Thank You Santo Padre, Papa Francesco!

From the Filipinos who really admire you, we love you Pope Francis! 

Thank you for the heartfelt and emotional visit in the Philippines. It was indeed remarkable and historical. May your teachings and love for us unite each and everyone of us, that we always see the good in our neighbors and fellowmen. Truly blessed and nurtured. God has made you His instrument. We're so inspired with the humility and compassion you've shown to the poor and in need. I can't explain the feeling when I saw you  few meters away from our view, your radiance enlightened us and covered us with love and hope. I almost cry 'cause of too much happiness and there's this unexplained feeling after 'cause seeing you is incomparable and uplifting. I can literally feel you and the ease you give and I feel blessed even afar, until now. All the hardships and jostling in the crowd are worth the while.

Being in the modern and new generation of personage, I must say that we are really lucky to experience this. The crowd who followed and attended all the activities of Pope really amazed me, it's sensational that's why it makes me proud to be a Filipino. Everyone showed unity, from poor to rich, adults to young, they didn't mind the sudden changes of weather just to see the Highness. Have a safe flight going back to Rome. Til we meet again. God bless you Papa Francesco! We'll always pray for you. Mahal kayo ng mga Pilipino!

To all the Filipinos, we've become saints for 5 days so I'm hoping that it won't change now that Pope Francis isn't around. He may not be around but his principles and powerful words will remain in our nation. He really believes that the vitality of the Church relies in every Filipino so let's make it happen. 

Viva Il Papa, Papa Francesco!

You'll always have a special place in our hearts and we know that we have in yours too. 

Thank you Lester for coming along. It was a rough ride and tiring marathon but we made it! We've seen the holiness of Santo Papa! It's fulfilling and unparalleled. :)

Now Playing: We are all God's children

: I love Pope Francis!

: Migs Lorenzana

Welcome to the Philippines Pope Francis!

Bienvenido Jorge Mario Bergoglio, our beloved Pope Francis!

The Pope of the New World just arrived in the Philippines yesterday (January 15, 2015) and is set to have religious activities and meetings from today up to January 18, and his departure is on 19th of the present month.

Photo Courtesy: GMA News 

To this day, my enthusiasm towards religion and religious stuff is on extreme since I grew up in a religious family. I can't explain the happiness and thrill I feel now that Pope Francis is in the land of the most religious country in Asia. When the late Pope Saint John Paul II had his State visit and World Youth Day in the Philippines, I was 3 years of age and too innocent to recognize the full implication of his holiness 'cause that was back in 1995. I couldn't contain myself even though I was just sitting here and watching the rock star pope behind this electrical tube. I can literally feel the extremity of Pope Francis' presence as if like I was already blessed. It's overpowering. Goosebumps!
(I badly want to see him physically! Ugh!)

Photo Courtesy: Rapler

Pope meets our president, PNoy and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. And can you imagine the crowd of people waiting for the Pope's mobile to pass by? Just WOW!! Indeed love from Filipinos for the world's Catholic Leader.

Manila Cathedral's beauty. Today, Pope Francis held his first ever holy mass in the Philippines' most historical church. 

Photo Courtesy: Rappler

Photo Courtesy: ABS-CBN News

Pope Francis: "Do you love me?"

People: "YES!"

Pope Francis: (laughs) "...Jesus' said"

He smiles so sweet and he won't stop.

I must say that our today's generation is very lucky and truly blessed to witness and experience this once in a lifetime encounter with the Pope. This is priceless!

The Philippines bear witness to the youthfulness and vitality of the Church.

And it's real! The Pontifical's first ever Tagalog tweet.

Thank you people's Pope for visiting us and recognizing the faith of every Filipinos. It's a clear evidence that your compassion humbles and defines you for showing humility and simplicity, and for being close to the poor. You are the very instrument of God that reminds us how His love works in many ways and that it lives. Please pray for us! Bless this country.

