Being part of the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3 gave me the opportunity to know fellow bloggers not only from Mindanao but also from other places in the Philippines. In that event also I met the famous Manansala bloggers from General Santos; Avel (Gensantos.com) and Orman (GandaEverSoMuch.com). And this is how I found out about Ganda Ever So Much by Orman Manansala.

When I first visit the blog I said "Wow I love the layout very unique!" yun talaga una ko na notice specially the hands on both sides of the blog and ofcourse the frog icon on the header which I fine weird at first. Hindi ko kasi gets eh… lols. Anyways, when I started reading his blog post I enjoyed it a lot. I remember the first blog post I read it was “Bakit katamad maligo pagweekend?” natawa talaga ako sa post na yun kasi nga totoo lahat. Since then I got caught up and then go on reading the past blog post. Ang maganda sa blog ni Orman is that the way he posted his blog post na patula so hindi ka talaga ma-bore sa kakabasa. Dalawa din sa sinusundan kung post ay ang emo-ness ever moment and the emo tips. Hehehe… Emotera kasi ako kaya relate ever ako sa mga blogs ni Orman. So whenever he shared his blog post on Facebook I click and read it talaga but not now anymore because I am already his subscriber. :P I admit hindi ko talaga na-isip eto not until I joined his first week blogversary contest which required to subscribe on his blog. ;)

Happy 1st Blogversary GandaEverSoMuch.com!

Meron pala kaming bonggang picture ni Orman during Summer Safari in Gensan. (Thank you Orman sa paalala.) Taken by Robstroy at Pacman's Sports Bar. Oh diba ang Ganda ever so much talaga kami! :P

I am honestly excited for this... The other day I shared the link of my GAPACU-ED Family blog on Facebook and tag some friends with a simple message attach "I miss you guys!". After a while Janice commented and suggested a get-together since she miss all of us also. The next day everyone is commenting they want a get-together and told me to organize the event. Oh no! I want a get-together too but right now Im so busy with work so I suggested if we all plan the event. So I created a form from Google Docs for them to suggest the when, where and what of the event and shared it in there Facebook inbox. However, I know not all are going to check Facebook more often and others don't even have an account so if your one of us go and sign the form: GAPACU-ED Family Get-together to help us plan! See you soon all!

I also created a new form: Get-together Planning!

I was craving for something delicious and unusual to eat this evening and so I invited Carol and Jane to dine with me at Mandarin Tea Garden. We had a great time bonding and enjoying our full blast dinner. Carol ordered a Beef Brisket Rice Toppings and Avocado shake.

Yes, its true! I'm not kidding its my mama's first Night Cafe last night. My mama is the type of person who doesn't go out for fun. If she ever want to go out that would be strolling along Cogon and grocery at Palana, Kevin, Julmar... I am glad that Mama is now slowly exposing herself to things that I enjoyed doing- Lakwatya kahit saan. Whenever I invited her to go mall stroll she now come along without hesitation. Just like last night I was craving for donut and invited Mama to go out and try night cafe. She was hesitant at first but then later on I was shocked when she was closing the store and told Justine to dress up. And so off we go to nigh cafe, stroll and look around some nice things to buy until we saw an affordable ukay-ukay which sells good-as-new shirts and blouses. Mom and I enjoyed hunting for some long shirts na "pambahay". And while waiting for us Justine got himself a spot where he sat down with a sleepy face.

Today we celebrated Saint Anthony de Padua fiesta! In our family this is not just a fiesta but also a gathering of family friends and relatives. Kung baga get together and getting to know some relatives unknown and reconnect with friends!

