peace on earth

the nativity scene at ayala triangle.. i've missed taking picture of the grand display at this heart of makati the previous years when i moved out of working in makati, but hey to make it up here's different images of the belen this year, made more special with the ayala light and sound show

just a few more nights and it's christmas again :D

to view previous nativity scene photos click here

ayala lights and sounds - a symphony of parols at ayala triangle

 the ayala lights and sound show at ayala triangle gardens - a symphony of parols

Symphony of Parols, a Lights and Sound show started last November 17 and will run until December 23, at 6:00pm to 8:00pm (every 30 minutes). There will be a special weekend shows on December 18 and 19.

Official list of activites from Ayala Land event site:

Christmas At The Ayala Triangle Gardens 2010

November 17, 5:30pm - Beginning of Symphony of Parols, a Lights and Sound show and formal launch of restaurants at the Ayala Triangle Garden

November 17 to December 23, 6:00 - 8:00pm - Beginning of Symphony of Parols, a Lights and Sound show (every 30 minutes): Weekdays with special weekend shows on December 18 and 19.

November 23, 6:00pm - Holiday dance fusion at the gardens. Free dance lessons from professional insttructors

December 1 and 8, 6:00pm - Christmas Serenade at the gardens. Free concerts by renowned performers.

December 15 to 23, 6:00pm - Anticipated Simbang Gabi

christmas is here!

christmas is just around the corner, so let me be the first to greet you all a merry christmas! :D

Christmas decoration and themes already hit the philippine malls and stores as early as september, and tv and radio stations are playing christmas songs and doing the daily countdown till christmastime. last week the makati business district lighted its street with christmas light and decors (an annual celebration and preparation) and just last saturday, sm mal of asia lighted it's giant christmas tree (50 feet tall) with a bang - with fireworks and circus acts to the delight of kids and young at heart.

P.S. photo taken by Maureen Jaramillo

recycled again

Yesterday i posted about these christmas trees made of recycled newspapers, here are some of the entries, also some detailed photos of the other entries, i am telling you those guys are really really creative.

recycled

I was out shopping today and found intereseting christmas trees lined up at The Block in SM North EDSA, and they are not your ordinary christmas trees - they are recycled, made of old newspapers (Manila Bulletin to be exact, i guess they held a christmas tree making contest) and this is the grand winner.

No doubt that this christmas tree should get the first prize, if you look closer at the tree itself you would know how detailed it is and wonder how long it took the maker to finish this tree. I tried finding stuff or information about the said contest but cant find one and seems manila bulletin's website is down as well. Anyways congratualtions to whoever created this piece. And to my readers who woill be visiting SM North EDSA, go visit the Block and check out those cool trees out there.

maligayang pasko

MALIGAYANG PASKO SA INYONG LAHAT!!!

Photo taken at the San Agustin Church, a pinoy version of the nativitiy scene. i alos liked the christmas tree made of indegenous materials. see the bao and the pamaypays :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

bibingka

Christmas and Simbang Gabi is almost synonymous with Bibingka, for Filipinos it's like christmas isnt the same if you dont see bibingka vendors outside the church, or at least eat one after simbang gabi.

Bibingka is made of flour and slowly cook on live charcoal. yeah that is the traditional way of cooking bibingka, it doesnt taste the same if it is cooked in the oven! :)
Once cooked you just spread the top a bit of margarine and sprinkle some sugar. Special bibingka would also have cheese and itlog na maalat. Yummy!
Bibingka is usually served with niyog or grated coconut on top and best eaten with tsaa or tea as beverage. Enjoy your bibingka!!!

Anyways i bought this bibingka at Tayuman, Felymar's is the name of the store and very near the Tayuman LRT station... actually they sell bibingka all year long :) prices of special bibingka is 35 pesos, additional toppings: cheese - 5pesos and salted egg - 5pesos

simbang gabi

Simbang Gabi at the Manila Cathedral

SIMBANG GABI is one of the longest and most popular among the Filipino traditions in the country. It is when Catholic churches across the nation start to open their doors shortly before the break of dawn to welcome the faithful to the Simbang Gabi mass.

