Ibyang
Ibyang

Milestones

Happy Birthday Husband!

To the Love of My Life,

I hope you enjoyed your day spent with the Koalas and Kangaroos…

and I hope you loved your time spent with me!!!

We spent the whole day together and had lunch at Hog’s Breath Cafe. Last night, we had our birthday date, just us, at Charcoal Mine Korean BBQ Restaurant in Parramatta.

and I hope you liked my gift too. 🙂

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

May your 29th year be more spectacular than ever and may all your dreams come true because you deserve it.

Please know that I’m grateful to be blessed by your presence in my life…thank you for being the kind, generous, loving and funny husband and bestfriend that you are.

With all my heart…your Wifey,

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Patrick Turns 7

21 May 2008 0 Comments Category: Milestones

Our youngest cuzin Patrick turned 7 today 🙂 *sigh* How time flies…wala na kaming baby.

In celebration of his birthday today, our Grandma cooked Pancit Bihon and his parents bought KFC (that was his only request) and a simple ice cream cake for dessert. And to make him really really happy, his parents made him play Wii today even if it was a school day.

On Saturday, he will have a big party at home for relatives and friends, then on Sunday, he’ll have his Bowling Party for his classmates.

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Officially A. Sanchez

29 February 2008 0 Comments Category: Deep Thoughts, Milestones

I’ve officially change my name here in Australia.

When wives change their names after the wedding, it’s tedious. But if you change your name here in Australia, it’s doubly tedious.

Here in Australia, they don’t use their mother’s maiden name–as in they don’t. My cuzins who were born here were simply First Name Second Name (if they do have any) Surname (example: Teresa Charmane Malabunga). But in the Philippines, ganito ang name natin: Teresa Charmane Zurbano Malabunga (Zurbano being the mother’s maiden name and it will eventually became Z.).

When I got married and applied for a driver’s license, the officer was very confused by my name. Yung passport ko kasi read: Avigail Zurbano Malabunga, then there was an amendment by the Philippine Consulate saying that my name has been changed to Avigail Malabunga Sanchez. Akala ng officer my second name was Zurbano at nagtataka sya kung bakit napalitan nang magpakasal ako. So I insisted na maiden name yun ng nanay ko and that after getting married napalitan ng Malabunga because I adopted my husband’s surname. When they were creating my license, it read Avigail Zurbano Sanchez…so I said, “No, no, no, that’s wrong!” Finally na-gets naman nila kasi pinakita ko yung birth certificate ko certifying that Zurbano is indeed my mother’s maiden name. Halos maubusan ako ng English kaka-explain.

So I thought okay na. All my records here has been changed to my new name from the Immigration, bank, and office records.

BUT (the biggest but of all), since I wasn’t born AND married here, the change of name HAS to be official…as in registered in the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Because somewhere down the line, some government agency will still need that certification that in the records of Australian Government, that is your name. If you’re married overseas, Australia does not honor the Marriage Certificate from wherever country. And in my case, I need that certification because (1) I will soon be applying for citizenship and (2) I will be travelling. In some government agency pwede ka pang makalusot pero kung maga-apply ka na ng citizenship, you don’t have much of a choice–they will ask for that document whether you like it or not.

And another thing, when you change your name here, you have to take out your maiden name. So dito sa Australia, I can’t use my maiden name anymore 🙁

On a nostalgic light, I feel kinda robbed in a way, like a part of me was taken away. But there’s nothing I can do, that’s the way life is here. I’ve never had any qualms about changing names, but to take MY name (the one given to me by my dad)–that name that will always connect me with MY parents….parang na-sad ako bigla.

Oh well, that’s life. I will always be my parent’s baby no matter what name I have.

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Do You Believe In Signs?

I do. Not because I’m a hopeless romantic (because I’m not), but I simply believe that signs come from someone up there who conspires with the whole universe to make things happen. And more often than not, before whatever ultimate thing happens, there are signs that lead you to it.

