Wishing you and your family a BLESSED AND PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS!
*<(:-{)}

X-Mas Rush

Grabe ang dami ng tao ngayon sa mga malls! Ang tindi rin ng trapik! Kahit gabing-gabi na ang dami pa ring tao na nasa labas. Halos lahat may bitbit na mga pinamili o kaya'y mga regalo. Karamihan rin naghahabol sa paghahanap ng mga ipanreregalo. Mabuti na lang matagal na akong tapos sa pamimili at naibigay ko na rin halos lahat ng mga regalo ko...

Ang aking paboritong inumin sa ngayon ay ang Peppermint Mocha Light-blended Frappuccino ng Starbucks! Para talagang nalalasap mo ang panahon ng Kapaskuhan sa timpla nito. B-)


Ang University of the East Chorale ay ang tampok na mga mang-aawit sa Glorietta kanina. Tulad ng PNU Chorale ay marami na ring napanalunang gantimpala ang UE Chorale. Kamakailang lamang ay nanalo raw sila ng Grand Prize sa Choir Grand Prix (or something) sa Busan, South Korea. Bagaman sa aking palagay ay mas magaling kumanta ang PNU Chorale, magaling din ang UE chorale lalung-lalo na sa kanilang dynamics.
Kinanta nila ang Joy to the World, Deck the Halls at Jingle Bells. Sumunod ay ang Pater Noster at pagkatapos ay mga kantang mula sa ibang bansa tulad ng Ronda Catonga (galing Uruguay), Rockin' Jerusalem, at Gloria Kenya. Napabilib ako sa kanilang pagkanta ng Pie Jesu, Help at ng And I Love Her (ng Beatles, na maganda ang kanilang pagka-areglo). Ang kantang We Will Rock You at From A Distance ang mga nagpanalo sa kanila sa Busan at dito lumabas ang tunay nilang galing. Ang mga iba pa nilang kinanta ay ang Rain, Kampana ng Simbahan, Kiss the Girl, at Kasadya (ang Bisayang kantang orihinal na pinaghanguan ng Ang Pasko ay Sumapit).

Siyempre pagkatapos ng pagkanta ng choir ay mayroon ulit fireworks display... Ang ganda talaga ng mga fireworks sa Glorietta at Greenbelt!

:-)

Choir

Whenever Christmas approaches, I used to enjoy listening to choral competitions back when I was in college. I get goosebumps whenever the choirs sing really exceptionally, and I really marvel at the combination of voices and harmonies. I haven't had the chance to do so in recent years because of a hectic work schedule. I had the chance today to listen again to a choir!

I previously wrote about Glorietta's Christmas Festival of Choirs wherein they feature selected choirs that sing for free at the Glorietta 4 Park or at the Main Activity Center. This is held every Saturday of November and December, from 6-7 PM. While walking around Glorietta a while ago, I realized that it was Saturday and hurriedly went to G4. I was just in time for the start of the program.

The guest choir was the Philippine Normal University Chorale. This multi-awarded choir is composed of students and alumni from PNU. They initially sang the popular carols Kumukutikutitap, Payapang Daigdig and Diwa ng Pasko. They followed it up with
Der 100 Psalm and then My Soul's been Anchored in the Lord (it was then that I started feeling the goosebumps already because they were really that good). Next in their repertoire were arranged solo numbers with choral accompaniment: From A Distance, Babae Po Ako, Isang Linggong Pag-ibig and Go the Distance. Their solo performers also sang quite well. They then sang 2 rearranged Folk Songs. They concluded with A Christmas Carol, Bituing Natatangi, and a final Christmas Festival medley. I really had a great time listening and watching!

The outside venue would have been really great since it was breezy but the ambient noise (beeping car horns and whistling traffic police) was kind of distacting. The wind was also blowing away the pianist's pieces. I was lucky enough to be able to get a seat but it was near the back. When the choir was finished though, I was perfectly situated to watch the Glorietta fireworks display! With Christmas music blaring loudly on speakers, the crowd was treated to an astonishing and colorful display of fireworks that was several minutes long. :-o

(Unfortunately, I didn't bring my camera... so I don't have pics of the night's events. I really had fun though!)

Tedbits...
...Next Saturday, featured will be the University of the East Chorale at the same place and same time.

...I also saw Angel Locsin at Robinson's Place Manila promoting something from Eskinol. She is very pretty!

...The Madz are at Greenbelt Park on Saturdays from 8-9 PM.

