It’s Sunday and my blog is one week already. I can’t believe that writing has become my pleasure already. I’m glad about it and I do hope I’ll be able to continue this! Well, only God knows.Saturday saw me composing a story about my Dad. Author Gary E. Lang contacted me here about his upcoming dad and daughter book. So I made one and sent it to him this morning. For those who want to contribute – Dad and daughters specifically – feel free to find him elsewhere in this blog network. Or if you can’t, just contact me here and I’ll give you his email.
Early morning I was able to do some postings. Though I find out that my pc was hanging most of the time. It’s quite malfunctioning and I don’t know what’s wrong. Perhaps spams and other cookies…
This afternoon as I’m typing, the day is sunny and not a single wind is blowing. Indeed, I’m perspiring! Whew! It’s terrible. Late at night after my work and I completely retire, I’m surely going to find a breeze, where I’d feel fresh once again.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Friday, May 04, 2007
Living in Mindanao
The apartment where we currently live is called Townhouse. It has 10 apartments – 5 on each row and the front door is facing the other apartment’s front door. In between is the walkway or car park. And the water tank is just above the “guard house” which comprises the walkway’s width. Since our apartment is beside the tank, the owner’s nephew came yesterday to do some cleaning of the main pipe which was situated at our side garden.
We live here for 3 1/2 years already. The place is called Triniville Subdivision, Block 2, and our road would just be cemented only now. When we arrived here, I was disgusted. I felt like I was thrown into a local jail. Our previous apartment was absolutely different from this. People commented that our place there was paradise. Here, it’s not only small, but the bathroom even looked like a communal cr. Indeed, I couldn’t imagine living here. I mean sleeping, bathing, eating, praying, and doing just every simple things. I wanted to turn back but common sense told me I couldn’t. I cried when I knew I’ll be staying here already. To make things worse, our 6 dogs which we carried all the way, died due to canine distemper around the vicinity. It’s horrible and I felt like my whole world stopped.
On October 2003, Fr. Cacho blessed our apartment along with the adjacent side garden. Fast forward 2005, I’d say I’m doing well here. Our bathroom was kind of renovated and it’s beautiful already. Of course, I did adjust. With only 2 bedrooms, that means I have to be with my other sisters and Mom, where my brothers would be on the other room. With the different dialect called “Illongo”, I finally learned to understand simple words and cooperate with tricycle drivers or bystanders to survive. With so many Moslems (and even Muslim politicians) here and so few Catholic Churches, I stood firm on my Catholic faith. That this place belongs to the Philippines Islands and not to the Moslems.
It was backward here – but this year, the national athletes’ game was held here. It is good to say that finally this city is improving. Though I understand some “Illongo”, I don’t speak it, nor will I ever do. I want to retain my “Tagalog” and they in turn were forced to speak our national language. There’s only one good news here: prices. Prices are very low here. You’ll be surprised how a cabbage costs for only 10 pesos while in Luzon it’s 25 pesos! Fruits are very affordable too! I think it’s abundant here. Deo Gratias! My Mom grew big (though trimmed down) here, and I’m happy the way she looks despite her age! People thought she’s only 36!
In conclusion, I would say it’s a blessing in disguise my Mom decided to move here. It made me closer to God that I could never have found in Manila. Though, I was praying the 15 decades of the Rosary, I was so busy with the world. But now, I’ve changed and if ever I’ll return to my hometown in Manila, I guess I would never compromise my intimacy with God to my relatives and friends there. He gave me the strength to overcome difficulties here; He comforted me when I was sad here, and many other things but most especially, He showed me the right disposition in life.
We live here for 3 1/2 years already. The place is called Triniville Subdivision, Block 2, and our road would just be cemented only now. When we arrived here, I was disgusted. I felt like I was thrown into a local jail. Our previous apartment was absolutely different from this. People commented that our place there was paradise. Here, it’s not only small, but the bathroom even looked like a communal cr. Indeed, I couldn’t imagine living here. I mean sleeping, bathing, eating, praying, and doing just every simple things. I wanted to turn back but common sense told me I couldn’t. I cried when I knew I’ll be staying here already. To make things worse, our 6 dogs which we carried all the way, died due to canine distemper around the vicinity. It’s horrible and I felt like my whole world stopped.
