Misa de Gallo Diaries: Day five

For this day, I went to a dawn mass again. And for this trip, I chose to go to Quiapo Chruch. And if you may not know, I do have a devotion for the Black Nazarene. That is why since high school I would always attend the Feast of the Black Nazarene every January. Like me, there would be millions of devotees that would testify the miracles that happened in their lives with having a strong spiritual connection with Jesus. Being the central figure of faith, his birth would show his great mission which eventually showed his love for mankind by being crucified on the cross.

The church is coincidently the parish of St. John the Baptist. Whch is also what the gopel is all about. Even within the womb. John showed his excitement as Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth. At this sight, Elizabeth felt very blessed and spoke of praise to Mary and the one in he womb. And we knw that John the Baptist lived the life similar to the prophet Elijah. He is also the "voice that cries out in the desert saying prepare the way of the Lord". With this the arrival of Jesus has proven his Kingship and thet title of Messiah.

This journey to Quiapo was very exciting because even if the number of devotee are overflowing from inside, I was able to get inside and also got sprinkled with a lot of holy water. I often wondered if it is possible that holy water would be vented out in sprinklers so everyone would be showered (and get wet) with it. But it made me realized that even some may not be sprinkled with blessings, one may need to be patient with waiting for the right time. One may pray for years for healing for a certain disease, but would not loose hope. And with this hope, it makes us alive. It makes us strive to be better. It makes us rise from our grieving and sorrows. And hope is also the message of Christmas.

Misa de Gallo Diaries: Day four

The fourth night of simbang gabi was very special to me since its also our Christmas Party for AYOM (Archdiocesan Youth Organizations and Movements) at the Arsobispado de Manila in Intramuros, Manila. I've been working with this group for the whole year with major activities such as retreats and team buidling. And for this night, we will have mass before the actual party. I was also excited to see the belen collection the archdiocese is displaying. They are just small figurines so they dont take a lot of space but they are well crafted.

The chapel inside arsobispado has been my favorite indoor chapels despite its seating capacity. Its ambiance is simple yet very solemn. The mass was celebrated by our minister Father Marthy Marcelo. Its his first time to spend Christmas with the AYOM group since his installation on March. We loved his sermons because even it starts with witty humor, eventually he would turn it to a serious, touching and meaningful speech. He is also very new in the priesthood as he celebrated his first year this year. And we are looking forward for more years of journeying with him.

The message in for the mass' gospel is still linked to the message of being not afraid from God's will be with him and will protect all who are faithful to him. This time we would also see Joseph as he recieve the good news although he hesitated at first. If I were in his shoes, I would also be hesistant but the good thing that he done is that he chose to follow the great plan for the arrival Jesus.
As I was saying we also had the Christmas Party also at the same venue but in the 4th floor where Pope John Paul II also dined years ago. We were about 150 people there. Of course there is food, games, dances but no booze (hey its a church movement!). But eventhough, we had a lot of fun thinking that this buiding is the office of the Archdiocese of Manila. This just proves that being pious can be fun especially when you have your friends.

Misa de Gallo Diaries: Day three

Last night, me and my mother went to Divisoria to buy something. Not really gifts but practical stuff like fabric et cetera. And since there is heavy traffic of vehicles and people, I was not able to reach the masses in the evening. However, I made a desicion to persue to early morning mass but just not sure where to go. My options were to go to PLM where I got an invite set at 4:30 am. The other option is EDSA shrine since I also wanted to attend mass there again. Being so practical (and a little bout of time for commuting) I decided to go to EDSA shrine since it takes one bus ride (or two jeepney rides) and would not take more than 15 mins at that hour. Again for my Simbang Gabi masses, I feel everyday is an adventure that I can cherish and reflect on what I have experienced in the past nights/mornings. And since it was my first mass in the morning, the feeling of excitement filled me. I did arrived probably 10 mins late since I entered the shire when the reading were started.

The message in today's gospel is DO NOT BE AFRAID. Its very timely for us that are in anxiety for the coming days or probably next year. The message was also lingering in my mind since the priest had a french accent (probably he is french). I do have fears and worries about the coming days or even hours. I beleive you have one also. It was a message of security from the Lord that as we await him, we can put our trust in him and stand brave amidst the night. There are still days before the mager will be filled, so it is good for us to light our lamp of trust and faith until he arrives.

After the mass, I was excited to taste the taho from the vendor outside. Since there were no other vendors for puto bumbong or bibingka. I also met a TENer friend kuya Lei(he gave me the time the mass will start). I missed the morning breeze and also the hot taho at ortigas. So I also realized that even things did not go according to plan, it may actually lead to a better experince.

Misa de Gallo Diaries: Day two

Today is the second day of Misa de Gallo, this time we go to a new venue which is the St. John the baptist church in San Juan City. This was my first time to enter the church despite I have passed by it a thousand times when I was working in ortigas. So I consider it a blessing. At first I thought I was late but the actual start of the mass is 9:30 pm. And there was also some practice made my the sacristans. I have to say that even the church is vintage it has the modern touch. But of course I am not there to critic the architecture or thier practice stands. But for the message.

