The Dream (1/12/22)

Where goest thou? 

Vividly portrayed on this dream

That I was poised to go somewhere

To a river or to a stream

Absolutely it's the river

Where the water flows merrily

Zigzagging to the lovely sea 

Where  the sun smile, the birds are happy 

Life is what it could really be.

How will we survive this New Year?

With all the problems; have you a plan

A new one to make things better?

It's now for action, no magic wand.

Stretch your arms the left and the right

It is the shadow of a cross

Telling us that the future is bright

To our hope and dream, we are the boss.

It's the right time for awakening

It's the ideal time to break through

The negative to that of doing

A different one and thorough.

Then unleash the complete potential

Veering towards the path of progress

With the blessings of the celestial

Opening the world of success.

Holy or Perfect!

Love and Loyalty

"Not all of us can do great things, 

but we can do small things with great love".

"Do something beautiful for God"

(Mother Teresa)

In times like this, I may not despair 

But hold on to the submission

Of His holy will and tender care.

Love and loyalty: our life's mission.

Please Lord your servant is asking

Of love and loyalty to take.

Does faith need to be in the mapping:

And forgiveness for Jesus Christ's sake?

I don't design a master plan

But leave to my Divine Architect

All things in life are in His hand

We are holy but He is perfect.

Lawyers are our great defender

And soldiers protect us from strife

To the doctors. we surrender

But God has everlasting life.

(N.B.) This poem is for all lovers of life especially so on this day of Heart. With grateful appreciation to the Sunday Zoom Bible Study guru, Rev. Leoncio Santiago. And to the Group. And to all and sundry- Happy Valentine's Day!

(Leviticus 19:2) (1 Peter 15-16) (Leviticus 19:18) (1 Peter  1:13) (1 Peter 1:17)

(1 Peter 1: 22) (2 Timothy 4:5 ) Seniors' Devotional Bible, NIV.

Christmas...

The Birth of Christ 

Christmas is here as we see the light

And the beauty surrounds the earth 

The darkness soon becomes very bright

Proclaiming Jesus's holy birth.

His birth heralds Christianity

John, the Baptist announced his coming

Of salvation and eternity

Glad tidings of a new beginning.

A Virgin kneeling in prayer 
Was asked by an Angel of Light
Favor for God's human nature
"I submit for God.s sake and right".

Mary's Fiat gave light to the world
Brighter than that of the creation
The woman on her Emmanuel
The fruit of passionless passion.

A Divine Love and a woman
A spiritual ecstasy greater
Better than a woman and a man
Which truly is beyond compare.

Christ's birth: a note of moral discord
That was introduced by the first man
Adam's old humanity occurred
The new one in Christ - the Godman.

Cloistered within her for nine months
All the food, the wheat, the wine of life
Nourishment that prevents and stunts
The growth of hatred to end world strife.

A prelude to Holy Eucharist
Which later he would gladly declare
The modern world must not be surprised
But all and sundry must be aware.


 

The Sagttarian Reporter

The Mystery of a  Leader

April brings a shower of questions

Why a leader is prone to hatred?

Comes May for the best solutions:

To the country's love, and not greed.

From the South emerged a leader

Whose mission was simply to change

The scene from the top to down under.

The idea is to rearrange.

To place a high premium on drug

Nip the leader and the user

But this isn't the reason to brag

Just doing what's really proper.

He is bold and that is not bad

Yet the high and the mighty loathe him

And this really is very sad

For he is allegedly condemned.

A plan was mulled for the communist

That wrought havoc on the country

He is on the go and it's a test

The paradigm of change comes in handy.

Are we, not all born with an option

To find the version that helps us most?

Then go straight in that direction

And somehow we'll never be lost.

U.P. displayed the Oblation

An inspiration to build, build, build.

A legacy of his obsession

To move forward and never yield.

The search leads to a remote place

To the guarded NPA's lair.

A gallant Group  formed a solid base

And penetrated them unaware.

The Palace now gladly welcomes them

By catering to their need and want

And really they have nothing to blame

But to their out-of-state commandant.

Aware of the dire happening

The members unearthed the secret

That their armed struggles had no bearing

At long last back home with sweet regret.

This is the tale of a great leader

Marching onward with intricacy:

The defining moment of a soldier

Unfading into reality.

(Note) The Philippines is a Paradise and a blessed country, bridged together by serene and tempestuous seas from all directions. However, it is buttressed with love, hospitality, religion, and education. But it is also subjected to calamities that are man-made and inevitably natural. 

The country's strategic geo-aquatic location is also within the borders of the powerful nations of Europe and the East plying their trades and commerce along the sea and air. As an independent and democratic country, it is friendly to its neighbors, especially since it gained an independent open foreign policy.

This bold and unique leader is going to end his six years of astounding leadership. The poem is humbly dedicated to him - The President, Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

(Greg In Trabanca)

Philippine History - 2

Philippine History 11

Rebellion With a Cause

In the countryside was a cry

That started at Pugad Lawin

Balintawak acted the why?

For freedom's sake, they have to win. 

Loyalty to Spain must be cut

As the people have suffered much

And with the gumption and the gut

That this allegiance must end as such.

On the fertile soil of the land

Sprout some seeds with the urge to lead

Smiling at its vast pebbly strand

With the healthy produce to spread.

Leaders like the weather come and go 

Some are obsessed with good reasons

But the people have the right to know

What's in store for them in all seasons.

Brilliant promises stir the air

The people are filled with energy

This land of the valiant and the fair

Will weather many a century.

(Greg In Trabanca)

 

Philippine History - 1

Philippine History 1

The Great Circumnavigation

It is the month to remember

When humanity yearns for hope

Those things will be getting better

Although they're unlimited in scope.

History of our dear country

Encompasses our hopes and fears.

The search for peace and to be free;

Engraved in our smiles through our tears.

It started with Spain's supremacy

Gazing at the roundness of the Earth

A Portuguese-born has to see

That the globe's problem is unearthed.

Over a route  in search of spices

An expedition was mulled over

But the toll has got high prices

As spices and gold have their power. 

The great circumnavigation

Got impact on humanity

But planted seeds of rebellion

That blooms into disparity.

Lessons gleaned from our brave heroes;

Of their feat against the invaders

Yet we are enveloped with woes

Gleaming like undying embers.

(Greg In Trabanca)

This is the Moment

This Is The Moment 

A Holy Moment - with my God 

Surfaced in the whirlpool of time

Forgetting that what I have had

Been in my past and the modern clime.

I need this - a Holy Moment

That Thy will be done on this earth,

While heaven is the final event;

Need to understand Thy lowly birth.

And setting aside what I felt

As I availed myself to Him

Daring in my prayer to vent

The faith that is clear, not bedimmed.

I must act fast on what to do

On the Almighty Creator

Without any further ado;

Must succumb to my Editor.

And on this day, I must admit

I just need only the moment

With my love and to be legit;

A moment that is permanent.

In the firmament of my conscience

In a terrain of loveliness;

In technology and science

In a world of profound bliss.

(N.B.)  This poem from the smithy of my being is a remembering of the moment when my wife expelled her last breath on this day. (29th of November 2015) . Evangeline Rueles Magallanes Caermare Trabanca ( Eve/Vangie) is remembered and in her peaceful rest, may the perpetual light illumines.

(Greg Intas Caponong Trabanca)

Evening of November 2021

 The Pouring Rain...

There's a time in life when the rain just falls.

You are soaked wet. You look for shelter.

And you search for different walls

Then comes the moment to ponder.

And you pray for the rain to stop

Tears just cascade into your cheeks

Those worldly things you have to drop

One by one in the lonely creeks

Waver not as help is on the way

When you are lost you have an angel

Ever ready when you are astray

With that, you have a story to tell.

 

In life, true friends are hard to find

Like rare seeds of beautiful plants

You have to pick and choose the right kind

Remember there are rabbits and ants.

(Greg Intas Caponong Trabanca)

Sunday of November 2016

A Sunday to Remember

By the window, I look out Eastward. 

The trees are calm in the park. The sky

Is ash white. I notice that the yard

Nature is asleep; the ground is dry.

