A Christmas Party

For the first time, I joined the Christmas party of senior citizens at our village. Our municipal administrator who was our former mayor Atty. Kit Nieto together with our vice-mayor Ace Servillion joined us in the celebration. They gave cash gifts to those chosen randomly on the list of attendees. I won a box of bibingka, a rice cake which is the specialty of our town. They also distributed groceries to all seniors who attended. I didn’t stay long, went home after lunch. I gave the raffle tickets to our neighbor who is one of the officers of the seniors. What good luck! Mom and I won. I also received a gift from my online suki when I bought a gallon of dishwashing liquid yesterday. It is indeed a blessing to be remembered.

Been to my ENT and she changed my otic drops. She cleaned my ears again after noticing dried blood in the outer layer of my ear. Maybe that’s why two days ago, my right ear was so painful the whole day. I’ll be back on Thursday for another check-up. Hoping it would be the last with my ENT.

It’s eleven days to go before Christmas. Today is December 14.

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It’s Our Town Fiesta

We our celebrating our town fiesta today in honor of Our Lady of Light.

Yesterday, I went out for a while to buy nuts and apples. Parola near the church is teeming with people from all walks of life. So many merchandise in store from pillow cases, bedsheets, shoes, shirts, dresses, Christmas items for gift-giving and many more. We are also in the middle of celebrating the SUMBINTIK FESTIVAL (suman, bibingka and latik). Cainta is known as the Bibingka Capital of the Philippines. Bibingka is a rice cake cooked in coconut cream and topped with latik.

Those slippers that sell in department stores for three hundred plus cost only a hundred there in Parola. I bought Josef a pair. By the way, there are streets decorated in relation to the festival, sort of a contest. In Tagalog, pagandahan ng dekorasyon. Concerts by famous music groups were also held at the municipal hall grounds. Although some villages like ours are far from the town proper, we celebrate with all Cainteños. HAPPY FIESTA❤️🥰🌷😘

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Just Counting

Cold nights started about a week ago. The fan now is always set in low. Jovy and Josef seldom switch the air con the past days. Days are sunny though and it’s windy in the afternoon.

We need to trim the carabao grass maybe before Christmas sets in. And I promised myself that I will wrap all those gifts as soon as the additional ones I ordered arrive. Yeay, Christmas is just fourteen days to go. I noticed that there are very few homes now in our street with lanterns and Christmas lights at night. I only have our little Christmas tree and the Christmas light at night for decor. Maybe, the pandemic has lessened the enthusiasm to celebrate the season. Let Christmas be in our hearts no matter how simple the celebration is.

I remember one of Obet’s nephews asking me a long time ago why I said “Happy Birthday Jesus” in my greetings on my wall so I just told him He is the reason that we celebrate Christmas. As I have always said, it’s the time the family gets together, enjoy those moments seeing each other and remembering Christmas past.

If I were to believe the latest reports, we’ll be quite safe to have a small gathering this coming Christmas. There are now very low cases of Covid-19 here in Metro Manila. How I wish I could visit my brother who is sick but the kids have work until the 24th. It is not safe to take a commute on your own. I miss those traditional sweets and recipes we usually cook in the province – binungey, puto bumbong, bibingka, suman, puto and dinuguan.

So many reasons to celebrate, giving thanks and welcoming the days with joy. MERRY CHRISTMAS🌲☃️🎄

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It Was A Happy One

Since I cannot accommodate all the photos Nissa and I took yesterday, I am posting only four here.

My 65th pink birthday pic.

We had lots of food. We even forgot the array of sweet desserts from one of the best stores of kakanin here in Cainta.

My wish? Good health always for the family.

One of the best gifts I received yesterday. Nate’s homemade greeting card. The front is full of cut-out paper flowers.

I was surprised, Nissa and Obet came by to greet me and we had lunch together. They went on leave from work for a day for my birthday. Sad though that Nate was left at home but we had a one-minute chat via Messenger.

Got hundreds of greetings from my friends and relatives on Facebook. Oh, they are still coming and all I did yesterday afternoon until late last night was to answer them all.

It was a lovely celebration. Thank God for all the blessings.

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One More Day

Tomorrow is the beginning of the BER months.

I know some of you will probably react and say, “it’s too early yet”. On Facebook, I saw several photos of our talented composer and singer Jose Mari Chan with captions like”lalabas na ba ako?”, “I’m coming”, “eto na”. All speak on the anticipation of Christmas. I’ve told you in my previous blog posts that we celebrate it the longest in this neck of the woods.

Jose Mari Chan is a Filipino pop singer, composer, TV host, endorser and a business man in the sugar industry. He is well known in those lovely Christmas carols that Filipinos love.

Pandemic? Yes it has changed our outlook in life, changed our priorities, changed how we view our health. We have become so conscious of it but still this virus is wrecking havoc in this world. Last year, I didn’t think of putting up Christmas decorations but I bought family gifts early braving one morning at the mall. This time though, although I am fully vaccinated and had Covid four months ago, I am afraid to go out. We could still celebrate Christmas quietly, attending evening masses online and buying small gifts to celebrate the season with the family.

Christmas is the season for rejoicing. Jesus is coming. It’s a birthday most of us don’t want to miss.

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Congratulations Hidilyn

Sunshine amidst the cloudy skies…CONGRATULATIONS Hidilyn. You made us proud being Filipinos. Hearing Lupang Hinirang in the Olympics was so touching.

