saw this from my facebook notes two years ago. it's worth the read especially for those with questions regarding our yearly visit to our departed loved ones (which is commemorated in the philippines on november 1 - feast of all saints)
Anyway, I will be assisting in the blessing of tombs in Manila Memorial Park on November 1, 2011 together with the rest of the Paranaque Diocesan Seminarians (ParDS). For those who have their departed loved ones in the area, please feel free to contact me (through FB or SMS) so we can pray for them and bless their tombs.
Why do Catholics pray for the dead?
We Catholics believe in the power of love. Love is present among us who live on earth. But love does not stop after a person dies. Love can reach even into the after life. After death, it is possible to experience a reciprocal giving and receiving. Our affection for each other continues even after death has occurred. Our dead brothers and sisters “seem, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace…yet their hope full of immortality” (Wisdom 3:3-4). This means that the departed are alive in the eyes of God. “He is not God of the dead but of the living” (MK12:27). Prayers for the dead reflect this fundamental Christian belief that through the love of Christ, we are still connected to those who have gone before us.
the ateneo blue eagles add another championship to 2011 by winning the 16th psc university games basketball championship. with the "big" manila-based teams not participating in the event, the blue eagles are undoubtedly the favorites to win the competition even without the following key members of the team: greg slaughter, nico salva, kiefer ravena, emman monfort, and coach norman black (training with sinag pilipinas); oping sumalinog and bacon austria (playing for adamson-freego in the pba d-league); frank golla (out with illness); and kirk long (graduation break? haha!).
the team was impressive during the competition, winning mostly by double digits and sporting their patented pesky defense on teams who relied much on physical play. this could be a good ground to further develop the likes of jp erram (he displayed a good touch in his mid-range jumper and was rattling the rim with vicious dunks against hercor college jaguars), gwynne capacio (he will surely get into the rotation next season), and juami tiongson (he led the blue eagles in scoring in most games). of course, justin chua and tonino gonzaga continued their brilliance and veteran presence with a team comprised of eight team glory b players. if joma adornado and paul siarot develop in the off-season, we might see them in our drive for five next season.
so far, the team has won several titles this year, including their first fil-oil pre-season championship, their 4th straight uaap championship, and the uni-games championship. they are heavy favorites for the philippine collegiate champions league and we do hope they win it for a record third consecutive year.
teen read week has been one of the most anticipated events of the school year at xavier. as a program of the english department, it aims at promoting the "lost art" of reading to xavierians. one of the highlights of this week is the "dress me a literary" event where teachers, and eventually students, are asked to wear a costume based on a literary character, preferably from a book that students can easily identify.
during the first edition of dress me a literary, i wore a pharaoh costume because the week actually coincides with our lesson on the book of exodus. since then, i was known to high 1 students as "pharaoh" especially to my first and second batch of students. the year later, i dressed up as darth vader to coincide with my advisory class' "star wars" concept.
personally, this is one of the things i will miss in xavier. it brings much excitement to see fellow teachers do some sort of "cosplay" at least once a year. though san jose has been notoriously known for its "costume party" masses, the practice was unfortunately "outlawed" after the first class sponsored mass of the year. well, we still have the annual picnic for all our costume making and wearing needs.
since today is "dress me a literary" day in xavier, here's my advisory class' performance in last year's culmination of teen read week!
San Jose Major Seminary joins the Archdiocese of Manila in welcoming the news of the appointment of our esteemed alumnus, His Excellency, Most Rev. Luis Antonio G. Tagle, D.D., as the 32nd Archbishop of Manila. The appointment was announced at the Vatican today, October 13, at noontime (6:00 P.M. Manila time).
Bishop Tagle succeeds His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales, D.D., also an alumnus of San Jose Seminary (Batch 58), who retires after eight years of service in the country’s primatial see.
Bishop Tagle finished his undergraduate degree in Philosophy at San Jose Seminary and Ateneo de Manila in 1977 and his Masters degree in Theology in the same seminary and Loyola School of Theology in 1982. He earned both degrees, summa cum laude.
