SF

An unwavering devotion to the Holy Child

Thursday, 22 January 2009 00:56 Malou Liwanag-Aguilar AJPress

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

An unwavering devotion to the Holy Child

WHEN I was informed that I was doing a story about the Santo Niño and would be interviewing someone who has spent most of her life collecting the Holy Child’s images, the memories of my lola’s church-like altar at her old house in Pasay slowly crept into my mind. We were all raised under the Catholic faith, and devotion went more than going to Holy Mass on Sundays—it extended to saying the Holy Rosary, the Wednesday novenas at Baclaran, as well as an unwavering faith to the Santo Niño.

But how did we Filipinos start with such a devotion to a child? In the book Santo Niño, The Holy Child Devotion in the Philippines edited by Abe Florendo, it was said that our Spanish colonizers not only introduced Christianity to our people, but also transplanted the flamboyance of baroque art. This, they say is evident in the Niño that Ferdinand Magellan brought with him in 1521—dressed in a long-sleeved silk shirt, accented by a bib or lace ruff, worn with a gold embroidered vest over pantaloon. A sash and a belt, knee-high leather boots and cape of rich brocade completed the image’s look.

FIGHTING RELATIONSHIP ABUSE

Thursday, 15 January 2009 00:37 Malou L. Aguilar AJPress

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

CORA’s commitment to end domestic violence

Why not?" said Cherie M. Querol Moreno, Community Outreach Coordinator and Filipino-American Outreach Coordinator for Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse, or CORA, when asked why it is important for people to know about domestic violence. "Violence happens to everybody," she said and added, "Every nine seconds, a woman is abused in this country, three women are murdered everyday by their past or current partners, people don’t understand,people don’t realize the prevalence of domestic violence."

This is why CORA is committed to addressing and taking the steps to serve the unique needs of through intervention and prevention.

A Total Knockout

Thursday, 08 January 2009 05:46 Malou L. Aguilar AJPress

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

THE KENNEL BOXING GYM

The first Filipino-owned and managed boxing gym in California opens

If not for the popularity of Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, my interest in boxing would be next to non-existent. But of course, since the Pambansang Kamao has won titles left and right, I am not alone in being slowly drawn to the sport.

The Yes! Woman: Anolia Orfrecio Facun’s secrets revealed

Friday, 26 December 2008 13:26 Malou Liwanag-Aguilar/AJPress

(9 votes, average: 4.78 out of 5)

The Yes! Woman: Anolia Orfrecio Facun’s secrets revealed

With only a suitcase and few dollars in hand, Anolia “Leah” Orfrecio Facun came to the United States. Although trained as a nurse in the Philippines, starting over in a new country with no home to go to made it harder to see the possibilities.

But Facun’s passion for teaching, wellness and preventive health, coupled with her determination to succeed, led her to several successful entrepreneurships. And just last November, her book, Yes! The Secrets Work!, reached Amazon’s bestseller list on three non-fiction categories, in less than three months after its release.

A Christmas passage: Celebrating a meaningful holiday in these austere times

Friday, 19 December 2008 15:08 Malou Liwanag-Aguilar/AJPress

(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

A Christmas passage: Celebrating a meaningful holiday in these austere times

Christmas is a magical time of the year, filled with cheer and goodwill. But this year, with all the crisis and turmoil besieging the country—and the whole world—today, it will be hard to see a holiday season with much glee.

In Charles Dickens’ novel A Christmas Carol, the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge, is described as a man who perfectly justified saving every penny, thus making him a miser.