...Congratulations to Yeng Constatntino for being the 1st ever PDA Grand Star Dreamer! She is a truly talented singer and songwriter! :-)

Lantern Parade

The UP Diliman Lantern Parade is an annual event that draws crowds because of the creative and colorful lanterns made by the students. The lanterns are usually paraded around the Academic Oval, after which they are judged either at the Sunken Garden or Admin Building. Prizes are usually given to the organization or college with the best lanterns. It is traditionally held on the last day of classes prior to the start of Christmas vacation. Other UP units also hold their own Lantern Parades but the one in Diliman is the biggest and most spectacular.

This year's parade was supposed to be today so I went to Diliman in the afternoon. Arriving there, I heard that the parade was cancelled! I am not sure of the actual reason, some rumors say that there was a security risk and that there were bomb threats. Others say the cancellation was a form of protest. I did'nt leave and just walked around the campus, reminiscing of my college days. There were a lot of people still hanging around (most were students from other schools, some were families with their kids, others were foreigners). There were also small kiosks/cottages/booths situated along and around the academic oval. It was sort of like a tiangge, and they were selling all sorts of food and low-priced items like clothes, toys, trinkets.

At around 5PM, some organizations/colleges still proceeded with the parade! Though not as organized and not as many lanterns were present as the real Lantern Parade, there were still quite a number that were paraded around the oval. Most were FA lanterns, I think. There were also some activist students and militant organizations that joined the parade. The mini parade was still covered by the major TV networks and dailies. I will post pictures in my Multiply. All in all, it was fun and was still worth it going to Diliman! Hopefully next year, the traditionally grand parade will make a comeback.

But of course, after the parade, I ate tapsilog at Rodic's. :-)

Tedbits...
...On the way to UPD, I passed by my sister at RCBC Plaza. We ate lunch at Piquant. They serve moderately priced yummy dishes for health-conscious people. I had the cream of mushroom soup (uses non-fat milk) and grilled tuna sandwich (with tuna, kesong puti & veggies in whole wheat pita bread).

...On the way home, I passed by Greenbelt and was just in time to see their fireworks display. It was rather short in duration but very colorful. The fireworks are on every Friday and weekends of December at 9:00 PM. Took some pictures, will post them in my Multiply soon.

*<(:-{)}

Check this out! :-)

Weight Loss

Some people have been saying that I have lost weight recently. Well, I did, actually. They then ask me what I have been doing to lose weight: did I go to the gym, am I dieting, what diet am I on, and so on. I just smile/laugh and answer that I'm not earning much at present such that I don't have enough money to feed myself. :-p

There are a lot of ways to lose weight. There are a lot of diets and workouts that you can find in books, magazines and the internet. They all boil down to 3 basic tenets: eat less, eat right, and exercise. So how did I really lose weight?

Last year, I lost weight because I did all that at the same time. I ate lesser portions. I cut down on fat and on fried foods. I ate a lot of vegeatables to the point of being a modified vegan. I exercised regularly up to 4x a week and I even jogged for a while. During that time, I was reviewing for an exam also and I organized my schedule well. I was very disciplined then, because I was INSPIRED to lose weight. It was a conscious effort for me during that time. The problem was that I could'nt sustain it. I lost interest, I started exercising less then stopped altogether, then eventually returned to my old eating habits. I ended up regaining the pounds that I lost and then some. :-/

Recently this year, in contrast, my weight loss did not start out with dieting or exercising. It started because I was DEPRESSED and had simply lost appetite. I just ate less, sometimes eating only because of the fact that I had to sustain myself and that I feared getting an ulcer. I wasn't starving myself but before I knew it, I had already shed pounds. It was only then that I took advantage of that fact and started to eat right and exercise again. Hopefully, I'll be able to sustain it this time around. I think the key is moderation and going about it slowly.

I guess my point is that the ultimate and best way to lose weight is to simply EAT LESS. I'm not advocating getting clinically depressed or anything, I'm just stating what worked for me. Regardless of your reason or desire for losing weight, cutting down on calories is the very crucial 1st step. :-)

flying

In my Xanga entry dated Aug. 15, 2005, I wrote about my experience at the domestic airport. This was at the old arrival/departure area. I had the chance to go to the new terminal... it is way so much better! The attendants/people are as friendly and helpful enough as before. The terminal itself is very spacious, bright and better organized. There are a lot more shops, and the comfort rooms are cleaner. It's probably why the terminal fee has increased by 100%.

