What is in a name again?
2007-07-30 03:26:28
Have you tried writing your own name into different languages and characters? It would be nice and interesting! That’s how I love my own name. I appreciate its meaning for it somehow defines me, always associated with me as others call me by my name, not only with my nickname “Balong” which is reserved for my parents.
Part of our study in Prophet Literature is familiarization of Hebrew characters. Not really to master it but to, at least be familiarized with the different names in the Hebrew Book; the TORAH. I would be able to write my name in Hebrew then and for sure, it would be beautiful also.
In writing my own name with different languages and characters, I found a blogsite, My Name in Arabic - - Mon Nom en Arabe who generously translated my names, even my “Moslem name” into Arabic. I’m fascinated with different major languages especially with Hebrew and Arabic. These influence me. Hebrew, because of our Judeo-Christian tradition, and A
Genogram: Digging the History of Celeste Clan in Calinog
2007-07-27 04:16:57
Being worried for few days now, I got to see my relative yesterday, the director of Sta. Catalina college at Legarda in Manila. She has the copy of a book “Calinog, The Story of a People.” This is a compilation of Family Trees of different families in Calinog, collected by Dolores De Los Reyes Ravena in 1996; second volume. This will solve my worries for the meantime. Sr. Ana Celestial, OP lend me the book for my assignment in Pastoral Counseling about my family background. Genogram is a difficult task if I don’t have the resources just like this. In short, I will be analyzing my ascendants’ history, particularly my father’s family. I can’t believe that our ancestors were offspring of Datu Paiburong, as what the book says. I am doubtful but inspired to dig for more information as detailed as I can. Celeste family might be a small group in a bigger clan from Calinog but I’m happy that our family history is being kept and still passed on to the new gen
Read more: History
The Active and Contemplative Life versus Active-Contemplative Life
2007-07-21 20:50:49
For few days, I’ve been contemplating about my experiences that were affecting my present thinking. It’s like an experiences of crises, sorts of spiritual crisis and difficulty reconciling my feeling, thinking and perception of what’s happening with me. Totally I was tired.
Last Tuesday during our Theology of the Church (Ecclesiology) Class, I asked many questioned that annoyed my teacher who happened to be my Rector. I was tagged as a skeptic and was told to “go out” and be one of them (He was referring to the skeptics, non-christians and even non-catholics) I was hurt enough that I kept my mouth shut and never asked for accompaniment that night. I was bothered if this is the feeling of what “ex-communication.” Will it be a ground for it? It was shallow, I thought for a while. I carried the whole burden and became a struggle for a moment. Or maybe I was just really tired.
That experience led me into a question, “How am I this time as a religious brother?
Read more: Active
, versus
Eucharistiana: Home for Exceptional Children
2007-07-18 07:53:03
This is not my first time to be with children but not with the exceptional ones. I was already assigned to our own House for street kids and with other children in places like Payatas and Balubad Settlement Area. Nevertheless, I lack experiences how to be present with them. Aris is one of the children of Asilo de San Vicente de Paul in Paco, Manila. I’ve been with him for almost a year now for informal classes and tutorials with other kids. Beforehand I was told already by the Social worker that Aris stays with other children at SPED. From then on, I wondered what is SPED.
At this institution, Eucharistiana, I expect more than learning. I expect to integrate myself with the exceptional children. More than theories and academic terms, I am expecting myself to learn their unique “language,” their being special. I also expect myself to be more “me“ in dealing with them, to build up a good relationship so that I can relate not only with them but also with other children
Read more: Exceptional
, Children
Stories of Young Children that Make us Believe them
2007-07-15 04:11:12
Listening to Bro. Mitch’s story during our supper made me awake for the whole night. I was moved. He witnessed the most dramatic situation in his apostolate. It was all about the family who is trying to make a big decision to live. It was somewhere in Antipolo. The husband died few months ago. He left nothing except six children for his wife. The wife this time is selling “fish balls” to survive her six children ages from few months to 12 years. The eldest, a son, seemed to understand how difficult to be separated from his family, resisted with the decision of the mother; to let them be taken cared by the sisters of Mother Teresa, even just for a while. The mother asked the sisters to take care of the three children until she is able to find a new place to live. The heart-breaking situation began… Both the mother and all the children were crying as the sisters and Bro. Mitch tried to convince the children to go with them.
