A Memorable Day with Guia Tan-Baldino in Montreal

I have never heard about Guia Baldino until I mentioned to Aunt Esther that I was going to Montreal to accompany my husband in his meeting over there. She said that Guia her niece lives in Montreal and she can show me around. And she added up, "she's not working and she loves to make lakwatcha.. Get in touch with her, she's in FB and also here in our Andrada Family group."  

At St. Joseph's Oratory

I was so excited and I immediately got in touch with her and she was in Florida that time. She responded immediately and she said she will be waiting for me. We set a rendez-vous and picked me up from my hotel as early as 7:30 in the morning! She reminded me not to eat my breakfast yet as she was taking me to the Pinoy Restaurant for breakfast. The exciting day was about to begin....

At Nelly's we were served Tuyo, fried eggs and fried rice accompanied with fried eggplants and some tomatoes. Ang sarap. A kind of breakfast that I have been craving for. Never mind the diet. For the meantime, that can wait!

Guia and myself just hit it off immediately. It's just like as if if we have known each other for ages. We talked a lot, just non-stop, laughed a lot too and we tried to talked about the people we commonly know back home

Behind is the city of Montreal 

Pretty Guia

It was funny, we never crossed paths to think that we lived just few meters apart in Urdaneta. But she was still small when I left home and studied in Manila.

Catching up for the whole day was not enough but I said, we'll try to meet each other in Urdaneta in December.

Guia brought me to the St. Joseph's Oratory of Mont Royal where we could get a good view of the city and then drove me around Montreal showing me the tourist spots.

That was not enough, we took the metro and she brought me to the underground shopping centers! Oh, my goodness, that was unbelievable. It is so huge and impressive! No, I didn't buy much as she told me that it is more interesting to shop in Los Angeles knowing that I will be dropping by anyway before heading home in Tahiti. Nevertheless, we went around, just mostly window shopped and I thought, what a big difference compared here in Tahiti!      

Mario and Guia Baldino

 After shopping, Guia brought me to her flat where her husband Mario was already waiting for us. I was also able to meet her daughter but unfortunately, I missed taking her a picture. She is such a pretty young girl and and real good combination of her mom and dad!

Afte that, she brought me to the company where her family owns and I was able to meet her brothers and a nephew who work there. And they told me that they knew my brother Nestor, a very good basketball player who unfortunately had already passed away.

At Nelly's home

It happened that same day, Nelly, the girl in the middle of the above pic was celebrating her birthday and she invited me to join. I gracefully accepted her invite and excited to meet other Filipinos based in Montreal. And that was a real blast indeed.

Party time

I met some members and officers of the Filipino  association in Montreal called the FAMAS where more than 4000 members are registered.As expected, there was so much food.....Filipino food at its best and I promise you...I ate with gusto and forgetting about my on and off diet again!

Of course, a party will not be complete without Karaoke and mahjong. As I don't play mahjong, I opted for karaoke and me being known for a big PR (puskol rupa) ha!ha!ha! Ay, biglang bumanat na! hahahahaha! I said, never mind, di na nila ako makikita. By the time they realize and talk about me, I was already gone back home in Tahiti. ha!ha!ha!

View taken from Guia's home.

We had so much fun. The people were so friendly. I chatted with them. Laughed and danced with them too. That was an absolutely a blastful party and I was so happy to be able to join. Thanks Guia for the sabit.

Filipinos are so warm everywhere. That traditional trait of hospitality still lingers and it such a trademark and well-known by everyone. I just felt so much like home away from home.

Thank you Guia for making my stay in Montreal so meaningful. You are such a sweet girl and I appreciate your kindness and your confiding with me. I admire your struggles, your sacrifices, your love for your family and all the things that you do for others. Don't change. Stay the way you are. You are such a blessing to others. I am so proud of you. The short moment I spent with you was so much fun. I hope to see you in Urdaneta in December and let's do some catching up again.  I am happy to have found relatives like you thanks to the Andrada Family Group here in FB. Thanks Auntie Esther. You are a champion in connecting people. I should call you the 'NOKIA' girl.

So mga kabagyan, beware, I love traveling. I love bulakbuling.....just be ready, any moment, I may be knocking in your doorsteps and visit you.

Cheers to all.