How to Renew Your Philippine Passport

By the latter part of 2017, my passport expired. Months prior to this, I contemplated whether or not I should renew it, considering the 10-year validity of the Philippine passport was still being talked about. But I kinda knew it would be detrimental not to renew it, given how there could be "unplanned trips" ahead. It would be SO sad if I can't go just because I didn't renew my passport when I had the chance.

I listed down the pros and cons, and yes the pros outweighed the other. Hence, despite the 10-year validity taking effect in just a few months, I jumped the gun and renewed my passport before 2017 wrapped up.

How to Upgrade Your PayMaya Account

I was on my way to Ortigas one rainy morning when I happened to see a billboard adverstising PayMaya. I nudged my companion then and asked if she knew what it was about. To cut to the chase, she told me that it was app that I should definitely download since it was something new and useful.

Intrigued, I looked it up and learned that there were various things I could do with it. Shopping online using a virtual VISA or MasterCard, booking flights, buying mobile load and paying bills were just a few of its perks. But what made me really interested in it was that it was prepaid and I could just load it up whenever I need it and through facilities that were easily accessible like 7/11, Cebuana Lhuillier, Palawan Pawnshop, ECPay, Bayad Centers or through mobile banking.

Later, I found out that there were more perks if the account was upgraded, such as being able to withdraw money (through the physical card) from Bancnet ATMs, sending money to another PayMaya user and having the monthly load limit from Php 50,000 to Php 100,000!

Ergo, the reason for this post ;)

English Words As Told in the Philippines

The Philippines is known as the third largest English-speaking country after United Kingdom and the United States. But that is not to say that we are the only ones in Asia who has adapted to the said language. It just so happened that the country was once under the US control from 1898-1946, including the years when WWII broke out. That's a long time! And the people adjusted fairly well when English became more mainstream as opposed to the Spanish language. 

You gotta know that although the Americans did not stay as long as the Spaniards to fully integrate their culture to the Filipinos, they have made their influence on the Filipinos just the same and their language was no different. In fact, they made it more accessible to the natives than what their predecessor ever did in the 333 years they were in the country. Also, the education they provided was quite liberating and progressive than what the people of that time were used to.

Lenten Season 2017

We're just a few days away from the Lenten Season or more commonly referred as "holy week". Like last year, I'm going to share the schedule of activities of our local parish which is the National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Orense Street, Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati City (near MMDA office).

April 9 PALM SUNDAY

          8:00 AM Blessings of Palms

                  Procession starts from MMDA

*Regular Sunday masses follow

April 10 HOLY MONDAY

           6:30 PM Holy Mass

           7:30 PM Lenten Recollection by Rev Fr. Christian Emmanuel Gabinete

April 11 HOLY TUESDAY

           6:30 PM Holy Mass

           7:30 PM Lenten Recollection by Rev Fr.Raymund Cruz

April 12 HOLY WEDNESDAY

           5:00 PM Procession of the Passion

           5:30 PM Kumpisalang Bayan

           6:30 PM Holy Mass

          

April 13 HOLY THURSDAY

            6:00 AM Chrism Mass at the Manila Cathedral

            5:00 PM Mass of the Lord's Supper, 

                        Washing of the Feet, 

                         Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament

                         Vigil at the Altar of Repose

April 14 GOOD FRIDAY

            4:30 AM Parish-wide Station of the Cross

         12:00 NN Seven Last Words

            3:00 PM Veneration of the Cross

            6:00 PM Procession

            9:00 PM Procession of the Mater Dolorosa

April 15 HOLY SATURDAY

           8:00 PM Easter Vigil with Adult Baptism

April 16 EASTER SUNDAY

            4:00 AM Salubong in front of Guadalupe Nuevo Barangay Hall

            4:30 AM Easter Dawn Mass

* Regular Sunday Masses follow

Every Fridays of Lent the Subparishes of Barrio Visaya (6:30 PM), San Jose (6:00 PM), South Cembo and Centro (7:30PM) and Pinagkaisahan (8:00 PM) observe the Station of the Cross.

