Unexpectedly, we were able to witness the spectacular Fireworks competition in SM City Cebu. I heard there were 12 contestants who joined the competition. All entries are amazing and it burst a big “WOW” from the big audience! We are seeing it from the roof deck of SM Car Park and it is the best view.
Whew! How I love Cebu and this beautiful and colorful occasion! Indeed, ‘Sinulog Festival’ is the grandest and the mother of all festival in the Philippines!
One of the grandest and popular occasion in Cebu is the “Sinulog” which is celebrated annually by all cebuanos and not just the town folks but even many Filipinos in the country and foreigners around the world. The celebration even started with a ‘Sinulog Street Fair’ from December 01, 2009 and will end January 31, 2010. It is indeed a festive days in Cebu during this time, the activities and different events will surely make everyone happy, from Sinulog contestants’ street dancing, to mall fairs, not to forget eating and dancing and of course, one of the best thing I see during this event is the big religious crowd in the “Basilica del Santo Nino church” hearing the novena masses and praying.
This grand occasion is not just street fairs but the most important one is a thanksgiving to the main celebrant, who is the baby Jesus himself. That is why, the days celebrating in different corners of Cebu is not complete when people will not drop by the Basilica and pay homage, pray and hear the Holy Mass.
First thing, I will probably be going to the Basilica with my family then party in the streets with my friends! See you all and Viva Pit Senyor!
Below is the schedule of religious activity during the actual Solemnity feast day which is on January 17, Sunday in the Basilica:
4:00 am – Mananita Mass with Msgr. Frederick Kriekenbeek
6:00 am – Pontifical Mass with His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal
every hour – Holy Mass
I’m glad hubby and I decided to sign up our little girl for a “trick or treat” kiddie party in celebration of the Halloween for it is such a memorable activity not just for Claire but for all the parents who bring their kids too. The theme of the party goes “Spookytacular Kiddie Party” – and it is indeed a spooky occasion for all the kids in the company.
A week before the halloween, all departments in the company were decorating halloween tricks in every corner of the office… the creativity of the staff is amazing! I saw graveyards with candles, coffin with pictures, cobwebs in almost every corner of the walls, bats, crickets, there’s even dolls with spooky look hanging on the doorway and a broken leg with unreal blood hanging in the lobby! haha! imagine that! And on the day when the 50 kids ages from 1 year old to 7 year old arrived in the office’s main lobby with their colorful costumes, the place become more scary than the previous days… my officemates are already on there scary costumes, the office turns dim with red lights on the hallway… at the back of my mind, I appreciate all the creativity and thought it’s the happiest Halloween I ever had! Representative from IT Web department won the scariest costume this year – and it’s indeed scary, plus his acting is superb! Wow!
When the kids forming one line are ushered to the path where they will get their first treat, I can see my Claire’s surprised look at her surroundings but I cannot say she is scared yet. When the kids reaches the line and every corners where it’s already the staffs in scary costumes giving them their treat, they all started to be scared, and crying started… my little girl accompanied by her daddy is quite strong, she only tremble when the man who won the scariest costume approached her. Wheh! Overall the occasion is successful and memorable!
We are able to bring home 1 big plastic full of candies, chocolates and toys! Amazing!
right, won the best costume... left, 1st runner up
When it comes to Halloween, what comes to my mind first is something spooky from decorations to scary characters and costumes based on images of death and the supernatural. And having this in mind, I am having a hard time looking for a Halloween costume not for myself but for my Claire… I registered her for some tricks and treats this Halloween and since it’s already one week to go… I gotta find a costume fast! I’m almost tempted to shop online looking at those Tinker Bell costumes, I’m sure she will be so lovely, but I think finding it personally in the mall is a sure thing to fit. So I bring my little girl shopping with me today and could not find that costume I found online, but the first fairy costume she fits delighted my eyes so I pick it. I’m now exited to see my little girl on her fairy costume and joining other kids celebrating this occasion!
I never got a chance to attend and dress in a Halloween costume before, poor me… hehe.. but I’m sure this coming Halloween will be memorable for Claire will be participating it…
I get myself ready to tour the city of Baguio, and it’s a cold Saturday morning… I got mixed feelings – I’m excited at the same time, worried and sad knowing that a typhoon will hit Luzon. I’m worried because the bad weather might totally ruined our tour, but fortunately, Baguio City is not covered by the Typhoon Ondoy, it only drizzled on and off the whole morning and the rain only poured hard late afternoon, just in time our Baguio tour was done. God answered my prayer to give us a chance to enjoy our tour, rain or shine.
When we reached back the hotel and turned on the television, I feel so pity and sad looking at what the typhoon “Ondoy” have done to Manila and the people, the flood is so fierce that it reached high even to 3-story houses and it flashed away many things inside many houses and i can’t believe my eyes looking at the screen on a car flashed away as if it is a piece of paper… These victims needs help, and at the point where I am now, the least I can do is to extend my prayers to them. I thought typhoon Ondoy hit Baguio City in the evening because it rain so hard and the wind is blowing the trees so harshly and we got stranded in SM, we got ourselves soaked in the rain because the taxi line seems endless and it’s already 9:00 in the evening. I’m worried our flight back to Cebu will be cancelled but I draw strength from my hubby and faith in God that we will all reached our destination safe and sound.
