MikeLigalig.com

With only the habits on their backs, the 40 refugees had grabbed their straw mats, quilts, some white-feathered leghorn chickens, and wrangled eight of their finest Holsteins out of their stalls and onto the dirt road, heading south. The black-and-white bovines were descendants of the original 15 received as a dowry from their motherhouse when Our Lady of Joy had opened on April 29, 1928, the feast day of St. Robert of Molesme, the monk who had splintered off from the Benedictines of the French Molesme Abbey, in 1098, and founded Our Lady of Cîteaux, the grande dame abbey of the Trappist Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance.

But still, for the refugees, Shihchiachuang was only a stopping point. They, along with their furred and feathered traveling companions, needed to evacuate the area and head to Peking, thought to be well protected at that time by the military of the Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang). Travel by train, impossible. Even though Shihchiachuang had long been the railroad hub of northern China â€" where east met west, and south met north â€" rail lines kept up by the Nationalists had been either dynamited or stolen by the Communists. The only way out was by plane. On September 15, 1947, with assistance from retired Lt. Gen. Claire Lee Chennault â€" the former creator and commander of the 1st American Volunteer Group (Flying Tigers) of the Republic of China Air Force. Chennault’s civilian company, the Civil Air Transport, flew the refugees out of Shihchiachuang for the one-hour flight to the ancient city.

Bishop Rouchouse quickly wrote back with his response: “I welcome you to my diocese. The house, prepared 26 years ago, is still there kept for you, as well as the land, about 200 acres. Everything is ready for your accommodation.”

An advance team of two monks â€" Father Jean-Marie Struyven and Father Victor Chu â€" left Our Lady of Joy, on June 24, 1947, to prepare the refugee monastery for the others. First stop: Shanghai, where they lingered for an extended stay that lasted into July. While there, a story in a newspaper caught Father Victor’s eye: “Our Lady of Consolation has been destroyed, and the monks are prisoners.”

Shocked to read about the devastation of their motherhouse and the imprisonment of its Community of monks, Father Victor immediately wrote to Prior Paulinus, with a warning: Evacuate all as soon as possible.

But soon as possible was not soon enough.

Again, distant gunfire in the dead of night startled the Trappist monks from their slumber. Inside the darkened monastery on the alluvial island, they listened as Chinese Communist soldiers again viciously attacked Chengtingfu, only a few miles to the north. The soldiers stormed the city during the night of August 24, 1947, and by morning they had complete control.

After Chengtingfu â€" the Catholic heart of northern China â€" the soldiers headed toward the monastery. But even before the troops had stormed onto the wooden railroad ties of the North Bridge, around 40 monks had already fled Our Lady of Joy, on foot, heading for the nearby city of Shihchiachuang. Of the 20 left behind, most sought refuge at the Chengtingfu Diocesan Center, while the eldest preferred to remain at home â€" to live or die â€" cloistered under the protection of the mantle Our Lady of Joy. They included Brother Andreas Chang, Father Augustinus Meng (appointed superior of the splinter group), Father Edmond Pallager, Brother Hilarius Shen, blood brothers Brother Stephanus Tian and Father Timotheus Tian, Brother Andreas Wong, Brother Silvester Wong and Father Mattheus Yin.

Following the attack on their Community, the monks held a meeting to discuss its future. Stay or evacuate were the two options that Father Prior Paulinus Li offered each one. He forced no one to stay. He forced no one to leave. For some of the 60-or-so monks, it seemed impossible to stay. For others, it seemed impossible to leave. But, leave? To where? Prior Paulinus thought of Bishop Jacques-Victor-Marius Rouchouse (Society of Foreign Missions of Paris).

Decades earlier, in 1921, when Our Lady of Joy was just a mustard seed of an idea sprouting in the meditations of Father Abbot Louis Brun â€" the spiritual and temporal head of Our Lady of Consolation â€" Bishop Rouchouse had made the grueling trip, all 1,094 miles from Szechwan province to the Trappist abbey in the mountains of Chahar province. The bishop planned to convince the monks to build their monastery in his diocese of Chengtu. He had already prepared the house and the land. In return, all he asked for was 12 choir religious and 12 lay brothers.

But it was not meant to be. Abbot Louis decided that Szechwan was just too far away to keep tabs on an infant daughterhouse. Somewhere closer, he preferred. So, in 1926, when Dutch Bishop Franciscus Hubertus Schraven (Congregation of the Mission) offered an alluvial island in the province of Hopei, for the new Trappist foundation, it was readily accepted.

More than two decades later, not knowing if Bishop Rouchouse were even still alive, Prior Paulinus sat down with his brush and ink, and with grand strokes, drew up a letter.

by Theresa Marie Moreau

First published in The Remnant Newspaper, April, May, June 2011

Eritis mihi testes. (You shall be my witnesses.)

â€" Acts of the Apostles 1:8


Distant gunfire in the dead of night startled the Trappist monks from their slumber. Inside the darkened monastery, they listened as Chinese Communist soldiers viciously attacked a city only a few miles to the north.

Suddenly, the far-off explosions drew nearer. Red soldiers running from the city of Chengtingfu headed south, straight for Our Lady of Joy, the Trappist monastery situated on a 300-acre alluvial island that parted the waters of Hutuo River.

The moon, nearly full that April 4, 1947, highlighted the soldiers in an eerie chiaroscuro of gray, as they bolted toward the North Bridge, the railroad trestle that crossed the north strand of the river. Continuing southward along the railroad tracks that paralleled the monastery’s enclosure wall, the Red guerilla warriors raised their weapons and aimed toward the cloister. Explosions from the barrels sent bullets flying. Dirt puffed up gray dust clouds. Craters dimpled mud brick walls. A single shot entered the shoulder of Father Benedictus-Josephus Labre Chao, but exited through the other, without even nicking a bone. The Communist combatants continued along the tracks, crossed the South Bridge and headed toward the city of Shihchiachuang, several miles to the south. And just as suddenly as they had appeared, they disappeared.

