Take a look at some of these movies available on Netflix. The Filipino movies with English subtitles are a great tool for folks wishing to learn the Filipino language. Bare in mind that the movie style is nothing like blockbuster American films so prepare yourself for controversial subject matter that is reflective of life in the Philippines.

I absolutely fell in love with Magnifico because it is the kind of movie that pulls at your heart strings in every way possible.

Imelda is also worth watching but I personally found it so preposterous at times, to think a President's wife spent money so frivolously. Oh the Philippine elite!

Read more about Cinema of the Philippines

Filipino American:

The Debut

Talented high school senior Ben dreams of going to art school, much to the dismay of his strict immigrant father. The struggle between his family’s Filipino traditions and his own American dreams explodes on the night of his sister’s 18th birthday party, when he’s pressured by family to attend the event instead of hanging with his white friends.

Starring: Dante Basco, Eddie Garcia
Director: Gene Cajayon
Genre: Independent
Format: DVD
Language: English
Subtitles: English …

For language

Filipino with English subtitles:

Please note that some of the film titles in Filipino do not offer english subtitles. Many films directed by Fil/Fil-Ams are rather difficult to view in theatres and are difficult to find in video stores on line or elsewhere. CineFilipino has collaborated with leading independent film makers to provide the best collection of films for purchase and provides previews. Some notable titles that you can preview and can be purchased on CineFilipino. The following films are available on Netflix: The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros, Crying Ladies, Imelda, Magnifico, Manila By Night, Slow Jam King.

Babae Sa Bintana

(1998)

Woman by the Window

Voyeurism leads to a perilous affair in director Chito Roño’s suspenseful tale. Abandoned by his wife, Mitch (Richard Gomez) finds respite from his depression by spying on beautiful new neighbor Jack (Rosanna Roces); next thing you know, the pair becomes intimately acquainted. But trouble lies ahead: It seems that Jack’s lover (John Estrada) has ties to Manila’s underworld, and Mitch soon finds himself in grave danger.

Starring: Rosanna Roces, Richard Gomez
Director: Chito S. Roño
Genre: Foreign
Format: DVD
Language: Tagalog
Subtitles: English

Not rated. This movie has not been rated by the MPAA.

Babae Sa Breakwater

(2004)

Woman of Breakwater

In this bittersweet survival tale, director Mario O’Hara paints a realistic portrait of the cadgers, prostitutes and scavengers who dwell along Manila Bay’s breakwater scratching out a living. Fleeing from gangsters, brothers Basilio (Kristoffer King) and Buboy (Al Cris Galura) settle along the jetty, but trouble crops up when Basilio gets involved with a diseased hooker (Katherine Luna) whose existence is stoked by liquor and drugs.

Starring: Katherine Luna, Kristoffer King
Director: Mario O’Hara
Genre: Foreign
Format: DVD
Language: Tagalog
Subtitles: English

The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros

(2006)

Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros

Maxi (Nathan Lopez) is a sensitive 12-year-old boy whose life has deteriorated into a surrogate existence of his dead mother. Relegated to housekeeping and caring for his criminal father and brothers, Maxi is befriended by a kind and honorable policeman (J.R. Valentin) eager to show the boy a more respectable way of life. Auraeus Solito’s compassionate drama filmed on the streets of Manila features music from Filipino rock legend Pepe Smith.

Starring: Nathan Lopez, Soliman Cruz
Director: Auraeus Solito
Genre: Foreign
Format: DVD and streaming
Language: Tagalog
Subtitles: English
Awards: Independent Spirit Awards® Nominee …

Not rated. This movie has not been rated by the MPAA.

Caregiver

(2008)

Leaving her son (John Vladimir Manalo) behind in the Philippines, grade school teacher Sarah (Sharon Cuneta) travels to London, where she reunites with her husband (John Estrada), takes a job as a nursing home caregiver, and struggles with a variety of personal and professional problems. While working with challenging clients and helping a troubled youth, Sarah wonders if the extra income is worth her husband’s crumbling confidence.

Starring: Sharon Cuneta, Jhong Hilario
Director: Chito S. Roño
Genre: Foreign
Format: DVD
Language: Tagalog
Subtitles: English

Not rated. This movie has not been rated by the MPAA.

