December can really get downright busy and schedule can be hectic, but for most of us, we’d always make time for friends, especially during this special holiday season. I’ve been remiss in posting the activities here since I have a lot in my hands during the closing of 2010. I have more than a dozen backlogs on food, gadgets, etc but here’s a short summary of the friends Bubba and I celebrated parts of our December with.
Blessed are they who have the gift of making friends,
for it is one of God’s greatest gifts.
It involves many things, but above all the power of going out of one’s self
and appreciating what is noble and loving in another.
– Thomas Hughes
Meeting Fay
December 3, 2010
Alida Fay Santos-Montiel, who I endearingly call, Fayie whenever we chat, visited from Irvine, California again. She flew to Manila with her family for a weeklong or so vacation. Fay is one of my closest friends in college and was part of my college barkada. She was the other half of King while I was the other half of Gina. “Us four” hit it off even as early as the Froshie orientation in DLSU.
Fayie and I grew much closer when both of us formed a connection with the then “Engineering boys” but now officially “Engineers.” Missing Fayie terribly, Eric, Pat and I still meet regularly except that Eric is now based in Tacloban so that’s reduced to every time Eric is in town. Fay has been based in Irvine for so many years already and the last time we met with Fay was when she was in Manila in December or 2007.
2007
Eric scheduled a trip back to Manila the same week Fay was here and we all agreed to have dinner on a Friday. Eric picked the Thai restaurant at Serendra, Silk. Right after dinner concluded, Eric rushed to have an 11pm meeting in Cubao and promised to return an hour later, while Bubba, Pat, Fay and I walked over to Texas Roadhouse in Bonifacio High Street to get some drinks.
Albeit short, it was great to see Fay again before she flew back to Irvine and reminisce about the good ol’ college days. The stories never get old and we still share the same laughs we used to back in college.
Oh, and we also surprised Jaja on her birthday just the weekend before meeting Fayie.
Bellevue
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SKY Christmas Party
December 2, 2010
I don’t know how it happened but it all started with performing for the SKY Star Awards night. Then it was followed by a repeat of the dance at the Sales rally. Little did I know that this group will have a 2nd and 3rd dance together… and the dancing and bonding continued when we practiced and performed for SKY’s Christmas party at Glass Garden in Marikina City.
The after-work practice, costume brainstorming, panicking due to last-minute formation, collaborating, and backstage preparation (make-up, hair, and all other chaos) and non-stop practice, practice, practice became so much fun and I had an absolute blast, not to mention a good work-out and stress reliever.
The chaos
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I see a fly trap 😉
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We did some sort of a flash mob with the song 2012 and did an encore with the song Club Can’t Handle. I really enjoyed the 2-song dance performance and from the cheers and shouts, I think the crowd did too. Good job girls!
Berks Potluck Dinner and Xmas Dinner
December 4, and December 27, 2010
Bubba and I met up with the Berks group last December 4 for potluck dinner, house poker and discussion for the Christmas party. We decided that instead of the usual exchange gift, we’d do a White Elephant style this time around. Made cooked mushroom soup from scratch and Dru and I both wanted seconds because it was delish and the soup really tasted fresh and light despite the cream.
“Green in In” Themed Potluck
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BBQ Night and Swimming Wingding
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“Christmas is in the Hearts” Outreach Project
Made and I were both craving for Anne’s buffalo wings but they brought tempura prawns that evening instead. Since I didn’t have time to cook, Bubba decided to bring Mrs. Kee’s Hainanese Chicken Rice. It was our first time to order and it was good, but I think I prefer Stevie’s HCR set. Jim brought oyster cake while Buch and Marie brought the never-ending Conti’s Bolognese pasta –which I am personally not tired of since it’s really good. We missed Alex and Nico on this first December dinner.
The group played poker afterwards with Made, Eric and I winning in the end.
December 27, the group nestled comfortably in the dining room with a happy Made and I excited to eat Anne’s buffalo wings. Made and Eric brought lechon kawali, Buch and Mari changed the pasta to pesto (I immediately missed the Bolognese), Jim brought birthday noodles, Alex and Nico brought a fish casserole (?), while Bubba and I brought dessert for the first time. We got Gigi’s custaroon poppers and Oreo Cheesecake from Parvati.
We played White Elephant (which I’m very poor at since it’s been twice that I left with the least item I liked haha) that the group seemed to have enjoyed… That’s why we’re doing it again next year.
