Vancouver With Love

"Bakas" Of A Special Friend

Last  year, I lost  my long time friend and kumare , Aurora Calicdan de Guzman . A month earlier , she sent  me  a  card  for my birthday  as well as  an invitation card  to her daughter Grace's graduation  from medical  school  and the  pictures  at Grace's  graduation . When we graduated  from high school  she wanted  to  take up medicine  . Unfortunately  , she  was not able  to  go to medical  school . She became an educator instead . But it was still her cherished dream  that one  of  her children  would  become  what  she  wanted to be  . She  did not become a medical doctor , but  she lived for that  dream . It was Grace  who  made her Mom's  dream come true .  She was full of pride and joy  when she witnessed  Grace's graduation .  A  few weeks later , cancer  finally  claimed  her  life .

Picture of the  family  was taken at Grace's graduation  from medical school at University of California San Diego . Auring ( in red ) is shown  with new graduate Grace , husband Jun , Cheryl  and  Armand . Jason is standing behind  Auring .

This  is the picture that Auring  had  waited for ..Grace 's Graduation  from Medical School  on  June 4th , 2006 ......

Auring  passed  away  on  July 10th , 2006 .

On June 30th this year , her husband  Silverio ( aka Jun ) de Guzman , their children, relatives and friends got together  for her " bakas " . It  was  a time  for Jun's former  classmates ( MNHS class '59 )  and Auring's  high school classmates ( STHS batch '59 )  to get together  and  reminisce  . They  had  also  the chance to discuss  some tentative plans for  the coming  50th  or Golden Jubilee  celebration  for  their  own  batches . Present  was  our dear  Mrs. Josefina  de Vera  , former  teacher  in STHS  and  MNHS ( later  in her  teaching years .)   who was  and  is always  close  to the  family  .         

In  this picture  are  Jun  and former classmates , Irene  de Guzman  , Cecile  Ferrer Mejia  and Milagros Aquino . Standing are  his  children  Jason , Armand , Grace  and Cheryl .

This  is  a part of the group  who attended  the "bakas" or " babang-luksa " of Auring . In the picture are ( seated ) Fely  de Guzman , Milagros  Aquino , Cecile Ferrer  Mejia , Annie Biala de Guzman  , Mrs. Josefina de Vera , Luz Biala  and Ross Mejia ( partly hidden by the  dark  shadow  ) . Standing are  Irene de Guzman , Manny  Biason , Leo Abrazaldo , Paul  Abrazaldo , Perla Biala , Mila Biala , Lu de Vera , Jun  de  Guzman , Joe de Guzman and  Resurrection  Abrazaldo Chua . Serafin Serafica  , Auring's  former classmate , and his wife , Rebecca  were in the  group but  not in the pictures . 

Picture taken during the  prayers  with Jun , Grace , Cheryl , Armand  and Jason leading  the  group  prayer  with  Mrs. Josefina de Vera . On  the far right   are  family friends  from San Diego , ( l-r ) Neal , Nic John , Rosalie  and  Nic  Ramos .   

There is always a void  left  when  a person  passes on . It will  be  a  long  time  before  the family and close friends  get back  to  normal . Officially , "bakas"  marks the end of the mourning period  for the family  members  . However , memories  will  always linger  on , but  life  has  to go  on ....

Thanks to Cecile  and Ross  Mejia for sending me the pictures during  the "bakas" get together .....Marie  

HAPPY EASTER GREETINGS

                                                    

A  BLESSED  AND  HAPPY  EASTER   TO ALL  OUR  KABALEYANS  AND  FRIENDS !

Jesus Has  Risen ! ! !

Today is Easter Sunday . It is not  only  about easter eggs, easter bunnies, easter chocolates and easter lilies.

Easter is about Jesus' resurrection, after suffering  and  dying  on the  cross .

For us , christians , specially  catholics, we try to go through the sufferings of  Jesus, Our Lord. We fast, we abstain (from our favorite things ). We try to cleanse our souls in order to be ready to receive  Him on Easter Sunday. We usually do  our  soul-searching  and  we go to the process  of  healing spiritually .

On Easter morning , we celebrate Jesus' resurrection first  of  all , by attending  the Easter Sunday Mass and Holy  Communion . Then  comes the traditional  family  get-together.

In Mangaldan , families  normally  share "Lauya " and pancit . At least  that  was what  we did  when  I was still  living  with my parents. Mangaldanians  know what "Lauya" is . On Easter Sunday , a meal  without "lauya" is not  complete . "Lauya " is  full of  calories , I was told , but  at  that  time , nobody cared  about  calories.

And speaking of healing, many Filipinos and Mangaldanians in particular  are  always embracing  not  only spiritual healing  but  the healing  of  our bodies.

Most recently, we , in Vancouver , are blest with the opportunity to experience the presence of Father Fernando Suarez, a 40 year  old Filipino priest  from the Order of the Companion of the Cross  in Toronto , Canada. Father Edo , as he is fondly  called, was bestowed the gift of  healing  when  he was  16 years  old  and  he  has given hope, cure , and even life , since then. He is quick to stress that the power comes  from God and he is merely an instrument of God's will ..

Soon, the Shrine in Montemaria, Batangas , will be built  and  it will be the  tallest shrine of  Our Blessed  Mother Mary in the world, 34 floors high , 1001 spiral steps leading to the crown where one can  witness and behold the spectacular view of the  the Batangas Bay and the Verde Island Passage, the declared center  of the Marine Biodiversity in the world ( according to  the United Nations ).

It is  Father Edo  who is leading the initiative for building the shrine  in honor of our Blessed Mother , through  Mary , Mother of the Poor Foundation . Many Filipinos  and  Mangaldanians have been to Father Edo's healing  masses in different  venues. I heard that  he has been invited to San Fabian, Pangasinan  this  Easter  Sunday  to officiate at a  special  healing mass .

I had the opportunity to attend  and  to  listen to  Father Suarez' healing  mass . It was ironic that during the first few years  of his  healing  masses , he said he was so  scared  to  speak  in  front  of  countless people . But  as I  listened to his sermon, I became so enthralled  with  his talk . He had no paper  , no cues to read . It was  always  an  impromptu speech .. but boy , oh , boy, I wanted  to hear  more  after  he ended his talk . I am posting two  pictures  of  Fr. Edo , with  Pepe and Mona  Lopez Tan , who never miss  his healing  masses and  Fr. Edo  with  Briggy  and  Rusty  Cervas  Miraflor and Mona . So , make sure you  watch  for his  schedules. You will  definitely  enjoy his healing masses ..      

Santo Tomas Aquinas Novena

We have  just  enjoyed the  posting  of the pictures  during  the Mangaldan North California Association Fiesta held  on March 10, 2007 . The pictures had evoked  emotional responses  and reconnections  not only  among  mankakabaleyans  but  former  acquaintances in different parts of  Pangasinan.

However , before the March 10th  dinner  dance  event , the officers and some members of the very active association had the nine day novena  for the Patron Saint of  Mangaldan, Santo Tomas  Aquinas , which culminated  on his feastday , January , 28th . Mangaldanians are very religious in nature .. And what is a town fiesta  without  the religious aspect ?  I received  a letter from Tia Feling  ( nee Tamondong ) Palisoc, a  true  Mangaldanian at heart and mother  of Ditas P Sarzaba, the Vice president of MAONCA .

    Dear Marie,
    Congratulations for the good job you are doing! The launching of the ALIGUAS MANGALDAN website is very much appreciated." Marakep yan anonotan yo nenDjoma." It is really reconnecting our kabaleyans living in different places here abroad. So far yet so near!
    Through your website, I have seen the pictures of my good old friends and former classmate..Comadre Epay Cabanilla and Asiang Visperas, who are in Australia.They still look good inspite that we are now in our mid eighties.(85) Thank God.
    Aside from the grand celebration of our town fiesta last March 10,2007, the association celebrated the feast day of our town's Patron Saint,St. Thomas de Aquinas. We did our old traditions by having a 9 days novena to different homes of our kabaleyans, led by the associations Religious Committee Chairman,Teresing Oca and some senior citizens.On the feast day, January 28, we had a mass held in the house of the President Perla Biala Cruz, officiated by Rev. Dante Biala Tamayo."Galin  Amin Kabaleyan" which was composed by the late Paeng Magno was our recessional hymn. Potluck lunch followed. "Singa kami wala ed baley tin Mangaldan".
   I miss to see Lourdes last fiesta. I wasn't able to attend.

