The Language Survival Kit

The challenge of travelling to non English speaking countries is communicating.

Lonely planet travelers who do not patronize travel tours put themselves at risk by plotting their own routes. Yet, surprisingly they manage. One with an inquisitive mind who is direction oriented can survive with key words.

In Italy, the basics I could not do without are:

“Boungiorno. Mi scusi. Per favore. Dov’e un termini? Dov’e? Grazie. Chiao!”

Bwon∙jor no. mee∙skoo zee. Per fa∙vo∙re. Do ve u termini? Do∙ve? Gra∙tsye.

In France where the citizens have the distinction of a strong pride for their language, I survived with:

“Bonjour . Excusez moi/Pardon. S’il vous plait. Ou est Charles de Gaulle Estoille? Ou est? Merci. Au revoir!”

Bon∙zhoor. Ek skew zay mwa/par∙don. Seei voo play. Oo ay Charles de Gaulle Estoille. Oo ay? air see. O rer vwa.

In Tagalog, the translation is:
Magandang araw po! Makikisuyo. Saan po ba ang MRT station? Salamat po! Saan? Babay.

Caught in a problem I’d say“ Aiuto! in Italian (a yoo to!), Au secours! in French (o skoor!). Saklolo in Tagalog. Then help comes along.

Through these, I am able to see the wonders these 1st world countries brag about. “Chiao. Au revoir. Paalam.”

Pervasive Coca-Cola

The pervasive Coca-Cola.
You see it in the key cities in the world.
In famous streets and corners.
Not just in the cold vault but in positions which trigger satisfaction of thirst.
Placement in 1st position consistently.
In Rome, Vatican, Milan, Venice, at the Café, in the sidewalk stores, in Panini stands.
In Paris, Lourdes, Pisa in the Tuscany Valley.
Coke is everywhere. When it is in the landmarks of the world, is it in itself part of the world’s symbol?
Dites-moi!  (Tell me!)

Eiffel Tower, grandiose, magnifique.

Equally difficult aside from finding her bearings from the underground railway system is catching her in the evening.

My companion and travel director, Celeste suggested that I view the monument in the evening to appreciate her full splendor.

After the 4 PM open tour in Paris, I still decided to check out the location of the Charles de Gaulle Terminal 1 airport from the Opera Station. My Metro Mobilis unlimited and cross riding ticket allows me to take the bus or train to the international airport within the 24 hour usage. True enough, I was able to reach and check the facilities of the airport in preparation for the departure back to Manila at no extra Euro outlay. It took me less than 2 hours though to complete the drill.

I arrived back at the Zone 1 of Paris past 7 PM making me cram at the planned program for the day. The open tour of the 2-decked bus has ended thus making me design several public bus transfers to reach the Eiffel Tower in the evening. With less time, I still have to contend with the last Metro and Train A rides back to the suburbs which based on published data is at 22:57.

Focused on the catching the awesome view and catching the last train ride (I found out there was a 23:27 trip), I was successful. The spectacle was one of the most beautiful sites I’ve seen in my life, Eiffa fitting end and a fulfilling reward to a hard earned travel. I share my sights with you for you to judge.

Eiffel Tower, grandiose, magnifique.

Roads led me to Rome

I can relate to the famous quote by the English Poet John Heywood that  “Rome was not built in one day.” It took decades for me see the city in Italy. Thanks to the beatification rite of Pope John Paul II this 1 May 2011, it was this force that drew me to the city where over 1 million pilgrims were at the St. Peter square at the Vatican. 

Literally I saw “all roads led to Rome.” Influx to the smallest nation of the world started as early as Saturday morning 30 April or perhaps earlier.

Edgar Allan Poe, an American author citing the decline of the city wrote centuries ago, “The glory that was Greece, the grandeur that was Rome.” With what I have seen, to me, it is “the grandeur that is Rome.” It is history made alive.

Spotting the Tower

Looking for this symbol of Paris is like spotting for a mountain peak. Staying at Val D’ Europe, about 30 kilometers from the City and 3 kilometers from Disneyland, it took a while to design a plan on how to view its splendor in this non English speaking country.

1st learn to buy the right ticket to access the Paris transport system via the automated machine. 2nd is familiarizing yourself with how to use it. Lastly and most importantly, navigating the main train, the 7 Metro lines and the bus routes.

