changing seasons

Today, the 29th day of August – is the feast day of St. John the Baptist. Well, not everybody who is reading this may understand what I am saying so let me explain it further. I am a Catholic. I came from a Catholic country. I was born and raised as a Catholic. And I studied in Catholic Schools too. Though I don’t consider myself as a very religious person, I can say that my values are mostly influenced by that religious orientation. And the Philippines, being the only Christian country in Asia… being baptized by its first colonizers, the Spaniards have adapted a lot of early Christians’ religious customs and traditions that are still being practiced up to this day, like the Fiesta.

Today is the 2nd time I missed our Fiesta. I love Fiesta. Fiesta in Liliw means food… food and more food. The entire town anticipates and waits for this special occasion to have reasons to stop dieting and start rejoicing. This is the time of the year to come up with an acceptable excuse [but not necessarily truthful] to be absent from work. This is the time of the year to make up a convincing reason [but not necessarily factual] to be out of town on a business trip. And for the students, this is the time of the year to come up with a really bad colds or disease [but not necessarily contagious] to play hooky. Because today is the day to eat… drink… and be happy.

Today, 10,000 miles away from where I am and half around the world… in a small town in Laguna, Philippines… the Feast of St. John the Baptist is celebrated with usual festivities, bountiful food and drinks, and warm camaraderie. But not everything about today’s celebration is about food and festivity. This is also a day for religious obligations and rituals. Though the traditions may have changed through the years, Catholic Liliweños still start the celebration in the Church and with a Mass.

The century-old St. John the Baptish Church

Today, series of Mass services are being celebrated for thanksgiving… for a bountiful year… and for a good harvest. Masses are celebrated in the same old brick church built more than a century ago by the first Friars who came to the town and who baptized its people… the first Liliweño Catholics… our forefathers. And masses are celebrated to baptize new members of the church… mostly new born babies… how are the next generation of Liliweños who will continue this festive religious tradition.

CREDITS:
All Photos here are courtesy of my brother Japol… you can check it at his Multiply account.

More Information about Philippines Festivities and Celebrations: Go to… Welcome to the Philippines
More Features and Photos of the Church: Go to Vantage Point and southbound.ph

I grew up in the province of Laguna, in a small town called Liliw at the foot of the mystical and legendary Mt. Banahaw, which is one of the few mountains in the area which is not yet spoiled by kaingin [a term we use for illegal logging in the Philippines]. Though our town is small, it is a bit congested because houses are built close to each other. Though our town is small, the roads are well-paved even the one going up the mountain. And though our town is small, it is already considered as a bustling business district due to the booming slipper industry and the presence of McDonald’s in the plaza. And for these reasons, if you really want to commune with nature, smell the flowers, and be carried away by the magnificent scenery… you either have to go up the mountain or go somewhere else to do just that. You can seldom see trees in the town proper because of those big houses and mansions that my rich town-mates have built for their abode. You can rarely see animals roaming around freely because they are all caged, chained or in the slaughter house. You can hardly have peace and quiet because of the earsplitting sound of the tricycles passing by. But don’t get me wrong. I love my hometown. I love its people… its scenery… its noise. And I miss it so bad.

Hubby strolling at Liliw Resort

Hubby in front of Liliw century old Catholic Church

Liliw’s century old St. John the Baptist Parish Church

A Holy Week Procession in Liliw, Laguna Philippines

I have been away from home for more than a year now. Living in Maine for more than a year now… I can say that I am adapting well to its changing seasons… its way of life… its culture. Being in Maine, I can say that I found a great opportunity to be one with nature… to be able to smell the flowers [in the real sense of the word]… and to be carried away by the magnificent sceneries around me. And being in Maine, I can also say that animals around here enjoy the freedom they rightfully deserve.

During the first few months of my stay here, I was so amazed by a pair of nosey chipmunks and a prying squirrel seemingly checking me out while I was raking fallen maple leaves in the backyard. I was thrilled the first time I saw the deer circling the lone crab apple tree in the middle of the yard outback. And I had fun following a rafter of wild turkey a month before Thanksgiving Day apparently looking for a place or a tree to spend the night. During my first few month here in Maine, I had to get used to the idea that our backyard or the entire state of Maine is an open zoo. And during my first few months in Maine, I realized that wild life – is the Mainers’ way of life.

The nosey chipmunk.

My first snow fall… my first deer sighting.

Turkey family enjoying their stroll at our backyard.

Being able to have the chance to live in two different places… with two different cultures… in two opposite sides of the world, I won’t dare compare them. Though there is much obvious difference between the two, still I can’t choose which one is the best. Though one could have more importance to me, the other has specific significance too. And though I could choose both as my favorite places in the whole world… sadly, I could only live in one… or the other.

Additional Important Information:
About Kaingin - meaning, pictures, solutions and news
For Mt. Banahaw… go to Bundok Philippines
For Laguna Province… go to WOW Philippines
For Liliw, Laguna… go to Bulatlat and Backpacking Philippines and Asia
For Maine Wild Life… go to Maine.gov Wildlife and Plant Life

Maine has more than a hundred of lakes, ponds, rivers and brooks that change through the different seasons. It is so amazing to see how they constantly change each passing season. It is really fascinating how each time I drive by the same bridge – the same river looks always new to me… as if it was the first time I see it. It is even enthralling that I can even walk, stroll and dance on it… during wintertime, that is. Hahaha.

