Goodbye '07

The spectacular fireworks at the Sydney Harbour Bridge is less than 6 hours away. 2008 is arriving soon. But before we replace our calendars with new ones, let us reflect and thank the Lord for all the blessings He had bestowed us this past year.

So much had happened during the 12 months of 2007, good and bad times alike. This year will be memorable for me. Although not all of my dreams transformed into reality, at least some of them did.

I still hope that 2008 will be more blissful for me and my family. May all of us remain healthy. May there be peace on the whole world.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Boxing Day

Back home, the 24th of December, being the eve of Christmas day is an important day. Fact is, it's a non working public holiday. Filipinos are busy preparing for the Noche Buena or Midnight Feast. The 24th also marks the culmination of the Simbang Gabi where a special midnight mass is heard highlighted by the Panuluyan, a Filipino religious tradition celebrated in many towns on the Eve of Christmas. The "Panuluyan" group, made up of town people, two of them acting as Joseph and Mary (in some cases, they just carry statues of Joseph and Mary), goes around the town, re-enacting the Christmas scene as written by St. Luke in Chapter 2, verse 7: ...' and there was no room for them in the inn.' Usually the procession ends up in front of the church at midnight.

Here in Australia, that day is just like an ordinary day. People still go to work, all shops are open, people just do their normal activities for the week. What is more important here is the 26th, the day after Christmas. They call it Boxing Day here. Not because of the sport of boxing, it was coined from a traditional celebration of the practice of giving out gifts or Christmas boxes to employees, the poor and the people in lower social class. Boxing day here is a non-working holiday. This day is a time for gift giving and partying.

Boxing day here is also highlighted by two major sports spectacle. In Melbourne, the Test Match of Cricket and in Sydney the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. For me, Boxing Day is just like one of those boring days. Might as well blog and later on hit the sack for a well deserved sleep!

Hooo huummm! ZZZZZZzzzzz!

Merry CHRISTMAS!

Please click on this link...This is my way of greeting you Happy Holidays!

Another Filipino Pride

Charice Pempengco, a 15 year old girl from the Philippines wowed the audience at the Ellen DeGeneres show in the States. Man! I can't say nothing more. People like her are the saving grace of the country. May her tribe increase.

Enjoy!

World Youth Day 2008

215 more days to go before His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI arrives here in Sydney for the World Youth Day. Its going to be a big gathering of Catholics from Australia and the rest of the world. Australian Catholics are requested to "adopt" international pilgrims into their homes for 4 days to accommodate the millions of devotees expected to come.

I hope this event turns out to be successful. As early as 2 months ago, many non-catholics are complaining as to why the event will occupy the Randwick Racecourse. according to some pathetic SOB's, millions of dollars will be lost if horse racing will be stopped at Randwick. How pathetic Aussies could be... I can't even imagine favoring a horse race over a Holy Mass to be officiated by the Holy Father Himself.

Some people...tsk tsk tsk

Ito Ang Tama!

Get More Redhorse Now!

Res Ipsa Loquitur!

Fond Of Hotels... Eat This

This video tells it all. I don't know if this is true but what the heck, might as well share this to you. Enjoy!

"An kachidachidat na avam vuhawan"
-Ivatan Proverb

Despedida

Last night our family and some friends had dinner at Abel's house in Castlehill. Its the last weekend of Cynthia and her kids here before they fly home to Manila on Thursday. We were very busy the whole day preparing food and decorating the house.

Eric cooked his famous kare-kare. Jorge ordered sisig from Andy. Abel prepared fish and clams and baked a chocolate cake for the kids. Cynthia was in charge of the dessert. Gerry, Margie, Ayie, Marissa and Eugene came and had dinner and some drinks with us while the kids had fun playing parlor games prepared by Jil.

We will definitely miss the boys this Christmas but Im pretty sure they will have a helluvah good time during their holidays.

Have a safe trip!

Summertime And Christmas

December marks the start of summer here in Aussie land. What could be more odd than celebrating Christmas in the scorching heat of summer with temperatures reaching 40's? Only here in Australia can you find the beaches filled with surfers and sun worshipers during the festive break. Goodbye to the chilly December mornings, so much for sweaters and jackets. Hello summer wear!

But only the weather is different here during December. Yuletide season in Ausralia is almost the same in the Philippines. People here are also busy shopping for gifts, eagerly waiting for Christmas bonuses and holidays. Most houses are being lighted and decorated too. Shopping malls are swarmed by shoppers and bargain hunters. And in some suburbs (Blacktown and Westmead) were the Parish priests are Filipinos, early dawn masses are also celebrated minus the bibingka and puto bumbong, of course.

Another Christmas, another summer, another year about to end... Might as well get use to this. I guess I have to spend my remaining Christmases sweating in the summer heat.

Happy Holidays!