Yesterday, the martyrdom of Dr. Jose P. Rizal in 1896 was commemorated what with all the pomp and pageantry at the Luneta (Rizal Park). The funny thing is we haven’t been there not even once in our lives—that is, me and the kids. So I badgered my husband Aaron to give me and the kids a tour of the place. And so, off we went on an educational trip to that historic landmark.

We found out that it was a worthwhile effort to give the kids, especially, a glimpse into the life of our National Hero. I saw to it that I did not let this occasion pass without documenting the experience with digital photos for our future recollections knowing that it might be some time (or never) before we could do the same exercise.

I learned that hundreds of local and foreign tourists pay tribute to the monument by taking souvenir photos while promenading at the Park. The kids were full of questions starting with “How come the National Flag was at half mast?”, “Who designed the monument of Rizal?”, “Who executed him?” and “Why he was killed?”. They got their answers by reading the tablets beside each effigy.

We will continuously cherish the history of Rizal’s life and passions while we are still here on earth. I am thankful for the overwhelming experience we had as a family— the time to do simple things like this with them, to share discoveries and forge stronger bonds. It is always a welcome reward to have the leisure to unwind with my loved-ones, even for just a day. It was indeed fulfilling to be able to reap that rich harvest of memory and introspection with them at the close of the day.

Today is the death anniversary of my grandfather. It’s been 23 years since he died because of old age. I can’t help but to reminisce my good old days with him. I was 2 years old then when my mom gave birth to my little sister but unfortunately, both didn’t make it. The reason why I grew up with my grandparents. My mom used to leave messages to them when she was still alive that when something will happen to her she will completely entrust me to my grandparents at my father side.

There are around 50 grandchildren in my grandparents clan, quite big but full of joys and excitements specially during our grand reunion. Everybody are successful with their chosen careers and I may say it’s in our genes, we are properly nurtured by our parents who are always emphasizing to us the importance of education.

We have lawyers, doctors, nurses, dentist, merchants but mostly are educators, which is very common in most provinces. It might be the humblest course but for us it is a noble and fulfilling profession.

I called grandpa “papa” but the rest of my cousins called him “lolo Naro” from his real name Genaro. We have chinese blood because his middle name is Tan, but don’t get me wrong we are not rich our tribe is not that well-off but through the hard works of our grandparents we were able to acquire a portion of lands which all of us are still enjoying right now as our source of income. Ours might not be the best clan but certainly it is not the worst. Our grandparents and parents are surely proud of us.

No matter how people and history judge of what we are today, the influence of my grandfather will continue to run in our veins.

Few days before christmas the Commandant of the PCG (Philippine Coast Guard) hosted a formal Dining Out or Military Ball at the Villamor Club House. The event is just as it sounds. Officers looked dapper with their dinner jacket accompanied by their wives who were not far behind in an evening gown. The Ball recognizes Officers and Ladies social event of food, drinks, dance and recognition. It’s honoring those who are currently in the service. They look great, and you’re just stunned when you talk to them, as the wife of an active duty member of the Coast Guard, I feel so proud being with these fine gentlemen. Members of a group are gathering together to celebrate their union and accomplishments.

Social hour is the time when the first guests begin to arrive and before the receiving line begins. It is a time for Officers to interact outside of class, for spouses to be introduced to classmates and other Officers and to meet other people you do not see everyday.

Held before the Dinner, the toasts are traditionally done to honor the uniformed services, our leaders and guests. The evening opens with a luxurious catered dinner with an introductory speech by the Commandant.

After the Colors have been retired following the dinner, the dance begins. A good time is usually had all and more than a few stories are circulated about the nights events. The dance has been played by the Coast Guard Band and the Air Force Ladies Band. It was a very pleasant experience, during the night, the year is looked back upon. It was really a time to remember.

The highlight of the season is right after the Misa De Aguinaldo, families go home to a grand midnight meal known as Noche Buena. Noche Buena is a time when the entire family sits down for supper with a table laden with lots of food. Ham, queso de bola, rice cake with hot chocolate and fresh fruits are the standard fare served for a typical Noche Buena. But the homemaker can always add a personal touch to this feast. With generous helpings of creativity and imagination, a traditional Pinoy Noche Buena on tightened purse strings can be as festive as we want it to be. For our Noche Buena, I thought of something simple so I won’t have a hard time preparing them. I thought of combining techniques based of what I have learned from chefs everytime we went to different places and arm it with locally sourced ingredients. I want to make sure that these joyful days can be the most exciting time of the year for my family not a stressful one because my husband and I are the one doing the planning and the cooking. So the easiest and foremost entertaining tip of all is to plan your menu ahead of time and prepare it with teamwork.

