Do Not Bring Us To Tita Tess…

I grew up knowing that I had a Tita (Filipino for “Aunt”) Tess who I saw once a month after every trip abroad as a Flight Attendant. She always stood tall, beautiful and admittedly, scary to the kids who didn’t know her because she always had her chin up with one hand holding on to her cigarette in a very “taray” way. Because of this, I thought the prayer was “Do not bring us to tita tess but deliver us from evil. Amen. “ I just remembered this memory last night as the family, with Tita Tess, went to seven churches to say all the mysteries of the Rosary as it was our Maundy Thursday tradition.

I was happy that my 7 nieces were all there to join us and be part of the tradition. We also lighted candles to say a prayer at the Sto. Nino church. For every church we visited, I took a picture and tagged my lil’ sis Leigh on facebook so she and her family will know that we were always thinking of them in our prayers and in our Visita Iglesia.

When I was small, our family would go to Cebu for a quick summer vacation to visit our grandma and relatives. Our summer trip to Cebu would usually fall on the holy week as it’s the only time my dad didn’t have work because all the banks and businesses were closed during the holidays and all of us kids didn’t have classes. Thus, we had the privilege of joining in the long processions and in participating in the traditional Holy Week activities. I would remember our grandma Carmen telling us "bawal mag katwa ....bawal mag sayaw ... bawal mag lingaw-lingaw kay namatay ang Ginoo." She was very strict in having us follow the holy week traditions and respect the sacredness and meaning of the occasion. 

Holy week is always filled with memories for me of being with the family. Either we had a road trip or stay home and watch all the old movies that were about the men and women of the bible or try to do all the traditions that most Catholics would follow during these holidays. One funny memory is when we visited the “Santo Entierro” to see, pay our respects and kiss the statue of Jesus lying in his tomb (which is designed and constructed by the parish priests in our parish). My dad got inside the “tomb” first and was followed by my mom. As mom was about to kiss the forehead of Jesus, she almost panicked as she thought that the statue of Jesus was performing a miracle as the head was “lifted” up as if it was going to stand up. She only calmed down when she saw that the statue moved because dad was kissing the “feet” at the same time and his weight pushed up the statue.

Now that I’m all grown up, I am ashamed to say that I never got to do most of the holy week traditions this year as I stayed at home to rest. I did take time to reflect and be thankful for our life and our loved ones and most especially for our Savior who I know will always be there for me despite how sinful I am. I may not lead the perfect Christian life as most would expect, but I try my best, most especially in loving God and in loving my fellow men. Like most Christians, there will always be persecution and people judging me. Those will always be around, all I know is that I have faith and that I will just live life the best way I can and love and help my neighbours the best way I could.

Have a blessed holy week everyone. 

Disederata

My sister introduced "Disederata" to me. It's a great literature and source of lessons to live by. I hope you find this useful and that you gain something out of it as I have and will continue to do so.

Disederata
Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, 1952.

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

attention all Havaianaticos - it's make your own havaianas time!!!

All ye Havaianas fans ... Cagayan de Oro is going to have another MYOH even! Be at Limketkai Center on October 23 to 25, 2009 to make your own favorite pair of flipflops!

Havaianas Philippines exclusive designs are out. Get yours now!

When Will You Die?

People have been taking the Facebook "when will you die" quiz and the results would show when and how they will die, obviously morbid and not my cup of tea. I never wanted to know when I will die as I have this belief of planning for the future, learning from the past and living in the present. However, I have gotten myself into a situation wherein it appears that an eminent death to this special situation is prevalent and this consideration was made in respect to the other party.

Since this started, I have been trying to live life to the fullest and making the most of what life has to offer for me for this circumstance. I suppose loving so much, feeling and knowing it will probably end soon at the other party's signal is tantamount to knowing when I will die. I want to be able to show so much of my love in every waking moment and signify that I do mean it for fear that I won’t be able to show and say it anymore when that time comes because I know I will no longer have the right to do so. I keep on hoping that it will last for as long as it could but we all know we can’t dictate the heart of another person. We all know that a couple’s dance isn’t as graceful and as beautiful if both do not synchronize their steps in unison to the music.

I guess with this, I can attest to the fact that it is better to have loved someone so much, no matter how short-lived it may have been rather than be with someone for the longest time and know that love is no longer present.

Yet again, I have to say, one of life’s greatest paradoxes is loving so much and letting go. Letting go doesn’t necessarily mean you have stopped loving, it just means you have stepped aside to let the other grow, no matter how painful it may be.

In The Fell Clutch of Circumstance..

Oftentimes, we find ourselves in a state where our tenacity and mettle is tested. We can either break down or step back and look at the circumstance in a better perspective to find a better way of getting over the hurts and hurdles.

Recently, I’ve had friends who underwent such a state in their lives and I’ve seen how they have weathered through the storm. I’ve seen how they could have almost succumbed to the pain but they rose above it and used the pain to fuel them to realize that there are bigger things in life and that they can get past the fiercest struggle in the most dignified way. It’s from these people around me that I draw my strength from. They have shown to me that battles are fought, we may get scathed and scarred but we can certainly triumph over any physical and emotional pain with faith and by loving the people that surround us. Battle scars are meant to be there to remind us that we have fought, might have lost or won, but we are still alive to live another day to appreciate life more with the people that we love and loves us.

I’d like to share one of my favorite poems with you, one I have learned and memorized by heart since I was young and I’d like to dedicate this to those who remind me to be strong. You know very well who you are.

Invictus
by William Ernest Henley; 1849-1903

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul.

Rescuers Down Under

Somehow this movie title has a new meaning for me. hehehehe. Diba D? Diba Jo? hahaha

Make Your Own Havaianas 2008 flip-flops it’s way to Cagayan de Oro City

Calling out to all ye havaianaticos. One of our favorite Havaianas events is here once again! Nothing is better in this world than having something custom-made just for you. Come out with your own wacky, trendy and signature flip flops design. I attended the last MYOH event last year and definitely had a blast going through all the available materials and mixing and matching all the parts of my favorite flip flops brand.

See you on October 17-19 2008 at the Atrium Limketkai Center and have fun creating your own, personalized Havaianas flip-flops!