Have Yourself A #MerrySMChristmas!

We only have few weeks left before the much awaited holiday and I can feel
the spirit already. I hear Christmas Songs almost everywhere and I see a bunch of colorful lights and decorations from one house to another. I wouldn't be surprised to see children singing Christmas Carols too. Christmas is such a very meaningful day not just for kids but for everybody but we have to remind ourselves that Christmas is not just about gifts or any material things or any form of luxurious celebration. It is about love, joy, peace and hospitality! Here's what #MerrySMChristmas means to me!
Magical - Christmas is indeed magical. Well, we may often encounter magic through some classic Christmas stories that we used to read since they literally involved the use of magic. Santa Claus, on the first place is already a magical figure that we used to believe in. We also have Snowman, the Reindeers, the fairy of Christmas just to name a few. However, the true magic of Christmas is this unexplainable feeling of excitement in our hearts. It is the magic that brings joy whenever this special day arrives.
Exciting - Speaking of excitement, nothing can be more exciting than Christmas. This is the most special time of the year. The time that we have been longing for. This is the season where we tend to expect so many surprises. We are excited see who among our relatives or a family member will arrive? We are excited to see what presents are we going to receive or what are the foods to be served in Christmas eve. Christmas is full of surprises indeed!
Reunion - One of the reasons why Christmas time is so special is because this is the time when family can spend their time together in one very special dinner. It is more like a tradition to many and it is very important that everyone should be there on the table as the Christmas Eve arrives. Some even took this very special time  to go somewhere as a family. It is a special family bonding moment opportunity indeed. My family and I used to go out together during the Christmas day and it was always a blast for us.

My Family And I spending our Christmas day at SM Mall Of Asia last year

Reminiscence - One thing I love about Christmas is that it brings so much memories. It is really fascinating to browse our old pictures from previous Christmas occasions. It always reminds me of those wonderful moments that we all shared together.
Yummy Foods - Okay, I just mentioned above that Christmas is not about material things but I just can't help but to associate this very special occasion to these yummy Christmas dishes that my mom used to prepare. My mom used to cook her special recipes including the macaroni salad, her very own version of spaghetti, her tamales (which also serve as her sideline business). Of course, this is also the season where Puto bumbong and Bibingka can be found almost everywhere! Oh Gosh, I'm drooling now.

Our Noche Buena, Puto Bumbong and My Mom's Tamales

Snow - Well, this may not be so applicable for a tropical country like us but Christmas is often associated with snow and how I wish we could have it here in the Philippines or perhaps I can get a chance to visit those country with winter season. I just love to experience it, that's all haha. Good thing we have some Christmas attractions at some shopping malls or better yet I could buy a snow spray to experience it at home*wink*

Snow Spray

Month of Giving- Christmas is all about giving and sharing not just for our family but for those who are also in need. It is not all about giving our "aguinaldo" to our beloved godchildren but about our willingness to share. It is not about material gifts but Love. I remember the quote from Dale Evans stating that "every time we love , every time we give, it's Christmas". However, let us remind ourselves that we should not do such thing for the sake of celebrating such occasion. We should do it on a regular basis or whenever someone needs our help and comfort.

Christmas Decorations -  Unlike other countries, Pinoy has the longest Christmas celebration. Christmas carols can be heard as early as September and same thing goes with Christmas decorations. They tend to decorate their houses as early as possible.  We actually do the same thing. We started to take our old Christmas decorations from their storage boxes and redecorate them to make them look brand new again (so frugal right hehe). 

Our Christmas Decorations

Homecoming - Since Christmas is a very special occasion, some families took this opportunity to reunite together.  We cannot deny that some family members will eventually decide to move and migrate to somewhere else that are too far from us. Some are also working abroad while others decided to walk away due to some misunderstanding.  Christmas is just an ideal time for them to come home, reconcile and reunite. Even just for a single day!

