Check this video of a woman on a New York’s Metro North train line telling train employees that she is too “well-educated” to be told to quiet down and not use profanity in her cell-phone conversation.

“Do you know what schools I’ve been to? How well-educated I am?” she asks the train employee, who is seen explaining to another employee that she asked the passenger to stop using the “F-bomb.”

The person who originally uploaded the video to Youtube said in the description that the woman “was talking too loud on the train when the conductor politely asked her to keep it down and stop using profanity or to take it to the vestibule.” After the altercation, the conductor came on the loudspeaker and reminded people to keep conversations quiet, “especially those people who went to Harvard or Yale or are from Westport.”

By TIM DAHLBERG, AP Boxing Writer

LAS VEGAS (AP)—Manny Pacquiao caught Shane Mosley early, then chased him the rest of the night. Not much more he could do against an aging fighter who seemed only to want to survive.

Pacquiao won a lopsided 12-round decision Saturday night, retaining his version of the welterweight title in a fight that was roundly booed over the late rounds because Mosley refused to trade punches.

Read the full article

Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan are two of the most colorful religious-cultural Filipino festivals celebrated every month of May all over the Philippines.

Flores de Mayo

Flores de Mayo means flowers of May. It is a month-long flower Festival celebrated in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is the time of the year where kids, while enjoying their 3-month long summer break from schools, are given a chance to learn Catechesis and develop their love of the Blessed Virgin Mary by daily devotions, prayers and floral offerings.

Origin

The Norther Illinois University, in one of their web publications about Southeast Asia (www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Cynthia/festivals) cited two reasons for the origin of this devotion. It may have started on the mid-1800s when the Immaculate Conception was solemnly defined as a dogma by Pope Pius IX in his constitution Ineffabilis Deuson 8 December 1854. And after the publication in 1867 of Mariano Sevilla’s translation of the devotional Flores de Maria or Mariquit na Bulaclac na sa Pagninilaynilay sa Buong Buan nang Mayo ay Inihahandog nang manga Devoto cay Maria Santisima (The Flowers of Mary or the Beautiful Flowers that in the Meditations During the Whole Month of May are Offered by Devotees to Mary the Holiest).

Santacruzan

The Santarcruzan is the Filipino version of the principal feast of the True Cross. This is the celebration depicting the search of the Holy Cross by Emperor Constatine’s mother, Queen Helena. www.seasite.niu.edu described the Santacruzan as a “religious-historical beauty pageant held in many cities, towns and even small villages throughout the Philippines during the month of May. One of the most colorful May-time festivals in the Philippines which commemorates the search of the Holy Cross by Queen Helena (Reina Elena) and her son, the newly converted emperor Constantine. After the Holy Cross was found in Jerusalem and brought back to Rome, there was a joyful celebration for thanksgiving”

“Nine days of prayer (a novena) in honor of the Holy Cross precedes the Flores de Mayo or Santacruzan. This festival was introduced by the Spaniards in the Philippines and has since become part of Filipino traditions identified with youth, love and romance.”

Origin

The Feast of the Cross like so many other liturgical feasts, had its origin at Jerusalem, and is connected with the commemoration of the Finding of the Cross and the building, by Constantine, of churches upon the sites of the Holy Sepulchre and Calvary. In 335 the dedication of these churches was celebrated with great solemnity by the bishops who had assisted at the Council of Tyre, and a great number of other bishops. This dedication took place on the 13th and 14th of September. This feast of the dedication, which was known by the name of the Encnia, was most solemn; it was on an equal footing with those of the Epiphany and Easter. (www.newadvent.org)

Why, then, the Filipinos observe the Santacruzan in May and the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in September? There may be no accurate answer to this question. But one of the most logical may be found in Catholic Encyclopedia’s Archaeology of the Cross and Crucifix: “Constantine’s vision of the Cross, and perhaps another apparition which took place in Jerusalem in 346, would seem to have been commemorated in this same feast. But its chief glory is its connection with the restoration of the True Cross to the Church of Jerusalem, after it had been carried away by the Persianking, Chosroes (Khusrau) II, the conqueror of Phocas, when he captured and sacked the Holy City. This Chosroes was afterwards vanquished by the Emperor Heraclius II and in 628 was assassinated by his own son Siroes(Shirva), who restored the Cross to Heraclius. It was then carried in triumph to Constantinople and thence, in the Spring of the year 629, to Jerusalem.”

