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Archive for travel
today’s earth day!
Yes. Today is Earth Day! 
I grabbed the logo above from the Earth Day Network site. The Philippines is also celebrating it. I saw tarps hanged at certain MRT stations in Manila when I went there last Friday. Too bad I wasn’t able to click my shutter for it. But, actually, you’ll mistake it for a political campaign propaganda rather than a material to promote Mother Earth (I believe you know what I mean ). Anyway, here’s a copy of the program lead by the Cultural Center of the Philippines in partnership with a number of NGOs and businesses among them is HARIBON Foundation (which I’m proud to be a member of).
Too bad I won’t be able to join today’s celebration - in person. I’ll just pray for the success of the activities and it’s lasting effect that would surely benefit our Home and our Future! God bless!
post-New Year, NFF’s and Me
Christmas greetings and new year’s well wishes weren’t that much compared to what I’ve received last year. Anyway. A question visited me the night before the bangs and glitz of the year’s turn flooded the sky (and so did IM’s popped up and crammed my screen :D): "Why are there so many resolutions made at the turn of the year?"
My contention isn’t about making resolutions. What I’m trying to question is that, why do a lot of people have to do it every "end" of the year? Why not do it as needed? Or has it just become a fad? Just questions, you might want to answer them… 
New Found Friends (NFFs)
Kay, Ar, Cee, Em and Dee (not their real names) are my new found friends. They are a group of differently-abled people that I’ve met yesterday during the post-Christmas and post-New Year Get-together program for the PWDs (Persons With Disabilities Different Abilities - not comfortable with the original word) in our parish. I joined the youth ministry who spearheaded the event. While helping in facilitating the activities, I noticed a group of participants who aren’t that participative. I went by and discovered that they are deaf-mutes. There was no one in organizing group who knows sign language. Ergo, they don’t understand what’s happening around. I only have a bit knowledge of their language. Actually, I only know the alphabets, the clap and my name. Nonetheless, I volunteered to be with the - scribbling the important announcements and other audible things that would matter to them.
The questions on their faces were eventually transformed into smiles and cheerful admiration and involvement to everything that is happening around them. That painted a smile in my heart.
This encounter has brought up a new challenge for me to take. I thought of learning the sign language. Why? They are young people. The path were I am now is leading me to a life of service to the poor and marginalized youth. I thought that it would be best if I would be able to communicate with them in their own language. This brings me back to my desire of becoming a missionary. A thought rings to my mind, this might be the chorus of every missionary, it sounds something like this - every one is a missionary and every soul is a mission land. Well, this could be my mission.
Me and Gratitude
Gifts. The Epiphany is near and the thought of telling something about the gifts I received this past holy-days lit-up. I wouldn’t want actually to brag about the gifts I’ve received, rather I would like to thank those who have gone beyond themselves and allotted a space for me in their gift budgets. Among them are my family, Kuya Bong, Ate Fe, my Ate, Ninang Emma (Ninang Eloi you might want to Send Money to the Philippines Online for my aguinaldo, *smiles* just a joke! - I’ll email you soon), and Tita Hilda & her hubby Tito John.
Um, yes, of course, gratitude is also fitting for everyone who has never grown tired of praying for me. Those people who remembered me during the Christmas novena and also those who have been so generous in giving their time just to pause and intercede for me (no matter what day it may be). I might not know each and everyone of you, nonetheless, be assured that you are remembered in every good deed and prayer that I do.
Also, for all those who have been so patient in reading this blog. Thank you so much, I really appreciate the time you spend in my subtle oasis. I hope you find it as such - an oasis of thought and realizations, that is.
reSEARCHING
Chino, Clemens, Enzo and I (WE) never thought that we would be having one hell heaven of an adventure today.
Everything happened on a THURSDAY.
We left the seminary a few minutes before 8am with cats and dogs raining over our heads. The bus trip from Bus Stop (wow, it rhymes) to Pasay Road was a breeze. The problem came when we were walking towards Don Bosco - Makati. The street was flooded - almost knee high!
