Media Noche 2006!

Welcoming the New Year with a potluck of sorts Media Noche includes grilled liempo, chicken, cocktail hotdogs and vienna sausages with marshmallows for the kids, ham, carbonara which the kids did not recognize hehehe, buko salad and a donated crumbly cake we dressed with mallows.

Even if were ourselves were dressed up in pajamas, and the kids still are dazed because they just woke up almost at midnight, the cooks smelled of charcoal and kitchen scent all were very happy to welcome the new year!

I guess every family hopes to be gathered around good food sharing it with loved ones and friends. Hoping and praying that this joy can be tucked in our pockets to share the morsel each day of the year.

Araw ng Pasko sa Alaminos

On Christmas Day after morning mass, we traveled to Alaminos, Laguna. As far back as I can remember I always spend Christmas Day at the ancestral house in Alaminos. In the past, my main reason to spend Christmas Day there is to be with Inay and Lola Abeng. Inay and Lola have gone but even now, I make the traditional visit together with Amats to the old house now transformed into a foster home for children waiting for adoption. It is managed by a family we trust Aling Nimfa and family who has been with our family for more than 12 years. The kids are Ricric a special child, then John Eudes aka Dagul and the little lady Genuine is from Bantay Bata who recently replaced Giselle and Maricris who are both now in the US. This year we brought toys and gifts and foodies to celebrate Christmas with them

Pasko sa Santiago

We spent Christmas Eve at the Santiago household with Jinky, Julius, Baby Jane, Vico, Dad, Tito Philip, Rhea, RJ and the whole family of the Jaboli's Nanay Bacion, leah, Niknik and other guest.

It was happiest for the kids specially during the gift giving and gift opening they were happily surprised with all the toys. Julius with the rc and the light sparkled in rj's eyes opening the mini toy billiards. We had great food with crabs, grilled bangus, roasted chicken, crispy pata that took the whole day to prepare (Julius hoarded the crispy skin), biko and more biko, ham, sausages, for dessert Jinky's buko salad and a huge sans rival cake to top it all (if there is still room in one's belly that night).

A Child is born unto us

This season of advent would be one of my first to truly know the meaning of waiting,expectation, and anticipation. I feel blessed to experience being an active part in His miracle of creation.

It was only this Christmas season that I truly felt how difficult it is for Mama Mary to be carrying the Child Jesus in her womb, experiencing all the physical stress of coping with daily stress of an expectant mother, traveling to visit Elizabeth, then that 9 miles travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem on a donkey to think that they were not just traveling on flat land. Never have I felt so sad that they have no room to stay but just a stable.

I could just imagine her having the difficult time of her life and yet she and Joseph was able to overcome all of these. I can imagine the stress that she might be feeling. It is difficult enough to be with Child and all those physical challenges that an expectant mother have to bear add to that they have no where to stay for the night. Only this year that I have felt how palpable this aspect of Christmas is.

Always I was wondering why God chose to come in such a humble setting. I thought I understood this in various ways but yet this year it revealed again a new insight. Our God is such a loving God that He wants to show us that it is not the physical and material things surrounding us that define us. And that the true meaning of our lives is that we were created with His divine purpose. He lets us know that He truly understands how hard it is to be human. A reassurance that wherever we are, whatever difficult situation we are right now, still He takes care of us His children.

Every Christmas season there is always a mix of emotions that floods upon me, they come in waves that sometimes I am unable to see through it clearly at once but God is good He sends His message in forms that is fitted to us alone. Now more than ever, the distinction between external hardships, anxiety, poverty is miniscule compared to the internal joy, hope and love that this Christmas has yet again reaffirmed in my life.

Merry Christmas everyone. Rejoice our Savior is born!

Parol

Parol is the local name for the star that was seen by the three wise men. This is one of my favorite symbols of Christmas. The Parol is also very Filipino (not Santa, not the tree nor snow flakes in a tropical country hehehehe) the parol usually is made up of thin strips of bamboo tied together to form a star with thin colored papers and paper cut outs for its two tails to symbolize its bright shining rays showing the way to baby Jesus.

Though the parol had taken on many forms some dressed with dancing colored lights, many still use the traditional simple five point star. I guess I do have a bias for parol because i used to make one when I was young and always happy to hang it in the most prominent window of the house.

I love it becaise it is also a symbol of light and hope. It brightens and shows us the way and points to the One why we celebrate this season.