Rewarding - I'm not sure if you guys feel the same way but I find wrapping and giving gifts to my godchildren very rewarding. I may not receive any gift in return but seeing them excitingly unwrapping your present is just so priceless to watch.  It is a very rewarding experience indeed and a moment that you will always remember. 

My Little Brother unwrapping his gift

Indescribable Feeling - Christmas will give you a kind of feeling that no other words can explain. It is more like a mixture of joy, excitement, tears and more. All you know is that it is a very wonderful feeling that you wish to have everyday. 

Santa Claus- Yes! Santa! Christmas is not Christmas without seeing his face around. This huge white bearded guy who used to wear a shiny red suit riding on his floating sleigh which is carried by his jolly reindeers. He travels different places, sneak from one house to another through chimneys or windows and give a special gift for the lucky kids. Well, if you have been very naughty this year, you may not get one under your Christmas tree. We all know the truth about his existence but isn't magical that we keep him real for kids? After all, Santa made our childhood so memorable!

Toys - Since we're talking about Santa, we can also associate Christmas with toys. These are what the kids would love to receive every Christmas and these are the reason why they are always looking forward to this very special occasion. 

Meaning of Real Christmas - We often associate Christmas with so many things but we have to keep in mind that the true meaning of Christmas is not about giving gift, not just about sharing love, not about celebrations but to pay tribute to the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the reason why we need to celebrate Christmas and it is sad that this is often being disregarded by many. This is the day where we commemorate to the birth of our Savior and I hope we all keep that in our hearts! 

Amusing - Christmas is indeed the most amusing day of the year. With all the things we have mentioned above, the festive celebration, the gift giving moments, the love sharing, the reunions, the homecomings, and more! I guess they are enough to say that Christmas is the merriest day everybody could ever have.

Family bonding at SM Mall of Asia 

Shopping - Remember the iconic quote from "How The Grinch Stole The Christmas" saying "What if Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!”. In this epic part, Grinch realized that real spirit of Christmas doesn't really come from those precious gifts we buy from the store since it is more about giving and loving.  Shopping is definitely one of the things we do during this holiday. We get the opportunity to buy items in big discounted price due to some holiday sales. But if you think about it, some kids doesn't even have enough money to buy for new clothes. They can't even afford to buy foods. They do not have the opportunity to buy toys for themselves. So why not lend some money and donate it to some orphanage or charitable institutions instead of buying things that are beyond your needs? Interestingly, SM came up with a very interesting campaign that will make your shopping more meaningful.  You will probably look at shopping not the same way again.

SM came up with this so-called "Give A Bear of Joy" campaign as a part of their SM Cares program. In this campaign, SM shoppers are encouraged to buy a pair of teddy bears for as low as Php200.00 but here's the catch. You get to keep one of the bears while the other one will be given to other children from various orphanages and charitable institution.  Now, that is what you called Shopping for a cause!

Take note that this is just one of the many surprises of SM Malls this Christmas season so be sure to keep yourself updated with their latest events and activities (check their blog here). Oh not to mention their wonderful Christmas attractions too! That's something my family and I are always looking forward to. 

SM Christmas Attractions from the previous years

So that's how M-E-R-R-Y-S-M-C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S means to me. How about you! If you are interested, you might as well participate with this Give A Bear Joy campaign and Have Yourself A  #MerrySMChristmas! 

TOP FIVE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE MARY AND THE POPES EXHIBIT 2014

I am still overwhelmed with what I saw from the Mary and The Popes Exhibit 2014.  The exhibit showcases different Marian images and Popes' relics. The event is still ongoing so allow me to invite you by giving you a list of five things you should know about the Mary and The Popes Exhibit 2014.

TOP FIVE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE MARY AND THE POPES EXHIBIT 2014

5. The Venue is Easily Accessible For Everyone!

The event is held at the South Pavilion of SM Mall Of Asia. It is indeed a very accessible place to everyone whether you are from Manila or Makati area or even when you're from the South. Since the venue is located on a mall, the exhibit is open the whole day until the mall closes. It is also open for everyone who is interested to see both relics and Marian images inside. It is a one-month event that starts from August 30 to September 29. So you still have more or less two weeks to go!!

