Kid Friendly Lunch of Wings & Ribs at Nuvali's Solenad 2

Ribs, chicken fingers, fries, mac n' cheese, and dirty rice.

Visiting Nuvali this weekend made us feel like tourists.  We've been to Nuvali many times before, but it was our first time to explore the more recently developed phase of Solenad 2.  It reminded both Oliver and I of factory outlets in the U.S. because of the wide space, the open parking, the single-story buildings, and the sprawling lay-out.  Even the lovely drive along the SLEX helped create the feeling of approaching a factory outlet complex off an interstate highway in the U.S.   The composition of stores and restaurants also felt somewhat reminiscent of suburban community centers in North America. There's a decent-sized Robinson's Supermarket and a True Value hardware store in one building.  Right next to it is a flat building with a row of restaurants. It was time for lunch, and our hungry group of 5 adults and 2 tots were happy to find a table at Chubby's Rib Shack which shared the same restaurant space with Buffalo's Wings n' Things. We're going American today. It's not the healthiest diet in the world, but we want our kids to grow up exposed to a wide variety of food, and Oliver is appreciative of a good barbecue flavor. Ribs and Wings for lunch, hooray!!

 We're all excited to dig in (not baby Guijo though, he's just posing).

There are a number of factors that make this relaxed resto kid-friendly.  The paper plates, plastic cups, and plastic cutlery gives diners license to be informal. Though I usually find disposable tableware too flimsy and inconvenient to use (and I worry about garbage creation), in this particular situation, it worked out quite well in adding an "outdoor bbq" feel to the dining experience.  There's a big pack of extra-strong folded napkins on the table, which can be read as an invitation for diners to go ahead, and use our hands to eat. Ribs, wings, and fries are finger food after all! And they were finger-licking good! 

Independent Narra now cutting her own food.

Dining out is often challenging with kids and yayas in tow because the adults take turns in feeding the kids and eating, and this can make for awkward moments. Oliver often eats fast so he can take Guijo from his yaya, while I feed Narra and myself at the same time so her yaya can enjoy her food. With finger food like this, however, everyone got to eat at the same time! What a rare occurrence! Rice was served in individual cups and the ulam could be eaten with bare hands, and this situation was conducive for one-hand feeding, so carrying baby Guijo while eating was feasible.  Narra pretty much fed herself. She excitedly offered fries to everyone. She's forbidden to touch knives, but today, under close supervision, we allowed her to use the plastic knife to cut her food, and she was so thrilled!  

Sampler trio: Barbecue, Spicy, and Garlic Parmesan Wings.

We ordered a trio sampler of wings, which came in classic barbecue, spicy, and garlic parmesan flavors (P349 for 3 baskets with 6 wings each). We also ordered ribs (P349 per order), chicken fingers (P139 for 5 good-sized and dense chicken strips), and a variety of side dishes like fries (P29), mac and cheese, coleslaw, and "dirty" rice (P34 each).  The good thing about ordering the sampler is that it accommodates varying tastes.  Spicy-food-lovers and spicy-food-avoiders alike were happy. 

My happy toddler post-lunch, well-fed and ready for a stroll.

Lunch at this resto was straightforward and fuss-free, which is a very good thing for frazzled parents like me.  Afterwards, we felt like we just had a nice family picnic. It felt very much like the outing we were hoping for, a welcome break from the usual lunch in an air-conditioned mall in Manila.  With stomachs full, we were ready for a stroll and a bit more exploration of Nuvali's invigorating green surroundings.    

The Lovely New Church in Westgrove Heights & My Call To Prayer

St. Benedict Church, Ayala Westgrove Heights, Silang, Cavite.

Some churches are grand and flamboyant, they announce their presence with their height and embellishments. The gargoyled Notre Dame in Paris and the gaudy (pun intended) Sagrada Familia in Barcelona come to mind. They are majestic edifices that excite and overwhelm.  Then, there are those churches that are subtle, stately, and subdued. They quietly work their way into your consciousness, making you succumb through gentle persuasion.  The recently completed St. Benedict church at Ayala Westgrove Heights is one such church, and when I visited it for the first time this weekend, I found myself praying a bit  longer than I originally intended.

The courtyard and the church's austere facade.

