ABC STARS Inspires

Naga is one of the five oldest cities erected by the Spanish colonizers in the Philippines. (Manila, Cebu, Vigan and Iloilo.) The heart of Bicol, it is the seat of a nine-day religious and civic festivities. The feast of the Patroness of Bicolandia. The Virgin of Peña de Francia. The religious rites begin with the traslacion of her miraculous image, on the Friday immediately following September 8, Mary's birthday, from the Basilica to the Metropolitan Cathedral for a novena of Masses. Each of the seven dioceses in the six provinces of Bikol—Camarines Norte, Albay, Sorsogon, Catanduanes and Masbate, one each, and Camarines Sur, two—has its special day. It is concluded with the regional concelebrated Mass at the Basilica immediately after the fluvial procession of the Image back to her shrine along the Naga river, the following Saturday, nine days later. There is one indubitable point of unity among the Bicolanos. Their unstinted devotion to the Virgin Mary whom they...

“Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam” Bangsafederal:  Federalizing the  Philippines By Jose Maria Z. Carpio E-book: Bangsafederal by Jose Maria Z. Carpio on Scribd photo credit: Mount Mayon (Explored 9 July 2016) via photopin (license) License: (license)

(A Caceres Translation) We shall sing out our Saviour's glory! O mystery! O wondrous story! Of Your Eucharistic presence In this sacramental essence! O living Bread! O Fount of graces! Here! For us! In this sacred place! 'Twas foretold that a noble maiden A virgin pure, with graces laden, Would give birth to our Redeemer. Dreamt by every maiden dreamer, It came to pass when Mary bore You! Thus fulfilling God's promise of yore! Then You dwelt among us, Your brothers, Like You, conceived of mortal mothers. You shared our works, our tears, our laughter Teaching us of life hereafter. The Word made flesh! Our Faith renewing! Seeking all to be one with You! The Passover, celebrating The sacrament of Love partaking, You made, of bread and wine, Communion -Your flesh! Your blood! For holy union!- For all ages, from the chosen few, You in us! And we in You! As we kneel down in adoration, To you, in humble consecration, We give our life, our all ...

"Even Birds that freely roam the Sky, Loudly weep when not allowed to fly, How more deeply will a Land most fair, Yearn to break the chains of sad Despair?" -I- All things false and frightful         All rackets great and small All things fierce and spiteful         This “New Republic” has them all. Perjuries and puppetry         Beclouding what the people know— Ninoy was slain for but one reason         He was Marcos’ foremost foe. An impotent judiciary         Unmasking all pretensions To supremacy of law;        ...

-I- All things dark and booty-full         All rackets great and small All things rank and plunder-full         This "New Republic" has them all! Decreed a day of "thanksgiving"         Is September Twenty-One The advent of martial power         The power of the gun! A formal Constitution         Approved by show of hands; By voters and non-voters         In parks and grandstands! With a Sixth Amendment         The loyalists' excuse There can't be legislation         Against the Monarch's views. And now, the Agrava Commission         The only ones who still don't know Ninoy was slain for but one reason         He was Marcos' foremost foe. The feats of engineering         The pyramids of steel With billions disappearing     ...

(Tune-"Yellow Ribbons") You came with love! You came in peace! You came to heal! That bitter strife may cease! To help end all oppression! That we may soon be free! For there can be no concession to injustice or tyranny!                                                To injustice or tyranny!         We tied our yellow ribbons along the old Times lane         It's been three long years of exile and pain!         You should have seen our ribbons on that old oak tree---         "Di ka nag-iisa! Bayan ay mahal ka!"         Who's to blame? But them! You didn't see         Our yellow ribbons around that old oak tree! They had you shot! They had you slain! That greed may rule! And men of evil reign! By force and intimidation, heeding bu...

Many and many days ago, I asked my mother that I may know What the meaning of "family" is. She said, "It's easy to remember this--- "'F" is for 'Father' and 'A' is for 'and' 'M' is for 'Mother', whom God has planned To care for His little ones, Gentile or Jew; So 'I', 'L' and 'Y', are for 'I Love You!'" For God so loved the world He gave us His only begotten Son to save us. And Jesus, too, became a baby And was born of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Taught by Joseph the carpenter's ways, He grew in age, and wisdom and grace. For rich or poor or mighty or lowly, God made the family happy and holy. So, a family is father and mother Filled with love for one another And loving their children, twenty or three, As God loves teacher and you and me! December, 1994 photo credit: BROTHERLY. via photopin (license) Licens...