My Christmas this year wasn't a happy one because I felt a little bad about things. Maybe I wasn't really at ease having other people in the house during Christmastime and that our annual traditions weren't met, making me feel really sad about some things. Still, I was happy that the family had the photo shoot.

I gained weight (drats) by the last season of the year - so I had to wear something old. My supposed to be Christmas outfit couldn't fit me anymore. :( Well, I have myself to blame about it, if there's a fat camp here in the Philippines, I'd enroll for sure.

Anyway, this year we decided to pose in our terrace. We've had pictures inside the house, we figured we needed a background change. Even if it was already nearly 1AM of Christmas Day, mom was still willing to pose for pictures. She still doesn't smile much, but her holding the bottle of vodka really made me smile. Maybe on New Year's Day we'd ask her to take a shot. Hahahaha.


The family wasn't really big on presents - we don't really give gifts to each other, so for this year the only gift I received was a little tub of body scrub from 'te Charo, our neighbor. She works in Singapore and we thought she wouldn't celebrate Christmas here in the Philippines - to our surprise she called on us and asked us to get our presents. Thanks so much 'te Cha.


Our yearly tradition was to serve very light snacks for Noche Buena (midnight of Christmas Day) and serve a feast come Christmas Lunch. We did serve light snacks for Noche Buena - we just had ham and bread - but for Christmas Lunch, we weren't able to serve the foods we planned to serve. Mom just cooked spaghetti because we had some guests, and we just served a little much come dinner.

For dinner, sister and I helped each other in preparing steamed fish, and I fried some chicken. Us siblings also helped in preparing the mango float cake (which we served on champagne glasses). The mangoes were very sour, maybe we would just re-do it come New Year's Day.

My Christmas wasn't as fun as the others had it (my heart was filled with anger), but I was happy that the family was complete that day.

Happy holidays everyone!

*** Jenn ***

20 December, I was supposed to attend the Manila Toys and Gifts Fair held at the Megatrade Hall of SM Megamall, but I had to help mom prepare for their Christmas Party. Late in the afternoon, I accompanied my sister to the Globe Center to have her sim card replaced (her phone was snatched a day or two before). We were told we need to provide an affidavit of loss and an identification card, so we just have to get back. Knowing that the mall will have a fireworks come 7PM, we decided to stay and roam for a while.

A few months ago, I accidentally spotted this painted wall along Belfast Avenue, and told my sister I would like to take pictures of her with the wall as the background. It was a bit difficult for us because we know vehicles and people pass by the avenue, and in a way we were a bit shy with what we were doing, but I was able to take some pictures and that already made me happy. Hopefully next time we will do it again.






Sister and I ate dinner (shawarma) first before we went to the parking area. I loved the fireworks show because the program was long enough for me to take pictures. Taking the lessons learned from the SM MOA fireworks a week before, I really made an effort not to become a deer in the middle of the road again. Unfortunately, my point and shoot camera has a slow shutter speed so even if I was able to take a lot of pictures, much of the shots were blurred and not usable. But of course, I am a happy shutter person. As long as I was able to capture one good picture, I am happy.

*** Jenn ***

I just received an e-mail that the picture I submitted for the food category was accepted for the Sony Cybershot Tx1 "Love the Night" contest. I was told that winners will be determined via online voting, and that comments made on the site will be counted as one vote. I am now asking you guys to spare a moment of your time to go to this site:

Sony Cybershot Tx1 - Hotdog Bonfire
And comment on it, as I really want to win this one. Prize at stake is a Sony Cybershot Tx1 digital camera. Please help me win. Thanks a lot!

*** Jenn ***

17 December, I went to my goddaughter Alia's school to take pictures of her performing for the school's field day. Her mom (my high school buddy Liza) asked me to attend because the only way they can capture images is through her cell phone's camera and she said her cell phone doesn't really take good pictures. I wasn't doing anything that time, I so went and watched.

