Surviving Typhoon Pablo Outside the Philippines

Yes, it is sound strange why I have this title about surviving a storm that recently hit the Philippines which in fact I am outside of the country. How on earth should I be affected by this storm when I am thousand miles away from home?

I am an OFW here in Abu Dhabi, UAE, so being away from the family is one of the sacrifices I made to be able to provide them with a better future. It is very normal to us that every minute we think about home and our family. So when news broke out that in 2 days time a super typhoon Pablo (internationally name Bopha) will strike our country and putting our province on the path of the storm our worries starts to grow. My province Bukidnon is not known to be a typhoon path area so I couldn't help but worry if the people, specially my family, is ready for this kind of situation. It is not just a simple passing but eventually the eye of the storm will be on my province. And this, as far as I remember, would be the first time that our place will be directly hit by a storm.

Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) 4 days befor landfall (Courtesy of PAGASA)

CORONONA'S IMPEACHMENT: WHAT'S NEXT?

For the past 6 months Filipinos were treated with a new telenovela disguising as impeachment trial for the Supreme Court chief justice of the country. All the television networks cover the event and dubbed it as another bookmark of our history. All walks of life listened and glued their eyes to the trial as each side do their shows with a lot of fanfare and gimmickry, lawyers of both sides showed what's on their sleeves to make a point to the senator judges.

A lot of characters surfaced on the said trial, some credible some are mere imagination that they exist. There's one so called little lady, who passes information for the prosecution team for evidence purposes. There was this Mr. Anonymous whom one the prosecution can not reveal his identity (or maybe they will not reveal, as maybe it was one of the prosecution lawyers hiding as Mr. Anonymous?). To top it all there is this one public servant who vehemently delivered an envelop of so called evidence to the senate president acting as presiding judge thus ignoring the court law regarding submission of evidence.

Media is also milking on the said trial, discussing the issues and evidences to create and attract attention for rating purposes. In my own mind, I thought case already in court are not allowed to be discussed in public specially if it is still on trial. But as the trial heightens the battle is not only inside the court but also outside using media as their tool. Evidences not yet submitted in court was announced and shown in public. How could this be? Well, as we understand that this is a quasi political court which understandably this congressmen aka prosecution team waving this evidences for media mileage maybe. 

People from all walks of life had their opinion on the said trial, making the nation divides. Some furiously declared the guilty verdict of the chief justice while others declared his innocence. Social networks and other internet forums this is the hot issue, or you may say trending. Facebook pages appeared like mushroom condemning the chief justice but not to be outdone there are pages also defending him. Even OFW's abroad had their own opinion whether he is guilty or not. Some families are divided on their stand. 

All I can think of is, we are just like watching the Pinoy Big Brother eviction night. With the chief justice as the one who is evicted from the house of kuya. I mean after all this clash of mind and reasoning by both sides what is next? What are we going to expect next? Was the victory of the prosecution team successfully impeaching corona a victory to the Filipino people? or it was just a show in preparation of the 2013 elections? If it is the latter, then our chief justice of the Supreme Court, the highest court, becomes the sacrificial lamb! Just sayin'

*Photos from google.com... credit to the owners.

That Feeling Again!

As our plane touches the ground of Mactan Cebu International Airport the sense of excitement become more intense and the grin on the face can not be fathom. It feels good to be home, the air, the people, the traffic, and the hassles in the airport, man! Really feels good to be home.

As an OFW, going home becomes the best and most awaited part of one’s life. The feeling of having freedom on its own country has no equal. The feeling of being a second class citizen is completely gone. While walking at the tube towards passport control, the nearer we are at the immigration counters the faster our heart beats, ah! That feeling again!

Our assigned gate for boarding in AUH

While queuing I can hear my familiar language, no more broken English or language I can’t fully understand. My mind wondered on what to do on this vacation, maybe I can hit the beach with my family, or go somewhere and spend time with them. Even if I will only stay at home for the rest of my vacation it would still be the best one as long as my love ones are with me. I am home and this is where the happiest place I can be.

“Welcome home sir!” the immigration officers greeted me after stamping my entry to my country. I said my thanks and smiled back at him. Now officially I am home!

Airport view inside and out

(The author as of this moment is now back to behind the desk of his work in Abu Dhabi but his mind still lingers back in the Philippines)

VISITA IGLESIA:Catholic Churches in UAE part 3

...the last part of the journey.

We departed Sharjah and proceeded to another Emirate State to visit another church which is in Ras Al Kaimah, The St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church.

St. Anthony de Padua Church in RAK

The Church situated at the back side of a general merchandise store. The church is slightly smaller than other churches we visited but enough to cater the spiritual needs of every Catholic residing around the emirates of Ras Al Kaimah. 

