Long time no blog!!!


Been so busy for the past few weeks and wasn't able to blog for a long time the last time was Dec. 8 !Gravers!

My Schedule was so hectic that I needed to finish my Christmas shopping in just two days!I was really in chaos before I left forPhilippines and at the same time flat broke. I magine I have to go shopping with only a few thousand HK dollars on hand and I can't go to the night market! Grrr!

Anyways, our trip to Philippines was very successful thought I haven't seen any of my friends. Sorry for that guys. I promise I will see you on January when I get back. Back to my christmas holiday. Cameron and I came in to Philippines on the 23rd and we were picked up at the airport by my sister and her family to go straight to Pangasinan. The trip up north was not that bad but we still took it for 6 hours and we were all tired when we got to the house. Good thing mom has already prepared everything when we got there and all we need to do is to eat, chat and sleep.

The following morning we decided to roam around the town. We went to visit the Virgin of Manaoag and lit a candle. We Thanked her for letting us come into her place for everytime Cameron and I attempted to go there the place was jam packed with people from all over the place. And you can't even see the virgin. This time it was so quiet and so solemn. I was able to pray silenty to her. After the church visitation we all went to grandma' s empty beach, walked around a little bit and got some fresh air. Then we visited my Grandma house in San Fabian. After a little chat we all decided to roam around for more.

At the last minute we decided to ask eldest brother Ralph to join us in celebrating the Christmas in Pozorrubio. This the first time in 10 years that the 4 of us celebrated christmas together.

The party finished at around 4am. The four of us chatted for a long time reminicing the old days and the old things that the 4 of us used to do. We are so happy that now we are all here.

The 25th of December was always a Christmas party with the whole family and realtives. every year we are celebrating our reunion with our relatives on my mother side. Waaah!Most of them came in early where as the party should start at dinner time!But that fine everyone enjoyed themselves anyway. We haven't prepared so much for lunch but good thing our cousins brought lots of food with them. fresh milk fish which we then broiled, local veggies which we cooked in fish sauce and green mangoes. Yummy! I'm still salibvating while writing this.

Then the rest of the gang arrived in no time. Videoke was a really big thing since my whole family love to sing. My brother and I rendered them a nice some songs. then the microphone starts rolling. Imagine from the oldies to the youngest 3 years old kid can sing! We had our parlor games. Singing contest( kids), boom tarat tarat dancing contest (adults), statue dance(kids & adults), trip to shoot(adults), newspaper dance( for couples) and the usual pabitin for kids. We also had a little bit o a diso where my eldest brother cried out loud because he was so happy!

The party ended at around 9:30pm. Whew!I think this is one of the best Chritmas ever for all of us.

Lovely day!

My Day Today!


After a long day of errands and putting up a Christmas tree I woke up this morning so late. Had My breakfast and log on to the computer. Until suddenly my doorbell rang. And this is handed to me. The guys said "here is a gift for you". I was taken aback when he said that I thought he's courting me or something. But no not at all of coarse because this guy is one of the many staff of the building and he's just handling me a gift from the management.

yummy!!!

***

Then I remember I have to prepare to leave and help out on the yearly celebrated Bake Alaska at Zethland Hall.

Every year Freemasons in Hong Kong would celebrate Bake Alaska and sponsor 3 orphanage houses to feast with them at their so called Zethland Hall.

Lina, Aunt Sallie and I

Then the kids from the orphanage arrived and the whole place became alive!!!

We serve them with some sausages, chips, chicken nuggets and goodies. These are the things that they don't get to taste everyday. Soda is so popular to these children that some of them really brought bottles to fill in to bring to their place to be consumed later. Also some of them pose for pictures with me.

This is the little boy is so meek and shy when first saw him but when he got his present from Santa. He posed for me. Isn't he the cutest?

and this boy feels like going to a masquerade.

And one is a girl who showed me her new ring and asks me to take a picture of her. And I gladly did.

Here is Santa, the thinnest Santa the kids and I has ever seen but there's the catch he can speak cantonese and license to kill (he's a police man actually).

Overall, all the children are happy to leave the hall with lots of goodies and memories to bring back to the orphanage.

Bye kids thank you for spending a day with us!!!

Pasko Paksiw!

Christmas is in the air and so after 2 years of living in HK I’ve decided to buy a Christmas tree. I usually don’t decorate our flat during this season because my husband and I don’t spend Christmas at home. We are either in the Philippines or in some other places celebrating the yuletide season with my family or with friends.

