December 25. My hubby came home from half a days work. Yahoo, he is now officially on vacation! :) I had so much fun! We discovered a great new restaurant that helped relieve our slight homesickness. The place was cool - free movies, awesome restrooms, great ambiance and authentic Chinese tea. The name was a bit weird, but who cares?
'The place - Jack and the Magic Pea'
'Blueberry cheesecake, Chocolate mousse and Mint tea'
Last night was our first Christmas as husband and wife. It was a simple feast of soup, chicken, sandwich, chips, strawberries, orange juice and . . . chocolates! I enjoyed the simple meal with my husband especially the conversation we had. Truly, family and friends make Christmas great .
I look forward to the 10 days of vacation and quality time I have with my husband. (Just one more day of work and it's vacation time. Yahoo! :)
Waaaah!!! I miss Manila. My family, friends, Filipino food and even my dogs. Christmas seems to magnify my homesickness. And, it doesn't help to read a recent blog about my friends meeting up. Just can't wait to go home! Oh well, 30 more days and will be off to Manila for a 3-week vacation.
Anyway its funny how all of a sudden I feel intense homesickness, just as soon as the month of December comes. I think it's mainly because it's my first time to miss Christmas (in Manila). It's my first time to spend Christmas:
1. in China 2. with my husband (instead of my dad) 3. without Kris Kringle 4. without seeing the streetlights of Makati 5. without a 13th month pay 6. without a Christmas mass
Ok ok.. enough ranting. I need to help myself. What don't I miss...
1. Traffic 2. Shopping rush
That's it! Can't think of anything else. :(
Oh well, Christmas is simply different in Manila but I'll make the most of this experience. Maybe my hubby and I can spend Christmas in Hong Kong. We'll see. :P
1. Because I felt Christmas and had a pre-celebration 2. Because I got to spend 5 great days with one of my bestest-bestest friends 3. Because I found a community
It's just 3 months since I left Manila and I'm pleased to see one of them here. It's also funny how my friends never got to meet each other since I left. Isn't it ironic that I met one of them first, in Macau, when all of them are based in Manila. :) Gosh these girls!
Anyway this was truly a blessing from God. Last month, I was chatting with my friend Jill. She was saying how she wished she could go to Macau while I was saying I wished to have a community ( a way to serve God). Guess what about three weeks after our chat she buzzed me again to say she had to go to Macau for an event. Even better, she asked me to help her. What a blessing! Truly God's ear and heart is BIG to hear us always :)
So there we were, serving God while enjoying the time together with our husbands and a community.
Amidst hard times and uncertainty, when recession and job loss is happening everywhere, Filipinos always remain jubilant, hopeful and resilient. They persevere and survive.
When I attended the Gawad Kalinga Paskuhan event in Macau, Dec 5 and 6, I was awed by the camaraderie and hardwork that my fellowmen exuded. And as I travel and see more of my fellowmen spread across the globe, an intense feeling of admiration and pride grows in me.
Tired from work or even out of work themselves, they took the time to spread the word for our poverty stricken fellowmen in the Philippines. I witnessed firsthand how they shared their time and talents to support a great cause - Gawad Kalinga.
Filipinos based in Macau, work late at night to build a sample of a Gawad Kalinga (GK) home.
With The CFC Community of Macau. These are the "Tito's or Uncle's" who lead this community. Working hard to build another GK village in the Philippines.
The Single for Christ members who shared their time and talents for the cause.
The CFC community celebrating Christmas with a cause - Paskuhan (Christmas) the Gawad Kalinga way.
Now you may be asking, what is Gawad Kalinga? It is a movement/program that uplifts the lives of the poor in the Philippines. More than just providing them with houses, this program rebuilds their lives and their spirit. This is a program that allows those who are more enabled to help and share their blessings. Watch this video to see how this program changed and touched lives.
Gawad Kalinga, is being supported by corporations, private citizens, as well as non-Filipinos who believe in the vision. One of them is GK Champion Dylan Wilk, one of the richest men in UK under the age of 30. Listen to a podcast where he explains his passion to fight poverty.
Also here is another video compilation of GK champions/GK heroes.
