Christmas Happenings 2010

Christmas is one of the most special, holy and exciting day of the year. Definitely, more important than my birthday, of course! :) It is great to spend time Christmas in the Philippines with family and friends around. This is my second year celebrating Christmas in Bangkok with my family. I am missing my mom and daughter so much.

5th of December, we attended a Christmas party together (as a family) for the first time and still for the first time this month. Majority of the attendees are Filipinos and other expats, I met them through a social networking site called siampinoy.net.

I was fascinated by eating my fave pancit molo soup, pasta and the fried chicken (drooling again,lol). I do really have an active stomach, which means that I do EAT a loooottt! I could eat twice or thrice as my hubby's eating. Luckily, my body is not as big as mother elephant bwahahahaha maybe too soon.. who knows? hahaha

The exchange gift was also exciting.. but I promise to myself not to open the gift until Christmas (want to surprise myself even more). That's how we do it at home, we open Christmas presents at exactly 12:00 am of December 25th. I was surprised, my hubby believes the same :)

Second week of December, we were invited to attend a Christening cum Christmas party in the neighborhood. Good thing, our Parish Church is situated within our village (4-5 minutes walk). It was so convenient for us because we live nearby our neighbor and the Church.

It took awhile for me to post this blog because I got busy on Christmas preparations for the coming week and onwards. Next week will be Christmas day. A very close friend of mine (my colleague), expressed her interest to visit me on Christmas day. I am thinking of cooking spaghetti and macaroni or potato salad. I'll also ask some friends if they are free, so we will have some sort of small party... just a few friends will do. But, I am not sure if they are on holiday out of Bangkok or still be working on Christmas day, since this is a Buddhist country. Luckily, December 25 falls on Saturday.

My neighbor at first street was inviting me on Christmas day for a party as well. The good thing about living here in my place is that there are many Filipinos nearby and the Church, too.



A photo souvenir from our first Christmas party and this is our first Christmas photo together this year. My daughter was sleeping, then (too bad), I wish I could wake her up. More Christmas party to come this month. Cheers! :)

My Christmas Day 2009

We woke up almost 8:00 in the morning already. He greeted me first and kissed me on my forehead. We got up to give each others' presents. He gave me this beauty spa pack in basket rack and a Selphy CP 760 camera printer.



That was so thoughtful and sweet of him. I gave him my gift and I was so shy because it's just a simple present coming from my heart (nax!hahaha) and I bought that gift for him with my own money. It's ironic if I'll spend his money to buy him a gift for Christmas, isn't it? So I decided to think about something to do for an instant cash while I'm home. I participated in an online site game in siampinoy.net (Filipinos living in Thailand site). And I won an instant cash prize for the month of November just by joining/signing in and participate in the forums everyday.



He also gave me a Macadamia chocolate, which is one of the best chocolates for me. I really just loved the taste. And... I want more :D



After we had our very light breakfast, we went to the Fashion Island Mall for our lunch at Sizzler's Steak Restaurant. I ordered the spicy fish fillet with french fries. I enjoyed the salad bar buffet. They have variety of salads there, including soups and pasta. First, I got the pasta noodles with ham and mushroom sauce, topped with grated cheese and bacon crisps while waiting for my order to be cooked and placed on my table. I love the taste of garlic bread, soooo tasty. After, the main course, I chose to eat the vegetables (like spinach, broccoli, lettuce, etc.)and fruits (dragon fruit, pineapple, watermelon, yellow and green melons). Sizzler's is just one of my favorite restaurants here in Bangkok because the taste of food is really superb at a reasonable price.



I was really full as in full charged and I wanna go home because I was sleepy. But, I asked him to walk a little while before we go home so that we could digest some food we ate. I felt so heavy. The love of my sweetheart for me is still the best gift I've received this Christmas.

Christmas Is Around The Corner

Today is December 14, 2009, it is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 17 days remaining until the end of the year. It is nine (9) days more before Christmas. People are busy about buying stuff in preparation of this coming holiday season. Family, relatives and friends will be gathering together to celebrate this once in a year holy event.

I remember when I was still a child, the happiest days of my life were my birthday, Christmas and New year. For obvious and common reasons for children and maybe some adults, too. In our country (Philippines), we are preparing for Christmas and New year as early as September because of the word "ber" (at the end of Septem) which means the coming succeeding months will all end in "ber" and, to us, that sounds pretty much of Christmas as it is celebrated in "DecemBER". We are so excited preparing early because we don't wanna miss something on our list like gift giving, to remind family and relatives to spend Christmas with us, friends to invite, god children (in tagalog-"inaanak"), the Christmas menu that will be served, Christmas decorations, our clothes to wear on that special day, listed activities/itineraries before Christmas, The nine Christmas dawn masses (in tagalog-simbang gabi: a Filipino tradition) and many more. Christmas is just around the corner.

I miss the way of celebrating Christmas with my family and relatives in the Philippines (the traditional way). This is my first Christmas here in Bangkok with my Sweetheart and I know in my heart that I will be happy to spend it with him. But, a part of me is sad because my first child, Nicole is there celebrating it in the Philippines with my maternal aunt. How I really miss her so much. I also misses my mom, sister and brother. There's nothing more that I can do than pray for them and someday we will see each other again.

Giving and exchanging gifts are part of Christmas gathering. Santa Claus is very famous to children. Social gathering is fun, food is great, the weather is cool, so many gifts to open, super cool Christmas carols and songs, too many food on the table... but let us not forget the reason for this very important season. Christmas is not only about Santa Claus, it is not about mere social gathering or tradition, it is not all about giving and receiving gifts... December 25 is THE BIRTH OF OUR DEAR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. We must not forget about HIM. Let's count our blessings and pray. Christmas is about giving unselfish love, forgiveness and asking for forgiveness, it is giving yourself to others by serving and loving others, our neighbors as Christian without even asking any in return.. which I strongly believe is the TRUE MEANING of Christmas.

Have yourself a loving and blessed Christmas!