The usual activity during November 1 is to visit our dearly departed at the Manila Memorial Cemetery and at the Sgt. Mariano Cemetery. The difference? It is the first Saturday of November 2025!!! Instead of buying food-to-go at Pancake House in Magallanes, which takes a long time, we will be having our breakfast at a McDonald's, buying food-to-go for Lyn and Sintaro, and drop me off at Sto. Niño de Paz Greenbelt Chapel for my First Saturday Devotion.
Left the condo around 4AM with my Omega Speedmaster 38mm on my left wrist and my Apple watch on my right. With me is Joven, Lyn's nephew, so he can see the cemetery here in Manila. LOL. With Edgar, the driver, is his son, Monay.
I light candles for the dead while praying the Panalangin Kung Dumadalaw Sa Isang Libingan (which includes sprinkling holy water on their grave to ease their suffering if they are still in purgatory), one decade of the Holy Souls Rosary, and Panalangin Kung Aalis Na Sa Libingan.
Our first stop is at the Manila Memorial Park where my aunt and uncles rest. At the grave of Mommy Cora (my Nanay's sister), Uncle Terry, and Ate Marisel, we prayed the first mystery of the rosary.
At Manila Memorial Park
At the grave of Uncle Ben, we prayed the second mystery of the rosary.
By 5AM, we are already on our way to the Sgt. Mariano Cemetery (also known as the Pasay Municipal Cemetery).
Sgt. Mariano Cemetery
We were just in time as we would be able to attend an online Mass on said cemetery. My set-up includes the mobile WiFi, Chromebook, and speakerphone.
Online Mass at Sgt. Mariano Cemetery
Here, we prayed the third (for all our departed resting in this cemetery including my Tatay, Nanay, Lolo and Lola from my mother side), fourth (for Nana, Lily, Vangie, and Edgar's dead), and fifth mysteries (for Lyn's/ Joven's dead).
They also lit candles and prayed at the chapel for their dead that are in the provinces.
Chapel at Sgt. Mariano Cemetery
Visited Tita Leony, whose remains are also at Sgt. Mariano Cemetery.
For breakfast, we ate at the Makati Cinema Square branch of McDonald's.
After, I was dropped off at Greenbelt Chapel.
I was second in line for the confession. Then, meditated for 15 minutes on the Crowning with Thorns, prayed the rosary, and participated in the (Saturday) Mass, offering it as reparation for the blasphemies made to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The Mass presider is Fr. Benny. The Mass celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints.
He started by asking who wanted to be a saint.
Saints include those who are recognized by the Church and those known only by God. Saints are intercessors. Today is a motivation for us to be saints. To go to heaven, we have to be holy, we have to be saints.
Beatitudes are the way to live holy.
After the Mass, proceeded to Mary, Mother of Hope Chapel at The Landmark, one of the Jubilee churches in hope to gain a plenary indulgence for all souls in purgatory.
Went to General Photo to have a 1x1 photo taken. Need this to apply for the Senior Citizen. I can get it after 30 minutes. Decided to have lunch first and will pick up the photo later.
I wanted to eat at Mamak Kopitiam; but, it is closed. Not sure if it was closed because it is a holiday, although, I don't think so. Thus, ate at Fiery Style instead. Ordered their Steak Frites (PhP498.00).
Steak Frites
Proceeded to The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf to start this blog. It is double stamp day; thus, I chose their Christmas drink.
By 3:30PM, I was on my way back to Greenbelt Chapel for the anticipated Mass. I was already late that the Divine Mercy Chaplet is already half-way and I think I slept while the rosary was being prayed.
The Mass presider is Fr. Dave.
Odd... the Mass is still for the Solemnity of All Saints. Now, I am not sure if attending this Mass already means I have done my Sunday obligation. Decided to finish the Mass and wait for Fr. Dave's instruction that it is so.
He started with the movie Gattaca: We can be cloned but only God can create a soul.
Soul is vital for life. It is the moral foundation on how you live your life.
Not all souls will be saints. The gift of faith is to see what we believe. The failure to become a saint is the greatest failure of humanity.
As we pray for the souls in Purgatory, do not forget to pray for your own souls.
And Fr. Dave did not mention attending this Mass already observed my Sunday obligation. 😞 I asked the reader, she said that it is. I just had my confession and I would be more comfortable if Fr. Dave said it is during the closing of the Mass. Decided that I will attend Mass again tomorrow.
For our food-to-go, I decided to try Manam. My niece insists the food here is good. From the menu, it is easy identify which are favorites, which are a must try. So, ordered House Crispy Sisig, Sinigang na Beef Short Rib & Watermelon, and Gising-Gising--all tagged as favorites.
Brought the food to the car leaving my bags. Then, Edgar and I went to Pet Express to buy Theo's food. I let Edgar bring our purchases to the car while I go back to The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf to avail of the double stamp in order to get the freebie faster. Bought four (4) Pure Double Chocolate Frappuccino. It means I have an additional 8 stamps. I just need five (5) more.
It is the first Saturday of November 2024 and it also happens to be the All Souls Day.
I would be observing the following for the first Saturday devotion:
Act of reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Confession
Receive the Holy Eucharist
Pray the rosary
15 minutes of meditation of one of the mysteries of the rosary
For the All Souls Day:
Confession eight (8) days before or after today
Receive the Holy Eucharist
Visit the cemetery and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father
Some overlapped... 😇
Sto. Niño de Paz Greenbelt Chapel
After my confession, I meditated on the first Glorious Mystery. While waiting for the (public) rosary and the Mass, I prayed my devotions: Precious Blood Chaplet, and 15 Prayers of St. Bridget.