Simbang Gabi or Mass at Dawn is a nine-day novena to the Blessed Mother. The novena begins December 16 as early as 4 in the morning and culminates with the “Misa de Gallo” on Christmas Eve to welcome the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. In some churches, the panuluyan is reenacted showing the effort of Joseph and Mary to find a suitable birthplace.

Simbang Gabi traces its roots in Mexico when, in 1587, the Pope granted the petition of Fray Diego de Soria, prior of the convent of San Agustin Acolman, to hold Christmas mass outdoors because the Church could not accommodate the huge number of people attending the evening mass.

During the old times, the pre-dawn mass is announced by the ringing of the church bells. In some rural areas, an hour before the start of Simbang Gabi, a brass band plays Christmas music all over the town. It is also believed that parish priests would go far knocking on doors to wake and gather the faithful to attend the misa de gallo. Farmers as well as fishermen wake up early to hear the Gospel before going to their work and ask for the grace of good harvest.
The changing of times does not break the preservation of celebrating Simbang Gabi although it is celebrated in new ways. Still, the tradition of Simbang Gabi continues. Part of it are the colorful lights and lanterns that fill every streets. Beautiful parols are hung in every window. Songs of the season are played everywhere to warm the hearts. Families, friends and even individuals find its way going to the nearest church to attend the nine-day novena. Shortly after the misa de gallo, families gather in their homes to celebrate Noche Buena and feasted on various delicacies like queso de bola, bibingka, puto bungbong, or a drink of salabat or hot chocolate.

According to some, if you have completed the nine day mass your wish will be granted or fulfilled, i wouldn't know if that is true or not cause i haven't completed any simbang gabi in my entire life. but it doesnt matter i already feel blessed. may all your holiday dreams come true, here's wishing you an early Merry Christmas!

The schedule of Simbang Gabi at the Manila Cathedral is every 4:30 in the morning and another mass is held at 8:30 in the evening.

christmas at manila ocean park

yep even santa claus cannot resist the ocean pull, hehehehe here's santa at the entrance to the manila ocean park.

by the way this chritmas, the manila ocean park have this december activities lined up, including their ticket christmas promo (all in for 500 pesos - fish spa and glass bottom ride boat entrance included). promo ruins from dec. 8, 2008 to jan 5, 2009

Manila Ocean Park have an ongoing Christmas Promo wherein you only pay 500 pesos/person and that would already include the entrance to the Oceanarium, Fish Spa, and the Glass Bottom Boat Ride. I suggest you avail of this special promo cause you'll save a lot since The Fish Spa entrance fee alone is 120 pesos/person and the Glass Bottom Ride admission fee is 150 pesos/person

• they also have Christmas Carols on Dec. 20 (3pm - 4pm) and be serenaded by kids from different institutions.
• concert with Bamboo and Cueshe on Dec. 19 (7PM - 12MN)
• live concert series with different bands on Dec 21 and 28 (5pm - 8pm)
• if you want to learn new cuisines to prepare for Noche Buena, try the Cooking Fest on Dec. 21 (3pm - 4pm)
• christmas tree lighting today (Dec. 16 at 6:30pm)
• Christmas Eve and New Year Countdown blast on Dec 24 and Dec. 31

Manila Ocean Park
Behind the Quirino Grandstand Luneta, Manila, Philippines
Tel. No.: +632 5677777
Website: www.manilaoceanpark.com
Entrance Fee: Php 400 (Adult), Php 350 (Children 4 ft and below), Complimentary (Children 2ft and below), 10% Discount for Senior Citizens, 10% Discount for Manila Resident
Schedule: Weekdays 10am-9pm; Weekends and Holidays 9am-9pm

red christmas tree

I really find this red christmas tree cute, the first thing you'll see and will surely catch your attention at the main lobby of Diamond Hotel.

red christmas at diamond hotel

It seems that the Diamond Hotel is having a red Christmas theme this year, found their red trees beautiful and looks very nice in the pictures.

Diamond Hotel is a 27-story, 500-room hotel that boast of the magnificent sunset view from the Manila Bay, located along Roxas Boulevard.


