This Bystander started writing this report on one of the most significant days in Lent this year, the Solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of Mary, descendant of the Royal House of David. A carpenter by profession, St. Joseph died on March 19th, is considered the patron of a good death, protector of virginity, and is [...]
These are times that try men’s souls,” as a familiar poem goes, a thought especially relevant on this historically fateful date, the Ides of March, which for us this year marks a significant time of transition. The Catholic Church is on the brink of inaugurating the reign of new Pope Francis after the recent resignation [...]
As quickly as time passes, here we are today at the start of March. And as we pause and look back at the past two months of this eventful year, and even earlier, we realize that some of those particular historic and religious news breaks are coming to a significant confluence these days. And even [...]
It seems that beginnings and endings are most significantly eventful and impressive, endings to recap all that has happened since the start of a term, and beginnings to open up new vistas and dreams. Allow me to start with personal involvements in a number of civic and community concerns. Thursday last week, we held our [...]
It was a good and blessed old year, trial-tested and oftentimes stormy, but thank God, we have weathered through it in faith, to face new trials with strength gained from spiritual triumphs through adversity. The Feast of the Holy Innocents on the 28th last month reminded us that this new year will further test us [...]
This most eventful year comes to a close with a mixed Christmas bag for our country: of problems and promises, but especially, not only of banes but of bountiful blessings, for which we thank God!
As we move into the second half of this 11th month of November, many of us find ourselves caught up in the busy, busy events and activities that usually pile up toward the end of a busy, busy year. This is particularly true with civic groups to which I belong. Last Nov. 3rd, the [...]
The top news of the week was the re-election of US President Barack Obama in the Tuesday, Nov. 6th elections, (Wednesday, November 7th in the Philippines). Results were announced on TV soon after lunch in the Philippines. In this, our own pre-election year, there is a lesson there to be learned. With the wonders of [...]
Today we observe All Souls’ Day, after All Saints’ Day, two solemn religious holidays that are a significant element of Philippine culture, referred to, collectively as todos los santos, undas, and in Cebuano, kalag-kalag. Starting last weekend, people started trooping to the different cemeteries, here in the city or in their hometowns. To avoid the traffic rush, I made sure to have the lapida or tombstone marking my husband’s grave, together with the remains of my father and mother, refurbished and repainted and decked with fresh flowers before prices for these services increased for this holiday observance. Then, I shall pray for them and other departed relatives and friends tomorrow at anticipated Sunday Mass. May all their souls and the other departed rest in God’s peace.
The United States’ political situation continues to heat up for the presidential elections coming up this November. On their campaigns as they continue to expound on their programs of government, President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney are now also trading attacks. Last Tuesday, President Obama was here in Texas with four fund-raising stops in [...]
We have moved into the second half of the year, a realization so frequently brought to this Bystander’s mind, “watching things go by” in the stream of life, of “how fast time goes,” to quote from passages read some time ago. In the middle of this week, the United States celebrated Independence Day. The night [...]
The country has been through significant as well as tumultuous last days of summer, which closed with a proverbial bang on the 44th day conclusion of the historic impeachment proceedings against e Chief Justice Renato Corona. But first of all, our thanks for the blessings brought about in May, with our children offering floral tributes [...]
This has been a week of more than the usual headline events and concerns. First, we consider the phenomenal “ring of fire” eclipse that crossed Asian skies early Monday morning, moved across the Pacific and was seen in parts of the western United States. This was an annular solar eclipse where the moon passed in [...]