As the Santo Papa visits our nation, we can't restrain the dialogue of the other religious group about the Papal visit. Permission to post this but please do respect our Leader as we respect yours. If you hate our religion, where do you think that hatred comes? Is it because we have statues, or because of the controversies our priests have borne? It is the person who commits mistake not the religion itself that makes the member unqualified. Remember, Judas once betrayed Jesus and had sinned, but the organization of Christ isn't sinful even though Judas is a member, meaning, our priests may have sinned but it doesn't generalize the whole community of Catholic, therefore it's their very own conscience. If your religion is the promise of God to the world and people, do you think He'll permit it to be indiscreet and vilified? Why do you recruit and persuade people and not let them choose and justify their faith in whatever religion he thinks is suitable? Why do you say that your religion is the only way to be in God's heaven, and that if we don't submit ourselves upon your care and glory we'll be burned in hell? Do you think you'll be glorified when you insult and vilify religions? Wow! Christ has never deprived one's supposition and faith 'cause at the end of the day, those who truly believe in Him, who has strong relationship with Him and who does things according to His will, will matter in heaven and not the religion where you are affiliated. Think twice before you speak on behalf of your so-called sacred religion.

"If we take away poor from the Gospel, we won't understand the whole message of Jesus Christ" - Pope Francis (during his homily in Manila Cathedral)

Long live Santo Papa! We love you!

Survival 101 During Heavy Floods

Photo Courtesy of yahoo.ph (Photo taken last 2012 during Habagat)


I woke up at 4:26 A.M, and I was really bothered because I'm hearing loud bangs and waling of winds were overheard. Good thing I don't have class today since there was a proper dissemination of information and advisory yesterday about class cancellations, so I'm fully aware. 

Last August 7, 2012, Filipinos experienced the deja vu of Typhoon Ondoy (last 2009), and Typhoon Pedring (last 2010), in the eye ball and tail of Habagat. But what made it disturbing and alarming is the fact that this heavy rain downpour is just caused by the Southwest Monsoon. It wasn't a typhoon yet, but it gave us heavy floods and nightmare. Lives have been perished, infrastructure were destroyed including agriculture and of course, houses were soaked in murky water. Then last August 2013, we had Typhoon Maring that brought the same ravages. Its development from tropical depression to tropical storm brought fatalities over the Filipinos, and Typhoon Yolanda in November, 2014.

Today, this (Glenda) could be actually the same rage of nature we've had experienced last 2012 and 2013, too particular in Ondoy, Habagat, Maring, and Yolanda.

 Every year we experienced the rage of certain typhoons, and by now, we at least know what to do to handle the ravages these disasters can bring to whether human or infrastructure and agricultural.

I've already posted this entry on my first blog site which I'm not really working with anymore. This is a big help once you see rampant floods.

Photo Courtesy of yahoo.ph. (Taken last 2012 during Habagat; NLEX became sea of floods)

How to survive heavy floods?

1. DON'T PANIC
         This is very important, avoid panicking. People become hysterical whenever this thing happens and they become too much negative instead of focusing on saving their own lives in general, since the situation is already negative. Panic harms an individual, especially if you don't really understand how to cope up with the situation. Stay calm and relax as much as possible, check all the possible paths that you could use to evacuate if you're cornered by the rapid flood leveling.
          If you're living in a 2 storey-house, you can use the second floor for temporary evacuation, and if the floods reached the second floor, try to go on your rooftops and wait for the rescue team to get you out of the soaking place.

          Here's the usual problem, you know that you are having a dilemma about the floods coming inside your house, so don't you ever go into the basement, use your common sense, you're after your life, not your death.

2. SHUT DOWN YOUR ELECTRIC SWITCH
          Before anything else, this should be done at the first place. De-energizing the whole house by turning off the switch will save you and your family from the possible electrocution. This will also prevent the area from having house fire, though, power supply should be kept for proper news and information dissemination, once you're contained with heavy floods, it should be cut down.


3. GET PREPARED SUPPLIES, FOODS AND LIQUIDS TO DRINK.
          While your house is slowly soaking in floods, and you're trapped or stranded on the roof, make sure that you have already prepared the supplies that are essentials to your evacuation. Food should not be missed especially clean water to drink, bottled is advice. In case that you're really in a disaster, make sure to bring instant foods, ready to eat and that are easy to open, if you have brought canned goods, don't forget to have can opener.
           Be sensitive enough on bringing foods. It's not advisable to bring cooked foods with sauces or so. Remember that. It is near into spoilage.
           Bringing useful tools is a big help. Such as flashlights, knives, flares, matches and sleeping bag will help you survive for few days. Just make sure that you'll put it in a resealable or waterproof bags.


