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

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Since 2 years ago… I never get tired of thanking God for giving me the best gift I could ever imagined – my one and only little girl! We are celebrating her birthday and the more I thank God for giving her good health all these years… Like all mothers feel, nothing can compare how happy I am seeing her every milestones and today is one of the highlights. My Claire understands that it’s her birthday and even if I did not throw any kiddie party, she was so happy and so energetic seeing all the familiar faces of the whole family surrounding her.

For me, it’s still a big party at home because we are a big family and everybody is in the mood to celebrate this special occasion… It is such a busy day, from malling in the morning, buying her gifts, balloons, cakes, then preparing the food at home for dinner, and of course we don’t want to miss the Holy Mass as a thanksgiving. Then the rest of the night is eating and drinking and Claire is still up playing, running and laughing with her cousin on her same age. One thing for sure, this little girl is happy!

Happy 2nd Birthday baby! We love you!

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It always excites me when my friends deliver a sweet announcement of; “Hey, guess what? I am getting married!”

My friend who is the groom to be popped me a message over MSN last Friday that he is getting married 2 months from now… the news didn’t surprise me because I’ve been expecting this kind of news since 3 years ago.. hehe! I’d love him to get married already and at last I’m so happy to hear it directly from him. He asked me to be one of their secondary sponsor and it is such an honor for me to be part of this special occasion of his life and I don’t want to miss it!

I am not a wedding planner, (although I wished to be one…) but I always love to volunteer a little service to make the occasion possible… designing give-aways, even going to the market and different malls to purchase the raw materials, designing invitations, researching the net for the best wedding gown design, name it… and I’d love to do it for my friends. Most of my girl friends are not married yet because they are still enjoying being single and in-love, and I am looking forward for their turn to give me a ‘getting-married’ news…

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My hubby’s lola who is also my lola of course turns 83 years old today! It is an occasion full of love and happiness… the whole family from her children to grandchildren are all thankful for she reached this golden age in good health. She is a very strong woman and that is one thing I admired her the most. Despite her age, nothing can stop her to be active, to go to the market alone, prepare delicious foods (she is a good cook!), watch movie with her friends, go shopping, collect books to read during free time, and go to church regularly.

The first time I saw her, I already see a unique and strong personality in her… she accepted me in the family, she stand by us during our wedding day… enough goodness that I will cherish forever. For all these things, I am one with the whole family in celebrating this special day. I rummaged the mall during my breaktime to look for a gift to her, and with a limited time… I decided to give her the best red wine I can think of… at least something she can also share to her friends.

She texted me this afternoon at the middle of my work and remind us for our dinner tonight, of course I will be present! Happy Birthday Lola!

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I shared the joys of my cousin who is residing in Davao when she called me that it’s her turn to finally get married! She was one of my bride’s maids, and I remembered how she gracefully walked the aisle holding her partner to assist me on my wedding day… and now, the date is fast approaching for her turn to walk the aisle as a bride’s maid no more… she is finally the bride! Whew, I’m so excited!

I’m excited to attend her wedding day to tie her cord of married life and fly to Davao City at last…  it will be my first time to go to Davao and I’m looking forward to tour around this beautiful city. My round trip plane ticket is booked and ready for this occasion and I already grant my cousin’s favour to shop for the raw materials of her giveaways and shipped it to Davao, an early accomplishment on my part for being able to assist the bride-to-be.

Congratulations Cuz, see you soon!

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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.

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Every birthday of mine always turns out to be exciting! This year, I like to spend it a little more private and intimate… so I filed a birthday leave for the first time in my job history and my friend Anne is right, having a day off on your birthday is like giving yourself a special birthday treat! I feel so relaxed because there’s no need to rush in between break times from work just to celebrate my birthday. So it’s indeed a happy occasion.

