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Kiong Hee Huat Tsai is Happy New Year in Binondo

Kiong Hee Huat Tsai!!
In Binondo and with most tsinoys that I met, Kiong Hee Huat Tsai is the proper way to greet Happy New Year! Kung Hei Fat Choi is a more commercialized greeting (I guess).
Personally, I am starting to get the hang of celebrating Chinese New Year after 5 years of being married to a Chinese family. I started to appreciate the family gatherings the night before Chinese New Year. Also, for the second straight year, we visited Binondo and joined the Chinese community in celebrating the Year of the Rat. I shifted my mindset to think about Chinese New Year the same way we celebrate the first of January. We are starting to build family traditions around Chinese New Year, so let me share with you how we celebrated it this year!

The night before Chinese New Year is always celebrated with a simple family gathering because it was the Chinese Christmas. Everyone was in red to bring good luck for the new year ahead. We played with Syoti Josh in the morning before Momma Rache and Aidan went out to meet Happy Slip.

Mt. Pinatubo Hiking Experience

We visited Mt. Pinatubo Spa last November 2005 and vowed to go back to hike Mt. Pinatubo. After two years, I was able to fulfill that vow last January 20 2008!

The Mt. Pinatubo Spa Experience

I was flabbergasted with the awesome 2.5 hours trip to the top of Mt. Pinatubo. It was a combination of a one hour 4x4 ride, and a 1.5 hours leisurely hike up to the Mt. Pinatubo crater. Upon reaching the crater, you'll be rewarded with the scene of blue green waters that you can dip in. We celebrated our conquer of Mt. Pinatubo with a Korean and Filipino lunch back at Mt. Pinatubo Spa. We indulged in a shiatsu-thai massage before heading back home to Manila.
Pictures will not do justice to the experience but this is a humble attempt to capture the Mt. Pinatubo Hiking Experience.... Enjoy!

70 KM Banaue - Sagada Trail Run to support Kythe's children with cancer.

Our friends from the Pinoy Ultra Runners are running once again for their life to support Kythe. This time, they will do a 70km trail run from Banaue to Sagada on February 9. Please support them by pledging P500 for every kilometer run (minimum of 5 kms.). All proceeds will go to Kythe.

Last year, Ben of Photographer on the Run, Jaymie- The Bullrunner and Our Awesome Planet (all proud members of Happy Feet) joined the Pinoy Ultra runners to raise funds for Kythe. The ultra runners were running the Philippines first 100km ultra marathon at the same time with the Manila Eliminations of the Milo Marathon. Ben, Jaymie and I were running a 42km Milo Marathon for a cause. It was a memorable first marathon for me and thanks for all the support!

I am a Marathoner and I live to Tell about it

Together the Marathon-For-A-Cause raised a total of P60,000 pesos to support Kythe. Ben and I turned over the money last September 22 (a mOrninG with Kythe). Thanks to all those who supported us! The money that we raised was only good for a week that supported the expenses of the cancer kids patients. Let me tell you about the sad reality of these kids and why we should continue to support Kythe in their endeavors.

Kythe is a volunteer organization that promotes awareness and supports children with cancer. Their vision is to improve the Quality of Life for pediatric patients by uplifting their spirits and strengthening HOPE in these patients and their families. Kudos to the Ateneans for starting up Kythe!

We went to AFP V Luna Hospital at East Avenue Quezon City to meet the children that Kythe supports. We interviewed a few parents and learned that anyone's child could have Leukemia. There is no logical reason why it develops and the chances of survival is 1 is to 10. I immediately thought about Aidan and Joshua. How lucky we are that they are healthy boys. Leukemia is a very tough cancer to beat. The parents will bring their kids to the AFP V Luna children's hospital because they would rely on volunteer donation support to fund the chemotheraphy treatments.

Ben and I with Tita Aida and Ninin of Kythe during the turnover of the P60,000 donation to Kythe. (see: a mOrninG with Kythe)

Aidan meets Happy Slip!

So, You’re Happy Slip! (a.k.a. Christine Gambito)

Related Post:Welcome to Happy Slip in Manila! Mabuhay!

Meeting Christine Gambito was like watching Happy Slip live... She is as bubbly and down to earth as what you can see in her you tube videos. She is a beautiful filipina in person with a nice dimple. My heart melted when she cried on her first day in Manila. Manila will simply love her because of her crusade to make your life a little brighter each day because of her entertaining videos.

I missed watching her in the Wowowee today and she was sharing with us her crazy moments in the show. They have already been to Bohol, Boracay and Cebu in a week's time. I was so happy listening to her awesome encounters with the beauty of the Philippines. She is flying off to Puerto Princessa tomorrow. Christine --- you should go back to the Philippines and visit El Nido, Palawan!

She wants to sincerely meet ALL her fans in Manila but the meet and greet on Chinese New Year at Mag:net, Fort venue is not be large enough to accommodate them. When she came to Manila, she never thought that she would have a huge fan base here. She will be giving an inspirational talk on video blogging during the meet and greet with a Q&A session followed by photo sessions.

See Happy Slip's update on the Manila Meet and Greet Session. If you are a fan and you were not able to register for the meet and greet event, please do a shout out on the comments to petition for a bigger venue.

Watch her You Tube Videos and see why she is THE Filipina You Tube Goddess:

Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com