Jose Rizal

His death was commemorated by a cartoon of himself being shot by two motorcycle riders in tandem.

"Good Riddance Day"

"Since 2006, a group of people have celebrated this unusual event around the New Year.. Based on a Latin American tradition, individuals write down unpleasant, embarrassing memories and bad issues from the past year and throw them into an industrial- strength shredder. Or some take a sledgehammer to their good riddance item." (Our Daily Bread)

How does the entire world do this with Covid-19?

Dutertismo

 Someone had classified members of this cult:

1. Die--hards from when he was still Mayor

2. Opportunists and turn-coats of fairly recent times

3. Technocrats who want to sincerely help out

4. Patriots who put country above anybody else

5. Middle class who just want to have change

Picasso

"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."

Who Remembers Christmas 1941

Lourdes S. Bautista's "High Blood" column in the Inquirer recalls the entry of PH in WWll on 7 December 1941. It ended in 1945.

Hopefully, this pandemic doesn't take that long.

"Ponder It"

"Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." Luke 2:19

'Allow yourself a few minutes of quiet during this busy season to sit and listen for what God might be saying to you.' (Our Daily Bread)

Weight Loss

"After every chemotherapy session, I developed a metallic taste in my tongue which destroyed my appetite and induced the terrible feeling of nausea.

Instead of grieving over it, I welcomed it as a chance to finally lose weight...

I also took it as an opportunity to offer my suffering for reparation for my sins, in solidarity with people who are sick, hungry, and suffering.

How to handle trials and sufferings?                    Nasa pagdadala at pagdadalangin.                        Hindi sa pagdadaldal at pagdadada!" 

(Fr. Jerry Orbos' "Healing Moments")

Hope

"Not only is cultivating hope in God a strategy, but clinging to Him in faith and trust is the only strategy." (Our Daily Bread, 22 December)

Warm Springs

Almost like a Christmas miracle story, this touching film on FDR featured him contracting infantile paralysis (polio) in adult life, turning a rundown community into a holistic rehabilitation haven, then "running for the presidency when he could hardly walk" but being given unprecedented three terms during the Great Depression and World War II.  As he said, "There is nothing to fear but fear itself."

Golden Girls rule

Blanche E. Devereaux with the interesting initials rued, "Back in our Career Day, I decided to marry one with a career!"

Wife

 "A pillar, not a punching bag;

A helpmate, not a housemaid;

A treasure, not a slave." (Anon)

Could be a homily at weddings

Lavina D'Souza

"Being in the presence of transgender people made something shift inside me- from fear and avoidance to a rehumanizing of my attitudes, explained in 3 words- revaluating, resurfacing and refinding."

Youth

 The "now of God" (Pope Francis)

Melissa Freeman

This granddaughter of a slave is now 94 but still a practicing doctor in Harlem.

Bo

The Obama presidential pet had also to adjust to life after the White House. Michelle recalls being home alone in their next DC residence one night and their dog seemed disoriented hearing other canine sounds from their new neighbors.

Golden Girl Rule 2

Rose did it again: "You have a date with your ob-gyne doctor? That's an appointment!"

Golden Girl Rule

Rose Nyland finally had a smart line: Punishing a guy by not talking to him? No, don't stop talking would be better punishment!

Prayer

 They say it is the bridge between panic and peace.

St. Nick

The original seems to be San Nicolas de Tolentino who came upon a sizable inheritance. Instead of spending on himself, he gave help to those in need. Example was a poor man who was considering selling his daughters to prostitution. In the dead of night, Nicolas dropped off a bag of gold coins in the beleaguered man's house.

Daggers' Use

On a feature on Diminishing Dukedoms, one insider pointed to a dagger hidden behind a chair. It was to be used to cut out centuries-old portraits from their frames in case of fire. Then, it would be easier to toss out to safer ground.

Alternative Test

Other than the painful and expensive Covid test, a Starbucks patron unexpectedly discovered she was positive for the virus when she couldn't taste her drink anymore.

Beautiful Words

"1. Don't stress yourself out with useless people who don't even deserve to be an issue in your life.

2. Never invest too much emotion at one thing because if you do, you'll end up hurting yourself.

3. Learn to live life without worries because GOD will take care of everything, trust and just have FAITH." 

Everybody's Cup of Tea

We cannot be, and that is ok and expected.

News Diet

CNN compared Trump to Biden on their source of information and how they echoed it. And people can't wait for the change.

Today

I pray for you;

A heart free of sadness,

A mind free of worries,

A life full of gladness,

A body free of illness,

A day full of God's blessings!

(Positivity in Life)

Needs

During this abnormal season of giving, reviewed a list of immaterial presence of Dra. Carandang:

1. Personal significance

2. Unconditional acceptance

3. Clear, consistent discipline

4. Sense of competence

5. Affiliation

6. Wide scope of self-expression

7. Transcendence, faith

Politician

"His constituents had two problems. They did not have a doctor in their barrio. He pretended to call someone on his cellphone and then said, 'Problem solved! What's your second problem?' The people replied, 'We have no signal in the barrio.'" (Fr. Jerry Orbos' Moments)

Pardon

Trump is starting midnight pardons of his children, son-in-law and legal counsel Rudy Giuliani. For what crime, nobody knows. Next, he might pardon himself, probably carried away after that turkey

Animator

Pope Francis was referred as one for the spirit. At first glance, my mind recalled Walt Disney. Maybe just as well, as both of them bring us to the Happiest Place on earth and beyond.

Horrorscope

Chit Roces-Santos wrote about her past fascination with astrology. But after having taken over  as "captain of my ship and master of my fate," she feels "too close to the docks now for anything to make a difference." Instead, she adopts the late Bob Hope's "surprise me" attitude as to where he could be buried.