Smoke spews out from the clean heater; 

The breeze awakens the sleeping leaves

 Of varying colors, of amber

And all that Mother Nature gives.

 

What's up?

Point to Ponder.

Why do we go on living? It is because there's something to live on. For this place called Earth is so beautiful, so alluring to leave, to exit without exploring the vastness of its existence. It goads us to question further why we are here and who placed us here? What are we looking for anyway?

These questions boggle our minds. The reason why I penned this is so others may have the answer. The reason why we study the Bible. That knowledge is essential. It has a beginning but no end.

By the way, what 4 things did - Mother Teresa, Francis of Assisi, John Paul II, Therese of Lisieux, and Ignatius of Loyola have in common? They all practiced the Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic. And these are:

1. Prayer   2. Study  3. Generosity      4. Evangelization

Are we highly engaged or disengaged Catholics? This interest in Bible Study uncovers the reason why? Welcome then all and sundry to the world of Education to the Kingdom of God! To the classroom of Verbum Dei - The Word of God!

Question?

Flashback on History (08/09/2021, 3:00 PM CST)

I found this in a note which I usually do when I see something worth recording and remembering. Here it goes - "The Romans are not great inventors but the Apple of their day. Apple didn't invent Smartphones, nor did they create the first music download and electronic tablets were around for more than a decade before the Ipad. But what Apple did do was take existing concepts and develop them in ways that hadn't been done before. The Romans did exactly the same thing. They took an idea and developed it to the next level."                                                      

The Phoenicians were master seafarers and traders of antiquity who created robust networks...best known for creating the alphabet. They occupied a narrow tract of land along the coast of modern Syria, Lebanon, and northern Israel.

 The ancient Greeks adopted their alphabet from the Phoenicians. Both were seafaring people and eager to trade not only ideas. Most important was the alphabet. It enabled a system of writing by which they could record their transactions. As with other ideas they borrowed, the Greeks made improvements, increasing the number of letters by adding vowels. This happened sometime around the beginning of the 8th century B.C. (The Alphabet and Writing)

This tells us that there is that human nature to seek independence but the reality is we are always dependent on one another and as the writer, John Donne wrote, "no man is an island entirely of itself, every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main. " 

The truth is we are dependent on Him, the Creator of all things, visible and invisible.

All About Amelioration

On Amelioration

There is a man  obsessed with change
On the plight of his dear nation

Of a long-range idea;

All about amelioration.

This he did try his best version 

Giving the people what they need

Amidst the storms of objection

He destroyed the grafts of their greed.

He was questioned about his promises

On corruption and fatal drugs

As dooms loom when the sun rises

And tears cascade instead of hugs.

Blends his words and actions with love

This man's heart is for his people;

He's brave and hale and fears the Above.

Yet these oligarchs want his fall.

His watching sun is soon to set

Again a dream of another day

With vim and vigor, he tries to get

While hubris is out of his way.

He needs the terrorists' hills down

And the valley of the honest be raised

So then expect a lovely crown

That all nations will be amazed.

Dedicated to the "down to the masses" president who calls himself "mayor and just an employee of the government". He doesn't banner his name on projects done as they are the money of the people, according to him.  John  F. Kennedy historically said, " Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country."

Rodrigo Roa Duterte was asked what will he say in his State of the Nation Address, about his accomplishments during his watch. He nonchalantly replied,  "Nothing, just look around." He is the epitome of the good, the bad, and the beautiful story! He is Build, Build, Build!

(In hindsight) Presidents of the Philippines

(1) (Cavite.)  Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, President of the Philippine Republic (1899-1901). Andres Bonifacio sparked the revolution of 1896, described as the revolt of the masses. Emilio Aguinaldo was exiled in 1898 to Hongkong with Filipino exiles and Spanish hostages. 

Apolinario Mabini, President Aguinaldo's factotum and the "Conscience and Brains of the Revolution. Members of the First Philippine Assembly were elected in 1907. Speaker Sergio Osmen'a presided over the First Philippine Assembly.

(2) (Aurora) Manuel L. Quezon - the first Filipino to head a government of the entire Philippines ( as opposed to the government of previous Philippine states, and is considered to have been the second president of the Philippines after Emilio Aguinaldo (1899 - 1901), whom Quezon defeated in the 1935 presidential election.

 Manuel L. Quezon took the oath of office as the first President of the Commonwealth on Nov 15, 1935.

(3)  Batangas) Dr. Jose' P. Laurel, President of the Second Philippines Republic, 1943-1945.

Senators Jose' P. Laurel and Claro N. Recto great Filipino nationalists, jurists, and scholars who fought for national dignity and the preservation of national patrimony. ( History of the Filipino People, 5th edition by  Agoncillo and Guerrero)

(4) Cebu) Sergio Osme'na - Aug. 1, 1944- May 28, 1946.  He is commonly associated with the Philippine fifty-peso bill bearing his image and is popularly known as the "Grand Old Man of Cebu". Osmen'a rose from being a newspaper reporter to the Presidency of the Philippine Republic in 1944-1946.

Statesman, founder of the Nacionalista Party (Partido Nacionalista). He took the examination for aspiring lawyers and placed second in the overall ranking with an average of 95.66, and got 100 percent in Penal Code and Civil Procedure. With the support of Governor Jun Climaco, Osmen'a initially became involved in politics. He was appointed as acting provincial governor by Gov. Climaco in 1904 and won as governor in 1905. In  1907, he won a seat in the Philippine Assembly and was easily proclaimed as the first speaker at 29.  At that time, speakership was the highest position that a Filipino could aspire to be second only to the American Governor-General. The1946 election, Osmen'a lost to Manuel A. Roxas but his character as a Nationalist and Statesman never vanished from the memory of the Filipinos until now. His descendants are very visible and active in politics, a manifestation, that the Filipino people have trusted the Osmen'as through the decades. Truly, it is worth paying tribute to a man who fought for the liberty we enjoy today. 

(5) (Capiz) Manuel Acun'a Roxas- May 28, 1946 - April 5, 1948 

Manuel A. Roxas broke with President Osmen'a and formed the Liberal Party, which he led to victory as a Presidential candidate on April 23, 1946. Roxas thus became the last president of the Commonwealth and the first president of the Republic of the Philippines. President Manuel A. Roxas signed the Independence Documents on July 4, 1946, with American Commissioner Paul V. McNutt who read the Independence Proclamation for Harry Truman. 

(6) Ilocos Sur) Elpidio Quirino - April 19, 1948 - Dec. 30, 1953. President Elpidio Quirino continued the task of rebuilding the war-torn Philippines. He is one of the architects of contemporary Philippine progress.

(7) Zambales) Ramon Magsaysay - Dec. 30, 1953 - March 17, 1957

Secretary of National Defense Ramon Magsaysay launched numerous rural area inspection trips during the campaign against the Huks. His "common touch" paved the path to his election to the Presidency in 1951.

(8) Bohol) Carlos P. Garcia - March 13, 1957 - Dec. 30, 1961

President Carlos P. Garcia was noted for his enunciation of the Filipino First Policy. He was the Architect of Economic Nationalism.

(9) Pampanga) Diosdado Macapagal - Dec. 30, 1961 - Dec. 30, 1965.

President Diosdado Macapagal launched land reform and made it the cornerstone of his policy on Central Luzon.

(10) Ilocos Norte) Ferdinand Edralin Marcos - Dec. 30, 1965 - Feb. 25, 1986.

On October 24, 1966, University students demonstrated against Philippine participation in the Vietnam War.

Marcos - was one of the most controversial leaders of the 20th century. His rule was infamous for its corruption, extravagance, and brutalities. Throughout his political career, Marcos claimed to have been the "most decorated war hero" in the Philippines. However, Marcos assisted 107 institutions in undertaking nuclear energy work by sending scientists to study nuclear science and technology abroad and providing basic training to 482 scientists, doctors, engineers, and technicians.

(Ferdinand Marcos - Wikipedia)

(11) Tarlac) Corazon Aquino - Feb. 25, 1986 - June 30, 1992.

(12) Pangasinan)  Fidel V. Ramos - June 30, 1992 - June 30, 1998

(13) Metro Manila) Joseph Estrada - June 30, 1998 - Jan. 20, 2001.

