The news that made the headlines

William and Kate marry!

"Marriage is intended to be a way in which man and woman help each other to become what God meant each one to be, their deepest and truest selves."  

-Archbishop of Canterbury in his sermon during William and Kate's wedding

The same afternoon we got back from the office outing, I kept my tired eyes open just to watch the royal wedding in BBC. From a shallow point of view, the parade of hats made me long for the hats I owned (and lost) and Kate’s Alexander Mcqueen wedding dress reminisce old world charm when Hollywood star Grace Kelly’s married the Prince of Monaco. Who wants flowers when you can have trees inside the church?

I’m not a psychic, but I think they have what it takes to make their marriage work. Aside from the fact that they’ve known each other for almost a decade, Kate, I mean Princess Catherine, has gracefully handled the pressure and attention throughout the years while William seem to have grown into a good and decent prince. He could have chosen almost any beautiful upper class girl; she could have her own life and could have dished out insights about the royals for a fortune. From stalking news of the upcoming wedding, it does sound like true love. ;)

Despite the usual reserve the British Royal family exude, the two managed to come across simply as a couple in love, conversing throughout the wedding, beaming at the cheering crowd, exchanging loving glances…you get the picture.

I don’t normally waste my time writing this kind of stuff, but it will go down in history (hopefully not just as the wedding of the century). As it also happens, I  believe in the advice Princess Di gave to his son before her death: Marry your best friend. But please don’t just befriend cute and charming guys in hopes you’ll find your match. 

Long live the Royal Couple!

My favourite part of the wedding: Still holding hands when they made their exit in the balcony.

*****

Pope John Paul II is beautified

Back in Summer of 2004, I had parked myself in front of the TV and vigilantly watched news from Vatican through CNN. Although he looked so frail, the pope had appeared several times in his balcony waving at the growing crowd in St. Peter’s Square praying for his recovery. Days later, he eventually passed away and I had stationed myself morning ‘til evening in the living room to wait a little bit longer for the white smoke to appear in the Sistine Chapel's chimney…

Nearly six years later, I watch him make the first step to sainthood. Indeed time flies so fast.

Being such a skeptic, I take note of the quick time interval between his death and beautification as compared to many others lined up for sainthood. Commentators mention the existence of a group called the devil’s advocate composed of experts like psychiatrists, doctors and psychologists that aims to disprove miracles as part of a stringent process in declaring who’s going to be venerated. In the Philippines, people line up in objects (second-class relics) that the pope used during his 1995 visit in the Philippines for the World Youth Day, among them the pope mobile once displayed weeks later at the school I went to in Alabang.

It must be special treatment. It would be interesting to have a career in that special group but it has long been dissolved. When they brought the blood of the pope to the altar inside elaborately-styled silver vial case, I though, wow, these people actually reserved his blood for this occasion years ago…

Believe.

“Why do you think did the centurion believed?” My spiritual director asked me when I relayed to him my meditations on the faith of the Roman soldier who asked Jesus to heal his servant by just saying so. After short pause, I lamely told him it was probably because he was powerful and was used to giving commands to his servants who would carry it out immediately. After a moment's breath, I slowly added that it was probably because of love; the love of his people who told him about Jesus and the love he had for his sick servant - love that gave him the confidence to believe. What else would defy reason and motivate us to trust in the absence of any concrete evidence?

Up until now I can’t fully understand even my own answer to his question. For the meantime, I try to suspend my judgement and just believe for a change. So far it is better than to burden myself with too many doubts no earthly wisdom can erase. 

"Blessed are they who have not seen and have believed" (John 20:29)

I suppose that instead of considering it as plain ignorance, it may just be a gift, one I have yet to receive after a long time of disbelief.

*****

Bin Laden is dead!

If my mom hadn’t pointed it out, perhaps I wouldn’t have noticed the irony of people rejoicing over someone’s death. It was all over the news, website and social networks – posing updates from Washington, flashing pictures where the ceasefire took place, looking back to the events of 9/11 (I had turned on the TV that fateful morning, flipped through the channels and paused momentarily at one particular scene of a smoking tower, trying to deliberate whether what I was seeing was real or a stunt). I suppose it is a monumental event, but I also fear that this could spark more radical measures as a form of retaliation. And it’s just 2011! No more tsunamis, nuclear plant breakdowns and tornadoes please…

I hate wars. It gives me the chills when people lose their temper and argue over petty issues which are often fueled by how people handle with it and do not actually focus on the problem at hand. Whenever someone release a string of curses and naively think it’s so cool to call someone a b*tch and the like, I’d like to see how would they would actually fare if they were caught in the middle of a ceasefire. *insert sarcastic tone here*

The b*tch culture is in, but it will never be cool. I admit having a hard time sticking to the kind of life I choose for the meantime with all the supposedly cool stuff I could have and do. I see it everywhere, or at least in the net.

