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.

2017-04-02 Quiet Sunday

Sunday is quiet. Went to mass and then went to SM to buy some stuff. The traffic was crazy going back.

In any case, when we went back, we had avocado ice cream. I ate it with banana.

Avocado Ice Cream with banana

2019-04-01 Buffet Merienda

My daughter arrives in Victoria today. Thank you Lord for her safe trip. Another quiet day for me. Went to mass and had time for adoration at the Shrine for our Lady of Lourdes. The Shrine has healing massed on Saturdays and people are anointed with oil after the mass. I went up and saw someone other than a priest was administering the oil. I had to leave the line because as far as I know, only priests can administer the sacrament. Went up to the back of the altar to thank the Blessed Mother for the chance to go to Europe especially Lourdes.

I had a meeting with the new priest in our parish and went back to my mother's place. My brother picked us up and brought us to a buffet merienda. For PhP 90 (less than CA$3), you eat all the afternoon snack items on the table. 

Mama at All You Can Eat Merienda

2017-03-31: Old Photos

Today is quiet. Just went to mass and stayed with Mama. Nothing much to say.

I discovered my mom has a lot of our old pictures. Took the whole day taking pictures of them to make copies.

At Manila Zoo

At Malabon

My sister arrived from the US and my sister and her son went out with us for evening snack at Salido restaurant. It was a popular restaurant in Chinatown, famous for its coffee. Here's a picture of a dessert my sister ordered. Not only looks good, but tastes good. The chocolate tastes like real chocolate.

2017-03-30 Vacation and Work

I woke up at 1:30 because I had to dial in to work for a meeting. I went to mass at the the National Shrine of our Lady of Lourdes. This is the church where I asked our Lady to allow me to go to Lourdes to visit her. And she provided for last year's trip. Thank you O Blessed Mother.

When I went back, I again had to dial in for another meeting. I thank you Lord I still have this contract. Thank you Lord.

The priest spoke of four witnesses of Christ: his works, scripture, the Father and John the Baptist. Jesus performs these works and they are authentic. These are not myths or fictional events. I was also able to adore the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. This is the life I want to live, a life where I can just adore the Lord and worship him.

I bought some fish lugaw (congee) for my mom's lunch. I tried it and it tastes good.

I had lunch with my high school friend. We ate Maki mi and fresh lumpia. It was a simple lunch and the company was great. We had dinner also with Mama, my sister and her two sons.

2017-03-29 Seeing Mama

It was a very quiet day. I went to mass in the morning. When I went home, my wife and her sisters were ready to leave for Coron, Palawan. I did not go with them so I can go to my mother.

I went early and first stop: Jollibee for breakfast:

Steak and Fried Rice with Pineapple Juice

 It was great to see my mother again. Her memory is fading. Yet, she can still laugh and converse, although her conversation can be very repetitive. Yet, it is a welcome conversation. At least she still can recite who of her children are married and who their children are. I think this was her way of coping and remembering us when she realized she was losing her memory.

National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes

At least she can laugh when I tease her. Thank you Lord for this opportunity. I also discovered a lot of old pictures she kept. I took pictures of these pictures. I had a chance to go to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes and adored the Lord.

2017-03-28 Quiet Day

It was a quiet day. I went to mass as usual and had breakfast of taho. Have not tasted this for a while. Taho is soy milk that has solidified. It is eaten with sugary syrup and sago. This alone can be a good breakfast.

Nothing much today except stayed at home and rested.

2017-03-27 Quiet Tuesday

I again woke up at 2am. Had time to login to work and do some work stuff.

Went to mass and the reading was about the crippled man waiting for the water to stir so he can jump in first to get healed. The priest spoke about the mercy of Jesus who heals the man because he knows the man cannot get into the pool.

This got me to think because Jesus asks the man if he wants to be healed. It seems strange that Jesus will ask that question. But on careful reflection, we see this makes sense because Jesus will not heal us if we do not want to be healed.

Salvation is a free gift, but it still requires our consent. God will not save us without us consenting to it. God is merciful, this is why he respects our free will.

A Cup of Taho

It was a quiet day to enjoy some taho. It is bean curd mixed with sugar solution and taro balls. It is a poor man's snack but very nutritious. Food here taste better for some reason. Maybe just my imagination or maybe because food here is organic. Sugar is not made from corn but from cane sugar. Which is maybe why I do not get strange reactions when I eat sweets here.

Anyway, a quiet day. Time to nap and catch up on sleep.

2017-03-27: Quiet Monday

Still adjusting to the time. Woke up at 3am.

Went to mass in the morning and the reading was about the father who begged Jesus to come with him to heal his child. Jesus just told him to go because his child is healed.

The homily was about the father's trust in the words of Jesus. The way the priest presented it was quite touching. He translated the words in colloquial Filipino and he said it such a way that the father sounded desperate to have Jesus come with him. Then when he spoke the words of Jesus, he said it in a way that sounded very reassuring. The confidence of Jesus showed through.

The thought then is to trust in the words of Jesus. We may want him to do something, but in the end, we obey him in trust. His word is truth.

Came home for breakfast after mass and then stayed at home. Wife and her nieces and nephews went to the zoo.

When they came back, we had lunch and after lunch went to SM North to buy some stuff. We also had my watch fixed. The watch was given to me as a graduation gift so I wanted to have it fixed. Total cost is P2,500 or approximately CA$70. This is a good deal considering they have to purchase a part and replace the battery. Battery replacement in Victoria costs CA$25 already.

Came home and am ready to sleep. Had dinner and went up to bed early.

2017-03-26 Sunday: Day of Rest

It is Sunday and we went to mass at 7:45. The air conditioner was working which makes attending mass more comfortable.

Here are two pictures of the church. The first one taken yesterday and the second one taken in 2015. In the two months the parish priest was here, he has made all these changes. Did I mention the air conditioning?

2017-03-25: Manila Day 1 and the Feast of the Annunciation

We arrived home at around 8:00 am. Traffic in Manila on a Saturday early morning is terrible. When does this city sleep!

After some breakfast, since it is the feast of the Annunciation, I decided to go to our parish church to adore the Lord on this feast. The mass was at 6:00 am and this is probably the next best thing I can do besides going to mass.

2017-03-23 Victoria to Manila

I got my tickets to Manila and back were courtesy of the frequent flyer miles. The only tickets I paid was from Victoria to Vancouver and back. A regular ticket would allow us to go direct to our gate. But since these are separate tickets, I needed to go out, check in at the Philippine Airline counter and then go through security. This was my biggest concern because I had checked in once from Vancouver and had to wait for close to an hour before I was checked in.