See you there

Christ, the true light of us, true morn,
Dispersing far the shades of night,
Light wehereof every light is born,
Pledge of the beatific light,

Though all the night our guardian be
Whose watch no sleep or slumber knows;
Thou be our peace, that stayed on thee
Through darkness we may find repose.

Sleep then our eyes, but never sleep
The watchful heaven-directed heart,
And may thy hand in safety keep
The servants whose desire thou art.

Look on us, thou, and at our side
Our foes and thine repulse afar;
Through every ill the faitful guide
Who in thy blood redeemed are.

While soul within the body clings,
Body and soul defend us, Lord,
Sure in the shadow of thy wings,
Kept in thy lasting watch and ward.

8th Century
Shewring


* Accompany Lord, your daughter Primitiva to the gate of Heaven and may your everlasting light shine upon her. Grant that one day, we soon be reunited with her and with all our loved ones who have left before us in this world. Salamat ate Emma sa mga iniwan mo saming ala-ala. Wala na akong ipaparang tri-cycle pag-uwi mo galing sa amin :(

Another Goodbye

My tita Emma has gone to our Lord's Kingdom today. I'm struggling hard to put into words the grief of our family. God bless her soul.

Sana

Gabi na naman. Lumipas na naman ang isang araw sa talaan ng istorya ng buhay. Bukas magsisimulang muli ang bagong araw na nakalaan para bawat isa, sa lahat ng tao sa buong panig ng daigdig. Bukas ay panibagong araw na naman ng pagtatanong, pagbabakasakali at pagpupunyagi na sana ay makamit ng minimithing pangarap. Nakakapagod ngunit paulit-ulit na umaasa na minsa'y makakamit din nating bawat Pilipino ang inaasam na pag-unlad, paglaya sa kamang-mangan at karukhaan, at pagtawid sa bagong landas bilang bagong Pilipinas para sa bagong Pilipino.

Ngayon ay unti-unti tumitimo sa aking puso ang lungkot sapagkat tayong mga Pinoy ngayon ay watak-watak. Sumisidhi ang dibisyon sa ating pag-iral bilang mamamayang Pilipino. Hindi ko naman dati pinapansing lubusan ang kalagayan ng ating bansa, subalit ngayon unti-unting nanunuot ang aking pagka-Pilipino. Apektado din pala ako ng mga nangyayari sa bansang aking iniwan (hindi ko pala siya maaring iwanan).

Maraming beses na may lumapit sa akin na hindi Pilipino wika niya'y, "Alam mo lagi kong ipinagdasal ang iyong bansa lalo na si Gloria." Sa isang pagkakataon naman ay isang Australyano ang napahayag ng damdamin at parang nakikidalamhati sa akin, "Nabalitaan ko ang nangyayari sa Pilipinas." Para ba akong namatayan at siya ay nakikiramay.

Ano ang magagawa ko? Marami akong tanong, ngunit ayokong magsalita, ayokong magmukhang pulitiko na kunwari'y alam ang lahat ng kasagutan sa lahat ng ating problema.

Dalangin ko na sana, sana naman, ay mapanibago ang sistema ng ating pagmumuhay. Hindi sa pagtuturuan ng pagkakamali ng isa kundi sa pag-amin sa sariling pagkukulang.

Ang bayang Pilipinas ay bayan ng Diyos, magkaisa nawa'y ang bawat Pilipino sa panalangin, mamayani nawa ang pag-mamahalan at pagkakaisa at mag-alay nawa tayo ng sariling sakripisyo para sa ikagiginhawa ng ating naghihirap na kababayan.

Sana'y isabuhay ko ang mga sinabi ko, kahit ngayon ay gabi na naman.

Tsinoy

I had the privilege of meeting today a Filipino intellectual by the name of Teresita Ang See. I attended this afternoon her forum discussion at La Trobe University, city campus, together with six Filipino scholars and an Australian who seems to know more about the Philippines than I do. Teresista Ang See is a professor in Ateneo de Manila University, chairperson of Crusade Action Against Crime, founding president of Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran (a non-government organization in the Philippines started in 1971). There are so many other important details about Teresita but what struck me most was the fact that she is one of the 27 Filipino nominees for Nobel Prize.

It is hard for me to reiterate what she has discussed in the forum today (as I said she is intellectual, I am not!). But here is the outline of those things that I can still remember and find interesting.

• Chinese Diaspora in the Philippines is unique in Asia
• There was a large scale of Filipino-Chinese persecution, harassment and mass massacres inflicted by the Spaniards. The Spaniards feared and mistrusted them.
• There were Chinese individuals who played important role during the revolution against Spanish rule. (Jose Ignacio Paua was a pure blooded Chinese who enlisted with Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo’s army; he won many battles and was among the signatories to the Biak na Bato constitution.
• There is only 1.2% of Filipino-Chinese in the Philippines. The census is based on ethnical Chinese who at least understand Chinese language, enrolled in Chinese schools, retaining Chinese tradition.
• Filipino-Chinese in the Philippines is the smallest Chinese community in Asia.
• Chinese in the Philippines speak Hokien, they came from Fukien, China.
• The new generation of Filipino-Chinese speak Tagalog as their first language, English as second, Hokien third and Mandarin as third language among others.
• Filipino-Chinese prefer to be called “Tsinoy” it is more politically correct because the usual term “Instik” is derogatory against them. “Instik” means an old Chinese man. “Instik beho tulo laway” is a mockery of an old China man whose saliva is drooling in his mouth because he had not enough sleep because of he was working so hard day and night.
• Tsinoy is the most vulnerable sector in the Philippines. They have no weapon against the very organized kidnappings.
• Many Chinese in the Philippines practiced religious syncretism, the unique product of Catholic and Buddhist intermarriage.
• Reverse migration: Before the Chinese people came in the Philippines barefooted with full of hopes and determinations to find a better in the country. Now, it is sad that Filipinos are leaving the country to find a land of greener pasture abroad.
• There are more wealthy Filipinos than the Tsinoys. The wealth of the Tsinoys are well publicized because they own the malls, commercial buildings, products, etc. but the not strategic property which run the business, lifestyle and economy of the country.
• Most of the enormous wealth of the elite Filipinos are non-creative.