(14) Pampanga) Gloria Macapagal Arroyo - Jan 20, 2001 - June 30, 2010

(15) Tarlac) Benigno Simeon Aquino 111 - June 30, 2010 - June 30, 2016.

(16) Davao del Sur) Rodrigo Roa Duterte - June 30, 2016 - June 30, 2022

(17) Ilocos Norte) Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos - June 30, 2022 -

(Greg Intas Caponong Trabanca)

The Nativity of St. John The Baptist

 (06/24/21) A Get-together By the Park as we say bye-bye to June.

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20) The New American Bible, Saint Joseph Edition.

After a brief hiatus, foregoing a year of celebration, the Santo Nino' de Agosto, a Catholic Religious Organization deserves a get-together. This was the great idea of Gloria Lumanao Espinoza Key, the untiring and energetic leader of the Society of the Beloved Disciple and who is also responsible for holding a nightly (8:00 pm to 9:00 pm) virtual prayer group since the advent of the pandemic covid-19.

At this precarious pandemic time, when almost everybody communicates by distance, Zoom through phones or the internet, a gathering in the park is worthy to be chronicled. Thursday, the 24th of June 2021, the Santo Nino' Group of Rev. Fr. Leoncio S. Santiago, his weekly Bible Study Group, and the members of the monthly Sister Milagros's Verbum Dei Bible Study Group, held a picnic by the Labagh Woods Park from 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. This is a prelude to the yearly Santo Nino' de Agosto Fiesta by August.

Mother Nature was kind enough to scatter showers sans thunderstorms in mid-afternoon at least to ease out the heat of summer. The Groups'  members and their friends arrived happily bringing homemade and restaurant foods for the picnic table on a shed. The food-laden tables at precisely noon time were surrounded by the red-shirt picnickers who bowed their heads while the Spiritual Adviser led the prayer before a meal.

Meanwhile, an Atenean and a former seminarian provided the music of almost all retiree members of the Santo Nino' de Agosto, and the Bible Study Groups.

Somebody has said, " Never give up. Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine. Life is not waiting for the  storm to pass, it's learning to dance in the rain."  Amidst the rain outside, the Group by the picnic shed did their valuable time with songs, jokes, and dancing.

Fr. Santiago, made an inspiring remark about the day of St. John, the Baptist. Indeed we should be glad, enjoy, sing, and dance as life are short and priceless. And rightfully so, happiness filled the air, meanwhile, the emcee, Expo Taghap, and Fr. Santiago interspersed the program with gems of jokes, which really were a relief at the moment. Then, there was a picture-taking session of the different Santo Nino' chapters for the Souvenir  Program of the coming Fiesta.

Another good-hearted person said, " Every day is a new beginning. Take a deep breath, smile, and begin again. God woke you up today for a reason. Trust in His plan. His timing is perfect. He will make a way. Amen."

"NO MATTER HOW YOU FEEL, GET UP, DRESS UP, SHOW UP and NEVER GIVE UP! 

HAVE A BLISSFUL, BLESSED DAY EVERYONE!

Life is a Journey

 Life Is A Journey

On Being...

When nothing matters you seek a refuge
A place in the classroom of silence
While a rush like the great deluge
Will engulf you in your bare essence.
      
In the smithy of your being  
Will appear as an instantaneous flash;
In the realm of  the unbelieving
You decide to put it in a cache.

These songs or your stories deserve

To be told in poetry and in prose

So posterity can observe

The good, the bad, and how it goes.

A tribute to a modest father

And with due respect to all of them

For him, we have something to gather

And it is priceless like a gem.

A father to a large family

Has a closeness to the Master

Adheres to love, faith, and charity

And perseverance to muster.

A father to the prayer warrior

To the Zoom Bible Study group

You could address him as a pastor

But you need not really stoop.

(N.B.) This poem is gratefully dedicated to Fr. Leoncio S. Santiago, a secular priest, and Santo Tomas University alumnus, of Manila, Philippines. He is also a graduate of Medicine. He is the Spiritual Adviser of Sto Nino' de Agosto and the Society of the Beloved  Disciple, He is a chaplain, and a retired pastor. He currently conducts a virtual Zoom Bible Study Group. Obviously, he is a "father" to the Prayer Warriors. A silent prayer of health and longevity for him and to all the fathers of the world on this Father's Day.

(Greg Intas Caponong Trabanca)

 Good Shepherd Sunday (4th Sunday of Easter)

"I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep." (Gospel: John 10: 11-18)

I attended the 4th Sunday of Easter (Good Shepherd Sunday) Mass of the Holy Child Jesus parish at St. Margaret Mary Church. The readings were done by a visiting priest who did them perfectly well and Rev. Arthur Bautista did the inspiring homily about the good Shepherd.

When I arrived home, I searched for the book, The Shepherd written by Matthew Kelly, an Australian- born writer, speaker, lecturer "who had touched millions of people around the world with his disarmingly simple principles inspired in him by the life and teachings of Jesus Christ." 

"The Shepherd is a modern parable about our search for happiness.  It was about a banquet in an ancient castle, in the hills on the outskirts of London. It was an evening not of music, and speeches, and dancing but an atmosphere of listening to one of England's most celebrated Shakespearean actors to perform the famous passages from the writings of William Shakespeare. 

" Oh, I am but fortune's fool..."To be or not to be - that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune Or to take arms against a sea of troubles..." Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more beautiful and more temperate..." This but thy name that is my enemy: Thou art thyself... What's in a name? that which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet;  So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called, Retain thy dear perfection which he owes..." " If we shadows have offended, Think but this and all is mended, That you have but slumbered here While these visions did appear..." 

"With the closing passage from A Midsummer-Night Dream, the actor took a bow and announced that was finished. And he asked the audience of any particular favorite passage that they want to be recited? An elderly man who turned out to be a priest wanted the actor to digress from Shakespeare to recite the Twenty - Third Psalm. The actor paused and looked down as if remembering some moments in the past, willingly obliged to do it, on one condition that he would also recite it after he is done.."

 The denouement of The Shepherd was with the Twenty Third Psalm recited by the Shakespearean actor. There was a standing ovation and the prolonged clappings shattered the summer evening. It was a remarkable rendition. Then the humble priest recited with the voice he had with him as he did on his sermons. He settled on his seat. Nobody clapped. Silence enveloped the radiance of the summer night. Everybody was in awed unspoken admiration. Not even a sound of a needle when dropped could be heard, so to speak. A profound silence! Women were tear-eyed and men stared open-mouthed.

 "The Shakespearean actor was perplexed.  Then seizing the moment he said, "My friends, do you realize what you have witnessed here tonight?" " Why was the old man's recital of the Psalm so much powerful than my own? " As I see it - The difference is this, I know the Psalm, "but Father, he knows The Shepherd."                   

Happiness could not be found in this world but certainly in the realm of God.

God is our friend. Invite Him in the classroom of silence for just ten minutes a day. "He is our Divine Architect. He will design something wonderful for us. He is also our  Divine Navigator... He will plot a course for the unchartered territories. He is the good Shepherd who is willing to sacrifice his life." Listen to his strong and credible communication for us to keep us out of harm's way. He will never forsake us."                                               

"Sit with God and dream some dreams. Forget about trying to put together a Master Plan for your life... for your happiness. God will reveal a plan for you and in that plan, your deep gladness will unite with the world's deep need. Only then will you taste the holy contentment that our very beings never stop yearning for. Get to know the Shepherd. He will lead you to green pastures...  He will restore your soul...Your cup will overflow." (Matthew Kelly)

By: Greg Trabanca) 

The Paradox of Life

Blessings or Luck 

It's an enigma. Our mind has to grapple with answers. In this world, things are in paradox and must be dealt with, with a proper perspective.

Noise echoes on the pandemic! That the vaccine for covid-19 will be annual. And murmurs about it floats as it streams over the airwaves. Fear grips the hearers and the beholders especially among our Prayer group. Out of the twist of the moment, I ventured to comment (by myself silently) why the fuss about it? I have good news for you! Do you know the reason why and what we are doing virtually every 8:00 o'clock PM, seven days a week,  in the Society of the Beloved Disciple? We are praying since the advent of covid-19. That is our weapon on this pandemic.

