Chrismas Memories and Dancing Lights

We live in an urban jungle (as if i have not stressed that enough). Sadly, Manila does not have enough open spaces. Or it does not have parks which are similar to the ones I went to growing up.

I grew up in Baguio City, at a time when the cold air smelled like pine. I grew up spending my weekends in various parks and open spaces (Burnham! Mines View! John Hay!). At that time, pollution was a thing from first-world urban jungles. On the other hand, Hugo is growing up in a different time and city, and I sure as hell will make sure he won't be short-changed. 

This is the reason why we spend most of our time in our favorite park: Ayala Triangle Park.

Wee wee Hugo with his dad and our niece

Ayala Triangle Park is a 2-hectare open space in the middle of what can be (some of ) the Philippines' busiest avenues: Ayala, Makati and Paseo de Roxas. The Park itself is just a wide open space of grass and greenery: it does not have your usual swings and see-saws. It does have a jogging path (well, pedestrian lanes) and restaurants (some of the best in the city). We like bringing our picnic basket and blanket, some munchies, and entertainment for the kiddos (bubbles and balls).

This is where Hugo practiced his first steps.

While in the park, Hugo spends most of his time running around the greens and running after older kids and dogs. 

In fact, this is where we shot Hugo's birthday pictures.

The park also has big art installations that people can  touch and look at up close.

Independence day Month. Spot the baby.

This Christmas season, Ayala Triangle's trees were decorated with thousands and thousands of LED lights. From 6-9pm every night, Ayala Triangle features a sights and sounds show where the LED lights blink and dance with Christmas carols. We viewed the show a few nights ago and the whole time, I excitedly watched it with one eye on Hugo, waiting for his reaction. Expectedly, Hugo was amazed (overwhelmed?); he kept saying "lights!".

LED dancing lights

They change in color and blink to the beat of Christmas carols (Pop songs for Christmas, really, like "do they know it's Christmas?" by Band Aid)

This is just Hugo's second Christmas and now that he's already a little child who can appreciate things around him, I would like him to look back at this one day and think how happy the Christmas season is for him.  My friend, Ia, who was with us with her family, mentioned that she now understood why her parents brought her to the opening of the Christmas display of the COD Department Store when she was still a child. Now, it is our turn to create similar childhood Christmas memories with our young ones.

The lights and sounds show started last November 17 until will be until December 23. Definitely worth braving the Christmas traffic. :)

Hugo's Halloween

Guess who had fun with the older kiddos?

Last weekend, Hugo went trick or treating* around the neighborhood village with his ate Nique and her friends.  This is Hugo's first trick or treat trip (say this fast three times) and more than anything, I wanted him to enjoy it.

There were plenty of choices for the little one's costume but we decided on the timeliest (read: uso) and most comfortable. Hugo's dad wanted him to go as Steve Jobs (with us being big Apple fans) but black turtle neck shirts for babies are impossible to find in Manila. Plus, do we really want him to sweat the lines and the heat in all that adult get up? He also had the token superhero unitard(Spiderman) that he was so uncomfortable in.

Our final choice? He went as a football player.

This outfit is a no brainer: just grab sneakers, knee high socks, his jersey and shorts and he's ready to go!

He was very comfortable; he looked like he was just hanging out! He never cried or complained when we let him walk what could have been baby miles. As long as he saw his Ate Nique sweating it out, he probably thought why shouldn't he be sweating, too?

I spotted two other kids wearing football jerseys, too. One who was as small as Hugo, came as an Argentinian football player (Messi!). I also spotted some photographers taking pictures of Hugo. He was so cute, insisting on carrying his pail himself. (Haha. Biased.)

So people got the point, I also wore my favorite jersey (Azkals!). I got compliments on that, too. :)

*Yes, Halloween and trick or treating are not endemic to the Philippines. And yes, we do have that here now, but only in villages and malls and only before the more important Ph holiday, All Saints' Day.