Woke up early--well, not really early--in time, for the mall to open. Will buy ice cream, fruits, cake, and our food for our media noche. Note to self: no superstitious practice.
Fruits at SM Makati. No, I did not buy the basket containing 13 types of round fruits. Just bought grapes, ponkan and banana. I did buy one basket for my niece's mom who asked that I buy one for her.
Square cake with "Blessed 2022" at Red Ribbon in The Landmark. Used to buy round ones.
Ice cream at 30% off at Baskin and Robbins.
Ecobag at National Bookstore which my niece asked me to buy.
Giving away blessed rosaries in the process. Tomorrow is the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God.
We then proceeded to The Aristocrat to buy our food for tonight. Passed by Wendy's to buy two bottles of their iced tea. Then, proceeded home.
Attended the Holy Mass online. Looked for countdown on TV. Only GMA 7 has one--and it is boring.
Today, would be paying for the real property tax of my condo. Passed by Citibank before proceeding the Makati City Hall to pay for the tax. There is a pre-check near the gate before you can enter the building.
After, proceeded to our Dolores property to destroy (what can be destroyed) and bury the renounced objects (mostly crystals, magnets, etc.). There is a proper process of disposing them. 🙏
It is a just a quiet Christmas for me and my nieces.
An online 9AM Christmas Mass.
Opening of gifts. Luv the gift given by my nieces. I do not know what it is called but it is supposed to help my De Quervain's tenosynovitis. It also helps those with arthritis, carpal tunnel, etc.
This President declared today a working day, which normally is a non-working holiday to give people time to do their preparations for their noche buena with their family. It is also a good incentive for people in supermarkets, stores, restaurants, etc. as it gives them additional pay for working on a holiday. Just shows...
Took my mandatory leave this season. Would be on leave starting today until December 31 (which again this President declared as a working day).
Already ordered (and paid) ahead of time the food for our noche buena. Scheduled to pick it up around 10AM at Conti's. Was there 9:30AM. And my food is ready for pick-up!
Next stop is at The Landmark. Will buy a multi-purpose box to contain the renounced items.
I wanted to buy a smaller St. Benedict medal for the knotted rosary bracelet I am planning to make, so went St. Paul's at the SM Mall of Asia.
Note: When I placed the renounced items in the multi-purpose box (with blessed St. Benedict medals I glued around it), sprayed exorcised holy water and closed the box, it suddenly rained hard! No, I did not use these items for sin. They are mostly crystals including a new testament bible for Born Again(st) which was given to me. Been watching Catholic deliverance ministers and exorcist priests in YouTube talking about spiritual warfare.
Finally, the reliquary I purchased arrived. I would place it at the mini-altar I have set up in an area of my study table. I would be putting the relic stone of St. Michael the Archangel from The Sanctuary of Monte Sant'Angelo on Mount Gargano, Italy.
Today, it is the preventive maintenance of my Toyota Avanza this time. Already have made an appointment.
Edgar, the driver, already left the Honda HR-V at Toyota Manila Bay's parking lot. He then picked me up with the Avanza, which we would be bringing for its preventive maintenance. The processing is a breeze.
Since I am already out, decided to pass by SM Mall of Asia (MOA) to go to St. Paul's hoping to buy small crucifixes which I can use for my DIY rosary. Was able to buy the Four Way Cross.
Next, proceeded to Cash & Carry to go to Japan Home Centre to buy a small gadget case.
Would be going on-site to be able to give my Christmas gift to the security guard and janitor/s on our floor. With the gift is a Catholic priest blessed rosary which I have been giving out.
After office, passed by the mall as I intended to buy a JBL GO 3, which I will swap with my JBL GO 2 when the battery loses its juice while I am using it. I have been continuously playing the Rosary and Gregorian chants in Latin.
Scheduled my Honda HR-V's annual rustproofing, (ceramic gloss) rebuffing, and interior detailing at Ziebart. Edgar, the driver, already checked it in as it has an 8AM appointment. He picked me up after to pay for the services so that he can get the car anytime when it is ready.
Also, planned to renew my driver's license today. Maybe, third time's a charm. And it is. Went to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) at their new office at The Link. Took my medical exam at the ThinkWise Medical Services, which is next to LTO.
It is really quick. If only I brought along a billing statement with my new address, I think it would only take me 30 minutes. But the staff of LTO in said branch is friendly and accommodating.
Frankly, I didn't mind not able to renew my driver's license in my first two attempts because...
1st attempt: I was able to take the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist (personally/ physically/ not online).
2nd attempt: I was able to attend the Holy Mass (personally/ physically/ not online) during the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Was surprised that Honda Makati is open on Sundays. Since I was not able to do my groceries yesterday--my niece used the services of our driver--have scheduled the preventive maintenance of my Honda HR-V today and buy groceries after.
