(Last year I started a special Christmas blog series entitled 25 Days of Christmas. For this year I wanted to do it again. If the Christmas song has 12 days of Christmas, I have my longer version – 25 Days of  Christmas Year 2.)

On the 25^th day of Christmas, it’s the day of Christmas reunion.

Each year our clan celebrates Christmas through a reunion. Also each year, a family is selected as a host for the reunion. Our reunion is on my father side. My father has six siblings so each family is scheduled to be a host for this annual gathering. Last year, our family were the host.  This year’s family reunion, we were all gathered to the house of Uncle Bebot (the youngest Uncle) and Auntie Rosanna in Alaminos City.

The best part of the reunion is not the food (hehehe) rather the arrival of each family. The arrival of the patriarchs of our family, together with the our cousins and our little pamangkins marks the start of a grand revelry of our family. The simple greetings and “kumustahan” is so invigorating after months of not seeing each other.

Although some of our relatives were not present during the reunion, naging masaya pa rin ang aming reunion. Naging sumaya nang nagstart na ang programa. Thanks to my cousin Generose for being the emcee and the source of life of the program. Of course hindi mawawala ang mga parlor games both for oldies and young onces. Nakakatuwa kasi naging participative pa rin ang aming mga uncles and aunties. Syempre hindi rin papahuli ang mga chikitings at mga teens (kami yun) ng aming angkan.

What made this occasion special was the ties that still bind our family during all the years that passed by. Our family is not an exception to trials. I know all of us at a certain point, faced or currently facing family problems. But Filipino families are of happier individuals. No matter how hard 2011 and all the previous years in our family, we still managed to celebrate the good things happened throughout the year.

Our 2011 is actually great when it comes to health and finances. Our family is stricken with cancer, kidney ailment and diabetes. There was a year when most of our family members died due to this sickness almost in succession. We are thankful this year as we are all of clean bill of health.

This year we also welcome the new member of our family. Sabi ko nga mas mabuti nang madagdagan kesa mabawasan. These new members are the babies of our cousins and pamangkins (yup lolo na ako). Ang cute at ang kukulit ng mga babies para gusto ko na rin magkaanak (lol).

On this day, unti-unti ko na ring pinamigay ang mga pinamili kong gifts para sa mga pamangkins. Buti na lang sumakto ang gifts ko sa lahat ng mga bata. Nakakatuwang isipin parang kelan lang kami noon ang mga binibigyan. Ngayon, it is our turn to give naman. Before, I was so happy for all the gifts I could receive. As I grow old, I learned that there is also an unexplainable happiness in giving.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

DB

(Last year I started a special Christmas blog series entitled 25 Days of Christmas. For this year I wanted to do it again. If the Christmas song has 12 days of Christmas, I have my longer version – 25 Days of  Christmas Year 2.)

On the 24^th day of Christmas, Christmas celebration is about to start.

I prepared the food for our Christmas Eve Noche Buena. This has been the scenario since I was in high school. I started helping in the kitchen with my Mom. Eventually I learned how to prepare our family’s favourite – macaroni salad and spaghetti. These two are always present in our dining table on Christmas Eve (typical Pinoy family).

Bakit nga ba spaghetti at macaroni salad ang handa ng karamihang pamilyang Pinoy?  I don’t know why. Some families have pancit and bibingka (which I think a truly Pinoy-style).

This Christmas, I prepared the macaroni salad in the morning and cooked the pasta and spaghetti sauce (Filipino style, yun ang gusto ng mga pipol sa bahay eh) late in the afternoon. I also prepared fresh vegetables salad (my family love the lettuce and cucumber). My brother already volunteered to cooked the chicken lechon and ham (the ham was perfect) so I had some leeway to have some siesta in the afternoon.

Sabi nga ng tita ko basta ang pagkaing niluto ng may pagmamahal lalong sumasarap. I guess she’s right. There’s actually no secret or special recipe to the dishes I cooked, but my family enjoyed the food during our Noche Buena. I don’t consider as a tedious chores cooking and preparing the food for Christmas. In fact I enjoyed each moment of my stay in the kitchen. This is one of the gifts I could give to my family which cannot be bought by money. This is a priceless gift!

