Here Are 5 Worry-Free Travel Tips This Holy Week

Travel will be at its height on Holy Week as Filipinos are very eager to get out and experience the world again. Many will be traveling by air, but there are also those who prefer to go on a long drive instead. 

Whether it’s the cold breeze of Baguio and Tagaytay, the sun, sea and sand of Zambales, Bataan, La Union, Batangas among others, or the spiritual spectacle and food trip in Pampanga, Pioneer Insurance is sharing top 5 tips to help you make the most out of your road trip.

Keep your vehicle in good condition.

Nothing is more inconvenient than having your vehicle break down in the middle of your trip. Such incident can ruin the mood and take away the fun from your plans. Len Pozon, Marketing Head of the Pioneer Insurance Group of Companies, advises motorists to ensure their vehicles are tuned-up and ready for the long drive. 

Toyota offers motorist assistance for Holy Week

Have your vehicle inspected for a safe trip!

The roads will be seeing more vehicles in the coming days as Filipinos travel for the Holy Week break. To help motorists safely navigate their way to their destinations, mobility leader Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) is offering a free pre-Holy Week vehicle safety inspection service.

Motorists can avail of a free 21-point Vehicle Safety Inspection at any authorized Toyota Dealer and Service Center (excluding Body & Paint Centers) nationwide until April 5. Toyota owners can set an appointment by contacting their preferred dealer or service center. To find a dealer or service center near them, they can go to toyota.com.ph/dealer.

Meatless Meal Ideas You'll Want to Recreate this Holy Week

Enjoy up to 20% on Unilever Food Solutions ingredients and essentials for these recipes from March 23 to March 31 

For the Catholic community, Lent is a time to reflect and focus on our spiritual well-being. During this season, people abstain from certain types of food like sweets and alcoholic beverages, but the most common food that practitioners avoid eating are meats such as pork, chicken, and beef. 

It may sound easier said than done, but skipping red and white meat during Holy Week is manageable. If you’re looking for meat-free meals that are delicious and healthy, Shopee and Unilever Foods has you covered. Below are some easy Lent-friendly meals you’ll want to make this Holy Week: 

Celebrating Holy Week Online

From drive-through confessions, where a priest - seated a meter away - hears a parishioner confess his sins while inside his car, to receiving holy communion in front yards, the Catholic Church has found innovative ways to engage its flock in prayer and participate in church activities amid the worldwide spread of the novel corona virus (Covid-19) which necessitates everybody to practice physical distancing, among other things.

Filipinos, as well as most people of the world, will still be staying at home under enhanced community quarantine as we observe the Holy Week, starting Palm Sunday, April 5 until Easter Sunday, April 12. But everybody will be blessed, Pope Francis said. And Holy Week will be celebrated online, with masses to be livestreamed on Facebook and Youtube by various dioceses across the country.

At the Vatican City, the Pope celebrates daily masses at 2pm at Vatican News English on YouTube.

Following is the schedule of masses in various Philippine churches:

Manila Cathedral

Time: Sunday - 8am,10am, 6pm; Monday to Friday - 7:30am, 12:10pm; Saturday - 7:30am

Where: Manila Cathedral's Facebook page

Quiapo Church

Time: Daily - 5am, 6am, 12:15pm, 3pm, 4pm

Where: Quiapo Church's Facebook page

Diocese of Kalookan

Time: Sunday - 6:30am, 7:45am, 9am, 10:15am, 3pm, 4:15pm, 5:30pm, 6:45pm, 8pm; Monday to Friday - 6am, 12nn, 6pm

Where: Diocese of Kalookan's Facebook page

Diocese of Cubao

Time: Sunday - 8am, 11am, 6pm; Monday to Saturday - 8am

Where: Diocese of Cubao's Facebook page

Diocese of Pasig

Time: Sunday - 6am, 7:30am, 9am, 4pm, 6pm; Monday to Saturday - 6am, 8am, 12nn, 6pm

Where: Pasig Cathedral's Facebook page

Philippine Jesuits

Time: Daily - 8am, 1pm

Where: Radyo Katipunan Facebook page and Radyo Katipunan YouTube channel

Radio Veritas

Time: Daily - 6am, 12nn, 6pm

Where: Radio Veritas' Facebook page

Sambuhay TV Mass

Time: Saturday (anticipated mass) - 5pm; Monday to Friday - 6:15am

Where: Sambuhay's Facebook page

Online masses led by Singapore Archbishop William Goh

Time: Sunday - 10am; Monday to Saturday - 1pm

Where: Archdiocese of Singapore's YouTube channel

PLDT's free speedboost for Fibr subscribers will provide a unique holy week experience in the time of COVID-19. Staying at home as we pray with people online can be our most meaningful contribution in stopping the spread of the dreaded coronavirus.

