If you happen to be in Davao and looking for some fun. Then I suggest to visit Studio Onnie in Torres. Studio Onnie is a comedy bar owned by Connie, who is really cute and fun to be with, and a local celeb for ABS-CBN-Davao.

Did I say comedy bar? Hindi lang yan ang meron doon kundi ukrayan at kantahan din. Kahit desentonado ang boses ay pwedeng kumanta. Pero kinakailangang hindi ka pikon at humanda ka sa pang-uukray nang kanilang tatlong host na si Ahbet, Rikki at Gretchen. Desentonado po ang boses nang Tita Poorshya niyo pero nagpumilit pa ring kumanta. Pero hoy take note ha, hindi nila nakuhang ukrayin ang byuti ko. Say? Siguro natakot silang hampusin ko nang aking matulis na sapatos. Or baka naawa lang sila sa akin. Well anyway, maayos naman talaga ang trato nila sa aming magpamilya. Buti nalang orelse walang tip. Ah basta’t kami ay nag-enjoy to the max at halos mapaihi ako sa kakatawa.

With Gretchen and Rikki.

Front left: My niece Grace, sis-in-laws Sharon and Marilou.
Back left: Yours truly, Rikki and my sister Teresita.

From the left: My sister Teresita, sister-in-law Sharon, yours truly, Ahbet, my nieces Gladys, Grace and sister-in-law Marilou holding Gillian.

Ahbet the famous host in Studio Onnie.

With Rikki (Ahbet’s co-host)

My dear blogkadas, nalalapit na ang aking pagadating diyan sa Maynila and you just can’t imagine how excited I am na na makita ko kayo sa mata. We will be arriving in Manila on March 3 around 10:45 A.M and staying in Manila area. Gusto ko sanang mag stay sa Makati or Mandaluyong but my friend advised me na sa Maynila nalang daw dahil malapit ito sa goverment offices na pupuntahan namin later. I have no fix itinerary yet, kaya I’m open for any suggestions kong kailan natin ganapin ang ating kita-kita sa mata. Our flight to Davao will be on March 7 so kong maaari, magkikita tayo before this day. I know puro kayo busy sa inyong mga karir during day time kaya gawin natin ito sa gabi. O ano…sino ang lalaban diyan sa inyo? Suggest na bilis!!!

When?:_______________

Where?:________________

Click thumbnails to enlarge.

This morning was the Kinder Carnival parade here in Hinsbeck. Kindergarten kids and elementary pupils went marching together on the street. Kindergartenkinder und Grundschüler waren gemeinsam auf dem marsch. By the way, the clown (on the bottom left) is my son Gillian. His first carnival parade ever! He enjoyed it very much and was proud to show us his bag full of sweets he gathered.

Carnival is a festival season. It occurs immediately before Lent, the main events are usually during February or March. It typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations.

Source: Wikipedia

Having lived in Germany for over 24 years now, some things that were odd to me when I first arrived seem so normal to me now. For instance, Karneval. There’s no such thing in my country, so seeing people in crazy costumes, singing and dancing in the street, hugging, kissing strangers and throwing confetti and shouting “Hellau” was strange and err, a bit shocking to me. The term Karneval is from the Latin “carrus navalis” - meaning, the ship of fools. This season is a time of wild fancy dresses, parties and costume balls which are open to the public. Karneval reaches its climax in big street processions with elaborately decorated floats, usually on Rosenmontag. The season actually begins on November 11 at 11:11 pm and ends on Ash Wednesday. Something about all those elevens being lucky or perhaps something about them relating to foolishness, I am not certain. Karneval is a very old tradition in Germany and remained alive and let me add…wilder than ever.

Let us talk about something not really very German. Namely, Halloween. Few years ago, there was no sign of Halloween in Germany. Now, the trend is spreading and it is getting more popular over here. Traditionally, we don’t celebrate it here but some clever business people imported this idea from the USA. It’s a slow spread, but maybe Halloween will be more popular in few more years. It’s a fun time for kids though, they enjoy putting on costumes, and going door-to-door to get sweets. There are also some Halloween parties organized by some groups (Verein) or discos where people wear wild Halloween Costumes. I said wild because there are several people, mostly women who are so daring to wear odd costumes that expose excessive amounts of skin. Like the one I saw on TV, that particular costume was a Sailor Girl Pin Up inspired costume. Which consist of faux sequin crop top, fringe boy shorts with tie sides and garters, sailor hat, riding crop, stockings and boots.

Call me a prude, call me conservative, but this has nothing to do with Halloween anymore. It is in fact just another excuse for some German adults to go wild again.

I’m dreading Christmas here in Germany, I really am. I feel the spiritual side of Christmas has been completely lost and I can’t cope with stress of everything I have to buy and do. Christmas means misery to me and not celebration, because I’m the one who has to take care of everything. Like buying presents, plan and cook the meal for Christmas eve and Christmas and host all of them. I really don’t want to sound like an old git, but I’m old enough to remember when Christmas in the Philippines was special in so many ways. We received some gifts that we never had at any other time, we had food that we spent 364 days only dreaming of and people wished you a happy Christmas and meant it.

There is so much to be said for the good old days, but sadly I can’t turn back time. How I wish I’m home…

P.S
Tita Beng is currently enjoying the FLU, so pasensiya na muna kayo ha?