#Candle Puerto Rican

[culturesfinest]

Puerto Rico Candle - Boricua Pride Candle - Puerto Rican Soy Candle - Vela - Puerto Rico Souvenir 🌴🇵🇷 🏖️ .: Materials: 100% natural soy wax blend, 100% cotton wick and a glass jar .: One size: 2.8in × 3.5in (7.1cm × 8.9cm) .: Burning time: 50-60 hours .: Glossy permanent adhesive label .: Choose from five different aromatic scents .: Assembled in the USA from globally sourced parts .: NB! All scents have the same wax color **Puerto Rico Candle: Illuminate Your Space with Boricua Pride and Unparalleled Fragrance** Candles have the unique ability to transform any space into a warm and inviting haven, but a candle with a special touch can do so much more. The Puerto Rico Candle, with its unique fragrance and design paying homage to Boricua Pride, is an essential piece for those who want to bring a piece of the Island of Enchantment into their homes while enjoying an unparalleled sensory experience. **Celebrate Your Heritage with Every Glow** The design of this candle is a testament to love and pride for Puerto Rico. From the Puerto Rican flag to cultural symbols like the coquí, maga flower, and sun, every detail has been carefully selected to reflect the island's rich heritage and beauty. Whether you place it in your living room, kitchen, or any other corner of your home, this candle will serve as a constant reminder of the land you hold dear. However, what truly sets this candle apart is its unique fragrance, meticulously crafted to capture the essence of Puerto Rico. Each time you light the candle, you'll be instantly transported to the island, where the sea breeze mingles with the sweetness of tropical flowers and the aromas of criolla cuisine. It's like having a piece of Puerto Rico in your home, no matter where you are in the world. **Pure Soy Wax for a Cleaner Burn** The Puerto Rico Candle is made from high-quality soy wax, making it an eco-friendly and healthy choice. Soy wax is biodegradable and produces less soot than traditional paraffin candles, ensuring that you can enjoy the fragrance without worrying about indoor air pollution. Additionally, the cotton wick guarantees a clean and even burn, allowing you to fully enjoy the candle's scent. **Elegant and Durable Jar Design** The candle jar is designed to be both elegant and durable. The metal lid protects the fragrance and keeps the wax free from dust and contaminants. Moreover, the jar's design is so beautiful that once you've fully enjoyed the candle, you can repurpose it as a decorative or storage item in your home. It's a timeless piece that keeps on giving. **The Perfect Gift for Yourself or Loved Ones** The Puerto Rico Candle is more than just a product; it's a way to bring the essence of the island into your daily life and to show your love for Puerto Rico. It's the perfect gift for friends and family who share your appreciation for Puerto Rican culture or who yearn for the island from afar. It's also an excellent way to create a relaxing and comforting ambiance in your home, where every lit candle is a reminder of Puerto Rico's beauty. **A Fragrance that Soothes and Uplifts** The fragrance of this candle is gently enveloping, making it the perfect choice for unwinding after a long day or for creating a romantic atmosphere during a special dinner. It's also a detail that can add a unique touch to events and celebrations, infusing the aroma and spirit of Puerto Rico into any occasion. **A Celebration of Culture, Beauty, and Boricua Pride** The Puerto Rico Candle is a testament to love for the island and its rich heritage. Every time you light it, you'll be celebrating the culture, beauty, and Boricua Pride. Whether you're in Puerto Rico, part of the diaspora, or anywhere in the world, this candle will connect you with the essence of the island and remind you of the richness of Puerto Rican culture. In summary, the Puerto Rico Candle is a gift for the senses and the soul. Its unique fragrance and heartfelt design make it an essential addition to your home or a meaningful gift for those who hold Puerto Rico close to their hearts. Enjoy the warmth and aroma of the Island of Enchantment in your daily life with this special candle. Light it and let the magic of Puerto Rico fill every corner of your home.

[kookies2000]

Because I feel like it.

Yellow sky? Bare footed characters? Mostly a mess? Over exaggerating some of the Hispanic features. I saw the first episode, and it was just poorly written in general. And what mother calls their son "cochinada." Roughly translates to dirty or trash.

What's good Latino/Hispanic representation?

Colombian 🇨🇴

In the Caribbean region of Colombia, they light up candles and lanterns on December 8, before sunrise. So the candle giving them magic was a wonderful detail. Generational trauma is a thing for us Latinos, and this film handled it in a healthy and matuer manner. And I love how they didn't shy away with how Spaniards attacked and colonized latin lands.

Mexicans 🇲🇽

Yes, us Mexicans love death. 🤣 But hey, I was always taught to respect death, La Muerte, and our ancestors. So, it makes sense that many Mexican films talk about death. But I also like that Maya and the Three have Aztec, Mayan, and Incan mythology. Natives to Mexico.

Dominican Puerto Rican 🇩🇴🇵🇷

Luz mom is Dominican, and Luz dad is Puerto Rican. I appreciate a good interracial couple and a mixed child. Luz name also translates to light, and some Latinos are known for doing witch craft. Or at least knowledgeable about witches and demons, and no, we aren't evil. We just know how to handle this stuff. Plus, the owl has many meanings in Latino culture. To some, I believe the owl is a messenger of death and is telling everyone that death/danger is near.

Afro Latino. Puerto Rican 🇵🇷

I am a massive sucker for interracial couples and mixed kids because of this. I was working at a hispanic store as a cashier. This woman walks past me and starts talking to the bagger. The bagger has blond hair, blue eyes, and white skin. The bagger looks at me worried because she doesn't speak English. So brown skin, black hair, me has to tell the bagger that the lady wanted ice in Spanish. I then talked to the lady in English. Her reaction? "YOU SPEAK ENGLISH!" Same for a dark skinned man. So many people skip me and talk to him in English. He's Dominican, and he only spoke Spanish. I appreciate films that show Latinos in different skin types and features. We're not all brown. So yeah, the mass diversity in this film is just beautiful. And I love how they wrote Miles relationship with his parents. Realistic conflict and healthy communication. Not falling into toxic stereotypes.

Spainard Puss 🇪🇸 Mexican Kitty & Perrito 🇲🇽

Spaniards are considered Hispanic but not Latinos like Mexicans. And again, interracial couples for the win. And I love the realism in their romance that heals through healthy therapy. Many people see Mexicans as toxic, so having Perrito as a therapist and the one helping everyone emotionally, it's nice. Not every Mexican is toxic. And I love how you can tell their Spanish and Mexican even though their animals. Puss Spanish accent, Spanish actor, him being a ginger like some Spaniards, flamingo dancing, and gazpacho. Kitty, Mexican accent, Mexican actress, black fur/hair like most Mexicans, quinceañera, and I love how they gave her a luchador mask. Something that originates from Mexico. Also, my brother and I joke how we as Mexiacns can't swim and Kitty nearky drowns in the 1st film. 🤣 Perrito, he's a chihuahua with a Mexican actor. Enough said. I also want to say death is Brazilian because of his actor.

I don't know much about Spanish culture, but someone said the wishing star has a connection to Spanish culture. Is that true? If so, COOL! Because death is connected to Mexican culture. So, Dreamworks finding a way to combine Spanish and Mexican culture in one film is 100% magical.

There are many more, like Beverly Hills Chihuahua 🇲🇽. 🤣 That film is better than Primos. Emperor's New Groove, Peru 🇵🇪, and Rio, Brazil 🇧🇷. Not Hispanic but Latino culture. But this post is getting long. Primos! A huge step down in Latino/Hispanic representation. Especially since we have so many good films and shows that have proper representation.

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

Aita for never making white ttrpg characters?

Title is a little weird, but I play a lot of ttrpgs with friends. I (M19) am white, so is all but one girl in our ttrpg group (F23), she’s Puerto Rican.

