Tuesday, November 14, 2017
DEDICATION
TO OUR RESPECTIVE PARENTS :
GREG EVE/VANGIE
PLACIDO CAPONONG TRABANCA TEODORICO MAGALLANES
CAERMARE
ANATALIA ALCALA INTAS TRABANCA AGAPITA BAJAO RUELES CAERMARE
TO OUR SONS:
NEIL TED
NATHANIEL CAERMARE TRABANCA THEODORE CAERMARE
TRABANCA
To:
MSGR. FELIX S, ZAFRA , 1st Bishop of Dipolog City, Diocese of Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines
MSGR. SALVADOR MORA, former Parish Priest of Dapitan City, Philippines
Labason, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines
MSGR. SEVERO C. CAERMARE, Bishop of Dipolog City, Diocese of Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines
To: ALL ZAMNAI MEMBERS, LABASONIANS, TEACHERS, FRIENDS, and RELATIVES
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Thoughts (9/20/2017)
It is God's law. Remember it
In your still chamber as you sit
With thoughts, you would not dare have known
And yet make comrades when alone.
-Ella Wheeler Wilcox
With my brother and a friend, the pre-used Honda CR-V took us to Lone Tree Manor banquet hall on Milwaukee Avenue for a memorial mass by Fr. Nelson Garcia, a diocesan priest. It was for the 10th death anniversary of a friend's father who was a friend and contemporary.
However, as I was driving, I remembered my wife whose burial place was just a few miles away on the same avenue. And one of the three places to know to understand the beauty of living is in the cemetery because the ground that we walk today will be our roof tomorrow. The second place to see is the Hospital for happiness is the result of good health and the third place to consider is the Prison because of the most precious thing - the freedom which everybody seeks together with the fountain of youth.
I met acquaintances. followed by handshakes, how do you dos and cheek rubbings- the usual sign of greetings and courtesy. Taking things all equal, life is what we make it.
In your still chamber as you sit
With thoughts, you would not dare have known
And yet make comrades when alone.
-Ella Wheeler Wilcox
With my brother and a friend, the pre-used Honda CR-V took us to Lone Tree Manor banquet hall on Milwaukee Avenue for a memorial mass by Fr. Nelson Garcia, a diocesan priest. It was for the 10th death anniversary of a friend's father who was a friend and contemporary.
However, as I was driving, I remembered my wife whose burial place was just a few miles away on the same avenue. And one of the three places to know to understand the beauty of living is in the cemetery because the ground that we walk today will be our roof tomorrow. The second place to see is the Hospital for happiness is the result of good health and the third place to consider is the Prison because of the most precious thing - the freedom which everybody seeks together with the fountain of youth.
I met acquaintances. followed by handshakes, how do you dos and cheek rubbings- the usual sign of greetings and courtesy. Taking things all equal, life is what we make it.
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
La Vida
The Beauty of Living
".... full many a flower is born to blush unseen and waste its sweetness in the desert air."
It's never too late to unravel the essence that was not noticed. At this point in my life, I came to the realization that life is actually like reciting the Rosary. We commence our existence in the name of the Eternal Father, then He sent His beloved Son to save us and of the Holy Spirit to enlighten and console us.
Then, we start our journey by knowing, loving and serving our Father who art in heaven. We acknowledge the presence of the Mother who gave birth to the Savior of the world. We followed it by our full belief on the limitless power of the Creator of heaven and earth.
In our travel through Life we undergo four chapters of mysteries:
Chapter 1 - The joy of living
Chapter 11 - The sorrows of life
Chapter 111 = The glow of the journey
Chapter 1V - The glory which is the reward of our toil.
There is truly the genius and beauty of Catholicism. And by the way, it doesn't hurt to say the Rosary every day.
There is truly the genius and beauty of Catholicism. And by the way, it doesn't hurt to say the Rosary every day.
