edsa, carbonara, cherry pie, atbp.

In its 22nd year Edsa Anniversary, the country is yet embroiled again in another controversy.  A witness, in the person of Jun Lozada, has surfaced claiming President GMA and husband FG were financially interested and had received bribe money in connection with the ZTE-NBN broadband deal.  Opposition leaders have condemned the act and leftist groups and civil society led by former Pres. Cory Aquino have since  called for GMA’s resignation.

As the people rallied to the streets, so I am embroiled in my own controversy – to seek for cherry pie or settle for the carbonara I have been consuming this past week. 

My tummy fluttered and I sweetly asked Emilio to go to Hizons, the only establishment selling cherry pie in Metro Manila.  It’s located in Manila, by the way, an hour drive from where we live in Quezon City.

Emilio asked if it was open.  I said, “I’m sure, it is.”

So, off my hubby went to search for the elusive chery pie.

I was giddy with excitement!  Shaking with the prospect of catching a whiff of flaky, newly-cooked pastry,  red juicy cherries oozing and melting in my mouth! Yum, yum!

Minutes later, hubby came back, plopped himself on the couch and said, “Babe naman eh, may rally!”

As I watched the news that afternoon and saw the streets of Welcome, Mendiola, Makati and Edsa consumed and blocked by a sea of people, I realized the folly of my request and resignedly settled myself with a can of sweetened preserved cherries instead. 😉

The Brown Scapular

On 16 July 1251, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Simon Stock of the Carmelite Order, holding in her hands the brown scapular. 

She said, “Receive, my beloved son, this scapular.  Whomsoever dies wearing it shall not suffer eternal fire.  It is a sign of salvation. A safeguard in danger and a pledge of my special protection till the end of times.”

As a sign of my reunion with Mama Mary, I had a priest invest a brown scapular on me as I consecrated myself to the Blessed Mother. More than a guarantee against eternal damnation, it is a pledge of faith. 

Anton was with me then as he refused to leave my side at the Church.  I explained the gift of the brown scapular to him and he witnessed its investiture on me by the priest.  Later, as he voluntarily reached and kissed the scapular hanging on my neck, I was happily surprised to see he understood its meaning. 

 

“paglilihi” (Part 2)

The adjustments of having a baby can cause such a strain on a couple’s relationship that one should not lose sight of what brought you together in the first place.

Today, that’s exactly what we did.  Hubby invited me to take a day off from office and just spend the day with him.  We went to Trinoma where we had lunch.  Food was not memorable but company was excellent.  I enjoyed walking with my husband, his arms around my shoulders, his heart next to mine.  We talked about his dreams for his career and our growing family.  We marvelled at the latest technological innovations and smiled at the cute baby contraptions displayed in the mall. We were like kids in our excitement.  We were like lovers basking in our new found romance.

On our third (3) year as a married couple, I consider it a blessing to share this feeling with my husband – to love with such profound intensity and quiet equanimity knowing that you have truly found the one.  

“paglilihi” (Part 1)

“Paglilihi” is such a funny thing.

It is not only a craving for food.  It is also an inexplicable aversion to something which one previously liked or enjoyed.

I am a coffeeholic.  I like waking up to the smell of coffee in the morning and consider its kick in the afternoon a necessity.  Surprisingly, on my 4th-6th week, I swore against it and its many derivations as if I’d undergone a junkie rehab!  Weird!

Weird too is my sudden aversion to my husband.  Don’t get me wrong,  I love my husband to a quake intensity.  But lately, I don’t like seeing him.  I talk to him but I try to avert my eyes or cover his face with my hands.  My tummy turns upside down at the smell of him.  Where previously I would draw close to him to catch a whiff, now I don’t like it.  This has caused not a few misunderstandings, but I’m lucky he understands that it’s all a consequence of my “paglilihi”.

Restored & Reunited

I feel especially blessed to have been able to attend the feast of the Blessed Mother of Lourdes at its Shrine in Quezon City.  I took a half day from the office and went with my mom.

Pope Beneditct XVI has decreed that whomsoever attends the feast of the Blessed Mother of Lourdes in any of her shrines will receive plenary indulgence.  I am so happy to have been able to receive the blessing.

More than anything else, today marks my reunion with Mama Mary as her child.  I have been waylaid for a while, confused about her role in my spiritual life (mainly due to my past associations).  Today I have been restored and reunited.  (I have been reading Vassula’s Conversations with Jesus). 

I now recognize that my mom’s greatest legacy to me is her faith.  I pray that, in time, it be my legacy to my child.

Of Nephews & Babies…

This journal wouldn’t be complete without a mention of my nephews, Gab and Anton. 

The day they found out I was pregnant they were excited as if it was their very own sibling coming.  They excitedly asked me if I could name the baby “Gabanton”, an obvious combination of both their names.  My heart swelled with gladness and I prayed my baby will have their heart and their spirit.

Today, they dropped by my house after school.  Mama called beforehand to ask if I have spaghetti available for Anton.  Before I could answer,  I heard Anton knowingly say “Of course, Tata has.  She always has spaghetti because that’s the baby’s favorite.  That’s also my favorite and we’re the same. Right, Mama?”      He was right, of course.  🙂

As for my hungry Gab, he gobbled up the hotdog sandwiches with gusto!  He lay down beside me and we had a laugh sharing jokes and stories with each other.  Gab kissed me and asked me when the baby’s due.  How he hoped it would be tomorrow!

I pine for the days he would stay in my room for hours.  We would lie down together on my bed and he would share his thoughts and dreams with me. When my wedding was nearing, Gab quietly laid down beside me and said how he wished that I didn’t have to get married and leave the house.  I assured him it would be alright as I would always visit.  He answered it just wouldn’t be the same. He tried to hide his tears, but I knew and shared his feelings. 

Gab and Anton are my angels.  They are my joy and I love them as fiercely as their own parents do.  I did not bear them in my womb but I bore them in my heart, as I still do now and will always do.