Chinese New Year

February 8, 2016, The Chinese New Year is the Welcome Day for the God of Wealth. Many families worship the God of Wealth in the early morning. After the ceremony, people explode firecrackers to invite the God of Wealth to enter the house. That's why we can keep continuously hearing the sparsely sound of firecrackers in the morning.

Many stores open on this day after Chinese New Year holiday. Some religious store owners put a table in the front of company's main entry. They prepare fruit, flower, candy, tea, candles and animal sacrifices on the table to worship the God of Wealth. Some even invite the lion dance team to celebrate the opening ceremony. The mascot of the God of Wealth will appear and enter the store. The store owner will give the mascot a Red Envelope with money reward inside.

The God of Wealth is a Chinese deity who can bless one with luck, wealth and economic opportunities. Although worshipped throughout the year, he is especially popular during the Chinese New Year when the community welcomes a new year and mark the start of a new social calendar.

During this time, his image appears on posters, New Year cards, red packets, in the shape of a candy and even as a mascot! Nearing the new year, some organisations even invite an artist dressed as the God of Wealth to send New Year greetings.

Usually dressed in the style of a Chinese Mandarin official and in red, he holds symbols of wealth such as a gold ingot or the Ruyi, a sceptre stylised as a celestial fungus.
Three wise men are Chinese gods who are FuK LuK Shou. Three gods are the popular deities of wealth, Prosperity, and Longevity.

Fuk represents good luck and harmony; Luk stands for authority, power and wealth; Shou signifies good health and longevity.

How to Place Fuk Luk Sau:
Fuk Luk Sau should be placed side by side in one row - Fuk is on your left side, Luk is in the center and Shou is on your right side when you look at them. They can be displayed on the table in your living room or dining area facing inside (not directly facing the main door if facing outside). The level of table can't be too low. In addition, the Fuk Luk Sau position can't be under the beam or facing to toilet.

Fuk god means harmony. Luk god standing in the middle with one green ru yin on his hand stands for power, authority and wealth. He is the god of high rank and affluence. Sau god with a domed head and carrying a peach is the god of longevity.

Chinese Three Lucky Gods (I bought these in Chinatown Singapore, June 22, 2014)
Fuk Luk Sau stands for harmony, wealth and good health.
Displaying Fuk Luk Sau at home to enhance harmony,
generate wealth and bring good health.

The most well-known God of Wealth is Zhao Gong Ming
but the God of Wealth is also commonly regarded as
the manifest of not one but several individuals
commonly associated with the ability to bless people
with wealth, luck and economic opportunity.

Princess Sol Diaries

By Sol Albar

©2016

2016 Happy New Year!

It's 2016! A few days before the New Year, we do a complete cleaning of the house and house wares which signifies to remove the old and welcome the new. After the cleaning, we decorate the house to welcome the New Year. Most of the decorations are red in color and rounded.

Ever since I was a child up to the time I got married and had a kid things never change so much for me to always felt excited celebrating New Year's eve with my family and pets gathered at home for a special dinner. Right after 12:00 midnight on New Year's Eve, fireworks will be launched to celebrate the coming of the New Year as well as to drive away the evil. It is believed that the person who launched the first firework of the New Year will obtain good luck. as they said those throw away bad luck. Many traditional things are always observe during the festive eve.

I really do follow wearing of color red and polka dots from my parents tradition which are meant for prosperity and good health, loud music for lively dancing from my Tony, and strange sound of neighbors fireworks outside which is always interesting to look at.

When it's time to light candle on our altar, we close our eyes, say a warm hello to the year 2016 and say our prayers silently giving Thanks to God for everything that he has given us, ask for forgiveness for all our mistakes and at last, wishing for an even better, greater, prosperous, blissful, healthy, bright, delightful, energetic and extremely happy days for my family and friends all the days of our lives. 

New year is the best time to make new year's resolution, a fresh new beginnings as we begin a new chapter of our life to fill up the pages with beautiful dreams and visions. When the New Year arrives, it brings us new ideas and hopes for us to make our lives good to better and better to best. Along with all the new hopes and promises that the New Year would bring to us may it also brings us a lot more opportunities to work together. 

