Sta. Monica Parish, Mexico, Pampanga

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This is the Parish of Sta. Monica in Mexico, Pampanga. The original church was built by the Augustinian friars. The cite of the the original church is now the house or convent of the Benedictine Monastery of Perpetual Adoration. The current church was built through the effort and help of the people of Mexico.

Mother of Good Counsel Parish, Chrysanthemum Village, Laguna

Mother of Good Counsel Parish, 

Chrysanthemum Village, Laguna
This church is administered by Augustinian priests. 

Five day Immersion in Zambales

I didn't have the time to correct my grammar here.Please bare with it. LOL

There were so many exciting experiences and realizations when we had our 5 day immersion activity in Botolan, Zambales with the indigenous families of Aetas from October 17-21, 2011. In these days, I lived, together with Fray Ian, to a very simple family with 4 children. My foster-parents were Nanay Leonida and Tatay Nestor and their children, Violeta (11 yrs old), Leo (8 yrs. Old), Vic (7 yrs. Old), and Gil (6 yrs old).

We had to eat our dinner before the sun sets because there’s no electricity available in their area. However, before we could eat we have first to look for the food. So there was once a morning that we had to wake-up early morning and walk for almost twenty minutes and harvest some vegetables to a private land property, where our foster father worked as a caretaker, since he is the one tilling the land. We then have to finish all necessary things before evening and the rest of night is an opportunity for us also to talk with them. Moreover, Food for them is scarce. There was also a day that we are not suppose to have a breakfast but a concerned neighbor shared a little for the family.

Sto. Niño de Cebu

Our Lady of the Queen of Peace Retreat House, La Union

Our retreat last October 24-28, 2011 in La Union was a magnificent display of nature. The most outstanding scenery was the sunset. I have never seen a wonderful sunset like this in my life. The retreat house was located on top of a hill and it gives a very wonderful picture of it. We even played around with the sun as you can see in the picture. 

I'm not actually a lover of flowers but their colors seem to attract my attention and take a snap shout on them.
Before I forget, the name of the retreat house is Our Lady of the Queen of Peace Retreat House. It is also a priory since old nuns of the benedictines stay there.As to what I heard they are independent from the Order of Saint Benedict but they can still carry the title OSB in their names.

Holy Angels Parish, Damortis, La Union

On October 28, 2011 - We were guided by a benedictine nun, who was assigned in the retreat house of where we stayed for five days with them. She was so hospitable that she even lead the way going to Agoo, La Union. Before going to Agoo, we first visited their parish in Damortis. We were then introduced to the parish priest, who warmly greeted us together with a teacher from a nearby school.

Nuestra Señora Virgin del Marcautiva is an image
and devotion to the Our Lady enshrined
in the Holy Angels Parish.

The facade of the Holy Angels Parish in Damortis, La Union.

Our Lady of Manaoag Shrine, Pangasinan

The facade of the Shrine of the
Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan.

October 28, 2011- The Shrine of the Our Lady of Manaoag is one of famous churches in the Philippines that thousands of pilgrims and devotees of the Blessed Virgin Mary flock into this church annually. It is where the miraculous image of the Our Lady is protected and taken care by the Dominican Fathers. We also grabbed the opportunity to visit, see and touch this image and church in Northern Luzon.

We were lucky during our visit since there were only few devotees and pilgrims, who paid a visit at the moment. The line going to the image of the Our Lady for us to touch was only short. We did not have to line and wait a long time before reaching the image during Saturdays and her feast week. 

Devotees trying to reach a part of the image
of the Our Lady of Manaoag as a sign of
deeper longing to reach out her through arduous prayers. 

I bought an image of the Our Lady of Manaoag as a remembrance to this place since it is very rare for us to visit the north. I was not suppose to buy one since I have no more money but the sentimental value of the image that I will buy in the place itself would mean a lot. My conscience tells me to consider that it is only a once in a lifetime experience and I might not be able to visit again the church and the Our Lady. So I lend 100.00 pesos from my good friend Pocholo.

That's me in the picture in front of the
Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag.

I also offered my personal prayers to Mary to intercede to the Father to grant my petitions in life. I do believe that Mary is our intercessor to the Father as it was shown to us when Jesus performed his first miracle at the wedding feast at Cana. The has not yet come supposedly but since it was his mother's request he granted her wish. I hope and pray that she will also intercede and be the instrument so that God ma answer and hopes and dreams in life.