Feast of the Black Nazarene

Every January 9 of each year is the Feast of the Image of the Black Nazarene. The center of the celebration is of course Quiapo Church in Manila City. This festival is perhaps the most popular festival in Metro Manila. According to newspaper reports, around 2 million people attended yesterday's celebration, the largest to date.

The Catholic Church in Quiapo is of course the home of the black image of the suffering Christ. The Quiapo Church is also called the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene. Here are some of the photos of the "Pista ng Poong Nazareno".


Quezon Avenue is filled with devotees, kibitzers, and media people.


Devotees have been waiting for many hours for the carriage to pass by.


Finally the carriage bearing the real (original) image is making headway inch by inch.


There is pushing and shoving to touch the rope (lubid) that is connected to the carriage. Devotees believe that by just touching the rope, their prayers would be answered. Hence by all means sinisiguro nila na mahipo man lang iyong lubid kahit minsan isang taon. Iyon ang kanilang "panata" which I would translate as "covenant".


This boy wants to touch the image with a white handkerchief. Well, would you literally step on others head and shoulders just to get what you want?


Tired but with faith renewed?


What does it feel to sit on the throne? and to have women as your disciples?


Business as usual. Make money while there is opportunity.

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Mona's Cat

I am not fond of pets but I have a friend who is very much interested in domesticated animals especially cats. One time I visited Mona in her office and I was surprised to see a cat playing on the floor. Without much hesitation, I brought out my camera and began to take some shots. The photo above is one of them.

In between conversation with my friend, I would glance at the cat. I was not actually feeling well at the time. Yet the cat was making me smile with its tricks and turns. Then it dawn upon me the thought that this cat does not work nor does it worry about anything. I was thinking how lucky this cat is because somebody is taking care of him! Somebody loves this cat! I felt all my worries at that time vanished. Could this be a moment of illumination?

If this cat is taken cared of, what about me? What about the street children like those in the photo below?

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Carabao Vs. Boracay Islands

The Philippines is truly blessed with many beautiful places particularly stunning beaches. Who have not heard of world-famous Boracay Island? This so-called crown jewel of Philippine tourist spots is considered one of the best beaches in the world today. What about Carabao Island? An interesting article in the Panorama Magazine proclaimed this island as the next Boracay.

In the article, it claimed that Carabao Island has a longer and more beautiful beach. Moreover, it is unspoiled unlike Boracay where it is now congested. An international airport is now being constructed by private investors.

In the map above, you will see the location of Carabao Island which is very near Boracay Island. Carabao Island is part of Romblon Province while Boracay belongs to Aklan Province. You will also see the location of Caticlan, the jump-off point to Boracay. Further down to the southeast is Kalibo, the capital of Aklan.

Just for your information, there is already an existing international airport in Kalibo. According to newspaper reports, another international airport will start construction this January in Caticlan. My concern is, Why build three (3) international airports near each other? Caticlan is less than an hour drive from Kalibo and Carabao Island is only 30 minutes boatride from Boracay. If a superhighway will be built between Kalibo and Caticlan, travel time will be cut into 30 minutes or less.

If there is so much money to be spent in building 3 international airports, why not construct only one but make sure it will be as great as Changi Airport in Singapore or that of Hongkong?

Anyway, I am sure there are many places in the country with good tourism potential but with no airport yet. Consider Caramoan Peninsula in Camarines Sur, Bicol. Or Calicoan Island in Eastern Samar Province.

What I see here is a mad rush by politicians to have projects built in their home turf without considering the feasibility of these projects and their implication to the over all national development of the country.