Crying Ladies

(2004)

Charged with organizing his father’s funeral, Wilson Chua (Eric Quizon) hires three professional mourners with plenty of problems and enough tears to flood Manila in this heartwarming comedy. Desperate for cash, Stella (Sharon Cuneta) is happy to take the weeklong gig crying at the traditional Chinese funeral, but the stage is set for disaster when she brings B-movie actress Chua (Hilda Koronel) and the adulterous Choleng (Angel Aquino) along.

Starring: Sharon Cuneta, Hilda Koronel
Director: Mark Meily
Genre: Foreign
Format: DVD
Language: Tagalog, English …
Subtitles: English

Not rated. This movie has not been rated by the MPAA.

Imelda

(2004)

Yes, she loves shoes. But Imelda Marcos, the former first lady of the Philippines and two-time presidential hopeful, is passionate about more than just her soles. Offering an objective look at Marcos’s often controversial life and political career via interviews with her fans, critics and the woman herself, this thought-provoking documentary examines one of history’s most colorful examples of female leadership.

Starring: Imelda Marcos
Director: Ramona S. Diaz
Genre: Documentary
Format: DVD
Language: English
Subtitles: English
Awards: Sundance Film Festival® Nominee …

Magnifico

(2003)

With a daughter who suffers from cerebral palsy and a son who’s lost his much-needed scholarship, an impoverished married couple begins to abandon their faith and courage in the face of such misfortune. But when a gifted young boy called Magnifico uses his goodness to magically transform their lives for the better, the family’s belief in miracles is restored. Suddenly, living with adversity doesn’t seem like such a burden.

Starring: Jiro Manio, Lorna Tolentino
Director: Maryo J. De los Reyes
Genre: Foreign
Format: DVD
Language: Tagalog
Subtitles: English

Unrated. This movie has not been rated by the MPAA.

Bernal

(1980)

Set in Manila’s edgiest hoods, Ishmael Bernal’s ensemble drama explores the Philippine capital’s seedier characters, including pimps, pushers and poverty-stricken prostitutes. A drug-dealing lesbian, a blind bathhouse worker and a gay clothing designer figure prominently into this unflinching trip through Manila’s dark alleys. The talented cast features Cherie Gil, Mitch Valdez, Charito Solis, Orestes Ojeda, Rio Locsin and Bernardo Bernardo.

Starring: Lorna Tolentino, Alma Moreno
Director: Ishmael Bernal
Genre: Foreign
Format: DVD
Language: Tagalog
Subtitles: English

Not rated. This movie has not been rated by the MPAA.

Spirit Warriors

(2000)

In this eerie thriller from the Philippines, a group of high schoolers finds themselves contending with more than the usual teen angst issues. It seems they’ve run afoul of Ulanaya, a menacing, shape-shifting ghost bent on creating terror and pandemonium throughout the land. Can these adolescent, amateur ghost hunters summon the mettle to square off against — and vanquish — such a formidable otherworldly nemesis?

Starring: Joel Alano, Roy Alvarez
Director: Chito S. Roño
Genre: Foreign
Format:
Language: Tagalog

Not rated. This movie has not been rated by the MPAA.

Slow Jam King

(2004)

When would-be gangsta JoJo (Ron Domingo) carjacks traveling perfume hawker Vance (Whitney Melton), JoJo’s best friend (D.K. Bowser) tags along to keep things on an even keel in this offbeat indie comedy from the Philippines. The mismatched threesome soon finds themselves on an adventurous road trip to Nashville, Tenn., where they discover the truth about the country music capital’s seamy underside.

Starring: Ron Domingo, Whitney Melton
Director: Steven E. Mallorca
Genre: Foreign
Format: DVD
Language: Tagalog
Subtitles: English

Not rated. This movie has not been rated by the MPAA.

Yamashita: The Tiger’s Treasure

(2001)

In Filipino director Chito Roño’s adventure yarn, World War II veteran Lolo Melo (Armando Goyena) enjoys regaling his grandson Jobert (Danilo Barrios) with war stories, one of which includes Lolo’s participation in burying the famed Yamashita treasure. When Jobert heads to Manila to unearth the cache, little does he know that he has competition: A shadowy G-man (Albert Martinez) and a soldier of fortune (Vic Diaz) are also in pursuit of the loot.

Starring: Armando Goyena, Danilo Barrios
Director: Chito S. Roño
Genre: Foreign
Format: DVD
Language: Tagalog
Subtitles: English

Not rated. This movie has not been rated by the MPAA.

Kapwa - The Self in the Other

Kapwa - The Self in the Other

I do not want to go into a lengthy review of this book because there are some great reflections at the Babaylan Files and written by Barbara Jane Reyes who eloquently do so.