This sad story started with another sad story.
Read more: Children
, Stories
, Young Children
Interview with Brother Canisio and the Marist Ad Gentes Program
2007-07-11 07:09:53
I’m not a good interviewer but happy that I got a chance to talk with our visitor, Bro. Canisio Jose Willrich, FMS. He came from Brazil, from the Marist
Province of Rio Grande Do Sul and now on his way to Mindanao for orientation on Ad Gentes. Since he is staying with us here at MAPAC for few days, I was able to ask him few questions regarding with Marist Ad Gentes Orientation Program
. His language is Portuguese yet managed to speak in English well.
Before you came here in the Philippines, Brother
, what were your last assignments or apostolates?
I taught religion and Pedagogy of Religious Teaching for one year in 1993 and again in 1997. Then I was assigned to visit families as a Social Educator while teaching music and at the same time being involved with formation of children and educators. From 1995 to 2003 and from 2004 to 2006 I was also involved in Marist formation as a formator, accompanitor and a superior for six years.
What is your purpose of coming here in the Philipp
Power of Schmooze Award
2007-07-10 08:41:27
Gabriel left a message on my tag board telling me that my blogsite has the power of schmooze. I wondered what it was. So I looked for a meaning. Looking for the meaning at Encarta, “Schmooze” means, “to chat socially and agreeably; an informal chat about trivial matters.” Gabriel bestowed a blogging community involvement award. This originated from Adria of In Cing. Thanks for this. With this, I want to bestow the same award to Franco and Mark Aethen. You may download your badge here.
Read more: Award
Areas of Growth and to Work On
2007-07-08 08:08:53
I’ve been tagged by the Unidentified to blog seven random stuff about me, but now I’m not only giving you random facts about me but I’m sharing with you the result of the evaluation done by MAPAC Formation Team for the last six months. Just don’t ask me about the credibility of the ones giving this evaluation for me
Smiles a lot more this time
Very engaged in class
Experience of leadership and of a demanding apostolate has been positive in terms of his relating skills
Can be moody in the mornings
Can come across as a bit cold, super-organized.
Seems to prefer to do things by himself.
Is perceived by some others as being “conservative” in his approach to prayer and liturgy, adopting the position of an old Brother.
Here, I would like to tag these bloggers and I hope you make your own version, too And of course, please tag another seven-friend bloggers as part of this rule Eedom, Janus, Karen, Razz, Rho, Makoy, and Aethen. I hope it&
Read more: Growth
Anybody Can Cook!
2007-07-05 07:50:24
Wow! I’m not really reviewing a movie but I can’t just stop admiring the message behind it. Let me ask this question, “Do you believe in yourself?” Silly question maybe but, it is also about our nature. This is a question everytime we doubt ourselves in things we’ve never done before. We gotta believe our nature. “Yes, we can,” says the rat! It’s not that we change our nature or we change our attitude but Change is our nature or change is our attitude… Something new for me, I’m not presenting a hypothesis but I just believe what is something believable for us. Just watched the animation movie “Ratatouille” and it brought me something tonight. Ratatouille is a Pixar movie production being directed by Brad Bird. It is a story of Remy (Patton Oswalt) and a rat living in Paris who wants to be a chef. Now, not that I can “cook” just like Remy’s friend, but it’s the idea that I can do better
Marvelous Companion, the Beauty of Living in a Community
2007-07-02 04:21:16
Based from the Book, “Marvelous Companion
” by Br. Sean Sammon, FMS, Superior General of the Marist Brothers.
Brother Sean wrote the book in response to the demands of the present time that concerns community living. He says that community is always an affair of heart. Yet there are concerns about quality of community living, that there are problems present in communities, and lacking of genuine community life which is reason given for requesting dispensation from vows. Contrary to an ideal community where there is open, life-giving and prayerful atmosphere, there are communities that members live by themselves or appears to be living alone together as what Brother Sean is saying. Another reason why he wrote the Circular is about the concern about the reports of bitter and angry brothers in communities as he also states the needs of reconciliation and going back to the basic: Marcellin’s charism.