Anyways, all the games we play are rpgs based in the real world, whether they be urban fantasy or horror, they’re never in fantasy worlds. I like to explore different cultures, researching them and designing accurate characters for these games. I made a Bangladeshi girl for a MASKS: New Generations game who wanted to be the first desi superhero in America and was attending a superhero boarding school in upstate New York, I made half Iraqi/half Black boy in a homebrew power by the apocalypse game who was raised by his Chinese step-mother and was adopted into a giant extended family that took place in Brooklyn NYC, I made a black camp counselor for a Sleepaway oneshot, and I made a Mexican/Cajun boy for a Monsterhearts game taking place in south Louisiana.

For every character, I took my time and did days of research into backgrounds, cultures, and potential sensitivity issues. The last thing I want is to misrepresent a culture. The Puerto Rican girl in our group, let’s call her “Mary”, has never had a problem with my characters, but I’ve gotten comments from other players that it’s weird that I never play any white characters. I’ve made a white character twice; one for a Ten Candles game who was a 50 year old vet (and I miss him everyday, easily one of my favorite one-off characters because of his intense hatred of the Dallas Cowboys), and one for a homebrew 80’s slasher game who somehow because the first jock to be a final girl (He was too pure for this world, can’t wait to play his reincarnation in an ALENS game)

Our forever GM hasn’t ever had an issue with my characters, she even brings a giant variety of NPCs from all over to her games and makes the whole experience so much fun. The few times she’s made characters, they’ve always had great chemistry with mine and I’ve always had a good time

But, even with Mary’s and the GM’s approval, I still feel off about the comments of the other players. I love my characters, and the research I do for them helps me as a writer as that’s my profession atm. It seems like every time I propose a new character who isn’t white, I get asked “so what part of the world are they from now?” or “aren’t you German? Are you scared of doing a German character?” or other questions like that

I don’t play ttrpgs to insert myself into different fantasies, I play ttrpgs to explore new characters and new settings through different experiences. I don’t want to be labeled racist, but I understand if I’m coming off that way. If I’m voted the asshole, I’ll reflect and learn why. Commenters, deffo tell me how I can be better.

Anyways, AITA?

TL:DR, I’m white, I make primarily POC characters in ttrpgs, my group is annoyed and makes passive aggressive comments each time I do so. Aita for not making more white characters?

🔮

to find this later ^^^

What are these acronyms?

[theinkedknight]

Rose Quartz

Based off this post by @cryptotheism that I saw on FB

I sat behind the counter, looking up at the twin sets of flat screens perched over the high shelves carrying boxes of cereal and multipacks of toilet paper. On the left screen, a multiple panel view of the various security cameras set up all around the bodega, the right screen a rerun of Judge Judy. I was mostly paying attention to the right one.

At the table set along the window to the outside sat an older Puerto Rican man, his straw triby on the table next to him, brushing something I couldn't see off the tank top he wore under his unbuttoned bowling shirt.

“Listen, I'm telling you. New yor-wiccan.” He said, drawing out the word.

“Shut up Danny.” Called out the older woman behind the deli counter as she worked the grill.

“What? It's good! I can see it on the shirts.” He retorted.

“You're not even wiccan.” I said, shaking my head.

“So what? You think everyone selling gold crosses is a Christian?”

The door alarm dinged as a pair of young people entered. I could smell the tourist on them. Spend enough time behind a counter in Manhattan and you'd be able to as well. It's the wide eyed gaze and almost deer-like quiver.

They start to roam what amounts to aisles in the cramped store. Next to the cup soups, various small packages of laundry soap, and ice salt stood Catholic candles of various colors and saints, icons from a dozen various idols from the faiths of the people who lived or worked in the neighborhood, and bins of assorted crystals. Through the windows and on the cameras I could see the piles of garlic, oranges, apples, and bundled dried herbs for sale under the shop’s awning.

“He has a point, Flora.” I say, eyes returning to the court show.

“You're so full of shit, Danny,” she replied with a tone that sounded like this was a basic fact of reality.

The two tourists came up to the front counter, either sisters or very, very close friends. Their auras looked as though they were the same, or else rhyming so closely it was hard to tell the difference.

“Do you…um…do you sell rose quartz?” The slightly taller one asked.I continued watching Judy for a beat, as it was about to go to commercial anyway, before looked down at the two.

“Flora, we got rose quartz?” I called over to the grill. A black cat walked around from the corner and wove herself around their legs before jumping up to the table next to Danny’s hat. Flora walked around the counter with an aluminum tray filled to the brim with boiled yucca, pickled red onions, grilled sausage, and fried eggs. She put the tray next to Danny, his hat, and the cat, pulling a fork and small bottle of hot sauce from her apron and all but dropping both on the table with them.

“Yeah, no. Fresh out, remember that little bracelet brujita always buys me out. The one with the green hair. Plant name.”

“Aspen.” I supplied.

“Yes, her.” She looked the two women up and down. “What you need if for? You looking for someone?” Their cheeks reddening was all the older witch needed to hear.

She walked behind one aisle, muttering to herself in Spanish. When she returned, she held a pair of pink candles in an unmarked glass cylinder and two cans of soup.

“Damien, get them two vials of rose water.” She told me. She continued speaking to the girls as I turned my back to search the wall of incense, oils, single dose packs of Advil, condoms, and “nail polish remover” behind the counter. “What you wanna do is anoint yourself and the candle and burn it next to your bed at night.”

The taller one nodded as if taking mental notes. “And the soup?”

“Cook it for him. Men love soup.” Flora said as if speaking to an idiot.

As her friend/sister was turning redder still, the shorter one was looking at Danny eating his breakfast.

“Isn't it, like, unhygienic to have a cat in a place serving food like that?” She asked, genuine concern in her voice.

“I'm cleaner than you are, Princess Midwest.” The cat replied, looking up at her with emerald green eyes. “This one needs some Florida water too, Damien. Her aura is a little…much.”

I tried to keep the smirk from my face as she jumped.

“Hannah, I told you if you're going to talk to customers, you need to be a person.” Flora admonished. The cat sighed, jumping from the table to the other chair. Between one blink and the other, the cat was gone and a pale skinned woman in a black dress replaced her. For a moment she still had feline eyes, before blinking and her human form completing.

“Anyway, spritz it on yourself after you shower. If you're good, you'll clear that…” Hannah made a general hand gesture to encompass what must be the woman's aura. “...in about a week.”

They both stepped up to the counter, wide eyed and more than a touch shaken. “So, would that be all together or separate?” I asked, trying to calm them with a gentle smile.

They indicted together and made to pay, pulling out a crystal bedazzled iPhone to tap on the terminal. I wrapped the candles in yesterday's Daily News and put everything into an ‘I HEART NY’ bag. As quickly as they could without running, they were out of the store again.

“I would buy that shirt.” Hannah said, reaching over and stealing a slice of meat from Danny's plate, who moved to slap her hand but was too slow.

“See! And she is wiccan. I am smart.” Danny proclaimed.

“Full of shit.” Flora replied, shaking her head and returning to the deli counter.

[maya-chirps]

Simbang Gabi: The 9 Days Before Christmas

An image of a red parol from Peakpx.com

The Philippines is well-known for its extremely long Christmas celebration that a lot of foreigners often look at with confusion. Traditionally, Filipinos may start putting up their trees, playing festive songs, and counting down to the 25th as early as September in a season that's colloquially called the "ber months" or the "ber months season" (Petrelli, 2021). This period often lasts up until January or February where some houses may still keep their trees and decor pushing as far as March.

Even with this technicality, however, you'd be hard-pressed to find Filipinos truly celebrating from the very beginning of September genuinely ending it by the end of February. Most often, actual celebrations start after Undas, a period encompassing All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day on the 1st and 2nd of November respectively to commemorate the dead, similar but a lot more subtle than other Catholic countries own Day of the Dead like in Mexico's Dia de Los Muertos and Italy's Giorno dei Morti. This time period is often the start of people doing more Christmas-y things such as Kris Kringle activities leading up to the main Christmas party.