Madness passed. Calmness returned. In the quiet of the early morning, at 3:30 a.m., the assigned monk rang the bell to signal the hour for Matins. Alerted by the clanging, the guerilla soldiers â€" dressed in civilian clothing â€" returned to the island, clambered over the enclosure wall and swarmed the monastery. They thought the bell had been a signal to their enemy in the Chinese Civil War.

“Where are the Nationalists?” demanded the soldiers, as they grabbed a few of the closest monks, roughing them up.

“I don’t know,” the monks answered. It was the truth. It was also the safest answer.

Again, the irregular troops left just as suddenly.

The Trappist monks at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers are members of the Order of the Cistercians of the Strict Observance, a sect of Cistercian monks that originated in France and follows the teachings of the seventeenth-century abbot Armand de Rance.

7 Lift up your heads, you gates;
   be lifted up, you ancient doors,
   that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
   The LORD strong and mighty,
   the LORD mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, you gates;
   lift them up, you ancient doors,
   that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory?
   The LORD Almightyâ€"
   HE is the King of glory.


   -Psalm 24: 7-10

23 You who fear the LORD, praise him!
   All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
   Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or scorned
   the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
   but has listened to his cry for help.

   -Psalm 22: 23-24

7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
   refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
   making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
   giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
   giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
   enduring forever.
The decrees of the LORD are firm,
   and all of them are righteous.


  -Psalm 19: 7-9

Quote from: Lorenzo on January 26, 2012, 01:32:04 PM
The heavens declare the glory of God;
   the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
   night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
   no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
   their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
   like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
   and makes its circuit to the other;
   nothing is deprived of its warmth.

    -Psalm 19: 1-6

The heavens declare the glory of God;
   the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
   night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
   no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
   their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
   like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
   and makes its circuit to the other;
   nothing is deprived of its warmth.

    -Psalm 19: 1-6

The Lord said to him:

"Will you come and follow me if i but call your name? Will you go where you don't know and never be the same? Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my NAME be known? Will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind if i but call your name? Will you care for cruel and kind and never be same? Will you risk the hostile stare? Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

Will you let the blinded see if but I call your name? Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same? Will you kiss the leper clean and do such as this unseen? And admit to what I mean in you and you in me....?"

Quote from: hofelina on January 23, 2012, 12:02:55 AM
St. Vincent
(d. 304)




When Jesus deliberately began his “journey” to death, Luke says that he “set his face” to go to Jerusalem. It is this quality of rocklike courage that distinguishes the martyrs.

Most of what we know about this saint comes from the poet Prudentius. His Acts have been rather freely colored by the imagination of their compiler. But St. Augustine, in one of his sermons on St. Vincent, speaks of having the Acts of his martyrdom before him. We are at least sure of his name, his being a deacon, the place of his death and burial.

According to the story we have (and as with some of the other early martyrs the unusual devotion he inspired must have had a basis in a very heroic life), Vincent was ordained deacon by his friend St. Valerius of Zaragossa in Spain. The Roman emperors had published their edicts against the clergy in 303, and the following year against the laity. Vincent and his bishop were imprisoned in Valencia. Hunger and torture failed to break them. Like the youths in the fiery furnace (Book of Daniel, chapter three), they seemed to thrive on suffering.

Valerius was sent into exile, and Dacian, the Roman governor, now turned the full force of his fury on Vincent. Tortures that sound like those of World War II were tried. But their main effect was the progressive disintegration of Dacian himself. He had the torturers beaten because they failed.

Finally he suggested a compromise: Would Vincent at least give up the sacred books to be burned according to the emperor’s edict? He would not. Torture on the gridiron continued, the prisoner remaining courageous, the torturer losing control of himself. Vincent was thrown into a filthy prison cellâ€"and converted the jailer. Dacian wept with rage, but strangely enough, ordered the prisoner to be given some rest.

Friends among the faithful came to visit him, but he was to have no earthly rest. When they finally settled him on a comfortable bed, he went to his eternal rest.


Comment:

The martyrs are heroic examples of what God’s power can do. It is humanly impossible, we realize, for someone to go through tortures such as Vincent had and remain faithful. But it is equally true that by human power alone no one can remain faithful even without torture or suffering. God does not come to our rescue at isolated, “special” moments. God is supporting the super-cruisers as well as children’s toy boats.

Quote:

“Wherever it was that Christians were put to death, their executions did not bear the semblance of a triumph. Exteriorly they did not differ in the least from the executions of common criminals. But the moral grandeur of a martyr is essentially the same, whether he preserved his constancy in the arena before thousands of raving spectators or whether he perfected his martyrdom forsaken by all upon a pitiless flayer’s field” (The Roman Catacombs, Hertling-Kirschbaum).

St. Vincent, pray for US.

Lord,

Have mercy on us and for our actions this day that is against your will
Teach us to remember you in our words, thought and action.
Forgive us , Lord, for our failings , and empower us with the Grace
to be better and more like you in this walk of life.

We ask and pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, AMEN.

Quote from: chicogon on January 26, 2012, 06:35:29 AM
I always wanted to see the world (dili lang kutob sa retrato sa World Book Encyclopedia which I loved to read as a teen) but never jud ko nag plan nga mogawas. I was then very happy and contented with my life. Galing kay one day - wa tuyoa - nakalabay ko sa U.S. Consulate samtang naglakaw-lakaw gikan sa Perpetual Succor Hospital area didt sa Lahug, Cebu. Nangutana ko sa guard asa diay mo apply ug visa para America when he pointed his fingers upstairs at the same time giving me an application form. Dali-dali intawon kog fill up sa AF ug saka sa taas kay magpalagdas ug apply. Aw, palagdas jud diay, kay right there and then I was denied kay wala man diay koy passport, bwahahaha!!!   

The next time I went back to the consulate diha na koy passport pero denied lang gehapon ko 'cause I wrote Hollywood, CA (ga plano sigurong mag artista!!!) sa akong gustong adtoon sa 'merica, while in my Invitation Letter the address was Broadway St., San Francisco, CA. Bwahahaha!!! 

