The Majesty & Magnificence of Callao Cave

Posted on June 30, 2016 by heavenliner

I can’t recall if I have been to a cave. This is until my attention, interest and curiosity was called upon by the beauty, majesty and magnificence of Callao Cave in Tuguegarao Province. This grand and imposing natural formation is known as the site where the oldest human bone of a Filipino has been discovered.

Being inside Callao Cave can be considered a blessing. It was such an awesome sight. The grandiose rock formations and the dramatic effect of natural rays of the sun seeping through the holes and crevices above the chambers and domes were really breathtaking. I never imagined that such a place actually exists!

with mj, jb and willie playing with the rays of the sun…

dramatic!

the rarest chapel ever!

the stunning lighting effect are all natural…

Me and my colleagues (MJ, JB and Willie) felt so blessed for we were fortunate enough to behold such a magnificent work of nature! The stunning site gives you an insight that the caveman who lived inside Callao thousands of years ago must be spending some auspicious lifestyle! His architect and interior designer was no less than Mother Nature.

My experience and beautiful impression of Callao is worth a memory that can be tucked securely in a corner of my mind which can readily be pulled out later, maybe for a poem, or a short story or a song. And it will definitely take a lot for the succeeding caves that I will step into for me to get as impressed as that of the first cave that I have been to. Callao was one stupendously gorgeous cave!

Hayop sa ganda ang kwebang yon!

Chronicling a Momentous Holy Mass in Old Jaffa

Posted on April 11, 2016 by heavenliner

According to history, Old Jaffa in Tel Aviv was a place that was monopolized by the Canaanites and Philistines. It was also the ancient town brought to knees by Biblcal King David, ruled by King Solomon and vanquished by the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Persians and the Phoenicians. It was the historic site where Alexander the Great stationed his troops. And it was reconquered by the Jews through the Maccabean rebels and also fell into the hands of the Romans. Old Jaffa is also where some of the stories in the Holy Bible about Jonah and Apostle Peter took place.

Old Jaffa is also even written about in some Egyptian letters by an ancient pharaoh. It is also believed to be the place where Andromeda (of the Greek mythology) was chained to a rock by her king father so as to pacify the tantrums of Poseidon.

st peter’s church

amen!

my sister outside the st peter’s church…

And in the event I happen to become very famous and significant, let me pronounce and put in writing (so that people would know) that this historic site is where I attended my first Holy Catholic Mass in Israel. Not in Jerusalem, not in Nazareth neither in Bethlehem. It is in old, historic and colorful Jaffa! This I guess would be one notable event that will be recognized in the future!

And for the record, the Holy Mass me and my sister fortuitously attended was celebrated in the Spanish language. It was a special Mass for some Latin American looking tourists. Too bad I did not intently listened to my profesora in Spanish language subjects during my schooldays, only little could I understand on what the priest was saying.

But since me and my sister knows the dynamics of the Holy Catholic Mass – when to say amen, when to kneel, when to do the sign of the cross, when to pray a specific/standard prayer, when to stand and bow the head, when to respond (our response was in English though), when to say “peace be with you”, etc. – the experience was as divine and as hallowed like attending a Holy Mass which we could totally understand.

No, I don’t have plans of conquering this awesome place but it can now be said that Old Jaffa is now a part of my soon to be famous life. Or the other way around, that is, I have at least in some strange twist of fate have been part of the historic Old Jaffa.

took a shot while the first reading is on-going…

the massive church was aptly called st peter's church because this is where st peter lived for a while (inside simon the tanner's house) and had a vision/dream which started the christian catholic religion. old jaffa is also where st peter raised tabitha from the dead

the massive house of prayer was aptly called st peter’s church because this is where st peter lived for a while (inside simon the tanner’s house) and had a vision/dream which started the christian catholic religion. this house is also where st peter raised tabitha from the dead

up the hill in old jaffa. behind me is the catholic church of st peter.

Parang gusto ko tuloy sakupin at ikongker ang baryong ito.

Wish Follow-up

Posted on July 19, 2015 by heavenliner

One common yet unofficial belief of religious and unreligious Catholics is that they can make a wish every time they enter a Catholic Church for the first time. Others, may they have a religion or none, would take the opportunity to make a wish every time they came across a wishing well.

I love churches and wishing wells, these spots gives me the feelings of positivity, optimism and upbeat emotional strength. Both feels like they have strange and mysterious healing powers!

one massive door of st. martin de tours basilica, the largest church in asia

Almost all people, I guess, after making a wish in these places would either forget about it or let fate and providence be the arbiter if such longing will be granted or not. No one I guess ever thought or dared of going back to the church or wishing well to follow up his or her wish. Relaying a reminder for the granting of a yearning is not part of the tradition or the custom of making wishes. This is definitely something rare and uncommon.

And since I am rare and uncommon, I did the rare and the uncommon. I followed-up.

