The One with the Bomb and the Brownout

Sometimes I just need to write as a form of breather from all that's been happening.

Yesterday, after years of not going there, my mom and I went to Fairview Center Mall to do grocery-shopping, away from the madding crowd. I was dazed from dysmenorrhea so I stayed in the car while Mama finished up paying. Then we made several stops to buy merienda for the Banal na Puso Choir who were going to sing carols at our house last night. We learned from the different stores that the brownout in our area was to last for twelve (12) hours, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The show must go on, so we did receive the carolers and they sang by candlelight. It was more dramatic that way, and I loved the scents of my seldom-used candles. They weren't able to appreciate the last-minute decorating that we did for the house, but that's fine. They didn't notice the rest of the mess either, so that's a blessing in disguise. Papa requested his favorite, "Payapang Daigdig" and the carolers didn't disappoint him. The MGLs were there as well - I know, in this busy season for priests, what a blessing huh- and made the night more special by singing carols along with everyone else. We all spent time talking, not minding the brownout.

Power returned barely an hour after they left. Then we saw the newsflash: "Two grenades found under parked vehicle in Fairview Center Mall". I suddenly mouthed a prayer of thanksgiving - for God is with us! He kept us safe from harm and we did not even know about what was going on around us. So focused were we on the business at hand, that in this case, ignorance truly is bliss.

I was led to deeper reflection and offered more prayers in gratitude to God's goodness.

Without much preparation, Advent arrived with its message of hope, peace, joy and love. I wanted to focus on it and not the external activities that Filipinos like to cram December with, but how could I not be swept by the goings-on around me?

Telltale signs that the air has changed include the presence of more beggars (I cannot stop poverty or hunger, but when a child asks for food after I hand him a coin it just breaks my heart!), the mushrooming of road repairs (some people need to justify their budget and/or report some work done within their districts), and don't get me started on the traffic jams caused by the endless shopping, partying, caroling and homecoming. I have been experiencing a constant headache for the past couple of weeks because of the traffic in Metro Manila.

There are some beautiful changes as well - the metropolis is brighter with all the Christmas lights adorning the streets and buildings; the songs fill the air, at first with sadness at all the memories and longings that fill our hearts, but then with hints of things to come that work to shift our focus to better days ahead; the reunions, parties, weddings and baptisms make each day special for all of us. Neighbors bring food, friends send wrapped packages, and strangers smile at each other. It is a festive season, and it's not even Christmas yet.

Simbang Gabi and Christmas caroling with Lingkod QC have ruined my sleep, that's true, but they're great reasons to stay awake for. I love the smells and sounds of Simbang Gabi, with my body now a bit used to hearing homilies, several times piercing my heart with their challenges and questions, at dawn. If I had been a photographer I would have an album now of all the pictures that I see - of a child standing beside the Christmas tree made of red and green lanterns at our parish car park; of the blue cross perched atop our parish silently announcing hope at dawn; of the children flocking to kiss the hand of the priest after mass. I live to write about them as I don't own a camera good enough to capture those beautiful moments.

This week we shall visit houses of Lingkod families to share the good news that Jesus came to save us all. It is an exciting week.

It will also be a busy week, as I have three more days here in Lingkod Office to finish all the work I could manage and turnover properly. I committed myself to give a talk on Decision - Making to graduating seniors on Friday, not knowing how to convincingly speak of discernment when I myself, more than a decade after graduation, am still in that process. Or maybe that's why I was meant to give this talk, to show them that discernment is a way of life for disciples.

I attended my last prayer meeting at Lingkod Quezon City last week. I'm pretty sure it will take some time before it all sinks in. Almost seven years well spent, and now it's time to move on. Move on to where, I'm always asked. Without job and community, what shall I be doing now?

I walk on with less fear and more hope now. Without control of the situation, I am led in faith to believe that God has a plan for my life, and His plan is for my welfare and not for woe. Jeremiah 29:11-13 has become a mantra that I read over and over. It is how I see Jesus coming in my life, and I say yes to Him even if I don't understand. Nor did I want things to turn out this way. He makes all things new, that I'm certain of. So nothing, no bomb, no brownout, could separate me from His love. I experienced a beautiful day yesterday, surrounded by friends and family, on what was literally a dark day. What more the rest of my life, where God can make miracles, for with Him nothing is impossible.

All that remains now, as always, is the waiting.

Sing, Rejoice in Gladness!