The main markers of the true start in itself is the Advent season, which starts on the Sunday nearest to the 30th in Western Churches like Roman Catholicism and leads up to Christmas ("Advent", n.d.). This is where Catholics would go to Church every Sunday leading up to Christmas to light the Advent Wreath until the final candle on its center on Christmas day on the 25th. As the Philippines is heavily influenced by Roman Catholicism, Filipinos follow the Western start of Advent and most celebrations often fall in the middle of this time period. Even the middle of Advent, however, Filipinos have a waiting period to count down before Christmas - Simbang Gabi.

What is Simbang Gabi?

Simbang Gabi (en. night mass; going to mass at night) is a Philippine Christmas tradition wherein Roman Catholic Filipinos would attend mass nine days every single morning or night before the actual Christmas celebration. Traditionally, the masses were held every morning at 4:00 AM from the 16th to the 24th which would then be capped off by Christmas Eve Mass at night or Christmas Mass on the 25th with its early schedule earning it the name Misa de Gallo (en. mass of the rooster) (Lazaro, 2020). In most dioceses, however, they often have an anticipated mass schedule that start a night earlier than the morning masses (Hermoso, 2022).

Besides being called Misa de Gallo, I had also heard the celebration being called Misa de Aguinaldo (en. mass of gifts) in some places. This shares the same name as the similar Puerto Rican tradition Misa de Aguinaldo which is also a nine-day mass held in the morning, typically at 5:00 AM which is also deeply-rooted in Puerto Rican Christmas traditions (Álvarez, 2018).

History

A vintage greeting card posted by the Facebook group Vintage Philippine Islands 1920-1959 (2020)

Being a Christmas tradition, it is not surprising that Simbang Gabi could trace itself back to the Spanish colonial period.

A common misconception of its origins states that the practice first started in Mexico. Hermoso (2018) states that it started on the year 1587 by Friar Diego de Soria of the Convent of San Agustin Acolman when he requested the Vatican to allow church service to be held outdoors because of an overflow of attendees during the Christmas time. Pope Sixtus V later approved of this request and even decreed that these kinds of masses be held in the Philippines at the dawn of the 16th of December. What this doesn't account for was that the practice of going to church for the Eve of Christmas dates back to even earlier than the 16th century.

The cover for an English translation and compilation of Etheria's writings by M.L. McClure and C.L. Feltoe, D.D. (1919)

The first recorded instance of Christians celebrating Christmas by going to early mass leading up to the actual date was first written by Egeria (also called Egeriae, Etheria, or Aetheria), a Christian Galician woman who first recorded it during her travels to the Levant where she notes the early morning masses and festivities from the time of the Epiphany to the Nativity. She writes in her letters later called the Itinerarium Egeriae (en. The Travel Guide of Egeria; The Pilgrimage of Etheria).

"Octave of the Festival. On the second day also they proceed in like manner to the church in Golgotha, and also on the third day; thus the feast is celebrated with all this joyfulness for three days up to the sixth hour in the church built by Constantine (...) And in Bethlehem also throughout the entire eight days the feast is celebrated with similar festal array and joyfulness daily by the priests and by all the clergy there, and by the monks who are appointed in that place (...) and immense crowds, not of monks only, but also of the laity, both men and women, flock together to Jerusalem from every quarter for the solemn and joyous observance of that day." - Egeria, 381-384; The Pilgrimage of Etheria (trans. McClure & Feltoe, 1919):

The practice of attending early morning masses up until the main festivities of the Nativity was later adopted by more Western Christian communties during the time of Pope Sixtus III when he celebrated what is widely considered the first Midnight Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, not only stemming from the popularity of the Christians from Jerusalem but also the popular belief that Jesus was born at midnight (The Pillar, 2021).

The prayer spoken within the midnight vigil was then called the "mox ut gallus cantaverit" which translates to "when the rooster crows", aptly named because of the early hours the vigil tended to last which then coincided with the crowing of roosters ("Misa del Gallo: origen, historia y por qué se celebra en la madrugada del 25 de diciembre", 2022). The practice was continued by the Spanish with the name Misa de Gallo (also called Misa de Aguinaldo)which later spread throughout the Spanish Empire and could now be seen practiced in countries like Bolivia, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and of course the Philippines.

There seem to be two variations of this: the nine-day series of masses before Christmas (found in the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela) and the single early morning mass before Christmas day (found in Spain and Bolivia). It isn't clear if Spain and Bolivia simply dropped the nine-day tradition or if the nine-day tradition was restarted in these other colonies, however.

In the Present Day

An image of crowds outside a church during Simbang Gabi uploaded to Wikimedia by Erwin Malicdem

Today, the Simbang Gabi continues to be a popular tradtion for most Filipino Roman Catholics, even those who aren't typically as religious most parts of the year. This is given the fact that a popular belief is that when a person completes all of the nine days, they may receive a wish to whatever they desire. This is such a common belief that Bishop Broderick Pabillo, a Manila auxiliary bishop, had to remind people that the point of the tradition is to remember Jesus and his nativity (Punay, 2016). Besides this, it is also a common challenge among Filipinos to try to complete it as is or see how many days out of the nine could they actually attend.

It is not uncommon for churches these days to hold an "anticipated" mass the night before the actual date starting instead on the 15th and ending on the 24th with a Christmas mass, instead of starting on the 16th and ending on the 25th. This newer tradition had come from the reign of Filipino dictator President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. during the Martial Law years in the 70s, when Filipinos were not allowed to go out after a curfew until 4 in the morning (Macairan, 2023). This allowed more people and especially those who may not be able to start their day early or those who may have other obligations in the morning to attend masses at night time, typically at around 6 PM - 8 PM.

The only large controversy that I could remember about Simbang Gabi was back in 2011 when the event was banned from being conducted within the Philippine Center in New York City. The ban came about because of it supposedly violated Canon Law which prohibits religious worship in unconsecrated ground or in other words places that aren't seen as places of worship. In an article by Adarlo & Pastor (2014), Rev. Dr. Joseph G. Marabe, the at-the-time head of the Chapel of San Lorenzo Ruiz and a priest-in-residence at St. Patrick's Cathedral where the ban took place, explains in an interview with news site The FilAm:

"It’s not allowed by law to have Holy Mass in an unconsecrated place. Worship should take place in a sacred place. That was an explanation but not a decision. The Archdiocese decides." - Rev. Dr. Joseph G. Marabe, head of the Chapel of San Lorenzo Ruiz in Chinatown, New York (2011)

The ban was later lifted on 2014 after community leader Loida Nicolas Lewis wrote a letter to the diocese to reconsider the ban which led to the return of the almost 30-year-old tradition that year (Balitang America, ABS-CBN North America Bureau, 2014).

Besides being a huge part of current traditions, a lot of Filipinos, and especially Filipino youth, use the event as an excuse to go out during the night to hang out with friends and even go on dates with their partners. It is not an uncommon sight to see a group of teenagers, often wearing maybe less than typical church clothes, by the edge of the Church seemingly attending mass. Whether or not they're actually being attentive is hard to decipher. Either way, this has led to an explosion of memes almost every year just mocking these kinds of people or making fun of their own.

A screenshot of the "Simbang gabi starter pack" posted by user rhapido on 9Gag.com (2022)

Earlier versions of this meme could be seen posted throughout Filipino social media during the early 2010s

A meme posted by the Facebook page FEU Memes (2012)

The barkada (en. friend group) going to Simbang Gabi had been an older tradition that has found a lot more popularity in the contemporary era because of social media. My mother had told me that she used to use it as an excuse herself back in the 80s to hang out with her friends at night time. This may be a continued past time for especially younger people for years to come.

There's also many street foods associated with Simbang Gabi that may not be unique to the event itself but are nevertheless heavily associated with the event due to their widespread sale during this time period. Foods like bibingka, puto bumbong, kutsinta, and other popular rice cakes dominate the scene which definitely satisfy the hungry parishioners who had, most likely, not eaten breakfast or dinner before going to church. With their strong associations with Simbang Gabii and Filipino Christmas as a whole, I might discuss these on a later date.

