ASMSI - UAE CHAPTER Christmas Party

Jumeirah Beach Park, Dubai UAE
December 18, 2009
8:00 - 5:00pm

Way back our lives at The Sisters of Mary School; Christmas is one of the most awaited times for us children of Fr. Al. It is the day we receive new clothes, new shoes, new school supplies, gifts and many other things. I remember Christmas Day is a festive day with plenty of foods serves in the dining table.

As proud alumni of The Sisters of Mary School, we held a Christmas Party yesterday at Jumeirah Beach Park which was attended by alumni from different Emirates. It was like the old days, plenty of foods and gifts with so much fun and enjoyment. It was not easy to gather graduates with different work schedule and with many reasons why we can’t attend a certain activity. But with the willingness and enthusiasm of some……and members with a heart to form and independent alumni group coordinating to the mother alumni…..we are now a legitimate Filipino Group here in Dubai.

Now we are working hand and hand to pay back our Alma Matter through FACFI and support needy members in any ways we can.

TAKE A PHOTO OF YOURSELF WHILE IN A RIDE

I am an enthusiast, a hobbyist and a photo addict. That day I graduated from Overseas Pinoy Professional Photographers Society I became more addicted to take photos. For the moment I’m just having my Sony DSC-W120, a very handy cam which I can bring anywhere I go and take a photo of myself and anything that I’m interested to have a shot. But taking a photo of me would always require someone, and that’s a friend, a companion or simply a passer’s by. Worst if there’s no one to take a photo of me/us. So a flat surface, a trunk of a tree or a car would be enough to place a camera and set the timer just to be a part of a photo.

Then last year I bought a tripod that I can use whenever I wanted to take a photo of a group and be a part of them. I thought a tripod was enough but then I realize that i can only use it on a balance and steady settings. What about if I’m on a ferries wheel, a cabel car, a hanging bridge or in a moving car and I wanted to take a photo? Can I still use a tripod? Definitely No! And that’s where I needed a Xshot!. It is a telescopic camera extender which you can attached on a digital camera and hold at a distance so you can take a photo of yourself even if you’re in a rides. It is very easy to use and can eliminate awkward photos taken at arms length. It is very handy and weighs just 5 oz. and extends up to 3 feet. It is made with durable metal shaft and fits all compact cameras. It is not too bulky and fits easily in pocket.

So if you’re one of those photo hobbyist like me who always wanted to be a part of a group picture or loves to take a photo of yourself while in a moving rides, why not buy a new XShot Camera Extender now.

FINALLY WE HAVE IT

Following that wish from my previous post......when i go home last Thursday i was very glad to see a Christmas Tree in our living room. That was too soon for my wish to be granted. I was just blogging about Christmas Decor in the morning and wishing to have a giant Christmas Tree and then there it was....a cute and simple Christmas Tree prepared by our soon to be a mom "Mama Leslie". Thanks dear....you just don't know how you made me happy that day...

Together with it....are the gifts for the raffles and kris kringle. It may not big as I wish but its more than enough to let us feel the spirit of Christmas in our flat...i thought we will have it a day before Christmas...

With Ina & Mike

I'm feeling excited for the Christmas Eve...with the proposed menus, the games, the exchange gift and to all visitors who will join us for the Noche Buena.

CHRISTMAS DECOR

I'm busy! I need to prepare the list of Parlor Games for ASMSI - UAE Chapter Christmas Party tomorrow but i can't just set aside today's Girl's Talk meme since i've been late posting my entry for the last two weeks.

Well, as of now we don't have any Christmas Decor in our flat. It's not that we don't want it but it's because we don't have time to even decorate our living room but i heard one of my flatmate will put some decoration a day before Christmas.

I wish we have a giant Christmas Tree with a file of gifts for our Kris Kringle. (like the photo shown above)

Click the badge below for more Christmas Decorations....

MIDNIGTH MASS

It's 11:30 pm here and i should be sleeping now but because Vane (hubby's cousin) and i attended the first "Midnight Mass" i'm still here pretty alive and kickin' while watching Pinoy Big Brother....hehehe So let me brief you about the first night of "Simbang Gabi"

Before the mass started there's a little program at the main entrance of the church and right after the reading and homily of the Priest about the season of advent and Christmas… it was followed by the celebration of Filipino's first midnight mass at the covered court.

As usual, every corner of the Saint Mary's Church compound is filled with Filipinos attending the celebration. Well yeah, it's Christmas and when you say about Christmas in the Middle East...it was just like an ordinary day…and you won’t really feel the spirit of the season. For those years that I’ve spent Christmas here, I wish that I’m home celebrating the festive season with my family. Here you can’t feel that it’s Christmas unless you attend the Nine Mornings where you can be reminded how we usually celebrate it at home.

I miss celebrating Christmas at the Land of the Howling Wind, Catanduanes. I miss the Christmas Cheers where every municipality prepares a program to be presented at the Rizal Plaza before the Midnight Mass begins and continued after the Mass everyday. I miss the Beer Plaza. I miss the “puto bumbong”, “kutsinta”, barbeque, “isaw”, “pinoy”, “balut” and any other filipino food that is available every night. I miss my family and friends…Huhuhu