Hey Nina! Happy 40th birthday! I was looking hopelessly for our pictures in the eighties specifically the time we all watched the concert of echo and the bunnymen in Oakland. No luck. Anyway, here is one thing not everyone knows about you...I named my second daughter after you...not Josephina, sorry but Nina! She was suppose to be named Tea (like Tea Leoni) but my sister who was also pregnant decided last minute to name her son, Mateo so that was a little too matchy. I did not even make a list of names because I thought of you! With a cool name like Nina my daughter will carry on the torch of being hip, happy, smart, simple but substantial. Have a wonderful time this new and exciting chapter in your life. Here's hoping to spending more time together whether its lunch out or in my mom's house or in city or in the suburbs. Happy everything! Remember, the more candles you have the better for your wish to come true. Have a good one!
Love,
Vivian

Voodoo Chile?

As someone mentioned, Erica was born to the sounds of Jimi Hendrix' song 'Voodoo Chile.' A premonition of things to come?

No, but a great excuse to post a picture of Jimi, baby! YEAH!

Thank You!

Nina, it’s mind-boggling all the things you do for our family, running the household AND the school stuff, and somehow keeping your job(s) going too. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

And on top of that, you provide that rock of love and caring that keeps our family going.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

I Can See Your Future....

Looking into the future, I can see......

a bootie-shakin' dance party!

The thing's we love about NINA;

- loving cousin (always willing to listen)

- hands on mom (Erica and Cy, remember mother knows best, that's what my wife always says)

- faithful and supportive wife (Doug, your truly blessed to have a partner in Nina)

- full of energy (I hope at 40 she gets her second wind)

- having a house in SF (where we can stay, so please don't sell the house)

- love for family (hands down)

- her smile (although sometimes may "topak")

- her mind (smart and hard to get around her)

- her attitude (always positive and practical like Tita Bibay)

- her sense of humor (i guess that's from Tito Pompey)

Happy 40th birthday Nins,  hope to see you guys soon,  

WE LOVE YOU,

Rammy, Cia, Diego,  Monica and Marta

P.S. Doug, great job on the blog

To NINA with love

Geez Nina
What adoration this blog is (and what fun to read). You are a force to be reckoned with!
So glad our moms group introduced us and that Isaac and I feel like your family is our extended family-we are lucky.
From dinners being serenaded by Doug on my piano- to occasional nights at the Fillmore ( not enough!) to walks and weekends in Napa I love my friendship with you-
( Even though you are addicted to facebook )
I know you have enriched my life and Doug has too- you are a blast to be with
and show me all the time what a GOOD relationship IS.
I love you ---and look forward to many more great times ahead.
And woopee I can't wait to hit the dance floor this Saturday to celebrate with you!!!!!!
Now................. if only I could upload a photo!
Love you
Claudia

Did we do this every night???

W
I know we all still look the same....

Hi!

Happy Birthday Nina!

FROM TITA TESS

.. Hey Nins - .I'm only 15 years older than you so I treated you more like a baby sister rather than a niece. You grew up in our Little Baguio bedroom with the steps that go up like going to a princess' bedroom - remember the red wallpaper and the pink twin princess beds which you ended up using in Paranaque? I also recall Cora your midwife who would arrive early in the morning after your dad had dropped you off and he rushed to bring your mom to Panamerican. Lola would pick you up from your crib and bring you to her bedroom while she sewed or did something with her hands throughout the morning. I would pick you up and marvel at this baby who was our first niece and the experience was surreal. To be honest, I was so excited to have you around as I did not really have playmates in my age group among cousins who lived close by.

Dear Nina, I treasure our moments together and want you to know I admire the way you are with your kids - such a hands-on mom and that's really admirable. I also see myself in you - I remember the picture you sent which showed you demonstrating for some cause. Remember I was a Martial Law kid of the '70's and I was passionate about helping topple Marcos out of power. That makes us SO alike. I guess you are the baby sister I never had. There is so much to be said. Will leave that for our future bonding moments. Love ya Nins. Have a happy one. Mwah! Tita Tess

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NINA!!

