Sagrada Familia

Our Lady of Salvation Shrine in Tiwi Albay

"The family that prays together, stays together"

December 28, 2008

Every year, panata na ng family namin ang magsimba all together sa Tiwi Church, which is about 50 km from Legazpi City, for the feast of Sagrada Familia. This is our covenant to God in order for our family to renew our vows na i-treasure ang pagmamahalan at i-maintain namin ang closeness sa isa't-isa. This is one way also to ask blessings and guidance from God. May mawala o may madagdag man, rain or shine, may pera o wala, our family sees to it hindi namin papalampasin ang taon-taong panata na ito.

Sabi nga ng father ko, kailangan yong madagdag sa family namin can spare one day, which is the last Sunday of the year, para sumama sa church visit sa Tiwi Albay.

We left our house at about 7:00pm. Kompleto ang family namin - my sister's family and her children, my mother, my brother's wife and kids, my brother at sumama na rin yong boyfriend ng pamangkin ko, minus my brother who was not able to come home from Riyadh.

Although malakas yong ulan, still hindi kami nagdalawang isip na ituloy ang taunang panata namin sa Sagrada Familia.

We arrived in Tiwi at 9:00pm and the next mass started at 9:30pm.

I know with our prayers, our family will continue to be close to each other, magiging maganda ang dating ng bagong taon at mananatili ang love and continuous blessings sa loob ng family.

After the mass and novena by my mother, we proceed to DJC Halo-halo & Snack Inn which is just at the back of Tiwi Municipal Hall, to dine and eat the most delicious halo-halo na kilala sa buong Bicol and even recognized by prominent people and some celebrities. Ito yong sinasabi na hindi kompleto ang trip mo sa Tiwi kung hindi mo matitikman ang the best halo-halo in the Philippines. Sa katunayan dinayo pa ito ng mga celebrities like Gloriz Diaz, Boy Abunda, Aga Muhlach, etc., during their trip to Bicolandia. Aside from the Tiwi Hot Spring, nakilala din ang town na ito dahil sa famous DJC Halo-halo.

The last time i ate DJC Halo-halo it cost 30.00, pero now it costs 45.00.

Kahit malakas ang ulan, halos puno ang restaurant so we waited for minutes bago ma accommodate. As usual, ang sarap pa rin ng halo-halo nila which made me to order for another glass. The last time i was there, nalaman ko kung ano ang sekreto nito, which i tried to imitate back home, pero hindi ko pa rin magaya ang lasa. Iba pa rin.


On their wall, andoon yong framed-newspaper article sa Philippine Inquirer featuring the restaurant. Habang hinihintay namin yong order, binasa ko yong article and from there i learned na may gustong bumili ng franchise and the recipe worth millions pero hindi sila pumayag. The owner, who is a lay minister of Tiwi Church, was interviewed at sinabi niya na it was his relation to God and good customer service kung bakit naging famous yong halo-halo nila. Aside from all natural ingredients daw, God is thier Cashier, their chef and the Master of all. They started 1988 with a capital of 2,000, and now, napagtapos na nila ang lahat ng kanilang anak at nakabili na rin sila ng malaking bahay at kotse. They owe everything to God.

We went home at around 3:00 pm. And i am hopeful na God will always be with us and present sa aming family. Anumang darating problema, at nasaan man kami, mapalayo man kami sa isa't-isa, He will continue to make our lives better at hindi mawawala ang pagmamahal at closeness namin sa family.

Hometown Holiday Experiences

Mayon never show its majestic form during my stay


December 21 - We left Manila before the sun rises to avoid traffic jam in South Superhighway. My nephew and a distant relative of mine drove our van. Supposedly, maaga kaming uuwi ng Legazpi kung dumating yong bgahe ko, pero i was disappointed kasi January 15 pa daw darating dito sa Manila. Usually it takes 45 days, pero aabutin pa ng 3 months dahil hindi naipadala ng Connor Cargo sa mga naunang container van.n Kaya apilitan kaming umalis na walang dalang bagahe. All my pasalubongs, personal things at mga gagamitin ko this holiday seasons ay andoon lahat kaya nasira lahat ng plano ko and i have to spend extra money para sa pag uwi ko sa amin.

We stopped in Chowking Lucena for our breakfast. Medyo matagal ang byahe dahil sa on going construction sa bandang Quirino Highway.

Maganda ang kalsada sa Quezon, although inabutan kami ng tanghali sa bandang Gumaca at nagkaroon ng traffic kahit Sunday dahil sa mga simba in every town.

