¡Feliz Año 2017!

Media Noche.

Mañana, con el padre de Yeyette.

Imagen del Niño Jesús.

Misa de Nuevo Año.

Un belén grande fuera de nuestra iglesia.

Let's have a happy, healthy, and meaningful 2017, everyone! ¡Qué Dios os bendiga todos los días!

¡FELIZ AÑO NUEVO A TODOS!

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Fourth Sunday of Advent 2016

Today, the final Sunday of Advent, focuses on the mysterious virgin birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:18-24). During Mass, the fourth and final candle was lit. We attended the evening Mass at our parish church, San Pedro Apóstol.

After Mass, we strolled around at our city's old plaza at the población to witness the ongoing Paskuhan sa San Pedro, a month-long celebration featuring performances from various schools and local organizations in our city. Tonight's show was hosted by Von Neri Erika, a local production house here in San Pedro Tunasán (you may check Paskuhan sa San Pedro's schedule here). We also feasted on classic Filipino Christmas merienda such as puto bumbóng and bibinca.



                                   

                              
                             

                             

Just a week to go and it's Christmas! ☺

—Pepe—
                                                                                          

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Third Sunday of Advent 2016

It was our first time in the Iglesia de la Sagrada Familia, locally known as the Holy Family Church, in Sampaguita Village. And unlike in the two previous Sundays of Advent, we attended morning Mass this time. Actually, we arrived 20 minutes before the 7:30 AM Mass. I was impressed to see that they also have the missalette Sambuhay (St. Pauls Media Pastoral Ministry), the shortened form of the missal which contains the prayers and rites used by the priest in celebrating Mass. I first encountered this missalette at the Iglesia de San Jerónimo Emiliani y Santa Susana in Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupà several years ago. Throughout the Mass, my son Mómay was the one who used it. I hope all churches have this kind of missalette so that youngsters would be able to use it as their guide, thus enabling them to understand and thoroughly appreciate the Mass more.

Iglesia de la Sagrada Familia.

The Holy Family Church is small and simply designed. Actually, it looks like a large house, quite modern-looking unlike the church in Chrysanthemum and the one in Elvinda Village. Both churches looked classic, but this church in Sampaguita Village, particularly some of its wooden images, looked artistically modern. The wooden images reminded me of Paeté, La Laguna, because of the bas relief wood works of the Holy Family and the Virgin Mary near the altar.

These wood works reminded me of those in Paeté, La Laguna.

At the altar, right behind the crucifix, is a mosaic artwork. Another thing I noticed also is that this church has flowering plants by the altar. I even check if they're real — they are! I like it that way because I love flowering plants, being a nature lover.

This flowering plant by the altar is real.

The first reading was very touching, Today's gospel taught us to "say to those whose hearts are frightened: be strong, fear not! Here is your GOD, he comes with vindication: with divine recompense, He comes to save you." I was also touched by the second reading which said "You too must be patient. Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another, that you may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates."

I just wondered why the priest, Fr. Ricardo M. Pajutan, Jr., did not give Holy Communion. Taking his place were his lay ministers (being Traditional Catholics, we didn't allow Krystal, Mómay, and Jefe —he just had his first Holy Communion last Thursday, the feast day of the Immaculate Conception— to receive the Host from them). Maybe the priest has not yet gone to confession? After all, although a priest, he is still human, and a Catholic like all of us, of course. I suspect that it is a sin for a priest who has not yet gone to confession to offer Holy Communion to parishioners. But I'm not really sure. I am not that knowledgeable regarding Catholicism. Me and my family still have a lot to learn about it.

After the Mass, our family explored the church's environs. At the back of the church, we discovered Saint Mark Hall. It's very relaxing out there because it's an open hall with a view of a stream which connects to the San Isidro River. The stream's banks has fruit-bearing trees and is filled with greenery. I would love to relax there with my family next time and have our merienda there, or perhaps for some siesta, hehehe!!!

Relaxing view at the back of the church.

We found these images at the Saint Mark Hall. Another way of looking at the Holy Family.

A sampaguita growing in front of a house near the church. But of course, this is Sampaguita Village.  =)

The priest said during Mass that the theme for the first Sunday of Advent is for Peace. The second Sunday was for True Love. Today was for Joy. He also explained that being happy is different from being joyful, that being joyful means eternal happiness. Hmmm, interesting. That's why before going home, I bought Chickenjoy for our lunch, hahaha!

Yes, we did enjoy our modest meal, and this modest meal gave us joy, just like what its bucket says: "Bring JOY to the Table". Yes, thank GOD for the blessings of JOY today. I am hoping for many more joys to come: blessings or eternal happiness. Me and my family will love to receive it with much JOY in our hearts.  ❤ =)

Family picture in front of the altar. It is also Junífera Clarita's 28th month today! Happy 28th month, baba levs! =)

                                                      -Yeyette-

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Advanced Merry Christmas, everyone! =)

Second Sunday of Advent 2016

For the second Sunday of Advent Mass (gospel reading: Matthew 3:1-12), we went to the Church of Nuestra Señora de Fátima, locally known as Our Lady of Fátima Parish Church. It is our second time to visit the place. The first time was last year, during Momay's 11th birthday (he was born on May 13, the feast day of Our Lady of Fátima). But this is our first time to attend Mass there.

My hubby Pepe's complaint is that it's very impossible to take a perfect shot of this church's façade because across the narrow street is a low-rise building, and then there are the pesky electric wires.

The church's bell tower can be seen clearly from our apartment building's balcony. It seemed quite near but we had to go through several streets and about five minutes of travel via tricycle just to reach the place. The church is small and simple for a parish church, just like the church of Our Mother of Good Counsel in Chrysanthemum Village which we visited last week. I noticed that its altar is made of a cross-stitch-like styled wall, so artistic looking. Some altar tables are made of marble or cemented stone, but this church has one which is made of wood, a classic-looking style, and that includes the podium and the ceiling. I love things that are made of wood aside from antique walls made of bricks.

