In our latest adventure, we experienced one of the most eventful days since moving to the Ginatilan mountains. December 25th wasn't just Christmas Day; it was a triple celebration that truly tested my stamina and showed the heart of our new life in Cebu. We were celebrating Christmas, Jessa’s birthday, and most importantly, baby Liam’s baptism.
The morning kicked off with a typical mountain-style "rush hour." While the rest of the world might have been slowly unwrapping gifts, we were deep in the logistics of preparing for a house full of people. If you’ve followed our journey, you know we’ve been living in our "abandoned" cabin while building our new home. Today, that cabin proved its worth, acting as the base.
The centerpiece of any major Filipino celebration is, of course, the Lechon. Our friend Barnaby, whom I’ve officially dubbed the "barbecue king," was already hard at work in the early hours. There’s something visceral about seeing the pig being prepared right there on the land—it’s about as "farm-to-table" as it gets. Despite feeling a bit under the weather myself, the smell of that slow-roasting pork is enough to tempt anyone.
Our first major stop was the church in Ginatilan. It’s a stunning, old red-stone church that felt like the perfect place for Liam to be baptized. In Norway, baptisms are common, but there’s a different energy here. It’s a massive community milestone. Watching Liam throughout the ceremony was a proud moment for me. He’s officially a "Catholic boy" now, as Jessa likes to say, following in the traditions of her family and the local culture. Seeing him in his little white outfit, surrounded by the history of that beautiful church, was a memory I’ll hold onto forever.
After the ceremony, we headed back up the mountain for the party. This is where the true "Pinas" spirit shines. We combined all three celebrations into one massive event. We had the lechon, the pancit, and a huge birthday cake for Jessa and Liam. It was a beautiful chaos. Seeing our family and friends crowded into the cabin, laughing and sharing food, reminded me why we made this move. Even though I was struggling with a bit of a stomach bug (not the best timing for a feast!), seeing everyone else so happy made it all worth it.
One of the things that always surprises me as a Norwegian is the Filipino breakfast. The next morning, the family was already back at it, eating "dinuguan" (pork blood stew) and lechon leftovers for breakfast. Back home, I’m used to oatmeal or bread, so seeing a full dinner-style meal at 7:00 AM is always a bit of a culture shock! But that’s the beauty of this life—it’s different, it’s vibrant, and it’s always full of energy.
The day ended with a quiet reflection on how far we’ve come. From moving into this cabin to celebrating these major milestones, our life in Ginatilan is becoming everything we hoped for. We’re building more than just a house; we’re building a legacy for Liam and a home where every celebration feels like a victory.
Thanks for being part of our Christmas and Liam’s big day. We appreciate the love. Stay grounded, stay real, and I’ll see you in the next one!
