3/15/09
Starting this blog to honor my departed Angel Bear Norman, who joined God last Aug.27, 2008. He went out of his way to help less privileged folks to get a good education. He left the US to join us in the Philippines till he got called back by God. God bless and rest him.
Peace
Gabby
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Congratulations on joining the bloggers Gabby!! I will follow your blog with interest.
ReplyDeleteMarch 19, 2009
ReplyDeleteToday is the feast of St. Joseph, a wonderful model for today's young men. I pray that he continues to inspire more men to be responsible and committed to happy service.
Cheers
Gabby
March 21, 2009
ReplyDeleteI remember with prayers and happy memories all my 25+ years of Norman's friendship, love and encouragement. This, especially since it would have been our 26 years of being together, doing our little bit for our beneficiaries.
Godbless
Gabby
March 23
ReplyDeleteToday I attended the address of former UK PM Tony Blair to the Ateneo University community where he presented his new advocacy--to promote global peace through inter-faith dialogue and cooperation. He calls for more ethics in global businesses and he blames the absence of ethical values as the cause of the global meltdown. Compared to Clinton and Obama, he is not as fiery but he talks substance.
Cheers
Gabby
March 24
ReplyDeleteToday our 2 Graces (Lopez and Sierra) both graduated with their BS in Nursing. Their education was financed greatly with Norman's support and encouragement. Norman must be so delighted in heaven to see his beneficiaries succeed. Godbless and cheers.
Gabby
March 27, 2009
ReplyDelete7 Months ago, God took back in His bosom our dear Norman who became an Angel Bear. Since his transfer there he has remained with us in spirit and has always been a great link to our Father in heaven and His Saints and Angels. God rest him forever in his happy place.
Cheers
Gabby
March 31, 2009
ReplyDeleteMy aunt, Tita Felita Villavicencio, passed on at 1:15am after a short bout with cervical cancer. We visited her last night at the ICU of Makati Medical where she had been confined a week. She departed peacefully, and I am sure one welcomer was Norman.
At 4pm we held a memorial Mass before her cremation. It was a very intimate affair which included her children and grandkids, my Ma (her eldest sister) and some family relatives and friends. Let's pray for her eternal happy rest.
Peace
Gabby
Gabby.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear about your aunt tita. You are a good man. Thanks for these comments to let us know how your life is going.
Jim
Holy Wednesday, 4/8
ReplyDeleteWe interred her ashes this morning after Mass. Her niche is one floor up Norman's, which is in the basement crypt. Tomorrow, Holy Thursday and then on Good Friday, I will do my annual Holy Week Retreat. Will remember all the Lopezes and Brambles in my prayers. Happy Passover and Easter.
Gabby
Good Friday, April 10, 2009
ReplyDeleteToday we remember how Christ voluntarily accepted the painful sufferings that led to his ignominious death as a crucified criminal so that all of us may be saved. What a wonderful sad event in the history of Christianity. It gives us hope for salvation, which we don't deserve on our own. Looking forward to a happy and blessed Easter. Last night I went to the Presidential Palace to attend the necrological services for the 8 senior aides of President Arroyo, who died in a chopper crash in the mountains 2 days ago, as they were on their way to prepare for one of her rural sorties. Very tragic and sad. Afterwards, I did our Filipino tradition of visiting Churches on Holy Thursday evening to pray and visit the exposed Eucharist. I got to visit 11 Churches. On my way to my 2nd day of retreat at the Good Shepherd Convent across our main street.
Godbless and Peace
Gabby
Easter Sunday 2009
ReplyDeleteGodbless for Easter and Passover! Alleluia. The doctrine of Christ's resurrection is a very basic article of faith that strengthens Christian practices of doing charitable and good acts as well as revering the departed and preparing ourselves for our ultimate Pass-overs from this life to the next. It is a very joy-filled doctrine that enriches our faith-based behaviors as we carry on in our individual lives and struggles, amid a world in crisis. It is a doctrine that unites all Christians who accept Christ as Lord and Savior. Let us be grateful for this great event of Easter.
Cheers
Gabby
EARTH DAY, April 22
ReplyDeleteGodbless all on this Earth Day. May we become responsible carers of the Earth so that we can live more healthily for the future.
Gabby
April 26, 2009
ReplyDeleteTomorrow is the 8th month since Norman returned home to God. The months have passed very quicky but the pain and sadness continue in varying degrees. God has been kind to give me lots of diversions in teaching and consulting to ease the recurring sadness. As the Mormons always sing, with and in God "All is well."
May 1, 2009, St.Joseph Patron of Workers, Labor Day
ReplyDeleteIt's a quiet Labor Day today here in the Philippines. A time to relax and get files cleaned out.Good time to reflect also about my future in a life of happy service as an educator and consultant.
God save us from the worsening swine flu that seems to be moving fst arund the world.
Gabby
May 3, 2009
ReplyDeleteGreat day for the Pilipino Nation. Our Manny Pacquiao just won over champion Ricky Hatton. Thank and praise God.
Mabuhay
Gabby
Manny Pacquiao was awesome!!
ReplyDeleteMOTHERS' DAY, May 9, 2009
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Jim and Jana. Pacquiao always felt he owed all to God and he always implored His assistance before evry bout. I hope that his blessings are quickly shared among his less fortunate provincemates in Southern Mindanao.
Godbless on Mother's Day.
Gabby
May 16, 2009
ReplyDeleteAttended with my 90 year old Ma the memorial Mass for the mother of President Gloria Arroyo and the brunch that followed. T'was a quiet and simple gesture of honoring a strong and successful woman who had a President for a husband and a President for a daughter. God rest her.
Gabby
May 17, 2009
ReplyDeleteWent for my annual pilgrimmage Mass at the Antipolo Cathedral Shrine of Mary, Patroness of Peace and Good Voyage. Ever since I returned from the US in 1990, it has been an annual event in May, to pray in thanksgiving to God for all His good graces and blessings and to offer special petitions for both the living and the dearly departed. I learned the tradition from my late father who did it faithfully from the time he was 12 years old till before his death at age 72. Very festive celebrations in Antipolo in May. Lots of pilgrims and devotees and...vendors.
Gabby
May 17, 2009
ReplyDeleteThis afternoon I stood as "ninong" (godfather) in baptism to the baby son of Norman's former assistant and our compound grounds supervisor, Levi Gimenez. It was a very happy event and I sensed that Norm was actually there to assure us that he is happy to be one of the named "ninongs" of baby James Ivan. A great "salusalo"/reception followed the short baptism rites at Levi's modest home. We welcome baby James Ivan to the community of Christians.
Gabby
May 21, 2009
ReplyDeleteThe rainy season has ended the continuous hot summer days, but humidity continues to be a part of the scenario. Getting very busy preparing for our national fair trade conference in Davao City, Mindanao next week where I shall talk to our partners about Social Marketing, Then I shall have workshops on corporate team coaching and mentoring, and leading Filipino family businesses.
Cheers
Gabby
June 1, 2009
ReplyDeleteOn June 6 and 7, our 2 nursing graduates Grace Lopez and Grace Sierra will take the nursing board exams. Praying that they do well so that they can get their licenses and be able to apply for good jobs overseas, hopefully in the USA or in Canada.
Godbless.
Gabby