Before we started our Christmas celebration, I was glad to hear that my father and my sister, together with her stepchildren would attend the Christmas night mass. I was happy because I could attend the evening mass with them. It has been years since we last attended an evening mass on Christmas, though we used to attend the morning Christmas mass. I love to maintain the Christmas habits my family used to do when my sibling and I were still kids. We used to go to church and go home and celebrate the sumptuous meals. But things changed on our growing up years. When my brother and sister got married, they had their own celebration in their respective home.

I know time will come when I will celebrate my Christmas without my father and my siblings around me, but with my own family. But heck, that may be still 2 or 3 years from now. For now, I will enjoy every moment of my Christmas Eve with my family.

I hope all families will be complete and merry as they celebrate this year’s Christmas Noche Buena! May we all enjoy not just the food but also the presence of our family members and loved ones this Christmas!

Happy eating everyone!!!

DB

(Last year I started a special Christmas blog series entitled 25 Days of Christmas. For this year I wanted to do it again. If the Christmas song has 12 days of Christmas, I have my longer version – 25 Days of  Christmas Year 2.)

On the 23^rd day of Christmas, it’s home sweet home once again.

This time it’s the happiest travel going back home because 2 days to go and it’s  Christmas Day already! I woke up early around 3 AM. I had a lot of things to bring back home. I brought with me the trolley full of gifts and some canned goods from the Christmas package provided to us by the Company. I also brought a separate paper bag for the three hams for Noche Buena.

Habang excited akong makauwi, iniisip ko naman kung gaano kadaming kalaban ko sa pagsakay ng bus. Ang hassle bumyahe kapag maraming dala. Di ka pa man umaabot sa bus terminal parang pagod na ang utak kakaisip kung makakasakay ba agad o hindi.

Good thing when I arrived in the bus terminal, the queue in the ticket booth was still manageable (akala ko blockbuster na naman). I bought my ticket easily and the bus arrived just in time I was about to take my seat in the waiting area. I guess it was my lucky day. Eventhough I had tons of things to bring back home, everything seemed at the right place and at the right time. I was just in time and I from the moment in buying tickets and waiting for the arrival of the bus.

It was still dark when the bus left the terminal. Eventhough the traffic in Cubao “Ibabaw” was getting heavier at the early hours of the day, the bus driver decided to take the Cubao “Ilalim” route to escape the congestion. While the conductor checked on the tickets, I took out my phone and plugged my headphone. It has been my habit to listen to music since I bought my phone (Samsung galaxy Mini lang naman).

Dati kasi isang simpleng maglalakbay lang ako. Walang arte sa katawan. Ako ang tipong pagkabayad eh tulog na ako agad. Madalas nakasandal ako sa window side ng bus at nauuntog ang ulo habang nasa byahe. Pero kung minsan headbanger din ako, habang tumutulo ang laway (eew). Pero kung hindi ako tulog, inaaliw ko na lang ang sarili ko sa panonood ng libreng palabas sa loob ng bus. Napanood ko na ata ang lahat ng FPJ classic films at mga bagong piratang movies. Siguro naka 6 na beses kong napanood ang Avatar at Apocalyto sa loob ng bus. Minsan nga pati Indian movie napanood ko na rin. Ang lupet nga eh inabot ung Indian movie na yun ng mahigit 3 hours. Natulog ako yun ang palabas, pagkagising ko yun pa rin! Parang MTV with love story ang style ng pelikulang Indiano.

But now things changed. With the advent of technology and easy access to internet, I frequently checked my Facebook account during my bus trip. There are some buses which provide free wifi. I am of those thankful passengers who is happily surfing the net. I also chat around with friend online to ease the boredom during the trip. Thanks to the power of wifi of Bus 182!

***

When I arrived home, I immediately greeted my father and my sister. After I unpacked my things, I proceeded at  our terrace at the back of our house. Our terrace serves as a storage place for items not frequently being used. I was looking for our old Christmas Tree. Wala kasi akong nakikitang Christmas Tree sa aming sala. Hindi rin kasi mahilig magdecorate ang father ko kaya parang walang kadeko-dekorasyon sa amin. Inisip kong ilabas ang Christmas Tree namin at ihabol sa pagsalubong sa Pasko.

However, I couldn’t find it.