Prayer and faith in our Lord. We must pray unceasingly. That's what the Saints were doing and they have the faith that moves mountains. Now we are between the mountains and the deep blue seas. We must have that move-mountain faith and with bended knees pray to our Holy, Mighty, Immortal God.

(By Greg In Trabanca)

Have A Heart

  Beautiful Message...

Once in a while,  our stays offer

An abundance of  unexpected

Things so much that we have to render

What our good God might have intended.

The place that McArthur landed

I came back to  finally see

The land that the explorers raided

My birthland is now called Leyte.

Association History

HISTORY OF THE ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE ASSOCIATION OF ILLINOIS
 
CIRCA  1989.  Aware of the growing population of Filipinos in Illinois, a group from the province of Zamboanga del Norte which lies at the foot of the forested mountains on the northwestern tip of Mindanao Island, mulled out a plan to form an organization to unite all Zamboanga del Norteans in Illinois as nobody has the time to relate to them as individuals in the hurry and flurry of this newfound land.

On a family get-together and summer picnic at Schiller Park, Illinois in August of 1989 with Bishop Felix Zafra, Fr. King Fuerzas, and Fr. TQ Solis concelebrating the outdoor mass, the Association was created, And given the go signal to be the chairman and fill up the remaining slates was Ber "Nonoy" Refugio.

The first meeting was held at Ramie Calimotan's place. The following officers were chosen: Chairman - Ber "Nonoy" Refugio, 1st Vice-Chairman - Greg Trabanca, 2nd Vice-Chairman, Lydia Filipinas Rusiana, Secretary, - Soling Kwan Anderson, Asst. Secretary - Belinda Lunjas, Treasurer -  Girlie Arrieta,  Asst. Treasurer -  Esper Patangan,  Auditor - Ruding Bonjoc,  PRO -  Gilfred Cruz, Business Manager -  Eddie Artajo,  Asst. Business Manager -  Ramie Calimotan, Social Manager -  Nonoy Bajamunde, Asst. Social Manager - Fil Fertig,  Marshals: Art Fertig and Vincent Frias, Muse - Jiji Ames,  Entertainer - Evelyn Bonjoc.  The Board of Advisers were: Pastor Bajamunde, Dr.Juan Lasa, Dr. Leo Pepa, and Fr. Eutiquio Solis, Jr.

On December 6, 1989, all roads lead to the Rizal Center, 1332 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago, Illinois 60613.  The officers were inducted into office by Atty. Alfonso Bascos ( former FACC President). 

Other venues for the meeting were over Esper Patangan's place, and the Rizal Center, The usual agenda was the Annual Summer Picnic and the Christmas Party.  Also, the perennial problems on the membership dues and how to collect them. Other than these, everything was in its proper course and route.

On December 23, 1990, the Honorable.  Dr. Jaime S. Bautista, the Philippine Consul General of Chicago gave the inspirational talk at the Second Christmas Party at the Rizal Center.  Dr. Leonardo Malalis introduced Consul General Bautista while Fr. Manuel Recera offered the invocation.  The theme - Progress Through Unity was effectively emphasized in the state of the association address of the incumbent president Nonoy Refugio.  Alfonso Culanculan made the closing remarks this time but on the first Christmas Party and Induction of Officers, the 
Dipolog City former Mayor Pastor Bajamunde dished out memorable closing remarks that epitomized his outstanding political days.  Greg Trabanca emceed these two significant occasions.

In the second year of the Association's existence, a newsletter was born.  It was published through the energetic and enthusiastic Secretary-turn Editor Soling Kwan Anderson with the guidance and advice of Greg Trabanca.  The newsletter was Christened ZEPHYR which means any soft, gentle wind or mild
breeze.  It was a name taken out of Zamboanga's azure skies and Illinois's soft gentle snow flurries.  And this was to be the vehicle of expression and conveyor of information for the Zamboanga del Norte Filipino - Americans. It was short-lived.

Our second annual Family Summer Picnic was celebrated on Schiller Park with lechon and homemade cooked menus.  The outdoor mass was solemnized by Fr. Leoncio Santiago in the morning and by Fr. TQ Solis in the afternoon. It was an enjoyable day, a respite from the hectic working chores.

The third summer picnic was held in the same place, Schiller Park. The holy sacrifice of the Mass was solemnized by Frs. Manuel Recera and Ricardo Recera. They are brothers. There were two succulent lechons and lots of restaurants and homemade foods. It was a notable and frolicsome summer picnic.

On June 28, 1992, the Zamboanga del Norte Association of Illinois held its election of officers at Schiller Forest Preserve Park, Schiller Park, Illinois.  Elected and subsequently proclaimed by the Philippine  Consul Diosdado Orocio, Jr. were: Greg Trabanca - President,  Eddie Artajo - 1st Vice-President,  Lydia 
Filipinas Rusiana - 2nd Vice-President, Soling Kwan Anderson - Secretary, Girlie Arrieta - Treasurer,  Esper Patangan - Asst. Treasurer,  Rolliette Equia Aves - Auditor,  Ruding Bonjoc - Asst. Auditor,  Evelyn Reyes - PRO,  Angie Baytion - Assist PRO, Gilfred Cruz; Suerte Sienes, Social Manager; Ramie Calimotan, asst. Business Manager. and Remchile Sienes and Vincent Frias, marshals.  These officers will serve for two years after their induction.

The induction of the newly elected officers and Christmas-Family dinner was held at the Regency Inn, 5319 W. Diversey, on December 19, 1992. The affairs also coincide with the launching of the association's first fundraising venture dubbed Project TABANG OR HELP; to benefit the Zamboanga del Norte Emergency Hospital, Dipolog City, Philippines. Worthy of mention was the $170.00 donation to the tornado victims of Upper Disakan, Manukan, Zamboanga del Norte, and Siparok, Jose Dalman, Zamboanga del Norte.

The Association is now on its fifth term. The horizon is rosy. The officers are fraught with enthusiasm, new ideas, and noble projects. And the members are ever willing to help, to cooperate, to work.

(Greg Intas Caponong Trabanca)

HISTORY OF THE ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE ASSOCIATION OF ILLINOIS
 
CIRCA  1989.  Aware of the growing population of Filipinos in Illinois, a group from the province of Zamboanga del Norte which lies at the foot of the forested mountains on the northwestern tip of Mindanao Island, mulled out a plan to form an organization to unite all Zamboanga del Norteans in Illinois as nobody
has the time to relate to them as individuals in the hurry and flurry of this newfound land.  In a family get-together and summer picnic at Schiller Park, Illinois on August of 1989 with Bishop Felix Zafra, Fr. King Fuerzas, and Fr. TQ Solis concelebrating the outdoor mass, the Association was created,  And given the go signal the chairmanship and fill up the remaining slates was Ber "Nonoy" Refugio.

The first meeting was held at Ramie Calimotan's place. The following were chosen: 1st Vice-Chairman - Greg Trabanca,  2nd Vice-Chairman - Lydia Filipinas Rusiana, Secretary- Soling Kwan Anderson, Asst. Secretary- Belinda Lunjas, Treasurer- Girlie Arrieta, Asst. Treasurer - Esper Patangan, Auditor - Ruding
Bonjoc, PRO - Gilfred Cruz, Business Manager - Eddie Artajo, Asst. Business Manager - Ramie Calimotan, Social Manager - Nonoy Bajamunde, Asst. Social Manager - Fil Fertig, Marshals -  Art Fertig and Vincent Frias, Muse - Jiji Ames, Entertainer - Evelyn Bonjoc.  The Board of Advisers were: Pastor Bajamunde, Dr.
Juan Lasa, Dr. Leo Pepa,  and Fr. Eutiquio Solis, Jr.

On December 6, 1989, all roads lead to Rizal Center, 1332 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago, Illinois 60613.  The officers were inducted into office by Atty. Alfonso Bascos (former FACC President).

Other venues of the meeting were at the Esper Patangan's place and the Rizal Center. The usual agenda was the annual summer picnic and the Christmas party.  Also, the perennial problems on the membership dues and how to collect them.  However, everything was in its proper course and route. 

