Angel Thoughts
It is also the month of the Mother of God, when Marian devotees happily celebrate our love for her. Sept 8. is the feast day or the “birthday” of Mother Mary, and, on the 12th, we believers commemorate her most holy name and her apparition to a novice nun in Lipa, Batangas. Yes, I believe that there were miraculous apparitions in the Carmel convent.
The apparitions have been labeled “demonical” by the fiercest of Mama Mary's and Sister Teresing Castillo's critics. She was the novice who saw the beautiful lady who told her that she was “Our Lady Mediatrix of All Grace.” There were mysterious showers of rose petals inside Teresing's cell and in the convent halls. The sweet smell of roses, cures, healings, and most of all, conversions accompanied the “apparitions.” The local Church hierarchy is still deeply divided over the authenticity of the apparitions but the believers have persisted and multiplied in the numbers in the country and abroad.
Alright, this 75-year-old apparition has not been spared of labels like “demonical,” fake, hallucinations etc. And sadly, coming from our holy “shepherds” themselves, church exorcists, and non-believers. Masses to celebrate Mary's feast day have been banned by the archdiocese of Lipa on the apparition dates.
Sorry, but I am, I said, a believer of the apparitions in Lipa. I and my family have been blessed by the Mediatrix Lady, and I will continue to venerate her regardless of what certain church shepherds say.
I pray her critics will be enlightened and allow believers to show our gratefulness to Our Lady Mediatrix and by venerating her in the Carmel Church and other holy places where her image is lovingly enshrined. The apparition site inside the grounds of the Carmel convent in Lipa is a holy place and can be viewed from the deck of a small building which houses the religious store. I was very blessed to have been asked to accompany the late President Cory Aquino after her term of office there. She was welcomed by the nuns inside the sanctuary grounds where she prayed.
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Now, three cheers for Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Atty. Raymund Fortun, and Sen. JV Ejercito for calling out the bully ex-cop Willy Gonzalez, who, in a fit of road rage, hit a cyclist on the head, and threatened to shoot him last week. He was driving his car on the bike lane, take note, and the bike slammed into his vehicle.
Mayor Joy was so enraged at the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) for the gall to give the ex-cop “the platform to present his side.” Mayor Joy notes that Gonzalez appeared like the aggrieved party with this presentation.
Fortun uploaded the video which was taken down by the original blogger because of threats on his life. Thanks, Atty. Fortun. He also showed the cyclist admitting he was given P500 by the ex-cop and told to stop pressing charges. Not to worry, Mr. Cyclist, Atty. Fortun promised to stand by you and defend you in court.
Sen. JV also thought it “shocking” as we all do. By the way, when a policeman retires, isn't he supposed to return all his firearms issued during his term of duty? Why did he still have his gun?
At least, the chief for the QCPD Gen. Nicolas Torre thinks that Gonzales' action of brandishing his gun in public was “alarming and a scandal.” And he resigned for providing Gonzalez a “platform'' to vindicate himself. DILG'S Benhur Abalos is also upset and thinks the abusive ex-cop should be investigated too. May pag-asa pa tayo (We have hope), common citizens!
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To a happier topic.... Want some gourmet food in windy Tagaytay? Try the Anila Poolside at Anya Resort Tagaytay headed by Executive Chef Chris A. Leaning.
Diners can look forward to appetizing treats like Anila Gambas & Chorizo Al Ajillo (sauteed shrimps with sliced chorizo, baby onion, garlic chili bathed in virgin olive oil and topped with parsley), Deep Fried Chopitos (tender baby squid coated in homemade seasoning mix served with remoulade), and Lumpiang Shanghai (a roll of pork, prawn, and vegetable spring roll served with sweet chili dip).
Finishing the dining experience strong are decadent desserts: Five-Layer Jack Daniels Chocolate Fudge Cake (a multi-layered chocolate moist cake flavored with bourbon syrup, chocolate ganache, drizzled with warm salted caramel sauce), and Chef Chris Mango Tres Leches (a chiffon sponge cake dripping with homemade sweet marinade and topped with fresh mangoes and caramelized cashew nuts).
Anya Resort Tagaytay is located at Buenavista Hills Road, Brgy. Mag-asawang Ilat, Tagaytay City. Aside from the poolside resto, there is also the Samira by Chef Chele, and other Anya offerings, visit.
See you at the Anya Resort in Tagaytay!