MAN CANNOT LIVE BY BREAD ...AND SLEEP ALONE.

Once upon a time, when I was a freshman -staying in a college dormitory, I was deliriously homesick.

It was a difficult time coping with,
first, being uprooted from a beloved city
and second, having left the security of a happy home.

I was lonely and thinking of home all the time.

I sought people who came from my area.

I not only became closer with my classmates from highschool,
but also with kids from Cagayan de Oro City, who, like me, also took the challenge of leaving our city and families,
in exchange for the University.

I kept myself busy,
playing " the boat is sinking " ,
group yourselves according to...PROVINCE.

I gravitated towards, those who spoke my dialect, which was Cebuano.

Yes, but of course, I bonded with people who reminded me of home.

I too, formed friendships with kids from places like, Surigao, Davao, Iligan, Bukidnon, and Butuan.

Not to mention having had the chance, to polish my geography; including having to say, " Cagayan de Oro City " completely, when asked-where I was from.

It was because, someone would suddenly speak to me in the Ilocano dialect,
when I answered plainly, " Taga Cagayan ko". ( I'm from Cagayan.)

But it was quite a happy memory for me,
because it paved way to many of my future friendships,
including that with a blockmate from Tuguegarao, Cagayan who suddenly spoke to me in Ilocano on our first meeting.

I valued those friendships I have formed way back then,
because they were what I needed the most, that time.

But of course, that was not enough to beat the loneliness.

So it was pure blessing that one time,
our dorm head invited us " KALAYAAN KIDS " to attend an every friday prayer group, which was held not far from the dorm.

It was ideal for me and for most of us, for it was held every friday night.

Therefore after a gruelling week comprised with a battery of exams,
terror teachers,
and a knapsack filled with self pity, The FRIDAY NIGHT encounter proved to recharge our spirits.

It was my special group.

My happy place.

And we were just a bunch of kids, wanting to relax and be inspired with the love of Christ.


1. BREAKING OF THE BREAD

Ate Annabel, our mediator,
once re-enacted the breaking of the bread with us.

So we would have a deeper understanding on the importance of the body of Christ in our Catholic life.

But for freshmen like ourselves,
with meager allowances,
growling tummies and food palettes so limited to dorm food, ( with meal cards and no refills )

the " BREAKING of the bread " most definitely,

did NOT spark so much interest,

as that of the BREAD itself, which really impacted!


After meditation and sincere prayers,

we proceeded to
the re-enactment of the, " Breaking of the Bread."

by dipping the bread in juice, ( I think ) while having to pass it around.

However, there were two from the group who,
instead of taking just a pinch of it and then passing it to the rest of us,

GOBBLED them all up, like it was the first meal of the day.


I surely will name them, NOT.

( sapagkat sila ngayon ay tinitingala sa lipunan at may kanya kanyang reputasyon na pinangangalagaan...)
( they now hold either careers in law, education and business, so I dare not. )

While the rest of us kids, wide eyed stared at the culprit/s.

Imagine how we kids that time felt beartbroken,
thinking we would not be able,
to partake in the breaking of the bread.

The culprits on the other hand, bowed down in...
(??? but it was not out of shame),
when they realized,
that they have completely gobbled up what was suppose,
to be THE representation of what will supposedly bring them, err us, closer to Jesus,

" Sometimes,( ano), in our lives,
we seem to love Jesus so much, too much,
we just cannot get enough of Him, we would like to have,
ALL of Him,"

were the words that our very kind mediator, Ate Anabel managed to say.

Unfortunately for dear Ate Anabel, she had to get up and go to the pantry and check if there were still some more bread to break, but there were none.

She rummaged for the next best thing available from the cupboard, till she found one.

And the rest of us kids had to settle with the next best thing available.




BISCOCHO



( toasted bread from Ilo-ilo, that is.)
http://jeanmonique.wordpress.com/2012/07/15/bacolod-souvenirs-food/


And it was only the remaining " pan" . So the rest of us had to take biscocho instead....

