Ferddie's World

Friday, April 27, 2007

We have a new swimming pool! (well...sort of!)

Spending a late afternoon with Baby Faith and Joshua in our "new pool"


When family friend Lilu Sanchez decided to give us their gigantic inflatable swimming pool, the kids at home just went bonkers over it!
You couldn't blame them though. March and April have been extremely warm and the month of May is forecasted to bring in even hotter days and nights to the country.
There goes the water and electricity bills!













The Mendoza boys have days of fun this summer with our inflatable. Here we see them night swimming with friends Daniel and Paeng Santos.














Labels:

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Ferddie's World is 1 Year Old!

Whadday know! Time does fly fast...

Stardate:Twelve months ago -- Blogsphere....the final frontier....i ventured boldly into something no member of the Mendoza clan (none that i know of) has ever done before...to actively enter into the cyberspace world of blogging. I'm no rocket scientist or computer wizard, so you could say i gave the phrase "trial and error" a whole new meaning by trying to blog, set up and maintain my own weblogsite.

Well after twelve months, i'm still trying to digest the basics of blogging. God has nonetheless blessed me with no less than four different blog sites that are up and running - with posts for anyone who cares to view what i have to share in the blogsphere.

Happy 1st birthday, Ferddie's World.

May your posts continue to be a blessing to all who read them!

Labels:

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Happy 40th Wedding Anniversary To My Loving Parents

Papa and Mama with their apos (grandchildren)



Last April 24, my parents, Mauricio and Virginia Mendoza, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary!

I honor them for their love and commitment to each other and to our family. Sure, they had more than their fair share of trials and problems during their four decade old union. I'll not be surprised if they'll still have some more of their old fights, for the same old reasons they've had in the past. Because at the end of the day, I'm also sure they would still remember they were meant for each other.

You don't often hear much of these long enduring marriages anymore. Marriage as a sacred institution has been misused, abused and altered to suit the "modern" world. Some people simply go in and out of marriages as often as they would change clothes.

That's why it's so important to uphold the traditional family - as an institution founded by Christ Himself and to promote the values that make Christian families - a nation's pillar of strength and the core of God's army on earth.

To my parents, may your love for each other continue to be strong. May God continue to bless your relationship and may He ever be the center of your conjugal lives!



Labels:

Monday, April 23, 2007

Ten Commandments for Responsible Voting

In a few weeks, Filipino voters shall again be called upon by the country to exercise their right to suffrage, wisely and responsibly. I first read these “commandments” from a flyer in Baguio City which also included guidelines to conscientious and responsible voting. The flyer came from the Parish Council of the St. Joseph The Worker Parish. Presumably, the guidelines originated from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) which has consistently and vigorously advocated for clean and honest elections. I pray that this post will enlighten fellow countrymen to choose the candidates that deserve the mandate of the Filipino people.


1. Thou shalt vote according to the dictate of your conscience.

2. Thou shalt respect the decision of others in choosing their candidates.

3. Thou shalt seek to know the moral integrity, capabilities and other personal qualities of the candidates you will vote for.

4. Thou shalt strive to understand the issues, platform and program of candidates and parties seeking your vote.

5. Thou shalt note sell your vote.

6. Thou shalt not vote for candidates using guns, goons and old.

7. Thou shalt not vote for candidates with records of graft and corruption, and human rights violation.

8. Thou shalt not vote for candidates just because of utang na loob, personal appearance, popularity, or pakikisama.

9. Thou shalt not vote for candidates living an immoral life.

10. Thou shalt put the welfare of the country above all else in choosing the candidate you will vote for.

Labels:

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Good Friday 2007


Joshua and Sonny Boy stand in front of Sto. Domingo Church


Good Friday - Joshua and Sonny Boy joined me to a visit to Santo Domingo Parish Church along Quezon Avenue last April 6 to listen to the “Siete Palabras” (The Seven Last Words) live. The church run by priests from the Order of Preachers or O.P. (more popularly known as Dominicans) was named after their Saint founder, Saint Dominic. Sto. Domingo Church evokes various memories from my past. I used to serve as an altar boy during school sponsored Masses there during my high school years. I married my wife Odette in that church in early 1991. Throughout the years, particularly during Holy Week, I try to make it a point to visit and pray in that church with at least some of my family members.