On this important occasion, Bishop Tagle declared:
"His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI appointed me, a humble servant, to succeed His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales to the Metropolitan See of Manila. I face this heavy responsibility with much trepidation. Leaving the Diocese of Imus, my beloved home, at the threshold of its Golden Jubilee is not easy. But faith in the gracious Lord and love of the Church give me strength. I know that I would find much good will and zeal for mission in the clergy, religious and lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Manila. In our openness to the Holy Spirit, we could render a joyful and robust witness to Jesus Christ, all for the glory of the Father and the good of the Church and of society, especially of the poor. I entrust the Archdiocese of Manila and my ministry to the loving care of our Lady, Mary Immaculate."
We congratulate Cardinal Rosales for his accomplished service to the Archdiocese and to the local Church in the Philippines. We pray for and wish our dear Archbishop-Elect Tagle many happy and fruitful years of ministry in his new assignment.
while at mass in gesu yesterday, i received yet another shocking news of death in our household. chowchow, the only female dog in the house and the last of our three original dogs, already joined al ghozi, moe, and pocknut in dog heaven. it has been a sad week for our household dogs, i guess.
i stumbled upon this photo in the internet containing 10 canine commandments. such should serve as a reminder to me on how i should value dogs - more than just a pet but as a best friend of sorts. i actually want to take care of a dog when i have my own parish soon. even if i still have josie (the seminary dog) and kicker (our family dog) to take care of, these 10 commandments post as a challenge for me to really value and take care of them.
interestingly, when moe died last february, "molly and me" was being shown at hbo. and my tears just flowed instantaneously. when i get home this friday, i will surely miss their presence in the house, especially because i'm the one in charge of feeding them daily. but i will surely see them in heaven, together with members of our family who have gone ahead, some of the greatest people in world history, as well as a bottle of san miguel beer. as a friend of mine commented, i'll see moe, ghozi, pocknut, and chowchow someday playing around the meadows in the nearby rainbow bridge.
mission accomplished. the ateneo blue eagles won their fourth consecutive uaap men's basketball championship exactly a week ago, and the experience of winning never really gets old. nonetheless, this championship was not give on a silver platter. players worked hard to win, coaches planned and run practices to perfection, and games were waged like wars - with the blue and white emerging victorious in the end. and so, here are five people who have been instrumental in the team's four-peat feat this season:
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST IN DISASTER RESPONSE MANAGEMENT
The Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan is currently building its volunteer base for disaster relief operations. At the moment, volunteer tasks include:
Command Center Operations (ADMU-based) – will monitor updates from affected areas, help receive and channel volunteers where necessary; coordinate with suppliers and deployed volunteers; document needs assessed and services delivered.
Deployment of Relief Goods – will travel to affected areas to accompany delivery of relief goods. Must be prepared and willing to travel to affected areas. No need for own vehicle, but if willing to volunteer a vehicle/drive (possibly within Metro Manila or to Northern Luzon, as per availability and willingness) – this will be a big help.
Time / commitment from volunteers may range from 1 day to a few hours a day over the next 2-3 weeks as we continue to respond to appeals from communities affected by Pedring and Quiel.
Anyone interested in helping with the above or through other means should kindly contact Br. Mark Lopez,SJ. 0915.2200330, mark.lopez.sj@gmail.com or 4266101 loc. 3440 or 426-5968.
Upon doing so, your name will be put in our data base and we will get back to you as soon as deployment to specific tasks will be necessary.
one of the things that i will surely miss as a former teacher in xavier school is the appreciation day. known to most as a-day, this is the time of the year when the boys of xavier high pull out something really spectacular for their 'chers. well, it's not hard to love and appreciate xavier students despite all their antics in the classroom. but a-day is that time when students take the extra mile to show how much they appreciate our work and person in school.
here's a trip down memory lane to the three a-days that i experienced in xavier school.
my very first a-day was quite special. more than the ateneo blue eagles winning their first of four straight uaap basketball championships the night before a-day, it was the first time i experienced such a celebration for teachers. the "vacation" concept was quite creative and cute: i came to school with the boys taking me to the "airport" (the lobby converted as such, with the elevator turned into a plane). a student of mine was the flight attendant and provided some "unexpected turbulence" by rocking the elevator! at the third floor, a bunch of students composed of the class presidents of each class gave a flower necklace to the teachers and staff. but what caught my attention was the gift they gave to us: a clipboard (which i still use until now) with some small notebook containing messages from students! awww, it was so cheesy! i was reading the notes from the boys and i was amused with their comments ranging from "sorry cher for being noisy and inattentive in class" and "thanks for being the best angas CLE teacher."