Simbang Gabi

Simbang gabi has already started. This marks the traditional masses in the early mornings usually 4am held everyday nine days before Christmas. I used to asked my grandmother why it is held so early in the morning and she said that beccause the farmers in the old days have no time during the day because they are out in the field. The farmers also like to work really early when it is nice and cool before the sun is high and it gets too hot to work.

I grew up in the province and I always look forward to this time of the year. When I was young my Inay and I would start walking the 2 km walk to the church around 3am to make it in time and find ourselves a seat in the usually fully packed church. Along the way we would see the blinking parol in the houses, and when were near the church the smell of bibingka and puto bungbong will greet us. I remember I used to bring a rag doll back then to keep me company along the seeming long walk to town and to keep me warm also. That was the only year I was able to complete the nine early morning mass. It was believed that when one completes the simbang gabi a wish will be granted. I still remember the wish I prayed for that year a long time ago-- for my family to have our own house. After a year our very small house in Frisco was built but it was an answered prayer indeed.

I also love the community we have there in our small town. We had a big church overflowing with people and each celebration was sponsored by a barrio was grand. Always there were joyous singing each day I got more more excited in anticipation of Christmas. I guess thats when I learned what anticipation is of the Child that is to come and bring us joy.

Tiangge

This time of the year is when you'll would find almost everywhere in the city here in the Philippines the"tiangge" or flea market (I have to do my research on why they call it flea market). This is the place where you can buy all sorts of food stuff from cake, candies and other local delicacies, there are toys, clothes, gift items, bags, shoes and anything. It is amazing though that the products mostly are sold for just $2.00 US about a hundred Ph Pesos. It sounds like a garage sale but the items like the toys and small gift items are new, while the food stuffs are really good most of them home made for those people wanting to earn extra this season.

Yesterday was a first for me because I helped a friend sell her wares at the Claret Bazaar aka a local tiangge. Since the venue was just about a couple of blocks away from our apartment, I couldn't refuse not to pass by. Eventually I stayed on to help her sell her cakes, pastries and spreads. Also with us her 9 year old daugther Isabel. I enjoyed myself spending the day with them. I was also reminded how difficult it is to earn money. I saw that it was the best way for Ina to teach Isabel the value of work and money and be responsible for the blessings and resources that we are blessed with.

Human Rights Day today!

Join the celebration! Free Concert today at 8 MRT stations. Salamat kay Mae for posting the anouncement na may Rock and Roll sa mga MRT stations called Rock the Riles.

This Saturday, Dec 10, 2005,
RockEd Philipppines
will ROCK-the-RILES
from 4pm to 6pm
to advocate the 8 UN Millennium Development Goals and
to celebrate Human Rights Day and
to support the 3rd international White Band Day
8 MRT Stations
each campaigning for 1 MDG
each providing an art feast.
music. dance. art.verse. photography. poetry.
band performances. mural painting. story telling. poetry
reading.photo exhibits.

click here for your invitation.

Remembering Inay

Today is Inay's birthday. Inay actually is my Tita Ching who helped my parents in raising me up together with my Lola Abeng. I think I won't ever forget her birthday because her name is "Concepcion" named after the feast we are celebrating today.

Inay was a simple woman who didn't have much in life but I grew up under her care and love. I was witness to her generosity, patience and struggles in life that made her strong. It has been over a year now since she passed away. I've seen four deaths in my family, all of whom women very close to me, my youngest sister (1984), my mother(1989), my lola (1988) and Inay (2004). I would like to honor these women who have gone before me. Today, I realized that the way they lived their lives have helped me to be the person I am today. I thank God for the lessons I learned from them and the love that nourished me through these women.

Today, we celebrate a woman whose life is an example of simplicity, humility and love Mama Mary.

Mabuhay ang bagong kasal!

Congratulations Ria and John!

We enjoyed your truly Filipino wedding. From the Alibata invitation, to the sapin-sapin rice wedding cake, the buko and gulaman, isaw, bibingka, fish ball, lechon baka, dirty ice cream of an original mamang sorbetero. Thank you also for entertaining your guest with the "Sayaw sa Bangko" a festive native dance of love. We also had a great time singing with Middle C's rendition of VST hits.

May God bless you both...magpakailanman ahaha aha awitin mo at isasayaw ko!

Mabuhay kayo!

