Chile earthquake?

Another high magnitude earthquake just struck Chile, with a 8.8 magnitude. As of this time, reports have it that there is at least 6 casualties and will be rising, we hope not. Last time it was Haiti, now Chile! I don't know but is this really natural or there is something hidden in here which we are not aware of.These two countries are located just within the central and south america region just like Cuba and Venezuela and some other countries of course. We just hope that this earthquake stop devastating these countries.

Our Lady of Fatima Church Binakayan

One could easily gauge a persons character by just going to his house and see if it is clean or dirty. If everything is in order and not in a complete disarray,these are just but simple observations which truly reflects the character of the owner.

Truly, the community as represented by the parish pastoral council and headed by the parish priest are both working hand in hand in keeping their house of worship,the church, clean,beautiful and serene and very conducive in prayers and some other spiritual activities.

Once you enter the front yard you can notice the cleanliness of the place and also the beautiful plants and trees in the surroundings.There are lots of flowering plants in bloom and the trees are there to give shades to everybody.

Entering the church, one could see that the pews are always tidy and the floors are also very clean and shiny. The newly landscaped main altar with its water falls are a sight to behold,adding so much freshness and serenity to the place.

The back yard of the church which is in itself a mini-park with trimmed trees and plants,a mini aviary,a small fishpond,a gazebo and a station of the cross for prayers and private meditations.

These are just some beautiful things that one could see in this house and we can say that the rightful owner of the house is good in character and that he truly loves his house.

Our Lady of Fatima Binakayan,Cavite,Philippines

This is the ongoing beautification and make over of Our Lady of Fatima Church.After being neglected for quite sometime which made it lost its former beauty and especially its cleanliness, the pastoral council headed by the parish priest decided to concentrate on the beautification and cleanliness drive of the church.The different organizations and some individuals have already began in cleaning the church surroundings and also inside the church itself.One other main concern was the public comfort rooms, four male and four female, which had become unusable due to complete neglect that renders them very dirty and completely unsanitary to use.Now, after being completely cleaned and renovated, parishioners are now using this facility with much content.

The church surroundings both in front and at the back are now well maintained unlike before wherein there were so much dirt. These are just some concerns being taken cared of now and hoping that at the very near future the church will again be enjoying its previous grandeur.

Some more beautiful developments are coming and will be posted soon.

Bethzy going to Dubai!

Finally, at the airport,8:00 am,must be there 4 hours before the flight which will be at 12:20pm.The carrier will be Gulf Air, so hard to say goodbye! This is the first time that she will be away from home! Happy trip,good luck and God Bless!

Before going to the airport!

7:00 am, February 21, 2010.

A little despedida last night with the family and in-laws to be,together with some close friends.

MEA VALENTINES PARTY 2010

MEA VALENTINES PARTY 2010

It was held, February 14,2010 at Primera Luz Filipina Lodge No.69, Binakayan,Cavite,Philippines.

The second activity of the group for the year, the Sto. Nino Caracol last January being the first.Both having a big number of attendance and showing a relatively good sign of interest in the members.It started at 7:00pm and ended happily at 12:00mn.Sis. Cely Pabalan led the prayer before meal while Sis. Lolit Handog led the opening prayer of the program.The new chairman,Bro. Raz Plotado gave his opening remarks and thanked everybody for their support in the Caracol and for coming in the party.It was hosted by Sis. Vicky Santero and Bro. Juhn Arnan, who have to leave early for an earlier appointment.The foods were prepared by the different groups including the drinks and surely there was more than enough for everybody.The chaircouple donated the mignight snack which was so delicious, consisting of "pospas and tokwa".Some raffles were held and prizes were donated also by some members. A portion of the program was dedicated in remembering all the members by their respective units starting from Unit One to Unit Fifteen. There was a big laughter here when Bro. Jhun being the host, told the group that it was 1975 that the first unit was formed,yet inspite of the fact that it was already 35 years that had passed he was still feeling young, yet he had a hard time remembering the last number of unit he had called. It was Unit Fourteen who had the most number present.Music was provided by a mobile disco rented by the group. All expenditures with regards to rental of the venue and the mobile disco was easily taken cared of by means of the usual pass the hat system.Before the party ends, the Vice-Chairman gave his closing remarks by giving thanks to all present and hope to meet again on the next activities to come and reminded all about the planned activities for summer.All thoughout the night, it was fun, dancing and enjoyment.All in all it was a very successful get-together valentines party.

The group is now planning to have a "Pabasa" for the Lenten season and a "Summer Outing" for the month of April and will be finalized in the next meeting to be called by the Chairman.

