the history of the Holiday...

Independence Day is the national holiday of the United States of America commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

At the time of the signing the US consisted of 13 colonies under the rule of England's King George III. Leading up to the signing, there had been growing unrest in the colonies surrounding the taxes that colonists were required to pay to England. The major objection was "Taxation without Representation" -- the colonists had no say in the decisions of English Parliament.

Rather than negotiating, King George sent extra troops to the colonies to help control any rebellion that might be arising. The following timeline will give you a crash course in the history that lead to the signing of the Declaration of Independence and America's break from British rule.

1774 - The 13 colonies send delegates to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to form the First Continental Congress. While unrest was brewing, the colonies were far from ready to declare war.

April 1775 -- King George's troops advance on Concord, Massachusetts, prompting Paul Revere's midnight ride that sounded the alarm "The British are coming, the British are coming."
The subsequent battle of Concord, famous for being the "shot heard round the world," would mark the unofficial beginning of the American Revolution.

May 1776 -- After nearly a year of trying to work our their differences with England, the colonies again send delegates to the Second Continental Congress.

June 1776 -- Admitting that their efforts were hopeless, a committee was formed to compose the formal Declaration of Independence. Headed by Thomas Jefferson, the committee also included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Philip Livingston and Roger Sherman.

June 28, 1776 -- Jefferson presents the first draft of the declaration to congress.

July 4, 1776 -- After various changes to Jefferson's original draft, a vote was taken late in the afternoon of July 4th. Of the 13 colonies, 9 voted in favor of the Declaration; 2, Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted No; Delaware was undecided and New York abstained.
John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence. It is said that he signed his name "with a great flourish" so "King George can read that without spectacles!"

July 6, 1776 -- The Pennsylvania Evening Post is the first newspaper to print the Declaration of Independence.

July 8, 1776 -- The first public reading of the declaration takes place in Philadelphia's Independence Square. The bell in Independence Hall, then known as the "Province Bell" would later be renamed the "Liberty Bell" after its inscription - "Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof."

August 1776 - The task begun on July 4, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, was not actually completed until August. Nonetheless, the 4th of July has been accepted as the official anniversary of United States independence from Britain.

July 4, 1777 -- The first Independence Day celebration takes place. It's interesting to speculate what those first 4th festivities were like.

By the early 1800s the traditions of parades, picnics, and fireworks were firmly established as part of American Independence Day culture.

a telltale of selfless love: Efren in our midst!

Today, I am taking a break from my usual update because I am featuring, what i think is a very significant one. This is something about how good triumphs over evil. In my Ethics course with my professor, WE have been discussing lots and lots about the human acts and conscience, human soul and its virtuous acts morality and virtues, evil and good. I guess this featured article will somehow give you a concrete example of any of the mentioned discussions I had in my Ethics class.

Perhaps, one great example that I can tell you about human acts toward something good at the end is the content of an email from my blogger-friend Ronnie .

This is all about a human soul, whose act is indeed very remarkable and very praiseworthy. I must say, Efren is one of a kind and one in a million.

My friends, take time to read and watch his story and let me know what you feel about it afterwards.

from the CNN: Pushcart classes help break gang chain

Efren Peñaflorida's Dynamic Teen Company offers Filipino youth an alternative to gangs through education.

photo owned by CNN

QUOTE from CNN: CAVITE CITY, Philippines-- At 16, Rhandolf Fajardo reflects on his former life as a gang member.
"My gang mates were the most influential thing in my life," says Fajardo, who joined a gang when he was in sixth grade. "We were pressured to join."

He's not alone. In the Philippines, teenage membership in urban gangs has surged to an estimated 130,000 in the past 10 years, according to the Preda Foundation, a local human rights charity.

"I thought I'd get stuck in that situation and that my life would never improve," recalls Fajardo. "I would probably be in jail right now, most likely a drug addict -- if I hadn't met Efren."

Efren Peñaflorida, 28, also was bullied by gangs in high school. Today, he offers Filipino youth an alternative to gang membership through education.

"Gang members are groomed in the slums as early as 9 years old," says Peñaflorida. "They are all victims of poverty."

