DARREN ESPANTO: Tell The World Of His Love

DARREN ESPANTO: Tell The World Of His Love

Darren Espanto sang "Tell The World of His Love" at the conclusion of Pope Francis encounter with the youth held the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila Philippines earlier today, January 18 2014.

#PopeFrancisPh #PopeFrancis #PopeFrancisUST

12-year old asked Pope Francis: Why does God allow this to happen?

12-year old asked Pope Francis: Why does God allow this to happen?

12-year-old Glyzelle Palomar, dressed in a Filipiniana attire and was carrying a prepared speech to relate her life as a street kid to Pope Francis at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila (UST). She started by introducing herself as one who lives in the streets and who is exposed to all sorts of problems such as drugs and prostitution.

She then asked in Filipino "Why does God allow abuse and prostitution? Why does God allow this to happen?" and then she broke down and cried and stopped speaking. In a span of several seconds, this little girl's speech managed to make everyone cry.

Organizers had to console her before she and another street kid, 14-year-old Jun Chura, were brought to the Pope, who gave them a tight hug. 

The two are from the Tulay ng Kabataan foundation, which takes care of street children in Metro Manila. The Pope had an unscheduled visit with members of Tulay ng Kabataan on his second day in the Philippines, last Friday, January 13.

Because of what the 12-year old said, Pope Francis had to forego his prepared English homily.

"The reality that you have is more superior to the paper in front of me" quips Pope Francis.

He then spoke in Spanish ( his native tongue ) and based another extemporaneous homily to the 12-year old child and also Ricky, one of the volunteers who helped the Yolanda survivor. Amazing! You could feel that he talks from the heart and you can sense the rawness of it!

"Women have so much to tell us about the society. Women are able to pose questions that men are not able to understand,"

"Today's world lacks the capacity of knowing how to cry."

"Be courageous don't be afraid of crying. Let us learn how to weep, how to cry."

Have you ever ask yourself: " Have I learned to weep for someone who has suffered abuse?"

It's ok to cry...realities are seen through the tears of our eyes.

Rikki Macolor, an electronics engineer who invented the Solar Night Light for Yolanda victims, asked Pope Francis, "What more can the youth do? How can we, especially the youth, be agents of mercy and compassion?"

To Ricky who built solar lamps for Yolanda: You give but do you allow yourself to receive? "You lack only one thing. Become a beggar. To learn how to beg."

"Let yourselves to be loved. It is important to let yourselves be loved by Him."

"The most important subject you have to learn is how to love."

Real love is about loving and letting yourselves be loved. It is important to let yourselves be loved by Him. 

Use 3 languages: Mind, heart, hands that is to think, to feel, to do -Pope Francis

#PopeFrancisPh #Pope #PopeFrancis #DearPopeFrancis #PopeFrancisUST #overwhelm

I am so emotional since the @Pontifex arrived. Each of his quotable quotes makes me ponder and cry each and every time the Pope shows mercy and compassion. 

Photo credits to the rightful owner of the pictures.

NCR Banking Schedule During Papal Visit

NCR Banking Schedule During Papal Visit

Banks that are open during the 5-day Holiday in the National Capital Region

Several banks announced the selected branches that will be open from January 15 to 19, 2015, which were declared as non-working holidays in NCR due to Pope Francis' visit.

BDO

BDO Unibank said selected branches in the NCR will be open during the Papal visit from January 15 to 19. On these dates, selected non-mall branches will have regular opening hours until 3 p.m. while selected mall branches will be open until 4 p.m.

For the list of BDO branches open during the holiday, visit here.

Bank of the Philippine Islands

BPI said no NCR branches will be open on January 15 and 16. All mall-based branches and kiosks will be open on January 17 and 18.

On January 19, the bank said 55 BPI branches and 18 BPI Family Bank branches in NCR will be open.

Metrobank

Metrobank said key branches in Metro Manila will be open from January 15 to January 19. All branches outside of NCR will have regular banking hours.

