The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Mea culpa.
I was prepared to attend The Market Monitor family Christmas party last week.
As a matter of fact, I planned to do a chami (a Fil-Chinese concoction of flat miki—a variety of locally made yellow noodle mixed with veggies, meat and innards of beef, chicken or pork and sauteed in oyster sauce) to bring to the table of Dutch treat or prepared cuisine by The Market Monitor publisher Nelly Lumbaca.
When the intended party venue (other than the spacious extension office of Samahang Plaridel and TMM in Malate) wasn’t in place yet, I coordinated through visual artist Bon Labora, with Jay Rod Danganan–2025 President, Jaycees Quezon City Capitol–to avail of the JCI Hall in Roces Avenue.
Nelly also opted for Dampa near Roxas Boulevard and Macapagal Avenue.
Finally, Lumbaca settled for the coziness, trustworthiness and homey atmosphere of the TMM office.
Christmas spirit was indeed felt inside the party hall with trimmings in green, red and gold of various holiday ornaments.
Well, that went as far as the photos and videos sent to me in GCs were concerned when I informed the group one day before the revelry that I couldn’t join them in one of the most awaited and cherished occasions of the year.
It’s because of an unavoidable domestic circumstance surrounding the health condition of my eighty-two-year-old widowed sister who’s alone in the province as her children are all abroad.
I was the only next of kin who could take care of her including the difficult task of decision-making for her hospitalization and its indications.
From the pictures of happy and joyous MM family members with some kids in tow in the entire party I felt a bit sad not being with them not necessarily because of the raffle prizes and the gifts but the camaraderie and congenial togetherness with fellow writers, editors, layout artists, advertisers, advisers and guests.
The food was aplenty that everyone savored with gustative gusto.
If only for these little joys the TMM family have shared during this holiday season I can say my heart is full.
***
The other pre-Christmas event that made my heart leap with pride and joy was the environment-friendly project that actress Cataleya Surio enjoined in her showbiz activities, the promotion of the Las Pinas-Paranaque Wetland Park, an islet off Manila Bay.
Cataleya invited her showbiz friends like Lance Raymundo, Raquel Villavicencio, Julio Diaz and Noel Comia, Jr. to bird watch, walk the forest and sightsee the natural beauty of the wetland.
Unfortunately, it rained hard that Sunday so her guests didn’t experience birdwatching, walking the jungle in the city to witness nature but they were oriented and had a short program that showed the v itality and promise of the park for both local and foreign tourists.
“Nakakita naman kami ng (We were able to watch) egrets from afar kahit nababasa sila ng ambon (even if they were showered by afternoon drizzle),” quipped Raquel who is also an environmentalist.
It’s a sanctuary and habitat of migratory birds
“Napakaganda po ng project na ito. Gagawin po talaga itong tourist attraction. Kakaunti pa ang nakakaalam pero sa tulong ng press, mababalitaan din nila ito (The project is very good. This will indeed be a tourist spot. It is not known yet but with the help of the press, people will learn about this),” explained Surio who is busy with the promotion of the place in her free time.