Edgar already brought the car ahead before picking me up. Ace, the service advisor, called me to explain what will be done on the car and how much. Gave my "go" signal to proceed. Because of it, I can take my time dressing up to start my day's business. (I already attended the online anticipated Mass yesterday.)
Everything went smoothly. From Honda Makati to pay, to The Landmark Supermarket, even to St. Paul's at SM Mall of Asia.
Since I have been making knotted rosary bracelets, wanted to have them blessed. Remembered that Fr. Darwin Gitgano would have a 5PM online Mass, sacramental blessing and healing. Attended the celebration.
I like Fr. Darwin's homily because he shared the story about the Our Lady of Guadalupe--whose feast also happens to be today. At the back of my head, I wanted to know about the Our Lady of Guadalupe because today is the day I made my consecration to our Blessed Mother.
Here is the story of the Our Lady of Guadalupe which I found in YouTube:
Solemnity of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
A holiday and my second attempt to renew my driver's license. I was informed by the security guard last Friday that even on a holiday, the Land Transportation Office at The Link will be open. It is closed.
To and from it, have been giving away rosaries blessed by a Catholic priest--mostly to Grab drivers, traffic enforcers, etc. I have attached a Miraculous Medal on the original rosary, which I bought in bundle, plus a Bible verse in Tagalog tied in a pink ribbon. Plus I have these rosaries touch the St. Michael the Archangel relic from The Sanctuary of Monte Sant'Angelo on Mount Gargano, Italy, that I own. I usually ask the person if he/ she is Catholic before I give out the rosary. In time, too, for it is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. I am hoping that the people who received the rosary increase their prayer life.
Incidents that struck me while giving out the rosaries.
* There is a pregnant lady sitting on the floor waiting for the store she is working for to open. I think I passed by her twice. On the second time, something is nagging me to give her a rosary that I went back to give her one.
* While giving to a group of Grab drivers, one of them is not looking at me so I did not give him a rosary. But one actually went up to me and said that it is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Since I am already at the mall, bought Christmas gifts. Also, learned that there is a 12:15 PM Mass at the Mary, Mother of Hope Chapel in The Landmark. Since there would only be a limited number allowed inside, was the first in the queue waiting for the chapel to open.
Decided to play Santa today. Gave my Christmas gifts to Norlie and Manong.
My highlight for the day is going to Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate Seminary. I plan to buy St. Benedict Wind Chimes. Interestingly, there would be a golden wedding anniversary to be held there; thus, they have set up booths to display their wares. Was able to buy items other than the wind chimes. Hehehe! I also have my purchases blessed.
Next, passed by St. Paul's at SM Mall of Asia (MOA) to buy Miraculous Medals I plan to attach to the rosaries I will share. Bought food at Wendy's on the way home.
Took a leave from office today for the renewal of my driver's license. But most importantly, to have the Sacrament of Reconciliation and attend the Holy Mass physically.
Already finished with my online driver's test yesterday. So, went to the MRT Branch of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for the renewal. It is already closed and with a notice that they have transferred to The Link.
So walked my way to The Link. Their office there is still closed and according to the security guard, they will open on December 8. Looked for the next branch of LTO nearby. Saw one at the Mall of Asia (MOA). So off I went. LTO no longer have a renewal office of said mall. Tsk! Tsk!
Decided to proceed with the confession. At Sta. Clara de Montefalco Parish Church, there are no priests are available for everyone is at the Manila Cathedral for the ordination of one of their new priests. Was advised to return before the 5PM Mass. Undeterred, went to the Our Lady of Sorrows Parish Church. There is priest there but he would already start his 12 noon online Mass. Was advised to return before the 5:30PM Mass. I guess, will just have to return.
Went back first to the condo to have my lunch and would leave around 3PM.
At Sta. Clara, was still advised to wait for the 5PM Mass and talk to the priest before said Mass as I wanted to take the confession. I wrote my name on the list, showed my vaccination card (which is a requirement for you to be able to attend the Mass), and waited outside.
But lo and behold, the staff there informed me that Fr. Nick will have a 3PM Mass and she asked me to wait inside the Church. When Fr. Nick was there, same staff called me. The last confession I made was in 2019, before the pandemic broke loose. I made my list. And when I took the communion, felt teary-eyed. 🙏 Thank You, Jesus, Mama Mary and St. Joseph.
Practice CARES. (C)onfession (A)doration (R)osary (E)ucharist (S)acramentals
Went to our Dolores property. Prayed for blessing and its deliverance. The same to our family corporation's Zamora property.