Simbang Gabi, from my experience

Growing up and living in the Philippines and especially being raised Catholic within a Catholic town named after a Catholic saint and going to a Catholic school named after another Catholic saint, it probably won't shock you that I, myself, had tried to complete the nine days of Simbang Gabi myself. I had attempted it several times with only maybe trying seriously by myself once in my life. It was quite the experience to just try to dedicate yourself into completing a goal to do something for nine consecutive days straight.

My first attempt was when I was in Junior High and it was with my sister and two people who worked for my parents and had helped watch over us. It was something that I always wanted to try doing and especially since I was gaining a lot more independence at the time so what better to try it out without the rest of the family? With adult supervision, of course.

Since we lived quite away from the actual church, the place was already packed even an hour before the actual mass started. There was barely any seats left and even less standing room leading to a huge overflow of people stuck outdoors, only hearing mass from the outdated speaker system that they had erected in place of the old bell tower.

The mass in our church was often done in the dark during the night out of an deliberate and probably aesthetic choice with only the alter being illuminated by the lights. The rest was lit up by the scattered about Christmas decor throughout the church and the church patio. It always felt like going to some liminal space that other nights at church just doesn't give.

Once the mass has been concluded, people rush out of the doors in thick crowds to find their way into the footpaths leading on to the main town streets. Some opt to stay behind to enjoy the food stalls that had pop-up for the night to eat bibingka, puto, sapin-sapin, and palitaw among other things. Some of the teens had decided to raid the nearby small park and playground as a hang-out spot to talk the night away before they rush home for their curfews. Meanwhile others were just rushing to get home as soon as they can, with people lining up to go to the rudimentary parking space that the church created while the others who didn't own their own vehicles forced to compete for the very few commuter vehicles still riding through the night, hunting for passengers.

This was before we had our own car, so we were with the latter crowds of people, trying to peer through the dark streets only illuminated by the scant Christmas lights that still refused to turn off as the night progressed. Every so often, two headlights excite the crowd and a swarm of them start running in anticipation with not care or tact if they would crush children or separate families all to take a seat on the night jeepneys, some the few commutes left after 9.

My sister was an expert in finding her way through it, reaching out to the doors to form a barricade for herself and the rest of us to prevent others from taking our seats before letting herself in. I still think I would've been left behind if it weren't for her doing that out of sheer competitiveness with the crowds.

We settled into our seats and squeezed in tightly to allow other passengers in so we could all go home as soon as we can. It was a tight but otherwise uneventful commute every night with nothing but tired people waiting for their stops and slowly emptying the once packed vehicle. Since we live in the outskirts of the town, we were often the last few and at times, the drivers would transfer us to other jeeps just so they can go home themselves. This had sometimes instead left us to walk the remainder of the way there through unpaved highway sidewalks.

After a few nights of it, I became more and more reluctant to continue because of the frenzy that it had almost every single night and it was extremely inconvenient for my time and the time of those with me. I didn't complete it then and I hadn't seriously tried until 9th Grade, which honestly was more uneventful.

That attempt was mostly my siblings and I staying in Makati City and Taguig City and going to easily traveled to churches that we could walk to by foot, and high-end malls that have annual Simbang Gabi masses for their shoppers, facilitated by the local diocese and the local fancy church. I was able to complete those easily because I was often dragged either by my siblings or my grandmother who used to never miss a day of church when she was still more active.

It was less about the challenge at that point and more of an obligation which isn't a bad thing and honestly is probably closer to how it should be celebrated.

I hadn't gone to Simbang Gabi since 2019 and I don't have any plans to try this year either. Not really because I don't want to necessarily, but specifically because I physically can't. I still think its pretty fun to do and honestly maybe a good excuse to meet with my friends that I haven't seen in a while. Sadly, I just simply cannot do it now nor in the near future.

Maybe one day I could once again go out at those cold December night to meet my friends and maybe eat some bibingka on my way home but I guess I'll just leave every one else to it.

Sources

Introduction

Advent. (n.d.). In Britannica. Retrieved on 13 December 2023, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Advent

In The Philippines Christmas Eve Includes A Late Night Street Food Feast, Filipino Christmas, HD wallpaper [image]. (n.d.). Peakpx. Retrieved on 15 December 2023, from https://www.peakpx.com/en/hd-wallpaper-desktop-wxdle

Petrelli, M. (2021, December 20). The country that celebrates Christmas for more than 4 months a year. CNBC. Retrieved on 13 December 2023, from https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/21/philippines-the-longest-christmas-celebrations-in-the-world-.html

What is Simbang Gabi?

Álvarez, F. (2018, November 22). Una tradición matutina la Misa de Aguinaldo. Primera Hora. Retrieved on 13 December 2023, from https://www.primerahora.com/noticias/puerto-rico/notas/una-tradicion-matutina-la-misa-de-aguinaldo/

Hermoso, C. (2022, December 15). 9-day ‘Simbang Gabi’ begins on Dec. 16; anticipated masses to begin tonight. Manila Bulletin. Retrieved on 13 December 2023, from https://mb.com.ph/2022/12/15/9-day-simbang-gabi-begins-on-dec-16-anticipated-masses-to-begin-tonight/

Lazaro, J. (2020, December 11). The Christmas tradition of Simbang Gabi: After five centuries, this Filipino Christmas tradition lives on. U.S. Catholic. Retrieved on 13 December 2023, from https://uscatholic.org/articles/202012/the-christmas-tradition-of-simbang-gabi/

History

Hermoso, C. (2018, December 15). ‘Simbang Gabi’ a manifestation of the Filipinos’ strong faith in God, says bishop. Manila Bulletin. Retrieved on 13 December 2023, from https://mb.com.ph/2018/12/15/simbang-gabi-a-manifestation-of-the-filipinos-strong-faith-in-god-says-bishop/

Etheria (1919). The Pilgrimage of Etheria (McClure, M., & Feltoe, C. Ed. & Trans.). Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. Retrieved on 13 December 2023, from https://www.ccel.org/m/mcclure/etheria/etheria.htm (Original work published 384 C.E.)

McClure, M., & Feltoe, C. (1919). [An image of the book cover of "The Pilgrimage of Etheria"]. Retrieved on 15 December 2023, from https://www.ccel.org/m/mcclure/etheria/etheria.htm

The Pillar. (2021, December 21). What time is Midnight Mass?. The Pillar. Retrieved on 15 December 2023, from https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/what-time-is-midnight-mass

Misa del Gallo: origen, historia y por qué se celebra en la madrugada del 25 de diciembre. (2022, December 24). Marca. Retrieved on 15 December 2023, from https://www.marca.com/tiramillas/actualidad/2022/12/24/63a6c106268e3e7c468b45e8.html

Vintage Philippine Islands 1920-1959. (2020, December 25). A Vintage Greeting Card showing Philippine Christmas… Maligayang Pasko from Vintage Philippine Islands 1920-1959 [image]. Facebook. Retrieved 15 December 2023, from https://www.facebook.com/510513375695362/photos/a.1701322009947820/3595821097164559/?type=3

In the Present Day

Adarlo, S., & Pastor, C. (2014, November 3). Fr. Joseph Marabe breaks silence over Simbang Gabi ban (Part 2). The FilAm: A Magazine for Filipino Americans in New York. Retrieved on 15 December 2023, from https://thefilam.net/archives/16127

Balitang America, ABS-CBN North America Bureau. (2014, September 19). Simbang Gabi returns to NYC after a brief ban. ABS-CBN News. Retrieved on 15 December 2023 from https://news.abs-cbn.com/global-filipino/09/19/14/simbang-gabi-returns-nyc-after-brief-ban

FEU Memes. (2012, December 15). eto yung mga madalas ko makita sa gilid ng simbahan e [image]. Retrieved on 15 December 2023 from https://www.facebook.com/PIYUMEMES/photos/a.210778985704527/317211885061236/?type=3

Macaira, E. (2023, December 15). Simbang Gabi: It’s the mass, not the time. Philippine Star. Retrieved on 15 December 2023, from https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/12/15/2318980/simbang-gabi-its-mass-not-time

Malicdem, E. (n.d.) The Bamboo Organ Church or the St. Joseph Parish Church of Las Piñas City in the Philippines during "Simbang Gabi" or Night Mass on Christmas eve. Photo was part of Schadow1 Expeditions coverage of Las Piñas during Christmas season. [image]. Retrieved on 15 December 2023 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simbang_Gabi#/media/File:Las_Pinas_Church_during_Simbang_Gabi.jpg

Punay, E. (2016, December 19). ‘Simbang Gabi’ won’t grant wishes – Bishop. Philippine Star Global. Retrieved on 15 December 2023, from https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/12/19/1654920/simbang-gabi-wont-grant-wishes-bishop

rhapido. (2022, November 30). Simbang gabi starter pack [Screenshot]. 9Gag. Retrieved 15 December 2023, from https://9gag.com/gag/a5Xnzgr

[whispering-about-the-tmnt]

what are your top five raphael head canons?

