Happy New Year!

I miss celebrating new year's eve back home in the Philippines. Maybe because it's so quiet where I am now. I miss the noise, the shouting , the laughters, the crying and some funny and not so funny jokes.....I remember having a hard time walking in the streets from early morning because, in every street they begin playing with firecrackers and canyons and the sounds become louder until it's 12 midnight-where they also light all the fireworks in the skies.

In my family, all of us (I have six siblings) celebrate new year's eve in our maternal home. We don't go so much with traditional food and anyone can bring foods that they wanted to share. And there's so much to choose from in the table. I like it when we have lechon de leche(little whole or head of pig roasted in either a big oven from a bakery or in a charcoal where a long bamboo stick is stucked in the pig's body) and salads of different kinds and soup made by mother. You can also find 7 different kinds of round fruits(we are so much into symbolic things whatever) . We also put a lot of coins in our pockets and jump at the same time, turn on all the lights, open all the windows-at the stroke of 12 midnight. After celebrating at home that it's either our neighbors come to our house or we all go and visit them to greet everybody.

There is also this very united neighborhood in a long street(it is closed for vehicles to pass by) and would decorate the whole street with different kinds of decorations hanging all the way from the beginning to the end. Every house will put up their tables and connect it with the next one and set up their foods for dinner and everybody share their food to everyone.

And about the illustration - I have made this some days ago in time for today's celebration. I was imagining myself when I was younger . After I have finished this- that I have asked myself why am I alone in the drawing-well everybody maybe out of sight in the scene because it's either I miss everybody or I cannot have everybody in the drawing and maybe I also don't want to commit the mistake of forgetting anyone. But hey, you are all in my heart wherever you all are.

Anyway, let's all welcome the year 2006 with lots of smiles and hope that it would be a much better year than what we have had in 2005.

Flavor

I love the flavor of an orange fresh fruit. I like any food and drinks with orange flavor in it and, even the orange color is a favorite of mine. I 've finished this drawing last week and the original one has a cat in the basket. I just made a new version with big oranges in it.

I have only some minutes in an hour every hour to use the computer. Some deadlines to finish....I'll maybe can visit other sites a bit later. Have a nice day all of you!

There's also some pictures taken today and my entry for photo friday.

"El Dialogo-The Dialogue"

"For giving meaning to my life
For having been with me each passing moment.
For helping me in times of great problems,
For llifting me up with your words of life,
For all these I give you thanks.

I have always wanted to see you
and now the time has come.
This would have been marvelous,
and I will be sorry to leave it.
But my heart is in peace,
Because of this, Lord.
I am ready to see you.

Por haber dado sentido a mi vida,
Por haber estado conmigo en todo momento,
Por haberme ayudado en los problemas del dia,
Por todo esto te doy muchas gracias.

Siempre he querido verte y ya me llega la hora.
Este mundo ha sido tan maravilloso
Que me da pena desario ahora
Pero mi corazon esta en paz
Por eso Senor, ya puedo ir contigo."

New banners

I have made new banners for my 3 blogs and here you can read what they stands for.

Christmas Day

Someday At Christmas
Stevie Wonder

Someday at Christmas,
Men won't be boys,
Playing with bombs,
Like kids play with toys.
One warm December,
Our hearts will see,
A world where men are free.

Someday at Christmas,
There'll be no wars,
When we have learned,
What Christmas is for.
When we have found,
What life's really worth,
There'll be peace on Earth.

Someday all our dreams will come to be,
Someday in a world, where men are free,
Maybe not in time for you and me,
But someday at Christmas time.

Someday at Christmas,
We'll see a land,
With no hungry children,
No empty hands.
One happy morning,
People will share,
A world where people care.

Someday at Christmas,
There'll be no tears,
Where all men are equal,
And no man has fears.
One shiney moment while on our way,
From our world today.

Someday all our dreams will come to be,
Someday in a world where men are free,
Maybe not in time for you and me,
But someday at Christmas time.

Someday at Christmas,
Men will not care,
Hate will be gone,
And love will prevail,
Someday a new world that we can start,
With hope in every heart.

Someday all are dreams will come to be,
Someday in a world where men are free,
Maybe not in time for you and me,
But someday at Christmas time. Someday at Christmas time.

