Thoughtful Thursday

It was pride that changed angels into devils;

it is humility that makes men as angels.

-Saint Augustine

It's November 1st!!!

Still cannot believe that there are only two months left in 2013..,  days are really going by way Too Fast!  Or am I just slowing down with Old Age that days seems to be passing me by ever so quickly..,.  Hmmmmmm...  Hopefully it only means I have been quite busy, very active with things to do, and places to go, and people to see that I lose track of my days.....

In any case, Have a Great November All!

 

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November 1st also marks two Holidays I like - a lot...  

Sadly, in Taiwan they are not celebrated...  :(

In Memory of our Dearly departed on this "Day of the Dead" 

What is "Day of the Dead?": PLS CLICK HERE!

Celebrating our beloved Saints!!!

"Viva Senor Santo Niño "

Catholics all over the world celebrates today, Sunday: January 16, the feast day of the child Jesus known to many as the Sto. Niño. This day is revered in most Catholic countries and no more so, thank in the Philippines.

It is that time of the year when devotees show how much they revere the Sto. Nino not only by going to different churches but also by going out to the streets where they dance and shout "Viva Senor Santo Niño." The devotion to the Sto. Niño is so popular that Filipino artists continue to create images of it, garbed in different costumes.

Perhaps the BEST destination, in the Philippines, for this SPECIAL EVENT is Cebu City - where, one of the nation's oldest and grand churches, the Santo Niño Basilica is located. Here, the Santo Niño de Cebú ("Holy Child of Cebu") is permanently housed. It is a Roman Catholic figure of the Child Jesus highly similar to the Infant Jesus of Prague. Like the image's counterpart in Prague, the figure is clothed in expensive textile robes mostly donations from fervent devotees in the Philippines and abroad. The statue is the oldest Catholic relic in the Philippines.

Since am in Taiwan, I am not able to trek to Cebu to enjoy the festivities and celebrate this special day - but I did manage to go to church this Sunday and, in my own way, pay respect and pray to the Sto. Niño.

NOTE: 2 Photos Above are from my first ever visit to this GREAT HISTORICAL CHURCH... dated 1999!!!

CROSS iHeart.

David just got back from his 10 day Europe Tour (his current OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD) of Czechoslovakia, Austria & Germany... brought back lots of GOODIES: chocolates, cookies, glasses, wine & cheeses, plus clothing from ZARA & H&M.... and even LOUIS VUITTON wallets (alas, not for us - these are bought as a FAVOR for a friend of his... hahahahahaha...)but the thing that I LOVE MOST - from all that he brought back - is the silver CROSS he got me from St. Michael's Basilica in Mondsee, Austria... quite simple really... just your ordinary black leather rope and the silver pendant of a silver cross... though I have seen this style before, I do not have any in my collection - yes, another long time OBSESSIONS of mine: Rosaries & Saints... along with a Pamphlet from the Basilica... loaded with photos of beautiful figurines/statues of Golden Gothic Saints - just right up my alley...

Truly a WELCOME ADDITION to my collection of Crosses from all over the world...

Above Photo: Some of My Rosary Collection

Bastidors

During one of my rummages through Antique shops in Manila, I came across these wooden male Angels... I was told they are called Bastidors and that they were originally made (for altars in churches and homes alike)and popular in the 19th Century Spanish Colonial Times....

So far, this is the only INFO I have gathered on them: Originally the faces are made of IVORY or Porcelain... and as you can see, there is a torso, articulated hands and arms... and a skirt type lower body -- as most were dressed in robes...The ones I got above are definitely reproductions -- as it is all made of wood... they appeal to me not only because they are MALE ANGELS but also because they fit right in with my very own MENSAJERO bois...
DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY INFO ON THESE THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH ME???

these are a few of my FAVE things....

been raining cats & dogs here the last few days, adding frustrations to an otherwise, already confusing days of late... so I kept humming: "raindrops and roses and whiskers on kittens.." -- well, you know the rest of the song My Fave things from The Sound of Music, am sure... anyway, it got me to thinking about my FAVE THINGS of late... so am sharing a few... just a few, believe me....

