10 Things that I'll Miss about Christmas in the Philippines

Christmas has been always meaningful to me. I remember when I was in grade 1 and our school had a competition for Christmas lantern making. All students and parents were encouraged to join the contest. My parents were very supportive and we made a simple Christmas star made from bamboo, dried banana leaves and crape paper. We all helped each other and had fun making the lantern. On the judgment day, I saw many different lanterns, others were so big, shiny and they looked so beautiful. I never thought that our simple Christmas star would be the first prize winner. The judges said that the work was so artistic. We didn't even use expensive materials since my late father just wanted it to be simple and inexpensive. Remembering those times I realized that there are many things which I'm going to miss this Christmas. Now that I'm in China I have realized that I'm going to miss some Christmas symbols and activities back home in the Philippines.
(Here is the list of things not in any particular order)
1. Christmas lanterns (specially Christmas stars)
2. Christmas lights ( they would turn the city into a magical kingdom at night)
3. Christmas tree (it adds spirit of Christmas and kids love to hang something on it)
4. Christmas songs (Usually shopping malls started playing them at the end of August)
4. Children Caroling (you have to prepare some coins for children who come and sing Christmas songs at your door)
5. Lechon (I really miss the crispy skin of roasted pig)
6. Gift Giving (I love to buy gifts for my family specially my sister's and brothers' kids)
7. Eating Barbecue on the street (We used to do it with my brothers, my brother would drive us to a famous Barbecue street)
8. Christmas concerts (both local and national performers...I miss going to SM Cebu and Ayala concerts)
9. Company Christmas Party (it's always fun...i miss Voiceville people)
10. Friends and Family (being with them is just perfect)

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Today is Thursday, November 27th, 2008 which happens to be the last Thursday of the month. On October 3, 1863 the late US President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed that every American citizen should observe the last Thursday of November, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to the Lord for the blessings they have receievd. He stated that "while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him(God) for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union."
In China, people don't celebrate thanksgiving day as well as my country, the Philippines. I was just surprised that early in the morning I received some messages from my students wishing a "Happy Thanksgiving Day". I actually forgot about it. I was just aware of the thanksgiving day when I was still working in a Business Process Outsourcing Company, dealing with American customers since we usually didn't have to work for Thursday and Friday during the American thanksgiving day. I was happy reading the messages from my students and their wishes that I would have a Great Thanksgiving in their country. I was touched by one student message. He took time to write these few English sentences though I believe it was not that easy. It's his original words, I did not edit it. We'll do the editing on our next meeting :)

"I would like to migratory birds in migration on the road with you fly;
I would like is the eagle, climbing on the way to encourage you;
I would like to be a turkey, Thanksgiving was a taste you!
Ha ha, this kind of student loyalty enough, right?
Oh Happy Thanksgiving! " -Liu Yong" Jaye Class 21

GIST Singing Competition

Today China celebrates the 30th anniversary of their economic reformations which was started way back in 1978 by led by Deng Xiaoping and are ongoing as of the early 21st century. Deng Xiaoping was a prominent Chinese revolutionary, politician, pragmatist and reformer, as well as the late leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC). To commemorate this event, our college prepared a singing competition for all the Departments. Each department should present any song that would show love of country. Our department has chosen the song, Da Zhong Guo, which means Great or Big China.
There were 17 teams and I could say that each team did have a great preparations. If I were one of the judges I would find it hard to decide for the winner since I think all of them did a great presentation. But in every competition there should be a winner. Here are the first and second prize winners.

First Prize


Second Prize

Great China " 大中国 " Da Zhong Guo

Below is a song that my department is going to present tomorrow, Nov. 26, 2008. Unfortunately I won't be able to join the group because I don't know the song and I can't pronounce Chinese words correctly. After their final practice today, I searched for the song in youtube and I'm glad I found it. The title " 大中国 " Da Zhong Guo, which means "Big" or Great China...yes China is really great. I don't speak a single Chinese word when I arrived here but all the people that I met were very helpful though sometimes there would be language barrier but for their kindness, they are always understood. Xie xie ni!




