Bonsai Plants, Rock Garden and My Kids

Posted on by Weng Zaballa 3 Comments
We’ve been to Nueva Ecija three times this summer. First, during our summer outing last April 6. We went back on the following week for another round of joy ride. Then we attended a wedding last May 1 wherein my daughter was one of the flower girls. 
My kids had the opportunity to experience summer far away from the busy streets and crowded malls in the Metro. My little princess became familiar about what a bonsai plant looks like because her Uncle have lots of them in their backyard. On the other hand, playing on the rock garden kept my curious boy busy while the grown-ups are busy practicing their best jump shots. 
Papa and Thea and the bonsai Makopa. 
Trivia:
Bonsai  – a Japanese art form using miniature trees grown in containers. 

Makopa (Syzygium malaccense) – Malay Apple, Tersana Rose Apple. Makopa is a tree reaching a height of 10 meters. Leaves are pinkish when young. Older leaves are large, drooping, elliptic-oblong to broadly oblong-lanceolate, 15 to 30 centimeters long, 7 to 15 centimeters wide, narrowed and pointed at both ends. Flowers are large, showy, crimson, 5 to 6 centimeters in diameter, borne on the branches below the leaves, clustered on short, few-flowered racemes, 6 centimeters long or less. Fruit is shiny, oblong or pear-shaped, 5 to 7.5 centimeters long, either white splashed, striped with pink, or wholly crimson to purplish, and slightly shiny, seedless or one-seeded. Flesh is white, pithy, juicy. Although rather tasteless, some varieties have a pleasant flavor. (Source)

 Yohan happily playing at the rock garden

Trivia:

A rock garden is a type of garden that uses a wide variety of rocks or stones, along with plants native to rocky or alpine environments.

This is my entry to GREEN MONDAY! Thanks Ria for reminding me. 

Green Living Monday #29: Nice View at the Holiday Inn Clark

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I was at the Holiday Inn in Mimosa Leisure Estates in Clark, Pampanga during the long weekend of August.  I went there along with my colleagues to facilitate a planning workshop for the youth leaders of Makati City. I was a rainy weekend. Good thing Mr. Sun show up on the last day of our seminar and we’re able to witness the view outside of the hotel. 
My entry for this week’s 

Green Living Monday: Doll House Made up of Recycled Materials

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I was organizing the photos stored in my laptop recently and I found this cute photo of my daughter. That was taken two years ago. In that pictures, she is proudly showing her school project in her Nursery – A doll house made up of recycled materials such as card boards, Popsicle sticks, old toys, among others. My sister and I collaborated in “building” that house that amused the little one and her teacher.

This is my entry to:

Green Living Monday: Summer Vacation in Bicol

Posted on by Weng Zaballa 3 Comments
I lived a happy childhood in my hometown. During my elementary and high school days, summer is usually spent in the our house near the river and rice fields. Having kids of my own now, I want them to experience life in the countryside,too. My eldest always spend her summer vacation there since she was 1 year old. That’s 5 summers already. 
These photos were taken last April 2010. 
That’s my daughter Yasmin wearing her grandma’s hat :), infront of my brother’s house. 
with her cousins
lying in Lola’s antique sofa. 🙂 

Green Living Monday: Walking in the Rain

Posted on by Weng Zaballa 1 Comment
My daughter Yasmin experienced walking in the rain for the first time.
Last Saturday, I tagged her along to the meeting I attend in Quezon City. It was a rainy weekend here in  the Metro but despite the gloomy weather we had mother and daughter bonding. Instead of taking a cab, we had a short walk from the building where our meeting was held to McDonalds-Quezon Avenue. It was also her first time to pass be the green elevated walkway constructed constructed by MMDA. I thought she’ll refuse climbing up the high overpass but boy I was wrong, she was even singing in the rain while walking hahaha.
She really enjoyed that one of a kind experience that  is, I think, related to Melandria’s  entry for this week about reducing our carbon footprint. We walked instead to taking a cab that emits pollutants such as carbon dioxide. I also saved electricity because by tagging her along, Yasmin had a three-hour break from watching TV, lolz! 
Join us in Green Living Monday!

Green Living Monday: Toxic-Free Makati

Posted on by Weng Zaballa 1 Comment
The city government of Makati in partnership with Zuellig Building launched a campaign Hg Free Makati (Toxic-Free Makati). This advocacy is about proper disposal of used bulbs, batteries, and mercury (Hg) thermometers to prevent spread of diseases. Exposure to mercury can cause blindness, hearing defects, and other diseases  of the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs of people of all ages. Likewise, mercury and other toxic wastes has adverse impact on the environment.


Let us support this advocacy. You can deposit this toxic wastes in the recycling bins in three areas such as Makati City Hall (Old and New Buildings), Urdaneta Village, and Zuellig Building (located in Makati Ave. cor Paseo de Roxas) starting today, June 1 until September 2011. This bins were provided by Zuellig. Collected items will be sent to proper DENR-accredited facility where mercury can be contained and safely disposed. In line with this, I am starting to collect busted light bulbs and old batteries at home. 

photo credits: Google images


Green Living Monday: GNHS Batch 94 Booth

Posted on by Weng Zaballa 1 Comment

My high school Alma Mater had a colorful Alumni Homecoming last May 6-13, 2011. One of the highlights of the celebration is the Best Booth Competition, and here is our batch’s entry:

As you can see, the our “house” is made up of indigenous materials such as bamboo, anahaw  (Footstoolpalm), and coconut lumber. Too bad, I was not able to help in building this booth. I really hope I’ll be able to join the next reunion. 


Join us on Green Living Monday



photo credits: 
Ms. Lorelie Hagos of GNHS Batch 1994