www.littlenars.com | Dianne Peña

Simbang Gabi… Misa De Gallo… 9 Mornings… A tradition for Filipino Catholics where in group of friends, families, etc… attends all 9 consecutive dawn masses at 4 or 5AM starting December 16 to December 24, after completing Simbang Gabi, you can have your wish. Simbang Gabi is a time of the year where the Church overflows with people everyday that you wish it’s always Christmas.

I have completed Simbang Gabi 4 times including this year. I have started attending it since 2002. So far, all my wishes were granted. The awesome part was this year’s wish because it was granted even before I finished Simbang Gabi. God is reaaaaally GOOD. He truly never let me down.

My Misa De Gallo experience for year 2009 was different because I attended mass at four different churches. The first day was at the Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Tagaytay City with my College friends, third day was at the Immaculate Conception Parish, Pateros also with my other College friends and a great way to end it was by attending the last stretch of Kraft Eden Cheese, Keso De Gallo— a nationwide event coinciding with the traditionally celebrated Misa de Gallo.

I, together with my mum and brother, Jeric had the privilege to attend our last day for Simbang gabi at San Guillermo Parish Church in Bacolor, Pampanga. The mass was in Kapampangan and I only followed through the mass because of the order, I even responded in Tagalog. (I was kind of worried if I were able to complete it because I didn’t understand the homily. Hihi). It was my first time to hear a Kapampangan mass and that was a splendid experience.

Parallel to the nine-day Simbang Gabi, Eden brought the goodness of Filipino dishes to Pinoys in nine different towns including Bacolod City, Iloilo, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu City, Naga, Butuan City, Laoag and Pampanga.

After the mass, At least 300 “kabalens” enjoyed the “Cheesy Squash Puto” a recipe done by pupils from the San Matias Elementary School in Pampanga sponsored by Kraft Eden Cheese. I can see those pretty little smiles from them that brightened the whole event after tasting the YUMM-Y Cheesy Squash Puto. You’ll never notice that there was a veggie in it. It was some sort of an alternative for our famous Bibingka and Puto Bumbong every after a Simbang Gabi mass.

Everyone was happy eating, chatting, singing, playing and taking pictures… It was a peaceful, triumphant, and superb event. I felt the warmness of the event even though its really cold outside the Church because I was able to savor this experience with my family—the most important thing of all.

Keso De Gallo as it aims to will explore the wonders of our country’s cuisine while providing an extended feast that will bring joy and delight to as many families as possible, was indeed a great means of celebrating the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. This event really brought out the true essence of Christmas. Nothing beats sharing, loving and togetherness in this season.

Thank You Kraft Eden Cheese for this wonderful experience.

“Dahil kay rami talgaga nating nagagawa pag may Eden Cheese”

P.S

My mum kept on repeating this experience to our relatives during our family Noche Buena.

And the Filipinos have done it once again.

Kraft Eden Cheese broke the record of the “Most Number on Display, In a Single Day” last December 14, 2009 at the Araneta Coliseum with………

*insert drum roll sound effects here*

5, 845 Palatable Dishes with CHEESE!!!

There were 500 Chefs and 5,000 dishes in the event. Premier culinary school Magsaysay Institute of Hospitality and Culinary Arts (MIHCA) contribute the most of the research and student manpower in the making of the event, with the added help of other schools such as Regina Carmeli, St. Paul University-Manila, Centro Escolar University, Emilio Aguinaldo College, La Consolacion College and Arellano University-Manila.

In the event, there were also contests that the following schools participated. The Grand winner for the Cheese Carving Contest is Centro Escolar University and Grand winner for the Noche Buena Cook-Off Contest is La Consolacion College.

There were a lot of YUMM-Y dishes and I wished I could taste them all! It was my first event with this kind of cause.

With that, I can say, Filipinos have the habit of making a HISTORY!

Here is my previous blogpost http://www.littlenars.com/2009/11/11/be-a-part-of-history-with-kraft-eden-cheese/

Denim Jeans is a must-have for every wardrobe. It is flexible ‘cause you can mix and match it with any top you wish for every occasion. Denims has a long life span, I mean, it’s not obvious that its already worn out unless you’ve already out-grown your jeans. There are a lot of brands to choose from but love your own, support Bobson.

Bobson offers a range of easy and relaxed casual clothing made for the laid-back lifestyle of today’s men and women. Their style includes Bobson Basic and the new-innovative Bobson Series II.

BOBSON Series II was launched onto the local jeans scene that created immediate following for its modified designs. The name Series II is synonymous with Edgy, Progressive and Modern. The BOBSON Series II includes an innovative denim line for ladies and men, shirts and tops designed for today’s men women

With Bobson, you can have more ways to be hip and fab. Bobson designs for ladies and men, can be mix and match for an unlimited trendy and style.

Bobson denims are trendy, new colors and washes, unique pocket details, appliqués, embroideries and finishes. Each denim piece has a slanted red leather belt loop at the back. Bobson Series II pants were designed with larger back pockets, wider waistband, and a red facing combination.

This is a perfect gift for Christmas and the holiday season. Bobson clothesline is available in all SM, RDS and leading department stores nationwide at reasonable prices (P850 for the jeans).

