Dreaming on the Plazas of Iloilo

Visiting Iloilo is a dream come true for me. I have been longing to see for myself the well-preserved historic plazas scattered in various Hispanic towns of the province. As a town planner, I am an advocate of creating and preserving public plazas because these are the focal points of the people in the community coming from various age groups and walks of life and it carries the image of the people and of the place. Plazas are the silent witnesses to historic events of a place, both the desirable and the undesirable as we know it.

 

Myself coming from a place with a low regard for open spaces such as public parks and plazas, I can only dream of sitting down quietly in a plaza of another place like the ones in Iloilo. Thank, God, a few months ago, the universe conspired to make my dream come true. I not only had the opportunity to sit on a bench in just one plaza, but in four different plazas. The people of Iloilo seems to have an innate and impressive penchant for designing best plazas not only in the country but in the whole world.

 

During my solitary escapade, I first visited Molo Plaza. Pure love and romance consumed my mind as I was walking along the paths and the churchyard.  The church façade is an ideal place for making bonds with loved ones. The entire plaza was spacious enough to accommodate people of all ages and their families and loved ones.

 

When I entered the church, I felt like I was transported to the time when Spaniards ruled the country. It was so wonderful to see the long pews, the antique images of saints, the paintings, and the well-preserved pulpit where the priests would deliver the homily; it was on top so everybody attending the mass can hear it.

 

Just on the side of the church yard is the gazebo which was surrounded by monuments of Greek goddesses adding more romance to the place.

 

When I sat down on the big cut-out of Molo Plaza, I can only surmise how it would be wonderful to be born and to live in this place. Across the plaza is the majestic and romantic Molo Mansion which I think is an architecture wonder because of its intricate and balanced symmetry and classic design. It was beside the Molo Mansion that I sipped a cool mango shake, my all-time favorite, savoring each drop of it while awesomely devouring the charm of the Molo Plaza.

 

My next stop is the Jaro Plaza which is just a few minutes away from Molo. The plaza was obviously newly-redesigned and modernized yet maintaining the old feel. The pathways were huge and it is so wonderful to see students, group of friends and families having their afternoon stroll and bonding moments. Again, I could only dream of this for my hometown. I walked leisurely to the towering monuments that dominate the plaza, one of which is that of Graciano Lopez Jaena, a Filipino writer and reformist who was born in Jaro. What got my attention was the giant Spanish-period belfry made of red bricks which stands like the leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. It was so high anybody could be dwarfed standing next to it. Across the plaza is the centuries-old Jaro Church  with its façade blackened by moss thru the passage of time which has grand stairs on both sides that meet on the second level of the church’s façade which holds the grotto of Our Lady of the Candles, the town’s patron saint.

 

I consider my travel to Iloilo as not complete without visiting the Miag-ao Church, a  UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with four other Baroque churches in the Philippines. I was so astounded to see the church’s façade draped in various artistic carvings of local flora and fauna as well as images of saints. It was so unique I have not seen one like this anywhere. Whoever were the artists who turned the church’s façade into a whole wall of canvass were truly geniuses. Across the street from the church is the Miag-ao Plaza. It was so huge and designed to evoke not only love but also patriotism as what lies at the center is the monument of Jose Rizal.

 

While going back to the city, I passed by the town of Guimbal and  was amazed by the gates and fences of houses that were uniformly designed and all painted in vibrant yellow hue. I endured the scorching heat brought by the midday sun as I walked thru the town center. The place was all too typical of a plaza complex during the Spanish period characterized by being surrounded by the church, the town hall and on the other side by the hospital and some commercial spaces. The plaza of Guimbal is really one for the books and for me one of the bests in this part of the planet. Again, I have met Rizal in stone at the center of the plaza just steps away from the awe-inspiring marvelous amphitheater facing the town hall. I was really awed and astounded by its charm.

 

As I laid down to sleep that night, I was so happy another dream came to full view. But I know that my happiness would be more complete once a dream plaza takes shape in my own hometown.

 

                                                       At Jaro Plaza

                                                At Jaro's leaning belfry

                            At Miag-ao Church, UNESCO World Heritage Site

                            At Jaro Church

                            At Guimbal Plaza

 

 

 

Name Game

 It sends a shock among Filipinos to see beautiful faces on Mexican telenovelas whose names are somewhat taken from their distant pre-Hispanic era. Names like Pedro, Juan, Jose, Antonia, or Fernanda oftentimes become a source of humor and ridicule among us. And we ask, “How could these beautiful people be named such?”