At first I didn't think that I could come up with five, but then I realized that I can (and in some cases, I have written them into stories). So let's go!

He speaks Spanish, but not perfectly. He picked it up while hanging out with people in Brooklyn when he was younger, which is also why only he among his brothers has the accent. The thing is, he learned the language from people that spoke different types of Spanish (Castilian, Mexican, Puerto Rican), so sometimes he mixes them up a bit.

He loves to cook, and his dream would be to open a restaurant some day. He already made a pledge to himself that if by chance that ever did happen, he would hire homeless people to work there in order to give them a jump start on getting back on their feet, and would also provide free meals to anyone that needed them.

He likes things to smell nice and has a big collection of scented candles around the lair. Sometimes you can tell what mood he is in by the smell of the candle he has burning.

He is the second best at medical matters in the family, after Donatello. He is actually a better field medic, though, since Don relies more on his instruments and equipment back at home to treat wounds, while Raph can take care of you on the fly. His bedside manner leaves much to be desired, but he is usually pretty gentle when someone is genuinely scared or traumatized because of their wounds.

When he was a kid, he was so scared of losing his brothers and Splinter that he got into the habit of checking several times a night to see if they were still breathing in their sleep. He still does that to this day.

Thanks, Nonnie! This was actually fun to compile and share!

[starboishifting]

‧𓍢ִ໋☕ ׂ 𓈒 ⋆ ۪ || cafe d/r intro

୧ ‧₊˚ ☕︎ ⋅ ☆ "𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐝, 𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐢?" "𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐝, 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬, 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡." ୧ ‧₊˚ ☕︎ ⋅ ☆

‧𓍢ִ໋☕ ׂ 𓈒 ⋆ ۪ || who i am

name: charlotte james vasquez nicknames: charlie, charles, char, lot, lottie age: 25 height: 5'5 nationality: american famiy: abuelita, tyron friends: miguel, hobie, elio, chuy, marina

‧𓍢ִ໋☕ ׂ 𓈒 ⋆ ۪ || tyron and damien

i met damien in high school, and never has anyone fallen in love as fast as i fell in love with him. practically the second we graduated, we got married and he joined ems and fire rescue. after two years, we had tyron, the softest, most beautiful baby boy the world had ever seen. and then there was an accident, and damien, being who he was, died a hero, leaving me with our three-year-old son and a (n admittedly hefty) settlement from the city, thanking me for his service. since then, tyron and i have lived above my abuelita's cafe, and i've worked there with her. tyron spends most of his time in the cafe with us, and we talk to his dad all the time. we'll lie in his bed and hold a candle, light it carefully, and whisper to the flame, feeling damien with us with every hushed word.

‧𓍢ִ໋☕ ׂ 𓈒 ⋆ ۪ || miguel o'hara

he wanted coffee. it was that simple. he was tired, and a coworker had told him that he would love this cafe, run by this little old puerto rican lady and her nieta. and then he walked in, finding a place that smelled like cinnamon and safety and home, with a short, chubby girl behind the counter with a kid on her back like a goddamn spidermonkey (i'm going to hell btw). and when i smiled up at him, i watched him crumble. years later, when we're lying in our bed, a newborn on his chest and tyron and i cuddled into his side, i'll think about that moment. i'll think about the way he looked at us both so adoringly, even then. i'll think about the way his voice trembled when he ordered, but he sounded confident when asking tyron questions about his pokemon, about the way his hands shook when he handed me too much and the way his eyes glowed when he said keep the change. and i'll realize that he fell in love the moment he saw me, and i'll fall in love with him all over again.

‧𓍢ִ໋☕ ׂ 𓈒 ⋆ ۪ || first date

he took us -yes, me and my 5-year-old son- for ice cream and a trip to the park. it was far too cold for any of us to be outside for that long, but then it started snowing, and tyron insisted we stay and play. so we left our half-eaten ice creams on a table and ran all around the park, so utterly perfect and domestic. watching miguel pushing my son on the swings was the moment i fell. i didn't realize until a month later, but that was my defining moment. someone who was good and kind and respectful to not only me, but my baby, too. and he carried us both home, despite my giggling protests. tyron was on his chest and i was slung over his shoulder, squirming and wriggling in a half-hearted escape attempt. he didn't kiss me when he brought us home; no, he saved that for the second date, when he took me to dinner and seemed to forget how to function every time he looked at my dress. i think he meant the kiss to be softer, but i ended up against a wall with my chest heaving, and he ended up running to his car, presumably to hide... stuff. he called again the next day, and we've been attached at the hip since.

[bunnyramen]

Tw/Death/Talk of Self Sacrifice

Despite all he’d done, fighting himself, fighting the spot, jumping from dimension to dimension, they still couldn’t save his dad in time.

The kicker was that an hour before him, Rio had come in contact with a patient that had a venom symbiote. While police were shooting to kill the alien that was destroying the hospital, a bullet ricocheted and hit his mother.

It severed an artery in her arm, and she bled out before anyone could get to her.

When he came back, he was met with family members and police telling him the news.

He was never ok with losing his Dad and he never will be ok with it. But losing his mom on the same day, it was too much for him.

So, as Miles watched both of his parents lowered into the earth, no tears could come out.

Flowers upon flowers were laid on both of their graves by Rio’s side of the family, candles, and favors peppered the recently laid dirt.

Everybody was waiting for the other shoe to drop as they watched Miles watch his parents be laid to rest.

Miguel couldn’t say anything to him, and if Miles could think, he’d tell him to never show his face to him ever again.

He doesn’t know why he bothered to show up.

His friends set their versions of objects on their graves, which Miles half appreciated.

Peter B brought a Puerto Rican flag for Rio and a pair of sunglasses for Jefferson.

Peni laid out a mechanical piece shaped like a heart.

Spider Noir had a bouquet of gray roses while SpiderHam brought goofy gag glasses.

(His universe didn’t have much that wasn’t hilarious since people don’t die traditionally)

Hobie, who had worn different color shoelaces out of respect for Miles, put down a candle with one of his lucky guitar strings wrapped around.

Pav brought a small statue that sat between their graves.

Gwen gave them one of her favorite drumsticks and a picture of Miles she had taken.

Margo couldn’t bring anything since she wasn’t there, but she did give him a side hug.

Ganke bowed twice to his mother and father, and once to him.

People tried talking to him, sobbing family and friends from all over the city and even further comforting him, his comrades trying to give their best condolences, but he really couldn’t care less about all that right now.

He tore off the tie he had hastily knotted and failed at doing so because he couldn’t quite remember the way Dad showed him because he was.. numb.

His fingers were numb as threw his tie on the ground.

His head was numb to thoughts that weren’t his parents.

Maybe a glitch will come and undo all this as if it had never happened.

But the multiverse was fixed for the most part.

The probability of things like that happening...

..Zero to none.

He wanted to scream.

What hurt most than being an orphan in just one hour, was that he never got the chance to say he loved them one last time.