Our Christmas Tree became a significant symbol in our family. It has a sentimental value to me since it provides an unexplainable joy to me. Eventhough its leaves are falling and branches are missing and the whole tree is brittle, I still managed to make it look like a one big proud Christmas tree every Yuletide Season.

Tinanong ko ang father ko kung nasaan ang aming lumang Christmas Tree, ang Christmas Tree na naging kasama namin sa lahat ng Pasko. Naalala ko pa ang yung taon na unang binili ang Christmas Tree namin (pinagalitan kasi ako, kasi sa kakulitan ko kaya di ko makalimutan). Bawat Christmas, lagi akong excited itayo at ilagay ang mga Christmas decors ng aming Christmas Tree. Pero sa taong eto, ang lahat ay mababago.

Nalungkot ako sa sinabi ng father ko, ”Wala na yung Christmas Tree natin. Tinapon na nung nagpalinis ako sa likod.”

Halos gumuho ang mundo ko (exaggerated much). Nalungkot ako kasi kung alam ko lang nag-ipon na sana ako ng pambili sa bagong Christmas Tree namin.

There will be no Christmas Tree in our house this Christmas but it doesn’t mean that our Christmas will never be complete.

Our celebration will still be joyful and merry kahit walang Christmas Tree. But still iba pa rin ang feeling pagkasama ang aming lumang Christmas Tree!

To our dear Christmas Tree maraming salamat sa lahat ng taon nakipagpose ka sa akin every Christmas!!!

You will never be forgotten.

DB

(Last year I started a special Christmas blog series entitled 25 Days of Christmas. For this year I wanted to do it again. If the Christmas song has 12 days of Christmas, I have my longer version – 25 Days of  Christmas Year 2.)

On the 22^nd day of Christmas, I was already excited for my Christmas break!

Thanks to the kindness of my supervisor, I was allowed to have early Christmas leave. I filed my leave on 23^rd and 26^th of December. I chose to file my leave to avoid the hussle of joining the bandwagon of people going home to province.

I will celebrate Christmas in my hometown. I have many things to bring. The gifts, the ham, the goods and myself!

DB

(Last year I started a special Christmas blog series entitled 25 Days of Christmas. For this year I wanted to do it again. If the Christmas song has 12 days of Christmas, I have my longer version – 25 Days of  Christmas Year 2.)

On the 21^st day of Christmas, I attended three events on a single night.

Before the term ended, one of my students invited me to her upcoming birthday celebration- dinner together with her friends/classmates. Since I don’t have any event booked during that time, I agreed to join.

Last night, I received a text from Nowie, my batchmate in audit. He invited me for the Christmas / Year-end dinner with the rest of our batchmates. I said my half-hearted yes since I knew  I already agreed to my student’s invitation. But this is a gathering of batchmates in audit and I didn’t want the dinner. After most of my batchmates parted ways out of audit firm where we all met, it becomes harder to organize a dinner for the group. Schedules and work on our respective current jobs hinder us to come up with a schedule compatible to all our schedules.

When I arrived in the office, I received a text message from a close friend back in college and review days in Baguio. She was inviting for (ho and behold) dinner! It’s another dinner to attend to! She just called a break from her audit work and currently enjoying her vacation. And I haven’t seen her for months. I said yes once again but deep inside I knew that baka malate or hindi ako makaattend. It’s like I am the leading actor in the Yes Man movie. Yes lang ako ng yes.

So how did I manage to attend all three events? It was so simple. I took one dinner at a time (hahaha!). Parang Accounting lang FIFO method (First In First Out), I attended first the invitation that came earliest.

Dinner 1:

So I dropped by the North Park in Ayala for Arianne’s birthday dinner. I arrived just in time the food was about to be served (amazing!). To add life to the dinner (sa tagalog, para magkabuhay ang kainan, lolz), I started a game which we played yesterday in Christmas Party of our department- Question Game (may hangober pa ako sa larong yun eh). Sobrang saya ng palitan ng questions. It was like a déjà vu  but with different set of players I was playing with.

After mapagod sa kakatanong, we played next the BOBO Game. It’s a game of naming things based on a certain category. Whoever who can’t name will be pressured and be called BOBO. Nakakapressure din mag-isip, especially if limited lang alam mo on a certain category. Hirap matawag ng bobo (lolz!).