my second a-day was spent with one of the memorable classes i handled, h1a. they are memorable because they are a rowdy bunch of students but they changed for the better by the end of the year. the celebration may not be as memorable as the first year (the concept unfortunately escapes my memory while writing this entry), but the gift i got that year - a tumbler with my name - is something that i use in the seminary until this very day. of course, i still kept the small notebook of cheesy notes from my students. hahahaha!
my last a-day was ironically my first as a class adviser. a few days before a-day, i was not in good terms with my class due to their behavior in the classroom. other sections actually invited me to join their a-day celebration instead. but my class pulled quite a surprise: they had this cake with the words inscribed "we're sorry mr. crisostomo, happy a-day!" it had to be the most touching gift i ever received as a xavier teacher. hahaha! they also had a short video presentation for the teachers of their section.
the video used to be in youtube, but since i can't find it, i just posted the last part. you just have to tilt your head a bit though. hahahaha!
this year, i got the annual a-day pin courtesy of dandi who gave it to me during our invitational dinner last week. i guess the pin's caption says it all: i transform lives daily. i am a teacher. though i'm now at the other side of the classroom as a student, my experience as a teacher is something that i will always cherish and remember. and of course, as a priest someday, it is part of our ministry not just to teach people but to ignite the light of the people's faith and let it shine to the rest of the world.
on a final note, i was tagged by one of this videos by my former students. interestingly, they were the first batch of students i taught in xavier. they are now in their final year in high school. time flies fast!
the four championship runs of the ateneo blue eagles have been photo opportunities for me and my friends in the ateneo sports shooters' website (fabilioh.com). however, it seems that every year i have this "where's wally?" type of photo that somehow finds its way to the pages of fabilioh.
this is a challenge for people with 20/20 vision, or better yet, for those who can afford to waste some of their luxurious time. hahahaha!
here's a helpful tip: in all pictures, i wear an ateneo jersey of the current season, featuring my favorite color and number. let's see if you can spot me in these photos! GOOD LUCK!
NOTE: click photos to enlarge!
uaap season 72: ateneo vs. ue (game 1)
uaap season 73: ateneo vs. feu (game 1)
uaap season 73: ateneo vs. feu (game 2)
uaap season 74: ateneo vs. feu (game 2)
P.S. i will post my write-up on the blue eagles' four-peat when i finish more "pressing" stuff, like two term papers, a counseling interview, and my laundry.hahahaha :)
first, i wish the best to my former students in xavier school, especially my former advisees (h1h 2010-2011) as they receive the sacrament of confirmation today. this sacrament formally opens a new chapter in your commitment, growth, and maturity in the catholic christian faith. may the power of the holy spirit inspire, guide, and transform you as you write pages in this new chapter of your life.
second, i wish the best to my contemporaries in san carlos seminary - rev. herbert camacho (my classmate), rev. edric bedural (my jabuk), and rev. kristoffer habal (a contemporary) - for their ordination to the priesthood this morning. may you have a fruitful ministry as priests in the archdiocese of manila! please continue to pray for me as i continue to persevere in responding to god's call in the seminary.
and finally, i wish the best to the ateneo blue eagles for game 2 of the uaap seniors' basketball finals in the afternoon! i hope to witness history today as the team goes for its fourth consecutive seniors' basketball championship. as i mentioned before, every game should be taken as an elimination game. i hope you guys win this one, because i, like many others, want to move on with their lives. hahahaha!
San Jose Major Seminary joins the Archdiocese of Manila in welcoming the news of the appointment of our esteemed alumnus, His Excellency, Most Rev. Luis Antonio G. Tagle, D.D., as the 32nd Archbishop of Manila. The appointment was announced at the Vatican today, October 13, at noontime (6:00 P.M. Manila time).
