It is well-known around the world that Filipinos celebrate Christmas starting September. Tayo lang ang gumagawa niyan sa buong mundo. Kahit may pandemya man, tuluy-tuloy pa rin ang pagdiriwang ng Pasko. In line with this, SM Supermalls are here to pave the way for the celebration of the birth of Christ in a wonderful and magical way! Walang makapipigil sa SM Supermalls in giving us the best Christmas experience to drive our fears, worries, and anxieties away! Kaya naman sama-sama tayo sa Pasko at SM!

For the months of November and December, as SM Supermalls promote safe shopping across their branches nationwide, they have prepared exciting Holiday surprises that await every family. Two Christmas launches are in store for us. Today, November 6, SM Supermalls treat everyone to a virtual, magical feast! Twelve different SM malls light up their magnificent Christmas displays, from SM Mall of Asia and SM Megamall to SM Seaside City Cebu and SM CDO Downtown Premier! Bongga!

The virtual launch is filled with fireworks, orchestra, and whimsical characters! How do I know? My blogger friends and I are so privileged to be part of it. All I can say is, indeed, this truly awakens the child in us! Ang ganda-ganda! Super magical talaga! 

Nakae-excite naman talaga! Hindi pa riyan natatapos ang Christmas launch ha? All SM malls nationwide will have their own magical Christmas light up on November 7 and 8. Mallgoers will surely be delighted with a special lighting ceremony for hope and inspiration amid the pandemic, as well as singing flash mobs, cute Christmas characters, and surprise gifts.

Then SM malls will have the feel of the merriments of the season through the Christmas Chorale throughout the month of December. Mallgoers will be serenaded with holiday choir performances while they shop. Feel na feel mo talaga ang Pasko kapag ganito, 'di ba?

 

To make our shopping experience more meaningful, there will also be Christmas Markets from November 9 to January 3. When we shop our holiday essentials and gifts at SM’s nationwide Christmas Markets, we will help the local businesses bounce back from their losses during the pandemic. This campaign will be part of the Kasama Ng SM campaign and DTI’s Buy Local, Support Local, where the Christmas Markets will feature unique local products and goods. Kaya naman when we prepare for our gift-giving this holiday season, let us support the merchants of Christmas Markets. Through this, we will practice the true meaning of Christmas which is helping while giving.

Heto pa! Hindi rin mawawala ang Selfie with Santa. SM has made sure we won't miss its annual selfie with Santa this year but the approach is much different and high tech ha? We can pose with a virtual Santa Claus safely via augmented reality by scanning the AR markers located in select areas in SM malls and have a photo with virtual Santa. Ang galing, 'di ba? Mas masaya if we won't forget to share our Holiday snapshots online with our family and friends!

Hindi rin mawawala ang SM Bears of Joy. Like the previous years, SM Supermalls is giving back through its annual Bears of Joy campaign which ends on Christmas Day. How does it work? This year, shoppers can collect special medical frontliner Bears of Joy. Throughout the Christmas season, shoppers can buy a pair of bears for Php200.00, one bear for the shopper to keep, and the other one for charity.

Furthermore, we can have fun with our family and spread some Christmas joy by joining the TikTok Fam Contest. Madali lang itong gawin. By simply showcasing our dance moves to our favorite Christmas song in our favorite SM mall, we can get a chance to win exciting prizes!

Kaya naman for more information and updates, we may visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow @smsupermalls on all social media platforms.

Are you excited like me? Sama-sama na tayo sa Pasko at SM!

When all family members are swamped with school and work-related tasks, my husband and I find it difficult to follow our usual dating/parenting routines with each of our kids. It's been ages since my eldest and I had our date together. I miss it. I miss him. I miss our simple routine of catching-up and getting to know each other more while dining together. I miss the times when we watch a movie or a show together and talk about our reviews after. 

The ALL-NEW GRAND CHINA ACROBATIC CIRCUS is a heart-stopping show of daring and thrilling performances guaranteed to be a hit among audiences young and old. It features mind-blowing tricks, death-defying acts, graceful choreography loaded with color and excitement deftly presented by internationally renowned and multi-awarded Chinese acrobats from Beijing, China. The China National Acrobatic Troupe has amazed audiences with feats of strength and daring acts performed cleverly, precisely, and accurately, and the ability of retaining balance in motion. Audiences will marvel at the world-class skills of the acrobats as they perform routines of compelling choreography practiced over centuries, making this a perfect show for families to enjoy.