Then after the bobo game, we played our last game, Killers! It’s actually a game played using cards. Sa larong eto kawawa ang di marunong kumindat. Kindatan kasi ang laro. The killer will make kindat to the other players. Tapos may pulis na huhuli sa killer. Tapos may nurse/doctor who will breathe new life into the dead player. There’s also a spy who will kill the police. Meron ding Judge who will give the consequence of the game and then the rest of remaining players are Taong Bayan or witness.  Since we didn’t have cards, “nagdrulats” na lang kami ng aming roles. Naging masaya naman ang laro. Hirap lang manghuli ng killer!

In all those games the consequence for the loser is – uminom ng hot tea!

Dinner 2:

While enjoying the dinner and games with my students, I kept on checking my phone for the venue and updates on my second dinner to attend to. Good thing sobrang dami ng tao sa Kanin Club in Ayala Triangle so my batchmates transferred to Sentro in Greenbelt 3. It gave me the leverage to spend more time with my students. When I received the text message that my batchmates were already in Greenbelt, I prepared myself and bade good bye to the game este birthday dinner.

When I arrived in Greenbelt, naabutan kong nghihintay ng food ang mga batchmates ko. Meron pang time magkwentuhan. Nowie gave his gifts to all of us. Salamat sa regalo pareng Nowie. Sunod na Pasko na lang ako babawi. Then other batchmates arrived. Then kainan na ulit. I ate less kasi medyo busog na ako sa food at tawanan from the first dinner.

The dinner paved the way to make kumustahan and updates to all our plans next year. Some will still stay in the firm, while others set their sights going abroad. For me, I didn’t know.

The dinner was actually not only a Christmas /Year-end Dinner. It was also a birthday celebration for Nowie. He celebrated his birthday on 19^th. Masayang tignan that the tradition of the group is still alive- giving birthday celebrations and despedidas to our fellow batchmates.

Coffee Session:

I could no longer attend to the last dinner. I called Lolit that I would go for coffee session na lang. The coffee session was actually a treat from Quennie our friend who is currently in Malta. Sa akin kasi pinadala ang “coffee fund” so I really need to be there and give/buy them cups and fraps of coffee.

My friends in the coffee session are old college friends. We were part of the SICAP, our organization in college. Ako na lang atang naiwang “kuya” since most of my fellow “kuyas” are in abroad. This year our organization doesn’t have a reunion so a simple kwentuhan over the cup of coffee works a Christmas magic na rin.

Thanks Pooh for the coffee!

So that’s the story of the three events! Bow!

DB

(Last year I started a special Christmas blog series entitled 25 Days of Christmas. For this year I wanted to do it again. If the Christmas song has 12 days of Christmas, I have my longer version – 25 Days of  Christmas Year 2.)

On the 20^th day of Christmas, it’s Party time!

It was our department’s Christmas Party. This year’s theme was Christmas SPARTEE! It’s a combination of spa and at the same time party. I thought this event would never work. How would you combine a relaxing mode to a hyper mode? My questions are answered during the event itself.

But before going to the Spartee, since I am part of the newbie, kelangan ko daw magrender ng service este “talent” presentation. Kadalasan ganito ang kultura at gawi sa mga opisina o sa isang organization kung saan ang mga bago ay “nagpeperform”. Buti na lang may kasama ako. We are five who will present, kasama na sa bilang ang mga me utang na “presentation”. Napagdesisyunan naming magpatawa na lang.

If you remember Battle of the Brainless ng Tropang Trumpo, that’s what we did. Introducing the hottest quiz bee of the brainless- QUIZ BOO ang Quiz ng mga Bobo! Naging successful naman ang pagpapatawa namin (I guess) yun nga lang nabitin ang mga tagapanood. Ganun talaga pag masarap-nakakabitin (lolz).

After QUIZ BOO, we all proceed to Taguig, the venue of our Spartee!

Para kaming mga SPARTeeans in the movie 300!

Sparteeans what is your profession? We are O’ d Thors! Ahoo Ahoo Ahooo!

