2017-04-09 Coming Home

Last day in the Philippines. Left the house around 9:00 am. The news is that we needed to be at the airport 5 to 4 hours before the flight because the immigration personnel are on mass leave. We arrived at the Mall of Asia before 10 am and decided to go to the Shrine of Jesus. The church was packed. This being close to the sea side, the wind was quite refreshing.

We arrived at the airport around 10:30 am. Went through immigration and were at the waiting area at 11:00 am. Not bad for a trip back home.

This was a very fruitful trip. I like it because I had lots of time to rest and pray. This indeed was a pilgrimage of joy. And I saw this in my mom's face on her birthday celebration. It was indeed a face of joy.

May God continue to give her joy for the rest of her life.

2017-04-08 Mama's 85th Birthday

Today, we celebrate Mom's birthday. According to her, she is 42 times 2 years old. For someone who has dementia, I think she is still sharp.

Mama with Birthday Cake

Going to the restaurant was not a problem. People were talking of traffic passing through the highway but we had no problems. The trip took about half an hour. Dinner was exceptional, Chinese Lauriat 10 course meal. Have not tasted this for a while.

This was a joyful day for mama. She said so herself that she is very happy. She recognizes my cousins, despite her failing memory. I am just wondering what this could be.

In any case, the important thing is she was happy. Her children are with her. Her extended family are with her.

For me, it was enough to see her happy.

2017-04-06 Quiet Day again

This is what I like, a quiet day. Went to mass and rested the whole day.

2017-04-07 Trip to High School and Quiet Day

I went to San Beda for morning prayer and mass. I thought it was at 7am. I left home at around 5:30 am and took the LRT. Surprisingly, the LRT was packed at 6am! Packed as in like sardines. I got off the Doroteo Jose station and since I thought the prayers were at 7am, I decided to walk to the Abbey. The streets have changed and have not changed.There were new buildings. The jeepneys are still there.

Chapel of the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat

When I arrived, the mass was already at the consecration. I missed the morning prayer. I stayed and thought, I have to go to another church to attend mass that day. Thankfully, there was another mass following the community mass. The mass was very simple, yet profound in its simplicity. There was no music, no homily. Yet, the solemnity of how the priest celebrated it was very profound. I realized these Benedictines really know how to bring out the beauty of the liturgy.

Plaque about St Maximillian Kolbe

I was able to adore the Lord at the Blessed Sacrament after the mass. This was the same place where I adored the Lord years ago and where my appreciation of the Blessed Sacrament was nurtured.

After adoration, I walked around and noticed a plaque that says St Maximilian Kolbe celebrated mass at that chapel on his way from Japan to Poland. WOW!

I walked around the school. The Elementary and High Schools have now moved. The grounds are now used for university level classes. But it is still nostalgic to walk around the grounds where I used to walk. More pictures of the abbey chapel here.

After morning mass, I went to my sister's and went to mama's and stayed until the afternoon. Very quiet time to enjoy with mama.

Traffic coming back was terrible coming home. The Uber had to go through Manila instead of passing through the high way because it was traffic. I love Uber and Waze. How did we commute before without Uber?

2017-04-05 Food again

Did my normal routines. I woke up a bit late, about 5:30 am. I attended the 7:00 am mass. My brother dropped by in the morning and we had lunch at my mom's. I bought some take out food. We stayed at my mom's and at 2:30pm, we left. I had snack with my brother, buy one bowl of noodle soup and get one free. Not a bad deal.

Chicken Noodle Soup: Buy 1 Get 1 Free

On my way back to my in-laws, I took an Uber car as I normally do. I got to chat with the driver and he basically told me his current problem. I promised to pray for him before I got out of the car. The lives of people we do not know. Everyone has a story to tell and we can just provide an ear and listen. This is all we can do.

Any way, I came back to my in-laws and waited for my wife to come back from Bataan. Thankfully, they are safe.

2017-04-04 Chinese All Soul's Day and Earthquake

On my way to my mom's place, I took Uber. One of the nice things about Uber is I get to chat with the driver. Some are very quiet, just doing their job and would only talk when you ask. Some would chat and tell their story. There's a lot of people who work hard to provide for their families. They do whatever they need to get a decent job to support their loved ones and for these people, I can only admire them.

Garden of the Eternal Word

Chinese day of souls today. We went to my dad's burial place. It is at the grounds of Christ the King Seminary. It was a time for us, family to be together. Our eldest, my older sister, my younger sister, my mama and I were there. It was a great opportunity to be together as a family.

We had lunch at a Chinese restaurant. Finally, authentic dimsum. After lunch, I went back to my mother's place and rested. I went out to adore the Lord for a while and came back to rest. The weather was cooler and for the first time since I arrived, I was able to sleep without air-conditioning. The temperature was about 29 degrees.

At around 9pm, I got a call from my wife who was in Bataan and she was asking if I felt the earthquake. I was fast asleep so I did not feel it. I just pray there's not a lot of damage done.

2017-04-03 Cooler Air

Air is getting cooler about 30 degrees, which means the heat is tolerable. I realize this is the trip I like. Lots of time for quiet, sitting down, praying and playing. Time to recollect on the more important things in life.