I just need to remember what really makes me not just happy but elated. And nope, it is not finding the cutest pair of high-heeled pumps, although that would be awesome acquisition. Maybe if I get to read and watch all the books and movies I had long wanted to watch. Maybe get that one trip I could share with people who matter to me. Maybe hold a hand. Maybe world peace! =) 

Hmmm…I have asked too many if not hard questions in this post. I might as well scare people off at this rate. I’ll end this one in a simple question then: what’s your side of the story when all these things happened?

Sources:
Will and Kate pic - http://www.popsugar.com/Kate-Middleton-Prince-William-Royal-Wedding-Pictures-16158967?page=0,0,25
JP2 pic - http://lionswordwriting.wordpress.com/2011/01/15/the-beautification-of-the-late-pope-john-paul-the-second/
Transcript of Royal Wedding Homily - http://www.interaksyon.com/article/2705/full-transcript-bishop-of-londons-sermon-at-the-wedding-of-prince-william-and-kate-middleton

Fun beneath the (hidden) sun

After the Sagada, Manila and Baguio trip (which I will probably post a more extensive article later on), I took another leave from work to join fellow formators for some bonding time. I wasn’t suppose to join the office outing but because I’m one of those people who appeared to be free at the moment, I went with another colleague despite of all the work I was suppose to catch up. As it turns out, the party-but-sometimes-introvert girl me actually had fun. The food was great, the place was large and spacious, with the interior design of the halls and sleeping quarters beautifully decorated with wooden furniture and interesting ornaments. The pool and the gardens were wide enough to swim in and explore respectively. 

"Dakula na?"

My Kokology books also proved to be useful in this place, as the girls bonded with each other in discovering the hidden meanings of choices that reveal our deepest and perhaps naughtiest secrets. The conversations vary from the cheesiest love story to human sexuality and further studies. Tempting indeed. =)

Fun! Fun! Fun! Now back to work!

When you seek inspiration, look to Japan

Since stress is on its way again with all the leadership and skills development workshops we have to conduct this March and May, I have been dying to put something in my table to pleasantly distract me or anyone coming up in my desk. Who would be happy to see all the files stacked one after another? So, giving the office and my little space some "feminine touch," I bought this:

Cherry blossoms. Kawaii! =)

I guess has become quite common in malls to see this branching out of bags or window displays, but as I am evidently a fan of anything Japanese, our office gets this little cherry treatment. Maybe I'll buys some green stalks and natural-looking orchids next time. Don't want to make real plants suffer from neglect. 

Send off in Sorsogon

In true office fashion, our farewell party for an outgoing colleague brought us in miles away from Naga to the south of Bicol in Albay and particularly Sorsogon*

Leaving Naga right after lunch and after a three-hour drive that could have been a four hour drive in a bus, our first stop was in this Holy Family Parish dating 1916. It was a very long drive so we got out of the car just to walk around.

We stopped by Pilar port in Albay where we extended a few moments taking pictures of the scenery. After approximately five cementeries and traces of the recent El Verde trees planted along the highway, we arrive at Donsol, Sorsogon* in search for an affordable resort that would allow us to camp in. The Shoreline resort and resto looked the part so we pitched our tent within their territory – after waiting for the sun to set and taking pictures along the shore, that is.

Us "foreigners" building the tent.

the closest we can get with the butandings

Since Butanding (or whaleshark) watching season was still in March, April and May and would cost a littlemore around Php 3,000.00 (Php 1,700 = 7 people in a boat), we opted to go firefly watching in the river instead. We had arranged through the restaurant staff to inform their contacts in the boat boarding area that our group would be viewing fireflies so we left Shorelines fifteen minutes before 8 pm as advised.

Stopping by a boat boarding area we had passed by the Donsol River, we found out that they close at 8 pm and they weren't informed of our arrival. Fortunately, there was another boarding area a few miles away in Ugod River, where we were actually listed. Cost? Php 1,500 per boat, good for five people. 

A sign that an area is not yet polluted are the presence of fireflies, which dwell in coastal areas like Calabanga (like that one night during Summer A-WILL immersion when I walked out in the yard to fetch water and suddenly felt like a fairy with all the fireflies around me!). The motor boat took us along the path of the river and stopped by the few mangroves that had fireflies swarming in it. Their yellow green lights flickered on and off while our guide Josh gave us details about the firefly’s life cycle.

Capturing their lights on camera turned out to be harder than anyone of us anticipated. The use of flash was not allowed – you’d find yourself merely picturing the mangroves while the fireflies would disperse and get themselves together afterwards. I had to set my simplistic digital camera’s setting to 'night mode' and 'cloudy' while I increased the ISO to 1400 and exposure to +2 to capture anything at all. Here’s what I got.

Close-up of a firefly. Ate Jen cupped one with both of her hands while I attempted to click my camera at the same time its bulb-like little butt glowed. It’s great working with a cooperative model. Ha!

Mga alitaptap/alipopot iyan. Maniwala ka!

So far Fr. Ritche’s got the best shot of the bunch, though he admits not recalling how he got it. I had all these mental notes to myself with all the tidbits of tips of information from Father to Son: increase appecture, adjust the shutter speed, higher ISO...

.

