Grandmy Rina and Granddy Quintin

Auntie Rina and Uncle Quintin with their grandkids

(Quina Angeli Ignacio, Camille Ignacio, Kim Lizardo)

Crazy About Baby Karrie

Tito Roland, Tita Ann, Tita Bing and Lola Eden with Baby Karrie

Baby Karrie is the new star of the family. We are all crazy about her. Karrie is one of the most beautiful babies I've ever seen. (And, I'm not saying that because I'm biased as a Tita! Many agree, that our new bundle of joy has very refined/defined features.) She is such a good baby. A happy one too. She seldom cries and if she does, there must be something really wrong (she's probably hungry, sleepy, uncomfortable). I love it most when she smiles at me. Her smile's super innocent and makes me fall in love with her. I can't wait to see her again next year. By then, she should be able to mumble a few words and show us her first baby steps. How exciting!

Aunties

We are very fortunate to have very loving aunties, two of them are in this pic, Auntie Elma and Auntie Leby. When we were in Mainit in September 2006, they took time out to be with us. Auntie Leby had to travel far from Bongao, Tawi-tawi just to see us and celebrate the fiesta with us. Auntie Elma made sure we tasted delicacies that we have not eaten for a long time (like cassava puto with tono, linubid, timambiran na budbud etc.). She cooked for us too when we were in Siargao.

Fun Pic with nieces

Horsing around and acting silly with our nieces --priceless!

Note the fine white sand.

Gats and Mozies

The "Gats" and the "Mozies"

(With cousins Jonathan and Ram)

Just the Four of Us

From Eldest to Youngest (Bing, JR, Randz, Ann)

"Life is a Beach"

The Gatpolintan Family in Siargao

September 2006

This was taken on Naked Island, a very small white sandbar for a beach in Siargao. In the background (which is the northeastern front), is Daku Island. The time was about 4 PM. We were the only revelers on the islet. The setting sun was only peeking thru the cumulus clouds, giving the western skies a light orange-on-light blue hue. Picture-perfect! The weather and the water temperature were perfect too. Cliche but true in this case: a piece of heaven on earth.

The Gatpolintans: Complete at last!!!

Melchie, Bing, JR, Paping, Maming, Kat, Sarah, Karrie, Randz, Kyla, Ann

(Mainit Town Fiesta, September 2006)

This is one of those rare times when everybody in our immediate family is present in one setting. Complete. I am glad we finally had time to be together even for just a few days. I hope we can do this more often. Like once a year?

This was taken at our verandah in Mainit.

Robert in Baguio

Robert Gatpolintan(in khaki shirt) with his barkada in Baguio

Residency in NYC

This was taken just before one of our midnight call rounds at the Kings County Hospital(part of the SUNY system) in Brooklyn, NY, circa 1996. I don't know where Ann unearthed this forgotten picture. From left,that's me(JR) with my doofy looking eyeglasses ( I didn't have my Lasik procedure done until 1998), Dr. Marjorie Baltazar, and Dr. Joey Andrew Ugalino. Marj was our senior resident, she went on to become a pulmonary-critical care specialist. I don't know where she is though right now. Joey was my housemate(with Dr. Bayani Alberto Abordo) in NY. He went on to specialize in Geriatric Medicine and is now based in Texas with wife, Mara and son, Raphael.

My stint in New York was a very unforgettable one. The world was at my feet and there were endless possibilities . It felt as if I had boundless freedom. I lived in a brownstone owned by a Filipina nurse in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Bay Ridge is a very dynamic and a bustling neighborhood filled with a hodge-podge of culture. There were Italians,Irish, Greeks, people from the Middle East, Jews, and Asians. I could have bagels or limpe with lox for breakfast, real Italian for lunch (or NY pizza) and Thai or Indian, Afghan or other Asian fair for dinner, right on the same strip where I lived. I did my own laundry at a laundromat down the street. And for my wools and shirts, a dry cleaner ran by a friendly Korean family is next to it. The fresh produce store owned by Italians is just a block away. The Swedish bakery and the Irish pubs were at the next corner. Less than 15 minute bus-ride away is Sunset area where there are more Chinese/Asian restaurants and grocery. My barber was a Syrian. Within a single block one may find a synagogue, a mosque, different Protestant churches, Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches etc.. Bay Ridge is also very close to Sheepshead Bay, Brighton Beach, Coney Island (home of the famous carnival and Nathan's Hotdog), and Parkslope which is a more chic-chic-hip place and where my favorite Thai place (Lemon Grass Grill) is located. Manhattan is about a 40-minute train ride on the N or R.

