PAL RAINE

An unplanned activity yesterday(April 2), when my father decides to have Visita Iglesia in different churches.

When was the last time we do it together with my parents? I can't remember already, it's been too long. When I renew my faith and become born again, I was busy with my church activities, I haven't had the chance to join my parents again. Still I respect their beliefs and practices from old church doctrines.

I did not block them just because of their RELIGION, I look at people from other faiths as people and not as categories or religions.

HOLY WEEK IN THE PHILIPPINES is very unique and at the same time well organized by the whole Christian-Catholic community.

Traditionally, Catholics are well reserve this day and have all the sacrifices to be followed by going to church, while modern Catholics are just relaxing, taking advantage of the long vacation they have by going to the beach or staycation by having a movie marathon at home.

I decided to follow my father and observe how practicing Catholic do during Lenten Season.

VISITA IGLESIA is an old religious tradition that most of the CATHOLICS followed during Holy Week. This is where they visit FIVE or SEVEN churches usually on Maundy Thursday. This is where we recite the 14 STATIONS OF THE CROSS. For some others, they visit 14 churches for 14 stations each, but for some others they prefer 5 or 7 churches to visit or for those who have no means in transferring churches they prefer to stay in one church.

My parents prefer to visit 5 churches only, churches that are significant to them:

*vicariate- an apostolic territorial jurisdiction

San Pedro Cathedral located at San Pedro St., Davao City

San Pedro Cathedral is the oldest Church in Davao City and a premier historical landmark too. This is the center of the Archidioecesis Davaensis (Archdiocese of Davao), the set of the Archbishop.

The interior design is modernly designed with stained glass images of biblical scene, as well the altar reflect the old design of San Pedro Parish way back 1901.

My last visit here happened last month, during my youngest daughter BACCALAUREATE MASS for their graduation.

ST. JUDE THADDEUS PARISH located at Malvar St., at the back of Davao Doctors Hospital

This church is famous for devotee students and professionals who are praying for a positive result from an exam or having an upcoming exam, asking for guidance and enlightenment, most of them are board exam takers.

(c) The LONE TRAVELLER

Jude or Thaddeus, was a brother of James the Less and relative of Jesus. He is one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus. Called as the patron saints of desperate, hopeless and lost causes.

Church was founded in 1965 under the vicariate of San Pedro. One of a fully airconditioned churches here in Davao.

My last visit here is when my friend parents have their wedding vow renewal that was 3 years ago.

OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION PARISH located at F. Torres St., Davao City

According to Catholic Church, the Assumption means is the bodily taking up of Virgin Mary into heaven this happened at the end of her earthly life. Virgin Mary was taken up into heaven while still alive, bodily and soul.

The church is founded in 1959 still under the vicariate of San Pedro. though there are changes in their interior, still the place looks solemn to me.

My last visit here is when my mother stayed at the CURSILLO HOUSE just beside Assumption Parish way back 80s.

REDEMPTORIST CHURCH located at JP Laurel Avenue, Bajada, Davao City, fronting Abreeza Ayala Mall

Redemptorist Church is formerly known as the Mother of Perpetual Help Parish founded in 1972. The church is HOME to good people who are lending help and caring homeless people. Under the Vicariate of San Pedro.

I like the ambiance of this church, fresh and very cool. And very accessible to jeepneys, Taxi's, mall, hotels, etc...

OUR LADY OF FATIMA PARISH located at Fatima St., Piapi, Boulevard, Davao City

Our Lady of Fatima was founded in 1952, under the vicariate of St. Anne or Sta. Ana Parish.

One of the most memorable place of my life. How can I forget this place, my parents serve in this church for a long time as a Marriage Facilitator Counselor. This is where I was baptized and have my confirmation. And I served as a Catechist and a choir at the same time. But when we transfer house in 1996, both my parents and I stop serving the church for good, but still when I got married, I chose Fatima Parish for my wedding ceremony and my eldest daughter was baptized here too.

We haven't visited the place for so many years and for the first time, we were amazed to see it again.