BLAH BLAH BLOGS: Good Friday Revival

GOOD FRIDAY.

It seems like the most unlikely day of the year to be "good" as it was the day that the lord was crucified. It is also an unlikely day to write something about your own thoughts in the middle of the morning. But this is what we have blogs, something that can be voiced out in long essays and explanations that will definitely make others happy or mad. And this was also the inspiration of Blah Blah Blogs, to be that moment of eureka in the most unconventional sense.

Safe Driving Tips this Holy Week

Holy Week is just around the corner and while many use this time to stay at home and reflect, a good number of Filipinos take the opportunity for a much-needed road trip to spend time with their loved ones away from the hustle and bustle of the city. 

To guarantee a safe and hassle-free drive to Lenten season destinations, Ford is providing some tips before hitting the road:

Plan Your Trip

Allot extra time on your road trip so that you can afford changes in your schedule. Delays are the one thing that you can count on when driving long distances while hundreds of fellow travelers are doing the same. Building in extra time can help keep you relaxed on the drive, and will allow you to take breaks along the way. Remember, the shortest route isn’t always the fastest route, aim to avoid roads that are prone to congestion during peak hours

Visita Igelsia Diaries 2016 : A New Path

Last year, I was not able to participate with the Visita Iglesia and the last post I had was way back in 2013. So I was eager to make my yearly tradition to be again part of my Holy Week reflection and prayer time. This time, I made a new path different from the usual route I have trekked in the past years. Also I have formed a personal and more intimate group of dorm mates and blogger friends to be part of the new path.

The new path is something I was quite afraid to take since it has an uncertain journey time and expectations, but the fact that I have friends with this makes it light and fun, and most likely a picture filled day.

The new route starts with a gathering at Malate Church which is also the best way to start since it is the best of both worlds, a stunning view of Manila Bay, and the solemn and historical compound of Malate Church.

ANC Airs Special Holy Week Programming And Mmoves Into New Digital Home On ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), the country’s most trusted 24/7 news channel, is moving to its new digital home on ABS-CBNNews.com to bring premium, up-to-date news content daily to Filipinos online.

The new ANC page (anc.abs-cbn.com), which goes live on April, will serve as ANC’s digital counterpart to provide credible, live wall-to-wall news coverage, and analysis with context the news channel is known for.

It will publish news stories, features, and exclusive interviews culled from ANC’s newscasts and talk shows, as well as webisodes and teasers of its current affairs and lifestyle programs. All exclusive videos, like “Teditorial” and “Manny The Movie Guy”, will also be stored in the page.

Its special features include a news wrap, a shareable 60-second video that will appear at 8AM and 6PM daily summing up the most important news stories, and Social Climber, a table that runs down the trending topics and stories on social media.

Anc.abs-cbn.com will also carry a PSE ticker tape, a market data table that serves up an overview of stock indexes, metal prices, foreign currencies, and commodity prices, and the livestreaming of big events and press conferences.

Meanwhile, ANC presents a special Holy Week programming in observance of the Lenten season. 

Reflect by watching special episodes of a documentary series on Catholicism, that will run Monday to Friday PM.  And for the first time on Philippine television, ANC will be airing the documentary of “Francis: The Story of Jorge Bergoglio” (9PM Thursday; 5:30AM Friday).

Continue to get inspiration from the Pope by watching documentaries about the well-loved religious leader such as “Mabuhay Lolo Kiko!” (5:30AM on Thursday and 10:30PM on Friday). Catch “The Pope’s Revolution” at (7AM), the “Pope From the End of the World” (11AM) and The "Pope For Everyone'' (12NN), all on Friday.

The Pope John Paul II documentary “Banal” will air at 5PM on Thursday, while “San Pedro Calungsod” (5PM) and “Kerygma TV Special” (7PM) will air on Friday.

Regular programming will resume on Black Saturday (April 4), with headlines coming in at 6AM.

