I always look forward to family gatherings because not only do I get to catch up on my relatives’ stories, but we always end up playing a good game of mahjong. Our bets are waaay low (P1.00, P2.00). We don’t really mind though as our main objective is to share stories as we wash the tiles, build our walls and play away. I learned mahjong when I was about 11 or 12, mostly by observing how the grown-ups played. Eventually my cousins and I took over the mahjong table, or put up another table, and stories continued to flow. I love how mahjong has bridged generation gaps in our family. The family that plays together, stays together. 
Do you have any traditions you and your relatives observe everytime you get together?
Hi! I'm Toni Tiu,
and I've been blogging at
at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.
jher
May 10, 2006 at 10:26 am (18 years ago)hi toni, cute mo naman sa red blouse mo. hahahahhaahahahah. well as for my familia de horror, i don’t recall doing anything extra special together, after all we are a crazy bunch of heartless people so we don’t delve into family stuff anymore. hahahahahah. don’t ask why i made such a comment. 😛
Toni
May 10, 2006 at 12:14 pm (18 years ago)jher: Acheche! Loka, Mama ko ang naka-red. “Crazy bunch of heartless people…” Okay no questions, your honor!
watson
May 10, 2006 at 12:25 pm (18 years ago)Well… I was asking a friend to teach us how to play mahjong but he doesn’t want to. Baka raw mawili kami ng todo.
We usually gather at Christmas Noche Buena and opening gifts is a lot of fun!
Toni
May 10, 2006 at 12:31 pm (18 years ago)watson: Nakaka-addict ang mahjong. Buti nalang laro-laro lang kami.
Actually, bawal kaming mga grandkids makipaglaro ng mahjong with folks outside the family circle.*L*
jher
May 10, 2006 at 12:35 pm (18 years ago)hehehehehe toni i know that’s your mom. joke lang no. you look just like her! 😀
Toni
May 10, 2006 at 12:38 pm (18 years ago)jher: Hahahahahaha di ko alam kung joke o hindi precisely because I do look like her nga.
petite
May 10, 2006 at 3:02 pm (18 years ago)we eat a lot together.
hehe, besides that though, our family reunions in leyte always involved going on a picnic to the river or to the beach. in cebu, we always exchange gifts during new year’s eve. i haven’t gone to any of those gatherings in over three years though, and i sorely miss them.
Daphne
May 10, 2006 at 3:26 pm (18 years ago)We eat eat eat and then eat some more hehe. Pero it has been ages since my relatives have gathered, everyone is scattered across the globe and striving separate lives now.
Oh I havent played mahjong in ages, but I wasn’t very good at it just for fun lang.
barbara
May 10, 2006 at 5:11 pm (18 years ago)very joy luck club moment hey
i wish i knew how to play mahjong.
-B
JO
May 10, 2006 at 7:54 pm (18 years ago)i know how to play mahjongg, but my parents never thought us how to play with money. “,)
this is a great tradition! keep it up.
Jerome Daclison
May 10, 2006 at 8:04 pm (18 years ago)omg! i have so much memories of mahjong! mom taught me how to play, diskarte, and mahjong’s equivalent to “card count”…hehehe. well, when my mom, sis, and i get together, we usually go to the mall para mang-okray ng mga dumadaan. as in laitan kung laitan. Example, (mama) wow, checkered talaga ang blouse at pants…(me) kurak! parang table cloth…(sis) …parang gusto ko siyang ilatag sa damuhan at mag-picnic…hahahahahaha!
jojo
May 10, 2006 at 8:24 pm (18 years ago)samin simple lang ang family tradition–LAMON!!! and i married into a family which also shares the same tradition 😉
annabanana
May 10, 2006 at 8:54 pm (18 years ago)hi tones,
mama and lola are good mahjong players, but i just dont have the patience to sit still for hours eh…family traditions, we go for sunday meals. most of my family members are great cooks…so pasiklaban na yan every sunday, everyone makes his/her signature dish…haaaay, no wonder ang lalapad namin! 😀 would you believe ako lang ang hindi considered na good cook sa amin? my youngest bro is the best among us siblings/cousins, pero nothing beats lola’s cooking!
denden
May 11, 2006 at 4:49 am (18 years ago)hi toni!! i agree “the family that plays together, stays together”. hahaha. like daphne, i’m not very good but i can play.
we play a lot of bingo here at weekends. pampalipas-oras
Toni
May 11, 2006 at 8:19 am (18 years ago)petite : Yeah eating is always a great social glue!The picnic by the river sounds very refreshing! Aww, your family must miss you very much too!
Daphne : Wow, all over the world pala kayo. Do they write like you do? It’d be great to keep n touch via a family blog!
barbara : Hahahaha yeah Joy Luck Club moment there!
JO : We too were trained not to bet too much! We “kids” are also not allowed to play mahjong outside family events.
Jerome : Hahahaha I love that exchange!!! I have that sometimes with my barkada but to have you, your Mom and sis have that witty banter, it’s so cool! You three must get along really well.
jojo : 2 times the lamon!!!
annabanana : Wow, magandang idea ang pasiklaban sa pagkain. Healthy competition naman diba? Magkakapamilya naman kayo lahat so walang lamangan!
denden : Hey! Good to hear from you!!! 😉
BabyPink
May 12, 2006 at 5:06 pm (18 years ago)i love times spent with family.:)
sa father side ko, uhm, mahilig kumanta ang mga tao. my uncles and aunts and cousins and in-laws all love to sing. andaming magaling kumanta. sa aming magkakapatid, youngest sister ko lang ang magaling talaga kumanta. so, we usually sing. or at least the good singers sing.:)
sa mother side ko naman, uhm, parang wala naman. basta, all we do is laugh and laugh and laugh!:)
ces
May 13, 2006 at 1:30 am (18 years ago)hi toni!
wow! i’ve just been to manila and this is one thing i missed! mahjong! it was already there one time but luck won’t let me play! gosh!
same here…a peso or less pa! ang bets namin with my in-laws naman…
oh well…play for me nalang! i should’ve bought a set, i guess..
jane
May 14, 2006 at 4:59 pm (18 years ago)korek ka dyan! my hubby’s 91y/o lola can still play and she was the one who taught me how. my in laws and their kids know the game too well!