Thank you so much to my dear friends Iris, Jesh, and Ananka who sent me emails to ask how I was, and to you my dear friends who left their kind comments on the last post asking how I am. I am doing well, just had a good different holiday season. It was not bad at all, it was very good but different. I will do my best to start going back with Timeless Thursdays this week or maybe the next to be sure. But I cannot wait to visit your blogs as soon as possible because I missed you all big time!
How about you? How were your new year's celebrations? I know it's a lot different but I hope it was peaceful, beautiful, and reflective just like mine.
Let me tell you a little bit about the photo above. During new year's eve, we have this tradition of the media noche which Filipino families got from as early as the Spanish era. We serve a lot of food on our table, more than what we can consume that night as a sign of welcoming the new year with an abundance of hope and blessings. Don't worry, nothing is wasted since before preparing we also nee dto prepare some spaces on the fridge haha.
I prepared some Filipino style spaghetti (Filipino spaghetti is sweet using a mix of tomato sauce and banana ketchup). Then my brother made a lechon pork belly roll, my yeya made some Chicken sotanghon soup (glass noodles). And gifts from family and friends such as that rum cake, Cinnabon rolls, ham, ube halaya (sweet pruple yam), and fruits were also placed on display to say thank you to the gifts. I also displayed the Santa figurine which was a Christmas gift from my teammate from India.
A lot of food on the table and it all comes with my prayers for thanksgiving and for blessings to all of you my dear blog friends!
First of all I am very glad that you are well, I hope and hope that the new year will come loaded with good news for you and your loved ones, it is normal that stop of activity, who has not had it, but well little by little you have to resume that virtual routine that hooks us so much.
ReplyDeleteHappy week.
Best regards
A big yes to all that my dear friend José Antonio and I am so happy to see you again this year! Hope to get back on our virtual routine slowly but surely :)
DeleteGlad to see you are back. Life can certainly get in the way of other things. That is one awesome table spread. Our New Year was quiet as most of the year has been, although some neighbors set off fireworks which lit up the sky and reflected in our back yard lake. Thanks for dropping by on my blog!
ReplyDeleteOh Kenneth! I can imagine how beautiful those reflections on the lake were! Firecrackers of all sorts are banned last new Year's eve but hey, I'm in the Philippines so there's still a lot of fireworks being thrown that night! All my pleasure and will surely be back for more :)
DeleteGood to see you, Stevenson. Hope you have a great 2021 too. Another year and another lockdown for us, it's our 3rd one. We were told that the restrictions might be lasting till the summer. it all depends on the numbers. Anyway, we've been told that everyone should have the vaccine by Sept. So onward we go and make the best of it. Nice to see ya, take care and stay safe.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much my friend Bill! It's sad to hear that there's another lockdown in there. Here, it's been one big lockdown since March, only being moved back and forth to lighter phases. I hope all will be back to better states there soon and in the world. Gotcha on that, vaccines are being waited. Singapore snatched ours due to lack of paperwork "forgotten" to be submitted my our officials. Take care my friend!
DeleteIt looks like a beautiful and delicious New Year's table! Welcome back, my friend. You have been sorely missed. I'm glad you are well and looking forward to many more splendid posts from you!
ReplyDeleteA very sweet happy new year to you my dear friend Jeanie! Thank you so much for that warm welcome and I toast on that! To a better and happier 2021 for all of us blog friends :)
Deletegood to see you back though, I did wonder where you were.
ReplyDeleteSo happy to be back with you guys again Amy :)
DeleteHappy New Year to you also Stevenson. I hope it has been going well so far for you. I had to laugh at your photo and the box from Dunkin Doughnuts. Are they popular in the Philippines? Here they are in practically every town. I love the idea of starting the year with abundance as hope for the new year's prosperity. What a wonderful tradition. I hope to see you back online again soon.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much dear Erika! Oh I loooove Dunkin Donuts. When I was younger it was only Dunkin Donuts here in the Philippines before Krispy Kreme invaded just more than a decade ago. I like both brands but Dunkin always brings me back memories hahaha Thank you so much and I am excited to be back with you all again my dear friends!
DeleteHappy New Year to you as well, STevenson (and good to see you posting again). I hope 2021 will bring a lot of great things into your life :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so so much and happy to be back dear Margaret! Hugs to NZ!
