Hello Everyone!

Thanksgiving Day is a holiday that is celebrated in the United States of America and Canada.

This is a day that people travel home to their parent’s home or have family members and friends travel to their house to celebrate the joys and blessings of their lives and enjoy a very big meal.

The meal is usually a big roasted turkey or ham with many, many side dishes. Pumpkin pie along with other pies such as minced pie is served with ice cream or whipped cream.

Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November in the America and on the second Monday in October in Canada.

The next day is called “Black Friday” and it is the start of the American annual Christmas shopping season. Most people in  head off to the local malls and stores early in the morning for a busy day of shopping.

I wish all my American friends a happy and safe Thanksgiving Day celebration!

Technorati Tags: Happy Thanksgiving Day, Thanksgiving Day in Canada, Thanksgiving Day Meal, Thanksgiving Day Traditions

Hello Everyone!

Mama has been teaching me about what she calls “basic manners.”

Mama calls “Please”, “Thank You” and “Excuse Me” the three magic phrases. She said that these are the most important words to learn so you can live your life in a polite and nice way.

Mama said that there are some other words that are important to learn. Here are some of the most important ones to remember:

–”You are welcome” is important to say when someone says to you “Thank You.”

–”No, thank you” is a better way of just saying “No” or some other words when you don’t like something or don’t want to do something.

–”Hi, how are you?” is always a friendly greeting when meeting someone. If someone asks this of you, then your reply would be “Fine, thanks. How are you?”

–”Can I…?” Mama says it is always nicer to ask than to demand something. (Mama said this is the proper way; not “May I…?”

Mama told me that we will continue to work and learn more about manners in the coming weeks. She said that it is very important to learn these important things when you are young.

Has your Mama and Dada started to teach you basic manners?

Technorati Tags: Basic Manners for Children, Manners, Teaching Children Manners

Hello Everyone!

Today is a special day for our Muslim friends around the world.

Eid ul-Fitr is the Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. In the Philippines, the day is a national holiday in recognition of the importance of the event to our Muslim citizens. Fitr means “to break” and symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period and of all sinful habits.

On the day of celebration, a typical Muslim family gets up very early and attends special prayers in mosques and in large open areas, stadiums, or arenas. The prayer is generally short, and is followed by a khutba (sermon by the Imam). The festivities start after the prayer with visits to the homes of friends and relatives and thanking the Creator for all blessings. The first Eid was celebrated in 624 CE by the Prophet Muhammad with his companions and relatives after the victory of the Battle of Badr.

After a full month of Ramadan, a religious tradition of surrender and obedience to Allah where adult Muslims observe the difficult fasting from dawn-to-dusk fast, Eid ul-Fitr is indeed an important and joyful event with great religious significance. Muslims dress in holiday attire. After attending the special congregational prayer in the morning, worshipers greet and embrace each other in the spirit of peace, love, and brotherhood.

EĪd mubārak (Blessed Eid)!

Eid ul-Fitr is a day of forgiveness, moral victory and peace, of congregation, fellowship, brotherhood, and unity. Muslims are not only celebrating the end of fasting, but are also thanking God for the help and strength that He gave them throughout the previous month to help them practice self-control.

Here in the Philippines, with a majority Christian population, we have recognized Eid ul-Fitr as a regular holiday by virtue of Republic Act No. 9177 and signed on November 13, 2002. The law was enacted in deference to the Filipino Muslim community and to promote peace among major religions in the Philippines. The first public holiday was set on December 6, 2002. This year, the holiday is set for Wednesday, October 1, 2008.

Eid ul-Fitr is a time to come together as a community and to renew friendship and family ties. It is a time for peace as all Muslims in the world to devote the day to prayers for peace and well-being. We join our Muslim friends in these prayers. May the peace of the One God be felt throughout the land.

EĪd Mubārak (Blessed Eid)!

Technorati Tags: Eid ul-Fitr, Muslim Holidays, Philippine Holidays, Ramadan, Religious Holidays, Religious Tolerance

Technorati Tags: Father's Day, Holidays, I Love My Daddy, Loving Your Parents, My Dada

Hi Everyone!

I am not in school today because my teacher said Friday, June 12th is Philippine Independence Day and it is a national holiday..

My teacher said that every year, millions of Filipinos from all over the world gather around and celebrate this important day.

She told our class that the Philippine Declaration of Independence occurred on June 12, 1898 in the Philippines. Filipino revolutionary head General Emilio Aguinaldo (who later became the Philippines’ first Republican President) proclaimed the sovereignty and independence of the Philippine Islands from the colonial rule of Spain after the latter was defeated at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War.

The declaration however was short lived as it was not recognized by the United States or Spain. The reason was because the Spanish government ceded the Philippines to the United States in the 1898 Treaty of Paris, in consideration for an indemnity for Spanish expenses and assets lost.

In the Treaty of Manila, the US recognized Philippine independence on July 4, 1946 and it was observed in the Philippines until President Diosdado Macapagal signed Republic Act no. 4166 into law on August 4, 1964, designating June 12 (which had been previously observed as Flag Day) as the country’s Independence Day.

So all Filipinos will spend this day celebrating and remembering the sacrifices made by our country’s heroes to bring freedom and independence to the Philippines.

Technorati Tags: Philippine Cultural, Philippine Heroes, Philippine History, Philippine Independence Day, Philippines