A champion, at last!

Dear Mama,

    We had our Area speech contest in Toastmasters yesterday. I won in the Humorous, and International category, Mama. I finally became a champion, Mama! I hope you are proud of me.

    It took me almost 7 years to become a champion, after so many attempts, and I finally made it. Of course, this is just the Area level. I still have to win the Division contest on March 4 before I can dream of making it in the national, which is our District finals at the end of April, Mama.

    I do wish you're here with me now, Mama. This victory would have been sweeter with you by my side. I hope I am making you proud.

    I miss you, Mama. I love you.

                                                                                                Daddy

My song was a finalist!

Dear Mama,

    Remember the local songwriting contest I mentioned in a previous letter? My song was chosen as one of the finalists, Mama! Isn't that great?!

    I was surprised yesterday when I received the email late in the afternoon. After doing the laundry, I checked my phone and saw the notification which read, "Dear Finalists" and I felt goosebumps. I couldn't believe it, Mama. I don't know how many have joined the songwriting contest, but when I checked the other 3 finalists, they are all from Metro Manila. I thought the contest was just for Pampanga. 

   It's the first time for me, Mama, for my song to be recognized. I will be attending the awarding ceremony on Monday, January 23, for the all the finalists and the winner. I will be bringing Angel along.

    Are you proud of me, Mama? I wish you were here. I wish you're proud of me.

    I love you, Mama. I miss you.

                                                                                                Daddy

Post Angel's birthday updates

Dear Mama,

    As I've said in my last letter, we celebrated Angel's birthday at last Monday at home. She wanted a charcuterie party, and Edgar willingly prepared it for her, Mama. I was surprised because I thought I won't feel full since it seemed to be just cocktail foods, but we weren't almost able to finish it because we were already full. We also had wine, again upon Angel's request. Of course, I bought her birthday cake so we can sing happy birthday for her, Mama. 

    After dinner, we watched a movie on Disney channel, Ralph's latest subscription. Unfortunately, Angel fell asleep at the early part of the movie. We felt it was because of the wine, which was quite strong. And that was how we celebrated Angel's birthday, Mama. Hopefully next year, or perhaps anytime this year, I will be able to grant her wish, that is a staycation in a hotel. Even just for an overnight stay. 

    Remember I told you also in my last letter that I hope Angel would stay longer in her work, Mama? Unfortunately, it did not happen. She went back to work after her birthday, only to tell me the day after that she resigned already and will no longer be working. I was no longer surprised, but I felt sad for her. I wish I could have guided her well. Was I a failure as a father, Mama?

    The construction on the grill house beside us is almost finish, Mama. That means, as I have learned from them, there will be live bands, and it will be loud again here during the evening. I'm having anxiety just thinking about it, Mama. There's nothing I can do, they were allowed because they had permits and everything.

    That will be all for now, Mama. I wish I can hug you right now, because I really need it.

    I miss you, Mama. I love you.

                                                                                                    Daddy

Angel turns 25

Dear Mama,

    I can't believe our baby is turning 25 tomorrow. She's now a grown up, Mama. She's been doing her best to act more mature. There's still a lot to work on, but she definitely has gone far from where she was before. She seems to be enjoying her job so far, Mama. I hope she stays for at least 2 years so she will develop herself more. 

    She will be on leave tomorrow, though, since it's her birthday. Ralph and Edgar are also on leave for her. Unfortunately for me, I have to work tomorrow. It will be our first day of work for the year, and since our holiday break last year, Mama. I can't be absent since I hold the office key.

    I still don't have any gift for Angel, Mama. I don't know what to give her. I've been wracking my brains, trying to think of a gift for her, but I can't think of anything. I was planning of booking her a hotel room for an overnight stay, but the promo was over and I do not have enough money. It might just be a belated birthday gift, Mama. I hope it will be okay.

    That will be all for now, Mama. We will be celebrating Angel's birthday just at home tomorrow. How I wish we're still together celebrating Angel's special day.

    I miss you, Mama.

    I love you.

                                                                                        Daddy

Happy new year, Mama!

Dear Mama,

    Happy new year!

    It's the first day of 2023, Mama. I haven't written for almost a month. I'm sorry, Mama. The kids are still in their beds, although Ralph is already awake, I think. We had our Medya Noche last night, prepared by Edgar. He was also the one who cooked for our Noche Buena last Christmas eve.

