China Trip, October 20-27, 2009

I participated in the first international conference of the International Organization for Folk Arts in Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan, China on Oct. 22-26. All participants and organizers met in Beijing on Oct.20 and called on 2 important offices in Beijing: the Committee on Ethnic Cultural Peoples and the Chinese Peoples' Association for International Understanding. In between we toured the national ecological park of Jiuzhaigou to see the lakes and mountains. We attended several Tibetan events because they are the dominant ethnic people there. Jiuzhaigou was badly hit by the earthquake of May 2008 but has recovered quickly. The trip to Jiuzhaigou is long (8 hours) from the nearest functioning airport of Mianyong. In our last evening we attended a Tibetan Baima bonfire dinner and dancing up in the mountains, going by vans up the narrow and steep rough roads, which was frightening. We all returned to Beijing Oct.26 to stay overnite. There I was invited to a great Japanese dinenr by my student, Raymond Lopez, now a 2nd secretary at the Philippine Embassy. On Oct.27, I stopped in Hong Kong for a quiet rest. There I discovered the very pretty Kowloon Botanical Park and Aviary in the heart of town. Now am back home very tired but happy for the experience.
Cheers
Gabby
P.S. Everywhere, I kept seeing colorful butterflies that reminding me of Norman's ever present spirit.

Birthday of Ruth Joyce (RJ) Lopez, Oct. 17, 2009

We had a very quiet celebration of my niece's RJ's 22 birthday at home with her parents, Freddie and Evelyn and sister Grace. We were joined by Gina's grandkids, Wyet and Kirsten who helped her blow her birthday cake. She is waiting to be called to work as a supervisor at the Maxim Casino Resort which opened 4 months ago. Cheers.
Gabby

Saint Damien the Leper of Molokai

October 11, 2009
Today, there is a new saint in the Catholic Church. He is St. Damien the Leper of Molokai, a Belgian missionary who served and helped the lepers in Molokai, Hawaii. Great to have a protector for the ostracized sick people. St. Damien, pray for us.
Godbless
Gabby

First Anniversary of Norman's Interment

October 5, 2009

Exactly a year ago (40 days after his death) we conducted a Memorial Mass and interred the marble urn with Norman's ashes in his niche at the crypt of Christ the King Parish in Green Meadows. It was both a sad event and a very happy one because Norman was freed form his earthly sufferings to be forever with God, his parents Melba and Woody, his grandparents, grand aunts and uncles, aunts and uncles, cousins and other beloved departed united together praising God. We continue to remember him with love and prayers.

Peace
Gabby

Fiesta of San Francisco

October 4, 2009

Today, being the feast day of St. Francis, I took my 3 beagles (Mama Viva and Daughters Zsazsa and Nova) to the Monastery of Sta. Clara for the traditional blessing of pets. Normally there would be at least 20 pets being blessed. Strangely, I was the only pet owner so it took less than 5 minutes to have the 3 pets blest. Glad they behaved. With so many other pets they get fidgety. Blest Sunday and cheers. Still praying for the recovery of many of our typhoon victims.

Cheers
Gabby

Another Super Storm Here Now

Typhoon (Parma) Pepeng is now in the Philippines and will hit Metro Manila tonight. In this connection we are storming heaven with prayers for our safety and protection.

ORATIO IMPERATA, The Prayer of the Philippine Catholic Church‏

Almighty Father, we raise our hearts to You in gratitude for the wonders of creation of which we are part, for Your providence in sustaining us in our needs, for Your wisdom that guides the course of the universe.

We acknowledge our sins against You and the rest of creation.

We have not been good stewards of Nature.

We have confused Your command to subdue the Earth. The environment is made to suffer our wrongdoing, and now we reap the harvest of our abuse and indifference.

Global warming is upon us. Typhoons, floods, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and other natural calamaities occur in increasing number and intensity.

We turn to You, our Loving Father, and beg forgiveness for our sins.

We ask that we, our loved ones and our hard-earned possessions be spared from the threat of calamities, natural and man-made.

We beseech You to inspire us all to grow into responsible stewards of Your creation, amid generous neighbors to those in need.

Amen

Prayer of supplication by the Faithful in all Churches