25 posts tagged “hope”
In my province in Pampanga, these lanterns would find their way during the Christmas season....People would cost them a lot just to have one displayed in their homes...but if you want to see more of these beautiful lanterns just visit San Fernando, Pampanga one of the greatest cities we have producing great lanterns....
I remember the "drama" I had with lanterns when I was younger^^....It was Simbang Gabi then and Noche Buena....The whole family except my late father went out to go to church for the Noche Buena mass....I was maybe 8 yrs old then and I was the only one left behind with my father coz they refused to wake me up because they said I was really so sleepy at that time....So when I woke up, they were already at the church....I went down the stairs crying....The more I even looked exactly like Bruce Lee then^_~from too much crying(sob sob T_T)....So my father was trying to pacify me....He told me to stop crying so what he did I remember was to point at me the beautiful lantern in our neighborhood....Although it was really hard for me to stop crying coz I really wanted to attend the Noche Buena mass....He sat beside me and told me about the lantern as the symbol of that light that had guided the three kings from finding the Child Jesus....and we just sat there for an hour and looked at that beautiful lantern....until I stopped crying....After that my father promised me that no matter what they would take me to the mass during the Noche Buena^^....but, by just looking at the lantern I may say by now that somehow I was already part of the thanksgiving mass we have for the birth of the Child Jesus....
I found this while searching for some pictures on google...May Mama Mary be our life's sweetness and hope^^
On September 8, Catholics all over the world will celebrate her bday...Happy Birthday Mama Mary^^
Joey Velasco is a Filipino artist who gave so much hope to the lives of those street children he painted in his famous Hapag ng Pag-asa....
Why Hapag ng Pag-asa?....Joey Velasco was moved by his work that he made great efforts to help those street children he used as models in his painting....At first he just used them as his models , but God knocked on his heart and he searched for them, fed, and clothed them ...Now they have been sheltered by Gawad Kalinga....an organization helping people suffering from poverty....Here is an excerpt from the book...."They Have Jesus" written by Joey Velasco....
They Have Jesus
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Foreword (by Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of Manila)
A dinner table reveals a lot about hunger, manners and relations. Who sits near the host, who serves the guest or who cares for the youngest, all these are made known at the family dinner. More than taste, meanings are associated with what one eats or even on how one sits at the table. Friendship, old ties or the loss of it are suddenly recalled when diners meet, and the passing of food is enriched with stories and sharing of familiar knowledge and feelings. Surprisingly some meals are taken hurriedly, thus crumbs fly and the meaning of the coming together is lost. In the Israelites’ flight to safety at the night of the great escape (Exodus) the surprise of running away left the people with many experiences unexplained; symbols were lost, as people fled in fright. Thus many more meals will be celebrated in order to get to the meaning of their paschal meal. And “one of your children will ask you, what does this ritual mean?” Tell us that some meals have become so private and solitary that no one asks a question? What do we eat? Where’s the patis? Who’s coming to dinner? The art of conversation and telling stories has already been lost at many dining tables. More than enjoying a repast, a diner has need to reveal other wants. Every child diner at the hapag reveals a story of more hunger than a plate of rice could satisfy. Onse, a nine year old lad, for example sits at the hapag ng pag-asa, his plate cleaned to the last crumb, but he listens still to feed his other hungers as a cart-pushing scavenger whose father is a drug addict and the mama is a club strip dancer. At the table of the Master, Itok, the eleven-year old bread winner, another cart pushing scavenger, whispers that he has gone number of times to jail after having been caught in a number of thieveries. What hunger and desires did this talented scavenger bring to the feet of Jesus and those who believe in Jesus? A Christian community is fittingly disturbed as it watches the masqueraded struggle between good and evil, between wealth and poverty, between greed and compassion, power and weakness as played in the lives of these children robbed of innocence and security of an ordinary growing youth. Around the table were young people, including one whose hurt dug deep into her heart and completely erased whatever dignity a young girl had. Much misery is hidden behind the faces of the hapag children whose lives are further shrouded in the destitution of cemetery shack-dwellers and pushcart lodgers. Is the hapag still waiting for food, or are the poor young diners announcing a different hunger that makes young and old, rich and poor, the educated and the ignorant equally famished for nourishment that only love could satisfy? The artist Joey Velasco’s portrait of the young asks us more questions about ourselves rather than probe the hapag children. Rather than ask “why” these young people live in such an unkind and violent world, the challenge to the beholder of the portrait should be “how” in a Christian community the poor children could be helped out of such misery. Pope Benedict XVI in his first encyclical letter, DEUS CARITAS EST, reminded us that the essential core of communion, at the heart of love, remains the same: “within the community of believers there can never be room for a poverty that denies anyone what is needed for a dignified life”. (DCE, 20). The hapag is not an accusatory portrait. But the reality of the shacks under the bridges and the tunnels of homes along esteros, or the slums among the tombs from which many more young ones come, challenges every believer in the Christ who loves the poor. “How” can we be Christians to them? Can a good Christian, a true lover of Jesus, be without compassion for the poor? Welcome this portrait into your own and make the dining table serving life not just a table of hope, but isang HAPAG-IBIG or hapag ng pag-ibig.
