12 Days of Christmas

Christmas is here! 

I think we are all familiar with the Christmas song, “12 Days of Christmas, ayt?  Especially for the Catholics, the song was frequently sung in the church during Christmas season over the years.. But does everybody know what the real meaning of this song? We may think that it is just an ordinary phrase with a list of strange gifts, repetitious melody and a nonsense verse set to music but essentially, it has a quite serious intention when it was written. 

CATHOLIC WAS A CRIME!

During the period 1558 to 1829, Parliament emancipated Catholics in England where Catholics were prohibited from practicing their faith whether in private or public (by-law). Anyone caught indicating adherence to the Catholic faith could not only get imprisoned, it could also get you hanged, shortened by head, drawn and quartered or a very ghastly punishment.

Hanging, drawing and quartering involved hanging a person by the neck until they had almost, but not quite, suffocated to death; then the party was taken down from the gallows, and eviscerate while still alive; and while the entrails were still lying on the street, where the executioners stomped all over them, the victim was tied to four large farm horses, and literally torn into five parts - one to each limb and the remaining torso.

( http://www.byrum.org/misc/christmas/origin.html)

"The Twelve Days of Christmas" was written in England as one of the "catechism songs". Since, Catholic faith was a transgression, the author inscribe his faith through a very strange yet symbolic gift to help young Catholics learn the tenets of their faith.

 

Religious symbolism of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”. 

On the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on December 25, the first day of Christmas. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge that feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, recalling the expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered you under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but you would not have it so . . . ." (Luke 13:34)

On the 2nd day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Two Turtle Doves

The Old and New Testaments, which together bear witness to God's self-revelation in history and the creation of a people to tell the Story of God to the world.

On the 3rd day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Three French Hens

The Three Theological Virtues:  1) Faith, 2) Hope, and 3) Love (1 Corinthians 13:13)

On the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Four Calling Birds

The Four Gospels: 1) Matthew, 2) Mark, 3) Luke, and 4) John, which proclaim the Good News of God's reconciliation of the world to Himself in Jesus Christ.

On the 5th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Five Gold Rings

The first Five Books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or the Pentateuch:  1) Genesis, 2) Exodus, 3) Leviticus, 4) Numbers, and 5) Deuteronomy, which gives the history of humanity's sinful failure and God's response of grace in the creation of a people to be a light to the world.

On the 6th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Six Geese A-laying

The six days of creation that confesses God as Creator and Sustainer of the world (Genesis 1).

On the 7th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Seven Swans A-swimming

The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1) prophecy, 2) ministry, 3) teaching, 4) exhortation, 5) giving, 6) leading, and 7) compassion (Romans 12:6-8; cf. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11)

On the 8th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Eight Maids A-milking

The eight Beatitudes: 1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, 2) those who mourn, 3) the meek, 4) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 5) the merciful, 6) the pure in heart, 7) the peacemakers, 8) those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. (Matthew 5:3-10)

On the 9th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Nine Ladies Dancing

The nine Fruit of the Holy Spirit: 1) love, 2) joy, 3) peace, 4) patience, 5) kindness,
6) generosity, 7) faithfulness, 8) gentleness, and 9) self-control.  (Galatians 5:22)

On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Ten Lords A-leaping

The ten commandments: 1) You shall have no other gods before me; 2) Do not make an idol; 3) Do not take God's name in vain; 4) Remember the Sabbath Day; 5) Honor your father and mother; 6) Do not murder; 7) Do not commit adultery; 8) Do not steal; 9) Do not bear false witness; 10) Do not covet. (Exodus 20:1-17)

On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Eleven Pipers Piping

The eleven Faithful Apostles: 1) Simon Peter, 2) Andrew, 3) James, 4) John, 5) Philip, 6) Bartholomew, 7) Matthew, 8) Thomas, 9) James bar Alphaeus, 10) Simon the Zealot, 11) Judas bar James.  (Luke 6:14-16).  The list does not include the twelfth disciple, Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus to the religious leaders and the Romans.

On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Twelve Drummers Drumming

The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles' Creed: 1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 3) He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. 4) He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell [the grave]. 5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 6) He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 8) the holy catholic Church, 9) the communion of saints, 10) the forgiveness of sins, 11) the resurrection of the body, 12) and life everlasting.

 Source: http://www.crivoice.org/cy12days.html

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Bulua Tropical Pool

Nov 20, 2011(Sunday) – For almost a year being with the SFC pips, it was my first time to bond together in a fellowship (they had couple of activities though). I was not supposed to join cos I was a lil depleted and thought of resting instead, but my DGL (Stela) shown up at home so I settled on and go along with them.

The Unit 1- SFC Nazareno’s fellowship took place at Tropical Pool, Bulua Cagayan de Oro City. We really had fun eating, playing, swimming together and most of all - the inexhaustible and never ending “picture taking” 

Here are some of the pics:

Unit 1 SFC - Nazareno Members

I dunno what we're playing but it's kinda like "recognizing positive traits" - by ems macas

 Oh! I dunno what we're looking at - "murag naay gwapo"

 The pool and the nymphs? :D

The Disney inspired Spot?

