22nd Birthday

Twenty-two years ago at around quarter to seven in the evening ‘twas also a Sunday, I was born.

Ever since I had a mobile phone, I usually get text messages from friends or kin greeting me on my birthday. One of which is my dad. I could still remember that he would greet me personally and then he would text me. Now it is different.

Last night when I was holding my dad’s cellphone, I felt sad for I remember those moments when he would greet me on my birthday. We did not have a strong bond nevertheless; I cherish and miss those moments.

I could still remember last Holy Thursday when I entered the Church. I got into tears for the Mass on Holy Thursday evening was the only time the two of us would go to Mass.

Once I was with my relatives riding their van and I got into tears again. I remembered those days when my dad usually was the one driving.

When someone is lost, you would not remember that person in complex situations like retelling how they passed away but you would certainly remember him in the most simplest of all things. For these simplest things were shared by you. Perhaps my ma and Tella feel the same way as I do.

Not in the complex but in the simplest.

Written on the 27^th Sunday after Pentecost, 2^nd class feast;
     feast of St. Gertrude, virgin, 3^rd class feast, A. D. MMVIII

Triduum 2008

EASTER TRIDUUM

Sacred Triduum is the time when the Church celebrates the Last Supper, Passion, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I always look forward to this time because as the Church puts it, this is the central celebration of the entire liturgical calendar. Actually, even if the Triduum has not yet concluded, I start planning for the next year. I attend celebrations for the Triduum at the San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish.

The Triduum is actually part of the Holy Week. The Week starts with Passion Sunday [commonly, Palm Sunday]. I usually go to the blessing of Palms at 7:30 am and go to mass at 8:00 am. From Holy Monday to Holy Wednesday occurs the chanting of the Pasyon. The Pasyon or Pabasa is a long narrative poem that tells the story of the Creation, Jesus’ life and passion, and St. Helena’s quest for the Holy Cross. I have tried singing the Pasyon [just two pages] in a kubol. On Holy Tuesday, my aunts and I join the Stations of the Cross around the San Rafael Arkangel Parish. That is around two in the afternoon and ends at around four, after which Mass will begin.

MAUNDY THURSDAY

At four in the afternoon, my dad and I attend the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper. This Mass commemorates the Last Supper of Christ, His washing of the Apostle’s feet, and the founding of the Priesthood. After the Mass, the Eucharist is solemnly reposed. Moreover, at seven in the evening, ma, dad, and I will go back to the Church to visit Christ present in the Eucharist.

GOOD FRIDAY

At twelve midnight, after the vigil has ended, the Stations of the Cross around the whole parish will begin. It usually ends at two in the morning. My dad and I will usually join this activity.

Early in the morning, around six or later, my ma and I will visit our relatives at San Rafael and we will watch the flagellants. They are penitents carrying crosses, making their backs bleed then strike them with bamboo strips, or even nail themselves to crosses.

By 2:30 pm, I am off to church to attend the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion. Do not be deceived with the term, this is not of a joyful note but of mourning and sorrow because of our sins crucified our Lord. This liturgical action is composed of the Liturgy of the Word, Veneration of the Cross, and only Holy Communion, which starts at three in the afternoon. My friends usually accompany me; because I usually get there earlier than they do, they would have to look for me. Before the celebration, the Siete Palabras (reflections on the Seven Last Words) occur. At six or so, my friends and I will join the procession around the parish.

HOLY SATURDAY

At exactly seven in the evening, ma and I are already seated in the Church waiting for the Easter Vigil to begin at eight. The ceremonies start outside with the Blessing of Fire, and then the Liturgy of the Word happens. After that, the Liturgy of Baptism and Eucharist take place. After the Vigil, the Salubong will happen.

EASTER SUNDAY

A day of rest and of celebrating the love of the Father, Risen Lord, and the Holy Spirit.
Now, if you are wondering where was Tella (my grandmother) during the whole Triduum, she is at home watching TV masses. She has difficulty in walking so she would rather stay inside. Nevertheless, when I was young, she was the one I was with during the whole Triduum.

Written on the feast of St. Louis IX, 3rd class feast, A.D. MMVIII.

dream big...

Dreamgirls, The Devil Wears Prada, and David Cook. All these three shared the same things, that is, achieving one’s dreams and making it big.

Dreamgirls was a movie about three girls wanting to be singing sensations, they made it big, but pride took its toll and almost tore them apart. In the end, they decided to end Dreamgirls and lead simpler lives. They achieved their dreams and made it big.

The Devil Wears Prada a film about a girl who had the job “a million girls would die for.” Unfortunately, this job entailed dealing with her boss, not just an ordinary boss but “The Dragon Lady.” She succeeded and eventually won her boss’s heart. As a twist, the girl resigned and became a journalist (her real dream job) from which she got a nod from her boss. She achieved her dreams and made it big.

