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Dear Alex,
Aha! Thanks for the clarification. Just like your website at unicorne.org.

"Happy Easter" = "Maligayang Pasko ng Pagkabuhay"

There is quite a paradox in the Philippine language. The term "Pasko" is both used for Christmas and Easter and it came from the word "Pascha".

Blessings,
ruel

I don't think so. I suggest grab a book regarding the CBCP Jubilee talks at the National Bookstore (Cubao) and/or at the Powerbooks (SM Megamall). They have a part there regarding Eastern Catholicism and Orthodoxy. If you want it for free, just go to the Powerbooks and read it there (which I did and it spared me in buying that book) but you can also do that at the National Bookstore . Also, there have been a talk given by Greek Orthodox during the Jubilee Year at the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas.

ruel

Dear Eumz,
I do agree with Snoppy. I can relate what you are going through. I have been in the Youth Ministry of our parish (Barasoain Church) for almost 18 years. I started serving the parish at age 10 and later I became a youth adviser after I graduated from college. It was only this year that I "retired" due to work conflict and my vocation to Carmel. I think the Charismatic movement will not help. If you are 18 years old, why not think of entering Carmel. Carmel has "preserved" the Eastern traditions. I think there are 2 Lay Carmelite Communities there in Paranaque.

ruel

dear ruel,

i know that the Catholic church in the philippines recognizes this, the eastern dimesion of the faith, but to individaul priest who are not acquainted with the diversity of our Church (which are quite alot)... you know, i tried to open to some priest but their reaction was un-accepting.

i had an experience with the carmelite order because i had a feeling that God is leading me to that but it seems i interpreted it wrongly. but i love the carmelite way of life though i found its not for me... i'll stick with the Orthodox tradition in Communion with Rome.

being in the Charismatic for more than five years now has changed my life and my day-to-day has revolved with the people there so breaking away is kindda hard now especially in a year or two i'll be going to north america to work.

Alithos Anesti!

eumir

p.s. are you an orthodox or a carmelite?

My dear Filipino Orthodox-Catholic friends!

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Interesting point on the fact that "Pascha" in Tagalog also refers to Christmas.

In the Eastern Church, Christmas/Nativity of Christ is truly seen as the "Winter Pascha!"

(Perhaps the first missionaries to the Philippines were Orthodox after all - or Assyrians from Asia?)

The Carmelite tradition, to which I spiritually belong as well, is eminently an Eastern tradition!

Greek monks first lived on Mt. Carmel and were later partly supplanted by Latin monks, some of them escaped Crusaders.

The original Carmelite habits, with their brown and white stripes, were eminently Easter as well.

The famous prayer of St Simon Stock in Aylesford and the revelation he received occurred when the Latin Orders of England were about to eject the Hermits of Carmel out of their land on the grounds that the hermits were of the Eastern Church and therefore were trespassing in Latin territory . . .

The scapular, a medieval garment used for outdoor work, came to symbolize the Mantle of Protection, greatly venerated in the East (Feastday: October 1st).

The Carmelites had this as a form of the Polystavrion or Paraman, a garment made from the hide of an animal to signify deadness to the world (called an "Askeem" in Coptic).

Although following an eremitical way of life, the Rule of St Albert brought some "order" to it, later supplanted by the Augustinian Rule.

The fact remains that there is nothing preventing an Eastern Carmelite (and there are many in the Middle East, or so the Melkite Archbishop Raya once wrote in a letter to me) from following the Asketicon of St Basil or the Rules of Pachomius.

The icon of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel that is now in Naples (known as "Our Lady of Naples" or "La Bruna" the Brown Madonna) is a Byzantine Icon.

A miraculous copy of it is venerated as an Orthodox icon in the Ukrainian town of "Horodyschenske" known as "Our Lady of the Scapular" "Shkalirna Bozha Maty" - mentioned in the pre-Russian Revolution book on Orthodox Marian Icons by Prof. Poselyanin.

Alex

Dear Eumir:


Just a post script to your p.s. for elexeie:

You meant Orthodox with a cap "O", right?
Because if not, I think elexeie is as orthodox as any Catholic can be, elexeie having been an integral part of the Barasoain Church, that venerable Church of all Bulacan!

And may I ask: were you in any way a Protestant, or connected with any Protestant denomination, before you became Catholic?

Si Kristo ay namatay, si Kristo ay nabuhay, si Kristo ay muling babalik!

AmdG

Dear Alex:



Nobody has yet explained satisfactorily about this dilemma.

And your point that the Assyrians might have been in the Philippines first, because of the proximity of China and Mongolia, could be an interesting historical fact.

The frailes brought along by the Spanish conquistadores (well, Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese under the employ of Spain) would have said "Feliz Navidad!" for "Merry Christmas!", which would roughly be "Maligayang Kaarawan!" in Pilipino and not "Maligayang Pasko!"