2016 New Year's eve!

Our Lady of Remedies Parish Church

On the day of my Birthday 6th of September 2015, I was blessed to attend Holy Sunday Mass at this century old Malate church with my Ate's and Kuya. 

From Wikipedia

Malate Church (formally known as Our Lady of Remedies Parish Church) is a church in Manila, Philippines. It is a Baroque-style church fronted by Plaza Rajah Sulayman and, ultimately, Manila Bay. The church is dedicated to Nuestra Señora de los Remedios ("Our Lady of Remedies"), the patroness of childbirth.  A revered statue of the Virgin Mary in her role as Our Lady of Remedies was brought from Spain in 1624 and stands at the altar.

Malate used to be known as Maalat due to the saline waters of the bay; and as Laguio or Lagunoi, the name of the street which separated it from Ermita. it is located by Manila Bay, very close to the sea. One main street crosses it at the center; it is wide and beautiful and leads up to Cavite. The numerous trees make this road a pleasant walk. It lies just three kilometers from the center of Manila.

The Altar at the chancel 

Inside is an image of Our Lady of Remedies or Nuestra Señora de los Remedios enshrined on the main altar. It came from Spain and was brought here by the Augustinian Fathers who were the early administrators of the church in the 16th century. This image is known to serve towards the mothers with sick children. Today, the mothers manifest their devotion by lighting special candles and pouring forth their private petitions.

The Nave and and the gathering of faithful.

Baroque Interior of Malate Church. The Augustinian Chapter held on 18 September 1581 accepted the house of Maalat as a house of the Order under the name of Lagunoi and the ad-vocation of the Conception of Our Lady (Immaculate Conception).

Right side of the Transept facing the Altar.

Left sife of the transept facing the Altar.

I love looking at the century heavy wood carvings
on the altar and the cathedra on Chancel. 

Their antique chandeliers truly blends well with stained glass windows.
A geometric pattern on their flooring and the holy water bowl which is made of white marble.

Plaza Rajah Sulayman, also known as Rajah Sulayman Park.

It is bounded by Roxas Boulevard to the west,
San Andrés Street to the south and Remedios Street to the north.
The plaza is considered the center of Malate as it fronts the Malate Church,
the main church of the district.

The square is named after Rajah Sulayman,
the late 16th-century sovereign of the Kingdom of Maynila,
who died in the Battle of Bangkusay Channel while resisting invading Spanish troops
led by Miguel López de Legazpi.

The Malate Church exterior is now under renovation
(Picture taken on the 6th of September 2015)

The Malate Church near Roxas Boulevard is only one of the two that has a twisted column and has in effect a retablo type facade, the other being the Franciscan church in Daraga.

The Malate Church was considered to be a dangerous stronghold if captured by outside forces. Stone churches outside Intramuros can be a convenient cover for the enemy. When the British came in 1762 they operated from the church’s tower and Manila was subsequently sacked.

Architecture and Furnishings

http://www.kencollins.com/glossary/architecture.htm

Food Presentation

Any designer who does not appreciate or know about good food is not a very good designer. The planning of a meal and it's presentation. The texture, the color, the tastes, the hot and cold temperatures are the same concerns that affect an environment.

Creating Good Color Scheme

With colors you can set a mood, attract attention, or make a statement. You can use color to energize, or to cool down. By selecting the right color scheme, you can create an ambiance of elegance, warmth or tranquility, or you can convey an image of playful youthfulness. Color can be your most powerful design element if you learn to use it effectively.

Colors affect us in numerous ways, both mentally and physically. A strong red color has been shown to raise the blood pressure, while a blue color has a calming effect.

Being able to use colors consciously and harmoniously can help you create spectacular results.

This fabric swatches is indispensable for the Interior Designer on creating good color scheme/sewing/craft room, and the format is small enough to throw into your bag when you are heading to the fabric store.
SOL ALBAR Interior Designer