New Life

Avocado was chopped months ago because termites had made a home in the tree.  Today one can see that it is indeed alive!

Months ago Ate Diday had given me seeds from a papaya she had at the house.  She told me to spread the seeds on the side at the new house.  Two weeks ago, I noticed that one of the seeds had sprouted.

Palm Sunday

There was no mention angels during the first Palm Sunday,
but in Pililla, there were about 30.

 The day began at 5 am at Hulo Chapel.  We processed to church, stopping at 4 places.  It took an hour.

The band was there and so even early in the morning, it was a very lively affair.

I had a hard time watching the women lay their blankets on the street.  It was like a contest to see who can get their blankets put down.  They bumped into people, no apologies.

I overheard one little boy ask his grandfather why the women are running.  In my head I thought, yes, I sure would like an answer too.

Mass was held outside and it took a little over an hour.

Mark 11:  8
"Many people spread their cloaks on the road...."

Mark 11:  9
"The people who were in front and those who followed behind began to shout,
' Praise God!  God blesses him who comes in the name of the Lord! " 

Tess Liyag Marcelino

Tess and her family had lived at the old house for a couple of years when we were younger,

which is how our families became friends.

Tess and her only child, John Edward

Summer

display at Savemore, the equivalent of Walmart

has come!  The children are out for summer vacation.  The streets are once again crowded and noisy during the weekday.

San Pedro Calungsod

San Pedro Calungsod, one of two official Pilipino saints died in the 1600s.  When he was martyred his body was put on a boat and dumped into the sea.  Because of this part of the commemoration of his life is a procession to the lake.  Fishermen volunteer their boats so others can ride along to the other side, about a two-hour ride. To learn more, look up San Pedro's life.


San Pedro Calungsod, pray for us.

Virgilio B. Melendres Memorial Elementary School

Mother and daughter

Sylvia and Stacey Yamane

Stacey received three awards:  

best in class (4th grade), 

best in Religion (yes, this is a public school), 

and part of the Math team where they had earned 2nd place in a contest

Mother and son

Sylvia and Jermaine

Jermaine attends Rejoice Christian School; he too received several awards.

Windmills

Altenergy began setting these windmills in early 2014.  When I first came in July I only saw 3 of them.  It seems that overnight a dozen were built and today there are almost two dozen.

The windmills are in Bugarin, outside Pililla city limits, but still within Pililla boundaries.

This trip to see the windmills is also another day that I was naturally cooled while in Pililla.

Taina with Lani and Leni (for real),
two of the catechists from St. Mary Madgalene Church.

more fruits

Duhat is a small, purple fruit.  It's served with a pinch of salt.  Duhat isn't one of my top ten favorite fruit because it's not very sweet. It also easily stains clothing or fingers when you eat them.  However people say it's a fruit good for people who have diabetes.

Aratiles is a small, juicy sweet fruit.  You know it's ready to eat when it becomes reddish

6th grade graduation

Miller is a distant relative.  

I have eaten several times at the restaurant owned by his family.  

Their specialty on weekends is serving lechon.

Sathya Sai is one of the many private schools in Pililla.  

Its founder is from India and there are about thirteen Sathya Sai Schools 

in the world including one in Pittsburg, USA.

Sathya Sai in Pililla only goes to grade 6.  

Miller has taken the qualifying test for the 

STEM Program at Pililla National High School.

Miller and a couple of his fellow graduates.

Pabasa

Pabasa literally translates to a "reading".  

However used in the Tagalog culture a Pabasa 

is a sung reading of the last events of Jesus' earthly life.  

This tradition has been done for generations.  

There are leaders, mostly women in their 70s.   

When I asked how one learns how to do the Pabasa, 

no one could answer me.  

In fact one woman was rather disturbed that I was even asking.

This Pabasa is sponsored by the church and 

it goes from 7 am to 7 am the following day.  

The church also sets a group in charge of the meals 

served to the readers and those who will attend.   

a young reader in her 30s