My personal notes about this book is that it is an essential collection of vignettes, stories, photos and history that must be explored to understand Kapwa - "togetherness", which is the philosophy of Filipino psychology.

I would strongly advise that any book listed above $$20 is a scam. The intention of the author was to provide an affordable book to all. Unfortunately, I learned this after the fact and was robbed blind!!! (darn it!)

Kapwa: The Self in the Other
Katrin de Guia, PhD

I knew there was a reason why I saved all my #5 containers! I felt guilty enough eating out as much as I had and felt worse throwing them away believing there was no other alternative but the landfills. It was not until I read on the Whole Foods site and the launch of Preserve 5 program that I was relieved and my efforts did go noticed! Now all I need to do is to get the other grocery in NYC to provide Preserve 5 bins!

Finally, a recycling solution for your yogurt cups, hummus tubs and other #5 plastic containers! If you’re serious about recycling, you know that most communities don’t accept these common containers for recycling. There’s not enough money in it for them to make it work. And those communities that do accept #5s almost always bundle those with other low value plastics and sell them to someone else who burns them for energy. Yuck!

Preserve and our partners created the Gimme 5 program to offer a simple way to save these plastics and make sure they have a second life. Now you can enjoy all of those great products that come packaged in #5 plastic, save them up, clean them out and drop them at one of these retail locations. Just look for the Preserve Gimme 5 bin.

By recycling your #5s through the Gimme 5 program, you are:

• Saving plastic from being sent to landfills
• Keeping it local by recycling it here in the USA
• Powering Preserve by helping us transform your recyclables into new Preserve toothbrushes and razors

Stay posted on the impact you’re making by joining Gimme 5.

We've taken Noah to the Chinese New Celebration since he was born (almost accidentally). He will have been exposed to so much more than me in his short life! I heart NYC!

It will be my second year as the Co-Director of Filipino Heritage Camp (FHC) and the first year that any of the 10 Colorado Heritage Camps (CHC) has two Directors that are both adult adoptees in its 19 years of existence.

I volunteered as a camp counselor in 2000 when I came across the website after doing a search on line. I still have the printed emails that I sent to the CHC Director who is pictured to the left.


I was not sure what I was getting into - traveling solo to Denver, CO to be a counselor to young kids who were adopted from the Philippines. I comforted by the fact that there was a fellow young adult adoptee that I could relate to and that a couple families happened to be on the same Motherland tour 2 years earlier!

Fast forward a decade later and many hours on the phone with my fellow co-counselor and now Co-Director. I would like to think I am ten years wiser and more experienced to take a leadership role in a camp that has become a second home and family to me.

It will be our 4th consecutive year traveling to the Rockies with my son who has been attending and recently participating as a camper, which will undeniably help play a role in his own identity development.

A gal cc'd me in an email to a fellow adopted person from the Philippines. She revealed that she came across a picture on our orphanage page on Facebook and identified herself; an image she had never seen before, a photo of herself before the age of 4 years.

The photo was taken a couple years before I was born but somehow I felt an instant connection with her as we spoke that same night. Her excited voice was rambling and asking questions that I could not necessarily answer. It was one of those conversations that could have gone on for hours as we compared notes about what our Pilipinas passport looked like and if I knew any of the names she blurted out.

This recent reunion of sorts has me thinking whether I want to find more information about my life in the orphanage. This gal has a sister who is my age and is very likely that we were at the orphanage at the same time.

I always feel like I am having an out of body experience when I have these encounters. As though they are unreal and I am an observer. I guess this is part of my adoption that I am still working out and attempting not to alienate myself from the fact that I lived in the orphanage for the first five years of my life.

NY ING Marathon November 1st -

26.2 miles was no breeze but there were a few factors that made it painfully enjoyable.

* Ran with a fellow first time marathoner who did not mind my quarkiness

* No ipod, which gave me a chance to revel in the fact that there were millions of spectators lining the streets - cheering on the 43,000 runners,

* Little emphasis on miles run but rather, what borough I was running through,

* Seeing my family and friends along the way,

* Spotting random friends in the crowd,

* Remembering that not only was I running for a personal accomplishment but for the DOE Fund - for the men and women of NYC who were formally homeless and getting themselves back on their feet,

* Having fun with the crowd and cheering them on,

* and that pain is temporary - pride is forever!

