Blessed Assurance!

Jesus lives! This is the day the Lord has made!

Today’s Homily centers on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It assures us that God has accepted Christ’s sacrifice for our sins; it assures us that there is life after death; and it assures us that Christ is with us in the present and in the eternity future.

 

As we celebrate Easter Sunday, let us sing together Bill Gaither’s Because He Lives:

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!

Now, let us sing Fanny Crosby’s Blessed Assurance:

Note: Blessed Assurance is one of my favorite hymns written by blind hymnist and Queen of Gospel Song Writers Fanny Crosby. It has touched my heart since my childhood days and even until now I hum this whenever I remember with my heart at peace. Indeed, God has given us a blessed assurance through Christ. 

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long...

Perfect submission, perfect delight!
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest!
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Let’s move on to the old Jerusalem, the birthplace of Easter!

Note: On this page are pictures at the village of the Compassionate God in Barangay Fatima, Inabanga town.

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The Holy Week started with the celebration of the Palm Sunday to commemorate Christ’s passion and death by marking His triumphant entry to Jerusalem.

Several important events for the Christian faith were the Last Supper, the washing of the disciples’ feet, Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, the kiss of Judas, the Calvary, the death of Christ, Deposition and the Burial and Resurrection.

Inside the St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral in Tagbilaran City, a giant scaffolding rose right before the church’s interior.  It has reached to the ceiling of the dome which is being painted.

The painting is expected to finish on or before May 1, the city’s fiesta, church officials said.

The St. Joseph Cathedral the Worker Cathedral is one of the parishes founded by the Jesuit missionaries in 1595.

Although the bamboo scaffolding might be distracting during a worship service, it didn’t hinder hundreds of Boholano Catholics to attend Palm Sunday o Bendita sa Lukay.

Many brought palm fronds to church and re-enacted Christ’s entry to Jerusalem, waving the leaves at the priest as he made the entrance procession to the altar before the start of the Mass.

Bringing palm fronds, Florencia Dacaldacal, 72, was able to attend the 9 a.m. holy Mass officiated by Tagbilaran Bishop Leonardo Medroso of the Diocese of Tagbilaran.

In his Homily, Bishop Medroso reminded the Boholanos  to reflect on the sacrifices of Christ for our salvation and carry the cross of Christ.  He also reminded the people that Christ is the only hope amidst trials and failures in life.

“This Holy Week, we should be like Jesus. We should follow His cross. The Holy Week is also a perfect opportunity for us to be reunited with the Church,” said Bishop Medroso in local dialect.

After the Mass, the faithful waved their palm fronds as the priest blessed them with holy water.  In Catholic belief, the waving of palms symbolizes the discipleship and a sign of the faithful’s desire to follow Christ.

Outside the church, several vendors were selling palm fronds since Saturday night. They sold palm fronds at P10, P20, P30 and P100.

For cotton candy maker Vic Maamo, 64, Palm Sunday was an opportunity to earn a living.

He said he ordered 50 bonds of lukay (young coconut leaves) from Catigbian town, at least 33 km from Tagbilaran. He bought it for P25 per bond.

Maamo said he could earn as much as P5,000 in a day compared to selling cotton candy which earn him only P1,000 on Saturdays and Sundays in front of the church.

“God’s mercy helps my family. We can buy rice and viand. And there is a little left for us to buy clothes for the kids,” he said.

After the Mass, the churchgoers returned home and hanged their blessed palm fronds on their front doors or windows as a sign of welcoming Christ in their homes.

But Dacaldacal believes that hanging the palms can also ward off evil.

“It has power because it was blessed by a priest,” she said.

Other faithful observed that while the St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral has an ongoing painting, the Holy Week was also a perfect time to repainting the Christian faith. 

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.

#VRSHugotPaMore on Valentine's Day

Wake-uppers:

Seen: Spotted in Bohol last week was veteran broadcast journalist Jessica Soho.

Scene: The 60th birthday celebration of Junibe Froilan, Sr.

Scene: Tagbilaran City Comelec Officer lawyer Ariel Selma attended the weeklong Executive Training for Trainors for the Vote Count Machines (VCM) in preparation for the May 2016 elections.  Selma was with provincial election supervisor lawyer Eliseo Labaria, Dauis election officer Oliver Chatto Glovasa and Comelec Bohol CVL Technician Rojene Tabanera.

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Do you dread Valentine's Day? Chill out. Here are 10 things to do this February 14th.

1. Hit the beach for sun, sea and sand! Bohol just abounds with gorgeous beaches from north to south, east to west. So, your heart has many choices to wanderlust. 

2. Fill up some of your community service hours. Do some charity works. Spend time with the less fortunate, give love during summer. Share your blessings. (Check the Gov. Celestino Gallares Regional Hospital, Sunshine Home  and Holy Trinity Orphanage Home in Albur town). Visit the Philippine National Red Cross-Bohol chapter if you want to give the safest blood possible to save life.)