Friday, June 23, 2017
A Leader is Born
The Emergence of a Leader
"There was a prediction in his family that one day a son is promised for greatness."
Filipinos are people consecrated to God. Out of Europe, came men of God, who venerated Saints to lead them out of harm's way. Magellan landed on one of the unknown groups of islands ( Philippines) on March 16, 1521, and offered the natives the Cross of Christianity and met also his demise.
The Philippines, the 12th largest country in the world is predominantly Christian. 90% are Christians (80% specifically Roman Catholic) It has 333 years of Spanish colonial rule and 42 years of American rule.
Muslim is estimated to make up 5.5 % of the total population of 5.5 million Filipinos." If not for the "interlude of 375 years of Spanish and American colonial rule", the Philippines would likely be a Muslim country.
Introduced by Tuan Masha'ika, an Arab religious leader/missionary in the mid 13th century Jolo now Province of Sulu, Southern Philippines, Islam was actually introduced much earlier as early as the 10th century through the Arab Traders who married local inhabitants. In the 15th century, Islam was accepted as their religion leading to the establishment of the Islamic State referred to as the Sultanate of Sulu around 1450.
Sayyid Al-Hashim Abu Bakr, an Arab religious leader born in Mecca, married to Jolo's ruling family Raja Baguinda and established a political organization adopting the formal title of Paduka Mahasari Maulana Al-Sultan Sharif-ul-Hashim.
Christianity's Cross was planted on the shore of the Philippines amidst the wranglings and murmurs of the Southern locals' hearts. And the legacy from Cain and Abel can't be forgotten. Rebellion and opposition were flagrantly displayed in the name of Democracy. The sea teems with seafood abundance, the land green with the bountiful harvest, the forest with enviable timbers. the government with political luminaries but tainted with personal agenda.
Filipinos witnessed the nation's political, social, and economic developments. Meanwhile, politics has its rise and fall. The scenario of the country was ripe for the emergence of a leader to ameliorate the common masses.
Out of these abundances and progress loom clouds of deceit, dishonesty, and personal ambition. The gap grew bigger each passing day. The poor got poorer while the rich became richer.
Criminality, corruption, and illegal drugs were rampant. They were at full speed as they contaminated the highest officials to the lowest servants of the government. These things were avenues for prolific business as the " unwise use of money is the root of all evils."
In the developing political field, a leader has a vision of a mission of solving these problems of criminality, corruption, and illegal drugs that plagued the country. In fact, his plan was already tested and the performance was great from a thriving city south of Manila.
"There was a prediction in his family that one day a son is promised for greatness."
Filipinos are people consecrated to God. Out of Europe, came men of God, who venerated Saints to lead them out of harm's way. Magellan landed on one of the unknown groups of islands ( Philippines) on March 16, 1521, and offered the natives the Cross of Christianity and met also his demise.
The Philippines, the 12th largest country in the world is predominantly Christian. 90% are Christians (80% specifically Roman Catholic) It has 333 years of Spanish colonial rule and 42 years of American rule.
Muslim is estimated to make up 5.5 % of the total population of 5.5 million Filipinos." If not for the "interlude of 375 years of Spanish and American colonial rule", the Philippines would likely be a Muslim country.
Introduced by Tuan Masha'ika, an Arab religious leader/missionary in the mid 13th century Jolo now Province of Sulu, Southern Philippines, Islam was actually introduced much earlier as early as the 10th century through the Arab Traders who married local inhabitants. In the 15th century, Islam was accepted as their religion leading to the establishment of the Islamic State referred to as the Sultanate of Sulu around 1450.
Sayyid Al-Hashim Abu Bakr, an Arab religious leader born in Mecca, married to Jolo's ruling family Raja Baguinda and established a political organization adopting the formal title of Paduka Mahasari Maulana Al-Sultan Sharif-ul-Hashim.
