This summer 2014, I am renovating my master toilet and bathroom. I have for a long time planned to remove my old bath tub which has not actually served its real purpose. My husband and I are getting old, the tub at times can pose a safety risk to both of us. Many years ago, I once fell down from getting in and out of the tub, luckily I was younger then. There are also plenty of cracks and chips inside the bathroom which Lucas and I on several occasions tried patching them up. But now I think, once and for all, I will have it entirely re-tiled. But alas, as the work commences, I soon find out there are more things to repair:
1. Some ceilings badly needed replacement.
2. Some of the guest room plyboard wall panels are starting to fall off. I have few panels removed already. I think it is wise to have it repainted instead.
3. The cause of all troubles is the roof top. It is found to be leaking. We need to have it water proofed.
4. The kitchen chimney needs reparing, so too with other parts of the house, etc... etc...
Now, after closer inspections, Lucas and I have decided to renovate all the bathrooms, water proofed the roof and do on the spot repairs. A lot of work ahead!!!
Monday, April 28, 2014
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Relics
Helen and I went shopping yesterday at Gateway Mall. It was very fortunate of us at the same time to see the relics of Blessed Pope John Paul II which were displayed on the third floor(?) lobby. He will be canonized this coming April 27, 2014 together with Blessed Pope John XXIII.
Display of relics
The left reliquary contents his hair and the right reliquary shows his blood stain on a piece of cloth.
Rosary used by Blessed Pope John Paul II
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Updating Previous ChingMing Post
Today, my daughters Martha, Marion and I went to the graveyard of my parents Francisco and Mary Ledesma. Together with my siblings, sister-in-laws Diane and Solan, and two nephews, we did a modified Chinese Catholic ChingMing. We swept the ground, cleaned the tombs, offered flowers, lighted candles, burned incense, offered food of fruits, snacks and water and recited the rosary.
After which we proceeded to visit the mausoleum of my grandparents Mr. Go Bon Kia and Mrs. Laurena Go, a few distance away from where my parents were laid. We offered candles, lighted incense and recited a few prayers.
It was my intention to visit their graveyards. I prayed for their holy souls and asked them to interceed for us too. I just wanted to say " Papa, Mama I still love you!" and "Grandpa and Grandma, we have not forgotten you".
After which we proceeded to visit the mausoleum of my grandparents Mr. Go Bon Kia and Mrs. Laurena Go, a few distance away from where my parents were laid. We offered candles, lighted incense and recited a few prayers.
It was my intention to visit their graveyards. I prayed for their holy souls and asked them to interceed for us too. I just wanted to say " Papa, Mama I still love you!" and "Grandpa and Grandma, we have not forgotten you".
Saturday, April 5, 2014
ChingMing
Today April 5 is ChingMing, the Chinese equivalent of All Souls Day. The Chinese pay respect to their dearly departed during ChingMing (literally meaning clear green) by going to the cemetery to sweep and clean the tombs, light candles, burn incense, offer Sam Seng (three life forms), pray and ask for intervention from their ancestors. Since I am descended from Chinese forebears and married to Chinese family, I have ever since childhood and until now observed the celebration of ChingMing.
As a child, I looked forward to visiting the lone graveyard of my maternal grandfather buried in a remote Kakar area in Cotabato City. The graveyard stood by its lonesome on a hillside fronting one of Rio Grande Mindanao tributaries. As the story frequently told by my mother and Aunt Pilar.........my grandfather's body was hurriedly buried on a hillside during the Japanese war time. They had at first intended to bury him in the Chinese cemetery. With the help of some Muslims, they traveled by boat in darkness so as not to be noticed, but the boat traverse from Cocal to Kakar took awhile. Before they could reach the cemetery, the body was already decomposing and sunrise was soon approaching. They had no way of reaching the Chinese cemetery without being noticed by the Japanese soldiers. So they interred their beloved father Mr. Ngo Bon Kia in Kakar in Muslim tradition. To go there for ChingMing, my father was the only person who knew how to reach the site. He would drive us by truck to go through rough terrains. We had to get down at some point to walk through fields and woods. I knew we would soon be there as the trek began to descend. Half way one could see a lone cemented niche. Farther down was the river. For me, those days of going to my grandfather's graveyard was a picnic tradition. We siblings delighted in partaking of the food offerings. Somehow I learned a lot from my mother doing the ChingMing tradition. After 50 years though from his time of death, my grandfather bones were transferred to Manila. It was the time when Cotabato City started to become lawless and where nobody dared to visit the graveyard anymore. Rest in peace now, Angkong.
As a child, I looked forward to visiting the lone graveyard of my maternal grandfather buried in a remote Kakar area in Cotabato City. The graveyard stood by its lonesome on a hillside fronting one of Rio Grande Mindanao tributaries. As the story frequently told by my mother and Aunt Pilar.........my grandfather's body was hurriedly buried on a hillside during the Japanese war time. They had at first intended to bury him in the Chinese cemetery. With the help of some Muslims, they traveled by boat in darkness so as not to be noticed, but the boat traverse from Cocal to Kakar took awhile. Before they could reach the cemetery, the body was already decomposing and sunrise was soon approaching. They had no way of reaching the Chinese cemetery without being noticed by the Japanese soldiers. So they interred their beloved father Mr. Ngo Bon Kia in Kakar in Muslim tradition. To go there for ChingMing, my father was the only person who knew how to reach the site. He would drive us by truck to go through rough terrains. We had to get down at some point to walk through fields and woods. I knew we would soon be there as the trek began to descend. Half way one could see a lone cemented niche. Farther down was the river. For me, those days of going to my grandfather's graveyard was a picnic tradition. We siblings delighted in partaking of the food offerings. Somehow I learned a lot from my mother doing the ChingMing tradition. After 50 years though from his time of death, my grandfather bones were transferred to Manila. It was the time when Cotabato City started to become lawless and where nobody dared to visit the graveyard anymore. Rest in peace now, Angkong.
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