Wakes and Burials

As you may know, my family and I spent the first few days of this year in a rather somber mood yet those days were also hectic and curiosity-filled. What am I talking about? Okay, so I belong to a rather large family and of a relatively conservative yet varied culture. There were a lot of things that we had to adhere during the wake, of which honestly most didn't make much sense to us. As the days went by, I thought about writing all the funeral customs I've heard as well as the practices I was, more than once, told to do.

I knew some of the pamahiin but I didn't really think much of it. But since I am among the "older" children in the family now I had to assume some of the responsibilities and deal firsthand with some of these Filipino beliefs and practices (take not that these are just some of them).

The wake:

1.  There should be at least one awake during the lamay (wake)

Having someone die in the family is not just emotionally taxing but physically and mentally too. But no matter how tired we were, there was always someone who stayed up all night. It was usually my younger male cousin Abe, since his friends often dropped by during the wee hours and well, he was the oldest male who stayed during the wake. Most of our relatives returned home for the night and came back the next day to relieve us.

This practice is probably the most mainstream but not necessarily done just by Filipinos. I think other Asian countries do this too. . . In a way, I feel like this showed our love and respect for the family member who left, yung tipong regardless of the situation, we're here- with you.

2. Don't sweep the floor

Apparently, sweeping the floor where the vigil for the deceased is, signifies that the the spirit is not welcomed by the family anymore. I've heard of this a lot and though I understand the sentiment, I wasn't keen on doing it especially when the floor where we had the wake was sooo dirty. I was on the verge of having a meltdown! I did tell my tito  first that I was gonna clean up and he was still welcome to make his presence known. And oh boy, how he responded to those words but that's another story. 

3. The candle should be lighted separately

You know the candle at the foot or at the head of the casket? Well, this one has a lot of do's-and-don't and fairly new to me. I always carry a lighter with me (even if I don't smoke) so it was no-brainer that I was tasked to make sure the candle didn't burn out. However, some of the guests were a bit shocked. 

I  was told that it wasn't something a family member should be doing but since most of the people in there were family I didn't exactly have much choice. Further, I was told that I had to blow the light out of the previous one before lighting the new candle; as lighting the latter through the first one's fire meant that another death would follow. Gotta tell you, I'm not one to follow traditions and all to the letter but I heeded to this one more than I intended to.

4. Wounds aren't going to heal / take much longer to heal when you attend a wake
That explains itself fairly well, right? There are other pamahiin associated with this one, like when a female has her monthly period. It's said that being in a wake would make her blood dirty. Honestly, I don't get that sh*t, your period is supposed to be dirty, its the female's way of getting her reproductive system ready for procreation, so yeah, it would involve some "shedding" and "bleeding".

Also, if one is terminally ill then it's not advisable for him/her to attend the wake, since he/she is almost at death's door and being in a place that screams death isn't a welcoming notion. The same reason applies for a pregnant women.

6. Food served / offered in a wake aren't supposed to be taken home
Filipino wakes are abound with food, people and merriment. Well after all the crying, the bereaved family would remember the deceased in a much lighter note, well at least we did. We looked over old pictures and shared stories. And since food plays a major role in Filipino get-together, well there was more than enough to go around.

There were also people who paid their last respects to my tito by sending snacks, boxes of juice, and other assortment of food especially on the last day of the wake or the huling lamay as we call it in Filipino. But even though there was a lot of food, the elders reiterated not to take anything home especially to the much younger guests. It is frowned upon to take even a single candy from the wake. I'm still not sure of the reason to this though.


The burial: 
1. All family members are supposed to leave before the casket is taken out of the hall.
Well, this doesn't need much explaining. We were told to leave first and wait for the casket outside. Purportedly, the living members of the family are not supposed to leave the venue after the deceased as such would suggest following the deceased to the afterlife, yikes!