Diamond Hotel
Roxas Boulevard cor.
Dr. J. Quintos St.,
Manila, Philippines, 1000
Telephone: (632) 528-3000
Fax: (632) 526-2255
Website: www.diamondhotel.com

manila hotel orchestra

The Manila Hotel's orchestra playing daily to its visitors. Noticed the cute Christmas tree behind them? Manila Hotel's Christmas theme decoration is all Filipino using native products, like in these Chritsmas trees, they used a local pamaymay.

theme day: circle

i totally forgot about the theme day, good thing i always check out Eric's blog and remembered that today is circles theme day for the DP community. My photo is of Christmas ornaments being sold at Dvisoria, i think they are dried pine tree fruits covered with colorful and festive paint. somehow it reminds me of corals under the sea :). have a happy theme day everyone! Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

naughty or nice?

I think its only proper to post Santa Claus picture today (photo taken from 168 mall at Divisoria), and it's only 24 days before Christmas!!! And my chance to greet you guys an early Merry Christmas!!! :)

I know Santa Claus is so over rated and another commercialized symbol of Christmas but am still a kid at heart so forgive me. Have you been naughty or nice? Have a Merry Christmas everyone and spend your Christmas bonuses wisely :)

merry christmas

here's wishing everyone a mErRy ChRiStMaS!!!

6 days before christmas

whew... christmas is so near and yet i still cant feel the christmas spirit :(
i have to post more christmas stuff from today, maybe it'll help.

how about you? do you feel the christmas spirit or you're feeling a bit like Mr. Scrooge?

thank you

Wheeeee! Today is my 200th post and i would like to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU to all of you who joined me in rediscovering the beauty of Manila. I thought i was going to stop at my 100th post but you guys kept me going, and i will continue this journey for as long as i can.

I've received this thank you badge from my blogging friends and it's my turn now to say my thanks and appreciation to you guys. I didnt realized that blogging can give you lots of friends! I'm so happy that i've met you: Reyna Elena, Malen, Ambo, and Ruthie, thanks for the friendship, hope to see y'all again soon :)

Thank you for taking your time and leaving some comments here, for the friendship that you guys willingly gave me, and i hope to meet all of you too. Jake, Ely, Det, Poli, Edong, Diwa, Chuva, Bluep, Minnie, Ibyang, Fruityoaty, Elay, Joy, Thess, Pmonchet, Dodong, Rino, Cheh, Carlotta, Jojitah, Maru, Kitty, Kristine, Tutubi, Purnell, Dhez, Melai, Kiko, Dhon, Photowalker, Aura, Paul, John

Thank you my idols, you really are my inspiration: Sidney, Señor Enrique, Abraham, Reyna Elena, Corey

Thank you to my DP Community especially to Eric, Olivier, Abraham, Elaine, Alice, Annie, Carlos, Clueless in Boston, Chris & Deb, Curly, Denton, Fabrizio, Fenix, Isabella, Jilly, Joy, Kate, Lv2scpbk, Maria Elisa, Ming, Nathalie, Neva, Northbay, PaB, R&R, Rambling Round, Ro Pumpkin, Sally, Tanty

To those who frequent my blog who doesnt own a blog but leave their marks as well, thank you ArtL, BertN, toni, kenneth, and to the anonymous lurkers here.

Sorry if i forgot anyone, you know that i love you all from the bottom of my heart! (insert Ms. Universe wave here) =)

nativity scene

its christmas time

Christmas is just around the corner and it's inevitable for me to post christmas theme photos... i know that the seasons spirit is being commercialized that is why my first christmas photo for you is the nativity scene (belen), a traditional Filipino Christmas symbol, lest we forget the reason why we are celebrating.

Photo taken last year in front of the Philipine Stock Exchange building at Makati, tomorrow i'll show you the new nativity scene decor, still at the same location.

N.B. i'm out of stocked photos and don't have the time to go out and shoot, also my brother who serves as my julalay cum bodyguard whenever i go out to take photos got a job already so it'll be a while before i have some fresh photos for you.