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Monday, December 23, 2013

Simbang Gabi Sa Gawing Singapore 2013

As we were getting ready for the mass, awaiting for the mass processional to start, I took notice of what is happening outside before the mass to take place.

Sa labas may mga humahangos , mabibilis ang kanilang mga hakbang, nagmamadali at baka hindi nila maumpisahan ang misa sa gabing iyon, may mga busy rin sa pagkuha ng litrato gamit ang kani-kanilang mga cellphones. They are either taking "selfies" and "checking in" statuses on their respective social network sites. There are those patiently waiting for their wives, husbands, friends whom they have arranged a meet up and attend the holy mass together. there are those friends and acquaintances which after a year or so have seen each other after a long time, some seeing their "inaanaks" after so many years and were so surprised that they godchildren have grown up so fast.

inside the church were also filipino scenes. families who prays together occupying the parallel of seats, saving a seat and "saved"seats were also evident, a very filipino mark indeed. kapansin-pansin din ang gayak ng bawat mananampalataya, gabi-gabing pagsisimba ay naka "pang-gataan" ang gayak. looking good in the eyes of GOD.

a filipino mass for one day is a tough feat what more a filipino mass for 9 days...its very tiring and laborious in all its aspects. luckily, we have those people who have selflessly devoted their time and effort to mount this holy event.

brother rizaldy zapiera, the man.....the guy....the frontrunner of this wonderful undertaking. who would not know "brother zap" a very active catholic and and his own ways serving the filipino community here in singapore. it takes a real heart, commitment, dedication to do all the things he have been doing for the past years.  it is interesting to note that he is surrounded by people who have the same passion as his, to lead a flock and to serve the flock. his wife and kids could be his most accessible and strongest support, beside him, around him, not even getting off his side and it is very obvious how they take care care of each other and love each other. the flock of service team that actively shared their time should not also be taken for granted.

five years ago i met brother bobby, the lectors and commentators coordinator, i asked him if i can join the organisation, and without a second thought he gave me the chance. i took a leave from service and after 3 years i get in touched with him again to ask if  i can rejoin the organisation and activate my service as a lector and commentator member and he said yes. thank you brother bobby for the opportunity and for believing in what i am capable of.

tita belen, whose motherly concern have given me to regain my confidence and have guided me all the way, meeting sister carol, sister mona and brother mark have also been a blessing being with the same organisation as mine.






Father Hans Magdurulang
from Wild Card to Ace Card

simbang gabi as always, have been the means of preparing the parishioners and catholics around the world to reflect before the coming of christ. we are fortunate that we have been gifted with a wonderful priest that would prepare all us filipinos here in singapore in this christmas season. ang kanyang mga homilya gabi-gabi ay kaabang-abang at hindi dapat palampasin. ginagawa nyang simple at kasiya-siya ang mga salita ng diyos,  i would like to call it "homily of humor"
in his modernistic and true to life approach on every homily makes it more appealing and catchy. tumatagos sa isip at puso ng bawat mananampalataya. mga aral na hindi lamang pumasok sa kanang tainga at lumabas sa kaliwang tainga ngunit naiiwan sa kaibuturan ng iyong pagkatao. all the good words may have all been said to father hans, ngunit hindi kayang ilarawan, ni sabihin sa pamamagitan ng mga salita ang pagbibigay nya ng galak sa puso ng bawat mananampalataya na nakatuklas at nakatunghay sa kanyang husay at galing. kudos father hans for your sincere efforts of faith, hope and love for all of us.


tunay ngang buhay na buhay ang diwa ng pasko sa singapore para sa mga filipino. kahit paano ay naibsan ang lungkot na nadarama. malayo sa magulang, malayo sa mga anak, sa mga kapatid at sa mga mahal sa buhay.

 LET US ALL GIVE THANKS FOR ALL THE BLESSING AROUND US, mga bagay man itong nakikita, nahahawakan o mga bagay man na nararamdaman. magpasalamat...

true enough simbang gabi  sa gawing singapore 2013 was mounted successfully, and we look forward next year for another memorable time, to showcase our filipino spirit, of friendship and of unique camaraderie.






Sunday, March 10, 2013

never give up!


 as contributed by wilson kaizer dejaro aboboto.