Christianity's Cross was planted on the shore of the Philippines amidst the wranglings and murmurs of the Southern locals' hearts. And the legacy from Cain and Abel can't be forgotten. Rebellion and opposition were flagrantly displayed in the name of Democracy. The sea teems with seafood abundance, the land green with the bountiful harvest, the forest with enviable timbers. the government with political luminaries but tainted with personal agenda.
Filipinos witnessed the nation's political, social, and economic developments. Meanwhile, politics has its rise and fall. The scenario of the country was ripe for the emergence of a leader to ameliorate the common masses.
Out of these abundances and progress loom clouds of deceit, dishonesty, and personal ambition. The gap grew bigger each passing day. The poor got poorer while the rich became richer.
Criminality, corruption, and illegal drugs were rampant. They were at full speed as they contaminated the highest officials to the lowest servants of the government. These things were avenues for prolific business as the " unwise use of money is the root of all evils."
In the developing political field, a leader has a vision of a mission of solving these problems of criminality, corruption, and illegal drugs that plagued the country. In fact, his plan was already tested and the performance was great from a thriving city south of Manila.
Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the former Mayor of Davao city led his governance of the city with justice, not with money. He avoided publicity but for the love of his people and country. He forwarded his gaze to the metropolitan and to the cosmopolitan. In his travel from the South to the North, while on the air, he saw the view below, and a voice from within said that he has to help especially the poor and the marginalized.
Maybe providential, he won to lead his country. But the problems that he was going to solve were miscalculated. Yet he plodded on to face the pervading problems for his intense love of the country and people he is serving.
But what is happening right now is the constant political bickering and hullabaloo that produce further anguish and confusion that deepen division rather than accomplish healing, restoration, and unity.
We should emulate and support the vision and mission of this President who sometimes spews foul words for the love of the country and people in his firm determination to clean the "Augean stables" in the government that stinks with criminality and corruption due to the flourishing business of illegal drugs prevalent among the officials of the land. DU30 uses the Armed Forces: the police and the army to do the task. In Greek Mythology, the mythical Hercules cleaned out the stables of the mythical King Augeas of Elis, (who kept great stables that held 3,000 oxen and had not been cleaned for 30 years), by diverting the course of two rivers (Alpheus and Peneus) so they flowed through them.
Maybe providential, he won to lead his country. But the problems that he was going to solve were miscalculated. Yet he plodded on to face the pervading problems for his intense love of the country and people he is serving.
But what is happening right now is the constant political bickering and hullabaloo that produce further anguish and confusion that deepen division rather than accomplish healing, restoration, and unity.
We should emulate and support the vision and mission of this President who sometimes spews foul words for the love of the country and people in his firm determination to clean the "Augean stables" in the government that stinks with criminality and corruption due to the flourishing business of illegal drugs prevalent among the officials of the land. DU30 uses the Armed Forces: the police and the army to do the task. In Greek Mythology, the mythical Hercules cleaned out the stables of the mythical King Augeas of Elis, (who kept great stables that held 3,000 oxen and had not been cleaned for 30 years), by diverting the course of two rivers (Alpheus and Peneus) so they flowed through them.
There must be a paradigm shift in the life of the people who were accustomed to the political scenario. And political leaders did try as they may in addressing the prevailing atmosphere only to be suffocated by their own greed and ambition.
What he needs now is the participation, cooperation, and unity of the Filipino people, local and abroad, and/or with his country's roots to make his regime progressive, productive, and peaceful.
This president, who likes to be called Mayor, saw this in the dorm:" I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness or abilities that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." (William Penn.) With his term of six years, and over the age of seventy. he tried his level best to deliver what he had promised. He meant no monkey business and nipped in the bud those who failed to follow the rule of law as they are employees of the government like himself.
And he has this from Ecclesiastes chapter 3: " There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build...a time to love, and a time to hate, a time of war, and a time of peace."
Is it now ripe in the Duterte era for a noble change? Changes have been made before but still, there must be another one to fit the shoes of all Filipinos from Aparri to Jolo.
