The Passing of a Beautiful Soul

The last of my female first cousins has just been called by her Creator. Quickly and quietly, so I heard. Without much ado. No lingering illness that would have involved lengthy and vigilant attendance of caregivers. So typical of my Atsing Puring not to burden anyone, not to have anyone fuss over her. All she cared about was to give, give, and give--love, help to anyone in need, even if it meant depriving herself of some personal need. That was the Atsing Puring I had known.

Some years ago, she visited us here in LA after so many years of losing contact wth each other. She stayed in our house for two days. and we chatted deep into the night. At one point she intimated that she just gave her money to relatives and friends in need. "What do I need it for?" She asked. Indeed what for? She was a very simple woman with very simple needs. Never used make-up except baby powder. I doubt if she ever went to the movies, to Disneyland and such, unless perhaps to accompany some nieces or nephews or grandchildren by Bernadette, her only child, who she rescued from a critical illness when still a baby and took unto her own since then with the consent of the biological mother.

When I was small, probably five or seven and thereafter for some years, she would get me to vacation in Capas where she and her mother owned the biggest grocery store in town. She was her mother's right hand person in running the store, the income of which helped in sending her young siblings to school, seeing about the journalism career of one and the medical schooling of another. The journalist rose to become a daily columnist in Manila's Evening News (or was it the Evening Mirror). The doctor went on to become a psychiatrist in the state of Missouri. She sent herself back to school last and only after much prodding from my father, their surrogate father. She had argued she was too old to go back to high school, but upon the insistence of my father who believed one is never too old to finish education, she went back to high school and afterwards to college to become a pharmacist and work in thee pharmacy department of the GSIS in Manila.

Again we lost contact with each other as my husband and I had gone to Iowa City when my husband was invited with a grant to the famed International Writing Program of the University. But the image of Atsing Puring as that woman with a heart always bursting with love, especially for children, had remained in me. In fact, I remember having I written about her when in my Teacher's exam, we were asked to write an essay on The Person I Admire Most. She was a person who never had a mean bone in her body. I can only wish I could emulate her.

Rest in peace, Atsing Puring. Your legacy of kindness, virtuous life and piety will always remain in those you had touched.  We love you: three words we may have shown with our respect and caring for you albeit not expressed in loud words before.

Why Do We Repeat Prayers When We Say the Rosary?

This being the month of the holy rosary, I would like to share this, especially with those of the same questions about the repetitive prayers of the rosary, about statues, about whether we worship Mary or venerate her. (There's a whole lot of difference there.)

"...why is the rosary still a stronghold in the Catholic Church? Why has the rosary stood the test of time for at least eight hundred years since it originated from Spanish theologian St. Dominic, c. 1170-1221?...
Below is from the internet It's so simply put and very much within the grasp of the human mind.
__________

To begin with, the rosary is not a prayer of words, but of  meditation. When a Catholic completes praying an entire rosary of 20 mysteries, he or she has meditated upon the entire gospel; the incarnation, birth, life, suffering, death, resurrection, and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. No method of prayer is more beneficial than this. Most Catholics will pray five mysteries per day, and when saying the words, he or she must meditate upon one mystery at a time; for the duration of 10 Hail Marys, before going on to the next "mystery," or meditation. The memorized words are the vehicle by which Catholics are able to keep their minds on the gospel stories.

Secondly, why do Catholics seem to exalt Mary as they recite the Hail Mary over and over again? Actually, when we seem to be exalting Mary, what we're really doing is quoting the gospel verse Luke 1:28 when the Angel Gabriel salutes Mary, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blest are you among women!"   This greeting is repeated to her a second time in Luke 1:41-42 when an expectant Mary visits her pregnant cousin Elizabeth  in Judea. At Mary's approach, the unborn child within Elizabeth leaps, and she exclaims, "Blest are you among women, and blest is the fruit of your womb!" In other words, blessed is the child within you. That child is Jesus.

In the remainder of the Hail Mary prayer, Catholics ask Mary to pray for them now, and at the hour of death. Catholics often ask Mary to approach her Son Jesus for their petitions. Consider the gospel story, "The Wedding Feast at Cana," in John 2:3-11.  Jesus heeds Mary's request and miraculously produces excellent wine for the wedding guests. Here, Jesus performs His first public miracle, revealing His glory through the intercession of His Mother, Mary.  Being ever faithful to God in heaven, Jesus obeys the commandment that says, "Honor thy father and mother."  He does so in an exemplary way.

In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul writes, "Imitate me, then, just as I imitate Christ."  Therefore, if we are to imitate Jesus, then we too honor the woman Jesus gave to us with his dying breath when He said to John, "Behold thy mother," and to Mary, "Behold thy son,"  John 19: 25-27. The key word is "honor," and not "worship."

Finally, what about the statues? The simple answer is that the statues of any saint, not just Mary, are not objects of worship in themselves, but reminders for people to help them focus their minds as they pray. Think about the last time you looked at a photo of your children and said a loving, sincere prayer for their well-being. Perhaps you looked at a photo of a deceased loved one and uttered sincere words to God for their peace. You may even have requested the person himself to help you in your own difficulties. Is the photo the object of the prayer? Of course not. And neither are the statues and images Catholics may use to help them focus their minds as they pray.