In addition the book was entitled "They Have Jesus" because Joey Velasco was inspired by one who viewed the painting and said to him that "No they weren't actually unfortunate or miserable....They have Jesus.", this viewer had said to the artist....
Blessed are the poor in spirit for they shall see God..... |
The past week had been fruitful I may say^^In school the kids enjoyed working and studying. Kahit papaano may natututunan naman sila. My co-teachers continue to work well even if our school head is not around to attend some seminars etc. Our country on the other hand, somehow, got united again through Pres. Cory's death. Life goes on as they say even though some of our most valued leaders will no longer be there to support us, to guide us. We should learn from them. Live by their examples. Let us continue to build a society that would make our ancestors proud of us. The Filipinos are worth living and dying for. How lucky the Philippines is if you will just count our blessings. First, we are the only predominantly Christian country in the whole of Asia. Second, we are rich with natural resources. Third, we have lots of educated leaders, great scientists, engineers etc. We've got what it takes to make it big as a nation. If only we knew what it takes to be great, that greatness starts within ourselves, with those little things we do, in our family, in our community. Respect our families and our neighbors. Respect the old people,our leaders, the priests, preachers, the church,and freedom. Let's be fair with each other. Let's be fair with the environment. Let's not be blinded by our own interests and ambitions but work for the welfare of our nation.
My fondest memory of Cory Aquino was this one.....In September 1986, former Philippine President Corazon Aquino delivered a speech before a joint session of the United States Congress which was interrupted by applause several times, and which then U.S. House Speaker Tip O'Neill hailed as "the finest speech I've ever heard in my 34 years in Congress." Above the din of cheering officials, Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole then said to Mrs. Aquino, "Cory, you hit a home run." Without missing a beat, Aquino smiled and shot back: "I hope the bases were loaded".....
We will surely miss her.....our guiding light....our hope for freedom and democracy....
These past days I was thinking about those people who keep on coming to school just to share what they have to our children.....For the past years we have been blessed with so many gov't and even non- governmental organizations who had given financial or moral support to our school children.....There were even those who just happen to visit the school only once yet had left something to remember for the kids....There are still so many good people on earth^^.....
Way back there was an old man who played Santa to our kids.....At first some of us even doubted his intention.....We do not even know the man and he offered his chocolates to all of us.....He even asked us to let him distribute the candies himself.....Yes, he wasn't fake....the candies were fresh.....but still his intention to play Santa was doubted at first.....I just felt like no matter how good your intention is to help others or show goodness to them there are still people who would doubt and won't easily believe those good intentions you might have....I remember someone who told me...."My father was a soldier.....He told me that I should always consider those people who I do not know yet as my enemy.....and always take extra care in my dealings with other people"....That's how we look at other people at times isn't it?....But the good intentions will never ever stop and will continue to pour in.....A retired principal came in a year later giving great books, maps, etc. to our school children.....Then the most giving of all is Sister Vicky....our catechist ....She is just so exceptional.....a living saint I guess.....She gives her heart to the kids.....to us.....She has a big big heart....She touches our hearts so that we could touch other people's hearts as well.....That's what makes her different from the rest......
Oh so many things had happened these past few days.....I was like shocked on some of them.....First Ate Alice my co- teacher and our club president had announced that she will be leaving the service to work in Australia and even get married there by next year....It was really a surprise coz she has been a loyal member of the old maids' society hehe^^....Next we have another co- worker Weng who is scheduled this year to go to the US to teach there....Ate Lau, Tita Ems, Tita Zen , Fridz all of them are working on their papers to leave the service...to leave the Philippines.....OMG....everybody is leaving!!!!....Then came Michael Jackson's death.....OMG!!!.....Surprise! Surprise!.....Yes, life is full of surprises.....Nothing is permanent in this world.....People and things would come and go.....Like if someone would go today a new baby will be born tomorrow.....If I or my co -teachers would go, there would be others who would take our place.....