Since yesterday pa we had bonding ever na with cousins and relatives. Cooking and preparing foods for the visitors who arrive in the evening. Having fun serving foods to the visitors while chika2x in between task. Last night din napagtripan ko kumain ng ice cream, kinulit-kulit ako ni auntie at ng mga pinsan ko na bumili kaya off we go to buy ice cream. Natagalan kami sa pagbili ng ice cream kasi its already late and we were searching for 24hours Grocery store who sells Double dutch Selecta Ice cream, we are a Selecta Ice cream family kasi. Umabot kami ng Limketkai Mall and Cogon sa paghahanap but we ended up buying in Divisoria which iniiwasan namin mapadpad kasi traffic dahil sa night cafe. In a way, nakatulong din ang paglilibot namin kasi na pasyal namin ang bagong dating na pinsan from Manila, he will be studying here and hindi pa nya kabisado ang Cagayan de Oro. When we arrive its late kakauuwi lang ng last visitor. Nilantakan na ang ice cream and before we know ubos na! hehehe...

Kanina busy din kami kasi marami pa ding bisita. Papa was so happy and wears a big smile when the kusina girls greeted him "Happy Father's Day!" in chorus. Later on, Manang Susie who is in Canada with his boyfriend Bart got the chance to meet the whole family and visitors through my laptop. Nakisaya din sila sa amin, salamat sa Skype video call who made it possible! hehehe... Ang saya-saya ni Manang Susie at halos ma-iiyak na hearing our voices in chorus saying "Hi manang! Kumusta? Happy Fiesta..." when the video call starts. Talagang lahat kami naka one-on-one chat ky manang. She even ask the kids to sing and dance but my niece Eallysa brave all the kids and sung songs we don't understand the lyrics, with matching facial expressions and her upside down guitar. lols... After that Manang Susie and Bart promise to treat us all with ice cream so for the second time bumili kami ulit ng Double dutch Selecta Ice cream.

Last Sunday I spent my time shopping and strolling with mama and Justine at Limketkai. It was actually the first time I get to bring mama at the mall since she doesn't like going to Malls. We had a great time that day specially me. I was so happy seeing both mama and Justine having fun at the Toy Kingdom rides, buying dresses, t-shirts, toys and food trip. Although nakakainis lang minsan kasi ang kulit-kulit ni Justine takbo ng takbo kung saan marami pa namang tao sa mall.

Our last stop was Missy Bon Bon. I treat mom and Justine since I often take home cakes from Missy Bon Bon and his loving it, now I wanna let them the Gelato which I cant take home since it melts fast. Mom was having hard time picking what bread to eat since according to her "all are delicious!" until she choose the Sliced Orange Cake. While Justine run immediately to the cakes section and pick the Caramel Cheese Cake. As for me I tried the drink that is new to my eyes - the Ice Coffee drink, I love it! Another additional favorite that will let me come again in Missy Bon Bon. And ofcourse we ordered Gelato in which Justine cried out for Blueberry Cheese Gelato, mom had the Mango flavor and I had Tiramisu.

I just tasted one of the delicious pizza in town! Mexitalian Cuisine invited CDO bloggers to visit there place and taste their specialty yesterday. It was an aftenoon spent with pizza, pasta and softdrink... We tasted one of the restaurant specialty which is Mexitalian Special and Penne Al Cartoccio.

Mexitalian Special Pizza has the following toppings: sausage , ham, salami, olives, bell peppers, mushroom, onions, tocino, pineapple and mozarella. There are also a lot more Pizza that the restaurant offers: Margheritta, Quatro Stagioni, Hawaiian, Montecarlo, Capricciosa, Meat Lover's Pizza, Vegetarian Pizza, Italian Sausage Pizza and Authentic Salami Pizza.

The Bloggers grand eyeball that night was fun CDO, Davao, Gensan and Kidapawan Bloggers get to hangout and know each other. Ang nakakatawa that night was that ang reaction ng lahat pagsinabi na ang plurk nickname. Official tambayan ng bloggers na talaga ang Plurk. lols...

Big thanks to Davao bloggers, Soccsksargen bloggers, Avel and Orman Manansala for the warm welcome and for accommodating CDO bloggers and most specially to Mayor Jun Acharon for our vehicle and the Lechon he gave at Piyesta and to all the generous sponsors.