In the book, Community of Faith, particularly on chapter two, the fir
Read more: Beauty
, Living
Nothing Much from Me this Time
2007-08-04 08:57:29
There are moments when I’m full of ideas, as if my mind is pregnant and giving birth to many insigths and reflections. But there are moments also that it’s very dry, my mind is totally empty and nothing to say. I just wonder what would others may say. Yet as you can see, my entries are not posted because of expectations. They are like overflowing honeys from the beehives, fresh wines from the grapevine, tempting to taste and full of grace. But this time, it’s like famine, starvation, a desert without life at all. Ey, I’m just unproducitve this time, nothing much from me, until the next entry. Then you may say, “Ah! Babalikan ko mga entries mo para basahin, bro!
Kaya, breaktime muna, examination week na muna ang aatupagin. Please, abangan ang susunod na kabanata
Read more: Nothing
Filipina: Isa ring Ina (A Mother, Too)
2007-08-08 08:10:25
Let me share to you about my mother. It happened five years ago while I was on vacation, preparing myself to enter the novitiate. I just woke up one early morning, and I proceeded to the kitchen and looked up for something hot to drink, “Mang, gatas ko po…” I asked her while I was still rubbing my eyes. “Anak, magtimpla ka na lang d’yan, may pinakulo na akong tubig dito,” she replied while giving the kettle to me. I got my personalized mug, put a spoonful of powdered milk and looked for the sugar container but found it empty. My mother forgot to tell me, instead she asked me to buy from the sari-sari store of our neighbor. I blurted out, “H’wag na lang!” sabay tapon sa tinimplang gatas sa lababo. My mother looked at me furiously for a long time and started to cry, on that very early morning. She was sobbing while talking, “Pinaghirapan kong maghanap ng ating makain, nagtinda ako buong maghapon para may kakainin tayo ngayon, ganyan pa ang ginawa mo.
I’m joining the Mindanao Bloggers Summit!
2007-08-07 21:33:35
Anhon ta kay gusto ko man ‘ya mag-attend sining pagtililipon sang mga bloggers sa Mindanao! Kit-anay na lang ta didto sa Davao karong umaabot nga Oktubre biente-siete!
1st Mindanao Bloggers Summit
Sponsors:
Councilor Peter Laviña
BisayaBloggers.com
Davao’s Food Huntress
Lane Systems
Father Kaiparambadan releases the maiden issue of “Know The Truth”
2007-08-06 22:18:19
Nothing much from me but, here! Plug in lang po…
“Know The Truth
, A publication to defend the Catholic faith,” is the title of the magazine I received from a friend last night. It contains different articles like, “The Bible proclaims Jesus is God,” “Trinity in the Bible,” “Sign of the Cross,” and the interesting one (for me) “Attacks of Catholic Faith by ‘Pandoktrina” and many other “Direct-to-the-point presentation of Catholic doctrines,” says Fr. Gerardo Tapiador of the Diocese of Novaliches.
It is the maiden issue
being published by Fr. Paul Kaiparambadan and is being recognized by the different Church leaders here in the Philippines. Cardinal Rosales grant him the permission to do this mission of evangelization in the Archdiocese of Manila while Bishop Broderick Pabillo urges the Catholics to read it.
Father
Paul of Kerala, India did his Doctoral studies here in the Philippines says, “That night I looked at the picture of
Weekend Escapade to Subic, and Clark Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Olongapo
2007-08-10 08:11:42
***************************************
After Integration Week (Exam week), tomorrow, Saturday, is the time for escapade to Subic in Olongapo city! Three of the places where we are going?
Zoobic Safari!
White Rock Resor
Royal Subic
Others are Brill’s Residence (?), Yatch Club and Aeta trail(?). Thanks to Ms. Adrianne Cataluña, our Catechetics professor for introducing us to a family whom we are still going to meet and know in Subic, Olongapo. More of these when we come back
Images owned by the links, please visit them for more.
