Dalawampu't Isang Taon...

Ika-labing tatlong blog post sa ikalabing tatlong araw ng Nobyembre.... sa aking ika-dalawampu't isang kaarawan ng pagsilang....

Dalawampu’t isang taon.

Dalawampu’t isang taon ng buhay…

pasasalamat…

mga alaala…

mga biyaya…

pagkakaibigan…
pagmamahal...

pamilya…

pananampalataya…

pagngiti o pagluha…

pagtawa at kakulitan…

tagumpay o kasawian…

Dalawampu’t isang taon ng kalinga at pagmamahal ng Panginoon at ng Mahal na Birhen!

Unang pagkakataon ko ito upang maglathala ng blog sa araw ng aking pagsilang. Haaayyy paano nga ba sisimulan?

Nadagdagan na naman ako ng taon. Aba, nakaya kong umiral hanggang ngayon… bakit? Para kanino… para saan ba ako bumabangon? Tanong iyan ng isang patalastas ng kape. Simpleng tanong. Simpleng sagot ngunit may hugot…

Bumabangon ako para sa inyo, Panginoon. Ang buhay ko’y mula sa Inyo. Ang buo kong buhay ay biyayang kaloob… isang himala. Grabe, ang dami-daming tao ngunit heto ako… kasama ninyo… nabigyan ng pagkakataong mabuhay para madama ang pagmamahal ng Diyos! Gamitin Niyo ako bilang kasangkapan ng iyong kalooban… Ang buhay kong alay, maging larawan nawa ng iyong kalinga… mabuhay sana akong nakakapagpukaw sa iba upang makilala ka… Mahal na mahal kita, Jesus! Mahal na mahal kita, Inang Maria! Mula pagkabata ko, hindi niyo ako pinabayaan… ang dami kong dinanas ngunit hindi ako naligaw ng landas. Naging matatag ako dahil alam kong mahal niyo ako…

Bumabangon ako para sa inyo, mga kaibigan ko… Kayo ang bumuo sa akin… naging pamilya kayo para sa akin… sa paaralan man o sa simbahan, maging saanmang dako ng Pilipinas… hindi ko akalain na ang dami niyo pala…  ang dami niyong nagmamahal sa akin… wala na akong hihilingin pang iba… kayo na… kayo na talaga… salamat sa masaya nating samahan… mga kulitan, tawanan at kung anu-ano pa… maging sa panahon ng damayan… iyong pakiramdam na hindi ako nag-iisa dahil nandiyan kayo… mahal ko kayo!

Bumabangon ako para inyo, mga mahal ko sa buhay… Kayo ang naging daan ng Panginoon upang umiral ako… kayo rin ang nagbigay ng buhay para sa akin… kayo ang lakas at inspirasyon ko… kung wala kayo, paano na kaya ako? Maraming salamat sa kalinga, sa pagmamahal, sa pang-unawa, sa lambing… lagi kayong laman ng aking mga panalangin… iniingatan ko kayo sa aking puso… mahal na mahal ko kayo! Ako’y pinagpala na magkaroon ng Papa Rey at Mama Linda, Si Lola Loleng kahit na lubusan ko pa rin siyang namimiss dahil hindi ko na siya kapiling, si Lola Ene na walang sawa mag-asikaso… ng mga pinsan ..mga Tito at Tita…  walang perpektong pamilya ngunit nasa iisang kanlungan tayo ng pagmamahalan.

Ngayong taon rin ako muling bumalik sa pag-aaral. Salamat sa inyo, Ed101 sa masayang samahan… sa tiwala, sa kulitan… mas masayang mag-aral kapag kasama kayo… mag-aral tayong mabuti para sabay-sabay tayong makapagtapos at maging mga gurong huhubog sa kinabukasan ng ating bansa… maging masigasig tayo, habaan ang pasensya, at patuloy na ienjoy the fun while it lasts.

