your favorite season begins here first!

Time flies is such a cliche. I've heard my first Christmas song today on my way to work. For the season...season? oh well, we love to go over the top on everything around here, that we have the longest Christmas season ever! Starts from the beginning of the -ber months, September and runs up to February the next year! Ain't that long?!!! ...and Grand! We love Christmas, that's why. Little by little Christmas decorations will be put up on the streets, tiny golden lights that blink in sync around shrubs and trees, huge, colorful "Parols" (colorful lanterns) hanging on every lamp post and the malls, yeah the MALLS will be filled with the season's festive mood, SALE!SALE!SALE! is in the air! ^^

yay!

There'd been hints of "Christmas" as of last night, when we came around a steaming "Puto Bumbong" while strolling the busy streets of Pasig, we noticed a whistling sound and realized that it's Puto Bumbong!!! Purple sticky rice, stuffed in a bamboo shoot to steam... when done, the "puto bumbong" is shaken off the bamboo shoot and is topped with shredded young coconut and sugar, folded into a banana leaf for wrapping...mmmnn... yummy!!! Husband asked me if I want some but I said "NO!" We're breaking traditions here! This is too early for Puto Bumbong, they can't be making Puto Bumbong just yet, but there they are already making some and it's just August 31 yesterday! phew! I guess some people are little too excited than me! I still refused to have some, it's meant to be eaten by December especially after the "Simbang Gabi" ... (nine nights/dawn of novena prayers for your Christmas wishes), it's one of those traditions that I grew up with, but if others want to have them as early as September they're NOT breaking the law, it's just the whole wonderful meaning and memory attached to it that's being broken! You can't give away Christmas cards in March, that's what it's like... and I'm just a sentimental fool, that's why!!! ^^

Anyway, we do so many things about this season that's why we have it as soon as the -ber months come. We just love festivities! We just love making reasons to gather and eat! To bring out the lights and outdo our neighbors with the grandest decors! haha...

So,The season have started from where I am and you're certainly invited to join! ^^

Traditional Parol made of bamboo sticks and colorful paper

A modern, parol with programmed lights made of Capiz Shells and wire

Puto Bumbong (is prepared only within the Christmas Season)

Simbang Gabi, (nine nights/dawn of novena mass, Dec.16-Dec.24)

P.S.
Not to worry, we still have time to celebrate Holloween in between all of these!!!

breathing that millionaire air

Free shopping!!! We couldn't ask for more! ... except maybe, if that Gift Certificate came from a "regular" mall we could have bought plenty more stuff than just a pair of outfit for my hubby and a blouse for me ... I shouldn't be complaining, it's free stuff! ^^ A "residue" of the gifts we received on our wedding, 7 mos. ago, I found it tucked inside my wallet all these time and I wanted to do shopping but is always making the mathematics before actually going, but heck! we went yesterday and spent it on clothes!!! Expensive ones! haha clearly not practical, but it's something we will both feel good about, and not like if we bought another appliance or furniture that we'd only use on weekends...this blouse, equivalent to 5 blouses (not signature), will instantly make me feel brand new!!!

Plus, it's a good feeling from time to time to NOT wait in line at the register, shop without much crowd, and the fitting rooms are fab! Glossy, with chandeliers and lighting... I feel like a star. So glamorous in an instant... and oh! was that a celebrity who just walked in??? a young star who appears on TV shows and commercials? She's so pretty... and she shops here, with me ... on the same rack I was on... maybe we have the same taste and style...fabulous!

I was batting my eyelashes while making my picks and handing them over at the assistant, my husband is chuckling ... I have several pieces that I tried on but the hubby says, I may take only one as getting another blouse or a "plum" overcoat is ridiculous as the prices are not too good for our conscience!

Anyway, it was great fun! We wish we could get married every year to get more GCs! It was a day when we wish we'd bump on to someone while heavily laden with our designer carrier bags with our purchases carefully wrapped in tissue paper...we can do this from time to time, it wont hurt to reward ourselves after all that hard work ... I'll get that plum overcoat ... I'll even get that silver Porsche at the showroom we passed by... hubby sees my eyes gleaming ..."yeah, we'll get that Porsche someday when we're too rich to notice" ... how did he know I was thinking that?! ^^

the movie that's UP.

UP is awesome. One of the best movies this year. If it made me dredge up all emotions I could possibly invoke, it must be good. Really good. You have to watch it and you wont regret! The trailer says nothing about these "unexpected" twists, that made me silently cry in the dark ... its message comes across within layers and layers of metaphors. This isn't just a kid movie, this is quality movie.