                                                    Tia Feling Tamondong Palisoc

Ditas  emailed me some pictures  taken  during the nine-day novena culminating on  Santo Tomas Aquinas Feast Day , Jan.28th . It will be another  pleasure  to  post  these for  our  kakabaleyans to see .                   

                                                                      
This  picture shows Carol Oca ,Perla B. Cruz, Teresita Oca, the coordinator of religious activities,  Teresita Fernandez Servito  ,new member Gerald Quinto de Guzman ( son of  Dr . Gregorio de Guzman and the former Corazon Quinto  ) , Ditas  ( nee Palisoc) and Dick Sarzaba  and Rey Suarez .

The  group rehearsing " Galin Amin Kabaleyan" composed  by a local Mangaldanian , the late Rafael Magno .

Amazingly , daughters are following in the footsteps  of  their mothers as this picture proves : Cora Marron and daughter Lani, Mercie Cereno and daughter Gilda, Feling Palisoc and  daughter Ditas , Nena Ritualo and daughter  Merly and Mameng Abril and daughter Delia.

The  seniors  group shown on the picture on the right includes  Cora Marron , Mameng Abril , Feling Palisoc, Marcie Cereno and Nena  Ritualo .. Do they look like seniors ? Not at all , I would say ...

This is the  group picture of the  officers and members of MAONCA  who were  present during the Santo Tomas nine day novena  and lompos in keeping with the religious tradition of our town of Mangaldan .The  association is lucky  indeed to have  the support of many  seniors  and mothers in the group  as well as the  younger  ones . Maaliguas  la  lawas   komon sa baley  tayon  Mangaldan  tan  sikatayora  ya Mangaldanians  all over .

Thank you for sending  the letter , Tia  Feling  and  the pictures, Ditas. 

MARIE    

Invitation for Simbang Gabi in Vancouver

Claire Torio Alejandria  just sent me an e-mail  inviting  Filipinos , particularly Mangaldanians , to attend  the traditional  Simbang Gabi or Misa De Gallo  to be officiated by Father Gil  Alejandria , who just arrived  from the Philippines . The Masses  will be held in Corpus  Christi Church at  6350 Nanaimo Street ( at  48th Ave )

Dates: Dec. 15-23 , 2006

Schedules:

FRIDAY : Dec. 15  7:00pm

SAT:  Dec .16  5:00 pm

SUN:/MON/Tues/WED: Dec .17,18,19,20   7:00 pm

THURS: Dec. 21  8:00 pm ( Communal Penance Service at 7:00 pm)

FRI: Dec. 22   7:00 pm

SAT : Dec. 23  5:00 pm 

Simbang Gabi  or Misa de Gallo is normally a midnight mass or mass of the rooster which comes  from the catholic custom of gathering  for celebration  of the Eucharist  in the pre-dawn hours  of each  of the nine days  before  Christmas .   We are glad that  we have this opportunity  to  celebrate a Filipino  tradition  while  we  are far  from home . Thanks  for  sending  the schedules , Claire .  For many of us  from Mangaldan , Misa de Gallo means  waking up  in the very early morning , "palbangon , no arom san pamilya so onla , no arom san kokomya  ya mansasamaran ." Sweater dia , sweater diman  so  nagagawaan  tan awit awit " . After  the mass , diretso ed panaderia ya mangaliw na "pandesal   ya impapotok " ed si Kuya Bernal  and later  diad Cendana Panaderia or mankape ed si Mama Pelas  and ( later through the years ) dia la ed si Tio Pabling's Cafe , our " Starbucks"  which were  near the church. It became a tradition and a time  to bond together with families and friends while sharing the" ampetapetang ya pandesal " on our  way home . No arom walani  so manlako  na bibingka ya kapan akir  ( yummy ) . Akaran , anggapo ni tricycle  o jeepney or caromata . Everybody was "king of the road " while walking home ... It gives us a nostalgic  feeling  when  we hear " Misa  de Gallo"  during the Christmas  season ..So, we hope to see "aramay kabaleyan  tayo sirin"  starting  December 15, 2006 .