Heavy, heavy rain in Metro Manila today!

The Philippines had just finished a long weekend (holiday on Monday and Tuesday). There was a storm then, and many provinces of Luzon island of the country were soaked in floods and even had landslides. Metro Manila, also in Luzon island, had its share of rains but not that strong. But, curiously, today, just when people are back to school, to work, and to their other regular routine, rains are pouring hard in Metro Manila. Hopefully, the flash floods now happening in some roads will not hamper many people. Hopefully also, that the rains will not last beyond noontime.

Laborer’s son opts to stay, work in the Philippines

Laborer’s son opts to stay, work in the Philippines

David Foster hunting for new Filipino singing talents

David Foster hunting for new Filipino singing talents

Where's Fr. Ramon Eloriaga at the Landmark Department Store Mass?

I've been missing Fr. Ramon Eloriaga who, until a little over a month ago, used to be the regular priest presiding at the Sunday Mass in Landmark Department Store in Trinoma Mall, Quezon City, Philippines. Fr. Ramon has been celebrating this Mass in Landmark ever since it started at the Mall since like over a year ago. He has been rarely absent, and if he were to be absent for quite a while, he would advise the Mass goers. And many of these Mass goers were a regular presence in Fr. Ramon's Masses. And that includes me because I learn a lot about being a Catholic from his homilies. Thus before I do my weekly groceries in Landmark, I go first to its Mass on the upper floor of the grocery section. (Although I still go sometimes to the Mass in my local parish church because Fr. Ramon reminds the mall Mass goers to not forget to still go to the Masses in their parish.)

It so happens that Fr. Ramon's homilies give deep learning from and understanding of the Bible combined with lessons from contemporary happenings. And he delivers his homilies in a manner that is not boring or has no sense of direction. His homilies are always endearing with a lesson or lessons to impart. He also manages to deliver a punch line or two in his homilies.

I hope Fr. Ramon soon returns to the Masses in Landmark. Otherwise, I might have to seek out his Masses at his parish homebase, the St. Rita de Cascia Parish in Philam Homes Subdivision in Quezon City (which is quite a distance from my own parish). With due respect to the two priests who have taken on alternate basis Fr. Ramon's place at the Landmark Mass, I really miss his homilies and the learning I get from them. I hope he returns soon. :)

Padre Pio's image on Baclayon Church post?

A relative of mine showed me last night a picture of seemingly the image of Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, canonized in 2002, that appears in a post of Baclayon Church in Tagbilaran town, Bohol Province, Philippines. The church, according to an Internet website, is one of the oldest church buildings in the Philippines, and also the oldest Catholic stone building in the country. It was constructed during the Spanish occupation of the Philippines, and the first Spanish missionaries settled in the area in the late 15th century. Its formal name is "The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception."

I don't know if the Catholic church has already authenticated this image that appears on the Church's post, but seen side-by-side with a photo of Padre Pio, it surely looks like him. I searched for something about this in the Internet and saw a video uploaded to YouTube. Here's the video by channel owner Leophilippines. You can decide for yourself if, indeed, it's Padre Pio's image. Well, I think it really looks like him.

Janella Lelis--brave patriotic girl

The photo below by Francisco Pena Lozano caught my eye when it appeared a few days ago at the inquirer.net (website of the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper). The Philippines has been ravaged by rather strong typhoons in the past days, bringing floods especially in the northern Philippines area.

Janella Lelis, the 12-year-old girl in the photo, is from Albay province, one of the hardest hit provinces of the typhoons in recent days. But strong rains and deep floods didn't stop Janella from saving from ruin a Philippine flag. I salute Janella for her patriotism, and her family and teachers who've brought her up well.

Concert at the Landmark foodcenter in Trinoma

Many years ago, my family and I used to watch on the boob tube the "Concert at the Park" that showcased various musical talents onstage at the Luneta Park in Manila. It was shown live in the afternoon on the government's television station, while hundreds of people also watched at the Luneta. Another live concert, also shown on television (but usually on delayed telecast) was the "Paco Park Presents" that featured musical talents in Paco Park, also in Manila. Paco Park was a smaller venue compared to Luneta, hence fewer people watched it live at the park. But the good quality of musical talents featured in Paco Park was at par as that in Luneta Park.

Anyway, nowadays, I don't know if these two venues still host these free concerts or shows. But for the past few months, people doing their Sunday malling in Trinoma mall in Quezon City have been enjoying themselves at the Landmark Department Store foodcenter area (basement), where a brass band (from Bulacan province, I heard) is seated at the center and plays music. The band regales foodcenter customers with past and current hits at certain hours of the day. Music with fast tempo is a hit with children enjoying meals with their elders. The kids stomp their feet and clap their hands in tune to the fast music. The adults take in everything from disco to ballads (of course, the kids must have been enjoying listening to the ballads, too).

Sometimes, Landmark also has a string ensemble somewhere in its store.

My thanks to Landmark for making the effort to relax stressed souls with live music on Sundays.