The new sets of officers:

Chaircouple: Bro. Raz and Sis. Lou Plotado

Vice-Chaircouple: Bro. Rodel and Sis. Lolit Cavas

Treasurer/Acting Secretary: Sis. Lolit Handog

Talisay,Batangas Town Fiesta 2010

My wife Lolit and I were invited last Fevruary 10, 2010 by VW Vic Degrano and wife Lalaine, to celebrate with them their town fiesta in Talisay, Batangas. It was in honor of the towns' patron saint Sn. Guillermo.Hl Mercy Viajedor with her sister HL Jovit with husband Norving who was driving the car also came and we rode with them. Bethzy and Bevs with husband Mhike together with their kids Mikay and Mikoy also went in their cars. We all took the road to Tagaytay and passed thru a zigzag road leading to Talisay.It was a very exciting trip especially when we were already passing thru the zigzag road going down from Tagaytay to Talisay. It was very,very steep and the road is a little narrow.It's about more than an hour from our place to VW Vics' house. We arrived at around 11:30 am, but we had a little difficulty in parking our cars because there were a lot of cars already and the street was full, and it was only with the help of VW Vic and a kind neighbor who showed us a place to park.When we reached the house we were immediately treated with some merrienda and cold drinks. A little bit later PGRM Lyn Altares arrived with his driver. She also found a hard time parking her car and it took them some minutes before they could find a spot. They were also served with some refreshments.

After I had finished my drinks I proceeded to the town plaza and to the church to pay homage to Sn. Guillermo and at the same time took some photos and video recordings of the place. The church is very beautiful and relatively clean in spite of the fact that it was fiesta time.An image of Sn. Guillermo stood at the center of the main altar and a monument also stood in front of the church.The retablos are very prominent with gold lift designs.People goes in and out of the church to pray and give thanks to the Lord and also to pay homage to the Saint.The old traditions of wiping ones handkerchief to the statues of the different Saints and then wiping it to some parts of the body that requires some healing, were still very much alive.Outside just infront of the church were stalls of different merchandise being sold ranging from candles ,foods, birds, clothes,flowers,fruits,drinks and even bolos,knives and some garden and farm implements.

There was one street just across the church,about maybe less than a kilometer long that leads to the public market,and this was filled with so many stalls and vendors that you could hardly walk with ease due to so many people buying and some were just looking around. There were also some stalls with games of chance and here lots of people young and old were gathered.

After quite sometime I went back to the house and lunch was served. It was a very sumptuous and delicious meal. It consisted of fried tilapia and ayungin, chicken in pineapple, beef caldereta, pork and chicken adobo and mixed vegetables and of course some rice.Desserts and sodas were also served.After this we were served coffee and enjoyed every drop of it.

After a few minutes of talking and relaxing, the ladies wanted to go to the market and so we went there and I again took some photos and videos. They bought some fruits, sweets and suman. The market is very near the lake and I took this opportunity to take picture and video of the lake.

It was already 3:00pm when we went back to the house and there was already a prepared merienda of suman and cold drinks. The suman(rice cake wrapped in coconut leaves) is very delicious and as we were told, it was cooked by the niece of VW Vic. After a little while we bid goodbye and thanked them for a very wonderful experience that we had. The food was excellent and the place is very beautiful,it was the mountain on the other side and then just a little further on the other side was the lake. The warm hospitality of the hosts, VW Vic and wife HL Lalaine was extraordinary.

We will surely cherish this very special occassion and hoping to go back there again.

Talisay,Batangas Town Fiesta February 10,2010 Part 1

Taal Lake and Taal Volcano as viewed from Talisay Public Market during the town fiesta.

Fr. Vir's Birthday Celebration

A slide show of Fr. Vir's birthday celebration held February 07,2010 in Immaculate Conception Shrine in Naic, Cavite, Philippines.

A Celebration of Life

The date is February 07,2010 and it is 8:00 in the morning. Celebration of the Holy Mass starts and it is Rev. Father Virgilio Saenz Mendoza as the celebrant.
After this he thanked the Lord for giving him another year in his life and invited everybody to proceed upstairs in the "Convento" to have something to eat. Yearly, this has been the tradition so to speak, where ever parish he may be assigned he always see to it to thank first of all the God Almighty by celebrating the Holy Mass and then to invite all who ever may be present during the day to have something to eat and join him in this celebration.

