Thursday, December 31, 2009

I Really Like That!!

All shall be well,
All shall be well,
And all manner of things shall be well. - Julian of Norwich

Very inspiring!

Julian of Norwich

I saw this page out of a six-minute reflection booklet distributed at church and I really liked it so I thought I'd share with you all -
'A cheerful giver does not count the cost of what he gives. His heart is set on pleasing and cheering him to whom the gift is given.' - Julian of Norwich

Julian of Norwich

Julian of Norwich was a laywoman who lived in solitude for many years within St. Julian Church (hence, her attributed name) in Norwich, England. She is considered to be one of the greatest English mystics.
Julian's life was devoted to prayer. Her writings testify to hope within a turbulent world fragmented by war and crisis in the Church. Even in the midst of suffering, her affirmation of creation and her understanding of a loving God led her to see that:
All shall be well,
all shall be well,
and all manner of things shall be well.
While the precise dates of her birth and death are unknown, it is believed Julian was born about November 8, 1342, and died about 1443.

Julian of Norwich was never formally beatified but is considered "blessed" because of popular devotion.

John Paul II Closer to Sainthood

Cause for Beatification and Canonization of The Servant of God John

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Free

I'm free
Free Spirit
I can be
What I want to be
This is me -
Free!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

"The Heart is a Lonely Hunter"

On my way home, I was listening to Dave Grusin's "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" on my iPod. This got to be the saddest song he's ever written. It's so intense, so passionate, so powerful you'd really think that the heart is simply that, a lonely hunter!! It just makes you cry out for someone you love, someone you're in love with or someone you're searching for to love and on and on and on...WOW!!

Dave Grusin is the musician of all musicians! He's my hero, he's my icon!!

I love you, Dave Grusin. It's my wish to play the piano and perform with you on stage, (world stage, I dream big!), record with you, do a project or 2 together and everything else a musician can dream of! I look forward to meeting you one day. Soon!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! It's midnight, December 25, 2009!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Icons, Legends, Phenomena...

The other night, I was watching the Biography channel and saw the BEATLES and STEVIE WONDER back to back. What a treat! I enjoyed tremendously.

I remember months back when Norman was watching "A Hard Day's Night" movie on TV in the other room while we were here, and of course, being a musician, I wanted to say something about the Beatles when the breaking news about Michael Jackson' funeral was announced and at that moment I just had to talk about Michael.

But what can one say about an icon, a phenomenon, a legend? The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson - they're all that!! What can you say, what do you say, how do you say it? Those words say it all. I remember we were speechless when we heard the news about Michael. All we could do was share a moment of silence.

Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streisand. At the level they're at, they're everything they ever wanted to be and more... There's nothing more to say.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Pope Seeks to Beatify John Paul