As this is all done underground, the excitement of stepping out on the ground the 1st time in Paris is a thrill in itself. It took me 1 main train to the central station Charles de Gaulle Etolle exposing me to the labyrinth leading to several levels of tunnels. The French speaking info desk instructed to me transfer to the Yellow Line 1 headed for La Defense to get off after 2 spots then transfer to the Green Line 6 headed for Nation and ascend to Trocadero sortie (exit).

Like a groundhog that saw the soil of the city, I looked at the piazza with wonder. “Where it the Eiffel? Asking a postcard vendor “Pardon! Ou Eiffel?” The Frenchman said cross the street, turn right and look around.

Following the instruction trustingly, I was awed by the sight of the 1889 wonder saying, finally, decades after birth, 75 minutes and 13.99 Euros and kilometers of walking, I saw the 320.7 meter, 7,000 tons, 1,652 steps symbol of the French revolution. The feeling was as grand as stepping on the mountain peak of difficult climbs.

Vive la France! Merci Boucoup. In my language I said, “Salamat, wagi!”



Temperature range 13 to 23 C

Ave Maria

Bernadette Soubirous, saint of Lourdes, France stood for the merits of prayer, penance, poverty and church.  The nightly procession at the Basilica of the Immaculate Concepcion in Lourdes, France at 9PM is attended by thousands of devotees praying the rosary for two hours in several European languages.  It is led by the physically challenged assisted by the volunteers of the Order of Malta.  After each mystery, Ave Maria is sung and candles are raised at the mention of “Maria.”  Procession is serious and solemn, a fitting tribute to our Lady.

Prayer for the Beatification of Pope John Paul II

O Blessed Trinity,

we thank You for having graced the Church

with Pope John Paul II and for allowing

the tenderness of Your Fatherly care,

the glory of the cross of Christ,

and the splendor of the Holy Spirit,

to Shine through him.

Trusting fully in Your infinite mercy

and in the maternal intercession of Mary,

he has given us a living image of Jesus

the Good Shepherd, and has shown us that

holiness is the necessary measure of ordinary

Christian life and is the way of achieving

eternal communion with You.

Grant us, by his intercession,

and according to Your will,

the graces we implore ...,

hoping that he will soon be

numbered among Your saints.
Amen.

Journey

This weekend up to the next 2 weeks, I will embark on a journey which is part of my bucket list. I recall denying travel to this continent at least 4 times from various groups and for various reasons common of which is work or schedule.

This time around, in safe company, I boldly said yes to the invitation of Celeste, the serious driver of the trip who I have not responded to positively to several previous kind invites. Cecilia will be with us, our hardworking admin support for family projects.  So is Carmela, lover of good food and fun nights. It is two weeks of adventure and excitement and a deepening of faith as well.

I look forward to documenting what this travel will unfold.
All my 23kg are packed, am ready to go.

1602 khz in the AM band

I attend classes while going home by car early evenings. That’s what it sounds like while tuned in to DZUP 1602 khz in the AM band.

Various discussion points are taken up by a host professor with their highly qualified guests. This March, I listened with interest to perspectives on the importance of office grapevines, learning to appreciate Portuguese by Errol John Agustin, violence in fraternity, improving the library system, the rondalla and other topics.

Educational and informative, the medium has been teaching me with additional unexpected knowledge from the point of view of practitioners, social scientists, alumni and regular radio listeners.

What I like about the discussions are the expertise shared by young sounding professionals and the idealism of their views.  Every guest has an insight to disclose and a suggestion on how to improve situations.

Withdrawing from the daily humdrums of working, listening to the guests with their objective solutions, it is like suspending myself from reality and imagining I am back in the abstract and conceptual classroom.

When one gets disillusioned with the company of fellow workers and office situations, this is a most welcome escape.  Looking forward to what's on air tomorrow.

Links
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wangwang-ng-Bayan-DZUP-1602/167731976573516
http://dzup1602.i.ph/
http://isktreaming.upd.edu.ph/

Fast Food Served

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Today at work after a noontime mass, I decided to have a special lunch.

Special because it is Valentine’s Day.

The food outlet I selected was Jollibee, within walking distance from the church.

As it was not a regular day, I opted to get a notch order higher than the usual Spaghetti Value Meal priced at P 57.0.

I had in mind Palabok Value Meal tagged at P 72.0.

The queue was not that long.  I was the 3^rd in the line.

But most of the seats were taken.

Suddenly, Kath, an order taker approached me to get the usual order in advance.

I was surprised that she volunteered to find me a seat while she placed the order on my behalf.

I gave her a hundred and agreed.

It crossed my mind that this was unusual.  I advanced her the money and may not show up.

