Silent Sanctuary

Definitely NOT Bored Games

In this age of constantly moving technology, board games tend to be a thing of the past. Fortunately, the game makers like Parker Brothers, Mattel, MB, and newcomers like ThinkFun, etc. and are not giving up without a fight. They are constantly reinventing these games to keep up with the times and somehow retain market share and children's play time.

Our favorite board games include chess, othello, Pictionary, Boggle, Master Mind and cribbage. Monopoly is a fun but loooong game. We settle for Monopoly Jr. for quicker, simpler game play. We have Scrabble but haven't really gotten down to any serious Scrabble games. We have recently added Upwords to the games the children like to play. It is a fun game to play. Plus, I like the travel version we have because it has a built in scoreboard.

MyGirl is quite good at this game. She was the one who put the first word -- RUE. It was something she had just learned from the TV show, iCarly. Of course when I found tiles with A and C's on them, I couldn't resist placing ACC in front to form the word ACCRUE. (That's what I get for spending so many hours in a bank.)

Check out the final score in this game between us. She got a score of 273 but I was a good 20 points ahead of her. Of course I'm more than 5 times her age, I've been reading since I was a kid, she's in 2nd grade while I've got a college degree, and I have been working longer than she's been breathing. All things considered, I think she should be declared the winner for this round.

Grand Piano

He really is so sweet. I asked him to play something and he did.

I know, asking someone to play the piano is not such a big thing, particularly if the pianist is a good one (and knows it). But asking someone to play a grand piano in the middle of a restaurant, with strangers around, IS a big thing.

Yet he did it.

He did it for me tonight. (Big kiss for MacGyver.)

Knowing that he doesn't read notes, I confirmed that all these stuff he plays on the piano is done oido style (played by ear). Yes, I admit it, all the musical genes of the kids come from his side of the family. (Good for them.)

Sundial

We passed by UP this afternoon and parked beside the College of Engineering. Trigger-happy me insisted that the children pose in front of the sundial.


Here they are. Aren't they so CUTE!

Music and Magic

We were at the choir loft on Christmas Eve. No, we weren't part of the choir but we were allowed to stay in the "CHOIR MEMBERS ONLY" seats to be near MacGyver's mom who was playing the organ.

MacGyver's mom is still very active in the Music Ministry. Aside from playing the organ during the mass, she really takes the time to train the choir(s). She has been doing this since MacGyver and his siblings were children. (Naturally, they were part of the choir). Now that all of them have grown up and most of the children are married, it is not very often that MIL has family members up in the choir loft with her.

MacGyver felt it would make her happy to see us there, so we opted to join MIL for the Christmas eve mass. There I was, standing between GI and RD with MyGirl in front of me. I could hear MacGyver sing all these unfamiliar songs in Latin during the High Mass. He actually knew the songs the choir members were singing (even if the rest of the congregation was quiet). It made me think... it seems there are still a lot of things I don't know about MacGyver.

Well, MyGirl learned a couple of things there as well. She found out that chimes, maracas, triangles, tambourines and boom boxes could become part of the mass.

Here she is with her instrument of choice. Of all of the instruments she saw that evening, her favorite one was the chimes. (I love chimes, too, but that is another story.)

Say Cheese

One for You, One for Me

We were on our way to Quezon City from Makati. GI had slept over at his grandparents' house so it was just RD and MyGirl in the backseat. I heard MyGirl singing so I turned around and found the two of them happily sharing RD's earphones. Apparently, MacGyver had just loaded the Phineas and Ferb soundtrack into RD's MP3 player.

I just had to take this shot.

True Meaning of Christmas

Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened. I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out next to the fireplace.

"What are you doing?" I started to ask. The words choked up in my throat and I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement . . .

"TEACH THE CHILDREN!" I was puzzled. What did he mean? He anticipated my question and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said, "Teach the children!

Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten. "Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. "Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven."

He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. "Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise."

He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. "Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness."

Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. "Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection."

He then pulled from his bag an ORNAMENT of himself. "Teach the children that I, Santa Claus, symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December."

He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent the blood shed by Him.

Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children that God so loved the world that he gave his begotten son." Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. "Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherds' crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper."

He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. "Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men."

Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL,. "Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.

Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, "Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship him, our LORD, our GOD."

