers me from a far and I can tell that she was watching me closely. There was even some boys who asked who was that "girl" playing? Uncle Keith and Momma Lei looks back and immediately said, thats my daughter.

When I saw my friend Keoki approach her I knew right there and then that Momma Lei was his mom. I couldn't wait for our match to be done so that I can immediately meet her. And as soon as I get that opportunity, I went right ahead and walked where she was. She gave me a hug so tight and I can tell how sincere that hug was. And that was the beginning.

Anyways, after spending half of mothers day down in Portland, Momma Lei sent an email to everyone who was there. No words can explain on how I feel about her message to us. I love how she wrote it. I love the fact that she remembers every single detail of what happened. I love how she would detail every situation about every person. Its sincere ... It's Love.!


Momma Lei wrote...

No words can sincerely express my gratitude for the awesome weekend I experienced! I had a heck of a great time, starting with dinner with Uncle Keith and shopping with Ola on Friday evening; clinic and partying with my vball ohana on Saturday; breakfast with Ola, Eddie and my mini mo'opunas on Sunday; and tapping the day by watching Keoki & Erin play softball. Monday brought nothing but total exhaustion for me while I was at work....was it good for me..heck yeah!

Vball Ohana ~ I expressed to Auntie Dale, how I wished I could or would one day meet your moms and share with them my gratitude for bringing you into a fierce world and being part (a very important part) of my life. Each of you are exceptional and compliment one another with your love for life, passion, a fierce fire of desire of making possibilities a reality! Your thoughtfulness and sincere love overwhelms me to no end...mahalo pili for your Mother's Day evening with me and Uncle. We enjoyed ourselves immensely...but then again we always do and you guys make that possible every time we're with you. We wouldn't have it any other way. Know I'm here for each of you and that I love you ~ eternally.

Hallford-Kalamau Ohana...you make my life complete and you know it! You are my heart and spirit, mahalo pili for allowing me in sharing it with others unconditionally. I love you, today, tomorrow thru time for all eternity. ;-)

I'm hoping one day that my mom and my second mom would meet. It would be a joy fore to see how they would interact and share stories with each other.

Love you Momma Lei!

not using xoxo,
ChaCha

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Just Out Cover

I know I haven't blogged in like forever. I admit I've been lazy even if there's a lot f things going on.

Couple of days ago, a friend of mine sent me a picture of me from last years NAGVA Championships in Chicago and asked him how did he get access from it. He later in said that I'll be in the cover of a LGBT Magazine down in Oregon Which is this years host state, Portland to be specific.

Later on, the Portland Gay Volleyball Director shared a link on my facebook page. I got curious and viewed it and this is what it showed ...

I didn't believe it at first not until I saw it with my own eyes.

He also added that the shot was so amazing to pass taken by a good friend of mine here in Seattle, Nack or as I call him "Camby".

This is definitely another thing to look forward to for this years NAGVA Chanpionships. The tournament director said that all registered players should be getting a copy of the magazine.

Can't wait to get my own copy.

not using xoxo,
ChaCha