50th Birthday Celebration at Bill Wong's Restaurant

photo, l-r: brother Freddie aka Fidong, Tito Lits, to the right of the picture- daughter Pam and fiance Allen

Words are not enough to describe the emotions I felt that night we celebrated my 50th birthday anniversary. Even though I knew about the party ahead of time (hard to keep a secret from Tito Lits) I was overwhelmed by the preparation everyone involved put into this memorable evening. The decorations were awesome, the food was superb (as always with Bill Wong’s), and the company was just great. I will be posting the other photos on our Webshots photo album. Thank you to my brothers and sisters, my brother and sister-in-laws, cousins, church family, business associates, friends of the family, and most specially my wife Tita Nil and our three lovely children.

The instrumentation panel shows -18C and that does not take the windchill factor into account. We've had some very cold days lately here in Montreal. Thank God our car is equipped with heated front seats. The following picture shows that I've got the temperature inside the car set at 23C. What a big difference between the outside and inside temperature. It'll be milder to stay inside a freezer compared to the outside temperature :-)

23C in the shade (well, inside the car anyway) while it is -18C+ outside. This was also during the day of my 50th birthday party. How many times have I said this- you never get used to the cold here :-)

Overlooking the gorge in the Grand Canyon at Mont St-Anne, Quebec. Beautiful scenery. Just looking around I am reminded by this line from a song we sing in church. "How could I say there is no God, when all around creations calls". L-R: Lenny, Nil and Trish.

Grand Canyon, Mont St-Anne, Quebec. We did a lot of walking that day. Pilo had his water pack on. L-R: Pilo, Bebot, Marv, Trish, Timmy, Pauly

Close up shot of the rainbow that forms as the sun's rays passes through the mist of the waterfall. (Mont St-Anne, Quebec- Grand Canyon)

Grand Canyon of Mont St-Anne, Quebec, taken sometime August of 2004. Can you spot the walkway bridge on the top right hand side of the photo? Awesome sight to see.

Mom and Dad posing with Ambassador and Mrs. Benedicto. The Ambassador was presented with a limited edition sculpture of the Canadian Loon in recognition of his support to the association, over and above his regular call of duty. He has been generous, donating to the Kahirup's scholarship fund for the last couple of years, out of his own personal pocket expense. During this occasion he presented Kahirup with a check in the amount of $500.00.

Dad and Mom at the Kahirup - Hiligaynon Association of Quebec Anniversary Ball. Dad is the incumbent president of the socio-cultural association based here in Montreal. Sometimes we kid around, asking dad who really is the president of the association, him or mom? :-)

Bike ride while at Calabogie, Ontario. Behind me is the Calabogie Lodge Resort. Len and Marv have a time share accomodation there; it's their "home" resort. Thanks for having us there this past year guys!

[Fwd: Birthday Party Celebrations for January 2005]

Message from Fidong

-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	Birthday Party Celebrations for January 2005
Date:	Wed, 19 Jan 2005 04:34:35 +0000

Hello everyone.. A big weekend coming up..
After Uncle Lito's 50Th Birthday celebration on Friday, we will be celebrating Johnny's, Timmy's and Nicknick's birthdays on Saturday January 22/05 at our house, gametime is 6:00 p.m.. But but but..before that, we have reserve for bowling lanes at Salon Quilles 440 on Cure Labelle Boulevard at 2:00 p.m.. We hope that everyone can come bowling. We can meet at our house at between 1:00-1:30 p.m. and we can all go at the same time. If you wish to go there directly, please call us for directions. Since we will be feasting on the lavish Bill Wong's dindin the night before, I suggest we go with the following menu for Saturday night: papa's macaroni and cheese special papa's spagetti special For the rice eaters, mom will make kari-kari. We'll also get some barbecue chicken. If any of you wish to bring something, you are most welcome to do so. Please email me back on your choices. We need volunteers for the beer and wine for those lasengos wanna be.. Hope everyone is having a great week leading to this great milestone tatanda ka rin weekend.. Bye for now.. this is uncle feeds saying goodnight campers.. Freddie, Chanty, Joe and Johnny

Can't keep a surprise from Tito Lits. But, what really would be a surprise is the program you guys, you know who you are, conspirators all of you, you have prepared this coming Friday. Yup, we're going to celebrate, God willing, my 50th birthday anniversary at Bill Wong's Restaurant. There have been murmurings and whispers, even at the church- don't know how many people were invited or will show up. One thing for sure, this will be a memorable event.

