9 March MMXVI Partial Solar Eclipse

Celestial events for me, are really interesting. I see each of these occurences as a time when my existence on earth has a real relevance to rare astronomical phenomena that can happen every now and then. This morning, I took part in marveling at the view of yet another heavenly spectacle. Though not as great as the total solar eclipse, the partial blockage of solar disk view by the new moon phase is observable here in the Philippines today. Thanks to the help of my friends here in school, I took a shot of the partial solar eclipse using my smart phone with a 4-ply used X-ray film as filter. Cropping the picture zoomed in the low definition image of the astronomical event.

So they are secondhand. So what?

Sometimes, buying brand new shoes can be disappointing. After like a year, your shoes would probably look like the ones sold as "ukay ukay," a term used for places that sell secondhand goods (like clothing, shoes, bags, curtains, bed sheets, towels, etc.) at dirt cheap prices usually shipped from the US Salvation Army to the third world countries such as the Philippines (Urban Dictionary).

I have sorts of these items. From pillow cases to bed sheets, jersey shirts to shorts and jackets, I find having these secondhand products worth investing. Some of the items are unreasonably priced high, the fact that those are secondhand and are supposed to be a lot cheaper. Anyway, they will always be cheaper than the brand new ones.

So why not buy secondhand shoes? After all, with some good skill in bidding for a lower price (hangyo lubo in Cebuano), you can have the items with that hidden smile on your face. It could be as low as the last three digits you would settle for a brand new pair of shoes. Last February 25, I took the chance of shopping at an ukay ukay stand and bought two branded pair of items for only 750 pesos! I think the shoes looked descent enough. I soaked the shoes in Ariel Powder Color and Style for 4 hours and thereafter brushed them. I rinsed the items in Downy Fabric Conditioner to give them that better smell. Sun dried for 8 hours, the shoes looked clean and were ready to wear!

Black-Browning My Hair

Our hair, our crown of glory. But as we grow older, our bodies produce less melanin, which makes the hair appear black. But there is always a way to counter the appearance of gray hair.

I came to know this hair coloring product. It is a more practical brand since its unused contents can be further applied later.

First Time Cooking with a Glassware

When the Visions' glass cookware items were brought home, everyone was curious about using them for cooking on LPG stove. They were apprehensive whether or not it could withstand the heat when cooking. This morning, we put one of the glass wares to the test. I asked my brother to buy pork for Adobo (meat on vinegar and soy sauce reduction.) After mixing the ingredients (garlic, onions, banana blossom, pepper corn and seasonings) in the 2.25 L Visions' Cook Pot, the glass ware was placed on top of high heat stove. We were looking at the cooking process and we noticed that the boiling was a lot faster. We could see the food being cooked inside as the container is transparent. After around 45 minutes, the meat was already tender. Usually, when doing this recipe, the mixture would dry up. In this case, the sauce (reduction) was still there and the meat was kept moist.

St. Valentine's Date with the Choir

As usual, the school choir 2016 proceeded to MonMon's Bakeshoppe after the 3rd Mass on the first Sunday of Lent.

"Be with me, Lord," we sang during the communion. The prayer was also the celebration's psalm. As this day commemorates St. Valentine, everyone was talking about love matters.❤

Today, Ash Wednesday

Now, on this day of the opening of the Lenten season, I take this time to post something.

What's with having my forehead marked with ash? In this morning's mass, the priest had us told that it is the start of our journey in this season of Lent. The celebrant added that though it is marked with reflective and solemn mood, it is supposed to be also a time to be joyous about the assurance of Jesus of our salvation through his great love and mercy.

In the school, a fellow is apprehensive about having marked with ash for one might not be able to follow the "obligations" during Lent. Humans as we are, it is inevitable for us to commit sin, at any time of the year. For one thing, having the thought that one might find it difficult to do fasting and abstinence, is never an excuse not to attend to Holy Masses. On the other hand, one should not be comfortable about sinning, knowing that God is compassionate anyway.

For sure, God does not want us to live a miserable life. Every day, we struggle for living. What the Lord wills us to do is along the way of our living, we sow justice, make peace and give love. Doing these will surely give us that feeling of happiness. That when we close our eyes at night, we are joyed that on this day, we have seen the face of God in those whom we have extended our help and love.

Erica Nessa's 6th Birthday

John Ric, Angeline and Mamang pose with the celebrator.

A simple but "well attended by neighbors" dinner for In-in's 6th birthday is celebrated at home today. In-in's lola Bebing and aunt Joy from Zamboanga were also present.

The Rite of Opening of the Jubilee Door of Mercy

It was only on the night before the celebration of the opening of the Extraordinary Year of Mercy that we rehearsed with Bishop Julius Tonel, D.D. and I learned that the procession would be accompanied by the singing of the Litany of Saints. There would also be a hymn before the Door of Mercy is opened. I took my self charged of those parts since there was no time to practice some cantors.

December 14, 2015 - the day of the Opening of the Jubilee Door. The rite was well-attended since aside ftom some mass goers and Marian College students, the WMSU students were also there as it was their regular institutional mass schedule. The archbishop of Zamboanga concelebrated the mass and he was also the homilist. We sang at the procession "Misericordes sicut Pater," "Be Merciful as the Father is merciful" and "The Great Jubilee Hymn" as the recessional.

4th Death Anniversary of Papang

"Eternal rest, grant unto him, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him," is our prayer for Papang, who on this day breathed his last, four years ago. What consoles us is having realized that his union with the Creator ended his earthly pain. 

We truly miss you, Pang. Please pray for us too. We love you truly.

On Papang's tomb at Autumn Woods, Taway, Ipil Zamboanga Sibugay.