SIMALA

SIMALA….No place is too far to visit for a miracle.

At the Mother Mary Shrine in upper Lindogon in Barangay (village) Simala, Sibonga town, 48 kilometers south of Cebu City, devotees come by truckloads to be there every 13th of the month to hear Mass at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. or during the weekends at 3 p.m.

Driving to Simala shrine by private car from Cebu City means two to three hours on the road, barring heavy traffic in the outlying towns. Public buses ply the south Cebu route but one would have to get off a corner of the national road to reach upper Lindogon and hail a motorcab or a habal-habal (motorcycle-for-hire) for P20 to take you to the shrine about four kilometers up the mountains.
At the site, one has to cross a foot bridge and walk up a concrete pathway to reach the church, an imposing concrete structure at the top of the mountain. It takes about 10 minutes to reach the peak, which offers a breathtaking view of green slopes and fresh air.
The Marian monks who maintain the shrine have also landscaped the area, which has a mini falls that cascades down a small pool and well-tended gardens.
We ate our lunch on the grass…spreading a mat (smiles) some had their meals in cottages built for visitors. My daughters as well as the adult love to throw coins in a wishing well which features a large bell.

It was my first time to go there, but my kids and parents and sis go there as often as twice a month. I couldn’t come coz it usually falls on working day when they visited the place. I was so amazed and happy to see the castle like church of the miraculous Virgin Mary.

A major purpose of visitors and devotees who go to Simala is to offer their petitions. Blank sheets of paper and pens on which to write their intentions are prepared by the monks for one to drop in a box at the right side of the glass-encased Marian image. Thank you letters are dropped in a box to her left side.

One could not describe the great feeling being in such a magnificent place.

FIESTA SINULOG 2008

The Sinulog is one of the most colorful festivals in Asia today. It is celebrated for nine days with two major activities as highlights--a religious procession on Saturday and grand street parade the next day. It got its name from a ritual dance in honor of the miraculous image of the Santo Niño.

Through the years since 1521, the dance was a small ritual by a few in front of wooden idols or before the Santo Niño. In fact, at the Santo Niño church where the image is consecrated, only the candle vendors could be seen dancing the Sinulog and making offerings.
During the Santo Niño fiesta, which falls on the third Sunday of January, children dressed in moro-moro costumes also dance the Sinulog.
Sto. Niño origin

The origin of the Santo Niño is composed of three main stories. The most widespread version is that the image found by Legaspi's men in 1565, is the same image Magellan gave to Queen Juana in 1521.
The second version states that the image came from China. It supposedly found its way to the Philippines through Chinese traders who dealt with Franciscan missionaries.
The third version is the most interesting of all. It is rooted deeply in the folklore of Cebu. It is told that one day, long before the coming of the Spaniards, a native went out into the sea to fish. He did not catch anything for the better part of the day until finally, he felt a weight at the end of his line. He brought it in only to discover that it was nothing but a piece of wood. This occurred several times until, tired and angry, he decided to keep the stubborn piece of wood in his boat. And viola! Like magic, all the fish swum towards his boat and he went home with a bountiful catch.

The natives of Cebu soon discovered that this piece of wood had other magical powers. They could use it as a scarecrow to keep animals away from their dying crops. In times of drought, they only had to immerse it in the sea and the rains would come. Apparently, this same piece of wood was fashioned into the image of the Santo Niño.


Here’s our pics during the SINULOG Fiesta last January 20, 2008. We went out early to watch the street dancing and the awesome floats being paraded. Rain or shine we really have enjoyed the grandeur of the event.

One Great Friend

She knew my every weakness and the problems i've been dealing. She is the one who knows me, but loves me anyway...She knows all my flaws, yet still want to spend time with me.
I want to effectively tell her how important she really is. It is very difficult to come up with words to accurately explain what kind of an impact a best friend she is to me.

I couldn't remember having a big fight and never dream of having one (grins).
Look at these things we differ yet we get along well everyday.

She loves to jog and run...I just walk and enjoy the gym.
She loves high heeled shoes...I am comfortable with flat shoes (smiles).
She enjoyed watching comedies and love stories while I am thrilled with horror and full of actions.
Oh, she loves to eat pork meat while i lavishly eat the fish (hehehe).
She loves to dance to the music...I enjoyed singing the tunes (smiles).