The elegant church sits right by the entrance gates to Westgrove. Its whitewashed walls and tiled roof are immaculately clean, betraying the church's young age. In terms of lay-out and general-feel, however, it is traditional and classic. It is reminiscent of serene Carmelite convent churches, similarly structured with inviting courtyards.  But it is a suitably updated interpretation, a successful mix of the old and new, with clean modern lines, and effective use of repetition of circles and angles.

The nave and the main aisle.

It seems like a perfect size for a wedding: grand enough for a dramatic walk down the aisle, but small enough to feel like an intimate gathering of family and friends.  Oliver and I found the baptistry appealing. IF we'd have another child (dear God in case you're listening, just to clarify, I am not asking for a third child...yet), it would be nice to hold our next baptism here.  I can just imagine how solemn it would be.  We'd invite family and friends to take a short drive out of Manila for a nice week-end lunch in one of the restaurant rows in nearby Santa Rosa, or even scenic Tagaytay, and enjoy a pleasant breather from the mega city's pollution and congestion.  I imagine, the church's calming architecture will be worth the drive.

The Baptistry.

The altar, in particular, is peculiarly compelling in its minimalism. A lone figure dominates the altar, Christ on a cross standing on an awesome solid block of hard wood. Behind the cross is a dome,  ingeniously repositioned on its side, a refreshing departure from the usual dome on top of the altar. Covered in a gold leaf finish, the dome is visually disorienting, creating the feeling of falling into the wall, as though one were being drawn closer.  The dizzying trick played on the eyes by the dome-lain-on-its-side can be solved by focusing on one object - the Christ on the cross - which offers stability of vision.  I reflected on my life, and the confusion and dizziness I feel, and the sensation of falling - even drowning - and I think of my faith, and my need to train my eyes on Christ to achieve the balance and stability I seek. I know not the name of the architect who orchestrated this inspired moment, but if I were to meet this person in the flesh, I would say "thank you for bringing me closer to God".

The altar with the gold dome.

It's my first visit to this church, and following Filipino folk practice when visiting a new church, I came in with the intention of asking for three wishes. That simple objective gave way to a deeper meditation, as I knelt in front of the altar, I found myself in spiritual reflection. I realized how much I missed having a village church to go to regularly. In the last few years, I have been uprooted, and moved from one living arrangement to the other, and exercised a nomadic worship in various churches. I feel the burning desire to be anchored in one parish, my parish, where I can serve as a bona fide parishioner. And this church could be it! It could be my family's spiritual home in a few year's time.  Oliver bought a lot in Westgrove the year we were married, and we have hopes of building a house here.  Could Narra and Guijo grow up here? And go to church here? Do we want to move our family out of Manila? There are many factors to consider when establishing a family and choosing a lifestyle.  And having a church in the vicinity completes the picture of what I dream of as an ideal set-up for raising a Christian family.

  

Side Entrance/Exit.

The way out of the church is as inviting as the way in. One walks away on shady paths with lush vegetation, as though being escorted out with a gracious despedida.  I want to keep coming back here. This building communicates something to me, an invitation to pray, and I respond to it warmly. I am so grateful to make this lovely church's acquaintance this weekend, and I look forward to developing a deep friendship with it in years to come. See you again soon, lovely church of St. Benedict. 

Kid-Friendly Places: Ayala Museum on a Sunday Morning

The Ayala Museum

One may think the Ayala Museum is too formal a place for young children. Cameras are strictly prohibited. The Gold Exhibit on the fourth floor has deterring gates with prison-like steel bars. Most of the rare items on display are encased in glass and cannot be touched. There are guards at every turn. The dignified ambience commands a respectful decorum. Parents with very young children may deem it inappropriate to bring their tiny tots to the Ayala Museum - but we did just that on a lazy Sunday morning, and we had a great time.  While it is not a children's museum, and isn't designed specifically for a young audience the way Museo Pambata is, there are a number of ways in which Ayala Museum is kid-friendly.

To begin with, kids below 3 get in for free. Then there's the Annual Family Membership Pass that allows unlimited access to the museum for parents and all their children under 18 years old for an annual fee of 2,000 pesos - this is a good idea for large families with school-age kids. Oliver and I decided to go for individual membership since our kids are below 3 years old and can still get in for free. Adults only need to pay a very reasonable 500 pesos, while students pay only 300 for a year's worth of museum visits per person.  Membership perks include invitations to exhibit openings; curator-led tours; discounts for workshops, lectures, symposia, and family activities organized by the museum; and discounts at the Museum Cafe.  

