#aglipayan

[elfilibusterismo]

aglipayans are actually kind of based

[hwspirilovebot]

What do you think hws philippines think of filipino christian churches (i.e. inc, aglipay etc)?

I fear I'm not knowledgeable enough about this topic but I'll do my best 😭 Iglesia Ni Cristo often gets criticized with how overzealous some of their churchgoers are at donating a huge chunk of their income, instances of "bloc voting" and backing shady politicians, but they're the 2nd largest Christian denomination in the PH so that's a testament on how fast they convert people. Following them is the Seventh-day Adventist who are known for their dietary restrictions and the Aglipay whose history I found the most interesting. Roman Catholicism is ultimately rooted from colonization and the Aglipayan Church split from the Roman Catholic Church which was dominated by the Spanish clergy. There are several denominations too, and the PH even has Protestants, which my friends call borderline atheists with how progressive they are 😭 However, Protestantism and Seventh-day Adventist Church did not originate from Filipinos, and I'm straying far away from the question, whoops.

When ministers and church leaders debate each other, it's easy to ask, "Why are you all fighting?! You are worshiping the same God!". There's more nuance than that, which I don't believe I'm qualified to talk about. Piri understands their motives and their history, and respects dietary restrictions, church attendance, inability to do labor on certain days, etc. But he also has a degree of autonomy, and he could choose to convert to another Christian denomination, or to criticize certain aspects of it. I could also see him holding a sense of pride with how certain denominations are founded or led by Filipinos, considering how the dominant reading of Christian scripture is under the Western imperialist lens. It's his form of reclaiming and asserting his identity.

[elysianasterism]

i need to create article notes and a presentation and a video about my history article and i don't fucking know how. or i guess i can't do it.

Lico, G.R.A. (2017). Rising from the Ashes: Post-war Philippines Architecture. Docomomo 57

anyways. after wwii and as the philippines became independent, manila was devastated (2nd most devastated allied city after warsaw in fact). so they gotta rebuild and build y'know? people saw modernism as a new way to develop this new nation and make it look different from old colonial styles. also they needed to cut down costs and build them as fast and efficient as possible, so they did away with fancy ornamentation. so modernism fit that nicely.

there was a US war rehab fund to rebuild notable manila buildings, mostly government buildings, and also those in my university. later there would be a campus built in quezon city (though before it was called quezon city) and it's. well. more developed imo

there were plans to build a capitol complex too, in quezon city (since the capital was moved there). but it wasn't finished.

so a lot more buildings were built in modernist style. many had glass walls and super cubic and geometric shapes. there were also big domes built (like araneta coliseum) and also places of worship had big geometric shapes too (like the main aglipayan church and the iglesia ni cristo churches).

there were also suburb subdivisions made, influenced by american ones and their car culture, and also high-rise condominiums. there was a high-rise boom in manila and also makati (which still has a bunch of high rise buildings to this day).

except... people realized that this was Nawt energy efficient. they needed lots of aircon and ventilation to cool buildings (this is the philippines after all, it's hot). so they changed stuff. architects adapted slats on the outside (brise-soleil and similar structures) to lessen sunlight and heat and help with ventilation. slanted roofs and windows, similar to the bahay kubo, were later used. so basically architects started taking details from traditional filipino houses and modernized them in a way. this is called tropical regionalism.

then when the marcos sr. administration came around, they started incorporating a bunch of indigenous motifs from all over the country for aesthetics, and to create a "national architecture". this was mostly headed by imelda marcos. so like the sarimanok and naga motifs and much more. lots of big buildings were constructed, mostly with leandro locsin as architect.

after the marcoses were deposed, postmodernism took over (though the article doesn't go deep on the buildings in this style). the people wanted something different from the marcoses' blatant displays of wealth and prestige. (look. they sucked.)

so a bunch of modernist buildings were demolished, until a law was passed to protect and preserve some of these and also the country's heritage sites.

[nablah]

roman catholics who dont like the church as an institution of colonialism and oppression but are still chill w catholicism aa a whole may i reccommend the aglipayan church

[silverbackpacker]

La Paz Aglipayan Church, Abra . #lapazabra #abramazing #congjbtourism #simbahanph #Philippinechurches #aglipayan #aglipayanchurch #abraheritage (at La Paz, Abra)

[ushisrever]

Bibingka (epilogue)

DAY 2: BIBINGKA 

Pair: Ushijima Wakatoshi x fm!reader 

Genre: Fluff 

Word Count: 1.3k

Summary: A little sweet Christmas season morning with you, Ushijima and your twin sons. 

