Sunday, March 27, 2016

Easter Sunday (at Cuyab)

Woke early as I have to go to The Aristocrat to buy food we will bring for our mini-outing. Also bought food for those who will be left at home--Nana and Lily.

Easter Sunday is the day I treat my "angels".

On the way to Cuyab Hot Spring Resort, stopped at McDonald's along South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) for our breakfast. 

Dropped them off at Cuyab around 8am nd went to The Original with Manong and Winston to buy pasalubong and meryenda of buko pie and espasol.


Back to Cuyab, swam, ate and sang. The cottage we got has a videoke machine. You pay PhP5.00 per song.


Around 2pm, left Cuyab. This is to avoid traffic and for me to be able to attend the Mass. Was dropped-off at Don Bosco Parish Church.


After Mass, there are people outside the Church sharing Easter gifts of donuts. Nice!

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Black Saturday

The malls will be open, so, off to Glorietta.

First stop is Switch to have my Macbook's battery repaired.  Left the unit at the store/shop since the battery will have to be purchased from abroad and would take about two weeks to arrive.

Then, bought a discounted movie ticket for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

For lunch, went to Italianni's.

Since I still have time before my movie, ticked some items of my list:  Nico's gift, cooler to bring for our tomorrow's mini-outing.

Back to my movie.  Vigilante Batman decides to takes on Superman because of the effect on humans when Superman fought with other Kryptonians.  Man has to decide which kind of hero they want.  The movie did not get good reviews from critics, but, it entertained me.


Did some groceries before proceeding home.

Friday, March 25, 2016

Good Friday

Unlike those who grab the opportunity of a long weekend by going to resorts and beaches, I just stay home.

Often, there's a street senakulo which passes near our house. It is the reenactment of Jesus' Passion and Death on the Cross.



By 12 noon, we listen to the 7 Last Words.

Today is the start of the Novena to the Divine Mercy.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Maundy Thursday

The priest asked that I do the Stations of the Cross during my Rite of Reconciliation.  Thus, after breakfast, with Marysan and Lily, went to Sta. Clara de Montefalco.  Usually, my Visita Iglesia is by joining the pilgrimage arranged by Green Faith Travels.


After, we had snack at Chowking.  Then walked our way back home.

Saturday, March 19, 2016

Palm Sunday

It's 13:02 min/km walking pace from Rufino to The Landmark.  Slow.

Checked the movies being shown.  Decided not to watch lest I miss the anticipated Mass.  Already brought with me palaspas (translation: palm leaves).

So, had Mongolian lunch at Food Choices and dessert at Stone Cold Creamery.  Since plan to go swimming at Cuyab on Easter Sunday, bought sunblock at "The Landmark".  Then, just walked...

Attended the anticipated Mass and had dinner at Bistro Ravioli.  Bought groceries at "The Landmark" before proceeding home.  Stopped by at Pet Express on the way home for Tsubasa's dog food.

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Kung Panda In London Fallen

Went to Greenbelt Chapel for the act of reconciliation.  Normally, would have attended the Mass.  But since already heard the anticipated Mass during yesterday's pilgrimage, will do penance.

Bought discounted movie tickets for London Has Fallen and Kung Fu Panda 3.  Then had Mongolian lunch at Food Choices.


A sequel to "Olympus Has Fallen", "London Has Fallen" has Secret Service Agent Banning guarding US President Benjamin Asher as he attended and other world leaders attend a state funeral in London.  All of this has been planned, including the death of London's Prime Minister, for a coordinated terrorist attack.  If you like action, this is it.  As they say, the terrorist attack to be successful, it just have to done right one time.

Have a snack at Big City before my second movie.


This time, the dragon warrior in "Kung Fu Panda 3" has to discover his roots to master chi in order to defeat an ancient villain that has escaped the spirit world.  Fun, fun, fun.

Saturday, March 12, 2016

Lenten Pilgrimage Of Faith And Heritage To Cavite-Tagaytay

Meet-up time is 4AM at McDonald's Greenbelt.  We should be leaving around 4:30 AM but because of the problem in the registration, we are about an hour delayed.

Our Pilgrimage Chaplain is Fr. Paul J. Marquez, SSP.  The pilgrimage was arranged by Green Faith Travels.

Our first stop is at Cafe Juan Miguel at Imus, Cavite for breakfast.

