ON LENT 2012: HOLY THURSDAY

We now celebrate Lent.

I got this excerpt from Wikipedia, just to share about Lent. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lent

Lent (Latin: Quadragesima, "fortieth"^[1]) is an observance in the liturgical year of many Christian denominations, lasting for a period of approximately six weeks leading up to Easter. In most Western denominations Lent is taken to run from Ash Wednesday to Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) or to Easter Eve.

The traditional purpose of Lent is the penitential preparation of the believer—through prayer, penance, repentance, almsgiving, and self-denial. Its institutional purpose is heightened in the annual commemoration of Holy Week, marking the death and resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events of the Passion of Christ on Good Friday, which then culminates in the celebration on Easter Sunday of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

During Lent, many of the faithful commit to fasting or giving up certain types of luxuries as a form of penitence. The Stations of the Cross, a devotional commemoration of Christ's carrying the Cross and of his execution, are often observed. Many Roman Catholic and some Protestant churches bare their altars of candles, flowers, and other devotional offerings, while Crucifixes, religious statues, and other elaborate religious paraphernalia are often veiled in violet fabrics in observance of this event. In certain pious Catholic countries, grand processions and cultural customs are observed, and the faithful attempt to visit seven churches during Holy Week in honor of Jesus Christ heading to Mount Calvary.

Lent is traditionally described as lasting for forty days, in commemoration of the forty days which, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus spent fasting in the desert before the beginning of his public ministry, where he endured temptation by Satan.^[2][3] However, different Christian denominations calculate the "forty days" of Lent differently. In most Western tradition the Sundays are not counted as part of Lent; thus the period from Ash Wednesday until Easter consists of 40 days when the Sundays are excluded. However in the Roman Catholic Church Lent is now taken to end on Holy Thursday rather than Easter Eve, and hence lasts 38 days excluding Sundays, or 44 days in total.

This event, along with its pious customs are observed by Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Anglicans, as well as some Baptists andMennonites.^{[4][4][5][5][6]}


Here are photos of the Cruz Mayor in Abong-Abong, Zamboanga City on Holy Thursday 2012.

ON PRETTY HOT!

What does Pretty Hot mean?


It may literally mean, a pretty hot weather, where our sweat trickles down our face...

But here is the thesaurus equivalent for hot: 

sexy sex cool beautiful cute awesome amazing girl attractive pretty gorgeous

I would wish I was this, but many might beg to disagree, so let us not force the issue!

Pretty Hot is just important to me because I really felt special when my fifteen-year old son gave this to me as "pasalubong" from HongKong, when he went on vacation with his cousins, who were in their mid twenties (first time abroad without parents!!!).


I was touched that he has grown to be a thoughtful person inspite of a very masculine aura... and with impeccable taste, too!

I guess I should thank his cousins for their excellent influence on him.

By the way, here is a bit about Pretty Hot Eau de Parfum!

http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Elizabeth-Arden/Pretty-Hot-11123.html

Elizabeth Arden launches the new fragrance Pretty Hot in January 2011 as a sequel to the original Pretty perfume from 2009. Pretty Hot, as its predecessor, is signed by Givaudan perfumer Claude Dir, who was utterly inspired by Belle de Nuit, a flower that blooms and develops in hot summer nights under the moonlight. Its fiery petals and captivating aroma are embodied in this mystical, intense, hot and seductive fragrance. Pretty Hot is hypnotic, sexy and feminine just like tropical flowers, juicy red fruits and exotic spices.

The composition opens with red currant, fresh mandarin, blood orange, red apple and freesia. Queen of the night dominates perfume’s heart, followed by peony, pimento blossom and Petalia and Georgywood (cedar and amber) molecules. Long-lasting power and intensity is provided by the base made of amber, white patchouli, tonka bean, sandalwood and musky Cosmone molecule.

The perfume bottle is of the same shape as the Pretty one, painted in fiery pomegranate color with a flat flower – shaped stopper at the top. The box is the same color as the bottle, adorned with attractive floral pattern. Elizabeth ArdenPretty Hot is available as 50 and 100 ml Eau de Parfum.