A/n: I find this really sweet.  It’s ushi...and its with babies! LOL.  So...this is for the Baby Baby Collab I am hosting and also this is the day 2 of my maligayang pasko event.  

Taglist: @sunarent @sunarinnie @crystal-lilac @apricitobio @amarinthe @kenmakozumeswifey​ @moontxz 

PART 1 - EPILOGUE

Simbang Gabi - It is a devotional nine-day series of Masses practiced by Filipino Catholics and Aglipayans in the Philippines in anticipation of Christmas (people often wake up as early as 5 am to attend this mass)

Bibingka - It is a type of baked rice cake from the Philippines.  It is usually eaten for breakfast, especially during the Christmas season.  It is traditionally cooked in clay pots. ( Bibingka stalls are often open as well during Simbang Gabi.  Therefore, after Simbang Gabi, people often buy this treat)

As a usual tradition that you and Ushi follow, as early as five am you two wake up to complete the simbang gabi and eat Bibingka.  The little tradition is not anymore for the sake of simply completing the simbang gabi or eating Bibingka early in the morning.  After Ushi surprises you with a simple proposal at home when you two are eating bibingka, these early Christmas morning traditions are way more special.  It just always reminds you of the new beginning your now husband has given you.  

However, as of this coming Christmas, you can’t do that.  As much as Ushi understands the sentiment behind doing such, he cares more about your current state.  Knowing that you are pregnant with his daughter, he’d rather have you rest since it becomes difficult by the day to sleep.  Eight months into being pregnant is not an easy thing.  You understand Ushi’s reasoning and so you make sure to rest well to make sure you have a healthy baby.  

Though, you don’t mean too, but you can’t help but suddenly wake up at around late six in the morning because of the empty space beside you.

“Toshi?”You mumble as you look over your shoulder and find it actually empty.  At that, you push yourself up from the bed and stand up.  You take a deep breath and feel the heavy weight of your pregnant belly. 

“Getting heavier by the day, sweetie?” you smiled referring to your unborn child.  

You go to the bathroom before you head down to the ground floor where you suspect your husband will be.  As you go down to the first floor of your shared home, you first see the tall Christmas tree you and your husband managed to glamour up.  Then as you turn to the kitchen, you find your twin boys, Naoki and Nori, sitting on the high chairs and the kitchen counter is all a mess of cream, plates, banana leaf, and a brown paper bag. 

“Why are the two of you awake this early?” you cross your arms as your two boys look up in surprise as they see you.

“Mama! You’re awake!” Naoki said.  Your husband then appears from the kitchen and turns to see you. 

“Sorry sweetie, did we wake you?” Toshi comes over to you and gives you a kiss on the forehead and puts a hand on your belly. 

“No.  Not really….but…” you look at your boys. “What are the boys doing up early?” 

You walk over to your twin boys, but before you could even get a closer look your two sons protest. “WAIT! No! Don’t look yet, mama! It should be a surprise,” Naoki tries to hide the surprise.

“Don’t tell mama that! It’s not a surprise anymore,” Nori loudly whispers at Naoki.

You can’t help but laugh.  Though, considering the small banana leaves, you then figure someone bought some bibingkas.  You turn to your husband waiting for him to explain it to you.  Toshi smiles and leans by your ear. 

“They had me buy the bibingkas early in the morning,” he whispered. 

“Papa, don’t tell mama!”  Nori protests.

You nod and immediately understand what it is.  You turn to your boys. 

“Don’t worry, he didn’t say anything.  Papa just wants me to go rest more,” you said.  Toshi chuckles.

“I’ll go back upstairs to rest some more.  You boys better not stand on the chair, alright?” you say before you turn to head up.  Though, before you even walk you notice your shih tzu and king charles spaniel with a little cream or whip cream on their noses and head.  Your husband notices where you are looking and gives a nervous smile. 

“I..um…sorry about that.  We accidentally dropped one of the whip cream cans on them.  I’ll clean them up, I promise,” he gives you a kiss on the lips once more. 

“Alright,” you smile against his lips before you pull away and walk back up to your room.  

