Back to Schoool

In preparation for the new school year, the public schools of Calbayog had their Brigada Iskwela. I suppose the private schools had preparations of their own. Earlier today, I saw pedestrian lanes being "painted" (sorry, I dunnow the correct term for that) on the streets of Calbayog where the schools are. In the case of the picture below, it's along Senate President Jose Avelino Avenue where La Milagrosa Academy is.

Ci and Kristine

Ci and Kristine (Collamar) Donasco will celelbrate their 1st wedding anniversary today. Congratulations and Best Wishes!

For their pictures, please check these links: link1, link 2.

Santacruzan sa Tabuk

Sugad san nababatasan, ginbuhat kakukop an tradisyunal nga Santacruzan sa Tabuk. Here are some pix that I managed to take during yesterday's activity.

Congrats Bon-Bon!

Congratulations to Mr. Vauhn Wan P. Uy for passing the recent CPA Board Examination. He is the eldest son of Frederick and Brenda Uy.

Huling hirit sa tag-araw (or images from my old hometown)

It's official, summer is over, the rainy season is in. That's what PAG-ASA announced about a week ago. And with a few days to go before classes open, add in high tide at midday and yes, the still shining sun (rains were abundant during the summer months), and what do you get? Well, at least for the kids in Obrero (especially near the Rosales and Jasminez bridges), it's diving time. It's been like this for the past so many years (or should I say the past so many generations?). I too have my memories about swimming in the Calbayog river, but making a diving board out of the bridges is one thing I don't remember doing (due to fear of heights perhaps?). Anyway, whatever is your take on it, panlukso sa tulay is certainly one of the fond images I have of my old hometown.

Jardee and Dimple

Jardee De La Rosa and Dimple Dean will get married today. The wedding mass will be held at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. Reception will be at the Cardinal Rosales Hall of the Centennial Pastoral Center.

in memoriam Monsignor Vicente Astorga

Monsignor Cheling Astorga, former Parish Priest of Calbayog returned to his creator on May 18, 2009. Intement will be in Zumarraga, Samar on May 27, 2009.

on this site will rise . . .

You are looking at a hotel building currently being constructed along the National Highway in Barangay Bagacay.

Jun and Shiela

Ireneo "Jun" Germones and Shiela Lasaca will get married today. The wedding mass will be held at the St. Joseph the worker Parish Church in Brgy. San Policarpo with Fr. Rey Palomas presiding. Reception will be held at the SPCS reception hall.

Great Times Events and Tours opens Calbayog branch

Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino and Dr. Socorro Bohol as they led the ribbon-cutting during the opening of Great Times Tours and Events Calbayog Branch. In photo are (partly hidden) Fr. Mike Aguilar, Jehan Uyloan and Anne Blanco.

Great Times Events and Tours, Calbayog's first travel agency is now open for business. The agency officially opened on May 8, 2009. Present during the event were Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino and TTMIST President Socorro Bohol. Fr. Mike Aguilar was on hand to say the prayer of blessing.

Great Times Events and Tours Calbayog branch is located along Justice Road, Barangay Capoocan, Calbayog City (That's near the Calbayog Hall of Justice). For inquiries you may call (+63 55) 209-27-65 (PLDT) or (+63 55) 533-81-27 (Globe).

Great Times Events and Tours Head Office is located in Unit L8C, Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa City with phone # (+63 2) 809-07-64/ 809-06-05.

Patrun sa Tabuk

Maupay nga Patrun sa mga taga Barangay Obrero!

Patrun sa Palanas, Cagbilwang, Anislag, Cagsalaosao, Danao ngan Bagacay

Maupay nga patrun sa mga taga Barangay Palanas (Nijaga), Cagbilwang, Anislag, Cagsalaosao, Danao ug Bagacay!

in memoriam Eugenia Cañada - Ladrero

Today is the 10th Death Anniversary of my Lola Nene.

A Letter from Lilian De Vera (wife of the victim of the Paranaque shootout)

Let me give you "something personal" this time (meaning, it has nothing to do with any event in Calbayog). I got hold of an email with this subject: Fw: A Letter from Lilian De Vera (wife of the victim of Paranaque shootout)

It was an email from Sir Vir (Tomnob) with this message:

Dear Friends:
GREETINGS!
Take time to read. Let us all be weary with this kind of behaviour of people who are supposed to be protectors, yet they turned out to be more of a menace to society.
Let us also pray for Lilian that she will have all the courage and energy to seek vindication for the ruthless killing of her husband and child.
God bless us all.