The commandment, "Thou shalt not make graven images," refers to worshiping a material object or concept as if it had power unto itself, rather than the God Who created it.  This not only refers to statues of false "gods", but things that don't even seem to be objects of worship. Examples of  these are astrology, nature, Hollywood celebrities, money, excessive body-building and fitness, excessive "achievement" for its own sake leading to pride and arrogance, animals, the list goes on and on. While most of these things have their proper place and can be inherently good, the excessive pursuit is where the danger enters.

How many people criticize the repetitious prayers of the rosary, and yet regularly watch their favorite television show for empty-headed entertainment? Something to contemplate.

Pray the rosary for world peace while humbly meditating on its mysteries and you will see miracles happen!

LEGION OF MARY_ACIES@De La Salle

A throwback, copy paste to google: LEGION OF MARY_ACIES@De La Salle

The Filipino Soul in Borrowed Languages

A favorite issue, one that is in fact brewing currently in the internet among egroups of Filipinos claiming to be nationalists and purists, is the use of a foreign language in all schools in the Philippines. Should English be used as the medium of instruction? Apropos this, though not necessarily on this specific topic, is the question "Does one's nationalism diminish when one chooses a foreign language as his/her medium of writing?" Here's the intro from my old paper in linguistics ages ago: "The Filipino Soul in Borrowed Languages: An Exploration of the Language Issue as It Affects Some Selected Filipino Writers." 
The paper, being rather long, however, and I having other duties urgently calling, may just see print elsewhere.
________
 ......
In her article, "Issues in English Teaaching," Author Sue Brindley shows the Australian framework and curriculum statement for English as emphasizing the connections between language and identity.
...She points out that "learning a language is not simply a question of acquiring ever more complex linguistics skills. ...Children are necessarily aligning themselves with the language and culture of the school," and in the case of an alien tongue, the language and culture of the foreigner. Does this mean that learning a foreign language, and more, choosing to write in a foreign language causes one to lose something of his own cultural identity? Does the whole process of aligning oneself with the language and culture of native speakers of the second language cause one to eventually, and inevitably, acculturate to the point of totally assimilating?
This paper will explore some of the writings of selected outstanding Filipino writers who wrote either in English or Spanish to determine how their sense of nationalism has been affected..
 (Will continue later---have to attend a meeting.)

Facebook © 2014

 

Blanca Datuin added 2 new photos.

May 17 at 4:02pm ·

Ruel Nolledo graduating from UCLA in 1996, with a Chancellor's Award, Bachelor of Arts with majors in Psychology and English. An A-1 student from Prep School in San Beda (First Honors) to Ateneo Univ. High School (in his First Year Hi, fresh from elem., he garnered First Prizes in the Short Story, Poetry and Drama Lit. Competition and awarded Best Play Director); was a consistent honor student in academics and graduated with Leadership Award for Community Service). Back in the States, was consistently in the Dean's Honor List at Los Angeles Community College, recipient of full scholarship at UCLA. Today, he's at the prestigious USC for a master's degree. But don't let him know you read this because to him any achievement of his is no big deal. We never knew about these honors until the time of the awarding. Well, some children just hate being fussed over.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANAK!

A loving uncle, doting on his niece Monica and nephew Nicolo, circa 1992, I think. Sorry, Emilie, you were not born yet, so you're not in the picture.

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• Gene Datuin, Lia Natasha Nolledo, Percival R. Datuin and 15 others like this.
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  Cesar Polvorosa Jr. It's usually the parents who are the more excited

  May 17 at 4:12pm · Like
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  Blanca Datuin Yes, that's probably why he never tells us until the time of awarding. Not that it would have mattered much to us whether he gets an award or not. We just want our children to be educated. My other son, a Physics graduate, is just way beyond me. A walking encyclopedia, no less. And Melissa, talented artist (she just had another exhibit in Seattle). I feel like I've been left behind.

  May 17 at 4:25pm · Like · 2
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  Albert B. Casuga Bravo, Ruel. Congratulations, Blanca, for a tribe increasing in a manner they are meant to---to leave something behind to make this place a better place. And to you, Ding, wherever you are now roaming. @ The little one Ruel is cuddling is a spitting image of WDN. Ruel has your softer features. You got good gifts from the Stork, amiga.

  May 17 at 4:35pm · Edited · Like
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  Blanca Datuin Thanks, Albert. Ruel has now shaved head, ha, ha. Saves barbering expenses, says he.

  May 17 at 5:06pm · Like · 1
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  Cesar Polvorosa Jr. The children don't usually fully appreciate this until they themselves become parents and go through the experience. In the last family "event" we had to sweet talk the youngest to pause just long enough for a picture with the dad...

  May 17 at 5:07pm · Unlike · 2
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  Albert B. Casuga True, Ces. Ang youngest apo ko monopolizes me sa picture-taking. Nakakatuwa. Sila ba, or tayong mga Lolo at Lola na memento-crazy? Ang unico hijo ko naman ang hindi mahilig. (You're still around, Popsy, he says.) .

