Happy Halloween

All Hallows Eve

May Jack-o-lanterns burning bright

Of soft and golden hue

Pierce through the future’s veil and show

What fate now holds for you.

~ Author Unknown

Halloween Links

History of the Jack-O-Lantern

Superstitions

Halloween Around the World

Todays Traditions

Halloween Origins

Saint Jude

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

St. Jude, worker of miracles,pray for us.

St. Jude, help of the hopeless, pray for us.

- Novena to St. Jude

Seasons Change

The long gone, hot and humid summer afternoon has been replaced by. . .

gloomy skies and cool, rainy days.

New Haircut

Goofy pose after a haircut.

The Greatest Commandment

"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment.

The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 22:36-39

For Esperanza, Day 9

Out of the depths I have cried to Thee, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. If Thou, O Lord, shalt observe iniquities; Lord, who shall endure it? For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of Thy law, I have waited for Thee, O Lord. My soul hath relied on His word; my soul hath hoped in the Lord. From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord. Because with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him plentiful redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all her iniquities.

Eternal rest give unto Esperanza , O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.

Let us pray. O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the soul of Esperanza Thy servant departed the remission of all her sins, that through our pious supplication she may obtain that pardon which she has always desired; who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Almighty Father, eternal God, hear our prayers for Your daughter Esperanza whom You have called from this life to Yourself. Grant her light, happiness, and peace. Let her pass in safety through the gates of death, and live forever with all Your saints in the light You promised to Abraham and to all his descendants in faith. Guard her from all harm and on that great day of resurrection and reward raise her up with all Your saints. Pardon her sins and give her eternal life in Your kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Esperanza, Day 8

God of faithfulness, in Your wisdom You have called Your servant Esperanza out of this world; release her from the bonds of sin, and welcome her into Your Presence, so the she may enjoy eternal light and peace and be raised up in glory with all Your saints. Amen.

For Esperanza, Day 7

Lord our God, the death of Esperanza recalls our human condition and the brevity of our lives on earth. But for those who believe in Your love, death is not the end, nor does it destroy the bonds that You forge in our lives. We share the faith of Your Son's disciples and the hope of the children of God. Bring the light of Christ's resurrection to this time of testing and pain as we pray for Esperanza and for those who love her, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Esperanza, Day 6

Almighty Eternal God, in Your fatherly goodness, be kind to the soul of Your servant, Esperanza. Cleanse her whom You have called from this world of all her faults, take her into the Realm of Light and Peace and into the Community of Your Saints, and give her, her share of Eternal Delight in Your Kingdom. God, You Creator and Saviour of all the faithful, forgive all the sins of all Your servants' souls. Let them receive forgiveness through our pious prayer, for which they have always been yearning. For this we pray through Jesus, Our Lord. Amen.

For Esperanza, Day 5

Into your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our mother Esperanza. In this life you embraced her with your tender love; deliver her now from every evil and bid her enter eternal rest.The old order has passed away; welcome her into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping nor pain, but fullness of peace and joy with your Son and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

For Esperanza, Day 4

Eternal rest grant unto Esperanza, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.

Good Things Happen in Bad Weather

We really had a bad weather today, the downpour resulted in floods everywhere in the city.

JM's first time as an altar server at the CCD program.

The bad weather did not stop us from going to church this morning.

Rehearsing his role as Herod for December's nativity play. He did a lot of good work this morning !

For Esperanza, Day 3

We beseech Thee, O Lord, in Thy mercy, to have pity on the soul of Esperanza Thy handmaid; do Thou, Who hast freed her from the perils of this mortal life, restore to her the portion of everlasting salvation.Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Parable of Caesar's Coins

Show me the coin that pays the census tax." Then they handed him the Roman coin. He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?" They replied, "Caesar's." At that he said to them, "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God." When they heard this they were amazed, and leaving him they went away.

- Matthew 22:19-22

For Esperanza, Day 2

O God, who hast commanded us to honor our father and our mother; in Thy mercy have pity on the soul of my mother Esperanza, and forgive her her trespasses; and make me to see her again in the joy of everlasting brightness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Esperanza, Day 1

Eternal rest grant unto Esperanza , O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May the soul of Esperanza and all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

My Mom Has Joined Her Creator

A Prayer for a Lately Deceased Person

Absolve, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant Esperanza , from every bond of sin, that being raised in the glory of the resurrection, she may be refreshed among the Saints and Elect.Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

My mom Esperanza, whom I visited in Manila on October 1-4 has passed away at past ten tonight, October 16, 2008. She was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer early this year.