As a medical resident, I had to rotate in three different hospitals affiliated with the program: the Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center, King's County Hospital and the Downstate Medical Center. The VA is also located in Bay Ridge, about a ten-minute bus ride from my place. Its background is very picturesque as it is situated near the water(the Narrows), next to a military fort (Fort Hamilton) and near the Verrazano suspension bridge which connects the boroughs of Brooklyn and Staten Island. Most of my outpatient clinic training was done there. I followed young and old vets for 3 years under the guidance of my attending/mentor, Dr. Edmund Bourke. He is an astute, caring, jolly Irish-American doc who is now the Chief of Medicine at SUNY Downstate. He was the Chief of Medicine at the VA when I was an intern and resident there. I also did electives in Consultation Liaison Psych, Endocrinology, Oncology, Rheumatology, Dermatology and ID there. I just loved the VA. There were a handful of Filipino-American staff-doctors, two Filipina chief nurses (one of them, I learned later, was Auntie Regie's classmate at UP)and other Fil-Am staff employees who were very friendly and helpful to us, the young "fresh off the boat"(FOBs) residents. There were 16 of us from UP Med Class 1994 at that time. There were other residents from more senior UP batches. Apparently, the SUNY Dept. of Medicine was so impressed with its previous residents from UP that they hired more from UP each year.

Kings County Hospital(KCH) in Flatbush (an inner city of Brooklyn), was what we considered the "war zone" during those exciting times. This was where we encountered the most difficult cases, most varied pathology in the wards. This was also where we had our emergency medicine training. KCH's ER is one of the busiest in NYC. This was also where we had extensive medical ICU and cardiac critical unit (CCU) training (where I learned procedures like Schwann-Ganz insertion and management, thoracentesis, endotracheal intubation and managing mechanical ventilators, stress testing, management of DKA, septic shock, etc.) We also had outpatient training at KCH for women's health (learned a one hand-glove only Pap smear/pelvic exam technique), breast clinic, hematology-oncology, STD, dermatology, endocrinology,etc.).KCH's complex of tall and huge brick buildings is pretty intimidating. Inside the facility is a prison ward where we also had to see patients. Some of these patients were hard-core inmates from Rikers Island. We had to go through a tight security check and several iron-bar electronic doors to do our rounds with a police escort in tow.

Right across KCH is Downstate Medical Center and the medical school. The library here is impressive. This is where the AIDS ward is also located. In mid 1990's the antiHIV cocktail with protease inhibitors and NRTIs was only in its infant stage. So during the early part of my residency, I still saw a lot of deaths from complications of AIDS, what I call now , the last big "tidal wave of deaths" due to AIDS. And I also saw how patients started responding to the cocktail and I started to see more and more survivors of the epidemic. This was partly what I considered to have inspired me to further specialize in Infectious Disease and HIV during my fellowship in California. In any case, further training in Cardiology and general medicine was also done here. The CCU-ICU is very busy since they do cardiac surgery at Downstate.

Most of my attending physicians(or consultants)in all three hospitals were outstanding. They're usually the who's who in their respective fields. Every month there's a change in rotation and a change in attending except in the primary care clinics where the attendings are constant for the three years of residency. At the end of each rotation the attendings would take us(the team of resident interns and med students) out for lunch or dinner in different restaurants in Brooklyn or Manhattan.

