Kiu Pat Long Shiao Taoist Temple

After many years of wondering I was able to see this place up close when a friend of mine invited me to look around. Weirdly enough we were told that the place is closing down and is giving away stuff. I felt sad also somewhat excited for the adventure.

The Taoist temple is just a short ride from Baclaran. It is located in an area called Don Galo, Paranaque.

Visita Iglesia and a wonderful Holy Week vacation (Day 3)

Yesterday we had our breakfast served at the room. This time we take it at the restrant downstairs. The restaurant that serves the hotel and nearby areas is called Mei Wei Chinese Kitchen. It serves good food at good prices. It has food for all kidns of budget and you don't need to worry about the taste. It is good and served by well trained staff.

Visita Iglesia and a wonderful Holy Week vacation (Day 2)

I had a good rest last night. The room is sufficient for a person who just wants to stay locked away from the world. Just like a hermit. You have cable TV and a good internet connection. Just my ideal place maybe if I get too stressed from work.

I was even able to do some knitting during my stay. Hahaha

Visita Iglesia and a wonderful Holy Week vacation (Day 1)

It's Holy Thursday and EDSA has a massive traffic because of another road repair on the south bound lane of EDSA somewhere along the Pasay Area. This is another suffering brought to us by the government. They must be in need of another way to earn more money.

Anyways, I arrived earlier and I just wondered the area of the Baclaran Church. The Church is properly known as the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. This is a melting pot on places and of people. There are always people in this area.

I have noticed that jejemons or annoying people are less frequent in the morning. They usually come out at night like evil creatures. My visita iglesia started out well this year.

Casa Santa for your daily dose of Christmas!

The Philippines is one country that is crazy about Christmas. It is often said that the longest celebration happens in this mostly Catholic country. 

So if you are already excited about Christmas then you should head to Jardin de Miramar. Inside is where you an experience Christmas in a house called Casa Santa. 

The outside looks like a ginger bread house, something again associated with the holiday There are Santa's already on the outside with pine cones hanging from the ceiling. 

Once you go in, you will marvel at the scale of the collection. Everything you see is Santa. In all shapes and sizes. Truly amazing!

Dear believer -Why do you believe (with transcript)

Dear Believer,

Have you ever stopped to consider why you believe what you believe?

Have you ever thought about why you chose the religion you chose?

Why do you believe in Jesus Christ as the only means to eternal salvation, and not in karma or reincarnation?

Why do you believe that Allah is the one true god and Mohammed is his prophet, and not in the four noble truths of the Buddha?

Why do you hold to the Torah as the only revealed word of God and not the Bhagavad Gita?

Dear Believer,

Do you ever wonder why your heaven resembles a utopian Earth and is composed of the same base elements found right here on this planet?

Do you ever wonder why your deity governs within a power structure that resembles that of the specific time and place in which your holy text was written?

Do you ever wonder why your god looks just like you, or the animals with whom you share the planet?

Dear Believer,

Is the faith you practice the dominant one within your culture?

Do you not find it at least a little suspicious that the overwhelming majority of all religious believers adopt the religion of the society into which they were born, yet remain convinced they’ve lucked out (or been divinely admitted) into the one, true faith?

Does it not make you at least somewhat apprehensive that almost every person of faith chooses belief not because of its virtues, supporting evidence, moral codes or expression of worship, but rather because it was what they were born into?

Why, out of the abundance of faith choices available, does almost every believer on the planet choose the faith that’s within arm’s reach?

Are you a Christian because you were born in America or Europe, a Muslim because you were born in Saudi Arabia or Indonesia, a Buddhist because you were born in Japan or China, a Hindu because you were born in India?

Can it be that faith is, in almost every case, just an accident of geography?

Do you sincerely believe that had you been born in another country, you’d undoubtedly still be practicing the same faith you now embrace?

Dear Believer,

Is the faith you practice that of your parents and their parents before them?

Is it the first to which you were exposed?

Did you know that nearly all religious devotees end up believing what they were taught to believe by their parents?

Why is it that we scoff at the idea of labeling a young person a Republican Child or a Marxist Child or a Keynesian Child, understanding he or she lacks the intellectual discrimination, life experience and wisdom to make such a complicated and nuanced decision, but do not raise so much as an eyebrow when a youngster is referred to as a Christian Child, surely a choice no less complex?

Could it be that there’s no such thing as a Muslim Child, just a child of Muslim parents?

Dear Believer,

You are supremely confident in your faith.

You KNOW it is the right one and all others wrong.

You are literally willing to bet your eternal soul on that fact.

