1. Fresh coconut juice, hand delivered to my mom, every morning.  My sister-in-law (my brother and his family lives with  my parents) has a coconut vendor deliver the water and meat of 3 not-so-young coconut, every morning, 3 coconuts on weekdays, 4 on the weekend.  While I’m there, my mom added on 2, for me.  Jack, who for some strange reason, is a big of fan of anything coconut, had mentioned to me that coconut water is alkaline and very good for anyone to have everyday.  I certainly find it very refreshing, better than water to quench  my thirst.  And having it fresh every day? With no added sugar or preservatives? What an indulgence! (An inexpensive one- 20 pesos per coconut, so it amounts to less than $1/day.)
  2. Chicken Joy from Jollibee.  Jollibee is a hamburger chain here, much like McDonalds.    I love their fried chicken.  Their 2-piece meal comes with rice and gravy— yummy!  Even Mary likes it!
  3. Already ate at Goldilocks.  I was missing their dinuguan (soup/stew made with pig’s blood), fresh lumpia (stir-fried vegetable in an egg crepe). Had them plus a Pandan Jelly iced drink.
  4. Having my nephew’s yaya (nanny) bathe Mary (and brush her teeth) in the morning and get her ready for bed (wash-up, get into pajamas, brush teeth, comb out her hair…) in the evening.  What bliss for Mommy!
  5. Having mangoes like I remember it, tree-ripened ones, thin peel, very little fibers. Sweet!
  6. And, of course, the never-ending chats with my mom, my sister and sister-in-law, my brothers, my Dad.  There’s also my mom cooking breakfast at the crack of dawn (since I am up by this time, I get to have this one-on-one time with her) while she gets the house ready for the day (the water gets turned on, floor gets swept and mopped, the main gate outside gets unlocked, the coconut delivery is received), her preparing tinola (savory soup made out of manok na Tagalog (free-range native chicken), chicken blood pudding, green papayas and pepper tree leaves) the very next day after Mary and I arrived, like I asked, my sister-in-law making pancit canton… What a homecoming!