For the past 12 years, Peñaflorida and his team of teen volunteers have taught basic reading and writing to children living on the streets. Their main tool: A pushcart classroom. Do you know someone who should be a CNN Hero? Nominations are open at CNN.com/Heroes

Stocked with books, pens, tables and chairs, his Dynamic Teen Company recreates a school setting in unconventional locations such as the cemetery and municipal trash dump.

Peñaflorida knows firsthand the adversity faced by these children. Born into a poor family, he lived in a shanty near the city dump site. But he says he refused to allow his circumstances to define his future.

"Instead of being discouraged, I promised myself that I would pursue education," he recalls. "I will strive hard; I will do my best."

In high school, Peñaflorida faced a new set of challenges. Gang activity was rampant; they terrorized the student body, vandalized the school and inducted members by forcing them to rape young girls, he says.

"I felt the social discrimination. I was afraid to walk down the street."

Peñaflorida remembers standing up to a gang leader, refusing to join his gang. That confrontation proved fateful. At 16, he and his friends "got the idea to divert teenagers like us to be productive," he says.

He created the Dynamic Teen Company to offer his classmates an outlet to lift up themselves and their community. For Peñaflorida, that meant returning to the slums of his childhood to give kids the education he felt they deserved.

"They need education to be successful in life. It's just giving them what others gave to me," he says.

Today, children ranging from ages 2 to 14 flock to the pushcart every Saturday to learn reading, writing, arithmetic and English from Peñaflorida and his trained teen volunteers. Watch Peñaflorida and his group in action with their push cart classroom »

"Our volunteers serve as an inspiration to other children," he says.

The group also runs a hygiene clinic, where children can get a bath and learn how to brush their teeth.

Since 1997, an estimated 10,000 members have helped teach more than 1,500 children living in the slums. The organization supports its efforts by making and selling crafts and collecting items to recycle. Take a look at the slums where Peñaflorida and his group spend their Saturdays »

Through his group, Peñaflorida has successfully mentored former gang members, addicts and dropouts, seeing potential where others see problems.

"Before, I really didn't care for my life," says Michael Advincula, who started doing drugs when he was 7. "But then Efren patiently dug me from where I was buried. It was Efren who pushed me to get my life together." Watch Advincula describe how he met Peñaflorida in the slums »

Today, Advincula is a senior in high school and one of the group's volunteers.

Peñaflorida hopes to expand the pushcart to other areas, giving more children the chance to learn and stay out of gangs.

"I always tell my volunteers that you are the change that you dream and I am the change that I dream. And collectively we are the change that this world needs to be."
Want to get involved? Check out the Dynamic Teen Company and see how to help. -CNN

Well, I learned further that for the past 12 years now, Efren Peñaflorida and DTC, his team of teen volunteers have been taching basic reading and writing to children living on the streets. Their main tool is a pushcart-turned-into-a-"classroom" named Kari and Toni perhaps taken from the rootword KARITON which means pushcart. The Kariton Klasrum, Klinik & Kantin (K4) project recreates a school setting in unconventional locations such as the cemetery, city trash dump, slum corners and alleys.

I invite you to write your COMMENT in the "SOUND OFF" section under his full story here:
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/03/05/heroes.efren.penaflorida/index.html

Watch Efren's profile video in CNN HEROES: http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/

celebrating American Independence day at the monastery

The community of monks in my monastery gets its unusual schedule of their daily prayers and activities inside their monastery today to give way for a civil celebration of the Fourth of July: AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY!

I shall not speak long as I want to pave the way for these numerous pictures of the 'picnic' banquet which we held just three hours ago: Enjoy them...

The Abbot superior, Rev Fr. Abbot Philip Lawrence blesses the food at table!

me and Dom Dunstan, a Canadian- Eukranian postulant-brother of my community gladly posed with me and my irresistibility

The following images were taken while the partaking of the banquet food was going on Dom Francis, Peruvian junior-monk and a volunteer guest were the main cooks for the day's banquet

Me, Dom Caedmon, Filipino senior-monk and Pam, our psychologist friend

Me and Fr. Ron, an American-Mexican Jesuit priest-a regular guest of the monastery

me and Rene, an American-Mexican from El Paso Texas tagged along with Fr Ron. Rene's having a discernment retreat for a week-long at the monastery.

Rene, me and Dom Rodrigo-Mexican seniormonk

Jorge, American-Mexican friend of Rene came with him and joined us in our 4th of JUly celebration

Images that follow were taken while the banquet went on
Dom Dunstan seemed to be enjoying so much with his food!