Dumaan kami ng Quirino Highway na sobrang bagal dahil sa road repairs at bako-bakong daan.

At 4:00pm, we were already in Cam Sur. Huminto kami ng Bato CamSur to buy the famous Pansit Bato.

Finally, at exactly 6:00PM we arrived in Legazpi City.

December 24 - Christmas Eve







We bought what we need for Media Noche at Gaisano Mall. Dahil nga sa nag karoon ng aberya sa bagahe ko wherein andoon yong mga kailangan ko sa pag handa, napilitan akong bumili ng ihahanda namin dahl we anticipated na pupunta ang marami naming relatives dahil nabalitaan nila na dumating nga ako. Of course i have to buy gits also.

Hindi ako basta nakalabas ng bahay dahil sa wala akong maibigay na pasalubong sa mga kamag-anak namin.

Kompleto kami except for my brother who was not able to come home from Riyadh. We had our Media Noche around 11:00pm with some of our relatives.

December 25 - Christmas Day



Famous Buko-Pandan Salad


Strawberry Punch


Original Adobong Bicol recipe ni Nanay


Beef with Brocolli


My Paella recipe


White Fetuccini

Umaga pa lang, marami na ang dumating naming relatives na hindi nakapunta nong gabi. It was also the birthday of my brother's wife kaya kailangan naming magdagdag ng handa.

Of course, kahit papaano yong iba nabigyan ko ng regalo pero yong iba, sabi ko pagdating na lang ng bagahe ko.

Hindi maalis yong inuman with my relatives. Andoon yong mga tito ko at yong mga pinsan ko. Sa tagal kung hindi nakapasyal sa amin, halos hindi ko na nakilala yong mga younger pinsan ko.

(Next - feast of Sagrada Familia)

I finally found someone..

I always look for someone whom i can spare my time... yong aalagaan ko..yayakapin ko..
Finally, i found someone!

Sa unang tingin ko pa lang sa kanya, nadama ko ang lambing niya sa akin.. kahit hindi niya sabihin, alam ko gusto niya ako makasama. Actually ang dami kong pinagpilian ngunit tanging siya nag naka pukaw ng aking atensyon. Na para siyang uhaw na mayakap at mahaplos ko. Nang yakapin ko siya, hindi niya mapigil na hagkan ako na tila nagsasabihing "salamat at dumating ka!".

Dati ang pananaw ko ay walang dapat itumbas na pera ang kaligayahan. Na hindi dapat bilhin ang bagay na magpapasaya sa iyo. Siguro mali nga ang pananaw ko na walang katumbas na pera ang kaligayahan dahil sa pagkakataong ito, napatunayan ko na kaya din palang bilhin ang kaligayahan.

He's Jef-jef at sa sandali lang naming magkasama, naramdaman ko ang kanyang lambing.

Not in my House!

I watched an indie film in Robinsons Galleria recently with my friends. Dapat sana panoorin namin yong Dose, but i was curious sa "Lovebirds".

The movie is tackling the story of a discreet gay and a conservative mother.

Lovebirds is Ronaldo “Roni” Bertubin’s third independent film. The movie stars Boots Anson Roa, Tommy Abuel, Adrian Ramirez, and Joseph Ison and introducing Andres Alexis Fernandez, and with the special participation of Johnron Tanada.




Although walang masyadong nudity, naaliw ako sa movie because of Boots Anson Roa. Siya yong mother na hindi matanggap ang gender ng kanyang anak na nagkaroon ng chat lover from Spain, Alexis.

In a situation na kailangan niyang itago sa mga tao ang tunay na pangyayari, kung ano-anong dahilan ang kanyang sinasabi para wag lang ma tsismis na ang anak niya ay may lover na gay foreigner.

Nakakaaliw ang dialogue niyang "not in my house", "not in my property" at "not in front of me".

It was one of the best indie films na napanood ko.

Synopsis: Alexis is a foreigner who came to the Philippines to meet his chat mate Mario. As a filipino culture, visitors are welcome by family host with welcoming party of food, fiesta and people. When Alexis visited Mario, Mario’s parents told the neighborhood that Alexis is a girl, but surprisingly it was Alex. Mario’s mother denied that he was Alexis and introduced him as Alex the brother of Alexis to the neighborhood. His parents known about Mario’s sexuality until at the end Alexis become closer and fell inlove with Mario. With all the laugh and cry. A story of a foreigner in another country, different culture, and acceptance of love will have all a happy ending.

Lantern Parade@ U.P.

December 17, 2008 - Maaga pa lang nasa UP Campus na kami para manood ng Lantern Parade ngayong taon. Eksaktong alas dos ng hapon, kasama ko ang mother ko at pamangkin, nasa loob na kami ng campus.

