Pinoyyellowbug's Blog

Filipino Catholics From the Eyes of a Foreigner

pinoyyellowbug — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 05:54:11 +0000

It has been a while since I last posted something here. Sorry about that.

I got this from an email today and I thought this is the prefect place to share it. I am pasting everything verbatim as it was sent to me.

This will make us feel good about being Filipinos and being Catholics. Please pass on and share to others too especially to those who may not look kindly on us.

“FILIPINO CATHOLICS FROM THE EYES OF A FOREIGNER Filipino Catholics Here’s something very positive written by a foreigner named Steve Ray, about Filipinos. Steve Ray authored many best-selling books, among which are, Crossing The Tiber (his conversion story), Upon This Rock (on the papacy), and just recently John’s Gospel (a comprehensive bible study guide and commentary)”.

“STEVE RAY’S OPEN LETTER TO THE FILIPINO CATHOLICS:

We stepped into the church and it was old and a bit dark. Mass had just begun and we sat toward the front. We didn’t know what to expect here in Istanbul , Turkey . I guess we expected it to be a sombre Mass but quiet and sombre it was not – I thought I heard angels joyously singing behind me.

The voices were rich, melodic and beautiful. What I discovered as I spun around to look did not surprise me because I had seen and heard the same thing in other churches around the world. It was not a choir of angels with feathered wings and halos but a group of delightful Filipino Catholics with smiles of delight and joy on their faces as they worshiped God and sang His praises. I had seen this many times before in Rome , in Israel ,in the United States and other countries.

Filipinos have special traits and they are beautifully expressed as I gazed at the happy throng giving thanks to God. What are the special traits which characterize these happy people? I will share a few that I have noticed- personal observations- as I have travelled around the world, including visits to the Philippines.

FIRST, there is a sense of community, of family. These Filipino Christians did not sit apart from each other in different isles. They sat together, closely. They didn’t just sing quietly, mumbling, or simply mouthing the words. No, they raised their voices in harmony together as though they enjoyed the sense of unity and communion among them. They are family even if they are not related.

SECOND, they have an inner peace and joy which is rare in the world today. When most of the world’s citizens are worried and fretful, I have found Filipinos to have joy and peace – a deep sense of God’s love that over shadows them. They have problems too, and many in the Philippines have less material goods than others in the world, yet there is still a sense of happy trust in God and love of neighbour.

THIRD, there is a love for God and for his Son Jesus that is almost synonymous with the word Filipino. There is also something that Filipinos are famous for around the world – their love for the Blessed Mother. Among the many Filipinos I have met, the affectionate title for Mary I always hear from their lips is “Mama Mary.” For these gentle folks Mary is not just a theological idea, a historical person, or a statue in a church – Mary is the mother of their Lord and their mother as well, their “mama..”

The Philippines is a Catholic nation-the only such nation in Asia -and this wonderful country exports missionaries around the world. They are not hired to be missionaries, not official workers of the church. No, they are workers and educators, doctors, nurses and housekeepers that go to other lands and travel to the far reaches of the earth, and everywhere they go they take the joyous gospel of Jesus with them. They make a sombre Mass joyful when they burst into song. They convict the pagan of sin as they always keep the love of Jesus and the Eucharist central in their lives.

My hope and prayer, while I am here in the Philippines sharing my conversion story from Baptist Protestant to Roman Catholic, is that the Filipino people will continue to keep these precious qualities. I pray that they will continue loving their families, loving the Catholic Church, reading the Bible, loving Jesus, His Mother and the Eucharist.

As many other religions and sects try to persuade them to leave the Church, may God give the wisdom to defend the Catholic faith. As the world tempts them to sin and seek only money and fame and power, may God grant them the serenity to always remember that obedience to Christ and love for God is far more important than all the riches the world can offer.

May the wonderful Filipino people continue to be a light of the Gospel to the whole world”!

I hope you enjoyed this. Please share with others.