On December 23, 1990, the honorable Dr. Jaime S. Bautista, Philippine Consul General of Chicago gave the inspirational talk on the Second Christmas Party at the Rizal Center.  Dr. Leonardo Malalis introduced the honorable Consul General Bautista while Fr. Manuel Recera offered the invocation.  The theme -  Progress Through Unity was effectively emphasized in the state of the association address of the incumbent president,  Nonoy Refugio.  Alfonso Culanculan made the closing remarks this time but on the first Christmas Party and induction of officers, the Dipolog City former Mayor Pastor Bajamunde dished out the memorable closing remarks that epitomized his outstanding political days.  Greg Trabanca emceed these two historic occasions.

In the second year of the Association's existence, a newsletter was born.  It was printed through the energetic and enthusiastic secretary turned editor Soling Kwan Anderson with the guidance and advice of Greg Trabanca.  The newsletter was christened ZEPHYR which means any soft, gentle wind or mild breeze.  It was a name taken out of Zamboang's azure skies and Illinois's soft gentle snow flurries.  And this was to be the vehicle of expression and conveyor of information for the Zamboanga del Norte Filipino-Americans. It was short-lived.

Our second annual Family Summer picnic was celebrated on Schiller Park with the luscious Filipino favorite lechon and of course, the tasty homemade cooked menus.  The outdoor mass was officiated by Fr. Leoncio Santiago in the morning and by Fr. TQ Solis in the afternoon. The third summer picnic was held in the same place. This time the mass was solemnized by the two brother priests - Frs. Manuel and Ricardo Recera. Meanwhile, two succulent lechons ( the Filipino favorite) and lots of restaurants and homemade foods graced the picnic tables.

On June 28, 1992, the Zamboanga del Norte Association of Illinois held its second election of officers at Schiller Forrest Preserve Park, Schiller Park, Illinois.  Elected and subsequently proclaimed by Philippine Consul Diosdado Orocio, Jr.  were:  Greg Trabanca, President,  Eddie Artajo, 1st Vice-President,  Lydia
Rusiana, 2nd Vice-President, Soling Kwan Anderson, Secretary, Girlie Arrieta, Treasurer; Esper Patangan, Asst. Treasurer; Rolliette Equia Aves, Auditor; Ruding Bonjoc, Asst. Auditor; Evelyn Reyes, PRO; Angie Baytion, Asst. PRO; Gilfred Cruz; Suerte Sienes, Social Manager; Ramie Calimotan, Asst. Business Manager and Remchile  Sienes, Vincent Frias, marshals.  These officers will serve a two-year term.

The induction of the second newly elected officers and Christmas-Family dinner was held at the Regency Inn, 5319 W. Diversey, December 19, 1992. The affairs also coincide with the launching of the association's first fundraising venture dubbed Project; TABANG or HELP to benefit the Zamboanga del Norte Emergency Hospital, Dipolog  City, Philippines. Worthy of mention was the $170.00 donation to the tornado victims of Upper Disakan, Manukan, Zamboanga del Norte, and Siparok, Jose Dalman, Zamboanga del Norte.

The Association is now on the fifth term. The horizon is rosy. The officers are fraught with enthusiasm, new ideas, and noble projects. And the members are ever willing to help, to cooperate, to work. (Greg In. Trabanca)

The Treasure

 About Christmas

It matters not the day of his birth
What matters is his arrival
To a sinful world with much mirth
From a Father's sole approval.

On this earth, our souls truly mattered

That He came to die and to save
And His seven last words shattered
The humanity that He could save.

A humble birth in the stable
Convinced the Magi to follow the star
This Bread of Life of the people

But the Eucharist seems very far.

Let not despair overwhelm you

As He is always in our midst

Let not the pandemic scare you

Your unfailing faith is a gift.

Life is a Challenge

 Tribute to a True Leader

Man with a vision. Man of Peace,

Of law and order; hates corruption.
Smasher of the communist.
Leadership is hard to impugn.

He has the courage, the charisma;

His lips are mightier than his pen.

His sharp eyes saw the country's vista;

Not war but "peace and goodwill to men".

A question of a human right!
And was he stepping out of bound
 If he paints the dark color bright
As rebellion is all around?

He surrounds himself with bright guys
So his mission is realized.
But not all things they say he buys
As some needed to be revised.

He loves his beloved islands
And the people he cherished much
Of diverse creed he understands
For unity, he has to watch.

He has to fulfill his promise
To terminate the drug problem
He must genuinely  be wise,
And must be true to the emblem.

He activated what he learned.
From school, street, and meandering
Were vital and of great concerned
To his country and of his bearing.

And he saw the panorama
Of the islands in a shambles
Must act nimbly as in a drama
To stop in urgency: the troubles.

He then tried an experiment
And was amazed by what he did
Of a change in the government
That honest people have to lead.

We are employees, he did say
Must follow the law and order
And not to our dire dismay
But our best sans hubris to render.

This true leader has now to confess
Those promises were almost fulfilled. 
Less corruption, more peace, and progress
Fewer drugs, more on his "build, build, build."

And as construction continuous

It went along without a sound.

To the media, it's not good news;

To dear country it is profound.

Now the people's eyes are open

Five decades are more than enough

Armed struggles are really insane

Fighting among fellowmen is tough.

CPP, NPA, NDF! 

Your cadre now descends to say:

The wind of change had torn open a rift

In the clouds and it's time to pray.

Back to the fold; to family.

Back to work for progress and peace.

For country and of unity;

For these uncertainties to cease.

Note: The Philippines - " Perla del Mar de Oriente; Nuestro Perdido Eden ( Jose' P. Rizal) " ( Pearl of the Orient Sea, our lost Eden)  is now the Perla del Mar de Oriente; Nuestro Encontro Eden)- a found Eden due to its destined true leader, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, whom powerful and progressive countries loved but hated by some of his countrymen.

Addendum: 2020 is a good year as it's good for human eyes. And it's good news for the Philippines as the New Year approaches. Filipinos observe the traditional nine-day (that begins on Dec. 16) Simbang Gabi (Night Mass /Dawn Mass, Misa de Aguinaldo/Mass of the Gift) to the eve of Christmas all throughout the corner of the world where Filipino  Catholics are found. Remember- "there can be no Eucharist without Christ's Priesthood, just as there can be no Priesthood without the Eucharist."

 It's also a joy to the Philippines as the wind of change swift the lairs of the communist party where some of their top leaders scampered for safety to the welcoming embrace of President Duterte's Malacan'ang Palace. (Greg In Trabanca)

Poem

 Of Memories

Lost in the wilderness of dreams,

Noises muffled by what May gives

Gliding serenely by the streams

Waking up with a heart that lives.

Lost in the Valley of Childhood;

Wallowing in the scheme of things

Of ideas that are fine and good

Whatever as long as it clings.

  

Forest, river, sea, sky, the land

Were created for us to use.

For all of us, over anyone

As long as we dare not abuse.

At this time I have to gather

That most cherished long lost moment;

That riveted on the weather

And permeated the firmament.

Faith, hope, and the power of love;

That man direly needs to be sure, 

Mary's help may soar up above

Eternally with the Author.

(Greg Intas Alcala Caponong Trabanca)

Beautiful Morning

We Must Strike Back

How beautiful is the morning 

When life's moments are all that matter

And the songs that we are singing

Are like the air and the water.

That we are lacking with gladness

As we think of our dear Mother-

The Church that is fraught with sadness

Let us then pray all together.

And passionate prayer we must do

As they try to wreck this ageless Rock

We must be alert and on the go

With faith, hope, and love we must strike back.

Song of Summer

The Wonder of Summer 

Unforgettable is summer.
It is the story of one's life.
Those many summers that offer
Discontentment is out of sight.

Summer is the time to enjoy

And experience a sense of freedom

 To open doors and not to destroy

Or follow the beat of the drum.

And we wondered what happened then

To the summers that just vanished.

In the pale horizon and when

They surfaced, they were the ones we missed.

Then the summer after high school

On an island of blue water

To work with the hand as a tool:

Love, courage, patience: to muster.
 

