Category Archives: Thought Bubbles

Jingle Bells

Posted on December 18, 2008 by greenbucks| 8 Comments

“Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way…”

“Pasko na naman, o kay tulin ng araw…” (hindi po ito translation ng Jingle bells, lol)

These are what we usually hear the carolers sing. Happy songs, they almost invite the listeners to join in the fun, making us remember that Christmas is near.

Masaya, kaiga-igaya and nagpapa-alala sa atin na malapit na ang Pasko.

Last weekend when we went to The Fort, we saw several wonderfully dressed and happy people singing carols and greeting people “Merry Christmas” It sure felt great to see them.

Nung isang linggong napadpad kami sa The Fort nakakita kami ng mga taong me magagarang damit. Sila ay masasaya at nagbigay ng ngiti sa mga labi ng mga taong kanilang binabati ng kanilang American accent na “Merry Chirstmas!”

Ayan, medyo nahiya pa ang aking unico hijo, napilitan yatang ngumiti 😀

There are my two younger children with Julian a bit apprehensive.

But do you know that there is another face to this happy caroling?

Alam nyo ba na may ibang mukha ang pagkakaroling na ito?

Read more »

Posted in family, Litratong Pinoy, Philippines, Photos, social consciousness, Thought Bubbles, Travel

Tagged , , , , , ,

Are You Happy?

Posted on December 14, 2008 by greenbucks| 13 Comments

I have already written a post for Weekly Question early today.

I don’t know why I didn’t publish it and I dilly-dallied and decided I will do so at night. Well, who would have thought there was a reason for this.

We went to hear mass in a different church today. The people were getting a bit finicky when it was already past 15 minutes when the mass hasn’t started yet. Well, it did finally.

The homily was about being happy, feeling happy, feeling joy during this Christmas season.

The priest gave a very short homily about this topic especially about spending Christmas amidst global crisis.

He asked pointed questions: Is Christmas about the gifts? food? happy parties?

He further discussed tragedies, both personal and universal in nature that occurred before and after this special day.

Before he ended his short homily, he asked this question that I am going to ask you too:

Are you happy?

My answer:

Read more »

Posted in family, Thought Bubbles, Weekly Questions

Tagged , , ,

The Gift

Posted on December 11, 2008 by greenbucks| 20 Comments

One of my favorite songs is “The Gift” by Jim Brickman.

Isa sa aking paboritong kanta ang “The Gift” ni Jim Brickman.

For me, the most important gifts we can ever receive in our whole lifetime is LIFE and LOVE. LIFE because we exist and we enjoy God’s blessings as well as trials. LOVE because if we love God and the people around us everything will fall into place.

Para sa akin, ang dalawang pinaka-importanteng regalo na ating matatanggap habang tayo ay buhay pa ay ang BUHAY at PAGMAMAHAL. BUHAY dahil tayo ay naisilang at nag-eenjoy sa biyaya at pagsubok ng Diyos. PAGMAMAHAL dahil kung mahal natin ang Diyos at ang ating mga kapwa, maayos ang ating buhay.

Family. Isn’t it that they mean everything to us and we give them our love?

Pamilya. Hindi ba sila ang ating buhay at sila ay ating binibigyan ng pagmamahal?

Posted in blogging101, family, Litratong Pinoy, Memetag, Philippines, Thought Bubbles

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Frugal Christmas: Bargain Books for Kids

Posted on December 9, 2008 by greenbucks| 4 Comments

In keeping up with my practice of having a Frugal Christmas, I got a good bargain yesterday.

What are these things? Bargain books from a bargain book store.

Of course, most of the books being sold in these stores are already used so I was careful to choose what I have to get, lest I be thought of as cheapo to the max 😀

Anyway, these were some of the books I got:

The least expensive is PhP25.00 or $.0.50 (Php49.00 = $1).

The most expensive is PhP55.00 or $1.10.

Read more »

Posted in Interesting Topics, Money Watch, Philippines, Photos, Thought Bubbles, Urban Living

Tagged , , , ,

21 Days to go Before Christmas

Posted on December 4, 2008 by greenbucks| 21 Comments

Today is December 4. And if my counting is right, it is just 21 days before Christmas. Are you excited already?

Ika-4 ng Disyembre ngayon, at kung tama ang bilang ko, 21 na araw ng lang, Pasko na. Eksayted ka na ba?

Last year, we didn’t put up a Christmas tree. We just decorated the front door with the usual garland decoration that we have been using for years. I wanted to see if my family can feel the Christmas spirit with our home devoid of decorations. Other than that, I was too busy and too stressed out to put up a tree.

Noong isang taon, hindi kami naglagay ng Krismas Tree. Isinabit lang namin ang aming garland sa harapang pinto ng bahay. Ito ay ilang taon na din naming ginagamit. Gusto kong maramdaman ng aking pamilya ang diwa ng Pasko kahit wala kaming mga dekorasyon sa bahay. Tsaka isa pa, ako noon ay napaka-abala at pagod upang makapag-dekorasyon pa.

The children did not mind not having a tree. In fact they didn’t ask why. The Christmas spirit? It was felt because we know that loving each other is enough to make Christmas a truly memorable experience for them.

Hindi naman nagtanong ang mga bata bakit wala kaming puno. Ang diwa ng Pasko? Naramdaman naman namin dahil alam namin na ang pagmamahal sa isa’t isa ay sapat na para maging mas makabuluhan ang Pasko.

Read more »

Posted in blogging101, family, Litratong Pinoy, Philippines, Thought Bubbles

Tagged , , , ,