The next day, I believe Ondoy is gone… when we reached Manila, we still experienced lots of rain but our flight is on schedule and the airplane even reached the airport back home 20 minutes early. Typhoon Ondoy did not ruined my Baguio tour after all… it was fun and I bring with me good memories of Baguio and the rest is a blessing!
Now, we reached home safe and sound, I reflected that God is so good to me on the same day where the typhoon ruined many lives and many families are now suffering – it’s time for me to show God’s goodness too in my own little way, I thought of buying canned goods and noodles tonight and give it to the donation center. I hope and pray that the victims will be healed in the grace of God.
This year 2009, September 21 is declared as a Regular Holiday, no work for most of the companies and no classes in schools and universities… but I am here in the office in front of my desktop working… well, I’m not complaining because it is a relaxing day to work in the office today, no major issues and tasks pops up in my outlook.
I am reflecting the importance of this occasion where I believe all over the world whether Muslims or not is observing but of course it is a big and important occasion for Muslims. Ramadan or Eid’l Fitr is the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar from which all participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and all other ill-natured vices from dawn until sunset. It is also a month of worship and renewal of family ties. I read one article that the sighting of the moon is done by Muslims on the last day of Ramadan… I wonder what is the significant of this activity to them, it says that when the new moon is born before the sunset, Muslims will fast next morning for the first day of their fasting.
I respect this belief of my Muslim brothers but during my Theology lessons before, I did not learn that God commanded us for the moon to be sighted just in order to determine the beginning of the new month. What I believe is that no matter what beliefs we have and how we celebrated each belief, the common denominator is that we have only One same God.
When my alarm clock wake me up this morning, I realized the date is formed perfectly “09/09/09″. What is with this date? First thing that comes to my mind is that #9 is traditionally a lucky number and occasionally this date becomes one of the scheduled date for celebrating special occasions specifically wedding. In Florida, at least one county clerk’s office is offering a one-day wedding special for $99.99, such a good and inviting number for a marketing promotion.
Another special inclination to this number according to numerologist is that number nine holds special rank as the final numeral. It is associated with forgiveness, compassion and success on the positive side as well as arrogance and self-righteousness on the negative side. The day Sept. 9 also happens to be the 252nd day of the year (2 + 5 +2)… Isn’t it amazing!
The date in my calendar today represents the last set of repeating, single-digit dates that I will see for almost a century, that is until January 1, 2101. For all the couples who tie the knot this day, Congratulations.. and I wish all of you a lucky and blessed married life ahead!
My planner reminds me to visit parents place for the town fiesta in Minglanilla today. I planned an evening trip to get rid of the heavy traffic going to the place. I believe it’s not only a mere town fiesta but also for Catholics in the town, it is the fiesta of the Immaculate Heart of Mary which is the patroness of the town. I saw lots of a week long fun activities in their schedule for this fiesta in the net but no one gives me a result of schedule for their masses. Well, sometimes people tend to enjoy much and eat much in a fiesta but forget to drop by their parish and hear Holy Mass as thanksgiving.
Well, what is this occasion that we call ‘Fiesta’ anyway? According to the FreeDictionary.com, it is an “occasion on which people can assemble for social interaction and entertainments…” Each country around the globe has different way of celebrating this occasion, Mexico and Philippines is very popular for this kind of event… even Filipino community around the world celebrates their own fiestas to feel the fun and celebration of their country, if not they fly home from the United States just to celebrate. It is a whole day of fun games, people dancing to the music, parades, pageants, entertainment and a lot more of fun activities… and of course abundant food is never absent… lots and lots of foods in every house is one of the highlights in every homes to complete their fiesta.
The picture of a fiesta that first captured in my mind when I was still a little kid was endless of visitors coming in and out of our house starting from lunch time to supper time… and foods in our tables were very abundant to accommodate people who come to eat… that sometimes I even don’t know who and where they come from, haha..
Occasion: Commemoration of the death of Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino, Jr. Holiday Date: August 21 Official Status: Special Non-working Holiday Why we celebrate this occasion? Ninoy’s heroic act to the Philippines
Yes, It’s a special non-working holiday today and occasions like this gives me an opportunity to bond with my family and spend quality time together at home… also a time for myself. Today I feel so relaxed and I tried not to look at my planner so I will be more focused on house keeping and not on upcoming busy schedules. I found time to browse the whole house this morning especially those corners that I seldom got an opportunity to go during my busy working days. One of my favorite place in our house is the rooftop, it’s over looking the neighborhood and sitting here makes me so relaxed, oh! how wonderful it is to find time to pause and keep the silence…
Well, we owe thanks for the rest day we are enjoying now to our heroes especially to Ninoy whom Filipino people are commemorating today…
First President of the Fifth Republic of the Philippines and first woman president of the Philippines , Mrs. Cory Aquino, died today at the age of 76 after a battle with colon cancer. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo decalared a 10-day national mourning period, for the Philippines.
Aquino uplifts democracy in the Philippines when she transitioned power from a blodless “People Power” revolt led by former President Marcos. I admire President Aquino for her courage to lead the Filipino people in restoring democracy at a time of great peril in the country. This occasion of mourning period for a loss of a great president is also a way to retreat and remember all the great things she contributed to Philippine history.
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