New Year's Eve Preparation
Note to self: Stop superstitious beliefs.
In the morning, will buy cake, fruits and ice cream. In the afternoon, will pick up the food I ordered.
So, went to Ayala Center. First stop is at The Landmark Food Center to go to Red Ribbon to buy a dedication cake. I have the message "Blessed 2023!' written on it. Usually, would buy only two--one for me and one for Edgar, the driver. But since my niece would not be joining me tonight because she might be infected with COVID-19, will buy one for her and drop it off at her condo.
Went to SM Makati's supermarket to buy fruits. Bought two basket of fruits for Edgar and for my sister-in-law (which I bought for my niece). For me, bought seedless grapes. Asked Edgar to buy banana at The Landmark Supermarket.
Went to Baskin-Robbins to buy ice cream. Bought two quarters (that's one gallon because of the buy one, take one promo). Asked Edgar to wait for the ice cream while the fresh pack is being prepared. Went to Pancake House to buy food-to-go for my niece. Also went to Pet Express to buy a ceramic food bowl for Theo (not available).
After, went to my niece's condo. Left the cake and food outside her door after ringing the doorbell.
Before 4PM, left the condo to go to Emerald Garden Restaurant to pick up our media noche. There are a lot of orders. My order is already prepared. Paid for it and left.
Prayed the rosary around 6PM, then prayed 1000 thank You to Jesus. Attended the 8PM online Mass for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.
While waiting for 12 midnight, watched the countdown aired by a local station.
Then just before 12 midnight, the YouTube channel I am subscribed to went online to remind about superstitious belief, and to welcome the new year with sacramentals (holy water, holy bell) and a prayer.
The prayer shared:
Bless, + O Lord God Almighty, this our home, that in there may be health, purity, the strength of victory, humility, goodness, and mercy, the fulfillment of Thy law, the thanksgiving to God the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. And may this blessing remain upon our home and all of us who dwell herein. Amen. (Sprinkle the house with holy water while ringing the holy bells.)
Then this ACT OF CONSECRATION is to be said before the family altar:
O Jesus, our most loving Redeemer, Who having come to enlighten the world, with Your teaching and example, willed to pass the greater part of Your life in humility and subjection to Mary and Joseph in the poor home in Nazareth, thus sanctifying the family that was to be an example for all Christian families, graciously receive our family as it dedicates and consecrates itself to You this day. Defend us, guard us and establish among us Your holy fear, true peace and concord in Christian love: in order that by conforming ourselves to the divine pattern of Your Family we may be able, all of us without exception, to attain to eternal happiness.
Mary, dear Mother of Jesus and Mother of us, by your kind intercession make this our humble offering acceptable in the sight of Jesus,and obtain for us His graces and blessings.
Saint Joseph, most holy Guardian of Jesus and Mary, assist us by your prayers in all our spiritual and temporal necessities; that we may be able to praise our divine Savior Jesus, together with Mary and you, for all eternity.
Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be... (three times)
RPT
I always my real property tax of next year for the whole year, and usually does it before the end of the year. And today is my schedule for it.
Went to Makati City Hall. Payment is a breeze. Although there is a slight change in the venue (same process). Billing estimate is at a makeshift office outside the building and payment is at the second floor of the City Hall. For senior citizens, payment is also at the makeshift building so that they don't need to go up a flight of stairs.
After, proceeded to Glorietta to buy some items. Went to Baskin-Robbins to make reservation for a half-quarter ice cream (they have a promo of buy one, take one). Bought tape dispenser at National Bookstore. Bought a buy one, take one curtain shower at True Value.
Left the mall to go to another mall-SM Mall of Asia for I wanted to buy several Miraculous Medals at St. Paul's.
Then, proceeded home.
Christmas Eve Preparation
Will pick-up the food I ordered at Conti's for our noche buena tonight. Scheduled at 10AM. The process is really fast since I think I was the only there (at the time) to pick up the food. Maybe the others opted for Grab delivery? Hehe!
