Here in the Philippines, Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete and Negros Occidental are the most affected area of typhoon Sendong, As of this time more than 900 bodies was found dead and hundreds are still missing. Many of the houses were washed out and the bodies were displaced. For now there’s no supply of water and electricity in some affected places based on TV patrol news on ABS CBN. Everyday more and more dead bodies are found. The dead bodies are already decaying and hard to identify. Funerals won’t accept dead bodies or decaying bodies because of the availability of caskets.
One of the reasons why this kind of calamity happens is because of continues illegal logging. Our kababayan’s (our fellow countrymen) and other countries are willing to help the victims of Sendong. They send their help through ABS CBN Sagip Kapamilya, GMA Kapuso Foundation and other foundations are welcome to accept cash or in kind donations to all affected in typhoon Sendong. Drop-off donations such as bottled water, food, blankets, and clothes are welcome. You can drop by to LBC branches near you and send your donations, they will bring your donations for free.
Christmas Caroling is a part of the Filipino Christmas tradition. It does celebrate yearly when Simbang gabi start or misa de gallo. Carolers will be on their feet singing Christmas carols from house to house spreading the spirit of the season through songs. Children and adults like to form groups and enjoy hopping from one house to another every night singing Jingle Bells, Silent Night and any Filipino Traditional Christmas song. They start caroling here in our Village at 7:30 in the evening. Its start to sing the song, Sa May Bahay Ng Aming Bati, they continue to sing Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit, Pasko Na Naman, We Wish You A Merry Christmas, Silent Night. They also bring the caroling handmade instrument like tambourine made the bottle tops and drum made out of tin can. I really enjoy listening their song and I feel the spirit and cheerfulness of Christmas. And after that I give the money, they sing “Thank you, thank you, ang babait ninyo …thank you….” or the one song Thank you very much thank you very much for your give we will pray for you, we will pray for you, thank you very much merry Christmas.
I think there are almost 4 group’s carolers went in my house. Sometimes other houses their caroling is not give them. They feel sad, when they said Tawad. tawad or pass is a Filipino word if they did not give the coins/money to the group of carolers. I did not ask like that because the caroling is once a year only. Because Ifeel happy to givefor someone in need.
My hubby, Vince and I went to Pacific Mall Lucena to buy gift for Vince. Parents in my place decided to give gifts for their children through Santa Claus. We will give the gifts to the person who will pretend as Santa before 24th of December. Then he will come back this December 24 to give the gifts to the children.
Anyway back to the mall we visited, we saw people wearing different costumes they participated in Christmas costume competitions. Vince attracted of course to Santa Claus costume. Vince was very happy and he clapped her hands looking at Santa. I decided to give Vince to Santa Claus to have a souvenir picture but he cried and he felt scared. Maybe because he cannot imagine that he met a moving Santa Claus. Normally, he just see Santa in You tube. Anyway, children believe that Santa Claus is bringing gifts to every houses of good children during the 24th of December. Santa Claus symbolizes Christmas and perhaps the entire winter holiday season.
Vince and I together with Santa Claus and her team.
Today at 11:00 am, Vince and I will be attending the baptismal party of my neighbor’s daughter named Xiana. Xiana is a baby girl and she’s 6 months old. The baptismal party will be celebrated at Apple & Peach restaurant located at Kanlurang Mayao, Lucena City. It’s the best place for all occasions; such as Birthday party, Baptismal day, Christmas party, Wedding celebration, etc. You can get good package depending on your budget. They also have rooms for those who want to stay there.
Anyway about the party, when Vince saw the balloon he asked me “mama bobo mamabobo” bobo means lobo (balloon) but he can’t speak clearly. Then I picked one balloon for him. He was well-behaved the whole time 🙂 because sometimes tantrums attack whenever we are attending special occasions. Because of the balloons he enjoyed the party. Balloons are important to any party especially for kids, because balloons entertain and at the same time beautifies the place.
Vince on the party with his pink balloons (the color of balloons is pink only) he feels sleepy.