Before other ideas popped up, she was already serving my order with my change.

Thank you Kath, the Palabok with a regular Coke tasted much better at the UN-Taft that busy lunch time.

Leadership Summit Insights

Insights:
The capacity to discern the true nature of a situation; penetration.
The act or outcome of grasping the inward or hidden nature of things or of perceiving in an intuitive manner.
-American Heritage Dictionary

1. Communication is important in leadership.
2. The initial step to a genuine communication is alignment leading to act and after assessing, adjust. We tend to act immediately without truly aligning.
3. At times we box out the other party who threatens us as perceived by disagreeing, defending and destroying. Instinctively, to survive we react by fighting, flighting or freezing.
4. A conversation has several levels: pretense, sincerity, accurate and authentic. Focus of pretense is what I am not saying. Focus of sincerity is I am aware of the message but in content only. Accurate is both message and emotion.
5. A productive conservation goes through a cycle of value, the extreme through a cycle of waste.
6. We have a concept of ourselves in terms of mission, adaptability, involvement and consistency. This may be the similarly or differently perceived by our peers and direct reports. Gaps indicate our effectiveness.
7. We have personal preferences as defined by the Myers Briggs Personality Test: we can either be introverts or extroverts in the channel of energy, understanding via sensing or intuition, making choices via thinking or feeling and acting influenced by either judging or perceiving.
8. When we approach people to influence, our currencies are driven by: inspiration, task, people, relationship, position or a combination. We apply those most effective to us. Other people have preferences on how they want to be influenced.
9. Managers organize the complexity, leaders prepare us for change.
10. Leaders have an important task guided by a plan with not enough time to achieve results. They are fact based measured by a handful of controlling objectives. When faced with a quasi crisis, reserves show up to complete the task. Leaders look to the future with optimism.

Learnings are added knowledge manifested in a behavior. Behavior repeatedly done, becomes a habit. Habit extended over time is imbedded in values.

Food Trip with a Chef

After New Year, there is still the Feast of the Epiphany to mark the end of the Christmas season. At the Chef's Galley, a small bistro (with about 10 tables) along C. Benitez st. near Horseshoe Village in Quezon City, we were treated to a feast fitted so divine it surprised us.

There’s something striking in all the orders we tried. The squash soup has a distinct delicious flavor. We could not stop spreading the pate in crispy thin wheat bread and crunching it or incessantly dipping the salmon in a preparation and biting quickly. The burger is as described: pure, meaty with a spike from an unidentified ingredient. The wafer thin salad pizza has a zest making it uniquely tasting.

Conceived by Chef Rainbow who was educated abroad but exposed to local and regional food, she sees her bistro as an honest place, true to what it advertises, serving pure and good tasting gourmet food coming from a clean kitchen. She visualizes her chefs interacting with the guests at the same time doing the chores for them.

As we were the only guests for the night, the full manning complement of the small bistro was devoted entirely to us. With Chef Rainbow and 3 other chefs behind every order, who wouldn’t feel divine?

plural epiph•a•nies
Definition of EPIPHANY
1: capitalized: January 6 observed as a church festival in commemoration of the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles or in the Eastern Church in commemoration of the baptism of Christ

2: an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being

3a (1): a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2): an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking (3 : an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure

Elements of a Grade School Reunion

Elements of a Grade School Reunion: a homily, a haiku, an event and a pre and post reunion class annual.

As an invited stalker (mildly a lurker) to the 35th year homecoming of the SPCT Grade School Batch 1975 post activity and relating as a fellow Paulinian, I can not help but comment on the individual pre and post descriptions of the alumnus in their commemorative documentation.

It must be a thrill to read how one is seen by the rest of the class and the writer. It is a rare gift to be told what they think of us then and what we have become 35 years after. Whether accurately or partially captured, it is but fitting to reflect on the thought that “Is what we have become now a result of the thought we seeded then?” Only we personally can answer. Whatever our findings are, it is but fitting during this Christmas season to give thanks to people, decisions, challenges and circumstances that influenced us to where we are now.

Only we can answer if indeed St. Paul has touched our lives against this thought, “Like St. Paul, what makes us great is the extent we are willing and committed to give for the ones we truly love.”

Only we can validate based on the destiny where we are now  if indeed Ralph Emerson’s statement is relevant, ”Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.”

The final test for me whether St. Paul has positively influenced our lives is when we can confidently declare that “our destiny is not a matter of chance but a matter of choice.”  Congratulations to SPC Batch ’75 on your successful homecoming.

