Lighted a candle for peace.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Friday, December 27, 2013
Merry Christmas 2013
Lucas and I hosted a "red and/or green" themed Christmas party. Friends and relatives came. It was a joyous well attended gathering. Merry Christmas everyone!!!
Red and green ladies in Santa's hats.
With sister Jeannette
The Saturday dance group
Smile
The young ones
Red and green winner of the night
Two most creative :)
"Look at my green blings!" Hahaha
Merry Christmas!!!
Friday, December 20, 2013
My Christmas 2013
My house is adorned with old decors ready for Christmas.
Table Christmas tree
Main Christmas tree
Christmas nativity
Spot the mini belen among frosty and Santa.
Belen on a train
Bells and baby Jesus
Too crowded haha
Merry round table
Mini Santa and some mementos
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Christmas Past
When I was a little girl, our Christmas tree at home was a cut mangrove tree, almost conically in shape bought yearly from a Muslim vendor. It would be medium in height, good enough for our small house. Mother would stood it up in a big empty can, then filled it with stones. The can would be wrapped with Christmas paper. And the bare tree trunk and branches trimmed with curly strands of green crepe paper. After the tree had been fully wrapped in green, we would adorned it with tinsels and balls and small plastic toys. After many days of preparing the tree, Papa would give the final touch by hanging multicolored Christmas lights around. It was magical! Alone by myself, sometimes I would stand by it and sang my well loved Christmas songs. On Christmas eve, my siblings and I hanged stockings on the sturdy branches and waited all night for Santa to come. Even how hard I tried to catch Santa during the night, I never did. But Santa never failed to fill my stockings with candies, small toys and coins. I did this hanging of the stockings thing until I was 16 years old. Old enough, Santa by this time knew I preferred peso bills to candies and coins. And truly I was never disappointed.
When I was growing up, my sister Helen and I were tasked by our parents to do the wrapping of the Christmas tree. Our maids helped us at night. Younger brothers Boboy and Ollie helped too but it was mostly the girls' task to finish the trimmings. One time, Mama was dismayed at the pace of our work that she forbade us to watch movie until it was done. Because that year's tree was kind of bigger, Helen began breaking off some of its branches. I quickly followed suit and pretty soon the tree was all wrapped up and ready for the hangings. Helen's big idea became a precedent for me and my younger brothers later, specially when I felt too tiresome to finish wrapping the Christmas tree after she went to Manila for her college education. Our tree was always green in color while Auntie Pilar's tree would be white or varied. The first Christmas after Mama died in 1971, Auntie Pilar gifted us a fake golden tinsel tree. It was never the same. Not long afterwards plastic firs became the fad and they took over until this very day.
One Christmas, when I was a grade five pupil, I fancied making my own Belen (Christmas nativity scene). Pistang, our head saleslady at the store helped me. My parents of course supported my project. Together with Pistang, I gathered bermuda grasses from the city hall plaza to portray a vast grassland. My center piece was bought from Benedicta Sy Store and the grassland was filled with Boboy's plastic toy animals. I thought the animals were not quite appropriate but Pistang wanted them there. My some kind of a crude diorama made Mama proud of me. Yet honestly, it was mostly Pistang's work.
Today, my spirit has not grown old, just like a 10 year old girl, I am still delighted with Christmas. I love the Christmas carols, the gay decorations and the festivities and food preparation. This year, Lucas and I may have to spend our Christmas quietly. Despite it, we shall continue to celebrate the Lord's birthday in our own special way. The coming of the Lord is always a great joy! Come Lord Jesus Come!
When I was growing up, my sister Helen and I were tasked by our parents to do the wrapping of the Christmas tree. Our maids helped us at night. Younger brothers Boboy and Ollie helped too but it was mostly the girls' task to finish the trimmings. One time, Mama was dismayed at the pace of our work that she forbade us to watch movie until it was done. Because that year's tree was kind of bigger, Helen began breaking off some of its branches. I quickly followed suit and pretty soon the tree was all wrapped up and ready for the hangings. Helen's big idea became a precedent for me and my younger brothers later, specially when I felt too tiresome to finish wrapping the Christmas tree after she went to Manila for her college education. Our tree was always green in color while Auntie Pilar's tree would be white or varied. The first Christmas after Mama died in 1971, Auntie Pilar gifted us a fake golden tinsel tree. It was never the same. Not long afterwards plastic firs became the fad and they took over until this very day.
One Christmas, when I was a grade five pupil, I fancied making my own Belen (Christmas nativity scene). Pistang, our head saleslady at the store helped me. My parents of course supported my project. Together with Pistang, I gathered bermuda grasses from the city hall plaza to portray a vast grassland. My center piece was bought from Benedicta Sy Store and the grassland was filled with Boboy's plastic toy animals. I thought the animals were not quite appropriate but Pistang wanted them there. My some kind of a crude diorama made Mama proud of me. Yet honestly, it was mostly Pistang's work.
Today, my spirit has not grown old, just like a 10 year old girl, I am still delighted with Christmas. I love the Christmas carols, the gay decorations and the festivities and food preparation. This year, Lucas and I may have to spend our Christmas quietly. Despite it, we shall continue to celebrate the Lord's birthday in our own special way. The coming of the Lord is always a great joy! Come Lord Jesus Come!
Monday, December 9, 2013
Our Lady of Immaculate Conception
Our Lady of Immaculate Conception is the patron saint of Cotabato City. We love you O blessed Mother! Please protect our city from evil and wicked people!
The Immaculate Conception Cathedral
Advent
The season of Advent comes before Christmas. It is the waiting time for the coming of our Lord. It is the time of darkness before the Light.
This year's advent, as usual, I prepare my home for Christmas and I had happily anticipated my children to come home for the holidays. But now, I have to cancel their trips home due to safety reason.
This Advent, I am feeling a sadness in my soul because of the encompassing darkness here in Cotabato City. Our establishment has received a letter of threat from kidnappers. We have to be very careful with our movements. I heard other stores have received threats too.
Oh God, when will these wickedness stop! We can not go on living like this. My soul cries out "Come, Lord Jesus, Come." Please bring light into our darkness. Real peace to our sufferings. Haven't we endured enough?! We need you 'now' to save us spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally. O Come Lord Jesus, Come!!!
I believe in you, I have faith in you, I trust you. I know nothing is impossible for you Lord. Save us here in Cotabato City! Come Lord Jesus, come!
This year's advent, as usual, I prepare my home for Christmas and I had happily anticipated my children to come home for the holidays. But now, I have to cancel their trips home due to safety reason.
This Advent, I am feeling a sadness in my soul because of the encompassing darkness here in Cotabato City. Our establishment has received a letter of threat from kidnappers. We have to be very careful with our movements. I heard other stores have received threats too.
Oh God, when will these wickedness stop! We can not go on living like this. My soul cries out "Come, Lord Jesus, Come." Please bring light into our darkness. Real peace to our sufferings. Haven't we endured enough?! We need you 'now' to save us spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally. O Come Lord Jesus, Come!!!
I believe in you, I have faith in you, I trust you. I know nothing is impossible for you Lord. Save us here in Cotabato City! Come Lord Jesus, come!
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