New Year's Eve. As was the custom, we make sure that our dining table have food and drinks. This is for the belief that we would not "want" in the coming year. Also, we have money tucked in each of our clothes' pockets. This, again, is for the belief that we have something when we the need arises.
Must have borrowed from the Chinese, inspite of all the warnings of accidents that may happen in having firecrackers to welcome the new year, this did not deter our neighbors to do so. It is the belief that the loud noise will ward off bad luck in entering your home. For me, I'd rather spend the money I would be buying for the firecrackers on food.
As tradition dictates, me and my nephews and nieces are back to the country's theme park, Enchanted Kingdom, as their bonding moment. This time, we are 19 in the group. Five of them are "first timers" in our annual activity. One thing is sure, the kids enjoyed themselves (what with their flash mob wannabee... hehehe!).
Last working day of the year, my friend and I would meet for lunch at Shanghai Bistro for our post-Christmas, pre-New Year lunch date. We had suckling pig for appetizer, tofu with mushroom and yang chow fried rice. Originally, we thought we wouldn't be able to finish everything because of the serving size. But we did!!! c",)
After, we had yogurt at California Berry for dessert.
My friend and her husband (with their kids) is back in Manila (from Canada) to attend their parents' wedding anniversary. Today is their only free time to meet with us. We've become friends since Solidbank days. Most of us looked for other employment. My friend migrated to Canada with her family.
It would be a lunch reunion at Sentro in Greenbelt 3. There were lots of stories exchanged. In fact, we were busy chatting, we ordered late and food arrived around 1PM!
After office, decided to take a video of the Dancing Lights Show at the Makati Stock Exchange--took photos of it last Wednesday, December 23. Lo and behold! The last day of the show was December 23!!! If that's not Ninos Inocentes...
Decided to drop by at The Landmark Supermarket to buy the ingredients needed for the pudding and fruit salad. Everything is available except for the fruit glaze and Karo syrup (why do they have different names for these syrup, don't know which to buy) needed for the pudding. The way my Nana does the pudding is similar to fruit cake less the wine. And I like it (pudding) better than fruit cake. c",)
It would be a movie marathon for me with my Nana and Lyn. It is becoming a tradition to watch the entries of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) with my "angels".
While queueing for the tickets, already ordered food at Glorietta's Food Choices for our lunch. We would be watching the first screening of Shake, Rattle and Roll XI, and second screening of Ang Panday.
Shake, Rattle and Roll XI is three horror stories, titled: Diablo, Ukay-Ukay, and Lamanglupa.
With Diablo, a doctor treats a patient and begins receiving demonic visions. It is an exorcism. With Ukay-Ukay, a wedding is interrupted when a gown bought at an ukay-ukay turns out to be possessed. In Lamanglupa, a group of campers find themselves stalked by strange creatures when two of them destroyed the nuno.
I think I prefer last year's episodes of Shake, Rattle and Roll.
While waiting for the next movie, bought a gift for my inaanak. Imagine, after seven (7) years, I only learned yesterday that he is my inaanak! Laki ng utang ko (translation: I owe him a lot)... hehehe!
Our next movie is Ang Panday. When a meteor lands, an unassuming blacksmith is told that he has a great destiny. When the woman he loves was taken, he sought and fought the evil warlord.
After the movies, we ate at a Veneto Pizzeria Ristorante.
It was declared a holiday. Wanted to wake up very late. But this was foiled by my niece who never stopped knocking on my door. Hehehe!
Was whole day at home while the kitchen is very busy... with hamonado, embotido, morcon, fruit salad, etc.
Sent out SMS greetings early, before the network get congested. Received lots of SMS greetings, too!
"I have a list of folks I know, all written in a book And every year when Christmas comes, I go and take a look And that is when I realize that these names are a part not of the book they are written in, but really of my heart."
"Faith makes all things possible, Hope makes all things work, and Love makes all things beautiful. May you have all the three for this Christmas."
