Welcome to the World

   

My new nephew, Liam Lorenzo Dolotina Barol is a new addition to the large Dolotina family.

The Circle of Life

We were saddened by the death of our grandma last week. Although she is already old at 93, we were shocked because she was still well and about during her death. She suffered from stroke even if she was taking ferrous sulfate because she was supposed to be anemic.

But while we experienced death a few days ago, a new generation of Dolotina has emerged. A good news came from the US telling us that another addition to the family just happened, a cute baby boy is born to my cousins. And next week, the first week of March, we are expecting another addition to the family again. My sis will also have her baby.

Such is the beauty of life. When one dies, another life is born. 

Art from loranablog.wordpress.com

A sad night: Goodbye Lola Anania Dolotina-Molina!

I was informed a few minutes ago that our Lola, Anania Dolotina-Molina of Alicia, Bohol, died at Ramiro Hospital in Tagbilaran due to stroke. She was 93.

I felt so down.

When I was younger she was one of my favorite lolas because she would always hug us whenever she visited our place. I can remember the way her smell would engulfed me as she would extend her arms. I was uncomfortable with hugging but hers was of comfort and peaceful reverie.

The last time we saw each other she was crying because her sister, Felicidad who was 103 by then, died last Christmas 2009. I approached her and she hugged me so tight because she told me she missed me. I choked.

Now hearing the sad news made me cry. I too, really missed her. But sadly she did not know that. I never told her. Now she is gone and I would never had the chance to.

May you rest in peace Lola.

(Two of my favorite lolas- Felicidad who died last Christmas 2009 at the age of 103 and Anania, 93, who died a few minutes ago.)

Children of the Rice

  

 

 

 

 

This bunch of gregarious nephews are the soul of our clan. Pictures taken during the All Souls Day in Batuan, Bohol using Sony Ericsson W810i in natural light.

The Italian among us

Shit! I can't help but curse, excuse my badness, when I came across my friend's blog about Turin, Italy (I also used her picture here).

You know, Italy is one of my most coveted cities to see before I die. Torino should be included. From Godfather to Sophia Loren to Vatican to Michelangelo to almost everything Italian and all the things in-between AND including my desire to see relatives there. 

You read it right! 

For your information, my great grandparents (bless their souls where ever they are) constantly reminded me and all relatives of the whole Dolotina Clan (very Italian, the clan) and insisted that our roots came from Italy. A vague story of an Italian assistant of a Spanish priest was brought to Bohol and stayed in the municipality of Dauis in Panglao Island. That Italian (nobody could tell his name except the Dolotina or Dolthina surname) ultimately settled in Dauis and got married. As to why the Spanish friar brought him to Bohol, nobody cared.

When I was young I thought Italy was just a walk away for how could those Italian genes came to Bohol way back then without walking or the least ride a bus in case they were several miles away. The word Italy was constantly playing in my mind especially when the Clan would meet every year to celebrate everything Italian in us. We (they, specifically) would brag about our sharp noses and beauty queen materials (lately there have been beauty men, err excuse the term, my dear relatives, I was only referring to those Dolotina men among the Clan who won in male beauty pageants [double ewww]). 

But I wonder where are the Italians genes amongst us now. Maybe I should go to Italy.

Family First

The problem with family is if they know you are good in a certain job they would assign you to do it with or without your approval. The critiquing comes after the final results all printed out.

And so came the two family reunion logos for my two families.

Travel Wish List

I've compiled a list of places I wish I could go before I die. These three tops the scale.

AFRICA: Exotic. The root of OUR civilization. The garden. Weird. Mysterious.
ISRAEL: The resilience of the Jews amazed me. Caught between enemies and have fought through ages. They are still standing there. Powerful. My desire to know them started way back in elementary when I learned my name is in fact Hebrew.
PRAGUE and/or Europe: The sense of "old town" in them captivates my heart. How can an industrial nation still retains its old come-ons? Art. Music. The beat. Ah Europe...

Others on my list are Vietnam, the new destination, cheap daw and just the thought of being in a war zone where the well-equipped Americans sheepishly herded themselves out of the country I think would excite me there, and the food!; Edmonton, Alberta (again); Argentina and the rest of the Latin Americas, think of Che Guevarra travelling on motorbike around his America; and ITALY (the Dolotina Clan seriously adhere to the belief that we are indeed Italians by blood. How I wish hahahaha!)