Christmas in Bacolod

I had a fun, rollicking and quality time with my husband's clan, the Gallagas.

I love the dynamics of the whole Gallaga clan - Bing's immediate family, all his Aunts and Uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces.

I love the closeness of the siblings and the cousins. They grew up together and created this bond between them that has somehow stood the test of time. They have grown and led their respective lives, some have moved abroad, but they remain close as ever and not allowed themselves to grow apart from each other.  They may have their differences from time to time but they know how to set those aside so they can enjoy each other's company, especially when those from far away are in town. Their craziness, eccentricities can be brutal at times, yet they have a loving way of picking on/ teasing each other and that's usually whoever is the youngest among the cousins or isn't around during get-togethers (a good reason to make it to the reunions, hehe). 

Their sense of humor is deep - they are witty, funny and can even be intellectual snobs at times. It's always a blast when they are all together, the repartee is enjoyable, interesting and not for the faint of heart.

I love to sit among the cousins, observe, join and listen to whatever it is they're discussing. I may not say it but I love all his cousins and everything that goes on with each of them. It could be movies, fashion, our children, their parents, uncles and aunties, hunk Hollywood actors, chismax among cousins and the least favourite, politics. Conversations are always interesting and deep, it could shift from frivolous subjects to more serious and heavy ones. Nobody is spared. 

Regardless of whatever goes on, there's no judgment. Well, that's how I feel whenever I'm in their company.

They know how to party, but also comfortable just being at home watching a movie, hanging out and just talking.

I have the coolest, pragmatic, loving mother-in-law.

They always made me feel how it is to have a family. They are sticklers for family traditions and old-style family values in relation to manners, such as showing respect to elders, traditional Sunday lunch with the clan matriarch. I think this is what helps create that sense of being a family.

I knew right away I belonged because of the food, I love to eat yet so picky but they know their food and drink - hahaha. They are adventurous and they take their food and drink seriously. It is never random or arbitrary, meals during gatherings are meticulously planned, coordinated and prepared.

Lucky am I in this lottery of life.. My deepest thanks I give to thee ... I don't get to spend as much time with them but they're never far from my thoughts.

They're the kind of family which keeps you going even when everything doesn't make sense. They aren't perfect, they have their issues, but they haven't let that get in the way of making each one feel the value of belonging to the clan. The positives far outweigh the negatives.

Filipinos in Harm's Way in Syria

Filipinos in Harm's Way in Syria:

29 December 2011 Moira G Gallaga©

The Philippine government has put a great deal of time, effort and resources towards the rescue effort and those that refuse to leave should realize that at a certain point there is not much the government can do for them.

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To Do Great Work Is To Love What You Do

Your work accounts for a significant part of your life. In the light of the importance of work in your life, you must deliver your best work to be able to lead a life of self-satisfaction. In turn, the only way to deliver your best at work, you must truly love what you do. If you have not found a thing that you love yet, keep looking and do not settle for anything else.

 

Steve Jobs once said that our heart shall know when you come across the thing you love doing.  Satisfaction and happiness from work is a sensitive topic for many people across the globe because it invokes grief in them. This message is for everyone including those who have found the work they love and those who are still looking. Your work should satisfy and correctly represent you along with inspiring others.  Never bow down to a job, instead search your “life’s work”. Look for a source of happiness for yourself and inspiration for others.

Ticking of the Clock

Tick tock. Tock tick.

The incessant ticking of the clock

Long minutes turned into long hours

Clicking like the turning of a lock

How long have I lain here

Waiting for sleep to come?

Listening to time shed like skin

I’d hate to tally up the sum

I’ve counted a million sheep

Drank endless glasses of warm milk

Said my prayers and laid upon my pillow

Its gentleness softer than silk

So why hasn’t sleep visited me?

Have I offended you, old friend?

Please don’t forsake me now!

Allow me to make amends.