He touches his freckled cheeks, the ones his mother gave him, as he breathed a heavy sigh through the lips he got from his father.

Miles plopped down between their two graves, being careful of the stuff people had laid down.

“I never got to tell you guys the biggest secret of them all.” He whispered, “I’m Spider-Man.”

At first, something bubbled in his gut. A warm feeling of.. laughter.

It started as a scoff that led to a chuckle, then a full-bodied laugh came over as he fell backward in tears.

“The biggest fucking thing I was worried about was you abandoning me because of that, and I guess it came true!” Hot globs of anguish flowed down his cheeks, as his laugh grew manic and loud.

He didn’t stop until someone stood over him.

“Miles, you’re hysterical. You need to take a deep breath.” Miguel reached a hand out to try and pick him up, but Miles grabbed his wrist.

With all his Spider-Man strength, he squeezed it and as he looked up into the eyes devoid of much emotion, he had a single thought as his mouth abruptly clamped shut to end his howls.

“It should’ve been you.” He didn’t dare voice it even if at that moment, he wish it would happen just for a second.

He didn’t voice that very real expression of anger, but he did say something a little less harsh.

“I’m allowed to be whatever the fuck I want to be right now.” He lets go of Miguel’s wrist, letting his hand fall limp on the grass.

He didn’t even feel like laughing anymore, just laying there lax, his eyes taking in the oddly clear blue day. If he thought hard enough, this is what it would feel like to be dead.

But there’s no light in a deadman’s eyes, only darkness.

So he closed his own.

He briefly wondered what his Uncle saw right before he died.

If anyone tried to save his mom as she felt her organs shut down from the lack of blood.

What his dad thought about right before that fatal shot to the head.

After a few moments, someone picked him up as they sat on the grass near his body, putting his head in their lap.

He could smell who it was before he opened his eyes, Tía Daniela always smelled like fresh-cut roses.

It didn’t help that she looked so similar to her big sister, just a little more soft and huggable. Even with that, he could still see his mom.

“Let it out, mi amol.” She put a warm hand on his chest, his heart thudding against his sternum, trying to get out from whatever he was keeping in.

He took a sharp, stuttering breath as he sobbed loudly into her skirt, gripping the fabric between his sticky hands. She cradled him against her as if shielding him away from everything.

He didn’t care if all of Brooklyn heard him, he didn’t give a single, solitary shit.

He hoped he was loud enough to wake the dead.

Miles cried until his chest felt it would cave in, something sitting heavy in his chest that wouldn’t get up no matter how much he begged.

“I want.. I want them back. I’d give up my own life just for that to be.”

Daniela cupped his cheek with one manicured hand, “Don’t you dare say that, boy. You know your parents would say the same if you took their place.”

Even in the face of her grief, losing one of her big sisters, here she was comforting Miles.

She appreciated her so much, more than he could voice at the moment.

“We’re gonna take care of you, I promise you that. You’re one of our babies.” She smiled down at him with tears in her eyes, “Oh, I wish I could take this pain away from you.”

Somewhere in between her saying that, and some other family members coming over, he must’ve fallen asleep.

That must’ve been what happened or else he wouldn’t have woken up.. wherever he is.

He’s sure as hell not home or with family, no matter how cozy the bed feels or how comforting the decor is, he doesn’t know where he’s been taken.

His wrists were empty of his webs.

And he wasn’t wearing the suit from the funeral.

Shit.

Hearing voices downstairs, he decided to start there. Miles turned on his invisible, planning to get the jump on whoever it was that kidnapped him.

Who the hell kidnaps a kid at their parent's funeral anyways?

They’ve gotta be sick.

His shoeless feet allowed him to walk on the wall of the stairs, stepping over what looked like family photos.

The voices became clearer as he was in clear view of the living room next to the stairs.

“Don’t you think someone should’ve stayed with him so he doesn’t freak out?”

That was Hobie’s voice.

“Why would he freak out?”

Miguel. (He was still feeling conflicted about talking to him.)

“Oh I don’t know, imagine waking up in a house you’ve never been in, undressed by unknown people plus finding that his webs are stolen.”

“I should go check on him.”

Tía Daniela is here too? But.. that would mean...

He stood on the stairs, looking over the railing, everyone sitting on homey-looking couches. He looked back at the photos he stepped over, they were mostly of Mayday.

Must be Peter and MJ’s house.

Speaking of which, the little girl seemingly looked up at him and pointed. Everybody brought their gaze to where she was giggling and staring, and Miles decided there was no point in hiding.

He uncloaked himself, everybody gained that same pitied look people gave him when his Uncle Aaron had passed.

Except for Hobie, but he didn’t mind. He just had a natural resting bitch face.

“Miles, hey buddy..” Peter was beckoning him to come down with a few swings of his hand.

“Are you feeling hungry?” Mj asked as she made a space on the couch between Daniela and herself for him.

Miles shook his head, “How’d I even get here? What did you tell my Tía?”

“I carried you here through a portal.” Daniela explained, “Peter told me.. everything. He trusted me with such a secret and I’m very grateful. I’m able to better understand what’s going on, even if I don’t quite get what it means to be Spider-Man or ‘canon events’.”

“We brought you here because bringing you to your actual apartment would’ve been too much. Were we wrong about that?” Peni asked, Miles nodded wordlessly.

“Sorry that your folks answered the last roll call, kid. “ Spider-Noir’s wording for their death nearly made him chuckle.

Miles shrugged, not having a clue what to say.

“I know you must not know what to do now, man.” Ganke adjusted his glasses, “My parents would be happy to have you as their kid.”

Miles half smiled, “Thanks, dude.”

“You could come live with one of us. You know any of your family members would be more than happy to take you, Papi.” Daniela wrapped an arm around his shoulder, kissing his forehead.

He was filled with gratitude that everyone was opening their homes up to him, however.. he wished so badly that he could go home to his parents.

Make his dad stand still for a sketch or help Mami with cooking.

But that wasn’t possible now, not in this lifetime at least.

“Actually, and smack me if this crazy-“ Peter felt a tiny smack from Mayday, who he playfully pouted at, “-you could always stay here with us. This is just a suggestion. You’d be able to still go to school, and of course, visit family and friends in Brooklyn anytime. I know you’re in a tough position, and I’d never ask you to make a choice now but-“

“I’ll have to think about it. I’m still pretty.. tired and it just feels.. so strange.”

“Of course, Miles. You got all the time in the world.” Daniela hugged him close.

—-

I only wrote this much but I’m conflicted on who he should stay with. Any ideas?

[crackinwise]

Also, two things about ep9:

If something that looked like the lovechild of David Bowie & Brian Slade (Velvet Goldmine's Satan) started laughing in my face and ominously told me not to die, i'd run to commit myself in a padded room like the protagonist of a horror movie.

There's no way Puerto Rican parents let some older white creep get engaged to their 16yr old daughter. No way. One of my mom's besties who helped raise me was a Puerto Rican immigrant with 3 daughters. If a teacher had asked to marry one, she would have legitimately tried to kill him, then gone to light a candle and pray.

[conjuremanj]

The Seven African Powers & Who They Really Are.

The Seven African Powers are a common spiritual force that people petition within Santeria but there is a common misconception that's been going around about who they are and how they function. If you visit any botanica (spiritual shop) you’ll find candles that look like the image above claiming to be 7 African Powers candle. Along with other spiritual supplies that claim the same thing.

Who are these powers is the question:

The image above shows a collection of seven different saints: Our Lady of Mercy, The Virgin of Regla, Our Lady of Charity of Cobre, Saint Barbara, Saint Joseph of Arimathea, Saint John the Baptist, and Jesus on the Cross in the center. Under each saint image is the name of one of the Orishas. The name Olofi is under the image of Jesus. The images of saint are linked together with a metal chain along with 7 of Ogun’s tools hanging from the bottom.

Because of the image to the right, most people mistakenly think that the Seven African Powers are the orishas: Elegua, Ogun, Orula, Chango, Oshun, Yemaya and Obatala. But how did this come about?

