2015 Holy Week Activities in Calamba City, Laguna

Parokya ng San Juan Bautista | Lunsod ng Calamba
Mga  Pagdiriwang sa Kuwaresma | Mahal na Araw
 
 March 22-29
Parish Lenten Exhibit
Parish Pastoral Center

March 27
05:30 pm – Misa
06:30 pm – Lenten Recollection | Rev. Fr. Mardie Maligat
07:30 pm – Kumpisalang Bayan

March 29
Linggo ng Palaspas
Ang pagbabasbas ng mga palaspas ay gagawin 15 minuto
bago ang bawat misa sa Parish Pastoral Center

March 30
Lunes Santo
05:30 am – Misa
05:30 pm – Misa

March 31
Martes Santo
05:30 am – Misa
05:30 pm – Misa
06:30 pm – Estasyon Heneral
(Burgos Street – Cailles Street – Rizal Street – Sampalukan – Burgos Street)

April 1
Miyerkules Santo
05:30 am – Misa
06:30 am – Pabasa, Parish Hall
05:30 pm – Misa
06:30 pm – Prusisyon ng mga Santo
(Rizal Street – Sampalukan – Burgos Street – Cailles Street – Rizal Street)

April 2
Huwebes Santo
06:00 am – Misa ng Krisma, Katedral
05:30 pm – Misa ng Huling Hapunan
07:00 pm – Pagtatanod sa Santisimo Sakramento

April 3
Biyernes Santo
11:00 am – Tenebrae
12:00 nn – Pitong Huling Wika
03:00 pm – Pagdiriwang ng Pagpapakasakit ng Panginoon
06:00 pm – Prusisyon
(Rizal Street – Sampalukan – Burgos Street – Cailles Street – Rizal Street)

April 4
Sabado de Gloria
10:00 pm – Pagbabasbas ng Apoy, Bihilya ng Muling Pagkabuhay

April 5
Linggo ng Muling Pagkabuhay
Regular na mga misa
12:30 pm – Easter Egg Hunting
  

Rizal Shrine in Calamba City Close from February to June of 2015

  

Saw this posted recently on the fence of Rizal Shrine in Calamba City, Laguna:

 

ADVISORY
THE RIZAL SHRINE CALAMBA WILL BE
CLOSE TO THE VIEWING PUBLIC EFFECTIVE
FEBRUARY 2, 2015 TO JUNE 16, 2015
DUE TO ITS RESTORATION AND
MUSEUM ENHANCEMENT.

THANK YOU.

THE MANAGEMENT

  

  
The Rizal Shrine is most likely on the same refurbishing activity that the Mabini Shrine in Tanauan City, Batangas and the Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite had recently.
 

Mountain and Hill Views from Calamba City

 

A recently established shopping mall in Calamba City enables one to have a commanding view of Mount Maquiling found in Los Baños and Lecheria Hill in the nearby barangay of Lecheria in Calamba. Height definitely has its advantages.

A Night Scene in Turbina, Calamba City, Laguna

* into SCTEX

* views from the bridge

This is a purely random post. It was on a whim that I walked from Crossing Calamba to Calamba Exit in Turbina. The hike was literally tiring (not to mention toxic due to the smoke one gets to inhale along the way) but you are rewarded by the great view of the start of the SCTEX from the bridge connecting Brgy. Real and Brgy. Turbina. I tell you, the bridge actually shook as vehicles passed through it. Pedestrians are not advisable to be in that place as vehicles are all in speed. Cheers to an occasional random walk and an occasional random post!

 

Back Trails is for the Big and the Small

* the mighty snail!

Besides delving mostly into old houses, historical tidbits, book commentaries, and lives while in transit, Back Trails takes pride in including on its pages accounts about the small. Small does not necessarily mean not pretty or insignificant. Small, more often than not, brings you to more intimate pleasures, such as the delight I felt as I watched this snail by the road make its way to who-knows-where.

You don't have to be on the outskirts of the earth's atmosphere to feel enjoyment. One just have to look around. Never mind the brawling politicians for a while. Ignore the capitalist companies making justifications on why they are increasing the prices of their products. As much as we want to solve life's problems, it won't hurt to take a break and enjoy nature. It's free so no excuses there.

The Makiling Art Group’s Tara’t Makisining! Art Exhibit at SM Calamba

* “A Story of Nadir and of Summit – A Work in Progress”

by Brian Vaño Lee
* “Me & My Time”
by Buenaventura Cruz

* “Bakas”
by Rodante Alarcon

* “Intrusion”
by Ritchie Yee

* “Colors”
by Nilo delos Santos

* “Searching for Balance”
by Maya Salas

The month of February, having been designated as National Arts Month, was packed with different arts- and culture-related activities from Northern Luzon down to the southern cities in Mindanao. Here in Southern Tagalog, The Makiling Arts Group Makisining organized an art exhibit in SM Calamba as part of their participation to the National Art Month.