You can’t go back to sleep anymore knowing that your little four year old boys have something in store for you.  So, you just end up listening to some music as you have your back on the bed’s headboard.  You have your hand on your belly and try to wait for your baby to kick. 

“No kicks for mama today?” you chuckled. 

It took about a few more minutes before the door opened with your husband entering first with a breakfast table in his hand followed by your twins with a plate with bibingka on their hands.  

“Oh my…what’s this?” you smiled.  Your husband puts the breakfast table over your lap.  

“A present for you, mama,” Naoki cheekily said and gave you a plate of bibingka with a cute cream lettering that says ‘we love you mama’.  You can’t help but be touched by the words.  Probably feeling a little teary at this sudden surprise. 

You look over to Nori who is carrying another plate of bibingka. “And who’s this other one for?” you smiled. 

“It’s for our baby sister!” Nori puts the plate on the breakfast table.  You then get to see the writings on ‘we love baby sister’.  Reading those words, you eventually just burst into happy tears.  You immediately wipe away the tears, but your twins sure suddenly became worried. 

“Mama, why are you crying?” Nori climbs up the bed and immediately hugs you. 

“Mommy just really loved the gifts.  Thank you, baby,” you kiss Nori’s forehead.  Naoki climbs up to also get a kiss from you.  You kiss him on the forehead as well. 

You then look at your husband who is smiling at the image he so has wanted the moment you said yes to his proposal three years ago.  You mirror his expression too.  He takes that as a queue to lean over and kiss you on the lips, but your twins push his face away. 

“Ew…nooo! Don’t kiss mama,” Naoki said. 

Toshi pouts at that and looks at you as if waiting for you to rescue him from the protective twins.  You mumbled a ‘later’ to your husband and chuckled at your husband’s pout.  

You and your sons ended up eating the bibingka.  After that, your sons went out of the room to go play with the dogs which then you ended up being finally alone with your husband.  

“We still have to make them some breakfast,” you tell your husband.  Toshi takes the breakfast table and puts it aside for a while.  He doesn’t answer at all and simply scoots beside you and engulfs you in a hug. 

“Anything wrong, Toshi?” You mumbled against his chest. 

“Not really. Just making the most of this alone time.  Those boys are really taking you away from me,” he chuckles. 

You pull away and you look at him.  You did not leave a second and cup his cheeks to pull in for a kiss.  It’s not just a simple kiss, but those kisses you two always love.  The more passionate ones.  A deep kiss that pulls that warmth in each other’s hearts.  

It takes a while before you two pull away from each other.  A smile creeps on your face. 

“Don’t take it against them, sweetie.  Besides…they also have a gift they worked hard for,” you give a kiss at the tip of his nose. 

His eyes lit up. “A gift?” 

“I can’t tell what it is.  You’ll have to wait till Christmas,” 

He smiles and nods.  He then looks down on your belly and puts a hand on your belly. 

“Hello, princess,” Toshi says.  Immediately at that, he feels a kick against his hand.  You both look at each other in surprise. 

“Oh my, it seems someone misses papa,” you chuckled. 

He chuckles. “I can’t wait to meet you, princess,”  

MALIGAYANG PASKO MASTERLIST 

[whooolaanmo]

Nasa Kainan

Jusko busog na busog pa ako pamula nung Pasko Bagong Taon pero pahabol na Dinner salo-salo ang mga Lola ngayon Jan. 3, so bale bukas Jan. 4 pahinga sa Handaan tas Jan. 5 Binyagan so Kainan nanaman Jan. 6 pahinga Jan. 7 Fiesta ni San Crispin Aglipayan Church sa Brgy. namin so may kakainan kami sa bahay ng kamag anak naghahanda sila tuwing Jan. 7 kahit Catholic sila tas Jan. 8-14 pahinga normal na meal tas Jan. 15 Fiesta ng Bayan San Pablo so may kainan ulit hahaha 🤣🤣🤣

Jan. 03, 2022 07:00 pm

[mariposalass]

Night Mass (Tradition)

This is my Day 13 entry for @silentlyfangirlingselfshipper​’s A Very Shippy Christmas event and the main theme of the day is about tradition. And since it’s nearing an important seasonal holiday for us Filipinos worldwide known as Simbang Gabi, I thought I would love to share this with you guys. And yes, my family takes visiting a nearby church on Christmas Eve very seriously! Although brace yourself for colonial past mentions, Pinoy culture, and a lot of Catholic references though so you guys can understand where this cherished Pinoy holiday tradition came from.