I thought I wanted to share that email with you:

"Two months ago I considered myself as one of those blessed and happiest people on earth. Why not? I married a guy who was an epitome of kindness. A guy who worshipped even the footsteps I made. More importantly, our union blessed us with a daughter who not only became the main source of our happiness?. more so; she was the center of our lives.

"We're simple folks who led a simple life. We felt the happiest even about mundane things and inconsequential ones that most people would only take for granted. Our joy mostly revolved on simple pleasures like a sudden trip to Jollibee or a late night marauding of the fridge for any leftovers. Aperfect family with simple delights, dreams and aspirations??? until thatfateful night on December 5, 2008.The day my husband and daughter were taken away from me in a very violent way. That Friday night on December 5, 2008 marked the beginning of all the terror, anguish and misery in my life.

"In keeping with my ritual or "panata" on every first Friday of every month, I went to Quiapo Church on the above mentioned date to pay homage and respect to the Almighty One. My husband and daughter were supposed to pick me up in Pasay City after which we planned on giving our daughter a treat to Jollibee. While riding the jeep, I tried to call my husband to tell him that I was on my way to our meeting place. But despite all the calls I made, my husband remained silent. A very unusual occurrence in asmuch as he seldom missed my calls. Despite my trepidation and wonder, I took the next jeep going home and prayed that everything was alright. I even promised tomyself that I would forgive my husband for not answering my calls and forforgetting to pick me up.

"I felt relieved when near our place my phone rung. Such relief was somehow only momentary?. in fact the phone call I got was the bearer of the worst news in my entire life. My helper called, only to tell me that my husbandand daughter were shot to death by "men in uniform". The same men who were sworned to protect innocent people from bad guys brutally slew the two most important persons in my life. They were the same men whose sacred duty was to preserve the lives of the public against all harm and danger. Yet??. theywere the same men who murdered my love ones in the most cruel, savage and inhuman way.

"My husband's face was unrecognizable because he was shot in the head at close range while he was kneeling with his head bowed down.. My daughter's young body was riddled with bullets, one hit her head, blowing her brains out.., all from too powerful guns and ammunitions fired by the "men inuniform" on two innocent and defenseless persons.

"The "men in uniform" were allegedly on a mission to take some gang of robbers victimizing people at large. The police shot the crosswind van my husband and daughter were riding Based on some witnesses' narration, the police sprayed bullets into the van despite the lack of provocation or shots coming from the van. In his last effort to save their lives, myhusband grabbed my bloodied daughter and shielded her with his body while trying to run away from the police and tried to get cover from a parked jeepney. My husband and daughter were so defenseless. How can you mistake a child for a robber? How can you shot at someone who was already kneeling with head bowed, an indication of helplessness.

"My husband and daughter are gone??. forever. The pain I feel for their lost is too much too bear. And the only thing that motivates me to go on with life is the mission to seek justice for their senseless killing. If the people who are responsible for their death will be punished, if I could bring them the justice they so richly deserve, my pain would be alleviated. The misery I will live by will be lessened. My husband and daughter will bevindicated and I will learn to live the remaining years of my life in peace.

"Thus: I'm asking and begging everyone who will come across this letter/e-mail to forward the same to all your relatives, friends, and acquaintances. Help me bring my cause to the eyes of the people capable of steering the wheel of justice to the right direction. Help me make the loudest cry worthy of attention by those people in-charge in renderingjustice to those who deserve it.

"Strength comes in numbers; it is where the impossible becomes possible. It is also where the unattainable becomes achievable.

"My heartfelt gratitude for everyone who will take a moment in their too busy lives and forward this letter/e-mail to everyone they know. May God always protect you and your love ones from all harm.

"Lilian de Vera "

The CKC-Jose Gomez Orchestra goes to Catarman

The CKC - Jose Gomez Orchestra will have a concert in Catarman, Northern Samar. The event will be held at the Northern Samar Capitol Building on May 23, 2009, Saturday at 5:00 pm.

Happy Mothers' Day!

Happy Mothers' Day sa ngatanan nga mga nanay!

