Fate or Destiny

I have been closely watching Sana Maulit Muli starring Gerald Anderson and Kim Chiu. (Thanks to "you tube", coz I can afford to miss the live telecast.) I just found the story line interesting, it is something different from the usual Tagalog teleserye. It's a love story that tackles about having a second chance to live life and defying destiny.

Do you believe in fate or destiny? As Mang Andres, the servant of death, said, "hindi mo mababago ang itinakda; mangyayari ang mangyayari."

As wikipedia defines

• Fate is an outcome determined by an outside agency acting upon a person or entity.
• Destiny is when the entity is participating in achieving an outcome that is directly related to itself.

In short, fate is something that is bound to happen, while destiny is something you willfully participate to happen.

I have never been to a fortune teller; neither do I want to. First and foremost, it is unChristian, secondly, in this world of uncertainty, I still don't want to know what my future is.

Then, the other day, I received news from my cousin. A geomancer (feng shui master) unsolicitedly just spoke about my destiny! He told my dad about my destiny on relationships.

I only heard bits and pieces of it, like I am not suppose to go out of Asia until 2010 else I'll miss the opportunity to meet my mate. In fact, I just visited Europe last year and by then, my US visa is due to expire. Uh oh! I hope this won't influence my parents when I decide to travel soon.

Ho-hum, actually I do not know the rest of the details. My dad seems do not want to discuss it; although I get curious, that is absolutely fine with me. Besides, I believe I should choose my own destiny and I don't want my decision be influenced in any way by something credulous.

But for now, I can't get it off my head, damn!

Lenten Ritual

Although I went to a non-sectarian school and may not be well-versed with the Bible, I was raised to be a Catholic and I choose to be one.

Pardon me, for I have not been very religious and spiritual for the past year. I made a little effort for spiritual growth, I attended a few Kerygma Feast (talk of Bo Sanchez) but I know that wasn't enough.

Through the years, I managed to keep the sabbath day holy and practice the Lenten ritual. A few catholic I know still practice what the church asks us to.

For the season of Lent, here are my usual rituals:

No meat on Ash Wednesday and every Fridays of Lent. As one priest describes in his homily, depriving oneself means training oneself to say no to temptation. For this season of Lent, I tried to deprive myself from eating sweets and junk food. Wow, it was far more difficult than depriving myself with meat!

Fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. I have been skipping dinner for the past years so having just one full meal should be easy for me. I thought it would be easy but I was wrong. Just like any challenge, when you are forbidden to do something you like, the more you think about it, and the more you want to do it! hmmp, rebellious inner self at work!

Holy Thursday - a day of rest and relaxation. Early evening, we attend the mass commemorating the last supper then we visit 7 churches (Bisita Iglesia). I welcome this activity since at least once in a year, I get to visit different old and new churches around the city.

Good Friday - in the morning, we go up the mountains to do the "way of the cross" (but I missed this one) and attend church service in the afternoon.

Black Saturday or Easter Sunday - attend the easter vigil.

It may sound so boring, but the mass on these days are not the usual mass we attend on Sundays and they are a couple interesting ceremonies like the washing of the feet, veneration of the cross, blessing of the paschal candle, "sugat", etc...

It is so tempting to go on a vacation this Holyweek considering the extended holiday. But we rather stay in our hometown. We will hit the beach this Saturday yet, we will make an effort to keep our Lenten Ritual.