Vince was not able to face the camera, because he is busy with his balloon.
Tomorrow is the start of simbang gabi or misa de gallo. It is a Spanish phrase for midnight mass or literally means as mass of the roaster. I will prepare myself to wake up early in the morning. Traditionally it starts on December 16 to 24, this is a celebration of mass done early in the morning in preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ. There are many church near our house but I feel comfortable attending Simbang gabi or misa de gallo at St. Michael Archangel in Tayabas, Quezon. It’s almost 30 minutes from Pagbilao, Quezon from our home going to Church in Tayabas, Quezon. I don’t know why maybe because here is the place where I was born.
Anyway about this Church, Basilica of St. Michael Archangel in Tayabas, Quezon is one of the old and biggest churches in the country. Filipinos normally attend to this tradition and more of them complete the daily routine until they finish the Simbang gabi or misa de gallo until 24th day of December. Most of the Filipino also believes that the wishes will be granted or will come true if they completed attending the misa de gallo.
You can see food stalls near the church that sell different kinds of native foods like bibingka, puto bumbong, sapin-sapin, suman and etc. Simbang gabi also brings me the same feelings of joy, happiness, excitement, and hope.
My hubby, Vince and I were going to Pacific Mall at 7:00 o’ clock in the evening to buy the gifts of my mother because she was celebrating her birthday tomorrow. I was taking the picture of the Christmas Decoration of Lucena City Hall along the highway going to Pacific Mall. I was attracted the wonderful Christmas Belen in front of the Lucena City Hall. This is very attractive and the lightning Christmas light. This is the one beautiful Christmas decoration that I spot in Lucena City. Vince and I were really enjoyed to look the wonderful decorations, and then I was taken the picture.
Christmas Belen is the one traditional Filipino Christmas symbols herein the Philippines. It refers the scene representing the actual birth site of Jesus Christ. It has become an integral part of Christmas celebration. I remember when I was a child I make my own Belen decorations inside my house. It’s made of art paper, cotton, Japanese paper or papel de hapon and thread for my simple Belen decorations. I really feel the spirit and happiness of Christmas.
For now, I can’t feel the spirit of Christmas because of the crises facing in our country today. But in the Philippines crisis or no crisis, the spirit of Christmas is already in the air even if it’s just in the month of October. The countdown of days till Christmas is already running, many people are already buying gifts, decorating their homes with Christmas decorations like Christmas Belen, Christmas tree, etc. and busy for preparing this coming Christmas.
The Christmas season is coming and I started to budget again my money to buy the Christmas gift to my entire godchild, nephew, niece, family and friends. It is not far away to me for preparing some unique Christmas gifts I will take much time and effort. Today we are scheduled to buy Christmas Gifts and do our Christmas Shopping for ourselves as well. We will be going to the different store that having a Christmas sale of course :-). But first I take some time and think about it: what kind of Christmas gifts do I buy for family and friends really like or need?
First step would be the Pacific Mall, Lucena City. I’ll be buying mostly toys. Then I drop buy in Pretty 99 boutique it’s a kind of boutique that sale more on dress and shoes. And the price is almost P99.00 or around $2 dollar in all items. Then I buy 5 kinds of different blouses. Then I went to SM Supermalls to buy some things for me, for my hubby and for Vince. I have a lot of days on my list its12 days before Christmas to finish everything. I hope that I’ve done all my needs before this coming Christmas day!
Anti-gravity yoga is the one good exercise to our health. I was watching this news on GMA 7 @ 24 oras. Anti-gravity yoga, bagong klase ng yoga na nauuso sa Pilipinas. According to the instructor of this exercise this gravity yoga is challenging, its fun, it’s effective. Anti Gravity Aerial Yoga is a unique fusion technique, revolutionary in relieving compressed joints and aligning the body from head to toe. The materials of this yoga are clothes, and based on the instructor it can lift up to 1000 pounds or 500 kilos. The Anti Gravity Hammock acts as a soft trapeze and as a support while you master simple inversions and finally progress to more advanced poses.
