“Devotees of the Lord Jesus the Nazarene: Chosen to serve Him”

-a simple spoken word poetry.

Ang  mga debeto raw ay “hinirang at pinili” upang maging lingcod niya.
Ngunit sa dinami-dami ng pwedeng sambahin, bakit ang pinipili ay siya?
ngayo’y Maaari na rin bang sabihin na hindi tayo ang pinili,
kundi siya an gating pinili.


Parang taun-taon ay parang kinukwestyon, 'yan ba ay tama, 'yan ba ay mahalaga – 'yung pagiging deboto,"

Chosen to serve him?
Parang Mas maganda pakinggan na “We Chose to Serve him.”
Dahil ika nga, sa dinami-dami ng pwedeng pagtuunan nang pansin,
siya ang piniling sambahin.
Marahil ito’y dulot ng pagmamahal niya sa atin
mga Milagros (miracle) na ang hirap na bilangin

"At meron pang isang salita na kanilang ginagamit, 'Hindi ba yan panatisismo?' Eh kung pareho, bakit may salitang deboto?"

At sa libo-libong deboto, marami rin ang maaring kaniyang personal na pinili
upang maglingkod at magkapagpabagahi
ng mga biyaya na para sa lahat nang nanatili

"Una, ang tunay na deboto ay nagmamahal"

Ngunit pasensya na kung ako’y nalilito
kung ito’y kwe-kwestyunin ko
Isipin mo naman kasi, iho

Deboto ka, pero sumisingit ka
Deboto ka, pero nagkakalat ka
Deboto ka, pero nanapak ka ng ibang tao,
figuratively and physically.

To genuinely unite a divided country, one must to learn to love truly – by not being judgmental of others, and by doing good to your fellow man even without being in the limelight.

Deboto ka, pero grabe ka manulak kahit hindi naman dapat.
Deboto ka, pero kapag tapos na ang enero
Hindi ka pang tao ang mga kinikilos mo.
hindi ko nilalahat ito, dahil marami namang mababait na deboto
Pero kung uminit ang ulo mo, malamang isa ka na dito.

"This is one aspect of love that we need to be united. Divisivenesss is a fruit of prejudice. ‘They’re wrong, I’m right. You’re dirty, I’m clean. We’re different,’” he told the sea of devotees, mostly clothed in maroon."

Sana sa susunod na ika’y mamanata,
hindi lang ang NAzareno ang iyong irespeto
kundi laat ng kapawa mo deboto,
hindi natatapos sa paniniwala mo rito
kaylangan samahan ng aksyon na tapat iho.

"Ang panatiko, nang-aano lang 'yan eh, kumakapit sa isang nagbibigay ng halaga sa akin. Pero ang deboto, hindi iyon ang dahilan. Devoted ka dahil mahal mo siya. 'Yan ang ipinakita ni Hesus. 'Yan din ang diwa ng debosyon."

Feast of the Black Nazarene 2019 - my first experience

Here is my vlog (but more like a short poetry) about my first time attending the Feast of Nazarene.

The Feast of the Black Nazarene is annually celebrated every January. 

          The Black Nazarene (Spanish: El Nazareno Negro, Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno, Filipino: Poóng Itím na Nazareno, Hesus Nazareno) is a life-sized image of a dark-skinned, kneeling Jesus Christ carrying the Cross enshrined in the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in the Quiapo district of the City of Manila, Philippines.

           The Black Nazarene was carved by an unknown Mexican from a dark wood in the 16th century in Mexico and then transported to the Philippines in 1606.It depicts Jesus en route to his crucifixion. Pope Innocent X granted recognition to the lay Confraternity of Santo Cristo Jesús Nazareno in 1650 for the promotion of the devotion to Jesus through the icon.It was housed in several churches near Manila in the early decades, arriving in Quiapo Church in 1787 where it has been enshrined ever since.The icon is renowned in the Philippines and is considered by many Filipino Catholics to be miraculous; its mere touch reputed to cure disease. It attracts homage by numerous devotees and major processions every year.

