Paskong Pinoy

Christmas was fun for us at the flat. roxanne and the gang cooked the food which was delish! hmm...

after the eating, we exchanged gifts and played the pinoy henyo game and we were super noisy. but, what the heck, all the other flats were a-ruckus as well..

Happy Christmas everyone!

Christmas Party at the Office

we were told to bring our gifts for our party, and i did. quite frankly, i was really surprised and very happy that everyone joined in, regardless of religion. i mean, i'm saying this because back in the philippines, colleagues who had different religion would back out or just plain refuse to join in on the fun saying they don't celebrate christmas or some other excuse. but here, where most are either muslim or hindu, and just a handful of us are christians, everybody joined in. and i had super fun. it's obvious (in the pictures). ",)

it was simple: we cut the cake and had our exchange of gifts at the office.

and guess what i got?

Belen Ngayong Pasko

i know i did mention somewhere in this blog that my colleagues have decorated the office real well. the ceiling's all glittery and the doors are adorned with bells, stars, christmas balls etc... it's neat! of them all, i like this nativity scene. to us pinoys, this is fondly called 'belen'. why so, i really do not know. but, it's how i will always call it. belen ng pasko.

Belated Birthday

'twas the last month of the year when the boss called me in from my checks. i hurriedly went back to the office and found to my surprise that they are giving our birthday gifts to all of us.

whoa!!! my birthday was last february. i started thinking if this was for next year already. but they said it's for this year's... hahaha... some kinda belated ha! well, i was home that time, or should i say, was walking the streets of Ho Chi Minh.

still, i'm grateful...

thank you QCRD!

and of course, here's the birthday cake!

Gift Wrapping

woke up late yesterday.

slept late the night before as i had to wrap some gifts for our exchange of gifts at the office and here at the flat.

was happy though because i was able to buy some items at duty free for a discount (it's DDF's anniversary sale and airport staff get a 25% off ). imagine me doing the happy dance all the way home. ",)

have bought all my wrapping paraphernalia days in advance so i just went ahead and started wrapping my presents. now i've got some names ticked off my list.

the wrappings though is not as important as the thought that someone remembered you on this joyous season. truthfully, i don't want to be caught up in the fever of frenzy for gift-shopping. but since i had some time these past weeks, i just slowly scoured for bargains really. for me personally, it's not the wrapping but the gift and the gesture of giving even the simplest thing. and it need not be material. a warm hug or greeting, a smile, a handshake, a helping hand - they're a God-send. at times, a quiet gesture can be louder than a shout and can really warm the heart.

1, 2, Go

i have already finished the first and second steps in procuring the E-ID. finally...

but see, after step no. 1- typing, we were told that within 48 hours, we'd get an SMS for our appointment (2nd step: biometric scanning) in the processing of our emirates ID. but after a week no SMS came. nada! so i called the customer service number they gave for follow-up and still no SMS came. hence, i decided to take matters into my own hands and went for a walk-by (walk-in ito sa linggwahe nating mga pinoy). i waited about an hour before my turn came 'coz they were prioritizing those who had appointments that morning. and then finally it's done.

naku salamat naman, at natapos din. ngayon, ang next step ay maghintay. don't know how long it's gonna be. but i have patience naman. ",)

Chocolate Temptation

for a while now, i have found myself gravitating towards the chocolate section of supermarkets and stores. i'm such a chocoholic, which is quite obvious with my size now. and i try to justify by saying "down lang ako ngayon. i need a perk-me-up."

not quite ready to give up sweets (oi, bantay abigail, may diabetes predisposition ka!), i've resolved to pursue my baking interest. self-starter na ako ngayon, kaya todo panghahagilap ng recipe ang ginagawa ko, sabay panonood ng video.

here's my first attempt: choco chip cookies!!!!

Simbang Gabi

attended simbang gabi last night. grabe, sobrang late na kami nakauwi. paano kasi, nag-aya pa ako sa pinsan ko na magpapapicture ako sa may christmas tree. waited until the crowd has somehow thinned bago kami makakuha ng matinong pic. joked with our parish priest while waiting, napadaan kasi siya sa amin habang nag-iikot sa simbahan to talk with the parishioners.

i cannot however complete the 9 night masses, due to my shifting sched. sayang.

the spirit of the season is somehow getting lost on me. lonely yata ang aking pasko ngayon. buti na lang, okay ang atmosphere sa bahay. i can get my moments of peace. at mababait ang mga tao sa house, pinagtitimpihan ako ng aking mga pinsan at flatmates sa aking mga moods.

sana po mabago ko ang ugali ko. mainitin pa rin ang aking ulo at madaling mapikon. lalo na ngayon at may hindi ako type na katrabaho. pabaitin niyo po ako Lord. pahabain niyo pa po ang aking pasensiya. Diyos ko po, di ko na po 'ata kaya.

mukhang madami pa yata akong hihilingin ngayong pasko. but first i have to start the change from within. i should begin with me.