Rodrigo Roa Duterte has unleashed his solid determination to map out a plan of unity, understanding, cooperation, and peace for the cosmopolitan Philippines.
This president, who likes to be called Mayor, saw this in the dorm:" I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness or abilities that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." (William Penn.) With his term of six years, and over the age of seventy. he tried his level best to deliver what he had promised. He meant no monkey business and nipped in the bud those who failed to follow the rule of law as they are employees of the government like himself.
And he has this from Ecclesiastes chapter 3: " There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build...a time to love, and a time to hate, a time of war, and a time of peace."
Is it now ripe in the Duterte era for a noble change? Changes have been made before but still, there must be another one to fit the shoes of all Filipinos from Aparri to Jolo.
Rodrigo Roa Duterte has unleashed his solid determination to map out a plan of unity, understanding, cooperation, and peace for the cosmopolitan Philippines.
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
6/24/2017 Sat THE NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST.
Back home, this is wet or bathday- San Juan. Water just flow in every corner of the land. All accept it with pride and joy as this happens only once a year.
This Saturday (06/24/2017) will be St. Timothy Parish's Feast of the Novena of the Mother of Perpetual Help. Note of appreciation and thanks to the pastor, Fr. Peter Fernandes,sfx and to the devotees.
Where was Jesus Baptized ?
If you are a pilgrim traveling to the Holy Land, you will be taken to the spot where John the baptist was said to have baptized Jesus.
But is that an accurate location ? Not even tour guides necessarily agree
All four evangelists note that Jesus was baptized in the Jordan river. John narrows the area to "Bethany beyond the Jordan." Mark and Matthews's description of the event has lead to a tradition that the baptism occurred at a spot near the river, just east of Jericho. Even then , no one knows if the baptism, took place near the east or the west of the river.
Adding to the difficulty of determining the exact place of Jesus' baptism, the Jordan River itself has altered course over the past 2,000 years.In order to meet Israel's and Jordan's growing need for water, the river has also gotten smaller in modern times.
In May 2012, a site close to the border between Israel and Jordan was reopened to pilgrims as the place where Jesus was baptized.It had been closed to tourists because the location in only 330 feet across the river from Jordan, and because of the danger of land mines that may have been left by terrorists.
Three Popes
Three Popes have visited the eastern bank of the Jordan River: POPE JOHN PAUL 11 in March 2000, POPE BENEDICT XV1 in May 2009, and POPE FRANCIS in May 2014.
Back home, this is wet or bathday- San Juan. Water just flow in every corner of the land. All accept it with pride and joy as this happens only once a year.
This Saturday (06/24/2017) will be St. Timothy Parish's Feast of the Novena of the Mother of Perpetual Help. Note of appreciation and thanks to the pastor, Fr. Peter Fernandes,sfx and to the devotees.
Where was Jesus Baptized ?
If you are a pilgrim traveling to the Holy Land, you will be taken to the spot where John the baptist was said to have baptized Jesus.
But is that an accurate location ? Not even tour guides necessarily agree
All four evangelists note that Jesus was baptized in the Jordan river. John narrows the area to "Bethany beyond the Jordan." Mark and Matthews's description of the event has lead to a tradition that the baptism occurred at a spot near the river, just east of Jericho. Even then , no one knows if the baptism, took place near the east or the west of the river.
Adding to the difficulty of determining the exact place of Jesus' baptism, the Jordan River itself has altered course over the past 2,000 years.In order to meet Israel's and Jordan's growing need for water, the river has also gotten smaller in modern times.
In May 2012, a site close to the border between Israel and Jordan was reopened to pilgrims as the place where Jesus was baptized.It had been closed to tourists because the location in only 330 feet across the river from Jordan, and because of the danger of land mines that may have been left by terrorists.
