Family Christmas Party
The night before Christmas was most specially spent for our annual Family Christmas Party. It was filled with dancing, singing, games, prizes, and lots of presents that the kids enjoyed it so much! What could be the nicest way to celebrate this happiest time of the year but with our love-ones. This is a given fact, a non-contestable one!
 |
| Our Family Christmas Party this Year: Loads of Fun and Give-aways |
Just before midnight, we bid each other farewell, for the meantime, as another plan for a New Year's party is still being brewed. You see, we just can't get tired of one another.
At the strike of 12:00 MN, my hubby fired up the firecrackers, signalling that it was officially Christmas Day, while the children were still on the Magic Sing. We wrapped up at half past two in the morning, and woke up a family member who was to go home to the province to be with his new family, too. We slept at 4:00 in the morning.
December 25, 2010 - Christmas Day
After breakfast, we went to Marco Polo Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City. We watched the displayed Christmas Village and the "Polar Express." Unfortunately, the Polar Train was still not scheduled to take the tracks.
 |
| Zoie and Mom Lea at Marco Polo Hotel Cebu |
 |
| Top view of the Christmas Village at Marco Polo |
 |
| Houses, Boats, and Fun Rides at the Christmas Village in Marco Polo |
 |
| Christmas tree at Marco Polo Hotel lobby |
After many photo poses and a drink at the Hotel, we made our "Visita Iglesia". Though this is a Holy Week tradition of visiting churches, we found it fitting to make such for the Christmas Day.
Visita Iglesia
Descending from Nivel Hills, our first stop was in St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish in Lahug, Cebu City. The vicinity was quiet, except for the carolers carrying guitars sitting at the entrance of the church. It was still an hour for the next mass at 4:00 p.m.
We then proceeded to the historic Carmelite Monastery in San Jose dela Montana, Cebu City, near the PLDT main office. Historic, I may say, because aside from being a very old edifice, stories have it that this is where the late-President Corazon Aquino, mom to President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III, hid at the height of the many coup attempts that struck her administration in the 1980s.
 |
| Facade of the Carmelite Monastery in Cebu City |
There's only one mass set in the Carmelite's house, an early one at 6:00 a.m. Unlike St. Therese, there's a slow traffic of people visiting the monastery's church.
Next stop was at St. Joseph Church in Mabolo, locally known as Mabolo Church, standing inside an estimated 3,000-square meter perimeter fence. The church/chapel has been there as early as the 16th or 17th century, but the concrete Neo-Gothic structure was written to have belonged from the 18th century style.
Looking at the facade, however, you cannot exactly distinguish the classic artistry that this particular church claims because of the many alterations and renovations made throughout the years.
Last stretch was at the Redemptorist Church in uptown Cebu. We were just in time for the 3:30 p.m. Christmas mass. The gospel story was about the Sagrada Familia: Joseph, Mary and Jesus.
 |
| Right side of the Redemptorist Church along Queen's Road, Cebu City |
As old as the other churches earlier visited, the Redemptorist is also a product of the Christian colonization of the past. Constructed by Irish priests, this church managed to withstand one war after another.
 |
| Final Stop: At the Altar of the Redemptorist Church |
Swarmed by peddlers, beggars, and parking barkers outside, the church was ethereal inside with all the flowers and Christmas decors. Matched with the cold breeze blowing in, the altar was heavenly beautiful, like I always remember it.
 |
| The "Belen" at Redemptorist |
 |
| Church-goers lining up to kiss the displayed Baby Jesus, after the Holy Mass |
For me, this last stop is meaningful, because December 25 is Christmas Day, a reminder to us Filipino Christians of the birth of Jesus, who was sent to become the Redeemer of mankind, our Savior. And here we were as a family for our traditional mass on Christmas Day with the Gospel message about the Holy Family at the Redemptorist Church. Yes, I know, how can't I recognize this? We are just blessed, truly blessed!
And though this is quite off to become the ultimate topping of this story, we ended up finding ourselves at McDonald's for burgers, fries, spaghetti, and 'Thirsty' shakes on the side.
 |
| Zoie, sipping and loving 'Thirsty' |
//rmis//
No comments:
Post a Comment