He reminded us of God's love

I thought I missed something knowing everybody is in Tacloban to welcome the visiting Pope Francis.At first it was all right with our decision not to go. Then when I watched the proceedings in the TV and now everybody was all agog about going to meet him at his next stop I felt as if I too wanted to go, but it was too late to make arrangements, and with a kid in tow, it was not just possible.

So I monitored his visit, thru TV. Being just a distant spectator can also be as overwhelming as when I was there personally. Twenty years ago, in 1995 I had the same feeling when I joined the Neo catechumenate community of our parish in attending the World Youth Day where the late Pope John Paul II (now a saint) came to the Philippines to be with the youth.It was the largest gathering so far according to sources with over five million people in attendance.I was with my oldest son, who was just a teener then.WE stayed in our allotted space which was some distance from the Quirino grandstand and was quite ecstatic when the Pope passed by in his mobile.

Without the hassle and excitement of  preparation (had I gone to physically attend the event )I consider my participation now more intense than twenty years ago.I was tearful as  I witnessed the humility,  the natural humor, the manifestation of love and compassion of Pope Francis for the people. I listened to his speech in Malacanang, his homily and his message to the selected families in the Mall of Asia. I saw him kiss the children, bless the sick, the handicap and the aged. I have never seen a man with as much love and compassion for the Filipinos as Pope Francis.

Tomorrow he will be in Tacloban to visit the victims of Typhoon Yolanda. Blessed are the people who are given the opportunity to come near him, dine with him and kiss his ring. And blessed we all are because he rekindled the faith in our hearts and reminded us of God's providence and love.

Better panicky, than sorry!

Better panicky, than sorry!

Yesterdday classes were suspended in anticipation of another typhoon which is forecast to make a landfall today. There are conflicting stories of course and the latest one is that it may not pass thru Eastern Visayas after all. That is quite a relief although  it still pays to be prepared.

So yesterday, my staff stored our important documents in plastic bags, along with out computers, projectors and other equipment. But when i wenet through everything after they were gone, I noticed that there were documents that were not safe enough for a violent weather system. Morever, the PC's in the computer lab was not so safe. So this morning hubby, son number 3 and I went to the nearest grocery to buy plastic bags, but then we noticd that at 8 O'clock we were not early enough as there were already long queues at the payment counters.

 People, after experiencing Yolanda (Haiyan ) a year ago, were knew very well what to expect during a supertyphoon and so were trying to prepare for the "worst scenario"
The news had it that some grocery stores had run out of supplies and had to close shop early.Or were they afraid of the recurrence of the much talked about events of how bad elements could take advantage of the situation?

 So almost getting carried away, I picked up a few groceries knowing that for a few days we won't be able to stop by at our favorite grocery store for necessary items. Most of our purchaes were food, canned goods since we expect power outtage, and for that the fridge would be useless.
When we went out of the grocery I remembered that we failed to buy candles which we would need for brown outs.Anyway hubby had charged our solar powered lamps before we left and that was a consolation.

On the way to school, the queue at the gasoline station were long. People were lining up to buy kerosene.So did motorists and I was happy we filled our tank the day before. They sure kept the gasoline stations crowded and busy.

 We headed to the school to the computer lab where we wrapped the computers individually in plastic bags. I remember a year ago that I came to school three days after Yolanda tor rescue the PC's that I had just bought prior to the supertyphoon. I spent personal money repairing my old office just so we could move from the cramped PTA office and have a bit more space. Well I hoped I could be reimbursed. Until now personnel concerned seem not to mind whether I get reimbursed or not. Well I should not talk about that here.

I wonder if it is a coincidence that I would be talking of weather problems in two consecutive blogs. Some friends have told me this kind of weather system is now the 'neo-normal" It's a pity poor countries like ours can't as yet provide the means so that people could cope with the changing condition. Anyway, that is one use of poverty. We don't have the technology nor the money to ward off problems related to climate change, and other issues. But we can grow in faith, hold on to our only hope: our God who alone can keep us safe and provide us with everything that we need.

A Year After Yolanda

As of this writing I can hear hubby's hammer against the wooden scaffolding that the carpenters have used in attaching the new ceiling to my old room. Until now we have not returned to that room, instead we occupied the former room we have appointed as guest room in our  house. The room was four month old when Yolanda struck. I have not even finished furnishing it but Yolanda destroyed everything that was in there, except the wardrobe which I bought prior to the onslaught of the supertyhoon.

