Ben, Gwen, Angelo and friend at the grotto in Ermita, Baler, Aurora 

Ben with his Ate Cathleen on the pier in Cemento, Baler, Aurora 

The mothers with the kids 

Gwen and Ben...pa-cute! 

The Valderrama family 

The Ferreros family (with Gwen peeking in:-D) 

L-R: Veron, Dave & Gwen, Ariel, Ben, me, Angelo, Bab 

That's me and Ben, taken from the other side of Kuya Boy's backyard 

Ben zooming in the pool 

Dave, Gwen and Veron (the Valderrama family) tries out the water 

Bab, Angelo and Ariel (the Ferreros family) enjoying quality time at the pool 

Ben and Kuya Tony enjoying the pool at Kuya Boy's house 

Gwen's first sea foot dip...she was excited coming in, not so excited anymore after this. :-D 

Ben with cousin Angelo (Bab and Ariel's son) 

Ben and me in the backyard of Kuya Boy's house. I look like a dork, but hey, Ben looks great. 

Ben with cousin Gwen (Veron's and Dave's daughter) 

Holy Week in Baler

Back in Manila again after spending the Holy Week in Baler. It was a good vacation, with more Tan family members for a visit at one time than any other time in recent history. Kuya Toti, Jojo, Daniel, Miguel and LJ and Kuya Tony were home. Of course, Ben and I were home. We miss Irip, Girlie, Pau and Enzo (who are now in London). But, Auntie Delan came home for a visit with Ate Mabel and her kids, Ate Agnes and her family, Kuya William. Then of course, there was Veron and her husband Dave and their daughter Gwen, and Bab with her husband Ariel and son Angelo. It was fun, fun, fun...Irip, sana nanduon kayong pamilya, mas masaya sana.
We had fun swimming first at Kuya Boy's house a couple of times, then on Black Saturday, we were off to Biklat river for some fun in the cool, though shallow, waters of Biklat River (Cayie and Terrie, you know this place...Ka, you've got to come to see it one of these days) and a bit of fun in the hanging bridge. I still couldn't cross it, but Ben was taken over to the other side by Ate Mabel. Those pictures were taken with the still camera, so I won't be able to post them until later. Anyway, the kids had lots of fun, and I like to think that even we adults had a lot of fun. I certainly did.
Ben is still afraid of the sea though. But he did take his own steps to the water for a foot dip. He had fun making "sand castle" (little more than a hole we dig on the sand) but it was enough to get him a bit confident to take a little step forward to the water. The following days though, he was crying again. Oh well, one day at a time...
We also went to the balete tree, which unfortunately was damaged heavily by the two typhoons that hit the Philippines in November 2004. Much of the back part of the tree fell, but we still managed to get inside for some photo ops. Also visited the Ermita and the pier. I wish we had time to visit more places, but I guess I'll have to settle for what we got.
All in all, it was a good and fun trip. This coming April promises better times, with a number of relatives coming for a visit from various parts of the world...USA, France, Thailand, and Canada...I am looking forward to seeing everyone coming, and welcoming a new member to the family.
So am sharing some photos, which I will post after I post this blog. Enjoy!

Back home

It's good to be back home. Arrived last night, with the plane touching down NAIA at around 610pm (or as they say in military time, 1810). 'Twas a good trip, although I breathed much more easily when the plane finally stopped next to the tube.
Ben wasn't with Kuya Tony to welcome me back at the airport, but he was at hand when I arrived home. That voice is soooooo good to hear.
It's good to be back home...

In Bangkok

Well, I’m sitting here in Chateau de Bangkok, watching the Return of the King (again…yes, I love this trilogy and I will keep watching over and over and over…can’t wait to get my extended dbds) and trying to finish an article, and writing this blog. It was good, smooth flight. Just a bit of bump, but it is the smoothest flight I’ve ever taken. Here’s hoping the return flight will be just as smooth, or at least not too bumpy. I’ve taken plane rides many times now, and I still haven’t really gotten over the fear of flying. One small bump and I’m all knotty inside. He he he…still, I’m thankful I arrived here safely.
Had to get to work straightaway though. Just had time for quick fix and then had to run and cover at least the latter part of an ongoing seminar. Not that I was able to hear much, since I got there when the last speaker was just about winding up his talk. Haven’t seen my boss and the rest of the team yet, but will do before the night end. Tomorrow, VIV 2005 starts, and goes on until Friday. I’ll probably just be going for the first two days, since my flight back to Manila on Friday is at 155pm. I need to be at the airport at least a couple of hours before.
I found this cute little PAL plane that I can give Ben when I go home. I’m sure he’d like that. Saw it in the duty free catalog in the plane. I miss Ben. I brought a framed picture of him and of course the shirt he wore yesterday. That way I can see and smell him (well, you know what I mean) even if I’m here. I was talking to him on the phone earlier, and geez, I know I’m biased because I’m his mother, but for a kid not even three years old, he’s very smart. What a joy he is. Is it cliché to say he completes me? But he really does. There’s a purpose to my life now. Now I really know how it feels to have overflowing love for someone. I just cannot understand how any mother could not love her children. When I hear about mother abusing their children, or doing even worse, well, it’s just beyond me. Here’s hoping I turn out to be a good mother for Ben.
One of these days, I’m going to look at this blog entry and think I was being very corny when I wrote this, but for now, I’m just noting down how I really feel.