It was a very HARD path to take towards Jesus, if I may put it that way.


( So you know who you are, you owe my childhood,
some bread. )


2. JUST LIKE A BABE


We usually meditate before starting our actual prayers.

We close our eyes and listen not only with our ears but with our hearts.

We only listen to Ate Annabel-our mediator, who by the way HAD THE MOST SOOTHING VOICE.

( Her voice used to be heard at Radyo Veritas.)

She would start by saying some prayers, while beautiful intrumental music was being played at the background.

We all missed home.

Sometimes during meditations like those, we couldn't help but sigh, cry and really long for home.

It would be a common occurence to hear sniffles, stiffled sobs and weeping.

But there will always be, this one particular mediation,
which stands out in my mind.

In the middle of our mediation,
while Ate Annabel in her beautiful voice was offering her prayers of thanksgiving,
a sound came to be heard .

It was a sound that we could not distinguish at first, for it was far from the usual sniffles or stiffled sobs.

The sound was at first faint,
then it became louder and louder by the minute.

It sound like the buzzing of a bee and escalated to
the sound of the engine of an old rusty car:

" Zzzzzzzz.
Zzzzzzzzz.
Zzzzzzzzz.
Vrrrrrrrrrrroooooooom"

Somebody was meditating too,
with full blast snoring sounds
while sleeping the sleep of the innocent.

" Come to me and I will give you rest."


3. MY FORTUNES

In that prayer group, let me share you this important prayer that I have learned there and treasured in my heart.

We started our prayer activities with Ate Annabel usually reading to us,

this prayer, from Psalm 30 :

Psalm 30 - My Life in Your Hands


It soothed me.
It took away the stress.
It took away the hurt.
It reduced the disappointments from broken promises.
It calmed my soul.

It told me, that life will always be beautiful, no matter what,
for Somebody up there, holds my love, my life and my fortunes.

This has always been the prayer I recite during turbulent times in my life:

AND WITH OUR COUNTRY'S STATUS WITH OUR ASIAN NEIGHBORS,
WE NEED THIS BEAUTIFUL PRAYER:


My Fortunes:

" You are my God; my fortunes are in your hand.”


“You are my God; my fortunes are in your hand.”

A sense of relief sweeps over me, a feeling of satisfaction and safety in the midst of a troubled world.

“My fortunes are in your hand.”

Whatever happens to me, whatever life brings to me, whatever winds blow and waters flow on the fields of my life..., all that is in your loving hands. I need no more.

“My fortunes.”

Good fortune, bad fortune; things I like and things I dislike; occasions I look forward to and occasions I fear; pleasure and pain; joy and sorrow. All that is in my life, and all that is in your hand.

You know the time, you know the measure, you know my strength and my lack of it, you know my longings and my limitations, my dreams and my realities.

All that is in your hand, and you love me and want the best for me. My best fortune is to know that my fortunes are in your hands.

Let that faith grow in me, Lord, and put an end to worry in my life. I surely will continue to work for my “fortune”,

I am too much of an achiever and a compulsive worker to let go of things and lower my efforts; I will continue to work, but with a happy face and a light heart.

Because those “fortunes” are in your hand. I can look up and smile and sing, because now the burden is light and the yoke is smooth.

My effort will still be there, but the result is in your hand, and so out of my own hands and out of my mind.

Peace has come to my heart because “You are my God, and my fortunes are in your hand."

A BLESSED SUNDAY , EVERYONE!





- Posted using BlogPress from Pier Angeli's mini iPad

Location:Manila, Philippines

CHARMED

Several months ago, my sister and her husband, after coming home from New York City, gave me this really elegant bracelet which I recently admired closely,
too closely in fact.

The CHARMS of the bracelet spoke so much of my being a woman: daughter, mother, wife, sister and friend .

And most especially, they relate with the different facets of motherhood.





1. A skeleton key.




Or a pass key that should in fact open any locks.

