The day after Mothers Day we received a surprise here in Bataan. A week-long visit from our daughter, who works in Singapore, a better Mother’s Day could not have been planned, and the look of happiness on my wife’s face was priceless.
Naturally our eldest daughter came to the house with my granddaughter to spend the week with her little sister. The house was full, and we had a wonderful time every day, it was good to hear all that noise again. Her return flight was on Sunday 16 May, so I suggested that we load up the car and spend the weekend at Clark Freeport an hour’s drive away. Friday morning we checked into the Mimosa Holiday Inn on Clark.
Let the touring begin! I left the entire weekend and all decisions up to my wife and the girls, I drove and I paid, as is my job, and I’ll do, whatever they want to do. That afternoon we visited Nayong Philipino, after twenty minutes of looking at the recreated villages of the Philippines up to Spanish colonial times, it dawned on me that I’d been there before. My girls said “No Daddy this is the first time.”I said, “Remember the Philippines Centennial in 1998, we came here to Philippine Expo, and I met Erap standing right here in front of the church?” The light bulbs lit up and when we asked an employee he said yes it’s the same place. If you don’t remember it, than it’s still the first time you saw it. (As in “If I don’t remember doing that, than I didn’t do it!” It was new for my niece and granddaughter and they had fun. That evening we had supper at the Holiday Inn, and a night swim at the pool. The thing I remember from 1998 was the outside elevator that ran up the side of the building and the nice view, and how excited my girls were to ride it as many times as they could. It’s still there and now the two youngsters showed a new excitement for it. The more things change the more they stay the same! It’s just a new generation.
The next day we set off to the Paradise Ranch, (10 miles of bad road to get there) which has a petting zoo and is well kept, and thank the stars all the animals looked healthy and well cared for. Then a ride on these strange little carts, down a very steep ramp, at pretty high speeds, it was enjoyed by all.
Next we were off to the other side of the ranch where they have a beautiful nature walk that leads to a huge butterfly enclosure, and fish ponds and of course swimming. Hokey, but everyone liked it.
Hunger set in and we had seen all we wanted to see, so off in search of food. Now awhile back I wrote about my search for the Greek Gyro’s Sandwich, Dave Starr’s wife Mita was kind enough to provide me with a website of Myrnaki restaurant in Angeles City that served them. (Thank you Mr. & Mrs. Starr) They were made with pork not lamb, but it was very good and I’d go back again. My son-in-law Chris, had one with me, and deemed it a good thing also. They served good Philipino food, so all the ladies were quite pleased with the my choice. My only question was, why is a Dutch guy, selling Greek food in the Philippines and why does he put French fries into a Gyro sandwich?
That night we went to the Fontana Resort to see a Car Show, where I ran into an American with a 1969 Camaro SS 427 fully restored and a show stopper. I also found the largest San Miguel bottle I’d ever seen and they would not let me take it home. For those who would wonder, I consumed 5 beers the entire weekend, as it was the family’s vacation. The sad part of the whole weekend was taking our daughter Ymir Thea to the airport on Clark and saying goodbye, not a dry eye in the house. So I proved that even gainfully unemployed guys can enjoy a small vacation, add in the people you love, well, that’s just perfection!
Hi Paul
It is never easy seeing a member of the family off at the airport, but you have given yourselves some lovely memories also. These will hopefully keep you going until the next visit.
God willing it will be us on the plane this time, heading for Gen San to see the family.
Marjorie
Hi Marjorie;
Its tough living the empty nest life style, my youngest lived with us after college,
while working on Subic Freeport. She came to me and asked about working in Singapore and I knew it would be good to get out to see some of the world for herself. But we miss her every day, She calls her mother every night, and I’m glad of that even if I’m the one to pay for the call.
Excellent article. Wish I had done one on our recent trip to Subic with my little nephews and one of my older, working age nieces. I never cease to marvel at the guys who came here to the Philippines, married a Filipina and never took the time to enjoy their “new” family. My extended family here is one of the primary reasons I love living in the Philippines. Some folks must be missing a lot.
Glad you enjoyed the trip to Clark too. So many people (many who actually know nothing about it fist-hand) love to bad mouth Angeles City and Clark, but there is a lot of good stuff there, especially for foreigners. And the airport! Wow, so different and so much easier to deal with than Manila. A real little gem that we up here in the Northern climes get to enjoy.
Glad you found the Myrnaki also. I don’t see anyhting at all strange about a Dutch-operated Greek restaurant in the Philippines … just seems so natural 😉
Thanks for showcasing some of the Filipino places that so often get ignored. Hope to get up your way again real soon now.
Hi Dave;
Last Friday night I went to the Casablanca Hotel for Mongolian BBQ, p350.00 a head,
chow was great and you can use the pool. There are many things to see and do here, ya just gotta’ go look for it. As for the Greek place, I never would have found it without the map on their web site, pls. thank your wife for me.
