24 October 2007

Blogger's EB

Last Sunday was a fun day for two families as the Ballesteros family met the Zafra family in Baguio City. Aside from being a small reunion (Arnold and I once lived in the same apartment here in Manila), it was also like a Blogger's EB because I have a blog, and so does Arnold (aczafra.com), his daughter Arianna Shay (happy birthday!), and Jo-Lo.

My wife with Jo-Lo, and Arnold's wife Sharon with daughter Arianna

We met for lunch at O Mai Khan near Rizal Park in Burnham, then proceeded to Oh My Gulay (which was closed!), then took a cab to john Hay for coffee. We went to the butterfly farm (I'll post photos of that next time) afterwards.

Darn, I want a camera like that!

When we went to John Hay, I remembered there used to be a firehouse at the entrance (I think this was called Gate 3 before but is now the main entrance). This is gone. There was also an indoor skating rink nearby with flooring made of wood. That's gone as well. In its place is a food and coffee place. At least, the basketball courts are still there. Nearby this is the butterfly garden.

Inspite of these changes in John Hay (and I love musing about the past and saying that the old John Hay was the best), I found myself enjoying the pine trees, the cool weather, and the company of friends and family.

For more photos, head on to Jo-Lo's blog.

17 comments:

  1. Anonymous4:31 am

    We'll be visiting Baguio this coming vacation (march or april) Hope to meet your family too.

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  2. I really enjoyed visiting the butterfly farm during one of my first visits to John Hay.

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  3. Darn, it must be a sign for me to buy a Canon DSLR. kakainggit 400D ni Noli. :D

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  4. I'm kind of proud of the fact that Baguio City and John Hay exist today due to the American occupation. In fact, in 1903, only a few short years after the end of the Philippine American War, the local US authorities decided the cool beauty of the Philippine high country would make the perfect place to get away from the lowland heat. Even American haters of today can't argue all that much with that decision. I'm glad you are able to enjoy the results of those decisions made more than 104 years ago Wat!

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  5. Anonymous3:08 pm

    tito nick, yung butterfly farm ba nasa loob ng john hay?

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  6. Anonymous4:20 am

    di pa ako nakakarating talaga ng Baguio! :( i hope someday... malay mo, ma-meet ko rin ang family mo don! hehehe!

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  7. Anonymous8:44 am

    philippinesphil: with all your knowledge about the Philippines history, I'm surprised you are a not a professor in one of our premier learning universities. In one of the posts here about Magellan and Lapulapu, you alluded to that you know more about your two professors in your class you attended about the history of the Spanish occupation. Yet, you don't even know your own american
    history. Learn your own history well before you disparrage educators of this country! Sometime this year, in one of your post, you referred to Randall "Duke" Cunningham of San Diego California as a Senator, he was a Congressman. Check your facts before you post or apologize and correct your mistakes as deemed necessary.
    If you want to trade barbs with your knowledge of this country, visit Philippine Commentary which is moderated by Dean Jorge Bocobo.
    Until then, it's best to shut up!

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  8. Anonymous9:17 pm

    I had been to Baguio several times and during peak season when it can get crowded, I really don't like it.
    Just most people who would like to visit the place, I like Baguio because of its cool climate. There are lots of interesting tourist attraction to be visited as well. I'm sure you enjoy your stay in the place together with your family. Good luck and I'll wait for your photos from the place...

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  9. Anong model ng cam nya? Astig ah. :)

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  10. Anonymous2:33 pm

    Oh yes, I remember the skating rink ( my friends and I used to hang out there back in college).

    Anyway, I'm dropping by to say happy birthday!

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  11. Hey TrueBlue, stick it!

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  12. TB, that's the best you can find, a misspeak on that bum, Duke Cunningham?

    I don't disparage, I observe, but I've seen you make some disparaging comments. You seem to have a problem with the Catholic Church, et al.

