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