The Wait is Over

It's Christmas Day! Merry Christmas everyone.

Christmas is a season of joyful anticipation for the coming of the Baby Jesus. As the priest in the mass last night said, "For God so loved the world that He gave us his only son."

Advent begins on the Sunday after the Feast of Christ the King. It lasts for four weeks before Christmas. It ends on Christmas Eve.

The Advent wreath is part of the Christmas tradition that symbolizes the passage of Advent. The circular shape of the wreath means that God has no beginning and no end. God is etemal. His love for us is never ending. The green leaves (evergreen) speak of the hope that we have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life. The four candles around the wreath represent the four weeks of preparation before Christmas. The violet colored candles mean repentance for our sins while the pink candle means joy for Christmas is approaching.

The first candle is often called the prophet's candle. It is meant to signify the hope of Jesus' arrival. The second candle is generally called the Bethlehem Candle. It reminds Christians that God appeared to them in a humble manner. The third candle is the shepherds' candle. This candle represents the joy that more than half of Advent is over. The final candle is the angels' candle, which symbolizes their peace and the message of good news that the angels offer.

In other parts of the world, a fifth white candle is added (placed at the center). This is called the Christ Candle. The other candles are lit one by one during the four Sundays of Advent, while the Christ Candle is traditionally lighted on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The central location of the Christ Candle reminds us that the incarnation is the heart of the season, giving light to the world.

Each church will have their own version of the Advent wreath. I wish I had gone around more to take more pictures. (Maybe next year.)

Christ the King, Project 7

At the chapel at National Bookstore Quezon Avenue

St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Quezon City

National Shrine of the Sacred Heart, Makati City

Sanctuary of St. Paul, Makati City

Our Lady of La Paz, Makati City

Always Near St. Paul

It is the Year of St. Paul.

Last summer Pope Benedict XVI announced that the Church would observe a celebration in honor of St. Paul the Apostle, from 28 June 2008 to 29 June 29 2009.

Saints' feast days are usually associated with their deaths, since this marks their birth into eternal life. St. Paul's is the only feast in the Church calendar commemorating a saint's conversion.

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Somehow I always find myself close to St. Paul. I transferred from St. Scholastica's in Marikina to graduate elementary from St. Paul in Pasig. At Cebu Avenue, the old Fish Fun down the road became a disco house before getting "converted" into a church -- St. Paul the Apostle.

At Makati, where we live, there is a big compound nearby where the Society of St. Paul used to have their printing press. The compound is so big that it covers four blocks from St. Paul to Sampaloc Streets. They transferred the chapel from the St. Paul side and built a church nearer the Sampaloc entrance, making it even closer to our place.

It had been a long time since I passed by the St. Paul in Makati. When I attended mass there recently, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the Sanctuary of St. Paul has been declared as a pilgrimage church. This means that one can obtain special graces* when visiting there during this year celebrating St. Paul.

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When I attended dawn mass at St. Paul the Apostle this morning, Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of the Diocese of Cubao celebrated the mass. I had been attending mass there for the past few days but had opted to stay outside due to the number of people inside the church. Today, I decided to sit inside, not only because the Bishop was going to celebrate the mass, but also because Z was in the choir. I was pleasantly surprised to watch the bishop so involved with the music to the point of acting as the conductor whenever songs were sung and 'signing' the Our Father. Though the Bishop's hair was thinning under his mitre, his spirit was full of youth and energy. He seemed to me like a breath of fresh air.

When he talked, it was not the voice of a 60-year old man. He reiterated how special St. Paul was to the Church. He mentioned that there were relics of St. Paul within the premises of the church that would be there for the duration of the rest of the year.

It made me think, God is constantly finding ways to shower us with graces and blessings, allowing us to cross paths with people meant to help us in our journey or teach us much needed lessons or maybe just to keep us company ... but we have to do our part as well.

I started that morning by joining the crowd and getting myself blessed by the Bishop after the mass.

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Perhaps all these are gentle reminder for me to return to St. Paul.

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(This is what is written in the poster found in the picture above.)

WHAT ARE INDULGENCES?

Eternal punishment of sin is remitted when the guilt of sin is forgiven, yet the temporal consequences remain. Indulgences are treasures from Christ's merits which the Church grantes to the penittent as remission of the temporal punishment due to sin, either all punishment (plenary indulgence) or part of it (partial).