The preparation of foods started as early as a day before with the able supervision of Ate Hermie, the forever loyal personal cook and friend of Fr. Vir.She always sees to it that all the necessary foods starting from breakfast up to the end of the celebration usually late dinner is taken cared of.As usual food is served as early as breakfast, those who will be serving the early mass will first have their breakfast before proceeding to the church, they are the lay ministers and the altar boys. Well after the mass another group has to be served and this will go on as long as there are people coming to eat.Aside from the foods prepared by Ate Hermie, there are so many different kinds of foods coming from the friends of Fr. Vir who gives to him as gifts. There are also so many kinds of desserts and fruits given as gifts and different kinds of pancit or noodles.Aside from Ate Hermie, Ate Glory, Vicky G.,Janet Kosa and Kuya Dado are also there to assist in the preparations and in the serving of foods. Of course the stewards were as always the "S Boys".Kuya Rollie and Divine, brother and sister of Fr. Vir respectively are present and assisted in meeting the guests. His three nieces, daughters of Divine (Tres Marias) are also present.Entertainment was provided by the Immaculate Conception Choir.Right after their task in the church they immediately proceeded to the "convento" to provide music with their very beautiful renditions of classic as well as modern songs. After a few hours, Fr. Vir's nephew, Louie started to play the piano to the delight of the guests and later, one of the guests volunteered to sing and it was a very delightful and entertaining one.

As the day goes on, people from all walks of life keeps on coming. Friends from different towns and from different parishes. There are priests, nuns, politicians, businessmen and women and there are those who comes from far away places who are continuously keeping in touch with him.They are as young as just more than a year old and up to eighty eight years old.This really proves really how many friends he has got.Friends who have been loyal and faithful all throughout the years.These are the people whose lives have been touch in one way or another by his kindness and by his being thoughtful to them.

So, as he is becoming more and more in age and in wisdom, Fr. Vir's increasing numbers of friends continue to grow also.The more parishes that he will be assigned, the more additional friends for him.

My wish for you is to have a healthy life and a lot more birthdays to come and let me just share this to you; As Peter was made a "Fisherman of Men", so please continue to be like him and be a "Fisherman of Friends".

HL SETSUKO MIYATA GAN

HL SETSUKO MIYATA GAN

BORN: OCTOBER 29,1944

DIED: JANUARY 24,2010

"Honored lady Set was a chartered member of Tierra luz court no. 33, she had occupied different stations in the court like the station of Truth and court musician. But it was in the latter that she had occupied for quite some time.She was a very dedicated member of the court and she sees to it that she will be present in every regular and special meetings of the court to provide music that makes our meetings solemn and an enjoyable one.All throughout her being an Amaranth, HL Set had been an exemplar of what a true Amaranth should be. She did not only practice the lessons and virtues of our beloved Order inside but more did she practice those moral duties outside of the court. Yes, Honored Ladies and Sir Knights, the life that HL Set had lived as an Amaranth is truly worth emulating.

She left behind a very loving husband, SK Ben,

Two daughters, HL Naomi and HL Miko,

A son, SK Jhun-Jhun,

And four beautiful grandchildren."

This was the eulogy read by Hl Mercedes Viajedor,District Deputy Grand Royal Matron of District One and court secretary of Tierra Luz Court No. 33 Order of the Amaranth during the funeral rites in honor of the late HL Setsuko Miyata Gan held on February 1,2010 at Primera Luz Filipina Lodge No. 69, Binakayan, Cavite, Philippines.

It was in the morning of January 25,2010 when HL Lolit Handog received a text message from HL Rizalinda Altares PGRM stating that HL Set had passed away.

Her immediate reaction was to feel sad and have a feeling of loss, but later she realized that it was not that all bad because she (HL Set) is now free from all the troubles and worries of life especially the pain and agony that she is having due to her illness.She called HL Lyn to confirm the bad news and also to ask if HL Sets' remain would be flown back home from the States. HL Lolit then called the daughter of HL Set, HL Naomi and expressed her condolences and ask about their plan with regards to their mothers' death.She told HL Lolit that they(including SK Emer and the children) are now getting prepared to immediately fly to Virginia because their mothers' remains will be cremated on February 1,2010.This information was at once relayed to the royal matron HL Marites Vasquez who called up a special meeting of all available members to be held the following day and to discuss on how and when the funeral rites would be done even in the absence of the remains of HL Set and her whole family.So it was agreed during the said meeting that there should be at least one practice for the participating officers in order to render a fitting funeral rites and also that it be held Monday (February 1) to coincide with the cremation of her remains to be held also in the States.Practice was successfully done on Saturday afternoon, January 3o, headed by HL Lolit, Asst. Grand Lecturer for Tierra Luz Court and almost all the concerned officers attended the practice.

