The Way It Used to Be ...

Christmas then meant family dinner on the eve of December 24, before in Fortich Street, at the old Villanueva ancestral home, and lately in our house at Villanueva Street, with everybody (the Villanueva's) present, to celebrate my birthday and Christmas together.

Food was aplenty on those occasions. Usual feast included lechon (courtesy of Lolo and Lola in the earlier years) and in the succeeding years by Papa. There's always Kinilaw, Igadu, and Kare Kare cooked by Papa. We always had Mama's potato salad. Then there's dinuguan, pancit, macaroni salad, a birthday cake, more desserts from Tita Faye and Dian, something from Mommy Jul, Ate Maritess, Ate Wawing, and many more.

It was not all food however. I can remember very well how we used to wait for Lola and Lolo's white envelopes containing crisp peso bills. Fortunately for most of us, when Lolo and Lola's time came for them to spend Christmas somewhere else, Daddy Bricks and Mommy Jul took over, replacing the white envelopes with the chinese red ones, and of course, still with the crisp peso bills inside.

I fondly remember also that there was even a time much earlier on when Lola used to give us kids plenty of coins. Lolo being from PNB, and then Daddy Bricks, they seemed to always have a reservoir of shiny coins and very crispy new peso bills, much to our delight!

We used to sing together, and dance together. I even have somewhere (I'll have to look for them and have them scanned) a picture of Tito Boy, Tito Ben, Tito Dots, Mama, Mommy Jul, Tita Faye, and Tita Flor dancing with us children ... As children we were encouraged to sing, dance, recite a poem, play a musical instrument ... anything we can show and share, as our part in the Christmas celebration ... There are certain experiences though that are lonely and are difficult to ignore nor forget ... Lolo, as he grew older, and when Lola left him, avoided these Christmas gatherings, making his store as an excuse, his alibi. Tito Dots too, did this. All we could do was bring them food. Maybe it was their way of coping, and we respected their wishes. But we missed them in those gatherings.

Years continued on ... and we all grew a little older ...

The sad part started when ...

Mommy Jul left for the States, and not long afterwards, Daddy Bricks, Eric, Erwin, Justine, and Olie went too.

Lola died. and then Lolo.

Christmas forever changed for all of us. Of course, Christmases still came and went, and so did my birthdays. For most of us left in Malaybalay, life moved on.
Just today, as I pondered on the most recent Christmas, I could not help but ask ... So how are we (the Villanueva's and the Itchon's) this season? How are the Christmases now in Malaybalay? Surely, this fact is true ... we miss Lolo and Lola, Tito Boy, Tito Dots, Ate Maritess, and Nat ... We miss those who are living far away from us ...

I've decided to make an inventory of everybody ... sort of a rundown ... to see how everybody is doing ... So here it goes ...

Tito Boy's Family

Mommy Jul is now in the States.

Babus now lives in the States and is married to Noel. They are blessed with three sons. Babus is a Registered Nurse.

Lito now lives in Cagayan de Oro with Shashie, while LJay and Mikmik live with Ivan and Beboy.

Ate Wawing is happily married to Edgar. They have two kids, Big Girl and Allen.

Ivan is teaching at BSU and I heared he is a very good college instructor there!

Beboy is with Bukinon National High School while Shan Shan is working at the City Hall.

Heinz is also married and has 1 daughter, Drew Isabel. He is a nurse and is teaching at BSU College of Nursing.

Tito Ben's Family

Tito Ben has retired from DPWH. He has been to the United States to visit Daddy Bricks's family. He's now back in Malaybalay and drives his brand new Innova.
Tita Flor is a judge and is still up and about and as vibrant as ever.
Azalea, or Lea as she is now called, is a Doctor practicing her profession at the Provincial Hospital in Malaybalay City. She's married to Ronnie, an entrepreneur, and they have five bubbly children.

Althea is an Obstetrician. She's now married and loving the time she's having with her nieces and nephew.

