Maria Jacinta Therese

On XX XXXXX 2018, Pia gave birth to Maria Jacinta Therese.

She weighed 7.4 pounds and measured 49 centimeters.

It was the first ceasarian delivery for Pia. Nevertheless, Mike was allowed inside the operating room before Sinta was delivered via cesarian section.

Mike and Pia were happy to find out that letting the baby latch on to the mother is now required in hospitals.

Ready Steady Go

Mike and Pia learned about Ready Steady Go even before the Australian sports program for children came to the Philippines.

They knew this was something Jose would love to do, so when the program was finally offered at home, they enrolled Jose.

Leaving a Home

The rented Vinzon house had been the family's home since 2010. Sadly, because of cracks in the walls and posts caused by the displacement of the ground underneath, Mike and Pia decided that it was time to leave.

Cracks that started small but widened in such a short span of time.

The move proved to be difficult since they discovered that, in only a few years, they had accumulated so many things.

They finally decided to relocate to Mike's hometown and rent a relative's house.

Jose Andres Miguel

On XX XXXXX 2012, Pia gave birth to Jose Andres Miguel.

He weighed 6 pounds and measured 58.8 centimeters.

Mike was again right beside Pia in the delivery room.  Mike took the video this time because there was no one available to take the video.

After the preliminaries, the doctors attempted to have the little baby boy latch unto Pia.

Celebrating a Boy

Mike and Pia thought it would be a good idea to celebrate the coming birth of their baby boy by requesting the ninongs (godfathers) to organize a little something for their inaanak (godson).  After all, with the first child of Mike and Pia, the ninangs (godmothers) hosted a tea party for their then unborn inaanak (goddaughter). 

Despite their busy schedule, the ninongs were game about it.

Our Christmas Three

Beginning this year, the family's Christmas celebration comes into full swing after the Christmas three is out.

Yes, Three.  The Christmas Three.

Starting A Tradition

Mike and Pia planned to celebrate Christmas this year by starting their family's Christmas tradition. Tradition however is easier to establish with tangible symbols.  So they chose three things that would help them to pass on the Christmas spirit to their children.

They already have two of the three ready: a Christmas tree and a parol.  Now they needed the last and most important of all.

A Birthday Visit

It was the birthday of Mike's mother so the family went off to visit her.

One... Two -Tree!

Pia couldn't wait for the Christmas tree to be assembled. So even though it was All Soul's Day, Mike and Pia started to put up their new Christmas tree.

Unfortunately, the tree was to remain bare for a couple of weeks. It didn't even have Christmas tree lights.

The Family "Parol"

With their baby daughter, Mike and Pia went out to buy their first family "parol" on the evening of 21 September 2011. They chose a small colorful Christmas lantern that seemed just right for their small family.

Pia had been constantly reminding Mike about getting a "parol". Now that they had one, it actually made Pia giddy.

House Help Blues

One of the trials of family life is finding the right help for the home. It has been a learning experience for both Mike and Pia.

Learning to Walk

Before she was four months old, Tala learned how to turn over on her own from lying on her back. On her sixth month, she mastered sitting up and began her first attempts to crawl.  

Not long after, she started to stand up. On her seventh month, we discovered that she can easily stand up from a sitting position.  Now she wants to walk.

Or drive, whichever comes first.

Personal Journal Entry:

Learning to Walk

Cirque du Soleil

As birthday presents for Mike and Pia, Gem gave them two tickets for Cirque de Soleil's Varekai show. It was the first time for both Mike and Pia to watch a circus.

Surprise Birthday Party

Pia wanted to surprise Mike on his birthday.  Unknown to Mike, Pia was planning for weeks to have a small birthday party at their home.  She invited their common friends.

But Mike wasn't "cooperating" with the plan.

Thirty-Nine Years

It was the 39th wedding anniversary of Mike's parents on May 2011. Instead of a dinner celebration, they decided to celebrate with a little videoke at the Island Cove.

The highlight of the evening was the different song numbers from the better halves of the Gan siblings (Cathy, Pia and Anne's Mike).

Two with Lolo

Last February 2011 Tala's cousin Julian was christened at the San Agustin Church. After the baptism, they had lunch at with the Cheng family.

One Year Past

Mike and Pia celebrated their first wedding anniversary dinner with a little apprehension.

It was the first time they were away from their baby daughter.

A Christmas Gift

Ever since their busy wedding preparations last December 2009, Mike and Pia were looking forward to spending their first quiet and relaxing Christmas holidays together.

But things don't always happen as expected.  A little star came into their lives.

Julian Nigel Anthony

On Christmas eve, Mike's sister Anne gave birth to Julian Nigel Anthony.  Julian was 8 lbs at birth and measured __ centimeters.

Anne's husband, also named Mike, was at the delivery room as well.

Christening of Tala

Sometime in November 2010, Mike and Pia had their daughter baptized at their Parish.

It was a simple, quiet and intimate ceremony attended by the parents and siblings of Mike and Pia.