I Have A Dream

After dinner at home with my dad and mom, we were listening to dad's ABBA CD and we got to talking about a lot of things.  Each song we listened to gave us specific memories of people, places and events; from the time of long ago until the most recent ones.  It has always been a treat for us, their children, to listen to their stories.  Tonight it was just me and and my mom, and I contributed some of the memories I had of the stories being told.  When the song "I Had A Dream" started playing, my dad excitedly asked me to turn the volume up.  I knew for the longest time that this was his most favorite song from the group.  He had other favorites but this one topped his list.  When the song ended, he asked me to play it again.  I forgot now what we talked about while the song was being played the first time.  But what is now stuck in my head was my mom's odd (I thought it was odd the first time she said it) request.  She told me that I should sing this song for dad.  I was confused at first because I didn't know of any upcoming get-together where I could see myself singing for my dad.  Thus,  I asked her when she wanted me to do it.  Then, as I looked at her and saw her eyes, I finally understood what she meant and I nearly burst out into tears.  I can't say it now but maybe someday I will tell you everything.  But as for now, let me share to you my dad's favorite ABBA song.  

that one day

just give me one day
a day when i can pour my heart out,
singing the blues that replaced the redness of my heart
a day when i can just burst out in tears.
like a river running down my cheeks
a day when i can be weak.
losing the battle previously won
a day when i can lean on others,
getting comfort from wherever i can
give me that one day
then I will be strong
like a mountain
pushing against the wind
someone you can depend on
through highs and lows
through thick and thin
just give me that one day
then i will be the one .......


the one to give you 
all the DAYS that you need




Katy L. 02/05/2012

my family's request for support

Please refer to this blog if you haven't read it yet.

Can I do this on my own?

I am struggling as I start to write this blog.  Why?  Because up to now I still do not want to admit that after all the things my dad has endured during the 2nd phase of his chemotherapy, colon cancer cells has spread to his liver and abdominal walls (stage 4).  Those who have medical backgrounds or with family members who have gone through the same thing knows that if left untreated, he may have at least 6 months or the most 2 years to live.  After a conference with his oncologist and consultations with his siblings, who are mostly in the medical field, he was told that there is a big chance that he may beat this disease if he undergoes a 3rd phase of chemotherapy and surgery right away.  

What is stopping him now from getting the treatment that he needs is the lack of funds since the first two phases of chemotherapy has nearly depleted the family's savings.  We need about 4.5M to cover his initial treatment and surgery (that does not cover maintenance dose after surgery) but we only have less than 800,000 left in the bank right now.  And even if we get to sell whatever properties we still have it will not reach half of what we need.  

My dad has told us that enough is enough and he would rather that we prepare for his palliative care to spare him from pain when the end comes.  But could anyone blame us if we go behind his back and try to look for ways so that he can have his treatment and surgery?  

And so, our dear friends, relatives, former workmates and acquaintances (Yes, with all humility I implore even those I do not know personally) in behalf of my family I would like to request for your support, may it be in any form/kind or amount. 

As for now I am open to pledges as I still have to make sure of the account number / bank account or address where you can send your donations.  Thank you very much in advance! 

Sincerely,

Katy Libarnes

My Balay Indang Experience: A Place of Tranquility and Serenity

We all crave for that perfect place where we can spend some time away from the hustle and bustle of the city, right?  And as we are all different from each other, we have our own preferences as to what we would like to do once we escape from our chaotic city life.  But sometimes we look for familiar amenities that the city offers like cable television and WIFI connection since we all want to be connected to the outside world as much as we want to have our alone time.  

I knew even before I got to Balay Indang that they did not offer both cable television and WIFI connection.  I know that a lot of people from the city would consider this to be a let down and may even think twice, or even ten times, before they make a reservation to such a place.  But as for me, I welcomed the idea as I wanted to spend time away from the daily stress of city living.  When I got there, I immediately felt the tranquility and serenity that exuded from all sides and corners of the place.

Balay Indang can be considered as a bed and breakfast type of accommodation and at the same time it can be considered as a place of retreat, either to a big group or even to one person who would like to spend some time alone to meditate or maybe even mend a broken heart.   Balay Indang offers a lot of nooks and crannies all around the estate where one can spend time reading a good book, paint, sketch, draw, meditate or simply take a nap after a sumptuous meal.   They offer other amenities like the use of their conference room, swimming pool, billiard table, and they lend out board games too.  They also offer some spa services but you have to make arrangements with the staff as early as possible so that they can make a schedule for you since they do not have their own spa crew.  There is no restriction though on bringing in DVD players or using wireless broadband connections, but I doubt if one can get a signal there. 

The Watch Tower

there are 3 levels, all with lazy boys and day beds

inside the watch tower, one of 3 rooms available for day use

wishing i could just stay there and read or paint or draw

wouldn't you want to just stay there all day?

my fave spot of our room: where i sat while sorting through my photos whenever i had  free time

(Anecdote:  We were talking to the staff one meal time and we found out that aside from big groups who stay there for a week-long retreat or seminar, we were the only ones who stayed there for more than 2 days.  My brother and sister-in-law actually broke their record by staying there for four days and four nights.  Like I said earlier, we all have our own preferences on how we would like to spend our time away from the city.  I would have loved to stay longer but I have a shop to go back to and other responsibilities at home to take care of.  Next time, I may just go back there and spend my time enjoying any one or all of the places in the photos posted above.)