Honor and Excellence – Solita Monsod’s last lecture

pinoyyellowbug — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 03:02:56 +0000

I just love this last lecture of Prof. Solita Monsod. I think all of us who are UP graduates should especially pay attention. However, it’s not only UP graduates who should pay attention but also all of us Filipinos.

My daughter showed this video to me and I looked for it in YouTube. I am sure Prof. Monsod will not mind if I share this with you in this blog.

Hillary Clinton Pays Tribute to Filipinos

pinoyyellowbug — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 09:41:14 +0000

This was sent to me by a Filipino friend residing in Canada. It’s good to hear something good being said about us Filipinos, and by an influential person at that.

Mabuhay and Filipino at Pilipinas!

==============

“Hillary Clinton pays tribute to Filipinos

NEW YORK, United States—State Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton is probably the highest American official who has an intimate knowledge of Filipinos, their dreams, and aspirations.
This was manifest during the signing of the $434-million US Millennium Corp. grant that she and visiting President Benigno Aquino III presided over last September 22 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.

Speaking extemporaneously, Clinton—who speaks openly of her close relationship with Filipinos, especially during her term as senator representing New York—gave a glimpse of how much she knows about the Filipino psyche.

She said: “Millions of people in the Philippines have left their native land for a better opportunity. They love the Philippines, I know because I know many of them. They try to go home when they can afford to do it. They retire back to the Philippines. They want to be sure their children and grandchildren are raised in the Philippines.”

Then Clinton, dressed in an elegant indigo blue suit, addressing the new Philippine president continued: “We hope that, Mr. President, the people of your country will be able to make a good living in their own country. And in order to do that, there must be a partnership that creates the conditions for economic opportunity.”

But what endeared the charming state secretary to the Filipinos in the audience were these words: “I know how smart the Filipino people are. I know how hard they work. I’m not sure there’s any group of people anywhere in the world that work harder than Filipinos.
“But let’s be very honest here. Too many of them feel that they cannot progress in their own country. Too many of them feel that the elite in business and politics basically call the shots, and there’s not much room for someone who’s hardworking, but not connected. Too many of them believe that even if they get the best education they can, that there won’t be an opportunity for them, and so they take that education and help build someone else’s economy, very often here in the United States.”

This writer observed that as Mrs. Clinton made her way to the stage where the signing ceremony was to take place, she hugged some Filipino friends in the audience. And on her way out, she blew kisses to the same groups of Filipino American friends and constituents from New York state.

Not too many top diplomatic officials would risk speaking these strong words in an official function. But Hillary Clinton, because of her close relationship with the Filipino people has the inside track—and the charm and candor—to speak up. Even the usually skeptical media people covering the event were quite impressed by the gracious top American diplomat.

Clinton’s remarks—and how she delivered them with graciousness and tack—were the topic for conversation during dinner among the Philippine media people who covered the event.
Here is a powerful US official who knows and understands the dreams and aspirations of Filipinos, especially the three million Pinoys who have chosen the United States as their adopted country. For most of us who toil in the “land of milk and honey,” it’s really nice to know that Hillary Clinton is there for us.
- Jun Medina, FilAm Star”

Charice – the new pride of the Philippines

pinoyyellowbug — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 02:12:13 +0000

Charice just recently had her debut in the popular US tv show, “Glee”.

Filipinos all over the world watched the opening episode of Glee because of Charice. The response was overwhelming! We are all so proud of you Charice!

