Under The Tree

Back when we were yet small children, we used to have a small Rope Hammock installed under a big guava tree in our frontyard. It has always been a delight for us to be playing and chatting along under that old guava tree.

However, when our parents decided to renovate the front lawn, we were left with no option but to remove the tree.

T0day, whenever we take a time off and go to the beach, I never pass the chance of laying my body in one of those colorful Fabric Hammocks placed under the coconut trees alongside the seashore. There were numerous occassions where I just lay in a hammock to watch the sun set. It was truly a very relaxing experience. Those are rare times wherein you just lie there and not think of any worries and cares. Moreso, those were opportunities to meditate and remember the Lord's goodness in our lives.

Hammocks are very popular especially in tropical countries because they make good accessories on beaches. There are various types to choose from. There are Rope Hammocks, Fabric Hammocks, and there are also Weave Hammocks, any of which can also be placed outside our houses for great relaxing experiences whenever we want or feel the need to- and this is what we actually plan to have in our ancestral house.

We are negotiating and are actually intending to buy the lot nearby our house. Since we intend to convert our ancestral house to become a vacation place, we want to convert the extra lot as a garden extension. Among the immediate plans are to put up a small nipa hut (a house made of wood and nip). My father, who has a green thumb, would of course love to put on some trees and ornaments. Also, we are alloting a specific place to put on a Rope Hammock because we also want to go back to the time when we were children playing under the big old guava tree.

The Heat Is On!

Getting our clan together for a night would be a very rare occassion. This is because it is very difficult for us to meet our schedules for a particular day. This year, however, we are hoping on having a family/clan reunion come Christmas day at our ancestral house, so we have started on getting our schedules fixed since June 2009. As most of our cousins and relatives have confirmed that they are coming, our parents, who are living near the clan's ancestral house, have also started fixing up the place and checking on how we can best accomodate our relatives, specially those who are coming from abroad.

One particular issue that we still have to resolve is that since the start of September, an abrupt change in the climate has happened in our area. We are experiencing cold weather, so we are contemplating on setting up an Outdoor Heater in the gardens. This is to make everyone feel comfortable even as we sit and relax outside the home.

As you may have read in my previous posts, barbecues are always a part of our dinner menu, so we really will have to set up grill and do our cooking outside. Also, since we are expecting many relatives, it would be most practical if we will be setting up the dinner table outside, where there is more space for everybody. A Patio Heater every table must have to be set up in order to ensure that everyone will be kept warm during the occassion.

Patio Heaters may be a little bit uncommon in our area, but really, they are a good use specially in countries where they have a very cold weather. But with the unexplainable climate changes happening around the world, the cold weather has suddenly come unto our region, and we have no choice but to adjust and make sure that everyone among us deserve a comfortable accomodation.

There are various types of Patio Heaters, and really, I was surprised to see that they are actually not that expensive. In fact, there are types that are sold even for less than 200 Dollars in the internet. So why must we suffer from cold weather when we can turn the heat on and enjoy a very precious moment with our families?

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Advanced Merry Christmas, everyone!

Gong: A Wonderful Gift

Christmas holidays is almost at hand!

Christmas this year will be a little different in our home because one Family will be spending their holidays with us. They are distant relatives from down south, and my father has invited them to come and join us during Christmas.

It is customary for us to be giving gifts to visitors, so we have been thinking of what we could present to them. They are a family of musicians, so we were contemplating on giving them with a gift that is somehow related to what they do, and what they like.

My brother suggests that we give them a musical instrument that is not ordinary, so we came up with giving them Gongs.


Gongs are musical instruments which are found and are still being used in South East Asian countries. These are instruments that take the form of flat metal discs and are being played by hitting them with mallets.

We first witnessed how gongs are played when we went to one of the provinces of Mindanao in the Philippines last year. Their cultural dances and music are always accompanied with the playing of Gongs. And really, the musicians played the instruments well, accompanied by the distinct tribal dances by the natives.

There are, of course, various types of gongs. One particular variant that I like is the Meditation Gong. True to its name, a Meditation Gong is a perfect instrument in creating a harmonious sound that blends well with the sound of nature. I can truly say that the sounds bring peace and relaxation in your thoughts.

The illustration above is an example of a Woodstock Desk Gong. The metal disc is suspended on air from a black wood stand. This, to me, can fit well as an additional accent inside our homes, or even outside in the gardens. This is a perfect gift to people who love collecting items from different cultures.