My pre-museum energy booster: coffee at M Cafe.

Before going to the museum, we started out with breakfast at M Cafe. Oliver and I read the newspaper and had coffee while our kids took a stroll with their Yaya Ruby at the garden nearby. There are koi ponds, and sculptures, and wide open spaces and many shady spots for the kids to enjoy. We decided to dine al fresco. While smokers usually sit outdoors, one can sit strategically to avoid smoke. The outdoor seating area is located on a "wind tunnel" of some sort, and wind blows in one direction, so we had our kids seated in a smoke free corner. We ordered M Cafe's breakfast with all of Oliver's faves in one plate: tapa, bangus, longganiza, eggs, with garlic rice. I like taking our kids here on a lazy Sunday morning when there aren't too many people. It's all so pleasant. The breeze, the foliage, and ample space for strolling and running around.  After our leisurely satisfying breakfast, we headed off to the museum.  

M Cafe's Breakfast plate with all the faves.

It was our great fortune that the current exhibit on the first floor of the museum showcases the works of member artists of INK (Ilustrador Ng Kabataan or Illustrators for Children's Books) in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the organization.  On the walls were framed fanciful illustrations. There were whimsical scale models of scenes from children's stories, some were displayed on pedestals, others "floated" in surreal fashion, suspended from the ceiling with near-invisible strings. I felt as fascinated and in awe  as my 2 year old Narra, and 4 month old Guijo. We were all staring dreamily at the colorful  images contained artfully in the vast, white exhibit space.  

From the first floor, we proceeded to the 4th floor to see the Gold exhibit. Our strollers were comfortably accommodated in the elevator, and throughout the museum, there was ample space for maneuvering and parking them. A short movie clip on the importance of gold in pre-hispanic Philippine society is shown on a huge concave screen to introduce the collection of rare gold artifacts. We were impressed with the innovative glass displays on the floor! Emphasizing how gold comes from the earth, and how the archaeological finds were dug from the ground. Having them displayed under our feet was a delightfully disorienting experience. It also meant it was easy for Narra to view them - she squatted on the ground to look at various pieces of gold.

On the 3rd floor were paintings. The official website of the Ayala Museum has a section giving advise to parents on how to discuss art with children. I'll have to wait until my kids are older before I discuss art with them, but for now, I will encourage certain habits of viewing and touring - I hope to expose them to the "choreography" of museum-going - to imprint on their young minds the postures of  walking, watching, looking, and pondering in a museum-ish pace and rhythm. I dream of taking them to more museums all over the world.  The Ayala Museum, with its compact size, is a manageable place to start.  Imagine when it's time to take them to the Smithsonian! The Louvre! Museo del Prado! or even to view endless walls depicting ancient history at the many temples of Angkor Wat! I wish by then, they've developed enough physical and mental fortitude to do justice to such grand cultural institutions. 

With Guijo just outside the Museum entrance.

Finally, on the 2nd floor, is the perennial favorite, the dioramas! I've seen this exhibit many times since my childhood, but I never tire of it. Narra found it very fascinating - which proves how appealing the dioramas are. If only the museum built kid-friendly ledges to accommodate child-height patrons. I had to lift Narra each time she wanted to take a closer look, and that hurt my back! We took our yaya Ruby with us, and I asked her what she thought of the exhibits, and she told me "Totoo pala yung sa Amaya!" referring to the costumes seen on a daily period drama entitled Amaya set in pre-Hispanic times.  Yaya Ruby is an avid fan of the show, and by extension, so is my daughter Narra. When she saw the exhibit on gold and it's importance in displaying stature in a hierarchical society, and saw the battle scenes in the dioramas, she whispered to my daughter "Narra, parang sa Amaya!".  

Narra choosing her Filipino publications for children.
She doesn't read yet, she's just choosing based on illustrations.

After our trip to the museum, we took a short walk to Powerbooks nearby. We saw exhibits of INK both at Museo Pambata and at Ayala Museum and we promised ourselves we'd buy Narra more Filipino publications for children. We made good on our promise and bought her several books. How affordable they were! Most titles were priced at 70 pesos, and had text both in Filipino and English.

