"Kung Hei Fat Choi" (Congratulations and Be Prosperous)

One of the most important festival for the Chinese community is the "Chinese New Year", not only here in the Philippines but all over the world.

Four years ago in November 2011, our beloved president Benigno Aquino III declared the Chinese New Year as a nationwide holiday. It is declared as a special non-working holiday so that our local Tsinoys could celebrate the said event.

2015 is' year of Wooden Sheep. Sheep is the 8th animal in 12 zodiac signs. They say that sheep (goat or ram) are among the animals that people like most.
 Because it is gentle, calm and the white creature often reminds people of beautiful things. This year Chinese Lunar New Year's Day is February 19.

 Filipino-Chinese communities in the country celebrate Chinese New Year every year in hope of prosperity, luck and peace.

During the celebrations, everyone wears red because it is considered as a lucky color. The noise of firecrackers is everywhere. They do believe that it would drive the evil spirits away and bring good luck for the whole year. Women cooked traditional foods, especially "Tikoy" a delicacy made from sticky rice, which they do believe that the food will make the family bonded together.

Most of the kids are looking forward to receiving fresh peso bills placed inside red envelopes called "Ang Pao".

Also, during the celebrations you are going to see dragon dancers in front of the stores and most of the store owners give them "Ang Pao" as a New Year's gift for them.

(Photo Cred to the Owners)

TIPID Tips for Valentines Date

I'm not actually a fan of a date, especially a Valentines Date. But I do "kinikilig" too if someone is going to ask someone on a date. But most of the time people wants the biggest and grandest dates, which I think is good. Good for those who has everything in the world. For those who has a plenty of cash in his bank account, for those who drives a sports car, and for those who owns mansions and villas. But how about those individuals who doesn't have much, but wanted to celebrate Valentines too. So, for those who wanted to celebrate Valentines Day with your love ones in a most affordable way. Here are some tips for you guys and hope you like it.




FOOD

Instead of bringing your date to a fancy and popular restaurant and waste a lot of money for a main course plus the wine and dessert, since you have a passion for cooking, why not cook for him/her? Cook a good meal for two and add some extra curricular things like a music or a simple candlelight while you're eating at home.

 If you don't know how to cook and you have money, but it's not really enough for a big restaurant, bring your date to a chain that offers value meals and unlimited rice. Since you have money, just make sure that you are not going to forget the flowers or the teddy bear to make the night a little sweeter.

But if you don't have money and unfortunately doesn't know how to cook as well,  you can just simply bring your date at the "Kanto" and both of you can make "Tusok-tusok" the fishball while holding each others hand.

Any of these, I'm pretty sure that your date will definitely acknowledge all of your efforts.


                    FLOWER

Giving your date the biggest bouquet flowers in town is good, but is it necessary? Yeah, I know it makes her super "Kilig", but did you ever think what is she going to do with it right after you gave it to her? Since we wanted affordable gifts and ideas for Valentines, why not give her one long stem flower. I know that idea can make her happy, believe me, you are going to see those precious smiles. But you can add a little "Gimik" too, for example a love letter attached to the flower or a chocolate perhaps.

 LETTER

Instead of buying a card, I suggest to make your loved one a love letter.  You can write all the words that you can't say or you're having a hard time saying it to your partner personally. It doesn't matter how good or bad your hand written is. Most important is the message written inside and much better to seal it with a kiss.




I LOVE YOU

The most inexpensive tip but has a big impact for every lovebirds is by saying I LOVE YOU in a sweetest way. Don't let the day passed without mentioning those words to your partner. It means a lot to him/her, I swear.






For me, those material things are just a bonus for every couple. What matter most is that at the end of the day are the things that we can't touch, but has the biggest part of each relationships which includes, RESPECT, TRUST and LOVE for one another.
 Happy Valentines lovebirds! :)


(Photo Cred to the Owners)

Thank You LORD, That's All I Can Say :)

 

January 24th of this year, Sachin and I are having our weekly mom and son time and suddenly I got a call from my sister all the way from our province (Camarines Sur). She told me that our father got a heart attack. At first, I didn't even know how to react. It's actually the first time that it's happened to my father. My solar system went down and my mind jumped into so many "What If's". What if like this, what if like that. My heartbeat is getting faster.I want to cry because I can imagine how weak and fragile my father that time, but at the same time I want to call and talk to him and scold him for being a stubborn and such.  But I know, that time wasn't the time to let our emotions kills us. It's the time that we need to hold on to each other and we need to keep in our minds that God will help us all the way. 

 After a day of staying at the clinic nears us, the doctor recommended him to a bigger hospital for the laboratories and test since he's complaining his head and chest. Then my mother and father together with my two siblings went to a bigger hospital, which is a two hour drive away from home. My dad went to many tests which include CT Scan. Results went out and unfortunately the results weren't favorable for all of us. The CT Scan's said that my father has a blood clot in his upper brain that needed to be removed the soonest. After I heard that news, here I go again, my tears are immediately falling down and it seems that my heart crumpled by someone. The pain in my heart was the worst pain I have ever felt. But then again we as family need to be calm, strong and keep on praying that the Lord will heal our father soon.

After those tests, his doctor advised him to stay at the hospital for a couple of days or more until the medicine removed the blood in his brain.

