Fragmented Northern Adventures: Team Tuliao, CA Division

Filipino culture is all about tight-knit family despite the distance and whether the relationship [by blood] is already 2nd, 3rd or even 4th degree-- this remains essentially true for me especially in my recent visit to the US that even in-law related relatives have shown me their warmest welcome and hospitality. These and more make a distinct Tuliao trademark. My parents never fail to tell us, every now and then, their heartwarming family stories from years back (circa '70s) and how thoughtful they are whenever relatives go to the US--one that I personally had the chance to experience in my month-long visit.

That Lovable Pangasinan Couple of Daly City, CA

Lolo Demie and lola Lida--this adorable and interesting couple is one of the most-visited Tuliaos by my family. They live in Daly City and their quaint house along Buenvista avenue became my second home (next to my mom's place). They are my dad's uncle and aunt, not on a first-degree relationship though, but regardless, they've become one of the closest families we have in the west coast.

Lolo Demie, Lola Lida and Me at their Daly City Home

Their sons, Dave and Nathan, were likewise very accommodating and gracious to take me around. Nathan usually offered a ride whenever I'd go to downtown, San Francisco. He was the patient resident tour guide for the most part of my trip. 

Nathan and Me at Lake Tahoe

Dave together with his wife, Stephanie, on the other hand, wouldn't hesitate letting me spend time at their place to keep lola Lida company while taking care of then new born baby, Branden. Definitely, a warm and a pleasant bunch to be with during a vacay.

Dave, Stephanie an Me at their new home in Daly City

Meeting Bai, Lola Sek and the Cousins

My dad had incessantly reminded me and my mom that I must go see Bai Rosing and her family. Bai means grandmother in Pangasinan (a dialect used in the northern Philippines). She is my dad's dearly loved and respected grandmother--the sister of my dad's grandfather, who we actually consider the matriarch of the Tuliao clan.  

From what I've heard, the 90-year-old grandma, was really looking forward to finally meeting me in the States, at their lovely home in Hercules CA, nonetheless. 

Me and Bai

The old lady was looking perfectly dainty in her pink sweater and polka-dotted purple jammies. She was in high spirits when we came there. Depite the old age, Bai Rosing managed to tell stories about my dad from years ago. In the demise of my dad's mom, she became a mother figure to him. Bai, alongside her kids, made sure that my dad was as well kept protected under her care especially during his struggling years as a college student in Manila--one thing that my dad, likewise, would always tell us with utmost joy, pride and overflowing gratitude. 

My dad and mom are very close to Bai's family even to her kids. One of them whom I got to meet was Lola Sekny--absolutely, one of the sweetest women I met during my trip. I will never forget our overnight trip to the breathtaking Lake Tahoe. It was her who made it all possible.

The Happy Me and Lola Sekny at Heavenly, Lake Tahoe

Her kids were just as nice and warm as her and lolo Cesar (her husband). In our brief meeting, we pretty much were able to cover a vast of interesting topics--from break-ups to new love prospects; from Bindlestiff to Coachella; from Pinoy stand-up comics to our very own [Pinoy] distinct traits.

Kristy, Me and Irwin showing off our pearly whites (guess it runs in the family)

An Evening with the Finks
Then came the Finks... Tita Judy and I have always had that bond long before I went to visit them. Technically, tita Judy is my dad's aunt because her mom, lola Elvie is the wife of my dad's granduncle (hmm, I stand to be corrected on this). My dad though is a lot older than her so they actually seem to look more like cousins. I recall how in our facetime conversations she would always invite us over. I used to take it as a far-out dream then, until my visit this year at their humble abode in Suisun, Ca.

Lola Elvie, cousin Sarah, tita Judy and tito Jim

Uncle Jim, her husband, the white guy that he is, seems to be a lot like a Filipino too--very grounded, funny (knows Pinoy jokes) and just as hospitable as how Filipinos are. Me and my mom couldn't be any more thankful for the warm gesture they've shown us. 

Our kitchen bonding was one for the books--we went on food shopping, cooked and feasted our palates on the food we have all together prepared as we exchanged, as well, listened to lola Elvie's interesting family stories over dinner.

Moments like these are like gems worth keeping. They aren't just relatives, but they are indeed family in its truest, purest form.

Fragmented Northern Adventures: A Stop at the Golden Gate Bridge

Just last March of 2015, I finally traveled to the other side of the world, where they say the grass is always greener and call it the land of milk and honey. Aboard Philippine Airlines in a 12-hour non-stop flight headed SFO International Airport, it was a little hard for a neurotic like me to relax as I was feeling anxious--happy, nervous, and excited. I admit, coming to USA used to be a distant dream, until last year when I was approved of a tourist VISA (which was something a first-time VISA applicant like me wouldn't expect). Whatever the feelings were, I knew deep down it was really excitement that dominated my system. I felt comfortable being in the plane after some time, PAL had every reason to make their passengers comfortable after all--great service from the staff, tasty meals and treats, and a collection of relatively new movies on their tv monitor. Soon as the plane touched down, excitement won me over. Very vividly, I recall the poker-face lady immigration officer who welcomed me with a series of questions at the port of entry--her questions were reasonable (so much for the US Immigration POE horror stories) and answering those came like a breeze. Soon as she stamped my visa and uttered the words --congratulations, welcome to the United States of America, I giddily exited the counter and smiled from ear to ear, then at the arrival area, awaited the warmest, sweetest welcome that made the 12-hour trip all worth it--a big hug from my mom.

Me and my momma at the San Francisco International Airport

First-Time High

Inexplicable. Unbelievable. Surreal. The feeling was just--wow. For someone who got used to seeing California only on television, movies and pictures, man it was a big deal getting there. The freeways, fast food joints, transportation system, the sunny-but-still-a-jacket kind of weather, even the smell (amoy Stateside, I swear!)--it so depicts America. I was truly amazed. Having a cool and comfortable weather made it all the more possible for me to suit up or dress up in any way I want.

Seeing San Francisco, California, reminded me so much of those wonderful calendar lay-outs from the '90s that showcased a lot of amazing US tourist spot photos. One of those was the iconic, Golden Gate Bridge. It was part of my itinerary nonetheless and a good family friend, tita Agnes along with her husband and daughter, took me and my mom out for a good ride around the area. Before heading there though, they decided to take us at Point Lobos Avenue--which I consider a prelude to the Golden Gate Bridge. The area basically gives you a good pan shot of the bridge.

Point Lobos Avenue with Mommy

It's a given, when you are a tourist who visits San Francisco, you MUST pass (either walk through, bike around or drive by) the Golden Gate Bridge and take pictures. A recurring thought came to mind though--why have they called it golden when the bridge was actually painted  red? Truth of the matter, neither was it red--it was a color they called international orange (which was often mistaken as red). According to some online trivia sites, the name was inspired from a remarkable Istanbul harbor, the Chrysoceras or Golden Horn (for more accurate info, feel free to wiki this lol).

At the Golden Gate Bridge

We visited the place on a Sunday, it was my second day in San Fo--Tito Noni was having a hard time parking around the area. Sure there were tons of tourists especially on that day and cars were racing around to get a parking space. One car even got ticketed by a traffic enforcer for parking at the pavement. Oh the things that people do to get a good view of the bridge and a photo at that.

Better and closer view of the Bridge

Consequently, as I was feasting my eyes with the exhilarating view, I was mentally crossing out a tourist spot off of my bucket list. Happiness unlocked.