Read more: Weekend
, Clark
, Freeport
Weekend Escapade to Subic, and Clark Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Olongapo
2007-08-14 08:11:42
And the updated entry… Rain or shine, we pursued our plan to visit Subic Bay Freeport
Zone last Saturday. Comfortably sitting in our new vehicle, we left at around half-past five in the morning. It was already drizzling when we passed through NLEX toll gate. We enjoyed the morning sceneries along the way up to Dinalupihan in Bataan to have our Jolibee breakfast. Talagang breakfast! It was nice to be in Subic again, but this time, somebody’s going to treat us there and the most interesting part, we don’t know who are these people. Finally, before nine, Dunia, wife of Councilor John Carlos Delos Reyes of Olongapo met us inside the Subic area and brought us at their Brill’s residence. We were all thankful of their hospitality and generosity as we never expected something like this during our planning. They have a nice place for us, nice rooms and it was really for us, visitors.
Time to begin our adventure! And the first place? Zoobic! The only tiger safari he
Read more: Weekend
, Clark
The Close Encounter
2007-08-17 02:42:33
How close was the encounter with nature? Just as close as these pictures…
Read more: Close
, Encounter
Are You Getting Married? Know Your Partner First!
2007-08-20 08:11:07
The week of “encounter” has just ended and here, going back to the normal student life, our Pastoral counseling class has just started; no holiday for us. If we enjoyed the outing in Subic last weekend, I can say that our first class today was also exciting. We were discussing last meeting about “Am I in Love,” Increasing Intimacy, Love, and Human Sexuality, particularly in pre-marital stage of husband and-wife-to-be. Today, we were talking about Interpersonal Comparison Test. This is for us counselors to learn how to give counsels to engaged-couples who soon to-be-wed and interested to settle down. As a counselor, I have a role to play in determining whether a couple are compatible and can have a great chance of successful marriage.
Interpersonal Comparison Tests are as important as any big decisions in life. This would help the couple to know more each other for the better of their future marriage life. This is to measure the couple’s similarities a
Read more: Partner
, First
, Getting Married
MAPAC Says Farewell to Brother Jeff Crowe, FMS
2007-08-25 01:00:50
The Brother
s at Marist Asia-Pacific Center bade goodbye to Brother Jeff Crowe
, FMS as he accepted the call of Sydney Province to be their new leader as Brother Provincial. Being Rector of MAPAC, he has done his best to lead the young brothers in their formation, helping them in their studies and accompanying them to be good future educators.
Brother Desmond Howard, FMS is the chosen next Rector to replace Bro. Jeff. He belongs to Melbourne Province in Australia. He is assigned presently at the General House in Rome as Director for Second Novitiate. He will start his Rectorship in few months time. Thank you Brother Des for accepting the role as our new Rector here at MAPAC.
As our expressions of gratitude to you, Brother Jeff, the Alfano fraternity made this simple clip for you. With the leadership of our former animator Brother Roshan of Sri Lanka, with the moderatorship of Brother Luké of Fiji Island, Brother Noah of Papua New Guinea, our Bursar, and the members,
Read more: Farewell
Everyday Recollections
2007-08-27 08:13:06
“I will go for a recollection,” I told a friend but he replied, “You just had a recollection recently, and here’s another one again? Then I assumed that the person doesn’t really know what he is talking about or maybe have not experienced the longing that I was experiencing. I give thanks for every opportunity like this especially during my hectic schedules. It always gives such an experience of being rejuvenated after moments of ups and down in everyday life.
“Come away to the deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while,” (Mk 6:30-31) Jesus says to his disciples… And this is another best time for me. I long for a good rest and recreation and will be a a fruitful one, I hope so. Jesus asked the blind man (Bartimaeus), “What do you want me to do for you? “Let me see,” was his answer. He was blind and he wanted to be enlightened.
