Christmas Eve, December 24, is the morning, day, and night before Christmas Day, which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. In the Philippines , Christmas Eve ("Noche Buena") is celebrated with the Midnight Mass. It is one of the traditions most families celebrate. It is a night without sleep and a continuous celebration. Filipinos are very religious and family-oriented by nature. Nothing could ever measure to being with your family and love-ones on this special occasion. It is celebrated with a dinner, as every family celebrates the birth of Christ and shares the feast of the best and special food.
Due to current financial crisis, we didn't receive the Christmas gifts that we usually receive when the economy is still good. Usually we are receiving ham and wine that we are consuming during Christmas Eve. But now we will need to get those from our tight budget just to have a food to shares on the Christmas Eve. This mean we need to reduce our budget for non basic needs, like jewelry and electronic gadgets.
There is a small advantage though; we will be able to select the food we will prepare for the Christmas Eve. I have a plan to become a vegetarian to fulfill my goal of eating for the planet. As I mentioned on my Eating for the Planet article, I rated poorly in that area, because I do not exert any extra effort to convert my diet from meat to vegetables.
But the absence of these gifts should not stop us from being happy on this holiday season. We should bear in mind that Christmas is not about material things. This is the season of reflection and love. As long as we are with our love ones, we have no enemy and we are not doing anything wrong, no matter how simple our celebration is, we should be contented and that will make us happy and fulfilled during this holiday season.
December 26, 2009
December 19, 2009
Christmas Time
The weather is getting cold now, a sign that Christmas is here. Here in the Philippines the cold weather has some benefits. Being a tropical country, cold weather is like a refreshing treat in a country that has a long hot and humid weather. Cold weather means no air conditioner and electric fan needed, no need to go to beaches to quench the hot temperature, resulting to a substantial savings in power and transportation cost. Aside from Christmas spirit, bonuses and gifts, cold weather may also be one of the reasons why people are in good mood during Christmas season.
There is only one thing that I don't like during cold weather. Grasses and leaves of trees are getting dry like our skin during cold season. The cold air takes the moisture from your skin leaving you dry and chapped. I think it has the same effect on plants and trees. Grass dries easily and leaves of trees are falling. But that is not the one that I don't like, since it is a natural process for plants. The dried grass and leaves will decompose and will become fertilizer and comes the rainy season, new leaves and grass will appear. What I really don't like is when some irresponsible individuals set fire the dried grass and leaves. This usually kills all the grass and trees in that area. The grass will grow again when the rains come, but for the tree, almost all will not be able to recover. Grass fire and forest fire spread quickly threatening the nearby houses and buildings. Tons of smokes are being lofted in the air contributing to the worsening global warming. Sad thing is no one will attempt to douse the fire, not until it will already threaten their property.
There is only one thing that I don't like during cold weather. Grasses and leaves of trees are getting dry like our skin during cold season. The cold air takes the moisture from your skin leaving you dry and chapped. I think it has the same effect on plants and trees. Grass dries easily and leaves of trees are falling. But that is not the one that I don't like, since it is a natural process for plants. The dried grass and leaves will decompose and will become fertilizer and comes the rainy season, new leaves and grass will appear. What I really don't like is when some irresponsible individuals set fire the dried grass and leaves. This usually kills all the grass and trees in that area. The grass will grow again when the rains come, but for the tree, almost all will not be able to recover. Grass fire and forest fire spread quickly threatening the nearby houses and buildings. Tons of smokes are being lofted in the air contributing to the worsening global warming. Sad thing is no one will attempt to douse the fire, not until it will already threaten their property.
December 12, 2009
13th Month Pay
Our 13th month pay was given a little bit late for this year, compared last year; we received it before the end of November. My wife and kids were already getting impatient because they're used to early shopping. But now since it was late we need to complete our shopping in just one trip to the Shopping Mall. I only have two days off remaining before Christmas day and the second one is already too close to Christmas day, so we cannot use that day to go shopping, so we really need to do it in just one trip. Unlike before, we keep returning to the Shopping Mall until we haven't spent all my 13th month pay and this cost a lot in transportation expenses.