CONDITIONS FOR GAINING PLENARY INDULGENCE:

• Purification through the Sacrament of Penance (confession)
• Reception of Holy Communion
• Prayer for the Holy Father, the Pope
• Pilgrimage to holy places named after St. Paul, approved by the Apostolic Penitentiary

ACTS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED DURING THE VISIT TO THE HOLY PLACES:

• Take part devotedly in a sacred function or in pious public exercise in honor of St. Paul
• Pray before the Most Blessed Sacrament
• Recite or sing the Lord's Prayer and the Creed
• Make invocations in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Paul
• Unite the devotion to the memory of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles

Flip-Flops

I was observing people lining up for communion the other morning. (Forgive me, obviously I was not 100% concentrating on the mass.) I noticed that most of the people were in slippers! There must have been over fifteen people in line wearing slippers before I found someone in rubber shoes, then more people in slippers before another one wearing sneakers. After that, more people in slippers. I'm sure they would disagree and say that they were wearing Flip-Flops or thong sandals or beach shoes.

Flip flops? Beach shoes? Thongs?

Nothing more than slippers, I still say.

You may think that I am behind in fashion and all, but that's how I feel. No matter how I look at them, I still see slippers.

After going around the malls and checking out these glorified slippers, I realize now why people would be upset if I told them to their faces that they were wearing slippers to mass.

So there are Havianas, Ipanemas, and Crocs. Apparently, there are also Havanas, Bananas, and Crocs. In my mind, that translates to slippers, slippers, and more slippers. (Sorry, guys.)

Missing the Obvious

I was walking towards the office on an early Monday morning when I noticed the moon. The full moon at 7 in the morning! It was beautiful.

I thought about how many people were going around at about the same time totally oblivious of the wondrous sight in the skies above. I also considered the fact that the moon is often there; it just so happens that the brightness of the sun prevents us from seeing the moon.

During this season of Advent, the prevalent theme in the homily tells us that our daily lives are filled with blessings, blessings we often fail to notice, blessings we don't think twice about.

Yes, it is true, there are just so many things we take for granted. We are surrounded with beauty. We are surrounded with love. We really are given so much. Often times we just have to open our eyes and appreciate the extraordinary in the seemingly ordinary things around us.

Mixed and Matched House

MacGyver and I enjoy watching TV series together.  We are usually able to watch at night after the children have fallen asleep.  Given that the children are already sleeping, we use our trusty splitter and headphones.  

We watched the ending of House MD Season 4 last night.  Oh my goodness!  What a season ender!  (Hats off to those writers.  It's a good thing they are no longer on strike.)   

House MD is a pretty good series, even if Dr. House isn't your typical favorite person.  I have shaken my head in disbelief at many of his carefree antics and tactless comments.   I guess that is part of his 'charm.'

GI and Z are likewise avid fans of various series.  In fact, the two of them had seen the House season ender way ahead of us.  (They were kind enough to keep mum about the whole thing.)

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Z showed me the things other people do in their free time.  It's interesting, really.

This one is really good.  GI loves watching Psych.


Z is the one that followed Star Gate diligently.  I just caught the movie.

 

As for this one?  Several years ago, I borrowed all the seasons of Friends from a friend of mine who obviously loved the series (seeing as she had all the episodes and could actually quote lines from the show).   MacGyver and I watched Friends over several months.   We were quite relieved when we managed to get to the last episode.   

Woe is Jessie

"Kawawa naman si Jessie."

That was RD's declaration in relation to Rick Springfield's song, Jessie's Girl.

I tried to convince him that his sympathy should be directed towards the singer, and not Jessie, because as the song suggests, the singer was the one left pining for Jessie's girl. Jessie didn't have to do anything since he is the one with the girl.

But apparently it was MacGyver who first came up with this opinion so I couldn't convince RD otherwise.

After some minor discussion on the matter, RD and MyGirl ended up singing the first few lines of the song all the way to the refrain.

While they were singing, I checked out wikipedia to find out more about the song. (They had been in disagreement over the spelling of 'Jessie' and I wanted to put an end to the argument.) I found out some trivia about the song in wikipedia -- Rick Springfield wrote the song based on a real girl but his friend's real name was Gary. He had seen the name "Jessie" on a softball jersey and decided to change the name he would use for the song. He was never really introduced to the girl.