For starters, Simbang Gabi is a 9 day series of Masses observed among Catholic and Aglipayan Filipinos in the Philippines every December from the 16th to 24th. The last day though usually calls this Misa de Gallo (Rooster's Mass). It is quite similar to Puerto Rico’s Misa de Aguinaldo.

Believe it or not, it was actually stemmed from the Spanish era when Filipino farmers had to work long hours under the hot Philippine sun until noon to harvest rice, coconut, and sugar canes, lest they want to incur the wrath of their Spanish overlords and men old enough would have to work on the Spanish government projects while the women would toil on their vegetable gardens and work as household staff to the elite for similar reasons. Whenever Christmas comes along, the Church would normally hold evening novenas, but when they noticed people still attend despite how tired they are from the work, they eventually changed gears to hold Mass in the early morning so people go to work right away. In hindsight, maybe NOT a great idea for call center people and people working on night shifts.

Everyone will adorn their houses with parols which are star shaped ornamental lanterns that are usually made from bamboo and paper (although you can use recyclable materials for them as well) and can come in various sizes and shapes, but stars are more popular. It’s meant to represent the Star of Bethlehem that guided the 3 Wise Kings to the manger where Jesus was born and victory of light over darkness. Me, Issa, and Kairi had made some in the past and have them put when December arrives.

We usually visit a nearby Catholic Church every December 24 for a few minutes and light up candles and joss sticks for Our Lady of China (the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary that first appeared in Donglu, China in 1900 and it is something I actually do every Simbang Gabi and New Year’s Eve and during death anniversary mass for dead relatives) before heading back home. Also, I’m also Chinese so that’s a thing for me.

It is often said that if a Filipino devotee completes all 9 days, they could be granted a request that could be made during the novena. I never do all 9 days, even the fam bunch doubt that this is entirely true. Besides, we don’t have the time and energy to pull this off.

In recent years, the current Cardinal, Luis Antonio Tagle, has made a ban on malls holding Simbang Gabi masses unless they have their own chapels. Perhaps he’s trying to prevent the blurring of the Christmas spirit and spirituality with capitalism? I don’t work for the guy so I can’t speak on his behalf.

There will be food and drinks to feast on while on Church premises. These days, local snacks like yema, suma, bibingka, puto bumbong, otap/lady fingers, barriquillos, and arroz caldo are among the food being served to Churchgoers and you have coffee (such as Kape Barako, which is a strong local coffee from the province of Batangas), hot chocolate (tsokolate) and ginger tea (salabat) for drinks. We sometimes try to get some of that but there are also crowds coming in so we don’t get to have them often every year. That doesn’t stop Harry from getting us hot chocolate regardless of how crowded it can get.

This year is obviously Philip’s first time experiencing this so I’m going to be explaining everything to him while at the Church and I’m certain that some people will get annoyed by me and the fam bunch teaching him inside the Church. God help us all!

[elfilibusterismo]

i think the only other denomination i'd like to willingly go and see what mass is like is prob the aglipayans

[janvercie]

Kapistahan ng ating Pintakasi SANTA ROSA DE LIMA Agosto 30, 1617-2017 400 taon ng kanyang pagtawid sa Buhay na Walang Hanggan #SantaRosa400 #SantaRosaDeLima #SaintRoseOfLima #IsabelDeFlores #IFISantaRosa #IFILaguna #IFI #Aglipay #Aglipayan #Filipinista #SimbahangMalaya #SimbahangSarili #SimbahangIndependiente (at Iglesia Filipina Independiente - Parish of Saint Rose of Lima)

[slytherinhouse-gas-blog]

(credits to the owner of the photo)

                                                SIMBANG GABI

Ventura, Erica Miles B.

Problem and Solution

Simbang Gabi is a nine-day series of masses in the Philippines wherein Catholics will attend mass in anticipation of Christmas. During the Simbang Gabi, there are a lot of kakanin stalls or also known as Filipino Native delicacies waiting outside the church. Having kakanin stalls are part of the Simbang Gabi tradition. Right after the mass, people will buy these sweet treats such as puto (rice cakes), puto bungbong, kutsinta, bibingka, and it is usually served with hot coffee. However, some people do not know how to dispose their trash properly after eating. They usually leave or throw their garbage everywhere. Therefore, the cleanliness outside the church is a complete mess.