Christmas Spirit 9

Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon. This is for my loveones and friends back home and around the world. This is a nipa hut beside a lake in the mountainside. You can also see a Christmas decoration or we call it "Parol" hanging in the window. Attending mass in the church at dawn from the 16th to 25th is a catholic tradition in the Philippines. The rooster's cock a doodle(tik-ti-la-ok) sound is our alarm clock, and the ringing of the bells in the church is a sign that the mass is about to begin. Many filipinos are scattered around the world, and we love going home during Christmas and New year and with us in tow are big boxes of gifts for loveones. We love the airline companies that allowed us to carry more for free. It is a tradition that has never been broken and year after year - you will find our airport full of filipinos from abroad or as we call it "Balikbayan" meaning a returnee to his or her homeland.

Holiday

I have just finished this. A part of this illustration I've taken from my previous illustration last November 8. HAVE A NICE HOLIDAY ALL OF YOU!
Marshmallow World
Darlene Love

(Written by: Carl Sigman and Peter de Rose)

It's a marshmallow world in the winter,
When the snow comes to cover the ground,
It's the time for play, it's a whipped cream day,
I wait for it all year round.

Those are marshmallow clouds being friendly,
In the arms of the evergreen trees,
And the sun is red like a pumpkin head,
It's shining so your nose won't freeze.

The world is your snowball, see how it grows,
That's how it goes, whenever it snows,
The world is your snowball just for a song,
Get out and roll it along.

It's a yum-yummy world made for sweethearts,
Take a walk with your favourite girl,
It's a sugar date, what if spring is late,
In winter, it's a marshmallow world.

Interlude

The world is your snowball, see how it grows,
That's how it goes, whenever it snows,
The world is your snowball just for a song,
Get out and roll it along.

It's a yum-yummy world made for sweethearts,
Take a walk with your favourite girl,
It's a sugar date, what if spring is late,
In winter, it's a marshmallow world,
In winter, it's a marshmallow world,
In winter, it's a marshmallow world.

Christmas spirit 8

This is a painting I did some months ago and was submitted as an entry for Studio friday but without the little people gliding on the flowers.

I have made an exit today to one of my worries. I feel a little bit relaxed afterwards.

Christmas spirit 7

I did not stayed in bed as promised. I have to go anyway, now that I have finished this. I'll say hello to you my friends later when maybe, I am a little better.

Christmas spirit 6

I have finished this drawing last night. I am trying to recover from my colds and everything until now. I hope I will not be in bed on Christmas day. Enjoy your last minute-shopping!

Christmas spirit 5

We have lots of this yellow and gold christmas balls to hang in the christmas tree where I've got the inspiration for this drawing.

Blessed

I must be hallucinating. The postman looks like Santa. I am sharing with you my gladness for having been blessed with friends who's always there to comfort me, saying nice things to me, listening , always offering help or just being there to give me support. Many of you my blogger-friends have have been like any of those things I've mentioned. My close old friends-each one of them are also unique in their own way. They cheer me up each one of them differently. They may not be leaving comments in my blog but they do send a letter, a card, an e-mail, will call me and send me a package like this. Whatever each one of you does-they meant a great deal to me. I maybe sad but I will never allow it to destroy the feeling of being blessed with having friends like all of you and for this-I am thankful enough to be alive.

Christmas spirit 4

This small boy has something for you in front of your glass door!

Christmas spirit 3

This is a christmas card that I have made sometime ago and I enhanced it for today's post.

christmas spirit 2

I have thought that I would post one christmas drawing until the 25th.

Imagine

I have already shared my feelings about Winnie the Pooh in my entry for IF earlier with the topic Digital and, this time of the year he has been a great help to me and comforting me in what is supposed to be a happy time of the year. I have thought of making an illustration of him in his merry christmas costume while he was talking with his friend in front of our door. I guess the word imagine comes to life as I finished making this illustration. Hey! I just wanted to have fun. I want you to know that I only had one doll since I was born and it was only some years ago that I had decided I wanted Winnie the Pooh.

I am giving you the liberty in telling me what they might have been talking.
I have now finished another illustration of him while he is lying in the snow. Ohh this time he is looking exactly for what it seem is what he had been wishing for....talk to you all later- I will go and read the book again.

