LOOKIN' AHEAD

As far as I'm concerned, 2013 will be annus horribilis for me.

Not considering the fact that we've had a slew of beauty contestant winners and runners-up, 2013 will be remembered as a year of scandals, disasters and political turmoil. This is the reason why I refuse to do a 2013 retrospective. It's much too painful to look back on.

I decided to look ahead instead to get rid of all that negativity. 2014 looks to be a great year so far. It's gonna be a galloping year for me. Aside from the fact that it will offer me the prospect of a new love, it will be exciting to see who I come across in the love department. I hope it's someone mature, gorgeous and with a totally uncomplicated status to boot!

For the first quarter of 2014, I will be busy with projects. If the stars align, I will be doing a lot of writing, lecturing and designing for different arts and travel companies. I'll write more about these projects when I'm actually in the thick of these activities. Let's see how it works.

It would also be nice to join my dear friends to re-visit and see how Coron has progressed after typhoon Yolanda. Six glorious days of sun, sand and sea and lots of photo opps. Coron was the last area where the super typhoon made land fall. Some landmarks were destroyed. Other areas badly hit in the Visayas are also a must see. So May will probably be the best time to visit Baybay, Leyte as I wasn't able to visit it this December.

Meantime, I found the Christmas season as meaningful and as magical like it has always been. I think a large part of that is a positive attitude, a lot of love, a childlike sense of wonder and an unwavering faith that God handles our lives with His perfect plan for us. I completed the Misa de Gallo (9 days of novena Masses) and the Misa de Aguinaldo (Christmas eve Mass) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. That was a blast!

Enjoy the little time left of 2013, folks! And stay away from those nasty firecrackers...

Aba Ginoong Maria!

It's 5 days to Christmas and a lot of things are going on in Malls and Public places. Everything is either decked, samped, decorated, gilded and adorned in all their Christmas finery.

But to kick off the season, a 164 year old tradition takes place in Intramuros, Manila on the feast of the Immaculate Conception. This is the Grand Marian Procession participated in by religious organizations, private collectors and parishes. This year was no different. Instead of the 8th of December, the feast was celebrated on the 9th to give deference to the second week of advent which fell on a Sunday. The event took place on a rainy afternoon. It didn't stop the crowds from going, though...

Over a hundred images of the Blessed Virgin were paraded in the streets of Intramuros dressed in full regalia to honor the  Mother of our  savior. Truly, it was a spectacular display of pomp and pageantry as one caroza tried to outdo the other. And why not? The Blessed Virgin could have said no to Angel Gabriel's announcement that she was chosen to be the mother of the Messiah. Instead, she humbly acceeded by saying " be it done unto me according to your word" thereby starting the whole process of Man's salvation.

For this event, the Blessed Virgin is represented in all her different incarnations. The liveliest and longest of which was the Nstra. Sra. de las Dolores de Turumba. But all the other images were spared no expense. Most of the images were all blinged out. Flowers were not enough to present Her in her finest, it seemed.

The event was made even more special this year with the participation of the Our Lady of Chzechstokowa. Otherwise known as the Black Madonna, the image is particularly different in the fact that it is not a three dimensional image but a huge frame on which the Lady and Jesus are done in wood and a matting heavily encrusted in precious stones. Incidentally, the image comes from Poland, of which Warsaw was the most destroyed city during World War II. Manila came a close second.

As the countdown comes closer to Christmas, the Confradia de la Immaculada Concepcion with its Hermanas and Hermanos of Manila's glitterati looks ahead at another year where they can present the Virgin in her most important role as the Mother of God. Hopefully, the next year won't be rocked by political scandals and natural calamities...

Merry Christmas, everyone!!!!!