Whatever preparations we have on the Noche Buena, let us not forget that the spirit of Christmas lived on within our hearts and it would be a celebration with our family. It will be more meaningful and special if families are together partaking of the meals and making family bonding warmer.

At Christmas, particularly on Christmas Day, let us humbly thank God for our blessings. Let us also take time to show our love and appreciation for people who are a blessing (even those who are a burden) to us. Let us also reach out to people who are less fortunate than us. I am one with you in gratitude, in love and in prayer.

Where will you and I be next Christmas? We don’t know. What we know is that we are still here this Christmas. Remember: “Wherever you are, you are there, and God is there!” (Last Sunday’s Gospel). Together let us pray for peace in our hearts, peace in our homes, peace in our country, peace in the world, especially at Christmas!

Wishing you all a meaningful and blessed Christmas!!!

Since it’s Jesus’ birthday, it make sense that all of us would be thinking about and planning something special to give to Him — just like we often give gifts to our earthly loved ones, or do something special for them on their birthdays.

But it’s hard to know what to give to the King of the Universe our Great God and Creator, who seems to have everything. Following are some ideas of the kind of gifts that He would treasure the most.

1) THE GIFT OF PRAISE!

Why not give Him the gift of praise this Christmas? Praise Him for the blessings that brought a smile to your face or laughter to your lips, because they lifted your spirit. Praise Him for the trials that brought tears to your eyes and pain to your heart, because they caused you to look to Him and rise above. Praise Him for the tests and the challenges, because they strenghtened your character and fortified your resolve. Praise Him for the love that you received from those He brought across your path.

Praise Him for the children– yours, if you have them, and those of others– because of the purity and simplicity that they bring into the world. Praise Him for His creation, for the beauty that He has placed around you– both in nature and in the hearts of those who love you– because it refreshes your spirit and renews your physical being.

As you strive to praise Him this Christmas in ways both great and small, you’ll experience increased happiness and satisfaction each day of this season. There’ll be greater contentment within your heart, which will make it easier for you to show His love to others in your actions and words.

2) THE GIFT OF YOU!

The world is often such a cold and dark place, and while He is the light of the world, He needs someone to shine that light through. He needs someone to say the things He wants to be to others. If you try to take on more of His nature and be more open to letting Him work through you this christmas that will be one of the best gifts you could give Him.

You can change your part of the world for the better and improve the lives of those around you. You can be a sample of Him and of His care and love, and you can find tremendous fulfillment in this.

3) THE GIFT OF FORGIVENESS!

A gift that is high on His “wish list” is the gift of forgiveness. In fact, it is in essence what Christmas is all about. He came because of His love and mercy, to show forgiveness and bring you back to the fold, to wipe the slate clean, and to make everything right again– not by self-effort but by love, and a choice to love despite all that has gone wrong.

You can start forgiving today, this minute, by looking at your world and those around you with kindness and treating them with forgiveness. Often the best way to show forgiveness and put it into action is to start with something small: like a smile instead of a grim look on your face, a kind word in place of embittered remarks; or an unexpected kiss when your mind ponders retaliation.

Forgive someone who has wronged you, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Whether the wound runs deep in your heart or it is smaller scratch. Making things right often starts with us taking the step to forgive someone, even if you feel that person is the one who should be seeking forgiveness. Has someone said or done something that has hurt you? Forgive him. Are you harboring bitterness in your heart toward someone? Forgive him.

4. THE GIFT OF COMMITMENT!

The gift of commitment means a lot to Him. Why? Because committing is giving not just something, but giving yourself to Him in a special way. When you promise Him something and then faithfully follow through with it, its more serious and lasting than a temporary pledge or gift. It isn’t a one-time gift, but something that you maintain or keep doing over and over. And everytime you do what you promised you remind Him and yourself of your love for Him and how you loved Him enough to commit yourself to something, and then to keep your commitment.

5) THE GIFT OF FAITH!

With so much going on in your lives, I’m sure that you’re hoping for Him to come through for you in many areas. Perhaps you need finances, or an increase in your business, or healing and protection from sickness, or safe keeping, or increased awareness and ability for your work, or added strength.

You have so many needs, and if you would like Him to fill them, then He’d like you to give Him the gift of your faith. Faith in Him!