Finally, Dom Dunstan noticed me and my irresistible clicks!

getting to know more about the Fourth of July

In the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Congress approved the wording of the Declaration on July 4 and then sent it to the printer. Whether John Hancock, as the elected President of the Second Continental Congress, or anyone else signed the document that day is unknown, because that document has been lost — presumably destroyed in the printing process.

Hancock's name and that of a witness do appear on the typeset broadside that was published within a few days. On August 2 in the following month, an engrossed document in script form was signed by Hancock and other delegates.

Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, picnics, baseball games, and various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States, but is often also viewed as simply a summer festival, apart from its patriotic overtones.

Independence Day, the only holiday that celebrates the United States, is a national holiday marked by patriotic displays. Similar to other summer-themed events, Independence Day celebrations often take place outdoors.

Independence Day is a federal holiday, so all non-essential federal institutions (like the postal service and federal courts) are closed on that day.

Many politicians make it a point on this day to appear at a public event to praise the nation's heritage, laws, history, society, and people.

Families often celebrate Independence Day with a picnic or barbecue, and take advantage of the day off and in some years, long weekend to gather with relatives. Decorations (e.g., streamers, balloons, and clothing) are generally colored red, white, and blue, the colors of the American flag. Parades often are in the morning, while fireworks displays occur in the evening at such places as parks, fairgrounds, or town squares.

Independence Day fireworks are often accompanied by patriotic songs such as the national anthem ("The Star-Spangled Banner"), "God Bless America", "America the Beautiful", "My Country, 'Tis of Thee", "This Land Is Your Land", "Stars and Stripes Forever", and, regionally, "Yankee Doodle" in northeastern states and "Dixie" in southern states. Some of the lyrics recall images of the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812.

Firework shows are held in many states, and many fireworks are sold for personal use or as an alternative to a public show. Safety concerns have led some states to ban fireworks or limit the sizes and types allowed. Illicit traffic transfers many fireworks from less restrictive states.

Major displays are held in New York on the East River, in Chicago on Lake Michigan, Boston on the Charles River, in St. Louis on the Mississippi River, and on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. During the annual Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival, Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario host one of the world's largest fireworks displays, over the Detroit River, to celebrate both American Independence Day and Canada Day.

While the official observance always falls on July 4th, participation levels may vary dependent upon which day of the week the 4th falls. If the holiday falls in the middle of the week, some fireworks displays and celebrations may take place during the weekend for convenience, again, varying by region.

the day i shed my consecrated Habit for Heaven's sake!

the date was January 26, 2005. i was still in the middle of my 2005 visit to the Philippines, when i got the chance and an opportunity to contact my brods and sis in a Fraternity that i joined when i was in 2nd year college.
click image to enlarge...


i conferred with the adviser, the president and some Alumni if they could possibly back me up in my plan to go and visit the house inmates of the religious group in Naga City called THe MIssionaries of the Poor that houses numerous inmates who are mentally and physically handicapped, so i could give out some foodstuffs, clothings and footwear to the 500 of them.


its always a thought in my head that whenever i get the chance to be worthy of whatever i can do to alleviate the sufferings of my Kababayans, then by all means, i will have to carry it out...I was thankful to the group, to my brods and sis , that they gladly accepted my offer. so, on that sunny humid day, i shed my Long Black Habit, set aside my being a monk, and went with my brods and sis in plain clothes (denims and shirt) to purchase and load sacks of rice, flour, dry powdered milk, T-shirts, flip-flops (beach walk sandals), coffees, and other basic commodities on a truck for the 500 unfortunate adapted Bikolanos of the house of the Missionaries of the Poor.

with a truckload of stuffs from the market, we proceeded to our target: the house of the inmates of MOP.
Fr Charles, the head of the House gladly introduced himself to me as the one assigned by their Mother House in India to spearhead this house in naga city bikol to adapt and feed unfortunate bikolanos street urchins and stow aways who were abandoned due to their mental and physical dysfunctionalities. Fr Charles' congregation is inspired by the wisdom and ideals of Mother Theresa of Calcutta, hence the wearing of a bright white habit with blue sash around its waist(the novices and postulants simply wear their white habits without any sash while the Simply Professed brothers wear light-pink sash on their waists).