This could have been the the spring in Constantinople since Jerusalem has only summer and winter seasons. And the springtime is Constantinople (presently Turkey) is from April to June. The Philippine Santacruzan may had been a celebration of the restoration of the True Cross to the Church of Jerusalem.

Veneration of the Holy Cross

The Cross to which Christ had been nailed, and on which He had died, became for Christians, quite naturally and logically, the object of a special respect and worship. St. Paul says, in 1 Corinthians 1:17: “For Christ sent me not to baptize; but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of speech, lest the cross of Christshould be made void”; in Galatians 2:19: “With Christ I am nailed to the cross“; in Ephesians 2:16: Christ . . . . “might reconcile both to God in one body by the cross“; in Philippians 3:18: “For many walk . . . enemies of the cross of Christ“; in Colossians 2:14: “Blotting out the handwriting of the decree that was against us, which was contrary to us. And he hath taken the same out of the way, fastening it to the cross“; and in Galatians 6:14: “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world”.

It seems clear, therefore, that for St. Paul the Cross of Christ was not only a precious remembrance of Christ’s sufferings and death, but also a symbol closely associated with His sacrifice and the mystery of the Passion. It was, moreover, natural that it should be venerated and become an object of a cult with the Christians who had been saved by it.(www.newadvent.org)

Article sources: filipino.com.au, seasite.niu.edu, newadvent.org . Photo source: duszmtorres

There were no injuries.

Please pray for the people of Japan especially those that are directly affected the this devastating earthquake, tsunami and fire. Please remember also in your prayers all Filipinos and their families living and working there.

The following information was taken from Google Crisis Response page, photo from CBS News:

A massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit the Pacific Ocean nearby Northeastern Japan at around 2:46pm on March 11 (JST) causing damage with blackouts, fire and tsunami.

The large earthquake triggered a tsunami warning for countries all around the Pacific ocean. Kyodo news agency said Saturday that the death toll is expected to exceed 1,000. The defense ministry said 1,800 houses had been destroyed in Fukushima prefecture, Kyodo reported.

Emergency dials:
171 + 1 + line phone number to leave a message
171 + 2 + line phone number to listen to the message

For all UFO believers but especially for the skeptics, take your time in examining these videos that are too good to be true!

sources: The Tech Herald, Discovery News, New Advent

“Jaro Feista” is more than just a festival of food, pageantry and cock fighting. The “Jaro Fiesta” is a Roman Catholic Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple, commemoration of Mary’s rite of Purification and reflection on Simeon’s Canticle.

Our Lady of the Candles (Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria) is also known as the Candlemas Virgin. It was the title given to Our Blessed Virgin Mary in commemoration of the Presentation of Jesus and Mary’s own rite of Purification according to Jewish Law.

According to the Mosaic law a mother who had given birth to a man-child was considered unclean for seven days; moreover she was to remain three and thirty days “in the blood of her purification”; for a maid-child the time which excluded the mother from sanctuary was even doubled. When the time (forty or eighty days) was over the mother was to “bring to the temple a lamb for a holocaust and a young pigeon or turtle dove for sin”; if she was not able to offer a lamb, she was to take two turtle doves or two pigeons; the priest prayed for her and so she was cleansed. (Leviticus 12:2-8)

Forty days after the birth of Christ, Mary complied with this precept of the law, she redeemed her first-born from the temple (Numbers 18:15), and was purified by the prayer of Simeon the just, in the presence of Anna the prophetess (Luke 2:22 sqq.). No doubt this event, the first solemn introduction of Christ into the house of God, was in the earliest times celebrated in the Church of Jerusalem. We find it attested for the first half of the fourth century by the pilgrim of Bordeaux, Egeria or Silvia. The day (14 February) was solemnly kept by a procession to the Constantinian basilica of the Resurrection, a homily on Luke 2:22 sqq., and the Holy Sacrifice. But the feast then had no proper name; it was simply called the fortieth day after Epiphany. This latter circumstance proves that in Jerusalem Epiphany was then the feast of Christ’s birth.