Sleep was almost impossible the day before the race. Not only was I anxious but it was also the tail end of Halloween festivities with N.

No need for an alarm - I kept on waking up every thirty minutes before 5am. With my running gear on and bag in hand, I left the apartment praying I did not forget anything essential. Of course, there were no 1/2/3 trains going downtown from 103rd Street so I made my way to 96th Street. There were still folks walking around in their costumes although I noticed all the other marathoners with the official plastic ING bag slowly making their way to the subway.

I was assigned to take the shuttle from midtown and upon arrival chills of excitement started to tickle my spine. Hundreds of runners were calmly filing between the police barricades leading to the buses, while ING volunteers were directing us with bull horns. While on the bus, like a preview of the of the marathon route, it dawned on me that at some point I would be trekking through that area.

Another rush of enthusiasm came over me as we arrived at the starting point on Staten Island. A gauntlet of puffy eyed yet energized high schoolers welcomed us with cheers of encouragement.

Thankfully, I decided to bring my fleece and gloves because the autumn chill was present at our 5:30am delivery. Our bus was one of the first to arrive but within the next few hours thousands more weary eyed runner ascended in their designated corrals.

It was apparent who the veteran marathoners were because they were the ones that brought sleeping bags, tents, lounge chairs, patio furniture and blankets. My survival mode kicked in as I grabbed some discarded poland springs boxes and flattened them out for my temporary bed and curled up for a cat nap.

The time was 7:00am and I still had 3 hours before the start of my wave (10:20am). I started wandering aimlessly along with others, collected some snacks, a Dunkin Donut hat, had my pre race picture taken and wandered to other corral areas. I saw one of those outdoor overhead tents packed with hundreds of runners seeking shelter and some shut eye. It was quite a site!

Along the road on the opposite side of the tent were dozens of UPS trucks that later on collected our numbered bags. It dawned on me the magnitude of organizing an event and its intricacies. I realized now why the registration was as pricey as it was. From the entrant fee, to transportation of the runners, the bags from SI to the finish line, the water centers, photographers, the bands, police presence, closing of streets and major bridges, volunteers, media coverage and the list goes on!

Finally the last wave of the Blue group was called to the starting line and as folks were making their way to the front the amount of discarded clothing tossed to the ground, piled high in the garbage cans and strewn on the fences was mind boggling! Of course the marathon planners had volunteers collecting everything that was going to be donated to the homeless. There were articles of clothing all over the road through out the race course.

I was fortunate to meet a fellow first time marathoner (who I later learned went to college together) who I ran with for 18 miles before we lost track of each other after greeting our family members. Keeping in mind that the race was going to take at least 4 hours, my attitude was positive throughout. I did not hit the dreaded "wall" and other than my ailing foot injury at mile 20 - I felt like Superwoman. The other runners around us were for the most part trying to keep each others spirits high though as we completed miles we were seeing more people walking and looking exasperated.

I would say Park Slope and the Upper East Side were the highlights of the course along with crossing over the Varrazano Bridge in SI especially because I would zone out the crowds every now and then.

The erie part of the course was running through Bensonhurst, which was probably a mile or so in distance. There were no people holding signs, cheering, handing out cups of water or lined along the side walk. Some kids shyly held their hands out in hopes to receive an occasional high five.

My determination not stop me at any point in the race though I pushed my limits towards the end as I had to talk myself through the growing pain in my right foot. I knew my pace was slowing after mile 18 but thankfully I knew I would be seeing my family and friends. I was relieved in that brief moment when I spotted my mom, brother, J and N in the crowd and gave quick hugs and greetings.

I may have not finished in the desired time I had hoped for but I crossed the finish line feeling a sense of pride after months of training. I was in the best shape since my glory days in college playing field hockey and lacrosse.

Will I run another marathon? As long as I am chosen in the NYC marathon lottery!

What is the Holiday Season without "Cookies n Chismis Holiday Soiree"?!

This is the third year I've hosted the Cookies n Chismis (healthy gossip) party. One of the few occasions I invite good peoples I have met from different chapters of my life.

I also take pride in my semi professional baking skills and this time around cranked out 60- some sugar cookies that were decorated with the icing with my special food coloring. Ok, that is a slight exaggeration! I had to hold myself back from eating spoons full of the confectioner concoction and crisco. Oh my word!