while the program was being presented, i couldn't help but to feel sorry for those inmates infront of me, seated side by side, unmindful of their surroundings, unassumingly quiet from the ongoings of the entertainment numbers that we were giving them. my heart melted with such sight of 'separation from the world' that these unfortunate ones were experiencing.





as we went on with the program, there was a part when the inmates had to line up to receive the flip-flops that we bought for them (mind you, they were in their barefeet all day-long), and the face towels that we got for their daily hygiene, and cups of instant noodles and drinks and cookies for their daily snacks...and i saw from their faces and actions that they were just innocently frantically happy and delighted as they took turns in receiving the 'little gifts' we got for them...

errrrr, this is not one of the inmates,( LOL ) but the president of the current members of our frat brod Joel N.-----, he was just too happy that he couldn't contain it in front of my lens ,( LOL ).

Fr Charles and his young disciples were moved as we presented to him the bags of groceries and sacks of rice and flour.

before we parted ways, a souvenir image with fr Charles and his energetic young followers in their sparkling white habits was just fitting and proper.

the moving moments with the House inmates ended with me having a sustained lump in my throat as i kept holding back my tears of pity and sadness for these people lest i could have created an 'unpleasant' scene that was not really appropriate for them to see...(i've always been so emotional on scenes like such.)

at the end of the day, my brods and sis, brought me to Pasacao Beach Resort for us to take a dip in the sea and unwind the memories of that great day!....

it's fantastic feeling to be of service to God thru His unfortunate ones, and afterwards enjoyed the reminiscense of it with friends and fraternal brothers and sisters over a couple bottles of San Miguel Beer Grande and a swim in the sea with my blue skimpy Speedo swimwear(reserved in my personal files and not for public viewing, remember that i have vowed to the High Heavens from that moment when i Professed my Solemn Monastic Vows, that i shall only be the object of humanity's edification and not of their seduction hah!..( LOL )........

a day of visit to my chiropractor

today, i went to my chiropractor with dom benedicto, who also had his first-time appointment with Dr Salim for his back pains...and before both of us got our treatments, there came dom rodrigo for his once-a month follow -up check up with the specialist...( so you may know now how tough our monastic life is at the monastery huh!...that its monks get physically (but not emotionally and mentally) stressed out in the course of time...

at the reception with Christina, the doctor's receptionist and secretary, while waiting for dom benedicto who's at the treatment room.


taking a rest and stretching at the waiting room, waiting for my turn.


after about twenty minutes of waiting, here comes dom rodrigo...from nowhere. it turned out that today was his monthly follow-up check up with his aching pelvis... i wonder what he was doing in the cloister that his pelvis got stressed out LOL./


dom rodrigo with Christina.

well, my third session with Dr Salim was less painful and shorter than the first two.(i guess, the swiss ball helped me a lot...)
Before i left his clinic, he prescribed me (again!) with two more items for me to use for my regular exercises: resistance tube and therapeutic forearm band.


the resistance tube helps me with my biceps, triceps, back of neck, deltoids, butt and back...

the therapeutic band, aids me in working with my dumbells with ease and with less stress on my tendons and muscles. furthermore, it does not cut off circulation, nor hamper movement, nor cause uncomfortable swelling. it does not work as tourniquet but it works as treatment.

30th year Annual 'Santacruzan' at Albuquerque

Santacruzan or Santa Cruz de Mayo

Saturday May 20, 2006
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Event Location: San Felipe de Neri Church in Old Town Plaza in Albuquerque
Notes:
It is the Santacruzan or Santa Cruz de Mayo commemorating St. Helen�s finding of the Holy Cross during the reign of her son, King Constantine. The event starts with the mass at 5:30 pm followed by a procession with Filipino Americans wearing traditional Philippine costumes. The Cultural Dancers, Rondalla, and Kulintang Ensemble will cap the event with performances - all groups belonging to the Filipino American Foundation of New Mexico (FAFNM). This year�s Santacruzan will be the 30th year that the Filipino community has celebrated this event where we share our heritage with the mainstream.

In this occassion, i was invited to give the opening prayer and the singing of the 'DIOS TE SALVE' during the whole duration of the procession.Images were taken by my brother oblate bro carlo carmine cala, another pinoy member of the Fil-Am Foundation of New Mexico.