Since I am miles away from home and although confined in the breeze of a Muslim country, I am all the more excited for Christmas. It is one of the occasions that I look forward to because it revives and strengthens togetherness, aside from the many things, among families, friends, and the rest of the people whom I hardly know personally. This year will be extra different because I will take part in our modified form of kris kringle with some of the bloggers. The nicest thing here is that it has transformed into sort of community, i.e. through a common blogger pal, Prinsesa Musang (aka PM). Thanks to her for organizing this. I suggest that you take time to visit her blog, not only because I enjoin you to our swap, but also because her blog is a rare kind. It is like eating Pringles, once you pop, you can’t stop. In our mother tongue, hahanap hanapin mo.
As part of the gift giving mechanics, the “attendees” shall write their wish lists. It took me time to come up with my own and opted to create a collage for a quick assessment; I hope that this will help my swap partner (and whoever wishes to send me anything, and yes, I have a back up list! Just kidding) to figure out how to amuse me. Do not worry, I am generally easy to please. But maybe I am just being biased to myself. Haha. So, I will let you be the judge:
Something small: a souvenir jeepney replica (I think it is available in Kulturang Pilipino)
Something big: mix tape or cd of playlist(s) of your choice, I would like to know my swap partner’s hilig sa music (I think that it is figuratively a big wish, eh?)
Something cute: Starwars chopsticks or anything Starwars related except for the DVDs which I already got
Something soft: socks for sneakers
Something techie: skull candy headphone or iPad sleeve
Something fancy: Homestyle back issues (especially the one with Ely Buendia cover, please!)
Something blue (or insert your favorite color here): hair accessories (headbands, clips)
Something wearable: shawl
Something you need: charger organizer (Based on my research, it is available in Rustan’s)
Something you can use for work: journal which is Philippine-produced
Something sweet: Macadamia chocolates
All I Want For Christmas: I just want everyone to be happy. But my biggest wish to my swap partner (and to those who read my blog) is to write a letter to your parents and/or guardians and thank them about so many things. You don’t need to send me an evidence. I know that you will do it. Thank you. 
I will probably spend two weeks in the Philippines in time for the Christmas and New Year, primarily to attend a good friend’s wedding in Bohol and LOTS of family gatherings and outings. I wish to give the liberty to my (still unknown) swap partner to send the haul to my UAE or Philippine address. In case you will make it before the cut off, I would be happy to open my gift during Christmas time (or maybe the minute Mr. Postman hands it over). But in case you will not and if unintentionally it reaches my Philippine address on the day of my flight back to UAE, do not worry, people back home will keep the package until I vacation for the 2011 Christmas or possibly for another wedding before that. Seriously, either way, I know that we will manage to receive/send it at a reasonable time.
To my swap partner, whoever you are, I thank you in advance.
(Credit: Photos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12)
Read More
Conversations