Hi guys thanks for visit our restaurant.
Just to update your questions
The dutch guy is married to the Philippina owner who has bin living in Greece for 6 years and worked there in the restaurants where she learned about the Greek food.
In Athens you will get your Greek Giros Pita with the french fries wrapped in the pita bread.
I hope you all enjoyed it and I hope to see you again in Myrnaki greek restaurant
Michael;
The thanks go to you. as I enjoyed my visit and the food. I was thinking back to my many many trips to Greece, and then still could not remember the French Fries, it later occurred to me that 90% of them I’d gotten from street vendors, and there were French Fries when ordered from restaurants. I had many friends in the Royal Dutch Navy, and my Brother-in-law is from Holland.
Hi Paul – Gee, I haven’t been retired long enough to accumulate vacation time. Oh, I know, my time will come. Until then, though, I guess it’s “stay away from the grind stone”!
😆
Great People + Great Places + Great Things to Do + Great Time Had by All = Great Article!
Paul;
It’s a simple vacation formula every day retired you earn 2 days vacation. You lose one week’s vacation if you do any work besides “Honey Do’s”, you never escape the “Honey Do’s!”
Hi Paul – oh, you might have a problem. Remember a while back you showed pictures of those tables and chairs that you are making? That’s work… and that work may have eaten up all of your vacation time! 😯
Bob;
The formula is 2 days vacation for each day retired. I retired in 2000 and I believe I’ve enough vacation, to last until 2030,even if I worked 2 days a week building tables. (lol) But you did open my eyes and I’m going to slow down production too “As Ordered”.
Ha ha… I guess you have built up enough vacation days in the bank, Paul… work away, sir!
Hey Paul
Great article I can imagine the happiness of spending time with your family and specially your Grandaughter.
I had to look very closely at the thorn and I can almost see a bit of a “Smile”
Hi Neal;
Its a pleasure to be around the ladies when we go any place, as they laugh and smile every minute of the day. Sell the house and get here quick!
Paul
I wish it was that easy, my real estate guy has had 3 open houses, 22 scheduled showings and only brought 1 lame ass offer to the table, and that was even when there was a 8 thousand dollar rebate first time buyers incentive to a buyer.
The end of June Im gonna pull a TRUMP on him.
Neal;
Pull the Trump, but not the Trump’s hair. Wishing you luck on the sale!!!
Good on ya Paul, great pics.
Brian;
Thank you Sir!
“I also found the largest San Miguel bottle I’d ever seen….”
Leave it to you, Paul. This bottle is even larger than the one on the roof of the San Miguel brewery in Cebu, which I’ve gazed upon lovingly many times.
Peter;
Build the biggest San Mig Bottle, and I will find it! But like me it was full of hot air. (lol)
A similar sized San Mig is chillin’ right down the street from us many Friday and/or Saturday nights. We just gotta find 22 more and we’ll have a case 8-D
Hey, Gary… I think you need to find 23 more… Paul already drank the one up in Clark! 😆
Notice, he said he only drank 5 beers for the entire weekend… one was just a little bigger than normal! 😯
Bob;
Very good Bob! You got me there. (lol)
Gary;
What a dreamer you are, hold onto the dream and I’ll help you carry the case home.
“The Birdman of Paridise Ranch”
Careful there, Paul, frightened little birdies often have loose bowels.
Do you really think I exited that cage without being anointed with bird doo-doo?
Nice article Paul. I’ll have to mark those on my list of places to visit as it appears that everyone had a great time.
Letting go is a very tough ting to do. My oldest daughter is now age 21 and a junior at Univ of Alabama. We’ve been dealing with this “goodbye” thing twice a year for the past three years. It hasn’t gotten any easier either.
I think the tough part is each time she comes home I can see the changes (all in a good way, of course) as she gets older. I can only wish that I were there to share in the experiences, but that’s all part of the process of life.
I don’t know if you’ve been, but Singapore is a wonderful little place. We have visited my wife’s former employer a number of times and always had a great time there. In my opinion, Singapore is a wonderful place full of spectacular things and good people.
On a reflective note, the journey of life (our lives) is a beautiful story and every once in a while you just have to step back and take note of it otherwise it’ll pass by unnoticed.
Thank you for sharing. It’s always fun to see families together.
Hi Doug;
Why do little girls have to grow up? Her working in Singapore and sharing an apartment with two of the girls she went to College with has been a wonderful experience for her. She was once very shy, and has overcome that quite well. I was sailing on tankers home ported out of Singapore, and I have an undying love for the place.
Good article Paul
I am looking foward to my vacation in 3 weeks, it will be at home but alot changes at our house , so I cant wait to brake out the Hamock and have a cold one.
you have a nice looking family.
James;
After seeing those pictures of your landscaping you sent, I was thinking that your wife might have trouble getting you to come inside. (lol) Enjoy your vacation, relax and take advantage of you piece of heaven here on earth. (The hammock and cold one is a great plan!)
