SINULOG 2011: Cebu City is Ready

January 16, 2011 is marked as the highlight of the Sinulog 2011 festival.  As previously reported in our January 7 blog piece, Viva Pit Señor, the Sinulog Grand Parade and Carousel and dance performances are all set to happen on January 16 along the streets of downtown city enroute to Cebu City Sports Center for the final performance.  

The streets have been beautified and portalets are all lined up -- the organizers have carefully laid all plans that there's nowhere to go but, Viva Pit Senor!

Sinulog fever on the streets

It's total hardwork for the different contingents that will be participating. You should have seen them practiced. With the captivating drum beats, they seem not to bother about being tired.  

The props, the drum and bugle, the performers

Outside the sports center, business is getting good. Covering the frontage of the whole block where the Andres Abellana High School is located, makeshift stores have lined up selling various items, from shoes and women accessories to house wears and "print-on-the-spot" Sinulog tee shirts.

Handmade earrings start at $0.23,
while necklaces at  $0.70

Sinulog shirts here are at $4.65 each

Items from bags and wallet to shoes and slippers
are available here

Shoes from Cebu's shoe capital -- Carcar

What a shame that I was not able to see the fluvial procession this morning (January 15, Philippine time).  It would have been great. Well, there's always the next time around, and on that next time, we promise to give you comprehensive stories and pictures about Sinulog.

Now that everything is set, we can only wish for, at least, a non-rainy day.

--- Ireen ---

SINULOG 2011: The Many Faces of the Holy Child

Various images of the Most Holy Child Jesus or the Sto. Nino are now on display at the Ayala Center Cebu in line with mall's celebration of the Sinulog Festival 2011. 

The exhibition of the Sto. Nino icons is an annual event organized by Ayala Center in cooperation with the various owners of the statues, one of whom is Msgr. Chris Garcia, who also led the blessing and opening of the exhibition on January 7, 2011.  

About 20 different replicas are shown today, but according to the organizers, there are others coming, and the public will be able to see a total of 60 statues.  Most of these icons are already family heirlooms of devotees who generously lent their images for such exhibit.

Apart from the exhibit, the Sinulog fever is very much felt at the Ayala Center: the Christmas decors were immediately replaced with the colorful Sinulog banners and ornaments; shops redesigned their windows to fit for the festivities, and, of course, discounts as high as 50% are the order of the sale day -- all in the name of the Sinulog fiesta. 

//rmism//

Gifts, Presents for Christmas

Gift-giving is one tradition during Christmas season that people cannot do away with.  Why not make this tradition work to your advantage?

You see, aside from being considered as one of the causes of Christmas rush that congest city traffic and a fool-proof alibi to splurge, gift-giving can be a great means:

-- to tell a friend or a love-one how sorry you are for the wrong things done; 

-- to finally say to someone how you like him/her so much; 

-- to call an engagement or propose a marriage; 

-- to mend a broken heart and lend a shoulder;

-- to express one's gratefulness; or

-- to simply remind someone how much he/she means to you.  

Your reasons for gift-giving can go a long way and very cheesy at the same time, but don't laugh on it because this is unmistakable, and nothing beats the feeling that a real and open-hearted giver gets.  Like they say, it's better to give than to receive, and when you give, give it freely and honestly.

HP PHOTOSMART INK ADVANTAGE e-All-in-One K510 Printer
My hubby's Christmas gift for me and the kids, and of course, for himself;
Making school assignment time and projects easy 

Some of our presents from Lola Cathy's freighted box,

from ninangs and ninongs, uncles and aunties

//rmis//

Christmas Buy: Something Made for Walking

I can now feel the Christmas rush by the looks of the congested traffic as well as the crowded malls and their extended shopping hours. Everyone seems to be running around all over Cebu metropolis for some gift buying. How about you? Have you thought of something for a significant someone or for your special "self"?  Why don't you get something that's made for walking and come in twos. Here's something that you might fancy:

On December 15-19, 2010, Converse(R) will have a MEGA SALE at the SM City Cebu Trade Hall 2 & 3, Third Level that offers up to 70% off on selected items.

If you're someone looking for good buys and great bargains, mark this on your calendar.  There surely is something that's right for you!

Word to the Wise: So as not to be jammed in traffic and you happen to have the time, shop at 10 a.m. to 12 noon, just before the daily rush begins.  Happy shopping! 

HOME LIFE: Decorating for Christmas

I'm not yet through with my Christmas decorating, but I can't wait not to share this with you, otherwise I might lose that "writing itch".   

Like in the past years, I see to it that I have all the Christmas dress-up finished before November 26, my hubby's birthday.  We have traditionally considered this day as the official start of Christmas in our home.  

Decorating for this joyous occasion has always been exciting for us, especially for my kids. Overtime, I have collected ribbons, Christmas balls, wreaths, etc.  Our X'mas tree is actually 11 years old now.  I'm not sure when to replace it but I believe it is still capable of bringing out the season's spirit once "dolled-up". 

I was in Gaisano Country Mall a few days ago when I saw these glossy Christmas wrappers ($0.34/pc), and I thought they can be good replacements to the old ribbons I always recycled for the garland, wreath or the tree.  Use "metallic" twines to form those ribbons. Take a look at these captured pieces: