Being a father has changed me a lot. One of the things that changed is how I took care of myself. Andrea and I realized that we couldn’t just abuse ourselves anymore. We want to grow old and see Mateo grow up! We want to be there for him in all the important events in his life. And of course, we’d like see our future grandchildren and still be able to keep up with them. I know some old people who are in care homes early in their lives and they are well-taken care of in such homes. Andrea and I, even though we’d love to grow old without needing those, realize that someday we might find ourselves in those places. We fervently hope that we’d still be together if that happens. I look forward to getting all wrinkled and still holding hands with her. Nevertheless, we know we’d still be enjoying life.

When Mateo’s grandparents, promised him a weekend at the Canyon Woods Residential Resort in Tagaytay, with good ol’ mom and dad of course, we could only say yes! It was, as they said, a separate birthday blowout. We, on the other hand, had no objections whatsoever.

So last Saturday, they picked us up and then headed to Tagaytay for a grueling 3-hour ride. We were all sleepy but Mateo, not having completed his sleep because of the early wakeup call, couldn’t stay quiet in the car. We almost got lost. And to top it all off, we got caught in an uncharacteristic January rain. (I mean when was the last time it rained hard on January?) Moods were not at all high!

By 9, we were already cruising along Tagaytay’s main road. We stopped only at the RSM Lutong Bahay  to have crispy tawilis for breakfast. We took a table facing the lake and had picture taking. By 10 we were back on the road.

We arrived at the resort before 11 AM and man it was huge! There was a club house, a pavillion, and hundreds of kick-ass cabins. The place showcased swimming pools, gyms, courts (for basketball, badminton, and tennis), a mini-golf course, a boating and fishing area, and wellness centers (for spas and massages). And even though we tried our best to have a taste of everything the place could offer, there was just not enough time.

Mateo, the celebrant, took his first swim in the indoor pool (which was temperature regulated by the way), shot some hoops and tried out the slide in the playroom, tired himself out picking tennis balls being played by lolo and tita, and stuffed his face with mashed potato. He was absolutely enjoying himself.

By Sunday afternoon, lolo and lola had dropped off all of us back in Antipolo.  Andrea and I couldn’t keep our eyes open while Mateo, who slept all the way from Tagaytay to Antipolo, was up and running. Good thing his nanny really missed him so we were able to take a nap. Waking up after an hour, it all seemed like a beautiful dream. Good thing it wasn’t – this weekend in Tagaytay. (All thanks to lolo and lola!)