Hey fellow SM Advantage Card members, if you reside in Cagayan de Oro, you got to grab this SM promo for the SMAC-aholics out there! Get the chance to be at the opening of Savemore Market Capistrano 3rd Floor Section. This will be on the 27th of January 2012.

What do you get from attending the opening day? A deal of special offers for the SM Advantage, SM Prestige or BDO Rewards Card owners. Just swipe your cards at the Swipe Machine to avail of the following:

Buy 1 Get 1 promos:

• Colored TV (Friday)
• Fold-A-Mat (Saturday)
• Luggage Bag (Sunday)
• Roll-A-Mat (Monday)
• Stand Fan (Tuesday)
• Monoblock Chair (Wednesday) and;
• Rice Cooker (Thursday)

This is happening on the day after tomorrow and will be running until February 2, 2012.

Get your SM Advantage, SM Prestige or BDO Rewards Card ready, be at the opening day of Savemore Market Capistrano 3rd Floor Section and start reaping the great promos listed above.

Like what has been practiced in the past years, Chinese New Year in the Philippines is widely observed, even by non-Chinese locals. History brought us the genuine union of the Filipino and Chinese cultures and they have proven complete assimilation in the highest sense of degree, as we can see how Filipinos observe many Chinese traditions and beliefs and vice versa.

This time of the year, the feast happens again in a few days. In line with keeping the yearly tradition, one Chinese New Year 2012 Celebration in the Philippines will be hosted by Manila Hotel. On Jan. 22 to 23, the hotel will be opening its doors for one grand Chinese New Year bazaar. There will be lots of goodies to see, specially the famous dragon dances, fireworks and of course a free and special feng shui consultation with international expert Marites Allen.

There will also be a Chinese New Year 2012 countdown. It will begin at 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 22. In this light, expert Allen will be doing the incense lighting, blessings, and rituals. Right after that, as 12 midnight ticks off, Allen will be giving her forecasts and predictions for the year 2012.

If you would like to attend this celebration and intend to avail of the sumptuous foods that will be prepared by the hotel, you need to avail of the tickets which are sold for P2,188, for the regular, while P3,188 for the premium. For details, you may call 527-0011 local 1108 or 1243.

I think the open bazaar alone is one great treat already. If you are a follower of Feng Shui, you can just head on to the venue to consult about specific things in life, on matters of business venture, education and perhaps love life. But since Feng Shui is also widely used in predicting house designs and layout, I think you can also inquire about your house entrance placement, stair design, flooring tiles choices or maybe ask if your newly installed alloc laminate flooring will bring you prosperity in the long run.

The 2012 Chinese New Year is called the year of the Water Dragon. This mythical creature bears great representation and symbolism in Chinese beliefs. Celebrating  Chinese New Year 2012 in the Philippines will let you witness a number of related items, symbols and traditional performances. On food, of course there will be the famous “Tikoy” (nian gao) or Chinese New Year Pudding, which is made up of;

…glutinous rice flour, wheat starch, salt, water, and sugar. The color of the sugar used determines the color of the pudding (white or brown). (http://thetikoyplate.wordpress.com)

Here some of the images of Tikoy:

And who would want to miss the Dragon Dance? Here is a video of a dragon dance during last year’s Chinese New Year Celebration in the Philippines:

Still, a lot of great things to see during this new year celebration. Don’t miss out the event as it happens only once a year. Grab the chance to taste authentic Chinese foods, take home Chinese new year memorabilia and other novelty items related to luck, prosperity and health. Get some fresh Feng Shui tips and advises too.

898 NYPD Recruits Take Oath for a 6-Months Police Academy Training — After a rigorous training for 6-months, these 898 NYPD Recruits will be swearing to the law to uphold their innate roles and responsibilities for the city of New York. Spoke in front of the excited graduates was Mayor Michael Boomberg.

The said fresh rookies will begin their training today, Thursday, in view of becoming the much-coveted membership in the New York’s finest. Until they complete the training, they will be taken as probational members of the NYPD.

Mayor Bloomberg said to the recruits who came from 44 different birth countries;

You have chosen to answer the same noble call: To stand where others can’t. To go where others dare not

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly added;

You’ll be among the privileged to say ‘I became a New York City police officer.. I think your future is very bright.

To be among the NYPD is something phenomenal in the eyes and hearts of the Americans. For recruit Sean Trentacosta, the mere recital of the oath for the training gives him chills. As he declared, military affiliation has always been in his blood, so he is so much excited to be in the initial and crucial step in becoming a member of the NYPD. Trentacost said;

It’s in my blood.. This is it. I get to join the family. I’ve got big shoes to fill.

This is yet another batch of NYPD soon to be police officers. To the new NYPD recruits, good luck!

Are you a relative of one of these recruits in the NYPD? In some countries, those in the military are honored by way of giving them flowers or something like that. I am sure, there are lots of flower shops out there where you can buy 1 or 2. I once found a page related to online flower buying – here is their page.

Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/

Google joins us in welcoming the year 2012 by dedicating a Google Doodle, as you can see in your Google homepage today. The graphic work features items related to festivity like headphone set, microphone, guitar, books, calendar and a broom by the letter “e” in “Google”. I just noticed it while writing this short post; It sent significant message – clean your surroundings after the mess you made, due to the fireworks you lit, as part of your way in welcoming the new year.

Here is Google’s Doodle for the New Year 2012.

So how did your celebration go? I do hope that you enjoyed it, together with your beloved family and friends and of course, safe from any untoward incidents. In my place, the campaign against illegal firecrackers and other dangerous fireworks are very intense. I do hope too that the casualties this time are way much lower than in the previous years.

This day maybe the perfect time to light up your fuente cigars, by your balcony while contemplating for your new year resolution for 2012.

Have a prosperous new year everyone!

Watch Burj Khalifa Dubai NewYear 2011 Live Streaming — brought to you by Dubai Media Incorporated, United Arab Emirates, you can watch the new year live stream online of the new year welcoming in Dubai, Burj Khalifa.

Watch Burj Khalifa Dubai NewYear 2011 Live Stream: http://www.dmi.ae/newyear/