True, the training was tough and rigorous but I did not forget to enjoy and explore the opportunities that came my way. Only on my fourth month of my internship, I had the chance to tour Europe with a couple of friends( but this is another story). In Brooklyn itself, my favorite spots are The Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Parkslope Park and the park at the foot of the Verrazano. I went to Manhattan as often as I could, for shopping(Century 21 was my favorite store),for Broadway plays, meeting friends and other classmates who were training at other hospitals in NYC, visiting museums, dining, just exploring different sections of the city: Chinatown, SoHo, Chelsea, the business district, Greenwich Village, Little Italy, Upper East and Upper West side, Central Park, even up to the Bronx, and Queens.

Since I always had this fascination about bridges, I would would take trains to see or cross them (on foot, if allowed). I have crossed the Brooklyn bridge on foot at least thrice. The GWB is another favorite and at its New Jersey end is Fort Lee where I have a choice spot and I would sit and read there and watch the sailboats as they ply the Hudson.

On my third and last year, I gained even more independence when I got a car. It was a reliable 1989 gray Toyota Camry. Driving in Manhattan was at first, a bit intimidating too. But I soon got the hang of it and it wasn't for long that I was driving farther to places in New Jersey, Weschester, Upstate New York, Connecticut etc.. I visited places like Cornell in Ithaca, West Point(very pretty during autumn), Quail Hollow, Mystic(quaint and romantic)and many other interesting sites in the tri-state area.

There are still a lot of places that I want to visit and see in New York. But when I was there, I always thought that "they are always available and I still have time to explore them". I always thought that I would be in NYC longer and originally planned to pursue higher studies in the city. But just like what John Lennon once said, "life is what happens when you're making other plans".

Twist of fate. On my last year in NY, I decided to apply for a fellowship in Infectious Diseases. I got excellent recommendations from my previous attendings, I did well in the interviews and easily got accepted in 2 excellent ID Fellowship programs: one at Valhalla Medical Center and at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Medical Center. Valhalla first offered the position and I accepted it. About several days later, Sloan Kettering sent an offer. Between the two, I really preferred the latter. It was a dilemma. I finally decided to take Sloan Kettering on their offer and withdrew my acceptance at Valhalla. This upset the Assistant Program Director of Valhalla very much, saying that my decision to withdraw jeopardized their recruitment of a fellow as it was very close to the start of the training period. It turned out he was a former colleague of the Sloan Kettering Program Director who was then apprised of the situation and subsequently also withdrew his offer to me at Sloan Kettering. I ended up without a fellowship offer!

Needless to say, I was really devastated. I started to look for available positions outside of New York and luckily got scheduled for interviews at three very good programs that still had unfilled fellowship slots. They were at Brown University in Rhode Island, University of Southern California (USC) in L.A. and University of California at Irvine(UCI). The first interview was at UCI. I flew to L.A.. My friend, Anna Q. who's based in L.A., drove me to Irvine for my interview. I immediately liked the attendings who interviewed me, their newly opened research lab and the campus. And at the end of a series of interviews, Dr. Jeremiah Tilles, the Program Director, gave a proposal I could not refuse: cancel my remaining interviews in the two other prospective programs, sign up right there and then and I got a guaranteed fellowship position for 2 years(3 years if I want to do further research). I struggled and mulled it over for a day or two and finally decided to take the offer. It happened very fast, the transition from east to west coast. Sometime in May of 1998, I flew back from New York to San Francisco, passed my oral exam(two cases: Gastointestinal Bleed in an elderly and Diabetic Ketoacidosis in a pediatric patient) and got my California medical license. In July, I already had an apartment in Orange County and started my post at UCI and at the VA in Long Beach. And I never looked back. I had no regrets in taking the position at UCI. It was a wise and inspired decision. It turned out that the closing of the doors in New York was a blessing in disguise as it opened another one filled with new adventures waiting for me in the West Coast!

It was another very fruitful, fulfilling two years of training in sunny southern California. But this story will be for another entry.(See Go West, Young Man!)

Flashback: Sagada 2003

Ann Mozar-Gatpolintan, Babyrose Cubelo-Gatpolintan, and Jonathan Gatpolintan-Mozar

In a very spontaneous and fun trip to Sagada one weeked during the Summer of 2003.

