My mom died when I was 10 years old, I felt so bereft and alone. My maternal (and favorite grandmother) also died a few months later. At Grade 4, I had days when I would refuse to go to school or I would escape from our school bus and leave to wander around the neighborhood.

I felt angry at God for taking away my mom at such a young age. I was angry at Him for leaving me to fend for myself and for my sister. My dad did not go home for two years after this (he is a seaman). I felt so alone.

Music was my only solace during this time. My mom used to sing with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Choral. And I felt closest to her when I would sing or when I would hear the songs during mass. 

My boss asks us to hold a monthly birthday salo-salo for all our staff. No one is required to bring food for everyone (there are more than 40 of us in the group, so this would be unsustainable.)  But it a chance for us to celebrate the birthdays of the celebrants for the month... it is a chance for us to eat together and to just gather as one.

This month, the Procurement Office was assigned to spearhead the birthday salo-salo. This is one of the busiest offices in the university, as they are a part of the bidding process, purchase everything from pencils to cars, etc.

It was heartwarming to see the effort that they placed in preparing the event. Not only did they reserve the venue, invite everyone, etc. But they also went beyond and prepared video clips with themes on team building, camaraderie, and heroism. 

It is truly inspiring to see your team going beyond what is expected. This is the best reward that a manager.. rather, a leader, can get.

I was so pleased to have one of my articles featured in The Flight Shop's site. It was a pleasure to share good memories of our family vacation. 

Check it out here. And book your trips with The Flight Shop!

After suffering from a bout of Monday sickness, I decided to prowl through the halls of TED Talks to look for something that would cheer me up while I worked.

I stumbled on JK Rowling's Commencement Speech for the Harvard Graduates of 2008. You can watch the video here. 


Hearing a speech from a gifted writer was just a treat, it was both humorous (in a Brit kind of way) and poignant. JK spoke about what failure and poverty taught her. And she also shared how imagination fueled the empathy she felt as a fellow human.

It was the perfect Commencement speech for such a privileged group as the Harvard Graduates. Not only did it present food for thought by showing common, human experiences in a new way-- JK was also able to skillfully weave in a call to action. The structure, the humor, the story telling made the bitter medicine of truth go down easier. 

JK's speech led me to reminisce about my own graduation day. We were lucky enough to graduate during the 150th year of the Ateneo de Manila University. The author of the book Heroic Leadership, Chris Lowney, was our speaker. I myself cannot remember the words our Commencement Speaker gave to us back in 2009. But I remember the emotions that I felt during that day, the excitement, the pride, and the anxiety of stepping out into the real world. 

After 4 years of working and study a.k.a. "living in the real world", I realized that it was not the grades, the concepts, or the theories that were of most value to me, after getting my education from Ateneo and from St. Scho ... these schools gave me something more than my degree. 

I saw a blog entry about the inhumane way CebuPac treated some customers in Dumaguete. There was a guy who did not make it to his job interview, a couple who had to buy another Php 240,000 for tickets back to Europe because they would miss their connecting flight, etc. But to top it all off, CebuPac did not even have the decency to provide accommodations for the stranded passengers, because it was against Company Policy.

You can view the whole entry here. 

It just saddens me that corporations as successful as Cebu Pacific can do something like this. Greed will not do good for your business Cebu Pac. And the same people who placed you at that number one position can also pull you down.

As consumers, let us remember that we have the power to influence businesses. Let's use this power for the better.

Please spread the word about this incident. And let's all think twice before buying tickets from CebuPac. This incident just proves, not EveryJuan can fly with CebuPac.

I have been feeling very bothered about the issue with the Spratly's. Not only is there a real threat of war from China, the decision we make here will affect the environment, and consequently, generations to come.

I was glad to hear the voice of reason from Atty. Oposa's letter to the President. Read it here. 

We all know we cant win a war against China. But the Philippines has the law on its side.

The European Grand Prix for Choral Singing (GPE) is like the Olympics of the Chorale World. It happens every two years: Year 1 is when different Choirs compete to qualify for the EGP and Year 2 is when the choirs compete for the title itself. 

The Philippine Madrigal Singers is the only choir from the Philippines who has one twice (the other choir who has won twice is APZ Tone Tomšič.) I believe the Madz is the only choir from the Philippines who has won. 

