Thank you and Farewell, President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino (1933 - 2009)

Click here to view pictures: A Moment in HISTORY - Luneta, Manila - Philippines

MANILA, Philippines – Former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino has passed away.
She was 76.
Her son Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III confirmed that she died of cardio-respiratory arrest at exactly 3:18 a.m. Saturday at the Makati Medical Center.
Mrs. Aquino has been diagnosed with colon cancer early in 2008 and has been confined at the Makati Medical Center for more than a month.
Mrs. Aquino, widow of Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., will be remembered as an icon of democracy, having led a military-backed popular revolt in 1986 that ousted a dictator who ruled the country for 20 years.
At about 5 a.m. outside the hospital, Noynoy read a statement announcing the death of his mother.
The statement read:

"Our mother peacefully passed away at 3:18 a.m., August 1, 2009, of cardio-respiratory arrest.
“She would have wanted to thank each and every one of you for all the prayers and your continued love and support. It was her wish for all of us to pray for one another and for our country.
“Hinihiling po ng aming pamilya ang kaunting panahon para makasama namin ang aming mahal na ina.


....Image and News Excerpt from Inquirer.net
Read : Cory Aquino Biography
Click here : Live Video Streaming of Tita Cory's Wake

2010 Philippine Holidays

Planning a VACATION next year?

You can do it now...MALACAÑANG already released PROCLAMATION NO. 1841 DECLARING THE REGULAR HOLIDAYS, SPECIAL (NON-WORKING) DAYS, AND SPECIAL HOLIDAY (FOR ALL SCHOOLS) FOR THE YEAR 2010!

Click this link to download your copy. Enjoy!

Sources:
http://www.ops.gov.ph/records/#Proclamations
http://www.gov.ph/index.php

In Memoriam: +Fr. Teodoro A. Urrutia, SJ

Fr. Teodoro Urrutia, SJ was born on November 20, 1913 in Nanclaves de
Gamboa, Spain. Perhaps because of the influence of the Jesuit education he obtained
from St. Francis Xavier at Sanguesa, in Navarro, Fr. Urrutia entered the Society of Jesus
on June 7, 1934. He pronounced his first vows two years later and after years of
studies and formation was ordained to the priesthood on July 30, 1948. The following
year he made his tertianship and then pronounced his final vows on February 2, 1951.
As his first assignment, he taught religion, math and literature at the Escuela
Profesional Cristo Rey in Burgos, Spain. Later, he was made principal of that school.

In 1962, his dream of being sent to the missions was realized when he was allowed
to go to the Philippines. In this country which would become the dominant passion
of his Jesuit life, Fr. Urrutia was first assigned to the island of Olutanga in Zamboanga
del Sur. There he would be involved in running the Loyola High School in Subanipa
while at the same time acting as assistant parish priest of the town. After more than
ten years on the island, his missionary zeal would bring him to Bukidnon as where
he would serve as assistant parish priest to the different towns of the province.
In 1977, he was back to his beloved Olutanga island.

His apostolic work would take its toll on his health and so in 1988, he was transferred
to the Loyola House of Studies in Manila. Despite his health condition however, he
would still engage in active ministry, doing pastoral work in the Quezon Institute and
then chaplaincy work for the Sisters of Mary Boystown and Girlstown in Silang, Cavite
and Sta. Mesa, Manila. In 2003, his health condition worsened and on August 26, 2004,
Fr. Teodoro Urrutia, SJ, finally joined his Creator whom he had faithfully served with his
outstanding dedication to the missionary work of the Society of Jesus. Hasta Luego,
Don Teodoro!

Thanks to : "The WINDHOVER - The Philippine Jesuit Magazine : 3^rd Quarter 2004"

Click here for: Fr. Teodoro A. Urrutia's Memorial Mass Photos

LINK FR. AL'S CHILDREN FOUNDATION...

Please help us in advertising Fr. Al's Children Foundation, Inc. (FACFI). You may use the above banner or simply put http://www.facfi.org.ph/ website address into your websites, blogs, forums or if you know of any website which offers free display of banner as such: http://www.mixph.com/ which freely displays FACFI's banner.Thanks a lot mixph.com!

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Fr. Al's Children Foundation, Inc. (FACFI) is a non-stock, non-profit organization duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines. It was established on November 26, 1992 after the demise of Msgr. Aloysius Schwartz, founder of the Sisters of Mary congregation, to assist the charity programs of the Sisters of Mary Boystowns and Girlstowns in the Philippines.

The foundation is a recognized donee institution and certified by the Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC): Certificate No. : 044-2007

Vocation : The Brothers of Christ

Are you in search for your life's purpose?

• If you are in between the ages of 17 to 30; have at least high school education; physically, physiologically and spiritually healthy and above all has a sincere desire to serve the poor with the heart, mind and spirit of Christ, then we invite you to JOIN - The Brothers of Christ.

• After approximately three years of formation, the brothers profess the religious vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and service to the poor and a promise to pray an average of three hours a day, in honor of the five wounds of Jesus. These vows are being renewed each year at the end of the annual retreat.

• For more information on how you could join us, feel free to contact the Vocation Director at the following address and feel free also to E-mail us or visit our website:

BROTHERS OF CHRIST
Crisanto M. delos Reyeas Ave. Brgy. Biclatan
Gen. Trias, Cavite Philippines
Tel: (046)686-35-89, 0919.815.4947
Bro. Matthew: 0929.731.0932
Email: brosphtrece@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.brothersofchrist.org.ph/

Something to be PROUD of...

Yesterday, the whole SMS - Philippines community once again feel proud of ourselves being part of this great charitable institution founded by The Servant of God, Aloysius Schwartz.

