A Blessed Easter 2024!

 Before the day is through, I would just like to greet everyone a Happy Easter!

The main altar of the Assumption Cathedral in Bangkok where we attended Easter Mass

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Easter Sunday flashbacks and farewell to a cousin - Holy Week 2022

I remember that Easter in Tatay's hometown started way before Sunday. There was a vigil from Good Friday and this culminated in a Mass late Saturday night. There was also an early morning Easter Vigil Mass on Sunday. Early meant around 3 AM and this was attended by farmers who came from all over the town for this event. They brought with them 'binhi' or seeds for the next planting, particularly of rice. I know of this because I had two aunts, the elder sisters of my father, who went to these Masses in the early morning and who brought with them the binhi or seeds to be planted in their small plot outside of the town proper. Tatay's lifelong friend and kumpare Tay Domeng and his family also always attended that Mass and stayed at our home to have breakfast and exchange stories before returning to their home in the 'uma', which I think is the equivalent of inaka in Japanese.

For some reason, I recall that it always rained or at least drizzled that night or early morning. It was probably a sign that there will be a good harvest from the seeds brought to be blessed that morning. Too bad sometimes for the 'salubong' or 'dampog' as they called it in Kiniray-a. This was the ceremony recalling the meeting of the resurrected Christ and His grieving Mother. The image of the grieving Mother Mary (Dolorosa) had a veil removed by a child dressed as an angel who announces that Christ has risen. I think I only woke up a couple times for this and the following first Easter Mass. That was mainly for the experience of it aside from me not having an option not to go with relatives for this event. Tatay always went to the second Easter Mass when he also met up with old friends and other relatives who probably didn't know he was there.

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Last night, we received news of the passing of a first cousin. Manong Pecoy died of cardiac arrest last night, the second one he suffered in the last week. He was hospitalized for a week before his demise. Francisco Manopla y Regidor was blessed with a long life and just turned 90 early this April. He was a cousin though he was older than Tatay. Tatay being the youngest among siblings had sisters and brothers who were much older than him. As they say, matanda kami sa dugo (our blood is older), which explains why many of my cousins from my father's side are senior citizens and I have grandchildren as old as my youngest brother. Our nephew was saying that just before he passed away, Manong was in high spirits and even joked that he wanted to have a bottle of Red Horse (beer). He was a simple man who worked hard and helped his sister finish school. He shared many experiences with Tatay who likes to relate how difficult life was and the sacrifices they made in order to have an education. 

I thought it was apt that he passed away during Easter. He was not the religious type but he definitely lived a life that is more Christian than others would pretend theirs to be. Paalam Manong Pecoy. You lived a blessed and exemplary life more than how you probably saw it. May you now rest and rest eternally with our Creator.

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Happy Easter!

Maligayang Pasko ng Pagkabuhay!

"The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6. He is not here, for he is risen as he said. Come, see the place where they laid him; 7. then go at once and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead and is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. This is my message for you.""

Matthew, 28 - Bíblia Católica Online

Leia mais em: https://www.bibliacatolica.com.br/christian-community-bible/matthew/28/

Mango float for Easter

The Clairvoyant made some mango float last Thursday that we could enjoy on Easter weekend. The recipe is not so complicated and the ingredients are easy to get. Fresh mangoes are available throughout the year but are very much in season this March and April so we were able to get good mangoes that are just right in terms of sweetness and sourness. Cream and condensed milk are also readily available from the supermarket or even in convenience stores. Graham crackers, which would serve as the layers for what would look like a cake are also available from the grocery. We have a few Pyrex trays at home that we use for various dishes so we just took a couple out of storage and prepared them for use for the do-it-yourself dessert. I took a few photos of the final product that we sampled today after almost 48 hours in the freezer.

Fresh from the fridge freezer - the mango float was placed in the freezer for best results in integration of the ingredients.

The first slice of mango float for the taste test.

Success! The mango float tastes great and the layers of graham, mangoes and cream/condensed milk mix is seen in the photo.

I can say that the mango float is ready for Easter Sunday and won't probably last beyond Sunday if we let everyone indulge in dessert tomorrow.

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Easter in Cabatuan

No, I'm not in Cabatuan right now but I've always reminisced about childhood days when I spent my Holy Weeks in my father's hometown. It was a part of the summer that I've always looked forward to. It was a time when the family on my father's side got together, reacquainting themselves and exchanging stories on a year past and updating each other on relatives who were not able to make it to the informal reunions. We heard Mass at the ancient church of Cabatuan whose patron saint is San Nicolas Tolentino. I remember my aunts, Nanay Pilar and Nanay Agrong, going to church very late Saturday night or early Easter morning for the vigil mass. The brought grain with them for these to be blessed. It assured us of an abundant harvest every year - El Nino notwithstanding. I was able to get a good photo of the church below: 

San Nicolas de Tolentino Church, Cabatuan, Iloilo

I will always go back to Cabatuan whenever I'm in Iloilo. No excuses now especially since the airport is already there. But I look forward to less busier days when I and the clairvoyant would visit during the Holy Week and reminisce good old times with beloved relatives.