2011 Moira G. Gallaga©

Movie Review of Maria Full of Grace by Joshua Marston

Movie Review of Maria Full of Grace by Joshua Marston:

by: Moira G Gallaga©

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1998: The European language

1998: The European language:

In 1998, World Bank made an attempt to engage in cultural niceties rather than financial. This was good and light reading although dipicult at pirst. Imagin ip we sfel Inglis the Kafangfangan wey.

Let me knov if you enkounter difikulties.


Moira G

***********

1998: The European language

The European Commission has just announced an agreement whereby English will be the official language of the EU rather than German, which was the other possibility. As part of the negotiations, Her Majesty's government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a 5-year phase-in plan that would be known as "EuroEnglish." In the first year, "s" will replace the soft "c". Sertainly, this will make the sivil servants jump with joy. The hard "c" will be dropped in favor of the "k:" This should klear up konfusion and keyboards kan have one less letter. There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year, when the troublesome "ph" will be replased with the "f." This will make words like "fotograf" 20% shorter. In the 3rd year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible. Governments will encourage the removal of double letters, which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling. Also, al wil agre that the horible mes of the silent "e"s in the language is disgraseful and they should go away. By the 4th year, peopl wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing "th" with "z" and "w" with "v".

During ze fifz year, ze unesesary "o" kan be dropd from vords containing "ou" and similar changes vud of kors be aplid to ozer kombinations of leters. After zis fifz yer, ve vil hav a reli sensibl riten styl. Zer vil be no mor trubls or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu understand ech ozer.

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Cultural Center of the Philippines - SALSA: WE ARE THE COLOMBIAN PACIFIC

Cultural Center of the Philippines - SALSA: WE ARE THE COLOMBIAN PACIFIC:

SALSA: WE ARE THE COLOMBIAN PACIFIC

Venue : Bulwagang Francisca Aquino
Time : 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Date : Dec 7 2011


Venue : CCP Main Theater Lobby
Time : 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Date : Dec 7 2011

MAKE WAY FOR SALSA!

Salsa: We are the Colombian Pacific is on its tour covering ten countries in the Asian Pacific, showing the culture of Colombian Salsa and its particular style of dance and the Philippines is the next stop.

From December 5 to 9, Salsa: We are the Colombian Pacific will be in Manila to teach this seductive and rhythmic movement to Filipinos. The group is composed of Jaime Gonzalez, Jennifer Olave and Olga Acosta.

Salsa: We are the Colombian Pacific will be at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on December 7. They will conduct a salsa workshop at 1-4PM at the Bulwagang Francisca Aquino. They will have a salsa presentation at 6-9PM during the CCP's weekly Filipiniana Sunsets show at the CCP Main Theater Lobby.

Salsa is an essentially Caribbean musical rhythm created by Latinos in New York City between 1930 and 1950s; it settled in the 1960s sharing the riotous popularity of other globally renowned rhythms, such as reggae and rock. Salsa is a cultural expression of music and dance which has permeated Colombian society, particularly in urban districts. Because of its power to seduce, it has also come to have close links with other forms of expressions, such as art, literature and film.

Salsa is more than a dance. It also tells a story. Writers have described salsa as the chronicle of the urban Caribbean, the lyrics of its songs mirroring the life of the Latin peoples. Its urban nature speaks of the marginalized life of the major cities and the daily struggle for survival.

Colombia, which has adopted dance as its most important manifestation of salsa, is the land that gave birth to the cumbia, the porro and other dance rhythms.

So why would Filipinos do the salsa? Just like Colombians, dance has always been an essential part of many Filipino celebrations and festivals. Just like Colombians, the cultural phenomenon of dance is strong in the Filipinos, who pass on the dance steps from generation to generation.

SCHEDULE:

December 7, Wednesday

1-4pm Salsa Workshops
Bulwagang Francisca Reyes Aquino, Cultural Center of the Philippines

6-9pm Salsa Presentation at Filipiniana Sunsets
CCP Main Theater Lobby

10:30pm Dance Night Affair with the
Spirit of ‘67
Bar 360 Degrees
Resorts World

December 8, Thursday

2-5pm Salsa Workshop @ the Araneta Center
Sapphire Ballroom
Gateway Suites

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Happiness is Like a Butterfly ...