Never give up! "Common words that we always hear in our daily lives..sometimes we ignore this with lacking of patience and by different circumstances. for Some it was just an ordinary words or " PALASAK" in tagalog language. for me it was a test of how long can you endure or hold on..


I want to share a story about Never giving Up, it  happens to me just recently as i came back from my Vacation.,


One fine Evening i just got out from work, dropped by to a bank to send Allowance to my wife. it was past 7:00pm,and the Bank hour here in KSA is started from 8:30am to 8:00pm. I came at about 7:35pm because i go back to our villa for my bank ID. narrowly missed to get inside before they close the door. The bank is temporarily closed for "Sala" a Muslims prayer time usually takes 15 to 20 minutes. the people who are inside by the start, remain for the duration of the prayer. and those who are outside stay and form a line while waiting for the door to be reopen. we form a line, in front of me is a Pakistani who also narrowly misses to get inside.as we wait, bunch of other people still coming, as far as i know there are only three major Remittance bank here, The ENJAZ BANK(western union), THE AL RAJHI BANK(RCBC/cebuana/m lhulhier etc.) and THE ARAB NATIONAL BANK tied up with our local banks in the Phillipines, (BDO,METROBANK,BPI,CHINABANK and the PNB), where i usually send my remittances.,minutes gone by, about 50 persons are waiting outside.I checked my watch, its 7:45 pm, still no sign of opening the door, i wait anxiously,asking to myself where it will be open or not.. "INIP" should i say, because there are no other Filipino near to have some conversation while waiting.


I checked the line and i saw only 1, but he is standing last of the line. At about 7:50 pm i decided to quit, thinking that no stablishment will resume their businesses 5 to 10 minutes before closing. as i walk away people stare at me but still they aren't moving. as i get near the roadside, i take a glance to see if they will follow, but to my surprise at 7:55 pm i saw the door blinds slowly rolling up, and the guard started to unlock the door. as i standing there, i'm thinking of what to do, imagine if those people waiting outside are all filipinos,  they will be laughing at me just like you or even me. i'll be humiliated. if i come back in the line it will not be on my previous stand which is 2nd behind the Pakistani guy, but i will end up in the last crazy isnt it? before this, there are enough people inside to facilitate their remittances so i'm thinking maybe half of waiting outside will be allowed to get in because of the limited time, by second thought, i decided to go back and as i expected, im at the last. i tried to cheat hoping i will be landed at the 20th or 30th, the safest number to get inside, i tried it "wala lang tomguts na", just because as soon as the door is open, people are cramming to get to the door. but the Saudi guard seen and yelled to me in english, "Go Back to your line! i laugh "napahiya sa sarili"and "at kung makakalusot lang". you maybe laughing at me, but the story doesn't end up there.


Surprisingly, we all manage to get inside,but still it was a long line with a rope, a defense against to those who wants to cheat all the way to the tellers window. tired and hungry.. i can't help but wait. imagining that if i did not get out or did not "GIVE UP" and stay at the line till the banking hour is over, i will be home by that time, having my dinner while being online.time is precious when you're working away from home..back at the bank, there are 2 teller booth at the lobby, and 4 other inside catering to a huge numbers of remitters specially on paydays.
since it was closing time, only 1 teller is open, others are just finishing their things.suddenly the Saudi guard yelled again but by this time in Arabic, we all look at him but we never understand what he is saying,, only one person understand the Pakistani because they speak the same languge, the rest of us are INDIANS, BANGLADESHI, NEPALESE and of course PINOYS. " the pakistani said in shallow arabic," yalla, phi thani juwa", means another window opened inside,others can't hurry up to get there because of the rope, so because i'm at the last of the line, eherrrrm, i end up again second on the tellers window behind another person but this time it was a filipino, we smiled and  as my turn is up, we saw other people coming from the the lobby,we learned that the window we first lined in is closed."Bingo!" and i saw the pakistani guy (gloomy face) which from the start is always first in the line, end up being last... Lesson?, if you give up once, never ever in the second or not at all..(Mateo 20:16) "Ang mauuna ay mahuhuli, at ang mahuhuli ay mauuna"..


Good day everyone! God bless..  :))