Grace Gatpolintan, an pinakababy sa tanan

Grace Corpuz Gatpolintan(in orange) with her friends in Surigao

Looks like our baby has grown up into one hot babe. "Dalaga na sya hindi na bata, ang daming pagbabago, nakakapanibago. . . " Hehehe. . . (Sounds familiar? Yes, I got that from an old sanitary napkin commercial in the Philippines.) It's just crazy how they grow up so fast. Look at her?

Babyrose sa Disyerto

Rose Cubelo-Gatpolintan at a Desert Safari Adventure in the Middle East

THE HIPE SIBLINGS. . . NOW

The Kids of Ramie Gatpolintan and Hector Hipe

Ricci, Howell and Jan Hero Hipe

Brothers, Jan and Howell in Siargao

Jan, relaxing by the beach

Beautiful Ricci with her friends.

Ricci in Siargao

THE HIPE KIDS. . . then

Jan Hero Gatpolintan Hipe when he was a little boy.

Jan Hero as St. Joseph

Another pic of Jan as a little boy. Aww. . . What a cutie. . .

The Hipe Kids! (Howell, the eldest, Jan, the youngest, and Ricci, the one and only girl)

Flashback: Summer 2003

Enjoying the beauty of the Mainit Lake with my "Waray Waray Cousins."

Ricci Gatpolintan-Hipe(Auntie Ramie and Uncle Hector's only daughter) and Ann(me)

Jan Hero Gatpolintan-Hipe (Auntie Ramie's and Uncle Hector's youngest) and of course, me (Ann G.)

Auntie Elma: OUR SECOND MOM

Auntie Elma(aka Bebet) with her daughter Ramilyn and Ann during Manang Ching's wedding in Mainit in 1998(?)

Ryan Corpuz Gatpolintan(1982 -2002), A Remembrance

Kyla gamely poses on top of a rock at a beach in Surigao.

At the background is her Tito Ryan Corpuz-Gatpolintan who passed away later that night.

Sarah, Kyla, Grace Corpuz-Gatpolintan, Babyrose, Kat and Ate Jasmin

(photo taken by Ryan at a beach in Surigao)

SEPTEMBER 21, 2002. It was rather an ordinary, warm, balmy day in Surigao. It was one of those lazy post-fiesta days for the Gat cousins who were in Mainit for the town fiesta celebrations. Ryan, (the 2nd son of Rosendo "Uncle Onyot"Mordeno Gatpolintan Jr. and Teresa "Auntie Tess" Corpuz-Gatpolintan) however, was up early and was feeling a little bit restless. He wanted the family to get together one more time. He was scheduled to go back, the next morning, to Cagayan de Oro City, where he was an engineering student at Xavier U. It's as if he felt there was so little quality time left that he wanted to spend the rest of it with his siblings Rajiv and Grace (his older bother, Robert was in Baguio attending college and could not come home) and cousins, before they go on their own separate ways . There was no telling when the family could gather and get together again. Little did everyone know, that it was their last time to see Ryan.

He lobbied and convinced Manong Randy, Sarah, Grace and Babyrose to go swimming at a beach in Surigao, which was a good 40-minute drive from Mainit. Seeing Ryan's eagerness, Manong Randy acquiesced and immediately prepared his entire family for the impromptu picnic. And off they went on the Tamaraw FX. They had lots of fun, from what I could tell from the pictures and my conversations with them on the phone. A brother of Ryan's girlfriend, who's visiting from CDO, was their guest and it seemed like he was having a great time with the family as well. Ryan, an aspiring photographer, took pictures of everybody especially the kids. Kyla, most especially enjoyed playing model for his Tito Ryan. Babyrose and Ryan found time to catch up and talked about dreams, aspirations and what-nots.

I called them up when they were on their way to the beach, to check on what they were up to. I got to talk to my cousin Ryan(who is like a little brother to me) briefly. I was teasing and joking with him about his having a girlfriend and about the sarong he gave as a gift to cousin Babyrose. I teased him not to "play favorites" and that he better get me a flaming red sarong and have it ready when I come visit Mainit the next summer. He promised, he would. And then, the phone was passed from one person to the next. I felt like I was missing out again. I wished I was with them at the beach, but of course, it wasn't possible (I was working my butts off in the US).