The homily was about Saint John the Baptist and how he had baptized his second cousin, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The priest wanted to emphasize here how Saint John the Baptist prepared the coming of our Lord through baptism, and that millenials should be like him.

After the Mass, we and some of the parishioners all went to the priest, Rev. Fr. Venancio E. Silva, OSJ, to ask for his blessing. One thing I observed was that he was still having a conversation with the people inside the church even after the Mass. He looked very approachable and friendly. He reminds me again of my childhood years in Abra de Ilog. Our parish priest used to mingle with the community, walking around the town to talk to his parishioners. This is one practice that priests should maintain while sharing his holiness to the people around him. ❤ =)

Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Fátima.

Our Lady of Fátima Church is administered by the Oblates of Saint Joseph under the Vicariate of San Pedro Apóstol which in turn is under the Episcopal District I of the Diocese of San Pablo. Please click here for the complete photo album and don't forget to LIKE US on Facebook! ¡Gracias!
Advanced Merry Christmas, everyone! =)

                                                  -Yeyette-

First Sunday of Advent 2016

Today officially marks the beginning of the Christmas Season in the Christian Calendar. We celebrated late afternoon Mass (5:00 PM) at Chrysanthemum Village here in the City of San Pedro Tunasán. The church here is locally known as Our Mother of Good Counsel Church, but in the Spanish-speaking world (including Filipinas), it is known as Nuestra Señora del Buen Consejo. Daddy Pepe told us that it was named after after a miraculous painting in Italy.

Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Buen Consejo. This photo was taken by my eldest son Mómay.

It was our first time to attend Mass at this church, except for Krystal (it was her second today). She and her schoolmates were required to attend one Sunday Mass there a few weeks ago. She also mentioned to me that while she was practicing with her classmates in front of the church for a speech choir, all of the people in the village stopped for the Angelus. Me and my husband got curious. We thought this practice was no longer done. I remember my childhood days in Abra de Ilog, that when church bells rang for the Angelus, all of us stopped doing what we were doing to pray. In this age where we have lots of religious groups, it is very rare to hear a community that still recognize the Angelus. That is why I told my hubby and our kids that we had to attend the first Sunday of Advent at this church.

The candle of Advent, the first of four, was lit today.

Our Mother of Good Counsel Church is very simple but beautifully serene. Yes, there is a saying that simplicity is beauty. Yes, the place from the outside is very inviting that you will not hesitate to go inside the church. When we got inside, I remembered our church in my hometown, San Rafaél Parish Church, because of its smallness. The holy tabernacle at the altar looked almost the same as the one in my hometown's parish church. I again remembered my dear childhood days while looking at the tabernacle, and I felt like I was transported back to my hometown's church. The volume of the speakers inside Our Mother of Good Counsel Church is the best one I've ever heard because it was very clear, not garbled at all unlike in most churches today. I can't wait going there again to listen to the sermon. My husband's only complaint is that the church had too many electric fans. There were posts by the pews that had electric fans, blocking the view of the alter from those who were seated at the middle and at the back. Electric fans, in our opinion, are not necessary. What is the use of the abánico, anyway?

When the Angelus came after the Mass, I was not able to observe the people outside because I was still busy taking pictures of the church. Maybe next time. My kids roamed around the church as if they have been there many times before. So in short, we felt at home in it. We are very excited to come back there next time. I even bought a 2017 calendar by the entrance where other souvenir items are on sale.

I remember what my husband said before we attended Mass today, that we should live a more spiritual life, just like how Filipinos had lived during the Spanish times. Today is the first Sunday of Advent, and yes, spiritually I had nurtured my spirit upon hearing Mass today (the gospel reading for today is Matthew 24:37-44). Why? I understood and took the sermon to heart, I felt at home, and I felt so relaxed inside the church even if it was our first time there. We are always complete during Mass. Christmas is for the family, and for the first Sunday of Advent, it is exciting to bring back spirituality in the family as close as possible to what Jesus had intended all families to live. The people who believe and celebrate Christmas are the people who are true Christians, true Roman Catholics, and I am humble to say that we celebrate it by attending the first Sunday of Advent Mass, and we will continue to celebrate it because it prepares us for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our Mother of Good Counsel Church is under the Vicariate of the Holy Family which in turn is under the Episcopal District I of the Diocese of San Pablo. Advanced Merry Christmas, everyone! =)

                                                  -Yeyette-

This tabernacle reminds me of the one which used to be in my hometown's parish church. They look almost exactly the same!

Please click here for the complete photo album and don't forget to LIKE US on Facebook! ¡Gracias! 　

¡Feliz Día de los Tres Reyes Magos!

Y esta tradición filipina continúa. Nunca permitiremos que la desaparece.

¡Feliz Día de los Tres Reyes Magos!

Imagen: Makin My Apt A Home.

¡Feliz Año 2016!

I wasn't with my family during the traditional Media Noche last night, hence our late New Year's Day greeting. As usual, we just had to have a complete family photo. So here we go...

New Year's Day lunch at our humble abode.

¡FELIZ AÑO NUEVO A TODOS!

We may not have a good-looking house like what most of our relatives and friends have, we may not have the most sumptuous holiday meals, nor do we look glam in expensive clothing. What's important is that we are complete, we are intact, we are happy together. That's what really matters the most, especially during the most wonderful season of each year. So together, we'll try to survive another year. Dios mediante.

Let's have a meaningful 2016, everyone! ¡Qué Dios os bendiga todos los días!

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