You can see plastics on the floor, banana leaves as the wrapper for the delicacy scattered everywhere and styrofoam cups for the hot coffee hidden somewhere. This often happens due to the lack of garbage bin within the church. Overload garbage bin could be one of the reasons behind the littering of the church goers. Nevertheless, this act must be prohibited for the church is a sacred place. People must learn how to maintain the cleanliness inside and outside of the church. In this way, people are not just doing it for the sake of the cleanliness of the church but also doing it because they care for God’s creation. Ergo, our environment is one of God’s creations, and stewardship must be applied at all times.

Thus, having enough garbage bins within the church could help the issue regarding the waste disposal of the church goers after eating kakanins. Moreover, having trash collectors coming from the people of the church could also help solve the problem. As stated by Cameron (2015), the church is not a group of perfect people; therefore, there are few people who do not follow the proper waste disposal. Trash collectors are the stewards of the church who regularly clean the community. In addition to that, according to Villanueva (2012), a key to a successful waste segregation in a community especially in church must have a right program regarding for garbage for an effective waste management. As long as, the people will comply and participate in the said program. In this way, church goers would be aware of the rules and regulation in the church by having trash collectors and attending a program regarding waste management, also, they would learn how to take good care of the environment by not throwing their trash everywhere.

References:

Cameron, B. (2015). The Trash Collector. Crossroads Christian. Retrieved from https://www.crossroadschristian.org/blogs/blog/53220293-the-trash-collector

Villanueva, R. (2012). Change attitude key successful waste segregation among household. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/business/science-and-environment/2012/12/27/890362/change-attitude-key-successful-waste-segregation-among-households

Compare and Contrast

Some people love to decorate the church. Whether it is just an Ordinary Sunday or it is almost Simbang Gabi or also known as the Misa de Gallo. In an Ordinary Sunday, people who serve in the church will basically arrange and fix the materials needed for the mass. However, there are also some renovations that will be made regularly to maintain the beautiful structural design of a particular church. Thus, you could see how people in the church truly value the essence of having a church in the community. They treat it as the home of God the Father and continuously maintain the neatness of it. Ergo, it is how they take good care of it.

On the other hand, before Simbang Gabi, people would decorate the church even when the BER months just started as if it is already in the month of December. They like the church goers to feel the Christmas spirit by putting up Christmas decorations. Moreover, it is one of their ways to show their anticipation in the birth of Jesus. Besides that it is already part of the Filipino tradition, they do it because that is their way to show that churches are sacred and that is where people would gather around just to hear God’s word and it needs to be taken good care of.  People who serve in the church are the stewards of the church. They are the ones who protect it as if it is their own home. They take good care of it by making it beautiful.

Furthermore, the church is considered as one of God’s creations. Wherein it could be a beautiful and friendly environment. It could also be considered as one of the places wherein you could feel safe and at home at the same time. Decorations in an Ordinary Sunday only differs from the Simbang Gabi decorations for in an Ordinary Sunday, they put up the materials needed to be able to have a mass. While on the other hand, in Simbang Gabi they put up Christmas decorations to feel the Christmas spirit in anticipation of the birth of Jesus. However, they have the same goal and that is to take good care of the church.

Monteloyola, Erwin T. Jr.

Cause and Effect

To give you a brief idea on what is Simbang Gabi. Simbang Gabi is a “night mass” for Filipinos. It is a devotional nine-day series of Masses practiced by Roman Catholics and Aglipayans in the Philippines in the anticipation of Christmas. These Filipino night masses are held daily from December 16 until December 24. On the last day of Simbang Gabi, which is in Christmas Eve, the church service is instead called Misa de Gallo which means in Spanish term is Rooster’s Mass. The last day of simbang gabi has a very important role in the Philippine culture for a reason that, this series of events became part of our yearly tradition.

[lyannaguzon]

BAGO CITY

Kasaysayan ng Bago City

Nadikubre ang Bago City noong Setyembre 6, 1571 nang ibigay ng Kastilang Adelantado, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, ang lugar bilang encomienda sa isang Kastila na nagngangalang Juan Gutierrez Cortes. Noong panahong iyon, ang komunidad ay binubuo pa rin ng maliliit na kumpol ng mga naninirahan sa tabi ng pampang ng isang malaking ilog na kalaunan ay nakilala bilang Ilog Bago. Ang encomiendero noong panahong iyon ay pinangangasiwaan ang espirituwal at sosyo-ekonomikong pangangailangan ng mga katutubo sa mga pamayanan.