2. The ribbons with the family members' name written on them are taken out.
You're familiar with this, aren't you? Well, these ribbons with each family members' names written on them are pinned in the lid of the casket, you know the part that covers the deceased face. After the final viewing, the funeral service staffs or in our case the staff from the cemetery take out all the ribbons in preparation for closing the lid, forever.

3.  Children are carried over the casket.
 There were a few children in our family, the ones present during the burial were Faith, Dylan, Lucas and Maco- the apos. They were carried over tito Henry's casket to ensure that he would not visit them anymore (he used to visit the kids a lot when he was alive) and scare the bejeezus out of them, probably.

4. All the foods, drinks and even the card games used during the wake are disposed of.
 We gave away all the snacks, juices and bottled water that were left during the five-day wake as traditionally none of these should be taken home by the family. The flowers were also scattered over the casket and around the  burial grounds. I think the only thing we brought home were  the food containers.


5. Before entering the house, the family members are supposed to wash their hands in saltwater or in some cases in water with guava leaves.
Supposedly this was to wash off death. I don't remember doing this when my paternal grandfather died but we did this, this time around. Upon arriving home, there was already a basin of cold water (with guava leaves floating) in front the gate, the elders told us to wash our hands and we did.


The things I've mentioned here are just a few of the customs Filipino families usually adhere to during wakes and burials. These are merely the ones we've done or that I'm aware of. Mind you, such even vary depending on where you are in the Philippines as you know the country isn't exclusive to just one ethnicity so there are customs and traditions that are quite similar yet a little bit different.

What's Up Pilipinas?!

There's been a lot going on in the country to date. Just recently, we had inaugurated the 16th president of the Philippines and the 14th vice-president. If you're up to date with the politics in the country then you're well aware of how chaotic things had been since the proclamation of the winners. Furthermore, its a common knowledge that there has been a gap between the highest positions in our government. Duterte had initially said he would not give Robredo any cabinet position due to his close association with Marcos, who also ran for vice-president. Anyways, to make things short, Duterte changed his mind and gave Robredo a position in the cabinet involving housing.

Also, drug raids and arrests, killings and ambushes that are also drug-related has been a staple in our nightly news. It's kinda scary but this has been part of the change everybody has been expecting. On a lighter note, congested and usually garbage riddled areas are becoming way cleaner, this has been credited to the new administration as well. The new cabinet members have been named over the past weeks and they pretty much started with whatever their respective job entail. 

 ***

And today, we are expecting another matter that would greatly affect how we perceive this new administration. You see, the decision over the arbitration case the Philippines had filed against China is due today. Its been a bone of contention among the Southeast Asian nations and China on who actually has jurisdiction over the area. China has been building artificial islands and bases over the last two years in the West Philippine Sea. Its navy is around the clock over the area and has been the bane of the local fishermen('s) livelihood.

Area in question, so who actually owns it? (Image from http://www.planetarianperspectives.net)

The matter has been in the Hague tribunal and didn't exactly get much highlight. But we are now holding our breaths and mind you its not just us who's waiting on how things turn out. Many countries would be greatly affected --- not just economically. China had refused to address this suit and said that they would not abide with the tribunal's decision at all, huh, go figure.

Here's an excerpt from an article that would give you the 411 on what China thinks about all this.

The Philippines, led by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, presented its claims while China continued to refuse to participate insisting it had “indisputable sovereignty” and “historic rights” to the South China Sea.

“China opposes any move by the Philippines to initiate and push forward the arbitral proceeding,” Hua said.

“On issues of territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, China will never accept any imposed solution or unilaterally resorting to a third-party settlement,” she said.

China claims the entire South China Sea through its nine-dash line concept which overlaps with the Philippines 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone mandated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Read more: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/126097/china-we-are-the-victims-in-dispute-wont-heed-un-decision#ixzz4EB72LQnv

Here are some links to articles regarding the issue: 

http://www.inquirer.net/west-philippine-sea/articles?nav=140909&chan=9

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/140807/hague-tribunal-to-rule-in-tense-south-china-sea-row

http://time.com/4400671/philippines-south-china-sea-arbitration-case/ 

http://cnnphilippines.com/videos/2016/07/11/PH-maritime-case-Whats-at-stake.html
http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/07/12/South-China-Sea-West-Philippine-Sea-The-Hague-arbitration-case-explainer.html

So you see, there is a lot of change going on. And the second half of the year has barely began.