Walk through this season with armloads of faith! When needs arise, press another coin of faith into His hand as you state your need to Him. When something throws your plan for a loop, again, hand Him another coin of faith.

Giving Him the gift of faith is really also a gift to yourself, because through it He is able to bless you in more and greater ways.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Make this Christmas count in the hearts and lives of others — it’s not just a special time, but a special opportunity!

Each individual have different character and personality. Is there a difference between these two words? Aren’t they similar of each other?

“Personality” refers to a person’s qualities and characteristics. “Character,” is more about disposition to action. This is according to Michael Tan a professor of UP Diliman. In other words, it is character that is responsible when we seem to think a person is “weak” if he or she is indecisive, easily gives in to peer pressure.

But where does a person’s character come from? Do genes really have a hand in our behavior, and ultimately, our character? According to Josh San Pedro on his research to the DNA Files, “it is not a single gene directly affecting our characteristics, but an interplay of all our genes.”

However, several findings by geneticists reveal that our genes do not create for us a “predestination” before we are born, but a “predisposition.” For example, and introverted person is not born an introvert, but his genetic tendency is simply triggered and developed by the society he grows up around.

This leads us to the other contributor to our character, which is “nurture,” as opposed to “nature” (genes). In our society today, the family is where every person is initially molded. We begin to pick up mannerisms, humor, opinions, and most importantly ethics in our homes. Add the outside world such as going to school, where we gather vast amounts of knowledge and information.

Life itself teaches us more things in the form of experience. And experience, the aforementioned trigger of our genes, helps us in our disposition to action — our character. These make us who we are.

Health is everybody’s business. Its protection and maintenance requires knowledge of the forces and diseases that threaten it. We should be aware of the causes and risk factors of cardiovascular diseases which have become the greatest threat to Filipinos today, if we are to avoid developing them. We must understand the principles and strategies of cardiovascular disease prevention to enable us to protect our children from cardiovascular disease and from acquiring harmful lifestyles that could lead to diseased cardiovascular system and impaired functions during their adult and elderly life.

Cardiovascular diseases are brought about by a multitude of causes - heredity, infection, under - and over - nutrition, environmental factors, aging, unhealthy lifestyles and habits.

But it is commonly started with our lifestyles and the food we eat. It actually started with the word “cholesterol.” We may feel just fine. But when your cholesterol sneaks up above a desirable level, it puts you at increased risk for heart attack, heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases, that the quality of life of the victims is severely affected.

Let us understand first if what is this cholesterol all about. It is a member of a family of molecules called lipids. Fat is another member of lipid family. Like fat, cholesterol can’t travel through blood in their original form because they don’t mix with water, the major ingredient of blood. Cholesterol is also a component in the fat in foods, so the rest of the cholesterol in our body comes from the food we eat. This means that when we eat foods high in fat, we are also eating foods high in cholesterol.

I came across with this guide for Low-Cholesterol Living for us to keep our cholesterol at a desirable level. The sooner we start, the better, because a decrease in our cholesterol level leads to an even greater decrease in our risk for heart disease.

Set Your Cholesterol Goal - identifying your risk factors and knowing your current cholesterol level will help you and your doctor figure out what your cholesterol goal should be.

Reduce Your Heart Risks - you can help reach your cholesterol goal with weight control, aerobic exercise, and other risk-reducing actions.

Change Your Diet - reduce your cholesterol level by making wise food choices and by using low-cholesterol cooking techniques.

See Your Health Care Provider - sometimes diet and other changes aren’t enough to lower cholesterol and you may need to take medications. See your health care provider regularly so that your cholesterol levels can be monitored.

One man tells this story:

When I was about 4 years old, my father often asked me to point at some numbers on the calendar. And frequently, there was much rejoicing sometime later. “You won! You won!” I would hear members of the family told me. I didn’t know what it was, but I often saw them counting money during such occasions.

When I grew a little older, 5 or 6 years old, my mother used to take me to the carnival, and she would ask me to give one number. She would then give some money to someone and get a piece of paper containing the number I said. Then dices were rolled and small wooden figures of horses were moved forward. I was told then that the game was called “jumping horse.”

When one of the wooden horses reached the end of a board, somebody would get some prizes, like plates, glasses, and other kitchen utensils. Again and again, my mother would shout nervously but with joy waving her winning ticket. We usually brought home one or two big boxes containing the prizes we won. These were repeated again in other carnivals in other towns, especially during town fiestas.

