WHITE NEW YEAR!

2011

      During my childhood days, I was always excited to welcome the New year. There were a lot of foods. Our usual tradition is to have different kinds of round fruits symbolizing money and noodles for a long life. I remember, we also wore polka dots clothes and shook cans full of coins so that a lot of luck will enter. There were fireworks booming to swept away bad lucks. We open all the lights, closets, windows and doors to fill the house with a lot of fortune that New year brings. Upon waiting for the Media Noche, our mom handed us a dozen of grapes to eat after greeting each other a "HAPPY NEW YEAR". It was fun and very blessed year for our family. It's so nice to prepare for the coming of new year.

      This time, We welcome the New year differently. We celebrated the coming of 2011 in Japan. We also prepare for it but this time, it's a peaceful New year. No fireworks at all. Just our family together waiting for 2011 to come. The food we ate, Osechi, is a traditional expensive food in Japan during New year. It contains diifferent kinds of Japanese foods. We also ate Toshikoshi soba 10 minutes before Media Noche to lengthen our lives. We greeted and kissed each other when 12 midnight strikes. We woke up early in the morning because our mom woke us up to show us the beautiful snow outside. The roof of houses and cars in the streets are all full of snows. We played with the snows feeling like a child again. It was so fun to experience it.

    We were happy because we were with our mom to celebrate the New year. It's been 9 years since we last celebrated the New year together. Now, we really felt again that we have a mother who will always care, support, protect and love us. Although we had a short time together, we still wish that someday we will always be together not just these holiday seasons but everyday in our lives. May we all celebrated a prosperous 2011. HAPPY NEW YEAR! :)

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY IN JAPAN

  

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY IN JAPAN!

 Christmas for me is exciting. We are all preparing for the coming of Jesus Christ Our Savior. We are all busy preparing for our Christmas parties. Like what other people said, It should be one of the most memorable day every year in our lives.

    I thought I was going to celebrate again my Christmas in the Philippines but I got excited when I already knew that we will be going to Japan to spend our Christmas there with our mother. I became so happy. For almost 9 years, we didn't celebrate our Christmas together because our mother have to work abroad to sustain our needs.

    December 20, 2010, we, together with my older sister, depart from the Philippines going to Japan. After 5 years and a half, we had seen our mother again. That is one of the happiest memories in our lives. We celebrate our Christmas in Japan. We experienced to play with snows. Wow! Very cold. We ate different dishes during the Christmas eve. Japanese foods are really delicious. Maybe if I will be staying there for a year, I will be fat. We also experienced the work of our mother. She is a caregiver in Japan. It's nice to help those senior citizens in Japan. They are very appreciative.



I, ate lou and mama (happy together)



    Well, It's really nice to share my most treasured experience during Holidays. I wish someday, we will be together forever. Not only in Christmas but everyday.

The Unbreakable survivor!

A person with a lot of challenges and sacrifices but never ever surrenders. A glimpse to Jeff Quiambao’s world.

By Maria Eloisa C. Mora

the real queen

Life is all about challenges. You have to be strong for you to survive. Jeff shares with us some part of his life that made him strong.

This 25 years old lovely lad, born on April 18, 1985 is recently studying at FEU (Far Eastern University). He is already in his 2^nd year college. Many call him, “Jheff”, his name is too short and so he adds the “h” to make it longer.

A BATTLED LIFE

Jheff with her mother

Way back 2008, he was a server at Macau. He worked abroad alone for four years to help his family. He was in responsible to do that because he is the eldest child and their parents were separated. He and his siblings are living now with their mother in Tondo, Manila. At present, he continued his studies and making his life a straight path. He wanted to graduate as Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication. For him, “Education helps you to find your future.”

THE AFFECTION

He doesn’t want to tackle his love life but many wish to discover it. He is single. (We are not sure if what is the meaning of single for him.) Like what he said, “Never invest deep feelings to anyone because too much love will kill you” (laughs). We can’t blame him because of his experiences in life, he is now learning from the past lessons that he encountered.

THE QUESTION & ANSWER

In your age, you’re studying with younger classmates. Did you get conscious? Why or why not?

JHEFF: No, because I can cooperate with my younger classmates and I know how to respect people even though he or she is young or old.

Your parents are separated right? How do you cope up with that?

JHEFF: Yes. Actually, I don’t like that question because I remember all my sacrifices in life but I will answer that. I already accepted when our father abandoned us. I put in my mind that in my whole life, I will hate him and my life will go on even though he is not here for us. I worked abroad to help my family so that I can prove to my father that even he is not present, we can stand for ourselves.

Are you open in commitment for love? What are the characteristics that you like?

JHEFF: Why not. I like those who are acceptable, respectful, kind, and honest and he will love me even though I’m in the part of homosexual.

You already worked abroad. Did you have difficulties in making friends there?

JHEFF: No, because I’m the type of person who is always friendly and I crack a lot of jokes to people.

What’s the most touching comfort you have experienced from your loved-ones whenever you have problems?

JHEFF: What a question. (Laughs) Actually, I have a lot of problems. The most touching comfort that I experience is when I’m in the other country, I always cry and my Mama always give me a call and she is always telling me, “Do not cry. We are always OK here. Do not think too much and we always love you.” Kaya lumakas ang loob ko.

Can you give us one great lesson or advice from your own experiences in life?

JHEFF: The lesson that I learned in my experiences is kahit anong kasarian mo, hindi ‘yun hadlang sa mga pangarap mo. Do not give up with problems. Always think positive. Lastly, do not invest deep feelings to anyone because too much love will kill you and always love yourself before the others.

Life is really full of trials. We just have to be strong and don’t ever give up. Jeff Quiambao is a good example of a person who fights for his dignity and respect in life.

“kahit anong kasarian mo, hindi ‘yun hadlang sa mga pangarap mo.”

a survivor!

 Continue living your life with good vibes. Always stay positive and we will all be successful like what Jheff is doing right now.