         The image (in recent years a composite replica) is brought out of its shrine in procession three times a year: January 9 (the anniversary of the icon's translation), Good Friday (the Nazarene's liturgical feast, commemorating the culmination of the Passion), and December 31 (New Year's Eve, the first day of its annual novena).The January 9 procession re-enacts the image's Traslación (literally "transfer") in 1787, or "solemn transfer" to the Minor Basilica from its original shrine inside Intramuros.The January 9 Traslación is the largest procession, drawing thousands of devotees thronging to touch the icon and lasting 20 hours at the most.

The Black Nazarene is venerated by Filipino devotees every Friday. Along with the Santo Niño, (Child Jesus) it is the most popular object of devotion in the Philippines. A similar image called Cristo Negro is venerated in Portobelo, Panama.

Tres Marias (SM Fairview Thieves)

Are you from the Philippines, particularly in Quezon City? If yes, you've probably been to SM Fairview. I personally been there a thousand times. What I wanted to share is my experience in that mall. Well not inside the mall, but specifically on our way home.

MY PHONE GOT SNATCHED! There, I said it. It is not an expensive phone, not an Iphone, but this phone holds a lot of memory. My highschool memories. Our selfies, messages and such. And it is not just and item that I lost, it is the sentimental value that was stolen from me. 

The brand of my phone is Alcatel, One Touch Inspire 2. You can search what it looks like and how much does it costs cause all I can show you is the box that I am left with and the memories that lies within. My phone has a big scratch in the middle of the screen. From upper right to lower left of the screen dividing it into two different sides. But even though it has a crack, it still functions pretty well.

So here's what happened. On our way home, we crossed the road from SM Fairview to Jollibee Lagro because there are jeeps available there for us to ride on our way home. I have my blue jansport back pack on my back and a groceries on both of my left and right hand. Of course, both are heavy that I don't notice people behind my back. So when we are on the other side of the road, rode the jeepney and checked my bag....THE ZIPPER IS FOOOKING OPEN. I checked if anything is missing - apparently my phone is not in there but luckily the camera that I borrowed from my school paper adviser, the camera which I used for my photojournalism contest is not stolen. 

What is the point of ranting this issue that happened a long time ago? (not sure if its 2014 or 2015)

My phone is synchronized to one of my account and all of the photos I took is included. And I think God is on my side. The thief (thieves, actually) took a picture using my phone and it was uploaded in one of the apps in my phone. Here is the picture:

They are called 'Tres Marias' (three-girls). How did I know? well I asked some of the vendors on the road and inquire if they have heard of any thieves that steals peoples phone from backpacks, thieves who took advantage of the crowd crossing the street and making a move to people who is carrying heavy loads and steal something from them. And most of the people said "ay yung tatlong babae yun" the said - tres marias. Finally, thanks to my cellphone app, they are caught in action. What we just need to do is to let a lot of people know about them, Share this and give warning to people you know from the Philippines who always go to SM Fairview or the newly constructed Fairview Terraces.

I wanted to share this to give people some advice. Never put your backpacks at your back (ironic huh?) especially when you are not in a safe and peaceful place. There are people who will take advantage of you. I seldom put my bag at the back it just so happened that I am carrying two heavy loads that's why it will be more convenient to put my bag at the back. One of the advice I'll say is to always be aware of your bag, and make sure you are alert. That even though your bag is at the back you can still feel if there is something wrong. Okay?

So please, for the sake of every people who goes to SM Faiview, please do share! 

Have you ever experience the same tragedy? DO COMMENT BELOW FOLKS!

COMPLIMENTS

What is the best compliment you've ever heard of about yourself? 

I started this short blog with that statement to directly let people think what are their best characteristics that people have told them about.

My mom always call me 'masipag' not just because I'm the youngest child that needs to do all the chores left at home while the rest of the fam finish their job but also because I am really industrious in all terms possible. My siblings always tell me that I'm smart. Both of them graduated from the University that I alway dreamt of, and they always say that I can pass the entrance exams in UP and graduate with a degree (yup, that's how my sister and my brother see me, hehe). While my father always says that I'm a good person. I go to church every Sunday, I help people in the society and such things that can support that I'm a good girl. Few people, that I can really count using my hands told me that I'm beautiful: my ex-es, my best friends and of course my family. Though I can't really accept the term beautiful to describe myself because every time I'm told that I am beautiful I just feel like I'm being lied to. No-pebebe-intentions. Hehe. 

