living the life

One of the many teachings that I learned from my superior when I was still in the monastery, was to learn how to adapt and empathize with those who were experiencing difficult moments in their life. One resident in the facility where I work, was having difficulty accepting the outcomes in his present life. By the way, he is Mexican and a ninety-three year old guy. His past glories in his life included a champ in the lightweight boxing in Mexico (years and years ago). At times, he would tell me that he wanted to go to the gym and spend time in practicing his boxing skills. One time, he was up earlier than the usual and went to the lobby looking for the boxing stage. I had to redirect him and invited him instead to go to the activity center and sit for a tv-watch.

ramblings

It is just one trivial day today. There were no rains. The temperatures are becoming more unbearable now. Here in the Valleys California, we had temperatures of up to 99° in the afternoons before the slow cooling down began at nightfall. Now the temperatures are between 85° and 95° and that is a lot easier to live with.

Life is often a series of challenges outside a monastery and particularly when a former monk has to get something done working hard for his own living and his family's! That is how these rambling writings come to you. Outside the monastery, life is not that easy and is indeed complicated and not many of the brothers inside a monastery realize that until they themselves try to live it outside the Cloister. An ex monk must pass through all these challenges and know how to make life work. The virtue of patience and the virtue of perseverance kick in.

blue sea

I have always loved going to the beach for a swim in the sea or walk at the seashore. In summer of year 2001, I went to Mindoro island for a day of beach walking, swimming and seafood delight. This was the last time I went to the beach because in February of the next year, I flew to the USA and joined the monastery.

trip to Albuquerque City

It is good to remember the good old days. I remember the day I drove myself to Albuquerque City. My superior assigned me to pick up a monk-brother at Albuquerque airport whose arrival from Vietnam was at 9:00Pm mountain Time. So I got myself ready early morning after the Mass and then left the community for Albuquerque.
The monastery was a four-hour drive to Albuquerque and so anyone who has any appointment to this city needed to leave the monastery at 7:00Am or so.
I enjoyed driving because the roads to the city from the monastery don't get heavily trafficked all day long.

never too old...

Helping seniors make their leisure time amazingly spent is making them do amazing things.

In the retirement home where  I work as director of activities, I never get tired of  encouraging the residents to do things, amazing things that make sense in their life in their senior years.

One activity that I introduced to them just this recently was the creation of hobbies and interest clubs. These clubs cater to their hobbies and interests and anything they would want to do in their leisure time.

Drawing and painting was one of their favorite ones. Also, there were some who loved to do knitting and crocheting, so, I grouped them into their kind of skill shown.

With me moderating their skills and activities, it was just amazing that they were really good at their craft. Other activities where they're very good at  were cross stitching, crocheting, knitting, embroidery, sewing, pastel painting, water color drawing, story writing, dancing and singing, photography, and social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) and computer softwares.

I just want to clarify that I am referring to seniors  in their  90's.

I must say, it is really never too old for them to do such amazing things in their life.

It was in year 2009 when Paul and I became group study buddies in the seminary

He was my classmate, neighbor and friend at the seminary of St Vincent in Pennsylvania.

 It was in year 2009 when we we were introduced to each other. As the semester unfolded, we became studymates and monastic walkmates. Since our rooms at the monastery of St Vincent were adjacent to each other, we became buddies. 

We would go and sneak out from the monks refectory to the dining hall of the college to take our lunch together whenever we would see that the food served for monks at the refectory for monks of the seminary was not pleasurable. 

 He belonged to the Benedictine monastery of St Vincent Archabbey. Bro John Paul Heiser, OSB must be in his diaconate year now.

it was in year 2007 when Pastor Keas visited our community to join the celebration of our community's foundation anniversary

June 24th is the foundation anniversary of Christ in the desert monastery, thus,there was a reason to celebrate this day- June 24th- as this day is the day my community was founded in year 1964.

 So, as part of the celebration, the superior of my community would assign the best cooks of the community to do the cooking and meal preparation on the banquet. The community also would invite friends and benefactors of the community to come over and celebrate the occasion.

 June 24th is also an important date in the liturgical calendar as it is the  feast day of St John the Baptist. So, there would be a double celebration in my monastery in June 24th.

 These photos show the food I cooked and prepared for the community. The community and guests enjoyed the food and had  fun in the celebration of the significance of the day.

 This event  reminded  me of someone who came for the first time as a guest of the monastery in year 2005 and  after that initial visit, he became a regular guest and  and eventually became my friend because each time he visited, he would asked to be assigned as guesthouse cleaner volunteer, thus, making himself as my assistant guesthouse cleaner in the guesthouse.