Dahil sa maaga pa sa akdang oras ng Lantern Parade,nagikot-ikot muna kami sa loob nito para makita kung ano ang pinagbago nito ng mga nakaraang taon.

Dati may UP Ikot at UP Toki, pero dahil sa ginawang jogging lane ang isang bahagi ng kalsada sa loob, nawala na ang UP Toki at naging one-way na lang ang mga dumadaang sasakyan.

The Lantern Parade is the most colorful activity in the centennial celebration of the school this year.

Dinagsa ang naturang kaganapan dahil na rin sa naging partisipasyon ng halos lahat ng UP sa buong bansa - ang UP Pampanga, UP Visayas, UP Manila, UP Los Banos, UP Mindanao at ang UP Diliman.

Ngsimula ang parada bandang alas singko ng hapon at tumatagal hanggang alas diyes ng gabi sa dami ng mga floats at lanterns na nag mula pa sa iba't ibang departmento at kolehiyo ng Unibersidad.

Oblation @ U.P.

Some 30 members of the Alpha Phi Omega (APO) fraternity staged the group’s annual Oblation Run at the University of the Philippines campus in Diliman a few minutes ago.



It was so disappointing because members of this fraternity run only inside the Palam Hall naked (a concept known as streaking) to protest their sentiments about a current political or the charter change.




Hindi kagaya noong anniversary ng APO na kung saan nilibot nila ang kahabaan ng campus, pero ngayon, it was limited to the main Palma Hall. Lumabas kang ng saglit sa harapan at pumasok na ulit dahil sa sobrang dami ng tao.

Shrine of my Faith

During my vacation, i always assured that i visited my favorite Edsa Shrine. Noong nasa Manila pa ako, doon ako nag sisimba every Sunday at 11:00 am at sinisiguro ko na si Bishop Soc Villegas ang mass celebrator. Bukod sa kanyang inspiring homily, palagi din siyang nag coconduct ng confession.

After the mass, pag may problema ako, i always go inside the adoration chapel para mas solemn ang dasal ko. Kanina, hindi ko namalayanna inabot pala ako ng 3:00 pm - time for the Lord of Divine Mercy, kaya tumatagal ako ng konti sa loob.

Kanina, dumaan ako ng adoration chapel ng EDSA Shrine to pray and thank the Lord for the blessings that i've been receiving for the past years. I also pray to the Lady of Miraculous Medal na palagi kong ginagawa noon. Kung saan nakalagay yong imahen ni Mama Mary noon, andoon pa rin siya hanggang ngayon.

Nagkataon din na unveiling pala ng Our Lady of Divine Mercy kanina, kaya eksaktong pag unveil kay Mama Mary, andoon ako sa loob ng Shrine.

A Decade of Real Friendship...

Life itself has to be larger than everything we encounter within it.

It was mid-summer in 1996 when I met Allan. He was 16 that time. Medyo patpatin pero guwapo. Walang pasok noon kaya gimik sila lagi. Louie, our teacher-friend introduced Allan to us, estudyante daw niya. We invited Allan for a drinking spree sa pad ni Louie, just infront of Olongapo General Hospital.


Kinabukasan, I woke up by a knock on the door.. Medyo half sleep pa ako ng buksan ko. Si Allan bumalik. Akala ko kung ano na, but he handed-over to me the lighter which he unintentionally took ng umalis sila kagabi. I was surprised, kasi lighter lang, but he took the effort of giving it back to me. After giving him a breakfast, umalis din siya. This time, I gave my number para kung gusto niya akong tawagan at lumuwas ng Manila, welcome siya sa tinutuluyan namin.

Sa gesture niyang iyon at his age, naging magaan ang loob ko sa kanya. Hanggang sa lumuwas siya ng Manila at naging maganda ang samahan namin. Kahit sa agwat ng aming edad, hindi niya ako tinuring na iba sa kanya. Marami kaming naging problema being friends pero dahil sa pinagsamahan namin, naging mas matibay ang aming friendship till now.

Si Dave, despite of his being young and feeble-minded, naging close kami. Isa ring galing sa broken family. But despite of being frail, I’ve seen that he is determined to reach his goal. I encourage him to go back to school which he did. He tried in showbizness, pero sandali lang. He appeared in several movies and guested in a TV show.

Now, after several years, naging successful na siya. Si Allan naman, one year na lang matatapos na niya ang nursing course niya. Kaya naman i'm so happy na naging achievement nila. I promised Allan na after he graduated, kung gusto niyang magtrabaho abroad, tutulungan ko siya.