I always make it a point to start celebrating my birthday attending the Holy Mass to thank God for the gift of life and for all the blessings he bestow in me the past years and to ask His continued blessings at the coming years. After the mass, the most exciting part is to have lunch in Shangri-la Mactan! Why I’m excited? Well, honestly it’s my first time to this hotel, and I’ve always wanted to be here, bear with my excitement… hehe.

The place is amazing! All the hotel attendants that we meet anywhere in the place always carry with them a smile and a greeting which makes me feel welcomed even if we only go there for a lunch. One of the lady attendants freely give me a tour guide of the place going to the restaurant I booked. I love the scenery from the parking lot, to the lobby, then to the garden, to every restaurant and bar I passed, then the view of their infinity pool and then to the white sand sea shore to the blue wonderful beach. A complete wow! – this is not a review because looking into the place is already an assurance that the hotel is indeed 5-star!

We have my birthday lunch in the hotel’s Aqua Restaurant where we are warmly greeted and welcomed by the store attendant and their waiters… the waiter who attended our orders is very accommodating! I am just an average/middle class citizen but this time I honestly don’t mind how expensive the menu list is because all the services I got deserves it. I love their Calzone and the mango shake is perfect!

This birthday is one of the greatest days because I am joined with the people who are so dear to me and who loves me, they complete my day.  It’s indeed a ‘Happy, happy birthday!’

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My own special day is fast approaching and I feel so lazy to plan… well, maybe because I’m so overwhelmed to think of the many things I wanted to achieve on that occasion.

At the end of the day, I will get back to my wish list and see how many I got

1. Hear Holy Mass – at my favorite chapel, CCTN of course
2. Lunch at Shangri-la – i haven’t got a chance to see this prestigious 5-star hotel, and I wish this time it will push through…
3. Dinner at Spice and Fusion Restaurant – when our boss treated us for lunch in this place 3 months ago, I wanted to go back, so I hope this is it… on my special day.
4. See my family and friends – as much as I wanted to see all of them on that day, I know it will not be totally possible, but I still wish…
5. File a birthday leave – I already submitted a leave request but sad to say I don’t get the approval notice yet… , well it’s ok, I still have Monday to check if I got approved.
6. Get a new laptop – … and it should be the latest ASUS model! and yes! I got it! Thanks sweetie!
7. Get a new ward drobe – I wish to get a new set from Red Logo, I love to see Donita Rose wears any of them…
8. Get a hair spa – … and a new haircut too, wanna try that new look I saw in the magazine… hehe
9. Get drunk – yeah, why not! joan is the expert, how i wish we could hang out and get drunk all night! haha… cheers dear!
10. Beautiful surprises! – well, everyone loves surprises… and I’m one of them!

I’m looking forward for that day, whether all my wishes come true or not, what is important is to thank God for good health and for the gift of life.

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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..

Happy Fiesta!

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At last its now my cousin’s turn to walk the center of the aisle and express her ‘I dos’! It’s her wedding day and I’m late and in return hubby and I were not able to join the entourage processional march which it turned out not totally my fault because the wedding starts 20 minutes early… and the bride was looking for me texted me wondering where I have been and that she is about to march the red carpet but I’m no where to find, oh how I miss it.

But the good side is… just in time we arrived and we were still able to comply our role to light their candles and I can see my cousin’s surprise look. I value my role not just in her wedding day but all throughout the days of her marriage, for me the role is important because the candles symbolizes light that will show the married couple the beauty of being husband and wife and this light will give hope to a lasting marriage.

Wedding Ceremony is very symbolic and one of the most awaited special occasion for lovers to be one… sort of a conclusion for the love to each other by jumping to another stepping stone… well, it’s ‘boyfriend-girlfriend no more’ but a beginning of another chapter entitled.. ‘husband-and-wife’.

Congratulations Cousin Dear! After a long, long wait and all the challenges you both faced… family disapproval, ocean’s apart, age pressure? hehe… but now you are together at last! I am proud of you! Cheers!

This wedding is the “Featured Occasion“.

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