Keeping Christ in Christmas

The Philippines has the world’s longest Christmas celebration. And as early as September, many Filipinos start to prepare for the coming Christmas season. Some are busy thinking of the best decorations while others are starting to save money for their godchildren and thinking of where to find the best bargains. Christmas is a celebration that truly lives in every Filipino’s heart. It is because during this season, family members who are in faraway places go home to celebrate Christmas together.

Why are we celebrating Christmas? For children, it is the time when Santa Claus comes to give them lots of gifts. For families, it is the season of spending time together after a long time of not seeing each other. For lovers, Christmas is the very romantic moment to celebrate and express love. For workers and employees, it is the luckiest month because of the 13th month pay and bonus. For students, it is their longest holiday vacation.

But do we really know the true meaning of Christmas? Sad to say, many of us don’t know that we celebrate Christmas to honor the holiness of Jesus Christ’s birth. Many are knee-deep in putting up the Christmas tree and thinking of the best places to celebrate Christmas, but few don’t know that Jesus must be the center of the celebration and nothing else.

For believers of Christ who accept him as Savior, celebrating Christmas is all about his life, death, and resurrection which saved us from our sins. Being a Christian is more about the way you live every day of your life, not just during Christmas or other religious occasions.

"Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrew 12:2

“Christmas in our Hearts”

"Whenever I see girls and boys selling lanterns on the streets...," the first line of the song "Christmas in our Hearts written by Rina Cañiza and Jose Mari Chan, is a Christmas carol that has truly captivated the hearts of the Filipinos with its lyrics reminding us of the real meaning of the season -- that Jesus is the reason for celebrating Christmas.

Filipino Christmas Recipes

Feast of Traditional Filipino Food

Withstanding the passage of time, Filipinos still have the distinction of celebrating the world’s longest Christmas season. The chilly morning breeze, colorful lanterns and lights, Christmas carols everywhere, the beginning of Simbang Gabi – all signs that the Christmas season in the Philippines has arrived again.

One of the things I love during the Christmas season is the feast of food, especially the Filipino traditional ones. No matter how big or small the budget, Filipino families still do their best just to have something special to eat for this holiday. Noche Buena is one of the most awaited events of the year where lots of Filipino traditional food is prepared everywhere.  It is held towards midnight of December 24 where family members dine together on traditional yuletide fare, which includes: queso de bola (Spanish: "ball of cheese", which is edam cheese) sealed with red wax; tsokoláte, pasta, fruit salad, pandesal, relleno and hamón (Christmas ham).

Filipinos have their own specialty recipes during Christmas which can be something unique and prepared only once a year. I came up with a list of top Filipino Christmas Recipes that are rarely absent from a typical Filipino Christmas meal. Remember, Christmas in the Philippines is not complete without these recipes served on the table.

Lechon

Touted as the centerpiece of the dining table, Lechon is a whole roasted pig cooked over charcoal combined with lechon sauce. This pork dish is popular not only in the Philippines but throughout the world. Throughout the year, lechon has never been absent for special occasions. The seasoning and the process of cooking results to the tastiest pork dish with crispy skin and delicious taste.

Menudo

I grew up eating my father’s own way of cooking pork menudo, and I admit that it is one of the tastiest foods I’ve ever tasted. Menudo is a Mexican food that has been a favorite meal to serve during special occasions. It has the perfect combination of pork/beef, onions, potatoes, carrots, hotdogs, and red chili peppers. There are lots of variations of this dish and almost all provinces have their own version.

Salad

Who among us doesn’t love salads? Whatever sort of salad you are after, I am sure that your holiday is not complete without a taste of this healthy food. There are different variations of salad to choose from and some are made up of light and vigorous dressing that is good for the heart. So this coming Christmas season, have the best salad recipes for your family.

Pansit / Spaghetti

Pansit in traditional Filipino food is commonly served at birthday celebrations. Many say that pansit makes your life longer and healthier. It was introduced by the Chinese and later on adopted into local cuisine.  Pansit is one of the foods that are conveniently cooked fast, and because of this; it has been a favorite food to serve during holidays. Palabok, pansit bihon, luglog, and canton are some of its variations.

Spaghetti is another variation of pansit that is common to the Filipino meal during holidays. It is sometimes made with banana ketchup instead of tomato sauce, sweetened with sugar and topped with hot dog slices.

Kare-Kare

Another dish that is never absent from the Filipino dining table is kare-kare. Also known as “peanut stew,” oxtail or ox tripe is the main ingredient and is cooked with vegetables in a peanut-based preparation. It is typically served with bagoong (fermented shrimp paste).

Dinuguan

In dinuguan, pig's blood, entrails, and meat are cooked with vinegar and seasoned with chili peppers, usually siling mahaba.

Biko / Bibingka / Suman

These delicious puddings are made up of sticky rice best paired with sweet condiments. During the Christmas holidays, these are dishes that are never absent. This meal is commonly prepared not only for its affordable price but for its delicious taste that will surely be loved by everyone.