With the Gospel passages I started to read, I asked for three things: in this recollection, I ask
Healing the Eight Stages of Life Workshop Today
2007-08-30 20:49:31
Every individual has experienced hurts in the past, traumatic for some, forgotten by many. The woundedness being experienced were being neglected, never recalled and definitely being buried in the memory and never healed. These become obstacles to our growth into wholeness and fullness of life. These unknowingly become part of our everyday life, of who we are today, how we look in our life and on others.
The “Healing
the Eight
Stages
of Life (HESL)” workshop starts today. It is a module being developed and adapted into our Filipino culture by Alegria A. Javier - O’bien. The workshop integrates Erik Erikson’s stages of human development with healing prayer. The participants, those who are seeking growth and want to experience fullness of life, are to identify their experiences of woundedness that impede to growth to wholeness.
Also in this workshop, participants are expected to become more aware of the effects of the childhood experiences and they are
Read more: Workshop
, Today
Upgrading to Wordpress 2.3
2007-09-27 04:30:40
It’s been two days but I have still the difficulty upgrading y WP from 2.2 to 2.3 version. My beloved sidebar, where are you? My present them does not support the WP 2.3 yet.
Read more: Wordpress
Youth from Asia Attends Marist Youth Congress in Tagaytay
2007-09-20 08:52:08
The 3 days meeting of the Marist
Brothers of the General Council with the youth of Asia
is starting tomorrow, September 21 in Mariapolis, Tagaytay. At least 29 youth from different part of Asia are coming; 20 from Philippines, 4 from Malaysia, 3 from Hong Kong and 2 from Korea. Delegates from the Philippines are coming from Notre Dame of Marbel University, Notre Dame of Dadiangas University, Notre Dame of Kidapawan College, Notre Dame of Cotabato, Marist School of Marikina, Buda in Bukidnon and Marcellin Homes in Gen. Santos City. The said activity is to be attended also by the Superior General of the Marist Brothers, Sean Sammon, FMS and his General Council from Rome; Brothers Luis Sobrado, Maurice Bequet, Peter Rodney, Anotnio Ramalho, Emili Turu, Pedro Herreros and Theoneste Kalisa.
The meeting with the youth of Asia is to give an opportunity to the Asian young people to think, talk and share their Christian life and Marist vocation today. Specifically in the activity is to get
Read more: Congress
Got my First License to Drive
2007-09-18 07:28:54
At last! For five times na pabalik-balik sa LTO-Cainta, I got my first new driver’s license. Super-bagal ng processing but at least nakuha ko na siya kaya super-saya ko na rin. I registered last January 3, then ngayon ko lang nakuha. I will be able to drive when I arrive in Mindanao dahil dito sa aming bahay, “pinagbawalan” ako ng isa sa mga nakakatanda dahil napikon siya sa nangyari few months ago. Akalain mo ba namang ibangga ang Revo ng paatras sa isang punong-kahoy, ano ba naman pwede kong itawag sa kanya? Nakarating siya sa Batangas kasama ng mga barkada niya para lang ba ibangga ang sasakyan namin. Kaya yun, super din s’ya, super-ano ba? Ate Sasha, ganitong stories ko ang inaabangan mo, right? LoL! kaya ito na kahit paminsan-minsan lang Itinago ko real name ko, hahaha!
Read more: First
, License
Dinner Aboard the Spirit of Manila of Prestige
2007-09-17 08:44:40
This was one of the events that our fraternity experienced lately. This was just last Sunday evening. Together with our teacher, Ms. Ada Cataluña, our classmate Sr. Charlotte, CP and Brother Ralph, our animator, we had our sumptuous dinner aboard the floating restaurant Spirit of Manila
of Prestige
Cruises, Inc. in Manila Bay. We enjoyed the togetherness as one fraternity and class while at the same time, as special guests of the delos Reyes family; same family who invited us to Subic. The performers of the day sung different oldies songs for us and , yes, we were able to relate a little bit. After the dinner, four of us ( Ms. Ada, Sr. Charlotte, Mitch and I) had a walk up to the Jumbo Palace near Folk Arts Theater. Kung sa Bisaya pa, “pampahilis sa kinaon.” Picture taking was never forgotten as you can see our faces here. Before we left the place, we still enjoyed chatting while sipping mocha blend and talked about many things. To make the story short, enjoy kaayo!