The nymphs getting out of their habitat? or tree models? Whatever!

I have a lot of photos to share but I'd still need to gather 'em from the cam's owner. 

To SFC: Thank you guys and I really enjoyed being with you! 

It was really worth my time :) Love you all ;)

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What is a friend?

What is a friend? Ill tell you

It is a person with whom you are to be

yourself –Your soul can go naked with him

He seems to ask you to put on nothing

Appreciating you for who you truthfully are

When you are with him, you do not have to be

on your guard .You can say what you think

So long as it is genuinely you

He understands the contradictions in your

nature which cause others to

misjudge you. With him you breathe freely….

You can profess your little vanities,

Envies and absurdities –and in opening

Them up to him, they are vanished

Onto the white ocean of his loyalty

He understands. You can weep with him,

laugh with him, pray with him

through it all, he sees, knows and loves you

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"FATHER"

Standing tall and strong, he is my hero.
Placing my small hands into his,
feeling nothing could beat us.
Smiling up at him,
Looking into my Daddy's eyes.

He can do anything, for he is so brave.
He knows how to make me laugh
when I feel sad.
There is nothing better than
Looking into my Daddy's eyes.

I love when he dances with me,
standing on his toes,
we move around the room
While looking up
into my Daddy's eyes.

He makes me feel big and grown,
taking his hands, knowing
nothing can hurt my Daddy and me.
When I am afraid, all I have to do
Is look into my Daddy's eyes.

Many years have come and gone,
no longer that little child,
still I look forward to taking
my Daddy's hands
and looking into his eyes.

Seeing in his eyes,
forever I'll be
Daddy's little girl.

 

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Love and Time

Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all of the others, including Love. One day it was announced to the feelings that the island would sink, so all constructed boats and left. Except for Love.

Love was the only one who stayed. Love wanted to hold out until the last possible moment.

When the island had almost sunk, Love decided to ask for help.

Richness was passing by Love in a grand boat. Love said,
"Richness, can you take me with you?"
Richness answered, "No, I can't. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place here for you."

Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel. "Vanity, please help me!"
"I can't help you, Love. You are all wet and might damage my boat," Vanity answered.

Sadness was close by so Love asked, "Sadness, let me go with you."
"Oh . . . Love, I am so sad that I need to be by myself!"

Happiness passed by Love, too, but she was so happy that she did not even hear when Love called her.

Suddenly, there was a voice, "Come, Love, I will take you." It was an elder. So blessed and overjoyed, Love even forgot to ask the elder where they were going. When they arrived at dry land, the elder went her own way. Realizing how much was owed the elder,

Love asked Knowledge, another elder, "Who Helped me?"
"It was Time," Knowledge answered.
"Time?" asked Love. "But why did Time help me?"

Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and answered,

"Because only Time is capable of understanding how valuable Love is."

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United Nation Assembly

Mind- numbing and so irksome day at home, so I'm looking for something fun to do. To my dismay, I found nothing so interesting. With a choice no more, I stumble on my laptop again. I should have been out of this mode “internet, screens and all that” since its Sunday – “My eye’s rest day”.

 Anyway, look what I got – I trip up on pictures again and all of a sudden I felt like posting some of my old stuffs -- so I end up blogging. 

I set back on my earlier days in Sticky Media – all the events, lakwatsa and everything that came to pass. 

Lemme start with the first assembly that ever grace with my presence – The “UNITED NATIONS General Assembly”.  The assembly took place 1 O’clock in the afternoon at Pearlmont Inn, October ’09.

 

It was my batch’s first time so we were super excited… We even pay out a lot of money for this event (Costume, hair and make-up, transpo, etc). We went to the venue together (11 of us) with supeeeer vongga costume and a veeerry very  “grand entrance” – lingi gud tanan kay na "LATE" man.. heheheh

Ms Karen introduced us (the newbies)

 

With our CEO - Mr. Gus Rodano

With Ms Ryla Lim - GearySEO Supervisor

Candidates kunuhay mi ^_^

International Leader's discussion

Performing "Nobody, nobody but YOU"
See the ROYAL MOVES :D

We came late yet we do have a fun-filled day with SMSI ..  

Thanks for welcoming all of us to the SMSI Family!

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Real Ghost Captured

Friday noon, my siblings make fun of taking pictures at home when we surprisingly captured a “strange creature”.   It was nothing at first but as we scanned through the other shots, we noticed that the creature was shockingly present. My siblings were stunned knowing who they with and I on the other hand, was in awe doubting of its existent.

 Until, we conclusively make out a “bride-like” creature wearing a vintage “traje de boda” (early 80’s, I guess).   

Here were some of the shots..

My siblings - Dondon and Darling

Take a closer look on this - WEIRD , isn't it?

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