The last working day prior to Christmas, decided to take images of the Christmas decors displayed in Makati buildings/offices. But first, attended the Christmas party of a unit who invited me to their party. Actually, I became their photographer.
After office, two friends joined me in my "shoot". Unfortunately, they did not bring their cameras.
Walked our way from our office to Ayala and took images of the Belens.
We also planned to watch the Dancing Lights show at the Stock Exchange. The "show" is from 6PM to 7PM.
Some members of the office's camera club arranged to do some shoot at Bataan in hope of winning the Canon EOS 7D. Borrowed my brother's driver and car for our trip to Bataan. If not, I won't even attempt of going there by bus (what with all my gear?). Also, invited my friend to join us.
Woke up really early as our meeting place is at BDO branch in New York, Cubao at 6AM. While on the way, there were already a lot of stories and jokes exchanged, you don't have time to sleep. Stopped at McDonald's in NLEX for our breakfast. Used the SCTEX route to reach Bataan.
Upon reaching Bataan, our first stop is Mt. Samat where the Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor) can be found. It was built in memory of the soldiers of World War II.
We spent sometime there, enjoying the view and capturing through our lenses its beauty.
For lunch, we went to a friend's house of one in our group. We were served hipon (shrimp), kare-kare, inihaw na bangus, sylvannas, ice cream, etc. (BURP!)
We also did some shooting there, with the host's young son as our model. Of course, the rest of the group must have their chance infront of the camera. LOL
Since it is kind of late when we left our host, we decided to skip the Pawikan Center and proceed to Balanga Church. Also captured it with our camera.
We arrived Manila around 8PM. Dropped each near their place. Since still have groceries needed for Christmas, dropped by The Landmark to buy some groceries (the mall's extended their operating hours by two hours) and had dinner at a Venetto Pizzeria Ristorante.
Last Saturday prior to Christmas... Finally, completed my Christmas list. Spent sometime at Burger King, preparing for the shoot tomorrow. Don't know but I don't feel like watching Avatar.
Attended the anticipated Mass and had dinner at Super Bowl.
But first, went to the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation (FPPF) at Intramuros to give the invitation to Mr. Vic Sison and Mrs. Edi Huang for our office's camera club's first Christmas party and awards night.
Then, went to Glorietta to start my Christmas shopping. A lot of people seems also to have it in mind as the mall is full of them. c",)
Finally, a movie for me this weekend. Decided to watch Fantastic Mr. Fox. Based from the book by Roald Dahl, a fox used to make a living by stealing have to give up his "wild" lifestyle when his wife got pregnant. But I guess, you can remove the fox from the wild; but, it's hard to remove the "wild" in the fox... gets? Hehehe!
When he moved his family above ground to a tree home, his new three neighbors challenges him and stirs his wily heart. He steals from the three crooked farmers. Fed up with his antics, the farmers band together to wipe-out the fox and his friends. But he fox still have something up his sleeves.
(Writing this at home...)
Then, attended the anticipated Mass and had dinner at Italianni's.
This week, started receiving (and giving) gifts. There's my favorite Guylian which came from Australia, brownies from Contis, carrot cupcake, etc. But the gift I received today would be the first time I would be able to taste it.
Just from the name, it seems like it is the Rolls Royce of chocolates. LOL
Several camera clubs would be at the Grand Marian Procession today to cover the event because it would be FPPF's OTS (on-the-spot). There would be 90+ Marian images included in the procession.
I would be meeting one of my office mates, my buddy for the day's shoot. Also saw many of my camera club's members.
Before we left, took one rose from the float (which has been blessed) and put it in our altar, by the image of Mama Mary.
Today would be Puso sa Puso's early Charity Christmas party for 5,000 kids of Rosario, Pasig. Last year, it was 500 kids from Parola.
Some office mates volunteered their time to be with these kids. Each volunteer is assigned 5 kids, which they have to take care of/look at during the event. Although my role there is to document the event (did it through still photo and video), I also made sure that everything is a-OK with my volunteers.
