subtleoasis

I have been a bit unplugged lately (except for some Twitter updates via Globe). For the past three days I've been away from Manila. My family and I spent Christmas up north. It's a bit colder there compared to Canlubang. May be due to less pollution and less factories. Anyway, unlike last year, I've not been so active this Christmas.

Okay, you might ask, "what happened last Christmas?", here's a snippet of it: ~

Last 25th December 2006, my family enjoyed a different kind of menu for the traditional Noche Buena feast. Out with spaghetti, fried chicken, sopas, and macaroni salad, I've introduced my favorites. Tuna carbonara, spiced buttered chicken, calamares and ham sandwich filled our dinner table. Yum! I prepared them all... :D But that was last year. ~

Now, what happened last Christmas? After the midnight mass (Misa de Aguinaldo), I immediately went to bed after sending some greetings via SMS. I woke up at around 8am. I and my family visited our relatives. After lunch I dozed off again. An hour after that "nap" I continued on reading Sionil's Ermita. Then, I slept again. Woke up at 4pm, took some merienda, showers then off to my sister's ninang (godmother).

Sleeping, thinking and reading. These three things kept me busy. Sleeping. I've slept much since the day I arrived home from the seminary. :D But tonight, I'll be trimming a bit on that.

Thinking, more of reflecting. I've heard much stories of people around me that made me pause and look within myself. Much of it about structural sin and very related to poverty and the slum culture. The thought of having a job and earning for others dwelled on me. Even thought of availing a resume service. But it didn't lingered much on my consciousness - I was reminded of the CALL.

Reading. I've finished Ermita. Beautiful. Sir Ronan, my first year comm arts teacher, was right afterall - it is a love story. I just hope that Sionil would offer a sequel.

Um, that's all for now. I haven't regained my writing skills. Too much cholesterol I suppose. :) My post-Christmas post (a more introspective post on Christmas) would hopefully be online before midnight.

Happy Christmas, God bless!

Labels: an attempt, christmas, introspection, randomoasis

by Web Correspondent at 3:50 PM | Permalink | Comments

We caroled four homes. I hope we have brought CHRISTmas' spirit in the hearths of their homes.

~

Post scriptum: On checking my stats, I've found out that someone who queried Google for the schedule of masses in MHC Shrine, Don Bosco Canlubang, was led to my blog. Thus, let me put here the the timetable of the masses in our shrine including the masses for this advent season:

Don Bosco College, Canlubang
Diocesan Shrine of Mary Help of Christians
Schedule of Masses

Labels: photography, randomoasis

by Web Correspondent at 11:39 PM | Permalink | Comments

This evening marks the start of the longest Christmas celebration in the world. Um, honestly, this post would not telling much about that (hopefully I would have the time to write about what has been lingering in my mind about the season and the sort-of unlimited array of activities that goes with it in the coming days). By popular demand (hehe :D), our schedule has been filled with much singing engagements(we'll leave early --3:30am-- tomorrow for the National Shrine Mary Help of Christians Parish). Joking aside, we sing Christmas carols to different parishes and homes (and do other gimmicks) to raise funds for our seminary activities (part of owning our formation, I believe).

That was too much of an introduction. Um, what I really wanted to say is that during these days that there is too little time to pause a while to scribble my thoughts, allow these few thousand words to speak on my behalf:

random photos of the week

~

A short advertisement: If you are willing to witness our choral performance or to hand in some help you may attend any of the masses from 4:30am to 12nn in the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, Better Living Subd., Brgy. Don Bosco, Parañaque City tomorrow, 16 December. Or, you may want to hang something on our Christmas tree and be part of Puno-in ng Pagmamahal ang Pasko project (Fill Christmas with Love / or [in context] Christmas' Tree of Love project), you may visit us in the Diocesan Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, J. Yulo Blvd., Canlubang, Calamba City, Laguna (just 45 mins. from Makati CBD) during the Christmas novena days (preferably during the Dawn Mass at 4:30am :D). Or you wish to know other ways to lend a helping hand to our seminary, just leave a comment here or send me an email at techunk_7 (at) yahoo (dot) com. Thank you so much!

Labels: photography, randomoasis

by Web Correspondent at 11:06 PM | Permalink | Comments

Sleepless nights. This would best describe the past two weeks that I've been in a subtle hiatus from my blogging rhythm. Why? Reading my twits might give you an abstract portrait of what I was up to. Rehearsals, nights of less sleeps (sleepless nights, :D), singing, dancing, make-up and curtain.

Why was Mary Immaculate? It was because of Jesus. It was Jesus the Mediator Himself who intervened. Thus, His merit as Redeemer was foreseen.

Ineffabilis Deus was the title of the musical that we have been piecing together for the weeks that have gone by. Before I continue, a little background, it was first staged 12 years ago by our brother postulants (now priests) on the eve of the Solemnity of Mary's Immaculate Conception. The script of the one-act musical was forged by no less than Fr. Joel Camaya, SDB (my spiritual director, he also directed the play when it was staged in 1995).

