The More, The Merrier!

I've always wanted to have a big family. By big I mean four kids at the very least!

I have six other siblings. And if not for two unfortunate miscarriages, we would have been nine kids! And I'm sure my brothers and sisters would agree that our childhood was a lot of fun.

Sure, I had a late start. Gabi was born when I was already 40. My wife Patty is now six months on the way with our second child. Good thing Patty is much younger than me. Gives us a chance to have more kids. God willing, of course.

This summer we've been spending a lot of time with Gabi's Mercado cousins. Gabi is the youngest among eight cousins. And except for Paris-based Gio and Pepi, the cousins are constantly together now. Beach trips, birthday parties, baking sessions, swimming dates.

And they are constantly in each others' nerves. Which is really part of the fun! Teaches them among other things, what it means to share. And how to be patient. And how to survive!

No matter what population control advocates say, I firmly believe that having many kids is NOT counter productive, does NOT cause more poverty and hardship, and is NOT a manifestation of irresponsible parenthood.

An Earth Day Surprise!

Got a 40 peso discount from Starbucks just by using my own tumbler! What a great way of celebrating Earth Day! Thanks Starbucks!

What's up, Duck?

In the middle of the concrete jungle that is the Makati Central Business District, in Legaspi Village between Gamboa and Legaspi Streets to be exact, lies a most welcome little oasis of trees, plants, sculptures, water, koi fish and yes, even ducks!

Patty and Gabi decided to accompany me last Tuesday morning to Makati for my weekly visit to Zenith Optimedia. The plan was for them to kill some time in Greenbelt and then later join me for lunch. But Gabi fell asleep during the 45-minute trip from my Tomas Morato office and so Patty decided to drop me off first and carry the snoring Gabi to the park across the ZO office instead where he could continue his sleep under the shade of the big trees.

Gabi soon woke up and thought he was in Forest Club in Laguna!

Now called Sycip Park after the SGV founder, the park is the work of landscape designer Ponce Veridiano and features installations of renowned sculptor Impy Pilapil.


Gabi's favorite was the giant turtle stone sculpture.

SOS! It's time to get rid of Filipino Time!

Patty and I watched the Swing Out Sister concert last night with Ton and Mylene Mapa. The concert itself was great and a lot of fun.

What I couldn't take was the long wait we were made to endure for the show to start!

Patty and I decided to go to Cubao early. So that we could get good parking and have more than enough time to have a leisurely dinner.

So we left the house at 6:45 pm and got to Araneta Center at five to seven. Unfortunately, the Gateway parking facility was already full. And so after spending more than 10 minutes and probably a couple of liters of gasoline, we finally ended up in the open parking lot across Farmer's Market.

It was already 7:15. Too late to walk all the way to Gateway to have dinner. Besides, Patty is five months pregnant and had not been feeling too well the past few days. Getting her seated comfortably was now my priority. The leisurely dinner could wait until after the concert.

So off we went to the Dome. We got burgers, hotdogs and popcorn and settled down in our seats at 7:45.

And then the long wait began.

I've been to enough concerts and weddings to know that when the ticket or the invite says 8, what they really mean is 9. Filipino Time is what it's called, as if it was something we should be proud of.

And to make things worse, the ticket said that the show would start on time.

And so we waited. At 8 the stadium was still empty. At 8:45 the obligatory OPM front act finally began.

Poor girl. She was jeered endlessly by a now restless and probably hungry crowd.

At 9:15, after about six songs, her agony finally ended, to the cheers of the thousands in Araneta.

Then the TVCs began running on the giant screen. One after the other. Of the sponsors of the concert. On and on. For close to 15 minutes. Like the commercial breaks in a Pacquiao fight.

By the time SOS finally came out, it was already 9:45. Two hours after we arrived.

Unbelievable.

This Thursday Patty and I will be back in Araneta for the Duran Duran concert. What time do you think we should go?

Volks Populi

Gabi and I chanced upon a swarm of Beetles along the Quezon Memorial Circle last Sunday morning. We had just come from the Ateneo Football School and were headed towards Trinoma to buy Gabi's soccer gear.

Turned out that we were accidental witnesses to the Volkswagen Club of the Philippines' new attempt at a Guinness World Record for the largest parade of Volkswagen vehicles.

There were Volkswagens of all kinds. Not just Beetles but also Kombis, Karmann Ghias and Jettas.
VWs have been a part of my childhood. We had a Kombi when we were in grade school and it was our school bus to and from Maria Montessori Cooperative School. My Dad also had a Beetle and I remember that An, Wawel and I used to ride in the small "third row" package compartment.

Wawel is still enamored with VWs. He has a late 60's Beetle, a red Jetta and a Caravel van.

I am not sure if the attempt was successful. Newspaper reports say that about 800 cars participated! Visit the club's site vwcp.org in the next few days for updates.

(2) When I grow up ...

I want to be a professional soccer player!

I love sports! I like swimming. I like basketball. I even like boxing!

But one sport my Papa has always tried to teach me is soccer. From the time I turned one, Papa has tried to enroll me in a football school. Problem is these schools all have a minimum age for participants. And I've always been too young to join.

This summer Papa and I are resolved to finally get me into a football clinic. We even bought this new outfit!

We're no big fans of Chelsea. We are die hard Real Madrid fans. But unfortunately, the Chelsea blue was the only one in my size.

I can't wait to finally join a football school. Papa and I do play by ourselves from time to time. But I think I'm more than ready now for the big boys!

Go Paolo! Go Nestle!

After weeks of keeping things under wraps, we can finally let the cat off the bag: my younger brother Paolo is moving to Nestle head office in Switzerland!

This picture was taken late January this year during the Nestle Philippines annual sales force convention. Back then Mom was already convinced that Paolo would eventually join Nestle global. And she was right. Mother's instinct, for sure.

Here's the official announcement from Nestle's Tom Coley, head of Nestle's Dairy SBU:

I am pleased to advice you that Paolo Mercado of Publicis will join us on July 1st as our Communication Manager.

I do not think I need to explain Paolo's background, as he has been heavily and actively involved with the Ambient Team over the past years in his capacity as Deputy Worldwide Account Director (of Publicis).

Paolo will report directly to me and will be a permanent member of our EXCOM.

Please join me in welcoming Paolo and wishing him every future success with B-Dairy.

Best regards,

Tom S. Coley

Woohoo! Congratulations, Paolo. We are all so proud of you.

And just a friendly and brotherly reminder: when you and Dana go house hunting in Vevey, always keep in mind that you have a large family back home and that for sure, some of us will be knocking at your Swiss home in the months to come for a place to stay. :)

Our Youngest. Our Dearest. Our Best.

Our youngest sister Samantha graduated from high school last week.

And I still can't believe it.

The same young girl who came to us as a most welcome gift almost eighteen years ago is now a high school graduate. I still remember bringing her to and from Casa Montessori for pre-school. I still remember fighting my other siblings over who would baby sit Samantha when Dad and Mom were out of town.

And now she is a bona fide high school graduate.

We all made the long trip to PAREF Rosehill School for Girls last Friday to witness Sam's graduation. All the kids went to see their Tita Sam: Therese, Luis, Rocio, Diego, Beeto and Gabi.

And we all wore caps that spelled out: "Congrats. We love you Sam!"

We also had banners with her baby picture.



Congratulations, my dear sister! You've brought so much joy to the family. And as you now enter college life, please know that we are here always for you and continue to support you in whatever path you choose.

We love you, little one.