As expected, the church was filled with people there to listen to the reflections of the Dominican priests on Christ’s Seven last Words and/or to pray the Way of the Cross or simply to spend time with the Lord. The kids and I stayed on the hall way at the fringes. From time to time we went from one location to another. I bought some material at the church bookstore and at some point visited the Museo de Sto. Domingo. That visit was a first for all three of us where we saw different antique religious statues and items. One piece of the exhibit states that encased inside was a piece of wood from the true cross where Christ was nailed and died. To look at that small piece of wood was truly an indescribable experience!




We visited the Museo de Sto. Domingo


St. Martin de Porres – my favorite saint – humility personified and a godly person with a strong empathy for the poor

The carriages are part of the early evening procession for the Santo Entierro


Sto. Domingo like churches around the archipelago were filled with the faithful

From the church, the kids and I had some halo-halo (a mixture of sweet ingredients like purple yam, leche flan [somewhat like custard pie], a variety of beans, macapuno, jackfruit, banana, pinipig, sago and gulaman [I believe that’s tapioca and jelly in English] with condensed milk and finely crushed ice) the version with ice cream on it at a nearby Chowking fastfood restaurant. Delicioso!

Trying to beat the intense summer heat at Chowking

On our way home to Fairview, something (which I thought God willed) happened. The FX vehicle we were commuting on had engine trouble and had to stop along Commonwealth Ave. Lo and behold, we were in front of St. Peter’s Church. The whole incident beckoned me to stop over and come inside the church with the kids before going home. The scene was similar to Sto. Domingo, the church was filled with Good Friday penitents.

St. Peter’s Parish in Commonwealth Ave. with the Vatican inspired church dome

From St. Peter’s, we had a round of our ambulant vendor food in front of the church. You know, - fish balls! To the unfamiliar, they’re not really made of fish but more of flour with some flavoring, deep fried in oil and matched with your preferred condiment – sweet, sweet and spicy sauce or spicy vinegar. We bought some stuff at the nearby Mini-stop before going home.

Yes - religious traditions and food always formed an interlocking pattern during my Holy Weeks. Years back, I used to fast for a couple of days during the Holy Week but I only stayed home on those days. I guess going out meant I needed to eat to counter the physical exhaustion.

So, that was how my Good Friday went this year.


For more on my succeeding Holy Week activities, browse onto the Families for Christ blog site at the Life with Christ Christian blogging community through the provided link at the side bar.

Labels:

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Unit Mission Trip to GK Nayong Tsinoy Village


We're back in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City!

Through Bro. Lito Depanes' (Chapter Head of North A 9-B) invitation, my CFC unit has been given again the privilege of doing God's work in the Gawad Kalinga areas of Bagong Silang, Caloocan City where it all began years back.

This time were were invited to give Covenant Orientation (CO) talks at the GK Nayong Tsinoy Village not far from the first GK area (GK Australian Village) where we first delivered CO talks early last year.

Unfortunately, my son Junior, Bro. Jun Palma, Bro. Dodie Espera and Bro. Allan Gadiane weren't able to come with us this time. On the other hand, new Unit member couple - Bro. Omin and Sis Nette del Castillo with father and son tandem Bro. Lito and Manny Cajipe were present to serve alongside me and my wife Odette on this mission trip.

This is our first mission trip to GK Nayong Tsinoy Village


Bro. Manny Cajipe joins the music ministry....


.... and delivers the first talk
(on the CFC Covenant)








I delivered the second talk (on prayer and scripure) while my wife Odette delivered the third on family life






Lunch break with the rest of the service team

I don't know exactly why. But the simplest foods shared on this worthy occassions always, always tasted a whole lot better! We had steamed rice, fried fish (galunggong if i remember right), eggplants and bagoong (sauteed tiny shrimp paste). Mind you everyone had two or more servings and in a flash, as though locusts from biblical Egypt passed by, the food was gone!





The service team lead couple show they love for each other








The participants were encouraged to follow their example....and some obliged!











Bro. Omin gave the last talk about CFC culture






Class picture with the service team and participants





After the CO, Bro Lito graciously accompanied as to the ANGKOP/GK office in Bagong Silang where it all started for GK!







The Chapen of the Fallen inside the leased property to the GK office






In the middle of this serene chapel's awe-inspiring interior is an eternal flame symbolizing
God's presence


On our way home, the del Castillos decided to give us a evening merienda treat at the Greenwich Pizza restaurant, Regalado branch in Fairview, to which Sis. Grace Cajipe, wife of Bro Manny along with their two kids, Eljah and Elisha were able to join us.


Thank you, Lord God for giving us the honor and privilige of serving You through CFC and GK!

Labels: ,