Basahin ang blog ni Ria at JohnXXV: Republika ng Pilipinas (trivia: an essential read link ni mlq3 mismo)

Rhythmic Gymnastics at 23rd SEAG

Finally I was able to watch a world competition in gymnastics at the 23rd SouthEast Asian Games. Last Saturday, Amats and I went to see the games. We went to watch for a while women's single tennis, then baseball Philippines vs Myanmar but the highlight of last Saturday's games for us was the Rhythmic Gymnastics Women's Finals. The competing countries are Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Since I was a kid I always watched the games on TV only because I lived in the province and it is expensive to go to Manila. In recent years when our country was host to SEAG, I wasn't able to find time to go.

The past week, I kept telling Amats please check the schedule specially the gymnastics. For the longest time I wanted to watch and thank God we had a great time at the games all for free. We even saw Rocky de Castro in the sponsors booth, who called us on our mobile just to wave and say hi.

Here are some of the pictures of the gymnast. They move so fast, I could barely focus with my old cam. Amazing what these girls can do with their bodies. There were four events where all the gymnast had to compete these are rope, ball, clubs and ribbon. It took almost an hour each. Although Philippines did not win in those events, still we cheered the Malaysians like true sports fans. We went home happy with our small Philippine flag.

See the latest news at the SEAG website

Pilipinas mag sindi ka rin

Today is World Aids Day. Know that there is much suffering in the world but in the confines of own comfort zones at home or in the office, we can still do something to help and make a difference.

Please help raise funds for AIDS research. You can help by just clicking on the button
Click here to donate.

Visit www.lighttounite.com, click where you live on the globe(wait for it to draw it with the ribbon), and choose the reason you want them to make a donation[strenght, hope, love, etc.]. They will donate $1 to HIV/AIDS research for each person. This is available only tonight. Spread the word.

Pamilya Danao: isang pagpupugay

Welcome to baby Toni!!! (aka Amihan Antonia Ibanez Danao)

Mama Nina gave birth to Baby Toni on November 23, 2005 and Papa Louis backed up by lamaze was able to be inside the O.R. We visited them last Sunday to celebrate with them one of life's greatest miracles and God's blessing.

On to our Second Season of Love

Today is our first wedding anniversary! Yey!
And yes! what a great first season of love it was. We are on our way to our second year and growing strong.

We feel really blessed to be able to celebrate this day with the blessing of each other. We thank God indeed for the many journey's we've traveled together. During the past year there were some valleys we traversed but it was well worth it for the mountain top experience of being hand in hand travelling with each other was more rewarding because we have each other.

Remembering the past year, it reminded me of the small trees we gave out as souvenirs to our dear family and friends who celebrated with us ( we gave out 3 kinds of seedlings juniper tree, tea plant and peperonia seedling--all about 2 to 3 inches tall each in a small pot). I was wondering want happened to those plants.

The other day, while visiting my father's house in San Francisco Del Monte in Santiago, I was happily surprised that the peperonia tree that they planted a year ago is now a small tree and there are two of them there. It was about more than a foot tall thriving in the small garden. To say that I was excited to see that small tree again is an understatement. I was really happy to hear my father and my sister showing us the small tree-plant ( I will try to post a picture of the plant before and after in my future postings to celebrate a year of blessings).

Friends, if your trees are healthy and growing do send us a picture if you can to celebrate with us.

Just a side story, a few days ago while Amats was in Tagaytay for work, I found an old book but actually it was new. And guess what? It was a wedding gift, a book we haven't read yet after all these months. I was glad to find this treasure of "Chicken Soup for the Couple's Soul" a gift from Ian. The book is a compilation of stories on love and intimacy, finding true love, commitment, understanding each other, overcoming obstacles, about family and (of course) eternal love.

Ang galeng talaga ni God! Such great timing! Showing that He is a Father to us, celebrating these small moments of miracles with us, bringing overflowing blessings this season of love.

Alibata

I remember when I was in high school in Laguna College. I had a good Filipino teacher and she taught us how to write the old Philippine script--"Alibata". We were taught how to write and use it properly. Our final exam was to write an essay all in alibata.

I am sad that I already forgot how to use it. But it's like riding a bike once you learned you never forget and it is easy really. The local abakada has an equivalent symbol to change the vowel form that follows the consonant a dot is placed above or below the symbol. If only the consonant will be used as in the word "minsan" a small plus sign or kudlit is placed beneath it.

Some of my artist friends in Palawan still use it today. Susan Tupas signs her artwork in alibata. Others say it is still in use by the locals of Mindoro and Palawan. According to Gener my friend in Palawan they use leaves for paper and "tingting" as pen to carve out the symbols.

