Pause from the world's capers

Table centerpiece arranged by Baguio's Martha Stewart, Toottee Chanco Pacis Photo by Babeth Lolarga

Because of the ring-a-ling-ling in the air, I haven't had time to read the newspapers in earnest. So I'm clueless Alice in Wonderland, wondering what all the stink is about a Purisima or the Binay family. I promise to catch up on current events so I can be an informed citizen and consumer in 2015.

In the meantime, I've been calibrating my socializing by going to select Christmas parties or reunions one after the other or one event at a time so I don't weary or suffer from indigestion.

First was the "Greenhouse" Christian Fellowship's Saturday celebration of the Yule season hosted by Oscar and Toottee Pacis at their Happy Homes greenhouse. My grandchild attended without showing signs of boredom or a "May I flee?" look. She actually listened to Manong Oscar extol the life of Abram/Abraham and his compliance to God's will. She peered at the small letters of The Bible and would sometimes ask what verse we were reading ("Are you here already?" or "Where are you on this page?").

Sunday evening was dedicated to the annual book exchange and eat-drink till you're stuffed party, of the Baguio Writers Group under Jenny Cariño at the about-to-be-closed Mandarin Restaurant on the corner of Assumption and Session Roads. Depending on the members' state of inebriation, the night ends with an impromptu poetry reading.

And last night a dinner punctuated with so much reminiscing and gallons of laughter with Chit Roces Santos and doodler husband Vergel at Billy King's Le Chef at The Manor, Camp John Hay. I I couldn't resist the richness of cheesy French onion soup, juicy medium-rare steaf, lobster and creme brulee with an aperitif of strawberry juice (the berries are in season, folks).

It's beginning to look like a good Christmas and the year 2014's last days are unfolding gently and happily.

My family's Christmas mascot in the company of the Christian community in Happy Homes, including her manangs

That's only half of BWG's membership. Jenny is seated farthest to the right.

Santa Claus sees that we've been nice this year and pauses by our table for a group pic.

Vergel sketched Rolly and me as we looked or glowed last night. Doesn't the missus look like a gypsy here while the mister is a dead ringer for Jose Rizal?

Vacay at John Hay

We loaded the car with throw pillows and two rolls of banig--we were planning to lie down on those mats after lunch at the camping grounds of Camp John Hay and let the family's toddler have the run of the grassy grounds. But our bundle never got unloaded. Instead, our mascot Kai/Butones and her elders ate and drank and walked around the camp all of yesterday afternoon till it was dark. Here are our post-Halloween, pre-Advent shots. Hurray for four-day weekends!

Exploring the Ayala Technohub's outdoors while her elders order Mexican food

Mamay Kimi walks outside the shops in the Technohub area...

...while Grumps enjoys his avocado ice cream cone from the Fruits in Ice Cream parlor.

With Nutcracker soldier

Father and daughter select the bread for Sunday's breakfast at Pan de Manila...

...while Kai cools off on the sidewalk.

Up up up and whee!

Strutting on The Manor's newly cut lawn

All balls are "boon" in toddler-speak.

The bibis meet again: Kai and her play date Sage with mom Lor

Mamay's shoulder is the best spot to rest...

...while Grumpa Rolly strolls outside The Forest Lodge.

Photos by Babeth Lolarga

A Baguio Halloween

This is when a picture says it all. Taken at the bar of The Manor at Camp John Hay, Baguio City, by the subject's mamay, Kimi Fernandez. Enjoy your first Halloween, little pumpkin/squash of our life. Don't let other people's costumes alarm you. It's in the spirit of fun.

Now Showing

The way Baboo Mondoñedo tells it, the Baguio Aquarelle Society began when her painting teacher Patric Palasi couldn’t meet her because he had spilled hot water on his foot. He advised her to seek out Roland Bay-an so she wouldn’t miss a lesson. When Roland saw her, he wondered aloud how come, in a city of visual artists, there was no watercolorists’ group? That was all Baboo needed to lasso people and make an appointment with a more than cooperative Heiner Maulbecker, general manager of The Manor, Camp John Hay. He acquiesced to everything she requested. As he put it, how could he say no to four women? And that is how the ground level of the hotel today carries whiffs of Baguiong-Baguio—in the lobby, at Le Chef, along the corridor, beside the elevators. There the works of the other members hang, capturing the spirit of place. In this photo are the members (front row, from left): Toottee Pacis, Baboo, Norman Chow, Roland, Merci Dulawan and me. Second row: Rishab, Patric, Jenny Cariño and curator Erlyn Ruth Alcantara. The huge painting we're holding is an interactive work with our guests. Photo by ELMER KRISTIAN DAUIGOY