Mothers like myself are pass keys.
We seem to find ways for anything. ( we try our very best. )

We unlock talents and capabilities of our children that even they themselves thought, did not have.

We not only help them find their talents,
but find their own selves as well.

Sometimes, ( unapologetically)
we push and nag just to make them at least, take that first ladder rung.
We pave the way for them.

We help them reach out for their dreams.

We assist them in their endeavors. We equip them with what is needed.

We teach them to be better individuals.

Mothers are the keys that help unlock the doors of opportunities for the children.





2. A family tree






While the fathers generally take the role in the family, as captain of
the ship, the mothers remain the anchor.

Just like the tree, the mothers keep the family grounded.

One fact that contributes to this would be that,
the mothers mostly are the storytellers in the family.

So it is her stories about her own family, her relatives and her own childhood, that entertain her family, educate her children and make them appreciate life and family more.






3. A leaf





We have a saying in Filipino,

" Ang Ina Ay Ilaw Ng Tahanan."
or that , " The Mother is the light or the light bearer of the home. "

How apt, that this charm would be included.

It reminded me of a song in a cd that my son loved listening to.

http://pierangeliangsen.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/they-must-be-giants/

It has a song entitled, " Photosynthesis. " (Light converted into Energy.)

So where else does photosynthesis take place?

Mothers are the leaves where light is transformed into energy.

We are the source of light and life.




4. A four leaf clover






" Each leaf is believed to represent something:
the first is for faith,
the second is for hope,
the third is for love,
and the fourth is for luck. "
- WIKI


And aren't those what mothers are, in their families?
FAITH, HOPE , LOVE and LUCK:




5. A time piece





A mother will always find TIME for everything:

- take real good care of her children

- manage all household chores

- give inspiration

- encourage

- whip up something delicious

- learn to cook her family's favorite

- look presentable

- tutor the children

- keep reading and writing

- and keep believing






6. A flower






The flower represents the children who make mothers, -mothers.

The beautiful flowers of spring or better yet, offspring.

The children are the flowers, who the mothers dote upon.

The children are the flowers of life and their mothers' treasures.

They are the buds, after having been nurtured by their mothers,
will bloom and grow into the beauties, that life will appreciate someday.

And they will also someday,
be grateful to their mothers, who sacrificed everything,
just to be their sun, air, water and soil.






7. An oval locket





Mothers help build memories with the children.

In the case of my own mother, it would be those beautiful memories
of cooking hamonado and spaghetti,
writing in our journals,
reading books and listening to her stories.

And it would be those interesting things she taught me that helped me read and write.


http://pierangeliangsen.blogspot.com/2013/05/five-things-my-mother-taught-me-that.html





8. A heart




The mother is the heart of the matter.

She put a smile or wipe the tears on her child's face.

Her children's heartaches and happiness are hers too.






9. The symbol, the emblem,the insignia: A Lioness






The charm is in fact a Lion but for the sake of conformity, I would like to think of it as a Lioness.

The Lioness represents the strength and power of the mother,
especially during those times when she may get territorial
and assert her self in the mouth of trials and threats.

It would also be that fierceness that a mother exhibits,
especially when the well being and safety of her cubs-children
and her whole pride-family are concern.



And how timely, for MOTHER'S DAY falls on this Month.

Happy Mother's day to all the mothers in the world.