4. BRING FIRST AID KIT AND MEDICINES
            First aid kit is also one of the required stuff to survive. In case that you or one of your family member got injured, you have something with you that could aid the injury. In such situation like this, you have to focus on saving lives, I'm not saying that you have to jump into floods and save your drowning neighbor. Be a medic of your own family.


5. SAVE ALL EMERGENCY CONTACTS THAT YOU COULD DIAL.
            This is also important to prioritize. Some people who are in middle of a disaster taps on saving their personal stuffs and rolled to forget checking how important it is to have a contact with the authority or rescue team or private organizations. In case that the area is in the State of Calamity or almost into isolation, contact or call for help to the nearest org around your area.
             If your contact numbers are written on a paper, put it inside a plastic or resealable bag so that it won't fade or be erased by the raindrops. Nowadays, rescuing isn't hard, now that twitter paves the way, many concerned Filipinos call for help to save others. But still, be responsible at all times.


6. SURVIVAL STUFF OR GEAR
             Most people are very ideal and well-prepared when the calamity is about to scar them. If you have rubber boat in house, you can use that for force evacuation and what made it more convenient is that you can save your neighbors too. Don't forget the helmets, ropes, life jackets and paddle to help you out.
              Don't use mattress if the flood is severe or wavy, you can use it if the flood is just waist-deep and is calm.


7. OPTIMISM AND THINKING FAST WILL HELP
              When you are stranded and you're terribly trapped, work with your mind and start thinking on how you can save your life without burying your two legs. You have to look for higher places immediately if the flood is getting serious and higher. Stay calm while thinking.


8. PRAY TO GOD
               This is the most important weapon that we could use. The only weapon that even floods cannot drown nor erase. Praying to God will save you, strengthen your faith to Him and you'll find the safest place through His glory and mercy. He's the only one who could save your life aside from the rescuer.

Photo Courtesy of ABS-CBN News (Current situation in Roxas Blvd.)

For our fellow Filipinos that are in need of help, this is the list of accurate Emergency Hotlines:

You can also use our selective and special hash tags on twitter, such as:

#RescuePH for those who are in need of rescue

#ReliefPH for special relief operations and other concerns such as donations for victims

#SAFENOW if you've been rescued already

#FloodPH for flood alerts, whether personal encounter or special reports

It's really amazing to see that Filipinos are in big hands for the safety and security of the others. I've been seeing these twitter users all the way out. Yearly, they spare time helping each and every one. They didn't stop spreading all the forms of help they could actually offer over the social media. Their thoughts and big or  little helps have been sent due to their own concern. Donations and the own initiative to be volunteers were appreciated. 

It's our 4th year of being a single hero, media-man and even a rescuer of our own considerations.

Now Playing : It Will Rain - Bruno Mars

                    : STAY SAFE EVERYONE!

                    : Take 101

On Sports: DLSU Wins UAAP Season 76

Photo Courtesy: gmanetwork.com

Yesterday's rivalry between De La Salle University "Green Archers" and University of Santo Tomas "Growling Tigers" intensified the hardcourt in MOA Arena, but it was the Green Archers who brought home the title for the 76th season of the UAAP Men's Basketball Tournament.

Jeron Teng was named as Finals MVP, but admitted that it was bittersweet for him. Jeron said on his interview that he's happy 'cause Archers won the title but on the other hand, he feels the pain of his brother, Jeric Teng, who's in UST. He also said that it was his brother Jeric who deserves the MVP title because he fought with his heart out, humbling himself behind his award.

Photo Courtesy: Yahoo Philippine Sports

During the game, I really thought that it was UST who has the nearest chance of winning since they started the game with leading streak on the first and next quarters with, 16-18, 24-32, 47-48 until Jason Perkins slowly pushed UST into making penalties that gave free throws on his team which was their single advantage. But then, I actually regained the hope for UST as Jeric Teng executed consecutive triple shootings but you can never really tell when will the opponent strike with strong executions. 

