Christmas is really right around the corner. :)

Just Shantal:

     My parents and I decided to go to Cubao, specifically around the Araneta Coliseum where there are what they call "Banchettes" which probably meant those food stalls at the parking lot. What we really went there for is the Christmas tree which appears to be so charming ..and so gigantic. It has all those long LED lights that look like falling rain. Just after we parked, we walked along the sidewalk and then saw that people seemed to be waiting for something and then a host on a stage started to count down. It turns out that we were lucky to be there just in time to see the fireworks display that only happens every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Today is a holiday since it's a Philippine hero, Andres Bonifacio's birthday, we had time to go there. 

     There were also those huge figures formed by Christmas lights. They were in the shapes of seahorses, fishes (specifically a clown fish), dolphins, and flowers. I saw a good view of this Gumamela flower-shaped figure of lights with the sight of the Araneta Coliseum name lights, along with the bridge connecting Farmers' Plaza and Gateway mall through the coliseum. 

     The food there was great even if they were the ordinary ones we'd see along the streets of Manila. There were the different meals with SInangag (fried rice) and itLOG (egg) with different viands to choose from that makes the "SILOG", like TAPa (dried meat) + SInangag + itLOG = TAPSILOG that they serve it in small styro bowls.

     After we ate, we walked around and saw that there were choirs onstage, they might be singing for a contest. As we walked, I saw this stall that had Korean Ice Cream, the same as the ones they sell in our cafeteria. I bought the cookies and cream-flavored ice cream that came in between two thin chiffon slices. We continued walking around as I ate, and then they bought ice cream from Dairy Queen. When they got theirs, we sat somewhere in front of the newly built entrance of the Araneta Coliseum. Just about when we finished our ice creams, someone told us that it was prohibited to sit on that gutter, and so we walked to the parking lot and went home.

     I really appreciate the fact that my dad took us here. The whole place was almost like Christmas town and the breeze is already cold. My mom and him thought about going back tomorrow night to see the other side of the place which also have their own "banchettes" and stalls that sell different lanterns. We'd also want to try riding the shuttle that goes around the area without charge. I enjoyed myself and that time that I didn't really want to end although my body was already starting to hurt.

May the spirit of Christmas come to you as early as possible. ^_^