Sukad ato... di na nuon ko makatog nga na denied ikaduha and I was intent (alomost willed it) nga one day matagaan ra jod kog visa. After the third attempt (mga 3 months after), wala naman hinoon ko interviewha by the same Consulate Officer and told me to wait where I was seated. Unya taud2x gitawag na man kos Pinay nga babaye sa pikas booth saying, "Mr. Lungay you're visa will expire in three months."

The rest is history... my one entry to the U.S. has now been 25 years!!! Thanks be to God!!!

Unya karon, mabuang na nuon kung di makauli'g Bohol... hahay buhay!!! 

Father, isn't it amazing where our life's journey takes us ? From Bohol to the Great State of Louisiana !

It's actually quite interesting that despite the 25 years in the United States, your heart still longs for Bohol. I guess it isn't wrong to assume, "Home is where the Heart is."

Kuyawa si Manong!

Two famous TB karaoke singers

Ngano kaha mo keep man siya sa old panties. Dili diay mawa ang 'odor' sa panty after couple of days/months/years?

Unsa man imong paboritong song beh?

Provide the reason(s) for your departure from the Philippines?

What are your greatest regrets?

Quote from: Vistabel on January 25, 2012, 03:59:26 PM
i think i'm a good singer but i never tried to sing in public, so, 9 for me.

You need to sing in public, Bai Vist, so everyone can hear your voice. Who knows, sigoro maka attract ka sa gwapang chiks.

My dad, who is a Civil Engineer, worked in Saudi Arabia for some 8 years and the catalyst for his work abroad was out of necessity. As most of you probably know, the salary grade for a Civil Engineer in the Philippines is 'OK', but it was necessary for dad to go abroad in order to support his siblings. As the eldest child of 7 kids, he had to take the mantle of 'head of the household' when his father died.


Dad worked as a Civil Engineer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A picture of dad when he was around my age:

In other words, "Don't stop till you get it!" hehehe! Father, what was your port of entry?

The last time I was home I visited Bohol, I visited the grave of my Lola Luz. Sentimental kaayo kai when I left Bohol in 1991, ingon siya nako, "Pag buotan, doy, magkita lagi ta pohon, mobalik ka ha?"

I kissed her and hugged her goodbye. Mama Luz.

We returned in 1995 for her funeral. And that was the last time I saw her. Ning hilak gajud ko Kai nawala na ahong Lola. I wanted to see her and talk to her again so much. I was so attached to her because she helped raise us kids.

Even now, if I close my eyes, I can still remember her voice and the smile on her face when I visited her as a child. Mo ingon baya to siya nako, " ari diri doy!!!" kusi-on ahong aping ! I miss her.

There are pros and cons to going abroad. Sometimes, I wonder how my life would be like had I not left the Philippines. I would have been able to spend more time with my grandparents who are no longer alive now.

Quote from: chriswise on January 25, 2012, 06:53:50 PM
ang pari ba diay makapasaylo?diba diay ang GINOO man,,,

Correct gajud ka Bai Chris. Ang gipasabot nako, ang pari Ay representative sa GINOO og mo pasaylo ang tawo sa sacrament of reconciliation.

Quote from: TUBAGBOHOL.com on January 25, 2012, 09:27:13 AM
I have several stuff to read today. Long way to go...

I feel you on that, TUBAG.

Pinay medical students

MANILA, Dec. 20â€" The Philippines is about as far as a New Yorker can go to attend medical school. Still, hundreds of Americans, mostly from the East Coast, apply to medical schools here every year when they fail to gain acceptance to any in the United States.

Mary-Joan Marron, a 26-year-old registered nurse and the daughter of a New York City fireman, was one of nearly 2,000 Americans who applied last year for the 15 openings for foreign students at Far Eastern University here.

Compared with the number of Americans attending medical schools in Mexico, the number who come halfway around the world to the Philippines for medical education is low. Only about 50 first-year American medical students are accepted each year. By Philippine law, just 5 percent of the first-year medical school students can be foreigners, and foreigners are not accepted after the first year. The total number of American medical students in the Philippines is probably less than 200.

''And we may be among the last,'' said Irl S. Rosner, a third-year student from Maywood, N.J., who believes that the American Medical Association is trying to control the number of foreign-trained doctors by raising test and entrace requirements for returning Americans. Usually Come for 2 or 3 Years

''The entrance is very competitive,'' said Ricardo L. Alfonso, dean of Far Eastern University's medical school, which has an active alumni association in Newark, N.J.

''Most of them failed to get into American medical schools,'' Mr. Alfonso said, ''but the ones we take are very good students.'' Americans usually come to the Philippines for two or three years of study, then complete their medical studies at American hospitals. If American students transfer home after their second year, they can earn an American degree. If they spend three years overseas, they earn a foreign degree and must take special examinations.

''There are people who worry about being foreign graduates,'' Mr. Rosner said, ''but Philippine medical school graduates have a good reputation. Both Filipino doctors and Americans who graduated from here are doing well in the United States.''

Like other medical students, Mr. Rosner considered other medical schools first. ''I looked into Mexico, Italy and then the Philippines,'' he said.

''I figured this was my chance to live in a foreign country. I'd never get this chance again,'' said Mr. Rosner, who has been accepted to complete his fourth year of medical training at Brooklyn Jewish Hospital. Would Rather Be in U.S. Schools

''We would all rather be in school in the United States,'' said Jeffrey S. Yuskevich, a second-year medical student from Farmingdale, L.I. ''But for a number of reasons each of us didn't get in at home.'' Mr. Yuskevich believes that students with other careers, particularly if they are in medicine, are not looked upon favorably by American medical schools. ''But if you want to be a doctor bad enough,'' he said, ''you find someplace where they appreciate your skills.''

Miss Marron was a nurse for six years and taught nursing. ''American medical schools,'' she said, ''seem to think people are born doctors. When they asked me, I told the truth. I didn't know I wanted to be a doctor until I realized the limitations of being a nurse. I mean, after all, if your father's a doctor you know what doctors do. My father's a fireman. What did I know about doctors. I did know I didn't want to be a fireman.''