(Photos grabbed from the Batch’s FB photo coverage.)

Recall Rekindle Rejoice In the Lord

Pardon me my friends for reading my homily today. I am among very esteemed and exacting and respected classmates, therefore I have to keep my homily within bounds of decency, style, and time. In short, I am not used to extemporaneous speeches like our classmate here Michee Aquino, Dodo Razon and Noel Israel.

To say that every one of us looked forward in excitement to this day is an underestimation. Imagine, having finally reached this day of coming together in celebration, after 35 long years, is indeed momentous. A day that was ignited by a simple posting of our class picture in facebook by our classmate Frankie Dadufalza and taken over by Dodo Razon who tagged everyone of us.

From that day, we have come a long way. I was looking for the bank account number of this class a few days ago and I could not find it in the pile of messages we have sent to each other the past months. The thread we have created can now qualify for the Guinness. We have not only come a long way, but we have returned. We are back to recall, rekindle the joy of the days gone by, and rejoice with the Lord and burst into thanksgiving for all the blessings he bestowed on each and every one of us.

We have come a long way and we have returned. We are back to reminisce, to remember as far as we can of the first day of school. In Kindergarten we remember that we were literally forced to come to class. At a young age, we were so dependent on our parents and to relinquish that reliance, we have to cry our way to the classroom into the hands of those we feared: as the nun called Sr. Mary Martha (who is here with us today), to that feisty principal Sr. Theresia, and those teachers with a ready punishment for naughty students. We grew up fearing the principal’s office, but we now look back and say “no regrets” -- the very persons whom we feared have become the people we are so grateful for today.

We have come a long way, from our first communion on December 8, to the numerous intramurals and foundation days that nurtured our talents in singing and dancing (some with great passion and matching costume of the Hawaiian dance – probably today’s version of otso otso).
We look back at the piano recitals, Christmas choral concerts, and the numerous stage musicals like “Cinderalla”, “The Sound of Music”, and stage plays such as Helen Keller’s Miracle Worker. These activities have later nurtured in us a great appreciation of the arts.
We look back to the days we were in the campus where we played Chinese garter, shatong and tumbang preso, jackstone and shato, marbles and matchboxes which we bought at the Variety Store in the old market. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise that in those days we did not have computer games, or PSPs that would have curtailed our ability to socialise with our playmates . We are a happy bunch of kids then, because we knew how to play with others with much gusto.
As we look back, we remember the people who touched our lives because of the service they rendered to make life comfortable and convenient for us. We remember the sisters assigned to care for us: Sr. Mary Martha, Sr; Yolanda Caridad, Sr. Giles who accompanied us in the piano, and Sr. Gabriel who sold the the textbooks every enrolment day.

We remember our teachers: Mises Macapagal, Allayban, Coballes, Liban, Rola, Taguinod, Gatan, Cabalza and many more.
We remember Berong who was the friend of all the pupils in the elementary department with his calesa that brought most of us to school and back home after classes. Who can forget lolo Deyong? We flocked to his store infront of the ermita to buy lubban, santol or bayabo wrapped in newspaper and sprinkled with asin. Simple, but heavenly pleasures.
Most specially today, we remember and pray for the classmates who went before us to the bosom of the Lord our creator: Warren Salvatierra, Mary Alexis Gacutan, Honorio Daraway, Anselmo Almazan, Benjamin Collado, Jonathan Cortez, Alexander Dona Martinez, and Benito Valdepenas. May the Lord welcome them into his heavenly fold and grant them eternal rest.
We are not here just to remember, but to reflect on how far we have reached and to see if our perspectives changed. Just like St. Paul our patron saint who moved from one country to another, some of us have moved away from Tuguegarao to far distances.

The capital cities we used to memorize in Social Studies have been visited and, like dogs who pee around a tree, we have made our marks in those countries we have been to. Some have reached the height of their careers; with a list of achievements, or a wider scope of influence. And we ask ourselves: How far have our dreams taken us?
Some of us have sailed great emotional oceans; and we have been gashed by the fiercest waves and storms of life. What was once played “Four Strong Winds” have become the image of emotional struggles. And just as Paul came to strengthen the spirit of his disciples when they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, we return to find strength in each other.
When we remember the past, we look back because we’ve changed. And the past have made us who we are today. But the little boys and the little girls who once inhabited St. Paul, we retained one specific thing that is important - we continue to nourish our friendships.