Before

This year, we still won’t be celebrating Christmas here in HK. But I’ve got us a 6foot tall Christmas tree. Yes I know its not as tall as anybody else’s tree but for me this is already grand, as we haven’t had a tall Christmas tree inside the house since I got here. What we always had was a miniature one. Now this is special. But I never thought that shopping around for Christmas tree and Christmas decors could be so exhausting. But again I told myself 2006 has been a good year to us and so I think its just right to say good bye to it with a bang.

And here is after

I also got to shop for Christmas gifts, I stopped by a shop selling clothes and accessories to look around and see what I can get for my nieces.

And this is what I found necklaces and earrings that I'm sure they will love.

Aren't they nice?

Oh yes my day is exhausting but full of excitement as well.

Nov. 16, 2006

Stuck at the Airport

Woke up at 8am, finished my packing and I was so glad that I'll be able to see my daughter and my crazy family again. I will be going down to Manila first then Hubby follows the following day.hihihii (di pa kami nagsabay noh) I checked in at the Airport Express Station in Central with a bad attitude Cathay crew. I was only asking if my Marco polo club membership has been updated and if my miles would be credited on the same day because I just changed my surname on my passport and she looked at me and said she doesn't know in an angry manner. I was taken aback upon hearing her reply and I asked again nicely and explained everything to her. Then she replied with a frowned face" I wont' be able to know what you are talking about unless you give me your Marco polo card", and so I did gave her my card and told her that she doesn't need to react rude on a nicely asked question and that I'd rather talk to her superior. Then and only then she realized that I was not playing jokes on her and I was not pleased with her attitude. She checked my card and gave me all the information’s that I needed, handed me my boarding pass and my lounge invitation and said sorry. Then I left her without saying another word.

I took the train as it would only take me an Hk$100.00 and 23mins ride going to airport rather than taking a taxi which would cost me more if ever.

Checked my boarding pass (seat 30D) and my lounge pass (make sure this won't get lost or else)

As I arrived at the airport, went through the immigration, did a little bit of shopping, went straight to the Cathay pacific lounge and ate my late lunch (wonton noodles, silo pal and coconut éclair with coke light). Read some magazines which were seating in front of me then head on to gate 4 as we'll be boarding soon.

Side trip to the ladies room (looked left and right nobody's there so I took the liberty of taking my picture)hihihihihihi

When I reached gate 4 this is what I saw and tons of Filipinos looking tired and dismayed because of the notice on the board. My 4:30pm flight is moved to 5:30pm due to some reason that the Cathay agents can't even tell. So went back to the lounge and sat on a couch with a phone on the side. I called my hubby and told him 'bout the delay. Also called my brother in law who's waiting in manila for me to be picked up at the airport.

I called up another friend of mine who lives and Hong Kong and had a long chat with her while killing time. Then at 5 o'clock I put down the phone, prepare to go down to the gate, only to hear from the announcement that our flight is delayed further from 5:30pm now at 7:00pm. waaah I wanted to cry but I can't do anything. So I ate again (cheese, sio pao and coke light).

And later on I went down to the nearest bookstore and bought these.

And so the reading began, while reading the Marie Claire magi the Cathay announcement came in and told the passengers about the delayed flight " Attention all passengers of flight CX903 your flight is moved to 7:45pm due to small aircraft accident at the runway of the Niño International Airport." This time I heard some panic from the businessmen calling their friends, agents or clients in the Phil’s informing them about the flight and I started to scribble about this long wait.grrrr
Then at last before I finish what I was doing the flight was called at exactly 7:45pm for boarding. Immediately I picked up my things and headed to the gate. As I handed my boarding pass to the flight attendant she gave me a new one and informed me that I was upgraded to business class. This is one of the ways that Cathay pays up their Marco polo club members for the delays of the flight or if they have any problem.
Soon I was seating on the very comfortable at seat 8k. And as soon as the aircraft doors were closed we are off the sky. After an hour and 45mins I was home at last.

Remembering World War II

In commemoration of the WWII, our visitors from UK decided to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in Hong Kong.

Earl of Elgin and Lady Elgin of Scotland

Meeting with David Rods an American soldier

Arthur Gomes another soldier of war

Wreath lying

Royal Order of Scotland wreath

The ceremony finished by saluting to the men and women of war. This really touched my heart as looking at the elderly who joined in the celebration was all in tears as the salute trumpet goes. All the experiences came back to the memories of the men and women of WWII. I was so moved by the emotions that they have show but so proud at the same time that most of the soldiers and ladies still lived to tell the stories of war.

photographed by the author

St. John's Ladies night

Andy banged the gavel so hard that the head came off its handle.

Fatima for the reply

Josephine and I waiting for the food to be served (I'm starving!)

Dancing Time!

My Little buddah

Who says only ladies wear skirts?

It's almost 2am and my feet is starting to swell so decide to seat and have a few more drinks before heading home.