January 15, 2015 (Thursday):
Open until 12:00 NN – Greenhills North, Greenhills - Eisenhower, Ermita, J.Nakpil - Taft Ave., Midtown - U.N. Ave., Paco-A.Linao, Quirino Ave. - Leon Guinto, Roxas Blvd.-Vito Cruz, Taft Ave. – P. Ocampo.

Open until 1:00 PM – Pureza-R.Magsaysay Blvd., Asuncion, Pasong Tamo-Javier, Pasong Tamo-Bagtikan, Sucat-Gatchalian, Alabang.

Open until 3:00 PM – Salcedo Village and Pasay-Baclaran.

Open until 4:30 PM – A. Lacson Ave. – Sampaloc, Morayta, N. Domingo – San Juan, V. Mapa, Annapolis-Greenhills, Greenhills-Promenade, Greenhills-Wilson Center, Sta. Cruz-Manila.

Other branches – Roosevelt branch will be open until 12:30 PM while ADB Branch will be open only until 4:00PM.

January 19, 2015 (Monday):
Open until 12:00 NN – C3-A.Mabini, Farmers Plaza, Commonwealth Ave., Raon, A. Maceda, Bustillos-Sampaloc, España, UST-España, Zurbaran, Escolta Tower, and Intramuros.

Open until 1:00 PM – Masangkay-Luzon, Lavezares, Nueva, Pasong Tamo-Buendia, Pasong Tamo-Metropolitan Ave., Head Office Center, Las Piñas-Pamplona and Madrigal Bus Park – Alabang.

Open until 4:30 PM – Evangelista-Quiapo, Quiapo, Ortigas-Xavier and Addition Hills.

Other branches – 999 Mall branch will be open until 2:00 PM, Sto. Cristo-C.M. Recto will be open until 3:00 PM, while ADB branch will be open until 5:00 PM.

Metrobank said all over-the-counter transactions will be accepted and processed by these selected branches on the said holidays, except for checks received which will be processed on the next banking day.

Maybank Philippines

Select Maybank branches in Metro Manila will be open during the Papal visit.

January 15
The following branches will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Main Office Branch, Binondo, Caloocan, Cubao, Tomas Morato, Greenhills, Marikina, Bel Air, Ayala Alabang, Las Pinas and Resorts World.

January 16
All Maybank Metro Manila branches will be closed

January 17
Resorts World branch will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., while the Main Office Branch will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

January 18
Resorts World branch will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

January 19
All Metro Manila branches will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., except for the Villamor; Legaspi Tower Center; and Newport branches.

Maybank said all provincial branches will observe regular banking hours during the Papal visit, except for Tacloban branch, which will be closed on January 15 and 16.

Asia United Bank

AUB said selected branches in NCR will be open during the Papal visit holiday.

On January 15, selected AUB branches in the NCR will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Provincial branches, except for Tacloban and Isabela, will be open on regular banking hours.

On January 16, AUB branches in NCR, Tacloban and Isabela will be closed. All other branches in the country will be open.

Regular banking operations will resume in all AUB branches on January 19.

EastWest Bank

EastWest Bank said it is opening at least 30 branches in the NCR on January 15 and 16. They will observe regular banking hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All branches in NCR will be open on January 19.

The following branches will be open:

January 15
The Fort-Beaufort, Paseo-Philam Tower, Amorsolo-Aegis, Binondo, City Place Square, Gil Puyat-F.B. Harrison, Sampaloc-J. Figueras, Katipunan-St. Ignatius, Marikina-J.P. Rizal, Tandang Sora, Quezon Ave. - Banawe, Congressional Ave., Navotas-North Bay, Novaliches-Gulod, Grace Park-7th Ave., New Manila, Cubao-P. Tuazon, Tektite, Pasig-Kapasigan, Mandaluyong-Shaw Blvd., Alabang Madrigal, Sucat-Kabihasnan, Las Piñas-Marcos Alvarez, 168 Mall, 999 Shopping Mall, Baclaran, Greenhills Shopping Center, Greenhills-Promenade, Festival Mall Level 2 and Bicutan-East Service Road.