Left to Right
TOP ROW: Bastidors; tokidoki MIMOBOT USBs; Geisha Gossip Girls
MIDDLE ROW: In The Mood For Love & other Wong Kar Wai Films; LOVE EQUALITY; LaCoste
BOTTOM ROW: Piolo Pascual; Halo Halo; MYBU Vinyl Toys

Sacrifice Valley Trek

Oct 27th, 2008 : Paid our respects to my Dad & Grandmother by visiting their moseleums in Sacrifice Valley - Bataan, Philippines....

it was PERFECT time to visit, as Ace did not have to go to school and Nicole is on a sem break from school... and actually better doing so than on All Soul's Day -- as it would have been CHAOS - since a lot of people do come up to Sacrifice Valley for prayers and festivities during that Holiday....
We even got to take some fun shots as the place is just full of SAINTLY and ANGELIC statues.... including the 16 Marian Images representing the Beloved Virgin Mary's
16 major apparitions throughout the world -- all in LIFE SIZE form!!!!

Another Visit to Mom's

Back from my monthly visit to check up on my Mom... as always, it is a PLEASURABLE one for me as not only do I get to see how my Mom is doing, I also get to hear more stories of my childhood, as well as those of my siblings....

This time around, David tagged a long and was kind enough to not only bring OOLONG TEA but to also give pointers (to everyone's delight!)in making it properly... to get the most of the tea....

Before going to my Mom's for lunch though - we got to stop by ANTIPOLO and visit the famously known Antipolo Church.... it is said to be the church where traveler's must go to before embarking on their journeys... to pray for a safe journey.... I was even lucky enough to have been able to buy the Church's actual Patron Saint, The Virgin of Antipolo, to add to my collection.... that is always a treat....

Tales From My Mom - Believe it or Not!

Ever since I can remember, I have had an affinity for Rosaries and Saintly Figures -- maybe it can be attributed to the fact that growing up Catholic, we are always obligated to attend masses at least 2 or three times a week... Sundays without fail, no matter where we may happen to be at the time... so over the years I have gotten to visit, attend masses , at various churches around the world... some are ornately beautiful, while some are plain and simple... bare minimum even - with just a giant wooden CROSS at the altar... But no matter how richly decorated or simple they might be - I always find them a beautiful, peaceful place to be in... to contemplate, meditate and of course, ask for guidance... Through all these visits to churches -- I have come to love and even collect, Rosaries and Figures (Angels and Saints)... I find looking at them and collecting them very comforting and even relaxing....

There are three saints that have always attracted me more - St Christopher as he is the Guardian Saint for Travelers; the Angel Gabriel - nuff said; and St Francis of Asissi - him, because of his love for all creatures - great and small.... he is often depicted with a dove and a deer, sometimes others... this last visit with my MOM, I learned that I have more back story connecting me to this saintly figure.

It seems that when I was born, I had a big bump on my head... my Mom did not knew how I got it... nor could the doctors explain.... then a woman came in and talked with my Mom for a bit... gave her a little prayer book with a little icon in it, and instructed my Mom to pray to him, and rub this on the bump on my head a few times a day, while praying... not sure now, how many times each day.... for a couple of days the woman visited my Mom, and baby Rudi, in the hospital room... checking up on my bump.... and they were both happy that the bump on my head was disappearing... my Mom asked her for her name so that she could find her and return this item to her before leaving... she told my Mom not to worry as she comes by every morning to deliver bread to the hospital... and went on to tell my MOM to keep the prayer book with the icon in it... she told her that she must keep it and pray to it whenever I am sick - and eventually pass it on to me and I can pray to it for what might be ailing me....

The morning I was being released from the hospital, my Mom searched for the woman to thank her and say her goodbye... but she was nowhere to be found... my Mom asked the nurses and her doctor for help locating the woman - and she was told by everyone that there is no such woman in the hospital.... this caused a sudden commotion in the hospital as well , and everyone wanted to be able to see, touch and even have a piece of the prayer book... my Mom did not even question it all... she just took the woman's appearance as heaven sent.... and had kept the prayer book and icon all these years...

Fast forward to the present, my Mom is getting older and getting sick a lot... so this last visit she decided to pass on to me this prayer book... it is now quite tattered and even torn in the middle... the icon inside is a bit broken up now..... but one look and you will see that the figure holds a dove and it is in fact, St. Francis of Asissi. (See photo above of my newly acquired St Francis... below him is the actual prayer book that my Mom passed on to me.)