Who really are the Seven African Powers if they aren’t the Orishas? Can anyone work with the Seven African Powers or is it limited to initiates of Santeria practice only?

The Syncretization Of The Orishas:

With the individual Catholic saints isn’t that unusual but the grouping of these particular Orishas together is what makes it unique. Well Santerismo developed out of Puerto Rican Espiritismo (Spiritualism) blended with Orisha worship outside of a Lucumí practice. In Santerismo it is common for spiritualist mediums to become possessed by Catholic saints referring to themselves by the names of the Orishas. Santerismo took its roots in the Puerto Rican community in New York City in the 1950’s.

Santerismo is NOT Santeria:(Lucumí/Lukumi). Santerismo is a spiritualist tradition open to revelation while Santeria is an initiatory religion.

But the spiritualists in Santerismo didn’t understand the difference and they assumed they were the Orishas. The images of seven Catholic saints put together in a manner dedicated to the Seven African Powers but that didn’t come about until the 1970’s and 80’s and the Espiritismo tradition’s influences.

Who the Seven African Powers Really Are:

They are Spirit Guides they are spirits of the dead from the seven different African tribes that were brought to Cuba.

When a person speaks of the Seven African Powers they refer to a group of 7 different spirits, one from each of the following tribes: Yoruba, Congo, Takua, Kissi, Calabari, Arará, and Mandika. A person who has a connection with the Seven African Powers will have one spirit guide from each of these tribes unique to him. The importance of the drum as a tool to call down the Orishas.

The Seven African Powers are called upon for help with spiritual evolution, overcoming obstacles, and personal power. Anyone can petition the Seven African Powers as they are spirit guides and everyone, initiated or not, have access to spirits of the dead for their guidance. (They can be petitioned by lighting vigil candles that are of 7 colors, or using 7 different candles of different colors.) It is also traditional to tie strips of cloth or handkerchiefs of seven different colors in a bundle. By whirling this bundle of loose multicolored cloth in the air over your head, as you call the Seven African Powers and petition them for help. Can can also work with your own spirit guides as well.

[sag-dab-sar]

Today is Our Lady of Sorrows' Feast Day

I cannot participate with anything today due to medical procedure. But I at least want to share the Rosary I got for Mater Dolorosa.

Here are the Prayers of the Rosary/Chaplet for Our Lady of Sorrows

When I was a child in Latino Catholicism (Dominican & Puerto Rican based on the neighborhood) we lit 7 Day Candles, they were available at the small "Spanish Market" in their own aisle (like these). I wanted to take a image of Our Lady of Sorrows, print it on printer sticker paper, and attach it to a blank 7 Day Candle. However, I don't have the energy right now unfortunately (and my room is in ruins moving things so no space to work properly on the project) This is what I have for her right now!

[ulabewriting]

Dominic Foreman-McGuire.

she/her.

TW : mention of alcohol, bad relationship with parents.

– Puerto rican, adopted in San Juan. – Gemini. – Personal trainer.

if charisma was a person.

leader of the “buff women” club.

fuck the man and the bear. choose Dominic, she can protect you from both.

looks tough and stoic but she’s SWEET, and she has the softest heart. <3

plays video games when she’s free. She will destroy anybody in fps games.

very deep sleep. She’s always running around, being active during the day, but once she’s asleep– you can try anything you want, this woman will NOT wake up unless the house is on fire.

super cuddly in her sleep; definitely the type to hug you and circle your waist unconsciously.

insanely good stamina. ;)

has a very warm laugh; the kind that makes you feel safe and content and makes you smile, no matter your mood.

has the sickest playlists.

curses in spanish when she’s mad, frustrated or scared.

5’11 strong lady!

loves long late night drives.

goes for a run every morning before going to work.

has two dogs, the loves of her life : Thelma and Amir.

absolutely loves to party and go to clubs with her siblings.

initially followed her parents’ will and didn’t really question the “system” until Liz did it. It inspired her a lot. Dominic used to be close to her parents; definitely their “proud, responsible oldest child”, but they’re more distant now. Their relationship is still kind of awkward.

takes cooking lessons with Oliver from time to time; always wanted to be good in the kitchen.

her love languages are gift giving and physical touch.

LOVES gentle touches. (brushing her knuckles against your cheek, your hands, pushing strands of hair behind your ears, placing a hand on the small of your back when you’re walking side to side. . .)

scared of bugs.

always wearing rings.

a big fan of horror movies.

a HUGE tease. Teasing her siblings, teasing you… i guess it’s part of her love language too. :)

owns like three different cars and motorcycles.

doesn’t play around with safety. (as she should!)

“Nah, nah, nah, sweetheart. If you don’t put this helmet on, you don’t. get. on my bike.”

suave, romantic mf. The type to organize romantic dinner dates with candles and your favorite meal.

bottling up her emotions quite a lot; tries to change it and learn how to talk about her feelings without fearing being judged or deemed unlovable.

used to not be close to her siblings because she’s the type to keep to herself. She only started forging strong links with her siblings when she distanced herself from her parents.

very rational and collected. If you have a problem; call her to find a solution or just to calm yourself down, honestly–

the most responsible and reliable one of the family, for sure. not the type to run away from her responsibilities.

can pick you up bridal style like you weigh nothing, so if you’re into that….. beware. She’ll attack you from behind and you’ll be in the air before you can even realize it–

gets jealous, sometimes. She won’t say a thing because she’s scared to annoy you, but you can tell because she gets more touchy-feely. Grabbing your hands, your waist, holding you close…

loves going to the arcade. (She’ll flash you the brightest, fondest smile if you say you want to come along.)

big fan of anime! Her favorite is One Punch Man. (wants to fight Saitama soooo bad.)

“No but look, look, look… If I tackle him like that, and punch him with just the right amount of strength, I’m sure I could, like–“

takes pictures of everything because everything looks cool, according to her. She looooves taking pictures of you– looks at you like you’re the moon and stars.

“You look… anw, sweetheart, there’s no words to describe you. Let me show you how I feel, hm ?”

will make you her "passenger princess". you have no choice.

quite literally treats you like royalty. You’re her goddamn jewel.

goes hard at the gym when she’s pissed off. Some business going south ? she’ll go boxing. A fight within the family ? she’ll bully a treadmill.

sends you random gym pictures in the middle of the day; caption “;)”.

plays poker. and she’s reaaaaally good at it; her natural resting b face comes in handy.

knows a LOT about alcohol, always buys the finest bottles and shares a drink with Liz (fellow wine enjoyer!) whenever she can.

not scared of eye contact; definitely will stare into anyone’s soul without batting an eye. ….especially yours. loves to startle you by just eye-devouring you when you talk; she loves the expressions you make when you're flustered.

addicted to iced coffee.

obsessed with cleaning. a clean FREAK. (her house and vehicles are always shiny.)

big big big fan of R&B.

veiny handdddssss! ! !

“I wanted to be strong for my family, yet I was pushing them away… Now, it’s like I’m meeting each of my siblings one by one for the first time, and learn to let them love me. And it might be stupid but, feeling so vulnerable… makes me the strongest I could've ever dreamed of being.”

[astra-galaxie]

“An elephant?! That’s so cool! I like penguins!” - Milagros Santiago

Biographical information

Full Name: Milagros Santiago

Nickname(s): Mila

Gender: Female

Status: Alive

Age: 6 (season 3)

Birth: 2010

Race: Human

Nationality: Puerto Rican-American

Origin: Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A

Residence:

McMurdo Station, South Pole

Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A (formerly)

Profession(s): Penguin Enthusiast

Family:

Alondra Santiago (mother) (deceased)

Unnamed father

Camila Martinez (adoptive mother)

Unnamed grandparents

Carmen Martinez (aunt)

Sanjay Korrapati (cousin)

Affiliation(s): McMurdo Station

Profile

Height: 3’5”

Age: 6 (season 3)

Weight: 40lbs

Eyes: hazel

Blood: A+

Hailing from Baltimore, Milagros Santiago is a young girl with caramel skin, hazel brown eyes, and bouncy curls of long black hair. With her favourite colour being purple, she wears a dark purple parka with matching boots, black snow pants, a lilac hat, scarf, gloves and darker lilac earmuffs.

