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On Father's Day

On Father's Day

A father of two (on the left)and a father of the many (on the right) holding the image of the Holy Infant Jesus (Santo Nino) made in Cebu City, Philippines. This Holy Infant Image is a gift for Father Max of Uganda as a token of friendship.

"The family stands on two pillars of which each pillar is vital and essential for the family's growth and stability These two pillars are " Father and Mother". Today - we honor the father for the role in the life of the family.

St. Joseph played a significant and exemplary role in the life of the Holy Family. In his concern to provide for the family, he undertook the trade of a carpenter. When the family was in danger, he guided them to a safe place. When the time came for his family to deliver her firstborn in a foreign land, he turned to beg, without thought or care, for shelter. And, in his personal anguish, when the child was lost in Jerusalem, he neither blamed the mother, nor anybody else, but anxiously searched to find him.

Without the father, the family becomes vulnerable and faces a formidable challenge to cope up with the world. The weak and the fatherless find the world hostile toward them, for the father is the strength to his children and motivating force to overcome difficulties in their lives. Sadly, it is all too often, that only after the father is gone, he is appreciated for the love he gave to his family. Therefore, we have more reason to celebrate Father's day with sincere gratitude to them, for the dedication and many sacrifices.

The first Father's Day was observed on June 19,1910, in Spokane, Washington. At about the same time in various towns and cities across America, other people were beginning to celebrate a "Father's Day". In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father's Day. Finally, in 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's day.
Father's Day has become a day to not only honor the father but all men who act as a father figure. Stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers, and adult male friends are all honored on Father's day.
Today, let us pray that fathers will always execute their duties to their families with love and fidelity; that all the fathers will look at St Joseph, emulate his life and an exemplary figure to all people, especially to their own children. (Fr. Peter Fernandes,sfx)

June 17,2007 Father's Day.

On this day a reminder on the role of being a man, male figure, father,stepfather, grandfather,

uncle, or a father of the church. Historical dates:

June 19, 1910-ist Father's Day observed in Spokane, Wash. 1924, an idea of national Father's day gained support from Pres. Calvin Coolidge. 1966, Pres. Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation making 3rd sunday of June as Father's Day.

"Honor thy father..."

Filipiniana Night's smile-fraught faces garbed in barong tagalog with the captain of tour ship Carnival Liberty plying the Mediterranean ocean.

Eve Caermare Trabanca aboard the ship Carnival Liberty
as it slices the calm, bluish Mediterranean sea.

The Carnival Liberty ( Panama built) on her maiden voyage cruising the tranquil Mediterranean Sea on regal splendor that started at the port of Civitavecchia, Italy to dock at 7 ports of: (1) Naples, Italy (2)Dubrovnik, Croatia (3) Venice, Italy (4) Messina, Sicily (5) Barcelona, Spain (6) Cannes, France (7) Livorno, Italy.

The Filipiniana Night of the Mediterranean Tour.

Greg, Eve (wife), Zeny Buen (wife of Dr. Willy Buen), Babylane Rueles(cousin) and friend nurse, Fely Arceo.

The ship that maiden voyage us to a Mediterranean tour to ports of Italy, Croatia, Spain and France. Details found on Journey of a Lifetime on the preceding blog.

May 28, 2007: Memorial Day

In time's memory lanes, we remember familiar faces that etch wonderful moments in our lives. These golden moments that awaken our somnolence stare straight to our very core and unfold like a gorgeous panorama.

Yesterday's Dipolognon fiesta celebration attended by a record-breaking crowd from Zamboanga del Norte and beyond at Proesel Park, Lincolnwood, Illinois, USA invigorated me as I met www.Dipolognon 's owner and publisher, Eddie Artajo among others. He was also one of the pioneer officers of ZAMNAI. Details of the celebration are found online on www.dipolognon.com and comment on the resurrected www.ambibo.com.

Rev. Fr. Anthony Pizarro, CICM

May 19, 2007 , Despedida Party in Chicago

DESIDERATA

Go placidly amid the noise & haste, & remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly & clearly, and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud & aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater & lesser persons than yourself.

ENJOY YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

EXERCISE CAUTION in your business affairs for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideas; and everywhere LIFE IS FULL OF HEROISM.

BE YOURSELF. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity & disenchantment it is perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue & loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, BE GENTLE WITH YOURSELF. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees & the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, BE AT PEACE WITH GOD, whatever you conceive HIM to be, and whatever your labors & aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery & broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. STRIVE TO BE HAPPY!

(Note: This poem is always in Fr. Thony's wallet and has guided him to be admirable, humble and grateful servant of God. His profound obsession is to do something noteworthy maybe write

a book on the goodness of this Life. No wonder he graduated with all A's on his masteral degree which is unprecedented in the school's recorded history.

To Fr. Manny Duterte's Zamboanga del Norte Group he fondly dedicate the above poem. And of Corinthians 13...If I love I conquer everything. )

When marital world collides, the panacea is holding tight to Mother Nature's bosom to feel the comfort of its idyllic panorama ,gorgeous landscape , beautiful flowers and placid,therapeutic waters.

Civilization find its beginning always in a place where there is water. When water is found, progress is not faraway. The Niles. The Tigres-Euphrates Rivers. The Hoover Dam. And Las Vegas glistens and glows in the desert.

Greg, Eve, Viring Ebarle , Sister Ma.Rachel,RVM and Lucy Bernardo (Sister's sister-in-law.)

Viring , Sister , her brother Rico Bernardo & Greg

Brings back memories of Apple Orchards.
White dots are apple flowers soon to become apple fruits ready for the basket to the mouth.

Sister Ma.Rachel, RVM at Chicago Botanic's Japanese garden.

Magnificent 5 in Chicago @ Lake Michigan

Mass of Thanksgiving
10th Anniversary of Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I. as Archbishop of Chicago
May 12, 2007 at Holy Name Cathedral, Archdiocese of Chicago, Illinois

Fr. Peter Fernandes asked me to carry our banner as a representative from St. Timothy parish on the Banner Processional. Beautiful banners of different sizes representing the parishes of the Archdiocese were carried and displayed. The Cathedral was filled up to the brim as faithfuls and devotees from parishes came to witness and took part in the celebration. There were bishops , priests, nuns and lay ministers.

The Mass was a combination of English and Latin. Cardinal George's homily touched on Love and Fear. Jesus talks of Love. "Those who love me will keep my word. " Love is free driven not by fear but by desire and needs focus...And we are afraid of losing love. While fear is associated with loving one another. With love there is a fear of betrayal, of being faithful. Keep love forever; experience it to conquer fear. The Cardinal touched on Mothers' Day and Mothers. That love of mother is constant and it carries commands, reminders. But really it is a sign of Love.

Christ loves us even to the extent of his death but He is always with us in the Eucharist. God is Love! Christ is the center of love. Find the courage to love. And he extols The Blessed Virgin Mary being the Queen of the church. " That was a very good homily.

Botanic garden visit with sister Ma.Rachel, RVM.

Wisdom to Live by ( Taken from my red Daily Reminder, 1980)

***************************************
* Prayer is dialogue with God.
* The best form of spiritual exercise is kneeling.
* Why do we look down on any one, when only God is in the position to do it.
* Telescope heaven through your tears.

* Home is made and where the heart is.
* Give more of self to get more of life.
* The heart sees, what's invisible to the eye
*Everything has its beauty: you have to appreciate it.

* Give more of self to get more of life.
* What we daily do or act or think spells CHARACTER.
* Taking revenge, you become the enemy; in passing over it, you are superior.