As the years went by Pastor Keas became friends with me.

in year 2006, I baked turkeys for a banquet on Christmas day

Cooking for a banquet on a holiday in the monastery has been very exciting for me because the job of cooking for the community and guests gives me some kind of fulfillment.

 It was some kind of triumph over something especially if they complement the taste and quality of the food that I cook for them.

 This come to mind my whole experience as cook of the community. I never forget to introduce chicken adobo to the community brothers especially to the white monks despite the fact that this is very asian and Filipino.

The first time I cooked chicken adobo for the community brothers was very intense because I was scared if the white and European monks of my community would appreciate and like the taste of chicken cooked in vinegar, soy sauce and lots and lots of garlic. I sighed in relief after getting good feedbacks and compliments from them. Since then, everytime I was assigned to cook on a holiday, may it be- New year, Valentine, June 24th foundation anniversary of the community, 4th of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas day, they always would request me to include chicken adobo to the main menu.

in year 2012, I helped the Chef in cooking for Thanksgiving

Cooking for Thanksgiving day in the USA has been a very memorable moment for me because it is in this event that my superior in the monastery would assign me to cook for the banquet of the celebration.
For the most part, the memory comes to me as I see Turkeys being baked for the banquet.

When Ramon and Ryan baked this turkey for the residents banquet of the event, I couldn't help but to reminisce the days when I did the cooking in the monastery for the occasion.

visiting former co-teachers in year 2006

In year 2006, I had a chance to visit my former co-teachers of the school where I first taught as secondary school teacher. This school was my alma mater, the school where I graduated my college degree in BS in Industrial Education. It was during my 26-day home visit to the Philippines that I was able to come to BICAT campus and had a talk with my closest friends and former co-teachers.

in year 2009, I was part of a concert in Pittsburgh

Reminiscing the two days of doing concert with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra makes me feel great.

 I couldn't keep but to smile to whenever I remember the two days I  spent with the members of the Orchestra and monks and students of St Vincent seminary in December of 2009.

That was absolutely a very good learning experience for me.

it was in January 2007 when during my home visit to the Philippines, I had the whole itinerary of social meet-ups with former co-teachers and friends in the Philippines

My home and family visit in year 2007 was great and an unforgettable one. My itinerary for two weeks was filled with fun and enjoyment. Some of my best ones were: visiting my former co-teachers in San Beda College and giving them a talk on Benedictine spirituality, a visit to my close friends and college classmates, visiting the Benedictine monastery for women in Lipa, a visit to my friends in Manila City, a visit to the shoe capital of the world-Marikina City, and a chance to watch the musical stageplay zha zha zaturnah.

two days of Gregorian Concert in Pittsburgh

I was a monk-seminarian of St Vincent seminary in Latrobe Pennsylvania in year 2009-2010.
Monks and students of St Vincent College and monastery were invited by the Maestro of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra to join his orchestra in their concert.
The event was applauded and well attended.
It was fun to sing and be part of the concert. I loved it!

the year was 2006. Filipino guests would ask our superiors to have an hour of social meet-up with us.

Cecil and Maryanne- two sisters- came over to the monastery in June of year 2006 to spend a week of  personal retreat to our monastery.
I remember talking to her, and from our one-hour of conversation, I learned a lot from her and she learned a lot from me.
Most of our guests who come over the monastery seek for a one-on-one talk. Most of them would tell us about their difficulties, challenges and their life.
We, as monks, were good listeners. That day, I learned so much about life outside the world- the ups and downs of people who are struggling with their relationships... with their faith..with their life!

Cecil, me and Dom Caedmon-another monk who has transferred his vows to the Monastery of Mount Saviour in El Mira New York.

snowfall in April of 2004

This day was just one of the ordinary days of snowfall in the month of April! Isn't it strange that in the middle of April, snowfall will still visit the canyon of Chama where our community was located?
A stroll after a snowfall was always most fitting and proper for the monks to spend time with nature after every snowfall.

teamwork

Staff  at RB takes time to throw a small simple eat-together on birthdays of its members. When one celebrates his/her birthday, each of the team brings food for the eat-together. Potluck, as what they say, has become a popular practice of the Staff in the occasion of birthdays of its members.

welcoming 2013 with a party!

The year 2013 was welcomed by the residents of Royal Bellingham Residences with a big evening party held at the main lobby of the community.
These photos show how they enjoyed the party!