The Ateneo College Glee Club (ACGC), the oldest University Choir in the Philippines has qualified for the GPE twice. The first was during Sir Joel Navarro's time and the second was last year under the baton of Ma'am Malou Hermo.


I used to sing with the ACGC back in College. So I was very interested to see their progress. 

The ACGC competed just this weekend in Maribor, Slovenia for the GPE. But unfortunately, they lost against the Sofia Vocalensemble of Sweden. 

At the end of the day, I think the who the judges will chose as the winner, is also dependent on the criteria these judges place importance on. Human subjectivity still plays a role in these competitions. 

Other factors that may have affected this result is the fact that not everyone from the Tour Cast of 2011 were present for the 2012 competition. 

Still, I think that qualifying for the GPE twice, under 2 different conductors, and with singers who are (mostly) not music majors--  the fact that Ateneo De Manila University does not even have a music program-- is a feat unto itself. 

I am proud to have the ACGC represent the country. 

And now for some good music.... click the videos below and enjoy!

As you know, I am an Atenean working for La Salle. Due to more than 5 years of Jesuit Formation (Currently, I am also taking up my MBA in AGSB), my boss decided to send me to-- Mindanao for a 5-day Retreat/ Formation sponsored by De La Salle Philippines (DLSP). 

I am a member of the Return to the Vaugirard Batch 16. It was a week when I began to see the world differently. We were forced out of our comfort zones to discover the big and wonderful world we are so often afraid of. 

My realizations:

- Mindanao is a peaceful place.
- Muslims and Lumads are our brothers
- We need to take care of Mother Nature.
- Ateneans and La Sallians need to work together to make the world a better place. 

After the 5-day retreat, I realized that I can be both an Atenean and La Sallian. :) View the video below to get a peek on what people from 17 La Salle Campuses around the country can do. 

One Innova was no match for 6 and 1 ½ people (I have two younger brothers and we can’t decide if George is still a kid)... plus 5 bags, 1 ice chest, countless plastic bags of food, fruits, and even uling (coal.) It was another day out on the road with our whole family.

We were heading to Pampangga for Holy Week. This drive typically takes 2 hours, on average. But with the Encarnacion- Cruz family, travel from one point to the other is not done through a straight line. After stopping by corner stores and 2 different gas stations, we were nowhere near our destination. The never ending journey was aggravated by the Holy Week Exodus of people. We left Manila at 9:00 am but got to San Fernando, Pampangga at 12: 30 nn. 

Here are some shots of people crammed in the car.

The beauty of travelling with your family is that you get to experience new things together. You’ll remember these trips 5 years from now, and you’ll be able to reminisce about the day Ate pooped on the island because she could not hold it in or that instance when the car was filled to the brim with dirty clothes and pasalubong,while travelling for 12 hours from Pagudpud to Manila.

Travelling together also allows you to know a little more about the people you live with. People who we often ignore when we are back at home and locked up in our own rooms. 

Yes travelling with the family can be fun and memorable. But sometimes, the hardest part is on how to get there.

Due to the many times I have travelled with kids, grandparents, aunts, and uncles... I have a few ideas on how to make the trip enjoyable and memorable as well.

1.  Coordinate on what you will bring. 
Let’s face it, car space is limited and you will have to share it with the people who can be your best of friends and worst of enemies, your family. Its best that you make sure you pack efficiently by not bringing 5 bottles of shampoo for 8 people.

2.  Play car games. 
If you want to end World War III at the back of your car, keep your two little brothers quiet by entertaining them. Research online about games you can play with kids in the car (ex. I Spy) or with the adults. You can even use your IPAD to play I-Henyo in the car. See how your mom guesses the word Aling Dionisia, despite her initial trepidation to compete with the kids.

3.  Bring sustenance: water, chips, candies. You will not survive the road without food, especially if you have kids along. When you get bored with talking and playing car games, munch on some goodies. But don’t overdo it or you might end up in a hole-in-the-wall bathroom... pooping.

4.  The world is your C.R.
Bring tissue and alcohol to sanitize strange bathrooms you might end up in during the stop over. Better yet, go to the bathroom before you leave for the trip and finish all the business you have with the toilet. And if you can’t stand strange bathrooms, call the first dibs on the comfort room when you get there.