DeleteWonderful to see you again Stevenson - I too was away from blogging for a while with my moving house - just sometimes 'real life' intrudes on our blogging.... Love your New Year tradition of showing abundance. I tried Philippine spaghetti on Sunday - we had a shared picnic lunch after church and one of our Philippine families brought it - it's yummy!
ReplyDeleteStay safe
Blessings
Maxine
Dear Maxine! I am so so happy that you got to try Philippine Spaghetti! It's very weird and different right? Some other nationals don't like it so I'm really happy to hear that you think it's yummy!
DeleteGreat to see you again and glad you are okay :-D
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a feast and a half! Brilliant way to celebrate :-D
Thank you so much dearest Ananka! please have yourself with some of the yummy treats!
DeleteDearest Stevenson, little Bro, it gets scary. 100 points if you guess what sits in 2C on our balcony right now!
ReplyDeleteYes, Italian spaghetti Bolognese! Can I get a recipe of banana ketchup? I used chilli...
To a very happy, much better 2021!!!
P.S. Apply again, just like that, my counselor told me. Things may have changed, new manager or whatever, to luck! And food, esp spaghetti! :-)
OMG! I loooove Spaghetti Bolognese dear Iris!!! Sadly I hadn't had one in Italy but I did have a caccio e pepe and it's the best! Oh, our Banana Ketchup are store bought that's why it's not the healthiest option (lots of sugar and foo dcolor) that's why you are thinking for the best to make some of your own :)
DeleteAwww I love that advice dearest Iris and you are right, I'll keep browsing on good opportunities and hopefully get the courage to apply again :)
Nice to see you again and glad you like spaghetti :-D
ReplyDeleteI've never tasted banana ketchup before! Is it tasty?
What was your favorite food in the Netherlands?
Have you tasted bitterballen or frikandellen?
Wishing you and yours health and prosperity. Let your dreams take flight in the new year!
You got that right dearest Ella, Spaghetti is mi amore! Oh it is tasty but does not taste like Bananas at all, even a hint of it. But it's a staple in Filipino food as dips especially for fried food.
DeleteOh Ella, that is one of my biggest regrets in my two days in the Netherlands! I got addicted to Stroopwafels that I ate it all the time and was not able to try other local dishes there. I felt a bit shy to enter restaurants as well because I was on a budget so I opted for a giant Burger King for Dinner on my only night at Amsterdam (Shame on me! I should have tried at least one good Dutch meal right!)
Sending you hugs on this new year!
Welcome back Stevenson and Happy New Year to you. What a feast you have on the table, it's great that traditions are being kept.
ReplyDeleteWe spent NY Eve at the Portuguese club - dinner and dance and returned home at 1am.
Waaaa Dinner and Dance sounds amazing dearest Sami plus celebrating it with your Portuguese friends, what else can beat that! Happy New Year dear Sami and cheers to another year of friendship!
DeleteYour New Year's eve table looks delicious! Banana ketchup is new to me - it's probably sweet? Nice that everyone contributed to this table, so it did not all come down to one person! My kind of feast:) Have you been working on school in your absence, or feasting? Up to this New Year, Bro? It has to be better than last crazy year! Jesh
ReplyDeleteDearest Jesh, thank you so much and yes, Banana ketchup is sweet and salty and a bit spicy at the same time, perfect for dipping. Oh yes, I finished my coursework during the holidays and I will be graduating for my Diploma and will continue on my remaining units to complete my Masters :) Oh you got that right dear Jesh! It has to be better! Will work on a lot of things myself especially on bettering my diet. Hugs to my dear friend in Texas!
DeleteWelcome back to blog land, Stevenson, and my belated but very Happy New Year wishes to you.The holidays and afterwards can be busy times, even in shutdown and nice to read that you and your family enjoyed good food and good times together. We spent our holidays at home, like so many others, but still enjoyed ourselves and contacted family and friends through online videos. Congratulations on finishing your coursework and continued good luck in completing your degree. Looking forward to more posts.
ReplyDeleteDearest Beatrice, thank you so so much for those kind wishes! I am so happy that you also had a great, though different, holiday season that passed! Sending you hugs to the US!
Delete😀
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Regine!
DeleteStay Strong Brother
ReplyDeleteCheers
Thank you very much my brother Padre!
DeleteHello Stevenson
ReplyDeleteLovely to see this post from you.
Your New Year's Eve table looks very nice.
Here in England, UK we are once again in lockdown - our 3rd one!!!
We are doing our best to stay safe, well, warm and above all positive :)
You take care.
All the best Jan