Now I wont tell you why or you'll not want to watch this film anymore...but PIXAR did it again, surprised me with a very good plot, if you're a writer you know that this has nailed it.

click here for the movie trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USpI6Jzl3No
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Public Reviews:

wownatalia:
"This is one of my favorite movies. It really shows how far someone would go in life for someone they love/loved. It made me cry so much. And it made me laugh so much. When I need to escape from the world, I'm going to snuggle up with a blanket and watch this movie on dvd again when it comes out. Can't wait! "

iLime14:
"I thought this would just be a happy/kiddy movie that would make me chuckle a few times. Knew it would be good because it was from Pixar...but no....this movie was so much more. =] "

esjhay19:
"i just loved this movie!...i loved the part..where russel introduces himself to carl! ..it really made me laugh...:)"

Danny2813:
"i really did love this movie "

chill

Another long weekend!!! yeepee! Super happy that I could have relaxation time for 3 straight days! ... I just hope I wont start rationalizing again about how I use it for surfing the internet and "hobbying" that I'm left insomiac and exhausted by choice.

^^ I will ask the hubby to date me in one of those days to finally watch UP, the Pixar movie. We're both into 3D, kids stuff movies such as Nemo and those kind of films you let your kids watch even without supervision. In a way, it helps us detox from all the anxieties that the REAL world is already creating for us in everyday that our idea of a movie is bound to be for pure entertainment, without the "super", "hyper" climax of violence and mind boggling THE END. With the works of Pixar and Dreamworks in soft pastel colors, it is a breather.

Anyway, 'you all have a good weekend!

"here they come the beautiful ones!"

We were all cheers and smiles, showing support and waving our flag ... but nah! we are not the MOST beautiful people in the entire UNIVERSE! If we are to base that on the recently ended MISS UNIVERSE 2009 pageant, we are NOT! We lost again to Venezuela, I'm not surprised ... they always win! Well, we should start breeding our own league of potential beauty queens because that's what they do, BREED them. It's like the Olympics, they train beauty queens with rigorous routine in lipstick and heels! BUT the rest of it actually lies on the GENES, how can you grow a neck like that?! A gorgeous long neck ... that even SCIENCE cannot meddle with ... (in photos, TOP: Ms. Philippines 2009, Bianca Manalo, BELOW: Ms. Universe 2009, Ms. Venezuela)

ME: oh you don't say! get outta here! really?!!!!

MY SMARTER BRAIN: I read that somewhere you could wear a steel neck brace that will eventually elongate your neck ... a tribe in Thailand does that (to the extremes!) That if they remove the coil on their necks they could die because it's already far stretched! yikes!

The price of beauty as long necks are deemed elegant and graceful...I don't know when will mine grow! ... but I'm waitiiiing. ^^

...And what about that RIB reduction, where they take out 2 of your lower ribs so your body shape will always be smaller on the waist ... (excuse me, but I'm gonna pass out for a while ... haaaayy...) I heard Thalia, the famous Mexican actress, who's now married to Mariah Carey's Ex- have had that surgery... (I'm passing out again ... haaaayy...) if that's true.

STOP ... it's not to say that in order to be beautiful you must go under these "extremes" ... as I believe that "no woman is ever ugly, but there are just the "lazy" ones"! ^^ ...yeah... true. Forget those "effortlessly" beautiful women with good genes, they are NOT human!!! ^^

It's just a beauty contest. Anyway we've had our share of glory in the Miss Universe pageant having 2 winners in the past (in black and white photos!!!) and the first ever Miss Universe from Finland married a Filipino guy, that should count!!! ... I don't even know why I watch pageants, somehow - maybe, my mom wished one of her daughters could be among those "flawlessly" looking girls in the pageant... until I discovered the JOY of tree climbing and bikes that squashed her secret dream of a beauty queen/daughter!!! haha... and that I refused to join a pageant once in College, *wink*wink* because I'm a "rocker" chick, not actually the kind who's gonna strut in a bikini and showcase her talent just to show she's got talent, how'd you showcase a talent in GARDENING in 15 mins.??? So I gave way to the "girl" who'll do anything just to get in, bleach herself and all! ... It's NOT my thing... people have their own THING, that's not mine. I still like watching pageants though, nevermind why ... it's just so. (in photos, TOP: Gloria Diaz, Miss Universe 1969, BOTTOM: Margie Moran, Miss Universe, 1973)

Anyway, Melody Gersbach will represent us in the Miss International ... I have high hopes on her, she's pretty, smart and elegant. She comes from the same city I came from (I'm biased!) Was a graduate of a private Catholic School in highschool where my sister is teaching and she owns a popular restaurant in the City, she is a young business woman, I like her. (I'm biased!) ... Reminds me of what I read "again" ... That before, pageant candidates are chosen ONLY among the richest and born to prominent families, you must belong to the "high" class society to be Miss Universe Philippines ... aawww... I wouldn't be Miss Philippines now or even before!!! (but I don't want it, really I dont!)



