Have a blessed and fruitful Christmas everyone!

From: The Pinedas

Here is a Spanish Christmas song that I love. It's very moving and very spiritual. I have yet to find an English translation of this but this is it for now.

MADRE EN LA PUERTA HAY UN NIÑO

Madre en la puerta hay un niño,
más hermoso que el sol bello,
diciendo que tiene frío,
porque viene casi en cuertos.

Pues dile que entre y se calentará,
porque en esta tierra
ya no hay caridad,
porque en esta tierra,
ya no hay caridad.

Entró el Niño y se sentó,
y mientras se calentaba,
le preguntó la patrona,
¿De qué tierra y de qué patria?

Mi Padre es del Cielo,
mi Madre también,
Yo bajé a la tierra para padecer
Yo bajé a la tierra para padecer

Hazle la cama a este Niño,
en la alcoba y con primor.
No me la haga usted señora,
que mi cama es un rincón.
Mi Padre es del Cielo,
mi Madre también,
Yo bajé a la tierra para padecer.
Yo bajé a la tierra para padecer.

A youtube video ~

Last Saturday, we said goodbye to Matilde. Early that morning, my Tatay arrived from Batangas to bid her goodbye for the last time. Matilde was part of our family for as long as I could remember. She shared many of our family memories, both happy and sad. She kept within her memories particularly of my Nanay which makes her me more sentimental about losing her.

I still remember the day we got Matilde. It was on one December morning and we were so excited to wake up and see Matilde infront of our house. It was the perfect Christmas gift for the whole family. She was a very good friend and a reliable one too. My first memorable ride with her was on the way to my sister's place (Tanglaw) when we attended Christmas Eve mass. My Tatay didn't know yet how to hold her so we let Kuya Errol do it for us.

When I turned sixteen and was able to get a permit, I was allowed to bring her around (with a companion of course). Then when I turned eighteen, I was already good at bringing her to the mall and to school when she's available. She was the only one who knew how I felt learning to use her. I was both excited and at the same time a bit scared. But nevertheless, all of it were good, good memories!

Back in 2003, I accidentally bumped Matilde on my way to the parking lot of SM Megamall. Sorry Matilde! Tsk. Tsk. Good thing, my parents settled the matter for me when they returned (they were in Singapore that time) and they were generous enough to save my face by helping me pay for the (minor) damages.

In 2006, while I was pregnant, in addition to Matilde and my Dad's Rex, we got Mica. We then started to be with Mica more often and Matilde just became my Dad's color-coding solution.

Then this year, we got an addition to the family - a silver one we fondly call Avanza. And since my Dad re-married too and transfered to Batangas, Matilde was left at home most of the time and was often neglected and not used.

And since my sister-in-law has been looking for a reliable help in order to go around, we thought that Matilde would be of more service to her and my other in-laws. Besides, you are still one great, beautiful and reliable car...you are our Matilde.

So, to you Matilde, thank you so much. Till we meet again.

The race to Christmas has been long and dragging for most of us. Intermingled with lots of shopping, gift-giving, parties, food and gatherings, Christmas sometimes becomes a purely commercial thing. But for us Christians, Christmas should essentially be centered on the birth of Jesus and how important this event was and is to our history of salvation. When you talk about Christmas, where the rubber meets the road really is on how we have strived to find, know and love Christ.

I look at my watch and it's says it's time for lunch. I can't imagine I spent my whole morning garbled in html, templates, images, etc., etc. I can't seem to get 'the look' I want for this blog. Anyway, this coffee theme will suffice for now (until I see a nicer template).

Until then, let's get the beat going and let's start jumpin', jumpin'!

Yes. I'm beginning and beginning again - a new blog, that is.

Why vinanini.com? Well, vinanini is a sort of a nickname that I got from some good friends. As an endearment, we would call each other with a "-nini" at the end of our names (Carlanini, Rizanini, Cleonini, etc.). This group of friends are the ones to whom I could share my feelings, experiences, and thoughts with and just be myself. And regardless if we seldom see each other or talk with each other, my friendship with them is for keeps. It only grows stronger and stronger through the passing of the days.

I hope to grow and develop that kind of friendship with you over here. Soon.

Love,

Vina-nini