We arrived almost lunchtime so we had our lunch first. The buffet is great especially the lechon! After the sumptuous lunch, we proceeded to the Grand Kris Kringle.  Speaking of profession, the Grand Kris Kringle had something to do with our Unfulfilled Ambitions (please back read na lang). I was assigned to act as the emcee for the Grand KK. The guessing game went perfectly well. There’s a penalty for those who did not guess correctly the recipient of their gifts. In between of the guessing game and exchange gift, raffle draws of Gift Checks and Cash Prizes were added. After the Grand KK, it’s spa time.

While waiting for each other’s turn for the Foot Spa and Back Massage, we all had our own agenda in the afternoon. Some played Wii, while others serenaded us through the Magic Sing. The other group played with cards and Pinoy Henyo.

Our group had the best game of the afternoon- ang laro ng mga bata ang-  123 Pass!!!

Isang masayang laro ang 123 Pass gamit ang baraha! Para sa mga batang di alam ang larong eto, madali lang searh mo sa Google ang mechanics ng laro! Ang talo sa laro, may consequence kaso mahirap gumawa ng consequence or dare, eh sakto me nakitang Johnson’s Baby Powder. Ayun ang penalty ng talo ay puputukan ng pulbos ang mukha ng natalo. Naputukan ako sa mukha once. Nalate ako magbaba ng kamay eh.

After 123 Pass ang Question Game ang kumain n gaming oras. The game is played in group. Puro tanungan lang ang laro. Magtatanong ang isang player sa kahit na sinong player then sasagot sya ng tanong din pero sa ibang player nakaadress ang tanong. Bawal ibalik ang tanong sa taong nagtanong. Bawal din ulit-ulitin ang tanong. Minimum of three words ang bawat tanong. Kahit na anong tanong pwede. Kahit personal ang tanong pwede!

Naging masaya at maingay ang Question Game! Even some of our managers joined the game so walang killjoy. Umulan ng personal, kadiri, weird, bastos at below the belt questions. Pero the objective of the game eh hindi mo naman sasagutin eh, you will distract the concentration of your opponents.  Funny ang game, nakakarattle mag-isip at mapapa stutter ka rin magtanong.

After the long game, pandesal with corned beef ang meryenda and syempre spa. The Spartee served as a break from work and monotonous life in the office. Spartee was actually a great stress reliever and bonding moment!

I went home tired but happy.

So my answer for the question if a spa and a party could combined, hmmm, PWEDE!

Christmas Spartee was a perfect 10!

DB

(Last year I started a special Christmas blog series entitled 25 Days of Christmas. For this year I wanted to do it again. If the Christmas song has 12 days of Christmas, I have my longer version – 25 Days of  Christmas Year 2 .)

On the 19^th day of Christmas, I enjoyed the colorful lights of Christmas.

I know it’s been weeks since the Christmas Lights of Ayala Triangle were first lit. Yet, I only visited the triangle and gathered some shots today. Though I passed by the triangle on my way home, all I could do was to set my sight from afar, sabay banggit… Pasko na nga.

The lights in the Ayala Triangle were featured in Jessica Soho. That’s why people know how majestic the Christmas Lights are. I even remembered the comment of one of those spectators about this year’s design. The concept of this year’s Christmas Lights in Ayala Triangle was similar to those lights found in abroad. Kahit na nasa Pinas ka feeling mo nasa abroad ka if you are in Ayala Triangle.

And it’s true.

The colorful night was so relaxing. If last year’s theme was Avatar, this year’s lights focuses on stars. There are stars of different colors and shapes. The stars and the lights could really make you feel that Christmas is only days away.

For working people in Makati just like me, dropping by the Ayala Triangle could ease the stress from office. Nakakarelax panoorin ang iba’t ibang kulay kahit na nakatingala ka most of the time (hanggang magkaroon ka ng stiff neck).

Lights in Ayala Triangle

Buti na lang nakaabot ako sa pagkuha ng mga pictures. Inaayos ko pa ang setting ng aking digicam (testing different ways to capture a better result),sakto namang paclose na ang mga lights. Bilang lang ang pictures na nakuha ko. Pero masaya na rin ako kasi I got a souvenir for this year’s lights in the Ayala Triangle.

Blue Effects

Buti na lang Christmas Lights are added in celebrating Christmas. Iba talaga kapag makulay at maliwanag ang paligid sa araw ng Pasko.