We move to other places to find ourselves.... and when we're already tired God would tell us to just look into our hearts to see that what we're searching for in a lifetime is just right there in our precious hearts....
It's been two weeks now that we've had our classes...slowly the kids are adjusting on the pressures of school...and us teachers too^^....On Friday is our Independence Day...Until now I guess we still do not know how to respect other people's rights....how to really protect our people from losing their dignity....to be responsible to the gift of freedom given to us....Look at what is happening to us.....to our poor women(victims of sex scandals) who lose their dignity for our own gratification....for our own interests and ambitions....To our poor kababayans who we treat as guinea pigs....better serve them well and stop doing "papogi points" just to show how much we care about them.....in order to win in the next election.....We've had enough of dirty politics....and manipulative shows....Do we really care of what is happening to our people?....Why do true freedom and justice remain elusive to us all these years?.....Are we going to wait for the time when our own children will be the ones to suffer from these crimes and immoralities that we commit?.....I'm hoping that we should stop fooling our own kababayans so that they could enjoy the rights and priveleges our own heroes have fought for them....
There was an old man who begs on the street yet I find some people so kind to him maybe because there's an effort on his part to sing to those who pass by the street ...At least we can consider him as an entertainer as well isn't it?....Though I had wished that he could be singing somewhere in a more convenient place rather than on a sidewalk....and that he has a family who takes care of him....
While we were passing by, the old man was trying to check his microphone because I think it has no battery anymore....He said "hello...hello" many times but it has no sound anymore.... And without losing hope he still sang probably his fave song in a much louder voice^^.....
Though he may have entertained people with his singing and maybe he felt that's the only way for him to survive, still the sight of that man singing on the sidewalk haunts me in a way coz he reminds me of a father or a helpless grandfather who should be taken care of......That's why I always say that every family should unite and take good care of each other.....
Whenever I see some helpless people that's when I felt how blessed we have been.....Let's not forget the people who exert effort despite the hardships they face in life.....Let's follow Christ.....We've got to make our own sacrifices....exert more effort to unite our families and love our brothers and sisters.....Let's wipe the blood and tears from Christ' face so that there will be less helpless people on the streets who beg for our love and compassion.....and we will not be haunted by those suffering faces every now and then.....
I had a lot of fun today....My partner in crime or buddy buddy in school decided to shop at what we call LA in our town....We only have 500 pesos each or about 10 dollars each to buy sooo many items like bags,personal items,accessories, pillow cases, and food like biscuits, sea foods, soya beans,cauliflowers etc....And since we knew how to really ask for some bargains we were able to buy all those things combining all our money for only twenty dollars....Yes....these days it's like we need to become wiser in buying commodities since we are experiencing financial crisis....and I also notice that there are less shoppers now in most of our stores than before this crisis happened.....So we really need to make some necessary adjustments to cope with this crisis....even in our own little ways....Yeah it's true when you have so much money you have greater demands but if you have less you learn to just seek for what could be enough for you....Do you think we could apply this to what's happening to us now?.... Like in the US they produce much, yet... they waste much as well.....with deficits too.....In our country this is happening as well though it's just one of the many factors we have to blame....
Oh my, while we were shopping I had to bargain and the seller told me....."Yes Maam I can't give that price to you if you want let's just "change roles" here ok?....You'll be the seller^^ and I'll be the buyer so I'm gonna buy it already for you^^. ....Well he really made me and my buddy laugh but while we were walking away from him.....I said to myself....."He is such a loser haha^^"....But that was ok honestly I really am not angry about that coz I knew how hard it is to earn a living nowadays....and these people are just trying to make a decent living in order to support their families....
And as if he had planned his revenge on us^^.....my buddy accidentally stepped on a sticky substance (the place has so many unidentified objects lying around^^....we can't afford to shop to first class stores^^)....."Wait Sollee please step on it.... remove it pls."....."Okie okie".....So I stepped on it...."OMG.....it stuck on my shoes"....."Ces pls. step on it too"...."OMG.....Ces said.... it's too sticky it won't go"...."Scrub it Sollee"....Oh my^^....we were stranded almost in the middle of the road^^.....
Yeah....we Filipinos are easygoing.....even if we are in the middle of a certain crisis....we still manage to smile because we have so much faith in hope that in spite of some problems we may be facing we know everything will be okay in the end....
