FINDING GOD AND HIS LITTLE MIRACLES

God's Little Miracles

Sometimes, when things are not going your way; and you seemed to be having the worst ride... you find God!

It is not seeing Him in person by your side; it is finding things that seemed impossible... but there it is for you to see!

My faith is sometimes questioned when life's journey turns bumpy; and I seemed all alone in fighting life's adversities!

But, God has a way of making His presence known... He lights up a beacon to make me aware that He has never left me!

All for God's glory!

Your humble servant,

csm

Onli in da Pilipins: A Writer's Journal
Copyright © csmiravite™. All Rights Reserved

Palm Sunday at the Holy Family Church in BF Homes, Las Pinas

The Holy Week in the Philippines starts with Palm Sunday that is celebrated in all churches of the country. Catholics observe this solemn holiday, by fasting and self-reflection, on the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. Our little community in Las Pinas, is no exception. Masses were held from early morning to late at night. Devotees buy coconut palms, creatively intertwined together for P20 each outside of our Parish Church. I was there to hear the mass in the late afternoon and saw entire families --- from the toddlers to grandma and grandpa attending Mass together. The toddlers, were running around, singing and yelling, to the consternation of their parents. The elders, who can barely walk, have caregivers attend to their needs. It was like a town fiesta, minus the food, and the church was the center of the celebration. 

The entry of the priest and the lay ministers signaled the start of the mass. It was an awesome sight, with parishioners waving their palms as the parish priest walked by. It is ingrained among the faithful, that during the holy mass, the priest becomes a personification of Christ. That within the august halls of the church, angels and all the saints, are within our midst. For the faithful, the mass can be a solemn celebration, where they can partake of the body of Christ during communion. Looking around, I felt the solemnity of the occasion, but was also aware of the commerce outside of the confines of the church. A few meters away, was a plastic sheet (trapal) covered structure that sold beauty products --- makeup, perfumes, lotions, hair brushes, make-ups, and many others. I never understood this, and would have understood it better if the items sold were religious artifacts or donations to charities. 

Fifty meters away, are the stalls of Mang Raul and Krom, that sells barbeques and Isaw. Counting the cars that were parked in the area, I would have guessed that around one fourth of church goers were in those places ---gobbling beer while partaking of the sumptuous fare of barbequed isaw. I was not an exception, though. As I bought a hundred pesos worth of isaw and pancit bihon from the stalls. So much for Pinoy religiosity, I am ready by the start of Holy Week up till Easter Sunday! A pious week ahead, everyone!

#Holy-Week
#Palm-Sunday

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Onli in da Pilipins: A Writer's Journal
Copyright © csmiravite™. All Rights Reserved

EXTREME RELIGIOSITY OF FILIPINOS

Feast of the Black Nazarene
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/ by JSinglador

Religiosity or Fanaticism?

The Philippines is a country of 7,100 islands, with 95% of its citizens, Catholics. As a group, they are known to practice their faith to extremes. The most blatant of which, is their deep sense of religious fervor. In the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila, accidents are known to occur that results to physical injuries or even death. Hundreds of devotees are trampled upon by the influx of believers, in a procession that is participated in by millions of people.

What makes devotees participate in this accident-prone festivity, can baffle the mind of any hard-core observer. The sea of people gyrating in the push-shove process just to be near the Black Nazarene is beyond belief. Another festivity is the Pagoda Boat Festival in Laguna, a region south of Manila, where a boat parade in the river is held every year, to venerate the Blessed Virgin. The devotees often jump to the lead boat where the statue of the Blessed Virgin is placed, causing it to capsize and drown a number of people.

Penafrancia Festival
Source: https://remit2homeblog.wordpress.com/

Religious Traditions and Practices

There are now safety provisions imposed by the lay leaders of the festival to avoid further accidents in the last two years. How far the exercise of sobriety can go, is anybody's guess. When asked why they join the festivity, the stock answer is, "panata" or a promise to the Lord to do the same act, until they are physically able. Christianity was brought to the country by Spain hundreds of years ago. However, the practice of the faith have evolved into something far beyond the dreams of any Spanish conquistador, who ever set foot on this island.

The Holy Week which starts on the last week of March till the 1st week of April for 2015, is a celebration of the faith. The countdown starts with Ash Wednesday, to remember that from dust did we come from, to dust we shall return. On that day, Catholics flock to their respective parish churches to have their forehead marked with ash. This act signifies that life on earth is temporary, and the final destination is the heavenly kingdom.