I believe the Gong would be a wonderful gift for our visitors come Christmas. Truth be told, I might also buy one for myself.

A Better Option in Grills

Are you tired of using your old, conventional barbecue grill?

Try Viking Grill!

I first heard of Viking Grills from a friend who is in the restaurant and grill business. Actually, he has just started with his business in 2006. As a person who really loves cooking, he was able to formulate a very good-tasting barbecue recipe. He started with using the conventional grill, and he was doing good with it.

However, his business has grown from one small dinner place to four different branches in a span of three years. With the incresing demand of his now-famous barbecues, he has no choice but to keep in step with meeting the demands. It is for this reason that he has been on the hunt for months for the most suitable grill that he can purchase.

As he very well know that our family loves grill foods, he went at our home last night to ask my opinion if the grill that he saw in the internet will be a good buy- and it was then that I am able to see for the first time about Viking Grills.

For you, out there, who are very sophisticated when it comes to purchasing top of the line food equipments, a Viking Grill is for you; and I tell you, it is not easy to fall in love with it.

We are not yet sure if the online shop site that we have browsed last night is charging extra for the shipping of the equipment, but I have already advised my friend to buy the Viking Grill with or without additional shipping charges. We have discussed and we both agree that it is about time he invest into a good grill equipment because after all, a gas grill is able to cook barbecues faster and better- thus more sales on his restaurant.

Aside from the fact that it will produce faster outputs, Viking Grill designs are really superb. They are made of stainless-steel materials and can actually be featured in your outdoor restaurant as an added attraction to customers and passers-by. You can also choose from a wide variety of grills, so you can get the one that will suit your home or your restaurant.

So when you are on the lookout for a better option in grill equipments, try Viking Grill.

I Am A Barbecue Lover

How would you like to have a bite at this mouth-watering pork ribs straight from the BBQ Grill?

I am sure a lot of you can't get your eyes off the picture above, and so do I. I am a barbecue lover since I was a grade schooler. It is actually customary for our family to gather together at least once a month in our ancestral home, set-up the BBQ Grill outside in the gardens, and cook pork or chicken barbecue, grilled fish, and hotdogs for the kids.

As a child, I used to think that barbecues is a Filipino delicacy. This is because most of the families in our neighborhood are cooking barbecues. To my surprise, one day while watching a foreign show, I saw that even Americans are fond of cooking barbecues. In fact, my research shows that barbecuing in America started even in pre-colonial times.

Needless to say, different types of barbecue grills have evolved through the years. The most common types are the charcoal grills, and now, the gas grills. I have read in a magazine that there is also the so called infrared grills which functions by igniting profane or natural gas.

Several companies are also competing when it comes to designing grills that can best accessorize house gardens; while some companies continue to innovate in making multi-function grills. That is why today, do not be surprised when you see grills with rotisserie, grills with oven, and grill and fire pit combined.

Depending on your need and preference, you can choose from a wide variety of grills. There are built-in and free standing stainless steel grills, portable grills, and all-in-one grill (multi-function). This is actually good for customers because we get to choose and buy what we need most. Also, you can find the one that can suit your budget.

So how do you get to enjoy your barbecue?

Make sure the meat is well-marinated; use the most suitable barbecue grill; and spend the time eating with your family and loved-ones.

Bon appetit!

A Bell In The Clouds

"Talking between men and women never solves anything. Where we think, they feel. They are creatures of the heart. "
- Don Pedro Aragon, A Walk In The Clouds


I really like the story of the movie A Walk In The Clouds featuring Keanu Reeves. It is a story of a US Army Sergeant Sutton(Reeves) who met a beautiful Mexican-American university graduate whose family owns a vineyard in the Napa Valley. Apparently, Victoria Aragon (Mexican-American) was pregnant and Sutton offers her to introduce him to his family as her husband.

Apart from the story, what really captured my attention is the beauty of the setting, Napa Valley, a farm of grapes which they call, The Clouds.

I just love to imagine living in gardens like these wherein you get to see the beauty of God's creation everytime you open your eyes. I also imagine a beautiful house with a Farm Bell attached in one of the house posts.

I don't know about you, but having a Farm Bell or a Dinner Bell gives a peaceful and harmonious feeling inside of me, whenever I hear the sound of it. And if you think this is used only for decorations, you may get wrong. A Dinner Bell acts to signal family members who are working in the gardens/fields to come home for lunch or dinner.