I saw this article on BBC NEWS on December 19, 2009 and it's such great news for us, Catholics, so I thought I'd share it with you all -
Pope seeks to beatify John Paul
Pope John Paul II
Pilgrims at the Pope's funeral called for his immediate sainthood
Pope Benedict XVI has begun the process of beatifying his predecessor John Paul II, the first step to sainthood.
"The cause for the beatification of John Paul II is open," the new Roman Catholic leader told priests meeting at Rome's Basilica of St John in Lateran.
The Pope waived the usual rules which require a five-year wait before the Church begins to make someone a saint.
John Paul II died on 2 April, leading to widespread calls from Catholics worldwide for him to be made a saint.
Standing ovation
BEATIFICATION PROCESS
Beatification requires that a miracle has occurred
Group approaches local bishop
After Rome's approval an investigation is launched
Findings are sent to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
Case is presented to the Pope
Blessed may be accorded a feast day
Relics of the candidate may be venerated
Canonisation (actual sainthood) requires proof of a second miracle
"And now I have a very joyous piece of news for you," Pope Benedict XVI said in Italian before making the announcement in Latin.
The Pope read out a letter from Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, the official in charge of sainthood, in which it said that Benedict XVI himself had authorised the start of the beatification process.
The news was met with a standing ovation from the priests attending the meeting.
It comes on the anniversary of an assassination attempt on John Paul II in 1981, when he was shot in St Peter's Square by a Turkish gunman.
Life examined
Information will now be gathered on the former pope's life and teachings, including all private writings from the period before he became pope, and checked for orthodoxy to ensure that he expressed no heretical views.
Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa
Pope John Paul II abandoned the five-year rule when he beatified Mother Teresa
A commission of historians will be appointed to gather all of the documents together, which will then be examined by panels of theologians, and cardinals and bishops.
If a two-thirds majority agree with John Paul II's beatification Pope Benedict XVI will then be called upon to give his own approval.
But Vatican expert Michael Walsh told the BBC that for the process to be complete the Vatican authorities will then have to establish that a miracle has been ascribed to Pope John Paul II.
"They have to prove someone has been miraculously healed... by his intercession, by praying to John Paul II, he or she has recovered from cancer or something of that sort," he said.
Miracle needed
In the days following his death Italian media carried a number of reports of alleged miracles attributed to Pope John Paul II, including one claim that an American man suffering from a brain tumour was cured after receiving communion from the late pontiff.
But the alleged miracles occurred during the Pope's lifetime, and the beatification process studies those occurring after the candidate's death.
Beatification allows public veneration of the person and for the person to be known as "Blessed". For actual sainthood, proof of at least two miracles is required.
Child touching picture of Pope John Paul II
Beatification allows public veneration of the blessed person
In normal circumstances five years must pass between the death of the person proposed for beatification and the start of the procedure, to avoid emotion playing a part.
However, John Paul II dispensed with this rule himself when in 2003 he beatified Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
The entire process was completed just six years after her death.
On Friday Pope Benedict XVI also announced who would succeed him as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Sixty-eight-year-old William Levada, Archbishop of San Francisco, is the first American to hold the post as the Vatican's chief watchdog of orthodoxy.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Comment on - A Smile from God

A one in a million shot!

A Smile From God

Comment on - A Conversation with MMY

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, founder of Transcendental Meditation, an enlightened man! Small in physique but unbounded in consciousness! One of the world's greatest gifts to humanity in this generation, his knowledge and wisdom has brought us all from the bondage of the impossible to a field of all possibilities including enlightenment in our lifetime here and now... 

Jai Guru Dev.

A Conversation with Maharishi

Full Version

"Bring the Knowledge to the Children"

Conversation of RAJA DEAN with MAHARISHI
Excerpt from 6 April 08 Global Family Chat

April 6, 2008
Raja Dean:
"I thought today that I would talk about some comments that Maharishi made regarding the movement going forward, that I thought would be helpful to share with everyone, as I think it is a message that is important for everyone to hear. I had a private conversation with Maharishi, as many of the Rajas had the opportunity to do over the years, and I asked Maharishi what would be important to remember going forward. And he knew what I was asking at the time. And he said, the most important for people to remember going forward was that practice makes perfect. And he went on to explain that simply doing the program, simply practicing our meditation every day, was of the utmost importance. And it was through practice that we perfect those deeper levels of consciousness within ourself.

And Maharishi went on to explain that it's a matter of becoming familiar with these deeper levels of consciousness through our practice. That it's a matter of becoming at home with it, a matter of absorbing that level and becoming that. And then all that was necessary was practice. And he said slowly, slowly, slowly, and then all the sudden, one becomes enlightened. And he used the analogy of going into the cave as we often talk when we go into our meditative practice -- we're going to the cave -- and he mentioned that as we enter the cave we're not always aware of the features of the cave because we haven't fully transitioned to adjust to its subtlety, to its softness, to that quality of silence in the cave. And so just by giving time to it, just by practicing, we give ourselves a chance to become adjusted to the subtleties of the cave; and that there are some finer values, there is some granularity to that silence, there are some very subtle, very soft features to it. And as we begin to become much more aware of these finer values, we begin to bring those values fully into our awareness and our consciousness, and then we begin to be at home with them. And so this is the process. And then at some level it's complete. And once it's complete, it's done. And so this was what Maharishi wanted everyone to remember going forward, was that practice makes perfect."