Cathartic Musings: Tsunami

Cathartic Musings: Tsunami

Tsunami Video Clips

TheIowaChannel.com - Entertainment - Man Auctions Forehead Space On eBay

TheIowaChannel.com - Entertainment - Man Auctions Forehead Space On eBay

Enterpreneurial juice going? Check out the story :-)

Man Auctions Forehead Space On eBay - Andrew Fischer Will Shave Head For Right Price

Action photo with Tito Lits front center, three piece suit pa man din.

There's Pito to my left and brother Nick-Nick to my right. This must have been taken during the wedding reception of Grace and Philip's.

Also courtesy of Pito.

Looks like we were celebrating sister Rosie's 18th birthday.

L-R: Tito Lits holding Pauly, Freddie and Chanty, Tita Nil, Wena beside Rosie who is getting ready to cut her cake, Dad is to the right of Nil, brother Michael, Mom, Pammy, Grace holding Monalee, Lenny, Philip (Grace's hubby) and Pito.

Thanks Pito for sharing this copy with me , circa early 1980s.

The kids in the front row are, L-R: Jeff (Queens, NY), Mitz (Columbus, OH), Pam (Montreal, QC), Paul (Montreal, QC), and my youngest sister Wena (now married, Lasalle, QC).

Front row, holding the kids, L-R: Sally (sister-in-law, holding Jeff, Columbus, OH), Chanty (holding Mitzi, married to brother Freddie, Terrebone, QC), sister Rosie (holding Pam, Lasalle, QC), Tita Nil (holding Pauly, Montreal, QC). That's Tito Lits beside Tita Nil.

The rest of the cast and crew, panning from L-R: Marvin (now married to sister Len, Manotick, ON), nephew Ricky (Toronto, ON), Dick (Sally's hubby, Columbus, OH), sister Len aka Lenny (Manotick, ON), cousin Pito (Scarborough, ON), nephew Tanny aka Kuya aka Nathaniel (son of Dick and Sally, Ottawa, ON), Tita Emilia (mother of Pito and Pilo, Lasalle, QC), brother Freddie (Terrebone, QC), Mom (Lasalle, QC), Vince (brother of Marvin, Kanata, ON), and cousin Pilo (Lasalle, QC).

Whewww! :-) Memories, light the corner of my mind......and so the song goes.

Welcome to backtochurch.ca

Welcome to backtochurch.ca

Top 10 Reasons to Go Back to Church

10. You were created a spiritual being.
9. Worship is transforming.
8. Life is not about you.
7. You need feeding.
6. Your soul is tired.
5. You need a spiritual family.
4. You need healing.
3. You will find your destiny.
2. You want to find how to get eternal life.
1. You need to know you are loved by God.

How to find a church

1. Look in the yellow pages.
2. Look in the white pages.
3. Ask a Christian you know.
4. Visit the church you've always wanted to try.
5. Call up a pastor for advice.
6. Go visit the corner church near you.
7. Follow up on an ad / flier / promo you saw.
8. Do a search on the internet.
9. Try FindaChurch.com.
10. Repeat steps 1-10 until you find a great church!

Be adventurous. Don't give up. Believe us, there are lot of awesome churches in the Greater Montreal Area.

Out with the old while making room for the new

Last week we got hold of a letter from the City, Fire Dept., regarding certain things we need to do to comply with the fire and safety regulation. They paid the church a visit a few months ago and the result of their visit was this letter, dated December 22,2004, spelling out what needs to be done, and that this things that needs to be done, be done by the 22 of January 2005 :)

Bob S. (not good to put down just the initials B.S.- hehehe) our elder in charge of building administration brought this matter to the attention of the Board of Elders last week, called a special meeting where we huddled to discuss what and how and how much and all that jazz :) Being the treasurer and financial officer I took a couple of minutes and finally said "let's do it". We have to install smoke alarms, smoke detectors, pull down fire alarms, etc. No choice anyway. Do it or face the steep fine. We also have to clean up the furnace room, the water tank, water heater room, which by now have become a secondary storage space for junk. We thank the Lord our God Who is always Faithful that we have the funds to finance the installation (approx. $5,000.00 CAD).

Well today was the clean up day. I gave Linda S., one of our deaconess, $50.00 to purchase the supplies needed to prepare breakfast for the volunteers who were going to show up and help out with the clean up. Linda, Bob, and Ashley did a great job in preparing breakfast for about 15 of us this morning.

After breakfast we went ahead with the business of chucking out stuff that's been there for many years, mostly junk that no one had the "courage" to throw away. We rented a large size dumpster and when we first came in and saw it this morning we all wondered how we were going to fill it up because it was just huge. You know what, we filled that dumspter to over flowing :-) I even forgot to take a picture of that thing.