Leche Flan

Leche Flan is one of the top desserts during Christmas season. Also known as crème caramel and caramel custard, leche flan is made up of eggs and milk with soft caramel on top.

Other Popular Christmas Recipes

There are the other Filipino specialties during Christmas season. It includes adobo (chicken and/or pork braised in garlic, vinegar, oil and soy sauce, or cooked until dry), kaldereta (meat in tomato sauce stew), mechado (larded beef in soy and tomato sauce), puchero (beef in bananas and tomato sauce), afritada (chicken and/or pork simmered in a tomato sauce with vegetables, crispy pata (deep-fried pig's leg), hamonado (pork sweetened in pineapple sauce), and lumpia (fresh or fried spring rolls). 

Bahay na Pula – More than just a House!

The Story of Our Ancestors

I was surfing the internet yesterday when I saw an article about Bahay na Pula in San Ildenfonso, Bulacan. I remembered one of my officemate told a story about this house. Quite funny, it is a ghost story. Haha! But as I read more about the house, I have known the true story behind it. Bahay na Pula is more than just a house! It is a witness, a living museum of the spirited past of our ancestors.

To check the whole story go to this link http://vigattintourism.com/tourism/articles/69774d1d2c30f87cf94fccf21c51d46d

God Bless You!

Once Upon a Time in Manila Zoo

Last Sunday, when I was in my room I’ve noticed a box with a picture. Then I caught myself smiling alone – it was a picture of my father and I when I was a kid during a visit to Manila Zoo. Yes, Manila zoo has been one of the favorite places my family would visit whenever we were free. Though some details have been forgotten  due to the passage of time, the collection of pictures we have kept continues to tell the story of how wonderful childhood memories are.

My memories of Manila Zoo

The last time I went to Manila Zoo was last year together with my brother and his family. As always, we were first greeted by the Manila Zoo's lone elephant, Mali.  He is quite old but still catches the attention of many visitors. There are some sites which are great for taking pictures, but the most memorable things to capture on camera are the wacky things and crazy snapshots.

Tables for family picnics can also be found inside the park. Kids can also play at the children’s playground with swings, slides, monkey bars and many more. My unforgettable moment was when my brother and I tried the small man-made lake. I felt nervous, to be honest, but a cruise on the lake was quite enjoyable and relaxing.
Our whole day in Manila Zoo was very pleasurable. Although I m old enough to appreciate these things, they still make good memories for me to keep.

A day at Manila Zoo

With a fairly good balance of educational and entertainment attractions, Manila Zoo does its best to appeal to everyone. Located along Adriatico St., Manila, the zoo also has canteens, souvenir shops, boat rentals at the lagoon, and several playgrounds that cater to children and tourists.

Bakas – The Venue of My Childhood Vacations!

During the month of April and May, Bakas River in Barangay Matictic has been my family's favorite destination to spend leisure time and to have an escape from the heat of summer. It’s been a long time since I last visited the place, but let me tour you to this one-of-a-kind eco-tourism attraction that my home town, Bulacan, is very proud of.

“Where are you guys?”

Usually when going to Bakas, we would leave home as early as we could. It is because during summer, hundreds of visitors also gather in the place to spend quality time with their family. At dawn, all the important things must be prepared, including the food, drinks, clothes, and some personal hygiene. Don’t forget to bring money!

“Stop-over!”

We rent a tricycle and we traveled for about 30-45 minutes from barangay FVR, our home, to barangay Matictic where Bakas River is located. Prepare a lot of coins because during the trip, there are a lot of stop-overs, where road workers are asking for coins before you pass through.

“How much is the cottage?”

Cottages range from 100-150, depending on the type of cottage that you will rent. Honestly, I didn’t see any difference from their cottages. Haha! They were just simple nipa huts where you can put your things. Sometimes, we would rent only one cottage and if there is no one using the adjacent cottage, we would also put our things there. Ssshhh!

“It is hot! Yes, but I don’t care I’m going to swim…”

The clean water of Bakas is indeed an ideal place to swim. After a long trip and hectic preparations, a dip to its cool water is a refreshing one. Be careful because the stones are too slippery and some parts of the river are deep. Some visitors have their own “salbabidas,” but actually, only the good swimmers are brave to go to the deeper site. If you want to explore the surroundings, you can have a walk around and just breathe the cool and fresh air.

“Woohoo! I am the king of the world!”

I remembered my friends climbed a tall tree and jumped to the deep portion of Bakas. It was a funny thing actually! They repeated it many times and before they jumped, they would shout “I am the king of the world!” Haha. It is sad because I wasn't able to capture them.

“I am hungry! Where are the food?”

When visiting Bakas, we always brought a lot of food because swimming was really exhausting. Some food are cooked in the house and some are prepare during our day to the river. I advise you to bring lots of rice and drinks. There are some stores around but the commodities are too expensive. Haha!

“123 Pose!”

A camera is a must! The whole environment should be captured. There are some sites which are good to be photographed but the most memorable things to capture are the wacky things and snapshots of your friends.