For the past eight months and 18 days, I have been looking for signs (and maybe answers) as to when my husband and I will be together and as to what we have to prepare so that we can be together. As far as I know, we have done every little and big thing that needs to be done. Everytime some idea comes up, we’d always ask “Baka we need to do this first bago tayo magsama?”. And we’d do it as we have always been proactive about things. At the same time, I thought our ideas were signs from the universe.

When February crept in, another idea came up to me and I told Chris “For months, all we ever get ready for is your coming here but now I think we also need to be ready to wait some more.” That was my moment of ultimate let go and surrender.

Last Thursday, as mentioned on my previous entry, I was tricked into going out on Vday. For some reason I found a sign during my dinner with my friends. We were seated at Table #20 (when we were ushered in, I immediately said, “Ara, anniv namin Chris”) and while Ara and I were talking about Chris’ visa application I noticed a spectrum of colorful light on our table—a rainbow!

I saw the sign!!!!

It was a sign and I felt it. I really felt very happy seeing that rainbow shining on our table. And before our dinner ended, I uttered the words to my friends “Thank you Lord, you haven’t given it yet, but I know you will give it soon.”

The following day at work, I had this innate sense that I have to get things organized because I’m going to be on leave soon. I felt that certain urge to get as much stuff done coz I have a feeling that a big change will happen.

Friday morning, there was another sign. My Australian Citizenship exam got moved to an earlier date. Original date was March 27, too long a wait and might interfere with our travel plans. Good thing my friend Chloe emailed me telling me to call Citizenship Office ASAP coz apparently there are slots for March 1. And I did call and guess what? I got moved to March 1!!!! Yay!

Friday night, I told Chris the good news. Since feel ko na talaga na malapit na kaming magkita, nag-discuss na kami ng list of itineraries namin. Before we hung up, I told Chris “Malapit na tayong magkita” (We will see each other soon). At ang effect eh parang nagpo-prophesized ako hahaha.

At 5:56pm today, Chris called. Ganito ang dialogue:

C: Are you online?
I: No, why?
C: May email akong pinadala sayo, open mo.
I: Okay, eto na…nag-online na ako…ano ba to? Shyet! Good news ba to?
C: Basta buksan mo dali.
I: Shyet, kinakabahan naman ako. (Pag kinakabahan ako I seem to say “sheyt” a lot!)

…after a few minutes, when I opened Chris’ email, the sweetest eight-letter word I’ve ever read:

APPROVED!

Oh ha?????? Buti na lang malakas ang pakiramdam ko!!!! Buti na lang, my mind and heart were able to see the signs!

I cried tears of joy when I read the email. The happiness and excitement was overwhelming. When I told my relatives about the good news, I was still teary-eyed. When I called my parents, I was fighting the tears, naiiyak pa rin ako after an hour and a half.

Finally, finally, FINALLY my husband’s coming home.

Thank you:

  • Kay God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Mama Mary, Papa Joseph, Sta. Clara, St. Jude, Lord of Pardon, Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Our Lady of Manaog—yes, silang lahat dinasalan naming mag-asawa at ng mga nanay namin.
  • Our Parents and Relatives – for their prayers and support at sa walang sawang pakikinig sa mga “waiting” dilemmas namin.
  • Our Friends–you know who you are: sa paga-analyze kung ano na ang ginagawa ng immigration sa papers ni Chris, sa pakikinig sa mga emote ko, for praying for us, for cheering on us and for simply being there for us—kayo ang mga cheerleaders ko!
  • Our Online Buddies: we never thought we’d have so much support from special people whom we’ve only met thru the blogosphere, thank you for your sincerity and words of encouragement.

What Now?

The focus is for Chris to make a graceful exit from work and for me to just get our travel plans and his coming here firmed up. No final dates yet on when we will see each other (we’ll be working on it in the coming days) but we’re looking at possibly reuniting four to six weeks from now.

If you turn it over to the Universe, you will be surprised and dazzled by what is delivered to you. This is where magic and miracles happen.

– Dr. Joe Vitale (The Secret)

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