... AND TO MOTHER MARY!

We're all so caught up in our world of mothers on Mother's Day we forget about you. Please forget the troubles of the world even for a day. Today is your day. Be happy.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MOTHER MARY!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

To all mothers of the world... 

... Most especially, to the most beautiful, the greatest mother of all, MY MOTHER!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MANG!

I LOVE YOU WITH MY WHOLE HEART AND SOUL, MY WHOLE BEING!!!

News of the Day

Sr. Adolfine Tonnies, the cofounder and first superior general of the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters (Pink Sisters), is now a candidate for beatification. She received the religious name, Mary Michael, from our founder, St. Arnold Janssen, SVD. She remained in the Lord in the cloister, but she also founded new adoration convents in Germany, the Netherlands, the United States, China and the Philippines. Today there are about 350 Adoration Sisters, living in 22 convents in various parts of the world, constantly in adoration and remaining with our Risen Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

That's great news. I remember when I used to go to the Chapel of the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters, or Pink Sisters as they were called, in Baguio or in Quezon City with family and or friends. The Pink Sisters were the contemplative part of my alma mater, College of the Holy Spirit. And growing up in a private Catholic school with nuns, it was simply natural to have a close connection with the nuns. And when I saw the Pink Sisters (because they wore pink habits) in Baguio for the first time, cloistered but not quite unseen, just separated by a gate inside the chapel, from outsiders, I was in awe! They looked so pure and beautiful! And they didn't just look happy, they were in bliss.

I wanted to be like them... but, alas, I wasn't deserving. I was just not as pure and beautiful as them. So the closest I could get to them was to go to Baguio up in the cold mountains as often as I could, wake up at 4 a.m. in freezing cold (that was a big sacrifice but I'd do it just to see them!) to get ready for the 6 a.m. mass, to be close to them as humanly possible as I could, as hundred others did the same thing, to watch them as they did their morning procession to the chapel, and hear their beautiful angelic voices as they sang their devotional prayers...

Aah, I can still hear their voices... Thank you, Sister Adolfine Tonnies, for co-founding the Pink Sisters with now Saint Arnold Janssen. I will pray for your sainthood through the most powerful intercession of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 


Praise the Lord.

Oh, No, It's Not Paquiao!

Floyd Mayweather wins!

The cat predicted Paquiao was gonna win! Now wait a minute, I didn't jinx that! Look at the last picture. The cat ate the treats on Mayweather's photo last. It's not over till it's over. Last picture wins!

DANG!!

Paquiao - Mayweather Fight

Never thought this Paquiao - Mayweather Fight tonight was going to be a big deal! I was never a Paquiao fan but when I was in Manila last March, people were crazy about him already and the fight wasn't till 2 mos. later. Everybody was buying Manny Paquiao merchandise - Tshirts, caps, tote bags and on and on... My family wanted to give me and Norman shirts and I wasn't interested until I saw one  myself that I really liked. Look it, I'm wearing it today to show Filipino solidarity for Manny!

Go for it, Paquiao, and win it! The way we, Filipinos, pray, unless God gets bored with the fight and falls asleep tonight, you should win!

Hey, check this cat who predicts who is gonna win tonight's fight! Hope I don't jinx it.

The Law of Attraction

Who would ever think that after posting Sleepless in Seattle... only a few days ago, I'd actually be in Seattle, at the airport, and get a sleepwear like this? Norman bought it for me, the start of his spending spree this trip.
We flew in from SFO aboard Alaska Airline on our way to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and again, I didn't I know we were taking Alaska and I was wearing my Grand Princess Alaska Cruise sweatshirt, too! Norman arranged this trip to Victoria a long time ago and I had no idea whatsoever about our itinerary. All these happenings have been pure coincidental! Or is there such a thing?

We're here in Victoria, Canada staying at the magnificent Fairmont Empress Hotel for our 25th wedding anniversary celebration - A milestone, and we're very proud!! And we're actually having the famous Afternoon Tea at The Empress -WOW! I told Norman I could miss lunch and dinner today but not the Afternoon Tea at The Empress. We arrived at Victoria past 1 pm. We had to go through customs. We didn't know how far the hotel was and we knew that the afternoon tea ends at 3 pm. Well, we got here at 2 pm and upon check-in, the receptionist immediately made reservations for us for the afternoon tea at 2:15 - Plenty of time!

        

This whole trip is special, deeply personal to Norman. In the 70's, he recalls, he was in Vancouver for a rock concert and someone told him to go visit Victoria, beautiful capital of British Columbia. The fare was about Canadian $7.00 one way by ferry boat. He didn't have the money. When he returned home, he read about it and saw a picture of the magnificent Empress Hotel and thought to himself, "I wanna be in this picture."

Two years ago, we went on our Grand Princess Alaska Cruise with his brother, Joel, and wife, Sarah, and one of our stops was Victoria, Canada. A dream come true for him! We strolled from the harbor enjoying the scenery, a truly beautiful promenade, although I bet, like a kid, Norman wanted to RUN to see the hotel right away. That was his dream for so many years! That's why he took this cruise - it was going to Victoria! He was going to see THE EMPRESS HOTEL - Finally!!

As we got a glimpse of the hotel, I was astounded! I looked at Norman, and I wondered... I wondered what he must've have been feeling at that very moment. As we got closer and closer and finally stepped on the ground, one look into Norman's eyes and I knew... he was fulfilled!
We had breakfast and asked for tea just to get a taste of the Empress tea. Our waiter was great, though. He went out of his way to even serve us mini-scones and other sweets to go with our tea - a sampling of the famous Afternoon Tea! But that doesn't start till 12 noon. We only had few hours stopover in Victoria. But it was alright. Norman knew... someday he would, he will, have the real Afternoon Tea at the Empress.

And here we are! But still, that wasn't enough. He vowed that one day, he would, he will, stay at The Empress Hotel himself. That day has come to pass - Today! Now he has money and with no hesitation, no reservations, he's splurging!


This is just the beginning...

Sleepless in Seattle, San Francisco, Everywhere

".. sleep is a beautiful thing." - I heard that on a TV commercial.

For the helpless hopeless... insomiacs like many of us, that's music to our ears. I like that... I really like that! I need to hear that again -

                               Sleep is a beautiful thing....

                               

                                         

                                         Sleep is a beautiful thing....

                               

   

                                                   

                                                     Sleep is a beautiful thing....

Yes...

Do not disturb.