Back in Africa

I am back in Africa, which explains the long inactivity in this blog. I had to do a lot of preparations that occupied my time. First of all, make sure that I have updated vaccinations and also sort out the stuff at home to make sure everything is organized before I leave, in case any of my family or I need anything while I am away.

I prefer to do my packing early on to avoid stress as I learned from previous travels. However, I think one can never really be entirely prepared. I believe I forgot a lot more stuff this time than the last time.

I was also able to bring in less stuff which is really unbelievable. I guess having one big luggage made the difference. The last time I had two small suitcases which probably added to the weight of its contents.

I was surprised to know that my colleagues from other parts of the world were able to bring in more. The airline I took was just too strict about the weight of our luggages. My big luggage weighed only 20 Kg that I decided to check in the small carry on bag I had for a total of a little less than 30 Kg. Still, I could have brought more stuff like books and toiletries.

Anyway, everything turned out well with my flight. Hope to post more in the coming days.

A new idea

It has been quite a while since my last post. I am not letting the second quarter end without any activity on this blog. So I am scribbling a few words to get me back on the writing mode.

It helps that today is the memorial of one of my favorite Saints, Saint Anthony de Padua. I have been thinking of going to the national shrine today as I have done in the past. However, it seems I am occupied with a lot of concerns lately. Maybe I'll find the time to go some other time.

Yesterday, the choir was invited for some meals in another community in commemoration of St. Anthony's feast, their patron.

It was a change of venue for our group rehearsal as well as we decided to sing after partaking of the sumptuous meal. Guests were treated to a surprise informal concert as we were really just running through our songs. In my mind, it was also a different experience for them to hear a church group singing in their community.

It gave me an idea that we somehow find time in the future to bring our music outside of church. In the less formal setting of a neighborhood, I am glad we had blessed them with religious, sacred and church music.

Day of the Unborn Child

Today, March 25, the world observes the Day of the Unborn Child.

I have four brothers and two sisters. Had my mother not miscarried four babies, we would have been 11 all in all. To think that she got married at age 28 and had her first baby a year after. In the 60s, people get married much younger and so she was considered an old maid by the time she started a family.



Lately, people are delaying marriage for many reasons. Two of my friends got married in their early 30s while some are still single in their 40s. Both were blessed with children in their marriage.



I believe children are a gift from God. There are those young couples who remain childless while some couples despite their age still manage to bear children.



While I am against abortion, I feel for people who fall into this trap. One cannot tell what was going on in their minds at that time. For certain, their actions will one day catch up with them and they'll regret their loss.



Let us offer prayers for the unborn and their mothers as well.

St. Anthony Abbott

I first heard this Saint from my brother. In one of our conversations, he mentioned that the hometown patron saint of his girlfriend is St. Anthony Abad. And that those who have migrated to the city still come together and hold a special celebration in his honor every 17th of January.

I searched for information as I have known only St. Anthony of Padua. I learned that he is often invoked by those suffering from skin ailments. In the last few years, I have been bothered by skin allergies. I used to have only reactions to mosquito bites but now that I am middle aged, my skin has become more sensitive to almost anything. Maybe it's the stress.

I have long been searching for a novena to him to help me with my skin allergies, but have not found one to date. Nevertheless, let us make known this Saint, also known as St. Anthony of the Desert. You might want to check out this link for prayers and litany to the great saint.

Would you like these names?

Further to my previous post on Christian names for babies, let me share with you this article. I have heard some of them. Though, many are not quite common. Take a look, you might find the names interesting.

Thank you for the music

I love singing. I was born into a family who sings and makes music together. My mother played the piano and was an accomplished soprano who sang not only in church but in several occasions as well. She was our first music teacher long before we got to learn our ABCs.

On Friday nights, four of us children would play the violin together. We play Bach, Mozart and other classical compositions. An elder sister and a younger brother take the first violin part while another younger brother and I play the second violin part. My mother would then play the piano accompaniment while the others sing or listen. Eventually, we learned to play other musical instruments.