As agreed upon the funeral rites was held on the afternoon of February 1,2010.The members and officers of the Court started coming as early as 1:30 in the afternoon and then members of the sister courts started to arrive also.Merienda was served which included puto, cochinta and pancit. There were brewed coffee and some different kind of sodas. The ceremony was started at 3:30 pm and all sister courts were represented.There were two past Grand Royal Matrons present, HL Consuelo Racimo and HL Rizalina Altares.

A rectangular table was set between the altar and the west. It was covered with white linen and topped by a white lace. On top west of the table rest a blow up picture of HL Set, on the middle was a replica of an urn bearing her name and an amaranth emblem rest on its top, on the eastern top rest a spray of flowers.Right from the very start of the ceremony when the Royal Matron stood up to announce her intentions and the significance of the meeting, the room was transformed into a very solemn place. All of a sudden peace and harmony prevailed and everybody seems to be caught up in the rituals.When all the participating officers rose from their seats simultaneously without order from the Royal Matron,until they were all outside and also when just after a few minutes they were again entering the room to position themselves around the supposed to be catafalque, everyone was very quiet and really very attentive to the ongoing ceremony.On arriving on their respective stations, the Royal Patron started to give his charges, followed by the Prelate who delivered his prayers whereby everyone rises and placed themselves in the proper way in prayers.Afterwards everybody was seated and the Royal Matron with flowers on her hands walked and proceeded in front of the catafalque and while delivering her charges simultaneously deposited the flowers on top. This was followed by the Associate Matron, who also proceeded with a wreath on her hands, then upon arriving, delivered her charges and at the same time placing the wreath on top also.Then the Conductress followed to deliver her part, the Associate Conductress did as well. The Associate Patron gave his charges followed by the final charge of the Royal Patron. The Prelate then gave his final benediction signalling the end of the ceremony. Afterwards, Nearer My God To Thee was played and tears started to fall on some of the members and guests. Hl Lolit was charged with the playing of the accompanying soft and emotion filled music which added more to the solemnity of the occasion.Every officers recited their parts well, they were very proficient in the performance of their duties. Even the floor works went very smoothly if not so perfect.It was a very solemn and an excellent ceremony.One could hear the drop of a needle if that was to describe the quietness and peace that prevailed inside the room.Everyone was very attentive and cooperative.

The officers then automatically proceeded to their respective stations. When everyone was seated, the Royal Matron called on the HL Secretary to read the Eulogy. After the eulogy HL Rizalina Altares PGRM, read the response by SK Ben which was sent to her thru email.It was a very touching response.After this HL Lyn asked if there was anybody who would want to speak and say something about HL Set. HL Elong Racimo stood up and proceeded towards the east and escorted by SK Tony Mendoza.She spoke of how dedicated an Amaranth HL Set was and how warmly she would welcome everyone in every event that they would meet.HL Daisy Barcelona Grand Musician followed and she narrated how she was mentored by HL Set during her early times as a court musician. She would always consult with her about the different aspects of how to play the music especially during initiations.The Royal Matron of Far East Court followed and also had some beautiful and kind words to say about HL Set. SK Talicol talked of how brave and determined she was by marrying a US Serviceman in the person of SK Ben.The Royal Matron of Lumina Filipina Court followed and then Hl Catchy Araneta both with kinds words to say. SK Tony Mendoza had a lot to say about HL Set and they were all praises on her person and as a dedicated Amaranth. HL Lolit followed and almost fainted while delivering her message about how well she knew HL Set and that her favorite was Elvis Presley and also a song titled Rain. She talked about all her kindness and calm resolve.The Royal Matron then delivered her message and thank the sister courts in their participation and also the officers and members of the court. Finally PGRM Lyn,talked about how dedicated HL Set was and given a responsibility she would surely see to it that everything would be accomplished. And also that if given a task she would surely follow every rule governing this task and nobody could bend her no matter how high your position be or who ever you are, to disobey any of this rule. After this she gave thanks to everyone present.

Finally, flower offering followed and it was a very touching site to behold. I'm sure that every body whose life had been touch in one way or another by HL Set would surely miss her.

At this juncture the Royal Matron called the court to order and proclaimed the proceedings closed and ordered the officers to retire with her.

The guests were then again treated to a meal downstairs and it took them at least another hour or so to finally bid goodbye.

"And another has been called to swell the numbers in that unknown land wither our Honored Ladies and Sir Knights have gone before us"

"SWEET IN OUR MEMORIES"