We commemorated the 9th and 10th station of the cross and made some individual prayers and after that we checked out the vicinity for photo opportunity of the church.

The group decided to take lunch first before we embark to a long journey going to our next destination. We settled in a parking lot in one of the mall there and ate our lunch. The spirit of sharing was noted during the feast as foods and beverages were being shared and passed on to everybody like one big happy family, not to mentioned we ate inside the coaster.

After we ate we embarked in a long journey towards Fujairah were the Church of Mother Perpetual Help is located. Along the way we had the opportunity to see God's marvelous creations of mountains which decorated the scenic view of the way. It was a 3 hour travel going to Fujairah but you will never get bored as scenic beauty unfolds during the travel.

The mountains surrounding the road to Fujairah

We arrived at Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church past 4 in the afternoon. The group then commemorated the 11th and 12th station and proceeded with a short prayer.

The church is slightly bigger than the one in RAK and also a bit spacious, we saw a lot of parishioners inside the church from different countries. Blessed that they can exercise their faith in this Arab Country.

The ground of the church

The entrance of the church

VISITA IGLESIA:Catholic Churches in UAE part 2

Jump to PART 1 if you haven't read it yet.

continuation....

After a couple of minutes checking out and taking pictures of the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Jebel Ali we proceeded to our next church destination in downtown Dubai.

Next church: The St. Mary's Catholic Church, Dubai

The St. Mary's Catholic Church  was build around middle 60's here in UAE. His Highness the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the U.A.E donated land in 1966 to build a Church. Rev. Fr. Eusebius Daveri and his team pioneered this project. His Highness the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum inaugurated St. Mary's Catholic Church on 7th April 1967. 

Today in this very place stands a magnificent new church that has been designed to accommodate more than 1700 worshipers at each service. Under the guidance of His Excellency Most. Rev. Bishop Bernard Gremoli, Rev. Fr. Daniel Cerofolini OFM. Cap, Fr. Michael Cardoz and their team pioneered this project. This church was inaugurated on 3rd November 1989.

Inside the compound facing the main entrance to Church

The Grotto

The sign at the entrance of the Church compound

We did the 5th and 6th station of the cross here and contemplate the agony and remembering the painful journey of Christ towards crucifixion. After we finished pray we checked the church again but we can't go inside as it was already overcrowded with people. Makeshift tents were installed to shed the faithfuls from heat and ventilation and fan was also provided. Even with the great scourging heat of the sun churchgoers were flowing to join the lenten mass.

The group hit the road again with a little travel going to the next emirate, to the next church destination. 

Next Church: St. Michael's Church, Sharjah

According to their website (please click the link) the church history was way back from the year 1971.

"The old St. Michael’s Church was founded in 1971 by Fr. Barnabas as a little chapel close to the British Air force base. In 1973 Fr. Barnabas moved   into the old St. Michael’s Church which was then the British officers’ mess. The kitchen area was converted into the Parish house.

Father Barnabas was succeeded by Fathers Attilio, Edmund, Antonino, Felicio, Godwin and Angelo. These Pastors worked with dedication and zeal. As a result the flock continued to grow rapidly. Inspite of the fact, that each of these priests expanded and embellished the converted church, there was still a lack of place to accommodate the parishioners.

Under the guidance and support of Bishop Bernard Gremoli the new church was built by Fr. Angelo Fiumicelli and his dedicated team. The new St. Michael’s Church was consecrated on 02nd October 1997 by Cardinal Artinze from the Vatican with Fr. Angelo as the first Parish Priest." 

- Fr. Ani Xavier Ofm. Cap. 

  Parish Priest 

  St. Michael’s Church, Sharjah

This is what you see upon entering the Church compound

 

 

 

The Church amidst the sea of people during Good Friday

We did the 7th and 8th station of the cross on this church and proceeded to the next church of destination. It's only a few minutes that we were allowed to stay as we need to follow the time frame we have in out itinerary but despite of that seeing this churches for the first time still breathtaking to us, not from it's design, nor from how it looks but by the mere presence of the church on this country is simply marvelous. 

... next our long travel to Ras Al Khaimah to visit St. Anthony de Padua Church.

 

Visita Iglesia: Catholic Churches in UAE

Me and my wife had the opportunity to join the Visita Iglesia on Good Friday organized by the elders of the Couple for Christ here in Abu Dhabi. Without hesitation we joined the said event to make it as our way of doing sacrifice in this lenten season and of course the opportunity to see all the churches of the seven emirates of UAE. Catholics in this country is very lucky and grateful that the ruler of this middle east sheikdom allowed Christians to exercise their faith as well as giving space to build churches for prayers.