Medical schools here cost less than $1,500 a year. Philippine schools use American texts and teaching techniques, and many of the instructors are trained in the United States.

And, unlike Mexican medical school graduates, Americans returning to the United States from Philippine schools accredited by the World Health Organization do not have to take a fifth year, called the ''pathway year,'' which amounts to a pre-internship transition year. In addition, English is the language of instruction. Older Than Filipino Classmates

''I thought about Mexico, but I didn't want to learn another language,'' said Robert B. Edlemann, the son of a New Jersey surgeon. ''It's hard enough trying to learn medicine without having to learn another language.''

Because many of the American medical students studying in the Philippines waited for a spot to open at American medical schools or had other careers before deciding to become doctors, they are older than their Filipino classmates. The oldest, Steve Lissau, a professional photographer and former high school teacher from Honolulu, is a first-year medical student at age 36.

''Probably because we are older and really serious about becoming doctors, many of the Americans do very well here,'' said Mr. Yuskevich, who at 28 years old is in his second year of medical school at Far Eastern University. ''I guess if you want to be a doctor bad enough to come half way around the world, you are serious.''


http://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/21/world/us-students-turn-to-the-philippines.html

Quote from: chicogon on January 25, 2012, 02:29:25 AM
Malipayon na karon si Brad Lorenz kay full-pledge na siyang makatabang sa mga tawo isip usa ka doktor (what a vocation/calling) - daghan na pod material/financial blessing nga moabot tungod ana - apan lahi pod ang kalipay ang iyang buot ipasabot kung tua siya sa Bohol... kalipay nga stressless kaayo (kay nag bakasyon man, hehehe) ug pag sinati sa lugar nga kanhi maoy iyang giisip nga "home sweet home" - no place like home jud tinuoray. 

Kung damgo/ambisyon ang pag langyaw kaniadto, mao sad karon ang makauli sa yutang natawhan... ambisyon ug damgo, but I'm afraid to say, not a viable option anymore (for now), hahahaha!!!

Ning proceed ko sa Medicine kai talawan ko -- di makaya nako ang Seminary. When I was applying to medical school, i also applied to several seminaries. It took me discernment in what I was called to go into. In the end, i was too weak to pursue the Priesthood. Ikaw may ang role model, Father. Ang pari maka forgive og sins , og maka pronounce ang Gospel. Awww...mas kuyaw pa ang pari kay sa doctor. God is the priest's general manager and director.

Quote from: vrglguapo on January 25, 2012, 05:28:19 AM
My two sisters and a brother are in Texas working in one of those hospital there,and my elder brother is working in a Merchant Marine as a Chief Officer.They are all my idol when i was on my teen.At 20 years old i was on my first flight to Singapore to join  onboard a cargo ship bound for Middle East.

I can only imagine the amount of sacrifice your parents made to send all of you guys abroad, pero am sure their hard work bore good fruit! 2 sisters and 1 brother in Texas eh? Have you ever visited them in Texas, Nong?

Nong Virgil, I remember seeing the pictures you took when you were a seaman, seems like it must have been very fun to work around the world. What an amazing profession -- to be able to see the world on a daily basis!

Quote from: islander on January 24, 2012, 12:00:12 AM
as a somewhat frequent flyer, my preference had always been PAL, until lately.  arang mahala na gyod intawon, gitakigan pa kog hinuwat sa airport kun kanus-a makalupad.  daghan pa gyod ang di mao sa centennial terminal sa manila nga exclusive for PAL.  naay mangayog pinaskuhan nga naka-uniform (avsecom?), naay mokalit ug kuyog morag escort magngisingisi (well, obvious ba unsay gusto), arte ug morose ang mga flight attendants, ug unsa pa.  ma-feeling gago hinoon ko.

at terminal 3 in manila where the no-nonsense and much cheaper cebu pacific/pacific flyer is based, so far things are just as no-nonsense and very professional.  gone is the joke that taking cebu pacific means boarding in cebu and landing in the pacific. 

about time PAL is overhauled so we can be proud of our flag carrier again.   

Have you taken Cebu Pacific, Isles?

Quote from: islander on January 24, 2012, 07:24:21 PM
“I love him very much.  I want to kill myself.  I am under a lot of stress,” he told policemen and rescuers who were trying to get him to change his mind.



http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/

My question is, how did he get hold of acid to pour onto his partner's face? Murag acute psychosis man iyang presentation....

Quote from: islander on January 24, 2012, 07:22:21 PM
Jealous man tries to kill self after spat with boyfriend

By Julie M. Aurelio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Monday, January 23rd, 2012


“Usiseros” gathered Monday at the corner of Panay and Timog Avenues in Quezon City after a man clutching a rosary and a pillow sat on the ledge of a window at the 16th floor of the Victoria Tower condominium.

When it seemed apparent that the man was going to jump, a call was made to the police a few minutes past 9 a.m. and members of the Kamuning police station rushed to the scene.

For nearly three hours, they tried to talk him out of killing himself even as they tried to piece together the circumstances that had led him to contemplate such a drastic move.

Gradually, the story came out: The man’s name was Joseph Fedelin.

He was 44 years old, an English teacher and he had just hurled acid at the face of his live-in partner of five yearsâ€"Jefferson Quitaleg, a call center agentâ€"who, at that moment, was inside their unit.

Fedelin, who was bleeding from cuts he had inflicted on his wrists, told the police that he and his boyfriend had been arguing since Sunday night over the latter’s alleged affair with another man.

Although Quitaleg had consistently denied the rumor, Fedelin said he recently caught him chatting with his supposed new boyfriend on a social networking site.

On Monday morning, Fedelin was apparently overcome by anger and jealousy.

He threw acid on the face of his boyfriend, grabbed a knife, cut his wrists and then climbed out on the ledge of the window of their unit.

Tsk tsk tsk delikadong selosong tawhana....

Quote from: insurectus on January 24, 2012, 09:53:02 PM
goodbye megaupload, filesonic og uban pang mga pay per download site padung na pod.

Godaddy lost more than 20K domains in less than 2 days kay ni suporta sa  t sopa
ang PIPA ambot molusot ba kaha ni

they already closed down limewire last year.