Last Thursday, after touring a very interesting meat processing plant in Malvar, Batangas, me and my colleagues decided to go for a side trip. We went to the old heritage town of Taal, Batangas. For a very brief exploration, we went to 2 old churches and one mystical wishing well in Taal.

We went to the St. Martin De Tours Basilica, the largest Catholic Church in Asia and at the Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay, one of the few churches in the world that was given the special privilege by the Vatican for plenary indulgence. To cap our short Taal trip, we went to the old spring-fed wells of Sta. Lucia, a miraculous wishing well.

Since I have been to all these three spots just a couple of weeks ago, this means, I would not have the opportunity to make a wish. Thus, to make this trip a more fruitful one, I simply expressed a reminder for the granting of my wish. The same request I made the first time I went there.

a day to wish! (at sta. lucia wishing wells)

At the miraculous Sta. Lucia wishing well, people are obliged to return to this site when their wishes has already been granted. Grantees return so as to offer white or violet-colored flowers and to pray their deepest thanks. Since my wish has yet to be granted, I did not bring with me any flower but nevertheless say a short prayer of thanks for being well and alive.

Still at the miraculous Sta. Lucia wishing well, while dampening my face, my neck, my arms and my hair with the banal na tubig (sacred water) fetched from the well I was literally uttering in a sweet gentle tone, “Follow-up lang po… follow-up lang po…”.

a day to follow-up…

Everyone was laughing when they heard me say this. Maybe it’s because it’s unusual to follow-up. My colleagues knew that I was just there few days ago, that is why they were giggling when I was making a follow-up.

So, to make my wish become more potent, I called for reinforcements! I requested my colleagues’ that part of their wishes is that they wish that my wish be granted!

Siguro naman matutupad na… Palow-ap lang po…

Blissful Encounter with the Lady Named Caysasay and an Angel Named Mark Vincent

Posted on June 28, 2015 by heavenliner

It has always been my belief that entering a house of prayer or a religious temple for the first time goes with a lot of perks. I am with the faithful belief that you can ask for three wishes if it is your first time to enter a church. This of course is aside from the opulent opportunity to pray for your loved ones, express your heartfelt gratitude, catch-up with God and in a way save your soul.

simple yet powerful!

mystifying

But my first time visit to the church of Our Lady of Caysasay in Barangay Labac, Taal has more than what I expected. I only knew through a brochure write-up of the hotel were we stayed in Taal that pilgrims and visitors of this church as decreed by Vatican may actually receive the rare and priceless plenary indulgence. This means, if you visit and pray at Caysasay Shrine all your sins, wickedness and impiety will be washed away. Upon knowing this, and since my wickedness is already up to the brim, I made sure that I and my friends must go there.

Aside from washing away all my evilness, I also got to meet one remarkable kid in Taal. His name is Mark Vincent. I actually met him right inside the church. After saying a solemn prayer, this kid approached me and asked if I wanted to personally hold the image of Our Lady of Caysasay. I of course agreed. He then told me to follow him outside, led me to the back of the church and asked me to go up the stairs which leads me to the back of the high altar.

the angel and the wicked

our lady of caysasay

feeling blessed

When I reached the top floor, the main backdoor of the church was locked. Mark Vincent noticed that I could not get in so he hurried downstairs and told the church’s personnel to open the door for me and my friends. This is where the amazing and rare opportunity of touching the miraculous image, her vestment and even the hair of Our Lady of Caysasay happened. This beautiful experience was indeed sublime and mystifying.

When I told Mark Vincent that he is supposed to be in school that Wednesday morning, he told us that his teacher ordered them to report halfday after lunch because it’s the feast day of St John the Baptist. In Batangas province, part of its local tradition is to splash water to people passing by the streets from morning ‘til noontime during San Juan day. The teacher then, as I supposed, must not want her students reporting at school in the morning all drenched wet.

I was expecting Marc Vincent to ask money from us upon making sure we experience what we experienced. Usual Pinoy cunning and scheming kids would charge or ask tourists for money for the service they believe they’ve rendered. But what is so remarkable about this kid is that he never asked anything from us. He simply wanted us to have a deeper encounter with the Lady of Caysasay. This is the point when I surmised that Mark Vincent, the genteel and well-mannered kid, must be some angel sent by heaven. (I will write further about my encounter with this remarkable kid in the days to come…)

Sa wakas nahuhasan din. Grabe. Ang linis linis ko. Hahaha!

I Think I Like Pope Francis

Posted on January 15, 2015 by heavenliner

Because of a couple of hot-button issues that I don’t agree with the Catholic Church, I consider myself a “Catholic in bad standing”. Though born a Catholic, I don’t even have a friend or even an acquaintance who’s either a Catholic priest or a nun. Nevertheless, I participated in welcoming with huge open arms His Holiness, Pope Francis to my country, the Philippines.

one cool pope…

I think I like Pope Francis. I like him because he has an effective way of changing the public’s perception about Catholicism. His tone is totally different as compared to a traditional, strict and highly conservative Catholic.