16th of december

I have received another e-mail today from my friend in Riyadh. She told me that one of our filipina colleague had her last day of work today but, she doesn't know where's she's going to work next. She was the head of the human resources department. We are talking about these filipinas who have worked for a long time-seems like almost all their lives in Saudi Arabia. They were well trusted by Arabians and the British administrators, that is why. I felt a bit sad mainly because I know that my friend would also want to settle down with her family in another country. They all have saved for their future and it's only when to decide is the question. She and the one who left today have been together in Human Resources at the same time when we are all there. We are the pioneers of the new hospital. But then, little by little our colleagues did not renew their contracts and was offered a job in Europe and USA afterwards. I don't think I wanted to go back there. We had lots of fun and I learned a lot working with a lot of different doctors and nurses from Europe and USA but, it is not my lifestyle to be confined in the four walls of my flat. I was moving a lot in the Philippines-going here and there, seeing places and friends almost everyday and suddenly, I had to search for hobbies that I should be doing when I retire. It is safe to work in Saudi Arabia as long as you know their rules, their lifestyle, values and culture just like when you are also moving in any country around the world.

Anyway, I should be talking about Christmas by now and here I am, still feeling sad or whatever. Anyway, I promise that I will try my best to be in a holiday spirit starting tomorrow which is really the exact date where we begin to go to a Catholic dawn mass in the Philippines. It is very symbolic since the church is re-enacting the time when Mary and Joseph is finding a house in Bethlehem(they move from house to house)until the 25th-Christmas day where they will ended it in the church with them and baby Jesus in the altar complete with all the perphernalias and effects and the three kings, sheeps and shepherds. The mass is also extended for at least 2 hours and the church full of young and old people in their best clothes. There were also lots of vendors selling our favorite Christmas pastries, food, toys and different kind of things. It is a lovely and happy occasion.

mother and child

I posted some pictures of my nieces and nephews and you can see them here.
I must really be having a bad time this year. I have not had the time to make decorations and make the house spotlessly clean. Well, maybe times like this really comes once in a while but I was thinking that I hope next time(crossing my fingers I will not have the same problem....) I hope it will not be during the christmas season.

I was cleaning my stuff and was surprised to find this drawing. I have made this a month ago and forgot about it. I enhanced it using Photoshop.

Surprise #2

This 14 year old boy came home one day and surprised his parents.......

Surprise

This is a painting I did some months ago but I never had the chance to post or publish it. My inspiration came from a picture taken when I was touring the northern part of the Philippines. There was this place where they sell huge wooden sculptures of people. They were huge enough to play hide and seek or can be use as a welcome statue in your living room or doorsteps.

golf friends

This is not finished yet. I received an e-mail from a friend back home then, I suddenly remembered this wonderful scene of my golf friends when they won a competition with two other guys . We went out afterwards to celebrate and we went food tripping. We even rode the elevator back and forth in one of the skyscrapers nearby. Happy times!

today

thanks autumn, aravis, caroline, carla................................
I have walked in the park near ther waterfront despite of the cold and rainy weather-I usually see swans lots of them playing in the water but they were not there today. It was 25 years ago today when John Lennon was killed. I always remember him because of this christmas song he made. So this is ChristmasAnd what have you doneAnother year overAnd a new one just begunAnd so this is ChristmasI hope you have funThe near and the dear oneThe old and the youngA very merry ChristmasAnd a happy New YearLet's hope it's a good oneWithout any fearAnd so this is ChristmasFor weak and for strongFor rich and the poor onesThe world is so wrongAnd so happy ChristmasFor black and for whiteFor yellow and red onesLet's stop all the fightA very merry ChristmasAnd a happy New YearLet's hope it's a good oneWithout any fearAnd so this is ChristmasAnd what have we doneAnother year overAnd a new one just begunAnd so this is ChristmasI hope you have funThe near and the dear oneThe old and the youngA very merry ChristmasAnd a happy New YearLet's hope it's a good oneWithout any fearWar is over overIf you want itWar is overNow...

