Christmas in 87 days?????

I was in along line late this afternoon at Megamall to pay our electric bill. My attention was caught by the music being played. I told myself that was the first time this year that I heard a Christmas song (or di ko lang talaga napapansin the past few weeks because I was super busy.) I realized Christmas is really just a few more days and I got excited.

We Filipinos are known for having the longest Christmas celebration. Come the months ending with "-ber", we hear Christmas songs played over the radio as early as September 1. Malls start to decorate some areas with Christmas lanterns and stuff. Streets are brightened by colorful Christmas lights. There's this inevitable countdown on TV programs. We tend to become overexcited about the whole thing. It's a festive, happy occasion. We even extend our celebration up tp the third week of January of the new year. That's how we are. But what is happening? I, for one, initiated the countdown in my class but that's all. I don't feel the extra effort to prepare and look forward to it. And I think, it's not only me who gives this whole fiasco a shrug. The economic and political problems that we are experiencing the past few months have been dragging us down. It has somehow dampened our spirits. We ask ourselves "When will all these problems ever end?" I don't know....

I used to dread Christmas some years back. (I need not explain. Baka magkaiyakan pa tayo. Joke lang! hehehe!). But I got back to my senses. It's not just having someone special around when Christmas comes. It's about being thankful that we have been saved from our sins because of the coming of Our Saviour. It's about giving and sharing what you have and yourself to others. I promised myself that I will embrace the season with all my heart. The most important thing is that I am happy and the people I love also share with the joy that fills my heart. (naka na!)

So by tomorrow, I will really look forward to Christmas. I might even find myself playing Christmas tunes on my player or even humming Christmas songs to myself. If I have the time, I could probably start with my Christmas list or go through magazines for some do-it-yourself gifts. (Cost-cutting muna, taghirap e.) With all the problems that this nation and myself are experiencing, the least we could do is prepare ourselves and think that everything's gonna be alright. Let me start na nga my Christmas wish list.....

1. good health for my family (now and forever)
2. more time to spend with my pamangkins
3. a vacation that is worry-free and guilt-free (somewhere far from work)
4. at least two days of continuous sleep (sige na please!)
5. lose of some more pounds
6. a photo op with Gary V (tsaka chika na rin with him kahit onti lang)
7. mawala na ang topak ni Teepee (my car)
8. trip to Disneyland HK o kaya sa Lotte World in Korea
9. blueberry cheesecake (I've been depriving myself from eating that for a number of months)
10. a day of pampering in a spa (massage, scrub, the works...)
11. a new car (wag ka tampo Teepee)
12. a photo op with Dominic Ochoa
13. a day full of chocolates and sweets (teka tataba ako nyan, burahin ko na lang if ever I change my mind)
14. a hug from Kwon Sang Woo or Vanness Wu
15. gimik with my cousins (dapat yung di sila iinom at magyoyosi kase bad yun)
16. finish all the walls at Power UP
17. a room makeover
18. bonding with my girlfriends
19. scrapbooks of the different classes that I handled
20. a healthy baby for Ruth
21. more time with my bestfriend Leipot
22. see Rico Yan (seryoso ko dito)
23. economic and political development for our country
24. a guilty conviction for Erap
25. a cool pair of snickers
26. lower gasoline price
27. a good and decent meal at a posh resto o kaya "eat all you can" kame sa Morato at Timog ni Kuya Ricky
28. finish my work on time
29. no traffic during the holidays (duh asa pa ko!)
30. complete my FRIENDS vcd collection (kung nabuo ko ung MG, mabubuo ko din yung FRIENDS)
31. a good rest for my loved-ones and friends who badly need it
32. a better life for my friends who have been hurt, disappointed and neglected
33. world peace (galing talaga yan sa puso ko)

Am I really looking forward to Christmas? Even minus the wishlist, it would be a resounding YES! Merry Christmas everyone!

Going 80's

I grew up listening to 80's music. I remember how my brothers kept their Michael Jackson stuff and how they adored the actors from Bagets (Aga, Muhlach, JC Bonnin, Raymond Lauchengco, Herbert Bautista and William Martinez). I even saw them Breakdance. I got into the same rhythm as them. I, on the other hand, worshipped Menudo, Madonna and Cyndi Lauper. I can go with any 80's beat. They tell me up to this day how willing I was to dance to any 80's tune when I was young. The music then I thought was very upbeat and it was easy to get into that kind of groove. They tell me I got a knack for dancing.

I enjoyed the music and up to this very day I still do. As years passed, I tune in to the 80's music over DWTM. When I got my car, I made it a point to listen to DWTM's Friday Magic Madness. And I really turn up the volume when I'm driving alone especially in the morning. I even sing my heart out when i know the song or bob my head. It gets me through the early morning traffic. Mwahahaha! My bestfriend Rowlyn also tunes in to TM on Fridays. We're really bestfriends. Kath, my former student and my regular passenger, couldn't understand when I get upset when she tries to change the station. She said she couldn't relate to the music. She tells me I'm "baduy" and boring. I always tell her to try to listen and appreciate the music. It took a lot of convincing for her to just relax and at least give the music a chance. I even gave her some information about what I know of a particular 80's artist, music, fad or fashion. Thank God there's the play "Footloose" being shown on weekends at the Meralco Theater (which ends na tomorrow. sayang di kame nakanuod! sorry kath). She can somehow get the picture of what the 80's was like.

Just a few hours ago we had our Family Day in school. Most of us really got carried away with the whole atmosphere. We were really into the 80's mood. I definitely enjoyed it along side with my students' cute, and I mean CUTE performance.

I was even able to answer some of the 80's trivia on my seat. Ganun ako kabangis. Mwahahaha! Though there were a few problems, my colleagues and I psyched ourselves that we are going to enjoy ourselves no matter what. This was the music that we grew up with. We were the last performers, after Orange and Lemons take note! Hehehe! And man did we really give our all. Rico Mambo, Footloose, Body Dancer and Just Got Lucky.... The performer in me came out. (I really miss dancing. It's my second best talent next to sleeping.) It tooks months of preparation for this event and I now the organizers really wanted the kids and everyone to have a great time. Ako I really had a grand time. Promise! What better way to end it than having my picture taken with the man from that era...

Yup, Mr. LoveNotes Joe D' Mango! One of our Emcees. Pwede po bang iabot na lang yung letter? Mwahahaha!

UP Fight!

I watched the UAAP cheering competition on TV. The UP Pep lost again to UST. But hey, they did very well. I was having goosebumps while I was watching them. What they did this year was very different from the rest, AS ALWAYS. I know they gave their all. Oks lang yan, NJ! And the UP crowd was very supportive. This would be a challenge again next year. UP will continue on fighting!

this was the closest that i could get

Symphony of the Heart, September 2, 2005. I'm still in awe. I'm hoping for a repeat. You're really the best Mr. GV!