Quote from: islander on January 24, 2012, 05:03:33 PM
kining madunggan nato sa radio o makit-an sa tv, information man pod na.  atong i-record kunohay kay atong ipasa, that's the same process, only the media are different.  prisonable ba ta ana?  what about newspapers and magazines, akong ipasa aron makabasa ang uban.  prisonable ba ko ana?

why do idiots occupy congress?

isles, this is the problem with having 'big government' !

Quote from: vrglguapo on January 25, 2012, 03:51:55 AM
Sa bata pa ko ambition nako ang OFW,to see the world and work with other nationalities karon nga edaran na necessity na tungod cguro kay gagmay ra ug sweldo sa Pinas unya dili na maka provide on my present life style.I have no regrets whatsoever.Ug wala cguro ko ka abroad mas magmahay cguro ko kay nasayang ang akong panahon ug oppurtunidad samtang bata pa..

Nong ,

Are you the only one of your parent's children then went abroad or do you have brothers and sisters that are also abroad?

Bai Vist,

The reason why some Filipino doctors are going abroad is to "find greener pastures". A lot of MDs go back to nursing school because there is a higher demand for Filipino nurses than Filipino doctors in foreign countries. In the Philippines, an MD can make anywhere from P20k - P100k a month. In the UK, a doctor cane make anywhere from 10,000-15,000  pounds a month. In the USA, a doctor can make anywhere from $25,000-$100,000 a month . So, it makes sense why so many Pinoy Docs go abroad.

If money is the prime goal, mo gawas gajud ang mga MDs sa pilipinas. That is the reason why there is a substantial "diaspora" of Pinoy MDs from the Philippines.

Quote from: Vistabel on January 24, 2012, 08:17:34 PM
pag-Specialista unaa diha bai Loren dayon uli sa Bohol kay halos wala nay dr. diri, ang mga dr. nagsipag-Nurse, ambot ngano basin di siguro nila kaya ang pagkadoctor nila maong namalhin sa pagkaNurse.

Bai Vistabel,

Gusto ko , pohon maluuy ang Ginoo, mo set up a medical clinic dinha sa Bohol. Daghan man ang oportunidad dinha sa Pinas og mo praktis ang mga tawo dinha. I was inspired by a friend (MD siya nga ning practice sa California, pero, he operates several medical clinics sa Pilipinas). Naa pod option mo establish a free-health clinic sa mga impoverished areas sa BOHOL. Ang importante mo establish ug networking sa mga organizations nga mo contribute og financial compensation sa proyecto.

When i was in Bohol, naka kita gayud ko sa mga disparities sa atong mga igsoon , especially sa mga tawo nga walay kwarta. I would like to truly work in establishing several clinics in BOHOL , ones that will provide much needed medical service for those who cannot afford. This is a goal in my life.

Fiesta de Senor Santo Nino
Valencianhon Association of the East Coast USA
January 21, 2012

9th Day of Novena to Senyor Santo Nino,
New Jersey, USA

Members of the Valencianhon Association of East Coast USA

I was really humbled by them, Chris. Bisag gamay, manghatag jud....

Sa gawas:

Quote from: chriswise on January 24, 2012, 04:52:05 PM
Maayo unta kong inig uli sa OFW naay mga something makalipay ba,,,parehas anang connecting flight maghuwat pa sa airport pauli sa mga probinsya,,naa untay libreng katolganan,,dool sa airport,,,,manga ingon anang simple na butang nga unta buhaton sa goberno,,lipay na OFW ana,,,

You're right , Chris. I agree with you that the government should put some services for some OFWs during their wait.

I remember during my wait there, there was a family of OFWs (bisaya sila bc i could understand them) ning kaon sila (they bought food from the local vendors sa gawas). Ning offer pod sila nako og kanon-on kai naka kita sila that i was waiting pod. Na uwaw ko kai luoy pod sila, ingon ra ko nila, "Okey lang, inyoha ra lang na..." I was so touched by their kindness. They didn't even know who I was, yet they offered to share what little food they had.

Luoy pod intawn ang mga Pilipino...God bless our people !!!!

VIVA PIT SENYOR SANTO NINO!! GOD BLESS EVERYONE!

I fell asleep on the manila domestic airport and when i woke up, it was already 6:50 am. and boy everyone was already up and about. I went through the terminal and proceeded to walk to the seats that said "TO: Tagbilaran, Bohol". In my mind, i thought to myself, "am i really in manila?" it had been over an entire decade since i was HOME-HOME. Like, yea, i grew up in USA, but Philippines was my HOME-HOME. I was born there, and for the first 5 years of my life -- LIVED there.

So i sat on the seats, waiting, patiently then impatiently. Within an hour or so a Philippine Air Lines plane docked to the gate i was waiting in. "BOARDING". I got up, and boarded the plane. The people were so much smaller than i; ah, an effect of my 'american lifestyle'. it really made me self conscious of losing weight and also seeing the difference in abundance the usa is compared to the philippines.

The plane's departure from manila allowed me to have a full glimpse of the so called "Pear of the Orient", the City of Manila.

An hour and a half later, my eyes tracked the seas below the plane. The pilot announced, "Cebu is directly below us, we are now flying over Metro Cebu." Ah, Cebu. Queen City of the South. Then to my surprise, my heart jumped, i could see to the distance, faint shores. A couple of minutes later, we were flying over BOHOL ISLAND. I could see the fishing villages, huts on stilts on the water, the fog rising from the air, and to the center, i could see the exotic BOHOL CHOCOLATE HILLS. In my mind, I could not believe to be HOME. This is my HOME-HOME. Ahong yutang natawhan.

When we arrived, it was very surreal. I loved every minute , everyday that i was in BOHOL.

If I could, i would prefer to live in BOHOL than in usa. There is less stress being in Bohol than compared to living in Chicago. As I write this, i can still remember the smell of the exhaust coming from the pedicabs in downtown tagbilaran. the smell of bbq being grilled on the side, the sounds of kids and their parents, and the colloquial, "Baluuuut...Baluuuuut...Baluuuut!"

