Sunday in the Park

Had a lovely time at Flora Expo Park yesterday, Sunday the 2nd!  Nice cool temperature with soothing breezes...  Live music...  And even the Annual Flora International Award Expo is in full swing...  Juju and i was having a lot of fun, we must have spent almost 6 hrs there...  A really nice way to end the week!

Enjoying the lively Blooms.

Me and a friend!

Monster High Doll, Jinafire Long, was Juju's tag along doll for the day.

So much beauty!  Some of the prettiest and most amazing arrangements on display

at the annual Flora International Award Exposition.

And of course, we stopped by St Christopher's Church to pay respects and light candles.

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We were even treated to our first XMas tree sighting...
this giant tree is on display now at the Flora Expo Park.

Palm Sunday

Another Big Event Day at St Christopher's Church today....  that being Palm Sunday....  last Sunday before Christ's Crucifixion and the Sunday before Easter....    It is the Sunday that marks the beginning of the Holy Week, the week of events leading up to Jesus' death..... 

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Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. The gospels record the arrival of Jesus riding into the city on a donkey, while the crowds spread their cloaks and palm branches on the street and shouted "Hosanna to the Son of David" and "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" to honor him as their long-awaited Messiah and King. 

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Today in modern times, a somewhat reenactment of this takes place as each of us attendees, come with our very own Palm Branches that gets blessed over with Holy Water by the presiding priest...  in honour of the revered day.

 

I love attending and witnessing such events....  there is always a much more feeling of togetherness/oneness with the other churchgoers.... and what we do celebrate adds another sentimental touch to the services...

Palm Sunday 2012

Had a Beautiful Experience at today's Palm Sunday Mass Service at St. Christopher's Church....  a new Priest held the service...  he was much more livelier than the usual new priest...  and it was extra special to be able to experience the Blessing of the Palms once more... something I have not witnessed in a looong time....

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From WIKI:

Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in all four canonical Gospels. (Mark 11:1–11, Matthew 21:1–11, Luke 19:28–44, and John 12:12–19).

In many Christian churches, Palm Sunday is marked by the distribution of palm leaves (often tied into crosses) to the assembled worshipers. The difficulty of procuring palms for that day's ceremonies in unfavorable climates for palms led to the substitution of boughs of box, yew, willow or other native trees. The Sunday was often designated by the names of these trees, as Yew Sunday or by the general term Branch Sunday.

of rain and queens....

another rainy Sunday here in Taipei.....   as with every Sunday, started the day, answering emails, PMs and catching up online....  then Church for this week's Sunday Mass....  enjoyed the music more than anything....   had some Filipino desserts....  called Mom....   and came back home to wait for Jewel, who arrived a little after 1PM... yep, today is babysitting day.....

Jewel has gotten even bigger these few days I was in Manila.... as always, upon arriving - she has the smile and the outstretch arms for me...  as if it was only yesterday that i saw her last....      we played for a few hours and now she sleeps....  soundly....  Hopefully, when she awakes the rain would have subsided a bit - so we can take a walk by the river... been a while since I was there last.... 

I MISS IT....

So, am back answering emails and watching trailers on You Tube...  just realized that there will be two Snow White film adaptations....  and both are Big Hollywood undertakings....   and forget who is playing Snow White on both films, the more thrilling news will be the battle of the Evil Queens....  Charlize Theron dons the wickedness in "Snow White and the Huntsman" with Kirsten Stewart as Snow White.... this looks to be a more action packed, darker take on the tale....; while the other adaptation boasts Julia Roberts as the resident Evil Queen to Lilly Collins' Snow White....  I for one, cannot wait for both adaptations....   so forget the Pacquioa/Marquez bout that just concluded - this is the fight am waiting for!  Hahahahahahahahaha....

ADDENNDUM: 10PM

Juju just got picked up a little while ago.....   we did have a nice nite and got to go for a walk by Dajia River, all the way to the Roahe Night Market for some delicacies, and a visit to the Roahe Temple....  in just under two hours - we went and came back...  perfect timing as it started drizzling once more a couple of blocks away from the house....  WHEW!!!

Pinoy Sunday Treat

I look forward to most of my Sundays in Taipei as it is the time when I can satisfy the Pinoy in me... First by attending the Filipino Service at St. Christopher's Church - though I did not understand part of the Homily, as the Tagalog sometimes is just way too deep for me, I always enjoy the music... so lovely and soothing to the ears... truly uplifting...

Then, on some Sundays, like today for instance, I get to have some Pinoy Food... mostly the desserts but today I actually got to have a couple of my Fave dishes for lunch: Pinakbet and Menudo... then of course the Ginatan dessert.... all YUMMY and makes me feel like am back in Manila once more...Now and then, when I have more time - I check out the Pinoy magazines and DVDs for sale... am not much for the movies as mostly, I do not know the actors and I have seen a few that really left a bad taste in my mouth... so if not recommended, I do not tend to buy.... mostly I look for concert videos, as I prefer to listen to the music more... I can play them without actually having to watch... just to hear some good old OPM, while I work or clean the house...

Today I was in luck, a new GARY VALENCIANO Music Special DVD just came out - and i snapped a copy right away... I was, I still am, elated over it... and now I have seen it a couple of times already... His music, his songs, though some are 20 plus years old - he manages to always bring on a fresh take in each and every concert of his... not that they need it, his music are timeless : both message and melody... I highly recommend you to get a copy... Sir Gary V. - Mr Pure Energy, as he is called in the local BIZ - and his music will forever be a Favorite of mine...

INSPIRATIONAL.EMOTIONAL.IDOL