Several times, the scores got tied. The UST has had the lead and Archers pursued, causing the actions on hardcourt intensifying and exciting because the scores shift every minute that aggravated the audiences' expectations that it might be the Tigers for the crown. The last two quarter scoring went 65-65.

Pressing further, after the UST's final timeout, the ball went to Mariano who had a terrible shooting day that time and had shoot the ball for the regulation of UST that failed to secure the title for the Thomasian community.

For the last hope of UST, Jeric Teng was assigned to do an in-bound pass which went to Abdul instead of making the last shot. Sadly, the Cameroonian ended the hope of Tigers with an inside awkward shoot, thus, passing the hope to De La Salle and they really pounded the basket, ended up the game with a score of 71-69.

Photo Courtesy: Philstar.com

The last time I felt the excitement and the firing rivalry was back in 2008-2009's UAAP season 71. Ateneo Blue Eagles versus De La Salle Green Archers, wherein, Nonoy Baclao was the Finals MVP. I enjoyed it that much since I am a big fan of Chris Tiu and he's one of the mythical five during the previous season. But I never enjoyed and never watched UAAP again when Tiu left Blue Eagles. What triggered me to watch the latest season of  men's basketball tournament was the most waited rivalry between the Teng brothers in the finals.

I personally like how De La Salle community chanted "Go Uste" as to console while the UST is accepting their award as this season's runner up. They did not show any hypocrisy, instead, they showed humility and that the whole Thomasian community were grateful about.

Now Playing : We Can't Stop - Miley Cyrus

: Migs Lorenzana

          

Titanic on its 100th Anniversary

Titanic's first voyage turns out to be its last

   I'm sure, everyone's familiar with the historical sinking of the most famous, huge, luxurious and sophisticated ship ever, the TITANIC. It's first maiden voyage was April 10, 1912, and it sank in April 14-15, 1912. It is considered as one of the most unsinkable ship but when it struck on an Ice Berg, it sank the very next day. 1,500 passengers perished due to that ocean accident.

WONDER WHY TITANIC CAPTURED THE LUXURIOUS PASSENGERS IN?
   Facilities of a certain establishment, building or even ship is important to attract people. And no doubt Titanic has this exquisite facilities. And I think that's one of the factors why it is so famous, brought by having the captive interiors inside.

Titanic's Cafe Parisien

   Because of being famous and popular, it captured the interest and imagination of the world, not just because of it's sophistication, but because of its encoded and built stories. From its First voyage, till its Last. It inspired Novelty makers and even Film makers too. The increasing popularity adheres on being filmed.

   The 1997 film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, and Kate Winslet. Their Love story caught the heart of many viewers. I thought of that love story as fictional to emphasis the shipwrecked and to add an impact for the audience. The film budget was 200 million U.S Dollars

The Sinking of The Unsinkable Ship...

According to the news, when they struck the Ice Berg, they had intended to continue wheeling the ship so it really began to have its full destruction. When the water enters the 5th floor of the ship, they really knew that it would happen, that the Ship is about to sink 'cause it's unstoppable.

Titanic began sinking bow-first, with water spilling from compartment to compartment as its angle in the water became steeper. 

The reason why it broke into half was because the bow sank first and the force compiled on its snout, causing the ship wrecked into half.

..... An animated demonstration how Titanic went through over the shipwrecking to ship sinking under the ocean from the National Geographic Channel, powered by YouTube.com

  Today, we'll reminisce the sinking of the popular Titanic. Before we get there, The Hollywood released the new craze about Titanic the movie, it is now in 3D, (Titanic 3D). I've watched the non-3D yet. I heard it's a blockbuster, deja vu.

  GMA NEWS TV will air the "INSIDE THE TITANIC" later on Channel 11, April 14, 2012, under the Philippine TV. This is a full documentary about the Voyage, the Shipwrecked, Discoveries and everything that will introduce us more about the famous liner. 

Now Playing : I wanna Sex You Up - by Color Me Badd

: Migs Lorenzana