Rizal Day, Dec.30, 2011

Started the day by attending the Rizal Province morning rites to honor Jose Rizal on his 115th year of his martyrdom. Met the Provincial Officials whom we have been assisting develop an International Rizal Shrine in Talim Island.

Afterwards, I attended the dedication of the Alagad ni Maria Seminary's St. Joseph Oratory, also in Antipolo, with the religious community and friends.Big lunch after the dedication and Mass.

This afternoon, some close friends joined me at home to celebrate the 71st birthday of our departed Norman Bramble, our first get-together since he passed on in August 2008. Our last gathering was his birthday in 2007. Wonderful reunion and great celebration.

Thanking God for all His blessings & challenges for 2011 & asking for strength to remain a faithful servant in 2012.

Blessings for the New Year to all.

Hugs & love
Gabby

Blessings for Christmas & Always

Christmas 2011

T'is a time of thanking God for the Savior, even as we experience all sorts of natural and manmade crises worldwide. So many are experiencing anxieties, depression, poverty, poor health and confusion. Baby Jesus, please grant them comfort and hope as we all struggle to remain faithful to Your promised plans. Happy birthday Jesus Christ, Superstar, King of Kings, Good Shepherd, Savior Messiah, Great Teacher, Son of God, Mary and Joseph.

Christmas cheers and blessings to one and all.

Gabby

GAUDETE SUNDAY

December 10, 2011

My, time really flies fast. Tomorrow is already the 3rd Sunday of Advent, GAUDETE SUNDAY. In 2 weeks, it's Christmas Day. Let's continue to pray for PEACE ON EARTH and give GOODWILL TO ALL PEOPLE.

Godbless

ADVENT 2011

November 26, 2011, General Santos City

O come Emmanuel as we start the Liturgical Year with the First Sunday of Advent. Be with us Lord always as we open our hearts to your coming. We adore and love you.

FEAST OF CHRIST THE SERVANT KING

November 20, 2011

Happy blessings on this great feast of Christ the Servant King, Who is our salvation for all times. Blest to receive the gift of faith & challenged with hope to continue to love.

Turning 62

November 7, 2011

Glad to be 62 years old today, which is Eid'l Adha, the Moslem Feast of Sacrifice. It was a special public holiday int the Philippines.

Started w/early Mass at Christ the King Parish, after which I visited and prayed at the niches of dearly departed in the memorial crypts. Passed by the fresh wet market to pick up some items to serve today. At 9:30am I bought 4 tubs of ice cream and boxes of ice cream cones and coconut butter cookies which I took to Blessed Mother Teresa's Center of Love in Antipolo. It houses about 40 abandoned poor children. There I was met by Sister Corrine who accepted the goodies and then we distributed the cookies. She reserved the ice cream for the afternoon. The kids were delightfully happy and they even sang for me. Before leaving, I gave Sister Corrine a check for their operations. This is my 3rd year of celebrating my birthday w/them.

Lunch time was a small get together w/Mama, my brother Freddy, his wife Evelyn and eldest daughter Grace at the Gloria Maris Chinese Restaurant at the Podium Mall. We were joined by sisters Evelyn Lopez Carballo and Glory Lopez Arellano, my dear friends Malou Lopez, Ofie San Juan, Easter Dasmarinas, Roland Nunez, and Ding Quejada. Lots of chat & laughs.

After lunch I picked up my annual medical test results. I'm borderline in my cholesterol, uric acid, and sugar and I am slightly overweight. I have started to do an hour of briskwalking since yesterday and I feel good.

Tonite, had a pasta dinner w/Gina's grandkids and shared some ice cream and cake.

Wonderful great way to turn 62.

Cheers
Gabby

11.1.11, All Saints Day

Another new Month. It's All Saints Day, 11.1.11. Enjoyed my long break and completed my 2nd required paper on Self Mastery & Leadership. Another busy short week ahead. Be well.

San Pedro Calungsod

Yesterday, feastday of Blessed Pope John Paul II, news came out that the Vatican has approved the canonization of our second Philippine saint, Pedro Calungsod, Visayan Martyr from Cebu. Thank God.

VISIT TO SAN FRANCISCO, 9/29-10/01

CHINESE DINNER HOSTED BY TITA BETH W/KARA & GREG, MARIEL & JOJO


COFFEE W/HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATE DAN SABLAD AT STONESTOWN


IN FRONT OF ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH


AT TITA ELY'S EFFICIENCY


IN FRONT OF SAN FRANCISCO CITY HALL


TOMMY'S JOYNT W/KARA



ENTRY TO HOME OF KARA & GREG

Arrived SFO airport on Southwest Airlines before Thursday noon, Sep.29. Was met by Greg, who took me out to lunch of mami & siopao at LingNam. Proceeded to Barnes & Noble Books Tanforan before picking up Kara from work. Went to Milbrae for a Chinese dinner hosted by Tita Beth. Mariel & Jojo joined us.

