As the last few hours of 2011 tick away, you maybe wondering how to best use your non-convertible leaves with your family and friends. Here are a few suggestions on how to welcome 2012 without emptying the wallet or blowing off your fingers:
Go Firework Free at Home
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| photo owned by La Mancha Pyro Group International |
Fireworks and pyrotechnics have always been a part of Filipino New Year traditions. Rooting in the Chinese belief that the sounds caused by the fireworks and firecrackers will scare off the evil spirits that may hamper your prosperity, this colorful, loud and expensive tradition has also taken a few fingers, limbs and lives as part of the unspoken cost. Personally, I'm not sold on the spirit scaring slant, but if you're the type that is in loud party mode, it would be nice to join the throng of noisemakers as the entire world counts down to 2012.
You may opt to purchase horns and whistles instead of the traditional Pla-pla, Fivestar and Bawangs. This is also the time of the year where singing videoke at 12 midnight with the volume turned up loud enough to let the guard of your village hear it is acceptable. So, sing diva! Sing!
If you're more into the colorful lights rather than the thunderous explosions, there are small laser lights units for purchase that go around a thousand bucks a piece. Plug the unit in, focus it on your wall (or gate, or house) and voila! You have your own, non-smoking, non-explosive, non-consumable light show! It's a one time investment that you can use next Holiday Season... and the next... and the next...
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| La Mancha Pyro |
But if you really want to go legit, without the hassle of being the one to setup the fireworks, then you may want to head over to the Acacia Hotel, in Alabang. I hear they have a spectacular fireworks show planned to welcome the new year. If you're willing to share a spot with a few other people to watch a fireworks display, then chilling in the Hotel's parking lot will give you a good view of the show.
La Mancha Pyro Group International will be the ones doing the pyrotechnics of the Acacia Hotel. They were the one who did the World Pyro Olympics. Interested to get them to light up your event? Contact Rob at 09177932461.
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Donate Your Clutter
With all the gifts we've been receiving this past holiday (as well as the holidays before that...) getting rid of the boxes, old wrappers, old cards, old clothes and equipment is a very practical and cathartic way to welcome the new year! Sort through all your dust gatherers and old clothes and classify what you WILL use, still useable but won't use and utterly broken and is destined for destruction. Keep the clothes and stuff you are sure to use. The rest, donate to our brothers and sisters who have been hit by Typhoon Sendong. What you do not use and gathers dust, may be an answered prayer to another person. This is more fun done as a family! Seeing those old clothes and toys will definitely bring back memories of when our world was younger and our waistlines slimmer! Time to let go of stuff you don't use.
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Watch the Last Few Sunsets of 2011
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| photo taken at Anilao, Batangas |
Call me a hopeless romantic, but I really believe that no matter how advanced a pyrotechnic show is, it pales in comparison to the pure beauty of a sunset. A light show that never repeats itself. Sharing this God-given beauty expressed through nature is something that is truly worth experiencing with those closest to your heart. Make it even more special by heading out to Tagaytay and watching it from the mountain top or by the seaside in Batangas. Pack a little picnic basket and dine while you watch the sky reveal the colors of that evening. Remembering the beauty of the colors of yesterday gives us a beautiful perspective for the coming year.
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Bless Your Neighbor
Perhaps this time you and your family or friends can put together a little food basket or a little packed meal for those people in your neighborhood who can't afford to spend time with their families this coming new years eve, like your village security guard or your friend who's family is in the province.
How about kids in the orphanage or the people in the old folks' home? So many people face the thought of the new year as another year of struggling to live, of being alone and being forgotten by those whom they love the most. You can also give little food packs to the kids who roam the streets and the families who sleep on cardboard boxes. It doesn't have to be each one you see. But your kindness will make a world of difference to that one person who will receive not only your gift, but your love as well.
Let's face the new year with Hope. And let's give that hope to others as well.
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Be Thankful
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| how thankful are we for our friends? |
This may sound cheesy and cliché, but have we ever stopped to count the things we have been blessed with this year? Sure we've had our defeats, losses, frustrations and battles, but despite the bleakness the world (and media) sometimes paints for us, in our own personal lives, there are so many things to be thankful for. It doesn't have to be something extravagant. We should also be thankful for the little things, The everyday things. The the people we have in our lives. Yes. Even if they can be very very trying at times.
One of the things I do is I try to recall ALL the things that I am thankful for the past year. Then I list them down. I always end up surprised with how much blessing I received. Be it with material things, opportunities, new friendships and restrengthening of old ones. It may be events, a single word or even a smile of a baby.
We tend to lose the art of thankfulness as the year passes. It's a good thing to step back, remember and be thankful to God for the many blessings we have.
*all photos taken by magoo del mundo except where stated