And I asked Maharishi, was there anything else that that he had wished for everyone to remember. And he said, remember to bring the knowledge to the children. He said that the children, particularly those now coming in, now that the grip of Kali Yuga has been broken, and we now have this sort of island or oasis within Kali Yuga of Sat Yuga that Maharishi and all of us have contributed to bringing to reality. That this is now providing an opportunity for very advanced souls to come in and to be born, particularly to meditative families and to Sidhas and Governors, but also as well to others now that the environment has changed, the consciousness has been risen, and that all of what Maharishi has done has had such a tremendous effect, with the pandits and everything. And so these children coming in will be of very fine nervous systems, some that were not able to be here earlier because of the grossness, the roughness of the environment, the roughness of the level of consciousness of the world. And now that that has softened, these very advanced souls now can incarnate to receive Maharishi's knowledge. And he said all that is necessary is that we bring the knowledge to the children. He said they will instantly know what to do with it. They will instantly understand it because they will be of that level so once they are given the Transcendental Meditation technique, they will then be on the road to their own enlightenment, which will happen very rapidly. And the knowledge that Maharishi has provided and the legacy and the tapes and everything that we have they will understand, they will understand. So we just need to continue to make the knowledge available, particularly to the young people that are coming in. And we saw a lot of this emphasis, I think, with Maharishi with the schools that have been developed, particularly in India, in his emphasis on development throughout the world, just to bring this knowledge to the children.

And I asked Maharishi, I said, well Maharishi, is it necessary that we have teachers who are fully enlightened to offer this knowledge to the children? And he said, no, no, no, the children will know it, just that we provide the knowledge in its pure form, that's all that is needed. He said now those teachers who are practicing and perfecting the knowledge within themselves, who are perfecting their program --and that was his first point -- they will become enlightened, and as they do it will accelerate everything. It will make everything go faster, but it wasn't a requirement to the development to the children coming in. And Maharishi's legacy will last for hundreds and hundreds of years, and many many generations into the future, and as it unfolds it will provide the basis for Sat Yuga for thousands of years, and the enlightenment of us, of all of us. The meditators, the Sidhas, the Governors, the teachers, will accelerate it and bring it forth in its fullness sooner.
And then as we spoke further, I had this feeling and this notion that consciousness is unbounded, something Maharishi has always said, but in a different sense. Maharishi's consciousness was unbounded, we all felt that, we all knew that. And it knows no boundary, no boundaries whatsoever. And in this way Maharishi is stronger now than he ever was, and I think we all feel that in our hearts. And so with this I ask you, remember -- practice makes perfect, bring the knowledge to the children, enlightenment accelerates it, and consciousness is unbounded.
Jai Guru Dev"

Saturday, December 12, 2009

DECEMBER

Chilly
Winter comin'
Holidays in the air
Lively
Festive
Alive
Christmas is here
Happy Hanukkah
Happy Kwanza
Happy Holidays
LOVE PEACE AND JOY
TO ONE AND ALL!!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL!! 
COUNT OUR BLESSINGS AND FILL OUR HOMES WITH LOVE AND ABUNDANCE. 
GOD BLESS!!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Off to a Great Weekend!

Off to a family wedding in L.A.! Was gonna give a condominium to my nephew and bride, being one of the principal sponsors at their wedding, but with the economy right now, it's a little bit much for my budget. Wonder if $50.00 is enough... (Are you serious?? Am I?!))
Kidding aside, really, seriously -

Congratulations and Best Wishes to you, Noel and Camille! Welcome to the family, Camille!!!

Saturday, October 31, 2009

TRICK OR TREAT!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, EVERYONE!!