Thank you Lord cause after a week of staying at the hospital, my dad went home already. We are still praying for his fast recovery and for his good health. All of the pains and tears are all paid off when we heard that he's going home.

To my dearest Papa, we love you more than you'll ever know. I can say that if I die and born again, I'll still want you to be my dad. So please be careful now.

Again, Thank You Jesus, you never fail to amaze us. You never leave us in this battle.
To God be all the glory.

MORE PICS OF DAD :)

Five Point Someone: "What not to do at IIT"

 Have you heard or much better watched the movie "3 Idiots"?

It is an Indian comedy-drama film released last 2009. The story of 3 students pursuing their engineering degree at Imperial College of Engineering, one of the best colleges in India. Ranchoddas "Rancho" Shamaldas Chanchad together with his friends Farhan Qureshi and Raju Rastogu are the three students whose the main characters in the movie. Being a student on the said university under the supervision of their college dean, Professor Viru Sahastrabuddhe a.k.a. 'Virus is like hell to them. Wanna know why? You better watch the movie for you to find out.

3 Idiots is also one of my favorite movies in my list. The movie that made me cry and laugh at the same time. The movie that captures my heart and made me keep mentioning the word "All is Well" right after I watched it. And after the movie what I did was, I researched the story on the internet. What I've found out, the movie was based from the book of Chetan Bhagat title "Five Point Someone – What not to do at IIT!" I've searched for the book online hoping that there's a PDF or any e-books where I can read the story. And luckily I've found one site and immediately read the book. Just like the movie, the story of the book is full of laughter and heart. The story is all about their friendship, their studies, their differences and ambitions. This is not a book to teach you how to live in college otherwise it describes how you messed up things can get if you're not that good while you're studying. I've looked and still looking for the book itself at our bookstores here and I guess I'm having a hard time finding it. But I'm hoping that I'll get one soon. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Chetan Bhagat's Biography

5 DIY Beauty Products

For those women whose beauty conscious and at the same time wanted to save pennies on the beauty products that they're using, these are some of the recipes show you how to use simple ingredients that can be found at home.

1. SKIN

2. HAIR

3. FACE

4. FOOT

 5. ETC

(Photo Credit to the Owners)

#Beauty #DIY

3 Things You Should Never Post On Social Media

1. RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS

If you're a couple and you are having a fight, do not shout it out on social media. People can immediately judge you since you have given them an idea about it. These are the issue that most of the people don't want to know. What you can do is to talk to your partner and resolve the problem on your own or you can just simply keep it to yourself. For me, solving problems with your partner alone is much better instead of posting it on social media so that no one can say anything about you.


 
2. PICTURES OF YOUR NAKED BODY

It's inappropriate for you to show and expose your body on social media unless you will be the next porn star. Just keep in mind that you're not the only one using the social media. There are a lot of children and teenagers who's using it too, so please be careful. If there is still some respect left for yourself, better avoid this kind of posting.

3. MONEY, CREDIT CARDS & BANK INFORMATION


Do not boast your wealth online. You are only making robbers and thieves job easier. Yes robbers and thieves are using social media too. You might lose those wealth and treasures in an instant by posting it on social media or worse you'll just risk your life and safety.

(Photo Credit to the Owners)

Pope Francis in Manila (2015)

Today is the day that most Catholics are waiting for. The visiting of the Pope here in Manila, Philippines. Before we welcome Pope Francis, let me give you first some facts about our beloved pope.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born last December 17,1936. The eldest among five children of Mario Jose and Regina Bergoglio. The reigning Pope came from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He worked as a chemical technician and nightclub bouncer before his seminary studies. From 1973 to 1979, he was ordained as a Catholic Priest and became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998. He was created a Cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. When Pope Benedict XVI resigned last February 28, 2013, Bergoglio elected as his successor on March 13, 2013. He chose "Francis" as his papal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. He is the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere and the first non-European pope.

 

POPE'S ITENERARY

January 15 - Pope Francis is expected to arrive in Manila from Sri Lanka, the first leg of his Asian trip, by plane past 5 p.m and will go on a motorcade to his official residence in the Philippines.

 January 16 

(Malacañan Palace)

 He will be officially welcomed by President Benigno S. Aquino III at Malacañan Palace.
 He will also meet Philippine authorities and members of the diplomatic corps. After the Palace reception, Pope Francis will go on a motorcade to the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Manila Cathedral) in Intramuros for a Mass with bishops, priests, and women and men religious. Later, he will have an encounter with the families at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

 (Manila Cathedral)

(Mall of Asia Arena)

  

January 17 - He will visit the Archdiocese of Palo in Leyte Province in Eastern Visayas and offer Mass near Tacloban Airport. He's going to have lunch with the poor and survivors of calamities. Afterwards he will bless the Pope Francis Center for the Poor in Palo, and visit the Cathedral of Our Lord’s Transfiguration (Palo Cathedral) to meet with priests and women and men religious.

(Archdiocese of Palo)

(University of Santo Tomas)

January 18
 Pope Francis will meet religious leaders and young people at the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas in Manila and in the afternoon he will go on a motorcade for the  Concluding Mass at Quirino Grandstand in Rizal (Luneta) Park.

(Quirino Grandstand)

 January 19 - Pope Francis will leave for Rome

 #PopeFrancisInManila #PopeFrancis #TYM #ThankYouSaMalasakit

 (Credits to http://papalvisit.ph)