Tungkol sa kung paano nakuha ang pangalan ng komunidad, ayon sa manuskrito ng isang Espanyol na mananalaysay na si Diego Lope de Povedano, na makukuha sa aklatan ng Unibersidad ng San Carlos, Cebu City, ang komunidad ay ipinangalan sa isang malaking puno na tinatawag na Bago. sa ilalim nito, namatay ang isang katutubong prinsipe na nagngangalang Mapagic.

Katangiang pisikal

Ang Bago City ay may kabuuang sukat ng lupain na 38,941 ektarya, 3,651 ektarya. na kung saan ay kabilang sa Mt. Kanla-on Natural Park. Binubuo ito ng 24 na barangay, 16 dito ay rural at 8 ay urban. Batay sa NSO 2000 Census, ang mga urban barangay ay kinabibilangan ng Abuanan, Atipuloan, Caridad, Balingasag, Don Jorge Araneta, Ma-ao, Poblacion at Taloc. Ang Barangay Ilijan, gayunpaman, na may layong 30.50 km mula sa city proper ay ang pinakamalayong barangay. Ang Barangay Bacong ang may pinakamalaking lupain na may 4,827.0350 ektarya habang ang Brgy Poblacion, bilang pinakamaliit, ay may 311.5044 ektarya. Ang lungsod ay may 1,100 has-water area at 15 km coastline. Ang Lungsod ng Bago ay dinadaanan ng pinakamalawak na ilog sa lalawigan, ang Ilog Bago, na nagsisimula sa hilagang-silangan na dalisdis ng Bulkang Kanlaon at umaagos sa Kipot ng Guimaras.

Kalagayang ekonomikal Pagsasaka at Pangingisda ang pangunahing pinagmumulan ng kita ng mga tao. Ang trabaho at negosyo ang iba pang mga pinagkukunan ng kita.

Katangiang demograpiko ng lugar

99.6% ng mga residente ay nagsasalita ng Hiligaynon/Ilonggo habang 0.4% ang nagsasalita ng iba pang mga wika tulad ng Kinaray-a at Cebuano. Pagdating sa relihiyon, 82% ay Romano Katoliko, 2% ay Convention of the Philippines Baptist Church, 6% ay Aglipayan, 3% ay Iglesia ni Cristo at ang natitira ay alinman sa Jehovah's Witnesses, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Mga Seventh Day Adventist, Evangelicals, atbp.

 Kultura, kaugalian, tradisyon, at paniniwala

·        February 19 Charter Day Anniversary / Babaylan Festival

·        November 5 Bago City Fiesta

·        June 24 Feast of St. John the Baptist

 Ipinasa ni:Lyanna Guzon 11-STEM-St.Apollonia                  

Ipinasa kay: G. Reymbran Bantolio

[silverbackpacker]

Five Aglipayan (Iglesia Filipina Independiente) Churches of Abra. . La Paz, Dolores, Lagangilang, San Juan, and Pidigan. The oldest being La Paz which was built in 1902. #iglesiafilipinaindependiente #ifi #aglipayan #churchesofabra #abramazing #congjbtourism (at Abra Province, Philippines)

[ushisrever]

Bibingka

Pair: Ushijima Wakatoshi x gn!reader

Genre: fluff 

Song: Bibingka by Ben & Ben 

Word Count: 402

Summary: Ushijima definitely wants to have these simbang gabi moments with you for the rest of his life. 

A/n: Finally, I got to write this.  It’s shorter than I expected it, but this is probably a self-indulgent piece lol.  I’m sure the Filipino readers out there know the feeling of those simbang gabi moments and also how delicious bibingka is especially if its just newly baked.  Ugh, now I’m craving bibingka and there is no bibingka here hahahahah.  Also, this piece is inspired by the song by Ben & Ben.  Feel free to listen to it hehehe.  One last note, this is unedited.  I literally just finished this a few minutes ago lol. 