Ash Wednesday
Source:en.wikimedia.org

If practiced in earnest, the marking of ash serves to strenghten ones faith with God. However, some young people just used it to show off to friends that they have gone to church. Whatever that means, is lost on me. If you think that the mark serves as a passport to heaven, you will be disappointed. No way will it make you see the heavenly gates, if there is no piety involve to go with the markings.

Nonetheless, the season is marked with prayers and deep contemplation. In the rural areas,  old women sings the "Pabasa" or the books of prayers from morning till early dawn of the following day, non-stop. This is held on the barrio chapels with partipants numbering from 20 to a hundred people. This is done on Holy Thursday and can last till the early hours of Good Friday. Food is served to the group from community donations. Since it is a week of fasting, only the most basic meal of rice, vegetable, and fish are serve.

Self flagellation
Source: en.wikimedia.org

Beyond the Call of Faith

In some areas, self flagellation is practiced. These are men who beats their bodies with thorns until they are bruised and bloodied, as they walk down the streets. They go barefoot, with bare upper bodies, and heads covered with cloth. The act can horrify any onlooker who is not used to it. There are areas too, where some believers nail themselves on the cross. These I believe, are extreme practices, that have gone beyond the basic teachings of the church.

I can only imagine what the early Spanish missionaries would say, if they see how Catholicism has grown roots in this country today. It may be far beyond their wildest imagination, that the practice of Catholicism has gone this far. If only Filipinos can temper their deep religiosity, then we may see the Catholic faith as going back to what it's really meant to be---as the true Church of Christ.


#religiosity-of-filipinos

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Onli in da Pilipins: A Writer's Journal
Copyright © csmiravite™. All Rights Reserved 
              

A Trip to the Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan



Whenever I go to the hometown of my mother in Pangasinan, I am reminded of the Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag, a minor Basilica, which is situated in a nearby town. My mother's place goes to the right, after the town of Binalonan, and the shrine on the left going to the town proper of Manaoag.                                                                                                       

                                                                           

Filipinos by nature are ardent devotees of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They pray  for her intercession in asking special favors to her son, Jesus Christ. In Manila, we have the church of the Lady of Perpetual Help where Marian devotees flock, especially during Wednesdays. It is a pilgrimage site where people from all walks of life congregate to pay homage to the Blessed Virgin.



The Shrine of the Lady of Manaoag, however, is considered as a place of miracles. It is replete with stories and anecdotes about the Holy Mother. Many have been written in various journals ,and among my favorites are stories that were told firsthand, by my own mother.

She often says that the Virgin is miraculous. During the Japanese era, the Blessed Mother is known to show herself to local farmers whenever there is danger or pestilence.She is a beautiful lady with a shining face who talked placidly with the natives. A farmer who saw her in the fields, was surprised to see her image in the church.



Several people claims to have seen here walking around. As of result, the pilgrimage to the site grew in numbers.  Devotees came from all parts of the Philippines, and some of them are from other countries like the United States and Europe.

When I went there a few months ago, I saw the same number of people flocking around the church. The entrance was full of vendors of : rosaries, replica of the Virgin and the Sto. Nino, kakanin (sweet bread), tupig (sticky rice with coco strips and charbroiled), fruits, and native bags and decors. The church was basically the same as when I last saw it and the lines going to the Virgin at the altar is still long as ever.



There are several stores managed by the church where I bought a few floating candles, calendars, and a t-shirt for my kid. It was a religious experience and I could have finished hearing the mass had I not been distracted by the commerce that were all around me.I saw several ladies selling ginger juice in different sizes of bottles. I wondered what that has got to do with the veneration of the Virgin. But I let go of the ill thoughts and went to the small pool to float my candles. These candles were said to be  for special favours and I lighted ten of them.



I stood there transfixed with the Blessed Virgin gazing down at me. I asked for forgiveness from all the distractions that must have shaken my unwavering faith in her. I then sense a sudden calmness that must have meant, that she has forgiven me. I left the site with a feeling of contentment and inner peace.

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Onli in da Pilipins: A Writer's Journal
Copyright © csmiravite™. All Rights Reserved

Bringing Children to Church

I went to church by my lonesome self this afternoon. But before hearing mass, I passed by the isaw-isaw stall of Kuya Krom, which is just within the church perimeter.