It took almost a hundred years for the Philippines to get a gold in the World Olympics, 97 years exactly. Hidilyn was a silver medalist in Rio.

The present administration does not support promising athletes. It is the private sector who are more concerned and enthusiastic about it. They sponsored her this 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Malacanang is not probably happy because duterte’s last SONA yesterday was eclipsed by Hidilyn winning the gold. The headline is not about his senseless State of the Nation Address which took almost three hours without addressing the crucial problems of the nation. Some of our kababayan say that SONA means Speech Only, No Accomplishment…🤣😅😂

Isang malaking sampal kay duterte because he even included Hidilyn in his drug matrix before. He is not happy that the Philippines won over china, his best friend.

Every Filipino is rejoicing except the people in Malacanang and duterte’s cohorts. Who says the Philippines can’t win over China? Hidilyn is getting 33M and millions worth of condominium in Eastwood City. Air Asia will give her lifetime free flights. Two more houses from other private firms. When God wills it, it would happen.

MABUHAY KA HIDILYN. May God bless you always.

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Busy Days Are Here Again

Reading was set aside for a while. I could not concentrate reading even at night aside from perusing a few poems by Mary Oliver….again!

There are deliveries almost every day for the three of us (Josef, Jovy  and me) brought about by the Lazada sale last December 12.  They have sales every month like 10-10-20, 11-11-20 etc. And since this is also their Christmas sale for the year, there seems to be many shoppers online. Lazada Philippines consists of several sellers of electronic accessories, appliances, toys, groceries, fashion accessories, home and living, health and beauty accessories too, You name it, they have it, all at a much lower price than in department stores with minimum charges for delivery. I have completed my gifts shopping at Lazada. There is one more item that I am waiting for, an electric kettle I ordered two days ago for our use. Lazada is a very popular online destination in Southeast Asia. “The online shopping group boasts one of the largest catalogues of items in the Philippines, with items from different  reliable brands, and are grouped into categories that are being sold in the website and the app”.

Yesterday, I prepared Embutido, a Pilipino meatloaf which  is also a regular fare for our Noche Buena.  Pair it with pancit or any pasta dish, some favorite sweets and  other desserts  and you’re good to go. I made 16 rolls in all. It can keep for long in the ref  without losing its flavor, just freeze it.

This afternoon, I wrapped all the gifts for the family. Jovy helped me with the bigger item for Nissa and Obet. Good thing SM East Ortigas gave me extra wrappers because half portions of the Christmas wrappers I have here got wet during the flood last month.

Last night was a very inspiring 2nd day celebration of  Simbang Gabi.  Fr. Paul, one of my favorite priests at St. Paul was the mass presider. Looking forward tonight for the 3rd celebration.

Take care guys, Covid is still enjoying its worldwide romping around.

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Looking Forward To 2020

So this is the second day of Christmas. And it will last till the Baptism of the Lord. It is the shortest season in the Catholic calendar. That would be in January 12 next year.

How was your Christmas celebration? Ours was a quiet one with the family. I like all the reflections during the nine days of Simbang Gabi.

We exchanged gifts on the 24th. I like all my gifts. They are thoughtfully given. Nate and I played with his two water guns at the garden. He was the Blue Boy (with the blue gun of course and I was the Orange Lady. Precious moments with Nate.

I still can’t figure out how to attach photos here since there are no pictures in this tab’s gallery. They are all stored in my new phone. ♡☆. I am still finding it hard to navigate this gadget and update here on WordPress.

Do you also look forward to 2020? May the winds of change create a positive outlook for all of us.

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Another Year, Another Start

They  call it the great circle of life –

the endless longing to be,

just being there,

just feeling the peace in one’s soul,

the beauty of imaginings,

dreams fulfilled,

not just words

but the perpetual silence

that makes you dream more.

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Saturday Thrills

It’s another memorable day for the kids and me. It was our first time to eat at Mesa where authentic Filipino food is served. Nissa and Jovy took pictures, I didn’t.  I love the food there.  We ordered  Pinatayong Manok  (one whole grilled chicken which was cut and served before us). It was my first time to taste  Sinigang sa Bayabas at Pineapple. The fusion of tangy flavors from the guava and apple slices, pork slices, a little of tomatoes and gabi, how  wonderful.  We Filipinos are so fond of sinigang. Sinigang is a Filipino soup or stew characterized by its sour and savoury taste. Be it pork, beef, shrimp or fish, it is often served in family dinners.  I’ve tasted sinigang before flavored with slices of watermelon  and it was flavorful and tasty too. Tamarind is one common ingredient used for this recipe. Their Binagoongang Baboy is equally yummy and wonderful.  The mixed veggies are crispy.

We laughed at  Nate when he requested for another cup of rice and finished it all.  Haha, this kid surely eats with gusto.  We went our separate ways after lunch. Nate and I went to the toy store and bought different flavors of popcorn along the way. Josef and Jovy went to the pet shop to watch Oreo being groomed.  Nissa  and Obet went inside SM to buy something for Nate.  I bought a simple toy for Nate. Imagine his smiling face while choosing one. I told him, I am still looking for a birthday gift for him and he asked, “will it be a Lego Nonna”?  Nope, he already has several sets of Lego toys.  When you are with  Nate, you can’t help but feel like a kid too, appreciating what you see and  viewing  things differently.  There is really no dull moment. What a joy.

When they went home, he said, “I will never forget this place, Nonna’s house”. I was touched.  Love you baby.

 

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