Igorot in Kochi

"Otosan mitai ne."
"Marlon Jr."
"He looks like Marlon."
"Kasla metlang hapon."
"He looks like Japanese."
"Parang hapon naman na."

But my legs won't betray me, "Igorot ak pay adi.."

hehehe



..like the boys in the following picture who are trainees under the Benguet-Kochi Agriculture Training Program

..and my Uncle Brian Bitabit who just finished his 3-year training contract here in the boondocks of Kochi.

Pix pix and more pix

Family and Friends,

This is turning out to be a blog of pictures. Please bear with us if we are always not excited with Khane.

'my first zit'

Watashi wa Khane desu.

my lola

Huhuhuhu Dad bought me a very small cake when I
turned 1 month because this is all he could afford. But I'm
still very small, too, so daijoubu yo.

better than dad's pose
my daddy

my lolo Domingo's eyes, they say

my mama

FYI. Who Studies Economics?

(This is a boxed FYI in the book on Principles of Economics 4th ed. 2007 by N. Mankiw.)

Here is a sampling of some well-known people who majored in economics when they were in college.

Meg Witman - Chief Executive Officer, Ebay
Ronald Reagan - Former President of the US
William Buckley - Journalist
Danny Glover - Actor
Barbara Boxer - US Senator
John Elway - NFL Quarterback
Ted Turner - Founder of CNN and Owner of Atlanta Braves
Kofi Annan - Secretary General, UN
Lionel Richie - Singer
Michael Kinsley - Journalist
Ben Stein - Political Speechwriter, Actor and Game Show Host
Cate Blanchett - Actor
Anthony Zinni - General, US Marine Corps
Tiger Woods - Golfer
Steve Ballmer - Chief Executive Officer, Microsoft
Arnold Schwarzenegger - Governor of California
Sandra Day-O'Connor - Former Supreme Court Justice
Mick Jagger - Singer for Rolling Stones

When asked in 2005 why the Rolling Stones were going on tour again, former economics major Mick Jagger replied, "Supply and demand." Keith Richards added, "If the demand's there, we'll supply."

[Of course let us not forget that our very own president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. She earned a master's degree in economics from Ateneo de Manila University in 1978 and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of the Philippines in 1985 (http://www.answers.com/topic/gloria-macapagal-arroyo). Whether the study of economics is useful or not, in her case, remains to be seen though.]

Amazing Mom at 65 conquers Hollywood Dream the Ride

“Hollywood Dream The Ride is an outdoor roller coaster-type ride attraction. The coaster zips around 1300 meters that rises, dips and curves…This attraction guarantees an amazing, dream-like experience. You’ll feel like you are flying in
a luxurious car…a completely new sensation, unlike anything you have ever experienced.” – USJ website description

“Nenkebkekebkebak ay pirmi isunga inkikimit ko daak pay menlul-uwalo ya men al-allelujiah.” (I got so nervous; I kept on praying and saying Hallelujiah) – Mama

“Ngimato met a ti ubet ko manipud iti tugaw ko gapu iti nirbiyos ko. Idi kasla maikikaten ti nirbiyos ko, nakitak ni mama nga agnirnirbiyos ket karkaro-ak a nagnirbiyos gapu kenkuana.” I got nervous, my butt sort of jumped. When I was beginning to get the hang of it, I saw Mama so nervous and got even more nervous for her.” – Marlon

January 1, 2008 - Mama and Marlon joined a Filipino group who went to the Universal Studios theme park (USJ) in Osaka. After enjoying Shrek’s 4-D Adventure, they got the scare of their life riding the Hollywood Dream The Ride. The ride that was advertised to be a dream-like experience ended as an enjoyable nightmare-experience.

Mom has been to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida and thought The Ride was just one of the rides. She said her jitters only eased 20 minutes after the ride. She can still re-enact a quiver whenever she relates the story of The Ride.

They also rode The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman ride and JAWS boat ride, and watched some New Year special shows. Among all these attractions, Mom says she enjoyed most the works of the Spiderman ride.

(Reflecting on their experience as we face the New Year, our life in this world consists of many rides, sometimes uneventful, sometimes enjoyable, sometimes a roller coaster that has its own rises, dips and curves. We can only anticipate what the 2008 ride would bring us, and we can only trust on the One who creates and allows the rides. He gives the guidelines and the caveats, but also, He gives grace and gets the glory.)

Khane Kits C. Launio

Date Due: December 15, 2007
Date Born: November 29, 2007
Time: 9:34 pm
Place: JA Hospital, Nankoku city, Kochi, Japan
OB/Gyne: Dr. Cenoma
Weight: 3.012 kg
Length: 47 cm

The Name

Khane is the phonetic spelling of the Old Testament Hebrew word Chen, the transliterated form of the original word ax which means "grace of God". We recognize that Khane's coming to our lives, and everything before and after that is nothing but grace from God.

Kits is short for Quitongan, the middle name of Daddy Domingo. It is also the nickname of Manong Winston.

Chronicles of Grace

Apr. 17 Pregnancy test kit shows positive.
Apr. 18 Doctor confirms Che is pregnant!
Aug. 8 Marlon arrives in Japan.
Nov. 22 Che passes out two big peanut-sized kidney/bladder stones.
Nov. 26 Che passes out another kidney/bladder stone.
Nov. 28 ~ 4 pm Che starts to labor.
Nov. 29 ~ 7 pm Her water bag breaks.
Nov. 29 9:34 pm Baby Khane arrives!
Dec. 7 Mama Elsie arrives in Japan.

November 29


November 30


Irino-san and wife

December 1






"Yatta!!"

December 2




December 3





December 4


(right photo) Taore-san, Inoue-san, Nagata-san (our churchmates). Inoue-san is our ever faithful interpreter who stood as sister and mother to us since the start of Che's pregnancy. She was with us at the delivery room, praying with us, crying with us, rejoicing with us.

December 5 (ready to go home)



Mukhang nanay at tatay na talaga!