Remembering The Years

Saw this photo on my FB Memories app early this morning. Every day, I always look forward to some of my shoutouts and photos uploaded on my Facebook account since I joined the site. We had lunch at Bellini’s to celebrate Lovell’s Theology graduation.

We go back several years of friendship. We first met when I went to UST to confirm Nissa’s attendance to the Domnet Youth Festival (Dominican Youth Network) which was held in Davao City. Nissa represented the Faculty of Arts and Letters while Lovell was the representative of the College of Commerce. It was Nissa’s first plane ride out of Metro Manila.

There used to be this Friendster app which Nissa and I joined and she showed me her list of friends. I was surprised to see Lovell wearing a cassock. He entered the seminary right after college. We both majored in Economics so we always had something to talk about. He gifted me with a rosary from the Vatican blessed by the Pope. Friendster travelled to Multiply then on to Facebook.

He was finally ordained to priesthood in November 2012, same year and month that Nate was born. I remember Nissa’s wedding the year before and Lovell’s ordination as Deacon several days after. We have maintained the friendship even when he was assigned in different places. Every time he presides over masses in different churches, he always texts me for my petition. We haven’t seen each other since his Thanksgiving mass in UST in December 2012 but we regularly get in touch through texts and calls sometimes. He told me one time that I am his spiritual mother and I’m so glad that there is someone out there praying for the family especially for my health. Looking forward to his vacation so we could see each other again. Iloilo where he is assigned is quite far from Metro Manila.

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It’s Good Friday

I left the house early for the Visita Iglesia but I only visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Light here in our town. I chanced upon the yearly procession, a dramatization of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, fasting for forty days and nights and ended being nailed on the cross. The participants were garbed in colorful garments including our ex-mayor Atty. Nieto who is our municipal administrator now. That cross being carried seems to be really heavy. There were lots of people watching the procession.

The church was closed but they put the fourteen stations of the cross in some corners outside which is more convenient for the people doing the Via Crusis or the way of the cross which commemorates Jesus’ passion and death on the cross. I took some shots after doing the fourteen stations, praying and reflecting on what happened on good Friday.

This is the facade of Our Lady of Light Shrine where our good friend Fr. Aly is now the Rector and Parish priest. Inside are various renovations they have made including those paintings on the dome of the altar, the ceiling and stained glass figures that are truly beautiful.

The belfry. Every time I hear it, I am reminded of the ringing of the bells in the church in our hometown where 6am starts the day and 6pm is thanksgiving on how we ended it.

An image St. Francis of Assisi. There are more images of different saints.

I am looking forward to watch the Seven Last Words online at the Sto. Domingo Church. I love the reflections by the seven Dominican priests tasked to share with the parishioners.

A blessed and meaningful Good Friday to all🙏🙏🙏⛪️❤❤❤

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It’s Our Town Fiesta

We our celebrating our town fiesta today in honor of Our Lady of Light.

Yesterday, I went out for a while to buy nuts and apples. Parola near the church is teeming with people from all walks of life. So many merchandise in store from pillow cases, bedsheets, shoes, shirts, dresses, Christmas items for gift-giving and many more. We are also in the middle of celebrating the SUMBINTIK FESTIVAL (suman, bibingka and latik). Cainta is known as the Bibingka Capital of the Philippines. Bibingka is a rice cake cooked in coconut cream and topped with latik.

Those slippers that sell in department stores for three hundred plus cost only a hundred there in Parola. I bought Josef a pair. By the way, there are streets decorated in relation to the festival, sort of a contest. In Tagalog, pagandahan ng dekorasyon. Concerts by famous music groups were also held at the municipal hall grounds. Although some villages like ours are far from the town proper, we celebrate with all Cainteños. HAPPY FIESTA❤️🥰🌷😘

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Hello March

Uneventful February. Well, except for my booster shot last February 9 and going out last week to deposit a check to the bank, I didn’t go out much. If you can call twice visit to the grocery store at the gate of the subdivision a venture outside, that’s it. All other needs were delivered online.

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. For us Catholics, it is the beginning of Lent and ends on Holy Thursday. It is one of the most importang events in the liturgical calendar, the imposition of ashes. Turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel. I am planning to attend the 6am mass at the Shrine of Our Lady Of Light. The family still observes abstaining from meat on all Fridays of Lent. Senior citizens like mom and I are already exempted though. Still, it is nice to keep the tradition.

I hope March would be a good month for us all.

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World Day Of The Sick

It is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes, an important event in the Catholic calendar. We also celebrate the World Day of the Sick.

According to Wikipedia, the World Day of the Sick is an awareness day or observance, in the Catholic Church intended for prayer and sharing, of offering one’s suffering for the good of the Church and of reminding everyone to see in his sick brother or sister the face of Christ. What a beautiful way to describe it.

Finally, I had my booster shot two days ago. It was still Pfizer. I had headache two nights before and the whole day yesterday but thankfully I didn’t have fever. I am feeling well now.

It saddens me that one of my close friends, a nun, is sick again. After nineteen years, her cancer has recurred. So it is really possible that even if you get well, it is still a recurrence. She had mastectomy the year 2003, this time her lungs is affected. The good thing is, it hasn’t metastasized to her other organs but she may undergo chemotherapy again. Cancer is a traitor. My brother Alden is still battling it. Asking prayers for him again. Kindly include the people who are sick at the moment.