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Mga Messages sa Nu Yir

May isang kaibigan na walang humpay na nagpapadala ng mensahe na kanyang nakalap naman mula sa kanyang mga kaibigan. Narito ang ilan sa kanyang pinadala:

1. Mga dapat sundin para di madisgrasya sa paputok:
- Huwag kumuha ng naputukan, baka mapikot ka.
- Alisin agad pag malapit ng pumutok.
- Kung naputukan, dali daling hugasan. Baka madala pa sa hugas.
- Huwag magpaputok sa mataong lugar, nakakahiya.
- Magtanong kung safe bago magpaputok. Pag safe, saka iputok.
- Be safe, Hapi New Year.

2. Ngayong natapos na ang O'NINE, naway labasan ka ng maraming tagumpay at swerte sa pagpasok ng O'TEN. Isang masagana at malaking O'TEN ang hangad ko sayo.

3. Para di malasin sa bagong taon, wag isali ang ice cream, matutunaw ang swerte. Wag isali ang manok, lilipad ang swerte. Wag isali ang isda, malulunod swerte. Wag isali baboy, tatakbo swerte. Wag na lang kayang maghanda?

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1. May the spirit of the changing seasons gives us new meaning to realize a relevant paradigm shift towards the quantum leap of faiththat is unfolding.

2. It is the ending of a season and a new beginning. Happy new year!

3. Best wishes for 2010! Success in all levels! So be it in partnership with the Divine Absolute!

4. Abundant graces, Abundant blessings. No calamity is worse than discontentment. Happy New year!

5. Receive seeds from the garden of daily living and follow this instructions:
- 3 rows of peas - peaceof mind, heart, and soul.
- 4 rows of squash - squash gossip, indifference, grumbling, and selfishness.
- 6 rows of lettuce - lettuce be faithful, kind, patient, generous, humble and lettuce really love one another

*** To enhance your garden here is the seed of time: time for God, family, and friends. Water regularly with patience, cultivate with love and there will be much fruit in your garden. Remember, you reap what you sow. Happy planting not only today but always.

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Hopeful

Day dreaming is different from having a dream. Daydreaming is dreaming and doing nothing to achieve the dream. But to have a dream means to have some kind of goal that is achievable in the near term or in the long run.

I wrote in my profile that I am a dreamer. I have many dreams. Or rather I have too many dreams. Is it bad? Please forgive me if I think it is not. After all, buhay ko ito, ika nga. And remember, libre lang ang mangarap!

I was taught in my childhood to have a dream because it is disastrous not to have one. Later, I read in some inspirational books that the first step to success is to have a dream. Then have a plan. Then execute that plan. Then persevere. And so on.

Looking back now, I would say the result is mixed. I achieved some but I have stumbled a lot. Looking forward, I am hopeful that the other goals I have set for myself will soon be realized.

It is in this context that I would say it was Susan Boyle who inspired me a lot in 2009. (Sorry folks if you haven't heard of this lady. Well, she lived to see her dream being realized even in the most unkindly environment at past middle age!) Oh di ba, hindi pa huli ang lahat...Sana nga.

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Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010

Today I give thanks to my creator and to all the spiritual masters for all the blessings I received last year. Whatever happened in the year that has just passed, good or bad, I release them all. I forgive everyone and I ask forgiveness for whatever bad I did and whatever good I did not do.

Today I welcome the new year with gratitude and hope. I am grateful because I am given another year as an opportunity to continue my mission on earth. I am hopeful that this year will be peaceful, prosperous, and "pioneering". The last word refers to new experiences, new places to visit, new people to meet, and new things to try. But above all, since I become older, I hope to learn new lessons - to acquire new habits that would eliminate the bad ones.

Ah new year's resolution? Year in and year out I made one or two. Many times I failed. But I have learned to accept my shortcomings. The best thing is I tried to be become "better". Somebody told me there is no need to become better. Let us just accept who we are or what we are.

Well, acceptance is one thing. Striving to be what you want to be is an option. We are all responsible for our decisions anyway. As for me, life is what I make it. I listen to what others tell me but at the end of the day, I still decide on my own.

To all of you dear friends and visitors, thank you for being there. I wish all of you peace, joy, more blessings this new year.

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Merry Christmas

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