SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

for a long time in my life, ive always been on the receiving end of the give - receive continuum. ive always been thankful for that. i consider myself blessed for everything happening in my life. its as if lady luck is a godmother to me. by this, ive made a conscious effort to give back what i can to the community - especially to the homeless.

for a few years now, i've been spending christmas eve on the streets giving simple joy to the homeless. i usually pack grocery bags to give out and bravely walk the streets at night. it breaks my heart everytime i would chance upon a father, mother, and child scouring trash for food on christmas eve. this is something that my conscience cannot bear. back at home people are feasting on tons of food mostly just going to spoil and eventually end up being thrown while the homeless are desperately seeking for anything just to ease their hunger.

last night, ive decided to give out packed meals instead of grocery bags. ive prepared more than a few packed meals and refreshments and bravely hit the streets. ive walked street after street carrying my goodies looking for the homeless. i must admit it was tiring but it was worth it. as i hand out the meals i have prepared and hear the word "salamat" and the phrase "maligayang pasko", i feel the tiredness suddenly go away and makes me more eager to go on. it was such a heart warming feeling.

after walking and searching for almost 4 hours, i was able to make it home just before the clock struck twelve. just in time for noche buena and gift giving. as i got home, my mom greeted me with a smile. i felt that the smile she gave me meant something. it conveyed a feeling that she was proud of me. that made my night even better.

happy holidays! may the spirit of christmas be with you guys always!

PURE BLISS

i was having lunch awhile ago when someone rang the doorbell. i opened the door and there was this lanky looking guy that gave me a package.

catch: ano to?
lanky looking guy: pinabibigay po ni ma'am ched.
catch: sino yun?
lanky looking guy: kaibigan po yun ng nanay nyo.
catch: (while opening the package and looking at what's inside) WAAHHHHH!!!!! TEA LATTE!!!!!!!
lanky looking guy: (weird look on face) sige po.
catch: salamat.

then i closed the door. i hurriedly got my phone and dialed my mom's number.

"ring, ring, ring"
mom: ano yun?
catch: may nagdala ng tea latte mix dito sa bahay. galing daw from your friend ched.
mom: ah, oo. i told her kasi about your obsession with the tea lattes sa 7/11 sa bangkok. nag tatanong ako kung meron sya ganun.
catch: bat meron sya ganito?
mom: (laughing) di ko din alam. sa kanya din galing yung red iced tea mix na gusto mo from tokyo tokyo dati.
catch: (lauging) siya ba source ng mga hard to find drink mixes na hindi binibenta sa market.
mom: (lauging) siguro. try mo na then tell me kung yan nga yun.
catch: okay
mom: okay. bye.
catch: bye.

i then opened the pack and made my self an iced tea latte. it was pure bliss. this was the very same tea latte from the 7/11s in bangkok. hahaha. it's been a while since i've been to a 7/11 store here since ministop opened across the street directly infront of our house. i wonder if the 7/11s here sell the same tea latte. im yet to find out.

post script:

i just realized that the red iced tea mix, apparantly from ched as well, was packed for amds/dispensers too. this tea latte mix is packed the same. the red iced tea mix was also the same red iced tea served in tokyo tokyo. i guess she has sources for drink mixes that are not sold for retail in stores. lucky me....