Since we only have one day allotted for shopping, we need to prioritize buying those important things we need to buy. We need to make a list of what we need to save us time and avoid buying unnecessary things. The list includes clothes, shoes, gifts and food for the Christmas Eve. There are plenty of things that I want to buy like car stereo, cabinet and double deck bed for my kids but I having a second though because of the current financial crisis. Anyway, what I want only is to have a complete Christmas for my kids. If the kids have new clothes, shoes and toys their Christmas is already complete.
There is an ongoing infomercial about global warning that advise people to just buy only what they need to help reduce carbon emission and garbage. And being self proclaimed environmentalist, I think I have no choice but to do the same. Actually I am planning not to buy new clothes for me, even though I am doing it only during Christmas season. In our office I am one of those few employees who still wear the t-shirt given to us by our company. Most of the employees wear new and branded clothes. I think I will just be proud of wearing old clothes because this has good impact to the environment and just think that the late 13th month pay is actually a blessing since we will be able to save a lot in transportation expenses and likewise help reduce carbon emission.
Since we only have one day allotted for shopping, we need to prioritize buying those important things we need to buy. We need to make a list of what we need to save us time and avoid buying unnecessary things. The list includes clothes, shoes, gifts and food for the Christmas Eve. There are plenty of things that I want to buy like car stereo, cabinet and double deck bed for my kids but I having a second though because of the current financial crisis. Anyway, what I want only is to have a complete Christmas for my kids. If the kids have new clothes, shoes and toys their Christmas is already complete.
There is an ongoing infomercial about global warning that advise people to just buy only what they need to help reduce carbon emission and garbage. And being self proclaimed environmentalist, I think I have no choice but to do the same. Actually I am planning not to buy new clothes for me, even though I am doing it only during Christmas season. In our office I am one of those few employees who still wear the t-shirt given to us by our company. Most of the employees wear new and branded clothes. I think I will just be proud of wearing old clothes because this has good impact to the environment and just think that the late 13th month pay is actually a blessing since we will be able to save a lot in transportation expenses and likewise help reduce carbon emission.
December 5, 2009
Good Electioneering
Election period is coming closer and as usual, incumbent government official will use their current position to improve their image by implementing infrastructure, beautification and repair project.
In our town a rotunda is being constructed on all the intersections. That is not the only infrastructure being constructed in our town, but for me this is the only laudable project of our local government. Compare to paving an already paved road, this project is beneficial not only to the traffic flow but also to the environment. Because of the rotunda, no need for a traffic light. The traffic will move on the same direction in a circular motion avoiding blocking each other. I was wondering where they got the idea; I think this is a work of a genius. They also planted some ornamental plants inside the rotunda, which give a scenic view and cool surrounding.
Whatever the intention is, the end result is very good. Since they will not use traffic light, the government will save money in electricity and will avoid carbon emission that will be produced if electricity will be used to power traffic light. The plant will also absorb some of the pollutants being produce by the passing vehicles and imagine also the gasoline that will be save if there will be no traffic congestion. So our politician, you can go ahead electioneering as long as it will be beneficial to your constituent and environment. And I hope they will do it for their entire term not only when the election period is near.
In our town a rotunda is being constructed on all the intersections. That is not the only infrastructure being constructed in our town, but for me this is the only laudable project of our local government. Compare to paving an already paved road, this project is beneficial not only to the traffic flow but also to the environment. Because of the rotunda, no need for a traffic light. The traffic will move on the same direction in a circular motion avoiding blocking each other. I was wondering where they got the idea; I think this is a work of a genius. They also planted some ornamental plants inside the rotunda, which give a scenic view and cool surrounding.
Whatever the intention is, the end result is very good. Since they will not use traffic light, the government will save money in electricity and will avoid carbon emission that will be produced if electricity will be used to power traffic light. The plant will also absorb some of the pollutants being produce by the passing vehicles and imagine also the gasoline that will be save if there will be no traffic congestion. So our politician, you can go ahead electioneering as long as it will be beneficial to your constituent and environment. And I hope they will do it for their entire term not only when the election period is near.
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