March 2007 (Last few weeks in the US)

I’m finally home 2 weeks ago and yes, I know it’s been quite a while since I last posted. Things have definitely been getting better but I guess that will be in another post. For the meantime, let me just focus on important things I don’t wanna miss out posting.

So, pardon me for the many pictures since a lot of things happened to me last March and good thing that they were captured.

 Drive to Wisconsin

As half of the team has moved back home, the rest of us were bored and thought of renting a car for the rest of the days that Roel and Yna are still staying. We’ve been taking pictures outside the Allstate office as it’s been getting warmer that week.  One Friday, we decided to drive and shop in Wisconsin, a state that has one of the lowest taxes in the US. The wise thing to do for this pursuit is to go to Kenosha, a compound that has lots of outlet stores.

Off to Wisconsin…

Visit to New York

On the same day (March 9), I was scheduled to fly to New York that evening to visit Tito Danny’s Family.

Evening of March 9

At the La Guardia Airport where Camille and Ate Debra picked me up

Dinner at the Chinese Restaurant with Tito Danny, Tita Au, Ate Debra, and Camille (the Shintao beer was good)

We then had dinner at Cafe’ Lalo, a coffeeshop where some scenes in You’ve Got Mail were shot

Here are some scenes from the movie…

I was then informed that the waitresses in the cafe are aspiring actresses so this picture explains why…

On the way to their house, I caught sight of the IBM headquarters in Manhattan

March 10. This was the busiest day in New York as I went to a lot of places. Ate Deb and Steve toured me to the best places in the city, had dinner in Tito’s house afterwards, and then Camille and I went clubbing. Of course, there were no pictures in the bars we went to.

1st stop was at the Empire State Building, we didn’t stay that long and I just took shot of the 100% swarovski chandelier

We were able to pass by the NBC Studios and Radio City

2nd stop was the Rockefeller Center

Awesome statue at the background, beneath that is an ice skating rink

A few blocks away from the Rockefeller Center is the St. Patrick’s Cathedral

I was able to see the Philippine Embassy in New York after shopping at H&M

Next stop was Times Square

MTV Studios

Lunch at Bubba Gump in Times Square

Fourth Stop was at the World Trade Center

Here’s Ground Zero, kinda spooky on this spot…even at daytime

5th Stop was the free cruise (yup, for tourism purposes) to Ellis Island to see the Statue of Liberty

If you ever go to New York, don’t think that a shot with any of these guys is free… because I was charged $5 after the shot

A view of Manhattan from the cruise ship

A view of Brooklyn

And the bridge that connects them…

In the evening, we had kalderetang kambing and dinuguan for dinner and Camille and I went clubbing after.

March 11

I was able to wake up early despite the fact that we went home really late and was aggravated by the fact that it was the 1st day of DST for the whole US.

DJ and I. He was really small when they left and now, he’s taller than I am

Their cute puppies

After breakfast, we heard mass and drove to New Jersey for some shopping

Manila Avenue in New Jersey

I had a good flight that night going back to Chicago and though I was tired, it gave me so much happiness knowing that I was able to stay with relatives whom I have not seen for quite a long time.

March 11 (Monday), I was able to attend a household meeting and the next day, we had an invite for a dinner at Tuscany with the Allstate Talent Acquisition Team and the IBM bosses in Allstate.

World Premiere of GK The Movie in Chicago & Chapter Assembly

On March 17, I was able to be part of the service team of the Chicago world premiere of Paraiso, a trilogy about Gawad Kalinga. Believe it or not, I was the voice over during the gala presentation. I was deeply moved knowing how Filipinos in the US are so passionate in their intention to alleviate the plight of poverty in their motherland. They may have left the Philippines, some were born in the US, became American citizens, can’t speak Filipino but their commitment to GK is absolutely incomparable and very much Filipino at heart! It was also the 1st time for me to watch a Tagalog film in the US.

Preparation

Chris and I are now ready for the start of the program

Tito Tony and I before his inspiring speech

The movie’s about to start

The gala show was jampacked, with lots of non-Filipinos watching the film, too

Mark and I operating the 1920’s lightboard at the backstage

The next day, Jean, Jeremy, Ana, and I were invited to have lunch at Mang Gani’s house. Mang Gani is a Filipino employee in the hotel who has been so nice to everyone. We ate good Filipino food to our heart’s content due to Mang Gani and Tita Josie’s hospitality.