    You have a problem with my observation that Baguio was originally developed by the Americans? How is that disparagement? Lets hear it.

    ...and I apologize for the "stick it" over-reaction. I too have a temper.

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  13. Anonymous6:10 pm

    Your problem Philphil is that you are not reading my comments properly, please open your eyes! Read it again and again!
    There's nothing in there that you put down Baguio. Was born in this city as a Catholic, baptized in same church.
    You never made apology for your negative remark towards me which was uncalled for. Let me tell you this, what if I called you a "pedophile". Dude, your reaction is same as I mine. Don't exert your american dominance on me coz it won't work. You started all this with your arrogance, thinking you will get sympathy from somewhere. My statement at that time was valid and you should make a non-agreeable comment instead adding fire to it.
    Regarding "Duke", you knew he was a Bum, then you knew his title!
    Just memorize your elected officials and you'll be okay.
    Now, go back and read my comments again and digest it. Love Baguio, it used to be "little america" and then "little america" moved to John Hay, NOW, Baguio is like the Philippines. Regardless, I love the place. Nick, last two sentences are comments pala tungkol sa ating mahal Bagyo. Cheers!

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  14. kawawa naman si watson. nag-away ang mga commenters mo. LOL. Anyway, i'm not really a big fan of camp john hay. Been there a few times and it was ok. i'd like to check out oh my gulay next time i'm back home though. Hopefully, maka-EB na rin ako. hehehe

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  15. Anonymous12:04 pm

    Surfer Wil, di naman away, nagkakainitan lang. Ito kasi, di marunong mag-agree to disagree. Just don't get into people's personal lives, when you don't know them. Yun lang naman.

    PhilPhil: Since you asked me if you want to hear some more, here's an excerpt of your comments about Watson's Post about Lapu_lapu Shrine in Mactan, Cebu on Tuesday, August 7, 2007 at 5:27pm: Will make all in CAPS so you can read it and Watson's readers also.

    First Comment at 7:45pm
    >>>I'VE TAKEN MANY CLASSES AT A LOCAL COLLEGE WAT, AT LEAST TWO IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY. UNFORTUNATELY, I KNEW MORE ABOUT YOUR HISTORY THAN THE TEACHERS DID. I HAD AN ENORMOUSLY HARD TIME BITING MY TONGUE WHEN THEY WOULD MISQUOTE, MIS- NOTE OR MISINTERPRET EVENTS.<<<

    Second Comment at 1:24am
    >>>AND A LOT OF MY TEACHERS DID NOT ALWAYS APRECIATE IT WHEN I "CHALLENGED" THEM ON TOPICS>>>

    Third Comment at 12:20pm
    >>>MORE BLAH-BLAH-BLAHS PRETTY MUCH BOASTING YOUR BIG EGO ARTICULATING WHAT A GENIUS YOU ARE WITH ALL YOUR KNOW-IT-ALL ATTITUDE.

    You should be sitting right now in one of the high rise of Makati rubbing elbows with SY, TAN, AYALA
    and Senator Villar with that KIND of BRAINS you have. It should be of good use and you are wasting it where you are at present.

    Most commenters here ignored your wacky comments, as we are very civil but I had a good LAUGH. I'll forward your comments to Philippines Commentary and find that school you went to as well as your Professors that were no good as you claimed.

    My advise, learn how to be humble and get rid of your arrogance. Don't just attack people's private personality and think you can get away with it. Not TruBlue!

    Regardless, cheers and goodhealth!

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  16. Anonymous6:18 pm

    ganda naman ng cam nya...sako rin sana :(

    minsan EB tayo pagpunta ko uli baguio :P

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  17. Ann: Uy talaga? Hope to see you too!

    Ed: I'll expound further on our visit to the butterfly farm on a future post. Been quite busy.

    Igor: Yup, it must be a sign. I want one too!

    Wait wait.... mukhang may rambol na nga dito... take it easy lang po...

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