3. Play (again and again!) your CDs of old, familiar love songs like Taylor Swift's "Love Story," The Supreme's "Baby Love," Minnie Riperton's "Lovin' You," The Righteous Brother's "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," Madonna's "Justify My Love," Celine Dion's "The Power of Love," Whitney Houston's "Greatest Love of All," and Foreigner's "I Want to Know What Love Is."

TURN YOURSELF confidently beautiful with a heart 

at the Touch of April by Bohol’s first cosmetic surgeon 

Dr. April Lumuthang-Froilan. Leo Udtohan/Chronicle

4. Set a Facebook, Instagram and Twitter day to look for old friends and classmates. Send them personal messages.

5. See Bohol's cosmetic surgeon Dr. April Lumuthang-Froilan of Touch of April General and Cosmetic SurgiCenter (Bohol Medical Center Institute, Dao District, Tagbilaran City; Contact numbers: 09324146871/09283687041) and face the world confidently with a beautiful heart! Doc April’s Touch of April surgicenter offers noselift (rhinoplasty), nosetrim (alarplasty), eyebag removal (lower blepharoplasty),  slit eye ( upper blepharoplasty), cleft chin creation, dimple creation, buttocks augmentation, vaginal repair (vaginoplasty), virginity restoration (hymenoplasty), penile enlargement/lengthening, ear reconstruction (otoplasty), breast augmentation, liposuction, tummy tuck, lip reduction, chin augmentation, warts/mole and keloid removal, botox injection and glutathione injection.

6. Have a food trip at Gustus Reto (M. Torralba Street, Tagbilaran City), Dong Juan (M. Parras cor G. Visarra Street, Tagbilaran City),  Mosia Cupcakes and Cookie Shop (V. Inting Avenue,  Tagbilaran City), Peacock Garden (Baclayon), Swiss Garden Restaurant (Alona Beach, Panglao), Miravilla Resort (Booy, Tagbilaran City), Time Out Resto Bar (BQ Mall), Walk Express (BQ Mall), Gerry's Grill (BQ Mall), Mang Inasal (Gallares, Street, Tagbilaran City), STK (Graham Avenue, Tagbilaran City), Prawn Farm (ICM), Chicken Ati-Atihan (Putong Street, Tagbilaran City), Bohol Bee Farm (Dao, Dauis),  The Buzzz Cafe (Island City Mall, Luisa Galleria and Alona Beach), Rai-Rai Ken (ICM), Payag (CPG Avenue, Tagbilaran City), Cuisina ni Tisay (Chap Complex in Carmen), Linaw Beach Resort Pearl Restaurant (Panglao), Lohob – Tagbilaran Bohol Bar and Restaurant (V.P. Inting St. formerly Burgos in front of Tire Queen Servitek near the Tagbilaran Cathedral), Giuseppe Pizzeria and Sicilian Roast Italian Restaurant (Alona Beach, Panglao), Oops Bar (Alona Beach, Panglao), JJ's Seafood Village (Tagbilaran City),Cion Virge Café and Restaurant (Airport Road, Tagbilaran City), Trudis Place (Alona Beach, Panglao), Garden Café (Tagbilaran City near St. Joseph Cathedral), Persona Mesa  (J.A. Clarin Street, Tagbilaran City), Tarsier Botanika (Tawala, Panglao), Black Forest Hut Restaurant (V.P. Inting Avenue, Tagbilaran City),  Aioli Cafe and Restaurant (717 CG Avenue,  Booy District, Tagbilaran City),  Shiang Ma Nou (j. Borja Street cor C. Gallares Street, Tagbilaran City),  Heritage Crab House Seafood Restaurant (V.P. Inting Street, Mansasa Seaside, Tagbilaran City), Chocoreich (H. Grupo Street, Tagbilaran City) and Frankies (UGF, Island City Mall and Rajah Sikatuna Ave, Dao, Tagbilaran City)

...and have a fill of Boholano bread and pastries at Central Bakery for pan de sal and binangkal, Jojie's Bakeshop's sliced bread, torta, cay-cay, otap; BQ Bread Basket's farmers bread, French bread and bahug-bahug (colored bread); Alturas/Island City Mall Bread Cottage's Spanish bread; Ramirez Cakes and Pastries' cakes; Shopper's Mart's torta; Jojie's Painitang Bol-anon, Pasonangka's special siopao, Empanada Alma's empanada, Park 'n Go's caramel bread, Sunny Angel's Peanut Nuggets, Osang's broa, Tessie Pagdato's broa; and Bohol Bee Farm's camote bread, squash and carrot muffins.

LOVEBIRDS at the K of C Promenade in Tagbilaran City.