The weather was cloudy that morning, thus we saw no sunrise. We left the Shoreline that morning for the Astillero nearby (the Astillero is supposedly the largest shipyard in Bicol). But it turned out the archeological site of the place was no longer there; any remnants were relocated somewhere else by a high official of the land. O_O

Our next stop was in Ligñon Hill back in Albay where one could view Mount Mayon and the whole town of Albay at its feet. The first time I went there a few years ago with relatives, the place was still under construction and the sky was cloudy. It was still cloudy and rainy when we came up, though cars and food were no longer allowed to go all the way to the top and the small center is open for a few business enterprises. The zip line is still there, but this all the rain and the budget consideration (cost of the riding the zip line=P250 per head), all we can do is watch wistfully at the lucky boy or girl gliding in the air.

Tribe Art Souvenir shop, where I bought a simple but this pretty pendant below that almost looked like a moonstone.

tumbling down?

We also checked out Embarcadero, the lighthouse along the port in Albay, though it would have been better to visit these venues at night. The weather didn’t seem to cooperate this time.

embarcadero!

best friends forever

a sour note during the trip.

Last stop was in Cagsawa ruins, which managed to survive Reming back it 2009, though I’m not so sure whether the stores now stationed outside the park actually did back in those times. With the limited time, all I did was hop from one store to another in search for a sturdy backpack or a hat. I ended up with a hat:

A cute summer hat in the store. Better than spending Php 500+ for ones they sell at the malls.

To whom do we dedicate this trip? Why for none other than Jenny Fernandez, of course! Adios, Ate Jen! Who will do my liquidation for me? Who will bring me my favourite kandingga? Who will disrupt me from work and agitate ourselves with the freaky public announcement system? With your dedication to your work and not to mention calmness amidst all complaints, who wouldn't hire you? I sincerely hope that you have a good (and safe) time while you're in Manila. Don't forget to shower us with your blessings once you're on the top! Hehehe! ;)

Adios, Fernandez! See you later! 

*from the word Solsog, meaning "against the tide."

Students Capture Pictures of God in Nature

OSA conducts Nature Photography Workshop as ACP

February 23 – with the onset of photography as an emerging hobby among Ateneans, the Office of Student Affairs sponsored a nature photography workshop entitled Captured! Picturing God as part of the Alternative Class Program (ACP) sponsored by the Ateneo de Naga University-Supreme Student Government (AdNU-SSG). Armed with their digital cameras, DSLRs and SLRs, twenty-seven students explored the picturesque views of rice fields, beach and cliffs in Sagñay, Camarines Sur.

The group left the Ateneo campus at 7:45am and arrived at the Barangay Hall of Mabca, Sagñay at around 9:15am. To formally start the workshop, Deputy Director Rodolfo “Sonny” SB. Virtus Jr. lead the Opening Prayer while Program Officer Trish Penelope B. Araña gave a brief re-orientation regarding the activity. To instruct the students on the essential skills of photography, the workshop was given by Fr. Ritche B. Elot, S.J. , an avid photographer and mountaineer who currently heads the Office of Student Affairs and the University Chaplaincy. Presenting some of his best works as well as the technology behind the lenses of the camera, Fr. Ritche emphasized having the passion to capture the best shot and being able to find the beauty in ordinary things, which is more important than having just a good camera. He cited instances such as waiting for the right moment for the sun to set, walking the extra mile just to get the best point of view, or having a camera at hand to capture moments as indicators that mark one’s passion for photography. Though he does not consider himself an expert, he encouraged the students to explore all possible combination the eye, the view and the camera can offer to produce a great photo.

To put their skills to test, the students walked among the kids coming out from school and crossed the green rice fields, taking pictures of people, plants, farm animals along their way. Shortly after, the group drove to the parish of St. Andrew at the centro of Sagñay where they were able to take pictures of the interior and exterior sights in the Church, pray and have lunch afterwards. 

The next stop took them to the port and beach of Nato just a few miles away. Sights present were the ship Jasper Peter loading some abaca from a truck, children in their bikes and in the shore, fishermen with their net and bait as well as a lone, unmanned boat in the sea from afar.

The next site the group visited brought them to higher grounds as they drove up in the hills to a spot along the highway called Odiongan. Here, the young photographers saw an outlook of Atulayan Island from a panoramic view. 

Going back to the Parish of St. Andrew, Fr. Ritche asked the students to present their pictures to the group. Shots including were stones in the beach, a boy in a bike, a close up view of a spider, a statue of Christ with arms raised up under the sun and even manure. After each presentation, good points about the pictures were given as well as recommendations to enhance the quality of their photo works. Before the activity came to a close, Fr. Ritche added some more points on acquiring pictures that are striking - it should tell a story and stir emotions, thus bringing life to the photo and not just an image.

*****

There you have it! My write up for our second visit in Sagñay, this time with photo enthusiasts! I think I need to edit it when I submit it though, since it almost borders on feature article rather than news or report. Csikszentmihalyi’s flow theory – validated! (students noticeably “flowed” and lost track of the time). I guess there goes my depth of learning and imagination in crafting an activity! Whew! Now I want to draw…hehehe.

No go find Him! =D