The Filipino Friends Blog

Update on life…

Well, sorry for not being more actively writings as such, but am in the midst of moving to another location and sorting out stuff that you accummulate is …. WOW!  There tons of crap that you didn’t know you had!!  So, I am actively doing that and also going thru all paper work (accummulation) that is not needed and throwing them away and put the important papers aside to store safely!  I’ve not even started on those, and I have  2-3 boxes of it!!

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I’ve more or less, cleared out the one bedroom/bathroom; sold the washing machine and telly; now just need to see if I can sell some of the other stuff that I got – if not, it will go to charity!

I did manage to get most of the stuff that were not using in storage – the next thing is put all the kitchen stuff with a few exceptions like leave a few dishes, glasses, cups until we are truly out of this place.  I am packing away some of our clothes in suitcases and just leave a few clothes for the rest of this week – washed all the clothes and now need to be careful as to what we wear as will have no access to a washing machine until we move to our new digs!

To add to our misery/stress, our AC has packed up!  This was supposedly fixed last year and with the heat outside and no AC, yes, it very hot/humid and we are either showering alot!  The fans on all the rooms are going and turn off the AC – am not going to get it fixed, we’re out of here at the end of the month…so for a few days we will have to suffer and walk around naked … well until someone comes knocking!! LOL…

Tonight its not too bad, its cooler outside all windows are open and fans blowing… so another hot night, but not too bad – I might be able to sleep all the way thru!!

Hope all is well and I’ll keep you all abreast of my adventure in moving.. till then.. have a great evening!! 😀

Filipino Catholics

This was sent to me from my Aunt as she wanted to share it and I thought of sharing it all of you.  Now, as you all know that the majority is Catholic/Christian in religion – of course, like everyone else, I was brought up to be catholic…as the years progress, I call myself Christian now.  I don’t want a debate of religion as each one of us has an opinion and I respect your views and all I ask is you to respect mine.

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Read this great story from Steve Ray…

FILIPINO CATHOLICS FROM THE EYES OF A FOREIGNER

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!

Sesame Burgers and Beer

Well its a Monday and we are sitting here at Sesame having a home made burger dinner w/ homemade fries and their home made ketchup and mustard! The whole place have a great selection of craft beer on draught and bottles! They have daily specials that changes weekly same goes for their beer but its monthly specials!

We come when we can and its always such a great place just to hang with friends too!

If you ever come to South Carolina be sure to stop by at Sesame Burgers and Beer!