Caroling in the Philippines:

Caroling is an enduring and beautiful Filipino Christmas tradition. Once the month of December comes, we see carolers going around singing Christmas carols from house to house spreading the spirit of the season through Christmas songs, traditional and modern versions.

Usually it is the children grouping together and going around house to house in their neighborhood to sing

Christmas carols. Among the old time favorites are Jingle Bells, Silent Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Silver Bells. Traditional Filipino Christmas songs add to the festive atmosphere, like Ang Pasko ay Sumapit, Pasko na Naman, Himig Pasko, Payapang Daigdig.

Filpino ingenuity comes naturally with handmade musical instruments made from bottle tops for tambourine, or drums fashioned out from used cans or biscuit tins. The children are happy with whatever amount from the generosity of people is shared with them.

Even adults are into caroling during the Christmas season. Church organizations, clubs, and other adult groups also do their caroling to raise funds. Some of thesee groups give a letter in advance to inform the date and time of caroling. They usually come with more "professional" musical instruments like the guitar, drums, tambourine, and even portable musical organ. For these groups, it is a wonderful feeling not only to spread the joy of the Yuletide Season but to raise needed funds for their organizations or causes and advocacy.

In my community, a group of chapel volunteers do our annual caroling during the first week of December among our community to raise funds for the annual maintenance and operational expenses of our community chapel. We end up before the start of our Simbang Gabi Masses which start at 5:15 in the morning to have time to prepare for the Simbang Gabi Masses in our chapel.

Christmas carols make the Yuletide Season livelier and more spirited. They remind the people that Christmas is really giving and sharing, which also manifests the Filipino spirit of generosity and magnanimity. For the essence of Christmas, after all, is God sharing Himself with humanity as an Infant in our Lord Jesus.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!

Nick Isip

Feast of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary

September 8 is the Feast of the Birth of Mary, mother of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Church celebrates the dawning of the day of our Redemption, the moment when she who was to be the Mother of our Savior was born.

The Blessed Virgin occupies a unique place in the history of salvation. Heaven rejoices at her birth. The Lord reserves for her the highest and most important mission ever entrusted to any creature. Mary who is prepared by Divine Providence to be the mother of Jesus, the Son of God, is conceived in the womb of her mother Anna, her father being Joachim, without the stain of original sin. Her birthday is considered by the Catholic Church as a solemn event, although it is not a holiday of obligation. The faithful are encouraged, nevertheless, to go to Mass on this day since it is a very important feast because it prepares the way for the birth of Jesus.

Thus, our Lady's birthday has been described as the "hope of the entire world and the dawn of salvation."

The Church's calendar observes the birthdays of only three persons: St. John the Baptist and Mary, mother of Jesus, and the birthday of Jesus Himself, Son of God.

According to tradition, the house in which Mary was born in Nazareth is the same house in which the Angel Gabriel appeared to her during the Annunciation.

In celebrating the nativity of Mary, Christians anticipate the Incarnation and the birth of her Divine Son and give honor to the mother of our Lord and Savior. This Feast provides us with the occasion for praise and thanksgiving in honor of the personal sanctity and vocation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Let us greet her on this day: Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of our Lord Jesus Christ and our mother too, Happy Happy Birthday! Please pray for us always, and help us at the moment of our death. Amen.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!

Welcoming the "BER" months in the Philippines


September 1 is the start of the "Ber" months in the Philippines. It is part of the Filipino customs that the beginning of the "Ber" months, which include September through December, is also the beginning of the holiday season that will lead to Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Thus, the Philippines, which is predominantly Christian nation in whole of Asia, has the distinction and the reputation of having the earliest and the longest celebration of Christmas.

The sound of "Ber" months put a smile on the face of every Filipino. It appears that there is "magic"

in the word that symbolizes hope and aspirations that even in the midst of life's struggles there is a time to celebrate the joy of living with sharing and singing. Because notwithstanding the hard times, even confusing times in our political lives, Filipinos have reason to smile as the cool "Ber" months begin, ushering in the joyous countdown to Christmas.

