Labor Day Weekend & Indoor Cats Sneaking Out

It's Labor Day Weekend, a holiday weekend in the US. This means that a lot of people are on vacation, and there will be a lot of barbecuing, partying, swimming, etc.

August 31 - Cebu Priests Perform in Panorama City, CA & One Hail Mary for Pope Francis

Here are a couple of announcements:

1. THE HOLY FATHER MAKES A REQUEST FOR PRAYERS THAT GOD PROTECTS HIM AND GIVES HIM FORCES TO MEET THIS DIFFICULT TASK ... SO BE IT!! 

Our goal is to reach ten million Hail Mary's for Pope Francis. 
This campaign started today. Send this message to all Catholic friends or even to those who like him 
We pray for the Holy Father that the heavenly Mother intercedes for him and protects him in his ministry:

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 

Do not forget to forward this message to as many friends. We want to reach ten million Hail Marys.

Southern Novelist, Eve La Salle Caram - Lunch and Excerpt from her novel

The novelist Eve La Salle Caram and I did some catching up over lunch at  El Caserio's in Silver Lake. I thought I'd share the beginning of one of her novels, Wintershine, which portrays the early childhood of Beatrice Merrill in the foothills of the Ozarks. 

Syria Iraq War: Obama's Statements About ISIS's Murder of James Foley

"Our message to anyone who harms our people is simple. America does not forget. Our reach is long. We are patient. Justice will be done. We will do what is necessary to capture those who harm Americans, to go after those who harm Americans, and we'll continue to take direct action where needed to protect our people and to defend our homeland.

ISIS (ISIL) Recruiting in Mindanao, Philippines

A senior official of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Mindanao, Southern Philippines, stated it is possible that ISIS is recruiting in Mindanao. Sunni preachers have reportedly been conducting recruitment there, according to Habib Mujahab Hashim, Chief of the MNLF's Islamic Command Council. The MILF, the largest Philippine Muslim rebel group, has signed a peace pact with the Philippine government.

Literary Cats Reading Isabel Allende's "The House of the Spirits"

Oh no! My cats, Che and Tesla, got a hold of my signed copy of The House of  the Spirits by Isabel Allende. However, they are taking good care of it and say they love this novel. They've developed a taste for magic realism.

More pictures of Cambria, California

Here are pictures taken at Cambria, California.

Taking a Break in Cambria, California

We had dinner at the Sow's Ear in Cambria, in the Central Coast of California. It's a good restaurant to go to if you're in the area. The filet mignon with lobster sauce and the chicken fried steak were good. I love the bread in a flower pot!

Travel: In Search of Catholic Ireland

When I was growing up in the Philippines, there were many Irish priests and nuns; I knew that Ireland is a Catholic country that sends many of their sons and daughters to far corners of the world as missionaries. When we visited Ireland, I looked for the "Catholicism" in this small country - the Emerald Isle as it is aptly called because indeed there are fields and fields of vivid green grass with grazing sheep and cattle.

Writing to Interpret Your Dreams

Some people believe that dreams are messages from God. In some cultures dreams are discussed or considered carefully. I also think dreams are important and pay attention to them. 

I don't remember all my dreams, but some are very vivid. On rare occasions, my conscious self is even aware that I'm in a dream, which is a strange sensation, but which indicates to me that the dream is important.

Cat Pictures: My Cats Doing What They Do Best

Here are pictures of my cats doing what they do best!

Filipino Cooking: Recipe for Carol's Cornbread Bibingka

 Recipe for Carol's Cornbread Bibingka

Carol Ojeda-Kimbrough shares with us her recipe for Bibingka Galapong, a favorite Filipino "cake."
Carol says she arrived at this recipe by trial and error, by playing with different recipes until she got the taste and texture just the way she likes.

Funny Pictures: Food Names That Need Rethinking

Food Names that Need Rethinking!

Garden: Cuttings from my Pitcher Cannibal Plant

Finally I did it. I made cuttings from one of my Pitcher Cannibal plant (or Nepenthes). Here's how I did it.  Take a look at the picture above. There are two cannibal plants. And both of them are starting to have vines. I took the plant on the right side with two vines, and I cut off one vine. I felt sad doing this because the vine had a lot of lovely pitchers, but it seemed time to propagate.

PRAY for Peace in Iraq and Syria!!!

Pope Francis has appealed to the Church throughout the world to join in prayerful solidarity for the Holy Spirit to send the gift of peace to Iraq. The Iraqi people have been subject to horrific violence in recent months and Christians in Iraq have been mercilessly persecuted.