We have similar views and no so similar one also but a standing respect that held us together.
We easily laugh to silly jokes, we enjoyed hopping to malls and buying DVD's during noon break (laughs). Having our lunch anywhere we want..where our appetite will bring us.
We pampered ourselves to spa, body massage and facial care (lol).

A best friend who is there thru thick and thin. A real person who you will treasure even you'll be apart. A good friend who you can always lean on.

"True friend make is that...we can grow separately without growing apart."

Keep smiling, Cheer UP! For you are ONE of the most wonderful person I ever have.

Family gathering on Christmas Evening

It’s always been our tradition to gather for a feast with my parents, sisters and brother and other relatives at home. The food was fantastic. And diet was out of our mind at this time of day (lol). And we had that tradition that every each year we chose and wear the same color of shirt. This Christmas 2007 is an orange feast. )


After Christmas dinner we sat down and talk about anything that crossed our mind. But sure, the kids were so excited and hyper active and kept on watching the clock when will it strike 12:00am.
I see to it that kids go to bed at 9:00pm to rest so they could wake up and enjoy on Christmas eve and have our Noche Buena at my parents house. We went there for another yummy Noche Buena, had a few program presentations from the kids. Then the most awaited events was the giving of presents to everyone. Which the kids love most lol.


So after opening our Christmas presents, we ate, ate and ate hahaha and enjoyed the fireworks. And remembering the promises that God brought to us through His Son some 2007 years ago.

Chat Kinda Relationship

Cyber -love and chat etiquette does exist? I know it does.
While chatting away you may come across someone who happens to have your same interest. And after talking with this person for some time, you may become attracted to them and vice versa. But let's be careful coz it will just give you a broken heart coz you may never know if the person is honest and sincere. The person can be messing around with someone and totally stabbing you in the back. It may seem great and everything, but something just might be lurking under the surface. Specially if the guy is withholding too much and hiding his identity.

Cyber friends/lovers can pose as "nice," but may hide a beast behind the mask.
One can probably argue that love can never go wrong. But in my experience, it can and can go drastically wrong. Love if you must. But we should bear in mind that loving someone does not guarantee being loved back. We must know that a man who loves you and a man who simply wants to string you along. A man who loves you will pursue you no matter what. He will make intentions known. He will declare NOT deny his affections and identity to you.

So friends, beware of serious chat relationship..it breaks your heart!

Irene with the Chronicle

Do you chronicle your life or parts of it on the internet for the world to see? So do we.
Isn't it a waste that such creatively done works are kept secrets, obscure from the eyes of public?
I can name a few of my good friends here, who are great bloggers, they have great ideas, thoughts to share to us. For me, it's never a waste of time to put your thoughts and feelings into words, yes, sometimes they get personal, maybe too personal, but as long as we don't hurt people's feelings.
I started writing journal/poems when I was in high school. I still have it with me ((grins)) hidden inside my closet. Then sometimes i have the feeling of reading it over and over again just to remember those great past. It was just an outlet for me to express myself and say things and feelings that i was uncertain about. There's been a full year that i didn't write anything. I even forgot I was a member of this blogger site since 2002 (lol). If you don't write.. it doesn't mean it's the end of the world. I wouldn't write a thing that you wouldn't want someone else to read. Now, I'm back! (yacks!)
Thou, i don't have a specific time, but it is usually at night, I write the most. Sometimes , I just get the urge to write and I will do it on any scrap of paper i can find.
I write anything fancy. I use it mostly for poems. I also tell stories and things that have happened like I would in a diary.
Few friends of mind, would leave comments and thanks to you all.

For you Darling

I just wanted to let you know that I haven't forgotten about you.
We have so much to catch up on... it seems I have a million things to tell you,
but somehow, there's just never enough time to do all I'd really like to do.
I miss sharing the day-to-day things in our lives; So often when something
interesting or exciting happens,
I find myself imagining how you might react,
In fact, thinking of you always brings a smile.
So I hope you know that you're still
a special part of my life... and even though
I don't often find the time to tell you,
You're often on my mind and heart.

( this is for you and you know who you are ((smiles)) )