Gerry G., one of our deacons, was going through a box, sorting what stays and what goes, when he found five (5) $20.00 bills wrapped in a piece of paper. We used that blessing to order out Chinese food to serve lunch for the rest of the volunteers that stayed until almost 2:00pm this afternoon.

It was a blessing in disguise that we were asked by the city to make the necessary changes. We have freed up a lot of space to put useful and needed stuff, the building is safer and cleaner. We also had a great time of fellowship while working together and breaking bread or sharing breakfast and lunch together.

God is good!! and the rest of you say "All the time!!" :-)

a m p h i b i o u s - r i s k s

a m p h i b i o u s- r i s k s

Amphibious bike - to see is to believe :-)

v i d e o g a l l e r y - extreme cycling streaming video

v i d e o g a l l e r y

You gotta check this out bikers.

50 MB File (High Speed Internet connection recommended)

50 MB File (High Speed Internet connection recommended)

Thousands crowd Manila's religious feast amid high security after police say they foiled attempt to bomb the gathering

Thousands crowd Manila's religious feast amid high security after police say they foiled attempt to bomb the gathering

Tens of thousands of barefoot devotees gathered Sunday at a Manila square for an annual procession honoring a centuries-old black statue of Jesus Christ after what police said was a foiled attempt by Islamic militants to bomb the feast.

More than 2,000 police and 12 ambulances were deployed along the route of the often tumultuous procession around Manila's Quiapo district to honor the Black Nazarene, a wooden life-size statue brought from Mexico by Spaniards in 1606.

Rest of the story >>>>

Yahoo! Weather

Yahoo! Weather

Don't you just love Manila weather :-)
High 29°C
Low 23°C

Mild Winter Day

It's a welcome relief. I am hoping, praying, the patch up work (for the meantime) done on the roof will hold and prevent water leaking down.

The forecast says wintry mix. I think the weather person is just mixed up, does not know what exactly it will be, so he / she calls it a "wintry mix" snow and ice pellets, mix with freezing drizzle. It was a good workout scraping all that sheet of ice that covered the windshield and windows.

Earlier the car was nice and clean even in the midst of the snow and ice. Just had a car wash (inside and outside- they call it the VIP treatment). Later this evening I was scraping 1/8" thick sheet of ice off the car windshield and the windows. Freezing rain is back in town.
Check this video clip from this link to see what we have to go through during the winter months. Hit this one now :)

As surely as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, summer will be back soon, and we will be able to wash our car by ourselves, and give it our tender loving wax rub and polish :) I still need your power washer Uncle Philip.

Wow, the car still clean and shiny and Tita Nil still beaming even though she may be hungry for dinner :) . Karen and Dave invited as for dinner tonight. We went to Pavillon Wong Restaurant, one of our favorite Chinese Buffets, our favorite in the West Island of Montreal. Thank God Who is always faithful, Dave is getting better everyday. I look forward to the day when you (Dave) will be back with us in the Praise & Worship Band / Team. Let's jam brother!

Hi guys! I found this group photo taken inside Kamshing II Restaurant. The Manotick Gang was missing last Saturday when went to Kamshing for late night dinner after the Himig Concert. L-R: Marv and Len, Tim behind Len, Tito Lits with Trish, Aubrey (daughter of Marv and Len), Nil with arms around Rosie (Patosie), Mom and Dad. Paul was taking the picture.

Happy Birthday Greetings!!

Happy Birthday Nick Nick

Happy Birthday Timmy

Yahoo! News - Armstrong to Decide on Tour De France in April

Yahoo! News - Armstrong to Decide on Tour De France in April"The six-time Tour de France winner added that unlike in past years he would not begin the season with the Tour de France as his sole goal. Instead, he will begin 2005 racing in the classic events before deciding whether to race in France in July.

'It's definitely a departure, not focusing from the beginning of the year...on the Tour,' Armstrong, 33, said at a news conference after the official presentation of his team under a new sponsor -- the Discovery Channel.

'But the good news is that if you train for the classics and try to ride the classics...you will advance your form far enough that at least you will not be trying to play catch up.

'I plan on having a good training camp...and evaluating in April, late April,' he added."

Rest of the story >>>>

Yes, we are "still crazy after all these years" :-), says a line from a Simon and Garfunkel song. We thank the Lord God Almighty for blessing us with 28 years of marriage, still crazy for each other :-); we've had our share of elevator trips (ups and downs), part of the maturing and growth process, "we've made it through the rain" (says a Barry Manilow song). Wow!! 28 years and counting. By the way, today is Elvis Presley's birthday too (January 8), my sister Rosie (a big Elvis Presley fan) reminded us.

