A Blessed Christmas To All

My PC Desktop table on Christmas 

Last night I attended an Christmas Exchange Gift party of my friends, we're just 11 souls that gathered to celebrate Christmas in synchronicity to million OFWs worldwide that celebrate Christmas. My friends have prepared Chicken Caldereta, Biko and Cassava cake, fried chicken, Lumpia and Macaroni Salad and Pancit.

The exchange gift event highlights the evening, 11 gifts were raffled and drawn among us, and to my surprise I got a Rice Cooker, a blessing in time to replace my 8-year old Rice Cooker that needs retirement. 

Christmas Exchange Gift Rice Cooker

The night ended with typical OFW stories about family and familiar OFW Christmas tales. And as we talk about love, our story telling drifted into the meaning of Christmas - love, sacrifice and gift giving, suddenly it reminded me of a familar lines that perhaps you have uttered it at least once in your OFW life:

"Kamusta kayo dyan, okay lang ako dito, mahalaga masaya kayo sa Pasko"

At habang nagsasalita'y kapansin pansin ang garalgal na tinig at di alintana ang pagpatak ng luha mula sa mata.

OFWs around the world, particularly those who are separated from their love ones due to migration especially those that are in Middle East countries where Christmas is not celebrated at least publicly were more emotionally depressed during Christmas season, but with their courage and determination to surpass the trials in life, they celebrate Christmas in their own humble way through prayers and small social group gatherings.

Being alone in a lonely planet as an OFW should not stop us Filipinos to celebrate Christmas. As I long for traditional Christmas lights and lanterns, the thick smell of baked bibingka and puto bungbong - celebrating Christmas in a foreign land means getting in touch with your love ones, as I called them this morning and with an assurance voice I gently say:

"Kumpleto na ang Pasko ko, basta marinig ko lang ang mga boses ninyo"

It is one of the many occasions that I call my family over the phone, from my wife, to my children Geeka, Jason and my daughter-in-law Mely, and my makukulit and adorable na mga apo, Jarem (7 years old) and Janna (six years old), but Christmas is always different.

We all missed the Simbang Gabi, the bibingka't puto bungbong but it does not dampen our spirits to celebrate Christmas. Because for most of us OFWs celebrating Christmas is opening ourselves to God, allowing the true spirit of Christmas which is LOVE, PEACE and JOY to enter into our hearts and let it reign as we give praise and thanks the Almighty for His Divine gift to Mankind - the birth of the Holy Child.

Let Christmas begin within your own family - let love starts with your spouse, your partner, your children... and whole family and expands to all world. Let's spread love, they're just a a phone call away... and say:

"Maligayang Pasko"

Life is Beautiful, Capture It

Capture the Light 

(Practicing Bo-keh exposures) 

After three months of absence in the blogging world because of various commitments from PEBA 2011 and the extra-ordinary missions I have at work, finally I find my way back to Palipasan.

For the last two months, I found my itchy finger on the shutter button learning the ropes of photography. My PEBA blogging friends have inspired me to pursue photography as an all consuming passion - among them are Ms. Jocelyn "Misalyn" Torres Gundan of Al Ain City Daily Photo my online mentor who have helped me decide to go for Canon Rebel T3i, the exceptional artistic talent of Ever Villacruz of Pamatay Homesick, and the multifaceted blogging talents of Pepe Cabrera of Camera ni Cabrera and Ruel "RJ" Pagoto of the Chook-minder's Lens have inspired me to take a new direction in blogging through photography.

Princess Janna, My Granddaughter

(Enhancing my portraiture skill) 

But why photography? I always believe in the beauty of life, its purpose, emotions - love, pain and glory. While all these things can be perfectly written through blog, I still believe that incredible transformation of life, God's creation can be best captured in full details with lights, colors and textures through a unique perspective to tell its own story.

As I struggle my way into ISO, Aperture and  Shutter Speed, learning to become a photographer with the use of DSLR is a serious challenge - as there's always something new to learn, new directions to explore and new challenges to face which is I find fascinating capturing not only the physical beauty of creations but capturing the emotions of real life either in colors or in black and white. 

Across The Sea

(My photo entry to Qatar Airways National Day Contest)

As I bounce back to my blogging niche, Palipasan will provide space for my new photographs which I would like to share through blog. While my software editing skills in Photoshop is generally weak, I'm highly dependent on my camera's optimum settings. 

I'll be sharing with you my my photos hoping that it may will be glad to have you as my photo critique, please feel free to share your views and comments and in one way or another I hope that it may give hope and inspiration to my blogging friends, visitor and photo enthusiasts.  

Remember..."Life is Beautiful, Capture It!"

The Peak, Hong Kong - (Hong Kong Skyline)

My first Night Shot (12/28/2011)