Read more: Dinner
It’s Still Early to Say Goodbye
2007-09-14 23:19:46
Farewell parties are coming up and it’s seems to be too early to say our goodbyes. It’s quite sad to feel that after almost two years and a half of living with a multi-cultural and national community, it’s time for us to leave now and be sent back to our respective countries. We have experienced a lot form each other. We shared our differences, culture and personalities. From the brothers from Papua New Guinea, Fiji, India, So. Korea and Philippines, we say our farewell to the whole community. We brothered (verb form) one another in our unique ways. See, it was just like yesterday but now, time to say our farewell.
Lorenzo and Chanel fraternities gave us the chance to mingle with them, socialize with them for the last time Oh! Graduation on the 12th, Missioning and another Grand farewell party are coming before we leave… (marking my calendar: October 14th)
Busy month, really Marist Youth Congress from 21st to 24th with Mark. Re-entry is also included in
Read more: Early
, Goodbye
, Say Goodbye
Becoming an Airplane Pilot
2007-09-14 08:27:01
I had an “idle” time this afternoon and while gazing at the sky, my mind started to try composing a poem. Well, this was one of my dreams inspired by my godfather who was an airplane pilot
“The bird is roaring in the sky,
Drawing white lines as it flies,
With blinking eyes in the night,
Until vanishes at my sight,
And I dreamed to be at flight.”
Lovely for a kid as it was done, right? I just enjoyed daydreaming again… a little kid in me plays sometimes
Read more: Becoming
, Airplane
, Pilot
Staying Single But Generative
2007-09-12 08:00:28
At the age of 26, I tend to be responsible for other people especially the children. This made me reflect on “generativity.” This is significant to the life I chose, that I am concerned and committed to promote others’ well-being. As a young man who continually long for self-fulfillment, I feel responsible not only of myself but also of others. This is what struck me: As young religious brother who doesn’t marry, yet generative and creative. In many ways as a religious, “to be parent” is for real, “to beget” is true.
At this stage of my life, I find myself in a wider perspective of our congregation’s dream. I share with the dream of the whole institute. Yet looking deep inside, I have dreams also to fulfill, for others, this time. I feel I’m growing old and I tend to look for my accomplishments, for legacy I can say, I was responsible for somebody. I’ve not reach the middle age yet, but the formation is giving me the eyes to see how my
Come In to Learn, Go Out to Behave
2007-09-08 23:42:28
I was saddened with the periodical examination test results of my student at Asilo. Three of them expressed their sadness on getting low scores after their teachers gave their test papers. What we did today was to discuss and check what we missed during our study period. While reading their test papers, I remembered Likto’s complain to me last week about going to school. ‘Likto was one of the participants of HESL. He took two unfinished courses and this time, with another vocational course. He seems to be dismayed with the idea of going to school just for the benefit of having a good job someday, or at least to be employed in the future. He has a point, I think.
My concern for higher grades for the children were for them to learn more and have brighter future. And yet, it also points out the idea of ‘Likto. When I was still a primary pupil, our school motto, “Come in to learn, go out to behave,” made a good impression to me. It was not to learn, earn
Attention, Presence, Spirituality
2007-09-05 02:52:38
My first question was, “How would I teach these children with special needs at the same time when they have their own special lessons; different from each other. I wondered. But my admiration to the Eucharistiana teachers somehow helps me to go on and tell myself that everything has a way how to do it. Yet again, it is beyond doing, it is on doing with passion and love. As a Marist Brother who is called to love children, it is a challenge how to do it effectively and affectively.
Fermin and Roby were the little ones with me. It was fun yet deep inside, I struggled. Struggled on how I can give them the proper approach but not on how to love them equally. I enjoyed my time with them though I had the difficulty dividing my attention to each of them.
Attention is like “presence.” But presence is a loving word for me. Just like with my precious time with the children of an orphanage in Manila, I spend it with passion. The passion to be with them is always being
Read more: Presence
, Spirituality
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