On May 26, Thursday, my parents and I geared up for our 3-day stay in my mother's hometown Liliw, Laguna. My father had been so looking forward to the trip as he would be celebrating his 59th birthday the very next day. Though, my parents regularly go back to the province since my maternal grandmother died, it was my first trip back this year. I wasn't even planning to go with them but my maternal aunt/godmother whom I'm very close to has been asking about me, ergo, my unplanned trip.

Initially, I thought that we would just prepare for a small feast with my relatives from my mother's side of the family. There were talks of going on a picnic but I really wasn't looking forward to it as they say, the more you plan the more it becomes drawing, hehe. Moreover, most of my relatives were elsewhere, it was still a weekday after all, in fact my siblings were in Manila since they had work. Plus, the venue wasn't even decided on, so the picnic didn't seem possible at all.

So it was kinda surprising when my mother told me to buy snacks for the picnic, I was literally like, "huh? tuloy ba?" And oh, it was so on. I woke up later than they did and had just found out that they already went to the market to buy the ingredients for our lunch. My aunt and cousins from Nagcarlan also arrived and brought along these really big tilapia with them. The elders decided to skip the picnic and just go on swimming after eating a hearty lunch at home. They thought that bringing food would be such a hassle since (1) we didn't have a vehicle big enough to accommodate us all and (2) we had children tagging along; we can't exactly carry the containers of food whilst looking after the kids.

#RaveResponsibly: Save Yourself the Trouble!

Music is universal. It transcends to all ages. Like love and food, music is a staple in our life. Hence, gigs, concerts, shows for a cause, etc are a big deal here in the Philippines. But just recently, a supposed happy event turned into a tragedy.

the event's poster

On May 21, 2016, Saturday, Close Up "Forever Summer" officially kicked off. In the wee hours of May 22, Sunday, five people were rushed to the hospital including an American national. They were found unconscious. Their ages range from 18-33 years old. They did not know each other and were on different locations at the time. Not long after, news broke out that four of the five attendees died while the other one remained unconscious.

Then, speculations of the cause of their death spread like wildfire through various social media. Allegedly, they consumed drinks laced with drugs. Social media was abuzz over the incident as there were a lot of questions yet to be answered. Later, the remaining attendee succumbed to death. It was a tragedy. Most of them were still young. Politicians, celebrities, public figures and even the average Juans expressed their sympathy, disappointment and ire over the incident. There were a lot of pointing fingers to the organizers, to the security, to the party-goers and even to the victims themselves. The event organizers extended their condolences to the bereaved families and promised to coordinate with the authorities in line with the ongoing investigations.

Close up's official statement from their official instagram account

 

By Monday, May 23, 2016, the National Bureau of Investigation said that the cause of death was heart attack due to high blood pressure. Furthermore, they had kidney failure and suffered dehydration. All of which were indicative of drug overdose. The police encouraged the concert-goers to share their experience of the rave party to shed some light to what really happened. But none were coming out, too afraid to be judged that they had anything to do with drugs. Yet despite their silence, the issue wasn't going away. 

A few days after the incident, the suspected drug dealers were nabbed. The investigation continued and the media kept the public up to date. Family and friends of the deceased then started sharing their two cents about the tragedy through interviews; while some of the event-goers posted their account of what transpired in their social media like Alma Concepcion.

To date, suspects are identified and are taken into custody and eyewitnesses' accounts are compiled and verified. The incident is far from being wrapped up. But the real fight against drugs has started. With the new president-elect, whom we all know detests drugs to the letter, it is my hope that this tragedy would not happen again. The fight would  be long and grueling. But in the interim, you and I should know our limits as well as the repercussions of our actions. Save yourself the trouble.