Riding on an airplane again, I experienced the same apprehensions as the plane was lifting off the ground and as the plane was landing. I really can't help but remember all those Nat Geo Air Crash Investigation specials. :-/

If you are on an airplane high up in the sky... are you closer to heaven and if you pray are you more likely to be heard because of proximity? :-D

I've already finished my Christmas shopping and I've already started giving my presents to those on my list. I'd rather give them out early, Christmas is so just around the corner. :-)

I have also started writing my New Year's Resolutions. It has been quite a while since I have written any. I don't plan on publishing them here though. Some people do, in order to put more pressure on themselves to make sure they carry them out. I guess I'll just keep them to myself. :-p

...Have you seen the 26K girls of Kapamilya Deal or No Deal in their Santa outfits? Wow! Hot!

Charlotte and Nina

This is the latest book that I have read. It is the movie storybook for the 2006 adaptation of E. B. White's classic and has a lot of pictures from the upcoming movie. The movie is due for wide release on December 15. It really is a heartwarming story, I'll probably watch the movie too. :-)



Check out the new Xmas3s pics that I uploaded. *<(:-{)}

Lastly...
I was able to watch Nina perform live at Music One yesterday. She is promoting her new self-titled album "Nina". She sang 3 songs which included the hit "Someday", "I Can't Make You Love Me" and "Love Moves..." from her previous album. She signed autographs afterwards. She sings very well, is quite pretty and very nice. Check out her new album! B-)

xmas3s

Check out my Multiply for other pictures... :-)

Soundtrack

Got this while bloghopping...

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?
So, here's how it works:

1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button

My i-Tunes has 755 songs in it. Here's what it came up with...

Opening Credits
For The Love Of You by Regine Velasquez

Waking Up
The Gift by Sarah Geronimo/Piolo Pascual

First Day
Audio Delite At Low Fidelity by Black Eyed Peas

Growing-up
Ipo-ipo by Rivermaya

Falling In Love
Name Fun by Parokya ni Edgar

Prom
Strange Are The Ways Of Love by Rachelle Ann Go

Graduation
Heartburn by Alicia Keys

Driving
Paskong Walang Hanggan by San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra & San Miguel Master Chorale

Flashback
How Does It Feel by Westlife

Getting Back Together
When I Dream by MYMP

Wedding
Lumingon Ka Lang by Sarah Geronimo

Birth Of Child
Shoot The Moon by Norah Jones

Final Battle
Home To Stay by Josh Groban

Death Scene
California by Wilson Phillips

Funeral Song
Dreaming Of You by Rachelle Ann Go

Closing Credits
Jesus Take The Wheel by Carrie Underwood


Labo 'no?! Walang connection in general. :-)

24 araw na lang...

Ika-1 ng Disyembre ngayon... ang lamig kaninang madaling araw pagka-gising ko. Siguro dahil dumadaan nun si Bagyong Reming sa Pilipinas. :-p

Itinayo ko kaninang mag-isa ang aming munting Christmas tree sa bahay. Berdeng puno siya na limang talampakan ang taas. Ang dekorasyon nito ay ribbon, bulaklak, paru-paro, makikintab na bola, at ilaw siyempre. Pangunahing kulay ng mga dekorasyon ay asul at silver, tapos iyong ilaw ay dilaw na halong nakapirming nakasindi at iyong kumukutitap. Inabot siguro ako ng mga dalawang oras para matapos. *<(:-{)}



Malapit na ako matapos sa akimg pamimili ng mga pang-regalo. Mangilan-ngilan na lang ang kulang ko. Magsisimula na ako magbalot sa susunod na linggo. :-)

Napanood ko si Christian Bautista sa Glorietta. Kumanta siya ng ilang piling kanta sa kaniyang bagong album. Magaling din naman siya kumanta. Tuwing Sabado naman ng gabi ay may mga choir na kumakanta sa Glorietta ng mga Christmas carol. Ito ay kasama sa mga aktibidades ng Glorietta bilang pagdiriwang ng nalalapit na Pasko.

Habang namimili kanina sa Music One, nakita ko si LJ Reyes ng ikalawang batch ng Starstruck. Grabe!!! Na-starstruck nga ako! Ang pretty niya at ang sexy din. Hindi ako bumibili ng FHM o Maxim, pero kung si LJ siguro ang nasa cover ay mapapabili ako. :-D