The program started around 3PM, and because it's a public school, there were many students, and many parents wanting to watch and take pictures of their kids, too! The school didn't have a big field, so getting all the people organized was a tough thing for the teachers to do. The kids perform twice - on the first full song, nobody's allowed to take pictures yet so that the performance will run smooth. They will repeat the song again and the students would perform for the second time (just half of the song) for the parents to come near their kids and take pictures. What's difficult was that when they perform the second time, the field was already flocked with parents! Good thing I was still able to take some decent shots.

Alia performed twice - first with her kindergarten class, and she performed with the Grade three students, too, because Liza's the adviser of one of the grade three classes. I took quite a lot of pictures, but I will share just one for now, I still haven't edited some of the pictures.

Of course, after the field day I stayed for a while and chatted with my friend.

*** Jenn ***

My sister's birthday is 17 December, but we celebrated it a day before because mom was on-leave. She and mom went to Novaliches first because sister had a facial and mom went to the dentist, then we all met up in Robinson's Place (Novaliches) to eat dinner. Mom suggested we eat at Bulalo Fiesta, and since brother still hasn't eaten there, we decided to go there.

We had the big bowl of bulalo pochero, and it was good, only that I wished we just ordered two small bowls because the big bowl has this oh so big bone, that I thought we paid more for the bone than the meat. We also had a stick of barbecue each, a plate of pancit, and grilled tuna belly. It was a very heavy dinner, but we all enjoyed it because we just talk a lot and laugh....

I was hoping I could take some portraits of my sister, but she can't put anything on her face following a facial. I sure wanted her to have a set of pictures as she turned a year older, but it was just fine. I still will take some portraits of her, I found a nice place that will provide a nice background. Hopefully before the year ends we could do it.

*** Jenn ***

Last Saturday, I met up with my shutterbug friends for some picture taking by the bay area of the SM Mall of Asia. Our meet up was around 4PM, and at first I was afraid I might be late because I met up with another friend lunch time and we watched "Amelia." Good thing there's the MRT, and I arrived on time.

However, the shutterbugs weren't there yet - Halie and Aries were still on the way, and I wasn't able to get Roy's number, so I just stayed by the bay area and waited for the sunset to come so I could take pictures. Sunsets come earlier at this time of the year, so it wasn't really a good good pleasure to take pictures. I just take pictures and enjoy the view.


I waited more time at the area and just stayed where I am at, so that when they arrive, they would know where I was. Don't have much subjects for pictures, but I like this one - I am a big fan of indigo skies...

Roy arrived, and for a while we had a difficult time finding ourselves, but thanks to the camera flash, we were able to locate each other. Halie and Aris arrived a few minutes after, and they were a bit disappointed about missing the sunset (they were stuck in traffic). They were hungry, too, so we decided to go to the mall and find a restaurant by the terrace overlooking the bay area, so when the fireworks came, we will be in a good position.


We did find a restaurant that has a good view, but because it was still early for the fireworks, we pretty much just stayed there - talking and getting to know each other. Halie I met so many times, but it was my first time to meet Roy and Aris. I was happy to be with a bunch of wacky, noisy people. :)

The bay area hosted a serenade from the UST orchestra... we were quite far, but happy the zoom levels of my camera can handle it.


By around 8PM, the fireworks show started. There were so many fireworks coming from different parts of the bay area, that I just don't know what to take pictures of. Actually, I blame myself for a very crappy fireworks shoot - I so wanted to have a bit of a fore / background that I forgot that most of the decorations were up in the sky! Oh well... I learned a big lesson from here.

After the show, we ate dinner and went on with the wacky antics. I was the only Canon camera user (they use Nikon), and they were teasing me a lot, but it was all just fun. On Sunday, we are set to meet again for another photo shoot, this time it's the Cosplay Fashion Show at the Megatrade Hall.

It was so great to meet you, Aris and Roy... and it was great seeing you again, Halie!

*** Jenn ***