WOW! The Big 4-0! How do all of these people have pictures of Nina, when she's ALWAYS the one holding the camera???

Have a great birthday week Nina. We are hoping to come up there after the NEW baby is a few months old.

Love Erica, Sean, Derek and the unborn.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NINA!!!!!!

Thank you for bringing all your style to Doug's world - I don't know where he would be without your closet to raid!

I am thrilled to share in your 40th birthday celebrations, especially because it is just a milepost marking so many more experiences with you and your awesome family to come! More dinner parties, concerts at The Fillmore, playing in the park with Erica and Cy, emergency computer repair calls, flights to Utah as your family's fifth wheel to go (rock) skiing with the Grants (Jaime & Lydia: "Come on out, there's great powder here!") in January - I've never before seen a five year old pull the curtains off the rod in a restaurant before - Happy Birthday!

Love, Randall

Our Birthday Girl with some cousins

Found this in my files and just thought I'd share this....the baby in Marget's hands is our birthday girl 40 years ago!

Hey Nina,

This morning, here in Cologne, just outside our window at 9AM - yup, that was midnight for you!, this little parade marched down our street.  This marks the opening of carnival weekend in our city, and they march to the place that the elected "prince of carnival" is sleeping to wake him, which happened to be the hotel down the street.  Of course Stefan and I decided that the marching band was just for you, and we thought that it was so appropriate that your 40th falls on this day, what they consider LADIES-DAY of carnival weekend, when all women are allowed to run wild through town with a pair of scissors cutting every man's tie in half - it's hysterical, it's a great day to wear that horrible tie one gets for Christmas  :-)  

So... just so you know, even here in Cologne, they are marching and beating drums for you ... AND celebrating wild women everywhere!

xo, Noel and Stefan

Happy Birthday Nina.

Happy Happy Birthday Nina!  

Check out the FB videos I posted for you.

Missing you on this very special day.  We love you!  Hugs and kisses to Doug, Erica, Cy and your new "baby".

Monchu, Pebbles, Pom, Ramon & Carmen

Hi Nina!! Happy 40th birthday. Truly -- Shut UP!!! I can't believe you're 40 either...you still look like you're in 30s. This is so sweet of your hubby Doug to put this together. The girls and I are really excited to spend time with you in San Francisco...Catch you later. Enjoy your day. We love you -- Egon, Mitoy, Andre, Marco, Clara and Niña

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NIN! LOVE YOU LOTS!

I stole this picture from our cousin Joby and Anna's album and am still trying to figure out what happened here. This is my ever-loving-40-year-old-but-definitely-more-like-25-in-energy-and-zeal sister Nina, who must have been about 7 or 8 years old then, who looks like she grabbed 3 or 4-year old me by the neck to join this picture. (Kinda reminds me of many Erica and Cy moments.....but no, I was no Cy. Cy is a bundle of energy and shares many amazing thoughts and stories....while I was the neglected bunso...the youngest among 4 kids who were born 1 year after another and at 3, was immediately followed by another one and then another one....by the time, our parents got to me, their energy was all consumed and my only "consuelo" was that I kept quiet and soothed myself by sucking on my thumb. And thus, Nina and a few others called me "mute".)

Nina, I am no longer mute. I was finally able to regurgitate my tongue out after your unintentional attempt to gag me here. Ooops, it's your 4oth birthday and this blog is for you.....I should be nice pala.

And so, Nina, in all honesty, YOU ARE SUCH AN INSPIRATION to me! From the day you gave birth to Erica (I was there! The nurse at the delivery room asked me to stand in for her while she called the doctor. And in that exact moment, as I stood in front of the exit canal, Erica's head crowned!) and then to Cy, you have shown and taught me so much about the great joys and ways of motherhood.