That was the calm before the storm. The break of dawn proved to be a harbinger of a terrible, horrible tragedy in our family.

September 22, 2002(early A.M. Philippine time). Manong Roland and I(both of us in the US) received an urgent call from the Philippines. Ryan figured in a vehicular accident on his way back to CDO and he died on the spot! Somewhere near Butuan, the truck he was riding lost control and crashed. Ryan was thrown out of the vehicle and died instantly, likely from severe head trauma. He was only 20 years old. Papa, Auntie Nene, Manong Randy, cousin Dodong Rey, Babyrose and Grace drove up to the site of the accident to identify and claim Ryan's mangled body.

It was one of the saddest periods of the family's history.

It was devastatingly shocking and painful. I wanted to go home right away but circumstances would not allow me to go back then. All I could do was make phone calls and cry with cousins, aunties, Mama, Papa, Bingle, Manong Randy, and Sarah. It was very frustrating and depressing. It was hard for all of us to understand and accept losing Ryan.

Here was a young man, full of hope, passion and beautiful dreams. Here was a boy who was a loving son, brother, friend, caring cousin, conscientious hardworking person, full of potential and was so suddenly taken away from our midst. It was and still is hard to fathom God's plan. The family continues to mourn his loss and we hurt every time we talk about him.

We remember him as a kid who triumphed over adversity. When he was in his first year in high school, Uncle Onyot suffered a near-fatal stroke that left him hemiplegic and had difficulty in expressing himself. Their whole family(except Auntie Tess who was already working as a nurse in Dubai at that time) had to move to Manila and move in with us, and also with Manang Vic and Manang Sula. On some weekends, they would stay at Auntie Ramie's. Uncle Onyot needed to be in Manila to continue to recuperate, get physical therapy and be monitored by his neurologist. Auntie Tess had to continue working in Dubai to be able to support her family. The kids had to be enrolled in new schools and had to adapt to new environments quickly. There was a lot of adjustments that had to be done. Their innocent young lives were quite unceremoniously disrupted.

At first, the young Ryan found it hard to grasp the whole situation, but with gentle persuasion and constant communication from Auntie Tess, the uncles, aunts and cousins, he gradually eased thru the trials. It was not for long that he actually became an outstanding student at school and a very caring responsible brother, cousin and son at home. I remember him taking Uncle Onyot for his walks and reminding him of his meds and his exercises on a regular basis.

When Uncle Onyot's condition stabilized, he and his family decided to go back to Mainit. Ryan finished high school there and went to XU afterwards. He was growing up to be an even more responsible person. During sem breaks he would come home to Mainit and tinker around their house and did home improvement projects. One of his last projects was a small koi pond in their house.

During Paping's campaign for his first mayoralty stint, Ryan was there to help print banners and other campaign materials. He was a reliable help and he had the initiative to do good work and get things done right.

I could go on and on and reminisce Ryan's attributes but the undeniable fact is that, he is gone. I still don't know why he was taken from us so quickly. But I do know that God is omnipotent, all-knowing and loving and that I should never doubt His will and wisdom. I thank Him for the few, some trying, but generally happy years that He gave us to be with Ryan when he was still on earth.

We miss you, Ryan. We love you. May you rest in peace, dear cousin! May the good Lord keep you and may His eternal light shine upon you. Forever and ever.

Posted by Ann & JR Gatpolintan

Flashback: sometime in the 90's

With the kids of Antonio Mozar Jr. (Uncle Anton)

Antonio III (Nonong), Ailyn, Ann(me!), Analyn Jen, Manong Randy

CONGRATS TO ROBERT!!!!

