More snow photos for you to look at. Lockwookd Road, Northfield, Birmingham picture above and below: Sainsbury's Northfield Northfield High Street

“Sinulog is a dance ritual in honor of the miraculous image of the Santo Niño. The dance moves two steps forward and one step backward to the sound of the drums.”The word Sinulog is a Visayan term to the local dance that follows the rhythm of the river flow (Sulog).
the famous San Diego DancersThe annual feast celebration of Sr. Sto. Nino de Cebu is today, Sunday, 17th of January 2010. It is the biggest festival of the country culminating the miraculous feast of Infant Jesus.Both religious and cultural, the Sinulog festival of Cebu City is offered in honor of the Sto. Nino or the divine child, god, creator & protector of the world. Sinulog is one of the most colorful and grandest festival in the Philippines. The Sinulog festival is held on the Third Sunday of January. Essentially, it is a dance ritual commemorating the Cebuano & Filipino people's pagan past and their acceptance of the Catholic faith.

And highlighting the celebration is the famous SINULOG festival. I was once a dancer of this Sinulog way back years ago when I was a member of the Southwestern University headed by Mr. Mike Gonzales (I don't know if he is still alive).

But since I migrated here in the UK, I never been to Cebu for nearly 20 years. I wish to visit Cebu one day if God permits.

Thousands of schools were closed as more thick snow blanketed much of the UK, spreading overnight into the centre and south of England and bringing serious disruption to road, air and rail services. Some of the heaviest falls came again in the north-east of England and the Scottish borders, with reports of up to 30cm (12in) falling since early yesterday. Parts of the northern Highlands saw just short of half a metre of snow falling.

Here in the Midlands, we all thought that it would not come back again but it poured slowly overnight accumulating to the ground causing chaos in transport and livelihood.

After temperatures overnight dipped to -13C in Aberdeenshire and -10C in Norfolk, forecasters were predicting that the cold spell, already the longest since 1981, could last another two weeks or even longer.

Some councils have warned that they are near to running out of grit supplies to treat roads. West Berkshire council said it had sufficient stocks for just one more coating on A and B roads and was urgently seeking new stock.

Main entrance to the university covered with snow. Edgbaston grounds opposite Birmingham City UniversityThe worst scenario came to Birmingham and across the UK for the severe snow blizzard. The beginning of the year 2010 is being struck by several inches of snowfall and considered as the coldest winter for 100 years. Yes, it is really cold with a record temperature that plunges up to -20 degrees centigrade at night and hardly struggling at daytime at about zero degrees.

The problem now is the scarcity of salt grits needed for treatment of the roads. Most of the secondary roads are treacherous to drive and dangerous for people walking. But eventhough, it doesn't stop me from driving my bike and the result?

I just had a bike accident again this morning on my way to work. I've got a bruise on my chin and knees but aside from that, I'm feeling ok. The day before, I went for a bike riding looking for a good views of snow and I enjoyed the children sledging down the hill with their plastic sledge.

Everyone hate it but for me, I love it. I love snow no matter how disastrous it is.

More photos below:

New Year celebration here in Britain will be more colourful and full of fireworks display in London. It is already a tradition to celebrate the new year in the River of Thames in London particularly the landmark of London Eye.

Last year 2009 was a very beautiful fireworks display witnessed by thousands of revellers in central London and the TV viewers. I, myself, had seen it via TV and it was a very amazing synchronized fireworks presentation.

As a tradition, I am collecting 13 rounded fruits, one for each month and the 13th fruit would be for your long life. There is no harm if you believe it but I do.

This will be Bacon and her family's 2nd to celebrate with their daddy. She will be wearing the polka dot dress bought by her daddy from Adams.

Happy New Year to all!

Related Links below:

Joro Livelihood
Joro, The New Beginning
Absolutely Joro
The World Of Joro
The Tale Of A Bukidnon Lad
Baconchezjoro Multiply

The time that I've been waiting for has come, the year end sale all over UK. During the Boxing Day, I managed to get a sale clothes in Adams and Peacocks in Northfield for my godchildren.

There were only few shops opened on that day but I was really interested in going to the city centre to get a better angle of the sales but unfortunately, no buses in going there.

As what I heard from the news, the Boxing Day sales have drawn huge crowds as High Street stores cut prices in their post-Christmas reductions. After a slow Christmas for retailers, queues formed outside many outlets throughout the UK, including shops in London, Edinburgh, and Birmingham.

By December 27, Sunday, I went to the Bullring in city centre and hunted for a bargain. Retailers reported one of the most successful starts ever to the sales, with some saying queues had doubled compared with last year even if UK is still suffering from the credit crunch. Many were also hoping for a busier day on Friday as more shops begin sales.

The shop sales follow online sales beginning on Christmas Day. On Boxing Day some stores, including Birmingham's Selfridges, Debenhams and the House of Fraser in Corporation Street, offered discounts of up to 75% on some goods. I managed to get a buy one get one free jeans in Debenhams and a cardigan in Sportswear.

A lot of customers including me are reluctant to spend and there are worries about how their finances are going to stand up. This is really true even if the sale item is much cheaper than you think than the original price but still, you would be thinking about your earnings that will end only in sales.

But anyway, it's fun eventhough very timesome as there were so many people eager to grab an item. Clue, if you want that item, just hold it and make your mind later if you are going to have it or not.

this is Debenhams in the Bullring Birmingham, 4 floors
the busy escalators jampacked with shoppers
River Island and Topshop, few of my favourites

Related Links below:

Joro Livelihood
Joro, The New Beginning
Absolutely Joro
The World Of Joro
The Tale Of A Bukidnon Lad
Baconchezjoro Multiply