And yet, have you ever stopped to consider that there are two-dozen major religions and literally thousands of different faiths practiced on this planet?

Did you know that within Christianity alone, there are more than 45,000 different denominations, each claiming to understand ultimate truth better than the others?

Do you realize that each member of every faith practiced is just as devout, just as sincere, and their conviction every bit as sure as yours?

Did you know they too read infallible holy texts, have air-tight apologetics, have experienced miracles, feel god’s presence, sense his still small voice, obediently follow his perfect will for their lives, love him indescribably, and can defend their belief with the same fervency as you do yours?

And yet, since every religion is mutually exclusive and contradicts the other in matters both large and small, they cannot all be right…right?

You know—you just KNOW—your faith is the exception—and yet, if every member of every faith feels as you do, what are the odds that you’re right?

Dear Believer,

I’ve often been told that my unbelief is a guarantee of missing out on heaven an ending up in hell.

But whose heaven?

Whose hell?

I’ve often been told that I should, just to be safe, accept god—after all, what have I to lose?

But whose god?

Given so many options, aren’t I more likely to chose incorrectly?

Might not I be better off wagering on no god rather than on the wrong god?

You put it to me, “What if you’re wrong?” But what if you’re wrong?

What if, rather than Jehovah, Allah is the one true God? Or Shiva? Or Wooten? Or some god you’ve never even heard of?

The truth is, you already know what it’s like to be an atheist in regard to every other faith but your own.

It’s clear to you that adherents to other faiths are mistaken, deluded or deceived.

But they think the same of you.

The way you view them is exactly the way they view you.

Every devout Hindu has embraced his faith for the exact same reasons you have embraced yours, yet you do not find his reasons compelling, nor do you lose sleep at night fearing that if you die you’ll wake up in his hell.

Given this, is it so hard to see why some of us just take our atheism one god further?

Dear Believer,

I wonder if religions just aren’t ancient constructs in which early humans attempted to both explain and control the chaotic world around them.

Though irrational in content, their emergence certainly isn’t.

We do not blame our ancestors for inventing religion.

There is no shame in stumbling when you are blind, or failing to properly construct a puzzle in the dark.

But we no longer live in the dark.

Science is ablaze in our world and illuminates our way, dissipating shadows and exposing even the deepest of crevices.

We no longer live in the cave.

We have crossed the valley, scaled the mountains and have begun to make out the magnificent vista on the other side.

We no longer require comforting stories to make us feel safe or valued.

Is it not time that our beliefs match our discoveries?

Is it not time that our ideas reflect our new perspective?

There is equal, if not greater, awe in reality than there is in fantasy.

Perhaps it is time to stop telling ourselves that we are the reason the universe was made;that our culture is somehow better than other cultures; that our tribe was chose over all other tribes.

It is time to learn how the universe really is, even if that deflates our conceits, wounds our pride, humbles our point of view, and forces us to admit that we do not have all the answers.

Believer, if you honestly value the truth above all things—as you claim—as I truly know you do—you must confront these fundamental questions.

Far better, Carl Sagan said, to embrace a hard truth, than a reassuring fable.

36th Manila International Bookfair

It's that time of the year again for me to buy postcards and to drool at nice books. It is always good to go early on such big events. There are less people still and there are no fucking annoying stupid cosplayers. Yes, I fucking hate cosplayers.

Entrance fee for the MIBF is just Php 20.00

There are rows and shelves of books everywhere. There are textbooks, technical books, tons of religious books and even hobby books.

INC protests at EDSA Shaw

The Bible says the following

1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. 6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority. (Romans 13:1-7

As I was about to go out of work news breakout to us that the fucking INC people have blocked EDSA. At first it was quite hard to get pictures because I just came out of the freezer and my camera started to thaw in the tropical weather.

As we approached EDSA crowds started to grow in number. Some have occupied streets and places. I have seen members eating Jolibee. This fuck is organized shit.

FREE One-time talk by Japanese Buddhist Lecturer

It will be rare chance to meet one Buddhist Master from Japan this month. Join us as we learn about the Buddhist teachings.

This is a FREE event.

-A ONE-TIME talk by a Japanese Buddhist Master-

"Life is a Lonely Journey"

Shakyamuni Buddha taught about the reality of mankind and the purpose of life through the parable of this image. We are all lonely travelers on a journey called life, he said. The solution to true happiness is revealed in Buddhism.
Where: 7th floor Conference Room
             The Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences
             119 L.P. Leviste Street, Salcedo Village,
             Makati City, Philippines

When: August 30, 2015
           2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

RSVP Facebook event page

Dharma services at the Mabuhay Temple (Philippines) - June 28, 2015

The Mabuhay Temple has posted their English Dharma service this coming June 28, 2015 and other dates as well. Yes the whole service will be conducted in English and is welcome for everyone interested with Buddhism.