U.S. Catholics have been invited by the Bishops to unite in prayer on Sunday, August 17. The following prayer was written by the Chaldean Catholic Patriarch of Iraq, His Beatitude Louis Rafael Sako:

Lord,
The plight of our country is deep and the suffering of Christians is severe and frightening.
Therefore, we ask you Lord to spare our lives, and to grant us patience, and courage to continue our witness of Christian values with trust and hope.
Lord, peace is the foundation of life;
Grant us the peace and stability that will enable us to live with each other without fear and anxiety, and with dignity and joy.
Glory be to you forever.
Amen.
- See more at: http://www.pacatholic.org/day-of-prayer-for-iraq-on-sunday-august-17/#sthash.lNePtkA9.dpuf

Pope Francis has appealed to the Church throughout the world to join in prayerful solidarity for the Holy Spirit to send the gift of peace to Iraq. The Iraqi people have been subject to horrific violence in recent months and Christians in Iraq have been mercilessly persecuted.

U.S. Catholics have been invited by the Bishops to unite in prayer on Sunday, August 17. The following prayer was written by the Chaldean Catholic Patriarch of Iraq, His Beatitude Louis Rafael Sako:

Lord,
The plight of our country is deep and the suffering of Christians is severe and frightening.
Therefore, we ask you Lord to spare our lives, and to grant us patience, and courage to continue our witness of Christian values with trust and hope.
Lord, peace is the foundation of life;
Grant us the peace and stability that will enable us to live with each other without fear and anxiety, and with dignity and joy.
Glory be to you forever.
Amen.
- See more at: http://www.pacatholic.org/day-of-prayer-for-iraq-on-sunday-august-17/#sthash.lNePtkA9.dpuf

Lord,
The plight of our country is deep and the suffering of Christians is severe and frightening.
Therefore, we ask you Lord to spare our lives, and to grant us patience, and courage to continue our witness of Christian values with trust and hope.
Lord, peace is the foundation of life;
Grant us the peace and stability that will enable us to live with each other without fear and anxiety, and with dignity and joy.
Glory be to you forever.
Amen. - See more at: http://www.pacatholic.org/day-of-prayer-for-iraq-on-sunday-august-17/#sthash.lNePtkA9.dpuf

Sunday, August 17 is the Day of Prayer for Iraq and Syria in the US;
Monday, August 18 is the Day of Prayer for Iraq and Syria in the Philippines

Tea with Writers Brian Ascalon Roley and Marilyn Alquizola

Brian Ascalon Roley, who was visiting the Los Angeles area, stopped by for tea and Marilyn Alquizola joined us. We had a lovely time talking about literature, writers, and our current book projects. 

Santa Monica, California: Coyotes in My Neighborhood!

I saw this sign in my neighborhood. It's a warning that a coyote or coyotes have been spotted in the area and have been preying on small animals.

Iraq, Syria War: Muslims Condemn ISIS (IS or ISIL)

 I will admit, dear Readers, that the persecution of Christians and Yazidis in Iraq, has kept me awake at night.

The actions of ISIS (or IS or ISIL) are repugnant to many people. Civilized people do not engage in beheading, stoning, raping of women, killing of innocent children, committing genocide --- the list goes on. And to say these actions are done in the name of God is breathtaking, because I cannot imagine a God who condones such violence and hatred.

Sunday August 17 - DAY OF PRAYER FOR PEACE IN IRAQ AND SYRIA

US DAY OF PRAYER FOR PEACE IS SUNDAY, AUGUST 17

PHILIPPINE DAY OF PRAYER FOR PEACE IS MONDAY, AUGUST 18

Responding to the persecution of Christians in Iraq and Syria, Pope Francis requests prayers for peace in Iraq and Syrian.  This specific appeal was generated in the Philippines, and the date for the Day of Prayer there is on Monday, August 18. In the US, the Day of Prayer is on Sunday, August 17, Our Holy Father, Pope Francis request people of all faiths to pray. Please join us in praying.

Syria War: What Happened to the Syrian Revolution

This is a good analysis of the situation in Syria. The article by Bassillios Zeino is titled, "How the Syrian Revolution Was Beheaded" and published by Al-Monitor.  I'm posting excerpts from the article. 