Robert Corpuz Gatpolintan with his Manang Ann

(May 2004)

Congratulations to a new nurse in the family!!! Finally, one of the most awaited events in the family has come!!! Robert has graduated and passed the nursing board exam. Woooohoooo!!! I'm so happy for him and of course, also for his Mom, Auntie Tess, and his Dad, Uncle Onyot. We've got a major celebration awaiting. . . Berting, I guess, now, I do owe you a special gift, as promised. Love you always. . . Hehehehe.

SALINAS CONNECTION

Aunties Consuelo(Tingting), Emma(Em-em), Ellen, Loida, Len, Gloria

Aunties from Salinas, California

(from Lola Saling's Mordeno clan in Agusan)

These are some of our relatives here in Cali who welcomed us with open arms and hearts. We are treated like their own kids. They always check on us, feed us, and help us in any way they can. We feel so lucky and blessed knowing them. They have become major players in important decision makings and events in my brother's life and in mine too. They have made a lot of difference in our lives. . . and has made things in Hollister (especially the "beginning years") a bit easier. God really provides us angels to help us go on our journey. These Aunties are our angels here. . .

THEY are SHAMA Kids

Mommy Sarah, Kat, Kyle, Toffee, and Mommy Ching

(during a SHAMA field trip at the zoo)

The cutiepies in their school uniforms

My mini-me, Kat clearly needs coaching on how to smile for the camera. Kyla, on the other hand, obviously knows how to ham it up.

Most of Saling's great grandkids(those who are of school age anyway) are products of SHAMA, a jewel of a preschool right in the midst of U-belt. Manang Vic (Atty. Shiela Marie G. Alaan-Ignacio) discovered this fabulous school first for her daughters, Quina and Camille. Then everyone followed suit: Kyla and Toffee, then Kat, and now, Twinkle. Kim(Manang Sula's son) is an exception, as he went to San Beda and then to Tabernacle of Faith Christian Academy.

SHAMA boasts of its small teacher-student ratio, individualized learning techniques and a very young but talented teaching faculty(mostly UP grads). It is also accesible and charges a very reasonable tuition. It is an excelllent prep school with a very good batting average of students succeeding in grade school. A case in point is Quina, who, at an early age, already earned a scholarship and now goes to the British International School.

It seems to me that the kids, like my nieces, learn their basic skills faster, gain their self-confidence quicker and their potentials are discovered and tapped earlier at SHAMA.

Flashback: Christmas 1999

Manang Bing, Ann(me), Mama, Papa

I find this picture funny.

Photo by Ann Mozar Gatpolintan

Posted by Ann Mozar Gatpolintan

A Star Is Born in the Gat Family

Kyla Gatpolintan belting it out at a karaoke in Manila

Kyla G. is arguably the "nightingale" of the family. She is, of course, the first apo of Lolo Roger and Lola Eden. She started singing when she was about a year old. We were bemused and amazed one early morning(while on vacation in Mainit) when we discovered that she could sing. While everybody else was still half-asleep, there was Kyla perched on a window, hanging on to the iron grills, looking out and cheerily humming a tune to herself and singing in baby babble!

She grew up singing nursery rhymes and the usual Walt Disney or Broadway songs but she always had a distinct lilt in her voice not often heard in other toddlers her age. She also grew up watching her Auntie Tet singing professionally in a band (@ Siete Pecados of the Westin Plaza Hotel))and her other uncles, aunts and cousins as "karaoke champ wannabes"in various family gatherings.

Encouraged by her innate talent (pipes and ear for notes), her mom and dad would take her to karaoke places in Manila to practice performing and recently enrolled her in a voice class(in addition to her Aikido and swimming, whew!). And her singing has improved some more. Boy, she could sing. Plus, the attitude, baby! Kyla has the confidence and stage presence of a real star performer. Once she has the mic, she owns the stage, no holds barred. Those of us in the US occasionally get a treat with Kyla singing for us on the phone( with all the nuances of soft, low, high notes and often, a finale with a bang, we could just imagine her performing). She tells us now, that she wants to hold a concert of her own, someday. She had a taste of a bigger audience recently when she was specially invited to sing on stage at the closing ceremonies of her school(SHAMA) last April.