I have a big bag of M&Ms here not just supposedly for today. I bought 'em for my family from Manila, 8 of them, including small children, who are here touring the country and attending a family wedding next week. And nobody's takin' 'em! Yeah, who's coming to the US just for M&Ms?! Should have bought Ghiraldelli's! So what am I gonna do with all these now?? Oh, well, enjoy trick or treatin'!!

Friday, October 23, 2009

... About Wayne

Oh, my eye doctor, yes -
After carefully thinking what to say about him, the best way to describe him is to go back to when I was in grade school in our English class. Our teacher would give us about 5 words every class to look for the meaning and use in a sentence. Among so many words, one stood out and made a big impact on me for the rest of my life. The word is 'motto'. I remember asking my Mom what it meant and to use it in a sentence. She defined it, then used it in a sentence, "A Chinese motto runs this way - 'More talk, more mistake... Less talk, less mistake... No talk, no mistake.'"
This is one of the most inspiring, powerful words of wisdom my mother has instilled in me as a child.

And this defines Wayne. Every word that comes out from his mouth feels like it was carefully thought of, then spoken softly, genuinely, sincerely! And it just sounds natural. Where other doctors would tell you matter of factly what is right or wrong, he just has a sweet way of saying things, medical matters, good or bad, whatever it is, so that you don't get scared, you just feel good, and you know you're taken care of. So calm, so gentle! So reassuring that when he says, "Not to worry", you don't worry at all! BTW, he's Chinese too, so he must know the motto.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

And Talk About... Animals!

I have an aunt who has such an affinity to animals. There's just something about her that animals are drawn to her. They appear to her out of nowhere, manifesting and like, symbolizing something. I don't know how to describe it! It's Marvelous!

It's her birthday today. It was October 11 when Rainbow, my lovebird, came into my life. See what I mean? There's that connection with her and animals. So meaningful, so special!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TITA PERLA! ENJOY YOUR DAY!

Rainbow

Today is my lovebird, Rainbow's "birth"day. That was when I discovered him. He was a lost bird and somehow landed on our ground and there were about 4 people who saw him first and one of them called me. Somehow the bird came to me and that's how and when he was "born"! I don't know how old he really was then but he lived with me and moved with me up North and eventually lived with me and Norman when we got married, and he lived for 17 years, plus whatever his age was when I found him or when he found me, or rather, when we found each other! They say that's long life for a small bird. Such a sweet bird, such great personality! We were "Mom and Dad" to him! One of my neighbors who owned a bird shop for 20 years once said, "Rainbow doesn't know he's a bird. He thinks he's people!"
Everybody loved Rainbow! Everyone loved to visit with him and took turns to bird-sit when I was away.

In the beginning, whenever I did TM, he would make noise. But he was a great observer. He noticed I was silent and still when I did my program. He learned to be quiet too and not disturb me. The only time he'd call my attention again was when he saw me about to lie down and rest after TM. That's when he wanted out of his cage to join me in bed then he'd be still again until I finish my whole program.

One time, he got very sick and everybody thought he wouldn't recover but he did. And as the Verills remarked, '' Don't they know Rainbow is a meditator?!"

When we had parties at the compound, you think I was the center of attention when I played the piano?? No, Rainbow would sit on my shoulder or on either arm and he stayed there while I played and people were simply entertained, not by me but by him! He didn't know that, he was just happy being with me and surrounded by people. He had a great time!!


And boy, he just knew when Norman was close to home from work or wherever. About 15 minutes before Norman would arrive, Rainbow would face the door and start chirping a particular sound to indicate "Daddy" was coming home. He doesn't chirp long, just enough to "announce" Norman is nearby. One morning he started to chirp and Norman wasn't there. So I thought it was all coincidence. Then Norman arrived with a bag of bagels. So Rainbow was right again! He knew Norman was in the neighborhood, but Norman stopped by Noah's Bagels so he came 5-10" later than usual.