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While the others had to leave early, Andrew, Anne, Made, Eric, and Bubba brainstormed about business ideas while I watched the finale of Masterchef US on Star World. I’m so addicted to that show.
Dinner in December with Maddie, Isis, EJ, Francis and Bubba
December 11, 2010
My soul sister Maddie’s bestfriend Isis invited to hang out at Ejay’s house. Good thing Francis was also free so we all met at Ej’s place that Saturday. Overflowing buckets of spicy and garlic parmesan Buffalo wings from Buffalo Wings and Things (using Quick Delivery), lechon pizza from Pizza Hut, and Krispy Kreme Original Doughnuts were our main chows that night. It was superb, everyone had dirty hands eating the buffalo wings and pizza while drinking soda.
We watched Isis and Ejay’s pre-wedding music video that they prepared for the wedding reception. They replicated the music video Electric Dreams and it was so cute and had many funny moments esp. EJ’s long curly locks, the Mini-stop scene, and the 80’s back-up dancers. After 18 repeats of the music video, EJ finally popped “As Good As It Gets” DVD starring Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt –which is one of my romantic comedy favorites.
Janey with Sweets Isis and Soul Sista Maddie
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Janey with Then Bride-to-Be Isis
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Isis called a home-service spa and we instantly had a spa bonanza while watching DVD and bonding. Both Isis and I got a foot spa with pedi and Madz got a pedi. The three of us all got the same nail polish color… it was just too cute for words.
Foodie Club Xmas Potluck
December 12, 2010
It all started when Carlos a.k.a. ZP invited to have dinner at Beijing Hand Pulled Noodles and then Serenitea after. He picked me up from the office that 15th of April 2010 and we all met with fellow foodies who simply enjoy good food. Time and again, foodies like Richard, Irene, Rowena, Peter, Fran, Paul, Carlos, Abet, Joan, Yoga Jane, Didi and I could not let an opportunity pass up to meet over good food. And now good conversations to boot!
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Movie Night
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After Boxing, Masuki Time
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Lei’s Birthdays at Little Tokyo!
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Astoria
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Our favorite: tea time!
Since then, the usual foodies keep meeting week after week (sometimes only a matter of days) to either attend a food event/launch or a restaurant invite or scour a new restaurant that freshly opened or simply getting together on our own for a hearty meal.
Last December 12, the Foodie Club concluded our 2010 food adventures together and the holidays with a Christmas potluck lunch that easy Sunday over the Lei’s house. Mouthwatering food was all around but the highlight of that day for everyone was the Davao lechon that Irene ordered straight from Davao.
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The sweet motherly Irene got her hands deliciously dirty cutting up the tasting portions and serving the lechon. Every single person wanted to be beside Irene as she freshly hands you a tasty and flavorful part of the lechon, whether the skin, rib or meat part. I cannot wait another Christmas to have a taste of flavorful lechon like that again!
Victory Small Group Xmas Dinner
December 21, 2010
I started joining Maddie’s “small group” slash “prayer and fellowship group” mid of 2010. Our SG leader is Marge and our girl group composed of Marge, Maan, Rasia, Pearly, Madz meets every Thursday usually at the Big Bang Studio. Since then we have celebrated Marge’s pre-birthday dinner. Pearly’s birthday and shared a mutual bond at URCC (to support Bubba’s referee-ing), Worship Nights, Sunday service, random occasions and sad trying times.
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These girls’ devotion to God and Christian life is really awe-inspiring and uplifting. It was a regular weekly thing until most of us got so busy during the last quarter of the year… not to mention, my September bereavement. Before attending the past 3 Sundays’ service consecutively, I’ve wandered aimlessly. I think a part of me is still wandering. But before we closed the year, the small group met for a Christmas hurrah and Marge also brought the other groups under her discipleship including the Youth group.
After a few fun games (which our team won hands down haha, competitive mode) and potluck dinner, I experienced my first ever White Elephant exchange gift. It was SO MUCH FUN. And all of our tummies hurt from all the laughing and switching of gifts especially during the second round. We were on our fours laughing hard.
Then Marge posted the BIG question for each of us. “What is the highlight of your 2010?”
Chua’s Christmas Dinner/KTV
December 22, 2010
The best way to cap off a rollercoaster year is to be with family. My brothers and sisters all spent an evening together eating and singing –two of the things we happily shared with our Papa, the most selfless father. The beautiful simple evening was spent bonding and taking time to be together. And mostly, with a silent desire in our hearts wishing that Papa was there with us.
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Fun times! Christmas season is my most loved holiday because it brings people together 🙂