Sooo, yeah...we lost. No big deal, we can try again next year and the coming years! ... Pageants are very different in each coutnry, we just consider ours as the most dramatic and the "serious" kind, that we love to see beautiful women to be "perfect" ... to be super smart and successful, to the point of having ridiculous expectations! To answer in perfect english, must have a flawless body but without having a surgery! To be super smart like Summa Cum Laude smart!!! Our 2007 Miss Philippines is a Summa Cum Laude from one of the top Universities in the country, ridiculous! i hate her! ^^

well... spread the love, goodwill and beauty. There's no harm in being beautiful inside and out! Remember, there are no ugly women there are just lazy ones!

Sunday with an El Salvadoran Film

Sunday. The long weekend is almost over, it's afternoon. Thanks for that, I'm now happy and well rested! I don't feel as grumpy and as tired anymore. YAY! The old me is FOUND!

-making desserts. check.
-smiling at the sunshine. check.
-hating the neighbor's singing karaoke. check.
-learning crochet.check.

yup! that is me, found intact and doing good. I wont stress that much anymore, I know I shouldn't, Life's been good to me. I'm blessed.

We've watched an El Salvadoran film this morning, dubbed in Filipino and with English subtitle, very moving. Some say that the film's one sided as it made the guerrilla soldiers heroes and the nation's army evil but the film to me, more than anything says about the suffering of innocent people caught in the line of fire without clear understanding of what the war is all about... WAR is STUPID. I wish that there's just one BIG arena for all the Generals and Leaders of the world to settle their conflicts on to a BOXING match to avoid the loss of many other lives.

Anyway here's the trailer of the film, INNOCENT VOICES:



"you CAN'T talk PEACE and have a GUN."
-Francis M.

all day Ninoy!

I'm dedicating this post to a great man, a leader. Who has served his country well and good. He never failed to believe in his country even when his country has failed to believe in itself. This video is very inspirational, an awesome speech, you'll never get bored ^^ An invitation to get a glimpse of what makes a man, a hero.



Some parts are in Filipino, not to worry the essence of the speech is not lost, "Palakpakan" means clapping/ applause, if you came to that part... This speech was made while the Philippines was still under the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda Marcos, the first lady (most famous for her collection of expensive shoes, over 2000 in pairs!)wow.



Sen.Benigno Aquino Jr., "Ninoy" as he was called was imprisoned for 7 years and 7 mos. before this speech, he had been granted to fly to the US for a heart surgery, thus, he was in Los Angeles to give this talk. He mentions about his prison ordeal,
quote:

"...you will note that one of the greatest problem of a prisoner is loneliness, for 7 years I wasn't aloud to see the moon and the stars, there were days when they left me all alone by myself, I had no reading material, I had nothing, I was twiddling my thumb, I would walk and walk and walk across my room, just a room of but 4 meters by 5 meters, hoping that I get tired and then when I get tired I will fall asleep, knowing that tomorrow will be the same..."

In 1973, a high ranking official offered to release him if he'd endorse the "New Society" and make an apology to Marcos, ask him for forgiveness through a letter or a telephone call, but Ninoy refused;

"eh ano naman kako ang kasalanan ko eh sya ang nagkasala sa bayan, bakit ako hihingi ng tawad?!" / "Why? what have I done wrong? He's the one who made mistakes against his country? Why would I be the one to apologize?"

He briefed the audience of what was taking place in the country at that time, about the plans of the Marcoses to hang on to power and changing the Constitution to do so.



The new Constitution mandates the change from a Democratic type of goverment to Parliamentary type to make Marcos a President for life!



"...I shall dedicate the last drop of my blood to the restoration of freedom and the dismantlement of your Martial Law."

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Today August 21 is a National Holiday to commemorate the death and heroism of Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. a modern day hero , an inspiration to all. He was assassinated at the Manila International Airport in 1983 upon his arrival to the Philippines after his stay in America. He left 5 children and a wife that will take on his visions of a better Philippines, Corazon C. Aquino, his widow became the first woman President of the Country, ousting Marcos through people power in EDSA 1986. August 1, 2009 Corazon C. Aquino passed away, Time Magazine's "Saint of Democracy", She is the woman in yellow that I featured thrice in my posts for all that she's done and now, we all realize how these couple have probably included in their marriage vows "to love and honor their country ^^," it's amazing how they devoted their lives in the service of the Filipino.

Salamat Ninoy, Salamat Cory.