Twenty Eleven.

LEFT - Replica of Rizal's House in Binan, Laguna.

We celebrated New Year at the Fontana Resorts at Clark in Pampanga. The whole Clan was there except for bro who did send in two of his sons. It was a hectic yet relaxing way to greet the New Year of the Rabbit.

However, my Year Twenty Eleven started with losses. But I'm glad it was losses at the Casino. This means that I should stay away as far as possible from gambling venues. I'm not a gambler, so this is no big deal.

But then gain has started to come in. A buyer is interested in the property I'm selling.

Unlike other people, I don't set any goals or resolutions at the start of a New Year; I've always been a procrastinator.

Like last January, I promised to take up dancing lessons here in Manila, and to take up swimming as a form of exercise. But no, I didn't follow through. Now, it's January once again.

Good thing, I'm ready with my Total Gym at home and we promise to take early morning brisk walk after the 6 am mass.

Waking up at 5 am everyday and having hot pan de sal with my coffee, and then having a "real" breakfast at eight consisting of rice, egg, and meat (tapa or longganisa) or fish (danggit, daing na bangus or tinapa) have completely ruined my "Canadian" diet of oatmeal and toast/peanut butter sandwich for breakfast.

At Clark, we made a side trip to the Nayong Pilipino. It was unlike the old Nayong Pilipino at the Philippine Village. This one at Clark has only selected scenes from the North (Mountain

Province) and Cavite (the historic Aguinaldo house where Independence was declared on June 12), Laguna (house of Jose Rizal) and Bulacan (Barasoain Church), and a lone Maranao Muslim house, to represent Muslim South. There was a pathetic representation of a Volcano which was unrecognizable since there was no tag or post naming it.

I remember the Nayong Pilipino of Imelda Marcos circa 1975. It looked brand new, and was clean, and the scenarios were almost a complete representation of the Philippine archipelago.

ABOVE, a replica of an Ifugao hut/dwelling which features the detachable stairs, to discourage thieves. Shown are sculptures of Ifugao.