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Thank you so much @mommybloggersphilippines, @aranetacity, and @thearanetacoliseum for the Christmas treat. We enjoyed our date with our kids. 💖 . The All-new Grand China Acrobatic Circus is a must-watch. Pampamilya talaga. We invite you to watch and see it yourself with your family. Light lang siya at mag-e-enjoy ang lahat! Sobrang galing! 🥰🤩😍 . The show will run from December 25, 2019 until January 4, 2020 at Smart Araneta Coliseum. You may buy tickets at www.ticketnet.com.ph or call 8 911-5555. Super sulit. 💖 . #GrandCircusattheBigDome #AranetaCity #CityofFirsts #aapmevents #allaroundpinaymama #mommybloggersph

A post shared by Gng. SJ Valdez | AAPM 🇵🇭 (@allaroundpinaymama) on Dec 24, 2019 at 10:10pm PST

I don't want to be a spoiler to those of you who are planning to watch the show so I would like to share with you a few of our most favorite acts.

1. Gorgeous Girls with Diabolo (Chinese Yo-Yo)
 
Starring Peking Opera's Huadan (Heroine) in beautifully choreographed diabolo techniques and dances, performers were dressed up in a splendid fashion that playfully teased the eyes of the audience. This gracefully matched the movements of the performers as they skipped and caught diabolos. It was so spectacular! No wonder it won four awards: a) President Award of the 26th International Circus Festival of Tomorrow in France, b) Golden Clown Award of the 37th International Circus of Monte Carlo; c) Gold Award of the 12th Budapest Festival in Hungary, and c) Gold Award of the 1st International Festival of Circus Art on Fontanka in St. Petersberg.

2. The Ninth Wave (Skills on Poles)

This act was inspired by the famous Russian painter Ivan Aivazovsky and his work depicting soldiers braving the angry ocean. I learned that like the Gorgeous Girls with Diabolo, it was also an award-winning performance: a) Golden Chrysanthemum Award of the 10th Chinese Acrobatic Competition, b) Golden Tiger Award of the 4th China International Circus Art Festival, c) Special Award and Silver Award of 34th International Circus of Monte Carlo. This act was heart-stopping and jaw-dropping!
     

3. Holy Warriors (Stunts through Hoops)

Masterfully tumbling through hoops with a variety of speed, coherence, precision, and dazzling somersaults of actors made the audiences' eyeballs pop! Imagine, the performers defied gravity by tumbling in the tower of hoops as high as three meters! What an outstanding and thrilling performance! It received a Golden Clown Award of the 37th International Circus of Monte Carlo. 

4. Plate Spin

This mesmerizing act composed of singing and dancing of performers while balancing and spinning 10 plates each in their hands. Award received: Golden Lion Award at the 4th China National Acrobatic Festival.

I encourage you to see it yourself with your friends and loved ones to experience the thrill and bliss that Kuya and I felt. Each act may be simple or easy to the eyes but come to think of it, what makes them special and impressive are the discipline, perseverance, tenacity, and hard work that each performer gives from the training up to the day when the troupe performs worldwide.

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Kapag ang mga nanay ay naarawan at nakalabas din ng bahay na hindi errands at work ang gagawin, ito ang kalalabasan talaga! 😂 . Thank you so much @mommybloggersphilippines, @aranetacity, and @thearanetacoliseum for the Christmas treat. We enjoyed our date with our kids. 💖 . The All-new Grand China Acrobatic Circus is a must-watch. Pampamilya talaga. We invite you to watch and see it yourself with your family. Light lang siya at mag-e-enjoy ang lahat! Sobrang galing! 🥰🤩😍 . The show will run from December 25, 2019 until January 4, 2020 at Smart Araneta Coliseum. You may buy tickets at www.ticketnet.com.ph or call 8 911-5555. Super sulit. 💖 . #GrandCircusattheBigDome #AranetaCity #CityofFirsts #aapmevents #mommybloggersph . P.S. Salamat sa mga larawan, beshiewaps @madeitthroughmum. Ramdam ninyo na ba ang ang mga sakit sa kasu-kasuan sa pinaggagagawa nating tatlo nina @momiberlin? #titaproblem 😂

A post shared by Gng. SJ Valdez | AAPM 🇵🇭 (@allaroundpinaymama) on Dec 24, 2019 at 10:03pm PST

I invite you to watch this video for more details and where to get tickets. Enjoy the show with your family and friends like we did! 

