Christmas with friends

For almost five years of living as a graduate student in Taiwan, it means I've also been missing having five Christmas with my whole family back in my country. Back home, we have bright and festive Christmas celebrations everywhere, well, crazy it may sound some do as early as September. Homes are highlighted with Christmas decors while streets are filled with mostly DIY stars. On Christmas Eve, the whole family attends a midnight mass followed by Noche Buena, a midnight dinner filled with all sorts of delicious Filipino delicacies shared with joy and laughter by the whole family. The dark skies then will be decorated with colorful fire crackers as fathers showed off to their kids how to create loud colorful magics, the safe way lol.

With my daughter. Hubby and youngest daughter were back in Philippines.

On the other hand, Christmas here in Taiwan is not considered a holiday. Everybody works on December 25th, classes and examinations are held as if nothing happens, which was very frustrating and depressing the first time. I understand they have Chinese New Year which is more important in their culture, however I'm thankful at least Jan 1 is considered a holiday.

Back to our Christmas celebration, I'm very grateful our Filipino community here still continued our tradition by holding midnight masses from December 16th to the 24th, followed by simple merienda. On the 24th, we heard a midnight mass and shared the Christmas spirit with fellow Christians, sharing of gifts and delicious Filipino foods. After the mass, I and my daughter, along with three other Christian friends (2 Filipinos and 1 Indonesian) ran to our Christmas party held with our fellow foreign students (venue: a friend's dormitory). Everybody brought their own country's dish to share with everybody, enjoyed the games and simply caught up with everyone's lives. Indeed, I'm so blessed to have a group of friends here to share the spirit of loving and sharing.  Though we're of different religions and nationalities, we came together to celebrate Christmas as a family.

Christmas with fellow students and friends from our university.

Simple Christmas gathering with friends. No Christmas trees or decor. Just us.

Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year to all!

Though far and away from our loved ones this special season, still we managed to celebrate Christmas. Thanks to our dear friends who were always there to celebrate with on special occasions as this. Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!!!

Flash flood donation drive

As Typhoon Washi (local name Sendong) passed by the Southern Philippines last week, along with it came the monstrous rainfall that created fatal and highly damaging flash floods and land slides. Unprepared for what was coming in the middle of the night, more than a thousand from Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City sadly succumbed while a lot more were missing as muddy flood waters covered their roof tops in few minutes and horrifyingly swept out entire villages towards the sea. At present, hundreds of thousands were homeless. Such tragic event happened so close to home, a mere 3 hours drive away, and it was very heart-breaking.

My hubby didn't pushed through with his supposed Christmas trip to Samal island and instead donated the money and some clothes and tents for the victims. I've never been so touched and proud of him. Meanwhile, wanting to help in our own special way, I along with two other Filipino students organized a donation drive here in our university for relief assistance of the flash flood victims. For three days, we set up donation boxes at the Office of International Affairs and by the end of the day, we were extremely touched to see the boxes overflowing with donations. Clothes, sleeping bags, blankets, comforters, bottled waters, canned foods, shoes and even cash were donated. Such warm responses were so touching and indeed, they're the best Christmas gifts we received this year.

Extremely touched by people's generous hearts!

 As of now, the goods were shipped towards the Philippines via LBC, courtesy of a generous donor from our church. Amidst the tragedy hitting us, God still find ways to touch our lives through people's goodness. We continue to pray for the victims of the flash floods and may God strengthen everybody especially in this tragic moment. Christmas may be gloomy this year but with our help, little they may be, makes a big difference to a victim's life. You may donate here - via Philippine Red Cross. Thank you. May God bless us all.

Wordless Wednesday: Xtremely tall xmas tree

This extremely tall Christmas tree reached til the 4th or 5th floor of our local shopping mall. Must be more beautiful with glittering lights at night.

 We felt like dwarves under it lol. Merry Christmas!

 

Christmas Cottage

Kalibo, Aklan - Philippines. Five years ago, while still working as a mentor on one of the state universities in Panay Island (yes, where Boracay is), I grabbed the opportunity to travel around the huge island. After attending the province's festive Atiatihan Festival, I and my colleagues then proceeded to Aklan's renowned Christmas complex, yes and it's not even Christmas yet. Ain't this colorful Christmas cottage looked so majestic! I just can't get enough of it.  Inside is full of festive Christmas goodies, ornaments, dolls of different kinds, angels,  Santas, snows, toys, sweets and other collectible items ~ name it. Yes, Christmas in this part of the world is all year-round. Fancy a Christmas cottage of your own too? I do.

Me with the lovely Christmas cottage. 

The following photos (as sent to me by my hubby 3 nights ago) were taken (from his mobile phone, I'm afraid not of good quality) from the festive streets of my country showing that this early, people are already celebrating Christmas everywhere! Love it and missed it all!

The Manger: Baby Jesus with Mary & Joseph and the three kings. 

Christmas booths and sparkling/bright cottages and trees are sprouting everywhere.

Verena's Wordless/Wordful Wednesday

Rolled Up Pretty

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