 

There goes a generalization that says that ones name is the sweetest music or melody to ones ear. Call me in my name properly and I will treat you well. However, mispronounce my name or say it with an apparent disrespect, expect a bang from me (he-he)! Forgive me, but at times our names being the “sweetest melody” is not always the case. How would you feel if you bear a name like Hudas, Hestas, or Barabbas? Just like what a parent from “kyusi” named his children. Of course, these kids bear also the stigma of the infamity of the trio.

 

Going back to the Mexican, guys, there can be no sense of wonder with their Hispanic names. Like the Philippines, Mexico was once a colony of Spain (15-18^th century), being the crown colony those times. All right, the Philippines was colonized by the Spaniards for more than three hundred years but we have been colonized too and neocolonized by the American until now. And Filipinos seem to love everything that is American including names. Thus, our name lists which were bombarded then with Juan`s, Jose`s and Maria`s are now packed with John, Joseph, and Mary. Most of the time these are being combined with one or two names. Hence, there goes Peter Paul, John Paul, or Mary Claire. Parents of these children are seemingly unmindful of the psychologists` warning that a kilometric name makes a child impatient especially when he is still learning to write it. My classmate tells me, in a ten-minute quiz, while everybody in the class is submitting their papers, he is still writing his three-tiered name.

 

Examining closely where do most of us take a name is quite fascinating. Oftentimes, parents combine the first or last syllables of their respective names. Hence, Reynaldo and Amanda`s child is likely be named Reyman. Parents also resurrect the names of their parents and grandparents. Oftentimes, with the third, the fourth, or the fifth after the surname as if they are part of a big royal family. Other parents, however, searched out for unique names or just invent their own so as to make a distinct identity for their children. Some just imitate the names of their favorite actors, soap opera character, or a superhero, or from the world or community’s who’s who. Meanwhile, sentimental few got the inkling of giving names to their children the virtues of Faith, Hope, Love, or Charity. This is of course in an obvious attempt that their children may exude virtues as their name suggest. People who claimed their selves to be culturally aware and nationalists like the names Diwata, Aya, Dalisay, or Liwayway. These names appear so ancient and outmoded to most Filipinos today. I asked myself why do Filipinos despised names like Juan or Filipe and glorify its American equivalent of John and Philip?  Or why ridicule Juan Panday and salute John Smith? Or laugh at Rogelio Dagdag and swoon to Roger Moore?

 

There is nothing wrong on our efforts to beautify the names of every generation. Nor it is a sin to stereotype names in favor of euphemism. However, for a heterogeneous country like ours, the names of the people are quite important in seeking for a common national identity. Our names should correspond to our nationality. We must be identified, through our names in the community of nations as Filipinos not a nation of varied nationality.

T’was a great 2018!

Started the year doing my job as the designated zoning administrator of the municipality. Faced a lot of challenges and even opposition as I implement zoning regulations. I stood firm and yes the law prevailed.

 

My job took me to Surigao City, Davao City and Angeles City. Wandering through the streets of these cities has filled me with tons of ideas for local development planning especially in terms of environmental protection, urban planning and community resiliency.

 

Though I sometimes had to struggle with health issues, I was able to surmount it all. Thanks heaven, I have always been receiving undeserved leases in my life hehe. Perhaps, God has more plans for me hehe.

 

One important lesson I learned this year is to take life easy, anyway, no one comes out of this world carrying all the things that worry people a lot like money, career, and all worldly cares.

 

If the spirit is like an airplane, it would be easier for it to soar up to the greatest heights if it does not carry tons of baggage.

 

Living unattached to material things is essential to living a happy life. However, fighting materialistic tendencies is a constant battle between good and evil, call it the “armageddon” on a daily basis.

 

When the plane that we were riding on in Surigao hardly took off from the runway due to strong winds and heavy downpour caused by a signal number two typhoon, I thought the plane will not be able to pull it off. I thought it would smash through the grassy and muddy area. Our plane is just so good and obviously we have a good pilot.

 

Up in the air, turbulence was so scary. I saw my companion’s daughter holding on tight to his father’s arm. Admittedly, I was scared but here we are in a corner where all of us seemed to be helpless. I closed my eyes, said a prayer, relaxed myself and listened to a love song on my tablet. In forty-five minutes, our plane is making a landing in Cebu airport. However, our ordeal is not yet over. We are still in the middle of the storm. We are just half-way to our final destination which is our hometown of Lavezares in Northern Samar.  