It was almost summertime when I first came to Maine. Coming from a tropical country, Maine is too cold for me at 65 degrees temperature. That was why I was wearing a jacket the entire summer while the rest of the Mainers are barely clothed. My Hubby brought me all the places that he frequented to slowly introduce to me his lifestyle. And most of the time we would go to the nearby lakes, ponds, and rivers.

Each time we go to these bodies of water I was always awed by the beauty of these places. They seemed so full of life and inviting. I just love the feeling of anticipation each time we would drive down Rt. 35 going to Wal-Mart where we could see the Sabago Lake from a great distance. It is always indeed a calming sight to see the lake surrounded by verdant vegetation of white pines, birch and maple trees. And as we come closer to the lake and drive by it, it is always over-powering because you can see how big the lake is.

I don’t get tired looking and passing by Sabago Lake. But what I like most about Sabago Lake is when I could walk on it. I love Sabago Lake when I could stroll on it. I love Sabago Lake when I could put up my tent on it. And I love Sabago Lake when it is frozen because I can dance on it.

Yes, you can do all those things in Sabago Lake when it is frozen. Winter in Maine is cold and long. But winter in Maine is also cool and fun. When it is wintertime, all the lakes, ponds, brooks and rivers are frozen and we can walk, stroll, dance, camp and drive our snow mobile on them. During this cold and bitter season – Maine is winter wonderland, quite literally and figuratively.

Helpful Links for Sabago Lake:
*For more Information about Sabago Lake… Go to Sabago Lake State Park
*For Activities you can do at Sabago Lake… Go to Sabago Lake Family Campground

It was autumn. It was my very first autumn in Maine. It was in fact, the very first autumn in my entire life. I woke up to a nice cloudless sky with the sun peeking out from the almost leafless maple trees in the backyard. I supposed to be happy because that was an indication of a nice day where I could go out and enjoy the breath-taking scenery around me. I supposed to be happy until I heard the weather newscaster announced on TV – foggy morning… scattered rains and showers in the afternoon… possible thunderstorm. Then my positive outlook went down south because I know what it means. I wonder – “what the heck is he talking about?” the sun is already up and bright. Then Hubby said, “you’ll see.” Then, I sulked.

I sulked because I know Hubby has a point. I sulked because I know Hubby was right. I sulked because I know Hubby trusts the weather but not the weatherman [because I thought he is cute and Hubby is jealous. *wink*]. Hubby trusts the weather so much because his work depends on it. He watches the news everyday just for one particular reason… to know the weather. And 98% of the time, the meteorologist is right. And so I have no choice but to wait and take note and hope that the weatherman will fail this time.

After a few minutes fog started to loom outback. It was foggy alright but it did not last that long. Soon enough it cleared up and I was able to see and enjoy again the beautiful autumn landscape. The rest of the morning was really a fine day. It was still sunny until noontime. And it did not rain as I expected because the sun was still bright and up till 3 pm. I went inside the house to get something to drink but when I got out again with my cold cranberry juice in hand, the blue cloudless sky was already clothed in dark, thick and heavy black cloud. It instantly turned that one fine day into seemingly cold night at 4 o’ clock in the afternoon. Soon enough thunder and lightning dominated the black sky and at that instant I know that it was smarter to stay inside.

For a solid hour of thunder and lightning and heavy rains I remained inside and calm. I remained calm because I know the thunderstorm will soon be over after an hour. I remained calm because I know that thunderstorm in Maine is surprisingly predictable. I know that soon enough the thunderstorm will be over and I will be enjoying the rest of the day watching the sun sets behind that monochromatic red hue backdrop. Soon enough the rain stopped. Thunder ceased sounding. And lightning stopped striking.

Almost instantly, the sky cleared up. The sun started to show up again. The thick black clouds vanished into thin cold air. The thunderstorm was over. And I was able to go out again and have a drink.

I have been away from the country of my birth for more than a year now. It was a drastic decision that I’ve ever made in my entire life so far. Though I miss home a lot, I have no choice but to get used to all the things that are new to me in this new country… with my new family… in this new home… with my new friends… and with my new life.

Being away from home for more than a year now gave me the chance to experience a lot of new things that I begin to enjoy and appreciate so far. Though I miss the old things I am used to… the Philippines… my family… our old home… my old friends… and my crazy old life, I know that they will always be a part of what I am now.

For more than a year of being away from home, I have survived 4 changing seasons so far. Coming from a tropical country I was used to only 2 seasons… wet and dry. Coming from a tropical country I am used to climate that never goes down below 80 degrees. Coming from a tropical country I am used to typhoons and tropical storms. Coming from a tropical country I am used to unpredictable changing seasons.

For more than a year of being away from home, I missed the 2 changing seasons so far. In this new country I have survived the annoying bugs of summer. In this new country I have survived the endless raking of fallen leaves of fall. In this new country I have survived the freezing cold of winter. In this new country, I survived the unpredictable days of spring.

Now that I am here in Maine, so far I am beginning to appreciate the changing seasons. Despite my earlier rants about the seasons here, I have to admit that I love the feel of the warm sun on my perpetually tanned skin in summertime. I have to admit I love the amazing foliage and the magnificent landscapes of hills and valley in autumn. I have to admit I love ice-fishing, riding snow mobile and snowshoeing in wintertime. I have to admit I love those delicate yellow dandelions in our yard in springtime.

Changing seasons… changing moods… changing moments. This is what life is. Always changing… always moving… always shifting. But will all the changes one has to go through… life still, is a continuation of one’s journey of the past, the present and the future.

Welcome to Changing Seasons @Today.com. This is just one of the many blogs I presently manage. This is another product of my impulsive and prolific thoughts. Hope you like what you read here.