Last night was the first time my wife and I would pray the rosary without my parents whom I accompanied to Macau International airport that afternoon on their trip back to Philippines. Our parents just concluded their three month of vacation in Zhuhai. To be perfectly honest about it, we only started our family rosary prayer time during our 9-day novena after Maia’s burial ( I know. Even in her after-life, our little angel has been and will always be a moving inspiration in our family life ). Now my parents made sure that we will keep our started and simple family tradition to pray together the rosary around 8 o’clock each night even after we all come back to China. And so we do.
Praying it regularly and solemnly, however, has always have at least two frequent obstacles (actually it is three for me as I struggle to keep away mental distractions while praying). First is my work, which, because of the far travel from office back to home highlighted with late night meetings whenever my German employer visits China, causes me to be late in going back home. In these cases, my wife and my parents are left with the only option to do it without me. Next and the more formidable one is Zek. Yup, you heard that right – my son is the second obstacle to our prayer time whenever his charm level reaches two. First level charm, succinctly, is when his actions are cutely harmless and amusing to watch. Level two, on the other hand, are actions consistent with draining the remaining patience in all of us as he jumps around the sofa and on our backs as if they were sofa extensions, shouting at the slightest reprimand, interrupting us only to inquire where is his spiderman action figure is, hiding our prayer booklet or his grandfather’s eyeglasses, covering our mouths or collecting all the rosaries and playing with them. To distract him, I would often have to let him stay in his playroom or watch a cartoon DVD while we pray.
Going back to the last night, my wife and I know something needs to be done differently to allow us to have at least a semblance of normalcy in praying the rosary. We were still trying to figure a way when all of a sudden, Zek approached us with his hands reaching out.
“Zek will pray”, he said with a slightly excited tone.
“OK”, my wife and I said in calmed unison.
And the ninth wonder of nature unfolded before our eyes!
Zek recited the Apostles’ Creed, the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be in near correctness and with demeanor of a theologian in undisturbed prayer mood. He took the lead of the first, third and fourth Sorrowful mysteries even if my wife has to adjust his fingers on every rosary bead and while giving a hint on when the Glory be will be. He recited ( I guess “murmured” will be the more appropriate term ) the Hail Holy Queen.His fascinating display went on until he has recited the seven responsorial prayer that his grandmother will say before finally ending our praying time.
My goodness gracious! My wife and I just realized that all those time that Zek seemed never interested to pray and doing his level two charms, he was actually learning it by heart and was in fact only waiting to be invited to participate with us.
So to my dear co-parents, never under-estimate your child’s capacity to learn.
Teach them your faith and let them actually practice it while under your guidance.
You’d be surprised at how much influence you can have on them.
God bless.
2009/03/01
2009/02/23
Makati and Ortigas Business District Mass Schedule
Dear Good Friend,
Here is a compiled list of mass schedules around the
MAKATI BUSINESS DISTRICT MASS SCHEDULES
Asian Institute of Management
Paseo de Roxas
Monday - Friday - 1230PM
First Friday, Saturday - 6:00PM
Sunday - 9:30AM
Monday - Friday - 12:15PM, 6:00PM
Saturday - 5:15PM
25F
Monday to Friday, 11:30 AM to 12:00 NN
Bank of Commerce
Wednesday, Friday - 12:15PM
Builder's Centre
Ground Floor
Monday - Friday - 12:00NN
88 Corporate Center
First Friday: 12:15 PM
(Ash Wednesday Mass is also normally celebrated)
Development Bank of the
Monday - Friday: 12:00 NN
Eastern
Monday - Friday - 12:00NN
Equitable PCIBank (now Banco de Oro)
Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel
Monday - Friday - 7:45AM, 12:15PM, 5:30PM
Monday - Friday - 7:30AM, 12:15PM 5:45PM, 7:00PM
Saturday - 12:15PM, 4:30PM, 6:00PM
Sunday - 7:15AM, 9:00AM, 10:30AM, 1200NN,
3:00PM, 4:30PM, 6:00PM, 730PM
Wednesday, Saturday - 5:00PM
Sunday - 10:30AM
9th floor Chapel or Ledesma Hall
Monday - Sunday - 7:30AM, 12:00NN, 4:00PM
Monday - Friday - 7:45 AM
Paseo de Roxas
9th Floor
Monday - Friday 12:15PM
Prudential Bank
3F
Wednesday - 12:00NN
4F
Monday - Friday - 12:00 NN to 1:00 PM
ORTIGAS BUSINESS DISTRICT MASS SCHEDULES
Chateau Verde Condo
Lobby
Valle Verde 1
First Friday Masses - 6:00PM
Sunday - 11:00AM
EDSA Shrine
Monday - Saturday - 6:30AM, 12:15NN, 5:30PM, 7:00PM
Sunday - 8:00AM, 9:30AM, 11:00AM, 12:15NN
3:00PM, 4:30PM, 6:00PM, 7:30PM
Meralco Chapel
Meralco Compound
Monday - Friday - 7:00AM, 12:00NN
RFM Auditorium
RFM Corporate Center
Pioneer cor.
Monday - Friday - 12:00 NN
SM Megamall
Monday - Friday - 1215, 6PM
Saturday - 5:00PM, 7:00PM
Sunday - 9, 11AM, 1230, 2PM, 330PM, 5PM, 630PM
Stella Orientis Chapel
University of
Monday - Friday - 7:45AM, 12:05PM
Saturday - 12:05PM
Tektite Chapel
Emerald Avenue
Monday - Friday - 12:15PM, 5:30PM
Special thanks to the following for the information they sent: Johnny, Paul, Mae, Ele, Rowel, RMD, Arlene, Yola, Marjie, Aly, Sheila, Ayie, http://manilacatholic.
Thanks and God bless.
The MabutingBalita.net Team
2009/02/12
Keep warm
Hello Springtime!
It has been more than a week since the temperature in
It’s a good thing that our small heater did not conk-out on us during that grueling period. You see, that heater should have been relegated to scraps-ville since 3 years ago because of its intermittent function – it always bogged down after a few minutes of use. I was bent on replacing it but my wife always find a way to convince me not to (yeah, sometimes I think that she got me under her spell :D). Hence, it was simply amazing to see that small machine heating our room and our parents room in regular shifts, day-in and day-out for 2 consecutive weeks without fail. What was doubly amazing is that as soon as the surrounding temperature has risen up to around 12 degrees, its problem of intermittent function started all over again and I can not make it work until now.
Still pondering about our “reliable” heater, I just can’t help it but be grateful to our Lord who has kept us warm all the time no matter what the season is. Whether you are outdoor smelling the fragrant flowers of spring, frolicking along the beaches in summer, wet under the umbrella during rainy days, kicking fallen leaves of autumn or eskimo-clothed while chilly-frozen at the time of winter, He never ceases to warm our hearts and lives with immense and subtle blessings and graces. All it takes is for us to open up and accept them.
Aren’t you glad our God is who He is and not some 230V~ 50Hz analog heater that breaks down in time and stop giving warmth?
I sure am.
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