Then, went to Glorietta to buy ice cream at Baskin-Robbins. Baskin will close shop in the Philippines on 2023.
After, proceeded home to wait for the Christmas Eve.
We prayed the rosary around 7PM and attended the online Mass at 8PM. Had dinner after.
Repair
It is start of my five-day mandatory leave.
Went to Ziebart to pay for the repair services of the Avanza so that Edgar can pick it up once done.
Then, went to the Sto. Nino de Paz Community Chapel at the Greenbelt for Friday Mass, late lunch of tuna sandwich at Earl of Sandwich in Glorietta, bought cranberry juice at Healthy Options before leaving the mall to go to Emerald Garden Restaurant where I will pre-order our food for New Year's Eve.
Car's Pampering
My HR-V was already brought to Ziebart yesterday. Will go there to pay the services so that Edgar, the driver, can pick-up the car anytime once it's done.
After, went to Glorietta. Stopped first at Healthy Options to buy supplements, Mo' Cookies for palm-sized cookies, Tiger Sugar for milk tea. Supposedly, would leave after but the Avanza would not start--the battery has to be replaced. The mall's security assisted to jump start the car.
So, we went immediately to Motolite to buy a car battery replacement before proceeding home.
Despedida
There are several reorganizations being done in our company. In any case, one who is used to be part of my team would be leaving the company to focus on her son. Already made reservation in Buffet 101 at Glorietta where we would be giving her a despedida lunch.
Since the start of the pandemic, this is the first time I would be eating buffet. Came prepared with my portable air purifier and alcohol. 😀
Thank You, did not get COVID-19 on my first buffet lunch. 🙏
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Post note: It seems that one of those who joined in the despedida caught the virus. He's got symptoms the following Saturday and tested positive with his antigen test kit. Asked him if he ate something using his hand, which he concurred. And he doesn't have an alcohol with him.
Christmas Lunch
Finally, after two years, we will again meet. Supposed to send my Christmas gifts to them but we decided to meet up for lunch instead.
But first, went to Toyota Manila Bay for the preventive maintenance of my Toyota Avanza. Already have 9AM appointment. They would only be operating in the morning as they would have their Christmas party in the afternoon. Edgar, the driver, would be picking-up the car once serviced.
We then went to The Landmark supermarket for my scheduled grocery. After paying for my purchases, left Edgar to handle of bringing the groceries to the car as I walked my way to Chili's at Greenbelt 5 where I would be meeting up Tita Josie and Tita Norma for our Christmas lunch. Edgar will bring the groceries home and will pick me up later.
Of course, ordered our usual: classic nachos, boneless buffalo chicken salad, Alfredo pasta with shrimp, and molten chocolate cake. We exchanged our gifts after eating. Fun!
We walked our way to Glorietta where we have our pictures taken with the very big Christmas tree. We, then, parted ways where Tita Josie went to Rustan's where she would be getting a taxi home, Tita Norma to SM to buy some groceries before proceeding home, and me at Glorietta where I will be picked-up.
Preventive Maintenance
My Honda HR-V is scheduled for its semi-annual preventive maintenance. Already made an appointment for 9AM.
Edgar the driver already brought the car at Honda Makati much earlier. My service advisor would already know what to do. He actually called me, explained to me the tasks to be performed on my car, and I gave my "go" signal to proceed.
Past 9AM, went to Honda Makati to pay the service so that Edgar would only have to pick-up the car once done.
Was dropped-off at Glorietta where I walked my way to Sto. Nino de Paz Community Chapel at Greenbelt to attend 12:15PM Mass and for the sacrament of reconciliation (between 1PM to 3PM).
After, went to The Landmark where I was able to buy a blouse for the office Christmas party, Villman to buy my Christmas gift to my kuya, Aqua Flask for my exchange gift, and Office Warehouse at The Landmark for the Christmas gift wrapper. Bought food and drinks to-go at Starbucks before proceeding home
My service advisor called earlier to inform me that my car is already ready for pick-up. Edgar will get the car after dropping me off at the condo.