Get the most credible and accurate news and information by visiting anc-abs-cbn.com beginning April and by watching ANC (SkyCable Channel 27). For updates, like www.facebook.com/ANCalerts or follow @ANCALERTS on Twitter.

Visita Iglesia Diaries 2013

With the holy week now entering the Easter Triduum (Late Maundy Thurday to Early Easter Sunday), many Filipinos follow the tradition of Visita Iglesia which I also grew up with. And in the past years, I have being doing a blog/video documentation of my journeys going to the 14 churches (traditionally 7 or 8 to some but I opt to go with 14 for the stations of the cross and the abundance of churches in the city).

In 2013, I went on the Visita Iglesia journey with my fellow SCAns (Student Catholic Action) which was a yearly tradition of the organization. Touring around the city of Manila staring at PLM in Intramuros and first visiting the churches inside the walled city.

Now let me take you on what we went to the whole day with these churches, most of them are old and historical.

SM Supermalls Celebrates Easter with Carnival-themed Party

Customers who will troop to any SM mall nationwide this coming Easter Sunday, March 31, will be treated to various fun activities for the whole family as SM Supermalls holds a grand celebration dubbed “Easter Carnival”. SM malls are especially decorated for sight-seeing and photo opportunities, with giant Easter installations available for the public to enjoy. 

One of the highlights of the Easter Carnival includes “Circus Fun”, which features a circus show with magical acts and performances by clowns. There will also be a grand parade of mascots and  a costume contest where kids can play dress-up with their cutest, most colorful and wackiest Easter costumes to get a chance to win cool prizes. Egg-hunting tradition will be held through “Eggstream Hunt” in select SM malls. Another interesting event to watch out for is the “Easter Fair” where booths will be set up for fun activities and food that kids will enjoy, such as hotdogs, popcorn, ice cream, and many others. Activities include face painting, balloon twisting and egg painting. 

Former Rivermaya frontman Jason Fernandez makes TV acting debut

In previous interviews, former Rivermaya frontman Jason Fernandez admitted being abandoned by his Cypriot father at a young age. In fact, after his stint in the band, he flew to Cyprus to meet his father. 

This Holy Week, Jason was tapped by CBN Asia to be one of the lead stars of their Good Friday presentation – Tanikala presents Ama Namin, which also stars Mike Tan, Diva Montalba, and Tricia Amper. It will air this March 29, 5 p.m., on GMA 7.

VISITA IGLESIA DIARIES 2012 (PART1)

Like I have experienced, the journey of 14 churches for Visita Iglesia is better as a personal retreat with God. The tradition has been popular with Pinoys because its provide a chance to  travel during the Holy week especially when malls are closed and there is no regular programming on TV.  It's actually a great time to bond with family and friends this week. 


As my family are quite far from me, I usually go visita iglesia on my own for the past few years now and for this journey, I made another Visita Iglesia Diaries dedicated for this holy week. 

VISITA IGLESIA DIARIES 2012 (PART2)

For this second half, the churches might be sometimes close to each other, the feel and experience with each of them is really different though there are all i just one city. the feel of each one is one of a kind and makes you want to kneel down and pray. As most of the churches are indeed nearby, my feet are also getting tired as well as my knee from walking at distances with also a difficult terrain that could injure the feet.


The whole trip was tiring but at same time, very touching as each step and sight gives more than just history but also a more meaningful message.

VISITA INGLESIA DIARIES: The Journey Starts

This year I have gone on another Visita Iglesia tour on my own and this time I actually started at 4PM. Now the journey begins.

Visita Iglesia Diaries

As we are in the Holy Week, malls are closed, a very long weekend and also a tricky weather I would pressume but this is also an opportunity for us to reflect, rest and also to temporarily  disconnect from our hectic lives. After Misa de Gallo Diaries, and Traslacion 2012, here I go again with my personal devotion and shared here in the blog. Today I start my Visita Iglesia Diaries. 

The journey starts today, I hope I would be able to share things and places of worship that others can also find inspiration in which I also did. So stay tuned and I hope to also bump into several friends along the way. For now, here are the videos I made last year for the Visita Iglesia back in 2011.

May you have a meaningful and blessed holy week!