When I read the wikipedia entry out loud, the kids started singing, "Gary is a friend. ... You know, I wish that I had Gary's girl, I wish that I had Gary's girl ..."

I had a lot of fun listening to them sing a song which was popular years before they were born. Yes, this song is among the hit songs when I was in high school. But the fun factor includes me thinking of London Eye, who swooned over Rick Springfield when we were younger. I wonder if she remembers that we used to watch Mission:Magic which was the cartoon which "starred" this teen heartthrob. (Oh, those were the days.)

From this old song comes new memories. These new memories include the kids playing Jessie's girl in Guitar Hero (DS), RD and MyGirl singing, and GI playing the melody in the guitar.

Twelve Days of Christmas

It is not common knowledge that I once collected stamps. I particularly loved finding Christmas stamps. I managed to complete two sets of The Twelve Days of Christmas.

This is the final verse of the song.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

But apparently, there are two versions on the song. The other one, the one found in this set of stamps, has nine drummers drumming, ten pipers piping, eleven ladies dancing and twelve lords a-leaping.

Regardless of how many drummers, pipers, lords and ladies there may be, I still like these stamps.

A partridge in a pear tree.

Two turtle doves. Three french hen.

Four Calling Birds. Five Golden Rings. Six Geese a Laying

Seven Swans a Swimming. Eight Maids a Milking

Nine Drummers Drumming. Ten Pipers Piping.

Eleven Ladies Dancing. Twelve Lords a Leaping

First Sunday of Advent

Only 25 days till Christmas!

I know I have been posting Christmas carols from other countries since August.  Here is Payapang Daigdig from the home country (as Slash M calls the Philippines).

Pasko Na Naman, Noche Buena and Payapang Daigdig are creations of Felipe Padilla de Leon (01 May 1912 -- 05 December 1992). The song Payapang Daigdig (Peaceful World) was composed by Felipe Padilla De Leon. It is said that he had composed this a day after he witnessed the bombing of the city of Manila at the conclusion of the second world war.

This song can be considered as the Filipino counterpart of Silent Night.  

PAYAPANG DAIGDIG
by Felipe de Leon

Ang gabi’y payapa lahat ay tahimik
Pati mga tala sa bughaw na langit
Kay hinhin ng hangin, waring umiibig
Sa Kapayapaan ng buong daigdig.

Payapang panahon ay diwa ng buhay,
Biyaya ng Diyos sa sangka-tauhan
Ang gabi’y payapa lahat ay tahimik,
Pati mga tala sa bughaw na langit.

(Repeat 1st and 2nd verses).

(I feel bad that they P&G adapted the song for their Pampers commercial.  Now the younger generation thinks of diapers instead of Christmas when they hear this.)

Twilight

It is a love story with lots of twists. You have Edward... Bella... and Jacob ... love, of course, lots of love ... forbidden love... love between friends... love among family members... vampires... humans... werewolves...

I have read the book, thanks to GI.

Yes, I admit it. I read a book my teenage son borrowed from his classmate. How could I resist? First of all, the book belonged to GI's classmate, a fifteen year-old male. Secondly, GI actually borrowed this book and brought it home. GI bringing a book he wasn't mandated to read, home from school? Totally unheard of. Thirdly, GI reported that the book was being made into a movie. (He borrowed it some time in September, I think.) But the clincher was my (not-so) little boy, (more like) my young adult, READING a book approximately 2 inches thick. GI reading a 2" book? This book HAD to be interesting.

So I read Twilight before GI returned it to his classmate.  Being the hopeless romantic, I enjoyed the book.

(GI borrowed the 2nd book of the series from his classmate then we borrowed the 3rd and the 4th books from GI's cousin.)

The movie started showing in the Philippines last Thursday, November 27.  As expected, GI asked for permission to watch the movie this afternoon with his classmate. 

He said the movie was good even if it was kind of short and lacking in details that were found in the book. It's getting good reviews. 

I'll get to see the movie ... eventually.

From Pioneer Street

Hug Me!

Isn't it great to have a warm hug on a cold day?