It is no wonder then that since this morning some radio programs begin playing holiday tunes, and tv station greet the beginning of September with special shows that have Christmas themes already. As day passes from the first day of September, you will see Christmas decorations all around --at home, in the streets, inside shopping malls, and other business establishments. Because when the "Ber" month starts, the store will slowly start to display their Christmas products, like Christmas decor, Christmas lights, lanterns, decorative Santa Claus, etc.

Even the weather joins in, as it is expected that the mornings will get colder in the coming days.
While Filipinos are known for their last-minute shopping, usually after the release of the 13th month pay and Christmas bonuses in mid-December perhaps, it is not unusual that many actually begin preparing their lists for holiday shopping and gift-giving as early as the month of September.

It is still about 116 days before Christmas, yet shopping malls start to become busy and crowded with shoppers and onlookers as the "Ber" months progress. This atmosphere is expected to become even more lively and happy when stores are finally decked with holiday attractions.

Amidst all the anticipation and holiday preparation, the Catholic Church reminds the faithful about the real meaning of the Christmas season: God's love. For He gave His only Son to save humanity. Let us not forget to prepare our hearts for the coming of the Savior. For this is the true meaning, and reason, of Christmas.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!

Prayer for Healing....

O Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
our only hope in time of need:

We humbly beseech Thee to behold,
visit, and relieve Thy sick servants,
for whom our prayers are desired.

Look upon them with the eyes of Thy mercy;
comfort them with a sense of Thy goodness;
preserve them from the temptations of the enemy;
and give them patience under their affliction.

In Thy good time, restore them to health,
and enable them to lead the residue
of their lives in Thy fear, and to Thy glory,
and grant that finally they may dwell
with Thee in life everlasting,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

9 May 2015:

Thank You for the blessings..... go on to dream....

We can learn many great lessons about life in Mother Nature. I am fascinated, for example, observing water flowing in a stream. I can feel it in my hands but never hold on to it even for a second longer. It goes on to flow almost non-stop into the wide oceans and the seas.

In reflection, the flowing water of a stream mirrors some truths about life as well. For

our life is a continuing journey too, much like the flowing water of a stream in Mother Nature. We can feel it, live it, but life moves on in a journey until we reach life's destiny one day.

But if for an instant God gives me a moment to pause from this journey of life, I would take advantage of the time to reflect and appreciate life's many blessings:

Thank You, Lord, for many answered prayers of mine; and thank You more when You made me the answer to someone else's prayer.

Thank You for the gift of each day. How I live my day is my gift to myself, and to You.

Thank You that I have seen both the good days and the bad ones. Thank You that I may not always have what I want, but You always bless me with all that I really need.

I realize that my life is far from perfect..... but thank You, Lord that I had my perfect moments.

Thank You that I do not grieve for the things I don't have, but instead rejoice over the things that I already have.

Thank You for the gift of family, the blessing of dear friends; for their patience, understanding, and the joy of their acceptance of me, in spite of myself and my imperfections.

Thank You, Lord for all that You give: the life I celebrate today, the food on my table, and for my loved ones and friends who walk with me in this journey.

And, Lord,if you allow me more time to journey, I would go on to dream, wallow in the sunlight like the child I once was, leaving uncovered, not only my body but also my soul.

For there is always morning when life gives us another opportunity, second chances if you wish, to make things better.

Then I would try to sleep less and dream more. Because now I realize that for every minute that I close my eyes I lose sixty seconds of light.

Perhaps, I would even dare to try where others gave up, or rise up when others prefer to sleep, so that second chances and opportunities are not wasted.

I would enjoy life more, and prove to everyone that we must not stop to fall in love as we get older, because we actually get older when we stop to fall in love.

I would go  on to celebrate life, feel young always, despite my age, by surrounding myself with family and friends to keep me company in this journey, albeit towards the sunset of life.

Yes, Lord, I just go on to dream, to face life's challenges, enjoy the journey, explore the unknown, and never be afraid... because I know You are already there.... waiting for my return to the heavenly home.

But today is something special, to appreciate all my blessings and be truly grateful for everything that was, that is, and will be: the gift of my life, the food on our table, the good health I enjoy, the blessings of my loved ones and friends. 

Dear Lord, I pray for mercy and grace to help me go on enjoying every step along the way, always with a thankful heart and loving ways, so that those I touch with my life in this path of life may see a reflection of You in my very self. Amen.