The picture on the left was taken with my tab a day before Yolanda.I was cool and comfy in my room, clutching my daughter's stuffed toy as it was quite cold.  Having been so used to numerous typhoons that we, my siblings and I  have weathered in my parents' house, I was not a bit scared despite the news that it was a super typhoon and that a storm surge was expected in Ormoc. Late in the night of November 7, I was still monitoring the weather thru the internet in my second floor room. When the rain grew stronger, I called my husband up to join me in prayer. He was restless and started bringing up our appliances, as he feared the river would overflow its banks and the first floor would be flooded so he started bringing everything up for safety. We believed our room was the safest place in the house.

My son helped him bring everything upstairs to our room, TV, desktop computer his own laptop, upholstered sofa set,  etc. I stashed away to safety my own precious gadgets, I had a new laptop, one Samsung phone and a lenovo tab. I placed them all inside a charole bag and stowed it away in my locker in the guest room. Then believing that it would just be another typhoon, we went to sleep.

Everything was alright until after breakfast when the wind started howling eerily. Angry winds and rains started lashing at our windows. We ran up to our room to check but rainwater was coming in so my son and hubby frantically brought our appliances down  again because there was water everywhere. all four of  us, son, hubby, daughter in law and two year old Tristan huddled  in the small guest room praying for the storm to stop. Then the wind changed direction and lashed at the windows in that room so we all ran down to the sala in the ground floor. The door was swinging dangerously so we sat with our back to it to keep it from opening. My son suggested that when the eye of storm would pass, it would be calm for a while and we would have time to run to someplace higher and safer. He was thinking about the Medical Center which stood on a hill. Our house is near that hill. But I turned the idea down. It was much safer inside the house. So during the lull which was about 10 minutes, we opened the door and saw the damage outside. The flood was not so high, the house across the river was destroyed. Then the winds started again. We hurriedly  closed the door and went back to our places by the door. I prayed so hard and loudly. The baby on my lap who had been so silent throughout our ordeal fell asleep probably due to fear as he saw the terror in our faces. Water was flowing down from the upper floor to the sala. We heard two loud explosions and hubby said the glass windows in the kitchen were broken. We were praying loudly knowing no man would be able to save us in that situation but God alone.God must have heard my prayers and the prayers of so many other people who experienced Yolanda's fury because it stopped.

Right after the storm, I told my husband I wanted to cry. Then he asked me to go out with him into the streets to see the extent of the damage. Then I realized how God has blessed me and spared me. Other people have not been so lucky. But still my tears fell for the many victims especially for those in the neighboring city of Tacloban.

Enjoying the semester break

Enjoying the semester break

Actually for instructors like us, there is no sem break. The students do have, but not us. We have to report to office to do related jobs like doing grades or preparing for the second sem but it is still a break from lectures or planning activities for our classes..

A lot of things have happened during the break but  what stands out in my mind is when the little boy left us with his mother. Now the house is silent once more and we miss his tattering and his endearing quirks.

How he loved hanging around with Didi or tagging along wherever he goes. At three, the boy plays pet rescue and other games on the computer.

Well, with him back to his mother, I can now work on my laptop without him climbing unto my lap and begging to be allowed to play his games.

That was five days ago and fortunately for me I was able to finish all the grades and other requirements so I can do other things like visit our dear departed at the cemetery. My sisters in law, Monique, Nona and Mavic along with Mother in law were fetched by hubby so we can do the duty visit to the memorial garden together.

Unlike the previous years, when Mama would personally arrange the flowers that we bring to the cemetery, this time we bought them from the vendors on the roadsides.We just didn;t have time as we decided to visit on all saints day, not on all soul,s day which is tomorrow.

The news was right. Flowers are very expensive, as the businessmen took advantage of the demands during this season. The cheapest we could find from the roadside vendors was P100 per basket consisting of  a few flowers and embellished with leaves and baby;s breath.

A seminarian led the prayers. I would have wanted to offer  mass for our beloved dead but there was no time. After the  prayers we left for lunch at home. Later in the day when we have brought them all back to their residences (with Monique going to the beauty parlor and Mavic to Baybay for a party), Jun and I stopped by at Novo to pick up a few kitchen utensils, then to a friend whose hubby is a carpenter so we could fix my old room which was destroyed by Yolanda.Then finally, I had time to offer and attend a mass at the main parish church.