Great I found the lyrics of the song with English and Pinyin characters...thank you telly of http://chinesemusicblog.com

Great China "Da Zhong Guo"

高枫-大中国

我们都有一个家，
wo men dou you yi ge jia
We have a home
名字叫中国，
ming zi jiao zhong guo
Her name is China
兄弟姐妹都很多景色也不错，
xiong di jie mei hen duo jing se ye bu cuo
With many brothers and sisters, and a stunning scenery to boot
家里盘着两条龙是长江与黄河呀，
jia li pan zhe liang tiao long shi chang jiang yu huang he ya
In our home lies two dragons - Chang Jiang and the Yellow River
还有珠穆朗玛峰儿是最高山坡。
hai you zhu mu lang ma feng-er shi zui gao shan po
Not forgetting Mount Everest, the world's highest peak
我们的大中国呀好大的一个家，
wo men de da zhong guo ya hao da de yi ge jia
Our big China, oh, what a big family
经过那个多少那个风吹和雨打；
jing guo na get duo shao na ge feng chui he yu da
We have experienced many setbacks but came out strong
我们的大中国呀，
wo men de da zhong guo ya
Our big China, oh
好大的一个家，
hao da de yi ge jia
What a big family
永远那个永远我要伴随她。
yong yuan na ge yong yuan wo yao ban sui ta
I want to accompany her forever.
中国
zhong guo
China
祝福你
zhu fu ni
I wish you well
你永远在我心里
ni yong yuan zai wo xin li
You are always in my heart
中国
zhong guo
China
祝福你
zhu fu ni
I wish you well
不用千言和万语
bu yong qian yan he wan yu
but not with verbose adulations

我们都有一个家
wo men dou you yi ge jia
We all have a home
名字叫中国
ming zi jiao zhong guo
Her name is China
兄弟姐妹都很多景色也不错
xiong di jie mei dou hen duo jing se ye bu cuo
With many brothers and sisters, and a beautiful scenery to boot
看那一条长城万里在云中穿梭呀
kan na yi tiao chang cheng wan li zai yun zhong chuan suo ya
Look at the Great Wall of China snaking in and out of the clouds
看那青藏高原比那天空还辽阔
kan na qing zang gao yuan bi na tian kong hai liao kuo
Look at the Tibetan plains, broader than the horizon.

Mountain Climbing in Mount Ningyalin, Suzhou, China

Today I had a wonderful time climbing Mount Ningyalin in Suzhou, China (I hope I spelled it correctly). I was with the leaders of the college student council. They are not my students, but they are my friends. They invited me to go mountain climbing with them and visit some Buddhist temples there. The trip was too tiring but it was lovely. This is a sacred mountain where some Chinese monks live. The place is accessible for many buddhists and even tourists who are not buddhists just like me. I respect their religion and I did some rituals that would show respect to the image and prayed. The landscape and the temples are said to be very old with a history dating back from Qing Dynasty( I think I'm going to review my lesson in History hehe). The place is spectacular!

Here are some photos of our adventure.

Parents wishing for their children's success in college life. I have also learned that in every temple there is a specific wish or prayers that you can say. One temple is for wealth, another could be for health and others.
A a place where they can light their candle stick.
A Buddha inside the temple.
Another religious images inside the temple.

These big rocks are said to be sacred, so no one is allowed to step on them.
We are only allowed to touch them.
We are on top of the mountain. It was a very long walk and I almost gave up but I made it.
I had a hard time climbing on these big rocks.

A view from the top.

Congratulations Obama!

I'm happy with the result of US 20082 elections. I always wished that Obama would won as the new US president. Finally, he made it! Although I may not be directly affected with US politics and I don't care about any politics at all, in fact I never exercise my right to vote in my own country, but I'm glad with the result. It also shows that Americans (white) are now open minded and this lessen racial discrimination. I just admire Obama's eloquence and courage. I watched their presidential debates and Obama always had a way with words. He knows what to say and deliver his points with confidence. I hope that this time actions would speak louder than words. :) Good luck Obama!

Students at Work

These are my students taking English Listening and Speaking course.