While sitting comfortably in one chair and after having placed my order, I noticed one little girl of about two years old, who sat at another table. Apparently, she is an only child as can be seen on how
her mom and dad dotes on her.

She is a precocious little girl, and babbled continuously on other children who were sitting so far away from her. When her friendliness got rebuffed, she turned her attention to a nearby cat. She cooed,

"Cat-cat, come here!"

I suddenly remembered this cooing, as this was the same come-on that my daughter used at that age. I smiled knowingly, and was oft to church. But, I saw this little girl again, being a handful while her parents heard mass. I saw both tiny feet on her father's ears and at the same time pulling her mother's hair!

Ohlalah! It was hilarious!

Personally, I didn't bring my child to church at that age. My fear was that, she might babble with her loud baby voice during the sermon---to respond to the priest. She did this earlier while watching Kris Aquino on television and talked to her non-stop.

With a loud baby voice, she blabbered back to Krissy...

"beeww beee bee weweiiweee. menooweeewshownewnew....lewlewlbew."

As I remember, this went on and on until Kris Aquino went off the air.If this were to happen in church, I may have died in shame! Just imagine, a baby girl blabbering away,  like there is no tomorrow!

I'll be honest that my greatest fear, was --- what if she sings as the chorale sings the Alleluia? Holy Banana! I can just imagine the scenario that may have gone this way with her as part of the chorus... (Her version of the Baa, baa Blacksheep)


Baaah, baaah blatt ship,
Ani ani wuuul,
Yet ter, yet ter,
Treee batsss pul,
An porrr de maaater,
An porrr de baaayy,
An porrr a leetell ger,
Liiibbss doowwnn hae,
Baaah, baaah blatt ship,
Ani ani wuuul,
Yet ter, yet ter,
Treee batsss pul!


Oh my God, just imagine that?

And believe me, my little girl could have pulled that off in a jiffy!

Why do I know?

When we were in the supermarket a few months after, while she was placed inside the shopping cart, she blurted out in a song with all aplomb...

A,B,C,D,E,F,G.......

followed by:

Sa, dawa, tatlo, apat, lima....


Lolololol!


MORAL OF THE STORY?

Never bring children when they are still so little, like below 3 years old in church. You never how handful they can be---when you are in your most prayerful mood!


:D


Photo credit: Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License


writer_csm


Onli in da Pilipins: A Writer's Journal
Copyright © csmiravite™. All Rights Reserved

Freelance Writing: Work, Compensation, and the Christian Faith

 

 

 

Author’s Note: The bubblews site was down for a few hours. It prompted a 705 error. Horrible! I wrote this post when the site was down, before doing my next round of assignments in another portal. Good it is up and running now! 

ON WORK, COMPENSATION, & CHRISTIAN FAITH

This is the first week in my almost two years as freelance writer that I earned much. Not really much, but this week tops it all. This trend is going to last till next week. How I did it is pretty much the same way as how others do it----I view my current project as if it will be my last work on earth. Hence, it has to be the best that I can do at the moment.

It has been a long and hard climb, of keeping the faith and driving myself to excel in a craft which is not my first passion. At the back of my head, I know that I am first and foremost –--an Accountant. It is my reality where I can swim most confidently in an ocean that I call home. Writing is a passion, and I didn’t know that it is one, until circumstances forced me into it.

I got another round of assignments just this minute, and it will keep me busy for sometime. What is the topic all about? No, it is not about stock trading or the techie stuff that I usually crank out. It is coming up with a book--- of Christian Prayers. Fifty prayers for everyday experiences at 150 words each. I did not know that my faith can drive me to this extreme. I love my God and I adhere to my faith. But writing a whole book of prayers ---is something I never imagine that I can do.

I am ever thankful to the Lord and Master for all the gifts that He has given this faithful servant. I am happy that I still walk God’s path towards eternal life where I will find my Master’s abode.

In Jesus Name, I pray.

Amen

Have a Blessed Day everyone!

Photo credit: pixabay.com by Iwona_Olczyk

 

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Onli in da Pilipins: A Writer's Journal
Copyright © csmiravite™. All Rights Reserved


Republished from bubblews.com with nom de plume, avila_fajardo