Christmas season is getting very exciting through the years due to the festivities, attractions, and performances being showcased in different parts of the country, especially in the metro. In line with this, just recently, I've learned that an award-winning acrobatic troupe from the People's Republic of China is going to perform at the Smart Araneta Coliseum just in time for Christmas and new year! Kuya enjoyed watching Drum Tao with Paps two years ago and I am sure he is going to love this show too. Like me, he loves watching concerts and shows such as this and just because maybe due to his inclination to the performing arts. Tamang-tama, I also heard that this show is affordable kahit award-winning ang performance so pwedeng-pwedeng makapanood ang people from all walks of life especially "budgetarians" like us. Hindi na kailangang magdalawang-isip na bumili ng tickets!  

Here are the details of the show that I am talking about! 

Araneta City's entertainment mecca, the Smart Araneta Coliseum, brings in to the country the multi-awarded performances of the China National Acrobatic Troupe in a Christmas Show titled “The All-new Grand China Acrobatic Circus.”

The Grand China Acrobatic Circus presents the daring, the splendid, the bold and the spectacular. It features mind-blowing tricks, death-defying acts, graceful choreography loaded with color and excitement deftly presented by internationally renowned and multi-awarded Chinese acrobats.

The Circus themed performance is set to give Filipinos personal firsts experience of heart-stopping shows, daring and thrilling performances guaranteed to be a hit among audiences young and old.

One never-to-missed act is the Rose Bud contortionist, a mythical fox in a trance of contortion and coquetry. Another jaw-dropping act is the Peking Opera’s Huadan (heroines) in Diabolo, where performers in majestic suits intrinsically play the Chinese Yo-yo.

The All-new Grand China Acrobatic Circus will run from December 25, 2019 to January 4, 2020 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Enjoy a 25% discount on every purchase of ten (10) tickets by using a Mastercard Debit, Credit, and Prepad card in any Ticketnet outlets. The promo can also be availed via www.ticketnet.com.ph and the Araneta City Mobile app by using the promo code MCARANETA25. 

Interested buyers may also call 8911-5555. 

To give you the glimpse of what to expect, I invite you to watch this:

The Grand China Acrobatic Circus Mastercard Promo runs under DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-21402 Series of 2019.

Manila International Book Fair (MIBF)’s co-located comics and pop culture event: Pop Hub: Comics Splash X Fandom Fest is back for a sophomore run this September.

The episode continues as Primetrade Asia, Inc., MIBF and Best of Anime organizer is set to gather once again the comics and pop culture community on September 14 to 15 from 10:00AM to 8:00PM at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City. 

This year, comic fans and Fandoms will definitely geek out as your MIBF ticket also entitles you to a free POP HUB entrance! 

Following the success of last year’s POP HUB: Vol. 1 which featured distinguished guest artists and exciting activities such as workshops, cosplay competitions, training sessions, photo ops and fandom activities, Volume 2 is back yet again to showcase local and foreign comics, fandom groups and wide-ranging arts and entertainment. 

Coming back again this year are the country’s notable comics personalities: Pol Medina, creator of popular comic strip, Pugad Baboy, comics superstar, Harvey Tolibao and award-winning comic book and artist, Randy Valiente. Prince of PH Cosplay, Prince De Guzman will also be showcasing anew more of his transformations on POP HUB’s stage. 

Pop Hub rookies to watch out for in this year’s Volume 2 include: Don Suratos, Paramount’s Pet-Sematary illustrator, First Academy of Computer Art’s very own, Nick Trinidad and Ian Velasquez, writer of the new DI-13 komiks and grandson of Komiks pioneer, Damy Velasquez, brother of Kenkoy creator and founding Father of Philippine Komiks, Tony Velasquez. 

Of course, a pop culture event isn’t complete without the participation of fandom groups. Largest Fandoms around the country will be present in the event as well– The 501st Legion and the Rebel Legion, the only Lucasfilm and Disney-recognized worldwide Star Wars costuming groups; FightSaber, Hogwarts Philippines, USS Kalayaan (Star Trek Philippines), Ineffable MNL, Hamilton Philippines, Greasy Snitches, Supernatural PH, Justice PH, Westeros Cosplay PH and more!

 

Brace yourselves as POP HUB unveils more action-packed activities in the weeks to come. Stay tuned for more updates by following their official social media pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @pophubMNL.