Oh...Constantine...and the Pitt

After a long absence from the movie theaters (last one I watched was Troy), I joined The Coven in watching Constantine last night in Glorietta 4. I must say I liked the movie. It was okay, plus it was interesting to note that the language of the devil in that movie is my own native tongue. Something to the effect of "Papatayin natin sila...." Ugh...horrors! Oh well, so the devil speaks more than one tongue. Gavin Rossdale made an interesting demon. And it was strange to see Gabriel(le) as a woman, or played by a woman...okay, okay...so she looks androgynous. Oh well, like they say, it's only a movie. And as an added bonus, I even caught sight of the Pitt, and in the quiet of the movie theater, even managed to blurt out "oh my god," which he still is, in the lower case sense of course.
But it was good spending some time with my friends, and actually seeing a movie in a theater and not in the confines of our little bedroom. On that note, I also went and got me and Ben a new television set and DVD player (comes with a free TV rack too). Something to look forward to for tomorrow (Monday), which is when they're going to be delivered. Not a bad deal too I think. Payment stretched to six months, no interest, and the whole thing comes down to just over P12K (about 200USD). Like I told the cynical witch, I'm not much for going all the way to Makati unless I absolutely, necessarily have to, and the TV and DVD player definitely fall under the "absolutely, necessarily" category. He he he, (Hoy mga kapatid kong bruha, of course you guys also fall under the "absolutely, necessarily" category, but you've been very nice to indulge me when I ask that we meet in Ortigas instead.). Not a bad deal at all. Now I can watch my LOTR extended DVDs over and over and over and over and over...okay, you get the point. I'm hoping to get the last one (ROTK) by end of the month, which is when my cousin is coming for a visit with is girlfriend, someone we're all very curious about and very excited to meet. And for Ben of course, there are the Thomas the Tank Engine and Dora the Explorer DVDs to look forward to. I'm sure he will be watching those over and over and over and over and over...like I said, you get my point.
Oh, by the way, I think I'll be off to the movie theaters in a few months again. After all, the Pitt has a movie coming out within the year. What??? Two movies in one year???
AT LEAST!

An update on how Ben is doing

Ben's foot is doing well. Almost a month after his surgery, the wound has healed very nicely and he is up and running again. We still need to put cotton in between his pinky toe and the ring toe (is that what it's called?) so the pinky toe will stay in place. It used to hide behind the ring toe. Anyway, he hasn't minded his foot in a long time, and he has not felt any pain. It's like nothing even happened. He goes for another follow up in two weeks time and then monthly thereafter (I don't know how many months). His doc likes him, although he always asks for chocolates before leaving. Good thing his doc has got some on hand.
As for me, I'm doing okay. My tongue hurts just a bit now, but much more bearable. I go back for follow up later today. Hopefully, there is nothing wrong with me...now wait a minute, I won't be Isa if there's nothing wrong with me. :-)

Still having a bit of trouble posting

Geez, I thought the pictures were going to be instantaneously posted in the blog site, but I guess I was wrong. Anyway, I'm still figuring my way around this site so bear with me.

Fooling around with Tito Toti
"Ang peanut, pag binuksan...may butter." (enzo tan)

Yup, Ben is the Scream guy :-D
"Ang peanut, pag binuksan...may butter." (enzo tan)

With Tito Tony on Auntie Jojo's birthday
"Ang peanut, pag binuksan...may butter." (enzo tan)

Very serious that little boy is with the computer...:-D
"Ang peanut, pag binuksan...may butter." (enzo tan)

Here's a Hef pose for Lola Dolly :-)
"Ang peanut, pag binuksan...may butter." (enzo tan)

Playing ball with Lola Iring at the Ateneo baseball field
"Ang peanut, pag binuksan...may butter." (enzo tan)

With Kuya LJ, Kuya Daniel, and Kuya Miguel at the Ateneo baseball field
"Ang peanut, pag binuksan...may butter." (enzo tan)

Ben with his favorite Thomas the Tank Engine trains
"Ang peanut, pag binuksan...may butter." (enzo tan)

Ben's foot after his surgery

Ben with his get-well soon balloon from his Kuya Daniel and Kuya Miguel the night following his surgery

Ben sleeping peacefully the night before he had his extra toe removed. Peaceful, huh?

Welcome to the Banoms

For those of you who are curious as to why this blogspot is called The Plastic Banoms...well, you've got Ben, my son, and the people behind Blues Clues to thank. That should be enough for now.

Anyway, this spot is to become our sounding board and photo showcase in the web. After years telling myself I'm going to learn to make web pages and making a website for me and Ben, I've finally given up and turned to those who know what they are doing, so it's to the blogger site I went...

Welcome, and enjoy...