At our table was, L-R: Rosie (sister), aka Rosie Patosie (according to her nieces and nephews), Wena, Paul, Pam, Allen, and Trish.

Our Happy 28th Wedding Anniversary treat. Yes, Tita Nil and I celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary today by attending a concert and capping the evening with a late dinner at Kamshing Restaurant with loved ones. Right after the "One Voice" Concert of the "Himig Singers" from Davao City, Philippines, we headed to one of our favorite Chinese Restaurant here in Montreal, Kamshing, on Van Horne and Victoria Ave. Dad who was under the weather could not make it. L-R, front row: Tito Lits, Tita Nil, Pilo, Bebot, Mom. L-R, back row: Ashley, future son-in-law Allen (Pam), Trish, Wena, Rosie, and Pam. Paul (son) was not in the photo; he was the one who took the photo. To our blogger friends, Trish and Pam are my daughters, and Paul is my son.

Everyone was in a picture taking, posing, mood even though we were all hungry. While waiting for our orders we snapped photos, flashers flashing, paparrazzi in the house :). Here are, L-R: Anna (Nick's wifey), Nick (brother), Grace (sister), and Chanty (sis-in-law, wife of brother Freddie). That's Pam and Wena at the back waltzing their way back to the table from the toilette. Looks like they are much relieved :-)

We called ahead just to be sure the restaurant was still open. We reserved two tables, total of 21 people, yes, 21 hungry people :-). In this photo we have, L-R, front row: Neil (nephew, son of sister Grace), Tito Lits, Tita Nil, Pilo (cousin), Bebot (Pilo's wifey), Mom (Tito Lit's mom). Second row, L-R: Johnny (son of Freddie and Chanty), Chanty (sis-in-law, wife of Freddie), Freddie, aka Pidong (brother), Ashley (daughter of brother Nick who is taking a photo), Allen, Trishy (mon daughter), Wena (sister), Rosie (sister), Pam (daughter), Nikki (niece, daughter of Anna and Nick), Anna (sis-in-law, wife of Nick) and Grace, aka Ging-Ging (sister).

Guess who is hitting the Big 50 very soon?

Three generations: Dad, Pauly, Tito Lits aka Pauly's Dad :-) and to our right is my baby girl, MVP, Trish with cousins Aubrey, Ian (on floor) and Neil.

We all certainly could use some exercise and working out to sweat some of pounds away. Always great to be with loved ones.

Lots of left over dishes from the Noche Buena. L-R: Tito Lits, Bebot, Mom, Lenny, Pilo, Nil, Marv, Rosie, Mike and Wena, and Ging-ging (white sweater).

Christmas Day at Mike and Wena's (our baby sister, the youngest). Lenny belting out a song with Marv, Tito Lits with Tita Nil, Rosie aka Rosie Patosie singing harmony.

Good morning! Bright sunny day in Montreal!

Good morning fellas! Hope you are all feeling good!

Paul and Uncle Pilo riding with LA, you know, LA, 6 time TDF champ :-)

Who is that glowing in the background?



Dr. Pil in his reflectorized suit

Looking forward to a sunny, mild, dry (roads) day to ride outside. Riding outdoor obviously does not compare to riding indoors on your trainer or roller. I miss the fresh air blowing against my face; I should have said, fresh freezing air, during this time, but it's OK.

Collection of photos from Old Montreal, around the vicinity of the Old Port of Montreal

Yahoo! News - Scientists: Volcano Could Swamp U.S. with Mega-Tsunami

Yahoo! News - Scientists: Volcano Could Swamp U.S. with Mega-Tsunami

MADRID (Reuters) - A wall of water up to 55 yards high crashing into the Atlantic seaboard of the United States, flattening everything in its path -- not a Hollywood movie but a dire prophecy by some British and U.S. academics. { More }

New Year's Day at Mike and Aimee's

Guess what we were doing on New Year's Day?

After some food, and some more food, and more :) we entertained ourselves, as usual, singing along with the karaoke system.

Pilo and Bebot brought their brand new state of the start system, 30,000 songs, cordless mics, and all that jazz.

There's, l-r: Tita Bebot flying away, Pito and Jojo, Pilo in control of the remote, Aimee with Erika with a K, Tito Lits and Rosie at the back.

We were not able to come to the New Year's Eve party. We had the leaking roof to deal with. The party was at my brother Mike's new place in Dorion (basement still have to be finished). Thanks Mike and Aimee!!

Tsunami News Updates

Tsunami News Updates

News and information updates on the South East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami.