My First Philo Class in ADF

Last Friday, I attended Madam’s Philo Class. When I visited her a day before, she asked me if I could attend the said class and with no hesitations I immediately said “YES” in reply. I always thought of joining the group even when I was still in college but there were spatial and temporal constraints. I was really longing for small forums that will deal with matters we don’t usually encounter in school. Well, I love hearing different points of view and new perspectives from other people may it be of my age group or not. It would really be a great deal to engage ourselves into such deep analysis for an instance on a certain issue. For a student who’s been sick and tired of the usual school routines, the said class may serve as a way to relax and at the same time, feed the mind (with not the usual mind-contorting inquiries). The night was dedicated to some sort of human evolution from Discovery Channel. We watched a very informative video and had an indeed amazing discussion filled with awe about related matters (while consuming delicious spaghetti prepared by none other than Madam c;). The topic was made relevant as we compare it with the naturally-occurring phenomena in the world today (with shared curiosity on some stuff). Here’s my blog http://johnmarkkatindigtorres.blogspot.com/2011/03/discovery-channels-real-eve-inquiry-to.html on the points raised in both the film and my co-scholars as well.

Ash Wednesday

I am not certain if I use to attend Ash Wednesday mass during my elementary years but I am pretty sure I do since high school. Observing Catholic norms and activities became more apparent to me especially during our Christian Living classes in high school.  Since I finished high school in a Catholic institution, the said mass is held in our school. During college in a secular university, I attend the mass at St. Therese Chapel in the afternoon. As for this year’s, my mom and I, went to the mass early in the morning at Virgen de las Flores Quasi Church in our place. Of course, the homily dealt with the importance of the event. As we all know, it marks the start of the Lent Season. Much more of penance and fasting, it indicates a period of reflection and spiritual conversion to prepare us all for the coming of Jesus Christ on Easter.

The Ash

A week before, the parochial or quasi priest may ask the community church-goers to bring their year-old blessed palms (palaspas) from the previous Palm Sunday. These are burned into ashes and then sanctified with Holy Water and incense. The ashes are used in marking a cross in our foreheads to remind us the sense of humility and sacrifice Jesus has shown us during his time. Out of devotion, the contemporary people receive ashes as reminded by the homily’s message: “Man came from dust and to dust shall he return”. The mortal life passes away and eternity shall be achieved in peace and sacrifice we are living for.

An Overnight Stay in Intramuros: The Transient

               Yesterday’s an incredible day for me. I went to Intramuros, Manila to find a place to stay overnight for the following day’s exam in the University of the City of Manila (College of Medicine).  It was more or less 2 1/2-hour trip from Bulacan. I entered the walled-city through an ingress just in front of the City Hall. It’s always a great feeling to explore such a wonderful ancestral place but I won’t dwell on that matter for now.  With an unsteady gait, I walked inside the area and search for an apartment. I strolled through small avenues and corners of every street; there were many food stalls and carinderia and some old establishments that have remained standing for years. Some lanes were flooded by stinky left-overs and trashes [how I wish the local officials exert some effort regarding these] of which I found a good breathing exercise must be practiced, reminding me then those times when I was still part of a school choir [holding a lungful of air for a moment and controlling gradual inhale-exhale process]. I was indeed holding my breath as I struggle to cross and stride over some areas in the place until I found a row of commercial residences. Inquiring was far easier than walking through the streets [laughs..] and it was a relief when I finally found a place to stay. It took me almost an hour waiting for the landlady to show where I will be spending the night so I chose to take an early dinner. There was a carinderia in the first floor and I was wondering if the next two floors are for rent until I was lead to a typical student room upstairs by the landlady. Again, it stinks [laughs...] but had no other options to take so I need to grab the offer or else...hmmm...

                It was a four-cornered room with two double-decks and a small storage area. She told me that I’ll be the only one to occupy it for the night and that I should feel free to ask her boy for some needs. The stay will cost me a hundred and fifty pesos which I gave immediately before she left the room. I was planning to take a simple tour outside but I decided not to. Anyway, I still have to prepare for tomorrow’s exam and have enough rest. I was about to sleep at 9 when I heard not from afar videoke songs. Downstairs was crowded with people singing also and I couldn’t sleep [how I wish I brought my ear plugs, sighs...] It was really horrible; my eyes popped and my eardrums almost broke, I swear. The music, well actually the noise emanated just below my bed. All head turns, body curls, twists and the like; I did all of these but I really couldn’t manage to sleep and all I was thinking is whether I’ll still be able to take the exam the next day. It was 2:30a.m. when all of the stores decided to cease operations [operation sleep interference, grrr...] and I was very thankful, at least. I couldn’t sleep with lights on but I was forced by the circumstance because when I tried to turn it off, cockroaches came flying and creeping in the room and they’re disgusting, argh... [ I even heard squeaking mice]. It was 5 when I rose up and started preparing myself to do morning routines as fast as I can and leave the place, huh [far more relieving (laughs)].

Green Thumb

              Early today I have transferred my tomato seedlings from the nursing pots to the soil. It reminded me then the times when I was still in my grade school years cultivating the soil in our backyard and growing vegetables and fruits. I always join my dad whenever he’s to plant trees both in the farm and in our yard. Today, coconut trees serve as natural fence and lot boarders in our compound. I used to have a row for pechay, tomatoes, squash and eggplants of which seeds came from dried fruits and flowers of the said veggies. I also have had a mini-garden with golden bush shrubs, the mayana and oregano herbs, euphorbias and santans. At the middle was a starfruit (balimbing) tree to which I had 2 orchids and red-orange ornament from Bocaue. Honestly, I presume I really have the gardening skill as everybody in our place commends me to have the so-called green thumb. Well I think what inspired me to start planting was my Inang who was at that time enthusiastic to grow crops in her farm. While Tatang’s busy in his ricefield, Inang grew corns, peanuts, string beans, squash and pechays. There were also lady’s fingers (okra), bitter gourds (ampalaya), bottle gourds (upo), sponge gourd (patola) and winged beans (bataw). From the underground tubers and bulbs to low-lying shrubs, from crops with prop roots to green leafy v’s with stunning tendrils , the whole farm created an astounding collection of glittering foliage and nutritious produce. However, I think, as years went by and as she grows older and feeble, she was no longer capable of doing farm activities. The same thing goes for my case as I became engaged to school and other related activities.

           

            After almost a decade, I am once more into a backyard project [well at least for the moment while waiting for the next academic year, c;]. Last October, my Tatang and I transferred 3 banana suckers in our backyard and one has already bear fruits since late November [though ‘til now, the fruits are not ripe] and it will take atleast 2 months more [sighs]. Our papayas are great. We have harvested many fruits for long same for my calamansi. Right now, am still nursing some ampalaya, squash and bell pepper seedlings, hoping that next week they’ll be ready for transfer.

            The funny thing here is, ironically, while I love growing vegetables, I certainly do not like consuming them [well at least I choose some recognizing the need to have them in my diet]. I eat cabbage, pechay, squash, carrots, tomatoes and water spinach [oh so great, in sinigang or simple blanch], toasted garlic and onions, potatoes and taro. I don’t know why but I just don’t like string beans, ampalaya [well it’s bitter anyway], okra, eggplant, cucumbers and family, mustards and a lot more [laughs]. I was actually raised in a farm but I just don’t have the taste for much of the veggies. All I know is I enjoy growing them, in a detail I know, protecting them from occasional weeds and opportunistic insects  until the right time comes and have them harvested.