4. The Event is Powered By Veritas 846

This yearly exhibit is powered and brought to us by Radyo Veritas 846, a 24/7 Catholic AM station owned and operated by the Archdiocese of Manila through the Global Broadcasting System in the country. This is said to be the biggest Mary and The Popes exhibit to date that aims to help and guide Filipino devotees to become spiritually prepared for the upcoming Papal visit early next year. It was formally opened by CBCP Episcopal on Military Ordinariate Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak along with Father Anton Pascual (Radio Veritas President ) and Mrs. Felicidad Sy (Henry Sy's Spouse). 

3. The Admission is Absolutely Free

Yes, aside from being open to everyone, the exhibit is 100% admission free. Anyone can freely enter the exhibit and witness the stunning life sized Mary images and Pope's relics and memorabilia. Although the exhibit is also a fund raising event of Radio Veritas as part of Caritas Manila's rehab and recovery program for the Yolanda Survivors. If you like, they got donation booths in front of the exhibit and feel free to support their meaningful campaign

2. It Showcases a Bunch of Pope Relics and Memorabilia 

In cooperation and partnership with the Totus Tuus Tour, the event will also showcase a lot of relics and other special items personally used by the previous popes including the recently canonized Saints John Paul II and Pope John XXIII. It offers a solemn public exposition and veneration of the Relics of the Saints. The items are either used or given by the pope. The aim of the event is to encouraged people to have deeper love and devotion to our Saint Popes. 

1. Stunning Marian Images

The event showcases a bunch of Canonically crowned Marian Images including the most venerated Our Lady of Manoag, Our Lady of Peñafrancia , Our Lady of Solitude of Porta Vaga, Virgen Dela Regla, Our Lady of Caysasay, Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage and a whole lot more. Get a chance to witness grand Marian event!

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  Feel Free to check the gallery of photos taken from the Mary and Pope Exhibit 2014 [HERE]. 

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TOP FIVE WORST PEACETIME MARITIME DISASTERS OF ALL TIME

Whenever we are talking about Maritime disaster, Titanic is probably one of the worst and most tragic event that ever happened in history that most of us will think of. Titanic was considered as one of the largest ships at that time but the ship sank on the 15th day of April 1912 after hitting an iceberg in North Atlantic which killed 1517 passengers and crews. Only 706 of the passengers and crew managed to survive the tragedy. This disaster was the catalyst for major reforms in safety for the shipping industry and is unarguably the most famous maritime disaster of all time which inspired different movies including the one created by James Cameron way back in 1997. However, if we are going to look back in history, Titanic is actually not the worst peacetime maritime disaster of all time. Titanic was ranked 6th and listed below are the top five worst peacetime maritime disaster in history.

TOP FIVE WORST PEACETIME MARITIME DISASTERS OF ALL TIME

TOP 5 WORST PEACETIME MARITIME DISASTER

"TEK SING"

In 1822, Tek Sing, A Chinese Junk ran aground on a reef while heading to Indonesia. The vessel was 50 meters in length, 10 meters wide and weighed about a thousand tons. The ship was manned by a crew of 200 and had approximately 1600 passengers. An ill-advised shortcut doomed the ship and most of the passengers killing 1600 people. They said that the ship is also loaded with porcelain and in fact the recovered cargoes was auctioned 13 years ago. The great loss of life associated with the sinking has led to the Tek Sing being referred to in modern times as the "Titanic of the East"  

TOP 4 WORST PEACETIME MARITIME DISASTER

"MV LE JOOLA"

Of all the entries we have for this list, the sinking of MV Le Joola is the most recent one. MV Le Joola is a government-owned ferry that capsized off the coast of the Gambia on September 26, 2002. The ship was 79 meters long and 12 meters wide, had two motors and was equipped with some of the latest safety equipment available at the time of the disaster. However, at the time of the disaster, the ship had been out of service for almost a year undergoing repairs which included replacement of the port side engine. Although the ship was designed to carry a maximum of 580 passengers and crew, an estimated 1,863 passengers are believed to have been on board, including 185 people who boarded the ship from Carabane, an island where there was no formal port of entry or exit for passengers.The exact number of all passengers remains unknown but there were 1,034 travelers with tickets. The rest of the passengers were either not required to hold tickets (children aged less than 5) or had been permitted to travel for free, as often happened. The disaster resulted in the deaths of at least 1,863 people. The sinking of Le Joola is thought to be the second-worst non-military maritime disaster in number of lives lost.  