Our neighbors enjoyed the few hours of free classical music. Often, people tell us we remind them of the famous Von Trapp family. It's sad however, that at present we can no longer be the same family who played together years ago. My mother lost her battle with breast cancer in 1993 and a younger brother passed away in 1998 at age 27 after a brain surgery. The others have gone to live in different continents across the globe.

Nevertheless, I am grateful for the memories. I feel blessed to have a family that shares the same interests in music. Others have more individual tastes, hobbies and talents. Coming across this article brought me back in time when we enjoyed our life as children through music.

Whether the findings of the study are true or not, there is just one thing I am sure of. Music continues to bind our family. The ones who have gone past this life must have been singing and making music on the other side as well.

My Name Is...

People call friends and family by their first names. While for acquaintances or professional relations, we stick to the formal address of Mr., Ms. or Mrs. or the professional titles as Dr., Engr., and so on. Often, we have pet names or names of endearment for people really close to us.
Nobody calls me by my real name. That is because apart from my real name in my legal documents, my grandmother thought a shorter version should also be included as an alternative name. Hence, in school and in all of my credentials I opted for the shorter version.

That is how my teachers and classmates called me. My officemates and family preferred another name which was culled from that shorter version. In other words, a much shorter version of just three letters.

During our time, names of children were taken from the calendar of Saints. There were also those who opted for local names. However, at baptism, priests would add either Mary or Joseph or another Saint's name for a Christian name. I have also heard instances when priests would totally change the baby's name.

In Africa, they name babies after important or significant events. A colleague was named Mapopa, which means desert. When I asked him, he said when he was born, there were so many deaths in their village that it was almost wiped out. Hence, the name.

In one of the homilies, the priest spoke about his concerns as well on the recent trend of naming babies after things or whatever is popular at the time. He asked three people to come up and tell us their names as he explained African culture of naming babies. I can't remember anymore the names of two elderly people who went up to him. However, the younger man was named "Suzgo" , which is a Tumbuka word for problem. When he was still in his mother's womb, she had a lot of problems.

Every culture has its own way of choosing names for their babies. While I have no problem about local names that are usually good or positive adjectives or even significant events, as it showcases one's culture and identity, I would never name a baby after a tragedy, a problem or anything that spells disaster.

I recall a godson named Rocky as it was at that time the Sylvester Stallone movie was very popular. I heard another colleague named his son Astroboy. I don't really know how he got the name but to me it sounds more like a comic or robot character.

Nevertheless, I support the Pope's take on how parents should give names to their children in this article. Very well worth a thought...

Bringing Back Modesty

I came across this article which may spark a variety of reactions. However, I personally welcome the move. When I was in Africa, anything shorter than ankle length is considered short. It may be a bit extreme but then they are more excusing of foreigners like me. In spite of that, I tried to conform to their standards. Though I wore shorter skirts/dresses at times, I stuck to the acceptable knee-length clothes which they still call mini.

I am not really very conservative but then for me, it is more of appropriate clothings for the occasion. In these times, you see a lot of barely clothed people not only in billboards along highways and thoroughfares but also on TV. Hence, people get to wear the same clothes everywhere.

It's high time we draw the line particularly in church and in business attires.

Papal's Prayer Intentions for January

General Intention

That the riches of creation be preserved, valued and made available to all, as precious gifts from God to mankind.

Missionary Intention

That Christians may achieve full unity, bearing witness of the universal fatherhood of God to the entire human race.

Welcome 2011

Thank you Lord for the past year. As we usher in a new one, may you bless us with good health, kind hearts and humble spirits to seek only what is best for us and our neighbor in accordance with your will. May we not forget our departed loved ones who were once part of our lives and who we look forward to meeting once again in your heavenly kingdom.

The feast of the Black Nazarene will be on the 9th of January. Every Friday a lot of devotees flock to the shrine for favors and thanksgiving for petitions granted. I also get to pray and hear mass there once in a while when I get the chance as it is quite a distance from where I live.

Let us join other devotees in the novena prayers which start on New Year's Day. I pray that we all get our petitions granted.