Mt. Samat Bataan Memoirs

At last Im back again.. And yesterday as I do my bloghopping and visited my fathersblog in cyberworld, I see his latest post about the cross. Please do visit his blog to know more what I'm talking about.

My fathers blog is full of inspirational message that will lighten up your day and becaude of that, there is a special post that brings back my memories again during my high school days.

It was one of my very special moments in my life to visit the well known shrine in the Philippines the Mt. Samat Shrine. Wherein we enjoy the one day travelling all the way using the so called mini-killer bus.. that really makes your adrenalin rush while riding in this bus all the way to the shrine.

And after we arrive we need to finished the 300 steps upstairs all the way to the cross., and after climbing it you will feel your feet that loss its veins because of that super steps no.... hehe..

But all of your tired feeing will ease away after you see the captivating view of the mini ocean surrounded in bataan.. i dont know what it is but I called it as ocean..

And also there is a humor that at the peak of the cross if ever you will try to go there you will see the yamashita's treasure... Hmm. I didn't try to go there because it was too dark when we arrive ath the cross..

I realize that God's really love us.. and I want to repeat that moment again..

I see this Cross in pocket prayer in my fathers blog when he post this article..

I hope you can read it or seach the web about this to read all this prayers.. Have a nice day..

Lenten Season..

Lent prepares the Christian for the yearly commemoration of Christ's Death and Resurrection.

Forty weekdays- hence the term cuarsma in Spanish-are given over to prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and abstinence from meat. Christ's forty-day retreat in the desert and his success in resisting the devil's temptation to wealth, power, and glory inspires the Christian.

The month of April marks the celebration of Christ's death and resurrection, what the pious call in the Philippines "Holy Week" or Semana Santa. In contrast to other Christian countries, Filipino Catholics give emphasis on the suffering of Christ, rather than on His resurrection, on the belief that salvation comes at the end.

Religious piety is passionately displayed in different parts of the Philippines, particularly in the provinces where communities go on pilgrimage to as many churches and devotees re-enacting Christ's ordeal through real-life crucifixion under the scorching heat of the sun. Extreme forms of religious practices such as self-flagellation using whips tipped with sharp objects that scar the backs of hooded penitents are some of the rituals that are performed to this day. The penitents are taken down seconds after being nailed to the wooden crosses using 2-inch stainless steel nails soaked in alcohol. These crucifixions take place in the town of San Pedro, Pampanga, north capital of Manila.

Real-life crucifixion are not countenanced by the Catholic Church, but the fine line that separates religious ritual from spectacle is slowly erased as hundreds of tourists troop to this quaint town to witness the tradition in awe and amazement. Such rituals are part of a folk religious culture that has deep roots in a brand of obscurantism that dates back to the Spanish colonial period. Hispanic Filipinos likened the suffering of Christ to their oppression in the hands of their abusive Spanish landlords and friars. Indeed, "Holy Week" encapsulates the Filipino culture of suffering, poverty and illness; it speaks not just of our redemption in the next life, but also our travails of our present life.

But for modern day Filipinos, Holy Week is an opportunity to escape from the hustle and bustle of urban living to the serene beaches and picturesque landscapes spread across the archipelago. It is also a respite from the snarl of Manila's traffic jams and the din of political campaigning and electioneering that follows the Lenten season.


...Here Comes the Lenten Season, a time to reflect what GOD''s sacrifice to us ..I see this video at you tube and here's how Filipino people celebrate the Lenten Season in Philippines.

Ash Wednesday

I'm happy that Blogger is 1 day late from the real day here in philippines so that I may not look late posting this topic.. hehehe..

Today is Ash Wednesday and as a Christian or Roman Catholic it is our routine to go to church to start the 40 days of abstinence and pasting.. Mean to say. I will not going to eat fried chicken, pork chop, and all kinds of meat! Hmmm.. I'm gonna miss them all.. by the way its okey! Its good for my health to be a vegetarian for 40 days! hehehe..