* “The Twin Sister”

by Ricardo Tandang

* “Mariah Genara”
by Franz Philip Joseph Ubaldo

* “While It May Be, But Still”
by Marvin Angelo Oloris

* “Sunshine”
by Sayid Cedicol

* “Tutti Frutti”
by Paulo Hilario

* “Pila-Biyaya”
by Dante Palmes

Samasining is composed of artists of diverge ages most of whom came from the areas at the foot of Mount Maquiling. The said art exhibit run from February 20 to March 4, 2012. The event was a joint effort of the Bantoc Group UPCAT Review, yvetteco.com, Sights and Graphics Outdoor Media, Inc., and Graphitek Signmaker Corp.

* “Razzle-Dazzle III”

by Jahzeel Ramos

* “Our Scrapbook of 2011”
by Yvette Co

* “Into Waltz Pose”
by Nico Cedicol

* “Please Don’t Wilt”
by Nathaniel Carpena

* “Battles Within”
by Marinelle Portades

* “Bioencryption 1.1”
by Doel Salvador Mercado

Visual arts is still alive in this part of Luzon and I am excited to see that the artists here are growing stronger in their craft in terms of themes and forms of execution. Personally, I anticipate more exhibits from the artists of Laguna this year.
 

Sunset in Downtown Calamba City

Despite human attempts to revolutionize our form of living and to create new structures that would define the level of our knowledge and skills, nature still rules supreme. One time as I trudge through a downtown street of Calamba City, Laguna breathing in the late afternoon smoke and dust, I chanced upon this view of the sunset. Beyond those people crossing the recently-made foot bridge the sky bleeds red, signalling the coming of the night. With all the work and busyness of the day, we tend to forget the soothing abilities of nature. One look at the vivid colors of the sunset and I am reminded how good it is to live despite all the hardships and problems. More than this thought, one realizes too that we do not have to travel far to appreciate the beauty of nature.

A Christmas Tree in Calamba City (Bayan), Laguna

A towering Christmas Tree put up in the plaza just in front of St. John the Baptist Church and across Rizal Shrine serves to illuminate the nearby streets which are generally dark at night. Below this tree are small tiangges put up to sell food and sale items. There is also a program running until before Christmas sponsored by the local government.

One attraction is walking through the streets of Calamba City Bayan at night are the old houses which I was not able to notice before. Will probably do a run through the streets in Calamba Bayan soon.

Of Souls and Saints 1: Children’s Trick-or-Treat

*candies we prepared for the children

* the children lining up for their candies

* the children posing for picture taking

Trick-or-treat (or trick-or-tricking) is an activity primarily done by children and is actually part of the celebration of Halloween. Although the celebration of the All Saints’ Day and the All Souls’ Day is somehow rooted in religion-related traditions, Halloween has its origins in pagan practices. But such differences are no longer relevant and are in fact largely ignored. That’s why we have trick-or-treat as part of these early November holidays.

What made the trick-or-treat I have witnessed quite amusing is its closer resemblance to a gift-giving or Christmas Day celebration where children just await for gifts of sweets. There was no threat of any ‘trick’ from the children. In the end, whether an event comes from heathen traditions or not, they are pardoned in favor of brief treats and pleasure for children. Children must always be happy, so they say.

The 2011 Visit of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, La Naval de Manila to Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba

From the usual titles of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, La Naval de Manila visits to Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba (Letran Calamba for short), it seems that the visit of the Image has taken place a number of times already.

* the tarpaulin put up for the La Naval Visit:

“Taunang Pagdalaw ng Mahal Nating Ina ng Santo Rosaryo
La Naval de Manila”

* the image of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary,
La Naval de Manila placed on the school lobby

* angels

* the image of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary,
La Naval de Manila at sunset

And this year’s visit attracted once again the devotees of the Image from around Calamba City. One slight change in this annual event is the entrance of the Image which is now from the back gate of the Colegio, close to Saint Albert the Great Convent. As I have only been recently acquainted on La Naval’s annual event, I shall share first some historical details regarding the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, La Naval de Manila which I obtained by reading through the souvenir booklet on the commemoration of the Coronation Centenary of La Naval (year 2007).

* Letran Calamba’s Tining Chorale group
performing during an activity for La Naval

* Tining’s choir director Mr. Lorenzo Gealogo

*(left) a member of Tining who rendered a solo performance;
(right) snapshots of Tining performance

Early accounts about the image of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, La Naval de Manila can be traced back to the devotion of the Filipinos to the Image during the threat of Protestant Dutch invaders in the Philippines, a devotion which exhibited the long existing faith of the early converted Filipino Roman Catholics to Mary as their intercessor.

