Life, Day by Day

What greeting do you say for the Chinese New Year?  I first knew that there was a Chinese New Year when I went to Hongkong in the late 90's.  Feeling sick the first day I was there, I stayed in our hotel room and watched TV. One program was teaching viewers how to say Chinese phrases. And so, that's how I learned (and never forgot) the greeting of Kung Hei Fat Choi.  I did not know then that this was in the Cantonese dialect, the one mainly used in Hongkong, Guangdong and Macao among the many dialects in China. Back then, I thought it was the only new year greeting in Chinese. Hey, don't blame me...the only Chinese left in me is my lineage. It was only recently that I learned that in the Philippines and Bacolod in particular, most of the Filipino-Chinese come from Fujian province where the dialect is Fookien (Hokkien).  And so, we should actually say, Kiong Hee Huat Tsai when we greet them for the New Year.  As for China's official language Mandarin, it is Gon...

My first food post for 2012.  The biggest cheese burger I ever saw in Bacolod City is found at Buglas Cafe.  When I was told about it, I thought...how huge could it be?  It did not look that big in the picture posted in our FB group page. photo courtesy of Marchel Espina And so when we had a meeting there in late October last year with the Negros Bloggers core group that was the first thing we ordered.  The name: Burger El Grande.  And mamma mia, yes, it was huge!  It took four of us to finish it.  Was it good? Well, I am not a burger person but yes, it tasted good and was complete with cheese, lettuce and tomatoes garnished with ketchup and mustard. Next question: Is it worth the money?  If you go there alone and are a big eater (like my son), then it probably is...otherwise share it with at least 2 or 3 other persons, like we did.  And it's a little difficult to eat for us girls but the boys didn't have the same problem, they just op...

What is it about a new year that makes people so optimistic?  After all, it's just the next day after the 31st of December, it is just another day.  January 1 does not really change anything, but the fact that it is the start of a new year gives people a change in perspective, at least for a while and the cycle goes on and on since every new year is like having second chances. It's a fool's belief. Having said this, I realized that unlike most people, I celebrate the new year because it's a tradition and not because it is important to me. I have no expectations because basically my life just goes on, nothing really changes.  I am talking here about my life in general, the day to day kind of living and interacting with people.  But the many oppressions, sadness, disasters and life challenges of 2011 gave this New Year a new meaning for me.  It gave me HOPE. And indeed these first 10 days of 2012 have already shown me that indeed life would be better this y...

To say that 2011 was a bad year is an understatement. I wanted to say goodbye and good riddance in one breath but I would be telling a lie if I said that nothing good happened this year. You see, in spite of all the evil intentions, oppressions and injustices sent my way during the last 12 months...especially the loss of my job and the passing of friends and dear ones in October...something good has come out of these experiences. There are  things I am actually thankful for in 2011 .  I have learned many important life lessons, came face to face with who I really am and what really counts , simplified my life, realized who my true friends were, strengthened my belief in Divine Providence and most important of all, brought me back my relationship with God.  It is often said that adversity is a great teacher. I looked back at the past and I saw that when adversity comes to me and my family, we have always faced them with faith, trust, confidence and courage.  It w...

I love weddings. It always reminds me of a fairytale.  Of course, a wedding is not to be confused with a marriage because not all have happy endings but I know that these two I attended in a week's span will be the happily ever-after kind of marriage. A Blogger's Wedding Last Tuesday was my blogger friend's wedding.  They had a seven year relationship that culminated in a beautiful sunset ceremony in one of the prettiest chapels in the city. The wedding was basically a family affair with  close and good friends in attendance.  What was unique were the give-aways.  The bride being a chemical engineer and environmentally conscious thought of giving different plants as their wedding remembrance.  I got a jackfruit, a rambutan, and a bignay tree.  I will be planting these in my yard and may these trees be a constant reminder of their celebration of love. God's blessings and happiness always to dear Glady and Levy! God's Miracle and A Weddi...

Here's what I have done so far.  I have four glass cozy designs and I have done 3 of each one which is far below my target of finishing 2 a day.  What can I say?  I think I am the only unemployed person I know who is always running out of time.  So if I can't make this on time for this year....there's always...next year? There is only 7 days more till Christmas and I am only halfway through. And there are so many activities and events this coming week like 2 weddings, meetings and parties (I know...excuses, excuses) that I don't think I will have enough time to finish 3 sets of 4 each. Oh well, it's a good thing that all of my relatives will be spending Christmas out of town, so that gives me more time...in time for the New Year, I mean :))  

I stopped smoking on November 15, 1990.  That's one month and 21 smoke free years and since then, I have tried to influence friends and family who continue to smoke.  Of course, I am not very successful.  In a way I understand because I had a hard time too.  I started smoking when I was 18 and I know that it is very hard to stop the habit unless there is a compelling reason to do so. So how did I do it...what prompted me to stop smoking?