Now I know why OFWs rush to go home .... to be HOME.

2 years ago, i returned to the philippines for the first time in 12 years. i arrived in manila international airport at about 1:00 AM, and commuted to manila domestic airport. The shuttled took me and an entire cohort of other OFWs to the MDA , arriving at about 1:30 AM.

The gates were still closed since they didn't open till 7:00 AM. To my surprise, i saw legions of OFWs sprawled out on the floor sleeping on carton boxes, clothes. I could see their balikbayan boxes they were carrying coming from distant lands such as "Saudi Arabia, UAE, Syria, France, Morocco, Israel, China, Germany, etc". The sounds of mothers and fathers talking, babies crying. I sat on the floor next to my 2 suitcases and observed the surrounding. The OFWs. One man , who sat next to me, asked me if i was coming from Saudi. lol. I think he assumed because i had a beard. I told him no and that i was coming form 'states. I asked him about his experiences in Saudi; we talked. Alot. Apparently he was a construction worker in Riyadh and that he hadn't been home for 3 years. He had 3 kids: 1 girl, 2 boys. He was from Cagayan De Oro. Talking to him and being around so many of the OFWs was very humbling for me.

God Bless our OFWs!

Quote from: islander on January 24, 2012, 03:50:42 PM
this is very beautiful.  i'll ask my banana republic to print this so i can hang this on the wall beside my clothes cabinet.  thanks, lorenz.  (a printout will do.  the real thing must be expensive, plus, i don't really know where to get it.)

you're welcome, isles! wishing you and your entire family a very prosperous new year!!

hehehe! maka hinumdum pod ko sa ahong lola. kadto si lola, mo celebrate gajud to sija og chinese new year kai during new year mo kuan gajud to sija, mo clean out all the unwanted things in the house. your thread made me think of her, even made me cry. 

during chinese new year, mo hatag to sija nako og 20 pesos (all in 1 piso coins). It may not be a lot to us now, but to the eyes of a 4 year old little boy, it was a lot of money back then. Afterwards, my cousins and i would run to the merkado in valencia and buy ice water og ding dong. When we returned back to lola's house mo ingon to siya namo, "Ayaw hutda inyong kwarta ha, dili maayo og mo utang utang mo!"

hehehe! oh, lola nating...

Quote from: islander on January 23, 2012, 07:38:16 PM
i would like to believe that it is an option, in the same way that those who go to other countries as immigrants is another option.  staying put, for some, or for the many, in fact, is definitely another option.  we all know that life is full of choices or options, each with its own advantages and sacrifices.  we only need to see which option fits us best and the price we have to pay for it.

That's a very good answer, Isles. I concur with your underlying point(s).

Quote from: chriswise on January 24, 2012, 03:36:06 PM
Maayo unta kong naa nay daghan trabaho deri sa atoa,,,kong naa pod work contractual napod saon,,walay laing kadagan mga pinoy,,,maong molayas abroad bisag gamay sueldo,,,antoson nalang,,

Chris,

The self-sacrificial nature of the Filipino worker is recognized by many people around the world. Daghan gajud ko'g respeto para sa mga OFW.

Quote from: ms da binsi on September 30, 2008, 09:33:25 AM


Lindy dear, before anything else, im so happy to see you back! i really missed your posts dear.

Anyhow some of the  herbal medicines are accepted in some areas of Medical practices, they only needs to be studied properly before prescribing it to people, pero i think you meant the SHAMAN'S kanang mga quack doctors? mao na imong gi mean? For me ang mga Shaman are the kindergartens in the medical studies.

Bella,

Dili pod ni sila "kindergardeners". In fact, the drugs we use are based on common herbal medicinal components. The only difference is that medical pharmacology have isolated specific proteins, compounds that elicit specific effects and have compounded it several times fold.

We have to be a bit open minded to patients who show some kind of preference to holistic medicine. In fact, in the United States, we have two different types of Medical Doctors: there are 1) Allopathic Doctors (MDs) and there are 2) Osteopathic Doctors (DOs). There is a philosophical difference between the two in that Allopathic Doctors (MDs) rely primarily on identifying the disease and treating it through medical regimen (pharmacology, surgery). The DOs also utilize classic technichue, however, also implement a holistic style of care (they implement OMM = osteopathic musculative manipulation) as well as are open to other holistic theories.

In the end, we have to respect the autonomy of the patient and can only , as health care clinicians, recommend medical procedures , but the decision to accept and deny medical care is at the discretion of the patient. If he or she wants a classic treatment, then he'll pursue it, but if he or she wants a more holistic pathway, then its also up to him / her.

Quote from: islander on January 24, 2012, 02:30:34 PM
how profound!  i betcha he had paper for breakfast.

i "betcha" he did, too.

Quote from: islander on January 24, 2012, 03:01:41 PM
meanwhile, one can be assured of some kind of balance...


On January 25, 2008, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines CBCP public affairs head and Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, Jr. stated that "while they are happy for Suarez, they will remain "watchful" of his healing Masses and activities."

On January 26, 2008, 2 died and 7 were rushed (due to exhaustion) to James Gordon Hospital, Olongapo City while waiting for Fr. Suarez' healing Mass. Juanito Eleazar, 69, died of heart attack amid more than 15,000 patients having lined-up.

At Mexico, Pampanga, 39-year-old colon cancer-stricken Alberto Tapnio died while in wheelchair (and thereafter blessed by Fr. Suarez during a healing Mass). Tapnio was DOA (dead on arrival) at a hospital but was revived by electric shocks. Upon notice of the resurrection, the crowd of 20,000 people started clapping, praying and shouting, but Alberto died 4 hours later. (wikipedia)


this priest may heal, but who says he has control over life and death?  sometimes, we fall victim to our own expectations.

i believe in this priest.  given the chance, i wish to observe his healing ministry even just once.

While I believe in the dichotomy of physical healing and spiritual healing , there are some unexplainable incidents where both physical and spiritual healing is observed by the faithful.