From Jerusalem the feast of the fortieth day spread over the entire Church and later on was kept on the 2nd of February, since within the last twenty-five years of the fourth century the Roman feast of Christ’s nativity (25 December) was introduced. In Antioch it is attested in 526 (Cedrenue); in the entire Eastern Empire it was introduced by the Emperor Justinian I (542) in thanksgiving for the cessation of the great pestilence which had depopulated the city of Constantinople.

Article sources: newadvent.org (Catholic Encyclopedia),
Photo sources: en.wikipilipinas.org, daughter of the King,  theleastofallthefaithful

Let’s Hangout in Iloilo and enjoy the 2011 Dinagyang Festival!

October 14, 2010, Friday
2:00 pm  LOCAL LAUNCH Iloilo Dinagyang Festival 2011 – Freedom Grandstand

December 16, 2010, Friday
2:00 pm PAMUKAW Assembly Area: Promenade passing Iznart, J.M. Basa to Freedom Grandstand

January 4, 2011, Tuesday
2:00 pm  Model Ati Dinagyang Warrior 2011 Presentation

January 7, 2011, Friday
2:00 pm  Model Ati Dinagyang Warrior 2011 Talent Competition

January 9, 2011, Sunday
1:00 pm Model Ati Dinagyang Warrior 2011 Finals

January 14, 2011, Friday
2:30 pm  Mass for Opening Salvo of Tribe Dancers – San Jose Parish Church
3:00 pm OPENING SALVO -  Judging Area

January 14-16, 2010
Iloilo Dinagyang Golf Competition 2011 – Sta. Barbara Golf Club

January 15, 2011, Saturday
7:00 am SQUEAK Parade Route

January 16-23, 2011
Dinagyang Photo Exhibit

January 16, 2011, Sunday
10:00 am – 3:00pm DRESSING UP DAGOY

January 19-23, 2011
2:00 pm -12 mn Iloilo Hotel Resort & Restaurant Association (IHRRA) Food Festival  – Delgado St., Iloilo City

January 21, 2011, Friday
8:00 am TAMBOR TRUMPA MARTSA MUSIKA  – Freedom Grandstand
7:00 pm LUCES IN THE SKY Part I

The following two days are the highlight of the whole festivities

January 22, 2011, Saturday
7:00 am Mass for Kasadyahan – San Jose Parish Church
8:00 pm 2011 KASADYAHAN Competition -  Freedom Grandstand and other stages
2:00 am SPONSORS MARDI GRAS – Judging Area #4 to Freedom Grandstand
7:00 am LUCES IN THE SKY Part II
7:00 pm Religious Sad-sad to Sr. Sto. Niño -  San Jose Parish Church

January 23, 2010, Sunday
6:30 am Concelebrated High Mass for devotees, Tribes, Gov’t. Officials, LOMAS in attendance -  San Jose Parish Church
8:00 am 2011 Dinagyang Ati CONTEST – Freedom Grandstand and other stages
7:00 pm Awarding Ceremonies – Freedom Grandstand

January 24, 2011, Monday
5:30 PM Thanksgiving Mass with all members of 2010 Iloilo Dinagyang Festival Working Committees – San Jose Parish Church

Read the History of Sto Nino

Read more about Iloilo’s Dinagyang Festival

Source:  http://www.dinagyangsailoilo.com

Photos courtesy of RRGenciana Photography, Iloilo City

The Voyage

The world is not flat! This discovery of the Spain’s expedition commanded by the Portuguese navigator Hernando de Magallanes or Ferdinand Magellan, that set the record as the fist expedition to circumnavigate and confirm that the world is round is the same expedition that brought the image of Sto. Nino and the Catholic faith to the Philippine islands. On September 1519, a fleet of galleons under the flag of Spain set sailed in search for the Spice Islands. Instead they landed in a group of islands in the central part of the Philippines and in Limasawa island where Magellan declared possession of the (part of the Maharlika Kingdom of Asia) archipelago and named it after King Philip of Spain.

