Thursday, September 15, 2011

Cabaret for a Cause

4:51:00 AM 0 Comments
MMQ on its fifth year presents Le Cabaret 5 on September 17, 2011, 7pm in the Sofitel Philippine Plaza. It's one of those dinner shows that won't make you feel guilty for eating good food and having fun because everything goes to charity!



The beneficiaries of this year's Le Cabaret goes to the Chosen Children's Village, the EVA Charity Foundation and Hospicio de San Jose.

MMQ, which means "Making Miracles Quickly," is a multicultural non-profit arts for charity foundation with the goal to help uplift the lives of unfortunate Filipinas and children formed by Michelle Washington and Sandra Tockes. Michelle is the president of MMQ who works as a professor of theater arts in UP Diliman while Sandra is the vice president of MMQ who works as a business development consultant of Somerville-Manila. Both Michelle and Sandra are American expats who have been staying here in the Philippines.

MMQ President Michelle Washington, me, MMQ Vice President Sandra Tockes
and MMQ Board Member for Events and Development Mari Moya

Enjoy a four-course French dinner, a beautiful show, free flowing wines from Le Cellier and get a chance to win a fabulous prize like spa treatments, restaurants gc, jewelry, resort packages and a business class ticket to anywhere in Europe from Etihad for only P4,500 a ticket!

Special rates awaits in Sofitel or Philippe's Salon if you mention "MMQ" or "Le Cabaret!"

It's going to be my third year now to go to Le Cabaret and my favorite group of performers there are The Drag Ons. I can't wait to see them in action this year! I can't forget their reproduction of Beyonce's "Single Ladies" music video! How I wish I can see them do that again.

The beautiful and sexy The Drag Ons

The other performers this year includes the Philippine's own E-Force, Fil-Am saxophonist Michael Young, Scottish singer Diane Ross, Anarina Amistoso, British singer Jacqueline Silver, Czech Cabaret Artist Marnie Hurst, along with the MMQ Band.

For tickets call 0927.3839517, 0917.7906488 or email to mmqtheatre@gmail.com. For more information about MMQ, add them on Facebook “MMQ Thtr” and check out www.mmqtheatre.com.

Many thanks to the sponsors below who make all these possible for MMQ! Cheers to charity and a better Philippines!

Monday, September 12, 2011

Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival 2011

10:01:00 AM 0 Comments
Every year, whenever the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival comes, it marks the middle of the autumn and starts the countdown for winter. It's not a big holiday here in the Philippines because there's no winter here but I think it's one of those festival that must be celebrated as a holiday.

What's so good about the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival? It's actually when the biggest full moon of the year appears because it's nearest to the earth. In China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam and in other countries whose majority are made up of Chinese nationalities observe this festival. It is the time of the year besides Chinese New Year when the family gets together to catch up. And there's another agenda which is to appreciate nature. It's also when lanterns are made for children and children at heart to go out of their houses to look at the big bright moon.

Lanterns in Hong Kong (Image from discoverhongkong.com)


Tonight, I tried capturing the big bright moon. It's quite hard to do with my point and shoot camera but the moon was quite big and bright today.


First attempt

Second attempt (Look at the brightness of the full moon)

Last attempt (My hands were already quite shaking and I was trying to stop it.)
I remember when I was still little and my grandma still lives in Hong Kong, my family usually goes visit her at this time since there's no classes in school (I studied at a Chinese school). We will go to Victoria Park to look at the moon (since the skyscrapers covers the sky) and also there's a lantern exhibit for everyone to enjoy.

Lantern at Victoria Park (Image from discoverhongkong.com)
Somehow I hope I'm in Hong Kong on this day to look at the fabulous lantern exhibits. I'm sure there are lots of people in Victoria Park right now. Also, it's a non-working holiday tomorrow there so everyone's surely enjoying the scenery with their family.

For so many years since my grandma moved here, my family have been spending the Mid-Autumn Festival here in the Philippines. We still get together at this time to eat a simple dinner and talk about anything under the moon. We go out of the house and literally look at the moon then thank God for blessing our family and letting us be all together on this day.

Aside from the simple dinner, of course the mooncake must not be missed! This year, we have a box of mooncake from Hong Kong! I actually find the box's design very beautiful and meaningful. I also love the smoothness of its "lin yong" (Lotus Seed Paste in Cantonese) which melts inside the mouth and tastes a lot better than what is being sold here.
Maxim's Mooncake from Hong Kong

"Yuet" (Moon in Cantonese) hence the drawing

"Peng" (Cake or cookies in Cantonese) Since it's year of the rabbit, the rabbits are exchanging mooncakes. So cute!

"Mei" (Beauty in Cantonese) represented by an illustration of the Moon Lady

"Sum" (Heart in Cantonese) represented by an illustration of Hong Kong where the mooncake was made from

Another reason for me wanting to be in Hong Kong at this moment aside from the lantern and holiday is the variations of flavors of mooncake they have available that can't be found here. Just by looking at some pictures online, I'm already drooling and want to try them out! They're also made and sold for a limited time only so when I go to Hong Kong next time, I won't be able to buy them. Too bad icy mooncake melts so I also can't ask someone to send one for me. :'(

Icy Mooncake by Wing Wah (Image from wingwah.com)

(Very yummy looking) Mango flavored wrapped in mung bean paste icy mooncake (Image from wingwah.com)


Why eat mooncake on this day? The mooncake's sweetness is a reminder of the family's togetherness and happiness for being together. The salted egg in the middle of the mooncake reminds us of a war which the Chinese won centuries ago for the freedom which we are now enjoying. Oh yeah...there's also that legend of the moon lady who took the fountain of youth and flew to the moon!

Happy mooncake day, everyone! For those people in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam and Korea, enjoy the Mid-Autumn holiday! Lucky you! As for me, I'm back to work tomorrow and will just wait until the Halloween-All Saints Day Holiday which I wish will be longer.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Battling Hunger in Africa

11:03:00 PM 0 Comments
Whenever I hear the word Africa, I always think about the images of children suffering and dying from famine which I see on the news or on Discovery Channel. It's really sad why it is happening to them. That is why I make sure I get enough food I can eat to prevent left overs since not all people can eat three times a day.

There are 13 million people in the Horn of Africa facing a hunger crisis. The World Food Programme can provide life-saving nutrition to one person for just 50¢ per day (in US Dollars). Donations made here can save lives!

Below is a map that features operational data collected from organizations responding to the humanitarian emergency in the Horn of Africa. The featured data was provided by the Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET) and the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit-Somalia (FSNAU).

Population affected numbers are calculated by the FSNAU according to the urban and rural population estimates and the food security status of that region. Food Security Conditions layer data was provided by FEWS NET. Food security is classified in five IPC phases, with famine being the most severe.


Give your support to feed these people. They need you!
For more details and information, visit http://horn.wfp.org/main.html.
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