January 16
Evangelista, The Fort-Marajo Tower, Gil Puyat-Metro House, Chino Roces-Bagtikan, Binondo, City Place Square, Paco, Pasay-Libertad, Marikina-Concepcion, Loyola Heights-Katipunan, Regalado, Banawe-Scout Alcaraz, Visayas Avenue, Baesa Town Center, Valenzuela-Dalandanan, Grace Park-11th Ave., E. Rodriguez Ave.-Cubao, Tomas Morato, F. Ortigas Jr., Pasig-Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong-Shaw Blvd., Sucat-Evacom, Alabang-Commerce Ave., Las Piñas-Pamplona, 168 Mall, 999 Shopping Mall, Baclaran, Greenhills Shopping Center, Greenhills-Promenade, Festival Mall Level 2 and Bicutan-East Service Road.

EastWest Bank said mall-based branches and those with Saturday and/or Sunday banking will have regular banking operations during the holiday weekend. Branches outside Metro Manila will have regular banking operations.

PBCOM

PBCOM said all branches in Metro Manila will be closed from January 15 to 19.

Only the following branches will be open on January 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Quezon Avenue, Binondo Banking Center, Makati Banking Center, Meralco Avenue and Cubao.

All branches will resume normal banking hours on January 20.

China Bank

China Bank said all Metro Manila branches will be closed on January 15, while branches outside NCR will be open.

On January 16, selected Metro Manila mall branches (shortened hours) and branches outside Metro Manila are open. The Tacloban branch will be closed.

On January 17 and 18, all branches with Saturday and Sunday banking schedule will be open. All branches in Metro Manila and outside NCR will be open on January 19.

Security Bank

Security Bank said selected branches will be open on January 15, 16 and 19. For a complete list of these operational branches, visit the Security Bank Facebook or its website.

PSBank

PSBank said all branches in NCR will be closed on January 15 and 16, while provincial branches will have regular operations.

All PSBank branches in NCR and around the country will be open on January 19.

UCPB

Selected UCPB branches in NCR are open on January 15, 16 and 19.
Branches outside the NCR, including Rizal, Cavite, Laguna and Bulacan, are also open on the said dates.

FREE TWITTER

FREE TWITTER 

Good news o faithful! 

When I first heard about the free twitter, the first question that comes to my mind is, how?

And that is what I research on the net today, to know how to avail of the free twitter.  I learned that Smart, Sun and Talk ’N Text are partnering with Twitter and will offer FREE Twitter on mobile as a public service to the millions of Filipinos who wants to share their thoughts and experiences at the upcoming visit of Pope Francis on January 15 to 19, 2015.

Almost 69 million prepaid and postpaid subscribers of Smart, Sun Cellular and Talk ‘N Text may access Twitter without worrying about mobile data charges, allowing more Filipinos to follow the Pope’s Twitter account (@Pontifex), send wishes and prayers to the Pope using #DearPopeFrancis hashtag, and get real-time updates on the much anticipated apostolic and state visit of Pope Francis in the Philippines.

More details of the Pope’s visit, including #DearPopeFrancis Tweets, videos, stories and the Pope’s itinerary, can be found at dearpopefrancis.ph.

“With this collaboration, Smart and Twitter aim to allow more Filipinos to get involved and immerse in this historic experience with Pope Francis, who our Catholic nation hold very dear to our heart,” said Napoleon L. Nazareno, president and CEO, PLDT and Smart.

All you have to do is to just, text DEARPOPE to 9999 starting January 15. This is a one time registration for the free Twitter service.

We all now that Pope Francis has an official Twitter account @Pontifex, you can now have a FREE access and tweet your aspirations and messages to the beloved Pope using #DearPopeFrancis. 