Well I'm gonna share to all of you what I notice during Ash Wednesday or special occasions in church... The things that I notice are:

1. Why the church is being overcrowded when occasions like this comes?? but on regular sundays only few christians are going to church??? hmmpp??? why??

2.Why are some christians go to church on Ash wednesday but not want to put ash on their forehead??

3. Last,its a church not a park! and why lovers are using the church as a park... haiiisttt!!!

Oh, its just only my observation, I'm annoyed by those people do that things.. but I need to concentrate to the gospel given by the priest and not to the annoyers, everywhere..

I give you some info about Ash Wednesday!


What do Christians Celebrate on Ash Wednesday?

In Western Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (Sundays are not included in the count).
Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. During some Ash Wednesday services, the minister will lightly rub the sign of the cross with ashes onto the foreheads of worshipers.

Not all Christian churches observe Ash Wednesday or Lent. They are mostly observed by the Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian and Anglican denominations, and also by Roman Catholics. Eastern Orthodox churches observe Lent or Great Lent, during the 6 weeks or 40 days preceding Palm Sunday with fasting continuing during the Holy Week of Easter. Lent for Eastern Orthodox churches begins on Monday and Ash Wednesday is not observed.

The Bible does not mention Ash Wednesday or the custom of Lent, however, the practice of repentance and mourning in ashes is found in 2 Samuel 13:19; Esther 4:1; Job 2:8; Daniel 9:3; and Matthew 11:21

positive thougths!

The Optimist vs. the Pessimist


An optimist sees the best in the world, while a pessimist sees only the worst. An optimist finds the positive in the negative, and a pessimist can only find the negative in the positive.

For example, an avid duck hunter was in the market for a new bird dog. His search ended when he found a dog that could actually walk on water to retrieve a duck. Shocked by his find, he was sure none of his friends would ever believe him.

He decided to try to break the news to a friend of his, a pessimist by nature, and invited him to hunt with him and his new dog. As they waited by the shore, a flock of ducks flew by. they fired, and a duck fell. The dog responded and jumped into the water. The dog, however, did not sink but instead walked across the water to retrieve the bird, never getting more than his paws wet. This continued all day long; each time a duck fell, the dog walked across the surface of the water to retrieve it.

The pessimist watched carefully, saw everything, but did not say a single word.

On the drive home the hunter asked his friend, "Did you notice anything unusual about my new dog?" "I sure did," responded the pessimist. "He can't swim."
God bless!

MIRACLE? Black Nazarene feast

When I started to have blog in blogspot. I'M HAVING A HARD TIME thinking what to do especially what to post.. But God gave me this topic that will catch your attention especially to my fellow filipinos..
watch it!

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

Miracle? is what the people want, that's why they have a big devotion to the black nazarene despite of the many people they will encounter in the feast.. Even they lives will suffer.. But for the sake of their religious belief they do it..

But still do you believe in miracle? a miracle that will sacrifice your life? That's how filipino take the risk for the sake of faith!And I'm very proud of being Filipino!

jesus loves you!

FOUR STEPS TO GOD:

1. God Loves You!
The Bible says, "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life"

The problem is that . . .

2. All of us have done, said or thought things that are wrong. This is called sin, and our sins have separated us from God.
The Bible says “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” God is perfect and holy, and our sins separate us from God forever. The Bible says “The wages of sin is death.”

The good news is that, about 2,000 years ago,

3. God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins.
Jesus is the Son of God. He lived a sinless life and then died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. “God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”

Jesus rose from the dead and now He lives in heaven with God His Father. He offers us the gift of eternal life -- of living forever with Him in heaven if we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by Me."

God reaches out in love to you and wants you to be His child. "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe on His name." You can choose to ask Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and come in to your life as your Lord and Savior.

4. If you want to accept Christ as Savior and turn from your sins, you can ask Him to be your Savior and Lord by praying a prayer like this:
"Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life. I ask you in to my life and heart to be my Lord and Savior. I want to serve you always."

Did you pray this prayer?