Most especially to the one who carried me in her womb for nine months.

http://pierangeliangsen.blogspot.com/2009/09/journal.html



P.S.
Though I might have received this charm bracelet as a post Christmas and advance birthday gift, this bracelet does make a pretty Mother's Day present.

http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/anne-klein-watch-womens-gold-tone-charm-bracelet-10-8096chrm?ID=211828&PseudoCat=se-xx-xx-xx.esn_results







- Posted using BlogPress from Pier Angeli's mini iPad

SIX DEGREES of FPJ and KRIS AQUINO

The midterm election, specifically the senatorial seats,
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/eleksyon2013/results/senator

spoke volumes of the Filipino mandate:


* ( Partial unofficial tally as of 2013-05-15 21:28:55 representing 69.31% of the Nationwide Election Returns) (54,179 of 78,166 Election Returns) (28,573,890 of 52,333,801 Registered Voters)




A. FERNANDO POE JR.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernando_Poe,_Jr.



1. FPJ's daughter: GRACE POE

was once offered a seat in the LP by Mar Roxas, who was number one himself in a senatorial election, like Grace Poe.
He is the husband of Korinna Sanchez who USED to be good, and almost best friends and now supposedly, not in speaking terms with KRIS AQUINO.

In addition to that, GRACE POE of course, is very much supported by Mother Lily, the favorite movie producer of KRIS AQUINO.


2. FPJ 's running mate: LOREN LEGARDA

supposedly, is in a rift with PETER CAYETANO whose brother Lino, used to be the boyfriend of Bianca Gonzales -great friends with Mariel Rodriguez who is now married to Robin Padilla who was once rumored, to have almost married KRIS AQUINO.

But well, PETER CAYETANO's brother
LINO is at present, romantically linked to KRIS AQUINO.


3. FPJ's spokeperson: CHIZ ESCUDERO

was co-host at one point in Kris' t.v show, Kris T.V.

While Chiz' girlfriend Heart shares the same birthday with Kris, February 14.

His ex-wife Tin-Tin is now with Jason Zamora of the Maneuvers dance group, managed by Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano,
sister-in-law of Sharon Cuneta,
whose ex-es, namely: Gabby, Richard and Robin were also ex-es of KRIS AQUINO.


4. FPJ's campaign manager's daughter: NANCY BINAY


FPJ's 2004 campaign manager then and now Vice President Jejomar Binay and Kris' mother Cory are very good friends.
Not to mention that Jejomar Binay used to be Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Authority in Cory's cabinet.

While it can be noted that Cory's death was just days before Jun-Jun's wife, Kennely Ann, passed away .

Kennely Ann was a former child actress who appeared in " John En Marsha ",
a t.v show of comedy king Dolphy, father of Eric Quizon -real good friends with KRIS AQUINO.


And Kris was once romantically linked to Jun-Jun Binay brother of NANCY BINAY who was in a misunderstanding with VICE GANDA who starred in a movie, Sisterakah with KRIS AQUINO.


All of the senatoriables mentioned above, made it to the top five, in the recent senatorial election.



5. The son of his best friend, ERAP : J.V. EJERCITO

J.V.'s brother Senator Jinggoy confirmed, that he once courted KRIS AQUINO.

While J.V.'s dad Erap's arch enemy Chavit Singson's son, Ronald is the current boyfriend of Lourdes Virginia or Lovi Poe, daughter of FPJ.


6. The son of his party's Trojan Horse: EDGARDO ANGARA

His father, also Edgardo, one time ran as Vice President to ERAP who later on, appointed him as Agricultural Secretary but was eventually accused of sabotaging FPJ's bid.
And the elder Angara during the 1987 campaign, after suffering a heart attack once said, he stopped smoking because of President Cory, mother of KRIS AQUINO.




B. KRIS AQUINO

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kris_Aquino



http://chillnchillax.wordpress.com/tag/kris-aquino/


1. Her cousin : BAM AQUINO

Bam Aquino is of course, also the nephew of Ninoy Aquino, staunch political rival of President Ferdinand Marcos- who was primary sponsor in the wedding of Susan Roces and FPJ.


2. Her mother's good friend's son : KOKO PIMENTEL

Kris' mother Cory is good friends with Nene Pimentel, the father of Koko Pimentel, whose ex-wife, beauty queen Jewel Lobaton is now romantically linked with Rep. Anthony Golez of Bacolod City, the province of Susan Roces, wife of FPJ.