“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful (Luke 6:36.) Standing beside those who suffer on a path of charity”, message of Pope Francis for the XXX World Day of the Sick this February 11, 2022. “The ministry of consolation is a task for every baptized person, mindful of the word of Jesus: “I was sick and you visited me” (Mt 25:36)”.

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Just Counting

Cold nights started about a week ago. The fan now is always set in low. Jovy and Josef seldom switch the air con the past days. Days are sunny though and it’s windy in the afternoon.

We need to trim the carabao grass maybe before Christmas sets in. And I promised myself that I will wrap all those gifts as soon as the additional ones I ordered arrive. Yeay, Christmas is just fourteen days to go. I noticed that there are very few homes now in our street with lanterns and Christmas lights at night. I only have our little Christmas tree and the Christmas light at night for decor. Maybe, the pandemic has lessened the enthusiasm to celebrate the season. Let Christmas be in our hearts no matter how simple the celebration is.

I remember one of Obet’s nephews asking me a long time ago why I said “Happy Birthday Jesus” in my greetings on my wall so I just told him He is the reason that we celebrate Christmas. As I have always said, it’s the time the family gets together, enjoy those moments seeing each other and remembering Christmas past.

If I were to believe the latest reports, we’ll be quite safe to have a small gathering this coming Christmas. There are now very low cases of Covid-19 here in Metro Manila. How I wish I could visit my brother who is sick but the kids have work until the 24th. It is not safe to take a commute on your own. I miss those traditional sweets and recipes we usually cook in the province – binungey, puto bumbong, bibingka, suman, puto and dinuguan.

So many reasons to celebrate, giving thanks and welcoming the days with joy. MERRY CHRISTMAS🌲☃️🎄

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Maligayang Kaarawan Mama Mary

With eyes closed in fervent prayer, I wish you a Happy birthday MAMA MARY.

It is happening again, my stats is turning those magic numbers for so many years now every time we celebrate Mama Mary’s birthday.

Catholic churches are closed again because the group handling Covid 19 here opted to return to MECQ (Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine) after declaring three days ago that Metro Manila would be under GCQ (General Community Quarantine). No matter what they term it, even how many CQs are there, bubbles, localized lockdown, granular lockdown as long as the problem of this pandemic is not properly addressed, we will remain having those positive cases everyday. Every sacrifice is borne by the Filipino people because of the inefficient way those retired generals are handling this pandemic. The(ir) president woudn’t trust the expertise of the medical sector to address the problem.

For almost two years now, I haven’t been inside the church because of so many restrictions. I guess the Philippines is the only country with the longest lockdown. I just rely on online masses everyday.

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World Day For Grandparents And Elderly

I guess most of us belong in this category. Some excellent bloggers that I follow and befriended are older than I am. I am a grandparent too so I belong here.

Today, July 25, 2021, the Church observes for the first time the “World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly. It was instituted by Pope Francis early this year to be observed annually on the fourth Sunday of July, close to the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary which every July 26. – ( from the Dominican Province of the Philippines).

The Church invites us to care for our grandparents and elderly by setting aside this special day. There is a prayer issued by the Holy See in observance of this day.

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It’s Good Friday

I no longer remember how many times I blogged about Good Friday since I started at WordPress.

We used to have our Visita Iglesia on Good Friday. We visit seven churches in other towns and pray the Fourteen Stations of the Cross. In the afternoon, we watch The Seven Last Words. They are inspiring reflections of how Jesus died on the cross. For the second time now, celebrations of Lent and Holy Week are quiet affairs. I miss the procession in our town usually held very early on a Good Friday morning. It is a blessing though that we get to watch everything online.

It is so quiet here now except for the ocassional noise of cars passing by our subdivision. I took the opportunity to update our Catholic page and two Catholic groups of which I am an admin.

I remember a post I wrote nine years ago today. The message was sent by a close friend on a Good Friday.

These are reflections of an old man who donated blood one Good Friday.

“I gave blood, Christ gave His long ago; I gave a pint, He gave it all. My needle was short and sharp, His nails were large and dull. My cot was soft and restful, His cross was rough and hard. My med techs were kind and gentle, the soldiers were cruel and mean. The crowd applauded my sacrifice, those who passed by reviled Him. Mine was type A positive, His was positive for all. Mine, at best, will prolong life for a while, His without doubt will save us for all eternity”.

A blessed Good Friday to all.

BTW, it’s St. Pope John Paul II’s 16th death anniversary today.

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It’s Holy Tuesday

We are on the second day of Holy Week. Busy with attending short recollections online before the Paschal Triduum begins on the night of Holy Thursday and ends on Easter Sunday night.

Holy Week is one of the most important event in the Catholic calendar.The most important feast day by far is the Feast of Pascha (Easter) – the Feast of Feasts. Then the Twelve Great Feasts, which commemorate various significant events in the lives of Jesus Christ and of the Theotokos (Virgin Mary).

Fr. Pao sent me his schedule starting tomorrow – they have the Stations of the Cross, recollection and the Seven Last Words on Friday.

My regret though is not being able to read your posts and commenting too. Monday next week, I won’t be busy anymore. Then I’ll have those backreads on your posts.

Nissa is doing well. Thank you so much for all your prayers and good thoughts for her. She received some gifts from friends. What caught my attention was this small crate of different fruits from three of her high school friends. Love that green avocado on top.

Kiwis, oranges and apples are usually imported but those fresh strawberries usually come from Baguio. Fruits are important when you had Covid.

I miss Nate. I miss those moments when we would play in the garden and pick kalamansi. I wonder when I’ll be able to see them again.

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