When it was my turn to bring Martina into this world, you were there with me (in fact, you, Doug and Erica were there with me--a 6-month old baby watching her cousin being born!). You really took care of the fat pre-eclamptic woman sleeping in your couch and I want to thank you for that.

THANK YOU for these special moments! And there are many more....including this one on the picture....I'm sure we had fun whatever it was that was happening there.

I want to wish you a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY and I know you've already started painting more than 1 town red. Love you lots, Nin!

Always,
Connie

P.S. Hugs and kisses are packaged into this post from me, Mark and Martina

Happy 40th Nina!

I was there in the beginning (was there something going on with you before you met Doug?) and it seems like only yesterday. Really, it was half a lifetime ago. Thanks for deigning to marry our boy Douglas there. You have been one of the richest parts of our family ever since and I, for one, can say with certainty that you have touched my life in more ways than I can mention here. To coin a Nina phase, "you don't just marry one of us, you marry all of us". Well, in our crew, truer words were never spoken - and the sentiment originated with you. Thanks for "marrying us". And no, I'm not just buttering you up to get some free babysitting. ;-) It has been a constant pleasure to see the joy you and Doug take in one another's company and in Erica and Cy and it has always meant a great deal to me to be included in that family dynamic and to watch your kids grow up. I look forward to seeing Quentin getting to know his Auntie Nina and Uncle Doug. Before long, he'll be giving you more sass than your kids do now. Here's to celebrating many more birthmonths with you.

Chapeau, Jaime, Lydia and Quentin

Golden girl!

What a golden girl!  We are so thankful that you entered our life.  You transformed by brother from an ardent Marxist to a fun human being. You've gifted our extended family with two wonderful  and extremely bright children. And your restaurant recommendations are always on the mark.  I remember so well the long journey to Manilla, via Thailand and the explosion of Mt. Pinatubo, to your wedding.  It wall all pretty overwhelming, but you showed such joy and warmth through it all we realized two things right away.  First, you are a joyous and warm person and you extend those gifts to everyone you meet. And second, you actually enjoy overwhelming chaos! May your next 40 years be as amazing and adventurous as your first 40!  Much love, Steve

Happy birthday Aunt Nina!

I feel so lucky to have you in my life. I absolutely love your sense of adventure and your zest for life. I admire your passion for traveling around the world and dream of following in those footsteps someday.  You are such a delightfully interesting person, so fun to talk to and you somehow know all the best places to dine, shop and stay. Thank you so much for adding spice and joy to my life. I always love spending time with you.   Love, Marie

You are a really fun person to be around. I have a great time talking with you and hanging out. I love your enthusiasm for life and your willingness to try stuff. What a cool Aunt! 

Love, Matthias

Happy Birthday Nina (from Tita Jean)

This is actually Tita Jean ...
Am visiting in Vancouver for a couple of weeks. Happy Birthday Nina. I hope to see you and the family in Fairfield this summer. Love from Tita Jean

So many of our family's best times have been made all the better by you, Nina.  Truly, our kids (as well as we) can't get enough of you, or your pancakes, your ice cream assortment, or your willingness to be our concierge three times or so a year that we come up to visit.  Not only that, when we hit the road it often turns out  that  you've planned our vacations.  Whether it's camping somewhere beautiful or going to fancy restaurants (with excellent cookies!) in Aspen, you're there in the midst of our best memories.  Plus, we do a lot for you too.  We're willing to sacrifice ourselves and be your excuse for clearing off the dining room table when it is necessary, and changing the pillows on the sofa when they are too disgusting to even allow the Koetters to sit on them.  We know that means they were getting really bad and you needed someone to come along and get you to change them.  You are also the main source of our family's photographs.  Only you know how many of the pictures we've posted here are from your camera... I bet it's most of them.  We're not organized enough of a family to ever have the camera there for the photo, with a charged battery.  But you are always willing to send us the pictures that we never take. We are so lucky that you and Doug are such great friends to us and your kids to our kids.  Thanks for all the good times and here's to the better times.  