So tomorrow, with a carpenter (and his wife) to feed, will be a busy day for me. But I am sure I will have time to finally finish the work assigned to me by a sweet friend Sidney. Sorry Sid for the long wait. This time I will put your assignment for me first priority.

Happy weekend everyone. Trick or treat?

Shopping with Tristan Ken

Shopping with Tristan Ken

Today is 67th charter anniversary of Ormoc City. I joined the parade at 7:00 AM with a "handful" other faculty members of our institution. When we neared Superdome my sister in law joined me in the frontline. We went through the usual route, with her obviously enjoying the walk, commenting that it was her first time to join the parade as a college instructor. 

Our festival is called "Tugob" a Visayan word which means "full" or progressive. It is celebrated every October 20th with street dancing of different contingents from colleges and universities of Ormoc City. At 1:00 PM today they held the Tugob dance contest which highlights the occasion.

Incidentally the whole province of Leyte is celebrating today because today is also the anniversary of the Leyte Landing of Gen Douglas MacArthur in Palo, Leyte to liberate the Philippines from the Japanese during World War II.

However I did not witness the event that drives everybody in a frenzied excitement to the Superdome. I preferred to bring Dad and Tristan Ken shopping in a mall. The latter needed a few stuff, as he is growing out of his clothes. He has this thing about the military, and he nagged me about buying toy military set

Dad and Tristan Ken paying at the Counter

 I bought him new pants as the old ones were too short for him and the spiderman t shirt below was actually his choice. He was the one who picked it from the rack. It is one size bigger since we could not find a smaller size

We also got him a nice polo shirt and a  set of briefs.

He had fun going running around the children's section of the mall and I couldn't help feeling anxious that he might bump into something and break it, or hurt himself.All the while he was telling me not to  forget to buy a toy for him.

This is how he loves to navigate the mall. Like a trolley.Poor Dad, he must be some burden even if he is underweight for a three year old.

After he had his shopping spree I was left with nothing except for a few pesos to buy pots for my newly potted plants from mother in law.

He's back with us!

I was on official trip to Cebu with hubby, and as in the previous time we asked his mother that he be allowed to spend the day with us. We did not expect that she would come with a bag of his clothes and other stuff enough for a week's "vacation" with us. She was crying and promised the boy he would come today. But she didn't. She had some alibi of course. Well it doesn't matter. We love the boy.

He is so attached to Didi (his grandpa, my hubby)

 and never for once did he ever mention his Mom, except when we bring the topic up of his going back to Cebu. It seems he is having a grand time here because once or twice he told his mother on the phone that "dinhi na siya puyo" (He would prefer to live here with us.

He was so tired waiting for us at the ocean jet terminal and being a fussy eater, I could guess that he was hungry and had no lunch..We try hard to change his eating habits.

God bless you little boy. While you are here with us we will shower you with all the love we can give so you will grow nurturing the thought that you are worth loving and you will face the world in your time with all the courage, confidence and belief that  people. are good and life is worth living.

Then God answered my prayers...

Well, He always does. Sometimes it is "no". Sometimes it is "wait". Sometimes it is Yes. Well this time, it is "Yes!" and I am so happy I float in the air in ecstasy!

Then I wonder why it is that some of our desires are granted and some are not.The answer still eludes me but I have learned to rely on His Holy Will,  Thy will be done, it is said in the Lord's Prayer. He alone knows what is best for us.

This is one of the flower photos my son took some time ago. I put it  here as symbol of my thankfulness to the Lord.

Tomorrow is Lord"s day, but it is cooking day for me too. I plan to make tacos for snacks and potato salad following this recipe  I got from http://www.bettycrocker.com/. I have modified it though.

1/2 kilo potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes (about 6 pieces medium sized)t

I carrot, peeled and cut into cubes

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 small can pineapple tidbits

1 small box raisins

1 tablespoon dijon mustard

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon peppera

2 medium stalks celery chopped

1 medium onion chopped

4 hardboiled eggs chopped

Directions

• 1Place potatoes in 3-quart saucepan; add enough water to cover potatoes. Cover and heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Cook covered 25 to 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender; drain. Let stand until cool enough to handle. Cut potatoes into cubes.

3. Blanch the carrots then drain

• 2Mix mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper in large glass or plastic bowl.
• 3Add potatoes, carrots, pine apple, and raisins, celery and onion; toss. Stir in eggs. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours to blend flavors and chill. Store covered in refrigerator

as to the tacos, well I can post it tomorrow. Meanwhile here is a video from my facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10201643638292278