According to the readings, it shows the geneology of Jesus from Abraham to David up to Joseph his foster father. For me that part of the gospel is the longest verse in the book since it would tell the lineage of Jesus from the time of Abraham. The Priest in his homily asked volunteers to do thier happiest and loudsest laugh and all of them got a gift for being volunteers. After that he said that the essence of Christmas is to feel hope and reoice in it amidst the problems that happened this year.

Personally, It was also a test of patience of waiting for one and a half hour before the mass proper because I arrived 8:15 but the mass was set at 9:30. I really cannot stand waiting, yet I find me self to find solace in waiting. Knowing that it was also this trait that led me into his blessings and grace. For now, I would like to apologize of being too technical about some observations but since its my first time in the church I tend to oberve a lot. But above all it ends well as I aknowledge my shortcomings and will try to change them. Thus, another sign of providence from the man above.

Eden makes a CHESSY WORLD RECORD!!!

Amidst the bad news we have faced this year 2009, we have another thing that we cab be proud of and also be another source of inspiration for us as a nation. This time its not just a man that brought a new pride, but a number of hardworking, creative and cheese-loving team of student and chefs from different cooking schools that made the "chessy" record. Together with Kraft Foods and Eden Cheese, they made an attempt to make the most number of dishes on display in a single day. The last record holder was India with 4,668 in 2007. And the question is...did we beat the record?



The answer was definitely YES! with 5,845 unique dishes on display under the big Araneta Coliseum dome, witnessed by students, chefs and food-lovers affirmed the Filipinos effort to make another world record. And aside from that there was also competition between the participating schools in cheese carving and Noche Buena setting and cuisine. The schools who participated are Centro Escolar University, Emilio Aguinaldo College, La Consolacion College, St. Paul University, Arellano University, and Regina Carmeli. Also as the pilot school for the event was the Magsaysay Institute of Hospitality and Culinary Arts (MIHCA). Top chefs of the country also participated as judges for the competitions and also support the world record bid within the sea of dishes frm pastas, breads, cakes, dumplings, and many more that made the historical record.


At this event also Kraft had launched the Keso de Gallo that will be done of different venues that will showcase dishes that will also bring joy to the areas that they will visit. Now, you will see cheese in a different way now this Christmas season aside from providing a delicious treat it will also make people feel the spirit of Christmas after all the disasters and tragedies.


more pics at my multiply site...

Misa De Gallo Diaries: Day one

Its another year and Christmas is just a few days away from now and everyone is on the holiday rush nowadays. However in line with tradition, we do observe Misa de Gallo or simbang gabi. That is 9 night or mornings of masses like a novena for the day of Christmas. Actually I've been on and off this tradition however this year, I think it would be great to thank God for the graces I have recieved this year and make a complete 9 day devotion. Plus a good thing to do to totatly reflect on the days would be blogging. So it would be an adventure in each mass. I intend on going to several other parishes like a pilgrimage with a sense of anticipation of the birth of Jesus.





For day one I started it with the parish that I belong to, The Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Sta Mesa. This hundred year old church is actually not that I go to mass more frequently. However there would be times that I would reflect of wisdom taught by their priests. Father in his homily said it was also his tradition to facilitate the first simbang gabi. He said that its Ok to do a wish by doing the simbang gabi however we are given responsibilities that would actually help us in growing spiritually. He also said that our petitions or wishes must comply to conditions by the Lord, which they are of the right time and the will of God.
Yes many of us may now forget this tradition but I find it very refreshing even I still have a lot of problems and very tried from all the classes, meetings and all transactions that sucked out the life in me. Also I remembered something that I may need to be a blessing to others who have practically nothing . Either I could volunteer or offer some of the things that I could share. Well I maybe thinking too much but It feels good to do something not that its an obligation but the fact that it is your own personal intention and advocacy. Day two awaits, another gospel of salvation and affirms who I am today.

Yugatech Great Gadget Giveaway!

hIf you're like a techie person like me, I know that one thing that wont be absent in your Christmas list are gadgets. Laptops, digicams, cell phones and you know the rest are probably the most desired gifts these season. But have no fear Yugatech has something that will spark the happiness inside your hearts. All you have to do is to follow @abeolandres and @talk2globe on twitter and tweet the following:

Just entered to win a Modu Phone. Quick! Go follow @abeolandres and @talk2globe and retweet: http://bit.ly/6e2q7O #thanks2yugatech

moreover you can also win more prizes by blogging about this contest on your blogs you can get the details on the yugatech website by clicking on the link below or the photo of prizes below!

YugaTech Great Gadet Giveaway!

If you don’t have a Twitter or a blog you would still have a chance by going to their page and leave a comment answering this question...

If you’re stuck in an island with a phone and only have one call left, who would you call and why?
ZOMG! If you compute that there would be 62 winners per week! Free shipping of prizes anywhere in the Philippines! So why not take a chance this Christmas and who knows this might be your chance of enjoying the yuletide season!