DULDULAO DOT NET This Day & Beyond

Month: May 2014

  • Christmas Decorations Around The World

    Take a world tour of how different countries prepare for Christmas.

    Trees covered in tinsel and baubles. Stockings hanging from the fireplace. Elaborate outdoor light displays popping up all over the neighborhood.

    Think of decorating your home for Christmas and at least one of these traditions will likely spring to mind. Yet all over the world, countries celebrating Christmas have their own set of customs for decorating their homes for the holidays.

    In Mexico, nativity-themed Christmas decorations are carved from radishes. In chilly Antarctica, fish heads hang in doorways to replace mistletoe. And in Ghana, palm trees decorated with candles replace traditional Christmas trees to suit the tropical climate.

    As the festive season approaches, global real estate portal Lamudi takes you on a tour of Christmas decorations to be found in houses the world over.

    Africa

    In Africa, Christmas dinners after the church ceremony are prepared on tables out the front of homes, inviting people’s family and close friends to share a meal together. For this reason, outdoor decorations are more important than the interior. You may see fake snow decorating store fronts in Nairobi, oil palms loaded with bells in Liberia, or palm trees laden with candles in Ghana.

    In Zimbabwe, Christmas is far from being a casual celebration. It is tradition for people to set up their biggest speakers in front of their house and play their favourite music as loud as they can. But don’t expect only Christmas tunes. You will likely hear everything from the latest pop tunes to more traditional African favourites.

    Latin America

    Christmas is the most important holiday of the year for most countries in Latin America. Cities are loaded with spectacular, colourful decorations, including lots of fairy lights. In Colombia, December 7 is Dia De Las Velitas (Day of the Little Candles) where the night is spent decorating all public spaces with paper lanterns and candles. Each household lights approximately 100 candles and places them outside their home in honour of the Virgin Mary.

    On December 23, just before Christmas, farming folk in Mexico celebrate Noche de rábanos, or the Festival of the Radishes. They carve the vegetables into human figures, including those from nativity scenes. On Christmas Day, children can be found in Mexican living rooms attempting to and break apart decorated clay piñata using a stick – while blindfolded. Inside are small presents and sweets.

    Asia

    Because fir trees are not common in India, mango trees are often decorated instead. In addition, the whole house is decorated with mango leaves in order to brighten up homes. Large star-shaped paper lanterns are also very popular.

    In the Philippines cities shine in colorful lights during Christmas. People decorate their homes with buntings, candles, and wreaths. The most popular decoration in the Philippines is parol (pah-role). This is a bamboo pole with a bright star on top. The pole represents the guiding star of Bethlehem. People also put numerous Christmas cards in the living room for family and friends.

    But one of the most original Christmas traditions comes from Antarctica. With mistletoe being in seriously short supply, residents will often hang up a fish head instead.

    ABOUT LAMUDI

    Launched in 2013, Lamudi is a global property portal focusing exclusively on emerging markets. The fast-growing platform is currently available in 28 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, with more than 750,000 real estate listings across its global network. The leading real estate marketplace offers sellers, buyers, landlords and renters a secure and easy-to-use platform to find or list properties online. For more information, please visit http://www.lamudi.com.ph

    Visit Lamudi Philippines on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.

    ABOUT ASIA PACIFIC INTERNET GROUP

    Asia Pacific Internet Group (APACIG) is a joint venture of Rocket Internet and Ooredoo. The group’s network consists of 11 e-commerce and online marketplace companies, operating across 15 countries. Since it was founded in 2014, APACIG has become the leading online platform in Asia, building top internet companies in the region. For more information, please visit www.asiapacificinternetgroup.com

    REFERENCE & MEDIA CONTACT

    Rodel Ambas
    Content Editor, Lamudi Philippines
    Email: rodel.ambas@lamudi.com.ph
    Phone: +63 917 3015127

  • Yoshinoya Gyudon Eating Contest: “Moving ‘4-Ward’”

    Yoshinoya Gyudon Eating Contest: “Moving ‘4-Ward’”

    There’s no stopping Yoshinoya, the country’s most popular fast-food chain that specializes in all-time favorite Japanese culinary fare, from going forward with its remarkable Gyudon eating challenge.

    Now on its 4th year, this much-awaited event has earned the respect of many hungry Filipinos who want to test their mettle when it comes to gastronomic challenges. If Coney Island in New York, USA has the world-famous Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, then the Philippines definitely has Yoshinoya. And just like in the previous editions, the Yoshinoya Gyudon Eating Contest promises to be nothing short of exciting as more Gyudon-loving Pinoys are expected to troop to the Yoshinoya stores and sign up.

    Composed of 2 challenges, the contest is open to all male and female participants 18 years old and above. Qualifying Rounds will be held Monday through Friday at all Yoshinoya stores from April 21 up to May 30, 2014.

    To be able to participate, customers simply need to pay P199 at the counter, fill out the Registration Form and sign a Health and Release waiver, and present a valid ID (School ID, Company ID, Driver’s License, SSS ID, GSIS ID, NBI Clearance, Postal ID, Voters ID, or Passport) to the store manager.

    For the qualifying round the beef bowls should be consumed in the store. The customer who consumes the most number of bowls or has the least amount of leftover food in 5 minutes wins the day’s challenge.  The names of the four (4) fastest challengers will be on display at each store’s Leader Board and will be updated every time a new record is set.

    All weekly winners who qualified in each of the stores will be notified by phone call, email or registered mail and are automatically entered in the Grand Finals, which will be held on June 14, 2014, 1 pm, at the Activity Center of Glorietta in Makati City.

    During the final match, all finalists will compete by eating the most number of bowls in 15 minutes. The Top Three (3) Finalists with the most number of bowls consumed and the least weight of food left after 15 minutes will be declared winners of the Yoshinoya Gyudon Eating Contest 2014.

    And definitely, this year’s prizes gets even better—and bigger—especially for the First Place winner, who will receive P150,000 in cash and Two (2) round trip tickets to Japan courtesy of Cebu Pacific. The Second Placer gets P50, 000 while the 3rd placer takes home P25, 000. Non-winners will each be given consolation prizes of P2, 000 worth of Yoshinoya gift certificates.

    Expect tremendous and awesome fun and excitement for this year’s 2014 Yoshinoya Gyudon Eating Contest, which, after 4 years, still stands as a sure-fire hit among gyudon-loving Pinoys. Coming in droves to register for the past challenge editions just goes to show how much this great Japanese meal, composed of steaming white rice topped with sumptuous beef and onion stirred in a mild sweet sauce, is loved by many Filipinos and have made it as part of their daily food fare.

    For more details about the Yoshinoya Gyudon Eating Contest 2014, visit the Yoshinoya store nearest you (SM Megamall, SM North EDSA, SM Manila, SM Mall of Asia, Robinsons Galleria, Glorietta, Fairview Terraces). You can also visit the Yoshinoya Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/YoshinoyaPhilippines) or follow Yoshinoya Instagram or Twitter accounts, or you can go to www.yoshinoya.ph.

    REFERENCE:

    Richard Mamuyac
    09088135326