Since he was five years old, Amy Perez's only son, Adi, had asked his mother to take him to Disneyland, U.S.A. "Never na niya akong tinantanan," Amy recalls. Last March, during the Holy Week, the now-10-year-old Adi finally got what he wanted.

"Birthday gift ko bale 'yan sa kanya," says Amy. "It was a really a dream come true for Adi."

Well, it wasn't exactly Disneyland. Instead, the solo parent brought Adi to Disney's California Adventure, the newer 55-acre theme park beside Disneyland proper. According to its website, the new theme park opened only in 2001 and boasts nine adventures, 14 attractions, 18 stores, 27 restaurants, and eight games along the boardwalk.

Amy, who also brought along mom Loreta and younger sister Niña, made sure that that her family's two-week U.S. holiday would at the same time be a reunion with U.S.-based relatives and friends.

"Ipinasyal ko din si Adi sa mga ninang niya doon," Amy says. Holy Week for Adi turned out to be a merry Christmas when he visited his Ninang Rizza Pascua in Los Angeles and Ninang Joy San Juan in New York.