HOLY WEEK Schedules at TV Maria

Today is Mandy Thursday and TV Maria has prepared programming that will be your companion this Holy Week. Watch the live streaming of the Mass of the Last Supper later today at 5:00 p.m. a www.tvmaria.net. 

GMA Rolls Out Special Holy Week Programming Schedule

GMA Network presents a special Lenten programming schedule on Maundy Thursday (April 5), Good Friday (April 6) and Black Saturday (April 7).

Maundy Thursday opens with the strip of kids cartoon treats including the all-time favorite “Tom and Jerry” at 8am; followed by “Jackie Chan Adventures” at 8:30am;“Mojacko” at 9am; “Slamdunk” at 9:30am; and “One Piece” at 10am. 

The Kapuso Network will treat its loyal viewers with a slate of blockbuster Filipino movies beginning with “One True Love,” starring the phenomenal love team of Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera at 1030am, followed by the 2004 Nora Aunor starrer “Naglalayag” at 1230pm and Cesar Montano’s critically-acclaimed film “Muro Ami” at 230pm. This will be followed by the fourth installment of CBN Asia’s telemovie “Tanikala” at 5pm and “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” at 6pm. The romantic flick of Richard Gutierrez and Angel Locsin in “The Promise” follows at 7pm.

At 9 pm, be part of a one-of-a-kind treasure hunting experience and uncover stories of old with the country’s finest broadcast journalists on “Philippine Treasures.” Afterwards, witness how some students from far-flung areas of the country make do just to get an education in 
Reporter’s Notebook at 11pm. Cap the night off with Peabody award-winning journalist Kara David at 11:30pm as she takes a trip back to the town ofParacale in “I-Witnesses’ Gintong Putik.”

BLAH BLAH BLOGS: Pacquiao Reads MTL

“Sa atin, anong manual natin? Ang manual natin ay The Bible. The Bible is our manual to life,” pacquiao said  in a Chritsian fellowship on Thursday in stating the importance of reading the bible for improving oneself.

As holy week approaches, its good to know that there are people using their social status for the promotion of something good. And one reality in today's world, people tend to be too liberated to the point where they no longer know morality or even the basic rule of knowing what is right and wrong.  These next few days the holy week starts and the question of us and even to myself is if I had made any reflections on what I have been doing lately. Was it for the good or going bad unconsciously? 

Manny Pacquiao even with fame has his downs and controversies. It's great to hear from a people's icon like him to talk about this. There are also celebrities who also live up to be very good Christians/Muslims/Buddhists etc., however they seem to get fewer and fewer as moral standards decline. But more than celebrities, the parents and the family have the biggest role in shaping these values and also bring up the importance of prayers and reading holy scriptures like the Bible. 

Though it's not bible week, let us say this post was indeed inspired with Manny pacquiao's declaration for more upright living, starting today, not tomorrow or later.

read more on Pacquiao's declaration here.

Exciting summer packages from Boracay Garden Resort

It’s time to hit the beach and enjoy Boracay’s glorious summer weather! Avail of Boracay Garden Resort’s vacation packages and have a grand time with family and friends in the country’s favourite island destination.

Boracay Garden Resort salutes Class of 2012 and offers its Graduation Package for only P5,706 net per person. Promo period is from March 15 to April 30, 2012.

You may also choose to spend Lent in Boracay and avail of the resort’s Holy Week Package for as low as P7,377 net per person. This is valid from April 5 to 7, 2012.

Both packages are based on twin-sharing for two nights in a deluxe room, inclusive of roundtrip transfers via Caticlan and daily breakfast and dinner.

Boracay Garden Resort is a subsidiary of Henann Resorts, owner and operator of Boracay Regency Beach Resort and Spa, Regency Lagoon Resort, Boracay and Henann Resort at Alona Beach Bohol.

ASH WEDNESDAY - Stop, Reflect, Pray

Last February 22 marks the start of the Lenten Season in which Catholics  go to attend mass and also be marked with ash on their foreheads as a sign of repentance. The priest or minister will recite "Repent and believe in the Gospel" while he marks the forehead.

Lent does bring me into a season of reflection and repentance. Indeed everyone has sinned yet its our call to repent in our ways. This does remind us that we are imperfect yet still called to holiness and be the steward of goodness. Though this post may sound religous in tought but its also rooted in the universal mutuality of LOVE.


This Lent, 


STOP


REFLECT


PRAY.