3. Her mother Cory's adversary: GRINGO HONASAN


Kris' mother President Cory's presidency, was once threatened to be overthrown,
by a coup d'etat led by Gringo Honasan,
who used to be with ENRILE, Minister of Defense,
of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos-who was linked to Rosemarie Sonora sister of Susan Roces, wife of FPJ.


4. Her brother P-Noy's rival's wife: CYNTHIA VILLAR


Kris Aquino's son Bimby in one of the campaign in Bacolod, blurted the name of Cynthia Villar's husband Manny Villar, rival of P-Noy to the presidency.

Manny Villar was also rumored to be in tactical alliance with P-GMA,
who supposedly cheated the presidency from FPJ.


5. Her ex-partner's good friend's brother: J.V. EJERCITO.

Kris Aquino's ex-partner Philip Salvador was " Lizardo " in the remake of Panday.
He is also very good friends with Senator Jinggoy Estrada, brother of J.V Ejercito and with Senator Bong Revilla who played the lead role, in the remake of Panday, a movie attributed to FPJ.

Senator Bong Revilla's son Jolo Revilla is now romantically involved with Jodie Sta. Maria, ex- wife of Pampi Lacson,
the son of Senator Panfilo Lacson and the brother of Jay Lacson-who vied for the Vice Governor seat in Cavite, which was won by the son of Senator Bong Revilla, Jolo Revilla who was once romantically linked to Lourdes Virginia or Lovi Poe, daughter of FPJ.


6. Her ex-partner's father's seatmate at the senate : LOREN LEGARDA

Kris Aquino used to be romantically associated with Mark Lapid, son of the seat mate of Senator Loren Legarda in the senate: Senator Lapid, who appeared in the movie,
" Calibre. 45 " with FPJ.

7. Her favorite movie producer's bet : ANTONIO TRILLANES

Kris Aquino's favorite movie producer Mother Lily has a soft spot for Antonio Trillanes,
who led the Oakwood Mutiny at Oakwood Hotel in Makati where the mayor there,
was then Mayor JEJOMAR BINAY, 2004 campaign manager of FPJ.

LASTLY, Kris Aquino and FPJ connects with each other,

first, through Kris former partner, James Yap of Escalante
and second, FPJ's wife Susan Roces from Bacolod City,
they both come from NEGROS OCCIDENTAL.



In the game of six degrees of Kevin Bacon,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Degrees_of_Kevin_Bacon

if we try any further, if we really try and look for all the six links,
we are all related to them both.



ALL FILIPINOS ARE RELATED, ON A SIX DEGREE OF SEPARATION, TO FPJ and KRIS AQUINO.

" Ang Pambansang TITO at Pambansang ATE "



( Therefore, in my country, running for a position in government requires a certain degree to qualify, and it is not even a law degree. )


If FPJ supposedly, was the rightful winner in the 2004 President Election,

then make a good guess who is going to leave her talk show,
for the next presidential elections?


written by : Pier Angeli Banaag " Aquino-Poe " Ang Sen

___________________________________________________


I even tried it on myself:
Years ago, my dad went to:
# 1 Polk Street, North Greenhills, San Juan
because my dad once ran for mayor under the slate of ERAP,
bestfriend of FPJ whose spokeperson CHIZ ESCUDERO was once a co-host of KRIS AQUINO in her t.v. show.

While Kris Aquino's brother Noy and mother Cory both appointed,
Secretary Cayetano Paderanga. ( or as we know him as our Uncle Dondon , my mothers first cousin.)
He was once dean at U.P. where CHIZ ESCUDERO was once a law student-whom I, together with my friends Iris and Emily-who is now neighbors with Chiz, pertained to as the " articulate Francis na A.P.B. ",
who spoke at the Kalaayaan Dorm while I was a university freshman in 1991, the year after which, was when my dad ran for mayor under the slate of ERAP.

TRY IT ON YOU,
GO!








- Posted using BlogPress from Pier Angeli's mini iPad

Location:Manila, Philippines