Lingkod in Metro Manila (GMMMACQ) celebrated Christmas by singing carols per branch this afternoon. We invited families and friends.

The QC sisters after pulling off "Pamaskong Anyaya", "The Best Gift of All" and "Christmas Praise". The brothers could not make it to the picture. They said my "sermons" helped them to remember the songs. And I thought I was simply motivating them with impassioned speeches and exhortations...

With some of the fans who came to support us...

... And my very own fans club.

I had a headache the whole time but it was worth it. To sing forever of God's love, especially this season of hope, is worth the pain.

This headache is brought to me by the 4 a.m. Simbang Gabi at the Parish of St. Benedict. What a character-building experience! Hopefully I could finally complete the Nine Mornings.

Blue Jeans!

Nakakatawa lang na lampas na ako sa kalendaryo, nakaka-relate pa rin ako sa kantang ito ng Apo Hiking Society, na ni-remake ng RocksTeddy sa CD na Kami NAPO Muna: A Tribute to Apo Hiking Society.

Kinanta namin ito nung third year high school ako. III-Calvin sa Manila Science High School. Nanalo kami, Linggo ng Wika noon. Ang costume namin - white shirt at siyempre, kupas na maong! First place kami of course. Sana Calvin pa rin...

BLUE JEANS

[verse 1]
Nandidito kami ngayon
Nagsusumikap sa araw-araw
Kayod ng kayod hanggan’ sa mapagod
Maagapan ang natatanaw

Paminsan-minsan ay naglalaro
Pag-ibig lang ang di ginagawang biro
Kung sa tuksuhan lang hindi pahuhuli
Kinabukasan ay tinatabi

Paminsan-minsan ay nabibigo
Sakit sa puso ay hindi maitago
Ngunit tuloy pa rin hindi pinapansin
Ang kabuhayan ang intindihin

[verse 2]
Blue jeans
Alam mo ba ano ang ibig sabihin
Ng ating pagsisikap sa ’skwela
Blue jeans
Di na lang iwanan ang pag-aaral
At sama-sama tayong magsaya

Ngunit ang kabataan daw ay kayamanan
Huwag daw basta’t itapon at pabayaan
Kaya magsikap tayo habang may panahon pa
Mag-aral at mag-ipon tayo ng karunungan

[verse 3]
Blue jeans
Sige-sige-sige kayod sa ’skwela
At balang araw makikita n’yo
Blue jeans
Pagkatapos ng iyong paghihirap
Di ka rin makakahanap ng trabaho

Sino ba silang nagmamarunong sa buhay
Huwag sana silang makialam sa ‘king buhay
Anong kinabukasan pagkatapos sa eskwela
Huwag ng isipin at baka mangamba ka pa

[chorus]
Kay tagal-tagal ko ng nag-aaral
Tingnan mo kupas na ang aking maong, yeah!
Kung akala mo ako ay natuto na
Hindi pa rin

[repeat chorus]

[repeat verse 3]

Blue jeans
Blue jeans
Blue jeans
Blue jeans

Blue jeans
Alam mo ba ano ang ibig sabihin
Ng ating pagsisikap sa ’skwela
Blue jeans
Di na lang iwanan ang pag-aaral
At sama-sama tayong magsaya

Blue jeans
Sige-sige-sige kayod sa ’skwela
At balang araw makikita n’yo
Blue jeans
Pagkatapos ng iyong paghihirap
Di ka rin makakahanap ng trabaho

Blue jeans
Blue jeans
Blue jeans (Eto na)
Blue jeans

Recently on QTV...

The QT's had another wedding last November - Jojo and Vine. In photo with me are Nenen, Gay and Abby. I'd like to thank our brother Sunday, florist, singer and artist extraordinaire for sharing this photo.

I missed a friend's wedding a couple of weeks ago - I was trapped somewhere and didn't have the time to enter into production for wedding-guest-best. I hope she forgives me. I haven't texted her yet!

This weekend, will attend another wedding in Lingkod. I think it's the wedding of the year, for we can have a quorum of the Lingkod Board of Directors and Charter Members among the guests. As usual I'll be singing. Gotta prepare enough lovin' feelin' for that.

