our Christmas in UAE

Celebrating Christmas in UAE is not the same as it is in the Philippines. We can only feel the festive spirit inside the malls, in the hotels, or in the confinement of our homes. Since UAE is a muslim country, merry-making at home have to be discreet during the eve of Christmas so that the non-Christian neighbors will not be disturbed. Moreover, Christmas day this year fell on a weekday (Sunday is considered as weekday in UAE), therefore business as usual for the working sector as Christmas was not declared as a non-working holiday.

Nevertheless, the Christmas spirit is still burning in our hearts and we had to celebrate no matter what. Our solution: Gather at the park on the eve of Christmas (at the park we have a license to make noise, hehehe), have a party, and wait till the Christmas midnight strikes. Result: a fun-filled Christmas!

the reason for this season

photo credit:  http://ninamarx.girlshopes.com/christmasletterfromjesus/ 

It's none other than Jesus Christ.  For that, we'll be forever grateful to the One who had sent Him. Let us take time to reflect the true meaning of Christmas and let us not be overwhelmed with the merry-making. After all, Christmas starts with Christ.

I wish you joy and peace this season! God bless you abundantly! Merry Christmas!!

Typhoon Sendong Relief Operations: How I can help?

It's been a week already since typhoon Sendong (Washi) hit the shores of Mindanao. The typhoon left the island particularly Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City (my hubby's hometown) reeling from destruction and devastation due to massive flash flood and landslides. As of press time, the official death toll has already exceeded 1,000 and there are still a number of people missing (see related story here)

With this, the island of Mindanao is in dire need of humanitarian assistance and the relief operations are still ongoing since a number of Filipinos are left without shelter, clothing, food and drinking water.

photo credit: helpcdo facebook page

unorthodox menu for Christmas eve

photo credit: thepremiumbutcher.ie

Christmas is fast approaching and I'm sure some of you already have a Christmas menu in mind. I'm also sure that some of you have perennially prepared the same dishes every Noche Buena (Spanish word referring to Christmas eve). Of course, the traditional Filipino Christmas dinner will not be complete without the usual, such as lechon, pancit, sweet style spaghetti, hamon, queso de bola, fruit salad and more. However, I'm really sure that some of you aren't afraid to break the norms and are searching for ideas for a non-traditional Filipino Noche Buena. 

Well, in my opinion, I don't think that revising the Filipino Christmas menu which has been passed on from generations to generations will make you a defector of the Filipino Christmas culture. In fact, having a different take on your Noche Buena menu will make your Christmas eve more memorable as your family dig-in to an unorthodox holiday feast. 

now showing: Happy Feet 2

Rating: GP
lifted from google.com

My son and I, together with my "ladies" (weekend bonding again!), went to the Ibn Batuta Mall in Dubai last Saturday to watch Happy Feet Two. 

Yes, the utterly adorable penguins are dancing and singing into our hearts again in this animated sequel - this time in 3D. It brought back from the first installment the characters of Lovelace, Ramon (both voiced by Robin Williams), and Mumble (Elijah Wood), who is now all grown-up and has a son with Gloria (Pink) named Erik (Ava Acres).

The story line is simple but it has numerous life-lessons that your kids can learn and discuss with them. It starts with Mumble's son, Erik as he struggle to find his own place at the Emperor Penguin world. He left his home together with his friends and they found a large gathering of penguins, where they met Sven - "the flying penguin" (Hank Azaria). The story develops even further as a big glacier poses a threat to their home that takes the entire penguin world working together to save them.

There are also two characters to watch out for: Will (Brad Pitt) and Bill Krill (Matt Damon). Their story is also entertaining though it reminds me of Scrat the squirrel from Ice Age flick who also has a story of his own. Though these two Krills have their own thing, it still blends with the main story line towards the end.