San Isidro Labrador fiesta:A celebration of thanksgiving

MY friend pointed out to me one day that of all the

saints’ fiestas, San Isidro Labrador’s is the one that

truly shows us how to celebrate with thanksgiving.

San Isidro is the patron saint of good harvest, so the

celebration of his feast day, especially in the town of Lucban, Quezon, brings

us closer to the earth and all its fruits.

Although I’ve never been to Lucban during the fiesta on May 15, I heard

every house was festooned with kiping, flowers, fruits and vegetables.

Election or not the day before, I am sure many people drove up to Lucban

the next day to partake of the bounty of the harvest and the food every family

prepared for that day.

Angels do the planting

In the history of San Isidro Labrador, it is said that while he was at prayer in

the middle of the day, the angels would do his work in the fields. His landlord

saw this, so San Isidro was not fired from his job.

On his way to work, San Isidro would stop to feed the birds with his grain of

corn. Although he puts out as much corn as possible, his sack weighed the

same, as if nothing was taken out of it. The story of San Isidro, who is called

St. Isidore in English, inspires us to be thankful for every little blessing that

comes, especially during these times.

'Pahiyas' at Century Park

CENTURY Park Hotel has faithfully observed two weeks of thanksgiving in

the month of May with food festival called "Pahiyas," which features Lucban

cuisine plus the town’s handicrafts.

Filemon Casilang, who organizes the event with the hotel management every

year, is truly a devotee of San Isidro Labrador. Colorful kiping hung at the

Café in the Park to welcome guests. The atmosphere was one of thankful

celebration until May 18, last day of the foodfest.

More crafts to be thankful for

ACCENT store at the Glorietta 2 contains all the local crafts we can be

proud of and be thankful for at the same time. Put up by friends Edith

Oliveros, Angie Salazar and the late Rory Guina 27 years ago, Accent is a

delight because it features little things that one can use for the house. Crafts

from Abra come from the bamboo forest of Medy Araneta Singh. Bags, fans,

candles are welcome finds when one is feeling a little letdown.

Offering first nine days of the month

ROSAMY Lim wants to share this ritual of hers that has made her feel better

and more spiritual. She offers the first nine days of the month to the Lord.

She goes to Mass every day of those nine days. Of course, she tries to go to

Mass every day, but offering the first nine days is very important to her. She

says: "Things fall into place. Trials seem easier to overcome. I look at life now

like a full glass, not anymore an empty glass."

Happiness is possible

AFTER READING Rosamunde Pilcher’s latest novel, "Winter Solstice," I

came to the conclusion that happiness is possible. Why? You have to read

the book to find out. It tells of a retired stage actress who, at 62, leaves

London and goes to live in a small village in Hampshire. How she finds

happiness is the plot of the story. Available at National Bookstore.

Making do with what we have

ALMOST everybody agree we are living in difficult times, but in learning how

to cope lies the solution before we go into despair. How to cope positively

by making do with what we have is one answer.

I remember what Guia Imperial, a fellow writer, told me years ago. In Tondo,

where she used to live when her husband Felix Imperial was still alive, the

poor people make do from day to day. If there was one teaspoon of coffee

to be used, then that was it. It is the reason, she said, there is a sachet for

everything—coffee, cream, sugar, shampoo, toothpaste—because it costs

less and is affordable at P2 each. This is the reason we thank the Lord for

every blessing. God provides as we need it. "Nakaraos tayo" is what we say

at the end of the day.

Elsie Gaches Village to be blessed

TWO pavilions of Elsie Gaches Village, Alabang will be blessed before the

Mass on June 6, 3:30 p.m., by Cardinal Jaime Sin. Bishop Crisostomo

Yalung will be co-celebrant in a Mass with His Eminence.

One pavilion is dedicated to Apostol and Sta. Teresa de Jesus, while San

Ramon pavilion is named after the memory of Ramon P. Tambunting. Andres

Lopez Liboro and Teresita Tambunting Liboro are the donors of the other

pavilion.

Ecclesiastical archivists workshop

THE BOHOL Heritage Development Foundation and the Society of

Ecclesiastical Archivists are holding a seminar workshop from May 21-24 at

the Punta Villa Resort in Arevalo, Iloilo. The seminar focuses on diocesan

and religious archives. Those who want to attend can call the Archdiocesan

Archives of Manila at 522-8132 (Lea de la Paz); Bro. Roel Somogod, OP

or Bro. Larry de Dios at 712-6275 or 734-7758.

By the way, those who want to research on ecclesiastical matters can go to

Arzobispado de Manila on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fr. Roy Rosales is the

director of the Archdiocesan Archives of Manila.

Blessed Virgin is expected to appear on May 27

ACCORDING to the members of the third order of Our Lady of the Blessed

Sacrament religious group, the Blessed Virgin Mary is expected to appear on

May 27, 3 a.m., at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Convent in Cuidad

Real, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

This will be the third apparition of Our Lady. The first was on Dec. 2, 2000

at the San Beda College Adoration Chapel during a Rosary vigil of 226

diocesan priests. White roses were offered and they turned into hosts. The

second apparition was on Feb. 11, 5:15 p.m., at the Cuidad Real campus on

the ipil-ipil tree.

In both apparitions, the Blessed Virgin exhorted the people to pray the 15

mysteries of the Rosary daily and, if possible, the 2,000 Hail Mary’s on the

first Saturday of every month. The Blessed Virgin spoke through a visionary,

Fr. Rommel San Agustin, a seminarian soon to become a priest.

The Blessed Virgin said we should pray for the Holy Father. And she also

said she loves the Philippines.

This is the month of the year when fashion designer Oskar Peralta prepares

for the fiesta of Sta. Rita de Cascia on May 22. Since the late ‘70’s, Oskar

has been decorating the carroza of Sta. Rita for the procession and mass at

San Agustin. Devotees attend the celebration to receive roses as a blessing

from the saint.