Merry Christmas!

Just a quick post as I'd like to greet everyone a

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

It's already 7:55 pm here in the Philippines- 4 more hours before Christmas Eve! 

Filipinos go to mass and celebrate Noche Buena at midnight but we won't be going to mass tonight since my father isn't around, no one will drive us to church. It'll be dangerous to just walk since there will be a lot, and I say, a lot, of fireworks by the road tonight. Noche buena can wait till my father is back. It'll be Media Noche then (for New Year's Eve).

Anyways, right now, my Nanay is asleep, I'm tired from my last minute shopping earlier (I had too for my brother's camping on Monday), and my brother has set up his tent in the middle of the living room! Really! We won't be opening presents at midnight.. because there are no presents!haha We decided to do that on New Year's Eve instead. Also, our poor 10-foot Christmas tree had an accident and now she's shorter by 4 feet. :P We removed all lights to keep it away from even graver danger. :D It badly needed a chiropractor! Our house is a mess to since the construction for our ceiling isn't done yet (hence my brother's camping in the living room).

I'm preparing some salad though and maybe pasta for tonight. I still haven't decided. It can wait till tomorrow. If time permits, I'll be baking some cupcakes too!

Oh I just wish my father was here so that we'd be complete.

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Let us not forget the true essence of Christmas. My Christmas may sound lonely, but no, it's not. As the song goes, Christmas is in our hearts (or, something like that).

I'm still blessed. My father isn't around because he's at work. My brother is camping in the living room because he's excited for his week-long camp starting Monday. My mother is asleep because she just wants to rest, haha. Our house is a mess because of the construction. Our Christmas tree is still standing. And we have food and still-unwrapped presents. I'm content. I'm blessed.

Compared to the people in Mindanao who experienced the flood, lost their belongings, their houses, their loved ones, their own lives. Will they still be able to celebrate Christmas? Do they still have Christmas trees? Have they already prepared for Noche Buena? Above all, do they still have homes and families?

Who am I to complain? I'm still happy, I'm still blessed.

Okay, let us not be sad :) Together, let's pray for them. We can all help too!

Again, Merry Christmas everyone! Hope you have a good one!

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Notes on Typhoon Sendong and how to help,

visit: The Philippine Red Cross

Images

Meet me on Monday: Christmas Edition

   CHRISTMAS EDITION!! FIFTEEN QUESTIONS FOR THIS WEEK! :)

Questions:

1.Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper!I love wrapping them up. You get to put more love in it than simply placing them inside gift bags. Also, you get to be more creative. I don't care if it's torn apart after. As long as they look really good, I' happy. :)

2.Real or artificial tree?
Artificial. I'm from the Philippines, and that should probably explain a lot!

3.When do you put your tree up?As early as September, IF possible. Yes, and it gets too dusty come Christmastime! But this year, we had it up by November. YES, we're a bunch of excited people!

4.When do you take your tree down?After the Three Kings Festival (Epiphany), which us January 6. We try to take all decorations down on or before that. But we had one set of decorations that are always there - yes, year round. HAHA!

5.Do you like eggnog?
I've been reading a lot about eggnog on my timeline in Facebook recently, all from my non-Filipino friends. It has probably something to do with Christmas, which I am not aware of.

Well, this is the eggnog I know, and YES, I like eggnog. ;-)

6.Do you have a nativity scene?
We wanted to, but we never had time to shop. So, no. We did have in our previous house, but that was owned by my grandmother. :)

7.Favorite Christmas Movie?
It's a Wonderful Life. 

It really makes me cry every time. I love it! Oh, George Bailey!

 8.Favorite Christmas cookie?
Okay, limme change the question to "Favorite Cookie".. Chocolate chips! 

via

Christmas or not, it's my fave. Better if there's mint!

9.Where will you eat Christmas dinner?
At home. With my Nanay (mom), and Brother. My Tatay (dad) will still be at work and he'll only be able to join us for New Year's. So well, Christmas dinner will be at home, with family.

10.Angel, bow or star on top of your tree?
Star!
I wanted to show you our tree but then there's some minor construction going on at home right now so I better not stand there and take a pic. Those guys might think I'm taking a picture of them!
11.Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Traffic! Everywhere!!!

12.Do you like Fruitcake?
No.
It's hard, and well, I dunno! The rhum, or whatever it is mixed with it doesn't appeal to me. If someone gives us fruitcakes, we end up just taking a bite from time to time. It'll reach Valentine's. :)

13.What are you most excited about the holidays?
Staying at home, wrapping and giving presents and of course, getting them!

14.Do you open presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?
Eve. We can't wait!

15.Will you still be wrapping presents on Christmas Eve?
I still haven't made/bought my gifts. I'll probably be wrapping until New Year's! Merry Christmas!! 6 Days before Christmas!

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas...

So I've been downloading, uhm, illegally (it's Christmas anyway), some albums recently.

And my theme? CHRISTMAS!

***
So that some of you may know (according to ME), today (December 16) marks the 'official' start of Christmas in the Philippines.
Though malls and radio stations play Christmas songs as early as September 1, I consider Christmas to officially commence with the Simbang Gabi, or the 9-day dawn mass until Christmas day. They say that if you get to complete the 9-day mass, your wish will be granted.

I wasn't able to wake up and join the mass this morning, so let me move on. *bitter*
***


Anyway, so much for the segue, back to the albums. Here are my favorites:

I like Zooey Deschanel's voice, it's so distinct and just, beautiful!

Genre: Indie Pop

My favorite: I'll be Home for Christmas

All I know is that Michael Buble is a crooner but does this album belong to the Jazz genre?
Anyway, my favorite from this album: Jingle Bells! It's so cute!
Also, the album made me feel like Michael was singing to me. Eek! haha :D Never knew a Christmas album would make me feel that way.

Meet Christian Bautista. He's a Filipino yet he's very famous all over Asia. He has a Christmas album too.

I'm still looking for a copy of his album though. I heard that it went platinum so  it must be good! 

Here's a preview:

I don't know why I'm doing a post like this. I just wanted something Christmas-sy to post about!

And I like listening to Christmas songs. I love the gloomy-sounding ones. :D 

Winter Wonderland, I'll be Home for Christmas, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, White Christmas.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

9 Days before Christmas!

I just couldn't resist posting these photos. 

Don't you just love those eyes?

*This post was published/finished on December 16. I changed the settings to have the date changed but then it wouldn't. WHY!?
Finally! It's fine :D