On October 2003, Fr. Cacho blessed our apartment along with the adjacent side garden. Fast forward 2005, I’d say I’m doing well here. Our bathroom was kind of renovated and it’s beautiful already. Of course, I did adjust. With only 2 bedrooms, that means I have to be with my other sisters and Mom, where my brothers would be on the other room. With the different dialect called “Illongo”, I finally learned to understand simple words and cooperate with tricycle drivers or bystanders to survive. With so many Moslems (and even Muslim politicians) here and so few Catholic Churches, I stood firm on my Catholic faith. That this place belongs to the Philippines Islands and not to the Moslems.
It was backward here – but this year, the national athletes’ game was held here. It is good to say that finally this city is improving. Though I understand some “Illongo”, I don’t speak it, nor will I ever do. I want to retain my “Tagalog” and they in turn were forced to speak our national language. There’s only one good news here: prices. Prices are very low here. You’ll be surprised how a cabbage costs for only 10 pesos while in Luzon it’s 25 pesos! Fruits are very affordable too! I think it’s abundant here. Deo Gratias! My Mom grew big (though trimmed down) here, and I’m happy the way she looks despite her age! People thought she’s only 36!
In conclusion, I would say it’s a blessing in disguise my Mom decided to move here. It made me closer to God that I could never have found in Manila. Though, I was praying the 15 decades of the Rosary, I was so busy with the world. But now, I’ve changed and if ever I’ll return to my hometown in Manila, I guess I would never compromise my intimacy with God to my relatives and friends there. He gave me the strength to overcome difficulties here; He comforted me when I was sad here, and many other things but most especially, He showed me the right disposition in life.
Easter Appeal
[Fr. Purdy sent me this a month ago. I thought of publishing it here so that many people would read this. Please forward this to others as well. It’s never too late to give donations. So please donate too. Thanks! – Editor’s note ]
St. Bernard Novitiate Easter Appeal
Dear Friends and Benefactors,
St. Bernard Novitiate is a house of formation for the Brothers of the Society of St. Pius X. The formation of Religious vocations, as well as assisting in the formation of Priestly vocations is the very reason of being of the Society of St. Pius X, established by His Grace Archbishop Lefebvre. These vocations bring countless graces to Holy Mother Church, likewise countless graces to you as members of the Church.
The Novitiate is located in the central part of the Philippines, set in the agrarian countryside. The main means of supporting ourselves is a farm. On this farm the brothers work with the raising of pigs and fruit trees (mainly bananas). The work is quite conducive to the formation of religious and can be likened to the monasteries of the Middle Ages.
There are several projects which are put on hold due to lack of funds. Our piggery needs to be expanded for the growing number of pigs. Expanding the piggery will allow us to have more sows, which in turn means more piglets to sell to support ourselves in the future.
Our water system needs an overhaul. Our water pressure is very weak, there are many leaks in the line, and it is time we revamp the filtration system to ensure clean water. That will mean constructing a new pump-house and putting new tanks in the house to give good pressure. Many water lines will also need to be redone due to the number of leaks.
These past couple of weeks we have been working on a long-needed renovation of the main floor of the building. The walls dividing the various rooms had been constructed in a temporary way, being made of rice board. Rice board is two inches thick, containing rice straw in the interior. Unfortunately, termites find a welcome home in them, as also does the humidity of the wet season. In this renovation new walls of concrete have been made. New doors are also being put in. However, the costs of completing the project are more than we can shoulder, especially the new floor. At present, the floor is concrete and awaiting new tile. The brothers and priests have worked together to save as much as possible in labor costs. Things that require professional work require us to hire masons and tile workers.