Happiness is like a butterfly. The more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.

If you have heard the lines, "Happiness is like a butterfly. The more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder." you may have wondered what exactly they mean.

It can be just as difficult to find happiness and contentment as it is to catch a butterfly, and the point is that if we do not make a conscious effort to find it, we will end up being happy anyway. Life should be about spending time with those people we love, and doing the things that we like to do, and if you follow that advice, you will be happy.

In order to know what type of life will be best for us, we need to know our own hearts; we must also be prepared to take the time needed to really know ourselves. Often, sacrifice, hard work and following your dreams can all lead to a state of happiness, and if you do not adopt these approaches, you may find that happiness simply passes you by. We all want to be happy throughout our lives, and the above words can help each of us to achieve that important goal.

Bacon from Heaven: Tocino del Cielo

Bacon from Heaven: Tocino del Cielo:

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Fish Kill

We are given plenty,

there is enough to eat

each soul living on this planet

thanks to Gaia Earth.

So much so

that every soul

from birth to death

can fill his cup to the brim.

Look at Nature

she’s our Mother

nurturing every child of hers

with love and care and understanding.

She has her rhythms

her spirals of calm and storm

she is gentle, sweet, a dancing beauty

she is firm, strong and Powerful!

Now at lake Taal

where it all began

nature was in balance

and everyone had enough.

Started as a little seed

of ill and insatiability:

“more money quicker more”

the Fishkill germ was planted.

Here’s the facts to those who care:

BFAR said 6000 fish cages will do

but the lake had 12000

double voracity mathematics.

The above is only one example

there’s many more seedlings

of overstocking fingerlings...

a greedy hand indeed.

Planktons were blamed

but they know balance,

1 300 Illegal fish cage

I bet you there is more.

“Nature is not the culprit...”

But man must still

confront his greed

snaking in the garden

of his soul.

2011 Moira G. Gallaga©

Filipino Football: Low ticket sales force organizers to give discounts for Galaxy-Azkals friendly

Filipino Football: Low ticket sales force organizers to give discounts for Galaxy-Azkals friendly:

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Life's Recipe - Love LIFE

Life is short, live it. Love is rare, grab it. Anger is bad, dump it. Fear is awful, face it. Memories are sweet, cherish them.

There are times when you feel your life has problems like no else’s and that you are not important to anyone. When you start enjoying life in such trying times, you learn to appreciate the beauty of everything around you. Nature has given us only one life and the time passed cannot be regained. Life is short, live it.

Love is rare, grab it. Some people may love you without any reason and regardless of who you are and what you do; they will go on loving you. You must appreciate being loved and love back. It doesn’t hurt to declare your love for someone even if they already know about it. Treating your mom to that fancy restaurant she always dreamt of going to, taking your niece to a park and feeding a meal to the roadside kid gives so much love from so many people.

Life brings some moments of anger when you cannot control yourself. Remember, there is nothing in your nature that you cannot control without strong determination. Anger is bad, dump it. What you may regret later should be mended now. Learn self control and meditation that make your life as well as lives of your fellowmen beautiful.

Drawing courtesy of thinkinginsomniac

Each one of us has a weakness that stops us from achieving our goals. Living a life in fear is not living at all. Also, fear gets you nowhere and you become its slave for a lifetime. Fear is awful, face it. When you learn to face fear, gradually you will get over it. Nothing can come in between your dreams like fear can, so get over it.

Memories are sweet, cherish them. The first time you met your best friend, your first love, the day your child was born…there are innumerable memories stored in your brain. However, not all memories are happy ones. The sad ones can be remembered and thanked for as they have made you strong. Hence, Life is short, live it. Love is rare, grab it. Anger is bad, dump it. Fear is awful, face it. Memories are sweet, cherish them.

2011 Moira G Gallaga©