Calbayog Hotels and Restaurants Association inducts new set of officers

The Calbayog Hotels and Restaurants Association (CAHORA) inducted their new set of officers today. The event was held at the function hall of Marju-Krisel Resort in Brgy. San Policarpo. Guest of Honor and Inducting Officer was Vice Mayor Ronaldo Aquino.

Inducted as officers were Mark Aquino of Marju Krisel Resort (President); Dr. Vincent Rosales of 3-Gems (Vice President); Irene Pastrana of Mila's (Secretary); Eleanor Bernardo - Tingzon of Bernardo's (Secretary); Ruth Bartolome - Enriquez of Mangroove (Auditor); and Evageline Kho of Eduardo's and Lina Porcalla - Pido of Lyn's Garden (Business Managers).

Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino (left) leading the induction of CAHORA officers. (r-l) Mark Aquino, Dr. Vincent Rosales, Ruth Bartolome - Enriquez, Evangeline Kho and Irene Pastrana.

Vice Mayor Aquino as he delivered his Inspirational Message.

CTIO Linda Calesa delivering her message.

Vice Mayor Aquino, Dr. Vincent Rosales and Mark Aquino.

CAHORA President Mark Aquino delivering his Closing Speech.

Some CAHORA members with Vice Mayor Aquino and some CTIO staff.

Something from the DOH

paturn sa Rawis

Maupay nga Patrun sa mga taga Barangay Rawis!

An Easter Vigil postscript

Hi there! It's been weeks since we witnessed the Easter Vigil. But there is one thing that I have always wanted to share with you, an experience I always have each time that celebration comes around. And this year I managed to take some pictures of it.

For the average church-goer, the images of Easter vigil would be the lighted candles while the Church lights are off, the covered niches of saints and of course the Paschal candle. For me (for the past so many years), in addition to the usual sight on Easter vigil, this has always been the view from my area (where I sit as the commentator): water in various containers - plastic gallons, mineral water containers, bottles and what have you - placed on the area where the Paschal candle stands with the container for the baptismal water (pix below).

You might want to ask, why should the faithful bring in water of their own to join the blessing of the water which (many years ago a priest told me) is the water of baptism. Are the faithful into the rites of baptism of their own? I heard somebody say (a few years back) that it was for the reason of driving bad spirits away. With baptismal water?

Nope, there's no distribution of relief good or prizes. This is always the scene at the altar after the final blessing when the faithful scramble to get hold of their containers of baptismal water.

We failed to catechize them properly, or so said a priest speaking for the CBCP regarding the issue on the faithful using the palaspas (blessed on Palm Sunday) to ward off evil. Can the same thing be said about this bringing of water on Easter vigil? Well, what can we expect with some priests getting busy about everything else except caring for the soul of the faithful? What with some priest, or at least one I've heard who have made it on top of his agenda to raise the arancel in the parish. Oops, me and my mouth! And yes, what with the "I don't care" pronouncements of (again) a priest I know? Oops, me and my mouth again!

We've heard about priests with kids, with kabit and what have you; and yes, now and then we hear about the priestesses. A few year back, some friends and I discussed about the assignment of a bishop we know to another diocese. We were kinda bothered about it 'coz according to one friend it meant great challenges ahead for the said bishop - the number of the faithful who will be under his care will be really BIG; another said that he had to deal with priests who have good attitude and those with "attitude" brought about by their being holders of masteral and doctorate degrees; and another was quick to (jokingly) say that yes, those are indeed challenges, and that's not even including the priestesses, yet (oops, smile don't take it seriously. This is another story and I don't think we have this case in the parish, for now anyway). Seriously, (and generally) speaking, there must be something about our Catholic faith (surely it's not synonymous with fanaticism, is it?) which makes us such forgiving creatures.

Back to the Parish and the Easter vigil. And yes, among the highlights of the Easter vigil is the sugat. I made a blog post about it last year (please check this link) when the sugat was given a new twist. Don't ask me about this year - it was a dud. Let's not even start discussing on the decor which included crepe paper hanging like there's a barangay dance; and the finger of the resureccion which was cut off it appeared like Christ was making a dirty finger sign; and the angel on a sack (?) to make it appear she was flying? Nice try, but please do try harder the next time!

Patrun sa Ipao

Maupay nga Patrun sa mga taga Brgy. San Policarpo!