 "The absence of self-criticism, censure and immediate accountability, as well as the Syrian intellectuals' and politicians' betrayal of their historical role, are factors that have served to symbolically decapitate the Syrian Revolution before truly being decapitated by the armed jihadist battalions. ...

For a Refreshing Break from All the Killing - Let's Dance!

I must say that World News can be overwhelming, so let's take a break and watch this Video:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Pwe-pA6TaZk?rel=0

Kerala, India - Vasco de Gama, Syrian Church, River Cruise

 Recent news about Chaldean Christians who have been persecuted by ISIS in Iraq, made me pause. (The Chaldean Christians, which are part of the Catholic Church, had broken off from the Assyrian Church of the East.) I recalled visiting a Syrian Church in Kerala in India, but it turns out that the the members of the Syrian churches in Kerala are different from the Chaldean Christians. I quote from Wikipedia:

Creative Writing: Exercise for Sensual Writing Using Pictures

Here are pictures to use as writing prompts. Choose one picture, imagine that you are in that picture. Feel the temperature, sniff the air, put your hands out and touch, discover what you can taste, listen to what's around you, look at all the details, the light, the shadows, shapes. Use your five senses. Now write, without thinking too much. Try not to correct yourself. Just write.

Cat pictures: Resting, Have a Great Weekend!

Resting ...

Have a great weekend!

Philippines, Marcos Dictatorship: Guest Blogger Carol Ojeda-Kimbrough's "Salvaged Love"

Carol Ojeda with son, circa 1980s

Our Guest Blogger, Carol Ojeda-Kimbrough, shares with us her personal history during the turbulent Marcos years in the Philippines.

Born and raised in the Philippines, Carol moved to the US in 1975 with her six-month old son to escape the Marcos dictatorship. Her son's father was killed in 1976, summarily executed by the military in a process called "salvaging." His body was never found.

Nonfiction: The Truth About Filipino Old Timers by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

 The following nonfiction piece is part of the anthology Filipinotown: Voices from Los Angeles, edited by Carlene Sobrino Bonnivier, Gerald C. Gubatan, and Gregory Villanueva. This collection of essays about Los Angeles in California was released earlier this year and is now in its second edition (with teachers' guide). Thanks to the editors for including my work. The book is available at Amazon.com. 

The Truth About Filipino Old Timers

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard

            The very first O.T. (Filipino Old Timer) I heard about was the man who returned to Cebu to marry my mother’s friend, a spinster advanced in years. During afternoon meriendas, I overheard the development of this alliance.

            A crusty lady set in her ways, my mother’s friend refused to migrate to America and the newlyweds lived in her seaside town. It was a poor place which relied only on the sea’s yield and he quickly grew sick of eating fish and rice. He longed for steaks, broccoli, and asparagus; he wanted them both to go to the United States. She adamantly said no and finally he returned to America alone. 

Movie Review: A Bottle in the Gaza Sea

I have been looking for a good movie and I found one.

Maryknoll College, Quezon City: Lunch for Meldee Lopez in Southern California

Some Maryknollers from Southern California got together to have lunch at the Tokyo Cafe in Orange for Meldee Perez Lopez who's visiting the area.  The picture above shows standing l-r: Chona Preston, Lorna Cruz, Maria Ciocon, Natie Mendoza, Cecilia Brainard, Meldee Lopez; seated l-r: Ollie Yujuico and Lucy McGinley.

Movie Review of the Irish Film "Calvary"

My husband suggested seeing a movie and asked me to choose from three movies:

Is Peace in Sight for Muslim Philippines?

The Philippines has a 5% Muslim minority population of around 4.3 million. Before the Spanish colonization, the area north of Indonesia (which the Spaniards named Las Islas Filipinas) had a growing Muslim influence, with established populations in Mindanao and Sulu and outposts in Cebu and Luzon. The Spaniards Christianized the archipelago, although the southern part of the country remained Muslim. It remained so during the American occupation at the turn of the century. There is a story that the Colt .45 semi-automatic pistol was created by the Americans as a weapon against the Filipino Moros or Muslims.


Even after World War II and Philippine independence, southern Philippines (southern and western Mindanao, southern Palawan, and the Sulu Archipelago) continued to have a large Muslim population. This situation remains up to now.

Garden Update: How My Cannibal Pitcher Plants Are Doing

Do you remember my Cannibal Pitcher Plants, the Nepenthes Ampullaria, which I've named the Sirens?

I am pleased to report they are doing just fine. Their pitchers have turned bright red, and they have vines that are growing out from the top.