* an image of the rosary made on Letran grounds

during the Living Rosary

* devotees trooping out of the main lobby
to join the procession after the closing rites

* the image of La Naval being escorted by devotees for the procession

The original image of La Naval was made in 1593 through the efforts of General General Luis Perez Dasmariñas to be given to the Dominicans in Manila. It came to my knowledge however that the La Naval image which visits Letran Calamba every year is already a replica.

The canonical coronation of the original La Naval image was held on October 5, 1907 after Pope Pius X responded positively to the request of the Dominicans to have the Image crowned as Patrona de Filipinas. Today the Image of La Naval is housed in Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City.

The Sky in Two Places

It is worthwhile to take note of the sky every now and then. Ignoring for a while the fact that the features of the sky are governed by weather, climate, and the concept of chaos, we can appreciate the different images and emotions the sky evokes.

There is this photo I took while traversing a road in the city proper of Calamba. The gathering clouds reminded of the presence of Death Eaters (in the Harry Potter series) who signal their coming (or killing) by the Dark Mark (an image of a skull with a snake slithering out of its ‘mouth’), which is often preceded by the gathering of dark clouds. It was a picture of gloom. Minutes later, I was literally soaked in heavy downpour.

This is in contrast with this photo I took while treading a rural road in Rosario, Batangas. The wide fields (which, unfortunately, are obscured by the poor editing of the photo) and the outlines of mountains in the background give one an overwhelming perspective. Not to mention that there were no objects that would have obstructed my view of the sky. Too bad I lost a camera; a series of photos of the Rosario sky would have been superb. Anyway, there will still be a next time.

As in any travel, seeing and exploring things on the ground is a fine activity. But we must not also forget to look up and behold the wide expanse of this chaotic blue canvas we call sky.

Rizal: Malay, Diwa, Puso, at Buhay Conference Day 3 (Part V) – Tour (Back) to Rizal Shrine

* Dambanang Rizal

* some of the furniture in exhibit inside Rizal Shrine

* punkah – the old school cooler in the dining area

* view of the kitchen area inside Rizal Shrine

* some of the kitchen utensils in display;
some were loaned from Ms. Potenciano Geronilla y Rizal,
a descendant of Soledad

* a jar inside the ‘bathroom’ of Rizal Shrine

* the pail for the well; I think the well is still the original one

* view of the capiz windows

I have been to Rizal Shrine a numb of times already but the visit as part of the Rizal Conference at Letran Calamba was full of surprises. For one, the presentation of Letran Calamba’s Tining Chorale Group was powerful. Perhaps the number of visitors served as an inspiration. Second, the ‘discovery’ of the punkah, a big cooler for the dining area. I have read about it on the internet and it was mentioned that there was one in Rizal Shrine. I did not notice it in our earlier visits and I finally saw it in this revisit.

* members of Sagrada Familia showing their ritual

*Trailer Pransis posing with Dr. Consolacion R. Alaras
and members of Sagrada Fmailia

* conference participants watching the ritual of the Sagrada Familia

* Letran Calamba’s Tining Chorale Group performing inside Rizal Shrine

* members of Samu’t Sari Theatre Group of Letran Calamba

Sagrada Familia
Another bonus in this Rizal Shrine revisit was the presentation of Sagrada Familia. Based in Sitio Ronggot, Calamba City, it is a group which most likely adheres to the principles and maxims exhibited by Rizal during his lifetime. The ritual was in a form of chants, which reminded me of the Pasyon during Lenten Season.

* Trailer Pransis beside a statue of the boy Rizal;

we look alike I think

* a Rizal wall mural

* replica of Rizal’ sculpture
‘Triumph of Death over Life’

After the closing of the conference, I was able to talk to them and the members were quite nice to talk to. They even invited me to visit their place. I said I hope I could do so in the future. At the same time, I am thinking of printing a copy of our picture together and give it to them as a souvenir.

* my shot of the Rizal Monument in Rosario, Batangas

Question about the Rizal Monument Photo Exhibit in Rizal Shrine

This question is particularly posed to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. As we were having our snacks after the conference, I visited this particular exhibit. I randomly looked into the photos and chanced upon a Rizal Monument in Rosario, Batangas. Perhaps it was only my imagination but I did think that that particular photo was my shot. I eve noticed the peculiar lines which was characteristic of the camera of my sister’s phone which I was using before. However, when I directed my co-tour facilitator’s attention to this observation, the only response I got was that it is possible that I was only associating my photo with the photo in the exhibit.

Unfortunately, I already ran out of battery charge and so I was not able to take a photo of the photo exhibit. And I forgot checking the whole of the exhibit if there was a place reserved for acknowledgements. I intend to return to check on this.

A few days after the conference I tried doing an online search for the said photo and I could only come up with the photo I have posted here in my blog. Hopefully, I could get through this little mystery of mine.