Earth Hour at Church

We had a wonderful opportunity last night to sing with Tita Dulce’s choir in preparation for Maundy Thursday’s and Good Friday’s masses. I used to look at her as your stereotypical terror music professor but all that changed once I get to know her technique of teaching and conducting. She said some quite insightful things to us youth that made up ninety-five percent of the small room we were in. And I will never forget those bits of wisdom she imparted in us to ponder on.

• That we are all dying, little by little, inside but we are too numb to notice it. (She said this in connection to Earth Hour 2010 and the Filipinos’ attitude during the December 2004 tsunami disaster that struck south Asia. Apparently, CNN screened a report about the Pinoy’s loud celebratory manner of Christmas that year when all its neighboring countries and the rest of the world did away with all kinds of festivities to show their respect and sympathy over the loss of many nations on the said tragedy).
• That it is never okay to let the Lord wait for us during masses so come early during services.
• And that it is my privilege as much as it is my duty to be able to serve the Lord even just in singing.

Ordinary

It was a small but spacious lounge room with old steel windows and gate. The old wooden seats with intricate carvings and that single hanging painting of Christ reminded me of old Spanish Colonial architecture I have seen a thousand times on Sunday newspapers. I sat quietly in that old apartment’s sala as I listen intently on my sister’s angelic voice rehearsing songs for tomorrow’s morning procession. I accompanied her for today’s practice because her nanny went home to her province for her grandmother’s burial. I was reluctant to come at first but on those forty-five minutes I stayed there with nothing but a worn-out book I haven’t read for quite some time, I have stumbled upon something so simple yet so sacred.

I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed having siesta in my own sala basking under the golden rays of the afternoon sun coming in from the windows. Or the last time I had my silent afternoon walk around the familiar neighborhood meditating and sorting things out in my mind. I can’t remember the last time I ever felt the presence of God in the most mundane and menial routine I do every day.

I missed those instances where I can see Him in the ordinary.

First Interview

Photo credit to lifespy.com

I just had my first interview for internship earlier. I am super crossing my fingers at this one. gsn+p architecture studio is a wonderland. And it's just a ride away from home. I just wish I could have done better at that interview. Oh well. I'll definitely nail it at the next ones. This interview is only one of the many I'll ever encounter in my life. But I have my eye on that architectural firm from now on. I sure do. 

Father Figure

 Photo borrowed here

We were blessed yesterday to have participated in a mass presided by our very own Bishop Ongtioco in concelebrating the 40th Sacerdotal Anniversary of our parish priest, Monsignor Dominic Erfe. Waiting on the front steps of Victoria Towers in front of Mang Inasal restaurant along Timog Avenue, we were approached by an American foreigner who started by asking us if we could speak and understand his native tongue, English. He was frantic in asking the direction of a nearby church he went to earlier for help and from the looks of it, he seemed tired from walking around helplessly.

He said he was from Malate and her wife just gave birth 4 days ago. He was broke, has no job, and completely worn out to find any means of having money for his new-born child’s clothes and medicine. What we heard next melted my heart in complete awe and fascination. He was so desperate that he was actually begging us to give him some spare change if we have any. Though we don’t really have much, my mom got a bill and tucked it quietly in the hands of the foreigner who was honest enough to admit that he was very, very embarrassed of having to beg like that. It was the first time in my life that I have experienced something like this.

After we told him the direction of our parish, he went on in his way thanking us with all his heart. It was uplifting to have been of help to a soul in distress. But what I have been contemplating after all that was the courage it took that American to swallow his pride in a foreign land and stand up for his wife and child.

I have just witnessed what perfect attitude of a loving protector and provider ought to be. This image of a father-figure is something I will never forget for the rest of my life.

MadMusic#018: I Love the Lord

This one's my new favorite. It makes me tingly and teary whenever we sing this.

I love the Lord, He is filled with compassion.
He turned to me on the day that I called.
From the snares of the dark, O, Lord, save my life,
Be my strength.

Gracious is the Lord, and just.
Our God is mercy, rest to the weary.
Return my soul to the Lord our God who bids tears away.
I love the Lord.

How can I repay the Lord for all the goodness He has shown me?
I will raise the cup of salvation and call on His name.
I love the Lord.

I shall live my vows to You before Your people,
I am Your servant.
I will offer You my sacrifice of praise and of pray'r.
I love the Lord.

From the snares of the dark, O, Lord, save my life,
Be my strength…

Shutterbug-Wannabe Over?

Photo credit to Laewoo.com

Are my shutterbuggie-wannabe days over? I hope not. But with my old Kodak C613  digicam damaged during our busy college week, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to put up my passion in random photography for a while.*more sighs*

Rantings

I have had enough of it for weeks. And frankly, I feel like a walking zombie after throwing myself head first on the ocean tides of my own academic procrastination. I could lie in bed the whole day reflecting on events that seemed stuck in my head unless I mentally ejaculate them all in this one loaded post...

I'm tired and I'm sick of it all. I need a break!

CAFA Week 2010

Two weeks ago proved to be the best college week yet, at least for our block who careered it in with our 'Ramen'-house-inspired booth we named 'JAPAN, JAPAN: SAGOT SA KAHIRAPAN'. I literally gave everything in setting up the booth every morning, counting the sales we made from our scrumptious coffee jelly and ice cone beverage, and acting as an overall coordinator (they call me Mr. Presi), secretary and treasurer for the whole event. I am just grateful to all my block mates who helped and made things happen during the week who deserve equal credit for all the hard work we've put through.

The exhaustion that blew me that week was incomparable to the one I feel when cramming plates. But the booth lived up to its name when we made profit enough for us to plan a summer beach getaway in Batangas right after the end of our final exams. I am so looking forward to that!