Here are my essential Christmas songs:

Boys to Men Let it snow

Feliz Navidad (reggae style) Bob Marley

Do You Hear What I hear Destiny's Child

Blue Christmas Elvis Prestley

Pasko Naman Apo Hiking Society

Jingle Bell Rocks Disney

Please come home for Christmas Luther Vandross

Sleigh Ride TLC

Deck the Halls Temptations

We are the world Michael Jackson

Last Christmas Glee cast

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas Frank Sinatra

First of many Firsts......

After almost three years of spending time with Noah he has officially started Pre-school. His first day of course was filled with excitement and anxiety for all of us. He was eager to use his new Thomas the Train backpack that "Ganga" found for him at a tag sale and the new backpack we bought. When we arrived in the classroom the teachers set up a cubby space for him with his name on it.

We were very fortunate to bypass the torment of enrolling Noah in a NYC pre school program after we attended an Open House for our local YMCA. It is a mere two blocks away from our home and we could not be happier with the staff.

Tender Care is a 2 year old program at the Grovsenor YMCA. Noah attends twice a week for 6 hours and he has even conformed to their nap schedule. He has a wonderful diverse group of classmates that he seems to get along with. And he has a special friend named Sophia who is only 10 days older than him and actually looks like she could be his long lost sister.

I spent an hour with him before having to endure his cries to go home with me. But as I slowly crept to the stairwell I heard the teacher trying to sooth him and he immediately stopped crying.

And there is nothing else that makes a Mom's heart melt but the smile and big hug that I got when I picked up Noah. He grabbed his jacket, threw his backpack on and dragged me out of his classroom before I could say goodbye to anyone!

The Filipino Channel - Connect to the Culture and News of the Motherland

I always thought that the only way to access Filipino channels was through satellite but
I stumbled on Time Warner Channel 594 TFC . Within 5 minutes was connected instantly to the world of cheesy telenovelas, real time news and over zealous game shows like Wowowee.

I am hooked and even if I understand 2% of what is said, I will slowly pick up Filipino words here and there.

It has been 6 months since my multiple hospitalizations in November 2008 and two months ago I had my gall bladder removed. The severity of my Acute Pancreatitis was quite a shock considering I did not have any prior medical issues. The prognosis looked bleak according to my doctor but someone was looking after me and though my recovery was not speedy I slowly got back on my feet, altered my diet and reminded myself every day how fortunate I am of my improving health.

After my health scare it led me to make the decision to run in the "world's largest race", ING NYC Marathon on November 1, 2009. The training alone is rigorous as well as the mental preparation to run 26.2 miles through 5 boroughs of NYC, starting in Staten Island. I wanted

I chose the The DOE Fund: Ready, Willing and Able organization to sponsor my entry into the race because I was unable to run the 9 NYRR required races for automatic entry. RWA has been assisting the formerly homeless in NYC for many years by providing temporary housing, employment assistance and legal services. When I lived in the Upper East Side, I always noticed the men and women with the blue shirts, pushing garbage cans and sweeping up after New Yorkers (yes, I said it!).

If you would like to donate to my cause visit DOE: Ready, Willing and Able .

Little Master's Art - Bringing out the artist in your child.

I enrolled Noah in LMA classes this past spring and was so impressed with the art classes that I signed him up for the summer session as well. Living in the UWS and formerly UES, I found that the programs/activities for the younger kids was so competitive, in terms of enrollment, fees and limited physical space but LMA is truly the best kept secret in the UWS!!

I was fortunate to learn about LMA in its inaugural year and has since found a permanent host site at El Taller Latino Americano. The two co-founders have put so much thought and detail into the programming and have focused on providing a welcoming and creative space for all. Amanda is a graduate of NYU in Art History and Studio Art while Narges (a mother of a toddler) has a Master's in Design and Technology with a background

Classes are available for children between the ages of 16mo-18 years with an emphasis on enriching the children with the understanding of the art culture by introducing hands on projects that reflects artists of the day and reinforcing the idea that although art can be messy, it should also be fun! LMA has expanded to include music classes taught in both english and spanish.

If you can't committ to the 12 week courses be sure to check for their monthy, Saturday Workshops!

Information on registration and classes DEADLINE: Aug 15th

Got Pilipino?

The first ever IndioBravo Filipino Film Festival was held this weekend in NYC. Initially, I wanted to see Foster Child (again) because I felt it captured the essence and emotions of being a Foster parent in the Philippines. Though I would say that the portrayal of the eventual adoption of the main character was a little skewed.