Those are the few compliments that I always receive (except for 'beautiful' Cause I seldom hear that) 

But I'm not posting this blog to let people know how I boost my confidence, HAHA lol. Not also to boast my character that a few only know of. HEHE. You, what are the things that most people say to you? Are you the 'ang gandang bata talaga nito' that you're titas and titos always compliment during reunion? Or you are the 'ang talino talaga nito' type of student being praised by the teachers? Maybe you're the 'ang sexy mo besh' kind of person that your friends look up to as their body goals. Well I can't think of any other cliche terms people tell each other to increase their confidence level but I can tell you this:

To be called beautiful, smart, industrious, sexy or hot is the simplest compliment you have received. Probably the best thing a person can say to you is not how sexy you are but how you rock every fashion, style and outfit in the world. It's not the best feeling to be called smart but to be called a hard working person that does everything whole heartedly. Also, to be called pretty / beautiful is an understatement.... All of God's creation is beauty, and there's no exception but to be called a God - fearing person is the best. 

See? Those common words we hear are not the only words that can help us gain confidence. Always listen to what people say that are good about you and do your best to improve and keep that characteristic in you throughout your whole life. Cause in the end, this small simple details that some noticed about you are actually the big things that when handled properly can be handy in the future. 

If you want to make a girl or any person in the world, pay attention to every single thing that they do best and preach them sincerely in that aspect. I can guarantee you that human being will most likely remember you for the rest of their life. 

See full blog here: https://funknows.wordpress.com/2017/06/22/complement-the-compliments

Don't forget to leave a comment  compliment below! :))

-SnFF

Inspirational Speech: Teenage Dream

In the last semester of our Oral Communication Subject we had a task in which we need to make our own speeches about 'DREAM' and to recite it in class. Initially my classmates thought of "I have a dream" by Luther King  probably because it is common. But my teacher told us to be realistic. She doesn't want to see dreams like "world peace, unity, no corruption, etc..." but a more personal dream we want to achieve as a teenager. So here is my composition:

I have a question for everyone..What is your dream? My dream is completely different compared to that of other teenagers. They want to be flawless, wished to be like those Victoria Secret Models.

or a Bench Ambassadors. They dream to be beautiful. I personally don't want to be beautiful, for this generation's beautiful means being a skinny person, it means being tall, having white & fair skin, having a long gorgeous hair, a pointed nose and of course a flat belly.

I have a dream that someday: teenagers won't starve themselves to death or drown to lotions and cosmetics because they feel that they're not good "beautiful", that they're not enough, that they are just fat, short, dumb, useless human beings. 

STOP! Let's all stop dreaming and wake up. Drink a hot coffee or if you want it cold, so be it! You decide for yourself. Stop dreaming. And start screaming! "Scream for what you think is right! Let your voice be heard. Step out of your comfort zone but always BE YOURSELF.

Don't let the society fool you. Those magazines photo shopped their models for hours. Do not dream to have a photoshopped body, dream to have a healthy one.



Those Facebook likes, Twitter favorite, Instagram hearts, Snapchat views do not define your beauty... Just like how grades do not define your intelligence. 

You are beautiful, handsome, smart, perfect, you are worth it! You are loved, you are important. I'm telling you right now, if they don't appreciate you...I do!

People tend to question this generation: Are they still the "Pag-asa ng Bayan" our national hero; Dr. Joe Rizal is referring to? On behalf of the Filipino Youth, I would say...Yes! Of course, we are still the hope of this country. We just need to focus more on our inner beauty, be a good person, work hard, strive for the best and God will do the rest. Believe because you have to.

Once again, my dream is completely different compared to others because I dream to be the inspiration of this generation. Stop hasty generalizations and unite as one for this nation.

Now, I'm going to ask again...What is your dream?

So that is basically my speech. I got 39/40 for our oral exam. Not bad, right? *taps myself on the shoulder* Good job! I may not scored the highest during that time but I love the feeling after my speech where everyone in our class approached me and told me "It was an inspiring message" and such alike.

Regarding this matter: I will post a somehow connected article about this. As for now, thank you for reading and I hope I helped you gain your self confidence even just for a little. Always remember: I do appreciate you beautiful-worth it-human-being!

*high five*

-SnFF.