MY SKINNY LOVE

MY SKINNY LOVE

I love music. I have a wide range of  genres that I listen to. I love doing things with background music. As I drive, take a bath, write my teaching lessons, blogs or any paper for that matter, I see to it that I have something to listen to. Music gives me a sort of inspiration and motivation... It makes me think better.  I do write some songs my self but I just keep them with me... I write poems, too.

Skinny Love by Birdy (originally by Bon Iver) became a favorite early part of 2012.  Why it appeals to me? It sounds like a lullaby (LOL). The melody and the lyrics are actually quite sad. Anyway, as I keep on listening to the lyrics, it reminded me of something that I could relate to...skinny love. Skinny means thin...no fat, no substance, malnourished and therefore could mean -   imbalanced, weak, meaningless or a waste :( 

                             (Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNzCDt2eidg)

LYRICS:

Come on skinny love, just last the year.

Pour a little salt, we were never here.

My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my…

Staring at the sink of blood and crushed veneer…

I tell my love to wreck it all.

Cut out all the ropes and let me fall.

My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my…

Right at the moment this order's tall.

And I told you to be patient,

And I told you to be fine,

And I told you to be balanced

And I told you to be kind…

And in the morning, I'll be with you,

But it will be a different kind.

'Cause I'll be holding all the tickets,

And you'll be own’ng all the fines…

Come on skinny love, what happened here?

 Suckle on the hope in light brassiere.

My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my…

Sullen load is full, so slow on the split.

And I told you to be patient,

And I told you to be fine,

And I told you to be balanced,

And I told you to be kind.

And now all your love is wasted,

Then who the hell was I?

'Cause now I'm breaking at the britches,

And at the end of all your lines…

Who will love you?

Who will fight?

Who will fall far behind?

Come on skinny love,

My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my….

My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my….

Christmas Celebration Filipino Style

Christmas Celebration Filipino Style

Since I was a kid, I was brought up with what I call Filipino tradition of celebrating Christmas. My family attends the Misa de Gallo (dawn mass) for nine consecutive days before the Christmas Day, December 25. 

We have to sacrifice waking up very early to hear mass at 4AM or 4:30 AM depending on the parish. After the mass, I happily tread back home with my parents and along the way we buy rice cakes of various kinds (including puto-bumbong - rice cake with violet color cooked in bamboo, spread with Star Margarine then topped with young coconut and sugar) - enough to satisfy a kid's palate.

On the 24th of December at 10:00PM, we hear mass (the midnight mass) and wear our best clothes - usually new shoes, new clothes, etc... After the mass, we have our noche buena, midnight meal, with our family including our grandparents, aunties and uncles, and first cousins. We see to it that we are complete. It's our family reunion, too! What is nice with this noche buena is the variety of food on the table! Almost always there will be the Chinese ham, quezo de bola (cheddar cheese in ball shape), baked chicken, barbeque, sausages, crispy pata or lechon, menudo, baked fish topped with mayonnaise and cheese, tossed salad, spaghetti or pancit, bread, wine, fruit cake, fruit salad (with shredded young coconut meat) and fresh fruits (like apples, pear, chico, bananas, pineapple, oranges)...it's literally a feast day!

After feasting, we gather in our living room near the huge Christmas tree, where gifts are displayed. Then, we exchange gifts and open them to our joy and delight.  Of course, picture taking to document the event will not be missed. Except for the novena masses and  exchange gifts, everything is repeated for the New Year celebration.

Now that I have my own family  (I have only three children - all grownups), we still try our best to follow that Christmas tradition that I have grown up with. This time, however, it's much simpler...food and gifts no longer become the focal point...the family gathering, hearing mass together and praying as a family matter more. 

Christmas has always been about merry-making, giving and receiving. It has lost its meaning through the years, and it has become sooo commercialized. But, is it not about the joy of waiting? Reflecting on the coming of our Savior? Christmas for me is for the poor in spirit and everyone must be prepared and ready to receive that gift...the gift of salvation. 

May we all have a meaningful celebration of Christmas not only this year but through the years to come. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

THE PRIEST WHO IS ALWAYS LATE

THE PRIEST WHO IS ALWAYS LATE

We have a reliever/guest priest who says mass every 5:30 PM Saturday, 4:00 PM Sunday, and 7:00 PM, Sunday. He is a young, six footer, neat and good looking priest. His homily?…hmmmnnn, I should say, average (my personal opinion).  The problem is that he is always (or should I say, habitually) late for mass - 15 minutes to 30 minutes. This really annoys the parishioners. He is already known as Fr. Late.

The worst happened just this December 8, 2012 (Saturday) when he came one hour late! I could have left and attend mass in another parish as their mass, being a special day commemorating the Solemnity of the Immaculate Concepcion plus their town fiesta, was every hour.  I have an appointment at 7:00 PM (perhaps other parishioners, too), but I can’t leave as I was the commentator of the mass. I have read the mass intentions, marriage banns, including the announcements that are usually read before the mass ends. I had requested the choir to teach the congregation how to sing the responsorial psalm, etc., just to keep the congregation from leaving. Unfortunately, several had left.

When the priest arrived, he put on his vestment and went straight to say mass. Alas! I did not have the chance to coordinate with him, thus, the first part of lighting the second Advent candle was so disorganized as he tried to cut things short - to my confusion and that of the invited family who was requested to light the candles. The rite proceeded, anyway.

During his homily, he did not say sorry or apologize, but blamed the traffic, instead… he has not learned after all these time being a local in the province? What do you call that? I live about a kilometer from our parish which would take less than  five minutes without traffic. But, since I know the terrible traffic along this route, I usually leave our house one hour earlier, especially, if I am to serve in the mass.   

My question is...is being (always/habitually) late an excuse or privilege of being a priest?...and that, he does not sin in doing so?  I remember he used to say in his homily that if the priest is late, nobody is late. I find this statement a form of satirical wit which is not funny at all. In his homily this day (after being late for 1hr), he said that waiting is not always exciting and that we should know the pain of waiting - as what we have just experienced -, because that is what Advent is all about. Oh, well…he is not the messiah.  

Postscript:
Our parish priest said that I just pray for the priest who is always late. Another priest told me that  I should have more patience. They have the point, but I would have preferred to hear that they will advise (fraternal advice) and remind the priest to be more punctual.

"Punctuality is the politeness of kings."

Louis XVIII 

An Update:

Today, December 25, 2012,  I was 30 minutes earlier for the 7:30 AM mass as I have to serve. The church started to be filled-up with church-goers as it is Christmas Day. Ten minutes had passed, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 min and this same priest has not arrived! Finally, it was announced that Fr. Late (as he is popularly called) is not arriving and that the parishioners could just wait for the the 9:00 AM mass. Many got infuriated. Never...never in my entire life that no priest officiated a mass on Christmas Day!