Rainbow died 4 years ago while I was in L.A. to attend my niece's debut. When I called Norman about 9 pm to tell him I had arrived in L.A., he told me Rainbow was not doing well. He was fine that morning so I thought when I came back, we could bring him to the vet. Norman didn't know what to tell me or how to say Rainbow was more serious than what he was trying to describe. In other words, he was being cautious to break the news. Rainbow was dying. I called him every few minutes to check until finally he said Rainbow wasn't moving at all and I told him to put the phone on Rainbow's ear so I could talk to him. I told Rainbow I was going home soon, to wait for me, and so on, and I kept saying, "I love you, Rainbow," over and over and then Norman said, "He moved," so I thought he was gonna get well. About an hour later, Norman called to say Rainbow had just died in his hands...


Rainbow must've wanted just to hear my voice one more time before passing on. It still touches me whenever I remember.

No wonder, the day before I left, Thursday morning, Norman brought him to our bedroom and said, "He wants to come to you."
"How'd you know?", he just shrugged.

Sunday mornings were Rainbow's day with us in the bedroom. But how'd he know it was Sunday? Maybe he didn't, but like all other animals, they just know when it's time to migrate and when it's time to come back. Rainbow knew his routine. But that was Thursday. Then the next day, Friday, as I was leaving for work and later for my trip, he kept calling me from the kitchen, I didn't know why. I had to go back at least twice to hold him and stay with him for a while. He just wanted to be with me.

Norman must've intuitively known Rainbow wanted to come to me that Thursday. Rainbow knew I was going away. He always knew when we'd go away, seeing our luggages. He didn't like seeing us pack in the beginning until he learned the routine. He had another kind of chirp for that, as if asking, but not complaining, "You're leaving again?", he simply understood.
Rainbow was saying goodbye to me. He knew he was going...


I miss Rainbow so dearly. I wrote a song for him when he died. If I find the lyrics, I'll sing it. I don't remember all of it. Let me look for it...

I love you, Rainbow. We miss you. We'll come visit you soon. I promise.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Observing...

My first quarterly meeting with the corporate big wigs! I was introduced by my boss. A privilege, indeed! Just witnessing the whole process... being an observer. Very interesting! Very motivating! Very inspiring!

October

Month of the Rosary
Dedicated to the Blessed Mary
Our Lady of Fatima
of Jacinta, Francisco and Lucia

To God, through you, I surrender
To Him, through you, I offer
Myself, my life, my whole being
With all love and trust. Amen.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Inspiring... and Inspired!

"You know, in your next job, if they don't like you, they'll love you. It's one or the other, nothing less." - what a sweet compliment from a colleague at work! After having been away from healthcare field for so many years, and to hear such words - WOW!!

I've learned in life to never be short on praises for others. Give credit where credit is due. And, most important, be sincere. Say what you feel and feel what you say. It doesn't matter how others take it (or mistake it!). Don't hold back 'cause it may come at a time when someone needs it most and/or, in return, it may come at a time when you need it most.

I remember playing the piano at Nordstrom one day when the music director of the Southwest Division came to meet with the store manager. Thinking it was Monday, he was surprised to see me playing, but that was Tuesday. This was when the economy was going down the first time about the early 2000s, and Nordstrom was cutting down the piano schedule to just the weekends. When some of the employees saw him by the piano, they approached him and asked him to keep me there 'cause, they said, everybody liked me.

You know, except for the flagship store that kept the piano playing everyday, I was the only pianist left to play on a weekday among all Nordstrom stores so rumors had it that I was kept because I was a "great pianist!" Shhh, I wasn't gonna say anything, but can you believe that? All other stores stopped the piano playing on weekdays. Quite a few pianists lost their Nordstrom gig.

My colleagues' feedback came at a time when I needed it the most and what perfect timing, too! I was playing the piano right there when he came - on the wrong day!! If my colleagues didn't see us together, they might not have approached him as not everyone knew him. That wasn't his main store, he was just visiting.

 Now is that luck or what?!

Saturday, September 26, 2009

When it rains, it pours!