Work hard and party hard, they say; whilst some would shout YOLO, which is definitely true, you only live once, so seek the things that are meaningful, please don't do drugs and don't let your life be taken away from you just like that!- K.A

Musika sa Isla is Waiting for You

Hey you! If you're into classical music and dig scenic and quaint places, I have got the news for you. The "Musika sa Isla" is now on it's third year and it's the only classical festival in the country. The three-day event will be held in the charming municipality of Boac, Marinduque on May 18, 19 and 21, 2016.

photo from Musika sa Isla facebook page

Noted musicians are going to partake in the event. Franz Chen of Indonesia and Tomoyo Kobayashi of Japan are playing the piano while Kazuki Yamamoto is the sole violinist. On the other hand, Ivan Jenzer  of the Philippines is going to play the cello and singers Arlene Escultero, soprano, and Joseleo Logdat, baritone singer, are also on board.

photo from Musika sa Isla facebook page

“Musika sa Isla” is set in the quaint but bustling city of Boac in Marinduque province. The heart-shaped island takes pride in its scenic landscape, rustic charm, and other natural wonders. Its near zero-crime rate and impressive agri-based economy are attracting curious wanderers as Marinduque poises itself as a budding tourist destination. Once dubbed as the country’s “forgotten paradise,” it’s time for us to remember the beauty we’ve always had, the beauty we need to recognize. An easy bus trip away, JAC Liner even includes the RORO pass with their advanced reservations now available online. - Official Press Release

Here are the  details of the three-day festival:

May 18 - The International Concert at 6:00 PM, St. Raphael Parish

May 19 -  The Grand Gala at 6:00 PM, the Boac Covered Court

May 21 - additional concert at the Moriones Arena and Park 

Tickets sell at an affordable price for Php 200.00 for each event and a 50% discount is offered to students. This event is supported by AGREA Philippines, a local social enterprise that hopes to revitalize agriculture in the island of Marinduque. 

For more details, contact Mirra Reyes at numbers (+639) 175-351-501 or (02) 507-8575.
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Images used in this post are from the official Facebook page of "Musika sa Isla"

What Day Is It? It's Muni Market Day!

First things first, what is "MUNI Market" and who are the people behind it? Let me give you a brief rundown. MUNI got its name from the Filipino word "muni-muni" which means to think, ponder, muse or reflect. So their name basically stays true to their main goal which is to encourage people to think critically of their consumer choices and make the necessary changes to live a more mindful lifestyle.  

 "We believe that one important way we can live more mindfully is by being more aware of the impact of our consumption. By choosing products that are healthy, locally made and/or eco-friendly, we choose to put our money on products/businesses that share our values of maximizing impact in our community while minimizing impact on the planet."- MUNI

MUNI Market is a venue where the main goal is to educate the consumers of mindful living or "conscious consumption" through shopping and eating. Likewise, the event is a place for like-minded people to meet and  learn each others' stories. The 1st MUNI Market was launched on June 1, 2014 in The Grove, Rockwell, the 2nd was held on October 25 and November 8, 2014 at the Capitol Commons whilst the 3rd on March 28, 2015 and the 4th one was on October 24-25, 2015 also in Capitol Commons. This year they are on their 5th MUNI Market which will be held on May 21, 2016 in Solenad 3, Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, Laguna. 

THE PROGRAM:

- Coloring & storytelling activities for kids c/o Katch PH & Treehugger World at 11:00AM, 2:00PM and 4:00PM
- Healthy food demos c/o Holy Carabao & Jertie's Kitchen at 2:30PM
- Yoga c/o Life Yoga at 4:30PM
- Live music performances by Toni B, Gentle Universe, Paola Mauricio, Mellow Submarine starting at 5PM

Likewise, merchants will be introduced through story-sharing and their products throughout the event.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Some of the folks from our tribe of cause-driven entrepreneurs include: Bayani Brew, Down To Earth PH, Food Source PH, Gouache Bags, Gugu, Holy Carabao, Jertie's Kitchen, Katch PH, Kuwero, Lemontastic, Nipa Foods / Nipa Brew, Picole, Pizza Morena, RisqueDesigns, Silly Monkey Clothing, The Green House Project, The Superfood Grocer, Theo & Philo, Thirsty Turtle, Tinker Knot, Treehugger World, V&M Naturals, and Yadu.