Oliver and I want to expose our children to Philippine history, art, and culture, and taking them to museums is also good for us as a couple.  It intensifies our pride in our country, and nurtures our spirit, allowing us to take a step back from our everyday lives so we can indulge in loftier thoughts. Even before we were married, Oliver and I would go on dates to museums, and I love the good conversations that follow.  We want to share a lot of moments like these with Narra and Guijo. With our Ayala Museum Membership, we'll surely have more museum visits for the rest of 2012.

Ayala Museum Website:

http://www.ayalamuseum.org/

2011 Reconsidered: Remembering the High Points of a Horrible Year

House Blessing of our new condo. Blessed by Fr. Manny Serranilla
on December 8, 2011.

There are years that feel more triumphant than others, you file them in a special drawer in your brain, the one reserved for fond remembrances. Then there are the not-so-good years, the really tough ones you end up filing away in the drawer of disappointment - or worse - the drawer of grief.  More often, however, the years that pass defy neat filing, when the good and the bad are intertwined. 2011 had the makings of a horrible year. I cried many tears this year, more than at any other year in my charmed life. It was a year of great losses: I said good bye to family members who died; and I said good bye to DLSU, my home for half of my life, because my teaching stint had come to an end.   I want to file away 2011 in the bottom drawer of my mind, the one labeled "Years I Wish To Forget", but I can't - and I shouldn't. There are many blessed moments. And I am thankful I took photos of those happy times, so I can remember the good, when I feel overwhelmed by the bad.

Narra's 2nd Birthday. May, 2011.

At the start of the year I was ordered on bed rest for a month. I spent January lying down, when the viability of my pregnancy was in question. I kept praying that my son would hold on for dear life - that he would stick to my womb and grow! And grow he did! God answered my prayers.  By my second trimester my son's vital signs were strong, and I felt strong too, enough to travel around! We celebrated Narra's 2nd birthday with a party held in May, and traveled to Bangkok in June, and Pearl Farm in Davao in July.  Compared to my first pregnancy, when I felt so short-of-breath that I couldn't even walk through a grocery without needing to sit, this second pregnancy is a blessing! I was able to shop through Chatuchak market in Bangkok, for an entire afternoon. Childbirth was quick and easy, and our baby Guijo came out healthy and strong.  

7 months pregnant. Oliver and I had an 8-day break in Bangkok.

8 months pregnant. Pearl Farm, Davao.

When trials struck our family in September with the death of Oliver's brother, Owen; followed too soon by the unexpected death of his Aunt Boots in October, we broke the succession of funerals with twin baptisms! Guijo and his cousin Marco were baptized in October 23. And the next day, on October 24, I received my most cherished Wang Gung Wu Medal and Prize for Best Dissertation in the Social Sciences and Humanities from the National University of Singapore. My career may be in limbo at the moment, but the award is validation of my potential as a scholar. It is the biggest cash prize I have received in my life, and the biggest affirmation and recognition of the value of my original ideas.  How can I not feel inspired?

Guijo's Baptism, held October 23rd. Christ the King Church.

Oliver managed to complete an awesome house-building project through the last few tumultuous months of the year. In collaboration with his sister Riza, who is our interior designer and contractor, he renovated and furnished a condo unit we recently acquired. In just a few weeks time, the empty box with plain walls, was transformed into a thoughtfully designed, efficient, and elegant hideaway. We had our condo blessing on December 8, and we spent our holidays vacationing in our new home. We spent New Year's eve enjoying the panoramic view of fireworks from all over the metro, popping in concert, building up to an exciting crescendo as midnight approached. There, from our high-floor balcony, as we heard the explosions, I thought of how fireworks - with their sounds and blinding light - exorcise the demons of the past year, severing them from our system so they do not haunt us in the new year.  There, I allowed myself to feel like a kid, to watch the fireworks in awe and delight, despite the smog and pollution they caused. I allowed myself to feel hope and inspiration.  I said a peaceful goodbye to the year that passed - forgiving the year for the pain it brought, and thanking it for the many joys and triumphs too. 

Receiving my Wang Gung Wu Medal. October 24th.

2012, can you be a dear, and be a really, really, good year?