A weekend of Filipino movies with English subtitles!? A perfect opportunity to see a glimpse of life in the Philippines, learn about the styles of Filipino cinematography, the actors and especially to learn a little bit of the language!

Since my summer abroad at the University of the Philippines Diliman in 2003, I have desperately tried to maintain the basics of the language that I learned. I bought a highly recommended double volume set of Phil/English Eng/Phil dictionaries, Lonely Planet phrase book, Before You Know It computer tutorial, Learning Filipino book, children's books I bought in the Phils (in Filipino with English translation), downloaded Filipino songs, you name it.

I have since learned that one of the better approaches to retaining Filipino is through movies.
On that same trip a good friend of mine brought me to a dvd shop. I purchased movie titles, which I thought would be of interest. I have watched a couple of them and when I attend Filipino events I make it a point to buy such movies.

It has been a slow process but I don't like to pretend that I the mother tongue when people speak to me. I am determined to teach myself the basics.

If you have any suggestion of movie titles let me know!

Looking forward to next year's Indio Fest!

Model Filipino-American

My good friend Dr. Kevin Nadal and Godfather/Ninong to Noah has written, Filipino American Psychology - A Handbook of Theory, Research and Clinical Practice. I was especially excited to provide him with information about Filipino adoption, which very little is written about.

I was also honored when he asked me and Noah to pose for the cover of the book along with a dozen other Fil-Ams. Noah made the final cut for the front cover and there is a group photo on the back of the two of us!

BUY THE BOOK NOW!

Congrats Kevin!

Honoring and Evoking the Babaylan Spirit

Truthfully, when I told my dear friend I was interested in organizing the Babaylan Conference April of 2010 I failed to realize that it much more than planning a phenomenal event. I have walked into a the epicenter of understanding the role of self in the community and the world at large but how to embrace the essence of babaylan and its spirit.

Babaylan Conference of 2010
April 17 – 18, 2010 at the
Sonoma State University, CA

What is Babaylan?

Babaylan is a term identifying an indigenous Filipino religious leader, who functions as a healer, a shaman, a seer and a community "miracle-worker" (or a combination of any of those). Although the role and function of a babaylan is open to both sexes, most babaylans from the pre-hispanic era are female.

"The babaylan in Filipino indigenous tradition is a person who is gifted to heal the spirit and the body; a woman who serves the community through her role as a folk therapist, wisdom-keeper and philosopher; a woman who provides stability to the community’s social structure; a woman who can access the spirit realm and other states of consciousness and traffic easily in and out of these worlds; a woman who has vast knowledge of healing therapies".^[1] In addition to this, a babaylan is someone who "intercedes for the community and individuals" and is also someone who "serves." Any study of the babaylan must take into consideration the suppression of the babaylan's practices since the onset of European and American colonialism in the Philippines.

Prior to, during and after the Philippine Revolution of 1896-1898, the babaylans of Dios Buhawi and Papa Isio of Negros Occidental participated in the struggle to throw off the Spanish yoke. Their primary agenda was religious freedom and agrarian reform; most followers of the babaylan tradition were dispossessed land owners thrown off their property by the Spanish hacienderos and in some cases by Spanish friars bent on acquiring land.

More to come.......

My Little Master Artist

I wanted to find any type of class for Noah and to my surprise came across Little Masters Art
for kids between 2-12 years; the best kept secret in NY. Each one hour class begins with a snack, story time and an activity inspired by a chosen artist of the day. Although Noah would rather toy around with the play dough it seems like he has enjoyed experimenting with different tools and materials. Little Master's also hosts a monthly Saturday Workshop that is reasonably priced; $15 a child.

April - In like a Lamb......

Brooklyn Avenue

The Peace Fountain statue is quite impressive, which is next to The Cathedral Church of Saint John in the Upper West Side. I discovered that Saint John's is the largest cathedral in the world and to think it is a few blocks away from our apartment! I still need to go inside the the cathedral and would like to bring Noah to the free organ performance every Monday at 1pm.


Noah's Ark plaque, I like to bring Noah to see all the small bronze figures of animals and mamals that were designed by youth and adults. Another attraction are the two peacocks that roam the church grounds. One is white while the other has the iridescent green. You will most likely hear their unique bird cries. I was puzzled when I first heard them.

I turns out that the Bronx Zoo has been donating the peacocks since 1973.

248th St. Patrick's Day Parade, NYC

I took this photo shortly after the biggest winter storm that hit the Northeast this year.