CSSP Araw ng Pagkilala 2012

Here we are in our official graduation regalia - with the official University Sablay. No stifingly hot academic gowns for us!

HFP Evaluation & Planning Workshop 2012

Members of the Parish Pastoral Council came together in the SVD Retreat House in Tagaytay City to evaluate the parish activities of 2011 and then come up with a 3-yr. action plan for 2012-2014.

January 14-15, 2012

Launchings

I was a co-editor of this book.

Book launching of "ISIP" during the PSSP Conference (Nov 25, 2011) and 2nd Launching of "Dadaanin" in Bestsellers Bookstore (Nov 27, 2011).

Sad/happy reunion

Flory's funeral
Loyola Memorial Park, Marikina
Feb. 16, 2011

What you can do in Cebu in 2 days

Rainy November 1

I am awakened by the strong rain. I remember it is  November 1. And I remember Mama and all the rainy All Saints Day we had to bear when we were young.

It begun in 1971, a few days after we had just buried Lola Ipay, who died on October 25, in Loyola Memorial Park . Before that, we had always gone to the cemeteries in San Pablo and Sta. Cruz to visit our dead. I don't ever remember that it rained during those times and having had to do anything taxing except to locate the grave site of our relatives. So when we had to spend Nov 1 that year in Loyola, we were not prepared for what would transpire.

That first time, it took us hours to get to Marikina from the corner of Katipunan, a ride that would normally take 15 minutes. I was amazed to see the serene memorial park of two weeks before transformed into what looked like picnic grounds with big tents dotting the landscape. That evening signaled the beginning of an annual ritual of 1) setting up the tent days before All Saints Day, 2) starting very early in the day but still enduring hours of travel of bumper-to-bumper traffic, then 3) lugging tables, chairs, food, flowers, and candles to the grave site. Whether rainy (and therefore, muddy) or steaming hot, we had lunch under the tent. We usually stayed until late afternoon or until we just had about enough of what was going on all around us. Surprisingly, teen-aged me longed to stay till it was dark because it seemed there appeared to be more action in the evenings. But that never happened because there was the tiresome task of bringing back all our stuff to the car and then bearing the lengthy trip home.

Mama did all that was needed to be done for this event with a passion. I don't know whether it was out of duty or love for our relatives buried there that she made sure everything was in place. Or was it so that she actually enjoyed being there, chatting with the "neighbors", having the whole family there eating food she prepared. I didn't share her enthusiasm for this family outing but had no choice in the matter, of course!

Things changed when in 1988, I had a legitimate reason to stay home. I had to breastfeed our 6-month old daughter who was too young to join everyone in Loyola. Everyone that year included our 5-year old son who managed to get lost in the crowds of thousands. He was later found exploring the sights on his own. It was that year that I decided that I would no longer go to Loyola on November 1. Instead, my family would pay our respects to our dead on November 2, All Souls Day, when traffic was lighter, crowds were sparse, and the placed looked more like a park than a circus.

Mama continued to go to Loyola on November 1 with my cousins until one year, when she was nearing her 80s, she said she preferred to join us. She had, on that day, passed on the baton of the responsibility of taking charge of the Loyola visits to me. 

Today, Mama and Papa are both buried there now and I sort of understand now why Mama was so devoted to her annual rituals. It was her way of professing of her undying love for those who lay there. I guess the tradition (with my modifications) will go on because they make sure that our ties with our loved ones will always remain. Through heat, through mud, through rain!

 

Finally, Palawan! (Business muna)

Attended the annual convention of the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) in Puerto Princesa witth colleagues from the UP Department of Psychology
Aug.17-21, 2010

High School Classmates

Reunion on 25 June 2010

Babang-luksa

Mama's 1st death anniversary
June 11, 2010

AS 101 works and plays!

The Family that PPCRVs together, stays together

That can be said for both my family and the Holy Family Parish!

CSSP & Corregidor, Part I

Members of the CSSP College Executive Board went on a tour of the island before buckling down to work on a faculty evaluation instrument. Hay, ang mga academics - hindi mapakali kung hindi magtatrabaho! Kudos to the Dean for choosing this place for our 2-day workshop!

PSSP Lupon ng mga Kadiwa 2010

aka Pambansang Samahan sa Sikolohiyang Pilipino Board of Directors. We had our first meeting last Jan. 30, 2010 at the PSSP Office.

Sitio Bukal & Katipunan Bayani

Almost 100 families are still in an evacuation center in a barangay in Tanay, Rizal 3 months after Typhoon Ondoy flooded their homes. On December 26, 2009 we gave new year gift packs in the name of our relatives and friends.

Lantern Parade 2009

Dec. 18, 2009
UP Diliman

CSSP joins Hagikhikan 2009

UP Diliman's Faculty Follies
December 16, 2009
University Theater

Thank you, Steve!

Last Tuesday, November 10 2009, Jingle, Andong, Powie, and I distributed to the Grade 6 pupils of the General Roxas Elementary School the school supplies lovingly donated by Steve Lawie. With us was Ate Yangyang Lopez, Head of the Social Service Ministry of our parish, who coordinated with us and the principal to make this event possible. Thanks for your generous gift of time and resources , everyone!

WMG Strikes again

Freddie's plays are produced again... Dinner after the show at ROC courtesy of Al and myself

Opening Reception at Lunduyan Art Gallery

"Kamuning"
March 8, 2009
6 PM

There are more pictures at http://ebeseyes.multiply.com/photos/album /145/Kamuning#36 , http://martinezartprojects.multiply.com, & http://pananaw.multiply.com

Art in Site Magazine Launch

Ayala Museum
Jan. 17, 2008