Could you give the address or website for Nayong Pilipino? I would like to visit, but couldn’t get info on where it is or how to get there. I plan to visit the Philippines in June and would like to take a look at the place.
Hi;
It’s on Clark Freeport by the old Philippine Expo site. I never saw a web site on it. And I would recommend you not make a special trip to Clark just to see it. But if you’re already visiting the area, than it’s worth a couple of hours to see it, p40 for adult’s p20 for children. I hope that helped?
Thanks, Paul. I’ll be short on time, so I’ll probably skip it. Sounds interesting though!
Hi Paul: Beautiful! Here’s to you and your’s (clink) SML.
Roberto;
What a lovely sound, the clinking of two ice cold MaGoo’s. Thank you Sir!
Hey Paul,
good article, sounds like you had a good time. Now back to reality and the honey do list.
Hi Hudson;
I’m pretty good at those “Honey Do’s”, but the thing I learned as a Senior Chief in the Navy was, The Captain gives me a job to do, I didn’t think he expected “me” too actually do the job, he expected me to “cause it to happen”. I explained the theory to my wife, so now she knows that I might hire someone to complete the “Honey Do’ assigned. Like the Navy, I still get the credit!
Senior,
Way to rack up the points with the whole female clan of yours. YOUR GOOD!!!
Being the submissive male and catering to their every wish. Wow that should get you a night on the town with the boys.:)
But seriously that was an awsome thing to do kudos and I will soon know what it’s like to have an empty nest my daughter moves out with my grandkids friday. I’m glad that their are people like you that keep family first here’s a cold one on me.
Senior next year when I’m their in subic bay you’ll have to school me on where to take my lady.
Bruce;
Where to take your Lady? Shopping of course! (lol) Yes I will do that for you, and might even go with you if you don’t mind. I had a great Mongolian BBQ last Friday Night at the Casablanca Hotel on Subic, that for sure is on the list!
Senior,
You and your wife can most surly come it would be an honor if not a blast!!
Oh yea shopping that was a DUH!!!! I think all women have an extra DNA stran in their primal biological make up that gives them the urge to spend our excess money. I think they call it emminent domain. I truley believe that the two biggest factors in her wanting to live in PI is one family and two we have to buy all new things for the house. You talk about supplying candy for an addiction I think she goes into withdrawals just thinking about setting up house in Subic. Of course I’ll play the role of bag boy and financier OH the pain. I’m sure you wife can assit her on where to go to get the deals. 🙂
I’ll send you an e-mail through LIP so i can get some info is that ok?
Hi Bruce;
I sent you my e-mail address.
One extra DNA stran? My wife has two.
Bruce;
My e-mail to you failed, and that guy MAILER-DAEMON returned it to me, PLS. use LIP.
Paul, Sent it through lip if you don’t get it it is [email protected]
let me know pls
“My only question was, why is a Dutch guy, selling Greek food in the Philippines and why does he put French fries into a Gyro sandwich?” -I asked the same when I saw a Latino working at a Japanese place in America. Culture mix up is AWESOME.
By the way, I’ve never mentioned this, but I like your mustache. LOL
Hi Jon;
Your question was the as confusing to me, as it was to you. We’ll never know why French Fries were on a Gyro. I have eaten Gyro’s in Greece and never saw French Fries on it. In the Greek Capital of the U.S., Tarpon Springs Florida, I never saw it. Maybe it’s a Dutch thing. I’ll ask my brother-in-law from Holland next time I see him. About the mustache, the U.S. Navy was never too fond of it
Glad you enjoyed your trip to Clark Senior, I stayed at that holiday in for 6 months when I was Deployed there with VP1 back in 2006, great buffet kinda spendy but very good. Wish I could have checked out that car show for sure.
I retire in 2012 in Angeles, can’t wait.
In the 80’s I was stationed out on Diego Garcia with the NAVY, I had an Air Force Load Master who took care of my cargo coming out to the Island. With a phone call I could get him to hold it up there on Clark, and that would drive the Lt. [04] nuts, he tried to expedite the shipment with no luck, and sent me over to see what the trouble was. The problem was that the Senior Chief [me] needed some R&R, when I flew in, the Chief Master Sergeant would start the flow again, until the next time I needed a break. Bless the Air Force! See ya in 2012; I’ll buy you a beer at the VFW.
Another great read Paul. Like everyone I suppose I have mixed feelings watching my boy grow up. The precious little bundle of Joy became a rambunctious little kid and now he’s a handful as a teenager, lol. I wonder what the world will be like for him in the future and just hope I’m able to supply a few good memories for him along the way. You are truly blessed. I’m very happy for you.
Hi Mark;
I was thinking about your comment, remembering myself as a teenager, thank God I grew up as after that my Dad and I became great buddies. I guess that’s how it is. But we all survived it. When it happened to me and I had teenagers, I smiled and told myself, “It’s just the Cosmos paying me back.”