English Dharma Service at the Mabuhay Temple in Manila. 

Admission to this event is free and it is open to the public. Registration starts at 8:30 am.

We hope to see all of you. Omituofo.

Mabuhay Temple

656 Ocampo St, Manila, Metro Manila

(02) 523 4909

FREE Entrance at the Philippine National Museum for the whole Month of May 2015

The National Museum of the Philippines goes FREE for this month of May 2015 in celebration of National Heritage Month.

You can visit the two Museums for FREE and its waiving its normal free of Php 150.00. That is a lot of savings and at the same time you learn more and be closer to the once rich Philippine culture that has obviously decayed.

See the great Masters of painting, architecture, sculpture and their works on display and marvel how Manila was and what we can do to save it from our jejemon culture, capitalistic mindset of throw away this and that, and the idea that art is for the rich alone.

So instead of wasting your money and time at the mall. Just go to the National Museum and update yourself with so much culture and beauty. BTW the two Museums are fully air-conditioned.

The National Museum of the Philippines
Tuesday-Sunday, 11am-5pm.

P. Burgos Street, Ermita, Manila. 

+63 2 5271215.

Visita Iglesia 2015

So what is the best way to do on a Thursday morning? Hit the road by myself and not join any of those tours led by heritage people. Sometimes they really get on my nerves.

Anyways, I took the jeep going to Malate Church. My first stop. Everything I have in mind was quite random.

Walk with Chan Chinese New Year Tour (Part 2)

Now we are stuffed with food from Ramada hotel we go to the next part of the tour.

We head for the San Nicholas district.

At the Plaza we meet the on going street parade. There are dragons, establishments and lions. It's true Chinese New Year in Binondo is still about business.

Walk with Chan Chinese New Year Tour (Part 1)

It's the Year of the Ram or the Goat. Whatever you like. China town once again is alive with superstition and culture. There are lots of reds and mythical creatures.

There is also food and things to see.

I was early at the meeting place - Sta. Cruz Church. Many people have already gathered because I have seen many people also use this area as a meeting place for the Chinese New Year.

This is the only Church that I have seen that allows dogs to go up the altar. That is just cute and at the same time interesting. I know there are protocols that allow them not.

The Church is covered in red and Chinese decorations despite that it was Ash Wednesday yesterday. The community was allowed by the Church to use red for the Churches in the area instead of purple.

SM Manila exhibit on the Churches of Intramuros

History leaves us just two Churches in Intramuros, another one being reconstructed to be an ecclesiastical museum.

Here are some of the models that was displayed at the mall.

Rizal Park gets ready for the big Papal mass

With the many barricades around Quirino Grandstand, the place is still being checked for the sounds and many other things this Sunday, January 11, 2015. The mass will be at Sunday, January 18, 2015 to be attended by more than 5 million people.

They were testing that night the sounds and still making up more stuff here and there specially the stage.

The Buddhist Parable on the True Nature of Man

Parables are quite common in Christianity because Jesus always uses them to teach. But parables are also utilized in Buddhism as a way to teach deeper learning. I find this parable interesting with its shortness and vivid images of dragons and things. And the way color is used as an attribute of a character in the story.

I encourage you to listen and learn.

This is the parable on the true nature of man

The APO Heritage Postal Tour goes to the Grand Marian Parade

It was a good day and despite the warnings in the sky of dark clouds I made myself go to the tour. I made my way past the deteriorating Metropolitan Theater then under the over pass that runs in fron of the Liwasang Bonifacio.

These dogs have their home here with their furr-parents. But that is not the goal of today.

Philpost has put up their seasonal greetings once more.

Then I saw this cat one more while the rest of the guys stated to talk about the architectural importance and built of the Post Office.

Since we have a small crowd I decided to sneak them to the open court yard at the 3rd floor. I know its not allowed but the try is worth it. Then there are the lock boxes or PO boxes and they are still for rent.

We crossed the street going to the National Press Club.

I pestered some cats and took shots of them.

We then paid a visit to the statue of Queen Isabella II of Spain.

Even at this point there are many buses and even the military is here for Mary and her procession.

People are like from everywhere. And this is going to be a big parade.

People were every where, even crept up to the monuments of Plaza Mexico, the once place of the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade.