#may god bless the philippines

[catie-does-things]

Litany of American Saints

(Updated 2024)

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.

God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.

Saint Isaac Jogues, pray for us. Saint René Goupil, pray for us. Saint Jean de Lalande, pray for us. All you holy North American Martyrs, pray for us.

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, pray for us. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us. Saint John Neumann, pray for us. Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, pray for us. Saint Katharine Drexel, pray for us. Saint Mother Théodore Guérin, pray for us. Saint Damien de Veuster of Molokai, pray for us. Saint Marianne Cope of Molokai, pray for us. Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for us. Saint Junípero Serra, pray for us.

Blessed Eduardo Farre, pray for us. Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, pray for us. Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores, pray for us. Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, pray for us. Blessed Lucas Tristany, pray for us. Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodriguez Santiago, pray for us. Blessed Michael McGivney, pray for us. Blessed Sister Miriam Teresa, pray for us. Blessed Stanley Rother, pray for us. Blessed Solanus Casey, pray for us. Blessed Leo William Miller, pray for us.

Venerable Antonio of Jesus, pray for us. Venerable Nelson Baker, pray for us. Venerable Frederic Baraga, pray for us. Venerable Cornelia Connelly, pray for us. Venerable Henriette DeLille, pray for us. Venerable Teresa Demjanovich, pray for us. Venerable Maria Kaupas, pray for us. Venerable Mary Theresa Dudzik, pray for us. Venerable Samuel Charles Mazzuchelli, pray for us. Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa McCrory, pray for us. Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, pray for us. Venerable Pierre Toussaint, pray for us. Venerable Félix Varela, pray for us. Venerable Augustus Tolton, pray for us. Venerable Rafael Cordero Molina, pray for us. Venerable Aloysius Schwarz, pray for us. Venerable Alphonse Gallegos, pray for us. Venerable Patrick Peyton, pray for us. Venerable Norbert McAuliffe, pray for us. Venerable Eusebio Kino, pray for us. Venerable Mary Elizabeth Lange, pray for us. Venerable Rose Hawthorne, pray for us.

Lord, be merciful. Lord, save your people. From all evil, Lord, save your people. From all sin, Lord, save your people. From your wrath, Lord, save your people. From injustice, Lord, save your people. From oppression, Lord, save your people. From hatred and intolerance, Lord, save your people. From anger and ill-will, Lord, save your people. From violence and bloodshed, Lord, save your people. From indifference to suffering, Lord, save your people.  From all the snares of the devil, Lord, save your people. By the mystery of your holy Incarnation, Lord, save your people. By your Coming, Lord, save your people. By your Birth, Lord, save your people. By your Baptism and holy fasting, Lord, save your people. By your Cross and Passion, Lord, save your people. By your Death and Burial, Lord save your people. By your holy Resurrection, Lord, save your people. By your wonderful Ascension, Lord, save your people. By the coming of the Holy Spirit, Lord, save your people. On the day of judgment, Lord, save your people.

Be merciful to us sinners, Lord, hear our prayer. That you will spare us, Lord, hear our prayer. That you will pardon us, Lord, hear our prayer. That it may please you to bring us to true penance, Lord, hear our prayer. Guide and protect your Holy Church, Lord, hear our prayer. Preserve in holiness the Pope and all the clergy, Lord, hear our prayer. Humble the enemies of the Church, Lord, hear our prayer. Give peace and unity to the whole Christian people, Lord, hear our prayer. Guide all those who serve us in civil government, Lord, hear our prayer. Protect all those who serve in our armed forces, Lord, hear our prayer. Grant eternal rest to all those who have died in defense of liberty, Lord, hear our prayer. Give courage to those who stand for justice, Lord, hear our prayer. Strengthen and preserve us in your holy service, Lord, hear our prayer. Deliver our souls from eternal damnation, Lord, hear our prayer. Grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed, Lord, hear our prayer. That it may please you to hear and heed us, Jesus, Son of the Living God, Lord, hear our prayer.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord! Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord! Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us. Lord Jesus, hear our prayer. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. 

[the-twelve-guardians]

It just started one day. You couldn’t sit still, or suddenly your energy was sapped. You became attuned to the ebb and flow of creation, the push and pull of the Heat Haze Boy and the Monsoon Girl. You became a swellbloom kid.

SWELLBLOOM KIDS is a ttrpg set within the various eras of Philippine history. Here, you play as a superpowered individual blessed by one of the gods of Philippine mythology. Involve yourself in revolutions, political intrigue, clan wars, and magical happenings, from the creation of the world to its eventual end. You'll meet various reimagined figures from folklore and myth, such as Mariang Makiling (here, a goddess of time and tradition) and the personified summer heat Apolaki (here, a deity of sun and war also called El Niño or The Heat Haze Boy).

Swellbloom Kids is a love letter to Philippine culture, the gods in our beliefs, and to being neurodivergent in a world that may not always understand us.

Click here to see the full module. | Click here to support this project.

[rightshewrites]

Prayers for the Philippines

To my friends around the world, I badly need your prayers. A strong typhoon is currently happening in my country, the Philippines. 😔 I am not asking for any donations, just prayers. Communal prayer is one of the strongest prayers ever and I badly need that for my fellow. Thank you so much and may God bless us all! Keep safe, too, wherever you all are. 🥺❤️

PS:

It's truly devastating on my part because I'm currently here in Spain with some of my Spanish relatives and cannot do anything except for prayers and cash donations. 💔

[dramoor]

I want thank ALL of the lovely people for their kind birthday wishes for me today on my 60th birthday.

I am the luckiest man in the world. I have a wonderful partner in life, my beautiful wife Patricia and three lovely daughters; Elle, Miranda and Madeline.

Today, I am reminded of what Dr. M Scott Peck told me over 30 years ago: At 40, you feel like you can conquer the world and there’s a sense that nothing can stop you.

But at 60 you realize the very real fragility of life and temporariness of it all. A humbling knowledge that there is indeed a time limit for all things and that God’s design though perfect, is precious far beyond its brevity.

Today, I am also reminded of the Hindu story that my friend Bill from Lowell Arkansas told me about a man at his funeral. Looking at the man, “Would this man lying here ask for more riches and Gold from the world? Would this man ask to be more famous and well regarded by others? Would he ask to be taller or look more handsome? No. The only thing this man lying here today would ask for was much simpler…more time.”

If you are reading this now, then you too have time! Use it wisely, use it unwisely too! But USE it. Be IN it. Be aware that you are part of ALL of it and that the separateness you sometimes feel is an illusion. Just as your heart beats without being told, you are as integral to the Sun that fires and the planets that circle it as your heart is a part of you.

For the atheists, God loves you too. The mistake you make is to think the universe is a stupid thing that just bumps into things and expands ignorantly and without reason or intelligence. And that somehow we human beings, with our intelligence is just some kind of ‘freak’ universal accident. To you I say this, if there is such a thing as kindness, empathy, compassion and love…it is because you found it in other people.

And as my dear friend Norm Macdonald once said, “We are part of this universe, indeed a mere fraction of it, so if we have kindness and love, how much more the universe itself.” For if we are capable of love, it is because it is endemic to the universe itself.

To quote Alan Watts, “For we didn’t come ‘in’ to the world, we came ‘out’ of it. We are the universe evolving to the point of consciousness, so that the universe, us, can experience existence and life in all it’s wonder and beauty and glorious exuberance.”

Lastly, as I am a new convert to Catholicism, I offer my apology for my lack of Christ’s forgiveness to my fellow man. I was so angry at the people who shut down schools and indeed the world and who coerced others to do things against their will which hurt many people deeply. I offer my unconditional forgiveness and amnesty.

For how can I stay mad at the famous singer who would not let others in to his Broadway show unless they had an experiential jab. I will never forget how kind he was to me and my friends when he was the musical guest on SNL.

How can I continue to hold a grudge against the actor who shamed people like me but has been such a great example for other actors to never give up and keep fighting for their dreams.

How can I still be mad at the lovely actress that said she could no longer be friends with people like me who didn’t ‘get’ it, knowing how incredibly kind she is with every child she meets.

I am humbled by the example of my mother Pilar and how she was able to forgive the WW2 occupiers of her Philippines who killed both her brothers.

At last it is forgiveness itself that is the gift that we give ourselves because it frees us as The Christ intends for all of us to be free. For His gift of ultimate and unlimited forgiveness is indeed the gift for all humanity.

May God bless you and your families now and forever.

With all my “You can do it” love, Robbie Schneider

(X - twitter post Oct. 31, 2023)

[swellbloom-kids]

CHOSEN BY MAGWAYEN THE LOSTFINDER

Grimly watching as you board her boat, Magwayen represents transition, endings, and closure. Her duty is a solemn one - to ferry the souls of the dead to the endless marshlands of Sulad.

YOUR ABILITIES

Whispers From Beyond: By staying in a quiet place and listening intently, you can listen in on the whispers of dead souls wandering the area. You may make a Poise roll to gain their help in your current mission.

Pesky Pests: You can command insects and other creatures of pestilence to do your bidding. Once a session, you can gather a great swarm of such creatures; the swarm will remain with you for the rest of the scene.

Ferry to Elsewhere: Once a session, you can summon a spectral boat or similar vehicle and use it to cross any body of water, no matter how turbulent. It can also hover in the air for up to (Heart roll x 10) minutes.

Like a Ghost: You can turn yourself intangible for as long as you can hold your breath.

For the Mourning: You gain +1 at helping people recover from disaster or calamity, and once a scene can designate a person in mourning as your ward, granting them +1 on all rolls for the rest of that scene.

+++

Magwayen is the goddess of death and endings in Swellbloom Kids, my ttrpg about superpowered individuals blessed by the gods of Philippine mythology. Despite her appearance, she's not that scary!

Check out Swellbloom Kids here:

[fortressofserenity]

Christmas At Ground Zero

Somebody going by the name of 'Handmaid Of The Most High' said that America will undergo so many mishaps that it's really going to officially fall from grace, an earthquake will divide the contiguous US landmass in half starting with the Mississippi River. The the US economy deteriorates real badly, where people are as powerless as they're hungry. So hungry that they eat their pets, then they start eating fellow humans.

So much for calling the Chinese nasty dog eaters that it's going to be the Americans' turn to eat dogs this time, yes the most popular pet in America will become a food source for starving Americans across the country. Russia might launch nuclear attacks on America, but with the aim of conquering this country and also to Canada as well. That's the sort of stuff I've been praying for, but to spare Canada from the same fate that will befall its neighbour and identical twin.

Celestial said that America will become a Russian colony, whilst Canada might luck out somewhat by becoming a Russian protectorate instead. It keeps its culture and government intact, but still reliant on Russia to some extent. New York City might get nuked around Christmas season, which is pretty near as we're in November this time around. It will not be the only American city to get this mistreatment, others will also follow.

As what she said, what America has done to other nations will be what they'll do onto it. If America nuked Japan and the Marshall Islands, then it will get nuked by Russia. If America enslaved many Africans, then Americans will get enslaved by the Russians and Chinese. Returning to the dog meat thing, if America constantly accuses the Chinese of eating dogs. But when famine strikes America, that's when Yankees start eating dogs themselves.

It's the whole don't point out the speck in someone's eye, when you have a log in your eye thing as what the Bible pointed out, to the point where America may emerge as perhaps the biggest hypocrite of all the countries around today. As blessings turn into curses and joy turns into mourning, so will America go from being the most powerful country in the world to the most corrupt and least powerful of all. Such is the fate of Mystery Babylon/America to fall at the hands of its enemies, to be hit by asteroids/millstones and no longer play music.

American music will no longer be widely heard on international radio stations, this will be supplanted by music from other countries. I even prayed to God to have Philippine radio stations play more older Philippine music, in addition to Chinese music in case if this happens at all. It wouldn't be easy making new alliances, but America's downfall necessitates a substitute in its place. My preference would be China because I feel this country's too westernised for its own good. Well any other country would do.

But the thing here is that America's going to fail as a country, then as a superpower and it's going to be forgotten in the future. Celestial even said that God's going to revoke this nation-state once and for all, that he's also going to revoke any trace of American influence even in the Philippines. So this is something those in the Philippines should heed do, as America will not be powerful enough to defend us from China.

To make matters worse, we Filipinos blaspheme God a lot that if we reap what we sow, then we're definitely going to be part of China in some way or another. If God allowed Babylon to take over Judah due to his people's sinning, then he'll allow China to do the same thing to the Philippines and likewise Russia with the western world. If it happens, it happens and this is something I've been talking about for some time. Many Filipinos commit sin, we blaspheme the Lord whilst calling ourselves a Christian nation.

As God's had enough of us doing this that he's going to let China take over the Philippines anyways, so if it happens then it's our fault for why we did this to ourselves. And why America will be powerless to stop China from taking over the Philippines, which is saying.

[thepolymathexcuse]

the beginning: an introduction to the blog

Hi everyone!

I am Pong, and I am 26 years of age as of this writing. This blog is mainly created for two main reasons: first, as an outlet for my creative expression and secondly, to potentially serve others who may be affected by the various stuff I write about.

A little background about me: I graduated with an engineering degree three years ago. However, I found out that this is not really what I want to be doing for the rest of my life, so here goes another try at maintaining a blog.

I come from a small city in the Philippines and have lived here since I was a child. I've always felt like I did not belong here, and maybe one day, I might actually have the courage to leave and find myself someplace where I feel like I would fit. Or I might not.

I have the tendency to overshare so please bear with me, but it's mostly stemming from my fear of losing a voice. I feel like I'm a great talker, and God gave me this gift (although to some, it might be annoying hehe) so I might as well put it to good use.

As an Enneagram Type Seven, there is no singular thing that interests me. In fact, spontaneity and variety are the two main attributes that you'll find in my daily life. Many of the people I've worked with and even my friends have noticed that because of these numerous interests, I tend to be a bit scattered and out of focus. There is some truth to that, but I have this inner belief that everything in the world exists for us to experience, at least even once (or several times if we're blessed enough). It absolutely makes me ecstatic that we're surrounded by all this beauty to indulge ourselves with for the entirety of our lifetime.

One of my core values is seeking fun and I'm keen to chase things that stimulate the pleasure areas of my brain. As of now, this journey to becoming a polymath or a modern Renaissance person will be a fun journey to finally traverse. This journey is the origin of the blog's name "The Polymath Excuse" because it's basically just my excuse for fully immersing in life. I am currently on a healing season and this particular project of being a polymath seems to me the best way to rekindle the fire within me.

You have to keep this in mind: as a seeker of new experiences, my interests may (and will probably) change along the course of the journey, but I have one thing that I know is for certain: I will never get tired of writing.

Writing was my first love and continues to hold a dear place in my heart. It's the first hobby I've committed myself into since high school. From reading fantasy, dystopian, and young adult books back then, I've always dreamt of becoming an actual writer. I once even dreamt of winning the Palanca awards when I was in college. Quite the crazy ambition, right? Writing is part of literature, and I can mostly attribute my love for literature from my high school English teacher, Ma'am Cynthia, and the friends I surrounded myself with during my high school and college years. My writing goals have evolved from winning awards to just becoming an outlet for self-expression. I had maintained a literary blog when I was in college but that project had long reached its final breath. At present, I mostly write to share my thoughts and to keep a record of my life. It's always fun to go back and reminisce the past versions of ourselves, after all. I have, over the years, regularly kept a journal and a commonplace book to store my thoughts and knowledge I've acquired from various pieces of content. Now, I continue to record my life in several pieces of writing—from little notes of my daily musings to commonplace books that hold insights from my own self and from other people.

But writing and literature aren't my only interests. You can't even describe me an expert in the field. As emphasized in the previous statements, my interests continue to expand and now they span across multiple disciplines: from philosophy to the natural sciences, from mathematics to something as obscure as tarot reading, and from mythology to the many subfields of arts and humanities. Sometimes these interests may not be related with each other, but the first challenge of a polymath lies in finding the connection of almost anything.

Hopefully, through combining my love of writing and my fascination with all that life has to offer, I could craft meaningful articles that could serve two main purposes: firstly, for my future self to look back on the things that previously have interested me; and secondly, to hopefully inspire others to do the same. The second one might be a long shot, but the probability of sparking even the tiniest bit of interest about any random topic isn't equal to zero, so I guess it's worth a shot! There's the second challenge to a polymath: creating unique ideas interweaved from multiple niches.

My former idealistic self dreamt of changing the world and it's a noble purpose in and of itself, but maybe it's time I "dial down the scope" [1] to just trying to become a better version of myself one word at a time.

Basically, there is no noble reason for starting this blog. In fact, I might even consider it inherently selfish since it's a project that mostly benefits me in case no one ever sees the things I create. It might even prove the perception of other people about me: that I'm all over the place--because, surprise, surprise, the topics that will be contained in this blog will not be about a single, particular niche, but basically a hodgepodge of my varied interests.

It's just an excuse--an excuse to make my life worth living. It's that simple.

If I didn't reach the outcome of eventually becoming a polymath, at least the journey had been fun. I might abandon this project a few months (gosh I hope not) or a few years from now, but at least, it was a fun road to have taken.

I appreciate you for reading that scattered, all over the place introduction about this blog. May this blog fulfill its purpose both for me and to my future readers, and may all our dreams turn into reality, even if it's just one step at a time.

All the love, Pong

—

Note(s): [1] I encountered the phrase "dial down the scope" from Tiago Forte's book, Building a Second Brain. It means breaking down certain projects to a more manageable size so we can actually finish them. He adopted it from the idea of "scope" from software developers, which refers to the full set of features a software program might include. From the usage of this phrase, dialing down the scope means making my dream into a more attainable one.

[shelivesingalaxies]

If it is too difficult to strengthen and make sure our Philippines coast guards are not bullied, can you at least ensure that they and their families are well provided for with proper healthcare and insurance?

May God have mercy on our country - the Philippines, our citizens - the Filipinos, the old and elderlies who cannot afford good healthcare and have to work because they need to eat despite being weak, the breadwinners (the widows and widowers and those who are children and singles too but had to take over when their father died) still paying lots of taxes and supporting their families even if it means forgetting their original dreams, the children and young adults who could barely eat three times a day, much less attend school and focus on education, our bullied Philippine Coast Guard, our teachers who have to pay for resources with their own money for good teaching materials, the students who need to limit their study hours because they have to share rooms, our commuters who are mostly employees who come to work, already exhausted because our transportation systems are too poor and in dire need of improvement, and everyone else. Everyone else. Every single Filipino.

Please. Please treat us well. Stop the corruption. Raise our moral. Dear government, you are there to serve. And we are here to support. But please treat us well and prioritize us. Do not waste our taxes on your own propaganda and on elevating yourselves. The real ones who need help are everywhere. The real ones who need our funds are everywhere. Do you feel their pain? Do you see us? We have been enduring for far too long. Do not hire people who are incapable and have their own motives. Do not waste money on poor materials and poor planning. Hire loyal and competent ones. Let them sign contracts that call for accountability. Let there be an audit team consisting of concerned and talented workers with a true heart to help ensure the work is properly done and the Filipinos are blessed with improvement. Let there be transparency in your spending to ensure every cent is accounted for and used for the right cause. Please treat OUR country and OUR people right. Respect OUR rights and OUR welfare, not another country's.

Pretty please. Do it well.

Please HELP our country beloved - the Philippines.

[tfblovesmusic]

Maligayang Pask-OH SHIP! Mixtape 1, Listening Guide 2

Section 7: 24 December 1842

The section whisks the listener back to the days of Charles Dickens’s seasonal novella, A Christmas Carol, with Charles Ward’s organ transcription of the English Country dance, Hole in the Wall. Organist William Neil and the Washington Symphonic Brass further adds highlights to the old-timey scene with their arrangement of the tenor aria from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, “Nun mögt ihr stolzen Feinde schrecken.”

The listener then finds oneself in a snow-cloaked Central London. The Purcell Quartet, Dame Emma Kirkby, Michael Chance, Charles Daniels, and Peter Harvey – in Victorian Era winter finery – greet the listener in their rendition of Buxtehude's Das neugeborne Kindelein, das herzeliebe Jesulein, BuxWV 13. They all gather inside a house, where Harry Von Tiltzer and the The Parlour Orchestra welcome them with “Down at the Old Bull and Bush.”

Jose Mari Chan also appears in an 1840s Philippines barong, with Liza Chan and Jaymie Magtoto dressed in their mini Maria Clara dresses, singing “Christmas Children.” The Accademia Bizantinia plays a rousing rendition of the sinfonia from Cantata BWV 142 as hosts pass drinks and treats. Magtoto muses to the guests and the listener about “This Beautiful Day.”

Mr. Fezziwig and the cast of A Christmas Carol livens up the party, which turns out to be his "Annual Christmas Ball.”

The Canadian Brass, also in their mid-19th century getups, arrives and plays “Good King Wenceslas.” The listener and the attendees “Sing a Christmas Carol.” The listener leaves the festive, historical party with Charles Ward’s organ transcription of the English Country dance, Greensleeves & Epping Lace.

Section 8: Those Fenny Silver Bells

As the listener leaves 1842 London, one turns in the direction the the chiming “Silver Bells,” of which Stevie Wonder aptly sings about. Whitney Houston also hears the bells, asking one, “Do You Hear What I Hear?” The Black Dyke Mills Band echo the chimes in a Cornet Carillon. Lore Lixenberg and Chance also turn in the direction of the chimes, noticing them in Anthony Gilbert’s Those Fenny Bells.

The bells ring even louder, and David Foster duets with them with his epic arrangement of the Ukrainian Bell Carol. Mannheim Steamroller rocks with the bells in their instrumental cover of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” The chiming enchants Leo Valdez so much, that he breaks out into “Kampana ng Simbahan.” Liza Minnelli takes it upon herself to tell a story that provides a concluding moral: “Ring Them Bells.”

Section 9: A New Year’s Breakup

The listener finds oneself inside a Romanesque Revival church built in the 19th century. Inside, Catherine Bott, Chance, and Andrew King heighten the anxiety of the impending year at the start of the section with the terzetto – “Ach! Wann wird die Zeit erscheinen?” – from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio.

The listener can imagine Dan Fogelberg – or generally a lover who just broke up over the holidays – wander from the church in which Bott, Chance, and King sang their terzetto to a place outside a pub, in which Jaime MacDougall drunkenly commences the new year with Haydn’s arrangement of “Auld Lang Syne” with the Haydn Trio Eisenstadt. Ella Fitzgerald walks out of the pub, asking him, “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?”

Fogelberg walks through the blinding snow and biting gusts, as the Cambridge Singers incant, “Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind.” He finally sings a ballad of his own – the “Same Old Lang Syne” – as the snow transitions to rain. Inside another nearby pub, Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox sings his tale in their cover of “Last Christmas.” Outside, Jose Mari Chan comforts Fogelberg, singing to him, “May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You.”

Then, a nearby car skids to an abrupt stop. The listener, Bott, Chance, King, Fogelberg, and Chan rush over to help. The driver turns out to be Carrie Underwood, who fervently prays, “Jesus, Take the Wheel” as they help her with the car and the baby, sound asleep in the car seat.

Section 10: Maui, the Christmas Island

With most people traveling somewhere for Christmas, Anne Murray tells the tale of the “Snowbird” as the listener awaits the flight to Hawaii. The listener’s plane departs, with Aled Jones, Russell Watson, and The Snowman in flight besides them as the former two sing “Walking in the Air.” Once the plane lands, Sebastian and Ariel – in her The Little Mermaid green tail and purple bikini top – greet the listener on a rock off Maui, the “Christmas Island.”  

With Hawaii’s climate too warm for winter garb and biting snow and ice, Bing Crosby and The Andrews Singers wish the listener “Mele Kalikimaka” as they distribute floral leis. On Mākena Beach, “Little St. Nick” – in festive swimming shorts – surfs the waves as The Beach Boys croon.

The first playlist winds down as the listener sips a Yuletide tropical drink. Accompanied by Joshua Rifkin and The Bach Players, Jane Bryden, Drew Minter, Jeffrey Thomas, and Jan Opalach – in swimwear – serenade beachgoers in the final movement of Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147, “Jesus bleibet meine Freude,” concluding Part 1 of the mixtape.

Best listened with Spotify Premium.

[martinwilliammichael]

A men’s global rosary, to bring back faith to public life (1)

Men from more than 40 countries joined together May 6, 2023, for the worldwide Men’s Rosary, praying on their knees before the Virgin Mary so that men would once again be valued in society and for the conversion of the entire world.

The general coordinator of the Knights of the Rosary apostolate in Mexico, Paco Páez, explained to ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, that by praying the rosary, the participants “want to bear witness, not because of our virtues, but by getting on our knees asking for the intercession of our Most Holy Virgin Mary, so that she would grant us the conversion of sinners, our own conversion, that of our families, and that of the whole world.”

Through this public rosary, he added, they are praying for “the reign of Christ’s peace in our hearts and in our homelands.”

The Men’s Rosary was also held in various cities in Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Chile, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama, Ecuador, and Paraguay.

Other countries that also participated were Spain, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Brazil, Honduras, Ukraine, Italy, Croatia, Australia, Indonesia — a majority Muslim country — and the Philippines, the country with the most Catholics in Asia, as well as others.

Páez also noted that the prayer is held in the streets “in the hispanic nations of the Americas, which are culturally Christian, to reclaim the public square for Our Lord Jesus Christ, because a lamp is not lit to be put under the bushel basket, but is placed up high so that it shines throughout the house.”

“We want to take up our call as men in the life of this Church, of this pilgrim Church that is also known as the Church militant,” he continued.

Walter Sánchez Silva

ACI Prensa Staff, May 10, 2023 (CNA)

ewtn.co.uk

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[riszellira]

Reflection: Only God’s Approval

Is it only in the Philippines that we see billboards with huge pictures of government officials and their projects prominently displayed? Other times, we see tarpaulins of politicians greeting people for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or congratulating graduates. “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them.” Jesus warns us against performing acts of righteousness solely for the purpose of gaining attention and applause from those around us. Instead, He calls us to cultivate a sincere and authentic relationship with God.

The Scripture passage is familiar because we hear it every year on Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season. Today, in Ordinary Time, we are asked to look at ourselves vis-à-vis the three practices highlighted: giving, praying, and fasting. Matthew presents the theme of righteousness throughout the Gospel.

How should these righteous acts be done? According to Jesus, definitely not to be seen by other people. When we do such deeds, we do so without blowing a trumpet or attracting attention so that others would see.

We should seek only God’s approval. When we do good, we should be content because even if no other person sees it, we know that God sees.

Only this thing matters: that the Lord affirms us and that it makes us closer to Him. With this, we will not be like the hypocrites who give alms to win the praise of others, who pray so that others may see them, and who neglect their appearance so that they may appear to be fasting. With this, we will not be like the politicians who splash their names and their images so that others may be beholden to them.

~Fr. Joel Camaya, SDB

Do you seek the praise and recognition of others when you do good? Are you driven by a genuine desire to honor and serve God?

Lord, grant me the grace to do my duties humbly and sincerely. Amen.

Prayer

… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.

… for the strength and healing of the sick.

… for the healing and peace of all families.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

GOD BLESS!

[mae-anggggggg]

"What experience had the most significant impact on you last year? What happened?"

Traveling ✈️

Last year was my first time traveling to places other than the Philippines or Guam. I was blessed to be able to go to Japan for a company trip and a month later, Omai and I traveled to Europe. It was a whole diff experience & vibe in both places. I honestly liked Japan better, maybe coz I'm used to being around Asians and people were a lot nicer. In Paris, I felt like an outsider. Some people were rude and it was dirtier than it looks on the picture. But it was still something new and made me want to travel more. this year Omai and I will be going to Korea (my dream destination). I'm a huge BTS and Kdrama fan so I'm extremely excited! We wouldn't have been able to do any of this without God. Omai and I's next goal is to buy land in the Philippines.. we're in the process of fixing our documents. Omai always includes God in all our plans. He says "If it's God's will, then it will happen." And it did. Thank You Lord🙏🏽

May 25, 2024

[mundane-musings-of-a-deity]

Comets

"Why do comets come my way If they were only meant to pass? Why did your love fill my days Was it never meant to last?"

Was just listening to “Comets” by Ben&Ben, a Filipino Indie Band from Philippines — and made me think of this question — “Why do people come our way but didn’t stay?”

Well, there are some people who weren’t meant to stay in our lives. They come, but they will just run past us. If they stay, just like comets, it may really cause us devastation rather than a fleeting memory of them. Either we make it or break it.

I do believe that we meet people on certain points of our lives, like intersecting lines, for a reason. These meetings are orchestrated by an intricate web of destiny or reason, as that is simply how life unfolds. It depends on your beliefs — be it in God, the universe, destiny, or paths. These individuals were always meant to intersect with our lives, regardless of whether they remain. Whatever the outcome — be it pain or love — they leave an indelible mark on us. Each of us is a mosaic of memories crafted from diverse encounters and experiences, spanning across the past, present, and future.

It also made me think of the saying— “Right person, Wrong Timing”. Personally, I don’t adhere to that belief. I think that individuals come into our lives at the right time, tailored for that specific season. However, their presence doesn’t guarantee they’ll stay. I believe that these encounters are meant to serve a purpose and teach us valuable lessons, even if they don’t result in positive memories. Whether the experience is good or not, it contributes to our growth and shapes us for the future. These lessons are essential for our journey forward in life. They help us develop resilience, empathy, and a deeper understanding of ourselves and others. Each encounter, regardless of its outcome, adds a layer to the complex tapestry of our life experiences.

“Why can’t they stay?”

It might leave a dent in our hearts — a painful one. But I would like to see it from the brighter side — that we were blessed to meet them. At least at one point in our lives, we met and not just remained as parallel lines, never destined to meet. And just like comets, they will fly past us but will leave us with fleeting, beautiful, and melancholic memories.

[fortressofserenity]

Come into my world

As I said before about God's judgement to the Philippines that it is under Chinese rule and influence that the Philippines will come to its senses and do what God wants it to do like evangelising to China more because it has a growing Christian population, which is what it's supposed to do given its position as the only Christian majority country in East Asia. Not only will China succeed in popularising and inculcating its culture here for long, but that it will be successful due to the consequence of not following God for the Philippines.