Also, you might find it surprising that a Farm Bell does not really cost that much. In fact, you can even find great buys when you browse the internet. Some online stores offer other great selection of beatifully crafted wind chimes that are perfect for your country houses.

It is my hope that someday I would be able to have a house in the gardens or in the fields. Surely, I shall be looking forward to the day when I and my family will just stay out in the gardens and enjoy the beauty of nature, with the hope that someone from the house will ring the farm bell to announce that we need to get back to our house for a bountiful dinner.

Impress Them!

Today I am blogging once again about the best kitchen equipments that any housewife (or house husbands who love cooking) will want to have.

I will now discuss about Fire Magic Grills, probably one of the best, if not the best name in grill equipment, not to mention that they have been in the industry since 1937, so you can be sure that the brand has actually become one of the most credible in the market.

But before I go on further, I want to first co-relate my article with what is about to take place in our family next weekend. My brother has just been married to his long-time girlfriend of 8 years, and it will be the bride's parents' first-time to visit our house (since the parents are residing in another city far south). So we are discussing about our plans for the weekend, but of course, we will be having our weekend dinner in the garden with some grilled chops, barbecues, and some vegetable salad.

We want to make a good first impression on them and we are contemplating on purchasing a new grill that would look good on our outdoor setting since our old grill is actually malfunctioning. My brother tried to browse the internet last night to look for various options but my mother really loved this model of the Fire Magic Grill (see picture).

This is a freestanding legacy fire magic grill. My mom loves the stainless steel material design because it looks very clean and organized, easy enough to make a really nice first impression on any visitor who will get to see it.


Another good thing i like about the design is that it gives an impression of being smart. Maybe it is because the design looks new and innovative, thus users and/or owners will also look smart.

We've heard that our visitors on next weekend also love barbecues, so naturally, they know a good grill when they see one. So we hope that we can purchase a Fire Magic Grill immediately to really get that good first impression.

I hope we do.

The Standard In Grilling

I once read about this very beautiful quotation:

"Be in such a way that when the world is sitting, you'd be standing... And when the world is standing, you'll stand out... And when the world stands out, you'll be outstanding... And when the world tries to be outstanding, you'll be the standard."

The lesson is simply to bring out the best in you in whatever you do. This, of course, applies, to anything-whether in the office, in relationships, and in whatever thing that you do.

I would like to correlate this lesson to my featured topic today, which is about grills that we use in cooking.

As I have written in one of my previous articles, my family really enjoys gathering together and cook barbeques and grilled chops whenever time permits us. Needless to say, we are always on the lookout for the best grill equipment in town.

I chanced upon reading an article in the internet about a list of branded grilling equipment, and by far, the best that I saw is the Lynx Grill.

Meticulous as I am when it comes to getting house appliances, I really love the different types of Lynx Grills being offered to the market. Name what you want and you'll have it, because Lynx Grills offer high-quality gas grills. They also offer different styles of stainless steel barbeque grills and accessories.

You can choose from a variety of sizes ranging from 27 inches to as much as 42 inches built-in grills with rotisserrie and prosear. As I have mentioned, the grills are made of fine grade stainless steel materials so you can ensure that these grills can withstand even bad weather conditions.

Why go for a good, or even better grill equipment when you can own the best?

Dubbed as the "Rolls Royce of Grilling", Lynx Grills have been in the grilling equipment industry for more than 30 years that is why you definitely depend on its performance. You can really be sure that you get the best out of Lynx Grills because they continue to innovate their designs so that the brand itself becomes the Standard In Grilling.

Sharing The Night Together

This morning I was awaken by a very beautiful song coming from my brother's room. His radio was playing Dr. Hook's "Sharing The Night Together". It kind of makes me imagine and think with the idea of asking my special someone for a dinner date.

Now we've been to countless dinner dates on restaurants and grills but as far as I can remember, we have never tried having dinner date in the gardens- that is to say, even outside our house.

I've seen in the movies how lovely is it having dinner in the gardens, when both of you will just eat a nice dinner and drink wine and stare at the stars above. There was even a particular movie I saw wherein a couple was having dinner using a Fire Pit Table, so you could just imagine them eating outside in the gardens on a table with a fire in the center illuminating the night. Oh, I've long been dreaming of doing that!

Now Fire Pit Tables may not be popular in other countries, but these are very well used in areas with tropical settings. They are perfect when you set them up outside on beach resorts, and some, even put them in golf courses.