Always a party ...

Whenever we see you there is some kind of celebration. How great is that? We wish we were with you to celebrate the big 40. We will be thinking of you! We WILL see you the next time we are in Fairfield. You know there is always a place for you to stay in Vancouver.

I feel so lucky that we have been friends for half our lives - crazy! Even though we only see each other a couple of times a year I still feel connected.

Here are some random facts about our friendship:

• I was there the night that you met Doug (all of our AIESEC friends wondered where you disappeared to. I was sent to go and find you.)
• We met up in Vancouver and were enthralled with Princess Di's funeral. Cal and Doug slept while we stayed up all night.
• You came to my UH grad and we commenced the "circle island eating tour" spam misubis, malasadas, shave ice - ONO!
• You were in my wedding 6 weeks before you gave birth to Erica (I was scared that you were going to go into labor on Highway 1)

Thanks for the awesome memories and good times!

We love you - Adelle, Cal, Shona and Evan

Happy 40th Birthday!!!

Happy happy birthday!!! 40 years old with the energy of a 21 year old is certainly a feat in itself! Enjoy the ski trip.

love,

RJ and Mia

Fabulous at 40 !!!!

Nina dear, how I wish I could celebrate this day with you....you made my 40th so very special by being there last year.  If I had known AMO was going to be bought by ABBOTT and we would be getting 3 weeks of vacation I would have flown there for your bday.  We will 'post celebrate' in NYC come april...I will definitely be there!

You and I have been friends since the 5th grade, we've been through a whole lot together.  All I know is that through the good times and certainly through the challenging and difficult ones you have been there for me.  Thank you for your friendship.  I love you!!!!

Happy 40th my fabulous, amazing and beautiful friend!!!!! They say life begins at 40...trust me, it does....

P.S. The photo I really wanted to put up here was of us as 'Martini Girls' two years ago for halloween...I thought Doug was going to kill us for allowing you to get so drunk.   Sayang, I lost the photos when my computer crashed...

Happy Birthday Nina!!!!!! 

We are counting on you and Doug to come to Germany for the next EuroCup.  Who knew you and Doug were such soccer fans and such bringers of luck! After what you did for the Spanish team, maybe you can do the same for Germany.  But that's still in 2012, so you have to come sooner anyway - it's good to practice!

We miss you  and we have to celebrate your birthday again when we come in May.

Love from Stefan

10 Reasons Why We Love Nina

10 Reasons Why We Love Nina:

1. She is a dedicated wife, mother, daughter, cousin and friend.

2. She genuinely enjoys family reunions.

3. She is very smart.

4. She visits us in Cebu and drops by even when she is travelling with friends.

5. She appreciated the food and food presentation during our island hopping in Cebu, enough to take photos of it. (We kinda' took it for granted.)

6. She speaks her mind.

7. She is simple.

8. She warms up easily to anyone.

9. She likes to party.

10. She has proven that women in our clan have cleavage.

Happy 4oth Nina!

Happy 40th in behalf of my family who have not figured out how to do this.

We Love You!!!

Why I am grateful to know Nina (in no particular order - though the fact that it's near lunchtime might explain why the first few entries came first):

• Learning how to make chicken adobo.
• Eating the chicken adobo that Nina makes (soooo much better than my attempts).
  
• Eating the pancit that Nina makes.
  
• Eating anything Nina makes!
• Being invited to dinner . . . to eat Nina's food!
• She let me hold Erica when she was still in the "hold her head up" phase - maybe the first baby I held that was part-produced by someone I've known since we were both 12 (that'd be that husband of hers, that Doug dude).
• Watching Erica and Cy grow up.
• Getting hugs from Erica and Cy.
• Back to food . . . drafting off of Nina's dim sum ordering expertise.
• She is a great partner for Doug.
• Making it fun to deepen my friendship with Doug (it makes life so nice when you love your friends' spouses!)
• She has become a good friend.