What China will do to the Philippines will be what Russia will do to the west (Canada included), that it too will inculcate and popularise its culture there. When all of Europe and Canada become Russian protectorates, that they will emulate and follow Russia more. Not just culturally but also ideologically and geopolitically. While Soviet style communism may not exactly be brought back here, what the west will be experiencing is a revival in Russian empire style ideology and habits. The Russian empire will be revived for the third time but with more countries that weren't part of the Russosphere.

This includes a portion of the former British empire (Britain, Ireland and Canada as to form an Anglophone bloc within the new Soviet Union or something), as well as former Soviet territories and allies like Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. Soviet nationality law might be revived in some way too, so anybody who lives in a Russian protectorate is by default a Russian citizen themselves. Russian will become a major lingua franca there that a new incarnation of the Degrassi series will be done in this language.

Degrassi being a Canadian series about high schoolers or something, that if a new Degrassi were to be done in the Russian protectorate years that it would be wiser for its writers to write in Russian and have the actors speak in Russian instead for wider appeal. Not to mention religious revivals will take place in Europe and Canada due to being Russian protectorates, also as God's way to have them come back to their senses. The loss of America as a superpower might even be a blessing in disguise really.

But because America is Mystery Babylon, so losing it would be a good thing in the long run for them. That's something to look forward to for western Christians really.

[nightingaleatdawnwrites]

Beyond Blessed

August 8th, 2023

I am so blessed to have crossed paths with Sister Waldron, Sister Court, Elder Buduan, Elder Madsen, Elder Johnson, and all the Elders and Sisters I’ve crossed paths with ever since I’ve visited the Mississauga Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

I knew God has a reason for letting our paths cross and it’s fate and destiny that led us to each other. I became closer to God and renewed my faith in Him.

I will never forget these priceless treasures and real and rare people who are Angels walking on Earth spreading the Gospels of God in order for His paradise here on Earth to be a better place to live in for all of His children.

As a token of appreciation and for Sister Court and Sister Waldron to remember me by, I gave both of them a gift. I asked them to open their gifts while we were talking as I wanted to see the look on their faces when they see my gifts for them.

Ever since I’ve met all of them, I now have a passion to be an instrument in directing those in darkness to the righteous path and illuminating their paths while they are in darkness. Besides, I’ve always had a meaningful and fruitful life and setting an example or sharing my experiences with people may help strengthen their faith in God.

I’ve always had meaning, fruitful, and intellectual conversations with all of these people who have beautiful minds, beautiful hearts, and beautiful souls.

I am truly thankful, grateful, and blessed to have met them. I could not ask for more!

To all of you who are going through struggles in your lives, I am here for you. I’m just a message or call away (but I do prefer messaging as I may be busy sometimes). Let me help you renew your faith in God and always believe no matter how “strong the storm” you are going through, you will always see the rainbow afterwards. There will always be hope for all of us.

One of my dreams is to have a healthcare center for people with mental illnesses in the Philippines. In the foreseeable future, this will happen, God willing.

[jamesricogutierrez]

I don't recall many individuals from my childhood, but those I do remember were likely my teachers, family friends, regular playmates, or unfortunately, someone who made the years 1999-2000 a nightmare for me.

Ruth stands out as one of the reasons why my memories of grade 5 and 6 are tainted with dislike. She was among those who frequently bullied me during that time.

However, it's important to remember that we were just kids then, navigating our way through grade school.

Things have changed since then. Although we never explicitly discussed our grade school experiences before she moved to the UK, we unexpectedly crossed paths on a bus one day, and our conversation proved to be meaningful.

Since that encounter, I've witnessed a transformation in her character, and she has become a good friend.

Although our conversations are infrequent in the digital realm, we've maintained an open line of communication. In fact, she often recommends me to her friends and family for insurance, and a few have chosen to start their policies under my service.

Just recently, when her father-in-law passed away and her family needed to travel to the Philippines to pay their respects, I appreciated how Ruth made the effort to arrange a meeting despite her busy schedule. Today, that meeting finally took place.

Ruth, I want to express my gratitude for your heartfelt prayer. Your sincerity was palpable, and I believe your words were imbued with the spirit of divine grace. May God continue to bless you.

I look forward to our next meeting.

#TrueFriend