  May 17 at 5:11pm · Unlike · 2
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  Cesar Polvorosa Jr. In due time they understand and this strengthens the generational bonds.

  May 17 at 5:14pm · Unlike · 2
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  Amelia Datuin Baun-Hamdan You must really be proud of him, Auntie Blanca!! He got Datuin and Nolledo's genes.

  May 17 at 5:20pm · Like
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  Albert B. Casuga Blanca, they do grow up and they go away. But we always maintain the vinculum---heart strings reach far. @ I would like Mimi to take a photoart pic of Ruel's baldie.

  May 17 at 6:26pm · Unlike · 1
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  Blanca Datuin To Mel Datuin Baun-Hamdan: No more than I am proud of his brother and sisters, for their tenacity to grow as persons. You have to take your children as they are, and love them unconditionally, with or without achievements. Ruel and Orly, who live not too far from my house, are both so loving and thoughtful as sons. I'm grateful they haven't opted to live far from me.

  May 17 at 10:29pm · Edited · Like · 3

The Legion of Mary Annual Acies Ceremony

Sharing the solemnity of this beautiful Annual Consecration to the Blessed Mother Mary. Click on LEGION OF MARY_ACIES@De La Salle.

UPDATE of THROUGH THE YEARS

THROUGH THE YEARS:

Add caption

From the MEND Monthly Bulletin

Class under LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District), 2009

ESL Class, 2013, at Our Lady of Peace

Legion of Mary Acies Function, 2014

RE-POSTING FROM THE ARCHIVE  -

OVERCOMING THE DROUGHT

Almost two decades ago, on a cold December night, I drove to Los Angeles, telling my family I was just going to a meeting. In truth, I was going to receive an award from the Jose Rizal Memorial Organization in the U.S. for my essay, "Reaching for World Peace." It was a long drive and a courageous one at that, because I had to do the side streets since I had already stopped doing the freeway. Why the secrecy? I didn't think it should be fussed over. As my son Ruel would say of his own achievements, "No big deal."

I had kept my writing a secret as much as I could, so fearful was I of paling in comparison with my husband,  a mogul in writing even while still on campus where we both met. It would hurt him that I should even feel that way, for he so much would have been supportive. But that's just it--our being so close in affinity would endanger my sense of identity and freedom. As it was, even the title of one of the few stories I had written after marriage was already influenced by our common love for Dylan Thomas: Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

When Ding (as he was known by his close friends) first left for Iowa University on a grant in 1965, I escaped from my loneliness upon being left alone in the Philippines by writing a short story, Go Gentle into that Good Night, published in the Philippines' Weekly Nation Magazine and then winning its Short Story of the Month Contest. It was my maiden name I used and the chairman of the Board of Judges, National Artist N.V.M. Gonzales, thinking that was my married surname, referred to me in his write-up as Mrs. Datuin, having seen me heavy with child when I claimed payment for the published work. (In those times, single mothers were not in vogue, so if you're pregnant, you must be married and if you're married you must be carrying the last name of your husband. I chose to separate my writing identity.)

In his comment on the decision, N.V.M. Gonazales wrote: "The tone and delicate handling of Mrs. Datuin's material are most remarkable especially considering the requirements which her subject calls for. It is for this that her story will be memorable to many readers."

Meeting NVM face to face thirty-two years after, during a parangal party for him in North Hollywood as hosted by Linda Nietes of Casa Linda Bookstore, I introduced myself as an author of a short story he had voted for as Short Story of the Month. His first question was "Have you written since then?" When I answered no, his reaction was, "Why did you stop writing?" How could I explain to him the years of childbearing and child-rearing when my husband, family and earning a living came first and ahead of any creative functioning. Ideas would come out like flashes of lightning when you're in the middle of laundering, cooking, teaching and then you cannot sit down and germinate them. It's like aborting babies that you desperately want to give birth to. Actually, I had written and published two other stories after that: Light to Last (Philippines Free Press), Bury Me in Santo Domingo (Weekend Magazine), and a few magazine articles.

Indulging in art is a selfish occupation: you tend to neglect your mundane obligations, in fact, even your own self. My  husband had admitted to such as though a way of apologizing, which he didn't have to do, as I understood fully well the nature of his occupation. and his need to give that God-given talent to the outside world. I had seen him work clicky-clack on his Hermes typewriter till the wee hours of the morning, and all I could help him with was look after his health and serve tea and sympathy. Though I insisted he needed sleep, he couldn't resist that urge to put into writing those words and ideas that haunted him no end. When he had to submit his works for a literary competition, I took care of arranging the pages, putting them together with fasteners and stacking them in those big brown envelopes, making sure that the real name was in a separate sealed envelope. Authors' names were always anonymous. Receiving that long-awaited letter announcing his having won the competition was a welcome consolation for those long hours of writing.

But I digress too much. All I meant to do was share an excerpt from my essay, "Reaching for World Peace," which I would do for my next post.