 As they watch the romantic sunset, they are reminded that the

 first stab of love is like a sunset, a blaze of color -- oranges, 

pearly pinks, vibrant purples. Leo Udtohan/Chronicle

7. Go on a nature hike, backpacking/camping trip. Don't forget to bring a camera. Have a date at Plaza Rizal, it’s free. If you want to see a romantic sunset, visit K of C and just pay P2 for the entrance!

8. Have a make-over! Change your hair and make-up. Find the perfect dress! Call Tracy Torres Remolador, Jojo and Bebei Tagoctoc, Charlow Arbasto, Jonathan Ucat, Ramil Dolauta, Donna Vitos, Rolly Ingking and Ryan Sines. For the latest collections, see EJ Relampagos, Henry Baron, Omie Auza and Maximiel.

9. Go outside and find different kinds of flowers. Look for the red rose if you can.

10.  Watch the sunrise and sunset.  The sun coming up every day is a love story, while the first stab of love is like a sunset, a blaze of color -- oranges, pearly pinks, vibrant purples.

And while we are it, VRS is celebrating Valentine’s Day with #VRSHugotPaMore, the busiest word online.

“Hugot” is a Filipino word that means “to draw or pull out.” #Hugotlines are sentiments drawn from both the sweet and bitter experiences of love.

Add sugar (or spice) to your feelings with these witty and lovely #Hugotlines:

1. Alam mo ba ang mapait sa pag-ibig? Iyon eh, AMPALAYAin ka.

2.Kung mahal ka talaga niya, dapat hindi ka nya balikan..dahil simula pa lang, dapat hindi ka na niya iniwan.

3.Masakit isipin na yung taong mahal mo may ibang nagpapasaya.

4.Ang pag-ibig natin parang Facebook. Pwedeng i-like, pwede ring magcomment, pero hindi dapat i-share.

5.May taong mabilis mahulog ang loob mo, pero bigla ka nalang iiwan at kung saan nakalimot kana, saka nagpaparadam.

6. Hindi tanga yung taong sobrang nagmahal. Mas tanga yung taong mnahal ng sobra pero naghanap pa ng iba.

7.  Buti pa ang ballpen…  Nahahawakan ang kamay mo.

8. Buti pa ang camera, lagi mong nginingitian.

9. Buti pa ang Leron Leron… May sinta.

10. Kung paglalaruan mo lang pala ako. Sana sinabi mo agad para nakapag P.E. Uniform pa ako.

11 Yung piniga piga mo yung toothpaste tapos mahuhulog lang sa lababo. Tangina pati ba naman toothpaste sa iba na-fall.

12. Ano ba talaga? Hindi ako Yoyo na pag gusto mong ibitaw gagawin mo tapos pag nahila na bibitawan mo ulit. Pinapaikot mo lang ako.

Did we miss anything? Feel free to share  your valetine’s day #HugotPaMore moments thru email: leoudtohan@yahoo.com,  FB/Twitter: leoudtohan. 

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Bohol Catholics observe Ash Wednesday

Anacorita Fullido, 71, woke up early to attend the 6:15 a.m. mass at St. Joseph Cathedral in Tagbilaran City in Bohol province last Wednesday.

She was one of the hundreds of Boholano Roman Catholics who flocked to churches to have their foreheads marked with ashes, reminding them that life on earth is ephemeral.

“It is to remind me that I came from dust and from dust I will return,” said Fullido, who said she didn’t miss a single Ash Wednesday.

Ash Wednesday is the start of the 40-day season of Lent.

The priest or a lay minister imposed ashes in the form of a cross on the forehead of each churchgoer, saying, “Repent and believe in the Gospel,” or, “Remember, man, that you are dust and unto dust you shall return.”

FR. CRISOLITO GEANGAN marks the foreheads

 of devotees in the observance of Ash Wednesday

 using the blessed ashes from burned palm leaves.

Leo Udtohan/Chronicle

In his homily, Fr. Crisolito Geangan, of the Diocese of Tagbilaran, reminded the people about their origin and destiny.   He also told the faithful to observe the Lenten Season meaningfully.

“It’s a reflection of our spiritual journey; we must check ourselves that perhaps we have spiritual hemorrhage. If we do, it’s time to embrace the Lord,” Geangan said in local dialect. 

He also said that ashes also symbolize the call for repentance and desire to follow Christ.

The ashes used on Wednesday were the ashes of burnt palms blessed during last year’s Palm Sunday. The ashes were sprinkled with holy water or olive oil and smoked with incense.

Fullido said she missed the old times when Holy Week was observed with utmost reverence.

“When I was small, we observed Holy Week with sobriety.  No music, no work on Thursday and Friday. We stayed at home, very quiet. Now, its’ different,” she said.

“Nostalgic, pero go with the tide. Anyway, it’s the same God,” she said.

She also said she will do visita iglesia in Bohol churches which were damaged by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in 2013. 

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.