 

We had the night passed in a cheap hotel in Cebu. At past 4 in the morning, we prepared for the airport. It was raining and wind is getting stronger as the typhoon is now in Cebu. From our room, I can see the country’s flag fluttering so fast with the strong winds. We went to the airport. There was no flight cancellation. Friends were calling me concerned of my flight as it was situation in my hometown is not good either. A friend even livestreamed the strong winds in my hometown ripping through the streets and banana areas. Several teachers were calling and texting me asking if the mayor would cancel classes and offices. I told them we have to wait for the provincial government notice of cancellation.

 

Absence the flight cancellation, we proceeded with our trip back home. There were even more turbulence. To relax myself, I opened myself for a nice conversation with my seatmate who happens to be a bank manager of a local bank. In more than an hour, we landed at Calbayog Airport amidst worrisome turbulence.

 

Lesson learned through all these air turbulence is to stay relax by consoling oneself with the thought that man has no control. God has.

 

Turbulence comes in so many forms, both natural and real life in other aspects. Having faith in oneself and in the Supreme Being are enough to tame me no matter how earth shattering the turbulences are.

 

Great thoughts to live by as 2018 leaves and as 2019 beacons a new gravity-defying hope and positive vibes.# 01-02-2019

 

God-centered vs. Self-centered Posted by Scott Chafee

 

God-centered vs. Self-centered

Posted on January 19, 2013 by Scott Chafee

The essence of sin is the shift from a God-centeredness to a self-centeredness. To know God’s will, we must turn away from self-centeredness. Look at it this way:

To be self-centered: life is focused on self, we are proud of self and your own accomplishments, we have confidence is in self, a dependence on self and our own abilities, seeking acceptance from the world and its ways, selfish and ordinary living.

To be God-centered: we have confidence in God, dependence on God and on his abilities and provision, life is focused on God and his activities, we have humility before God, denying self, seeking first God’s kingdom and his righteousness, and seeking God’s perspective in all circumstances, holy and godly living.

In the Bible we don’t see God asking people to dream up what they want to do for God. The pattern is to submit, wait, watch and then join him.

Our goals for experiencing God, basically to know and do the will of God…

1. I must deny myself and return to a God-centered life.
2. I must reorient my life to God.
3. I must focus my life on God’s purposes and not my own plans.
4. I must seek to see from God’s perspective rather than from my own distorted human perspective.
5. I must wait until God shows me what he is about to do through me.
6. I must watch to see what God is doing around me and join him.

THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND WORKS OF FR. CANTIUS KOBAK: A Book Review

 THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND WORKS OF FR. CANTIUS KOBAK

A Polish Priest and Historian in the Philippines

Author: Carl Sanchez Bordeos

 

Bridging the past to the present is what this book has successfully accomplished. The author, Carl Sanchez Bordeos, was able to connect piece by piece the significant events in the life of the great Samar historian, the adopted Calbayognon, the personification of Franciscan mission, and the pride of the Polish people, Fr. Cantius Kobak.

 

The book which is studded with well-researched facts and old photos, traces the footsteps of Fr. Kobak. It engages readers on Fr. Kobak’s journey from his birth to his finding his priestly mission, to the trails of his mission in the Philippines and his legendary work in assembling the records of the rich history and heritage of the Samar Island, especially during the pre-Hispanic period. It establishes the generosity of spirit of Fr. Kobak, both as a priest and as a historian, and puts him on a rightful place in the history of Franciscan mission in the Philippines and elevates him as one of the important historians the Philippines ever had.

 

Fr. Kobak came to Samar on August 28, 1959. It appears that right from start, he immediately developed his deep appreciation of the island leading him to take the monumental challenge of documenting its storied past. Undaunted by the then seeming lack of records and huge data gaps, Fr. Kobak explored the libraries in Samar and Leyte universities in search of documents.

 

Undeterred by poor roads and transportation at that time, he travelled across towns and islands in Samar and Leyte. He conducted research of their histories, visited historic sites, explored caves and burial grounds and collected valuable artifacts. He also visited the site of Magellan’s first landing in Homonhon Island which he also believed to be where the first mass in the Philippines was celebrated.

 

In 1967, he also took part in the retrieval, translation and annotation of the volumes of Fr. Francisco Alcina’s Historia de las Islas y Indios de Bisayas, the surviving well-written volumes of books about the Visayan people.

 

His body of works and collection of valuable artifacts are now stored and exhibited at the Samar Archeological Museum in Christ the King College, Calbayog City, which is now highly regarded in the country as the banner museum in the Samar Island. Succeeding historians and students of Samar’s history, including the author of this book, will never come out with a paper without going through the works of Fr. Kobak.

Fr. Kobak has done all these while attending to his pastoral and evangelization mission as a Franciscan. He exemplified what is meant by integral evangelization. His life’s journey taught all of us not to idle time in the service of God and humanity in whatever place and circumstance one may find in; in his case, a Polish and a European sent to mission in one of the poorest regions of the world, the Samar Island. His life and work were indeed “extraordinary” as aptly mentioned in the title of this book.