Bertdeyhan na Naman

we had another birthday celeb here in the house. it was cousin guiller's natal day yesterday. kaya kainan at kantahan to d max na naman. at laklakan pala para sa mga naiwan sa bahay nung gabi. i had to go to work (night shift) kaya kahit hinahabol ako ng tagay on my way out, dedma na lang. at heto ang mga ebidensiya:

my cuz roxy busy in the kitchen...

while cuz rene got busy singing videoke...

singit naman ako ng isang kanta.. na sinundan pa ng isa at isa at isa.... ",)

tim-tim singing with feelings...

and d fudang....

On Eagle's Wings

Going through the collection of articles that i have kept with me throught the years, once again i came across this one favorite of mine. allow me to share it with you. i think this has been circulated in the email.

Wings of an Eagle

Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks? The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it.

The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it
higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm. When the storms of life
come upon us - and all of us will experience them - we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward God. The storms do not have to over come us. We can allow God's power to lift us above them. God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure and disappointment in our lives. We can soar above the storm. Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.

The Bible says, "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles." Isaiah 40:31

Oh dear Lord, be the wind beneath my wings and allow me to soar high.

Sa Paliparan Na Naman

was pleasantly surprised when i came to work this morning and found the office all glammed up with christmas decors. kudos to the guys who worked at all the stuff: the manger, the ceiling all adorned with stars and glittering christmas balls and santas and gifts, making me feel all christmassy all of a sudden. now i can feel the spirit in the air already. yahoo!

but had to dash to the expo site to check on things there. there's the mid-east biz aviation going on. checked on food and docs and managed to squeeze in some time to walk around the halls to see some exhibits as well.

Standing in Line

woke up early to hear mass at St. Mary's Church. today is the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mother Mary. i went for the 6:45am mass so that i can come early for the Emirates ID in nearby Karama. but alas, when i got there at a quarter to eight, the line has been cut for the typing. we were told to come back in the afternoon or else at 7am again the next day.

some went home. but there were a number of us who remained. it's not as if it's so easy to absent yourself from work and request your passport from the office. we have to meet deadlines as well. and to add to that, the E-ID has changed the process. we have to come back again at a set date for the photo, eye scanning and finger printing. waited several hours before my turn came. thankfully i was back home by 2pm. tired and very hungry.

wish it will be easier for the next step.

Holiday Shopping

i was so pooped yesterday.

just finished my workweek and really looking forward to 2 days off. but since i already had plans for today, i managed to wake up yesterday just in time to do some christmas shopping. went from one mall to another, browsing through SALE items as we had pegged the price for our office exchange of gifts and i wanted to make one good buy ( i think i did, ). also bought a couple of sweaters for my night walks, a few socks (loved the colors!), Liz bag (again), and some items from Woolworths (i got a 50Dhs coupon when i purchased mom's laptop). then, went to Reef Mall for some home items that i've been long wanting to buy. Lifestyle is one good place to shop for gifts. finally stopped at Home Centre and bought a couple of baking pans to get me all set for my baking plans.

i was literally dragging my feet by the time i was coming home at 9pm, both arms laden with shopping bags. i think i may have looked like a christmas tree (as what roommie tikz would call me back in the days). one kabayan who was walking behind me even offered to give me a hand with my loot. ".) but i managed all right.

Feeling Cold

the air is so cold outside. i was shivering as i was getting out of the office this morning and while walking the short distance to my flat from the metro.

it's a cold, cold december morning.... i sure long for a warm hug to welcome me home.

Goodbye

Free

to roam around

see the sights

and laugh out loud

Sad

to hear your voice

watch your face

as your tears fall

Dark

are clouds above

awaiting dusk

as night time comes

Dance

swirl me around

as music plays

to calm my nerves

Kiss

me one last time

I bid goodbye

to sweet romance.