Dark Moments

Many of you have already guessed, felt, said, asked and saw how I was feeling in the way I have done my illustrations and I never said anything about it. Actually, It was not intentional but I think subsconciously I was expressing my feelings in my illustrations. I am sharing one thing today and I wanted you all to know that I am sad. I have never been so sad in my life. It is not depression but a problem that is so delicate and personal. I wanted to share it with you my friends but I don't even know where to start.... I maybe be selfish-I have become so selfish to myself for not asking help but you see, I grew up solving my own problems no matter how hard it is. It can be pride or even lack of self confidence or having this fear to be misunderstood, or maybe I have doubts that I can explain it well(maily because so many things have happened already that have made it too complicated), or it can also be that I lost that feeling of trusting another human being. I was betrayed a couple of times in the past and it is hurting me so much until now. My problem have started the same month last year, I only tried to calm down and forget it when the big Tsunami hit Asia last year. I said to myself that my problem is too small compared to those people who have lost their loveones and homes and everything.... and then came hurricane after hurricane.

I believe in green pastures and the light that we see, after having experienced dark moments in our lives and that no matter how difficult and mind boggling life is - it is still beautiful. I can only ask you to wish or to pray for me-that will be a big help. One day, when this is over that maybe my illustrations will also change and I can already tell the stories I still have to share with all of you. Lots of them.....

He's makin' a list....

Santa's in a hurry because he's been out with the boys and was busy makin' a list and he's not used to be out until dawn. Hurry up Santa!

Good morning Sunday

This was my dream last night-the last part of it because I cannot remember what happened before, this one is the most vivid and I had to draw it right away before I forget it. I was walking away from the sea going to the blue shores. can be another illustration for the blue topic!

Blue #2

The blue topic have inspired me so much. Here's the ninth illustration and the other versions are posted below. Here's the eight illustration.Here's the seventh illustration with a song that goes with it.
Blue Bells of Scotland.
Oh where, tell me where, is your Highland laddie gone?
Oh where, tell me where, is your Highland laddie gone?
He's gone wi' streaming banners where noble deeds are done
And it's oh, in my heart I wish him safe at home
Oh where, tell me where, did your Highland laddie dwell?
Oh where, tell me where, did your Highland laddie dwell?
He dwelt in Bonnie Scotland, where blooms the sweet blue bell
And it's oh, in my heart I lo'ed my laddie well
Oh what, tell me what, does your Highland laddie wear?
Oh what, tell me what, does your Highland laddie wear?
A bonnet with a lofty plume, and on his breast a plaid
And it's oh, in my heart I lo'ed my Highland lad
Oh what, tell me what, if your Highland laddie is slain?
Oh what, tell me what, if your Highland laddie is slain?
Oh no, true love will be his guard and bring him safe again
For it's oh, my heart would break if my Highland lad were slain
This is the sixth illustration where this girl is singing on center stage. You can find in the first entry that half of her body is gone and i just added the waist down. I like this one a lot.


This is a new one. You can see the differences from the first Blue entry below.
This one is an old drawing I have posted last July but tried something new with it.

Blue

My dear blogger friends-So many things are happening these days....I also miss my siblings, my nephews, nieces and friends back home. I miss you all! Best regards and have a nice weekend. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. I will catch up with all of you later.It's just that----I'm
Bluer Than Blue
( Michael Johnson )After you goI can catch up on my readingAfter you goI'll have a lot more time for sleepingAnd when you're gone it looks like thingsAre gonna be a lot easierLife will be a breeze, you knowI really should be gladBut I'm bluer than blueSadder than sadYou're the only lightThis empty room has ever hadLife without you is gonna beBluer than blueAfter you goI'll have a lot more room in my closetAfter you goI'll stay out all night long if I feel like itAnd when you're goneI can run through the house screamingAnd no one will ever hear meI really should be gladBut I'm bluer than blueSadder than sadYou're the only lightThis empty room has ever hadLife without you is gonna beBluer than blueI don't have to miss no TV showsI can start my whole life overChange the numbers on my telephoneBut the nights will sure be colder, and I'm ...Bluer than blueSadder than sadYou're the only lightThis empty room has ever hadLife without you is gonna beBluer than blueBluer than blue

cez and helen

Last november 30 was my high school's best friend's birthday. Her name is Cecille. I call her Cez. And today is the birthday of a close friend of mine for the last three years. Her name is Helen.I have greeted and made my wishes for them already over the phone and personally. Allow me to share with you my gladness of their presence in this world. Let's all say cheers for the beginning of another birthday year for both of them!

I have not been blogging for some days because I am so tired and having terrible headaches but, I am hoping to be back tomorrow. Best regards to all of you!