The Gift of Faith

Magellan's Cross in Cebu City

Without spices and in search of needed supplies, they continued their journey to the village of Zubu, now the City of Cebu, planted a mission Cross, befriended and converted into the Catholic faith the local chieftain Raja Humabon and his wife Hara Juana and the members of their tribe. As a gift on their baptism, Magellan gave the image of the Holy Infant Jesus, the Sto. Nino. A Sandugo, a blood compact was made between the two leaders and Magellan promise to fight with them against the neighboring tribe of the island of Matan, now Mactan. Magellan was killed in the battle of Mactan and the remnants of his forces returned to Spain using a different route, thus making the historic first voyage around the world.

The Rediscovery

It was 44 years later that the new group of Spanish explorers led by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and an Augustinian priest, Fr. Andres Urdaneta, a cosmographer from the Augustinian monastery in Mexico arrived in Cebu and find out that the new chieftain, Raja Tupaz was unfriendly to the newcomers. Skirmishes between the two groups left the village of Cebu in ruins. When a party was dispatched to check the village, a soldier, his name, Juan Camus found the image of the Child Jesus in one of the burning huts, the same image given to the former village chieftain’s wife, Juana 44 years earlier. The natives went back to their pagan ways and may have kept the image as an anito, or one of the native gods, as it was found with floral offerings.

The Prayer

Legazpi was said to have included this event in his report, “Relation of Voyage to the Philippine Islands”, to the king of Spain:

“Your Excellency should know that on that day when we entered this village (Cebu City), one of the soldiers went into a large and well-built house of an indio where he found an image of the Child Jesus (whose most holy name I pray may be universally worshipped). This was kept in its cradle, all gilded, just as if it were brought from Spain: and only the little cross, which is generally placed upon the globe in his hands, was lacking. The image was well kept in that house, and many flowers were found before it, and no one knows for what object or purpose. The soldier bowed down before it with all reverence and wonder, and brought the image to the place where the other soldiers were. I pray to the Holy Name of his image, which we found here, to help us and to grant us victory, in order that these lost people who are ignorant of the precious and rich treasure, which was in their possession, may come to knowledge of Him.”

The Answer

Since then, devotion to the Santo Niño has grown and has taken root in Filipinos’ popular piety, particularly in the Visayas, the central part of the Philippines group of islands. Pilgrims from different parts of the country make their yearly journey to the church, the Basilica Menore del Santo Nino or the Minor Basilica of the Santo Nino, in Cebu, to take part in the procession and festival. Different parts of the Philippines called this celebration differently: in Cebu, they call it Sinulog, Ati-Atihan in Kalibo, Aklan and in Tondo, Manila, Dinagyang in Iloilo and Binirayan in the province of Antique, to name a few. But all of them, all of these festivals, are centered on one and only purpose: the devotion to the Holy Infant Jesus, the Sto. Nino and His role in all of the Philippines’ embrace of the Catholic faith.

The Celebration

Iloilo Province celebrate the Feast of Santo Niño with a religious-cultural event called The Dinagyang Festival every fourth weekend of January after Cebu’s Sinulog and Kalibo’s Ati-atihan. Here are some snapshots of the event courtesy of RRGenciana Photography, Iloilo City.

Article sources: http://www.santoninogodevotion.org/, http://en.wikipedia.org, http://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com

Pictures courtesy of RRGenciana Photography, Iloilo City