‘YOLO’ – you have certainly heard it several times or even came across this acronym as a hashtag on a friend’s post on social media. A tickle in your curiosity, have you ever asked yourself what YOLO really means? YOLO is the acronym of ‘You Only Live Once’ which was popularized by a renowned rapper in one of his songs. But there is certainly a more profound meaning in ‘YOLO’.

Given the frailty and brevity of human life, anything can happen to you at any point in your life. Set your mind that every day is a miracle and that you only live once so why not make the most out of it? It is always yes to do the things you most loved and savor each moment like it is the last. Regardless of your age, social status, condition, and circumstances, it is never too late to prepare yourself to live your life only once. To start, you can create your own Bucket List.

Have you ever watched the movie ‘The Bucket List’? Played by Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, it is about two strangers, one a billionaire and one a mechanic, who were brought with the news that they already reached the terminal stage of their life. Realizing that they had little time left to complete the things they had to do and to be reconciled to the ones they love, they decided to make a Bucket List – it is a list of things that they wanted to do before they die. They eventually set out into the world against their doctor’s medical advice and took on their adventure of a lifetime. This movie provided an accurate mental picture of how short human life could be regardless of your social standing and how you could never be able to turn back the time to change the past.

Since the release of this movie, the term 'Bucket List' is now being generally used by people from all around the world to mean that you only live once so do everything you can possibly do given a limited amount of time. Many people have seriously considered YOLO as a way of living and they even created their own Bucket List. Some have set out for the thrill of an adventure, some have traveled to their dream destination, some have still started school at a later age, some have preferred doing things right the first time every time, some have always chosen to do what they always wanted to regardless of the social stigma and taboos.

Isn't it fulfilling to create a Bucket List and see how each item on your list is progressively being achieved? Have you ever considered creating your own Bucket List because ‘YOLO’? Join the Bucket List Summit, a platform that brings together leaders, speakers, thinkers, and experts who can help you be prepared emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually, and financially towards a life well-lived. The summit will be held on October 19 to 20, 2019 at the SMX Aura where renowned speakers will talk about the value and appreciation of life, financial wellness, spiritual enlightenment, physical challenges and its related solutions, psychological interventions, death and life, and more. Everybody deserves a quality life. Participate in this event now and know more about how you can live your life only once but to the fullest. 

For more information, please call Happy Events at (02) 637-9084 or send an email at happyeventsbydeegee@gmail.com.

The admiration that I have right now for Dr. Michele Alignay has started when I've read her book award-winning book, "Family Goals, Embracing the Imperfections of Family Life". She is the kind of writer whom I can relate with kasi sakto lahat ng sinasabi niya sa book niya, tipong para siyang kapatid mo or BFF mo na nakikinig sa'yo at sasabihan ka ng mga words na kailangan mong marinig. Kahit gaano kasakit ang katotohanan, she is going to make you feel better after pero naliwanagan ka ng bongga!

That's why when I was invited by her personally to attend her latest book launching, ayayay, may kilig factor talaga, I swear. Saying yes to that invite was one of the best decisions that I made this month and probably for my entire lifetime. 

In the 11th of May this year, the intimate launch of her new book, "The Beauty of 40, Unwrapping the Gift of Midlife" was held in Miriam College. The book would be tackling about clarity, reflection, and sensible response to what is happening within us, tayong mga nasa midlife na (Yes, I am 40 and I am proud of it!) and beyond. The two-hour event was filled with an atmosphere of love, sincerity, friendship, and learning. You may watch the video by Kerygma Books through the link below to know more about the launch and the book itself HERE.

I am currently reading it and soon, I will review it. While waiting for it, you may read first my review about "Family Goals" on this link: Family Goals Embracing the Imperfections of Family by Michele S. Alignay. This book is available in religious and some parish stores nationwide and online at www.kerygmabooks.com for only Php320. Whenever I see this book in book stores, I tell the staff to recommend it.

By the way, Dr. Ichel will be launching her "The Beauty of 40..." book again on Sunday, May 26, at "Infini7e: Feast Marikina Bluewave's 7th Anniversary in Marikina Convention Center from 9:00 AM to 12:00 NN. Don't miss it! If you will not be able to make it, you may purchase the book at www.kerygmabooks.com for Php380 only. Midway pa lang ako pero ang dami ko nang napulot o natutuhan.