My Balay Indang Experience: Gastronomic Feast

Fiesta ala Balay Indang

Okay, I will now admit that this was the first consideration why I agreed to join my brother, Robel, and sister-in-law, Rose, in Balay Indang.  When Rose told me over the phone what they had for dinner on their first night, I was already salivating and wished that I could teleport myself to Balay Indang right then and there.  In the first two days of their stay in Balay Indang,  Robel and Rose did not do much except eat and sleep, eat some more and sleep some more.  Their break from eating and sleeping was to take some photos of each other as they walked off some of the calories that they took in.  Although Balay Indang offers different packages when it comes to room and board plus meals, the package that they got was the complete room and board with 5 meals a day: breakfast, snacks, lunch, snacks, dinner.  As part of Balay Indang's hospitality and service, every meal time is like being in a fiesta mode.  They serve about five (5) to six (6) dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.   From salad to pasta or noodles, fried or flavored rice, seafood, meat dish then dessert.  And as long as that particular dish is still available, you can ask for refills.  Snacks were either sandwiches, tarts, or favorite Filipino treats like turon or suman, Balay Indang-style.    Rose warned the staff the day before I arrived that she was bringing in someone to help them finish their food, as they would always have leftovers especially with seafood since Robel is allergic to shrimps and crabs. They were confident that, with my help, we would be able to eat what they serve without leaving a single morsel on the table.  But lo and behold, when I got there and had my first meal, I raised the white flag on the first serving alone. Although the 2nd serving of seafood got me to eat some more, the rest of the dishes were left untouched after the 1st round.  We have heard of eat-all-you-can offers, right?  As for the Balay Indang version, we thought that the more appropriate term was: "can-you-eat-all?"  It did not help that even the simplest dish that they would serve tasted like gourmet food.  And as I write this particular blog, I wish that I am back there now, eating like it was my last meal on earth.

I will be sharing some photos that I have available.  And as soon as I find the other food photo files (I thought I saved them in my laptop but as I have checked several times, I can't find them here.  They may be, I hope, in my external hard drive, which is currently hiding from me)  I will post them in my Facebook account and update this blog with the link.

Shrimps with Buko Strips (all mine though Rose got a spoonful or 2 just to try it)

Sotanghon Guisado

Left to right: inihaw na liempo, embotido, fried rice Center: Shrimps with Buko Strips

Gado-Gado (mixed veggies and shrimps with peanut sauce)  I ended up eating most of it since Robel and Rose stayed away from shrimps

Gado-Gado minus the shrimps for Robel

Please check this out for more photos.

My Balay Indang Experience: From a Photography Enthusiast's Point of View

When my brother and sister-in-law first invited me to join them, I jokingly replied: "You just want more photos!"  The minute I arrived at Balay Indang, I knew I would be clicking away as my eyes were filled with beautiful scenes and wonderful images.  I did not even have the trouble of deciding what to shoot first,  all I needed to do was to point my camera  at any direction.  If I were alone, with no schedule or plans of visiting other places, one day is not enough to capture what I experienced in Balay Indang.  Literally and figuratively, it was a sensory overload.  I took shot after shot of outdoor scenes (the pathways, the garden, the swimming pool, the gazebo, the watch tower) to indoor images (our room, the main house, the never ending collection of antiques and memorabilia) I would even delay our meals just so that I can take photos of our food, and yet I took more photos the next day and even until we left for Manila.   My brother and sister-in-law told me that a group of photographers had a photo shoot around the leisure farm on the second day of their stay there.  I would love to share the same experience with my photographer friends.  So, guys, when can we fit this into our schedules?  

I will be posting my photos in my Facebook account within the next couple of days and update this blog with the link,  As of now, let me share just some of the photos that I have available. 

 Just one of the gazebos / cabanas where you can rest during the day.

This is where our room was located (the room to the left.) This cabin has 3 rooms that can accommodate small to big groups.

One of the  rooms located on the 2nd floor inside the main house.

Another room on the 2nd floor of the main house.

Still inside the main house.

Main house common area as viewed from the 2nd floor.

Powder area inside the Main House's comfort room.  One way to get a self-portrait :)

Wash area inside the Main House's comfort room.

For more photos of Balay Indang, just click here.

My Balay Indang Experience: The Introduction

(I decided to divide this blog into five (5) separate blogs so I can concentrate on each topic and make each entry short but informative.) 

Just over a month ago, thanks to the vacation treat that I shared with my brother and sister-in-law, I was able to experience what I would like to call a sensory-overload vacation.  I learned about Balay Indang through the album of a photographer friend.  And when my brother asked me to recommend a place where he and his wife can spend a few days away from the city after their wedding day, Balay Indang was at the top of my list even though I have not been there before.  I just got their details off the internet, along with several more locations, just in case things did not work out since they did not have prior reservations.  I knew I made the right choice on the recommendation as soon as I got a call from them on their first night, after experiencing just a few hours of Balay Indang hospitality,  They were raving about their dinner; the taste, the eat-all-you-can portion, the number of dishes served, etc., etc. and they were so excited that they wanted me to join them right away so I can experience the same thing.  At that time, the only downside that they could see was that Balay Indang did not have cable television and no internet connection as well. But even with that piece of information, I still decided to make the trip and joined the couple after giving them one more night on their own.