A sunburn is not always a bad thing
Posted on 06-25-07 · The Mommy Journals Tags: birthday, positive parenting, SpeedyThe title is a figure of speech, of course. Sunburn is always nasty but, today, it is simply an attestation to a very enjoyable swimming party.
But let’s start from the beginning.
When Alex turned 10th in 2004, we celebrated with a swimming party. We rented Pool #1 of the Cattleya Farm Resort, a three-minute walk from our house, and we invited family and friends for a day of food, drinks, swimming and fun. For PhP5,500.00 (that was the 2004 price), the set-up was just great. A big pool, a children’s pool and a jacuzzi all to ourselves from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Rent of the pool included the use of a guest house with an air-conditioned bedroom and full kitchen amenities. We had such a great time that we subsequently rented the place several times after that, often, splitting the rent money with three other families, all close friends.
When I created my very first photo blog, the photos from Alex’s 10th birthday party were among the first that I posted. Long-time readers will remember that I had severe technical problems in December 2005 when I lost about four months’ worth of entries. Since my priority was to recreate the food blog and this blog (both blogs thereafter split into two each), the photo blog was never properly recreated.
The photos from Alex’s 10th birthday party were reposted (link) in April 2006. A year later, the owner of Cattleya Farm Resort saw the entry and posted two comments (here and here). The first expressed his thanks and the second was an invite to try the newly opened Pool #4 — all on the house. I don’t like attending PR events but I don’t balk when people want to show appreciation. I was happy to accept.
The original date for a swimming party was June 12th. It was supposed to be a sort of last hurrah before the new school year opened. Unfortunately, some fickle-minded people in Malacañang decided to move the Independence Day holiday a day early. I had to re-schedule the swimming party. I would have preferred to hold it on June 17th, Speedy’s birthday, but it was also father’s day and I knew that many would prefer to spend the day with their own families. I opted for June 24th. And that’s why I have a sunburn. My back, shoulders, arms and thighs are all red, my muscles ache but I feel simply wonderful. 
The birthday boy (above) and a bonsai that was given to him as a birthday gift (below) by friends PJ and Mabel Juinio.
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Ang sarap (tingnan) ng lechon! Buti na lang may lip balm ako so para na din may mantika ang nguso ko
How come you’re not in any of the pictures?
Connie, I am a Filipino-American living in Alaska for the last 22 years. I just discovered your blog and I would love to correspond with you about parenting. I am working on a parenting booklet that is translated in Filipino, among other languages, and I would really love to get a perspective on the similarities/differences between western and filipino parenting styles today. Can you please email me?
Thanks!
This place is just a few minutes from your home? You’re so lucky! My kids love soaking at the village pool until they wither like raisins hahaha.
This place looks really nice. I’ll check this out. Mahilig din kasi kami mag-outing or better still..mag-ekskarsyon. Sarap..nung lechon. I’ll drop your name when I inquire, baka maka-discount. Ok lang
auee, kasi i was taking the photos eh. i’d be in the photos that the kids took but i won’t get to post them here. may blogs sila eh.
marie, i’ll e-mail you.
chateau, yeah, 3 minutes walking distance. 30 seconds by car hehehehe. it’s on a higher elevation kasi so kung may bitbit na food, mahirap din maglakad.
kongkong, i don’t know about the discount (tip: they have off season rates) pero they’ll be happy to know that you found them through my blog.
Lechon! Yum!
Connie, I noticed you have Manlungat surnamed guests. My middle name is Manlongat… with o, not u.. There aren’t very many Manlongats/Manlungats in the country, so baka relatives ko sila!
I think they’re originally from Pasig but I don’t know the parents’ province. I’ll ask ha. Naka nga na “small world” na naman tayo.
btw, mas gwapo naman si birthday boy kaysa kay andrew e. no!
Being sunburned mean one had a lot of fun, yes. But I have been pondering if such was the case with someone I know. She has a gorgeous tan when I saw her last Monday. Then yesterday I saw her photos, why, the girl, she went to Boracay over the weekend! But sad to say, she went with her boyfriend there and left her two children (8yo and the other one just turned a year old) with her older sister. Asked her if she feels that okay with her, she retorted, “Sanay naman sila na umaalis ako ng ganito.” Duh?! Is that having fun?
Wow Con great pics! Its like we were there with you. Belayded greetings to Speedy-O. Ang bagal nyang mag post sa blog niya.
sarap nang pagkain. at tsaka nung jacuzzi,