Our Arizona Home

Then I went to Japan with my two brothers where I worked there for nine years. It was there that I learned to love Japanese food and cooking. "Oishi!"

In the late 1990s while I was still in Japan, my parents were already settled in our Arizona home in Phoenix. Sadly, both contracted cancer, a year after the other.

Dad was a high-ranking military official in the Philippines. I had wanted to be like him when I was younger, but my mother discouraged me. Maybe she knew the pressures of being one, or did not want to lose me in war.

Dad dreamed of being able to vote in the US elections of November 2000. But right after he was sworn in as an American citizen, we discovered he had cancer of the lungs. Cancer of the lungs? He did not smoke nor drink. Mom then decided to petition me and my brothers to America.

But after only six months from being diagnosed with cancer, he died on November 7, the day of the 2000 elections. I was still in Japan.

Me and Maria in the mid-section of our backyard, in front of the guava tree that Dad planted years before. I'm proud of this tree because during its fruit-bearing season, it emits a strong aroma that sends our neighbors to our door to buy guava. :-)

It was in March 2001 that I met my wife-to-be, Maria. After several frustrating relationships with different women, I saw the girl of my dreams. We were inseparable. After only eight months of being together, I left her (it wasn't exactly a happy separation) for the USA in November 7, 2001.

I arrived in our Arizona home on the same day (the Philippines is a day ahead in time), November 7, 2001 – exactly one year after my dad passed away. It’s also the day that I broke up with my dream girl. Long story, you know. But Maria, until now, still remembers that date.

Mom had a longer battle with cancer. She discovered she had the disease in 2001.

I was able to spend time with Mom and help her fight her disease. Something I wasn’t lucky enough for Dad. She was even able to work until late 2004.

And during that same three-year period, I tried to win Maria back. Called her once in a while, and later realizing we both couldn’t live without each other. To cut another long story short, I asked her to come and get married in Phoenix, Arizona.

Yes, while my mother was still alive.

In January 2005, can you believe I had to fetch Maria from New Jersey where her parents were vacationing at that time, because they wouldn’t let her come straight to me? Oh yeah, her parents were strict and I had to ask her hand for marriage.

We were not young anymore, but honestly, I thought it’s a good sign of the same family values that I was raised with. And that’s Philippine tradition. It was an honor meeting her family. It was a wonderful reunion seeing Maria again after more than three years.

Friends and family gathered in the backyard patio that my Dad put up.

Maria, together with my sister and younger brother, took care of my mother. Mom got weaker. She dreamed of seeing us get married soon. We scheduled the wedding on March 8, 2005 – Maria’s birthday, too.

Our Arizona home has never been full of friends and family until March 8, 2005, our wedding day.

Mom, weak as she was, managed to attend the wedding ceremonies and her face revealed happiness catching the sight of her son finally getting married. Funny, she even spoke the words “I do” louder than we did!

She loved Maria. She can cook my Dad’s favorite food, “Pata Tim.” If Dad were alive, oh she’d be spoiled. Everybody loved her. In fact, I thought everybody loves her more than me! :-)

Mom expired on June 6 that same year. Interment was done on June 9, her birthday. She turned 62. It was also a day of her rebirth, in a new dimension of life. I believe she already fulfilled her mission on earth.

In the Philippines, best friends, young and old, always spend time with each other. Look at this picture.

Me and my best buddies - Dale and Ninong Jim - each rendering his own version of the song "My Way".

It turned out to be a "3-way" out-of-tune but well-applauded performance!

My godfather and a genuine friend, Ninong Jim. "Ninong" is the Tagalog word for "godfather".

He has five grown-up daughters, and regard me as his "only son".

With him, I don't feel like I've lost a father at all.

"Our Arizona home is a witness to my own unique stories. I love this home. I give it a special TLC.

Being a handyman myself, I watch out for leaks, scratches, stains, even hidden dirt and grime.

I’m a perfectionist! Maria hates me for that. Ha! Ha! The last time we both painted the house, I so emphasized on rolling the brush to the right directions. I like keeping things perfect.

And don’t watch me clean the backyard. Because it’ll take me a whole day and you’ll get impatient.

Well, I got that from my Dad. ;-)

Let me show you some parts of our Arizona home. Tell me I did a great job? Peleeeeezzz! :-)

Our Living Room. The shelf at the corner bears an all-angel figurine collection by my mother. She also loved Chinese ceramics. Mom asked that they stay.

Our Formal Dining Room. It actually is larger than it looks because the glass table does not have a top cover. The sliding glass door on the right leads to the family room.

Our Kitchen. Sometime later, I will convert all kitchen stuff to an all-stainless set. On the left is the informal dining section where we usually eat. Because it's smaller to clean. :-)

Our Master's Bathroom. Just a glimpse. Right is the bathtub, far right corner is the toilet. My wife religiously maintains our bathroom squeaky clean!

The hall leading to the rooms. Hey there's our German Shepherd dog, Rintintin. Spoiled one, I'm telling you.

Our Family Room. Actually an extension done to accommodate another bedroom, living room, and entertainment corner (behind me when I took this shot). Very handy during special occasions. Well, second to our backyard. It's our favorite spot.

This is my younger brother, Paul. Younger, but much taller than me. He lives with us.

It's true what they say - the youngest sibling gets all the height advantage. He's 6'2", and still loves to drink milk even today!

He loves Japanese stuff, too. His bedroom? Ah, full of them, plus an authentic Japanese sword (watch out, it's the one he's holding).

So if you drop by our house, he'll gladly serve you some Japanese tea.

Our Arizona home is in a perfect place. Sunny (yes, very hot during summers but I just got used to it), a stone’s throw away from a major hospital and commercial centers, and a few hours drive from the most wonderful spots in America.

The Grand Canyon is a unanimous choice for the most magnificent site in the USA. Phoenix is one of America’s fastest growing cities. Arizona is America’s No. 1 fastest growing state to date.

And yes, special memories. I laughed and cried here in our Arizona home.

The wonderful collage below that my wife made reflected dreams fulfilled altogether. And I'm sure many more will come.

As long as I live here, the never-ending story goes, and a happily-ever-after closing will always stay.

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