Happy New Year 2009

A Japanese New Year decoration--our SHIMENAWA displayed at the front entrance to prevent "evil spirits" from entering the house.

I missed the first sunrise of the year! I woke up late already (what's new anyway!) since I slept almost 4:00 am already! Wheeew, not a good start ^-^;
I soon prepared our New Year dishes for our traditional New Year celebration at home.

Our OSECHI RYOURI, traditional New Year's dishes with OZONI, a Japanese soup containing mochi rice cakes.

Family pictures without lola. She's included in the pictures but I was forced to cut her due to bruises on her face after she slipped and fell down 3 days ago. Poor lola... she looks like panda now! 'hoping she get well soon. Every year... Lucky joined our celebrations... we don't want to miss it... so Sachan brought her photo and offered Lucky's fav... kamaboko-- minced and steamed fish! ↓　We also offered foods to altars of our departed loved ones like to lolo... ... and not to forget... our Lucky!
Happy New Year to all! More blessings and good luck to all of us!

KOTOSHI MO TANOSHIKU, GENKI DE GANBARIMASHO!

KORE KARA MO... YOROSHIKU ONEGAISHIMASU!

o(^3^)o

Goodbye 2008, hello 2009!

Ready for count down... Wala naman gaanong handa except for some chicken macaroni, embutido and pansit. We reserved most for our Japanese traditional foods... OSECHI RYOURI.

Sarah and Yuta joined us for count down at home. Yuki was in Tokyo with his cousins.

↓Hindi po yan palabok! It's my pansit bihon with kanton (?)... it's actually a ramen noodles... I learned that from Dang! 　Not bad!While waiting for the countdown... we're busy sending some messages to friends and relatives and at the same time, watching NHK musical program. 　　After the program... we had the countdown and we had some banging at home while yelling "HAPPY NEW YEAR" together!I had a four set playing billiard with Yuta. It's a kids stuff but it was fun!Uncle Jo and Dang came about past 1:00 for some greetings! Thanks for the accesories gifts from Dang!Thanks to year 2008 and welcome to year 2009!

Last day of year 2008!

... and now the end is near♪and so I face the final curtain♪... well, that's according to that popular song!

Wooow, times really traveled fast... ang bilis-bilis talaga! Now... here we are waiting for the count down for year 2009.

Here... we treat our selves to a revolving sushi restaurant for lunch!

Problemado si Papie... kc s'ya na naman taya!

Lola enjoyed her lunch too especially her sweets!

Mahina kami kumain... alang gana!

We had late dinner. It is traditional to eat soba or buckwheat noodles on New Year's Eve since thin long noodles symbolizes longevity. It is called toshikoshi or passing the year soba.

To sum it up, year 2008 has been a good year to me! Maraming blessings inspite it's been tough financially! Palagi naman! Well... anyway... to all of you out there... YOI OTOSHI WO... meaning, "have a good year passing"!

OTSUKARESAMA KAI

Last night, Philippine NAKAMA had a treat for all the volunteers staff of Phil NAKAMA Christmas Party 2008. It's like a thanks giving gathering or OTSUKARESAMA KAI for the job well done by the staff members at the Xmas event. Out of 13 members... 8 were able to join.

Our first plan was to held it in Karaoke but on the last minute... we decided to do the gathering at Izakaya Wara-wara along Ryougai-cho.

We enjoyed the tabehodai, nomihodai order!
What we enjoyed most aside from foods, drinks and chattings was the fact that it was almost a treat from Phil NAKAMA... as in PALIBRE!
Sorry for those who wasn't able to come... thanks for the hard work and GOCHISOSAMA DESHITA! Hanggang sa uulitin! o(^-^)o

Christmas celebration with Sachan!

Sachan arrived from Niigata City last Friday night for her winter vacation!

After having dinner together at Jolly Pasta, we celebrated our Christmas at home.

It's one day late already but as a family tradition... we still prepared a Chrismas cake to blow!

The next day... Sachan opened up her gifts from me and papie!

Better late than never.

Christmas Illuminations

Christmas is not complete without any decorations... like illuminations. It's like Christmas magics that adds spirits and sentiments of the season. Here are some Christmas decors around...

Our Christmas TreeNativity at night Christmas giftsOur Christmas Tree at the lobbyChristmas illuminations outside our home
One of our lanterns from Philippines.