Synopsis

McMurdo Station’s unofficial penguin expert, Milagros, is the adopted daughter of Camila Martinez.

She is a curious young girl who loves asking questions to learn about new things. She loves science and learning about biology, physics, chemistry, and weather patterns. But she's also a big fan of fantasy novels and can easily get lost in an imaginary world as she reads her favourite books.

Milagros lost her mother at a young age. She doesn't remember much about Alondra, but she remembers her singing lullabies to put her to sleep and having princess tea parties with her and Auntie Camila. She's lucky to have recordings of her mother, and her favourite ones are the videos of Alondra singing and dancing with her as they reenact the dancing scenes from fairy tale movies.

After Alondra passed away, it was just her and Auntie Camila in their little apartment. The place seemed cold and empty without her Mommy, but soon, their family became bigger. She and Camila moved into a rental house close to Camila's parents, and Milagros loved visiting her new grandparents. Her Mommy's parents also visit from Puerto Rico, and while she only sees them a few times a year, she still treasures their time together.

A few weeks after her sixth birthday, Camila announced that she had been offered a job in Antarctica and Milagros was invited to come along. Despite the cold weather, the girl was ecstatic to move to the South Pole. She couldn't wait to see her newest favourite animal, penguins, and make lots of new penguin friends.

Several weeks after moving to Antarctica and befriending the penguins, Camila informed her that Auntie Carmen and her team would be visiting them. Milagros was excited to show Carmen and her friends around the station and penguin reserve but was even more excited to meet her new cousin Sanjay.

After Camila had been cleared of murder, she and Milagros took the Bureau out to visit the penguin reserve. Milagros introduced the penguins to the team by name and taught the humans everything she knew about the animal. While she might still have a lot to learn, she felt proud of herself as she saw everyone smiling and listening to her ramble.

But after a few days, Auntie Carmen, Sanjay and the Bureau needed to leave. Milagros didn't want them to go, but she knew there were bad guys out there they needed to take down, so she didn't try to stow away on the plane. But she still made Auntie Carmen and Sanjay promise to take pictures and get her souvenirs from everywhere they visited.

Months later, near the end of The Darkest Hour, Milagros and Camila returned to celebrate the defeat of SOMBRA alongside the rest of the Bureau's family and friends.

Story Information

First appeared: Death Below Zero

Trivia

Inspiration for her came from Encanto. Her name means miracle (miracle candle), and her Puerto Rican heritage comes from one of the movie’s (also one of my favourite) music composers being of Puerto Rican descent (Lin-Manuel Miranda)

Her stuffed penguin, Pip, was a gift from Camila when she told Milagros they were moving to Antarctica. Milagros sleeps with Pip every night and claims he keeps her nightmares and the cold away

When living in Baltimore, Camila takes Milagros on weekly trips to the cemetery to visit Alondra’s grave. Milagros updates her mother on everything that happened during the previous week and sometimes brings along things to show the grave

Once they return from Antarctica, Milagros plans to bring her scrapbook to her mother’s grave so that she can tell Alondra all about her adventures and penguin friends

She loves dressing up as characters from her favourite movies, especially princesses. Sometimes Camila will dress in matching costumes

Mila hopes that she'll be able to convince Sanjay to dress up with her for Halloween so they can get extra candy for their matching costumes!

She enjoys visiting the beach to build sand castles, swim, play in the waves, and take the pets Camila fosters for walks

Whenever they have a new pet to foster, Milagros makes them a bow or bandana to wear. Each one uses a different combination of fabrics, so no two bows or bandanas are the same

Her favourite animals to foster are dogs, cats, birds, and lizards

She also likes when they get to pet-sit people's fish. It's fun to watch them swim around in the tank

She was born without the lower half of her legs from just below her knees. She has prosthetics to help her walk, run, swim and dance

Grandma Martinez makes her special socks/sleeves in fun patterns that fit over her fake legs to cover the boring metal and plastic

Her favourite ones are the flower pattern socks that make it look like her legs a wrapped in flowers and the sparkly ones because she likes the way they shimmer in the light

Disclaimer: Character design was created using Rinmarugames Mega Anime Avatar Creator! I have only made minor edits to the design! Background courtesy of CriminalArtist5

Links to my stories:

The Case of the Criminal (Ao3/Wattpad)

Killer Bay (Ao3/Wattpad)

Where in the World are the Killers? (Ao3/Wattpad)

[theuniverseawakens347]

Violeta, but YOU PETTY,

IM PERTY TWO FOR ALL THE BLACK GIRLS YOU DEEM ARENT SPANISH ENOUGH WHIKE YOU PLAY WHITE FACE IN REVERSE.

CAMILLA A TU TAMBIAN ESTAS PARA TE - lala Milan ✊🏿…

But violet, HOW YOU GON TALK SHIT BOYT ANOTHER DOMINICAN / HATAIN … PUERTO RICAN BRAZIL … Looking like Lia Lewis or jasmin brown or even Bret rock man or a James Charles ( ya root Jeffrey shut up Shane Dawson)

WHEN YOU FAIL SPANISH CLASS TOO but “speak”

AYE PAPI* in “bed” for some money??

——

I MIGHT GOT AN ISSUE WITH MOST OF YOU BUT IMMA PUT MYSELF AS MEDIATOR FOR THE SHIT CAUSE YOU ALL A BULLY IN YOUR OWN SUB GROUPS.

—-

DAE a white man claiming his “black roots” …. U BOAST ABOUT THE BLACK NATIVE POLYSAMOAN TRIBE OF MY LEGIT FAMILY YOU RAPE SEXUALLY AND FINANCIALLY.

YOUR A FUCKING COLONIZER IN FÜL. MISTER “I’m going to use myself to turn into a woman and try and press on Jay since he’s struggles with his sexuality ( IN UR FUCKING HEAD … WOO. SAH INDIA LOVE MARIE THIS YOU TWO) and see if he’ll take the bait” … but YOU WENT THAT FAR ( when I left school bc shit with you and Jay went south ) YOU WANT TO BE TRANSGENDER BUT YOUR DAD OR MOM OR SIBLINGS* WONT ACCEPT YOU AS THAT. … so YOU brought an innocent person into it … max and Jay BEEN COMFORTABLE WITH HOW THEY LEARN THEMSELVES. THATS A SOLID FRIENDSHIP THAT HAS PROBLEMS BC YOU. YPUR ENERGY.

I brought Yal that candle and you said “ I first met Jay and max we were matching but opposite “ … now you think about me and you our last day before YOU SENT ME TO THE PAYCHWARD .. I’m wearing red bottoms and a black shirt and YOUR WEARING A RED SHIRT AND BLACK BOTTOMS… YOU MY BITCH. MY DEATH PET TO KILL. YOU FUCKING MURDERER. - YO ANCESTORS TWO. THE ROCK.

[iamkateygretchen]

Hey, guys. Last night, I had a bad dream about the Koreans who were attacked by Blacks and Hispanics (including Puerto Ricans) while performing at a music stage… like a Phoenix tanning and burning up with a candle. Very painful, very heartbroken, and unharmed.

Hurting the Koreans can be frustrated. ㅠ.ㅠ

[angelvyxen]

Devin Booker is colorist bye. And he dated kkkendall after her & her family did not take from not just one of his cultures (his mom is Puerto Rican & Mexican his dad is black) but 2 we all know how candle and her Family basically stole black culture for years & continue too + profit off of it. But remember she got backlash for taking credit from Mexican tequila cmon Devin be smart.

https://twitter.com/devinbook/status/448670568322068482?s=46&t=6IIfCmFJC09gIma2nDjk2Q

@/ the anon that loves Devin Booker. There is some information you must know.