SOMETHING NEW:

Unlike the previous MUNI Market, they will be introducing a new payment system for the consumers through an easy one-time payment at designated cash-in points that allows them to navigate from merchant to merchant with a quick and easy swipe of a card. 

“We’re so happy with our merchants’ openness to this new technology, and we’re excited for guests to try it out with us on May 21. This is how we envision our events moving forward, as it will enhance the experience for merchants and consumers alike, and help us gain a better understanding of consumer preferences and merchant performance, which in turn will guide us in creating even better events in the future.” - MUNI founder and CEO Jen Horn

So, save the date and see you then!

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If you wish to know more about MUNI, their cause, their previous events, etc. . click here.

One Good Vote Coming Up!

D-day has come! The May 2016 election has recently been concluded but we're still far from wrapping up. Its actually just the beginning. The results are still not yet official though there are presumptive leaders already; whilst some were already proclaimed the new this and that. And as we all now, dramas have unfolded left and right. Someone claiming of being cheated is inevitable. In fact, somebody had already cried foul! But I'm not going to talk about the "after the election" blues. This post is solely a recounting of how May 9 panned out for me as a newly-signed up election volunteer.

Why Vote-Buying is an Open Secret during Elections in the Philippines?

Vote-buying and vote-selling are just two of the most common things one can think of during the elections in the Philippines. We all know its wrong but why haven't we put a stop to it? And why are those people behind such not made accountable? We've seen it in TV, read all about it in the papers or all over the internet and sometimes have our firsthand experience.

Barely A Day Away!

I was with my parents earlier and attended mass for the "send off" on Monday. I have joined the bandwagon so to speak and took part in the PPCRV. I know, I know, I don't strike you as the "volunteer" type but I've always wanted to do so, but sadly, it never pushed through until recently. My parents and older sister were initially the only ones involved in this in our family. When I say I wanted to volunteer I was thinking more like in orphanages or in some remote place. I'm in the Education industry and I have time to spare so why not roll up those sleeves, right?

 

So, what made me sign up as a PPCRV volunteer, you ask? Hmmm. I joined the PPCRV since there was a dire need for volunteers. It's the least I can do as a responsible voter. Especially since this election seems to be more crucial than the previous elections. I guess its because of who are running for government positions or maybe that's just me. Well, a lot has happened and I'm pretty sure you are aware of the issues and scandals surrounding these people.

Am I ready for Monday?? Quite frankly, I'm not sure. As volunteers, the service we'll be putting in is free and unbiased. We were readied and made aware of some situations where we need to play it cool and invoke loooong patience. I should do well right, I mean I've taught plenty of "unique" kids in the day. Yet, I can't shake off the apprehension. Its been long established how grueling and chaotic election in the Philippines has been. And I'm not really that optimistic that this coming one would turn out otherwise. But still we're praying and hoping for a peaceful and orderly process.

Anyway, if there's one thing that I'm really pleased about, its meeting new people and gaining new experience. Regardless of how things would turn out, this stint as a volunteer is going to be among the many I'll be doing. And that's a promise.

P.S. Let's just all pray for a clean and peaceful election on Monday, shall we?

___

gifs used in this post are from giphy.com

Things to Keep In Mind on Election Day

So it's the first of May! Aside from it being a holiday and a weekend, this day also marks how soon we'll be having the election in the Philippines. Have you guys decided whom to vote for yet? Uh-ah, clock's ticking though, D-day is just a week away! Remember, we are #OneGoodVote away to making a difference, so use this time to sift through all the candidates, compare their programs and platforms.