    We will be going to Sta. Teresita this afternoon for a get together with the Dela Cruz, Mama. I'm glad Angel agreed to come with us. Although I still do not know what we will be bringing there. I'm planning to just buy cake, because that's all I can afford right now, Mama.

    I was able to submit to my song entry to the Subli 2023 Songwriting contest, although I have not received any acknowledgment nor confirmation from them. I'm not sure if it will pass their standards You know I don't have a good singing voice, Mama. Plus I just recorded it on my phone. It's really a rather crude and raw version. I ran out of time to have it fixed and remixed. 

    There are still no results yet for the Himig Handog/PhilPop songwriting contest. That is on a national level, unlike Subli which is just local. So, the competition is definitely tougher. I'm not expecting, but I'm proud that I'm still trying again, Mama.

    I don't know what to look forward in 2023. I hope things will be better, especially in our neighborhood, Mama. That will be wishful thinking, though. Anyway, I'm just enjoying the peace so far while the construction in the resto bar beside us is not yet finished.

    Angel's birthday will be next Monday, Mama. I still haven't bought nor planned anything. She wanted a staycation, so I might book her in a hotel. I cannot join her, though. Somebody should stay in the house with the dogs.

    That will be all for now, Mama. Please continue watching and guiding us. I miss you, Mama.

    I love you.

                                                                                                        Daddy

Update on my song entry

Dear Mama,

    Yesterday, I was able to compose the chorus of my song for the songwriting contest. The deadline will be on the 31st of December, Mama. I need to finish it early so I can have it fixed by the digital engineers so it would at least sound decent. I'm not sure though how much will be the cost, or how long it will take, so I need to finish it fast. 

    The problem is, I am stuck at the chorus now. I cannot compose the melody for the verses. I've been trying since yesterday, but I cannot work out anything. It's difficult for me because I am not really musically talented. I hope I can finish it this week.

    There seems to be a lot of people at the grill house beside us now, Mama. There's no loud music, to be fair, although there were occasional shouting, or cheering, from the customers. But that's not really my concern now. Another problem with this business is that their customers are sometimes parking in front of our house. There's really nothing we can do about it because it's a public road, and we cannot tell them not to park. But because they are parking, our dogs are disturbed and they keep barking. Edgar also does not want them parking in front of our house. If only we can go away from here and move to somewhere more peaceful, Mama.

    Anyway, that will be my update for now, Mama. I miss you, Mama.

    I love you.

                                                                                                        Daddy

Please make Ralph well, Mama

Dear Mama,

    As I mentioned this morning, I bought cake today so we can still celebrate your birthday. Edgar cooked spaghetti for our dinner. It was great, Mama! The spaghetti was delicious, and the cake was also good. Angel liked it. We were able to celebrate your birthday at home, Mama. Happy birthday again.

    If only staying at home isn't much troublesome and stressful. This morning, one of the units in the apartments in our back was again burning garbage and their smoke are going to us, unfortunately. Ralph, who was already coughing since yesterday, is mostly affected by the smoke because his room is nearer the apartments and the smoke. Because of that, his cough got worse, Mama. 

    He said he will be going to the doctor for a check up tomorrow. I hope he will be fine. Please make him well, Mama. I'm sorry I was not able to take good care of our children.

    If only you're here, I'm sure they will be well taken care of.

    I'm sorry, Mama.

                                                                                                    Daddy

Happy birthday, Mama!

Dear Mama,

    We celebrated your birthday yesterday, the kids and I. We went out to eat, Mama. I proceeded to SM Clark after work and waited for the kids. Edgar and Angel arrived together before 5 p.m., and Ralph came at around 6 p.m.

    We then looked for a place to eat and they decided to try a newly opened Mexican restaurant. It was a bad decision, Mama. The service was very poor and unfortunately, the food did not make up for their poor service. Anyway, we just proceeded with our dinner, and afterwards we bought donuts for dessert. There wasn't a dining area at the donut place, so we just ordered for take out and ate them at home.

    Angel also received her Christmas 'basket' yesterday, Mama. It wasn't really a basket, it was in fact an eco bag haha... Angel was happy, Mama because it's actually just her first Christmas goodies. She did not get anything on her first 2 jobs.

    We were not able to buy a birthday cake yesterday, Mama since it was already late when we got home and since we already have a donut. But I will buy one today, after I pay our electric bill, so we can sing a birthday song for you.

    Happy birthday, Mama! Wish you were here celebrating with us. We miss you, Mama.

    We love you.

                                                                                                        Daddy