| The Sunday Club Chronicles | ||
Sunday, April 24, 2005Gateway MallTo formally induct the rest of the family into the Sunday Club without scaring the paranoia out of them (I mean the older generation), Kuya Dondi's consistent and still ganado planning led us to the Chan family Sunday lunch at Taco Bell in Gateway Mall... a pleasant change from Chinese food in Glorietta. And it was also wonderful to be in the company of family who live far (or just not so near) the Valle area... Ate Triccie and Olli, here from Spain; Kuya Manolo and Maricris, here from Alabang; Kuya and Ate Char, present from not so far away; Ate and Kuya Nicky, available from the mountain; and the Titas who so willingly veered way from their usual putsero, nilaga, etc. Taco Bell was good. But of course, after food like that, coffee after is a must. So we actually sat down and had coffee in Starbucks Araneta Coliseum. What a change! 
Sunday, April 17, 2005Sort-of Tour of ManilaThe Sunday Club reconvened with yet another interesting field trip; thanks to our club leader, Kuya Dondi! We went on a sort-of tour of Manila. Not the Manila we know of that consists of Binondo and Malate. Instead, Kuya Dondi took Wappy, Bam and I to the reclamation area to go trekking. While watching the calm sea, the massive rocks, the lonesome seagull, and the many seen from afar we walked the perimeter of Manila Bay, just right behind one of the buildings of Henry Sy's soon-to-be Mall of Asia.  After the trek, Kuya Dondi surprised us with a visit to Manila Zoo. Although the animals' habitat is an eyesore compared to the Bangkok Safari, we enjoyed learning that there were a number of unexpected animals like the deer; the bearcat; silver fox, which emits an odorous scent; and the coutimundi, which looks like a cross between a monkey and a raccoon. We ventured into a new wing called the Kinder 2005. This is the area where selected animals run free and can be petted. Image on the left: A red bird each on Caren's, Dondi's and Bam's arms; and two cockatoos perched on Dondi's shoulder. (Click on image for a larger view)  Image on the right: It's Crocodile DONDI... and the three kids who didn't really want to get near it. (Click on image for a larger view) Image below: One happy "barkada" with Erika the Ostrich, the first tamed ostrich, born in Cagayan de Oro. (Click on image for a larger view)  The day adjourned with a quick stopover at Blue Wave, the new dining area the likes of Metrowalk, along the Diosdado Macapagal Highway. Kuya Dondi treated us to Ice Monster for going with him to the Zoo. It was a fun day! - Caren
Sunday, April 10, 2005The Very First Sunday ClubToday was the day we officially declared Sundays THE day for unusual (or could be usual) cousin outings and coined the term "The Sunday Club". Out of boredom after one of those lazy afternoons in Butterfly, Kuya Dondi invited those present and not tamad to go to Metrowalk for some DVDs. Then began the unusual Sunday afternoon which consisted of Kuya Dondi, Kuya Ronnie, Caren, Wappy, and Bambie. Since we were all busog from a lunch that was for Kuya Ronnie, we coffee-addicts needed coffee, so it was Starbucks for about 5 minutes. Within a few minutes of deciding which way to go next, the party of five stopped by Cost-U-Less to buy some chips for the drive. Para namang hindi kami nabusog. Afterwhich we went to Cartimar to check out the fish. There were some adorably cute dogs too. Although the younger crew didn't buy anything, Kuya Dondi bought an empty aquarium? What for? Power Plant mall came next. While Wappy, Bam and Caren whiled the time away in Fully Booked, Kuya Dondi and Kuya Ronnie went to Landes to buy... some dried up water creature called the Triops. And as if hindi pa talaga kami nabusog, we followed the rest of the family for dinner at Peking Garden. - Caren
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