She is still very young, all of of her six years and she does us proud. She is an intelligent, sweet, beautiful, talented kid and a big loving sister to her equally talented sister Kat and the new sis Karrie. She is now in Grade Two at the Tabernacle of Faith Christian Academy and is doing very well in school. We don't know what the future exactly holds for Kyla but we know that it is a bright one. And she will always be our family's melodious songbird, our nightingale.

Bring the house down Kyle! World, watch out for Kyla.

Photo by Sarah Mendoza Gatpolintan

Posted by JR Mozar Gatpolintan and Ann Mozar Gatpolintan

Flashback: 1999

During Kyla's Baptism Party.

Ann(me), cousins Jonathan Mozar, Rose Gatpolintan and Robert Gatpolintan(sorry Bert, half ra imo wayong dinhi), Eden Gatpolintan(my Maming), and nieces, Quina and Camille Ignacio (pretty daughters of our eldest cousin, Atty. Sheila Marie Alaan-Ignacio)

Photo by Ann Mozar Gatpolintan

Posted by Ann Mozar Gatpolinta

Lolo "Buddha" Hector Hipe

Uncle Hector Hipe with Kathlyn Gatpolintan, Toffee Mozar-Carcellar, and Kyla Gatpolintan

(May 2004)

Uncle Hector is the husband of Auntie Ramie(the youngest sister of Papa). He is our "waray waray uncle." As the former Mayor of Catubig, Samar, he was known to be strict but always fair and just. He has a reputation of being a serious disciplinarian as a leader, as a father and even as a doctor. He doesn't tolerate incompetence and he pretty much shows it if he does not approve of something. Nobody could ever bully him. And, no one ever dares to pick a fight with him. He's a tough one to beat. He is a very good ally but also a very bad enemy.

He is a no nonsense-person whose humor is infectious. During family gatherings, he is a joy to be around with. He is always jolly and fun. I especially enjoy his karaoke performances and his "hirits." He is also very fond of the kids who in turn love him and love to play with him. Uncle is someone who's tough and strong but definitely has a "softie" big heart inside (especially with the grandkids).

Uncle Hector is currently in Mainit, serving as the community doctor at the health center (and Auntie Ramie is the physician counterpart at the adjacent Medicare Hospital). This is part of his and Auntie Ramie's promise to help Papa in improving the delivery of health care in Mainit. Kudos to both of them for their commitment and sacrifice. They could have chosen to work in the big cities where they could be earning more money and be with their children at the same time . But they chose to go where their services are valued and needed most - in "less-doctored" areas like Mainit. Nowadays, doctors like them, are hard to find. In my book, as dedicated rural physicians, they are two of the few unsung heroes of the country.

Thanks also to their children, Howell, Ricci and Jan Hero (amazingly down to earth, hardworking and fab cuzins), for being such good sports and for being very understanding and supportive of their parents' decision to serve in Mainit and for being willing to share their parents' time with the people of Mainit.

Photo by Ann Mozar Gatpolintan

Posted by Ann Mozar Gatpolintan

Aine Karrie's Baptism on June 4, 2006

Taray ng Mukha ni Baby Karrie

Randy's Family with the Priest who baptized Baby Karrie

With the ninangs, ninongs and cousins from both sides.

Photos by Sarah Mendoza Gatpolintan

Posted by Ann Mozar Gatpolintan

Hands On and Visible Leader

Papa in Action

Photo, courtesy of Bing Gatpolintan Madria

Posted by Ann Mozar Gatpolintan

Politics Rocks Papa's and Our World.

Taken during New Year 2000.

(A year before Papa took the plunge and joined the crazy world of local small town Pinoy Politics)

I love this picture of my Maming and Paping. They look super happy and stress-free here. . . I hope they're feeling that way everyday. Problem free. But, who are we kidding? With Papa in politics, stress and problems abound. I feel like it's robbing them and us, the entire family, the comfort we all deserve. Papa always tells us though, that, this is how public service is. It is not always glamorous. It is a lot of sacrifice. It comes with so much intrigues and disagreements. You can never please everybody. No matter how pure your intentions are, there will always be doubting Thomases and people who refuse to see the good in you. Many would even try to pull you down, if not bury you alive.