Good thing I was with the Makati boys (all of my companions studied and / or lived in Makati). We easily found our way away from the flood (and away from DB Makati). We walked about 2 km to San Ildefonso Parish. Fr. Remo Batti, SDB (the parish priest) shared a few words and a pack of broas (local lady finger pastry) as we wait for Enzo’s high school friend (who happen to be a Lasallian) to pick us up and accompany us to the illustrious De La Salle University - Manila.
South Gate. Chino pushed me to talk to the person on the info desk. Within minutes, our red-visitors’-tag was handed to us (Chino, Clemens and I; Enzo has a different story :D). We went straight to the accounting office and paid our due at the cashier. From there, we were almost clueless where to go next. Good thing Raffy (not sure with the spelling; Enzo’s friend that was mentioned earlier) was there to save the day (again). he volunteered to walk with us to the library.
As we cross the lobby with a lot of columns and booths, I stumbled upon one of my closest classmate back in high school - Abe! A few seconds after exchanging our hi’s, Ate Pat almost screamed - surprised finding me in her school. Ate has to go somewhere and Abe has something to finish so we continued walking towards our destination. But just before reaching the walkway leading to the library, Dominic saw us and joined up to the library.
We were left on our own inside the library. It was not so big as UST’s but it was packed with much resources (at least those which are related to my topic). In an hour I was able to get the journals and books from where I could squeeze snippets of knowledge very relevant to my study. It took another hour for me to finish reading (skimming, actually) through half of the books I got and sorted out that which I won’t be needing. I was about to start with the last half when a BIG guy’s shadow dimmed my vista (peace! :)). That’s HERBERT (HB), what a pleasant surprise! He’s been my classmate since second year high school until we graduate. Sure, we had some rough times then but the friendship superceded everything. He was with Lisa, his block mate (?) who is incidentally my schoolmate in elementary. We took lunch together.
HB and Lisa had to leave me for they will have to attend a lecture of a Nobel prize laureate. And so, I walked my way alone to the library.
When I was walking alone on my way back to the library, I felt a sense of confidence, of familiarity. Maybe because I’ve been there a few years ago but the feeling was different, as if I’m just in Don Bosco. I felt comfortable, at home. Because my friends are everywhere? I can’t explain why, for now, actually.
Anyway, I wrapped-up my work, placing marks on the books I ought to photocopy. Returned the useless books and have the others photocopied. I had time to read the photocopies and highlighted the important parts before Chino and Clemens told me that we have to go.
We dropped-by the McDonalds beside La Salle to meet Enzo. Chino wanted to buy some art materials so they left me alone. Luckily, Abe found me and, as he promised, treated me for a snack. But unfortunately, after Abe has bought the food, Chino and Co. arrived - we have to leave. So, Abe and I didn’t have much time to talk (Abe next time, I’ll inform you at once so that we will have all the time… :)).
LRT, jeepney and DBTI Makati. At around four, we arrived at Don Bosco Technical Institute, Makati. We were supposed to meet Bro. Melo for some chit chat about our theses (and our seminary life :)). But, when we arrived, he was not yet in the convent (where we were to meet him); thus, we decided to visit the sick Salesians confined in the mini-hospital at the convent: Fr. Miguel, Fr. Dominic, and Fr. Vic.
It was around 5pm when we left DBTI. Wanting to arrive home as immediate as possible, we opted to ride the first bus that we hailed. It was full. SRO. From Makati to Calamba, an hour trip, we never had the chance to sit. So much so that when we had to alight the jeepney that brought us to Canlubang from Calamba, my bottom felt much comfort that it wouldn’t want to let go of the seat (:D).
There were a lot of things that happened unexpectedly. As they were unfolding upon our bare eyes, we thought that going-out that day was a bad idea. But in the final analysis, while we were in a way evaluating our day at supper table, we realized that the unfortunate events we experienced led to more gracious opportunities (on top of our list of good-things-that-happened-this-day was our successful research and the bonding that we had).
This reminds me of Fr. Dante’s favorite verse that comes from Paul’s letter to the Romans (I forgot the exact chapter and verse):
Gratia Omnia! … Everything is Grace!
Indeed everything was grace.
(other pictures to follow… PS all religious whose names appeared here are all Salesians of Don Bosco…)
