It's been some time since we celebrated New Year's Eve in Manila. For the past years, we usually go to Punta Fuego to escape the smoke and dust that is usually associated with the fireworks on the eve. Plus, we get to appreciate the fireworks of the other people on holiday at the neighboring houses and resorts. We bring our own bottle of wine, grapes and cheese and just lounge around in our casita or in the main dining hall.
When I got married, we joined my family last year for the celebrations and because Elissa was sick at that time, the weather and air was just perfect for her to recover.
This year, with Adrian's folks in Boston, we were going to celebrate it with my side of the family again. I don't know if Daddy was not able to reserve at Fuego but we saw ourselves celebrating the New year in their new house at Ayala Hills. I thought it was fitting especially that it is a new house and we try to incorporate our New Year traditions in the new house.
It saw my Dad buy the usual torotots and firecrackers (what? No "sawa", Daddy?!?!? And watusi? Only Judas belt??? Hehehe...) with the requisite katol to use to light up the fireworks. I missed putting the coins all around the house for years and it was nice to see all the coins on the stairs and inside each rooms. They say that these coins are supposed to attract more money for the next year. When the clock struck 12, all had to jump (they said that we needed to jump to grow taller) and we ate our 12 M&M's - 12 for each month of the coming year and M&M's being round, are supposed to be "lucky"). We received our "mini-ampao's" also at midnight and I kept them in my pocket as I'm supposed to have money "all-year-round"... But one thing I noticed - why is that my Mom only gave coins to us kids but gave a bigger amount to Dad and vice-versa?? Hehehe...
The big difference this year is that the kids are not us anymore but they're MY kids. Its nice to see the passing of old traditions to the younger ones, my sisters the ones helping out Daddy with the fireworks and putting the coins all around the house. In fact, I didn't do much, except to take pictures and shout "Happy New Year" at midnight all throughout the house (and still jumped like a rabbit in the hope that I'll grow taller)...
And, for once in a long time, it was nice to sit down in a proper dining room, to celebrate the Media Noche with good old Hizon's ensaymada and hot chocolate. Not to mention the queso de bola and ham - our staples for New Year and Christmas Eve dinners... I'm sure my Mommy must have been tired as she has not prepared New Year Eve in a long time but it was nice to spend it in the good, traditional way.
Now if only Ate Luz was able to make the palitaw...
When I got married, we joined my family last year for the celebrations and because Elissa was sick at that time, the weather and air was just perfect for her to recover.
This year, with Adrian's folks in Boston, we were going to celebrate it with my side of the family again. I don't know if Daddy was not able to reserve at Fuego but we saw ourselves celebrating the New year in their new house at Ayala Hills. I thought it was fitting especially that it is a new house and we try to incorporate our New Year traditions in the new house.
It saw my Dad buy the usual torotots and firecrackers (what? No "sawa", Daddy?!?!? And watusi? Only Judas belt??? Hehehe...) with the requisite katol to use to light up the fireworks. I missed putting the coins all around the house for years and it was nice to see all the coins on the stairs and inside each rooms. They say that these coins are supposed to attract more money for the next year. When the clock struck 12, all had to jump (they said that we needed to jump to grow taller) and we ate our 12 M&M's - 12 for each month of the coming year and M&M's being round, are supposed to be "lucky"). We received our "mini-ampao's" also at midnight and I kept them in my pocket as I'm supposed to have money "all-year-round"... But one thing I noticed - why is that my Mom only gave coins to us kids but gave a bigger amount to Dad and vice-versa?? Hehehe...
The big difference this year is that the kids are not us anymore but they're MY kids. Its nice to see the passing of old traditions to the younger ones, my sisters the ones helping out Daddy with the fireworks and putting the coins all around the house. In fact, I didn't do much, except to take pictures and shout "Happy New Year" at midnight all throughout the house (and still jumped like a rabbit in the hope that I'll grow taller)...
And, for once in a long time, it was nice to sit down in a proper dining room, to celebrate the Media Noche with good old Hizon's ensaymada and hot chocolate. Not to mention the queso de bola and ham - our staples for New Year and Christmas Eve dinners... I'm sure my Mommy must have been tired as she has not prepared New Year Eve in a long time but it was nice to spend it in the good, traditional way.
Now if only Ate Luz was able to make the palitaw...