Smoker's Night

My niece invited me to watch their show for the centennial celebration of UP. Actually it is an all-year round activities and this week its the Engineering Week dubbed as Eng'gximius.



Twenty-seven organizations battle to earn the honour and pride of being the Engineering Week Overall Champion (EWOC). This year’s Engineering Week entitled Eng’gximius: Simply Exceptional showcases the tradition and spectacle of the competition that has continuously brought the engineering population together over the years, as around 4000 engineering students combat in over 97 games, each one carrying the distinction of belonging to their respective organizations.




Opening Day (December 10, 2008)

The Opening Day of Engineering Week is a battle of ingenuity and creativity with the Roman Armour Making Competition. This competition is a great way to start the Engineering Week 2008 as it signals the preparations of the participating organizations for this year’s battle. To complete the day, a battle of wits shall be commenced with a Quiz Show, testing each and everyone’s boundless knowledge. With these events, ESC formally opens the Engineering Week 2008 with a smash of challenges for the organizations.

Smokers’ Night

This satirical org bashing event showcases spectacles of talent, creativity and style, performed by the College of Engineering’s ingenious organizations. Beyond simple criticisms on different organizations, this event is geared towards boosting org spirit and involving students in the issues that grip society today.

Akala ko magkakapikunan ang mga orgs na kasali. Instead, parang tuwang-tuwa pa silang pinanonood ang palabas na nag criticize mismo sa bawat isa.



The Eng’g Week, being, if not, the most highly awaited event of the students of the College of Engineering, is a venue of display of not only the pride running in the veins of the Engineering students and the brotherhood among and inside the college, but the ability of the students to make things happen by collaboration and coordination. It is a proof of a historic tradition of excellence and leadership, of being able to make things happen. On top of it all, it is for this reason that the Engineering students, just like my brother and my niece, are revered for their courage, loyalty and discipline.



My brother is a UP graduate of B.S. Computer Engineering and my niece is now on her second year taking up Material Engineering in UP.

BONDING MOMENTS

Nothing could ever be more rewarding than to see your friends, especially yong mga natulungan mo, na masayang nagsama-sama at sabay-sabay na binabalikan ang mga nangyari noon.




After watching the Pacquiao-dela Hoya fight at SM, it was time to meet our SE Talents here in Manila. Halos lahat na tinawagan ko ay dumating coz they are all excited to see each other.

Gerald Mudlong, who is graduating next year, arrived first. He told me that he's doing well sa La Salle taking up ECE. No doubt, dahil sa talino niya, he's included in the Dean's List. He looks matured na kasi medyo nagdag-dag ng timbang.

Grace, at first, medyo nag aalangang pumunta kasi kailangan daw niyang bumili ng damit for their creative pictorial. Bu later on decided to come. And in a few minutes dumating nga siya. Laki ng pinagbago ni Grace after na mag break sila ni Josh. Now, she is more of a great single lady na ine-enjoy lahat ng pagiging single. She has changed to a strong, charming, more confident and beautiful lady.

Maya-maya dumating na rin sina Rev, Triss, Princess and Aja. They all look great and i'v seen that they adjust to the lifestyle in Manila. I was so grateful dahil they have been doing well in school at hindi sila nagpapadala sa mga bad influences and they grow up smarter than what i expected.


In a few minutes dumating sina Dave and Ryan. Dave looks thinner but Ryan gains much weight.

Edcor and Edzel arrived and we started to dine.


Medyo nahuli si Manay Tez coz galing pa siya sa Antipolo.

We finished our dinner at 8:30pm. Medyo bitin daw so they decided to go to Music 21 for more bonding moments. Lahat excited na mag bonding sa isang private place. Of course sa konting inuman, kantahan, food, etc., lahat naging sulit ang pagkikita-kita






During our bonding, nakita ko how they enjoy singing, drinking and cracking jokes. We ordered food kaya forget muna ang diyeta ng iba. At least after years of not seeing each other, kalimutan muna ang diyeta.

Edna arrived late kasi galing pa siya sa isang church choir practice. Edna changed a lot. Dati, mahiyain siya but now she has that confident na natutunan niya sa SE. She told me privately na nagkaroon siya ng tiwala sa sarili,sa pananamit, sa school participation, sa pakikitungo sa iba, all because of SE. Kaya ng malaman niya na gusto kong i-meet lahat, she made it sure na makakapunta siya.

We spent almost 3 hours na masayang masaya. How they wish daw na laging may magbabakasyon para laging mag-sama-sama.