As I posted in the previous post , patients who actively pray have a better healing time compared to patients who do not. The effects of prayer and spiritual support is an example of independent variable, and the recovery time as the dependent variable. In a recent study , bivariate analysis of the two variables showed a linear relationship that portrayed a significant relationship between faith / prayer and recover time. Standard error estimate, which is what allows one to tell how accurate the prediction is based on linear regression , supports the latter.

Quote from: hofelina on January 24, 2012, 02:59:25 AM
Salamat Ondoy Lorenzo, how thoughtful of you!

Manay Tess,

Please know that we are here to offer our love and support. Know that you have our love and prayers.

Quote from: islander on January 24, 2012, 02:55:04 PM
it all boils down to a matter of faith.  even doctors know that no matter what they do to a person, if the person does not want to heal, he won't heal, according to a lesson shared by a local medical student.

as for the gift of healing, many people have it, so why not a priest in this instance?


Father Suarez claims he discovered his gift of healing at the age of 16.  He saw a crippled woman and upon feeling sorry for her, he sat and prayed with her.  During this, he literally started to feel bones growing in her legs, and due to shock, he ran away.  To this date, no one has found this woman.  He tried to keep this a secret for as long as he could, and agreed to pray with the sick as long as they didn't tell anyone about him for a fee or a donation.  However, upon being ordained a priest, it became more evident to him that the gift of healing was not only meant for him, but to be shared with other people as well.  Since then he has been traveling around the world celebrating healing Mass and praying with the sick.

On January 11, 2008, Manila Cardinal Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales officiated the sacrifice of the Mass which started the 3-day, 40-hour vigil at Fr. Suarez' Batangas City Montemaria mega-shrine.  Hundreds of devotees and the sick gathered.

Suarez, 44, announced his return to and resumption of healing in the Philippines on May, 2008.

Suarez, on July 21, 2008, healed Filpinos in the 7 hours healing Mass at the Saint Joseph Community in Brussels, Belgium.

Fr. Suarez had his radio program "Healing Grace with Fr. Fernando Suarez" aired over Radyo Veritas every Sunday night. (wikipedia)

Isles, Amen!

Medicine is never "100% sure" of anything. We only implement strategies with what we know to be 'scientifically and medically sound' according to our present understanding of nature and its biochemical, genetical, and physical laws.

I can remember several weeks ago during a code blue, one patient we had suffered from Ventricular Tachycardia, which progressed to Ventricular Fibrillation. Despite the efforts of the medical staff (we gave him 3 boluses of epinephrine, and defibrillated; following standard protocol). The patient's EKG progressed to asystole. I assisted in the defibrillation of the patient, wala jud response.

After almost 15 minutes of following advanced cardiac life support maneuvers, still the patient did not recover from asystole. Wala gajud heart beat. The attending physician told us (there were 3 of us medical interns) to cease and to declare TOD (time of death). We asked him if we could try one more defibrillation. Just one more. The attending said to us, "Fine, but remember to follow protocol and alert pathology afterwards".

We defibrillated the patient 1 last time. And can you believe it? The ekg monitor showed a response. We saw a PQRST complex.
P wave = atrial depolarization and contraction, QRS complex = Ventricular depolarization and T wave = repolarization. We called the attending, he rushed back. We stabilized the patient.

Can you imagine. If we had given up on that patient, instead of giving it 1 more try, he would have been a dead man. Ang moral ani: there is never a "sure" thing.

Later that evening, that same patient was sitting and talking to family members. Later that night during post-admissions, i sat next to the patient and talked to him. It was surreal to think that this man (who is living) could have been dead. For some, they attribute his recovery to "advanced cardiac life support", while there are others who might say it was "divine" plan.

For me, i know what i am taught, and implement what i am certified in. But, I do not disregard the presence of Divine Providence in all things. That is my own personal view.

Quote from: fdaray on January 23, 2012, 01:52:46 PM
Happy Chinese New Year....., to all. Why do Chinese has a different NEW Year?

Sir Daray,

They use a different calendar system, that is why their new year is a bit late compared to the western-new year standard. According to Ancient Chinese calendar, the new year starts with the first month, Lichun. Mas tigulang pa man ang Chinese calendar system sa west. I think that the Imperial Shang Dynasty (14th century B.C) instituted this ancient calendar system. It has been used by the Chinese ever since.

Gong Xi Fa Choy ! neegah, isles, wo bu shir Zhongguoren, wo zhao Filipinguoren da shir...

Quote from: islander on January 24, 2012, 02:36:48 PM


thus, have your chinese new year feast here...

hahaha! o man...

Sister Anne Francine, 51, left, and Sister Maria Loyola, 82, of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Runnemede, stand up for surfers when they visit the Villa Maria by the Sea convent. Sister James Dolores, the property manager of Villa Maria, told us about the history of the tournament and how the beach got its name.




Sister James Dolores, 71: Years ago, the south end of Stone Harbor was not inhabited, and the area in front of our convent was considered a private beach that we had riparian rights to. We’d have our beach time, 1 to 3 pm, when we’d hire a lifeguard; otherwise the surfers would use it, because there were no swimmers there. The surfers are the ones who dubbed it Nun’s Beach.

About thirteen years ago, a gentleman approached me and said, ‘We’d like to run a little contest as a payback for your letting us use your beach to surf all these years.’ It was a very small contest that year. We had a table with coffee and donuts. It was a very cold day, but everyone had fun.  So we decided to do it again the next year, and then we decided to make it an annual event. It’s always in September, the best weekend that the tides suit us. This year it will be on September 6th.

Five years ago it got too big. They were still running the contests up to dark, and it was losing its flavor as a small-town, family-atmosphere event. So we changed it to an invitational. We send out letters to all those who have surfed it before, and newcomers can also fill out registration forms in the local stores. It’s on a first-come, first-served basis. It’s still fairly large; we get about 100 surfers and a lot more spectators. We’re very grateful to the surfers and to the people who come to watch, because they buy our T-shirts.   