BTW, "Pilipino" is the national language (by legislation) which is based mainly on "Tagalog," the largest linguistic family in the Philippines. The then lobbyists were perhaps successful in virtually excluding the other regional languages because Manila, the seat of government, was/is in the center of the Tagalog Region. Other large regional languages include Cebuano, Ilocano (mine), Bicolano, Pangasinense, Capampangan, and the Maranao/Tausug of Filipino Muslims. (There are hundreds, if not thousands, of dialects!)

Eumir could be a Cebuano, elexeie is, definitely, a Tagalog, and I am an Ilocano: all Filipinos.

AmdG

Dear Amado,

Well, Salama for that!

So is "Mabuhay ang Pilipinas" correct?

And Tagalog is NOT the official language, but Pilipina is! How fascinating!

Certainly, regional dialects help to enrich the national literary language.

My Ukrainian is basically influenced by the Galician dialect.

The same word, in some cases, can mean different things.

"Hostinets" for example, according to the Galician dialect is a "gift."

But in the national literary language, it refers to a city boulevard.

And yet, some linguists, like Ohienko, write that the Galician meaning for that word is more than likely the correct, historical one . . .

When the linguists come to an agreement, I hope they'll let us know.

Until then, Magandang Hapon!

Alex

Dear Alex:


Let me clarify further.

The country is, right, "Pilipinas."

The people are called interchangeably "Filipinos" or "Pilipinos." (But, amongst us, we identify ourselves based on the regional linguistic grouping.) A "Pilipina" or "Filipina" is, well, a female Filipino.

The official language is, again, interchangeably "Filipino" or "Pilipino."

English (which replaced Spanish by legislation) is, likewise, an official language courtesy of the American colonialists (as well as Protestantism) who defeated Spain at the turn of the 19th century.

Interestingly, English is the medium of instuction in higher institutions of learning, the language of commerce, the judiciary, Congress, etc.

Manila has probably more daily newspapers in English, outside of the U.S., than any other city in the world.

Say "Salamat" with a "T" to say thank you.


AmdG

Dear Amado,

You keep on teaching, and I'll "tagalog" with you!

Salamat!

Alex

Alex:

"Walang anuman!" You are welcome or, literally, I think, don't mention it.

"I'll 'tagalog' with you" is a neat repartee.


AmdG

Dear Armando,

in any way, i have not been associated with any protestant group/denomination. my family is a devoted Catholic Christian of Bicol with our patroness Nuestra Se�ora de Pe�afrancia. with only a few relatives who went with born-agains and mormons, but in general we are traditional Catholics.

by the way, i'm a bicolano with our town sub-dialect "Libonganon" this is in Libon,Albay (from our home there you could see clearly the Mayon Vocalno especial with its occational erruptions).

Could it be that before the Spiniards arrived there was thriving Christian community in the northern Luzon, with the Assyrian traditions...

Pinupuri ka namin Panginoon HesuKristo!
All Praise to our Lord Jesus Christ!

Christos Anesti!
eumir

Daer Alex,

i'm so really glad that you developed an interest in our Filipino language. Maligayang-maligaya ako! (I'm very happy)

Thanks for that info about the beginings of the Carmelite. i have only one question to that, is it the O.Carm or O.C.D. that has sticked with their eastern traditions?

i remembered a short presentation of the building of an Eastern Catholic Carmelite Community of Nuns in EWTN. this community (i dont know where exactly in north america) tell their beginings and a portion when the bless the corner stone by an eastern catholic bishop.

that was very inspiring to watch!

Luwalhati sa Ama, sa Anak at sa Espirito Santo!
Glory to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit!

God bless,
eumir

Dear Eumir:


Pardon me for "doubting" your Catholicity. Sometimes, Protestant gatherings pop up in my mind upon hearing about "charismatic" renewal.

At least, I did not wrongly accused you of being a member of the "Iglesia Ni Kristo!"

Add my incorrect guess when we first encountered that your "handle" conjured up a Muslim from Mindanao.

I've been out of the country for so long that my perception must have been dulled by American "inculturation."

It's a pleasant surprise that you are from Bicol, from that beautiful province of Albay. I was there in 1978 (I'm that old) campaigning for my then Boss (Luis Villafuerte from Naga) for the National Assembly, which he topped for the entire region.

I took some extra time off to visit and marvel at Mayon Volcano, the most perfect cone in the world, bar none.

BTW, my wife's family (on her mother's side) come from Legazpi, Albay.

Again, please forgive me for my indiscretions.

"Namomoot ako sa imo!" (Did I say it correctly?)

AmdG

Dear Amado,

What are some of your famous Marian shrines?

Alex