FACES OF THE PHILIPPINES...Meeting Liliram's Extended Family

I'm touched beyond words!
David and Denise (happy birthday!), it was our pleasure to welcome you to our way-extended family! My sister Levy, her hubby Bobby, and 4 children and 4 grandchildren have all "adopted" you, "Tito" (uncle) David and "Tita" (aunt) Denise. You just met my fam and each nephew/niece's best friend's family, including nephew Ryll's Filipino-Japanese family. I'm on my way to comment on each photo now, but not before sending a link to your blog to my sister. She'd be so delighted!

Rookie, Levy's eldest
Executive on weekdays, a hobby photographer on weekends. That is, when he's not rock climbing or babysitting.

Atty. Boy and wife Evelyn
Family friends to the core. Flew in from Manila for the occasion.

Josh, the social worker's youngest son
He must have heard the word "hostile" endless times from his mom, Reia. a real sweet boy who can be ruthless with the drums.

Xion
Our little boy with the many facial expressions and bushy eyebrows. Just don't get him started on the solar system or human anatomy :) You'll never hear the end of it.

Shelly
Shelly moved out of our house in 2005. Now an oz citizen, i'm hoping she'd get hitched soon so we'd have additions to our still growing family!

Anika
The singing and dancing grandchild. Rookie's eldest.

Riley
Eldest son of Reia. Brother to Josh. Both sons of Reia.

Reia
Youngest child of Bobby and Levy. Mom to Riley and Josh.

Vanie
Married to Rookie. She did all the Great Gatsby motif decor in their house for the party. Plus the cakes and give aways, with help from Shelly and the girls.

Ken
Son of Butch and his lovely Japanese wife. Butch is Ryll's longtime buddy now based in Sydney.

Delia
Name's Delia. Sorry i dont have names of my nephews' and nieces' friends with their respective families (told you. It's wayyyyy-extended).

Father (Joseph) and Son (josh)
The guitarist and the drummer. The other son and the mom croon!

Travel blog is amazing
The world has become even smaller since we joined Travel blog and made all these new friends. Amazing photos as always but looks like you had some beauties posing for you. We loved meeting Lili. Wish we could have joined the party looks like great fun. She is so wonderful and it is great they opened their arms and invited you to the gathering. What an experience. Lili thanks for commenting on the photos so we know more about each person. Very cool.

A photo studio just for you!
Well Dave, that must be the ultimate - great hospitality, smiling faces and a photo studio! Superb portraits as always - you are certainly the portrait master of Travelblog!

blog greater than Great Gatsby
To read a blog about us is something that never entered my mind. Never had an inkling of its beauty. But reading your blog is quite an exciting experience. You have captured my attention not only by your woven words, but more so by the way you portrayed the characters of our friends and loved ones. That you and Denise considered yourselves as extended family members is for us an honor. And from now on, an invitation will always be ready for you two. And though it's water under the bridge, we can't help feeling having lost an opportunity for you to be with us on a just finished occasion, themed "As you like it, A Shakespearean Experience" to celebrate my three scores and ten seasons of life. See you sooner than soon. Thanks and God bless,

We have yet to meet Liliram, but this blog does seem to capture the celebratory and welcoming image I've come to associate with her. Everybody looks fantabulously Gatsby-esque. I'm sure you and Denise brought the dance to the party. ;)