We who are left behind will greatly miss her.

* Please offer prayers for the eternal repose of her soul.

Parable of the Wedding Feast

But when the king came in to meet the guests, he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, 'My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?' But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.' Many are invited, but few are chosen."

Matthew 22:11-14

Offertory at Today's CCD Mass

JM offering the water and wine during CCD mass today.

JM with the rest of the grade 5 CCD kids waiting for their turn to do the offertory.

A Walk Along Kaosan Road

Sunday noon found us along Kaosan Road, a place in Bangkok famous for it's international cuisine.

I've chosen a good restaurant that serves international cuisine. I'm starving !

JM enjoying a plate of spaghetti for lunch. Yum !

Our Lady of the Rosary

“The Rosary, though clearly Marian in character, is at heart a Christ-centered prayer.”

—Pope John Paul II

At Dusk

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport at dusk.

Chatting With Mom

I can see you mom !

JM with his Brownie, chatting with mom on Skype every night for four nights.

Photos taken on October 2, 2008 on Skype in Manila, Philippines

Feast of the Guardian Angels

Perhaps no aspect of Catholic piety is as comforting to parents as the belief that an angel protects their little ones from dangers real and imagined. Yet guardian angels are not just for children. Their role is to represent individuals before God, to watch over them always, to aid their prayer and to present their souls to God at death (Rev.8). The concept of an angel assigned to guide and nurture each human being is a development of Catholic doctrine and piety based on Scripture but not directly drawn from it. Jesus' words in Matthew 18:10 best support the belief: "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father."

Prayer to My Guardian Angel

Angel of God's light, whom God sends as a companion for me on earth, protect me from the snares of the devil, and help me to walk always as a child of God, my Creator.Angel of God's truth, whose perfect knowledge serves what is true, protect me from deceits and temptations. Help me to know the truth, and always to live the truth. Angel of God's love, who praises Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, who sacrificed His life for love of us, sustain me as I learn the ways of Divine love, of sacrificial generosity, of meekness and lowliness of heart. Thank You, my heavenly friend, for your watchfull care. At the moment of my death, bring me to heaven, where the one true God, Who is light, Truth and Love, lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

An Evening at Our Parish

The altar of San Roque Parish Cathedral.

I went to our parish church this evening after a day well spent with mom. It is now elevated into a cathedral and it looks beautiful as ever. It's been ages since I last attended mass here and I'm glad and consider it a blessing to have attended mass this evening before going back to Thailand on Saturday.

Our Patron Saint, San Roque

Our Patroness, Our Lady of Snows

The Eucharistic Adoration Chapel of the parish.

A Home Full of Memories

My home, every corner of it has beautiful memories of my family life, of my childhood days. It's no longer the same as before, there is a feeling of loneliness in it, now that my mom is sick and since my aunt passed away three years ago. My dad and my sister Susan lives here and my youngest sister Belle is here everyday with her active and noisy children.

Mom planted this Dona Aurora seedling not so long ago. It's now a young tree bearing lots of beautiful white flowers.

My mom tended this small garden when she was still well and strong. My dad now does this chore daily since she got sick.

The sun's rays as seen through the leaves of the Kamias tree that my mom planted many years ago. For me, the sun's rays symbolizes the warmth of love she gave to us her children and the unending hope for her complete recovery.

Tzu-Tzu, Susan's dog is trying to recognise me.

My dad's vintage Volk's is still around.

A Special Day With Mom

A mass was celebrated today in my brother's home for the recovery of my mom and also as a thanksgiving for my safe arrival in Manila. On the priest's left is my brother Felix and on the right is my dad.

I cried so hard when I saw her today for the first time in eight years. She obliged to smile as I took this photo of her. I'm not giving up on you, you are always in my prayers wherever I may be. One day you will get well, you will regain back your health and you strength. I still believe in miracles.

She is my mom, the reason why I urgently went home. She was diagnosed with cancer 10 months ago. Our love and prayers are supporting her in this very difficult times. Please offer a short prayer for her recovery.

My mom and dad together this morning after mass in Felix's home.

My hosts this morning, Vilma, my sister-in-law, who cooked the delicious spaghetti we ate for lunch, her kids, Gabrielle , seated on the left and Michael, seated on theright. My Aunt Luming is standing beside Vilma.

After spending the day with mom, I went home that night to my childhood home. And these cute little angels greeted me, Raphael, 4 years on the left and Uriel, 7 months on the right. Both are kids of my youngest sister Belle.