TOP 3 WORST PEACETIME MARITIME DISASTER

"SS-MONT BLANC"

SS-Mont Blanc was a cargo ship in England but was purchased by a French Company. The ship was chartered to carry a complete cargo of miscellaneous types of military explosives from New York to France in November 1917. Mont-Blanc was not an especially old vessel but was a relatively slow, common, three island type tramp steamer, typical of many wartime freighters. The ship left New York December 1 to join a convoy in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Entering Halifax Harbour on the morning of December 6, it was struck by the outbound SS Imo in the Halifax Narrows. A fire caused by the collision detonated her cargo twenty minutes later. Mont-Blanc's crew abandoned ship before the explosion and all survived, except for one sailor who died from loss of blood after being hit by debris from the blast. However, the collision resulted to a cataclysmic explosion that devastated the Richmond District of Halifax. Approximately 2,000 people were killed by debris, fires, and collapsed buildings, and it is estimated that nearly 9,000 others were injured. The blast was the largest man-made explosion in history. 

TOP 2 WORST PEACETIME MARITIME DISASTER

"KIANGYA"

Kiangya was a Chinese passenger steamship that blew up, probably after hitting a mine (possibly left behind by the Imperial Japanese Navy) which destroyed her stern, in the mouth of the Huangpu River 50 miles (80 km) north of Shanghai on 4 December 1948. Kiangya had a displacement of 2,100 tons and was packed with refugees from the Chinese Civil War fleeing the advancing Communist army when she sank. The exact death toll is unknown. The manifest listed 2,150 passengers (her official capacity was 1,186), but she was almost certainly carrying many stowaways. Rescuers were unaware of the disaster for some hours. It is thought that between 2,750 and 3,920 died, with 700 to 1,000 survivors being picked up by other vessels.

THE WORST PEACETIME MARITIME DISASTER

"MV DOÑA PAZ"

The MV Doña Paz was a Philippine-registered passenger ferry that sank after colliding with the MT Vector on December 20, 1987. Doña Paz was traveling from Leyte island to the Philippine capital of Manila. On December 20, 1987, at 0630H, Philippine Standard Time, the Doña Paz left from Tacloban City, Leyte, for the City of Manila, with a stopover at Catbalogan City, Samar. While most of the passengers slept, the Doña Paz collided with MT Vector, an oil tanker en route from Bataan to Masbate. The Vector was carrying 8,800 US barrels of gasoline and other petroleum products owned by Caltex Philippines. Upon collision, the Vector's cargo ignited and caused a fire on the ship that spread onto the Doña Paz. Survivors recalled sensing the crash and an explosion, causing panic on the vessel. They said that the fire spread off rapidly and even the water surrounding the ship was on fire as well. The survivors were forced to jump off the ship and swim among charred bodies in flaming waters around the ship. he Doña Paz sank within two hours of the collision, while the Vector sank within four hours. So what makes this more devastating? The accident killed 4,375 people resulted in the deadliest peacetime maritime disaster in history. Apart from the flaming water, the location was known to be shark infested. Not to mention that the event occurred 5 days before Christmas day. So devastating indeed! 