Three Popes
Three Popes have visited the eastern bank of the Jordan River: POPE JOHN PAUL 11 in March 2000, POPE BENEDICT XV1 in May 2009, and POPE FRANCIS in May 2014.
3:00 PM- Wed 6/21/2017 SUMMER BEGINS!
I love Life! I love America. I love Jesus Christ who died to save humanity. I love the Blessed Virgin Mary. I believe in the Holy Spirit.
Wednesday of the week is the Novena of the Mother of Perpetual Help in my calendar. It is a part of my weekly devotion. And the Novena starts always with a Rosary which paves to lighten our way.
The Franciscan Way.
The Franciscan Mission Associates' say that Franciscan friars the world over carry the Rosary of our Lady suspended from the cords they wear around their waists. The Rosary is their constant companion and their spiritual protection as they journey through life.
In the remote sections of the world, where the friars go by horseback or muleback to reach their people, they are able to shorten the journey with the prayers to our Lady of the Rosary, through the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries. Prayer always makes the road go faster.
The Rosary, centered on the biblical prayers of the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Glory Be to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is also a handy aid for Friars to teach the truths of our Faith to their people. All over the world, both religious and laypeople say it daily as their special prayer.
"The Rosary is like an abridged version of the Gospel," said Pope Pius 1X. "It provides "rivers of peace" to those who say it well. By far, it is the richest devotion and the one most abundant in graces. It certainly is the most pleasing to the heart of Mary."
We Franciscans count on you for the continued help with your prayers, good example, and sacrifice. Be assured that God will surely reward you for all you do in His name.
(Franciscan Mission Associates P. O. Box 598, Mount Vernon, New York 10551-0598)
I love Life! I love America. I love Jesus Christ who died to save humanity. I love the Blessed Virgin Mary. I believe in the Holy Spirit.
Wednesday of the week is the Novena of the Mother of Perpetual Help in my calendar. It is a part of my weekly devotion. And the Novena starts always with a Rosary which paves to lighten our way.
The Franciscan Way.
The Franciscan Mission Associates' say that Franciscan friars the world over carry the Rosary of our Lady suspended from the cords they wear around their waists. The Rosary is their constant companion and their spiritual protection as they journey through life.
In the remote sections of the world, where the friars go by horseback or muleback to reach their people, they are able to shorten the journey with the prayers to our Lady of the Rosary, through the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries. Prayer always makes the road go faster.
The Rosary, centered on the biblical prayers of the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Glory Be to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is also a handy aid for Friars to teach the truths of our Faith to their people. All over the world, both religious and laypeople say it daily as their special prayer.
"The Rosary is like an abridged version of the Gospel," said Pope Pius 1X. "It provides "rivers of peace" to those who say it well. By far, it is the richest devotion and the one most abundant in graces. It certainly is the most pleasing to the heart of Mary."
We Franciscans count on you for the continued help with your prayers, good example, and sacrifice. Be assured that God will surely reward you for all you do in His name.
(Franciscan Mission Associates P. O. Box 598, Mount Vernon, New York 10551-0598)
Sunday, May 07, 2017
The Phoenicians
The Power of Words
"and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:14)
When I came across this- about words, I remembered along this vein about the origin of the alphabet. During my time, there was a textbook, The Modern Times and the Living Past and Prose and Poetry. Later these were taken out of the curriculum which I don't know the reason why.
The Modern Times and the Living Past talked about the "Phoenicians, the greatest traders of antiquity that brought the greatest gift to the Greeks which was the alphabet of 22 letters, and also invented money the currency system (which is still the basis of our monetary system). Meanwhile, the Greeks took over and elaborated it to 26 letters, and later the Romans took it over from the Greeks".
"So from the alphabet came the words that were written in ancient Babylon around 3100 B.C. done on clay tablets which were not most portable of formats for written literature. However, the Egyptians made a leap forward with the papyrus, thin sheets made from the papyrus plant. Knowledge could be preserved on scrolls which is easier to transport, but still bulky. Paper itself was invented in China around the end of the first century A.D. but didn't reach Europe until after the fall of the Roman empire."
