Enjoying JaNewary 2014 Fireworks

Again the family chose to spend our New Year with my in-laws in Gensan.  The kids (well, also us) wanted to see the fireworks.  It was a week-long vacation for us, my wife and I arranged our schedule weeks prior to our trip.  It was our first time to see the latest addition to our family, our nephew "Bingbong".  And with all the food prepared by my in-laws, it was like Christmas when we got there days ago.  But what the kids were really looking forward to was opening the gifts waiting for them.

Then after roaming around the city, the big day came... New Year.  We all watched the colorful firework display in the terrace.  Though we enjoyed the scene, we were also watchful for firecrackers flying nearby and see to it that all the kids were secured and safe.  We all had fun since we don't have them back in our place.  But it's not like we regret it, it's better to have firecrackers banned rather than be in the hands of irresponsible people.  At least now, we had almost no casualty for the past years.

We stayed in the terrace for as long as there were fireworks (so as to say that we really missed it).  But as the smoke already filled the air, the kids went to bed... it was a long day after all.  While me and my wife, had some midnight snack before hitting the bed (it's too hard to resist the food).

A simple, yet fun New Year celebration.  I hope 2014 will be kind and generous to our family as that of the past year.  New hope to look forward to... new obstacles to conquer... new life to face... And may the good Lord bless our family with good health, togetherness, and things we needed most.  

A happy New Year, everyone.  Yahweh bless.  

Common New Year Beliefs

We Filipinos are accustomed to different "pamahiin" or elderly beliefs, be it our own or adapted from our neighboring nations, or the influence of other countries, especially those who colonized us before.  An occasion like the New Year, isn't exempted even in my family.  Although we don't really talk about it that much, we respect each others belief as long as no one gets to any trouble believing it, it's fine with us.  Well, I'll be sharing with you some of it.

Taking a bath.  Yup, there are just people too lazy of taking even a short shower during the cooler months.  But not this day my friend,  wash away your misfortunes along with all your dirt so you'll have a clean start in the first day of the year and leave all your bad lucks in the past year.  But if you still think that nothing had change, look again, at least now you're clean. 

Making noise.  Believed to be driving away bad spirits and unwanted aura or elements.  Even if we are a firecracker free city, there's just a lot of things that can be used around in making noise.  And you need not teach the kids how to make them.  beeeeep... tooooottt... waaaaahhh...  claaang... booogg... hahahaa... But how do we know that the spirits are affected by such noise?  Oh well, at least we have fun doing it, and no one complains this time.

Wearing polka dots.  Circles represent coins or money, and wearing them is believed to give the person good inflow of money throughout the year.  Well, in that case, I'll be wearing rectangles instead or have a shirt printed with money of huge denominations.  Who knows, it'll work.  But if it doesn't, cheer up, its not everyday you can wear your favorite polka dots shirt... the long wait is finally over.

Putting coins in your pocket.  So that it won't be empty towards the year.  Then you give them away after, by tossing the coins to the air while the kids pick them up for themselves.  The sound of the coins are also good luck, and so as sharing your blessings to them, good karma.  For that, I won't be recommending bills here, unless of course you're prepared in giving it away.  And the bills don't make any sound, unless they are in bundle.  If that happens, count me in... I'm joining the fun...

Preparing and eating sweet sticky foods. That if you have something sweet and sticky in your "media noche", good things stick along with it.  But just a friendly reminder, especially to other places were firecrackers are allowed... sticky foods, hands and firecrackers, is not a very wise combination.

Rounded fruits.  Another thing that represents money is the rounded shape fruits.  I'm not quite sure if it's the number of kinds of rounded fruits or is it okay even if you have just one or two kinds as long as you have plenty of them. Anyway, whatever the case maybe here, no one is more happier than the seller of these overpriced fruits for the New Year.

Jumping high.  They say, the higher you jump, the taller you'll get.  But genes don't lie.  Probability of 99.99% you'll get your parents height and with proper health, might be more taller than them.  But hey, while you are in midair, you'll see others a little bit shorter than you are, even for a moment.  And it's fun to jump with others, right?  Then again, I believe miracles do happen.   

A lot of people may say that there's really no logical connection in doing these beliefs to getting the wanted result.   And the only way in getting these things is by working really hard (for material wealth) and having good and balance intake of foods (for growth and health).  But, there are still mysterious things happening in these world that even science cannot explain.  And I don't mind a little belief with some hope and a lot of prayers, if it could give a person a kick start to begin his year.  More, it's quite fun looking and/or joining the kids jumping none stop and scrambling for coins and just having some silly moments, than being so prim and proper for such jolly occasion.  Happy 2013 everyone and may Yahweh bless each day according to what we need most.  