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TOP FIVE WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL WOMEN 2013

Forbes came out with its new list of Most Powerful women for this year. These high profile personalities made a huge impact in the society. They are highly influential and well... yeah they are tremendously popular as well. According to the site, the complete list of 100 Most Powerful Women is calculated based on the News hits, TV and Radio appearances as well as the impact in social Media (Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube) for the past 12 months. Most of the women from this list are politicians, billionaire, CEOs and celebrities. Here, i listed down five of the most powerful ladies. Enjoy and be inspired! [You can also check TOP FIVE WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL WOMEN 2009]

TOP FIVE WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL WOMEN 2013

Author's Note: The list was taken from The World's Most Powerful Women list by Forbes

TOP 5 WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL WOMAN

"HILLARY CLINTON"

From 2nd last year, Hillary went down to the fifth spot. So what makes Hillary Clinton powerful? Well, she is the first and only First Lady to become a US Senator who is currently the Secretary of State. Some are even speculating that Clinton could possibly run for the upcoming 2016 election and there's also a great possibility for her to win. Throughout her tenure,Clinton looked towards "smart power" as the strategy for asserting U.S. leadership and values, combining military strength with U.S. capacities in global economics, development aid, technology, creativity, and human rights advocacy. Clinton visited 112 countries during her tenure, making her the most widely traveled secretary of state. Clinton has received many awards and honors during her career from American and international organizations for her activities concerning health, women, and children. 

TOP 4 WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL WOMAN

"MICHELLE OBAMA"

From seventh spot, the First Lady went up to the fourth place this year. Michelle Obama actively promotes her campaign to fight child's obesity. She supports campaign about healthier eating and lifestyle too. Michelle Obama is also a graduate of Harvard Law School and is a former corporate attorney. As the wife of a Senator, and later the First Lady, she has become a fashion icon and role model for women. Other initiatives of First Lady Michelle Obama included advocated on behalf of military families, helping working women balance career and family, encouraging national service, and promoting the arts and arts education.  

TOP 3 WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL WOMAN

"MELINDA GATES"

Melinda Gates was aslo listed as one of the most powerful women last year leaping up from fourth to third spot. Being a wife of the world's richest man, Melinda Gates managed to establish a name of her own. As one of the trustees of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Melinda has been actively participating some giant charitable events. Primary goals for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation this year have been to eradicate polio worldwide by 2018 and get modern contraceptives to another 120 million women by 2020.Melinda Gates was awarded a honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Duke University as a tribute for her philantropic commitment. 

TOP 2 WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL WOMAN

"DILMA ROUSEFF"

Dilma Rouseff leaped up from third to second spot this year. Well, so what makes Dilma one of the world's most powerful women? Dilma Rouseff is simply the first female to become the president of Brazil.Rousseff has maintained a high approval rating throughout her term. In late March 2013, her government was approved by 63% of Brazilians, while her personal approval rating was of 79%, a personal high. Rousseff was also cited as the preferential candidate for 58% of the voters in the upcoming presidential election. Rousseff's popularity is attributed to popular measures of her government, such as the reduction of the federal tax in the energy bill and the exemption of federal tax in the products of the consumer basket. The lowering of the overnight rate conducted by the Central Bank of Brazil is also mentioned as a cause for Rousseff's high popularity 

THE WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL WOMAN

"ANGELA MERKEL"

Angela Merkel remains the world's most powerful woman in the world and managed to make it on Forbes list eight times for the past ten years. Just like Rouseff, Angela Merkel is also the first female to hold the highest position in the Government. Chancellor of Germany since 2005, and the Leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) since 2000.  Some people are also comparing her to Margaret Thatcher as the Iron Lady. In addition to being the first female German chancellor, the first to represent a Federal Republic of Germany that included the former East Germany, and the youngest German chancellor since the Second World War, Merkel is also the first born after World War II, and the first chancellor of the Federal Republic with a background in natural sciences.  

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Other notable personalities who made it through the list include Geun-Hye Park (11), Oprah Winfrey (13), Beyonce Knowles (17), Angelina Jolie (37), Sofie Vergara (38), Queen Elizabeth II (40), Lady Gaga (45), Ellen DeGeneres (51) and JK Rowling (93). [Check the Complete list Here]

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