David Cook was the winner of the American Idol Season 7. Before America decided that he was her seventh Idol, he was a bartender. He was already a band member and had their independently produced albums. He achieved his dreams and made it big.

There were times in the past that we had dreams of making it big, whether in the entertainment scene, in the scientific community, or in the political arena. On the other hand, our dreams would always have a counter weight, an opposition, a hindrance. Sometimes, we were on the verge of achieving our dreams, and then suddenly, there would appear hindrances that would pull as back again and almost, if not totally, crush us to the ground. We were like birds soaring high into the heavens, feeling the golden rays of the sun gently touching our feathers, feeling the breeze caressing us, and then suddenly we realize that a string was holding us back and somebody briskly pulls the string and we losing control would fall back to the earth.

We may be wanting for a promotion but was never given one, a project that was successful but we were not given due credit, a career that was our life but eventually got the rest of us, or acceptance that we long for but was never made available for us. They might seem simple but for those who dreamed of them they are more complex than what they seem.

We did not ask for events like these, but definitely, something like them having a different degree of complexity would take place. However, what shall we do when something catastrophic like that happens? Would we just stay in our bedroom, lock ourselves up, and sit like a fetus? Would we close the door of the bathroom and slowly sit at the back of it while our eyes begin to release tears?

Of course, no, we would always use these trials as our guide to achieving our dreams. These trials would be like our new scaffoldings for the building we are constructing.
Nevertheless, as the old adage often told us, everything happens for a reason, we always might come up a conclusion as to why they happened. It might take overnight, forty nights, or many nights, but would always be sure that we would come to a realization of accepting them.

In addition, of course, I stand by this old saying, GOD IS GOOD! We might never get what we want but HE knows for sure what is best for us.

Memorial of St. Barnabas, apostle
An hour before the Second Watch of the Night

6/11/2008 10:55 PM

zambales adventure...

From Macabebe, Pampanga to Butolan, Zambales to Ocean View Resort, Olongapo City....
The adventure continues....

That morning was a very cold and rainy day, tropical storm "Ambo" was visiting the country!

Eventually we still went out for our annual OUTING!

ms. sna '08 adventure...

25th of March 2008

The night was not filled with stars [for it was raining] because the stars were on stage for the much coveted title of MS. SNA. The night was the pre-pageant part of the search. It took until 11:30 in the evening because of certain unpredictable events! [the rain and the shortcircuit]. But, it paid-off. In my humble opinion, that evening was a success!

So we all went home, tired but happy. Ann and Ruth were to sleep over at our house. So we had our lights off, still chatting. Then, I went to my room.

After a while, my phone beeped. Ruth texted me and said we need to go back to school. The reason for this: she forgot to put off the computer of Sir Joseph! Poor Ruth.

So I went to their room, feeling sleepy. After countless texts and calls to others asking for KuyaTata's number, Ruth finally decided to really go back to school.

So we went, sneaking for my Ma or Tella might hear us going out late in the evening, I think that was already 1:30 am. The gates were locked. How unfortunate of us! We were like homeless kittens waiting for trash to scavenge if there were traces of food to fill our hungry stomachs.

Alas! Sir Manny has Kuya Tata's number. So Ruth texted him -with hope in her face- so he could open the gates. But the number did not exist according to the computer generated reply of the cellular provider.

She then decided to go to the back of the school [Kuya Tata stayed at the rear end of the school]. We were calling his name, but he was sound asleep. We had a plan -a tremendous and ingenious plan- Ruth would call his name, Ann would pick-up stones, and I would throw the stones at his door. But the plan did not work. Poor us. So we walked away heading home. We were like prostituted persons [sorry for the term] walking at the silence of the road, waiting for customers.

After sometime, we decided to just go home. The Church opened at 5 in the morning, so I told them that our last resort was to go to school at a very early time. So we went back home, sneaking.

But we were almost caught by my mom, so I made alibis. That I went to their room to get something. But I did not know that she saw them too and she thought that they were leaving. So I made alibis that they were just [I think] going to the comfort room.

That was 3 in the morning.

Ann told me that she woke up at 5 and saw Ruth sleeping like a baby in the bosom of an angel [okay, okay I'm exaggerating], thus, she went back to sleep.

At last, Ruth was awake but at around quarter to 8! Thought they did not find out the computer was still on? You're way totally wrong Sir Joseph got there before Ruth! hehe

It was such an adventure! Tough luck for us!

Moral of the story, never open the computer not assigned to you!

valentine's day 2008

When I was in college,we had to present an extemporaneous speech, here is it: love... I think this is apt for Valentines day!

My first post

This is my first post! I hope I can update my blog regularly -once a week perhaps :) Hope you'll enjoy reading it!


God bless!

Written on the First Sunday of Lent, 1st class feast, A.D. MMVIII