Today is Christmas in Marinduque, Philippines

Last nigth Macrine, Sister Guia, Fe Jambalos (my sisters in-laws)and I went to the suppose to be midnight mass (10PM) at the Cawit Chapel. The church was overflowing. Luckily, we were able to locate a place in front of the side entrance of the church where we placed our two small portable plastic chairs. I notice a lot of children, teenagers and some of the mass attendants were drunk and a few of the teenagers were sleeping instead of attending and listening to the masss. My sister-in-laws informed me that half of the crowd probably attend church only on Christmas and Easter, that is why the church was so crowded. Speaking of Christmas here in Marinduque. The temperature is in the 80's and instead of snow we have almost like summer weather. The past week, Macrine had been busy with cooking by mouth, while I had been doing gardening by mouth to prepare the Gardens of Chateau Du Mer for some guests this New Year at the beach house. My orchids are in bloom, so are my hibiscus,bougainvillas and euphorbias. If this is your first time to hear the phrase cooking/gardening by mouth, let me explain. Macrine has a full time housekeeper and cook, when we are here in Marinduque. So all Macrine does is tell the cook to do this, do that and wow, the past week, we had Banana Nut bread, macaroni-chicken salad, chicken relleno and many other Filipino delicacies. We even had brocolli sauted in oyster sauce with Prawns. The brocolli is imported from Baguio and is more expensive than the chicken. The Prawns cost 450 pesos per kilo, but still is cheap when compared to the price in US. The mangoes cost 80 pesos per kilo, but I buy it even though it suppose to be expensive to the locals. Speaking of vegetables, I like to go to the Farmer's Market every Saturday morning near Amoingon, where prices are about 50% cheaper when compared at the town's market in downtown Boac or Gasan. This Christmas, we received about 2 lbs of walnuts and pecans from a Balikbayan relative. We also brought with us 2 lbs of pistachios nuts, so last night after church, we had San Miquel beer and pistachios. Today, we will have Ham, kari-kari, queso de bola, suman sa ibos, chicken macaroni salad, embotido and pork adobo for lunch. We will have also banana/walnut bread and for dessert we will have mangoes and papayas. So, you know why, I have already gained 3 lbs in my equator after only 20 days here in Boac. I think I am talking non-sense now, so it is time to close and extend my Christmas greetings to all! Cheers and Have a Good Day to All!