This is me, after eating. Each of us had this shot, hehe

With Mang Gani and Tita Josie

Angela and Ivy picked me up at Mang Gani’s house so I can attend the chapter assembly. I grabbed the opportunity to share and thank the SFC Illinois chapter for taking care of me in my stay there as it was my last weekend in Chicago. We had a fellowship in Naperville afterwards as my despedida.

IBM Get-Together Cocktail at Cafe Lucci

March 21, all IBM employees who are supporting Allstate were invited for a get together party at Cafe Lucci. I was stunned to see the number of IBMers who are rendering services for Allstate that night.

The same evening, I was able to meet Cholo, the kuya of a college friend, EJ. Cholo gave me some stuff that he wants to give to his brother and he toured me around places in Chicago that I’ve never been to.

Saint Mary of the Angels Cathedral, the biggest Catholic Church in Illinois

March 22, Jig purchased free NBA tickets for the 4 of us. When Kevin heard about this, he rented a car and a driver that will take us to the United Center in downtown Chicago and going back to Glenview. It was a great game between the Bulls and the Nuggets. Although I was rooting for the Bulls, Allen Iverson still never failed to amuse me with his prowess in doing the offense. It was a close match and the Nuggets were celebrating as they gained a 1-point lead on the last 10 seconds of the game. To everyone’s amazement, an easy lay-up paved the way for the Bulls to win by 1 point on the last 2 seconds of the game! This I can say, is one of the best things that I did here in Chicago!

Before the game

JM at the portrait of MJ’s last dunk for the Bulls

And the game’s starting! You could just imagine how excited I was to see this!

After the game…

March 23. It was our last whole day in Chicago. After work, we had a few shots with Sharon, the very warm lady at the Allstate Frontdesk in Building F as our way of bidding her goodbye. When we got to the hotel, Mark (a Filipino employee at Wyndham Hotel) invited us for dinner and we had our appetizers (literally and figuratively) at, ehem, Hooters! After that, we had buffet dinner at Todai, a Jap restaurant in Schaumburg. After the dinner, EJ’s siblings with his nephew visited me at my hotel room. When they left, I received a call from Patrick for an SFC bowling fellowship after their fellowship. I didn’t sleep afterwards so I can finish packing.

Bidding goodbye to Sharon

With the Hooters!

Me, Jeremy, and Mark

At Todai

With EJ’s bro and nephew

SFC Fellowship (Happy way to say goodbye to these brothers and sisters in Christ)

Kim and I thought it was just her and I at the pic until we saw Lloyd at the background

SFC Illinois, they’re now a great part of me

March 24. Finally, it’s the day of my flight going back to Manila! Mang Gani and Tita Josie came to see us at the airport to ensure that the 4 of us are doing fine on our way back home. But on that day, my flight from Chicago to Detroit was delayed and when we reached Detroit, we found out that the plane that will take us to Manila did not wait for us. Northwest booked us for a flight the next day to San Francisco and from there, we’ll board Philippine Airlines going to Manila. They gave us food vouchers and Northwest paid for the hotel for our stay in Detroit last Saturday evening. Sunday, we reached San Francsiso around 2 PM but our flight to Manila was at 10:30 PM.  It was such a hassle but luckily, Anna met his uncle there and he showed us around the city while we were still waiting for our flight. At the bright side of it, I went to California for free and saw some of the nice places in SF. Praise God for still allowing me to arrive safely.

With Mang Gani and Tita Josie at O’Hare Airport

A great reward the day after the unfortunate status of getting stranded in Detroit was a free trip to San Francisco, CA!

First stop was the carenderia named Manila Bay Cuisine

Pics at the historical San Francisco Golden Gate

The Crooked Road

The Posh Sausalito Village

Before heading to the airport, we stopped by the Fisherman’s Wharf and the Alcatraz

The Alcatraz

In summary, I was able to visit 8 states (Minneapolis, Illinois, Wisconsin, New York, New Jersey, Washington, Michigan, and California).

March 26.

MANILA, I’M FINALLY HOME!!!

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Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• Despedidas
• Baguio Jobfair
• Going Home
• Snowy March day in New York

~ by juandimarco on April 13, 2007.