Sa dalawampu’t isang taon ng aking buhay, nagpapasalamat ako sa biyaya ng pananampalataya na naging lakas, gabay at sandalan ko upang malampasan at mapagtagumpayan ang mga hamon ng buhay… hindi ako bumitaw sa pananampalataya… nang dahil sa pananampalataya, natuto akong gumuhit- isang bagay na nagagawa ko hanggang ngayon… nang dahil sa pananampalataya, nakakagala ako sa iba’t-ibang pook, malapit man o malayo upang ibahagi ang mga larawan ng debosyon nating mga Katolikong Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng photography… dahil doon ay marami akong nakilalang kaibigan… sa Malabon, sa Maynila, Sa Batangas, sa Laguna, sa Bicol, sa Hagonoy, sa Pampanga at marami pang iba. Lumawak ang aking kaalaman, nadagdagan ang karanasan at pamilya ng mga kapwa mananampalataya…

Ang araw na ito ay hindi lamang para sa akin…

Para kanino nga ba ako bumabangon? Para sa inyo  :)

PARA SA INYO ‘TO… dahil naging BAHAGI KAYO ng BUHAY KO. 

Angelo C. Mangahas

13 Nobyembre 2015

Pistang Pagpapanaog, Pista ng Pagpapala (Ang Huling Lupi 2015)

Sumapit din ang huling lupi para sa taong 2015. Tumapat ito sa Mayo 24, araw ng Linggo. At mas naging makabuluhan ito dahil sa mga nayaya kong mga kaibigang sina Ate Jovie at Ate May Ann. Matagal na naming naiplano at tunay na pinanabikan namin ang araw na iyon at ayun na nga, natuloy din. 

Ate May Ann at Jovie

Pagkakataon rin na makasama ang mga kaibigang sina Kuya Glenn, Kel, Gabriel Pensotes, Gian, Kuya Patrick, JM, Istop, Erico, JM Garcia, Gabriel Victorino at iba pa. Isa na rin itong masayang patitipon ng mga deboto ng Mahal na Birhen ng Turumba, tulad ng bawat lupi.

Ibinahagi ng pari sa kaniyang sermon ang pagninilay niya sa bawat lupi, at ngayon sa huling lupi, na laging tuwing Linggo ng Pentekostes at ang “pagpapala”, tulad ng pagpapalang dulot ng Espiritu Santo. Tayo ba matapos ng mga samu’t saring karanasan ng buhay ay nakakapansin sa biyaya at pagpapala ng Diyos? Ang mga pinagdaanan ba ay naging balakid upang matanto na lahat ay biyaya pa rin? Tularan natin ang Mahal na Ina, na tahimik na sumubaybay sa mga pangyayari at dahilan sa kaniyang katatagan at pananalig ay nakamit niya ang pagpapala ng Diyos. Kay gandang pagnilayan bilang panapos sa mga lupi. “Culmination”, ika nila. At siyempre pagkatapos ng misa, ang prusisyong “libot-bayan” na bagamat napaka-init ay di alintana ng mga deboto alang-alang sa kanilang sinisintang ina.

Kami habang naghihintay sa pagbalik ng Birhen. Kuha ni Kuya Glenn.

Pagpasok ng Birhen, namuno ang pari sa isang panalangin na sinundan ng pag-awit ng pamamaalam. At kahit ilang beses na rin nakiisa sa lupi, hindi nakakasawa ang eksenang iyon. Lalong lumalalim ang nadaramang emosyon at kitang-kita mo iyon sa mga tao. Walang kupas... lalong umaalab na pagsinta sa Mahal na Birhen ng Hapis ng Turumba.

Masaya ako para kina Ate Jovie at May Ann, dahil nag-enjoy sila nang husto at damang-dama nila ang biyayang hatid ng pakikiisa sa Huling Lupi. Mabunga... sobrang mabunga ang araw na iyon.  Nakapag-bonding pa kami kasama sina Kuya Glenn. Samahan pa ng masarap at malamig na halu-halo bago bumalik ng Maynila. Iyon ay alaalang paka-iingatan ko lagi sa aking puso. Ang Bawat lupi ay isang panibagong karanasang puno ng pagpapala ng Maykapal sa pamamagitan ng Mahal na Birheng Maria. Pistang Pagpanaog... Pistang Pagpapala!

Hanggang sa muling pagpunta sa Pakil... SA BIRHEN!!!

Cardinal Chito: We are an Easter People

Being employed in the Archdiocese of Manila, we are privileged to have our yearly "date" with Cardinal Chito on Easter Mondays. We would attend mass and have breakfast together with parish employees followed by a raffle. A time to to have fun after a busy Holy Week.