Our house is likewise in desperate need of painting. Concrete hollow blocks in the Philippines are made very cheaply, and due to severe weather changes of wet and dry and intense heat, unless properly maintained, the house crumbles down around us. It is a job we intend to do ourselves. However, the Novitiate is a large building and will need many gallons of paint. The need is pressing, for it is a task that must be accomplished during the dry season, which ends by the end of May!
The upstairs, which now houses all the brothers, has many rooms which need to be completed. This has been a project dragged out for months due to little funding.
There is the intention of moving our laundry room to a more convenient location than in the kitchen. In order to accomplish this we will also have to redo the water lines. The laundry room at present is about the size of most American bathrooms, this to accommodate 20 members of the community!
During this Easter Season, we make an appeal to you for your financial assistance. Many of you are familiar with our needs; many have seen the pictures and presentation of our life here. Our livelihood depends entirely upon you, our dear benefactors. Very little assistance comes to us from within the Philippines, being such a poor country. Our Mother House in Menzingen provides us with a monthly allowance. With a community of 20 members, the allowance just covers our monthly food bill. All of the other bills (electric, phone, wages for our workers, weekly diesel consumption, simple repairs and maintenance, etc., etc.) often put us in a very difficult situation.
In return for your generosity we continue to remember you in our prayers. Also, I will offer a novena of Masses for the success and thanksgiving for this appeal during the Octave of Pentecost. The intention will be specifically for those who contribute to this appeal.
Wishing you a holy Paschaltide.
In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
Fr. Adam Purdy
St. Bernard Novitiate Easter Appeal
Dear Friends and Benefactors,
St. Bernard Novitiate is a house of formation for the Brothers of the Society of St. Pius X. The formation of Religious vocations, as well as assisting in the formation of Priestly vocations is the very reason of being of the Society of St. Pius X, established by His Grace Archbishop Lefebvre. These vocations bring countless graces to Holy Mother Church, likewise countless graces to you as members of the Church.
The Novitiate is located in the central part of the Philippines, set in the agrarian countryside. The main means of supporting ourselves is a farm. On this farm the brothers work with the raising of pigs and fruit trees (mainly bananas). The work is quite conducive to the formation of religious and can be likened to the monasteries of the Middle Ages.
There are several projects which are put on hold due to lack of funds. Our piggery needs to be expanded for the growing number of pigs. Expanding the piggery will allow us to have more sows, which in turn means more piglets to sell to support ourselves in the future.
Our water system needs an overhaul. Our water pressure is very weak, there are many leaks in the line, and it is time we revamp the filtration system to ensure clean water. That will mean constructing a new pump-house and putting new tanks in the house to give good pressure. Many water lines will also need to be redone due to the number of leaks.
These past couple of weeks we have been working on a long-needed renovation of the main floor of the building. The walls dividing the various rooms had been constructed in a temporary way, being made of rice board. Rice board is two inches thick, containing rice straw in the interior. Unfortunately, termites find a welcome home in them, as also does the humidity of the wet season. In this renovation new walls of concrete have been made. New doors are also being put in. However, the costs of completing the project are more than we can shoulder, especially the new floor. At present, the floor is concrete and awaiting new tile. The brothers and priests have worked together to save as much as possible in labor costs. Things that require professional work require us to hire masons and tile workers.
Our house is likewise in desperate need of painting. Concrete hollow blocks in the Philippines are made very cheaply, and due to severe weather changes of wet and dry and intense heat, unless properly maintained, the house crumbles down around us. It is a job we intend to do ourselves. However, the Novitiate is a large building and will need many gallons of paint. The need is pressing, for it is a task that must be accomplished during the dry season, which ends by the end of May!
The upstairs, which now houses all the brothers, has many rooms which need to be completed. This has been a project dragged out for months due to little funding.
There is the intention of moving our laundry room to a more convenient location than in the kitchen. In order to accomplish this we will also have to redo the water lines. The laundry room at present is about the size of most American bathrooms, this to accommodate 20 members of the community!