5.  Keep yourself (and everyone else) in good humor. 
Cramming people like sardines may result in raised voices and hot tempers. So make sure you have some jokes or funny stories in your arsenal to break the heat. If you’re like me (corny and can’t tell a funny joke to save her life), you can try making fun of yourself or the situation that you are in.

With these tips on hand and a bag full of chips, I know you will enjoy getting there as much as you'll love it when you're there.

Cheers,

Bubbly 

Holy Week means different things to different people. Some of my friends see it as the longest vacation they’ll get for the summer; so they schedule their beach trips during this time. Others believe this is the best time to catch up on some sleep or some DVDs. But since I am active in church, a lot of the people I know celebrate it through service and through the Catholic traditions we Filipinos love.

I have been lucky enough to belong to provinces (Capiz and Pampangga.) These are where I go home to during the Holy Week. But I have also experienced staying home in Manila. (Manila has less people during this week because everyone seems to be out of town, so staying home isn’t so bad.)

Seeing that we are celebrating Holy Week today, I wanted to share a few ideas on how we can reflect on the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ. In today’s age of the internet and of gadgets, is there a way to celebrate Holy Week meaningfully?

Celebrating Catholic traditions

You can go to Visita Iglesia on Maundy Thursday. Pray and reflect over the Stations of the Cross as you tour different churches in Metro Manila or Luzon. This is a great way to study about the history of our faith, learn about architecture, and reflect on our Lord’s Passion and Death.

Prepare handouts for everyone so that you can all take turns in leading the prayer. I suggest that you also prepare background music for the in-betweens.  You can check out music from the Jesuit Music Ministry or Hillsong. Remember, this is not just an ordinary road trip. So keep the atmosphere prayerful and solemn throughout the duration of the trip.

You can also go to your local church to attend the Triduum service for Holy Week. View the Mass of our Lord’s Supper and the ceremony of Washing of the Feet on Maundy Thursday. Priests and lay people re-enact how Jesus showed the world what true servant leadership is and how Jesus humbled himself for us all.

On Good Friday, there are services for the Seven Last Words. A lot of churches invite speakers to share their reflections on this event. In our parish, the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we even include song and dance performances to enhance the atmosphere of reflection. Afterwards, the Veneration of the Cross usually takes place until midnight of that night.

The longest mass in church is celebrated during the evening of Holy Saturday. The Easter Vigil is often overshadowed by the Misa del  Gallo (Christmas Eve mass.)  But this is an important service we should go to as we celebrate our Lord’s Resurrection.

The Easter Vigil celebrates how Jesus became the Light of the World when he died for all of us.  The service begins with all lights turned-off. Seven accounts from the Bible are read.  The Gloria and Alleluia are sung once again after the 40 days of Lent. This is also the service when baptism can take place and where adult catechumens are welcomed into the church. It’s a ceremony worth attending.

Truly Pinoy Holy Week Ceremonies

If you are lucky enough to have a province to go home to, I suggest that you take this time to travel back. Provinces in the Philippines have different traditions when it comes to celebrating the Holy Week. Besides the reading of the Pasyon, there are also processions and services you can join. 

Today, here in Pampangga, I witnessed the bloodletting and the crucifixion of several devotees. These people usually have a panata (pact with God) to undergo the same suffering Christ went through, in exchange for granted prayers or as an act of penitence for the sinful life lived. Having this view of God who requires blood sacrifice is probably rooted to the Pre-Spanish rituals of Filipinos. (Warning: Graphic Photos posted below.) 

Using Technology to strengthen the Faith

If you can’t get out of work or of the house, you can also turn to television or to the computer, to celebrate Holy Week. Stations like TV Maria have Holy Week specials, where you can listen to the Word of God from the comfort of your home.

If you live in a condo and don’t own a television set, you can switch on your internet to view programs via live streaming. Read blogs to nourish your sould. Or you can check out rappler.com’s Holy Week special.  They have articles written by Jesuits, Music Videos, and even a Virtual Stations of the Cross.

So remember, you can spend Holy Week any way you choose. But you can make it more meaningful and use the time to truly reflect by joining Catholic traditions, witnessing Pinoy ceremonies or using modern technology to strengthen your faith.

Have a blessed Holy Week!

Bubbly