AGAP BIKOL

From SIMBAHANG LINGKOD NG BAYAN (SLB) and ADMU Disaster Response and Management (DREAM) Team:

AGAP BIKOL extended

Reports from Civil Defense Officials as of December 6, 2006

- 526 dead mostly around Mayon volcano and another 740 missing

- 1.54 million people affected nearly 83,000 of whom sought refuge at evacuation centers

- More than 250,000 damaged houses and damage to buildings, infrastructure and agriculture placed at P1.6 billion

- Power facilities in Albay valued at about P200 million destroyed and power restoration may take more than six (6) months (Albay Electric Coop)

Relief and Rehabilitation Program

- P100,000.00 relief fund personally released to Fr. Jovic Lobrigo (Diocese of Legaspi Social Action Center Director) who visited SLB Office last December 4

- P50,000.00 rehabilitation fund released through Ateneo de Naga University's Center for Community Development headed by Mr. Nono Sto. Domingo

- Initial construction materials purchased to be shuttled to Naga December 6 evening due to reports of shortage in construction supplies

- SLB-ADMU Dream Team Batch 1 leaving December 6 evening for Naga operations. Batch 2 leaving December 7 evening for Albay operations.

- Team of Professional Psychologists from various institutions (ADMU, DLSU, UGAT Foundation and CLC, among others) formed for Psycho-Social interventions as per request of the Diocese of Legaspi. Program will start December 7.

- Various goods being collected to be shuttled to Albay.

NEEDED:

- Volunteers for goods repacking. Details, as follows:

o December 8 (Friday) 8:00 p.m.

o Cervini Function Room (ADMU Male Residence Hall) back of Church of the Gesu

o Contact Person: Franco Soberano (0917-6442626) or Cervini Director Tim Gabuna (Tel. 426-6001 local 5900)

- Trucks for shuttling goods and construction materials

- Construction materials (G.I. Sheets, Plywood, Nails and other basics)

- Medicines for cough, colds and fever and surgical mask

- More food, preferably canned goods and noodles

- More funds

DONATION MECHANISM

=====================

GOODS

----------

You may directly donate the goods to the Cervini (Male Residence Hall) Function Room at the back of Church of the Gesu. Temporary AGAP BIKOL Relief Operation center can accept donation from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight . Contact person is Residence Hall Director Tim Gabuna. You may communicate with him through 426-6001 local 5902.

Priority: Food (Canned Goods, Noodles and other kinds with long shelf life) and Water

CASH/CHECK

-------------------

Direct deposits (online from any of the BPI branches) may be made to:

SIMBAHANG LINGKOD NG BAYAN (Account Name/Payee)

Bank of the Philippine Islands (Loyola-Katipunan Branch)

BPI Peso Checking Account Number 3081-1111-61

BPI Dollar Savings Account Number 3084-0420-12

For proper acknowledgment:

- Please fax a copy of the validated deposit slip to SLB through telefax 426-5968

- Kindly indicate contact information: Name, Address, Email, Mobile

- Those who wish to remain anonymous may skip this procedure

Or you may send it to

Loyola House of Studies (LHS)

Ateneo de Manila University

Loyola Heights , Quezon City

Telephone Number 426-6101

Time: 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Official Receipts will be immediately issued to you by the LHS Lobby Porter.

For dollar remittances:

- You may purchase a Manager's Check and send it via any courier to SLB's address OR

- Course it via telegraphic transfer to BPI Dollar Account

Should there be any concerns, please contact:

MS. MARJORIE TEJADA

Telephone Number 426-6101 local 3440 (Office Hours)

Telefax 426-5968

Email: slb@slb.ph

MR. RC BATAC

SLB Project Officer for Socio-Economic Development

Mobile 0921-3509565

Email: rc2_adnu@atenista.net

SIMBAHANG LINGKOD NG BAYAN (SLB) and ADMU Disaster Response and Management (DREAM) Team

Even When Conceptions are not Immaculate...

We believe that Mama Mary was "conceived without sin". It doesn't mean that sex is perceived as sinful, for between a husband and his wife, this is a participation in the divine, a gift from the Creator to take part in creation. It is beautiful and miraculous. Mama Mary, however, did not possess original sin from birth, and she was chosen beforehand to be the mother of Jesus, the Son of God.

Some mothers-to-be, for a myriad of reasons, do not choose to let their babies see the light of day. Whether we like it or not, intentional abortion has become a solution, and the morality question is swept under the rug. Women have a choice what to do with their bodies, they say. I am a woman, and since I read from Scripture that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, I do choose what to do with my body - and that is to glorify who resides in it.