Work was fun and the girls were sweet.

We were young and the world was fine.

People were awake on their  feet

And grateful for the sun to shine.

 

One lovely summer by the sea

 Driving the Pilot's swift tugboat

 An idea: that one could be

As long as one remains afloat.

The wonder and smell of summer,

Provide balm to an aching heart.

And its beauty stays forever

As long as faith doesn't depart.

Oh how lovely is the summer

Of one's dear life when at long last

Graduation is around the corner

And honestly, "the die is cast."

Summer to Remember

The Long Hot Summer

Soon, my dear, it is September

And welcome to the falling leaves.

Goodbye to the long hot summer;

Orchids to the great mighty braves,

Who are the warriors of the Rock:

One, apostolic and holy.

For this, they are ready to block

Those invaders prayerfully.

They try to take hold of the Church

But they forget the blessed dome.

Failure is the mark of their search

Because the Church is now at home.

"What lies behind us and what lies before 

are small matters compared to what lies between us." 

(Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Love and Life

The Anniversary Song

Love has its beauty and splendor
Delicately woven with joy.
Her absence no one can ignore
And even Time cannot destroy.

Yes, joy for all the luck of life
That she is with me forever
And no tears nor sorrow can wipe
Away from love's undying ember.

Joy deeply planted in my heart
Is nourished by the memories
That was built from the very start
And were beyond our reveries.

And the fires of faith keep on burning
That we will meet again someday
Because our love is always yearning
For a lovely anniversary.

(05/26/20) The vow was on the 29th of May. And the memory perenially blooms in the garden of life and love and the living goes on. Evangeline is gone but not forgotten, thus these inspiring words water the garden. (Greg In. Trabanca)

" The most difficult thing - but an essential one - is to love life, to love it even while one suffers, because life is all. Life is God, and to love life means to love God." (Leo Tolstoy - War and Peace)

A Dedication To A Brother and a Friend

To a Brother and a Friend, a Dedication.

His day is done and there's darkness
Though the nurse's light is not out.
He is gone but not our fondness;
You dare ask what's this all about?

From the place of a tranquil town
Comes this lad with honest intention;
Admire the beauty and the sound
In his heart grows a pure ambition.

A feeling of joy and longing
Of the earth to the pouring rain;
On himself, he keeps on humming
The known ballad of his terrain.

The night shall be fraught with music
That dear life is sweet and sublime
And we comfort ourselves to seek
Through the nook and corner of Time.

And in the corridors of Life
We picture him with his gavel
As he listens to human strife;
His judgment for good from evil.

Such right gesture, a semblance of might;
The correct statement of the hour.
He ponders sans doubt what is right
Using his God-given power.

And through this vignette and story
The picture and great thoughts suggest
That oblivion cannot steal away
The sad day he was laid to rest.

(Note) This poem is a nostalgic reminiscence of a brother-in-law and a friend, a former municipal judge, Alejandro T. "Boy" Canda, who first saw the light of day in his hometown of Loay, Bohol but over three scores years later lost that glow along the way, from Dipolog City to Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte, the 17th day of January 2020. However, a glow glimmered when a smart and beautiful daughter hurdled the bar examination just recently presumably following the father's footsteps.

"Boy", Canda is a typical guy from the Visayan island, noted for graduates of men of the robe - Bohol.  He studied to become a lawyer and along the way was captivated by the beauty and charm of a nurse, Lucila  Rueles Caermare of Labason, Zamboanga del Norte that eventually became his wife. He is amiable, unassuming, down-to-earth, and dedicated. When he passed the bar, he worked for a while as a lawyer and later was promoted to municipal judge of Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte until his retirement.

There's a favorite hometown ballad that when a maiden seeks a marriage partner she should search no further but a Boholano. And that search undoubtedly should end with Brod "Boy", of the Baby Boomers generation, who is friendly, likes to play tennis, and loves his family.                                                                                         
A billionaire once said, "...so, I hope you understand that when you have friends or someone to talk to - this is happiness."

And somebody opined, " He is a brother who is always in our hearts."

But a learned Saint, St. Francis of Assisi prayed, "...O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we received, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is only in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen."

Brod "Boy", we are sad that you've left us but we are consoled that you are in His eternal presence. May the perpetual light shine upon you. Rest in peace, Alejandro T. "Boy" Canda, a brother-in-law, and a friend!

By: Greg Intas Caponong Alcala Trabanca

A Tribute To Benjamin Santos,Sr. , A Friend and A Godfather

A Tribute to Benjamin Santos, Sr., A Friend, and a Godfather.

Dear friends on our stay as members
Our journey is only a dream
For we are dead in our slumbers
But we are alive as a team.

At North Francisco, we all met
Nurses, dentists, lawyers, priest
The North, West, South without retreat
And we are one. That we insist.

We work in joy and in sorrow
To fulfill each one's destiny
And to write our own tomorrow
Whatever will be, it will be.

Time is fleeting not our yearning
We are in the land of the brave
And alive our hearts are beating
We pray for a friend on his grave.

Lives of those who left remind us
That Life is precious and sublime
That we must depart not to rush
Leave footmarks on the road of Time.

Let us, then,  be firm in praying
In our hearts with love not hate
Still hoping and still believing
That this is our cherished Fate.

(N.B.)  This poem is a glimpse of our mid-seventies arrival as immigrants in the United States for a greener pasture and a breath of fresh air from the ashes of Martial Law. We landed on North Francisco Avenue near the Norwegian-American Hospital and the Humboldt Park area which is between North Avenue to the North and Chicago Street to the South. This was memorable and remarkable as nurses, dentists, doctors, accountants, teachers, lawyers, and engineers huddled together in the coldness of the Windy City to form a bond of friendship and a compact of professionalism sans hubris in a newfound frontier.  These immigrants were the true daring Filipinos of The Silent Generation and the Baby Boomers coming from the North of the largest island of Luzon, the West of the Visayan islands, and the South of the second largest island called Mindanao. These professionals were from a sovereign country of more than 7,000 islands, the Pearl of the Orient Sea better known as the Philippines named after King Philipp of Spain. Spain colonized the Philippines for more than 300 years, brought the Catholic religion, built churches, cathedrals, and parochial religious schools; while America stayed for over 50 years with its Torch of Education, the Protestant religion, and the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.

Our beloved friend Benjamin Santos, Sr. who is a godfather to my eldest son. is a lawyer and a Fiscal of Cotabato. However, he is from Zamboanga City, a Zamboanga A.E. College law graduate but practiced his law profession in Cotabato where his brother, a Zamboanga Normal College graduate occupied a prominent position in the public schools. In the twist of circumstance, he found a Florence Nightingale, a practicing nurse, and a graduate of the Philippine General Hospital School of Nursing in Manila, who eventually became his best half. Pare' Ben is a man with a good heart and helping hands. He had helped us several times when my car broke down and when somebody attempted to rob me as I approached to park in my garage, he sent his guys to my succor.

And his family is a lighthouse in times of distress.

Pare' Ben, rest in peace, and may perpetual light shine upon you!

( By: Greg Intas Caponong Alcala Trabanca)

The Time of Our Life

Nostalgic Past

The sure coming of four scores years
Of rural lovely memories
Didn't bother me to drop  some tears
Or dare to think of more worries,

Twenty nineteen is now ending;

This creeps into my little mind, 

Boyhood memories come rushing

The plan must now be realigned.

Those were the times when days were long

When the brooks sang and the flowers smiled

Joyfully we hummed and jogged along

On this journey of a glorious ride.

They were all friends the  people we met

Exchanging stories and glad we did

We plowed the field and watched the sunset

We worked, we played and we studied.

Simbang Gabi Note 1

2019 

'Twas a good year, the best of years

'Twas the month of the Simbang Gabi

A nine-day novena that gears

To the birth of the Most Holy. 

For a delightful mortal life

The fulfillment of the nine-day

Prayer for peace and out of strife

For this is what Christmas can say.

