Ash Wednesday 2019

Whew, where did the first two months of 2019 go? I can't believe it's already March and it's Ash Wednesday, the start of lent.

Honestly, I want to be a more "active" Catholic kaya gusto ko sanang magsimba at magpalagay ng abo bukas kaso may pasok si Ford kaya hindi kami makakaalis ng bahay ni Tantan. There's a church nearby (2 minute-drive pero mahaba-habang lakarin) kaso it will be very cold tomorrow. Uulan yata at magi-snow, mahirap lalo na at may kasamang bata.

Credits: https://encounterchurchofpalmyra.org/event/ash-wednesday-service-2/

So naisip ko na magparticipate na lang "personally." Narealize ko na never kong inobserve ang abstinence from eating meat during Ash Wednesday and all fridays of lent (I am not a good Catholic, I know) kaya sisimulan ko na talaga ngayon. Yung fasting, medyo ginagawa ko naman na talaga normally kasi I only eat one full (rice) meal a day tapos small portions na lang throughout the day. Ayon sa Catholic law, dapat daw one full meal plus two smaller meals (that together don't add up to a full meal) so I will try to abide by that. Except nga lang kapag nag-low sugar ako (which happened to me yesterday) syempre.

Sana mapangatawanan ko ito. Madali lang ito for most people pero carnivore kasi talaga ako at meat ang pinakamadaling lutuin/bilihin/kainin dito sa Canada eh.

I am glad that I will be celebrating the Holy Week again in the Philippines (three consecutive years na). This might be the last for the meantime kasi mag-school na si Nathan come September at hindi na kami makakauwi ng Pinas around this time. I am excited. Kahit mainit, susubukin kong gawing meaningful at memorable ang 2019 lenten season experience namin.

Pope Francis in Pinas

Pope Francis is now in the Philippines for his 5-day visit. I am happy for my fellowmen, they are having this rare opportunity of seeing him.

I am not a 'devout' Catholic. I studied in a Catholic school from kinder to high school but that school failed to make me to at least attend a mass every Sunday now that I am an adult. I've seen so many practices among our nuns that made me question the Roman Catholic religion. My first course in UP Diliman was Philosophy (then I shifted to Sociology) so imagine how hard I fought the temptation of questioning the existence of God.

Anyway, I may not be the Catholic who attends mass on Sundays but I still am a believer. That is why I am envious now of people who were able to catch a glimpse of the Pope. I like Pope Francis (who doesn't?). I like his aura, so kind and holy. I was in only in Grade 5 when Pope John Paul came to Manila for the World Youth Day. Only a few students (the coniotic ones haha) from our school was chosen to attend the event and I was so bitter. I wanted to see the Pope too, I told myself. But what can I do, I was only an 11-year-old poor girl who wasn't 'special' enough to be chosen.

I am now 35 and had I been in the Philippines, no one could stop me in seeing the Pope. But I am not there.

Oh well, if there's any consolation, I guess we can just go to Rome someday and attend his mass. A long life for Pope Francis is what I'll be wishing so we can still have the chance to see him.

Our Lipat-Bahay Ritual

We are now living in Canada but there is nothing wrong in following some Filipino pamahiin naman, right?

When we moved into our new home last January 24, we made sure that we first brought these items inside the house:

• Our Poon -- Holy Family, little Sto. Nino (given by Sir Tantoco), and small Holy Cross (bought in Guimaras last August 2013) -- to symbolize our faith
• Rice -- for abundance
• Pillow
• Sugar
• Salt -- to ward away bad energies
• Cotton

As Roman Catholics, we prefer to have our new home blessed by a priest. But 'getting a priest' is not easy when you live in this part of the world (i.e. wala kaming kakilala) kaya nagdasal na lang muna kaming dalawa nang mataimtim. 

Ford and I are very grateful for the gift of home. We promise to fill it with love and laughter.