"While at the same time paper was being invented in China, the Romans invented the codex. For the first time, sheets of uniform size were bound together along one edge, in between two larger, stronger protective covers.
The invention of the book enabled much easier the sharing of complex ideas, including everything from Christianity to annals about emperors." ( Jim Duducu, author of The Romans in 100 Facts)
"and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:14)
When I came across this- about words, I remembered along this vein about the origin of the alphabet. During my time, there was a textbook, The Modern Times and the Living Past and Prose and Poetry. Later these were taken out of the curriculum which I don't know the reason why.
The Modern Times and the Living Past talked about the "Phoenicians, the greatest traders of antiquity that brought the greatest gift to the Greeks which was the alphabet of 22 letters, and also invented money the currency system (which is still the basis of our monetary system). Meanwhile, the Greeks took over and elaborated it to 26 letters, and later the Romans took it over from the Greeks".
"So from the alphabet came the words that were written in ancient Babylon around 3100 B.C. done on clay tablets which were not most portable of formats for written literature. However, the Egyptians made a leap forward with the papyrus, thin sheets made from the papyrus plant. Knowledge could be preserved on scrolls which is easier to transport, but still bulky. Paper itself was invented in China around the end of the first century A.D. but didn't reach Europe until after the fall of the Roman empire."
"While at the same time paper was being invented in China, the Romans invented the codex. For the first time, sheets of uniform size were bound together along one edge, in between two larger, stronger protective covers.
The invention of the book enabled much easier the sharing of complex ideas, including everything from Christianity to annals about emperors." ( Jim Duducu, author of The Romans in 100 Facts)
Friday, March 17, 2017
Life is a Journey
(03/17/2017)
As I prepared myself for the 12:00 o'clock Mass at St. Jude's chapel on the Women Center in Chicago, Illinois I was instinctively able to open my LG cell phone on which I found this very fascinating article sent by an FB loyal friend. And here it is:
That Life is a Journey of which I have nothing to debate about it: but the journey is on a train with stops at stations, changes of routes, and the inevitable circumstances. That when we are born, our parents paid for the tickets and boarded with us on a memorable Trip of Life on a train.
That all along the way, our parents may get off the station and we are left to travel on by ourselves. There's a little worry but we are with other passengers. We exchange hi's and hellos and smiles. As our eyes peer outside, we see beautiful scenery: buildings, vehicles, and people in the constant motion of life's survival.
Time flies. The train continues on its journey. And passengers come and go. Some of these passengers could be your family members- siblings, friends, children, and maybe your significant one. The seats are full and other times half empty as passengers just left unnoticed.
(03/17/2017)
As I prepared myself for the 12:00 o'clock Mass at St. Jude's chapel on the Women Center in Chicago, Illinois I was instinctively able to open my LG cell phone on which I found this very fascinating article sent by an FB loyal friend. And here it is:
That Life is a Journey of which I have nothing to debate about it: but the journey is on a train with stops at stations, changes of routes, and the inevitable circumstances. That when we are born, our parents paid for the tickets and boarded with us on a memorable Trip of Life on a train.
That all along the way, our parents may get off the station and we are left to travel on by ourselves. There's a little worry but we are with other passengers. We exchange hi's and hellos and smiles. As our eyes peer outside, we see beautiful scenery: buildings, vehicles, and people in the constant motion of life's survival.
Time flies. The train continues on its journey. And passengers come and go. Some of these passengers could be your family members- siblings, friends, children, and maybe your significant one. The seats are full and other times half empty as passengers just left unnoticed.
And the journey continues. It is unending. The journey is remarkable and fascinating. We meet new faces with different features and skins of different colors. We exchange stories of joy, struggles, and triumph.
Then another day of the unending journey.
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