It is not time to judge, as I am not even a judge. Whether I like it or not, babies are aborted everyday. Given the right opportunity, I will do everything I can to stop this from being legalized in places such as the Philippines where it is still considered infanticide.

What made me cringe several times over was the news I read this morning. It occupied most of my prayer time and I was led to intercede and to ask others to pray with me, to offer mass intentions for today in this area.

This is the problem. I read in the Inquirer that Australia has lifted the ban on embryonic cell cloning for medical research. In therapeutic cloning, which was banned in 2002, the nucleus of a patient's skin cell is implanted in an egg. The new cell develops into an embryo from which stem cells are taken to grow new tissue. Do you know where the eggs are taken from? From aborted fetuses!

It makes me sick to think about this. They surely crossed the line, to my mind, of what extent a life can be used or abused to take another life. They want to give hope to ailing patients, but the end does not justify the means!

If pro-abortion proponents are saying there is no "taking of life" or killing that occurs, how come life taken from the fetus can be used to save another life??? The moral questions abound, and movies such as "The Island" about cloning only scratch the surface. My limited mind can only scratch the surface.

I was left to pray. And since today is the feast of the Immaculate Conception, I asked Mama Mary to pray for her children.

You can read the news from Australia's papers here.

The Youth are Alive!

They changed the lyrics to songs from The Sound of Music to serenade Fr. Steve on his birthday and the members of YOUTH ALIVE, the youth ministry of the Missionaries of God's Love in Manila, got their message across with choreography and pizzaz. He needs someone "cuter and nicer", and they are the charming kids for the job of, as they put it, taking care of their spiritual father. At the same time they need him, someone "older and wiser" to tell them what to do, for they are admittedly naive.

Thanks, Posh. It is a pleasure looking at the world with your eyes.

Even I, audience, critic and cameraman, was touched by their energy and enthusiasm. For they, unknowingly, are helping me out of my spiritual drowsiness, the one that is obviously being warned against by today's Gospel. They don't give me talks or preach to me, they just express love freely and share their talents and time generously. They remind me that I was once like them. And maybe I could be, again. Youth is relative. :)

I could go to the hills, that is, Batasan Hills (where most of them live), when my heart is lonely. And when I am sad, I could think of my favorite things!

Speaking of sad, I was watching Miko shoot baskets at our backyard when he stared at me and asked, "Tita, are you sad? You look sad." Awww. He's perceptive. Or I'm just plain transparent! I should get my act together.

I had forgotten that I made that list of favorite things before, to help me on a rainy day. Well this is not just a rainy day or a storm cloud I'm going through, but a super-typhoony year (for the country as well...). As the theme song from the TV show "Friends" goes, "It's like you're always stuck in second gear/ And it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year..." I can't wait for my first sunshine-y day, and actually the whole country's. We all need a break from all these cha-cha-changes in our lives!

This is a season that the usual therapeutic things I seek can't heal. I seem to have read all the books, listened to all the songs, and talked to all the people, that used to make things right immediately. Instead, morning after morning, I still wake up with a cloud of sadness.

Now that it's Advent, it's the season of waiting for our Saviour. I have my recollection point clearly spelled out already: How can I say yes and give birth to Jesus in my life? I was identified as a resource person for this question. Thank goodness that they haven't asked for my response yet.

Surely the Holy Spirit can rekindle the fire in my heart and give a new, and positive, perspective. People are already planning my life for me, as they think that my waiting period is the best time to strike. If I intend to enjoy living independently, I should tell them I'm still here and they don't have to take over under emergency powers. I have a say on these things like how I spend my day, I seem to recall.

I really hope to wake up soon. Some dreams are turning into nightmares because I had been oversleeping.

71 Years na si Papa

Here is the birthday boy in photo with grandchildren Luigi and Miko.


We were only seven people for dinner, but it felt like there was a party of forty people. There was so much food, so much fun, and so much dishes (not a parallel, couldn't find one while writing this). Papa is very happy today. His family, local and international, is complete. He didn't want a birthday cake, but wanted the works - wine, pancit, sapin-sapin for the grownups; spaghetti, Coke, ice cream and fried chicken for the kids.



He woke up early to go to mass and bought flowers for himself! He hummed while he cleaned his best china and waited for all of us to come home - from school or work - as if it were a holiday. His children from US, Germany and Australia all called up. His only brother and his friends from his banking days all remembered him. He tried to get us all to play the piano for him, but some of us were either too rusty or too much of a perfectionist to perform without proper practice. I was the rusty one but gave in.