Two job offers, back to back, on the same day
Sometimes I get lucky, other times, luckier
With the job market that is today
And I get interviews and offers?!
Count all my blessings
I'm proud, I'm humbled
Praise the Lord
Thank you, Lord.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SEPTEMBER!

To the birthday celebrants
Migoy, Ponch, Tony
Am I missing anyone? 
And you, too, I greet you 
Happy Birthday
Celebrate, have fun, everyone!!

Autumn

Colors of fall as leaves a-changing -
Green, blue, purple, red, crimson
Orange, yellow, golden, brown...
They answer to Nature's calling

The grandeur of Autumn abounds
From up the skies down to the grounds
Mountains' mighty majesty unfolds
Breath-taking sight, all glory, behold!

(copyright 2009 Socorro de Castro)

Saturday, September 19, 2009

40th Death Anniversary

On Sep 18, 2009, at 9:05 AM, Cesar Ejerta wrote:




Hi, Inday, & Nonoy,
Today (18th) marks Mama's (Caring) 40th anniversary and thought of writing you guys about it.
When Mama came back from the States in September'68 wth Lola Ceria ( both Bless their Souls), I remember how I feel about it and how more loving she was with us, experiencing the good life in the States, attending the wedding of Tita Helen and (the late) Tito Carding and how wonderful to meet relatives and friends living here in the US. But one memorable thought that was planted in my brain then that Mama shared with me and still with my habits after 40 long years was something passed on from a priest, a chaplain in the Lourdes Hospital, and goes something like these... "everytime you see (meet) people in the streets, and everywhere, specially the handicapped, the sick, the poor, and the elderly... whisper in prayer... Bless this person with what he needs most... Bless him in his difficulty,... Bless him with better opportunity,... and Bless his soul." And you will be Blessed as well in return.
Lola Ceria is marking her 18th death anniversary tomorrow (19th) and allow me to remember her as well and one of her words of wisdom,
"Pray for good and better opportunities" not money or material things, as they will come by with you later...
I thank them for these words of wisdom today and God Bless you all.
Much Love,
Bambi


This is a beautiful letter by my cousin, Bambi, to his younger sister, Inday, and brother, Nonoy, on the 40th anniversary of their Mom's death. With his permission, I'm posting it here in her memory. I had just written a post, On Their Anniversaries...

"There's Somethin' about Wayne"

Called up my eye doctor today about something in my eye that was bothering me. After a few questions and instructions to do with my eyes, he said, "Not to worry."

There's just something special about him, the way he talks, what he says to his patients, and especially how he says things. Lemme try to explain, lemme think what to say and how to say it, then you'll understand.

On their Anniversaries...

Remembering tita Gloria, tita Caring and lola Ceria on their death
anniversaries this month of September - my grandma and 2 sisters of my Mom.
They passed away on different years of the same month.

Love to you all. Rest in peace. Amen.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Post Script

These are words coming out. Still don't know if it's poetry or a song. I'll let it be.

Song or Poem

LOVE and CONNECTION

Is this love?... Are you connecting?
Are you in love... or denying?
There are hints... there are signs
Yet nothing's clear... what is it?
Is it fear?... why is it?
What's holding you back?... Time, perhaps
What's taking time?... Love, perhaps

Is it love?... Are you connecting?
Are you in love... or denying?

There are hints... there are signs
Yet nothing's clear... what is it?
Is it fear?... why is it?
What's holding you back?... Love, perhaps
What's taking time?... Time, perhaps

Love to Be

LOVETOBE
On a license plate
A hint??
LOVE BE IT.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Comment on - Check This Out!

WOW! Indeed, an amazing sand drawing!

The whole act, with the lighting of the candle before and after, the music, the artistry, was a beautiful ritual! It told a complete story. It was a total performance by the artist! It was PERFECTION!!

BRAVO - To Kseniya Simonova, from Ukrania!

Check This Out!!

Amazing Sand Drawing on Yahoo! Video