We all know how hectic election day would be for all of us, so to save yourself some trouble and annoyance, know where you're going to vote now and check whether or not your name is actually on the voters' list. The PPCRV has launched help desks in local parishes to help voters look for their voting precinct and assigned room number. Avoid the stress by knowing where to go beforehand, okay? Also, remember that there are some things you can't do during the election. You may not think of them as much of a big deal, but trust me you can wound up in serious trouble if you do them otherwise.

It's Been a Real Pleasure St. Anthony

The Philippines is a predominantly Catholic nation, thanks to the 333 years of Spanish influence, and the third largest Catholic country after Brazil and Mexico. Hence, anything related to the faith is pretty much a big deal in itself. So, just imagine the uproar when we found out that St. Anthony of Padua's relics are coming to the Philippines 20 years after the first visit! The event was set for April 20-May 2, 2016. Adding further glee was that our local parish, National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe (NSOLG) was among the chosen venue. Hooray!

It dropped by NSOLG on April 23, 2016.  Parishioners waited in the hot summer afternoon and patiently waited for the procession to arrive. I was with my father and mother then. I initially planned to go with my friend Jean T., who is among the most in touch spiritually among our barkada, however she was still doing office work during the weekends, so. . . But, I did see her father; he was among those who threw the confetti upon the relics' arrival, how cute!

 

I was supposed to include the photos I took of the event, however, my mother inadvertently deleted them, so I am just posting the pictures I got form NSOLG's Facebook page. The whole experience was humbling. A lot of parishioners were there of varying ages and walk of life. People from neighboring cities came to be part of the historic event. We were told the office's phone were ringing nonstop ever since the news of the relics coming to the parish broke out. 

 

The couple Julius Babao and Tintin Bersola-Babao along with their children shared their story of faith and miracles through St. Anthony of Padua's intercession. Their sharing is actually among my favorite. They recounted that they asked for three favors. The first one was that Julius catch a break in his career, the second was that the house they were building be finished within the year and the third was that they can marry by the end of the year in a St. Anthony church. All of these were fulfilled and happened in the order they had hoped for. Amazing, isn't it?

I got one of these.

There were two relics that were brought in the country.  We were given the chance to see them up close and even allowed to kiss and touch them. We didn't pass up the chance, of course. It's not like Italy is just a car away from visiting, you know, so seize the chance, I say! Two queues were formed and fortunately, I sat in the second pew so I didn't had to wait long for my turn. There were also things given out to the parishioners, among them was the blessed oil,  St. Anthony of Padua novena, fan , etc. After the mass, bread was given out. It was supposed to be a tradition of sorts with regards to St. Anthony.

Have You Made Up Your Mind Yet?

March is coming to a close and before you know it, April's here and May would be toddling along! You might think that the election is still a long way off as the hot weather these days seem to make the hours drag, but you really should be contemplating of who you're going to vote for now, lest your mind become muddled on the election day itself and end up voting for someone you don't really like just so you can complete your ballot. That would just be arghhh!

It Pays to Know

Last night, my family and I gathered in the kitchen and live-streamed the #PiliPinasDebate2016 hosted by Luchi Cruz-Valdes of TV5. This is the second of the three-series debates spearheaded by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). The event was organized by COMELEC and in cooperation with TV5 and The Philippine Star among others. This was held in UP-Cebu's Performing Arts Hall and was a battle of wits among four candidates only as Miriam Defensor-Santiago underwent a clinical trial for an anti-cancer pill. Nevertheless, her supporters attended in her stead as they say there was a need to "make their presence known".

Image from philstar.com

Social networking sites (SNS) are still abuzz about what happened last night, the reactions were varied from simply being annoyed to downright infuriated. Though, there were times that that the candidates were pretty entertaining (by) themselves. But personally, I haven't really gotten over the delay. It was supposed to start by 5 p.m. and finish at 9 p.m. but it was pushed for more than an hour and finished roughly at 10 p.m.