Simbang Gabi - It is a devotional nine-day series of Masses practiced by Filipino Catholics and Aglipayans in the Philippines in anticipation of Christmas (people often wake up as early as 5 am to attend this mass)

Bibingka - It is a type of baked rice cake from the Philippines.  It is usually eaten for breakfast, especially during the Christmas season.  It is traditionally cooked in clay pots. ( Bibingka stalls are often open as well during Simbang Gabi.  Therefore, after Simbang Gabi, people often buy this treat)

He never knew he could be ever happy at all.  He didn’t know he could ever have that feeling of simply wanting to make someone happy.  And that someone is you.  He never knew that he could have the same happiness and warmth just watching you smile as the two of you walk back home.  He never knew that he would have much joy in waking too early to attend a simbang gabi just because he wants to help you fulfill your wish (since you did tell him that if you complete the nine-days simbang gabi, your wish will come true).  He never knew how much more of your warmth he’ll want to keep close as the two of you walk out of the church and feel the cold.  He sure would want to always wait with you as the two of you stand before a bibingka stand and wait for your orders.  

Just everything you do, he sure wants to be a part of it.  He sure loves everything about you. As the two of you get home and eat the bibingka you two ordered, he knows for sure that he’ll want these early morning snacks with you.  There’s no one else he would spend these times with.   He’ll do everything just to make you smile.  And he definitely would want to make you smile for the rest of your life.

Therefore, when the two of you finally attended the last simbang gabi, he also made a wish.  When you close your eyes and make a wish, he on the other hand looks at the person that is part of his wish. 

He made that wish from the bottom  of his heart. 

“Did you make a wish?” You ask him as the two of you walk back home. 

He gazes at your beautiful smile.  He nods at your answer. 

“What did you wish for?” you asked in curiosity. 

I wish that you would allow me to spend the rest of my life with you. 

Though, he doesn’t say that.  He simply smiles and looks away.  It would not be a surprise anymore if he tells you about that red ring box in his bag at your house.  He’ll just have to wait a few more minutes before the two of you reach your house - before he finds out if his wish will come true. 

And he hopes it does come true.  

[whooolaanmo]

BRGY. SAN CRISPIN alyas LUMBANGAN ( noon daw kasi napakarami ng Puno ng Lumbang )

Hahaha may Pa BINGO Si Kapitan!!!

Sa Fiesta ni San Crispin ( AGLIPAYAN CHURCH JAN. 07 )

Tuwing OCT. 25 naman ang Fiesta ni San Crispin pag CATHOLIC CHURCH wala pa Bingo si Kapitan ( kasi ayaw ng sugal nung namumuno ng simbahan kahit libre ang card ng pa Bingo ) so GROCERY PACKAGE para sa lahat.

Dec. 29, 2021

[lebjaperal]

THE DOMELESS BELL TOWER OF ASIA In 2016, I suddenly had the urge to go on a road trip. I put my clothes in a backpack and joined a group tour for a weekend in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. I started the tour as a solo traveler, but I went home meeting a lot of new friends who shared the same interests as mine - old places, beaches and new kinds of adventure. One of the places we visited was Sarrat in Ilocos Norte. The tour guide brought us to the town's Spanish colonial period church and its more famous bell tower. I tried looking for the church's National Historical Commission of the Philippines' marker (or something similar to it), but I didn't find any. What I found was a small marker that states that the church, tower and convent were constructed by Augustinian friars in 1593 and inaugurated in 1782. Much later, I read Fray Pedro G. Calendar, OSA's book, "Angels in Stone: Augustinian Churches in the Philippines," to learn more about the Bacarra church. Fray Galende wrote that the town of Bacarra was once called Dumaquaque. An earlier church and convent must have been built before 1700 because a church made of bricks was constructed between 1700 and 1706. This brick church was dedicated to San Andrés Apóstol. Aside from personal labor, the people of Bacarra contributed lime and bricks. In 1901, the Aglipayans seized the church. According to Fray Galende, the church was returned to the Catholics, but it was despoiled of its properties and treasures. The church and its convent were damaged by several earthquakes across the centuries. In 1973, the church was declared as a National Cultural Treasure in 1973. The once abandoned two-storey convent was restored with the help of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and it was opened to the public as Museo de Bacarra in 2012. The museum houses religious and cultural artifacts, recreating the lifestyle of the residents throughout the centuries. #iloveyouilocos #thetimetrekker https://www.instagram.com/p/CI8ydBAhM_L/?igshid=7mac98soioym