Climbing Santa Claus... not to rob... I'm sure!Christmas Tree's silhouette in the morning
Christmas Illuminations along Aoba Symbol Road. This will last till February.
Christmas at Jonaic Catholic Church ... the amasing nativity!The four Christmas candles. These symbolizes the four Sundays of December. The pink candle is the Sunday for Christmas! I just learned this lately from the church staff. (^-^)d

Maligayang Pasko!

It's Christmas but I almost forgot it! Ewan ko ba... since my daughter grew up and been away from us... I can't feel Christmas that much anymore. Iba pa rin talaga yung meron kang kids around na excited sa mga Christmas decorations and illuminations, expecting for Santa's gifts and yah... 'yung pagdating ng eve na nag-iihip s'ya ng cake! Kakamiss talaga yung mga time na yon.

So if I were you lalo na to those mom na meron pang tsikiting d'yan... make and spend the best things you could with your kids lalo na kung may mga event like this... para marami kayong good memories in the future!

So back to my Christmas... before eve... Belinda with uncle Jo plus Marissa dropped by at home to share some Xmas foods for their gathering at Sarah's place... Sarah came after them with another sharing of foods and gifts for all of us at home. That's touching! Pero sa dami ng bigay nila... we can't imagine at home how to eat them!

Ano nga bang exchange food ko? I did not prepare that much but kahit konting menudo... I was able to share with them.

Sarah's new home!

Some of Xmas foods at Sarah's Xmas gathering... there are more actually!

The kids group! They're Christmasing to their ninang and ninong!

About 9:00 pm... I prepared for my date with Amie and Liza in Kentos to spend our Eve like we did last year. But before going there... I dropped by to Sarah's place with some beers to share to their Christmas gathering. I just showed up, took pictures and some greetings... then I scaped already! Thanks to Sarah and Belinda who drove me downtown to meet Liza and Amie.
We had a cup of coffee in Jolibee first. We received panty gifts from Amy--the owner -- from her give-away Xmas gifts basket! Mabuti na lang makapal ang mukha namin para makiarbor! hehehe! Happy Xmas Amy!
After that we went to Kentos for some music tripping... opppsss... I said tripping anoooh... but unfortunately we were disappointed to vocal band members! I don't know if they understand what they're singing in English... di namin maintindihan ang mga wordings nila! Kakasuyang nakakatawa talaga! Lumakas tuloy ang loob ko na magbalik vocalist!!! hahaha!!!

Our first drinks... looks sweet but after our kampai... we yelled for yaaakkk! mixed wiskey was too strong!!!

Ryo followed us in Kentos.

Sax player was good!

We had a good Eve! But I don't think I want to spend my Eve at Kentos next year... sorry, not with those poor vocalists!

Today... I consentrated with my text and mail Christmas messages and phone calls! Kakatuwa naman kapag marami ang nakakaalala sa yo! Wag lang sana ako maalala ng mga pinagkakautangan ko lalo na yung mga inaanak ko! hehehe!

Had some chat with Ana K too... wooow that was quite long chikahan! We almost burn our ears for almost 2 hours in cellphone! But I enjoyed our chatting! We seldom see each other lately so maybe that's how we missed our chikahan!

Tomorrow... Sachan will be back home for her winter vacation away from school. We will surely celebrate tomorrow night our Christmas together as family! TANOSHIMI da ne?

Sounds one day late celebration for Xmas! Hmmm... it's always Christmas desho?!

May you all have a blessed and peaceful Christmas!

Phil NAKAMA Christmas Party 2008

Thanks to the generous support of the Philippine NAKAMA group and friends... once again, we were able to successfully celebrate our Phil NAKAMA Christmas Party 2008 event today with good foods, shows, games and gifts!

The party was held in Coupole Kaikan. The venue provided us their biggest hall on the 5th floor to reach our huge number of guests. Yes... we are so thankful that every year of our Christmas Party celebration, our guest keep on increasing. Maraming salamat sa suporta ng lahat!

This year entertainment was provided with amasing talented guys... like our gorgeous Jazz singer, Maritess and our very own pop singer, uncle Jo... the fabulous hip hop dance of Ryo... the fantastic DAIDOUGEI performance of REI and games like everyone's fave... Bingo!

Again and again... our deepest thanks to all the guys who made this event possible. Particularly to Coupole Kaikan who allowed us to extend our party for an hour!