Sagrada Familia

Today is the Feast of the Holy Family, in honor of Jesus of Nazareth, his mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and his foster father, Saint Joseph, as a family.

Image of the Holy Family of our BEC household.

CHRISTMAS BELEN

Belen is a Filipino traditional Christmas symbol. A tableau depicting the birth of Jesus Christ in a manger with Mother Mary and Joseph. Optional are the Three Kings, Angels, the shepherds, animals and star.

Belens can be found displayed in homes, churches, schools, hospitals, office buildings, parks and all possible places from the beginning of the Advent until the end.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Belen inside the church of the Parish of the Last Supper of Our Lord.

Mangyan Of Mindoro - Plays Basketball Too

Every year since 2008, we visited the Apo Irayas' in Sito Atipan, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro. I always make sure that I watched them play basketball every time I visited them. They're friendly and peaceful people.

More of the Magyan from Wikipedia:

Mangyan is the generic name for the eight indigenous groups found in the Philippine island of Mindoro, each with its own tribal name, language, and customs. The total population may be around 100,000, but no official statistics are available because of the difficulties of counting remote and reclusive tribal groups, many of which have no contact with the outside world.

The ethnic groups from north to south of the island are: Iraya, Alangan, Tadyawan, Tawbuid (called Batangan by lowlanders on the west of the island), Buhid, Hanunoo. An additional group on the south coast is labelled Ratagnon. They appear to be intermarried with lowlanders. The group known on the east of Mindoro as Bangon may be a subgroup of Tawbuid, as they speak the 'western' dialect of that language. They also have an alphabet which is called the Ambahan.

Mangyan are mainly subsistence agriculturalists, planting a variety of sweet potato, upland (dry cultivation) rice, and taro. They also trap small animals and wild pig. Many who live in close contact with lowland Filipinos sell cash crops such as bananas and ginger.

Their languages are mutually unintelligible, though they share some vocabulary. Tawbuid and Buhid are closely related, and are unusual among Philippine languages in having an /f/ phoneme. Tawbuid is divided into eastern and western dialects. Western Tawbuid may be the only Philippine language to have no glottal phonemes, having neither /h/ or /ʔ/. They use Hanunó'o script to write.

Their traditional religious world view is animistic. Around 10% have embraced Christianity, both Roman Catholicism and Evangelical Protestantism. The New Testaments has been published in six of the Mangyan languages. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangyan_peoples)

PUTO BUMBONG AND BIBINGKA

Christmas Season in the Philippines kicks off at the Start of Simbang Gabi, and is celebrated with much fanfare in churches throughout the country.

  

Traditional breakfast of the faithful after the Mass are "Puto Bumbong" (purple colored native delicacy made of steamed heirloom glutinous rice inserted in a small bamboo tubes) and "Bibingka" (Rice cake cooked in a banana leaves covered terracotta container with charcoal fire on the top and in the bottom) both with traditional toppings of margarine, muscovado sugar, cheese, or grated coconut. Free hot "tsaa" (tea) is a bonus.

Traditional food stalls

Preparation and cooking of Puto Bumbong.

Cooking the Bibingka.

Hearty breakfast after the "Simbang Gabi".

Related post: Simbang Gabi

MA MON LUK

My wife and I had a quick visit to Ma Mon Luk Restaurant branch in Quezon Ave., QC., for our light afternoon merienda (Snack). Have you tried dining in this restaurant before? Come and visit this historic and iconic restaurant in the Philippines. THE HOME OF MAMI and SIOPAO. They have another branch in Quezon Blvd., Quiapo, Manila.

Menu

My favorite Siopao during my younger days.

We order Canton Guisado this time.
Their Mami noodles soup (not in photo) is the all time favorite.

Nice clean "old school" dining ambiance.

Ma Mon Luk (1896-1961) was a pioneering
Chinese Filipino Chef and entrepreneur.
He established the popular Chinese restaurant
that bears his name, Ma Mon Luk.

Antique phone.

Panoramic view.