The said trip also followed the way of the cross that our Christ suffers up to crucifixion as we remembered and prayed. Two stations of the cross in every church we visited.

We kick off the said event around 6am in the morning starting with the first and second stations in our very own St. Joseph Cathedral here in Abu Dhabi. 

The facade of the Cathedral upon entering on its compound

According to their site this Parish has over 100,000 expatriate Catholics from all over the world.

With the growing economy within the region, the Church has also witnessed a steady increase in the number of faithful. Masses are celebrated in a number of different languages and the Church is generally seen packed to full capacity at most services.

Inside the St. Joseph Cathedral during a mass celebration

 After commemorating the first and second station of the cross we hurriedly boarded to our assigned buses that would bring us to our next church to be visited. There were seven buses with approximately 30 faithfuls in each bus. 

We boarded bus number 5, with us is our co-participants of the CFC-Christian Life Program, our couple DGL, our CFC Elders and some CFC members. 

Our convoy of buses getting ready at the break of dawn for the Visita Iglesia

  

Our next stop: St. Francis of Assisi church

The St. Francis of Assisi Church is located just off of Sheik Zayed road beside the village of Jebel Ali, in the emirates of Dubai. It is near the Ibn Batuta Mall and The Gardens in Jebel Ali interchange.

The St. Francis of Assisi church was inaugurated in November 2001 as part of the Vicarate of Arabia, presently pastored by Bishop Paul Hinder. It is a parish comprised of many nationalities from around the world. We are diverse communities united in one body of Christ

The entrance to the church of St. Francis of Assisi, Jebel Ali Dubai

To GOD be the glory....

The Grotto inside the church compound.

Inside the St. Francis of Assisi Church

Inside the compound of the church.

We stayed at St. Francis church approximately 30 minutes. We prayed and did the third and fourth station of the cross. After that we were given 10 minutes to take pictures and check out the church vicinity before we leaved to our next church destination.

 ... to be continued  --->>>   jump to PART 2 

SUNDAY FEELING ON FRIDAY MORNING

I and my wife went picnic last Friday as it is our day off. Together with some of our flat mates we went to a park where grilling and bbq are allowed. This park is built with kiosk and with a griller nearby. As soon as we arrived we settled in a grass near to a vacant griller as all kiosks are already occupied.

 

As I seated on the grass I can help thinking way back home. The familiarity of the situation strikes me because every Sunday (in our house in the Philippines) is a bbq day. From pork bbq, fish and even eggplant we have it grilled as families come together and feast on what we have prepared on that day. It's only a typical Sunday with no occasion to celebrate or anything but it is quite special to us as we partake what we prepared together as a family. The endless talk and catching up, the children running around the house, and the sense that the family is intact on a beautiful Sunday it is a bliss to us. Eventually it lingered on my mind as I remember this with a slight grin in my face as I sit in the park. Ahh! Maybe I just miss home because there's also a lot of families and children on the park.

I maybe miles away but I never, even in a second, never think back home. There's a lot here to remind me of how was it back there. The simple gathering, the lazy Sunday spent and everything the family does together. Amidst the smoke of the griller and the scent of the burning meat I smell home. I'm looking after the next time I see smoke out of the griller it must be coming from the griller at home. Happy BBQ Day everybody.

kanang ginganlan ug YOUTUBE

It's been days that we can't access the site, the one of the most important site on the web. We don't have no idea why, the site will open up to its main page but when you are going to access the videos posted you get nothing but that black screen with no signs of life...

But wait, why I am writing this and making a big fuss about it. Well I just come to think of some theories I stumbled upon by some desperate users of the site. More of a conspiracy thing that government shuts down the site because of that alleged scandal video. Ahh...the creative and imaginative mind of people nothing beats it. Creating stirs and deep conspiracy theories from a simple glitch encountered from this famous site. This makes the world more fascinating with the mysteries surrounding it and the imaginative thinking of some people. Kinda make a color to this already colorful world.

But in my world? hahaha..no big deal, yah im pissed that this isn't accessible to us while the rest of the world enjoying it. I am not going to indulge myself of creating such theories to highlight my disappointment of not be able to get YOUTUBE works. Yah i love to watch videos of my favorite bands, I get some tips also on my new photography hobby (to which by the way i'm not sure which level I am, but that's a different story though) I heard my flatmates cursing, thinking of upgrading our internet line. I understand them, internet is OFW's best friend, makes us nearer to home. Anyway, YOUTUBE is working now...answered prayers perhaps. o..login na...tan-aw nata bidyo.....arib!