Lunar New Year begins on the date (in East Asia) of the second new Moon after the winter solstice, which always takes place in late December. This means that the first day of the Lunar New Year can occur anytime between January 21 and February 20. In 2023, this new Moon occurs in China on Sunday, January 22, marking the start of the Lunar New Year.
Who Celebrates Lunar New Year?
Although this holiday has commonly been called “Chinese New Year” in the West, China is not the only country to observe it. Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most celebrated and longest of all Asian festivals, and is observed by millions of people around the world.
A number of other countries in East Asia, including Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and the Philippines, hold their own new year celebrations at this time.
How Is Lunar New Year Celebrated?
As with many winter solstice celebrations, the symbolic darkness of night is banished by the light of fireworks, lanterns, and candles. Man-made paper lanterns are hung by the hundreds in public areas, bringing good luck to the new year. There are dragon dances, performances, and festival parades with music and acrobatics. The festivities continue for two weeks, finishing with a special lantern festival, which signals the end of the New Year celebration period.
Wedding Bells for Kathniel?
So whispers are getting louder that this coming 2023, Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla will likely tie the knot. What do you think – is it a match made in heaven?
I remember that summer in San Fran at the ASAP 2019 event. Daniel and Kathryn were so sweet and inseparable. That was the time when Kathryn’s film “Hello, Love, Goodbye,” was currently the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time. Her other movie, 2018’s “The Hows of Us,” held the second spot. Daniel has yet to beat Kathryn’s record. But I don’t think this is a minus factor to their relationship.
Daniel knows compatibility and understanding are of paramount importance in every relationship and Daniel feels fortunate to have found his partner in Kathryn. “In work, we are together and then after work, we’re still together. What is beautiful about it is I’m always excited to see Kathryn kasi I’m a ship and she’s my anchor.”
And what is Kathyrn’s positive effect on him?
“I’ve become more responsible in terms of money and future planning.”
Last May, Kathryn and Daniel flew to Chiang Mai, Thailand to celebrate their 10th anniversary as a real-life couple. She then posted on Instagram: “Celebrated our special day in the most unforgettable way possible and enjoyed every minute of it.”
Then she addressed Daniel: “You know how much this trip means to me and how much I love elephants, so without a question, you agreed to do this again with me right away. All you said to me was “Kahit san mo gusto love, susunod ako after ng trabaho ko. Thank you for making time for this trip, my love! Thank you for always making sure I feel loved and appreciated. Looking back on our 10-year journey together, I find myself smiling with so much pride. Because we did it… We did it, love! True love exists. I love you so much. Happy 10th anniversary to my person!”
Kathniel’s “2 Good 2 Be True” was the consistent No. 1 TV show on Netflix in the Philippines (from May 16 to November 11, 2022), aside from being a trending title on social media. Kathryn’s numerous scenes as a nurse, in particular, drew praise from the medical community for their accuracy and execution.
Albert’s Greatest Love
“Liezl is Christmas for me – forever,” Albert Martinez admitted. And again, this holiday season he is feeling the deep hurt. “In our years together, she took care of everything: the food, the decoration, the tree, lahat lahat. She’s here, always in my heart.”
Now at 61, Albert admits he gets his spirits up by enjoying his time with his kids and apos. He says, “I worked so hard and missed so much. It was hectic, I did so many series on tv and now lang ako bumabawi sa kanila. I try my best to find time to cook for them every weekend.”
Though he is still mourning the loss, he conceded. “I worked so hard all these years, and she was behind me all the way,” he recalled. “Now, I often ask myself: What was the point of all our struggles if I couldn’t share my achievements with her?”
Liezl was absolutely perfect, Albert added.
Revisiting the Pioneer
I think you should find time to see the Black Creek Pioneer Village. It’s like travelling back in time, takes you to the era of Canada’s Confederation. You can interact with the animals, buildings and tools of early Toronto. You will experience the lifestyles, customs and surroundings of the early residents.
This is my second visit, my first was many years ago when I was still a tourist in the late 70s. Now, I explored it again with the Markham Federation Family led by Myrna de Leon. As a living history museum, Black Creek Pioneer Village offers one of the richest heritage experiences. In the buildings and surrounding gardens and farmyards, you will find historical interpreters and tradespeople in authentic period dress, who will demonstrate and explain for you how people lived, worked and played in mid 19th century rural Ontario. Immerse yourself in the 1860s and explore an authentically re-created country village of the Toronto region.
The extreme cold weather this winter season helped us reimagined what life was, a colorful history indeed.
Background: The Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority joined together the site of the Dalziel Pioneer Park Museum, which housed a magnificent 1809 Pennsylvania German log barn & a historic farm of Daniel and Elizabeth Stong farm of 1816 to create the Black Creek Pioneer Village. Daniel and Elizabeth settled on the property on the south-east corner of Jane Street and Steeles Avenue in 1816 when it was virgin forest. They cut down the trees and created a farm that was operated by four generations of the family until 1952. The Toronto Region Conservation Authority purchased the property in 1958 and created Black Creek Pioneer Village which opened in 1960.