The Mass presider is Fr. Alemar. He is also my confessor for today. It seems the priest who is supposed to be the confessor after his schedule is late that he extended. Then, I think the priest that should be presiding the Mass is also unable to come that he covered for him. Bless you, Fr. Alemar! 🙏
Since the Saturday Mass is for the commemoration of the Holy Souls in Purgatory, Fr. Alemar's homily centered around this. There is the Triumphant Church (saints in heaven), Suffering Church (souls in purgatory), and the Militant Church (people who are alive). For the suffering church, we should not focus on the "suffering" but consider it as God's great mercy. The souls in purgatory are sure to get to heaven, they are just being cleansed. Their sins have been forgiven but there should be a reparation for these sins. The suffering church cannot pray for themselves; thus, it is us, the militant church, that should be praying for them so that they can be released soon to heaven. The souls in hell have no hope to be released from their bondage.
Fr. Alemar also asked to teach about purgatory early to the children (which also happened to him, thanks to his lola).
For my late lunch, I had it at The Landmark Food Center. After eating, I started my blog so that I would not forget the learning I had from the homily. Funny, a foreigner suddenly asked what kind of laptop I was using. When I said it was a Chromebook, he was surprised because he knows the Chromebook should be small. Mine's a bit thick but surprisingly very light. LOL
And of course, I wouldn't miss my frappuccino. I went to The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf near the Glorietta Activity Center where I continued with my blog.
Chilling while waiting for the anticipated Mass, watched a YouTube video from Armor of God: Spiritual Warfare channel.
Proceeded to Greenbelt Chapel for the anticipated Mass. Prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Rosary before the Mass.
Fr. Ronaldo is the Mass presider. The Mass is still in commemoration of our dearly departed. Now, I was worried that I would not be observing my Sunday obligation by attending this Mass. As if my mind was read, at the start of the Mass, Fr. Ronaldo stated that attending this anticipated Mass, we would already be observing our Sunday obligation. 🙏
Some people ask what will happen after they die. The correct question is what one should do before you die to get to heaven.
After the Mass, proceeded to The Landmark Supermarket to buy candles and my yoghurt. Would be visiting my dearly departed at Sgt. Mariano Cemetery. This is to earn plenary indulgence in order for one of my dead family or relatives to be released from purgatory and go to heaven. I have to be specific that my actions are for this grace.
Went to Bistro Ravioli to buy food-to-go. Passed by Mary Grace for a mini chocolate cake.
At the Sgt. Mariano Cemetery, the area where the tombs of my dead are is dark (not lighted). Good thing I brought my flashlight. Unfortunately, forgot to bring the keys; thus, will have to slip the lighted candles in between the bars.
Decided to leave the condominium unit 30 minutes earlier than usual because I wanted to be at the Sgt. Mariano Cemetery before 6AM--I offered Mass at the Our Lady of Sorrows Parish for my dearly departed in their 6AM Mass. Will attend the online Mass while I am already at Sgt. Mariano Cemetery where my parents, grandparents, and other relatives are buried.
At 3:30AM, we are already on our way to Manila Memorial Park to visit my aunt and uncles. When my Nanay was still alive, she always visits her sister who is laid to rest there. Now, I have been doing it for her. Aside from my aunt, her husband, and her brother (my mom's brother, too) is buried there. Visited them. Was not able to visit their other brother since I cannot recall where he is buried.
Manila Memorial Park
Prayed two (2) decades of the rosary--one for my aunt and her husband, the other for my uncle.
Next stop is the Sgt. Mariano Cemetery, it is a public cemetery in Pasay.
Sgt. Mariano Cemetery
We are really early that I was able to set-up before the 6AM online Mass started. My iPad mini, Marshall Bluetooth speaker, battery-operated fan and sports stool completed my set-up. I also prayed the last three (3) decades of the rosary--one for my parents, grandparents, and (direct) uncles, another decade for our other relatives buried there, and another decade for our dearly departed we are unable to visit.
Also lit a candle (it is candle in a container where I have written all the names of our dearly departed we are unable to visit) in the cemetery's chapel.
Every dead I have visited, I sprinkle holy and exorcised water on their tombs to give them comfort. Since Sgt. Mariano Cemetery is my last stop for the day, and I still have remaining holy water, I sprinkle it to the tombs that seems no one visits.
For our breakfast, we went to Pancake House at Paseo de Magallanes. Ate our breakfast there and bought food-to-go.
Back home, since I registered for the Halloween Holy Hour by Monsignor Rossetti, I have set-up my Chromebook to project to the TV. Unlike his monthly deliverance using (private) YouTube, we will be using GoTo for the webinar. This why I went to the mall yesterday after office to buy a USB-C to HDMI cable. It worked well.
Using YouTube, I simply cast the screen. But with GoTo, not sure if they intend for the participants to talk. Not sure if simply casting the screen, I would still be able to use the microphone of my Chromebook. To be safe, using the cable for my TV and Chromebook set-up, I am sure that the video and sound will be played on the TV and the microphone is still available in my Chromebook.
Well, they posted the Halloween Holy Hour in YouTube eventually.
