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.