Zabdiel is a very successful Thoracic Surgeon at the Philippine Heart Center. He's also married with kids. His wife is a Pediatrician.

Zaniah is the only lawyer amongst the siblings. She is an immigration lawyer. She's married and has kids too.

Avesta Zayin is also a Medicial Doctor. She too is married with kids.

The Itchon's

Papa and Mama has both retired from government service.
Papa is enjoying himself and has adjusted to his retirement excellently. He has served Barangay 1 for a term as a Barangay Official, and I think wants to serve some more if given the chance. These past few months he has been busy beautifying the new house they bought near the Market.

Mama is adjusting to the new lifestyle, and I think will like it even better given more time. She has been to Malaysia a few times in the past months and recently went to Cebu to visit her cousins in Talamban and Alcantara. She's also busy now helping the City government with the Reorganization.

Me, I am married to a wonderful man, Romel, and we five great children, Myco (22), Ella (18), April (15), Sarah (14), and John Romelson (10).

Myco now holds a Bachelor's Degree in Information Management from Xavier University. She is working as a freelance web developer and writer. She plans to study and get her Masters Degree abroad.
Ella is on her 3rd year taking up BS Psychology in Xavier. She loves to play the piano.

April and Sarah are both in High School at St. Mary's.
April is an excellent dancer and choreograhper while Sarah is in the School Volleyball Varsity Team and has a Yellow Belt in Taekwondo.


John Romelson is in Grade School at St. Mary's School. He has a yellow belt in Taekwondo and intends to get a black belt in the near future.

Romel is an entrepreneur. He is into logistics and forwarding. He also manages his farm in Bukidnon.

Me .... I work as part-time instructor and trainer at Xavier University's Center for Industrial Technology. I served as Assistant to the Academic Vice President of Xavier last year, an assignment I really enjoyed and loved. It was a great learning experience for me. I own MCIC Consulting, a Training and Management Consulting business.

I finished my MBA and will soon finish my Doctoral Degree in Education. I'm also Woman Entrepreneur of the Year! I was chosen on a Nationwide Search by the Academy for Creating Enterprise in Cebu City last October 2008.

I have great dreams for the future.

Charina, Edmund, and Nico are presently residing in Selangor, Malaysia.

Charina is an excellent baker, she makes super delicious Moist Chocolate Cakes and Carrot Cakes!

Edmund is with a Multinational Company and has been travelling around Asia.

Eda just got married to Soti and they now have a son named Nate.

Nicko is one bright young man with great potentials and big dreams. I hope he will work hard and smart to get them.

Carla is single and working with the LGU, in the Municipal Library.

Tito Dots' Family

Tita Faye is as beautiful as ever, just like the way I knew her when Tito Dots was still courting her. She's still working at the Courts.

Dian is currently studying to get a law degree.

CheChe is teaching in High School.

Sary just came home from her own stint in Dubai.

Dave and Tonton are doing just fine. All are enjoying being single.

Daddy Bricks'Family

Daddy Bricks, Mommy Jul, Eric, Erwin, Justine, and Oly are all doing well in the States too ...

Eric is married and has a son.

Erwin is married and has three children.
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Justine has a son and his name is Charlie. He is very adorable!

Olie is gorgeous as ever and will soon be a Mom to a baby girl.

So how are the Christmases for everybody now?

Well, Papa has been working hard at keeping the tradition alive. He invites everyone to have dinner at home. Sadly, for so many reasons, Christmas seemed to be a lot different now from what it used to be ...

Last Christmas 2008, the Villanueva's gathered at Tito Boy and Mommy Jul's house. Ivan, Beboy and Shan Shan, Ate Wawing and Edgar, Heinz and his wife gathered their kids together to celebrate. Edmund was there too!

I hope I can do something to bring back the old tradition of having a special dinner for everyone on the eve of December 24. I don't want my children to miss the wonderful feeling of having a strong family composed of Lolo's and Lola's, Aunts and Uncles, and cousins young and old.
I want them to experience belonginess and togetherness ...
I want them to have what I had when I was young ...