During this Easter Season, we make an appeal to you for your financial assistance. Many of you are familiar with our needs; many have seen the pictures and presentation of our life here. Our livelihood depends entirely upon you, our dear benefactors. Very little assistance comes to us from within the Philippines, being such a poor country. Our Mother House in Menzingen provides us with a monthly allowance. With a community of 20 members, the allowance just covers our monthly food bill. All of the other bills (electric, phone, wages for our workers, weekly diesel consumption, simple repairs and maintenance, etc., etc.) often put us in a very difficult situation.
In return for your generosity we continue to remember you in our prayers. Also, I will offer a novena of Masses for the success and thanksgiving for this appeal during the Octave of Pentecost. The intention will be specifically for those who contribute to this appeal.
Wishing you a holy Paschaltide.
In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
Fr. Adam Purdy
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Interesting and Uplifting
I visited the SSPX Asia website and saw many wonderful news. It can all be summarized on one topic: vocations! I was glad to see that 3 Filipinos left for Holy Cross Seminary in Australia to study Holy Priesthood. They joined the other Filipino seminarian, Nino Nakila from Bohol or Cebu, who’s a year ahead of them, I guess. Their names are Messrs. Giovanni Escamilla from Palawan, Mark Lomod from Bohol, and the other one I still don't know the name. I’ll be counting on them! God willing after 6 years they’re Ambassadors of God already!
I love vocations and I’m all for that despite the fact that my parents dislike it. I guess the more I’m pressured, the more I’m stronger and resolute to try. Those gentlemen are encouraging me and give me a brighter hope. Wow, these men are great for choosing no other occupation than to be servants of God! They’re brave and lucky enough that their parents agreed or let them simply go! I hope the religious vocations would grow even bigger that every parish have10 priests or more to administer the Sacraments for the faithful! That’s my dream!
Anyways, since I’ve started it already, let me take this opportunity to introduce to you the 8 SSPX Filipino (Filipinos!) priests. Fr. Joven Soliman from Bicol who’s Prior in the Philippines’ Our Lady of Victories Church (OLVC); Fr. Emerson Salvador from Bulacan who’s assigned in Singapore; Fr. Aurelito Cacho from Bohol who’s assigned in OLVC; Fr. Carlo Magno Saa from Osamiz who’s assigned in Zimbabwe; Fr. Gerard Fallarcuna from Manila who’s assigned in Mexico; Fr.Albert Ghela from Koronadal who’s assigned in the St. Bernard Noviciate in Iloilo; Fr. Roy Dolotina from Bohol (again!) who’s assigned in OLVC; Fr. Fidel Ferrer from Marikina who’s assigned in Argentina. Wow, finally I was able to put a period there! Well, that’s how those 8 priests are situated at present. All for the love of God!!!
I love vocations and I’m all for that despite the fact that my parents dislike it. I guess the more I’m pressured, the more I’m stronger and resolute to try. Those gentlemen are encouraging me and give me a brighter hope. Wow, these men are great for choosing no other occupation than to be servants of God! They’re brave and lucky enough that their parents agreed or let them simply go! I hope the religious vocations would grow even bigger that every parish have10 priests or more to administer the Sacraments for the faithful! That’s my dream!
Anyways, since I’ve started it already, let me take this opportunity to introduce to you the 8 SSPX Filipino (Filipinos!) priests. Fr. Joven Soliman from Bicol who’s Prior in the Philippines’ Our Lady of Victories Church (OLVC); Fr. Emerson Salvador from Bulacan who’s assigned in Singapore; Fr. Aurelito Cacho from Bohol who’s assigned in OLVC; Fr. Carlo Magno Saa from Osamiz who’s assigned in Zimbabwe; Fr. Gerard Fallarcuna from Manila who’s assigned in Mexico; Fr.Albert Ghela from Koronadal who’s assigned in the St. Bernard Noviciate in Iloilo; Fr. Roy Dolotina from Bohol (again!) who’s assigned in OLVC; Fr. Fidel Ferrer from Marikina who’s assigned in Argentina. Wow, finally I was able to put a period there! Well, that’s how those 8 priests are situated at present. All for the love of God!!!