I even got some walking exercise just to scout for some newspaper stand who might still be open that evening hoping to get the days' issue of Philippine Daily Inquirer so that I will be able to get personal copy of the news. Unfortunately no more copy is available at the nearest 7-11.

Gladly, I have a friend who lives near a 7-11 store and I just texted him to get a copy for me. Yes! I was able to get one and soon I will be able to have it.

Here's an excerpt of the news:

The day they sang ‘God Bless America’


By Chelo Banal-Formoso
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:05:00 07/05/2009
Filed Under: Education, Youth, Music


FROM the where the guests have been invited to stand, one can see the perfect lines formed by the girls, perhaps over 3,000 of them. Only discipline can make lines like these.

And then – their voices strong, their hand movements synchronized, looking like they are lit from within – they sing. God bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her, through the night with the light from above. From the mountains to the prairies, to the ocean white with foam, God bless America, my home sweet home.

A choreography of emotions and amazing grace, the rendition moves Kristie Anne Kenney to tears. Even the non-Americans among the guests are misty-eyed.

“That you chose to welcome me today by learning a special song that honors my country and my heritage, and to do it so brilliantly, is a very wonderful treat,” responds Ms Kenney upon being handed the microphone. “And I know of no other nation in the world that has that kind of kindness and welcoming spirit.”

It isn’t every day that the US ambassador to the Philippines comes a-calling on the Sisters of Mary (SOM) and their wards at the Girlstown complex in Silang, Cavite. And this afternoon, she comes bearing gifts.

“I brought you some books because if you’re like me and you dream of what else is out there, you can do a lot of that through books,” she says to thunderous applause.

The girls are all in uniforms of blue and white. Marian colors. In this live-in high school founded in 1985 by Msgr. Aloysius Schwartz, reading is highly valued, but so is moral and spiritual formation. The girls are taught to live a life of simplicity, charity, gratitude and joy. Marian virtues.

None of these kids is holding an iPod or a Sony Ericsson phone or any such cool gadget for teens these days. That’s because these girls, and their fellow scholars at SOM Boystown (not to be confused with the facility for juvenile delinquents), come from dirt-poor families of Luzon and Palawan (Visayas and Mindanao are served by the SOM schools in Cebu).

At Girlstown and Boystown, they are given free education, room and board, medical and dental services, not to mention heaps of hope.

To view the full article, click here: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/learning/view/20090705-213984/The-day-they-sang-God-Bless-America

Caramoan lures more ‘castaways’ from Israel

This is another that I am always be proud of being a Bikolano! CamSur rocks! Come South, CamSur!

THE CLIFFS OF CARAMOAN in Camarines Sur, its lush forest hills, wildlife and exotic flora, “a certain kind of green not seen elsewhere,” white beaches and its smiling, helpful people so entranced the producers of Israel’s “Survivor” series (shown there in October) that the Philippines will be part of the title...

MANILA, Philippines—A piece of paradise in Bicolandia continues to draw an international cast of castaways.

Like the French and the Bulgarians before them, Israelis have shot their own version of the popular reality TV show “Survivor” on the Caramoan peninsula in Camarines Sur, opening this tropical Eden to a larger global audience and tourism market.

“For Israelis, it’s a view they won’t see anywhere else,” said Guy Hameiri, CEO of the production outfit Reif Hameiri, in an interview last month at the company offices in Tel Aviv.

“We were overwhelmed when we saw the location, and I’m sure it will be very tempting for our audience to go see it themselves,” Hameiri said.

Show producer Gregory Bekerman observed that “the Philippines has a certain kind of green that I haven’t seen anywhere [else].”

He said he would return to the Philippines in September to scout for another site for future “Survivor” seasons.

“It’s paradise” captured through 22 cameras and some 3,000 hours of raw footage, Bekerman said.

The challenge now is to squeeze those amazing shots into 40 hour-long episodes.

....

Read the full article at: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20090705-213893/Caramoan-lures-more-castaways-from-Israel

MONTEMARIA

I am looking forward to visit this magnificient Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Poor, it is due for completion by 2011. God really works in mysterious ways. This project is really God's work. Solely funded by donations from different people around the world.

God bless Fr. Suarez to this noble project of yours.

MONTEMARIA is a haven for pilgrims. It is not only a place of prayer, but also a fervent prayer itself. It commences a journey of a soul to the innermost meaning of life and living. Here the largest shrine in the world dedicated to Mary, Mother of the Poor becomes the visible sign of the Love of God to men and men to God proclaimed by the grandeur and the mystical way the shrine will be built. Through divine inspiration and human aspiration, heaven and earth will witness here the glimpses of the glory of God’s re-creation.

Visit: http://www.montemariashrine.com/

It’s ‘Camsur’–and it rocks

But when the name is shortened, suddenly Camsur rocks!

What’s all the fuss about Camsur? It seems one dynamic man has put his province on the world map of wakeboarding. Camsur Governor LRay Villafuerte built the Camsur Watersports Complex, the world’s most modern, six-point cable ski system designed for wakeboarding, wakeskating and waterskiing – and things have not been the same.

Coupled with restaurants, sand bars, a spa, pro-shop, watersports park and a new skateboard park, Camsur is now among our Top 10 local tourist destinations. CWC offers wakeboarding for beginner riders to professional wakeboarders who come from all over the world. Riders can even enjoy the park at night, thanks to bright spotlights that keep the action going until late.

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The above text is an excerpt from an article published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Lifestyle section by Tessa Prieto-Valdes dated June 27, 2009.

To read the full article click here: http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20090627-212729/Its-Camsurand-it-rocks

Image from: http://www.camsurwatersportscomplex.com/