For me, it was this: I was able to finish the 9-day attendance of the 5:30 A.M. Simbang Gabi/Misa de Gallo and also celebrated my birthday on two venues without really trying. Picture 2 B-Day celebrations in one day! Luck of your life! One at 5:30 am at Transfiguration Church 'til 7:30 am. The other at 7:00 pm at St. Henry Church with Fr Jose' Baptista, the celebrant of the Holy Eucharist.

Memorable Birthday Sans Really Trying (12/19/19)

December 19, a Wonderful Day 

Four score years in the annals of the history of a man's life is a feat or a faux pas (foh pah).

This is the story of a man who celebrated a natal day party without trying. 

He has never held a birthday anniversary party in his life but just like the shadow it just follows wherever and whenever his day of birth arrives. It sounds unusual and it is true because of the strategic date in the calendar in the zodiac sign of Saggitarius which falls in December when many occasions are observed. Is it then his fault when the circumstance is favorable to his court?

 It is especially on this month that the mystery of "the Bread of Life and the Chalice of Salvation" comes into full credence of its very essence and veracity in the tapestry of his spiritual life.

Such is the fate of this man, a treasure of dirt, so to speak. 

He was born barely after the Great Depression. He witnessed his native land under the era of colonialism struggling to be free. No appropriate word can fully describe the journey of this son of the Creator who nourished and shielded him from an onslaught of the vicissitude of time.

Simbang Gabi Note 2

12/16/2020. This year's Simbang Gabi, a Filipino Catholic Christian tradition was memorable in the annals of Simbang Gabi history as it was streamed globally with modern technology. It was observed at the Vatican with Pope Francis.

Simbang Gabi, is a nine-day novena to the Blessed Mother that culminates in Christmas eve . This tradition was observed after Spain's conquest of the Philippines who brought with them missionaries whose primary objective was to catechize and evangelize the population.

Simbang Gabi evolves from "Misa de Gallo" pre-dawn mass to accommodate the native Filipinos who were mostly farmers and fishermen.  And also, "Misa de Aguinaldo", Mass of the Gift (gift of incarnation).

In Illinois, particularly in Chicago, the Transfiguration Church observed a nine-day pre-dawn (5:30 AM) Simbang Gabi mass and St. Henry, a nine-night ( 7:00 PM) Simbang Gabi.

The theme of this year's Simbang Gabi is- Jesus: still, the Word that we proclaim.

On the homily of Bishop Blase at St. Robert Bellarmine Church, I was reminded of the book written by an Australian-born catholic author and speaker, Matthew Kelley whom I met and witnessed physically in one of his lectures. His book entitled, The Shepherd is a story about a man who has found the happiness that our hungry hearts desire. His simple and peaceful spirit provides a vision of happiness that is deeply rooted in ancient wisdom but may just be that can rescue us all.

It is a modern parable about our search for happiness, that the human heart is on a quest for happiness. As individuals, we are all so unique and different, but we are bound together by our common yearning for happiness.

The Adventure of a Kid

The Charm of a Town Kid

Everything has a reason for our historical perspective.  And when you were young you were fearless. You didn't think of consequences. What you did was never premeditated. You jumped on teeming opportunities and grabbed chances. Nothing barred your way. At this stage in time, all things were possible.  And your confidence is unquestionably tremendous. 

You were young, restless, courageous, fearless, and rebellious. You have no plans but you only relied on His guidance from what you've picked up along the barely trodden path from Mother nature, home, and the solid-rock Catholic education of the sectarian and religious clergies. Your feet itched for adventure, for exploration as you were borne from a town but found a rural village pregnant with fascinations, bucolic beauty, and mystery; with its tailor birds, orioles, hawks, and wild pigeons. On its ricefield were a swarm of happy mayas (ricebirds), busy herons/egrets, and the slow-moving carabaos (water buffalos) wallowing in the mud devoid of chemicals. On its mountain and forest, deers gleefully played, wild pigs tirelessly roamed for food, the woodpeckers/ hornbills undisturbed on their lairs, and the wild pigeons fluttered in wild abandon while the snakes slithered unmolested.

Your junior year in high school ended at the town as your life seemed bleak and weary but your horizon was colorful when you feasted your eyes from Labason beach to the not-so-far-away Bayangan/Murcielagos island. You boarded a slow boat with your mother to the Ciudad Hermosa (Zamboanga City) where the dialect was broken Spanish called Chavacano. There you met a doctor at Zamboanga General Hospital, who offered you a place to stay and to continue your senior year as ambition was always dogging you. Sure enough, you matriculated in the last night high school at a renowned and all-boys Jesuit school, the Ateneo de Zamboanga. You were the youngest as your classmates were already family men and employed but cannot be given promotions on their jobs as they lack a high school diploma. You were the small kid but a big man when you graduated yet you only garnered the silver, not the gold award because of your lack of academic residency as a transferee.

By the way, the city added a fascinating feature in the chapter of your book and a treasure to reckon with that will pave the way to more exciting sequels. These episodes would eventually be notched in Greg's Notes and Footprints.
                       

Of Love, Light and Life

Life is a Poem

This time many things are coming
Cell phones, e-mails, YouTube, Facebook,
Twitter, texting, and messaging
The world is sporting a new look

Driving is fun with GPS.
It's modern times and living past
It's fast food and takes out the stress
We just hope it will never last

However, let's not put aside
The wisdom that we have received
From the chapter on the great ride
Of that Presence that we believed.

We were fondly borne out of Love.
It's the greatest word of all time.

A message carried by a dove

From the top that is hard to climb.

The Blessed Mother

The Lady of All Time

In the "sink and swim" time of today, there is a battle raging between the powers of good and evil.  And, to gain control of its supremacy the power of evil is trying to gain a foothold upon the Church that was built on a rock, the Catholic Church that has the Eucharist and the Blessed Mary. We have seen and heard of the Christian religion or maybe "cult" or are Christians (they believe in Christ) but not in Mary, the Immaculate Mother of  Jesus.

There are questions about the Blessed Virgin Mary. Why she does have many faces and names? There is Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Piat, Our Lady of the Pillar, Our Mother of Perpetual Help, etc... Good question! By the way how many people are you if you are a wife, a mother, a provider, an adviser? As a wife, you are a mother to your children. As a mother, you are a protector against harm's ways as you refuged them for nine months.  As a provider to your children, you are Mama. As the provider, you are a pillar of strength because you nourish them for their growth and development. As an adviser, you direct them to the path of righteousness as you sheltered them in the womb for 9 months. To your friends, you are whatever you are known to them, To your company you are, mom, madam. You are the same here but different people, addressing different needs.

The same thing applies to Our Lady, The Blessed Virgin Mary. She has many titles, and many faces but the same sweet, beautiful Lady who caters to our special needs. As a mother, she is a perpetual help, as a friend, she is understanding and ever ready for our succor. an intercessor, a trusting confidante. And she is always available. She is the best friend of Jesus who at the wedding feast at Cana, motherly told the wine servers to do as "He tells you."

Do you love Mama Mary? If so, say the Hail Mary!

"Be still and see that I am God" Ps 46:10

Pray, Love, And Live

Prayer is effectively said

In the stillness of your moment.

It is in silence that we laid

The fullness of life's great event.

Through the scintilla of our score

We fathom the trickle of truth

Penetrating our inner core

As clear as the days of our youth.

Let us live to understand life

And that we have all the options
To ask even as sharp as a knife

That sears our inner emotions. 

Pray, love, and live the experience

The beauty of simplicity

The greatness of the Omnipotence

The source of spiritual energy.

The Living Past

The Independence of the Philippines

"All that is necessary for evil to prosper is that good people do nothing."

We have seen and experienced the political maneuverings of the 2-party systems  (Liberal and Nacionalista) in the democracy of the Philippines that saw its independence with the guidance of the United States on July 4,1946. And fittingly, every 4th of July, Independence Day is pompously observed at the plaza Luneta in Manila, where the seat of the government is and where the president lives -  the Malacanang Palace. On May 12, 1962,  President Diosdado Macapagal of the Liberal Party moved the commemoration of Independence Day from July 4 to June 12. Despite the accusation of politicizing the holiday by many people, which is normal in a democracy, Macapagal stood his ground on the recognition of June 12 as the true Independence Day because it was "the birthday of the independent Filipino nation. This has unprecedented support, unity, and resolve of various leaders from local government nationwide. Macapagal argued that when America declared its independence from England on July 4, 1776, it was only after 7 years on Sept. 3, 1783, when the former Mother Country formally recognized the United States'  independence. " Nevertheless, the American people have regarded July 4 as their day of freedom. In the same way, June 12, 1898 is the true birthday of an independent Filipino nation, for it was on this day that they called the whole world to witness their powerful resolve to consider themselves absolved of allegiance to the Spanish crown, said Diosdado Macapagal."                                