So overwhelmed with the new things I see inside, from the interior design of the altar, the ceiling, the door in the middle door fronting the altar, and etc..everything was new to me.

So these are the five churches we've visited. You can visit this place if you need spiritual guidance or just want to experience and see the marvel architectural design these churches have. Here in Davao City, Philippines the most dominant group is Roman Catholic at 83.83%, Christian groups comprise to 15% only and others belong to remaining 1.17% for non-Christian like Islam, Buddhism, etc.

All are significant churches to us and worth visiting. Whether you are a non-Catholic believer, you can still take time to reflect while visiting these churches. As I said, I respect my parents belief and I don't have problems about that as long as there is unity and peace in our home. For us we avoid to talk about religion.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

All religion are equal. If you cannot respect religion then know that its followers are human it hurts when someone criticize your beliefs and religions etc..so set an example.

For now, my two girls are still young to know all of these things but as they grow up I know they will understand. To have a story like these who gone through a lot, it is a painful process -- emotionally and physically. But I can say that, for me at least, the rewards of my journey have been more than worth it.

The important is you have RESPECT and HAVE PEACE within yourself and to all mankind. And that is the new command that Jesus has taught us: "TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, SO YOU MUST LOVE ONE ANOTHER." John 13:34

As a former student and a graduate of a prestigious school, I have experienced ups and down and observed how our school discipline, support and respect their students from moving up and learning in specific way.

So sad to say that my daughters school(a public school)in Davao City, as I have observed that children's basic rights are often ignored.(A disclaimer: I am referring to my children's school, and I am not citing that all public schools are like this)

Happened during the commencement exercise of my youngest daughter, when her name is not listed in the program to receive LOYALTY AWARD, though her name was called during Recognition Day as one of the recipient of the said award, the fact that her name is not listed in the program during graduation is a big issue to her part.

The Program was distributed one day before the graduation. My daughter went home crying, telling me that her name is not included in the list of the program. For her, she has waited for this for so many years, that this will make her day a day.

When we adults refuse to work jointly with our child natural development, we create immense, unnecessary suffering towards the part of our children. A scenario like this is seemingly harmless experiences for us as adult, but for a child this kind of an occasional event being denied the right to be listed, can leave a trauma and health problems that are carried as they grow up an adult.

Frustrated? YES, I too feel frustrated that I cannot STOPPED holding my disappointment and I tried to comfort her with these words:

Screenshot from my FB Timeline

Honor's, Awards, Trophies aren't everything. I don't have ill feelings or bitterness that my daughter is not included in the TOP 10, but to appreciate and recognize my daughter through looking at the program with her name listed is what I want to point out here. Nothing else matters aside from seeing your child receiving all the recognition's but also to see her happy with the things she achieved honestly and fairly.

I've heard that this also happened a year ago, same situation,and many parents complain about it. But you've never had the courage to say "SORRY", but rather choose to be quiet.

You did not make any improvements!

No matter how busy you are during the preparation, teacher assigned must grant the right to take care of their student's bodily needs. To forget to put their name in the program is not acceptable, knowing that we are in the 21st century.

(1) Wrong spelling of name or misspelled name.

Jeanille and not Jeanil.

(2) Name not listed.

As teachers, both are not acceptable in the EXAM. You are strict about this, right? Wrong spelling is wrong!!!

Proof read first before making a final copy of the program, make sure everyone is listed. That PROGRAM is not a paper, that after its use, it is being thrown in the trash. For me and for others as well it serves as a remembrance, a sentimental value that they've graduated in the Primary Level.

As I've said, we are in the 21st centuries, not a valid reason to tell me that you forget and you are in a hurry making the program, because it is easy to edit and delete records or programs/files now, for facilities are so much more sophisticated than they were back then.

Why does my reaction force me to write and convulse and make noise? You will say that I am too ridiculous or exaggerated. Yes, because I am a mother. And as a mother, I want my child to be treated in a fair manner.