Cafe Juan Miguel

Our first church is The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar (Imus Cathedral).  This is where the Nuestra Senora del Pilar was enthroned.  Pope Benedict XVI acknowledged the petition of the miracles by devotees of the Virgen del Pilar in 2012, authorizing the coronation of the image via a Papal Bull.  The Canonical Coronation was carried out on December 3, 2012 in Imus Cathedral b Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle in celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Diocese.

Prayer before entering the Holy Door

V.  Open the gates of righteousness;
R.  I will enter and thank the Lord.
V.  This is the Lord's own gate;
R.  Through it the righteous enter.  (Psalm 118)

Lord God, You open the doors of Your Mercy to all who come to You.  Look upon me, Your child, a sinner, and receive me into Your arms.  As I enter into Your house, may You enter into my heart.  Refresh me with the double grace of sorrow for my sins and the knowledge of Your loving mercy extended to all who call upon Your Name.

Let us go forth on the peach of Christ!  Amen.

Profession of Faith--Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages.  God from God, Light from Light, true God from True God, begotten not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made.  For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mar, and became man.  For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, He suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.  He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.  He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and His kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.  I believe in one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church.  I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.  Amen.

Prayer for Pope Francis and his intentions

V.  Let us pray for our Sovereign Pontiff, Francis.
R.  The Lord preserve him and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not to the will of his enemies.

Let us pray:
O God, who chose your servant Francis
in succession to the Apostle Peter
as shepherd of the whole flock,
look favorably on the supplication of your people
and grant that, as Vicar of Christ on earth,
he may confirm his brethren
and that the whole Church may be in communion with him
in the bond of unity, love and peace,
so that in you, the shepherd of souls,
all may know the truth and attain life eternal.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

(Three Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be)

Prayer of Pope Francis for the Jubilee of Mercy

Lord Jesus Christ,
You have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father,
and have told us that whoever sees You sees Him.
Show us Your face and we will be saved.
Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew 
rom being enslaved by money;
the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking
happiness only in created things;
made Peter weep after his betrayal,
and assured Paradise to the repentant thief.
Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us,
the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman:
"If you knew the gift of God!"

You are the visible face of the invisible Father,
of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy;
let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified.
You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness
in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error.
let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven by God.

Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing,
so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord,
and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor,
proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed,
and restore sight to the blind.

We ask this through the intercession of Mary, mOther of Mercy,
you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.
Amen.

(Quiet moment of prayer and reflection.)

Closing Prayer and Invocation (before exiting the Holy Door)

V.  How lovely your dwelling;
R.  O Lord of Hosts.
V.  Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
R.  They never cease to praise you.
V.  Better one day in your courts;
R.  Than a thousand elsewhere.  (Psalm 84)

Lord God, I am filled with the knowledge of Your unending Mercy.  As I have entered into Your house I ask You to enter into mine that You be near me each da.  Fill me with Your grace that I may open my heart again and again to receive Your Mercy.  Grant that I may be merciful like the Father throughout my life.

Let us go forth in the peace of Christ!

Nuestra Senora del Pilar

Panalangin sa Mahal na Birhen del Pilar

Ama naming makapangyarihan,
ipagkaloob Mo sa amin ang lakas
upang alalayan kaming mga mahihina.
Pakundangan sa banal na panalangin
ng Mahal na Birhen del Pilar,
palakasin Mo ang aming pananampalataya,
patatagin ang aming pag-asa,
at pag-alabin ang aming pag-ibig
sa pamamagitan ni Hesukristo
kasama ng Espiritu Santo
magpasawalang hanggan.
Amen.

Ama Namin...
Aba Ginoong Maria...
Luwalahati.,,

Mahal na Birhen del Pilar
aming lakas at kagalakan,
ipanalangin mo kami.

Our next church is the Holy Cross Parish and Diocesan Shrine of Saint Augustine at Tanza, Cavite.  Popular devotion to San Agustin in Tanza started sometime in the 18th century under the shadow of a dominant local institution:  the Hacienda de Santa Cruz de Malabon.  With the roster of devotees entirely made up of local tenants, rice farmers and cattle-raisers, it is not surprising that the devotion developed a distinct folk character that persists to this very day.

