·        Today is Niños Inocentes.  Used to be one of my dad’s favorite days ‘coz he has an excuse to pull pranks with his media friends and sometimes even with the people in Malacañang!

·        For the past years, December 28 signified my high school barkada’s annual xmas gathering (we’ll celebrate this year on the 30^th — yehey, dalawang tulog na lang!).  Whew, JM and I are almost finish in our “santa-shopping.”  O’96 Christmas parties kasi are marked by our traditional wish-list-gift-giving — we post our wishes (from books, to kikay items, to plain pillow covers, to clothes, to nail cutter, to socks, et cetera) sa yahoogroups and each one/partners ‘claim’ what she/they will buy from the wisher’s list and give the gifts on date of the party.  Practical and fun to give/receive what one really wants — the simple joys!

·        Although, most of my friends were in agreement that this holiday season is quite sad compared to the past years.  I partly agree — konti na lang kasi kami sa family nag-celebrate ng Christmas day; I’m already categorized as an ‘adult’ by my elders as I no longer received any xmas money from them; and all the gifts I received from my relatives are “for the house” na. Moreover, parang dumami pa nakakaawang beggars sa kalye, parang hindi man lang nababawasan yung mga binebentang lighting-parol under Buendia flyover, lahat ng ini-interview na tindera would say ‘mahina bentahe ngayon kumpara nung mga nakalipas na taon.’

·        Plus, ang sad naman sa family ni late Senator Barbers.  What a day to die — Christmas day!  Heck, my maternal grandpa died a few days before Christmas two years ago — ang sad na the fact that we were at a funeral parlor on Christmas eve!  What more pa kaya handling all the body preparations/grief on Christmas day itself?!

·        Gosh, one year ago na yung Tsunami disaster (December 26).  I watched either sa National Geographic or Discovery Channel a special where they interviewed some families in Sri Langka and Thailand about their experiences the day the huge waves struck.  Literally, naluha ako sa sinapit at mga patuloy na pinagdadaanan pa rin nila.  Ang sad and kawawa sobra! 

·        Back here in the country, we are currently feeling a bit of nature’s fury as well.  Super flooded pa rin sa Mindoro.  Let’s continue helping and praying for the victims there. 

·        Enough dwelling about sadness.  Para maiba, I’d rather start thinking how somewhat blessed this season had still been.  First, the worst of the medical crisis of my aunt is over.  Second, I have a job and I got my salary (record time na raw yun ‘coz initial pay takes months to be cleared daw) at the time (to the very hour) our family needed most! Third, my back has normalized (thanks to Calcium tablets — although warning in taking so, one should drink lots of water to prevent the formation of kidney stones).  Fourth, maayos naman ang eye surgery ni Lola Saling. Fifth, ang happy na ok ang house and vehicles. Sixth, ang saya na may mga kakilala akong pumunta sa USA at nakapagpadala kay kuya without having to expend much for freight (laking tipid and great that kuya got things he needs/requested for from here)! Seventh, good health and normal conditions most of my relatives and friends. Eight, despite the hardships, may freedom/choices/capacity to act pa rin ang life.  Ninth, Tita Madre passed the 2^nd stage of her driving exams in Botswana! And finally, I got some pencils as Christmas gifts (Thanks for the ‘Philippines’ pencils, Bane! Thanks for allowing me to ‘steal’ from your pencils gift pack, Piper!)

·        Kris influenced me to patronize Manila Filmfest movies way back in college (actually, he influenced me to give Filipino movies in general a chance).  Yes, from the time of Mara Clara The Movie, to Pedro Penduko, to Mano Po 1 & 2, etc. (and believe me, “et cetera” covers a lot more).  This year, we watched Mulawin The Movie — ok, I admit, that was due to my insistence. No, I didn’t follow the series; I was just curious of the story, the costumes, and the actors/actresses.  At least, even being an ignorant about these “taong-ibon” with “ugat-pak” we understood naman the plot.  Bilib ako sa efforts with the costumes and effects.  Everyone in the movie can also act naman — no spectacular performance, pero wala rin namang dapat i-lambaste (kumbaga, walang parang Jericho Rosales; pero wala rin naman parang Onemig Bondoc — gets? hahaha).  Next in the list to watch is BlueMoon…and maybe even the Juday-Piolo movie na rin! Hahahahaha, tangkilikin ang pelikulang Filipino!