Lopez Link is published monthly by Benpres Group Public Relations for the 16,000-strong workforce of the Lopez Group of Companies. Given the size and scope of the Lopez Group, the corporate communication team plays a crucial role in reporting the activities of the member companies, ensuring correct information is circulated, clarifying issues, and building employee morale. This newsletter serves as a “link” between all the Lopez companies and their employees. To be able to reach a wide range of audience, Lopez Link opened its online version at www.lopezlink.ph.

Not only it is a newsletter but also you can express your musings in their forums. Various activities of the Lopez Group of Companies are reflected in this site. The latest update for this year, as most of us are interested, is the LopezLink 2009 Year End Report.

One of the activities reflected in this timeline was about the Knowledge Channel and Department of Education renew basic education tools development partnership that happened last November 7, 2009 during the 1st Knowledge Channel Stakeholders Awards (KOSA). The signed memorandum of agreement was a 10-year partnership for the nationwide development of basic education tools through the Knowledge Channel. Lopez-Bautista meanwhile urged stakeholders to join the foundation as it continues to broaden the reach of the program beyond the 2,000 schools that are presently connected to Knowledge Channel.

Also reflected on the LopezLink 2009 Year End Report was the launching of Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig (KBPIP) with ABSCBN Foundation Inc. (AFI) managing director Gina Lopez at the helm. It aims to restore the environmental balance and get the water flowing again. I am glad that the Lopez Group of Companies advocates such environmental cause. I think everyone should be aware, concerned and involved in this project including Teaching the Save the Pasig Campaign to children since this is for their future.

Where is Maki Haus?

That was the question. My mum and I had difficulty in finding it but our effort had been paid of because of their delectable Fookien Style foodies:

D “original” Maki noodles (P95). A thick Chinese soup with undeniable tenderness and juicyness of pork meat. This dish maybe served in a small portion or a large bowl. This “already-a-full-meal-for-me” dish was just the appetizer.

Kiampong (P35). A Chinese version of our Filipino “Paella” rice atop with whole fried peanuts.

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ABS-CBN, the Philippines biggest television network and Worldbex Services International, the country’s most successful exhibit organizer come together for the first time to present the longest-running and most successful Christmas bazaar in the country – the 9th World Bazaar Festival.

World Bazaar Festival will be open for shoppers from December 6 to December 14, 2009 at the World trade Center Manila. It has the best assortment of products and merchandise ranging from food, car accessories, fashion jewelry, toys, clothing, foot wear, plastic products and many more that paved way for upscale profits for long-time and first-time exhibitors in the yearly grand Christmas bazaar.

Since it is a joint project of ABS-CBN and Worldbex Services International, this 14-day event will feature a special Celebrity Village where shoppers can interact, meet and even buy items from their favorite stars. The village will feature artists and celebrities from ABS-CBN such as Judy Ann Santos, Ryan Agoncillo, Gladys Reyes, Christopher Roxas, Rica Peralejo and Donita Rose, G-Force Dancers Sheryn Regis, Cris Pastor, Miguel Mendoza, Phoemela Baranda, Gretchen Fullido, Mariel Rodriguez, Nene Tamayo, Bea Saw, Ruben Gonzaga, Jason Gainza, Pokwang, among many others.

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When we were a child, our school would engage us in educational field trips every year in various museums and historical walks to learn more about the world around us. Field trip was the happiest and most unforgettable moment of my grade school life. In addition to that, my family would also have side trips at different museums in different parts of Metro Manila and at times, outside it. It was some sort of family bonding at the same time enjoying that we were able to know more about our country’s culture and history.

Zero In Peripheral exhibit is a theme of 5 museums in Manila which is composed of Lopez Memorial Museum, Ayala Museum, Ateneo Art Gallery, Bahay Tsinoy and Museo Pambata. Zero in Periphery is one treasure of knowledge, history and black box of our past that is documented by ordinary people and unknown heroes of the old Philippines.

For most of the people, it is a connotation that museums are only for kids but Zero in Periphery caters also to the “young at hearts”. It is good to have some trivia or nice-to-know facts that you can share your friends that were not taught to us in our formative years in schools.

I salute Zero in Periphery for bringing the biggest crater of Philippine history that was forgotten for centuries. I have gone to Museum Pambata and Ayala Museum and will definitely visit the other 3 museums.

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I have really patronized the Immortaltxt promo of Globe since I don’t text that much nowadays, and to my delight Globe yet again offered another Immortaltxt scheme, which is called Globe Immortal Call+.

Immortal Call+ is the first and only call and text offer with NO EXPIRY! For Globe and TM subscribers. It is like the Immortaltxt promo but it has a free 5-minute call for 15 pesos. You you can have 50 Texts to Globe/TM PLUS 5-minute call to any networks. What a great bargain right?

Here are the steps to avail the Immortal Call+ :
1. Load Up at least 18 pesos
2. Text Immortal15
3. Send to 8888
4. Wait for the confirmation text that you are now subscribed to the service

*You need to maintain a balance of 3 pesos to enjoy the service.
*The 5 minute call are consumable for one long call or several calls
*No need to replace the 1st 3 digits to call unlike the other Globe promos. Just direct dial. ?
* Promo period is from November 8 to December 20, 2009.

Fore more inquiries click here.