Every year, we celebrate Christmas Eve with my mom's side of the family and then Christmas Day with my dad's side (plus hunting godparents.) It's a pretty solid tradition, and after twenty years a change wasn't something I expected.

Lola, my dad's mom, had her pacemaker batteries changed the other day and she's still at the Philippine Heart Center. She will be okay to move out of the hospital by tomorrow, but she'll be staying at my Tia's for the time being. It's perfectly understandable, but thinking about it saddens me. I am very close to my grandparents and Christmas without them is incomplete, it's just wrong.

Well, the show must go on. Or something to that effect.

*sigh*


UPDATE! We're going to Metro Manila tomorrow, so Christmas will be spent with lolo and lola after all! :)

I'd love..

This weekend is slated to be a gift buying (and making) marathon here in our household. I love picking out gifts, but it's really helpful if I know what the recipient wants. It doesn't have to be anything super specific, just a good gauge of what he/ she wants or needs.

I already received what I wanted, thanks Lolo :), but I'll make a list of things I'd like to get just the same. It's fun to daydream anyway. Hehe

1. Tag Heuer Ceramic Watch (Daydream kung daydream!)

2. LX5

3. Logitech Comfort Lapdesk

4. Cute cable ties

4. Baking/ Desserts cookbook

6. Bag big enough for school but not too big 

6. Red shoes

7. Little planner

8. Publication

9. Good health

10. Complete family picture (Even though some of my cousins are in the US.)

 

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These photos are not mine, click on the images for their sources.

Christmas Concerts 2010

I just love Christmas. Everyone is kinder and more generous, and all the more happier. It's when families come together and celebrate under one roof, and all amazing family dishes are feasted upon. Lights are everywhere, and you just know that there's an air of merriment and love all around.

Love Actually. Photo taken here.

Christmas music is festive and quite addictive sometimes, so conceirtos featuring these are big highlights of the season in my opinion. Orchestras and chorales performing these tunes are a marvel, and I try to see as many of these that I can. 

Since it's most convenient for me, my suki is the UP College of Music. Their December calendar is filled with exemplary performances, usually for minimal fees. Another great venue for concerts like these is the Cultural Center of the Philippines. 

Enjoy! :)

Gift ideas

Christmas is roughly two months away; I don't plan gifts this early, but somehow I am so bored right now I want to plan my gifts already. A little hiccup is that I don't have much money this year, I've been spending on vacations and so my savings are pretty unreliable right now. So I will take the time I have to not just plan but be resourceful in what I can give.

What to put under the tree?

I know it's not really imperative to give gifts or give big and expensive gifts (not that I can at this point) but I do want to, even just little somethings. :)

Malamig na ang simoy ng hangin.

Today I realized Christmas indeed is just around the corner. We went shopping at SM Department Store earlier, and the whole mall echoed Christmas songs. As in. Plus we stayed near the trees and decor at Home World while waiting for Lola and Mamie so the image of Christmas is quite vivid now. 

I love Christmas, and I don't think we Filipinos celebrate it like anyone else. For one, we have Christmas for around four months and I don't know any other country who has Christmas that long. Tia tells me our tree this year will be something like Paskong Pinoy. I want to hoist up the tree this instant. Mwahaha. But I can't do that so I'll just hunt for some new Christmas albums. :D