New Year's Kaput

I know this is late but I just want to share what kind of new year we had in here last New Year’s eve. In relation to my last blog, about being grumpy, I remember the old man living upstairs of our apartment, I’ll tell you the story about it. I don't know if most people here are not really into Christmas or New Year celebrations because as I observed, they are not really giving much attention to it. Thanksgiving is what they valued most. It's very unlikely in the Philippines, our home town. During these times of the year, families and friends are getting together, workers and students are having their Christmas breaks to celebrate with their loved ones. Food is always present both in Christmas and New Year’s eves. This is not just for the family to enjoy but also to symbolize abundance for the coming New Year. Firecrackers, some great fireworks, and loud music from radio will be heard when 12:00am of the 31st of December approaches. When I was a kid, I used my coin bank and torotot (toy trumpet or horn) in creating noise. It's really loud during New Year ’s Eve in the Philippines, everywhere you go, your ears will not find rest. You can't even hear your own voice because of all the loudness around you. They say that the loud noise will make bad spirits go away and leave along with the old year. We really missed the joy and gladness the season brings in the Philippines. Who said that we can’t bring it here? You will see in our video how happy we were, I put on a little loud music in my computer to give the New Year a spirited welcome. My speaker has its own woofer that’s why you can really feel how lively the music was. That was the very first time I did a loud music (just a little loud actually), I believe it won’t hurt since it’s New Year anyways. But I’m so wrong! Not more than 30 minutes, Mr. Grumpy Old Man from upstairs knocked on our door and said, “Would you mind turning down your radio, it’s really annoying up there!” Eventually, I already turned it off even before he asked for it because we’re about to say our prayer, I said “Oh, I’m so sorry, we already had it off”, he replied, don’t be sorry just turn it down” with a commanding voice like a father to a kid. I’m tempting to say, “By the way, Happy New Year!!” but he already went upstairs. Geez! I thought, it’s just one night and that was my very first time to have the music on! And there’s actually a reason for that music, so inconsiderate!!! It ruined the joy of the night. It made us feel that we did something wrong. My wife said that we should not let that incident affect our happiness. We ended up watching TV while enjoying our food. I wish and pray that Mr. Grumpy will find happiness in his heart so that he will not be so difficult to deal on, having him as a neighbor. Happy New Year to all!!!

new year 2009 - ezekiel

By the way, I found great music playlists from imeem.com. How about you? What kind of music do you prefer?

Righteous church goers

It’s Sunday. We always wanted to go to church every Sundays but sometimes we are making up tons of reasons that made us fail to do it. But today is different, despite of my wife’s tiredness from her night duty, she still insisted to go to church. It’s not just the responsibility as Catholics that prompted us to go but also our willingness to be with the Lord. Some will say that wherever you are, Lord is there, yes, that’s true, but giving up some of your time to dress up, walk a little and visit the church make a real difference. It’s somehow a way of sacrificing some of your precious time and moment to be with the Lord for His honor.

It’s not new to me to see kids inside the church. Some are really adorable and quiet but most are too terrible in their behavior. I remember during my bachelor days, I easily annoyed with the kids crying, playing, running and even eating inside the church. In myself, I said, parents of these kids should be ashamed since they are allowing these kids to do things that are unacceptable inside the church, don’t they know that church should be kept in its solemnity. I even look at them, in my eyes it’s like I’m saying… keep your kid quiet or go out with your kid or just pleeease do something.. sometimes, I stared at the kid’s cookie giving the impression “do they supposed to eat here? Where are their manners? They’re teaching their kids the wrong way.” Hahaha.. That was really an immature, insensitive part of me. Well, that was way way back before.. Things become different, Now, I’m one of those parents. We’re so cautious of those insensitive eyes. I can still see myself in those people who don’t understand what parents are going through inside the church with their kids. I may say that these people might still be single and living all alone by themselves, no experience with kids yet, or they are really strict-to-rules types or just grumpy. Well, if you belong with these kinds of people as I used to be.. Here are the reasons I can give as a parent from my own experience, why of all the approaches available we still can’t prevent some unacceptable kids’ behavior. First, because they are kids – that’s how they supposed to behave, you know.. little attention span, more play less pray.. kid stuffs like that. Second, bringing toys or food for them is for the benefit of the majority.. we wanted them to stay quiet and in their proper places for them not to disturb others through running, crying aloud and making noise. And Last, if we can just entrust our kids to someone while we are in church, we’ll do it, but in our situation, it’s just the three of us living in the house, no relatives in the area and friends were also busy working out their own lives. We also wanted our child to recognize our spiritual way of living. That’s WHY! Hehe.. don’t be so cranky, instead of giving us a look, why don’t you try helping us, or just smiled on us, telling us that you do understand what we’re going through. Anyway, the Lord definitely understands the children as His words say..

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
—Mark 10:13-16