 

After reading this book, one important reflection is that – if Fr. Cantius Kobak who is a foreigner developed a genuine and deep love and concern for the island of Samar, how much more us who are born natives of this island?

 

Thirty-two years since he left the Philippines and seventeen years since his death, this book came to be. It may be long-delayed but was never made irrelevant by the passing of time. This only means that Fr. Kobak’s life will always ring an inspiring tune in the heart of every Samarnon. Thanks to the author, Carl Sanchez Bordeos and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in the Philippines for immortalizing and reliving the legacy left by Fr. Kobak’s thru this book.

 

Gratitude is the Best Attitude (by Gerry Orbos)

Know that there is God and you’re not him! So stop playing God. You’re not the only person in the world and the world doesn’t revolve around you.

Our final destination is heaven. We are not immortal; let us not live as though we are.

We are not in control. Stop controlling people. Stop controlling things. Let go and let God.

Observe the 3Ls: Live well. Love much. Laugh often.

We have two lives and the second begins when you realize you only have one.

Take good care of your three Fs: faith, family, and friends.

You don’t need fans or followers. What you need are a few good friends.

Don’t be absorbed by the opinions of the world and of what people think or say.  Be mindful of what God thinks and what God says.

No one will leave this earth alive, so don’t worry dying. Inspire before you expire.

Learn to slow down. When stuck with problem, deflate your pride.

Love one another as I have loved you.

We all have our own cross to carry. Let us carry our cross gladly.

Less of me, more of God.

Less of me, more of others

Choose light over darkness

Joy rather than sadness

Humility over pride

Generosity rather than selfishness

Choose Christ and move on

Reconcile with the Lord, with others and with yourself

Then, be at peace.

The Destiny of the Wicked and of the Good (Psalm 37)

Don’t be worried on account of the wicked; don’t be jealous of those who do wrong.

They will soon disappear like grass that dries up; they will die like plants that wither

Trust in the Lord and do good; live in the land and be safe

Seek your happiness in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desire.

Give yourself to the Lord, trust Him, and He will help you.

He will make your righteousness shine like the noonday sun.

Be patient and wait for the Lord to act; don’t be worried about those who prosper or who succeed in their evil plans.

Don’t give in to worry or anger; it only leads to trouble.

Those who trust in the Lord will possess the land, but the wicked will be driven out.

Soon the wicked will disappear; you may look for them but you won’t find them;

The humble will possess the land and enjoy prosperity and peace

The wicked plot against good people and glare at them with hate

But the Lord laughs at wicked people because he knows he will soon be destroyed

The wicked draw their swords and bend their bows to kill the poor and needy, to slaughter those who do what is right;

But they will be killed by their own swords, and their bows will be smashed.

The little that a good person owns is worth more than the wealth of all the wicked because the Lord will take away the strength of the wicked, but protect those who are good.

The Lord takes care of those who obey him, and the land will be theirs forever.

They will not suffer when times are bad; they will have enough in the time of famine.

But the wicked will die; the enemies of the Lord will vanish like wild flowers; they will disappear like smoke.

The wicked borrow and never pay back, but good people are generous with their gifts.

Those who are blessed by the Lord will possess the land, but those who are cursed by him will be driven out

The Lord guides us in the way we should go and protects those who please him.

If they fail, they will not stay down, because the Lord will help them up.

I am old now, I have lived a long time, but I have never seen good people abandoned by the Lord or their children begging for food.

At all times they give freely and lend to others, and their children are a blessing.

Turn away from evil and do good, and your descendants will always live in the land; for the Lord loves what is right and does not abandon his faithful people.

He protects them forever, but the descendants of the wicked will be driven out.

The righteous will possess the land and live in it forever.

The words of good people are wise, and they are always fair.

They keep the law of their God in their hearts and never depart from it.

Wicked people watch good people and try to kill them; but the Lord will not abandon them to their enemy’s power or let them be condemned when they are on trial. Put your hope in the Lord and obey his commands; he will honor you by giving you the land, and you will see the wicked driven out.

I once knew someone wicked who was a tyrant; he towered everyone like a cedar of Lebanon; but later I passed by and he wasn’t there; I looked for him but couldn’t find him.

Notice good people, observe the righteous; peaceful people have descendants, but sinners are completely destroyed, and their descendants are wiped out.

The Lord saves the righteous and protects them in times of trouble. He helps them and rescues them; he saves them from the wicked, because they go to Him for protection.