Going Home

Going Home...

Little did Fely Ramos, the Consular and Cultural Attache of the Philippine Embassy  know that when his youngest son Emmanuel Jr joined her in Abuja, her life will be changed - for the better. She relinquished her son and gained a daughter. Emmanuel Ramos Jr and Lyn Mante  just married on 30^th April 2011 and now they are set to leave Abuja, Nigeria to start a life, a new life in Lyn's hometown Davao. 

The sponsors/godparents during the wedding gave a send-off dinner for the couple last Saturday 20th April.

Prayers and wishes for a very bright, prosperous and happy future for the couple!

Honorees: Emmanuel and Lyn Ramos Jr.

Family Three + one

(Before Meals):  Ninongs: Benjie, Willy, Bernie, Nestor; Ninangs Maris, Teofie, Fely

Mr. Blair; Mr. Nestor Dador; Ms. Norma Contiveros; Mrs. Dorothy Barraquias

...here's Angie and Rose; Honorees Jr. and Lyn; Khaye and Donna

...the personal touch counts most: Amb. Padalhin; Mrs. Padalhin with Sr. Efling and Teofie

Kitchen scene: James, Jr. and Lyn; Maris and Sherwin; and James with the cake..

...in a very delightful array..

Asking for blessings before meals....led by Sr. Efling...

James and Fely 'enticing' everyone to feed...and so here we are...on to the queue...

Dinner time...

Norma didn't see it coming! Lyn, Amb. Padalhin and Mr. Blair listening intently...; Angie, Rose, Jr and Lyn, Donna - just striking a pose

Sherwin, Grace, Angie and Rose; Amb. Padalhin, Grace and Sr. Efling; Donna and Khaye

Mrs. Grace Blair and Sr. Efling

Donna,  Jr and Lyn, Ninangs Otie and Vangie,

Isang Tula

Isang tula:  ALISBAYAN BOX
(courtesy of pinoy-abroad-forum)

AGOSTO - Linggo ng wika

Isang tula …isang paglalahad ng damdamin na nararanasan ng lahat ng umaalis lalo na ang mga nangingibang-bayan, higit sa lahat ang mga OFWs, ang mga walang katiyakang buhay na haharapin sa ibang lupain upang mabigyan ng mabuting kinabukasan ang mga mahal sa buhay.

Balikbayan Box – narito naman kaya ang kaganapan ng lahat ng mga minimithi sa buhay?

_____________________________________________________________________________

...haharapin ang buhay sa ibayong-dagat, nag iisa maliban sa pangarap, baon ang panalangin at pagmamahal ng mga naiwan...

(From:  Rhodora Abano

Date: Sunday, 14 August, 2011, 10:56

Watched Rizal X, one play of Dulaang UP to celebrate Rizal's 150th, this morning at the AS Theatre. I was struck by this number. Wish you could have experienced this number too...

hindi nakalagay kung sino ang sumulat e - fr om the souvenir program ng Rizal X of Dulaang UP. )

 Alisbayan Box

Isisilid  ko sa kahon ang lahat ng  alaala

Isisilid ko ang ngayon para sa bukas,

 kung mayroon man nito

 Maghihigpit ng sinturon

 Magigipit din ang pag-ibig

Mga retaso'y gugupit-gupitin at  babaunin.

 Sisikaping pagtagpi-tagpiin sa  pagbalik

Walang katiyakan

Sa aking paglisan, bibitbitin ang lahat

Kahon at maleta

Tadhanang roleta, ano ba ang ilalahad?

Papalayong ililipad, saan mang  bayang mapadpad

 Mailap ang kapalarang hinahangad

Itataya ko na sa hangin lahat ng  pangarap ko't hiling

Lahat ng dagat na kailangan kong  tawirin

Ay maaring higupin at tuluyang  lunurin ang kahon

Ng kinabukasan kong nakasilid

Walang katiyakan

Sa aking paglisan, bibitbitin ang lahat

Kahon at maleta

Tadhanang roleta,  ano ba ang  ilalahad?

Papalayong ililipad, saan mang  bayang mapadpad

Mailap ang kapalarang hinahangad

Sapaglisan kong ito, ang puso ko'y  iiwan ko

Walang katiyakan

Sa aking paglisan, bibitbitin ang lahat

Kahon at maleta

Tadhanang roleta, ano ba ang ilalahad?

Papalayong ililipad, saan mang bayang mapadpad

Mailap ang kapalarang hinahangad.

From an airport in Asia

(Footnote: visuals added)

A Celebration

Birthday Anniversary

The Filipino race is a sentimental lot. We rejoice and cry in movies. We are moved to tears from stories heard. We become indignant in perceived prick in our sensibilities. Oh, and a whole lot more.

For the OFWS, the most endearing aspect is the celebration of birthdays – of parents, spouses, siblings – even if they are oceans and oceans and thousands and thousands of miles away from each other.

But it is the remembrance of birthdays and anniversaries of the dear departed practically in a different realm, that is inherent in every Filipino family.