Nikon Coolpix P300

ISO 400

4.3 mm 

0 EV

f/2.8

1/25

ON TOYS FOR THE BIG BOYS

These are some of the toys of my big boys...

even my "baby" is now a big boy, too...

how time flies!

But, how about the toys?

They also seem to grow bigger through the years...

Each person searches for his own happiness...

to each his own.

Never question another person's source of joy and peace...

So he wouldn't question yours.

Because of our individuality, we have different wants, different needs, different ideas and different expressions.

We, sometimes, get exasperated when people do not see the world the way we do.

But, such is life...

Different strokes for different folks...

And it is what makes it interesting...

And it is what makes the world go 'round! 

Nikon Coolpix P300

ISO 160

4.3 mm 

0 EV

f/2.8

1/200

ON CUTE BALLOONS

Wherever the place may be,  the presence of  cute balloons is a source of happiness.

Wait 'til the little kids come, and Mr. Baloonman will be so busy.

Baloons have come a long way... from flying baloons to stick baloons... from round to oblong baloons, there are now Hello Kitty and Dora baloons as well as the elaborate baloon art which adorns kids parties and even baloon arches in lavish weddings.

We continue to appreciate the beauty of baloons and the elegance it brings.

Of course, there are safety issues which we have to deal with....

Just outside Jollibee, Ipil, Zamboanga Del Sur

Nikon D90 AF-S DX VR Zoom Nikkor 18-200 mm f/3.5

ISO 3200

44 mm 

0 EV

f/11

1/640

ON MIRRORS AND REFLECTIONS

I'm a mirror. If you're cool with me, I'm cool with you, and the exchange starts. What you see is what you reflect. If you don't like what you see, then you've done something. If I'm standoffish, that's because you are.

Jay-Z

When the surface is so clean, the reflection we see is so clear.

Let our aura be clean so that what comes out from us is transparent.

We don't need to hide our true self if our true self has a clean conscience.

Murok, Zamboanga City

ON BAMBOOS AND STRENGTH

From Wikipedia: Bamboo has also long been used as scaffolding; the practice has been banned in China for buildings over six storeys but is still in continuous use for skyscrapers in Hong Kong.

I was amazed that bamboo is used as scaffolding in skyscrapers in HongKong. 

Maybe, because of its innate strength, endurance and pliability.

In Chinese cultures, the bamboo is the symbol of the gentleman with features of being upright, with  tenacity and a hollow heart, meaning with an open heart and without arrogance or prejudice.

Integrity, elegance and simplicity are the other characteristics of the bamboo and not necessarily obvious physical strength.

Still with the Chinese tradition, the bamboo bends with the wind and does not break; it represents a man who bends with the adversities of life and endures.

Let us be like the bamboo, simple but elegant,  mentally strong and with an open heart and most of all, upright, perserverant and tenacious. 

Wanchai, HongKong

Nikon D90 AF-S DX VR Zoom Nikkor 18-200 mm f/3.5

ISO 4000

18 mm 

0 EV

f/6.3

1/60

ON MUSIC AND EXPERIENCE

I guess I don't have the musical talent... and even more, that I never also tried to develop this!

But some people have the talent .... turned to ability ... and with experience, they perfect this.

Such is my friend, Alice G.

I told her that even when she belted the high notes, her face remained composed with the ethereal smile.

She really knows how to continue how to be beautiful while keeping the power in her voice.

Three Zamboanga musical "icons"  = Dr. Rodel Agbulos, Ms. Alice Gonzales and Mr. Joel Bustamante served as the powerhouse front act and blended with 32-song Concert "How to Remain Young at Heart", with lyrics and libretto by Dr. Adolfo Bellosillo, Cardiologist and artist as well as the Director for this concert.

Music was composed by Zamboanga's own pride, Jeremiah "Jimboy" Calisang!

How to Remain Young at Heart

Foundation for Lay Education on Heart Diseases

Garden Orchid Hotel

Zamboanga City

Nikon D90

AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200 mm

ISO 4000    200mm    0EV     f/5.6   1/60