I do understand that once you join politics you kinda end up becoming public property, because you are a public servant. But, still, it just pains me to see people betray my father; to hear people question Papa's sincerity to serve; to know that many are out to destroy him and every project he has for the town. It's just not right. He deserves appreciation and respect. A man who aims to serve to the best of his ability and a man who wishes to leave a beautiful legacy should get support and respect. But, no, in our country, those people are booted out, pushed away or forced to leave so that all the "trapos" and crooks could run the show. We, the kids, have selfishly begged Papa a dozen times, to give this up. We told him he could now relax, perhaps travel, and still help Mainit in his own little way as a private citizen. The fighter in him, tells us though, "I am not giving up. I am not letting these bad elements win. If all the sincere, hard-working, honest people in the community give up, then, what will happen to the rest of us? I know it's hard for everyone in the family right now. But one day, you will see clearly and understand." So here we are, supporting him all the way. We are all behind him in this fight. We believe in him. We know that he truly cares about finishing his projects. I just hope one day, those who block his proposals/projects, would get their senses back and realize that these are all for the betterment of all Mainitnons. It would be a really great news if one day, they would cooperate and stop thinking about their own egos, pride, ambitions and self interests. Our town would surely benefit and progress shall come fast. At the rate they're going, this may sound unachievable. . . but we are made of those people who never lose hope and who continue to dream. ALL THESE CHAOS SHALL PASS. ONE DAY, ALL THINGS WILL BE SWEET AND ALL DREAMS WILL COME TRUE. Because we believe and we got the faith.

Photo by Ann Mozar Gatpolintan

Posted by Ann Mozar Gatpolintan

"Partners In Crime"

Ann G and Babyrose G (aka Saling and Asyang)

Biologically, I am the youngest among the siblings. But, technically, it's really my cousin, more like my little sister, Babyrose or Rose Cubelo Gatpolintan, who is the youngest sis. She is the daughter of Evangeline Cubelo(Auntie Nene) and Raul Gatpolintan(the late Uncle Langlang). Babyrose was born without knowing her Dad. Auntie Nene was pregnant with Babyrose when her husband, Uncle Langlang passed away. So, when Babyrose was born she automatically became everybody's baby in the family. Everyone was her Mama(Mama Rina, Mama Ruth, Mama Ramie, Mama Eden, Mama Tess, and of course her Mama Nene). Everyone was her Papa(Papa Roger, Papa Quintin, Papa Onyot, Papa Pepe, Papa Hector). Babyrose is everybody's baby in the family. All are concerned about her. All are watching her. And, to everybody's delight, she has grown into a very fine and responsible young lady. She has not failed the family and she continues to make us all proud.

Babyrose is my sis and partner in crime. We both know each other a little too well though. Hehehe. . . We both know what is going on inside our crazy heads and beautiful hearts. Sometimes we still get in each others' nerves but at the end of the day, we both know that we'll always have each other. We are sisters and "partners in crime" for life.

Photo by Ann Mozar Gatpolintan

Posted by Ann Mozar Gatpolintan

Teacher(Ma'am) Eden

Mama, doing what she does best, teaching the young ones.

Photo by Eden Mozar Gatpolintan

Posted by Ann Mozar Gatpolintan

Randy Roger Gatpolintan's Family

Sarah, Kat, Randz, Kyla.

(2004)

Kyla, Sarah, Randz, Kat

(2002)

Photos by Randy and Sarah Gatpolintan

Posted by Ann Mozar Gatpolintan

Aine Karrie Mendoza Gatpolintan

The Third Grandchild of Roger and Eden

Born: May 17, 2006

Baby girl Aine Karrie, the newest addition to the Gatpolintan Family.

Our Little Angel.

"Hmmmm. Whose features do I have?"

Karrie swarmed by Daddy Randz, Ate Kat and Ate Kyla

I think she is a good mix of Randz and Sarah

Photos by Randy and Sarah Gatpolintan

Posted by Ann Mozar Gatpolintan