Friday, Sep.30, Geg & I attended 9am Mass at Our Lady of Mercy before he dropped me at Stonestown, where I met up w Dan Sablad, my freshman high school classmate and whom I hadn't seen since (about 48 years ago). Had a nice chat over coffee then I took MUNI to downtown to meet Tita Ely at St. Patrick's Church. We had late lunch at Bloomingdale's basement fooderia then went to her efficiency nearby to rest. Went walking downtown and was diasppointed at the dirty streets of tenderloin area. 4pm I took the BART to South San Francisco where Greg picked me up before picking up Kara. We then passed by the graves of Lola Aida, Uncle Bert, Tito Jimmy & Tita Bert, & Aileen (Jayjay's young wife) to pray.

We then proceeded to Tommy's Joynt Van Ness corner Geary for a great roast dinner. I had real corned beef. After dinner, Greg drove us through Fisherman's Wharf & Ghiraldelli Square. Slept after doing twitters & email.

Saturday, Oct.1, we had early breakfast before Greg & Kara took me to the airport to check-in for my noon Delta flite to Narita and Manila. So good to have met up w/family in the Bay area.

Pictures in Salt Lake City, Sept.25-28

Oct.22, 2011, Feastday of Blessed Pope John Paul II

Flew out of Baltimore early Sunday, Sep.25 on Southwest Airlines. Had a stop over in Phoenix to change planes for Salt Lake City. Arrived at 4pm and was met by Mu and Jody then went for early Mexican dinner at La Frontera. Stayed over at Jody & Dennis' and slept early. Monday, Jody & Dennis brought me for morning Mass at St Joseph the Worker Parish. Beautiful church where there's a memorial brick in Norman's remembrance.

Monday, Sep.26, Dennis, Jody & I picked up Ray and we drove to Ogden to visit the grave of Woody & Melba and Norman. Took us a while to find the grave because Dennis stopped at the wrong block. From the cemetery we drove past St Joseph parish in Ogden for a lite lunch at Rainbow Greenery Cafe. Great lunch. After which we drove up to Huntsville to visit the Trinity Trappist Monastery to pray.

Moved to Ray & Marcia's to spend 2 nites. Olivia (very pregnant) and Jeff dropped by to pick up the christening baby gown that I brought from Manila. Carolyn, John Christian, Joan & Oscar, Jesse, Kim & boys, Chad & Mu came over for pumpkin pie and cake.

Tuesday, Sep.27, Ray & I went to the bank, a shoe store, Barnes & Noble Books. Wednesday, Sep.28, Ray & I dropped by Norman's home where Carolyn lives before visiting Temple Square. Had a great lite lunch at the Joseph Smith Center then went to Apple Computers. On the way home, bought a memorial tree and plant to plant and remember Norman by. Late afternoon, Chad & Mu picked me up so that I could stay over w/them Mu prepared a nice Japanese dinner. Dennis dropped some chocolates for Manila.

Thursday morning, Sep.29, Mu drove me to Salt Lake International Airport so that I could take my flite to San Francisco.

Happy & grateful to have been able to visit the Brambles at Salt Lake City.



RAY, OLIVIA & JEFF W/NEW BABY GIRL


JAPANESE DINNER AT CHAD & MU'S


HOME OF CHAD & MU


DENNIS W/CHAD & MU AT THEIR HOME


WITH MEMORIAL TREE & PLANT FOR NORMAN


IN FRONT OF THE CATHEDRAL OF THE MADELEINE


W/RAY AT THE SIDE OF MORMON TEMPLE


IN FRONT OF THE LDS CONFERENCE CENTER


IN FRONT OF NORMAN'S HOME, WHERE CAROLYN LIVES


RAY'S PUMPKIN PATCH IN HIS FRONTYARD


RAY & MARCIA W/KIM, JESSE & THE VALLES BOYS


RAY & MARCIA W/JOHN CHRISTIAN, JOAN & OSCAR & CAROLYN


SHOWING THE CHRISTENING BABY GOWN FROM ME & NORMAN


AT RAY & MARCIA'S W/PREGNANT OLIVIA & JEFF & CAROLYN


AT TRINITY TRAPPIST MONASTERY IN HUNTSVILLE


LUNCH AT RAINBOW GREENERY CAFE


GABBY, DENNIS & JODY AT THE GRAVE


RAY, DENNIS & JODY BRAMBLE @ GRAVE OF WOODY, MELBA & NORMAN IN OGDEN


DENNIS & JODY AT ST JOSEPH THE WORKER PARISH


WITH JODY BRAMBLE AT THEIR PORCH