Recently, I was happily surprised that a friend used it for her invitation. I was inspired to look it up and decipher their invitation. Their theme is modern Filipiniana. I thought I should go back and review my alibata.

come join me visit this site.

Happy Birthday Ria Aps

We celebrated Ria Apostol's birthday last Sunday together with brothers and sisters from Lingkod QC whom we missed whom we haven't seen for sometime now. At the party I also met old friends from WWF turtle islands project. For the past seven years Ria was able to work in the project and more years I guess for Cowa because she was there since 1996. As for me I only spent a year with the project. I admire them for the strength and perserverance. It was good to see old friends again.

Ria has always been a very good friend. She will soon tie the knot with John on Dec 4th. Congratulations Ria and yes happy happy birthday. promising times lie ahead Ria.

Tubbataha and Greenpeace

What is common between the two is that I was involved with these two. I used to work for the conservation of Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park working for WWF Philippines. The Philipines one and only marine park. While I volunteer for Greenpeace specifically when the Artic Sunrise ship visited Manila in 2002. I volunteered as a tour guide on the boat and solicited signatures for the campaign.


Irony of ironies just recently in the news, Rainbow Warrior II sliced through Tubbataha and was fined for about 640,000 pesos or 11,600 US$ someone blogged about it too (read here)Save our Reefs from Greenpeace. Rainbow Warrior II there to find evidence of bleaching due to global warming but found out that our reef is healthy. If they have a researcher on board, at least one should note that Tubbataha is located in deeper waters thus much cooler and less prone to bleaching which is associated to global warming.

I think they should see the GBR if they are looking for bleached corals. Having snorkelled in GBR recently and worked in Tubbataha, I think our reefs are far more beautiful indeed. I can't remember who said it, "GBR is like Disneyland but Tubbataha is like Safari". I remember the time when we dived off season at Tubbataha and we saw 8 magnificent eagle rays.

For the past few days my email has been swamped with invitations to visit the boat on Nov 14 and 15. Lakay volunteers will be there. Well, I am still thinking. This boat destroyed more corals that it can ever regrow in 20 years. Environmentalist kill environment...How is that?

After thinking about it and talking with old WWF friends, I decided not to volunteer anymore.

Good Health

I think the best thing you could be in life is to be healthy. Being human I guess we are bound to be prone to illness and other factors the affect our well being. Now more than ever I realize how priceless it is to be healthy. Many changes comes with age, less immune to this and that, aching backs due to stress and there are things that one cannot control that some say it is in the family, that some things are genetic.

When I realize how short indeed our life is, I think of the many things that I still hope to accomplish. Looking back the 3 1/2 decades past, full as it may have been, now I still see that much is to be done.

Well, I guess changes in health, being sick for a while makes me ponder more on these thoughts.

Happy Birthday Lolo

Yesterday, November 3 is my Dad's 66th birthday. ( it was also my late sister's birthday Vicky). We celebrated it at our old small house in Santiago st. at Frisco with my sister Jinky's family Vico, Julius and loveable, huggable Jane! Amats and I went to buy the usual foodies palabok, cake and of course ice cream with the newest flavor in town, Sans Rival a creation of Selecta and Red Ribbon.

Some things do get better with age and i was inspired by Aloy's blog entry about her mom. I didn't realize how many years my father has logged. And I am thankful that he is in good health. Although yesterday Jinky said he bought the crispy pata ("kontraban" as we call it). We were singing Happy Birthday Lolo and had a great time yesterday.

Rice

Home sweet home, it is always great to be home again. Despite the long and tedious journey, I feel really blessed to have a home to come back too. Every travel and every journey is an opportunity to see beautiful places and experience new cultures and meet great new friends. But above all these, I come home with more appreciation of what we have here. Despite the many things that might discourage others to go back the perennial political turmoil and poverty, there is still no place else to be, but home—in the Philippines.

Never in any of my trips before that I yearned to eat rice and galunggong and when I got back I ate lots of adobo and rice. Yes, it is proven that I cannot survive without plain steamed rice. I love rice. I felt so weak not eating rice for so long. Even the Chinese “takeaways” they have different kind of rice. My Mexican friends Hudson said poor Daisy she only gets “snacks”. Because I told her that without rice for me it is not a meal and every lunch we were served with sandwiches. But in fairness, we were served with gourmet sandwiches—my favorite was avocado with alfalfa and cheese and we had veggie sandwich choices. But still, there is no rice.