Here is a link to Charice’s website:

http://www.charicemusic.com/blog/watch-charice-on-glee/

Charice was first discovered in Youtube and then had her first tv debut in Ellen’s show, then Oprah’s show. Later she was taken by David Foster into his fold and now she is in “Glee”. Wow! What talent!

photo from: http://www.google.com.ph/imgres?imgurl=http://www.pinoygigs.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/charice_oprah.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.pinoygigs.com/blog/2010/05/oprah-to-stand-as-charices-godmother-on-saturdays-baptism/&usg=__SpM2rG9JrFv5yWCfK3XxIR_T0k4=&h=263&w=350&sz=103&hl=tl&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=87bcXgqOgjSmUM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=171&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcharice%26hl%3Dtl%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D696%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C19&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=566&vpy=369&dur=802&hovh=195&hovw=259&tx=132&ty=106&ei=J_ufTPfTC4eKvQPj29iEDQ&oei=J_ufTPfTC4eKvQPj29iEDQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=36&ved=1t:429,r:22,s:0&biw=1440&bih=696

Boracay, the Best Beach in This Side of the World

pinoyyellowbug — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 10:28:11 +0000

I just published a new hub about Boracay, my favorite island here in the Philippines. If you are looking for a beach to go to, then this is it!

The-Best-Beach-in-the-Southeast-Asia-Side-of-the-World

Moon and Venus Aligned

pinoyyellowbug — Wed, 19 May 2010 02:14:26 +0000

Last Sunday, May 16, 2010, we witnessed an unusual but beautiful image in the sky – Moon and Venus aligned.

I wrote about this and posted my picture in my photoblog. Please check it out there. Thank you!

http://www.aphotoaday-saanva.blogspot.com/

A Visit to Puerto Princesa, Palawan

pinoyyellowbug — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 00:51:20 +0000

Early this month, Puerto Princesa served as venue for our annual, National Convention of the Biology Teacher Association of the Philippines (BIOTA). A tour of the place is always part of our convention, so we got to tour the world famous Underground River of Palawan.

I wrote an article about the Underground River tour and published it in my hubpages. The link is found below.

http://hubpages.com/hub/I-Recommend-a-Visit-to-the-Underground-River-of-Puerto-Princesa-Philippines

Some of us also did a side tour to another tourist spot – the Mangrove Paddle Tour. It’s another tour that I highly recommend. You can do this tour before or after your Underground River tour. I also wrote another hub about this. The link is found below.

http://hubpages.com/hub/I-Recommend-a-Mangrove-Paddle-Tour-in-Puerto-Princesa

Visit our various travel spots especially this summer! They are beautiful!

A Minute with Noynoy Aquino

pinoyyellowbug — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 06:13:19 +0000

Yesterday, we joined a volunteer movement for the presidential campaign of Noynoy Aquino. We had a one whole day interaction with representatives from other volunteer groups from all over the country. It was a heartwarming and invigorating experience. My husband and I even facilitated the workshop session for regions 6,7 and 8.

At the end of the day, our President gave a short talk and then had a photo session with all the various groups.

Our minute with Noynoy started when he was leaving the venue. As he walked to the doorway from the stage, he saw me and immediately extended his hand while saying “ma’am”. I was so pleasantly surprised because I did not think that he would remember me.

You see, Noy was my student in his Nat Sci subject when he was in first year college. That was in the late 70s or early 80s yet. So that was a long time ago. But he remembered and even singled me out from among the hundreds of people there in the room. Imagine! That’s really amazing!

I asked him “you remember me?” He simply answered, “of course ma’am, and sir too (referring to my husband)”. He even told me that some of his other classmates are also among those in the crowd.

Of course we would have long talks then because that was the time that his dad was in prison. His grades would go up and down depending on the stresses he was then encountering. But I can tell you that he is very bright and humble.

All I can say now is – what a man! What an amazing memory! What humility! I’m sure he will definitely be a good president.

So I had my one minute with Noynoy and I have this photo to share.

Why not try, Corregidor

pinoyyellowbug — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:03:34 +0000

Eternal Flame sculpture

I recently published a hub about Corregidor. Please check out the link below.

http://hubpages.com/hub/I-Recommend-an-Adventure-in-Corregidor

Happy New Year!

pinoyyellowbug — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 02:06:07 +0000

Happy New Year to all Pinoys and Pinoy friends around the world!