He drank too much wine, he said. He didn't have time to watch his koreanovelas today but he ate kimchi and korean beef stew served on bowls that were made in Korea. Our dinner, like our growing family, was made up of fusion, east-meets-west dishes. We're now too tired and full to dry the dishes. If I had it my way, I'd let the air to naturally dry them dishes. Yes, I'm the lazy one in the family when it comes to drying dishes. It's my least favorite chore.

I think Papa will do it tomorrow, hehe.

Things I Don't Get

Aside from the usual posts that I make here about movies, music, lessons, shameless plugs, stories (see neat feature "Labels" of Blogger beta on the left column of this blog), I'd like to introduce a new Label. It's about things that make me say, "I don't get it!" in this world. Now, I have to be really careful for I could get carried away and rant about everything contrary, so I'm making a resolution to be extra-discerning before posting anything.

It's just that this morning, while reading the papers, I couldn't help but wonder if the fashion editors of a leading daily are residents of the Philippines. Add to that my total bewilderment at how boutiques and fashion houses could expect to sell to Filipinas living in humid Manila their "winter collection".

I don't get it. We don't have winter. Have these people tried wearing stockings, tights, let alone socks in this weather? The fashion gurus would like to let us take "style over comfort" to the extreme by focusing on layering and tights, tights! in this climate. I'd like to bring them down to earth or at least ask if they are really in touch with a significant number of Filipinas who live with centralized airconditioning, are chauffer-driven, and never experience the heat of the Philippine sun when they step out of their houses or offices.

I may be the wrong market for these clothes, but I just don't get it. If they're dressing up Filipinas, then they should probably endorse clothes that are actually wearable considering our lifestyle and environment. Instead, they raid the racks of stores from the U.K. (England, not the modern Eloy's) and would want us to believe that in order to be fashionable these days, we have to suspend our body's propensity to sweat.

Oh no, that sounds like a rant. Give me SM, 168 mall, good old Greenhills, or my favorite boutique two subdivisions away, Marien, anytime.

I'd Like to Leave Earth for a While...

I know very few poets. One of my favorites is Robert Frost.

66. Birches

WHEN I see birches bend to left and right
Across the line of straighter darker trees,
I like to think some boy's been swinging them.
But swinging doesn't bend them down to stay.
Ice-storms do that. Often you must have seen them	5
Loaded with ice a sunny winter morning
After a rain. They click upon themselves
As the breeze rises, and turn many-colored
As the stir cracks and crazes their enamel.
Soon the sun's warmth makes them shed crystal shells	10
Shattering and avalanching on the snow-crust—
Such heaps of broken glass to sweep away
You'd think the inner dome of heaven had fallen.
They are dragged to the withered bracken by the load,
And they seem not to break; though once they are bowed	15
So low for long, they never right themselves:
You may see their trunks arching in the woods
Years afterwards, trailing their leaves on the ground
Like girls on hands and knees that throw their hair
Before them over their heads to dry in the sun.	20
But I was going to say when Truth broke in
With all her matter-of-fact about the ice-storm
(Now am I free to be poetical?)
I should prefer to have some boy bend them
As he went out and in to fetch the cows—	25
Some boy too far from town to learn baseball,
Whose only play was what he found himself,
Summer or winter, and could play alone.
One by one he subdued his father's trees
By riding them down over and over again	30
Until he took the stiffness out of them,
And not one but hung limp, not one was left
For him to conquer. He learned all there was
To learn about not launching out too soon
And so not carrying the tree away	35
Clear to the ground. He always kept his poise
To the top branches, climbing carefully
With the same pains you use to fill a cup
Up to the brim, and even above the brim.
Then he flung outward, feet first, with a swish,	40
Kicking his way down through the air to the ground.
So was I once myself a swinger of birches;
And so I dream of going back to be.
It's when I'm weary of considerations,
And life is too much like a pathless wood	45
Where your face burns and tickles with the cobwebs
Broken across it, and one eye is weeping
From a twig's having lashed across it open.
I'd like to get away from earth awhile
And then come back to it and begin over.	50
May no fate wilfully misunderstand me
And half grant what I wish and snatch me away
Not to return. Earth's the right place for love:
I don't know where it's likely to go better.
I'd like to go by climbing a birch tree,	55
And climb black branches up a snow-white trunk
Toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more,
But dipped its top and set me down again.
That would be good both going and coming back.
One could do worse than be a swinger of birches.	60