Teresita Ang See has established Bahay Tsinoy (A Museum of the Chinese in the Philippines Life), located at Anda corner Cabildo Streets in Intramuros.

Tara na Biyahe tayo! Wow Philippines! (Jolina)

Suddenly Nurse

On my way home after attending Sunday Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, I came across a group of people carrying bags of different sizes and colour. I wondered where these people came from; they might have attended a seminar or something. I noticed names of medical institutions and hospitals printed on their bags. I found the answer to my query as I passed Melbourne Exhibition building, there I saw a large sign “Nursing Expo”. “Oh, so that it was,” I said to myself. But the sign next to it really attracted my attention like a powerful magnet, it says, “Free Admission”.

So, I went inside this historical building (Melbourne Exhibition is the place where the Parliament of Australia was signed in 1901, just like the Barasoain Church in the Philippines) and I squeezed myself into an enormous crowd of people (mostly young beautiful female nurses! That’s what you get after attending Mass). How nice would it be to see such a big crowd of people inside St. Patrick’s Cathedral participating in the Eucharist. Anyway, I found myself inside this building wandering around and enthralled by massive flow of people and also by the different booths of medical schools from all over Australia, health care institutions and hospitals. Most of the people there were fresh nursing graduates or students looking for career opportunities in medical field. This was exactly a different world for me.

What other things that also fascinated my attention were the free bags, pens, candies and stuffs which the people from the booths were giving away. You could easily feel an atmosphere of competition amongst these medical schools or healthcare institutions. Suddenly, a friendly lady approached me and asked, “Are you interested in Royal Children’s Hospital?” I said yes without even thinking. “So are you a fresh graduate?” I said yes again (which I really am). “Are you an overseas student?” I nodded my head very politely as I didn’t know what to say. “Why don’t you take this bag, it has all the information you need. We have an Open Day on July 9 at Royal Children’s Hospital at 1:00 pm. There will be hospital tours, interviews, blah, blah.” She was a lovely lady and I reckoned she would be a very good sales person. I didn’t bother telling her that I really have nothing to do about nursing or whatsoever as I didn’t want to disappoint her. I was afraid she might get my free bag back!

Please read the information I’ve got from the “Nursing Expo”. They might be helpful if you happen to be a nurse and reading this blog.

Healthcareseek.com.au Australia’s # 1 job for healthcare
jobs
www.rch.org.au/MSON For further enquiries in Royal Children’s Hospital. Refer to this website for current updates and application requirements.
www.research.cqu.edu.au Central Queensland University
www.nursingreview.com.au Australia’s Independent Voice of Nursin
www.nursesspecialists.com.au Victorian Nurse Specialists
www.NurseCentral.com.au Where Nurses Meet!
www.aicd.qld.edu.au Australian Institute for a Care Development
www.rcna.org.au Australian Mentor Centre
www.lrh.com.au Latrobe Regional Hospital
www.southernhealth.com.au Mental Health Nurses
www.cdu.edu.au Charles Darwin University
www.nursesworldwide.com.au Jobs for Nurses in all nursing specialities! Aged Care, Acute and Rehab.
www.latrobe.edu.au/nursing La Trobe University
www.phcn.vic.gov.au Peninsula Health (opportunities for full and part time Midwives)
www.hlth.qut.edu.au/nrs Postgrad nurising
www.xacom.com.au I-Care Nurse Call

I’ve got some more details but I feel getting sick now. I think I need a nurse...

Called Even If Empty

I attended last Friday evening the Ordination Mass of Fr. Peter-John Neviandt. His ordination to the priesthood was a very special occasion for him and his own family, and indeed for the Diocese of Sandhurst, where he is going to work. Bishop Joe Grech was the main celebrant. He gave a powerful homily transpiring the important role of the priest in our society today. He mentioned that God has a particular plan for each and one of whether we are married person, single, lay, religious or priest. The plan of God for Peter-John (now a priest) is to represent Christ and be an ‘another-Christ’ for the people of God. He has been chosen by God to serve, to proclaim, and to continue the works of Jesus.

I tried to listen attentively to the words of Bishop Grech, and I felt a mixture of feelings of anxiety, fear, happiness, excitement and unworthiness. But the last one has overwhelmed me more than all others. I felt so unworthy being called by God. During the ordination ceremony I remembered my sins, my weaknesses, my bad decisions, my failures… How can I serve God and his people when my unworthiness weighs me down?

I wanted to say sorry and express my grief and sorrow.

I always say this prayer to Christ, through his priest, in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.
In choosing to do wrong in
failing to do good,
I have sinned against you whom I should love above all
things.
I firmly intend to penance,
to sin no more,
and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Our Saviour Jesus Christ
suffered and died for us.
In his name, my God have mercy. Amen.

---
The ordination for the diaconate of this awful servant is on 8 October this year.