Last Saturday was THE day — Ykaie’s UPCAT Day! Grabe ang kabog ng dibdib naming lahat! We woke up super early and left the house at 4AM para makaiwas sa traffic at para maaga kami sa UP Diliman. We arrived at around 5AM and as expected, ang haba na ng pila! There were already so many students lining up that early, and the energy in the air was a mix of nervousness and excitement.
Ykaie was no different — kinakabahan pero excited. I stayed with her sa pila, made sure she was okay, and when she was already settled and ready to face her exam, I told her I’d be back later kasama si Twinkle and si Daddydoodledoo.
Sabi ko, “Good luck baby. Kaya mo ‘yan. We’re so proud of you.” 💖
Come 1PM, we picked her up at UP Town Center. Originally, our plan was to watch Fantastic 4 and have dinner out after. Pero pagod na kaming lahat — Ykaie and I barely had sleep the night before (hello 2AM bedtime 😴), and Daddydoodledoo just came from his night shift with zero sleep.
So instead, we all agreed to have an early dinner, go home, and REST. Sometimes, yun talaga ang pinaka-rewarding — yung makauwi ka agad and just get cozy with the fam.
Dinner at Tiong Bahru
We ended up at Tiong Bahru — and honestly, I think I was craving something warm and comforting after the long day. Kaya Hainanese Congee agad ang order namin ni Ykaie. Sobrang comforting!
But I forgot how big the servings are! 😂 Ang laki ng bowl — and while it was delicious and warm and perfect — I couldn’t finish mine. Pero ang sarap balikan next time.
Daddydoodledoo went for the Roasted Chicken Congee, and Twinkle, of course, had her favorite — Lemon Chicken with rice.
For sides, we had:
- Mom’s Best Kikiam – Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside
- Vegetable Fritters – Light and crunchy, just the way we like it
After dinner, we headed home, changed into pambahay, and just chilled. No fanfare, no movie night… just peace, quiet, and togetherness.
These kinds of days — yung pagod pero fulfilled — they remind me of how precious these little moments are. Milestones like UPCAT, tired dinners, and lazy evenings at home — they’re all part of the beautiful chaos of being a family.
Good luck, Ykaie! 💚 We’re always cheering for you, in every exam, and in every step of your journey.