DB

(Last year I started a special Christmas blog series entitled 25 Days of Christmas. For this year I wanted to do it again. If the Christmas song has 12 days of Christmas, I have my longer version – 25 Days of  Christmas Year 2 .)

On the 18^th day of Christmas, I received my gift from Blog Kris Kringle.

Maraming salamat kay Bai Dan for the present! Actually he already informed me that he already sent the gift a week earlier. But I failed to ask the guard if may nareceive silang package.

Now that I already bought a gift from the wish list of Bai, saktong bukas din ang LBC sa tapat namin kaya ayun mabilis kong napadala. That’s the only time I dropped by the guard and ask for the package. The guard on duty thought walang package. Good thing I noticed another LBC bag at the lower portion of the drawer. When we checked it, my name was on the recipient portion. Yahoo! I thought the package is totally gone.

I was too excited to open the package. I was curious about the content. I was still inside the elevator, but I started to tear some portion of the plastic. But I changed my mind, may kasama kasi ako sa elevator, baka mainggit sya kasi wala syang LBC package. (Childish?)

When I reached my unit,  I totally ripped off (masyadong excited), kidding aside, I gently opened the package. Dun sumambulat ang isang galit na galit na Ibon!

A black Angry Birt t-shirt!

I checked the size, baka kasi hindi magkasya sa akin. When I tried wow… Sakto ang fit!

DB with Angry Bird Tee

Thanks Bai for the Tee!

DB

(Last year I started a special Christmas blog series entitled 25 Days of Christmas. For this year I wanted to do it again. If the Christmas song has 12 days of Christmas, I have my longer version – 25 Days of  Christmas Year 2 .)

On the 17^th day of Christmas, I didn’t travel to Baguio.

Another failed attempt to fulfill my plan. I already planned my trip to Baguio almost two weeks ago. I was so excited to see my old college friends. I was so excited also to visit my relatives and much more excited to enjoy the Christmas chill in Baguio. I was already imagining myself walking at night in Session Road wearing my jacket and go straight to my favourite coffee shop , Kaffeeklatch. (Sorry mahirap i-spell, tama ba?)

But as the much awaited day comes near, things are getting different (palusot).

Fist, I received an email from College that final encoding of grades will be on December 17. Although I computed my grades on time, I couldn’t drop by the school on office hours of weekdays. So I have no choice but to drop by on Saturday morning. This means I will postpone my trip a bit. Instead of travelling on Friday night, it will be Saturday morning.

Then, the gifts for the pamangkins were still with Aye. When we bought gifts in Divisoria las October (yup maaaga kami namili), she volunteered to wrap all the gifts (which I am truly thankful wala kasi ako talent magrap oops magwrap).  But the problem is, nakalimutan ko ng kunin during November. So ayun I planned to get it on Friday after office. Sudden change of plan ulit, instead of going straight to Baguio I planned to drop by Pangasinan para iwan ang mga gifts sa bahay, then go straight to Baguio.

Then there’s the three ham which kelangan ngang iuwi sa bahay. So I need to go home first.

I was already settled with the latter, when I checked my budget. This is actually the reason why I did not travel. My budget did not permit me to travel. If babyahe ako, wala na ako pambili ng gift to my family. Kaya ang final decision… matulog ng Saturday at maghikbi. Baguio can still wait.

So my dear friends in Baguio sorry if I did not make it.

Indeed to gain some, you lose some.

DB

(Last year I started a special Christmas blog series entitled 25 Days of Christmas. For this year I wanted to do it again. If the Christmas song has 12 days of Christmas, I have my longer version – 25 Days of  Christmas Year 2 .)

On the 16^th day of Christmas, I did not wake up for the first day of Simbang Gabi.

I alarmed at 3:30 in the morning. But I was dead to the world and was not able to wake up from the alarm of my phone.

Wala na ang panatang mabuo ang Simbang Gabi. Better luck next year na lang ulit. But i want to salvage this Christmas by attending at least the five.

Back in the office, the Grand Kris Kringle was officially opened. I picked-up the  “lucky” officemate who wanted to become a Doctor. I was absolutely sure she’s a she, based on her wish list: a beauty product, leather belt (size 28-30) and a Glee Christmas Album.

But I am not yet sure if my guess is correct.

DB