Fely Ramos, the Consular and Cultural Officer of the Philippine Embassy celebrated her late husband’s birthday last Friday Aug. 5^th. The first birthday celebrated without him. On her wall are the framed pictures of her family with the latest addition, Lyn, the wife of her youngest son, Emmanuel Ramos, Jr.

Friends attended the close-knit celebrations – the ever-helping chef James and Marlyn, and Tirso and Nelson and Khaye helped in the preparation of the meal with Jr and Lyn at the helm. Actually, it was her late husband who always regaled everybody with his culinary skills.

Prayers were offered for the eternal repose of late Emmanuel, Sr. soul. Our steadfast guardians of faith, the sisters at the Nunciature no matter how busy they are will always be there. 

Sr. Marylou and Sr. Efling led the prayers. 

 

Mrs. Felisa Ramos, Consular and Cultural Officer of the Philippine Embassy, with her late husband's photo

The Ramos Family

Preparing for prayers...

A birthday remembrance and prayers for the eternal repose of Mr. Emmanuel Ramos, Sr.

Deep in prayers... led by Sr. Marylou, assisted by Sr. Eflaida...

After meditation and prayers...Sr. Marylou with Angie and Khaye and Sr. Efling; mga marekoy Mabelle, Maris and Otie; and Fely posing with Lyn, her daughter-in-law and Marilyn

Mabelle, Vangie, Maris and Otie; Thalie with her bundles of joy (my, how they have grown!); Marlyn, Rene Urgel (straight from Kano), Con-Gen Lamadrid and Rose Urgel; and the two helping-hands ladies - Lyn and Marilyn...

Emmanuel Jr. and wife Lyn; Sr. Marylou and Fely Ramos; and there's Efren and Nestor; AND Otie relishing whatever she's cutting with Sr. Marylou...

aaahhh ha ha ha...mah own...

Berna and Janice; aaaannnndddd CLIFFORD! - JUSTIFYING THE EXISTENCE OF THE FRIED CHICKEN!; Nanay, Brenda and Teri and..and..and another beautiful lady..(di kase alam ang name)

...and tuloy pa rin ang hindi mapigilang pag nguya ng Clifford! kasama sina Sr. Efling, si Mayet, si Nelson, si Tirso, si Fely si Melanie

House Blessing

House Blessing

Jesus said: Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and acts on them – I will show you what such a person is like. Such a person is like the man who, when he built a house, dug deep and laid the foundations on rock: when the river was in flood it bore down on that house but could not shake it; it was so well-built. But someone who listens and does nothing is like a man who built a house on soil, with no foundations; as soon as the river bore down on it, it collapsed; and what a ruin that house became.

Engr. Wilfredo Brual is one of the many OFWs attesting to the very good status of Filipino workers here in Nigeria. Last Sunday July 24, Willy, the HOD Projects and Business Control LNG and Power Business Division of AGIP (Naoc – Nigerian Agip Oil Co. Ltd), had his 3 –bedroom house at Elizade Tower, Central Business District FCT Abuja Nigeria blessed. Sister Marylou officiated the house blessing assisted by Sister Eflaida of MCST (Nunciature).

Close friends and The Migrants gathered and rejoiced with him.

After the house blessing, prayers were also offered for the birthday of the late Ana Cabrera Dador and for the departed grandmother of Renz Mercado, Luz Rosales.

Peace be with this house and with all who live here...

Blessing the entrance and the parlour: Nestor, Willy and Sr. Marilou; JT, Tikboy and Donald...
'O God, protect our going out and our coming in; Let us share the hospitality of this home with all who visit us, that those who enter here may know your love and peace.'

...at the living room: Otie, Rami, Nonits, JT, Tikboy: Willy, Sr. Marylou, Maris, Tess, Khaye, Lyn,Jr, Sr. Efling
'O God, give your blessings to all who share this room, that we may be knit together in companionship.'

...and the rite continues - going towards the dining room and kitchen...

...at the kitchen and the pantry...
'O God, you fill the hungry with good things. Send your blessings on us, as we work in this kitchen, and make us ever thankful for our daily bread.'

Master's bedroom
'Protect us Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, we may rest in His peace.'

Guest room

Children's room
'You formed us in wisdom and love. Refresh us in body and in spirit, and keep us in good health that we might serve you.'

Dining Room
'Blessed are you Lord of heaven and earth, for you give us food and drink to sustain our lives and make our hearts glad. Help us to be grateful for all your mercies and mindful of the needs of others.'

Sr. Efling; Willy tossing the traditional coins; getting ready for prayers - late Ana Dador's birthday and for the soul of Luz Rosales (Renz' grandmother)

Prayers commenced for late Ana and Luz

Still in prayers...

Prayers before meals as officiated by Sister Efling

...for Lunch

...lunch time: JT and Ampy posed at me nainggit sa likod - ayun...scene stealers -biglang pose din!!!

...some on diet...

...at 'wag nang maghanap ng mga piktyurs - gutom na ang nagpipiktyur.