Holy Cross Parish and Diocesan Shrine of Saint Augustine

Panalangin kay Tata Usteng

O Dakila at Mabunying Agustin, aming ama at guro;
maalam sa maningning na pamamaraan ng Diyos at masalimuot na landas ng tao.
Dinarakila namin ang mga kahanga-hangang bagay
na ginawa sa iyo ng mabathalang biyaya
na nagbunsod sa iyo upang maging masigasig na saksi
ng katotohanan, pag-ibig at paglilingkod sa kapwa.
Sa gitna ng magulo at naklilitong mundo,
tulungan mo kaming basahin ang aming kasaysayan
sa liwanag ng pananampalataya kay Kristo
na maghahatid sa amin sa makabuluhang pakikipag-ugnayan sa Ama.
Ituro mo sa amin ang landas ng pagbuo ng sambayanang pinaghaharian
ng pag-ibig, katarungan at pagkakaisa.
Nawa ang malalim na karunungan na buong pagmamahal mong sinaliksik
mula sa Salita ng Diyos na nagibibgay-buhay
ay siyang magbigay liwanag sa mga pagpaparaya at pagkilos
na aming ginagawa sa buhay na ito.
Ituro mo sa amin ang malalim na pagmamahal
sa Banal na Simbahang iyong pinalingkuan
upang may paninindigan naming isabuhay ang kanyang mga aral
at ibahagi ito sa ming kapwa.
Sa wakas, nawa ay matuto kamin sa iyo na walang sawang naghanap sa Diyos
at mapagtanto namin na ang lahat ng bagay
ay walang halaga kung wala ang Diyos sa amin
sapagkat tulad ng sinabi mo, ang puso ko kailanman
ay di mapapakali hangga't hindi mapapahimlay sa iyo
Panginoong aking Diyos.
Samahan mo kami sa kaligayan at kapayapaan
nang makapiling ang Diyos na walang hanggan.
Amen.

Next is the Diocesan Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Diocesan Jubilee Church) at Poblacion, Naic, Cavite.  On December 8, 1996, Bishop Manuel Sobrevinas declared it as a diocesan shrine with all the privileges and indulgences attached to it.

Diocesan Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (La Purisima Concepcion)

Panalangin sa Mahal na Birhen, Nuestra Adorada Inmaculada Concepcion

O Mariang ipinaglihi nang walang kasalanang orihinal,
liryo ng kalinisan, binabati kita,
sapagkat sa unang sandali ng paglilihi sa iyo,
ay napuno ka ng grasya.
Pinasasalamatan ko at sinasamba ang Santisima Trinidad
dahil sa dakilang karangalang ipinagkaloob sa iyo,
at ako ngayon ay nasa iyong harapan
upang makibahagi ng iyong mga biyaya.

Sa iyo, O mahal na ina, ay inilalagak ko
ng buong pananalig at isinasamo ko
na ako'y iyong ipag-sanggalang
sa lahat ng mga panganib sa katawan at kaluluwa,
lalung-lalu na sa mga tukso laban sa kalinisan.

Huwag mo akong pabayaan, mahal na ina,
sapagkat kung hindi mo ako aampunin ay mapapahamak ang aking kaligtasan.
Nangangako aong mananatiling buhay sa grasya
sa pamamagitan ng pagtulad sa iyong mga gawang kabanalan.
Gayon din, alang-alang sa iyong akpurihang Immaculada Concepcion,
hinihiling ko nang buong kapakumbabaan
na ipagkaloob sa akin ang tanging biyayang ninanasa ko.
O Mariang ipinaglihing walang kasalanan,
ipaalangin mo kaming sa iyo'y dumudulog.  Amen.

Our next stop is at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish Church (Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion) at Col. Infante, Maragondon, Cavite.  The church, also commonly known as Maragondon Church, is the only heritage structure in the municipality of Maragondon, Cavite.  It was declared by the National Museum as a "National Culture Treasure".

Our Lady of the Assumption Parish

Panalangin sa Mahal na Birhen Dela Asuncion

Panginoong Jesu-Kristo, hindi mo pinahintulutan na mauwi sa pagkabulok ang katawan gn iyong pinakamamahal na Ina.  Sa halip, kung paanong ikaw ay muling mabuhay at umakyat sa langit, gayundin naman ay minarapat mo siyang makasalo sa kaluwalhatian mo kaya't iniakyat mo siya sa langit.  Ang pag-aakyat mo sa Mahal na Birhen sa langit ay nagbibigay sa amin ng pag-asa na may kaluwalhatian sa piling mo na naghihintay para sa lahat ng tapat sa iyo.  Kaya naman, kami ay dumadalangin na sa tulong ng Mahal na Birhen ay ipagkaloob mo ang biyaya ng aming hinihiling upang sa takdang panahon, ang kaluwalhatian mo'y amin ding tamasahin.  (Banggitin ang biyayang hinihiling.)  Ang imahen nawa ng mahal na Birhen ng Asuncion ay magsilbing tanda at tagapagpaala-ala sa amin na pinagpala mo ang mga tapat sa iyo at ginagawa silang kasalo sa kaluwalhatian mo sa langit.  Ikaw ang aming Panginoon at Tagapagligtas noon, ngayon at magpasawalang hanggan.  Amen.

