I just want to take this time to wish friends and family Merry Christmas or Maligayang Pasko. This has been an eventful year with our house in the Philippines being finished and paid off, my early retirement from the US rat race, and the selling of our house here in the states. Also our family was blessed with a beautiful grandaughter and many new friends. Thank you all for the lovely comments throughout the past few months and I promise to keep the aritcles coming. I’ll leave you with a look at my favorite YouTube video of Christmas. It contains my favorite Christmas Carol and my favorite cartoon character, Charlie Brown. I somehow think growing up that my life and how his was portrayed resemble each others. Thank you all!

Now this is how I like Charice singing. Promoting Filipino music!

And there are rumors circulating that Charice may perform at the Innauguration Ball for Obama

Here is a new video of Arnel performing. He’s still kicking it!

I’m not sure how many of you have heard the story of Leafil Alforque and Scott Napper. They met over the internet Leafil is a Filipina and Scott is an American. Their love story ended tragically a couple of weeks ago when Scott took Leafil out to Proposal Rock in Oregon to propose marriage. Leafil was swept away by a killer wave and never seen again. This is so sad because I can understand how these two people had to wait so long for her to reach the US so they could get married and then this happens. I’ve included a video about the news story.

Secondly, if you haven’t heard, the remains of a child found in Florida last week were identified today as the remains of Caylee Anthony. This is a big story here in the US because everyone is accusing the mother of murdering her child and she refuses to cooperate witht the police. Now she will. be charged with the murder.

And last of all it seems due to the economic situation here in the US we will not be able to attend Fiesta int he Province this year. We are looking to go to the Philippines in March or April now if possible. Wow I am so homesick for my family and friends there in Laguna.

Many of the posts on this blog concern filipino food and how good it tastes. I’m always recommending things that people should try and I explain to the best of my knowledge what these foods are. If I know anything about preparation of the foods I try to share that with readers also. So after the big build up I’m afraid that I will not be sharing one of my favorite foods this time but possibly my least favored filipino food. The food I’m going to talk about is bagoong.

Since I’m not interested in eating bagoong again I have to tell you I haven’t researched it as much as the foods I like. Most of my knowledge of bagoong will be from recent research on the internet. One thing I can tell you I would prefer to never eat it again. I would probably prefer to have a tooth extracted rather than taste bagoong again. I would rather eat 10 balut and six warm San Miguel beers in one sitting than taste bagoong.

So for the uninformed my research found the following information. Bagoong (pronounced bah-goh-ong) is a fish sauce used a a condiment in the Philippines. It is made with anchovies or other varieties of small fish that are cleaned, salt cured, and fermented for as long as several weeks or even months.My wife swears the longer it is fermented the better it tastes which I find that hard to believe. You can also make bagoong with shrimp which is known as bagoon alamang. I would like to end this post with a line I found while researching bagoong that I totally agree with. The quote is “ The smell of bagoong is extremely pungent and some consider it offensive, on par with that of rotten fish. ”

Heres a video about bagoong

I’m sure everyone has heard by now that Filipino boxer Manny “PACMAN” Pacquiao dominated Oscar De la Hoya and forced him to surrender in a fight on Saturday. In my opinion De la Hoya has never really been a good boxer but was good looking enough to have star appeal.

Anyway, now PACMAN has the chance to fight just about anyone he chooses. There has been talk about him facing retired champion Floyd Mayweather Jr or British boxer Ricky Hatton. Whoever he fights he should be guaranteed a big payday plus the chance to show the world the athletes that come out of the Philippines. Congratulations PACMAN and Good Luck in your next fight. Check out the YouTube link below for some great photos:

For more information about Manny and Philippine Boxing check out this site Philippine Boxing

I’m checking in with you all to let you know I’m still alive and kicking. I’m enjoying my new apartment because I really thought my former house was too big. It really needed lots of tender loving care and I’m sure the new owners will give it that because I know them well.

Did everyone see Charice on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? She was on a float and dressed in a real cute outfit. The only problem I had was she sang “Because you love me” I know this is her favorite song but I have heard and seen her sing other songs and I reallly want the world to see what talent she has. Maybe she has some original songs to sing or a tagalog song.

Well thats all for now but I can tell you I am researching some real interesting subjects for my coming posts. Keep checking back for the updates.

If you have been visiting this blog regularly you will notice it has been a couple of weeks since I last posted. It’s been a hectic couple of weeks due to a quick sale of my house here in the states and a move into an apartment. Believe me you cannot move from a four bedroom home into a one bedroom apartment without giving away most of your stuff. Thank God for balikbayan boxes many of which are on their way to our home in the Philippines. So now we are almost moved into our temporary place until our Move to the Philippines and in the coming days I will be posting and getting caught up.