And so it is Christmas....

"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store." "Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"

Let Them Go

From the toy loving people of the Die-cast Car Collectors of the Philippines:


Fellow collectors,

One of the annual highlights of the 6th Christmas Toy Fair is the donation of toys to the less-fortunate children of our society. The beneficiaries for this year are Kythe Foundation for cancer-stricken children of the National Children's Hospital and ABS-CBN's Larunungan Kalinga Kapamilya Toy Drive for kindergarten students.

Unknown to some, DCPH is a regular contributor to this cause thru some of our kind-hearted members and it will be more special to participate now because we are staging our 1st Philippine Diecast and Custom Car Show during the Toy Fair event. Years ago, on our own, we also gave contributions to BATA Foundation, a charitable institution looking after abandoned street children, and to National Children's Hospital as well.

On behalf of the DCPH Execomm and 1st Philippine Diecast and Custom Car Show organizers, I'd like to ask for your humble contribution to this cause by donating your unused or extra toys to these children. Let's give our share in bringing smiles to these children's faces and make them forget even for a few moments their unfortunate condition. Toys may not necessarily be diecast cars. You may also donate other kinds or cash directly to Kythe Foundation.

For the toy donation, you may bring your items during the swapmeet day, Dec. 18 (Sun) and look for any DCPH Execomm member. The official turnover to them will be in the afternoon.

Thank you in advance for your generous contribution and may it reciprocate happiness to you as well. God bless you all and Merry Christmas, DCPH!

Messing With Luck

We only had one round fruit for Media Noche (New Year's eve midnight meal).



Grapes.

Noche Buena 2009

Coming soon.
Another photo blog.
The wifey is organizing the pictures.

Red Velvet

From this



to



this



Want some?



YUM!!

I Got Me A Hat

Our (Little Popot and me) first time in Enchanted Kingdom.

Great day.
Nice place.
Good people.
Fun, fun stuff.

Nah. I bring my own magic.



"Can I borrow your hat, please..." Her weapon. That look. I dare you to say "no".



The Vanishing Hand Trick.






Night carnival.



Pictures are from my toy camera.

An Angel Sent To This World

Little P's class had their Christmas "Concert". Unlike last year, I was there really early. About two hours early. Too bad the teachers decided to guide the performers right from the middle of the front row!! Even the shots from the "pro" cam ended up having some "dirt" in them. These Flip shots were taken by Big P.



Bigger version.



Bigger version.



Bigger version.

Keep checking back for a couple more.

Do The "Kawayan"

Here is another clip from Little P's Christmas presentation video.

The Way She Moves

Finally, I have managed to work on Little P's Christmas presentation videos. Here is a short clip. For a slightly bigger version, click the "Google Video" button and choose the "Go To Google Video" option.



The whole show is now available on high-defintion DVD. Cost is US$19.99 to North America, US$14.99 within Asia. Prices include standard mail shipping. We accept all major credit cards, Paypal, and bank transfer.

Hello 2009

We welcomed 2009 with a single kick-ass "tororot" (Yes, Little P calls it that). No firecrackers. No fireworks. I figured our neighbors can provide that kind of noise, and they did.

The food was great. Big Popot and ate did a fantastic job. My favorites would be the baked dory and the little bacon-wrapped chicken thingies. Ah yes, the Japanese Kani salad was awesome too.

Lonely? Or hungry?


The spread.


Yup, hungry!


We planned to view the fireworks from the top floor. So, when all the popping started we went up, only to be greeted by a non-visible Makati skyline because of all the smoke (smog). It was raining too. So, when we went down to check if people were lighting firecrackers there were none. Oh well, hearing them was good enough.

Goodbye 2008

I procrastinated again (like I always do) and was not able to transfer Popot's Christmas Presentation clips from the video camera to the 'book. It is 2009 now, a new year. I do not plan on changing. I am beat now, from the non-stop eating. I am just putting up this video greeting to appease Little P's fans (thousands as of last count --- in poundage), then I am off to bed. Pictures will be up later.



Happy New Year to all! No such thing as a belated gift.

Did You Hear That?

Christmas dinner was so good, I can actually hear myself getting fat (fatter!). Props to Big Popot and Wowa! I am so full I am having trouble writing anything else. I will let the pictures do the talking.

Unhooked

We are here in the province now. Going to be spending Christmas over here. I know, I forgot to upload Little Popot's teaser videos. I have the video camera with me here, but the firewire cable did not make the trip. So, that means no vids just yet. That will have to wait until we are back in the concrete jungle. In the meantime, I will be gobbling Marquez Palabok by the "bilao" and then will be drowning in Minute Maid Pulpy Orange. No beer! My drinking mates are all down. LOL!

CDP What???

While everyone was going crazy over the Air Jordan 11/12 CDP release I was in bed getting very little rest. I got in really late from our company Christmas party (which sucked, just like all the previous ones). After about three hours of sleep I had to get up for Little Popot's Christmas presentation.

We arrived at the school around one in the afternoon. The place was already packed. We had no choice but to sit in the back rows. That meant our point-and-shoot digital camera would be useless. It was up to the trusted vintage video camera to do her thing.

It was a good show. Of course, it was not perfect, far from it, but you cannot (and should not) expect much from bunch of preschoolers. The kids all looked so cute in their various outfits. The show lasted for more than two hours with each kid going on stage for three to four times to perform. Little Popot was part of the opening, singing Happy Birthday to Jesus. She also went up to dance to Pearly Shells and to some hip-hop song that I really do not like. The final act was all the children going on stage to sing Give Love On Christmas Day.

Sorry, no pictures, for reasons already stated above. Teaser videos will be up soon. I just need to get some shut eye first. 

Hawaiian Punch 2

We finally found a grass skirt for Little Popot. I did, actually. Turned out there is a shop near my work that sells children's costumes. Got a pink one for Php340. Yup, am not good at haggling at all. Original price was Php380. I bet my mother could have gotten it for Php150! Anyway, it came with a set of leis and a top. Both Popots loved it. I can tell from Little's reaction when she saw it that the 20th will be a blast for her.

Hawaiian Punch

We have been hunting for a "grass skirt" for Little Popot. She needs it for their Christmas presentation. No luck so far. I have turned all malls and shops around our place upside down and I have not found a single grass skirt or something resembling one. Looks like we will need to gather up some straw strings and whip out a home made version. Thoughts of lanterns, flower decorated fans, and fruit trays made of popsicle sticks are now hitting me. Where are my elementary school project skills when I need them?!

Pahingi Po Ng Aguinaldo

Little Popot singing a traditional Filipino Christmas Carol.



Ninongs and Ninangs we accept Paypal and money orders. Bank transfers too.

Velvety Smooth

I skipped work again. (I, too, am wondering why they have not fired my @ss yet). My folks are arriving tomorrow and I had to make some preparations. There was nothing else to keep my mind busy after I called some people and made arrangements for their transportation to the province. Little Popot was already in school. The TV had nothing that held my interest. I was not in the mood for music. I wanted to get out, and so I did. Went to the mall. Was not thinking of getting anything. I was only going to "look" and walk away the time.

Little Popot has been pestering me for a couch set to go with her Barbie - My House. There is a set that even Big Popot wanted, a purple velvet piece. Unfortunately, it has been sold out ages ago. We saw one on display in SM Makati a couple of weeks ago. But, that is the thing - it is a display, and not for sale. I told Little I am going to get her another couch set for Christmas. We have seen some regular ones in Toy Kingdom. I was surprised to see an unopened box of the velvet couch. No more rush shopping for Little's gift. It is ready. Only hard thing was sneaking it into the house.