With the spark of just one photo, we have rekindled memories of friendship that we will forever cherish in our hearts.
And this is what we celebrate in thanksgiving today. We are here with grateful hearts for the people we have met along the journey through life: our classmates, teachers, administrators, our parents who made a Pauline Education possible for us, and the people who made life comfortable for us.
Nothing binds relationships, but this beautiful memory of friends. What makes us different from other batches are our stories.
And these stories, brought together, form one collective memory which we share today. And in addition, nothing strengthens individuals in a relationship but affection. In this gathering, we show how much we care.

Today, we just proved that the Lord was right. What matters is what is forever.

And this is the reason why we don’t regret coming home. Today, we just affirmed that, what is most important is not how far we have gone, but how deep we have loved.

And this is the reason why we don’t regret coming home. Today, we just affirmed that, what is most important is not how far we have gone, but how deep we have loved...

This is what we have learned in St. Paul College (now university). Our motto “Caritas Christi Urget Nos.

– Christ’s love impels us” has and will always guide us in our journey through life.

Like St. Paul, what makes us great is the extent we are willing and committed to give for the ones we truly love.

So that, when it is our time to bid the world goodbye, we can say: That in all things, God may be glorified.  Let us continue with this Eucharistic celebration remembering, rekindling and rejoicing with God and one another.

Captions from the message delivered by our classmate Reverend Father Gilbert Sales, CICM to his classmates and teachers in his homily. December 29, 2010 at the Ermita Church Tuguegarao, Cagayan..

Ending 2010. Bland lacking in stimulation

How am I ending 2010 memorably? By all indications, it would end bland, lacking in stimulation.

The last Christmas party I attended was for another company function where the invitation came accidentally by chance in a short street chat with the leader hours before the party. It was a typical field office activity done in a warehouse under dim fluorescent light on the 30th. Highlights of the night were meals, karaoke bar and an exchange gift for 30 plus personnel that may have taken 2 hours to complete the rounds.

In between the program, I dropped by the warehouse office where I spotted 2 RTM engineers drafting an email of their report to their manager. They have been recently recruited 2 months ago for a new position that is technical in nature. They went through a rigid recruitment specified by no less than the Chief Executive. They are young, technically competent with an open and fertile mind, polite, articulate and inquisitive.


It started with a simple probing question, “Have you created the model output?” It took a while before they could answer “Yes” or “No” indicating they were processing the question until they said, “Not yet.” That led to more disclosures on the struggles they had to live with which tempted me to introduce spontaneously a mini module on Input-Process-Output and roles each one of us play-me, them, their internal suppliers and ultimate internal customers included. A high performing organization at the minimum requires that each player does their role well, very well.

Eagerly listening, approving and appreciating, they valued the short lecture giving them more resources on how faster they can deliver the model output. By the glow in their eyes, the 15 minute conversation must have unlocked fresh resource on how they will face their tasks the coming years.

The manner  they said “Thank you! Can we have more ? Will you give us an orientation?” has more than compensated the appreciation I received from hours of facilitation I handled this 2010. It was as if in a casual, spontaneous, unplanned moment, "Here comes a face (me)  bearing gift making us novice realize that we have untapped resources that can fill in the gaps and expedite the fulfillment of our task."

What they may have not realized is equally, I got affirmed that evening. I am seen as effective because of knowledge and confidence that is not threatening, sincere but provocative, assertive and sensitive. It was not only an affirmation for the moment but for the work that I have done in the past 12 months.

Noel, Clark and Carmela may have spotted greater hope that they can face their challenges in 2011. What they may have not seen is because of this conversation, I advanced the seed of my task for 2011 my personal mission which is "to inspire, enable and make the other party I converse with see the abundant possibilities."

This incidence summarized to me how my 2010 was. It gave me a foundation on how I should look at 2011 created just in a party that I was invited in and in a session that just transpired by chance.

Here's to a better year for all of us!

Posted at www.tochs.blogspot.com picked up at the Notes of FBook.

Brokenness

Brokenness . Shattered Dreams. Trapped Mindset. These are not appropriate recurring thoughts this holiday season but they keep on coming back especially at work.

• I lost my voice for 2 days after Christmas.
• There’s a spiking throb in my right foot that is getting to be bothersome.
• There are the dreaded projects.
• The 320 GB desktop keeps on rebooting in cycle.
• The auto lock of the sedan has stopped fastening the locks.

I am a firm believer of the season of hope.

• The company doctor says "it’s viral." Your resistance is strong. At an instance, the spray and a mucolytic powder started to bring back my talking voice without any medication.
• The spiking pain would cease with the change of footwear.
• Associates pledge full support to keep projects going.
• Desktop and auto lock are now operational, in better conditions.