Aba Ginoong Maria...

Our fifth church is the Our Lady of Guidance Parish (Nuestra Senora de Guia) at Magallanes, Cavite.  The image of the Nuestra Senora de Guia, which is under the official advocacy of La Purisima Concepcion, is the earliest Philippine image of Our Lady in the Philippines having been found atop a pandan plant growing by the bayside at Ermita, Manila, in 1571.  A church was built on the site where it was found and where it is enshrined, in the Ermita Church.  The Nuestra Senora de Guia of Magallanes, Cavite is "yari sa garing" or made of ivory, but it disappeared.  The present image is made of wood, which underwent repair.  The base was changed from a cloud-like to a pandan pedestal.

Nuestra Senora de Guia Parish

Panalangin sa Mahal na Birhen, Nuestra Senora de Guia

Ama naming makapangyarihan,
loobin mong kami'y tuwangan ng banal na panalangin
ng Mahal na Birhen, Nuestra Senora de Guia,
upang kami'y lumaya sa lahat ng panganib
at makapanatili sa iyong kapayapaan
sa pamamagitan ni Hesukristo
kasama ng Espiritu Santo
magpasawalang hanggan.
Amen.

Ama Namin...
Aba Ginoong Maria...
Luwalhati...

Nuestra Senora de Guia,
ipanalangin mo kami.

For lunch, we went to Twin Lakes at Tagaytay and ate at Bagoong Club.  Bought my pasalubong at Bag of Beans.

Bagoong Club

Our sixth church is the Adoration Chapel of the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters (Pink Sisters) at Tagaytay City.  Many flock to the chapel for their petition.

Adoration Chapel of the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters

Our last church is the National Shrine of our Lady of La Salette at Km. 41, Barangay Biga, Silang, Cavite.  It offers a haven for people who wish for solace amidst the trouble of everyday life.

National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette
Memorare to Our Lady of La Salette

Remember, Our Lady of La Salette, true Mother of Sorrows,
the tears you shed for us on Calvary.

Remember also the are you have taken
to keep us faithful to Christ, your Son.

Having done so much for your children,
you will not abandon us.
Comforted by this consoling thought,
we come to you pleading,
despite our infidelities and ingratitude.

Virgin of reconciliation, do not reject our prayers,
but intercede for us, obtain for us the grace to love Jesus above all else.

May we console you by a holy life and so come to share the eternal life Christ gained by his cross. Amen.

Fr. Paul also held the anticipated Mass here.

Supposedly, we should be back at Greenbelt around 8PM.  Because of the delay, we arrived around 10PM.

*** All images were taken using my new iPhone 6s.

Sunday, March 06, 2016

iPhone 6s

Called Smart regarding their retention plan.  Unfortunately, if you avail of it, my unlimited data plan will now have a cap... which I don't like.  So, decided to buy the iPhone 6s as replacement of my unit.

But first, went to Fort Santiago to attend our camera club's monthly meeting.  Have to wear a black shirt for the ID picture.  Also, submitted my entries for photo theme "Framed".

Stayed a few minutes then left.  Will do the groceries, including Nana's diapers.  Went to The Landmark for the groceries.  Once done, asked the driver to bring my purchase home.

Then went to the A Shop.  There are several Apple stores at Glorietta; but, this is the shop I got a discount just by downloading their mobile app.  Hehehe!

Went to OtterBox for my new phone's case and Halo for its pouch.

Have a Mongolian snack at Food Choices before proceeding home.  c",)

Saturday, March 05, 2016

Through Its Paces

Decided to do a fast walk and time it using my new vivosmart HR.  Tsk!  Tsk!  I've slowed down.

Had lunch at The Landmark's food court, have my March photo theme entry printed, and dessert at Cold Stone Creamery.

Now, would it be a movie or not?  But if I watch a movie, I might be late for the anticipated Mass.  So, decided to just window-shop.  To add to my steps.  Besides, I keep visiting the restroom.  I wonder why...

Attended the anticipated Mass and had dinner Bistro Ravioli.

This time, did not buy groceries because my brother used the driver for he attended the wake of the previous mayor of our city.  Picked-up my pictures before proceeding home.