Okay, sleepless nights again. The practices for the plays lasts for 3 hours on an average. Starting at around 9 pm renders an hour or two of our sleep time gone. But it was worth the sacrifice. The amount of sleep I lacked is but a puff of air compared to the learning I've gained and drawn out from my experiences as a stage actor. The experience changed me, a lot. After the gala performance we had a few hours ago, I felt more confident.

Seems that I wouldn't be able to finish this post, my eyes are drooping already. My mind, already asleep. Just in time actually. The first part of the video of the play has just been uploaded. Take a look at this video first then wait for an update tomorrow. :)

Labels: introspection, randomoasis, video

by Web Correspondent at 12:13 AM | Permalink | Comments

I'm sorry if it's only now that I'm writing this post. The events was just so fast and shocking that I didn't have much chance to express the feelings that I felt. It was too much for me too handle, last Thursday. After being greeted by my winning post, before the state-of-shock that I had finally ebbed, another surprise brushed through my day's canvass.

I was walking down the halls of our college, looking for a certain priest, when two college students grabbed my hand, gave me a smile and jubilantly pronounced the words I wasn't expecting (but dreaming) to hear: Congratulations!

All the while, I thought someone told them about my Filipina post. But I was wrong.

I was overwhelmed by the fact that something that I have written has been recognized and much appreciated to the point of forgetting about the elections that took place that day. And so I was caught dumbfounded, with jaws wide-open, when the news reached me (through a brother seminarian): Congratulations vice!

(the following would be anti-climactic *grin(a holy one)*)
Yes. I won the elections. The formal declaration of the winners would be tomorrow. My unfinished tasks list is yet to be crammed with more tasks as another responsibility has found its way on my shoulders. It doesn't end there. Rather, it is the beginning of NEW frontiers for me. The beginning of MORE service; thus, the commencement of further self-discovery. In the following days of my life, I'll be encountering more people - my fellow college students whom I chose to serve - in my life. But what's exciting me more is the fact that I'll soon be much in touch with myself.

Nemo dat quod non habet. Nobody gives what one doesn't have.

Labels: introspection, randomoasis

by Web Correspondent at 11:07 PM | Permalink | Comments

No. Not in the elections, yet! :)

This is, so far, the biggest SURPRISE I have received in my life!

And it came with 100 bucks!

Before delving further into sharing the whole surprise experience I had about 1 minute ago, and its after shocks I still feeling up to this moment, I wish to express my gratitude to JM Tuazon and Br. Vince for they've inspired me to share my thoughts (and the thoughts of my sources) to the world through the Filipina Writing Project. And of course I'm grateful to Ma'm Janette, the Digital Filipino Club members, the judges and the sponsors: Barangay.ph, Kababayan.ph, MyUSMailbox.com, RegaloService.com, Acclaim Butterflies, and Chikka.com who thought of and made this project possible! Kudos to all of you!

It was a SURPRISE! A WONDERFUL SURPRISE, that is...

Almost deadline. I got an update (via RSS) from JM's blog which kindled my interest so much: Adobong Pinay. It led me to The Filipina Writing Project blog which took me to Br. Vince's blog entry (Filipina: Isa ring Ina (A Mother, Too)). After reading them, I was compelled to post my share.

Hope and change. My purpose really was to share my thoughts and the insights of the persons I've read and talked with with regards to the Filipina, and also to light a little candle before the dimming image of the Filipina and of the Filipinos as a whole. I've written the article about 3 months ago as a term paper. It was bound to accumulate dust and be forever kept in the archives after being read only by my professor and myself. But it will never happen! Thanks to The Filipina Writing Project, to JM Tuazon and Br. Vince. For the past days, visits to my blog increased from an average of nil a day to 3 per day. I'm already happy with this stat, knowing that there are 3 persons on a given day that were able to witness a new perspective on Filipina. But I still wish that more people would be able to be reached by my post. May it be a catalyst of change, a spark of hope.

Surprise! I posted the masterlist of the entries then blogged about my recent undertaking. After which I left the computer room to cast my vote and take some photos of the election proceeding and the altarina made by my brother seminarians for the nosegays in honor of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (BTW, today is the first day of the novena). When I sat again in-front of my laptop, TwitterFox popped-up with a reply from jmtuazon (the photo above). I was caught running after my breath... I can't believe it! And so, I asked JM where did he find the list. I clicked on the link and after reading through it I was speechless to the point of wanting to shout in great jubilation. This is the one of the greatest surprise in my life! Deo gratias and may God bless us all!

Labels: filipina, introspection, randomoasis

by Web Correspondent at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Comments

I'm into politics for the past week. Setting platforms, preparing the campaign paraphernalias, writing speeches and campaigning. I'm running for the Student Council of our college. Vice-president for External Affairs. Yesterday was the meeting de avance. Today is the election day. The students' decision we'll hear later.

Labels: randomoasis

by Web Correspondent at 9:05 AM | Permalink | Comments