THEME: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses" (Acts 1:8).

World Youth Day is the world's largest youth festival. Every year, it is celebrated worldwide at a Diocesan level on Palm Sunday,
with a massive international gathering (movable date) of youth with the Pope in a "host city" every 2-3 years.
... and the countdown continues - perhaps I'll see you there! :-)

WYD 2008 Official Website: http://www.wyd2008.org/index.php/en .

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October 30, 2008 (Thursday):

Book 3 ( https://pbase.com/carinoza/image/98191889 ) is now available - the whole set makes a great wedding and/or B-day gift!
Also a great exchange/kris kringle gift (worth P 200 or less) alternative to the usual stationery sets, decorative candles, figurines,
office supplies station, beach towel, and yet another corporate executive diary (oh ok, someone give at least one of the latter)! ;-)

PS: Overall - it's the thought that counts ... :-)

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June 8, 2008 (Sunday):

During the 5:00 PM mass Fr. Rico L. Trinidad introduced the first six beneficiaries of the youth scholarship program. He also gave a farewell message,
this being his last Sunday mass at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima before he himself takes further studies for three years in France.

On behalf of everyone - thanx for sharing your expertise in our spiritual formation as well as encouraging positive social interaction between the
parochial groups, not to mention your initiative and call into action for the physical improvements of the church itself - making it worthy to be
called a National Shrine. And ALL this done in the short three years that you have been assigned in our parish! BON VOYAGE and wishing you
a fruitful spiritual journey in the future!!! :-)

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June 6, 2008 (Friday):

WHEW! It seems that the 1st book and first printing of the 2nd book/edition of "Kwento at Kwenta - Mga Piling Kwento ng Katatawanan
para sa Kaluluwang Nalulumbay" have just run out!

This morning, those in-charge of sales at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima parish are frantically asking the local parishoners
if they could sell their extra copies to those from out-of-town and have it replaced later! Wow!

To avoid any unecessary disappointments, please call first (check the local phonebook) and ask for its availability before having your copies reserved at the parochial office. Please also indicate when you plan to pick them up for everyone's convenience. If you were one of those who took a chance and came for a copy but unfortunately missed out ... well, all the more reason for you to come back - and maybe bring along a friend the next time! The pilgrimage/tour to the place in itself is well worth it! :-) https://pbase.com/carinoza/chu_fatima_church

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June 1, 2008 (Sunday):

The 2nd edition of "Kwento at Kwenta - Mga Piling Kwento ng Katatawanan para sa Kaluluwang Nalulumbay" to benefit the scholarship of deserving youth in the parish is now available and is currently being introduced during the Sunday masses at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima.

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May 27, 2008 (Tuesday):

It's finally official ... after giving it some thought, I decided NOT to cover the 23rd WYD celebrations in Australia after all! I would've jumped at the first opportunity, especially since it would've been the first time that a digital camera is to be used. However, one has to admit that in these trying times, everyone - including the usual sponsors for the event - seems to be scrimping in any way they can in order to avoid unnecessary costs.

In fact, even church collections nationwide have likewise suffered a significant decrease. In the National Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Fatima
here in the Philippines, the assistant priest Rev. Fr. Rico L. Trinidad recently wrote an inspirational book (applicable reading for all ages!) to help
fund scholarship costs for the bright but needy youth within that parish.

That got me thinking: who am I to compete with raising scarce-enough-as-it-is funds that will only perhaps - initially, at least - only satisfy the needs and wants of this photographer when for the same amount a whole lot more youth with more important needs could use the same help?

In this regard, in lieu of covering the 23rd WYD celebrations in Australia, why not instead help the deserving youth with Fr. Rico's initiative by advertising his richly inspiring but simple-reading book here at my Pbase website? The book is titled "Kwento at Kwenta - Mga Piling Kwento ng Katatawanan para sa Kaluluwang Nalulumbay" (loose translation: "Stories with Substance - Selected Stories of Amusement for the Lonely Soul"). Written in Tagalog/Filipino to make it more accomodating for the masses, I was told that the 1st and 2nd volume will be wildly distributed
at selected selected St. Paul Media Center / Libreria branches nationwide by June, 2008. Ask your nearest branch for its availability. Makes a great alternative gift for birthdays, special occassions, anniversaries, and the like. The book (1 cm thick, 4R sized) is portable enough to bring along with you everyday for easy accessability. If you have the time, why not drop by and visit The National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima located along Fatima Avenue, Barangay Marulas, Valenzuela City for a personal pilgrimage and perhaps buy in bulk? It is also cheaper to avail of it there (less middleman fees like transportation and distributer costs) at an affordable price of only P 160.00 per copy.

If you live abroad - heck, ask your families back home or fellow 'balikbayan' OFWs to send you one as 'pasalubong'! A caregiver ("hi, ate Sha!"),
D.H. and/or yaya, etc.? Then translate the stories to the people you serve ('amos', their kids) and care for (like your wards). A hardworking but
lonely construction worker or sailor (name a ship that makes world news and there's bound to be a Pinoy sailor in it) abroad? Then the book makes
good clean company to while away during your spare time! A foreigner who can't read or understand Tagalog? Ask your friendly neighborhood
Filipino - they're bound to be found ANYWHERE around the world, TNT or otherwise (... discreet world domination, right Jessica "Twisted" Zaffra?)
to help read and translate it for you! :-p

Now isn't THAT a more worthwhile way of celebrating World Youth Day - hands-on and directly benefitting the youth? :-)

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April 2, 2008:

"World Youth Day or the Beijing Olympics"? Unfortunately the 23rd WYD elebrations that was originally scheduled to be held
last January 2007 is itself competing for major sponsors to send delegates for the event. With my mom who just concluded her chemo
treatment, some construction work at home to be done and photography as a side career :-), I may not be able to afford to attend
after all! :-( But who knows, miracles DO happen when you least expect it (fingers crossed)!

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March, 2008:

I found it amusing to learn that New Zealand will be considered as part of the participating 'Australian' dioceses for the week long
"Days in the Diocese" event whereby an international delegate is adopted for one week by a family from the host country! It is an optional
participation for a delegate prior to the main WYD week-long celebrations with the Pope which I feel though is important because one learns
on a first-hand basis more about the culture and day-to-day life of people from the current host country.