Ika-33ng Kumperensiya ng PSSP

Holy Angel University
Angeles, Pampanga
Nov. 20-22, 2008

(Thanks to Rene Zubieto for the pix. For more, go to http://sikolohiyangpilipino.multiply.com)

Lakbay-Aral sa Pampanga

The 3rd day of the PSSP Conference was spent by the remaining delegates, HAU Psych faculty, and the secretariat traipsing around some towns of Pampanga. Following is a brief description of some of our stops:

1) Betis Church, dubbed as the Sistine Chapel of the Philippines because of the walls and ceiling frescoes including the trompe o' leil paintings on its majestic dome. Moreover, is the 17th century central retablo, one among the many masterpieces inside the church. Paintings of Simon Flores hanging in the old convent and church laterals is also a must see. Recently declared as one of the country’s national cultural treasures by the National Museum

2) Sta. Rita Church and Town. One of the best preserved colonial towns set up in the province. The presence of the old church fronting the plaza and the tribunal (municipio) surrounded by colonial houses of 19th and turn of the century bahay na bato. A must see inside the church are the neo gothic 19th century retablos and the recently enthrone relic of Sta. Rita. Famous also for its delicacies of turrones de casoy and sanzrival and other different stuffs like mammon tostado, tarts, petite fortunes, boat tarts, arraro and others

3) Bacolor Church, the half lahar buried church, former capital of the province and once capital of the Philippines during the British occupation. A must see are the buried houses and houses on stilts to cope up during the lahar days and including the newly built houses and infrastructures. At the church's interiors are the 3 dug restored retablos especially the left side an 18th century period, which has intricate carvings and local floral designs and motifs.

My fave pix of the kiddos

These are pictures from Bong's Multiply albums which I found really adorable!!!

ARE WE DOOMED?

Wrote the following five years ago. I thought I'd like to share it on the occasion of Bong's 49th birthday. You're doing a good job, Bong!

Friday, August 12, 2005

Sabi daw ni J.K. Rowling na ang Harry Potter books niya ay "a litany of bad fathers. That's where evil seems to flourish, in places where people didn't get good fathering." I beg to disagree! I believe that we are what we are as a result of choices that we make in our lives. Yes, if our fathers did a lousy job, it can be one of the reasons why we find ourselves all twisted inside. BUT we shouldn't use it as an excuse to stay that way. I always tell my siblings that despite the tragedy of our parents' relationship and its effect on our emotional make-up, we didn't turn out so bad! They must have done something right somehow!

Fe, who knows me more than anyone else, pointed out something which never occurred to me before. She said that one good thing that came out of my having to be constantly caught in the middle of my parents' fights was my ability to see things objectively. She said she constantly ran to me for advice because I was sure to give her an honest and fair evaluation of a situation. What I thought was a weakness for not being able to readily take sides in an issue or conflict was considered a strength by my friend.

I think the more important blessing we can get from our less-than-perfect childhood is that we try to be better parents to our children than our parents were to us. Early on, I decided I would spare my children the misery I had to go through as a child being asked to take sides in a fight and having to be the one to make things right between my parents. Even my choice of a husband was dictated by his being basically unlike my father. Papa tried to be a good father but because he failed at being a good husband, he couldn't quite succeed at the fathering bit.

I know my children will be happier than I was. And they will turn out to be as great (ehem!) as their scarred parent. And that, ironically, they would owe to their grandparents!

Parang abot ko ang langit!

Isang hapon sa Lagusan Drive, Tagaytay.