Subscribers may also post real-time updates, upload photos, and even reach out to him through Twitter with no extra cost.

THE PAPAL VISIT 2015 ITINERARY

THE PAPAL VISIT 2015 ITINERARY

The official itinerary is as follows:

January 15, 2015

Arrival from Sri Lanka – Villamor Air Base
Motorcade to the Apostolic Nunciature – Taft Avenue, Manila

January 16, 2015

Welcome Ceremony – Malacañan Palace, Manila
Motorcade to the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Manila Cathedral)
Mass with Bishops, Priests, and Religious – Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Manila Cathedral)
Motorcade to the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay
Encounter with Families – Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay

January 17, 2015

Departure for Archdiocese of Palo – Villamor Air Base
Arrival at Tacloban Airport
Holy Mass – Tacloban Airport
Lunch with the Poor and Survivors of Calamities at Gonzagahaus (Residence of the Archbishop of Palo) – Palo, Leyte
Blessing of the Pope Francis Center for the Poor – Palo, Leyte
Meeting with the Priests and Religious at Cathedral of Our Lord’s Transfiguration (Palo Cathedral) – Palo, Leyte
Departure for Manila
Arrival at Manila – Villamor Air Base

January 18, 2015

Brief Meeting with the Religious Leaders and Encounter with the Youth – Pontifical University of Santo Tomas, España, Manila
Motorcade to Rizal Park, Manila
Concluding Mass, Rizal Park, Manila

January 19, 2015

Motorcade from the Apostolic Nunciature
Departure for Rome – Villamor Air Base

No copyright infringement intended. Credits to their rightful owners.

TERMINAL FEE: To be Included In Your Plane Ticket's Cost

TERMINAL FEE: To be Included In Your Plane Ticket's Cost 

Is this a good thing or a bad thing for all of you out there with itchy feet? MIAA general manager Jose Angel Honrado said in a memorandum to all the airlines and airport stakeholders that the integration of the terminal fee will finally proceed on February 1, 2015

The MIAA has deferred the integration which was supposed to take effect beginning Jan. 15 to give way to the papal visit on Jan. 15 to 19.

For me, this is a good thing because it means you and I, common people, don't have to line up and wait for our turn to pay for our terminal fee. It would facilitate smooth boarding. So, thumbs up for that.

The implementation of the memorandum circular seeking the integration of the terminal fees with the cost of plane tickets has likewise been delayed in September last year due to opposition mainly from groups of overseas Filipino workers who because of the new policy would need to pay the terminal fees and line up for refund afterward.

OFWs along with Muslim pilgrims, and Filipino athletes are exempted from paying the terminal fees.

To avail themselves of the exemption, workers have to present their exemption certificate while pilgrims and athletes must present airport authorities proof of the endorsement of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos and Philippine Sports Commission, respectively.

Those buying their tickets online and overseas may get a refund at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport afterward.

MALDIVES: Coleen Garcia's Vacation Photos

MALDIVES: Coleen Garcia's Vacation Photos

Velassaru Maldives is my ultimate dream vacation destination.  And local showbiz stars Coleen Garcia and her boyfriend Billy Joe Crawford spent 8 days frolicking in the sand of Maldives, said to be a paradise on earth.

Look at those beautiful stilt cottages, gentle waves, white powdery sand, pretty clouds and sunny skies.

Anyway, here is Coleen's mantra for this year 2015 which she wrote on her instagram account:

“Today I’ve decided to center my life on the things that really matter to me. I’ve realized that I have absolutely no time for negative emotions because I choose to focus on what makes me happy and on what makes me better. I choose to continue growing and learning. And appreciating. Fill yourself with gratitude, and there won’t be room for anything else that isn’t needed.” 


Go, girl! Happy New Year!

MRT 3 FARE MATRIX

MRT 3 FARE MATRIX

Wondering how much you will paying at your next MRT-3 ride? Please be guided accordingly and use the Fare Matrix above.


I hope MRT-3 will have better service. 

Happy New Year!