"The Philippine Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on June 12, 1898, in Cavite 11 el Viejo ( present-day Kawit, Cavite) with the public reading of the Act of the Proclamation of Independence of the Filipino people." (www. history.com/)   Independence was declared by Emilio Aguinaldo at Kawit, Cavite.  

And when a new administration enters the door of the Malacanang Palace, new programs are installed in the name of the incumbent, forgetting those programs that were started. especially so that new cabinet members would be chosen by the coming president.  Four years are not sufficient for projects or programs to be fully implemented.

This vicious cycle in Congress, plus the bickerings, shades of vengeance, tends to slow down the smooth flow of the legislative process. Thus, the first term of the president is a preparatory period for the re-election campaign, and of course, the programs that were undertaken were not fully implemented. All along the rough road of Democracy, problems sprouted; the people of the Palace have their picnic time of abundance, catering to the halves, befriending the mighty and moneyed echelons of society.

The political arena was greatly monopolized by the two parties - the Nationalista and the Liberal. And names like Quezon, Roxas, Osmena, Quirino, Macapagal,  Garcia, Magsaysay, Aquino, Marcos, etc., occupy the spaces. And  Benigno Aquino has the ambition to occupy the Palace, only to be overshadowed by the popularity of the promising UP law grad Ferdinand Marcos, whom the old Laurel found a presidential future that led to his non-conviction on the Nalundasan case.  Marcus of the Liberal Party was courted by the Nacionalista stalwart to go against Macapagal. Meanwhile, Benigno Aquino, the young journalist was with the Liberal Party who has the secret plan to topple Marcus by creating a unique plan to destabilize the government with a man called Jose' Maria Sison to plant the seed of rebellion by fertilizing that seed with chaos painting the Palace as adamant to the demands of the poor, of the marginalized while the rich are getting richer, those with power became powerful.

We have democracy on July 4, 1946. And I was 6 years old from the municipality of Labason, which had one private Protestant high school and college, and two years later, a private Catholic high school was founded. There was no radio at that time in a farmer's hut. Neither was there adequate plumbing. The meadows, the bushes, the forest, the swamps, the streams, and the rivers were our friendly neighbors who catered to our wants and needs. Reading materials were the vernacular media, Bisaya, Liwayway, Song Hits, and the Philippines Free Press.

The airwaves floated with the vernacular's tunes of " Birds they voted in Lanao at pati aswang pa raw ang eleksiyon lutong Macao 'til Magsaysay see them how? Mambo-mambo Magsaysay, mambo-mambo mabuhay ang eleksiyon lutong Macao 'til Magsaysay see them how". And Ramon Magsaysay, who was the Secretary of National Defense, became known through his great job of letting the members of the Hukbalahap movement surrender and capture them, led by the supremo Luis Taruc, and later emerged the Communist Party, whose armed force is the New People's Army (NPA). The main concern of their rebellion was about land reform. So Magsaysay opened the homestead to the vast virgin lands of Mindanao, particularly Lanao, Bukidnon, Cotabato, and Davao.

With this move, I surmised, the tentacles of corruption wriggled. The vast virgin lands of Mindanao were open for grabs. But you have to know somebody, a surveyor, a forest ranger, a politician local and national as the homestead land title is only processed in Manila. People from Luzon, the Visayas flocked to the Land of Promise- Mindanao.

Some enterprising minds looked at the centuries-old trees in the tropical forest of Mindanao and the rivers. ( Remember the Nile River of Egypt.) A certain unschooled man became rich because of the forest and the river.  And some have the capital that used dummies to operate the logging business. Here again was the temptation of those who were elected by the people to ameliorate them, only to impoverish them instead. Years later, as the loggers basked in the glory of the good life, the poor farmers suffered the wrath of the bald forest, the rivers, and the streams. 

By the way, Mindanao is really the land of its natives and those who later embraced the Islamic religion. And there were three groups of Muslims: from the coastal- the Tausogs, (people of the current Muslims of the Sulu peninsula. The second to accept Islam were the Maguindanao of Cotabato (people of the flooded plains), and the third group was the Maranaos of the province of Lanao. (people of the Lake).

And life, especially in an independent country, is precious; let's enjoy it. 

The Walk-Talk-Sing of Lincolnwood Town Center

05/02/2019  A Day to Remember

IF YOU CARE TO LIVE LONGER READ THIS!

Living in the "if you care", the world will pave the way to happiness and longevity which are obtainable through the tablet of good health.

If you care for your lungs avoid smoking,
If you care for your heart avoid excess salt,
If you care for your liver avoid excessively fatty foods,
If you care for your stomach avoid cold foods,
If you care for your intestines replace junk foods with vegetables,
If you care for your pancreas avoid overfeeding,
If you care for your kidney drink a lot of water during the day; less water at night. Empty your bladder before going to  sleep,
If you care for your brain sleep for 8 hours between every 16 hours.
And if you care for others, tell them about living in the "if you care' world.

*Your heart is the greatest ever of energy in your body. Though weighing only 11 ounces on average, a healthy heart pumps 2,000 gallons of blood through 60,000 miles of blood vessels each day. If this energy supply declines, serious problems occur. It's the number one cause of death.

*Your brain is 3 % of your body weight yet it uses 20 % of your energy.

* Your liver has an astounding 2,000 mitochondria in every single cell. Your liver acts like a fine screen that filters out health-wrecking toxins, bacteria, and viruses. It also processes anything you eat or drink and either reformulate it for your body to use or eliminates it.

* Your kidney process 200 quarts of blood to separate out 2 quarts of waste products. The waste and extra water, become urine, flowing to your bladder. this is an energy-intensive job. The Journal of the American Society of Nephrology says, "reduced mitochondrial function is a dominant feature of diabetic kidney illness."

Combat the Effects of Aging You Hate- By Jennifer Peterson, Editor, Anti-Aging News

A leading scientist just discovered a miraculous new coenzyme that counters cell age by up to 40 years. It's a key compound that supports creating new mitochondria - a key to vibrant health. Many health experts call this the greatest anti-aging discovery ever. It's about this anti-aging pill called MitoBoost with Niagen. TIME reports NIAGEN "extends your healthspan."  ABC NEWS says NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide), is "the secret to immortality." This has been found by a Harvard geneticist, Dr. David Sinclair. This extraordinary new compound that literally de-ages your cells, keeping you vibrantly healthy as you age is NAD+ and it's inside every single cell in your body. It "switches on" the long -life genes that give you boundless energy and vitality. Studies reveal that NAD+ levels decline 78% as you age.

Age reversal is real. You can now live a healthy and vigorous life into your 80s, 90s, or 100.
When we exercise or diet, NAD+ levels go up and we become healthier. The problem is that as we age, our body makes less and less NAD+. MitoBoost with Niagen is the greatest anti-aging pill.
Scientist predicts the end of aging starts in 2019

Niagen is the next generation of anti-aging science. It took the Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology 18 years to reach this historic conclusion. By increasing your NAD+ level, you can actually reverse the aging process in your cells and recharge them with youthful energy. These doctors say with full confidence that NIAGEN is the most powerful, cutting-edge formula they've ever seen. In human studies, NIAGEN, raised NAD+ levels as much as 270%. In clinical studies, a single dose alone caused an immediate 33% increase, a significant rise.
Nothing else raises NAD+ levels. NIAGEN is the first and only commercially available formof nicotinamide riboside (NR), available in the country. After all this research, it is now clinically shown to raise your NAD+ levels which support the health of your mitochondria. Boosting your NAD+ level is essential for staying active and energetic through your 70s, 80s, 90s. Niagen's remarkable proprietary formula is protected by five patents because it works.