One of our favorite sites is The doctor’s house which was originally built in 1830 as a two generation farm house near Brampton. It has two separate entrances and the upstairs is fully divided so that two families could live here in relative privacy. A door on the main floor allowed them to pass between the two halves to join in family activities. The design is perfect to showcase a small town doctor’s house where the one side could serve as an office. An herb garden in the back yard would be cultivated to provide remedies that were learned from the indigenous peoples who had lived on the land for centuries.
Next Korean Series
Can’t wait to watch the most-talked about teleseryes from Korea. First on our list is When The Stars Gossip/Ask The Stars led by Lee Min-ho, Gong Hyo-jin, and Han Ji-eun.
This compelling drama will be set in outer space. Gong Ryong, an obstetrician-gynaecologist, arrives at a space station as a space tourist. There, he crosses paths with an astronaut, Eve Kim, who is a perfectionist.
Second is The Worst Evil with our favorite Ji Chang-wook (who just conquered Manila!) plus Wi Ha-joon and Im Se-mi.
Set in the 1980s, this series follows Park Joon-mo, a police officer who infiltrates crime boss Jung Gi-cheol’s organisation while undercover. His wife is Yoo Eui-jung, a narcotics officer who is supporting his investigation. This crime action drama should release sometime in the second half of 2023.
Third is Doona! with Bae Suzy and Yang Se-jong.
What happens when an ordinary, broke college student moves into a sharehouse and finds an ex-celebrity who has left her K-pop days far behind her? Presumably, sparks fly. This romance drama will be helmed by Lee Jung-hyo, director of Crash Landing On You.
4th is Black Night headlined by Kim Woo-bin, Esom, and Kang Yoo-seok.
A dystopian series set in the future where air pollution makes it impossible for people to leave home without a gas mask. A strict social class system prevails and citizens rely on delivery drivers known as Knights. Kim Woo-bin plays a legendary delivery driver who meets Sa-wol, a refugee who dreams of becoming a Knight like him.
No. 5 is Queen of Tears headlined by Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won.
A love story of a different kind, this drama depicts the life of married couple Baek Hyun-woo and Hong Hae-in. Hyun-woo is a self-made man from the village of Yongdu-ri while Hae-in is the daughter of the chaebol family that owns Queens Group, where Hyun-woo holds a senior position. But will their marriage survive all the trials to come? Queen of Tears is set to premiere in the second half of 2023.
6th is Murder DIEary with Choi Woo-shik, Son Seok-koo and Lee Hee-joo,
The Strangers from Hell director, is coming up with yet another fascinating thriller revolving around murder. Choi Woo-shik will take on the role of Lee Rang, a college student who unintentionally kills a person who turns out to be a serial killer. When he realises that he has the power to identify bad people he begins to root them all out.
7th is Call It Love with Lee Sung-kyung and Kim Young-kwang
A woman finds out about her father’s infidelity. After his death, the mistress mistreats her and the woman begins to plot revenge. But her plans are turned upside down when she meets the mistress’s son and sparks begin to fly.
Grateful
My publisher Tess C and I were seated together at the PIDC Christmas event – we had so much fun, thanks to Rory Eelefano, Jean Pardo and Danny Orbillo. That holiday party rocked! Oh what fun as we danced till we dropped. And (drumroll please) – the surprise awards filled our hearts with so much joy (a solid threefold recognition) :
- PIDC acknowledged our efforts (thanks Prexy Agnes Miranda)
- MP Rechie Valdez (who made history as the first Filipino woman elected Member of Parliament in Canada), has honored us; and we’re so revered having been chosen as one of the privileged recipients of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pin award in celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s 70th anniversary. Feeling so grateful. So loved. So precious. And so CHRISTMAS! Thank you Dear Lord. Joy to the World!
Trevor
Had a short reunion lunch with our dear nephew Trevor Jimenez (of Pixar Films) who was in town for the holidays. Trevor, who’s originally from Hamilton, told us he’s working on a project which is coming up in 2025.
He was nominated for an Academy Award for directing the short film ‘Weekends'(2017), also winner of the Annie Award for best Animated short and the Audience & Jury Prize Crystals at Annecy. Most recently, he was Story Lead/Story Supervisor on Pixar’s ‘Soul’ (which won as Oscar’s Best Animated Feature in 2021) and was a story artist in ‘Coco'(2016), ‘Finding Dory'(2015), and Henry Selick’s unfinished ‘The Shadow King’.
Questions
Fans are wondering if there’s truth to the news that Sarah Geronimo’s Mommy Divine allegedly violated the Labor Code as she withheld paychecks and failed to provide statutory benefits to her employees? Abangan!
When will Matet and Nora Aunor reconcile? Matet was only about 2 years old when we migrated to Los Angeles.
We are so interested to hear about the projects of sisters Charo and Malou Santos with GMA. This is really BIG!
So, we’re getting questions from our messenger folder on FB if John Lloyd and rumored GF Isbael Santos are going to be engaged soon? We will find this out when we get to Manila this January.
See you in 2 weeks. Let us celebrate 2023 with a bigger bang.