Based on my research on Google Anti Gravity Yoga is a fitness regimen designed by Christopher Harrison to increase one’s overall health and physical agility while having fun and creating beauty. Anti Gravity is an acrobatic performance company whose daily workout utilizes the Anti Gravity Hammock. The technique was originally created for athletes and gymnasts and has since been modified and perfected for the everyday athlete. Incorporating components from dance, Pilates and calisthenics, Anti Gravity has created a complete workout that is certain to get you in shape while realigning you from the compression of gravity. Anti Gravity Yoga works to manipulate physics while staying lighthearted.
Bohol has many great tourist spots and attractions. It is located in central Visayas region. Our family went to Bohol last Feb. 2011 to spends a short vacation. This is the first time to flight in airplane:-). I am so excited but i feel nervous haha, excited to visit in Bohol because I know that the place have a lot of attraction. And this is the place i wish to visit.
CHOCOLATE HILLS
The Chocolate Hills is a popular tourist Philippines destination in Bohol. The hills range from 30 to 150 meters high and are covered in green grass, which turns to brown during dry season, making them look like chocolate mounds.
TARSIER
Tarsier is very peculiar small animal and have a big eye.. In fact it is one of the smallest known primates, no larger than a adult men’s hand. Mostly active at night, it lives on a diet of insects. Folk traditions sometimes have it that tarsiers eat charcoal, but actually they retrieve the insects from (sometimes burned) wood.
LOBOC RIVER
The Loboc River is a river on Bohol Island, the Philippines. It is one of the major tourist destinations of Bohol, local and foreigners alike. The winding river plays host to cruises on board of small bancas or floating restaurants. Visitors are treated to a vista of lush tropical vegetation such as nipa palms, coconut trees, banana groves, and bushes.
Most of the floating restaurant treat their guests with Boholano songs played by in-boat bands during the cruise. The trip winds up the river and ends at theBusayFalls which is only one and a half meter at most. Here, the guests are treated to rondalla music by a local rondalla group housed under a floating cottage.
BUSAY FALLS
Busay Falls are the destination of the floating restaurant trips starting from Loboc. The falls are 12 meters wide and fall about 4 meters, but after the wonderful trip and certainly advisable on Loboc river fall a bit behind expectation.
me and my hubby
BACLAYON CHURCH
Baclayon Church is the second oldest church in the Philippines and it is located in the town of Baclayon n Bohol. Baclayon is a short 6-km trip from Tagbilaran City, the capital of Bohol. From Tagbilaran, you can get a jeepney or bus ride bound for Baclayon. You may also hire a tricycle in Tagbilaran to bring you there.
The Baclayon Church carries with the Spanish past of the country. Though the very first Spanish missionaries arrived in 1595, the construction of the church began only in 1717. It took 10 years for the Filipino to complete the church under forced labor.
Baclayon Church is made of coral stone, cut into blocks and piled atop each other. To move the heavy stones from tree to the building site, native workers had to use bamboos. It is said that millions of egg whites were used to cement the coral stone blocks together.
15 days to go before Christmas many of us are very busy for this coming Christmas. Today I start to make a mazapan candy. Some of my neighbors give me their orders this kind of candy for only P10.00 per pack or around $.25 cents for this coming Christmas. I start to cut the transparent wrapper paper on the same sizes. I know that it seems like one of the most common candies for every culture, for me it is easy to do it. Mazapan is a typical candy for all occasions, and it is great for dessert and snack. They have different kinds flavor of mazapan candy; peanut, pili, langka, mango. I choose peanut for my simple recipe. In Quezon Province mazapan candy is sweetened, tasty and it was smooth and cool on the tongue. This candy is also available in many sari sari stores. Here is my simple recipe to make a candy mazapan.
Procedures:
1. Ground fried peanuts may give out oil, drain this oil first.
2. Combine the condensed milk, peanuts and butter.
3. Place the above mixture in a wok. Cook until the mixture thickens.
4. Drop spoonful of the mixture on a greased baking sheet.
5. Then get ready to wrap the mazapan candy.