One of the big attractions is the nuns. People always say, ‘Sister, do you surf?’ I’m the one who’s pictured on the T-shirts. I say, ‘The closest I’ve gotten to surfing is on this shirt.’ Our shirts are all over the world, in London, Germany, Australia.

Sisters Anne Francine, 51, and Maria Loyola, 82, came down from their convent in Runnemede to help for the day last year. The sisters work the concessions stands, sell food and T-shirts and hats. At night we have a dinner. It’s all a big fundraiser for the convent; it helps us keep the place up.

We have six retreats every summer, with each retreat bringing in 100 to 120 sisters from our congregation, the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. At the end of the summer we bring the infirmed sisters down, the ones who can make it. They come for five days.

None of the sisters surf. It’s the kind of thing you have to grow up with. I think they’d get hurt if they tried now. But watching it? They do enjoy that. By September, the sisters have started back at school, but we try to get anyone who’s available to come down and help out that day. They work tirelessly. At the end of the day, they’re exhausted, but they know they’ve helped us keep this place going.

http://njmonthly.com/articles/jerseyshore/pray-for-surf.html

bwahahaha! oh man! Anger management, anyone?

in college, i took my then-gf, nicole, to a karaoke bar in pittsburg. i tried to be romantic to her by singing a romance ballad, but my score was a 45%.
ingon siya nako, "oh its okay, you get an apple for trying"


Ayy..putriyagis!!

Quote from: islander on January 24, 2012, 10:56:18 AM
ako 0.003, huhuhu, morag exchange rate ug defunct italian lira.

hahaha! what is your favorite karaoke song, isles?

Quote from: gwargz on January 23, 2012, 11:43:01 PM
... dia nako mibalik. nabanhaw. kay gimingaw. mobalik ra man jud basta mingawon.

Welcome back, Gwargz! It has been a long time since we chatted! Kamusta?

Quote from: beyotch on January 24, 2012, 10:45:15 AM
nothing just downloading songs.....

What kind of songs, bey?

Fantasy or Sci Fi!

Hmmm, that's a good question. You first, Tubag Bohol Dot Com.

Unfortunately, I am not that creative or artistic. I do admire those who can sketch and paint!

Hahaha, 2 out of 10 sigoro.

Sa unang panahon.

Dearest Friends of Tubag Bohol Dot Com,

Let us remember the late Ms. Helga Hohmann, who passed into eternity this day. The late Mrs. Helga Hohmann was the mother-in-law of our friend, Tess (Hofelina). May the family of the deceased be encouraged and empowered in support of friends and prayer through this most difficult time.



Almighty Father, eternal God, hear our prayers for Your daughter Helga whom You have called from this life to Yourself. Grant her light, happiness, and peace. Let her pass in safety through the gates of death, and live forever with all Your saints in the light You promised to Abraham and to all his descendants in faith. Guard her from all harm and on that great day of resurrection and reward raise her up with all Your saints. Pardon her sins and give her eternal life in Your kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

We beseech Thee, O Lord,
in Thy mercy,
to have pity on the soul of Helga;
do Thou, Who hast freed her
from the perils of this mortal life,
restore to her the portion of everlasting salvation.
Through Christ our Lord,

Amen.

Quote from: chriswise on January 22, 2012, 07:41:04 PM
Arang gajod sir,,,matong pa sa taga GUINDULMAN,,arang gajod guapa,,,,,he,he,,,

Hehe, daghan bitaw mga mestiza sa Guindulman.

I even keep old trinkets that were given to me as gifts, things of sentimental value.

Quote from: hubag bohol on January 22, 2012, 07:36:21 AM
...even old tickets, receipts, raffle stubs, place cards, scraps of paper with telephone numbers, whatever. I use them as bookmarks, too...

Nice!

Dear Manay,

Continue to pray for her , for there is no describing the effect of a powerful prayer. All you can do is pray for your mother in law, Helga, and be at peace with her during this time of her life. Mo ampo lagi ta so pasaylo-an siya . Continue to pray for her, Manay Tess, and just be for her during this final stage of her life. May God Bless you and your family during this time. I will keep Helga in my prayers.



Love,
Bran

Good Morning,


The itme is 10:29 AM here in Chicago, Illinois, USA. I woke up to a dread sight: SNOW! And a lot of it. Looks like a foot of snow has been poured on top of Chicago's streets and I am getting ready to go out and shovel my car out of snow. Not a pretty sight, nope, not at all! Thank God I am not on-call today or working. We have a faculty meeting this coming 27th and then a "skype" faculty meeting with some members of Northwestern faculty on the 25th. There is a graduation ceremony on February, several of my former students are going to be graduating so i have to attend ..proud pod ko that naka pasar sila sa ilang boards!

The other day I had a call from one of my former students -- to inform me that he passed his Electrocardiography Technician Board Examination , and then I got a call form one of my other former students also passed his Advanced EKG Tech Board Exam as well. I was so proud of them! They called to thank me for the instruction and for giving them "tips" on the exam. hahaha! There really is no describing the feeling of knowing that you have helped someone succeed ... it is priceless!

It's time to go out now. There is a job that must be done---Shoveling Snow!

To all in here: Have a Great Day/ Have a Good Night! May God Bless us all.



Best,
Bran Lorenzo

A Statistics and Psychometrics Text Book!

Yes, I do.

Share your view first, Vistabel.

Quote from: chicogon on January 21, 2012, 11:24:20 PM
Mao bitaw ila gi assign ang ngan: Joel Maloloy-on bwahahaha 

hahaha!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYqogpLpC5Q#

Quote from: jeiboy on January 21, 2012, 07:22:02 PM
hahaha I will try  that suggestions mga bosing...

Hahaha, ayaw pod ta tawga "bosing bosing" wa jamoy bosing diri, bai!

Tinuod lagi tong advice nako, practice the bench push technique. lol!

Peace, bai!

“Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him
and in whose spirit is no deceit.

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.

For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.
Selah

Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD “â€"
and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Selah

Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you
while you may be found;
surely when the mighty waters rise,
they will not reach him.

You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Selah

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you.

Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.

Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the LORD’s unfailing love
surrounds the man who trusts in him.

Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart! “


- Psalm 32