I did not send my daughter to school to be humiliated and be discriminated. If parents are their HOME MODEL for discipline and respect, then TEACHERS should be their SCHOOL MODEL too. To receive protection and take responsibility for his/her own well-being and for the child's well-being.

I know how children admire their teachers because they are the second parents to them. They respect, follow and admire their teachers very much and if you will ask them, who is that someone they like to put in a pedestal---their answer will be their TEACHERS. And I too agree to that, they're are our society HEROES, because my parents are both teachers too!

#TheRightsoftheChild is a very basic human rights. For me children's right starts from her/his educational environment. I hope this will be an awakening for others especially teachers, though my sentiments here are too low(for others not a big issue), but this will raise awareness for so delicate or precise abuse and hidden suffering occur in schools every day, that not parents are aware of.

Teachers should allow their students to be comfortable in their learning environment, an atmosphere that parents will feel better if they see their children more happier and not to go home crying because of neglection, discrimination, and seeing your child emotionally and intellectually drained.

Our children will gain many opportunities if they will experience TRUE, HONEST, and FAIR learning's from the teachers. They will accept it will JOY that leads them to a lifelong LOVE for KNOWLEDGE, BEHAVIORS, SKILLS, VALUES and appreciate the things around them.

For 38 years in my life, living here in Davao City, electricity has been a luxury and I can't remember that my parents struggle in preparing food and get household chores using electricity. Though I never forget that there comes a time, that was on May 21, 1990 as far as I can remember that we need to minimize the use of electricity to conserve power---called DST or Daylight Saving Time.

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME, when clock was turned forward 1 hour. When I have to wake up early because my school time is 7 o'clock in the morning(when 7 becomes 6 o'clock). For the first time, Philippines experienced a daylight saving time during the ousted Marcos dictatorship, and in between 1986 and 1998 under Pres. Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos. The main reason is to alleviate the energy crisis by minimizing the use of number of hours in electricity, to utilize and consume energy power, this way we can make better use of the natural light.

Now that I am a mother, I experienced how to feel inconvenient in paying my electricity bills and to see the ordeal on how it increases with all the scheduled brownouts. And with all the things that happened to our mother earth, like typhoon, floods, earthquake, etc...it's not God's fault; blamed it all to us!

The GLOBAL WARMING and CLIMATE CHANGE, these two correlate with each other. Though Global Warming refers to a recent and ongoing increase of our global average temperature, like the increases concentration of greenhouse gases that produces carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This causes CLIMATE PATTERN to change. This is where CLIMATE CHANGE occurs, when the layer of greenhouse gas is getting thicker, in which our mother EARTH becomes warmer and this is very dangerous. The tremendous use of fossil fuels that destroy our earth atmosphere will have an ecological impact that we on earth will suffer.

Sounds scary! Yes, it is if we don't know how to care of our Mother Earth...we will surely SUFFER.

EARTH HOUR PHILIPPINES 2015

Since 2008 when WWF-Philippines launches the Earth Hour, I take part in this advocacy and I believe that in switching OFF our light we can make help solve our energy problem.

Earth Hour's global focus is to use the power of the crowd and by engaging the people to make a change to CLIMATE CHANGE.

Give the GIFT OF LIGHT

Our country really suffered a lot with so much typhoon and has had to adapt to climate change ahead than most other countries. We are called to make a "BAYANIHAN"(a fellowship), to join hand in hand spreading the effect of climate change.

For this year, EARTH HOUR is focusing their advocacy in giving light to those people that up to now are still living in the dark due to lack of access to electricity, to give the GIFT OF LIGHT.

Until now, we still have places here in the Philippines that uses kerosene just to light up their houses. EARTH HOUR will distribute solar-powered lamps to 200 families on the island of Beton, Northern Palawan. So that children will be able to study at night without taking a risk of fire and to help them to stop from buying expensive kerosene.

JOIN THE SWITCH OFF

In the spirit of promoting a meaningful climate solution, we are called especially the FAMILY to stay at home and observe the switching hour through low carbon means.

Or you can join the SWITCH-OFF EVENT at Felcris Centrale in celebrating EARTH HOUR.