Cardinal Chito shared in his homily that we are an "Easter People". We should be images of the Risen Christ. We must share the good news of the Resurrection. As church workers, we should be examples of the resurrection. In whatever service we do, whether in a ministry or in the parish office, we should always be lively and positive. Even if we encounter different kinds of people in our service, we should and we must be reflections of Jesus, who died but rose again. That is the faith we profess. Let's live it. Let's share it.

Palm Sunday with the Archbishop of Manila

It was a blessed opportunity to begin Holy Week with our beloved Archbishop, Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle.

Last Palm Sunday was my first time to join the Manila Cathedral community. The rites began at 7:00 a.m. with the blessing of palms and procession into the cathedral. I will share a quote from his eminence's homily.

"Mga kabataan, huwag kayong magpapadala kahit kayo ay pinagtatawanan ng kaibigan ninyo kapag ang ginagawa niyo ay tama. Panindigan ninyo. Sandali lang iyang pagtatawa na iyan; sandali lang iyang pagdurusa na iyan. Mas malalim ang kaligayahang mararanasan mo dahil naging tapat ka sa Diyos. Nagdusa si Hesus subalit ang mabuting balita ng kanyang pagdurusa ay pagdurusa ito ng isang taong marangal; pagdurusa ng isang taong tapat. May mga taong nagdurusa dahil may mga ginawa naman silang kalokohan, eh! Nagdurusa dahil nagnakaw! Nagdurusa dahil corrupt! Hindi iyang ang pagdurusa ni Hesus. Ang pagdurusa na nakaliligtas! Ang pagdurusa ng isang tao na hindi tanggap ng mundo dahil kapanig siya ng Diyos."

Pistang Viatico 2015

This year's Pistang Viatico fell on April 15. The "Pistang Viatico" is third of seven "Lupi", which means to fold the novena then celebrate and resume the novena for the next lupi. It falls on the second Wednesday after Easter Sunday.

My first turumba was also during the Viatico, that was in 2013. After two years, it felt great to be back in Pakil. The atmosphere was really festive. Families come from all over Laguna and the neighboring area to fulfill their devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pistang Viatico is actually a three-day event, which culminates on the third day with the procession.

Rising early was really a challenge for me. I had a sleepless night due to my excitement and I was really sleepy during the trip. We took the 5:00 a.m. bus trip from DLTB Buendia bound for Sta. Cruz, and we arrived at around 7:30 a.m. then we had breakfast in Pagsanjan while waiting for another companion. We rode the jeep bound for Siniloan then alighted in Pakil. The short distance from the main road to the church became an agonizingly slow pace for the area was really crowded and the risks of being robbed were high.

We waited for the others in the convent and attended the Mass. When the succeeding mass presided by the bishop began, we went out to find a place from where we would shoot. 

The crowd was overwhelming. The pressure was so strong that you have to be firm in your position, otherwise you would lose your balance. We remained firm in stance, and steadfast in faith and spirit. And at last, there she came, carried by her beloved children. She passed by us twice. In the latter, I was able to snap a shot as she enters the church. Another lupi has ended, another begins.

Viva Nuestra Señora delos Dolores de Turumba!

SA BIRHEN!

Lenten Sojourns: Santa Ana, Manila

After an afternoon stroll around Intramuros, I went to the Parish of Our Lady of the Abandoned in Santa Ana. The church is one of the oldest in Manila. It also survived the Second World War. It is the home of the canonically crowned image of Our Lady of the Abandoned brought in the 1700s.

This year, the parish exhibited some Lenten images just before Holy week. I was blessed enough to see them during my first time there. I was happy to see some of my friends there: Dennis, Basilio and Ace. They made my visit more worthwhile. It's a pleasing experience to talk with your friends while in a place you've never been before.

Chong Hock Temple: Another Gone Heritage

Amah, "grandma" in the Fookien tongue, is what I grew up calling my grandmother. I love her very much. She passed away last 2009 and I miss her still. Yearly, I would visit her together with her younger sister, my grand aunt. Her ashes rest with my grandfather's in the uppermost floor of the columbary building in the Manila Chinese Cemetery. In the shadows of that building stands Chong Hock Temple.