But of course, you do not need to go that far to enjoy the effect of using a Fire Pit Table. All you have to do is a little creativity and imagination in having your perfect dinner date even at the comfort of your home. Fire Pit Tables are available on purchase even in the internet. There are many variations, so you can be sure that there is an available one that is most suitable in your garden or in your terrace.

What's more, these Fire Pit Tables are also suitable for big parties, so you can invite friends and relatives for a lovely dinner party in your house anytime. Surely, they, too, will love the idea of owning one in their homes.

A beautiful setting, fine food and wine, plus beautiful mellow music playing in the background, who wouldn't want to fall in love?

++++++++++

Sharing the night together, oh yeah
Sharing the night together, oh yeah
Sharing the night

We could bring in the morning gir
lIf you want to go that far
And if tomorrow finds us together right here
The way we are
Would you mind

Sharing the night together, oh yeah
Sharing the night together, oh yeah
Sharing the night

Hark Now Hear The Angels Sing

Long time ago in Bethlehem
So the holy bible say
Mary's boy child Jesus Christ
Was born on Christmas day


Hark now hear the angels sing
A new king born today
And man will live forever more
Because of Christmas day



I had an extra time to shop yesterday in a mall nearby when the famous song "Hark Now Hear The Angels Sing" started to play. Instantly, people beamed with a smile on their faces on the thought of Christmas day, and started singing along.

The store owners also started redecorating their boutiques with christmas decors, lanterns and christmas lights. On one side of the mall, there is a life-size nativity scene on which the shoppers are getting pictures at.

The Department store has also set-up a dedicated space wherein you can purchase christmas trees, christmas balls, christmas lights, lanterns, santa claus figures, and nativity sets. I went looking for the nativity sets because I have long wanted to purchase and give my mother one as a christmas present. This is because when we were children, my mother would always set up a nativity set which is only made up of cardboard or hard paper. That is why I want to surprise her with a beautiful set which is made of plastic or fiberglass. The price, however, is expensive, so I didn't buy. Instead, I thought I'd better go and check for other shops, or I might as well search online in the internet.

There are a couple of online shops that sell nativity sets, but of course, you should go for the one that sells the best products at affordable prices. You can also pick your choice of nativity scene because there are a lot of options to choose from. Sets vary from six, ten, and fourteen pieces. There are life-size pieces, while there are also miniature ones.

I'm considering the life-size pieces because the set would be perfect for the outdoors, and will definitely go well on a garden setting.

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Here's wishing a merry christmas to all of us!



Trumpets sound and angels sing!
Listen to what they say
And man will life forever more
Because of Christmas day!

A Night To Remember

We have approached the month of October again, and our church is devoting the whole month for our yearly evaluation (of the past year) and planning (for the coming year). Part of the main event that we are organizing in 2010 would be the three-days Kids Camp for our Sunday school students in our Children's Church.

We are targetting a beach resort in Subic, Pampanga, and because the place would be very near the sea, we give good review on the security, since we are expecting about thirty to fifty children whose ages range from 4 to 12.

Mornings will be devoted to divided sessions and teachings, while in the afternoon, we are planning for group competitions (cheering, banner-making and other games). For the evening, we are planning to conduct a 1-hour worship service. We are giving much thought on what we are going to do right after the worship service because we know that the children wouldn't want to go to bed and rest. We are contemplating on doing an outdoor activity in the grounds, and thought that placing an outdoor fire pit would be very lovely. The cozy fire coming from the fire pit will surely attract the children and make them want to gather together.

The idea of using outdoor fire pits was introduced to me last March 2009 when our office conducted a night-out seminar in one of the finest resorts in Puerto Galera. The event organizers prepared a fun team-building activity after dinner in the grounds, with each group finally commencing and evaluating the activity as we are gathered in the fire pit.

This is why I thought of suggesting into our Kids Camp directress that we must have an outdoor fire pit when we have the Kids Camp next year. There are outdoor fire pits available for sale in the internet, such as what is shown in the picture below:

This type of outdoor fire pit is very much ideal, especially to our Sunday school students because they actually contain lovely designs that can attract children.

Other than having them come and gather around the fire, we are also planning to set-up a place to cook barbeques and hotdogs on sticks-an activity that is ALWAYS a hit to children, and even to us, teachers. Surely, we look forward to an exciting Night to remember for our Kids Camp next year.