Cherishing Most
What are the things you cherished most? As for me, aside from Holy Mass, it's my Brown Scapular, the Holy Water, the Rosary, and the Holy Cord of St. Joseph. My Brown Scapular as it gives me spiritual happiness; the Holy Water as it helps me to be a better Christian; the Rosary as it brings me closer to my Blessed Mother; the Holy Cord as it protects my chastity.
Sometimes, I just couldn’t imagine myself without it. I feel like a wanderer, not knowing where to go, or where he is. That if not guided by the Divine Light, the soul will lead to a mud staining itself with all kinds of dirt and germs too. It’s so contagious that it leaves the soul weary and weak to clean itself. Nor can it fight them away. But only through the wellspring which abundantly flows from the Blessed Virgin Mary. With her continuous intercession, the soul will become strong and reconsider itself. It might not be as spotless as it was before but it will be an experience it won’t forget. The will learn to be competent and refuse the dark road. It reminds the soul that eternal salvation is first and foremost. That it could meet the Divine Judge anytime soon. Indeed, living a saintly life and achieving it is a treasure that one couldn’t ask for more.
Sometimes, I just couldn’t imagine myself without it. I feel like a wanderer, not knowing where to go, or where he is. That if not guided by the Divine Light, the soul will lead to a mud staining itself with all kinds of dirt and germs too. It’s so contagious that it leaves the soul weary and weak to clean itself. Nor can it fight them away. But only through the wellspring which abundantly flows from the Blessed Virgin Mary. With her continuous intercession, the soul will become strong and reconsider itself. It might not be as spotless as it was before but it will be an experience it won’t forget. The will learn to be competent and refuse the dark road. It reminds the soul that eternal salvation is first and foremost. That it could meet the Divine Judge anytime soon. Indeed, living a saintly life and achieving it is a treasure that one couldn’t ask for more.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Blog My Blog
Things aren’t going well here. Mom is agitated and everything just flows on a sad direction… It’s crazy and how I wish I could place a barrier between this and that… But no, I wouldn’t or attempt to change what God wants… His ways are not our ways.
I wonder how could I find a way to make this day a better one. Maybe, I’ll read the book I mentioned earlier if I finish my work already. Or probably read the SSPX Asia Newsletter. Maybe, I’ll be posting… Or perhaps just try to help others…
It’s a bit downer right now but I promised I wouldn’t let myself be committed. I’ll keep my day as good as I can make.
I wonder how could I find a way to make this day a better one. Maybe, I’ll read the book I mentioned earlier if I finish my work already. Or probably read the SSPX Asia Newsletter. Maybe, I’ll be posting… Or perhaps just try to help others…
It’s a bit downer right now but I promised I wouldn’t let myself be committed. I’ll keep my day as good as I can make.
Uncle Boyet Aldovino
The brother of my uncle’s wife died last Monday, April 30. Uncle Boyet was driving a motorbike for work when he met a tragic accident in Laguna. The car of a Chinese scientist immediately u-turned that hit my uncle. I think he died instantly as he was terribly hit. From his bike, his body was thrown off into the car’s rear then fell down. The Chinese, however, went to the police and reported the incident. He explained how he was such in a hurry for forgetting something that he suddenly u-turned.
Since my uncle hails from Mindanao, his coffin will be flown all the way from Manila to his Bukidnon hometown where he will be laid down in peace. Uncle Boyet was a bachelor and (I think) on his early 40’s. Please pray for his soul as I pity him. Eternal rest grant unto Mr. Boyet Aldovino’s soul, oh Lord, and let Thy perpetual light shine upon him. Amen.
Since my uncle hails from Mindanao, his coffin will be flown all the way from Manila to his Bukidnon hometown where he will be laid down in peace. Uncle Boyet was a bachelor and (I think) on his early 40’s. Please pray for his soul as I pity him. Eternal rest grant unto Mr. Boyet Aldovino’s soul, oh Lord, and let Thy perpetual light shine upon him. Amen.
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