My PMA Cadet Years (Fourth Class) - Facing Another Year

Greeting the New Year of 1996 was a tough one, specially not being with my family.  Back then, we had a simple Media Noche in the mess hall with our commandant of cadets and officers-in-charge.  After the meal, some "mistah" (classmates) were already rushing towards the phone booths to exchange greetings with their loved ones.  Me, I talked to my family using my iPhone (just kidding, cellphones were not yet widely used during those years), I was actually joining the others, shouting and making noise, greeting everyone a happy new year while going back to barracks.  Lively music and singing filled the hallway of each company.  Others were dancing and doing some comic acts, while some were eating their heart out watching movies in the clubroom... just doing something to have fun and forget the feeling of homesickness.  And yes, we were very brave to do that since all our upperclassmen were still on leave for the holidays.

The following day, we had a privilege to go out of camp (just within Baguio City). Along with some mistah, we were introduced to a family who lived just a couple of meters away from PMA entrance/ checkpoint.  It was a good thing, since they were very accommodating and friendly to us.  Having friends outside the portals of the academy was a great help, especially for us cadets being far away from home, it's a relief from the pressures, boredom, homesickness, etc.

It was the 3rd of January and with cadets following almost the same vacation days as that of the other universities and colleges, sometimes even shorter, upperclassmen begun to return as academics started.  So farewell to being kings and back to being the lowest mammals.  The good thing was, it was a practice that cadets coming from vacation usually bring delicacies and other boodles from their hometown to share it especially to their squadmates.  At least, we had something good to look forward to.  Also, we performed a parade in front of our upperclassmen.  Being all 4th class cadets, we applied what we learned from them and showed them we can also pull off a snappy pass in review.

Then came a memorable Sunday, 7th of January.  It was our class retreat at Betania Retreat House in Baguio City.  Here, our group met Fr. Raymond Santos and Bro. Arnold Almeda.  It made a  big contribution on my part for it strengthened more my will to continue with my cadet life.  Whenever I encountered a challenge or problem along the way, I just hum the song we learned from the event.  I know by then, the Lord was always with me, protecting me from all harm.

Our regular formation every Saturday Inspection

It was a tough month, there were a lot of guard duties, athletic competitions, lessons, exams, term papers and compilations, the consistent "Saturday Inspections", and the unforgiving demerits with touring hours punishment (my first)... Whoa!!! Good thing from time to time, got to receive letters from family and friends, and we were able to watch some theatrical plays performed by a neighboring university (SLU's Le Miserables), with the occasional film showing.  These simple but remarkable things help keep a cadet's morale high... and their sanity to a normal level (just joking).

But to be straightforward, if there was one thing that kept me going during those times, it was my FAITH... that nothing can harm me as long as HE is with me.  And I'm always reminded of it until now.  Yahweh bless.

Recent Related Post:  December Affairs

New Year With A Bang

We really thought we will be spending our new year in the hospital.  My son was confined a day right after Christmas and just been discharged a day before the New Year.  It doesn't really matter where we celebrate  it as long as we are together but we were just glad that he was already fine and lively celebrating and enjoying the New Year festivities and fireworks with us.

Fireworks??? thought it's banned in Davao.  Yes, it is... that's why we are celebrating it here in Gensan... hahaha... My wife and I decided to let our children experience to see a different kind of new year celebration.  Something that is loud and have lots and lots of exploding lights.  With a promise to ourselves that we will do everything to keep them safe... we won't be handling any firecrackers or fireworks and we will just watch inside the safety of our house.

We comfortably watched the fireworks display at the second level
of our house facing the city.  Here are some captured pics.

 And so it happened, the kids (and kids at heart) pretty much enjoyed the beautiful and colorful fireworks that lit up the darkness of the night sky but quite  uncomfortable and scared of the loud explosions made by a couple of firecrackers in the surrounding neighborhood.  After almost an hour of being mesmerized by the floating lanterns and spectacular fireworks, and at the same time being deafened by the banging... we decided to take the kids inside.  The air was also already filled with smoke and beginning to smell more of a black powder... We know that it wasn't good for them considering their compromised condition (just got well from sickness).

Oh well, it was still pretty much good inside, since we opened our Christmas presents with our family here in Gensan.  And as expected, the kids had a lot of fun opening their presents... and so were we (lol).  It was a year full of challenges but more it was truly a blessed year... I'm looking forward for a more positive year and a year blessed by our Lord... Happy 2012 everyone... Yahweh bless.