An uplifting moment on the day of Christmas is shopping for a hosted lunch at home. At the last minute, I decided to add additional fares and beverages to the set menu. Supermarkets which had operations that day open only at noon time leaving little time for preparation.

Shopwise in Araneta Center however opened an hour before the announced schedule which I accidentally spotted while at the parking lot. Shopper's traffic was light unlike the chaotic condition a day before as captured by the news coverage on TV. A seafood staff attended to my requests from selection to packing and weighing. As a walk in shopper, he would not even allow me to touch the crabs and the shrimps until he secured a cart for convenience.  Seafood and beverages were prepared ahead of the guests’ arrival. Their additional to the fare was surprisingly much appreciated as they were rated as fresh, sweet and “meaty.” Story on how they landed on the table for the feast was never disclosed until now.

I recall one Easter Sunday where Fr. Danny Huang, a Jesuit made a homily at the Cenacle Convert many years ago. I paraphrase, “Man is broken. It is inevitable as he committed sin and separated himself from God. Yet on Easter Sunday, the chance of redemption was completed which started from His birth on Christmas day."

Broken things get fixed in due time. Shattered dreams can be reconstructed. Trapped mindset is work in progress.

For the coming new year full of hopes and aspirations, Sacred space reminds me of the 1 January message, “I exist in a web of relationships - links to nature, people, God. I trace out these links, giving thanks for the life that flows through them. Some links are twisted or broken: I may feel regret, anger, disappointment. I pray for the gift of acceptance and forgiveness.” 

Simbang Gabi 2010. Say Yes!

I took a closer look at the marquee outside the Ateneo gate last Sunday 19 Dec to check on the Simbang Gabi schedule this year. As I slowed down driving, it read 8:30 PM 16-23 December.

That information made me plan to attend the Monday mass. Through the years, I’ve always attended masses in the sprawling campus to remind me of the Christian message of Christmas. I usually take particular attention not just to the choir but to the homily said by  the celebrating Jesuit priests.

However, due to a social activity, I failed to catch the mass. Nevertheless, I proceeded even just to genuflect and offer my thanks and requests accepting I failed to listen to the homily. Traditionally, I would also stroll at the mini bazaar for food and memorabilia which I did tonight. I spotted a trekking friend and a social network associate. Casually I asked Edsel R.amirez, “What was the message of today’s mass?”

It was an instance of serendipity as the valuable information I failed to catch was rattled to me extemporaneously and summarized articulately at the football field as if I was listening to the homily for the missed 5 days. I tried recalling the messages without losing its interpretation to reach a wider audience through this written site.

What this instance relayed to me was also what Edsel repeated crediting the priest for the message; “salvation is made possible through invitation.” But one must accept and prepare himself. We are reminded through Joseph that "happiness belongs to the humble and the hopeful.” These are the traits that can better prepare us for salvation. “Mary’s state symbolizes acceptance and faith.” Apply to day to day living, "saying Yes to God every day is a Yes to Mary at the Anunciation."  All these stories build up until Christmas day.

These messages came at the right moment as I continue to be tested with easy to challenging situations at work and other moments in this fast paced life needing reminders like the insights of salvation, invitation, humility, hopefulness, acceptance and faith.

Tonight, I was reminded by this simple yet marvelous incidence that Christmas is a joyous moment. Experiences like these is a testimony to why it is one.

Simbanggabi Homily of Fr. A.N. Dacanay, S.J. (December 15, 2010)

Quote from Ed's Wall:

"In his somewhat pleading voice he said, be reminded ... be reminded always of the meaning of Christmas & of the crib.  It is that act of faith in God (as shown to us by Mary and Joseph).  For it is in that act of faith when we allow an opening for Christ to enter in our lives -- the Christ of compassion, of sacrifice, of humility and of love."

Wagyu in Christmas

Christmas this 2010 started with a grand bang.

A generous benefactor treated us to wagyu steak served in a hot stone in Eastwood City. It is a choice premium beef sourced from Australia grilled in stone. Food tasted as claimed, texture as described.

But somehow, food alone does not make an outlet. Restaurants are service institutions. Without extraordinary service, the experience is not fully satisfying.

While the basic services are fairly good, you’d wish that you get the extra ordinary service you are accorded with beyond what other low profile restaurants provide.

Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable relaxing Sunday lunch as the company, food and attention provided that special moment.

Thank you sponsor.