Chong Hock Temple (宗福堂)  is [or now, "was"] one of the remaining pre-war structures in Manila. It predates the Republic. It's the oldest Chinese Temple in Manila.

I got the blessed opportunity to behold her beauty and glory only last October 2014. I entered it and accompanied my grandaunt to see its interior. The Catholic images behind the golden buddha really struck me with awe. After silent prayer, I took out my camera and started clicking. Little did I knew then that it would be the first and last.

The ruins. Photo from Arquitectura Manila Facebook

Last March 15, the management in charge with the temple had it demolished due to termite infestation and structural risks. Though there are plans of reconstructing, we can only, and we should pray that the images be safe from being sold to collectors and that the reconstruction would be faithful to the original.

Also see:
http://manila.coconuts.co/2015/03/23/temple-demolition-was-not-illegal-says-group-managing-chong-hock-tong-temple

Here are some of the photos I took last year:

"Carroza" 2015

The annual lenten exhibit presented by the City of Mandaluyong. Exhibit ran from March 16-20 at the City Gymnasium.

It was nice to see some old friends and buddies who continue to share their talent and devotion. An untiring love for the faith, especially in this season of Lent. These images give us a glimpse to the final hours of our Savior, who in his great love for us, selflessly offered His life for our salvation. Here, art and faith unite to touch and inspire us to meditate and reflect on Christ's sacrifice and to journey with His sorrowful Mother.

More photos on my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1548645215396165.1073741920.1444739749120046&type=1

San Jose de Malaquing Tubig Bisperas 2015

Last March 18, I had the chance of celebrating the “Bisperas” in San Jose, Batangas. I was excited to see the ivory image of San Jose that joins the replica procession on the bisperas. My companion and I were still in the jeepney when we saw the procession which prompted us to alight immediately and rush to the procession.

We searched for the ivory San Jose. We squeezed ourselves to find our way into the procession but to no avail. Then we thought maybe he’s enthroned inside the church. We stopped and I clicked photos of the replicas.

 

The church façade was repainted red this year. Last time I was here, it was done in blue. We sat down for the Novena Mass. His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, former Archbishop of Lipa and Manila. Sadly due to time constraints, since we had to catch the last bus trip back to Manila, we had to leave when the homily began.

To our dismay, we found out that the San Jose we were looking for and longing to see was really absent from the celebration. To add to our shock was that the elderly woman taking care of the image was robbed and mercilessly murdered. The hopes of the San Jose joining the yearly bisperas seemed dim. However, suggestions were given that hopefully when considered, the good old San Jose, in his holy glory and rich history, may one day grace again the streets of San Jose, Batangas.

Reminiscing NPJN Traslacion 2015

The Nazareno approaching San Sebastian Church for the "Dungaw".

Catching up for the "Dungaw" was a last minute decision. Unlike last year, when January 9 fell on a Thursday (my day off), this year it was a Friday. So after having dinner with a friend after work, we hurried back home to prepare our gears for the procession. The pace was slow compared to 2014 so there was a chance for us to witness the "Dungaw". Revived in 2014, the "Dungaw" was done when the Nazareno passes by Plaza del Carmen and the Virgen del Carmen looks at her Son, like from a window, hence the term "dungaw".

Viva! Viva! Viva!

We arrived at Plaza del Carmen at around 11:30 in the evening. The Señor was about two or three blocks away so a good one hour wait was just right. While waiting for the Señor,  we walked around and look for our friends. There was Erico, Kel, Dennis, Benok, Warren, JM, Cho and others. 

"Dungaw"

About half an hour past midnight, there was a strong feeling that the Nazareno was near and he was. Suddenly, a wave of humanity pushed us to the sides. We also pushed to avoid being crushed by the pressure. That wave of humanity was part and parcel of the ocean of faith and devotion. Then the liturgical rites of the Dungaw began. The faithful were invited to silence and prayer. The Gospel was read, followed by prayer intentions. For once in what is called the "rowdiest" procession, came a moment of silence, discipline and unity. It gave me goosebumps. The King and Queen of Quiapo, meeting each other in the darkness of the night. Our Lord and His Mother meeting each other, assuring us of their presence not only in the procession but also in our life journey. 

The Nazareno turning left to Bilibid Viejo