More Food Adventures: Welcoming the New Year

Shop at More Food Adventures

Christmas eve and New Year's eve came and gone. It's officially year 2012. The year-ender was quite devastating, yet we continue to hope for a better new year ahead. During Christmas, we tried so hard to be happy and thankful that none of my family members died, but knowing that we have friends and neighbors who lost family members, we were devastated as well. It was not the same Christmas celebration compared with those of the previous years. We may have cooked and prepared food, but we didn't have a table to place all of them on, as well as the zest to be merry. So yeah, we had a thankful celebration, but not a merry one. Come to think of it, it was more like a rest day for all of us who had to clean up and wash clothes after the storm. And funny, even now that 2012 has arrived, we are still not done. On the lighter note, we did enjoy the food, for when we got hungry, we had food to eat.

Earlier in the day, prior to New Year preparations, CDO Bloggers distributed Media Noche treats in Barangay Pita, Kauswagan, in Macanhan and in Balulang. And I could say that my family, although a survivor as well, are way better than their current condition.

We didn't have to chase cars of people giving relief goods, or race with each other to have more...

We didn't have to sleep in the cold pavement in the night, and stay there in the heat of the mid morning, high noon and afternoon..

We had food, though not as grand as the previous New Years.. No Lechon, no table.. no house of our own... But we had the following...

Beef Nilaga cum Bulalo...

Manang Bebing's Ginataang Langka...

Sauteed vegetables...

Beef Caldereta...

Squid Rings and Fried Chicken..

Tapioca/Fruit Salad...

Chocolate Cake...

Manang Bebing's Biko Espesyal with Buko and Peanuts...

Sotanghon with lots of chicken...

Oro Ham...

And fruits... It's not exactly like the previous years where we have a complete assortment of Christmas fruits, but they're good enough.. We have each other, and that's all that matters, right? But with no table, we also didn't have any family photo for 2012.. Somehow, we slept through the New Year, except for the short time watching fireworks outside.. Not quite a happy new year, but it was all okay.. Hopes are high, though spirits are low..

Well, from my family to yours, from TS Sendong survivors to the world, Happy New Year... a blessed one for all of us..