I think like him because he is not out in the world to evangelize the non-Catholics. He is out of Vatican and visits parts of the world to re-evangelize the Catholics (like me) to reconsider the Catholic virtues of compassion, love and service to fellow human beings.

I think I like him because he is not the usual judgmental type of a Catholic. He seem to be the type who would just let you be what you be as long as you mean no harm and it is in pursuit of love or of helping the poor.

I like him because he concedes to the idea that God shall be your judge at the end of the day and not those people with ostentatious robes running the Roman Catholic Church.

Lastly, I think I like Pope Francis because he seem to possess the power to warm hearts. Through the feeling of warm hearts, this opens up people’s appreciation towards the beauty of Catholicism, the strength of Christianity and the love of Jesus Christ.

After seeing Pope Francis in person, I know what the phenomenon dubbed as the “Pope Francis Effect”. Seeing him was like one of the coolest things. It seem like an out of body experience!

Maligayang pagdating po sa inyo…

Lighting Candles

Posted on September 29, 2014 by heavenliner

Not regularly going to church to attend the Holy Mass is something that I am not definitely proud of. But aside from dipping my index and middle finger in a bowl of Holy Water upon entry and exit, the other thing I love doing when inside a Catholic Church is lighting up candles.

candles i lit in baclaran church in the middle of the night

That is why every time I have the sweet opportunity to light candles inside a church, I always light five of it. One for me, one for Nengkoy and Joe, one for my beautiful family, another for my friends and colleagues while the last one is for the one whom I have patiently been waiting for.

For me, lighting up candles is like toting up an interactive medium towards one’s prayer. One does not simply say a prayer instead such request, petition, gratitude, supplication or wish are conveyed to the heavens with a cool and funky symbolism.

Syanawa…

My First Visita Iglesia

Posted on March 29, 2013 by heavenliner

I have been to Bangkok, Thailand three times. And in all those times I with friends tour their well known Buddhist temples in a day. I even coined it Visita Buddhista. This made a tinge of guilt because in my homeland and with my very own religion, I’m too lazy to pull off the Filipino Catholic Lenten tradition known as Visita Iglesia (Seven Churches Visitation).

But I’m guilty no more because in this year’s Holy Thursday, I have completed my very first Visita Iglesia. I did this pious tradition not with friends but with my family. We did not chose the grandest and tour-worthy churches and cathedrals found in Metro Manila but instead we settled on visiting the houses of prayers that are in a way close and connected to our hearts. Five of which are located in Pasay City, 1 in Makati and 1 in Manila.

Here they are…

The Shrine of Jesus, The Way, The Truth and The Life

Located near SM Mall of Asia, my family calls this MOA Church. It’s literally is close to our family because it is the nearest church to Nengkoy’s house. That is why it is so obvious that it is the first church we visited.

Our Lady of Sorrows Parish Church

This church is very special to me and my siblings. We consider this place of worship as the “Binyag Church” (Church of Baptism) because all of our catholic baptism rites when we were still infants were held in this very church.

San Rafael Parish Church

This is my family’s Parish Church. In 1962, this was the very church where the glorious wedding ceremony of my parents was held. Nengkoy was all smile when she entered and left this very quaint church, she feels like she’s so part of it. Also, this was the very church that I was scolded by a priest (mind you, it was during the homily) for wearing shorts when I heard a Holy Mass one early morning a couple of years back.

Sta. Clara De Montefalco Parish Church

This is the house of prayers of Nengkoy when she was a young girl studying in St Mary’s Academy.

San Isidro Labrador Parish Church

This one is the personal favorite of my nephew Luis. The adjacent catholic school is where he studied in high school. Anyway, I personally like the drama of this church… the holy cross was placed outdoor and visible indoor through a clear glass wall.

St. John Bosco Parish Church

This is the church where my elder sister and her husband claimed to have first met. Ewww super cheesy! As for me, I always wonder why every time I pray inside this church my prayers are in straight English. Is it the location, is it the minimalist modern interiors or is it the stylish well-dressed church goers? I don’t know why. (I think it’s the “pa-sosyal” in me. hahaha!)

Our Lady of Remedies Parish Church

This very old yet majestic church was the venue of my elder sister’s wedding. This church is a very popular church for Visita Iglesia aficionados. It was full packed! That is why when we entered to say our prayers the first thing I uttered was “Wow blockbuster!” Anyway, Our Lady of Remedies otherwise known as Malate Church is a special church for me. It is a stone throw away from my office. That is why this is the church I go to for me to say my morning prayer every time I came too early for work.

Nanikip ang dibdib ko sa bisitang yan hah! Muntik na ko matunaw!

Nengkoy

ruminations & travesties of the favorite yet naughty son of Nengkoy

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