Wishing you many more, Nina!!!!
Love,
- JDK

Best Friend to Many

Nina, I’m not sure if you know this, but when I first learned you were leaving Manila, I was devastated. It was Isa who told me, over the phone. I refused to believe it, sure that she was mistaken. Once I knew it was true, I ran to my room and wept. I’d just returned from a year in the States, and while I was away, you were the one I had confided to the most. When I returned, I was looking forward to picking up where we left off and making the most of our Senior year together. But then it was your turn to leave, and I was crushed. You were the first friend I’d ever felt like that about.

Soon I realized I was far from alone. It seemed that nearly everyone around you felt they were losing their best friend. Even back then, you had the gift of drawing people to you, and letting them feel valued. Although I don’t think I cried again after that first time, I saw several others do so.

It’s proof of how much you meant to us that even though you only spent a couple of months in La Salle that last school year, we still included you in the yearbook. We wanted to feel like you were still here, that you graduated with us.

And in a way, you were still around. You didn’t lose touch like most people who left; you made sure the ties were never severed. These days, it’s easy to take that for granted, but this was a decade before we had internet! You wrote letters telling us all about your life there. You never forgot birthdays. You continued to bring everyone together each time you came back. And once the internet age arrived, the bonds just became stronger.

Nina, thank you for making the effort to stay in touch through the years, and making sure that, however busy your visit here was, we’d spend enough time together. Even when you were going through a difficult time because your dad was sick, still you made time. Not to diminish the great value I place on everyone else who was there, but of all the people invited to my 40th birthday party last year, you were the guest whose presence I was most touched by…because, given the circumstances, I never expected you to make it! Thank you for never allowing our relationship to fade to a shallow acquaintance – something to maintain just for old times’ sake but which has no real relevance to the present. Thank you for teaching us that genuine friendship can survive decades and distance.

I look forward to having over forty more years to laugh, talk, argue, dance, gossip, party, eat, and travel together!

Deep, Dark Secrets

As I tried to think of the most interesting memories to share about Nina, I was stumped. I realized that she and I have been apart for more than half our lives. So, inevitably, most of the memories I have are of when we were kids…and therefore, long lost in the deep recesses of my brain. (Maybe if I didn’t drink so much, I’d remember them.) The memories that do come to mind are not fit to post here. Never mind the children -- some of the adults are probably not prepared for them, either!

(Here’s one, just for you, Nina: Do you remember what was shown to us, and by whom, in an unused classroom during our Freshman year?)

The same goes for the photos. I brought out all my old albums and envelopes of pictures, and I was shocked at how few I had of our childhood together. To make matters worse, like the memories, most of the pictures I found are not the most flattering!

Girl Scouts Camping March 7, 1980

Of course, I could write about the other things I know about Nina: how she’s one of my most fiercely intelligent friends, and someone I always enjoy stimulating conversations with; how she’s so tough, often even intimidating, yet everyone knows she’s heaps of fun; or how she can charm anyone immediately, so much so that, despite the fact that she doesn’t live here, she was the first of my La Salle friends to win Felipe over and get him out of his shell. But these are things we all know about her, and have been said by others already.

So instead, I’ll just post embarrassing pictures. SORRY, NINA!!!

Swimming party 1980-81

I had time on my hands so...

Doug - can you still do this?

This was when Jay-R and I first met Doug, and came to buy Nana (tilde here?).



Jay-R's influence on us!
Central Park days without a care in the world.

Did you ever finish your officer training before you left for SF? I don't remember, but look how serious you were about it anyway.

As I pore through countless photos- I realize how much we've done together and how much richer my life has been because of you. Just as it was difficult to pick which photos to post from sheer number, I don't know where to start to say thank you. Noel and I were on the phone this morning and decided that 40 is sooo last year! What's in is 40-what? I thank the stars and the gods for having you.