A father said in his letter that his son had been asking him for a bicycle. But, he couldn’t afford it then. “Never mind, just wait and you will have a motor bike instead,” he told his son. He prayed and two weeks later, he won a motor bike in a raffle.

But, blessings aren’t only in winning games like that. Other blessings in life come through honest efforts and divine grace. And I believe that the secret of receiving blessings is contained in the Holy Bible which says:

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.” (Jeremiah 17:7)

“The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.” (Psalm 34:10)

“And whatsoever he does shall prosper.” (Psalm 1:3)

Why? As the Holy Bible says,

“For all things work for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose.”  (Romans 8:28)

You can be one of the most blessed persons on earth through prayer. God wants to bless you. He doesn’t want to hold back anything that will benefit you. He cares for you! And He wants to show how much He loves you.

One man prayed and, in spite of his poverty, he claimed the riches of God for himself and others. Things began to happen. He became so wealthy he even bought two private planes!

Here’s how you can pray and receive blessings in your life:

1. Affirm this prayer several times a day, especially before you sleep at night and when you wake up in the morning.

“Each day God is prospering me in all my ways and in all areas of my life. And every other man is blessed and prospered in divine order. Miracles, now follow miracles, and God’s blessings now appear and come to me ceaselessly and without end. I expect only the best and only the best come to me under grace. I thank God that this is so in Jesus Christ’s name.”

2. Imagine God’s blessings raining into your life, more that you can hold and contain. And imagine yourself sharing them with your loved ones, friends, and other needy persons.

My son’s adviser and retreat coordinator were asking us parents to write a letter for our sons to read at the end of their retreat. So, my husband and I started gathering our million thoughts to come up with an inspiring message for Johnboy. As we went through this exercise we learned, and realized that there are so many fond memories and things we wanted to share with our son. We ended up pouring our hearts out in telling him our feelings which we normally could not express in our daily endearments with him. Thanks to good old letter writing.

Dearest Johnboy,

We are sure at this time that you have gone through another important experience in your life at the end of your first retreat. We are thanking God as always for His continued blessings to our family and in particular to your growth and education just as we have thanked God in giving you to us 11 years ago. We are very blessed indeed to know that you are turning out to be a very responsible Christian and a very caring “Kuya” to your younger sister and baby brother.

As your loving parents, we just want you to know that we will always be proud of you for what you are and what you are going to be. No matter what it is that you want to accomplish in your life please remember, that your mom and dad will be behind you and will be praying for you so that you will achieve what God wills to be done for you.

We are hoping as well that with your new experience you somehow learned that things may not always be the way you want them to be, but with your loving family behind you (Dad & Mom, Bea & Andre, Grandma & Grandpas) we hope that you understand that God has given you the best. So every time you encounter problems and you feel sad or down just remember that your mom and dad knows it and are thinking of ways how to best heal your wounds and give you what you truly need. Never think for one moment that we have stopped caring for you. Your welfare is always in our thoughts and in our dreams. Also, never ever think that you could fail us. We will always be proud of you for what you are because we know that you are God’s precious jewel that He entrusted to us.

So, Johnboy, as you go through the lessons in life, we want you to remember that we will be here for as long as God allows us to be. Never fail to pray to Him and to continue thanking Him for the beautiful life He has given you.

Love Always,

Mom & Dad

It was a tiring day yesterday, we had our general cleaning from the ceiling down to the floor not to mention my daily activities in maintaining my plants outdoors, obviously, because christmas is just around the corner. I usually do have my christmas trimming every 16th of December that is what I have inherited from my folks.

But the kids kept on asking me why we have no spirit of christmas yet? So I was obliged to start the decorations early. Actually our 7 feet christmas tree was ready we will just need to brush out all the dusts it had for a year and let it dry under the heat of the sun to let go the bacteria. I got all my accessories from their hidden place such as; christmas balls, lights, ribbons, they were all set and still looks okay except for a set of blinkering lights which I need to replace.

I was able to decorate the christmas tree the way I wanted it to be but with regards to our general cleaning we are not yet done, there are still lots of cleaning, wiping, grass cutting and so on and so forth. My grandma once said a clean home reflects one’s personality.

Andre my 3 year old son was so amazed upon seeing our cheerful and colorful christmas tree he can’t help staring all the time for the lights to blink again and again joined by the small star atop the tree he was screaming and smiling, now, I have to believe that christmas is really for the children. When everybody was home I can see their faces smiling and looks very inspired because they know that we already have started celebrating Jesus’ Birthday and the spirit of christmas is in our very own home.