“La la la la, I love videokes!”

There are also videokes around the site which you can rent to have fun with your friends. If you are tired of swimming or feel a little bored staying in your cottage, then videokes might help you. The cost is five pesos per song so just be sure that you have a lot of five-peso coins. You can sing all you want and it is possible that you can rent a videoke for 250-500 pesos for the whole day.

“Oh really? I don’t know that!”

The well-known Bakas is a very interesting spot where the foot markings of the legendary Bernardo Carpio and his pets can be found. Many said it to me a lot of times but I didn’t get the chance to see this milestone. I hope next time I visit the river, I will have a glimpse of it.

“An exhausting but worthwhile day!”

It is 5pm, pack up! Our whole day to Bakas River was a great one. We were able to relax and enjoy. It is a worthwhile trip together with my love ones! Yes. This was definitely a good stuff that happens once in a lifetime.

--- :)

I miss Bakas! I hope that I can visit it sometime soon. :)

Tuding’s Porkchop

We have a retreat house in Laguna and if I have time, I went there to spend some of my leisure time together with my family. I and my sister (wife of my brother) always search for a nice place to hang-out.  Then we found out a different thing to do, to become a food raider! Yes. And our first destination is the Tuding’s Porkchop. I have heard recently that this restaurant has been one of the favorite places by Kris Aquino during her days in laguna.

Tuding’s Porkchop has branches in different parts of Laguna including Biñan, Carmona, San Pedro, and Sta. Rosa. And since we are in Sta. Rosa, it is easy for us to find the place because it is famous in the town.

What is something special in Tuding? Honestly, it is the common tapsilog with pork chop with a plate of fried rice and an egg. But one thing I discovered is the way they cooked it. Tuding’s Pork Chop is cooked in a different way from most. The meat is dried out and salty that makes it tastier. And one good thing, the meat has less fat because it is dried-out. Good for my brother! The skin is crunchy just like Chicharon best paired with condiments like calamansi and toyo.

All in all, it is a worth dine experience. At a small price we had tasted the “pork chop” that made Laguna famous. And because of this stuff, I find myself coming back in the place over and over again.

Pag-ibig ng Diyos

Panginoon tunay ngang ika’y mabuti

Panginoon tunay ngang ika’y dakila

Salamat sa pag-ibig mong walang hanggang

Salamat sa pag-ibig mong walang kapantay

Walang pag-aalinlangan sa’yo kami ay panatag

Aming panalangin ay iyong tinugon

Kami ay iniligtas sa wagas na kasalanan

Dakila ka Oh Yahweh!

Ang pag-ibig mo ay maghahari hanggang wakas…

Ikaw ang aming ilaw na nagbigay liwanag

Ikaw ang nagbigay saya sa aming kalungkutan

Salamat sa kalakasan, salamat sa paggabay

Mahal kita Panginoon! Tanging ang pag-ibig mo ang aming kailangan

Dakila ka Diyos!

Dakila ka Oh, Yahweh!

 Credits to JP Galeos - https://plus.google.com/u/0/115218338796229224643/posts

Brand New Light

You speak to me in my dream

But you seem so far away

Your voice I’m straining to hear

Cause your message isn’t clear

Now the dawn is breaking

The sun is sneaking

And suddenly you are near

You said, “Stop running, start believing. In your mind and heart I shall live.”

Chorus:

So I wake up with cleansed soul

New hope and fresh eyes

And I face the world with a smile

Cause you Lord are my guide

My Savior and my life

And you let me see everything

In a brand new light

Bridge:

And I’ll shout your name

For the world to hear

That your love is great

You give me brand new faith

From the skies above

To the seas below

You rule all our hearts

I love you, oh oh oh..

Credits to my beautiful and dearest friend - Mam Mary :)

A Part of Me

I will sing praises of your name,

I will proclaim you, Lord, in all the nations

I will give the best of me everyday

And cherish the love I have in you!

I wait for you, Oh Lord!

I lift up my soul to you

Guide me to your truth and teach me,

For you are my God, my Savior

You’re a part of me that I can’t do without

You’re a part of me that I can’t live without

I will love you all through the way

I lift you all the way

Praise you, Lord, for you raised me up

I cried out to you and you healed me

I give thanks to your Holy name

Sing praises to you Lord, You faithful

Be still and know that our Lord is God and He reigns over all…

Lover Forever

My heart is filled with laughter,

My tongue sings with joy,

Lord, your love endures forever

As you redeem the nations from all their sins

All of these years,

I have longed and waited for your words

Words engraved in me forever

Guiding me as I go through life

Oh! Praise for you have done great things in my life

Hey! I need to tell you this,

There is no love like yours

Thank you for loving me and being my eyes

And now you’re here Lord,

I will be your lover forever

Praise You Lord!

Cause you are my Lord, Hallelujah!

I am your lover forever….

Actually may tune na po ito.. ipaparinig ko na lang pag na upload na. :D